A new act

My boy's nanny told us that he would pick up his toy and put it in a basket when told nicely. I was walking towards the kitchen for my lunch this afternoon when I saw my son at his Corner. I told him "Put... Put.." To my surprise, he picked up a basket.





He started putting some of his toys in the basket.



High Five, boy!



Being the demolition boy of the house, he plucked a leaf.



After a few runs of licking and chewing, the leaf was left on the floor.

And sat quietly on my helmet.

Mukah

I received several comments lately while using Facebook. "Great Dad", "You're a good dad" were few remarks I got. It hit me hard. In late 2009, I received my first posting letter. I was posted to Mukah Hospital. I had just sold my tuition centre. My boy would be delivered days later.

Mukah is at least three hours away from Sibu by road. There is no direct flight from Sibu to Mukah. But there are flights from Kuching to Mukah. I took one last June.


The interior of the plane is only a third of a bus. No air conditioner. Just small fans.


Twin Otter plane. The pilot was the one with white short and black tie


The baggage collection place at the Mukah Airport.


I was there for a wedding occasion.

Thank God for posting me to Sibu Hospital because there is actually no post available in Mukah.

I will never have the chance to smile at my son when he opens his eyes every mornings, hugs him, make his milk, gives him baths, change his diapers, least not a good father if I'm working in Mukah now.

Baby's Smile

10-month baby's smile


13-month baby's smile


384-month baby' smile with a 13-month baby's smile

Yikes! Too old you said?


Alright. The last picture for today.


14-month baby's smile

My boy is having running nose for the fifth day

When I fetched my boy last Friday, I noticed a little boy was coughing and having a running nose at his nanny's place. That worried me a great deal. Darrien started having mucus, running down his nostrils by night time. It's very hard to 'extract out' the mucus. He would struggled and cried out his lungs. At first I tried to wipe off the mucus using toilet paper while squeezing his nose. The act irritated him. After awhile, I used my thumb and index finger to gently 'pinch' out the mucus. Every half an hour, I needed to repeat the whole process.



On Sunday, he developed mild fever which subsided a day later. For the past two nights, my child got cranky and cried out loud at every hour. The cold dry air in the room didn't help much at all. I tried to prop up his head using two small pillows but he would rather sleep without them.

Get well soon, boy.

Kuala Baram Beach

Kuala Baram Beach

Recently, we went back to Miri for a short family vacation. Boy, it was a good experience. Being able to be together as one family. We drove to a small beach at around 5.30pm. The weather was good and the scenery was great. The beach was deserted and we're the only ones enjoying ourselves.


The first glimpse of our 'private beach'


My son's first activity as he reached the beach




After awhile, my boy's clothes were wet with sea water.


Beautiful sunset. How we wish we can have such view every evening!

Round head map tacks

Seen these colourful items before?

What if you find them in a baby's mouth? How would you feel?

I found one in my son's mouth this evening. Blue-colored one. It is as long as the one pictured above. His mouth was moving as he's chewing food normally. To my great surprise, it was a pin!

First, never ever panic. I didn't. But my head was spinning. What if he swallowed the pin? What if it stucked in the throat? What should I do? Should I bring him to the hospital? Should I give him any sort of first aid?

I tried to coax him. He's running about. Laughing loudly. I managed to catch him and held down his head firmly. He screamed and cried. My 'opportunity' came. He opened his mouth. With a quick move, I drew out the pin slowly. Good grief..

Keeping an eye on an active baby is no easy task.

Happy belated New Year

I just survived a nearly 8 hours bus journey from Kuching. I went there over the weekend to help my wife moving into our new rented house. Not much of hassle. Lots of books and personal stuff. The year of 2010 passed through my life really quickly. I started looking after my son since my wife went to Kuching for her study. Of course with my my parents' help. But child caring is hard work. During office hours, he's with the nanny. After office hours and weekends, Darrien is under my care.


Handling diapers becomes routine


Preparing milk during wee hours also becomes routine

My wishes for the year 2011

1. Be a better Daddy. I'm still learning but my son is moving at a faster pace.
2. Be a better husband. We have been living apart for quite a few years. Finally, we are staying under one roof with the baby.
3. Be a better son. Moving back home kind of strains my relationship with my parents. Hopefully, I can still mend it.

Three big wishes. And this 32-year-old man will give in his best efforts.

Happy Belated New Year, everyone.