Are You a Month Old Already?

Dear Aidan,

You're officially 1 month old today and we can already see that you're going to be quite an intense little guy. Your banshee cry apart, there's always this death stare and frown I only usually see on really old and grumpy people.

Whatcha lookin' at?

Should I even be here in the first place?

Time really does have wings. But with the wings, comes lots of new little adventures. Well, some of them aren't very positive from Mama's point of view. But I'm sure, in hindsight later, I will be able to 

grin about it and maybe wonder what all the worry was all about.

Firstly, I'll admit that  I'm nervous about possibly not being able to breast-feed you for long. What mother doesn't want the best for her child, right? And yet, God has different plans for different people. 

It's 2 am and there's a...light

Right now, I'm already supplementing your meals with a little formula. I've decided not to be burdened by guilt and to just enjoy the moments I have watching you grow, day by day. After all, the entire Breast-Feeding Advocacy Brigade can't see how Mama pumps furiously in between waking up to feed you from the breast directly. It's depressing to see tap drips against the effort I'm putting into this when a Niagara Falls would've been a lot more encouraging.

I know I'm staring but it's not personal

Secondly, I'll also admit that you're one baby with super-strong reflexes. What I'm trying to tell you, really, is that you're a horrible napper! And Mama, Poh-Poh and Aunty Lilian, the confinement lady, are witnesses, too. Your eyes would close but once your head drooped ever so slightly, you'd awaken and bawl. And what a bawl too. I get it. You're angry that you can't sleep properly and you just want all of us to understand - the neighbours included.

I'm really sleepy as you can see; I just can't seem to sleep is all!

I must say though, that it's pretty difficult for Mama to function with this much sleep deprivation. (Which is not as bad as the thought that a little baby like you are functioning with a total of just 30 minutes of sleep in a DAY, of course.)  It's not like Papa could take over breast-feeding duties, you know. What? Never mind, one day you'll understand. At least when it's time for the Lesson entitled 'The Birds and the Bees'.

Anyway, to celebrate your 1st month here on Earth, we had a little Full-Moon party for you. Quite a few of Mama's and Papa's friends came. Not that you gave a toss. You just wanted your milk on time. Plus a little help cleaning up the post acid-reflux-attack mess you made.

I'll tell you though - and this is something else I'll admit - I was pretty glad when it was all quiet again, and all I had was you, in my arms, falling asleep. Well, trying to, anyway.

And You Arrived

Why, hey, you must be my milk-supplier

Welcome to the world, baby Aidan.

You were born a few hours shy of Valentine's Day - 9.35am, 15th February 2009, which we guess you'll be glad about when you're older. No jokes about being a Casanova, Valentino, Cupid or Romeo!

Mommy can't believe all 3.54 kg of you were inside my tummy, too. Wow. Do you want to know your features? First of all, you're pretty fair (for the moment). Your little eyes, when they're open, look a bit Chinese. And you've got a pointed, square jaw like both Daddy and Mommy. As for your nose, we all think you have Daddy's nose which looks like Grandpa's too. You remind me of a little Eskimo, actually, especially all bundled up in a furry blue wrap. I guess we'll be referring to you as our little Eskimo Boy for a while.

Although we'll learn more about you over the next few years, what immediately strikes us right now is your cry. Ha ha. Let's say you have a pretty healthy set of lungs, quite unlike the typical newborn!

Did you know that Mommy tried to bring you out naturally? But in the end, God decided to have you arrive by surgery. It's okay. It doesn't matter how you come, really, as long as you come safely. Daddy didn't get to cut the umbilical cord too as a result. But he told Mommy all about the procedure.

In this case, if you ever hear that babies come out of their mommies' tummies, it's correct.

By the way, you got us a little worried on the 3rd day because you had jaundice. Dr. Azizi, your paediatrician had to put you under ultraviolet light to treat it and make it go away. It was sad to see you, all naked except your nappy and a cool cloth visor over your eyes, lying on your tummy and being "sunned". But you did look rather comfortable.

We think you're going to like the beach. (Did we already mention that Daddy followed the nurse to bathe you and you didn't cry when you were placed in the water?)

Do. Not. Disturb. Baby. Asleep.

Many people came to visit you in the evening: Aunty Hsian, Uncle Srihari, your grandparents. In fact, daddy's mom came thrice, bringing different guests each time - Angeline's parents, her sister and brother-in-law, and of course with your grandpa, great-grandma, Uncle Victor, Uncle Brian and Aunty Angie.

When you're older, you must go to Damansara Specialist Hospital and say hello to the nice midwives and nurses there.

They all loved you and when Mommy and Daddy were really tired, they took care of you in the nice, warm nursery. They were especially helpful in teaching mommy how to feed you. So remember these names: Nurse Hazura, Midwife Khairol, Midwife Balwinder, Midwife Siew Poh!



Anyway, we're awfully glad to have you in our lives, Baby Aidan. It'll be a tough few months ahead but we're parents now and like any new profession, we gotta start somewhere!

Man, it's tiring just trying to keep my head straight!