Dear Aidan,
The Lord has been kind. Just 4 days before your birthday, your hives disappeared. I believe He heard our prayers. I'm glad I believe, really.
February has been a busy months so far, I'll say.
First, we celebrated your big day. A few of Papa's and Mama's close friends came to help make it special. Grandma and Grandpa ordered an old-fashioned 'number 1' butter cake and special
tau foo far for the occasion. We also had some lovely Indian food catered. You were a little bewildered by the crowd of people. Your eyes were perpetually wide-open, as was your little jaw. But you were most chuffed when everybody sang the birthday song and clapped for you. Mama then gave you your first taste of butter cream and cake and you gave us all a big old smile in return.
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| So, these are the 4 iron ladies in my life |
Aunty E.E was there, too. In fact, she was there way before the guests arrived. She came to watch me feed you the porridge I'd made for your lunch. The story is, she started you on porridge a few weeks ago on the days you're there at her home. She cooks it with lots of vegetables and minced chicken or cod fish and adds the tiniest dollop of Bovril into it. But when I make the same for you, it's 5-6 bites before that little paw shoots out and pushes my hand away. As Aunty E.E will testify (after much taste-testing), Mama's tastes similar to hers! Maybe the mystery ingredient is that Mama's an easier pushover.
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| Aunty Murni, Uncle Amir and Lucas were here! |
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| Aunty Ida bullies the kids |
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| Cake is kewl! |
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| This tastes so much better than stinky old porridge |
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| Aunty Jynet and Aunty Li-Lin |
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| Uncle Brian, Kung-Kung and Aunty Angeline |
Since your birthday fell during Chinese New Year, we also celebrated the eve with a Reunion dinner at a traditional Chinese restaurant downtown. It was just among the immediate family. So there was Kung-Kung, Poh-Poh, Uncle Khin, Aunty Swee-Lin and of course, Cousin Dillon. You had your first taste of steamed white rice on this night. You had quite a few spoonfuls, in fact. I think we've got a winner here.
On the night of the third day, we went out to
Hoo Yee in Taman Segar for a big lunar new year dinner with Mama's extended family.
Hoo Yee is a bit of an institution with our family. It's a little corner Chinese
tai-chow restaurant that consistently serves up the tastiest home-cooking style dishes. It's sort of
Kung-Kung and
Poh-Poh's favourite weekend dinner venue but Uncle Khin and Mama have come to love it, too.
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| Let me work out how this fountain operates |
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| Pray tell me why I'm in this motion killer? |
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| There's this big red present I'm eyeing here... |
A week later, your Godpa and Godma came to visit with little Davina, who by the way is Mama's and Papa's goddaughter. To entertain them, you displayed your amazing devotion to raisins by polishing off an entire mini box in 2 minutes. Other than that, you spent the entire time eyeing the present they got for your birthday. You could win a Stare Competition with that level of concentration.
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| I think I'll go stay with Godpa and Godma |
One Saturday, Aunty Sharon De Silva also dropped by for a visit. It was nice that you took to her easily. Must be her bear hugs, goofy grins and killer tickles. Just so you remember who she is, she's the nice aunty who got you Hola the orange Hippo who now sleeps by your side at night.
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| Mama, Aunty Sharon's eating my finger |
In the vocabulary department, you've mastered the word "there". It's a smart choice, really. And quite telling of what's top on your agenda these days, especially since Mama is still your favourite mode of transport until you learn to walk on your own. I just hope that you won't start calling me 'Taxi'. Well, I'm not teaching you that word just yet.
