A Little Someone Turns 4

Dear Aidan,

Ah. February again. How time flies.

Like the past 2 years, Mama started to panic about your birthday plans right smack on the 1st day of the month. February has been a wet month in recent years, due to global warming. And wet months aren't necessarily fun months for birthday parties because kids should be outdoors, screaming, running about and getting some good old fashioned sun (with sunblock on, of course).

There was temptation to hold a small party at the meeting room at the condo. It's right next to the pool in case the sun decides to turn up to celebrate. And there's shelter in case the weather decides to be a wet blanket of clouds.

I decided to ask you - probably because you're almost 4 and should have a say in how or where you'd like to celebrate your own birthday. And sure enough, you said "Not the meeting room, Mama!""Why not?" "Because I had my 3-year-old birthday there." Right.

"Shoot my daddy, Zachariah!"

"Come on, let's water bomb the rest!"

"Theo, don't let Uncle Ian get away!"

To be honest, I didn't push it. Having it anywhere within the condo premises usually attracted attention from playground buddies who no longer play with you (1) because they no longer go to the playground or (2) because they've outgrown you; but who nevertheless still want to eat cake.

For Mama, smaller, intimate parties work because you get to interact with all your friends and Papa and Mama get to know their parents better.

Papa taking care of the girls

That's you, clockworks whirring in your mind!

Eventually, Mama discovered the Port of Lost Wonder, a small-scale children's club on Sentosa Island with a large Pirate Ship helming their water-play area, a green garden for educational workshops as well as a private children's party area. It also had a souvenir shop and a restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating.

All waiting for Zachariah to pass around the Honey Stars...

Zachariah and you...having a moment together

You invited Zachariah and her little sister, Petra; Theo, Lana, Tristan, Manon, Jovan and Jo Min. And Mama invited Uncle Benny's (our regular taxi driver) kids, too. Jo Min and Jovan couldn't attend but the rest made it.

The days running up to the 16th were wet and dreary and it was pretty gloomy that Saturday morning too. But the skies held out till just after lunch which was great because that time was cake-cutting time. So it turned out to be a really amazing day. (We said lots of thank you's to God, that's for sure!)

It started with you and your friends getting into the water and not leaving for another 1.5 hours. You were climbing up the pirate ship, playing with the slides, exploring tunnels and shooting each other with water canons.

You were great - you gave out cake slices to your friends!

Handling the knife like a pro...

Mmm-mm...Lana already eyeing a second piece...

Then it was lunch time and the pizzas, pork ribs, chicken wings and sandwiches rolled in.

After that, we had a game of Simon Says where every one of you who participated received a vintage DIY styrofoam airplane as well as some plastic bubble blowers.

We then had cake  - a round Optimus Prime and Bumblebee chocolate cake with butter icing and both Lana and Theo had seconds!

Aunty Geraldine helping to assemble the airplane from Zachariah

Aunty Amandine helping Tristan to fix the styrofoam airplane

Your new toy airplane!

After that, it was time to go home. And Mama was really happy that you were all excited and cheerful.

Not sure if you remember this but Grandpa and Grandma were in Singapore too, to help you celebrate. And they had fun getting to know Uncle Ian and chatting with the other parents throughout the party.

Uncle Ian gets chatted up by Grandma!

Grandma, Papa, Grandpa...and you, featuring new toy airplane!

And you got some neat presents again: an Awesome Man superhero costume from Aunty Kea-Nai and Uncle Michel, lego from Tristan, more lego from Manon, an Optimus Prime t-shirt from Uncle Ian and Aunty Glenda and a huge toy airplane from Zach's parents. You were beaming from ear to ear.

That evening, you took out your Awesome Man costume and wore it till bedtime.

Thanks for turning me into a superhero, Aunty Kea-Nai and Uncle Michel!

On the side, however, I can't believe you're 4 already, Cheeks! I know you've got a long way to go. And yet, I'm already missing the days when you were just toddling around, speaking in broken sentences and putting your fingers into all sorts of things. But we're just so privileged to have watched you grown these past few years. You've become a sensitive, loving little boy with a mischievous and cheeky streak (why do you think we stopped calling you Eskimo Boy and switched to Mr. Cheeks? It's not just to do with your chubby cheeks!); but also a little boy who's becoming more independent and imaginative.

There are areas which we need to work on, for sure: for one, you've got to stop expecting others to follow your instructions all the time. They could find you too bossy. And secondly, "no means no" so you really mustn't 'ask for trouble' by deliberately doing the opposite when we say "no" to something; or try not to be overly upset when you can't have your way.

We all have to learn to handle disappointment. And we all need to learn to be happy with 'enough'.

I know you're learning a whole lot of things at the same time. And 4 years on Planet Earth isn't nearly long enough for you to know all the tricks there are to living. So, we'll get there together. Step by step. And with a little patience on Papa and Mama's side, as well as the effort to choose the right thing to do, we'll get there. Hey, some adults take a whole lifetime to get it!

We love you very much, Aidan. Always. Forever.

Always important, always loved :D

January 2013: A conversation about your growth

Mr. Cheeks: Mama, why are you looking at me like that?
Me: Just thinking about how you're growing up so fast.
Mr. Cheeks: Are you sad?
Me: Sad? Me? No. Okay, a bit sad but also happy. Are you going to love us when you're 10 years old?
Mr. Cheeks: I will love you even when I'm 20 years old.
Me: (Thinking I should ask again another time and record it for the future!) That would be nice. Still wish you wouldn't grow up so quickly though. 
Mr. Cheeks: But I have to grow up. 
Me: Yeah, you have to grow up.