My Baby Face Studio

Compared with how he fared last time, there was less laughing but more crying! Perhaps he's learnt how to say no to things he doesn't like. But anyway, it's still a nice studio shoot for him.

Studio Again!

We are really crazy.

We are so crazy that we decided to spend another thousand dollars to have another series of studio pictures taken for Daryl last Saturday.

And we even bring along his godmothers (and our domestic helper) along, where we would move around and act like idiots just to make him smile.

Apparently we didn't do a good job, and you will know why very soon.

Yummy Yummy Yummy

Hey, I can finally eat on my own! And when can I eat the far-more-delicious adult food?

Great Musician

Of all the toys Daryl has, there are a couple which draw his particular attention. And he's enjoying himself so much playing with the maracas that he doesn't mind that his short was unbuttoned ...

If You ain't Sleeping, You Must Have been Playing

Another of Daryl's specialties: Rolling around his bed. And more often then not, he would simply fall asleep with his legs up and body at the top end of the bed. Holy cow.

Amazing Face

It's so amazing for us to see how many different faces Daryl can make. My face is probably too fat to allow me to make all of them myself ...

Teething Problem

Hey, I'm hungry. I think I gonna eat this thing.

This Way Please, Daryl!

That's the way he is laughing now, and ...

Oh my god, doesn't he look like Keira Knightley, for the way he tilts his head and how he shrugs his shoulders?

While We Were Away

You can never imagine how much we missed Daryl during our trip in Tokyo.

We called home whenever we could, and especially right after the earthquake (Yes, we could feel the hotel shaking in Tokyo too). I am sure that when I finally see the bill, I will have a mild heart attack, 'cos we just didn't want to hang up when we could hear him saying things or producing sounds.

One week can be a huge difference for a baby's growth. And that is no exception for Daryl too. Before we left, he was walking so unsteadily that we would never let him walk alone. We would hold his hands firm as he tried to rumble from the living room to our bedroom. And he knew it, he knew that he had to rely on us.

But when we came home a week later, stunning news! Daryl can walk quite steadily alone. After watching him walk alone just once, we decided that it was time to let go (of our hands, that is), and we would feel safe and happy about it.

Did he know we were away?

As we left home at 4 in the morning on the day left for Tokyo, we never officially said goodbye to him. We just cruelly picked him up from his bed and he started crying because he was so sleepy. So we just took some pictures and headed for the airport.

As we were wondering whether he would notice something (i.e., something fat) missing at home, our reliable sources (i.e., my mother-in-law and his godmothers) told us that a couple days into our trip, he suddenly pointed at our bed and said, "Papa," and he did the same while pointing at the computer table where I usually hang out.

He knows. He just knows. There is no way we can fool him.

And most importantly, he has mastered the skills of kissing. I'm not going to ask who was the culprit for teaching him such a sexy trick, but the thing is, his kisses are great, probably the best I have ever had (sorry, Mommy).

When you tell him to "Kiss Daddy" and put your face close to him, he would push your face away and turn his head away from you if he doesn't have the mood. But if he does, be prepared for two soft and tender lips kissing your face gently.

Oh, I'd better stop describing how great his kisses are, before turning this blog entry into some porn stuff.

Looting in Tokyo

These are the stuff that we have bought for Daryl in Tokyo:

These are mine:

And I won't post the pics showing what Mummy has bought for her. A word of caution: Imagaintion is unlimited.

Getting Away

Hey, I will be out of town from 12 to 19 July, and won't be able to have any new postings during this period. I will be back with more and stay tuned, please.

Mr Worry

Looks like I am getting way too nervous about flying.

Well, I have been on a plane on numerous occasions, but the more I travel by plane, the more I realise that I have some sort of phobia about air travel.

No, I am not as panic as Dennis Bergkamp. But I just never have much confidence about the thing called an airplane, and I always believe that traveling by train of cars is much safer, although the statistics would prove otherwise.

So yes, I am nervous about our trip for many reasons. I am worried that we won't have enough time to go to all the places we want to see, that we may run out of money more quickly than expected, that Daryl may not remember me when we return in a week's time, and that air turbulence would make our flight unstable.

I'd better take a deep breath and relax. I should enjoy the trip, instead of worrying about it.

Home Alone

I know we shouldn't do it.

But we are going to do it, anyway.

The "it" refers to an overseas trip without Daryl, which will take place in three days' time and last for a week.

We know we will miss him, and we know we may have missed lots of important moments in his life while we are away.

But he's just way too young to travel with us. And the last time I checked, we haven't been on a trip together for nearly two years.

You may say it's going to be our third honeymoon. But leaving Daryl behind makes me sad.

Luckily his two crazy godmothers, my mother-in-law and my parents (Creamy as well) will all help take care of him while we are away.

And hopefully he won't be angry with us, and still remember us when we come home.

Smile Again, Daryl!

Who would have thought that a one-year-old can imitate our facial expressions?

Daryl has been smiling like this for quite a while now, and for a long time we just didn't know how he picks it up.

Then one day, I was smiling exaggeratingly at him with my nose lifted, eyes closed and mouth wide open, and he just did the same thing.

Oh my word, my smile looks pretty awful.

Buffet and Party

My parents always tell me that I will feel old much more quickly when I have become a parent. And now I understand why as believe it or not, Daryl is now one year-old.

Being ones who are willing to buy (which does not mean that we are rich), we have given him some nice presents and held a small party for him. Once again his godmothers stole the show by making the most wonderful cake we have ever eaten.

And before that, we took him out for a buffet lunch at J.W. Marriott Hotel and there Daryl sat on a baby chair away from home for the very first time. And Daryl was given a set of children's cutlery and tried to eat on his own. However, he soon found out that the cutlery didn't do him any good as he was only given a milk bottle and a napkin.

Life has definitely become simpler since we have become parents. We no longer pursue any thrills or spills in life. Instead, we go for stability and the only thing we care is the well-being of Daryl. We still have lots of things to learn to become good parents, but we are willing to give our best shot.

Because watching him smile is the most wonderful thing in the world.

Four Faces of Daryl

Need I say more?

Recap (Part 3)

At this very moment last year, Daryl was finally born, and a staggering 18 hours in the delivery ward. He weighed 3.205kg, and had a height of 50cm, which is about normal.

We always thank God for giving us such a wonderful baby, and we promise that we will love and take care of you to the best we can.

Recap (Part 2)

By this time last year, my wife had been sent to the delivery ward for some 11 hours, and I had also spent a night in the ward with her. Yet Daryl was still not willing to come out and despite the best effort of my wife, we were still waiting ...

Recap

Around this time a year ago, my wife and I finished watching the opening match of the World Cup between Germany and Costa Rica, and went to bed. Somehow she couldn't fall asleep as she felt that Daryl was moving around quite a bit in her tummy. Worse still, she saw some signs of premature birth as it wasn't the due date yet ...

18 Years Ago

I was just a kid at the time, and the things that took place in Beijing were distant to me. I didn't understand what was going on, and I didn't understand its impact on our homeland either. The only thing I remember is that my dad was crying when he saw the tanks approaching, and what the army did to their own people.

I hope Daryl would find out what had happened on that fateful day 18 years ago. I hope he will remember, and I hope that every Chinese in the world will remember.

Studio 123

We never knew how tiring a photo-shoot can be. We know now, and it was us who were exhausted. Daryl was still playing and laughing at the end, as if he wanted to stay behind and spend the night there.

Swimsuit Model

Any major magazines looking for a smart and lovely kid as a swimsuit model? Why not Daryl? He's young, he's lovely, and he's available! Please call his agent for details. Thanks.

Daryl's First Kiss

Was given to a gorgeous model (on a leaflet).

Daryl and His Car

Daryl visiting the playground, where he tried out the latest model of a blue 4X4 jeep, made of technologically-advanced materials - hard plastic.

Studio Daryl

We must have been bored.

A couple of days ago, we decided to set up a temporary studio and bought some poster colours, drawing paper and things like that.

And take a look at some of his very first works.

Don't think that we were forcing him to do so. He was laughing and yelling all the way. And most importantly, he was not harmed by the poster colours as we washed them all away immediately.

Hey Sotheby's, interested in selling some of his works for us?

Letter from Santa

In May, of all time.

Last November, in anticipation of Daryl's first ever Christmas, we decided to write to Santa Claus in Finland, hoping that he would send us some gift or souvenir. Yet as Christmas went by and 2007 had arrived, we never got or heard anything from him. So we thought that Santa doesn't exist, or may be dead.

But now this. We finally received Santa's reply today (Daryl's 11-month birthday incidentally), and although it's not a hand-written letter, it is a reply nonetheless. Now we can tell Daryl that Santa DOES exist and is alive and kicking. But since he's a very old and busy man (or woman? Well, who knows?), we really have to give him ENOUGH time (say, six months?) to reply us.

So I'd better stop now and start writing to Santa again for this year's Christmas.

Daryl the Poet

Daryl's secret gathering place with fellow poets, somewhere in Kowloon. (No, not the one with panties hanging at the window.)

Spelling Bee

This is how my name is spelt!

Things You Don't Know about Daryl

We, being the notoriously thrifty parents, always buy clothes at least one size too large for Daryl, hoping that he can wear them for as long as possible. While the loose fit outfit makes him a fashion diva with an extremely lovely hip-hop look, it has also given him trouble.

Last week Daryl was wearing a pair of ultra loose khaki shorts and while I was helping him stand during a meal in a restaurant with my family, his shorts simply slid along his legs onto the chair on which he was standing.

Luckily no one (except me) witnessed it firsthand (I found out at least 10 seconds after the pants were gone). Otherwise they would have laughed or even choked to death.

Or he would have been arrested by the Police for indecent exposure.

...

Perhaps it is just babies' nature, I simply have to admire Daryl's courage for expressing explicitly his desire for something which we may find a bit embarrassing.

A number of witnesses have confirmed that Daryl becomes especially happy and excited when being carried by "busty" women. And some have even pointed out that Daryl would touch (but never fondle or caress, for that matter) their breasts with his tiny and soft hands.

This clearly and surely explains why Daryl doesn't like to be carried by me.

And for the record, I never teach him that trick. So don't sue me.

...

We may be in line for the Nobel Prize for discovering a perfect and easy cure for insomnia.

For those of you not being able to have a good sleep night in and night out, here is a simple suggestion.

Buy a baby car seat, strap yourself into it and ask the driver to start driving. I can guarantee that you will fall asleep within seconds.

Still skeptical? Just ask Daryl and he will tell you how well he sleeps when he's traveling in our car.

Pretty Potty Play

Breaking news: Daryl nailed his potty test in flying colours earlier today. He never missed the target and was a perfect two-for-two, despite playing in an incomplete kit (look, his shorts are missing!) in front of the capacity crowd (his nanny and, well, his nanny).