Great Expectations

Dearest Phoebe,
You caught a nasty flu bug last week and have a recurring coughing bout that will surface in the nights. I hope you respond to the Chinese medication that we are surreptitously slipping into your night feeds. You would throw a tantrum and crying fit when we make you take your medication! So I really hope the Chinese meds kick in fast else your coughing fits will really disrupt your sleep. Do bear with the weird medicinal taste in your night feeds. (Yes, Daddy did sample your Chinese meds and it has this earthy, bark-like taste. Not too palatable but fortunately, it comes in a small capsule.)

Daddy and Mummy took a break from work last Wednesday to bring to for a CareBear show at DownTown East. Mummy and you took two rides on the CareBear train. You clamoured for more but the rides were just too dear! In retrospect, Mummy said that she would bring you down again for the train ride before the CareBear show ends it run. We also saw the indoor Ferris Wheel at E-Hub while lunch was a non-event at the SuperDog outlet whose only saving grace was its vantage view of the Ferris Wheel. I remembered you were scoffing down the bite size bits of sausages while going "throat uncomfortable, eat too much sausage" in between bites. You had a nasty run-in with poor quality sausages a couple of months back and somehow you were recalling it during lunch that day! We rounded up the day viewing the dance ensemble by the CareBears, culminating in a miscalculated photo op with two prancing CareBears. You were too focused with the protaganists of the ensemble to face the camera! But, you had fun dancing with the other kids! All I can say that your relationship with CareBears go way back when you were just a wee baby.

On Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day with a sumptuous seafood dinner at One Fullerton. It's a swanky waterfront area with many restaurants and coffee joints. As usual, you paid scant interest to the food as you were probably more fixated with the two Merlions outside the restaurant. Ah Gong, Ah Ma and your cousins took turns bringing you out to view the tourist icons in their evening splendour. Mummy and Daddy took the opportunity to have a peaceful sit-down dinner. You even managed to scoff a toy tour bus from one of the wait staff by turning on your charms! It was a really enjoyable dinner.

The Father's Day weekend was a first for Daddy and it got me thinking about this whole Daddy-Father thing. Fatherhood to Daddy means a role with certain responsibilites. With such responsibilties, certain expectations are bound to follow. It got me thinking about your role as our daughter and our expectations of you. At times, I think I am guilty of extrapolating your responsibilites into unjust expectations prematurely and I do get frustrated when you do not meet my expectations. Do you get frustrated when I fail to meet yours? I'm sure you have had your fair share but with this in mind, we would have to find our common ground as a cohesive family unit with our expectations of each other in line. In the meantime, be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

PS: Daddy's expectations of you can be summmarised by the lyrics excerpted from a folksong by Barry Louis Polisar
"If you were a castle, I would be the moat.
And if you were the sea, I would learn to float.
If I was a flower growing wild and free,
All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.
And if I was a tree growing tall and green,
All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves."

Celebrating Father's Day

Dearest Phoebe, we had good fun over the weekend as we celebrated Father's Day even though you are nursing a bad cough which has been going on for over a month. On Saturday, we visited the museum again since we prefer a less crowded place. But before that, we had breakfast at Park Mall's Dome. It was a nice nostaglic feeling as Daddy and Mummy used to chill out there. While at the national museum, we were pleasantly surprised that the statue of David was still around as Daddy had thought it was just temporary. Nonetheless, you were awed by his sheer size. We then headed to the murmurs playground where you enjoyed yourself tremendously.



On Sunday, we chilled out at home before heading to One Fullerton to celebrate Father's Day with Ah Gong. We took some time in the afternoon to draw a card (a big card) for Daddy. It was a combined effort between you and mummy. You helped in the pasting and colouring while mummy did the rest. You were so proud of the artwork as you handed it to Daddy yourself. Mummy hopes over time, you learn to appreciate Daddy's love for you better. If not for Daddy, mummy would have still been struggling with post-natal blues for a longer period of time. For months after you were born, Daddy would wake up middle of the night to put his hand on your chest to make sure you were sleeping soundly. And whenever mummy needs him for a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, he would be there for us. That's Daddy dearest.

Baby, SOoooO Happy! (Même Histoire)

Dearest Phoebe, we had a great weekend but Daddy had to spend Sunday evening away from you and Mummy due to another family commitment. I had to attend the wedding dinner of your Auntie Pei Fen and your newly minted Uncle Sean Teo.It was a rather grand affair and Daddy took the opportunity to catch up with your other Uncles present at the dinner. Some of them enquired about your absence and I explained that you were just recovering from your nasty bout of cough.
Earlier in the day, we took the NEL to Clarke Quay where you fell madly in love with a pink elephant mascot for some Japanese pharmaceutical firm. You kept giving it "Big Hugs" (in your own words) and you actually shed tears when we had to tear you away from your newfound inanimate friend. You also enjoyed some yummy gelato (just a little) while you shouted "Baby so happy". I guess you were probably experiencing a sugar rush!
Mummy and Daddy were pleasantly surprised at the way you emote your feelings; however, last week, you were involved in an early morning shoving match with Daddy as you were extremely upset as Daddy tried to get near you. I responded in kind by shouting at you (Daddy's dynamite stick temper at work again). Mummy was rather distressed but she offered kind words of advice that by raising my voice at you would most likely perpetuated the myth that shouting is condoned in this household. I agree with her wholeheartedly. As parents, we are in a privileged position as our kids look to us for guidance, sustenance or simply a hug to say "I miss you!". I guess I didn't even realised the privilege I have or how I was abusing it. I was so relieved that Mummy reminded me with her kind words.
Last week was probably a rough week for Mummy and Daddy. Mummy had to grapple with some delegate visit and a gala dinner with VIPs. Daddy messed up on other fronts. We stumbled and were trying to find our footing. I am really glad that we rounded up the week with our steps in synch.
Phoebe, for what it's worth, at least we still have each other.
Be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

Bubbles bubbles everywhere

Make You Feel My Love

Yesterday, I saw sadness in your eyes as you leaned your weary chin on Mummy's shoulders when we went out for our evening outing. Your usual radiant black pools for eyes seems glazed over with sadness tinged with hints of tears.
It was most probably due to the fact your favourite playmate, Cindy has gone home for the school hoildays. We expected you to bawl and kick a fuss when Cindy left. As she boarded the taxi with Ah Ma, I heard you say "It's alright", somewhat resigning yourself to fate.
Well, Phoebe, you are really attached to Cindy but as a teenager she has her own commitments to pursue.
In life, we have to accept the good, the bad and all the rest that fall in between. For you, my darling angel, are the good I accept wholeheartedly.
Be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

Miss Golden Sun

Something hilarious happened last night; we were on our way back from Ah Ma's house when we saw Ah Ma's neighbour. As it was quite dark at the park and the auntie was a distant away, mummy told her rather loudly "We saw your son went upstairs already," as we gathered that the auntie was waiting for her son at the park. Shortly, you started looking into the dark sky. Moments later, you looked at me and asked," Where's the sun?"
Daddy and mummy really broke into laughter! Silly girl...the sun had set, and if there is one still around, you are the golden sun :-)

Chip off the old block

Dearest Phoebe, Daddy is penning this entry while looking at some photos we took over the weekend. I would also like to comment about Mummy's past blog entries. Well, as you might have read, Mummy and I do engage in some verbal jousting or verbal sparring as I do attempt to crack some jokes at Mummy's expense.
But all these are done in the name of good fun, I have known Mummy since mid 1994 and we have hit it off ever since. We have rather similar interests and we have enjoyed many a cuppa while talking about our interests and anything that happens to be on our mutual agenda.
Thesse days after our Sat morning classes, we would head off breakfast at coffee joints and you would naturally partake in our coffee sessions. This particular weekend, you were enjoyin' some Mocha Mudslide with some good ole New York bagel at Suntec City. Probably you knew you needed to get your energy level up for the koi feeding session later.
Well, as you grow up, Daddy will probably see some of my character traits in you. For starters, I can confidently say you would be a coffee lover! Just look at the way you indulged in the Mocha Mudslide.
Be good and smile pretty, Daddy dearest.