Welcome Aboard!!! Adam First Birthday..

A year ago, I remembered I was pacing along the corridor of the labour ward, waiting for a colleague to come after rounds to help scan me. I was 38weeks pregnant at that time. I was embracing myself to being induced that day. Minus the excruciating details of my abit- staged screams *ahem*,  a final whimper followed by a relieving push, before I heard him. His first cry... There he was, my Adam. My loud-and- strong Adam, screamed of what-the-hell-took-you-so-long, filled the labour ward and thus signalling the start of me being a mother of two *sniffles*.

It was surreal. Nothing that I have prepared my entire life for. No-thing. No, really!!! And I am those exceptionally stubborn people who plan and arrange and prepare. But... this... this walk of motherhood... I can never comprehend nor envisage. And this life journey seriously took me like a tornado (not just me, the house definitely felt and looked like a tornado had literally swept by). Like being on a runaway train and unable to stop. Like being in Hunger Game and trying to survive. Like being in Jurassic Park and try not to breathe or smell like food. You get it. On a second thought, NO YOU DON'T GET IT!!! Unless you are a parent, have two kids and no live-in help. No, husband is not help.

Hahhaa... But that was then...All is well now.. We are thriving now.. We have new routines now... We have survived and only unconditional love and hugs and wet kisses occupy our very crammed room. Many have asked me, 'how is life now, with the second one'. Let me brief it out for you, for some of you who are eager to know.

First newborn is like your first love - teenage puppy love, exciting thrilling with each and every touch. Her coo, her smile, her burp, her poop.. all are very infatuating and you are just blindly in love with all the perfect imperfections. I was nervous and frankly guilty, that I did not felt that instant overwhelming idolisation that I felt with his sister, but as always, time proved that the love was there all along, after all. A second newborn will feel like your true love - mature, stable, protective kind of deeper love, loving all his flaws, taking in his everything that comes in that bundle from God. You may not be aware of his small presence in the midst of the tornado lifestyle that you are living (running after his naked elder sister, rushing for work, hanging laundry while cooking) but when in his absence... his absence will make you crave for his pure presence - his gummy grin, his booming chuckle, his cherub loveliness. It is the type of love you will miss dearly when he is not around and longingly cry until you see him again.

Being a new-mum, most the time you be like super lebih2 over-the-top-everything-want-to-do-everything-and-every-single-thing-must-be-perfect-and-exactly-as-per-stated-in-online-newmother-forums.
Being a second-timed-mum, you make sure both your kids are alive and hold the urge to kill your husband. *chuckles*
Most the time. True story.

But we have done past that right, Adam boy? The first year has flown by ever so fast. You are already standing and much indicative than your sister that sometimes my heart might just burst right open, swollen with pride at all your achievements. I know, we have endured so much more. Honestly, it was a tad exhausting. For the both of us. 

But thank you for letting mummy learn again and catch up with you.

Being the second child myself, I know exactly what second-child syndrome is, how it feels like. Mummy is very much aware of feeling neglected or ignored, therefore, I know always tell you and remind you every night that I love you, very much, for being just the way that you are. Your sister made me a mother. But you.... you made me a better one. In a lot of ways. More patience, less stubborn. More hugs, more kisses, more playtime, less controlling, less obsessive about laundry and that piece of Lego lying on the floor and that biscuit crumbs trail that the ants were feasting on. As long as you are fed, nappy changed... you are a happy baby. Thank you for being such a good and easy baby. Being a boy, you throw less tantrums and less crying bouts when you fall. Even the times (only few times la!) you fell from bed, I saw how you just shrugged it and crawalked (half crawl, half walk) it off. I know from then, that you will be one fine cool boy. You have never fail to amaze, amuse too at times, your daddy and I.


Sighhhhhhh........ *hands on chin* In a fleeting of time Adam have turned one year old! Let's go through the collection of pictures of his birthday party that I have proudly planned for so ever lovingly, shall we?

~Our very first picture of the day!~

~A simple handmade invite~

Longevity noodle (mee sua) with chicken soup and red eggs, all thanks to my awesome mother-in-law

Staging the traditional Zhuazhou *hahaha!* 

Just for fun....

Zhua zhou or 'birthday grab' is actually one of the Chinese customs in China, done during a child's first birthday. The parents place a set of things in front of the child and without any help or distractions or guidance, the child is allowed to pick up things freely. Those things cannot be unfairly purposely be decorated to appear attractive to the child. Whatever things that was hand-picked, will apparently determine the child's inclinations/interests/capabilities for the future. Apparently la.. If you choose to believe... 

Items and their symbolic meanings (think of olden emperor days in the Qing dynasty time)

Stethoscope (doctor/medical career), 

abacus (accountants/statisticians/financing career), 

brush or pen(writer/journalism career), 

stamp *I know super fail, use doctor's stamp because I don't have those proper stamps used in olden days* (high-ranking official/governors/high power career), 

microphone *dunno last time what they use* (singers/artists/entertainment career), 

book (scholar/professionals/studious kind of career), 

measuring or sewing tape (tailor/fashion designer/fashion career/architect), 

cooking utensils (cook/baker/food career/housewife/ househusband -in modern world context), 

chicken drumstick (food prosperity in life), 

coins or money (rich la...), 

toy (will lead an idle life). 

The tradition, said to have started during the Three Kingdoms period, arose following the death of Sun He, the prince of the Eastern Wu Kingdom. His father, the emperor Sun Quan, grew worried about which of his grandsons would succeed him, so a Wu citizen named Jing Yang suggested he place a few items on a plate and ask each of his grandsons to pick something. Sun Hao grabbed a bamboo slip – an ancient form of Chinese paper – in one hand, and an imperial belt – symbolizing royal power – in another. Both were deemed fortuitous choices that led to him being chosen as the new emperor. [The Zhua Zhou Way]

~My cutie Adam's attire before going out~

Supposedly to look like sailor... *haha*

~~Sibling love~~

Happy grandparents colouring the eggs... 

~A blue spread of love for my boy... Daddy mummy jiejie love you very much~

~A family portrait! Blood will always be thicker than water~

~A nest of red eggs with abundance of good fortune and prosperous well wishes~

Red eggs are given out during a child's birth to the maternal family...
If it's a boy, the number of red eggs with be even... And if it is a girl, it will be odd numbers of eggs...
Don't ask me why.. LOL!

Adam's own version of navy theme *loves* 

This very rich moist chocolate cake was totally worth the pound (pun intended!)

Baked and prepared by Swooshy Pink, look her up on her Facebook page! 

My verdict? Not so much of an event decorator, but an excellent baker!

Dear Hubby just grabbed the cake off the fridge, the next day, and merely chomped on the yummylicious cake. No cutting needed. That was how good the cake was. LOL! I swear, true story.

~Chocolatey sweet treats for little guests~

~A pleasant mixture of jellies of aeroplanes, pieces of Lego, robots and sport cars. So deliciously delightful~

~Quench thirst station: cordial drink~

~Nom nom station: Main dishes - Chicken Paella, Pan-fried brinjal spaghetti, Stew lamb, Roasted chicken~

~Finger snacks and appetisers - Panini sandwiches, Devilled eggs, Green apple salad, Cheesy fish, Chilled butter mussels~

Totally the best place to have family/friends gathering @ Coffee Obsession! 

They are located at Jalan Keretapi, on first floor. You won't regret it!!! Seriously..

~Happy Birthday Adam!~

Har har har.. welcome aboard!!!

Thank you dearest family and friends who graced us with your presence, and presents.

Thank you aunties and uncles for your well wishes!

Thank you little boys and girls who came and celebrated and played with Adam boy!

~We hoped all of you had a sailing great time as we did~

"I am a keepsake custom handmade quilt, specially made with much love from Adam's cute newborn clothes and sewn into a blanket of memory"

It is actually a keepsake gift for dearest boy. Remember the keepsake teddy which I had ordered from UK for Maya girl for her polka dot birthday? You can read here. I figured teddy would be too girly for Adam, so I decided on a quilt, especially for him . Sewn from his newborn baju, all my favourite items I picked. *super loves!* 

You can order/enquire them from Quilt Gallery, located in Bangsar. Nah, this is their Facebook page. 

You are welcome. They have done a superbly good job and treated his baju well. They are fast  (and patient) to reply all my queries and work fast too (to follow my dateline and post it back to me)! I sangat like ini style diorang kerja..

~My birthday boy~

We are ever so grazed with much blessings in our life.  Thank you...