The Day You Were Born

Daddy and Mommy checked in Thomson Medical at around 5.30am today. Mommy didn’t get to sleep much that night. She was constantly thinking about the possibility of the pain after the surgery. You have to know that Mommy has a self-proclaimed zero tolerance for pain threshold.

This is Mommy’s final back shot with you in her tummy, and her lying down just before getting wheeled out for the operation prep. 

  

Poor Daddy had no idea where to wait except to take a nap in the waiting lounge for the next hour. Intriguingly, Daddy is an extremely calm person for a man who is expecting his first child. I have little idea why. I am excited but not seemingly overwhelmed.

Was it because you came to us at the right time, at the right place and with the right mental maturity? Or was it Daddy was confident that God will take care of everything whole-heartedly? I am certain that I am not couldn’t-be-bothered. No matter what the real reason was, I want you to know that you meant a whole world to us. And so here we go!

Mommy had to be cut at the tummy because you didn’t want to turn into the correct position. You are probably that same kind of enigma like Daddy: We like to do things our way occasionally. That said, it didn’t mean we hated you for it. Instead we are glad that you have made a choice for Mommy. Both natural birth and caesarean has their pros and cons. You chose for Mommy to take the quickest route out which probably saved her plenty of hours of agony. It was quick. Real. Quick.

Daddy only had to wait less than 5 minutes after walking past Mommy’s cut up tummy. Mommy had little sensation from chest down but I have to still try to distract her from the possible distress while peeking at what’s going with you and Dr Tham. This is the gynae that delivered you! He is called Benjamin too! 

First the legs, then the flailing arms, and finally your very first cry as the air gets into your lungs.

And there you were: Gabriel Ho Chen Xi.

At first look, you have Mommy’s luscious lips and that undeniable dimple on your left cheek. It wasn’t obvious and sharp yet but it’s definitely a good inheritance from her. We are still undecided on whose nose you took after though. Eyes-wise, we are betting on you looking like Daddy. The long slits probably indicated big eyes like mine and lastly that little mop of hair takes after me as well.

Daddy had this crazy idea of marking you with a pen, just in case you were mixed up with other babies born around the same time. But after seeing you, that nonsensical idea was shelved. You totally look like us. You are US! I forgot about the pen anyway.

Born exactly 0802 hours, you weighed in at 3.235kg with a head circumference of 34cm and the height of 49cm. Daddy is pretty sure you are taller than that! Mommy was constantly worried that you may be a small baby but hey! 3.2kg isn’t too shabby. In fact I think you’ve got Daddy’s physical genes: Pretty muscular to start with!

Daddy and Mommy are so glad that you arrived safe and sound. Everyone who visited you gave you their prayers in hope that you will grow up healthy and sound. We love you a lot and that we promise to make sure that you will be brought up well. Daddy will continue to write about you but before that let’s have a family shot together shall we?

Our first comfortable family picture together. I mentioned “comfortable” because the first picture we took together in the operating theatre, Daddy looked like a prick -.-

 Oh yes one last thought about Daddy’s legendary calmness: Was it the natural counter effect of Mommy’s anxiety? The more she uptight she gets, the more I become. Imagine BOTH of us are anxious. Someone’s have to stay chill and cool to run the show you know ;)

Some other pictures of you with the rest of the family: