First day out

Last Monday, we took Zoe for her first day out. Packed with some spare diapers, wet tissues and the prem, we headed by taxi to the Joy Clinic. This is the practice of Dr Gordon Tan, whom we would like to thank for the follow up of Cheryl's pregnancy, delivering Zoe via a CS and for all his prayers over Zoe.


Afterwards, we took her to Orchard Road for some shopping.

Zoe's time is not our time, so we had to pause in Isetan's The Coffee Club for her feeding and for Mum to enjoy a pumpkin soup!




Then we drove her to Mum's workplace so her colleagues could see her, followed by a relaxed afternoon at our flat in Oldham Hall .. where I enjoyed having a short nap with Zoe, breathing gently on my naked chest and my wife next to me.



Precious moments for Dad !!

Sink Twice

Today, I thought I'd write on something else than babies..

Living in a multi racial, - cultural and - relgious environment, I am faced every day with communication and social challenges. People around me speak in turbo language, use 3 letter words for nearly everything: a few days ago, I saw a small school boy, carrying a heavy back pack nearly his size. I asked him what was the heavy weight - not understanding he suffered 15 Kgs of books - and he replied: "CCS!" . Naievely, I asked him what that was and I got a nasty look back!
Then, some words are repeated 3 times for no reason either.. "Wait, wait, wait ... check my PDA-lah!"

A few months ago, I came accross this VDO clip from a language school (which I do not really endorse herewith) of a German coast guard novice ... I particularly enjoyed it because I am mixed Belgian/German, grew up in that culture and can nearly "smell" the circumstance.

Enjoy it! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOIThDgL4Tc)



Another hillarious mix of cultures is a caucasian man, singing a Bollywood song.

Shall we dance? .. click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=2FNkUswfQdI

Just Hands ..

..

One does not say much when holding hands like this...

Into Confinement

Cheryl has entered her maternity leave and moved to her parents place today. The Chinese community is very family oriented. Married children live with their parents, till they can afford their own flat. The elder live with their children to be cared for. Many sick and old are nursed by their own families. Many Asian countries have no or lack in the social welfare system, as known in the western countries and rely on their own families. It has pros and cons. The con was today: when I picked up the hospital bill!


It is very common for a daughter, during the first month of her maternity leave, to stay with their mother or mother-in-law. The newly promoted mother will enjoy the home cooked food and both Mum and baby will be pampered by the experienced mother, who will help the baby to nurse, cook special confinement food for Mum's fast recovery. (more on this later as and when I learn about it myself)

This morning we checked out of our “hotel” aka Mount Alvernia Hospital and were driven by one of our friends to Zoé’s new temporary home. She liked the drive and slept throughout. ha! ... I must admit this is partly due because Marsli, our ‘driver’ treated all of us like a special convoy and did not exceed the 60 Km mark (which by the way, is on most roads the max speed here!)

Eventhough I did not stay overnight in the hospital, tonight is a night without wife and baby. I miss them dearly, ... both. The last 2 days, I enjoyed being with my daughter alone…just me and her…gazing upon her beauty…she gently smiling a few times, but also pulling some less pretty faces. ( I guess she was either trying to pass some wind or maybe some other less fragrant stuff!)

At one of those moments, I realized something revealing. As I was looking at her, suddenly a sense of love came over me, a few tears rolled …
and felt God inspiring me that this is the way how He looks at me all the time as His child and how much He loves me. Now I understand even more…

...

Zoé … Gift of Eternal Life

Today was Zoé‘s third day







Some of her features changed. Her face was a bit fuller and her legs – long ones as it seems – felt rather powerful when she was lying on my lap and pushing them into my (fat) belly. I had felt the kicks when she was inside her Mum’s tummy, but not as strong as this..


Our dear friend Heather flew in from Bangkok as a surprise visit, just for the week end. She has been a good friend to both of us for nearly 10 years and been very instrumental in bringing both my wife and I together.

Today, many Church friends came to see Cheryl and Zoé, bringing many gifts, for which we all thank you deeply from our hearts. It is so lovely to see all these mothers bringing diapers, wipes, baby clothes and even a breast pump! … and at the same time giving all kind of advice to the new promoted Mum.


Most people say, she looks very much like Dad. I guess, when you look at her pinkish skin colour and her hair (all the other babies look obviously all Chinese with black hair).

Today, I saw her three times making some facial expression similar to a smile, but am not sure if I am over enthusiastic!

Choosing a name for our child was not easy: first we wanted a name meaning “Joy”. Secondly, a name that can be pronounced here in Asia and internationally without too many problems ( want to know how many times I need to spell out my name?) … though we found out in the meantime that this name also poses some hurdles…anyway, Cheryl decided on the name.

After some research we also found out that the name has a Greek meaning: Life !

Actually, it is “Eternal Life”, very much the same Greek word Jesus used to describe His Love for all people in the well known verse John 3:16. Pronounced as (dzo-ay'); from the Greek word zao (dzah'-o); which means literally to live.

Her middle name is “Hanne”, coming from Hannah … and thought that using a Dutch way of saying it, would give way of my European roots. We are still looking for an appropriate Chinese name. Any suggestions?

We hope Zoé will be a bringer of Life wherever she goes and be a light to many people.

Bundle of Life

On Friday August 18, 17:02pm, my wife Cheryl delivered a lively baby girl. Weighing 2.889 Kgs for 48.5 cm length. At 38 weeks, the baby was full term, healthy, yet unwilling to turn from the breech position. Dr. Gordon had advised us to go for a caesarian section to avoid any complications with a breech delivery. Last week Cheryl had a dream she was going to give birth on the 18th, so when Gordon advised us for a CS for Friday, we were at peace with it.

Typically my wife (she can still pack one hour and a half before going on an international flight), she was still at her office at 2pm… so after checking in it at Mount Alvernia Hospital it was time for her to get prepared and rolled into the operation theatre.

After I was called in, it was all very quickly done and few minutes later, hardly any time to comfort my wife (who was in good Hands), Gordon announced the birth. Even with a CS it was a bit difficult for her to come out as the umbilical was wound around her hand ( and we were all praying hard for baby to turn! Little one could not even!)

It took a while for her to cry, but believe me that cry is significant when it comes! Breath of Life into her nostrils and out came the cry! I was juggling between my camera, VDO and MP3 to record the historical moments. Hence the remark of Gordon that I seemed to have more attention for my new born than my wife. Well.. I think it is because all went so quick, not having to comfort my wife in hours of labour and even throughout her pregnancy.
She was strong, without any complications and joyful! Just as the Hebrew woman of old in the days of Egypt.

I guess my wife is made to bear more children and obviously that is our desire as well as to adopt a few in the long term..

It is funny how people look at your wife’s tummy and make all kinds of remarks of sizes and moves and then guess what the gender will be. We thought of getting a boy, though we had no clear indications and did not want to get any.. From Cheryl’s face and her (improved) skin complexion, I reckoned it was going to be a pretty baby girl.
We thank God for this Gift of Life and a fast recovery for the happy Mum!

Pasta a la plage

Last night, Cheryl and I, accompanied by another couple from France and their 8 months old baby, went for the last time on a ‘date-just-the two-of-us’

One of the places I really like here in Singapore is an Italian restaurant right on the beach at the East Coast. Unlike many other countries in Asia where you find many sea or river side restaurants - decorated with Christmas lights (all year round!) to create this special atmosphere - Singapore offers very little of this real outdoor eating experience. Hence, this place is usually frequented by expats or locals with a ‘savoir-vivre’. Admittedly, the food is not that gourmet, but portions are big and your bare feet can sit in the beach sand (wherever that sand came from?) and usually there is a cool breeze in the evening to comfort you.

Though we only had one main course and a dessert, it was close to mid night when we left the beach…time flies when you are having fun!

Ironically, the place is up for tender. Singapore knowing, by the end of this month it will go for some upgraded project with junk food and less atmosphere… Then again, my French friends are on their way out to move to New Zealand.


Pasta Fresca …

we hope you will find another beach spot in Singapore soon!

Then I can enjoy my pasta while my kid(s) will enjoy building sand castles..

Wedding of the Century

Last week end I was a witness of a friend’s wedding in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that needs a bit of an explanation.

James was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Bangkok in ’97. He was the pastor of the International Fellowship there and I had been recommended to meet him by friends in Hong Kong.

In the years following, he made a big difference in my life by his Bible expository teaching and mentoring. For 7 years he was even my neighbour! James had to endure much hardship by hearing my “love stories” ( he was the boss of my then to-be-wife ! … who was not at all interested in me – another story to share on.. ) … and was very patient with me.

So: James single, me single and I was asking his advice, counsel and many hours of praying for my wife to be. Every time, I offered James prayer for a wife, whom I thought he deserved more than me! Finally, it was six years of waiting until the day Cheryl finally swayed under my ‘pressure’ and asked me to marry! So, last year April, we asked James to come and bless our marriage.

9 months later he wrote us that he was going to follow our footsteps! What ?? .. Who ??


Surprise on top: the bride is a friend of ours and it is a blessing to see James after all these years of being a faithful man, 'bachelor-in-Christ', staying cool and not panicking - despite years catching up on him -, serving God wholeheartedly all that time … finally finding a good wife to make him an even more complete man!

The location of the wedding was awesomely beautiful, cosy with few guests and not to forget the finger-licking-good-Italian dinner in the evening.

I wish Christine and James all the best in their walk with God and … hope they will soon follow our footsteps again ( do I hear the stork flying in? )

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