Xavier - 2 Weeks

Here are some newer pictures of Xavier. It was taken using my Sony Cybershot Camera and had been edited within before being posted up here. I hope my wife now will see how important for us to get a decent camera with bells and whistles features. Anyway here goes, how my little boy grow from one week to another...

"Hi dad..."

"Wha ?? Candid ?"

"Me and my milk bottle..."

"I'm a thinker :D"

Our New Home

Short of one month after Xavier (meaning "new house") is born I was asked to go and collect the keys to my new house. It may not have been something that I had expected but at the least, I was also satisfied after seeing all the other "offerings".

Named "Suriamas" and located quite close to Sunway Pyramid, our little apartment is only around 1300 square feet and boasts with 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 study room and a yard. We actually had put on the down payment to book the unit in 2005 but alas, finally it's completed now in 2008.

When I first arrived at the unit, I was telling myself; "Hell, I had been paying my butt off for a unit that is of this size only ?". It certainly looks much different when I was at the showroom back in 2005 ! Maybe it's me; a renovated unit may look much better later huh ? After taking a few pictures of here and there, locating a bit of defects here and there and complaining to the site supervisor, then I insist to go and look at the facilities instead.

Located at the second floor of he apartment, the facilities includes a swimming pool, fountain, "hanging garden", badminton hall, gym, tennis court, nursery, salon, convenience shop and a restaurant - all within the compound of the apartment. You know, when you stay in a close community like this; this is the kind of facilities you would be willing to pay for. Although I may have other rants about the unit itself I guess the term "You get what you pay for" is always true. We should not demand too much when we are not in the position to pay for a more luxurious life.

Xavier and his multiple faces

"What are you up to there ?"














"Hey, mommy is taking the pump..."














"And using it..."














"OMG !!! It's a lot !!!!"














"Are we having supper tonight ?"

First time...

Okay, okay, I'm not going to blog something about Xavier's first mosquito bite or first smile. Rather, I'm going to blog about myself. FIRST DAY I CHANGE AND FOLD DIAPERS !!!!

It's not those "pampers", "huggies" or "mamypokai" in which you see at the tv ads, rather it's those plain cloth where we used to wear when we ourselves were infants. Initially I was wondering why the shape can be so odd - it's triangle in shape and at the middle it's like a pad. It's actually a square piece of cloth folded until like that - to be used as a diaper of course.

To fit the diaper onto the baby is not such a bit issue. I saw nurses as well as my mother in law doing it and instantly I get to go around with the technique. I get to wear the first diaper for my baby boy around 12pm today. It's nothing to be shout about because it's fairly easy (even the safety feature of the safety pin did not manage to elude me)

Just when I came back from work later, I saw some unfold clothings at the sofa of my in-laws house and hence I took the liberty to help my mother-in-law fold them. Just when I was about to fold Xavier' clothes, my mother-in-law came passing by and asked, "Eh ? You know how to fold a diaper ?". I was dumbfounded and look at her with a gaping mouth... "Errr... no ?", I replied while shaking my head.

She then proceed to demonstrate to me upon how to "bungkus" (pack) the square shaped cloth into those odd shape diaper in which I had used in the afternoon. It's quite interesting considering the fact that I kinda like origami when I was younger. Initially I was having difficulties because the cloth itself is not really like a piece of paper, you cant fold and keep them in shape that easily. What's more you now need to fold according to a certain size and thickness expectation so that the baby does not complains while wearing it... So I bit the bullet and despite promising myself, Michele and baby that I'll be the cool dad; I'll took the challenge ! It takes around 20 minutes to fold those mere 8 diapers but what the hell, at least at the end I managed to get it all done ! (Hopefully my son wont reject them tomorrow though... )

So there you go, first diaper change and first diaper fold lesson. I had also learned about preparing milk last Sunday and the cold and hot water quantities mixture. So what's next ? I'm like a young boy awaiting to learn new things everyday now !

Arrival of Xavier : Coincidence ?

"The way God works are mysterious", were some of the phrases that I had heard quite frequently - real life or in movies. Now if I tell you that someone had painted a picture of my destiny from the day I got married right till the day I die, do you believe me ?

It started off back at the day when I got married and having the dinner banquet. I was making a speech to thank my in-laws and touching upon the topic "Giving them grandchildren". I somehow did mentioned upon the coincidence that I get to date my wife on the 21th of June 2002 and then got married and signed the papers on the 21th of June 2006. That was in the year 2007 and I hinted that we have even have a child on the 21th of June 2008 !

What occurred next is that we did managed to conceive a baby on October 2007 in which ties back to the due date of around the beginning of July 2008. Well, we nearly did hit the 21th of June 2008 as I mentioned a year ago but oh well... our baby Xavier came out slightly late - 26th June 2008 and I'm not complaining...

So how did I stumbled upon the name Xavier ? I once had a boss whose name is Xavier Tan. I'd reckoned that he was quite a man whom I admired - apart from all the lousy bosses I had all these days (even until today !). Yet, it's not like you would find the name Xavier running on the streets everywhere - like I put it; if you drop a huge signboard and kill the patrons off the mamak stall; 6 out of 10 chinese killed would carry the surname "Wong".

So Xavier is my first choice when I get to know it was a boy during Michele's 4th month of pregnancy but at the 7th month of pregnancy, someone did asked me "What does Xavier means ?". If you check out some sites over at the internet (http://www.babyhold.com/list/Basque_Baby_Names/Xavier/details/), Xavier is an Arabic, Muslim or Spanish name which means "New House" or "Owns a new house". Now what surprises me is that, I had just received a letter from my developer that we will be getting the keys to our new house now ! 1 week after our baby is born ! Coincidence ?

To sum it all up, I'm also giving him a very rare chinese name in which not many would have heard before. My wish for him as a daddy is that he will not grow up to be like any commoner as we all are today - work, eat, sleep. I wish he would be someone who is as unique as his name were given to him, think out of this forsaken box of rat race, someone useful and to be remembered and honored by all.

Happy Birthday Xavier !

It may not be appropriate to cut this cake yesterday because mommy was still in her anesthetic. So we decided to cut the cake tonight because all my colleagues came and there are no more "anticipated" visitors for the day already.









So here we are, celebrating Baby Xavier's birthday with him. Of course being 0 (zero) years old does not need to blow any candles right ?











Hence, we just do the honors and cut the cake for him ! Baby were pushed back to the nursery because they do not want baby to











Here are my colleagues who came this evening. They are Koay, Damien and Ai Vee. I am so glad that they took the trouble to drive all the way to Klang to see the new Lim family.

The new Lim family

The new Lim family
Originally uploaded by jamescklim

This may be the first picture of the new Lim family from now on. Now, who does baby resembles more ? Me or mommy ?

Mommy is fine today

Mommy is fine today
Originally uploaded by jamescklim

Fri 27/06/2008 10:30 27062008049 Michele had woke up and were brought to see little Xavier just now. Although I can see she was in great pain but her determination to see her baby had enabled her to slowly limp all the way to see her little boy at the nursery. I can't deny that this is the first time I see such strong spirit within her. Well done my dear !

Xavier's first meal (3)

Lifeblog post
Originally uploaded by jamescklim

'Milk is my first meal on earth ? Now, can some one get me something more interesting ? Milk shake should just do the trick !'

Xavier's first meal (2)

Lifeblog post
Originally uploaded by jamescklim

'Ahhhh... Come on, I'm a good boy and opened my mouth wide wide already !'

Xavier's first meal (1)

Lifeblog post
Originally uploaded by jamescklim

' *Yawn... hey I just came out. Can I get my milk ?'

The morning before cesearean

This is the last look of Michele being pregnant with Xavier in her. Our little boy had been moving quite frequently in her tummy before this. Now that he's out, I guess we now can give mommy a break. :)

Aunts and God-Aunts...

Okay, okay... since both of my sister and Godsister had volunteered to snap a pic of themselves with my camera, I'll just post it up here for them to link back to their own personal blog.

This is the new aunt...













... and this is the new "GodAunt" (Do they have such term actually ?)

Anyway congratulations to you both for being an official "aunt" from today on... hehehe

Here comes the party...

9pm and the party of people started coming in one by one. First was my good old brother Chin Nan who brought a bouquet of flowers for Michele. He arrived at around 8pm and kept me company.

Next came the GodFather of Xavier at 8:40pm. He was so excited about seeing his GodSon that he tried to finish his week's work within 2 days - hence rushing all the homework and such.

Finally my parents came around 9pm in which they requested to see baby Xavier in a closer look and here are the pictures taken.

Okay, he's out... it's time for ...













Photos !!!!













"Now what are you looking at ?"

"Muhibbah..."

Okay, first picture of me. The 2 guys you see over here are the 2 fathers of the day as well. Both of them had managed to survived more than 12 hours of waiting, anxious and finally excitement from the wait of a lifetime - parenthood.

Though I do not know their names but the Indian chap had just delivered a baby boy in the afternoon while the malay chap had gotten a baby girl in the evening. That's what we call it Muhibbah here, we are of different culture but yet our babies are born at the same day in the same place in which we would never argue or hate each one or another.

Gifts

Flowers for mommy. Little cake for baby and baby for both daddy and mommy !!

After lunch and nappy time

Kiddo just ate again. Wow, ever since he was brought out, he ate 3 times ! (4 maybe because I was out lunch earlier). Outside they were saying that we need to feed the baby at 3 hours interval. Ok ok. I'm learning... He sure eats a lot for a small size he is but I guess it's just part of growing up. :)

Anyway many babies had been discharged since morning. Like hotel, the checkout time is at 12pm and I guess the are not so keen upon late checkout for obvious reasons.

So here I am now, waiting to share our bundle of joy with Michele, I'm tired but sleepless. I think I want to buy flowers :)

Mommy in pain and sleeping

I guess those who had went through cesearean would admit that it's really no fun facing the pain after the whole ordeal. Michele is now lying here sleeping with 2 bottle of drips and a machine constantly monitoring her blood pressure.

My son Xavier Lim and his multiple faces

Okay, now I can express how I felt earlier...



I was dumbfounded when I first saw this little guy coming out of the operation theater... "Is this mine ? Hey, he cries a lot !". I spent around 5 to 10 minutes trying to convince myself that this little guy is going to replace me, represent me, take care of me (hopefully) and bring forward my family name.





In the meanwhile, I was also worried about my wife Michele who is still at the operation theater until then.

Here's a little fact; when babies are born, their eyes does not open yet. In fact my little boy was having difficulties opening one eye as of now (1pm). Nevertheless, he did responded to me when I started telling him, "Hey little guy, I'm the one who keeps on talking to you when you're in mommy's stomach you know..."

Instantly he stopped crying and peep at me with that single eye. Then, he sneezed !!! And back cry again... LOL

Many thanks to all well wishers who had sms-ed me earlier. I was not able to pick up the phone, reply your sms due to forseen circumstances (too excited). I'll continue to upload more pictures here as I see fit. Now both baby and mommy is resting at the hospital while I just managed to get back here, edit my blog a bit before rushing back to the hospital.

Baby is out !

Baby is out !
Originally uploaded by jamescklim

Welcome to earth my son. :) I really dunno what to do. He was crying and crying and here I am talking to him. He listened and stop a while then back to his cries again. Ha ha. He weights 2.9kg.