Jayden's 2nd Month Swim

Jayden turned 2 months 2 days ago. As a treat, we brought him for a swimming session at HarbourFront.

Now, this is a baby who enjoys his twice daily warm bath tremendously, so we figured that he would definitely love a swim.

Of course, we can't be too sure. Not with him giving us that "are you guys sure about this?" look.

But off we went to the swim centre and got him changed into disposable swim diapers. Every time we take off his clothes, it never fails to amaze me how much he's grown in 2 months.

Then comes the moment of truth, and it was just as we imagined it to be. In fact, it was even better.

Jayden simply loves the water. While all the other kids were crying and wailing their lungs out, the little one can't stop looking excited as he moved his arms and kicked his legs in the water. Very much a natural.

We're definitely bringing him back again some day

I'm a Dad!

Monday, 7th of June 2010 was an extraordinary day, to say the least. I was preparing to go for my hand surgery (to remove some titanium inplants) in the afternoon, but before I did that, I had to accompany Daisy for her routine gynaecological check-up in the morning.

Daisy was already 36 weeks pregnant and by my estimation, we would expect a baby by the end of June. In fact, Daisy already had strong contractions when she was 33 weeks in (she was even admitted for one night), and has been taking medication to delay delivery till the baby is full term. The deal is, for as long as she's taking her meds, she won't deliver. That way, by the time the baby is delivered, my hand would have healed nicely.

But the good Lord had different plans for us. The routine tocographical measurements that morning showed that she's already having contractions at intervals of 10 minutes. The doctor ordered that I cancel my surgery and admit her to the delivery ward that afternoon. I was still in a daze; not entirely sure if the doctor was sure of what she's doing.

True enough, within half a hour, Daisy started feeling the pains of contraction. I called off the surgey while she called the office to say that she won't be coming in, and we just grabbed a few things from home and headed to the hospital.

We've already decided that morning that some epidural would be good. No point making it any more difficult for her, is my thought. Lucky for that thought, for that made the whole experience so much more bearable in terms of pain and anxiety.

We checked in at 12pm. By 2pm, we could hear the gynae going through the other delivery rooms, telling her other patients to "Push!" Just before 4pm, she came into our delivery room. After some checks, she decided, "okay, let's delivery this baby now!" A few "Now, push!" later, my life has changed forever.

Baby Jayden came into this world at 1607hrs and he just amazed both Daisy and myself. After a few cries as he came into this world, Jayden just lay there at the baby cot and started to curiously check out his surrounding.

Almost immediately, Daisy started trying to breastfeed him and within a few minutes, the little baby learned to latch on for sustenance.

Jayden was born exactly a month early, weighing 2.8kg. We stayed 2 nights in the hospital and went home to Daisy's parents place, where we would stay till he's a month old.

Since coming into our lives, he has filled our days (and nights) with anxiety, fatigue and exasperation. More than that, however, he has also filled our lives with joy, wonder, amazement and humility at the goodness of God. If I may say so, he's one heck of a cute baby!

We thank the Lord for this wonderful gift of love and will strive to be good parents.

We would also like to thank all our friends who came, called, SMSed, left messages and sent bouquets of love. We really appreciate your well wishes.

Today, Jayden is one week old. We just got his birth certificate done back at Parkway East Hospital this afternoon. My son is officially a Singapore citizen, haha!

Now that I'm a dad, I'm definitely looking forward to what this next chapter in my life holds!

Ultimate Parker In Asia

I decided a couple of months back to do something a bit adventurous and signed up for the Ultimate Parker In Asia wine grand tasting event. I even got a ticket for my father in law.

So, on the 1st and 2nd of May, I spent the entire weekend sipping fine wine at the Fullerton Hotel Singapore. We did see Robert Parker, but he was too busy with his book signing event to socialise with anyone.

Besides tasting hundreds of fine wines at the Grand Tasting, participants to the event were allocated 3 master classes each, and I chose to attend the following wine master classes; Fine Wines of Austria, The Rise of Cool Climate Syrah/Shiraz Around The World and Landmark Australia.

For Fine Wines of Austria, we tasted the following wines.

2008 Huber Gruner Veltliner, Berg

2008 Jurtschitsch Gruner Veltliner, Kaferberg

2007 Salomon Undhof Kogl Reserve Reisling

2008 Leth Roter Veltliner, Scheiben

2007 Reinisch Rotgipfler Reserve

2007 Temend Sauvignon Blanc, Zeiregg

While Austria is primarily a white wine producing country, we were also fortunate to try some of their best reds.

2006 Juris Pinot Noir, Haide

2007 Markowitsch Rosenberg, Carnuntum

2006 Arachon T.FX.T. Arachon Evolution

2006 Weninger Blaufrankisch, Durrau

2005 Tschida TBA Samling

For The Rise of Cool Climate Syrah/Shiraz Around The World, we tasted a total of 9 wines.

2005 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz, Grampians, Victoria, Australia

2006 Heathcote Estate Shiraz, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia

2005 Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier, Yarra Valley, Australia

2007 Shaw & Smith Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, Australia

2008 Man O'War Dreadnought Syrah, Waiheke, New Zealand

2007 Trinity Hills Homage Syrah Viognier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

2004 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage Petite Chapelle, Rhone Valley, France

2006 M. Chapoutier Cote Roti Les Becasses, Rhone Valley, France

plus a mystery wine, which I forgot to note down, haha!

The last wine master class we attended was Landmark Australia, simply because the bulk of wines we find in Singapore today is mostly from Australia.

Landmark Australia introduces 11 great wines:

2003 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon, Hunter Valley

2002 Pewsey Vale The Countours Riesling, Eden Valley

2007 Shaw & Smith M3 Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

2008 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River

2008 De Bortoli Reserve Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

2004 Wynns Coonawara Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

2007 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

2007 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley

2005 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley

2006 Glaetzer Anaperenna Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley

Seppeltsfield 1909 Para Tawny, Barossa Valley

Yup, that last wine was actually a 101 year old Tawny!

Tasting that century old port wine was a humbling experience. I don't think it's on sale in Singapore, but make a trip to the Seppeltsfield estate, and they will sell you a small 375ml bottle for A$650!

101 year old wine! Now, that's definitely an experience!

Marche

Was at Marche @ 313 Somerset to celebrate one sister's birthday, and another's farewell

More Furniture In The House

This morning, another piece of furniture was delivered to Chai Chee Avenue.

Truly, things will never be the same again... oh boy :-)

Back To Hall

A number of us were back at Raffles Hall over the weekend for Prof Seah's farewell as hall master.

The place have definitely undergone some improvement in terms of structure but it still invokes plenty of memories.

This was the place we called home for 4 years; in fact, 4 of the best years of our lives.

Here's a picture of Block 5 where Daisy and I stayed in during our first year in NUS. We stayed in separate wings, of course. Taken with N97

Ah, the memories!

When There Aren't Enough Trees...