7 weeks old

Elisha turned 1 month a bit more than 2 weeks ago. She is such a cute little girl, gentle, calm, and pretty! With her, I feel like time is passing by too quickly. Inevitably, with Jonathan still under 2 (20 months) years old, I end up spending most of the time with him while my wife looks after her day-to-day needs (feeding!).

Older parents around us keep on saying all the hard work of parenting is worth it. I don't know. This is a tough gig, and I guess all I can wish for is that it all pays off, somehow, sometime in the future. Otherwise the whole thing is pretty hopeless really. I love them to bits, no question about that. But loving them doesn't mean I can't admit it's difficult to function day to day, to juggle between chores, work, play, looking after them... etc. (My wife will not like this, she doesn't even feature on the top three on this list...... my bad).

Elisha was born on the 5th of May, 2015. A big little girl - 4.3kg. Dani had a lightning fast labour - so fast that there was no time for even an IV and not to say an epidural. No nothing but holding on to my arms and hands. She did it the good old fashioned way!

Elisha is a little treasure from the heaven above - arrived just 18 months after little Jonathan was born. I pray that she'll grow up to become a smart, happy and healthy person. With 2 under 2 in the house, it is interesting times ahead!!

Finally, after months of having my mother helping out with Jonathan, we're on our own. Things of course were easier when she was around, an extra pair of hands always help. Now it's me, 17 month old Jonathan, and Dani who is 33 weeks pregnant. 

Things are settling in, nicely. J is getting used to go to Day Care... I've got a bit of work lined up, everything seems to be in order... but not for long!!

Mexx, Target and google glass

Less than 3 months after we left Calgary, two of our favourite stores announced they will be closing in 2015. Target opened in Canada before we went to Calgary in mid 2013. We bought some of Jonathan's best clothes from Mexx.

It's certainly a world where the fittest survives. Let's see what 2015 brings. In a few days, we'll be starting a new chapter in our journey again, how long we'll be staying in Melbourne this time round?

Grandparents

Our grandfathers love baby Jonathan to bits! 

Christmas 2014

Christmas this year is quite different from last year's. Jonathan was a bit more than 2 months then and he is now a confident 14 month toddler with a mind of his own. Snow vs grass, winter vs summer, next-to-no-family vs all the siblings on both sides of the family coming home in the next few days.

It is also probably the last Xmas we get to have some "quiet time" as a couple... our yet-to-be-born baby (girl!) will be just a bit more than 6 months old next xmas, while he'll be... a bit more than 2. Our family has expanded from 2 members to 4 members in a... fairly short time.

I look forward to 2015, a challenging, exciting year.

Parenting

Even in the toughest times I want to blog at least once a month. The last month has been one of those. Well.. there are still a few days left before the end of the month but at least today is practically Dani's last day of work. Help is near!

I've been babysitting for the last 3 weeks, alone, at home with 13 months old Jonathan. Make no mistake, I love him to bits. Yet it is hard work. I thought studying for college finals was hard, no, med school was probably harder, but no, parenting, yes, parenting not babysitting as he is MY son, is the hardest.

My mum of course will say the hardest times are yet to come, wait till he goes to school, gets his car licence, relationship troubles.. you name it. My mum is of the view that you don't stop being a parent - till you die. She is forever proud that she "stayed at home" for 2 years when I was born, no outings, no movies, no dinners out, nothing. She is, that dedicated.

Of course there are other things to blog about; I finished my fellowship in Calgary this month, the movers came and packed everything a few days ago. We will sell our car next week, and we're leaving Calgary next Friday! Goodbye to this city which we have called home for the last 1.5 years. 

Jonathan is having his nap at the moment, after the longest tantrums. I have kind of figured that when he throws a tantrum, it's either milk, food, play, sleep, or diaper, roughly in that order. Instead of cleaning up the house, checking emails, I thought, today, was the time to blog this month.

Fire in manhole...

See the contrast between the buildings on the left and right... the west downtown core was out of power for 4 whole days earlier this month..

Seeing the sunny side of things.. this is what I'm talking about. Thanks Mayor Nenshi!

Among city officials, only Mayor Naheed Nenshi would posit a possible explanation, albeit a cheeky one for a city bedevilled lately by fire, September snow and flooding.

“I have been doing my own analysis of the situation, and I have pretty much ruled out zombies and aliens. Zombie aliens, however, still remain in question.”

On Parenthood

Being a parent is hard. Let's not beat around the bush about it. It's hard because all of a sudden you're overwhelmed with this sense or responsibility. You, after-all  brought this child to this world. The kid is totally dependent on you (or your delegate, in our case, my poor mum..) for everything. Starting from the time he wakes up, to the time he sleeps. Well, actually, even when he sleeps - as our little one "demands" to co-sleep with us.

Being a parent forces you to grow up - in a sense. I'm sure Danielle would argue I'm still somewhere in that process as I toy with, and increasingly being serious, about the idea of doing a PhD. The need to satisfying one's intellectual curiosity pale in significance in the face of, more pressing needs such as, feeding your family. This is a delicate thing, you see. If not handled properly, could well evolve into a situation where one just having to feed, oneself...

I had the pleasure of looking after Jonathan a few weeks earlier this month. It was a pleasure, no doubt about it. I love him to bits. His giggles would make the most upsetting thing in this world seem insignificant. His refusal to eat, on the other hand, would make you want to pull your (or his?) hair out. Recently I have come to the conclusion that as a parent, you really have no choice but to love your kid unconditionally. For there is no viable, alternative way to live if you don't love your kid. I guess it is also this "unconditional" love that lies the root cause of all this forever endless barrage of often, unwelcome advice that once the kid turns into a teenager, has to endure.

As Jonathan approaches 1 year old in less than 2 weeks time, again I pray and hope that he will grow up to be a confident, healthy little boy in the coming months. I am forever grateful for my dear wife, who brought us this bundle of joy to the family.

Less than 1 month to go till..

Till little Jonathan is 1 years old! See how he's standing next to the suitcase.. aunty Caroline is currently visiting.. he is spoiled to bits at the moment!