During this time our beautiful princess Christiana is 8months old. Yes she can do lots of things, ie stand, vocalize monosyllables, recognize people, hold her own milk bottle and drink to name the least. And now she can even travel long distance by land, nearly 600km south to north, trans-peninsula of Malaysia back to my hometown in Kelantan.
Papa's old room, fast forward 20years, papa's child lying in the same room.
The last time i returned was before marriage, approximately a year and half ago. Since starting work, I've never stepped foot back due to work commitment. I don't think any of my bosses or colleagues would ever understand let alone empathize how difficult it is to travel back to where i belong when we're only allowed 8 days leave in 4months (25days per annum). Nevertheless, its high time for the prodigal son to return and pay some respect!!! together with his new family, for the 1st time (to the sound of drums trembling and gongs beating).
Zzzzz~Don't wake me up, i'm dreaming of papa's childhood.
Mum and dad looks same old, no dramatic changes. Mum is still beautiful and youthful while dad has grown extra strands of grey hair. Both tirelessly working in their respective expertise, closing in their retirement age. Mum does a healthy dose of aerobics 3-4times/week while dad plays badminton vigorously with youthful adults half his age same frequency as mum. Living in a small town with minimal stress level (the bulk coming from their 3 peculiar sons) does wonders in slowing down the clock.
Welcoming lunch for the returning prodigal son.
The dentist, the doctor and the head nurse.
Hey, don't forget about me! I'm...The Princess~~!
Po po's porridge tastes so yummy, kinda taste like Nyonya curry
Just as we finished lunch, Nana woke up from her slumber. She has recovered from the long tiring journey and was puzzled to find a different surrounding. That room was once papa's, used to be decorated with my favorite anime posters, followed by that of my favorite bands. Now all that's left is a poster of a 007 secret agent flanked by his female protagonist and antagonist from the movie "golden eye".
This is Nana's first time in papa's home sweet home. She gradually grew accustom to the new place like a duckling taking to the water. She crawled into each rooms, climbed onto the sofas, quickly familiarizing herself with Ah Ya (grandpa) and Po Po (grandma). She had no qualms with po po feeding her a nice bowl of fish porridge or grandpa carrying her for the 1st time and bringing her on a guided tour around the house.
Ah! No~, Don't let Ah ya and Po po see Nana shame shame like this.
Nana feels so clean and smell so nice , you should pom pom too
and that's my best advice.
Me playing peek-a-boo with Nana behind the phone-busy momma
Dinner that night was simple yet hearty. Huge portion for only the 4 of us. Nana was soundly taking her nap therefore giving us the opportunity to eat and talk. The presentation dished out by the master chef in da house was Rendang chicken, onion ketchup Tenggiri fish, stir fried vegetable and groundnut soup. It was a touch of Nyonya and chinese, enjoyed along with aromatic Siamese white rice.
Food that packs warmth and affection.
Fellowship of the young parents and grandparents.
The next morning Nana woke up cheerful, after having her breakfast and taking her bath. She was dressed up pretty like a doll and ready for play time. Nana surely utilized the large frontier available for her exploration. She would crawl then pull to stand around furniture. She would either observe or squeal with excitement whenever she found something amusing. Po po also bought some musical toys for Nana that is fail-proof to entertain her whenever she gets bored.
Pa pa, thank God i found you. I nearly got lost in this house.
I love it sooo much when pa pa and mami don't have to work.
Otherwise with great grandma also present and uncle Chi Voon back from holiday, Christiana would move from 1 person to another to start a game with them. She warms up with everyone by closing in, studying them head to toe especially their facial features, before showing a charming smile to break the ice and melt our hearts. She is officially the Yong's center of attraction and adorable cutie-pie. Everyone simply wanted to laugh and play with her.
Hi Ah ya, whatcha doing? Come play peek-a-boo with Nana.
Great grandma, lets play hide and seek. I'll count until 10 ok~
Wait..er..how do i count again?
And then its dinner time again. Mom cooked up a feast this time, to celebrate our little family reunion, which was short of Chi Phoy. We feasted on the round table in our dining hall instead of the usual kitchen place. Among the masterpiece created were oven-baked chicken, steam fish, sambal prawns, stir-fried vegetable and herbal kampung chicken soup. We paid compliments to the work of a master chef, and ate to our hearts' full content.
Momma's cooking is the best home-cook food ever.
...and we all unanimously agree to crown mum the undisputed Master chef
award for the infinite year running.
When i woke up the next morning, i was only looking forward to have breakfast at the neighborhood hawker cum restaurant. They sell nice home made noodle with wanton or tender juicy duck meat, besides frying tasty Char Koay Tiaw. I couldn't be grateful enough that their small business is still striving for i so crave the breakfast there, its one of the reasons i miss coming home.
Wonder when will Nana get to eat those delicious non-baby food.
Sleeping without worries, my Christiana's life is blessed.
The next thing we knew, it was dinner time. Eating again! It felt like evening tea and snacks weren't fully digested yet. Mum cooked something simpler than yesterday, bulky nonetheless. Dinner consisted of kunyit tenggiri fish, fried prawns, tofu with crab meat and sliced fresh vegetables. This time we were graced by the presence of guest of honor Christiana who wasn't napping at her usual time.
I could live up till a century by eating these healthy food daily.
Nana decided to crash the dinner party just when it was about to start.
I believe this reserved VIP seat is mine.
I shall climb up and see whats on the table.
Christiana who just woke up from nap right before we started dinner immediately sought attention. She became curious of what was gong on and started to turn busybody, climbing up the chair to see what was placed on the table. She would mischievously reach out and try to grab the rice or food with her bare hands, and kicked up a fuss when we prevented her from doing so. Intermittently we took turns to carry her while eating, before finally sought to pull out a mattress in the kitchen and distracted her with some soft toys.
Its ok if Nana has no teeth, Nana can still dink soup.
Pa pa, can we stay here at Ah ya and Po po's house forever?
After some fish and tofu, Nana was persuaded to play with Mr Bean's favorite teddy bear.
Mum still keeps many of our toys, mainly figurines,
that 1 day will be passed down to Nana and the rest.
Time passes like a gentle stream in my home. It is calm and peaceful away from work anxiety, yet once passes there is no turning back. At the back of my head i dread for this sojourn to come to an end, tomorrow. I wish my work nature wasn't so cruel and demanding that it requires so much discipline to bring myself to work to mention the least, eating up my life and humanity day by day, perhaps one day turning my heart bitter and cold from the constant battering of job demand.
Sleeping beauty Christiana just woke up from afternoon nap.
I always find it peaceful to watch her sleep.
They are my treasures my shining stars,
the reason i eat or breathe,
and why my heart beats.
The only force that maintain my sanity and warms my heart is the living breathing family of mine who looks at me everyday as husband and father. I'm glad and grateful i can return to a house called home with wife and Christiana waiting eagerly for me. I should know my presence and existence at home is much more required than at workplace, hence should spend lesser time toiling and laboring to please my bosses.
Nana watching intently at Ah ya's silver Arowana, then reaching out
trying to gauge its response.
Pa pa Mami, why do we have to leave Ah ya and Po po tomorrow?
The last night at Tanah Merah, i decided to crash dad's badminton party by joining him for a few games with his acquaintances. As i already knew old folks don't enjoy playing with young gentlemen like me so i voluntarily lend my role as a stand-in player when the folks are tired. The last night we decided to eat out at a small neighborhood restaurant to give mum a break. Living in small town there is the displeasure of occasionally bumping into unpleasant narrow-minded "neighbors", whom we learned to politely acknowledge and ignore them like flies which will eventually fly away.
Bathing Nana before the journey home.
The peaceful sleep of a baby sums up our safe and smooth journey.
Next morning after bath and breakfast,we started our journey driving home. It was a fruitful return trip to pay the old ones respect, and nostalgic strolling down memory lane in a house and town i grew up in. I'm proud of my root even though it caused me more difficulties adapting to peers and life in big cities during college days. Stepping out from a humble background has taught me perseverance in the maze of failures while always adhering to the "right thing to do", which more often than not took me longer time to achieve my goals....
Jabberwocky, will you stick with me during troubled times when mami and pa pa are busy?
I foresee that one day Nana's life would be equally eventful if not similar to mine. Therefore i come to comprehend the reasons why i went through tribulations, and still do, is so that one day my daughter(s & sons) may draw from me the wisdom and support to handle problems or solve dilemmas. I will be a strong father figure and role model, an old battered vessel nonetheless functional for God's purposes to be fulfilled in them.
Look at me, I'm modelling for baby shampoo and baby wear.
White is my colour, I have fair and silky smooth skin.
And its natural! I don't use any facial or skin products.
This month is also the wedding month of Ben & Michelle, our former fellow church members. We drove down another memory lane, Melaka, where both wife and I shared bitter sweet memories together during our medical school days. The wedding, held at Equatorial Hotel, was attended by many former church members, hence the opportunity to showcase everyone the product of our union, Christiana Yong.
The warm familiar faces of Gateway church..
The apple of my eyes, like father like daughter.
Well so far that's our story so far. I know this entry must be quite mushy for some of you, however traveling down memory lane is never entirely a joyride, especially coming from me. The birth of Christiana will give me no reasons to dwell on the past, but holding her hands and advancing forward while avoiding pit holes of wrong judgement.
Christians believe, follow the Shepherd, and He will make your path straight. My daughter, Christiana is a reminder. After all, her name means Christ follower.
I gotta eat more dragon fruit and become the Dragon Warrior aka Kungfu NAna
