happy first birthday

To our dearest Baby Joel,

This day a year ago on 24 Dec 2007, we were excited and scared as we prepared to meet you. So many thoughts went through our minds as Mommy was pushed into the operating theater. Mommy's heart was beating so quickly and i kept shivering. I was thinking, "This is it! 39 weeks of waiting." There was no looking back.

I wondered the night before how you would look. I had prayed to God so many times for you to have beautiful eyes, beautiful nose and a beautiful mouth. Seconds after they pulled you out from my tummy, i heard Faye (the assisting nurse) say, "He's very cute! Jo, he's very cute!". When they placed you on my chest, wrapped in a towel, all i could see was how small you were and you were beautiful! I turned to look at Daddy and he was crying too. You were just beautiful!
(When reality sets in, i saw my small eyes, daddy's big nose and thick lips! Keke!)

We named you 'Joel' which has the first 2 alphabets in our names - Josephine & Elvis. Joel also meant God is Willing. God is willing to bless you with the fatness of the earth. (This is what Aunty Yen Yen always say)

The few months that followed wasnt easy for the both of us. I had to adjust to your fiery temper, and you to mine. You do take after me after all! Haha! I kept feeling that i was so alone in everything - having to go through almost the whole pregnancy alone, having to prepare for you alone, having to look after you alone. When i couldnt take any more stress (from anyone), my temper was really bad. I'm sorry i beat your buttocks when you're so innocent and so small. You were just crying becoz you were uncomfortable somewhere i didnt know. You've done no wrong. I'm so sorry. I couldnt wait for you to grow bigger so we can join Daddy in our home in Shanghai. In my mind, i pictured that would be a new life for us. A happy life.

Indeed, we tried to do fun things with you every week for the past 8 months. Maybe it was more fun for us than it was for you. But most importantly, we were together. As a family.

Everywhere we went, people say you were an obedient baby. As i'm typing this, you're busy licking and biting the zip on your sweater, and i kept saying to you, "Baby Joel, NO! Mommy say NO!" But you're still cute and beautiful. You must be sick of me telling you this by now. Haha!

Soon you wont be a 'baby' anymore. You'll become a little monster. A cute monster in our lives which we still absolutely adore and cant live without.

We loved you from the day we met you. Happy First Birthday, Baby Joel!

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,
Mommy Jo & Daddy Elvis

Joel at birth: 2.655kg, 49cm
Joel at 1 year: 10.5kg, 73cm