GARGANTUAN steps

My dearest Nathan~

This last year really went by in a flash, and you've grown up even more with each passing month. You've definitely grown taller - you used to need a stool to stand on to wash your hands at the sink, but now reaching for the mixer whilst having your feet planted on the ground isn't an issue any more. Your personality is more defined, and we understand you a little bit more, despite the fact that you still revert to a bit of an embryonic fit from time to time. I think one of the traits you've developed is this deep sense of the need for perfection, may be a bit like your mum. If you feel that you cannot accomplish something, you'll rather not attempt it; and you dislike having your mistakes corrected as well (and I guess that is quite a normal trait that many of us possess), but sometimes you need to be able to take it all on your chin and work to continue to improve. You are a very intelligent boy - you are already handling Primary 1 mathematic questions at this age, and you possess a humongous capacity to read (a bit like me). Your mum and I believe that you wouldn't really have much problems taking exams in the future, but we're also hoping to build up more resilience in you - a very important life skill - and also wondering to help you interact better with your friends and classmates, and those around you as well. 

We spent your 4th birthday last year at The Pantry, which was your favourite haunt for a while, because it had your favourite things - good food and an accompanying playground (a tree-house version, I might add). You kept wanting to go back there after enjoying your birthday celebrations there! Unfortunately, the restaurant has now changed ownership, and the playground no longer belongs to the new owners.

Driving around at the Tayo Station indoor playground on Daniel's 2nd birthday

Here are a few pictures capturing the growing times you spent together with Daniel. Well, soon this will be filled with the three of you as we wait for your 妹妹 to come!

This picture depicts very clearly your personalities - one enjoys the fun and the sun, the other, not so much really.

You and Daniel started to do this bum-to-bum 'fist' bump - I guess, it's a bum bump? But you both get particularly tickled by it

In your white togas after your swim at Shangri-La

Bussing around outside Tayo Station indoor playground

Here you are teaching Daniel your dance moves for the Mid-Autumn Festival song - 月亮

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with your lanterns

Strumming along on the guitar

Water break after a hard morning's work at the playground!

Here are some shots of you having fun. Actually, your idea of fun is sitting around doing a work book, or doing home work, or playing with your Lego. You don't particularly like going out, and you need some activity to keep you entertained or else you'll just keep about complaining that you're bored. One of the things that you haven't been able to do yet is find something to entertain yourself - you still quite like having an adult to play with you, or guide you in your play. Hopefully, you'll learn how to keep boredom at bay by yourself, or find out that actually, having some lull time is fine! To let the mind take in the day and whatever had transpired.

Kite flying at the Marina Barrage

Our last night at our old place - Mountbatten Regency. 

We said farewell to a place you had (partially) grown up in and though it was a sad day to leave our old house, we found an even bigger and better new home to move into - Ola! 

Hot tub time with Daniel - we had a very fun staycation at Shangri-La Orchard this year which you and Daniel really enjoyed. Here are the two of you goofing around in the bathtub after the rain ruined some of our plans. 

Here are you and Daniel taking up our bed space during our staycation. I had to sleep on the cough whilst you slept with mummy on the bed (Daniel was moved to the cot eventually)

Here you are at the school holiday sports camp - learning how to roller blade!

Bringing you for your first concert as well - learning about the Chinese Orchestra!

You were really engrossed and enjoying yourself tremendously. I think you'll be a pretty good musician yourself one day - just need to persist with your interest and continue to practice hard!

Here you are with the Lego that 爷爷 and 奶奶 bought for your birthday.

Last year, your teacher noticed that you were developing a squint and so we starting to make you wear an eye-patch regularly to fix that squint, together with nightly eye exercises. I think it has more or less resolved - which is a good thing! Another thing we sent you for was for speech therapy to correct your mispronunciation of words beginning with the letter 'S' - you tended to place your tongue between your teeth when pronouncing these words, as opposed to the tongue starting from behind the teeth. You've managed to overcome this as well - although you still tend to make funny noises and sounds when you're upset or are being whiny. 

At the doctor's getting your eyesight tested

Patched up

Here are a few more photos of us having fun together as a family.

This was your birthday card/present for me for my birthday this year - you coloured a picture and then cut it into 37 pieces (my age this year) for me to piece back together! It wasn't easy at all!

Out cycling at Bedok Jetty

Our last night at Mountbatten Regency!

It's your last year in pre-school before you start formal education in Primary school. Hopefully it won't be too stressful a year (especially trying to get you in to both you dad and mummy's alma mater - Tao Nan School). Daniel will be joining you in your final year at SHHK Pre-school as well, and I know you will be a good, big brother to him. Also, you'll be an even bigger brother to a sister - and I'm sure you and Daniel will be protective and loving towards her. Stay intellectually curious always, and continue to face the world with resilience and fortitude!

Happy 5th Birthday, Nathan!