Goodbye Ah Yee and Athena

Yes, it had been 3 weeks. Yes, I cant believe how fast time has passed. It was time for Ah Yee and Athena to head home after squeezing with us cosily for 3 weeks.

The family went for one last dinner. Ah yee had been craving for crabs and crabs it shall be.

Family pictures time.

More pictures.

While ah yee feasted, I had the honor to ergo Athena for her overdue nap.

Then we all sent ah yee and Athena to the airport. We heard that were some Harry Porter activities at T3.

Changi made me post these pic on fb before the kids could partake in the activities.

The activities were quite silly actually. Lol.

By the time we were done running around for the pictures and the activities, it was time to send ah yee and Athena off.

We had to recreate this picture with the latest addition.

With the final family pictures, we bid ah yee and Athena goodbye.

Suddenly, I felt an immerse sadness - ah yee and Athena were really going home and it would be many more months before we will see them again. Poor ah yee had to ergo Athena and lug the hundreds of barang; flying alone with a baby is no joke.

Ah yee said that Athena didnt go to sleep till late. She must be enjoying the sights of Changi Airport.

While I was sad with their departure, I was glad to have my own bed back. Lol. We also took Felicia for the night in lieu of ah yee. The kids (including Zaky) played late into the night and slept on their own. I was dead tired from the 70km ride. Lol. Zaky said that he fell asleep probably bcos he was way too tired and he didnt crawl to our bed in the night. Thumbs up. 

The next morning, I woke up to a quiet and very clean house. Popo must had worked very hard to clean up. The baby floor mat was gone, as well as their barangs that were placed in the living room bcos the bedroom was way too tiny. Suddenly, the living room looked huge. 

I could still see hints of the baby - the leftover baby lotion on the TV console. 

Athena's little white hanky left to dry on the chair. 

Her onesies that were still drying and to be handed down. 

Awwww... I missed them already. I texted ah yee, hoping the Athena was well behaved on the flight and summoning the courage to ask if the 3 weeks had been comfortable. 

I have to admit that the 3 weeks havent been easy. To being with, Athena is indeed not the easiest baby and sleeps really poorly. Coupled with separation anxiety, teething and a bout of diarrhoea, some days and nights had been really tough, largely on ah yee, who is still her main caregiver. I had also belittled the fustration that we would experience from the dirupted set routine. Still, I had hoped that ah yee and Athena had enjoyed themselves. We had helped in ways that we could. 

Daddy Lim must be sad with their departure too bcos in the short span of time, he had been Athena's favorite uncle. She always reserved her big smiles for him. It had been a long time since I saw him played so gently and patiently with a baby. 

Ah yee reported her safe arrival in France later in the day and Athena had been really kind to ah yee on the flight back. Lol. It will take her many days to adjust back to the European time. Meanwhile, I am quite sure she is enjoying the cold weather. 

Till we meet the next time. By then, Athena should be walking. Daddy Lim will have to work hard to earn his "favorite uncle" title again.

Mummy Lim