9 Years

We celebrated our 9th year together on 22 June 2009.

As is our modus operandi for a good night out these days, we put our little bub to bed and trooped out for a late dinner. Noey in fact obliged us by going to bed an hour early at 8pm so we were able to eat at a fairly decent hour. We'd planned to go to Valentino's but after repeated tries to make a reservation and getting the answering machine every time, we figured it was not meant to be. I then thought maybe Viva Brazil Churrascaria, but when we got there, we realised it was closed on Monday. So trusty ol' Da Paolo's it was.



The food was reliably good, as was the company. Dates like these with just the two of us where we are free to concentrate on our conversation have been few and far between since a certain little Mr Somebody has come into our lives.

This past year has been one of the more challenging ones we've shared. DD and I have always had a great relationship -- it's always felt like it was meant to be. With Noey now in the equation, our bond is even richer than before, but at the same time, he consumes so much of our love and attention that there's not that much left over for each other. I think we're both guilty of zoning out on each other a lot more whenever we get some spare time. It's a challenge finding a balance, but I think we're on our way there. Dates like these help, though admittedly we spend much of our time talking about Noey since we're not physically with him. Haha.

9 years on, I'm seeing sides of DD that I have not otherwise seen in his interactions with Noey. I wasn't sure how DD would take to being a father -- neither of us were really baby people pre-Noey -- and he used to look a little lost around kids. But he's been great, and it's evident in the way Noey breaks into a huge smile when he sees his Papa. Before Noey arrived he was told by some well-meaning friends that fathers would take longer to bond with baby than mothers but that has not been the case and he has loved our little boy from the moment he saw him. And to see how he adores his little son just makes me love him more.

Happy Anniversary Dear!