The party was in his honour ...

but he slept through it blissfully.

His folks were awake since 0800hr (which was a feat for his dad on a Sunday) to prepare for the big day.

First to arrive was actually his grand aunt as she arrived earlier to cut his hair symbolically. His confinement lady could not bear to shave him bald on his big day so they only clipped a bit of his hair as a keepsake.

Thereafter, his aunt, his mum's cousin, arrived to coo over him. She insisted that he was the cutest baby on earth and kept snapping away at him with her mobile phone so that she could go to her company to show him off to her colleagues. His mum jokingly remarked to her aunt that her daughter should get herself hitched asap and have her own child soon. She also mentally reminded herself to introduce her to her hubby's single friends when they arrive later.

Then the moment arrived. At 1030hr, his nai-nai and ye-ye arrived. She practically bounced through the door, such was her excitement. She stopped short though when she realised that there were already guests in the house. His mum had forgotten to tell her mil that his grand-aunt would be there earlier to cut his hair. There was a moment of awkward silence as his nai-nai was at a loss of how to introduce the man who stood beside her. His mum saved the day by greeting loudly, 'Mummy! Uncle!'. His dad greeted 'Uncle' and promptly started disappearing into the kitchen.

Now that the initial introduction (and awkwardness) was over, he promptly took the centre-stage. His nai-nai promptly took out her gifts to present them to him. She bought him a gold anklet (which his grandaunt later unceremoniously remarked, 'Chay. It's such a small one. Your great-grandma and I will buy a bigger one for you, k?' All this was said in the presence of his dad no less who merely smiled bemusedly to himself at the hao-lian nature of his mum's teochew relatives) and gave him a red packet too. His nai-nai attempted to wear the anklet for him but she was either too overcome with excitement or had never worn an anklet before for she did not realise that the anklet was designed for one to latch it one at the appropriate length. She put it on for him by latching it from end to end and the anklet ended up dangling on his ankle. After numerous attempts she still did not succeed in wearing it properly on him. Fortunately, there were help at hand and his dad helped him to put on the anklet correctly.

Then the drama unfolded. She promptly wanted to carry the baby and was really excited about holding him in her arms. As this was her first grandchild, her excitement was understandable. His mum, remembering the phonecalls from the few days ago, promptly started cooing to him in her super high-pitched and loud teacher voice which could not be muted, "xxx, you see who have come to see you? It's NAI-NAI and YE-YE orrhhh.... Quick, greet YE-YE and NAI-NAI!!!!" (If at this moment, you are cringing at his mum's sluttiness, you have no right to do so, k? She chooses her battles and knows that there are some that are just not worth fighting over and she might as well put on a good show and make everyone happy.)

And indeed, his nai-nai was so happy that she was grinning from face to face. His mum also heaped appropriate praise of the anklet and took care to remind him that it was bought for him by his nai-nai. All this while, his great grandaunt and aunt were looking on the scene in amazement and trying hard not to turn to each other with incredulous looks. His mum had thrown herself so wholeheartedly into her role that she was oblivious to her surroundings.

His nai-nai then promptly attempt to THRUST him into his ye-ye's arms, all the while repeating ad nauseam, "Ye-ye, you hold him lah. You are finally promoted to the rank of ye-ye leh. Hold him lah, hold him lah."

His mum could not bear to watch any longer and sought escape. His dad came to the rescue with the camera and started snapping away. His mum played along too and promptly posed for pictures. Then it dawned upon her why he was so exuberant about being the photographer. By being the photographer, yes, you guessed it!, he did not have to be in the picture!!!!! His mum felt a sharp stab of betrayal and looked at his dad with incredulous eyes. Alas, he was too busy snapping away to notice the murderous looks that were thrown in his way.

Fortunately, he was a real smart baby. He promptly gave a wail to signal that he wanted his sleep. And so it was back to his cot he went.

His ye-ye also left a few minutes later before the rest of the guests arrived. By this time, his mum and dad were already tired out by the tension and awkwardness and all they wanted to do was wait for their friends to arrive and start enjoying the party.

And what a party it was. He was showered with gifts and hugs abound. Perhaps it was all the festivity that had tired him out but he spent much of his time either nursing at his mum's breast or sleeping. His dad had fun playing the Wii with his friends and his mum also relished the time she had to catch up with some of her friends whom she had not met for some time.

All said and done, it was a great party as his folks felt that they were really blessed with so many people who showered him with so much love and gifts. And so it was, with stuffed stomachs and tired bodies that they all retired to bed that night.

The above recount is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. :)

So don't say I am being mean to my mil hor?! :P