Morgan Day 7

Morgan experienced a tuneful day today. We played a range of classical records as recommended by the book of words. There seems to be some response to Margaret’s Welsh lullabies but not a lot. He is rather unsettled at times but this may be due to colic. Huw seems very good with him and managed to get him to sleep for four hours after an initially restless night. Joelle is still not yet, understandably, her normal jolly self, but she responded well to the family visit by Johanna and Siva and their 4-month old baby boy, Keeran. Joelle's friend, Ee Wan, visited and gave Morgan a beautiful Folio-type book of A.A. Milne’s Pooh stories and poems. It is a collector’s item and as good as the Folio editions. Morgan certainly responds to the attention he gets, including patting and musical rhythms.

Morgan Day 6

Overall a fairly eventless day, but Morgan continues apace.

Morgan Day 5

There is a reference to swimming in Ludington-Hoe & Golant, p. 200. Newborns have the capacity to dog-paddle. If this is developed before the end of the second month the skill will be kept it seems. TodayJoelle took Morgan for a check up and blood test. Morgan seems to be a little livelier, with a greater range of facial expressions. One can just about see Huw in him – the nose I think, but to Margaret it is the mouth. He made a great show of bawling later in the day, displayed good sparring skills and seemed to be boxing - so wildly was he waving his arms up and down. He managed to throw one of his mitts off before Huw came to the rescue.

Morgan Day 4

Today both Joelle and Morgan seemed more settled. He was a better colour and had lost the redness and flushed appearance he had before. He was also feeding a little better it appeared. He was certainly livelier, showed greater variety in facial expressions and was opening his mouth. In repose he appeared to be practicing feeding! Huw and Joelle explained their educational strategy and suggested that I should provide overall direction and Margaret be the hands-on practitioner. The book ‘How to have a smarter baby’ (Ludington-Hoe & Golant, S.K., (1985 rev, 1987) seems to provide good guidelines. In particular, on pp. 175-7 there are suggestions for stimulation from the first couple of days. Margaret has started to prepare some material: black stripes, black and white checkboard and a black dot. It has also been decided that Joelle would not speak Mandarin to Morgan, and would leave that to Kelvin & Sumei. Margaret will speak Welsh to him.

Morgan Day 3

Today was Hari Raya, a public holiday, and the homecoming was expected at around midday. Sumei and Madam Fong (the confinement lady appointed to take care of Morgan and Joelle for a month) arrived in the morning, and were busy stocking up with provisions and preparing for what appeared to be an invasion. This took place as planned; Joelle, Huw and Morgan arrived on time, and so the household was duly set up with a very efficient Sumei overseeing matters. In the afternoon friends (two couples) came to see the new arrival and Joelle.

Morgan Day 2

Huw called to say that he would drive home to pick us up, and we duly proceeded to the MEH. Joelle seemed tired but very happy, and Morgan was indeed as Huw had described. As usual his immobility was such that great glee was expressed at every movement and twitch of the eye or face! To me, his face looked a little red in patches but I forbore to mention this to the ladies (Sumei, Joelle's mother, was there when we arrived) or the proud Dad. The accommodation was simple but good, and Huw had a couch on which to sleep. Margaret and I left around 14.30.

Morgan's Arrival

Morgan was overdue, and Huw and Joelle saw the doctor today. When I rang Margaret to tell her where I was, I learned that Joelle and Huw were staying at the hospital and that Morgan would be born any time. I was then told to proceed to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital near Orchard Road MRT to meet Margaret. The MEH is a very modern and well appointed institution and a leading Singapore private hospital. Despite the comfortable seats it was a long wait. Huw was not allowed to use his mobile phone in the delivery unit, and at 20.30 there was still no news. We then decided to go home and wait for a phone call. Huw called at about 22.00 to tell us that Morgan had arrived at around 21.30 after five pushes, and that we now had a beautiful little grandson weighing 3.3 kg. It was a great relief that all had gone smoothly and that Joelle and Morgan were both fine. We shared Huw’s delight and were told that we should plan to be at the hospital at about midday the following day.