Afdal Muhammad Ilhan ~ Abang

This entry is all about my first born son, Afdal Muhammad Ilhan. 

He is seven years old this year and I can still remember the day he was born at Kulim Specialist Hospital in 2005. It was a Saturday with my wife who was only due in two weeks time to deliver. 

We drove to the hospital which was about 10 minutes drive from our home in Taman Desa Impian, Kulim. My wife was in labour for about 8 hours. I waited patiently at the waiting area with two other uncles - one a policeman, and a fireman, and I was then called by the nurse to receive the little boy. There he was weighing at 3.1kg, normal birth and a healthy baby boy.

As any new father, I was so excited to receive him, buying lots of baby stuff - shirts, diaper, baby cot you name it. At a meagre salary of a junior government officer; with his wife who was not paid for almost ten months, it was tough.

But this son of mine made it all worthwhile.

Ilhan at 3 years old. Bethesda, Maryland

He is now the Class Leader or Class Monitor of Satu Gigih (Persistent) and he has his ups and downs as a leader. Well... he is only seven, but you do have high hopes for him.

Ilhan at 4 years old, Cedar Mill Court, Vienna, VA

He always complained that his classmates do not listen to him and he seems not to be popular at times because heyyy... who likes  to be told unless you're the one doing the telling...

He likes to take charge, to be the one with the responsibility. When I see him, I see a young Jack Palance - his grandpa's nick name in the Army. He is also short-tempered, always too quick to call it quits but when he gets the hang of it he can wake up early in the morning as early as 0500H to do his homework.

Ilhan at his Sekolah Rendah Agama Islam KAFA Jannatul Firdaus

I hope when he grows up he'll be responsible and dependable to his brothers, loves his mother as much as I love my late mother... 

Ilhan at papa's and grandpa's alma mater - RMC's sand dune!

I love you son. You're the man of the house for the time being.

Love, papa.

NEXT: Afdal Musyrif Arfan ~ Poh poh's boy!