This Royal Life

Ascend to the Throne

(DAYU)

2 years ago...

The sounds of small footsteps made by a small person woke me from my light sleep.

I look at the alarm clock on the side table beside the bed. 5 in the morning is still not our wake up time. We still have at least two more hours before we need to move.

But having a four year old and a one year old can make any parent sleep lightly. More so I who have a Prince and a Princess as my children.

My son, Prince of the Crown Wang Yonggan (meaning brave), is slowly approaching the bed where I and his father, my husband Crown Prince Wang Qing are supposed to be sleeping.

But I am awake now and I smile as I see my four year old son wearing his Iron Man pajamas and holding his stuffed bunny, his favorite toy, walked towards us.

"Papa..." he said in his small squeaky voice as he pushed a finger in my cheek. Poking me gently.

"Yes, my love?" I reached out to ruffle his black shiny mushroom cut hair. "Why are you up early my Prince?"

He smile his toothy adorable smile, "Wanna greet Baba," he said, a bit shy.

My sweet son. I slowly sit up, thanking the One above that I remembered to put on clothes before we got to sleep last night after our celebration in bed.

I learned the hard and embarassing way that I should not sleep naked anymore. Having a curious son who loves to sneak inside our sleeping room to find us without our clothes on can be truly traumatizing especially if his nanny is going after him and almost caught us naked.

Having children will really change you and your routine, that's for sure.

I reached down for my son to heft him up on my lap and we looked at Qing who still sleeps beside me.

"Wanna greet Baba a happy birthday?" I whispered in my son's ear.

His eyes, so like his father, twinkle in giddiness. Yonggan is Qing's mini version. From his charming eyes to his long limbs and stubborn impatient mannerisms.

I lay Yonggan down between me and Qing so he can smile and kiss his father.

"Happy Birthday, Baba," he said and pushed a finger on Qing's cheek.

Qing moaned and open one eye. He closed it again and smiled as he caught his son's small hand.

"What, Yong ah? I didn't hear you," he said sleepily.

Our son giggles, "Happy Birthday Baba!" Yong, as we fondly call him, got up and started jumping up and down on the mattress. The bed wobbled and we will soon bounce with it. "Happy Birthday Baba!" Yong is shouting now.

Qing and I laughed at his antic. He is so like Qing in every ways. Energetic, lively and larger than life.

"Alright, alright!" Qing sat up and caught his son as our little one tried to jump higher. He starts showering Yong's neck with kisses. "Thank you my boy."

Yong put his small palms on Qing's cheeks. "I rub you Baba..."

Our hearts melted. I saw Qing's eyes turn shiny, "I love you too Yong ah," he hugged his son.

I feel happy for my husband. To be greeted by his son on the most critical birthday of his life and to hear those precious words first thing in the morning.