My story
Ten years of living life to the fullest
Hi! My name is Arthur Liman. I was born in May 2016, which makes me a Taurus. At five months old my Instagram announced: “I’m a Taurus boy! I can take care of myself, Mom.” I still say that. Mom still doesn’t believe me.
Chapter 1 · 2016–2017
The baby years
I opened my eyes on my second day in the world and I haven’t stopped looking around since. My guardian back then was Excalibur, a very brave toy dinosaur.
My first swim was with Daddy when I was two months old. My first solid food was banana, at five months and seven days (yes, we counted). For my first Halloween I went as a tiny wizard in round glasses, and at the end of that year I took my first plane ride, dipped my toes in the sea in Bali and celebrated my very first Christmas.
I turned one with cake, balloons and a lot of hugs. Then, one afternoon in August 2017, I let go of everyone’s hands and walked by myself. After my bath that same day, I ran.
Chapter 2 · 2018–2020
Little explorer
School started in 2018 with a brand-new uniform. That same year I flew to Australia, touched snow for the very first time and met kangaroos and koalas up close.
I fell in love with ball pits, airplanes, school buses and anything with wheels. For my third birthday I got an airplane party, and later that year my very own camera.
When everyone stayed home in 2020, our house turned into a science lab: foam, lava lamps, oobleck, volcanoes, ferrofluid and fire tornadoes, with Daddy as chief safety officer. I also started banging on the drums. My parents say they “regret” buying that drum set.
Chapter 3 · 2020–2022
Koko Arthur
In December 2020 our family grew: my little brother Reagan was born. The first time I met him I was super excited, and being his koko (big brother) is still my favourite job.
In 2021 I turned five with a solar-system cake, hatched chicks at home (twins!) and did school online. In 2022 I graduated from kindergarten and started Grade 1.
Chapter 4 · 2023–2026
Growing up
2023 was a lucky year: I turned seven with a blocky video-game party and went to Japan twice. I made sweets at a chocolate factory in spring and soaked in a snowy hot spring with Reagan in winter.
In 2024 I saw the Eiffel Tower, started Hapkido and earned my first coding class certificate. In 2025 I explored the Swiss Alps and Europa-Park, learned to ride a bike and levelled up to a green belt.
And in May 2026 I hit double digits. Ten!
Favourite things, year by year
How my hobbies changed
Put together from ten years of family photos and captions. Some things came and went (goodbye, Minions), but a few never changed: anything with wheels, splashing in water, and wanting to know how everything works.
2016
Baby
Water & Lego-watching
Swimming with Papa
Staring at Papa’s Lego & Star Wars sets
Picture books
Excalibur, my toy dinosaur
2017
Age 1
Wheels, boxes & markers
Toy cars (and checking their wheels)
Cardboard boxes
Colouring markers
Water play
Tents & ball pits
2018
Age 2
Trains, buses & handstands
Trains & the yellow school bus
Gymnastics & handstands
Fire trucks & police cars
Colouring
First tries at piano & drums
2019
Age 3
Airplanes & ball games
Airplanes (“are we going to the airport?”)
Tennis & basketball
Supermarket trolleys
Blippi & Doraemon
My first camera
2020
Age 4
Kitchen-lab science & drums
Lava lamps, oobleck & volcanoes
Ferrofluid & bath bombs
My drum set
Hot Wheels speed tracks
Camping in a tent
Flying kites
2021
Age 5
Chicks, tornadoes & building
Hatching chicks
Tornado & fire-tornado experiments
Building bridges & “excavations”
Bubble machines
Fixing things
2022
Age 6
Minions & gel blasters
Minions
Gel blasters
VR “metaverse” games
Craft projects
2023
Age 7
Minecraft, games & chocolate
Minecraft (my birthday theme!)
Video games with Reagan
Making sweets at a chocolate factory
Dry-ice experiments
2024
Age 8
Hapkido & coding
Hapkido
Coding class (with a certificate!)
Swimming
2025
Age 9
Green belt & bikes
Hapkido: a new green belt
Riding my bike
Snow and chocolate in Switzerland
Europa-Park rides
2026
Age 10
Double digits
Lunar New Year
Snow trips in Japan
High-speed train rides
Beach holidays
Fun facts
Things you might not know about me
⭐
There’s a star named after me in the Taurus constellation, a gift from Daddy when I was six months old.
📦
As a baby I liked the cardboard boxes more than the toys that came inside them.
🔧
I’ve been checking wheels and undercarriages since I was one. The family calls me “the mechanic.”
🥢
Sushi, noodles and even caviar are on my favourite-food list.
🥁
I’m a drummer in the making (sorry, neighbours).
🧪
I’ve built volcanoes, lava lamps and a tornado in a bottle, mostly at home.
“Arthur, may every dream and wish you have one day not only come true but also lead to an amazing future for you.”
Mom & Dad, on my third birthday
Arthur Liman 