L.O.V.E

One of my favourite time of the day is the moment that Julianne sees me as the car pulls over in front of the house as we return home from work.  Most of the time, she'll be hanging out in the garden with either Gong Gong or Por Por waiting eagerly for us to come home.  These days, it doesn't take very long for her to recognise it's me the moment I step out of the car.  I like to do that inching bit by bit forward thing as I go towards her.  Then almost immediately, her legs will start going crazy - what her Papa calls "like a pin-ball machine" and she'll break out into the biggest of grins!!  That's followed by stretching out her arms wide open asking me to 'bao bao' her.  My day is complete.  

Yesterday was Friday.  We typically knock off early on Fridays but the hubs had to work late so my Dad picked me up from work.  It was still pretty early by the time we got home so the pumpkin was still chilling with her Yiyi and Por Por up in the aircon room (given the insane weather these days - plus Julianne is like her Mama, she can't stand heat and she perspires in the air con sometimes even!).  So I opened the door and peep into the room from the side, wanting to see what mischief she was up to.  When she saw me, she literally broke out into loud giggles, like laugh out loud kinda loud and starting crawling frantically towards me!! It was such a proud Mama moment for me. 

One of my greatest fears back then before going back to work was the fear that Julianne won't recognise me with the long hours away from her.  How silly I was to think such.  It's amazing how they at this age have that innate ability to know just who their parents are; well not so much the concept of parents but at least who's closest to them even though we don't spend as many hours with her as my Mum does.  I credit my full four months of being with her 24/7 before going back to work and our nights nursing together for this bond that no one can ever rob me of.  

I can't thank God enough for how much love and attention Julianne is getting.  I'm fortunate in that I'm blessed to have the family support that not all my friends have.  Julianne is constantly being engaged, played with and talked to - what I believe has helped built the personality and character she has today - a cheerful, curious, happy, sociable little baby.  We not ready for me to be a SAHM just yet but I think Julianne is doing great even though I'm not around all day.  She's having alot of fun growing up with Por Por and Yiyi Sam taking care of her in my absence.  

She is so LOVEd.

Papa Dearest

To the man who .....

• stayed in that delivery room with me throughout the 15 long hours,
• saw our daughter before I did and was the first to tell me how beautiful she was, 
• has bath Julianne everyday since she was born, least for the 3-4 occasions when he had to work late,
• on many occasions, dropped everything at work and came home to lent me support during those trying weeks when Julianne was on a drinking strike,
• always makes sure that her rocker is never out of battery, 
• changes Julianne's diaper without me having to ask him to,
• takes such great photos of Julianne, she gonna have no lack of baby photos for her wedding montage, 
• tells me to keep it going at breastfeeding for as long as I can because he too wants the best for her, 
• takes her on evening walks just so that I can have some time-out whether it's to whip up dinner for the family or to take a nice long shower, 
• destroyed oh so many milk bottle teats just to perfect the flow that would be just nice for our fussy daughter (who hates it when the flow is too fast and gets impatient when its too slow), 
• was beaming with so much pride and joy when he first heard Julianne call out "Papa",
• is and always will walk alongside me in this journey of parenthood ...

Happy 1st Fathers' Day!!! You've been an awesome Papa - our daughter is so blessed to have you as her Daddy!!!!!

With her dearest Papa

Papa Dearest II, a photo by pz.sher on Flickr.

And let the crawling begin .....

At 7 months, 1 week and 5 days old, Julianne decided that at 2 days shy of her 7.5 month mark, it was time to get mobile!!!! 

Since last weekend, she was already showing signs of crawling, trying very hard but finding it just too tough a job for a 7 month old to coordinate her knee and hands movement, that she pretty much gave up after each baby attempt at crawling and decided that using her tummy to move along was just a whole lot easier!  She was just getting frustrated at herself for not being able to move that she ended up either in tears or on her tummy with a 'this-is-too-tough-for-me, I-give-up' face!

So apparently, all that trying-to-crawl-but-can't-crawl was all part of our daughter's  grand plan to make sure she had a full audience present when the time came for her to do some full fledge crawling.  On Thursday morning, before a full audience including Yiyi Rene and Cousin Sophie over Skype, Julianne performed a complete round of crawling chasing after her Papa's car keys!! It was like watching the circus!! 

I've no video to show unfortunately cos the hubs just sold off our camera with the video cam function and our DSLR can't take videos - what a bummer.  I wanted so much to capture her first crawl! So till he finds a good deal for the new toy he's eyeing, I'm gonna have to let the words do the talking.   

Wonder what's the next trick she'll be up to!

Julianne thru' the months

Top row, left to right: Julianne from birth thru' 8 months
Julianne thru' the months, a photo by pz.sher on Flickr.

Her features haven't changed very much have they?

Letters to Julianne #10

Dearest Julianne, 

Month 7 must have been one of your most accomplished months by far.  You hit so many milestones and went on new adventures, I think you're quietly mighty pleased with yourself for having done so much.  Well, I for sure am and couldn't be more thankful for how well you're developing. 

You've mastered sitting up.  We're seeing less of those humpty dumpty moments these days.  Yiyi Rene thinks you've very good posture for a 7 month old.  Good keep it up!  Don't end up like Mama and Yiyi Sam with poor posture.  

Sitting up listening to Gong Gong's silly stories

One of your biggest achievement this month has to be calling 'Mama' and 'Papa' for the first time!! Yes, its the sweetest thing ever.  And you have such a sweet little voice, its too endearing to hear.  You can imagine how thrilled Mama was when you started calling out for me (Yes, for the record, you called 'Mama' before 'Papa').  You tend to do that whenever you're in distress; like when we put you down in your exersaucer leaving you to entertain yourself or when its close to bedtime and you're tired and just want to curl up in my arms to drink your milk and be rocked to sleep.  The other day, when Papa appeared in front of you, you called out 'Papa' in the sweetest of voice, I think your Papa's heart melted for the first time ever.  He was so thrilled, he made sure he told every single member in this house what you did.  I had Gong Gong and Por Por telling me how happy your Papa was when he was relating to them how you called out to him. What a sweetie pie you are. 

You've also started to develop your own personality which is showing itself stronger these days.  You've learnt to cry when we take things away from you, you like to be involved in things that are happening, in conversations, in dinner times.  You hate it when we put you down in the exersaucer while we have our dinner and would rather have me carry you so that you too can join the family at the dinner table - even if it means not having any toys to play with.  You are a 'No Means No' person.  You hated the ikan bilis porridge that we tried to introduce to you.  And was determined to guard your tastebuds from what you think must be a rather repulsive smelling fish.  You just refused to open your mouth and kept it really shut!  Smart cookie you! 

I say NO!! Don't you understand (pull off bib!)

I've been racking my brains about how to keep you entertained.  So I thought it was a good time now that you can sit to take out some of the Lamaze toys I had bought for you.  But what do you know ... you don't like these developmental toys.  You would rather play with everyday objects like Mama's baking equipments - measuring cups, measuring spoons, our water bottles and your all-time favourite - the remote control.  Your other favourite past-time is tearing paper.  Many 8 Days magazines have since been torn up thanks to your little itchy hands.  It amazing how strong you are for a small 7kg peanut like you.  You can tear up to 4 pages of the magazine at a time, you are strong enough to hold up your changing mat even!  Are you secretly on steroids?  You've also found the strength to pull yourself up which got Papa started on Operation Lower the Crib and Playpen.  I've also given Papa his next assignment of child-proofing the house in anticipation of what would probably be you next milestone - crawling! 

Move away Lamaze toys, I have Mama's measuring cups!

Ain't no mat too heavy for me

Other than swimming, the other little adventure you went on this month was your very first music & movement class at Our Music Studio. You showed so much of You during that 45 minute class, Mama could see you *really* enjoyed yourself.  You would smile and listen attentively at the teacher as she introduced the song and actions. It was as if you were trying to be this good student.  You had so much fun playing with the balls at the opening of the class and with all the different musical instruments!  It all showed through in the many smiles you broke out into which I caught when I took little peeps at you.  But Papa and Mama think you're still a little too young for the class - you were the youngest in there - so I think we'll make this a more permanent fixture of your weekend when you're a little older! I promise! 

Having so much fun at Our Music Studio

Half a year has already flown by us.  For some reason, the second half of the year typically passes very fast because there're lots of holidays, birthday celebrations (yes yes, yours too!) to look forward to.  Soon, you'll turn one!! And with Yiy Rene, Uncle Jude and Che Che Sophie coming home soon, things are going to be EXCITING!!!  I can just imagine Che Che Sophie making you sit amongst her many stuff toy pals and having a pretend play picnic with you! 

You are one truly blessed child with so much love showered on you everyday!!  That is one thing you have to grow up to know - how very loved you truly are! 

God bless you my sweet child and Happy happy 7th month!! 

Much Love, 

Mama