In a very good space

The seedling of the thought first crept into my mind fleetingly one random night. I didn't process it then. Two days ago, I met with a gf for lunch and we ventured into the topic of passion in our lives, or more specifically, we questioned ourselves, What is my passion?

I shan't go into the details of our conversation (too revealing), but I can share that I may not have a perfect life, but I am exactly where I want to be right now.

And where exactly is this imperfectly perfect space?

With my family.

I've always been one close to my family. Years ago, I came back to Singapore after graduating from Perth, without a second thought of staying on to work or live there. I missed home and I wanted to come back. All through the years, I've always been close to my family. Though our relationship has its ups and downs, I've always appreciated and enjoyed being with the family - eating in, eating out, shopping, playing, laughing... I like to think that we share a special bond.

I have an extraordinary relationship with my mom, my dad is the world's cuddliest papa, my brother is a SNAG with a heart of gold, and there is the sister who, well, will always be the special baby.

I am very fortunate that the husband is one who appreciates family-time too and he joins in our family revelry. We have been married 2 years & 3 months now and with the birth of Kate, we've created our very own family. And as I continue to lead and enjoy family-time, it's all that much sweeter and sprinkled with a lot of extra now that I have my very own family.

How awesome is that!

Just like when I hit 3-0, I count my blessings that I am in a good space.

I have the husband, and I have the baby.

and then there were 3

Heart-wrenching moments

1. The night-weaning process - Saturday night
2. The little bruise on her right cheek - Sunday morning

Me, me and only me

Now, the title sounds rather narcissistic but I realise that Kate has increasingly been wanting nobody else but me. As much as I love it (and I really really do), I am a little concerned about her behaviour.

After doing some reading, I reckon she's going through a phase of separation anxiety.

Do all babies experience separation anxiety? Yes, to a certain
degree. Babies can show signs of separation anxiety from as early
as 6-7 months, but the crisis age for most babies is between 12-18 months.

Source: www.babycenter.com

A new emotional milestone of separation anxiety is beginning (at this age). This is an exciting indication that your baby is very well-connected to you - you are his 'rock' and the most important person in his whole world, so this is why he is likely to get upset as you move out of his sight or pass him to someone else to carry. Baby has not developed 'object permanence', which means that he doesn't yet understand that when you disappear you will come back again - or that you even still exist. Understandably, this can be quite unsettling for some babies and explains why they often become clingy...

Source: Sleeping like a baby, Pinky
McKay

I've heard about separation anxiety and I know it is common. I think it is a phase which she will outgrow. It doesn't help that Kate is obviously going through a lot of growth and developments - learning to crawl, stand, walk, absorbing colours and sights and sounds all around her, tasting new foods and eating more solids... and these are merely the obvious things that are tangible and known to me. There are obviously the other signs of growth and development in her fast-growing brain which are not even visible to us!

Darling Kate, you are very precious to me and as much as you love me, I love you even more. Mommy will never abandon you, leave you or not care for you. I will always be here for you, loving you, nurturing you and supporting you. Don't be anxious my dearest baby, Mommy is always there, even when you don't see me. Hugs and kisses, Mommy

More teeth & an encounter with the king

Today, we noticed that Kate's top 2 teeth are pushing their way through. How exciting!

She's in a rather cranky mood though, and it's probably a combination of discomfort she feels from the vaccination she took yesterday as well as the teeth hurting her gums as they push through.

On an entirely separate note, my little girl tasted durian for the first time today. She didn't mind it at all and tasted the durian off my finger all three times that I offered it to her.

She seems to rather enjoy it, see how she's devouring my whole finger!

Posed picture; K didn't get to eat the durian this way but this proves that she doesn't hate it!

My little social butterfly

We went for a wedding dinner last night. The husband's cousin was getting married and the family attended the lovely occasion. A week ago, I'd already known what Kate was going to wear - her pink dress from Chateau de Sable (the husband and I had bought it for her this CNY), stockings and pink shoe-socks.

I was excited to show my princess off to the relatives and I was also excited to see the other babies that were born to the extended family (there were a total of 4 babies born 3 months apart from one another in the past year).

The evening was a great success - Kate delighted everyone she met, spreading her charm to everyone who came into contact with her. She let everyone carry her, she responded by looking at them quizzically, smiling when she found something that amused her, reaching out to touch and play with other children, responding with her baby sounds when people spoke to her; and the cutest thing she did all night was clap her hands everytime she thought it appropriate to!

Sometimes it was truly appropriate as she clapped along when others clapped; but what was funny and endearing was when she clapped simply when she sensed it was right to - when the lights flickered, when the music sound levels changed, when the wedding couple marched in; it was as if she reacted when something changed/was different and that was her way of joining in. I like to think that Kate was intuitive enough to know that the night was a joyous occasion and she was in the celebratory mood too.

Papa Seah, Baby Seah and Mommy Seah

I was very proud of my baby as she shone like a star, charming everyone being the perfect little social butterfly. It was also heartwarming to see the FIL displayed extreme affection and care as he played, carried and looked after Kate.

By the end of the night, the butterfly was so tired she knocked-out and didn't even awaken when the husband and I changed her diapers and into pyjamas.

My sweet little social butterfly - she is a joy to watch and be with and I'm so proud of her.

Dear Kate

Dear Kate, you turn 9 months old today!

I remember when Papa and I were counting the weeks at the beginning, and now we have graduated to counting the months. Very soon, we'll add year to your age! I was looking through your pictures, from newborn to now, and you have grown so much.

Kate, 1 day old

I can barely remember how tiny you were then. You have grown well and steadily and about 3months ago, you were like a little meatball. Now, you have grown more in length and we can see your neck! After 7 months of very-slow growth, your hair's finally rather visible now. I'm waiting for the day that the bald patch at the back of your head is wholly covered! Your hair is slightly brown and very fine.

Kate in her terribly cute cupcake t-shirt and "styled" hair

Lately, everyone's begun to comment that you look more like Papa and I think the strongest resemblence is that of your eyes.

You are developing very well too on the movement-front. You can crawl (though you don't like it very much), and you do this very cute crawl where you shift your bum from spot-to-spot; rather than crawling on fours. It's a very cautious approach and I like to think that you are not too reckless. You love to walk and will very much prefer for us to hold your hands so you can walk assisted. You take very large steps like a person with a mission - you usually are, heading towards something that has caught your attention. I think we don't allow you to move about on your own enough, perhaps we ought to lay out the carpet more often and allow you more independant play-time.

Standing steadily, walking not-so-steadily-yet

You love to pull yourself to stand and grab everything in sight. We cannot leave you unattended anymore. Just this week, you managed to fall out of your sarong after you awoke from your nap - giving everyone a heart attack! We are grateful that you are fine and it's a lesson learnt that you are truly impossible to be left unattended anymore.

You baby-speak and it is a joy to hear you jabbering away. It's also beginning to sound like you are calling Papa now. You react to pictures and images that you fancy - waving your arms and kicking your legs when you recognise something. You seem to like bears and cats. You know how to clap your hands, do twinkle twinkle when we sing the song, kick your legs, wave.. it's such a joy to watch you pick up new things all the time. Just yesterday, you picked up "HOORAY!" where you kind of wave your arms around frantically - too cute.

I love your smile - you have a very cheeky grin and it's cute when you were toothless and cuter now that you bare your 2 front teeth.

Cheeky Kate

I love you watching your response when you recognise me. Sometimes you smile, sometimes you wave your hands about, sometimes you cry until I carry you. You make my day great (no matter what I went through at work) the moment I reach home and see you. I love cuddling you - though I'm not sure if you like it very much, You much prefer to wriggle and twist about to touch, see and absorb anything and everything! Sometimes, when you're in the mood (and not terribly distracted), you will respond when we ask you to sayang us, by leaning your head towards us to show your affection.

You love to gai gai and you demonstrated your protests very loudly when you thought that we weren't bringing you out, or when we weren't quick enough to step out of the house! When out, you'll stare in wonder at everything you see and charm everyone you meet along the way. I've handed you to many strangers who'd asked to carry you and you nearly always allow them to. You're my friendly baby.

Papa and I are trying to get you into a new sleep habit, I hope that you will adapt quickly - for your own good. You still wake up in the night crying, and I always soothe you back to sleep. It's been 9months of interrupted sleep (not counting my pregnant days) and I don't mind, as every moment with you is precious and at night, you're all mine. But in time to come, you need to learn independance and sleep through the night - I just don't know when it'd happen.

The past 9 months have been a journey of discovery, learning, happiness and tears. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. You bring immense joy to our lives.

Love, Mommy

A is for Apple

For a while now, Kate's been imitating sounds that we make.

She tries to whistle (courtesy of the FIL), and makes this really cute "o" with her mouth. She manages to blow air out, but no sounds.

She also says little sounds like ma, pa, la, ya... and I like to think she's calling me "mama". Just like the husband likes to hear her "call" him papa.
She also does the typical baby-talk gibber noises like "oooo" and other sounds that I cannot spell.
These are sure signs that she's trying to speak and it's delightful hearing her cute little voice.

Lately, I find that her imitation skills have sharpened slightly and she's beginning to say the "p" sound. And it seems, that my little girl is very likely uttering her first word APPLE.

It's absolutely adorable trying to get her to repeat the word proper and it is definitely a word because the sound is unlike any other gibbers she's made before.

The husband and I spent some time talking to Kate last night, saying Apple to her repeatedly. And the response, I must say, is not bad. She manages to say it properly a couple of times, but she also does the 'p' sound repeatedly.

I'm excited! Apple!