Love Letters to Natalie

Friday, April 27, 2007
Moving

Dearest relatives and friends,

This will mark the last entry in this blog. To continue reading about Natalie, please bookmark the URL of her new journal at http://ourperfectjoy.livejournal.com

Due to privacy issues, I have decided to move on to livejournal which allows me to lock certain sensitive posts. I won't be locking the general entries up. This means I will be able to write more private stuffs in her journal without worrying who are the people reading them.

This blog will still be maintained because it is too much hassles to migrate all the entries here over to the new site. When Nat turns older, I'll be passing this and the new blog to her as a gift.

Therefore, see you over at livejournal!

Love,
Nat's Mommy, Torng Horng

natnat's mom at 1:19 AM 2 comments

Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Last Day at Kids Loft

Dearest Nat,

Today marks the last lesson at Kids' Loft for you. Teacher Lavina is going on maternity leave and will only be back in July.

Grandpa steamed a cake for you to bring to class today. We were told to bring something each as a mini celebration to mark the end of the term. So today during meal time, we have a variety of snacks like cookies, cakes, papaya etc. All the children were very happy and you surprised me by having second helping of the papayas. You don't quite like papayas at home so perhaps sharing them with your classmates make them taste better. Talk about peer influence here.

Today is really a special day because Daddy went to observe you in class too. Daddy is on MC today and he drove us to school and stayed behind to join us. I guess you are quite happy to have Daddy around in class. It sure makes a difference!

To make your day extra special, Mommy brought you to the zoo after lunch with Daddy. Auntie Lily came to pick us up at home and we went to the zoo together. It is free cone day at the Zoo today. While Qile was enjoying his special ben and jerry ice cream treat, you were sleeping away in the sling because you were too exhausted after class. Mommy enjoyed the cone on your behalf and got you a toy orang utan.

You had lots of fun at the zoo today with Qile kor kor and Auntie Lily. Qile kor kor introduced you to the names of all the elephants there. The highlight of today has to be the elephant feeding session. Auntie Lily grabbed us good seats at the front row and we paid S$5 each for a fruits basket to feed the elephants. You enjoyed feeding the elephants very much and came home all excited telling Daddy about your experience. Seeing the happiness on your face makes me feel that the Friends of the Zoo card is indeed our best purchase last year!!

I am very thankful for Auntie Lily and Qile, always remembering us when they go to the zoo. It is always more fun when we go together. Today is indeed a wonderful day and I thank God for it!

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 7:28 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 24, 2006
Morning Faces

Dearest Nat,

What I like most in the morning is waking up to your many funny faces. You are so expressive in the morning. You will treat me like a pillow, put your head on my stomach, play with my belly button, crawling all over me and talk to yourself when I pretend to be still asleep. Once I open my eyes, you will start showing me your funny faces and then I will shower you with many ticklish kisses and make you laugh.

I can't describe how happy I am to see you growing up as a very happy and jovial child. You love to be cuddled and kissed. You love to crawl into my lap just to be cuddled for a while before crawling out to continue with your other activities. You show us your love for us by kissing and hugging us.

What amuses us most is the way you laugh recently. We don't know where you pick this up from but you will sometimes cover your mouth with one hand when you laugh. I guess you find it funny too. You are really growing up fast. You are 16 months old now and from a needy baby, you have grown to become a playful toddler, with your own mind about things.

I love you so much and I'll always remember every heart-warming morning we spent together.

The best thing to wake up to - your morning faces

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 11:52 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Easter Party

Dearest Nat,

We were invited to our first Easter Party by Aunt Anny at Tessarina Condo. Yes! It's my first time going to an Easter Party too!

The party was very fun and noisy with many little children running around and adults chatting away. We met many people. Although you woke up really early for church in the morning, you did not fell asleep until the party has ended.

All the aunties have put in alot of efforts into planning this party. We had alot of food. I bought the last 27 pieces of chicken wings from my favourite stall to add to the yummy spread. We did egg-hunting and egg-painting too. We painted a red egg together but you were more interested in cracking the egg than painting it so I distracted you with something else after a while. Aunt Anny also drew a pretty flower on your hand.

Sometimes I'll try to get you to interact with your friends and other times I'll just sit back and watch how you mingle with others. It is interesting to observe how you socialise with other people when I am not around. You are shy when other children take the initiative to play with you. When you are shy, you will smile sheepishly and play with your clothes, rub your hands together or try to hide your face behind me. When you are interested in what other children are doing, you will follow them around and be a keen observer. You'll only join in when you are invited to or when I encourage you to.

Aunt Jinsiew and Uncle Ming gave us a lift home after the party. I'm really grateful for the ride home as it was raining very heavily by the time we left. It was a good party and I'm looking forward to next year's party.

Of course while celebrating, let's not forget the true meaning of Easter. Thank you Lord for dying for us, for cleansing our sins with your blood. Natalie, may you always rest in his love and grace.

Our Easter Spread

Aunt Anny drawing a flower on your hand

This is so fun! One of the pressies inside your door gift

Found an Easter Egg. (Kindly given by Gillian - Teacher Lavina's Daughter)

Wearing your super big bib for egg painting activity

Egg Painting!

Video of Aunt Anny giving out instuctions

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 6:10 PM 2 comments

Sunday, April 16, 2006
Shoes Story

Dearest Nat,

Despite telling myself not to get you another pair of shoes until you have outgrown your existing ones, I have yet again succumbed to temptation and ordered a pair of Bobux shoes for you through an online spree organised by my friend. Didn't even know the existence of such a brand until today. Sigh... the evil of online shopping.

I went to browse at the website out of curiosity without any intention to buy any but the shoes looked really comfortable and different. I thought it is not such a bad idea to get you a pair since it is not too expensive as we are buying directly from Bobux.

I also got Aunt Sandra to bring out all your new shoes to check whether you can fit into them. Luckily we checked coz 2 our of the 3 new pairs are just nice for you now. They are still a little loose but you are able to walk nicely in them already. The first pair of shoes that I got you was from Clarks. It has pretty sequinned butterfly on it and is in a nice purple colour. I will be putting that pair away soon because I think you are going to outgrow it already. The beige Pigeon shoes should be able to last you a while more but not for too long either. The new Colettee sandals that will last you at least another 6 months, as what the sales assistant told me.

Anyway, I have ordered an XL size of the Bobux shoes for you so that you have something to replace the Colettee sandals after you have outgrown it. I didn't dare to order more pairs because I saw 2 really cute pairs of shoes at Colettee today and I don't want to use up all your shoes quota at 1 go.

Your Por Por also kept a pair of my first shoes for you but I doubt you will be able to fit into them anymore. Hmph... and I was hoping to take a picture of you in the pair of shoes I have worn before. We need to huge cabinet to showcase all the cute little shoes that you have or are going to have.

Striking a pose in your new sandals

Take a closer look

Walking happily up and down in your new sandals

This is what I got you! I hope you will like it!

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 12:28 AM 1 comments