Love Letters to Natalie

Saturday, February 26, 2005
When Daddy is not around

Gary went back to HK for 3 days this morning. I was scheduled for 2 checkups with 2 doctors in the morning and so I fed Natalie from 8-9 am, bathed and dressed her up at 9:30 am, took a shower myself and got out of the house at 10:30 am. Angel was very kind to accompany me to the doctors.

Nat slept in the car on our way to see the doctors. We couldn't believe our eyes, there was a jam at Stevens Rd on a Saturday morning. In the end I was late for my doctor appointment and had to really rush. At the doctor's clinic, the nurses played with Natalie and one of them even asked to carry her. While waiting to pay, Dr. Chew came out from his room and saw Natalie and started playing with her as well. He must be quite blind or it's a guy thing, he asked me "Boy or Girl?" when I dressed Natalie in a pretty pink and frilly bodysuit which Monica gave her. Angel kept saying Dr. Chew is blind. Ha Ha! He also commented that Natalie is very alert. That makes me happy! After a while, his partner also came out and he also played with her. Nat was in quite a happy mood today because she didn't fuss until much later when I finished my 2nd appointment. By then, she was hungry so I fed her.

I wanted to have dim sum for breakfast/lunch so we went over to Takashimaya's Crystal Jade. While we were eating, I continued to breastfeed my hungry baby. After lunch, we went to the baby's department because Angel wanted to get hairbands for Natalie and she chose two really lovely ones. While we were there, we saw alot of kids' clothes having sales and I bought a green little bodysuit for Natalie. Have to let her wear it asap else she won't be able to fit into it anymore.

Angel put the hairband on her, and immediately she looks more girlish and with the hairband, she attracted more attention than before. After Takashimaya, Angel wanted to go back to office to finish some work so off we go to Raffles City Tower. I was shopping at Robinsons while waiting for Angel to finish her work. Natalie was very cooperative, she slept all the way from Taka to Robinsons. When I was trying out foundation, she woke up and we went home. In between, I also changed a dirty diaper of hers. She "poo poo" twice and the smell wasn't pleasant. :-P

Here're some of the pictures we took today.

Mommy & Natalie at Paragon. Do I look pretty with my hairband?

A close-up

This is what Auntie Monica got me!

Grandma playing with me and I like it!

From Auntie Angel's Camera

Auntie Angel & Me. I'm wearing the hairband she bought for me.

Mommy & Me

Daddy, come home quickly and we can go out together! I miss you, Daddy!

natnat's mom at 7:45 PM 8 comments

Attracting Attention

If you want attention, go and have a baby! I realise bringing the baby is one sure way of attracting attention when you are out. I was very surprised by the amount of attention I received from people whenever I bring Nat out. I don't really like to her out because she is still so young but I have not much choice coz she sticks to me so she has to come along.

That day when Gary and I brought her to Westmall to go to the library to return some books, so many people turned to look at her. We suddenly feel like we are some pop idols or what. Ha Ha Ha! Then when we were queuing to pay at Breadtalk, people actually talked to us! We could make alot of friends just by bringing baby along anywhere we are going, I think! This is not the first time I've strangers talking to me when I'm out with Nat, Singaporeans suddenly become alot friendlier when I've a baby around. See the wonders!

I guess most people are attracted to babies, particularly newborns coz they are so tiny and fragile and cute. I rem myself staring at other babies and hoping to kidnap them before I have Nat. Now I still get attracted to cute babies, especially if they're around the same size/age as Nat.

Nat's daddy - usually a low profile person- is starting to enjoy the attention given to his daughter so much that he'll request to carry her daughter whenever we are out. He'll carry her around like a prized trophy, and telling me "see... that guy/girl is looking at BB..." etc etc and he'll be the 1st to answer any question from any stranger with a proud grin on his face... sigh.. Daddy!

natnat's mom at 6:58 AM 2 comments

Friday, February 25, 2005
More visitors

Rachel and Ryan gave us a surprise visit yesterday afternoon. They were ard Bt Timah area and came by after their music lesson. Raphael wasn't with them coz he is at work. It was nice to have visitors almost everyday coz I'm getting so bored at home but I'm not able to go out by myself yet, still get tired easily. I've to wait for my body to recover fully from the operation before I can explore the world with my Nat on public transport again!

Though Ryan is only 9 mths older than my Nat, the difference is so great! He's starting to walk already. I'm worried for Nat now. I wonder if she'll have any difficulty catching up with her peers who are mths older than her when she begins schooling next time? Hopefully not!

In a few months time, Ryan and Natalie will be able to play together and it's going to be fun! Meanwhile, Nat has to learn how to play. I'm going to free her hands after I cut her nails so that she can learn to grasp things n explore the world w her pair of little cute hands.

Rachel told me that they are going back to HK next week to celebrate Ryan's 1st birthday. How nice! We'll have to wait for a few more months before we can bring Nat to HK to meet our relatives and friends there. By then, HK Disneyland shld be ready and we can bring her there! So looking forward to showing her mickey mouse, snow white etc!

natnat's mom at 1:37 PM 0 comments

Thursday, February 24, 2005
Natalie's Visitors

Janet and James were here to visit Natalie last Friday. The first time Janet saw Natalie was when she was 2 or 3 weeks old. She said that Natalie has grown alot since then. I guess all babies grow fast. Natalie is indeed much heavier than before. Previously I was able to somehow carry her with one hand and do something else with another, now I can't do it anymore. In fact I think she grows faster lengthwise. Hopefully she'll grow up to be a tall girl. Heh Heh.

Monica came for a visit yesterday. This is her first time seeing my Nat. She gave her a set of cute little clothes with matching shoes and mittens. She said she got them even before I gave birth to Nat and luckily Nat is still able to fit into them! I'll let her wear that more often to fully "utilise" it. Nat is so lucky to be blessed with so many doting aunties and uncles. Monica thinks that she has my eyes and Gary's mouth. Well... that's fair. I am also beginning to see that Nat is looking more n more like me, especially her eyes. Actually when I was pregnant, I told myself that'd be the worst combination - my eyes + gary's mouth. Ha Ha! I was hoping that she'll have Gary's eyes which are big with double eyelids. My hopes are dashed now.. but still.. heh heh.. somehow the combination looks better than what I thought. I guess in the eyes of a mother, her daughter is always beautiful beyond description. That's exactly how I see my own daughter! Please tell me I'm normal to think this way! Ha Ha!

On another note, Nat finally passed motion after 1 day of constipation. She gets constipated whenever she's fed with formula when I was away in hospital. This time, I only spent a day in hospital so it was better than last time and thus her shorter constipated time. I fed her nonstop after I was discharged from the hospital and after the doctor gave me the "go ahead" sign to breastfeed. I was on very mild antibiotics (amoxicillin) and panadols as the painkillers instead of the normal ones. Though Panadols are not very effective in suppressing post-operation pain, I still feel that it's better than taking anything with codeine coz I don't want to drug my own daughter. Right now, my wound has recovered well enough for me to stop taking even Panadols.

Let me post some of the photos we took recently now.

natnat's mom at 9:48 AM 2 comments

Janet n James with a crying Natalie

natnat's mom at 9:47 AM 0 comments

She broke into a happy smile when I placed her on the changing mat to change her dirty diaper. She must be feeling totally relief!

natnat's mom at 9:46 AM 7 comments

This is how she looks when I was changing her diaper

natnat's mom at 9:46 AM 0 comments

My happy Natalie. after changing into a clean diaper

natnat's mom at 9:46 AM 0 comments

Mandy trying to get Natalie to sleep

natnat's mom at 9:46 AM 0 comments

Monica with a sleepy Natalie at the balcony.

natnat's mom at 9:45 AM 0 comments

Monday, February 21, 2005
Natalie is 2 months old

Our baby is 2 months old yesterday. Once again, I missed her birthday because I was hospitalised. I went for a procedure to remove my gallbladder which was causing me much pain. I'm alright now, thanks to modern medical technology and good doctors. The whole procedure costs me a bomb coz I went to a privated hospital, but never will I step into a government hospital again after my scary experience with SGH last month.

Natalie didn't have a happy 2-months-old birthday because I wasn't with her on Saturday and I couldn't hold her when I was discharged yesterday. I could only play with her with either Gary or my mom carrying her. Luckily in the end, I was able to put her to sleep by holding her lying down late lastnite. My poor baby, she must be traumatised by the disappearance of her mommy. Heard from my mommy and Gary that she was looking for me all the while when I wasn't around. I'm glad I only had to stay a night in the hospital if not my poor baby will be poorer.

Well baby, mommy is going to get so well and with the troublemaker out of my body, I'll never leave you alone anymore! We're going to have a big celebration on your 3rd month birthday! This time, no photos coz not in the mood to take any yet. Will update with photos later.

natnat's mom at 11:00 AM 4 comments

Thursday, February 17, 2005
Testing

It's funny how my posts for today didn't appear as the current post and appear in the archive instead. So here trying again with this post to see if anything is not working.

natnat's mom at 3:07 PM 2 comments

Daddy's girl

Nat is such a daddy's girl. Only her Daddy can pacify her when she's crying for milk and sleep. For me, I've to offer her my breasts before she'll be quiet and happy. Gary can pacify her just by carrying her in an upright position and walking around the house, she'll gradually fall asleep in that position. Poor Daddy always end up soaked in sweat. Of course when she's really hungry, that doesn't work. What Nat cannot stand is a hungry stomach, she'll cry until her face turns tomato red to make sure her stomach is filled.

I try to use the sling on her more often now so that I have free hands to do my things. Been practising the different positions using sling. She enjoys the sling, so slinging her is not too difficult. It is better than leaving her on the bed to play by herself coz she'll only stay quiet for 10 mins the most. In a sling, she can sleep for 1 - 2 hours or stay awake for 30 mins without crying.

Last night was a good night. She fell asleep at 12 am after her last feed and slept through the night until 6 am. She woke her daddy up by her hungry cries and fell promptly asleep after nursing for less than 30 mins. Nat n me slept through n woke up at 10 today. What a luxury! The weather is unbearably warm now so we turned the aircon on lastnite, maybe that contributed to our good sleep too.

She now smiles when I tickle her double chin. Her neck is disappearing, replaced by her double chin. I'm so happy to see a well rested and well fed Nat.

natnat's mom at 2:11 PM 0 comments

Snuggle Hold

Natalie in a sling. I'm trying out snuggle hold for the first time. Poor Nat is fidgeting all the while coz I'm still lousy with this position.

natnat's mom at 2:07 PM 1 comments

Her Favourite Position

This is how Nat loves to be carried. Her Daddy has to carry her like that and walk ard the house to get her to fall asleep. When I pointed my camera at her, she broke into a smile so here's a photo of a smiley Nat in her Daddy's arms

natnat's mom at 2:07 PM 3 comments

Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Hyper Nat

Natalie has grown to be more and more playful. Yesterday afternoon after bathing and feeding her, she refused to sleep more than 1 hour by herself.

She woke up at 10 am and I fed her before bathing her. After bathing her, she asked for milk again so I fed her again and she dozed off at the breasts. I thought she had enough because she had unlatched herself so I carried her in my arms to make sure she had fallen sound asleep before putting her down on the bed. She woke up again in less than 10 mins time, with her eyes wide open and smiling open.

Seeing that she didn't want to sleep, I decided to play with her. She's so fun to play with now, responding to my touch and the surrounding things. She'll smile when I tickle her cheeks. I love her smiles, they just make my day.

We played for quite a while before she wanted her milk again and then dozed off again and then woke up again and then asked to be carried around to look at things. In the end, the whole cycle went on for the whole day and I even brought her out for a walk to the playground to "exhaust" her high energy level a little so that she would fall asleep. Well.. this little girl wasted no time in sleeping, she is so alert and awake.

In the end, I only manage to make her sleep at around 2:30 am, after the last feed for the night. I had to put her on my chest to sleep else she'll just tossed and fussed around. My nipples will be extremely sore by her constant suckling (no matter how much lasinoh cream I applied) and I'll be dead tired. No use giving her a pacifier, she's now smart enough to tell the difference and will spit the pacifier out immediately and becomes angry.

She slept all the way from 2:30 am until 8 am today, woke up in time to say byebye to her daddy going to work. I fed her and she fell asleep again at ard 9:30 am, I guessed she's really tired by now. Now I'm waiting for her to wake up to bathe her and bring her to the factory. I'm needed at the factory today because my mom is shorthanded.

Sigh... when I want her to be asleep, she is wide awake but when I want her to wake up, she is sound asleep. Sometimes babies just don't behave the way we want them to yeah?

natnat's mom at 2:53 PM 0 comments

First Post

I have decided to start a blog to record what's going on in the life of my little Natalie. This blog will be for those who love Natalie, especially our relatives and friends overseas, to be updated about her.

First time trying this blog thing, think it seems more fun than livejournal. I won't be abandoning livejournal coz that's where I record my own and more private thoughts and I've made so many nice friends there.

Natalie is sleeping while I'm typing this. She slept at 2 am lastnite and woke up at 6 am to nurse. I managed to put her to sleep at 7 am which is good, coz it means she is going to sleep for another 1 to 2 hour more. This gives me time to get her daddy ready for work. Her daddy is down with flu so we slept in another room. I don't want the virus to spread to the baby. The first thing her daddy did this morning is to look at his darling.

natnat's mom at 12:12 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Our little family. Taken on CNY 1st Day.

natnat's mom at 8:34 AM 4 comments