Love Letters to Natalie

Thursday, April 28, 2005
Tummy Time

Dearest Nat,

We did what Dr. Tan told us to do and gave you 30 mins tummy time yesterday. I laid you down on your tummy after you took your morning bath yesterday. You were in a cheery mood then and did not resist tummy time. However you got tired after a little while and began to "complain" nonstop. Seeing that you're really tired, I turned you over. The last thing I want is to get you really upset and associate tummy time with something unpleasant. I did my research online and found out that tummy time is really important for your growth and development so I want you to enjoy it instead of detesting it.

Mommy is now thinking of things to do with you during tummy time so that you will be distracted and find tummy time fun and can endure longer. I tried distracting you with my camera cover which is BRIGHT RED and you kept staring at it. Your Por Por and Gong Gong also used their bunch of keys to distract you.

Mommy is pleased to tell you that after a few tummy time moments yesterday, you are able to wriggle forward quite well with ur butt up. I'm still waiting for you to learn how to roll over. This morning during your tummy time, you reached out ur left hand to grab the "Ru Yi Oil" that I placed infront of you! I'm so happy to see you grabbing it! :-) You're progressing!

Yesterday auntie Yan Yan sent mommy and email, and in her email she wrote, "As parents, you actually can't do anything to ensure her IQ or EQ are high, ormake sure she's an achiever, or make sure her path in life is smooth andobstacle-free. All you can do is to give her a happy happy childhood, which is full of love." This is exactly what mommy thinks. Everyday other than praying for everyone's health in the family, I also pray that we (daddy & me) will give you a happy childhood and bring you up as a good person. Mommy believes that with you in God's hands, God has a perfect plan for you and you're well taken of.

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 11:18 AM 1 comments

Tuesday, April 26, 2005
YeYe & MaMa's Visit

Dearest Nat,

Your YeYe and MaMa were here over the weekend to visit us and of course to play with their precious grandchild, which is you. We went to many places together and did alot of things together. It's a pity that they couldn't stay longer because of work commitments for I can tell how much they love you. You were basking in all the love and attention everyone showered on you.

Ye Ye couldn't stop kissing and holding you. Being a very good girl, you gave them your prettiest and happiest smile when they were here. I'm proud of you. You know who loves you, don't you?Your Daddy commented that you have grown alot over the past 2 weeks. You have become alot more responsive and alert and get really excited when we play with you. You know who is mommy and daddy and only want to be carried by us when you're scared, sleepy or hungry.

You did something funny on Sunday that I've to write it down. Towards the end of the church service, you poo poo while Por Por was carrying you. I heard the sound of you poo-pooing. It was VERY LOUD. Anyway while Pastor Henry was blessing us, I turned to look at you and to my HORROR, I saw brown stains on your otherwise very cute clothes given by Auntie Monica. I quickly alerted your Por Por, who was at that time still closing her eyes in prayers. Ha ha! We dashed out of the church the very second we finished saying "Amen!" and washed you up in the toilet. Shit was all over you when I undressed you so we had to wash you up in the sink in the toilet. Poor little baby! I guessed the culprit must be the M-size diaper we bought for you. Your butt is too BIG for the S size diaper now, my dear! One auntie came up to me and said "Oh! So she's a baby girl, I've always thought she's a boy!" Tsk Tsk... I have to make sure I dress you up in pink more often from now on!

I brought you to your first 5 in 1 vaccination on Monday, right after your Ye Ye and Ma Ma left for HK. I wanted to sign up a package with the polyclinic initially but idecided to let you have your jab at your pd's clinic instead in the end. Read that the vaccines at the doctor's clinic are better since they are more slightly more expensive. Anyway, mommy likes Dr Tan and trusts her more than the nurses at the polyclinics. Dr. Tan promised me no tears from you when she gave you the jab and indeed you didn't cry at all. She told me to nurse you while she administered the jab, so there you were, unaware of what was happening and was nursing happily. You even flashed me a big smile when I unlatched you after the jab was over. Another benefit of breastfeeding you, my dearest.

After talking to Dr. Tan, I'll start you on your semi-solids when you are 6 months old. And starting from now, I've to give you "tummy time" for 30 mins each day so that you'll learn to roll over on your own. So baby, that's our target for this month - to get you to learn how to roll over. I can foresee you wanting to be carried after a while on your tummy but I guess I have to be strict to you on that for your own good. It's a milestone we have to hit!

Love,
Mommy

All dressed up waiting to go out for dinner

Looking bewildered
C
Here's a family photo!

Eating your fist- your new found favourite activity

Ye Ye and you again

Looking alike?

Daddy says you look like your toy rabbit!

natnat's mom at 12:56 PM 2 comments

Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Whiny Baby

Dearest Nat,

Now that you're getting older, mommy has decided to cut down your time on my breast and get you into a schedule. I think this is beneficial for us in the long run because I cannot carry you 24 hours x 7 days.

I have tried removing you from my breasts after you are full and put you in the sarong cot to sleep. After trying for a few days with your grandma, we finally discover your "pattern". You'll whine for the first 15 to 30 mins when we put you into the cot. Usually I will take your whining as your cry and bring you out of the cot immediately, but we decided to ignore your whines and continue rocking you until you fall asleep this time. Sure enough, just a couple of mins after your loudest sigh, you'll close you eyes and sleep soundly! :-) We now know that you like to whine (in a singing tone) before you sleep. You'll sleep for 20 to 30 mins before waking up and we have to go through the same thing again. Your hunger cries is very different from your sleepy whines and that helps mommy to differentiate whether you're hungry or just sleepy.

With you getting older, you have become easier to take care of. I'm so happy and proud to know that my little baby is growing up fast. We all feel that you're going to grow up loving food because you have started to show your interest in food. You'll drool whenever we eat infront of you. Sometimes you'll put your little hand into your mouth to satisfy your cravings for food. Ha Ha! Your naughty Daddy used a straw to give you a drop of lime juice the other day and from then on, you have been sticking your tongue out very often like a snake. Your expression is so funny! You're also learning to turn over, I hope you'll be able to do so soon. You're also getting more responsive, always giving us a big wide smile whenever we play with you. Your favourite people now in the family is your Grandma and your Daddy. You will flash them your biggest smile whenever they come back from work. Of course Mommy has to be the person you like most in this world!!!

Love you lots,
Mommy
My Sweet Little Girl
Auntie Angel trying to cover your receding hairline

Daddy carrying his little princess.

natnat's mom at 11:51 AM 3 comments

Monday, April 18, 2005
First trip to Sentosa

Dearest Nat,

You went to Sentosa for the first time yesterday! Right after church and lunch, seeing that the sky was bright n sunny, I decided that we shall all go to Sentosa. Your grandma and Daddy didn't object and so we drove straight to Sentosa! We have been wanting to bring you and Grandma to Sentosa for a long time but have to keep putting off our trip to a later date because of the weather. This is the first time the weather is so cooperative, or so I thought.

Upon arriving at Sentosa, we drove straight to the beach. I was excited that you are going to feel sand for your first time. However as we were getting out of the car, I started to feel that it might not be a good idea to bring you to the beach coz it was BLAZING HOT outside. Your dear Grandma promptly took out her umbrella to shelter us as we walked towards the beach. Halfway to the beach, we all thought that it might be a better idea to turn back and go home instead. You were sleeping all the way from lunch to Sentosa. I didn't want to wake you up and at the same time the heat was killing us. We decided that it is a better idea to come again another time but to make our S$8 worth, I told you Daddy dearest to take some pictures of us at SENTOSA. This is how your first trip to Sentosa ended.

You finally woke up on our way out of Sentosa and like what I told your Grandma, we'll go again to Sentosa but next time we'll be better prepared. No more going to the beach at 3 pm in the afternoon and we'll do a picnic. :-)

Photos taken at Sentosa

Dearie, I promise you your next trip to Sentosa will be more memorable.

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 2:32 PM 0 comments

Thursday, April 07, 2005
Drinking milk

CIMG2680
Originally uploaded by Precious Natalie.
Dearest Nat,

I took this photo while you were drinking milk last Sunday night. I thought you look very satisfied and comfy while nursing.

I'm glad I manage to continue to breastfeed you despite the difficult beginning. Now the supply has stabilised and it has become so much easier to feed you. Nothing satisfies me more than knowing that I'm giving you the best.

Hopefully mommy can continue to breastfeed you till you self-wean.

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 5:55 PM 2 comments

Rainy Days

Dearest Nat,

I wanted to bring you out in the afternoon after your nap and after I finished my work. Ideally, you should be having your nap from 12 to 2 since you woke up at 9:30 am today and I'll be doing my work while you are sleeping. However, as usual, you don't like to be place on the bed. You want to fall asleep in my arms and continue sleeping that way until my arms are numb. Anyway, I've master typing with one hand so I was still able to complete my work while you carried on your beauty sleep for the next 45 mins.

You didn't fall asleep at 12, you slept at nearly 2 pm instead. Before you slept, you were so hyper and happy. You were "talking", laughing and wanted me to play with you which I did. Well, by the time you woke up and I was about to bring you out, it began to rain cats and dogs. It started with lightning and thunder first, then came the downpour. So in the end, we didn't go out. I don't want us to be caught in the rain and risk you falling sick. At around 5 pm, I brought you to the guardhouse to wait for Grandma to come back. Your heartless Grandpa went to Vietnam today and left us on our own. So from now until he comes back next week, Grandma and your daddy must come back on their own by bus. POor them!

Maybe you were too tired, you slept earlier tonight. I nursed you and you fell asleep after a while at 10:30 pm! Hope you'll have a good rest and wake up happy tomorrow. Mommy promise you if it doesn't rain tomorrow, I'll bring you to Borders.

Sitting on your "OSIM"
Youll look around curiously first

Then you'll spot something that caught your interest

and get really excited about it

You get really happy and start to laugh out loud

After a while, you stop laughing and continue to stare at the "object"

Talking to Grandma

Love,
Sleepy Mommy

natnat's mom at 12:27 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Cheerful Girl

Dearest Nat,

Recently you love to laugh. When we placed you on your "Osim", you will stare at the lights and keep us entertained by laughing out laugh. You laughed so hard that sometimes you choked with your own saliva. :-) When you laughed, your lovely eyes turned into a line and all we could see is your o-shape mouth. Mommy loves the way you look now - toothless. I think you're so cute and adorable. I was so engrossed with your laughter that I didn't manage to capture any photos to of you laughing heartily. Next time I'll standby with the camera.

Looking back at the last 3 months, I feel that we have come a long way together. 3 months is short for adults but certainly very long for a baby coz you have changed alot. When we first brought you back from the hospital, you were still trying to adjust to the surrounding and so you were cranky and crying 70% of the time. Mommy had a hard time looking after you. I was always in need of sleep and more sleep coz I was so exhausted.

You have become so much easier to look after now. Despite the "refuse to sleep" problem that you still have, you no longer cry as much and you don't mind playing by yourself for a little while now. You can go without asking for milk for longer hours too. Now mommy's breasts have time to rest. Hallelujah! You have learnt to interact with us and I really love to see your smile. You've become much rounder and heavier too!! Overall, I just love you more and more.

I need to run some errands today and I brought you along. You were asleep when I carried you out from the bed to put you into my sling. You woke up for a while and fell asleep a little while later when we reached the hospital. After I nursed you for a little while at the nursing room at Paragon, you fell asleep again. When you woke up, you didn't fuss at all. All you did was to look around at your surrounding curiously, absorbing everything that was going on around you.

We met a very nice uncle when we took the MRT today. As it was after office hour, the train was packed with people and we had no place to sit. The uncle saw us standing and urged a guy seated near us to give up his seat for us which he kindly did. Mommy is so grateful for kind people like them, it shows that Singaporeans are generally very nice.

Alright, mommy has to go to bed now! Goodnite, sweetheart!

Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 12:13 AM 0 comments

Monday, April 04, 2005
Tea at Auntie Anny's house

Dearest Nat,

Right after church service yesterday, I brought you to Auntie Anny's house for tea. It was a nice and sunny Sunday afternoon and we were the first to arrive!

Once inside Auntie Anny's house, you were eyeing my o-o for milk, and I was eyeing Auntie Anny's glorious spread of food!

Very soon, Auntie Laura arrived with Caleb and while both Dayne and Caleb were playing, the adults took turn carrying you. I was haapy that you were in a cooperative mood and let the adults carry you while I attacked the nice tarts in the photo above. I think you inherited my love for good good food!

After a short while, you became tired and fell asleep in the sling. You slept for almost an hour and even the loud doorbells didn't manage to wake you up. At home, you'll wake up at the slightest noise but when we're out, you are simply oblivious to the sound and noise around you.

Auntie Jinsiew and Gabe arrived while you were sleeping and we took a photo together with you sleeping in the sling.

All the kids had alot of fun playing with Dayne's toys! How I wish you could join in the fun too! Well, you'll be able to join in the fun next year once you can stand and walk like the rest. I'm counting down to that now. We took a group photo when everyone was almost there.

When it was time to go home, you had already changed 2 diapers and you were getting cranky. You fell asleep immediately when we got on Daddy's van. We spent another 1 and 1/2 hour searching for pirated softwares before we went home. You were all sticky and smelly by the time we reached home and Grandma had to bathe you before rocking you to sleep in the sarong cot. You must be really exhausted coz you slept for a good whole 3 hours in the cot. Mommy and Daddy had some free time to go to Clementi to buy chicken wings and satay and back for dinner. After dinner, we left you to continue sleeping at home and went to breadtalk to get some bread for breakfast. It'll be good if you start to sleep the way you slept last night from now on.
When you woke up at 10:30 pm for your last feed, you were very awake and happy. You kept laughing and smiling and you made me feel like I'm the happiest woman on Earth. You're getting more and more cheerful each day and I would like to think that's because of the love we have given you.
Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 1:02 PM 0 comments

Sunday, April 03, 2005
A Feast

Dearest Nat,

Your Grandpa prepared a feast for your grandaunt and your uncle David and family today. Mommy and Daddy had wanted to give your Uncle David and his family a treat somewhere outside but we invited them to our house instead after knowing that your Grandaunt wanted to come over for dinner instead. It was a wise choice because all of us had a very good dinner. Your grandpa is well known for his fine culinary skill. Cooking is his passion and he is really good at it.

Grandpa began preparing the dinner at 11 am, starting with his infamous porkribs+pig stomach soup. He added radish to it this time. One thing about the dishes your Grandpa cooked-> they were never the same. He always modify it the next time he cooks them. He started preparing the rest of the dishes at 4 pm. We had prawn rolls (3 large plates of them), fried fish, fried cuttlefish, cabbage, steamed prawns and soya sauce pork knuckles. As usual, everyone was full of praise of the dishes he whipped up. Your Daddy and I loved the fried cuttelfish especially! Your Uncle David brought along a bottle of red wine which only your Grandpa and he drank.

You were very excited the whole night because you had many people to carry you and 2 doting cousins to play with you. Mommy could tell you enjoyed their company coz you were quite well behaved the whole time our guests were here. The only time you made noise was when you were hungry.

Now you are sleeping soundly beside your Daddy. Mommy sneaked out of the bedroom after you fell asleep. Maybe you were too excited for the whole night, you were hyper-active after they left. We played with you for quite a long while after that and I only managed to make you sleep a few mins ago. Thank God for that! You need your rest, my little one! Rest and grow!

On a separate note, we noticed that you really love your Daddy. Whenever he talks to you, you'll respond with a huge smile. You love looking at your Daddy and smiling at him. Your eyes will automatically turn to him when he's near you. Talk about being a Daddy's girl! He's making me jealous. Other than Daddy, your next favourite person at home is your Grandma. You only allow her to rock you to sleeep when we put you in your sarong cot, no one can do that except your grandma. Ha Ha! Mommy has no complaints abt that coz Ifinally have a chance to rest my arms.

Smiley you with Grandaunt

Cousin Alvin carrying you happily
Mommy has to go to bed now. Another long day ahead tomorrow. Goodnight, my sweetie!
Love,
Mommy

natnat's mom at 1:12 AM 0 comments