Love Letters to Natalie
Saturday, December 31, 2005
First Birthday Celebrations
Dearest Natalie,
Turning 1 year old is a significant milestone for a baby and so we started a series of celebration for you to mark this special day.
First of all, we brought you to the Babies Prom 2005, followed by your first outing to the zoo and 2 celebrations in Singapore and Hong Kong. We also engaged a professional photographer to come over to take pictures of you and us together.
Our precious 1 year old princess
My favourite photo of us.
Singapore - 17th Dec 2005
We ordered a mango mousse cake from Cake Avenue (the same shop where we got our wedding cake 2 years ago) days before your birthday and I got them to colour it in pink. I thought the end product would be pretty but it turned out disappointing. I'll get you a better cake next year.
Pardon the hand holding the camera, you looked extremely happy clapping to "Happy Birthday"
Jason Gor Gor and Elaine Jie Jiecame over hours before the dinner to prepare for our Christmas dinner that night. It was a Christmas cum Birthday dinner for us. We had alot of yummy Christmas food which include Turkey, Ham, Potato Salad, Salad, Cheese cake, Sausages and Apple Juice Cocktail etc. Mandy Jie Jie and Jiu Jiu prepared the yummy cheesecake the night before.
The delicious spread of Christmas food.
Aunt Grace & Uncle Sheldon brought Min Min along to cut the birthday cake with you. Both of you were so happy to play with each other We sang Happy Birthday and cut your cake at around 9 pm. Both of you continued to play until quite late after that. We have with us that day also your Aunt Yvonne from HK and Jiu Jiu's other friends. It was a cosy and simple affair and we enjoyed it.
One photo with Daddy and Mommy.
One photo with Grandparents
One photo with everyone in the family.
One photo of Min Min and you.
You got a dancing muscial map from Jiu Jiu and Mandy Jie Jie, a toy ball from Elaine Jie Jie and 2 VCDs from Aunt Grace.
Hong Kong - 2oth December 2005
This is the actual day of your birthday and we held a mini party for you in Hong Kong and invited all our close friends, friends whom we have not seen for quite a long while and relatives. Aunt Kimmy helped us to book the cafe which is right below their apartment. It is a cosy little cafe called Cafe Le Jolly at Yau Ma Tei. I was pretty impressed with the cosy atmosphere there.
I prepared a big red guest-board for guests to write down their best wishes for you as a special momento for your first birthday. It is something I'll keep for you until you are old enough to keep it on your own. I have also created a Thank You picture in frame from the pictures the professional photographer has taken .
Almost everyone that we invited came. Mommy's friends who came are Gary Tsang and Jennifer, Tony, Kenneth, Vienna, Candy, Eve, Eric & Jennifer, Julia, Tracey & Claudia & Matthew. Daddy's friends who came include Angela & Awa & Markus, Eddie & Iris & Cherie, Karl & Kathy, Anthony, William and 2 other guys who I have not met before. All our relatives came too. You had the chance to meet your cousin Cherry who is a few months younger than you. She is the granddaughter of your grandaunt, who is also grandma to your cousin Alvin and Matthew.
You have not met most of the people at the party so you were feeling a little scared at the beginning. Many of them tried to play and talk to you and I felt bad about not spending enough time with all who took time to come celebrate with us. When it was cake cutting time, you were already very sleepy and tired and were fussing to nurse. I had to stop you halfway and wake you up for the cake cutting. I tried to pacify you by slinging you during the cake cutting and that got you a little happier. Aunt Kimmy got you a nice chestnut cake, as requested by your Daddy.
A yummy chestnut cake for your birthday in HK.
Cutting the cake with Mommy
A picture with paternal grandparents
(As there are too many pictures taken, here is the link to the rest of the pictures)
We received more toys, some clothes and red packets from everyone who came and Mommy & Daddy had to use a big bag to bring back all your gifts. That marked the end of your first birthday celebration. Come next year, it'll be a small celebration until you are able to appreciate bigger parties.
You're truly a very blessed baby with so many people loving you.
Love,
Your Mommy Dearest
natnat's mom at 12:58 AM
Friday, December 30, 2005
First Year Health Assessment
Dearie Nat,
Today we brought you to Dr Tan to have your MMR jab and your first year health assessment.
You are now weighing 10.3 kg, measuring 76.5 cm in length and having a head circumference of 45.3 cm. That puts you in the 75 percentile for everything and the doctor commented that your growth so far is "EXCELLENT!" You can see me beaming from face to face hearing the comment! I'm just so happy that you are doing so well.
The jab was non eventful. You gave a little yelp when Dr Tan gave you a quick jab. All the while I was nursing you as Dr Tan said that would make it less painful for you. I was told to monitor for possible fever after 7 days of your jab. Hopefully you won't get the fever.
At 1 year old, you are able to:
1) Stand unsupported for 15 seconds at least. The longer we clap and cheer you on, the longer you would stand. You will even clap for yourself and look very smug.
2) Walk with support. You could push the little car I bought you months ago and walk everywhere. You also like us to hold your little hands so that you could walk and you walk really fast!!!
3) You could understand and follow instructions quite well. You will clap, dance, wave byebye, kiss goodbye, sign "no more", fly like a butterfly/bird and pretend to kill a mosquito etc when we told you to.
4) You know where your eyes, ears, nose and mouth are in Mandarin. I'm teaching you the English nouns for them right now.
5) You know how to say "neng neng" very well whenever you want to nurse or when you want food.
6) You know how to express your likes and dislikes, as well as your wants. For eg. When you want something, you'll nod your head and when you don't wan't something, you'll shake your head. You nod and shake ur head so hard that your whole body moves together. It is hilarious!
7) You know how to show your affections. When we said "sayang wa wa (doll)", you will carry the doll and hug it really tightly while turning ur body from left to right. When we asked you to sayang us, you will either stroke our face gently with your hand or give us a kiss (more like a lick).
8) You love the yellow Pucca chocolate pretzel tibits that your Daddy bought. Now you will crawl all the way to the snacks table, pull yourself up and reach for the Pucca biscuits. After which, you will crawl back to look for us to open the biscuits for you.
9) You love to laugh. You'll laugh at every funny face that we make or will pretend to laugh along with us when we laugh. Your cries are as loud as your laughter though but luckily you do not cry too often.
I'm sure there is a no. 10 but it is getting very late now and I'm really sleepy so my mind is not working at its best. Goodnight for now, my sweetie. I'm joining you in dreamland pretty soon. You look so peaceful sleeping next to me.
Off we went to Toys R' Us after your health assessment.
Love,
Mommy
natnat's mom at 1:49 AM
Your Birth Story
Dearest Nat Nat,
Happy 1 year old to you! I meant to write this letter much earlier on your birthday itself but we were in HK then so I waited till we came back to write it.
12 months have passed since the day I held you in my arms for the first time at the hospital. From a needy newborn, you have come a long way to become the cheerful, cheeky and so full of expressions little girl you are today. I thank God everyday for his blessings and protection over you and for bringing you into our lives. Things are never quite the same since you came along.
I guessed it is apt that I write your birth story in this special birthday letter to you. Let's just do a really quick one since I have forgotten alot of the details. I started feeling the contractions around noon time on 20th Dec 2004. The contractions were mild and I could still go on with my daily stuffs so I wasn't paying much attention to them.
I had plans to do some last minute Christmas shopping and was urging your Daddy to get ready to leave the house. I went to the toilet to get ready and discovered some blood-like discharge and quickly alerted your daddy. After that I kept having the urge to clear my bowels and I sorta knew you're planning to make your grand arrival.
I quickly sms Anny to let her know and to seek her advice. She told me to get something to eat before I go to the hospital. Thank God I had the hospital bag all packed and was ready to go. Your Jiu Jiu even made an effort to drive your Daddy and me to the hospital. We got macdonalds to fill our stomachs on the way. At the hospital, we were told to go to the gynae's clinic to see him. At his clinic, he told his nurse to monitor your heartbeat. After lying on the bed for a long time, I was told to go home and wait even though I told him about the blood discharge. So I obediently went home.
While at home, the contractions became more and more frequent and intense. I started going to the toilet more often too and the bloody discharge became thicker too. At around 7 pm, it was decided that I shall have dinner and then head for the hospital again since the contractions now lasted for more than 1 min each time and were like 10 mins apart.
I went straight to the delivery ward to admit myself when we reached the hospital. Your Daddy went to do the admittance paperworks while I stayed in the delivery room. It was nice and cosy and there was even a TV there. The pain was still manageable and all the while I was at peace, praying nonstop for a safe delivery and healthy baby. I brought the book "Supernatural Childbirth" with me to the delivery ward too but was in no mood to read. I also called Cordlife to
make arrangement for cordblood collection.
The midwife checked and found that I was 3 cm dilated. Then a while later, the gynae came and he checked and found that I was already 5 cm dilated. That was like only 10 to 20 mins after the midwife checked me. I was pretty pleased coz I thought 5 cm was already 1/2 way there and it wasn't really painful yet so another 5 cm won't be so bad right?
Then the gynae decided to break my waterbag while the heartbeat monitor was still strapped on to me to monitor your heartbeat. Once the waterbag was burst, the gynae found meconium in the water and told me that we had to go for an emergency caesarean because you were already in distress and he didn't want to risk you swallowing the meconium . That was totally out of my expectation but I knew that there was no other way out though I badly wanted to have a natural childbirth. Your Daddy was still doing the admittance paperworks and wasn't with me when the gynae broke the news and for once, I got nervous.
Anyway, the rest of the events happened really fast. Your Daddy came back, the gynae told the nurses to prepare me for the operation and I was wheeled into the operating theatre not knowing what to expect. That was the first time in my entire life to end up in an operating theatre. Well, there's a first time to everything in life I guess.
When I woke up from the operation, I was in a daze. I could only remember I was extremely thirsty and I could feel a little pain at where the wound was but the pain was manageable. It wasn't too bad. I asked if you are safe and healthy and was told that you opened your eyes to look around the moment they brought you out to show to the entire family (porpor, gong gong, jiu jiu, Mandy jie jie, Aunt Angel and Daddy) waiting outside and I can't remember much of what happened after that.
As I have requested that you be fully breastfed and no bottles or teats are to be introduced to you, the nurse brought you to me to be nursed a few mins after I was wheeled into the ward. As my wound was still hurting, I was taught to nurse you lying sideway. You latched on immediately and sucked really well. It was a magical moment breastfeeding you for the first time. The way you suckle really hard for the milk makes me realise how precious life is and how wonderfully made you are. And I praise and give thanks to God for a safe delivery and a healthy you.
Well, that's your birth story for you. Some day you'll be a mother and you will be able to relate more to what I have written here. Regardless of how you have made your entry into this world, you have made this place a happier place for all of us who love you so so much.
I know you will continue to grow and blossom coz Daddy God will be looking after you and taking care of you himself. Times when I'm careless and negligent, I know Daddy God has stepped in to help. These 12 months would not be so blissful without Him and without everyone who has a part to play in a way or another, especially your Daddy and your Por Por. I thank Daddy God for placing them in my life.
May you grow up to be a good girl, a good person and may you walk closely with our God all the while.
Love you very much,
Mommy
natnat's mom at 1:02 AM
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
To the Zoo
natnat's mom at 12:21 PM
Babies Prom 2005
Dearst Nat,
Before memory starts to fail me, I better write this down for you to read.
We went to Babies Prom - your first music concert - on 9th Dec 2005 at Victoria Concert Hall. I have fond memories of that place. That is where I took many of my piano exams, where Auntie Qimin and I will sneak to for a cheap concert just to idle our time away from our weekly French lesson. We get comfy seats, nice air con and beautiful music for 2 hours at only S$5 (student price). Anyway I haven't been going there regularly since those days.
It was nice to be at the concert hall again. I got your Daddy to take a day leave just to come with us. Por Por also came with us after I told her I've already got her tickets. I really want her to enjoy this concert with us as I think she deserves a break from work to have some fun. I bought the tickets through Auntie Lily in August and she got us the front row which were really nice!
The concert starts at 12 pm and we got there on the dot. Luckily we had your gong gong to drive us there so we didn't have to waste time hunting for a parking lot at the extremely full carpark.
We saw a little boy seated comfortably at our seats and we realised that he came to the wrong concert. His tickets were for the next day. Poor little boy. I hope he still get to watch the concert even though he (or his mother) had made a blunder. That's something that is likely to happen to me so I emphatise with his mother.
The conductor and presenter for the concert is Peter Moore. He is a funny man with a round face and a round tummy. We also have the whole SSO orchestra performing fpr us. Peter Moore and the Orchestra guided us through the different family of instruments that made up the Symphoney Orchestra which was very interesting as we had the chance to listen to each and every of the instruments there. We also did some fun musical activities together. Your Daddy piggybacked you on his shoulder when Peter Moore got everyone to follow him to walk one round in the concert hall to the rhythm of the music played by the Orchestra. It was really fun and you enjoyed it. You were able to clap to the beats when told to do so.
As the concert coincides with your nap time, you got cranky towards the later part and started to fuss. I was glad the concert ended shortly after you started crying for milk. I nursed you the moment we got into the car and you fell asleep immediately.
To make the day extra special for you, we also took the bus and the MRT home from the factory instead of taking a taxi. You had alot of fun exploring the bus and the MRT and all of us reached home totally exhausted and depleted of any energy except you. You would have even more fun if I didn't cancel the playdate with Dylan's mommy. I had to cancel the playdate when I caught you coughing in the afternoon, it would be bad if you spread the cough to Dylan. Thank God your cough went away at night and you are okay since then.
I am looking forward to next year's Babies Prom. Hopefully the SSO will have something similar throughout the year. I have half decided to start you with the Piano followed by the violin (or any instrument you like)when you are ready to learn music. Before that I want you to learn how to enjoy music so I don't intend to start you on formal music education too early. Piano is a must because I think it lays the foundation for the learning of all other musical instruments and it would be nice if you could make good use of the piano at home.
Alright, I have to stop here. We have to wake up earlier tomorrow to take photos. The professional photographer is coming in at 10 am. I am also getting sleepy after updating my previous letters to you with photographs. Yes, I have finally found time to upload the photos. God bless you my dear! May you wake up a smiley happy baby tomorrow morning. We love you lots!
Photo taken before the concert. Your lovely red dress is a gift from Mandy Jie Jie
Halfway through the concert with Por POr
Photo taken towards the end of the concert where children were invited to go up the stage to explore the different musical instruments. Look at your sleepy face
Conductor Peter Moore and the kiddos
On bus no. 964
At Admiralty MRT station
Love,
Mommy
natnat's mom at 12:21 AM
Friday, December 09, 2005
In Love
natnat's mom at 12:01 AM
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
A Day at Anny's House
Dearest Nat Baby,
As I am typing this, you are soundly asleep next to me. I guess the activities for today really exhausted you.
We had a busy day. In the morning, we made a mad rush to the dentist at Paragon Orchard to do a filling for my chipped tooth. After that we went to Takashimaya to do a quick shopping and buy lunch home. I saw some really nice clothes at Hush Hush going at 50% discount but did not buy you any because I couldn't find your size. I wanted to get you a pair of long denim jeans to match the bright red shirt Aunt Angel got you from Zurich. We tried the shirt on you last night when we were at her house and I love the way you look in it. I think RED is indeed your colour!
We reached home at around 1 pm. We had lunch and I took a quick shower and we rushed to Aunt Anny's house. We are having a tea party at her house to celebrate Aunt Trace and little Claudia's birthday. It was a nice gathering with lotsa mommies and children. I know you had fun because you were very busy enjoying Dayne's toys and you love to mingle with other children.
You slept for 10 mins before reaching Aunt Anny's house and slept for another 30 mins or so at her house. Luckily you were in quite okay mood and did not fuss much, mainly because you were busy playing with the toys. When we got home, it was already 7 pm and all of us were really tired.
Your new game today is playing "catching" with Aunt Sandra. I was watching the TV while Por Por was playing with you. Suddenly I heard your loud laughter and turned to watch what you were up to. I saw Por Por holding you by your hands while you struggled to "run away" as quickly as you can from Auntie Sandra who was pretending to chase and catch you. It was such a hilarious sight. When Auntie Sandra stopped chasing you, you would drag Por Por to walk you to the kitchen door again and tried to get her attention. This went on and on until we were all exhausted!!!
When Aunt Angel came, we walked over to her house with her and you went crazy again when the rest of the folks came home. You were happily playing with Aunt May, Michelle JieJie etc. When it was time for us to go, you were already very very sleepy and I only took a few mins to make you sleep. That's really good!
We are going to have another busy day tomorrow!!!
With Dayne Gor Gor
Loving the Christmas Tree
Allowing only Auntie Carine to carry you
Love,
Mommy
natnat's mom at 11:35 PM
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
A Good Dinner
Dearie Nat,
We just came back from a good dinner not long ago.
We were invited to a dinner at Yong Chun Yuan at Upper Cross Street by your grandpa's friend, Whee Yong. He didn't tell us the occasion for the dinner invitation, leaving it for us to guess. Dinner was at 7 p.m. but we only left the house close to 7 p.m.
You were very restless in the afternoon and refused to sleep long. It was not until 5 p.m. that you fell into a 40 mins slumber which I didn't have the heart to wake you from. I know you were tired and needed to sleep. You woke up at around 6 p.m. and por por promptly fed you while I was having my shower. When I came out from the bathroom, Auntie Sandra was about to bathe you. I picked your clothes for you and let Auntie Sandra do the rest.
As you weren't in your best of mood, you got a little whiney by the time we left the house. On the way to pick up your Daddy from his office, you nursed for a while and stayed wide awake throughout the car journey.
By the time we picked up your Daddy and reached the restaurant, it was already 7:20 pm. It was a good dinner and I enjoyed the food. I guessed I ate more than anyone else present. In the past, I would be quite self conscious and would refrain from eating too much. Now I couldn't be bothered. I told myself I have to eat well and make sure I do not go hungry so that I will have enough good quality milk for you.
You were very well behaved for the first half of the dinner, sitting obediently on your high chair. The longer you sat, the more impatient you became and we had to carry you out and put you on our lap instead. You loved the fish and the sweet buns. It was good seeing you enjoying the food. We had Karaoke session after dinner and everyone present was very tickled by the way you swayed and danced to the music.
Now you are sound asleep beside me. I wish you sweet dreams!
Waiting to go out
Getting naughty, bullying your por por to yield to your ways.
Dancing to the music
Finally HAPPY
Love,
Mommy
natnat's mom at 12:49 AM
Monday, December 05, 2005
Birthday Planning
Dearest Nat,
I am so excited because I'm in the midst of planning your first birthday celebration. This isn't any ordinary birthday but your first so it's going to be something special and memorable for us and you.
We'll have a cosy birthday dinner with our immediate family in Singapore on either 17th or 18th Dec and I'll order a nice and pretty cake for you. On the actual day of your birthday, we'll have a celebration in HK with mommy and daddy's family and closest friends. The celebration will take place at Cafe Le Jolly.
Mommy is busy surfing sites after sites now for more birthday ideas. These are the things mommy intend to do:
1) Create a meaningful birthday favour to give to guests attending your party
2) Buy you a pretty dress to wear on your birthday in Singapore and in HK. The dress must be from me and not from anyone else because I'm your mommy and I want the privilege of you wearing something I bought on your first birthday
3) Plan for a professional photoshoot session in Singapore - that shall be my birthday present to you
4) Create a nice guestbook for friends to sign
Because of the above, I have yet to find time to further update your blog. I've so much that I wanted to write you. You know, I'm really excited about seeing you turning one year old. It is strange how each day feels so long but a year feels so short with you around.
May you continue to be a blessed and healthy baby.
Love lots,
Mommy
natnat's mom at 1:30 PM
