6th Months Check Up

Hi Baby,

At 6 months and a weekish, you checked in at 70cm tall and 8.8kg. Yesterday was the doctor's appointment. And we waited almost two hours! Which never happened before, and the clinic was unusually full yesterday too. Daddy and I agreed that at your next appointment we're going to have breakfast first before coming to the clinic because we planned on going out for breakfast after your appointment, it didn't happen, by the time we were done it was almost lunch time.

While waiting for our number to come up, mommy was people watching. The weighing and measuring station was right in front of the waiting area, and there was one couple mommy was watching as they take off their baby's clothes and diaper, weighed, and back on the mat to put the baby's clothes back on, mommy noticed and excitedly said to daddy, "Hey, their baby is using cloth diaper too! I wonder what brand is it..." Trust mommy to see that.

Oh, almost forgot, you weren't very happy when we first came into the clinic and weighed and measured you. When daddy placed you on the scales you started crying and fidgeting, and did not want to be on it. Daddy took the lowest number as your reading because he said all the other readings were way too high from all that movement you did. Same goes with the measuring baby's length, but at least you didn't cry, just upset.

Mommy was kind of surprised or that your growth has slowed down, but then you do have a growth spurt coming up.

We met a couple of daddy's friends, and mommy helped out one of them by holding their one month old son while the mommy was getting the bottle ready. The baby was so light and fragile in my arms, and I don't recall a time when you were like that... probably on your first day? No... can't be... No, you were never as fragile as that baby. You were pretty tough from the get go.

When finally it was our turn to see the doctor. It was a pleasant surprise to see an old friend of the family sitting in the same room, she was shadowing the pediatrician that day. The doctor assessed you, I don't know what, probably to see if you were responsive as mommy had you in my lap and the doctor was holding up some rings and you reached out to them. Then you were placed on the bed and undressed and the doctor checked out your joints, daddy said you got confused and thought you were getting your diaper changed.

After that the doctor asked where does daddy smoke, not in the house, and then proceeded the rest of the consultation lecturing daddy about the dangers of smoking, second hand smoking and how it will affect you, and how if one parent smoke chances of the child following is high. The doctor went on and on about how daddy would need support from everybody and all that. Mommy could sense daddy was not pleased being lectured about that and how the doctor kept on saying to come to my clinic as they give nicotine patches etc.

While that was happening, mommy was talking to our family friend and showing her the cloth diaper and explaining about it, they were well intrigued, all of them in the room was saying it was the first time they've seen it.

From the doctor's room we made our way to the vaccination room to get your last hepatitis shot. And the nurses gave the next appointment three months from now. Mommy was surprised, I thought it'll still be a monthly visit, they said if the baby is developing and growing well, no need to, if baby wasn't, then they'll have to monitor more often.

Mommy figured maybe we'll just come over monthly anyway and use the weighing and length measuring just so we can check your growth.

So, next visit is when you are 9 months!

Love,

Mommy

Baby At Wedding

Dear Baby,

Last sunday we went to a family friend's daughter's wedding, the parents came to daddy's wedding so this is like to reciprocate. We went with your Nini Noi and Nini Boy in one car to the hall which is next to the beach, so it felt cool even though it was a bright sunny day. From the carpark to the hall we made sure you were wearing your sun hat (spf 50).

Mommy dressed you up in the baju kurong Nini Noi made for you with matching light green diaper.

You were with daddy from the car and into the hall and since they had separated the seatings, males on the left, females on the right, mommy went to sit with some of daddy's cousins and you and daddy disappeared else where. Eventually daddy came to pass you to me and you were with mommy. Well, you took the hearts of a lot of ladies in the area mommy was sitting with, you smiled and laughed and cooed and they all just kept on looking at you. Where as you on the other hand would not sit still, you kept on wanting to stand up and bounce.

The lady that was sitting next to mommy commented what a sweet baby you are, so happy. And you looked towards her and raised your arms like you wanted to be picked up. Mommy passed you to the lady and you cooed and smiled at them.

When it was time to eat one of the ladies offered to hold you for mommy since she doesn't eat at weddings. And you went to her arms willingly leaving mommy free to check out the buffet. After mommy was done, apparently the wedding photographer was her son in law and had been taking pictures of you. So mommy just need to contact the lady to get your pictures, she told mommy where she works so one day when mommy happen to be training there I'll look her up.

When wedding was over, passed you to daddy and I lost him in the crowds. Saw daddy a distance away and you were with Pa'Ngah, he was at the wedding too. Had to wait for you grandparents as they sat up front and a surge of people making their way out of the hall. Eventually we went out of the hall hoping your grandparents were already outside, nope. Met more of daddy's cousins. And finally your grandparents emerged, and more waiting because your grandmother were stopping people to introduce you as you are the first grand child for them. Very proud of you they are.

Finally we get to make our way to the car and make our way home. Your grandparents talked about how you were so well behaved at the wedding, this is the fourth wedding function you've attended. We got home just in time as Auntie Wina was comming over to pick up the recycled stuff, they got a beach cleaning event that day.

It was nap time for you before we head out again to look for a new car seat for you. That's another story...

Love,

Mommy

Baby At Work

Dear Baby,

Mommy had to bring you to work one day because nenek wasn't available that morning. Needless to say, mommy's colleagues went all 'iski' having you around. They all commented they want to bite your thighs. There was a lot of talk about legs that morning.

Look at you in the office chair, what paperwork have you done that day baby? You look well busy with all that papers behind you.

At least mommy didn't have to express that day.

Love,

Mommy

High Chair

Dear Baby,

We were over Auntie Nadia's house one day and tried out the baby high chair she bought for Abang Nawi.

So what do you think? Do you like it? Daddy said you look really happy in it. Mommy kinda like this model because it allows you to be at the table at the same height as everybody. And not only that the chair is adjustable. Like for you, we just need to increase the bottom shelf up one notch so your feet can rest on it and not dangle. The seat platform can be pushed out a bit more to give room for the thighs.

And when you're all grown up and don't need the baby attachments anymore we can have that removed and it'll be a high chair that you can get in and out from easily. And when you're even older we can remove the top seat and just use the lower and it'll be a proper chair you can use.

End of the day, it all depends on daddy. Mommy already gave him all the details. Are we getting it or not I don't know...

If we do get it it'll either be a red or black one. Heheh...

Love,

Mommy

The Princess of Themyscira

Dear Baby,

The little Wonder Woman! These were taken when you just turned 4 months old, the outfit came from Australia, a friend picked it up because it was on sale. Well, I think baby only wore it twice before you outgrew it. Daddy was very excited when you first wore it. Mommy was wondering where can we find red booties to go with the outfit... Only trouble was with the outfit was that it was velvety which is warm for you so we only dressed you in it for bed. Pictures were taken in the morning after you woke up! Hehehe...

Love,
Mommy

P. S. Mommy is just slow with uploading your pictures...

So Much Development!

Hi Baby,

Mommy worked out in one week you showed so many developmental milestones. Starting off with new baby teeth, sitting up unsupported, rolling on your front to back to front again, playing with your feet and stuffing them into your mouth (happy baby pose!), learned how to seek attention, expressing feelings (just a matter of us interpreting the meaning correctly). What else is there that I might have missed out...

Last weekend Auntie Choo came over and took photos of you, here are some taken in your playroom..





Aren't the pictures great? Auntie Choo been practicing a lot with her camera and you're one of her favourite subjects.

Oh yeah, that reminded me, whenever there are people around, and even if it was your nap time, you don't want to sleep, you'd stay up so they'll play with you. Like last time, mommy put you down for a nap and managed to sleep for at least half an hour then your cousins and Uda came over and you were wide awake, playing, laughing and only had your nap after they all left.

One of the great things about baby is no matter how short your sleep is, you'd always wake up smiling.

Love,
Mommy

You Can Sit!

Dear Baby,

Beginning of the week mommy was feeling really sick, and it also just so happen that mommy took a couple of days off anyway to take care of you since nenek lambak was in Jakarta with Uchu. On one hand it was annoying mommy got sick while on leave but on the other it was good because mommy just spend the days in bed, and since daddy was working it was just you and me.

So it was one of those days while we spent the day in bed was when mommy discovered you can sit. All I did was sit you up, and hey, you're sitting! I can't remember if this was the same day as when mommy discovered you got teeth... It was great to see you able to sit upright, and you're trying to balance your body and using your arms. At first you seemed unsure but also happy as it was something new.

That night when daddy came home showed him you can sit. You're growing up really fast now. You get really antsy nowadays if you get put in a lying down position and insist on standing, or sitting at least.

We really have to be careful with you, for all I know, I turn my back on you and you're crawling off. It really is harder to take care of babies once they learned how to move around... there was that episode where you rolled off the bed in your sleep, thank goodness for japanese style beds, and that other episode of falling over backwards while sitting, thank god you're still short. I know mommy can't protect you forever, but I have to try, all that adrenaline and increased heart pumping leaves me all jittery when something happens to you when it could've been prevented. Aaarrghh!!

Love,
Mommy