Of Namesakes And Defining Moments

Greetings and salutations, dearest Dyanna...

It has been 10 months, 2 days and almost 6 hours since you came into our lives. No matter how challenging it has been, you have always been our reason to smile.

Always.

Ironically, when I selected to name you after a Themysciran princess (albeit transliterated minutely), I never expected you to truly live up to your namesake. Sometimes, it is unavoidable, but we do worry about your safety. Especially when you dive head first of the bed or staircase or some such furnishings. And it will get even more worrisome when you start walking.

Even now, as you crawl faster than your remote control R2-D2, we worry. When you start standing and attempt to reach something above you or whatnot, we worry. When you start getting curious with everything that's in the kitchen (like that time you tried to touch the boiling pot), we worry.

Yes, I know it is to be expected. A piece of the puzzle that will never fit in the beginning, but would fall into place by the end of it.

And I know your mother does her best to teach you the right things. But, I'll never (ever) be certain if I'm teaching you all the right things. All I can do is let you learn by yourself, sooner or later, and make your own choices, regardless whether we like it or not. Not that your mother will agree with my perspective. And I know you'll make the best of it, no matter what.

And when we are long gone and you have done your part, I hope you know we did it because we love you.

Always. No matter what.

Because fate is what we make of it,

Your loving father

The 9 months Check Up

Hi Baby,

Mommy had to lie to the nurse who was taking down the details of your check up, it was the baby led weaning thing. It started when she asked what have you been eating and mommy rattled off the list and she did look taken aback and started saying about got to be careful giving babies solids and them holding their food as they'll choke and finger foods are a no no etc etc, and then with her hand poised with a pen ready to jot down she started with "Are you eating rice porridge?" Mommy did a "Ye-es?", and she continued, "Does the porridge contain vegetables and protein?" Mommy can enthusiastically say yes to that one, you are eating your vegetables and protein only not in the way she expected.

Baby led weaning is the square block idea that can't fit into their round hole mind. Mommy and daddy have seen you eat, your grandparents have seen you eat, other people have seen you eat, and you're doing fine, as a matter in fact, they were amazed to see you were able to feed yourself. Because of baby led weaning, you learned how to chew your food, how much food to bite off safely to fit into your mouth to chew, your handling skills have improved, you learned not to squash a banana into mush to eat - although if you're just playing then you squeezed the life out of it and smear it all over the table - you tried so many types of food and flavours, the other night for dinner you had curry spaghetti! Those people don't know what they're missing...

You weighed in at 10.03kg, height 74cm and you're just below the 95th percentile in the charts.

There were boxes which the nurse ticked, like are you crawling, standing etc all to do with your development.

Mommy asked about giving you baby vitamins, and the nurse said from what mommy had told her from what you are eating, mainly fruits and vegetables, there is no need as your growth is on the up. The nurse said they would recommend only if baby isn't developing or under nurished. Well, you're anything but that.

You're growing well and the next check is when you turn one, the day after you turn one years old. And you got one more jab left, I can't remember which it was....

And because we went out for breakfast first, and turned up at the clinic in the later morning where there were less people, we were in and out in half an hour! Yay!

You did complain when mommy took off your diaper to get you weighed. I think you were already nervous when we got there, probably anticipating injections every time you go clinic...

I wonder what'll be like when you turn one...

Love,
Mommy

One Sunny Day

With daddy in Orchard Road, Singapore

Dear Baby

Mommy can't remember how it happened... but I remembered being obsessed finding a sun hat for you months back, and that now whenever you're outside you must have your hat on.

When mommy was looking for a sling online, I came across this site that was also carrying this particular brand of hats called Sunday Afternoons. After reading that the hats have an SPF rating of 50 and they come in baby sizes and all other good things, I was sold. Since the shop was in Singapore and Auntie Lin was heading there, I asked her to pick up a couple for me, one of them is a sun hat, wide brim and all that in light purple and an adventure hat in light green, which we lost on our trip there ironically on our way to the same shop to pick up more hats, and another baby carrier. All the hats are still too big for you even at the smallest setting, but we managed.

While there, daddy picked up 3 or 4 more adventure hats, and one other hat which style mommy forgot the name to because he liked the colour.

The hat you're wearing is an infant sun hat from the same brand which I asked Auntie Sarah to pick up for you when she was there on her way to Japan. I figured it should fit you better as the other hats were 1-5 year old, but it was still slightly too big for you. But considering how fast babies and toddlers grow, it won't matter in the end...

When you start school, it's compulsory to have a sun hat for play, so we're all set for that already.

You don't like it if your hat got put on your head when indoors, you'll automatically remove it. But when we're outside and your hat goes on, you don't bother with it because you know you're heading out somewhere. Hopefully wearing a hat outdoors will become a habit for you.

You know what mommy should've done, I should've gotten an adult Sunday Afternoon hat for myself too when we were there, doh!

Love,

Mommy

Airplane Bassinet

She filled up the whole bassinet! Even with legs bent at the knees at less than 8 months old!

Woooooo....

My first airplane ride! Hangin' out in my crib!

Yay!

No TV?

Dear baby,

As you know mommy and daddy have put some restrictions on you when it comes to the television. It's not a total no television thing, we just don't want you growing up stuck to the 'interesting and flickering images' that appear on the screen so much, and get influenced by certain shows, hence, you are not allowed to watch the Disney Channel, mommy and daddy have our reasons... and if you do happen to be watching television, especially when over at nenek during the day, it'll be the Discovery channel. Although nowadays nenek don't bother having the television on as she only watches her dramas in the evenings now. News channels may be informative but it's depressing and full of negativity, so it's a no for now, argument with nenek about that.

When you're at nini boy and nini noi's place you don't watch television, when we sit down for dinner the television in the kitchen is turned off so you won't get distracted when you're suppose to eat. It's good practice anyway, you can taste and enjoy your food more.

At home we don't have cable or astro. Mommy and daddy only watches if we feel like watching something on the dvd player. So the other day, mommy figured to introduce you to musicals, lots of harmonies, songs, visual sensory with the costumes and stage, which was how you ended up watching Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This musical is old. Mommy used to have this on repeat in my old studio while I was making my stuff. You were interested in the beginning, watching the cats prancing and song and dance, until daddy came home, and you lost all interest...

Love,

Mommy

Baby Wearing Daddy

Hi Baby,Check out daddy wearing you using the ring sling! How cool you both look, and totally comfortable too.

Daddy at first never wanted to use the sling, preferred to carry you in hand.... Until one day on our holiday he decided to give the sling a go. Then he discovered his arms doesn't ache anymore!

Quite useful to link up your toy to the sling as like so when you let go it doesn't get dirty. Daddy's getting pretty good with putting you in and taking you out of the sling as it's pretty quick and no messing about much.

Mommy's going to start using the manuka soft structure carrier soon as you are getting t0o heavy for me to carry you in the sling, but for short jaunts it's still ok, plus it's still pretty convenient to use the sling anyway....

Love,

Mommy

It Has Been 9 Months

Dear Baby,

Amazingly we have reached the same amount of time it took you to be incubated, in mummy's tummy, to being on this planet.

You'll be going to the clinic for check up next week, the last check up was when you were 6 months and they say see you in three months, which is time...

Using the digital weighing machine at home, you're still at 9.8kg, height we don't know, we never did get around to popping by the clinic to do all that did we.

You're eating mostly on your own, unless you're with nenek who likes to feed you, I think so you wouldn't make so much mess that she'd have to clean up, which mommy have a lot of arguments with nenek about that because its reducing your chances of learning. Mommy try to get you home early so you can eat on your own, and been making baby friendly food items to ensure that you try a whole range of taste. There is teriyaki chicken balls and wontan waiting in the fridge today...

You pull yourself up more and more and at times let go and you'd stand on your own two feet for a few seconds. If you want to be carried you'd crawl over and pull yourself up and your arms reaching up as high as possible looking up with expectation on your face. You like pulling yourself up any opportunity you can get, when you're on the bed, you pull yourself up using the headboard, when you're on the sofabed, you pull yourself up on the back rest. You pull yourself up against anything...

You'll only play with your toys if someone else is playing with you.

You're showing separation anxiety recently when mommy have to go back to work at lunch times. You don't show it when mommy leave you in the mornings. Maybe you weren't fully awake yet maybe...

Since mommy had taken up indoor cycling classes in the evenings, daddy's the one that picks you up from nenek's and you get time with daddy until mommy gets home.

We have Auntie Maricel come over to the house once a week or every two weeks to help clean, and when she's done you get to play with her as she really entertains you a lot and you're quite taken with her and that's when mommy take the opportunity to go spend some time in the studio. Mommy and daddy thought of maybe getting her to become your caretaker during the week days as you're getting to be quite a handful for nenek now, not to mention heavy.

You already got your second dose for the rotavirus vaccine a couple of weeks ago, the doctor said better to start when you were 12 weeks old for better immunization, will keep that in mind for the next sibling.

You're also turning to be a heavy wetter now, so mommy have been researching for the best night time solution, so far it seems to be a fitted with wool cover. Well, either that or mommy just have to diaper change you at 6 in the morning, just that sometimes I get too tired and can't wake up in time like this morning for instance and you leaked.

As soon as we get our hands on a potty you're getting potty trained, got to get it off Uda, she said she'll lend one. You don't have your usual indications of when you're eliminating like before which is harder now but must try anyway...

It's good that daddy likes babywearing you, but sometimes he'll forgo the sling so he can get some exercise he says. Mommy planning on using the SSC soon, have to watch the instructional DVD to refresh the memory.

You're back to taking EBM, we're now a week ahead of the expiration date, and nenek said your stock there is out, so tomorrow must remember to bring some over when I drop you off. And mommy's output has increased as well, I'm up to expressing three and over cups now, I just need to match it with your intake and a bit more to make sure the freezer is stocked up. I must remember to use the new techni ice pack I got for the cooler bag...

We have already registered you for pre kindy for next year, early registration ensure you get a spot since they only have space for 30. Mommy just wait for the interview phone call and also will start taking you for the weekly afternoon session play group so you'll be familiar with the place by the time pre kindy starts, probably next year.

Mommy would like to take you for pool play and they say it's best in a babies swimming group, the babies swimming group I know isn't swimming anymore, nuts...

That's all mommy can think of the top of my head for the moment, more new things to come...

Love,
Mommy