Dearest Anya,
I know I keep exclaiming this every other month, but really! You have grown so much! From that 3.33 kg non-communicative immobile newborn, you are now a almost 9kg nimble pre-toddler! Mommy was observing you while you played by yourself in your room yesterday and realization dawned upon me that I was no longer staring at a baby but a little girl!
The past few weeks has seen the most growth spurt in your development in months. Mommy had started teaching you to sign "please" since you were seven months old but it had been one-way traffic. I was told by books and friends to keep doing it without expectations, that I will be rewarded one day. True enough! One afternoon when we were in Phuket, you whined for the grapes that Daddy and I were eating. My default response was, "Anya, say please?". You promptly signed it, your eyes never leaving those grapes that Daddy was holding. Daddy and I almost could not believe our eyes! We had to keep on asking you to sign again and again. Needless to say, you had ALOT of grapes that afternoon. Heh! Interestingly though, you stopped signing "please" a few days after we came back. I suspect that it was more of a case of refusal rather than forgetting. Hmpf!
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| Right before the magical "please" happened. |
Other than signing "Please", you also grasped the concept of "gong xi gong xi", clapping, waving goodbyes and hellos, and hugging. Most of which you discovered during the Phuket trip. As a child who is easy with your smiles, your "gong xis", waves and claps are often coupled with a big grin plastered on your face. This has an infectious effect on people surrounding you.
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| *clap clap* |
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Hugging means tightening your grasp while resting
your chin / side of face firmly on our shoulder |
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| Saying goodbye to Muffin |
During the Lunar New Year visits, I was apprehensive that you might be fearful and grouchy, being surrounded by new homes and crowds of strangers - one place after another. Thankfully, though you were coy at times, and often over-stimulated at the end of the day, your personality still shone through. Whenever someone gives you an angbao, your face would lit up as you gamely took it from the giver. Thereafter, you would bestow one of your infectious smiles in return and gladly gesture "gong xi" when prompted by us. You are very fond of angbaos, especially those cutesy ones with the face of a rabbit on it and two long ears sticking out on top. You would hold it tightly for up to hours and would yell at Daddy and Mommy if we tried to pry it out of your grasp after asking for it repeatedly to no avail.
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| Practising "gong xi" in Phuket |
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| With your favorite angbao |
Just before LNY, your top left front tooth finally sprouted. Finally. It must have caused you quite some discomfort as you have been salivating 24/7 and was not sleeping well during the week before the "culprit" was spotted. We expect to see the right front tooth very soon too as the gum area where it will be rooted has gone swollen and whitish currently.
These days, you are an adept crawler. You no longer like to be bounded within a confined area nor going into your walker (though we continue to coax train you to play in your play-barn for at least 30 minutes each day), preferring over crawling on fours. You like to crawl from room to room, exploring and reaching out for random item. You would hold it, taste it (an oversight on my part at times) and then bang it against the floor, before losing interest and then moving onto the next item.
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| Your latest fascinations: Balls |
In addition, you have also been learning to stand. You can now heave yourself up to standing position using support of nearby furniture. Mommy has mixed feelings as I await the moment that you can walk, not knowing whether it will be easier or tougher on me.
Playtime-wise has become more and more fun. These days, I observe real play when you have a toy in front of you (e.g. Shape sorter) where you will try to figure it's purpose out instead of just banging and throwing the pieces. Again, I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I am proud that you are figuring toys out. On the other hand, I find myself running out of things / ideas to keep you occupied at times! Mommies out there, help!
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| Veggietales video - my savior when all else fails to keep you occupied. |
You especially enjoy your playtime with Daddy. Usually, it means LOADS OF adrenalin and laughter. Daddy believes that rough play is one of duties of Dads as he read off an article that children who grew up having regular rough and adrenaline-charged play with Dads tend to handle stress better. One of your favorite game with Daddy is what I call "Bang the pillows". Daddy would prop pillows and cushions against the wall on the bed. Next, he will place you on the bed right beside the cushions, facing up. Then, with his palms on your back, he would roll you over so that you will be wedge against the cushions (face in cushion), then back again. Without fail, there is loads of squeals, giggles, laughter and no doubt, adrenalin pumping, at every play!
The past month has indeed seen tremendous changes in you. Although it has been a tiring and stressful month for Mommy (and Daddy), we are enjoying every moment with you. So much joy and love has multiplied since you came along! Yes, it can be daunting, especially now that you refuse to fall asleep at night without us by your side. But even at times when you are crying, throwing a fit, we do see beauty in it all. People say that babies are a manipulative lot because they cry to get what they want. I disagree. You cry really because that is your only conceivable way of projecting your needs and desire. If well-prune, you will be able to communicate your thoughts and needs to us in a more desirable manner. In order for you to learn that, we have to teach you and lead by examples. As such, it becomes a pruning process for us too. That is the beauty of it.
I love you, my little bunny!
Loving you by the grace of God,
Mommy
