You're 8 and I'm veryvery sorry

Dear Amir,

Sorry i kinda forgot to update on your progress since u turned 8 mths! Anyhow, we did celebrate the day by inviting over Tok Pa, Tok Ma, Che Su and Tok De Loh's clan for my pasembor (your Tok's recipe). The pasembor didnt turn out as nice, it could have been better, but Papa was pleased that i triedlah.

Aaaaanyway, this month, you learned and mastered a lot of things.

One of which is 'flying'. Last Saturday, u fell off the bed for the second time. I'm at lost of words about this now. This time you were with Papa and both of you were sound asleep when it happened. I was cooking downstairs when I heard the thump, followed by your loud cry. All hell break loose and i was hysterical when i climb upstairs. I mean, again...??? I remembered crying louder and longer than you. That got Papa worried. Alhamdulillah you recovered very quickly and resume sleeping and woke up the happy smiling Amir again. Of course, i didnt. I blame this on me again cos i didnt move u to the cot before i left knowing that Papa always sleep like a log. I cried a lot on Saturday. There were many feelings that conquered me but your Papa was quick to bring me back to my senses. And having you chuckling and kissing my face wet cheerfully when i was crying helps to console me a bit (although it made me feel even more guilty at first). Oh this time, Tok Ma gave me her piece of mind too.. which made me feel really really really bad and sad : ( That made me feel like i'm a bad mother. Really. Oh well, i deserved it.

The high flyer - an hour after your first 'take off' last month

This is getting depressing..

On a happier note, you can say Mamma and Pappa now and guess what, we think your third word would be 'Boy' as in boy the cat of ours. Yes, Boy and you enjoy each others company now and like to gaze at each other for a long while. Whenever we call for Boy, you will start to scan the floor and search under the table and mumble bbhh.. bba.. so, yeah, we're guessing 'Boy' is the next in line.

You are constantly on the move now. Always pulling yourself up, against the sofa, against the bed, curtain, coffee table, us, our legs, my hair.. anything that u can pull and 'think' safe enough to hang for your dear life, you'll grab. For the record, you've been bumping your head everywhere..some leaving a red bump on your forehead.. but being the cool dude you are, you will normally pick up yourself and smile. You are also pro at using your thumb and index finger to pick the littlest thing on earth including dead bugs, stapler bits, coins.. hmmphhh..

This is your Tok Pa's ingenious cheapskate idea of keeping things under control

This month you have also finally discovered the actual function of (most of) your toys. So hopefully now you understand why Mama is so excited to shower you with all these fun coloured stuff. Your favourite now is Thomas the train given by Aunty Shaz. You love chasing it around, picking it up and throwing it about and yeah, munch and lick it every now and then.

And lastly, we finally got you a pair of shoes, just a cheapo one but yeah, at least u got shoes now. And those shoes, they made your legs go all limp.. hehe.. cos you're not used to wearing them so you wont stand in them. Cute!

Amir, let's try to be more careful now ok? All the crying is very tiringla... though it makes both of us sleep like a baby later.. : ). And as always, Mama loves you dearly no matter how bad my track record shows.

Lazy Thursday

Dear Amir,

It's Mauludur Rasul today, a public holiday and we are planning to stay in and do some spring cleaning. But this morning i think we'll just progress at our own pace.. lazing around on the bed with you plucking and poking our nose, eyes, etc.

Sorry that i have not been updating much. Actually there's a lot to tell, about your progress especially but my new status as working at home mom (WAHM) has got the better of me. Since i started early this month, it's been busy busy busy but good kind of busy since wateva it is, i still have u right there by my side. Only thing is, though i get to spend more time with you, i think the real quality time is getting lesser cos now inevitably work and home do mix. Just bare with me k, i'm still adjusting.

Anyway, we bought you a walker and a high chair. And it's a great buy i must say cos now we get to enjoy our freedom more while you roam freely. I'm also beginning to appreciate the fact that our hse is so bare n empty now : ). The only setback is that the walker is a bit too bulky, but it doubles as a stepper, so we can still use it when u start walking. Tok Pa said i should'nt have bought that '5 series' model cos difficult to angkut back n forth from our hse to Tok Pa's house. My reply was for him was to stop complaining about my every purchase and buy you another one ; )

As for your high chair, we bought one from Ikea since so many mothers has recommended it. You are not that excited about it but dont mind sitting in it, if not for extended hours. Tok Ma called it your 'throne' and it'll follow you to the kitchen for meals and office for my peace of mind. So far things looks ok, you especially love swinging your feet while sitting in it. But I'm a bit worried when you got too excited about someone or something and started to 'jump' in your seat. Must record that 'spasm' mode one of these days, cos u get them a lot. Hope it doesnt develop into something serious or weird.

You have also started to tunjuk belang by pulling yourself up whenever you have the chance to. But cleverly enough, you have also learnt how to bent your knees when you are about to fall backwards. The thing is, too often you fell forward and that's even more dangerous cos your face might hit something, like what happened the other day in your cot. Nasib baik you pick yourself up and managed a smile.

I dont know if you have started to become a picky eater, but you generally dont take as much now. And since you have started to be mobile, i'm worried that you'll not be gaining as u should be. I noticed that you love those heinz yogurt but since it's so sour, i dont think that should be your main diet kan? Anyway, we had our third try with home made porridge, but you still wouldnt take it. Blended till smooth with chicken, no. Slightly coarse with carrots, no. Plain porridge with some apple sauce, only a bit. Tok Pa said you take after him cos he totally hates them too but wouldnt mind other cereals. So now, i just try to feed as much as you wanna take in and let you have lots of snacks in between cos you still love the biscuits/fruits, especially when we let you do your own thing.

Oklah, i'mgoing to go laze ard some more. Heck with the spring cleaninglah!

Too fast..

Dear Amir,

We're back home. The trip to Alor Setar and Penang was grrreat!
Will write about it when i've got the pics loaded.
Basically mission accomplished! Papa voted. You get along extremely well with An, Tok and Mak Su. (And as a result) we got to go out for a short date. We got to eat Mee Abu, Laksa Teluk Kecai, Char Keuy Teow, (a big plate of) Pasembor, Nasi Kandar Caravan and of course all Tok's specialities. We did some shopping for me, you, our home and the dvd collection. Stay at hotel was really nice. And the drive to and fro was also smooth.

Anyway, just tot that i use this me time at 12.45pm to jot down some of your milestones.
Well, you have overcome your 'limping dog' phase and is able to crawl properly now, at an impressive speed too. We noticed this especially in Alor Setar when you effortlessly crawl a few steps, stop, turn around and then go the other direction. And when you think it's time to take a different perspective, you'll cling to anything you think is safe and start to pull yourself up. You did this so many times and in fact was successfull a handfull of time too. There was this one time, you actually take a few steps to your right, while holding on to the sofa. I'm still not digesting this cos i think your too young for this particular one.

When we were in the living room just now, it feels all different cos the big duvet spread over the hall is irrelevant now that your territory has suddenly multiply! We're so not ready with the babyproofing man..!

That prompted me to pester your Papa (again) to lower to cot level. And so he (finally) did today. That brings me to another milestone of yours. For the past couple of weeks, you have been sleeping through the nite without regular feedings at nite. On average it's only one feed now, but if we're lucky, you might prefer a bottle around midnite, and one around Subuh, which for me, is just perfect! In fact Papa will prefer this too cos i'm already very alert by these times hence he no longer needs to do the honourable chore of waking up to prepare ur milk. And now with the lower cot level, I think i'm going to try to train you to sleep through in the cot. But i'll miss the cuddles.. hmm..

Lastly, i think you're off your pacifier now. Your naps does not depend on it anymore. And even when you do wake up in the middle of the nite, you refuse to take it.. It's like you're in total control when it comes to the pacifier, wont let others shove it to you to keep you shut (hehe), will pick it up yourself when you feels you need it, and will take it off yourself when you think enough is enough.. so cool.

Although I've had the opportunity to witness the progress of each of these milestones each day you never fail to surprise me with the developments. And although it's happening right before my eyes, i cant help feeling that i've missed a lot of things and suddenly your this boy who's able to do this and that. I guess it's wat all mothers experience, regardless if they are there by the side of their babies physically 24/7 or not. For me, i hope you wont grow too fast but since there's nothing that can stop you, let me just tell you this now, you will always be my baby.
And there, officially.. you will always be Mama's little baby boy.

Ok, it's getting late. I'm going to get my daily dose of night cuddles (from you lah..). Gnite.

My son the poser

Dear Amir,


Today, i'm kinda confident that you have fully recovered from the traumatic fall.

Evidently you have started to wander about where your heart desires, leaving your Mama who have just started to work from home, really worked up! Nevermind that your crawl still resembles a 'limping dog' (to quote your Che' Su... ish ish ish)


Aunty Gja has recently joined Mama and Tok Ma at work this week. She's still trying to get used to working with a baby around. Especially one who is very interested in everything that we do. She also noticed that u're very fond of posing for camera. So that prompt me to dig out some recent photos of you 'posing' to share here.

The artificial happy boy pose

The I'm-happy-i'm-clean pose

The cool dude pose

The hey-look-i-can-sit! pose

The Zoolander pose.. hahaha!

We're off to Alor Setar for balik kg since Papa is voting from there. Mama? Hmmphh.. useless citizen. From alor Setar we'll singgah in Penang cos your parents are craving for pasembor.. the real deal! If only i can lug you along to Line Clear nasi kandar.. but thinking that the rats there may be as 'small' as you.. emm.. takpelah.

Ok, happy voting Malaysia. Remember, those who doesnt vote, doesnt have the rights to complain/comment later.. hahaha...

Fallen

Dear Amir,

You fell off the bed this morning.

We were not sleeping.. In fact I was wide awake, fresh from the morning shower, just spending time with you on bed while waiting for Papa to finish shower. So basically speaking, I watch your every move to the fall, in horror. Why I didnt do anything.. i dont know.. it was like time halt and all i can do is see you climb over the bolster and rock back and forth in the middle of the bed, before my (delayed) brain told me that you may launch urself too far and tumble down the bed. And before I know it, you were already down there.

I vaguely remember seeing both your helpless feet on air behind that bolster. Then next it was just you lying against the wall next to our bed, with both eyes n mouth wide open. I think i shouted. I am quite sure i shouted cos Papa dash out of the toilet when I was picking you up.

We brought u to the clinic just in case. You couldnt stop crying and was terrified at every sound and movement. I held you close and sang your fav lullaby again and again. But the moment you saw the doc, you started to blab, almost like mengadu about my negligence. Doc said everything is ok and shared few tips to know if a child is having a fracture or internal bleeding after a fall. I found that useful and reassuring. He prescribed you some medicine in fear that you'll get feverish due to the shock and is experiencing some minor pain.

Anyway, you were very clingy and crying the whole day. I cant even put you down on my lap without having you screaming and pulling my shirt. You probably cried more than all your 7 months worth of cries put together. It's not the Amir i'm used to given that you're always the cool dude. It was heartbreaking and I feel like a dumb*ss. Papa was amazingly supportive and comforting. I think, if i remembered correctly, he even smiled when i first told him that u fell of the bed (well, at that point i feel like killing himlah!). He said this is perhaps your innitiation to the toddlerhood. Anyway,i guess, him being that cool and collected really helped. It reminds me again and again that it's only normal and next time i shold definitely be more careful. Tok Ma and Tok Pa were in Perak when they heard the news so they immediately dropped by once they arrived here. Upon seeing them, you became your cheerful self. I can see that Tok Pa is refraining veryvery hard from giving me a hard time in fear that it will make you cry again.

Amir, i'm very sorry dear. I hope this will never happen again. It's definitely not something i wanna WATCH again, and this sucky feeling.. urrgghh.. it's not nice at all ok? Having said that you are a real strong boy you know. Hope this will be a great lesson for both of us. I'm sorry dear and I love you veryvery much.

Tips from my doc, if the child is having an internal bleeding

- he might vomit again and again (vomitting once or twice could just be due to shock though)

- have severe headache, hence crying loudly non stop

- will be very passive

- become restless (to the point that it takes several adult to hold him still

- his pupil wont dilate or constrict when amount of light changes

- he may get fits

This is his opinion though, seek your doc's advise if this nightmare happen to you. I hope it wont.