My Babe is 8!

Oh Calista, 


Happy 8th Month! 


Mama was so busy this month with our impending house move and work deadlines that 19th March totally slipped her mind! 


In this past month, you had a fever again (your 2nd time, other than when you were 6 days old) and was so clingy and miserable. My heart broke to see you like that, and yet I took comfort when i realised you wanted me to carry, above all else. You see, little one, your mama worries that you will not be as close to me as the other caregivers who look after you in the day when I'm at work. So it's nice to know that you prefer me above everyone else, even when i'm not able to spend as much time as I'd like with you. 


Your eyes speak volumes though. You frequently wake at 6am these days, and your poor mama would be bleary-eyed from the frequent night feeds and night pumping session. So she'd carry you out to Ida, who'd be awake by then. But OH! The whimper and pleading eyes as I pass you over to Ida! I shrivel in guilt, and am torn between more sleep (and guilt) AND staying awake to play with you (and a headache at work). Sigh. Those eyes seem to burn into my back as I slink away back to bed. 

I love hearing you call Mama though.. and i think we understand each other's cues perfectly by now. I know what each of your cries mean, whether you are bored, hungry, or tired. And you know all my baby talk "mama", "mum-mum", "1, 2, 3, up!"


We realise you have the same tongue as your father! By this, i mean that your tongue is able to flip 180degrees when you are pleased. I'd throw you up in the air and you'd be so pleased that your tongue just goes wild, flipping / curling this way and that. I can't do that, and neither can your brother. More proof that you are your father's daughter and your brother is his mother's son. 


You've started to clap your hands too.. we were so proud to hear you recognise the word "clap". I feel bad that you are somewhat like a circus monkey though, constantly clapping on cue, and for attention. (We need to train this monkey a bit more, for it seems to clap just for fun regardless of whether a request was made or not. =7) You look so proud of yourself too, when you are able to make little clapping sounds with those small hands of yours. It's a cognitive leap, I know, to realise that you have hands and you can do something with them. 

Now, if only you'd start crawling properly.. you are stuck at the stage of crawling backwards and going 360degrees on all fours.. you are also able to rock backwards and forwards on your knees and palms.. but still a little short of proper crawling. We'd let you practice until your little head is drenched in sweat and you start wailing.. =P

Did i mention that you sprouted 2 teeth? They are more evident with each passing day, and I'm just thankful that you have yet to seriously chomp down on me when you feed. :) 


Although usually gentle, we witness your fiery temper develop over the past month. Whenever your brother takes a toy away from you, you'd roar with rage and scare even your mama. Well, I suppose I don't have to worry about you getting bullied. Speaking of being bullied, I see that relations between you and your brother have improved though. He hugs and kisses you a lot more without prompting. This might have something to do with the fact that we say "meimei is sharing her cereal with you. See, she loves you so much she wants to be near you..." Your brother is also thrilled that his sister seems to be growing up and can do more (well, just clap for now) than just drink and sit and sleep.

You've eaten some new foods this month.. you seem to like pumpkin quite a bit.. and you even managed normal oatmeal. I hope to start you on porridge proper soon, but you remain so difficult to feed that a tiny amount of puree takes you forever to finish. Sigh. Hope your appetite will increase soon! As for our breastfeeding journey, i thought i would not make it past the 8th month. The reserves in the freezer are steadily being depleted and my output is  also on the decline. Oh well. Let's just aim for another month and see how things go :)


We are so happy to have you, darling.. I think about you constantly throughout the day and can't help kissing and sniffing your smelly sweaty head when I come home from work each day. 


Love ya lots!
Mama