A Glimpse of Me

Dear Samantha,

 You’re exactly 9 months and 2 days old. To wrap up your milestones for your 8th month:

• you have started cruising (walking holding on to the furnitures)
• you climbed up the stairs… alone
• you can clap your hands
• you stood alone for 5 seconds
• says dada when you see daddy
• says ya-ya when you see kuya
• says te-te when you see mommy
• says ta-ta when you wave bye-bye (mommy is a very good interpreter, hey?)
• says pu when you see a ball
• says pek when you see a book (i’m a really certified interpreter).
• your pincer grasp is developing… i.e can pick up tiny objects using thumb and forefinger
• when mommy asks where’s the ball? you would look at the ball and smile, and same thing with the book
• you can recognize people: when i say, where’s daddy? you look at him; where’s kuya? you also look at him; and of course, when i ask you where mommy is, you’d look at me sweetly and smile.
• you like playing with your Kuya a lot… although sometimes, he could really be rough. but it seems that you don’t mind. you like to fight back also, like pulling his hair and scratching his face. Hahaha! That would really send him off from you.
• can drink from a cup (but i have to hold the cup for you)
• can do hi-5
• can do “twinkle twinkle little stars”. (only the twinkle twinkle part) this time, this is your favorite nursery rhyme song.

So… those are the things you could do at 8 months.

Now you’re on your 9th month, I can’t wait to see what else you could do. I have already installed the stairgate so this time, you won’t be able to climb up the stairs. He-he.

8 months 3 weeks old 

Dear Samantha,

Today, mommy tried feeding you water in a cup. You actually drank from it. Last week, I tried giving you water thru sippy cup but you seemed to have a hard time sipping from the cup. So this time, I tried without the sippy. Big girl!

You know how to do action song like “twinkle twinkle little star.” Everytime mommy sings the song, you would “twinkle twinkle” your fingers as well.

Tonight you’re not feeling well. You had difficult time sleeping. But after a hard cry, you finally went to sleep. Hope you’d feel better tomorrow morning when you wake up. You have gymboree time tomorrow to attend with.

Sleep tight!

girlie,

you’re now on your 8th month (and one week)… and You have started cruising already
you like hi-5 a lot! when i play the hi-5 on tv, you would raise your arms and “sing” … akee!!! akeee!!! ( action heroes song).
i also discovered that when you’re happy about something, not only you smile but you also kick your right leg.

hey girlie,

i just read the book about “What to Expect the First Year.” I just checked your developmental milestones for the 8th month… although it’s a bit unfair to compare coz you just turned 8 months old. Anyways… if using the chart, you’re on the 75th percentile, meaning 25% of babies this age may do these at 8 months.

also, i realize you have 3 abilities you are exhibiting such as:

1. good memory and have powers of observation (remember the hi-5 song? every time i sing it, you would look at the tv, and smile… )

2. curiosity and concentration: (all babies are intensely curious but you are not only curious… you also have the persistence and concentration to explore what it is you are curious about. that’s why mommy is always tired nowadays… coz you move a lot, explore a lot. our house is not that child-proof yet – must do up soon).

3. ability to make connections: (you see relationships between things, and you can apply your old knowledge to new situation. i.e. everytime we go to daddy’s office, we use the lift. and before we go inside the lift, you make a throaty sound. the first time you did it, your voice echoed and it amused you. after that everytime we’re in front of the elevator in the office, you try to make that same throaty sound. now, wherever we go, in the malls or somewhere there’s lift, you try to make a throaty sound and wait to listen for the echo).

I have read that to bring out the best in a baby, love her, don’t label her. provide her with an environment that allows her abilities to grow, but don’t forget to cherish her (and let her know that you cherish her) unconditionally for who she is – not just what she’s capable of.

That’s a good reminder. In this competitive world we live in, everybody will do whatever we can to help our children develop and be the best that they can be. And of course, as a mom myself, I want the best for you. And yeah, as you can tell, I love bragging about your accomplishments. Which parents don’t like to brag about their kid’s accomplishment? Hehehe. A real stage mom I am.

Dear Samantha,

Last Saturday, mommy and daddy conducted a seminar for kids in Kajang Assemblies of God. It was our first time to do these two programs for two days (saturday and sunday) with you. The last time we conducted a kids’ seminar was when mommy was pregnant and kuya schenker was 1 year and 7 months old.

You did very well… I put toys for you to play with… and for a while you were playing on your own. Then I have to carry you from time to time and feed you. Other teachers who volunteered to assist with the programs also helped to entertain (carry) you.

I thank God because He has given us a baby like you… can take you anywhere… may it be personal or ministry wise. We do things as a family. Although it’s a bit of a challenge but I know it won’t last long. Soon you and your Kuya will grow and then both of you will help mommy and daddy with what God has called us to do. Isn’t that exciting?

For now, you have a lot of growing up to do still… cannot do so much but being a good girl will be more than enough. And you are, actually. So I thank God for you.