Dear Isabelle
Woohoo you are a year old!! One year!! 12 months!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!
What a roller coaster ride it has been would you agree?
When we first held you in our arms on 25th December 2017, it felt foreign to start with. After such a traumatic labour, all I felt was exhaustion after the c section. Then came the constant and inconsolable crying which really drove us to our wits end. We had no idea what to do with you and the first six weeks was a blur. Me trying to recover from the wound, and also trying to process that my baby was now here and it was our responsibility to, first and foremost, keep you alive. But how do I do that when I barely had any sleep? It was super on the job learning: we learnt how to change nappies, feed you, rock you to sleep, and then all over again. We learnt how to cope with poonamis (as in tsunamis) and clean you up without freaking out. The first one we had to deal with was at 3am - unforgettable!
Then it was our epic 3 month trip back to Singapore where you met the rest of the family. You little trooper did so well on the long flight there, surprising us! When we were out there, your little body couldn't get used to the humidity and heat, hence you constantly needed air conditioning otherwise sweat beads would appear, and you get all fussy. I'm sure you left a deep impression (and emptiness) when we came back to London in summer. Shall we do that again soon?
Back in London, it was mummy and you from then on, as daddy started his new job around that time. We are very thankful that daddy's job is pretty flexible in terms of working hours. We have had uncle SP come stay with us in August and since then we joke that he is your 'manny', as he sometimes would help us look out for you, or play with you. You met him with skeptical eyes initially but you have grown to accept and like him. You know he is a safe person to be around with after your usual initial assessment. That's the adorable thing about you, baby girl. Daddy and mummy agree that you live up to your Chinese name, Si Rui, which means to think astutely and wisely. You always survey new people and environment with roving eyes. However once you give it an 'all clear', you show your smiles and giggles. Like how aunt Claudia who visited us last month exclaimed, "Hallelujah, she approves!" when you allowed her to carry you after your little assessment.
It was also in summer when we started you one day a week at the childminder Vanessa. How we found aunt Vanessa was a funny one - we were walking to a nursery for a visit, and walked past aunt Vanessa's house which had a banner advertising her childminding services. We enquired and made a visit. As they say, the rest is history. That one day a week gave mummy a bit of down time to catch up on sleep, or more often than not, to do grocery runs, or housework chores, and finally cook a nice dinner when daddy comes home. You are pretty ok with Vanessa and your older friends at her place. They always call me "Isabelle's mum" and try to point me out to you whenever I pick you up. But you don't really understand and therefore ignore them. It's only when I call out your name that you recognise my voice and you will always drop whatever you are holding and come speed crawling towards me. It's always so heart warming, moments like these. And Vanessa adores you. She always gives you cuddles and kisses, and it makes daddy and mummy feel safe knowing you are in a secure and loving environment.
From 7 months onwards, mummy felt more confident bringing you out and about. Mummy flexed her driving muscles and managed to sign up for two classes a week for you, and those were our weekly activities - baby sing and sign, and swimming. You really enjoy both classes. You clapped along in the singing class, and we made some friends in that class too. You are always the one who will crawl towards teacher Rebecca and try to be the teacher's pet lol- you will hover around her table and look at the rest of the class from teacher Rebecca's view. In swimming class, though it is mummy's biggest logistical nightmare for the week, seeing how fearless you go into the water just made me so proud. You didn't cry at all in any of the classes, even when we had to put you underwater. You just kicked and emerged from the water as cool as a cucumber - such a natural, my little mermaid.
Mummy is very thankful for her one year maternity leave, because it means that we have spent everyday of the past one year together! Watching how you grew and developed to what you are today, it has been a joy overall. You have started babbling and I hope you can start calling me mama or mummy soon. You are confident on your two feet but only if you hold on to furniture. Soon baby, we will be running after you as you totter along. You are definitely more responsive and we are slowly discovering your likes and dislikes. You are quite a foodie you know? Whenever you see us eating, you will make irritated noises to catch our attention because you want some too. Daddy and I always joke "Isabelle's FOMO again" (Fear of missing out).
These few days you have been surrounded by double presents - both birthday and Christmas. You have yet to understand what's going on but we can sense you are happy.
Continue to grow well baby girl, this is the start of our life journey together and hey, it's only the beginning. We pray that next year will be an even more amazing year. Stay cheery and happy. Continue to sleep through the night. Continue to think astutely and wisely. Daddy and mummy love you more than you will ever know.
With all our love
Mummy & Daddy
xxxxx
What a roller coaster ride it has been would you agree?
 |
| A very happy birthday girl |
When we first held you in our arms on 25th December 2017, it felt foreign to start with. After such a traumatic labour, all I felt was exhaustion after the c section. Then came the constant and inconsolable crying which really drove us to our wits end. We had no idea what to do with you and the first six weeks was a blur. Me trying to recover from the wound, and also trying to process that my baby was now here and it was our responsibility to, first and foremost, keep you alive. But how do I do that when I barely had any sleep? It was super on the job learning: we learnt how to change nappies, feed you, rock you to sleep, and then all over again. We learnt how to cope with poonamis (as in tsunamis) and clean you up without freaking out. The first one we had to deal with was at 3am - unforgettable!
 |
| Indeed!! |
Then it was our epic 3 month trip back to Singapore where you met the rest of the family. You little trooper did so well on the long flight there, surprising us! When we were out there, your little body couldn't get used to the humidity and heat, hence you constantly needed air conditioning otherwise sweat beads would appear, and you get all fussy. I'm sure you left a deep impression (and emptiness) when we came back to London in summer. Shall we do that again soon?
Back in London, it was mummy and you from then on, as daddy started his new job around that time. We are very thankful that daddy's job is pretty flexible in terms of working hours. We have had uncle SP come stay with us in August and since then we joke that he is your 'manny', as he sometimes would help us look out for you, or play with you. You met him with skeptical eyes initially but you have grown to accept and like him. You know he is a safe person to be around with after your usual initial assessment. That's the adorable thing about you, baby girl. Daddy and mummy agree that you live up to your Chinese name, Si Rui, which means to think astutely and wisely. You always survey new people and environment with roving eyes. However once you give it an 'all clear', you show your smiles and giggles. Like how aunt Claudia who visited us last month exclaimed, "Hallelujah, she approves!" when you allowed her to carry you after your little assessment.
 |
| Vanessa threw you a little party with your friends where everyone except you were clambering to blow the candle. You looked at them like "what's going on?" |
It was also in summer when we started you one day a week at the childminder Vanessa. How we found aunt Vanessa was a funny one - we were walking to a nursery for a visit, and walked past aunt Vanessa's house which had a banner advertising her childminding services. We enquired and made a visit. As they say, the rest is history. That one day a week gave mummy a bit of down time to catch up on sleep, or more often than not, to do grocery runs, or housework chores, and finally cook a nice dinner when daddy comes home. You are pretty ok with Vanessa and your older friends at her place. They always call me "Isabelle's mum" and try to point me out to you whenever I pick you up. But you don't really understand and therefore ignore them. It's only when I call out your name that you recognise my voice and you will always drop whatever you are holding and come speed crawling towards me. It's always so heart warming, moments like these. And Vanessa adores you. She always gives you cuddles and kisses, and it makes daddy and mummy feel safe knowing you are in a secure and loving environment.
From 7 months onwards, mummy felt more confident bringing you out and about. Mummy flexed her driving muscles and managed to sign up for two classes a week for you, and those were our weekly activities - baby sing and sign, and swimming. You really enjoy both classes. You clapped along in the singing class, and we made some friends in that class too. You are always the one who will crawl towards teacher Rebecca and try to be the teacher's pet lol- you will hover around her table and look at the rest of the class from teacher Rebecca's view. In swimming class, though it is mummy's biggest logistical nightmare for the week, seeing how fearless you go into the water just made me so proud. You didn't cry at all in any of the classes, even when we had to put you underwater. You just kicked and emerged from the water as cool as a cucumber - such a natural, my little mermaid.
These few days you have been surrounded by double presents - both birthday and Christmas. You have yet to understand what's going on but we can sense you are happy.
 |
| More presents on Christmas Eve |
Continue to grow well baby girl, this is the start of our life journey together and hey, it's only the beginning. We pray that next year will be an even more amazing year. Stay cheery and happy. Continue to sleep through the night. Continue to think astutely and wisely. Daddy and mummy love you more than you will ever know.
 |
| Merry Christmas everyone!! |
With all our love
Mummy & Daddy
xxxxx
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