30 Apr 09 - I'm Yours!

Pop quiz: Guess what’s my favorite song?

One would think that someone my age would be more into songs like Rock-a-bye Baby and Pattercake, Pattercake, right?

Wrong!

I remember listening to lots and lots of songs while I was still safe inside Mummy. Daddy loves to blast the music inside his matt grey Mazda 3, because he said the stereo systems are so good. And I second it. From where I was, safe and cozy inside my own dark little world, I would be able to feel the pulse of the sound waves that were emitted in accordance with the drum playing, and most of the songs are so catchy that I wouldn’t be able to resist tapping along to the tune!

Once while trying to find a particular song he liked, Daddy was skipping through the tracks on the playlist. As a result, I could only hear the first few seconds of each song. Those who listen to music on an ipod or in their cars a lot will know exactly what I mean - there would be the opening drumbeats in almost every song, and then just when you’re getting hold of the beats, it would be cut off abruptly, replaced a few seconds later with another tune. You bet it was frustrating. Mummy finally asked Daddy, after feeling me kicking around inside her, “Dear, can you just decide on one song? Avril very confused already! She doesn’t know which song to dance to. She keep starting to dance with each song then you suddenly cut it off..”

So yes, I love grooving to music. But my all-time favorite song is Jason Miraz (I’m not too sure how to spell or pronounce his name)’s I’m Yours. I know it’s considered a "grown-up song," but I love the tune! Gu-Jie Em told me the other day that I always started jumping and dancing whenever Daddy played it, and Mummy would not be able to rest until that singer guy crooned the final “I’m You-uurrssss” and I stopped moving so much. She and Gu-Gu Ben even tried playing it to me on their handphones, but it wasn’t the same effect as when Daddy plays it in his car.

Hopefully when this Confinement month is over and I can go out for joyrides, Daddy will play it again for me to dance to!

28 Apr 09 ~ Me loves Mummy & Daddy!

Just a little update before I slip back into Slumberland…

I attempted doing some sit-ups the other day. Mummy was worried that it’s a little early for me to start on that. I think she’s afraid my neck and back are not strong enough yet to support myself if I sat up. Maybe I can surprise her one of these days!

Oh, in case you don't know, Daddy totally adores me. He plays with me a lot, and he can never resist whipping out his zerpp zerpp camera to take pictures of me whenever I am laughing or smiling from something he did. I could just hear the pride in his voice when he told my aunties and uncles while I was lying on the sofa for a nap, “Come, let me sit next to my daughter.” (He thought I was sleeping, but I heard him! Ho-humm. Keeping my eyes closed usually does the trick.)

Honestly, I pity those kids whose parents are too busy working to take time off for them. I cannot say the same of my parents, for sure. In fact, I tested Daddy last night by yelling my head off when he was busy working on his school project. He hit the ground running.

And dearest Mummy is sacrificing so much for me! During this month, she has to drink warm water on the hottest of days, has to refrain from touching cold water even to wash her hands, and cannot leave the house. It must be so tough on her. And Por Por Susan has to cook a different menu specially for her and me, as well. They call this the Confinement Month or something like that.

Mummy just fed me, so I guess I’d better be considerate to go and sleep. Then she might be able get some rest too. She said that she can only sleep peacefully when I’m sleeping peacefully.

Cheerio!

26 Apr 09, Sunday Evening ~ Quality Time with my Aunties!

Last night, Daddy laid me on the sofa while he was eating dinner.

I think I must have fallen asleep, coz when I suddenly became aware of my surroundings, someone I did not immediately recognize was petting me and a new voice was calling my name gently. For a moment, I thought our house had been invaded – there was a lot of disrupting noise in the background! Then I listened more carefully and realized that it was actually the reporter on TV commenting on the F1 Car-racing event that everyone is crazy about, my 4-year-old Cousin Daniel who was talking quite loudly near where I was sleeping, and a quieter hubbub of vaguely familiar voices around the house.

I opened my eyes a few seconds to take a peek at what was going on, but it took my eyes awhile to adjust to the lighting, because it was so so bright! I prefer it when it is dark; it’s so much more comfortable to my eyes. When I finally focused on the face closest to me, I realized it was my Gu-jie Em who was bent over me, talking. But she stroked my forehead softly and told me to go back to sleep.

Anyway, I was feeling quite sleepy already, so I was just about to take her advice when I heard Daddy telling her, “Go ahead and carry her a little while, Em.” So she happily picked me up and cradled me in her arms.

Someone switched on the main light and I winced in the glare. It was nice to be carried, but I heard them getting dinner ready and felt a little hungry myself. So I grumbled a little then burst into some lusty yells to get Mummy’s attention. Por por Kim said I had big lungs, just like Daddy, that’s why I can scream as loudly as I do. For me, I just scream.

Por Por Susan came running and brought me to where Mummy was sleeping in her room to feed. A short while later, Daddy came in to bring me out, because he said Mummy needed more rest. “Come, Avril, Daddy make some milk for you, k? Then we can watch some TV together,” he told me, trying to sooth my crying. Well, whatever.

Gu-jie Em rushed around getting ready my bottle of milk, and passed it to Daddy for me. The rest of my aunties and uncles came to sit at the sofa where Daddy was sitting with me, to watch the Wipe Out showing on TV. I didn’t bother to watch, myself, but they seemed to find it quite funny, laughing like crazy at each thing the commenter said and adding comments of their own.

Da-gu Kim and Gu-jie Em took turns playing with me after I finished my milk. Daddy was saying to keep me awake as long as they could, so that I wouldn’t disturb Mummy at night. It’s not like I purposely want to disturb her, of course. It’s just that I get hungry after every one to two hours.

I kept my eyes shut. I don’t like the bright lights of the room. Good thing my aunties noticed it, and they asked someone to turn off the main light so that I could relax a little more. Da-gu Kim started massaging my shoulders, making me squirm, although I liked it. I heard her telling Gu-jie Em that there was such a thing as baby massage. Gu-Jie Em sounded quite disbelieving, though. When I felt cold, the two of them wrapped me snugly in the diapercloth to keep me warm.

I’m not too sure what happened after that. I dimly recall a swinging sensation – I think Da-gu Kim was rocking me gently in the air, with Gu-Jie Em laughing softly at my facial expression. She called it a pucheelip. Then I was gone. Milk has a very effective sleeping-pill effect, you know.

Actually, right now I’m feeling quite sleepy again. I think it’s time to take another nap! Ta-ta for now..