TEDDIES REMIND ME OF YOU

Dear Nunu,

I was a bank this morning and a picture of a teddy on the wall caught my eye. Immediately I thought of you. How you love to hug your pink teddy and the moldy one at the nanny's which you claim as yours. How you never stop saying 'beh beh beh' each time you see one or even the image of one, like the time you grabbed Uncle Zam's paper bag which has a teddy picture on it and the McDonald's promotional My Ty Bear flier that was smothered in your drool.

Yes, everyone at Uncle Boy's kenduri kept telling me how 'ringan' your mouth is! Not only were you babbling and calling out for your friend Cathy & Minnie, but they say you were babbling intelligently and mimicking the sounds around you.

I've heard you try to say 'jatuh' when you or I dropped things on the floor or in the car. I've heard you try to say 'pampers' when I told you it was time for a diaper change. You want to sit on your seat and you'll say 'dud-dok!" You are so vocal it's not difficult anymore to tell whether you're hungry ('mammam!'), sleepy ('boom!') or simply craving ('NEN-NEN!).

And this morning when you wake up and I told you "I love you", I swear I heard you said "Ailow". And now you're starting to 'tatih'. I mean, seriously walking. Last month's baby steps attempt was a false alarm, I suppose. You refused to let go, and each time we guide you, you walked like a spaceman! Or as Mak Tok described, like a marching German soldier! Sometimes your toes barely touch the floor and you looked like a clumsy ballerina - and at other times, a next-top supermodel.

Too bad I never get to take a video of that, my dear. It was hilarious.


I'm like a bird.......


And sometimes like a paper plane....!


Come give Momma a bear hug!

You bumped yourself and you hurted your knees a lot, but you're learning! That's great. You even worn your shoes. I'm sorry I didn't get you better ones.



Gosh, you're growing up so fast, you leave me breathless just trying to catch up. And I'm astounded at the little things that you do which never fail to remind me what a precious God's gift you are.

The way you raise your legs up high when you stir in your sleep (or do you do it conciously to make me laugh?).
The way you pok-pok my shoulders while giving me a massage (and you're good too!)
The way a little smile lingers at the corner of your mouth when you nen-nen (I'm glad you still find it comforting :)
The comical way you slap your head when we say "Alamakkk..."
Your cheeky smile when you play chak-chak (you can go one forever)
Your bursting giggle when we blow your belly (or when you blow mine!)
Your tight hug around my neck when you're glad someone returns you in my embrace (you prefer the big boys, don't you?)
Your twinkling eyes when you proudly show people your funny set of teeth.
And you're learning to wink these days. You've already mastered the (un)bashful art of fluttering your peepers.

And how can I forget the loving way you squeeze your 'beh-beh'?

I hate to stop here, coz I'm too afraid I'm gonna end up like those moms who talk about their babies endlessly. You're no angel, my dear, but you are surely a challenge I look forward to tackle every single day :)

So let's just assume this is the birthday dedication that I owe you.

Love,

Momma (and I LOVE the way you call my name)