Typical Nila look

Those round eyes

You flashing those buck teeth

The Joy That Is You

Guten tag Nila!

We had not been discharged from the hospital and already you were treating us to your beautiful smile. The days following your arrival, mummy knew already that this little blessing was overflowing with joy. Oh how mummy thanks the Lord for this bundle of happiness! Today, exactly 2.5 years later your joy is unending, in fact its growing. There is hardly a moment when you are not flashing those beautfiul buck teeth of yours. You would not be able to stop smiling even if you wanted to! What a gift you have! A joyful spirit! I pray that this blessing will stay with you always.

There is one other thing that you cannot seem to stop doing (even if you wanted to) neither; 'making noise'. You are constantly talking, 24/7 it seems sometimes. On the rare occassion you run out of things to say, you insist on making funny noises and sounds or just blasting random words; sometimes humming or singing. It is really adorable but can also be a little annoying at times. Especially when mummy and daddy are trying to have a conversation. Mummy truly can't hear herself think sometimes.

You started talking by the time you turned 12 months. And before your second birthday you were already chit-chatting, forming perfect sentences and holding conversations with family and friends. You continue to impress people with your ability to speak. Even mummy and daddy sometimes! You kow what else you are? YOU ARE FUNNY. At such a tender age you have managed to develop a REAL and ORIGINAL sense of humor. You make us laugh all the time! The expressions on your face as you talk and sometimes struggle to pronounce a word. It seems that your thoughts are computed extremely quick and your mouth cannot keep up with the words that are bursting to come out! Somehow you manage to give a workout to all the muscles on your face; your eyes squint, your nose is pinched and mummy has no idea how to describe what happens to your mouth!

You love your cheh-cheh chumbab dearly ad look up to her admiringly. You gave her that name yourself when you were just past a year old. Waking up one morning looking for Elil, you looked at me and asked, "Where is cheh-cheh chumbab?" Mummy was puzzled and wondered how on earth you came up with such a name the first thing in the morning. It was really cute. Sadly, you don't call her that anymore....

Nila is a big girl now!

Peekaboo, I see you!

"Mummy, this isn't my style!"

In Grandma's pretty garden wearing a straw hat.



In the aeroplane on the way to KK! It's Cheh Cheh Elil's birthday and were on our way to a surprise birthday party!

You have seven gigi all together and enjoy mummy brushing your teeth in the morning.

Look at your eyes! They are amazing!

At 8 months....

It's just after Christmas and New Year's and we are still in KK. Just you, Elil Cheh Cheh and mummy. Daddy has gone back to work. You have reached so many milestones in the last two weeks. Mummy is extremely proud. Let's see what you have learned....

Days before leaving for KK, you developed a fever. Mummy was so worried you would not be well before our flight. Thank God you recovered. Daddy said you might be teething. Mummy doubted it. Partly because Elil had her first tooth only when she was 1! Daddy checked your gums anyway and guess what? Daddy was right! A little tooth just broke through your lower gums. We couldn't quite see it yet but it was unmistakable, sharp and hard. Yay! Mummy is beaming with pride at this moment. About a week ago, your first tooth became visible and now when you smile, you show a little glimmer of your first pearly white!

Christmas eve, mummy and daddy had some last minute shopping to do. So we left your akka at home with grandma and grandpa and set off with you. Daddy got into the car and reversed it before we got in. You watched daddy drive out and lifted your arm and wiggled your fingers somewhat in a goodbye gesture. It was so cute. Daddy and mummy immediately looked at each other and smiled in surprise. We both knew that was your first wave goodbye. So clever you are!

Back home, all three of us, Nila, Elil and mummy bid farewell to daddy every morning before he sets off to work. We exchange hugs and kisses. And as dady drives off, we send flying kisses and waves goodbye. So you have picked up from here and probably thought daddy was driving off to work that morning. Sooo nice. In the last 2 days you have become an expert in waving goodbye and are very eager and proud to wave at anyone and everyone. Your hand is outstretched and palms open wide, your fingers too have the perfect curl.

It's taken a while for you to warm up to Grandma and Grandpa. You are very dependent on mummy and refuse to go to ANYONE willingly. Any sign of someone else wanting to carry you, and you cling to me like a little monkey. You press your chest against me, wrap your legs and arms around me. Your fingers dig into mummy's clothing and you hold on for dear life. When we first arrived, you would not allow anyone to take you away from your mummy. But now, you let go (reluctantly) without crying. You are comfortable as long as you do not see or hear mummy. It takes you about 30-45 minutes before you start to miss me and cry. You call for me. "Ma-ma" you say. It's a very longing "ma-ma" sound and I love it. Your first word is "ma-ma". I hope after this trip, you open up to people easier and are less afraid of being away from me.

Physically, you are not a chubby baby. You have slimmed down (to mummy's dismay) a little since your fever. I guess your body is using up extra energy for all the milestones you have been achieving. Since coming to KK, you have been able to pull yourself up to a stand. Everytime you do so, you get this oh-so-satisfied and proud look on your face. You have also gone on (shakey) all-fours, trying very hard to crawl. You can take several steps as well. Mummy's got to hold both your hands up though. But you move one foot in front of the other and are eager to walk on your own. It's just a matter of time and a little practice sweetheart.

I am sitting all on my own!

Always excited.

Hellow Kakak Novie!

Hello mummy!

Yes, baby Nila sits. You have been able to sit down for several seconds without support for a few weeks. But two days ago, mummy sat you up and you didn't sway or wobble. You just sat there, straight and steady. Nothing was going to knock you down. You grabbed the toys around you with ease. Kakak Novie called you from the kitchen and you swung your head around to look for her. And back again to look at mummy. Your bum bum was still rooted on the mattress. Wow! Impressive. Time to bring out the high chair! Or rather, time to go shopping for a new high chair! No, we'll just grab the one we left at Pati's house.

How time flies Nila. You will be 8 months in exactly 2 weeks. And in 4 months, we will celebrate your 1st year! You are very vocal, even more so than your 'akka'. Always struggling to get those baby words out. I can hear the frustration building in your voice before your gurgling turn into shouts. You are very much into hair-pulling now. When there is a head of hair in sight, you will throw your weight towards it and grab instantly to a big lock and pull pull pull. Elil is your favorite victim. She screams and cries and pulls back. Of course you never release and tug harder. Mummy has to intervene and pluck your fingers back one by one until Elil's head is freed from your grasp. And then I have to pick the bunch of Elil's hairs stuck in between you fingers. Mummy feels Elil's pain. You are quite the 'cat-fighter'. There was once, you even did this with your toes! Mummy was impressed. Nila's got talent.

Daddy has been off the last week or so. He gets back tomorrow. We have not been able to visit anyone out of our little town. You would not allow mummy to drive. You still cry if I am in sight and am not the one carrying you. To Tesco and Pati's house, mummy has had to carry you while driving which is terribly unsafe. You cry as if you have just been beaten or abused. It's heart breaking to hear. But it's heart warming to know that you need mummy and only mummy so desperately. Will I ever be able to let you go?

The Light Sleeper

A pin drop will wake you up from your precious slumber. Everyone has been telling mummy to expose you to sounds during and before nap time to get you accustomed to sleep through even the most thunderous thunderstorms or your big sister Elil. This seems to have not worked with you. The flip of a light switch can get you turning over in your cot. And many times it seems you wake up for no reason at all.

You love mummy's boobies. You can probably hang on there all night. Some nights you do. On nights like these, you sleep so peacefully even fire works on new year'e eve would not move you. It has been a struggle for mummy. So difficult to get an uninterrupted night's sleep. But I see it as a blessing. As I hold you in my arms at 3 o'clock in the morning, I admire the roundness of your almost bald head, those closed eyes, long eye lashes, pointy little nose and thin lips. Your free hand is wrapped around your ear. You do this in your sleep all the time. Those chubby arms and thunderful thighs. Fragile little fingers and tiny little toes. I watch your body rise and fall. I can smell you. A mix of baby wash, euky (eucalyptus oil) and your asam-y baby sweat. Oh so nice.

Some nights when you are in deep sleep. And don't make the slightest move or sound. Mummy wakes up anyway and goes into panic. Why are you not moving? I strain my eyes and stare at your chest. Mummy is relieved only when she can see your breathing. Oh, you must be having beautiful, wonderful dreams. Silly mummy to worry so much.

Nowadays, (as in the past week or so) your sleep is more fixed or stable. You don't wake up as much and can sleep longer periods. Plus mummy's managed to get both Elil and you to have your afternoon naps together. And this is how mummy gets to finally start on your blog!

Welcome To The World Baby Girl!

Hello happy baby! Or should mummy say, eager baby? Yes, you could not wait to meet the world so you made your way out a whole month earlier than mummy was prepared for! Girl, did you give me a scare! Daddy was out of the country and mummy had just put Elil down after some struggle and a little frustration.

Mummy's water had broke. Tata rushed mummy to the hospital. Then after an induction shot, , the life-saving epidural and 19 hours of contractions later on the 18th April 2009 at 18:18 hours you entered the world screaming at the top of your lungs. Mummy can't describe the relief she felt upon hearing that strong sweet scream. Oh, she's healthy!You are healthy! The doctor lifts you up and shows you to mummy. My oh my, you are the spitting image of your big sister. It's the same baby! Oh how perfect you are! All 2.58 kg of you! 2 weeks later we christened you Nila Anandi. Your name means happy moon.

I am sorry sweetheart. It has taken mummy a whole 6.5 months to start on your blog. Taking care of 2 little (super active and curious) angels has taken up 100% of mummy's time. It's only now (two months after Kakak Mon left) are we all 3 adjusting (somewhat) to each other and mummy can finally squeeze some time in to THINK (straight) and type.

You are the happiest, sweetest baby ever! And mummy is your favoritest person in the world (for now anyway). From day one you have been flashing (maybe not too flashy yet) us your 'melt my heart' gummy smile. You are constantly looking up at mummy, staring intently and not looking away until you get a smile from me. It's as if you always need my assurance, that mummy loves and adores you still. And if you are not in mummy's arms, you will frantically look around for mummy and only be satisfied when you spot me and I give you my reassuring smile that you so desperately need. It seems I am your addiction. You simply can't do without me. It gives mummy a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. So so good.