We have lost count of the number of times Sophie bumped her head or fell down in the last month. I won't say that we've gotten used to it entirely. Yet.
Today, she continues to attempt creatively dangerous stunts - stunts which if unsupervised lead to more hard knocks, heartrending howls and heartbreak (for her parents). Counting my blessings, I should be glad that she's shown herself to be an active, adventurous and determined little person. She knows what she wants, is very decisive in getting what she wants, and is focused while she is at it. I just pray that we might figure out how to harness such strengths to guide her well towards seeking God's Kingdom passionately with her gifts.
We are also hearing more and more of her voice nowadays. Apart from voicing out her opinions about the world firmly and decidedly, she laughs heartily and expresses her surprise, delight, and dislikes without reservation. Sometimes, she yells in anger too, but we are not encouraging it, of course. Her favourite consonant so far is "b/p" - and she rehearses it everyday, pairing it with the vowels that she can manage to utter at present. As for the words that she understands even though she can't pronounce them yet, she proves to us her comprehension by pointing us toward the right pictures and objects that describe them - for example "ball", "pillow", "bottle", "fish", "hand", etc. Or performing the actions that such words command - for example "shake", "roll", "clap", "come" and etc. I do think that she understands what "NO" is - but she isn't very good at obeying us when we say "NO" at this point. Haha. She smiles when we parrot her baby babble and shakes her head vigorously at us, as if to say, "No, that doesn't sound quite right!"
Recently, I discovered that I can make her stop talking when I look her directly in the eye and go "Sshhhhhh" with my pointer over my lips. I must establish this command soon. It is very important, I think. :P
Some of her newest fascinations include: trying to stand up on her own (of course, she hasn't arrived yet), tearing paper, pulling objects out of a bag, finding ways to crawl into the kitchen (a prohibited area), grabbing spectacles off our faces (already broke a pair belonging to her dad), big board picture books, checking out our ears, watches, clocks small enough to hold in her hands, fridge magnets.... and getting up in the middle of the night to touch the wall behind our bed headboard.
Food. The steamer is rapidly becoming my good friend. I use it to steam fish, chicken and vegetables. Basically, if you have a steamer, blender and slow cooker in your kitchen, you probably would have everything you need to cook for a baby - I think. Having introduced Sophie to fish, avocado, yogurt and lots of different fruits (tropical and non-tropical) in the first few months of solid food, we have been doing chicken and vegetables in the last month.
I personally think that this food journey is very exciting! Perhaps, it is because I love cooking.
Milk-wise, my production took a dramatic dip since a mysterious, flu-like illness last week. I am so exhausted trying to squeeze out (if you are an EP mom under tremendous pressure to perform, you'd understand what I mean) those much-needed drops of milk from the udders and power-pumping alone in the night. Condition has only improved very slightly, but I choose to be thankful. I am also thankful that Sophie's a little more receptive to formula milk now. Since last week, we've replaced 2-3 breastmilk feeds a day with FM (it used to be just once a day to get her used to the taste, in anticipation of weaning) - we'd mix a feed and chill it in the fridge a while in order to suit her princess fancies. (She loves cold milk.) But at the same time (of course), it makes me rather emotional to watch her drinking it. Don't get me wrong - there is absolutely nothing wrong with FM. I grew up on FM and I am the wonderful person I am now. (My best friend even thinks that I am smart!) However, as a breastfeeding (or breastmilking to be more exact, in my case) mom who has been lactating for the past 9 months, watching my baby grow accustomed to FM while I struggle to meet her demands on my side does pinch. I should be thankful, I know. It's just that... why do I feel like I am about to lose my job as the cow? Being a cow was something I felt I could do consistently well (compared to other tasks of motherhood) - but it seems that this security blanket might fail me soon. *Sobs*
Anyway.
Ok, Sophie. Mummy prays that you'd continue to blossom in God's grace. Happy 9th month, sweetheart!
Food. The steamer is rapidly becoming my good friend. I use it to steam fish, chicken and vegetables. Basically, if you have a steamer, blender and slow cooker in your kitchen, you probably would have everything you need to cook for a baby - I think. Having introduced Sophie to fish, avocado, yogurt and lots of different fruits (tropical and non-tropical) in the first few months of solid food, we have been doing chicken and vegetables in the last month.
I personally think that this food journey is very exciting! Perhaps, it is because I love cooking.
Milk-wise, my production took a dramatic dip since a mysterious, flu-like illness last week. I am so exhausted trying to squeeze out (if you are an EP mom under tremendous pressure to perform, you'd understand what I mean) those much-needed drops of milk from the udders and power-pumping alone in the night. Condition has only improved very slightly, but I choose to be thankful. I am also thankful that Sophie's a little more receptive to formula milk now. Since last week, we've replaced 2-3 breastmilk feeds a day with FM (it used to be just once a day to get her used to the taste, in anticipation of weaning) - we'd mix a feed and chill it in the fridge a while in order to suit her princess fancies. (She loves cold milk.) But at the same time (of course), it makes me rather emotional to watch her drinking it. Don't get me wrong - there is absolutely nothing wrong with FM. I grew up on FM and I am the wonderful person I am now. (My best friend even thinks that I am smart!) However, as a breastfeeding (or breastmilking to be more exact, in my case) mom who has been lactating for the past 9 months, watching my baby grow accustomed to FM while I struggle to meet her demands on my side does pinch. I should be thankful, I know. It's just that... why do I feel like I am about to lose my job as the cow? Being a cow was something I felt I could do consistently well (compared to other tasks of motherhood) - but it seems that this security blanket might fail me soon. *Sobs*
Anyway.
Ok, Sophie. Mummy prays that you'd continue to blossom in God's grace. Happy 9th month, sweetheart!
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