Caitlin - 8.5 months

The last time I wrote about you was when you were just under 4 months old, a baby.  You are now heading towards being a toddler with a mind of your own :)  You started sitting at 5 months, belly crawling at 6.5 months, clap your hands at 7 months and about 2 weeks ago learn to wave bye-bye.  Your first tooth was also visible at 7 months and now have 2 front lower teeth (teething is way faster than your koko).

5 months old

6 months old in Malaysia - notice the kisses from mosquitoes

8 month cheeky me

2 front teeth for Christmas!!

I looked back at the posts and pictures of Isaac at about the same age and realise that you both do look very alike, except that you have hair!! Interestingly the photos that I take are similar too :) and of course you both have the same toys!!

The advise is not to compare but it's just natural to do so.  Although similar in many ways, you are more clingy and 'manja' and is less chilled than your brother.  You also put EVERYTHING into your mouth which your koko never did.  Maybe it's a boy / girl thing?  Or maybe it's because Isaac was already in nursery by now and hence have learnt to be more independent?  We'll see how your character and personality continue to develop.

Currently, you recognise your name and starting to communicate by calling out 'uh, uh' to get our attention.  You will also yell out quite loudly when you're excited.  Just like your koko, you are no where near sleeping through the night yet.  You seem to be more picky with your food and love to feed yourself.  Toast seem to be your favourite food!!  I need to give this to you 3 times a day during meals to get you to open your mouth.  You recognise music and would clap your hands when you hear any tunes.  A funny example was when we went shopping and you started clapping your hands when you heard the 'alarm' of the shop entrance go off.  Classic!! :)

I am totally enjoying my maternity leave with both you and Isaac and wish you both won't grow up so quickly. 

Christmas eve ponder

I had a look at my last post which said 'before I know it and it will be Christmas'.  How true....  I opened my posts and realised that there was a draft and so posted that.  Here I am now penning down and reflecting what has happened since September.

It really should come with no surprise that time flies so quickly.  I am 3/4 way into my maternity leave now and both Isaac and Caitlin are growing up so quickly.  Caitlin's no longer a 'baby', and both she and Isaac are learning to play with each other.  We celebrated Isaac's 4th birthday, flew to Malaysia for 6 weeks and have returned in November and submitted my thesis a few days ago.  I really cherish and am enjoying my maternity leave as have never had the luxury of so much time to spend with them (although I really miss work at times as there's no such thing as a 'break' taking care of 2).  Overall, I feel so very blessed and thankful.

There's soooo much more to write but think should be sorting out and updating photos for the previous posts :)

Think we took nearly 10 shots to get this 1 where both Isaac and Caitlin were not too blur from moving and are smiling at the camera

Conversations about God with Isaac

A collection of Isaac's questions/conversation about God...

Isaac: God lives in our heart.
Me:  That's very good
Isaac:  But how did He get there?
Me:  Ermm..

Isaac:  Is God big?
Me: Yes, he's the biggest thing in the world and is everywhere
Isaac:  Ah ha, but he's not bigger than the biggest giant
Me: Yes he is.
Isaac (replies smugly): He is the biggest giant and is the leader of the giants

We are now all recovering from a nasty virus and I've lost my voice. He keeps asking me what is blocking my voice and I say its the germs that are attacking my throat.
Isaac: God can take away the germs from you.
Me:  That's right. So will you pray for me?
Isaac:  OK. I will ask God to take the germs out but make sure the germs don't go into God's throat

Isaac: Mummy, how come nobody knows what God looks like?
Me: That is because God is God and He is everywhere
Isaac (thinks and replies after some time): That is because God lives in our hearts and we cannot see through the heart