Thursday, May 10, 2007

Celebrating mothers

Mother's Day is drawing near and just recently, I even received a card from mama, wishing me a 1st Mother's Day. I was startled at first because 'Mother's Day' for the longest time was me wishing my mama. I actually felt oddly proud. Thanks Ma for the lovely message in the card, it left me teary eyed.

Come next month, Sera will be 1 year old. I cannot even begin to explain the changes that has taken place since Sera entered our lives. She has turned our lives upside down, into a most loving mess. We couldn't have wanted or asked for anything else, really. Till today, I am fascinated and entertained by her, and many a time I've had to shake myself out of a gazing stupor. I sound like a love-struck mama, and I guess I am. I chuckle at how quickly I've forgotten the early weeks of sleep deprivation, the never-ending nursing, the physical changes of my body, the 5-minute showers ... I could go on. Would I do that all over again? Yes, in a heartbeat!

I'll be the first to say I'm not a perfect mother. I've had many trying moments this year, frustrations and crying bouts. There were times I've wanted to burn all those 'mommy guide books', which had sometimes caused more anxiety than good advice. Thus on many occasions, have turned to my own mama's tried and tested mothering skills and methods.

And of course I've had the most supportive husband ever. Fathers are not blessed with motherly instincts so they do have to learn from scratch. But Johan has been passionate about fatherhood from the get go - very spontaneous, very eager to help and learn. A real trooper and a pillar of strength. (Hmm, I can now see his wide smile when he reads this part).

But in retrospect, this has been a year of memorable firsts' - her cheeky smile, her cute chuckle, her clumsy roll over, her proud sit, her sexy crawl, her FIRST pearly whites, her shaky stand, and just last night ... her first 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep!

So on my first Mother's Day, I send all my love and appreciation to mama and mom-in-law, por por, auntie Ivy, auntie Iris, auntie Yong Ann, auntie Min, Nathalie, Fiona, Evan, Sue-Lyn (yes, even you umbi!).

Sera's first cocktail

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