Nat facts

I've been wanting to write about Nat and her developments for such a long time so some of these are probably more than 6 months outdated.

1. Despite being quite tomboyish in her actions, she's actually a rather "girlie" girl who loves playing dress up and adores handbags & high-heel shoes in particular. Also parades and poses shamelessly in front of mirrors while doing hair-flicks with her non-existent mane.


2. Appreciates retail therapy. Nat's ecstatic when we go shopping and will scream in delight when she sees the logo for Giant, Tesco or IKEA. (Take note PR personnel. My daughter will endorse for a fee).

3. Has a good sense of direction. She seems to know where we're heading and could even point out the club where we brought her swimming one time.

4. Quite a polyglot. Already bilingual and understands Hokkien when MIL speaks to her. Currently she's learning Mandarin from playschool too.

5. Karaoke-queen material (take note, Chim Chim and Aunties Siau Yen & Aileen!). Probably ABBA's biggest young fan and can sing all the songs from the Mamma Mia soundtrack. I rarely buy toys for her but I did get her an amplifying microphone from ELC and let's say it was a worthwhile investment. But while she's been able to hold a tune from a young age, I can't say she has fancy footwork.

6. Has high standards of hygiene. Can't stand fingers being dirty after she's eaten and won't go in dirty or smelly public toilets. She once ordered MIL to move out of her way when she was blocking her exit after taking a whiff of an offensive-smelling loo. Even when she was much younger and not yet toilet-trained, she would refuse to sit in her soiled diapers.

7. Has extremely keen olfactory senses and can pick up the aroma of durians (which she loves) from a mile away. It's no wonder I was so sensitive to smells when I was pregnant with her.

8. Loves food way too much. We have caught her stealing food so many times from the kitchen counter, using a stool or chair when she thinks no one is looking. She can also snack non-stop which is a big worry for me. Even likes bitter, strong-tasting and pungent stuff like chilli sauce, bittergourd and raw onions!

Stealing cupcakes from the larder

9. Still sucks her thumb to sleep and if there's someone beside her, she will either play with that person's ears or armpits (yes, you read right) with the other hand. The thumb-sucking is most likely to blame for her bunny teeth and overbite. I do hope she grows out of it before her permanent set of teeth come out.

10. Extremely good at mimicking others. We really have to watch our words and actions when around her.

11. Loves a good pampering. She used to ask Su for leg massages before her afternoon naps and loves it when I clean her ears with a cotton bud. It's the only time she will lie still for anything!

12. A softie at heart. Once I was watching a movie that made me cry and the next thing I knew, my t-shirt was wet with her tears and she was looking up at me and sobbing. It was not the movie that brought her to tears but she was empathising with my sadness. I felt so touched!

13. Very expressive and has a wonderful array of funny faces. Just looking at her antics makes the whole household laugh. I always look forward to her greeting me at the door upon my return from work. She'll run and fling herself at me without abandon till I'm sometimes bowled over if my feet are not properly grounded.

14. Bossy and likes correcting others. Hubby says no prizes for guessing where she got that from.

15. Politically correct. Every night without fail, Hubby would ask her if she wanted to sleep with him. One night she said "No" and when he asked why, she replied "Papa busuk"! Then after a pause, she continued "Papa's baju busuk".

16. Sociable and independent. She just blends in at school and at parties and likes to join bigger groups when at the park. Sadly, the bigger kids usually won't want to play with a young stranger, which is why I pray she will get on well with her younger sibling when the time comes.

17. A total TV addict!

Her usual pose in front of the idiot box

To our darling Nat, if you ever read this in future, know that that you bring such joy into the lives of those around you and that Papa and Mama love you with all our heart!