It’s first day at work after such a long break *sob sob*. It was nice to spend more than a week at home with Zara, to be there to see some of her development, and to experience some of the funny or special moments.

New Year’s Eve Morning
Zara woke up next to me and saw that Daddy’s side was empty, she climbed down the bed and searched for Daddy
Zara : *extend her palm up* Papa?
Me : Papa in the bathroom
Zara : *half squatted down* Sssssss
Me : *tittering* No, Daddy is not in the toilet to she-she (Chinese: Pee), Daddy is in the toilet to take bath
I think she knows how we adult ‘she-she’ by going into the toilet with me when she’s in her clingy mood, and I told her I was sitting on an adult’s potty to ‘she-she’

New Year’s Morning
Me : Zara, wakey wakey, sleepy baby!
Zara : *stretched and smiled*
Me : Call me, MUMMY.
Zara : *smiled* Mi-na
Me : MUM-MEE
Zara : Mi-na
Ok Ok, will just settle for Mi-na for now.

Later the same day
Me : Zara, call me, MUMMY
Zara : Ah Mee
Me : MUMMY
Zara : Ah Mee
Ah Mee sure sounds better than Mi-na. And yes, she started calling me Ah Mee since New Years Day!!

Breakfast
Me : Zara, what do you want to have for breakfast?
Zara : Mum-mum! (Chinese for food)
Daddy: Do you want bread? *gave her some*
Zara ate and spit out, then shook her head
Me : Mummy get you yogurt then
Zara : Kng! (not sure if she’s saying yogurt or just ‘good’)
I opened a tub of Petite Miam for her and started feeding her. Half way through,
Zara : *pointed to something* Moo-ner-mang! Moo-ner-mang! *excitedly*
I followed her finger, and saw she was pointing to Daddy who’s having a banana
Me : You want a banana?
Zara : *did her more sign by pointing her index finger to her palm* Moo-ner-mang!
I peeled her one boomerang, I mean banana and offered it to her together with her yogurt.
So, banana to her is a boomerang!

Hair cutting at the salon (Zara sitting on my lap)
Yen (the hairdresser) : *Put her hand on arm* So what hair style do you want?
Zara pushed her arm away
Yen : Eh, your daughter won’t let me touch you
Me : No la, where got?
Yen : You see.. *she put her hand on my arm again*
Zara pushed her arm away and stared at her
Me : Yeah hor. I didn’t realise. Do again.
Yen put her hand on my arm one more time
Zara pushed her arm away again.
Haha, the little girl doesn’t like strangers to touch me! She’s started to be possessive!

Nap time
Me : *kissed her cheek* Mummy loves you, Zara. Do you love mummy?
Zara : *stroke my face tenderly with her hand, and looked at me*
Me : *kissed her cheek again* Yes, Mummy knows you love mummy too
Zara : *laid her head on my shoulder* Huh Huh
Me : *Tightened my arms around her* Mummy hug hug you too.

She has been extremely loving these few days, always coming to me and wrapped her arms around my leg while I was standing; or laid her head on my lap if I was sitting; or just patting my shoulder, or stroking my face when I carried her.