Dear Skyler,

I always wanted to tell you about your paternal grandpa but never had the chance. I guess I'll have to let you know about my memories of him bit by bit. :)

Your paternal grandpa is Daddy's daddy. :) You will not be able to see him or to get to know him personally because he is no longer with us. But I want you to know who he is because he is a very important person to your Daddy. :) Do understand that I will appear to be rambling as I can't remember which incident comes first. :)

Your grandpa worked for most of his life as a clerk with Hongkong and Shangai Bank. He retired from his job as a 'chief bank teller' (I think that was the title). He worked in Shenton Way and Queensway and for a short period of time somewhere in the east of Singapore (can't remember where). He did his job very well, I guess or he would not have lasted so long or have been promoted. They even gave him a gold watch when he retired. :) I never really understood what he did in his job. But it kept him busy and gave him some meaning in life, I guess. Sorry to be so hazy!

But the last appointment he had was as the chief bank teller and that entailed him collating all the cash returns at the end of the day of all the tellers in the branch he was working in. All the cash transacted in a particular day went through his hands. He once mentioned that he counted so much money a day that it all became just paper to him. :)

Grandma and I used to go pick him up from work when Daddy was much younger. Then we would go for our meals - lunch on Saturdays and dinner on weekdays.

Grandpa was a person who loved us a lot. He was a typical Asian father though. Stern and quiet. He hardly spoke to us much except to discipline us. I was caned by Grandpa a few times when I was young. This was because I was rude to Grandma. So, don't be rude to your Mommy, understand? Being caned is not a good thing to experience. But even through all this, Grandpa always showed his love for your Aunty Florence, Uncle Milton and Daddy!

Dearest Skyler,

You know, many people have been asking what your name is - especially Uncle Victor and Aunty Lisan. Mommy and Daddy have been reluctant to tell them yet because we want to keep it secret and special for us now. You are so precious to us. We will tell them when the time is right, ok? We love you SO much!!!

Shopping! Mommy and Daddy have been running around all over Singapore (sort of) looking at stuff to get for you. We need to get you a stroller, a car seat and a sleeping place. I can tell you, this is not easy!!!

We have been trying to decide between getting a wooden cot or a play pen for you to sleep in. A wooden cot should last much longer - it can also "grow" with you as it can be adapted into a play pen and a bed as you grow bigger. However, as it is made of wood, it is hard and we are afraid that you may hurt yourself in it while you are learning how to move. And we have no idea if you really want to be in a cot! Several of our friends say that their babies did not like to be in a cot.

A play pen, on the other hand, is softer so we don't have to worry about you hurting yourself. It is also foldable so we can pack it away or bring it with us when we take you out so you have a place to rest when we bring you to visit relatives and friends. But it can tear after a while and therefore will not last as long.

Well, I think we have decided on a play pen for your safety, Skyler. You are too precious for us to see you hurt yourself in a wooden cot. I hope you'll get used to sleeping and playing in one.

A stroller is another item that is driving us into a frenzy. There are so many models available in so many designs and for so many purposes! Uncle Milton is willing to lend us the stroller that he has used for your cousins Reika, Yujin and Kenji, but Mommy and Daddy are thinking of getting one just for you.

There is one model that two places have tried to introduce to us that seems to have all the features that we could want - all four wheels can turn and this makes it very manouverable; it folds into quite a small package so it an go into the car easily; it has a cover that goes all the way to the front so that when you are sleeping while we are out, we can block out the sun completely; and best of all, we can push the stroller with you facing either us or away from us because the handle can be placed in either position to aid this! It can also recline almost all the way so you can sleep comfortably when you are newly born.

However, there are also other models that are made of alumnium that are fairly light and the wheels are very smooth. They also look quite rugged and stylish so maybe they can last longer. And, most importantly, they have a 5-point harness. This will make it much safer for you! They can also fold into quite a small size. However, they do not recline all the way nor have all the other features that the one described above has.

So, we are still in a quandary as to which to get. Safety is very important as we don't want anything to hurt you. But the other features make it easier for us when we bring you out. Hmmm... how?

Car seats also come in many types - infant seats, toddler-size, child-size, travel systems (car seats that come with strollers). So many brands with so many different materials! How!??? We also can't decide how much money to spend on it. It doesn't last very long because you will grow out of it so quickly but the better ones are so expensive. We want to buy the best for you but we also want to spend the money wisely - we can't just buy so many different types and not know what to do with them when you outgrow them, you see. We still can't decide now. We have to do so by the end of October though because you will be out soon after that.

Driving, 14th Sep 2005. Remember this date, Skyler. This is the day that Mommy passed her driving test! Mommy took up driving lessons many years ago. But she was not allowed to pass then. After two tries, Mommy decided to stop as she did not want to waste any more of Grandma's money. Mommy then started her lessons with Bukit Batok Driving Centre at the beginning of this year as she had more time then - Mommy had just started her full-time Masters studies. So, Mommy took theory tests and went through practical lessons and she has passed on the first try!!!

Mommy did all this partly because now it means that if Daddy is too busy to drive you anywhere, Mommy can do so herself. Quickly, thank Mommy for her sacrifice! Mommy doesn't like to drive but she made herself go through it so that you can be better taken care of.

Mommy and Daddy had to attend a Fathering talk on a Sunday morning as part of our antenatal course. When we arrived, we found that some vendors had set up booths to sell their wares. We were enticed into buying milk bottles with the B-free brand. We had first seen these bottles when we were at Baby Hyperstore. They were quite expensive then. They still were but they were offering a 20% discount for a single bottle. And, better still, they were offering a free small 4 oz bottle for every two bottles purchased at the original price. That's what we decided to buy! So, now, you have two big bottles and one small bottle just waiting for you.

The B-free bottle is supposed to be a fairly special bottle because it's supposed to prevent you from getting colic, having to burp, etc. There's a special device inside the bottle that does this. The bottle's nipple where you suck the milk is supposed to help in achieving these as well. We'll see if it works when you're here, Skyler.

Mommy and Daddy went to see our Gynae, Dr Kang Wee once more on the 21st Sep 2005. Dr Kang was not even in her consultation room when we got there just in time for the appointment. So, we had to wait a bit. Thankfully, the wait was not as long as before.

Dr Kang did not even see Mommy for 20 seconds when we finally saw her. She just checked your heartbeat and felt the fundal height and declared that she would see us again in four weeks with an ultrasound scan to be done in eight weeks. But, as we had questions, we managed to drag the consultation out a bit longer.

The main thing that Mommy and Daddy want is for Dr Kang to be our doctor for the whole delivery. We did not want any of the trainee doctors or any other doctor for that matter to help in the delivery. So, she told us that we may have to convert our status to this place they called "the Private Suite". It costs more for each consultation and we have to pay more for the delivery and everything else but it provided us with more privacy and personalised service. Thus, that's what we decided to do. You're going to be monitored in a more private environment, Skyler!

We just celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival, Skyler. It's a time when we eat mooncakes, drink tea, carry lanterns, play with sparklers and enjoy watching the full moon. Actually, the festival is more than that. But this is all you need to know for now, ok? :) You just have to remember the eating mooncakes part. :)

Our neighbourhood really likes to celebrate these festivals. Every year, lots of people will gather in the central plaza and light up the whole place with candles and sparklers. We took a video of this year's celebration for you to watch when you are older. :)

Wow! Skyler, you're kicking real hard still! We're very excited about being able to feel you, you know. But, like I said before, please kick more gently so that you don't hurt Mommy. Mommy needs to rest and sleep. If you keep kicking Mommy, she won't be able to get either. :)

We love you, Skyler.

Daddy and Mommy

Dearest Skyler,

It's been some time since we last wrote to you. Sorry, been really busy.

You're already 22 weeks old now. You've made Mommy's tummy very big. :) Mommy's put on quite a bit of weight because of your growth.

We've been attending antenatal classes to prepare ourselves for your birth, you know? The first lesson was conducted by a nurse who went through the changes that Mommy would go through. The second lesson was on some exercises that Mommy has to do to prepare for your coming into this world.

The strange thing about the class is that quite a number of the other participants are already in their third trimester. We're not sure why they waited so long before they decided to attend this course as most of the lessons right now seem to deal with what to do at the beginning of the pregnancy. I guess the later lessons will be more relevant to them.

Mommy has been feeling quite okay recently. Thank you for cooperating and not causing so much discomfort. Oh! The only thing has been that you've been kicking and moving in there! :) That's so cool! Daddy has been able to feel you move around as well! Wow! You're really there and so active! Keep moving around, ok? Make sure Mommy knows that you're okay but also make sure that she gets some rest as well because everytime you move around, Mommy feels slightly uncomfortable. :) It would be good if you didn't kick when she sleeps. Oh! Mommy would like you to stop kicking her bladder because you make her want to go to the toilet. :)

Daddy and Mommy just attended Daddy's school's Teachers' Day dinner on Friday. Mommy knows so many of Daddy's colleagues! :) Daddy's boss also made a very interesting statement - that Daddy could take leave to take care of Mommy and you next year even if she wasn't around to approve of the leave. :) I hope that she remembers this. :)

It's also quite interesting that Daddy's colleagues think that Mommy and Daddy will make good parents! :) Well, we are!!! :) We're going to love you SO much!

We're waiting for you to grow up strong and intelligent, our little girl. We love you!

Daddy and Mommy