Keina's Secret Training

I call it 'secret' as unlike other babies I've seen, she is just not so active. She doesn't kick around or twist around as much as her peers. Babies tend to do that to practice their motor skills but to me, Keina seems content to lie still and do the odd turn from the belly to back (to date, she has only done that 4 times in the last 2 weeks). I am also content to let her develop at her own pace and not keen to compare though I'd thought that she could be a late developer in that department. But somehow, she must have been practicing a lot in her sleep and trying to store the little bits of information in her brain as tonight, at around 2045h, 11th Apr 2009, Keina did her first full turn! And not only that, she sat for a few good minutes unsupported for the first time yesterday on the 1oth Apr! The Friday deserves a separate post but for tonight, I am just so thrilled by her milestone and even more happy that Naoki got to view this spectacular performance with me. 

How did it happen? Well, I was just lying down next to her for bedtime and decided to read a book since she didn't seem so keen to sleep and suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I noticed a movement and her lil hand cling onto the side of my sleeve. To my surprise, she was in a half turn, lying on her side! And she seemed to be trying to get closer to me. So I thought she must be trying to get my attention and pretended to continue with my book. But then, she couldn't hold the pose long enough and flopped back to her back. She did this a couple of times more to no avail. I then decided to call Naoki in and she was delighted by his appearance and they played for a while and she giggled to quite a few of his antics. Then I thought he should pretend to leave and I will 'get back' to my book to see if she would continue practicing her turn. My goodness, we were right! This girl was persistent to get it right the first time. There was no stopping her and she managed a beautiful turn and I see her pretty face staring up at me as she settled proudly on her belly. I got up to make way for her and to our even greater surprise, she continued to turn from belly to back! A complete turn in 1 night! Ahh... my sweet baby is so smart that she'd put it together so quickly! I know it's not like Nobel science but we are just so delighted and proud that I can't stop grinning. Too bad we didn't catch it together but we have recorded it in our hearts. I feel like I just saw a shooting star with Naoki and she is much more than just a twinkle in the sky.

Now, despite all those challenging sleepless nights, parenthood is indeed rewarding and I say this with honesty and conviction.