The Baby and I

The King and I, the 1951 musical masterpiece from Rodgers & Hammerstein told the story of King Mongkut of Siam (present day Thailand) who sought to modernize his country and he sought the expertise of Englishwoman Anna Leonowens to be the governess of his children. Of course, the most famous adaptation we all love and remember is the 1956 film of the same name starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. Throughout the film, the relationship between the King and Anna is complicated but always tinged with respect and love.

The word complicated exactly represents how Stephanie Tia reacts to us. When we are around, she gives us her full attention and it's as if we are the only people in her world. However, when children are around she jumps up and joins them to play and forgets that she even has parents! Haha, I'm not making a mountain of a molehill and we are glad that she socializes easily. We don't want a "Ms. Unfriendly" sticking with us everywhere we go.
Stephanie Tia is growing up so fast now and in 6 days time, she will be exactly 1 1/2 years old. Wow! how time flies. She is now more aware of things and a point that clearly explains that is how she realizes when one of her parents are not around for a number of days. My wife went to Thailand for training a month ago and though this was not her first trip away from baby, this was the first time that Stephanie realised that her ammah was not around. Whenever I brought her back from the babysitter, she would tap me on my hand and say "Daddy, ammah?". She also would look around the house to find her mum. When she spoke to my wife on the phone when we called her in Thailand, you should have seen the look on her face. She said excitedly "Ammah!", and when Lynnette came back home after a week, Stephanie practically ran to her with arms wide open.
To Thai it all up (pun intended), we as parents are experiencing and appreciating every moment of baby's life because we know that it will not happen again, but hey that's alright as watching her grow up is an honour that God has given us and we will not take it for granted. Our journey with baby continues and as the King said in The King and I, "Et Cetera, Et Cetera, Et Cetera...".

creative commons licensed (BY-NC) flickr photo by Thai Jasmine (Smile..smile...Smile..): http://flickr.com/photos/22193699@N04/4696222027

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