Saige is 4! Months that is. It may not be 4 years yet, but still it is something to rejoice about. Perhaps because this daddy has been travelling since the day Saige was born, this day makes it even more "significiant". Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
I probably haven't been spending as much time as I should have with Saige. Probably is likely an understatement because the travelling (which now seems to be happening every two weeks) takes me 2-3 days out of town at a stretch. When I am in Singapore, I probably get to really spend time with her in the early mornings of the weekdays and on the weekends; on the weekdays - before I prep Faith for school and rush myself off to work, and on the weekends - less the three to four hours we send Saige packing to join her sis at my mum's place, so Eve and I really have some quality time. Come to think of it, the longest stretch of time I got to spend time with Saige in the 4 months - was in the first two weeks when I was on home leave after she was born, and when the little family (with dad and mum included) were in Hong Kong just a few weeks back.
Saige is a smiley kid and I like it when I know I can make her smile so easily just by calling her name. And she has that special way of smiling - when she is in a really good mood, she smiles and kicks her legs and brings her hands to her mouth - that's when you know she really had a good nap. However, she reserves her chuckles for mummy - Eve somehow is the only one who can consistently make her chuckle. Somehow, Saige doesn't chuckle no matter how much I throw her in the air or tickle her. Eve calls it the special mummy's bond.
Saige is now able to recognise our faces. She reserves her puzzled look for Faith each time Faith sings to her - she must be curious why this jie jie sometimes jumps around and wiggles her buttocks while coming so close to her face. It doesn't help that Faith does monkey faces each time she comes close - Saige must be wondering why this face looks vaguely familiar.Saige is now getting increasingly curious. She has started to turn her head around to look at who's talking to her. More tellingly, she turns her head to the TV when the Disney Channel is on. I think it's a matter of time that the two girls start competing for which channels to watch.
Saige is getting more expressive. She makes it clear when she is upset about not having enough sleep; she shows her frustrations when she gets her hands jammed under her body when she flips over; she coos when mummy talks to her. Eve and I have noticed that her tongue is really sharp. I hope she is able to pick up Mandarin so she can debate/quarrel with her sis in Mandarin - someone has to teach Faith the language.
As Eve would say, Saige is now at a really fun age - she is able to interact and so far, does little apart from sleep, eat and play. Eve is already looking forward to bringing her for music and gym classes when she grows older. As for me, second time round has really been different -I definitely spend less time with Saige compared to when we first had Faith. And Eve is already complaning that the two little girls are the only Daddy's girls for now. Sigh - we need a holiday soon - it seems that holidays are the only real bonding time I get with the girls - Eve included :)
