Dear Bump,
Your mom suggested that I write a letter to you since I did it for Fighter. With you coming along your mom and I are very conscious about making sure you don’t face any second child syndrome of any sort. So we promise to give you as much attention as we do Fighter.
I think we’re off to a good start because my letter to Fighter was only written when he was 29 weeks old. As I write this you’re only at 20 weeks now.
Let me tell you how you are as a 20 weeker. The only medium of communication Mommy has with you this far is with your kicking and she tells me you’re very very active. Kicking all the time… even more active than your older brother Fighter. Believe me if you could see your brother now… being more active than him is no easy feat.
People often asked me if I wanted my second child to be a boy or a girl. Most would assume I wanted a girl but I never ever said anything like that. To me… I just want you to grow up to be a healthy baby. It doesn’t matter to me if you were a boy or a girl although Uncle Pierre once told me that daughters treat their fathers really well so it’s something I should try for.
Nevertheless when we finally found out that you were a girl last week at the Doctor, both Mommy and I were thrilled. Mommy especially so because she had so many things she wanted to do with her daughter. So many cute dresses to buy and so many things she wanted to teach her. Mommy even wrote a blog entry about the things she wanted to teach you.
We are both a bit nervous though. In case you don’t already know, your elder brother was born a premature baby at 31 weeks. Mommy had severe pre-eclampsia and had to spend 3 weeks in the hospital to keep him in until we had no choice but to deliver him as a small premature baby only weighing 1.1 KG. The Doctor tells us that if you’ve had preeclampsia before, the chances of having it again are higher the second time round so we are worried about you.
It doesn’t help that I always thought my fortune teller said I would have 2 boys rather than 1 boy and 1 girl so Mommy and I for the longest time feared that something might happen to you. But don’t worry. Grandma smacked my head and told me instead that the fortune teller said I would have two kids. Not two boys. So if you’re that second baby that would come out healthy… I’m happy enough Bump.
It’s funny referring to you as Bump. Don’t worry… Bump is a working name until we settle on your real name. We won’t be calling you Bump for the rest of your life like we do with Fighter. The interesting thing is that with your older brother, Mommy exercised the right to choose his name and promised that I would get to choose your name. It’s so much pressure choosing your name. Mommy has been giving me lists and lists of baby girl names and I think she’s a little frustrated that i haven’t decided on one yet but I reckon that I can’t rush into it. I will know your name when I see it… and I don’t think I’ve seen it yet.
I guess that’s it for now Bump. Mommy and I seem to be taking your pregnancy a little more relaxed. I’m not sure if it’s because this is our second time and we’ve had more experience or maybe because your elder brother is a huge distraction for us. Just the past couple of days he’s come down with a fever that the doctor says is because of some infection caused by him always putting things in his mouth.
Regardless of all the distractions, when I sit down and think of you I get really excited. I can’t wait to have you… and I want to be the best father in the world for you.
Love,
Daddy.
Timothy Tiah – Co-Founder of Colony, Kuala Lumpur Co-Working Space