写给女儿 Leslie 的第四封信
Dear Leslie,
It's been nearly two months since I last wrote. While each day seems uneventful, if put together, it feels a lot has happened. And to you, what is normally seen as routine and unexciting may very well be your firsts.
First came our first long trip together. We rode a high-speed train from western Guangdong, where you were born and where your grandparents live, to Guangzhou, where we boarded a plane to Beijing. On that day, you were just shy of 40 days old. Mom carefully checked with the airline to make sure that you were old enough to fly, but still, we were worried that the air pressure and noise would be too much for you to handle. Thankfully, you were quite comfortable and stayed quiet the entire trip. I honestly don't think any baby would have behaved more superbly. Well done, girl!
Back in Beijing, you were greeted by another pair of grandparents, for the first time. They came all the way from Shanxi just to meet you. Yes, they had seen your photos and videos many times, but they were so thrilled to see you in person, holding you in their arms and interacting with you.
In your new home in Beijing, many gifts and toys waited for you. Mom and I upgraded your cot by attaching to it a hanging toy that comes with lighting and music. A bird, a monkey, and a bee are tethered to the trunk of the toy, and they rotate when the music is on. We thought it'd be a great companion to comfort you. You also seem to really like the electronic rocking chair and the foot piano, both gifts from mom and dad's friends.
There were more firsts. Your first visit to mom and dad's favorite coffee shop in town; first cameo at a Haidilao hot pot; first trip to an outdoor wedding; first attempt at swimming (failed, but that's OK!); first utterance of the "da" sound; first successful 90° turning; first jolly dance. Of course, many firsts have probably gone unobserved. I am only a mediocre recorder.
However, I am an unabashedly enthusiastic nomenclator (a fancy but handy word referring to someone who gives names to others). I count over 30 terms of endearment, both in Chinese and English, that I have been using to address you. I hope soon they will make sense to you. And I'd be curious to see your first reaction.
Love,
Dad
孟庆伟 Justin
个人微信 ID：justinqmeng
现象级英语联合创始人
初中英语 70 分（满分 100）
两次获雅思写作 8 分，口语 8 分
dad, husband, world citizen
题图：Leslie dressed in a bunny jumpsuit
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