One of the persistent motifs in Dobbes' crying pattern is "Nnak Ai!" which varies in regularity and cadence according to whether he's warbling, whimpering or wailing.
Hunger pangs would warrant a steady, hopeful "...nnyakk ai... nyakkk aiii..."while a shitty diaper gets a "nnakk.... aiiiii..... nnakkaiiiiii.... nnakkk.... aiiii!!!!"
If he's in pain, it would be an all out "NNNNNYEAAAAAAKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!"
Recently I remarked to Mobbes how cute his "nnak ai" crying sounded. When he wasn't wailing it into our eardrums at 10,000 decibels, that is.
"It's cute the way you say it lah," grumped Mobbes who was trying to settle back into slumber after waking up for a 4am diaper change and night feed.
"It IS cute," I insisted, while cooing,"Nnak ai! Nnak ai!" to a wide-eyed, busily-suckling Dobbes at my breast.
Mobbes sat up. "You do know what 'Nnak ai' means don't you?"
I shrugged.
"'Nak' is the Malay word for 'want'..." began Mobbes.
"... and 'ai' is Chinese for 'love'," I finished, smiling.
All Dobbes wants is love. And even at a couple days old, he knows his mixed heritage.
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