The High Tech Baby

You somehow signed mommy up for a YouTube account

Playing one of the educational apps on the Ipad

A Day In A Life...

Dear Baby,

This was back when your play pen was still out, your diapers can fit in one basket and you were still crawling and learning to pull yourself up.

Now that play pen had been packed and stored long time ago, your diapers have exploded and are now kept in a dresser and you're running everywhere...

Love,
Mommy

The 2nd Holiday

First time at a playground, albeit small but that doesn't matter!

Dear Baby,

Last year we went on holiday twice. Same destination as we are quite happy heading there and mommy and daddy have friends there we get to meet up.

The second trip was significantly different to the first trip, you can walk now. You played at your first playground in a shopping mall. 

Outside the Art & Science Museum, somebody was looking grumpy

 You went to your first art exhibition, Salvador Dali no less. You ran around the space they had. You saw strange sculptures and weird drawings. You messed about in the souvenir shop and you took the hearts of the ticket selling counter staff.

And played with water on the roof tops of one of many shopping places over there. While daddy went to check out the shops, you and mommy headed over to the outdoor playground where they have water fountains. You were fine playing on your own until one of the water stream caught you square in the face. After that you didn't want to play anymore and was content to watch the other kids play while you had your snack.

With daddy testing out the water

 It wasn't until when daddy came back were you willing to play again because now, you have daddy with you. More confident.

Step! Step! Step!

The baby changing room was right there too, after you had enough, it was convenient for us to head over there to change, dry you up and get dressed.

Always have your Sunday Afternoons hat when in the sunny parts

Mommy was happy to see you play, learn and experience new things this holiday. This trip, mommy only shopped for bento gears and was more than happy to just spend the rest of the time with you and daddy. It was a very nice holiday...

Love,
Mommy

The First Hash

Dear Baby,

Yesterday, the third sunday of the month and year, mommy took you to your first kids hash! It was a couple of firsts too, the first time mommy had driven with you more than ten minutes in the car, and the first time you got to explore the great backyard! (in reference to your Signing Time: My Great Outdoors DVD).

We got to the site and parked behind Auntie Wina and Uncle Joey just as they were getting themselves ready. Mommy had already thrown our water bottles into a backpack with a small towel and wipes and some money. We walked up to the gathering site which was located at someones home. Mommy signed you in as guest and paid the $10. For the next three runs it'll cost $10 per run, after that you'll be member of the Junior Hash House Harriers and would only need to pay $6 instead per run as JH3 only happens once a month.

We were a bit late and the run had already started, 4pm, we went in after checking which paper trail to follow, there were two, a short run and a long run. Since it was your first, we all decided to do the short run, and for that particular run, we were to follow the long wide paper strips.

You decided that Monkey should come with you and he followed us in as well. The first part was walking through the uneven grassy grounds. The next part was crossing a small plank that goes over a little stream, and the beginning of an upward climb up a hill. Auntie Wina started singing and mommy joined in:

Lets pack our bags, and grab a tent we're going to explore,

Open the door,

Head down the trail,

Over the bridge,

Carefully cross the stream,

Into the woods,

Climb a mountain,

Explore our great backyard!

You watched that DVD so many times we have memorised the lyrics! Uncle Joey was impressed, he thought Auntie Wina and Mommy came up with the song just like that. We told him where it came from, heheh.

And climb a mountain we did. The forested hill was just going up and up, and since you didn't want to walk, mommy had to carry you, Auntie Wina carried Monkey, and us three adults haven't hashed in ages so all of us were finding it a little bit exhausting. You walked a little bit on the hill, and when you stopped mommy picked you up again.

When we reached the top of the hill, there was a clearing and we took a break so mommy can give you some water to drink and we looked at the view, there was a housing estate in the yonder and we wondered which development that must be, guessing on our calculation, it could be Meraggang. While we were there more children and their parents turned up and we decided to move on before the little clearing got crowded.

Downhill we go, we went through the bracken, again you walked a little bit and then mommy carried you the rest of the way, we saw the trail had split into two, one fore the short run and the other for the long run. We kept to our paper and turned right. After the bracken we got to another clearing. Auntie Wina took the opportunity for you to learn textures and you touched the fuzzy mop of grass and the leaves from nearby branches and kept you clear of the razor grass.

Uncle Joey ended up carrying Monkey

Mommy, Dyanna and Auntie Wina at hash

The paper trail lead us to a ledge, mommy went down first and Auntie Wina handed you over and mommy got a hold of you and all of us got down onto a rocky terrain. That was when mommy wanted to take a picture to commemorate your first hash! There were lots of other children by then passing by as we were almost near the end of the trail and you walked most of the way after that. And just as the trail ended, you wanted to be carried again and mommy carried you all the way to the starting site and signed you out.

There was a coupon for food and drink and we claimed it, which was a hotdog with onions and a juice pack that day, which you don't fancy so mommy had some. Auntie Wina and Uncle Joey had kebabs from the kebab stall that had set up shop, other kids and adults were seen eating fish and chips too. There were mandarin oranges handed out and mommy had some and you had a bite as well. You were mesmerized to see the bigger kids running around, and some were playing ball. Mommy learnt and realised that it was the Chinese New Year run and there was a lion dance troop setting up ready to give their performance. Some kids started beating the drum with their hands and you wanted to join in too, and you asked mommy to carry you and pointed you wanted to go there, so we walked up to the drum and you started banging away. Mommy put you down and directed you to the lower end of the drum and you were able to reach standing on tippy toes and you were the shortest amongst the kids who were banging on the drums. Mommy should've taken a picture of that.

We positioned ourselves as best able and we jumped when the firecrackers started, mommy wished I had brought your BabyBanz earmuffs and used my hands to cover your ears to try to lessen the noise of the firecrackers and the clashing cymbals. The lion was dancing and everyone stood and sat around watching the performance. You had the opportunity to feed one of the lion with a couple of red packet ang pows, you were delighted to be able to be so close to the lion and stroked the lion. We left not long after that as it was time we should be heading home. As we walked back to the car we could still hear the sound of the lion dance.

At first you didn't want to be strapped in and mommy had to sing 'row row row your boat' before you calmed down. And we left the place in a good mood, you played with your toys and we got home just before the sun had set. That night you slept by 8pm and totally exhausted and so was mommy.

Love,
Mommy

Food Stories

Dear Baby,

You're appetite have been really good lately, when you're not distracted that is. What is cool is how you are willing to try different foods. Like for instance today during lunch, you wanted to try the fresh bean sprouts and pineapples and you really like them because you asked for more. You now insist in order for you to eat a banana you must get to whole the banana with the peel half way off, and munch away like the adults, where as before we'd give you either a quarter or half a banana. You like the Laughing Cow cream cheese cubes as snacks, with mummy's help to peel the foil off. You prefer celery to cucumber now, and daddy had successfully made your carrot and celery miso soup, his first time cooking for you last weekend.

In the new year, we went to have japanese food for dinner. You ate the garlic rice, chicken udon soup, tofu miso, and you finished off the shaved ice that came with the salmon sashimi. I wonder what'll happen when you discover ice creams and sorbets... Not going to find out anytime soon.

You had your first taste of cookie, daddy was eating a homemade cookie at a recent birthday party we went to and gave you a bite when mommy went to get you more watermelon. Two bites, that's it for you. No more cookies. You started to eat watermelons again after not eating them for at least six months.

And you had your first juice, fresh watermelon juice and carrot juice, which mommy orders without sugar, and you wanted to try, and kept it in without spitting out, which what you would do before.

Speaking of drinks, you also drink cow's milk, low fat variety since that is the only type at home. But I think it is so you get to hold the box and play with it and squeeze milk out everywhere after a couple of sips.

But water and breast milk is still your go to place for a thirst quencher and food and comfort.

Yes, you have this affinity with cold water and ice in various forms. And whenever you get washed up or having a bath, you'd take a cup and drink the water or straight from the tap even!

You always ask for soup with every meal, and eat the soup yourself with a spoon handled by you. There is a lot of clean up every time but at least you're hand eye coordination is improving.

You like the sliced garlic that gets added into stir fries, so now whenever mommy cooks, I'll always add in extra garlic for you.

The only time you would eat bread is if it's a pizza or toasted cheese sandwiches which you also call pizza.

I know various people have sneaked in other carb based foods such as crackers and rice puffs. They may not think I don't know but it's obvious when you ask more of it! It made me wonder if I should print out a list of yes and no foods you are allowed. Anything that comes out of a packet or a box ready to eat is a big NO! Because of all the chemicals, colourings, stabilizers, processing, artificial flavours colours, preservatives, trans fats that can wreck havoc for you in the long run. I am going to try and keep them away from you for as long as I could because mommy knows what those things can do to you, and we are going for fresh wholesome foods as much as possible.

Love,
Mommy

Work

This only lasted 5 minutes...

Dear Baby,

Today, you get to come with mummy to mommys' work place. Lets see how this will go... So far you had a walk down the corridor, met a couple of mommy's colleagues, had your bento and dismantled mommy's bento. And now it's nursing time, and it's only 10AM. Several more hours to go....

Love,
Mommy

One and A Half Year Check Up

Dear Baby,

Mommy missed out on the 1 year check up (can't remember the details)... but we have done the 1 and a half years check up!

The nurses gave an appointment date few days after you turned 17 months.

You weighed in at 12.6kg and a height of... I forgot in centimeters but it's 31 inches, oooh, 2.5 feet tall.

The nurse asked if your teeth came out, and daddy told you to do the cheeky face to the nurse and you did and she got to see your teeth.

The nurse asked whether you are eating porridge or regular food. Regular food for as long as when food got introduced to you.

The nurse asked if you were allergic to eggs. We say no as there seem to be no reaction whenever you eat dishes that have eggs in them.

The nurse asked if we want to give you a flu shot as they currently have in stock. Daddy and I decided there is no need, and daddy said you looked very happy about that.

And that was it, your next check up is when you turn 2, appointment date on the 14th June.

Monkey became one of your favourite toy to bring around

Oh, prior to us going to the clinic for your check up, we went out for breakfast first, you had the grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. Then when you got restless mommy took you for a walk and we passed by this shop that had stuffed toy monkeys, we went inside and mommy asked if you wanted to hold a monkey, and you nodded your head. Mommy didn't realise you wanted to take the monkey and almost walked out from the shop. Mommy managed to convince you to put the monkey back and we'll look for daddy so you can show him the monkey. We went back to the restaurant and you and daddy went out to the shop while mommy paid the bill. When mommy got to the shop there you were holding two monkeys! But daddy only said one and you let go of the other one. So now you have a proboscis monkey soft toy in your collection.

Love,
Mommy