Last entry for the year

What a close to the year end, with Sophie having an eye infection *sigh*. She started having it on Sunday and initially we dismissed it as she's always touching her eyes after touching everywhere.

By the end of the day, it didn't get any better as well so I brought her to the doctor the next day. Ended up it was an eye infection, and she doctor advised to keep her at home as it was contagious. So for the next few days, I was also home with her. It didn't help that she seems to be teething too as she was drooling and putting her finger into her mouth and yes the dreaded fever too. So you can only imagine how grumpy and cranky she was. Putting the eye drop for her is a daily struggle which leaves her crying and crying.

So I brought her to the playground one afternoon and boy was she excited to get some fresh air.

Look how she's familiar with the drill at the playground already.

Hoping that in the next year, we all get healthier bodies and not get sick so often!!!

Happy New Year!

There she goes...

She even does it when she's drinking her milk...

Entry as evidence. Haha

Intrigued by the button

The belly button that is

Sophie has discovered that beneath her big tummy, there lies a little button shaped indentation called her belly button. And ever since we've been trying to get her hands or rather finger off it. Somehow she is so intrigued by it that we find her digging into it ever so often. Sometimes even lifting her dress to check if her belly button is still there.

At first she discovered it's existence when I lay her down and nursed her at night. Many a time I find her reaching for my belly button and playing with it and digging it. At first I found it funny that she found it fascinating, then I got irritated and had to block my belly button as she started to use more force to try to dig it deeper. Then I had to stop her altogether as it was getting so uncomfortable and painful. So she went on to look for more unsuspecting victims and Alexis ended up with a scratch across his stomach as well.

Now with mummy and daddy wiser and weary of her belly button attacks, she has given up on her chances with us and discovered that hey "Guess what? I have got one too!".

I hope that her innocence towards her belly button remains. I cant even imagine if 18 years down the road, this little girl of mine decides to get a navel piercing or navel tattoo or what have you. Just another reminder that this little baby of mine is slowly growing up.

Counting one, two, three

Sophie has recently learnt how to count. It started with her repeating, 1, 2, 3 after us. Now she remembers and will go 2, after you say 1. My mom is especially proud because she's been teaching Sophie this every time she comes over to my place. Next, I'm trying to teach that 3 is after 2. So far she can repeated if after me but cant do it on her own yet.

Just yesterday I brought her down to the playground to ride her tricycle. And as usual the little monkey wanted to get into some of the action along with the older kids, so she started climbing up the steps to the slide. But she wasn't keen to slide down and wanted to climb down the steps.

Climbing down the steps at the playground

As she came down. I counted 一, 二，一, 二. Then out of no where she said 三 much to my surprise. She didn't repeat it after that but I reckon she must have learnt that from school. And the only time I count in mandarin is when I take her out of the bath tub. But she has since progressed to stand and shower.

Very soon I can try the "come here or do as I say before mum counts to 3 technique". Then again maybe I should hold that out before she associates counting to a "bad punishment coming my way".

Meanwhile just 1, 2, 3 and 一， 二，三。

Sophie trying to drink from a baby doll's milk bottle

Looking all pretty in her new dress that por por bought

1st flight, 2nd holiday

Before the year came to an end, we decided to go for another holiday. And this time round to try taking the plane and see how Sophie will take to it so that we can make plans to go further next year. So the destination was chosen, Penang, Malaysia and off we went.

The flight there was pretty good as Sophie was entertained by the kids sitting in front of us. She was playing peek a boo with them and kept going "chai" to get them to play with her. It also helped that we came fully prepared for the flight with snacks, toys, colouring pencils, colouring paper, water bottle to keep her busy. The landing wasn't too much of a problem as we kept reminding her to drink water and I also tried to nurse her. So the first flight was a success!

We booked into the newly opened Hard Rock hotel after hearing my friends raved about the pool and promixity to the Batu Ferringhi beach. The deco of the hotel sure made you feel like a star and one common sight was the Beatles who greeted us at the entrance, the pool, the room.. you get the idea.

Day 2, we went to the Butterfly farm which was just a short drive away from the hotel. We were greeted by free flying butterflies of all shapes, colors and sizes. But not a place to go to if you don't like butterflies. Sophie was pretty excited too and did the hand sign for butterfly that I taught her, opening and closing of her palm to tell me that they are butterflies all around.

Besides the butterflies, there were also an exhibit of other insects but they didn't interest the little one.

Since it has been years since the both of us been to Penang, so we did the touristy stuffs and visited some of the attractions in Penang like Fort Cornwallis, the Esplandae area, City Hall, Cheong Fatt Tze mansion, Batu Ferringhi beach.

Outside Fort Cornwallis

Sophie wants to try local coffee too

Sophie was not keen to go to the beach. Pricky sand for her tender feet

Sophie also had her fair share of the local food from Penang. Like Chendol, apom (see picture below), century egg porridge from Gurney Drive. Too bad most of the yummy local fare is all fried and hence oily food, so it was us to enjoyed the food mostly.

The 2nd holiday with a toddler sure was different. No spas, no relaxing holidays, having to accommodate to her naps, feeding times. But that said, we did have fun too as a family. But we probably will wait a while more before we decide to go further for a holiday.

Expressive Toddler

Sophie is getting more expressive day by day. No longer is she the helpless baby that can only cry when she wants something. Now she can easily point to the things that she wants and go "eh eh", "nugh nguh" or walks in a certain direction when she wants to go somewhere.

And horror of horrors, she has also learnt how to behave like a brat and throw tantrums!!! This happened a few times already especially when she doesn't get her way. And just yesterday when she had her water bottle taken away, she got so upset she refused to stay in her pram and also didn't want daddy to carry her and just sat on the floor in the shopping center. Where does she even learn this from?

I know many children experts agree that you should not give in to a child's tantrums, otherwise you are demonstrating that such behavior is acceptable and will only encourage the child to keep behaving this way. Yet at the same time, you still have to instruct them with love that its the behavior that is not tolerable.

This was pretty much my thoughts when I had to deal with her alone today as Alexis was still at work and I had to spend the evening with her alone. Dinner was such a struggle that I initially shouted at her to stop playing with her food. And of course I cringed when I see food all over her tray, clothes, hands... But I stopped and told myself if I kept getting angry and scolding her, she will also in turn think that it's okay to raise her voice when others don't behave in the way she wanted them to.

So after a few deep breathes, I let go literally and gave her her bowl and utensils and let her feed herself. Never mind the mess, the clean up after that. What mattered more was that we enjoyed each others company while Daddy is away. And she was sweet too, to feed me the noodles.. but erm it was the noodle from her sleeves. But she kept insisted that I eat it from her hands. But the smile I got from her after that was priceless...

Being a parent means knowing when to hold back, when to let go and just enjoy the moments...

Turning a blind eye to the mess...


The aftermath

Fiesty Fifi

Sophie got complained by her infant care yesterday- the crime? For biting her classmates. And not just one but two of the kids!

The teacher said it happened when she was playing some toys with her friends. But she got over excited and in the words of the teacher, "too wild" and wanted the toys that her friend had, so she bit her on the head! Don't even ask me how she did it. But I was so worried about the poor girl who got bitten. It was a good thing that the teachers saw it and pull her away so her friend was not hurt.

You can only imagine my embarrassment and worry about how this little monkey of mine has even turned into a bully!

And the funny thing was when I picked her up from school and asked her what she did in school and why she bit her friend, this little lass just refused to look me in the eye and can tell me no no. I seriously expected to only deal with this when she's 2 or 3. But now at 15 months, she's going around bullying other kids.

Gosh I sure have a fiesty little girls on my hands.

Sophie up to more monkey business during meal times


Not enough just standing on her high chair, got to even put her leg on the tray

My little star

In my last entry, I blogged that Sophie was learning new words and today she could say "star" when we sing twinkle twinkle little star. She's truly mummy's little star.

Sophie also also learnt how to feed herself about a month ago.

It started with us trying to get her to eat her own MacDonalds pancakes, then it progressed to Kenny Rogers corn muffins and mash potato and now carrots! I must say what helped in getting her to feed herself was us giving her a bowl and a spoon while we feed her at meal times. It served a few purposes
- helps to get her distracted while we stuff feed food into her mouth (surprising I know, considering how she loves food)
- gives her something to do instead of pushing our hands or attempting to climb out of her high chair
- and of course encourages her to feed herself


Taken on 2 November 2010

You can see the concentration in her eyes as she aims her fork into the carrots and how she lights up when she gets it into her mouth at the end of the video.

From blabbing to talking...

Sophie will turn 15 months in another 9 days time. Although she only starting speaking after she turned one, she's beginning to learn more new words everyday. In fact she recently surprised me with new words which I never knew she's understood. Last Friday, Sophie said words like nose and could even point and show me where her nose is. She's also go on and point to Daddy's nose and Mummy's nose. And sometime it's from point to my nose to pointing up my nose. Eww... She's also learnt words like mouth, head and can point to all of them too.

We have this baby flash card program on our iPhone and will whip it out when she's bored in the car. When she feels like it, she can recognize the pictures and say words like bear, banana (She calls it nana). Right now she's able to mimic most of the one to two syllabus words we say but whether she does repeat them is another story. I have a feeling that she probably knows more words but is just keeping it to herself and waiting to wow us.

Fifi standing on the sofa looking like a big girl now

But when words fail, she'll point at the things she wants us to get for her. From the food we eat to her water bottle, to being carried out of the cot, to going out... So I borrowed a baby sign language book attempting to teach her sign language. After all I did teach her a few things like butterfly by opening and closing of one palm since it's not easy for her to cross her hands to make a butterfly. She also knows how to show the no more sign by twisting her wrist. But I'll have to keep doing it in order for her to pick it up. But one thing's for sure, she knows how to tell us when she want to eat when she goes Mumm Mumm...

Good night Sophie

I used to complain that Sophie is a terrible sleeper. Or should I say terrible napper. She is one baby that goes against the saying, sleeping like a baby. You would have thought that for a baby so young, she'll need much much more sleep. But she surprises me on how little she can get by on. She used to take awfully short naps of 30 mins, when other babies can nap and recharge their bodies for 2 hour nap. And she used to sleep so late that I wonder if she'll have eye bags like mummy.

Asleep in her cot

And for the nights, she used to sleep as late as 11pm, leaving us with little if not no personal time to do anything except to crash on bed. I've been told by many experienced parents that their sleeping patterns and routines will set in as they get older.

We did wonder if we should have started her on a bedtime routine earlier and tucked her to bed earlier. But when she's was younger she went through a colicky period and would not sleep till late. Subsequently, we did try to get her in a bedtime routine with a bath around 9, followed by Daddy reading a story book followed by milk. On good days, she'll toss and turn after her milk and drift off to lala land. But there are days when even after a milk, it gets us no where as she was always fighting to sleep despite being sleepy. But at 14 months now, I can finally agree that it does get better. Of course we're not expecting her to sleep at 7 or 8pm. And I doubt she will too since we have to pick her from the infant care after work. Which is typically 6 or 7plus.

Father and daughter...side sleeper

(Fifi nearly kicking Daddy off the bed!)

For now we're contented that she's slowly sleeping earlier...but nevertheless, still hoping she'll sleep at earlier so that we can have more time on our own too.

Sophie goes Mama

I've not been as diligent as the past where I'll post an update at least once in 2 weeks. Partly because work's been more busy, hence zapping my energy and my inspiration to blog. Also I used to like to draft my blog entry on my mobile then post it when Ive completed the post. But with an iphone, it's not as easy typing a long entry.

Anyway even though I just posted an entry yesterday, today calls for another entry as my little darling called me Ma Ma. This may not be the first time she has uttered those words. In fact lately, she has been calling out for Mama more often. Like in the car when she wants me to give her, her biscuits, bread, toys, books, etc. Or when she's behind the child gate and wants me to serve her dinner, wants me to accompany her, etc

But today it happened when she was lying down on the bed drinking her bottle of milk before bed time. While I was trying to be discrete in replying some messages on my hp. All of a sudden, she stopped drinking, looked up to me and called out, Mama. I was surprised to hear her call me and when I looked at her, she gave me the most innocent and pleased look when I responded. For a moment there I was just filled with a joy so pure that I cant even describe it in words. Although I didn't shed a tear in the end, I did lie down beside her and gave her a hug.

Such an awwww moment. Looks like this little girl is trying to get back into Mummy's good books after my ranting yesterday. This little baby sure has me around her little finger already.

Photos from Ann's wedding

Mummy and me

Hand in hand

Walking with Daddy beats being strapped in a high chair

Happy to be outside walking

Not for Fifi.. No Sophie...Arghhh...

These days Sophie has been testing our patience. Granted that she's growing more mobile, from just walking to running, more independent, she wants to feed herself than sit in the high chair, she's also developing a mind of her own and has a stronger personality. So she's pushing her boundaries, doing the very things we tell her not to.

Whenever we leave her alone, she'll be touching things she shouldn't. From the floor rug, to wires, to the fan and even picking dirt from the floor and putting into her mouth.

Today she just did some new stunts by turning the chair upside down and goofed around, causing her to fall and hit her lips. One part of me wanted to shout at her, see I told you so. But I know what she needed most was comfort from mama. So I hugged her worried that she was hurt.

Guess that's parenting for you.... Double, triple.. no just truckloads of patience to deal with whatever your kids throw at you. And to think my dear baby is only 14 months. Long way ahead for me.

At 13 and a half months

At 13 and a half months, Sophie can wave bye bye and say "Bye" or "tatat". So cute to see her charming the sales people when we go out shopping and she'll happily wave when she catches their attention and wave to them with her bright smile before we leave the shops.

She also knows how to clap her hands, when she hears the song, "If you're happy". But has not progressed to stamping her feet and going hurray yet. The other day when I was bathing her, I asked her to clean mummy's hands and she could take the towel from me and really clean my hands. A very pleasant surprise indeed!

Sophie's vocabulary is also slowly expanding. We attended a friend's kids birthday party last sunday and Sophie surprised me when she could point at the " walking dog" balloon and go "dog". Or at least it sounds very much like it. In fact, when there was a SPCA ad on TV the other day, she also pointed at the TV and went "dog". She also does that for birds and calls the balloon, ball. Haha.

Besides picking up on new words, she's also growing little horns now. She knows when she does things she shouldn't and is pushing the boundaries that we set for her. Like touching the standing fan, removing the rubber protectors from the edge of the table, walking on the bed and sofa. Oh yes I've mentioned those last bits before. So yes, she does know that she's not allowed to do those things, but she's still always caught doing them and will give us her cheeky look when we call out her name. It's also funny because sometimes we'll just observe her quietly then when we call her name in the middle of her "crime" and she'll jump in fright.

Sophie going through mummy's handbag and took out mummy's staff pass

She's still not at the age where we can really discipline her yet. And I really don't like the idea of raising my voice at her (though I have been guilty of it so many times already) and beating her hand because I feel that she may think it's okay to hit. I need some Super Nanny help here on how to discipline her gently. Help, help, help.

Sophie is at an in between age now where she doesn't fully comprehend everything we say. Like she does know that we don't want her doing something but she doesn't understand why and so she'll keep "testing" us and pushing her limits by doing the very things we tell her not to.

That said, I'm planning to get my hands on this book by Michele Borba. I've read the other book she's written on 12 Simple Secrets Real Mom know and liked her advices and stories.

Mummy 30 years ago, Sophie 30 years later

Even though it's more than a month ago when Sophie celebrated her first birthday, I thought it would be interesting to compare my big one bash with my little one.

Flash from the past...

When I was deciding on the cake design for Sophie's first birthday, I was contemplating to have a Number One shaped birthday cake. It is part nostalgic and part traditional to have a number cake to mark the different milestones in your life. But the bakery usually requires a min of 2 kg for that. But anyhow, Sophie's cake is so much nicer than mine, complete with icing blocks bearing her name and a precious moment figurine.

We're both so cool when it comes to taking photos with our parents who were beaming away. But I think Sophie was more attracted to her cake than anything.

And here I was all ready for some drumstick action too. But look at that chicken feet.. Ewww

Sophie is looking more and more like Mummy. And from the photos, its really quite telling too. Haha and guess what that includes the button nose too! Sorry Sophie, I wished you'll have a higher nose bridge too but guess you'll have to accept it.

Another teething episode, or is it?

At 13 months, Sophie still only has 3 teeth. This is certainly an area that she's lagging behind. By now, most babes would have at least 5. But just have to accept that every baby is different, with different personalities, with different areas they are good and bad with.

For one thing, Sophie is really friendly. She likes to "talk" to people now and will wave and make noises to get the attention of people like in the lift, while waiting for the train. It's really cute to see her so out-going and so sociable. She's also getting so curious with everything and everyone that she looks at everything with a new intensity and interest now.

On the other hand, she's starting to get easily impatient and is up to all sorts of monkey business now. Like standing and walking on the sofa and bed, giving us a heart attack moment. Then there are also the times when she wriggles from her pram and stands on it when we turn away! Yet another heart stopping moment. Regret that we didn't buy a pram with 5 point harness to keep this little monkey in her pram. She has also learnt to throw tantrums and throw her body wildly when we carry her to the point that our balance is threatened and her life as well. Big sigh!

And recently, I suspect that her 4th tooth is going to emerge and she's been ultra cranky. This is coupled with the fact that she's been taking shorter naps. A sign that she may transit to one nap soon. Now a days, she has just one nap and they can be as short as 40 mins for the whole day. And what I get is a cranky, grouchy, whiny baby.

This caused us so much distress both mentally and physically as we have to "fight" with her to keep her in her pram when we're out and even though she may be tired, she'll put up a good fight before she's willing to go to lalaland.

Which also reminds me that I have to retrain her to sleep independently for the night. We have been slacking after she came down with HFMD. Going to be long long nights ahead.

August babies party

Sophie attended her first mass birthday bash with the rest of her friends whose birthday fall in August. There were about 30 babies and their parents, so you can imagine what a crowd it was.

Just the princesses

At this age, the gathering was still more for the mummies to catch up with each other as the kids at one year old are still pretty in a world of their own.

Many were trotting around like Sophie and some just started walking while some were contented still crawling around. Sophie was busy playing with the balloon sculptures that some of the mummies made earlier. She kept looking for new balloons and wanted to exchange a new one for the one that has fallen out of favour. Heh.

An assortment of balloons for Sophie's pick

Turns out Sophie is not the only one who is a little Ms Tiam Chiak. She had a friend who snatched her biscuits out of her hand much to the disapproval of her mom.

Another Princess who wanted to share Sophie's biscuits

Which reminds me that I got to start teaching little Sophie her Ps and Qs too, starting with "Please" and "Thank You".

Personalised cupcakes for all the babies

It has been very helpful to have this support group of new mothers. We learn, vent our frustrations, seek each others advice, cry even as we share our experiences and stories of raising our babes. It's especially beneficial to have those who have their 2nd or 3rd child to remind mr that things will get better. And now that Sophie has turned a year, I guess the challenges will be different too. And you know what they say, the only constant is change. I have a feeling that the one who said that have children of their own too.

We're going to the Zoo

Over due update on Sophie's first visit to the zoo. Alexis's department had a company day at the zoo last Saturday. Family members were invited so Sophie went for her maiden trip to the zoo! We arrived at 9:40 and had to join in the ice breakers and games. But after that, we were left to own time, own target.

We introduced Sophie to the animals as we walked by each enclosure. But this little girl was more interested in the little boys and girls who were excitedly pointing or talking about the animals than the animals themselves.

Busy looking at the little girl who was in the group beside us

At one year old, I guess she's still too young to understand what she's there for and doesn't know that you only see these animals at the zoo. After a while she probably thinks that orang utans, baboons, chimps are all just monkeys, what's the difference anyway :)

A very apt adoption by Abbott for the giraffes :)

Since the animals in the enclosure didn't appeal to her, we thought that maybe the animal show will be more interesting for her. Wrong again. While we were waiting for the elephant show to start, Sophie kept staring at the lady standing beside us. Why she was so engrossed? The lady had a huge sunhat! In fact, she was so attracted to it that she nearly made a grab for it!

No interest in the elephant show as well

Sophie is KO mode. Only took her afternoon nap at 1:30...

But the main highlight of the day for little Sophie must have been the water play area at the Rainforest Kidzworld. After her long nap, a good 2 hours and 15 mins, she woke up to find herself in the middle of a huge water play area surrounded by so many kids.

Initially she was a little apprehensive and approached the water foundation cautiously. But it didn't take her long to lose her inhibitions and she enjoyed herself throughly as she tried to "catch" the water spraying out from the ground.

Having fun under the sun

As she left, she still looked on longingly at the play area. But we promised her, we'll be back someday for more splashing fun!

Sophie not convinced that Ah Meng is as friendly as everyone claims

We'll be back to the zoo again!