First holiday for the year

We went for our first family holiday of the year 2 weeks ago. Quite ironic since I did say that I'll think twice about bringing Sophie on the next holiday soon since the trip to Penang was well...not as enjoyable. But here we are after Penang, going to Malacca and then just very recently going to Club Med Bintan for 3D, 2N.

It wasn't planned as it was an incentive trip for the sales guys for my company but a colleague resigned not too long so I get to "take his place". And besides no work involved, so I went for it and brought my two dear babies along.

Sophie was the least affected by the ferry ride and was quite okay despite a very choppy ride when we came back. Guess there is nothing better than to just munch your way on the ferry :)

We hit the monsoon season so couldn't do any of the sea sports like kayaking or snorkeling that I was looking forward to. But the most fun activity we tried was the flying trapeze from the circus school! Though Sophie didn't have a chance at that, I did make her tumble around on the mats which she enjoyed a lot.

Club med is really kiddy friendly with a kiddy club from kids as young as two. A pity that Sophie was too young for us to leave her there. They have programms for the kids that keep them pretty busy too, going to the beach to build sand castle, swimming, room with toys and books, etc, provide theirs meals and also get their nap time. And at the restaurant, they have a section for baby food, like bottled jar food and baby yogurt. Our room also came with the basic playpen and even a steam sterliser, bottle warmer, baby bath tub, baby powder and baby oil. Very well equipped.

But I guess after this trip, me and Alexis should just make plans to go on a holiday without Sophie. A holiday that will be more carefree and less stressful. Yes meal times are so stressful for me now.. Another post on this perhaps.

New skills for the new year

Sophie like all kids go through phases with their toys. It's hardly surprising that she gets fascinated with new toys especially those that she receives on special occasions like her birthday or Christmas. Other days just a simple balloon or coloring pencils will have the same mesmerising effect on her too.

She has a little toy corner in the living room. Her basket of soft toys. Her huge Pooh bear that she calls "Poo Poo". Whoops.

Her box of mega blocks together with other masak masak her slam dunk basket ball hoop amongst the many others. We recently kept some toys away as she has out grown them like her rattle, walker, and some other baby toys.

Recently she has taken an interest in the shape sorter that we got her when she was around 6-8 months. Back then one of my friend commented on her Facebook that her daughter could identify the shapes and fit in into their respective shapes so I thought it may be fun for Fifi.

But she was not in the least interested in it. Now at 16 and a half months she has managed to fit the circle piece into the correct shape all by herself! Of course there are times when she doesn't get it and will get frustrated and throw the toy or pass the toy to us for help. So we're teaching her to try and try again rather than rush in to do it for her.

Here's the video of her fitting the circle piece. Haha hear her go "Aiyoh" after the piece drops out after she pulls it apart. I think I may have used that one too many times.

First the circle, next the square, then star, triangle...

Way to go Fifi!!