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