19 candles

Sam turned 19 two days ago and in her words "one of the best birthdays ever!" cos there was no school to stress over and she could really enjoy herself!  Receiving her acceptance letter from NUS just a day before her birthday also made her 19th birthday sweeter! 

She's also probably the only one in the family to celebrate her birthday over four days - pre birthday dinner at Pasta Brava, dinner party at home with her girlfriends on the eve of her birthday, mum's yummy birthday noodles and rainbow cake on her actual birthday, and post birthday lunch at PS cafe the day after!  Julianne better not grow up to expect this for herself! 

The hubs and I also took the opportunity to give ourselves a long weekend and to spend time with Jules.  So we took the Friday off and brought everyone out for a lovely lunch at PS cafe - Harding Road.    The last time I was here was when Julianne was 5 days old and stuck in the hospital undergoing phototheraphy treatment for her jaundice.  I had sneaked out with my hospital tag on my wrist and all for my first decent post-delivery lunch with the hubs!  So anyway, Julianne was in an exceptionally good mood that day, and smiled at everyone who stopped to give her the time of her life - from the waitress to the caucasian lady sitting next to us.  At some point between her pumpkin porridge feeds, I caught glimpses of her smiling to herself as she explored all that was happening around her - busy waitresses with their plates of food, the rotating ceiling fan, the pretty flowers in the cafe ...!

Well behaved happy daughter + good food + good company = happy mama! 

It was such a chill Friday!  I wish we could do this more often!

Rainbow cake from Jacqui Co.  Pretty but failed badly in taste

19 candles ... missing Gong Gong who's on a golfing holiday.

With the birthday gal!

All dressed up for brunch

Happy baby with happy Papa

Us

Peace Out

So the story behind this video is this.

Last week, I saw this on my sister’s Facebook status update “After obliterating her corn-on-the-cobb at dinner, Sophie plonked it on her plate and – fully anticipating a reaction – cheekily said, “Peace out!” 

Yes, my niece says the darnest things.

So when I stumbled upon this etsy’s seller’s shop, the first thing that came to my mind was Sophie and her corn.  So I bought it and got it shipped to her with this note “Dearest Sophie, You can eat your corn from this plate.  Peace out! Love Yiyi Erer”

End of story. 

I just love how she wanted to give me two kisses!! How adorable can she get!

Weekend Adventures #1

We honestly haven’t gone out very much since she was born for many reason I suppose – babies low immunity in their first 6 months and her previous difficult feeding habits.  In fact, I think for the first 4 months, bringing her out only meant one thing – that we were going to the paed for her monthly jabs or follow up visits for her reflux problem.  So much so that we were convinced each time we got her into the car, she must be thinking – “Off to the doctors I go again!”

But now that Julianne’s older and getting increasingly curious with the surroundings, we’ve decided to loosen the going out restrictions we’ve put on her over the past 5 months. 

This weekend, she showed us that she was a big girl now and wants to be involved too at family gatherings even if it means pushing back her bedtime.  We’ve not been very successful with bringing her out for dinners cos she usually winds down for bed by 730pm.  The last time we brought her to my grand-dad’s birthday dinner, she fell asleep in my arms at 730pm sharp and we ended up having to excuse ourselves when she got woken up and became fussy. 

But she made Yiyi Sam very happy when she joined us at Sam’s birthday dinner celebration at Pasta Brava over the weekend and behaved like a champion!  I was afraid she was going to get fussy and chase diners away with her cries but no!  Our daughter was happy licking the spoon, taking in the smells of wonderful Italian herbs, flirting with the waiter and dancing on the bar counter with Gong Gong!  We made an early 630pm reservation so that we could be done by around 8pm, that way, we won’t be too far off her bedtime and I could put her to sleep in the car on the way home.  Thankfully my plan worked out. 

Hmmm, I taste italian herbs on this spoon

Dancing with Gong Gong & Por Por

Us three

Happy birthday Yiyi Sam!

Then on Sunday, to reward her for her good behaviour the night before, we brought her out for some yummy kaya toast breakfast! She was happy to help Mama pick up some soft buns for Gong Gong and Por Por!  

All ready for my Sunday morning outing!

May I have that custard tart please Mama!

And to round up her weekend adventures, she was out and about again for dim-sum lunch to celebrate the father in law’s birthday.  Let’s just say sweet potato porridge makes Julianne a happy camper!

Oops pardon the yawn!

I just wished there were more outdoor places we could bring her to.  I look at how her cousin Sophie is enjoying the great outdoors in Ann Arbor 

Cousin Sophie on a hiking adventure!

and can only wish for Julianne to grow up with a similar experience.

But sadly, all we have here are concrete jungles.  Time for me to hunt down some child friendly open spaces to bring Julianne on our weekend adventures!

My Exersaucer!

My Exersaucer!, a photo by pz.sher on Flickr.

Look who has a new toy!!! ... It was so cute watching her sit patiently in the hall watching her Papa set up her new toy!! She's enjoying it although I think sometimes it gets a little overwhelming for her! 

Blessed Easter!

We finally made it to church today. We haven't gone to church since January when Julianne went through episodes of nursing strike and feeding problems. And then when she overcame her feeding problems, she had a shift in her nap schedules - going down for her morning naps from around about 9ish till 11ish - which clashed with service time. 

Today being Easter, I really wanted to take her to church. I myself wanted to be in church. So the moment she got up from her nap at around 11ish, we dressed her up in her Easter Sunday best (shoes all included for the first time!) and packed her off to soak in some Easter atmosphere in church! Incidentally, there was a fund-raising Easter bazaar going on so church was abuzz with activities. And this curious daughter of mine got really excited, looking around with her big wide eyes - like a country pumpkin out in the city for the first time! Too bad she was too young for the Easter treasure hunt! Can't wait for her to be of age to participate in all these activities! 

And then we were off to our traditional Easter family lunch at Muddy Murphy's! Julianne was so well behaved, I actually managed to have a decent lunch with her sitting quietly in her pram chewing on her owl between feeds of apple puree that I brought along! 

It has been a nice long weekend and what better way then to spend in the company of family! 

Blessed Easter everyone! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

Easter!, a photo by pz.sher on Flickr.

Poser

Her Papa has prepped her for this since she was in the womb - that one big task she had to do was to be his model! ... Judging from how she loves posing for the camera these days, I think she's doing a perfect job!  

Needless to say, her Papa is more than happy that his daughter is far from camera shy and always ready with a smile for the lens!

Such a poser she is - but ever so adorable!! 

Letters to Julianne #7

Dearest Julianne,


You are 5 months old today!


You must have had a tiring month having accomplished so much during your 4th month.  Let's see what you did . . .

• You flipped for the first time earlier last month and got us all excited.  But after we saw what you could do in the cot while sleeping, we wished you never learnt to flip.  You started a little rough, not knowing how to get you hands out from under your tummy after you flipped, then you realised soon enough that all you had to do was lift your little tiny butt! You always have an accomplished look on your face when you successfully get your hands out.  Its so cute to watch.
• You became friends with Mr Bottle again! That has got to be Mama's biggest relieve!  I can't imagine how I could go back to work in peace if you didn't get back to bottle drinking.  And with that, I think we're also turning a corner with your reflux.  You no longer have to be rocked to sleep before drinking which makes feed time so much more pleasant these days.  I do wish you were drinking more than what you are doing today but you've put on some weight and are loving your solids so Mama figured I'll just not stress over it and enjoy you.  You're doing really well with your solids and getting increasingly interested in the food we eat.  Pumpkin tops the list followed closely behind by sweet potato.  Even before the spoon comes close, you're all ready with your mouth wide open! We're still working on the avocado though.  In the fruits department, you love pear.  Then again, we haven't tried other fruits lest for apples.  

Watcha eating Mama?

• You also started teething which made your gums itchy itchy.  You'll chew on everything that you can get your hands on (including Uncle Jude's finger).  Your favourite chew toy is Sophie the Giraffe and the safety belt on your rocker (really Julianne?).  You love it when we brush your gums cause that brings some relieve and like your teething ring ice cold! You are one fussy child! 

Chewing on my rocker's safety belt with Uncle Jude & Papa

• You've clearly started to recognise everyone at home.  Mama has since gone back to work and one of my greatest fear was that you won't recognise me once I stop spending so much time with you.  How heartwarming it is to have you greet me with the biggest smile every evening!  It makes the crappiest day at work all better! You truly such a smiley baby - it doesn't take alot to make you smile.  All we have to do is look into your face and talk to you, that alone brings on a smile.  You like to be involved in our conversations.  Por Por calls you kaypoh!  And you truly adore GongGong.  He spends the least time with you yet gets the biggest smile from you! How's that possible?  You must find the rest of us boring! 

Joining in the family conversations!

• Yesterday, at your 5th month vaccination, you showed us that you could sit up tripod style on your own! Your clever!! Mama didn't even know you could do that till Dr Hiew tried it on you! You were clearly thrilled at your own brillance too! Another thing you like to do is standing up tall on your two little feet.  GongGong likes to make you do that though Mama's a little concern about the harm it can potentially do to your bones.  Not too often alright?! 

Sitting tripod style

Standing tall

• Another thing you learnt this month was flipping the pages of your books! Now that you're older, you've come to appreciate you bedtime reading a little more.  You're now more aware of your bedtime routine of bathe, milk and storytime before you're off to bed.  Your favourite books are the ones Yiyi Rene got you - The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton and the Night Night Baby book.  

I think this seems like a mighty lot of things you've learnt in a month! Going back to work and leaving you behind was tough for Mama.  I pretty much spent my first day back at work tearing and missing you badly.  Its getting better now I suppose and I guess it has alot to do with knowing that you're well taken care of by Por Por and Aunty Joy and at the end of the day when I come home, you still greet me with a big wide smile and hold on particularly tight to my shirt when I carry you. 

I wonder what you got up your sleeve this coming month! I'm excited to find out! Well there's Easter coming up and Yiyi Sam's birthday to celebrate and I'm so glad you're around to join in all the fun! 

Happy 5th month my dear Julianne.  I hope you're enjoying every moment of growing up and savouring all the love that is being showered upon you by all at home and not forgetting Yiyi Rene, Uncle Jude and Che Che Sophie! 

Love you much, 

Mama