Dining In the Park

25th August Tuesday

Today we met up with your Godma for lunch at the Acacia Restaurant at Bishan Park. It is a nice restaurant in the middle of the Park. I remembered the last time I was there with your God ma too. And I was 6 months pregnant with you.

The feeling is so surreal. Same place, same restaurant and same us. ANd now you are sitting WITH us. The only thing different is their menu. They had changed their menu recently.

It was so great to be able to catch up with your Godma. I missed her so much. ANd she really adores you. You also had a little bit of the icecream from our Apple crumble.

We took a delightful, nice stroll around the park after lunch. Wish we could do this more often.

Let's Boogie, Baby!

You have been dancing quite a lot recently. You would stand up, hands in the air and shake your booty. It is a really funny sight. Left, right, left, right, left, right. And when I tell you to sway your body, you will start swaying your body front, back, front, back... And you have been dancing a lot these days

And when you hear any songs playing (esp your favourite songs), you would go: Ta Ta Ta Ta Not the babyish blabbering but counting your beats to the song. Four beats or two beats. Ta Ta (a slow 2 beats).....Ta Ta Ta Ta (4 fast beats)

Several mummies from your class were telling me that you do have something for music after witnessing you dancing, tapping and swaying in class. I am just glad you love music and hope your passion for dancing will continue.

I love dancing and I used to dance alot. I took ballet and folk/ chinese dancing lessons and I danced my way through my primary school and first half of my secondary school. After that I continue my passion for dancing in Zouk- Retro Night

Anyway, since you seem to enjoy dancing, I am looking around hoping to find some dance classes for babies. You know, some fun sounding classes which involve a lot of moving around. But most dance classes are for toddlers age 3 and above.

But I have shortlisted Dance Babes at Jitterbugs for the time being. You cant start till you are two. So I will continue in my search for a Dancing class for my baby. In the mean time, I had already registered you at Jitterbugs.

So did you inherit your dancing genes from me? I have no idea but I sure hope you will always have something to dance about in your life.

Happy Birthday, Marsh!

20August Thursday / First of Seventh Month (Lunar Calendar)

Happy Lunar Birthday, Marsh! Today you turned ONE under the Chinese calender. Yeah, your lunar birthday falls on the first of the seventh month.

No big celebrations today. We went for your kindermusik class and then rushed home to prepare dinner. Uncle Fong came and joined us for mee sua dinner. I made you your very first bowl of mee sua and red eggs! Have been wanting to make you mee sua for the longest time but decided to wait till this special day. I am so happy that you love it and finished up one big bowl.

Ingredients for your mee sua-

Meat bone/Leek stock

Meesua

Egg Yolk

KaiLan leaves

Thread fin Fish

There are some meanings to having noodles on your birthday, Marsh. I think the long mee sua symbolises longevity and eggs mean ehhh? (will check it out).

As I watched you finishing up the noodles, I made a silent promise that I shall make you your meesua soup on your every lunar birthday till the day you dont want to eat it anymore.

Milk Milk!

19th August Wed
You had your last bottle of Enfapro's milk tonight. You will be officially moving on to EnfaGrow (Age1-3years)by your next milkfeed. I am feeling a tinge of sadess while making you your milk. When I handed you your bottle, I told you this: Baby, this is your last bottle of Enfapro in your life. So enjoy!

You finished your 210ml of milk happily within 6-7 mins.

This is one of the little things in life that is perpectually reminding me that your babyhood is slipping away. Soon you will gradually not need me in the same way you once did.

My baby girl who is now the center of my world will be developing a life of her own. Oh no.. I am getting really emotional about you growing up.

Baby Steps

Monday 17th AUgust 2009

Today we went to Changi Beach again. I love this place. But instead of sitting down to watch the sunset, you want to come down and walk. Guess you want to explore mummy's favourite place on your feet....

Water Splish.. Water Splash!

You love bathtimes. ANd this is how I bath you............

Graduation Day

13th August 2009

Today is our third graduation Day with Kindermusik. You had completed 3 terms- Zoom Buggy, Dream Pillow and Cock-a-Doodle-Moo. How time flies!

Thank you Teacher Angel!

I was talking to Auntie Stephie during class and came to realise that we had completed 3 terms. That means- 8weeks per term x 3 terms= 6 months! That is like half of your one earthly year! Wow....

Toddler Hood

Ta! Da! Welcome to toddler hood, darling! I woke up and turned to look at you. Besides the fact that I am now officially the mother of a toddler, life still goes on as usual.

But you are slowly proving me wrong. You are living the fact that you had bloomed from babyhood into a toddler by becoming more independent.

I don't know if it is coincidental or what. But you refused to let me hold your bottle since you turned one. I mean, you already know how to hold your milk bottle since you were like 6 or 7 months old but you were not consistent and always let go when I want to take over. But since you tuned one, you hold on to your bottle fiercely till you are done and refused to let anybody hold for you.

And I have to mention that you are one smart baby. Whenever I pass you your milk bottle, you will try to touch the bottle and ensure it is not too hot before you take over. When you were younger, I always urge you to move on to the next step: flipping, crawling, clapping, waving. Now that you are becoming more independent, I'd give anything to roll them back a bit and constantly wonder where the past year went. Anyway, I am just glad I am here to witness your developments and I am going to ensure that I shall savour every future little step you take. They will be gone too soon. Too too soon.

Moon and Stars

Life's cupcakes- You 'll never know what you going to get. Sunshine, rainbow or starry nights.

Sensational One!

Your Birthday reminds me of how much you mean to me and candles are milestones on the journey to wisdom.. And I m looking forward to be always by your side when every additional candle is added each year.

I had long decided on the theme of your party-the Wonderment of the Moon and the Stars for my Magical Baby. I had designed and customised your cake and the cupcakes to the theme. I hope you like it. I love it. Many people asked me why did I choose this theme? Three good reasons, Marsh.

Reason 1. Your Favourite Baby Estein DVD - The Galaxy. You love the show and can watch this disc over and over again. You always look so enchanted by the sun, planets and especially the moon and the stars. You even know how to open and close your ten little fingers when the song Twinkle Twinkle Little star is played.

Reason 2. While celebrating you, I wish to remember my grandmother , your great grandmother who passed away 2 months ago. Her chinese name means the moon or the lady from the moon. That was why I have the moon topper on the Cake. The moon resembles her. I want her to know that she is not forgotten but greatly missed.

Reason 3. Last but not least, my wish for you is always be happy and be over the moon! And I hope I can inspire and encourage you to find and follow your own star in your life. You will then see how different the world can be.

SO when everyone was singing the birthday song and the single candle was lit on the birthday cake, I was hoping you will one day understand the hidden meaning of it all . I was also secretly celebrating my own year of enchantment as your mother.

Happy First Birthday, Marsh.

Mummy Loves you more than the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.

My Marshmellow is ONE!!!

1st August 2009

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, Marsh!

Today marked the moment you have been traipsing on this earth for a good 12 months. I have been trying to deal with the mixed emotions with you turning one for the last few days. I was looking forward to this day but at the same time trying to hold on to the last few moments while you are still my little baby.

I had organized a small cozy party for you. I used to wonder what is the big fuss over birthdays and snorted at the idea of big celebrations for kids. But now as time passes, being with you for the last 12 months open me to the beauty of life and the promise of the future in a way i never imagined. I start to celebrate the seasons and the cycles of nature. Most importantly, the desire to celebrate you is so strong. To celebrate this year of journey we shared. and the bond we have built. And i look forward to sharing this happiness with the people who cares for you.

As the day come to an end, I had a pang of sadness. It is over already? I have really enjoy this baby phase. I get abit weepy and precious whenever I think that this will be the last time I get to cuddle a baby because you are going to be the only baby in my life. How on earth am I going to find something to top that? It hasnt been easy but we have come a long way. And I would choose to do it all over again.

But in the same second, I’m looking forward to the beach and star gazing trips with you in the future. Ah, such bittersweet moments.

Happy Birthday again, my precious!