Gwenneth is not into pretty stuffed toys

During the Australia trip, there were many occasions that we came across cute stuffed toys of little penguins...koalas... teddy bears.

Gwenneth likes none.

When offered one, she would take it from your hand and then dump it on the floor almost immediately.

At home, when she sits on her bumper mat with the floor littered with her toys, she will never pick any cushy thingy.

those that attract her attention most are forbidden things like her "after shower" basket which consist of her moisturiser, aloe vera gel, desitin creamy, nail scissors, rashes cream and her ultimate favourite, the tummy oil metal container which has a shiny painted surface.

she is not really into TV either. she would watch for a few seconds and then turn away to look for another, yet forbidden thing to play again; remote control or sometimes the blackberry. Her face only lights up with smiles when she hears her familiar songs like Thomas the train, or the Little Einstein's theme song.

among other things she loves are birds, lights, small balls, biscuits, swim/shower and anything that she can spin using her index finger and thumb. She quite nimble with her fingers.

and the favourite thing of all...

FOOD.

Gwen Gwen : " yum. yum. yum"

We are going Australia!!!

My Daddy once promised his agents that if SP SEANTAN clinched the AIA TOP NEW REGIONAL MANAGER award, he would treat them for a holiday.


AUSTRALIA it is!!!


We would visit Melbourne in late March. Daddy has been very busy with work and is looking forward for this one week break!


Daddy even offered to give a trip treat to my Gong Gong and Por Por.



AND ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Im soooo going to Australia!!



We will be spending a lot of time with Uncle Alvin who will be bringing us around though Daddy and Mommy visits him almost every year except last year when Mommy was heavily pregnant with me.



I will be going to the same wine yard at Yarra Valley where my Daddy and Mommy did their wedding photoshoot. I would be crawling and rowling over the same crisp carpet grass that Mommy once posed gorgeous photos in her naked feet.



By March, I would be 9 months old and Mommy read on all the things that a average baby could do so that she can better prepare me on my very first flight.



"Lucky you!" Mommy said. She only had her first flight experience when she was 16 to Japan.




AT 9 months, i can

crawl backward and forward and may also turn around.

stand if im holding on to something, but may be a bit wobbly

cruise around furniture that are close togther

now build a tower of 2 bricks

pick up small objects with my thumb and index finger

use one hand more often which would be my master hand

place stacking rings on a spindle

point to an object i want and may be able to wave goodbye.

drink from a beaker with a spout

can see as clearly as an adult

understand simple gestures

babble continuously using 2 syllable words like "Mama" and "Dadda"

help when Mommy dresses me by putting my arm through a sleeve or giving Daddy my foot to put on a sock

(Mommy says this is bullshit because she will be thankful enough if i dont crawl away very quickly with my naked butt in her face as she chases after me with a huggies.)

pull off my own socks (i already pulled off Joshua's when i was 7 months. Im sooo clever, i deserve this trip.)

enjoy exploring and feeling different textures. (Mommy would make me jelly and cooked pasta shapes to play with.)

offer you a toy but may not be able to let go of it very well

remember a toy that you hid under a bucket

enjoy putting toys inside a box or bucket and than taking them out again

enjoy reaching for objects that are placed high up.

like playing with an activity centre that has buttons to press, spinners to spin, knobs to turns and bells to ring.

It would be so fun!!

But this would totally tire Mommy out. Luckily Mommy has help from Por Por and my very strong Gong Gong who loves to carry Pui Pui Tan.

booking for my $180 ticket was a breeze but the logistics of bringing me OUT is a very very long list.

In late March, the eccentric melbourne weather may well be cold. So Mommy also armed me with lovely zara jackets and thick leggings.

Gwenneth's wardrobe

• long sleeves top


• short sleeves top


• hat


• disposable bibs (from our very nice neighbour who bought it overseas)


• pyjamas / a pair of booties and mittens (in case my hands feels chilly)


• leggings / tights / leg warmers
  
• socks / shoes / boots


• hair accesories

Bathing essentials

• bath soap


• non slip rubber mat


• bath toys


• towel


• muslin cloth


• tummy oil


• diaper cream


• lotion/ baby oil

Travel

• hot water flask


• food warmer flask


• baby sun block


• snacks / biscuits


• blankie


• smelly beanie


• toys


• pacificer


• pillow


• muslin cloth


• diapers


• wet tissue / tissue


• hanky


• gerber fruit juice


• milk powder and container


• milk bottles


• cereal and food container with spoon


• bottled puree

ESSENTIALS

• thermometer
  
• bottle detergent / sponge
  
• blender

my stuff



Mommy's clothes and mine...as usual, Daddy will only pack 2 hours before he leaves home for airport.

so the extra black bag?

its for SHOPPING SHOPPING SHOPPING!!!!

here i come aussie land!!!

When Daddy is not home.

Mommy would then have the freedom to use the car to bring me out!

and its Novena square again :)

Even if we didnt buy any toys, we would still have quality time togther, just me and mommy alone, while Cik Cik Yani iron the heaps of clothes at home.





Jay Chou's apprentice at work.

i like the grand piano which fits me well...i was standing up on my own feet and its just of my height.

I had a fun time on it but Mommy said that its not nice to hang onto it selfishly.

I have to share it with other children who want to try on the piano too.

So i played with toy cars and a little kitchen set.

Porridge time!

the pot itself taste yummy too!

Then on another day, Mommy inflated the pool and filled in 5cm depth of warm water and striped me naked for a jolly wolly splashing time!!!

My very nice "bubble blower" who loves me a lot!

My favourite net that i always chew on.

I love water!!

Splish Splash Splosh!!!

Tell me its cute.

Tell me its verrrrrrrrrry cute.

oh...its almost HOT.

are u nose bleeding?

Mermaid pose.

trying to climb out of the pool

Please excuse my "very unglam" Mommy in the morning.

Mommy also brought me to McDonalds breakfast!!

Well, not that i can eat McDonalds, I have home-made porridge in my Foogo flask.

Mommy brought Cik Cik Yani for a lazy Sunday morning breakfast at McDonalds while i yum yum yum on my chicken porridge.

Gwen : "Mom.... can i eat hotcakes without the maple syrup the next time?"

Gwen : "Can??"

Mommy : " Yes, sweetheart."

YUM YUM YUM YUM

Solid food was introduced to me when i was abt 5 months odd.




Milk milk was my staple food then and even water was rarely allowed as I was on total breastfeed.

Now Mommy ensures that Ive a balanced diet everyday. She would even plan out my meal menu, draft on paper and buy all the neccesary ingredients before going for her holiday or when i spend time alone with Ah mah on Sundays.

In the mornings for breakfast, I would have a portion of fruit with cereal. Or sometimes, its yogurt and mashed fruits.

Lunch i would either have a main vegetable with cereal/porridge, mushroom with cereal/porridge or tofu with cereal/porridge. Sometimes i get mashed potato with carrot. Okay u get the drift...its a carbo and veg diet in the noon.

Dinner i would eat porridge of organic brown rice and "new crop" rice. With any of the meat/fish options. Brocolli would sometimes be added for a chewy texture so that i can learn to chew.

Its been 3 months since im exposed to the whole of yummy stuff, there is a peek of the things im eating!



Meat and eggs varieties



: egg yolk, lean beef, threadfin fish, salmon fish, chicken thigh/drumstick, lean pork (rarely coz its too tough)



Vegetable/root vegetable varieties



: shiitake mushroom, tofu, carrot, potato, sweet potatoes, peas, spinach, brocolli, vegetable broth(celery, carrot, onion and chicken)




fruit and yogurt varieties



: apple, pear, papaya, kiwi, honeydew, blueberries, yoplait baby yogurt




snack varieties



: Pigeon brand finger biscuits, Japanese baby biscuits, lightly toasted white bread














SAY CHEESE............



Lucky you Rubeus!





Rebeus Mommy already allowed him eat cheese... Sometimes even the whole slice of it! and my Mommy told me that he would even protest if his Daddy or Mommy gave it to him any slower!






Mommy always think that cheese is yummy stuff and its packed with a lot of calcium, good "fats" and protein.



Generally, babies with no dairy allergies can try cheese between 8-10 months.



Mommy ask Dr Yip and he replied saying "10 months"



Mommy was a little disappointed that my yummy cheese would have to be put on hold. Dr Yip is just playing safe.



Ive been on yogurt for sometime and so theoretically, cheese should be fine.



Mommy said she would study on the cheese available during her next supermarket visit. The creamy laughing cow ones should taste super yummy!




Soon i will have baked cheese with macaroni!




Drool...

Ang Pows

Am I unlucky of what?



My very first round of ang pow collection met the worst economic crisis of the century.




*This year, i got away with just plain puppy eye looks and the adults shoved me the ang pows which i immediately put it in my mouth and wet one corner of it with my saliva.





**Next year, i will probably be expected to at least put my 2 fist together and raise it up and down, and say "Gong Xi Gong Xi"





when i turn 2 and a half years old, i would have to do point 1* , 2** and also throw my arms up and say "HUAT AH!"



These days, money hard to earn.


Mommy put all my ang pows under my pillow and explained to me that hóng bāo’ 红包 or ‘Ya Sui Qian’ 压岁钱 (which was evolved from压祟钱, literally, the money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit.) Hence, red packets are sealed envelopes of kind blessings. Mommy wants me to keep this tradition and only open the ang pow after the 15th day of new year.

Opening my ang pows after new year :)

i bite.

$2000!!!

Initially, Mommy wanted to open a junior savings account for me.

Daddy asked Mommy about what she intended to do with the money in my bank account.

Mommy: "Hrmm... give it to her when she turns 18 or earlier if she could demonstrate good thrifty habits?"

Daddy : " So we dont need the need to be withdrawn for 18 years? then why put the money in the bank and earn peanuts?

Daddy suggested using the money to buy me a $100,000 whole life policy with critical illness coverage from a budding age.

For a Guaranteed 15 year policy (only pay for 15 years for a whole life protection), i would use my ang pow money every year for 15 years to pay for my annual premium of about $1700

Dad and Mom would top up the rest for me of about $400 for my critical illness coverage.

I would continue to do that for 15 years as Daddy and Mommy dont see why i would need the money at all for the first 15 years of my life.

By then, i would have saved $26,ooo at a age of 15 and no longer have to worry about financing my life policy from my very first pay cheque when I start to work.

i would just leave my money to work for me and grow and retire with $250,000 in my bank at age 65!

This way, Mommy could easily explain to me how investment works and the good of disciplined savings.

I would also be able to tell you what my Dad does for a living and tell my friends that Im so proud of what my Dad does, by protecting you and me, financially, if the unfortunate happens to the ones who loved us most.

* My Godpapa, Ryan, bought me a gift of a 18 years savings plan, which the returns would be more than sufficient for a 4 year honours degree in a local university, as my 1st month gift. Big thanks Kuay Daddy!!! muacks...

My daddy would do the same too for godpa's baby in future too :)

We would not be like cousins. Mommy hope that we get along well and we will be brought up together like real brothers and sisters.

Thats how a family should be :)