Spying on my little life

26 months

2010-09-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Gwenneth cannot sleep without 3 things in her life.

1) the sight of Mommy.
2) her pink beanie, fondly known as "ah-nee"
3) lastly her pacifier, aka "tu-tu"

Gwen :" I want Mommy's bed. Mommmmmy.... tutu. ah-nee. tutu. ah-nee. tutu. ah-nee...."

That is almost her ritual chant just before bedtime. ( and also the same old songs of "Ocean", "bus", and "twinkle star" PLUS scratching/stroking of her back. How pampered.)

She is allowed to bring her tutu and ah-nee to school. (Mommy felt that it was the least she could offer her for comfort, being all alone in school.)

Then came the rampant HFMD that made Mommy think twice about the tutu since Gwen would pop it into her mouth every now and then.

One day, Mommy noticed a huge tear on that "silicon best friend" of Gwen's. Mommy asked Gwenneth to witness, or rather, throw away the tutu herself into the dustbin. This "throw-away-tutu-ceremony" was video-ed on iphone, so that Gwenneth would watch this repeatedly and get the hang of the idea that her tutu is gone. For good.

She did asked for her alternative tutus in a variety of colours (she has like 4 of them) but we insisted that there was only one, and it was the yellow one that she has dumped away.

We were prepared for the worst, the fuss involved to pacify her that her sleeping ritual does not include a tutu anymore. Surprisingly, nothing happened. We explained and she understood. She didn't resort to stealing her brother's one too.

So that was it.

BYE BYE TUTU!

Gwenneth says the darnest thing.

As usual, Daddy teaches all sort of "unusual" stuff. One of them is "kah-nergh" (legs soft). Sometimes she loses her footing while dancing amok in the house, we would laugh it off and say "Gwenneth kah-nergh!" One night, Gwenneth was walking up to our bedroom and dropped her beanie along the stairs, and she went " Aiyoh! Beanie kah-nergh!"

Sweet Sweet (thats what her grandma calls her) was on the phone with Ah mah and Mommy egged her to say "good night" and "sleep tight". Gwenneth continued her conversation with grandma before wrapping up with a "Good night! Sleep properly!"

25 months

2010-08-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

And this marks the 3rd year of Gwenneth’s life.

Gwenneth will be going to Nursery One next year. How fast! She will be 2 ½ years old in January 2011 and she will be enrolled into N1 with all other 2008 babies.

Daddy and Mommy thought it would be a good time to start sending Gwenneth to school now as she can slowly wean her “sticky self” from Mommy , and what better way to check out the school before committing to a 4 year relationship right up to Kindergarden 2 at 6 years old. In any case, Mommy has half a year to decide which school can bring the best out of Gwenneth and most importantly, she must enjoy it!

Mommy deliberately delayed a month before sending Gwenneth to school even though she is all ready with 2 sets of school uniform. The school is new and Mommy felt that the ALL the children will be crying regardless of their class and age. Mommy didn’t want Gwenneth to think that school, is a scary and unhappy place that deprives everyone from their Daddies and Mommies. However, Daddy thinks otherwise, worrying that Gwenneth will be left out, when the children in her class forms their own circle of friends. The final decision was made on the reason that the teachers may not be able to give any attention to Gwenneth if all 12 of them are crying.

And so, Gwenneth went to school on 1st August 2010. Daddy made special arrangement to leave for his business trip in the late noon so that he can witness Gwenneth’s special day.

The first week of school was fine. We kept it to 3hours or 3 ½ hours at most, “Mommy-accompanied”. Gwenneth took only a while to warm up and had a bit of “walk around” time on her own and orientated herself from the playroom to the toilet. She ate her lunch on her own like she would do at home, alongside with many other independent children. She was generous with her hugs as she bid goodbye when her class ended. She liked both Teacher Cris and Xia Lao Shi.

Week 2. Without Mommy.

Day 1 National Day school holiday

Day 2. Cry like mad. Daddy tried to send her to school at 9.30am himself, thinking that it could be easier to say bye bye to her and leave her on her own as she understands that Daddy goes to work everyday anyway. Daddy stayed with her during play time for about ½ an hour and the teachers picked Gwenneth off by the armpits and chased Daddy out of the school. Daddy’s heart wrenched and called Mommy at 10.30am to go save Gwenneth together. Mommy understands that the school cannot have parents loitering around infinitely, but she was just as mad about them robbing Gwenneth off just like that, and she was torn from her favourite Daddy.When Mommy arrived in school with Daddy, she was sobbing on and off, whimpering and screaming. Daddy said that we should call it a day and go for a teochew muay brunch with baby Gwen! By 10.45am, Gwenneth was carried out of school, swearing that she doesn’t want school anymore.

Day 3, Mommy drove Gwenneth to school and adopted the “We ran out of M&M minis. Mommy is going to buy some chocolate, and Mommy will be back soon. Very fast. Promise.” I gave her a big kiss and handed her to teacher’s Cris arms and left in a jiffy. The last I saw was a contorted arched back baby, yelling like her Mommy is going to leave her for good. I thought I saw some “how-can-you-bear-to-do-this-to-me!” eyes. When I went to pick her punctually from school at 11.30am, she was drinking milk on the floor with her beanie, and broke into tears when she saw me. “MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!” :”( She sob her way to the main door and her tears dried up as soon as she sat on that lttle blue chair while waiting for her socks and shoes. Gwen “Mommy buy chocolate for me?” She happily walked with a bounce, and waved goodbye to all the pictures of the bear decals that was stuck on the glass panels as we made our way to the car. She stopped to ask one of the bear why he is crying. DUH! . That afternoon, I suddenly heard Gwenneth singing “One little, two little, three little Indians….” For the longest time, we have been following Julia Gabriel’s lyrics which was “Ten little aeroplanes.” I was pleasantly surprised as I knew Gwenneth picked this up from Agape from my first week with her in class. I haven’t been singing this song to her as her current favourite lullaby is “My bonnie lies over the ocean” aka “Ocean” song (according to Gwenneth). Then she started to continue with “uuh ahh! uuh ahh! shooting arrows! uhh ahh! uhh ahh! shooting arrows! uhh ahh! shooting arrows! ten little Indian boys! Complete with actions! She did learn something in between her cries! And she is happy at school!

Day 4. Gwenneth Pon Tang school.

Day 5. Mommy sent Gwenneth to school. As I was helping her to take off her socks, she cried already. Telling me she does not want any chocolates anymore. One teacher tried to take her away from me at the door but I insisted to make it as “less tramatising” as possible for her. I had to leave her in school alone, but not in a manner that she is being snatched away from her Mommy. I had to be extra careful to not hurt that little heart. I want her to have fun, learn social skills and most importantly, be happy in school. Why make it an awful experience for her? I ignored that insensitive teacher, took my Gwenneth back from her arms, and walk right up to her class before giving her to Teacher Cris. I did a quick good bye and reassured her my promise; that Mommy will definitely come back for her. Gwenneth’s face cramped up like a crispy prata, and cried like nobody’s business. Mommy then went to do groceries shopping with the maid before going back to pick Princess G at 12pm. Mommy bought grapes for the children in class. Mommy sneaked up to class to video how Gwen Gwen was coping alone. To my surprise, Gwenneth was NOT crying. She was playing toys with a friend, and walking around the class at ease, keeping herself occupied while waiting for the rest to finish up their lunch. She ate half her lunch and Mommy witnessed the little girl taking her own bowl and placed it into the designated pail under the teacher’s instruction. She was happy, with no signs of distress at all! Mommy was so proud and went into the class to give that little grown up a well-deserved hug. Gwenneth was delighted to see Mommy and excitedly showed Mommy her little souvenier from Darius, who came back from Thailand over the National Day weekend. The children ate up all the grapes cheekily and my heart grew fonder for all of them.

Gwenneth is ready for school.

22 months

2010-05-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

Gwenneth's appetite is failing. Sometimes only 1 -2 mouthful of rice and declares "DONE!" Mommy doesnt want to force me to eat as she worries that I would resent meal time in future. Anyway, i am always eating non-stop for the whole day. Cornflakes... yogurt....strawberry... soya bean drink... yakult...

She has her grouchy tantrums when I forbid her to do certain things, but still listens to Mommy a lot. She gets angry when she is asked to bathe when she doesnt feel like it and demands the maid to "GO AWAY!" she would often hit the maid with her hands and then gets scolding from Mommy.

Mommy would then explain that its is wrong and rude to do so, and it hurts Jie Jie Yanti/Jie Jie Rina and they would be sad when they are in pain. Mommy then ask Gwenneth to say sorry and give a hug and she usually obeys and everyone is happy again :) Thereafter, she gets lots of praises.

Sometimes, Gwenneth's hit Mommy accidentally with a toy she was playing, Mommy would act as if she was crying. Gwenneth would then look worried, gives kisses and a big hug. She would say "Mommy, no cry... Happy? Happy?" Gwenneth wants Mommy to be happy all the time.

Gwenneth volunteers to help DiDi bathe, but she is just eyeing on that tub of water for PLAY! She was bathing Reyes, and pointed at his navel and said "Belly button!" she then pointed at this dick and asked "WHAT IS THIS!" That made Mommy laugh.

"PENIS! Boys have penis-es" (Mommy cant spell a pural of penis.)

This little Mommy-wannabe breastfeeds her doll.

"Drink milk! Drink!"

She puts her doll to her belly button (!!! i dunno why also) and then stares in space for about 2 seconds and waits for "doll to drink milk".

"Bringing Elmo out" project. Gwenneth has fallen in love with Elmo. Perhaps its the DVDs on Elmo's World, or maybe its his orange nose. She likes him so much that it is definitely her birthday party theme this year. Gwenneth wants to bring Elmo wherever she goes. After putting on her shoes, she would ask "Elmo?" and then goes round the house to find where she last left it. Then togther with her tutu and her "already-very-black" smelly beanie, she is ready to go. Sometimes, she decides to bring along other things for the comfort of Elmo and the misery of Mommy. She would push out her toy stroller, or the toy supermarket trolley out of the door and walk towards the lift and ignores all calls of "Gwenneth! Gwenneth! Come back! Dont bring stroller!" Mommy and Daddy is left with no choice.

For your info, Elmo has a baby according to Gwenneth, and his name is "Small Elmo".

She has evolved new ways to slide on her own.

We are planning for a short little getaway to celebrate Daddy and Mommy's 10 years dating anniversary! 22 May has always been a special day for them. Somehow, it is more important than their wedding anniversary. Maybe its because they have been celebrating this date for so long and Mommy said that she felt that there was no one else she would rather marry than Daddy since the day they fell in love on a cruise holiday!

and so, to celebrate this special day, being proud parents of 2, we are going on a CRUISE! However, Reyes is only 3 months old and they do not allow babies under 6 months to board. After much "go / dont go", "cruise / bintan / genting", they decided to stick to a cruise trip with Gwenneth. It seems to be the best choice as it is convenient for Mommy to see Little Miss Medela every few hours and the activites on board like the pool will definitely make Gwenneth very happy. Above all, it would be nice to visit this love boat, all over again after these amazing 10 years.

19 months

2010-03-27T09:21:00.001-07:00

Gwenneth is officially the big sister!

My Lil Brother, Reyes Tan Rui Yi is born!

See Reyes's blog

http://www.reyesaurus.blogspot.com/

Daddy and Mommy had read and heard all about siblings jealousy. The sudden shift of attention would definitely be an awful experience for Gwenneth Tan. Mommy made an excuse to sneak out to Kovan during her first week of confinement to buy me a present on behalf of Reyes.

Instead of buying a toy, Mommy went to Popular bookstore and bought art craft materials. Little Gwen loves her craft sessions at Julia Gabriels and Mommy felt that we could have our bonding time drawing and pasting stickers everywhere! I had this "art box" with crayons, paint palette, brushes, scrapbook, stickers, children's glue and cellophane paper in assorted colours.

I also have a Barney lunchbox(which i use to keep my crayons) elmo beaker and story books!

Oh Didi, I love you!

Gwenneth would say "art time!" just like this clip from disney channel, and drags out her huge red box.

So how is Gwenneth coping with her new brother's attention competition?

Daddy :" Well, so far so good. She has not made any attempts to kill him yet."

Mommy made it to still have her yearly shopping at chinatown before Reyes was born. All because of gong gong and por por, wo has been bringing me to see lion dance performance, im am crazy over lion dance!

Gwenneth mimicks the drummers from the lion dance perforamance.

Take photo take photo!

Gwen :"Lion! Lion!"

Mommy wanted to buy me a lion dance doll, but we didnt see any suitable size ones for lil Gwen.

Spot my Ah mah in the photo!

Gwenneth at school.

Practising to be a big sister.

Getting involved in class

Out of 10 sessions at Julia Gabriel, i only attended 5.

Daddy forbidded Mommy to bring me for the last 5 sessions. This was because Daddy disliked the teacher in my playclub class. I can do whatever i wish to in playnest, and enjoy the freedom of exploring around, looking at things that interest me. However, the teacher from playclub restricted me and made me sit down for story time even when i really do not wish to! Perhaps, its also because of the infamous "Terrible 2" phrase im going through, I cannot understand why I cannot have certain things which i would like to, at that very moment. When i have a "want" in my mind to own or touch something, I MUST satisfy that need, right there and then! The teacher did not allow me to walk to the back of the puppet play screen as i was really curious what was behind. That made me struggle and cry.

It made me wanna escape from class.

It pains Daddy's heart to see me being forced to do the things i disliked and felt that the teacher did not correct Gwenneth's tantrum in an more appropriate way. Mommy understands that there should be some sort of discipline in class but perhaps, the class size on a Saturday was too big for the teacher to have such patience. However, it was pointless for Gwenneth to attend the class and disturb the peace of others. Cause many of Gwenneth's classmates are above 2 years of age and can appreciate the joy of some quiet time, listening to a story.

Mommy's heart aches each week for the $50/lesson, fly away just like that, but Daddy was REALLY against it.

Hence, i was withdrawn from Julia Gabriel for a term and Mommy will be more particular about the choice of teachers next time.

18 months

2009-12-14T09:35:00.000-08:00

Gwenneth turns 1 and a half years old!

I have moved on to Playclub at Julia Gabriels attending classes only once a week. Its a 2 hour class with more exciting art time activites but im definately missing some of the familiar faces of my friends from Playnest. Here are some pictures from my Playnest graduation party!

I brought chocolate cookies, animal biscuits and waffles!

We were encouraged to wear costumes for the party and Mommy dressed me in a white ballerina romper that she bought from Hong Kong. How cute with white heart leggings!

I miss Teacher Lin many many!

Gwenneth has curly locks. Mommy couldnt make up her mind if i looked better with bangs or not. She cut my fringe cause growing long and was poking into my eyes. However, they wouldnt stay straight as my hair was fine and soft and curly! So after this time round, i shall keep my fringe long and pull them back in a ponytail when they grow long enough. My "whirly whirlpool" in front on my forehead was not causing much of a bother actually.

Here i am, playing with my home delivered pancake from McDonalds on a lazy Sunday morning!

Anything cold is nice!

Jie Jie Yani went back to indonesia in November for good as her contract has expired. Mommy had to survive 3 weeks at home without a new maid due to some passport documents problems, Daddy away on company trip to Korea, loads of laundry, cleaning, housework, cooking and managing a clingy Gwenneth and a big pregnant belly.

I decided to help since im a big girl already!

I was playing around with the clothes pegs at the balcony while Mommy was bringing in the freshly sunned laundry. Mommy asked if i could help take my clothes and mueslin cloths back into the room and i could manage the task just fine! Mommy thinks that im the cutest baby around!

We had a farewell dinner with Jie Jie Yani at kenny Rogers.

I love Barney!

Walking on a mini bowling alley in the aracade. Which was against the rules!

Daddy showed me how to come out with special powers on street fighter.

I tried to mimick Mommy by placing my index finger on the straw to draw out a sip of coke. She does that to limit the amount of coke i drink.

Gwen :" Why bother Mommy! Daddy gives me big gulps of cold chilled coke, right from the
cup when you were not looking!"

Hee...

Daddy is the best!

Yummy corn muffins!

Dim Sum at Wah Lok, Carlton Hotel. After Mommy's gynae visit, Daddy would often suggest a yummy lunch so that Mommy can eat more to beef up our little new brother in the tummy.

I love my fat Mommy. Pregnancy glow never happens on my mum.

I love my Mommy for the sacrifices she made for me and Didi while pregnant with us!

I was the centre of attraction at the restaurant each time we dine out. Thats because, i could sit on the high chair and be well behaved at all times. I could also feed myself to the egg tarts, carrot cake and porridge with little help from Mommy. Im like a little adult all on my own! This would often impress all the waitress and aunties and they took turns to come see me at the table, singing strings of praises of me of how independent i am at 17 months old. That made Daddy really proud!

Mommy will take me out whenever she can, with the convenience of my dearest gong gong's car.

To IKEA!

While Daddy was away in Korea, Mommy brought me out to eat Selegie tau huey on a boring afternoon. She didnt bother to change me as it was just a short drive away and i was in my unglam pyjamas.

Drinking soya bean milk!

Gwenneth is drinking on demand, about 4-5 feeds a day (150ml - 180ml) of Enfagrow. Mommy would ask if i want neh neh and i usually mean what i say...though i changed my mind and waste a bottle of freshly "brewed" milk on some ocassion.

I wear size L diapers and change about 5 times a day, including 2 showers i take after my lunch and dinner. Ive been refusing to use the bib for a while already, ripping it off as soon as its being put on. So my clothes are often stained with milo and porridge etc and i had to bathe after every meal.

After Daddy came back from Korea, Mommy felt that its a good time to train me to sleep in my room downstairs with the maid. This is because in another month's time, Didi would be born and will be sleeping with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy is worried that i will have interrupted sleep as Didi would be waking up, crying for milk every 3 hours throughout the night.

Night 1

I had the company of Daddy and Mommy and our new maid had to sleep in the living room for the night. Daddy fell asleep almost right away! Mommy then watch Barney on youtube with me on the laptop and i finally fell asleep at 12 midnight.

Night 2

Mommy and maid with me. Mommy chatted with Jie Jie Yanti while i played in the room. I slept at 1am despite the face that i was really tired!

Night 3

Mommy coax me to sleep in my room and then she went back to her own room. I cried for mommy pitifully at 4am and Jie Jie Yanti had no choice but to call for Mommy's help. After plenty of hugs from Mommy, i fell asleep and subsequently woke up at 8.30am, sobbing by the door, asking for Mommy again.

Mommy then bought a baby monitor and would rush down to comfort me whenever i cry in the middle of the night. Mommy knew i would do fine sleeping in my room with Jie Jie yanti, just that i want to see Mommy each time i open my eyes when i wake up.

Then came the xmas holidays and weekends, Mommy and Daddy would often excuse me from sleeping alone and i get to snuggle up with them on the big big bed!

Can you bear to not sleep with me???

Mommy made chocolate fondue for me... I love chocolate sauce with bananas!

My dearest strawberry

Mommy would let me dip my fingers into the warm leftover chocolate sauce and lick up whatever that was remaining.

See ya next month!

Loves!!

17 months

2009-11-13T21:59:00.000-08:00

Mommy is teaching me Chinese at home.

She started off with usuing everyday things as teaching material, like the prints on my pillowcase and then buying lots of chinese reading materials and charts from Popular bookstore.

All in the effort to let me get used to this important 2nd language from young so that i would not dread it when i go to school.

Daddy is all for the idea! Daddy even wanted me to enrol for the Julia Gabriel lessons in Mandarin.

And im proud to start off my little dictionary of vocab in chinese!

Balloon : Qi Qiu ( i read as dee duioo )

Rainbow : Cai Hong (dai hooorng)

Aeroplane : Fei Ji (bey dee)

I also started using a cup and can finish off about 2 cm depth of water/juice in a cup without spilling all over! i could very well follow Mommy's instruction to put down whatever that is in my hand (biscuit eg) and then use both my hands to hold onto the cup.

I also graduated from PlayNest at Julia Gabriels and is moving onto PlayClub meant for babies 18mths and above! Now i can play with the big brother and sisters and hopefully learn lots from them by observation! (only the good things please!)

My little brother is due in Febuary and Mommy felt that she could not commit to send me to school twice a week on wednesday and fridays anymore for the new term (Jan 2010 - Mid March). Daddy and Mommy tried to look for alternatives for half day playgroups to keep me entertained while Mommy would engaged her new role of being a cow to DiDi next year.

However, it pains Daddy's heart to see the little children napping on the floor with thin mattresses on the floor, and even were even sleeping on pathetic yoga mats! The little tikes outdoor play toys have seen better days and were all in bad state because of the frequent exposure of rain and shine.

After much consideration (really long and serious considerations) Mommy decided to keep me at Julia Gabriels, attending once a week on weekends.

She would revert me back to twice a week after Little DiDi settles into our home and she would take this 2 hours time and accompany me to school so that we could have quality time together with all attention on me. My Mommy is awesome!

Daddy and Mommy took me on trips to the beach and zoo, spending many family bonding hours together before Mommy had to hibernate at home doing tortoise-moving activies as she waits for the birth of my little brother. We have decided on a name already, but i would still call Mommy's belly "stammack" , "ball" , "DiDi".

... and teething continues!

Ive my stage 1 and 2 teeth (8 of them) for the longest time. Finally, here is the 8 others! ( indicated in yellow )

Now ive 16 teeth!

Mommy is also more lenient with my food varieties, and let me have my share of a normal childhood without being paranoid.

I get to have diluted ribena, Yakult, koko crunch cereal, waffles, apple sauce and chocolate ice cream too!

ive yellow egg noodles and rice for my meals and loves having a try at whatever Daddy and Mommy is eating. Daddy is definately more relaxed with diet rules. I can drink lots and lots of coke from his cup till Mommy realises and says "Hey! Enough hor!"

16 months

2009-11-13T20:34:00.000-08:00

Gwenneth was hospitalised. After eating french fries.

Well, not that Gwenneth is allergic to McDonald's french fries, it just happen to be the case of coincidence each time she gets to try junk food. Even if its just a few licks of chocolate ice cream.

Mommy brought Gwen Gwen to McDonalds one late afternoon for a treat for plain vanilla soft ice cream. But Gwenneth was not even interested to even try.

So Mommy gave her ONE french fry and subsequently let her hold the packet of fries with about 20 of them in it, and went on snapping pictures happily.

In a flash, Gwenneth ate ALL OF IT!

Plain Vanilla ice cream. How boring.

Look at that castle of golden fries!

Ok! i will try one. Just one Mommy.

Hmmmmm...... :)

Savour it. It might just be the very only piece Mommy will give me.

Give Mommy a smile. Might have more.

Awww....its good stuff.

I will never see potato in the same light ever again!

Heavenly.

Now you see it, now you don't!

And.... i ended up in hospital the very evening.

I came home and felt a little feverish. I drank my late afternoon neh neh and was watching cartoon on TV.

Suddenly, i took out my tu tu from my mouth and threw out all the milk and fries i ate just now. Then my fever went up to about 38 degrees odd.

Mommy called Daddy who was at work and Daddy said that we must send her to the doctor if the high fever seems persistant.

It was the first time ever i have fever since birth and Mommy was extra careful about burning my little Einstein brain.

Mommy decided to send me to A&E and called Daddy to inform him to meet us at the hospital. Daddy suggested to see a new padaetrician, Dr Lee from Mt Elizabeth.

We took a cab to Mt E and my fever was measured at 39.4 degrees! Prob because Mommy was hugging me in the cab and the temperature was slightly higher because of the body heat.

And so, i was admitted after a dosage of suppository.

My fever came down a little and i was no longer throwing up. I could take my diluted feeds of milk as instructed by Dr Lee.

Daddy and Mommy stayed over with me for the night. Mommy snuggled next to me on the bed while Daddy slept on the couch bed.

Mommy woke up every hour to take my temperature and recorded it down, so that the nurses would not come into the room every now and then and disturb my sleep by opening and closing the door. Mommy also had to make sure that the fever does not go higher than 38.5 degrees, so that extra dosage of medication would not necessary. Mommy felt that too much medication to my little body is not a good thing either.

I remained cheerful and active even though i was running a temperature. I somehow enjoyed the plain porridge from the hospital menu too.

Mommy was glad that my appetite was normal and doesnt seem to be in a ditzy state.

Happy!

No, we never bought 4D thereafter.

I can run fast!

peek a boo!

Disturbing Daddy from reading the newspaper in the morning

I also want to read.

I read to Elmo.

So whats up today?

Please do not disturb, Mommy!

Choosing my menu for the day.

Plain porridge please!

My temperature was below 38 degrees, and Daddy and Mommy felt that i can rest better in the comfort of my own home.

Mommy and Daddy sneaked me out to Paragon and we had lunch at Ding Tai Fung! We got discharged in the early evening and Mommy gave me tender loving care at home. My fever was gone for good for the whole night and i went back for a review 2 days later.

Measured my height and weight

Im a healthy baby once again!

Mommy said that she shall limit me to 5 fries each time till i reach 2 years old!

Damn.

Mooncake festival.

Mommy loves mooncakes :)

we had a mooncake festival celebration at home. It was drizzling in our neighbourhood and it dampened the spirits a little.

Going for a walk!

Mommy bought me a Barney lantern and Por Por bought me a Hello Kitty one.

Yay!!!

Jie Jie Yani is a bad photographer.

Poking toothpicks into the tiny pieces of mooncakes

Cranberry mooncakes!

Busy eating

Smile Gwen! (it usually never happens)

Ball!

Papa cuts open the ball at our balcony celebration.

Happy Mooncake Festival! Hope it doesnt rain next year!

Daddy says he will buy me sparklers when im 2 years old next year!!!

15 months

2009-09-13T08:36:00.002-07:00

Daddy and Mommy is especially proud of Gwenneth's vocabulary at 14 months odd. She has been building her understanding and pronounciation of words since about 12 months, and Daddy and Mommy is certainly happy that she is excited to learn more!

Gwenneth can pronouce accurately and understand the meaning of :

- nana (banana), car car, apple, cook, spoon, fork, cut, grapes, please, key, call, moon, star, wooh wooh (dog. and fondly calls "yoyo", our neighbour's dog.), bear, elmo, chair, table, walk walk, clock, ring, flower, flag, pen, apple, orh-inch (orange), sss'berry (strawberry), eyes, toes, hands, drum, mark(stomach),bus, nice, ice kim (ice cream), juice, aah-sin(raisin), biscuit, neh neh(milk), ball, throw, kick, cut cut (cut/knife), yum yum (food), where?, there, light, book, house(playhouse), swing, slide, go, bathe, duck, horse, bag, egg, broom, sweep, puff (Gerber's graduate puffs), spade, pail, bird, fish,leaf, work, turtle, bread, pool, up, down, ah'mak (alamak!), plueees (please), take

understands and points at object when asked:

-rainbow, sky, hello kitty, soup, rice, fan, handphone, toys, high chair, stroller, coconut tree, stone, dolphin, towel, diaper, ears, tongue, nose, belly button, fingers, bed, cat, elephant, xylophone, tambourine, whistle, hotdog, pillow, piano, playground, shoes, socks, door, lift, car seat, sunglasses, aeroplane, pineapple, draw, crayon, erase, magnet, remote control, relax (lies backwards), rub rub (rubs dettol sanitisiers on palms), raise the arms, shawdow, sleep, open, close, pig(makes snorting sound), giraffe, monkey,elephant, butterfly, make up (can identify mascara, brushes, loose powder etc make up. pats her cheeks when she sees them), cup, teeth, toothbrush,sofa, mirror, comb, tricycle, dance, swim, point, computer, boss chair (our black study room's chair), give

She has also learned to say "yes" along with nodding and "no" as she shakes her head.

(and really mean it.)

whines for Mama a lot. Cries pitifully for Papa when he goes to work. Looks for Jie Jie (Yani) when she goes out of sight, eg washing the toilets.

is able to address Ah mah, Ah gong, Por por and Gong Gong, Ah Yi and Yoyo(our neighbour's dog).

and so, Gwenneth goes to school.

Mommy has been comtemplating to send Gwenneth for activity classes as Gwen would sometimes walk around at home looking bored. Apart from playing with her heap of toys, daily evening walks to pick twig and stones, see other people walking their dogs, swimming a the pool, outdoor play at the patio in her playhouse and making our own water theme park by spraying water from the water hose, watching DVDs/channel 34 and hide-n-seek at home.

Mommy's tummy is also ballooning by the days and Mommy thought that parent-child activity classes would allow us to have bonding and quality time together before mommy gets all tied up with another half year of being a cow to my little brother.

Mommy studied the list of school options and considered about travelling (until Gong Gong and Por Por bought a car for her weekday use to send Gwen to school!) and also rampant children diseases that the little girl would get exposed to.

Eventually, Mommy enrolled me for twice a week, Julia Gabriel's classes (Playnest) after some discussion with Daddy.

Gong Gong and Por Por were equally excited and even accompanied me for my orientation day!

It was a relief and also a surprise that Gwenneth was not shy nor withdrawn from the group of little toddlers. She was one of the eldest there (between 10-18 months) and Mommy felt that i attended this class at a appropriate age.

Some of the babies were smaller and couldnt walk just yet, so they missed out a lot on the playground and some of the activites.

sand play at school! i dun really like sand :(

Tucking my butt into the small chair

Playing with toys!

and im off to school with daddy

Bubbles time!

Im a clean baby..i wash my hands!

Peek a boo!

peek a boo two!

wheeeee!

Im love school!

14 months

2009-09-13T08:36:00.001-07:00

A typical day at home.

I woke up from my afternoon nap and Mommy made snack. I had yogurt with pieces of mango and banana. I fed myself as i watched cartoon on tv.

Mommy then took out a spread of mahjong paper and prepared finger paint for me. She showed me how to do it and very soon, i was dipping/digging my fingers into that yucky paint.

I sort of played with it a bit and is not amused at all. I carried on using the paint as hair gel and ran around the house naked too!

When im lucky, i will get to see that Yoyo is home and she would come over to my house and play with me. I get easily bribed by Auntie Candy, (our neighbour and also Yoyo's Mommy) whenever she tells me she has biscuits! Yoyo would also bite a toy in her mouth and nudge me to play with her. She often licks me on my cheeks as i squirmed away!

Im feeling HOT Mommy!

one evening, mommy realised that in was feeling hot on the forehead. she then tested me on the thermometer and found out that was running a temperature of 38.1 degrees! (highest measured) It worried her a lot as babies with a temperature of 38.4 degrees is considered as fever, and fever in bodies is no joke. Mommy then monitored me every 10-15 minutes to see if my temperature remain high. She gave me a shower in the attempt to bring down the temperature and it worked. So afterall that fuss, i was just feeling HOT. Not feverish!

the next day, as i was watching tv with Mommy, she spotted me holding on to sometime by the ear. She thought it was my toy handphone at first impression and encouraged me to say "Hello?" She then later realised that ive picked up the Braun thermometer which was still lying around on the sofa and is trying to mimick how Mommy measured my temperature by placing the thermometer into my ear! It made her laugh!

Little Miss Copy Cat.

Por Por and Gong Gong visits me on either Tuesdays or Thursdays evenings and have dinner at our place. Porpor saw some dried leaves on the balcony floor and she swept the floor with the broom. Gwenneth learned that and she picked up the broom and started sweeping too! it was such a funny sight!

ZOO.

Daddy and Mommy have been making plans to bring me to the zoo soon. This was because Mommy's tummy will get bigger overtime and she hopes to spend quality time with me doing fun activites together with Daddy as a family as much as possible before her tummy balloons!

Coincidently, Rubeus's Daddy offered us free tickets to the zoo. We were more than happy to have company to the zoo! We met up for a hearty breakfast of dim sum and chicken porridge before heading to the zoo.

We were prepared for play at the water theme park. Mommy brought towels and fresh clothes for me. Daddy accompanied me as we explore big splashes and run through the jets of water! Mommy snapped many pictures of our happy moments together. My Daddy is my best playmate ever! Mommy took time to teach me about giraffe, elephant and zebras. We caught the elephant show but when we came to see the giraffes and zebras, i was already fast asleep as i was so tired from playing at the water park.

Marina Barrage

With the rampant H1N1 virus around, Mommy hardly bring me out to the malls. She came across pictures of Uncle Eugene going to Marina Barrage and it seems like a nice family day out venue. So Mommy thought that we could do a mini picnic, fly kite and celebrate Jie Jie Yani's birthday

Mommy was casually telling PorPOr about her plans to bring me out to Marina Barrage and asked about a lime green snoopy kite that she shared with Uncle Eugene and YiYi Eunice many many years agos when they were little. PorPor was not sure if it was still around, or she has given it away long ago. And PorPor excitedly went to buy me a kite and delivered it personally to my house the very next day! See how much my PorPor dotes on me!

It was a very hot Sunday and we decided to wait till about early evening before we set off for our first picnic ever. Daddy and Mommy drove to the supermarket first to buy some chips and drinks and also a surprise birthday cake for Jie Jie Yani. Mommy also packed along my favourite raisins, assorted biscuits and bread for me too!

We were lucky to find a shady spot and i happily started to munch on my biscuits and walked around, looking at the variety of sandwich filling of a group of teenage girls next to us. They giggled each time i peeked at their food and acted as if i didnt really care about their yummy bread

there after, we went for Great Grandma's 80th birthday dinner celebration. I gave Tai Por a big kiss!!

My 13th month

Mommy took the car and drove me to Explorer Kid at Downtown East when Daddy was away in Jakarta on business.

Mommy bought yougurt ice cream for me to start off my wonderful day! As i was already walking independently, i had lots of fun and freedom to run around like a wild chicken. Mommy felt bad that she couldnt go through the maze playground with me as she was pregnant and wished that Daddy was around to take over JieJie Yani so that i can have more bonding time with Daddy

13 months

2009-08-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Some of the babies with very good motor skills have already started walking at 11 months! Por Por heard from others that babies usually learn to walk either at 11th, 13th or 15th months. Daddy and Mommy were not feeling stressed out that i have not seen the good of walking since i could crawl just as quickly to anywhere i wanna go.

They wanted me to take things slow at my own comfortable pace and didnt make many deliberate attempts to hold me up by the arms to try to walk, as they believed that i would give it a try when i think im confident enough. Daddy and Mommy were also concerned whether if i would be bow legged if I was forced to hold my weight up when Im just not that ready yet.

In fact, it was Jie Jie Yani that encouraged me to take a few steps during playtime. She was playing in my room with me one day and i walked about 3-4 steps before i lost my balance and fell in her open arms. That very day, 1st July 2009, i tried a few times to show my new skill to Daddy and Mommy and they were very thrilled!

Im a big girl already!

So, that very day, Mommy brought me out to Marina Square for shopping as i waited for Daddy to finish his golf at marina club. Mommy bought me a pooh bear balloon and i started kicking it around in the mall, clenching my fingers tightly onto my Mommy's hands.

Soon, Mommy realised that Ive perfected walking confidently at exactly 13th months. I would still tumble and fall at times, but i would not get a wee bit discouraged at all. Mommy also noticed that i know how to break my fall by using the cushion of my meaty butt, or fall forward with my arms extended out and yet keep my face off the floor as far as possible. Even if i fall backwards, i would tuck my head under the chin and not let the floor bang against my head.

Its probably the Enfagrow with extra extra extra DHA!

Me, at home.

Imagine Im on "Rocket" with Little Einsteins!

.......... and......... blast off!

My meals are getting adventurous! Mommy would make stir fried beef and cheese pasta. I also get steamed cod fish with ginger and tomatoes served with steamed fluffy rice. I love rice!

see my happy belly!

i know you miss me.

2009-08-11T00:32:00.000-07:00

I bet you missed me.

somehow, my blog meter has been running even though ive announced that my birthday marks the very last entry.

some fans even told Mommy that they have been re-reading it all from the start!

ive been growing up well and happy.

Mommy thought that its a pity that Im ever changing, doing and saying little things that is totally hilarious and sweet, and they all did not get to be journalled.

so Daddy suggested that the blog goes on with once a month entry, promising to include juicy details and happy pictures of my little life.

stay tuned!!!

18th June 2009

2009-06-23T07:24:00.001-07:00

Its my birthday!

First, we headed for Gleneagles medical centre for my 12th month check up, which was the 3rd and final hepetitis B jab.

starting the day with a bottle of goodness in the car!

my neh neh!!

the sun was glaring as i laid in my mommy's arm, so she took out my ultra cool shades from the glove compartment and she thought i looked super cute.

and now i sit up on the weighing machine to have my weight taken!

looking and moving around, having a mind of my own.

I weigh 10.3kg and Dr Yip said that im of a very good weight for my age.

and now my height!

im a very tall girl now u know?

74.5cm

15cm more and i will have to pay bus fare, movie ticket etc.

im wearing my "Gwenneth is ONE" t shirt again!

im reaching the end of the mat!

and ive big plans to escape.

and i flipped.

GASP!

Gwen : "oh no."

Gwen Gwen : " I recognise you."

Gwen Gwen : " you use a needle to poke me."

Gwen Gwen : "are you doing that again today???"

Gwen Gwen : " BUt...BUT...BUT... its my BIRTHDAY!!!!"

Dr Yip chose a meaty spot on my thigh and poke a fat needle into it anyway.

Gwen Gwen : "whatever! Im cool. Im ONE years old already and im brave."

Daddy and Mommy then went on to have chicken rice lunch before we made our way to SENTOSA!

It was a really hot day and Daddy suggested that we head right to Underwater world first cause we wouldnt survive the heat anywhere else anyway.

the turtle pond!

Olivia Jie Jie gave me a turtle stuffed toy for my birthday and i love it very much! Mommy was quite surprised as Gwenneth is not very much a "girly toy" girl.

or maybe the turtle is nothing girly anyway?

Gwenneth would say "tur-tur" everytime she spots the green thing on the bed and then gives it a kiss right in the mouth. she would rest the side of her head on the turtle's shell and treats it like a fluffy pillow.

and so his name?

"TURTUR."

Mommy brought the turtle along with us so that i can better associate it with a real turtle when we see one in the underwater world, and it happens to be the first sea creature we saw!

Mommy then repeatedly pointed at the live turtle and then the cushy one and said "tur.....tle.."

Gwenneth seems to grasp it all.

touristy photo outside the grand entrance.

Me assuring TURTUR that i will never leave him inside.

Gwen Gwen :" Dont worry...you will be coming home with me alright?"

Mommy and Daddy then went to join the queue to get the tickets. There was a good mix of tourists and locals who are having their June school holiday.

i got so bored waiting for Daddy and Mommy

Daddy and Mommy in the queue, and Mommy looking unglam with my pokka dot towel blankie.

she looked like she came back from a jog.

Mommy bought me a brand new fan for this Sentosa trip.

the best $10 spent EVER!

at the "touch pool"

its gross. no one from our family stuck our hands into the fishy smelling water with slimy looking creatures. i even squirmed up my feet when Mommy carried me near it.

Cik Cik Yani happily touched EVERYTHING!

Mommy buckling up my seat belts.

SHe insisted that i must be buckled up at all times.

I was a little scared at first as the water in the tank was crystal clear and i could see all the colourful fishes swimming in front of me. Daddy assured me that it was okay and he would be with me no matter what happens. He then knock on the glass wall and told me that i could hold on to it and the fishes cannot swim through it to bite me, no matter how tasty i may look to them.

so cool!

and after a bit of warm up, i was my usual self, climbing everywhere all over again.

Daddy laughed and said that i was soooooo cute.

Mommy tied 2 pig tails for me. Its to celebrate that wee bit of hair length i have!

Nice?

Daddy said that i must wear my shoes cause he would be letting me stand by all the huge fish tanks to look at the fishes.

its a sea horse! how cool! looked just like the seaweed!

and next...jellyfish!

the jellyfishes were transparant and they appear to change colour depending on the light that was shone on them.

guess who is the black silhouette?

...has a very round head and a button nose...

its not "la bi xiao xing" lah!

try again!

the dead give away...

look at the chubby fingers!

ai yah! its me lah!

if you have guessed it correctly, you are my number 1 fan! muacks!

Mommy says that his arch enemy is "sambal chilli" and he would pray everyday that they will never meet this lifetime.

Daddy looking sexy. Not sleepy.

quality time with Daddy...

one shoe already missing.

Mommy frantically went to look for it to only realise that the missing one was on the stroller.

My "really nice" Papa making a lot of effort to make things "life-like" with a lot of animation and sound effects.

Daddy pointing at some very lazy fishes which are lying down on the sea bed.

or maybe dead.

???

we have the same eyes...

Mommy says that its small but very sexy.

Lesson time!

Shark's Kuku bird is called "claspers"

even if they one have one, the word comes with an "s" behind it.

Repeat after me.

"Claaaaa-sperssss..."

a reallllllly big fish.

Mommy asked Cik cik yani if we should steam or deep fry it.

and Cik cik yani giggled like Mommy told her the biggest joke of 2009.

at the souvenier shop with a octopus. I liked it cause it looked like the two octopus which i have at ah mah's house which was yellow and blue.

Mommy says that i cannot have the habit of buying everything i hold onto.

I can kiss and say "bye bye" though.

Since I cannot buy, i might as well take EVRYTHING in the shop and play! Daddy and Mommy dreaded the thought of leaving the "Underwater world" compound and be back in the Sentosa's hot sun!

the blemish near my left eye was self inflicted the day before i came to sentosa :P

Who else did this ; MOMMY!

Gwen Gwen : " See! TurTur, don't be scared. Im with you. Im not putting you up for sale ever!"

Gwenneth eating her home cooked porridge.

Its yumminess of beef, carrot and tofu with brown rice/new crop porridge

I love it when people calls me "BOSS!"

I would rest one of my leg up on the latch of the stroller and giggle as the adults laugh their heads off!

Im.."BOSS!"

Mommy wanted to bring me to the beach and even packed along my little pail and spade.

But the sun was just crazy.

and off we go to dolphin island!

Gwenneth had a bird's eye view of everything!

Daddy loved this photo of us of our back view.

the last dolphin show was at 5.30pm and we were early.

I got there at about almost 5 and we have 30 minutes to burn in the hot sun.

thank goodness we can enter the lagoon first and pick a shady spot to rest and wait.

We were by the enclosed lagoon under a white tentage.

We could catch glimpses of 3 dolphins swimming leisurely just a few metres away from us!

Mommy entertained me with soft drink bottles, feeding me with water and playing clapping games.

Coincidentally, she sang a "Happy Birthday" song to me and made me very happy!

She didnt realise that it was also the same time that i was born exactly a year ago. She was telling Daddyon the way home that she forgot to sing me a birthday song at 5.25pm and Daddy told her that she did. At the dolphin lagoon!

No wonder Gwenneth was smiling from cheek to cheek!

Father and daughter busy with our own things. One on BB, the other on a 100 plus bottle cap.

Everyone singing the birthday song for me and clapping our hands.

It was a happy time together!

and finally! The show begins!

after the half and hour show, we called it a day as i was getting sleepy.

the logistics involved to bring me out for a day trip!

I was reallly tired.

a warm bottle of milk and a ride in Daddy's car in Mommy's arm ends the day on a good note.

Thank you Sentosa! I had a wonderful and happy birthday :)

hugs,

Gwen Gwen

xoxo

Ive finally turned one and every sleepless night Daddy and Mommy had for me, they both felt that it was all worth it.

Im this little life that they have both decided to devote to with all their might, and they will love me unconditionally no matter what happens.

This is an exclusive video dedicated to you, for the love and concern you have for me, spying on my little life.

and i shall see you again in 9 months time.

with my lil sister or brother :)

BIG BIG LOVE,

Gwenneth Tan Rui Xuan.

My 1st birthday party

2009-06-19T20:22:00.001-07:00

Months before my birthday party, Mummy had a baking lesson with a few June Mummies and she had this big plan to bake for my birthday.

She had this big dream about baking me a 2 tier mermaid birthday cake but decided on baking a smaller project of cupcakes instead.

Just in case, she cock things up!

a week before my party, Mommy squeezed in her baking "try-outs" during my nap time in her mini make-shift oven and failed a big time.

the cupcakes rose to different heights as the heat in the oven was uneven and the results was just horrid.

the day before my party, Mommy made a call to her best friend for rescue, and asked if she could pop over to bake using her oven at night. Super sweet Auntie Gerene said "ok" immediately :)

She was Mommy's mobile "Kitchen Aid" as well.

That afternoon, Mommy made a trip out to buy all the necessity of icing sugar... baking soda and powder... cupcake holders... fondant colouring etc.

She then came home in the super hot sun and started on her sea creatures moulding. It took her 5 hours!!!

10

octopus

Nemo's friend in the making

the tedious effort making the crab's legs!

PHEW! all done!

and off to Auntie Gerene's house! I stayed at home with cik cik Yani while she went to bake the 30 cupcakes till 11pm.

beautiful cupcakes!

Almost there!

Lovely! Big loves Auntie Gerene! you were part of my birthday celebration success!

The day of my birthday party, 13th June 2009.

Mommy and Daddy woke up real early at 7.30am and played with me. Ah mah and Ah gong came over in the morning and gave me a big ang pow each. Ah mah couldnt come for my party as she had another party to attend.

Por Por and Gong Gong offered Daddy and Mommy to come over to look after me so that Daddy and Mommy can go and run my birthday errands like buying helium balloons and pick up the birthday cake that Mommy had ordered.

They came home at about noon time and Yi yi Eunice and Jie Jie olivia is already there, all ready to help!

Yiyi Eunice, leveled the cupcakes so that Mommy can later pipe icing on it and JIe Jie Olivia helping Mommy to stick the red little pom pom on the cupcake topper that has my cute little face.

The caterers were also punctual and set up the food area at my patio, where my little playground is.

Yiyi Eunice, Jie Jie Olivia and Por Por blew up about 50 balloons and fastened it to the purple and silver streamers that Mommy curled up the night before.

Gong Gong then hung them up proudly!

"Its my favourite little granddaughter's birthday!!"

Mommy, Daddy and Yani put up the big canvas banner 2 nights before so as to make sure that it doesnt falls off!

and this involves $12 worth of 3M tape.

There were 2 sets of ballons on each side of the banner but Daddy felt that it blocks the way up the sides and shifted it aside.

Mommy did up the glittery "1st" with materials from the craft store.

Finishing up the cupcake decorations.

and so, where is the little birthday princess?

I was in the air con room, oblivious to the commotion outside which was happening all especially for me.

Playing with my weekly new toys.

anymore in there?

with my favourite tutu.

the cupcake display :)

Daddy was told to make a trip to the supermarket to buy an additional pack of icing sugar for the cupcake butter cream, while he picks up extra chairs from Ah gong's house and also buy ice from the petrol kiosk.

and he came home with flowers to surprise Mommy!

and now , may i present my birthday cake!

my family with great grandma!

Gong Gong and Por Por paid for the cake as my birthday present!

My dearest Daddy and Mommy :)

Glimpse of the FOOD! (can you see my birthday present from Daddy and Mommy behind the laska pot? its a playhouse! with 2 windows, a door and a huge pigeon hole for me to look out at the scenery!)

Mommy fixed it up a week before my party.

My Step 2 Sunshine playhouse from Toys R Us!

I love opening and closing the door!

Fried teriyakki fish

wrapped fish stick! this one is really yummy!

fried seafood noodles :)

stir fried cabbage with dried shrimps and scallops.

sweet and sour chicken a.nd nuts

Fried egg with japanese mayo.

curry chicken

stir fried vegetable

Makan time!

I had my usual porridge, and nothing fanciful from the buffet spread :(

Daddy and Mommy could only invite their friends and colleagues for my party as they couldnt contain so many guest in our house.

But she invited Jie Jie Olivia and Jie Jie Amanda who loves me heaps!

Here are some of Daddy and Mommy's close friends who took time off their precious Saturday to grace my little birthday party!

Mommy burned many nights scrapbooking my monthly development so that you can see how much ive grown!

My birthday T shirt especially ordered by Mommy : "Gwenneth is ONE!"

there is a numberic "1" at the back of the shirt like Daddy's jersey :)

My birthday kiss! Smooch!

Alvis came and i showed him to my playhouse. We played "Rapenzel", except for the fact that Gwenneth has very little hair only. Alvis has to find his way up to the house himself.

Here comes the knight in shiny armour!

The damsel, not exactly in distress as she was busy with her cooking toys.

She let down her ribbons so that Prince Alvis can climb up. Who needs long hair?

Princess Gwenneth was rescued...

and they lived happily ever after...

THE END.

Gwen Gwen :"My story nice or not?"

Im a auntie magnet.

My super nice Auntie Gerene who helped Mommy bake cupcakes :)

Time to change into my sexy birthday outfit!

MY MOM MADE IT!

Its a full tulle dress, made in shades of turquoise and blue. In the softest tulle material that Mommy can find, so that it would not be pricky against my baby smooth skin.

Its a halter neck dress that ends at mid calves and has a rim of purple sequins around the elastic band.

Mommy found some purplish star keychain which was fully beaded and stitched it on the front of my dress where the halter ribbon fastens.

She wanted to add some swaroski crystals to glam it up, but decided otherwise to keep it simple for a one year old.

Almost project runway.

what do u think?

Im sorry, Im officially one years old and you wouldnt get to see my naked photos anymore.

Tah Dah!

I came out in out gorgeous gown and was quickly swarmed by paparazzi.

Dearest Joshua, your birthday bash will be here very soon!

Pointing at my favourite purple balloons

Photos beside my cake!

You have no idea how many rows of aunties there were, taking pictures in front of me.

some use the fake ice cream cone to trick me into looking their way.

some resort to making childish chuckles or "ku-chi-ku" sounds.

Dont worry, Mommy is holding on to me right behind.

Have you spotted her already!

with my blue plate from the cooking set toys Mommy bought a few days ago.

the smelly shoes.

my eyes went bonkers. the balloons or the camera?

My hands must touch the balloons if you really want to take pictures with me.

One nice picture is enough Mama, back to the balloons.

Finally, our family picture with the banner :)

cake cutting time!

Gwenneth is very very happy with everyone singing the HAPPY BIRTHDAY song to her.

the mandarin version was awesomely a bonus.

For weeks, Mommy and Daddy have been practicing this song to me and clapping to the beat as they sing along. They were just worried that i might be overwhelmed by the song and attention from so many people and may start to cry.

So, it was really nice that Gwenneth recognises the song right away and started clapping her hands too!

really excited to see Daddy lighting up the candle.

This was probably Gwenneth's happiest moment at the party. She was enjoying all the love and attention and is all smiles :)

She knew the song was for her.

It was not the balloons, the cake, or the presents.

It was the birthday song that you sang for her that made her day.

Daddy and Mommy would love to say a big thank you!

Gwenneth was asked to make a wish and she clasp her both palms together as she smiled cheekily.

and then Gwenneth pointed at Alvis!

and her wish was granted.

and they lived happily ever after once more.

Daddy and Mommy blowing out the candles. They both taught me how to make a wish and blow the candle but most of the time, i would only splatter out some salivia.

The fondant icing was really hard.

one lovely family picture!

photo time!

It was really difficult to keep me still for photo taking session with all of Daddy and Mommy's friends.

and Mommy knew only food could distract me for a long while. So she whipped out her bottle of graduate puffs and started feeding me like a trained dolphin.

in this series of photos , you know why my poses are limited to :

1) to looking at mommy's cupped palm and digging for the biggest piece

2) pinching a tiny biscuit with my fingers and

3) stuffing it into my mouth.

Which pose did you get for your group photo with me?

I only get a fake ice cream cone after my round of photo taking.

HUH!

NO MORE???

Daddy stocks up on Graduates Puffs every time he sees it at the supermarket and asks Mommy if there is any more at home.

and when Mommy replied "one more bottle i think.." he would take and put one more into the supermarket trolley anyway.

Daddy knew it was MY FAVOURITE!

Mommy and I with our cupcake

Jie Jie Jocelyn says that its very nice :)

Mommy's best friends cutting the cake for everyone.

The cake looks heavy and hard but its surprisingly very moist and soft!

the cupcakes with my face as a topper was snapped up like hotcakes! So Mommy stuck my face in every cupcake so that everyone could bring "me" home as a keepsake :)

yummy cakes :)

My Da vinci art gallery.

Mommy said i could eat chocolate cake!

Mommy is awesome!

and as usual, she forces me to drink lots of water everyday.

and i hate to have my mouth wiped.

I like it dirty.

Super cute Rubeus with really spongy cheeks.

its a tough fight between pui pui gwenneth and rubeus's cheeks.

Rubeus says that my stars are cute.

taking pictures with the flowers Daddy bought on my behalf.

Friends leaving and Ta-bao my cupcakes home!

(photo by ben of www.dreamcatcher.com.sg)

thank you everyone for my little birthday party.

See you next year!

It's MY BIRTHDAY!

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

18th June 2009.

I turned ONE!

I had a fantastic birthday party and hope that everyone had just as much fun as i did. Especially when you sang that birthday song for me!!!

Daddy and Mommy brought me for my 12th month hep B jab today and then we went sentosa!

Mommy is totally drained this 2 weeks with my party preps and aftermath.

and today i was hyperactive as if i was on steroids at sentosa.

Mommy promise to blog soon.

very very soon!

loves for all those who thought of me today!

the little BIG girl,
Gwenneth.

My birthday preparations

2009-06-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

There is just something about everyone's first birthday, that is a big deal.

It celebrates the first year of your life to many many more years to come.

The fact that I born after 10 nerve-wrecking months of Mommy's pregnancy whether if I would be born healthy and strong, was never taken for granted.

Before i was born, Mommy had to watch what she do and eat, all for the sake of my well being. She had to go through many test and worry if they will all turn out to be normal results. She had to go on 2 weeks of diabetic diet which was a horrid torture to her.

After I was born,Mommy had to constantly take care of me and think of many steps ahead to prevent obvious accidents from happening so that my little body would not be injured in anyway. She had to make sure that im well fed and well rested so that i can grow up being a happy baby.

Do you remember about your first birthday?

Well, Mommy said nobody does.

At least for the people she surveyed.

But everyone has a picture of themselves with a smirk grin and a birthday cake with one proud candle on it.

Though i would never remember about it anyway, Mommy and Daddy felt that i deserve to be really special for a day cause they are really proud of me, being ME.

Mommy wanted something different for my birthday apart from Minnie Mouse, Winnie and Pooh or Hello Kitty theme which i do not relate with cause ive not been a TV cartoon fan anyway.

I like Little Einstein, Pocoyo and Thomas the train theme songs a lot though!

Mommy thought of these theme for me too! She wanted something which i can relate to and makes me happy!

Thomas! He's the cheeky one!
Elly! Pato! Loula! Sleepy bird! and Pocoyo! where is caterpillar?

Leo! Annie! June! Qunicy! and Rocket!

Next year when i turn 2, Mommy and Daddy said that i could decide a theme for myself!

My birthday party plans just came to Mommy one day when she was reading my favourite book for the 607th time.

And here is the other mermaid book of my private collection.

You have already seen my Sparkly Angel title right?

I loveeee this book. Mommy knew the story soooo welll from reading it to me sooo many time that she can chant it like a poem. See the edges?...ive chewed on them till they are all sooo tattered.

Even Daddy can do it after listening it from Mommy over and over again.

Whenever Mommy goes ...

" When I wear my swimsuit... Guess who I want to be???"

I would crawl to Mommy side of the bed and point at her bedside table near to the reading lamp. Thats where she keeps my bedtime story books!

Story time!

Me posing with my book in the day for the purpose of this entry. I like to stick my fingers into the hole of the thick board pages.

When i wear my swimsuit, guess who I want to be?

A pretty little mermaid, swimming in the sea!

I build myself a palace from the sand on the shore.

It has pointy towers and turrets and a sparkly front door.

(**Learning time!! TURRETS are the jagged squarish ends of the castle you see in this picture.)

Next, I style my hair. I brush and comb it through.

This is something every mermaid loves to do.

Then i put on my shell necklace and i make a special wish...

for a dazzling mermaid tail, so I can swim with the fish!

So, Mommy casually discussed it with Daddy and the TAN family has decided on the MERMAID theme!

somehow, everything about this theme seems to work nicely togther.

I love blue as well as glittery stuff! Mermaid is a great idea!

Mommy then went on to embark on mamy nights of "googling" on mermaid pictures.

Princess Ariel from "The Little Mermaid"

But...mommy thought that Ariel looks very Ah Lian.

So Mommy wanted something more innocent and cute looking... anyway image of a hand drawn mermaid would look better than the above!

Then Mommy came acrossed this :

**P.E.R.F.E.C.T!!!**

There is something just so sweet and "melts-the-heart" about precious moment figurines! Mommy has never really been a fan but this cute little Precious Moment mermaid is absolutely perfect for a little girl's birthday!

Pretty, sweet and fits the theme!

Mommy loved it sooo much and tried to buy it on ebay and amazon but the shipping charges is like $60!

Anyway, Mommy used the simple PAINT software and did up a banner for me from scratch. Painstakingly choosing appropriate fonts and colour theme together with the mermaid figurine image.

She then sent it to the printer's and did up a huge banner for me. This is the draft!

Mommy would then do up a numeric "1st", dust it with glitter and stick it on the banner! Mommy pays a lot of attention to details..she is born a craft person!

Mommy then made a trip to her favourite craft store, SPOTLIGHT with big plans to hand stitch a birthday dress for me.

She bought yards of tulle in turquiose shades, sequins and purple ribbon.

She had to take care of me in the day and so she spend many late nights doing this for me...

Love you Mommy!

and along the way, seeking Daddy's opinion if its pretty!

Here is a preview of how it looks!

I would wear this chio chio dress for my cake cutting ceremony and you can come take pictures with me :)

Mommy then went to a shop selling Precious Moment figurines and came upon these...

She hyper-ventilated.

Can you tell who they are?Princess Cinderella.

Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Princess Snow White.

They are newly launched for the Precious Moments Disney series 2009!

and 4 princess characters are made with a birthday cake in hand! How perfect is that?

and guess who is the 4th?

Awwwww......

Mommy bought it at $105. She said that she will write me a special message beneath the figurine with Daddy and i will have it as a special keepsake of my first birthday.

You shall see this at my party at a very special spot!

Can you guess it already?

Balloons! Streamers! My mommy is going to bake me cupcakes! and lotsa food food food!

Isnt it exciting!!!????

See you at my party!

Gwenneth is in love.

2009-06-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ever since my brain, probably the size of an apple, is starting to work like Einstein's, Mommy taught me a lot nouns which i can surprisingly remember it for good.

I was pointing and pokking Mommy's pretty earrings and she went :

" Gwen, say eeearrrr-ingss"

Of course i never answer lah!

Its too difficult can!

She then point at it and repeated the word "earrings" like 20 times and also happily went on to describe what a earring is for and where it would obviously be worn.

Just this evening, Mommy asked to test if she recalled our mini lesson, i pointed to her pearl studs without any prompting.

"Good girl!" Mommy then gave me a kiss :)

Sometimes, when im asked to pick up something, like my bath toy, crabby or froggie, she would also ask me to kiss it. This is to be sure that im not picking up the item just by pure coincidence.

Mom :"Gwenneth, give Mommy the crab."

Gwenneth picks up the crab.

Mom :"Gwenneth, kiss the frog"

Gwenneth put down the crab, picked up the frog and kissed it.

Mommy came home with a free magazine that was given during some baby seminar. There was an advertisment of a tuition centre of a little good looking boy smiling on the back cover.

Gwenneth enjoys flipping through the pages, front to the back and then back to the front.

Mom : "Gwenneth, look at this.... Bbbbbooooyyyy"

Mommy points and said "boy" many times.

Then, using our "doubly sure" technique to test if Gwenneth understood, "Gwenneth, kiss the boy."

and I did!

Ever since then, while Im doing my usual naughty stuff, spending about 10 mins of my life everyday messing up The Straits Times.

I would come across the magazine which is piled together with the daily papers underneath the coffee table.

Mommy thinks im soooo cute crawling under the table. For my first try, i knock my head against the table top and ive learnt to be smarter ever since. I would keep my head low.Mommy would laugh when i do that.

I have big plans to destroy the "Super Nanny" book some day.

I hate her.

and when i spot my little new "BOY" friend, I would say "booarr" and then kiss it.

EACH TIME I SEE IT!

I seriously think im in love.

My birthday invite :) Remember to RSVP to my Mommy!

2009-06-02T09:58:00.001-07:00

One Saturday at East Coast Park

2009-05-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday, its visit Ah Mah and Ah gong day.

On Fridays, sometimes i get to stay over at Gong Gong and Por Por house and i would go for breakfast together with them in the morning at Hougang Green and they get to hao lian me to all their friends.

So Saturday has somehow become our own family day, with just Daddy, Mommy and me. Sometimes with Cik Cik Yani too.

Mommy and Daddy came to pick me on Saturday's late noon. Though Por Por suggested that I stay with them for another night so that Mommy can have some shopping or resting time for herself, Mommy couldnt bear to be apart from me already. She missed me loads.

Took an apple from Por Por house and held onto it tightly. Mommy warned that if i threw it on the floor and dirty it, it would be gone forever!

I smelled it occasionally.

Back in the car, Mommy said that i could chew on the apple all by myself. Mommy took the apple away from me to bite off the skin and i got very angry.

I cried and squirmed in Mommy's arms cause i thought she took away my apple FOREVER.

Papa said im very naughty.

MINE MINE MINE!

its very sweet and juicy.

and its very small, just nice for the size of my hands.

I would never give u a bite.

Stop looking at my apple.

I dozed off in the car after Mommy went to buy me a new wooden high chair which would be a lot easier to clean once i start to learn to feed myself after 1 years old.

I continued to sleep even when they reached East Coast Park and transferred me to my combi stroller.

They went to check out the worst fleamarket ever at PLAYGROUND and we went to sushi tei for dinner.

I had lumps of plain japanese rice and home cooked alphabet pasta

Everyone in good spirits and ready to go!

Walking towards the beach!

Daddy showed me some fishes in the pond. He was saying that we should have brought along some bread so that the fishes will all swim towards us and Gwenneth can have a good look at them.

FFFF-IIIIII-SSSS-HHHHHHH

East Coast family picture take 1!

Take 2!

Take 3!

Daddy felt that i wouldnt appreciate the joy of playing sand just yet and should get his precious white skin baby on the dirty beach sand with twigs, dried leaves and small plant seeds.

"carry and see seecan already! the beach so dirty! ai yo!"

But Mommy thought that i should be given the chance to touch, feel and explore.

Its ok to get dirty..

Daddy felt the heartache to see his nice smelling 11 months old baby on the beach!

Mommy brought me close to the waves and ran backwards each time the wave comes near.

Gwenneth chuckled :)

Mommy let me touch the sea water with my toes!

I lifted up my legs as the wet sand feels weird on my feet.

I wanna feel the wet sand.

See Mommy having so much fun?

Family time with Daddy and Gwenneth is precious!

Mommy finally asked for a mueslin cloth from Yani and let me sit on a relatively clean patch of sand that Daddy has spotted for me.

Mommy encouraged me to touch the dry and fine sand but was also worried that a grain of sand would blow into my eyes because of the sea breeze

hands on!

Never touched sand for my whole life! (11 months)

enjoying the view

Just as Mommy thought that it was a perfect day, with nice breeze and waving coconout trees, children building sand castles and running back to their Mommies for a bit of the cheese sandwich, it started to rain!

Mommy picked me up from the sand abruptly and we all dashed for the car.

I had that puzzled look when i was in the car.

"I thought.... I thought.... I thought i was playing sand a while ago?"

Mommy was sad that it was such a spoiltsport.

We will go again... Daddy and Mommy right?

Blog to cease after my first birthday. Sobs.

2009-05-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

In another month's time, your favourite blog,

www.spyingonmylittlelife.blogspot.com will cease.

Mommy started this because she wanted to pen down the first eventful year of my life. The many "first" i take since June 2008.

My first jab, my first flip, my first bath...

and now that its June 2009, Mommy thought that she would stop blogging and tidy up the blog with spelling, grammatical errors , short forms, capital letters at appropriate places which she was all too lazy to edit. She would then print out the blog like a coffee table book for the joy of reading it by the warm morning sun, with her wrinkled hands with Daddy, preferably in Australia in many many years to come.

Credits to Mommy's friend, Bel, who did a lovely journal for her handsome boy, Travis.

This is the 101th entree you are reading, and I hope ive entertained you quite a bit over the past year!

This is just a humble blog without tens of thousands of hits rating.

Its just a blog for those who truly loved me, my mum, or my dad.

and i love you too.

big loves,
Gwenneth Tan

Gwenneth and her little tricks at 11 months

2009-05-20T03:59:00.000-07:00

Its the same this month as in April, I do not need to see Dr Yip at 11 months old.

I will be due for my 1 year old assessment next month!

Mommy already made an appointment with me at the clinic to have my weight and height to be measured on my actual birthday to see how much Ive grown!

I havent been weighing myself since quite a few months!

Dont you miss pictures of me on the weighing machine?

It may be the last time i will be on that machine cause i will be able to stand on the scales very soon!

Mommy is already starting to feel the difference...

Ive 7 teeth, 4 on the upper gums and 3 on the lower gums.

L size huggies is getting a bit tight.

About 1 month ago, Mommy received samples of Stage 3 milk, Enfagrow.

I was on full breastmilk from a baby to 6 months old.

then i was on Enfapro formula milk since then till now.

Soon, Mommy would have to wean me off stage 2 to move on to stage 3!

Mommy will probably do that on my 11.999999th month.

Enfapro price was about $38.80 and recently $40.

I drink a 90ml tin every week.

$38 x 4weeks x 6months = $912

almost a thousand dollars worth of milk in half a year!

and now, moving on to Enfagrow is a lot cheaper!

only 2/3th the price.

Gwenneth is a big girl already... she will soon be drinking milk meant for 1 year old :)

Here are the things Little grown up Gwenneth can do!

Ive perfected my waving skills from rotating my wrist, to a real "wave" by moving my forearms at the elbow

gives blowing kisses when the adults say "pank-kiss" (whats the right word anyway?)

i can take a ball and give it to someone in particular if i know the name.
Eg "Give the ball to Papa!"

I can bring anything, about the size of a mobile phone to my ear when you say "hello?"

I keep my lips slightly apart and print a wet kiss on specifiically either daddy's or Mommy's lips when told to "kiss mama! or "kiss papa!"

Iwould lift up mommy's t shirt and expose her belly button when she goes...
"Where is Mommy's bellybutton?"
Its not easy to find mine, as the folds are quite tricky.

- I could fish out a "crab" or "frog" quickly when Mommy asked me to do so. I can even do more complex instructions like "Gwenneth! Take the crab and put it in the red pail!"

Where's the frog?

I mimicked daddy by taking the smaller scv remote controller, straighten out my arms and point it to the tv when daddy says "on the tv!"

I would even hold it in this particular manner with my 4 fingers and thumb holding onto each side of the controller and then rest my little index finger on the buttons.

The cutest part is that i would balance the controller properly first with my left hand and position my right hand properly in place cause the controller is quite heavy for my small hand.

I enjoy standing up in the bath tub and MUST burst every bubble mommy blew out of the soapy loop.

and enjoy doing contorted body twist.

I would cling on to Daddy's neatly ironed shirt tightly when i knew he was going out to work. i would also cry and hold on to his pants when he put me down after giving me a good bye kiss.

I can gently pat my chest to tell you that im scared "pah pah" But I will still cry and wail out loud on first instinct.

Mommy does her makeup in the living room by a small compact mirror before going out, just beside me,whileCik Cik Yani pack up my items and take out my stroller and car seat. I love crawling all over her and grab that concealer she has in hand.

i would copy mommy when she does her make up by patting my palm on my cheeks. it made Mommy laugh. And sometimes when Mommy asked me to show her how I do "make up" for her during my mood swings, i end up slapping her.

Being very intelligent with my many omega 3 salmon fish treats and Daddy's patience teaching, I know that the remote control car is directly co-related with the, remote control of course.

Daddy always tell me that in order to make the car move, we have to use this remote control.

These 2 things have batteries and switches on its own. So when Mommy switch on the battery on the car, there will be blue and red flickering lights. Immediately, I would crawl and pick up the remote control and try pressing the orange buttons.

Sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes to the left and sometimes to the right.

My eyes would follow the yellow car very closely.

I haven not learnt how to free the car when it gets trapped in another toy or pillow though. So Mommy helped me with that.

When ask about the swimming pool, i would either crawl to my balcony or point to the direction and say "poooo poooo poooo"

I love food! I would point at whatever you are eating and say "yum yum yum yum..." and lick my lips.

Trust me, you will feel guilty for not giving me a piece

I can stick out my fat tongue too!

On a "better mood" occasion...

BLINK!

Daddy, Mommy and I were lazing on bed watching cartoon and she told me about the red button on the tv remote control, pointing to it and said "red button! red button!"

i fidelled with it a bit and went on to flip my blue book and looked for the page with my favourite green apple picture.

Mommy then chatted with Daddy with Pocoyo on TV.

Out of the blue, Mommy asked..."Where's the red button Gwenneth?"

I TURNED MY HEAD, LOOKED AROUND, PICKED UP THE REMOTE CONTROL AND POINTED AT THE RED BUTTON!

Daddy and Mommy had their eyes wide open and stare at each other for a good whole 5 seconds before they squeal out a string of praises.

Because Gwenneth is learning fast and absorbing all that she observes like a thirsty sponge, Mommy decided given the opportunity for more exposure.

Mommy read that the first 3 years of a child's life is critical as the brain undergoes rapid growth provided there is appropriate and sufficient stimulation.

Mommy is not hoping or deliberately training me to be a genius or excel competitively among my age peers. She just wanted me to learn to be outgoing and not be shy and timid. She also hope to enrol me into playgroups so that I will learn to share and be nice.

She will try to bring me out whenever she can, and even opt to take a bus, so that i can learn all about bus rides and have a better view of the passing cars on the elevated bus seats compared to Daddy's car.

Mommy would also bring me down to the lobby to wait for Daddy when Daddy told her that he is on his way home for dinner. We would watch the neighbours dogs take their evening walks as i go "oorh! oorh! oorh!" at the dogs.

We hardly go through flash cards and only repeatedly studied the same old "Baby's first word" book.

.......and the big leap,

IM GOING TO SCHOOL!!!!

Mommy enrolled me to this class meant for babies age 8-18 months old.

Its 1.5hrs each session, twice a week.

Mommy paid for 2months.

there is a session commencing on my 1st year old birthday, but mommy wanted to delay it for another 2 months so that i will make the best of it learning and understanding more things at age 13th and 14th month.

my school starts in august!

Are we getting uniforms, pencil box and water bottle, Ma?

The class curriculum promises popcorn making, playing bongos to African beats, getting acquainted with friendly puppet characters, hand painting with delicious ice creams or discovering the aromas of exotic spices.

It also has a 15mins playtime with Chinese stories, songs and hands-on fun!

Mommy is very wary of falling into the trap of numerous classes, courses and tuition that kills away a happy childhood.

The only thing that Mommy insisted that i must learn is swimming. Its for safety and survival. Not for the fun of it like ballet or violin.

and the final bit, how about watching me dance naked to beat box?

a new car for my 11th month birthday!

2009-05-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

Im 11th months old today and we are celebrating it by picking up our new car!

Gwen Gwen :"kah! kah! kah!"

Daddy and Mommy has been shopping around for a new car as our 4 year old one has been sick with an inactivate steering and the repair cost is $7000! the tyres were also due for a change as they are turning bald and its very dangerous.

after some careful thought,Daddy felt that we should change to a new car instead of risking the value of the old car from depreciating further.

Daddy and Mommy brought me to view a car they both liked from online pictures.

Gwen gwen :"let me try it!"

Vroom Vroom!!!

Papa loves me

Papa look! its not bad!

I can drive!

all on my own! trust me! i wouldnt crash it!

this car has got awesome features! the reading light is on "touch" feature. it gets lighted up with a tap of the finger!

and also has a valet security feature that let us lock the glove compartment with a 4 digit pin! If we forgot the pin, we would have to bring the car back to reprogramme.

Never leave my tu tu inside on a cranky day.

Daddy :" Gwenneth..see? touch the lights!"

Gwen Gwen :" look papa! i know!!!"

Gwen Gwen :" Horn horn! here goes!"

touch. touch touch. everywhere.

on and off and on and off. the lights are the first to go bonkers.

and Daddy bought the car on the spot.

We took black for both interior and exterior!

ANd today, 18th May 2009 on my 11th month old birthday, we had a call from the agent to pick up our new car!

I will miss you my little old car that bought me out to many many fun places and had many nice cozy naps.

and

we welcome the new one!

there its is! its parked in the showroom waiting for us to bring him home

already bearing our car licence plate, EU 9988X

Gwen Gwen : " Kah kah! drive yourself out! there!"

Gwen Gwen : "you wait for me k! i will be coming!"

Gwen Gwen : " will drive out there once Daddy sign the papers."

Gwen Gwen :" Dun worry! i promise i will bring you home and introduce you to your new friend ; the britax car seat!"

My old boyfriend, still looking good.

Gwen Gwen :" papa sign this, this and this."

Daddy and I discussing about serious stuff.

You can tell its very serious.

The decision is unanimous.

Long boring details.

Gwen Gwen : "yay! done!"

I get a decal.

Peel it and stick it on the car.

I did a round of car inspection.

Im stringent on quality control.. be it cars or biscuits.

and the car agent auntie had a lovely surprise hidden in the boot for us!

Mommy was impressed and felt that it was very kind and sweet of her to buy us chocolates, flowers and a toy to celebrate our new ownership of the car

Gwen Gwen :" Mommy look!"

A bunny!

Its a very very soft and fluffy bunny.

and the bunny has a very soft country floral dress. Mommy is gonna leave it in the car to keep me company.

there was also a golf bag for Daddy and umbrella to shelter me wherever i go!

poke rabbit's eyeballs

who's cuter!

the flowers.... :)

playing with bunny

Mommy asked me to kiss the bunny.

and i did.

it melts everyone's heart

stepping on the new leather seats with my new shoes.

i kiss my new swanky car too!

while Mommy and I were running up and down playing in the empty showroom on a weekday evening, Daddy was memorising hard how to use all the features that was being briefed.

Papa learning.

All ready to go!

Driving out to the real world and immediately depreciated by 20k of the total that Daddy paid full.

my stroller transferred in the new car!

our old and naked car.

Our new car to last us another 4 years!

off to fish and co for dinner!

I get fish, celery and carrot porridge, while Daddy,Mommy and Yani dig into fish and chips.

i can tie up my fringe! and very soon, cute ponytails like Lizzie Goh's!

A group of JC students were celebrating someone's birthday and they sang a happy birthday song! i was clapping away happily!

So Mommy requested for a small candle on her brownie and informed the whole crew that IT IS NOT MY BIRTHDAY in case they crowd around us and cheer!

its just for fun so that i can practice blowing out candles and not be afraid being the centre of attraction,in front of the cake on my birthday party next month.

mesmerised.

the chocolate cake or the flame?

Mommy loves me.

She often says :" a lot. a lot"

Family 11th birthday celebration.

Mommy is very satisfied with this picture and hope that I would do the same and face forwardon my birthday for pictures!

"I get Daddy,Mommy and Yani singing for me!"

Papa says blow!

"Boooooooooooh"

Mommy thinks that i looked super cute.

Mommy was very very lenient and let me try vanilla ice cream.

What an expression.

it made Daddy very happy.

Ok, ONE last bit of it.

Thats it.

No more.

Ermmmmmmm..........................

THE END :)

Gwen Gwen, the extra help at gardening.

2009-05-11T10:49:00.001-07:00

You have seen Gwenneth in a laundry basket.

How about Gwenneth in a pail???

The yellow palm at out balcony is falling sick. Either of dehydration from the unbelieveable afternoon heat this april/may, are perhaps its due to the hardened soil over the past 2 years.

So Mommy decided to uproot the plant from the old pot, soak it in a pail of water overnight to hydrate it properly and then change a new chio chio pot!

and it cost Daddy $56 for each white pot and we both 2 for the balcony! The previous brown square ones are $70, with compliments from Ah mah.

Plastic pots are expensive these day.

So first, Mommy and CikCik Yani watered the plant to soften the soil.

Next Cik cik Yani dug it out.

I was making several perservering attempts to crawl out to the balcony to only have Mommy carrying me in back to the house time and again.

Just when Mommy and Cik Cik Yani were busy, I crawled out once again, sweating like a dog.

Mommy let me stand by the pail and i get to play with water!

Its so cooling and nice on a hot hot day!

Then Mommy decided that i should get into the pail of clean water to cool myself down as it was almost shower time after that anyway!

"dearest yellow palm, i promise i wouldnt pee in it."

i fit nicely in it!

It was just 1/3 filled and i could sit in it and the water level is still way below my head.

Ma Ma!! More water!!!

So my Mommy generously scoop in more water from another smaller pail so that i have more water to play with!

To my Mommy's astonishment, the water was about my shoulder's level when i sit, and i start to lick and drink up the water!!!

Gwenneth and her naughty acts.

Mommy complaining about me tricking her into adding more water for me.

Hee Hee!!!

Yayyyy!!!

I get to drink tap water. Not sterilised!!!

Yayyyy!!!

Mommy : " Lau sai then u know!!!"

Gwen : " oops."

Mommy then scooped out a lot of water and now its lesser than before.

Damn.

Mommy pressing the pail against the wall with her feet so that the pail will not topple while she snaps...

Mommy pour water over my head and shoulders...

really drenched.

Gwen Gwen :" Cik Cik Yani, u need my help?"

My little bottom is firmer than you think it is.

Stand and sit and stand and sit...

Mommy put the container over my head and said " helmet!"

Gwen Gwen :" nice?"

Gwen Gwen :" I hate it."

Mommy : " Even in the tropical scorching heat, only you can melt my heart, Gwenneth. Mommy loves you. "

Aussie Land Day 5 and im coming home!

2009-05-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Im going home to many bowls of warm fish porridge and alphabet pasta...

Say bye bye to boring cereals and bananas!

Mommy and Daddy went for some crazy shopping at the mall next to our apartment.

while i hanged out with Por Por and Gong Gong who went Target in the city. I was a little cranky as ive developed rashes since last next after the penguin tour.. perhaps the weather was too dry. Mommy didnt put on any lotion as she was worried that it would aggrevate it further. But thinking back, she felt that she should have bought calamine lotion from the pharmacy at least. it was itchy and i was really unhappy about it.

Bye bye Australia...Mommy and Daddy said i was really well behaved and i definately deserve many more trips to come.
Playing peek-a-boo with grandma who was sitting behing us.

PEEK-A-BOO!!!

Buckle up everyone!!!

Pat pat pat pat...blast off!

call for the stewardess for my hot milk milk.

never come...

call again.

and again

and again

and again.

Mommy, i lift up the screen for you.

Watching Dexter laboratory and my rashes flamming up!

Little poor thing with the itchy patch.

Head phones!

folding the screen and threatening to break it.

Bye bye everyone...see u back in SINGAPORE!!

i miss my bed!

and toys.

Aussie Land Day 4

2009-05-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Its the 4th day in australia and im loving the weather!

It really cold but Im in good spirits!

It was dizzling when we set off but everyone was really hoping that it would stop.

We depended on Uncle Alvin's trusted GPS and sorta lost our way to the peach farm.

But my Daddy's map navigation skills saved the day!

Haha... But Uncle Alvin's GPS was right lah.

The peaches were already havested and we didnt have much to pick. Nonetheless, we bought some peaches and prunes home and its really sweet. I loved it too!

We then made our way to the vinyard.

I had some really nice pictures by my very "photography-gifted" Mommy at this wine place that sells hand made chocolates too.

Or is it just because im very pretty and photogenic???

Papa and I having a good time on the dry cool sun and the beautiful Australian sun.

Gong Gong loves being with me.... He carried me often and showed me the blue sky and lovely flowers...

Mommy taught me anout nature whenever she can... on birds... cats... worms...flowers... trees.... bees...

She plays with me too! I get my very first slide ride! I know im always safe in Mommy's arms.

Again! Again!

Ok...meal time!

we had some fine dining at the vinyard before rushing off for a winery tour.

I get my boring cereal and mash banana again.

but i finish it anyway.

Here is everything everyone else is eating... Gong Gong's treat!

Mommy and Daddy at the wine tour and i was sleeping happily in my stroller with Uncle Alvin lovingly looking after me!

with sleepy monster.

Just me and my Mom. Loves.

Mommy's favourite shot by Gor Gor Albert.

Just me and my dearest Papa.

Sunny sun!

Play.

the best way to learn for babies!

The photographer!

Gor Gor Albert!

Mommy and Yi yi very happy.

Papa and Mama.

Mommy seems to be very good with jumping shots.

I cant jump leh.

Aussie Land Day 3

2009-05-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

Probably the most activities jammed pack day!

Daddy and Mommy, together with Uncle Alvin, booked a day trip tour to the outskirts of Melbourne.

Daddy and Mommy has already been on the same exact tour, but is bringing me and the rest of the family is experience it all over again!

Uncle Alvin had been great help with Mommy's trip itinerary planning and even mailed brouchures for Mommy all the way to Singapore. That made things so much easier!

Big hugs Uncle Alvin! I promise to be your flowergirl on your wedding. Not the bride.

Rise and shine! Everyone is still sleepy from the overnight poker.

Only Mommy and I were chirpy.

Its gonna be a cold day especially at the penguin island!

Gwen's outfit :

Mommy bought me a super soft neck warmer from her Hong Kong trip last valentines' day.

Pink rabbit top is from her Tokyo trip after i was born.

White jeans from Baby Fox

Furry boots bought online from states. Mommy bought Lizzie Goh a exact pair too!

I was this close to a parrot! I tried talking to him but he ignored me. I think he didnt sleep well last night too.

F.A.M.I.L.Y

Feeding the birds breakfast!

Gwen Gwen :"Come come... bird bird!!! Its a delicious mix of grains...just like my cereal you know!"

"Come here! i got food for you!!!"

Beautiful white parrot

Gong Gong! i help you!

Por por mimicks the sound of parrots

Okay! the birds are fed. My turn! (opens bag for milk)

On the puffing Billy! He is one of Thomas's Australian friend.

Holding on to the ticket.

Its nap time after my milk.

Big hugs!

We are leaving the train already? So fast?

Next stop, the farm for lunch!

I was encouraged to pat the rocking horse.

...and was made to sit on it. I cried. I told you i didnt like fluffy stuff.

I only like food. Roasted lamb and beef. I was lucky I was given some mashed potatos!

Independent on a wooden high chair.

Mommy is looking for a wooden high chair for me. Someone outbidded her on ebay and she is still upset about it.

Godpa has amazing abilities to store his "sleep"

Mommy allowed me to roam freely on the dry cool grass.

One nice picture of me by Gor Gor Albert!

We rode on a sculpted solid wood horse.

Meet Mr cow! the source of all milk!

By the way, do you work for Enfalpro A+?

Rode on Gong Gong too! the source of plenty of love!

Me, Papa and a REAL horse.

Meet Mama hen and her little shy chicks.

Mommy and I sneaking up on a duck.

The ducks turning their ass at Gwen.

Gwen Gwen : " Really....i swear ive not eaten duck meat yet.... really..."

Taking 40 wings while the rest was briefed on horses, sheeps and cows.

I missed the little ducklings! But Mommy took a picture to show me the cute little ones of how their cuddle for love and warmth.

Miss peacock at her "not-very-proud" moment.

Mommy made a personalised horse shoe with my name for AUD$

Gong gong helped Mommy varnish it to prevent it from rusting and Mommy made it into a fridge magnet.

Pink bird!

Happy moments with Mommy :)

Gong Gong and Por Por loves to let me play on kiddy rides. Each time we were at a mall in Singapore, they would spend a dollar for my 3 mintues ride.

Mommy still cannot believe that the cost of it had increased by 5 folds since her time in the 1980s!

Mom, thats like almost 30 years ago.

Koala kiddy ride!

Daddy!!! HELP!!!!

this koala escaped!!!

from the tree!!!

Life is good... they eat and sleep and eat and sleep....Pui Pui like me!

Wait for me! Im coming with you!

Gong Gong : "No Gwenneth! Dont go!"

Daddy : " Papa loves you... stay with me ok?"

Its a monster koala! Run for your life!

My hero saved me... if not, i could have been kidnapped by the koala and be kept in the koalaa reserve forever! because im soo cute!

Papa...i would be your little bear forever...

We then went for a horrible dinner and visited the penguin island. Perhaps its the season, or that fewer penguins are returning to the island because of "commercialisation". I only caught a few close up encounter with less than 20 penguins which are shorter than me. they only measure 30cm!

I was forced to take pictures with fluffy stuff again.

I hate it.

Aussie Land Day 2

2009-05-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

Rise and shine! we did shopping today and Mommy and I bought matching black boots. They are still a little too big for me now, but u will get to see them on me very soon!

Uncle Alvin took his time off from work to bring us round whenever possible and hence i get many rides on his swanky new car!

He thinks that im the hottest so far :)

We had dinner at one of Daddy's and Mommy's favourite chinese restaurant which they never fail to visit every trip.

Mommy's friend, Uncle Paul suggested Japanese but Grandma was complaining about sandwiches and wanted chinese food.

Made our way for dinner and saw many birds at the carpark.

I love birds!

Every evening, i would look for them by the window at home. Mommy said that they would fly pass our house to go home for a dinner of worms.

See?

its dinner time and they are going home.

Mommy carried me and we watched the birds glide gracefully in the sky. With big flappy wings!

Cant take my eyes off the birds.

"Ma look! they are there!"

Brother Paul, Albert, Papa and my blog's chief editor Mama

Gong gong, por por, ivan and my blog's administrative chief Yiyi Eunice.

My blog's official law advisor and self proclaimed boyfriend, Alvin with my Godpapa

My beanie hat that made me looked even more like a boy.

Mr Tan, Mrs Tan, Miss Tan and Mr Tan.