Flashback 4 - The Newborn

I was a quiet, adorable and fuss-free little baby in my first few months. I was very punctual, scheduled and predictable when it came to my feeding time, sleeping time and poo-poo time so that made me a very easy baby.

The day I came home for the first time

Unlike most newborns who love (and feel safer) being swaddled, I always unwrapped myself by squirming and kicking away whatever that restricted the movements of my limbs. Without the swaddling and with eyes alertly opened wide all the time, I did not look like a newborn at all...

4 days old:

12 days old:

19 days old:

22 days old:

Flashback 3 - The Birth

The magic date arrived and passed without me showing any signs of wanting to greet the world. So, in order not to prolong the waiting, mummy decided to induce me on the 13th of August 2006, 2 days after her EDD.

About to deliver... anxious but eager

At 8am, she was admitted into the delivery suite. Shortly after that, she was put on drip to induce labour. Her contraction started immediately at 2-minute intervals. Then the doctor came to break her water bag. Ouch! At about 9:30am, an anaesthetist came knocking on the door like a peddler to ask if mummy needed an epidural. Without hesitation, she said “Yes, please!” And then the waiting continued... in a more relaxing and bearable condition.

She could even sleep after having the epidural

At 12pm, mummy was 5cm dilated. At 1pm, she progressed to 9cm! This was it. The nurses started “transforming” her bed to prepare for pushing. After about 10 minutes of pushing, I popped out of her with the help of a vacuum. I was a whopping 4.39kg / 9lb 11oz bundle of joy. Mummy’s jaw dropped instantly because my estimated weight was just above 3kg in her last scan a day before.




Goo-goo ga-ga... Daddy, mummy… I’m about to flip your world upside-down. Heh heh heh….

Flashback 2 - The Pregnancy

I gave mummy an overall easy and enjoyable pregnancy. She did not suffer from morning sickness at all, and she was always eating! She couldn’t say no to food or wait until she was hungry because that would be too late, and would make her nauseous. I did not crave for anything special so mummy just ate the usual stuff while daddy went “phew!” (for being spared the “torture” of going out searching for weird stuff at 3am).

Every month, mummy and daddy would come and visit me through this little window in a hospital. Sometimes I would wave at them. Sometimes I would turn away.

Towards the end of the 3rd month, mummy realized her clothes we getting tighter and she could no longer fit into them comfortably. It was after she put on her new line of mama-fashion that she started to feel pregnant.

At around the 4th month, daddy and mummy went for a cruise on Superstar Gemini. While it was their last honeymoon before becoming parents, it was my very first holiday! With 18 consecutive buffet meals in 6 days, that was the biggest and most enjoyable feast mummy and I have ever had.

Some time around the 5th month, mummy asked the doctor about my gender and she was very happy to know that I am a girl. On the very same day, immediately after her pre-natal check-up, she went shopping and bought some cute, girly clothing for me.

For the whole of the 6th month, daddy was away for training in the US. Mummy had to stay back because of me. It was a long and unhappy month for her as she couldn't help missing and pining for daddy. But he came back with lots of stuff for me!

At about 7 months into her pregnancy, mummy developed a super-nasty rash. It made her itch all over her arms, hands, legs and feet. Poor mummy could neither sleep nor sit still. She was prescribed various kinds of creams but nothing helped. And she looked so hideous that she couldn’t step out of home. As a result, mummy had to ponteng work again… Luckily she was leniently given MC throughout this agonizing period, which lasted until almost delivery.

Towards the final month, mummy was on an ice-cream binge. Almost every night, I feasted on Baskin Robbins and Haagen-Dazs along with mummy and I guess this was the main culprit that contributed to my baby-Sumo stature at birth.

Throughout the whole pregnancy, I squirmed and wriggled a lot. I also did acrobatic movements after every meal and hiccup-ed occasionally. I loved “dancing" to music, especially to lively classical music. Mummy would put a head-phone over her tummy to let me listen to Mozart, Bach, Haydn, Paganini and Vivaldi everyday at the office. Sometimes, I would respond to daddy’s voice too. In short, I really made my presence felt.... and created a great masterpiece (stretchmarks) on her belly.

Flashback 1 - The Conception

I “won the race” somewhere around mid-November 2005. It was an amazing race that led me to where I am now.

On a fine morning of 8th Dec 2005, mummy decided that this was the day! She eagerly took out her pregnancy kit (sponsored by Auntie Shellie who had a spare and had temporarily “closed shop”) and did something to it. In mere seconds, she froze in shock. And while she kept telling herself to be calm and to believe what she saw, this simple task proved to be extremely difficult. Daddy fared just as badly. He kept repeating “Are you sure? Is this reliable?” like a broken record.

After 5 long years of hope and disappointment, hope and disappointment, disappointment, disappointment and nothing but disappointment, it is not surprising to see a couple go berserk upon spotting one extra line on such an apparatus:

On that very morning, Daddy was so disorientated that he brushed his teeth twice before leaving for work while mummy ponteng work (emergency leave, kononnya) to spend the day at "baby fantasyland". Whether or not you are prepared…mummy, daddy… here I come!

The Flashback Series

I was nearly a year old when this blog was created. Therefore a large chunk of stories on my earlier days in life were left out. So mummy decided to fill in the missing parts in a mini-series called the Flashback Series.

Potty Training Part 1

After months and months of unsuccessful coaxing from mummy, from sitting on a small, plastic potty to a big, ceramic potty and after a long series of disappointments and frustrations, I finally decided to give her undying persistence a glimmer of hope. And so, in the last few random days, I managed to dump my load into this big and real and adult "poo-poo pot". *smiles proudly*

Hey, you! No peeking, please!

Balik kampung

Wait for me, Dad! I just can't seem to keep the straps on my shoulders!

The Sleeping Child

Sleeping may not be one of my favourite activities but it is definitely mummy’s. I mean, mummy’s favourite time of the day is when I’m asleep.

My total snoozing time ranges from 12-13 hours daily. Here’s a typical schedule:

Bedtime: 10:00pm – 8:00am (Wake up at 6:00am for milk)
Naptime: 1:00pm-3:00pm

And this is my favourite sleeping position:

The laundry basket

Laundry time never fails to attract me... the basket, I mean. The moment the clothes are emptied into the washing machine, I will dutifully carry the basket to this exact same spot and sit in it. Sometimes I will return the basket to its original place (beside the washing machine) without being told. Most of the time, I have to be reminded to do so.

The Copycat

I like to immitate just about anything. It could be a facial expression, a sound* or an action. When I see daddy and mummy laughing over something funny, I will laugh with them although I have no idea what they are laughing about. When mummy makes a silly sound, I will echo after her. When I see her wiping things in the house, I will use my handkerchief and pretend to help her.

Like father, like daughter

*This applies only to nonsensical sounds and not proper speech. Mummy always complains that I "hou hok, mm hok" (don't want to learn the good/proper things but very quick and clever in learning nonsense).

I know how to choose

We were at a shopping mall last weekend when we came across some attractive plastic balloons. Yee-Ma wanted to get me one but she couldn't decide which one to choose from. So mummy suggested letting me choose the one that I like. At last, I picked this one.

Enjoying my milk

What's so funny, mum? I'm just enjoying my milk.

Mummy, this is for you

Finally! I finally uttered the "golden word" that mummy has been yearning so much to hear from me. It happened this morning while I was playing on my own and mummy was busy in the kitchen as usual...

Me: Ah mee, ah mee, ah meeeeeeee....
Mummy (shouting from the kitchen): Yes? Did I hear somebody calling me?
Me: Meeeeeeeeee.... mee mee mee...
Mummy (came to me): Say that again. Say "ma-mee".
Me: Mee... ah mee
Mummy: Ma-mee
Me: Meh mee.
Mummy: Ma-mee
Me: Meh mee.
Mummy (giggling, obviously feeling happy and excited): Ok lah. Pass lah. Good girl. Come, let mummy sayang-sayang.

Stop, thief!

Heh heh heh... daddy is still asleep. Let's see how much money he has. Is that all, daddy?

Oh no, I've been caught and handcuffed.
Waaaaaaah! Noooooo! I don't wanna go to jail!

My Careless Mum

One fine evening, as we were preparing to go to mah-mah's house, I gave mummy a "surprise" bitter lesson. I had just put on my shoes and was about to step out of the house when I suddenly felt an intense pain on my left fingers. OUCHHHHH! Mummy had closed the door while my hand was still holding on to the door frame and "kiap" (pinched/squashed) my fingers. As a result, my skin was partially scraped off but guess what? I only let out a less-than-10-seconds cry. What a tough girl I am.

Mummy, next time when you close the door, remember to watch out for my fingers, ok!

15 Months Old

I am 15 months old today. Though I'm still very much the same compared to last month, here are some of the more apparent changes in me:

- I can walk steadily and run wobbly. I've almost totally forgotten about crawling. Almost, because when mummy is mopping the floor and she warns me not to walk around as the floor is slippery, I still remember to go back to crawling.

-My 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th (canine) teeth are halfway out.

- At home, I MUST follow mummy wherever she goes. I have "separation anxiety" only at home. When we are out, I don't care if she is out of sight.

- I am mummy's little helper. I like doing things for her, helping her to put away stuff and picking up my toys.

- During reading time, I can perform actions when I look at the pictures and listen to mummy's narration. E.g: flap my hands when I see a butterfly, touch my hair when mummy reads "The princess has long, golden hair", make the "sshhhh" sound when the fireman puts out the fire etc.

- I can recognize the front door of my home.

- I am quite friendly. I will wave "hi" to all the children I meet, including those in the television.

- I've developed an annoying habit - crying loudly and waking up daddy & mummy as well as the neighbours almost daily between 1-3am.

The Little Maestro

Recently, we went to Julie yi-yi's house and I fell in love with her piano.

The following day, daddy took out his keyboard to give me an "audition". So daddy, pass or not? Are you going to buy me a piano?

There's Something About Kiddy Rides

Mummy: Oh no, there's a cluster of kiddy rides in front. Quick, distract her to look the other side. Blindfold her. Do something.
Daddy: Where? Where? (Blur as usual)

Lately, I find myself attracted to kiddy rides at shopping malls. The moment I spot one, I will point to it and make a lot of noise. When I do get to ride on one (even if it is stationary) I feel so happy, I want to ride on it forever. Yes, I will cling on to it and REFUSE to budge. Maybe this explains mummy's apprehensiveness above hehehe....

Minnie and Me

Debbie yi-yi (mummy's cousin) bought me a lovely present from the U.S. It's a Minnie Mouse. I simply adore it! Thank you very much, Debbie yi-yi! Muaks!

An Evening With Grandpa

One of my favourite activities back at my grandparents' place is hanging out with gung-gung at the mini "recreational park" opposite their house. As soon as I step into the house and meet my gung-gung, the first thing that comes to my mind is to point to this place.

There is this particular spot which is always shady and cool (thanks to Ah Ma's 2 avocado trees), even during midday when the sun is scorching hot. Any time of the day, when I point to gung-gung that I want to be taken there, minus the rainy days, my request is seldom or almost never being turned down, even if it means making a few "trips" there in a day.

I'm loving it... looking at birds, butterflies, dragonflies or simply doing nothing.