Grandpa birthday

Grandpa's going to celebrate his 62nd birthday soon. Mom's going away so we brought forward the celebration. Here we were celebrating his birthday in a seafood buffet. If you are thinking of which food is available for my taste, fruits .... PAPAYA. I was happily entertained by mummy with the smashy papaya which is yummy. Kept me to the seat for a good time before I need to kick a fuss.

The kiddo is now always the centre of attraction even though it's not his big day.

Juicy papaya to sweeten the night.

A satisfied big baby. Thus allowing me to have my dinner, finally in peace. :)

The sacrifice of a mother is delayed mealtimes.

Cousin Aden

Hi, this is my cousin, Aden Leung. Born on 16th November 2008 to Uncle Alan and pretty aunty Athena. Today is the traditional day whereby we can visit and play with baby Aden. So exciting to have another playmate!

Ames is 9th months

We just celebrated Ames' 9th months! An he showed us a couple of tricks to mark this 9th mth day. So what do you think our copycat clown can do? And his new nick is now copycat... He will easily mirror after your reactions and expressions.

To start, let me list the things he did and surprised us:

1) Clap his hands
2) Gong Xi Gong Xi (preparing for coming CNY 2009)
3) Gave you his hand when you ask if he wants to dance
4) "Burrp Blurrp" using his mouth to "burrrp burrp"

And the even more surprising ones
5) Climb up the sofa to sit on TOP
6) Follow my actions: I use the bucket to sound an echo, he followed the same action with the bucket!
Here's the cheeky fella after his successive climb to the sofa. You like these sexy thighs? I do but they are not as sexy as you think. Tip Toe high above the floor..

Copycat has managed to handle his balancing act very well recently. Now he is exploring into the furnitures. I think he must be trying to pick his clothes to wear for today.

The key to freedom? Ambitious fella who think he needs freedom. I think I need it more than him!

Ames everywhere

This is Joanne with Ames. Is Ames enjoying her way of carrying him?

Trying out the new toys - shapes sorter. Created a bigger mess than the real play. Now we are looking everywhere for the shapes. Where did you throw them to, Ames?

This is a speedy crawler. Heading for the kitchen again....Diehard fan in the kitchen.

Aarron and Ames

Aarron - 21 months: 12.5kg
Ames - 8 mths: 9.5kg
Total: 22kg
Power of motherhood

Late night supper

Ames' sleeping habit is really very upside down. Totally unable to control the sleep timing patterns. Just yesterday, Ames slept from 6.30pm til 9.30pm. We were wondering if we should wake him up and or let him be the sleeping prince for the night. After much struggle, we got him up to satisfy our dinner.

Crystal Jade at Holland Village is a good place as it serves good food and also clean environment for the baby. I mean, late at night, where else is a child friendly place and has good food?

Guess what he is excited with

Look at this wide grin face! What can he be excited with?

Now you know who's the meddle fingers guy..

Toys destruction

Market research must have been done to ensure the toys are fun to play, attractive to kids and most important, ability to sustain strong injuries before retail out for parents.

Ames is definitely not a gentle guy when things come to his hand. This week, he has been in this destructive mood. Here we see him rolling the discovery ball sideways and banging onto the floor like a drummer mood.

The Toddler's Ten Commandments

Ten Commandments
1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.

With thanks from Angeline..

Night out with the Angel.line and na..

Dinner at Ikea
Both Aunty Angeline and Angela came over to play with me. It was a time whereby they put their babysitting skills to a test. As playmates, they are great companions to entertain the boy to loud laughter and giggles. Maybe next time, I can consider getting their help (",)

Here we are in Ikea after a sumptous dinner...burp burp..

8 mths 3 weeks event

Happy Birthday Gu-Ma Winnie!
Here's sending you my cybercake wishes.
Daddy didn't take a long time to bake for the cake, but it was alot of shots to take this face with the cake.
Happy Birthday to YOU and yummy yummy. When you are back, let's go eat, oki. Events for the week:

I have been so busy with work that I hardly find really good time spent with Ames. I mean, not just work but also housework that I have been religiously upkeeping. Hygiene level is of paramount to me since this champion has learnt to crawl. Keeping away hair strands and funny particles is important. Well, come weekends are opportunities that I can play and spend more time with him. Looking forward to Saturdays. Tomorrow's FRIDAY....

This week, Ames' cradle head/crown has finally "closed". Previously we can see the brain sort of have the tapping effect. It is just a movement, maybe because he is still botak hence more obvious. So this week is officially sealed. So pillow fights are permissible now.

Now is about 2 solid meals 10.30am and 4.30pm. Total milk consumption is 4 x 180ml per day. A tin of enfapro can last about 8 days. Pretty fast right.

To get him to dreamland is a torture and a nightmare for us. Takes about 1 hr to coax to bed with the special appearance of him startling us like standing up suddenly. For me, getting him to bed is the worst task. My success rate is almost 20% only.

Now, I have to go off to practice my success rate.

Up and Down

Ames can stand up and down... he will be standing up by himself, holding onto the sofa or TV console. This is like anxiety attack. Much as a parent you will want him to practise his own ability, you are also fear of the accidents such as falling down and getting knock onto the furniture. This is the learning of "learning to let go" lesson for parents.

Smug face right. :) Mummy is testing your patience for the little snacks..

Ames' Portfolio

Dear Ames,

The photography was scheduled at 10am as you were at the brightest hour. We knew that after breakfast will always be an hour of play before fatigue hit onto you. Hence to capture your smiles will be the best time.

The reason why we decided to include your third party presence into the photoshoot is because you have something to celebrate. Parent's anniversary and your ability to act as a model for the shots. If it was a few months earlier, you will only get to take "laying down" positions.

But at 8th month, you have learnt to crawl, to stand, to sit, to balance and most important, to correlate sounds with smiles, we decided on this investment for you. The only pity (downside) of the shoots was your little botak head. But we love you no matter how you look. In fact, maybe it is this haircut that makes you a headturner.

Even the Aunty Maryann was so pleased with your performance. You acted like a professional model smiling away at her camera, filling into the position quickly and most important, staying way from the expensive filter light (phwee...).

We know you had enjoyed yourself just as we had. And we look forward to many years of family memories together.

Loving you dearly,

Parents

Ames with Daddy and Ames with Mummy

Do you believe in love at first sight?

I always like Arvin in pictures with Ames. Not sure why, but every shot that Arvin takes with Ames, there is something that beyond my description. It is like a very heartwarming feeling. A very soft touch that express love and happiness.

Just like this shot, there is so much in fatherhood.There is a special connectivity between these two persons that I dearly love. One thing I had to say is, both persons; love at first sight. My little bundle of joy

Little Bundle Shots

Time flies. We just celebrated our 2nd year anniversary on 29th October with little Ames. Last year, Ames was only 4th month baby in my stomach. And coming this year, as a 8th month baby!

This year we decide to do abit more special to commerate the special 2nd year. With the new addition. I know it is like, again... why is everything involving Ames? I just have to say, "When you have become a parent, you just somehow will integrate every of your penny with this special creation."

We went to have professional photography shots with Maryann. She is a full time working mom as a photographer. Her baby, Dylan was sleeping quietly on his own when we took this "2 Years Anniversary and 8mth old" shot.

We brought different outfits for our little guy to look smart in the pictures. Remember that I had mentioned before about the difficulties in taking good kids pictures with my camera. Now with the professional every shot looks so good!

This family protraits pictures are taken at the end of the one hour of smiles, chuckles and laughter.

You can see that Ames is abit tired from the "repetitive and now uncreative sounds". But the 2 other stars still look great, agree? We have a thing to celebrate too, right?

Toys Recycling

Got this principle from my friend, Toys Recycling.

Cheyanne shared with me this prinicple of "Recycle" and "Reuse" method.

Kids get tired of toys easily. Instead of bringing all the toys in treasure box, we should selectively bring out one toy at each time. Let the kid get used to the toy and then introduce another toy. In this way, the lifespan of the toys get extended and we get to see how the toys are being brainstorm by the child at different stages.

This time, Ames was trying to find the plush button where the sound come from. Isn't it wonderful to "recycle" and "reuse"? I like this concept very much.

Christmas Decorations

The season for giving is just round the corner. It's such a lovely feeling to be out shopping for Christmas presents and home decorations. I always like Christmas season and this year will be a special year because of the new addition in family. And also in a place called Home in Redhill. Last year, we celebrated with Ames in my tummy.

Please meet Reindeer, Ames new playmate in the family. I got this doey-eyed little fella from Taka fair. Ames was very polite when he saw Reindeer. This is Ames gently making friendly notes with Reindeer. In the end, Ames was only interested in the bell that Reindeer was wearing.

Now, where shall we house Reindeer?

Ai Tong Primary School

The youngest Primary Oner in Singapore..

From Ai Tong Primary School

Early childhood education for Ames
Should I start thinking of his secondary school choices now?

READing Time

My first 1-2-3 Book

I got Ames his first hardcover story book. A small book that only has numbers from 1 to 10. I haven't start reading to him this book as it is a numbers book. And I don't want to ruin the enjoyment of reading so soon. Hence this book is his entertainment toy while we have our dinner.

See him flipping the pages? I think he likes it. How about you?

Sharp turns

This is an adrenaline high video of Ames at full speed.

Bath time

Have I mentioned that Ames bathe about 7.30am in the morning? Well, if I have to send Ames to my mom's place, I need to get there abt 8.10am so that I can report for work about 8.45am in my office. A typical day will be waking up about 7am for me and Ames at 7.15am. He will watch me change into my working outfits and after a coloured-faced mom,om is me, will then attend to him.

We will zoom straight for his bathe, change a new set of working attire and a bottle of milk for breakfast. Imagine that, he will have his breakfast earlier than me, though I am the earlier riser.

By about 8am, we will be on the way to report for his work and my work.

Only at weekends, Ames can enjoy a longer bath such as this one. Bubbly bath :)

Personally, I like the bubbly bath too. At least we can play hide and seek with the duckie...quack quack...