Z is 21 months old!

Here are two latest pictures of Z taken last weekend. My baby is growing so fast!

5 months just went past so quickly; not easy to juggle a full time work, family and 'ME' time.

I was just looking back at Z's older pictures, selecting them to be posted in this journal. Am amazed how different Z is now compared to just few months ago and how much he has grown (physically, mentally and emotionally). 

November 2013:

We went to Langkawi for a short family holiday and the weather there was awesome! Z's favourite thing to do was going to the pool. He would point to the door the first thing he woke up; in the morning & from his naps. I think he likes the idea of staying near the pool because we visited the pool up to three times in a day.

                                       

We stayed at The Westin Langkawi as we wanted to pick a hotel that is baby friendly and could order Z's food separately. Z was 16 months old then and we were trying to delay in introducing salt and sugar to him until maybe about 2 years old. I was nursing Z by the pool with a fantastic weather and the feeling was so special :) 

We went up to the Langkawi Cable Car, a must go when you're in Langkawi. The queue management was horrible as we had to queue by standing in a line for almost 2 hours even though we were given numbers. The ride up was quite scary as it was really high up. The views were breath-taking even though the sky bridge was closed for maintenance. Heard that it was closed for quite a long time; almost two years. I would recommend every visitor to Langkawi to go up the cable car but try to avoid public holidays or weekends and try to go in the afternoon, at about 2pm. We were surprised to see there were no queue when we were leaving the cable car centre at about 2pm. 

December 2013:

Christmas 2013. Z's 2nd Christmas :)

We were at Jungle Gym, Bangsar Shopping Centre on the last day of 2013

January 2014:

Z's Calendars 2014!!!!! 

Z's first Chinese New Year shoes!

The moment Z saw these shoes, he was pointing & touching them while saying 'ar! ar!', that's his version of 'car'. His not-so-nice haircut was by his mommy :( I think I got better in cutting his hair after this haircut.

February 2014:

Z started imitating the adults by holding a phone to his year by saying 'arloo' and 'bye'. He would also use both hands to pretend to press on the phone as if he was texting. 

Chinese New Year 2014

Z the drummer boy!

Z simply loved the lion dance performances. He liked the drummer boys and would stared at them the whole performance but not at the lions. He would prefer to approach & try to hit the drums than reaching to touch the lions. Z never cease to amaze us on the things and details that he would get fixated on. He is so sharp that he would notice almost everything and would quickly point out on things that he likes.

March 2014:

We celebrated Z's Suk Suk (Uncle in Chinese) birthday!

April 2014: 

It was Grandpa Yong & Gandpa Chong's birthday month!

April was a very special month because two of Z's favourite persons had their birthday celebrations! Z was the centre of attention because he got to sit on the birthday boys' lap to sing the birthday song and blow the candles. He could hum many songs and sometimes would sing to himself. He has his daddy's trait because SJ would do that sometimes in the car when the radio was not turned on. It was quite fun to watch ;) 

Compared to 5 months ago, my baby:

Has more hair now.

He could run very fast now.

He could reach the door knob and turns it.

He could reach many things on the table.

He understands very well what we were saying.

He could follow instructions.

He could imitate the words that we speak and the words that he uttered would surprised us.

He can negotiates.

He knows what is a quiet corner. I introduced the quiet corner to him sometime in April after I realised that hitting his hands and legs did not make good sense. I would usually threaten to hit his hands if he did something that we didn't approve. There was once he was jokingly hitting his great-grandmother (Tai Poh) and I told him that he shouldn't hit Tai Poh because it hurts and wasn't nice. The moment I said: 'If you hit Tai Poh again, I am going to hit you', this entire sentence felt so wrong. How could I possibly educate my child not to hit anyone if I continuously hit him? It was there and then that I have decided to stop hitting him because he understands what I am saying now. 

He could hums the entire song of a few nursery rhymes. His favourites are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and London Bridge is Falling Down.

He could recite A, B, C, maybe for the first 5 to 6 alphabets and hum the rest of the ABC song. 

He could count 1, 2, 3 and to 10 but missed a few numbers in between.

My baby is growing so fast and looking more like the man that I fell in love with, his daddy. I love my little family :)

Now I need to make it a point to update this journal at least once a month! 

Z is 16 months old!

This whole month seemed to pass quicker than before. I truly believe the earth rotates a little quicker now and the clocks know that too! I think there was a study about this.

*Started writing this post on the 20th November but didn't get to post it until today.

My baby is 16 months old today! I forgot about this until in the evening when someone asked me how old is my son & I replied her quickly; 15 plus months. It was only when I saw the date & internalised that it's 20th today that I realised that my baby is another month older!

Zach with his cheeky smile. 

Updates:
1. Z can walk steadily now, almost without fall/sitting on the floor in between steps. He could climb easily onto and down from his bike, alphabet train and other toys.

2. He is about 32 inches tall, that's 81 cm. My father in law said for boys, you'd know his adult height when you take the height at 2 year old times with 2. He is almost 3 feet now and if he reaches 36 inches by July 2014, then, he will surely grow to 6 ft (180cm) as his maximum height. We predicted he would be at least the same height if not taller than his dad. SJ is 6 ft tall. So, am expecting 2 tall bodyguards to go out with me when he is older :)

3. He has about 14 teeth now. He has molars popped out at the bottom and I could see his molars are sprouting out on top too. I bought a toothpaste for Z that is suitable for 4 years old and below. It was extremely expensive, imported from USA and made from natural ingredients. It was written on the tube that it can be swallowed and has a yummy bubblegum flavour to it. There was a toothpaste speciality store near my office and they had rows and rows of children tooth paste in that shop. I would usually drawn to new shops & of course I had to walk in to see what they have.

I hope this tube would last for a very long time (maybe until like when Z was 4 years old!) because I can buy 6-7 tubes of our usual Colgate toothpaste with this one Branam Xylitol Tooth Gel.

On the plus point, Z was very excited to see me open the cap of this toothpaste and squeeze onto his cute tiny blue toothbrush. I would just touched the paste onto the brush and it was really little but I guess he could taste it in his mouth because he was biting and sucking the toothbrush. Z would let me brush his teeth willingly for a good 1-2 minutes before he grab the brush and proceed to brush on his own. I have been demonstrating gargling my mouth with water and spitting it out in a very exaggerated motion but Z haven't master the spitting of water from his mouth. He kept drinking the water from the cup which was really funny. I guess the only way to improve is don't give up and keep on trying. Same thing with everything else in training a baby or toddler. Being persistent! Which is something I am quite good at :P

4. Something very funny happened yesterday; Z was attempting to sit on his tiny bull-dozer. Z loves everything with wheels. We were at my best friend (also Z's Kai Ma) to visit my little Kai Lui and the only magazine there was there was about baby products and it has strollers pictures in them. Z was pointing excitedly to the wheels on the strollers as he would usually very fixated to magazine with cars. The boy-mechanical brain is like inborn and comes naturally. 

Z attempting to sit on his mini bulldozer. Poor bulldozer!

5. Z's favourite word is 'ai-yah!' with a loud sigh like an old man! It is really funny hearing him especially when he tries to get up from a sitting position, picking things up from the floor, pushing his toys or walking. He is also babbling away many baby words. I can imagine that he is quite fun to have a conversation with because he is so animated! 

6. Z's vocabulary is getting bigger and he is absorbing these by himself without us consciously repeating to him. The adults in the house have a habit of saying things out loud and explaining to Z when we're with him and I guess by this way, he is learning and having a lot of input. I opened a picture dictionary bought by SJ for the first time this week and was very surprised that he could recognised many pictures when I called out the names. I was such an impressed and proud Mommy! Could see in this video that his favourite things are the vehicles.

               

Am really proud of my baby. He is knowing and growing so fast! 

Z started walking at 15.5 months on 31st October 2013!

Z has been cruising, holding on to things or people while walking at 10 months plus. He is a very careful baby, he wouldn't go to areas that were new or different. We were very amused at this behaviour. He would test by touching the different designed tiles/glass doors/walls with his finger tips before he decides if it is safe to venture to these new areas. I had no idea where he got this trait from as I am definitely not a careful and gentle person. So, he definitely got this trait from his Dad.

Z has been cruising for months. He dare not stand on his own without support. At about 14 months, he would sometimes be so mesmerized with the things that he was seeing and he forgot about the support, he just let go of things while standing & started clapping. We noticed that he could stand unsupported but once Z realised that he wasn't holding on to things, he would either quickly hold on to something or sit down on the ground.

A few weeks later, Z was getting more stable and was walking more. My favourite moment is when Z's tiny cute hand hold on to my index finger while we walk together. He walked like a drunken person with a cute grin on his face, he was so happy with his new achievement. He could walk by himself unsupported if he 'thought' someone was holding on to him. Our helper, L told us if we hold on to his collar at the back, urging him to walk & assuring him that we were holding him, he could walk by himself with us holding very minimally for quite a long distance. This proves that it's all in the mind, when you think you have a safety net or someone to depend on if you fall, that gives you confidence to move ahead without worry!

On the 30th October, SJ & I witnessed Z took a few steps unsupported. He would quickly (almost running) walked from the sofa to the table (about 3-5 steps) and then back. Our baby wants to run before mastering the skill of walking! He was doing that with the grandparents, great-grandma, uncle & parents cheering on. He has such a huge cheering squad!

We were saying to each another that Z could be walking unsupported in a week time but we were wrong because he was was walking by himself the next day!

On the 31st October 2013, Z walked by himself unsupported. A new milestone! It was such a nice discovery for me after I got home from work. He was laughing so much each time he walked. It was such a funny & happy scene seeing him walking unsteadily. He got so excited that he just kept on walking and walking; practising his new found freedom & skill!

A week later he was mastering his skill of getting up to a stand position from the floor and has successfully achieved that the next day, on the 11th July 2013! He has been doing a lot of squats with a lot of encouragement from Grandma. He could do squats to a music beat, which is really funny to watch! Yesterday he mastered picking up things from the floor while he was standing!

My baby is growing so fast. Time to baby-proof the house & talk to him more about being safe in the house.

Z is learning so fast! Z at 10 months plus

Z is learning & growing so fast that we were so shocked & impressed with his progress. This week has been eventful as Z is showing us many things that he know and new things that he could do.

Physically, Z is constantly practicing his stand and he is standing longer and more stable now. He has been sleeping between us on our bed since 6 months old even though we 'planned' to move him to his own room at 6 months when we first had him but that didn't happen :(( I love the idea of co-sleeping and its so convenient when he wakes up at night for feed. I could just breast feed him while lying down & I would usually fall asleep first before he finishes. I also loved the mornings when he wakes up & cuddle with me. It was really nice but we really have to move him before he gets smarter and refused to go! We were quite adamant to move the cot to his own room last weekend but failed to do that & again, failed this weekend. Hopefully we can move him to his own room by end of June. Am not looking forward to his long & probably frequent cries for being left in his cot & room in the first few days. Am visualizing very hard that this transition will be a pleasant one.

We have been putting him in his cot at night when it's time for bed & he has been pulling himself up & then fall on his buttocks & do it all over again, with both of us lying on the bed silently in the dark watching him & wondering/guessing how long he could go before he just lie down & falls asleep. Some nights he could go for at least 30 to 50 times I think. Usually after about 15 minutes of him pulling himself up & standing on his cot, falls on his buttock & up again, SJ would then try to persuade & coax him to lie down. It's so much work but SJ is really good at this. I usually gives up in less than 10 mins & SJ had to take over.

Here are photos of Z standing in his cot with his pacifier on one morning last week. 

Z also discovered drawers! His observation skills is amazing & he could work out how to open things by just observing what the adults do. It's quite scary knowing that he can imitate the adults so well. We have to be careful of what we do or say from now onward. Babies absorb everything like a sponge!

Z was opening & closing the drawers in our wardrobe. It's time to buy those child safety locks to ensure the drawers would not fall on him. 

Z can entertain and play by himself now. This is probably the best and most fun thing at the moment; he cannot run all over yet but he can sit down by himself without needing us by his side. He could sit in his cot in the mornings for a good 20-30 mins without making a noise while I take my own sweet time to get ready for work. 30 mins is a luxury for me, I used to be rushing like a mad woman & could get out in less than 10 mins. Things are getting better now!

Z is growing faster and I am having a hard time catching up with him. He is looking like a little boy & no longer a baby. I am beginning to miss the little baby Z but at the same time, am relieved that my little baby is growing so well. SJ thinks I would miss Z being a baby when he is all grown up. I guess by then, I would just look at my few thousands photos and posts in this blog over & over again :P 

My first Mother's Day!

A year ago on Mother's Day in 2012

and this year, it's such a special Mother's Day because it's my very first Mother's Day! 

SJ was away for a business trip and I spent the whole of Mother's Day Sunday with my Mom. It was simple and nice to be able to spend some quiet time at home. The past few months have been crazy busy as I've got busier with work plus maintaining a house is no easy job. This Mother's Day brought a whole new realization to me: Being a mother is probably one of the toughest job ever. It's difficult and satisfying at the same time. All in the name of LOVE. 

I want to dedicate this Mother's Day to all women out there who are struggling with infertility, miscarriage and infant/child loss. I am so thankful and grateful to have this wonderful experience of being a mother and I appreciate my mother even more now. These statements are clearer to me now: You'll never understand the sacrifices that parents make until you become a parent, and Daughters appreciate mothers more especially after they become mothers themselves. Now I wonder if Sons feel the same towards their parents. 

Hope everyone had a meaningful Mother's Day. A constant reminder to myself: I should appreciate my parents and people around me all the time before it's too late. Everyday should be special! 

Ending this post with a picture of my ever-young looking dearest Mommy with her favourite person at the moment, her grandson!

Z is 7 months old!

Z's typical morning:

Z usually wakes up about 7 plus in the morning. I would usually try to coax him to sleep more by breast feeding him and it worked sometimes. I would then proceed to clean him or bath him at about 8am. After that, I would have to rush because Z can only play by himself for a short period of time. I had to quickly clean up and dress for work.I'd put Z in his cot and give him a toy to hold. He would keep quiet for about 15 minutes on a good day. Now that he is able to sit unassisted, I would place him in the cot while he entertains himself. He is such an inquisitive boy that he is constantly intrigued by the tiny details around him which I found to be very entertaining.

On a lucky day, I would be able to catch his cute little actions on my camera or phone-camera; this was taken yesterday morning on the day he turned 7 months old.

Z was trying to 'catch' the teddy on the sheet. He was scratching and touching the brown bears. 

When he realised that I was watching him, he stopped immediately, sit up and looked at me as if he was doing something naughty. 

With the next few seconds, he gave me a huge grin showing me his teeth. 

After his short huge grin, he went back being distracted by something else; the label on his bunny security blanket. It's amazing how easily distracted Z could be.

I could really just stare at him the whole day ;) 

It's Friday tomorrow! Happy weekend everybody! :)

Happy Chinese New Year 2013!

It's the year of the snake and it's also Zach's first Chinese New Year (CNY)! His grandparents were more excited than him and we as parents were worried about the fireworks that could cause sleepless nights. My mom bought 3 sets of new clothes for Zach and I was rushing to buy a dress just days before CNY. 

This CNY is definitely the busiest ever with our new house and new baby. We had visitors everyday since CNY day 2 but it was fun. It was really good to catch up with many people.

Zach is 30 weeks old and is turning 7 months old on the 20th February! Zach has learned to sit very well and do his slithering crawl in this past few months; he was basically pulling himself with his hands while his body was gliding on the floor. He is also able to turn over and over again very quickly. We cannot leave him on the bed unattended anymore. Floor is the safest place for him if we need to leave him alone even for a few seconds. Next, to get a play yard so he would not crawl to 'dangerous' areas. His two middle bottom teeth are pretty huge now. His top middle teeth are cutting out now. So are the ones beside the middle bottom teeth. My baby is growing too fast!

Photos of Zach taken during this CNY. I have misplaced my Canon G12 battery charger and couldn't use my camera during CNY :(((( These photos were taken by Iphone4.

Wishing everyone a wonderful snake year ahead! Gong Xi Fa Chai!