May 2008

After writing from Enya's point of speech for the earlier chapters, I find it a bit funny at times, so I'll start from my own point of speech from now on.

After leaving my full-time job in mid Apr08, I'm enjoying having more time with Enya these days. Well, to make it more enjoyable and sustainable for me, and probably more beneficial to Enya, we're still sending Enya to my aunt's office during the day, allowing me to have time to do my own things and still have energy to play with Enya later in the day. The difference is that I will send Enya to the office later somedays and pick her up earlier. A couple of times a week, I will bring Enya to swim and other times, play in her playroom, go for a walk within the estate, meet up with friends with kids or even just a trip to Whitesands shopping mall where Enya could see her favourite animal: Guinea Pigs at the Pet shop and have a tour of NTUC's fruits and veg section.

When Enya turned 1-yr old, we brought her to Darwin (This will be shared in another chapter that's yet to be written). The thing to mentioned here is that we got a big surprise when we were picking up some fruits at the supermarket in Darwin. Enya pointed to the apples and said "Apple"! Then when they walked to the bananas section, she pointed and said "Nana". That's how we started to always have a tour of the fruits and veg section whenever we go to the supermarket with her.

Currently at 19 months, Enya can say without prompting: Apple, Orange, Kiwi, Coconut, Grapes(her favourite), Papaya, Pineapple, Water melon, Banana, Corn, Carrot, Potato, Tomato, Vegetable (referring to Green Leafy ones) & Mushroom. When she says Mushroom, she'll say "Mommy cook" too. So cutie pie. We're continuing to teach her more fruits and vegetables whenever we visit the supermarket.

Almost 2 months ago, there was once I was at home with her and I heard her singing ABC. Not very clearly, but it was ABC. I got a big surprise and discovered that she probably learn from the Leap frog Phonics Bus that she was playing with. That's when I started to teach her to sing. Now at 19 months, she can sing Twinkle Twinkle, ABC, London Bridge, "Yishan Yishan" (Chinese version of twinkle twinkle), 2 little tweety bird and Baba Black Sheep clearly by herself. I'm teaching her other songs now, but revising these songs on goingly.

We went to a karaaoke session at Mom's Club for the Karaoke Session with Enya last Sat afternoon. She had such a great time Singing ABC, Twinkle Twinkle and London Bridge. Mom's friend came later and heard her singing. They were so amazed. I know Mom's very proud to show-off Enya's little talents to them. Well, we're very pleased too.

Henry doesn't have much time for Enya. He works late most of the days and distance is a big issue. We stay in Changi and his office is in Jurong. With the little time that he has with Enya, I could tell recently that she does quite a fair bit trying to please him and catch his attention. She'll go right in front of Daddy and sing the whole song for him waiting for him to clap and encourage her. Or at times, when she ask me to put on hair band for her, she would run to Daddy and show him after that. Things like that... So... if I were to also work late then imagine how poor thing our little Enya will be. Things shouldn't be this way. It's a good thing that I'm doing a career switch to be able to spend more time with Enya. Money can't buy all these...

My first trip (Cameron Highlands Aug07)

Daddy and Mommy love travelling, but were unable to do so since I came along. Now I'm 10 months old. They decided to bring me for my first trip. They said, let's try Cameron Highlands first.

I was so active that Mommy decided to put me in the haversack so that they could rest for a while. haha... I can wiggle out you know. :)

My first encounter with a chicken. This is the chicken at Bala House where Daddy & Mommy had the famous Scones and tea. Interesting.








I am sleeping peacefully on the trip home. Daddy's belly is getting more and more cushy... Daddy, it's ok, I don't need to have the cushion. You can trim up:)



Mommy loved the Steamboat at Cameron Highlands Resort. It's more expensive than the ones in town, but the variety and environment is better. We had the steamboat there twice. Once on the first day and one on the day before we left. My first time having Tofu... Mommy's still not introducing table food to me, so having Tofu is already a big thing to me:)

Feb & Mar07 (Mommy's Michelin Baby)

I was borned small at 2.8kg, but Mommy's always proud to say that I've grown much due to her nutricious breastmilk. As she took a lot of fish oil during that time, there's literally a layer of oil floating on the milk. Here are some pictures of me at 4.5 months old:) Mommy actually posed a birthday suit photo of me entitled "Michelin Baby" but decided to take it down cos I'm a gal, must be modest:)

Jiawei jiejie and Julian gorgor visited us. Their Mommies and Daddies were from the same Gentle Birth class as Mommy & Daddy.

Here's the videoclip:


Me and my Bumbo Chair. This is a design patented chair that enables me to sit and "be stucked" in it. Mommy said that the $75 for the chair was well spent, although I only sat in it for about 3 months before it became dangerous to me, cos I learnt to push myself out of it. At least during that 3 months, Mommy & Daddy could eat together without having to take turns to eat while the other having to look after me.

That's how many milk bottles I've got. Total count was 19 bottles. Mommy was very particular with hygiene when it comes to me, so all bottles can only be used once and had to be steriled before next use. I was having breastmilk, so feeding time was like 1 feed every 2-3 hours instead of regular 4 hrs feed for most other babies. Besides, mommy needed a few more bottles for expressing of milk at work. Washing the oily bottles were not an easy chore for Daddy. To avoid having to do it daily, Mommy & Daddy bought enough bottles to use for 2 days, so that Daddy only had to wash the bottles every other day.

Happy Baby Enya!

My First Swim

I was about 4 months old when Mommy & Daddy introduce me to the pool.

"Mommy, I'm not interested in taking pictures, put me in the pool."

Mommy said that I could float instantly with her supporting just my neck. That is babies' natural instinct.
Mommy & Daddy were both so blurr... See how they put on the swimming costumn for me. The zip is supposed to be at the back while picture in front. haha... Most people mistake me as a boy as I had very little hair. Besides, my costumn is blue.

Mommy calls me "water baby" as I love the water.

Click to see my first swim video.

My First CNY (Feb07)

Chinese New Year 2007. My 1st CNY. I received a lot of Ang Baos from Family and Daddy & Mommy's friends. Daddy and Mommy have decided to put the Ang Bao money towards my Education Endowment Funds:) Money for education!

Daddy & Mommy with Enya on 1st CNY morning:)

I turned over on my stomach by myself for the 1st time:) That's when Mommy realised that capturing the moment is very important and decided to buy a videocamera. But eventually, the videocamera still ended up collecting dust and Mommy regretted buying it, as it's simply not Daddy and Mommy's cup of tea to hold a viewcam to wait and capture interesting things. The viewcam interest only lasted for a short while:)
Family Potrait: CNY 2007

Daddy & Enya:) Enya's almost "botak" now, cos all the baby hair has shedded. Some people advised Mommy to shave off Enya's hair totally to encourage hair growth, but Mommy couldn't bear to do so. Baby's head is so delicate, Mommy didn't want to do that. Let nature takes it course. When it's time for Enya's hair to grow, Enya's hair will grow:)

Daddy teaching Enya to crawl:)

Natalie Jiejie (our neighbour at EP) came to visit during CNY 2007. Natalie jiejie is about 1 year older than me.

Marcus came to visit too. Marcus is our EP neighbour and he's 2 weeks older than me.

My First Christmas (Dec06)

X'mas 2006. My 1st X'mas. I'm only 2.5 months old and I'm already receiving lots of X'mas presents. Mommy said that they greatest X'mas present for her this year is me:) Enya's God's gift for the family. Mommy loves Enya very much:)

Dec06 & 1st Pixs at our New Home

Grandpa's Birthday in Dec06. Enya's about 2 months old:)

Aunty Hillary, Aunty Valerie & me:) (01Jan07)










Enya sleeps, Daddy sleeps too:)

It's not easy for both Mommy & Daddy to adjust to having a newborn baby in their lives. Daddy & Mommy did almost everything for Enya on their own, except a little help from Grandma during some evenings when Grandma returned home from work. However, Mom wanted the best for Enya and is particular on the ways that she wants to care for Enya, so nothing is better than doing it on her own. That's why it wasn't easy for both Mom & Dad.

Mom's record was to change 5 diapers for Enya at 1 go as Enya would shit/wee before Mommy could wrap up the diaper upon changing. Babies who are breastfed digest easily, so it's normal for Enya to poo 4-5 times a day for the 1st 1-2 months. Thereafter, somehow, intestine grew longer and poo only about 2 times a day. Thank God!!!

Enya's diaper usage was about 10 diapers a day for the 1st 2 months or so, then gradually reduce. See how expensive that was, just on Diapers? People often said that breastfeeding could save money, cos no need to buy formula. haha... But there's so much more than meet the eyes. To ensure that Enya got the best out of Mommy's milk, Mommy had to take Omaga3 & Probiotics Supplements and also eat fish 2 meals a day to ensure sufficient milk supply. Also, as Mummy returned to work after over 3 months maternity leave, she needed to express her milk and put it in freezing bags, about $0.70/bag, needed at least 3 per day + breastpads + afraid of contamination from office fridge, Mommy bought a bar fridge specially for storing milk for Enya in her office. So it turned out that giving quality breastmilk is way more costly and time consuming than formula milk. However, all these are worthwhile cos I turned out to be healthy than most kids. Mommy said that the 1st time I fell ill from a cold was when I was about 6 months old.

But with Enya being such a happy baby, all are worthwhile:)






Pictures at our new home:)
We finally shifted into our new home on X'mas Day 2006. Home Sweet Home:)


















Enya had very little hair. Someone told Mom that in Japan, there was a study done and results showed that kids who are smart tend to have delayed hair growth as the nutrients are mostly absorbed for brain development instead. haha... Mom loved this School of thoughts:)














Mommy & Daddy both love Enya very much:)