My pressie

One day DD T said "think I should get u a pro camera"....

Since it has been 6 mths plus and I can't decide on what I what for the pressie... Watch: will be another one to my collection, Bag: another one to the stash... Diamonds: ermm not a fan of jewellery... Holidays: yeah dont mind, but that's a need not a want... Cash: not a fan of monies; yes I'm weird but I'm really not that type of person who sees money like how some ppl are...

So u see I got nothing that I really want or need... So DD T decided to get me a pro SLR; he says I have a wee bit of talent in taking pictures so he doesn't mind paying to see me enjoy myself...

I get to choose cause he has absolutely no idea, actually nor me... so 2 clueless cock went to Funan one fine sunday... not Simlim cause DD T is not a fan... Were recommended to go to John 3:16 but hor sunday close.. damn shits... didn't occur to us that a so christian namey shop will be close on sunday lor.. damn dumb

So went Challenger, DD T's most favourite shop to walk walk..... ask stupid questions about the SLR.. remember I told u I'm green... the boy there recommended NIKON 5000 @ $1299 as its a good entry level camera... play play a bit touch touch the 2 brands a bit, ask him why? He say NIKON has a better body compared to CANON...

Like not very convinced I went to another shop... promos for SLRs, but damn irritating no camera to touch manz, sales guy just explain verbally about the goody bag... funny attitude... I mean you sell camera but no camera to play?????? WTF... but still I ask more stupid questions, this shop says buy CANON 500D @$1399 coz got plenty of goodies and its at its best at this price... CANON has cheaper 50MM lens (its a portrait lens, make ur photos chio type.. blur blur background one) then if I get NIKON 5000 there is no 50MM that can fit except some particular one that only can fit this model... cheem, by this type I blur... BB [V] was cranky too and wanted me to carry her... so at this point I had information overload and I can't think smart with a bb crying... I walked out on the pretext that my bb needs her sleep... hows easy is that...easy peasy lemon squeezy

Totally drained out, I wanted to leave Funan manz... but DD T says better get all my info and if I didn't get it by today its fine as I can wait till some IT show that is coming up... trues, coz IT show is no questions no touch type... So I stepped into another shop, got him to explain more about the 50 mm lens that can't fit the NIKON 5000, this time round I touched Canon 500D, Nikon 5000 and Nikon D90.... the minute I touched the D90, I knew this was it keke... but like $1899 and I'm an amateur... there wasn't a need to buy something so high tech... but does it really matter??? no lor... as usual expensive taste..

Then the idiot sales guy told me no stock in store, must take from main store blah blah blah.. crappy sales tactics... ask me to consider the NIKON 5000 or Canon 500D since I'm a newbie... like WTF lor.. I newbie must buy newbie things? so I left... damn no mood.. coz I WANTED the camera now since I have set my mind on it.. NOW means NOW, no waiting till IT show... but damn drained, tired... I need to latch BB [V] ... so off to the car

So as we were walking to the carpark, then there was a Challenger Fair at the atrium... Saw a banner selling the NIKON D90 @$1899.. ready stock OMG!!! so after some bantering with the oh so friendly sales guys, we settle at $1799 without the "orbit" bag n tripod... sweets!! Of course I bought the 50mm @$229 (think overpriced, but at this point I didn't care and didn't want to come back to get the oh so important lens to make my photos chio, blur backround type)

My D90 kit that comes with 18-105 mm lens .. this lens cannot be purchased off the rack

My new toy

The 50mm F1.8 lens... then the next day I asked around and realised that there is a better lens F1.4... so I wanted to change it, called Challenger and it costs $999.. then I think forget it... I wil just play with this lens 1st...

We came back home and I had to charge the battery for 8 hours.. so boring.... then on monday, I started fooling around with it... so here's my 1st try... taken with my 50mm lens

Kindemusik

I organized a trial class for Kindermusik @ Tanglin Mall

Gathered 12 mummies to go class together... had rave reviews about Kindermusik as it wasn't physical but more of singing songs and playing with different instruments to create sounds. I kinda liked the idea of incorporating music into her life.

Playing the drums

this was fun.. pulling her on a blanket.. she was damn happy

cant remember what song

I thought the class finished real fast (45 mins)

dd came in after the class but he said it was long

the songs we sang for the day

pls pardon DD T horrible photo taking skills

We both liked the school, the environment, the curriculum.. so we put BB [V] on a waiting list to start class here. At $25.50 a class, 8 sessions, $63 for materials - different instrument every semester, 1 disc of the music played in class and some notes I think for parents. Total $271.14. So DD T rounds it to $30 dollars per lesson including parking which was about $3.50.

Well I hope it is good..

BB V with Hair!!

we were at the grands, were grumbling how little hair she has...

so we wanted to see how she looked with her... so we messed around with godma's party wigs... yes she has alot but these few were the new ones..

post man cap...

beret

then the fun started

she could keep in on so well

saw herself in the mirror.. so happy

brown wig

starting to fuss

look like cabbage patch doll

hehe we put the cap

cute right!! lol

she damn irritated

cant wait for her hair to grow... so nice

Baby signs

taken 20 august 09

We have been teaching her baby signs since she was 3 months... not comprehensive ones, just "milk", "cereals", "water", "mummy", "daddy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gSZfW4gVhI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2Fvideosearch%3Fhl%3Den%26source%3Dhp%26q%3Dbaby%2Bsigns%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF%2D8%26ei%3DqISOSpS%2DH9eBkQXcrOi7Cg%26sa%3DX%26oi%3Dvideo%5Fresult%5Fgr&feature=player_embedded

so smart our princess.....

Vaccine

Hate vaccines...

But no choice you know.. so she has done 3 jabs of 6 in 1 and 2 doses of rotavirus (syrup)... damn sad to see her after a jab.. for she is one of those babies who will run a fever after a jab. :( Thank goodness its all done for now, the drama will start again she reaches 1 year old. Please don't ask me why I took 6 in 1 instead of 5 in 1 + hep jab.. the answer is simple = lesser jabs. I know its more expensive lar but that is what the CDA is for anyway. Chose one PD that offers this service and the baby gets top notch medical care. That's how I feel anyway. I take the government monies to give my baby the best, not go and buy toys for her. (I know of people who do that)

Okay, I skip the pneumococcal vaccine mainly because I look after her myself and at the most the grands. So I feel that wasn't a need to take for now... don't feel like going taking so many jabs... Of course, there is the 2 schools of thoughts, the kiasu one that takes everything or the kiasee one that don't do any (there are some studies that links autism to vaccines)

But I do like this PD though its DAMN long a queue.. Vaccines are packaged at $440 (3 doses of 6 in 1) appointment based... the walk ins are 4-5 hours wait.. the assistances will tell you to go back and call you when your turn is nearing .. despite the long wait, she is very detailed, some people will consider Dr like this long winded, but I need one like that as this subject is new to me and I have plenty questions. Just like how I talk to my gynae, I have this long list of questions I store in my iphone and she will patiently answer me one by one.. nice ... worth the money. You know lar, newborns are sure go and see PD a lot of times.. I will do my vaccines in such a way I see her every month so I get to ask questions.. money like this cannot scrimp, I like to be assured.. just to make sure we are doing the right thing.

But as BB [V] grows older, the question list has since diminished, but she is very supportive of breast feeding and co-sleeping... I think it is very important to find one female PD that is on the same wavelength, at least you get real advices not theoretical.

Oooo Dr again... waiting for my turn

doing my motor checks.. passing rattle form right to left

doing my detail checks..

1st jab we carried her she cried. 2nd jab we placed her down and she didn't cry... so this round we tried again..

DD T distracting her... the needle went in

our princess didn't even whimper.. hooray!!!

then the nightmare started.. trying to cool her down

so sad right the face... can cry

her temperature was going up... way up

my heart pain... I HATE vaccines

Paracetamol is my last resort... mainly because I don't want her to be reliant on medicine.. DD T is very into popping medicine coz he feels it solves all problems but not me... So I will do everything before I give...

*just to share, I spoke to Dr Tan that I read about some mummies giving paracetamol before a vaccine just to prevent it and if I should do so since its seems like it works. But she looked astonished as how mummies are misusing the medicine, did comment that its only in recent times that they started giving medicine as a lot of parents run to KKH thinking it is an emergency... she told me that there are recent studies that there are links of paracetamol to asthma, for there is an increasing increase in the alarming rates in asthma... (there was an article in straits times)

(DD T has history of childhood asthma.. so I kaisu.. no no no no no asthma)

6 months

she is 7.1kg and 65.2cm

Dear Victoria,

Both of us feel so blessed to have you in our lives...

Yes, there are times we wonder how did we end up in this mess and why are we taking the hard route instead of throwing you to the grands/nanny/helper. But we believe in what we give to you, we will receive back from you (one day). Daddy Trev is a true believer that there will always be repercussion in your upbringing.

(before you were born)

MM F: lao gong, this Gina Ford says that we should put the baby in her own room

DD T: from when?

MM F: from birth lor, she says makes the baby independent.. start from birth so don't have to move here move there...

DD T: who is this gina ford? why wanna make baby independent?

MM F: some ang mo baby guru, kinda of like the latest literature about baby upbringing

DD T: what crap... why are u reading ang mo books, do you know that angmo children leave home at 18 years old??? I want my girl to be with me as long as possible! what independent ... go and find an asian baby guru and read the book... so not related to our values.

So we you slept in our room in your nice cot but needless to say you have migrated comfortably to our small cosy bed now. Yes there are times we get really upset that you are occupying more than 1/3 of your share and that how DD T's sleeps with his legs hanging down the side of the bed. (Mainly because you have started to sleep with your arms open wide, hitting us at our faces at night.) We have been toying on the idea on getting you a toddler bed that we can place next to ours, so that we can slide you there when you sleep but are so fearful that you will reject it. So, we will wait when you are ready... 

You are not a typical baby explained by most of the baby books, this even the PD agrees...

1) 6 days after we got discharged, you didn't poo!! You did 1 poo in the hospital and kept all waste inside. We had to go to the PD and she took us in under an emergency case! Dr Tan examined you and you are her 1st.. her youngest baby that require assistance to poo. But of course after that all was well.... though me and DD T thinks you have lazy bowels for you don't like doing it very often, keeping it for 2-3 days to do massive one.

2) You went for your 1st jab at 2 months... did your "scream till no voice" after the jab, Dr Tan saw and told us that you are a "Breath Holder" baby; means you hold your breath till you change colour... red, purple then a little blue was the furthest you went.. she asked if this was your normal, I told her you did this 2 times already. Her instructions were "Stop what ever you are doing to cause her this unhappiness, I had a baby that held her breath till he had fits!"  Then of course, that was the day we abolished all routines, threw Gina Ford and Tracy Hoggs out of the window. The "gurus" were not very good... till the day mummy found Dr Sears...

3) Dr Sears diagnosed you, your type of baby as "High Need aka Fussy"... one that thrives with love, touch, attention. For you can't be alone, needs to be carried, hates to be forced to do things you don't want to.  I stopped looking at the watch from that day and waited for your cues to tell me if you were hungry or sleep... you stopped doing your breath holding and started to smile...

4) Then came your silly drinking.. haiz hated those months... The days when the grands or DD T helped out you drank only 60ml each time from the bottle! You were more interested in playing than eat.  Once again we went to Dr Tan, she gave us probiotics but explain that you are the type that loads up at night and must be away from all distractions. It was such a issue to all that everyone was trying to make you drink your milk. This I think you get from your daddy! Grandpa John says that DD takes 1-2 hours to finish a bottle of milk. Darn! 

Dr Tan can remember us pretty well for every time we are there, the 1st thing she does is "Victoria is doing well, 50% growth percentile, I better tell you cause I know you are very concerned."

5) We started you on solids the minute you reached 6 months... but you are not exactly a baby that can eat quite well. You like to do the "Chipmunk" thingy; meaning you keep food in your mouth, mainly in the upper roof of your mouth.. we see how it goes, hope you grow out of this. Eating solids seems to have effect on your poo problems too.. *cross fingers* 

6) But as you grew up, your personalities started to show. You are absolutely a delight to bring out, the kind of baby that people like, for you NEVER cry when there are alot of people around you.  This we are very thankful for, you are a little social butterfly that brings so much happiness.  You allow any and everyone to carry you, you smile when they smile, you make the married want to have a baby, make singles want to marry and have a baby....  you are one baby that can sit through a 1 hour mass and not make noise. Yes, you really make us look good.

BUT you grumble, make noise and CRY alot when there is only the 2 of us at home:( totally can't be left alone ...  we think you bully us. Nobody believes when we say you a tough baby to look after, even the grands... BUT YES YOU ARE A DIFFICULT BABY! but we still love you ALOT!

XOXO 

Lil Gym

there was a free trial at lil gym @ marina square... so daddy trev took time out on a fri morning and tagged along (coz its free ;P ) 

start of class

"ling ling ling"

putting back the bells

forgot what is this called... tambourine? 

making friends... 

see saw, up and down

this one damn difficult, gotta turn her upside down

aeroplane..weeeeeweeee

modeling

gotta carry her like a file

that why Daddy trev is here

look at her.. like a pro

parachute.. we held the parachute and pulled them round and round.. hellavu lots of cries

balancing act

teacher commented that she has very strong upper body strength.. true

horsing around

chin ups

peek-a-boo

listening intently to instructions

*whistling*... modeling again

my only activity and my only photo 

both getting bored

her 1st stamp 

she K/O the minute we stepped out 

y did teacher keep calling me princess victoria?

then we realized ...

It was great fun for both the whole family even though DD T wanted to sign up, I kinda stopped him as I felt that it was a little too expensive at $50 per lesson of 45 mins. The curriculum is pretty similar to Gymboree though I prefer this Lil Gym's instructors, mainly because they are more enthusiastic. The instructor actually took time during playtime and came to us to comment on V's performance which I thought was pretty professional.  

Hygienic wise, they seem a little lax as everyone didn't wear any socks and we were bare footed throughout.  Kinda weird as the babies were like lying on the floor, but anyway might consider if she grows older to use the gym equipments there.