To everything there is a season...

My own Swimming Pool!

We bought Keziah her own swimming pool one or two months ago... but the weather has not been very good and just last month, Keziah was down with fever and flu.. thus the offcial opening of the pool was postponed... until last weekend...

Saturday was a sunny day... bright and sunny and it was a good day to test out the new pool... Daddy pumped up the swimming pool while Keziah was busying "helping" out... touching the pump... and looking excited. The pool was bigger than we thought and we filled the pool with five large pails of water, just enough for Keziah to paddle in.

My new pool.... cool?

The many faces of Keziah.....

Including one out of the pool!

Keziah has always enjoyed Watersports... be it in the tub or in the swimming pool. It took a lot of coaxing to get her out of the water.

We brought Keziah to Thomson Plaza for her afternoon walk. Daddy and Mummy wanted to bring Keziah to somewhere new where she can explore and see more things instead of the usual United Square.

She was busy playing and figuring out the new rides she saw at Thomson Plaza.

Walking around Thomson Plaza with Ta Ta and Mummy beside me... err where's Daddy? Well someone got to take the camera to take pictures right? heehee...

Toddling on her twos....

Managed to catch this shot over the weekend. Just haven't got the time to put in some music but guess it's still as entertaining watching the little one though...

Learning fast

Keziah is really picking up her motor skills rather quickly. She is now able to throttle around on her feet on her own. She would respond to our calls to stand up and come over to us. Quickly she will be up on her feet, taking careful steps towards us. Sometimes she would be ambitious and quicken her pace as well as broaden her steps. It's just so interesting to see her walk towards us. Sometimes she would get so excited and raise both her hands wide open as she comes forth to us.

She is articulating more these days, raising her voice to make sure she's heard. She would scream with joy when excited and start to jump and climb on you when you are carrying her. She gets so exhilarated playing peekaboo by hiding behind Mommy's skirt and popping her head left and right to see where you are. She's also learnt to hide behind you, grabbing you from the back as if surprising you. She is such a playful gal!

She waves to say hi to you, point to things that she wants, turning her head away from the food she doesn't want.

But mind you, she bites! Mommy is still figuring out how to stop her from doing that.

Lazy Keziah...

Keziah has progressed to learning to climb down the steps the right way, i.e. legs first follow by lowering her butts before the rest of the body rather than the usual head first manner when she is on her fours. Looks like she is conscious of playing safe before taking a step. Much to the development of Keziah's motor skills, she is simply reluctant to hold her mag mag cup or feed herself. Tried giving her biscuits for her to mess around and hold, hoping that she would self-feed. Nonetheless, she did it once or twice, with some difficulty in getting the food into her mouth probably due to the fact that she can't seem to release her grib eventhough her hand is already at her mouth. Hmm...she isn't very interested in holding her straw cup for a drink either. She would rather Mommy just feed her...

Just over the weekend, she was calling 'Da da' so loud and clear. Even before her bedtime and when Daddy wasn't back yet, she would resoundingly call out that. We are still figuring out if she was really calling that out discriminately, knowing that 'Da da' meant 'Daddy'.

Her first birthday is also just round the corner. Mommy and Daddy have just sent out e-invites to some relatives and friends. We are not planning to making it big, just some immediate family and some friends. Still looking out for her birthday cake and waiting for replies. We are holding it on Good Friday weekend since coincidentally, her birthday falls on the Saturday as well! Hope people are not getting away for a long weekend ya! Hee hee...

Whew! It's cleared...

Thank God. Keziah's nose is more or less cleared up today. The medication must be really effective but then again it could also be really strong for such speedy recovery. Her cough is also much better, with less phelgmy coughing. Heard from my mum she only coughed 2-3 times. Given her a dose of medication for the night and guess tomorrow I could cut the medication off already! =)

ARghh....medication

Today, Keziah was still sick and Mommy had to leave the house with heavy heart, leaving her to the care of Daddy and Nei Nei as there's a meeting on. The trip to the doctor was quite an arduous journey. The wait itself took 2hrs in the queue! Never see a doctor on Monday unless there is a definite need. Keziah's memory seemed to have improved and could even recall the past visit to the doctor. You know why I said that? She went into the consultation room in high mood, playing with toys and standing up on the examination table bouncing around. However, once the doctor unbuttoned her in an attempt to examine her with his scope, she yelled and wailed in great tears that no toys could comfort her, even the most attractive talking Barney. Ironically or not, the Barney was in raincoat and wellies as if anticipating her 'downpour'.

Just look at the amount of medication that Keziah got! Feeding her the medication was a big battle. Practically half of the medication went to waste during the struggle.

Looking at my friends' blog just reminded me of the little things that Keziah had already learnt. She is now an amateur walker, very keen to take risk to attempt to venture one stop to another on her feet without much support. Some time ago, she has also learnt to play peekaboo with us. She would take a cloth and raise it up and down and laugh with great excitement. She too has learnt to acknowledge when asked if she would like to do certain things, an indication to us with 'Umm' if she wants us to do something and if we got her request right. She knows how to put things into something for example, putting the toys into the toy basket when told. She also knows that a key opens a door and when you say the door is locked, she'll crawl to the end of the piano and hoist herself up to attempt to get the keys which are usually placed there.

Walking on her own

Keziah's beginning to walk on her own without support. She would just raise herself up on her feet and take some careful steps. If you were to offer your hand to assist her, she would be practically dashing forward with all great excitement of this new found mode of movement.

Sadly, this weekend was quite uneventful with Keziah down with flu. This time she seemed to have really caught a bad bug. Despite the medication from the previous visit to the doctor, she didn't seem to make much good progress. On Saturday night, she was practically tossing around in bed, trying to get a comfortable position to breathe. Tonight, she seemed a little better. Still she was coughing quite badly to the extent of throwing out some milk. She must have really gotten alot of phelgm in her throat. She didn't really have much appetite either, taking less than the usual. Somehow I wonder if her condition gets worse in the air conditioned room as I noticed she was actually quite alright in the day. Well, guess it's to the doctor's again tomorrow.

More attention...

Wow, it's end of Feburary!!!!! Each day is moving faster and faster. Keziah has grown to be really clingy and also certainly more strength in the muscles. Bed time is still mommy time. Daddy just seems to keep her from her sleep. Just last night, she slept at 9.45pm as opposed to 8.45pm coz Daddy came back and it was the moment she just finished her milk and about to sleep. Maybe to her, Daddy = play..

Babies are really smart and they know right and wrong. Well, at least to some extent. Keziah was flipping her storybook last night and guess what! She tore out a page. Mommy gave her a smack on her hand and reprimanded her. She actually cried, to some extent holding back her tears as mommy went on to reason out with her why it wasn't right to do that. Nonetheless, mommy hugged her and told her not to do it again. She seemed at one point not to realise that it was a mistake. It was only later she showed some sense of remorse, or well at least that's what Mommy thought. Also a chance here for Mommy to teach Keziah how to sign 'sorry'. An after thought from the incident - how Mommy will be able to instil some discipline when often she is away at work?

Mommy's birthday

Well it's past midnight and still haven't been able to sleep. Just yesterday was Mommy's birthday but she's feeling low and depressed. Don't know what has gotten over her. For the past 2 nights, she has been losing sleep. Tossed and turned in bed but hardly catching a wink. Work has been bugging her or probably it's not so much as the load but her expectations and the procrastination from doing things that she found simply tough to understand and apply. Being an amateur and having to train others certainly isn't how things is. Will 'smoking' through get her there? No matter how much reading she does, it's just so little that she retains in the head! What's the problem????? Can anyone answer???? How can she get to back the coverted sleep that she needs to make sure her body function properly????

First Chinese New Year

17 Feb Chinese New Year Eve

18 Feb First Day of Chinese New Year
Keziah finally met everyone in the big family at one venue. However, she's not quite too comfortable with the large crowd. What a contrast with her at home toying around and out playing slide at United Square on Day 2 in her easy purple top and jeans skirt!

20 Feb 3rd Day of Chinese New Year
Well, today is fun with the Sunday School visitation. We started the day off at Uncle Eddie and Auntie Celina's place. Somehow Keziah was really getting sticky to Mummy and Daddy and simply showed quite obvious stranger anxiety in crowds.

Afterwhich, the youths came over to our place. Just look even the big kids were interested in little Keziah's toys. That goes to show how toys can be rather universal at times.

We ended the day by taking a walk out to United Square (our regular hunt for lazy weekends) for some fun on the slide with a stopover at TCC for tea. There Keziah met two nice little gals who constantly encouraged and helped her along like big sisters. So cute...Oh yes, we took a bus back home and look at just how Keziah tried to be 'adult'. Well, she loved riding simply on her Daddy as well.

Valentine day...

Well this year has been rather quiet for Valentine...Can't help it with the little one around...But guess the celebration was much predated to 2 Feb when Wencong bought a nice Valentine's cake home...Heehee....It was pretty yummy. He's gotten it from this cake shop at the basement of Takashimaya. It was some Japanese bakery. I must say their cakes are one of the best I have tasted so far. So much better than Sun Moulin which I wonder why the queue for their cakes and breads.

Some shots of our Mischieveous little one in act....

Keziah's Play Area

Mommy and Daddy have really made the effort to get some pictures taken today. Started with a nice quiet morning just playing around in the house after breakfast.

Look at her smile!

Heehee...trying to multitask...do a split and meddle with her toy

Oh, did I tell you that she can now stand pretty well on her two little feet even without support. She can cruise around by holding onto the furniture. It's also quite an interesting sight to see her turning around on her bums 360 degree.

After lunch, we went out to pick up some toys that Mommy and Daddy bought from another Mommy. Ooooo....
After that, we went to West Coast Park to have a walk. It was a really nice breezy afternoon and wasn't too hot and sunny.

A wonderful time taking the ride in the play ground. Just look at her waving to people around in excitement.

She certainly didn't want to get off the see-saw...

Oh the first few steps walking on the ground of a playground. The feeling was sure different from the marble floor at home.

We took a break at the MacDonalds. Keziah had to watch Mommy and Daddy eat as she still can't take fastfood for the time being. It was certainly fun but well, it can get rather frustrating watching others enjoy their food.

Finally a chance to catch a picture of her two lower front teeth. Ever since last December, Keziah hasn't grown any more teeth other than these two.

Ok, it's time for a ride back home....Oh did I tell you that she loves to read too!

And set up the toys...Juz look at her little self-contained home....juz short of a 'fence' to make it a 'private' property...

Bad Mommy....

Well the day just didn't end as well as it started. Mommy was too complacent I guess. Thinking that Keziah would be safe in the cot, I left her there for a short moment all ready for bed while I make her milk a few steps away. Who knows careless Mommy spilled water and had a get a cloth which was on the table to clean it up. Worse, I didn't latch the cot up proper thinking it's just a few steps away. Arghhh....Keziah was happily standing up in the cot and jumping away. At the moment I turned my back at her, the cot flung opened and Keziah fell straight out and hit her head! I am feeling so guilty now. All I could do at that moment to pick her up and try to hug and comfort her. I didn't even really notice where exactly she hit her head. Sob sob...Now that she is in bed, I could only pray all is well and she hasn't injured her head.

Exercising the Will

Looking at the past posts, I realised it has been awhile since I last posted Keziah's pictures. Just can't imagine this happening at the start of the year coz Mummy has been really busy at work! Every meeting there will be new assignments to be done. Thankfully we still have some protected weekend time to take Keziah out for little strolls but as usual Mummy has been rather absentminded and kept forgetting to bring the camera.

Keziah has grown to be more attached to her parents. Heehee...feels good for Mummy and Daddy but the downside is that it is difficult to leave her in someone else's care. She has also started to refuse things that she doesn't want to do such as sitting in the stroller when out, sitting in the highchair, lying down for diaper change and cleaning up and still getting up once or twice in the night (sometimes to nurse...arghhh mummy wants to wean her off). At night when she rouses from her sleep and wails, despite Mummy trying to carry her and rock her back to sleep, she will push and struggle and Mummy will be so worried that she will drop her with the strength that she is exerting. She is definitely determined to get her way and wails so miserably and angrily at times when Mummy refused to oblige to her requests. Guess now is the stage where she knows what she can get away with and what she can. Wonder if Mummy should start training her and let her cry out.

So sad as a Mummy I can't spend the time I want with her to nurture her coz of the work commitments. I just love to see her smile each day when she sees me and misses the moments with her. Though I must say, she also tests my patience.

Sticky sticky Keziah...

THE day is here. Keziah has realised her freedom with the increased mobility. She has decided not to stay down during diaper change as of last week. Changing diaper has become a battle. She flips once she hits the changing table as if instinctly knowing Mummy is going to change her. Mummy has to raise her voice and warn little Keziah several times. Wiping her down for the night is getting tougher each day. Practically, Mummy has to hold her with 1 hand and wipe her with the other as she will only sit for a moment while rummaging through her little toy box which is meant to distract her.

Aside from the development of motor skills, Keziah has started to recognise people and becoming more sticky. She seems to know who are her loved ones and who are simply friends and strangers. For 2 weeks consecutively, Mummy left her on with her little friends in the nursery to be tend by churchmates while she went for Sunday School. And for that 2 weeks, she cried after having fun for 30-45min or so. After seeing Mummy come to calm her down, she refused to let Mummy slip out of sight. While she was engrossed with playing, Mummy tried to get out of sight but she realised it after awhile and started wailing again. Today, when Daddy left her at grandma's place for work, she did the same thing.

Weaning...

Mummy has decided to start weaning baby Keziah. It was just like yesterday that Mummy wanted to get enough milk to meet demand but now she has decided it's time for Keziah to grow up. Started first last Wednesday that Mummy gave bb fm for night feeds. Finally Keziah is sleeping through the night again. So really is it coz Mummy's supply couldn't sustain Keziah through the night? Hmm...still a wonder but anyway for now it's 240ml of fm to send Keziah off to dreamland. It was a little uncomfortable trying to wean when nursing her has become so much of a second instinct. Progress to hold the milk longer before expressing but was rather engorged. Guessed Mummy didn't quite do it the right way...Oooo...Gotta slow down and take it easy with the weaning. Consulted some forum mummies and gotten some tips, so now Mummy is trying to ease in with the progress to suppress milk. Supply=demand! Heehee....

A Quiet Weekend!

Last weekend was kind of quiet being the reason that Daddy, Mummy and Keziah were all sick and resting at home. Keziah is recovering well from her Fever, running nose and cough. Thank God for her speedy recovery. She has been rather sticky to us as she love being carried and cuddled by us.

A quite weekend at home. Or was it not?

We only managed to bring Keziah out to a playground in a nearby park. The playground was kind of sophisticated and it was only the bike ride that is more suitable for Keziah to play in. Well... I think she has to grow up more to better appriciate the bouncing bike ride as she can hardly hold the handle tight and her little legs are nowhere near the foot rest, which make the ride the more dangerous. But like always Daddy and Mummy will be there to make sure everything is in good order.

Some snap shots from the playground.

Succumb to the BUG...

Daddy has been coughing for awhile since last week. Not sure if this was the cause, little Keziah came down with fever on Sunday afternoon after church. It really caught us by surprise coz she was still as bubbly as usual. It was the first Sunday we left her to the nursery teachers at church while Daddy and Mummy went for Sunday School. We noticed for the first time she was bitten by mosquitoes after service. There were 3 bites on her right hand and 1 was huge! Daddy and Mummy had to sponge her to try to bring her temperature down. The night was terrible with the frequent waking to soothe her.

Thank God her temperature came down by morning but Daddy and Mummy still brought her to the doctor to have a check since she also had some rash and had been pertually scratching her ear till it's all red and sore. Guess what! For the first time we knew that even babies can have sore throat. Keziah had also been having a dry mucus on her nose and the ocassional coughing. Didn't really think much of it till our visit to the doctor. Maybe really Keziah is down with flu!!! She was given 5 different kind of medication - flu, cough, paracetamol, phelgm and neurofen for fever higher than 38.5 degrees.The doctor also mentioned that she had loads of ear wax. But how on earth would one clear ear wax from babies' ear? We were given a ear drop for that. It was a challenging time trying to feed Keziah the medication. One warning for all, never feed your babies medication lying down. They could choke! That was what happened and it certainly shook mummy.

Guess with all these and the little rest, Mummy also succumbed to the flu bug. Throat was terribly sore and head was simply spinning. Rest time NOW coz gotta work tomorrow!

WE've got a visitor...

Auntie Cynthia from Hong Kong came to visit us while on her business trip. Look at the welcome gift! Heehee...a giggling toy...We actually stepped into Fullerton Hotel where she stayed. Wow...so posh..