Dear Kristen,

We have finally got you to sit in a carseat!!! We only got you to sit in the old carseat (meant for infants to 1 yr) but you did not like it and kept struggling out. It was rear-facing and Mummy completely understands why you would not want to sit in it. It is so boring! All you see is the car's upholstery and sky!

Anyway, at the start of June, we trooped down to Baby Hypermart to get you a new carseat. The old one was too small for you already, your feet were sticking out. Ya, so we looked for Auntie Fiza who sold us your first car seat and the stroller (and lots of other toys!!!)

Your carseat is extremely pretty (orange-grey-red) and very comfortable. You've fallen asleep in it for a couple of times. And the tiny-love car toy that we got for you plays animal sounds and O'Macdonalds! If you're cranky and Mummy plays the O'Macdonalds song from the toy. You immediately keep quiet and stare at the toy. Haha.. Very useful toy indeed.

Dear Kristen,

Again, thanks to no internet-days and busy weekends... (plus Mummy keeps falling asleep after putting you to bed)... There have been no updates! Also... Mummy has been busy getting recipes down for Auntie Belle to cook for you, planning activities for Auntie Belle so that she can play with you to stimulate you (especially to work your little ears!) and also planning for your 1st birthday! I'm feeling swamped.

Mummy has alot of photos sitting around waiting to be shown! Sigh. Soon soon soon!

Here's an update on what you can do at 11 months!

• Walk unaided and un-steadily, about 4 steps! You usually fall though.
• Say "bo-bo-bo"
• Wave Byebye at random strangers when we go out. You wave to everyone actually.
• Give flying-kisses when asked (80% of the time)
• Walked with the activity walker (but... you fall down and get very angry at the walker when you get stuck in the corner)
• Pass things to Mummy that you are holding in your hand
• Point at things that you are interested in

Oh yes, Mummy will be calling and sending out invites soon. As soon as Daddy confirms his guest list... (Hint at DADDY!).

Dear Kristen,

Mummy has alot of photos to post and to catch up on. But... she is so slow at doing them that there is just so much backlog!

So today's entry is about the 1st Month celebration for Baby Debbie, Auntie Naomi's little princess (of course Prince Josh was there too!) It was held at Seletar Country Club and it was such a lovely location. On our way there, we thought we were lost because we ended up at the Seletar Airport... and there were still signages indicating that it was a restricted area up there! But... we soon noticed other cars just zooming in, then we realised... that we could enter it.

Daddy felt that the drive in to the country club was like driving through Indonesia. Ya, it felt so surreal and other country-like. Anyway, we had lunch there and you behaved pretty well (because you got to each your lunch too). Great food and lovely place... and it was so crowded! There were so many people there to celebrate Baby Debbie's first month. She's definitely well-loved! Auntie Naomi looked so good too with her hair all done up and in a pretty dress.

Mummy is now a little... (OK .. very...) stressed about where to celebrate your first birthday! She has gotten the decorations already (banners... some balloons, thanks to Auntie Gaby), chosen the cake, chosen the caterer... She still has yet to ask some 'cooks' to help out! Hee... And to send out invitations!! AHH!

*stress*
 

Dear Kristen,

Today is Daddy's very first Father's Day as a father himself! Hee... He's been a great Daddy and he has helped Mummy alot in taking care of you and entertaining you. When you're bigger, give your Daddy a big muack OK! Mummy doesn't know how she would cope without him!!!

He helps out in the middle of the night when you're wailing for your milk...
He helps put you to bed at night...
He is the second pair of MUCH NEEDED hands when it comes to cleaning you up for the night...
He is the funny-face-maker and singer of funny songs that make you laugh...
He is the poopy changer when Mummy tells him to do so!  (Haha...)
He is the funny-man in your life and the one that loves you lots...

Dear Kristen,

You love to play with the curtains... So cute. I love it when you pull it over your face and play peekaboo with me. Ya, I'm not the one starting the peekaboo game. You're the one who initiates the game these days!

Dear Kristen,

We've been staying at Daddy's place since the weekend because your new caregiver is here (Auntie Belle). And, once again, there's problems with the internet there so Mummy can't update the blog with pictures!

Updates:

• Mummy is now back at work and missing the 2 weeks of playing and taking care of you already.
• Great Grandma has passed away, you've already paid a little visit to say bye-bye her. It's really sad because you barely got to see her more than 3 times. And you would not remember her at all. At least she got to see you.
• Ah Kong is back from his trip extra early.
• Grandma is coming back soon soon soon (we're all excited!).
• You've got a new carseat.
• You walked 3 steps unsupported.
• We've made plans to go to the zoo for family day with the hearing intervention centre at NUH.

Dear Kristen,

On Monday, we went to visit Auntie Angela (Uncle Berd's sister) and her daughter Emma!

You were really shy! Sigh. You kept staring at the new faces and actually cried when Auntie Angela made funny faces at you. You ah...

Anyway, you warmed up later (thanks to banana-flavoured Gerber Stars) and played with Emma! You seemed to enjoy yourself after awhile. As for Mummy? She enjoyed chit-chatting with Auntie Angela. All the while we have been chatting on msn while Auntie Angela is far-far-away in Iceland. So we had to meet up when she came down to Singapore.

It's amazing how Emma is just about 5 - 6 months older than you and looks so different (as in physical development etc.) from you! Haha... I can't imagine in 5 - 6 months I'd have to contend with running after you.

Okay. Short update because Mummy has been busy and felt she needed to update your blog as least today... And it's almost 2am. Mummy has been doing the laundry and Daddy has been helping to clean the house. 

Ah Kong is coming back at 6.30am tomorrow morning (yah, which explains the sudden rush to clean the house (which has been long overdue anyway). He's coming back earlier than expected because your Great Grandma is not doing too well in the hospital. Sigh.

Also, tomorrow we'd have to go to Daddy's place because the new caregiver is arriving so Mummy has to introduce you to her and orientate her around because Granny is not around till next week.

Dear Kristen,

You turned 10 months old on the 28th of May.

These are your milestones:

• Able to babble even more and say water (Ah-tuh!
• Grow 4 more teeth (total 6 teeth now)
• Make 1 step then fall (you're technically not walking yet, just stepping)
• Much much improved pincer grip
• When asked "Where's your nose" you point to your mouth... and at times point to other people's noses, just not your nose
• Scream less

Here you are practicing your pincer grip with your Gerber Stars during a snack time:

At the beginning:

When there's no more:

Dear Kristen,

Auntie Lisa was your very first caregiver at Granny's house. She started caring for you from the time after you turned 1 month old until you were 10 months old.We were really lucky to have such a caring and patient caregiver as Auntie Lisa. Daddy & Mummy both liked her and felt confident in her taking care of you.

During the initial stages, there were actually times when you were crying uncontrollably and Mummy & Daddy were panicking and not knowing what to do, then the experienced Auntie Lisa would come to the rescue. Haha, Mummy felt both grateful yet useless at the same time. Well, Mummy eventually learnt how to handle your cryings and tantrums... so it was good to have some form of help when we were pretty inexperienced in handling an infant.
Auntie Lisa also attended AV-therapy classes with us because after all, she was spending the most of the time with you so she had to learn how to play and teach you to listen. She taught you to say "water" (Kristen pronounciation: Ah-tuh!).

Once in awhile, when Mummy is home during the weekdays, the 3 of us would walk out to the Pasir Ris Park. Otherwise, Auntie Lisa would just stay in the house with you during the weekdays or in the garden. She also sat with you on the swing which you loved a lot,  because it was windy and there was Rex for you to admire.

When we get back during the evenings, Auntie Lisa would always tell us what happened during the day, if you did something new, something funny, something strange.

Oh well, Daddy & Mummy miss her already but I guess you will only know/remember about Auntie Lisa from the stories we'll tell you when you grow up. Now, Daddy & Mummy are just hoping for the future caregiver to be as good or even better at taking care of you than Auntie Lisa!

Dear Kristen,

Auntie Lisa left on Tuesday morning and for the past few days (except yesterday which was a Public Holiday) it has been just the 2 of us in the day time.

Yup, because a maid could not be found in time, Mummy has to take leave this week... and most likely next week because there is no one else who is able to take care of you. Yah, so Mummy got to try out her culinary skills on you every day this week. Chicken stew, fish porridge...  Maybe Daddy should cook for you tomorrow?  Hehe.

Somehow, before this week, your nap times in the day have been pretty off and not too regular. But suddenly, this week, you're sleeping quite regularly at predictable timings! Mummy is guessing maybe because she is home to monitor when you are sleepy and get you to sleep at around the same time after that. So far, you've been falling asleep at around 11 in the morning (plus minus half an hour) for about 1.5 - 2 hours (enough time for Mummy to cook and shower) and later at around 5 (enough for Mummy to prepare your dinner).

Oh yes, what's your latest "pattern"? You love to touch heads with other people/things that you love/like!

Hehe.. It's like you lean your head forward and touch head with your moo-moo cow as if to acknowledge it and then get very excited! But we can't force you to do it and it is by your own choice that you would want to "sayang" the toy.

You've knock-headed with me when I get down on all fours to crawl to you... (I love it!)
You've knock-headed with your farm animal toys (cow, cat, dog, sheep, etc.)
You've knock-headed with Daddy's and my toes... (hilarious. You love my toes!)

Ya, suddenly, you've become so loving and sweet. Still violent though, you enjoy jumping on Daddy's stomach, clapping my face, pulling my hair (when I was falling asleep on the playmat after playing with you), kicking our arms and thighs (when we are feeding you milk)... And... loads more.

Teeth  - You have 6 teeth growing out now! Hee.. so cute. 4 at the top kinda looking like this I-!-!-I (the outsides longer than the insides) and two at the bottom. Mummy has started brushing your teeth with toothpaste as well, which you love because it tastes of bananas and apples.

Your Great Grandma (Ah Kong's Mum) is sick and in hospital right now. She has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now and her condition is not improving. Mummy is not able to bring you to the hospital to visit because you are too young, although Mummy really wishes to bring you... Last night, Mummy and Uncle Kelvin went over and left you to play with Daddy. Great Grandma looked really tired when we were there... hopefully, a miracle will happen and she will get well really soon.

Such sad and difficult times, but when you smile with your little teeth peeking out... cliche as it sounds, it really brightens my day.