Dear Kristen,

First pair of squeaky sandals ever for you!

We went to Tampines Mall last weekend and we bought you a pair of sandals because, well, you're going so fast you really need more pairs of shoes. We went to Cerisi, and unknowingly picked a pair of squeaky sandals. The lady only told us about it as we were putting it on your feet to try on the sandals. When you stood up and tested the squeaky sounds, you liked it so much you walked all over the shop... then OUT of the shop! Before we could even pay for the shoes. So Grandma hurried to pay for the shoes and Mummy went out to find you.

You loved walking around with the squeaky shoes so much you refused to be carried! You walked every where and did not want anyone to hold your hand. What a headache... Mummy was thinking that it was really a mistake getting those shoes for you. But... we have figured out how to carry you eventually... You just needed to be totally distracted as soon as we picked you up so you would forget that you were having so much fun walking. Hehe.

First Episode

Second Episode

Dear Kristen,

Because we taught you how to hug your soft toys... You now start hugging everything else as well! Like the remote control, the pen... anything else! It is so funny how when you hug, you swing left and right too! Haha... You're really learning so fast.

On Friday, Mummy and Grandma went out shopping together. And so you must be wondering who took care of you huh? Daddy and Grandpa of course!

Apparently, they brought you down for a walk in the evening around the pool! Ya! Daddy, Grandpa and you! Very much like "3 Men and a Baby"... although it is more like "2 Men and a Baby"

Then look what Daddy caught you doing while watching High School Musical...

Dear Kristen,

You're now 13 months old and here are your milestones reached this month!

1) Walk - You're able to walk so much more confidently now. It all started with the housewarming at Ipoh Kim's house. Today, we walked around Ikea after dinner. You enjoyed yourself tremendously. You even let go of our hands many times to go explore on your own! Too bad Mummy forgot to bring the camera. You were so fascinated by the light-trolley that was reflected onto the floor! You are also able to stand up without support from anything else!

2) Hug - Yes you have learnt how to hug your soft toys! So cute. Because Mummy demo-ed to you "hug" as hugging a soft toy and swinging from left to right... You do that too! Haha... it's so funny and adorable. You would hug your cow/teddy bear/any toy.. even those not-so-soft toys.. and swing from left to right!

3) Yawn - Mummy was teasing you one evening when you yawned, by yawning back at you and telling you that that was how you looked like when you were yawning. Guess what you did? You opened your mouth wide and 'yawned' at me! Haha. Thing is... you looked more like you were smiling with your mouth wide open! This works only from time-to-time... but pretty consistent.. You would do the same action again. You look reeeeally cute doing this! I'm so impressed that you managed to pick it up so soon. You're learning so fast now.

4) Put-it-back - Because you like to pick up and throw things around so much. Mummy and Daddy have been trying to train you to put things back by positive reinforcement (clap - cheer- sayang). It works 70% of the time. Problem is, sometimes you would purposely throw the items down before putting them back. Sigh. The first time you did it, you were so amazed at how we were cheering for you that you would pick up the bottle (that was the first item we trained you with) and then drop it back down... pick it up slightly... and drop it back down.

5) Sit on high chair for 45 minutes - MAJOR milestone. When we went for breakfast at Cartel one Saturday to celebrate Auntie Caixin's birthday, you survived 45 minutes (and a little more) on the high chair without any complaints. Then again, I think it helped that you were constantly given food to munch on...

6) Follow simple instructions - You are able to follow simple instructions now. Like how we explained to you to open the container, put the bear in, and close the container... open the container, take the bear out, put the bear in, and close the container! At each step you would be so pleased with yourself too! Hee... This container that we're talking about is your Fisherprice Pushwalker's little container. Hee... It took just one night to teach you that.

7) Scratch and sniff - Daddy says you know how to do this though Mummy has not seen it. We have a small scratch-and-sniff book. Apparently you know how to scratch the book and smell your finger!

8) Blow - Yes, you finally know how to blow. You know how to blow your food (thanks to Auntie Belle) to cool it down, and also to make a huge mess. Sigh. Sometimes you would blow it just as Mummy puts the food in your mouth and everything goes everywhere. Ew.

Suddenly.. You really seem to be growing up so fast... I know I'm missing so much more... Sigh. With work being crazy these days... I sometimes feel like I'm missing out on your development so much...

Dear Kristen,

Here's a tribute to your bolster(s) that you love. You have one at your weekend bed and one at your weekday bed, and you love both just as much!

You like to hug your bolster and rub your face into it. It's so cute! Last week, when you woke up from your nap, Daddy carried you out and you brought your bolster out with you! Daddy said you screamed when he tried to take it away from you. So there you were, walking around the living room with your bolster in tow.

Nowadays, it is much easier to put you to bed. There are times when  you would just allow us to put you down and you will hug your bolster to sleep. It's amazing how fast you're growing...

Dear Kristen,

On 18th of August, we went over to Ipoh Kim's house for a housewarming party.

You really enjoyed yourself alot and that was when you showed huge improvements in your walking ability! You walked all over the house pretty proficiently and you were busy pushing this little blue stool around!

You got to enjoy the chocolate cake as well that we ordered from Auntie Li-Sher of Hotfuschia... Wah... it was yummy and pretty at the same time. She was the one who baked your first birthday cake for you too! Yuuuummy.

Dear Kristen,

Last Friday, we celebrated your Grandpa's birthday and went to watch fireworks as well.

The dinner had quite a bad start actually. As there were fireworks that night, the entire Esplanade area was packed and there was no parking available at most places. The road was horrendously jammed. As Mummy came from work, Grandma & Grandpa had to pick you up. So when Mummy crossed the road to One Fullerton, she met Grandma and Grandpa who were in the car queuing to enter the carpark. So Mummy picked you up and walked with you over to Esplanade to find a place for dinner.

Daddy came from NUS and he was sooooo late (even though he had no classes in the evening)! So he had to park far away at the Timbre carpark. Gosh. It was a nightmare walking back after that, especially since Mummy was in heels and they hurt so much after walking so far.

So we had dinner at Harry's Steakhouse. It was yummy and you definitely enjoyed the mash potatoes together with the porridge prepared for you by Auntie Belle that we ta-baoed out.

Then we had to rush over to the floating stadium to get to our seats. Tickets thanks to Auntie Laraine's lobang. Daddy and Mummy almost gave up because it was such a squeeze to get in. But when we finally got in, it was not too bad at all. No idea what's the messy jam all about. Just lousy people walking slowly. Bah.

You enjoyed the fireworks for awhile... Pretty mesmerised (Mummy took off your hearing aids so that you would not be so frightened by the loud bangs). But after awhile... You got bored. Haha... Yah, Mummy and Grandma got bored too after awhile. There was just so much fireworks! I think it went on for at least 15 minutes. The "awe" effect I guess wore off after awhile. Mummy is so happy that you were not frightened though!

There were older kids around who were sticking their fingers in their ears  before the fireworks because they were afraid of the sounds, and you know what? You copied them! It was so funny... but when we were actually watching the fireworks you did not bother. Hehe.

Dear Kristen,

Mummy has not seen you awake today.

When I woke up, you were still fast asleep. And because I did not want to wake you up from such sweet sleep... I left you and Daddy asleep and went to work by myself. And when I got home... you had already fallen asleep... You slept earlier today because you missed your evening nap...

Sigh. I miss you lots...

Dear Kristen,

Looks like Mummy has not gotten down to writing down what your developments have been this past month. Well, now that you're one... you're doing alot more!

Your walking has improved tremendously over the past few days and weeks. A couple of weeks ago you were barely walking a few steps... and now? You're walking alot more suddenly! A couple of weeks ago too, you were screaming each time you pushed your little pushwalker to a corner, or got stuck under the chair. Now? You are able to back it up (and fall down walking backwards sometimes), and swing it to the side when it has enough space and walk on! Mummy is so proud of you!

And do you know what else Mummy is so proud of? How you don't cry when you fall! Yup, somehow you have not become like one of those crybabies that cry each time they fall. The only time when you do cry is when you get really really hurt... like if your head hits the ground. Ya, Mummy thinks that's painful too! So, each time you fall on your butt, you just sit there and clap your hands, or just get up and get going again. Such a clever little girl.

Oh... and you have been extremely naughty too! You've start whacking people on their faces. I think it's because we've been smacking your hand each time you do something naughty. So now... I think we have to change tactics. We're going to dump you into one corner/your cot/your playpen each time you do something naughty and leave you alone. Haha.. Are you too young for the naughty corner yet? Hmm.. We'll see as the week goes on.

And, you're waking up less at night.... Unless you're sick. So that's good! You love your bolster alot too! It's so cute how you rub your face into your bolster. Haha...

Daddy says you're very stubborn and rebellious too. Ya, I agree. You love to go to all the dangerous areas like this corner in Grandma's house which has a little side table. Grandma already put the protectors at the corner of the table... and you just pull them off and throw them! And when we take you away from that corner, you laugh! ... Faint.

You love gadgets and electronic appliances too. It's funny how you like to turn on and off the DVD player, the CD player, call the 4D number on Daddy's handphone, add appointments (with reminders) into our handphones... amongst so many other cute things.

I love you!!!