Mommy's Home!!

Dear Yasmin,

We had a great weekend together just you and me. Mommy went back to KL for her friend's wedding banquet, and daddy had to take care of you all by myself. Mommy was very worried that without nursing, you may not be able to sleep properly. She left home early yesterday and we had a great day at the beach with auntie Annie.

At night, we had a wonderful time with other children at Natasha's birthday party. Daddy was very proud of you because you were the only 2.5 yr old child brave enough to sing and dance during the games. We had a great time there.

We listened to music when we were in bed. Suddenly daddy found you tearing, and you told me that you missed mommy very very much. You wanted mommy to hug you. Daddy carried you around the house looking for mommy. Finally you fell asleep, and daddy put you to bed.

However this morning at 5, you woke up and started crying and look for mommy again. You walked out of the room, went to the kitchen, the toilets looking for mommy, then you stood by the house's door, waiting for mommy to come back. Daddy hugged you, and you asked for bread. So daddy rocked you when you ate. You fell back to sleep again, and daddy dosed off carrying you in the chair.

This morning we had a great morning walk in Clark Quay, you loved looking at the sampans on the river. After lunch in China town, you fell asleep, and daddy went to shop for meat and bread mix for the following 3 hours. You were sleep even on our bus journey home.

When mommy came home, you dashed out of the home and straight to mommy. Then you asked mommy for breastmilk again!

Yasmin's first visit to the beach

Dear Yasmin,

Today daddy and auntie Annie brought you to Sentosa for the first time. Auntie Annie's company has a family day at Sentosa and she'd gotten tickets for us. You woke up extra early today, and after a breakfast feasted on pancakes, we started our journey to Sentosa. We took the new Sentosa Express from VivoCity. You loved that train a lot! You had your nose stuck to the window when you saw the harbour and the ships. You loved the greenery and the cable cars. We called them the grapes!

Finally we got to the beach. While we started walking on the beach, you suddenly stopped after just 2 steps on the beach. You squat down, and said ' oh!' then you bent down and started lifting the sands in your little hands, and started giggling. Daddy tried to ask you to ride on the toy trains, you remained squatted, playing with sands.

We had your hair beaded and you looked so cute. Then daddy and you each had a sprayed tatoo. You had a butterfly on your arm, and daddy had a pattern on my ankle. Afterwards, we had a blue flower drawn next to the butterfly.

After a good lunch, daddy took you down to play by the beach. You loved the fine sands, and the sea. You squeled with joy when water rushed past your feet, and you ran away from it, then you chase the waves and tried to throw sand at it. You and Auntie Annie had so much fun. On our way home, we walked past the Tweety Bouncer, and you ran inside and started jumping, falling, laughing and jumping again. Daddy had to catch you inside and dragged you out.

You had such a fun day running around, as soon as we were in the MRT, you fell asleep all the way home.

Big Girl's Bed

Dear Yasmin,

It was a very exciting day for you today. We picked up your 'Big Girl Bed' today and papa assembled it and place it next to mommy and daddy's bed. You jumped and jumped on your bed, from you bed to papa's bed and from our bed to your bed. You were really looking forward to sleep on your own bed tonight! In the picture, you were pretending to be sleeping on your bed...

Papa had just taken a peep on you, and you were sleeping sweetly on your 'Big girl bed'

Sweet dreams darling

Papa

Help Papa!! I am Stuck!!

Dear Yasmin,

Papa took this picture of yours when you tried to get out of the kitchen and were stuck under the gate. Papa asked you to help me cook and closed the gate. You kept asking me to open it for you, when Papa told you to stay inside for a while longer, you decided to climb under the gate. When you were half way through, you panic and got stuck under the gate. You screamed 'Tung Tung is stuck, Tung Tung is stuck!!! Help Help'

Papa

Girl, Lip stick and mirror

Dear Yasmin,

Papa learned a very important lesson today: Girls are born to love looking at mirror and put on lipstick. Daddy asked you to put on the hat we bought in HK this afternoon, and you immediately asked me to carry you to look at the mirror. You kept looking at yourself in the mirror and said, 'Tung Tung is pretty'... Then you picked up mommy's lip sticks and started imitating mommy putting it on. then you said 'Tung Tung put on lipstick, she is so beautiful.' Papa and mommy were laughing looking at you.

Yes my dear, you are the most beautiful little girl in the whole world for mommy and daddy.

Papa

The Winner of Miss Singapore 2007 is....................

Dear Yasmin,

Auntie Annie helped you put on mommy's gown tonight, and you ran around the house calling yourself a little princess. You looked so cute in the gown and you posed some pictures for papa. Mommy asked me should you want to enter into beauty pageant when you grow up, would I allow you to. I told her a flat NO..... HA HA

Good Night


PaPa

Rainy Day in the Botanical Gardens

Dear Yasmin,

You are sleeping soundly now. Mommy managed to put you to bed in just 5 mins. We had so much fun today at the Botanical Gardens. You ran round and round and had so much fun playing with Faith.



We went to the Botanical Gardens today with Uncle Andrew and the new children's garden, but it started raining and they had stopped the water features. So we ran for cover under one of the big shelter Auntie Gerri and of course Faith. Originally we'd wanted to try outs. We had our picnic mat on the floor, and spread out our lunch: Roast Chicken, Pasta, Balsamic Vinegar and olive oil, fruits, nuts.

You and Faith stood at the edge of the shelter and stretch out your hands trying to catch the rain. It was so funny looking at the pictures papa took, the two of you were like doing some synchronized exercise. You started singing 'Rain Rain go away, come and get here other day' After lunch, we had a fun time blowing and chasing GIANT bubbles. You also tried your hands on the bubble wand and made big bubbles!

Sleep well my darling!

Daddy

Home Sweet Home....!!!

Yasmin,

Home sweet home, we are back in Singapore! What a wonderful trip we had in Hong Kong and China!

On the way back from the airport, you refused to take the taxi, you wanted to take the plane!! You said you want to go to Hong Kong again...!

It was so exciting this morning after we left uncle Tony's house. We arrived at the airport around 9:30 for our 11am flight back to Singapore. There were lots of people waiting for check-in. Afterwards, we went for breakfast at the arrival hall's fast food restaurant. You had your favourite ham macaroni, and mommy had chicken chop. Then daddy realised that when we finished breakfast, it was already 10:30 and the gate is closing soon. Daddy put you on the stroller, and pushed you really fast and mommy ran all the way to the departure gate.

There was a long queue of 100 people waiting to go through customs, so daddy asked the officer if they have any priority queue for family, and the nice officer let us pass through the crew gate and we were through in less than 2 mins. Then we ran ran ran again to the gate and we were part of the last 10 passengers to get on the plane...

Daddy was very happy of this trip, you get to meet almost all of our relatives, you met all your great grand parents, grand uncles and aunties. You seemed to have learnt so much in just a few days. You've enjoyed yourself so much, we'd sure go back to HongKong again soon. This time we'll go to Disneyland....

First Pet!!

Dear Yasmin,

When you go to school years later and if your teacher ask you about your first pet, I guess yours would be the most weirdest pet in your class.

This morning we went Yum Cha with your 12th great grand auntie. Very long salutation, but she is the sister of great grandma. While us adults enjoyed our tea, you enjoyed looking at the fishes in the fish tanks. The funny looking crabs and prawns amazed you. There were these black colored cockroach looking water beetles which lives in water and the crowd of them keep swimming in the tank. Grandpa asked the keeper if you can have one to keep, and they put it in a small plastic bag for you. It has a proper Chinese name(和味龍,龍蝨,俗稱水曱甴), and people eat them by grilling them. Grandma used to love eating them when she was little.

We brought our little water cockroach home and kept it in a small plastic box. It swam very fast with its 2 long hind legs. It doesn't seem to have a mouth and you kept trying to poke it in the water. Daddy scolded you for doing so, because we have to respect life. Daddy found on the web that these beetles only lives in clean unpolluted rivers and ponds. You kept looking at the beetle and calling it to swim and laughed when it swam in circles. Before you went to bed, you also pretend to swim on the bed....

Ferry!

Dear Yasmin,

After 2 long days of hectic, tiring saying our last goodbyes to great grandpa, we had a good long sleep last night. This morning, you took your first ride on a ferry. We cross the famous Victoria Harbour in the morning. You did so well, hopping on the gangplank, sticking your face on the window mostly the whole journey. While mommy felt a little seasick from the ferry ride, you felt nothing at all. We rested at a restaurant on the pier and had breakfast there. While mommy rest in the restaurant, we walked around the pier, looking at people fishing along the pier.

Afterwards, we did a little shopping of books, and mommy had chosen some books for you to read. Daddy picked some cookery books so I can cook yummy desserts for you when we come home.

We joined Grandpa and Grandma for lunch and then we head North to GuangZhou in China by bus. When we are almost reaching Guangzhou, the highway went over an area of banana field. You keep pointing at those trees and saying : Banana Trees, Banana Trees!!!

We had a great dinner in Guangzhou which only cost about S$30 for 5 people.... it's so cheap.. Mommy said we may move to Guangzhou to live..... ha ha.

Good night Yasmin, tomorrow we are meeting our relatives in guangzhou, then we'll explore the city

Wow! we are on top of the clouds!

Dear Yasmin,

You and mommy are now resting after a long tiring day. You were so exciting this evening with all the new sights, and sounds we thought you'd not be able to sleep, but you had fallen asleep in just 10 mins. You must be tired after such a long day.... begining at 4am this morning.

You, mommy, auntie Annie and daddy went to the airport at 4:30 this morning. You ran around in the airport until 6:30 when we board our plane to Hong Kong. The air-hostess gave you a special children seat belt for taking off and landing. You were very courageous my dear, we pat on our laps when the plane's engines roared for speed, and we raised our hands and shouted 'blast off' when it took off! You were not affected at all of the change in pressure just like daddy and grandpa were never affected. Throughout the whole journey, you were busy looking at clouds and the sun and having fun with Auntie Annie.

After arriving in Hong Kong, we took the airbus to the hotel in North Point and throughout the whole journey, you kept checking if we have our seatbelts on... After resting for a while, we went to MongKok to have a walk around. Mommy had wanted to buy some new clothes for you, so we went to Garden Street market and we were hit by different sounds and sights and smells. It was so full of people! We bought fruits in the market stalls and they were so much cheaper than in Singapore and bigger too! Than we we stopped to buy so nice clothes for you. Afterwards, we took a rest at a TauHua shop and you amazed the staff there by finishing a full bowl of tau hua by yourself! You were so exciting by being so near to the street and big double decker buses zoomed by right in front of you! You kept pointing to the buses and the overhead bridges and said 'wow 2 floors!'

We than walk along the famous 'Goldfish Street' in Hong Kong. It is a whole street lined with pet shops selling dogs, cats, fish, turtles, aquarium, food...... You imitated puppies sticking the tongues out. When the kittens jumped into the basket, you jumped too.

We went back to the hotel to freshen up and took a short break before meeting 2nd Uncle and Auntie for dinner. It was already midnight when we finished dinner, but the street are still full of people and shops are still open. When we finally arrived back at the hotel, you are still jumping and singing and staring out of the windows to look at the lights across the harbour.

Sweet dream Yasmin, enjoy Hong Kong, this is Daddy's hometown and your hometown too! There are plenty to see, plenty to learn here!

We are going to Hong Kong!!

Dear Yasmin,

The whole week this week had been very exciting for you. When daddy told you on Monday that we are going to Hong Kong this weekend, you keep repeating that throughout the whole week. We told me and mommy that we are going to see Grandpa and grandma, 2nd uncle and auntie. You keep talking about going to the airport and go on the plane. When daddy told you that we are going to go above the cloud, you gave me that incredulous look with your mouth open wide....

Daddy is taking you to Hong Kong to pay final respect to Great-grandpa. He is grandma's daddy, and he loves daddy very much when daddy was your age. He took care of daddy and uncle Tony and Kingston and auntie Annie when we were little. He took us to school, fetch us home and took us to the playground in the afternoons.

He also took daddy to the wet market when daddy was just 7, and taught daddy how to choose fresh fish and veg. That's why daddy loves cooking. Great Grandpa passed away 2 weeks ago, and he is 100. He used to tell daddy great stories when he was younger in China. When he was young, there was still emperor in China, and the told daddy about WWII, the Cultural Revolution in China. Daddy and Auntie Annie were by his side when he passed away, and he looked so peaceful, and daddy played videos of you singing and dancing for him. When you grow older, daddy will show you pictures of him and tell you all the stories about him.

The next few days must be really exciting for you. We will be going to HK, then spend a few days in China with grandpa and grandma. You are going to love this coming week.

Good night my princess

Daddy

ME! the breastfeeding father!!

Dear Yasmin,

We did something that made mommies laughed and laughed tonight. While cleaning up after you finished dinner tonight, you suddenly reach out and want to suckle daddy's chest....!! It was so ticklish!! You put your lips on daddy's chest, and lick it quickly and sniff a few times, than you turned to mommy and laughed!! Then seeing mommy laughed so hard, you ask daddy to stand beside you, and you turn your head to sniff daddy's chest again!!

Mommy said from now on, if you woke up in the middle of the night and want to nurse, daddy would offer my chest to you instead....ha ha ha

Mommy told daddy that when you suckle on mommy's breast, you would sniff, then you face would have a satisfied look as if you are high on something.

WBW 2007 Together We Breastfeed

Dear Yasmin,

Today you and mommy helped set a Guinness World Record!!

We joined 130 other mommies and babies this morning to set a World Synchronized Breastfeeding record. 5 mins to 10 oclock this morning, the hall at Macpherson CC was very noisy, full of babies cries, and mommies chit-chatting. At 10 on the dot, all of you babies started suckling at mommies' breasts, and within seconds, the hall quieted down.

There was magic show, as well as balloonist entertaining you children, also there were booths selling things. Daddy displayed our children brands in one booth and many aunties came and bought quite a lot of clothes. Mommies was very happy because she got to see many other mommies.

Later, Mommy was interviewed by a the Strait Times newspaper, and daddy was interviewed by Channel News Asia, and the radio.

You ran around the whole morning, and played with Faith, Eunice and Evelyn. After lunch, we left and you gave hugs to all of them. It was so cute to see all of you babies hugging each other.

This evening, Mommies found online her interview:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Video+News/Singapore/STIVodcast_2372.html?playid=2372&type=Top

SMILEeeeeeeeeeeee!

Dear Yasmin,

You ate so much at dinner tonight! Daddy made delicious pumpkin soup for you and I've added little star-shaped pasta in the soup for you.

We cooked that pasta together and while we watched the pasta turning in the boiling water, we sang 'Twinkle twinkle little stars, why are you in the hot water!' When we start eating, we sang the 'Twinkle twinkle little ............ car, banana, pasta, spoon........' and you would say ' that's wrong daddy' and you take one mouthful of soup in your. You finished a very big bowl of soup tonight! Good Girl!

Goat Farm revisited

Dear Yasmin,

This morning we had so much fun feeding goats!

We went to a goat farm in Sungei Buloh this morning. You were so excited on the journey to the farm. You saw a tree and shouted 'Banana Tree' and sure enough, it was a banana tree..... we just wonder how do you it is a banana tree, we've never shown you one before....

When we arrived at the farm, you ran all the way to the barns where the goats are kept. You screamed 'goat! goat! mehhhhh... mehhhh... ' and stop and stared at the goats.... one of them put its head over the gate and sniffed your hair!!

We fed goats with dried grass, and you laughed when goats ate grass from your hand and you felt tickled by their tongues.

Afterwards Daddy bought bottles of goat milk for you to try. Since you are allergic to Cow's milk, you have not been able to take any dairy products containing cow's milk including ice-cream (your favourite, but you'd have rash around your mouth), strawberry with milk, even the cream on cakes.... You always reject cow's milk even the glass of milk is arm's length from you. However you seemed to like goat milk and you had no rashes. Daddy now has idea to make ice cream with goat milk for you to try!!

Cook to Bond!!

Dear Yasmin,

Hurray Hurray!!! You were such a great help this morning, helping papa to make breakfast.

This morning you helped papa to beat the batter in your usual seat, on the counter top. While papa add the ingredients, you were busy beating, and telling papa what I have added. "eggs...oil.....flour....milk.....orange juice....."

Papa pushed a chair to the stove, and you stood there looking at the pancakes being cooked. You held the turner and helped papa to flip the pancakes. 'flip, flip !!!'

Afterwards, we have pancakes together, papa pour maple syrup and orange mamalade on your pancakes and cut it into small pieces for you. You ate it with a fork and kept saying, 'good, delicious....Tung Tung likes it'

Good Girl....!!

Canon in D - Close your eyes

Dear Yasmin,

'Papa and Mama got married and give birth to Yasmin' You have been saying it the whole day today. Papa showed you the videos of Papa and Mama's wedding and you've been listening to Canon in D the whole day, which was our sound track for the wedding march and Papa's favourite music.

After papa taught you to close your eyes and think of what you can see when you listen to music. You kept saying you can see the moon, and we carry you to a walk! Papa told you 'you can see more, when you close your eyes, when you listen to music' We had a great time spinning with our eyes closed.

However mami scolds me now because whenever you hear a piece of music, you started walking around with you eyes closed and arms stretched out feeling for your way! So funny...

Uncle's Big Day!!

Dear Yasmin,

You had great fun today!! We have just come back from uncle's wedding banquet and you were sleeping in mommy's arm from dancing and running around the whole night with the karaoke!!


This morning grand-aunt and grand-uncle took us to Bukit Malawati (the royal hill) to see monkeys! You were so amazed when you saw the monkeys crowding around us begging for food. You threw bananas to them and even held out a banana in your hand to fed them.

In the afternoon, uncle picked up his bride and we were busy in the wedding ceremony. You were fascinated by the sparkling beads on the wedding gown.

We all dressed up and went to the indoor stadium-turned banquet hall for the wedding dinner. There were so many people, close to 900!! There was a lot of singing from the karaoke session, and you were running and dancing with the music the whole night!

Good night Yasmin, and sleep tight.... tomorrow is another fun-filled day for you to explore!

Daddy

Wedding in Kuala Selangor

Dear Yasmin,

Today you had a great time meeting all of your relatives from mommy's side. We went to mommy's hometown of Kuala Selangor for Uncle Keong's wedding. Uncle Keong is mommy's brother. Daddy know that you felt scared when we arrived at grandma's home, since this is your first time meeting many of our relatives. You didn't let anyone carry you, only asked for daddy and mommy.

You loved the seaside town tough. You loved looking at the sea, the boats, the fishes in the sea. We went to sea fishermen unloading their catches and we counted the prawns and fishes on the floor. You especially loved pling the fishballs grandma made. You said they were bathing!

Sleep early tonight, you will have a very long day tomorrow! We'll be seeing your new auntie the first time, and we will go to the big wedding dinner of 900 people at night!

Rice Dumpling - First trial

Dear Yasmin,

Today mommy and auntie Annie attempted to make rice dumpling for the upcoming festival.

We spent a whole day soaking bamboo leaves, rice, dried shrimps and marinating meat. At first mommy had trouble making the bamboo leaves into containers, then she gets better and better.

Auntie also tried her hands... look they have made so many of little dumplings!

You are 2!!

Dear Yasmin,

Today you are Two!!

Mommy and Daddy took you to the temple this morning to pray for everybody's health. Mommy designed a very special cake for you. We picked up the cake on our way home.

Look! Your favourite character ELMO is on your cake!! It also has your favourite strawberries in the cake! Uncle Ping will celebrate your birthday with us tonight! We took some videos and many pictures. You were so amazed when you saw Elmo on the cake.... 'Oh!! Elmo wow'


Happy Birthday my dear daughter!

Daddy and mommy love you lots