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

AAaapple

Dear Yasmin,

This week is Aaapple!! and Meow Meow week for you!

Mommy taught you to say Apple, and you started saying Aaapple to everything including a tomato, and the red pepper. You makes the Meow Meow sound whenever we say the word Cat and the woow woow sound when you see a dog!

Last night mommy showed you 3 picture cards, Apple, Orange and Banana... when Daddy saied Apple, you pointed to the apple and you said 'Aaaapple'. When I said orange, you pointed to the orange card too! So clever!

On Sunday, daddy and the group of Woodland mommies and daddies went to the countryside. We visited a Goat Farm where you fed baby kids dried grass and we also visited a frog farm. We had lunch at an Organic farm and we had a walk in the farm after lunch. We had so much fun! It was great playing with Patrick, Sam, Shanice, and all the babies again.

Daddy

Pancake Monday!

Dear Yasmin,

Today is Pancake Monday. You woke up very early this morning, and you helped daddy make pancake for mommy.

Daddy also made very special tiny-pancakes for you! they were really cute and small. You picked one up, sniffed it then took a big bite. You finished 2.5 pieces all by yourself! Good Girl!

Daddy

Yasmin Bolognese

Dear Yasmin,

Tonight Daddy and mommy make pasta for you. Daddy made this wonderful balognese sauce and mix in some penne pasta for you to try. We let you put on one of mommy's old t-shirt. At first you were afraid of the large pasta tubes, but daddy started picking mine up with fingers and you very soon copied. You loved the pasta so much at the end and smeared pasta sauce all over yourself.


Afterwards, mommy gave you a thorough bath and you enjoyed the water so much and we splashed water together.

Daddy

3rd uncle's RoM

Dear Yasmin,

Today 3rd uncle married aunty Zoe at RoM.

Mommy dressed you up so pretty, everyone said that Yasmin is a pretty girl. We took many pictures and after the ceremony, we had lunch at the Masonic Restaurant. You loved playing with keys! and played music by beating the spoon on the table.

Daddy

Safe landing!

Dear Yasmin,

You have perfected your landing skills of climbing down the sofa! You don't bump your head anymore!!

Worried that you may hurt yourself rowing down the sofa and the bed... Mommy and Daddy decided to teach you how to climb down the sofa...safely.

First, from sitting position, turn and lower your chest to a crawling position

Second, move one leg over the sofa and slide slowly down at the same time, grab onto any cushion/seat padding of the sofa

Third, Slide down slowly you other leg and stand up firmly with both leg...

Safe landing!!

The first few times we tried.. you were very afraid and cried.. so daddy move your bodies and legs for you and when you land.. we could see the sigh of relief face you have.. then we clapped for you and your face brightened up...

After a few more times... you mastered the skills and now as soon as you land on the floor, you turn your head towards us with your brightest smile and we clapped... then you'd be so happy and start squatting up and down.. like dancing.

Hurray.. Hurray.... Tonight you show Grandma and grandpa how you land from sofa.. grandpa even took video of it..... daddy will up it online so uncle tony and see too!

Daddy

Eating independently

Dear Yasmin,

What a mess you made today!! We let you eat by yourself yesterday and you are already getting better putting food in your mouth. Although you had porridge in your hair, emptied a whole plate of noodles on your lap, but it was great seeing you so happy, using your hands and fork and spoon trying to put food in your mouth. When daddy tried to clean up for you, you used your hands playing with noodles like you were swimming and rub food in your hair.... cute...



Daddy

Step by Step

Dear Yasmin,

Today Daddy could finally play with you during the day after the exhibition is over! When I put you down on the floor, I thought you would sit down, but you stood, look around with a 'what am I going to do next' look on your face. Then you looked at daddy, and started taking little steps towards me! One, two, three, four, and you reached daddy's arms and just kept walking, tumbling and fell into my arms giggling and laughing out loud. It was so amazing! when did my daughter grow into a toddler. It seems you have grown in the last 5 days when daddy was so busy at the exhibition and only come home to see you in bed.

Daddy held you, jumped, and wave our hands, and laughed out loud together, Yasmin Daddy and Mommy is so proud of you!

Round and Round 轉,菊花園

Dear Yasmin,

Daddy has so much fun with you today! Unknown to Daddy and Mommy, you learned a new trick. This morning, when daddy carried you out to the living room and placed you on the floor, you started clapping your hands and at the same time, turn your body around using your feet to make quatre turns. You were so happy showing daddy this trick. Then daddy sat on the floor and we turn together! Now when daddy say 'Turn!' you make turns...and giggle and clap....

So clever!

Daddy

Big foot!!

Dear Yasmin,

Who's hands and feet are these? Yours!! Daddy and Mommy took your hand print and foot prints on your birthday and you kept giggling when daddy painted the colors on your hands and feet.

How much you have grown... It is amazing when mommy and daddy look at them now, compared to your 1 month old prints.... you are so big now.. then you were so tiny.

We have been collecting your hands and foot prints since you are one month old. We took another one at 3 months and 6 months...

We are going to take your prints every 6 months, then when you are older, this will be a whole collection for you to keep.

Daddy & Mommy love you!

Birth Flower - Lily of the Valley

Dear Yasmin,

Daddy found out what is your birth flower today! Amazingly it is dadd's most favourite flower: Lily of the Valley.

This flower has long green stems and tiny little white flowers that look like bells grown along the stems. The flowers remind daddy of your chubby little fingers and toes, and it also has the most wonderful scent.

You smell great too... after mommy gives you a bath!

1st Birthday part 2

Dear Yasmin,

Today you are ONE!!

One year ago today, mommy gave birth to you. You were tiny and beautiful when you arrived. Daddy was happy to have heard your first cry, saw you first open your eyes in the delivery room. Mommy gave you your first hug just minutes after you came into this world.

One year later, today, you are a happy, healthy, beautiful little girl. You can sit, you can crawl, you can stand, and cruise around. Very soon you will be able to walk and talk.

You are still feeding on mommy's breast, although you've started eating porridge with fish, veg and meat. Your favourite snack is bread and sweet potato.

Every morning when you wake up, you look for daddy, and give a loud shot of joy when daddy pick you up and take you out to play. This is our special moment everyday. Sometimes, daddy bring you down to have a walk, sometimes, daddy bring you to the market to see all the different colors of veg, fish, fruit. You love looking at tomatoes, bellpeppers and eggplants. You also love touching them feeling the different texture of their skins. Sometimes you will hold them so tight, we have to bring the tiny eggplant and bellpeppers home and you'd play with them all day.

We visit grandma and grandpa everyday, they love hugging you, bring you to the garden and show you birds, and cats and dogs. Grandpa almost everyday carry you in his
arms when you fall asleep for 1 hour.

You can give high five to daddy, clap your hands when you are happy, bow your hands to say thank you, give fly-kisses and shake your head when you don't want something.

When you grow up and look at what daddy has written, you'll know how much you have grown from a helpless bundle into a pretty little girl. I also hope you will know how much daddy and mommy and the whole family love you.

This morning we went to the temple to give thanks to Buhdda and Kwan Yim for watching over you and to seek blessings for our whole family. You imitated daddy and mommy and kneeled down and bow your hands to Buhdda and Kwan Yim.

Mommy bought a beautiful cake for you and we cut the cake with grandma and grandpa after dinner!
Daddy

BBQ

Dear Yasmin,

Last Saturday you joined your very first BBQ.... BabyQ! It wouldn't be wrong to call it a BabyQ, because there were many babies there too and they were so cute.

Mommy and Daddy met many new friends living close to us and you met many other children. Daddy didn't realise you were so friendly, we were worried that you might be shy meeting so many strangers, but you kept your little arms waving, and laughing....

An auntie started blowing soup bubbles and all the children started jumping up and down poking at bubbles, you also waved your hands trying to catch them. You loved the soup bubbles so much that you hands became little windmills.

Mommy was so proud of you finally learned using the drinking cup, and guess what your second tooth is also coming out. It is the lower front tooth on the right, we can now see the white line of the top of the tooth coming out.... you'll have 2 teeth soon!!