March 2010

After waking up before dawn to catch our flight, for two mornings in a row, we were finally Home to see Daddy!

I'll be back!
I’ll be back!

Mummy hasn’t got time to get online because she has a got a month’s worth of dirt at home to clean and Daddy’s laundry to do.
Though she got the part-time helper come in to clean the house and sent most of Daddy’s laundry to the dry cleaners… she is still very grumpy!!!
Poor Daddy too. Mummy knows its not Daddy’s fault. But she can’t help but to be angry and flare up sometimes.

I think its because its still kinda cold here in Yuncheng.
The strong wind, dry air and sandstorm.
There is no central heating and its colder to stay indoor than outdoor.

(Yah! In case, you haven’t notice. She Loves to Complain! Too Humid, Too Dry Too HOT or COLD! :p )

Like me, I also think that she misses Singapore too.
And thinks that Yuncheng is a harsh environment for me to grow up in.

Like how Daddy, Mummy, Grandma Alice and I, walked into a great small restaurant for delicious local food on Saturday.
We walked into the dining area full of smoke, people were drinking, playing drinking games loudly, someone was also cursing very loudly to his friends when he couldn’t find an available table.
We were late and was too small a group for the rooms in the restaurant.
Mummy was upset and didn’t know what to do. The restaurant wasn’t this ‘polluted’ on her last few visits.
But was very relieved that someone from another table requested for the windows to be opened and a table of smoker left.

The environment in Yuncheng is so not healthy for my body and ears ( noise and the cursing!)
But greedy Mummy told Daddy that we’ll return to the restaurants this time early and with more friends so that we can dine in the rooms in peace.

Daddy didn’t ask me if I enjoyed my stay in Singapore.
But if he did, I would tell him, Yes Daddy! WE did. And our hearts, are still in Singapore.
And if he has to know which part of Singapore, I think Mummy would tell him, its at the shopping malls. LOL!

Anyway, like the caption, Auntie Ashley added to photo above, Singapore! I’ll be back!
And for my Mummy, with vengeance, to Shop! ROFL!

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*Pardon my baby language. Teehee!

A hat that I couldn’t resist buying.
Though I hardly resist anything that’s PINK and CUTE!

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With no intention of buying, I let Amanda try it on, she smiled and grinned, knowing very well she look really cute with it.

After many months of heavy drooling… I finally spoted Amanda’s first tooth 2 days ago!
Her tooth sprouted from her lower central incisor.
I was really happy. And was short of jumping and dancing.
Because the appearance of her first tooth helped me to understand her sometimes-cranky behaviour and be more attentive to her.
And on top of the cutting teeth, there was also a week-long (and counting) bottle rejection and runny nose on Wednesday.

And sometimes, I wish I can do more than just hugging her tightly.

hat-hat
Activity time.

But anyway, she is sometimes happier sitting on her own and playing in her new hat-hat.

Check out Amanda’s red hat too!

Ps: I got carried away and got more headbands.

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Amanda loves watching youtube.

Instead of fidgeting and trying to lay her hands on everything in sight on the PC’s desk… she would sit quietly and stare at the screen whenever something is played.
What a relief and break for me with a growing active baby. And for me to do a quick switch between windows and surf.

And just today, she was really tired and wouldn’t go to sleep. I searched and found this video.
Adjusted myself to a comfortable position (not a pretty sight) so that she would be able to lie comfortably on me and on her chest.
Before this song was over, she fell a sleep.

Its one of her favourites and something I always play from hand-phone when she’s cranky.
It works and quiets her most of the time.
Her other youtube favourites are Teletubbies, ABC Songs and anything-nursery-rhymes.

And for the record, she doesn’t just like ANY video. Ashley played her something from Jay Chou, and she wouldn’t even lay her eyes on the screen.

I am also looking at expanding my repertoire.
She loves my singing. And its especially helpful whenever she wouldn’t drink or finish that last 20ml of bottle.
(She has been resisting bottles for more than a week now!)
Instead of struggling and pushing the bottle away, me singing soften her resistance and ‘tricked’ her into drinking another 10ml or more.
By the time she finishes her bottle, I am usually thirsty with tired jaws.

Since birth, I have been singing her “Que Sera Sera” and “You are my Sunshine
I also sing songs that I learned from her Bff and recites simple 唐诗.
And I think I just found another great song… Hush Little Baby.

Hush, little baby, don’t say a word.
Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won’t sing,
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat won’t pull,
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Mama’s going to buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Mama’s going to buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

Its such a sweet song!

And I found this video. I think Amanda would like it too.

If she doesn’t, at least it provides music while Amanda and I twirl around the room.

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Edit: I am so tempted to get this. This is sooo convenient.
*wonders if there any more room in my luggage!*

Apparently, Amanda didn’t inherit my good appetite (or greedy genes)!

Bottled Applesauce puree
Are we READY?

She isn’t liking solid food as much as I thought she would be.
When she was just about 3 months old, she showed interest during our meal time.
Observing us putting food into our mouth and chomping.
And she loves to gnaw on my after-meal apple for juices since then too…

I wouldn’t say that she loves bottled baby puree but she didn’t resist taking baby puree and juices at around 4 months old.
Her tummy couldn’t quite take the juices as she was vomiting some milk… and that’s when I decided stop both the puree and the juice.
I now regretted for not persisting on the puree. It would at least prepare her for more solids and tastes that’s coming her way!

So when Amanda turned 6 months old, I decided to start on homemade puree.

Amanda's solid
The process of grinding and straining reminded me of the game “Cooking Mama”… :p

She was “OK” with the carrots the first time… but soon became frustrated with the next session.
Hates the banana I offered, too lumpy perhaps!
She just didn’t like solids, would gag by the 3rd mouthful and then cry when offered the 5th mouthful…
It was the same with Baby cereal too…

I was discouraged and haven’t been consistent in trying.
Therefore, I am starting with the bottled baby puree again, they have finer texture than my homemade puree, more variety in taste and probably taste better too.
I hope this will eventually prepare her for the homemade puree and porridge.

On a positive note, Amanda loves the Gerber Applesauce puree I just offered her! Taste good!
She was eager and hurrying me for her next mouth!

Bottled Applesauce puree
MORE! MORE! MORE!

Like getting her to drink from bottle, This time, I am determined to see that she accepts solids soon.

On the topic, food, (Amanda’s solid is food too! Right?) I would like to share a picture of my Mom’s home-cook.
Hee!

Homecooked in Singapore!
Soup (full of flavour!), Veggie fried with chili and fermented bean curd,
pork-liver (haven’t had them for a long time!) and steamed fresh fish!!!

I ate most of the fish and pork liver. And loves loves loves the 老火汤!
Yummmy!!!
Did I not tell you that I‘m greedy?

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Sitting…

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Fumbling…

Fumbling...

Taking a break…

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I would also sometimes fall backwards and sideways intentionally.
Because I like how I make everyone laugh with my tricks! teehee!

Smiling at Grandma Alice and looking pretty in another headband.

Looking pretty...

Sitting on Uncle Andrew’s neck… kekeke!

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Here’s a last one, like me, I think Mummy looks good in pink too!!! :p

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I can come up with many reasons why I do not want to return to China.
Family. Friends. Shopping.
And especially for Amanda, she is having so much fun here.
In China, the only exciting place she goes to is supermarket after being bundled up in thick winter wear.

She gets a lot of attention from the many 爷爷 奶奶 (Dp’s relatives) in China.
But nothing beats the love from her very own grandparents and the JOY on my parents face.
Growing up, I gave them nothing but headaches, Amanda is one of my best gift to them, for now.

Mum is busier. On top of household stuffs she does everyday, there’s bottles to sterilize and more clothes to wash.
Mum sometimes bathes Amanda, alone.
She enjoys being very busy. And is just like one of the many grandparents out there, who thinks that their grandchild is very smart…

Dad wants to see and carry Amanda in the morning before he goes to work! And is always more than happy to carry and play with her when Mum and I are busy.
And thanks to Amanda, Dad now sends us to place and fetches us home, whenever I am out with her.
Amanda adores grandpa from the very day we returned and is getting friendly with grandma too!

Ashley returns from work late, she’s always disappointed each time I tell her, Amanda’s asleep!
And Andrew is the gentleman, who politely seeks Amanda’s permission before carrying her.
And they are a great help whenever they are Home on weekends.

Friends adore Amanda.
Going out with baby isn’t easy. But they are always happy to accommodate and help.

I am also happy that Anita flew to Singapore just to see Amanda.

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I no longer travel regularly to HK like I used to.
Besides, she prefers coming to Singapore to see us, than to the-boring-part-of China, where we are.

Shopping. I can’t fit into free-size clothing like I used too. And have to mess with measuring tape, trying to figure out if I can squeeze myself in those dresses, tops and bottoms, found on UNIQLO online.

Clothes in YC are either awful or awfully expensive.
I am liking Forever21 stuff at 313@Somerset. I have been to their other outlets but have never liked to shop there because it too messy! But the flagship store is neat! More importantly, I can fit into their size L.
Compared to Yuncheng’s standards… the F21 clothes are extremely-trendy and cheap.
Will make it a point to check it out twice every week before I return.
Stocking up for the coming summer. And Amanda’s too!
Nothing from my summer wardrobe fits anymore. Except for the maternity ones. :p

I can ONLY name TWO reasons for returning to China.

DP. Is awfully lonely. Daddy miss Amanda and Amanda miss Daddy.
We had a web-cam chat last night.
Amanda was happy (at first) and reached out to touch Daddy on screen. She was puzzled and disappointed when she couldn’t touch Daddy.
It broke my heart.
And I could tell she wasn’t happy afterwards. But kept staring at the screen for Daddy anyway.
There were times that I have been away from him for a month and more.
But this time, I could almost hear him begging for us, not to change our return flight Home!

And the weather in China. Singapore’s too hot.
Amanda and I, we don’t take heat very well. Amanda gets hot very easily.
Besides, Spring & Autumn are my favorite season in China and are not to be missed.

Few more meet-ups. And errands to run. Before we head Home. The HOME in China.

PS: Amanda went to the PD for her Hep B vaccination today. She is now 8.7kg and 71cm.
And she just cried when I took stuff away from her. I am not giving in. Boo!

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