I Am a Little Musician...

Check this out. I am a little musician... My latest favorite music instrument...

Mummy's Thoughts as We Count Down to the Big "ONE"...

As 15 November approaches, Mummy couldn't help but kept reminiscing the past 20 months (during her pregnancy and my last 11 plus' months journey). It seems just like yesterday that I arrived in this world, yet now I am already almost one year old. Looking back, there were so many things that Mummy has never done before, but yet has to do so as a mum... Especially stuff like cleaning up my pee and poo... Dragging herself up during the night when I cry... Waking up earlier every day (even weekends) as I wake up... Mummy was reading Baby Leroy's blog and saw Aunty Desiree penned down some stuff regarding her thoughts of "Before I was a mum". Mummy couldn't help but agree with a lot of those.

It has been a tough year. Being a working mum. Always having to share Mummy's time with my competitor ("Mummy's work"). Especially when a lot can agree that Mummy's a workaholic. But I know Mummy has been trying really hard to keep a good balance between both. A lot of people asked Mummy what's her secret recipe for slimming down so fast after giving birth. Most even say Mummy's slimmer now that before pregnancy and even before her wedding. Mummy's "proud" reply was always "be Matt's babysitter for 1 month". Hahaha... But I want to tell Mummy, I haven't been such a bad boy after all. Many who has helped take care of me always comment I am a good boy. Moreover, my habits are so routine so Mummy usually knows exactly what I am crying or making noise for. Most important of all, I have started sleeping through the nights since I was 3 months.

Mummy has seen how the other mummies in the Nov 2007 community prepare for their precious' big "ONE" party. Mummy has yet to do anything now, especially since we are away from home and we celebrate my birthday every month (hahaha...). But here's Mummy's big present to me - A slide containing my journey for the last 1 year...

Home Alone With Daddy...

Home Alone? Everyone must be wondering why... Daddy and Mummy had made a pact with 婆婆 previously that she will help take care of me when Daddy and Mummy went on the Yunnan trip (I couldn't go along as there is a high danger that I might get altitude sickness). In return, 婆婆 gets to go on the same trip when 公公，姨姨 and 舅舅 returned with us to Shanghai for a visit. However, it was during this time that Mummy had to go for a 2 days' trip to Hong Kong for a department conference.

At the end of the first day, when Mummy sms-ed Daddy and asked him how I was. Daddy's reply was "Matt was very clingy, refused to finish his food, can't leave him alone for 5 minutes, even when Daddy merely preparing his food. Maybe he knows that Mummy and 婆婆 are not around". At the end of the second day, Daddy gave up and said "Matt's driving me nuts. Scratched his face too. Don't think I am cut out to be a nanny." Mummy burst into laughter when she saw the last part of Daddy's sms. Now Daddy should understand how Mummy felt when she had to take care of Matt all by herself during the 1st 3 months.

Anyways, here's my "battle scar" from being home alone with Daddy... Hahaha...

I Am 11 Months Old...

I am officially 11 months today. One year ago's today, Mummy was on a flight back to Singapore, to prepare for my delivery. And now, with a blink of an eye, I am already 11 months old... It just seems like yesterday...

These are some milestones I have reached so far...

• Says "mama" and "dada" to the correct parent (Although able to say but still not to the correct parent)
• Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo (Totally loves this!!!)
• Stands alone for a couple of seconds (Definitely can stand for a long time now...)
• Cruises (Definitely!!!)
• Understands "no" and simple instructions (Mummy has also taught me to shake my head when we say "no". Now when I hear the word "no", I shake my head continuously. Daddy thinks I have taken "摇头丸". Hahaha...)
• Puts objects into a container (Does this with ease...)
• Says one word besides "mama" and "dada" (Hmmm, like mum mum, nei nei... Seems like all food... Am I such a glutton???)
• Stoops from standing position (Definitely!)

Our Flight Back to Shanghai

Mummy was getting all worried how she is going to handle me on our flight back to Shanghai, given that it is going to be in the day and I am now refusing to stay in one position for too long. Luckily for Mummy, I was asleep for half of the flight. After that, Mummy and 婆婆 had to take turns to entertain me whilst the other rested for a while. I was trying so hard to climb and peek behind Mummy's chair to see what's there. I even said "hi" to the Black uncle who was sitting in a row behind us (hahaha). Later, we met this Black uncle again at the luggage pick up point and he praised me for being a good baby during the flight... Mummy was so pleased with me...

All Dressed Up for Aunty Melissa's Wedding...

Aunty Melissa is Mummy's very good friend since her primary school days. Both Mummy and I flew back to Singapore especially to attend her wedding. Mummy got me all dressed up for Aunty Melissa's wedding today... She even styled a Beckham's punky hairstyle for me... Ain't I so handsome? I am all out to send the baby girls and ladies at Aunty Melissa's wedding drooling over me... Hahaha...

Here's a link to a montage for Aunty Melissa's wedding...

http://blog.antevy.com/?p=176

What's Beneath???

Mummy is just so amazed why I simply love to crawl under tables. This is certainly proof of my attempts to crawl under the coffee table at 爷爷's place when I was there last week. Not only that, I even crawled until the coffee table at Aunty Melissa's place when Mummy brought me for a visit. This morning, I again broke another record when I crawled under my Combi stroller. Mummy just couldn't do anything to stop me... Can anyone teach her??? Hahaha...

Degenerative Disc Disease? What's That?

Mummy has been complaining of backaches for a while now. The backache has gotten worse over the last few months especially after she delivered me and prolonged carrying of me (since I am growing heavier and heavier). So she decided to visit an orthopaedic doctor at SGH for a consultation. Dr Chen got Mummy to do an MRI scan to review her spine further. The MRI shows that Mummy is suffering from Degenerative Disc Disease...

So Mummy went home and did a google search on this and found the following in extract:

Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease but a term used to describe the normal changes in your spinal discs as you age.

For more information, check out this website http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/degenerative-disc-disease-topic-overview

Unfortunately, there is no fast cure for this. Dr Chen advised Mummy to exercise more to strengthen her back.

End of Quarantine... From HFMD...

It came as an unfortunate news last Sunday when 叔叔 informed us that Zoe 姐姐 has been infected with HFMD from her childcare. We were still playing together on Friday. So Mummy had to keep me in quarantine as symptoms only come within 3-7 days. Mummy also had to inform a number of friends and babies whom we had close contact with, to quarantine their babies.

Check out more information on HFMD here http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

So by today, I am effective out of the quarantine period. Thank goodness, I am ok, else we will have problems returning to Shanghai on Sunday. I hope that Zoe 姐姐 will be fine soon. Then we can play together again...

More Blabber and Gestures...

I have been blabbering more this week. Words like the following started coming out of my mouth. Mummy's obviously thrilled, except that she wonders whether I understand why I am babblering:

• Mama


• Papa


• Nei Nei (AKA milk)


• Mum Mum (AKA Makan)

Mummy has framed a few portraits of our studio shots. When Mummy was feeding me dinner just now, I kept pointing towards the wall. At first, Mummy was wondering why I kept pointing towards the wall. Only when she later turned her view towards the wall, she realises that I am pointing towards our photos...

Definitely more milestones...

A Date at Go Go Bambini with Baby Ashlyn and Baby Eagan...

It's been a long time since I met my Nov 2007 baby friends. So Mummy arrange for a date for us to meet with Aunty Grace (and Baby Ashlyn) and Aunty Elaine (and Baby Eagan) at Go Go Bambini at Kallang Leisure Park. Mummy was so amazed. It was a 4 to 5 storey high playground but unfortunately it was built at kids' height. As we were still very young and unable to go in and play on our own, the 3 poor Mummies had to crawl in with us. In the end, I think they were more tired out than us...

These were some of the photos Mummy took for me.













We also met Uncle Bernard and Ives at Go Go Bambini. Later Uncle Bernard also gave us a lift home. I sat in Ives' car seat. Check this out. It's really comfortable.

Daddy Sends His Regards from Shanghai...

It has been slightly more than a week that Matt went back to Singapore with Mummy. This has definitely been the longest time that Daddy and Matt are apart since we returned to Shanghai. Daddy wonders if Matt misses Daddy because Daddy misses Matt very much!!

Daddy misses the playtime with Matt after work where Matt is always so enthusiastic when Daddy and Mummy comes home. Yes, though Daddy has to admit that he sometimes wishes that Matt could be a little more stationary (and not crawling all over), Daddy does miss his chuckles and laughter as well as some of his silly acts that reveals the true innocence of a child.

Thank God for Mummy who has been faithfully updating the blog site to ensure that Daddy is not missing out on Matt's latest adventures in Singapore.

At almost 11 months old, Matt seems to be relatively extroverted, joyous and takes to anyone who can entertain his constant curiosity. Daddy's prayer for Matt is for him to maintain his joyful outlook to life and be always in a humble and curious posture when it comes to learning and discovering. More importantly, Daddy prays that Matt would have God's inspired wisdom in his life to enable him to make wise choices.

Love, Daddy...

Opposites Attract...

It was my 1st encounter with Zoe 姐姐 after such a long time. The last time I saw Zoe 姐姐 was when I was 3 months. She has grown to speak so much... I hear from 爷爷 that she keeps calling 弟弟 all the time when I was in Shanghai... And keeping all her toys for me. She was so glad to see me.

However, as Mummy observes and speaks to 爷爷, it seems like the 2 of us are obviously quite different in some ways...

ME:

1. Totally a glutton... Polishes off one bowl of porridge for lunch and dinner each... Eats practically everything that the adults feed me...
2. So active... Climbs and crawls everywhere... Even underneath tables and chairs (this totally "shocked" 爷爷 and 奶奶!!!)
3. Crawls... Before learning to walk...
4. Sleeps only when totally dark... And very fast too... (Mummy has trained me that it is sleeping time when the lights are off!)

Zoe 姐姐:

1. Eats little... 爷爷 says she has a small stomach and takes many but small little meals...
2. Less active... Definitely no stunts like under the table...
3. Learn how to walk straightaway without crawling...
4. Sleeps with lights on... Scared of the dark...

Here's a photo that 爷爷 took of Zoe 姐姐 and me... To be uploaded when Mummy gets the photo from 爷爷

Congratulations to Mummy...

It's another milestone that Mummy has reached in her career - The long-awaited promotion to Senior Manager. When Mummy first started her career as an auditor, it never dawned upon her that she would remain as one for so long. But she liked the challenges and the people she deals with on this job and of course, the flexibility she has... So that explains why she's still an auditor after so long. But on the other hand, Mummy's struggling to keep a good work life balance, especially with me now. That's why I appreciate Mummy's effort to spend more time with me after work and during the weekends...

A Bath Party...

I had a bath party with Cousin Harold earlier this evening...婆婆 managed to fit the both of us into the bath tub together to take a bath... It was so funny... I find it a bit squeezy though... Hahaha...

Matt's Tooth Growth Chart...A 5th Pearlie...

Finally, a 5th pearlie appearing... In time for the Children's Day today...