It's been such a long time since the last post......

Enjoying lunch with mummy at Genki Sushi Takashimaya after visiting Dr Chan, her fave paediatrician. Ameline is now 5 years 9mths old.

Letters to Ameline 2

A Milestone Reached

She said her own name! She actually said "Ameline"! ^_^

But she said it just once and never again. Sigh...

Ameline turns 1

It's really amazing to see how fast you grow and learn new things each day. Before we know it, our little bundle of joy has turned one. Coincidentally her first birthday coincides with the Chinese New Year's 7th day which is everyone's birthday. 初七人日 =)

At age 1, Ameline 

• can say "mum...mum..." (which means food), "ma...ma..." (which means mummy), "ah ma" (which means grandma), "pa...pa..." (which means daddy) amongst other babbles and sounds which shows she is learning to talk.
• can crawl but is reluctant to as she prefers to hold our index fingers to walk around and even climb stairs at home.
• has only 2 lower front teeth peeping out of her gums.
• likes to bounce or "dance" when she hears music she enjoys.
• can imitate a fake laughter or cough.
• can wave and french kiss goodbye.
• offers her pacifier to family members whom she fancies.
• knows how to stretch out her arms during a change of clothes.
• likes to hold two items in her hands separately and knock them together to hear the sound created.
• likes to keep the item in her left hand and is willing to part with the item on her right hand when someone asks for it.
• favourite bedtime story is "Guess how much I love you" baby version with 4 sentences and mummy created actions.
• favourite song is "Elmo song".
• enjoys playing with water, kicks in excitement in the swimming pool.
• likes Craftholic soft toys.
• likes handphones (prefers real to toy phones).
• can hold small items with her thumb and index fingers.
• can do the waving action of a fortune cat.
• can touch someone's nose with her right index fingers and likes to hear the person say "ding dong".
• will smile with glee when she is praised or when she is pleased with herself.
• has a cheeky glint in her eyes or smile when told "No...no..." like putting her fingers into her mouth.

Of course the list is not exhaustive but this is what Pandakoala Lai Mummy can think of at the moment. Will need Teddy Chua Daddy to add on. 

Just want to wish our dearest daughter:

Happy 1st Birthday Ameline!

Mummy and Daddy loves you!

Letters to Ameline Part Two

Dear Ameline,

You had your first fall today. :(

We were returning home from shopping at a baby fair in Expo and visiting your grandparents. Mummy had bought lots of things for you and I placed them on one of the sofas.

Mummy laid you down on another sofa and wiped you down while I went to warm up the milk because you were hungry. Once Mummy was finished and changed you into your pyjamas, she moved away and started to unpack the shopping bags. By then, I was nearby and was getting ready to feed you.

You were still lying on the sofa but with a blink of an eye, you flipped twice and fell off the sofa. Luckily, there was a carpet so you didn't have a hard landing. You were also lucky to avoid hitting your head against the corner of a nearby wooden coffee table. I couldn't reach you in time so all I could do was just watch. :(

Nonetheless, you cried and wailed immediately. I swopped to pick you up quickly and Mummy exclaimed "Oh my god!" when she turned and found you on the carpet. Grandma came down to investigate the commotion too. We tried to pacify you, by apologising and with sayangs. You calmed down after a few minutes but was still hungry so you continued crying. We fed you and you recovered instantly.

Just to be on the safe side, Mummy boiled a hardboiled egg and roll it over your head to reduce any bumps and bruises for tomorrow.

Both of us feel intensely horrible and guilty about letting you fall. Mummy couldn't even sleep at first. :(

I guess we always picture our parents as perfect and a role model, and therefore we expect ourselves to be perfect when we become parents. But one day, Ameline, you will find out that we, as your parents, are not perfect either. We have made this mistake and will continue to make mistakes in the future. As long as we don't repeat our mistakes, I feel that the lesson is learnt and we can move on in life. We have certainly learnt from this mistake and will never leave you alone again. One of us will always be around with you, to make sure you don't hurt yourself again.

The doctor and our friends have warned us about not leaving you alone. We have always listened but never really took the advice seriously. I guess it's part of human nature to be so: until the incident happens to you, you won't take the advice seriously. Well, it has happened and we will take it seriously from now on.

We are sorry, Ameline, for letting you fall and we promise it won't happen again. :(

Letters to Ameline

Dear Ameline,

You are 5 months old today. How much you've grown ever since you entered our world.

When you first emerged from Mummy's tummy, you wailed without even waiting for the doctor to hit you. To me, that was the sweetest sound I've ever heard. To me, you were tiny but perfect. Little did I know that you had already wrapped me around your tiny finger.

We tried breast-feeding you, but you sucked so hard till it was too painful for Mummy. We had to resort to pumping breast milk out and feeding you through the bottle. I guess it worked out in the end, as Mummy could go to work smoothly when her maternity leave was over. You had lots of guests coming over to visit you and Mummy. All of them said the same thing: How cute you were and that you had so much hair. ^_^

After one month, we had your first month celebration. We had lots of relatives and friends coming over. You slept through most of the day and our friends took turns to come into your room to see you. Your beautiful hair created envy among the new mothers. :)

Mummy handled herself and looked after you very well when the confinement nanny left. She took plenty of pictures and you always frowned, as if you were trying hard to understand us and the world around you. When we found ways to amuse you, you always had a ready smile. You seemed to prefer being carried upright, instead of lying down in the typical fashion. People always commented that your spine was still developing, but you turned out fine. :)

When you were two and three months old, I had to fly for business a few times. I missed you and Mummy terribly when I was overseas. Luckily for us, you didn't have colic and were only cranky when you were hungry, sleepy or your diapers were soiled. You also slept throughout the night, so we were thankful for our much needed sleep. You had strong legs and always kicked out in excitement, just like when you were in Mummy's tummy. When you had your first injections, you didn't cry much. Your Mummy and I were so proud of brave little you. ^_^

When you were four months old, I had to fly overseas for four weeks. Mummy looked after you by herself and I was so proud of her that she did it without complaints. She brought you wherever she went and even shopping. Whenever you sat in the car or were in the stroller, you feel asleep quickly due to the soothing vibrations. You flipped over by yourself one day and I was so happy when Mummy told me the good news. When I finally flew home, I carried you and you fell asleep in my arms. It was one of the perfect moments in my life.

Your hair still keeps growing beautifully and you are still a happy baby. Mummy and I love you a lot and look forward to our future together. :)

3 months old

Ameline is 3 months old today. Very glad that she is growing healthily and happily. It is always quite easy to make her smile. Hope she will continue to grow up healthy and happy. Love her lots!

I kick...I punch...I make funny sounds...

Our precious daughter is now growing healthily and she is getting more active. The other morning when I wanted to carry her to go for her shower, I remove the blanket to find her sleeping pants gathering at the bottom of her feet as she kicked so much during her sleep that they were removed altogether. She also waves her punches in the air when she gets excited or she is fidgety. She actually moved her arm back and tried to wave a punch on Ying last Sunday. Luckily Ying siam in time.

Ameline is starting to make more different funny sounds now. Seems like she is having a conversation altogether and the nearest thing i can hear to something that we know is "earl grey"...haha as if she is ordering her favourite cup of tea.

Ameline is 2 months old!

Our precious girl is two months old today.

Brought her to kinder clinic for her checkup and injections. Didn't know there would be two injections. Expected Ameline to wail out loud with the injections but she surprised me by being really brave and only utter two ehhhs with the injections administered on her thighs. She probably felt very uncomfortable for the whole day so she cried more and needed more carrying. Hope she feels well by tomorrow.

Ameline is now 57cm tall and weighs 5.2kg. Doctor says she is smart and alert as when the doctor called her name, she turned to look at the doctor. She is also strong and we have to always keep a look out for her, never to leave her alone, lest she moves and hurts herself.

2 months soon...

Ameline will soon turn two months old soon and will have to bring her to the doctor for her first injection outside the hospital.

Lately she is able to respond better and can play after she has been fed and her diapers changed. She will make a lot of sounds to communicate which no one understands...quite comical most of the time.

Whenever I bring her out shopping she will either sleep or look around with her curious big eyes. Her hair is often admired by the aunties and uncles and even the sales assistants will comment that she is very cute...

Since Jason is now overseas for work, he can only see Ameline through Skype. I'm sure they miss each other very much. After all it is the first time they are away from each other for so long...two weeks...she will get her injection before Daddy is back. Hope she doesn't develop a fever after the injection which some babies do.

I am also lucky that after her last feed, latest at 11pm, she will normally sleep through the night and the earliest she wakes up is at 430am. At least I can get some proper rest just that I have to wake up to pump.

She has since grown 5 cm and now weighs 5kg...if we were to carry her for a prolong period of time, our arms will ache. Sometimes I have to apply muscle ache cream to ease the soreness but it is worth it as she will soon be big enough to not want people to carry her but run around the house.

Growing well

Went to the kinder clinic yesterday as Ameline's face has some nasty looking rashes for some time. She has grown 5cm since birth and is now 4.69kg... Doctor says she is growing well. She has sensitive skin and thus need to help her use a wash, apply two types of cream and a moisturiser. Hope she will recover soon as the rashes will cause her discomfort.

Arrival of Ameline Chua

As Ameline has already reached 40weeks in my tummy, Dr Geraldine Tan advised for a Caesarean operation. By 530am, Jason & I have arrived at Mt Alvernia hospital to start with the registration and preparation for the operation. I was quite impressed by the anaesthetist as he was very fast and I could barely feel it when he put the drip on and proceeded with the epidural. As I opted for epidural, Jason could accompany me in the operating theatre and help to cut Aneline's umbilical cord. The effect of the epidural was quite interesting as it felt like the OSIM massage chair pulsating from the feet up. I could feel the anaesthetist helping to push as Dr Tan didn't want to open too big a wound. Ameline was out in about 10-15 minutes and she cried out loud on her own even before the nurse hit her bottom. It was really quite amazing to feel her in my arms after carrying her in my tummy for 9 months. She really has a lot of hair and cute chubby cheeks. Jason followed the nurse to the nursery with the baby while Dr Tan stitched me up. Just before I left the theatre the shivering started. It was only when I returned to the ward that the shivering stopped. We were lucky to get the super deluxe room where I am the only patient. Jason stayed to accompany me for the first night.

Very soon...

Went for the last checkup and the doctor says Ameline is too comfortable inside. The date has been decided...I will go for c sect operation on Wednesday morning...hope all goes smoothly and we can finally see how Ameline looks like. The wait will soon be over. I think I will miss her moving around inside and her hiccups...=)

Waiting game...

Ameline Chua has reached 38 weeks. Tomorrow we will go for the check up again. Since it is nearing the end of the pregnancy, our appointments with Dr Geraldine Tan are now once a week.

Ameline is already 3.1kg last week. During the scan, can see that her cheeks are really round, even her big toe is round!

Due to her increase in weight, it is a strain to climb stairs now...walking around is still alright. I will begin my maternity leave on 28 Jan 2013. Will be resting at home and wait for Ameline to decide when she wants to arrive.

Our daughter

As I walked into the hospital, I saw a parent carrying their baby girl in their arms.

Although I could only see their back, I could envision myself carrying our daughter in a similar loving way.

I smiled to myself and continued to walk happily.

Ameline Chua

After the detailed scan done at NUH , our minds are more at ease as it seems that our baby is growing healthily. There were no obvious deformities detected and it is about 95% confirmed as a girl!

16 weeks

Mini Teddy Pandakoala Momo has made it to 4 months...yeah!!!

Since yesterday, I have been feeling dizzy so will go to the doctor later and see what she says. Will probably find out the gender of the baby today too...so exciting!!!

I wonder Comma is a boy or a girl...haha...can start shopping for baby clothes soon!!!

Yeah! Shopperholic mummy is going to start her purchases soon!

=D

8 weeks and counting...

Fullstop has become a Comma. =)

P.S: Refer to the ticker. @_@
(dizzy pandakoala instructing teddy chua momo to type this entry)