Sunny Birthday!

It's sunny here in Singapore today. Mom took me to have a bowl of laksa (ummmm, my favorite) and then Mom and I took her to a nearby park and let her sit on the slide. We tried to find some swings but there seemed to be none in sight. Mom said that perhaps the government thought it was too dangerous and, therefore, many children's playgrounds seem not have slides and playhouses but no swings. Oh well.... we shall start our search for some swings in the nearby neighborhoods then!

God Bless You, Sequoia!!!

Sequoia is so precious....I can't believe she is 1 year old... I am so happy that God has blessed and protected her all this year... Thank you, God!

12.12am... Sequoia is 1 year old!!!

It's 12.12am! She's 1 year old!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah!

Boneca is 1 year old!!!

Wow, how time flies...

I simply cannot believe that Sequoia is now 1 year old. She will be at the stroke of 12.12am, barely a few hours from now.

I am thankful for having some time now to write and post this blog... what a year it has been....

Over the past few weeks, Sequoia has learned so many things. She can climb up AND down the stairs, much to my horror! She also dances on cue to the word, "Dancing Queen." Mom started this about 3 weeks ago when she was singing to Sequoia one day and the little princessa started to shake her butt. The rest is now history!

Sequoia actually imitates what people does and say, especially in dance steps. About 2 weeks ago, my Bay Kim Poh was dancing with Sequoia and had her hands on her hips, shaking her butt. Then, all of a sudden, Sequoia also started to dance with her hands on her hips and doing a dance improvisation of have her palms turned upward or with all fingertips together like in a Malay dance. Oh, she is adorable...

She also started to imitate the folding of arms from Bay Kim Poh. Gosh, I simply could not believe what I saw, AND managed to video. She never ceases to amaze me.

On Saturday, Dec. 27, I threw a small party at Mom's house for Sequoia to celebrate her birth. I hope she had a good time. It was so good to see her staring at the other kids that were there: Megan, Elizabeth, Isaac, Isabelle, Daryl, Ryan, Jean, Lauren, Evan, Renee, Ryan. It was hysterical to see her try to imitate Isabelle, aka Mirabelle the Magical Princess, when she danced. There was an episode when Isabelle was throwing her right arm up in the air and smacked it on squarely on the floor, then up in the air again and onto the floor once again... and then I noticed that Sequoia was gazing intently at her and then tried to physically imitate Isabelle. Such a Kodak moment indeed. I think I missed catching it on video. It happened too quickly :-)

Sequoia has also learned the word, "Nao," which is "no" in English. Man, she really hates it. The other day, she screamed loudly and bawled her eyes out when I said "no" to her. I was seated on the mattress on the floor in my room and she was standing by the bed, trying to climb onto it. It was dangerous and naturally I said, "no." But no... she wouldn't have it. She was upset that I said, "no" and proceeded to use the highest decibel available in her voice box and cry. Man, she is such a tricky, cheeky girl...

Sequoia is such a cutie... she is always all smiles once she wakes up, never one cry, not one whine...

May Flowers...

May Flowers... Yes, indeed... the weather has been sunnier than ever in London. And Sequoia has been growing up fast and furious...

I have been trying to take photos of her nonstop, to document her life... here is a photo essay of some of the more significant events :-)

Sequoia has learned to suck two thumbs at the same time. I almost caught that on video! But alas, the timing was too short for me to do that. Naturally, I missed the photo op as well. It was such a precious sight to behold. It was as if she couldn't decide which thumb tasted better, or was juicer, and then at the very right moment, I saw her shove her two not-so-tiny-anymore thumbs into her little red-bud mouth... I hope she will do it again soon. This time, I will attempt to be ready!!!

Sequoia has also learned to do some serious finger pointing. Check out the photo for proof :-) I hate to imagine what she will be like when she grows up... finger pointing at everything and everyone around her :-) But, look how adorable she looks :-) I forgive her!

In reality, she is not finger pointing :-) She is actually sucking her finger as if she is making the shadow shape of a gun, thus the forefinger is pointing upwards. The other day, whilst sucking her thumb in this position, she poked the inner corner of her left eye with her left forefinger. Whilst it was hysterical to watch her do it on purpose, it did leave her with a red mark as her tiny finger nails seem to be growing nonstop :-) It must be all the calcium pills I am eating daily :-)

She has also been wearing a hair band. Why? Good question. She doesn't have much hair yet but I religiously try to put the hair band on her daily. Guama says that her ears are kinda sticking out like a lil flyin elephant, aka Dumbo :-), catchin the wind as the Chinese call it... so instead of paying £60 for some contraption to keep it back, I have found a cost-effective way of trying to keep it back and make it stay in place until the baby cartilege hardens a little and gives her permanently perfect ears :-) Oh, and the little beige flower clip helps to accentuate her features and takes the dullness away from the hair band... doesn't she look so cute???

Oh, yes, and my anjo has magician's eyebrows. Check it out... it flips upwards at the tail end of the eye brows! Wicked! She'll never have to put mascara on it like I do to make it look brushed outwards!!! Yeah!!! Oh, but her cafe au lait birthmark is still there. Oh well, she does look so cute with it tho :-)

Every Mommy thinks her baby is adorable and I am no exception... here's another photo of me and my Sequoia.

When I call her name, she actually turns and looks at me. Perhaps it is my voice that she recognizes. Perhaps at 4 months old she really does know her name, as the baby books suggest... either way, it is simply delightful to see her turn her neck towards me, looking at me lovingly (at least I think so. I hope so :-)...

Sequoia does a lot of the putting her hand under her chin thingy... as if she is contemplating about things, about life.... probably not, but behold the shots...

Errrhhhh.... hmmmm.... once again, what is Mommy doing?

Sequoia has learned to choke on purpose, just to make sure I come to her... At first, I was so scared and worried each time I hear her choke... but when i come close by, she is all smiles... the cheeky little monkey! Instead of saying positive things lately, I find myself saying "Don't do that!" to her all the time :-)

She also continues to sleep in funny, contorted positions, like when she did as a new born. I have captured yet another for our smiling pleasures :-) Behold, Princessa Sequoia...

But other than that, she still sleeps like a precious little baby. She kinda sleeps through the night now and only wakes for a tinsy short feed and then it's back to Dreamland almost instantly. Man, the sleeping power of breast milk and milk smell... Amazing... Oh my baby... my little Sequoia, lullaby, say goodnight... sweet dreams, my little anjo, Mommy's one and only Princessa... zzzzzzzz

April 1sts.....

Hello God, hello Universe, hello the whole world!!!! I have produced a mini me!!! Creation is really a miracle! It is surreal and amazing to see the resemblance. I used to say that I also wanted a mini me to my friends who are mothers. And now, thanks to the divine powers of the world, I get to savor the same wonderful experience ....ummmmm

Now, some April pictures and news....

Why is Mommy always sticking a camera in my face... :-)

Now she's making me do the Elvis grin... AGAIN... oh Mommy... :-) You really haven't managed to shake Elvis off, isn't it :-)

Yes, my dear Sequoia, Elvis has not left the building. He is very much ALIVE INDEED :-) When you grow up, you will understand the world's fascination with Elvis!

Well, let's see... Sequoia has her first giggle on April 4 and it is the most delicious high-pitched sound in the world. I wish I could upload it. It will send you into peels of laughter. She has such a melodic, high octave voice. It is like an angel singing (although she can't sing yet :-)

What else? Hmmmm.... She had her nails clipped for the 1st time by Aunty Selina using the baby nail clipper that Mommy's CJC friends sent to Sequoia! I was too scared to cut her nails for fear that I would cut too deep and make her bleed. So, I have been using a nail filer to do the dreaded job. But it seems that the nail cutter does really take the sharp edges away for a longer time period than a nail filer does. Why? Beats me!

Now for more pictures...

My dress tastes like....erh... a dress ???!!!

Sequoia holding Cinderella... she has learned to hold things in her own hands now... and for an impressively long time as well, I'd have to say...

Sequoia's starting to teeth... dribbles a whole lot... a photo memory of her teething gums :-)

Sequoia, in her white tracksuit, sitting in a car seat that is getting smaller by the day...

Sequoia's First Snow Fall...

Sequoia Looking at the White Fluffy Stuff...

Sequoia the Sumo Wrestler??? :-) Gosh, no offense to the profession but I hope not :-)

Baby Back Ribs :-) Sorry, Sequoia... Mommy couldn't resist it... you are just too precious for words!

Mommy & Sequoia...

Once again, my dearest Mommy & me...

Another sleeping position shot... and although you may notice the buttons bursting at the seam of my pretty baby-blue quilted jacket that Aunty Mirjam got me, I am NOT FAT! My newborn clothes are just getting too small :-)

And now...cutely curled, monkey feet :-) sigh...

Baby Babble...

Boobaly Boo.... Loopy Do Do... Icky Loo Loo Do... Google...

Yes, google...

And, I also heard her say "ai yaaaaah..." just like that 3 days ago as well. Unbelievable!

My little anjo has finally learned to speak in complete baby coo sentences. And, she actually said, "google," one day and, "meow" a few minutes after. Her repertoire of sounds has increased six fold and she literally "speaks" or "complains" to me in full sentence galore! Her sentences sometimes last more than 1 minute! Isn't that perfect?! She has been like that for the past 2-3 weeks or so, since early March! Clever lil cookie!

Nowadays, we spend every morning having our happy "morning talk" for about 10 minutes or so. I will say something, then she will retort back. Then, I will venture an opinion on another topic. And, she will reply favorably, or not, in her little baby speak. What wonderful times to wake up to :-)

I am the super-elated, deliriously-happy Mom because I managed to capture a lot of it on video cam and mobile phone camera AND recorder! My favorite is the one when she and I have our "morning talk" and she keeps on laughing as part of a dialogue with me. It is about 2 minutes long and ooohhh sooooooooo precious...

Yay... !!! I really look forward to the future days when she and I will be able to watch it over and over and over again. Uh... did I say she? I guess I shouldn't mean Sequoia. She will probably think her Mom is in the Loony Bin and has gone loopy. I guess it will be Grandma and I watching these precious baby talk moments in later years, wondering how time flew and crept away before our very eyes :-) Sigh... Father Time... go away :-)

Nowadays, if I leave her alone, gently rocking away in her car sear, carefully positioned in the center of the dining table, I can actually hear her protest and start "complaining" away in baby speak...

She would usually start by giving me a loud... "HUUUURH ... " Then it's verbal baby talk galore for a full 15 seconds or so. I would play along and say, "Babaly, bably boo... super girl... icky do do... erhh yi er... ei... yer... super lemon!" Don't ask me what I am saying or why these words come out of my mouth. I just know they do and I have captured my own madness in the video cam as well!

Note: she does not say the famous, "hei burh..." just for the sake of it. That is really reserved for the times when she is feeling happy and in a good mood. Having said that, "hei burh" is clearly her favorite word so far. She says it ALOT of the time :-0

Now, how can I claim to understand what it all means? I don't!

It's simply that there is a clear pattern in her usage of words. For example, she uses, "hei burh..." in the mornings when she smiles her beautiful, "Good Morning, Mommy!" smile. She would also say "hei burh..." when I am changing her nappy, knowing that the activity will render her clean as a whistle in a minute! But she would lapse into this long, complaining type of baby speak if I "ignore" her for longer than she likes when I try to do some of my own things like check email, cook some food or make a cup of decaffeinated tea.

Interestingly, she doesn't "complain" when I show her pictures of the Princessa herself! And, I am not lying... she would actually laugh and smile when she sees herself on the computer screen. She also doesn't "complain" when I am writing in her web journal!Hmmmmmm... very interesting :-) Does she actually know??? :-)

Other times, she would talk long and tirelessly to me when I am talking back to her. "Google... ei... erh... yi... oohh....di... der..." she would say. I then continue in her language... "oopsy doopsy, loopy doopy, yucky bucky, butty butt...icky poo, do do yi ya oh... " I would say to her. And she would continue in our conversation with her own choice of words. Yes, indeed. This is how we communicate each day, ever since she discovered the power of baby talk!

So, the history of "hei burh" begins... I cherish these little dialogue sessions so much. I am so glad that the video cam was invented. I don't know what I would have done without it! I think all mothers in love with their babies should have one and 2 sets of batteries - one in the video cam, and other already charged and ready to go! :-)

Oh Sequoia... or, "Buuurhhrrrry" as I now call her, :-) Mommy is so enamored with you. You are one special anjo!