A Ritzy Affair

Our Ritz-Carlton Rendezvous

Dae and Ma decided to go for a pseudo-holiday, partly as a getaway and partly to "experiment" to see whether I can actually be persuaded to fall asleep on a bed other than my own. So here we are, all pretending to be tourists in our own backyard, at Ritz-Carlton for a 2 day, 1 night stay. Check out the ultra-luxurious bathtub!! I was soooooo excited to see water actually coming out of the tap, I kept running in and out of the bathroom shivering with delight. Now when are we going to install one like that at home?

Bedtime story

My usual Babar the Elephant book before I turn in for the night. So far I've been keeping to my bedtime routine, so hopefully I will fall asleep soon on the new bed!

Early Morning View

I slept well last night. Not sure if I can say the same for Dae and Ma though coz they had to share the bed with me and I
kept shifting around. Well, at least now they know their "experiment" succeeded! I wanted to look at tiny cars down below but everything was hazy coz of the early morning mist. It looks pretty romantic anyway. Now if only I can block out the sound of the snoring coming from behind!





Look, I've got my very own inflatable car! I'm doing a test-drive here on the bed before we go down to the swimming pool. Don't I look like a professional stunt-driver?

































Swimming
This was taken after my "accident" in the pool, which explains why I look so grouchy. Sigh, I never have happy photos taken at the swimming pool. Thanks to my innately kaypo nature, I fell into the pool when I leant over the side of my car to look at the bottom. Luckily mummy pulled me out in time so that I didn't choke on the water. But I guess it was enough of a scare to make me refuse to sit inside the wobbly car anymore. Well, maybe the next time I'll have more luck at the pool! Till then, that's the end of our little rendezvous. Maybe the next time we go for a holiday, it'll be a real, over-the-sea one!

At the playground

Pasir Ris Park Playground

I didn't like the swings, so Mummy and Daddy put me on this motor-cycle-like thingy that bounces up and down. I can't quite decide if I like this better though...it doesn't make any sound at all - not at all like the brrrmbrrm that I see on the roads. I don't feel very secure on this at all!























Now they have made me pose on the slide since I'm too little to play on it properly. Sigh..I don't understand why this is called a playground when there is nothing I can play on at all!















At last! Now this is what I call real play! The freedom to run around as I please and not sit on strange looking objects that move even if I don't want it to move..Now I am happy!

At the Zoo

Introduction to Animals 1.1

No school for Mummy today so Daddy and Mummy decided to give me an education of a different kind - we went to the Singapore Zoological Gardens during the time when I would usually have my morning nap..that explains the frown on my face. I wonder what or who we will meet here? Mummy has promised to show me the elephants much like those in my Babar book...we shall see!










This was the only time i smiled during the entire outing! Didn't quite like the elephants coz they were so far away and their shit looked so GROSS! But the monkeys are a different story! Aha! Here we get to meet them up close and personal (I would have gone into the enclosure to say hello if not for the silly glass window!) Anyway, since I seem so happy here, Daddy thought this would be his best chance to capture the moment for posterity. So here Mummy and I are, hamming it up for the camera. (My T-shirt incidentally says "cheeky monkey" in front!)




This is the Australian enclosure and that's my new kangaroo friend. I'm not going to get too close though,coz I heard that he kicks!










That's about all the photos for my first outing to the zoo.. Should have taken more photos but I was quite grouchy throughout coz of the heat and my missed naptime. Plus the fact that Daddy and Mummy were too busy viewing the animals and keeping me in sight to bother about the camera much. Never mind, we will visit the animals again soon.

Water water everywhere

Swimming

Today, I was introduced to something called a swimming pool at the grand old age of...14 months. Apparently, you have to wear a tight tight bottom called a swimming trunk, go topless, put on a horrible plastic contraption over your body and basically go into a huge never-ending mass of water to.. do what..?
I'm not sure myself, which is why my face looks like that. Even mama's Mother Froggy doesn't help to lessen my apprehensions about this new activity called swimming.


The water feels cold!! Flapping my wings... oops, i mean my arms doesn't seem to help. HELP!












Now I'm being marooned on this funny looking "island" with sand that isn't quite sand. Hey, I see a ship out there.. AHOY! Come and get me..
















Oh no! Nobody saw me! Now I've got to spend the night on this strange island with just Mother Froggy for company..



















Ok, I'm tired of this game. Daddy, stop taking my photos..Can we go home now?

Sand and Sea

At the Beach

We went for a walk after breakfast one Sunday morning down to Pasir Ris Beach. There was water and sand everywhere! Mummy and Daddy decided that it was time I learnt how to be a little more rugged and "outdoorsy". So here we are, me looking rather skeptically at Daddy with his ever-present camera, ready to capture the look on my face as I feel the first squishy bits of sand between my toes.

Hmm, that's a strange feeling! I kept looking down at my feet as we walked along the beach, wondering about the slightly prickly, rather soft surface that I'm now walking on. I think I like the feeling of the waves washing over my toes better... at least it's cool, though I'm still quite puzzled by the whole experience.

One Year Old B'day (Part 2)

Birthday Party Part 2

Today's the Saturday after my birthday and I'm going to have a second celebration. The other one was just a rehearsal - today I get to dress up, cut a bigger cake and take more photographs. (actually, I think it's just an excuse for the grown-ups to have their own party!) Anyway, here's me all dressed up and waiting for Mummy and Daddy to fuss over the table layout, prepare the camera and of course, bring out the all-important Cake!


A Bigger Cake



Cheese and GreenTea Cake from Bakerzin


Hmm, this feels familiar. I know, I'm supposed to blow out that light on top of the cake before it can be eaten. Okie, I know my part now.. Heh, heh, does it look like I'm actually blowing the candle out?


Actually, I don't know how to put it out.. Maybe I should try using my fingers...



Posing with Mummy. I seem to be feeling the excitement at last!
Okie, this requires concentration. I'm handling a dangerous instrument here aka a plastic knife. Mummy looks really pleased too, I think she can't wait to eat the cake after all the fussing around!
And that's the last of this series of my birthday photos. Now I am really and truly ONE Year old! Toddlerhood, here I come!

I'm One Today!

8th June 2006

I turn one year old today! This is my very first birthday cake bought specially to celebrate the big occasion and it looks delicious! At least to Mummy. For me, anything sweet and colourful is yummy already! Mummy says this is for me to try out first because we'll celebrate my birthday again on Sat when Gong Gong isn't working and can come over and we can have a bigger cake then.

Waiting to cut cake

What is that strange-looking thing with the light on top of my cake? Can i eat it? Why does everyone keep asking me not to touch it because it's hot but to blow it out? What does "blow" mean anyway?

First Taste of Cake

I tried feeding myself some cake after "blowing" out the candle (at least Mummy pretended I did anyway!) Can't decide if I like it - it tastes sweet and oily and the cute tweety bird picture on top of the cake turned out to be made of paper, much to Mummy's disappointment! Hmm, well, at least the tweety on my T-shirt is authentic.

Now the fuss seems to be over and I can go to bed. Haven't slept the whole day today, which explains why I haven't smiled once for Daddy's camera.

11 months

Favourite Toy

This toy truck, inherited from Uncle Glen, has been your constant companion for the past month. You're especially fascinated with its wheels and often turn it over just to see how they move. Of course, you also play with it in your usual "chor lor" way such that it hits against the doors, furniture and even piano with a loud bang. Sometimes when you're feeling more gracious, you'll allow Mummy to push it to you gently. More often however, we're just waiting for it to self-destruct after the way it is "lovingly" handled!








Cheeky Baby

Some of your growing facial expressions taken on Mother's Day. You're showing off your knowledge of where your eyes are, in the process showing off your cute dimples as well : )

Walking at 10 months

We bought you a playpen to contain your growing independence and give mama some peace during the day. When you are in it, you spend a lot of time standing up and trying to reach the other side. For now, it is your favourite place during your quiet moments - times when you can play with your toys or "read" Mummy's old magazines, all in relative safety. It probably won't be too long when you'll protest at being inside when everybody's moving around freely outside, but for now, the playpen's your newest toy!



Finally!! The day that Mummy and Daddy had been anticipating for this month (and on hindsight, we longed for this milestone too soon!) After all your practices moving around the playpen, you finally plucked up the courage to walk freely on your own outside it.One evening, you decided to do a little demonstration around the room before bedtime and now we finally see you in action! Only trouble is.. you learnt to walk and run in less than a week. So now, while we celebrate your new-found independence, it's the start of everyone's trepidation too as the danger of you bumping into furniture on your unsteady feet and pulling things off table tops is even more real. Even safety devices to protect your head from corners don't work because you always manage to pull them off. It's time for us to think of new ways to outwit you so that you can explore the surroundings and still keep yourself safe!

Eight Month - Gaining independence

Bath Time


One of your favourite activities in your daily routine. You've learnt how to kick and splash around in your foamy bath-tub, resulting in Mummy getting all wet as well.




























Posing in a Little "Mr Incredible" suit - courtesy of Gerald Kor Kor

This month, you've started to pull yourself up and cruise around the house. We have to watch you a lot more carefully now. Once inaccessible items now fall prey to your clutches. Suddenly, your toys no longer seem interesting, since "forbidden" items like the remote control or Mummy's laptop are within easy reach. Now our skills at persuasion are put to the test - how to convince you that some toys, like this one, belong to you and some others belong to Mummy and Daddy.

Baptism

Baptism

08 January, 2006. We finally got a date for your baptism at Holy Trinity Church, exactly 7 months after you were born. Gong gong, Mama and Uncle Glen came to celebrate the occasion with Godma Joycelyn and us, and to help entertain you in case you got restless during mass (which u did)





Was a bit apprehensive as to how you will take to being dunked in the baptismal font, but luckily, we didn't need to worry. You enjoyed the whole experience and actually gave the congregation a huge smile when the priest lifted you up after the dip.








Fast asleep after all the excitement. Presenting Mark Tristan Loh - latest addition to the Catholic family.

Chinese New Year

Your First Chinese New Year

Say cheese for the camera with Mama and Grandpa John













You learnt a new "trick" just in time for CNY. Here's mummy prompting you to say "Gong Xi Gong Xi" for the camera!

Christmas Time!

X'mas 2005

We celebrated your first Christmas at a height of 70 storeys above ground level. You were too little to admire the view of Singapore's skyline or wonder why the cars on the ground suddenly seem tinier than toy cars. Nor could you savour the Christmas lunch yet. It was more of a treat for Mummy and Daddy, together with Uncle John, Auntie Val and Kai Seng Kor Kor. But you got your first treat of egg custard so guess you did enjoy yourself after all!

In fact, you expanded so much energy playing with Kai Seng that by the time Mummy wanted to take a photo with you in front of the beautiful big Christmas tree, you were fast asleep.

Presents

Look at all the presents you're getting! Hmm, wonder what's inside them. You've already decided that you like that colourful red one - we'll find out what's inside right after Daddy takes a photo of your first stash of goodies.