On the beanbags in the library

PAPA has been away watching the tennis in Melbourne and everyday we send him some pics of what we've been up to.

On this day, we went to the library to hang out:












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Teething?

GAVE M a bickie to gnaw on but it was a mistake coz a corner broke off and became a choking hazard...


But while it lasted, M loved it!

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Good morning!

WOKE up to such cuteness!



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First foods

RICE cereal - Bellamy's organic - has been her mainstay since the 15th.



M is handling big spoonfuls quite well, in fact with gusto.

Greedy guts is almost through her second box!

She's graduated to two meals a day @11am and 5pm.



But it's all getting a little boring...

She had peas for a couple of days, but it made her gag a little and very windy. Stinky!

But today's pumpkin was greeted with much enthusiasm.



Good thing the freezer is stocked with homemade organic goodness!



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Letter to Emma at 6 months

DEAR Emma,

The first six months have just zoomed by. You are a fantastic baby - smiley, cheerful and wonderfully good-natured.

You are such a great addition to our family. We all adore you, especially your big sister, who just wants to continuously smother you with hugs and kisses.

Of course, Mommy is your most favourite person.

Every time you see me, you hold out your arms to be carried. When I am cuddling you, if someone comes to take you from me, you immediately turn away to nuzzle your face to my chest. Code for: If I can't see you, you can't take me away from my Mommy! Sooo sweet...

But being the fantastic baby you are, you don't mind being carried by other people - IF you are not tired/hungry. In fact, you quite like being bounced around by your Papa, the grandparents, and even relative strangers.

Speaking of strangers, you garner a lot of attention whenever we go out. Your hair really is your crowning glory. Crazy and untamed, people stop me to comment on your fluffy tuft.

Because of your eczema, I have been trying to keep it off your face and even considered lobbing it all off. But your Papa just doesn't have the heart to let me chop it off. And so I've been using a variety of clips, ties and headbands to keep the flyawway strands from irritating your skin and causing you to scratch.

You are a busy little baby when you are awake: kicking about, banging around in your activity centre, going for long walks and checking out the scenery. I haven't quite figured out how exactly to play with you so I usually just sit back and watch you entertain yourself.

You have taken to putting everything within reach into your mouth: toys, pillows, blankets, people's fingers, your feet...

I wonder if that could be the reason you got so sick over Christmas. You developed a really bad cough and then caught the flu, which later developed into a bout of bronchitis. Poor little one, you had to go on a nebulizer to ease the cough and help your little lungs recover.

But, thank God, you are all better now and so happy and active.

You have lost a little weight since being ill. Your milk intake really hasn't been that high generally, which has made nursing you fairly painless (except for your first two months when you were drinking crazzzzy amounts!!). So 100% Mommy's milk for the first 6 months of your life - not even a sip of water!

But all that has since changed. Right on the dot, on the 15th January, you got your first taste of food - a teaspoon of cereal. You lapped it all up and since then, you've graduated to eating two tablespoons, twice a day and you always finish your meal!


I'll soon be starting you on more interesting stuff but first, formula!

We're going Organic - at least for the first six months - to see how your skin and body reacts to cow's milk. Because your skin has been so sensitive - despite the initial negative result for cow's milk allergy - we need to take things slowly...

But you loved your first bottle today - not from me coz you still refuse it if I give it to you. Tita Leng offered you 150mls and you drank 110mls. Not bad for your first attempt!

On that note: It's now time to take you out and about for your morning stroll - a bit of Mommy and Emmy time!

Love you kid. Happy half Birthday!

Litmus Test

A WHILE ago I stumbled on this super useful tool.

Never really had an opportunity to use it.

But since I'll stop BF soon... and it so happened that I had 3 or 4 glasses of Verve to celebrate 11 years of marriage tonight...

Lab time!



Step 1: Procure the sample

(Yes, Houston we have a problem! Can't quite figure out the disparity in volume...)

Step 2: Dip the stick


Step 3: Observe any colour changes



Step 4: Wait two minutes



Hmmmm.... *squint*

Step 5: Make sure the stick really does work by sticking it in pure vodka!



Twice!!




Since it didn't turn blue, I think it's ok to feed M the milk!

Breakfast

TODAY both girls girls were hungry...





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Dreams

I was just rudely woken up from a lazy rainy afternoon nap by Z, shouting in her dream: I like to play cards!!!!

Could it be the pressures of her new school preparing her for a job at the new IRs?

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High heels

THEY come in a box/shoe wardrobe of 6 pairs from ELC.

When Z saw them she was like the Hinekin dudes in the ad.

No wonder Z loves hanging out at Tata's house.

Yesterday, she announced she wants to go there everyday! I'm going to ask L for her childcare rates.

In the last month, Tata and Z are playing and interacting really well.

Quiet time:



MTV HipHop rapping: Yo yo yo *beep*




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Kong n Pops home

AFTER three months down under, the foggies arrived home exclaiming: Wahhhh, the girls grow so much ahhhhh!?!?!
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Allergies

TESTED for cows milk, soy and egg allergies today as M is days away from starting solids - and formula!

All three allergens came up negative.

Dr B says: This does not mean M has no allergies as she is too young for conclusive results and she may develop a stronger allergic reaction later.

But at least there is no strong positive reaction so I can go out and buy that tin of cow formula.

Complicated!

Anyway because M seems so sensitive, we're going organic - at least for the first $ix month$.

Thinking about trying Bellamy's from Australia. Email me if you have any opinion! Thanks!

Note: 7.02kg; 65.2cm

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A Vege(not mite) sandwich but as good as

SOMETIMES it's a smell.

Or a song.

Or in my case today, the taste and texture of beetroot, avocado, cucumber and slightly dehydrated curls of shaved carrot all smushed up in my mouth.

Eck! It brought on a sentimental nostalgic rush.

All that crunchy raw freshness just tasted of Australia.

While Home is here in Singgers with D and my two beautiful girls - but struth I do still love 'Stralia!

I've been to cities that never close down,
from New York to Rio and old London town,
but no matter how far or how wide I roam,
I still call Australia home.

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Emmy's hair

PEOPLE notice her hair.

It's everywhere and it really doesn't help her ezcema. It tickles her eyes, her ears, her neck and she rubs and scratches with increasing intensity.



I've been trying to manage it while it grows longer so that eventually it will be long enough to tie back.

Or I might just have to get it all cut off...



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...And a Happy 2010

YES, I am unabashed to say: Our entire family was well asleep before midnight - waaaay before!

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