Only but not lonely cousins

IT'S sweet how he loves her. And she him.

My little cupcake

NOTHING says "celebration" more than neon food colouring.

I baked Banana vanilla bean cupcakes with marshmallow cream cheese icing for a family-do at Aunty Lucy's.

Z stayed home as it was past her bedtime.

To make up it, we took her to Sunday brunch where she had a sugar rush of her own - pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup.


We worked off the calories by checking out the Great Singapore Sale.

A walk to town for lunch

BEING a stone's throw from Orchard Road, Z and I decided to do lunch.

The mid-day sun was not kind to us.

So we ducked into a shopping centre where we discovered a playarea.


While I cooled down, Z worked up an appetite.

She tried to follow the big kids around but they weren't interested in entertaining her.

She quite happily played on the stairs.

Up and down.

Up and down.

Up and down.

Then it was time for sushi.

Z had her favourite dish: Agedashi Tofu - but only after she ate all her broccoli trees.

This time, she even got to eat the deep fried crispy skin.

Tasty.

Zoe: Caldecott Princess

TOOK Z to Caldecott Hill to meet up with some ex-colleagues.

After lunch at the TCS canteen, we headed to the news studios.

While I caught up with everyone, Z had a great time in the post-production room playing with the hundreds of buttons and dials.

Then Z decided she should be in front of the camera rather than working behind the scenes and tried to audition for a job.

Ta dah!

Settling back

DAILY routines have begun.

Z is so fun to cart about town these days. She's more than happy to take in new sights, do the things I want to, and can't really demand stuff.

Today after a brisk morning walk around the neighbourhood, we went to Simply Bread at Guthrie House for breakfast.

She had water with a raisin bun. A latte and a croissant pour moi.

Then we went grocery shopping. She helped put stuff in the trolley while trying to learn words like "Zucchini", "Mozzarella", "Lentils", "Kettle chips" and "Tampax".

She was such a good baby that I got her this as a reward for good behaviour:


She can only wear it for another 38 days...

McScare

THIS freaky toy came with Z's first Kid's Value Meal of pancakes and apple juice.

The stuff nightmares are made of.

We're back

AFTER KL, it is great to be able to have long walks in green, shady parks with the bub.

On the weekend, we went to the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Z had a long nap in her pram and then a little stroll.

Here she is wearing uggz-buggz shoes, evidence that I've done something I swore I'd never do: I BOUGHT MY KID SQEAKY SHOES!

Oh how they used to ANNOY me!

Squeak squeak squeak

Anyway, these cost S$9 from Tiong Baru Markets.

Not quite the fashionista this time.

The packing begins

THE boxes arrived a few days ago.

In preparation for the movers swooping in Tuesday to Thursday, I have been trying to sift through our stuff.

Categories of Stuff

A - Things we can't live without = GO NOW
B - Things we can live without for the next six months = STORE
C - Things I like but haven't used in years = GIVE AWAY
D - Rubbish = CHUCK

Maaaan. It's been tough. It's a bottomless pit of stuff.

Icky sticky stuff.

And most of it belongs to Z and D!

Daddy at work

A VISIT to the bank to say goodbye.

Z had a good time pressing some buttons while seated on the desk. Hope she didn't park a couple of million where it didn't belong!


After a while, D decided it would be safer if Z stayed in his office.

Walking!

HERE we are on the way to baby group on Wednesday afternoon.

While she may look quite happy on her bike here, Z was on her feet a lot.


Everyone kept asking if she had started walking.

"Not really," I said. "Though she has taken a few steps herself."

Then overnight, she became a walker.

All of Thursday, she was taking step after step all by herself.

Let the chasing begin!

Oh! A blogworthy first: Last night, Z fell off the bed with a great big THUD. Every night, Z and I lie in bed together. She rolls about, burrows like a rabbit in the doona and falls asleep on her own. Well, last night she misjudged the edge of the bed during a mega roll. It all happened far too quickly for me to catch her. Poor little baby was more stunned than hurt I think. Big cry.

Teachers' pet

GYMBOREE was a blast today.

Z did good. Not a grump from her.

She was so cute that one of the teachers pulled out her camera and they all took turns to take a picture with Z at the end of the class.

Note to self: Make sure she has a good nap before class AND a snack on the way there.

And here is the most fascinating world of Gymboree in pictures:

Z crawls up a foam hill...


Z climbs up a step...


Z crosses a bridge...


Z gets some help going down a slide (you'd think gravity would be enough help)...


Z reorientates herself...


Z decides she wants another go on the slide but can't be bothered going the long way round...

Bye bye Malaysia

WAVES of change have hit since Z hit the big O.

We are leaving KL!

Home in less than three weeks.

And in other news:


The handbag gene

Z has inherited it from me.

And her first designer handbag?

A vintage (ie. old) Gucci pouch.

The skinny tall genes

These she gets from D.

According to Dr Belinda at her one year check-up, Z is a little underweight at 8.8kg.

But above average height.


Mother's Day

My second one as a MOTHER!

D and Z took me for lunch at a fancy dim sum joint.

Because D didn't make a reservation the restaurtant misplaced our reservation, we had to wait in line for a bit.

Why won't they let us in, Mom?



Baby steps

On the 18th, Z took her first step.

Or rather her first four.

There was pure joy and exhilaration on her face as she realised she was WALKING without help.

But since then, she hasn't bothered walking again.

These shoes weren't made for walking!



The creative gene

Z is tres artistic!

She loves crayons, pencils and pens.

Now, if she'd just use paper as her canvas instead of her face.

ONE

HAPPY birthday, my baby!

Today, as a treat, she got to eat... a lot of rubbish.

She made a big mess and it was all GOOD!




From babycenter.com:

Believe it or not, your first year is over. The boot camp of babyhood is behind you. Hold on for the toddler years! In the coming months, your child will seek more independence, discover the world from an upright position, find her sense of humor, and learn to say she loves you.

Handy T

A MORNING nap.

We had already packed everything for our journey home.

So D's smelly T had to make do as her blankie.

The birthday outfit

KNICKERS when a little too big makes a perfect matching cap.

This is Z on her birthday in a dress she picked out all by herself from the hotel boutique.

We had popped into Jim Thompson to have a look at their very adorable kids outfits.

I made her try on a couple of dresses. But she kept grabbing at this one off the rack and wouldn't let go.


So the decision was made - by her.

D, without a credit card, put aside the dress to come back later to pay for it.

But Z got upset when we walked out leaving it behind.

So Grandpa went back in to buy it.

She got dressed up and had a little photo shoot.

Boy, was she a happy cherub...

...until she fell!



Oops!

Phuket

WE headed to Thailand for the long weekend to celebrate Z's birthday.

The weather couldn't quite decide if it was going to be nice to us or not.

So it rained about half the time.

But when the sun came out - usually in the morning, it was super nice.

Ahhh, we love 'em Blue Sky Holidays!

Some photos:

Splashing about with Mom.


Post-swim appetite made this, her first croissant, a very tasty treat. Holding up her pointer finger is her sign for Good!. If something is Super good!, she will hold up both pointers. She can't yet seem to grasp the concept of the thumbs up.


Playing peekaboo with leftover decorations from a very lavish Indian wedding (they even had elephants!)


Speaking of elephants, here we are checking out a baby one roaming the beach.


On a morning walk.


With the GrandM and GrandP, who came along for the weekend, on the resort grounds.


Practicing her cooking skills in the kitchen play area at the restaurant while we feasted on PadThai and Tom Yum.


And just being the happy camper she is.

Pretty in Pink

Z DUG out another one of her birthday presents from her cupboard.

This one was from baby Brian (and his Mom).

A super dressy gown fit for a baby ball!



It's silky, boofy with tulle and has a satin sash.

With her hair (or rather the lack of it), poor Z could be mistaken for a boy in a pretty pink dress!



But still, her Mama thinks she looks awfully sweet!