Back on the Car Seat!

Yes, thanks to the playgroup! This is my biggest gain from just 2 gathering so far. I have been showing Charlotte that all of her friends are sitting on their own car seat while their parents drive and take them "kai kai". Just last Sunday, I carried Charlotte out to say goodbye to Bryan after the play group. I made a conscious effort to explain to her that she could do just the same.

We gave up on car seat when Charlotte was about 10months old. Back then, my auntie was taking care of her and sometimes they took her "kai kai" in the afternoon without a car seat. After a few times, we failed to strap her down and we gave up totally when Brenda came.

On Sunday night itself, I took the car seat out again and showed it to Charlotte. She immediately sat on it (we were still in the room). In order not to discourage her, both Pat and myself had to carry her (with her in the car seat) to the car. She was alright and we headed on to MIL's house for dinner without major issue. Phew!

This morning, I had to take Charlotte for her PD visit and I put her on the car seat again. She did alright too except she couldn't fall asleep. Charlotte is very used to being carried and fell asleep in our arms. However, she was very sleepy and tired on our way back after the PD visit but still didn't quite comfortable falling asleep in her car seat. So, I asked her to close her eyes and decided to offer her my hand. She closed her eyes while holding on to my hand and less than 5 seconds she was already in dreamland!

I'm going to be away soon, I only hope Pat and her grandparents are going to continue this effort.

One Big Step in Vocabulary

Charlotte is saying a lot more words nowadays and we felt like she has made a big step in her vocabulary. Just last Saturday, we took her to the park to play and she was walking on her own right in front of us. Suddenly, she turned back and said "hold" and reached out her arm to me. She asked me to hold her hand and walk her down the steps!


Another time, we were on our way home from dinner and shopping. Brenda was feeding Charlotte "nen nen" at the back (this is what we normally do by the way, feed her "nen nen" in the car, change her PJ and she will be in dreamland in no time). When she finished her "nen nen", she shouted "wet! wet!" it was so loud and clear! Apparently, the bottle licked and her dress was wet! All of us were so impressed and so happy for her in making such a big progress. She had this big smile on her face as if she understood when we all praised her for being such a clever girl!

She also picked up "ant" and "frog" from the movie "The Ant Bully". Whenever she sees a 6-legged or 8-legged insects these days she will call them ants anyway. She will choose her movie every night by saying those words that she knows. If she says "ant ant" means she wants to watch The Ant Bully, or if she says "cow cow" we will have to play the Barn Yard for her.

But I'm still impressed with the progress and achievement Xuan made. She is so advance and I hope Charlotte soon would be able to talk like her ...

Little Darth Vader

We took Charlotte swimming again this afternoon but it was only for a short while because it was drizzling.

I bought Charlotte a bathrobe last night from Jusco as I felt it's a little freezing to walk her (while she's still wet) from the pool to the bathroom downstairs where it's all air conditioned. I wrapped her in a towel last week but she didn't quite like it because her hand movement was restricted.

I put the new bathrobe on her right after I took her out from the pool and see how she looked like...



Don't you think this looks familiar? Yes, a little Darth Vader in pink (LOL!)

Safari Adventure - KLCC

When we were at KL last couple of weeks, we took the opportunity to bring Charlotte around the city. We visited to The Curve, IKEA and KLCC and had many famous food there like the Ampang Yong Tao Fu and had dinner at Marche.

We were lucky when we visited the KLCC on Saturday, they were having the Safari Adventure for the kids at the concourse. There were games and goodies bag given out at each booth. Charlotte enjoyed playing the games, well actually cheating because she's too small for those games and her daddy was helping...

Daddy helped her to put the ring onto the giraffe, actually the kids were supposed to throw from a distance (see those lines marked on the floor...). She happily giving high five to the rangers in charged after mission accomplished and they were kind enough to reward her with a goodies bag...

At the other booth, kids need to throw the balls into those holes as if feeding the animals, and see how Charlotte cheated...

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Here is another one where kids need to know the shapes well and use them to complete the puzzle, and this was how Charlotte did it...

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We were all exhausted at the end of the visit, we headed home and planned the visit to the Aquaria the next day...

Aquaria - KL Conventional Center

It was Charlotte's fisrt visit to the Aquaria (actually it was everybody's fist visit including our maid, Brenda). We wanted to bring Charlotte to the National Zoo at Hulu Klang but then I was hesitated because of the warm weather. Then, SIL (sister-in-law) suggested the Aquaria!

When we first entered, there were a few small, shallow open "pools" where the turtles, star fish and other small fishes are put inside for the visitors to touch and feel them. My husband picked up a star fish and gave it to Charlotte, she recognized it and said "tar!" (star). Then her daddy spotted the turtles and picked up a big one for her! I thought she wouldn't touch it but I was wrong.



Charlotte enjoyed most of it except the reptiles. We only realized it when she kept saying "bye bye!" to the reptiles, she was trying to tell us to move on to the next station.

They were also promoting "Adopt A Turtle" campaign, if you sign-up and they will micro chipped one baby turtle for you and you can monitor it's progress via the internet (sorry, not for you to bring it back). They will release it to the open sea when it's 3-4months old (or 3-4 years? cannot remember) and you would be still able to locate it. We think that it's a good idea but Charlotte is too young to be able to understand the meaning behind it. We will probably do that in the future.

We were right on the "feed the fish" schedule when we at the last segment of the Aquaria. All the kids were sitting right in fron of this big "window" and waiting for the "feeding" show to start. It was actually very interesting and I think Charlotte picked up the meaning of it as she was telling her grandma: "Man, aam..." and showing sign with her hands too.

Play Group

After many months of discussion and planning, the play group is finally in action! Bryan, Ethan and Hin Lerk came over to our house last Sunday and it was Charlotte's first play group ever! Well yes, all boys and only Charlotte. Ching Ern was suppose to join us but she over slept and her mommy decided to bring her the next round (which is this Sunday, yeah!!).

See how busy everybody was...



The boys particularly loved the new scooter we bought for Charlotte but no photos captured as we were all too busy looking after them when they played so that they didn't get themselves hurt or we were enjoying the Sarawak Laksa which Bryan's mommy brought over (ha! ha!)

Want to know why Charlotte was holding her hand in the last picture? Check out the interesting caption that Ethan's mommy put up: http://mrbulat.giddytigers.com/2007/06/03/when-the-kids-come-out-to-play/

To little Ethan: No problem, Ethan. It's part of learning and growing up! Don't worry about it and you are still invited to the play group!

Equinox Membership

We are staying in a terrace house, there are not many out door activities Charlotte could play besides riding her scooter, walking Simba (our golden retriever) around the neighbourhood and blowing bubbles. Other than that, we will have to bring her to the park to play on the slides, swings and etc. We particularly love to take Charlotte for swimming and her first swimming experience was back in Oct 2006 when we took her to Pulau Langkawi.

Hubby and I discussed about this and finally we decided to sign up the Equinox membership at Equatorial Hotel. Charlotte can use the pool and we can use the gym, jaccuzzi, sauna and etc. We took Charlotte there for swimming last Sunday and she enjoyed it very much!

Later, we took her out from the float and let her tried using the arm floats. Unfortunately, her arms are not strong enough to support the weight as yet and because of that she actually galloped down a big mouth full of water, oops...but she didn't want to get back to the float anymore! So, daddy had to carry and support her after that.

It was also a challenge to take her out from the pool when we were ready to head home. She cried and screamed all the way from poolside to the bathroom downstairs. Luckily, she stopped crying after we entered the bathroom area as she saw the jaccuzzi. She must be thinking that mommy was bringing her for 2nd round in a different pool! Too bad darling, we'll come back next week.

She asked for "nen nen" while we were waiting for her daddy and I gladly offered her a full 6oz milk and she finished it! Not only that, she cried and asking for more when I removed the empty bottle from her. I guess it must be the exercise in the pool! She fell asleep on our way back. Just imagine how exhausted she was!

The timing was all as we planned because she woke up at 5pm, just right before Ethan, Bryan and Hin Lerk showed up for play group! I guess this is going to be one of Charlotte's weekend agenda from now on...

Perfect Kiss

Did I mention how sweet Charlotte's kisses are? I think I did in one of my previous blogs and her daddy managed to capture it last Sunday when we took her swimming.


What a perfect moment to save!

Mobility - It's when you have full control of it...

Toys R Us was on promotion of cash vouchers and we visited the one at Gurney Plaza on Saturday. I was thinking of getting Charlotte a proper set of table and stools for her reading and drawing activities. Then I was distracted when I saw her riding on this battery operated motorbike, passing me while I was checking out the table set. She just needs to step on the paddle to move it and lift up to stop. She obviously has not master her hands and legs coordination and she was hitting "road blocks" here and there. She looked so serious when shw was riding on it. It was very funny and cute!



We bought it finally (postponing the table and stools set to next month) and the store assistance told us that they need about 30min to assemble it. So, we took Charlotte to Mc D for lunch and got her a Happy Meal with Shrek III toy! She has collected 4 so far (oops...)

Finally, her new scooter is ready and she was happily trying it out right side of the store! Still, needs a bit more practice on those coordinations (nearly went down the escalator!)

How Do I Live Without You?

Charlotte is not staying with us this week and I miss her everyday! I call to check on her every morning, want to know if she slept well last night. Then I call again in the afternoon to check if she is eating well and had her morning nap. I call again later in the evening to find out if she has been a good girl...hubby said I'm crazy!

Hubby and I took this opportunity to try to finish up all the DVDs that we bought but have not been able to watch them. We usually watch the movie after Charlotte went to bed but most of the time we were not able to finish it because we could hear Charlotte crying half way through the movie (because of the surrounds). I keep the remote control nowadays so that hubby doesn't get to increase the volume without my knowledge. He complains that it is not as fun and exciting when the surrounds are not put in full blast. No choice, this is one of those little things that we need to give in.

Here is the list of movies we watched this week:
1. Eragon
2. Music & Lyrics
3. The Banquet
4. Firewall

We were able to enjoy our dinners without having to worry of places or food that are suitable for Charlotte. We have not been having nice, peaceful meals for the last 18 months (but life got much better since we have Brenda, our super duper maid!). We had dinner like seafood (too dirty for Charlotte), steamboat (too long time for Charlotte), Bak Kut Teh (too warm for Charlotte), Victoria Station (...) for the past few days.

Having said that, I miss hearing Charlotte's voice, I miss singing songs with her, I miss seeing her dance when we turned on the music/movie but most of all, I miss her kisses! She has the sweetest kiss of all. This is what she normally do when I ask her: Charlotte, come give mommy a kiss. She kiss you on your lips (I know, not a very good idea but it's so sweet!). She would pause a little bit and ends it with a very soft and light "pop"! It's a perfect "mmmmmuak"!

I'm anxious now thinking about having to leave her again for 2 business trips coming up soon

Baby Einstein

I got the 1st Baby Einstein video (DVD) for Charlotte at her 10th month - Baby Neptune. It is all about discovery of water around us like rivers, lakes, rain and etc. Charlotte responded very well because of the music and the pictures are all very lively!

Recently her daddy went to US and I requested him to look for a few more Baby Einstein DVDs for Charlotte. Her daddy got her 2 more - Baby da Vinci & Baby Wordsworth.

Baby da Vinci is about introduction of the body for babies and toddlers. They'll learn to identify their head, shoulders, knees, toes and etc. Charlotte used to confuse herself between eyes and ears, after a few sessions she pointed correctly now! She even started to follow the action when she hear the song "head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes..."

We have just started to introduce the other one to her, Baby Wordsworth. It is also a playful and interactive video introducing things from around the home like chairs, tables, piano, couch, book, dog, swing and etc. One day, I asked her " Charlotte, where is the piano?" She then pointed her little fingers to the piano we have at home. Good job!!

Personally, I think Baby Einstein is a fun and educational entertainment for babies and toddlers. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it anywhere in Penang. I went to The Curve yesterday and found one of the stores carries it, both DVDs and VCDs. Of cource I bought another one for her, Numbers Nursery! (I guess by now you would be able to guess what is this video about)

More about Baby Einstein: http://www.babyeinstein.com/

Right At The First Try!

Charlotte is spending the week with her cousin Christopher while I am working from KL for these couple of weeks. Unfortunately, Christopher is having cough and running nose and I am very worried that she will get it soon.

I noticed that she started to have mild running nose yesterday but luckily Brenda did bring along her medicine. She is usually very difficult to feed and it was no difference yesterday except she got over it sooner with Christopher around.

She also observed how Christopher blow out the mucus from the nose later at night and I tried to have her to do the same. She did it right at the first try!! I thought that was great as it helps to easy the feeling instead of us rubbing it off (she hates it whenever we do that).

I am very proud of her and I do think that she is a fast learner. She knows how to use a harmonica, with both exhaling and inhaling the air through her mouth to get different pitch. She did it right at the first try too!

Charlotte: "I can help!"

We took Charlotte to TESCO last night for groceries shopping. See what she did after we were done with we our shopping...

She practically pushed the cart from the top floor all the way down to the car park on the ground floor. When we arrived at our car and unloaded all the stuff from the cart, she still didn't want to let go of the cart and was throwing tantrum. Luckily, Brenda (our maid) managed to sweet talked her and carried her into the car.

She was exhausted and thirsty, she first took her water bottle and drank like nothing she has done before and later finished the 6oz milk without a fuss. When we got home, she was already asleep!

Visit to PD

Charlotte's previous PD visits were not very pleasant and basically she cried from the moment she entered the PD clinic until she came out. We bought her a doctor toy set few months back as I read that teaching and preparing her would make our next doctor visit more pleasant for both parents and child. She responded really well at home when we were playing with her with the stethoscope and the rest.

Charlotte had her Triple Antigen booster on Tuesday morning from Dr. Rama but that visit to the PD was still not up to our expectation. There was a little improvement i noticed though, she didn't cry the roof off this time but she still didn't like to be put on the scale, didn't want to be touched, even with the stethoscope. I brought the toy set along but it wasn't very useful simply because Charlotte has such a strong chatacter that when she cries, it is really not easy to distract her with other stuff, toy, food...you name it.

Never Too Late?

Well, I guess it is time for me to start a blog for Charlotte. I have to admit that this is a good way of keeping memory and sharing the joy of watching my princess growing. I hope soon she is old enough to be able to read and I can share this with her.


I thought I should just start with how Charlotte looks like, then and now. She is 18 months old now (yup, lazy mom, didn't start a blog until now). This is her latest picture on May 5th, 2007, it was her first trip to the Air Itam dam.

Bubbles Bubbles

This is Charlotte's first visit to the Air Itam dam. She started to say "bobo bobo" (bubbles) just few days back and we thought it's a good idea to bring her out to a wide open space and blow bubbles for her...she enjoyed it!

My First Kiss!

Oops, too early for this? I think Charlotte is going to be a very good kisser, see how she did it with her cousin, Christopher...




First kiss? No way! Mommy and daddy already took it long long time ago!

First Christmas!

We didn't have a big Christmas party but it is a family tradition to have gift exchange, for children only. Last year (2006) was Charlotte's 1st Christmas (2005 Christmas was her 1st actually but she was practically just a new born then) and she received many gifts from her aunties, uncles, grandparents and of course from mommy and daddy too.

We got her a party dress from a children boutique at the Penang Plaza. We let her wore it on Christmas day and took pictures while she was exploring her presents.

First Birthday!

Charlotte's first birthday and first thing happened to her was...falling off the bed!! She woke up in the morning and decided not to wake up mommy and daddy, she crawled to the end of the bed and the next thing i heard was "waaa.....!!"

Charlotte slept with us, in our bed (1 king size + 1 super single) all along and she usually will make noise or wake you up but not roaming around on her own. Also, I was very confident that I am such a light sleeper and I usually woke up with just the smallest toss, lightest sound. My heart broke when I saw her crying, face down on the floor. Didn't know what to do, I picked up and try to calm her down. Of course, later hubby and I trying to check if everything is ok with Charlotte, making sure there was no broken ribs...To distract her further, we took her out for a walk in her new tri that we bought her as a birthday gift.


Birthday Party at EQ

Langkawi - Berjaya Langkawi (Oct 2006)

I am trying to back date some of the interesting events that I thought I should be posting it here before I got too old and forgot about it...

We went to Langkawi in Oct 2006 during the Hari Raya Puasa holidays. It was Charlotte's first holiday trip and also her first aeroplane experience. We decided to take plane because I was afraid of getting sea-sick (not Charlotte) and not able to enjoy the trip and taking care of Charlotte. She did very well for that short flight, practically slept through the journey!


Charlotte enjoyed playing in the swimming pool. At first, she was a little skeptical this sport but later she didn't want to get out from the pool! We didn't bring her swim suit (didn't buy one for her actually) and so the first day, she was swimming with only her undies. We bought her one the next day and that's her first swimming suit.




Charlott's first:
1. Flight
2. Swim Suit
3.Cable Car Ride
4. Buggy Ride
5. Sleeping by the Pool Side

It was a very fun vacation for both daddy and Charlotte, but mommy was totally exhausted! Charlotte was so "hong so" (playful?) that she didn't want to eat, didn't want to "pangsai" (pass motion), didn't want to sleep for that few days. Worse thing was, she cried hysterically evernight after we came back from the trip for about 1month. So now, I'm still having phobia of going for a holiday eventhough my husband has been proposing for the last few months.