9th Month

3 days after we arrived in Singapore from our family holiday in Hanoi came my 9^th month celebration last 05 January 2014. The usual monthly cake was present of course!  =)

Here are a few things that transpired so far on my 9^th month:

I giggle a lot when somebody comes near my crib to play with me. On top of giggling, I also feel like I am being chased and I have to move quickly so that I can avoid them and they won’t catch me. My Mommy and my brother make me do it a lot. I like it. It gives me the thrill.

I think I am not drinking enough milk compared to what I am supposed to drink. They say that as the baby grows milk intake should also increase. I don’t know why. Maybe this has something to do with my teething? I must say I have a ton supply of saliva as I don’t run low with it given the fact that it drips from my mouth all the time. And oh, my 2 upper central incisors have shown! I now have 4 front teeth – 2 each for the upper central and lower central incisors.  =D  And I think this also explains why I like to munch on something a bit harder now like my Heinz baby biscuits…

Yesterday when Mommy came home from work, I demanded that she carry me by raising both my arms and calling her in my own baby way. She understood it and carried me. When she tried to put me down on the bed after a few minutes so that she can wash her face, I cling tightly onto her so that she won’t let go. I like to feel her warmth and love. I probably missed her after spending 24/7 with her on Saturday and Sunday while Daddy was away in Manila. I embraced her while carrying me and I also placed my head on her shoulders. I loved it. I think she was also teary eyed by my gesture.

I have also started to sleep at night on my own (at least for 2 consecutive nights – Sunday and Monday evening). There were times when Mommy tried to rock me to sleep on her arms, but I objected and wanted to feel the softness of my bed covers as I try to doze off. I also like to hear the mobile music playing as it relaxes me while putting myself to sleep. And when it stops before I am asleep, I definitely make a gesture to indicate that they have to turn it on again.

1 more week to go and I’ll be 10 months…

~~~ end ~~~

 

 

First Overseas Trip

At the age of 8 months I had my first overseas trip with my family. We went to Hanoi, Viet Nam. We stayed there for 6 days, from 28 December 2013 to 02 January 2014, for a family holiday.

- my family's first holiday with me! @ Changi Terminal 3 -

It was my first time to ride an airplane. I didn't cry. I didn't make a fuss. In fact, I was very "mukan" (short form for Visayan word "samukan" that can mean cannot keep still and/or keeps moving) as Mommy and Daddy say it. It was generally an easy one except that I had wind in my tummy on our way to Hanoi. It was probably because of the plane’s air pressure. I think it made me slightly uncomfortable for the first few days because I can’t seem to have uninterrupted sleep at night (which I usually enjoy) until I was able to let it all out and pooed on the third or fourth day (I cannot remember) that I felt all fine.

- first plane ride -

- with my brother Hendrik and Gary the snail -

- touch down Viet Nam @ Noi Bai International Airport -

- welcome to Gondola Hotel -

- good morning Hanoi! -

It was also my first time to experience winter. Although there was no snow but it was cooold. The average day time temperature was 17 degrees celcius (but with cold crisp air) and the lowest temperature being 4 degrees celcius early in the morning. Good thing Mommy was prepared as she brought a lot of winter stuff for me – long sleeves, long pants, mittens, booties, beanie, thick sleep wear, etc. She even asked Ate Mitch, my cousin who is way older than me (and a year older than my Mommy for that matter) to buy me winter/snow suit from Zurich. It was very timely that Ate Mitch was scheduled to visit Singapore more than a week before our trip as the winter/snow suit she gave me kept me warm while we cruise the cold winter streets of Hanoi.

- my red winter suit courtesy of my Ate Mitch -

- with my brother, Hendrik, @ the Red Bridge, Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi -

- family love -

- @ The Tran Quoc Pagoda -

- look at my brother! @ The Tran Quoc Pagoda -

- with Mommy @ the huge grounds of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum -

- oh, hello there! -

- smile... -

- my happy Mommy and I @ the Lenin Park -

- oh, I want to ride that too... someday... -

The cold winter breeze surprisingly caused me to naturally doze off while we were out and about. I think my family finds it funny that I was sleeping while they were exploring the sights and sounds that Hanoi has to offer. Oh well…  ;)

- I dozed off in the middle of our mini train ride despite the screech and the snort -

- thanks to the good 5-year old stroller (which has been to a lot of places than I have been to), Mommy can rest her arms from carrying me -

- fun time @ Gondola Hotel -

We also celebrated Mommy's 35th birthday in Hanoi. It has been a tradition to celebrate her birthday overseas as it always fall on the dates of my family's annual holiday trip. Lucky her!

- with the birthday girl -

- can I have the cake now? -

As our bodies had adjusted well to Hanoi’s weather, we were all sweating when we arrived at Singapore Changi Airport even after removing our layers and jackets. Two different places two different weather; and it suddenly changes with just a few hours of travel.

- "mukan" moves inside the airplane going back to Singapore -

- being nice to the girls sitting at the back trying to befriend me -

I will forever treasure my first family overseas trip. This is one happy milestone for me.  =D

~~~ end ~~~