Happy boy in the morning

This is what we get to wake up to each morning. Little man just discovered how to blow bubbles and it's fun for him to do it. I always think that babies blowing bubbles is so cute.

Last Day At Work

Today’s my last day at work…

Days like this always feel weird and sad.

Weird because you’re leaving something you’ve come to know so well to venture off into a somehow unknown future, sad because you’re leaving behind a load of memories and mainly because you know you’ll be missing the people, you actually spent most of your day with for over 2 years, so much. I guess it’s always the people you get to know, how they touch your life, the different relationships you build with them, the good times, and even the not so good ones, that gets to you.

I’d like to thank all the colleagues at work for the great ride. It was great getting to know you all and to get a chance to work with every single one of you. I hope that we’ll get to carry our personal relationships well on into the future.

I’d like to thank the company for having me as part of the team. I’m proud of these years that I spent in it, the role I had and the work I did. I’m very happy to see the company growing further and going on to higher grounds.

I wish you all the best of luck.

Xavier’s 1st Trip to Singapore Zoo

Xavier, hubby, my mother, my sister and brother in law  visited the Singapore Zoo yesterday! Our plan was actually to set off early in the morning so that we will not be in a rush to enjoy the zoo trip but unfortunately, it was raining heavily and we ended up only reaching the zoo at about 1100hrs. With the limited time, we really need to plan our time and journey well in order to catch the most, if not all of the show. The zoo closes at 1800hrs and we have to leave at 4pm to attend Corrine's baby shower, which leaves us only about 5 hours to finish exploring the zoo.  

And, Let's start the Zoo outing!

And that is about all that we have managed to see for that day. We'll definitely come back here again!!!

Happy Family

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.

Little Man Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Geneology - Family search

More Organic Baby Cereal

New food on Xavier's menu - barley and brown rice cereal from Healthy Times!!!
Hope he will likes it :)

Age: 6 to 8 months

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats)
• Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches)
• Pureed or strained vegetables (avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato)
• Pureed meat (chicken, pork, beef)
• Pureed tofu
• Pureed legumes (black beans, chickpeas, edamame, fava beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, and kidney beans)

How much per day

• 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings
• 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to 1/4 to 1/2 cup in 2 to 3 feedings
• 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to 1/4 to 1/2 cup in 2 to 3 feedings

Husband + Son

I adore these shots of my two men. Husband and son together are just about the best thing ever. It's a beautiful moment and these photos should be treasured forever, as they change so quickly...

Farewell to breast pump

All good things must come to an end and I've stop EBM when Xavier is at 6mths and 1wk of age. The guilt hits me hard when I look at my little man and felt sad that he would no longer be getting mama's milk -- but I'm exhausted. The pumping, cleaning out the bottles and feeding him take up a big chunk of my day. Time that I would rather be interacting and playing with my little man.

So after much consideration, I've decided to say sayonara to my breast pump :)

A Note of Farewell

30 April 2012 is my last day of work

As I'm drafting a nice goodbye email to my co-workers, my mind has been flooded with mixed feelings.  

I'm happy and excited about my 2 years stay in USA, but at the same time it makes me sad to know that I am leaving a company with such good working environment and great colleagues.

I will definitely miss all the gossips and 5pm tea break session :(

Photoshoot preview 21 April 2012

The pictures came out amazing. They are so great. I love them all!!! You guys did such a wonderful job and were so patient with my little boy, Xavier!!! Greatly enjoyed the phototaking session. Thanks you so much...  

Highly Recommended JollyJoy Photography!!! (please click for more info)

Here is the preview of what we have taken today during the photoshoot.

What's next???

Movers had collected our 40 boxes of belongings today :)

Have also received my little man new luggage, just 4 days after placing the order. The delivery was fast and it was very well packed. Wonderful luggage bag, sweet colour and super lightweight and it not as big as I think...   

Have done up a packing list for my little man, will start packing his stuff tomorrow...

What's next????

I am so blessed :)

1 more day

1 more day to Xavier's last vaccination for his first year

1 more day to Xavier's 6 month photoshoot

1 more day to secondary friends gathering @Rochester Park Da Paolo

2 more days

2 more days to baby Nigel baby shower

3 more days

3 more days to ah dear's embarkation leave

8 more days
8 more days to visit the zoo
8 more days to baby corrine first birthday

9 more days

Xavier's last haircut in Singapore before leaving for the trip

10 more days

10 more days to my last day of work

11 more days

11 more days to my Facial+ear candling+neck+pedi+mani session

14 more days

May 4th, we are flying!

Can't wait leh..

The 'I can stand' series

My baby is learning to stand in progress. He can bear weight on his feet and legs now. He is no longer a small little baby but a naughty and curious little man now... as much as I'm happy for him, I feel sad, that he grows up sooo fast.

This is indeed "once in a lifetime!"

I LOVE.....

• Waking up in the morning and hearing Xavier talking and playing in his crib
• Xavier's big and round eyes
• Getting Xavier dressed in his cute clothes. I'd say nowadays that boys are just as fun to dress as girls.
• Xavier's little button nose. Kiss on it all the time :)
• Xavier sometimes smirks when we kiss him. He knows he's loved!
• The sound of Xavier's adorable little sneeze. I love baby sneezes :)
• Sucking or picking out Xavier's little boogies. It's seriously so satisfying that I'm helping him to breathe better. I also love picking out his ear wax too!!
• Gnaw on his little thunder thighs, delicious cheeks and little hands all the time
• that when Xavier's sitting or lying between both papa and mama, he'll continually look back and forth between us. He loves when we are both next to him
• When Xavier laughs out of the blue and totally surprise us
• How curious Xavier has become and how he grabs everything to look at it

p.s.  6mths and 1wk old,Xavier seems to enjoying food alot. So far, I am following the 4 days rules to introduce new food to him... and the list below is the food that I already tried:

1. Holle organic rice porridge added with breastmilk
2. Organic Sweet potatoes
3. Japanese Pumpkin
4. Carrot
5. Avocado

Next on his menu - add brown rice to rice porridge, potato and papaya

Xavier - papa and mama Love you to bits !!!!

Xavier's Laughing

Xavier has been laughing up a storm lately! We just love it! Have finally caught it on video. Please ignore how dorky we sound in this. It's our baby talk plus laughter :) When Xavier laughs, we laugh too! He is just too cute.

Traveling across time zones

We're flying from our hometown, Singapore to Dallas Forth Worth, Texas USA in just 17days. It's a 20 hours flight so we'r really nervous about it.

The idea of crossing time zones with my little man is one of my greatest worry as a parent. I'm worried about the jet-lag and how it will affect his schedule (bedtime and naptimes). The 13 hour time difference always kills me so I'm assuming my little man is going to feel bad as well.....  Finally, after a long search, I'm so glad that I found this amazing website with such great advices  

Please click for the link --- Jet Lag Survival Guide for Parents 

TOP TIPS:

1.  Make sure that they are getting lots of outdoor exercise during the day
2. Make sure that they are getting plenty to eat during the day (and especially in the evening)
3. You don't need to force them to be awake, but try to keep them out of situations that might soothe them to sleep during the day

it does take some time for baby's internal clock to adjust new time. Try to keep him awake and in the sun as much as you can during daylight hours, and focus on eating and soothing activities during night waking.

A brand new luggage

Finally bought a new luggage for baby Xavier for this upcoming trip
Grab the 21 inch mint colour... Love it to bits! 
The heart design is so sweet lor!!! Isn't it???

Well, it is on sale for today through Gmarket 
Original price $89.90 but now is only $69.90, which include free express shipping
Thanks YW for sharing!!!!

Displeased looks

Trying hard to capture a photo of my little man when he is displeased 
So far, the best I've got....
He really looks mad in the center picture... LOL! 

Wordless Monday

~~~ Love of my life ~~~~

Talkative Mode

Our little man is talking and talking more every day and is starting to be able to communicate with us. He is still happy and smiley and seems to be just a joyous little man most of the time. Except when he is mad. Then he is loud, and REALLY mad.

Friends Gathering

Saturday was a day of of gathering with friends and kiddos at Buffet Town, Raffle City. We went there for lunch. I will say that this place is good for big group gathering and there is also a small playground play area for the kids. The spread is good, it comes with local delight chicken rice and rojiak etc. I love the crepes with ice cream and their shashimi. The price is on the high side, a couple paid for $85 bucks which include Oyster on that day. Should give it a try, if you have not been there before..

p.s. baby xavier was not able to attend the gathering as he had just recovered from his illness. PD wanted him to be grounded at home over the weekend

Xavier's new bed

Got a new crib and mattress for my little man

Is from Walmart and currently is on rollback 

original price at USD 229.98 and now is on sale for just USD 119 

very good buy!!! :) 

Estimated Delivery date: 20 April 2012 

Thanks Candy for placing the order for me! 

Goodbye our little grey car

Finally got a good deal for selling our little grey car ... the best part, the buyer is willing to let us drive till the end of the month before handing over to him... love this arrangement!!!

And YES, we are all ready for the move!!!!! :)

Goodbye little grey car, we will definitely miss you....

Our Love Nest in USA

During my 1st trip, I stayed in SUMMIT, a one bedroom apartment at first storey with attached basement garage. But this time round, with my little man, we are given a 2 bedroom apartment. 

After days of sourcing of apartment, finally I've got the one I wanted. I'm loving it!!!

OAKS BY RIVERCHASE, my unit #614 is located on the ground floor with attached garage  and it comes with a patio. The apartment is gated with high security gate system. Here are the pics: 

The main entrance

Unit layout 

Apartment layout 

One of the common facilities - swimming pool with Jacuzzi 

Free from Phlegm

Brought my little man to Aglow for his review, he is finally free from phlegm!!! Yeah!!! 

I am so happy :) 

Feeling really helpless, frustrated, heartbroken, plus all those negative words you can think off when he was sick

Hope and pray that he will always be happy and healthy!!!

P.s. Resuming his solid food on Sunday - Will be giving him rice porridge

Be Myself

I came across this quote shared by a friend and I think it’s wonderful


“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” -Theodor Seuss Geisel 

It reaffirms that, I am happy being me and I have slowly discovered who are those who truly care and love and deserve to be kept as friends. There’s no need to have tonnes of friends, but a few who don’t mind. 

Happy Half-Birthday, Xavier!!

My little man is half a year old already! we sang you "Happy half birthday" and you just looked at us like we were crazy. I know I write this every month but I will repeat it again because it is so true that you are getting such a little personality! Papa and I are learning what makes you laugh and we will do the most ridiculous things just to hear it over and over again! Here are some of our thoughts about this month: 

Wow, my little man used to look like this @ 1months old:

• Current obsession - standing. Always pushing on me to stand when he wakes up from nap
• He loves dropping his toys off the edge of his highchair/toddler seat and watching papa and mama bend down to pick them up
• He loves to grasp his feet, which makes diaper changes a little more challenging
• He is a wiggly little thing and can twist his head and upper body right around to see things above his head
• He's able to do high 5 consistently 
• Starting to wave bye bye
• He likes to grab and touch EVERYTHING
• laugh a lot and very giggly
• He's able to sit unassisted and babbling a lot more 
• Loves to play with plastic bag and remotes control 
• Rolling everywhere but still prefer to his right
• like to thud his feet when excited
• Drink 150 - 170ml 160ml -180ml every 3 hours. Use a size 3 teat. size M diapers and still wear primarily 3-6 month clothes
• He now weighs 8.12kg 8.15kg with a height of 67cm

I asked his papa what else he would like to add in, he said “mischievous”

You are cute

I gotta note this down for your keepsake.
Everyone who saw you commented that you are cute, be it in the lift, the malls, the trains, we are always hearing pple whispering, “he’s so cute! his eyes are big! ” or random strangers coming up to baby talk with you or… trickle your cheeks. 
Whatever the case, you are always the most beautiful in my heart, no matter how old you are.

Xavier and the cot

At present, Xavier really adores his cot. He can play in it for a whole hour all by himself as long as we were in the room with him and occasionally talking to him.
I am impressed. What looks like a huge cage to me is a castle to him. He especially enjoys rocking on his stomach and swim with his arm to cruise around in the cot. He loves to stretch and grab for his favourite leapfrog scout pal. 
Caught him in action during the late morning nap. Didn't know that he is awake, until I heard his "baa baa & mama" over the monitor. With a guilty look on his face!!! 

The cot seems small for him to cruise around and we are so concern that one day he will flip by pulling on the top rail. So, we will be lowering the cot tomorrow. 

I'm not going to underestimate him.... 

Incredibly Busy

Only left 24days more to go!!!! JJJJJ

We have been incredibly busy over the last couple of weeks.

Lots of packing to be done and taking care of my sick baby. 

Finally, the packing is almost done, I would say 90% of it had been completed. The remaining  are the stuff that needs to pack and bring along during our trip.   

Followed up visit to PD on Monday, everything seems good, no more coughing & flu except that there is still some phlegm in his system. Continue to pray for his good health and hope he can get well before the trip. 

What's next? think is time to decide for our apartment in USA. Hmmm~~~ still can't decide where to stay..

Anyway, here's my fav pic of the day :) 

Our Favourite Moments

I rank our wants-nothing lazy time as our favourite moments. 

During these times, I would let Xavier roll around on the bed while I read a book, text or generally chill out on the bed with him. He would roll, makes random sounds, screams, self-stimulate a little, get excited over nothing, attempt to crawl etc for about 40mins. I do not really need to interact with him, he has his independent play time, I have mine, though we are together in the same area. Sometimes he will roll over to touch me and I will caress him, kiss him, smell him and smile at him, nothing too exciting or over stimulating. When it's all over, he would yawn and takes a nap, sometimes I will nap with him too. Papa also loves such moments, his favourite bit is the napping together part. Moments like these, are so relaxing and bonding, even though we are not playing together. I hope, even if he grows older, he would still enjoy these quiet times with us!

Taken during one of these chill out moments:  

Ps: New trick - he will roll over to touch my face and will try to tweak open my eyes  when I pretend to sleep LOL!!!!! From now on, I've to trim his nail properly if not I will have scratches all over my face!!!! 

Xavier is better!

It seems so many people are down with flu, cough and what-nots these days. Xavier's cough got worsen and we are so afraid that it might develop into bronchitis. With the constant coughing at night, my poor little baby was not able to sleep well :( So on Thursday, we  brought him to the PD for a check, luckily the phlegm did not went into the lungs but young children are at higher risk for developing it due to the building of immune systems, respiratory systems and narrow bronchial airways. We are praying everyday that he will get well soon!!!

Instruction given by PD: 

1. Xavier needs to use the neublize for 5mins on the spot, it helps reduce inflammation and dilate air passages for him to breathe freely
2. Stop all fruits intake except for papaya (not sure why! but I have stop all solids) 
3. Give lots of water between feeds
4. Need to have plenty of rest
5. Keep him from crowded places, if possible 
6. Give Xavier allergy drops, cough and phlegm medicine 
7. Suck out excess mucus/phlegm from his nose (Xavier will start to fuss whenever he sees the snotsucker) 
8. Monitor closely, if worsen will have to visit the PD 

And YES, we are following them to the dot! 

After the 2nd day of medication, we can see a drastic improvement to his cough. His constant coughing had reduced to once or twice at night. The medicine really worked like a charm :) Even so, we still monitor him closely day and night. 

Looking exhausted after rounds of nose sucking and medications

Remembering the good times

That we share each day.
You and me, cuddle, cosy, lazing around.
I am not in a hurry to teach you anything specifically or do anything “big” but to stop and enjoy the smell of you as a baby, before you are no longer one.


Although you will not have real memories of these days, one day, down the road, you can look back at these photos, and I can tell you the stories, behind each and every one of the pictures taken.
I love you, my little man.

Waving bye bye

It is not the first time he is waving bye bye 
but it is the first time this action caught on video 
Xavier waving to Ah gong before he leaves for work
Ah gong simply went over the moon :)

Xavier is sick - Updates

Baby didn't get a good night sleep due to his coughing... my poor little baby! 

Every time he coughs, my heart sank... I felt so guilty for not taking care of him well enough. Is there something I can do to prevent him from getting sick again ???? Unfortunately, the answer is no. we can only take precautions to try to keep any illnesses going around at bay but it's not 100% effective. However, on the bright side, the viruses helps to build up baby's healthy immune systems. 

After feeding him 3 times of paracetamol, his fever had subsided. His temperature was back to averagely 37°C but his cough still persist. I knew that there are lots of phlegm behind his throat but nothing comes out when he coughs. He vomited a puddle of phlegm together with milk after his first feed in the morning. Oh gosh.... that was like alot lor!!! Xavier gave us a pouted mouth and a pity-full look after that... Aww~~~ Changed into his new PJ, feed him cough medicine and tuck him to bed. 

That's my smiley baby after 2 hours of nap 

He is still our very active and playful Xavier! Just that now he loves to cling to me... Kola Low is back.... 

Xavier is sick again :(

I have a sick baby on my hands.

Xavier had just recovered from his stuffy nose and now he is down with a cough :(  

Took his last dose of 6-in-1 vaccine and rotavirus . PD want us to monitor his temperature for at least 48 hours cos with the cough, his immune system will not be as strong and fever may be expected. 

Took his temperature every hourly. It ranges from 37.4 to 37.8, the temperature are on the high side. We fed him with paracetamol, placed a fever patch on his forehead and tucked him to bed. 

I feel so bad, as if, I didn't do enough to protect my little guy. I am really really worried.

Pray hard that he will get well soon 

Xavier @ Aglow waiting for his vaccination --- droopy eyes

p.s. He now weighs 8.06kg and height of 67cm

First Family Chalet @ Downtown East

31 March 2012, Saturday 

Hubby managed to book the place at $250 for 4D3N. We'r all ready for it!!! 

On the Saturday morning, we started our day very early. Mum and sis went Tekka market to get seafood stuff for the BBQ and while we brought Xavier to Yu Guo Chinese Physician for his tui-na. I feel that the tui-na is good for him, it helps him to sleep better and overall well being of health.

Photo of family members (BBQ in action)

I choose to take the risk to let Xavier abandon his familiar bed and spend a night over at the chalet. I bought along a whole suitcase of his barang barang...comforter, pacifier, toys, pillows etc... suppose to prepare him for bed latest by 8pm but he was still happily playing with all his aunties & uncles.....Finally at about 11pm, his pair of sleepy eyes started to appear. The moment I put him on his bed, he went into lalaland within split second... can't believe it!!! He woke up at about 6am for milk and refused to go back to sleep... being the first time, after 5 months and 2 weeks, sleeping in an unfamiliar surrounding definitely make him feel uneasy. After 30mins of coaxing and comforting, he finally went back to sleep till 9am. He woke up with a smiley face :D

1 April 2012, Sunday

Continue BBQ -ing on the 2nd day - with ah yi, yi zhang, ah ma  

That's mark the end of our wonderful chalet