Wakie wakie, rise and shiny~~
10th and 11th month:
This is the story of an infant. The most blessed in the world. She has past 9 months of her life and is growing healthily, rapidly. However busy mum & dad are working, they love this little Nana very much with all their hearts. They work hard everyday (literally even on weekends) to give this child a better future, with expenditure for higher education already in mind. Already she is showing the best of both worlds, smart like her mother and strong as her father. And beautiful like no other (I just have to add that).
Princess Christiana sitting at her throne
She is most beautiful when waking up in the morning
Daddy, you're so contradicting, isn't fast food unhealthy?
I can't find anything wrong with chocolate ice-cream though.
As we traveled to different restaurant, Nana gets to try new stuff. We know certain food are not suitable for babies, but we make do with the best choice available. Nana wants a break from baby food. She has a good appetite and consumes lots of good quality milk. We minced balance diet into her meals, without forgetting even green vegetables. Other times we allow her indulgence of ice-cream and fried fast food chicken, with some root beer. (Take note the root beer is non-alcohol).
Going out for dinner with a well-behaved child is a bliss.
Lets down the root bear bottoms up!
It just feels different going out without her. While we know she is safe in the hands of her babysitter, I would still be guilt-stricken for not including her in our hanging out activities or even groceries shopping. Its leaving behind an important piece of me that makes me whole. I have to work hard sometimes to obtain her affection towards me when wife is around, as she always prefers her mother's bosom compare to my flat pectoralis major.
Daddy daddy, let's overtake that car..vroom~vroom~
The tell-tale sign of mischief
However, there are voids left by fatherly figure that wife can never fill (or reluctant to). This father insist, and is very particular of how his daughter is supposed to be brought up, which is by the same strict and disciplined manner as he was. When the wife would always be soft and give in to Nana's tantrum, the father naturally has to be strict and stern to remind the little girl of her boundaries. He wishes his daughter to be obedient, clever, and strong, although he cant decide what he wants his daughter to be 1 day, a doctor or an engineer.
Nana having a taste of fettuccine at Italianes.
From the swollen eyelid bitten by mosquito, Nana admiring Sangria.
Plus point for having a girl in the house is that both parents get to dress her up in the cutest and most adorable outfit possible. Only if father is around, he would dictate how the daughter is dressed, be it a dress or a 2 piece, and even what cap she wears. Father would look out for baby sales, then brings Nana and mummy to shop for Nana's clothes. And he loves cap, especially the one that turns Nana into a mushroom head. We would dress Nana up and model her in front of the mirror to show her how pretty she looks, and she always smile in approval. That would already make my day.
Nana dressed up as Mushroom head from Super Mario bros.
I don't have teeth, but my smile is cute.
Clever girl, open mouth big big~~
Coming home to see my daughter is what I've been looking forward after work everyday. I'm always trapped in the dilemma of taking upon myself to settle the unfinished ward responsibilities and coming home early to see Nana. Most often than not, i find myself helping my colleagues working overtime. By the time i see Nana, she would have taken her dinner at the babysitter, and still happy and cheerful to see me.
Nana crackling the whole house down~
That was hilarious, let's do that again!!!
Breakthrough laughter of the year 2010 goes to Christiana
Christiana's laughter is like the burst of an afternoon sunshine. It is full of energy and vibrancy. It is loud and piercing. At 10 months old, Nana is not known to be a laughing Buddha. She is most of the time in her cool and adorable neutral mood, if not cranky and seeking attention.
So this 1 day as i was carrying her and opening the freezer to get something, i decided to let her experience the feeling of "cold/chillness". I swung her towards the freezer pretending that i was throwing her into it. She cracked a laughter finding it amusing. Then i placed the ice box onto her arm and she burst into further laughter. It was the 1st time I witnessed her crackling so much, as the whole house was echoing with her piercing crackles.
....The innocence of my baby's laughter, no words could describe, just so powerful and heavenly it touches and melts a father's heart (Fortunately wife recorded it on video this milestone event).
Oh hi dad, glad that you could come join me for a chat.
Never mind if you're stress, i will cheer you up!
I'm getting very good at posing for the camera..hehe
Within the confines of our small rented link house, is Nana's dwelling place, and playground. She is not raised in a royal palace or opulent mansion. However, any place is just right for her as long as she lives under the protective shadow of her maker and the loving companionship of mum and dad. Nana might get bored sometimes but we entertained her with toys, pictures in alphabet book, and most importantly ourselves. Father likes playing peek-a-boo and lifting Nana up in the air, among the rest, while mum's calming and soothing presence is wonderful enough.
Nana tasting the water trickling down her hair.
After a bout of waves making..Nana quiets down to ponder something.
or rather...(bubbles coming out) Hahaha, i was letting out some fart :-p
I supposed the cutest moment, asking me to vote for, would be Christiana's bath time. She's totally unafraid of water, and love the feeling of it trickling down her skin, and the astonishing visual of her remake of the parting of red sea as she splashes her hands into the water. She likes licking the water coming down her mouth and looks cheeky adorable with her tongue sticking out intermittently.
Remember those days she was still little enough we could soak her lying down in the bath tub. In a flash she has outgrown the length of the tub and only looks good sitting in her "red submarine".
Waiting for the usual roti canai..Nana loves the dhal
Cute lovely sight of my daughter catching a peaceful sleep
On a typical Sunday if we're not working, everyone would wake up at their own timing. Nana would wake up cheerful, get dressed up pretty for church, and head for breakfast at the neighborhood mamak stall. At church, Nana goes through the whole motion of worship, sermon then fellowship. When she gets noisy, me or wife would adjourn to the back "baby room" lest she distracts the congregation.
After a hearty lunch at the nearby chinese hawker, we head back for a rest. Nana is put to nap while her parents spend some time together before catching up on sleep or recharging for the laborious week ahead. Nana wakes up and trigger our alarm clock. The evening is playing time, followed by dinner outside.
If at all there's a family function at the in laws, we would be back at Subang.
Dad, all these toys are passed down, can i buy new ones?
The only japanese food i know to enjoy is Chawan Mushi
This model which comes in 3 colours (red, blue and black) packs 150cc engine power. The manual bike's size fits the engine power perfectly albeit rather heavy on the road. Having said that, dad's new Red Beast is known to blaze top speed at 130km/hr. And so for 7K, it was his to ride home.
One day i will learn to ride a manual bike.
Dad, can you take us out for a ride already?
Naturally dad's daughter is the 1st person after him to experience the initial thrill of sitting on the back of this mean machine. Like David meeting Goliath, its amusing to see how the little girl pale in size compare to dad's bike. After modeling with dad's latest exhibition Christiana is immediately brought out for a spin, taking the front passenger seat in between papa's arms.
.
.
.
Christiana's cheekiness is best described as subtle yet radiant at the same time. These are the accounts of her cheekiness personify:1. She walks like humpty dumpty in her unsteady gait.
2. She can't resist climbing on any possible furniture above her waistline, despite barely walking.
3. She likes sticking her tongue out while she's at it.
4. She smiles and dance to her achievement, totally oblivious of the fear of height.
Nana at this age is ever-curious, inquisitive, mischievous, adventurous and a bit of a daredevil. Whenever she wags her tongue out, its tel-tale sign she's up to some exploration or mischief. If i try catching hold of her, she will hate me for it and start crying. Therefore i will just stay by her side while amusing myself with her antics.
At 10 months old, Nana is climbing chairs...(what!!??)
Huff..puff..I'm so tired but i made it to the top..
The pregnant mom playing with her cheeky daughter.
Initially dad had wanted a boy as the 1st born. When Nana came, he was so overjoyed he didn't complaint. And now Christiana is climbing around and as active as a boy. She has very strong legs and started standing very early, dad worried she would develop genu varum. Come to think of it, dad can't recall her crawling much. Her gross motor function is advance beyond her months, perhaps attributed to quality formula milk that dad insisted.
Hi there, do you like my new ponytail? Mummy tied it for me.
Mum and dad sure don't have no regrets having a girl.
One day during mum's free time, she decided to remind herself she owns a girl as her child. What followed was an enjoyable (maybe surreal to Nana) grooming session. With as much hair as mum can gather from the little girl's head, she decorated her with ponytail(s). For the 1st time ever, Nana discovered one of a girl's very important asset is her hair. Grooming it makes her look more feminine and pretty :-).
This feels so weird..But i do look pretty. Can't wait to show dad.
Do i look like Chun-li?
Christmas 2010 came to the doorstep of our humble shelter. It was Christiana's 1st Christmas and also the 1st Christmas dad celebrated with his brothers. Both uncles were excited to see their niece and sporting to join us for this festive jolly day. It was a day of catching up, gift exchange and feasting. In a way, Christiana and Christmas has brought us together, to set us straight on the path of reconciliation and strengthening of family ties.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!
Nana unwrapping her 1st ever Christmas present.
Yay, everyone has a present!
May next year be a good year for all of us. Amen.
