Emma gets Adventurous

The weather in Durham was beautiful today, sunny blue skies with a tinge of cool in the air, perfect weather to be outdoors, compared to two days ago we were cooped indoors as it rained non-stop.

Em and her clapper

Fox 50 hosted a Family Fest Day at the American Tobacco Campus. We thought we'd check it out and see what could be of interest to Emma. They had face painting, balloon art, live shows, a portable planeterium which I really wanted to check out, but was fully booked (sometimes I wonder if I go to these things more for me than Emma?).  The main event was a Duck Race, however naptime clashed with this, so we missed it.

One section where Emma could really participate was Noah's Landing. This is a zoo located about an hour away from Durham, and they had brought a few of their animals to the fest. This was a live touch and feel for Emma, and she thoroughly enjoyed it, touching some animals that Rod and I only touched for the first time today too.

African Tortoise

Bearded Dragon

American Alligator - really felt like wallet

Gecko - can't remember which exactly, the butt and head look the same - quite cute

NC Museum of Natural Science

Fiddling with the light switches

Emma and Dad

A nice way to spend part of a Saturday!  Emma was pooped after all this stimulation! This was Emma in her car seat, hand in her snack bowl, she had fallen alseep.

Row, Row, Row

This video was taken a while back. Em enjoys singing Row, Row, Row your boat. While chatting on skype the one day with Tash and Justin, they gave me incentive to teach this song to Emma.

Well not too long after, Em loved the song, and when I mentioned it, she would get into position, grab my hands and start pushing and pulling her arms, not moving her body back and forth. A few weeks later, we were sitting in her room reading a few books, when Em stood up against the glider, started pushing it back and forth and sang, "Row, Row Row", actually saying "Row, Row, Row". Another moment when I was lost for words and just beaming with excitement and pride. I was wondering how she knew to push the glider and sing the song, but I realised there were some days when I would just hold Em and rock in the glider, singing the song.

Now Em sings the song whenever she feels, and she finds actions to go with song, like rolling her cup back and forth on the floor, standing against a chair, or any object and rock back and forth, when I'm sitting she'll swing my legs side to side, or swivel the office chair side to side and sing. Just so cute how she associates the song to different things or actions. And at the end of the song there usually is a huge applause.

I didn't manage to get all of Emma's actions in this video unfortunately, just her singing, a little rocking and her gorgeous smile just for daddy.... Enjoy!

Emma Moves to the Music

It seems that Emma's appreciation for music is increasing.  From just shaking her head when she heard a song she likes, she then went to bouncing up and down on her knees, then to going side to side and now swinging her arms and twisting her body.  It's incredible to see.

She's slowly doing more and more actions to songs too, which is so cute, and able to follow the words, or maybe it's just familiarity with the song that she knows when to clap, stamp her feet and shout hooray - I'm sure you know which song I'm talking about.  She caught me off guard one day, when I played a song, Open Shut Them, Open Shut Them, Give a little clap....next thing I just hear these little hands giving off a clap (Melts your heart).  The excitement when the music starts up is too cute, she starts doing all actions at once. 

I watch a bit of Ellen on tv with Em and when the audience clap, she gets excited and claps, and when Ellen dances, well Emma dances too.  It's a little frightening how Emma knows how to control our IPhones, she's actually taught me how to operate a few things.  Other source of music....online videos,  it has taken some time for Emma to really show interest in this particular website, boowa and kwala, but now she knows what I'm talking about when we start it up, she sets herself in place and gets ready to participate in the songs.  Here is her tonight moving to the one song.....

5 Years and 13 Months

This past Saturday, Rod and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary!  I can't believe it myself, that 5 years have flown by, felt like just yesterday we were rushing to the venue, only to be too early to walk down the aisle.  For a day that went by in a blur I still remember it clearly, such a beautiful day with friends and family.

For our Anniversary we decided on a weekend away to a place in West Virginia, quite appropriate since 5 years traditional gift is wood, and West Virginia is pretty much all forest.  We were hoping to leave Emma behind, but she insisted she join us.  How could we say no?
Driving through the forest was absolutely stunning, the leaves have started to turn, but still a lot of green around, can just imagine how beautiful it must be in October, everything orange and red.  Arriving in WV and driving to our resort, we weren't sure what we booked ourselves into, as it seemed like a bit of a hillbilly state (not to insult anyone), but we were pleasantly surprised by the Glade Spring Resort. Newly renovated, friendly staff, beautiful golf courses.

Driving into Virginia

Stonehaven Golf Course

I wish Rod and I got a game of golf together, but Rod ended up playing on his own on Saturday, and Sunday I took up some pampering at the Spa.  Saturday morning we were woken up by yours truely at 5am! Despite the early wake up call, we were smothered with hugs and kisses by Emma, it was too sweet!
Not sure why I thought the 18th fell on a Sunday, so when Rod wished me, I said our Anniversary isn't until tomorrow, Oops!

It's funny how times have changed in the way we celebrate our anniversary, and what we do on roadtrips.  Instead of dining at a nice restaurant, we opted to order our meal To Go.  We wanted to avoid a meltdown from Emma, as she was a little crabby going into dinner time.  So a nice dinner on the floor of our room, just the three of us.  
As for the roadtrip, driving to and from our destination the radio was not ours, we listened mostly to Emma's CD's, nursery rhymes and lullabyes, quite sad when I know what song is coming next.  Rod definitely had a chance to brush up on his nursery rhymes, we even had a chorus going with me singing one line and Rod the next just to keep Emma entertained until we got home.  Those last 10 minutes were brutal  We had a good laugh, saying we never imagined singing nursery rhymes together.  And who knew that counting can keep a baby entertained and laughing, especially when you count fast, have a high pitch, low pitch etc, no wonder we're so pooped at the end of each day.  How things have changed in 5 years, but definitely in a good way.

Our munchkin is 13 months now, still not walking, but definitely cruising and trying to stand on her own, like she's trying to keep her balance on a high beam, wide stance and arms out, and the most excited look on her face, like, I can't believe I'm doing this!  She's becoming more adventurous doing things, sometimes we say she's too trusting that we'll be there to catch her. 



Our challenge last month, and actually still our challenge - naptime!  Emma is in transition of taking one nap a day.  This is a good thing as it gives us more time to do things, or so you'd think.  Not so when naps only last 45 minutes, or an hour!  An hour to last you to bedtime, not always a pretty sight.  I've tried a second nap on the days when naps are only an hour or less long but Emma just moans or cries or plays or sings or all of the above.  The only way to get her to nap is to put her in the car and drive around.  It's definitely crossed my mind to do this on a daily basis, but I know I'm only making it more difficult for myself, and it'll become costly.  Anyways, we will just pull through it and hope that the one nap eventually lengthens to 2 hours at least! 

For the first time in a long while we've had to deal with night wakenings, quite the rude awakening when you're used to sleeping through for so many months.  Weren't sure what was causing it, teething (definitely had the drool going and biting), reaction to the MMR vacccine (broke out with a rash all over her body), adjusting to a quiet house again (after Nix's visit and the King Family).
Turns out to be teeth, as of Sunday Emma has a seventh tooth about to pop out.  Poor thing.  Hopefully the next few follow suite pretty soon so we can get this over and done with.
 
Other developments and skills our little one has acheived....Emma continues to be a great help around the house, drying dishes (ie her tray and bib), unpacking the dishwasher (utensils only), unloading the washing machine and assisting with hanging up the washing (passing the washing to mom), although she no sooner takes it all down.

Emma's understanding of comprehension has increased.  I can tell her things like lets go upstairs and bath, and she'll head for the stairs, make her way up, crawl to the bathroom and stand by the bath.  If I ask if she wants to go to the swings, she makes her to way to the garage, or I say, "Shall we get the mail?", she'll head for the front door.  Telling her to put her shoes or socks on, she knows what to do,but can't complete the action on her own.  You just wonder how this all makes sense in their little minds.  But definitely gives me a sense of relief that my child is developing fine and no need to be concerned about her.   Emma's social skills is developing nicely too.  In my eyes she's such a friendly baby, always excited to see other babies, saying ba ba ba and pointing and shrieking.  When people greet her, she'll wave or smile, sometimes scrunch her face as if I don't know you and a little unsure of you.  She's getting good at saying "Hi" in the right context, on two occassions going to the post office as we've walked through the doors and someone was walking out, she said, "Hi".  The first time she did it, it was so unexpected, I had to laugh, the guy was caught off guard too and just said hi back and laughed.  Today while walking in our neighborhood, Emma saw a guy walking his dog, she pointed and said, "oof-off, then as he walked past she said "Hi", but got no acknowledgement back, I felt so bad for her.

She's definitely trying to say words that we say to her.  Just yesterday I was singing "Row, Row, Row your boat", and she started doing the action and saying "Row, Row, Row".  Reading books to her, she copies a few words I say as I point out objects to her.  Emma has started doing minor actions to songs like twinkle twinkle, itsy bitsy spider and if you're happy and you know it.  Just love the brilliance of this child and how quick she absorbs everything.

Gosh seems like I'm bragging about my child, maybe I am, but can't help feel proud of our little one and share it with everyone, especially when you all don't get to see her.  Lately we've been experiencing personal moments with Emma, where there will be something funny just between her and her daddy, or her and me, and it's those moments you just want time to freeze so you can enjoy iy.  Like this moment during our weekend away, while I was taking photos she just crept her way into my lap and just gave me hugs!  I look at this photo and still can't believe how lucky we are to have Emma in our lives, and how much joy she brings.  We just love this little monkey! (As if you all don't know that by now.)

Happy 13 months Emma!

Emma being a girl

Oh how Emma makes us laugh....

Today we were hanging out on our front porch, waving at the cars driving past and hearing the birds chirp.

I let her do her thing, cruise along the furniture, crawl around, or more like monkey around....it was so funny watching her experience crawling on concrete.
She wanted to crawl, but didn't quite enjoy the feeling of the concrete on her knees.....unless she was being a girl and didn't want to get our outfit dirty??

One Year Gone By

All smiles on her big day!

In a blink of an eye, our little girl is ONE! What an exciting year for us, watching Emma grow and develop into this little individual that is starting to decide for herself, do things for herself and express herself. She is quite the busy body now, as she’s learning to walk. I don’t think anything can make you feel this happy and proud. If you’ve been following my blog, a year of being parents has been an absolute amazing experience. There has been no single highlight, every month or every day has been a highlight, something new is always learnt or done.
We had Emma’s birthday party (cupcakes and ice-cream) on her actual birthday. I had been preparing for this for the past month, I think I was more excited than anyone else, actually felt like I was preparing for Christmas or something. Buying gifts for Emma that I liked as a child, in hopes that Emma will like them too.

Rod’s family (the Kings) - Aunty Peggy, Uncle David, Tracey and Eric, as well as my older sister, Nicole made a special trip out to Durham, NC, to be part of this special occasion. It was so special to have them here with us to celebrate. The party was small, but big enough and two hours was just enough before all the kids/babies started getting fussy and ready for their afternoon naps. Emma got totally spoilt and just had a great day. She was a star, so happy, no crying or fussing. I wasn’t too sure how she’d be with lots of people around at one time, but she did great, she knew she was the centre of attention.

Emma got her first taste of icing – we were hoping she’d go mad with the cake and get icing and cake all over her face and get a good taste, but she wasn’t really interested in the cake, more so the candle – trying to grab it, hence the icing on her hands. Her pretty blue and white dress got covered with the bright pink icing we had on the cake, thankfully it washed out. What a great day seeing your baby attempt to blow her candle out and ripping at the gift wrap. I thought I’d would be quite emotional that day, as I had been leading up to it, but I probably was so caught up with everything going on that I didn’t have time to get emotional. Shew!

So during the week that the Kings and Nix were here, Emma learnt so much. The one day while sitting on Tracey’s lap, she grabbed Tracey’s fingers and pulled herself up to standing and took a few steps. After that she just wanted to walk everywhere. Now she’s pretty particular how she wants to hold your hand/fingers when you walk with her. Tracey and Aunty Peggy taught her Round and Round the Garden, which in Emma’s head seems to go, Round and Round – Tickle Tickle (click to watch the video). Tracey would play with Emma and have Emma sneak up to people and give them a fright…well now every back that Emma sees she tries to tap and says Baa! We were standing in the line at Costco and Emma was reaching out to the guy in front of us saying Baa! Baa!. Tonight while running Emma’s bath water, she came up behind me and hit me saying, Baa! Oh boy! With the few times that Nix bathed Emma, Nix taught Emma how to dry her toes.

So much in a short space of time – I’ve always noticed when family is around Emma catches onto things so much quicker. This morning I was trying to teach Emma to snap her fingers, she watched me repeat this action a few times then attempted it herself, using her thumb and index finger, it’s a start. Quite cute, watching her take it in and attempts it herself.

Rod and I got Emma an activity walker for her birthday – Emma took to the activity part right away, the day after her birthday I had placed her behind to hopefully walk, instead she remained on her knees and pushed the walker back and forth. Today she finally stood behind it (or I stood her behind it) and she started taking steps. After realizing how much fun this was, she carried on walking and eventually became brave enough to let go of the walker and stood for a couple of seconds. The sense of accomplishment on her face – priceless.

Other accomplishments on Emma’s part – we’re teaching her to brush her teeth (although I think she’s more soothing her gums than anything else), we’re slowly getting better at eating with utensils, Emma’s is getting good at opening and closing doors, switching lights on and off, in the mornings we always hear a dog bark, so now each time I ask her what sound is that she hears, or what sound does a dog make, she’ll make this almost silent, “woof” sound. Emma’s mind is a sponge, I just have to show her something or say something once or twice and she can repeat or attempt it straight away. AMAZING! Something you don’t expect her to understand, she does, we really need to be more conscious how we say things now and how we do things, doing and saying things the way we would want her to do and say. This morning I was making our bed, and I asked her to help mommy make the bed, not thinking she would do anything, she stood up at the one side of the bed and started pulling at the covers, as if to straighten them. Such a great little helper.

It’s crazy, but there are times I still can’t believe Emma is ours. Life has definitely changed, but honestly wouldn’t change it for the world. Emma has been the most rewarding thing in my/our lives, besides the tantrums and refusals to sleep. She’s been meeting her milestones, doing something new every day, filling our days with so much love and joy. And not only ours but our families that are spread all over the world! It’s just been a wonderful experience. I’ve been seeing other little girls running around, and I can’t even imagine Emma running around and talking in sentences, and I know that’s just around the corner, soon she’ll be running away from me, rather than toward me.

Being parents have made us realize so many things, so many little things that we didn’t think twice about when we were younger, or even when we were preparing to have a baby. Like the sacrifices our parents made to give us the best upbringing, how much they really love us, what being a daughter/son really means to our folks.

Well One year gone, and so much more to come, before we know it Emma will be 16. It’ll actually be amazing to see at 16 if she’ll have the same expressions or ways as she does now. Until then I’ll keep blogging (hopefully) and just take in every moment with our little munchkin, embrace every hug and kiss we can get and just enjoy those special moments.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY EMMA!

And we're 1!!

Today was a big day, our baby girl turned ONE!!!
I'm knackered after today's events, so will leave the formal post for later.

Just want to wish our baby girl a HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!
One year filled with so much love and joy, we are so lucky to have you in our lives.
Can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays with you little one.

All Our Love,

Mommy and Daddy
xoxo

Emma sounds hugs.

Emma gives hugs and not only gives them but makes the sounds that goes with it.
A while ago we went shopping and Emma was in the ergo carrier.  I had asked her for a hug so she pressed her head against my chest and made this sound, I realised it's the sound we make when we give her "big hugs".  I finally managed to get this on camera and had to share it with you all.

You'll see too that our little darling is becoming quite the actress, making sure you're looking at her and giving you the cheesiest grin ever! She's thoroughly enjoying the attention that she's getting from Aunty Peggy and Tracey.  Ever since Emma has learnt to smile on command, her smiles have become cheesy, even so, we still can't get enough of this munchkin.  You'll see a bit of this smile in the video too.

Happenings over the week and weekend

This weekend was a pretty relaxing one, getting the house ready for our visitors (Aunty Peggy and family arrive tomorrow and Nix arrives on Thursday night!) and just hanging out with Emma.

Saturday morning I went for a haircut, during that time Rod got to spend some one on one with Emma and took her to the Marbles Museum.  I've been wanting to check out this musuem for a while now.  I thought for a change Rod could experience one of Emma's first reactions.  She's been getting so excited seeing new things these days, squealing, pointing, making Oo Oo sounds.  This place was maybe a little too old for her, but none the less there were sections she could enjoy, like a huge ball pit.  Emma was quite excited coming out of the museum, the funniest though was while Rod was telling me about what they did,  Emma kept looking at me and smiling, and had this look on her face like, you look different mom, do something new to your hair?? 

During the week I got together with Reed and Emilia, met for lunch and then let the girls play at the Kidzone, or more let Emma play, as Emilia is still a little young for this playground at the shopping mall.
Emma loves this, "paddle wall", she'll spin the wooden blocks continuously.  Emilia took interest in this and tried to touch these moving blocks.  I had to tell Emma to be gentle, so not to catch Emilias hands.  After a while Emma slowed her spinning, put her hand where Emilia had her hand and almost guided Emilia trying to teach her how to spin the blocks.  It was too cute. 

Emma's starting to say words that we ask her to say, or more like she makes a sound that sounds like the word we just said.  While driving home from the hairdresser and museum it sounded like Emma said "Apple", so I repeated the word and she said it back, more like Aaa-Boo, she continued to do this 3 more times after I said the word, and then again today.  Later that day we went to the mall , it was just Emma and I, we were waiting for the elevator, while waiting I was explaining to Emma that we were going up.  When the elevator arrived, Emma said, "up".  Coincidence?
Then this morning we were reading books and we saw a "Turtle", when I said this, Emma made a sound that that sounded similar "durtle", she repeated this about two times after.  She's used to the word, as I point them out in her blow up pool.  Can't believe my baby is "talking".

This afternoon we spent some time at Annie and Emile.  Emile grilled us some steaks on the BBQ, it was great.  Annie has visited a few times, so Emma has taken a liking to her.  Quite sweet seeing Emma put her arms out and be willing to play with other people.  We were trying to "show off" Emmas talents, but obviously she didn't do everything we asked her to do.  Em got to explore another home and garden, and then played at a new playground - quite a fancy one with go karts....I took some really sweet photos, I'd like to share them with you.  Looks more like a day with Annie than Emile and Annie.

Oh....this was the funniest....Rod was trying to drink his beer with Emma in his arms, Em kept wanting to grab the bottle and drink from the bottle.  While unsuccessfully trying to stop Emma from grabbing and touching, Rod had no choice but to chug his beer with Emma in his arms....Em thought it was the funniest thing....quite a sweet moment, beer and all (hopefully noone calls social services on us).

Another weekend past, one weekend closer to our little one's birthday!  We hope you all had a good weekend.

Distractions Distractions!

For a while Emma would refuse to eat her lunch or dinner from a spoon, she would want to feed herself using her hands (much to my moms disgrace :p).
Had to think of fun fingerfoods to make...meatballs, fish fingers and tons of veggies.

I finally found a solution that allows me to feed her with a spoon and to eat more than just 4 spoonfuls before I get the NO NO NO (shaking of her head).  Besides, adding more rice to the dish - simple solution since we are Asian, and DISTRACTIONS!! 

It's great how something in the hand will automatically make the mouth open, or showing her Cookie Monster and how he will eat the food if she doesn't.
The bad thing about giving her things to play with is that Emma's food tray can get mighty full with all the toys/items to keep her busy, the other bad thing is that you can't have anything in sight that she might want to grab, which means practically clearing our kitchen counter and table.

Emma's little finger points to everything, and we get an eh, eh, eh and then a bit of a temper trantrum if she doesn't get what she wants, we try teach her that she can't moan for everything, and that she can't always get what she wants....hmmm....almost seems pointless at this age when she'll carry on moaning and you finally give in just to keep the peace.  Am I being weak?
We're already at that stage where we can't eat things or drink things that she can't have just as yet, as she starts asking and pointing for them.

Emma has gone from Little Miss Sunshine to Little Miss Demanding....ai yi yi!

She surely keeps us busy, and now I can't take my eyes off of her, as she's so fast and crawling all over the show these days.  I've taught her to climb the stairs, which is great, as it's another activity for her to do, and I make her repeat this a few times a day so to aid with her napping - horrible mom, yes I know, but, whatever works!
Now she heads for the steps whenever she feels so we definitely can't just leave her, I've already turned my back for a second and she was on the third step - happens so quickly.
We purchased a safety gate for the top of the stairs (still to be installed) and have yet to find one for the bottom - but hoping we can get away not getting one?

2 more weeks before Emma's party and we're getting organised.  So exciting planning it, although I have to remind myself it's just a small party and she's not going to remember much so don't go all out, save it for later when she can appreciate things more.

Some updates on Emma while I'm at it.  Things happen so quickly I don't get the chance to document it all.  Plenty of times where I wish I had the camera ready and when you get it out, its hard to get that moment back. 

This weekend Rod purchased a paintbrush to paint our outside deck, Emma has not witnessed us painting, yet she grabbed the brush and started painting the wall....how did she know?? future artist??

Today at Walmart I purchased Emma's first toothbrush, when I told her what it was, she brought it to her head and tried brushing her hair - good job Emma, knowing the word brush, but we have to work on the difference between hair and tooth.

She received a balloon today and Emma called it a Ba, just like her Teddy Bear, she calls Ba.
While eating lunch I asked her where her balloon was and she looked toward it and pointed, I then asked where mommy was, she looked at me, then I asked where is Emma, she wasn't too sure what to do, so she looked up.

Yesterday I thought to take Emma to the Kidzone at the Mall, I've been taking her lately as she's mobile and loves watching and interacting with kids.  I had to let Rod see her in action and the excitement on her face, he could not get over how she was squealing with excitement and pointing at the kids when I picked her up to see the play area. I took her inside to a not so busy section, she almost jumped out my arms.  When I put her down, she was off, pushing her way through the other kids to get to a particular activity toy, a little panick stricken on my part as it was so busy and kids running all over the show.  But she loved it.

So much more....but those are the highlights from the past few weeks and days.

Emma is becoming so expressive and it's great that we now know what she wants and doesn't want, likes and doesn't like.  Amazing how she'll point at things that catch her eye, like birds flying, or the elephant on a surfboard in a tv commercial (occassionally I let her watch tv while I prepare lunch or dinner).  Communication is improving.  Although I do miss the times where I could just feed her anything and she'd eat it, give her anything to play with and she'll play with it.....she can make decisions now and we've got to honor them or not.

My Baby Wheelbarrow