Am I an apathetic Mommy?

I am not taken to too much gushing of Sophie's triumphant milestones these days.
I stare in quiet amazement when she can stand on her own two feet unaided.
"About time la!" I muttered.
I watch idily as she pulls her hair, hits her head, claps her hand, wrinkles her nose, raise her arms, lift her head skywards, kisses, shakes hands, gives flying kisses, waves goodbye, at our command - her knowledge of these just before her first birthday.
I know I know.. I am taking her development for granted...

So bad the me... It's a sign that I am running low on mommy fuel...

Need recharge quick.

I wanna go shopping for

NOT Sophie's things anymore.
Everytime I go shopping theseadays, I end up lugging bagfuls of Sophie's stuff.
Diapers, new clothes, toys, that o-so-cute dress etc.
I am tired.
I need more Mommy-me time and expenditure.
More nice stuff for Mommy pppleeeease...
Thankie yoooou!

I will not give in to tantrums

All to repeat after me:

I will not give in to tantrums
Iwillnotgiveintottantrums
I WILL NOT give in to tantrums
I weel not girve in 2 tantrums
I WILL NOT GIVE IN TO TANTRUMS

All right, mommy's coming!!!
Sigh

Itsabloggingspree

Ifeel:
inspiredaftermanymonthsofnotbloggingtosuddenlypendownsomerandomthoughtsof
sophieandallthingsthathasbeenhappening.
Sostaytunedtofindoutwhatshenaniganssophiechewandmamachewhavebeenupto.
Takingcareofatotisnoteasybutididn''trealiseitwouldbethisdifficult.
Sotiredandstressedeverydayitsworsethanworking.
WouldImuchratherworkyouask?
Idunno.
Butanythingsurebeatsfacingtantrumterrorightnow!
Herewego!
Wheeeee!

Of screams & shouts & cockroach dance

Yes... coming from Sophie.. all of it... when she doesn't get her way, when you take something away from her.... when she doesn't feel like porridge... when no one entertains her... when we don't clean her poo fast enough... when her bath water is too cold... when she doesn't want to towel dry her hair... when she is bored... when a piece of biscuit is not enough.... welcome to Tantrum Terror!

Icky Poo Poo to start off

Sophie has the runs... not in a bad way but i suspect just too much veggies in her system.. specifically cauliflower and brocolli. Didn't want to give her anymore beta-carotene inducing veggies & rooties as they were making her look alarming shade of yellow... now tat she is off those jaundiced causing veggies, she is a healthier shade of pink, but the trade off is icky poo poo. sigh.. what is a muther to do.....??

Some cute pics

I am Temenggong Sophie! (Malay royalty)

Look at me! Hiiiiyaaa! Shaolin kick!

I am so sleepy... can sleep anywhere!

Daddy, I know who-did-it! Sophie watching CSI intently

Strike a pose! Sexy Cleopatra Sophie

Sophie's development

Time flies. Sophie will be 5 months old come 3 Sept. Since she was 4 months old, she has been developing her gross motor skills, cognitive skills, not to mention her tastebuds, rapidly. These are some of her achievements to date:

1) Sophie has been on semi solids since she was 4 mths old. She loves her lunch of rice cereal with vege or fruit puree. Yum yum.

2) Sophie loves to sit up. She has been practicising foward crunches since she was 31/2 months old. She can now lift her upper body from a flat or reclined position. Amazing ab muscles!

3) Sophie can flip. She has been trying since she was 4 mths old. When she first started, she had trouble flipping properly, as she did not know how to lift her head in tandem with her butt. Nowadays, she can flip with ease and she will flip while playing or sleeping.

4) Sophie is beginning to crawl. Yup, the little munster will kick wildly and move her butt like a mermaid, inching herself forward (think leopard crawl). However, she has not gotten the idea of using her arms, so she will scream with frustration after a few futile attempts.

5) Sophie is very curious. Yep, she will turn her attention towards the source of sound or activity. She can even tilt her head backwards just to look at the world upside down. Hee hee..

6) Sophie knows who is mommy and daddy. When mommy asks, "Where is daddy?"She will swivel her head towards Daddy's direction.

Sleepless in Sengkang....

Sophie is overall an easy baby to look after *fingers crossed*. However, on some days, she can really wear you out and make you want to tear your eyes out with her constant attention seeking screeches (think parrot).

On some nights, she would also refuse to sleep, rather keeping herself awake by demanding that we amuse her. When Mommy and Daddy are already exhausted, they turn to her "favourite" DVD program for help. Yep, we will put her in front of the TV at 12 midnight, and make her watch Your Baby Can Read video. Here are some pictures showing her valiantly trying to stay awake.

Clever Sophie

Sophie was napping in the living room one evening when we disturbed her sleep by switching on the lights. Instead of waking up, she just used her arms to shield her eyes from the glare of the light and continued sleeping. Such a clever girl.

Oh... she can also block her nostrils when Mommy is cleaning it with a Q-tip. She will put her arm across her face or suck her thumb so that her fist is blocking her nostrils. So clever!

Sophie with Moms, Pops and Godmoms

Sophie with Daddy at Garuda Padang Restaurant after a heavy lunch.. burp!

Sophie and Mommy at Dempsey Hill

Sophie and Godmoms at Dome Cafe on Dempsey Hill

Sophie's first potty training attempt: FAILED

The only successful thing was that she managed to her sit on the potty unaided. Other than that... the potty was dry...

Tibetian Sophie

Sophie's first swimming expedition

Hmmph! I don't wanna take pictures with her!

The sun is in my eyes, mommy!

Mass changing on the bed

4 babies posing for a shot!

Last Friday, I took Sophie to Ning's place for a baby gathering. Sophies was quite excited to see her friends Tricia, Adelle and Carmel. She was also quite excited about her first swimming session, although the photos show her grimacing because of the sun. The babies had fun splashing in the water, thereafter a mass bath session. Mommies had fun gossiping, exchaning baby tips and eating KFC!

Sophie loves car rides

The little munster just loves car rides... No matter how terrible her day is, a cry ride will sooth everything. Unlike other babies who whine and scream in the car, car rides for Sophie's are like rocking bassinets. She falls fast asleep within moments of entering the car.

Nobody can take away car rides session from her. Even when she is lulled to sleep at home, the moment she senses mommy and daddy going out, she will wake up and shout, demanding to go along also. Everyday, when it is time for me to go and fetch her daddy from work, she somehow knows it and will wake up, looking at me with longing expression. The moment i say, ÖK let's go gai gai!", her face will light up. Such a joy!

The many sulky faces of Sophie

Sophie loves to sulk! We don't know where she got that habit from. Her daddy says its from mommy and her mommy vehemently points to daddy! Oh well, just looking at her sulky faces makes you feel like laughing!

Milk crises!

Lately have been supplementing Sophie with formula milk. Not an easy choice to make as I wanted to breastfeed her exclusively for 6 months. But alas, unlike ohter mummies who can produce copious amounts of milk to flood the freezer, my supply is fast drying up. To ensure Sophie gets her nutrients and calories, I have to give her formula milk.

To my relief, she is taking it well... after the initial fracas of course! Now she will only suckle on the breast in the morning and before bedtime.

Failed attempt

Today I tried to get Sophie introduced and interested in solids. So as she was hollering for her midday meal, I made her some Nestle rice cereal. Twas'not meant to be la. She spits the cereal out as soon as I spoon it in her mouth. This went on for several times, till I got quite fed up. So its back to liquid milk till I can find another opportunity for her to get onto solids!

P/S: She is like that with all sorts of vitmains and medicines. Once you spoon or dropper them in her mouth, she will just spit it all out. Naughty girl!

The monk from Sengkang Shaolin

Oops! Mommy! Don't take pictures of me in such a ugly state!

Frantic finger sucking activity...

Tomorrow Sophie will turn 4 months old, in the lunar month terms. According to traditional Chinese custom, it is highly recommended to shave a 4 month old baby bald to signify 'starting afresh'and a new life. It is also belived that it will make the hair grow more evenly. So at her great grandma and grandma's behest, we brought Sophie to get her hair shaved.

Her daddy was not too estatic about the idea of a bald daughter: "Her hair looks fine what.. no need to shave la... Cindy and Joyce didn't shave their babies too right? I also didn't shave when I was a baby what!" "Yah lor.. thats why your hair perpetually look like a mop!" I quipped.

We brought Sophie to EC House at Plaza Singapura for a quick $10 hair cut. Sophie was a angel, sitting quitely on my lap while the hairstylist sheared her locks. (I think it was the small TV screen in front of her that kept her so riveted that she didn't move.)

Since this wasn't a planned haircut trip, I didn't bring my camera to capture her during the shaving process.

This is Sophie, back home and fresh after a bath. Doesn't she look cute!

Why do baby like to suck their fingers...ahem fist...?

Is it comfort food? Is it delicious? Is it sweet and yummy?? Sophie certianly thinks so! Look at her stuffing her whole fist in her mouth...

What's this? Tastes funny!

Hmm... I think I'm beginning to like it...

What's a baby to do without her fist sucking habits!?

That does it.. I'm gonna ask Mommy for more of these.... err.. fists...

Sophie & Mommy's favourite pastime

Yawn.... what do Sophie and Mommy like to do in the afternoon??