My 3rd month

July 29th marked first quarter of my life. Pretty eventful 3 months, I have to say. Mommy spent no time it getting ready for a home celebration together with Lola, right after our trip from Port Douglas. It was a special celebration as well since Tita Mitch was visiting me. Daddy was late coming back from his work trip - but that didn't stop us from having night of good food, yummy cake and lots of fun with the closest of friends. As they say, I work hard (growing up) and celebrate hard.

My first flight

My parents (especially daddy) were as worried as they could be. They just weren't sure how I would react or if I would be drawing all the attention with my loud cry. Well, attention I did draw. But that was because I was the cutest little baby around, who was as behaved as one could be.

Just before it was time to take off, I decided to take a quick nap. I had no idea when the plane took off. As the plane leveled in the air, I woke up. I then enjoyed a meal with mommy. Just about the time the pilot was announcing our landing time, I decided it was time to go take a nap again. Next time I was awake, I was being surrounded by fellow passengers, as they waited for the aircraft door to open, complimenting how cute and quiet I was during the flight.

On the way back, it was pretty much the same story. The check-in lady in Cairns airport was very kind to try and leave the middle sit empty so I could have my own bed to stretch on. The stewards got me my own blanket and pillow. It was first class service. I slept through most of the flight; but did get just a tiny bit cranky as the plane was landing in Sydney. But overall, it was smooth sailing all the way through. My parents gave me the title of the 'gold flyer'!

Trip to Port Douglas

I wasn't quite happy with daddy last few days (don't ask me the reason). But this weekend, the two of us had quite a time together. Mommy had a company conference in Port Douglas. That gave us a good excuse to bring him along with us to spend the long weekend. Thursday afternoon I had a major milestone - my first flight. Friday morning, me and daddy stayed on in the hotel while mommy attended the conference. With so much time to spend together, I had to be friendly with him again. We played along together in between my feeds and sleeps. Mommy was back by mid-day and we drove out to have lunch.

Later in the evening I joined my parents for a BBQ dinner with mommy's colleagues. While it was a cold night and a cold outdoor spot, I stayed up little late while they dined and chatted. I was comfortably sitting in my Baby Bjorn.

Saturday was a relaxed day for all of us. After a breakfast outdoor, we stayed in the hotel for the rest of the day relaxing in the pool while mommy and daddy cooked their own BBQ. While they cooked, I was entertaining myself in my make-shift bed - just like a matured girl. In the evening, they had to go for the formal dinner - which meant, I wasn't allowed! But hey, that turns out to be another milestone - my first night with the babysitter.

Once again, both my parents were little worried and kind of uncomfortable - that being the first night with an outsider. The introduction wasn't eventful. My babysitter, turned out to be a lovely lady, who happened to be a grandma herself. I wasn't too uncomfortable at all. While my parents enjoyed the evening by themselves, I pretty much slept through the evening; getting up just for a feed in between. By 11 pm, they rushed back home only to find me wake up and greet them with my usual big smile.

Sunday morning we left the hotel early on the way back to Cairns airport for our evening flight. Cairns is a special place for my parents. This is where they got married. So it was a bit of a nostalgic drive. On the way to Trinity beach (where mommy and daddy got married), we stopped over in Rex lookout for a picture.

Then we dropped by Trinity beach. We took a short stroll down to the beach, where the wedding took place. I suppose it was a rather strange feeling for both of them to be back to the same spot they took the decision to be together for the rest of their lives - but this time with the labour of their love. We spent some time there taking pictures and savoring the beautiful sea breeze and lovely Queensland sun. It was the perfect weekend together.

After this trip - both my parents are quite comfortable with traveling with me. I continued to surprise them by how easy and accommodating I could be in any situation. They hardly had to worry about me despite couple of reasonably long flights (considering my size), late nights, evening with stranger and change of weather. It was nice to see them feeling good and refreshed after we returned to Sydney Sunday night. I think I would have forgiven daddy for not spending much time with us lately; but then he had to leave us for couple of days again the following Monday. Boy he is really testing my patience!

Daddy Diary

Well this one needs to be told by me - the daddy himself. Cause possibly for the first time in last 2+ months, I was quite stumped on what was going on in my little girl's mind. Suddenly, since last Sunday, she decided she didn't like me anymore. First, she started to show she was annoyed while I was carrying her. Mommy had to take over. Then, next day as I returned from work, instead of the customary broad smile to receive me, she frowned and expressed how annoyed she was. Next couple of days - there were no smiles for daddy. And here she was talking and smiling away with mommy and everybody else. And each attempt to converse with her turned her into an angry little girl.

Any clues, anyone? I wondered if I hurt her accidentally or did something to scare her. Not that I could recall. Then I thought maybe it was few days of not being around her in recent days - she wasn't happy about that. But could a little 2.5 month old express herself that well? I guess I have got my work cut out for some time to come. "You better not make me angry, daddy".

Swimming with daddy

I am getting ready to go to a swim school as I hit my 3-month mark. As a practice run with water, this week I went for a little swim, well, not too far ... just in an adult bathtub. Daddy was the trainer under the close watch of mommy. At first I felt a little uncomfortable as they ever so carefully slide me in the warm water of the tub. But in a few seconds, I made it my comfortable home. I stretched, kicked and splashed water gleefully. Until I tired out and started to feel a bit hungry. Good exercise that was. Which put a tick on my next month's actual swimming lesson. I think I am going to like it. Taking me out of the little pool wasn't easy - I got cranky.

On Saturday when mommy left me on my tummy to get my nappy-change, she was surprised when she turned back to me. There I was pushing my head up with my two little hands. With my head at 90 degrees, I was checking up on my surrounding. That got to be a milestone, me thinks.

Friday was a big day too - I spent most of the day outdoors going out with mommy, tita and lola. We shopped, they went to the beauty salon, and finally in the evening we were out partying in Tita Chuva's house. Long day for me - naturally you can't blame me if I were a bit cranky by the end of the day.

The cold weather has been bothering me a little bit. At times I make some weird noise breathing. It seems the Vicks vaporiser with eucalyptus oil does help get my breathing clear (if you know of any side-effects of that for little ones like me, can you please let mommy or daddy know?). As long as I get a full nights sleep with not too many interruptions, we are all happy.

The storyteller

So I learned a few words, I learned how to connect them together, and then I learned how to tell a story.

I am growing up fast

Missing out on how quickly I am growing up? Here are some examples ... Here's me learning to stare right into the camera when mommy yells out 'cheese'. Then it's me looking around and checking on my toys. And here I am soothing myself to sleep.

Night away from home

Daddy had to travel for work the entire of this week. I know it was the longest 5 days for him. It takes quite getting used to living away from his little princess. While he kept on wondering about me in his hotel room, I was getting used not seeing him around too. Mommy had to eventually resort to putting his t-shirt in my bed to give me the familiar smell and surrounding. Not sure if that worked or not. But I knew I had to greet daddy as he returned back on Friday evening - giving him a big smile dozing off in between my sleeps.

Wow - there was so much he missed. I grew a wee bit taller, weighed a little heavier and of course, can now tell a whole story if you just want to listen. What a difference a week makes. Friday evening, daddy just wanted me to be awake - and tell him stories. And I didn't disappoint him at all. And yes, I was her usual smiling little princess again.

So to make up some lost quality time together, we decided to spend the weekend in The Entrance, Central Coast. Would you believe, this was my first night out away from home since I was born? Fascinating. It was a hour-long drive from home to The Entrance. I do enjoy the drives while the car is moving. So the trick is to make sure daddy can avoid the traffic lights or feed me while they stopped to fill up the gas. Generally it was a event-free drive to the hotel.

Everyone was worried how I'd fare in the changing environment. Well, they should know me better. Because I wasn't a worry at all. I kept on to my regular schedule - albeit a bit cranky at times. But that's probably the wind-chill coming from the ocean. In the evening, we all went for a pub dinner. Have you heard of a 2.5 month old sitting in the restaurant? Well that was me - and I behaved. I was either sleeping - or just sitting in mommy and daddy's laps as they exchanged me and the steak between each other. It was a fun night out.

The night was no event either. I slept through my usual routine. Next morning, I accompanied them to breakfast; after I had mine of course. Then a quick drive back home. All in all, they all had a good time and so did I. No dramas.

This week they all realized how quickly I am growing up. Every minute the clock ticks, I learn something new or add a few grams to my weight or grow a couple of hairs taller. Poor daddy - he's going to be missing out a lot as he travels for work. But I suppose that makes those times I spend with him even more precious!!

Latest poll

This was a rather giveaway. Only four respondents though - but they all got it right. The word "Ayesha" has a couple of origins. In Arabic, it means life or alive. A variant of the word in Arabic means 'the small one'. In Swahili (African), it can also mean woman. Another meaning of the word is beautiful. Ayesha is also the name of the favorite wife of prophet Muhammad.

Here's a Stevie Wonder song that was inspired by her daughter - Aisha.

Most important thing my parents can do

Since I was born, mommy and daddy had been talking how they can ensure my future is secured in the best way possible. Before daddy could go around and check for options, they sat together to think about what can they do for me. Without much deliberation, they quickly reached consensus. A good education, they both said, is what we have to ensure for little Ayesha. For the rest, she can help herself.

So daddy's project was to find what he can do to ensure I grow up to get a decent education - and more importantly, feel very motivated from the word go. They both agreed, these days, ensuring decent education requires money. So it was all about how to make sure that is available for me when I needed - irrespective of their situation. Daddy thought about starting to put aside an education fund that would also work as a constant motivation as I grow up.

Dad's first stop was BankWest's kid's bonus saver account. Considering the current days of high interest, it has some attractive bonus rates (10%). After checking the fine prints, it was quickly obvious that the concept of compounding isn't quite uninterrupted - as the bonus account seems to get wrapped up to a low-interest standard account annually - forcing a fresh start on the bonus savings.

Next option was to make a regular investment contribution into specialized managed funds held under my name. However the hassle of setting that up and making its existence for my educational needs obviously clear to me (as that is one of the objectives) made it look less attractive. So daddy looked for a packaged solution.

They first spoke to a consultant from AIG's gold scholar product. While it looked attractive on the brochure, when the numbers were calculated, it quickly turned out to be a rather dull insurance product. The return of investment was lower than even a half-decent savings account. Not surprisingly, most of the money went to the insurance component; leaving hardly anything to support the true education cost.

Then, they spoke to Nafeesa from Australian Scholarship Group (ASG). She started off by explaining the continually increasing cost of education and showed the total cost of education covering my secondary and tertiary years. Then, she carefully stepped them through the product - which is effectively an excellent savings plan backed by a professionally managed fund offering some attractive returns. And since it is a non-profit organization, the estimated return at the time I'd be needing the money looked excellent since they reinvest the capital, the return as well as the tax savings. Without any hesitation, mommy and daddy decided to enrol me in. Having the membership to the plan would mean, if anything untoward happened to them (just in case), or they can't continue to make payments to the plan for whatever situation, my educational future is secured.

What is more important though, is that I will grow up knowing what my parents values most for me. All they want from me is that I am prepared in the best way possible - to give back to this world, what it has given me and more.

What's next? Mommy has commenced scouring the Internet to find the right school for me to enrol on when it'd be time for my pre-school or kindy.