It's month four ... and I am rolling

1-2-3-4! It was fourth month this week since I was born. 4 great reasons to celebrate. So Friday afternoon we had a special family dinner. Mommy dressed me up. daddy bought the cake, lola cooked us a lovely dinner and we were all in great mood.

There are more great reasons to celebrate these milestones. I started to roll over for some time now - but over the last few days, I am doing it more frequently. In fact, if you leave me down for a minute or two - I'd be rolling over to my tummy. Not that I like to be on my tummy for too long. In fact, since I did not quite master the rolling back that well yet, I get a bit frustrated after each roll over. Then someone helps me to be back on my back - then I roll again. That's how it goes.

Besides getting taller over the last four months, my hair grew longer as well. That gets my mommy quite excited. She's now getting to play with my hair - trying out different hairdos. I play along pretty well with that too. Don't quite mind her fiddling with my head. Daddy is a bit stressed about the possibility of me accidentally swallowing my little hairbands - but mommy has her hawk-eye on it. My gravity defying hair now tends to get locked down to a well-shaped, beautiful hairdo.

And oh - here is another milestone. I have now graduated from bassinet to pram. Hmm, it took a while for the adults around me to figure out it was time that I get a chance to look around me. I am learning fast from my surroundings. So mommy decided on a early upgrade. I did need a bit more support to push me up the seat but with all the accessories in place, I was thoroughly enjoying the view around me while being pushed.

I was also getting a bit squashy in my car seat. So daddy had to adjust the seat straps to make more room for me. I love my rides in the car - most often I do fall asleep very quickly. With a bit extra room, I can now extend my feet for a comfortable snooze.

Talking about extending my feet, my all-overs are getting a bit too short for me. Its a pity how quickly I am outgrowing these beautiful little outfits. Not to be undone, lola is quick at fitting them back in by cutting off the bottom parts. That extends the wardrobe life of my clothes for a little longer. Ingenious lola!

Check on what's changing

Did you know that daddy has been posting all my new achievements in this post? Visit it regularly by clicking on 'Check out the fun facts' from the quick links. Also, you can see a detailed growth chart by clicking on 'My full growth chart' in the quick links too. You can see how I am doing compared to other kids of my age.

Happy birthday daddy

Daddy has been very busy at work lately. He's not getting much time to be at home with us. Also traveling at times takes him away for home for more than just the day. So it was not surprising that he could not be back home early for us to celebrate his birthday this week. Nonetheless, we had a little special supper to mark another year of his life - one that would be largely memorable for him as he counted down my arrival. And what a year he'd be looking forward to - one with me growing up. Happy birthday daddy!

Daddy Diary: Little sickie

Friday night, our little girl looked a bit tired and her eyes were watery. She was bit quieter than the usual. As we got up on Saturday morning, we realized she is sick. We took her temperature - which read 38.7. Surprisingly, little Ayesha was still very quiet and even offered her broad smile first thing in the morning. Only exception was her big, watery eyes and warmer body temperature. We decided not to take chance and went straight to the local GP. After a bit of a wait, the GP could make the unscheduled appointment. By then little Ayesha was looking visibly tired, staring at the GP as he spoke to us.

The GP thought it could be just a common virus, that would require antibiotics only if the fever persists or she shows signs of weakening - otherwise just Panadol would do. So we started her course on Panadol. Our brave little girl kept smiling on. While we could see her not the normal self, she ate as needed and slept when it was time. Her body temperature hovered around 36.5 and 38.5 through the day and well into Sunday. But at times dropping well below "worry zone" - so we stayed away from the antibiotics. While she had fever and symptoms of cold, she didn't cry much at all.

During these couple of days, Ayesha couldn't speak - but the sad look in her face was telling it all. It was breaking our heart even to look at her - and that was just a little fever. As we were having to deal with her illness, the news of Colin, the baby whale was all over the news. The story of the hungry little calf sucking the bottom of the boats in Pittwater having lost her mommy, alongside our little girl's helpless look, made us realize how vulnerable these little ones are and how much they need the parents around them at the time of their need.

But as she keeps doing again and again - Ayesha surprised us yet again. By Monday she was showing no signs of fever and did not need any further dose of Panadol. She was happy and the tired look on her face was gone. Since she fed and slept well during this time - there was nothing much to worry about.

By Monday afternoon, she was fully recovered and even had a new first - helping herself with her milk.

The day we celebrated my birth

August 17th 2008 will be marked as a special day in my calendar. It was a day I was officially welcomed by my family and friends, as they celebrated my birth and my identity in this world.

My naming ceremony took place at home, in a small and cozy little party. Lola did most of the cooking. Tita, mommy and uncle did most of the decor and cleanups - while daddy looked after me.

Celebrant Lesley was in charge of conducting the ceremony. It started off with a little prayer and then Tita read out a poem - a parent's love. Then my grandparents were introduced - along with my great grandma. Only lola (my maternal grandma) was present on the occasion while the others were blessing me from far away from their home. I obviously wished they were closer to me - but I certainly felt their deep love for me.

My godparents were the next to be introduced. Ninong Ronz, Ninang Wella and Ninang Mitch have taken on the responsibility of being my guardian. It would obviously be very assuring for me to know that they will be there if I needed their advice and help as I grow up. Thank you Ninong and Ninangs. Ninang Mitch also couldn't be in the ceremony - but I could feel her warm love coming from cold Zurich. Ninong and Ninang then lit the candle for my ceremony.


After that, daddy explained the meaning of my name. Then uncle read out 'the prophet' by Kahlil Gibran. Finally, daddy spoke a few words for me on behalf of my parents. With that behind us - we all went outside and the guests got together to release white balloons into the clear blue skies. While some of the balloons got stuck in the tall trees next to the house - the other reached for high up in the clouds.

What's next? Yummy. Lots of food. Everyone dipped into the finger foods and mains. It was beautifully presented, topped with Ninang's colourful, mouthwatering cupcakes. Everyone had a good time enjoying the food, singing singstar and catching up with one another.

And me? I slept through pretty much most of the day - getting up time to time as I got hungry and cried for food. Everyone was busy - but hey, they better not forget ... it was all about me. I am still proving to be a very social girl. Every time after a big party, my mom and dad worries that I'd be cranky the rest of the night. But I do prove them pleasantly wrong. I continue with the day as if it was all planned for by me.

Unfortunately, some of my closer extended family missed out - Shanta fupu couldn't make her trip to Australia on time. Both her and Tita Jebs had me in their minds. I am hoping fupu would be able to make the trip she's been planning for a while and get to see me soon.

Lolo and lola Peter and Bing wanted to be there and lola Bing baked me a cake too. But she fell sick just a day before and couldn't make it. We missed her in the party. But then she managed to send us the cake a few days later - as soon as she got well. So I took a picture of me all dressed up and with the cake lovingly made for me by her.

So that was the day's summary. It was a day for me to know who I was and the loving people around me. It was a day for me to know what their thoughts and prayers were for me. When I grow up, and look back at these memories, the photos, the videos and the writings, I am sure to realize how much love I have for me from these people; so I can learn to spread that around me selflessly. As daddy says, you keep smiling and make everyone smile around you.

Once again, thank you so much for making me feel so special.

Celebrating life ...

Naming ceremony

Me, mommy and our weekly social networking

Daddy was away pretty much whole of the week. So it was just me and mommy. Mommy now has three mother's group to go to. So I just tag along with her. I am learning to be a quiet girl in the back sit of the car while mommy drives.

While mommy catches up with other moms, I get to say hello to other bubs of my age. One of her mother's group is her ante-natal classmates. So all the bubs there shared a lot of similar experiences. Mommy enjoys these get-together quite a bit. Its also great a way for her to learn from other mommy's experience.

Daddy was back on Saturday - day after Olympic began. He missed watching the opening ceremony with us. While I didn't get to see him the whole week, I was very happy to greet him with a smile (because he brought me quite a few pretty dresses from Chicago). We went for lunch together at an Indian cafe in Rouse Hill in the afternoon. On Sunday, we attended Amah Rose's birthday.

Lola Bing's food festival

We spent the day in Lola Bing's place enjoying some of her famous cuisines. Since I was born, my parents did not get the opportunity to enjoy Lola's food. So they were looking forward to this. As usual, Lola had a food festival going - with an array of her famous recipes on display. Hardly a moment went without their mouth chomping on yummy deserts or sumptuous mains.

While daddy and his friends were busy playing PS3 with Lolo Pete, I was trying to run conversations with all present. In recent times, I am being labelled a chatty girl - since I like to engage in long conversations in between my sleeps and feeds.

My social skills has improved quite a bit in lately. Now that I am learning to use my hands to grasp things and look around to check my surroundings, I am also keen to identify people and speak to them when they do take interest in me. So gatherings like these are perfect opportunity for me to know those who cares for me a lot - close family friends.

It was very nice of Lola Bing to organize all that and invite us to lunch. Thank you Lola.

Later in the evening we went to say hello to little Katrina who just returned from their trip to Snowy Mountains. I wanted to know how she found her first experience of snow. Obviously that would come handy next time I plan my itinerary for the skiing trip.

Poll result

While I am yet to say a full word, I got close to say mommy (or it sounded close to that as I was crying). I think this one is yet to be confirmed. Will keep you posted.