Family Portrait

We have recently took some photos at a friend's studio place. The photo session wasn't really meant for us for family photos session but we just took the opportunity to get a few shots. I have always been asking for hubs to arrange for a proper photos shooting session for our family especially now that Isabelle is almost 2 years old, we should capture her cute chubby face and expression before she outgrown her 2 years toddler age. Unfortunately, I have to remind myself that I should never expect a man to do the job where I can manage it myself.

At least now I can make do with what we have so far and if it's possible I will arrange another proper photo shooting session again soon.

Stains on her teeth

Couple of months back Belle's teeth appears to have black stains on them especially her bottom front teeth. These stains has been visually disturbing to me, every time I see her smile I will surely see the black stains. The stains looks like cigarette stains but am pretty sure Belle is not smoking.

There the stain can be seen on the picture above. The stains are building up more not only on her bottom front teeth but also on the top front teeth and her back molar teeth.

I have done numerous research online and found that there are many other babies or toddlers out there who has the same problem with their teeth as well. Most of them say that the stains caused by iron built-up either from formula or the extra vitamins. Since I am not giving extra vitamins supplement to Belle, so that will not be the cause of it. Most likely the milk powder is the cause of it. Belle is drinking Gain Plus Eye Q every since she turns 1 years old. I have other friends who's kids are also drinking Gain Plus but they don't have the same problem that Belle is going through so I'm really not very sure if the milk is the culprit.

I make it a point to brush her teeth day and night but getting her to brush is also a a big challenge. Every time she finish her milk, I'll give her water to drink so at least the water helps to rinse her mouth. I've also tried using baking soda on a tooth brush and on a wash cloth (tips I found online from other moms) to rub her teeth but doesn't help remove the stains. I'm so depressed.

However, rather than sitting around and looking at her teeth getting stain more every other day, I try switching her to another brand of formula milk : Mamil Gold. In the beginning of switching she accepted the milk quite well probably because she didn't realise it was different. After a few days, she starts to reject her milk. Belle is a child who loves drinking milk and we never had a problem getting her to drink her milk. Just yesterday and today itself, we struggled to get her to drink. She won't even open her mouth at all. I've tasted both the milk, they taste about the same only difference is the Gain Plus Eye Q has a slightly stronger taste. What else can I do? I have made an dentist appointment for Belle, hopefully doctor can help identify what is the cause of the stains and helps polish her teeth and remove the stains. My other concern with the dental visit, I have no idea how we are going to get her to sit quietly throughout the check-up.

Feelings : Depress, Upset, Stress

Learning more words and into singing

Belle is 23 months old now. She has learn to speak so many words to some extend I get amazed on how she can express herself with proper words and sentences.

She can now recognise all the alphabets A-Z thanks to the little alphabets magnets. Nowadays Belle also loves to sing. Though she can't get all the lyrics perfect but she knows the songs. She loves to sing Baa baa black sheep, Two Little Tikky Bird, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, ABC song, Row Row Row a boat. I wonder if all toddlers at this age develops the same skills at the same pace.

Some of Belle's favourite phrase now are :

- I don't like this. Not nice
- I don't want mommy .....
- Beat you
- I want play big book
- Daddy where? Mommy where?
- I don't want Daniel play bicycle
- I want grape

Belle is half potty trained now. When she wants to poo poo, she will tell us and we'll quickly bring her to her potty. Sometimes she couldn't hold it longer so after she tell us she wants to poopoo, she already pooed abit into her diaper. That is not too bad cause atleast she tries to tell us.

Belle will be turning 2 years old next month September. Time really flies at a blink of our eyes. Now is time to plan for the second lil one.

My baby's first sentence

20 Months 11 Days

My baby girl said her first full sentence "Mommy, I want book" (book refers to iPhone). I'm so proud of my baby. Every since then, things that she wish to have or get, she will utter and say "I want"... *faint*. She is definitely growing and developing well. She's not even two years old yet but she can express herself very well already. Hmmm.. when she start to make more sentences that is when she will know how to demand more on the things she wants. Oh dear! :)

First trip in year 2012 - Hong Kong

Wow, it has been so long since the my last post. I've been so lazy updating this blog, but I've still been posting and updating pictures on my Facebook and Picasa album.

2011 is gone, Isabelle is now into her errrrr 17months old. Almost coming to 1 and a half years old. She has grown a lot in terms of her speech, her physical built and also her development on her motor skills. Let me just list a few that I can think of now :

Speech
-  Can count 1-10 in english and mandarin but she repeat after us
- Ask her from A to I she can name each object or animals to that letter
- Very fluent in saying "No" to things or questions that we ask
- She says bye, bear, bird, dragon, tiger, lion, babu (means elephant), fish, apple, ball, dog, cat, gorilla, house, come, poo poo, sleep, seat, drop, hold, car, walk, milk milk, nana (for banana), book (iphone/ipad), star, good nite,

Motor skills
- walk up stairs and glide down the slide
- climb on our bed and sofa in the living room
- help herself onto her tricycle
- carry a small stool around the house
- crawl underneath the dining chair
- feed herself with a spoon (although she still make a mess feeding herself)
- and many other more

There are so many things she have learned and so many things she can do or say. I'm so amaze sometimes how fast kids learns nowadays. Yesterday I was shock when i hear her saying "Mommy, come" and waving her hand. She wanted me to help push her on her tricycle so that she can move forward. Sometimes I think in my heart, I wish time will slow down a little so that we can enjoy more time with her as a toddler. I was reading the BabyCenter website and it says that at 17months old, the child should already know how to undress herself, brush her teeth without our help, and tenderly nursing her dolls and stuff animals. Hmmm, Isabelle is not really doing of those yet except sometimes hugs her soft toys. Should I start introducing brushing teeth to her already?

We have just recently came back from our trip to Hong Kong. This is Isabelle's 3rd flight. Some friends and even my mom ask, why do I want to bring Isabelle and travel along on a trip like that? Wouldn't it be too much hassle plus she's too young to appreciate or even remember anything. Oh most importantly is waste of money. To certain extend I do agree especially the 'too much hassle' part but I'll always response and say "Why not?". Is good to let her be out at the field travelling with us and get her expose to everything. I am very sure every minute she spent when she's not asleep, she is learning and her mind is absorbing knowledge. It's definitely worth all the hassle. Am sure Isabelle enjoyed her trip very much especially the day we spent at Disneyland.

Photo Album

Hong Kong Trip 16-20th February 2012

Isabelle's 2nd experience flying on Air Asia flight

We made a trip to Bintulu early November, to be exact it was on the 4th - 6th November. Visited a friend who stays there and spent our weekend with them at Bintulu. There is nothing much to do in Bintulu but the weekend was still quite fun.

Isabelle had two of her first experience in Bintulu - playing in a inflatable pool and walk barefoot on the beach. It was a very good fun experience for Isabelle.

Our friend had a inflatable pool at their back yard so immediately I had suggested why not let the kids play in the pool. Isabelle loves it so much and I love watching this video that I've took for her while she's getting splash with water from Keith (Friend's son, also Leslie's godson). Belle is sooooo cute and her reaction is sooooo adorable.



Isabelle actually fell into the water and her face was literally in the water. My friend and her maid saw and actually panic. I quickly pull Isabelle up and she was laughing with joy. I believe babies naturally knows what to do when they gets into the water.

We were so worried that she will fall again so we put a float on her plus 2 arm floats. This way we are sure she won't slip and fall into the water again.






Beach at Bintulu

I did not expect that there would be a close by beach in Bintulu. We brought the kids to the beach for a walk (since we had nothing much to do anyways). This is the first time Belle gets to feel the beach sand and sea water. She tried to taste the sand twice and ofcourse we have quickly told her not to do that and wash the sand off her mouth. I guess after 2 attempts of tasting the sand she knows that they don't taste nice and she stop putting sands into her mouth. Belle walked on the beach, played with the sand, felt the sea breeze and I can tell she's enjoying it very much. Is always a good idea to let her explore new things and get close to nature especially.








Overall I would say the Bintulu trip was a good one. Thanks to our friend for such homely hospitality.

Isabelle is 1 years old

I can't believe I totally forgot to blog about Isabelle's birthday party and I just realise I didn't post anything in the whole of September. Very bad.

The party was great although I feet something was lacking at the party. We had the birthday party at a cafe called Little Pantry in IOI Mall. Daddy did some banner designs and hung on the wall at the party place.









I think Isabelle hard a good time that day. That day was the first time she's wearing shoes walking around and she actually walked up and down for in the party room for 2 hours. I really wonder where she gets all the energy and it can last for quite a few hours. Here's a photo of Isabelle with her birthday cake.

The birthday cake is from Isabelle's Godma (Sue). She bake this cake for Belle with lots of hearts and sweats :) Thanks Sue for the lovely birthday cake XOXOXO

I had a friend who helped us and took many pretty photos on that day but I totally forgotten to ask someone to help us take some videos as well. Thank god my sis took this video using her Iphone and this is the only video we have on her birthday.




A blink of eyes and now Isabelle is already 1 years old. Time flies. Many friends starting asking me when am I planning for a second one. My answer is always the same to everyone : "I don't know" :)

So now after Belle's 1 year old party, what's next? A few travelling plans for the three of us perhaps!