The Diva Is Officially One!

Dear Oli,

Today (ok, 1.5 weeks ago), you turned one! Imagine that! All grown up and ready to conquer the world, you! And we didn’t even see you growing! But despite the fact that we can’t lavish you with our full attention, please, please know that we are always, and I do mean always, always proud of you, precious!

Right this moment, you have cut 8 teeth. The double eyelid on your right eye is more apparent now (phew!). You can crawl on your belly and your knees with the grace and speed of a snake. You can stand supported and are showing signs of wanting to stand on your own already. You love to eat. You don’t like to drink water. You still wake up one time at night for milk (pfft, which is pretty annoying lah girl please just sleep through lah can? Zzz). You are climbing anywhere and anything like a pro, and giving us that smug face when you succeed. You know how to wave goodbye, blow kisses, kiss on the lips, and do that layan cheek-brush when you don’t want to lip-kiss, or smack people’s face away when you don’t feel generous with your kisses (mommy does have divas for babies!). You are making the mama/mum mum sounds already! You loved to be tackled and tickled, especially by your jie jie. You love “reading”. You love imitating us when we talk on the phone, by clasping your ear with one hand and go, ah! Ah!. You clap hands when asked to. You clap hands when you see your sister achieved a task or danced or sang or being praised by the grownups. You put away toys. Yes. Let me say this again, you put away toys! How freaking cool is that?! This, my dear, makes mommy so, awesomely proud! Honestly, I really think you’re a genius. I have you on videos putting away toys on various occasions. Genius. Nuff said. 

You love to laugh. You love to cry more. You’re crazy active. You have the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen, the type that just freeze you in the moment and you pretty much turn me into a blob of messy goo. You also know how to sucker up to me when I’m angry with you – by gently resting your head on my chest/shoulders, then slowly and lightly plant a kiss on my cheek, and keep silent till I give in and bear hug you. You go to sleep in a jiffy if it’s papa who put you down, but you’ll go all demanding wanting to hold my hand/fingers to sleep when it was me. You still drink 6oz of milk. You have curly hair! You dance when you hear music. Did I mention that you love to laugh?

Oh that laughter is just glorious. It’s the most carefree, hearty laugh. The best thing to happen in a day is to hear you and your jie jie laugh. Together. So if there’s one thing you can keep, my baby, is that God-given laugh. No matter what life brings you, just laugh that hearty laugh. And you’ll see, no problems, no heartaches, are bigger than God, you hear me baby?

You are a fast learner, Oli. And your jie jie is your ultimate partner in crime; she’s always so supportive of all the mischief you have up your sleeve. I do hope you both will stay close that way. Just tone down on all those mischief, especially those targeted at me, alright love?

We didn’t manage to celebrate your birthday in a fast food outlet with the mascot and lavish novelty cake as planned. But we did plan out a weekend full of activities for you and your jie jie. It was so tiring for both mommy and papa but looking back at the pictures now, it’s worth it. I wish we had done more for you. 

On your birthday morning, we had brunch with jie jie Rachel and Beatrice; and your birthday meal was a butter sandwich toast. Ain’t it awesome?! And that butter toast was just a starter baby! You have thus begun a relationship with oily food yo!

After taking a nap, you woke up and watched your favourite Madagascar (erm, I just made that up. Actually all animations can hold your attention). And later when papa came home, we brought you to McDonald’s! Haha! I was so excited I ordered the entire kitchen, I mean, we’re talking about celebrating your first birthday man! Bring on the fast food and the wicked black liquid (erm, coke?)! We had wanted to let you roam the playroom, but decided the boys in there were too rowdy (your jie jie got kicked in the face by them when coming down from the slide. Now, do you still think you want a brother?). So, you ended up in the high chair most of the night, chomping on fries! I’d say that’s a pretty awesome birthday already! 

And then! On Saturday, we got ourselves tickets to… wait for it… tada!

Hi5 baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

But then we were late by half an hour. As usual, because your papa did not listen when I told him a million times that the show starts at 3.30pm! Grr. And of course your jie jie was sleeping forever! So yeah. But still, we made it! Totally all out of breath. No matter, because they were awesome! One of the cute Hi5-er did the gagman style dance to the roaring applause of the crowd parents moms, actually. /shifty eyes 

Anyway! That was Saturday. And Sunday was your big day! We decorated the house a bit (I just love that old school accordian streamers that I made! That's right, I did craft! Hee! I wrote about it at friendlyfashion.my), changed the lighting, catered food, oh and I bought you a beautiful cake! And your jiu jiu made the most amazing cheese dip for the party (for your jie jie’s fullmoon party too. Well he has this foolproof, sure-win cheese dip recipe that will get him any girl, or aunty, that he wants, if he wants; you just have to get it from him later ok?) 

don't you just love the gradient? heart!

We invited your closest family and friends to celebrate the occasion with us, it’s a shame though your grandma from Melaka couldn’t make the party, but we will visit her soon so you can tell her how awesome the party went. 

OHH! And you were dressed in the most adorable ballerina costume! I’m talking about legit doll-face adorable with all the multiple folds all over your tummy and arms and legs! If only I can have that moment with you in that costume forever…

sorry doll, it's once size too big. hah.

Baby Olivia, darling, thank you for coming into our lives, into my life. Your arrival reaffirms that I can be that strong woman I’ve always seen in other mothers and thought it crazy impossible to be like that. You, have helped me to be strong, to be that mother that I never thought I could be. I may not be the best mother on earth, far from it actually, but I’m learning. And I truly thank God for you and your jie jie everyday. I mean, what are the odds for ordinary persons like mommy and papa to be entrusted with the two most beautiful girls in the entire universe?! Man, it’s crazy! Ahh but let’s not get sappy now, shall we (because it's one in the AM and ma eyes oh ma eyes are burning sleepy!!! =__=)?

Baby here’s wishing you a very blessed first birthday, my darling! I hope this first will propel you to greater heights in the many years to come! And may God continue to keep you in the center of his Will and Love!

Now go out and break some hearts kick some butts! 

Love always,
The One Who Gives You Those Good Genes 
a.k.a Your Mom

Love Was In The Air; Havoc In The Baby Chair

We attended 2 weddings on Saturday and Sunday respectively! Both were uniquely beautiful and the thing with weddings is that, they tend to make me want to get married again (ok fine to the same person. No la, actually I just want the whole party thing lah ok haha).

So anyway, we brought the Frap along to the Saturday’s wedding and I guess that’d be the last wedding she gets to attend until she fully comprehends the function of a chair and what a sit-down-dinner means. I mean, really, some things are just not meant to be together, high heels and on-the-go toddlers for instance.

And so after a couple sessions of serious dad-toddler pep talk, half a bucket of tears, and failed bribery smooches (from the Frap! Tsk, that manipulative little thing!), we managed to sit her down for the duration of a few dishes served before the whole pep-talk-tears-bribes-sit-down cycle repeated. But I must say that I am actually quite proud of her, the fact that after understanding what was required of her, she literally held back her tears and allowed us to buckle her down on the highchair, and played along with smiles on her face, until her butts itched again and her undying energy overpowered her to move. Haiks

So yeah, a good exercise for us parents to discipline our child and for the child to learn the right social behavior to adopt when in public. I guess both parties are one step closer to success (which is, oh just another million steps away T_T).

BUT no matter how good an exercise routine it is, we kinda like our party time to be a little more… peaceful, you know what I mean? So Sunday’s wedding was just us, adults sans babies! And it was fun! Eating hands free, mingling with old friends, socializing with new friends, and posing for pictures! Oh my! 

When we reached my parents’ place to pick up the girls later that night, Oli was sound asleep and Frappy was having a great time playing with her gong gong, happy as a lark! So I guess we both did each other a good favor after all :) 

p/s Congratulations to Jee Hui and Christine (although we don’t know you personally, but we share your parents’ joy in your union! You both made such a stunningl picture in that indian costumes!)

p/p/s Gong hei gong hei Fay and Wilson!!!! You guys are definitely a match made in heaven – both are equally crazy!!!! Haha! We thoroughly enjoyed your wedding, it was so fun! And it was awesome catching up with the GKII girls again! 

Thank you so much for having us, you guys! Here’s wishing you a blessed, happy life together! 

and in return, we got lottery tickets! haha jokers!

Love my top & skirt (from Azoria), and purple envelope cluth from asos

Power women I have for friends!

And It's Up!

Finally got the tree up – our first ever (and I’m so proud of my effort! Jason K you owe me big time!)! With Frappy’s arrival, we are living more like family people now, what with setting up a Christmas tree and planning for a Christmas meal! Haha!

I’m outlining the menu now. There are so many cool recipes out there and I just wish to try them all! I’m thinking an appetizer of pita with pesto/olive oil and cheese dips; vegetarian minestrone soup (for my parents are vegetarians); baked chicken with root veges; a stew maybe? Oh, and cheddar and chives cupcake! But I’m still short on vegetarian dishes… hmm, a stir fry garlic butter abalone mushrooms? Oh I know! A pesto pasta! That’ll fill an Asian stomach I reckon! Awesome!

On the 23rd and 24th, we’ll be in church for a Christmas Musical Production – a proud in-house effort by all my talented and awesomepossumsupercoolio friends – join us! You won’t regret it ;) Plus, you get to laugh at support Jason because he’ll be acting!

So how are you celebrating your Christmas? A couple of years back, a friend made me a card that says “This Christmas, let us not only remember that ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart’, but also, ‘till it happens in your life’.”

It finally hit me now… Gift-exchanges, lavish feasts, and all the merriment don’t even come close to the real meaning of Christmas. It’s about the greatest Gift of all times – given with complete Love, and paid by Blood. If you receive it with an open heart, this Gift is eternal.

The Gift of Jesus, have you receive Him into your heart today? :)

KL Mini Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 @ Artista Restaurant & Bar

Speaking of going out more, thanks to Terence’s invitation, 2 weekends ago we went for the KL Mini Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 (what a mouthful!) at Artista Restaurant & Bar with Ju and Vincent. And boy was the music fun, even for an amateur like me!

I must say I didn’t enjoy the first 2 opening acts much, but when Terence’s band, The Terence Chong Blues Band, came on, I felt they just got everyone hooked lah. Dude, I never knew you were that good! :)

The whole gig and venue weren’t very baby friendly (too loud and cigarette smoke), so Jason had to take Frappy out for window-shopping instead (the place was located inside Tropicana City Mall). But a quick browse through the restaurant’s menu, I thought it looks quite promising. Must. return. try. food. weee! All we ordered was some brownies + vanilla ice cream (the ice cream was yum!) and a cup of latte to share, not bad at all.

We didn’t stay till the end of the gig as the next day was a work day for Jason, which was a disappointment because the music just got better. But that couple of numbers they covered already got Ju and I all pumped and excited! And Vincent said “it got crazier” after we left. Man! -_-

But all in all, it was a fantastic experience and I’m definitely looking forward for more of such outings/gigs.