MomBloggersPlanet Cutest Baby in NATURE Contest

I’m in the mood for contest. *smile* The fact that I haven’t had any luck in any contest didn’t de-motivate me from entering more contest…hehe…The generous sponsors for this contest are PhotoBook Malaysia and AliceWonders. Contest runs from 01st to 15th, November. For further info, feel free to browse the MomBloggersPlanet contest page . :)

Okay, I’m counting on these photos of Vanessa to stand a chance in this contest. Photo #1 and #2 were taken at the Keningau St. Francis Xavier Cathedral’s compound. It was Vanessa’s first sight of palm oil trees and its fruits. So curious that she went to touch the leaves and have a closer look at it...under our supervision, of course.

Vanessa Avery, DOB: 05 Oct,2007

Photos #3, #4 and #5 were taken at FIL’s kebun sawit. Since Vanessa is fascinated with the palm tree at the church, I decided to expose her to more of it. Where else to gain more exposure if not at FIL’s kebun ? Coincidently, FIL and hubby are going there after all. Me and Vanessa just kinda tagged along; FIL and hubby welcomed the idea. *smile*

Instead of watching the men at work (unloading some papan (timber) for the new sulap (pondok rehat / hut), I just lepaskan dia saja and biar dia sendiri explore the surroundings. More palm oil trees and padi bukit planted by her Po-po. She was so absorbed into 'exploring' that she didn't even realize mommy was snapping her photos...hehe...Nasib baik Vanessa didn't ran off to the bushes. Kerja-kerja membersihkan semak-samun ni masih belum siap bah tapi memandangkan hari itu hari Ahad, semua pekerja cuti rehat. :)

Hubby and I always believe that nature is the best teacher. Therefore, we never discourage Vanessa to play outdoor. As with other working parents, it is only during the weekend or holidays that we can take her jalan-jalan. During weekdays, we let her follow her Mama around at the backyard…helping her Mama weeds her plants. Vanessa loves the idea so far. *smile*

I think every parent should know that nature plays an important role in children development, be it intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually or physically. Studies have proven that children with early experiences with the natural world tend to be more imaginative and have stronger sense of wonder. Wonder is one powerful motivator for life long learning.

Lagi pun, experience with nature boleh membantu dalam menyemai perasaan cintakan alam sekitar dalam jiwa anak-anak kita. I totally agree with this quote by Anita Olds, "There's no way that we can help children to learn to love and preserve this planet, if we don't give them direct experiences with the miracles and blessings of nature." Kalau diorang ni tak kenal alam sekitar, siapa lagi yang boleh diharap untuk meneruskan usaha kita untuk melindunginya?

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1 year, 9 months, 1 week and 3 days…

Oh my, we are already in the mid of July. It might sound so cliché but time flies so fast, especially when you are watching your own kid grows. There are times when I found myself wishing daughter Vanessa would grow faster and yet in the same time, I want her to stay as she is. I guess many mothers out there feel the same way about their kids.
Okay, in her 22nd month, Vanessa now weighs 11.5kg and 87.5cm tall. She was such a darling on her recent visit to the clinic, giving the nurse full co-operation. Here are some of the milestones she has reached:-

~ Able to point out body parts
~ Able to identify animals especially domestic ones (anuk = manuk/chicken; ingaw = tingau/cat; abau = kalabau/buffalo; ambing = kambing/goat; utik = putik/duck)
~ Remove her clothes (with help, on the buttons)
~ Brush her teeth (with help)
~ Speaks and be understood most of the time
~ Increase in vocabulary (her current favourite words are, kiu = thank you; tuada=kotohuadan/thank you; apap =hapap/ feet; melo = watermelon; belo = balloon; odop = modop/sleep)
~ Able to make short sentence (Mami balik uda = mummy is back; Au bulih = no can do; kiu Mama = Thank you, Mama)
~ Graduated in potty-learning (but some times she wet her pants juga la… hehe..)

Last week, BIL, his wife and 5 months old baby son came to stay with us for one whole week as his wife had some course to attend in KK. Vanessa was so fond of the baby that she insists to rock him in the cradle. Is this a sign that my daughter is ready for a baby brother or sister? Hehehe…

She wanted to be near her baby cousin all the time, watching him sleeps, bath, feed and even nappy-changing. That last activity brought her to the discovery that her cousin has something she doesn’t. Baby Ivan has a penis. Vanessa seems so concerned and curious about their difference. Since then, I often caught her looking inside her pants checking her private part. I think I should get one of the simple illustrated book to help in explaining the difference in a boy's and girl's anatomy. :)

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Yesterday...

Took the day-off yesterday. In the morning, after I dropped hubby to work I went to do some errands. I went to withdraw the dividend/bonus for my ASB savings. Hehe...not much to withdraw as my savings amount was nothing to shout about. What did I do with the $$$ after that? * evil grin*

Deep at the corner of my mind, I heard Mr Devil whispering: “SHOP! SHOP! SHOP! TILL YOU DROP!!!” Yes, yes, yes! I’ll do that! *grin * Man, I was tempted! Hmmm…being me, I did exactly the opposite. Didn't spent it on a perfume nor did I buy a new pair of shoes. Instead, I paid my PTPTN debt. Am damn serious in reducing a significant amount of it. :) It’s one of my top resolution this year.

Sure, spending the money on things that I’ve been yearning all this time was a piece of cake. But later, I would end-up with a guilty conscience and have trouble sleeping. * sigh * . Ah, that's tooo much to bear.

Went to the Klinik Kesihatan Ibu dan Anak Penampang for daughter’s review in the afternoon. Surprise, surprise…we’re done with the visit in 1 hour. I expected the normal long wait. But, not this time. Must be our lucky day. :) Well, actually our appointment was set at 8am but somehow I thought it was 2pm. Only when the nurse mentioned about it that I realized my mistake. Thought she was going to fuss about it. But nope, that was all she said. She handed us our lucky No. 2. Our wait only lasted for 15 minutes. :) That's a record, my shortest wait ever in gov clinic!

Now at 15 mths, Vanessa weigh 10.24kg and at 83cm tall. She was not in her co-operative mood. She refused to stand still on the scale, so it was impossible to get her weighed. Her height pun agak-agak only. Eventually, we have to strip her down and put her on the digital baby scale. She was smiling from ear to ear...She was amused with the flashing red digits on the scale.

Some of her achievement :-

[1] able to walk well

[2] able to speak, a single syllable at a time. Her vocab include:- ma (referring to her Grandma), my (for Mommy, sound: “meh”), dy (for Daddy, sound : “deh”), tok (for bolitotok aka gecko)…

[3] love to eat mangosteen… :)

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Climbing capers

Since daughter Vanessa was able to walk around and climb 4 months ago, nothing seems safe anymore. As soon a she become mobile, we tucked away all those fragile and dangerous items onto the high shelves and drawers. But now, the things in the drawers are not so safe anymore. We have to chalk the edges so that it won't opened easily when pulled.

My little sumandak

She has not developed stacking skills yet, now can only stand on tip-toe. I know it just a matter of time for her to discover that skill. * sigh* Daughter also loves climbing the sofa. Mom came up with the idea of tying down the sofa cushions to prevent them from falling when pulled. So far, this trick works. Thanks mom for the idea! *hug *

Hmm… since hubby attached a latch (or rather a hook) on the doors, daughter lost her interest in the shoes cabinet..hehe. Before it was latched, she threw all the contents on the floor. Her grandma was so tired of her antic that one day she just let it be. When I came home from work, I almost fainted looking at the mess…Aduss! * a slap on the forehead *

Now her interest has shifted to the house phone. She’ll try to grab the handset at every chance she had. But she won’t utter a sound if you talk to her on the phone. Hmm…it’s time to drill some holes on the wall again, and make a shelf. Year end project for hubby… :p

I’m trying to teach daughter to feed herself. Sure, it’s a messy activity but it’s just something that we, the parents have to grin (or perhaps, grimace) and bear. Just hope for the best. Thank God I got an Indonesia maid now. Mom won’t be that tired looking after Vanessa. I have also started potty training for daughter. She was all hairan when sat on the potty aka tampui yesterday. Haha…can’t wait to see her progress.

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12 months, 2 weeks, 3 days

Daughter Vanessa is officially 12 months old on 05th October. Hehe…looks like I kept postponing this post. Apa-apa pun here it is. Despite being a chubby baby, I must say that daughter develops quite fast, compare to both her cousins that are of same age.

Here, I proudly present her achievement:-

~ weight = 9.67kg, height = 82cm

~ able to walk without support …hmm, not perfectly but yeah, she can walk and now start to run as well :)

~ can climb on the sofa and tackle the stairs…giving us headache..

~ babbles a lot …some time it sounds like – Da-da-da or Ta-ta-ta ; other time, I can't make out of it, I just don't understand baby talk

~ join in the laugh…her laughter sounds so cute that it make us laugh even more…

~ can put her toys inside the box when asked…after a minute or two, one by one it’ll be scattered back on the floor...*sigh*

~ imitate action eg answering the HP (she’ll put anything in her hand onto her ear and pretend it's a HP), whistling (for her, 'ooo-ooo" only la ...), changing the TV channel (she suka-suka press the button, some time ngam juga the channel)

~ imitate sounds eg Grandma coughing, the angsa/goose sound…

~ understands simple requests eg hold out toys, giving a kiss, wave bye-bye, clap her hands & main mata

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