[[image:allie423a.jpg:Buzzy Bee Baby:center:0]] So last year, Allie was semi-kitted out for Halloween, but did not go trick or treating. Last night, the girl got dressed up and ran around outside the house, but we did not actually go trick or treating again. We stayed to hand out candy to a grand total of 4 trick or treaters. We also talked to a “biker” neighbour (complete with earrings and fake tattoo – he was on his way to a Halloween party) and Allie got some candy from him (he brought a basket over and she picked out a packet of M&Ms). But Allie had tons of fun – she loves running down the sloping driveway and making her way back up. In the end we had to carry her down the driveway and let her walk up – she was really trying to run and would happily even roll down the […]
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Allie’s 15 Month Birthday
Dadgummit! Time, wings, and all that. Can you believe Allie is now 15 months old? And this time I didn’t wait weeks before doing her 15-month blog entry. Heh. [[image:allie395a.jpg:Cool cupcake:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for additional captions Allie is fast growing and rapidly developing. New skills are emerging daily, it seems! She walks independently for longer bursts (from one room to another). She’s still a little shaky on stopping without falling over which means that when she takes off, either Vin or me have to run after her to make sure when the walk ends and a fall results, we will catch her if there’s a sharp or hard object waiting to crack open her tender skull. She easily pulls herself to a standing position using furniture (or conveniently placed parents) and is even working to stand by pushing off the floor. This skill is still a work […]
Continue readingAllie’s 14 Month Birthday
I know – I am delinquent. It’s been over two weeks since Allie’s 14 month birthday and I am only finally putting together this entry. I’m terrible. I blame it on a) going back to work full time, and b) doing some travel for work. That just takes a lot out of you! But, whatever my excuses, Allie was 14 months old on September 22nd. [[image:allie375a.jpg:Wassuuuuupppp!!!:center:0]] It was also the first birthday of hers that I had to be at work for (which was a little bit sad, but I realize that it is what it is). My summer break is definitely over, and it is a bit of a shock to be working full time again (I was only working part time prior to that). But it’s also nice to get back in the groove and get out of the house a little. The only down side is that […]
Continue readingSelamat Hari Raya from NJ(??)
Eid Mubarak, and selamat hari raya to all! Vin, Allie and I were out of town for the holidays due to work commitments, but coincidentally, we had a work-related party to go to on the eve of Eid that actually specified that it was a national dress party. So Alllie put on her new baju kurung raya from Opah and Atok, and Vin and I wore our green bajus to match Allie. Here we all are, at Rob’s party. [[image:allie370a.jpg:The Raya family picture:center:0]] Note that in the above, Allie is no longer wearing the skirt of her baju kurung as she kept stepping and tripping on it. But here she is, when she first got ready to go to the party in her full outfit. [[image:allie369a.jpg:Look at my pretty baju kurung!:center:0]] Gnarly party last night, thanks for having us Rob! Maaf zahir batin to all! And to Yope Irfan, a […]
Continue readingAllie’s 13 Month Birthday
Behold, a mosquito bit the 13-month-old Allie’s cheek! [[image:allie361a.jpg:Mozzie bit me!:center:0]] Allie was 13 months old last Saturday August 22nd, also the first day of Ramadhan. She’s had another month of a full-time Mama since I am still in-between projects. And today, Allie is 13 months and 6 days old and it is the last day of my “summer break”. Both sad and glad about it. 🙂 Anyway, another action-packed month has passed by! I can’t believe that even without work, our days are so full and busy, and time still flies like nobody’s business! Allie has been busy growing and exploring her world. She is a pretty fast crawler, and is pulling herself up on furniture, and especially loves to run around the house holding our hands (which is terrible for our backs!). She’s still a little scared to try standing and walking without support, but we think she […]
Continue readingThe one with the birthday cake
Since there has been a demand for cake, here it is!! [[image:allie330a.jpg:Let them eat cake!:center:0]] * Please mouse over the pictures for captions On Sunday, July 26th, we held a small gathering, a cookout and potluck to celebrate Allie’s first birthday. Guests include a few members of Vin’s baseball team (the team conveniently played their Sunday morning game at the local high school a block away), some of our neighbors, and a few friends. Even though it rained the day before, Sunday was a gorgeous sunny day. [[image:allie328a.jpg:Guests at the cookout with Allie in her high chair:center:0]] Vin played baseball then came home and straight away lit the grill and commenced barbecueing. Burgers, hot dogs and chicken were the meats, while I’d prepared a couple of side dishes.The neighbors brought food and drink as well as presents for the birthday girl! Allie also ate her lunch while everyone mingled: [[image:allie329a.jpg:Picnic […]
Continue readingThe one with the birthday crepes
Two days after Allie’s first birthday was Vin’s birthday! And since it was his day, he got to pick what he wanted as his birthday treat and he chose crepes. This is my first attempt at making crepes, but I gave it a shot! But first, Allie takes a shot at Lily. [[image:crepe01.jpg:Allie goes after Lily!:center:0]] The recipe was obtained from here, (thanks Alton Brown), where I used his Sweet Crepes recipe. I substituted lime juice for the liqueur. After the dough rested for an hour, I commenced frying up the crepe. The first one was a bit sad – full of holes. More like Roti Jala than crepes… [[image:crepe02.jpg:Holy crepe, Batman!:center:0]] [[image:crepe04.jpg:First crepe ended up a little over crispy too:center:0]] For filling, I made a dark chocolate sauce: [[image:crepe03.jpg:Dark chocolate sauce:center:0]] Allie kept watch to make sure Mama didn’t make (m)any mistakes: [[image:crepe06.jpg:You can do it, Mama!:center:0]] I thought […]
Continue readingAllie’s 12 Month (aka First) Birthday
Can you believe it???? Allie had her very first birthday, and turned a YEAR old last Wednesday, July 22! [[image:allie312a.jpg:Hellooooooo I’m 1!!!!:center:0]] Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to Allieeeeee,Happy birthday to youuuuuu Many thanks to everyone who called/emailed/sent presents/cards/ecards/facebooked/forummed and even blogged birthday wishes for Allie! It made us all very happy and we thank you for your wonderful wishes. *As always, please mouse over the pictures for captions. This last month has seriously flown by! I’m in-between projects so have been able to spend a lot of time with Allie and her Papa! No pesky work to get in the way! Teehee! And Allie has come so far! She has two teeth now (doubled her teeth total in one month!), commando-crawls forward especially in hot pursuit of Lily the cat, strides purposefully if you hold her hands and help her, and she even kicks […]
Continue readingAllie’s 11 Month Birthday
Well, somebody’s pleased to be 11 months old!! [[image:allie297a.jpg:Wheee! I’m almost a year old!:center:0]] 🙂 That’s right, the girl was 11 months old last Monday, June 22, 2009. Another fun-filled month has gone by. It seems like I plan to do so much, but then suddenly it’s 8 PM, Allie’s bedtime and the day is done! And she is now 11 months and 6 days old. She sleeps through the night, enjoys music, and seems to be paying attention to the commercials on TV. She still has one tooth (but goodness, it is sharp!) although it looks like others may be coming soon. Allie is growing fast. She can now pull herself to a standing position if we give her a hand, and she is learning to balance and stands with little help. She can lean her back against the sofa and stand while holding objects in her hands. She […]
Continue readingBelated Happy Father’s Day!!
Sunday was Vin’s very first Father’s Day! I wasn’t on the ball enough to have gotten him a card, but Allie and I did pick out a couple of gifts for him (which arrived early so Allie was able to model them for Vin on Father’s Day). 🙂 Happy Father’s Day, babe!!! You are the best Papa anyone could ask for, and we both love you. [[image:allie277a.jpg:Happy Father’s Day, Papa! (And Hippos Go BERSERRRRRRRK):center:0]] [[image:allie276a.jpg:Loooooove Papa:center:0]] Note: Allie is wearing her new pink Chicago Cubs official onesie (Papa’s Father’s day gift). Also, a Happy Belated Father’s Day to Abah, Yope and all you awesome dads out there!!!
Continue readingAllie’s 10 Month Birthday
My goodness, I can’t believe that is is already June. Allie was 10 months old on May 22nd, and yes, I know it is now June but here it is, Allie’s 10-month birthday post. It’s later than it usually is because the month of May has been very busy for our little family. So let’s get to it. Allie is 10 months and 11 days old today! 45 weeks! She has been ex-utero longer now than she was in-utero. She sleeps through the night most nights and has a grand total of one tooth! Wheeeeee! [[image:allie264a.jpg:Blueberry-stained and happy:center:0]] Can you see the tooth in the picture above? Allie’s personality is definitely becoming more and more defined. She is mostly easy-going and easy to please. She sits by herself to play often, and loves to be read to and sung to. She now stands (with help) and “dances” to the Bingo […]
Continue readingAllie’s 9 Month Birthday
I feel like a broken record, but it’s true, time has passed so very quickly. Unbeknownst to us (seemingly), 40 weeks have passed. Allie has now been ex utero as long as she was in utero. She was 9 months old last Wednesday, April 22nd! So it makes her now, 9 months and 1 week old today. 40 weeks altogether. Woo! Her personality shines through strongly, and she most definitely is her own person with definite thoughts in her head about what she likes/dislikes, what she wants and when she wants it. It really is a balancing act to love her and give her everything, without becoming over-indulgent. Plus when she bats those eyelids of hers and smiles, how can we resist? 😉 [[image:allie236a.jpg:9-month-old Allie cons the ‘rents:center:0]] Before Allie was born, I thought that she would be the most important thing to us, and that we would love her […]
Continue readingHold the applause, please
So, she put her hands together and clapped her hands. She makes a little clapping noise and everything. She started it on her own on Saturday (April 4th), and has been happily clapping her hands since then. [[image:allie222a.jpg:Clap!:center:0]] [[image:allie223a.jpg:Clap again!:center:0]] Vin and I really didn’t try to actively teach Allie to clap her hands. We only spottily sang “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands”. Somehow, she figured it out. Allie had been banging two objects together (one in each hand) for weeks now, and had also been holding my hands and making them clap together. Maybe it was research? Whatever the case, let’s sing together and Allie will clap: Tepuk amai-amaiBelalang kupu-kupuTepuk Alya pandaiMama upah susu OK. Now you may applaud. 🙂
Continue readingAllie’s 8 Month Birthday
This past month has also gone by in a whirlwind. I can’t believe it, but Allie is now 8 months old (last Sunday, March 22)! She’s just continuing to grow and develop before our eyes, and we feel blessed to have her in our lives. [[image:allie198a.jpg:The birthday girl:center:0]] Allie sits like a professional now, able to balance while she plays with her toys, reaching with impressive yoga-like stretching ability to pick up the toys that she has thrown everywhere. She expresses her emotions in so many different ways (not just crying). She giggles and squeals, hugs and kisses, and kicks her feet happily. She loves peekaboo, and loves to run around in the house in our arms, chasing and being chased by each other. She rolls all around the floor as her means of “crawling” – she does get where she wants to go! When she sees you walk in […]
Continue readingAllie’s 7 Month Birthday
Last Sunday, February 22, Allie was seven months old. I know I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by, and that it is already March 1st. How did that happen? It feels like we just celebrated the new year, no? And I don’t mean Chinese New Year, either. I mean Times Square, ball dropping, happy 2009! I am hardly even used to writing “09” on my checks (cheques to us Malaysians) and it is already March. 🙂 [[image:allie186a.jpg:Reaching for the camera:center:0]] At any rate, Allie has progressed further in this last month. We are done with reading stories from the Crab Orchard Review at bedtime. Now we are reading another short story anthology (I forget what year the book covers but I know that Michael Chabon edited it). For the most part, Allie sleeps well – from her 8 PM bedtime to 6:30 AM, with usually only one night-time […]
Continue readingA Visitor!
During the time of the big hu-ha (laptop dying + snowfall + sad miserable cold Sila), we had a welcome visitor here in Southwestern Ohio! Unfortunately, the weather being what it was, we were unable to take our visitor out to sight-see very much. We decided instead to relax indoors. Allie got along well with Flat Cavebaby: [[image:cavebaby1.jpg:Allie posing with Kakak Flat Cavebaby:center:0]] Allie enjoys “tummy-time” with Flat Cavebaby: [[image:cavebaby2.jpg:Allie demonstrates being on her tummy for Kakak Flat Cavebaby:center:0]] [[image:cavebaby5.jpg:Kakak Flat Cavebaby, Allie and Lulu hold hands and sing Kumbaya:center:0]] Cavebaby is very excited that snow is falling: [[image:cavebaby4.jpg:Snow falling on the back deck:center:0]] Too bad Auntie Sila is grumpy and hates the cold. By the way, it was way below freezing and the snow just keeps falling and falling. Grumpity grump! This is not really normal weather for Southwestern Ohio. We get some snow, yes, but the weather does […]
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