Our mother & daughter photoshoot with The Studio Loft

I finally can strike off 1 item off our Mother / Daughter bucket list.

• Photo shoot with Danielle!

Ever since I'm hooked to Pinterest, I've seen many beautiful and precious photos of newborn. So when I delivered Dani and wanted to book a newborn shoot for her.

But.. I'm staying with my in-laws and our place is not ready yet hence it's not very nice to shoot especially when there is space limitation. So I skipped the idea.

When Dani is about 3 mths old, I called a few studio to check out their rates and find that Studio Loft is pretty reasonable. So thought of giving it a try, however they said that Dani's age is either here or there. Too old for newborn shots and too young for the slightly older babies shoot (6 ~7 mths and above).

So I waited and waited and finally during Oct in Baby Market, I signed up the package with Studio Loft.  Which cost me $550 for 1 session of Little Big Shot & CD for all the images back.

And I'm amazed by the results~~~~~

These ladies are really wonderful with babies!! I like to think that they are baby whisper! Hehehe

These are some of my favorite shot!!

Now I'm hoping to convince hubs to join us for the next family portrait!!!

Did I mention that within my package I've 2 - 5 prints out and 3 diamond acrylic block!! Can't wait to receive them!!!

TGIF!!! 

Can't wait for the short getaway that hub & me is going soon!

Xoxo,

Felicia 

Baby Milestones

Many people has been telling me that after babies pass certain months, things will get better.

Well, it does!! But there are times when I miss the newborn days.. where all they do is eat and sleep!!! *Shiok*

Now that Danielle is almost 7 months old.. she is a joy to watch and she has been hitting all her milestones.. (I'm a proud mama!! ^_~)

Smiling and coooing at us when Danielle is 11 weeks old

By the time she is 3 mths plus, she knows how to smile at us.. though I think she is trying to recongize ppl. Starting to make baby sounds

At 3+ - 4 months old, she knows how to flip over and have tummy time.. and shortly after she knows how to use her arm strength and lift her head up!

By the time she is 5 mths plus, she starts to sleep longer.. and finally she is able to sleep thru the night and only wakes up around 5- 6 am for milk.. 

We start to give her solid food at 5.5mths.. and trust me, she loves food!! Except those Heinz baby food. She hates it!!

At 6 mths old, she start to show signs of teething and is able to sit up without support (for a short while).

I think there is a day where she utter, "ahhh mamama"!!! I heard it and I almost jump for joy!! My baby call me!!!! ^_^v

Now we are waiting for her to start crawling and walking.. 

In just a blink of an eye... my baby has grown so much!!!

Xoxoxo,
A proud mama

Too cute for words

 A child is every mother's obsession... so I falls into that category.

Danielle is growing up pretty well.. Hit all her tiny little baby milestones~~ I'm a proud mama when I see her flip over to have tummy time and when she starts holding toys, soft books and her milk bottle!

I will protect you till you're grown and then I will let you fly free. But loving you, that is for always.

Just had a monthly vaccination with her PD at SBCC Gleneagles! Dr Tan gave us the go ahead to feed her baby food!!! Yeah~~

I can't wait to feed her apple pureed!! 

So last weekend, I decided to let her try out Apple Puree.

Seeing her expression, makes me lol!!! I'm such an evil mother...

Tasting the apple puree in her mouth

She gives me this expression cause the apple taste abit sour!! Cuteness overload lah..

Okay, maybe it's just me who finds that my daughter is super cute!!!! Hahahahaha

Now that she starts to eat abit of solid food, it's so much fun! I can't wait to give her pear flavor puree. See if she likes it.

And we bought her to her first swim at BabySpa @ Westgate.

It's damn cute to see babies swim and do you know that babies are naturally a swimmer??!! Plus all babies love being in water!!! I think my girl might be a mermaid in her previous life.. hehehhe

See that she enjoys being in the water soooo much!! 

Its a pity that she can only be in the waters for 20 mins cause it's her first time. Something to do with, wanting the baby to get use to be in water and wearing the neck float.

I'm kinda tempted to sign the package with Babyspa though. They have a 10 session package @ $350.

Well, if I can find a good and cheap 1 hand fold stroller.. I wouldn't mind bringing her to the Babyspa every weekend...

So right now, I'm waiting for Baby Fairs to start. Heard that Aug & Oct there is one coming.

Hoping that they will have vendors selling baby strollers that accept trade ins.

Can't wait to knock off from work and get home asasp to Dani girl..

Xoxoxo,
Felicia 

Babies don't Keep..

A poem from Ruth Hulburt Hamilton depicts motherhood..

To remind me that as a Mother.. I have to place Danielle first and let the rest (unimportant stuffs) go...

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,Hang out the washing and butter the bread,Sew on a button and make up a bed.Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).Dishes are waiting and bills are past due(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stewAnd out in the yard there's a hullabalooBut I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.

Taken when Danielle is around 2 months plus

I do agree that as a new mum.. I'm still trying to balance out my own needs and my baby's needs.

See, I've been me for the past 29 years. All these while, I've been taking care of my own needs and wants.
And now that I've Danielle.. I've to learn to put her needs and wants before myself.

This is something that I have to learn. Cause there are time where I still wish to go holiday alone without her.
(Sounds like I'm a bad mum eh..)

When that little thought cross my mind,  wondering if I can go holiday and leave Danielle with her nanny?? I will take her pictures out and see. See that she has grown so much over the span of 4 months, make me let go of the thought of gg away.

Cause I don't want to miss every milestone and achievement that she has hit. Babies don't keep.

You will always be Daddy's Girl & Mummy's World

Taken when Danielle is 4 and half months old

 Right now, this girl is able to flip over to her tummy and lift up her head high.
Able to hold her own milk bottle (for a little while)
She is also starting to recognize places and people. She knows where is her infant care, her nanny place.
She knows that these places are where we place her in the daytime so that mummy and daddy can go to work.

I felt miserable that her nanny / ah gong / ah ma even daddy is bonding with her much more than me. Esp this whole week cause it's the peak season at office.

Tomorrow is Saturday, decided to forgo yoga this week so that I can spend the weekends with her.

Can't wait to bring her out for walks and spend some bonding time at home! Going to stock up some pictures books and gonna read to her!!

Have a great week!!

Xoxo,
Felicia

During my Maternity Leave

When I'm about to give birth, I planned to take 3.5 months of ML cause I thought that its good to leave 2 weeks of ML for any unforeseen circumstances. However this plan was out cause I give birth 3 weeks earlier than my EDD.

So I end up took 4 months & 3 days of Maternity Leave.

For the 1st month.. its Confinement Period. 

I cater Confinement Food

Those necessary tonics that postpartum ladies has to consume

Looking after this little joy

See how much she has grown...

I still look bloated after giving birth

Yes,  I'm a cow!!! I managed to express about 100 - 150ml of milk.
Now it's a different story.

Means that I can't leave the house, I can't bathe in normal shower water, I can't drink cold drinks nor can I eat normal food.

I can only wear long pants at home... wear bedroom slippers, tie my hair up everyday cause I can't wash my hair. Eat those food that has vinegar and ginger. My only joy?! When I have to bring Danielle back to her PD for review and vaccinations and when I go for my post natal check up.

My confinement month passes by with much difficulties in the beginning but I'm thankful that helping hands was given!!! Super super thankful.

2nd month of maternity leave...

Continue to enjoy my confinement food.

Change my hairstyle and I hate it!

Danielle's full month!!

Ai yo.. Little Miss Botak!

Danielle's gift!!

Her 2nd visit to PD

We invested in Ergobaby carrier

I think she is getting use to her new hairstyle

A selfie with Dani girl

I still prefer this hairstyle

I basically continue to confine at home cause my Danielle is still quite young so we didn't dare to venture out much. Only once in a while.. Though I did have a few days to do my errands cause Hubs has a week of holiday and he gladly helped me to look after baby while I was out!

3rd month of maternity leave...

I decided that 2 months of confining at home is enough. In order to keep my sane... I decided to bring Danielle out. As that time I still have a maid so it's pretty easy for me to bring Danielle out. Just that I need to reach home by 6.30pm. 

Bought her out to Plaza Sing for lunch

Someone is getting abit chubby!

Had movie date night with hubs

I love Dim Sum

Danielle.. not so much but she managed to sleep in the noisy restaurant.

Meet my gf, A for brunch. She is gonna due anytime soon

Dani girl bonding with ah ma

4th month of maternity leave..

Ever since she enter infant care, I buy more of such PJs for Dani

My best purchase from TB. Fisher-Price Seahorse

My smiley baby even when she is having a fever

We admitted her cause her temp reading hit 38.4

By this month, we've sent our maid back for good. And Danielle has started her Infant Care. So weekdays afternoon is free time for me. I managed to do my nails, spa, shopping and even movie time! Meet up with S most of the time cause she has lots of leave to clear. Went for high tea and shopping but it's too bad that each time our shopping trip has to end by 5.30pm - 6pm. Cause I will need to rush back home to fetch Danielle by 6.45pm the latest.

Actually I can fetch her at 7pm but I realised that most parents start to pick their kids up around 6pm - 6.45pm so I don't want Danielle to be the last one to be picked up. I know that kind of feeling when you see all your friends are being pick up by their parents and yours haven't.

The first 2 weeks of May went by fine.. Mid of week of the 3rd week, Danielle has a fever! I tried to nurse her thru the first day and second day, her temp is still running high till the infant care reject her.

Poor girl..

We admitted her in the hospital when her temperature hit 38.4 - 38.7. Stay in for 3D2N. Hospital Bill cost be $2.9K. Thank god, I'm still on maternity leave and luckily I purchase health insurance for Dani girl...

Now she is fine and back to her smiley active self!

And tomorrow I'm gonna resume back work!

Hopefully the transition will be a smooth one! Tough to head back to work after 4 months break.
I can't seems to recall my password for office use... =P

Have a great Sunday!

Xoxoxo,
Felicia