Bloom and Teeny Weeny Photo Shoot (Overdue post)

After getting pregnant a second time, I wasted no time in telling hubby that I wanted to have a maternity photo shoot. The photo shoot would entail some artistic bare it all shots. Hubby was of course apprehensive at first until I told him that I will try to choose a studio with a female photographer. What I wanted to do was to capture the rare moments of a stretched tummy with a baby inside and of course while my skin is still smooth...  

I shortlisted a few photo studios which were known to take really nice maternity photos and studios or free lancers who have just joined this lucrative business. As I was looking around, the Parenthood Fair came along and one of my top choice studio actually had a promo! As luck would have it, I only needed to pay $500 for maternity and newborn photo shoot! I slept over it for a week (since it was announced on the studio's facebook page) and decided to just go ahead with it. The studio had at that time also published their new rates card and the package was really a "not to be missed!". Got my sister to go down to the fair with me just so I can book the package and appointments. Hubby was overseas then and it was quite a feat trying to book an appointment that would fit his schedule. 

My studio of choice was (drum rollssss.....) The Studio Loft! I have always admired the photos on their Facebook page after knowing about them through my colleague who took family photos with them. There was just something that struck a cord with me - what I can't really tell. All I can say is I really love the photos. :p

The maternity photo shoot was enjoyable. I wanted to be a little more adventurous but I guess I got conscious because my older daughter was with me. I didn't want her to have the impression that it is perfectly ok to take photos without clothes (not that the poses were raunchy or that she will understand that I was taking it to remember the big tummy). 

The newborn photo shoot on the other hand was quite difficult. Baby M fussed for quite a bit and was not really co-operative - wanting to latch and latch and latch... It was really stressful and I really hated the first half of the photo shoot. My worry was that none of the photos were going to turn out right. That said Maryann was really calm and cool in handling babies (being a mother herself) and managed to take many pretty shots (yes I wanted to buy all but hubby the disciplined one said no. *bleah*). And there was Joanne who was there to lighten the mood and keep N in a perky mood for the sisters' portion. :)

It was a great experience and I would surely go back for another one if I were to get pregnant again. 

It's time for the reveal (do not worry... no NC16 or M18 photos will be posted here)...

The Bloom Shoot 

This is my favourite! N looking so sweet isn't it?

The Teeny Weeny Shoot 

Pardon me... But hubby wanted this finger sucking photo... :p

Aren't tiny feet cute?

The sleeping child...

That sweet smile

The sisters!!!

Love how the two of them look in this photo...

Angels...

 Papa Mama & Baby M 

Just the girls and I...

 Realised that this looks so much like the photo of me and the girls! *faint*

Baby M's swimming...

It's been almost a month since my last post! Time really flies and with two, the reality is I have lesser and lesser time to log in to blog...

Baby M is almost 5 months old (one more week left). At around 4 months plus, we decided it was time to expose her to "swimming" in a tub. The baby spa at Habourfront is still run by the same company and the aunty who helped N with her first swim was still there at the outlet.What was different was the price (from $26 per session it has increased to $38 (?)). They have also changed their single tubs - there is jacuzzi (bubbling water) and you can see baby legs kicking in the water through the "fish tank" side. There was also a bigger pool which can accomodate up to 3 babies at a time.

What I understand is that first and second timers will "swim" in the single tub to get them used to the float and kicking around in deep water... Subsequent sessions would require babies to be "upgraded" to the huge tub for them to socialise with other swimming babies.

Here are some photos of  Baby M enjoying herself in the tub...

Side view of the tub...

The excited big sister encouraging baby M...

Looking at jiejie... :)

Smiling while kicking away in the tub...

 

 

My new shoes!!!

Have been eyeing this pair of Crocs for the little gal for quite a while. It went out of stock from my friend's BP and it was dissapointing!

Luckily, the lil gal's 姨姨 (little aunt) workplace oragnised a basar. Though more expensive than the BP, it's still cheaper than buying from Crocs store. Since her shoes usually last for quite some time, it should be worth every penny. :p

Thanks to 姨姨，here is her loving the pair of ladybug shoes and with her favie umbrella...

Zoo zoo zoo!!!

The lil gal went to the zoo today. It's an excursion organized by her childcare centre.

The weather was pretty hot with the sun but I was glad it didn't rain. The little gal got to catch up with the orang utan, monkeys, snakes, zebra, giraffes, lion, leopards, etc. This time there was also the penguin enclosure which had re-opened.

Mama got to feed the giraffes bcos the lil gal refused! -_-" we manage to watch the rainforest show which features the spider monkey, orang utans and others. We headed home eventually with the lil gal falling asleep in the car all the way home...

Here's a pic of her with the "seals"...

Testing out the new iPhone blogger app!

Finally chanced a new Blooger app by Google for iPhone! And it's FREE! (double delight!)

Since we are talking abt technology/programs, hubby recently got an iPad2. And the little gal is of course happily enjoying the big screen and the apps that are available in iPad... ;p

Manage to catch a picture of her hard at work - playing the puzzle game - Tozzle. It's a program which Jinny introduced and it keeps her entertained. What I do not like about iPhone and iPad is she gets addicted (keeps whining to daddy for the 电脑！). My worst fears is she looks at the screen too closely and may need to wear specs at a tender age...

Well, got to keep reminding myself to balance out the use of technology! :)

The small things in life...

There is an unknown attraction between the little girl and the MRT. She gets all excited when it comes to taking a ride in the air-conditioned train... Maybe it's a novelty to scan the ez-link card and see the gates open... She got her fix on Sunday. One day before, she tried desperately to convince daddy that it is absolutely OK for him to take her on an MRT ride without mummy since mummy does not have her ezlink card (what more can I say right?).

Isn't it true that some small things in life can make one happy?  

The novelty of scanning the ez-link card... ;p

Kids and cold stuff... I remember loving ice-cream and yakult. This is totally random because I did not know that Ikea was giving away a soft-serve with every kids meal purchased! The cashier gave us a token and a cone. The machine is easy to use but I have serious doubts about the hygiene... ;p

 

Holding on to the ice-cream and trying to keep daddy and mummy distracted... 

*you cannot see the soft serve in my hands... you cannot see....* :p

 

Jacob Ballas Children Garden...

It's been such a long time since I blogged. I read in a parenthood magazine about stolen identities and how a blog exposes private life for everyone to see... So got a bit scared and took off the blog into a "private space". Nevertheless, without the blog, it seems I have stopped tracking the little one's growing up proccess... How could I do that?

It's been 3 months since the last blog. Recently, her school had an outing to Botanic Gardens - Jacob Ballas Children Garden. She had missed this little outing as she came down with fever and lack of appetite. Hubby and I decided to bring her there on a Sunday. The map of the garden can be found here (http://www.sbg.org.sg/bukittimahcore/images/map.jpg)

The Jacob Ballas Children Garden is a small cut out of the bigger Botanic Gardens. Abeit the lack of care in certain parts of the garden (such as the water plant section), it can be an educational place for the little ones to explore the different plants - the "Touch Me Nots", spices (such as Pandan, lemon grass, lime plants). The banana tree was flowering when we were there! :)

There are physical activities which kids can explore there! The sand playground (which we skipped as time was running out), waterplay area (small, we also skipped as we did not bring spare clothes or towels), tree playground (for active kids to climb around, features very long enclosed slides) and of course the suspension bridge!

Well here are some photos!

Stacko Queen?

It's December and papa does not need to go to work early. Hence the little one has a little more time to spend at home. I can confirm that we do not have as much toys as my mother-in-law's hence she decided to improvise...

As papa says "I am the Queen of Stacko!!!" 8 cans of softdrinks!

Let me build another softdrink can tower! : )

Seven cans so far...

Eight! Just nice!!!

I am 2 years old!!!

The little girl is finally 2 years old! A bundle of energy and wit, a curious little tot who is well loved by all close to her...


Papa and Mama decided to throw her a little birthday party at Beng Hiang Restaurant. It's a cosy restaurant that serves pretty good and reasonably priced Hokkien cuisine. When you celebrate a birthday there, the restaurant will play a "birthday" song (both in English and Chinese) that can be heard by all the diners there.


Here are some pictures to commemorate the special day. :)

* Cheeky smiles all around! 

The Swensens Mickey Mouse Cake 

(This cake has a long story behind it. On the Thursday before the celebration, I went down to Earle Swensens @ Vivo and was told I could not order a cake as they needed 3 working days (which excludes Saturday). Made a mental note that the outlet had the above design but KIVed to reserve it as I hoped the outlet at Bishan would have the same. The Bishan outlet only had xmas log cakes so I quickly called Vivo Earle Swensens to book the cake (above design) for collection on Friday evening - the manager said the cake was available and would place the reservation for me. Was so busy on Friday evening I could not go to collect the cake, tried calling them for close to 10 times and only got the fax tone. On Saturday morning, called the Vivo outlet and was on the phone for almost 5 minutes because the girl could not understand what I was trying to ask her and she took another 3 minutes to take down my phone number. She claims that their phone a bit spoilt!?!! Finally the manager of Vivo Earle Swensens called me back and the earth shattering news: There was no cake reserved under my name and the cake I reserved was not in the fridge already! He offered for me to buy the last Mickey cake and only admitted that the cake's icing was warped after I asked him about it (I already noticed it during my visit on Thurs). He was apologetic and asked me to try the Swensens outlet at Nex. So poor me, ran to the outlet at Ion but did not see any Mickey cakes. Called Nex and placed a booking. Took a train down to that mad house shopping centre to get the cake. Luckily, the little gal loved the cake and so did everyone who was there... On a serious note, I am really disgusted by this whole experience.)

Had a seriously hard time trying to keep her hands off the cake! -__-"

Birthday Girl with Birthday Uncle! 
(PS: The little girl was perhaps feeling a little "paiseh" because the diners next door was singing the "happy birthday" song too! She blew out the two candles on her own too! Well done! :p )

The family (Erhmm... papa anxiously staring at the cake?) 

The two "shou xin gong"s cute the cake together... 

Eyes on the cake! (PS: Mama not so evil to get a cake she can't eat. Haha!)

Evidence: Ah ma feeding her with the cake! Yummy!

What's been up these days?

Coming close to 24 months, the little bundle has changed so much! Becoming more outspoken, she tries to converse with the adults in sentences! Although sometimes we cannot figure what she is trying to say, it's still cute. She also loves saying "hello" to kids about her age.
The witty little girl was quick to learn that adding the word "please" to her requests would gain her faster access to what she wants. And I am quite pleased that she can actually recognise the faces that she does not see on a very regular basis...

Here are some photos of what she has been up to these days...

Say "CHEERS!!!!"

Happiest with Papa!

 Little gal: Let me count... I have... 1...2...3...4...5!!!!

@ Clarke Quay with mama...

Happy walking @ Riverside!

Splashing FUN!!!



Opps... caught tasting water!!!

 Splashing good time @ JOM Clubhouse!

Mid Autumn Festival!

Little one has her hands full this year!!!

Da Yi (Mum's elder sister) and Ah Ma decided to buy her a lantern each... So she has two that has lights and music. Da Yi's lantern is a lion dance theme while Ah Ma's is a cute dolphin doing stuns with the hula hoop. We came back home late and found many kids and their parents downstairs!!! All of them were armed with lanterns, sparkles and candles...

The whole area was so smoky but little girl was immensely attracted to the buzz. Papa rushed up to collect her two lanterns while she walked amongst the kids who were burning every candle they have in the box (and placing them on the floor of the MPH.

A nice father let Nic hold the traditional gold fish lantern. The little girl did something unexpected though, she placed the lantern on the floor, pointed to the inside of the lantern and made some noise. The nice father then asked her "U want a new candle?". Trust the little one to "complain" as the candle was burning out. So the sweet nieghbour changed the candle for her and after holding the lantern for less than 5 minutes, she did not want the lantern anymore!

Papa finally arrived with the lanterns and the little one stunned everyone with her funny antics by "walking" the lanterns.

Round 1: Happy to be with the rest of the kids in the neighbourhood

Round 2: Sparkles with my very own neighbour!!! This is my favourite photo and the only one Papa captured of the little one playing with the beautiful sparkles... :)