The expert rolls again...

It was a monumental stunt. Valerie was able to roll to her back from her tummy!! I think she got the hang of it and kept turning back and forth.... it was such a sight!!
















My princess' happiness is my bliss.

My roll over expert

After many tries in learning how to turn over on her tummy... Valerie has finally able to turn over by herself today!! Not everytime though, but we've seen it happen a couple of times.

She's been trying to turn herself over the last week or so... but always only able to flip to her side and not totally on to her belly. We've been trying to help her, sometimes just giving a soft push forward and sometimes practically turn her over. She would get very annoyed and frustrated when she's stuck at sideways position. Now, she'll get annoyed again cos she can't turn back form belly position!! Hahahahahaha....

Me in my new car seat... and stroller!

Like my new stroller? It's really big and comfy. And I don't feel hot in it at all. Although it's not a sweet, princess colour which I would prefer, my parents think that it will be a neutral colour for my little brother or sister later on. Oh well, since I'm using it new... doesn't matter.




Don't I look cute? And do you see my friend, Pooh Bear? Guess what is he whispering to me? He's telling me to be brave cause I'll be going in to get my immunization shots... and it's 3 of them!! Yikes!!

New Car seat and stroller

We have finally given up on Combi. Valerie would perspire profusely while in her car seat.... and being summer over here, we're usually in air-conditioned places. But the back of her head would be wet with perspiration and her back would too sometimes... if not, it'll feel hot & warm. Furthermore, her tiny feet was protruding out of the car seat and she seems to be very squashed in it. And it was so difficult to maneuver the stroller, the wheels would be stuck in one position when we try to make a turn, and on certain surfaces, it would just be such an arduous task to push it around.

Finally, we decided that this is just not working for us or for Valerie. Although she has not complained but who would want to see their child being soaked through everytime she's in her car seat? And I get to irritable pushing the stroller that it's just not worth it.

Remember before Valerie was born, Paul & I were debating on 2 particular strollers that we each preferred? Well, this time, Paul won. We returned the Combi and exchanged for the Graco Quattro. Although this is a breeze to push around and Valerie has not perspired much in it, it's disadvantages are still prominent. The stroller is super duper heavy, very strenous to lift it in and out of the trunk. It's 28 freakin pounds as compared to Combi's 13lbs. The car seat is so much more roomier for Valerie, Graco can fit infants up to 30lbs while the standard ones can only fit infants up to 22lbs. But it is bigger in size, heavier in weight and therefore more exhausting to carry around too. And driving an SUV which is higher isn't helpful either.

I guess Paul's wish of me not going out so often has finally come true... hehehhehehehe.... but not while my mom is still around... hahahahahaah.... she's been great help. Didn't want me to strain my C-sect wound, she would be the one lifting Valerie in and out of the car. God bless her heart and her strength too!!

Below is the new Graco stroller... in this exact colour and style. Let's hope that it will be as useful when I bring it back to Singapore. I hope the stroller can fit into our car trunk!!

Sleeping beauty

This is a funny but yet heartaching story. Contradicting isn't it?

For the whole day, Valerie didn't nap much. Probably an hour in the morning and then another hour in the afternoon. But she's been such an angel... she wasn't very fussy, even after the immunization shots yesterday... except for not wanting to be left alone.

After Valerie woke up from her last nap and playing a little while, my mom had Valerie seated on her lap facing outwards while she was sitting at the dining table talking to me. As I prepare for dinner, my mom would entertain Valerie, and being in the kitchen, she' s kind of keeping me company too. Valerie would usually be looking around, playing with her fingers, drooling and just being a contented little girl...sitting on her grandma's lap.

Anyways, the story is... while we were chatting away about some curry spices and not paying much attention to Valerie, my mom suddenly asked me, "Is she asleep?". I looked at Valerie and gasped, "Yes! She's nodding off to sleep while still sitting up". Oh my goodness!! Her head was just nodding and eyes were closed...

My heartached as I carried her and put her down to sleep. She must be so sleepy that she didn't cared what position she was in. But she wasn't fussing either. It must be very comfortable sitting on grandma's mushy lap. Hahhahahaaha..... The after thought was, I chuckled to myself and said, "Shucks... should have gotten the camera out!!" Well... luckily I didn't. Cos what kind of mom would I be if I'd rather take a picture of my sleepy baby than to put her to sleep.

On this similar note, I actually saw a video clip recently of an infant sitting on the floor and nodding himself to sleep and eventually fell over flat on his back. And I was thinking, "What are these parents thinking? They'd rather tape their child's actions instead of putting him to sleep!"

She looked something like that but imagine her head falling forward repeatedly.

A brave little girl

Today was Valerie's 4mth check-up and 2nd set of immunization shots. I wasn't there when she had her 1st set of shots (I was hospitalized with Pneumonia for 1 week). The nurse had 3 needles ready to poke her. I didn't really pay attention to the nurse cos was busy talking to Valerie, trying to calm her. Well... it turned out quite alright. Just a soft cry when she was jabbed, but soon calmed down. Below are the 2 "wounds"from her jabs, 2 on the right thigh and 1 on the left thigh.

Had the shots in the morning, and by early evening, she was as alive as a dragon! The shots don't seem to have any effect on her. No fever, she didn't fuss with discomfort, only had constipation for 3 days... that's all. That's what I call a brave little princess

Happy Independence Day

It's 4th of July today... and we just got back from watching the fireworks at the nearby Surprise Community Park. Yearly the local towns will have fireworks and other forms of celebration (eg. concert bands, food, kid's activities) for the residence. This year, we went with Pa & Ma... and for the first time, my mom and Valerie. It was fun.... not as many bugs as last year... and the fireworks were prettier and nearer than when we watched it at the base last year. Here are some photos....

Fireworks that we got on camera. enjoying the summer wind (mostly hot) with Grandma & Grandpa. Valerie's first Independence Day celebration... and of course it adds extra meaning to this day as she's also an American.