Week 106 and Week 19.5 - The Circle of Whys.

Charlotte has begun as of this week the Circle of Whys.  This is of course the inevitable milestone where every answer you give is responded with yet another "why".  It is still cute but I am certain will soon cross over to the realm of the annoying rather shortly.

I have forgotten to mention that Matt has masterminded a new bedtime routine for Charlotte.  She decides what she wants to sleep with (Turtle!  Baby!  Owl!  Angry Bird!).  Then she decides what books she will sleep with.  Then she gets comfy on her pillow (that is the width of her crib) and asks Daddy for a blanket.  She thumbs through the books for a minute, Daddy turns off the light, then she rolls over and goes to sleep!  It is cute.

Char is not napping through her days though.  Maybe half the time.

Charlotte is also talking a lot.  Imee was going to put clothes on her and she says "that is a little big."  Which means not only does she know the concept of big, but of varying degrees of big.  Impressive.

Sophia grabbed the bottle this week.  I don't think Char did this till she was a year old!

Sophia got her jabs last Wednesday and was pooping a lot and maybe had signs of an upset stomach.  She was inconsolable on Saturday night.  Inconsolable!  I don't know why - slow milk from breastfeeding, upset stomach?  We thawed out some expressed milk and gave it to her and she slept for 10 hours!  This week she has been sleeping 10 hours a couple of nights and been getting up at five for several nights.  Could this be the four month sleep regression?

I can see the end of exclusive breastfeeding is near.  I wanted to make it 6 months but it is literally all I do - to the detriment of any paper filing or other things around the house that need to get done.  Off to the lactation consultant tomorrow - but needless to say I am really, really tired.

On a more social note we went to Traejan's birthday party this weekend.  He is such a sweet baby!  And Marlon and Christine were nice to let Char be so active in the gift opening....

One day I can get both kids to look at the camera:


Charlotte laughs at Tita Monica:


With the help of clever Imee, TT finally looks at the camera!


Charlotte likes to fly!


I was surprised to see Char climb this on her own:


Christine and Traejan:


Cute Trae:


Sophia enjoys reading:


And balls:


Char likes balls too:




This came in the mail this week as a free sample.  It is destiny!

Week 105 and Week 18.5 - Charlotte's Birthday

I took so many pictures last week it has taken ages to upload.  But what a great week!

Charlotte turned 2.  She opened presents with enthusiasm (her first event where this was the case).  We took her to the Tanjong Beach Club for brunch and were greeted with great weather.  Charlotte swam with her grandma.  We then invited TT over for some amazing lemon curd cake featuring Hello Kitty.  Charlotte opened a few presents (Diggers!  An Etch a Sketch!  A scooter!  Thanks to everyone!)  Then everyone went down for a nap.  We woke up and spent time with the twins (Lilly and Gwen) for their birthday party.   A second round of swimming commenced - but Charlotte was intimidated by the boy fueled rambunctiousness.

That night Imee came back and the next morning Grandma left.

We have settled back into a routine - Sophia getting attacked by bugs, Charlotte talking up a storm.

We went to a lovely wedding party of our friends Zeina and Nick.  Sophia joined us as she goes everywhere I go.

Everyone got jabbed today.   Sophia has a fever as a result :(.

Matt just asked Charlotte what the doctor's name was and she responded "It's... DOCTOR!"

So it has been busy and fun.

Charlotte in the park:

At Tanjong Beach Club:

Lukewarm on her crown:

Figure out the cap:

Great Daddy pic!

Birthday girl with Daddy and Grandma:

Birthday girl with Mommy and Sophia:

With Grandma in the pool:

Hello Kitty cake (courtesy of the lovely and talented Kim Stamper!):

TT and Uncle Matt:

(Flashdance) Yum!

Learning the nuances of the Etch-A-Sketch (shockingly still made in America by the way):

 

With scooter!

The lovely Kirbys!

Charlotte gets to blow out candles too!

Char unsure of the pool shenanigans:

The lovely Zeina and Nick:

 

Sophia's first wedding provided much distraction:

 

Sophia shows off her bug bites (!) and her legs:

Sophia asleep:

And awake:

And the videos:

Char blows out her birthday candles!

 Char dances the cabbage patch:

Char and TT dance to Stevie Wonder:

Char plays with her birthday digger:

Char in the pool of chaos:

Week 104 and Week 17.5

I am a day late this week as DH had to use the camera and I was off-kilter being out of my creative Wednesday routine.  Some unkind words were exchanged.  Attempts at uploading via Dropbox commenced.  Laughter ensued.  All is better - but please don't take my camera away on Wednesdays!

This week we asked Charlotte where her Yaya was and she responded "Philippines."  How does she know this? 

Sophia is 4.94 kg this week and I think I am tuning out the growth charts from now on.  I am relieved to learn that Matt and Laurie were little babies (and are big and normal adults).  I am debating starting solids early but have realized that breastmilk is more calorie dense than carrots or prunes or other starter foods (although I did not check rice cereal).

Sophia rolled over front to back on April 10.  I am with her almost every minute of her waking day and yes, I missed it (but Grandma did not). 

This week I took Grandma Kathy (and met Clarice and Olivia) to the Afternoon Tea at the Ritz-Carlton and it was divine.  A different experience from the weekend buffet but satisfying (and gluttonous!) nonetheless.  This is one of the few places were they serve petit fours type desserts that don't all taste bland or crappy. 

We colored Easter eggs with TT (Charlotte's first time) and I made dirt cupcakes with faux garden vegetables made out of Starburst.  Kind of Pinteresting!

It has been raining a lot - so I have no pictures in the park this week.

Next week is Charlotte's birthday!

Charlotte speaks Italian!


Charlotte has mastered this Blue Steel-esque look:


Sophia looks bald here:


Sophia was on a carrier strike at Crystal Jade on Sunday (Vivo City).  Luckily Grandma Kathy was up for some old school carrying:


The family:


Charlotte doesn't mean emulate Bridgette Bardot - just a candid shot!


Hi Mom!


Family Easter shot:


Nice shot with Dad and the girls:


Coloring brown eggs yellow is a futile exercise Mommy!


Carrot and Strawberry Cupcakes:


Tea tray at the Ritz:


Charlotte pets Olivia:


Pic of the week: