Baby Year 1 developments

Having a baby made me look at myself at a different angle, I realized things about myself. For example, I do follow norms and observe standard baby growth when we all know that each is different and has different stages of developments. I guess I am just too eager to see these developments for baby Zara and I wish I would be the first one to notice or observe the changes that will occur on her first year. 

	Gross Motor	Fine Motor	Language/ Cognitive	Social
1 month	Moves head from side to side when on stomach	Strong grip	Stares at hands and fingers	Tracks movement with eyes
2 months	Holds head and neck up briefly while on tummy	Opens and closes hands	Begins to play with fingers	Smiles responsively
3 months	Reaches and grabs at objects	Grips objects in hands	Coos	Imitates you when you stick out your tongue
4 months	Pushes up on arms when lying on tummy	Grabs objects -- and gets them!	Laughs out loud	Enjoys play and may cry when playing stops
5 months	Begins to roll over in one or the other direction	Is learning to transfer objects from one hand to the other	Blows “raspberries” (spit bubbles)	Reaches for mommy or daddy and cries if they’re out of sight
6 months	Rolls over both ways	Uses hands to “rake” small objects	Babbles	Recognizes familiar faces --caregivers and friends as well as family
7 months	Moves around --is starting to crawl, scoot, or “army crawl”	Is learning to use thumb and fingers	Babbles in a more complex way	Responds to other people’s expressions of emotion
8 months	Sits well without support	Begins to clap hands	Responds to familiar words, looks when you say his name	Plays interactive games like peekaboo
9 months	May try to climb/crawl up stairs	Uses the pincer grasp	Learns object permanence -- that something exists even if he can’t see it	Is at the height of stranger anxiety
10 months	Pulls up to stand	Stacks and sorts toys	Waves bye-bye and/or lifts up arms to communicate “up”	Learns to understand cause and effect (“I cry, Mommy comes”)
11 months	Cruises, using furniture	Turns pages while you read	Says “mama” or “dada” for either parent	Uses mealtime games (dropping spoon, pushing food away) to test your reaction; expresses food preferences
12 months	Stands unaided and may take first steps	Helps while getting dressed (pushes hands into sleeves)	Says an average of 2-3 words (often “mama” and “dada”)	Plays imitative games such as pretending to use the phone

Source: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/infant-development-9/stages-of-development?page=2

While everything else in the above mentioned list is a check for baby Zara, I worry about her teething because nothing is happening in that sector of development. At any point, i leave it to the course of nature and I will do my best to support her nutrition wise, so far, baby Zara is still on breastfeeding and eats rice cereal or brown rice mixed with potatoes carrot veg puree at least twice if not thrice a day, and loves her rice biscuits.  

First Birthday for Baby Zara

I want to share how we planned our lil girl's first birthday in Lion City. Internet is helpful enough as a source for wholesale and package deals for birthday party but its best to budget it your way and make it more personal. Let's start my list:

The guests. My husband and I decided to invite people who are close to us. Sadly we miss to invite some friends, so make sure you list all important people - write the names down. I also invited the babies and toddlers who have played with Zara.

The theme. We are caught between pink and red since CNY is coming up plus its hubby's fave color. Baby Zara doesn't have a definite character she likes perse, so I picked Hello Kitty all time baby friendly theme even though I kinda think Minnie Mouse is also good. We did go PINK!

The venue. We did not go far as we easily have access to the private villa closest to us. I booked the venue 3 months in advance but the dates i preferred was already booked so I chose a date closest to Zara's actual birthday. Friday dinner time it is! booked the venue 5-10pm. I wanted to arrange and decorate the place myself so here is the output. 

The banner has to be clear and at the same time kiddie. 

 Maximize the space - I made use of the TV table so I don't have to add another table.

 I made use of the window blinds continuous loop as a base for my 1st birthday white and pink balloons decor.

"Little Princess 1st" design for table cover, paper plate, paper cup, birthday hat and napkins. 

Light tone and hot Pink paper ball decoration in small and big sizes to complete the theme. 

I decorated her stroller with balloons and pink twirls strings instead of getting the baby high chair to save space. The balloons are all manually pumped. 

The cake. Everyone wants the first cake to be classy, stylish and cute of course delicious. I picked SUGAR HUGS ARTISAN CAKES. Delivery was on time, apart from that, I was part of every detail for the cake design which makes it even more lovelier as I want the theme and the cake to be related. The cake was soft and sweet with the right amount of chocolate cover taste. The decoration was fabulous! 

 Top view of SUGAR HUGS cake.

 ZARA 1 topper from SUGAR HUGS.

Zara 1 by SUGAR HUGS.

Top view of the pink cake for Zara by SUGAR HUGS.

The treats. I was able to find good deals for biscuits and organic lollipops. The usual cupcakes, marshmallows, and strawberry stick wafer. Loot bag package: Favor Value Pack Hello Kitty (Contains 8 Loot Bags, Stickers, Activity Sheets, Maze Puzzles, Mini Tops & Fuzzy Balls) and Toys R Us dress me up stickers set, which kids totally enjoyed. 

The food for the guests are home made. =)

I have to say my warmest THANK YOU to my neighbors / friends who helped me one way or the other in making this event happen. For the friends who came, hug to each and I hope you had fun with us. For friends who greeted online, I wish you were here!

I hope Zara would one day look at these pictures and appreciate how blessed she is and that she is surrounded by adorable people. 

Zara turns 1derful

Today is not only 1derful for Zara but also for us, her parents. 

Zara turns the big ONE today and it feels so great to look back and see her now. My memory brings me back to January 14, 2013 at 14:13H, my baby delivery experience and all its glory ;)

She is no longer our newborn but a full grown infant. 

Let me list the things she can do:

1. She can now waddle her way around the house. 

2. She can now crawl like a pro. 

3. She knows her food. She can now drink from a straw. Drinks in a bottle water / cup.

4. She play his tiny trumpet by blowing it. 

5. She can now clap her tiny hands.

6. She can close and open her fingers. 

7. She can kiss on my cheeks. 

8. She loves peek-a-boo 

9. She loves the pool / baby spa / water playground / bath tub

10. She can head wobble / bobble if she doesn't want something

11. She can say mamma and pappa 

12. She can wave her hand bye bye 

13. She can push her musical activity walker / movable crib / laundry bag / light chairs

14. She picks up objects and licks them. This means she can pick up biscuits and eat them. 

15. She loves watching MOTHER GOOSE and BABY BUM videos and dances with it

16. She babble big time

17. She eats steam and mashed carrot potatoes broccoli and avocado 

18. She loves Heinz and Cerelac 

19. Learns to put the phone on her ear and babble 

20. turns the pages of a magazine / baby book

21. dances to music 

22. smiles on camera 

23. sleeps before midnight and wakes up around 9am

24. walks in the sand seashore with water gushing on her tiny feet

25. likes baby wipes to clean her face

All of the above makes me feel like she is a super tiny star! She achieved so much in 12 months. 

Looking back at the pregnancy and first few crucial months - it is all worth it! She is truly a blessing and a source of joy to us. 

To all the other parents who are celebrating their babies first birthday hooray to us! 

Today I made baby Zara try the Baby Spa at Westgate Mall in Jurong East. She loved the experience. 

For our tiny family celebration, hubby brought us to Quayside Isle Sentosa Cove to have birthday dinner for baby Zara. It was a fabulous day! We love you baby Zara.

To my Mom - Mommy Rachel, Thank you for showing me how to juggle life and work and everything else. Having a child of my own made me remember all the things you did for me. Your voice is my strength and your presence is a gift from God. 

To my Dad - Daddy Ando, Thank you for loving ma best way you can and having us - eight kids. For all the years of parenting, I salute you dad! 

To my husband - Sarfafi, remember the first heart beat! From the coffee shop to what we are now, thank you for being my greatest support and best friend. You are the best Pappa to our lil Zara. 

December as a first time Mom

This December will have to be a different Christmas ever, I am now a mom. 

The malls are decked up and streets are lighten up and Christmas music are on in most stores. My first encounter of Christmas decor was in IMM mall in Jurong East. I had to take a photo with baby Zara in the red chair! We were there to check out Daiso for kitchen items. I was able to browse the outlet shops and enjoyed the variety of goodies.

I am more inclined to baby shops these days, and my personal shopping list is now secondary. Let me share whats in town.. 

The newest mall in the west side known as JEM mall was decorated by the first week of December and a tall Christmas tree outside the mall was built by the second week. Kids love to ran around the area in front of the mall near the Christmas tree. I get excited for some reason looking at baby dresses at H&M and Cotton on and other baby brands and ending up buying even the ones that are still big for baby Zara.   

A new mall opened just beside JEM mall and the name is Westgate mall. The lighted up reindeer Christmas decor was super cute in the middle of the open area where flowing fountain water is and some trees too. It is relaxing and the band is quite entertaining as it gathers audience every time.  There you can also see three panda bear statues. 

Mama bear and Baby bear

*Photo Credit to Mona Fe Sarmiento

Going to Jurong East is now a more suitable option as you can get to actually see three malls in one area which are not so far from each other and showcasing different items to offer the shoppers. Soon I will share about J-walk the path connecting three malls.. 

From home to train to mall to some refreshing scene of fashion, gourmet, and lifestyle, for a mom like me who has a stroller and a baby in tow, shopping has never been this easy. 

I did a bit of exploring the decors in the famous street Orchard Road with a friend and her baby girl and we enjoyed taking pictures with her new camera and taking time enjoying the bright Christmas lights. I found out that there is actually a competition for the establishments to decorate and show their Christmas design, read more Christmas Light Up Ceremony. 

Taking baby Zara to see the Christmas decor delights me when she smiles.

Photos taken by me using my new Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100. 

Hope to get in touch with you, my twitter @mommymodeon

About the Author

Hello!

I just got married recently and we have a baby now. ‘Mommy mode on’ is what i tell myself every morning to get that upbeat energy for the long day. This blog is mostly about my motherhood journey and my way to practice my English language writing skill. I had emergency C-section delivery. I am a stay-at-home Mom or SAHM and I do travel around town with baby Zara on tow. I’m an exbanker from Manila. I have lived in Pune India, Seoul South Korea, Mont Kiara-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, and now in The Lion City. I wish to share a smile, a story, hope and something entertaining to brighten the day! 

Hope to get in touch with you, my twitter @mommymodeon