A surprise visit

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Getting to know you...

Ayanna met uncle Shaun for the first time last February when he paid us all a surprise visit. We’ve always been talking to Ayanna about her uncle, while referring to photographs (Uncle Shaun lives abroad). Through the Internet of course, regular, frequent conversations are possible to maintain ties. The webcam affords Ayanna the opportunity to see him and hear his voice, bridging the distance between them.

 

Does your toddler have a relative living faraway? How do you deal with the distance?

 

18th month update

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

 

Ayanna uses almost anything to practice her climbing skills.

 

Oh how we’ve missed not being online to give you an account of all that’s happening. But first, an update – Ayanna is 18 months now; to be precise she’s in the second week of her 18^th month. And what a spurt in physical development it has been – Ayanna loves to climb all over the furniture, up and down the stairs, is much surer on her feet, runs and if she concentrates hard enough can kick a ball. She loves to engage in hide-and-seek, clearly remembering an object well after we’ve removed it from her vision.

 

Ayanna with a rather cheeky look

 

Ayanna demonstrates a variety of emotions and behaviors while understanding only a few limits. Her no’s come more frequently these days (which raises questions about discipline) and Ayanna has just recently discovered the strength of her vocals (more on that later). She fiercely affirms her independence – Ayanna loves to feed herself and does so quite successfully with a spoon and wants to dress herself.

 

She can and tries persistently to communicate her wishes and intentions. Ayanna can identify several pictures by naming them and uses about 40 single words (the last time we counted).

 

Exciting times indeed.

 

 

Eruption...

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

My late teether is finally getting her molars. I’ve spotted one, which has just erupted. Ayanna is playing catch up since a toddler’s first molars tend to generally appear when they’re 1.

 

It explains her irritability, her refusal to eat and the constant drooling. As the molars are bigger and more blunt than the middle teeth that came in first, their eruption might cause pain. A chilled teething ring usually helps.

 

Ayanna tends to want to brush her own teeth (depending on her moods of course) but sometimes can flat out refuse any assistance.

 

How do you convince your toddler to brush?

 

As promised...

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Here are some images of Ayanna at the beach in Penang.

 

The Parkroyal Penang, where we stayed, is ideal for kids – with several lifeguards stationed at the pools plus a day care center with trained professionals to baby-sit if mummy and daddy need some time alone.

 

Another vaccination

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

We decided to give Ayanna her varicella or chicken pox vaccination. She received it a couple of days ago. Though not compulsory, we thought we’d do so and prevent Ayanna from having to endure what we went through as kids. I recall especially the intense itching that accompanied the blisters.

 

Ayanna had a low-grade fever as part of the side effects of the vaccine.

 

The vaccine is about 70% effective but those vaccinated who do come down with chicken pox usually have a mild case.

Trip to the Zoo

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

 

Ayanna loved watching her giraffes.

 

We made a trip to the zoo last week. Ayanna was excited to see her favourite animals up close like the giraffe, elephant and tiger. She was especially fascinated by the roaring lion.

 

Zoo Negara’s grounds are quite lovely, with wide and shady boulevards. The savannah area, with its zebras and giraffes, captures somewhat the wildlife in its natural habitat.

 

17th month update

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

 

Lovin life!

 

Ayanna turned 17^th months last week.

 

She’s been busy climbing up and down stairs while pushing boundaries to see how far she can go. Ayanna continues to increase her vocabulary of words and is occupied discovering new things to do indoors and outdoors.

 

Ayanna is becoming much easier to understand now that she’s combining words and pointing at things. ‘No’ is already a favorite word of hers and depending on the situation, she tends to use it with a vengeance.

 

Her growing independence is asserting itself in numerous ways – she can help by undressing herself somewhat, brush her teeth and even feed her dolly.

Gong Xi Fa Chai

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

To everyone,

Happy Chinese New Year!

Have yourselves a fabulous and prosperous year of the Ox.

Thanks for your continued support and keep on reading.

Moooooo

Mummy and Ayanna

 

 

 

Fevers give me the shivers

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

A fever usually sets off my panic buttons.

 

Ayanna recently recovered from a viral infection, which sparked off quite a high temperature. Though she’s much better now, her appetite is still poor and she’s rather clingy.

 

I fear fevers because of all the tales I remember hearing from my mother and grandmother. “Oh you can never let it go too high, then the child will have a fit”. It’s such an extreme view when you compare it to the more contemporary view of doctors who do not worry even if the temperature reads 41C.

 

I’ve come to learn and accept that fever, in most cases, is not the enemy. It’s the body’s protective response to such invaders as viruses, bacteria and fungi. When one of these makes its way into the body, the white blood cells take action and produce a hormone called interleukin, which travels to the brain to instruct it to turn up the body’s temperature. This is done to help the immune system fight infection. Besides these microorganisms are unable to thrive at these elevated temperatures. 

 

A toddler is generally not considered to have a fever until the rectal temperature reaches 38.1C to 38.4C.

The sun, sea and sand

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

The sun, sea and sand were great! Ayanna had a fun time mostly on the beach, with a bucket, spade and beach ball for company. Her floaties made sure she was free to roam in the baby pool (with full supervision of course).

 

However, there are only fuzzy testimonies (taken on the hp which I will post later) to Ayanna’s visit to the beach as Mummy forgot to pack the camera..yet again.

 

Ayanna was asleep the entire way up to Penang but stayed awake on the journey home. This meant additional stops for changing, feeding and stretching plus extra songs and nursery rhymes to keep her occupied.