Gabriel's Development at 18 months

Time flies. Our Little Gabriel has reached 18 months old. We were eagerly waiting for him to reach 18 months old as people say kids will be able to play longer and sit still longer. However, this is not what we observed. He is more active, energetic and curious compared to previous months.

He's now more difficult to control as we can’t carry him if he doesn’t want to. He would lift his hands up and slip through our grip when we try to carry him. He is strong!

He is very cute now and always tries to speak new words. Whenever he learns up a word, he will speak it frequently. His favorite word is “car”. His favorite toy is also the “car”. Besides “car”, he is also able to speak words like berry (strawberry), nana (banana), up, teat (pacifier), cup, pen, ba (bus), A, M, O, foot, book, go, ket (basket), ball, baba, mi, po, gung, ma, pa, yiyi (aunty), bak bak (uncle), bi (Baby), and etc.

Sometimes he is shy when he meets strangers. He will start blinking his eyes and look down. Ha! Ha!

Sometimes he will keep saying “ Huh? Huh? Huh??” and he will look at you very innocent! This makes us laugh!!!

Gabriel boy, you are so cute and we love you! - Mi and PaPa

Berry Nice Time

Gabriel loves to eat strawberries. He calls them, simply, "berry". There is no stopping him when he sets his eyes upon them in the supermarket or in the refrigerator. So we took Gabriel to Cameron Highlands on 30-Apr-07 to have an experience plucking strawberries right from the plants. He plucked and ate to his heart's content. He had a berry nice time!




Photo Album

Walk with Mommy

Gabriel started to walk at 13months. He’s seen here walking with mommy at the lakeside – first time outdoors. Still curious about his new shoes. We had to hold his hands as he was still wobbly.

Down but not out

Gabriel fell sick for the first time on 21-Sep-06, just one day short of 10months old. He was down with flu and fever. He cried at 1:00am. Mom gave him the pacifier but he just spat it out. Mom realized that he has difficulty sucking the pacifier because he can't breathe properly. Poor Gabriel! It is like being stoppered all up. I took leave in the afternoon after getting to know from Ying that he has fever. Upon reaching home, Gabriel greeted me with the usual enthusiasm. He felt a little warm but was still running around (legs as well as his nose) in his walker. His appetite was normal too. He is still hyperactive as before. Anyway, mom and I took him to a clinic for medication. Mom asked Gabriel to tell the doctor, "Doctor, doctor, make my nose walk, not run".

Gabriel at 9 Months

Achievements:
1. Crawl on 4 limbs
2. Sit up straight
3. Can say papa and mama
4. Growth of upper center incisor

Words he recognizes:
1. Flower
2. Clock
3. Washing Machine
4. Fridge
5. Feather (of dream catcher)
6. Bird
7. Rabbit
8. Cat
9. Dog
10. Switch
11. Balloon
12. Egg
13. Apple

Great and Grand

Gabriel met his Great-Grandma for the 2nd time on 1-Sep-06 (1st was at full moon celebration). When asked to sit with Gabriel for a photo, Grandma hesitated. After some persuasion, she straightened her blouse and hair neatly and sat with Gabriel. Gabriel is still quite sensitive to strangers and would burst into tears at the slightest strange feeling. We would be very careful with visitors advising them not to directly talk to him or carry him. But with Grandma there was a natural bond. Grandma was able to connect with Gabriel effortlessly. I am happy that Gabriel could meet Grandma as she is the lone surviving of the great and grand generation in my family.

Gabriel's Baptism

Gabriel was baptised 19-Mar-06 at Church of the Risen Christ, Air Itam by Rev. Fr. Augustine Wong. Bart and Angie are now uncle-auntie-cum godparents.

Bridge No.2

Travelling back to Ipoh on New Year's Eve, I was caught in a crawl on the Penang Bridge. Nothing much to do sitting in the car, I started to gaze at the horizon when I spotted a bridge that looked like the Penang Bridge. This bridge is located near the mainland port. Has anyone been on that bridge? One fine day I'll try to get on that bridge and take a photo of the Penang Bridge from there. :-)

Gabriel's 1st Christmas

Gabriel is 1 month old 22-Dec-05. His full moon was celebrated on Christmas eve at East Ocean Restaurant with family and friends. Mom had told him about the occasion the night before, "Little Gabriel, tomorrow you are going to a party, you must be a good boy, you must show off!". A good show it was. He stayed awake delighting the guests and then fell asleep as we ate - such an angel.

Birth Announcement

It is with great joy to announce the arrival of our baby boy!

Name: Gabriel Cheah
Date of Birth: 22-Nov-2005
Time of Birth: 15:07HRS
Weight: 3.5kg (7.7lbs)
Delivery: Caesarean Section

Pusing Traditions

The week ending 30-Oct was spent with loved ones. Celebrated dad's birthday on 29-Oct. Bart and Angie baked a rich date cake for dad. Had dinner with uncles and aunties at Fulim Restaurant, Menglembu. Met Chin Moi, who was there to celebrate her mom's birthday. Chin Moi was my mom's babysitter.

Mom harvested rice wine. Brewing rice wine has been passed down for generations and mom is doing her part to keep the tradition alive. The result was a medium-bodied, semi-sweet, beautiful light orange-red coloured wine with delicate hints of apple and cereals.


Had a family gathering in Pusing. The Cheah brothers senior had a "barley water" party. Innocent me thought, "What on earth got to these people, suddenly becoming health freaks!". Alas, it was revealed that they were having toddy! Uncle Crab's favourite is Guinness-Toddy mix. This is the seniors' way of male-bonding. Naturally the juniors (Bart and yours truly) follow in their footsteps.

Enjoyed Pusing's forgotten favourites: Veggie Dumplings and Prawn Cakes. Not forgetting the refreshing all-time favourite drink: "Mun Tau Long" herbal jelly with syrup and coconut milk drink. Also indulged in roast pork on the rocks, yam cake, glutinous rice and "Pengat" a sweet dessert made of banana with gula melaka and santan.

Everything Rounded

The past weekend was Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival. The Chinese community celebrate by indulging in "less sugar less oil" mooncakes and kids participate in lantern processions round the neighbourhood. For the two of us, we went in search of bigger celebrations on the eve, in the heart of Georgetown and Esplanade to our disappointment. We however made a discovery of Penang Island's latest landmark, the fountain with a 4.8m high metal replica of the pinang fruit. It is located at the end of Beach Street, near the clock tower. For our nightcap, we had "Tang Yuan" - balls made of glutinous rice flour served with ginger-flavoured syrup. This stall serves 2 big ones stuffed with roasted groundnuts and about a dozen small ones. I kind of like the idea of 2 biggies and a dozen minis - one big family. At the stall, father, mother and daughter were busy rolling balls amid chattering and laughter. The family that rolls together, stays together.

Cappy

Cappy belongs to Ying's sister, Chui Li. She was adopted since Mar-04. This Shih Tzu-Pekingese mix is really adorable and never fails to bring smiles to family and friends with her antics. Below is a list of commands she understands:

1. Sit: Lie down
2. Tie Hair-Hair: Lie down and let you tie her hair
3. Go In: Go into the cage and wait for you to say "OK" or "Good Girl"
4. Meow-Meow: Run to the gate and look for cats
5. Water: Look into the drain and run after the gush of water
6. Push: Push object placed on a stool
7. Fetch: Look for toy and bring to you to play fetch
8. Sleep: Close eyes when tired
9. Mum-Mum: Open eyes big and excited
10. Don't want you: She will bark

Guessing Game

Come take part in this game. I'll provide clues along the way.
Clue #1: I live in tropical climate.

The Rattlesnake

This is Goldie a.k.a. the Rattlesnake, a nickname given by mom. Goldie was abandoned in December 2004 at our vacant neighbour's house in Menglembu. She was found with pups and her vulva was swollen. The area where she laid was smelly from the serum and rotten food. Mom tried to chase her away. Goldie ran but later retaliated when mom crossed her territory. Mom was taken aback by her protective instinct. She took pity on her and got a vet to examine her. Goldie was diagnosed with cannine V.D. Dr. Lim, the vet, took care of Goldie till she had fully recovered. After Goldie was given a clean bill of health, mom was hesitant on keeping her, and enquired from SPCA Ipoh. As SPCA was already full, mom decided to adopt her. Goldie, probably a Daschund-cross, now lives in Batu Gajah. When she's happy, her docked tail "rattles", albeit silently.

Fruit of Enduring Faith

This is the fruit of Cycas revoluta. We have 2 trees growing in front of my house in Batu Gajah, Perak. A gift from my dad's godfather, the sapling was planted around the time when we joined the Catholic Church (c. 1990). After 15years, the healthy trees are now bearing fruit.