6 Months: 3rd day in Nanjing. Trip to Lovers Park.

We wanted to go to 紫金山 initially, but due to the heavy traffic on labor day, we ended up at 情侣园 instead. Still very pictureques as it faces the xuan wu lake. Plus the weather turned warm (imo, too warm, it's almost like Singapore), so majority of the city hit the parks.

We hit the park around 11.30 am where the sun is blazing above our heads.

Colourful windmills and kites. They are very pretty.

Apparently, we overdressed Andre mis-anticipating the weather of Nanjing. So little boy was fussing and sweating buckets.

Andre wasn't in the best smiley mood. But he always manages a grin when lifted into the air

We bought a windmill too. But Andre prefers gumming the bottle.

Loves riding on the shoulders of dad.

Our family pic (From L to R) . Mommy, Daddy, Ye ye, Gu ba ba, Andre, Nai nai and Yi nai nai.

After photo taking, Andre screamed hunger, and drank a bottle of milk.

By the time, we hit the restaurant, Andre's batt is all flat. This is the first time, we have pictures taken of me B-jorning Andre. The baby Bjorn is really a very good buy, we used it more than the pram, prolly because it gives baby a very secure feeling. To be frank, i can't see how comfortable it can be being bounded like this, but well, the baby likes it can already. So typically, while, baby sleep, i can still eat. And boy, i love the food in Nanjing. I wish can take pictures, but too pai say la, my PIL will think that i am crazy.

6 Months: 4th day in Nanjing (Morning)

Today is the designated holiday in China for labor day. So 姑爸爸 is free to bring us out to gai gai. We are going to the park today. Yippee!!

7: 45 am: Little Andre doing his daily tumble on bed

10.38 am: Finished his avocado breakfast. All ready to go out.

6 months: 3rd day in Nanjing (Evening)

King of the Sofa
Activities to round up the day...

Puree ... Andre takes like almost half a bowl each time.
Andre likes drinking from the cup. He isn't very good, but at least he tries to gum at the side. By the way, my dear Andre simply refuses to drink boiled tap water in China. In the end, we had to buy high-class spring water for him before he accepts. Wah ...what discerning tastebuds.

This is what i described in the earlier post. Andre will lie so comfortably on just anyone shoulders. Who wouldn't like this boy?

A little emo picture... Andre likes to zut his little index finger. I suspect the gums at the side are itchy.

New playground. Gu ba ba's sofa.

A little musical box where you make music by winding at the side.

Little Andre was dismantling gu ba ba's house. Here, he found out how to remove the top from the coffee table. Gu ba ba house is so cool! Andre is free to do anything he likes. At home, mummy would be screeching for him to stop meddling here and there.

6 Months: 3rd Day in Nanjing (Afternoon) We go shopping at Water City

Water City is mummy's favourite shopping centre at Nanjing. Carries the international brands like Zara, H&M, Muji, Uniqlo etc etc etc. But well, today's objective is not for mummy to shop. It is to 'Xian Bao'. Haha.. it is a new term i've learnt recently, in short, it means to show off the treasure. Following yesterday's success at the supermarket, we'll venture out to the high class shopping mall today.

Well, Andre did not disappoint. And it proves to those at home that i wasn't exaggerating yesterday on the attention. Outside Zara, Andre was surrounded by many 'fans'. People not only glance, but also stopped to look to take pictures. WHOA! Can see that nai nai is so proud of this grandson.

(i know i sound super hao lian here, boasting about my son's cuteness. I did reflect back on the attention on concluded on 2 things. Andre's dressing. He's dressed rather fashionably compared to the rest of the chinese babies so that makes him stands out. Andre's ang mo looks. That makes him not look like the typical chinese boy)

Curious why everyone's attention is on him.

Andre and Yi Nai Nai

Having fun with Nai nai and Yi Nai nai.

And this piao liang de jie jie, couldn't resist and asked if she can carry Andre. Andre so far is pretty open to everyone carrying (with exception to one guy whom i shall not name). I think this boy ah, will follow whoever gives him candy in future. And he not only let people carry, but he'll snuggle his whole head on people's shoulder in complete trust. Andre's EQ is high till now, he sure makes people feel very close to him.

Barely one hour out, Andre's battery seemed to have flatten out. He fell alseep on daddy's shoulders. He must have radiated too much energy earlier on. We went home shortly, can see that everyone is disappointed. But well, ming xing normally only make short appearances rite .. hahaha

I think i better make a mental note to edit this post in future. Otherwise, i fear that my son become a egocentric, narcissistic personality in future. But till then, let's bask in the limelight for a while. =)

6 Months: 3rd Day in Nanjing (Morning)

A bleary eye Andre who just woke up at 8.30 am. He slept much better last night, getting used to the new cot and environment. The weather is cool. see the 毛衣? It is the loving workmanship of 奶奶.

Now the pictures will flow. Cos gu ba ba took like 110 pictures today. Here's the best 30. I would have love to upload everything though. (by the way, for the 10 days in Nanjing, Gu ba ba took like 1000 over pictures, whereas mummy only took like only 2000 for the past 7 months)

It's a Sunday morning... Playtime. The I love Ma Ma sweater is bought by nai nai. I like it, cos the zip in front makes it so much easier to wear than the pull over green fleece sweater.

Andre loves chewing the hammer. It is now so out of shape that its beyond repair.

Lunch Time. Note that Papa has the same T-shirt as Andre. Mummy is jealous! We have bottle Chicken and corn today, compliments from the airline.

For foods that Andre likes, its pretty easy and fast to feed him (and clean as well). But if its a taste he dislikes, he'll seal his mouth like a zip-lock bag. No matter how much you coax, nothing will get through.

At coming 7 Months, Andre's favourite foods are:

1. Avocado

2. Chicken and Corn

3. Pumpkin, Vegetable puree

4. Potato

Foods that Andre hates:

1. Rice Cereal.. Sigh i have stocks of Bellamys, Nestle and Healty Times at home

2. Fruits of all kinds eg. Papaya, apple, pear

3. Boiled tap water from China

Reading Time!

"Dear Cow, what yummy horns you have"

This is the look Andre gives when he's tired of playing

6 Months: 2nd Day in Nanjing. Labor Day.

No pictures for today. But trust me! More will come later, I’ll explain why in time to come.

It’s a sat, I think the cool weather is affecting my milk supply. Was in a panic mode because I don’t have that stash in the freezer to back up on. So I was pumping like mad, like 5-6 times a day, to collect whatever milk I could. Was downing milk and oatmeal like nobody’s business.

After lunch, we decided to venture to the 金润发 supermart to stock up on Andre’s diapers. It is about 15 minutes walk from 奶奶's house. Pampers was cheap, only RMB95 (S$0.20) each piece. And when we returned home, we found the quality very good. It is very thin and light and it contained pee very well.

Anyway, that was not the highlight of the supermarket adventure. I realized that my son has fans. WHOA! I felt like 星妈。 Everywhere I walked, people actually followed us, ooh-ing and ah-ing how cute Andre is. *Blush*. The Chinese really have warm hospitality. It’ll kill a tao Singaporean to show their affection so openly. Sigh, Singaporeans are just so clammed up when it comes to these kind of things. As we pushed the pram, people actually walked with us, asking how old the child is, complimenting 可爱可爱, 大眼睛。And they followed us all the way to the cashier. And mind you, it’s not just one, it’s many unknown passersby. I would have liked to bask more in the limelight if not that we need to rush home by 3pm (Daddy has to pick 姨奶奶 from the train station). What an experience for me… *glowing in pride*

Well, that was a very fruitful trip. Oh, one more thing as well. I managed to procure 宫心计 (TVB’s mega blockbuster last year with good comments from Orlando) for ahem *cough* *cough* RMB10 (S$2). All 33 episodes! Hehe, looks like busy days ahead for me.

That night, 姨奶奶 (奶奶's younger sister) arrived from Suzhou. Ah, one more person to give Andre lotsa lotsa love and hugs. =)

6 Months: 1st Day in Nanjing

The weather was cool. About 18 degree C indoors. We had Andre dressed up in a long sleeve romper, long socks, sweater and pants. Phew! It’s so hard to change for him nowadays cos the energy packed boy just love to twist. You need to do diaper/clothes change at lightning speed! And Andre will ‘scold’ you, if you hold him down for too long.

We just stayed indoors today. Yesterday’s trip was too exhausting and we just wanted to keep activities low profile today.

Andre checking out his new playmat. It is loaned from 姑爸爸's nephew. And 姑爸爸's nephew is 17 years old now. Hmm, I wonder how old is the mat now…. But it’s clean, it’s functional, perfect for Andre to perform his gym tricks =) Andre has a new friend too. 小牛。Andre’s zodiac is the cow, so I guess naturally he felt a natural affinity to the toy? Haha .. see they have the same expression. More of Andre’s and 小牛's adventures to come.

Wrestling with Dad. We really had a good time. With so many people looking after Andre, we finally have solid time to play with him. Something that I have been yearning for so long, yet unable to do so at home as we are always so occupied with the chores.

Andre checking out his new pig sty. Keke. 奶奶 loaned this from a friend and stuffed it with the warmest quilt and softest pillows. I would say this bed is even more comfortable than at home.

6 Months: Let's go to Nanjing, 南京。爸爸的老家。

Andre's 1st air tickets and passport

Andre is all dressed up, and says goodbye to his musical bear bear (By the way, mummy bought this during a business trip to Houston 2 years back; It was for the future baby =)). Andre looks like Tigger isn’t it, but it is a Polo Ralph sleepsuit. Thank you Uncle Gurmit! We departed the house at 8.30 am for our 11 am flight.

All the baggage. The packing and coordination was crazy.. but of course, under mummy’s execution, we got everything packed and arranged in time. 4 bottles of EBM all ice packed to be brought on board, medicine, feeding equipment, pump etc...

The airport check in took more than 40 mins cos the airline did not arrange our pre-booked bassinet seat. Andre was under a child ticket and had a seat to himself. But well, we insisted on the bassinet instead.

Boarded the plane at 10.30am. Andre’s first plane ride is on a Boeing 747 on Cathay Pacific. The leg room was fantastic. We were advise to let baby drink his milk when the airplane takes off, cos the swallowing action would help regulate the air pressure in his ears. Mistake no. 1, we let Andre take the milk once the airplane started to reverse out to the runway. Who knows, the plane took such a long time to to get to the runway that Andre finished the milk before the plane took off! &^%%$*&!! LOL, we should have known earlier la, cos Kevin and I have taken numerous plane rides before. Anyway, baby fell asleep and we gave him the pacifier instead, tugging it occasionally so that he'll suckle.

Upon cruising, we got the bassinet thinking we could get our hands free. Mistake no. 2. Andre wailed the moment we put him into it. He woke up from his power nap, bright and awake, ready to conquer the plane. Sigh..

Andre was good for the bulk of the flight, like an octopus. He did not like being restrained and was screaming when we held him down. In the end, we had to take turns to carry him at the pantry cos that's the only way to stop him from screaming. Now I fully empathize those parents with children. It is really quite embarrassing. At one point, i carried him (8kg), balancing with my 4 inches heels for 45 mins before he finally fell asleep.

It was the 1st plane ride where mummy did not enjoy the free flow of beer and gulped down the food in the fastest time. Unfortunately, the weather at HK was terrible, and we landed an hour later. But the last leg, where we all had to be buckled up, Andre was good. While mummy cooed gently into Andre’s ears, we watched the plane descend from 6000 ft to 1000 ft only to abandon landing as another plane couldn’t clear the runway in time. There was another 2 attempted landings before we landed safely in torrential weather conditions. Good job son! Thank God too!

Mummy managed to gather 90 HKD from our previous trips. And so we indulged in this bowl of sharks fins porridge, char siew chee cheong fun, and soya milk. Hehe, Only HKD$64. See the fins..keke.

Our original connection flight was suppose to depart at 6.35pm, but due to the bad weather, all flights were delayed and we were rescheduled to board at 8.05pm. During the connection time, we fed Andre and he slept in the Bjorn for more than an hour. I wanted to find the Disney store so desperately (cos i promised Andre that i'll bring him there) but the HK airport is so freaking big and they changed the location of the store. Well, i did my best. I walked with baby in the carrier for 30 mins.

We did not board till 8.30pm. By then, mummy was all tired and grouchy. Luckily, daddy took over and mummy managed to have some shut-eye. The plane finally took off at 9.30pm. Surprisingly, Dragon air offered pretty good food. But after a long day out, who would bother to take pictures.

Reached Nanjing at 11.30pm. 姑爸爸 waited for almost 3 hours for us at the airport. 姑妈妈 has earlier departed from the airport to guangzhou for a weeks trip. We got into the car and reached 奶奶's place finally at 1am.

Andre was a little green, tired and feeble from the whole journey. We did not manage to feed him any solids, plus the milk strike a couple of days back. But well, the endearing boy still performed some flips, pulled himself to a standing position at his cot and grinned at his 奶奶，爷爷, 姑爸爸. I could see that they are so proud and happy to see him. It was a family reunion, the welcoming of a long awaited new member into the family, the family warmth of joy and bliss... And for this priceless moment, it was all that made the long journey out truly worthed it.

Baby was bathed and put to bed. At 2 am, mummy started pumping (missed the planned session at 11pm, while she recap the day's happenings with daddy.

6 Months: April 18 - April 28

Not much updates for these 2 weeks, no pictures taken :(

Things got busy at work for mummy (this is the downside of a working mum's life) and mummy got the flu bug from both Andre and daddy. And it is many times worst. For once, 3 days of MC! Though there wasn't any fever, i started to be so phelgmy and i started losing my voice.

Visited the Dr 3 times, 22nd April, 25th April and 28th April.

1st visit: Symptoms are relatively mild. So given cough mixture and cold tablets.

2nd visit: I've started wheezing and my ears were so painfully blocked that i lost much of my hearing. I just felt i was so clogged up in my whole respiratory system. Was put on the neubilizer (hey, i thought that was for babies only, but apparently, it was very good and it cleared my airways). I did some puff test but was unable to generate enough air. Given 2 days MC. Dr says if i don't recover enough on a review on Wed, i will not be fit enough to fly. OH NO!!

Rested Monday at home 26th. Put baby at mum's place so that i could have some peace and quiet. However,i felt better in the afternoon and ended up doing housework for the whole house. Sigh.. what to do, Aunty Ted has already left, and our place is getting so terribly messy. I did feel much better in the evening, Kevin said i finally sounded normal and thus decided to return back to work on Tuesday. (at the back of my head, i was also considering the long leave i have ahead and thus want to minimize my time away)

Tuesday: Bad choice to go back to work. Cos i was coughing away and i was so embarrassed. I still do sound bad. And there is a pregnant mummy in the office now.

Wednesday: 3rd visit to Dr Chang. I fared much better with the puff test. I was given more medicine and certified fit to fly. Dr says its a bad case of upper respiratory infection and was given a nasal respirator for me to take on board my vacation. Whoa... this is serious manz, cos i thought this gadget is only used by the asthmatic. Took one more day MC.

For the past week, tried to keep away from Andre as much as possible. Things will get serious and complicated if i pass the germs back to Andre. Downside of the antibiotics was that, i think my milk tasted really bad, and Andre went on a milk strike for a few days. Haiz...