So Happy To Be Home! 4th Jan '08

I'm back in my Kingdom - THE PARK! Cahaya Reigns!!

Going Home - 03.01.2008

Checking out the onboard facilities...

What's that you say? Would I like the caviar or the lobster terrine? I actually ordered a Baby Meal, could you please check?

Back to the beach again! 02.01.2008

Great fun with Mummy!

New Years Day 2008 - At the beach!

Busy as a bee ... bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz







Daddy was so good playing with me in the sea!

With Grandpa John who introduced us to this great beach!

This was my first time ever in the sea! I had a great time and i'm not scared of the waves or anything!

I love Petit Miam! 29.12.2007

Gosh this fromage frais stuff is good....

If I put my tongue in far enough maybe , just maybe i'll get a bit more out...


Aww no more??

Big Nanny's Home 30.12.2007

I love Nanna's garden..

I need some fibre.. I'll try this one I think..

Ooo yuck...

This cat visited me in the gardens everyday!

I said, " roll over and play dead!!! "

I love to dance! Even though Mummy thinks I look like a drunk Mexican!


Look at my madness!


I slid off my bed...

I Love Floppy Dog - 29.12.2007

X'mas Day at Aunty Gudi's - 25.12.2007

With my Aussie Godparents!

Surrounded by Handsome Indian Guys!! ( Daddy's friend Uncle Mark )

Xmas Eve Part One (a.m swimming) 24.12.2007

Daddy and I spent the morning in the pool having a whale of a time!

X'mas Eve Part 2 (evening) - 24.12.2007

Mummy and Me

Kah ha ha ha ha...


Taking time out to smell the flowers...



Dogs dogs dogs EVERYWHERE!!



Wow what a fun day!


I learnt to throw!

My Christening 23.12.2007

Hi everybody!!!!

Nanna invited her besties Aunty Paula and Aunty Charo

My Grand Uncle David Pettett who officiated the event.

Just testing the water folks... it better not be too cold!

Actually being Christened


My Australian Godparents, Uncle Tony and Aunty Gudi with my Grand Uncle Reverend David Pettett


All my guests at the after party!!

My beautiful Nanna

Saying goodbye to everyone as I left the party early - tired, and I need my beauty sleep!

I am 13 Months Old Today! - 22.12.2007

Off To Sydney! 21.12.2007

Here I am on my Daddy's lap in the KLIA Skytrain!


Getting my arrival briefing of house rules from Grandpa John


Playing Hide and Seek with Mummy the first night in Sydney. So fun!!

Mum's Musings - Development Updates 15.12.07

Today I asked Cahaya to go get Barney. She turned around, walked back to her toy box, picked Barney out, snuggled him and gave him a kiss and brought him back to me. Then she said Ba-nee. Swear to God, if her Daddy had not been sitting right there, he'd never have believed me!!

Mum's Musings - ONE!

ONE - A very small number, however, a time of GREAT change. So rapid are the changes, I can barely keep up with them.

Cahaya has progressed by leaps and bounds ( actually leaping and bounding ) in many areas, yet in others she remains stubbornly behind.

Trying to keep a track of these milestones is no easy feat, but let me try to list some of them at least. ( in no particular order or importance! )

Shall we start with VOCABULARY & WORDS?

* Favourite word already is "NO" ! ( inclusive of the head actions! ) Before you say anything, its' not from me. Its from all the maids in the park shouting at her when she puts a leaf in her mouth!

* Still won't say DOG but does "woof woof" instead whilst bending her knees. Don't ask me whY!

* Cat is "maow maow maow" and squatting and tilting her head as if to look under a car. ( which is usually where the cats are.

* Duck is "Quack Quack" .. no, actually its' " Kwark Kwark " with a Phillipino accent!!

* She surprised everyone at Gymboree the other day when she actually said "Gymbo" 3 times! Hmmm maybe we are going a bit toooooo often?

* "Bubbles" is an easy one.. lots of bubbles all the time!

* Say "Hello" to Cahaya and you'll get a very quick "HI!" in return accompanied by a wave. And say "Bye Bye" to Cahaya and you'll get a curt "Bye!" and a wave.

* She seems to be saying her name too now, although she's abbreviated it to "Chaya"

* Calls her Nanny Cherie "YaYa" and anyone else Phillipino for that matter. I've heard her say "Kakak" to the Indonesian maids too.

Cahaya is a right little chatterbox and can be heard talking jibberish all the time. To herself, to us, to anyone! Its great and cute and fun. Just wish I understood it!

Next, ACTIONS -

* She is attempting to undress herself. Particularly INCONVENIENT at bedtime!

* Bottle holding with or without handles has been mastered, however, at bedtime she often tries to drink face down into the bed. As you can gather, she's not made it very far! Her milk intake has DOUBLED recently which is great, the problem is, half of its at night and this leads to an extra nappy change sometimes!

* Still WAYYYYY behind on her solids, however she is getting better at manipulating things in her mouth and can finally crunch on 'Teddy Puffs' and she is ABSOLUTELY THRILLED at her accomplishment! ( And so am I !! )

* She is a bit of a scary Houdini and has learnt to very quickly wriggle out of the stroller, car seat and high chair straps! All very scary!

* Last but not least, Cahaya is running. Blink an eye, and she's gone. Danger everywhere, moving so fast, side stepping everyone and everything, tumbling, toppling, bumping, falling. But no crying! Still my GANGSTER GIRL CAHAYA RAIN!

DISLIKES -

* Not many but to name one or two , besides eating, having her teeth brushed. She jams her jaws shut and won't let me brush. But give her the brush and she chews on it... oh no... this is a big problem...

LOVES -

* Leaves, twigs, stones, sand... anything that will fit in her mouth. Not to mention all keys, remotes, fobs etc!

* Play! Play! and more Play! Park time twice a day, Gymboree, ibu Playgroups, Swimming at home or away. Running, playing hide and seek, the slides, being tickled and feet eating!

* Latest FAVE game is BOUNCING! Torturing me while she bounces on my tummy or facing the other way and being bounced and then plopped on the floor.

* Giving great BIG HUGS AND KISSES ( more like a bite - but i'll take it! )

All in all, ONE is a GREAT AGE. Watching her learn, change and develop. I guess I'd better enjoy this while it lasts - as the TERRIBLE TWOS are on their way! I bet any money I'm in for a rough ride with my headstrong, determined, independant daughter!

STAND BACK EVERYONE, HERE COMES CAHAYA RAIN!!

Sadist Baby Enjoying Mother in Pain 10.12.2007

All recovered and feeling full of life again!!

What I Did On My Birthday! 22.11.2007

Hello everyone!! I am ONE today! I received my first birthday wish from my Daddy and his buddies Edmond ( in the picture ) and Brian who took the picture. They were on their way to Vancouver.

I started my day by opening my presents.. Here is my present from Auntie Shireen!

Mum took me to Gymboree for Birthday fun ( even though she's not feeling too well )

Said Hi to Auntie Lillian and Auntie Mani on the way out..

Getting ready to go to the park!!! Hurry up Mum.. I need my pants!

What are you looking at???

Wow everything looks so small from way up here...


Put me down or I'm going to bite your head!

And now.. my favourite pursuit.... eating leaves in the park! Park! Here I come!



Ha! Got one!


Getting advice from Adrian about eating leaves...

What the heck - I'm going to eat it anyway!

Having a blast on the slides!















With some of my friends in the park - Trishani and Reubin

Where are you guys going??? I'm NOT done yet!!

Birthday Party Photos

My welcoming committee!


And the STAR arrives!!



Daddy delivered me to my party! I didn't wanna wake up!

My favourite Kakak wishing me HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

With my KungKung (maternal Grandpa) and PohPoh

Karl the love of my life came!!



Our SUPER DUPER CUPCAKE CAKE!

Getting ready to blow out our candles!

Mr Potato Clown.. that's MY bottle , you can't have it... you're too big for bottles!

Mr Potato exchanging things with me.

What do you mean u want my balloon back?

Can you see Dr Raman in the background? He was the first person to ever see me and welcome me into this world!
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Zara imitating her Daddy

having some quiet time with Maddy, just playing.

My Godbrother Lysander with my Mummy

Lysander and Karl enjoying some one-on-one MAN time...

Me and Lucas and Auntie Tammie

The Dads. From left, Karl's dad, Lucas' dad, My Dad, Hannah's Dad.

You say if i bite it , it will pop? Hmmmm... let's see...

Lysander wants what I have! Oh no.. here he comes!!


Mum and the 'gang'

Mum's Musings - Cahaya's 1st Birthday Party

Many of Cahaya's ardent blog fans will be wondering why the silence for so long ( I was dead busy planning the party... duhhhh ) and why silence still, after the party ( I'm still recovering .. duhhhh...) no, seriously folks Cahaya is not well ( the party animal ) and I was so busy at the party that I didn't get to take a single shot. I was too busy coordinating everything and everyone, that I didn't get to take a single shot. Yes me .. shutter happy karen.. not ONE photo!

Yes, you can safely say I did not get to savour every moment of her
1st party ever .. but what I did get to see and soak in was a party where every single guest was a guest that was specially invited, based on how important that person is to Cahaya. It was a room filled with love. Every person there cares for Cahaya. "It takes a village to raise a child"... well, at 102 guests ranging from 3months old to 72yrs.. well, we pretty much could be counted as a small village.

Every person who has been involved in her life, from the time she was born ( hey - from before she even arrived! - my OBGYN Prof Raman came too! ) was invited.

My child partied on, from 2-6pm with the spirit her Dad can be proud of.. Partttaaayyyyyyy!! To her, it was just a pretty big playdate with tons of spectators. To me, I was grateful for the turnout, surrounded by love and happiness. The presents were great too - looks like i don't have to buy her any more clothes or toys for another year! ( Thanks everyone! )

I promise I'll have photos up soon, as soon as my pals send them to me ! ( hear that folks! hellooooo !! Pronto pronto! )