Lydia is 3!!!!

Lydia.. my elder daughter. Born this day 3 years ago.
I remembered the day I woke up, thinking I needed to go to the loo, but actually it was contraction pain, 13 days earlier than my given date.

Being a first timer, I was totally ignorant and kept on thinking why the pain won't go away, even after I've eased myself. Right until more than one and a half hours later, when I realised it actually happens at regular intervals, and it's already at 16 minutes. Because it was very very mild, I didn't suspect anything earlier on. When I managed to get my hubby to wake up, I actually leaked.

First time... what did one know?

Haha, I'll leave the rest of the experience unsaid now... but all that I could say was, the pain of being induced was horrible, unbearable. I couldn't breathe. No time to breathe. So bad I cried for epidural. I almost wanted to give up and told my hubby, no more babies after this. Hahaha, but then Lyanne came after Lydia. Hahaha. Words said on impluse. I didn't mean it. Hahahaha.

I remember the moment Lydia was out. My tears also came out, tears of joy. She was grey and dirty when I saw her, still with a long umblical cord. Then the nurses cleaned her, and there she is my sweet bundle of joy, resting on my chest. Oh the joy, indescribable!!!

She's grown up a lot these 3 years. Actually a bit too matured for her age, I feel. Her infancy seemed shortlived cos she ran, literally ran like a kid 3 days after she walked. Jumped off the ground at 18 months. Differentiates between chimpanzee, gorilla and orang utan at just 2 plus. Whereas Lyanne is pretty much like other kids at 18 months, still babyish and fumbling around most of the time.

Last 2 weeks, I showed her pictures of my Pork Tocino, and I asked her what is in the picture
1. Me pointing to the this, she told me, CHICKEN
2. Then I pointed to this , she answered CHU YOKE, which meant pork in Cantonese.

I was rather surprised that she could recognise the chicken cos it didn't look like a drumstick or anything in her books. But I tell you, she can recognise a feathery chicken, a dressed chicken (no heads), raw chicken parts in hypermart brochures (be it breast or wings) and call them all chicken. Cooked or raw, she'll tell you chicken. Even if you tear the meat and put in her mouth, she can tell if it's chu yoke or chicken.

Now, she's not so much of a foodie. Remember this incident? Of late, she's not very interested in her meals, except noodles. But she still enjoys my bakes, especially bread, although I not good in it. And she cannot resist vegetables, especially carrots, raw cucumber and "Choy Sum".

And I love the way she helps me make steamed buns, and here's her creation.

I call it marbles bun (bozi bao). The small balls of dough taste really good when made this small.

I'm sure you all remembered this picture before Chinese New Year 2010.

But then, let me show you other pics

Her First Christmas

Playing with the computer at 17 months. Just playing, not doing anything for real.

Her first time in a swim suit at Sg Klah hot springs.

Ever since, she always likes to take out this outfit and ask me to bring her to the beach.

Lydia my dear, I will bring you to the beach, I promise.

Pester your father, not me, as I'm not the one who will be driving you there!!!

Hahahaha!!!

(we already have one beach holiday planned at the end of the year)