Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Twitter: Noah Month 12 Part 2 (July 1-July 15 2010)

July 4: I made it to Singapore! The flight was pretty good. I slept most of the way in maman's and dada's arms.

Here I am at the Changi airport amidst the tropical vegetation.
(Photo July 1 - Tweet July 4) 

July 6: I've been so busy, I forgot to note that on June 26, I clearly said mama for the first time and before that I said both "cat" and "chat"!

July 6: My parents told me that we might have a new apartment soon... I hear it even has a kiddie pool. I am so excited.

July 6: I had Kaya toast yesterday for the first time. Mmmmmm so good. I think I can definitely get used to the food here.

July 8: I had my first Durian today and .... loved it to my parents' surprise.

July 8: I used toothpaste for the first time today. It tasted pretty good and I got to swallow it all since it was special baby toothpaste.

I have become very good at raiding the fridge in our temporary apartment. Unfortunately there is not much to eat in there. Maybe tomorrow exciting things will show up.
(Photo July  3 - Tweet July 9)

Although I have been very busy visiting apartments and checking out cupboards and doors, I have taken some time to try the food here (which is very yummy)...
(Photo July 4 - Tweet July 9)

and doing some sightseeing. Here I am with the bay and the new boat casino in the background.
(Photo July 7 - Tweet July 9) 

[The Marina B. Sands area still under construction.]

And here I am with the Singapore Merlion in the background. 
I really like it because it's a fish-cat and fish and cat are two of my favorite signs.
(Photo July 7 - Tweet July 9)

July 9: Only a few more moments of being 11 months old. This 1st year has gone by so fast. I can't believe a year ago I was still in maman's tummy.

July 9: Today I learned two new signs: flower and banana. I also am getting better at singing my dadadadas.

July 10: Good morning world, day 365! I am one years old today!


I have changed quite a bit in the last year don't you think?
 (Photo July 13 2009 - Tweet July 10 2010)

July 10: To celebrate my birthday, I went to Sentosa island.

I got to play in the water with my new ball. 
(Photo and tweet July 10)

I then went to the underwater world aquarium where I fed some fish.
(Photo and tweet July 10) 

And walked through a see-through tunnel with fish swimming all around.
 It was pretty exciting. One fish, two fish. 

[With maman in the tunnel looking at the fish.]

After the aquarium, we had lunch and then I went to play on the beach. 

One of my birthday presents this year was a pail, a shovel and a rake to dig in the sand. 
I had so much fun, I did not want to leave the beach when it was time to go home.

Look what I found waiting for me on the grass when I got back from the island.

I went over to investigate. 

It's a piece of strawberry shortcake for my first birthday! 

At first, I tentatively tested the waters. 

[That did not last long.]

I then dug in with gusto.

I can't believe they let me do this... mmmmmm. 

Almost done... oh look there are a few crumbs I missed lying in the grass. 

All done!

No more food here. Time to go clean up.

After covering myself in cake, I took a refreshing shower in the fountain.

After a change of clothes, I was as good as new and ready for my next adventures.

July 10: For dinner I got to try some sushi for the first time... mmmm.

When I made it home, I got some more presents... some books by Eric Carle. 

July 10 2010: That's it for my birthday. Good night world!

July 13: I have come a long way in my first year. Here are some things I can do now.


I can get up and stand without support. In fact, I can even bend down and pick things up. 

I can walk on my own back and forth, back and forth. 
And I can run to my mama when I am excited... 

[I can do many signs (see more below)]

[Me walking around.]

[I am pretty stable no?]

but often, I still drop down on my knees and crawl.

I can do 20 signs: fish, cat, dog, hat, again/more, milk, flower, bath, banana, 
ball, water, eat, kiss, pen, car, bird, plane, diaper, up, and mama. 
Here I am asking for MORE of that good Indian food.

[At one, I can do many things (Tweets July 13):]

  • I can say and use in context five words: dada, cat, chat, mama, and dog. My parents think they heard me say lait but the jury is still out.
  • I also understand increasing amounts of spoken language and respond to simple requests such as va chercher le ballon or donne moi un bisou.
  • And I also understand a few additional signs: book, please, apple, enough/all done, mouse and baby.
  • I can now chew adult food pretty well with my seven teeth.
  • I can climb onto and off of a couch and I can climb up stairs on my own (down stairs is a little harder but I can do it slowly with help).
Here are some things I like doing at age one (Tweets July 13):
  •  I still like food but now I eat mostly adult food. Mmmmm Thai, Indian, Japanese and Chinese food.
  • I like playing peekaboo and hide-and-seek. I go hide behind the armchair and wait for mama to come get me and laugh and laugh when she does.
  • I love people. On the subway, I smile at people, perform my tricks, try to hold their hand and play with them. I love when they smile back.
  • What tricks? Miming, how big is Noah? Pointing at mam's nose. Playing peek-a-boo. Signing wildly.
  • When I do my dog sign, you go woof woof and when you go meow, I do my cat sign.
  • I also like telling jokes. I sign fish with a smile. There is no fish! I put a book on my head and sign hat. I point at mama and say dada.
  • I like playing imaginary food. You feed me and I feed you and I feed myself. Yum Yum.
  • I like pens, carrying them around and trying to scribble with them.
  • I like raiding the fridge. You never know what you can find in there.
  • I like opening and closing doors and figuring out how they work. All doors: fridge, cupboard and sliding doors and even toilet lids.
  • I like being in my parents' arms and being carried around.
  • But I also like roaming and romping freely discovering the world, making sure gravity works, testing Zeno's paradox (ie shredding paper).
  • I love hugs and kisses. I make my kiss sign and after getting a kiss I sign more kisses, more kisses. I love giving kisses too.
  • I like playing with my flashcards. You show me a card and I do the sign or I sign and you show me the right card
  • I like computers, cell phones and all electronics and I love playing with balls and balloons big and small.
There are a few things I dislike (Tweets July 13):
  • I don't like being put in my stroller and taken away from the action.
  • I don't like being picked up when I am having fun. I don't like not being picked up when I am signing up, up, up (and often whining).
  • I do not like napping in my bed.
  • I do not like it when people do not respond to me, to my smiles and tricks. How can they not smile when I am "so big"?
  • I don't like it when people are eating yummy food and don't give me any even if it's not my meal time. I hate it when the food is all gone.

July 13: Ok, so now you have a picture of what I am like these days... so come on over and play with me. I'll show you my tricks in person.

July 14 (photos and tweets): I will show you a few of my signs. 

Here I am making the more sign.


Here I am patting my knee making the dog sign. 

Hat, hat. See you pat your head to say hat (walking at the same time is optional).


Here I am stroking my cheek. Where is the cat? Do you see a cat?


It's bath time (or pool time)! 


I want that ball. Ball, ball, ball. One of my favorite signs these days.

Can I have some milk? Open fist... 


Close fist. 


How big is Noah? So big... 


I was getting very hot outside so we moved inside for some cooler air. 
How tall is Noah? This tall? 


That's a car. I know that one. 

I still find it hard to wrinkle my nose without blinking when I make my flower sign. 


And finally my fish sign - open mouth, 
then close mouth with a satisfying plop. 


Well, my first year was a pretty exciting adventure for me and my parents. 
Just in time to start my second year, I have moved into a new empty apartment in Singapore. 
Many more exciting adventures to follow, I am sure.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Twitter: Noah Month 12 Part 1 (June 13-June 30 2010)

June 16: I can walk. I am still tentative and spotty but I did three steps thrice yesterday and twice this morning. Is this a fluke? Updates to come.

Sunday June 13th: off to Zabars' to buy food for a picnic with my friends.
(Photo June 13 - Tweet June 22)

Greeting my friend Blake with a big kiss.
(Photo June 13 - Tweet June 22)

Reading with Blake and his parents Rob and Abigail.

Look at my cool new glasses. 

After a great picnic, I had dinner with Jarett and Emily. Mmmm cafe Lalo frozen yoghurt.
(Photo June 13 - Tweet June 22) 

I now stand well on my own and that is something worth smiling about.
(June 14 - Tweet June 22) 

I also got to have dinner with Itai and Alizah.
(Photo June 16 - Tweet June 22) 

Last weekend, I went up to Mass for my cousin Shayna's wedding. 
On the way, I stopped in New Haven to check out my parents' alma matter.
(Photo June 18 - Tweet June 24)

Hanging out on old campus. 

I even got to touch the lucky foot... 

And romp around the renovated Calhoun College. 
Apparently, there used to be a tree where I am standing

June 25: Upon arriving in Amherst, we met up with Kathy for some yummy Korean food and then off to bed.

On Saturday morning we had lunch at a farm with Kathy.
(Photo June 19 - Tweet June 28)

I tried to pet the baby goat but he was too fast for me. 

After petting the animals, I met up with my cousin Charley age 2 to cheer on the family kickball teams.
(Photo June 19 - Tweet June 28) 

June 28: I was so excited about the game that I got up on my own without any support. Maman and dada cheered so I clapped my hands "bravo, bravo".

June 28: After the game, we met up with my aunt Abby and my uncle Ron.

They all took me for my first dip in a pool. I loved splashing around and jumping into the water. 
(Photo June 19 - Tweet June 28)

That night, I went to Shayna and Mel's barbecue and had a 
blast crawling around in the grass and waving hello to everyone.

The next morning, after another quick dip in the pool and breakfast with my family, 
I went to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with my Aunt and Uncle and a few cousins.
(Photo June 20 - Tweet June 28)


Here I am with my maman dressed up for my cousin Shayna's wedding.
(Photo June 20 - Tweet June 28)

I got to meet my great-aunt Sylvia. We were the oldest and the youngest members of the family.
(Photo June 20 - Tweet June 28)

During the ceremony, I got to play with my little friend Mayaan (already one)... 

And play on the turtle with my cousins while our parents watched over us.

After the ceremony and some yummy food, I rocked the dance floor with my mom and my cousins Alyssa and Charley. 

and with my dad. 

And finally, with my great-aunt Sylvia again. Don't we look cute together.
 I love her turquoise socks (and her sun glasses).

June 28: After a great weekend in Mass, I went back to NYC. I got to see my Uncle Charles and Aunt NiCole again and my grandparents.

June 28: Thanks for the great hospitality Charles and NiCole.

June 28: I then headed back to Switz on June 22nd for a last week in beautiful Nyon. The flight was uneventful: lots of sleeping and little fussing.

June 29: I am behind in my tweets but I return my wifi box tomorrow so this is ciao ciao and see you in Singapore!

Ooops... the day after the wedding, we took some family pics. Here I am with all my cousins.
(Photo June 21 - Tweet July 2) 

[Before leaving for Singapore, I had one week to see all my friends and say my goodbyes in Switzerland.  Here walking with Jackie. (Photo June 25)]

[I was pretty happy till it was time to say goodbye.]

Here I am reluctantly saying goodbye to Jackie.
(Photo June 25 - Tweet July 2)

Mom and I tried to give away the remaining furniture. Bye bye bookcase!
(Photo June 26 - Tweet July 2) 

I also got to say goodbye to my friends from the baby group. 
(Photo June 26 - Tweet July 2)

Bye bye Hugo!

Bye bye Adrian. 

[It was so much fun playing ball with you. "Ball, ball" I am asking.]

Goodbye Emma. 

Bye bye Caitlin! 

And here we all are - our one year old group portrait. 

Having my first taste of chocolate cake for my pre-birthday 
birthday celebration with my friends.

Here we are with our mothers... well switched up a bit. 

And with our fathers... 

June 26: I clearly said mama for the first time and before that I said both "cat" and "chat"!

Goodbye to the crawling me. Here I am standing alone for the first time on a scale. 10kg already.. and 76cm.
(Photo June 27 - Tweet July 2) 

Goodbye to Celine and little Romy.
(Photo June 27 - Tweet July 2) 

(Photo June 27 - Tweet July 2)

[Beautiful sunny Nyon - I will miss you.]

Goodbye to Tetiana - thanks again for everything :)
(Photo June 27 - Tweet July 2) 

[Bye Bye Saturday market - I will miss you too.]

[Bye bye little "stand" in front of our apartment.]

[Bye bye Rue de la Combe No 4 and old droguerie de la gare turned Orange store.]

[Bye bye Differentiels.]

[Good bye cute cafe I never tried.]

[Good bye friendly baker. I will miss your yummy croissants 
and pains au chocolat and brioches.]

[Bye bye Place du Marche.]

[Bye bye Place du Chateau and Auberge du Chateau.]

[Bye bye old car seat.]

[This was me in my car seat the first time I used it...
either I have grown or it has shrunk... A LOT! (photo July 16 2009)]

Goodbye Stella. 
(Photo June 29 - Tweet July 2)

Goodbye Marco (and Stella).

Goodbye Myriam (and Stella) [You were the best neighbors ever]. 

Stella giving me some water. I will miss my "big sister". 
(Photo June 29 - Tweet July 2)

A last lunch with Stella and her family before hopping on the plane. 
(Photo June 30 - Tweet July 2)

[One last hug.]

Goodbye enchanted Nyon and your beautiful castle, your lake and your mountains... 
[see you next year.]