3 Months

Anastasia is 3 months old! She is a happy girl who has beautiful smiles and laughs at her big sister. She lifts her head up well when she is doing her tummy time and looks like she wants to roll over. She is grabbing things and is putting her hands in her mouth. The most amazing thing is that Anastasia has been sleeping through the night for the past 4 or 5 days which I really appreciate- I just hope it isn't a fluke. We now just need to get her to take a bottle!

SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands

Today we went to the SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. This hotel has just recently opened and boasts of a park on the top of it's three towers (the boomerang thing on top of the towers in the below picture). This is how their website describes it:

The Sands SkyPark is an awe-inspiring engineering wonder. This unique structural masterpiece, designed by visionary architect Moshe Safdie, floats atop the three soaring Marina Bay Sands hotel towers 200m in the sky.

Stretching longer than the Eiffel tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view.

The Discovery Channel recently aired a show called "Build It Bigger" that featured the hotel and SkyPark which peaked my interest in going to see it. It truly is a "engineering wonder." Here are a couple video clips: One Two

To get there we parked at the Singapore Flyer and then walked over the new Double Helix Bridge.

On the way we ran into the mascots of the Youth Olympic Games: Lyo and Merly.

Elyse took this picture of us. To the right of Toby you can see where the Olympic flame was. It looks like a lighthouse.

Once we got to the hotel we had to travel to the 56th floor.

From 200 Meters, you can see great views of Singapore. In the background of this picture you can see the "old downtown." The Marina Bay sands is part of the "new downtown."

Next to the observation deck there is the hotel infinity pool and garden. The pool is for hotel guest only. It would have been nice to take a dip- we were HOT!

While I fed Anastasia, Elyse and Toby walked around the garden. We then went back to The Flyer, had some lunch and headed home. Another great morning in Singapore.

Update

It's been a long time since I updated the blog- sorry. Elyse went to Jakarta and had a great time and then she resumed school. She is hesitant to go, but once she is there she likes it. Toby and I went out with some friends over the weekend to a hawker center and then a wine bar. Anastasia and Elyse were in the capable hand of our babysitter Mary. It was nice to be out without any kids. Anastasia has been grabbing things more and has been lifting her head up higher. Plus, I just finished booking our hotel for China which we will go to in September. So that's exciting. I guess you can say all is going well here in the Harkless Household. Here are some pictures from the past week or so.

Elyse sporting her new frog towel from Grammy and Gramps:

Cute Girl:

Life for Toby surrounded by girls:

Elyse took this picture of me in my new glasses:

Tummy Time:

Youth Olympic Games

The first Youth Olympic Games is being held in Singapore, starting tomorrow. For the past few days the Olympic Flame has been making it's way around the island. Today it passed right by our condo. Anastasia and I went down to the street to see it pass.

These are the people who were there to pump up the crowd before the torch bearer passed. They did a good job. I was getting excited!

Here are some local school kids who got to miss class to see the flame race by.

Here it comes!

The hand off to the next torch bearer. (I really don't know where he came from. He just appeared.)

And off he goes.

It was fun to see. I actually could have seen it again, but I thought of it too late (I walked around a little in another direction) and when I walked down the street where the flame was going to be, I had just missed it.

2 Months

Today I went with Anastasia for her 2 month check up. We got there a little late because taxi issues (I got into someone else's taxi, had to turn around, and then missed the taxi I called- which I think was in the wrong spot... anyway...) so I was feeding Anastasia until the the doctor was done with another person who took our spot. I was burping Anastasia when the dr came out and looked at me and said "What are you doing?" and then realized I was burping my baby- not beating her. Apparently he thought I was burping her too vigorously. I felt kind of insulted. Then I continued to feed Anastasia while he answered my questions.

I told him I wanted to have A vaccinated on the US schedule which does a few vaccinations at the 2 month check up (requiring 2 jabs) instead of doing it the Singaporean way which would do one jab at 2 months and then another at 3 months. The doctor was not thrilled with this. He thought 2 jabs in one day would be horrible. I was thinking why have pain once a month when you can have it every other month?

After awhile he saw it my way (about the pain) and gave A the US's scheduled vaccinations. ( He would have done it even if he didn't see my point, just because that's the way I wanted to do it)As he was doing the shots, I came to realize why he didn't want to do 2 jabs- he was slow. He gave A a shot, then had to prepare the next one which took awhile. This way there was a jab- crying and then another jab and more crying. In the States, the nurses gave the shots so quick, it was over fast with only one crying spell.

With all that said- I think I am in a babbling mood- This Dr. is good and I like him. He is straight forward and takes the time to listen and answer all questions- just not good at giving shots.

Anastasia is doing well. She now weights 5.39 KG/ 11 lbs 14 oz (with her diaper on) 75%, She is 55.5 cm/22 in long 50%, and her head is 40 cm 90%. These are the Singaporean percentiles, so just keep that in mind.

First Day of School

Today was Elyse's first day of school. She will be going 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. Doesn't she look so cute in her uniform and backpack?

As we were walking to the school, we ran into 2 other kids that go to her school. They just so happened to be the other 2 white kids in the school and they are from the States. The girl is in Elyse's class and her mom was saying that she comes home speaking Mandarin. Let's seen how long it takes Elyse to do that. Perhaps when we go to Beijing, Elyse can tell the taxi drivers where to go :)

The school is called Twinkle Minds and is in the HDBs across the street from our condo.

Elyse went in with out looking back, I had to call her to say goodbye and get this picture.

When I picked her up she was very happy and her teacher said she "performed very well" and "ate well- asking for seconds." Sounds like it was a good day.

Elyse Turns Three!

Elyse turned 3 on Saturday- Can you believe it!? We started the day by opening presents. We got her a cleaning set and a camera. She opened the camera and said "This makes me so happy!" (I tried to have her recreate it for a video, but it wasn't the same.)


Elyse played with her new toys in the morning and then we had McDonald's delivered for lunch.

After Elyse's nap it was party time! We rented out the BBQ pit just below our apartment and had a simple spread of snacks. I brought down balls, bubbles, and badminton rackets for kids to play with.

For this picture Elyse said "I want to wear a party hat and stand right here for a picture."

As we waited for guests to arrive, Elyse blew some bubbles.

Daddy and Anastasia getting in the party mood.

After the guest arrived and all the kids played for awhile it was time for cake.

Hanging out at the playground.

You might have noticed that Elyse was wearing a different dress in the last 2 pictures, and no, this wasn't one of those Asian customs of changing 5 times for a party. As guest were arriving, Elyse was chasing one of her friends and fell into the mud, so we needed to change her outfit.

After theparty we headed back upstairs and opened more presents. We had a great day. Thanks to everyone who came to the party. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELYSE!!!!