growing up

This is what we called happiness

2010-04-04T20:14:00.000+08:00

Singapore’s First Blogger Symposium by Nuffnang

2010-04-04T11:44:00.000+08:00

We attended the above event on 3th April, and joined the speech by Leonny (owner of the blog "oureverydaythings". )

I am a reader of her blog, and i love her parenting tips. Now how can i miss meeting her in person as well as learning photography tips from her?

During the almost 2 hours session with her, she shared with us how to take nice photos of children, using photoshop to edit the photos. And both hubby and myself enjoyed ourselves very much.

What about the kids? Nuffnang is so considerate to have a kids room for all the little ones. They've got staff attending the kids and the kids got to watch cartoons in the room. So, little girl and little boy enjoyed themselves too!

As for now, i shall use the photography tips and try to take nice shots of my darlings.

some thoughts of mine

2010-03-12T19:22:00.000+08:00

Come July next year, i'll have to register little girl for Primary school. I never really don't see a big hu-ha as to why parents crack their brain to which school to enrol until recently.

I've always believe that its better to send my kids to the school nearest to me so that the kids will not be too tired due to long traveling hours. In fact, i have already started being a parent volunteer since last year. Don't ask me why but i just realised that the students from the primary sch i am volunteering aren't that well behaved. In fact, i've to called up the school to make a complaint of their students.

That's when i begin to wonder if i should enrol my kids to my former primary school, which till now is still pretty popular. And since i am an ex-student, its doesn't even required me to do any volunteer work. But the biggest setback is the school is quite a distance from our place. And i bet the time spent on traveling is a lot too.

Worse part is, if the kids have CCA or supplementary lessons, there will be no school bus and i'll have to fetch them from school (note that we don't owe a car). So logically speaking, it doesn't make any sense. Should i compromise distance with probably better environment?

Its a busy period

2010-01-21T21:07:00.000+08:00

CNY is fast approaching and here i am with my baking schedule once again. For this year, i am not selling any cookies except to my sis this year. Her order alone is 13 bottles while i have another 12 bottles or so to bake as gifts to family and close friends.

Not that i am complaining but given the limit time, baking become a chore more than a hobby. Can't bake too early for fear of the cookes turning mouldy. Can't bake too late either as i won't have time to complete all. Guess i'll have to forgo my sleep again.

End of 2009!

2009-12-31T18:59:00.000+08:00

Its been quite sometime since i last update this blog. Wonder who still frequent this blog? :p

2009 will be ending in another 5 hour or so. As usual, time flies, another year is bidding us goodbye soon. Coming 2010, my little girl will be turning 5, entering K1 and little boy will be 4, entering Nursery.

I never have the habit of making any new year resolution, so am not going to make any for the coming one. As usual i only wish for good health for all my family members and friends, a smooth sailing year (been having a lot of ups and downs in 2009) and a fruitful 2010.

Oh, did i mention that i am expecting a little nephew/niece next year? :)

June - July

2009-09-25T20:09:00.000+08:00

Just realised that i haven't updated the blog for coming to 2 months. Not that there aren't interesting things happening, its just that sometimes i am simply too lazy to pen down.

So here's some some major events that happened.

Little girl celebrated her 4th birthday 3x at my mum's place, the school and at our own humble house. This year's theme was princess. She requested for a princess cake and dress like one too. Times flies, in Dec little boy will be turning 3. Gone are the innocence of them, and what is approaching is more reasoning from the kids. Sigh!

In July, we celebrated the birthday of my younger sis, who turned 21st this year. Noyhing fanciful, just buffet dinner at Jurong Point. Well, this little sis of mine is such a fine young lady now. Wish her a bright future. :)

There is also the Racial Harmony Day at school. Managed to borrow a Malay costume for little girl. Looks more like a little nonya on her. Little boy still can fit into his jinbei, which he wore last year at school. (shows he hasn't grown much) :p

Updates

2009-09-25T16:13:00.001+08:00

Pandon me for the lack of updates. A few months again, i've started this little business, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7550559, with my sis. Its still a pretty new store, so we are still trying to figure out which are most popular to customers.

Oh yes, felt playfood is a very new concept in Singapore, but its pretty popular in US. US parents believes that the plastic playfood contains lots of toxic, thus they would rather invest in other types of playfood for this children.

So now i am busy with sewing the items customers order. And on top of it, the usual, doing housework, monitoring the kids do their homework, cooking, etc etc.

The past 2 months+ hasn't really been a fantastic one for us. The kids are down with cough and cold, which lasted for more a month, stop for about a few days and back again. It's get real frustrating when the kids are sick, more so if you've tried all types of methods to build their resistence and nothing seems to work!

Ah Boy

2009-08-30T16:03:00.000+08:00

Friends who known little boy would always label him as a sweet nature boy who doesn't run amok or behave like other boys or how boys should behave. Its true to certain extent. I don't have the problem of having to chase him when we are outside, and he don't usually fight or snatch toys with other kids.

But unknown to others, this little boy of mine has a fiery temper and a very very stubborn boy is he. (from dad's genes? :p) He would rather cry for close to an hour than to do what you asked him too.

Just like this afternoon, all i wanted him to do is to wear his pj then go to for his nap. This little boy of mine simply refused to do so. Had to bring him out of the bedroom and close the door with him outside 3x before he finally agreed to wear his pj.

Hiyoh, with such a temper like his (getting worse these few weeks), everyday becomes a chore. Imagine having to coax him into doing this and that, a simple task who usually takes 5 mins can end up being completed only in 15 mins or more. Let's just hope this is a passing phrase, (which i belive it is) and he will co-operate with me soon.

Snip, snap, snip

2009-06-19T11:38:00.001+08:00

My hair has been dropping like no one's business (of course, other than mine), and i'm getting bald! Thought that by cutting it shorter, tangling will reduce, and perhaps dropping will reduce too? (I certainly hope so).

I hate going to salon, except those $10 express cut type. Reason is those saloons love to comment on my hair, some excepts are, "oh, your hair dry, fizzy, blah blah blah....", end up they just want me to buy their products. So why should i spend tonnes to listen to their comments?

Anyway, this time round, i thought i shall just try cutting my own hair. Had cut little girl's hair and little boy's not too long ago. Spend like 1/2 hr standing in front of the mirror in the toilet (simply too lazy to vacuum the floor), comparing whether the right or left side is long, which strand of hair is shorter, etc etc.

And ta-dah! I did it. From the mirror, its seems fine. Have yet to show anyone if its of equal length. But actually there is a need to, since i tie up my hair most of the time. Conclusion, saved $10, and i had "fun". :p

Her little request

2009-06-15T09:56:00.003+08:00

In less than 2 weeks, little girl will be turning 4!

It seems like yesterday when she just celebrate her 3rd birthday and now she is turning 4. This year, she requested for a princess cake, well almost everything princess. She is just so much into princesses nowadays. And the weird thing is she has never really watch any princess cartoons, etc before.

To grant her wish, i've already ordered a Belle cake and trying hard how to dress her like a little princess without spending lots. Have made a tutu for her, now trying to find her a matching top and how to beautify that tutu.

While this mummy wishes that she stops growing old, she can't wait to grow up! Sigh!

Till the day of the celebration at school...

Overloaded

2009-06-14T16:11:00.002+08:00

Not me, but my dear laptop.

This is the 2nd coma it suffered this year, the 1st being somewhere in Mar. No laptop = handicap, no facebook, no surfing! Such is the life of "modern" society. We tends to feel handicap with IT. I am no exception!

For now, till then, have to use hubby's desktop while dear old laptop checked into the computer hospital.

About toilet training

2009-06-05T18:07:00.001+08:00

About 2 years ago, i toilet train little girl, not fully but during the day.

2 years later, i am toilet training again, this time little boy and litte girl. Little boy for the day, and little girl for napping and night. Started little boy on a much later age, abt 1/2 yr later, reason being i just don't want to stress myself.

Toilet training begins on sat (31/05/09), that morning, we had countless accidents. Wet like 3 pants only for the day, that i had to buy more shorts for him. Sun we didnt managed to train him, was out almost the whole day. From mon onwards, there was only one or 2 accidents each day. :)

As for little girl, she was diaperless for her nap as well as night since sun. Since far so good, no accidents. Well, we exchanged terms, that is if she can go diaperless, she can get her princess birthday cake as well as a toy for helping daddy and mummy save $. It somehow work wonders on her.

Next plan will be diaperless for little girl when going out and diaperless for little boy during nap time. Will see when its best to implement that. :)

My little terror

2009-05-21T19:40:00.003+08:00

There are 2 occasions where little girl and little boy had any argument and it ended up with a crying girl with scratches over her face.

Well who says only girls scratch when they fight? Little boy is the culprit for the scratches on little girl's face. Aren't he fierce? Really a complete change from the gentle looking boy.

Anyway, receive a complain from his teacher today. He did it again! He scratched his classmate's face and refused to apologize. I don't know if that classmate did "provoke" him 1st, or he just scratched him for fun. But for the 2 occasions where he scratch little girl, is because little girl demand he do something which he didn't want to.

Let's just hope its because that boy provoke little boy 1st, instead of little boy turning to a terror who goes around bullying his classmates. Yet another headache! ~.~`

Updates

2009-05-21T19:27:00.003+08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. Been really busy over the past weeks and months.

We, the kids and myself are taking turns to fall sick one after another, talking about luck. All these sickness, etc is making me really tired and demoralising to the extent that i simply don't feel like doing anything, from cooking meals to blogging. But i simply can't escape the fact that there are tonnes of housework waiting for me.

While, both myself and little boy is still currently down with running nose and such and we are still taking our course of antibotics. I sure hope all these nasty viruses will stay far away from us.

Side track, little girl has grown so much thinner that some of her classmates' mum commented that she doesn't look like the Shanice before. Thanks to the "weekly" viruses that makes her lost weight. But personally, i do like her current size :p

Sigh!

2009-04-05T11:17:00.003+08:00

Don't know what's wrong but one bad thing have to go hand-in-hand with the other. The kids have been sick on and off since the beginning of the year. So often that i've loss count of it.

Just recently, little girl had that terrible cut on her forehead. The next day she start running a fever, and again we went to the PD. PD diagnose her with viral fever (luckily not inection of the wound), but to monitor her further to see if its HFMD.

Then 2 days later, little boy is down with fever. Goodness!

Its hard to explain how i feel. A mother's feeling towards a sick child is very different from that of a father's. Dear hubby is forever rather "relax" when the kids are sick. Maybe due to the fact that women are more emotional, i tend to think of a lot of "what if" when the kids are sick. And that can sometimes cause a lot of unneccesary stress on my part, especially when dear hubby will give the "aiyoh, nothing serious" attitude.

You know, its like i will start wondering if hubby cares about this family at all. And its double stress when i am home alone most of the time with the kids. So if anything really happened, how can i cope? I mean i can't drive, for hubby to rush home from office, it will take at least an hr if he takes a cab. Both grandies are staying far away so no possible to call for help. So kudos to those mummies who handle more than 1 child alone with no help at all.

To be frank, we've been having deflicit income since i stop working. And with the kids being sick so often, it makes it even worse. I sure hope all these unhappy, dark clouds will clear really soon and there will be rainbow for the whole family soon, before i fall into deep depression. :(

Parent Volunteer

2009-04-01T20:49:00.003+08:00

Little girl will be attending Primary 1 in Yr 2012. I am supposed to be a parent volunteer next year should i want priority when registering her for Primary school in Yr 2011.

My 1st choice would be just the primary school next to my house. Reason is simple, shortest distance from my house. Yup, it might not be a popular school but to me, i just want to minimise travelling time for the kids.

It doesn't make sense to me if i send them to a popular school which requires them to travel like 30 to 1hr per trip and tired them out totally even before lessons begin. So I'll settle for a neighbourhood school. My younger sis is the only one among the 3 of us who attended a neighbourhood school, but she is also the one who has done very well in school. Attending a good secondary school, a good junior college as well as University. :)

Anyway, managed to get one of the PV committee member's contact number. Off a friend and i went to meet up with her and get to know the school environment. I opt for packing the books in the library due to the flexibility in time as well as i could actually bring 1 kid with me for the PV work.

Will be starting PV this year even though i may not be able to count the hours i work as the 40hrs quota. While touring around the school library, i actually feels good. Good that i will be "working" again, and having "people" to talk to.

*update*
The school just confirm that hours we work for PV this year can be counted as the 40 hours. Yippy!

Home accident

2009-04-01T20:41:00.002+08:00

I am still recovering from shock. Totally clueless about how it happened.

Was busy cooking dinner when i heard little girl's cry. It wasn't the usual bump or bruise. She had a short but rather deep cut on her forehead. She said she didn't fall and knock herself. She claims she merely knock herself against the edge of the main door.

Didn't realise that a harmless looking door (well at least it doesn't have any sharp edges) can cause such a bit cut. Brought her to the PD, where she has her wound glue together. Didn't opt to bring her for stitching as i reckon it would be more traumatising for her as well as myself.

Being the usual tough little girl (she didn't cry for 90% of the jabs she had taken), she didn't cry during the cleaning up of the wound, as well as the glue-ing part. The pd was so scare that she might move when he is applying the glue that he wrapped her up in towel. Well, she didn't move at all, that's my brave little girl.

After this incident, i thought i should really go for 1st aid course. Though i am quite calm when such things happened, but i am clueless of what i should do. hmm..

Peace Please!

2009-03-19T11:30:00.002+08:00

I've got this habit of bathing after i bath the kids (esp during the holidays). Most of the time i'll leave the kids to play by themselves.

But i never had the luxury of enjoying my shower, at my own speed. Especially nowadays, either little girl or little boy will go to the bathroom and complain to me that the other do this or that. They've actually become little complain queen and king.

Its really kinda of frustrating at times cause i can't even enjoy my shower! What used to be a daily routine is now more of a chore!

She's 100cm

2009-03-18T16:52:00.002+08:00

Yes, the heading says it all.

My little girl pass the 1m mark. She's now 100.5cm and weigh 15kg.

From a newborn measuring 46cm, weighing 2.4kg, see how much she've grown. :)

About Weaning Off

2009-03-16T22:02:00.000+08:00

On a visit to the PD recently, the PD asked what milk is little boy on. When she heard that little boy is still on breastmilk, she goes. "He is old enough not to take breastmilk. Mummy, you know what to do?"

Somehow it breaks my heart. Its just a simple wish wanting to breastfeed him as long as possible. But the way the PD puts it is like "hey why do you still give him breastmilk?". Of course i know that someday, somehow i'll have to wean him off, but like most mummies, i would prefer him to wean off himself when he is ready.

During the period where i am pretty sick, we gave him some formula milk when i am ready too tired to breastfeed him. Now when he sees his can of formula milk, he would request for it at times.

Yes i know he is most probably ready to wean off and should be able to accept formula milk totally without much fuss. But i never expect it to be anytime soon. To think that period whereby i have to be very careful about the medications i take, the sleepless night i have when little boy wants his milk, the great bonding i have with him etc will be nothing but a past makes me somewhat sad.

The decision now is that i'll continue to breastfeed him while giving him formula milk when he wants to. Let's just hope that he will still want mummy's milk till at least 3 year old.

I love you, mummy

2009-03-13T18:46:00.001+08:00

Little girl: I love you, mummy.
Me: I love you too!
Little girl: I don't love daddy.
Me: Why?
Little girl: Because today is not daddy's birthday!!!!!!
Me: *faint*

MIA?

2009-03-06T09:40:00.003+08:00

MIA? Nope!

Talking about luck, i am down with a rather serious viral fever since 15th Feb. I got a sudden fever in the afternoon. The next day, am still unwell, so asked hb to be on leave,

Tuesday, fever still there. This time, i've got uninvited guest, uclers! Lots of uclers around my lips and throat. 1st thought was HFMD? Visit to the doc again to confirm. He says unlikely unless there are rashes.

Wednesday, fever still there, accompanied by uclers and some rashes. Oh dear, better see another doc. Did some blood test to check if its dengue. Doc again confirm its unlikely to be HFMD but could be a virus similar to that of chickenpox. Call later in the afternoon to inform that platelets are ok but there is some infection.

Thursday, went to collect new antibotics. Was told that i should feel better. Friday, still feeling really horrible with more and more rashes. Went down to TTS A&E. Did blood test, show there is a slight drop in platelets --> a potential victim of dengue. Was given an appointment at Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) on the following Mon.

After Thurs, i have another 3 appointments with CDC and another 3 more blood test in the following week. Final visit, doctor confirmed i did not contact dengue, its just viral fever, probably a very strong one. There is also signs of liver infection, which could be a cause of the viral fever. Got to do blood test to make sure liver is no longer infected 2 weeks later.

As for this week, i am still coughing with lots of mucus, headache too. Didn't send the kids to school. Hopefully by next week, i am well again.

Would like to thank my hb who took 2 weeks leave to take care of the kids and me. As well as my mum who helps look after the kids while i went to CDC with hb for my appointment.

LOST

2009-02-11T18:30:00.002+08:00

Lost, not the kids but me. Not physically but mentally.

Last Dec till now definitely aren't a bed of roses for me. With the kids being sick so frequent, i am getting lost. It hurts my heart to see them sick and for such a long period. Doctors diagnose them with just viral virus, sensitive airway etc but to me, i can't help but wonder if its really so?

Are they really weak or is the weather really that bad? Else why are they sick for such a long period and so frequent? Its really difficult to put my feelings now into words, i don't how to describe them. But in short, i am not feeling too good.

Just this week, they have been missing school since mon till today. Even though doctor says that they can return to school tomorrow, but i am wondering if they really could. Little girl is still have stiffy nose and coughing very often. Little boy though looks fine on the surface, but he still have phgelm.

I am not too keen to keep them at home, especially now that little girl is starting proper lesson with homework etc. But am also wondering if sending them to school will only make their current condition worse. What shall i do? :(

And all i could do now is just to hope and pray that my precious will be in a pink of health soon!

All things come in a package!

2009-02-08T16:21:00.002+08:00

Little boy is down with running nose, followed by a cough last Friday. To make things worse, little girl is down with the same symptoms this morning. See what i mean by "package", cough and running nose, little boy and little girl!

And i really don't know if its really coincidence or what, but the last 2-3x they caught the nasty virus is a few days after i continue letting them take the chinese medicine (tonic) left behind from the last time they seen the chinese doc.

My guess is the tonic is too strong for them especially after being ill for a month. In chinese terms, they say body is too "xu" ie weak.

Little boy's cough this round is pretty bad. He had been coughing throughout the whole day, even when he is sleeping at night. Though little girl only started coughing with running nose this morning, i can foresee her cough will get worse when she sleep tonight.

I just keep my fingers cross that she won't cough until she throw out again. (She does this pretty often when she is having a bad cough).

Michael comes visiting

2009-01-27T20:46:00.001+08:00

Every since little girl saw Michael at the zoo on her last birthday, she had been asking to meet him again. Maybe its fate, little girl likes him quite a bit.

On the 2nd day of CNY, Michael came to our house for steamboat lunch. He brought along his stylo-milo camera and little girl & little boy sure had a great time pestering him, "playing" with his camera.

Reunion dinner at MIL's place

2009-01-25T22:20:00.001+08:00

Reunion dinner at PIL's place aren't really considered reunion dinner as we don't eat together. PIL and hb don't have the habit of sitting down together as a family and have their meals. So even when it comes to reunion dinner, we will have our dinner 1st while in-laws will only have theirs after we left.

So to me, its just like any other meal times except that there are better food and variety of food is more than usual. Hopefully next year we get to have our reunion dinner outside so that in laws will be "force" to eat together with us.

CNY Preparation

2009-01-25T08:50:00.002+08:00

This year, we did a thorough spring cleaning, well, sort of, minus the study room and the spare room. Hubby even took 2 days leave to help me handle the kids while i do the cleaning.

Tough job, esp when it comes to coming the windows. I think i only clean the windows once a year. :p Next time must be disclipline enough to clean at least 1/2 yearly.

As usual, i bake some CNY cookies. In fact, this year i prepare quite a variety to give to friends and relatives. We have beehive cookies, prawn roll shrimp, almond cookies, pineapple tarts, cornflake cookies, peanut cookies and fried crackers.

Hopefully we will have a meaningful OX year. May surely hope everyone in the family will be bless with good health, especially the kids.

Here's wishing all my readers a Prosperous and Wonderful OX year!

CNY celebration at school

2009-01-23T21:08:00.000+08:00

The kids had their CNY celebration at school today. They were to dress in party clothes, preferably in traditional clothings.

Didn't really know what they did in school, but i was told by little girl that they were taught to sing some CNY songs.

Little boy was taught to make a CNY bag with sweets inside, while little girl was taught to make a CNY card for daddy and mummy. :)

Refusal to go to school

2009-01-22T12:09:00.002+08:00

Little girl started her N2 this year, in a new classroom (without toys), a new English/Math teacher, and a whole new schedule.

Since last Friday (16/01/09), she starting running out of the classmate, crying. Asked her why, she said she wants mummy. Never did she ever cried in school before, not even on her 1st day of school.

My only guess is that she is no use to the new schedule, no play, no talking at during school. And the new teacher seems pretty strict to me, some of the kids did comment that they are scare of the new teacher too. Side track a bit, little girl was asked to stand at the corner of the classroom for a while cause she was yakking during lessons and scolded a few times by that teacher too.

Now i could only pray that this crying episode will end soon.

Dillemma

2009-01-21T08:28:00.004+08:00

Am in a dilemma. The kids had been sick on/off since Dec, without complete recovery despite seeing GP 2x, chinese sinseh 2-3x, PD 1x and now i am giving them Eu Yan Sang's off-the-shelf medicine.

This sickness means that they will have to restart their 3 months' course of "tonic" and be sick free for this 3 months before they can be declare "healthy" by the chinese sinseh. The kids actually started their "tonic" in end October last year. But sad to say, its rather impossible for the kids to be total sick-free for 3 months. (i am unless the kid is really really healthy or doesn't go to sch, which young child can be sick less for 3 months ah?)

So they start and restarted their "tonic" again and again. Now, not that i am complaining of the high cost of the chinese medicine, but i don't like the idea of being sick-free for 3 months. Cause that would mean the kids must be off the "no-no" food the chinese sinseh said. And we will be stuck with the tonic for probably quite a few months again.

Honestly, i do see a slight improvement in the kids health, IE being sick like once a mth instead of the usual 2-3x a month. But i am somewhat "sick" of being stuck in the 3 months "tonic" period which never seems to end for my kids.

Now i am considering building up the kids' health myself. Giving them Cordyceps and other chinese herb myself, as well as vit C etc. But that would means i will probably start giving them the "no-no" food since its impossible to keep them out of those forever, esp if i am not bring them back to the sinseh, then who will give the green light for them to take the food again?

What is holding me back is what if the kids don't improve and instead get worse? Can someone tell me what shall i do now, to continue seeing the sinseh or to try building up their health myself? HELP!

*updates*
Will be giving them Cordyceps Stroma Gold. Some friends claim its good, so shall give it a try. Will continue giving them vitamin C and some herbal soup too. Wish me luck!

A whole new schedule

2009-01-14T21:32:00.002+08:00

Ever since the kids started their school on 6th Jan, we've got a new schedule to adjust to. Little boy is attending N1 from 9 to 11am, while little girl is attending N2 fro 10 to 12.30pm. All this means i have to make a trip to the school 4 times a day, which is definitely taking up a lot of my time.

For the past week, little girl and myself will drop little boy at the school, then i will either bring little girl to do some marketing or for breakfast. Then after dropping little girl at the school at 10am, i will rush home, take a quick shower and fetch little boy at 11am.

When little boy is back, i will bath him, and both of us will have our lunch before we are out to fetch little girl. So the moment little girl is back, she will have her lunch before we take our nap together.

I don't know why but the kids usually will take long naps, i.e 2.5 to 3 hours when they attend school. Once they wake up from their nap, its another mad rush again. Need to prepare little girl's milk, bath her and let her do her homework. (from N2 onwards, they will have homework).

After which, i need to prepare dinner again. I have no fully adjust to this new schedule yet and i am still trying to fit "cooking lunch time" into it. So far, we have tapau food for lunch with the exception of today where i cooked porridge for lunch. I reckon i might be able to cook lunch if its something simple like fried rice, fried bee hoon or such. We'll see if i can do some planning next week. :)

Making Children MIND without losing YOURS

2009-01-14T21:17:00.002+08:00

I am generally not a very good temper person, in fact, i am rather quick temper, especially when things are off schedule. I hate it when the kids throw temper 1st thing in the morning or after their nap for no apparent reasons (these 2 timings are the busiest of the day).

From this blog, http://www.oureverydaythings.com/ which i frequent quite often, i got to
know this book. Made a reservation through the library website and am reading it now. Some of the key points the author highlighted does make sense to me. Especially this particular point, "discipline your kids, not punish them".

Yes there is indeed a difference in it. When you discipline your kids, it means you are doing it with love. While when u punish them, it conveys the message that you don't love them. Very often, parents thinks that kids must be punished to be discipline.

I, for one, is such a person. But from now onwards, i shall try my very best to change my parenting style. Yes, i may not be able to do it overnight or in the near future, but i will try my best. (After all, i am being brought up in a family who believes that kids need to be punish to be better kids, so it aren't easy to change the mindset already being "implant" since young. )

So, do wish me luck!

Welcoming 2009!

2009-01-04T16:36:00.002+08:00

No fanciful celebration nor countdown. Only snuggle up at home and watched the countdown show on tv.

Both kiddos are still sick. And little boy got to start the 1st day of 2009 with fever. Argh! His temperature range between 37.5 to 39 degree, and it will come back after the fever medicine's effect is gone. Strange thing is there aren't any running nose or cough.

On the 3rd day of his fever, brought him to the doctor, which said he is down with viral fever. And there might be a series of diarrhoe, vomitting and fever might continue for the next 3 to 4 days.

While little girl aren't recovering well either. She is still coughing. Now i wonder what i shall do to her. :( Don't know if should continue bringing her to the chinese sinseh (seen 2x already) or seek PD's professional help. I am she has been coughing for almost 3 weeks already and i wonder if its just those normal cough.

Ok, with all this sick kiddos, it contribute to nothing but a tired and a mummy who is down with sore and itchy throat, as well as a dry cough now.

Father, son and ox visit the market and other stories with Tick Tack Tock

2009-01-03T17:54:00.001+08:00

Synopsis:
Join Father and Son as they take Ox on a long journey to the market on a hot, hot day. How will they get there? Come race with the 12 animals of the lunar calendar across the river! Who will win? Which is biggest - the sun, earth or moon?
Find out the answers as Tick, Tack and Tock share delightful songs and stories using balloons and other fun props! Welcome the Year of the Ox with us dressed in your best Chinese New Year clothes

On the 3rd day of 2009, we brought little girl and boy to their 1st play, "Father, son and the ox visit the market and other stories by Tick, Tack, Tock". At 1st, we were somewhat scare that the kids will make a fuss in the threatre as we have absolutely no idea how a child's play is being conducted.

But the kids proved us wrong. They sit quietly during the play, and i can see little girl grinning at times. All of us enjoyed the show, very very interesting. There will be another play by Tick, Tack, Tock this coming June, and we will be bringing the kids there again! :)

Nothing much..

2008-12-29T09:35:00.002+08:00

Just some updates, but actually nothing much to update.

Christmas is over, we didn't have any celebration. Little boy is still coughing & little girl caught the virus from him (my guess). Little boy had seen 2x GP, 2x chinese sinseh while little girl had seen 1x GP & 1x chinese sinseh but both aren't well yet. Total damage is around $300 alreadie.

Need to bring them to the chinese sinseh again today. Their persistent cough makes me wonder if its the "100 days cough"? But then again, they have lots of phgelm. hmmm....

I managed to do some spring cleaning over the past few days, completed cleaning up the master bedroom, 1 of the fridge and part of the kitchen. Still got lots of be cleaned. Then i need to do some CNY baking too, hopefully i am able to complete all these.

Cranky sick baby

2008-12-17T09:43:00.002+08:00

Havent had a chance to homeschool the kids yet, despite having bought the different types of apples to kick off our letter A. Reason being little boy has been sick since last Sun (i.e 7th Dec).

Brought him to the usual sinseh, no improvement. Couldn't bring him back there cause the clinic is close this week. Had to bring him to GP, still no improvement. Little boy hasn't been sick for the long ever since we brought him to the sinseh. This time, its quite bad, running nose and phlegmy cough. That makes him really uncomfortable & cranky. :(

Hope he recovers soon else i'll be the one to go crazy.

Jovan is 2!

2008-12-09T19:19:00.004+08:00

Little girl & little boy with their favourite teacher, teacher Cynthia.

Sweet little Jo-en. (She claims Little boy is her boyfriend :) )

Little boy cutting his cake

I shall huff & i shall puff & blow the fire out.

Blur little boy.

Little girl is definitely more excited than little boy.

Mickey mouse cake. (Little boy's favourite character at the moment)

Thomas theme goody bag for the kids.

Anoher visit to the zoo

2008-12-06T18:50:00.001+08:00

Hubby managed to get the company zoo pass, so we are off to the zoo.

Chanced upon Dora meet & greet session at the kidsworld. Managed to take some photos with dora & gang, as expected, little girl cried when she saw the big size Dora. (did i mention she is scare of anything BIG?)

Then we had our lunch (i cooked some fried rice there) and some snacks at KFC. The newly renovated kidsworld is really kids friendly. With breastfeeding/diaper changing rooms, kids toilets, wash areas. And boy, the water play area sure looks fun, even for an adult like me.

We didn't play at the waterplay area this round cause hb and me were too lazy to bring so many things there (swimwear & all), but we will definitely bring the kids to the waterplay area next round.

After the kidsworld, we took the boat ride to the entrance of the zoo. Little girl wanted to pay the kangaroos, elephants and penguins a visit. Stopped over at the splash show area for a show, but too bad, we got to leave 1/2 way as it started to rain.

Not too bad afterall, we stayed there from 9am all the way to 3pm. Little girl is actually pretty well behaved, she walked almost throughout the whole journey, only complain she is tired at end of the trip. Little boy is pretty well behave too. :)

Till then, we shall visit the zoo soon.

Chirstmas at citylink/suntec city

2008-11-29T19:06:00.002+08:00

Sweet little girl

2008-11-22T21:59:00.002+08:00

Little girl started coughing very badly yesterday night. Brought her to the usual sinseh this afternoon. Was told not to send her to school for the next few days.

Me: Doctor says you can't go to school. Didi can go.
Little girl: Cannot!
Me: Why?
Little girl: Because there is no one to take care of didi if i don't go. People will bully him.

So sweet, isn't it? I guess deep in their heart, they love each other lots. Its just that they love fighting with each other over things, stepping on each other's tail once in a while. I mean, which sibling don't fight? :p

Little Miss Talkative

2008-11-20T07:52:00.002+08:00

Little girl has become more and more talkative nowadays, and she is very very fond of reporting what happened or things she will be doing later to people whom she knows, especially to her teachers.

For instance, she will tell her teachers she will be going to her grandma's house in the afternoon, what i am cooking for lunch, etc etc. Hmmm, if you were to ask me, don't find it very good, imagine 1 day, if mummy is too lazy to bath them? And she goes telling people that "i didn't bath today?" OMG! :P

Cry baby

2008-11-17T23:10:00.003+08:00

This post is for litle boy, to let him see what a terror he is.

Another pair

2008-11-17T21:35:00.003+08:00

Chirstmas at Causeway Point

2008-11-15T21:46:00.003+08:00

Chirstmas is approaching once again. Without fail, little girl & little boy are attracted to the chirstmas deco. Especially little girl who kept saying she wants to take photo with the chirstmas tree.

If the weather is fair this coming weekend, we shall proceed to Orchard Road for more deco. :)

I paint this....

2008-11-15T11:10:00.002+08:00

Made this for little girl :)

Look who's talking

2008-11-13T18:01:00.002+08:00

While eating our lunch today, we had a conversation.

Me: Wah, Shanice good girl, eat so much.
Little girl: Yes, i want to eat a lot.
Then i can grow up, big girl and i can
feed my baby milk!

Cute isn't it? I always tell her to eat more cause she is eating like a mouse, trying to convince her that she will grow tall like mummy if she eats.

As for the feeding milk part, she always sees me breastfeed little boy, and she will say she wants to feed him too. i will reply her when she is a big girl, she can feed her baby too. :)

Hello kitty

2008-11-12T21:35:00.002+08:00

I am not exactly a fan of Hello Kitty, neither is little girl. But when she heard that i am going to make Hello Kitty hair rubber band for her, she gets all excited about it.

Here's the finished product. :)

Tired

2008-11-11T22:20:00.002+08:00

Do you sometimes feel tired because you have lots of things to do, yet you don't where to begin with? I am.

There are countless items on my "to do list" yet i really don't where and how to start. Its like i am in a maze, all the path leads to somewhere and i am lost, unsure what i want. Thus, so tired even though i have the time (sometimes) to spare.

While other times, i am just too lazy to move, too comfortable being a potato. Or just wanna do nothing at all. Plain laziness i would say. At times, lazy till i'll tell the kids, "give mummy a rest ok?" Not a very nice mummy right? :p

She cried, i cried

2008-11-10T21:41:00.002+08:00

Whacked her, yes, literally use the cane & whack. Whacked her hard, at least for 5 times or even more. Reason being, she snatched little boy's toy (am still not that mad) & pushed him till he fell & knocked his head. (Despite countless warning & sweet talk not to do that)

I was wondering if its sibling rivalry? Since when did she became like a monster that goes around snatching people's toy. (She doesn't snatch in school, not even snatching from little boy in school. She only does that at home. Is she seeking attention?

During the very instant when she pushed him, causing him to fall, i really lost my cool. Took the cane & whack her. She cried, i cried too (but in my heart). It really hurts to cane her, although i don't suffer any physical pain at all.

Maybe the pressure of being a mummy, & worst a SAHM is always there. From the kids' basic needs to education to discipline all naturally lies on me, especially so since daddy aren't home more of the time. Afterall, you have someone saying "aiyoh, must be mummy never teach" more than "daddy never teach" right? So when the kids misbehaviour, i have this tendency that i must do something to warn them not to do it again.

Yes i know, caning aren't a solution. But what else can i do if sweet talk, reasoning doesn't work at all?

Kiss Kiss

2008-11-07T23:17:00.002+08:00

I wish, i pray, i hope

2008-11-07T22:52:00.003+08:00

That Little girl will be a girl. Don't be mistaken, she is 100% a girl in terms of body parts. Its more of her character, behaviour & looks that i do hope will be 100%, if not, at least 90% girly.

To be fair, she aren't exactly that of a tomboy. But when she starts playing with this particular classmate of hers (er, quite a tomboy), she can be pretty wild. Running amok, forgetting that her mummy exist.

Now this mummy aren't that happy about it. Definitely not so when she behaves more like a monkey than a human. Ok ok i admit that i am rather traditional in this area. I wish little girl will be gentle, sweet, literally like a princess, while little boy will be macho, manly, etc etc.

Anyway i had a shock this Yesterday night. Little girl told me she wants to cut her hair short (ok still acceptable), then she said short like little boy. (pengz, how can?) I must discourage her from having such thinking, so of with my sewing kit. I make this....

Upon seeing this hair rubber band i make for her, she immediately say she wants to keep her hair long. Yippee, i am once a happy mummy again. :)

For her, i shall make more cute cute hair rubber bands.

Little Miss Bumpy

2008-11-07T22:43:00.002+08:00

She had it again! Yup this is the don't know how many times she had a bruise on her forehead this year. Just early last week, she fell & had quite a big cut on her elbow.

She was happily walking, too busy looking through her school worksheet to notice the pillar in front of her that she bang right onto it. Needless to say, she squat down, letting out a painful, pitiful loud cry.

All the other classmate's mummies were so concern about her that all ran to her to check on her, comforting her.

I hate it when the kids bump their head, hate the 3 days timeline to note any abnormalities, vomiting, dizziness, etc etc. Cause that would mean i have to be all-time alert during the period & had to start praying that they would be fine.

*will take a photo of her "baruku" tomorrow.

A little tired

2008-11-06T18:00:00.002+08:00

Not me but little boy. The past few days, he dozed off after school while lying my lap. Skipping his lunch & all.

My guess is its probably due to him not sleeping well at night. This little boy is very sensitive as well as clingy, once i am not by his side, you can be sure that he will come look for me. Hiyah, i can't possibly spent my time sitting/lying beside him, else i probably won't have time to do anything else.

Tried training him to fall asleep himself, but without any success. Its causing too much disturbance to little girl & causing little boy to forfeit precious sleep too (since most of the time he will be crying for me).

Then i remember my friend, KoLe (is it?) says when a child is ready, she is ready. So probably i shan't insist he falls asleep himself till then.

What's wrong with my babe?

2008-11-04T18:58:00.003+08:00

Recently, she woke up crying for no apparent reasons, a number of times looking for me, wanting me to carry her.

During meal times, she decide she shall be a little baby again, insisting i feed her instead of self-feeding. Other times, she refuse to drink milk from the cup, insisting that she wants milk from the dora cup with straw. (been wanting to throw the dora cup away cause its rather dirty already)

Today afternoon, she really makes my blood boil, to the extent i couldn't self control anymore & literally whack her. This is what happens.....

Little girl woke up from her nap. I went to make milk for her, give her the bottle, she said she didn't want to sit on the chair. Ok fine, i put the milk beside her, where she is sitting. She started kicking & throwing temper.

Asked her what she wants, she didn't answer but kick further until the bottle of milk spill. Then she started crying real loud & screaming, to that extent little boy was woken by her cries. Arggghhh, can imagine the mess she had created, while i have to mop the floor, & handle the super blur little boy as well as the crying little girl.

This is really madness, she continue crying for an hour or so (really very long-winded). Anyway i whacked her upside down, but luckily think it wasn't that hard as she hasn't turn into a zebra yet. :p

Now i'm praying hard that this is just a passing phrase or she will really become a zebra very soon, not one with black or white stripes, but one with red stripes.

Home schooling

2008-11-04T18:51:00.002+08:00

Ever thought of homeschooling the kids, but knowing myself, i don't have the patience nor the determination, neither am i hardworking enough. Thus, the idea is dropped.

Recently, some very very hardworking mummies started home-schooling their kids. Somehow it light up the interest of home-schooling in me again. No, the kids shall go to school as normal, as i am not sure how long this passion of mine will last.

Meanwhile i aim to home-school them when i am free, especially during the evenings or school holidays. So here i am, doing some research about how the lessons should be planned. Am aiming at something more relaxing, like more craft work, join-the-dots (i used to love these when i am young), more story telling with some storyboard that the kids can participate in.

Just searching the web for ideas & printables is tough, let alone i still need to write some lesson plans so as to be more organised. Am working hard at it, hopefully i will have the determination to keep to going.

So now, i am still into planning & printing the worksheets. Till then, i shall update more. :)

About fairness

2008-11-03T22:10:00.002+08:00

Is there such a thing call fairness? I really don't know. I've always complained or think that my parents are bias, they care for my sisters more than me. And i am the one being neglected most.

Now as a mother of 2, i, at times don't know how to react when both are fighting over toys, fighting over my attention, etc etc.

1) when both are fighting for the same toys, both insist that they are playing with it 1st, what do you do? Most of the time, i will keep the toy, or if i know who actually take the toy 1st, i will ask the other to let her/him play 1st, and take turns. But is it the correct way?

2) Am in the mist of training little boy to fall asleep on his own. Oh boy, he really aren't easy to train. Keep crying, looking for me. This can go on for more than an hr, thus disturbing little girl, and she can't sleep. Is it fair? Or should i actually wait for the day little boy is ready to fall asleep on his own without me by his side?

3) Little boy, being younger is very attached to me. Wanting to sit on my lap, to be carried by me. As since, when little girl wants my attention, i can't help much but explained she is a big girl now, as such, she can do thing herself. Defintely not very fair to her.

4) There are so many times i want to teach little girl. But due to the fact that hubby is working OT almost everyday, i don't have a 1-to-1 time to teach her. And little boy is always so attached to me, that it makes things worse. :( This i feel very very bad.

Sometimes i really wonder how other mummies cope when it comes to time management, handling more than 1 kid, etc etc. Sometimes i wonder will life be the same if i only have 1? I wonder.........

My kids, my love

2008-11-03T21:33:00.001+08:00

My precious girl at 3 yrs 4 months+.

My little gem at 1yr, 9months+.

Trip to United Square

2008-10-25T21:22:00.001+08:00

The kids are due for their dentist appointment. This marks little boy's 1st dental appointment & little girl's 5th. As both kids had these black stains that will keep coming back every few months, no choice but to bring them for scaling every 3 mths or so. (Each trip cost at least $70+ for ea kid, defintely not cheap!)

Little girl, as usual, co-operate very well with the dentist. While little boy cried as if someone is trying to take his life. Luckily the dentist is ver experienced with kids, so she had no problem cleaning his teeth, despite his crying throughout the whole session.

Met up with sis & the kids after that. Had lunch together & shop around for an hour+, followed by tea break. We had a great time, in fact, the kids always have a great time whenever they goes out together. :)

Admiralty Park

2008-10-12T20:44:00.000+08:00

Admiralty Park is a fairly new park, & since its been a really long time since i caught up with the woodlands mummies gang, why not join the fun?

Met up with the other mummies in the evening. Thank godness the rain had stopped & we had a fairly good weather.

Its aren't the usual park we've venture, nothing like Botanical Garden or Hort park. Its more like a reserve environment if you were to ask me. there's a forest trail like thing there, will monkeys (we only spotted one) & other plants like mimosa, lallang, kankong.

Quite an experience for the kids & even to adults like me, who had never experience kampong life before.

Little boy, little girl & little Patrick

Guess what the kids are looking at? Its a trail of ant marching towards a sweet.

All-time favourite of kids. Bubbles fun!

This is how "nature" the park is.

Hand in hand, we walk together. That's what we call Sister-brother love.

suspected UTI

2008-10-06T20:28:00.000+08:00

The past few days was night mare for me. Absolutely don't know what's wrong with little girl, she kept wanting to pee almost every 5 to 10 mins with little output or no output. And the worst part is she kept scratching her private part, so unslightly.

My guess is she is having UTI. Had her checked by the sinseh, he said probably is UTI. Asked me to bring her to the western doc should her condition not recover the next few days.

So we brought her to KKH walk-in clinic this afternoon. Funny thing is her urine test results are all cleared, so they ruled out its UTI. No medicine either, just so cream.

She is being referred to another specialist, who decided to arrange her for a kidney scan in dec. Will update on her status after the scan.

After the appointment, we went to AMK hub. This little girl didn't inform me that her pull-ups are heavy, thus urine leak. Had to buy her a bottom to change. Haiz!

Hort Park

2008-10-01T20:13:00.001+08:00

Its Hari Raya Puasa, Childrens' Day and well as a public holiday.

We are visiting Hort Park today. Bus journey was long, around an hour. Its a huge park, & it links to several other parks. We chose the nearest, and supposely the one with the most things.

Not too bad a place, area is big with a few interesting theme. The kids' favourite is none other but the playground. (Can't blame them coz mummy rarely brings them to the playground). Think they played around 20 mins or so there, until we decide that the crowd is forming & some of the kids actually played rough.

I guess either the kids are exposed to nature much or they are still too young to appreciate, they didn't really enjoy the rest of the park. Little girl keep complaining she is tired, insisting daddy carry them.

Oh one thing about this park is there aren't any food outlet, only a Thai restaurant. Guess it would be perfect if they could have more eateries there, unless we plan to have pinic there. :p

Childrens' Day celebration at school

2008-09-30T22:25:00.000+08:00

Little girl, Daniel & Jo-en. See Little girl & Jo-en with their victory sign? Is that girl power?

Another photo of little girl & one of her best friend.

Today is no uniform day for the kids. They are able to wear their pretty clothings to school as the school will be celebration Children's Day today.

Not sure how the teachers celebate for them but the kids are beaming with smile when i fetch them today. :)

Family gathering

2008-09-21T19:38:00.003+08:00

Been a long time since i went out with my family. Usually we will have gathering only when there is some one's birthday or during special occasion.

Today gathering aren't exactly that of a family gathering, as hubby couldn't join. He need to work OT as usual.

This time round, we had buffet lunch, complimentary of sis. Lunch was so-so only. Food aren't exactly that nice, definitely not worth the price, if you were to ask me.

Nonetheless, its more of the company we are looking for. After that, we shopped at GAINT. Initially i wanted to bring the kids to Changi Airport to wait for hubby, but its way too early & hubby refused to go of early. So no choice, had to go home.

The kids enjoying the kiddy ride with their all-time favourite kor kor.

Little boy trying to self-feed. Look at the amount of food in his disposable bib's pouch.

Little girl busy opening up the japanese beans.

The kids just can't get enough of the kiddy ride.

Little girl posing in front of the restaurant.

Progress

2008-09-17T12:39:00.004+08:00

Here's some updates on the kids.

Little Girl

- Recognizes majority of the alphabets
- Knows how to count from 1 to 15
- Knows how to spell Shanice, Jovan, mummy, daddy, dog & po-po
- Is being toilet trained when taking afternoon naps, in the mist of training when going out.
- she is very much into role playing, loves to imagine herself as "mummy", telling little boy to be "daddy", pretending to be teacher & doctor too.

Little boy

knows how to says the following:- (there are more to the list, just that i can't remember at a go)

-怎么办
-我要吃面包
-姐姐哭
-早安
-晚安
- I cannot
- I want eat bread
- good morning
- good night
- sweet dreams
- take care
- jie jie sleep
- go school
- teacher
- want drink water
- daddy buy cream bread
-mummy go

-he can sing simple songs too, like wheels on the bus, twinkle twinkle little star (in both english & chinese), etc, though most of the times its certain session of the songs only.
-he can count from 1 to 10
-he can says from A to H (i think)
-he recognises some of the colours & able to name some of them too

My best friend's wedding

2008-09-14T12:52:00.002+08:00

The last time we attended a wedding was last year March. I always dread attending weddings, especially after i have kids. Reason is simple, i don't know how to prevent the kids from misbehaving during the dinner or how to keep them entertained for at least 2-3hrs.

But this time round, i feel priviledge to be invited to my friend's wedding. She is my best friend & a friend for 13 years alreadie. :)

Reached earlier to attend her tea ceremony, which is held at the hotel itself. It was wedding luncheon, the food was good & generous in portions. I even had 2 helpings of shark fins soup. Keke.

The kids were pretty well-behaved. Not much hiccups.

Here's to my friend, Huiyin:
Congrats! Hope to hear good news from you soon! May you have a blissful marriage too! :)

*photos will be uploaded soon

A date with mum & sis

2008-09-02T15:55:00.000+08:00

Since the school holidays is here, as a norm, i will usually ask mum & sis to go out together. (I don't usually get to go out with them as i am the only one staying at the North area).

Took the mrt to City Hall with the kids alone. Thank goodness, both are generally quite well-behaved, such that they don't monkey around in the train, or scream loudly at the top of their voice.

No itenary as usual, as its difficult to keep to one with 3 toddlers & a child, so most of the time we will go by feel, needs. Stopping to change diapers, toilet trips, feeding stops, etc etc.

Upon arrival, we had lunch at this Marche-concept Japanese restaurant (cant remember the name of the restaurant though) for our lunch. Food was so-so only, don't really worth the price if you were to ask me.

Next was some mooncakes window shopping. Didnt bought any since mid-autumn festival was ard 2 wks away then. (should have bought the cempedak mooncake from Goodwood park at that time, coz it went OOS a week later. Sob :'()

Women being women, we need to go some shopping to satisfy ourselves. But where can we shop in peace with 4 kids, except the toys section. Yes that's the only shopping we had for that day.

Dropped by coffee club for tea break after that, mainly to rest 3 pairs of tired legs, 6 sleepy eyes, 3 brains which are alreadie "dead" & those belongs to us, 3 women. The kids are still full of energy.

Cheapo us decide we should just leave the place around 4pm to avoid peak hours extra charges. It was fun, though tiring. & thanks to sis for sponsoring our lunch & tea.

Presents for the teachers

2008-08-29T22:05:00.000+08:00

Baked some almond cakes for the teachers & bought 2 bears for the muslim teachers. Got the kids to make simple cards too. The kids are definitely more interested & excited about the gifts compared to the teachers. lol

Mummy's little model

2008-08-27T21:50:00.000+08:00

Yeah, everytime after i bathed little boy, i like to style his hair like this. Too bad that after his hair dry, it can never stay like that. Cute?

helping out

2008-08-26T21:33:00.000+08:00

Cranberry beans soup is the top favourite soup of little girl. On top of drinking the soup, she loves to help take the beans out from their pod. Here's both of them in action.

Like sister, like brother

2008-08-22T21:28:00.000+08:00

Pandan cake

2008-08-18T18:45:00.003+08:00

I'll always love chiffon cake, be it pandan, orange, coffee, etc etc. Tried making one the other day using a new receipe, results aren't good.

The chinese sinseh that the kids are seeing gave green light for the kids to eat cake, occassionally. Thus to "award" them for not eating or being tempted by the long list of ban food for such a long time (since Jun), i decided to bake a pandan cake, using the receipe which i've tried before a few mths back.

Results is gd. Taste yummy (to my family) too! hmm, shall follow this good old receipe in future.

Abt breastfeeding

2008-08-15T12:21:00.003+08:00

When i had little girl, i didn't managed to breastfeed her for long, only for a mth or soon. Then i have blocked ducts, bleeding nipples, highfever where i had to take very strong antibotics. So i decided to end my breastfeeding journey then.

When i am preggie with little boy, i decided that i must breastfeed him, for at least 6 mths. (Its one of the reason why i resigned.) I latched him most of the time since i am a SAHM, no reasons not to do so, while expressing out whatever i have in excess & storing them.

For a slightly more than a year, the freezer is always loaded with breastmilk. I even managed to donate 6mths supply to a twins, while the rest ends up in the dustbin coz i never feed little boy with frozen milk, he is always having fresh ones.

Supply started to drop soon after he turns 16 mths. One of his feed had to be replaced by formula milk. But he still gets to latch for perhaps 5 or more times a day. And i have absolutely nothing excess to store anymore.

This morning, i'm clearing the freezer. threw away all the frozen breastmilk since they are expiring. As i was packing, feel somewhat sad. Its a feeling i don't really know how to describe. I guess its because i know supply is going down, & i really have no idea how much longer will my breastfeeding journey last.

Yes true that i still complain abt having to latch little boy in the middle of the night while all others are asleep. But somehow i really love & enjoy that magical moment while latching him.
Meanwhile i pray that there will still be enough for little boy & i will let him self-wean when he wants to. (Not too soon please :p)

*some photos just for memory sake. Realised i forgot to take a photo of the frozen breastmilk before clearing the freezer. haiz!

Bye to pacifier

2008-08-12T13:01:00.002+08:00

I roughly remember that little girl self-wean off her pacifier when she takes 1 yr. Thus for little boy, i was hoping that he'll be able to self-wean or at least i could help him wean off when he turns 1.

Yes, i hadn't been successful at that time. He continued to enjoy his pacifier for another few more mths. Last Thur (07/08/08), i decided its time he bid his pacifier bye-bye forever. So despite him whinning in the middle of his sleep, i refused to give in and will just tell him this "mummy throw tu-tu away, no more tutu". I think he continue to whine for 2 more days & finally accept the fact that he aren't going to get his pacifier anymore on the 4th day.

Tonite shall be the 6th day without his pacifier & i hoped he'll never ask for it again.

National Day Celebration at school.

2008-08-08T16:48:00.000+08:00

Was requested by the teachers to dress the kids in red & white today. So here's how they are dressed.

ad-hoc photos

2008-08-03T23:48:00.002+08:00

more farm visits photos

2008-08-03T23:28:00.002+08:00

Flair for drawing

2008-08-03T21:55:00.003+08:00

Little girl loves drawing. Be it on her doodle, paper, using pencils, colour pencils or crayons.

Of course i wouldn't see her drawing is very good, but i can see her making improvement. From just a circle for the head to a face with eyes, then now a face with eye balls, nose, mouth, & sometimes ears. They just look so adorable to me.

She is into drawing shapes too. Better in circles. Learning how to draw triangles & squares too. On top of that she also tried to draw animals.

Sometimes i wish she has rich parents, then her talent will be put to good use. Can send her to art classes & so. Let's hope this interest of hers continue & if finance permit next time, definitely will send her to one such class. :)

schooling time

2008-07-05T07:23:00.004+08:00

Yup, the day is here. Little boy started his 1st day of school on Tuesday. This week, i am attending school with the kids too.

On the 1st day, as expected, little boy clings to me. The teachers/auntie were too busy handling the other 2 new kids that they don't have time to attend to little boy. Can't blame them cause the other 2 new student's caretaker refused to attend class with them. And they just wouldn't stop crying.

Saw some improvement on the subsuquent days, he is willing to sit on the teacher's lap while doing his work, pass things to his teachers, hold his teacher's hands to wash his hands.

Have requested to accompany little boy in class for next week too. Reason being, little boy is the youngest, the smallest built, & the some of the kids are obvious big bullies & rough. So suggested to teacher that i'll leave the class when the 2 new comers have settled down (less crying) & when the teachers have more time to attend to little boy.

*update: little boy finally stayed in class without my company on 30/07/08. He didn't cry in class, but is still somewhat reluntant to go to the classroom. Only willing to go in if the main teacher, teacher Cynthia carrys him inside.

Shanice the big bad girl!

2008-07-04T07:18:00.000+08:00

"Give me what i want, or,
i'll scream, i'll shout & i'll
yell the house down!"

Yes yes, my little girl somehow transformed into a big bad girl at times, out of no where, out of a sudden. Whenever she sees somethings which is not to her liking, she would just throw her temper.

Gosh, thought its terrible 2s, pleasing 3s? Of course most of the time, she is still there little sweet girl or mine, but i really cannot tolerate this tantrum drama, it makes me wanna murder her. :p

Anyway, i guess & i hope its just another passing phrase & rainbow is just the other end.

Let's go to the zoo zoo zoo

2008-06-28T22:25:00.004+08:00

The last time we stepped into the zoo was on the 2nd day of CNY last yr, which was more than a yr ago. As little girl turns 3 today, we reckon she would enjoy & appreciate a zoo trip more than before.

Got hubby to get his corporate zoo pass, make a date with Michael, hubby's buddy, who just invested in a camera & wanted to take photos of the kids. Reached there at 8.30am, rented a wagoon, & off we go.

Yes, indeed little girl enjoyed looking at the different animals & she could even point out which are the animals she wants to see & able to locate them from the map. Had buffet lunch, complimentary from Michael.

Managed to cover almost the whole zoo minus the childrens' world & a couple of animals. Ya ya, evil mummy didn't want to bring the kids to childrens' world as i don't intend to let them play at the playground & waterplay area. Don't wanna risk the kids contacting HFMD or other nasty bugs now that the kids have shown some improvement in health after seeing the sinseh. Of course, another reason is mummy is too lazy to clean up the kids nor run after the kids like a mad woman.

So since i don't have intention to let them play, might as well skip that area. Not nice to tempt them & tell them that they are not to join the other kids play. keke (lots of excuses)

Anyway, we ended our trip at 3pm, tired, dead tired. Can deny that age is catching up. The kids still have tonnes of energy though. Age does matter!

A day of 1st...

2008-06-27T22:06:00.002+08:00

The BIG day is here..... little girl's birthday celebration at school. This is the 1st time little girl is celebrating her birthday with her classmates & teachers.

Planned a Dora theme celebration for her. Dora cupcake rings, dora paper plates, napkin & dora pencil, top with other goodies for the goodies bags. Got little girl & boy to pack the goodies bags the day before.

Little girl was a bit unsure & overwhelmed when her little friends & teachers started singing her a birthday song. Looked sort of blur, don't know how to react type of expression. But generally she did enjoyed herself at sch.

As its a weekday cum Cathay Cineplex is having this promoion "Mum n Tots" - whereby with 1 adult ticket being purchase, we get 1 ticket free for children below 7, thus we marched down to Causeway Point & bought tickets for Kungfu Panda.

Its been more than 3 yrs since i stepped into a cinema, & its also the 1st time little girl & little boy catch a movie there, so i wouldn't want to spend $9 on ea of them in case they make a fuss & i got to get out of the threatre.

It turn out rather smooth, with just a bit of scared when there were extreme loud noise. Otherwise, all of us did enjoy the show.

Night time was part 2 celebration at mum's place. Nothing special, but this little girl of mine has this special affection towards her po po, i.e my mum. She goes "where's po po?", "i want to call po po" & trust, almost everytime my mum whip up dishes for little girl, she would promptly finish them. Arghhh. jealous at times. So she is of course more than happy to have po po celebrate her birthday with her.

Dora theme celebration for little girl at school

2008-06-26T04:09:00.000+08:00

Dora has been the number 1 cartoon character in her heart for almost a year. To take the opportuntiy no others have replaced her postition yet, i choose her to be the theme character this year.

Am really lucky that little girl aren't that frickled minded sort who will change idol every now & then, else all this cake decoration pcs, the treat bags etc would have gone down the drain since i started ordering them from spree in feb. (KS mum once agan)

Aren't this cake really sweet? Its from cupcake divinity, the same one which i order little boy's cake from last year. Hope it still taste as nice. Oh btw, there are supposed to be some cupcakes with dora & boot ring on top. Will upload them into this blog once i receive the cake. :)

Now just hope little girl will be thrilled abt this one since its been a while she hasnt get to eat any cakes.

school holidays is here

2008-06-19T17:47:00.002+08:00

This is a back dated post.

Little girl's is finally having her school holidays from 9th jun to 20th jun, just a short 2 weeks break. Have been looking forward to this break, main reason being able to wake up late. But am so so wrong, every other day, i would be waken up either by the little boy or the little girl. Arghhh..

Didn't do much during this short break either. But at least we managed to have some outings. On 8th jun, we went to my auntie's place, grandma from Malaysia is here. Simple & short gathering at aunt's place, had steamboat. After which, we went to Kid's Kampong at Pasir Ris.

Entrance fee was $11, inclusive of longkang fish, a bottle of mineral water& a small cup of ice cream. Well, sort of expensive if you were to ask me. Cause there wasn't really much to see.

The fishes my nephew caught die within a day. while ours lasted for like 4 days, & they finally left us after hubby transfer them to a new tank. Luckily little girl didn't fuss much upon hearing that the fishes are dead.

Farm visits

2008-06-10T17:54:00.000+08:00

Thanks to BIL, he rented a car for a few days, so we managed to visit some of the "ulu" places which we don't get to visit often.

Today's itenery was to cover some of the more popular farms like goat farm, bollywood, etc. !st stop - bollywood. Aiyoh, didn't know they were close on every mon & tue.

So next was goat farm. I remember the last time i step into this farm was when little girl was ard 1 yr old, that was abt 2 yrs ago. And now, my little girl get to feed the goats by herself. She sure enjoyed feeding the little goats... not the big ones.

Then we covered several other farms, big & small ones. Tiring day but the kids sure enjoyed themselves.

*will post some photos soon*

Go vegetarian?

2008-06-03T15:53:00.001+08:00

Barley
ribena
fresh milk
milo
mineral water
yakult, vitagen
fruits (in all forms & kinds)
choco
nuts
coconut
chicken
egg
fish
biscuits
red bean
green bean
lotus paste

above are the list of things which the kids can't eat for now, as advised by the sinseh.

Why a trip to the sinseh? Little girl is down with cough, running nose again, which is just 2 weeks after the previous episode. A friend recommand this sinseh after she see some improvement in her girl.

Wah, this sinseh is indeed popular, from the waiting queue i see & the crowd at the clinic. It wasn't really "enjoyable" seeing him. Not because he is unprofessional, but rather because i had a good "scolding" from him on my 1st visit.

He said my upbringing is bad, feeding the kids junk food. (Er in my heart, i am thinking, what do u mean my upbringing is good?). In th 1st place, all the junk food he mentioned aren't junk in the view of the modern parents. Only later, did i learn from my friend, that he said the same to her & he'll be friendlier on subsequent visits. (yes, he really did)

ok, he said that the kids have weak lungs, tummy, doesn't sleep well either. And he'll need 4 to 5 mths to build up the kids' health again.

Never mind about the mad rush, long queue ea time i bring the kids down. My only wish is that he can really bring good health back to the kids again. So i shall bear with the long waiting time & scoldings from him for these few months.

One thing i am really glad is at least the kids don't reject the yurky bitter chinese medicine which is to be administer to them every 4 hrs.

June is coming!

2008-05-28T09:42:00.002+08:00

The day which little ger is waiting for is closer & closer, just a month away. Yes, little ger is turning 3 on 28th june.

Seeing her little classmates celebrating their birthday at sch, she is looking forward to hers too. Very frequently, i can hear her singing birthday song to herself & telling me "today is jie jie's birthday".

This kiasu mummy had already prepared the items for goodies bags for her classmates months ago. Had also gotten some cupcake rings for the cupcakes. Now i only need to settle the cake issue, had already email the bakery, but don't know why they've yet to reply. Haiz..

Anyway, this is the 1st time little ger is holding a birthday celebration in sch, not only she is looking forward to me, so am i. But it does sadden me that my little baby is turning 3 soon. Gosh, time flies, i do hope 10, 20, 30, 40 or even more years ahead, she'll still allow me to celebrate her birthday with her.

Our short getaway

2008-05-19T09:11:00.002+08:00

Its no fanciful, luxurious getaway. Just a simple 3D 2N stay at Siloso Beach Resort.

The room isn't big, but cozy enough for the 4 of us. No bath tub, but love the "seat" they have in the bath area. No large variety of dishes for the breakfast buffet, but good & yummy enough to fill our tummies. So, simple is nice afterall.

Oh, not to mention the hotel has a really nice swimming pool with waterfall. One of the best, i feel, among the hotels i have patronized before.

We didn't really venture a lot of places at Sentosa, as the kids need their daily afternoon nap & i really don't have much energy to venture either. (Age is indeed catching up! LOL).

On the 1st day, check in hotel around 2pm. After that, took the tram ride from siloso beach to the beach station, then went for early dinner. And took the tram to Palawan Beach & Tanjong Beach.Back to beach station for Songs of the Sea. The queue started around 6.40pm, even though the show only starts at 7.40pm. Seeing the extremely long queue, we decided that we'll just join the queue. Show was good, value for $ indeed. Dear girl, however, doesn't like the song a least bit. She was scare of the extremely loud voice, esp when it comes to the fire or stone monster (couldn't recall). Let out a loud cry, that i got to pacify her for the rest of the show.

Day 2 -- After breakfast, went to Dolphin Lagoon. Both the kids love the performance. Went Underwater world after that. Was rather disappointed with it. Definitely not worth the price of $19. Anyway, ger wasn't exactly thrilled by it, she was afraid of it. Such a timid girl, right?
Went swimming after the kid's nap, then dinner & took the 2 way cable car ride. This time round, little ger really loved the ride. Finally, something she likes.

Day 3 - Check out day. Only went to the beach to complete our stay there.
Overall, its a fun trip. Aren't exactly relaxing coz being a rather "schedule person", i try not to change the kids rountine. Thus somewhat stress to try & squeeze everything into the limited time.

Little girl's favourite line

2008-05-14T09:12:00.002+08:00

When asked, "Why didn't you go school today?"....

this is little girl's reply "I sick sick, cannot go school."

Haha, luckily she will say she is sick, not mummy is lazy. LOL

4 days 3 nites......

2008-05-13T09:50:00.002+08:00

We spend almost the whole of last week at Kkh, a 4 days 3 night stay. Little girl is down with Bronchiolitis, which made her unable to eat & subsequently unable to drink. Thus leading to dehydration.

Basically both little girl & little boy had been sick for a month, been to the doc for countless time, but it didn't make their cold or cough go away.

On Monday, little girl was really sick then, vomitted 3 times in an hour (she didn't take any food or liquid) & was lethargic most of the time, keep telling me she is tired, wants to sleep. That's when we decide we should bring her to A&E.

She about 5% dehydration, was put on drip immediately. I should say she was rather well-behaved, didn't really put on any drama. And she was even in friendly terms with the medical staff there.

Oh, while i was staying in the ward with little girl. Hb & little boy was staying in the hospital too, not in the ward, but at this Ronald McDonald Family Room. Kkh has this Ronald McDonald Family Room speacially carter to parents of paediatric patients can stay or rest in.

Thumbs up for this facilities, its like a mini hotel (as discussed by hb), they even have house keeping, & a common kitchen where there is a microwave etc.

Overall, though it wasn't a good thing to stay in a hospital, but it did gave me a break from taking care of 2 kids. Oh ya, i didn't managed to take any nap or sleep well at night (sleeping at most 2-3 hrs as it was really cold & attending to my little girl).

Some thoughts while little girl is in hospital, it made me realise that she is really really impt to me & i should really love her more...

Lastly, do hope that the kids recover soon, & be in tip top condition for our stay at Sentosa this weekend. :)

Dieting?

2008-04-24T16:46:00.003+08:00

Perhaps due to her big tummy, little girl decided its time for dieting. She refused to eat proper food, & rather go hungry.

Requested for fried rice, cooked for her, she refused to eat. Give her all sorts of proper food (i don't consider biscuits, bread & such as proper food), she rejects all.

Its so demoralising at times, especially when i had to rush like mad, just to make it a point to whip up a nutritious meal for her. Gonna start her on pediasure again.

Miss Drama Queen

2008-04-24T16:23:00.002+08:00

Little girl somehow transformed herself into Miss Drama Queen this week.

Will kick, scream, cry when things don't go in her favour.

Today, Miss drama queen is at it again, and all due to a miserable piece of "Wang Wang rice cracker". Story goes like this......

Little girl's classmate's helper gave her a packet of rice cracker, as its lunch time, i decided that she should just eat 1 piece & gave the other piece to me. Apparently, little girl aren't too happy with this arrangement, that she cried & screamed, throwing tantrums, sitting on the void deck, kicking at the same time all the way home.

And she still refused to give up, wont stopped crying even when we reach home. Insist that i give her back the other piece which is already in my tummy tum tum, though i have told her ample times that i've eaten it & will buy more for her next time.

Timed her... she cried for more than an hour. Gosh, aren't she long-winded?

Now i could only pray that this is just due to her being sick, & not the beginning of her "terrible threes"!

About books

2008-04-20T10:08:00.003+08:00

These are the new addition to the kids' book collection.

I've have never been a big fan of books since young. Never had the patient to sit down & complete a book. Until the arrival of little princess, then i started taking an interesting in reading.... parenting books.

So now, as a mummy, i try to build an interest for reading in my kids. Put it a point to bring them to the library frequently (can't afford to buy the whole library back, thus got to be more hardworking in this area).

Occassionally, will also buy books for the kids, esp books which they really love & don't mind reading over & over again.

Hopefully, i will succeed in building their reading interest.

EQ needed!

2008-04-16T20:00:00.002+08:00

Argghhhh, i need more EQ, yes, definitely!

Recently, i have been losing my cool on the kids, especially little princess. What happens is after endless sweet talking, explaining, nagging, she still refuse to listen. My suspect is either nothing goes in at all, or its one ear in, one ear out.

Gosh, she is so so stubborn, always snatching toys, pushing, bullying little prince. And she is definitely pushing her limits as well as testing mine.

I am not a very patient person to start with, not to mention the endless housework, a crying little prince, it really makes my blood boil!

So what happens next, is smacking, scolding, whacking! Sounds so violent right?

I really don't wish to use physical punishment on the kids, esp towards little princess, cause she has always been a rather well behave girl. But... oh dear, i feel so lousy, i, being an adult, can't even control my temper, let alone a 2yr+ toddler.

Must really learn to control & exercise more EQ.

p/s: sorry, my little princess. Mummy loves you! Promise i'll try my best not to hit you again.

Little prince is going to school

2008-04-16T19:40:00.004+08:00

Little prince is starting school in Jul. He will be attending the same class as my little princess. Hopefully little princess will take over my role of taking care of her little brother when i am not around.

Here's some preview of him in his uniform. He sure looks smart in my eyes *wink*

Feeling exhausted

2008-04-07T09:19:00.002+08:00

Dead tired.... yes indeed i am feeling so so tired. Hb has been working OTs, even on most Sun to earn enough to feed a family of 4. While he is working OT in the office, i am indirectly working OT too.

Taking care of the kids 24-7 is really no joke. From basic needs such as food, water, personal hygiene all the way to education & not to mention most housework, wah, really taxing. Worse part is after having such a busy day, i can't get to fall asleep at night. Gosh, think its the effect of being too busy in the day, then my body can't adjust to relaxation mode.

Another thing i hate and seriously don't know how to handle is the kids fighting over toys. Dear girl loves to snatch whatever boy is playing with, most of the time, she just snatch over & play for a few seconds to a few mins then put it aside. So i really wonder if she is really interested in the toy or just enjoy snatching it.

How to handle this type of situation?

1) Tried talking nicely to ger, explain why she shouldn't snatch. Doesn't work.
2) Ask her how she'll feel if someone snatches her toy. Doesn't work.
3) Keep the toy they all both snatching away. Both end up crying miserably.
4) Smack ger for snatching. Work for a short while, then ger goes back to her snatching business.

Now what? Give up!

Photos taken in Mar

2008-04-03T19:44:00.002+08:00

Photos taken in Feb (part 2)

2008-04-03T19:27:00.003+08:00

Photos taken in Feb (part 1)

2008-04-03T19:07:00.002+08:00

Photos taken in Jan

2008-04-03T18:33:00.004+08:00

Will be posting some overdue photos of the kids coz i realised its been a long time since i update their looks... *gulity*

List of words Jo can say

2008-03-31T17:00:00.011+08:00

Here's a list of words we spot Jo saying, maybe no exactly pronounced correctly but about 80-85% close?

- daddy
- mummy
- jie jie
- po po
- happy birthday
- press
- up
- down
- car
- bus
- walk
- shoe
- tu tu
- eat
- bread
- sit
- bao4
- mouse
- dog
- bird
- cat
- hello
- bye bye
- bear
- there
- baby
- book
- meow
- milk
- open
- take
- diaper
- throw
- ball
- dirty
- banana
- cold
- pain
- oh oh
- keep
- raining
-barney
- bath
- water
- no
- fall
- nite nite
- block block
- comb hair
- star
- bubble
- pop
- apple