Swimming freely

Heidi didn't want to nap yesterday and the sun was shining so gorgeously after like...forever...(its been light shower and drizzling in Singapore for the past 2 months). I was actually thinking of a quick trip to the zoo but then, it started to shower lightly out of a sudden but only for a short while before it stopped again.

Blessed are we that my cousin was staying around and she happened to be home, so we decided to head over to her place for a quick swim.

As the sky is still rather dark with threatening dark clouds looming over us, I decided not to hit the pool but hang around from the side instead. And with me hawking around Heidi, my hub decided to go for a swim. Sorta on her own...with no nosy, nagging parents right beside her, Heidi tried to make friends with the boys in the kiddy pool and to my utmost amazement...she learnt how to use the float and paddle in the pool!

Proud mommy moment...

Much thanks to the older boy who was fooling around with his float. Heidi imitated him and got braver at each attempt until eventually she figured out what we (the nosy and noisy parents), had been trying to tell her to do. :)

This is a new milestone and a very proud moment for me. I've sorta figured out that Heidi learn best with gradual exposure and through observation. But it works better only if the demonstrator's another child. I am blessed with a curious girl with a sense of humour and who picked things up rather quickly.

I shall look forward to our next swim...

12 Days of Christmas

This year we are very prepared...food, baking...shopping...gift wrappings...grocery shoppings...venues to go to and etc...

What I didn't count on though was...my hub's Christmas closure was 1 week shorter than mine!!! Boohoo...

Oh well...we still have loads of fun attending church (me and Heidi that is...) and gatherings with food and laughter with our dear friends and relatives.

This is Heidi post-sunday church photo where she pretended to be Mother Mary. Asked her where is baby Jesus and she told me he's in the cradle. We made it to NCC Christmas service and it was CRAZY!...good kinda crazy...

Mall hopping fun at Changi T3 and IMM and City Square mall.

Last but not least...all the blessings received from dear friends and relatives...

Blessed 2014 ahead...

Ballerina dream

Heidi's been telling me that she wanna learn ballet during the start of 2013 4th quarter. I asked her if she's serious, and she said she is. So I said...you have to give up drawing...and she agreed! (much to my disappointment...she's a really fast worker in drawing class and I get to see her completed work at the end of every lesson)

Oh well...but since its towards the end of the year...I am holding off her ballerina dream until she's 4 yrs old. There's a few centres around us that we can go for trials...I will start the hunt next year...that is tomorrow...and book us a few trial lessons.

Ballerina dreaming~

Sending her for ballet has never been part of my dream for her. So I was genuinely surprised when she started requesting for ballet lessons. Why...even the only tutu dress I got for her is a BLACK one to match her black DVF black top from GAP...

But I will respect her will and decisions and send her to the best I can afford.

Kel's biggest sacrifice...

I was never a bolster person but I started to take a keen interest in those pregnancy pillows when I was heavily pregnant, cos it gets difficult to sleep as the baby grows bigger.

The price tag scares me off...180bucks for something that you aren't sure you will like...that takes up space on your bed...forget it! So Kel offered me his bolster. Lovingly made for him by his
mom. Something he grew up with. So for 6 months I hogged the bolster...

Then I was supposed to return the bolster when Heidi was born but along the way as she grows, she sometimes rejected her cot or I was worried abt a fever so we let her in bed with us. So Kel will use the bolster as a protective barrier between him and Heidi so he wouldn't crush her by accident. Then by and by as Heidi grew...she started to covet the bolster ,occasionally as her pillow, and it was in her cot at one point until I went to get another bolster for her. But she wasnt as attached to the new bolster. She wouldn't let her father touch his own bolster if she's around. The bolster is now hers...

Happy Heidi with her dada's bolster.

赶场子！！！

We had a really really happy and joyous weekend...4 appointments!
1. Baby Ernest 1st month celebration at Changi on Sat.
2. Baby Celest 1st month celebration at Woodlands on Sun.
3. Hao Hao 2 yr old birthday also at Woodlands also on Sun!
4. Baby Tristan 1st month celebration at Tanah Merah also on Sun! *sorry to skip this one...will find a time to visit Tristan soon...*

Picture time!

Heidi posing with Celeste. :D

Heidi and Hao Hao busy giving out forks to the guests...

Heidi busy squishing the 'moles' on Hao Hao's toy.

Hao Hao sayanging Heidi's 'injured' finger...I so paiseh to explain that the 'injury' is self-inflicted...

and last but not least...

And a big kiss from me to Heidi

I am going to load the house with loads of band aids tomorrow...cos Ms Heidi who sucks her left index finger is back at it again! With a vengeance! She even added while sucking index finger, middle finger dig nose!!! AARRGGHHH!!! *pic too dah-glam even for this blog*

I am going to her finger wrapped...for 2 weeks I think...the mentor who taught me to use band aids told me her son took just 3 days to break out of the habit. Ms Heidi Lam? She will poke her fingers into her mouth and nostril the moment she felt they are free...or when she felt bored...even after we kept them away from her face for 3 days.

Might take us a month or so...but I am going to be really determine to make her stop this time!

Dream home

Our dream home seems so far away yet so near...you never know buying a house is so difficult until you've tried. Especially when you aren't poor enough or rich enough.

But still, God will find a way even where there is no way. I know my daddy God had saved the best place for me, Heidi and Kelvin already...

Idea for a cosy living room...

Another living room idea.

Rainbow library!!! But I doubt I have enough books...

Must be organised like this for our future workspace.

I can imagine where my Mac will be, then my scanner, printer...art table, brushes and easels...so excited...

This is nice but know me, the shelves will not be able to be closed after 5 days. I will just keep stuffing things inside...

I love this island concept for study room. A larger table area for arts and crafts...doodling and etc with Heidi...

I love the color of the walls with the white furniture. Maybe our study room will be such a color.

Pictures above are taken from http://www.home-designing.com/ . Great site for ideas for your home.

Happy Chinese New Year~

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

My baby may pop anytime now and I wouldn't worry that she's an OX. She's definitely gonna be a little tiger. But hang in there, babe! Wouldn't want you to have an identity crisis abt your astrology sign either. LOL.

Taking it easy this year, we only visit my parents' house followed by reunion dinner with all my dad's side relatives. There are 3 highlights this year...namely - Anthea (3 yrs 2 months old), Maegen (2yrs 4 months old) and Jarel (1 yr 6 months old).

Quite excited that someone will be joining the highlight group next year...Lil Apple! I think before I reach, I will be getting excited calls asking what time will we arrive. hehehe...I don't have to think...definitely! Unless my Lil Apple behaves like that little terror of a niece of Kelvin's then will her popularity dip. I think I have another nickname for this niece. San Feng. Feng (mad) 3 times a day. Hence San Feng. Yes yes, I was woken up this morning by her senseless screams and cries. I wished I have a cane on hand but it's not very nice to beat someone's child. I can only shake my head as my MIL and SIL are doing it all wrong by giving in to her all the time. And scolding the one person whos doing it right...my BIL who is ignoring the San Feng.

I showed my cousin (whos teaching in a special school) a clip of San Feng going about her usual tantrum...she remarked that we should have a time-out corner for her. She is very very attention seeking and we must not give in to her. I guess since she's the only little gal around here, so she gets her way. Soon she will outgrow her cuteness and I guess the patience and giving in will stop then.

Counting my blessings time...

...to battle Monday blues tomorrow...

So I am going to count my blessings...

1. I am really thankful for the car which we brought last year where COE is literally ZERO and Honda gave a huge discount for this model (though there was a discount for the Civic too but I don't want to pay more than $600 per month for a car, so City it is! Also I like its design better)
2. My wonderful husband who fetch me to and fro from work and places on whimsical demands and irrational schedules...(from West to Central, Central to East, East to West...blah blah blah...I just overplanned so much that I always manage to squeeze in 4 to 5 errands in a day. But not anymore. Not when you feel like peeing each time you get up from a chair...)
3. Lil Apple's been head down since week 20 something...and been head-down ever since. (stay that way, baby!)
4. The joy of tickling Apple when she sticks out too much.
5. The kaypoh-ness of Apple when she sticks out to let me 'massage' her as well when I am applying stretchmark cream.
6. Lil' Apple is growing well and showing no signs of wanting to be out early (no serious contractions, show or etc etc...though lately I think I am starting to hear her swallow in the quietness of the night...weird! I wonder if she can fart.)
7. The way my tummy is being distorted by Apple is super funny sometimes...better than primetime shows.
8. We are almost ready to welcome her anytime! (as soon as mommy clears out her 'dog hole)
9. It is fun to have new challenges in life...(getting pregnant, learning new things everyday...testing out the breast pumps and etc etc...)
10. Finally...the end to my blythe chasing hobby...now that I have a real one to play with, don't think I need to get anymore new dolls...hehehehe...

I've also stopped buying clothes for Apple. Many reasons...is she going to be bigger than normal babies? Or smaller than normal babies? Or...define normal? Will she grow very fast? Or very slow? And last but not least...will she be tan like her father or fair like her mother??? I still wonder what does my MIL see when she told me that my husband is fair. That I am as pale as the white wall or toilet white ceramic tiles?

Then I begin to suspect my own eyesight. Maybe my husband is fair but I see him as tanned??? Aye...so is Kelvin tanned or fair???

wahh wahh wahhh...

so naughty so naughty!

I can't stand my niece! She's fearless and super defiant. Now I solely wished I had done more than smack her palm. Cane, she's not afraid. I smacked her palm, she's not afraid.

It all started when I was trying to help her clear her fake legos. She shouted and tossed the legos out...and throwing them around. OMG! Then her mom managed to persuade her to keep the faked legos. She did. But I solely wished I could have smacked her harder or pinched her or something...maybe lock her in the room...but she's not my daughter so I can't do anything.

I can only pray that my daughter not adopt the same attitude as this little terror. So unpleasant was the experience (also I felt bad that I have to beat someone else's child even if its light smacking of her palms...) GRRRrrrrrr....now that I think about it...very angry.

Then the stupid gal saw Disney channel on when Kelvin tried to switch to channel 8. So she sat, scream and shouted repeatedly..."Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse!!!"

For a good whole 10 minutes. I wished I had a live mouse there and then to STUFF it into her stupid mouth!!! I start to pity my SIL...her child is not easy to deal with and she's getting more and more out-of-hand. The last time I shocked the child was when I lifted her up and dumped her into the toilet...that shut her up for a while but my MIL then hugged and comforted her and she took the opportunity to bawl her eyes out. I wonder what will I do if that is my own child. I think I will make her stand in her naughty corner or send her to learn Aikido under my colleague. Who will discipline her for me. Ahahaha...but if parents can't handle their own children...then it is no use relying on others to discipline for them.

Cham. What if Lil' Apple turn out to be like that??? I better pray hard...

Belated blogging about Xmas 2009

On the eve of Xmas 2009, we were invited to the Lings' residence for a sumptuous meal of
NASI LEMAK!!! It was really great!

We had log cakes and durian strudel as well. Delicious~
Absolutely stuffed!

And although I wasn't informed to prepare any presents...I am sure glad I did! At least I know for sure how many ladies are turning up...and its easy to get stuffs for the ladies...phew!

There was a mini round of gift exchanges and Lil Cher was the light and life of the party. I gave her the Twilight ladybug...although it stopped working the next day...at least we had fun with it on Xmas...

Then on the actual day of Xmas, my aunts organized a Xmas Party for the family as well. There were tonnes of FOOD! Turkey, German Pig trotters, mushroom soup, corn soup, garlic bread, salads...really love the Thai fruit salad...so delicious!...and a...

Popiah Station!!!That's my lil bump in the way of me rolling the popiah...

I was ill-prepared for my aunt's celebration cos there were a lot of question marks if the party was going to carry on because my aunt was warded into ICU a couple of weeks before. But praise GOD!!!! The moment I reached the doorstep...I can hear her shouting at my cousins...wow...such vigor! Such recovery! Such strength! Praise GOD PRAISE GOD!!!

Her speedy recovery can only be from GOD! I felt so blessed to hear her shouting at my cousins (also cos its not directed at me...wahahaha)

Quote Bible:

Isaiah 53:4–5
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Wishlist: Ebulobo bears - Father and Child

This is so sweet~

I can imagine stop-motion shorts out of the Ebulobo bears. SO cute...reminded me of my loving father and how I clinged to him. Here and there...still does... :-)

Daddy's girl mah...what to do...

I spent my night over at my 'niang jia' last night. My MIL suggested it...so that I don't have to run across half of Singapore with a bump. My parents 2nd-ed it and my brother obligingly helped me change the bedsheets and pillowcase...plus I have some spare clothes at 'niang jia' so why not... :-)

Only draw is...I still can't sleep under the ceiling fan of our room nor with the air-con on. So I can only turn the air-con on until the room is cool, then switched it off and continue to sleep. My room is cluttered with a lot of stuffs (my art stuffs, comics, books, toys) + my sister's stuffs (her comics, books, toys, accessories, clothes)...and my brother took part in the cluttering with his lego stuffs...faint...

Don't know where to put my bb if I go back niang jia each time. Think I will make my siblings pack up their stuffs and then hire a part-time helper for my parents.

It felt sooooo good...waking up and having breakfast with your own parents. And then going around with them. Maybe I should do this a bit more often next time.

Anthea turns 3!

Birthday gal - Anthea!
She's wearing a very cute butterfly wings top.

My Melody cake from Polar. Super delicious! Guests helped themselves to 2nds and it was all gone before we know it...

Salted bbq prawns are really sweet!

Anthea in my arm and Jarel in Darie's...

Funny sequence between Maegen and Jarel:

"Maegen hug Di-di...hug Didi..."

LOL! Just look at how unwilling both of them are...

Our new camera rocks!!!

My Ohanas

Taken on 27 Nov. 2007.
This is almost...but not all of my Ohanas. Missing...Maegen (too young to attend), Jarel (yet to be formed in mummy's tummy), 3 cousins of mine, their spouses and kids and their mom.

I was cleaning up my desktop...an annual affair...and I realised I still have these 2 pics sitting on my desktop. And note this...these are my paternal relatives ok? My mom side almost equal or even more...wahahahaha...maybe I will force them all to take a family pic with my family one day...hope we will have another updated pic during Don & Gwen's wedding. :)

Qing Ming 2009

It's the annual Tomb Sweeping Event for me and my extended family. I have a very very very huge family...exactly how huge?

My pa has 11 siblings and my ma has 11 siblings too.

My pa is the 2nd in the family while my ma is the 5th. So you can imagine that my youngest uncle from my dad's side is only 8 yrs older than me and his daughter...Anthea...is my cousin whos only 3 yrs old...hiak hiak hiak...

Anyway...every year, we did our parents proud by being present during the tomb sweeping. Give them face lah. This year...they have even more face because my husband is DRIVING!

Super exhausted face...6 tombs to sweep leh...don't play play...

2nd aunt with the flask of coffee. Most valuable item of our offerings.
It's little wonder that I am a caffine junkie as well. Runs in the family...

My Uncle 7th, airing his torso...
I think he slimmed down...hmm...

I can't remember who's tomb is this...must be my great grand father...

Enjoy the view while you can. The tombs will be removed and some lucky folks are going to stay on top of....

That's my 5th uncle with his slippered foot on top of my great grand father...such audacity!!!
But we have to step and cross over more than half of other ppl's great grandparents so....

That's me in my super duper cool Toki Doki cap...
Only $25 from Mr Doki himself at Comicon 2008. I can't wait for Comicon 2009 this year!!!

The tombs are so orderly I can't stand it...

Tis my beloved grandma...

Time to share the loot aka offerings after some hardship...
What with climbing over other ppl's grave, stepping on god-knows-what...but it was great fun to share a whole chicken with my favourite cousin...and gossiping about other cousins...hehehehe...

My niece - Jeslyn

Baby Jeslyn is 1 yr old!!!

I first saw her pic on Samantha's blog. Beautiful baby...she's a hot favourite today. She's so huggable, and cute and pretty and beautiful and she smiles a lot!

So we are all invited to her 1st birthday. Quite a huge event and most of my family turned up. It was great to see everyone gathered together. I think I will make it a point to appear on Sundays. Even chatting with our auntie (my uncles' maid who's younger than me...but I just call her auntie anyway)...

Baby Meagen cheeky with her uncle's cap.

Pardon me if I got her name spelling wrong. Meagen moves really fast...like a humming bird. And this is one hard to come by pic...

Birthday gal revealed! Held here by my lovely Aunt Sherly...

Me and my beautiful niece...
She is really cute!

Cute Anthea...who was strapped to her seat and ordered not to get down.

Poor Anthea had an enzyme attack. I pray the blood of Jesus upon her and may she heal completely soon. In Jesus name, I thank God for the healing. Amen!