My Girl

How can 5 years pass this fast?

I miss the little baby AN.

Many faces

This was taken from Mr Liow's mobile phone. Baby, when well, is irresistibly cute!

Talk and Talk

We were in Mr Liow's car and AN hadn't stopped talking.

I commented to Mr Liow in Hokkien (which is, translated as): "She's been talking for an hour and still talking about the same thing."

She then stopped, and said: "Mummy, I know you are talking about me. You are saying that I talk and talk for one hour and still talking."

Lol! I need to master Cantonese as a fourth language!

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Mr Liow was helping AN with her chinese assessment book and reading the instructions out in Mandarin.

AN looked lost and requested: "Daddy, can you explain that in English?"

Getting Worse

ER's runny nose last week was not the real deal, even though he had fever as well.

The bronchitis starts now.

The cough had been bad since last Thursday and that was when he started panting as well.

Other than the cough, he didn't throw up (from coughing violently due to phlegm) much. But since last night, it got worse. He threw up once last night. And tonight, from the time he fell asleep till now (only about 2 hours), he had already puked, twice, lots of phlegm both times.

This is the real deal.

It's almost 2 weeks. Hope he recovers soon and hope AN remains healthy. ER can NOT keep away from his sister.

Dr will review him on 8th June. I have no idea what to expect.

Negative Amazement

"This watch is so lousy. I've dropped it 3 times. I have to find a day to make a trip down to Robinson's to SCOLD them!" (who? Scold the sales staff or cashiers?)

Didn't she mention she also lost a Coach watch before, because she dropped it?? Why did she not return to the Coach outlets in USA when she went to NY last year, to scold them?

In her world, people are classified.

Moreover, since she's not gifted in latching watches with metallic straps, why buy and blame others for lacking such a basic skill?

The amazing things she will do to people who happen to be suay enough to cross her path....

She's one lucky woman. Really one lucky woman.

She gets to be chauffeured while I settle the small one, hope the big one doesn't budge in (ok, just did! I'm on the verge of exploding. Cool it....cool...breathe...), and hope the water in the stove doesn't boil over.

ER better inherit his daddy's filial genes.

Aerochamber

Instead of oral medicine and nebuliser, Dr Lee decided to puff him.

Since his bronchitis happens so often, she suggested we have our own equipment to relieve him instead of running to the doctor all the time.

I told her the symptoms appear different this time (he starts wheezing almost immediately after showing flu-like symptoms before this relapse) and she said they do get better as they grow.

By age 3-5, these attacks should stop. If they do not, he'll likely be asthmatic.

Times like these, I'm glad BM are out of the picture. No one can blame them for causing these bronchitis (or to the older generation, asthmatic) attacks. Not a least bit my babies' fault.

Ok, we have a week to recover before Mr Liow's birthday celebration next weekend. Even if not, we can gas-chamber the sick tiger.

*insert sinister laughter*

Update: he 9.5kg. Not too bad. Drowning him in milk does help. If only he falls sick less, he should do better. It's ok. He's not the worst. AN was worse. Hehe.

Darling AN

I was probably paranoid last night about the kids having  fever.

Before they turned in, I kissed them both and both felt warm! Took their temperature and AN was at 37.6°c while ER was 37.4°c.

Not fever, but it's not common either.

I then spent the whole night feeling them for fever, thinking they felt warm and taking their temperature.

ER didn't sleep well. He flipped around a lot (like he usually does at the start and peak of his bronchitis), had to suckle to sleep and wouldn't let go. When he did because he flipped away, he got up whining sleepily.

AN usually sleeps through his screams.whenever he its sick but she woke up asking me to sleep with her last night (in the toddler bed). I did when ER went back to sleep.

In no time, he woke up looking for me again and thank God AN was sleeping by then.

The whole time, I was randomly taking their temperature. No fever, thank God again!

By now, I am exhausted and having a little headache. Mr Liow had to help me prepare AN for school and they just left.

Before they did, my Thing One baby came in to check on me quietly (trying not to wake Thing Two baby). She stroked my face, took my phone from beside me and put it far away facing down before gently saying: "Mummy, you need to stop using your phone today because, look? You are sick now." She went on to feel my forehead and told me I need to rest properly before ER wakes up and finally left the room with her "I love you" sign.

Felt so loved.

Harvesting Mushroom

AN did it because I didn't know how to. Lol!

There was already a first batch that she harvested previously and mum cooked it in soup today! I had some. Tastes like what it is: Oyster mushroom.

I think it tastes better in stir fried dishes.

Now we have more to eat and awaiting new ones in about 10 days.

My first time eating something home-grown. Lol!

Overnight!

Was commenting that the mushroom aren't growing last night and I thought I should call the farm to see if I should take the whole thing out of its packaging.

AN said I can chop it into half and place them in water. I better verify.

Suddenly, this morning, while bathing ER, I happened to look up and THE MUSHROOMS HAVE GROWN! OVERNIGHT!

How amazing is that?

There are some looking to explode from the sides. Maybe I should really take the plastic package out to allow them to grow.

So so interesting!

A Mom

Thanks Pei for the attachment!

Last year, in my old blog, some anonymous heroes stood up against me because I was in an emotional mess, buried in housework and overwhelmed with a new pre-schooler and new baby.

One hero commented that I was having so much problems with AN and still went ahead to have another child.

I can't remember what I replied, or if I did. I think Kaz stood up for me (she did, but I can't recall if it was in response to that comment). But I distinctly remember my first thought was "that hero is definitely NOT a mum."

Even the most patient mum has been driven crazy by their children but which mum will hate them so much we'll sterilize ourselves to prevent having more of them? Some families stop at one, but I doubt it's because they hated the first! Makes no maternal sense.

This attached picture explains it all. I wondered at that point if I had been posting too much negative updates about AN when we were in Tucson. I was merely writing about my struggles and AN was just like any learning toddler, stretching my patience.

I haven't ever mentioned that I hate kids and never will have another. I realized haven't posted enough love messages about my Thing One baby though. That's one reason why I'm doing more of such now. I want her to know I love her. If my struggles bothered non-mum readers, I don't want her to read and think I hated her from birth. NOT TRUE AT ALL.

Negative thoughts I express outrightly doesn't necessarily mean other mums do not go through it. Some just prefer to not share. But one thing remains, we all love our children.

As I look back, I recall how difficult AN was at each stage of life and how ER is different, or similar. And I definitely am proud of my girl because although she is young, she has a sensitive spirit. I'm constantly surprised by her compassionate spirit (through our conversations about the old, the needy, and she would even speak in defense of ER after he made her angry so that I do not 'punish' him). Tantrums means she's still struggling.

So, baby, if u happen to read this one day, I love you for who you are. I hardly praise you to the skies because it's too boastful to say I think you are the smartest, prettiest, kindest, most reasonable and best among all the children I have seen but I won't ever exchange you for another because it IS true that I think you are the smartest, prettiest, kindest, most reasonable and best.

Hehe.

There will never be anyone better than you in my eyes. I'm not afraid of having another child because no one is capable of making me love you any lesser than I used to, still do and ever will.

ER gets his own set of love. For this, you don't have to share.

P.s: The above do not justify my decision to rehome Baileys and Maen. They will never be closed chapters in my life. I have let then down. The fact remains for this lifetime.

Not getting better

He should look better now but isn't. He's not eating, drank but threw up because the thick phlegm in his airway is not giving way. I'm worried about him when he tries hard to cough his phlegm away and catch his breath, and his non-food intake.

Sick babies are grouchy babies. He's been crying more than usual too. The only thing that makes hin happy constantly, is having AN home. When she's home, he follows her and everything she does and is a cheerful boy again.

I've not mentioned yet, that AN comforts him when I'm firm with him. She asks me not to be fierce with him coz he's still young. She accepts that I have to start correcting him and then turns to him assuring him: "It's ok, mummy's not scolding you. Dont cry, jie jie love."

He knows she loves him and whenever he's sad, or not being allowed to do something, he cries pitifully and starts looking for her to hug him.

Very cute. Lol!

Back to the flu-like thing. I hope it goes away soon. He should be, judging from how it didn't bloom into the usual big-deal-panting-and-breathlessness bronchitis, he shouldn't be looking worse than he did during weekend.

I'm glad I'm still nursing each time he's unwell. Dairy products creates phlegm but he has no appetite for food. Where is he going to get calories, or more,importantly, something to line his stomach to prevent gastric pains? Do babies get gastric pain?

Please recover soon baby. You deserve to be well and enjoy exploring!

Thing One

AN decided that I should not call her 'jie jie' few months back. Instead, she wants to be my Thing One (from Cat in the Hat) baby.

I forgot to put her bottle in the school bag before waving goodbye and poor Mr Liow had to bring her back up to get it.

Her eyes sparkled as she smiled so sweetly when she saw me standing outside the lift with her bottle. And she exclaimed "mummy!". It's almost nothing special but I realised I miss that sparkle and as she grows up, I'll probably never see that again. I better treasure it.

That said, my boy just whispered "mummy", wrapped his legs around my thigh and I'm now his bolster.

Mummyhood gets overwhelming at times but children are indeed blessings. As were Baileys and Maen :)

Here's my pretty princess in her music classes for us to reminisce when we grow old.

My Sunshine

Mr Liow Having Fever

ER's runny mucus has thickened up and turned greenish. It's also choking him more than previous days. I think he's recovering though, because his fever is over and his trend is such, that greenish mucus AFTER fever indicates recovery and that BEFORE fever indicates infection.

And this time, the daddy caught it from them.

He's now sniffing and running a fever. Poor thing. Times like this, I wish I'm still driving. At least I can send AN to school so he doesn't have to wake up early despite being on MC.

Hope he feels better tomorrow. It's terrible to be sick.

Upset ** warning: long ranting post

I had an overwhelming urge to be selfish (that's what I chose to be) yesterday.

When Mr Liow said to his mum: "you go take a nap. I'll take a nap after you wake up. I know you must be tired.", I didn't feel good. Petty me.

First thing that came to mind was: "Hello! I was the one who did not sleep a wink last night and woke up early to cook for ER before AN's music class. Why was it that SHE must be tired? What did SHE do, besides skipping church for once, just to stay home to read newspapers while the niece watches over ER for the 2 hours in our absence?"

To be fair to Mr Liow, he did ask if I wanted to stay home to rest and he could bring AN for lesson. Obviously, I don't appreciate more insensitive comments and chose to bring AN to class. I really can't stand being stuck in the same house with her! She's bad influence!

When Mr Liow asked her to take a nap, I also thought it could be that he wanted me to rest too, that was why he chose to take turns with her to rest so one of them would be awake to watch over ER and allow me complete rest.

At that point, this explanation just wasn't convincing enough. It is now. It's impossible Mr Liow couldnt tell that I needed the nap more than the mum right??

I seriously didn't want to pick a fight. I was just feeling petty and really tired but a grouchy face IS looking ready to pick a fight....

So I chose to go out, take a bus to Nex just to buy a tube of conditioner and take a bus back. I didn't care if anyone needed me. 2 adults in the house with one who thinks she knows best, I SHOULD have nothing to worry about.

Mr Liow thought of ways to get her help with the kids and keep me company but I doubt those suggestions would work.

True enough, his mum left him to handle 2 kids because she didn't want to pay surcharge on cabfare back. I wanted to see if she would help him while I was gone. Just THINK SELFISH and I can foresee what she will choose to do. She chose to save money and leave early. But she was gracious enough not to make him send her and the niece back.

My mum would have stayed with me to help because ER was sick. His mum just waves goodbye and LEAVES! *shakes head*

He thought my guess was smart (about his mum leaving early to avoid having to pay surcharge), but maybe it's coz know her too well.

Dirty IS Dirty

AN was having lunch in a bowl GRANDMA washed before we came back. Soon after, I noticed black flaky stuff all around the bowl and stopped AN from eating further!

@%)(&$)#@#)(?";%()>°#@?

She had the decency to insist "can't be dirty la. I washed the bowl myself. The inside is clean."

Hey! I'm not interested to find out if the bowl was clean inside by allowing AN to continue eating and then see if she gets tummyache after that. Moreover it was so dirty on the outside no one will believe the inside was clean LOR!

After SHE finished her lunch, she washed her utensils which I noticed, wasn't properly washed again. I had to bring it to her to show and prove to her that she really needs to be careful when washing the dishes..........!

To think she was offended earlier when I stopped AN from eating off the dirty bowl. Would she eat off a dirty bowl??? She'd have flipped if it was the helper who washed it!

Please leh, I have young children in the house... or just leave the washing to me. It's ok, I'll wash. I don't want my kids to get stomachache!

And the fact is there to be seen. She could SEE the bowl was dirty! So why was she offended that I stopped AN from using it!!??

What sort of a human are you??

How Does That Sound?

The niece came to stay this weekend.

"Popo, Ethan looks like he's panting."

"Yes, that's why you have to eat healthily otherwise you fall sick too."

What does that mean? That Ethan doesn't eat healthy which is what makes him sick?


---------------------------

I was making him lunch and wanted to make mee sua. It's soupy and soft, something easy for him to down. Besides, he had porridge for lunch yesterday.

"Why make mee sua? Porridge better."

I explained why.

"Mee sua causes phlegm. Everytime I eat that, I get phlegm in my throat."

I thought to myself: "Mee Sua is made from flour, like bread and some other noodles, isn't it? And JUST because it makes you cough, it is phlegm-producing. hmmmm. I eat mee sua a lot, but I never get phlegm from eating it."

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I had to suck mucus from ER's nose coz he was choking.

Niece: "Eww...."

Popo: "Yi po taught her that. It's old.fashion."

Me, angry! Old fashion? I'm relieving my son's agony instead of sitting there watching!

I told the girl that when she grows up and has her own kids, she will do the same for them.

Popo: "I never did that. I'm not that noble."

For once, she's honest!

Sucking phlegm from my baby's nose is not a noble act. It's an act of love. Won't a mum do anything if it relieves the kid, especially a young one?

I hope the niece grows up loving her kids enough to do this simple thing for her kids.

Stronger Now

AN is still falling sick, too often in my opinion but she is stronger now. Thank God! Her high temperature goes up but hardly hits 38°c since about half a year ago? And she recovers relatively fast, in less than a week.

This time, she barely burned up to 37.6°c (yesterday), went back to normal few hours later, and stopped coughing in about 4 days (no coughing today). Her runny nose is now gone too. Her appetite wasn't the least but affected. I can't be more thankful!

ER is now experiencing the full blow of those flu-like symptoms. He hasn't stopped coughing and dripping mucus today. And his temperature is at 38°c now.

My only few consolation is, he's not wheezing, not panting too extremely, and is accepting medicines (AN NEVER USED TO allow us to give her medicines, but then again, she never suffered from bronchitis too..).

When ER was younger, the bronchitis hit that same day he showed flu-like symptoms. It's day 2 this time and although he is very uncomfortable, signs of bronchitis is still not showing up (cross fingers).

He can't really eat though. He's busy coughing.

MIL says she'll skip a day of church tomorrow to take care of him when we bring AN for classes (or I'll bring her and Mr Liow stays home. We'll see.) For once, some help there.

Poor baby. Please be well soon ok?

Sidenote: AN gave me her big bolster to hug, so I did.  minutes later, she asked: "mummy, do you want to hug my bolster?" I said yes. She then rephrased her question: "mummy, do you want to hug my bolster or me?"

Lol!

Isn't the answer obvious, baby? Of course mummy wants to hug you more than I want to hug the bolster!

Irresponsible Comment

"Another Indonesia maid fell to her death. How come Indo maid are so lousy..."

Irresponsible comments like these really hit the nerves but I can't correct that. I just have to shut my mouth and try to be as far away as possible so that I can't hear anything. It's a pity the pigeon hole I live in is not THAT big.

Someone lost a loved one. Everyone has their careless moments but not everyone pays for it with their life! You have no room for sympathy, do you?

The movement to stop Indonesian maids from hanging clothes out to dry had affected her. She's upset and commented (word for word): "It's their fault that they are stupid."

I think she secretly has many phds, can fly and saves the world at night. She must have superhuman abilities because everyone else who makes mistakes are stupid.

I dry my clothes indoor too.

My clothes dry just fine, indoors.

Bad influence.

For the record

Kids are sick again.

AN had been coughing and sniffing for days but is behaving fine otherwise.

ER started dripping mucus this morning and coughing this afternoon. He's in a worse shape, as usual. He's still playing fine but he's starting to sound chocked as he coughs.

Been almost 3 weeks since they recovered. I'm thankful enough.

Hope they recover in time for Sentosa, and then Desaru.

Mushroom

AN learns to grow mushroom. This is going to give us endless supply of Oyster mushroom if I don't screw up. Hehe. A trainer came to teach them for the past 3 weeks. I'll let Miss Adrielle teach me to grow them.

Comes with instructions, in case she misses something.

Yeah to fresh mushrooms!

Puke and Diarrhoea

This happens to me quite frequently. I puked and passed loose stools so much that I ended up in the hospital for drips once every few months. It happened during my first trimester with ER. Thank God ER was fine!

In just 1 yr, this is the third time. I have the necessary medicines on standby and have stopped the torturous symptoms from causing me distress, at least once.

It didn't seem to work this time. I'm now passing transparent liquid stool and have thrown up once. :( :(

I hated this! HATE THIS FEELING!

But, better me than the kids.

Mr Liow sleeping with them now. I hope I recover without much of the usual drama...

Improving Vocab

Some time last year, AN commented: "Mummy, there's a bun on your head."

This year, she praised it: "Mummy, that bun on your head is shimmery!"

Abercrombie

We have always loved the scent on new Abercrombie clothes we got but never asked which perfume it was that those guys used in the store.

Mr Liow bought one in a haste, before we came back. But that was a wrong one.

This time, he went and finally asked: it's Fierce.

We're both excited to 'marinate' our clothes in that scent. That smell brings us back to Tucson. Lol!

AN, for the first time, commented that "something smells nice!" when I walked passed her. Must have reminded her of Tucson subconsciously too (she was only 3 when we left).

Hours later, she kissed ER and reported: "Ethan smells like Abercrombie!"

Hee.

AN's new toy from the daddy!

My New Glasses

I loved my previous pair of metallic glasses but they disappointed me the most. It became loose after only a couple of months and I mean really loose. It's so loose that I only have to face down and it slips off my face with me even moving.

It threatens to fall into the toilet bowl everytime I wipe AN's butt after her poop session. I have enough. And ER encouraged me to get a new pair by flattening it one day.

So I got another pair. I don't care if I look good in it anymore. I just need to be able to see so that I don't feed my family dirty food. Lol! Of course, I don't want to look ugly.

Amazingly, my eyesight IMPROVED! Once upon a time, I was 320 in both eyes, then 270. Now I'm 200 in my left and 250 in my right! But I have Astigmatism and it's new.

These comes with old age, huh?

So, here I am with my new glasses (my autospell changed 'glasses' to 'diseases'. lol!!)

Safely Arrived!

End of countdown. He's home! Yippee!

D-Day

Mr Liow should arrive Singapore at 249am on SQ11. One week went by and it wasn't too long.

Mum had been such great help. I complained about being told to do things as if I didn't know better. I really didn't know better. Now I'm back home sweet home and missing mum. Hehe.

Wrote her a sweet sms and I think it touched her. I NEVER sweet-talked my mum. Even complimenting her took some getting used to. I tried loosening up, letting go of whatever that had been holding me back, and wrote 我爱你 to her after appreciating her selflessness in my sms.

I'm glad she noticed my attempts to display my love by giving her little (negligible) surprises like buying her favorite cakes, becoming a sponsor (with a little contribution) when she has things she feels like buying etc.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums (especially my mama). Dads are important people too but mums ares a little more because they are not just sacrificial and selfless, they also know us well, sometimes even better than we know ourselves.

I used to be in denial whenever mum said: "I know you like this..." because I don't like to be this predictable. But I have to admit, mum is right and I'm not predictable. I'm just a child my mum loves enough to know me inside out.

Miss her and dad now.

And excitedly awaiting the man with whom I am spending the rest of my whole life who should reach home before 4am.

Baileys and Maen

Them in AN's memory...

Walking for Dad

blished on May 9, 2012 by TheBobjohnson1984

http://WelcomeHomeBlog.com - Military homecoming videos, pictures & stories! 

"When my husband left on his deployment, our 6-year-old son could not walk on his own. He has cerebral palsy. Doctors originally said that he would never walk or do much of anything. While daddy was away, he learned to walk. For his homecoming, we set it up for Michael to walk to his daddy for the first time ever! We kept the fact that he could walk a secret the whole time his dad was gone!"

Countdown: 1 day

He's at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix now. Should reach Singapore at about 3am on SQ11.

We'll all shift home after dinner tomorrow.

Thinking about it makes me miss staying over already.

It's a challenge keeping silent over mum's comments but it's easy to see she said what she did out of concern, even if most contradict my practice. I should learn to stop correcting mum  -____-" Won't die if I just keep my mouth shut or just agree with her.

Home sweet home. This used to be my home too.

I love my parents.

AN told me once: "Mummy, I don't want to grow up. I want to sleep beside you and be your little baby forever."

That sums up how I feel now. Wish I'm still their little girl...

My granddaughter

AN is having fever and staying home. Was wondering why fever again, till she reminded me that Dr Lee mentioned fever a week after the jab.

It's 2 weeks now. Maybe, it's the jab afterall..right?

AN tucked her feverish daughter, my granddaughter, in bed. My daughter is a happy SAHM today.

Funny Dream

AN giggled in middle of the night and I thought she was dreaming something funny. She giggled for like, 5 mins and those giggles were ticklish. Lol!

Was wondering how her giggles didn't wake herself up when she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at me (it scared me at that moment). She then continued giggling while describing her dream: "Mummy, you know what? I dreamt of something funny *uncontrollable giggles* daddy cut all his hair *brought her hands up to her hair as if saying daddy was combing the bald head in the dream, signed 'drive' with both hands in the air holding an imaginary steering wheel* and daddy boomed."

Wasn't much of a description with those incomplete sentences involving more giggles than anything else but that moment was funny, not just for her but me as well.

She smiled and then drifted back to sleep while randomly giggling .

Nothing related:

I ignored her a while ago for pushing a toy off my hands when I was trying to cheer her up because ER destroyed a formation she set up with dominos.

She was very sad and pleaded while repeatedly apologizing: "Mummy, I'm still young. I don't know what is right and what is wrong. I don't like to make you angry."

I melted at "I don't know what is right and wrong"...

She explained that she played a game with nai nai and they found it funny to sweep things off each others' hands then. I explained that was playing. She was upset when she swept that toy off my hands while I was cheering her up. That was more like a tantrum.

She insisted she was playing and didn't know she was frowning, and cried saying she thought she was playing with me.

I overreacted, I guess. Was glad we cleared things up, and I'm glad she reminded me that she is still not able to tell right from wrong, situations that are clear to adults. I have to remember.

My baby girl..

Countdown: 3 days

I need to master this



My mum is a wonderful mum because she saw us as kids and mainly, she laughs a lot (despite being grumpy often due to other factors).

I struggle with her more so now in the way we bring up the young ones. She does things her way because she doesn't know mine.

Reflecting back on each days' events, I appreciate her much much more than I am frustrated with our differences.

I need to master those on the list. It's achievable because no one taught my mum to love us that way. She did it naturally. The only thing that was not on her list was telling us she loves us. She shows it in the things she does for us and leaves it to us to interpret them.

She's not perfect, but I won't be able to find myself a better mum.

My Hunk

Mr Liow got himself a new hunky physique. I prefer his old body, so he'll have to shed those meaty packs before he comes back.

Putting on shorts

ER put on AN's pants on himself, all while I was chatting with her.

Not exactly the first time he tried but this is the first time he pulled it up instead of leave it hanging at his ankles

Cute.

Countdown: 4 days

ER is becoming increasingly difficult. I'm still patient at this point and hope I have enough patience to last through the terrible two, if this is what it is.

This is a whole week of new experiences for him. He's playing, eating, drinking, showering, diapering, breathing in a new place. Not an unfamiliar place, but not a place he's used to spending so much time at.

He's not drinking his milk (I get almost 500mls thereabouts, into him daily at home but here, he's not even sitting...The most he had was 100mls) and not as cheery (still smiley but more tantrums than usual).

His sleep routine is haywired too, waking up too early, gets tired earlier as well but not willing to nap, finally enable to stay awake by 4pm, naps till 7pm and struggles to sleep at night.

We just had a 2-hours struggle because ER woke up at 7.30am (2hrs earlier than usual) and I needed him to nap. Else he's going to feel sleepy before lunch and miss his meal. He was upset when I refused to bring him out no matter how he pleaded with me. He struggled angrily when I made him lie down, wasn't easily pacified, started behaving wierd and unlike his usual self. After crying hard for so long and almost puking at least 3 times, he finally asked to nurse and is asleep, AT LONG LAST!

Hopefully, those crankiness and not-so-cuteness of him goes away once we go back to his familiar schedule and environment.

Mum had been really helpful and I manged to settle a few administrative matters, stuff I can only do during weekends when Mr Liow is around.

The only struggle is, mum forgets that I am a mother too. She nags at me to shower, nags at me to make AN drink water, nags at me to stop talking to AN and feed her (it's frustrating because AN can feed herself! But mum ALWAYS tells me to feed her because it's faster. When I'm not looking, she'll feed AN and my lazy girl gladly obliges because she then has her hands for other things.). Mum will loiter outside the bathroom and monitor us when I shower AN, asking us to speed up and stop talking. She'll nag that I don't dry them enough before bringing them out from the bathroom. She keeps asking me to stop talking and quickly finish up whatever I am doing with AN.

What's the rush?? And I need to talk to my baby! She has lots of things to share about school. If there's anything about my mum that I am adjusting to (still), it's her constantly rushing us.

I'm looking forward to going back to our usual routine. I need to regain control over my own routine.

One mountain cannot hide 2 tigers..

AN's Passport Photo

This one didn't make it.

As her mum, I thought that was deliciously cute and wonder if she made the officer who rejected the picture laugh. It would have made my day. hehe! Now that I'm taking a better look at the picture, I'm not surprised it was rejected. Look at the shadow behind her. hehe. Terribly unprofessional! It takes a mummy with ZERO distraction (no "mummy mummy mummy!!!", no quarrels, no "I need help", or "WWWAAAHHHHHHHH!") to be able to produce something of quality. 

 Ok, that's an excuse. 

This is the new one by the photo people.

Countdown: 5 days

AN makes me so angry sometimes I stay angry for longer than intended. I'll feel guilty and apologise later and then it's peace again (for the time being).

Sometimes, certain things she did or said previously bothers herself too. She'll continue to apologize for the next few days. I'll then tell her that it's over and we'll start again.

She remembers. I was upset with how she had been biting her nails lately and the more I reminded her yesterday, the more agitated I got. She then reminded me: "Mummy, it's over already. I'll try to remember not to bite my nails."

I was still bothered by how she is not stopping despite the countless reminders, punishments, naggings. After reading up on the behavior, I'm starting to relax the restraint, knowing now that she probably didn't even realize she was biting at that point and that it could indicate stress or anxiety.

Not easy for her to stop, and not easy for me to close an eye. We all know how dirty the fingernails are, and how often they had been falling sick.

Just have to wash her hands often.

Location : 121A Rivervale Dr,

Countdown: 6 days

Mr Liow "tango-ed" (v-cam) with us at 11am (8pm in Phoenix. I'll never forget. Hehe). He reached the inn at Phoenix, FINALLY! Let's count....36 hrs, including transit and waiting.

36 hours! Didn't we all survive that number of hours 2 years ago? How did we do that? How did Baileys and Maen do that? And Maen had no water to drink because her bottle couldn't stop leaking and we realized too late.

(My) Strong babies. They do not have to go through that ever again.

Glad Mr Liow survived the flight. Each time he travels, I'll worry about his slip disc. He had been feeling a little sore at that affected site since the volleyball game some weeks back. Not terrible pain but it didn't feel normal.

How's it being away this far, for us? Lol! As if we are suffering. Was terribly bored yesterday, so AN and I got productive! We completed some worksheets she missed in school when she was on M.C. (her teacher returns us past month's work and a progress summary first Fri of each month). And we finished a few units in her Maths and English assessment books.

I gave her time to watch Mickey Mouse (classics from my old collection), and boredom set in after the show ended. She went ahead to practice writing her Chinese characters.

Lol!

That was yesterday.

She has school today, so time passed relatively fast.

I brought her to have her passport photo taken (Pei: the self-taken one didn't pass. Lol! Fringe covered brows, background not white, uneven lighting), did some grocery shopping and enjoyed each other's company without the cute little monkey.

Both are resting now. It'll be dinner, relax, and then good-night soon.

More to be done tomorrow: I'll have to open a CDA account for AN at the bank, go home to scan her photo and re-send it to ICA, get ER's diapers (Pampers is on sale at Cold Storage! $35.90 for 2 packs!)

On Wednesday, I'll probably make my way down to sign ER up for Ingenious. To my Finance Dept: I balanced the options and thought we'd try Igenius because subsequent signups are cheaper than MyGym. And it's on promo now. If no good, we can always switch, right? Or simply stop.

I know I'm fickle-minded but it's all for the kids!

Lol!

Will update you again if I have time or interesting things happen later.

Location : 121A Rivervale Dr,

Before Mr Liow Leaves

My Gym

I got a call from MyGym saying I won a trial class for ER, so I chose a class to attend this morning. I have big enrichment plans for ER and AN but though we do not lack, I'm not contributing financially. So, the luxury to splurge on the many quality programs on my wishlist is not an option.

I have to choose wisely: From right brain training (programmed to unleash potential in kids through the most natural way, which is through play), to flashcard (which may help the child develope photographic memory), to gym classes (physical progress is no less important than intellectual). That's only for ER.

I am, too, starting to worry about AN catching up with classmates who have been attending extra classes like phonics, abacus, maths and the likes. I have been exploring the option of Speech and Drama because she is extremely shy when all attention is on her (proven when she refused to speak during the presentation of her rainforest, much to my disappointment because she had been so excited to show off her rainforest diadem and giant lapbook.)

She's starting to read better these past few weeks, so we can save up on phonics for the time being. Mr Liow is all for Abacus and he's hardly 'all' for anything (which is good in a way, to help remind me to slow down with AN). No matter what 'extra' lessons she takes up, they will only benefit her (but deprive her of time to enjoy the remaining of a carefree childhood).

Thank God Mr Liow doesn't print money.

What I choose for them will likely 'shape' their future. Must choose carefully.

Omg....I'm so long winded.

I meant to only talk about MyGym...

Anyway, it was similar to Gymboree in Tucson and it brought back tonnes of memories with AN! But Gymboree was more spacious, fun and colorful, more music and movement, has the most lovely Miss Erin, and only a tiny fraction of the fees here.

Gone are those days.

ER didn't want to sit during circle time and couldn't stop exploring the different apparatus (just like AN used to...omg, I badly miss that part of my little girl's life!). But I did learn some simple workouts to strengthen my toddler's muscles. That won me (because I couldn't convince myself to pay that amount, just to put ER in an airconditioned playground). We'll try for a term after Mr Liow comes back and see how it goes.

Location : 121A Rivervale Dr,

Goodbye, dear dear

Mr Liow is at the airport now and we're at my parents' place. He'll be leaving for Phoenix tonight and will reach in 27 hours. :(

Much as my parents try to make our stay comfortable (aircon servicing done so we have clean, cool air to sleep in, new sheets, clean guest-mattress, toys etc), home is still where the heart is.

ER had been whining since we reached at 8pm because he missed his nap. AN missed hers too but she's better at managing her emotions than ER despite the several outbursts of unreasonable behaviours when she lost control. She's trying to keep her promise to obey.

ER is still not very settled and it's already 10.15pm. I think he has problems sleeping away from home. Our girl must have been desperately hungry because she finally agreed to ask my mum to make her milk after waiting for ER to fall asleep (which doesn't seem like it will happen soon because he just got up to say 'Hi!' to her. -_____-" )  Thank God for mum who got up to help.

AN has no lessons tomorrow. What shall we do?

Hmm...

Location : 122D Rivervale Dr,

Kinderclinic

Kinder2


Both kids had their checkup and jabs done last Thursday (23 April). 

ER

He went first.

Weight: 9.1kg

Height: 79 cm (to be confirmed)

Head Circumference: 46cm (to be confirmed)

His weight remains at 10% (gradual drop from 75% since he started eating), height at 25%. Dr Lee was concerned because for a boy, he's small. I'm quite relieved he's doing far better than AN at this age. I checked her booklet and she was 5.9kg at 18 months!

Dr suggested he gets at least 500mls of milk each day. He gets only 120mls on average (not including milk he gets from me because I don't know how much he drinks). And she suggests I switch him to Pediasure.

My 2 tiny kids make me a loyal customer of Pediasure.

He cried during the jabs for a short while but reminded us of the pain for the remaining of the day with "pain pain" and pointing to those plasters.

AN

Weight: 13.7kg

Height: 107cm

Dr Lee is pleased with AN's growth. She had always been a 3% baby and still is. Her height had been at 25% for a long time but during the checkup, it's gone up, approaching 50%. Dr Lee assures that AN is growing well.

So, it's just ER I have to work on.

AN started crying at the sight of the jab. She didn't sound like she was sincerely terrified. In fact, she sounded like she was making herself cry. -_____-"

She was sobbing and trying to look at what Dr Lee was doing with the syringe and she didn't even realised when Dr put the needle into her thigh. She was still looking out for the syringe. She then stopped sobbing because it didn't really hurt. It probably did soon after because, like Dr Lee said, the medicine travelling into her body may cause some aches.

She won't have a fever till a week later and it's going to be high fever.

It's a week now and no fever yet. AN doesn't usually get fevers after her jabs. Thank God.

Let's hope the fever doesn't come in the next few days.

Location : 403A Fernvale Ln,

My Toddler

ER is a happy boy, but when he is not too happy, he cries. That is normal.

Recently, he's confusing us. He knocks his head, starts bawling a little before he starts laughing (and crying at the same time, but laughing more than he is crying). He gets told off firmly by either of us but starts laughing as if we were playing with him.

He laughs a lot. Especially when AN is with him.

His laughter tickles us, especially AN. Both of them ends up laughing non-stop over a tiny joke, a wierd sound, even a strand of hair.

Even when he gets hurt accidentally when they play, he laughs.

I enjoy the laughter but worries at the same time if ER is ok. Because when it hurts, it's instinctive to cry, isn't it?

I'll go read up a little on it.

That aside, he's starting to call me "mummy" since early this week. He had been calling me "mama" till one day, he observed how AN called me "mummy".

The way he pronounces "mummy" is super pleasant to my ears.

He goes "PLEASE!" with a raised palm whenever he wants us to stop disturbing him. Sometime he goes "STOP!"

He's picking up words and learning at a tremendous speed. Just a one-hour session of piecing alphabet puzzles yesterday and he picked up letters "x" and "b". He recognised "o" couple of weeks back and he remembered it yesterday.

He hides things and goes "where jit?" (where is it), pulls me up when he's ready to get out of bed and says: "lej go" (let's go!).

He understands better too. I asked him to lie down with jie jie in the room while I dump his soiled diapers and he did. My dad wondered if he understood. I wasn't sure too but let my baby try interpret the instructions. The grandfather was impressed and proudly updated the grandmother hours later. They keep saying kids these days are so smart. I think we must have been pretty dumb when young. Hehe.

Mr Liow will be leaving for USA again tomorrow night and be away for a week. We'll all camp over at my parents' place. Time passes fast with kids around. He'll be home before we know it. :)

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Final touch up and ta-dah!

Rainforest project, almost completed