LiFe As It Is...

Maths Question

2012-02-13T07:21:00.001+08:00

I saw these in the Straits Time a few days ago. These are Primary Two Maths questions.

Sam has 30 chickens and ducks.
He has 6 baskets. He distributed the chickens evenly into the 6 baskets and the ducks evenly into 4 of the baskets. In the baskets with chickens and ducks, the number of chickens equal to the number of ducks. So how many chickens and how many ducks does he have?

Mr Snail is at the bottom of the well that is 7/8 m deep. He wanted to watch the fireworks on 9 Aug and started climbing up the wall of the well on 5 Aug. He climbs 1/2 m every day but slipped down 1/4 m every night. Will he be in time for the fireworks?

By the way, I rephrased the questions. Taking into consideration time stress during exams. These are killers lor. Did I do these when I was in Primary Two???!!! Somebody, hit the panic button!

No wonder people say that kids can't deal with maths if their English is not good. The problem sums are too tricky lah.

Mummy Lim

Sick

2012-02-11T16:41:00.001+08:00

I went to work this morning and rushed to pick Lil Isaac from Centris to bring him to his gym class. Daddy Lim was supposed to pick jiejie up after he knocked off.

I received a Lil Isaac who just woke up from his very short nap. He was really well behaved during the mrt ride and I thought it was bcos he was half awake and was secretly glad at my good luck.

We were early and shared an ice cream cone while waiting for his class to start. However, we didn't make it for class. He measured 37.8 degrees when his teacher took his temperature!

Yes, I is lousy mummy. I didn't realize that he was running a temperature. I was slinging him in the mrt and didn't feel his warmness. We ended up going home in a cab.

He was very much active in the cab and showed no signs of having a fever at home. We gave him paracetamol and his temperature seems to come down. We couldn't tell for sure bcos Lil Isaac has no problem taking medicine but HATES the thermometer!

We are not sure what exactly happened. He has no flu, in fact nothing at all. Is this the must-fall-sick-before-the-trip syndrome? Pls recover and pls dont let anybody else falls sick.

Mummy Lim

Evidence of Growing Up

2012-02-11T07:02:00.001+08:00

Last night, at bedtime.

ML: Baobao, time to sleep.
LS: I am not baobao, I am Shauna.
ML: You are baobao, mummy used to call you baobao.
LS: Are you xx and xx (friends that she plays with since young)? Only they call me baobao. Call my English name, I am Shauna.
ML: Ok, then your Chinese name is baobao.
LS: Nooooo... I am Zu-En.
ML: Ok, Shauna Lim Baobao.
LS: No!
ML: Ok, Baobao Lim Zu-En.
LS: No!
ML: Hahahahahaha. Ok, I am going to go to bed. Who wants to sleep with me.
LS: Me!
ML: But only my baobao can sleep with me leh.
LS: I am baobao.

Muahahahahaha.

Mummy Lim

Toothbrush

2012-02-09T21:38:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac loves to have his teeth brush. Actually, I think it is bcos the apple and banana toothpaste tastes good. Jiejie used to love sucking on her toothbrush too.

Today, Lil Isaac was in a foul mood. Popo says that he had an early nap. As a result, he cried when I refused to give him a dirty toy spade. He cried again when his finger got caught in the drawer.

He was noisy and disturbed jiejie who was trying to draw and I brought him to the room. He then pointed to the toilet, asking me to get his toothbrush to brush his teeth.

I was barely done when he insisted to do his own brushing and refused to give me back the toothbrush despite my coaxing. I tried to distract him with toys but he started crying inconsolably the moment we took his toothbrush away. We only managed to take the toothbrush from him when it was time for bed. -.o"

Mummy Lim

Comparisons

2012-02-09T20:06:00.001+08:00

I keep having this feeling that Lil Isaac is much slower in his development as compared to jiejie. I just thought that I pen them down for comparisons.

Walking
Lil Shauna started walking in her 11th month and was walking independently by the time she turned one. Lil Isaac was stuck in the crawler stage for a good 6-month. He however was a master crawler and could crawl really fast and all terrain. He was also cruising for the longest time and finally decided to walk on Christmas eve, when he was 14 months old. Now at 16th month, he is walking but still very unstable.

Talking
I can’t remember when Lil Shauna started talking but definitely much earlier than Lil Isaac. I remembered her singing the entire ABC song during our Melbourne trip in her 18th month. She must have started talking way earlier then. Lil Isaac at 16th month, barely utters few words. All he makes are sounds. Even the few words that he says are like sounds in different pitches. He doesn’t really speak but is starting to parrot what we say, like “papa”, “mama”, “boh” (ball), “hel-O” (hello), “orh” (hot). The only thing that he really says is “mum mum”, the all important word for survival, which is sometimes replaced by “armh” and “ah-tah” (peekaboo). At the rate that he is articulating his thoughts, I think terrible two will really be very terrible.

Eating
It was much easier to feed Lil Shauna. She’s a milk baby and used to ask for milk every 2 hourly even after she started solids. She’s generally Ok with most food. Maybe it was bcos she’s a preemie and starved too much while in my tummy? I remembered her self-feeding in Melbourne too. With Lil Isaac, it was a constant fight to feed him milk. He will be struggling and wriggling. He doesn’t like most food and spits them out. Self-feeding? I be glad that he even eats!

Sleeping Through
Despite being a preemie, Lil Shauna cut down to one night feed in her 4th month. She dropped her night feed in the 7th month. Lil Isaac is still waking up for his bottle every night!

Looking at the above, it does look as if Lil Isaac is slower but he is healthy.
I supposed the only thing that he excels in is his dental development. At 16th month, he has his full set of teeth. I saw the last 2 breaking through.

I actually have plans to send him to playgroup in September this year and to pre-nursery at jiejie’s school in January 2013. Jiejie started playgroup when she was about 22 months old. However, Lil Isaac still looks like a baby to me and I wonder how he is able to start school by then.

Mummy Lim

Starved

2012-02-09T19:57:00.001+08:00

We will be heading to HKG in 2 weeks’ trip. I am excited and yet worried.

Lil Shauna was already 18-month old when we brought her for her first faraway trip to Melbourne. By then, she took most solids. Even if she doesn’t eat, she can always have her bottle. She was a milk baby.

Lil Isaac will be 16 months old when we are in HKG. He is a picky eater. His favourites are porridge (home-cook), macaroni, pasta and ban main or similar texture noodles. He used to like bread but now only eats them if he is in the mood. He still loves biscuits (selected) but we restrict him.

On top of his limited choice of food, he is allergic to nuts and unknowns. These make feeding worse. We are careful to read labels and usually do not try new food. I am always gripped by fear when I feed him outside food, especially when he started scratching shortly after the food. Afterall, the ingredients are not made known and we can only guess whether they are safe.

I don’t know if he will be starved in HKG. To being with, I am not a hands-on mummy with Lil Isaac. Feeding and bathing had been outsourced to Popo and Auntie and they are both not coming with us to HKG. I don’t know when I should feed him and also how much. At times, when we are taking care of Lil Isaac ourselves, the amount of solids and milk that he takes seems so miserable. But I always comfort myself that he will be nursed back to shape when I hand him back into Popo’s capable hands.

This time, it will be 4 days without Popo and I am worried. What if we cannot find the food that he likes? What if he refuses to eat even if we find what he likes? What if he developed an allergic reaction in HKG?

I have made a mental note to find out about the nearest clinic at the few places that we will be in HKG. I will of course be bringing Lil Isaac’s medicine in case he really eats something that he shouldn’t. Arrghhhh.. this is so stressful.

Mummy Lim

USS Round 3

2012-02-08T22:09:00.003+08:00

We went to USS again last weekend. This time with ah yee and uncle ichi. This is Lil Shauna's 3rd trip and Lil Isaac's 2nd.

We had to work in the morning so Lil Shauna went with ah yee and uncle ichi first. Lil Shauna always enjoys their company and sticks very much to uncle ichi.

I brought Lil Isaac to join them after knocking off from work. I heard Lil Shauna had taken the magic potion (mini ferris wheel), the Madagasga ride, flying dino and the mini roller coaster by then. I took care of Lil Isaac while jiejie went for the Shek 3D show with ah yee and uncle ichi. While waiting, I went for the merry-go-round with Lil Isaac. He didnt seem to enjoy the ride very much but at least he didnt cry like he did in Genting.

I think Lil Isaac didnt enjoy the theme park very much bcos he seems to be sulking most of the time. Lol.

Mummy pretended not to see and happily went around taking pictures with the characters.

Lil Shauna was really brave in this. She hugged me really tightly.

Daddy Lim joined us later in the afternoon. Both of us lugi and didnt manage to catch many rides with a pre-schooler who was complaining of being tired and wanting to go back to the hotel room to rest and a not too happy toddler. We didnt even have time to take the new Transformer ride. Ah yee had to boast to me about how great it was. Boohoo. But at least we had this picture taken.

I am looking forward to Disneyland in HKG. I hope Lil Isaac will be able to enjoy the theme park more by then. Actually, it is only 2 weeks from now! Woohoo!

Mummy Lim

Pictures

2012-02-08T18:27:00.001+08:00

Jiejie wanted to take a picture with Singa. Daddy Lim and Lil Isaac rushed to join her too. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Supplement

2012-02-07T21:44:00.001+08:00

The mummies were chatting about supplement for the kids recently. I am much thankful that the 2 kiddos are relatively healthy. I accrued that to the fact that they do not attend child care. Children at child care usually have working parents and they sometimes get send to the center despite being mildly sick.

Still, it doesn't hurt to give them supplement to make them stronger. Lil Shauna has her fair share of making me buy supplement and then refused to take them. There are also not many supplements for toddlers below 2 yo.

I recently found this, suitable from 1yo onwards and the kids really love it. They fight for it! I tried it myself. It tastes really yummy, sweet with a tint of sourness. Hehehe.

Mummy Lim

Homework

2012-02-05T17:14:00.001+08:00

Lil Shauna enjoys drawing and colouring. Her "people" are starting to look like one. However she doesn't enjoy writing and it is super hard to get her to write.

Lil Shauna doesn't get much homework from school. Her school is not very academic driven and her principal seems to believe very much in maintaining the kids' interest, which basically means having fun. However, Lil Shauna gets homework from her weekly phonics class. It is mainly colouring of pictures with the same sound but parents are expected to go through pronunciation with their kids.

It was relatively easy when Lil Shauna was in her Foundations class. She can now hear most of the first sound in words provided that the first sound is obvious. She also enjoys tracing patterns. In the Launchpad class, she's starting to learn the last sound and it is tougher. I supposed once she gets it, she will be able to hear most of the last sound but we are definitely not there yet after 2 lessons. And it is equally hard trying to get her to write her alphabets. It doesn't help that she's already very tired by the time we are home and she couldn't concentrate on her homework. It takes lots of coaxing and we sometimes ended up having to break a simple 2 pages homework into several day. I had to beg, coax, plead, threaten to get the homework done.

Did I read about how much AN and C love to do their homework?

Mummy Lim

Not Fat?

2012-02-03T07:02:00.001+08:00

LS: Pappy, why your tummy so big?
DL: Bcos I am fat.
LS: I never say that you are fat. You said that we cannot call other people fat. I say why is your tummy so BIG?
DL: Ok, then I didn't exercise enuff.
LS: Ok (and she started stroking DL's tummy).

Yah, Daddy Lim is not fat, just with a bigger than normal tummy.

Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Music Class

2012-02-01T21:09:00.001+08:00

I always thought that we spent very little time with Lil Isaac. In comparison, the witty and chatty jiejie is definitely more entertaining to be with. So yday, I encouraged Daddy Lim to go with jiejie for her music class while I spend time with didi and he did. That was after we checked with jiejie if she was ok with the Pappy going with her and she was. To be doubly sure, I asked her 2x and also asked her why she didn't want mummy to go with her. Our princess replied, "bcos you go with me so many times already." Ok lor.

I ended up struggling with the little tiger while taking mrt home bcos he so wanted to walk but he has no shoes. But I did spend time playing toys with him or more so throwing toys around until jiejie came crashing home.

Jiejie was in a good mood and said that she enjoyed herself in class. Interestingly, Daddy Lim said tgat he did not.

I bath her and while helping her to change into her pj, I asked her what did she learn. Then she secretively told me not to tell Pappy bcos she didn't like Pappy (to go to class with her). But she couldnt tell me a reason why. Muahahahahaha.

Daddy Lim guessed that it was probably bcos he wasn't too enthusiastic during the class. He found the class silly. He thinks that the teacher probably taught that syllabus for too long and didn't appear passionate. In fact, he said that he didn't like the class. Bleeehhhh....

So, it will be back to me the next week... and probably the many more weeks to come. Daddy Lim's ego was bruised by his little girl. When we asked jiejie who will go with her next week, she chose me and after pausing for a while, she told us that we should take turns. It is as if we are fighting to take her to class or that she's trying not to hurt either one of us by rejecting us. Lol. It was really funny to hear such things from her. Help, the kids are growing up too quickly for us.

Oh, did I mention before that I love the 'zi pai' function of my iPhone 4s? Great photos.. The mummy of course, kids always look darn good in pictures.

Mummy Lim

Poor Breasts, Poor Me

2012-02-01T07:17:00.001+08:00

I had a meeting at habourfront on Mon and ended up spending the entire day out of yard. I had to lug my pump and fridge-to-go to make sure that I can express during lunch.

I ended up expressing at the nursing room in haborfront during lunch and was glad that the nursing room was empty. However, there was no power socket and I had to rely on batteries. I had to make a dash to the nearest Watson to get batteries.

My 'new' breast pump sometimes fail me. The suction takes awhile to come on. Don't ask me why. Just that day, it took forever. I ended up with the pump attached to me for a long time but with weak suction and no milk. I was über stress, fidgeting with the pump and wondering if it is the pump's fault or that the batteries are not strong enuff.

I was left wondering if I should make a dash to the nursing room in vivo city. There is power socket there. After like 10mins, the suction finally resumed. Phew.

It was probably a combination of time stress, frustration, weak suction and what-have-yous. I got less than 100ml of output after struggling for another 20mins and I gave up. My lunch break was over too. And I was again wondering if i should have gone to vivo city. Then, it struck me - what happens if the pump dies on me or refused to cooperate while we are in Hong Kong?!!?

I have decided that I will bring my spare pump to Hong Kong, including some essential spare parts such as the valves. A little more weight is definitely better than exploded breasts. Haiz, the downs of expressing.

Mummy Lim

CNY Gathering

2012-01-29T22:25:00.001+08:00

I lost count.. We went for so many gatherings and visitations this year and I am glad. We met up at Mummy J's house in far, far away Sengkang just now. Haiz, why wouldnt the Government build a direct expressway from Jurong to that ulu ulu land?

The kids didn't need warming up when we arrived. They were greeted with many other kids and a whole house of toys. Those always do the trick. At certain point, Mummy J's house was so noisy with screaming kids and adults trying to outtalk each other to be heard. I actually ended up with a headache. It was only better when some of the families started to leave. Their house, which is an executive flat, actually felt small when the full strength reported. Phew.

Again, it was stuffed-myself-silly-with-junk-food time. This time the sin was greater with the whole table of CNY goodies. The only happiness is that Lil Shauna can entertain herself and we only need to take turns to watch over didi.

We left at about 7pm. Lil Shauna was hugging AN and C and I think ER tripped over Lil Shauna and fell. His face knocked onto the floor and he started crying so pitifully. I only suspect that Lil Shauna tripped him when she suddenly turned quiet and her eyes went red. I picked her up and when we were just out of the door, she started crying. It was either out of guilt or fear. She cried so sadly in the car and I was assuring her that it was alright bcos it was an accident; she didn't mean it. And I told her that I would let Auntie J knows that she is sorry. I did, over what'sapp. Hehe.

I got to know that ER was alright and told her so and I took the liberty to also tell her Auntie J didn't blame her before Auntie J actually said that. Haha. Well, Auntie J did say that eventually lah. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Teeth Brushing

2012-01-29T22:03:00.001+08:00

We are lazy parents. Lil Isaac has a full mouth of teeth but we haven't been brushing them. I think his full set, except 2, are out. Even his 4 big molars are out.

We didn't faithfully helped Lil Shauna brushed her teeth too until not too long ago. I decided that I cannot be lazy anymore and helped her brush her teeth every night after her bath. I did ask Popo to help her with the morning brush but it is always a mad rush in the morning... Well, at least I did my part.

Over the CNY, somebody asked me if I started brushing Lil Isaac's teeth. The somebody gasped when I admitted that I haven't. In fact, Lil Isaac didn't even own a toothbrush. Yes, I have been a lousy mummy to Lil Isaac. Since then, I got him a toothbrush and told myself that I have to brush his teeth every night.

We did. Lil Isaac didnt welcome the toothbrush into his mouth the first time. Now, he opens his mouth for us and happily sucks on the apple and banana toothpaste. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Happy CNY

2012-01-27T23:40:00.002+08:00

I went back to work on the 3rd day of CNY. The office was very much empty as most of the people were on leave. I was feeling blue on Chu Er at the tot of coming back to work. However, since we have no hoards of relatives to visit, leave should be reserved for more important things, like holiday. Hohoho.

I enjoyed CNY now much more than during my teenage and young adult years. It is time to “showcase” my kids and savor the proud mummy moments. This proud mummy beams at so-and-so’s comments about how beautiful/ clever/ cute/ polite/ well-behaved Lil Shauna/ Lil Isaac is. Hohoho. We didn’t have many pictures. We are too busy running after the kids. This is taken at Centris before we start our visitation.

Ah yee made this. Lil Isaac looked like some gongfu master in his a little-too-big CNY romper.

This year, we also visited Daddy Lim’s uncle’s house on Chu Yi and my MIL’s brother’s house on Chu Er.

I don’t know why we haven’t been visiting his uncle’s house, we usually just meet them on CNY eve for reunion dinner. The kids brought them much joy and I think we should continue with the tradition. I have never seen my MIL’s brother despite being with Daddy Lim since year 2004. I always tot that they are some difficult people and thus we have little contact with them. But the couple was actually very friendly and hospitable.

We had steamboat from CNY eve all the way until Chu Er. I quite enjoy the steamboat after not having them for an entire year. Steamboat is too much to ask on common days now that we have 2 kids. I like steamboat bcos you are supposed to take your time to eat. People are more forgiving if we lingered a little too long at the dining table. Hohoho. It is now a luxury to sit down for proper meals in the kids’ presence. Lil Shauna enjoys dumping food into the steamboat more than the actual eating too. She wasn’t allowed too long at the table though. It feels too dangerous.

We have round 2 to go this weekend. We are meeting up Daddy Lim’s Poly friends and the SHSS girls. Hohoho, I like CNY.

Huat ah!

Mummy Lim

The Breastfeeding Journey

2012-01-26T06:47:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac is 15 months’ old and still on partial BM. My supply has somehow dropped and I can meet about ½ of his milk’s needs. He supplements either with FM or my SIL’s EBM. Oh yes, my SIL has extra and Lil Isaac helps to clear stock. I don’t mind. BM is good stuff, regardless of whose and I get to save $$ too. To begin with, Lil Isaac is not a milk baby and only drinks more before his nap, bedtime or when he is really hungry. The rest of the time, he tends to be distracted and refused to stay still to finish his milk. He will struggle and wriggle and we chase him around to finish a pathetic bottle of 100ml. So, a big tin of FM can last him for a month!

Lil Isaac has stopped latching when he turns one. I tried a few more times to latch him but he refused. Now, when I show him my nipple, he stares at it as if it is some kind of alien and then wants to play with it. Faint. I found it easier to establish an expressing routine with Lil Isaac. Now, I express before and after work, during lunch, before I sleep and once in the middle of the night. The night express is not always successful. That is maybe why my supply has dwindled. Then again, 15 months is a long time and I have no pressure to try to meet his demand. Weekends and PH are the times that I fret over my expressing routine and I miss latching him. No milk bottle and no need to heat up EBM. It is very troublesome to find time to express amidst a busy schedule. I now take about 30 mins to express and somebody has to help man the kids while I do. I also appreciate to be away from the kids while I express, accompanied by my iPad. I found their presence stressful and actually affect my supply. Tested and proven.

I had been wondering when I should stop. I have been expressing bcos Lil Isaac doesn’t really like FM during his wakeful hours. We usually give him FM mixed with EBM or just EBM. More importantly, expressing helps to keep the kgs from piling. Sadly, I already have to watch over what I eat now despite still expressing. So, I think I really have to eat like a mouse if I stop. I know I must continue through the CNY bcos I want to look good. Now that CNY is over, the question pops back again. And we are going HKG in mid February. I don’t want to inconvenience the others who are traveling with us. I can now easily last 10 hours without any discomfort. Hmmmm.. Mummy J and YF, when are you all going to stop huh?

Mummy Lim

JBP Annual Pass

2012-01-26T06:46:00.001+08:00

We brought the annual pass for about $200. The pass admits our family of 4. We think that it will be worth it since JBP is so near to our place and they have a new water playground. On any of the weekend mornings with good weather and if Daddy Lim has to work, I think I can easily hop on to a cab and bring the kids to the Bird Park for some fun. Since the purchase of the annual pass, we have been to JBP 3x and always with Daddy Lim. With the pass, we also didn’t see the need to stay the whole day in the park just to make our $$ worth. We stayed for about a couple of hours each time without the need to outdo the Sun.

We went down to JBP on CNY eve. Popo wanted us to bring the kids away so that she can prepare the feast in peace. Ah yee and Uncle Ichi joined us. We had fun feeding the lory birds. They were so full the last time we went in the late afternoon and had to beg the few with little tummy capacity left to eat the bird feeds.

Then we had a little fun in the water playground before heading home. It was so hot and the kids enjoyed the cooling weather. If it is not bcos it was too troublesome to change and all, I would love to soak in the ankle deep water too. Hoho.

I like how the kids get knocked out after the crazy fun. Hoho.

Mummy Lim

Sick

2012-01-20T23:11:00.001+08:00

I am down with flu. But how can I be sick? I was just recovering from a mild sore throat and a dry cough. Then the sore throat and dry cough worsen on Wednesday. On Thursday, my throat recovered but there's phlegm and I kept sneezing. Today, my throat is super itchy and my nose is blocked.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take MC and went to the office to spread germs. I only hope that the kids don't get the virus. It is no joke to face sick kids over the holidays.

Mummy Lim

Enrichment Classes

2012-01-18T18:22:00.001+08:00

Lil Shauna went for her 3rd music lesson yday and so far so good. I hope that my presence in the class will help her to continue with the class. Well, I am not trying to turn my kids into geniuses, I just thought that it is good if they can persist in a particular interest. My heart broke when Lil Shauna decided that ballet is not for her. I can already picture her in her leotard and tutu performing gracefully on stage but I know that the most important thing is for her to enjoy herself and I thus respected her decision.

I mentioned previously that I had expected the music class to be more interesting. However, Lil Shauna seems to be enjoying herself. I have to admit that the course material, which consist of a textbook, a workbook and stickers, are of really good quality and vibrant color. They cost us $90! The kids get to paste the stickers in the books upon accomplishment of certain tasks. Kids love stickers!

The class requires the kids to sit and follow instructions most of the time. I see boys monkeying around and I can't help being thankful that I am attending the class with my little lady. She's fairly well behave most of the time. Then again, I wonder if it will be hell when it is Lil Isaac's turn 2 years down the road.

And there are plenty of opportunities for me to savor proud mummy moments too. The kids are often asked to go to the front of the classroom to "perform". I just couldn't help smiling at my little princess and be proud of her.

Ok, phonics, music and swimming for Lil Shauna and adding on Lil Isaac's play gym, I am really a busy mummy now. There is still abacus and chinese classes which I suppose can wait a little. Maybe when she has learnt how to swim and she can stop taking lessons. Ouch, my pocket!

Mummy Lim

Caught!

2012-01-16T22:21:00.001+08:00

Jiejie started school since she was 20 mths. She is now 3.5 yo (44 mths), so you can imagine how many work sheets and art & craft she has done and brought home. She bring then even more work sheet from her phonics class. I kept most of them in this box.

Recently, I did some housekeeping and plod through the box. I threw away the art & craft work that were falling apart. I also threw away those work sheets done in her playgroup. I threw away a big bag of them.

I found some more tucked in her phonics bag and crushed those and threw them in the rubbish bin without thinking. Yday morning, Lil Shauna saw those, recognized them and told me that those are her phonics work and asked me why they are thrown away??!! Oops.

I quickly picked them back, tried to even out the crisp and pretend to keep them. My bad... Must remember to throw the stuff away discreetly in the future. I don't think she really remembers all the work that she has done but I wouldn't feel good too if I see my mum throwing away my work.

Mummy Lim

Swimming Lesson

2012-01-14T12:00:00.001+08:00

I always thought that it is important for the kids to learn swimming. Unlike our time, there are just too many swimming pools around. Lil Shauna can now take instructions and I thought it is the right time.

It is just wonderful that Felicia can learn swimming together with Lil Shauna and there are plenty of private swimming lessons in Centris.

They now have lesson once a week and today is their 2nd lesson. They totally enjoy their class. It helps that they love monkeying in the water to begin with.

The swimming lessons now are definitely very different from the past. There are 7 kids in the class, each of different level. The coach not only have to teach them but have to mind over the monkeying kids. No wonder parents stand around during the lesson to offer extra supervision. They are really a bunch of monkeys.

Mummy Lim

Growing Boy

2012-01-14T11:49:00.001+08:00

Walking must have taken a lot of energy. The tiger goes around asking for food now. I am more than happy cos he doesn't really like his milk and is picky over food.

The only down side is that he spits out if he doesn't like wat he asks for. Imagine the bit size food laced with saliva... -.o"

But I like that he is eating. Hoho.

Mummy Lim

We Miss Ah Yee

2012-01-13T07:28:00.001+08:00

How long has it been? I think at least 2 years. That was how long ah yee stayed with us. Ah yee has decided to venture out on her own and has rented a room from an ex-JC friend. She shifted to Tampines on Sunday.

I don't exactly see much of her at home when she was staying with us, but I do enjoy those times that I get to chit chat with her when I do see her. I also appreciate having an extra pair of hands at home when I am fighting war, her hair dyeing services, the food that she tabaoed home, etc. I did feel a little upset on Sunday when I realized that she's really moving out.

On Sunday morning, we suddenly realized that ah yee forgot to tell Lil Shauna that she's shifting. I thought it is important for ah yee to tell Lil Shauna. There has been a little too many human movements recently with the maid saga. We tried to explain that ah yee is merely shifting out but we will still meet. Lil Shauna probably didn't understand bcos she asked me where is ah yee on Sunday afternoon and when she is coming back. On Monday, Lil Shauna asked me why ah yee is not back yet. Well, I supposed it takes some getting used to for Lil Shauna. Afterall, ah yee had been staying in our place for 2/3 of Lil Shauna's life.

I still feel a little sad when I walked past ah yee's empty room now. I miss her too.

Popo will be shifting into the room when I get a proper bed for the kids. This will probably take place after CNY. I do have the intention to chase jiejie out of my room and have purchased a new bed for Popo. I don't know how successful I will be. Lil Isaac still wakes up for night feed and I think he still hates the maid as much as before.

I have made arrangement to meet up with ah yee on Saturday. I thought it is important for Lil Shauna to realize that we will see alot of ah yee even though she has shifted. I even offer ah yee a weekend stay in our house whenever she feels like it but apparently she enjoys her peace and nice bed in her new place now. Chey.

Ah yee, we miss you leh. Don't you feel loved? Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Exciting Weekend

2012-01-08T21:06:00.001+08:00

It has been really "exciting". We collected our new maid on Friday evening. NRT didn't put up any struggle when we told her that we wrre sending her back. I tot she looked glad.

The new maid didn't do much on Friday evening and I didn't hear much complaints about Saturday morning. However, her English seems to the worst among all the maids that I have. Saturday went fine too. We were out the whole afternoon.

I tried to explain the 101 "rules" to her on Saturday night. She didn't seem to understand me. Just then, ah yee came home with her Indo friend and I asked him to help with translation. We were barely at rule #5 when the new maid told him that she cannot handle and asked to be sent back to the agency!!!!!!! She said that she cannot understand Popo and cannot take the way that Popo speaks to her. Popo's tone has always been harsh to all my maids since she lived in.

Eventually, she agrees to stay until we get a replacement and also agreed that she will try for another week before she decides if she really wants to leave. I was really pissed with Popo. She is really a clean freak. I finally exploded and asked her to let go, to stop her 101 rules and stop adding to my maid woes.

This morning, Popo woke me at 7am. Apparently, duno what happened and the new maid told Popo that she wants to pack her bag and go back to the agency. There was no stopping. So I let her pack get bag and she sat at the door from the time she was done packing until the agency opens at 10am and I sent her back.

If I want a new maid, I will have to wait until after CNY. The solution?? We took back our old maid. Surprisingly, she was very willing to come back to work with us and Popo promise to scold her less. Things have been so good so far. Popo, despite promising that she will "let go", is still at her 101 rules. Haiz.

The other more exciting thing? We ended up at the a&e again. We left for vivo at 4pm and there was sample for cny cookies available. I gave Lil Isaac little of the chocolate chip cookies without realizing that it contains almond and hazelnut. He started developing rashes around the mouth shortly and vomited. It was faster and worse than the peanut butter sandwich incident. I gave him Zyrtec bought over the counter but we still decide to bring him to the nearest a&e, which is sgh.

Sgh doesn't admit kids but they didn't turn us away when I mentioned food allergies. In fact, we didn't even have to Q. We were surrounded by at least 5 doctors and nurses. Lil Isaac got frightened by the people in gowns and started getting hysterical. I couldn't tell if he was wheezing but he sounded coarse and I couldn't be sure if it was from too much crying. At certain point, 4 of us have to hold him down for some medicine given via the oxygen mask. Non of the medical staff can come near us without starting him crying. He did seem much better after all the medication. He does look different but I can't tell if there was swelling.

As sgh doesnt handle kids, we were referred to nuh thinking that nuh might want to keep us for observation as the reaction might come back. We took an ambulance to nuh.

We weren't kept for observation. The pd mentioned that there was no wheezing and so nothing to be worried about. The rashes might come back 12 hours later but not the wheezing. We were sent home with more medication.

I am now so paranoid. We will be going for prick tests at nuh next month. Haiz. There are so many food with nuts. I really have to open my eyes and read labels in the future.

Mummy Lim

I Love My iPad

2012-01-07T07:17:00.001+08:00

We finally bought an iPad. It is supposed to be Daddy Lim and my Christmas present. I had been thinking of getting one since the launch of iPad1 but couldn't bring myself to spend that $$. A side of me kept arguing that I am never one of those geeky chaps and have no extra time to play games so it is not worth the investment. Afterall, my iPhone is only used for basic communication and net surfing.

I finally got down to buying the iPad when I saw Lil Shauna bringing the iPhone crazily near her face when she's at it. I don't think it is a case that she cannot see. Kids do have short hands but her eyesight may really be affected if she continues doing so. She now rest the iPad on her lap and can get entertained for hours with the free kiddy apps that I download for her.

When Daddy Lim is not with us, I also don't have to worry about the kids fighting over the iPhone. One of them can now be on iPad. Yes, even Lil Isaac plays (a short while) on those music-related apps. Otherwise, he enjoys banging on the iPhone/ iPad or swiping the screen and watching it changed.

For me, I love my iPad. I have downloaded a version of the Sims. I had always wanted to try but didn't have the time. The iPad is so portable and I can be at the game whenever I have pockets of time to spare, even of it is a minute.

My greatest joy? I have been downloading Korean and Taiwan drama. My love... I stopped after the kids came along. It is too stressful to loan the DVDs and complete them within a certain date and too expensive to buy them to watch at leisure. I do not have the storage spare too. So downloading and watching in on the iPad is just too perfect. Again, I can watch a little of it at any time bcos the iPad is so portable.

The only downside? I am becoming a panda bcos I can't let go of my iPad. I end up watching at least a little of my Korean drama every night even when I am dead tired. Daddy Lim had to chase me to bed recently when I used to join the kids in lala land shortly after tucking them to bed.

Still, I love my iPad.

Mummy Lim

Walking

2012-01-06T06:18:00.001+08:00

Walk, walk, walk. Lil Isaac is enjoying his new found ability, so much so that he doesn't crawl much anymore. He either cruises or requests that we hold his hand while he walks. He can walk independently but he is still very much unstable and prefers us to hold his hand.

Walking seems to bring him to new places. We now find him in the kitchen. And walking frees up his hands to explore the drawers and grab things off the table/ shelf. No wonder he enjoys walking. I wonder if he regrets waiting so long to take his first step.

I am glad that he is finally walking. I had been wondering for the longest time when he will finally do so. He just starts walking suddenly after crawling and cruising for like forever. The only headache? Like every toddler who is learning to walk, he is a walking hazard, falling everywhere. We have to constantly worry about him hurting himself. And he is constantly asking to be walked. If we do not, he screams at us until we oblige. It had been pretty noisy at home recently.

I have been warned that walking brings about a new set of headache. I know, but he is giving me headache being the master crawler too. I rather he walks. Maybe I shouldn't complain that he asks us to walk with him now. It would be worse if he starts shooting off everywhere on his own, right?

Mummy Lim

The New Auntie

2012-01-04T22:35:00.001+08:00

The agent confirms that the new maid has touched down in Singapore and we should be able to collect her this weekend. It is a major relief to us and also to NRT.

Something happened during the holidays and she cried. I took the opportunity to speak to her about returning to the agency and getting the agency to find her a more suitable family. Comforting that maybe her strength is in taking care of old people and she just don't have what it takes to babysit. She actually agreed and subsequently told my brö's maid that she is happy to go. It was a relief to us too. At least we dont have to feel bad about sending her away.

Popo said that auntie is taking forever with housework now. It seems like she's using housework to camouflage her reluctance to take care of Lil Isaac. She openly admits that she is scared to look after the tiger. And Lil Isaac rejects her more and more, often screaming murder under her charge. We are all counting down.

I didn't have a chance to talk to Lil Shauna about the new auntie yet. However, it should be quite alright since there will not many times that Lil Shauna gets to spent time alone with the new auntie. Moreover, Lil Shauna is now very good with self entertaining and doesn't need somebody to constantly supervise her.

I hope that the new maid will be better. I am not greedy. I will be overjoyed if the maid stays for even one year with me.

Mummy Lim

First Day of School

2012-01-04T21:54:00.001+08:00

Somebody commented that the fb was filled with post of proud parents showcasing their kids' first day of school. I was tempted to post too but didn't. Hoho. I prefer to keep this memory in my blog and savor the nice memory many years down the road.

Lil Shauna starts nursery yday. It is with the same church school. What is different is that Felicia has swop school and will no longer take the school bus together with Lil Shauna. This cause Popo and me much anxieties. Lil Shauna only started accepting school when we switched her to the afternoon class, to be together with Felicia. It didn't help that the church has taken in more students and Lil Shauna's class will be split and there will be new faces in the class. I have asked the principal to help put Lil Shauna with her besties. She often mentioned Faith and Tong En.

Popo was prepared to send her to school if things didn't turn out well but things went really fine. Lil Shauna was the first kid to board the school bus but there was no tears. In fact, she happily waved good bye to Popo. I heard she was happy when she came back from school too. Yeah!

Day 2 turned out fine too. When I asked Lil Shauna if she enjoys school, she replied that she did. I guessed her friends helped. She has also grown pretty fond of some teachers who happened to be also teaching her this year.

Soon, it will be Lil Isaac's turn. If all goes on well, he should start playground this July and starts pre-nursery next year. Goodness, that sounds really soon. He is just a baby now. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Arrrggghhhhh!!!!

2012-01-03T07:10:00.001+08:00

Today is Lil Shauna's first lesson with Yamaha's Music Wonderland. The program comes with some course material. We left them on the dining table and they mysteriously disappeared like many of our other stuff do. They usually ended up in the storeroom. Yes, we are many a times lazy and left things lying around.

I only remembered about the music lesson this morning and was scampering around looking for the material, which I suspect was somewhere in the storeroom. I couldn't find it and got irritated. I hate the feeling of not knowing where my things are in the house. This phenomenon is common after we engaged maid, who often keeps things which they don't know what they are and ended up unable to retrieve them when we need them. Or the stuff was kept by the previous maids... Things are made worse when Popo shifts in, which doesn't know what she keeps and has this irritating habit of tying whatever in white plastic bag before throwing the bags in the storeroom. Like that how to find???!!!

Long story short, Popo insisted that she had asked NRT to keep the stuff in the storeroom but NRT insisted not. The stuff was not found and I couldn't tell who is lying. I gave up on the storeroom and eventually found the stuff in one of the drawers at the tv console. Popo said that she couldn't be sure if she was the one who kept it there. There are so many things that she needed to do everyday. NRT still insisted that it wasn't her. Arrrrggghhh...

This is not the first time. The same thing happened to Lil Shauna's birth certificate and Lil Isaac's health booklet. I just wanted to feel like the lady of the house. I know it is a pointless struggle. I gave up that right when Popo came to stay with us. And it is brainless to try to get that across to Popo. I can only foresee another big quarrel if I attempt that.

The only way out? Avoidance. Move my butt to keep important things myself. Haiz, what a way to start the first workday of year 2012.

Mummy Lim

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T06:23:00.001+08:00

Hohoho, Happy New Year. This is my 1st post for year 2012. The Christmas and New Year holidays flew by. I was busy spending time with the kids. Otherwise, I was busy with my iPad. Oh gosh, I am addicted to my iPad. I will blog about that another time.

I was reading a post that I made in December 2010 that the year passed too quickly and was hoping that I can slowed down my pace for year 2011. Apparently, that didn't happen. Time flew even faster with 2 kids. This year, when I do take time to pause, I am constantly shocked at what is left of year 2011.

My achievements? Well, I am a mother of 2 and I am still producing milk for Lil Isaac. See, I am full of motherly love.

I have set my new year resolutions too. It was more like I brought forward what were set for last year. Hoho. Of course losing weight made it into the list. It does every year and I don't think there was even once that I achieved the "ideal" weight that I aimed. Still, we need hope in life mah. :p

Once again, may year 2012 pass slowly. I want to enjoy my family and life.

Mummy Lim

Lil Isaac is finally Walking

2011-12-27T21:47:00.001+08:00

Whenever Popo or auntie "walks" Lil Isaac, they will be holding both his arm tightly for fear of him falling. So Lil Isaac ends up walking with both arms up (picture somebody surrendering but both arms fully stretched). Yes, he does look funny and uncomfortable.

I thought he has cruised long enuff and started walking with him slowly by holding to only one of his hand. He "walked" really well since last Friday. Then on Christmas eve, he finally walked and was no longer "falling"from to Daddy Lim's arms. He is still very unsteady but at least he is making good progress.

Now, he is really into walking. He will ask for my hand and I have to walk with him to whenever he wants. If I tries to change his course and if it is some way that he doesn't want to go, he rather falls. And of course, he screams at me until I am willing to walk with him.

Yes, we are moving from one headache to another. But at least, he can walk when we are outside now and not crawl on the dirty floor.

Mummy Lim

The Final Countdown

2011-12-27T21:31:00.001+08:00

Finally.. The agent said that if everything goes well, the new maid will be here on 4th Jan. Yeah! We are not sure of the next one will be good but NRT is torturing us.

We are really counting down. Everyday at home is an agony now. When we are at home or Centris, both kids reject her. At times, Lil Isaac starts crying when NRT attempts to come close to him. Yes, it is that bad. Jiejie outrightly tells auntie to go away. I felt exhausted the last few days bcos Lil Shauna wants mummy and not auntie and Lil Isaac just starts crying when auntie tries to do anything to/ with him. Instead of helping, she made me busier.

Just yday, auntie got scolded by Popo and was asking me why Popo kept scolding her while I was trying to do coloring with jiejie. Lil Shauna then told auntie to "keep quiet. Do what popo asks you to do." I almost faint but so much wisdom.

NRT is still not good with housework, in fact from bad to worse. She's taking longer to do the same amount of things and what she has completed sometimes needed to be re-do. To prevent re-work, Popo ended up hawking over auntie while she goes about with the housework. Of course, Popo will be yelling at auntie constantly bcos she just can't get it right. Then, the many "sorry" and "I forget". Things are just horrible at home.

Interestingly, the kids are ok with her when we are outside. Just that we still have to go home at the end of the day mah. I really, really hope that the next auntie will be better. Ok, I shall ask Daddy Lim to be the heartless one and send her back to the agency. If auntie is clever enuff, she should have sense that something is not very right. I have given up talking to her or correcting her. I can't be bothered with her now.

Mummy Lim

This is the Season to be... FAT!

2011-12-24T12:37:00.003+08:00

It is a constant test to my almost non-existent will power.
I had a good lunch made up of sinful KFC, pizza, soft drinks and logcake yday afternoon. I can literally hear the popcorn chicken calling my name. Of course I overate. And the tons of chocolates that my colleagues were shoving into my face. Isnt chocolate the best thing to wash down the pile of oily fast food? Oh yes, chocolate plus soft drink.

I told myself that I should eat minimal during dinner to atone for the heavy lunch. My SIL was having a mini Christmas party at Centris. I was there to help man my kids and the fried sotong ball, chicken nuggets, gyoza, hotdogs were again calling out to me, pleading with me to eat them. I was too kind-hearted. I couldn’t ignore their plead.

Today, we are having a family Christmas get-together. There will definitely be food and I am intending to contribute an ice cream logcake. FAT!

On Boxing day, we are going to Mummy SY’s place. Whenever we gather, it will be a pig out session and it definitely doesn’t help that she’s so hospitable and there seem to be endless supply of sinful food hidden in her neat cabinets. Then we complete the evening with another round of dinner.

Die… I don’t understand why it is so difficult to lose weight but so easy to tip the scale the other way. Not fair. Maybe I should tape my mouth now. Oops, is that sound that my tummy?

Mummy Lim

Snowed!

2011-12-24T12:36:00.007+08:00

It is snowing in Tanglin Mall!

This is our 3rd time there. The first, Lil Isaac was still in my tummy and Lil Shauna wasn’t too adventurous. The second, Daddy Lim brought Lil Shauna to the snow while I was on maternity leave with Lil Isaac.
http://shauna-our-baby.blogspot.com/2010/12/it-is-snowing.html

This time round, Lil Isaac went to but he didnt quite enjoy himself. He started bawling when I attempted to make him stand in the “snow”, which was in fact foam. So we ended up carrying him most of the time. Still, he didn’t look too happy.

The “snow” looks really real, especially when they “dropped” from the sky and when they fell on our head.

So where is Lil Shauna? She was really enjoying herself in the “snow”.

Just like the rest of the ang mo kids.

I think we will go back next year. Lil Isaac should like it then. :)

Mummy Lim

Teeth

2011-12-22T22:40:00.001+08:00

Ooooo... I see Lil Isaac's teeth number 14. It is interesting how he still hasn't learnt how to walk or talk but has a full mouth of teeth. Again, in times like that, I am thankful that I am no longer latching.

Mummy Lim

No More Milk

2011-12-21T06:14:00.001+08:00

My ss has permanently dropped since a few months ago. I never manage to pick it up thereafter. My only comfort is that Lil Isaac is on partial FM. In desperate times, there is also the extra EBM from my SIL.

It has been almost 14 months with 2 months of exclusive expressing. I stopped with jiejie when she was 8 months old. People often gave me the unbelievable look when I tell them that I am still giving Lil Isaac EBM. They will then automatically ask when I intend to stop.

So, when? I don't know. I have no pressure to meet Lil Isaac's dd. My current portfolio allows me to express at my "designated" timings. On rare occasions, I had to make adjustment to those timings. I still have milk, Lil Isaac still prefers my EBM to FM during waking hours. Lil Isaac has history of eczema, which flares occasionally, BM will be good for his condition. Both my breastpumps are still working fine. I save $$ on FM. Most importantly, breastfeeding helps me to burn the extra calories. Hohoho.

Looks like I am not ready to stop yet. Not when I have a whole list of reasons not to.

Mummy Lim

!!!!!!

2011-12-18T20:42:00.001+08:00

ML: Baby, you must drink water if you eat biscuits ya.
LS: OK.
ML: Do you know what will happen if you don't drink water when you eat biscuits?
LS: Die...
ML: !!!!!!!

Mummy Lim

Blackmail

2011-12-18T13:34:00.001+08:00

Hohoho, I will use these to blackmail Lil Isaac when he grows up in the future.

Mummy Lim

Suay

2011-12-17T06:52:00.001+08:00

I took leave on Thursday to bring Lil Isaac for his MMR jab and to go to the hdb office next to the clinic to run some errands but things simply refused to go the way I planned.

First of all, Lil Shauna refused to go to school for her enrichment class. Popo got irritated that she didn't want to go to school bcos mummy was at home. My fault. She finally bulged on the promise that I send her to school. Popo grumbled bcos it spoilt the plan. Then again, she refused to send Lil Isaac for his jab when I send jiejie to school. We ended up all going to jiejie's school.

Then I found a clinic next to jiejie's school that offers the MMR jab and decided that we will get the jab done there. We were told that the wait was about 30 mins but we were still waiting after an hour. Popo grumbled like mad, my bad.

We finally made it to Centris after all the wait and hassle. At Centris, when I tried to express, I found that one of the funnel broke and I had to go home to get the replacement. I took the mrt home but realized that I forgot my keys at my doorstep! Arrrggghhhh. I really wanted to pull hair then. I had to take the train back to boon lay, retrieved the key then go back home to express. I was so mad at myself and everything that I called Daddy Lim to complain big time.

I was worried that the rest of the day will be sucky as well, especially when one of the agendas of tge day was to choose a new maid. Luckily, the rest of the day went fine. I got my maid, she be here in beginning of next year. Now, I can't be bother to talk much or scold NRT. I am in countdown mood. Oh, the day did turn better, I even got my iPhone 4s. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Popo Finally Says...

2011-12-15T12:19:00.001+08:00

"Change!" NRT drove popo crazy. Two main trigger points. Ah mah is a clean freak, so you can imagine her horrible when she woke up 2 mornings ago to found the toilet used but not flashed. Yes, our dear auntie forgot.

That same day, NRT told my SIL that she is determined to do a better job henceforth bcos she really wants to work for us. Popo happily related that to us in the car, which I took with a large pinch of salt. Then when alighting from the car, Popo reminded NRT that she promised to buck up and do no wrong henceforth, which she replied that all the wrongs that she has done are not intentional. She may still do wrong but she will change when we tell her and she won't repeat her mistakes. -.o" But she makes mistakes everyday despite being here for one month! I don't see how that is putting in her best. Popo was very irked by her remark. *Bang*, NRT shot herself and Popo finally agreed that NRT should go.

That is what we realized about NRT. She always has some explanation (which is usually a long story) when she commits a mistake. After hearing her trying to explain in that irritating monotonous tone for the nth time, I just want her to shut up when she even attempts to start. I hate it most when she commits some major mistake while I am working and popo will call me and insists that I speak to her over the phone and NRT will start her "mdm... Sorry... I... Ah mah...". STOP!!!!!!

The best part, after her "I-will-buck-up" speech, Daddy Lim caught her trying to entertain Lil Isaac with SHOES! Seriously, I don't know what is in her head. Yday, Popo was so mad bcos she was cooking while NRT was minding Lil Isaac. Just when Popo went to check on them, she found NRT letting Lil Isaac played with one of those containers that the girls used to keep bubbles solution. Lil Isaac was licking the container. Faint. NRT insisted that she had washed the container before allowing Lil Isaac to play with it. But Popo still found it slippery and it smelled strongly of that bubble solution.

Lil Isaac still hates her and crawls away at lightning speed. Otherwise, he would be whining or crying pitifully. When we are outside, we ended up minding the kids ourselves bcos they all don't want auntie and NRT merely follow behind us, as if stalking us. I can cry. At home, when she's trying to look after Lil Shauna, minimal gets done and her explanation is always Lil Shauna doesn't want, if she forces, Lil Shauna will cry. Win again.

So, we are changing her and we didn't have many choices. I saw the bio-data that the agency sent to me. They are either old, fat or old and fat. I will be going down to the agency to do a phone interview shortly. One of the 3 whom we shortlisted the last time was still available. She is 26, a mother of a 3yo and just went back a few months ago after completing her contact. The only setback is that her ex-employer has 2 teenage kids and her duties were mainly housekeeping. Since she spent the last 2 years away from home, she probably has little experience looking after kids too. My only comfort is that she's young, so she will have more energy to chase and play with the kids?

I am praying hard...

Mummy Lim

The Tooth is Coming

2011-12-13T20:40:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac is spouting his 12th tooth, one of his upper molar. The 11th tooth, the lower molar, has broke through a while back but stopped growing. Now, both the upper and lower molars are growing and they are obviously irritating him.

Lil Isaac seems cranky, frequently putting his finger into his mouth and he also started biting us. -.o" Well at least there is no fever and I am not breastfeeding him now. Hohoho.

Lil Isaac is still not walking and he is already approaching 14 mths old. He can stand unsupported and cruises alot but just not walking! He is still "falling" and staggering his feet when he "walks" from person to person. I remembered jiejie started walking shortly after we started the mentioned walking exercise. Lil Isaac seems stuck at this stage for a long time. In fact, he seems to be getting lazier and now tries to escape when we try to help him practice "walking".

I am not very worried. I always hear how boys are slower. I saw on fb that many of the October 2010 babies are already walking and I do hope that he walks soon especially by the time we go for our Hkg trip next February 2012. He should walk by then, right? He would be 16 mths old then leh.

Mummy Lim

Chinese?

2011-12-13T20:34:00.002+08:00

DL: Baby, it is very warm, let me switch on the fan first.
LS: Pappy, what is "warm" in chinese?
DL: "Re".
LS: OK
ML: Baby, are you a Chinese or an English.
LS: English.
ML: But Pappy and Mummy are chinese, why are you an English?
LS: Bcos I cant remember chinese.
DL & ML: ....

Mummy Lim

Zoo

2011-12-11T22:41:00.006+08:00

I deserved a pat on my back. On Tuesday morning, I drove the car back from yard after Daddy Lim drove to work. Then, I brought the 3 girls and Lil Isaac to the zoo! Of course I wasn't alone, I am not that powerful. Popo and the 2 maids came along. But I actually drove from yard to home then to Centris and finally to the zoo. The ride was pretty smooth, no hiccups and I didn't lose my way. Hohoho. I did pray hard for journey mercy the night before though.

We hadn't been to the zoo for a long time. Lil Isaac has never been to the zoo as he couldn't tolerate hot weather bcos of his eczema and we used to exclude him from such outdoor excursions or avoid them altogether. We are so glad that his eczema is so much better now.

We brought along 3 strollers. Bless Tiguan for her big boot space. Popo though I was crazy but the strollers were fully utilized. Lil Isaac sat in one of them throughout the trip and even took a 2hrs nap in it! Lil Isaac has never been a fan of stroller, but I suppose he will be more comfortable in the stroller than be slinged or carried in the hot weather. Maybe it was peer pressure (the other 2 jiejies were also in the stroller) or he was constantly distracted by the animals or the constant supply of tidbits that Popo strove into his mouth. Yes, we were all very surprised that Lil Isaac can "see" the animals. The very first time we brought jiejie to the Jurong Bird Park, she can only see the water ripples, plants and monorail. So, we were excited that Lil Isaac was excited by the animals.

The weather was really good. It was breezey and cool.

We caught 2 shows and spent some time getting to the Kids' World. The Zoo map is really hard to read lor. The kids went crazy at the water playground. Lil Isaac was knocked out and was still asleep when we left the Zoo.

On the way back, Lil Shauna rode on the pony.

We also rode on the elphant, which Felicia didnt enjoy and declared that it was not fun while we were on the elephant's back. We left the zoo at 2pm, which by then was really hot. Fione has started complaining about being tired (from walking) and we were all hot and sticky. I couldnt be more grateful for Tiguan's aircon then.

The car ride back was a little more challenging as the kids were tired and thus cranky. However, they took the threat of being left behind in the zoo pretty well and we made it home safe and sound. Lil Isaac slept all the way home.

The zoo trip really tires us out. Lil Shauna, who no longer takes afternoon nap was knocked out for a good hour.

And the nap didnt really affect bedtime. Lil Isaac fell asleep in the evening despite a 3-hour afternoon nap. We had to wake him up after 20 mins and he too had an early night.

Yes, it was tiring but we had a good time. Jurong Bird Pard next?

Mummy Lim

Happy Bday, Pappy

2011-12-11T16:52:00.002+08:00

Happy 34th bday, Pappy.
How long have it been? 7 years coming to 8. Yes, we have known each other for so long. Thank you for standing by me all these years and agreeing to have 2 beautiful kids with me. I remembered your weak attempts to persuade me to stop at one. See, Lil Isaac isn't that bad, right.

Let's continue to work on our monthly couple time and look forward to our first overseas trip without kids, away from the kids!

I bought you a present and I hope you like it.

Oh Lil Shauna decided to get you a toy car too.

And she wanted to get you a bday cake and to help you blow the candles.

We love you very much. Muaks.

Mummy Lim

Bad Post

2011-12-11T16:42:00.002+08:00

My last post must have been pretty grim. So much so that Mummy H called to ask if I am ok and invited us to her place for playdate if I needed refuge.

Dont worry, I am very fine. The post was written yday but posted this morning. I had a rough Saturday morning at work, which explains the foul mood and negativity. Popo decided to abort the Sentosa idea upon hearing that Daddy Lim has to work late. See, she does have something up her sleeve but loves me enuff to rescue me to abandon her "take a break" plan. With her around, everything and everyone was safe and sound. We spent Saturday catching 2 performances. I am a sucker for free performances.

Now, we are taking refuge in Centris. Daddy Lim is knocking off soon. Everything is fine.

Mummy Lim

Haircut

2011-12-11T13:44:00.001+08:00

I am finally getting a proper haircut at one of those no frills tiny hair salon while Lil Shauna is in class. I can't remember when was the last time I cut my hair, that is the good thing about having long hair. Not that I mind the price, I simply have no time to sit hours at the salon.

I had actually hope for a hair wash and a good head massage but those decent salons are packed and I don't have all day. Well, at least I won't look like lion king for awhile and I hope the hairdresser can fix my fringe, which I have worked on myself in a hurry a few weeks ago. I should have known better to try to trim my fringe right before I need to rush for an appointment. It is ok, I didn't die from crazy bangs, they are mere reminders of my sacrifices for the kids. My mummy's medal.

Mummy Lim

Bad, Bad, Bad

2011-12-11T10:28:00.001+08:00

NRT is still with us. I have more or less decided that I will change her, especially when she irritates me by adding more frustration than help when I needed another pair of hands or when I hear Popo yells at her in frustration thus disturbing my peace or when Popo complains or grumbles about the stupidest thing that she did. Oh, she does stupid things everyday, so that is always plenty for Popo to grumbles about. The urge is of course less strong when things go well or when I see her really trying hard. The down side is that despite the efforts that she puts in, her improvement is pathetic. The kids still take every chance to run away from her. Housework still not up to mark and she still lacks initiative. I think it is an issue with capabilities and how to teach initiatives?

She is still on instructional mode. Give instructions and she moves. If she is unable to proceed with any part of the instruction, she pauses or tries until it is possible. She is apparently not clever enuff to work around the situation or takes initiatives to do things beyond the instructions. She follows the instruction like a SOP, word for word. Faint.

I took 3 CVs from the agencies last Sunday and only 2 of them can be contacted. One of the 2 was chosen and the remaining one did not look after kids during her 2-year stint in Sgp. The family that she was with had 2 grown up kids so I supposed she mainly deal with household chores. Once bitten, twice shy and I am reluctant to take this maid despite her having a 3 YO kid. NRT has 2 young kids herself but it seriously didn’t help things. The agent shared that there are no more CVs until beginning January bcos the agency is trying to clear up whatever CVs they are left with to start the year afresh. In other words, what they have now may be the leftovers of what others have chosen. She then suggested that we wait until the new CVs come in since we are still live-able with NRT and there is no real need to change her immediately. If we only chose the new maid in January, she will only come join us after CNY.

So we are in a catch 22 situation. No good maids to change now and we have to wait until after CNY. If we can survive so long with NRT, I think we can continue to live with her lor. Then there is Popo, who continue to complain about NRT yet refused to change her! My guess is that she doesn’t want to (a) be the bad guy (b) get the blame if the next one is worse than this one. So we are in this vicious cycle of her complaining, I threaten to change maid which she refuses (or at least says that she hasn’t decided and wants to monitor somemore) but at least stop complaining until the next thing that NRT does irk her. This cycle can repeat itself almost EVERYDAY. It happened again this morning. -______-“ Why am I in this shit?

After Popo’s first call to complain about NRT this morning, she called again to say that she wants to bring the kids to Sentosa, no swimming but to only play sand at the beach and the 3Fs are not going. Strange. She said that she wanted a break. Double strange. I suspect that she will throw the kids at me when I meet them in Sentosa after work and she will go for her RWS. She’s feeling a little rich recently. *Dread* What can we do in Sentosa with the possible wet weather or terrible heat? Haiz. If my guess is correct, she will probably not come home today to make her RWS entrance fees worth. Then she will be super cranky tomorrow due to lack of sleep and will jump at the slightest mistakes that NRT makes tomorrow, which will be plenty. I better plan my escape routes especially when Daddy Lim has to work late both days. Arrggghhhhh, what a weekend. I need help!

Mummy Lim

Christmas is Here Soon

2011-12-05T22:42:00.004+08:00

How do I know?

1. Bcos I am busy shopping for Christmas prezzie and I am barely half-way there. Time is running out and I don’t have much time to physically shop around for prezzies. I am letting my finger doing the shopping through online websites and bulk purchases. I bet many of the other mummies are like me.

2. Bcos there are so many performances at the shopping malls!
We caught Garfield at JP on Saturday evening. Jiejie tried to mimic the dance moves. Although she wasn’t very good at it, she appeared to enjoy the show. Jiejie loves storytelling and I bet she fancies such performances as well.

Yday, we were at Millennia Walk watching Hi5 perform. Jiejie prefers Hi5 to Garfield. Lil Isaac was with us too and I was so glad that jiejie is now independent (enuff) to watch such shows on her own and doesn’t stick to me. This mummy is a sucker for such free performances and will be running around trying to catch the different performances in the various shopping malls this festive season.

3. Bcos the kids attempted to create snow through styroform and had a good half an hour of fun. However, the little balls got caught in between the planks and we had a hard time cleaning up using the vacuum cleaner and toothpicks to dig the little balls out. We spent at least an hour doing so. Surprisingly, Lil Shauna found the picking little balls good fun and was very much entertained by the cleaning up process.

Mummy Lim

Pain

2011-12-05T22:42:00.001+08:00

The lower back pain is still there. According to the internet, I might have chronic backpain and is urged to get medical attention if the pain doesn’t go away. The dull ache is still there despite an alternate application of ko-yoke plaster and yoko yoko rub.

I finally went for the Chinese tu nai massage yday. There is one just right next to Lil Shauna’s phonics school and I went for an half hour rub after sending her for class.

A China lady attended to me and began to give me a hard rub on my neck and my entire back focusing on my shoulder, shoulder blade and also my lower back. From time to time, she will exclaim that I have a huge chunk here and there and worked on kneading that chunk away. Accordingly to her, the muscle or nerve (or whatever) was tensed up and she was helping to “loosen” it. I didn’t really hear much of what she said bcos it was really painful when she worked on those areas. I was either trying to endure the pain or reminding myself to breathe. Yes, it was that bad. I think I even perspired trying to endure those pains.

The lower back ache did go away after the massage but I think that was bcos my entire back was sore. I started feeling the dull ache coming back a couple of hours later. Then again, the ache seems less intense. I am supposed to feel loosen up after the massage but now my shoulders are tense again leh. The lady warned me that I will get a sore back today and it is so true. My whole back is sore and those areas that she worked exceptionally hard are bad. I feel as if my whole back is full of blue-blacks. Well, if that works to cure the lower back ache, I don’t mind.

Once again, I am reminded of how old I am. And it doesn’t help that we are moving into year 2012. Sh!t, I am turning 33.

Mummy Lim

Growing Up Too Quickly

2011-12-05T22:41:00.006+08:00

He is still not walking and his vocabulary is still limited to "ah-tah" (peekaboo) and "mum-mum" (food) but he is definitely growing up too quickly for us.

Every now and then, he will show us new tricks that he has learnt. The latest - taking tissue from the tissue box to wipe his mouth (even if his mouth is clean) or to blow his nose like what flu-plagued ah yee did. I like the latter bcos that may mean that we will have an easier time when he is really down with running nose the next time.

Lil Isaac inherited many of jiejie's toys. One of which is the activity table. I remember seeing jiejie growing up and progressing with the different activities, starting from pressing buttons to eventually turning knobs. However, for the little man, when i finally spot him at the table, he seems to immediately dive into the toughest activity. In fact, that activity table seems too easy for him.

I am constantly in this dilemma. On one hand, I wanted him to slow down and be our baby forever. I love his chubby little arms and thighs. Jiejie lost her baby fats already. Then again, I can't wait for him to grow up so that he can start walking and tell me what he wants.

Mummy Lim

Really The End

2011-12-04T21:32:00.001+08:00

Jiejie skipped her ballet class again. For the past week, she will always tell me that she will go for her ballet class whenever I asked her. In fact, she too said that she will go when I asked her last night and this morning when she woke up. However, she backed out when it was time to change. Again she said that she was tired.

I didn't force her. Popo thinks that I gave in too easily. To me, I rather channel the funds to some other avenues where she will better enjoy herself. Of course I had hoped that she will stay on and be really good in it but maybe her interest is not in ballet? And ballet is afterall an ECA to me. I wouldn't let her go this easily if it is something academically focused.

As for her phonics class, she seems to be still enjoying it. Teacher Rebecca said that the Launchpad that she's going for is less "playful". I hope Lil Shauna continues to enjoy her phonics.

NRT always drove my crazy this morning. We had been contemplating to change her. She still doesn't win the kids' favor. She's slow with the housework and ended up being so busy with housework or trying to pacify the howling Lil Isaac who is constantly trying to escape her. In the end, she doesn't have much time with jiejie. In Centris, she's too slow for the girls. When she's at the housework, Popo keeps insisting that she cannot do a good job and ended up spending time hawking over her.

This morning, she took forever at the housework and I had to entertain the 2 kids who were fighting for my attention. Things got a little crazy when Popo went to hawk over auntie. Then I realized that she hasn't been sweeping and mopping the area underneath the sofa, table and tv console. I saw a layer of dust and lots of toys. After she cleaned the toilet, I saw that the wall was not scrubbed and the mould were mocking at me. I was so angry when I saw that Lil Isaac's bowl wasn't clean properly. Food was stuck at a tiny groove on the external of the bowl and mould was growing! NRT explained that the usual sponge cannot reach that groove. Arrrggghhhh, no brush in the house meh? Why didn't she bother to ask? I was mad that she isn't good with the kids, spent so much time with housework yet I have a dirty house.

These are just the tip of the iceberg. We see many of these everyday. So, I went to the agency when jiejie was in her phonics class today and got 3 new resumes. Yes, it is very cruel to her if we send her back. But we are cruel to ourselves if we continue to keep her and she doesn't improve. I will give her another week. She better buck up.

Mummy Lim

All Down

2011-11-29T19:58:00.002+08:00

I had a sore throat and a mild flu before we left for Genting. Nainai had a nasty flu and fever on the day that we were supposed to leave for Genting. The flu didnt let up during the trip. It is no surprised that Daddy Lim came down with flu and fever too after the trip. In fact, the flu hasnt left him and he had been nursing a fever on and off since the trip. He has promised to see the doctor tomorrow to get the fever checked out. I hope it is just a persistent flu bug.

Lil Shauna came down with flu after the trip too. Luckily there was no fever. Her running nose seems to get better after a few doses of the leftover flu medicine but came back when we didnt keep up with the medicine. We brought her to the doctor yday for new medicine.

Lil Isaac has dried mucus and his nose seems a little runny too. At least he didnt develop fever from his jab yday. I hope my BM is good enuff for him to fend off the flu bug.

Ah yee is sick too. Somehow, the flu bug went to her and she was whinny about being sick.

Bad enuff? No, I think I injured my back from carrying too much of Lil Shauna and Lil Isaac during the trip. I came back with a nasty, dull pain at my tail bone. I felt a constant ache that didnt really go away despite the ko-yok plaster cos the carrying continue when we came back. There are days that the pain is really bad (like today) and I couldnt sit properly for long without feeling the need to fidget, as if that will help to chase away the pain. And the dull ache travels to my leg. The dull paim intensified when I took certain sitting postures (like crossing my legs). Arrggghhhhh.. I think I need the doctor too. Or maybe the sinseh or a good massage. I is old liao.

Mummy Lim

Random Thoughts

2011-11-29T19:50:00.002+08:00

We were at Mummy SY's place last Saturday. Lil Shauna loves to play with Booboo, from make-believe to simply jumping on the bed.

What I really wanted to mention is that T was there too and he was roaming freely with little need for supervision. T is 8 months older than Lil Isaac. I am just so looking forward to Lil Isaac being 8 months older.

I was on leave yday to bring Lil Isaac for his first of the 2 pneumococcal jabs. I love how the kids look when they just woke up.

Lil Isaac cried from his jab. I heard people say that it is a painful jab. The 2nd jab is due in 2-months. The best part? The GP mentioned that there is a revised guideline on MMR. The first jab (of 2) is due now and asked me to bring Lil Isaac back in 2 weeks' time. Great! -_______-" The only comfort is that the new version of MMR can be mixed with the chicken pox vaccine.

My brother shifted into a bigger unit in Centris. He did it up a little before shifting in. I am again reminded about how much I like new houses and hotels. Oh gosh, I really think we should do something to our current flat. I am bored. I think we can do with new sofa, new bed for Popo when ah yee shifts out and also new bed for Lil Shauna.

Did I mention how much I hate Daddy Lim's new gaming mouse? It is absolutely smooth, in fact too smooth and glides everywhere. I am straining my arm muscle trying to tame it. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

The Fallen Ballerina

2011-11-27T14:21:00.001+08:00

Three weeks ago, Lil Shauna refused to go for her ballet class. She finally changed into her ballet costume after much coaxing. However, she was only willing to sit at the door with mummy and wouldn't join the class despite the teacher's attempt to coax her. We eventually left but that is after she promised to come back for her class the following week.

Last week, she did go for her ballet. Maybe I was a little too sensitive but I thought she didn't look too happy and didn't enjoy the class as much as she used to.

This morning, it was a nightmare again. She insisted that she was tired and didn't want to go for her ballet. Then, she threw a tantrum and cried for about 30mins until she was really tired and finally stopped. I refused to give in to her whatever demand.

So we skipped ballet again. She refused to bulge when I threatened that we will stay at home the whole day since she is "so tired". She announced that she doesn't want to go for all future ballet class and agreed when I asked if I should throw away her ballet clothes.

I had expected that this might happen. If given a choice, I would of course hope that Lil Shauna can stick to an interest and be really good in it. Then again, she is no genius and is really young now to really know what she wants. I would be more worried if she's rejecting her phonics class, which is academically focus. So, I comfort myself that I can save some $$. I will look into channeling my funds into music class instead. There is also swimming and abacus for next year!

The best part? After the big hooha, Lil Shauna asked to go for her ballet class at 11am. -.o" She's confusing me but at least she admitted that she threw a tantrum and apologized to me when I asked her to.

Mummy Lim

The Last Straw

2011-11-25T21:59:00.001+08:00

Popo was fuming mad just now. It is the same old thing. Popo expects NRT to read her mind and know what to do, which she obviously does not. I was pissed bcos Popo nags and irritates me. Just yday, I snapped at Popo for nagging at me bcos of the maid. It was her request to get an IND maid. I am not God. I cannot guarantee that the maid that I chose will be good with kids and housework. That useless cv and blur looking pix on the cv + that less than 2 mins phone interview don't help lor.

I finally told NRT off and gave her the final straw. To date, i have never scold her before. I told her straight in the face that the kids don't like her and she is not meeting Popo's expectation. She's told to buck up or I will send her back.

NRT really doesn't know how to win the kids' favor. It has been 2 weeks that she has been here and she hasn't even draw or color with jiejie or play her vast collection of strawberry shortcake. When she's asked to play with the kids, she merely watch over them and not play with them. No wonder Lil Isaac gets bored and can't wait to get out of her reach. She's one big wooden block.

I don't know how to help her. I mean, how do I teach her to make the kids like her? She don't have much time left. I think she will soon be packing her bags if she continue to irk Popo.

I wouldn't mind changing maid. I do pity NRT that she will get an additional 2 months' loan if I were to send her back, but things are really not working out. Popp defiantly mentioned that we should do without a maid, which I think is impossible unless we send the kids to childcare but Lil Isaac is too young now. Popo is no longer young and it will be very tiring to try to look after 2 kids without help. Of course I don't want to do housework too. I already don't have enuff time with the kids and don't want to sacrifice that little precious time that i have over housework or slog at the housework after the kids are tucked in. Yes, we are pampered and we need a maid for now, at least until Lil Isaac is about 20 months old and I can send the kids to the childcare. Then again, Popo thinks that it is pitiful for the kids to go to childcare.

I think I better start praying for a new and good maid.

Mummy Lim

Soon to The End?

2011-11-24T21:58:00.001+08:00

Auntie NRT is not in Popo's good book. She is still unable to memorize Popo's 101 manual by heart and cannot follow the instructions given by Popo in her typical broken English. She is "cha tao" and forgetful. Despite everyday's routine, she still makes mistake and forgets.

Popo is definitely not patient with her and at times took over what NRT was doing bcos she was too slow and cannot follow Popo's instruction. Now I know where I inherit my lack of patience. To make things worse, she is not winning the kids' favor. The kids prefer us anytime. At Centris, Lil Isaac bullies auntie and opts for Popo. Try as she might, we have a struggling Lil Isaac in his typical "eh, eh, eh" chant under her care. Otherwise he will be screaming or crying for our attention, eager to tear away from auntie's grip.

I can see that she really tries. We were very much alright with her in Genting bcos we took care of the kids most of the time and there was no housework to be done. She was merely helping out. More importantly, Popo "disappeared" most of the time and I had peace. The moment we stepped home, my ears hurt from all the noise that Popo made from nagging, scolding and complaining. Haiz.

I don't know if NRT can survive. She will either have to buck up on the housework as per Popo's standard or win the kids' support to stay. Otherwise, it will be really tough. Popo says that she's contemplating to send her back. I am fine if she wants to. What I hate is to have Popo talking sarcastically to NRT and loudly, as if intentionally for me to hear. Worse, Popo talks sarcastically to me bcos NRR irks her. I already told her that IND maids are slower and she was the one who asked me to get an IND maid so why am I suffering all these now????

Haiz, I hope NRT bucks up soon. I really cannot take all this noise. I am already not interfering when Popo disciplines the maid. I really left it to her charge. What more can I do?

Mummy Lim

Milk, Milk, Where Are You?

2011-11-22T19:18:00.001+08:00

I don't know what happened. My milk supply dropped. I don't know if it dropped during the Genting trip. I expressed but not according to the usual schedule. There was more than enuff for Lil Isaac bcos I topped up with FM.

I realized the reduction when I was back in Sgp. I don't know if it is bcos I was too tired. I missed my night express a few times before we left for Genting and definitely a few nights after that. Or it is that time of the month. Though I am blessed with no menses, I found that my ss tends to drop when I experience menstrual cramp.

I am of course not ready to stop expressing yet. I haven't lose enuff weight yet and Lil Isaac still doesn't take pure fm in his alert moments. I am not desperately trying to increase my ss but would be glad if I have enuff for Lil Isaac. I am a cow, I am a cow. Mooooooo..

Mummy Lim

Genting

2011-11-21T10:17:00.002+08:00

We are back from a short Genting trip. Not many pix from the trip bcos we are too busy chasing after the kids! Cameras are a passé for us, we are only armed with our iPhones and pix are only provided that we have time to rip them out for some precious moments.

We went with Nainai and Popo via the night coach. The trip was pretty alright. Lil Shauna has a seat on her own and almost slept through except for her waking up halfway through the journey to climb on top of Daddy Lim to sleep the rest of the way. I shared the seat with Lil Isaac and was thankful that the seat was really wide.

As usual, we didn't see much of Popo during the trip. There aren't much to do for Nainai but I think she was just really happy to spend time with the grandkids, fussing over them.

The Chan family was there too, we managed to meet them for part of the trip and the girls had loads of fun at the outdoor theme park. Playmates are good. Lil Shauna loves having playmates to run around and act silly. This is us in the cable car down the mountain. The last time I took the cable car in Genting was a looonnnggg time ago.

Lil Isaac is more participative as compared to our last Genting trip 6 months ago. He went on quite a number of rides and actually enjoyed them. I am so looking forward to him walking and taking those rides on his own. Hoho.

We came back by flight on Sat afternoon. The 2 hours taxi ride down the mountain, 2 hours wait at the airport, 40 mins plane ride and 30 mins taxi home from Changi airport sound really daunting, especially with a tiger who hates to be confined. Luckily, the princess was willing to stick with Daddy Lim and the tiger took his nap during both taxi rides. We survived the journey and it wasn't bad. It is either we had loads of help, the kids are easier now or we are getting better at parenting. Lol.

The only painful part? I was so tired by the time we were home but the kids were bursting with energy! I was willing the time to pass faster and the kids to sleep earlier, both unsuccessful. Boo! I can't be more glad at bedtime.

Now that we are back, it is only right that we plan for the next trip. We do need to look forward in life, right?

Mummy Lim

On Leave

2011-11-21T08:42:00.001+08:00

Daddy Lim and I are on leave today in desperate attempt to clear leave. We must be real bad planners. We heard of many lamenting about insufficient leave and here we are making weak final attempts to clear ours at the end of the year before the company forfeits them.

We are now reading newspaper and sipping hot coffee in Macdonalds and raking our brains about what to do for the rest of the day. Yes, poor planning again. We only know that we should take leave but didn't think of what to do. Lol. We are now basking in the without-kids quietness. It brings us back to those dating no-kids days. Hoho.

Of course it would be great to laze around the whole day without the kids, especially when Lil Shauna is in her frequent-tantrum mood triggered by that irritating flu bug. I am sure we can manage that easily provided that we can get past our guilty conscious. Oh gosh, the kids would love to spend the day with us. See what I mean?

So, we could do a movie with jiejie in the afternoon. At least we fulfill half of our parenting responsibility. Or we could bring the whole lorry load of people out in the afternoon to venue unknown. It is school holiday and we have in total 5 adults and 5 tiny people to squeeze into Tiguan. Hohoho.

We'll see how.

Mummy Lim

Good Job!

2011-11-15T07:13:00.001+08:00

I started Lil Shauna on her phonics with LCentral (LC) on 21 Aug 11. To date, she has completed almost 2 terms of the most basic class (aka Foundations). The Foundations focus on the first sound. Other than the actual phonics, the kids also do lots of colouring, cutting, song and movement and games during the class. Lil Shauna loves the phonics class and asked to go to Teacher Rebecca’s class all the time.

The classes are seriously expensive. However, I was really glad to see Lil Shauna enjoying herself. I was a little sad that I don’t get to participate in the class with Lil Shauna like how we used to but I was also glad to have free time to run errands and read a book during that 1.5 hours that she is in class.

I managed to speak to the teacher during the last lesson 2 weeks ago and was told that she’s performing really well and is able to hear most of the 1st sound. Teacher Rebecca also commented that Lil Shauna is starting to open up and is beginning to speak up more during class. She thinks that Lil Shauna can be “promoted” to the next level (LaunchPad) next year! I am so proud of the princess.

Last Sunday, while I was at the school, the admin made arrangement for Lil Shauna to move this coming January and was telling me that she is really fast. It usually takes 2 to 3 terms for them to progress. The admin also conveyed that Teacher Rebecca was impressed and commented that Lil Shauna is really small but is really good. LaunchPad is usually for K1 student, Lil Shauna will be in Nursery next year. In fact, Teacher Rebecca says that Lil Shauna can be promoted now but thinks that she lacks self confident and recommended for her to move next year. I think so too. It can be very daunting for her to be in a class of bigger kids. The last thing that I want is to kill her interest.

I was a little sad for Lil Shauna bcos Felicia just joined her class. Lil Shauna really enjoy going for such enrichment classes with Felicia. It is also a cute sight of the 2 of them interacting during such classes. I hope Felicia will pick up quickly and join Lil Shauna soon. I bet Lil Shauna would like that.

I am in the league as the rest of the Singapore kiasu parents. Next year, I will want to sign Lil Shauna up for swimming and abacus. Of course, I will have to work hard on Lil Isaac too. I will be signing him up for My Little Gym next year. I seriously think he should burn some energy during such classes.

Mummy Lim

Walking

2011-11-15T07:11:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac is cruising a lot more now. He sometimes cruises instead of crawls when trying to get to one place to another. He can also stand unsupported for like 5 sec. On Saturday, Lil Isaac took his first step or what appeared to be his first few steps. Actually, it wasn’t really walking. Daddy Lim and I were about 1 m apart and we were trying to coax him to walk from one of us to the other. Lil Isaac did try. We will encourage him to stand unsupported and urged him to walk when he is ready.

He didn’t really walk. He sort of fell and then staggered his feet while he fell forward. Well, at least it looked somewhat like walking and he was pleased with all the excitement that he created. So he “walked” and “walked” from Daddy Lim to me and back. I remembered doing that with jiejie too, just that jiejie walked so much more steadily then and not merely “falling”.

Yeah, our tiger will walk soon. I am really looking forward to that than to have to carry a struggling baby when we are outside.

Mummy Lim

Rain Rain

2011-11-14T18:28:00.002+08:00

It had been raining so much recently. Actually, I prefer the cool weather than to be under the hot sun. However, it would also mean that outdoor plans are scrapped and I think it is raining a little too much recently.

Yday, Daddy Lim was driving us on PIE when we were caught in this big rain. Part of the expressway started filling up and mini floods started appearing. I was so glad that Lil Isaac was sleeping then cos I felt this need to help focus on the road and scream at possible hazards. Well, not that it will help Daddy Lim but I just felt that I need to do so. I had to keep reminding Daddy Lim to go slow even when he was barely doing 40km/h and all the other cars were this slow too on the expressway. At certain point, the visibility on the road was so bad, barely 2m. I couldn’t make out the road, it was simply hard rain coming down on our already pathetic windscreen and everything appeared grey scale. I bet all Daddy Lim was doing was to follow the tail light of the car in front. We drove past this big canal that was ¾ filled with brownish water. I was surprised to see how choppy the water was in the canal. It was similar to the waves at Phuket. Really, no kidding. No wonder people get washed away in canal by flash floods. The whole thing was scary and I was so glad when the rain finally lightened. Lil Shauna was happily talking and singing while Daddy Lim and I sweat over the road condition.

This morning, it was bad too. It started drizzling when we left the house and rain soon poured. Traffic was a snail crawl. By the time we turned into the road leading to the yard, the water level was rising, overflowing the drains. At certain parts, we could no longer see the drain, only the green barrier that separates the drain and the pavement sticks out.

I saw this man waddling in ankle high water, trying to pick up his fallen motorcycle which he has parked on the pavement. For a moment, we celebrated that Tiguan is a tall car and we have less risk of having water entering the engine via the exhaust. Daddy Lim even asked me if this is the start of the end of the world before correcting himself that God will not use rain to kill mankind. But it does feel like one of the scenes in one of those end of the world movies. Scary.

Interestingly, the sun was shining brightly shortly after the rain stops. -___-“ The earth is really sick.

Mummy Lim

Maid Saga

2011-11-11T22:40:00.001+08:00

So, how is the maid? Well, I don't really know. I haven't spend enuff time to observe her to assess for sure. I only know that I am so much softer on her as compared to the previous maids. I don't know if it is bcos I don't want to get caught between Popo and the maid since Popo is already teaching and disciplining her or that the kids are easier to take care now and I can handle them better on my own.

But NRT definitely falls short of Popo's expectation. Again, Popo expects the maid to be humble, clever, initiative taking, flexible and also good with kids and housework. Where to find? It really takes a fairly clever maid to understand Popo's broken English and also follow her 101 rules step by step without lapses. MA is witty but it also means that she's prone to argue her way out. Naaahhh.. Out!

So, Popo has been complaining about how slow and inflexible NRT is. Of course she is unable to go on auto-pilot mode and fulfill the 101 steps without lapses, much to Popo's displeases. I kept reminding her that IND are definitely less clever than FIL and getting a good maid is really like ti-kam. Apparently, this cannot get into Popo's head. I return home at the end of the day to hear Popo complains about the list of things that NRT didn't do properly or wrong and also hear her scold the maid.

Tonight, Popo insisted that I asked the maid if she understands Popo, which I get a "yes". So I was forced to probe further on why then NRT didn't follow the instructions. There wont be an answer lor. If she can explain her actions, then she won't be a maid. And Popo insisted that I asked the maid what she did wrong this morning, which left me confused after her explanation. It was pretty obvious that the maid is not very sure what she really did wrong to incur Popo's wrath.

The best part? Despite Popo's limited English, she refused to scold NRT directly and tried to be sarcastic. Hello, the maid really doesn't hear the "suanness" lor. NRT greeted Popo "good night" before turning in, Popo sarcastically told her that she don't have to greet her, that her job in Sgp is not simply to greet people and she will be more than glad if NRT doesn't make her angry. NRT gave a puzzled look and asked Popo for affirmation if Popo doesnt want her to greet her in the future. -.o" See??!!!????

I told Popo that I am prepared to change the maid anytime so long as she asks me to, but she doesn't want to change. I am not sure if it is bcos she doesn't want to be the bad guy. But I am not God, I cannot change NRT's character lor. So, I have to brace myself for more complaints and nagging. Then again, maybe the maid will quit on us soon? Choy!

Mummy Lim

On Leave

2011-11-11T21:21:00.002+08:00

This entry was created on the Tuesday that just past.

Ah yee brought Popo for her medical at nuh this morning. I took leave to babysit the kids. I was so glad when Lil Shauna left for school and Lil Isaac took his nap. This full-time mummy thing cannot be on a permanent basis. To me, it is more stressful than work. Lol. This is my reward.

This sweet tiger is really sticky now. He is constantly fighting with jiejie for my attention now.

I dated ah yee for shopping in the afternoon. It has been a long, long while. We used to do that, even when I had Lil Shauna but it is almost impossible to do so with 2 kids now. It felt so good.

We went shopping at bugis. We didn't buy much but it was just walking and lots of talking. It was as if she was filling me in with all that I missed out of her life during this void period. She made me feel really old, as if our age gap is more than just 4 years old. I think I must do this with her more often, especially when she's going to shift out soon.

I went for my kickboxing in the evening before completing my day. Oooooo, it had been such a long time since I felt fulfilled. Yes, yes, yes, I need to take care of myself more.

Mummy Lim

Milk and Bottle

2011-11-08T21:55:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac has definitely given up latching. I tried and all he does is to close his mouth on my nipple before pulling away to smile at me. I didn't dare force him, not when he has 11 teeth now.

I had been complaining about Lil Isaac's low milk intake and also how slow he drinks. This is the case even when I used the fastest flowing teat that I can find in the market for his Dr Brown bottle. His wide neck milk bottle is also irking me. It is always leaking and it is a messy affair trying to feed Lil Isaac especially when he is not cooperative.

I was really frustrated that I used one of jiejie's old narrow neck bottle but a new L size teat on him. Apparently, the flow is much faster and he didn't reject the "new" bottle. After a few attempts, he is a pro and finished his milk in record time! I threw away all his Dr Brown bottles.

The good thing is that he drinks really quickly now but he often finishes his milk before he falls asleep. He ended up kicking up a storm, leaving him wide awake. No fun. He used to drink 140ml with the Dr Brown and often cannot finish his milk. Now, he takes merely minutes to down his 150ml and cries for more.

This late morning, I was trying to tuck him for his nap and gave him a bottle of 150ml fm mixed with ebm. He finished the bottle and was angry when I pulled the empty bottle away. I made him more fm but he rejected it. I had a hard time trying to make him nap again and gave him another bottle of fm mixed with ebm when he was dozing off. So he actually polished off almost 300ml of milk.

Just now, Popo warmed up about 140ml of ebm for him. I topped it up with another 60ml of fm. I didnt want risk having an angry tiger. Again, he polished the entire bottle in mere minutes!

Oh, he poo poo both yday and even 2x today too. I am starting to question if he "was" a small and slow drinker bcos of his bottle? Is his constipation a result of his low milk intake? Anyway, I am glad that he continues to drink well and moves his bowel. I am even ok to buy bigger bottles to replace the 2 brand new narrow bottles that I bought yday, so long as he drinks. He has been stuck at the 9kg mark for the longest time!

I am so glad that he is taking his fm. He doesn't like it "pure" unless he is in a half-awake mode but at least he takes it when mixed with ebm. At this rate that he is drinking, I definitely don't have enuff for him. Phew. Mooo...

Mummy Lim

Graduation Concert

2011-11-08T20:37:00.002+08:00

Jiejie performed at her school's graduation concert last Thursday and we wouldn't miss it for a million $$.. Wait, maybe we will. Hohoho. Anyway, I was really excited and was really looking forward it. It was quite amazing that kindergarten graduation is such a big thing now. The K2 students marched in and also went up the stage to collect their certificate. So pro. Then the different classes went up to perform. I was actually worried that jiejie will be frightened by the crowd, that she will freeze on stage or even cry but I was so wrong. This is her while getting on the stage. She was really excited when she spotted me waving at her. She is so different from the shy little toddler in the past. Jiejie was really enjoying the limelight.The pre-nursery and nursery students were really cute. Daddy Lim commented that kids lost their cuteness once they reach K1. I hope Lil Shauna doesn't grow up so quickly. She went up the stage 3x, the 1st to perform with her class, the 2nd to recite Chinese poems that she learnt during her Chinese enrichment class and lastly together with all the kids in her school. She really done me proud but most importantly, she enjoyed herself. :) Mummy Lim

Maid Update

2011-11-06T22:26:00.001+08:00

So, how is the new maid so far? Well, nobody has been injured so far so I guess things aren't very bad. NRT is definitely slower and not as witty as the previous PHL maids that I had. She's not as organised too. She also can't remember clearly all the steps and procedures to do things and Popo has 101 rules to follow. If Popo knows how to write manual, it will definitely be a very thick one. Of course, the communication barrier is another big obstacle.

However, she's trying very hard and I think Popo sees that too. That definitely helped her to gain points. When she's at Centris, she's more willing to help out. She also didn't mind sleeping a little later or waking up earlier for the kids or to complete the housework. At least she doesn't rush to go to bed.

Popo also bought for her quite a few pieces of new clothes and stuff and we can tell that she's appreciative. I don't know if NRT will survive, it is still a little too early to tell. I hope. Maid changing is very tiring.

Mummy Lim

Maid

2011-11-03T23:07:00.001+08:00

We sent MA off yday. I paid for a runner to send her to the airport. We only told her the night before about her flight details and she was very delighted to be going home. Yday afternoon, she spent a couple of hours packing and was picked up by the runner when I was out picking up the new maid. Popo says that MA was visibly happy to go. Well, I would too if I were to be away from home for a year.

I have been preparing Lil Shauna, that Auntie MA wants to go home to her Ashley, her 6 year old girl and we will get a new auntie. Lil Shauna didn't seem at all upset but only requested for a "white face" auntie. She said that she doesn't want a "black face" auntie. Haha.

I specifically asked MA to tell Lil Shauna that she's leaving before Lil Shauna goes to school and Popo said that Lil Shauna didn't seem at all affected. I didn't do much about Lil Isaac. I guessed he is a little too young to realize what is happening. Both kids are not sticky to MA and I don't think her departure will do us much harm.

Nariten, our new maid is a 32 year old Indonesian. This is her 3rd time back in Singapore as a maid, each time for about 2 years. She last went back in year 2008. She can speak English pretty alright. Maybe bcos she's experienced, she reacted exactly like a maid, respectful and humble. For a first day, she appeared to have more chemistry with Popo than MA. My only advice to her is not to argue with Popo.

She has 2 kids, aged 11 and 3 yo. When she was previously in Singapore, her job was to look after the elderly. I was a little worried that she cannot garnered the kids' favour but Lil Shauna seem to like her alright. As for Lil Isaac, he spent most of the time staring at the new auntie.

Things went fairly well for her first day but I was around to help with the kids and MA has done majority of the housework before she left. I hope she doesn't get a rude shock today. Popo has a whole set of rules and cleaning procedures. Most are totally illogical to me but I decided that I didn't want to interfere too much. Popo comes in a package, remembered? I can hear NRT still at the housework. Popo says that she's slower, less bright and more forgetful. So long as she doesn't incur Popo's wrath, things will be fine.

Mummy Lim

Lousy Driver

2011-11-02T16:21:00.001+08:00

Transport arrangement had been difficult recently. It is either Daddy Lim has been sent to attend some courses or work outside of yard or I have to go out for external function beyond 4.30pm. Ok, I have to admit that I am pampered and Daddy Lim had been chauffeuring me around even since I gave up biking. He will usually send me to and from work. In the event that he can’t, I will rather take taxi. On weekends, if he is busy, I would rather take MRT than to attempt to drive.

It is no doubt that I got my driving license since I was 18. However, driving is alien to me. I started biking when I was 23 until I was preggy with Lil Shauna. I loved the carefree feeling while on the bike but acknowledged that it was nowhere near safe. And I realized that I felt pressurize while riding after I married Daddy Lim. It was as if I suddenly realized that my life no longer belong to just me. So I didn’t try riding after having kids. I am accountable to even more people now and I cannot imagine how stressful it will feel to be on a bike again. There are of course times that I recall those care free riding moments and wonder if there will be someday that I will ride again.. perhaps only in my dream.

I haven’t been driving for the longest time. Without Daddy Lim, it is always the public transport. With Daddy Lim, I am always attending to the kids in the car. Although I felt the nagging voice to ask me to start trying to drive again, there wasn’t any strong compelling force to push me into it until yday. Daddy Lim has to go for some external function this morning and he will be taking the MRT. He finds it stupid that he has to drive me to the yard and go home to park the car and take the MRT. Yes, I agreed that things will be simpler if I drive the car to work. So, as a prelude, I tried driving back (we were at JE) yday.

For some crazy reasons, he wasn’t in the best mood and was very dis-encouraging and it started drizzling. -.o” Our windscreen is pathetic with the rain. So I was behind the wheels, trying to remember how to drive and was shot daggers when I made mistakes. When we finally reached Centris (and having mount the curb twice while turning into Centris), Daddy Lim concluded that I better not drive and took over the wheels and said that he will drive me to work this morning. Well, that was after yelling at me as a way to inform me that I have mounted the curb, 2x. I was upset. I was really upset that he wasn’t at all encouraging when I was already a bunch of nerves. I was even more upset with myself for not being able to drive properly. I mean, so many people drive and I know of so many other people with poorer coordination than me driving on the road, so why can’t I? Boohoohoo.

This morning, I woke up at 5am to express and fed Lil Isaac his bottle at 5.45am. So I was ready for work at 6.15am and I decided that there are probably not many cars and people on the road at that time and thus safe for me and the fellow road users if I drive. And I did. The journey went pretty smoothly as there weren’t that many cars. The parking in yard was a bigger challenge. Not only was the lot narrow, the lines outlining the lot have faded and Tiguan is big. And there were bicycles parking in the car park lot. So I have to do bicycle shifting, wait for people to cross before I finally squeezed Tiguan into the skinny lot. That took like forever. It wasn’t a straight and perfect park, but my aim is to merely squeeze Tiguan into the lot without obstructing other vehicles and I think I achieved my aim, despite taking a long time to park. Hohoho.

Yes, I must start driving. I must join the many, many female drivers on the road. I think the road won’t be any more dangerous with me adding on to the less pro group of female drivers.

Mummy Lim

Classic Pose

2011-10-31T22:49:00.006+08:00

Daddy Lim and Lil Isaac.
It was a hot afternoon at Nainai's place.

3 years back.

Same?

Mummy Lim

Mango

2011-10-31T22:44:00.003+08:00

Does it taste so bad?

I thought it tasted quite nice. Apparently he doesnt agree.

Mummy Lim

Milk Tasters

2011-10-29T21:15:00.002+08:00

We bought the Mamil Gold step 3 FM yday. I think step 3 should taste nicer than step 2. Afterall, step 3 is for toddlers age 1 to 3 and the FM must be tasty enuff to “retain” these targeted audiences.

I hate milk, especially those that are white in color. I haven’t touched white milk for as long as I can remember. I have tasted my BM despite my lack of keenness to do so. On certain occasions, I have to make sure that the ebm is still fit for consumption before I feed Lil Shauna in the past and now Lil Isaac. It actually tastes like glucose water, with a tint of sweetness and no milky taste at all. Or maybe the little droplets that I took barely give any taste. Still, I declared that I have done my part. I cannot bear the thought of having to taste the step 2 and 3 FM for comparison and so I turned to the newly appointed official milk tasters of the Lim family.

I made a little amount of the step 2 and 3 FM in separate cups and presented them to the father and daughter team. They tried step 2 and both gave me yucky face. It must have tasted really bad. And they both agreed that the step 3 FM tasted much better. Lil Shauna was even willing to take 2 gulps of the step 3 FM. Daddy Lim commented that the step 3 FM tasted more vanilla-ish. He was lost for words how the step 2 FM tastes, just yucky in general.

So, we have the conclusion. J
We will start Lil Isaac on step 3 today. Popo was hesitant to throw away the step 2 tin, which is still ¾ filled and also questioned about Lil Isaac being able to stomach a new FM. No problem lah. Who doesn’t like a tastier drink?

Mummy Lim

Updated: Lil Isaac refused the step 3 milk!!! I am so glad that I heed Popo's advice and didnt throw away the step 2 milk. Haiz, feeding him milk is such a challenge!

Updates on Lil Isaac

2011-10-28T21:27:00.002+08:00

He is one year old but still not walking. He can easily put himself up to a standing position, which is an important feat so as to reach for the things on the table top. He cruises too but opts to crawl any time. He is not at all interested to learn how to walk despite mummy’s eagerness for him to do so. Chey!

He knows how to reach for his sippy cup and holds up his cup to drink. He loves water, bread and biscuit but not a milk lover. We have started him on formula milk (FM) and tried to give him one feed of FM a day, which he drinks with little enthusiasm. He is only a little more enthusiastic towards ebm. He is generally not a milk baby. He is currently on Mamil Gold step 2 and I am going to move him to step 3 today after I buy the new tin. I think the step 3 milk is sweeter and hopefully this will encourage him to drink more and faster? Even Ferlin drinks faster than him. Popo sometimes have to resort to spoon feeding. Our little man is still saying “No” to mummy’s breasts and poor mummy has resigned to fate and is on exclusive expressing. Interestingly, he has almost dropped his night feed. He does stirred in the night but often goes back to sleep without demanding for milk. Popo or Auntie usually tucked him back to bed. Mummy still wakes up to express but didn’t manage to coincide with the time that Lil Isaac stirs. I have tried to latch him once and he actually appeared to try to suckle. But even before the let down, he bit me and decided that he wanted no more. Chey, don’t know how to value the good stuff.

Popo shared that Lil Isaac is definitely eating more as compared to a while back. He is probably about 9 to 9.5kg. He likes his cereal and a particular brand of puree, which Popo always mixed in food that he doesn’t like to mask the taste. For reasons beyond us, he has taken an appetite to porridge recently despite it being the same porridge that Popo cooks everyday. Well, we are not complaining. Lil Isaac is probably at the 50 percentile for his weight but we can definitely do with a little bit more of chunkiness. Oh gosh, I like fat and chubby babies.

Constipation is still a challenge. Popo has been feeding him lots of high fiber food, especially plums. He hasn’t established a regular bowel movement and he moves his bowel as frequently as every day to as constipated as 5 days. Since the last badly constipated episode, we have given him suppository once and lactulose 3x. We gave him lactulose whenever Mr Poo Poo plays the disappearing act for 3 days. It is always such a joy to hear from Popo that Lil Isaac has moved his bowel. Jiejie and mummy will break into a dance in celebration. Lol.

With Lil Isaac, I am such a hands-off mummy. I am lost wrt what he should eat and what to help him moves his bowel when Popo is not around. At least I do the breastfeeding in the past. Boohoo. Now, I have taken on the task to give him his last feed before he sleeps. It can be a bored at times bcos we closed ourselves in the pitch black room and he takes forever to drink. But I value that little bit of quiet bonding time. The other time that I have with him is spent chasing after the active tiger. He still smells fabulously babish. I can never get enuff of his baby smell. Yummy.

We wont have another kid. Daddy Lim can vouch for that. Lol. So Lil Isaac will be our last baby and I hope that he doesn’t lose his babish smell. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Still Happy

2011-10-28T02:22:00.001+08:00

I am still feeling joyful that the mega event is over. I can't believe that it was just 4 days ago that I was working my life away at sdc. It felt like months ago. Although the event is over, I am still working hard to tie up the loose ends. At least I can breathe better now and there is no doomsday ahead. I can take my time to clean things up. I still fund myself grumbling at times while I tie up the ends, but I am constantly reminded that the event is over and the it didn't kill me. This makes me happy. Hohoho.

The event being over means that I finally can have more time for my daily work. And I need to arrange with Daddy Lim to clear my leave. I am left with 2 months and have to clear my 14 days of annual leave, 5.5 days of childcare leave and 1 day of off-in-lieu. I don't think I will be able to clear all these leave, not bcos I am too hardworking but bcos I just came back from maternity leave in January and had already cleared 11 days of flexible maternity leave since. I am intending to take a weeks' leave in November and one week in December. Woohoo! I need some holiday, badly...

Mummy Lim

Finally Over

2011-10-23T22:07:00.001+08:00

Finally, the Company event is over and I am happy and relief beyond words. Just in case you are wondering, I am safe and sound. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, it wasn't my safety that was at question but that of my follow colleagues.

I was worried that a stampede might take place. My heart was really in my mouth. I will be dead if a stampede took place and somebody got injured. Not that i will be dead bcos somebody trampled over me but the need to answer for it. I have never done so much crowd control in my life and have never handle such a situation before and I was scared. I was so glad that so many colleagues helped out and things eventually turned out fine. Phew.. No injuries, thank God.

I like organizing events and contemplated going into events management when I was much younger. However, now that I have 2 kids and organizing such a mega event on top of the daily job gave me nightmares. Yes, can you hear how relief I am now that the event is finally over?

I hope I am not so suay to kena organizing the event next year. Next year's is supposed to be bigger. Crossed fingers and toes.

Mummy Lim

Prayers

2011-10-23T10:56:00.001+08:00

Pls help me pray for safety. Not mine. But just generally nobody gets hurt.

Happy Bday Lil Isaac

2011-10-21T22:44:00.010+08:00

Lil Isaac turns one today.. and I actually forgotten about it, only to remember it in the late morning. And I couldnt go off work early, it was already super late when we picked the kids up. Still, we bought him a cake and jiejie decorated it. Jiejie's master piece.

We sang him the bday song and Lil Isaac looks stone throughout the celebration. Jiejie helped to blow the candle and cut the cake. Well, at least Lil Isaac gets to eat his bday cake. :)

We threw Lil Isaac a "great" bday party last Sunday. I said that it was "great", not bcos it was a magnificient party but bcos it turned out well, much better than I expected despite the little effort that I put in. I am dead busy bcos of the coming Company's event and I seriously cannot even find time to breathe. And our dear Popo insisted that bday party must be held before he officially turns one. I was actually very tempted not to hold a bday party at all, but I was worried that he will blame me for favortism in the future. Afterall, jiejie had bday parties for both her 1st and 2nd bday and she had 4 cakes to celebrate her bday this year.

There was little attempt to sycronise the theme for Lil Isaac's party. Well, I did try and at least he ended up with a "cars" cake.

I rented a ball pit with slide and Lil Isaac loves it.

And so did his little friends.

I also rented a rocking horse and a cottage house for the older kids and the toys were a hit. I made good choices this time.

The jiejies were much more excited than him during cake cutting.

Lil Isaac was generally in a good mood.

His loot.

He received so many toys, much more than what we bought him in this lifetime.

Dear Lil Isaac, pls grow up quickly, learn to walk and talk so that we can enjoy you more. Love you. Muaks.

Mummy Lim

Struggling

2011-10-21T12:50:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac still maintain that he doesn't want to latch. I tried and he bit me before turning away and started crying. Win liao, I didn't even scold him. To save me from the heartache, I didn't force him to latch.

We introduced partial formula milk last night and he had no problem with the milk but he still gave us hell by refusing to drink his milk initially. He was cranky and I guess it is bcos he screwed up his schedule. He is used to latch for his last feed and will drift off to lala land while latching. But bcos he refused to latch, he can't sleep and he was cranky. There was much crying and it was finally Popo to the rescue, who tucked him to bed and made him finished his bottle. Mummy was dead tired by then bcos Lil Isaac partied with her for over an hour the night before.

Lil Isaac woke up at 1+am but Popo didn't wake me up. She didn't see the need too since I won't be latching anyway. I felt bad for disturbing Popo's sleep. I should and want to continue to take the night feed. Must work out some arrangement.

Last night, I was finally able to tuck him to bed. :) We locked ourselves in the pitch black room and he was still happily crawling, refusing his bottle. I rocked him to semi-sleep state when he was finally tired and then I dream fed him. Although he didnt finish his bottle, at least I managed to tuck him to bed, the first time since the day that he refuses to latch. That sense of achievement and pride that I felt was immersed. Oh, he hasn't been up for milk for 2 nights! He does stirred but settled back to bed after some patting. This may be one of the few benefits of his refusal to latch.

I don't know if Lil Isaac will eventually latch back. I really hope he would, I am not done with him yet.

Mummy Lim

Really The End?

2011-10-18T21:11:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac still refuses to latch yday and I couldn’t even manage to latch him in the middle of the night. He was cranky but refused to latch and refused bottle. He finally fell asleep on our bed with no milk after lots of whining, tossing and turning. And I had to express after he fell asleep.

He woke up at 2am for his night feed but refused to latch again. It was bad. He started fussing when I put him on the nursing pillow. When I attempted to latch him, he either turned his face away from my breasts or gave me a nasty bite before turning away and crying. It didn’t matter which breast I offered, the end result is the same and the warm night definitely didn’t help. We were both perspiring after a few attempts to latch him.

I finally gave in to the bottle and heated up 60ml of ebm for him, which he drank hungrily. I offered my breasts after that but he still refused. Then, he spent the next 45 mins tossing and turning on the bed. I supposed he was still hungry or needed more milk to drift back to lala land. I gave up struggling with him after 45 mins and gave him another 90ml via bottle and that knocked him out but leaving me wide awake. I expressed again and finally turned in at 3+am.

I tried to read up on possibilities of Lil Isaac’s sudden refusal to latch. There is of course the teething possibility, the milk strike possibility and lastly the self wean possibility. He is likely to be teething and he showed me that he is not happy at me scolding him by refusing to latch. It can’t be a milk strike bcos he still takes his bottle and drinks when Popo spoon feed him. I am not sure if he is self weaning. Anyway, this mummy is more upset than he is. I am definitely not ready to wean Lil Isaac and never imagine that he will be the one who call the shots on when I should stop breastfeeding him! Hello, I am the mummy. Me, me, me!!!

Daddy Lim was telling me that I should take this opportunity to stop breastfeeding. But I enjoy breastfeeding, the bonding and all the conveniences that come with it. No need to bring along milk bottles, no need for hotwater flask, no need to heat ebm, no need to wash bottles, etc. Since I still have milk and have established a routine, I will still continue to express, which will mean that I will now have to spend more time expressing and I have to find ways to express if I were to spend long hours outside. The only comfort is that I no longer will be indecently exposed in public, there is no need to look and queue for nursing rooms and my nipples will not get bitten. Boohoo, I still like direct latching better.

I will continue to try to latch him, hoping that he will agree to latch after a few days of tantrum or when his gums are not so itchy. We will be introducing him formula tonight. This will at least save us some agony of having to heat up ebm in the middle of the night and when we are outside if he really decides that he wants off from mummy’s breasts.

I am still sore and upset. I am being manipulated by my barely one year old son. I felt a little better after wat’sapping Mummy J and Mummy S who comforted me that at least I don’t have to wean off Lil Isaac, which could prove to be another nightmare.

Mummy Lim

The End?

2011-10-17T21:22:00.001+08:00

I think Lil Isaac is teething. His big molars are trying to cut through. We see him putting his fingers into his mouth a lot recently. His gum must be really itchy and poor mummy suffered with him as well. For the whole of yday, I was unable to latch him. The moment I tried, he clamped his teeth on my poor nipples. I already complained when he sinks his toothless gum on me, so you can imagine my agony when he has 8 pearly whites now.

Usually, he only bites me when I force him to latch. Yday, he refused to suckle even when he was really hungry and sleepy. We go into this biting-scolding-crying cycle over and over again with no success. I eventually gave in to the bottle and he actually took the bottle without much struggle and even fell asleep. This happen for both the afternoon nap and the last night feed. He usually refused the bottle when I am around. I bet he likes it that the bottle doesn’t scold him when he bites the teat to sooth his itchy gum. I was worried about the night feed. I cant help wondering who would save me if he continues to bite me in the middle of the night and refuses to latch.

My fear came true during the night feed. We both ended up feeling frustrated. In the end, I brought him to the room and switched on the air con and Lil Isaac actually drifted back to sleep without latching. He was comfortable and contented while I was upset and wondering if my breastfeeding career has come to an end. Boohoo, I enjoy latching him so much! I like the bonding and the convenience of latching him outside.

Later in the night, jiejie woke me up and stirred Lil Isaac. I quickly took the opportunity to latch him and he didn’t bite me for the 1st time in the many hours. I never felt happier having to do night latches.

I don’t know if things have improved. I hope. This nipple biting game is seriously not fun. Jia you, jia you!

Mummy Lim

MA wants to go

2011-10-16T09:41:00.001+08:00

MA dropped the bomb this morning. She said that her family is going to start building the house in Philippines, the sole reason for her to work in Singapore and they needed her back to sign some papers. She didn't say that she won't come back but I told her that I won't wait even if she wants to. It is far too risky. They are afterall maids and wouldn't bat an eyelid for playing us out.

She said that she hopes to go home after she gets her next pay, which is the beginning of November. I asked her to wait until we get her replacement and dangled a free air ticket if she can help and not give me problem until the time she goes. Thankfully, she agreed but said that she has to go before the end of the year. I would want her to go asap too. I bet she is already on holiday mode and not forgetting that air ticket is really expensive nearing Christmas.

I didn't bother to retain her. Afterall, she has really bad chemistry with Popo. I am so sick of hearing Popo complained about MA. I hate it when Popo calls me during work offices to complain and the need to manage Popo and MA after a hard days' work.

I had been toying with the idea of going maid-free but the timing is just not right. Lil Isaac is too young for childcare. The idea might work if MA has stayed awhile more, when Lil Isaac is at least 18 mths old and we send both kids to childcare. Popo cannot handle 2 kids with no maid now.

I am going maid hunting later when jiejie goes for her phonics class. I am not sure if I should continue to insist for a Christian maid. I don't know if we should try a Indonesian maid. We have seen and engaged enuff maid to understand that it is a pure game of luck.

Maids' salary have definitely increased. The papers has just reported on the curbing of Indonesian maids a week ago. Not forgetting that Hari Raya is around the corner and Indonesian maids may not come in until after that. Of course, we have to worry about the need to change maid even if we manage to secure one now. Oh, the need to train too. Arrggghhhh... Pls keep us in your prayers.

Mummy Lim

Over

2011-10-15T21:40:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac's bday party is finally over and I am dead tired but I just refused to sleep. All are down... I just need some quiet time to surf and stone.

Mummy Lim

Hope and Warmth

2011-10-11T19:33:00.001+08:00

I was depressed day, seriously depressed.
I was wat’sapp-ing ah yee yday morning, who first think that maybe I am ADHD and eventually concluded that I should see a counselor for anger management.
Then I went through some work session that didn’t turn out too well.
Finally, there were some really big screw ups that I think I could have done better if I had more time and paid more attention.
Of course, we still have to handle a cranky and sleep deprived jiejie in the evening and a little tiger who didn’t stop struggle while we were running some errands in JP and didn’t at all enjoy his car ride.
Overall, it was just plain bad and I was simply depressed beyond words. My mood didn’t lift even at bedtime. Well, at least sleep was pretty much ok and Lil Isaac only woke up once to latch and jiejie slept through. I didn’t feel any much better this morning. Then again, life goes on.

Daddy Lim and I went for bfast as usual before work this morning. After we alighted from the car, I spotted a very worn wallet on the road. We picked it up eventually even though Daddy Lim wasn’t very encouraging in the beginning. It belongs to a Singaporean uncle. There was no cash so I concluded it either belongs to a poor uncle or somebody already took the cash. A number of important documents such as his IC and driving license and some working license remain. I was keen to return it to the owner.

We dug through the documents during bfast but didn’t find anything to suggest how we can contact the owner and he stays in faraway Seng Kang. I looked through the content again when I was in office and still cannot figure out how to reach him and started feeling dishearten and wonder why I bothered to be so kpo. I then passed the wallet to a colleague and related the story before rushing on with the day’s work, meetings and all. I had intended to hand the wallet to the policeman uncle or simply mailed it back to the owner.

When I was coming back from my meeting, I met the same colleague who told me that she managed to contact the owner! She had called his dental clinic who gave her his number and the uncle was actually at the gate to retrieve his wallet. Over the phone, he was really glad and grateful that somebody picked up the wallet and arranged to return to him and told my colleague to thank me.

I usually wouldn’t bother to receive such thanks personally but actually went with my colleague to meet the uncle just now. I don’t know what got into me. Of course he thanked me profusely and as per any Singaporean who has lost his IC, he was really glad to have it back (and other important documents). The money was gone, which he was the least concerned and I went away happy too. It is like the sunshine breaking through the dark clouds. It actually lifted me, making me realized that life is indeed full of hopes. The warmth of life! I am so glad that I have done a good deed. That emotion was indescribable. The uncle even smsed my colleague to thank my colleague and me after the whole incident. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I am re-charged!

Mummy Lim

Tiger or Bear?

2011-10-10T22:22:00.004+08:00

Too cute!
Daddy Lim hates it when I buy hoodie or caps with "ears" for the kiddos but didnt object to this one cos he is too cute!

He looks so delicious. I think I can eat him. Lol.

Mummy Lim

A Maid Afterall

2011-10-09T21:04:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac is into Tv watching and actually sit still to watch a particular series of DVD. Popo is guilty of letting him watch tv when she needs him to sit still to eat. In fact, they all watch alot of tv when they are in Centris.

Today, I caught auntie switching on the DVD for Lil Isaac bcos she was too lazy to chase after him. -.o" She must have imitate Popo. I told her off and that too much tv will result in him having shorter attention span and she will have even a hard time chasing him in the future. I then ask her if she would allow her own daughter to watch this much tv. She smiled.... Then I realized that it was a stupid question. Bcos Lil Isaac is not her child and she is merely a maid. And it is never her intention to stay with us for long, so who cares if Lil Isaac grows up to be a hyperactive kid?!

Haiz, this makes me wonder when will I ever be maid free. Then again, can I survive without a maid? Especially with Daddy Lim working crazy hours on weekends. I don't see how I can bring 2 kids out on my own during weekends. Stuck...

Mummy Lim

Something about Shoes

2011-10-06T17:39:00.002+08:00

Lil Shauna is just typical girl and she has this thing for shoes! Yes, at 3.5 years old and she has this soft spot for shoes. And I realized that the few meltdowns that she had recently were bcos she wanted to buy shoes while mummy thinks that they are too heely, uncomfortable, expensive, wrong size, etc. She is also into pretty pinky clothes but she doesn’t bug us to buy her new clothes as much as shoes. Heels are irresistible to her even when she can barely skip and hop with perfect balance. So you can guess the lure of a pair of pink heels. She just couldn’t say “no” to them and couldn’t take our “no” as an answer.

For the longest time, Lil Shauna has been bugging me to buy her heels. Popo was bluff to do so a few months ago, which brought us a different set of problems. Lil Shauna can’t go long in those heels and walked slower than usual, the typical heels problem even for us big ladies. So she demanded to be carried frequently and 15kg is seriously no joke. In one of those “I-must-go-kai-kai-in-those-heels” tantrums, I threw the heels away and grounded her, resulting in her crying so pitifully. I supposed her cried were more for the heels than the grounding. Since then, she has been trying to get me to buy her heels, which I have managed to avoid. The last mega tantrum at IMM was also bcos she has her eyes on a pair of really nice PINK heels, which are too small for her. Speaking of which, I really did check the STOMP and am really glad that I didn’t make it there. Lol.

After the mega tantrum, I did feel a little bad for her and she again asked me to buy her new shoes when she saw a pair of really nice shoes on the shoe shelf outside LCentral. So I brought her shoe shopping after her class and she found this pair of pretty nice heels. I tried to persuade her to buy some other pair of platform instead but she had her eyes locked on those heels and was even willing to take the black ones when I couldn’t find the pink ones in her size.

I relented and bought her the black heels and she performed her “I-want-to-walk” stance to parade her new heels as what she usually does when she get to wear her newly bought shoes/ clothes. The funniest part? She went around saying “hi” to strangers in attempts to get people to notice her in her new heels! She actually told me that she wanted to do that and starting going “hi” to strangers. It was really funny.

I made her promise that she can only wear those heels when she’s going out with Mummy or Pappy and those heels are a definite no-no to school. Of course she agreed and things had been so good so far. Oh well, I should be glad that she is at least concern about being presentable than appeared shabby?

Mummy Lim

He is All Boy

2011-10-06T17:35:00.001+08:00

They say boys are slower in terms of speech and motor development. Well, I can’t really remember how advance Lil Shauna was but I remembered her walking in her 11th month and she is super chatty now and speaks really clearly. Lil Isaac is still on his fours everywhere. Like I mentioned in my previous post, he is barely cruising and shows minimal interest in walking. Afterall, crawling gets him to places and fast! He looks absolutely adorable when he is into speed crawling with his little diaper clad butt bopping up and down.

I do feel that Lil Isaac is a lot more active than jiejie. He doesn’t seem to sit still for very long. The torturous car rides are the best examples. He wants to be free, to crawl and move and explore. I suppose boys are like that? He is destructive, very much into throwing whatever that he can reach and knocking down jiejie’s tall lego tower and pretending not to hear her scream.

He is definitely much more inquisitive than jiejie, always out to explore. I can’t tell if he is braver. He cries too in unfamiliar settings but does warm up after awhile and then goes on his exploration expenditure. He likes rough play. Jiejie too but we engage more rough play with him, especially Daddy Lim. He used to think that I was too rough with Lil Shauna but doesn’t show the same reaction when I do the same to didi. A boy’s thing huh? Throwing, flipping, rolling, swinging, bouncing.. he loves it, but pity the parents, my back!!

I have to comment on his hardiness. Lil Isaac falls and knocks and bangs and collides multiple times everyday but no tears. Lil Shauna is definitely more careful and her tears would be flying endless should she gets the same amount of knocking. It is amazing how often Lil Isaac knocks into something or bangs his head and he shows no reaction at all. We hear “thuds” so every often and see him fall and wonder if all these falls and banging bring him injuries or head damage. Still, he looks happy.

Lil Isaac brings us new parenting experience that we do not get with Lil Shauna. He still smells very baby-ish. I am in this dilemma that I want him to grow up soon, yet I don’t want him to grow up.

Mummy Lim

Her Song

2011-10-02T11:46:00.002+08:00

Jiejie doing one of her newly composed songs.

She was at it for s long while.

Mummy Lim

Ballerina-S

2011-10-02T11:37:00.003+08:00

This is jiejie in her full ballerina costume, monkeying in the lift.

And this is poor didi.

Mummy Lim

Mega Tantrum

2011-10-01T16:55:00.001+08:00

Lil Shauna threw the biggest tantrum ever today. She was beyond control, beyond reason. I almost gave up. Yes, it was that bad.

Daddy Lim had to work late and I brought the kids out with my brother's family, as per what I would usually do on weekends that Daddy Lim had to work late. Interestingly, the car ride to IMM was fine, but things started going downhill upon reaching IMM.

We saw this shoes shop and Lil Shauna fell in love with a pair of pink heels. It wasn't expensive but her size was not available and I refused to buy the too small heels for her. She has developed this habit to want to buy things simply for the sake of buying and if it something that she has set her eyes on, she cannot take "no" for an answer. I don't want to feed that habit and she began her mega tantrum.

She started crying and screaming in IMM. The usual "I-leave-you-here" tactic didn't work and she kept attempting to drag me back to the shop to buy the shoes. I slapped her palm but it didn't work either. She kept crying and screaming that she wanted to buy those shoes. I had so much stares. I wouldn't be surprised if I made it to stomp. Blehhhhhh....

She refused to stop her tantrum and I decided that we will go home. She cried all the more knowing that we were going home. I carried a struggling Lil Shauna to the carpark and my brother kindly agreed to send us home.

While waiting for like forever in the car park, Lil Shauna was still screaming, crying and struggling, waiting for that perfect moment to break free and run back to the mall. For people who don't know, they could easily mistaken it for a child abuse case. I was yelling and she was screaming and crying and struggling. It was that ugly and my brother took forever to come.

I beat Lil Shauna on her palm and thigh so many times at the carpark but she didn't stop her nonsense. I was so angry that I even bit her twice. Well, that didn't help to end the tantrum either. It fact, I had to control that urge to want to hurt her to make her stop. It was really that bad. I was so tired from trying to restraint her that I almost wanted to give up and then my brother finally came.

I threw her into the car and she finally stopped crying after getting caned 3x in the car. Yes, my brother kept a cane in his car. I have never ever cane her before. I supposed that was then that she finally realized that we are going home regardless of her tantrum and that the canning really hurts.

I carried her and she finally started to calm down and I could finally reason with her. I made it a point to tell her that she cannot always have what she wants and if she throws a tantrum while we are outside, I will carry out my threat and bring her home.

She is all tired from the struggling and crying and almost fell asleep on the way home and is now soundly asleep on the sofa. Haiz, why put herself to such suffering?

I am really taken aback by her mega tantrum today. I think it is time to buy Mr Cane. What got into my baby today? Boohoo. I am still feeling hoarse from all the yelling and my arm aches. I think I need a nap too.

Mummy Lim

Not Done Yet

2011-09-29T21:25:00.001+08:00

Lil Isaac's bday bash is about 2 weeks away. Other than booking the function room at Centris, I am almost at ground zero. *panic, panic*

When jiejie had her one year old bday party, I even baked her cupcakes. Poor Lil Isaac. I haven't confirm the number of guests coming, haven't order the buffet, haven't confirm the toys, haven't order the cake and haven't prepare the goody bags. Boo! Mummy is really busy at work and both at home. No time, no time. I better start doing something soon. This is afterall a last bday party for a long time to come. With 2 kids, parties are the last thing on my mind. I think family dinner and cakes are good enuff. Hoho.

Mummy Lim

Growing Up

2011-09-27T21:29:00.001+08:00

Daddy Lim had to work late tonight and mummy has to tuck jiejie to bed AND latch didi. Luckily, didi wasn't too tired and I get to tuck jiejie to bed 1st while auntie entertains him. This reminds me of a grumbling post that I put up a few months back while still on maternity leave. Then, I was lamenting about how the 2 kids cannot take turns and me wishing to have a clone or a switch on the kids. Things are so much different now.

Jiejie is much more cooperative now. When I need to attend to Lil Isaac, she is usually willing to wait. Daddy Lim is normally the one who tucks her to bed now and she has very much become a daddy's girl. Daddy Lim definitely pampers her. While trying to tuck her to bed just now, she gave me her foot and ask me to give her a foot massage. Win liao.

They are both growing up and I must remind myself to enjoy them more. For record, Lil Isaac shows us that he can sign "no more" and do a flying kiss today! Who taught him? He picked it up from my SIL! So proud of him.

I am so looking forward to Lil Isaac growing up a little bit more and we can have a slightly easier overseas family trip. Oh boy, I need a holiday.

Mummy Lim

In Denial

2011-09-24T10:40:00.001+08:00

Jiejie is in denial. She wet our bed again last night. I set my alarm clock at midnight and had intended to wake her up for the toilet but she beats me to it. She woke me up before midnight, mumbling that it was wet. Poor bed.

This morning, I told her that she wets the bed last night but she refused to admit.

ML: Jiejie, you shh shh on mummy's bed last night leh.
LS: No, the bed is not wet.
ML: Yes, you touch here.
LS: No, not wet.
ML: It is. You smell, got shh shh smell.
LS: (sniff sniff) No, don't have!
ML: (????, also go sniff sniff) Have!!!!! So smelly lor.
LS: No!!! Don't have!!

Jieje is obviously in denial. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

War Against Constipation and Allegric

2011-09-24T10:33:00.001+08:00

Yday was day 4. Lil Isaac only managed to pass out a little bit of hard stool on day 3. To prevent another bout of extreme constipation, we gave him a dose of lactulose and he was closely monitored for allergic reaction.

Again we don't know what helped but he moved his bowels 3x yday. The first time, he passed out hard stools. There was no hives but he was busy scratching in the night and woke up 2x instead of the usual once. Is it the lactulose? Nobody knows. Well, we are just glad that he poo poo.

This constipation problem must be resolved soon. His appetite for milk has suddenly increased and my supply is unable to meet his demand. He is clearing the miserable stack of frozen bm. At the rate that he is going, I think we will need to supplement him with fm pretty soon. Not that i am against fm but fm is well known to cause constipation for full bm babies. Round 2 seems to be starting soon. -.o"

Mummy Lim

Congrats Ah Yee

2011-09-21T21:39:00.002+08:00

Ah yee finally graduated from her masters. If my dad is still around, he would be so proud of us. Our parents are not highly educated and worked as hawkers for most of their lives yet their 3 kids all graduated from NUS. Both my brother and sister have a master degree. Moreover, ah yee was his favorite child. He would be so proud of her.

Ah yee invited us to her convocation. I had wanted to attend but decided otherwise when I realize that I have to sit in the hall for 4 hours just to see her for that 30 secs. So, we brought Lil Shauna to take pix with ah yee after her convocation instead to show support.

Daddy Lim and I were on half day leave and also took the opportunity to have a quiet lunch before we picked Lil Shauna from school.

My brother and his family were also there. Popo stayed at home with Lil Isaac and my youngest niece. We decided to leave Lil Isaac in Centris just in case he terrorise us all during the long car journey. He is so capable of that and the car journey is uber long. The convocation is held at expo. Coupled with the rush hour jam, we were more than happy when Popo offered to help us take care of Lil Isaac instead.

The 3 girls were eventually having a better time running around and lying on the floor than to take pictures with ah yee.

Yeah, congratulations ah yee. You made it.

Mummy Lim

Blocked No More

2011-09-21T12:57:00.001+08:00

Remembered about the bad constipation that Lil Isaac has last week? He poo poo on his own after I got the suppository in. I said "on his own" bcos the suppository came out whole with a pellet size poo poo. But he also managed to remove a lot of poo poo after that. And then, he continued to move his bowels 3x! Each time, the stools were hard. Goodness, he was really a crawling bag of sh!t!

The removal of those hard stools seem to have unblocked his system. He started moving his bowel everyday or every other day after that constipation episode. His appetite also increased, though I can't tell for sure that the input and output issues are related lah.

All the credits have to go to Popo. After all those constipation, she has taken all the efforts to feed Lil Isaac lots of fibre and lots of water. Lil Isaac has even increased his milk intake, from 120ml to 140ml. He still doesn't enjoy his bottle and Popo took the pain to spoon feed whatever that is left in his bottle. I think Lil Isaac can do with a little bit more fats. He is at the 50 percentile, weighing about 9kg at 11month. I prefer him to be chunkier, at least I don't have to worry much if his appetite drops when he is sick. Hehe. Silly mummy.

Yeah, he is poo-ing. Seeing his poo makes me happy.

Mummy Lim

Invaded!

2011-09-18T13:52:00.001+08:00

There are many PRCs living in Jurong. I suppose quite a few of them are SPRs bcos they have their family in toll. When Lil Shauna was little and I used to bring her down to the park for walks, we see many PRCs grandkids with their grandparents.

The situation seems to have worsen. Lil Shauna's ballet class has so many PRCs kids, at least 30%! I am sitting in the LCentral lobby waiting for Lil Shauna to finish her class and I am the only SGP parent. I don't know where are the rest of the SGP parents but I am sharing the lobby with 5 other PRCs parents! Help! We are being invaded! These are only PRCs and we still have the Indians, Filipinos and Mynmese. Stop the foreign talents!

Mummy Lim

Surprise!

2011-09-17T22:04:00.001+08:00

Somebody called out to me while I was in Suntec just now. I saw a familiar face and recognized that she is an ex-school mate but I couldn't remember which school and her name. I was really surprised when she mentioned that we were primary school mates. I lost touch with ALL my primary school mates. In fact, the only school mates that I am still hanging out with are the SHSS girls.

She told me that she is keeping touch with some of the primary school mates via FB and asked me for my FB. She mentioned that she will add me. She then went on to rattle some names of our primary school friends and it brought back memories. I mean, how long along was that!!?? 20 years??!!

I am excited and checked my FB for a few times already to see if she has added me. Goodness, I am again amazed at the power of FB. Maybe I should try to look for some of the primary school friends than to wait for this particular friend to add me.

Mummy Lim

Walking

2011-09-17T21:56:00.001+08:00

I remembered that Lil Shauna started learning how to walk when she was 11 months old. She started her unassisted steps when she turns one. Although walking brings about new set of problems, I prefer her to walk than to crawl. That is bcos she always attempting to struggle free so that she can go to the floor to crawl, even when we are outside.

Lil Isaac is now at that stage. He is turning 11 mths but is showing no sign of walking. He barely cruises and doesn't attempt to walk assisted. Is it bcos boys are slower? I don't know but I do know that he is a master crawler and is everywhere on his fours. I was hoping that he would walk soon. It is a struggle now when we are outside. I am soon looking forward to him walking when we go for out next overseas trip, believing that it will be better and easier if he walks.

So, what can he do not? When he is in a good mood, he can wave bye-bye, clap and raise his hands when he hears "hooray". He can say "mum mum" for food and loves hide and seek and can go "ah-tah" non stop.

It is so tiring to chase after him now. I pity Popo and auntie. It is ok, time flies and he will grow up soon.

Mummy Lim