CNY Gathering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!!

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

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