Play!

It was a prompt invite,so hands and feet everywhere,I got the kids ready.Though it began to pour,we managed to get to the place safe and sound.It was time for play!

The 3 stooges!lol...I was feeling nostalgic looking at that carousel!Reminded me of being in Disneyland-the one in California,the only one worth going!

Hiya!

I've got a red car!

Determined to climb like Spidey!

Last stop,choo choo...

Mummy's energy was running low (fasting,you know!) especially after running after the kids.But it was a fun-filled day....kids had fun and the two SHMs got together!

I'm trapped and my son's gone!

So I woke up this morning and had this sudden urge to shop (like,what's new eh?lol) especially with my new resolution not to shop toooo much this coming Ramadhan.

But at least I didn't digress to other departments-just zoomed in on what I want.And before heading home,my darling babies and I stopped by for some doughnuts and groceries.I didn't bother bringing the pram.My baby girl was in the sling and my hands were full and loaded with doughnuts,briyani,4 bottles of fresh milk,bottles of jam and honey,etc...and I was rushing for Zuhur.

I always tell my darling son not to enter the lift first as I was afraid that it might shut on him before I could enter so of course,I entered first.Just as my two legs stepped into it,the door immediately closed on me.With my loaded hands,I struggled to press the door open button but it didn't seem to have any effect.There was no lights on the buttons except for the number 12!I could already feel the lift moving!And hear my son's cries "Umi!Umi!".I was frantically pressing the 5 and 9 buttons,hoping that'd it stopped but this lift with a mind of its own decided to be a bitch and had a good laugh instead!So there I was,those few seconds of waiting for the lift to go to the 12th floor and back to the 1st was a lifetime to me!I tried to be calm and kept telling myself my son won't go into the other lift and got off the wrong floor and that was going to be worse...that he was going to wait for me until I return....I was uttering doa under my breath!

I'm trapped in the lift and my son's gone! Somewhere...where I can't see him!

I was undoubtedly scared.

The lift door eventually opened on 1 but he was not in front of the lift!I couldn't be bothered with the shopping bags and just left them in the lift and ran out.

There he was,with big lumps of tears tearing down his face,wailing "umi!" when he saw me.I just scooped him up and asked if he was ok.My heart was beating like a madhouse.Oh I felt so stupid.How could I let that door close on him like that!

Stupid,stupid lift!

Packages arrived!

At last,all my parcels from US arrived today!It came in drips and drabs but they all arrived safely.I was soooo excited.I ordered a myriad of colours of pretty clothes,toys and accessories for my baby girl!Cute!The rest of the other stuff,well,I have to wait this weekend to put them up...ooohhh...

Meantime,I'm awaiting for the other local parcels to arrive...yikes,all these shopping is making me hyper!lol!

Next top model

I love dressing up my kids.

My son has been my top model and he still is....and now,he has,not a contender,but a partner...his own little sister.So like a friend of mine cheekily said,my girl is my next top model!So right!Especially when we all know that there are soooo many cute stuff you can dress up girls with.She may be only 6 months but her wardrobe is getting bigger by the day.Opps!

My boy....

My girl.....

My baby girl is going places now,literally!She's pushing herself and practising hard to get hold of all the toys in the house and other stuff that she's not supposed to touch too!She has yet to crawl expertly,just a lot of butt wiggling on fours!Can't keep my eyes off her for long coz she's fast.One moment she's in the east and the next,in the west.Her fave past-time?Grabbing our hand and stuffing it into her mouth,grinding,making it her teether and the result would make you scream.Those tiny,pearlie whites may be small but boy,are they sharp!

My son is loaded with questions now....why,what,when....A simple question can turn into a pop quiz.He just won't stop asking and talking!Oh boy....

And when you put them together,it'd be a whole lot of ruckus and tons of fun and laughter.

My baby girl adores her brother.She would simply light up when she sees him,eyebrows raised,legs start kicking furiously and a huge grin plastered on her face.Her brother is fond of making funny faces to her,jumping and playing peek-a-boo and once they start,peals of laughter could be heard across the room.Or if she cries,he'd go over to her and sing some silly songs that only the two of them understand...and she'll immediately stop crying.Her brother is her muse.

They are a handful I tell ya,but looking at them in the world of their own is truly heartwarming : )

It was fun with one,it's a blast with two!*wink*

The two of them...

An early weekend

I decided to have a date with mummy dearest to celebrate her birthday.To take her out shopping and tuck in to some nice food.

Mum couldn't wait.She wanted to meet very early in the morning!I got my kids ready and zoomed to where else,my favourite hunt,Orchard Road!

Grinning happily since he loves going out!

Milk first please!

Those were the days when I could cover the shopping malls from Scotts Road right down to City Hall.I was no longer a frequent Orchard Road traveller and when I reached there,a lot has changed.

Not knowing where to go for breakfast,we settled with Mcdonald's.

So happy to see grandma!

"I want some latte pretty please..." *gasp*

After filling up our tummies,it was time to shop!Mummy and I tried on various lotions,potions and make-up...hehe...until we decided to get some from Bobbi Brown and Christian Dior.

"Are you done with trying on the make-up?"

Darling son was surprisingly patient....He kept on saying,"All these are girls' stuff,Umi".Haha....I promised him we'd go to the toy department once we were done of course.

After shopping for a bit more,we had a quick lunch as mum had to head off to work,leaving the kids and I to do more wallet damage.Opps!

My boy was so excited to get these....and even more excited to show them to his daddy.He chose the 'car'-his fave!

I even put him through a haircut.



Costs me $16 but it was done too quick and lousy.*roll eyes*.Hubby said it was better when I cut our son's hair...sheesh....Well,at least now we know huh?It's better to spend a long time in the bathroom cutting my son's hair and have giggles with him,than to have it done at a shop and pay for it.

Now I just want his hair and curls to grow out again.Errgh!

Today,I met up with my entrepreneur friend who makes and sells a lot of cute girls' stuff.We had lunch and chatted a bit but it was not easy with our daughters crying for milk and attention!She even had her daughter spilled food on her head.lol.

She was so sweet...she gave us these,specially made....

If anyone likes to purchase,let me know,I'll give you her details : )

P.S.I'll put up pics of my baby girl with these on in my Multiply soon.

My big girl.

Can't believe it!

It was exactly 6 months ago that I moaned and groaned till she popped.hehe...Time flies huh.

So everyone had been asking me "when are you going to feed her with food?" (as if my milk is not food?!) You know how it is...the older generation has always believe in feeding really young babies with rice or porridge.Anyway,my answer was always-"Just like her brother,when she turns 6 months".Then,they'll reply..."oh,poor thing,she needs food lahh,etc,etc...."

I stand my guard.I want to breastfeed my little girl exclusively for the first 6 months and I did-just like her bro.And today,together with the moral support and hoorays from my FIL,SIL and the rest (even her own brother was super excited!),my baby girl had her first scoop.

She was delighted and curious at first...but after 2 feeds,she decided breastmilk is still for her!So she started pushing it out and making bubbles instead.

And she's so gleeful about it!

Check out her lashes!I want! ; p

So she has finally eaten food.But that doesn't mean,she must eat anything or everything.I'm totally strict on what goes into my kids' mouths and I'd appreciate that should someone wants to offer anything to my kids (i'm talking about both),that they ask me first.It irks me when people simply choose to give them as they like-sweets,chocolates,crackers,gassy drinks...the list goes on.I will allow it if I think fit.Over the top,you think?Well,they are my kids after all and I have the right to decide what's best for them.

Of course,for my baby girl,breastfeeding is still going strong....hopefully till she turns two,Insya Allah.Tiring as it may be,it's so nice to have her cuddled up to me....and smelling her hair and skin,while she touches and searches my face with those tiny fingers : )

Counting the days

People often thought that I've gotten used to hubby going on his business trips.

Yeah,he goes overseas nearly every month,short trips usually for about a week.

Short trip you may say...only for a couple of days....but that doesn't mean I've gotten used to it.

Though I'm not as hung up as I was before,I still wish he's around the house (or his local office) instead of somewhere across the globe.

And of course,I still miss him terribly : (

I know he has to work...it's for all of us...but I miss him dearly.And I know he does too.Everytime the day comes for him to go for another trip,he'd be saying he wished he didn't have to go.That perhaps someone else would do it instead.He'll be looking all sad...
It helped that I have my 2 kids now...at least time seems to move a tad faster.But when the kids are asleep at night,oh boy,it just seems weird coz usually hubby and I would have that time to ourselves (with no kids interrupting!) to have a snack,watch tv (like tonight,we always watch Harper's Island) or simply chat and enjoy each other's company.

Sometimes though,out of the blue,my son would utter something that makes me kinda sad for him...coz I know he misses his daddy.He'd say,'nak kiss abah',where's abah,umi?' before he goes to sleep at night.Or when he wakes up in the morning,he'd just open the bedroom door and looked for his daddy in the other room as his dad is often in front of the pc in the morning after subuh,before he goes to work.And when he couldn't find his daddy there,he'd scutter to the kitchen and around the house hollering for him.

He'd be asking me over and over again,'where's abah,umi? abah's in an airplane?' .These are the things that makes me sad for my baby...and I'll miss hubby all over again.

I'm ok with hubby going on his biz trips....I know he has to work,doing it for us.But please,don't assume that I've got used to it.As if I haven't said it enough,I still miss him very much.

He's on his flight to New Zealand now....Me?I'm counting the days,as always,to him coming home to me....

Explorer

When I saw the Dora's ad on teevee,I immediately called up a best buddy who's staying a stone's throw away from me,if she wanted to go exploring.So we set a date to go last Thursday....our kids (and mummies too!) full of anticipation....It was a day of fun for all-kids get to play,mummies get to catch up and yak!

All ready to go!
Airport is cold right,so must wear long sleeves!



Eh?What's going on...?What's over there??


Aha!It's Dora!!


Totally engrossed!


Playtime with friends...

Sorry sweetheart,you can't join in yet...soon ok!

It was a lot if fun for the kids....and for mummies,it's always fun to see a good friend.Hopefully we get to go out more next time!

More pics at Multiply-for my contacts only : )

Princess

More pics in my Multiply! : )

Brain Olympics

Brain Olympics.

Yeah,that's what it's called.

When I first receive the letter,I was like,WHAT?That was the same reaction from the other mummies in his class that day.It was the last week of April and the Brain Olympics runs between May and June.Our kids were selected and recommended to take part in this Brain Olympics independently.

Apparently,Shichida has this to develop the kids' confidence and reward them for good progress.They would obtain scholarship vouchers (getting this helps to pay a fraction of his fees) as well as a commendation cert for grades achieved.We would not be told of the materials used for this until sometime in May and when his teacher informed us accordingly,I,for some strange reason,got the wrong materials.After practising for a week or so,I suddenly felt something was amiss.After I communicated with his teacher, I realized I had used the Memory Link material for 2 year-olds instead of for 3.

Of course I panicked a little bit...Well ok,a lot actually.Time was short and we had to practice,practice,practice.When we eventually started practising with the correct materials,it left my son about a few weeks till the Brain Olympics Challenge.On top of that,we didn't get to do it everyday as much as I wanted to.

He didn't manage to get all the Memory Link pictures in order.It's like this-there are 40 picture cards that he needs to put in sequence in the given time of 3 minutes.To help him with the sequence,there's a funny (or shall I say ridiculous?!) story that I read out to him with the names of the pictures.This would help him to remember.



First we practise with 10 picture cards...thereafter another set of 10 and so on.Eventually he has to be able to do all 40 on his own.He has never done all 40 cards correctly...sometimes he needed my help in prompting him.At times,I'll get upset or angry especially when I know he knows how to do it,it was just that he either refused to co-operate or didn't pay full attention throughout the exercise (kids being kids!)

The test was last week, 06.06.09

Before we headed for class,I told his daddy to wish him luck and doa for him (and me...coz I was so nervous).

In the midst of his lessons,the teacher announced that we'd be doing the Memory Link.I took a deep breath.I was smiling at my son,trying to give him good energy vibes and stay calm,when I myself,was not.He started off ok...with the first 10 cards (not a surprise coz I know he has memorized those)....then came the next 10...and 20...my heart was in my mouth,thumping like crazy....oh,I really wish he'd do well.And when the last card was placed in the sequence correctly,ALL CORRECTLY,I was feeling out of this world!It took him less than 3 minutes (I had never timed him at home before) so there I was GRINNING from ear to ear.I was sooooo proud of him.I gave him a huge kiss and told him he did a great job.Of course,I was too excited to wait till his class was over so I messaged hubby immediately to tell him what happened.

Sadly,none of his friends managed to complete it.

That was the first test he did.There'll be more in terms to come.What it taught me was to be confident of my child,of his capabilities,trust him and most of all,to be very patient when I'm teaching him.I lost my cool sometimes and I'm not proud of it.After all,he's only two.

But what he did that day made me smile for many,many more days to come : )