Sharon

Friends are so important. Good close friends I mean. Anyway Im well known for my strict selection of friends. I dont make friends with just anyone. Im super selective and the best part is... I dont even care if there are people who doesnt like me. But once I form a bond with some super people, we are friends for life!

Sharon is my longest standing friend so far. 18 good years! Almost consistently. She was there at some of my lowest point. She did well when she call on me often during my confinement period so I wont get the blues. She carried and fed my daughter since the first month onwards and so watch her grow into a little lady today. Now she is pregnant with her firstborn. Im so excited. Sometimes even more so than her! I cant wait to see the child of my best friend. Will the boy develop a strong friendship with my girl in future? Well... we shall leave it in the hands of God.

Im so glad to have a friend like her who demanded so less but gives so much. I guess I dont tell her how much I love her as often as I did before. I believe she knows.

But I thank God for Sharon. All the time.

Conversations with my baby

Conversation one:
Last night over dinner, my daughter started a conversation with me.
Joelle : Yesterday I sit helicopter. The helicopter fly, fly, fly like that (action inclusive)
Mummy : Really? Where did you fly to?
Joelle : Fly to mama's house. Bye bye daddy, mummy.
Mummy : Bye bye. Have fun.
~Paused to eat dinner~
Joelle : Yesterday daddy, mummy go to work, Joelle sit helicopter.
~Mummy didn't want to repeat the story so mummy attempts a new word~
Mummy : What about tomorrow?
Joelle : Tomorrow I sit aeroplane.

Well, 'yesterday' is a new word and she used it appropriately too. Mummy is impressed.

Conversation two:
At bedtime the little girl started another conversation with me.
Joelle : Mummy, alex say ### again.
Mummy : Oh alex say ### again? Did the teacher scold him?
Joelle : Yes
Mummy : Miss Leong scold alex?
Joelle : No. Lin lao shi scold alex.
Mummy : What did Lin lao shi say?
Joelle : Lin lao shi say 'CANNOT say ###!'
(Tone went up with fierce expression)
Mummy : Really?
Joelle : Really.
Mummy : Do you know why Lin lao shi scold alex?
Joelle : Because alex naughty.

### is not a vulgar word but I just do not think it appropriate to be expressed on the web. 'Again' and 'because' are two new words and once again she used them so well.

I had a wonderful sleep last night.

Wild wild wet with Wayne

Joelle invited Wayne to wild wild wet on sunday 4 sept. It was an hour worth of dip in the water before it started to rain. Joelle seems a little tensed in her orange life jacket. But she had fun.

Party @ school

Joelle celebrated her birthday party at Coney Island on Wednesday 31 August. This time with all her little friends in school. It is so cute to see so many little children together singing birthday songs in English and Mandarin as well. She is so happy. These are friends we hardly knew but they happen to be Joelle's companion for most part of her long day there. I am trying my best to know them all one by one. When she just started attending Coney Island, there are only three other children. Alex, Magdeline and Kieran. Joelle was the youngest then. Today there are 10 children in her class. Three girls and seven boys. We have (from left to right) Magdeline and JiaYi in the girls team and Gabriel, a new boy (with back facing camera), Kieran, Benjamin (hiding behind Alex), Alex, Jeremy and Anson in the boys team. Joelle is no longer the youngest there. She is a senior now.

The children are very happy. So am I. It was a great day for a great party. Happy Birthday!
As it is also the eve of teacher's day, I have packed some gifts for all her teachers. Luckily I packed about 12 cos she went around and distribute to all the teachers whom she likes. There is Lin lao shi, miss Leong, teacher Nancy, miss D, miss Zal, teacher Josephine, two more lao shi(s) and another teacher I couldn't catch the name. Goodness and in no time she gave out ten teacher's day packs!!! Wow... she's too popular! Well, as long as she's happy in school, I'm willing to make her teachers happy too.

Party @ Home

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Joelle celebrated her second birthday at home on sunday 28 Aug with about 40 friends and relatives. Compared to her first party, this is small feat. This round we did not cater as we decided to DIY. So besides the 1.5kg "choo-choo" cake, the satay, ketupat and otah, all else were prepared by yours truely and the gang.

Joelle cutting her own cake this year!

She watches on while mummy cut the rest. In fact those who have seen my younger photos will surely say this picture looks like me! I thought so too. Just couldn't find my picture to compare it with. Once found, I will post it up side by side.

Finally, it's her turn to try her own cake. She deserve our applaud as she distributed cakes to almost everyone without complaining before she settles to eat hers. I'm so proud of her! Good girl, Joelle.

To those who attended her party, many THANKS for making a little child happy.
To those who cant attend her birthday, many THANKS for your thoughts and blessings.
To the little ones who came for the party, THANKS for brightening the nursery room.
Finally to every body, THANK YOU. We had a great time and we hope you did too.
See you next year!

I love you

Usually on school days, we try to get onto bed at 8.30pm, read a book, create some pretend play, you know... do some bonding with mummy. Last night, we did the same. We climbed onto bed, read a book and pretended to put moo moo and bear bear to sleep. She carried moo moo to her pillow, placed it down, cover it with her blanket, pat it lightly and whispered "I love you" to the cow! She is doing everything I did with her during bedtime. It is an illustration of imitation skill by a two year old. So amazing isn't it? Wow!

Parents, play your role well and your children will follow. I'm still learning to play it well.

Sarah Nicole

This is Sarah Nicole Liu. She is about nine months younger than joelle but she is already as tall. Well, her parents (Tommy and Nalini) are tall people... and it runs in the genes. Look at me and my husband and you will know where joelle got her genes from. Anyway, tall or not, as long as joelle is happy, I'm sure it won't matter too much. They might be great pals for all you know. The future's in their little hands.

Bargaining power

My little girl has learned to bargain. One night she was on her potty and I ask her to poo. She said she wanted to have a piece of plum. I told her she can have ONE if she poos. She thought for a while and said "Erm... I want MANY" and I thought no harm as it is healthy stuff so I said "if you poo, mummy will give you MANY." She smiled, thought again and asked "pee pee can give ONE?"

Can you believe it? She tried to trick me into agreeing that since she can have MANY if she poos, so if she pees, she can at least have ONE. At two years old, she can BARGAIN! It's scary isn't it? Children's development these days... even with my study of child psychology... are beyond my expectation. Seems like Joelle is a better teacher or at least a more up-to-date reality teacher.

The 2nd Birthday party

Joelle enjoyed her birthday party so much she cant sleep. Which means she cant wake up for play school this morning. Poor girl... if only mummy took the day off then she could sleep in later. Well... life in commercial Singapore doesnt allow mummy not to work unless of course... we have another baby than its more worth it to stop working and care for them both.

To those who attended her party, many THANKS for making a little child happy.

To those who cant attend her birthday, many THANKS for your thoughts and blessings.

To the little ones who came for the party, THANKS for brightening the nursery room.

Finally to every body, THANK YOU. We had a great time and we hope you did too.

See you next year!

Philosophy talk

Sometimes I wonder if Im a true blue Singaporean or perhaps a true blue Asian. I pursue education for purposes other than competitive employability. I did film studies cos it's what I enjoy doing. In fact I could say that creativity is my passion. I still enjoy photography, videography, art direction etc... Im still comin up with creative ideas for my daughter's albums, blogs, scrapbooking and video clips. The only obstacle I come across is time. I work in the day for DSTA. I work at night for JCM. Where can I find the time to engage in any passion. (Hmmm... my husband might get me to quit one now)

Im completing the degree in psychology this year and again its cos Im interested in the subject esp. the modules about child development. I actually did 40 credits on child alone. In fact looking at Joelle now, I think she is the result of attending cognitive psychology when I was pregnant with her. So mothers-to-be... take note.

Next I want to take up early childhood teaching and maybe commercial law. Both are for practical reasons this time. I still yearn to do something I can enjoy. This current job is definately not where I see myself in 2006 unless I need to. I hope to do something more creative and preferably more flexible in terms of timing. Best bet is to run my own creative business. Hmmm... is it night already?

It's funny how I dont see money as the main piority in my life. I never did. Since I was young, I work just to travel. Now I work so my daughter can have a good life. I believe in quality time and loving life. If I have to be miserable working, I'd rather not work. If I have to spend time with my daughter or husband, it has to be totally dedicated to them. That's me and my philosophy. Life is short, love it.

Joelle is frustrated

My little angel suddenly became a little devil yesterday. She was angry with me when I refused to let her eat in the car so she grumbled the entire journey. I decided to give her space to vent her pent up feelings - she might be facing lots of stress from school or friends or teachers or maybe the fact that she cant verbally express herself adequately frustrates her. I continued driving till a shoe flew across my face and hit the steering wheel before landing between my accelerator and brakes! I pulled the car over and really discipline her for pulling that dangerous stunt. Now I'm frustrated! I believe she understood what happened as she showed some guilt and she actually apologize quite willingly! "SORRY" is the most difficult word to make her say. At two she is already so full of pride and understand the meaning of that word. I'm starting to worry about that actually. Pride got me down many times in my younger days and I don't want her to lead the same prideful life like I did before. I have learnt that dignity is all we need and pride is ... well... good if you have a control over it.

My little angel... My little baby, I pray for your wisdom more so now than intelligence. And I pray too for the grace and patience to guide her thru life's trialing journey. Amen.

ABC and 123

At 23 months, Joelle could count from one to ten but she would always leave out number five. Since young she would give five a miss, don't know why. "One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten" She is also starting to recite the ABC now but still quite far from being able to sing that alphabet song. It's just so amazing to watch her grow.

Bangkok! Here we come...

We are starting to countdown to the first holiday together ever since Joelle join our family. I really miss my holidaying days! Finally it's here again. And now that I'm back into the working society, I can choose my holidays. I pick the destination, I pick the dates, Dave picks the tab! We are heading to Bangkok, the shopping paradise. Our list of items to purchase ... shoes for all, books for jojo, clothes for dave, clothes for angie, clothes for jojo, clothes for dave again, clothes for angie again, clothes for jojo again, nice clothes, branded clothes, clothes for the next two years (no la... that means my next trip will be two years later?). We intend to shop like we have never shopped before. Of course not like we are gonna spent our entire life savings there but we do intend to replenish our wardrobe abit. Hopefully there are nice stuff in good taste there. But i'll miss joelle terribly though. Sigh...

Daddy's girl

Daddy may not spend alot of time with Joelle but at times you can just see the bond. Joelle likes playing with daddy cos daddy can be so funny at times and he doesn't mind being the clown.

Second scrap

Here is another layout I did. I intend to create one to show her journey from birth to a year old. That would be really memorable. To see the changes of age all in a page. interesting. I shall work on it soon.

First scrap

I had a vision yesterday when I was looking thru Joelle's photo album. I wanted to make a story out of those photos and the only way to do it creatively besides blogging is scrapbooking! I am so afraid that one day if something happen to this site, I will leave nothing behind for her. No history, no memories. But with a scrapbook, she can relive those memories with me in future.

This is my first scrapbook layout and I think I like it very much.

And I have a feeling, I'm hook on this!

What happen to my angel?

My daughter these days has been rehearsing words that she knows like she's preparing for some test in school. She'll repeat the words/sentence till she say them smooth. So cute until one morning I overheard her repeat the word 'stupid' a few times. I sat up in bed and wonder where she learnt it from. Knowing her character, I left it as it is but started interrogating everyone including dave, my mum and the maid. All denied using that word. My last resort is to approach the school.

That incident kept me thinking... what happened? The more I thought about it, the more I felt responsible and the more I blame dave for it. If he had allow me to spend the first three years guiding Joelle's development, I would not have allowed this to happen. My daughter is barely two years old but she has displayed certain intolerable and unacceptable behaviour. It totally breaks my heart. This is absolutely not what I'd wanted for my girl. Definitely not but what can I do?

School bus

I am on medical leave today but I have to leave the house at 8.30am because if I don't, my little girl will not want to go to the playschool. So I went down to the pavilion to read and at the same time wait to see her morning routine.

At about 8.40am, the maid brought her down to wait for the school bus which came at about 8.50am. She did not cry or shout for anyone when the maid handed her over to the attendant. She was put in the car seat and belted up. Such a good girl, she sat by herself.

Suddenly I miss my girl so much that I decided to fetch her from school today. Moreover I need to talk to the chinese teacher and find out who will replace her host teacher Ms Ang since she left the centre. So I went to her playschool at 12.30pm. When I walked into her class, she was drinking her milk. The minute she saw me she went "mummy... mummy..." and cling onto my legs and insisted that I carry her. As I talk to her chinese teacher, she actually tried to show me the toys and demotrate that she can play with her friends. She just needed a little more time I guese.

The contradicting part was the fact that I went to fetch her from school and I ended up having to drive back myself because she insisted on taking the school bus home. So funny I tell you. After she hug her teacher and friends goodbye, she went out to look for her shoes from the little pigeonholes. As soon as she wore her shoes, she pointed to a man siting in a bus and say "Ke" which meant 'uncle'. So I told her that she will take mummy's car today instead of the school bus. She started to protest! She refused to get into my car saying "NO! NO! school bus" and pointed to the bus. I had no choice but to let her take the bus. I drove back to the lobby where the bus usually send her to and waited for her there. She was smiling so happily when she saw me and waved goodbye to the driver and the aunties from the centre who came back with her in the bus. Perhaps she just wanted to show me her routine. She is just so innocent and cute.

All over again

After two days of absence from playschool, Joelle cried again upon seeing the little school bus. One week of effort went down the drain with two days of holidays. But I was surprise as I have been talking to her about school and friends and games and songs throughout the break. I told her that mummy had to work and Joelle will go to school and mingle with friends and mummy will come home after work to play with her. She understood as she responded quite confidently and positively both on Monday and Tuesday. In fact when she woke up this morning, she looked at me and say "mummy work, joelle school". I told her what a clever girl she is and that mummy will bring a book back for her after work. She said "ok" and seemed fine.

However when I called back at 9am, the maid said she cried and my heart sank. I thought we succeeded. I thought she overcome her fear of being alone in the playschool. I was wrong. She is afterall a little more than 19 months of age. Still a little child.

3rd Wedding Anniversary

How time flies... We are married for three years already. In today's context, it is worth applauding. Well, we have to agree that it was no easy task to stay married be it one, three or ten years. There are lots of sacrifices, lots of compromises, lots of understanding and most importantly, lots of concern for each other.

Off the records we almost threw in the towels some months ago. We just could not agree on our very differing priorities. Me on the emotional and spiritual upbringing of our little girl and him on the financial stability of the family's income. I wanted to be a stay-home mum and ensure that her foundation years are well taken care of while he wanted me to get back into the working society. Sparks flew for a while. We compromise and he agreed to give me six months to nurture and breastfeed our girl and I agree to look for a job after that. We are indeed better off financially now but I still regret not being able to take care of my child's growing needs. If I'm given a choice I'd want to stay home and see her through her first three years at least. Then I can say I'm responsible for her everything. Now my efforts seems to have gone to waste cos she's picking things not meant for her. It breaks my heart sometimes... this arrangement.

Now that things are more settled down between dave and myself, we are enjoying our married life better. Our worries are now diverted to our little girl. Money for school, for medical needs, will she turn too naughty, become a rebellious kid etc... etc...

Sigh... woes of a parent.

Happy in playschool

Joelle sat by herself on the car seat for her journey home. She even waved goodbye to the driver and teachers in the bus. Teacher said she is happy in the playschool today and did not cry at all. That's super great news isn't it? YEAH!!!

"Go! Go!"

On Monday, the maid said that Joelle clinged to her tightly the minute she saw the bus pull up in front, She told the maid "Go. Go." hoping that the maid would bring her away from the bus. So when the maid handed her to Jahara, she started crying. So poor thing...

Same thing happen again for Tuesday... and Wednesday... I wonder when will it stop.

I wrote to Joelle's teacher a letter of enquiry on Tuesday and was told that she is coping alright in the playschool. Cry now and then, look for me but generally able to react and response to people's questions. I think she should be fine.

If tomorrow never comes

I was driving home last night and this song "if tomorrow never comes" was playing over the radio. I had always liked this song but it only occur to me now that this song is really meaningful.

If tomorrow never comes... would she know how much I loved her.

When I lost my dear grandfather in 2004, I never got to tell him how much I loved him. He was and always will be my favourite man. Sometimes I still have to force back tears when I think about him waiting for me at his deathbed and I never made it there. I so very much wanted to tell him again one more time that he still is my favourite man. Now I only pray that he can hear me in his sleep...

That is the reason why I always make it a point to tell my little girl how much I love her and my husband how much I need him. Suddenly they seem so important to me now. As I was driving home, all I wanted to do when I get home was to give both of them a big bear hug and a kiss.

Downtown East

Decided to drop by at Joelle's playschool today to talk to the teachers and supervisor about her reception to school yesterday. They all said that Joelle's reacting normal and her crying is not too extreme or uncontrollable. They were able to distract her from time to time and they estimated a week or two for Joelle's kind of personality to settle in. I pray they are right.

But I felt so bad that I spend the entire day doing what she liked best. First we went McDonald for lunch. She really like french fries. Today we decided to introduce tomato sauce but thank goodness she didn't seem to like it too much. She still prefers her french fries plain. After that we went to downtown east and spend an hour at the explorerkid's funspace where she just go round crawling in the tunnels and down the slides and play with balls and stuffs. She really enjoyed herself. Boy... were we tired... I mean the daddy and mummy. Then we took her to her grandma place for dinner. She showed off what she learnt in school "STOP". Goes round telling people to stop moving. So cute...

We were all very tired after the day end. Joelle couldn't wait till we reach home. She fell asleep in the car... I hope she is happy.

In playschool all by herself

Today is the BIG day!

My little girl is off to playschool all by herself. I'm still wondering if I did the right thing. Part of me feels that she should be exposed to more people and new things. Another part of me feels that she is probably too young to go to playschool. Boy... did I do right?

Being a confident mummy, this is the first time I feel so uncertain about my decision. Perhaps it is her first time away from home all by herself that made me so worried. But I guese she should be fine after a while. Afterall her personality is one of an outward looking type. Easygoing, friendly and adventurous like her daddy. She should be able to cope fine.

She started the day good. Waving goodbye to the maid without crying. But when I called the school at about 11am, Martina, the school supervisor said she is doing fine but she refused to let go of the chinese teacher. I decided not to probe further or I might end up taking leave and rushing down to her playschool. I left it as that. At about 1.45pm, I called home. The maid said Jojo is very tired and asleep since 1.30pm. She also told me that Jojo did not cry when she fetch her from the bus downstairs but she is snifting rather hard which was an indication that she must have cried quite a bit before she left school. My heart really ache for my little princess. Why did I subject her to this... I must spend the whole day playing with her tomorrow. This is a way of making it up to her I guess.

Sigh... I'm still praying that my decision to enrol her in playschool is the right one.

2nd day in playschool

This is my little girl's second day in school. I am not too worried as my mum is with her today. I am just anxious to know how she fare.

Grandma says she clings to her all the time, cry during bath time and eat very little. She must have realised that she will be in the same place everyday now. She's worried I believe. I am now very concern about addressing her fear. How should I do it? I just got to be careful not to handle it wrongly. She is so innocent and her fears are so genuine. This is probably mummy's first challenge in raising a confident child.

1st day in playschool

I took leave from work to bring my daughter to her playschool. It was her first day! It was quite an eventful day for her. She started the day at 9am. While I was busy with her registration, she started exploring the centre and came back to me with a biscuit in her hand. Seems like she has made some friends.

She was greeted with a stumbling hug by a young friend in her class. Her name is Magdeline and she should be 26 months old. Boy, was she excited to see Joelle. Now there are two boys and two girls in her play group! Fair.

There is Kieran, 27 months old. A very serious looking boy. Then there is Alexander, 22 months old. Always saying "No..no.." That made Joelle the youngest addition to the group. Ms Ang is their English teacher and there is another Lau Shi who teaches them Mandarin. As a parent, I am actually very pleased that there are only four children to two teachers.

Today was their water play day and Joelle, being a water baby, totally enjoyed herself splashing around. I decided to stay dry and kept a distance from her. Then it was lunch time. She impressed everyone by eating on her own... the first three mouthful. Then I had to feed her. So much of trying to look proud. She also enjoyed the shower time. There is a monkey and a giraffe in the shower area and she wanted to ripped them off the wall. Ms Ang told her to leave them there so her friends could see them when they shower too. When the other children fell asleep during their naptime, Joelle was still exploring the centre. I thought it was my presense so I left her for two hours. But to her, it was eternity. Ms Ang said she cried herself to sleep and woke up crying when she didn't see me. Well, that came as a shock. I realised I overlooked the fact that she is still a child. However she bounced into action the moment I step into her class. She screamed "mummy" and ran over to hug me. This time refusing to let me out of her sight!

She ate well at tea break. Three slices of pandan cake!!! She was smiling at everyone and totally enjoying the sit around tea time with so many little friends.

Although she did cry a little... that's fair since it was her first day in school but I can see that she is happy being there. There are way too many things and corners and faces for her to explore and get engaged in. I think she do like her first day in school.

Ye-low?

Dave called me at the office just now and I heard my girl shouting "Ye-low! Ye-low" in the background. Sounded so funny. Dave said she knew it was mummy and wanted to speak to me over the phone but I told him that she behaved like that everytime I used the phone. In fact she would run to the phone whenever it rang. That's why the phone is high up on the shelve now. Soon she will be screening my calls... I would not be too surprise.

Count your blessings

I never really realised how blessed we have been. Both of us were not born with a golden spoon. Perhaps I was but I never got to eat from that spoon for too long. However we were able to get married, buy a flat, have a baby and even own a car... all from our own pocket!!! For that we are proud. We ought to be.

Today, I count my blessings. And I thank God for them.

Good morning

Before I left for office, I sat on Joelle's bed and looked at how sweet and angelic my little princess looks in her sleep. When I bended over to give her a little peck on the cheeks, she stired and blinked her eyes. I watched her stretched... then she opened her eyes and smiled at me. Oh... that totally melted my heart. She is indeed my angelic princess. I felt so wonderful to be the mother of this charming baby girl. She made my day! The whole day!

Always keep your promise

Always keep your promise! Joelle proved this point to me very well one day. I was about to leave for work when she started hugging me and refusing to let go. I told her mummy needs to work so she can have toys and books. She looked at me seriously, nodded her head and repeated "toy". At the door, she waved goodbye and reminded me "toy". I nodded and promise to bring back a toy.

When I return home that evening, she greeted me at the door with a hug. I gave her a kiss and a big bear hug. Then she suddenly asked "toy"? I was shocked! I mean she is only 18 mths, I never expect her to remember our transaction that morning. I lied that the toy is in my bag, rushed back to my room and grabbed a new toy from the box of "spare" kept in my room. Thank goodness for those warehouse sales where I bought quite a number of toys and books to introduce to her slowly. That saved my promise to my little girl. And I can see that promise is very important to her.

Good news

Today I finally went "put-put" which is what my mama always worry about. I never knew moving my bowel could bring so much joy to them. Daddy's going out again and Mummy says he will be back five days later. I heard them mention 'pearl'. I wonder why Daddy is always not at home. Mummy says he has to work to buy me milk. Is my milk very expensive?