It's 2011 already!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Time passes so fast. It's another year. It's just so incredible to look at my life now and wonder how I'd raise two children that fine, stayed married to the same man for nine years and feel completely blessed by the almighty God. I love my life.

Let's talk about the loves in my life today and remember the reason for my being, so that when I feel down and out, I can read back and pick myself up again.

Joelle, my first born, is a very sensible, loving, intelligent girl. She may not be scholar quality but that's fine with me. I rather she be someone with a heart full of love and a mind full of dreams. She is always asking me if I loved her and needs plenty of assurance. I hate to admit that she's got that from me. On the other hand, I'm so thankful to God for a daughter like her. I wrote her a note one day and the next morning, I got a letter from her. It might not be the best written letter ever but it was certainly written from her heart. I understand the content of the letter and that's what counts. This is the child I prayed for and I thank God for her. She's 80% mine and 20% dave's. Character, personality and all.

Isabelle, my baby doll, is a mystical character. I have to say that I'm still trying to find out her likes and dislikes, her strength and weakness, her highs and her lows. She is less expressive so it's not easy to know her feelings and read her thoughts. I wish I had put in more effort in analyzing her like I did with her sister. But it's still not late. I'm starting to read deeper into her actions and her conversations with me. Hopefully I'll be able to know my younger daughter better. That aside, she's the one I cuddle whenever I'm sad or hurt. She's also the one I cuddle whenever I'm high on happiness and love. And she's still the one I scoop up into my arms and smoother with hugs and kisses everyday. She's my baby doll, then, now and always. She's the child I wanted badly and I fought real hard with her during our pregnancy so I'm forever thankful that both of us survived without any critical condition and we're both able to enjoy each other today.

Dave, my friend of 13 years and my man of nine. He is probably the only person who could break my heart so badly that I would hurt myself just to numb the pain I'm experiencing. Yet he's also the one who could make me want to fight alongside him and face any shit that life throws at me. Without him, I might not have survived 2003, 2008 or 2010 for that matter. In fact I think I treasure him more now after the 2010 health threat. For the first time, I heard and felt first hand his thoughts and love for me. Today I know that should my health turns for the worst, my man will be there, edging me on, holding my hands and showering me with the love I need to survive. I love him so much today, tomorrow and most probably forever.

I want to continue celebrating every new year (2008, 2009, 2010) with the same enthusiasm and the same excitement. I will always be thankful for the year's blessings and look forward to every new year with confidence that God will provide and protect. I would not know when I'll be called home and though I'm ready to meet Him anytime, I wish to experience more love and more passion before I end this beautiful journey here. I wish I could talk about the friends that had greatly influence my life and those who left a deep imprint in my heart. I will, eventually but not now, not here. Today I'm celebrating life and a new year ahead! Happy 2011.

Picnic @ changi beach

19 december, daddy's free for the day. Where would be our preferred choice for the family? The beach of course. Daddy suggested changi this time as we're always either at east coast or pasir ris. We found a nice cool shaded area and had a picnic lunch before the girls head out to the sand. It was very breezy, as with most of our beach visits, fortunately. I literally coat the girls with sunscreen before sending them out under the sun.

The beach is never enough for me. I simply love heading to the beach. It calms my mind and quieten my heart. I thank God for the beach, every time.

My niece, Jérine

Jérine @ two weeks
My niece, Jérine was born on 21 december 2010. She has a head full of silky black hair and she looks very much like my brother. Although she is not my first or only niece (I have one from dave's brother and one from my cousin), she is my first and only niece from my own family. She's my brother's daughter.

Being a 'maternal' person, I know I'll probably dote on her quite a bit but we'll more likely be like strangers as they're immigrating to canada real soon. She'll barely be six months and would barely knows me. It's sad to think that my only niece will not remember me or worst still not recognise me when we next meet, like years later? I guess we could skype and all but it'll still lack the human element, the hugs and the kisses. I feel like I'm already missing her. Got to pop by for another visit soon. She'll be one month soon.

Movie date @ vivo

Sometime before christmas, dave got some premier tickets to a movie and so brought all of us to GV@vivo. The movie was not a suitable one for young children BUT since we could not arrange for babysitting so late and last minute, we brought them along. We had to cover their eyes during certain parts of the movie but thankfully it had some comical element to cover the fear factor. I was praying that they would forget about the movie soon and not have nightmares after that night. God heard my prayers and so far they have not had nightmares and had not spoken of the movie too. Well, I guess a stroll after the movie with such beautifully litted christmas decorations must have helped.

These made me laugh...

all the time. Did I mention my little princess lost her two front teeth just before christmas? Well, she was trying to keep them on till after christmas as she dreaded the song "all I want for christmas is my two front teeth" but she lost them both just before christmas. I took out the first tooth during dinner one night and she lost the other tooth during playtime with her friends, laura and ryan. I did not witness that incident. Anyway now whenever she smiles at me, I just couldn't help but laugh. It's just too cute.

Daddy is sad that she lost those teeth because he felt that once a child lost her tooth, she's grown up and he likes her to still be his little girl. Well, too bad, daddy, our girls are growing up fast so you better try to spend more time with them before you lose them to another man.

Girls @ Polliwogs

Towards the end of the december holidays, I brought the girls to the indoor playground at east coast with a friend and her girls. We let the girls run amok while we enjoy our magazines and tea. We even took a stroll by the beach and it was like the clearest water I've ever seen at east coast. It was beautiful. Sparkling clear water, nice warm sun and cool sea breeze. It was a perfect day for a perfect date. I had nice company indeed. Would have been made better if the girls were allowed in the water... with me. My friend's girls did not bring extra clothes and in order to prevent any whining or issue, I decided against letting mine in (though we're prepared with extras). So we ended up with cones of ice cream and smelly socks to take home.