This year, we wanted to get her a new pair of roller blades. Hers were passed down from joelle and really worned out. But she asked for a new bicycle instead. She said "I already have roller blades but I don't have a bicycle". We were reluctant as we know how fast a child outgrow a bike. So we decided to get her a cheap set and once she learn to cycle on two wheels, we'll get her a better bike that could possibly last her a few more years.
This is the bike we got for her and she has been cycling since. Every evening, she would ask to cycle to the playground. She even cycle to her chinese enrichment class two bus stop away. She cycles everywhere. I'm happy to see her feeling so proud of her new bike. Though it's not in her favourite colour, though it doesn't has a basket in front or frills down the handles, I can see the fondness she has for her new bicycle. She's such an easily contented little angel.
Happy birthday baby doll!
Old tricycle. New look
Tricycle
Isabelle is an amazing child. She may be less affectionate and less sensitive as compared with her sister but she has the sweetest expression of love if you ask me. And they are always different and suited to each and every occasion. Hardly repeated and totally unexpected.
They were both staying over at my mum's place for three nights on the last week of december. Joelle would call me everyday just to hear my voice and ask about me whereas isabelle would only come to the phone when I ask for her. However when I ask her how much she miss me, I'm totally surprised when she said "everyday". I love this little angel.
This little girl caught me by surprise one night. As I was laying her down to sleep, I told her how much I love her and she said she love me too. So I went on to ask her how much she love me. Thinking I know her very well, I'd expect her to either ignore me or throw me a numeric answer (like five dollars or something cos that was what joelle used to say when she was about that age).
BUT her reply to me was... "all the time".
How beautiful... how poetic.
Isabelle is learning to write her chinese name. She brings home this writing sheet every friday and that's her homework. She can write them with the template but once without, she becomes an illustrator. But I'm comforted to know that she knows her strokes and the names of the strokes. That puts me to shame for a while. Now I know too. Ha! 
Remember isabelle's chipped tooth? We finally decided to do something about it. The last time we paid the private dentist $25 to look at her tooth and had nothing done. This time we wanted something done. Eileen managed to get us an appointment at the school dental clinic within two weeks (it's usually like months to the next available date). Anyway this time, the dentist got her teeth polished (at least!) which made me wonder now why the dentist at the private clinic did not even do so.
Isabelle was amazingly brave during the entire visit, though she started to fidget near the end of the session. She did struggle a little before the session was over and I was being totally helpless when it comes to soothing a child in discomfort. Eileen did provide some comfort to isabelle while I was trying to calm my own nerves. I could vaguely hear her voice around me. I'm bad in hospitals, polyclinics and sometimes even the clinics. I never liked the smell, it makes me sick. I would literally go weak in the knees and whatever joints that holds me together and in the worst case scenario, I would feel faint. That probably is my biggest weakness as a mother. I would totally freak out when I see blood on my children. Thankfully most of the occasion when that did happen, my mum was with me.
Allow me to introduce our little durian queen. This little girl has been bugging daddy for durians the entire week. When the durians came, she was the first on the floor. Daddy just opened them up for her and she just sat there enjoying herself, feasting, licking her fingers and hands even and totally cleaning out the flesh from the seed. She really likes her durians!
This is probably the reason why I have not written about isabelle's ballet classes. I wanted a show-and-tell. She is into her second week after the four-days holiday lessons and she totally enjoys her class. We could not really see her now during her class so I was fortunate to have these videos taken during her holiday class. Joelle has also (upon her sister's influence) sign up for ballet lessons in her school. Hopefully it can teach her some grace (hahaha!) and a better posture. I would have sign her up for ballet when she was three if not for daddy's disapproval. He never liked ballerinas but now he's a father to TWO! Ha! what a laugh! Anyway do enjoy the clip.
Isabelle is starting to ask for a chance to take a picture FOR us. This is her first attempt. I'm still not comfortable with her handling my canon ixus. Guess I'll have to coax joelle into sharing her fujifilm camera. Perhaps by getting her to teach issy.
and can sit quietly by herself in the room fixing them. She has better concentration power than her sister when it comes to jigsaw puzzles. Perhaps it's because she could sit still for longer period compared to joelle.
This is my cheeky baby... with her chipped tooth. 
Isabelle is quieter by nature. She speaks softly and gently. She enjoys eating and will nap/sleep under any circumstances. Food and sleep comes before play for this little girl. She will sit in a corner and play by herself. I have caught her flipping books and fixing puzzles quietly by herself. She is almost totally toilet trained (accidents do happen at night). She does not really pick food but she has her preference though. She is cool and not easily excitable. She hardly shows emotions and is less sensitive. She walks in the air with a swing from side to side and she likes to tip-toe like a ballerina. She enjoys singing (her own songs like joelle) and dancing (I enjoy her banana dance). She watches dramas with much concentration and she will wake up and ask to watch her program on television. She has no problems with separation and will get dressed for school without a fight. She likes dresses especially those that will spread wide when she spins around. She chooses her clothes and will at times refuse to wear what we picked out for her. Her favourite colour (for now) is pink and her favourite character (for now) is minnie mouse. She is one of the rare child who eats pork liver, red dates and century egg. She is very determine and strong willed and at times would drive us crazy with her persistence. She moves, speaks and drinks slowly (like her mummy) and she's not that good with instructions (like her daddy). She has a pretty bad temper and will sulk at many trivial matters. She does not pick up her toys after playing and expects her sister to do it. She plays her sister's soft spot (joelle is softhearted) and knows her sister's weaknesses (joelle's many fears). She does drive joelle to tears very often. She uses her tears to get her sister's attention and will behave like a baby so joelle could mother her. She's flexible at times and focused at times. Sometimes it's very easy to reject her request and distract her without causing a stir. Other times she will whine at you for... too long. Most of the time she is rather predictable and easy but that does not mean she has no horns. She's my little angel (with horns) and I love her too much.
a... butterfly?
Isabelle is drawing quite frequently now though not as much as joelle did. She has a very special way of drawing, I noticed. Unlike joelle who likes detail in her drawings, issy tends to like forms, shapes. So cool, my little artists.
Isabelle: mummy, you want to play toto-die-year? (toto pronounced like the lottery)
Mummy: huh?
Mary: (mopping the floor) it's crocodile.
Isabelle never fails to invent new words with her unbelievable pronunciation. It's funny (at this age) but I'm sure it will get worrying soon.
While cuddling isabelle one day.
Mummy : Can you not grow up anymore? Just be mummy's baby forever?
Isabelle : But I need to grow, mummy. I want to be a big girl so I can cut something.
(She's been wanting to use a scissor and I promise to get her one when she's a big girl)
While driving her home from church one evening.
Isabelle : Mummy, I think I love you. Suddenly I look at the trees and I think I love you.
(It's such a big deal because she's not someone who says this often but her reasoning is a little ???)
While looking at her photograph one day.
Isabelle : Mummy I want to have your face leh... (she's very singlish)
Mummy : Why don't you like to have daddy's face?
Isabelle : Because daddy has nuts.
Mummy : Nuts? Where? (just to make sure)
Isabelle : On his face la! I don't like it.
(So relief that the nuts were not what I thought they were. Now she gets a little upset when people comment about her resemblance to her daddy)
Isabelle drew this. She said it was an airplane but we think it looks more like a whale, or shark, or at least something fishy. I think she's rather detail with her drawings. I'm so very impressed. Well, she's barely three.
