A new Minnie

Ta-da! A sweet little minnie mouse.

I don't intentionally dress her up all the time but as it turns out, she has many charismatic outfits. Normally, I let her wear her nice dresses on Sunday as we attend her enrichment class. Today, her teachers all exclaimed over her. Her Japanese teacher- Misago Sensei, was the most candid of all. She exclaimed "Kawaii! Kawaii!" (可愛) so many times. Her English teacher went "oh! cute little princess" (which I think is not apt at all) I think the word "princess" should just be limited to the Royal Princesses or to Disney/Cartoon Characters, or when doing some form of dress-up or during a stage play. I hate to comment this cos many people, including my friends, have this 公主妈妈病 (the psychosis of thinking that their child is a princess). I don't even say it is 公主病 because I think it's the 妈妈 who instilled the 病 into the toddler, who may have this faux notion that they are princesses when they really are just brats. (no oops!)
Sure, you can by all means have the fun in playing the role of a princess but if the role playing becomes weeks and months, it will lead to a behavioural faux pas where the child thinks that she is the princess and everyone else is a commoner (?!?!!) The child is not to be blamed. Just look at who's feeding that notion to her brain.

Well, this entry was not meant to deal with this topic, I just got carried away as I am so passionate about our children and to bring to your awareness on how easily we could be influenced by what is being fed to us from the media, prints, movies, songs. We don't live in fairytales, although we wish we could all concoct one for ourselves. Well, I am in no position to tell anyone what to do or not to do, but I do hope that those princessy kids perhaps just all go to a make-belief land. No lah. That's just an unkind thought. Ha. Seriously, I just wish that all mothers have more insights and wisdom. Including me.

Sunday 12th September 2O1O

Came home for milk and played with a new balloon while we wait for the sun to go down a little bit more before we head for the beach for an evening walk. This weekend has been tiring, a good way of tiring as we exercised a lot, in terms of swimming and walking. Kiki was crying during breakfast at 10am. I was puzzled by her outburst and abruptly asked Maricar to bring her home as I sensed she was tired. True enough, she took 3.5 hours of a morning nap! wow. It must have been the swimming yesterday. Ha ha. We are so going swimming again next week. Growth, growth, growth, physical growth!

Sunday 12th September 2O1O

This is the second week that Kiki's walking with more confidence.
She inspects her shoes when they sounded different as she walked on sand.

She sashays at the jetty, enjoying the breeze and taking in the setting sun.

Looks like a big girl in this long dress.

Saturday, 11th September 2O1O

We started the afternoon with a visit to the pool.
The sun was scorching hot and so we needed the sun block and swimming cap for her.
We've bought her a life vest and I thought it would be useful, but I think she needs to be heavier and older in order for the float to work better. A lot of care needs to be taken while using this vest because it tilts the baby forward and unless the baby has some professional coaching with swimming or water confidence, you've got to use it with care.

Happy Splashing

The daddy and her has this "yoohoo" thing going on. The daddy says "Yoohoo!", the baby completes with action. What a duo.

Saturday, 11th September 2O1O

Then, we went to this eatery called "The Old Hong Kong" for lunch, although it was already 4pm.
Nowadays, I let Kiki nibble on everything we're eating except for spicy food and stuff like onions. Today, she had chicken cheese-baked-rice, minus the chicken. I don't give her much chicken as I have this adverse notion on its rearing process and the growth hormones and all. In Singapore, chicken is one of the cheapest meat and more often than not, we tend to choose it out of ease. I make a conscious effort to minimize giving her that meat. Sometimes, when we go to a party or when I eat KFC, I do let her have some. And this is alright with me. For now, I am very glad she is receptive to fish and pork. Her meals are largely brown rice porridge with brew of either fish or pork, and a mixture of one or two vegetables. Brocolli, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoe, Carrot, Potatoe, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Chestnut, Spinach. I have yet to introduce her prawns. Maybe tomorrow. I must tell you, I am so thankful for that old, mini clock pot. I'll never know if it is clock pot or crock pot or something sounding like croc. That clock pot is a magic pot. We just taw and wash and dice everything and just put it in the magic pot. She loves the porridge everyday. But I got to tell you, we let it slow cook and stew for hours. (add veggies later).

Saturday, 11th September 2O1O

After a short rest at home, we headed to the trucky rides at the beach.
One unattended child (whose mom was running a stall nearby) was rough. She shoveled and pushed Kiki out of her driver's seat. This time, Kiki frowned. (she normally gets shocked and stunned but not this time). And so, we told the girl gently to stop.
With this bus, many kids wait around to hop on when some mothers slot in a coin. Normally, the payer gets to be the driver. We invited the children to come onboard and they all were happy. A bus load of happy kids, haha.

A cute Minnie driver. Ha!

Saturday, 11th September 2O1O

Some of the time, Kiki goes to "twilight zone", and this is just one of it.
She stares blankly at nothing and will not respond to my calling, clapping, snapping. She is aware of what's happening but she chooses to be in the zone. I must interview her next time when she's older, on this funny habit.

Mickey and Minnie. HA HA HA.

Sunday, 5th July 2O1O

On the eve of being 17-month, Kiki began walking independently.
It brings joy to our hearts to see her walking to her room, made us laugh when she sometimes walks diagonally when intended to walk straight. She can do an about-turn, an immediate U-turn as she wishes and she walks like the robot vacuum cleaner-- specific areas, to and fro, U-turn or cover all areas, and is determined on the surface area she would explore.
Sometimes, we want her to move to a certain location, she might refuse and would use her body weight to resist our pull. Most times, we let her explore as long as the area is safe.

She is also beginning to verbalize some words, like "turtle" and could call herself Kiki, quite loudly and clearly too. She doesn't say "train" but says choo-choooooo in an oh-soo-darn-cute voice.
She still doesn't call me Mama and still calls me Baba. She calls the three of us Baba. (my helper, Bren & I) but she would specifically call her daddy Baba when he comes home.

Shyness

(from http://www.babycenter.com)

Why it happens

If your child frequently hides his head in your pant leg and resists trying new things, you've probably already concluded that he's naturally bashful. He might also be a bit anxious or restless and cry when he's faced with unfamiliar people or situations. Maybe he's a light sleeper. Perhaps he's even more sensitive than other kids to teething and illness. You may wonder where this tendency came from and whether it will last.

Most experts now believe that, to a great extent, a child's basic temperament is inborn — that some kids come into the world outgoing and assertive while others are naturally bashful or reserved. This is a relatively new notion. For a long time it was believed that a child's environment was primarily responsible for shaping his character. But scientists today believe they've found genes linked to shyness, fearfulness, even thrill-seeking behavior. So your child's temperament — largely a product of his neurochemistry — may predispose him to be wary of new situations and make him slow to warm up to the unfamiliar.

Before deciding that your toddler is shy, though, consider that he may be going through a shy stage brought on by separation anxiety. Here's how to tell the difference: If your child has suddenly become more cautious around strangers or fearful of letting you out of his sight, it's probably separation anxiety, which suddenly crops up right around the time most children become more mobile and independent. Almost all children go through at least one episode between 7 and 18 months, and many continue to have bouts of separation anxiety until they're 3 or even older. (These may be triggered by situations like a new childcare setting, a parent going out of town, or a fear of being alone in the dark.)

If you sense that your toddler's bashfulness is more than a stage, try not to worry. The fact that he has a more introverted personality doesn't have to hold him back. He might occasionally need some special TLC from you, though.

@ The Gym 29th August 2O1O

Looks like a mini-boxing ring...

@ The Gym 29th August 2O1O

The Gym was closed for some event last week and we had a make-up playgroup session yesterday. (means playtime without lesson structure & without an instructor).

Kiki likes the Gym a lot, she runs excitedly all over and move in to her favourite structures- namely the trampoline and the walking bar. It was lots of fun for her and lots of sweat for me, haha.

Here's showing me one of her favourite bar.
And demonstrating to me how to cross the bar. (she got stuck, needed help to swing the other leg across)


Climbing comes naturally,




She kept throwing the balls out from its pit and I kept throwing them back.


Once near the entrance / exit, she moved toward the door and kept trying to open the latch.
Got to watch out for this little girl when she goes school.... she's adventurous.

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

I really don't know what's the matter with Kiki, she seems extra-ordinarily fretful these days when it comes to socializing. We went to Anna's house and Kiki was crying and screaming in one of the worst manner I have come acrossed. She cried continuously for a long time and we had to go to the bedroom where there's just her, Maricar and I. She was fine when it's just the three of us, but each time someone else got close, she began to cry.

We had to inch closer to the door (of the bedroom) and let her play at the entrance area so that she still feels safe she's "in the room" and at the same time, hear the voices of my relatives who were in the living room.

Anna has this cooking station and it helped to let Kiki feel more comfortable as we play "cooking". You know, the common theme of cooking and pretending to eat from the spoon (ah yum yum yum) like this.....

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

Luckily, Anna has many toys and interesting props, finally, Kiki became happy and began crawling around. She specially likes to crawl through the tunnel. I remember my cousins and I used to pitch our tents using large towels and blankets, strung up across the room tied onto rafia ropes. There's a sense of adventure whenever there's a tent, I guess that sense is everlasting.

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

After one Mandarin Sing-along session, Kiki was doing much better. Music helped to break the ice especially it were the Mandarin nursery songs which she is familiar with. (it was the VCD I brought along with me to Anna's place).

When the sun became luke, we went downstairs to the playground.
We let Kiki practise walking.

Practising walking

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

Baby Ryan on his All Terrian Vehicle. Cool!

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

Kiki can hold onto the bar for six counts. Not bad!
Thanks to the Gym she's been frequenting.

Watching Ryan doing flex-arm-hand exercise.

Saturday, 28th August 2O1O

Group Photo @ Playground

Finally, Kiki was one with everyone. She allowed everyone to carry her and even planted kisses. Although she wasn't in her usual talkative self, it was great improvement from how the afternoon began. It takes so much patience and creative ideas to coax her out of the shell. I do hope she retains some of these knitted memory so that the next time we visit, she will blend in much quicker. We ought to have more frequent gatherings to keep her memory fresh, but I know everyone's really busy in our Singapore context. Work-life is taking up lots of space, we have to consciously make the effort to relax, to make time for family and friends. And personal "downtime" (means, your personal time to unwind).

Affirmations

You know, youtube is really wonderful. There are just so many resources out there.

I watched Louise Hay's "You can heal your life" mini-movie on youtube and here are some affirmations for myself:-

"I love myself just the way I am"

"I am willing to forgive"

Letting go of the outcome, -- you know what? The cards are gonna fall they way they gonna fall, and I have the ability to handle whatever happens.

"I do the work I love, I work with & for people I really like, and I'm earning good money"

No one inspires someone by being sick, or broke, or poor. If you wanna help someone, you let it shine, you become the beacon on that hill"

etc.

Recent

Sunday 22nd August 2O1O

This is her bedroom by the way.

We don't normally play in here unless the TV's too loud. Sometimes, I just can't get the daddy to turn down the volume and so we play in Kiki's room instead.

Sweet

Sweet is when I woke up from a nap to find two small toys in my palm.
Who put them there? None other than my baby- Kiki. So sweet.

The National Day Weekend

Time passes very fast, even with a longer weekend, it ends rather quickly.

I feel gulity for bringing home the flu virus from the office.
This round, it's bad. cos Kiki caught the bug from me......again.
She ran a fever and the cough was persistant. It is difficult to see the baby cough so tediously.
We went to the polyclinic on Saturday, the fever medicine works but the cough medicine didn't work quite as well. Then I remembered the TCM powder and hoped that the shop is opened today (it's National Day) and luckily it did. I tell you, it is very difficult to handle a crying, cranky and unwell baby, plus, she refused to eat anything, even her milk...... *sigh. coax, coax and coax.

Oh, and yes, I sent in a write-up to The Straits Times when they called for contributions about why you like your estate (neighbourhood) and I wrote about Great World City (my parent's place). GWC is actually not the place I grew up in. Depends on which stage of my life, I grew up in Cairnhill, Serangoon, Henderson and then GWC. The estate is very un-HDB like. The flats are typical HDB but the cluster is made up of just five blocks of flats, surrounded by five hotels may I add. (The fomer Concord, Apollo, current Kings, Waterfront Copthorne and the Riverview Hotel). It was a vibrant and flamboyant place at its peak and I must say, some of the old charms of the Great World Amusement park must have rubbed off. So anyway, I wrote in, actually, in tribute to my father as he loved our estate so much. He was in the RC (resident's committee) for 20 years, updating notice boards, washing floors for Aged Homes and whatnots. The place held dear to him, my sis and I. Since the estate will be demolished in another few years, I decided to send my entry and wrote about how interesting it really is. The papers liked it and so it was featured in the National Day Supplement papers today. Ha. Nice.


On Sunday
We went to Alvin's house.
(previously http://rachaeljoan.blogspot.com/2009/06/our-new-house.html )


I do not quite know why he would specify us to go over at eight at night and I don't quite know what to expect. But nevertheless, I warmly look forward to it because Alvin is an old acquaintance and the last time I saw him was in 1998.

The house was beautiful, warm and cozy. Three storey high and all rooms had balconies. It has a big dinning area and a huge basement gym. And entertainment area of course.
Well, I didn't get the chance to tour the place as I was keeping Kiki company. She really didn't liked to meet new people, or just any persons she seldom sees. or whatever. Anyway, she was crying and fretful so I kept myself by her side.

We stayed at the poolside plateau all the time...... it was humid and I kept going indoor to steal the cool air but mainly, stayed with Kiki.

Shades

She apparently likes this pair of pink shades and would gesture for me to put it on for her.