Counting Down

Counting down to work life, I'm left with exactly one month's leave and I'm determined to make the best of it. Hence, I've abandoned the task on packing the stuff from the old house although I don't think that I can live with the mess but I guess at some point I have to decide what is important to me. For the time being, I shall live with the mess and move on to other things that I wanna do, like to practise on my cooking, to go for facial (I haven't gone for facial for a year!), go roller-blading yes! and for my regular massages. Oh,, my handsome massue has gone home to Malaysia.... there is no other massue who could crack my back, I've checked around the shops, they don't crack backs. Also, I've got to make time for a few other friends who will be visiting too. Although I'm not gonna bake, I will attempt to make French Crepes! Oh yes, some yummy desserts, Crepes with ice cream, fruits - strawberry, banana and.. mango. I think I can have crepes for lunch every day! What a great idea.

Life is...

Juicy

I was shocked to see Kiki bent in an odd angle with the belt in the way of her face.

Quickly I straightened her up but she retreated to continue her new found skill in licking.

She was so engrossed with it I had to pull her out from the bouncer.

That's when I realised I had to get her the appropriate toys so that she doesn't go suckle on just anything she can reach. Babies take in information via the tongue, it is only natural to suckle and lick. In fact, the more variety of texture they get to suckle, the better!

(Anna, you remember our lectures hor?)

Teething Toys

When I was young, there was a Teochew slogan "七坐，八爬，九发牙。"

It's a guideline on a baby's progress

7th month: sitting up,

8th month: crawling,

9th month: teething.

But I think the information has become outdated now.

I read that baby begins teething at 6 months, progressively until 30 months old.

There are many teething toys out there, and they are classified accordingly in stages.

For beginners, stage one are those that are soft and textured. I didn't know that you can give a baby teething toys from birth! It is for them to suckle and lick, whatever.

Kiki still hasn't learnt to hold with her hands but she has started to suck her fingers, in fact, she licks on her entire hand! I hope she can learn to hold the toys soon, so that she doesn't suck her fingers too often. I'm not sure if it's a bad thing or not to lick her hands but I heard from Anna, the hands will get smelly.......

So anyway, Kiki has a good range of teething toys for now.

Goodbye, Michael!

State of shock - Michael Jackson died.

(To the tune of "Two Little Dicky Birds")

Two pretty ladies, sitting on a settee.

One named Kiki, one named Aunty.

Fly away Kiki, fly away Aunty.

Come back Kiki, come back Aunty!

Not very original, I know....

The Journey Home

Skyline

I must have been holed up for months, suddenly, there are new buildings sprouting along Victoria Street.

22 June 2009

Absolute Diva

http://mylittlestylos.blogspot.com/

Kiki-Aunty bought her a cool looking customized printed-T and we're instantly fans.

Matched with a new pairs of jeans, wow, this little baby has got style!

Absolute Diva

Kiki-aunty bought her a customized print-Tee (Romper)

It says "kiki - absolute diva"

How apt!

Yes, that will do. It is anytime better than calling her a princess, for all you know, I call her "Recruit"! hahaha. I go, "Recruit! Look at the trees!" "Hoik! Hoik! Hoik!"

Absolute Diva

Swan 22

22 June

For most of you who've attended our wedding, it was six years ago, today.

It's easy for me to remember because the date 22 is like two swans.

Euew.... cheesy. But ya lah, I'm cheesy.

So today, we decided to do something special, which wasn't any special.

We went for a stroll along the beach and had a fish burger.

Oh yes! it WAS special----- we dressed up a little. Ha ha ha.

Our New House

Our New House

I'M JUST KIDDING!!!

Okay, this is Brendan's friend's house; not ours.

I don't know why but Brendan always likes to go see the house.

From the day the friend bought the house, we've watched it being demolished, resurrected and currently work-in-progress. He's just being happy for the friend, cos it was a real-life rags-to-riches story, but still am not as excited unless of course it's mine. Ha ha ha ha!

So anyway, maybe the day will come when we have a house like that.

However, I am a lazy fella, if you ask me, I may find it too tedious having to do grocery shopping on a weekly basis or to be dependent on the taxi all the time. Houses like these are very inaccessible and I am someone who needs convenience, so until we sort out our mental waves, this is our friend's house.

Pop Cathedral

Finally, we had the chance to bring Kiki to visit her grandpa.

As Brendan's sister is handicapped, Brendan's father hardly leaves the house as he's the main care-giver. Kiki-Grandpa is always either doing up his bicycle or painting / re-painting his walls.

I especially like the bold colours and strokes he employs, and I'm always amazed as he is semi-blind. So there you go, a Pop Cathedral per se.

Oh My Smiling Girl

My Gosh, She's so very Sweet!!!!
Again, my camera did not do justice, I can't show you how truly vibrant is her smile.


Took off her mittens to greet the squeaky monkey, boy, such joy!

But a minute later,,,,, she scratched her cheeks. One red mark across her face =(
Do I reeeally have to trim the nails every other day? *that's a lot of attention to be given!

Indian Curry

PW developed a love for cooking, she can't stop telling us about the dozens of dishes she has tried and perfected. She tells us of the remedies to overly saltish or burnt dishes. She tells us of the special set of gourmet knives she has. She cooks everything from scratch, makes her own stock, down to the cream for cream of mushroom soups. We joked that she's got too much time on her hands now that she's in between jobs but we did enjoy the 2 dishes she bought over last night and set another date in August at Joy's home. The next time, we'll have pan-fried potatoes, pork-chop and yes, cream of mushroom soup made from fresh mushrooms mind you.

It is very nice catching up with old friends over dinner, and some old whisky of course.

Malayu

Wasi came running into my room, "Maam, maam, see! Malayu", she said laughing along.

Err, you are laughing at my baby! I thought.

But when I looked, ya, it was funny lah. Ha ha. Can pass for a Malay girl.

Read to Bond

I was just going to the CC to check out if they have a gym, cos I really dislike jogging on the ground. I can run on the treadmill for 2 hours but I couldn't run along on the ground for even 10mins, I find it too taxing. So anyway, I was just going to the CC and decided to pop by the Library for a glance since the Library looks so chic.

Boy, was I in for a surprise! I enquired if there's a pre-school section and the librarian briefed me about this programme they have-"Born to read, read to Bond"- to sign up your baby with the NLB. You'll get a starter's kit, CD, Journal, a bag and can start borrowing books appropriate for Babies! All with your baby's library card! All on-the-spot! and it's FREE! wow, am I Sua Ku or have I been holed up for too long? (blah, doesn't it mean the same thing?!)

As I toured around the pre-school section, I saw several mothers and grandfathers reading to their toddlers. It is a warm sight. My estate has many Japanese family and Chinese Nationals and it is no surprise that I see them everywhere, at the beach, at the provision store, and now, at the library too. So anyway, I borrowed some books for Kiki as well as a Malay language short stories for Wasi our maid. Boy, was I feeling excited the whole afternoon. Ha Ha.

So anyway, back to the gym.

Too bad there isn't one at the CC. And there isn't a public pool that is within walking distance too. Maybe I should go and explore if the chalets at East Coast Park allows payable public entry to its pool. Besides that, I do look forward to borrowing my sis' blades for the time being. Can't wait to work out a sweat. Got to shake some fats or water retention off or I can't fit into my old jeans! So sad. So many clothes I've got. Oh, and finally, I am reeeally giving away many of my precious stuff, especially 3/4 of my bags.
割爱- definition: to give up what one treasure; to part with some cherished possessions.

I have just so many bags, I can remember ALL of them. I can remember who bought for me, which year, what occasion, which holiday trip, where I've bought them and where they have been, and at which stage of my life and my attachments to them. I can remember them all. But I really don't use them enough, some are even new & unused. So,,,, after packing & re-packing them, in and out from my wardrobe, battling with myself, reminising the memories along with each bag, I decided to let them go. GO! GO! I have to move on. I can't be that adolescent that I still feel I am. So, yes, I'm letting them go to new owners who will give them a new lease in life.

Goodbye my BAGS! Goodbye!

割爱

Canon

Why does this picture resembles Jay Chou??! Do you see the resemblance?

I think my aunt's Canon camera gives better quality than my Panasonic Lumix

Loafers

Is this too manly??

Sweet Candy

We went for dinner with Aunt Julie at PP and I detoured to the shopping area after eating.

Zoom, zoom - bought more socks! Candy-coloured ones, and mid-lenghts too!

This time, I even bought Kiki a pair of loafers.

Aunt Julie commented that it was an odd choice for the loafers and said that no baby girl wears that.

I thought over it for a while and decided to go ahead,,,,,, I mean, it's cute isn't it?

I don't know,,, I think I'm transcending my preferences to Kiki's apparels, I hope it's a good thing though.

No Grandeur Please!

My Aunt Julie doesn't want to be called Grand Aunt. She said No-no, no.

I said, ok ok, you remain as Aunt Julie for Kiki.

2 pieces of cloth diapers have arrived via post a few days ago. We are just testing them out. They are quite fine to use but they don't dry as fast as I've expected. Takes slightly more than a day to dry, maybe there was not much sun the last two days..... Nevertheless, they are "breathable" so that the baby's bottoms are not humid and stinky. Each diaper lasts about the same as a disposable one, the only hassle is that you've got to wash it, but it is worth the trouble (and money) because it is important to ensure that the bums are kept as clean and dry as possible cos a baby has a long way to go before being toilet trained. I've learnt in early childhood teaching that we ought not to hasten toilet training; we have to let the baby wean it off at their pace.

http://www.bumwear.com

Lesson #8

Kiki-Ah Ma

Kiki-Ah Ma is my mother, while Kiki-Granny will be Bren's mother.

I hope that will help Kiki to distinguish between paternal and maternal family.

Sometimes, Kiki looks like my mother but I couldn't quite put a finger as to where exactly.

Kiki has a sharp and long chin, more like her daddy, and she has his big eyes but I hope her eyes will also be bright like mine =P

That Funny Look, Again.

Again. Ha Ha.

Of Life and the Things I Have

I've only used these twice but they are old with dirt now.

I am having a small challenge fitting all my stuff into my new home.

Just look at the things I own.

I even own a pair of leather skating boots!

Though one among my dreams is to go ice skating in the open park, over a frozen lake.

It hasn't yet happened.

I think I have to give them away now that I really have not enough space to contain all of my stuff. The bags you see are less than a fraction of what's to come. I have spent the past week transporting my stuff from the old house and there are still more to go. Of which I have read and re-read the thousands of cards I've kept. And my diaries, I've kept a dated diary since school days, I read and re-read them before finally discarding them. What a full life I've lived.

Thermal Lunch Box

I've ALWAYS liked these little trinkets lunchbox made by the Japanese but never really had a reason to buy them, until now! Yeah! These can be used to keep the porridge warm while on-the-go. On sale now at Isetan $49.90. (Ash, I've bought a set for you! Hope you'ld like it as much as I do).

Look-see, look-see

Look,

See,

Look-see!

(Too into Nursery Literary)

10th June 2009, Wednesday

凤飞飞 wanna be