Chopin by the Lake

I, for one, is an idiot to classical music, but Pam insists I have to start making an effort to enrich not my life but that of my baby. She says I don't have to be a musician to go to a concert like this and she was right.

I may not appreciate the music but it was an interesting experience and I ought to try new things and perhaps, in my journey of bringing up Kiki, I may enrich myself too.




First Pianist:- Daniel Wnukowski (Poland)
(followed by second pianist - Izumi Tateno (Japan)
@ Singapore Botanic Gardens, 30th May 2o1o.

Just see the number of people there!

And they all came prepared. They are very seasoned picnickers, they had everything a picnic should have - sandwiches, tea, snacks, biscuits, wine, cooler tub, director's chair, noodles, cakes, (I did not see Curry), all sorts of mats- rolled-up plastic straw type, yoga mats, folded PVC ones and tent sheets. And some had Real Picnic Baskets complete with handkerchief tied on handle. You know, the bamboo woven type with top lids that open by lifting from the sides. Boy, was I really in Singapore? I thought.

I was surprised to know that so many people turned up for a concert by the park.
Am I "sua ku" or what?
From my respond, you could certainly guessed that in my world, there isn't this form of activity.

This is an enlarged view of the people at the park.

My gauge on the profile of the attendees were 80% foreigners, 20 or less % locals.

Even the Asians there were mostly Taiwanese.

At Botanic Gardens

Practising walking.

The cheeky little girl with Avocado in her mouth.

We couldn't stay seated at a spot for long because Kiki is still young and restless.

So, we sat up the slope where the walkway is. In between crankiness and listening to the concert, she took walks, had some snacks, gave applause, hummed a tune and got restless.

I do not know how to appreciate this form of classical performance but an outing like this is refreshing. There were many children around, playing badminton, football, having picnic, riding on their skate scooters and running about and it was a nice to see so many families, all having a good time. The whole time I was there, I kept thinking I must ask Anna, GM, Dajie to bring Kaikai here the next time. I will look out for the next concert and shall ask the whole troope here. We will surely have more fun together.

Art Jamming - 29th May 2010

Tonight, I painted an abstract of the Dragon.
Very oriental and the people say, it reminds them of Yakuza Tattos.

I've told Bren that I'll do this piece for him. The dragon has its appeal to us, for its majesticity and ferocity.

Travelling

It is not easy to schedule an outing because she needs to take naps.
Luckily the wedding lunch is between 2 to 4pm, so, we let her sleep, wake up for a snack and when we got there, she napped again in the car.
Recently, she has taken into the liking of playing "eating". She will pretend to feed herself and then feed me and expects me to pretend that I'm chewing the food.

Even pretend-eat can be so delicious looking.

Arrrump.

She's a Crooner

We went to Noura's wedding in the afternoon.

The weather was scorching hot these few weeks and today was no exception.
My makeup melted and perspiration were dripping into my eyes.

Kiki watched the Traditional Malay Dance with all her attention. She quietly watched and I think her brain was ticking away. This little baby loves to dance. She could jump, sway, nod in rhythm. I am quite certain she can sing and dance well later on as she has displayed a clear aptitute in these areas. She crooned to the music when an uncle was singing via the Karaoke system. I brought her up to the stage area where the uncle was singing and she crooned even louder. After the song, I brought her to the microphone and she sang into it, but the mic was not being turned on. It was too noisy anyway but she surely enjoyed herself.

This Morning

Dirt Digging.

Pose.

Bite.

This morning, we went to the beach.

The kerosene smell from the sea was terrible. I kept telling Bren to U-turn but he was very stubborn and refused. There was a collision of two vessels earlier in the week that resulted in the oil spill. Although I've read about it from the news, I didn't think it would smell so bad.

After walking a long distance, we stopped at a nice spot where there was no unpleasant smell and the grass were soft and "carpety".

Let Kiki roam around and do some gardening.

As I laid on the grass, looking up at the trees against the clear blue sky, the world feels so light.

The breeze was very gentle and set the relaxing mood.

I told my helper to lie down and watch the clouds and trees. She refused because she was reserved but after some coaxing, she laid down and was glad she did.

The Mobile Rides

The Papa lets her ride on these mobiles since she was like 7 or 8-month-old, before she could stand steadily. She is always thrilled and delighted to be on these rides and ever more so now that she's getting an idea of what's happening around her.

I feel very blessed to live where I live because everything we need is within walking distance. Especially all the child oriented activities.

The Best Baby in the Whole Wide World.

The Papa always tells her "You are the best baby in the whole, wide, world".

The Confession Of A Clueless Mom

I never did think how motherhood would change me because I never did ventured into the areana. I didn't because I didn't feel ready before. Not that anyone could be totally ready but I am really clueless about child rearing. And the truth be told, I feel lack and didn't think I could do a good job. I only know that my child will love me because I am fun loving. And that I am also child-like, and that I am free-from-judgement, and that I have a lot of love to give.

Of course I still have lots to learn and am such a wisecracker who is so full-of-herself sometimes.
But as I became older, I think I became wiser. (I sure hope so!)
And so, I decided to take life in stride and be as good a mother I can be.

For the first time today, my baby loved me back.
It was so subtle, initially I wasn't sure.
I woke up in the morning and she was out to the beach with the daddy.
When she came home, she let me carry her.
And then she leaned her forehead to mine. Sideways.
I didn't realise it at first and continued to hold her the normal, upright way.
Then she leaned her head to my chest.
Oh, she's loving me back.
Cos I had been coming home late and worked late the night before, she must have missed the nightly playtime we have.

"Kiki, you miss your mama huh?" my helper teased her.

I once read that the only persons you would not get jealous of when they excel you is those of your own children. I do not know what to make of it because I forgot how jealousy feels like. But I sure want to have my child excel me in every way.

I always remind myself to take a step back and have a cool view.
When the heat is on at work, my neck gets painful and shoulders stiff.
I get the adrenaline rush when I complete my tasks at work and it is satisfying but I've come to realise that it is unhealthy for me to have that unconscious relationship (with work).
Work in Singapore typically takes up more than half of one's day, more than half of one's life and more than half of one's mind. So, I must bear in mind that there's life after work.
Go, read a book or catch up with a friend. Go, home to your baby and play with her.
Go, do some dancing or catch a movie. Go, get a balance of your life. Get a balance of your mind.

Because as Adeline once told me; "A happy baby needs a happy mom".

And so it is.

The Cheesy Thing To Do

She was cranky not because of the T-shirt but because we were on the way out and I retreated to take a picture together.

The ultimate cheesy thing for me to do was to get an identical T-shirt and desire to wear it.

I used to find that people who do it are very faux and cheesy especially worn on adult couples. "What's this fixation of wanting people to know you're together?" I often seceretly laughed to myself.

Who would have guessed I became my own laughing victim.

I was acutally browsing casually at the store when the salesgirl told me "there's a same design in kid's size", and my eyes lit. "oh really?" I said, still trying to act cool. "yes", she replied and showed me.

"oh wow" I thought. "so exciting" I thought. Ha ha.

I said: "so cheesy hor?" (hoping she will say something like "no lar, it's cute wearing the same outfit as your baby" but she didn't).

Ha Ha.

When I got home, I showed the Papa excitedly.

He went "How about me?"

Ha Ha Ha.

The Reading Habit

An early reading habit

She loves the bookstore

And, luckily, my helper is happy to read.

I am very guilty that I personally am not an avid reader.

I wished I were but I don't wanna fool you, I really am not.

Basically because I am a lazy fella and a creature of ease.

Well, I must say that I am beginning to push myself out from my laziness because I know the importance of reading and that reading habit starts young. Reading feeds the intellect and so, flourishes one's language, imagination and enriches one's life in mega-multitutes. And language is the modus operandi for every faculty.

You know, they say, the way to teach the baby anything is by way of demonstration.

If you wanna teach healthy eating, you eat healthily. The kid follows.

If you wanna teach healthy living, you have an exercise regime, the kid follows.

And so, if you want your kid to enjoy reading, you gotta read to her!

I ask that I overcome my laziness and for the life of me, at least read to her regularly...... what a feeble assertion..... =(

Okay, I shall not beat myself up.

Since now I am aware of my shortcoming, I will actively, consciously, change!

Do it in bite-sizes. If I can't bring myself to read to her every day, I can begin by doing it two or three times a week. Even moving Mt. Fuji takes one stone at a time. Okay, I will try.

A Regular Weekday

Looking at the camera lens. I think she now knows vaguely that a camera takes pictures cos we review the shots with her and sometimes, she's intrigued seeing herself on the small screen.

Playing cool.

Sleepy already.....

Bren's work is flexi-hour, so some of the days, he finishes work early.

He would bring Kiki out to the mall and to the beach.

Many times, I wished I was there with them but I am more than contented that Bren takes the effort to spend time with the baby, cos a full day constricted at home is really boring for a baby and sometimes, can be frustrating, especially with the humidity here, plus the din from the upgrading works in my precinct.

A whole day at home can be very long, I do hope to find a playgroup for Kiki and let her go to school for a few hours each day when she reaches 18-months in October.

Shite, I so want an i-phone.

For all its beauty of an imperfect picture, over-exposed colours and grainy pixels, I so miss Lomo.

For all its beauty of an imperfect picture, over-contrasted lighting and shady feel, I so miss Lomo.

And I say it again, - Shite, I so want an i-phone.

It is not for the phone per se but for its Lomo application! Shite.

I thought I really didn't wanna join the millions of people out that who own an i-phone cos I don't like it that those half-past-six techie are using it but don't really know its true value or potential and I don't wanna be in the same wagon but shite, i miss Lomoing! shite. and what more a digital Lomo. Gosh. I so want an i-phone now. shitty shite.

The Resilient Child : Seven Essential Lessons Parents Must Teach Their Children

I was just browsing the web and came across this by chance.
It seems a serious book. You think?


Table of Contents

Introduction and Some Initial Thoughts on Being
a Successful Parent
     A Parent's Reflection                        1  (2)
     A Little Background                          3  (2)
     Times Have Changed                           5  (1)
     Parents as Teachers                          6  (1)
     The A-B-Cs of Resiliency                     7  (8)
 Part One A = Actions to Promote Resiliency
   The Value of Friends, Mentors, and the
   Support of Others
     The Nature of Friendship                     15 (1)
     A Good Man and the Gift Principle            16 (2)
     Being Present                                18 (3)
     Friends Versus Acquaintances                 21 (1)
     The Value of Friendships                     22 (2)
     Mentors                                      24 (2)
     Building Solid Relationships                 26 (2)
     Pick Your Friends and Mentors Carefully:     28 (2)
     The Two Best Questions You Can Ask About
     Another Person
     Warning: Avoid Toxic People!                 30 (6)
     The Most Important Question of All           36 (1)
     Dealing with Grief                           37 (4)
   The Three Most Difficult Decisions
     Decisions, Decisions                         41 (2)
     Conflicts with Other People: Win-Win         43 (2)
     Decision-Making
     When to Be Loyal                             45 (3)
     Enabling Versus Loyalty                      48 (4)
     A King, a Kid, and a Baseball Game           52 (1)
     Difficult Decision # 3: The Issue of         53 (8)
     Control
   Teach Your Children to Take Responsibility
   for Their Actions
     The Meaning of a Mistake                     61 (1)
     Responsibility and the Family                62 (1)
     Taking Responsibilty: A Cases in Point       63 (2)
     Self-Responsibility Builds Inner             65 (1)
     Strength: Carpe Diem, Carpe Vita
     Empowerment Is Not Enough: Persistence Is    66 (2)
     Needed
     The Consequences of Not Teaching             68 (2)
     Self-Responsibility
     The Failure to Teach Responsibility Can      70 (7)
     Last a Lifetime
   Making the Most Important Investment of a
   Lifetime: Invest in Your Health
     Promoting Health Before Treating Disease     77 (1)
     The Health Promotion Pyramid                 78 (2)
     Physical Execrise                            80 (3)
     Nutrition                                    83 (3)
     Rest/Sleep                                   86 (3)
     Attitude                                     89 (3)
     Ten Things You Do NOT Want to Teach Your     92 (7)
     Children About Health
 Part Two B = Beliefs to Promote Resiliency
   Learn the Power of Optimism
     Pollyana and the Glad Game                   99 (1)
     What Is Optimism?                            100(3)
     Self-fulfilling Prophecy                     103(4)
     Moving On Despite Adversity                  107(4)
     A Quiz
   The Importance of Faith
     What Is Faith?                               111(2)
     Faith and Meaning                            113(1)
     The Power of Faith                           114(8)
 Part Three C = Codes to Promote Resiliency
   Follow a Moral Compass and Cultivate
   Integrity
     What Is Integrity?                           122(3)
     A Clash of Values                            125(1)
     Four Points for Your Child's Moral Compass   126(1)
     A Person of Integrity                        127(1)
     Companies Without Integrity                  128(1)
     Closing Thoughts                             129(4)
Epilogue                                           133(4)
Index                                              137

Our Regular Sunday

Our regular Sunday.

23rd May, Two Thousand Ten.

She enjoys the Japanese class the most as the teacher is the most captivating and controls the lesson very well. The teacher sings with such good dictation, even I enjoy her singing very much. Kiki would pay much attention to her and would sway her shoulders to the sides in rhythm. She would even hum softly. She shows pleasure in music, I hope I know how to give her appropriate exposure. Just now, her daddy got so emotional when he quietly observed that she hummed softly along when the credits were rolling at the end of the movie he was watching.

She also "talks" to many aunties and uncles at the mall and they were all very much delighted to talk to a yapping baby. When at the bookstore, she yaps even more.

I hope she continues to be so social this Friday, when we're heading to the temple for Vesak Day celebration and part II- to Anna's place. =)

New Pumps

She now knows that putting on these pumps allows her to walk, which, for now, is a fun activity for her.

We took her by the hands and she could walk quite a distance from MacD to the beach.

She has half a dozen pairs of footwear awaiting. 2 new pairs from me and the rest are used ones from my cousin HJ. (my cousin is 3 years-old).

Not Lomo

I am a lomo fan and had three lomos, left with one.

I was just thinking to myself how lomo could keep up with the times now that almost every device is digital and they are still running on film.

Then, my sis sent me this picture she took on her i-phone. It is lomo effect on an Apple app.

wow. No wonder they say Apple is revolutionary, it is truely revolutionary.

I won't be the first to rush to get an i-pad but I know I will certainly get one.

I am quite gadgetie if you didn't really know by now.

Ar? What'cha sayin'?

Ar? is the synonym she has for "hello"
When she picks up my mobile phone and puts to her ear, she goes "Ar?"
She yaks a lot when the phone rings and when she sees I'm on the phone.
(ya ah ter ah ter ah poo ter, she says) Always the same phrase! I wonder how that works.


She calls both Mark and I "Ba Ba" 爸爸 in near perfect Mandarin pitch. (that is beacuse I repeat this term to her since she was 6 months-old) She says it in the same pitch as I did.
She doesn't know Ma Ma 妈妈 yet, maybe because I didn't do Ma Ma with her, but when she wants me, she goes "Ba Ba" as well.
So I guess for now, that is her word for "father / mother"

She babbles a lot, especially in the morning when she wakes up and when she's at the gym, and when the phone rings.

She also "sings" and hums in a slow and low voice when I play with the keyboard or sing Whitney Houston's "I will always love you" in a dramatical matter. She joins in but is apparently shy, because when I exclaim in delight, she stops.

She also plays the "fart game" with me. She's so funny I tell you.
Once, she let an audiable fart and I laughed. Then I made a sound "ernk" and gestured an exagerrated laugh. She laughed with me. And so I did it another three times and we both laughed on cue. And then you know what happened???? She mimicked the "ernk" sound and waited for me to laugh. And she did it another three times! Gosh, she's pulling my strings! I was blown over. She's learning to mimick almost anything that amuses her (or me!).

My oh my.

The Papa's BD

Three slices of Strawberry sponge cake.

One for the helper, one for me and the lit one for the birthday guy. (Kiki's asleep).

We sang "today is your birthday a special day, it's just for you, it's just for you." (to the tune of the birthday song from BabyTV) we watched too much of a BabyTV that our birthday song became non-classic!

Would You Turn The Other Cheek?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc&feature=fvst

Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love? (Lyrics)

What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA
the Bloodz and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all
People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love? (where is the lovex3) (the love2x)
It just ain't the same all ways have changed
New days are strange is the world the insane?
If love and peace so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering
As the youth die young
So ask yourself is the loving really strong?
So I can ask myself really what is going wrong
With this world that we living in
People keep on giving in
Makin wrong decisions
Only visions of them livin and
Not respecting each other
Deny thy brother
The wars' going on but the reasons' undercover
The truth is kept secret
Swept under the rug
If you never know truth
Then you never know love
Where's the love y'all? (I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the love y'all?
People killing people dying Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father father father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(where is the lovex3)(the lovex2)
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older y'all people get colder
Most of us only care about money makin
Selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting their young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what the see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love, we're spreading anomosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
I gotta keep my faith alive, until love is found
People killing people dying Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?

The Secret Life of Bees

I was in tatters after watching this movie halfway through while channel surfing last night.
I don't know what is my affinity with coloured people but tears will well up my eyes even as I read a short story about the times during civil injustice. And this movie is double the whammy because it deals with the pain of an abandoned child, the agony of being unloved and the skewed thought that you led everything to become wrong. May have been all too familiar for me.
Nevertheless, I draw great strength and faith after watching this moving presentation from many great actresses, counting Queen Latifah as one I idolize too, though Dakota was more moving.

No More Fishy Business

I will lay Fish off the list for at least one whole year.

It was a nightmare the whole afternoon yesterday.

Again, I thought I could introduce her fish but I was wrong, wrong big time.

She vomited greenish, gluey stuff and her upper lips turned green and face went yellow.
It was very frightening for me and even for my helper who has 2 kids. Poor baby was crying with discomfort and hungry but each milk feed was purged. I was in panic fits and was going to bring her to KK after the 6th vomit but thought that even there, it will just be observations.

And boy, did I pray.

Thank goodness sometime past eight, the milk went well with her system.
For hours I cradled her so that the milk can work down its way with gravity while she slept.
And the rest of the night was a watchful sleep for me. I even had a nightmare about similar stuff........ Horrifying experience for me.

Do not listen to the books when they tell you to "try again in another 2 weeks".
If your baby rejects any form of food when there is a reaction like hives, allergy, or vomiting, please, just seek for an alternative form of food to whatever that nutrient is. It is not worth the risk to do otherwise.

Thank goodness she got well after the night.

E-flash done by me

G
K

If you have an i-pod touch or i-phone, you can download "Babyflash" an application that works like flash cards for the babies. Or you can doodle your own flash cards like I did.

I got this idea after reading from the papers about a renowned Italian artist who doodles a bloom of flowers on his i-phone and send it to his friends every morning, so they get a "fresh bloom of flowers everyday", he said. That's so nice. And I realised that the seemingly simple application (DoodleBuddy) could let you "paint" some rather pretty pictures. Of course the colours are basic and solid, it doesn't come in pen or brush strokes, nor bucket paint application like what you have on the "paint" application on your PC, but it this mac's version let you Finger Paint. After seeing the beautiful picture that Italian artist had, I realised that I am not limited by the tools but the talent. Nevertheless, I am contented to be able to paint these simple ones and are eye catching enough for Kiki Baby.

E-flash done by me

LM
N

E-flash done by me

O



P
Q

E-flash done by me

R
S
W