What a difference

After last night of William crying to sleep, tonight was so a total difference. An experience I'd want to have every night.

After nursing him for around 5 minutes, he pulled himself away, and I placed him on my bed. His eyes closed, and I just "pat pat" him a bit, then realised that I could actually leave him there, while I finish off some packing in the room. He continued to turn left and right a bit, and occassionally I can hear short shierks of laughter from him as if he's playing, but yet, his eyes were closed and I know very soon, this happy baby will fall asleep without much fuss.

Victoria came into the room just as I thought I had successfully put him to sleep, and William woke up. After Victoria left, I lie down beside him and watch him... fall happily asleep.

Aaahh... I wonder if it was because he has learnt from last night, or it's just an one off situation. But whatever it is, I sure appreciate nights like these and pray there will be more.

All hope is not lost. ; )

Dreams

When Victoria woke up from her afternoon nap yesterday, she was grouchy. She said she don't want Teacher. I asked why. Then she said Teacher asked her to sit outside the classroom. When I probed, she didn't answer. Then I asked her if she was dreaming, she said ya. Phew.

Then this morning after waking up, she told me, "I don't want cows in my garden."

I said, "Huh?" Since when we got cows in our garden?

She was dreaming lar. How she can dream about cows? My only hunch is because I recently bought her a set of new panties, with attractive pictures of cows on it. (CNY mood mah)

I cry, you cry

Last night, I tried to put William to sleep. For whatever reasons, I don't have the magic touch where he will just doze off on my shoulders or in my arms when I carry, unlike the maid or even my hubby (who spends less time with him). Everytime I attempt to do that, he'd be playful, shifting his head to my left shoulder, then right shoulder, then left, or he'd want to get down to play. Sigh. So I end up nursing him to sleep which works some of the time.

These nights when he wakes up middle of the night, he wants to nurse and refuses the bottle. So after much frustration, fatigue and toying with the idea of training him to sleep without being nursed to, I decided to put him down on the bed to let him sleep by himself (like what he used to do when he was a few months old). Victoria was with me and it was three of us in the room.

Naturally the boy cried. He wasn't happy that he's not getting what he wants, yet when I carry him he pushes me away. So how? Put him on the bed la, and just "pat pat" him to sleep. After a few minutes which seemed like eons to Victoria, Victoria told me in an almost-crying-half-scolding tone, "Mummy, carry him. Please. Carry him."

I was touched, because here is the sister, who sometimes gets jealous of the brother and bosses him around, and takes his toys just when he wants to play, and says he's "so bad, so naughty"... and yet...

She could not stand to see her brother cry. She "pat pat" him to sleep and sang nursery rhymes. A short while later, William stopped crying and just slept.

All in all, the whole episode took less than 10 minutes. Not too bad, considering hubby and I had experienced worse during Victoria's time.

In her own words

When Victoria was younger, say around 2 yo, she used to invent words herself to describe persons or things. Once in a while now, she still impress us with her word inventions.

Those days, she'd call...

The grass cutter or any man - Uncleman

These days, she'd sometimes call...

The grass cutter - Cutterman
Chef / Cook - Cookerman
Computer Keyboard - Typer

I can't remember what other "new" words she invented, but they sure surprise me and put a smile on my face.

Lunch

Victoria loves to feed William. Whether it's water, or milk or just porridge. She waits and initiates and asks... sometimes she negotiates with me on the number of times she can spoonfeed William. I limit her now after the initial times where she accidentally put the spoon too deep into William's mouth, and then the subsequent times the feeding become too messy. It gets quite frustrating when William is hungry or sleepy and we just want to quickly let him finish his meals.

So, these days I let her feed only one or two spoons and she's happy with that, sometimes more, depending on whether it's "messy or not"... which gives her incentive to keep it clean.

I think she just loves being "us" and also this is one of her ways of showing her love for her baby brother.

Aaahhhh




Yummyyyyy

4th Tooth

William's 4th tooth is out! Yippeeee!!

2nd visit to Tangkak

Last Friday we brought Victoria down to see her allergy doctor in Tangkak for her follow up checkup. As Daddy had a last minute business trip, Yeh Yeh drove Victoria and I down, and we even had the privilege to have Pastor Ben to join us. We left at 915am, targeting to arrive by 11am as suggested by the Doctor.

I was silently excited to know how Victoria progressed over the past 2 months, having diligently taking her drops twice a day and her probiotics as prescribed.

The Doctor did a few tests using test tubes, not as comprehensive as the previous times, but we did retest to reconfirm that she has NO ALLERGY to wheat flour, cow's milk and chicken.

The level of her allergy to mint has zerorized (ie no more allergy), eggs down from 12 to 10 points, and yeast and candida (bad bacteria) dropped to 2. In general, she is improving, but we were also told that she must have subconsciously taken some food with traces of egg which caused her to itch on her fingers and therefore, her allergy level to egg have not dropped as much as expected to.

The "bad" news is, once Victoria has fully healed where all her allergies are down to ZERO, she has to continue to abstain from food with the allergens ie eggs and yeast for another 1 year, to allow her body to build its immune system. That means, easily after she turns 5 yo.

My challenge this year then is to look for an eggless, preferably wheat free and diary free cake for her birthday. Sounds like a big feat to accomplish, but I'll try my best. It'll be very sad and quite meaningless to order a cake for her and not allow the birthday girl to enjoy even a bite.

God continue to bless Victoria with quick and complete healing, and William too.

Btw, the good news is ... she's NOT allergic to durian (but she's not keen on this food anyway) and that once her skin has completely healed, we can slowly test her with wheat, cow's milk and chicken, which will then conclude if her initial blood test was accurate or not.

In the meantime, Victoria is hanging on. There are days when she misses foods which she can't eat. I have on numerous occassions answered the same question over and over from her, on why and when she can eat her favourite foods again.

Some nights back, we happily listed down some of the foods which she misses...

pancake (from paddington house of pancakes), sausages, pau, bread with butter (her favourite supper), chocolates, roti canai, grapes, buns...

Playtime

Weekend in Seremban

Last weekend we were in Seremban, and spent some "catch up" time with PoPo Gong Gong, and Mama Yeh Yeh, and Yi Yi Yi Jiong and of course cousin baby Grace (who now can walk).

The Thursday that we arrived, Victoria went to City Park with Popo Gong Gong to feed the fishes. She loves to go to this park, where she can run around, and play on the playground, and see so many things! The second day, I brought her down to Tangkak for her follow up check up on her allergy, which I will write about it separately.

The third day, we went to Jusco, where she played her games at the arcade... and after soooo long, it was really like a walk down memory lane for her and myself. I remembered how she used to go there when she was a year plus onwards, and how she'd squeal with excitement, even to sit on the cars without actually putting in the coins. The lunch was planned, she wanted to eat her favourite Unagi Don at Sushi King. That evening, we went over to Mama Yeh Yeh's house then dinner.

We left on Sunday late morning back to PJ. Daddy was in Kuantan that weekend for a business trip but was back around the same time as us, with big containers of durians.... we had a durian feast at night with Mama Yeh Yeh, Yi Sok Yi Sam and baby Theodore.

Victoria doing the X-man pose.

She's at this age where she likes to do funny faces for the camera.

William enjoying the ride on his jie jie's old bicycle

With Gong Gong, Yi Yi, Yi Jiong and 16 month old cousin sister Grace

On the last day, Victoria spotted these birds resting in Gong Gong's garden

The birds are gone...

Watching for their return, while sipping water from Grace's cup : )

The Mango Queen

Third teeth

Yes, just less than 2 weeks of William's 2nd teeth popping out, we spotted the third, right next to the 2nd, on the front upper gums.

The first tooth is still abt 1mm in sight, the 2nd also, and now the third. But thank God, I've not been bitten or nibbled at so often now. However, he's very clingy, and I hope it's just a passing phrase.

Practicing to be a model

I caught my little soon-to-be 4yo in my sandals. So I asked her to oblige me with some poses.


Got potential or not?

What William have been up to...

... climbing here there... and checking out Jie Jie's fishes during her absence!

Heh Heh is punished

Victoria landed a mark on baby brother's left hand, leaving a red mark and small wound from her pinch, yesterday afternoon. At night, she pulled his hair until he cried, and this is too much for us to bear.

After many times of advice and warnings, we decided that's it. Daddy punished her, after some canning and "talk" and Heh Heh has to return all William's clothes which she wears, until the mark on William's hand disappears. Victoria is to pray for her baby brother's hand everyday.

Yesterday she did. This evening during dinner time, hubby asked if she prayed for William. She said yes, with Mummy. I looked at her. What a lie.

Later, when hubby was not around, I asked her to pray for William. She has to meet her daily quota, y'know. In the midst of playing, she panted, and prayed, "Dear God... please ahh... (pant)... take away ahh... (pant).. William's fingers... (I said, WHAT?) ... oh ahh.. Please God... take away ahh... (pant pant)... the err.. red mark on William's fingers.... (pant).. so that Heh Heh can wear her mittens again. Amen.

That's more like it.

Helmet

Last weekend Victoria went out with Daddy to run some errands, and came home with...

A helmet!!



She's been asking for a bicycle, and this helmet is the start to safe cycling. I'm happy too because finally hubby's old bike in our patio will be put to used... of course after some oiling and air pumped into the tyres, hehe.

And she insisted on wearing it for dinner out that evening too!

First day back in school

Yesterday was Victoria's first day back to school, after a good 1.5months break. She's now in the P1 Class for the 4 year olds, and there are, at last count, 8 pupils in her class including herself. Not a big number, but bigger than last year's and it's a good way to start the kids, so that there is a smaller ratio between teacher and students, and naturally more attention.

She was happy, and I think excited as well, as we've been giving her pap talks, and preparing her mentally and emotionally for this day. In the morning, she's been good, and wore her new uniform which is a dress. She had her rice with potato and pork chop breakfast, and Daddy sent her to school as per previous practice.

This week is Orientation Week for the kids, which means that school starts at 830am to 1030am. Next week onwards, it will be 815am to 1215am. Sigh, I will definitely miss my "late" mornings.

When I picked her up from school, I waited outside her classroom and look for her amongst all the new and some familiar faces. Then I saw her, and her smile was one of the sweetest. The welcoming look. I'm glad she had a good day in school, marking a good start, albeit just a little bit of tears in the morning when Daddy dropped her off.

Still the sleepy look during breakfast time

Just one smile please, before you go.

Climbing into the car herself

OK, I'm ready!

Second tooth

We spotted William's second tooth on the upper gums last weekend! Yes, the first one is only about 1mm in sight, and the second one is popping up.

Will there be a third???

New Year's Day 2009

We spent New Year's Day waking up late, had a lazy morning with the rain outside. After a simple breakfast (which I can't remember what, now), Victoria, Hubby and myself had a game of Monopoly stock exchange. It was the boys' team vs the girls' team! Victoria didn't understand the game naturally, but she enjoyed rolling the dice, and changing the playing tokens when she got restless. She even hid our money and cards! To cut the story short, we lost to Daddy but I'm sure we will win him some day.

That evening, we went out to Shangrila Hotel in Kuala Lumpur to utilise my membership for the first time. We ate at Zipangu, their Japanese outlet and kids below 5 yo eat for free, and 2 dining adults get 50% off. We ordered fresh mango juice, rice powder dumpling in red bean, ice macha, aigomo rohsuni (wild duck), sake teriyaki (salmon), chicken teriyaki, steak jyu (beef), soft shell crab sushi, miso soup and yasai soup (vege). Our final bill was slightly over RM200 after discount and below are pictures of some of the food that we ordered.

The chicken

The duck

The sushi

Victoria digging into her sake teriyaki

William

Enjoying the Chef's Special: Rice powder dumpling in red bean

Flirting, and going to the market

Yesterday we had dinner at this kopitiam restaurant in Taman SEA. William finished his porridge while we waited for our curry pai kuat (pork ribs), stirfry spinach, steam white chicken and steam ginger fish.

While we were busy eating our dinner, William sat and looked around. Then we realised that he was turning his body, smiling and laughing with the young girl sitting behind him, who's dining with her boyfriend. Hhhm... so much so, until even the boyfriend had to "pretend" to layan William too, because his girlfriend was obviously smitten. : ) After a good 5 to 10 minutes of William interacting with the couple, they said bye bye to him and left.

Jie jie watched.... unimpressed. Hmpk, some flirtatious brother she has, she must be thinking.

At night she told me that she wanted to follow me to the market the next morning. This morning, I went to the market myself together with the maid, without waking her up. When she woke, she immediately asked me if I've gone to the market. She asked why I didn't bring her.

Mummy didn't know she was serious mah.

Genting Trip

We went to Genting Highlands last Sunday 28th December, this time for a day trip which started at 1030am departure from PJ and arriving home around 8pm. The weather forecast was rainy in the afternoon, which came out to be true.

I took a pic of this rider on the way up to Genting.


This Genting trip was planned earlier as Victoria wanted to sit on the cable car again, and play with all the rides in the themepark. Secretly, she was still hoping to sit on the roller coaster which she invited me to join her, but I said no coz Mummy's scared, and then she said she will sit with Daddy. I said better not, coz I'm not sure if she can take "it" although she meet the minimum height.

Look I'm this tall.

I went up with her on the cable car, waiting in line for about half hour before we got into one. Thank God she didn't have any "shi shi" as we queued as there was no toilet in sight. Frankly, I was scared the moment our cable car took off. We faced back, downhill and Victoria was obediently sitted, didn't show any fear nor excitement but just total serene calmness. Wow, I felt like I was a chicken compared to our girl, and hoping that she didn't feel my fear. Daddy drove up with William and maid to meet us at the arrival.

Steady on the cable car

Upon arrival, we ate chinese food at the restaurant, before proceeding to the arcade for a while. Then we decided to purchase our tickets to go outdoor first, to take advantage of the good weather.

The whole place was crowded so Daddy came up with this smart idea. Whilst Daddy waited in line with Victoria for the Flying Jumbo, Mummy and William and maid went to line up for the Teacup so Victoria can just join us when she finish.

On board the Teacup... wheeeeeeee!!!


Can't resist this English phone booth.

Whilst Mummy and Victoria were spinning our heads off in the teacup, Daddy queued for the Double Deck Carousel which we all went as a family! This was William's first and only ride in Genting, btw. We went for two rounds, thereafter, Victoria and I sat for two rounds in the Astro Fighter before we started to feel raindrops!! It was fun eventhough we were wet a little, and made our way along the covered walkway to meet Daddy, William and Maid. Bought some yummy hot baked sweet potatoes and went indoors.

On the Double Deck Carousel

As can be expected, the place was even more crowded with the outdoor themepark closed due to the rain. Some rides had such long queue that estimated waiting time was 1hr to 1.5hrs! We only managed to ride the Venice Gondola (Mummy and Vic) and Ferris Wheel (Daddy, Vic and Maid).

Victoria on the Ferris Wheel

Victoria on the Astro Fighter

Victoria taking a quiet moment... looking at the fishes

Two kids playing arcade together... I'm thinking, hopefully they don't get addicted

We left in the evening, whilst it was still raining. Walked through the "slumps" of Genting to their basement carpark. Victoria wanted to stay longer, and asked us why we can't sleep in Genting, like she did with Popo GongGong in her first trip.

On the drive back, William was lau-gaied as he was too tired and just wanted to sit in front with Mummy. This is one of the rare moments, which should never happen again, that we allowed him his "ride" in the front co-driver seat.

Bye bye Genting... next time we will stay a night.