Getting ready for the big day

The last RSVP came in from Victoria's friend yesterday... the tables are all full. Photographer, mascot, magician, balloons and cakes ordered and hopefully they all turn up.

This afternoon Victoria and I pack the party bags for all the little children and babies.

12 days to countdown...

Gummy bears

Victoria has this bottle of Vidalyn multivits in the shape of gummy bears which she simply looovvveesss to eat. I say that, because she'd remind me and sometimes even bug me to let her eat her gummy bears almost everyday. I don't allow her to take her gummy bear multivits everyday, because she's already on her daily Pharmaton kiddi liquid multivits which she takes with her probiotics. On top of that, her Scotts Emulsion is on a twice or thrice weekly basis.

Today over lunch, she asked me if she can eat her gummy bears. I said OK, after she's finished her kuey teow and soya bean. I took out three flavours for her to choose. Then she said she will give one gummy to me. I said, "That's soooo sweet, Victoria, but if I take one, then you'll have one less to eat." She smiled and decided to choose hers first.

When she picked the first gummy up for "inspection", I made the gummy said, "Please don't eat me, please don't eat me. I want to play with my friends in the bottle."

So Vic put it back in the bottle.

Then she picked the second gummy up, and I made the gummy said the same, "Please don't eat me, please don't eat me. I want to play with my friends in the bottle."

So Vic put it back in the bottle... haha. (This girl's got a soft spot for the gummies.)

On the bottle cover, left the last gummy bear and without hesitation she picked it up to her mouth. Then I teased her, "Victoria... there's only one left, what about mummy? I thought you wanted to give me one?" and then proceeded to make the gummy bear say, "Please don't eat me, please don't eat me."

Then she told me off, "Mummy... please don't make the gummy bear talk. They cannot talk." (Secretly I know why, because she cannot bear to eat the gummy bear if it "begs" NOT to be eaten)

As for my gummy bear, she just smiled and said, "Since you said you don't want..." and quickly popped the last gummy in her mouth.

Hhmpk. So much for sincerity. : )

Where are my slabs?

This morning I had a nightmare that some of my motif slabs were missing... apparently "borrowed" by some construction workers renovating the opposite house (there's no renovation opposite my house in reality, btw). Then the remaining ones were destroyed, with the pebble stones cracked and missing.

EEecchhh!! What a nightmare.

Landscaping

During Victoria's one week break from school, we gave her a surprise... a total revamp of our garden! It's not a very big garden, measuring an estimate of 12 feet width by 20 feet length. But we've had this intention for sometime, and finally had the chance to source for a landscaper at Sg Buloh on our wedding anniversary (without the kids and maid).

The plants were decided, the price was negotiated and the date for the makeover confirmed! On 12th March, the landscaper brought the soil, manila grass, flowers, plants, slabs and 3 workers to excavate and revamp our garden. God gave us very good sunny weather after many days of rain.

We are adviced not to step on the grass for a month, to let it settle, and to water the plants twice a day, between 10-11am and 4-5pm.

Putting the top soil after excavation

The focus plant, ficus nitida topiary

Planting the manila grass last

The view from our living room

The bongsai (I will try my hand at bongsai trimming... haha)

Bought this from Ikano during a shopping trip with the kids. They are handmade and comes in various designs and colours.

Our pets rabbits


Not the best garden around, but all of us especially Victoria love it and just can't wait to step on the grass and play in the garden. We will then let Tom (the tortoise) roam on the grass.

Little boats for you and William

Yesterday afternoon I received a little paper boat from Victoria. Many times she's given little paper boats to me, and admitted I don't keep them because there's just too many and I'm a sucker for tidiness. But this time, it's special.

The little paper boat came with a special message from her. She said, "keep it in your handbag, so that everytime when you are sad, you take out the boat and you will be happy again." That's so sweet, so now I have an extra item in my handbag.

Later that night, as I put William down on his cot to sleep, Victoria came into the room with another paper boat for her brother. She placed it on his cot and said, "Here for you, William" and I thought that was such a sweet gesture.

When I asked her again about MY paper boat, (because I want to hear the same assurance from her again) she elaborated that when I am sad or when Daddy is working late, I should take the paper boat out and colour it red, orange, blue, green...

Haha. Maybe one day I should really colour that little paper boat.

Little paper boats and little clapping hands

Vic has learnt to fold little paper boats some time back from her Kakak, and has folded so many little paper boats that I lost count. Sometimes she'd sit while I work on the PC and then give it to me as a gift.

She's still not perfected her aeroplanes yet and has asked for more origamis. But Mummy is lousy at this.

The other night we all enjoyed William clapping his hands happily, whilst kicking his feet in his car seat. He enjoys clapping hands and I think he picked it up whenever we sing the "If you're happy and you know it..." song to him, or the "Jingle Bells".

6 random things about Victoria and William

Victoria and William, 37 months apart, share some similarities and many differences in their character and preferences. I'm noting this down, not because I'm falling into the trap of comparing my kids, and saying who is better, but just as all my other posts, I want to remember them the way they are/were.

To be fair, I'll compare Victoria when she was an infant, with what brother William is now.

1. Makan Time
V loves new food. She loved her porridge the first time she tried it, and wallop it down in just a few minutes. I remembered we hardly have time to scoop the porridge and cool it down, before she opens her mouth for more. W, on the other hand, is very cautious with new food, and normally rejects them on the first and second try. But once he has gain momentum, he's eating more than his sister when she was his age. He takes two meals a day, lunch and dinner with big portions especially at night (I'm sometimes worried that I overfeed him, but this boy can really eat and cries for more when we undercook) and 6-8 oz of milk 3-4 times in the day.

2. Legs on the table
Both babies put their leg up on the table when in the high chair. I think V did it more than W.

3. Hair and Strings
Both babies have this thing about hair. Yes, hair. The older one pulls her own hair when is frustrated. The younger sibling, W, loves to pull Mummy's hair when playful. He doesn't pulls his own. He loves to chew on my hair, and at one time when he did that in church, a lady sitting behind me seemed worried and quickly alarmed me that my son was chewing on my hair.

V used to get scared and dislike hair on the floor, especially in the bathroom. She doesn't like long things like strings and would insist that we take it away or cut it. W loves long things like strings and would especially go for the wires.

4. Sleeping Style
V likes to be horizontally carried when sleeping, like rocking her to sleep, whereas W likes to be hugged, and head placed on the shoulder when putting him to sleep. When already asleep, we can change his position. I remembered V used to "lau gai" when she's sleepy, and her Popo would attribute her misbehaviour to her fatigue. But when already asleep, she sleeps like a log and is not easily awaken. W, however doesn't cry when need to sleep. However, I'd say he's quite a light sleeper.

Having said that, V takes time to "warm up" when she's awake. W bounces out of bed, though not literally. He's also better than my alarm clock because he'd be awake around 730am every morning without fail, weekday or weekend, school day or holiday.

5. Birds and plants and cars
V loves nature. She's an outdoor girl. She loves her garden walk, and watching birds, dogs, cats, and flowers. I think it's because she had her morning garden walk almost everyday when she was a baby. Here in PJ, the outdoor space is limited as we do not have a big garden. The birds are fewer and the air not as fresh. V loved to sit car. She loved to sit in the driver seat, explore the gear and buttons, and pretend she's driving. We've learnt not to put W in the driver seat, because he might make it a habit and cry when we take him away, or worse, want to climb to the driver seat when he's at the back. Also, it's never good to have more than 1 driver. ; ) As for birds and plants, this boy... doesn't seem to take much interest in this area of God's creation.

6. Character and Motorskill
V was a cautious, careful baby. She'd observed, and then take her time to climb, crawl, and walk. But she'd do it the "safe" risk-free way, eg backside down first, when climbing down from the bed/sofa, instead of head first. When I'm sleeping on the side, my body doubles up as the "Great Wall of China" to barricade V and W from falling. Those days, V would stay on the bed. W, on the hand, would climb over me, and go head down first to the other side.... which is the floor.

When it comes to strangers, V is very reserved. Her smile is precious, where else W is more generous with his smile, and allows others to carry him after a while. Miracalously, he's OK being carried by relatives or grandparents who see him only once a while. When V was at his age, she'd reject even her own parents who visit her every weekend.

Calling Popo

Oh my! I just saw Victoria press Popo's house number all by herself. I taught her the numbers a couple of days ago, and this afternoon she called Popo, but I thought it was speed dialled. Then just now, I see her press the numbers herself.

Haha. Not bad. Thank God our house account is on an unlimited package, else I'll have to watch the bill.

Playing in church

Last Sunday William didn't sleep during church service like he always do. I think he's just too occupied and excited with his surroundings, the loud music, the people and the lights. After sometime he got a bit restless and I brought him into the childrens' room. Immediately he wanted to go down on the floor to play with the other kids.

I let him be. Just kept a watchful eye on him, while I had the opportunity to chat with a few other parents. He played with other kids' Thomas train, crayons (he loves color pencils and crayons but I refuse to let him play with them) and car.

Here are some pictures to savour:

Term break

This week Victoria has her school holidays. We listed 4 things to do during her hols:

1. Swimming
2. Go to the playground
3. Kai kai at IKEA/Ikano
4. Buy pizza playdoh set

Yesterday she was about to leave the house with Daddy to go swimming, but it started to pour just as she stepped out. Sigh... so it was back into the house, but we had a special time making steamed "nin gou" with grated coconut flesh dessert.

First time at DUMC Children Church

Two days ago, Victoria attended her first children church session at DUMC. Daddy brought her there in the afternoon and she came back telling me there was a clown. She enjoyed herself somewhat, I gathered, but as usual with new environments, she was clingy.

I stayed home with William to have the time off.

This is one of our first steps to get more involved in church since last year was a very busy year for our family.

Domino's Pizza

Today Victoria went for a school outing to Domino's Pizza to see how pizza is made. A week ago when her principal informed me of this outing, she kindly reminded me to pack some food for Victoria as she won't be able to join her friends to eat the pizza due to her allergy to egg.

Last year when her kindy had an excursion to Vitagen factory, I decided to let her stay home, telling her that it's a school holiday. Instead, we did the clay painting project at home and had a great time. I didn't have the heart to tell her that her friends are going to the Vitagen factory and she won't be able to drink Vitagen which was her favourite drink then.

This year I think she's more matured and accepted the fact that she has to stick to her strict diet in order to get well. Many times her teacher tell me how matured and well behaved she is in school, whilst her friends enjoy cookies and biscuits and food she temporarily cannot enjoy.

So she woke early today. Or more like, I woke early to wake her up. We planned her food pack, which was her favourite fried rice with chinese sausage and long beans. She enjoyed it at the pizza place, and learnt how to roll cheese sticks. She even got a slice of pizza back for me, yummy!

Her teacher tell me that she ate her fried rice without crying, or asking to eat pizza. I'm proud of you Victoria and pray in next year's school outing, you won't have any diet restrictions.

Victoria in City Park

Victoria loves to go to City Park in Seremban. It's a relatively new park, quite big, complete with a huge pond with many many koi fishes and tortoises, playground and adult exercise area, land for football and kite flying, basketball court, jogging tracks, and skateboarding. Super! I wish we had this in PJ.

Anyway, Victoria has been feeding the koi fishes since they opened City Park about 2 years ago. She'd collect old breads and bring them along, and she'd play on the slides, swings and enjoy running around.

Whenever we are back in Seremban, we try to bring her to City Park to fulfill her wish list. Of course she wants to have Popo Gong Gong come along to relieve those happy memories, but sadly, they are not always available. Time flies. But as long as it makes her happy, and the weather is good, and it's a healthy outing, we will make our best effort to oblige this child, who will one day lose her excitement for the park.

Here are random pictures of her taken not too long ago.

Feeding the fishes



Look at all the fish in the pond!!
Running
A little too big for this, but she loves it

Rrruuuuunnnnnn!!! Daddy is chasing me!

Hair cut for William

Yesterday we brought William for his "first" haircut... in a way, because the first time he had his hair"cut" was a shave, so this is officially a real haircut, or actually more like a trim, in preparation for his big day next month.

We made an appointment with the same hairdresser who shaved his head when he was 4 months old, who is also the same hairdresser who shaved his sister's head when she was 3 months old and subsequently cut his sister's hair a few times. Not by coincidence. This lady operates from a house in a humble housing area, is very gentle and patient, and charged us only RM6 all the time without even raising her price for so many years.

So yesterday William got the first slot in the morning at 9am. Daddy carried him, whilst the hairdresser Ah Tan put a cloth around his neck, and we did expect some resistance from him, but he did not. He just cling on to daddy's arms, and allowed the lady to trim the back and sides of his hair. What a good boy! We remember the few times when Victoria had her haircut, she cried and cried in protest, and we had to ensure there was her pacifier, and toys to distract her. Only once, if I recall correctly, did Victoria not cry.

So ta daaaa!! This is William having his hair cut (coz Mummy can't do a better job)

Resting at home

Yesterday Victoria stayed home instead of going for her playschool as she came down with flu on Tuesday evening. She kept sneezing with lots of clear secretions flowing out from her nose. As William just healed, he too showed signs of a little flu.

So yesterday I brought the two of them to see the doctor in Taman Tun and they were each given antihistamine to combat the flu.

Victoria was rather restless at home, but admittedly I couldn't spend much quality one-to-one time with her as William was around and needed to be looked after, whilst the maid helped with the chores. There is this little jealousy (little I hope) in the older sibling and she shows it by not wanting the brother around, not wanting to be around the brother, sometimes taking his toys away, or keeping her toys to herself, or even explicitly saying she doesn't want William. It pains our heart of course, and we try our best to assure her, to explain to her that we should love our family members, and how "benefitial" William is or will be to her. She has her moments. I notice that she loves William more and is more accepting to him during the evenings and night. She would understandingly allow me to put William to sleep, then wait for her turn. I remember fondly those times she would kiss him without us asking, or she would pray for him.

Anyway, today I let Victoria stay home again. When she woke (surprisingly early at 745am by herself... I secretly wonder why during the school days it's so difficult to even stir at that hour?) she immediately asked for Daddy to bring her to walk outside the house. Just like the good ol' days.

Daddy brought her. They decided to sit car instead. She "bought" breakfast for me. It was wa tan hor and she told me there's egg and she can't eat. They went to the playground at the back of the house and she happily got her socks dirtied and proudly showed it to me and Kakak. After breakfast and William have slept, Victoria and I spent so much quality time together.

First, we went to the garden and let Tom the Tortoise walked out. For the first time, she took Tom out herself eventhough she said she was afraid. We "looked after" Tom by holding brooms each, and barring Tom from hiding or running away. Mind you, for a tortoise, he sure is fast. After a good half hour of exercise for Tom, we put him back in his container and fed him. Vic washed his container and put the vege in for him.

Then we went in, she obediently washed her hands with soap, and I peeled a pear for her to cut and mince. She love using our small chopping board and a butter knife to mince her fruits, and keeps to the condition of finishing it later. I sat down by her side as she requested, not doing anything but just taking a spoonful of her minced pear now and then out of obligation.

After that, we sat down for awhile to play paper doll. Then I bathed her as she was sweaty and sticky and scratching her scalp. Then we played computer games. She sat on my lap as she watched me play (I like this, coz she wants me to play and just enjoy watching). Shortly later, I told her to rest as I think her medication has been kicking in and she'd feel sleepy by now. She asked for a story and I took the Puzzle Bible story out. As I did that, she spontaneously told me, "Mummy I missed you".

As I type this, my tears swell. I felt so touched. I missed you too.

After the stories, I told her to close her eyes. As I watch her sleep, I pray to God for a moment longer before William wakes from his morning nap, just so that I can have this happy closure with Victoria.

Daddy Mummy still love you very much, girl. Eventhough our family is now four, William multiplies our happiness and I hope she will feel the same too.

Climbing stairs and love bites

William has been very active lately. It's now that I start to see the little rascal in him. He used to be innocently playful, very generous and forgiving, never demands always giving, but lately he'd cry when we take his favourite toy or thing that he's holding. He's also started climbing onto tables everytime I place him on my lap, whether it's our work table, or the coffee table or the dining table.

Two days ago I jerked up from my morning nap and rushed to his room to check on my "sleeping" baby. He too have woken from his nap, and was quietly playing by himself like he used to. Only this time, I found him near the electrical plug point, and holding an electrical wire. I said, "William!" and he gave me his biggest, most cheerful welcoming smile. I now cover both the electrical points with safety plugs.

Then yesterday when I fed him his dinner, he kept standing up on his high chair and I have to keep saying, "Nooo.. William.. no!! Sit down." Then I'd slowly bend his legs and put them back in the high chair. Before I know it, he's trying to stand again. My my... so dangerous. Now I warn the maid never to leave him alone on his high chair even for a second. This guy is a risk taker, man!

Today he climb our two flights of stairs, from the living room up to his room. Then he went for the bottles and things arranged on the cupboard.

Last night I wanted to put him to sleep but he was exceptionally playful. He lunged at me, climbed over me, hugged me, and bit me so much and so hard on my shoulders and upper arms.

I've been warned before I gave birth to a boy, that boys are much more playful, naughty, and energetic than girls. Guess I better heed this warning now ; )

Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday hubby and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. Five years of being stuck together in marriage. : ) 11 years of knowing each other. The first time we officially met, was at Liverpool Lime Street train station just a week before Valentine.

Just as the other times when our parents come to babysit and help watch our kids, we are tremendously grateful. This weekend Popo Gong Gong spent the weekend in PJ so that Hubby and I can have some time off to celebrate. It has been sometime since we really had time together, without the kids and maid.

He made a booking at Lafite, Shangrila Hotel KL. Their earliest booking time was 7pm so we went for that and used our member's voucher for a 50% off their Ultimate Experience, which comprise of a 12-course fine dining menu, and a complimentary bouquet of flowers.

We left the house around 2pm, after lunch with Popo and GongGong. We headed straight to Sg Buloh nurseries to look for some landscape quotation for our small garden.

Dinner time

We expected the dinner NOT to be filling, since it was fine dining and the food should be bite sized. But the portion became a little bit bigger as we moved down the course, and I was almost stuffed out by the 6th course. I forgotten to take the picture of the first course, and only remembered after I've finished eating it. That just shows our excitement! But the lighting where we sat was not in favour of any good photo shots as it causes a shadow on our food, and a flash would make the picture too bright. Anyway...

The menu comprise of (in such order)

1. Inside Out Pizza (crunchy and tasty)

2. Caviar Donut (yummy!)

3. Foie Gras Brulee (so-so)

4. Corned Duck Mosaic (also so-so, I didn't enjoy the salad leaves)

5. Cheese and Onion Soup (not too bad, it had this unique small bottle of tomato puree which you squeeze into the soup that ends up like noodles)

6. Truffle Orzo (must try!)

7. Scallop Chowder

8. Foie Gras Volume 2 (nicer than the Foie Gras Brulee)

9. Kamikaze Sablefish (soft and juicy)

10. Lamb Mediterannean (I was already so full, it was difficult to fully appreciate this dish, but it's very unique and the lamb was tender and juicy)

11. Chocolate Puzzle

12. OMG!! I just realised that we only had 11 dish... where's the 12th?????

Flowers complimentary from Lafite

Enjoying my soup

Flowers on the table that came in the shape of a crystal ball

We were awed by the amount of glass and mirrors used in the wash rooms

We left the place around 9pm and I must say that towards the end our minds were on the kids. Whether they have slept, whether William cried the whole night missing mummy to put him to sleep... and I guess that was why we didn't count all our dishes before we left.

Anyway, it was great having to experience the highly recommended Ultimate Experience. Ask me if I would like to experience it again, I'd say nah. Great time, because it was spent with a very loved one, my one and only honey... but there are many other great places and great food for us to explore.

William was asleep when we got home. He didn't cry. Victoria was with Popo and Gong Gong. She was down with flu that day too. We gave her a dose of polaramine and paracetamol before she slept.

It was a good day, and I remembered telling hubby before I closed my eyes, "I wish everyday was our anniversary".... then it's zzzzzzz