The big baby

Look who's enjoying a suck at her little brother's milk...

She's still a big baby at heart.

Vic has been bugging me to give her another younger sibling, her negotiation skills is getting better and somewhat desperate... sometime back she said that she wanted only a younger sister, no younger brother because she claims boys are all naughty creatures and girls are angels.

These days, she says she don't mind any gender, so long as she gets a baby sibling, and out of desperation maybe, she is also willing to relinquish her place on our big bed for the baby (because baby and William on each of my side). When I asked her why, she said, "Because I'm the oldest, so I should sleep on my own bed." But don't believe her quite yet.

She's also gone into suggesting two kakaks / maids for me to help me out with the chores and babysitting. I don't know why she's suddenly gone so "maternal."

But no no no, it's not time yet. Right now, we already have two babies in the house ie one who claims to be the big baby, another who claims to be the "little big boy" and exciting months ahead as Vic, William and Mommy embrace a new routine. 

In two weeks' time, it is good bye kindy for Vic, and before we know it, hello Primary One... sob sob!  Popo has already put in her sponsorship for Vic's first primary uniform, how sweet!  : ) 

You are so vain

The little vain things that Victoria does, @ 6years 7 months old:

1. The moment she hears that we are going out, whether directly or indirectly informed, she will quickly pick her own clothes to wear. I have almost given up attempts to pick for her, only to get into loggerhead with her, and either or both of us getting upset. So I let her choose her clothes, usually it's the same few favourites that she has. The only times I intervene is when I think she's overdressed (never under dressed) or when what she chose is unappropriate.

2. Just to go for cell gatherings or tuition class, few times I told to change her clothes again for overdressing ie jeans and a nice top and a heavily done up hair.

3. She thinks Kakak can do a better job at tying up her hair than me, especially in bunning up her hair (I'm happy to let Kakak do it) and tying her hair high and tight. If Vic has her way, she would tie her hair 24 hours! I have to remind her to NOT tie her hair after bath when her hair is wet. Sometimes, Kakak spends up to 10 minutes on her hair, because Vic wants her to tie this way and that way and experiment with new styles.

4. She has learnt to cut down from clips ranging from two hands to only two on her hair, at one time. However, when I noted that she's losing hair and apply some olive oil for her to take out the frizz, it didn't seem to bother her. But after that, many times she poured so much oil on her hair that you'd have to use double the amount of shampoo just to wash it off. Once, teacher Esther even asked her why her hair looked so "wet."

5. Vic spends a long time combing her hair in front of the mirror.

6. Vic's current fancy is anything that goes bling bling. (Good start, Vic... next time hope you move this fancy to rocks that go bling bling... kekeke)

7.  She likes to put on lipstick, and I have promised her that I will buy her first lipstick for her 16th birthday.  Today she reminded me that apparently I also promised her that she will get her first perfume when she turns 15.  

8.  And today we bought Vic a new dress for her kindy graduation.  Here is a sneek peek to what she chosen:

Who taught you this?

Reading about Adam and Eve, and the fall of mankind with the first sin, William wittingly observed and noted allowed that "It was Eve's fault."

Surprised (or shouldn't I), I asked him why he said that.

His reply? "Eve ate the apple first, then gave it to Adam."


*****

Things he say - WITHOUT PROMPTING...

"Mummy you are the prettiest." I'm swooned, melted and flying on Cloud 9. I wonder if he will still say this to me when he's 18.

"Mummy, even when you are old, you are still the prettiest." So. Totally. Romantic. Remind me to check with him again when I am really old and wrinkled and grey.

(I'm jotting this down as a reminder to myself)

William's First Dental Visit

Last Tuesday on October 25th, Daddy brought William for a dental check up as I was a little concern that his upper front milk teeth was showing signs of stains, despite the frequent brushing.

Initially I thought it was the toothpaste that I introduced, the first being First Teeth Baby Toothpaste.  I later changed him to Pureen Kids Toothpaste but he didn't like it, so I let him share his sister's Chicco's Dentifricio.  Truth be told, I rather he uses the Pureen Toothpaste as it boasts of NO fluoride, NO sodium lauryl sulfate and No saccharin, safe for children... ie SAFE TO SWALLOW.  Which is exactly what I suspect this boy does, he would swallow some, talk while his teeth is being brushed and talked with the foam in his mouth before rinsing.

Chicco Toothpaste. Best to buy when they have a 20% discount, stock up. I use this for Vic, eversince she was discovered with mild allergy to mint. A side note, she has tried Colgate in between but developed red ulcer-like spots on the edges of her mouth. Due to that, I have stopped Colgate and reintroduce Chicco.

These were both Vic's and William's first toothpaste brand.


So was William afraid? Did he cry? Did he struggle? Was there any bribing? No, no, no and no. I wasn't there and Daddy said he put up a brave front. Walking up the stairs to the clinic, he was holding the umbrella and braved himself up by saying, "If the dentist naughty, I will beat the dentist with this umbrella." Ummmm... not exactly the nicest thing to say, but oh well..

No pictures were allowed but Daddy sneakily snapped a couple, whilst pretending to sms.  Hehehe... good job, hubby!

The lady dentist was gentle. Daddy pre-empted her that his is William's first time. He sat on the dentist chair, with mouth open, insisted to have his water bottle strapped around his shoulder.

A little cavity, I hear, but nothing serious. Apparently the stains are just due to food and some kids have teeth prone to stains. Hopefully it will not recur when his permanent teeth comes out coz I think it looks a little like a smoker's teeth - we wouldn't want to mislead the ladies he meet next time, right. In the meantime, we need to brush a little longer, also for his molars which the dentist said was quite deep thus tendency for food to get lodged there.

After the check up was done, William even thanked the dentist, waved good bye and said he would come again! Oh no... clinics of any kind, including dentists' are not exactly the kind of places that I'd like to "come again."

Now that William's done, I need to make my own dentist appointment for a long overdue check up, and also one for Vic as she has not been to one yet. I suspect she may have a small hole in her molar but she has not complaint of any pain in her teeth. However, she's starting to notice her friends "dropping" their front teeth, and she so want to have hers out too. Sigh. Peer pressure to this extend?

In times like these...

Two weeks ago on the first day that hubby was away on a business trip in Hong Kong, William fell ill with cough and flu. Knowing this boy, once he gets the bug, I have to immediately administer medication or boost his immune with multivits, else his body deteriorates very fast.

His nose was dripping, and I brought him to his normal paed in Taman Tun after dropping Vic off. I recalled those four days of juggling my normal routine of picking and sending Vic, settling the kids, meeting appointments (which is a good thing but really, without my partner around, it can get quite stressful) and now with a sick kid. I even got my car clamped on that first day, what a way to begin my week without hubby. As a result, I got mighty pissed at the guards and management office, donated RM50 to unclamp my car then followed up with an official complaint letter to the JMB but till now no reply. Oh well - whaddaya expect, we're in Malaysia, right.

On any other day, I wouldn't mind (in fact I do love) an occassional heavy downpour, or a long-winded crying sky, but not when I was rushing in between places. One afternoon I was caught in the sudden downpour on the Sprint, and arrived home to see my maid carrying my crying son just as the house went dark from yet another power supply trip. On another afternoon, I arrived half hour late to pick Vic from her tuition class, as I rushed back from an appointment and got caught in the rain again. And then there was another day that I had to get a good friend (aunty SY) to pick Vic from kindy and send her home for me - thanks buddy!

But of course, that was two weeks back. Obviously I survived, with much gratitude to my maid for at times like these, she has been a great help to watch my son at home, bringing my trust on her to another level. A note here that I don't normally leave my maid alone in the house, what more the kids alone with the maid, unless no other choice or that I know she has chores to complete.

Fast forward to this week.


Saturday 29th October

Both kids caught some bad virus over the weekend. William started purging during dinnertime at Marche on Saturday. Vic vomitted her salmon spaghetti a few hours later. William developed a nasty fever that didn't subside, but only got worse on Monday night-Tuesday. His purging was controllable, although he had another 3 more rounds.  Thank God Vic was fine although lethargic on Sunday, so she could sit for her final assessment this week.

Monday 31st October

Hubs left for an outstation business trip.  I'm alone to fend for the kids again. How come the kids always fall sick when hubby's not around?  Just an observation. 

Tuesday 1st November
 
On Monday night at 3am, his body felt like a hot kettle beside me, and I pumped him with another dose of Nurofen, Ventolin and Zrytec, sponged his forehead, but his fever didn't subside. His cough deteriorated, and he totally lost his appetite, only managing a little mee sua for lunch. Poor boy hardly got any rest at night, waking up every now and then, looking delirious and tired, coughing and I was worried yet I know God will answer my prayers.

The boy was tired even though he woke later than usual at 1030am and didn't want breakfast. When I went for a quick nap at 130pm, I found him later at 230pm with his head lying beside me but his body on the bedside table. I don't know how he could just doze off in such an uncomfortable position, but yea, he must be really really tired. Again his body felt feverish.  Another round with slightly higher dosage of Nurofen didn't help either.

My in laws dropped by to help in the evening. They were on the way back to Seremban, but agreed to hang around to settle Vic whilst I brought William to see the paed the moment the clinic opened. For that and the many other times they came to help, I cannot describe how eternally grateful I am, because yea, for all you parents out there who don't stay with extended families, you will understand how precious these help are.

As we left our house to the clinic, the sky opened again, and visibility on the road was poor.  I looked at my son, he sat quietly on the co-driver seat, with the glint lost from his eyes.

Vic was supposed to go to her music class but she brought Yeh Yeh to another place instead by mistake, got caught in the after office hour traffic-cum-rain, missed her class as a result, but well... it's ok, she got to enjoy a 1hour ride with Yeh Yeh. Precious times with her grandparents.

Doctor put William on one round of the nebuliser to clear the mucous from his lungs (he was not wheezing, phew) and prescribed Prednisolone and adviced to continue his Ventolin and Zrytec.  I also asked for suppository to counter his high fever.

Wednesday 2nd November

Last night, William slept through and this morning, praise God for no more fever, a restful sleep last night, and increased appetite during breakfast.  When he starting talking about Kungfu Panda on the bed, I knew my boy was on the rebound.  : ) 

Fortunately for my two kids, I have no problem in getting them to eat medicine and they don't laugai that much, unless seriously tired.   Today I look forward to hubby back home again after another business trip.   Yippee!

Where is your penis?

This was the exact question that my daughter asked our maid awhile back.

Eversince being a mother, I have trained myself to keep my ears open, eyes sharp and ever ready to spring into action - whether as the comforter, reprimander, referee or whatever other role that duty calls.

While I was upstairs trying to get an important document out to the banker (asking for a bigger loan, haha!) I overheard my 6yo asked the maid at the dining table, "Kakak, where is your penis?" in a hushed hushed tone.

Naturally, Kakak was confused and didn't know the meaning of the word P.E.N.I.S so she asked, "What is that?" and Vic repeated her question.

At her 2nd or 3rd attempt, I interrupted and asked her to come upstairs. Secretly I thought I "caught" her at some mischief and immediately put on my "teacher cum investigator" hat.

I asked her if she knew what a penis was, she said it was "pet pet" which is a girl's genitals. then I asked her who taught her that word. She answered, "Teacher."

Huh? I probed.

Vic explained that "teacher told us when we go to school next time, not to let anyone touch our breast or penis." And apparently teacher addressed this to both the boys and girls.

Oh.

Vic looked really innocent. The fact that she thought that a penis is a girl's ahem... I held my breathe, trying to think of how to respond to her.

Then I burst out laughing. After I told her that a penis is a "bird bird" and not what she thought, she burst out laughing too, and so did the maid downstairs.

Oh, and I need to mention that as I was questioning Vic upstairs, William immediately went to Kakak downstairs to ask her "how to spell penis? how to spell penis?"

Graduation Portrait

We recently received Victoria's graduation package, consisting of a half body closed up portrait, full body portrait, passport size photograph and class photograph of the children in their full graduation robe and mortar board.

This is her teacher's autograph personally written for each child:

"Dear Victoria,

You are a gifted child. May God continue to give you ideas to design, build and perform. Let Him fill you with His creativity, that will bring glory to Him and blessings to others. May the beauty of the Lord be upon you to establish the work of your hands!"