The kids @ the Playground

One of the favourite spot I like bringing my kids will be the playground. Love to watch them at play, especially now that Cieran is able to join Ashley. Though not all the play area Cieran appreciates at this stage, there are few which he does enjoys. One of it will be the springy scooter where he sits and knows how to shake to make it move. Another will be the red bowler (suppose to swing in circles 360 degrees) where he comfortably sits in there without having me to hold him. I simply move the bowler from left and right gently. Cieran also enjoys the slides, with me holding on him (sitting on my lap) and slide down together. As for Ashley, she's old enough to play all that's available in the playground. She has fun running and climbling. Occassionally, she will stops by and play with her little brother, before she goes wondering around on her own pleasure. I enjoy watching them play and play with them, though I easily get all sweaty in just 10mins. Sometimes, I just wished the clock will stop and the kids will remain at this age-never grow older.... and of course, having me not growing older too! Hahaha....

Celebrating Dad's 70 Birthday @ Singapore Flyer!

It was incredible! It's Dad's 70 birthday this year... I wonder if I will live to this age. We plan and decided to celebrate his birthday with dinner and a ride on the newly opened Singapore Flyer. It was arranged on 13Sept (not actual day) and reservations at the restaurant was pre-arranged. The kids are excited and all in the family are aware of this celebration, except, of course dad was kept in the dark. To him, it was just to experience the Singapore flyer. We have been thinking what to do on his birthday, especially this year was his 70 birthday-which is consider big for Chinese. Not easy, since dad don't really enjoy going out and having the day 'big'. Thus, we have the celebration with just the family members. Dinner was set at Jalapenos Pepper which was rated as one of the healthy choice restaurant by Ministry of Health. Looking at the restaurant's site earlier, it does looks interesting and colourful. The menu was more of western style with a healthier manner of cooking. We each other our food, with little Cieran being an exception. Well, nothing much is suitable for him of his age. Nevertheless, he was pleased with his baby biscuits which I bring along for him. We had our fill before boarding the Singapore Flyer at 9pm. We requested for a cabin for ourselves and was granted. Thanks to the 'less crowded' situation and, the family number we have-can you imagine? We have 11 members! It was a pity that we are unable to have red wine/champagne along with the flight. Anyway, it was glad we have the whole cabin ourselves. We had fund taking pictures, looking at the night scenery. The flight took about 30mins before we are on the ground again. Felt like in the airport landing, as we are headed to souvenirs shopping once leaving the cabin. Besides the pleasant experience we had on board Singapore Flyer, we left the place with a family photo on Singapore Flyer which was taken well by the staff there. That, was a memory token for Dad....

On 19Sept, dad's actual birthday...all members are back to celebrate with him. Not a enormous celebration, but a sweet and beautiful one with a "Shou Tao" cake from crystal jade bakery. The cake was of a shape of peach, with 8 mini peaches by the side. Very unique and nice cake suitable for this event. We sang birthday songs (kids are trilled) and dad made his birthday wish. The day ended with laughter and cheers in the house. Wish dad have a wonderful birthday ever!

Cieran is a buddle of joy!

Cieran is 8months now... he has been such a bundle of joy in the family. Just his smiles alone will melt your heart and made you forget your sorrows. Almost everyday I have been hearing 'happy updates' on him from my mum. "your son was calling others loudly along the way to home from the market", "he's very happy today, he has been calling and playing with you", "the auntie at the market gave him a packet of biscuits seeing him cute", "passerby who doesn't know him, will stop and play with your boy"...etc. Cieran has been charming almost everyone with his smiles and friendliness. I wonder how many girls will be falling on his charms in future. :-) It has always been a 'look-forward' home feeling each day when the clock draws towards 6pm. Cieran always gives me a welcoming cheer when he sees me. Well, or I should say, not only to me. He gives anyone a welcoming cheer when a new person enters the house. He happily roll over to the entrance (if he is on his walker), or sits with both his hands waving.... of course with his little voice calling you! He would want the person to walk over to him and carry him. Several times, we like to disturb him by instead of walking over to him, we called for him to crawl over. This little fellow is not always obliging.. sometimes, he would just crawl halfway, and stopped. Either being distracted with other sounds, or expects you to make the halfway route as well. Cieran adopts some of the 'piggy' habits since he is born in the year of pig. He never rejects any food. A better way to describe will be, he expects to eat whenever anyone is eating. He will drops his toy (if he is playing) and crawl to you for food if he spotted you chewing. Yesterday I have fun watching him. I am playing with Cieran when Ashley joins us with a slice of apple on her hand. Cieran spotted the apple, drops his toy and turn himself over to his sister. He looks at her at interest, making light noise..asking for a bite. His attention is fully on the apple and won't stop pestering Ashley till he got his bite on. It was hilarious watching the two kids-one avoiding, the other pestering. Cieran is overall a happy boy. He is contented with just a string as a toy and that string can amused him for quite a long while. He sits playing with it, turning round in circles with his legs and butt, on the same spot (amazing right?). Each child has their own manner of play and growth. I see the difference between Ashley (when she's little) and Cieran. It has been a wonderful parenthood, eventhough there are also tough times handling the kids.

They made my life fuller.

New skills/development this month was : 2 new teeth-total 4 now, holding on bars in standing popsition-shake himself forward&backwards, wave bye-bye and shake hand.

Water Play @ Home

I have always been wanting to get a inflatable pool for the kids to play-whether as a ball pit, or water play, but such inflatable pool takes up space, plus it is not only expensive, I don't seems to find the right size too. Then one day, I finally spot the right one at Giant Supermarket. It cost less than $13, and the size is just ideal! I bought it without much hesitation. Ashley was with me and she was real excited. She can't wait to have water play. I choose a blue colour pool with the dolphins design-look more like in the ocean, though Ashley keeps persuading me that the pink is more beautiful. Haha! (Ashley is a 'pink" girl) Since this purchase, there has not been any chance for the kids to play. Well, firstly coz there's no sun (didn't want the kids to catch a cold) and secondly, I get lazy thinking on the process of 'blowing' up the pool. Ashley had reminded twice why they hadn't got the chance to play with it. She got real good memory... I like her question to me, it's always goes like this "Mummy, long long time ago we didn't play in the pool we buy". Haha! She likes to use the phrase"long long time ago"... She post this question to me on Sun-27July. I explained again that there wasn't any sun. She has a disappointed expression on her face.... then her face lighted up again and suggested that they can play with clothes on so they won't catch a cold. She certainly can come up with 'innovative' ideas! Didn't want to disappoint her, I told to wait in the afternoon, if there will be sun. After lunch, while strolling back home, I noticed the sky was warmer. Though not sunny sun, but warm enough for a session of outdoor water play. It was a blessing that I have bought a pump during sales, and I managed to blow up the pool easily. Cieran was still seated on the stroller, with a very curious face watching me doing the pumping job. Ashley was at his side, laughing and getting excited. She tried to help in stepping on the pump, but instead of pumping the air, she kept laughing and the hose came out. In the end, I did the job myself... but it was a fun time with Ashley's silly laughter filling the air. Cieran has a blur look when I placed him seated in the pool. He's probably still wondering what is happening...Ashley on other hand, got herself all ready for water play. When I opened the tap and fill up the pool, Cieran started to get excited. He and his busy hands clapping... while Ashley is laughing away happily. Again, Jeremy missed the happy scene of the kids having fun. I rushed in the house and grabbed my camera. How can I missed taking photos of the happy kids playing? I am a busy mum, amusing the kids with bubbles (blowing bubbles, while Ashley catch them), toys... Cieran was busy pulling and snapping the turtle. It's fun watch the kids at play. Can be busy (setting up and clearing), but it's all worth it. :-)

1st family outing with Cieran - Barney Let's Imagine-Live!

8 June'08, marked the day where we have a family outing with baby Cieran. We went to Suntec Convention for Barney-Let's Imagine Live show. Though Jeremy feels a pinch on the ticket price (which can be costly as a family-almost $100 for 3 tickets), he readily brings the whole family for this show. Ashley is the most excited one among us......... while baby Cieran doesn't even knows what's happening, and why was he dress in Barney suit. Nevertheless, watching over his Jie Jie Ashley happily smiling away, this little brother gets excited too. It was a busy schedule for this day. Besides the usual ballet and swim class on a Sun which ends at 5.30pm, we need to make sure we arrived on time at 7.30pm for the show. Lucky we got a parking lot easily and even got time to sit around for dinner before the show.
You can see many happy kids at Suntec Convention. Many with hands holding on their favourite characters of Barney, BJ and Baby Bob. Some wearing shirt and dress with Barney pictures on. For us, Baby Cieran wears Barney too...haha! It's a wonderful scene to see audience dressed to suit the performance. It's a 1hr 30mins show with a 10mins break. Cieran looks blur when the show started.. it takes a while for him to probably realised it's a performance. He didn't cry or gets cranky (like some older kids who cry...), but sits quietly with daddy. Babies don't have long time span, Cieran gets tired and doze off after watching about 45mins of the show. On the other hand, Ashley got 'glued' on the show and asked if the show ended when it was break time. Kids being kids... the question asked is so innocent... she asked 'has the show end? Why Barney and BJ didn't come out?...' Overall, I think the children enjoyed the show, and we had a enjoyable time together. You know how precious such 'family' outing are... :-)

Cieran turns 6moths, I am back to work..what's more changes?

Time flies when you witness the development of your child. Cieran is 6 months already. Great changes in the family during this month. With just one decision to get back to workforce, the whole family needs to reschedule our routine. First, a consideration who's going to look after Cieran when I am at work. I remember the numerous discussions had with Jeremy, my parents and in laws. It's tremendous stress trying to find the best arrangement for Cieran. We even explored the idea of getting a maid in the house. Despite my reluctant, I give in to explore this option after much persuasion from Jeremy, especially since I can't find any good alternatives. We visited several maid agencies, finding out what's the procedure, fees in hiring a maid. I am surprised that I need to attend a online course and passed the test (with at least 80%) before I am eligible to employ a maid. Nevertheless, this is not difficult task, what worries me is "Must I really employ a maid in the house?'. Several days, I ponder on this issue-Do I need a maid..is maid a solution for us... maid in the house-what adjustments I have to make in the house for this additional member, what rules to set, how to prepare my children to accept this change..etc. For many days, I have sleepless nights. Being a mother, you have more worries and think more than any other man. Jeremy wonders why I am so stressed over this matter and feels that I think too much on the negative side in getting a maid, but how can I not to? It's always easier for a man in making a decision-they are rational and practical. Women are always more emotional thus worry more. That's the difference between a man and a woman. Probably that's why it makes a couple, to compliment each other since each has it's own strengths and weakness.

Nevertheless, I am glad that we have solved the problem and found the best arrangements for Cieran. After much discussions with my parents, it was agreed that mum will quit her job for good and look after my children. In return, I cover her an salary in addition to the monthly allowance for parents. Cieran will be full time care under mum, and Ashley's school bus will route to her place as well so that someone is around to pick her and attend to her dinner needs. After my work, I will proceed to mum place for dinner and bring Ashley home. Cieran being young age will stays overnight at mum till he's older, before I brings him home every night. No point I bring him home now where all I can do with him is to pat him to bed. Instead, I utilised the time (which is a real short time of about an hour) with Ashley to do some activity learning and read stories before sending her to bed.

As for the maid that we have earlier booked, we cancelled the service with a penalty charge of $100. Though a price to pay for nothing ($100 penalty, $30 for online course and test), I am glad that all fits in well now. For this matter, I am very happy that Jeremy gave me his full support on the ultimate decision we made. He may be practical, but ultimately he care most for this family-which I can feel it.

Hey... I scored 98/100 for the demestic test! Not bad right?? Haha!

Cieran @ 4 months

Cieran weighs 8.23kg during his 4 month check up. Hummm...Ashley got this weight only when she is around 6 months. I suppose, this is a difference between a girl and a boy. Anyway, Cieran is a happy baby. He is much easier to look after in comparison to Ashley, in terms of demands and cleanliness. Eg, when Ashley wet/poo, she demands immediate attention. She will cry with her lungs out till we have complete all cleaning, diapering and carries her up. As for Cieran, he is much easy going, he doesn't cry at all, simply allowing you to take time to clean him up. It is much less stressful attending to his needs. Well... as parents, I have been worrying why Cieran hasn't learn how to turn over. Even how hard I lure him with his many toys (well, in fact-toys that was passed over from Ashley :-p), he just couldn't be bothered to try making a turn. He just left me behaving like a 'fool' shaking his toy, trying hard to attract him over.... My efforts of helping him to turn over never see any results! Sigh..... :-( But! On 22April...a surprised came... I witness together with Ashley (at around 6.45am), Cieran makes his 1st turn flipped over on his left by himself. It was quite a easy and fast turn which was least expected. I was trilled to see such sight. I turn him back lying flat on the mat, and hope he'll make another turn again, to ensure myself that what I am seeing is not in my dreams. I lure him with his favourite toy...and YES! He did it again. :-) I am really HAPPY. The next day, I brought him over to my parents' house and both gong gong and po po gets very excited over Cieran's achievements. Well.. they have been disturbing Cieran, naming him "dai lump baou' meaning 'fatty' due to his weight, and his showing no interest in turning. They laughed and cheered when they see Cieran actively turning and flipping over again and again... Achievement at 4 months-turn over on left side.