December

Though December has 31 days, it always seem to be a short month. Partly because of the public holidays, the atmosphere in office (with so many people clearing their leave) and year-end party mood...

Just a summary of what I have done in this month...

Managed to take a photo with Greg's Mummy before she gave birth...

Brought Gine to watch Elmo Show on its very last day (almost forgot all about it)...


Hubby did not want to join us for the show and stood afar. Shocked when he came rushing in during the photo taking session with Elmo and gang...

Attended Cousin Pegan's wedding at Grand Copthorne Waterfront with Gine and Hubby. Gine's 1st wedding dinner since her birth. Still quite well-behaved and Mum's relatives were fascinated with Gine and her dress (which hubby bought during his US trip in early part of the year)...

Gine had her last lessons at GUG which ended with a Christmas party for all kids...

Look at how well-mannered Gine was. Waited for all Gor-gor and Jie-Jie to finish their painting before she asked Teacher Ereen to do it on her face (as what Teacher Herly did during National Day celebrations)...

Then it was food, and more food for the kids in her class...chocolate cake from Bakerzin, nuggets from Mac and the list goes on...Yummy!

Photo-taking time. Managed to get Gine to take photo with her GUG Teachers...

Teacher Ereen

Teacher Russell

Towards the end of the month, more parties at friends' house and met up with the next generation...

Gine with Sock Har's sons and Cicai's daughter (Raeanne) @ Aunty Wai Mun's house

Gine with Raeanne and SiQi (Wenjia's daughter) @ Uncle Qinghui's Castle (Castle Green)

Happy New Year and Welcome 2008!!!

Baby and Babysitting

Greg's Mummy was supposed due to give birth on 25 Nov but I guess her womb must be so comfy that Baby Gareth refused to come out. Finally her gynae advised her to induce and she decided to choose 29 Nov. I gladly volunteered to take a day off work and help her babysit Greg at her house without second thoughts since he could not go back to childcare cos of HFMD cases (Well, without Pa and Ma around, guess we have to help each other). Check out Greg's Mummy's blog on her "birth-giving" experience...

Brought Gine along (since she loves her 'Yiyi gorgor") to Greg's house @ Sengkang. Thought I can leave the two kids to the two maids while I read the papers and relack. I was terrible wrong. In the end, have to entertain Greg while taking care of Gine (constipation again!!!). When I finally managed to settle both of them for their afternoon nap, I was dead tired!!!

Gine at her Yiyi's house @ Sengkang, self-entertained

When both woke up at about 3 plus, decided to bring them to Marina Square to catch Barney Live Show. Greg was so excited about catching Barney live and Yanti did not have much problems handling him. But alas, when I reached there, realised that there wasn't any 5pm show that day. In the end, had to have early dinner before queuing up at 545pm to be able to take a photo with Barney after the show.

Gine fell asleep while waiting but luckily woke up in time to see her beloved Barney (Bet she thought she must be dreaming!). Hubby came to meet us at MS but did not join us. After the show, quickly rush to queue to take a photo with Barney (guess Mummy Barney was also excited!! ha!ha!). When it was finally our turn and I was preparing to flash my brightest smile for the camera, suddenly Greg started crying.

After the photo shoot, asked him why he cried and he replied: " I was afraid that Barney will eat me up!!!" Amused... Guess Greg have never ever thought that he will be able to see and touch the big, real Barney and was surprised and shocked when Barney tried to hug him during the photoshoot...

Greg's struggle with Barney

Diary of Regine's 1st School Day

Dear Mummy,

Mummy, I guess you must have been thinking of me for the whole morning. I miss you too! I have lots to tell you, let me share with you what I’ve been doing in school since morning.

I was having fun at our outdoor activity time, but I began to cry for you when it’s time for us to come back into the class. I stood at the door, refused to go along with my teachers or friends. Ms Lim came up to me and hugged me, she asked me to stop crying and talk to her, to tell her what I want. I’m a big girl and I understood. I stopped crying, pointed to the door and called for mummy. “Mummy come, mummy bao bao”. Ms Lim understood, and she sat down with me at the door, spent some time talking with me.

After a while, I stood up and began to walk around in the school, looking for you. Ms Lim followed me around until I finally understood that mummy is really not hiding anywhere here. She brought me back to class to join my friends at work. I stood from afar and observe them for a while. Teacher understands that I might feel shy and uncomfortable to join into the group, she stood by my side, and explained to me what my friends were doing. Though I did not take the initiative to approach them, but when Teacher Hidaya offered me the plate and pegs, I took it immediately. I joined my friends at table to do some pegging work. Mummy, I pegged 2 pegs onto the plate you know!

It’s time for lunch. But I’m getting a little sleepy, and started to think of you again. After I came out from the toilet, I went over to the door and whined for you. I started to cry when brought back to the meal table in my class, all my friends looked at me in amaze, and 2 of them began to cry too. Teacher brought me to another table to have my lunch so that my emotions will not affect my friends. I had half a bowl of rice with chicken & vege soup. While waiting for the rest to finish their lunch, I almost dozed off. Upon seeing that, teacher brought me to get cleaned up 1st so that I can get to sleep earlier. Guess to blame it on my sleepiness, I was quite grouchy. As I wasn’t perspiring much, teacher decided not to shower me, she cleaned me up with wet towel, changed my diapers and clothes. I fell fast asleep upon lying down on the mattress. I slept much earlier than my friends, from 12pm to 1pm.

At 1pm, after I woke up, teacher offered me my milk. I finished all 200ml. Guess what? I lay on my mattress throughout to finish my milk! As my friends were all still sleeping, teacher sat my by side at my mattress where she read me some books. In between, I did whine a little for you occasionally when I thought of you. But my frequency in intervals slowly reduced. At 3pm when all friends woke up, I followed them in dragging our mattress to keep. We then went on to have our music session where I played solo, duet on the keyboard with friends.

At 3pm when all friends woke up, I followed them in dragging our mattress to keep. We then went on to have our music session where I played solo, duet on the keyboard with friends.

At 3.30pm, snack time! I beautifully settled myself with friends at the meal table, had some cakes and water. I fed myself, and sat at the table throughout my meal you know. Not too sure what we will be doing after snack, but I shall stop here. Maybe teacher can update you more later when you pick me up.


Miss you
Your dearest Regine


Written by Ms Lim, Vice-Principal of TLL Learning Vision

Childcare for Regine

In life, there is no impermanence. Changes occur any time, any where...

Decided to put Regine in full day child care after FIL's condition did not improve. Well, guess there is always THE FIRST TIME...

Had brought Regine to the centre to get her accustomed to the new environment at the childcare centre at TLL last Saturday when they had their open house. Managed to leave her alone with the teachers while I attended a talk in another room. No cries, no shrieks, but partly because my maid was around then.

First day at school seemed exciting for Regine. She was fascinated by the playground and kept pulling me towards that direction. Tried all the different tricycles available there.

Loved the playground. Loved the different toys available. Loved the various story books to keep her occupied. Loved her new Elmo bag.

Guess Gine was not even aware that she will be spending most of her days here while Daddy and Mummy are working.

No more Barney shows, day-in, day-out. No more eggs and biscuits in the morning at Nai Nai's house.

Everything is so systematic and Gine has to follow the schedule and adhere to the school rules:

9am - 9:30am - Playground time (Water play on Fridays)

9:30am - 10am - Wash up and water (all children are made to sit round the table to drink water)

10am - 11am - Lesson time (where Teachers will teach them new knowledge - songs, nursery rhymes, story time, art & craft etc)

11am - Lunch

12 noon - Wash up and prepare for nap

By 12.30pm, most of the kids would have fallen asleep. For those on half day programmes, their parents would have picked them by then.

3pm - Wake up and wash up

3.30pm - Tea break

4pm - Free time (where the kids will play with toys, play dough, cooking etc)

Most of the parents will start picking their kids up from the child care, starting from 4:30pm (since they are researchers and their working hours are more flexible). Poor gine, she will always be the last or the 2nd last kid there whenever I pick her up (though there are other infants around in the infant room).

Guess Gine needs more time to adapt to her new life in childcare and I believe she can do it (Well, she definitely has the genes of Mummy Barney :P)

Yet another indoor playground - Orchid Country Club

Told you Greg Mummy was getting crazy over indoor playground. Found out about O'Kidspot at Orchid Country Club from her and both of us met on Saturday morning. Gigantic but not as easy to climb upwards to the slide though. Well, guess it became part of my workout regime nowadays since I have stopped jogging since...Unfortunately, our domestic helpers got bruised while sliding down with the younger ones. Hey, we are not those Mummies who just sit around and let our young children play with our helpers. We experience what our children go through as well, though it was a bit difficult for Greg Mummy, even if she wants to (I know her too well).

Will just let the photos tell a thousand words. Read more from here if you want to...

Sharing some more photos...

A Feminine Gine

A Masculine Greg

What can I eat here?? (Lunch at OCC cafe after play)

Deepavali @ Atlantis

Think both Greg Mummy and myself are cracking our heads, trying to think of places where we can entertain both Greg and Gine. Greg mummy informed me about this new play area for young kids at Turf City and we decided to venture there on Deepavali holiday. Hubby did not join since fil was still in hospital.

What a disappointment! Guess gotta blame the wet weather as well. As a result, the kids were not able to play at the outdoor playground (just a normal playground. Nothing fantastic though!!).

Decided to go over to Atlantis located at Delta Sports Complex. Shoot! Camera was out of battery that day. Anyway, good thing though since I can truly enjoy myself at this indoor playground, reminiscing my childhood. Find out more from Greg Mummy's blog...

Parents - Our Benefactor or Our Burden?

Woke up in the middle of the night yesterday and was unable to go back to sleep. While watching cute little gine, deep in her slumberland, asked myself this question - Will Gine treat me as her Benefactor or her Burden in the future?

Triggered off these thoughts after reading Greg's Mummy's blog, I guess..

Well, as a young parent myself, finally realised that being a parent is definitely not an easy task. Parents always try their utmost to provide the best for their children, regardless of the sacrifices they have to make..

From the day of birth, mothers try to breastfeed their babies, hoping to provide the essential nutrients for a healthy baby. At toddlers stage, parents spend time teaching the young ones, hoping that they will grow up to be smart. When the young ones start schooling, parents worry about their school work and how they cope in school. At adolescence, parents worry about the company that their children mix with. And the list goes on and on...

I guess parents will worry about their children, day in and day out. Even after their children have married and set up their own individual families, their list of worries continues.

On the other hand, is the younger generation willing to sacrifice as much to take care of their parents when they are old and sick, dependent on others for care? Does the younger generation worry about their parents' health, safety etc etc when they aged and lonely? Or, how much of their time is the younger generation willing to sacrifice to take care of their elderly parents when they fall ill?

Well, perhaps for some, they do not realise how much their parents have sacrificed to take care of them when they were young. Or, perhaps for some, they are not willing to sacrifice their wealth, their career, their carefree lifestyle etc etc in order to take care of their parents when they grow old and sick...

Which is the most important to you? Career? Wealth? Parents? Health?

I count my blessings till this day that I had wonderful parents, who were willing to sacrifice their way out for their children, till their very last day. Unfortunately, they are no longer around anymore...*Sob* Sob*

Guess this was, and will be the last family photo that I will have for my photo album...

Rejection

Life is not always rosy, always filled with ups and downs...

Have you ever been rejected? Or have you ever reject someone else? How do you feel when you/ your request has been rejected?

Rejected mum's request to pay for a dinner 1st so that my brother need not foot the bill - Mum was so upset with me that she refused to talk to me for 2 whole weeks.

Did not accede to Mum's request to drive my aunt home (at Bukit Batok) after a party at Greg's Mummy's house in Sengkang - She was so agitated that she complained to almost everyone and refused to talk to me. Had to get Dad's help to ease the tension between us in the end. (Well, it was definitely out of my way (Sembawang) and I was 8 1/2 months pregnant then...)

Rejected Hubby's (then boyfriend) 1st proposal in Paris, Eiffel Tower - He was definitely disappointed and apparently, I ruined his entire Europe trip back in 2003.

Rejected 2 offers to go on business trips to Las Vegas and Taiwan in 2004/2005 - Remorseful that I missed the opportunities to travel (FOC) but did not regret my decision so as to take care of Mum during her chemotherapy treatment (Anyway, thought that non-profit organizations should not splurge on such trips...)

Always not easy to reject other people and of course, it doesn't feel good to be rejected. Anger, disappointment, and lots of other emotion involved. But, ultimately, rejection is not fatal, right? Perhaps, it helps everyone to see things in a different perspective.

Well, being rejected is definitely not easy and absolutely painful. But it is even more difficult to reject others, without jeopardising the relationship, isn't it?

Is this how you feel when you are being rejected?

Halloween Wigs

Was reading Patricia Mok's blog about having fun with wigs. On Sunday, we went to Suntec Toys 'R' Us after Gine's enrichment class. Guess what we did...

First, tried my favourite blue wig on hubby...

Then the green and pink ones on Gine...

How do they look? Definitely fun and entertaining putting wigs on others. Fortunately, Mummy Barney was holding on tighly to the camera!!!

Weekends at home

Since father-in-law was hospitalised in early October, most weekends are now spent at home as hubby needs to be at the hospital most of the time.

Well, even at home, Mummy Barney will try her best to entertain Gine and keep her amused, or rather the other way round....

Check these out...

Gine with her 'Mickey Mouse' cap

Gine with her 'Mickey Mouse' face

Genius at work, genius in the making...

Warrior in disguise

Perhaps Mummy Barney got a bit over- imaginative, afterall...

A Child's Hope 孩有明天

Bored at work. Decided to visit artistes' blogs. Came across the MV for the TV drama serial "A Child's Hope" on Dasmond Koh's blog. Wow, time really flies. Almost 5 years since then...

Was involved in reading through the scripts and briefing the script writers on the various child patients' stories. Hmm..sorta missing out the fun I had in my previous job but on the other hand, glad that I came out of it before mum passed away. At least I did manage to spend some time with her before she left, unlike in the past....Memories...

Regine's Friday

Decided to bring Gine to my office today in the afternoon so that I can bring her to the newly opened Jacob Ballas's Children's Garden (JBCG). Luckily brought along some of her favourite books and had some toys that were given by Barlalee to entertain her for the afternoon. Anyway, guess she prefers to walk around my office, smiling to my colleagues. Bet she was knocked out completely at 5pm when I was getting all ready to go the new Children's Garden!!

Guess you will definitely envy me as my office is just up on the slope of the JBCG. In fact, can see the garden clearly from my office. So excited when I knew that its official opening was on 1 October and quickly smsed Greg's Mummy to join me. Unfortunately, she pulled out at the last minute as hubby had to travel to Jakarta over the weekend.

Luckily, Gine woke up at 5:45pm and at 6pm, we were already at the entrance. Well, impressive but a bit disappointed...

The Photosynthesis area and pumps were not working! Imagine, it was just 4 days after the official opening! So we went on to the Suspension Bridge. Too crowded and everyone tries to walk at the same time. Hubby decided not to walk over (cos of his weight), in case the suspension bridge gives way! One maid even tried pushing a pram across the bridge. My gosh!

Then we explored the Tree House. Well, had wanted to slide down with Gine but Hubby tried and commented that the slide was too steep and fast for Gine. Unfortunately, not conducive for Mummy to slide down together with Gine as I couldn't even manage to balance myself while trying to get ready for the slide. In the end, asked Hubby to come up the Tree House again to get Gine so that Mummy Barney can slide down and enjoy herself! Too fast for young kids!

Walked to Potting Garden. Nothing much. Continued to walk till A-Mazing Play (Can see the maze clearly from my office room). Too simple for Mummy and too big a challenge for Gine...

As for the playground, nothing much but sand around. Lots of kids, especially Caucasians. Finally, decided to let Gine go to the Waterplay area. Thought it was the safest place and perhaps, cleaner than the playground. Limited water cans where hubby have to eye for quite some time before managing to get one for Gine.

As I was taking photographs of Gine enjoying the water play, hmm...something is not right!! As I turn around, spotted a piece of POO on the floor, right at the entrance of the waterplay area, dissolved in the water!!! Yucks...and quickly carried Gine to the other side.

Conclusion - Don't go during weekend evenings (cos going to be overcrowded). Look out for rubbish near the waterplay area (found a piece of apple thrown on the floor as well). More suitable for children and toddlers aged 3 and above.

Grading - 3 1/2 out of 5

Cover Girl - Again!!

Mother-in-law decided to take a break and travel to Chiang Mai for a holiday from Wednesday till Sunday. Last minute notice and so I had to urgently apply for leave to take care of Gine. Since nothing major going on in office, decided to bring her for her 18th month jab (since she just turned 18 mths last Sept).

Sensible girl, guess it runs in my family, as Greg's Mummy blogs about it previously...Didn't wail as the needle was poked into her thigh. Or perhaps Mummy Barney hugged her very closely and so she felt protected.

Unfortunately, this time round, Gine was slightly feverish after her jab. Luckily, had already gotten a day of child sick leave. So, was away from office again on Thursday.

When I finally went back to office on Friday afternoon, haa...haaa... got to be Cover Girl again, this time, its for IMH latest issue of newsletter. Check this out...

Guess this is the kind of treatment we get when we go away from office for too long. Still remember how we pasted post-it notes on Barlyson's desk when she was away. Hmm...shouldn't my colleagues be busy, covering for me while I was away??????!!!

Outdoor Saturday

Had a hard time thinking where to go, every weekend. Unlike in the past, it was so simple. Breakfast at Joo Chiat and with food bought specially for Ma, we would go straight to my mum's place for the weekend...

Brought Gine to Pasir Ris Park. Kids love the huge playground there. Remembered I rented the spacious HDB bungalow there and Pa and Ma simply loved that place, though they were there for a week! Greg and his mummy, sister-in-law and her 2 sons also joined us and the kids had much fun sliding, kicking the ball and playing bubbles! Gine has not met her cousins for quite some time and now, she would start to chase after the boys when they ran towards the playground.

Then we decided to go over to Gallop Stable to take a look. Well, we were not even aware that such a place existed in Singapore. Hubby was excited and immediately went to but a pack of dried hay for the horses (or rather ponies). Maybe he thought the ponies were as hungry as he was...

Luckily, Gine woke up just in time for a pony ride!! Initially Mummy Barney wanted to have a try herself! As far as I could remember, never had an opportunity to ride on a horse. Could remember when I was young, was fighting with Greg's mummy over riding a white horse in Sentosa when suddenly the horse flashed his gritty teeth, both of us decided to let the other party ride the horse...Ha!Ha!

Hubby wearing helmet for Gine

Well, Gine did enjoy her pony ride and even look so professional with her helmet on. Perhaps Mummy should go get her such a helmet so that she can be protected from future falls!!! :p

Gine looking 'blur' after her pony ride.

After the visit to the stable, we head on to Downtown East. Phew! Think my energy level was almost exhausted. The kids were still full of energy and wanted the Kiddy rides. Indeed, a FUN Saturday outdoors which we ended with a sumptuous lunch.

Gine with cousins Gregory and Ryan

When I reached home, Greg's mummy sent me an sms: 'Wanna go for picnic this evening at Bontanical Gardens?" I nearly fainted, and politely suggested having that for next weekend.