Blessed Journey

Plucking armpit hair

2008-12-30T17:12:00.003+08:00

Do you do that?

Even if you do, you do it in private rite? Well, I just saw my new maid doing that outside the toilet of my mom's house!

Ok.. just a bit of background here first. My new Burmese maid is with me for 1.5mth now. My previous maid wanted to go home so we sent her back. We knew this day will come for she wanted to go home a few times already. And this time was for real... she left for good after earning 4.5k!

I caught this 32yo sitting on a small stool outside the toilet, lifting up her arm and plucking her armpit hair with a tweezer! I asked her what she was doing... She smile and replied, "take out...." If my mom's neighbours stand at the service balcony, they can see her clearly. Obviously she doesn't mind cos my dad is at home and she can do such things!

My mom and I covered our mouth as we giggled away... I don't know should I tell her not to do such things again. Immediately I called my hubby. I was laughing and couldn't get my words out properly. Surprisingly, after listening, my hubby didn't even laugh but said there's nothing wrong with it nonchalantly. A clean armpit is better than a bushy one! hahahaha! i'm still laughing when i type this!

I told him from now on, I better keep my shaver. She may use it when she needs a quick fix! "She won't use it only for armpit hair. She will also use it for pubic hair." See how disgusting my hubby can be! I reminded him, "better watch out for yours! cos yours is in the common toilet and pls smell it before using!" hahahahahahaha!

This new maid has poor etiquette. When she was waiting for us at shopping centre, she'd be off her slippers and legs up on chair, like those "lao ah bei" we see at void deck. It was really unsightly but I didn't tell her not to do it... maybe I should... cos she makes us as employers look me bad too!

Uploading pics

2008-12-30T17:10:00.002+08:00

Gosh! I forgotten all about uploading the pix!
I'm just no good at blogging...
think my friends gave up reading already!
Ha!!

Solfitel Palm Resort

2008-10-22T15:07:00.005+08:00

It was Jude's maiden trip out of Singapore - nowhere far but just across the causeway and over the night. It was also his 3rd time staying in a hotel.

The first was a free stay we had at Orchard Hotel, then a paid stay at Rasa Sentosa. This trip to Solfitel was actually hubby's company retreat. Nothing great. I was just there to babysit my 2 boys!

The same problem we faced for the 3 hotel stay was, Jude knew it was not home and simply became too happy and excited to sleep. We had to try various ways to soothe him - rocking, nursing and pushing him in a stroller. When one failed we changed to another. And all these 3 ocassions took us about 2 hours to settle him!

As for Caleb, he is easier. Since young, we rely on our faithful Maclaren wherever we are. Most of the time he will zzz after pushing him around for a while.

Will be uploading some pix soon...

Rich maid, poor employers

2008-09-17T15:57:00.013+08:00

Having 2 kids now, we watch our expenses. Hence we usually stock up toilettries when there is a sale in Watson and buy those that are on offer.

One day, the shower foam in the common bathroom run out. It was only when my maid came home with a new shower foam on her off day then I realised it. All this while, my lazy hubby had been using my son's shower foam instead of taking out a new one from cupboard. And as usual, my maid only keep quiet and leave the empty bottle sitting there.

Make a guess. Which shower foam did she buy?

It's Dove... with grapefuit and lemongrass scent and she paid $9.80 for it. Both hubby and I felt ashamed and we chuckled at the same thought that our maid is richer than us! We are merely using an average shower foam like Johnson and Johnson or Lux or ... can't remember. And frankly, hers smells really good...

Btw, she uses Pantene shampoo. She non-verbally rejected the Tolly Joy shampoo I gave her.

My maid is rich. She doesn't need to send money back to family at all. She must be saving up to buy a house when she's back home one day. And probably a house on a freehold land in her country! We as employers still have to pay for mortgage loan every month for another 20 years for a leasehold property.

Be a praying mother

2008-09-17T15:51:00.006+08:00

A valuable lesson learnt in CG.

"There are no perfect parents. There are only praying parents."

How true! As a mother, I always try to do my best for my kids. When things fail, I tend to blame myself for being a lousy mother. Now I saw the truth in these words. Yes, no one is perfect. So am I. This new understanding has lifted a burden off my heart and put me in perspective.

Somehow, I've always neglected the power of prayer. Or rather, I've neglected God. If I were to put Him first and seek Him in all that I do, I won't be talking about burden now.

As a mother, who will pray for your children if you don't? Sometimes, you can't even trust the father to do so!

Jude's eating

2008-09-11T14:25:00.006+08:00

It was very difficult to feed Jude initially. All the signs he gave me was, he wasn't ready for solid. He'd hold his lips tight, got agitated and shrieked when there was food in his mouth.

Thanks to Wendy who suggested that I feed him sweet cereal. I gave him Nestle brown rice cereal with milk and he ate!

Now at almost 8 months old, he's eating better now. His favourite food are spinach, tofu and fish.

And the only thing that will get him excited with clenched fists, kicking legs and wide-open mouth is... WATER!

However, I've created a bad habit in him.. He needs to watch TV while he eats! Likewise for kor kor Caleb...

God's Daily Words

2008-08-05T21:00:00.004+08:00

Haven't been posting for a long long time...

To begin again, I've added Verse of the Day and Weekly Wisdom to my blog. I want to thank God for all His blessings and guidance and to share with those who read my blog about God's words and love.

Hope you enjoy reading it.

I'm still fat

2008-04-23T23:24:00.002+08:00

It has been slightly more than 3 months and I'm still fat... My waistline is thick and tummy is big and flabby. It's so difficult though it's just another 3 more kgs to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

This time round, my weight loss is much slower as compared to having #1. Back then, I had professional help from Rustic Nirvana and I lost inches and kilos very fast. In fact I went below my pre-pregnancy weight and my waist was smaller too. I was so happy with the result and still remember people's comments on how good I looked despite giving birth not long ago.

Now I'm still carrying a tummy and look like 5 months pregnant. I just couldn't watch my diet and do the crunches. Clothes fitting is bad. With a bulging tummy, most tops and bottoms look ugly on me. How I wish there is another Rustic's contest for me to win... Or perhaps I should get hubby to sponsor my treatment with Rustic...

GPRS Billing

2008-04-02T23:36:00.002+08:00

Oh my God! For 1MB, I'll be charged $3.67 by Singtel! I've already upload 8 photos using mobile blogger... which means my bill will come up to about $30!!! That is it! I will stop blogging on the go... !

Magazine Cover - Caleb

2008-04-02T22:59:00.003+08:00

Magazine Cover- Jude

2008-04-02T15:17:00.003+08:00

The horror of soapy water (or maid??)

2008-03-31T16:45:00.001+08:00

Lately I told my maid to recycle the water which Jude takes his bath for Caleb's bath. To my horror, I saw her dipping Caleb's handkerchief into the tub and clean his teeth today! (Caleb doesn't allow us to brush his teeth most of the time hence we resort to using handkerchief). So Caleb has been eating soapy water! And no wonder he has been rubbing his eyes for so long! Must be the soap that has been irritating them!! Haiz.. I never expect such things to happen. She is so BLUR! My hubby always tells me not to scold her so I only firmly corrected her. What will you do if such thing happen to you? I wonder what kind of damage is done to my poor boy..

Jude in sling

2008-03-30T15:21:00.003+08:00

Today Jude sleeps so well. I put him on tummy and he slept for 2 hours in stroller during church service this morning. Now he's in sling and he's already slept for more than 2 hours. My shoulder is aching badly and I'm gonna wake him up for milk once i get into the car. Just finished lunch and grocery shopping at NTUC.. And easy trip cos both boys were asleep soundly..

Doh shapes cut by Caleb

2008-03-29T11:31:00.001+08:00

Penguin, turtle, shark, seahorse.

Caleb playdoh-ing

2008-03-29T11:22:00.003+08:00

The blue doh is his favourite and it must be the first before he plays with other colors. He doesn't have the strength to roll out the doh yet but he can cut out the shapes with the cutters pretty well. In fact, I don't really like him to play with this cos the doh sometimes get into his nails and the smell lingers on his hand... Got to wash his hands a few times to get rid of them. However, sometimes he'll cry for it as it is one of his favourite activities. I give in.. to see him enjoying with so much fun and laughter...

Fussy hour

2008-03-28T13:19:00.003+08:00

Thought Caleb is difficult, Jude is worse. He's still learning to sleep better each day. Putting him on tummy doesn't guarantee good sleep everytime. Sometimes he rejects it outright, sometimes he goes down for less than 30mins. He's still having this fussy time from 7pm onwards. On good days, he settles well at 9ish till last feed at 11.30pm. On bad days, he can struggle till pass 12mn.. Hopefully things will get better as he grows.. I'm working on settling him by 8.30pm..

Blog on the go

2008-03-27T20:53:00.004+08:00

I'm so glad! Managed to blog on the go using handphone! No more outdated blog, no more just plain text.. i could now post pictures easily :) However every post need to have 1 pic.. And this is my bedroom lamp.. How much will my hp bill be??

Caleb and Jude

2008-03-27T16:34:00.008+08:00

My 2 sweet little boys. They are the sunshine of my life. Although life is tough and challenging with an infant, i'm enjoying every moment of it.

Everyone tells me that they grow up so fast that you'll wish they remain young and stay by your side for more cuddles and kisses. How true I dunno.. That's many years later.. For now, I'll just get busy everyday!

Bedsheet print

2008-03-27T16:20:00.004+08:00

Caleb's new bedsheet print - Noah's Ark. The print is very nice and it goes well with the white furnitures in the bedroom. However it is only 200 thread count hence not very comfortable. Testing blogger mobile.

Easel

2008-03-27T16:05:00.004+08:00

This is an 8-year-old easel belonging to my nephew. Now it is Caleb's favourite toy at my mum's house. Testing blogger mobile.

I'm not a blogger

2008-03-14T23:30:00.002+08:00

Gosh. My blog is outdated!

Just realised some of the January mummies have added a link to my blog in their blogs.. What a shame cos I don't update it at all :p

Frankly, I am not a blogger.. I first created it just for fun and I only told a few close friends about it... Hmmm.. I'll try to update k..

Gimme time cos I'm really busy with my 2 boys. Will tell you more about it soon!

Christmas Eve... Surprise!

2007-12-27T00:33:00.002+08:00

We didn't really plan for Christmas eve but was out for a simple dinner at Hans, Novena Square, with my son and maid. I like Novena Square and United Square. They are just 3mins drive from home and these shopping centres are not too crowded even during festive seasons. Perfect for a heavily preggie like me...

The evening was nice and relaxing. When back home, I just got the mood to take some photos. I asked hubby to snap some pixs for me since I could be due anytime. Too bad his camera was in maid's room and we ended up using his Nokia N95 for some shots. All along I know hubby is not good at taking portrait so I didn't expect really nice pixs... it's more for my personal consumption..

Then suddenly, hubby took out a jewelry box and said, "Merry Christmas!" Surprise, surprise! I never expect to receive a present! I thought it was a bracelet cos recently I mentioned abt getting one... it was actually a pair of trilogy diamond earings from Citigems. I'm really happy and I like the design very much...

Actually hubby is very nice and sweet to me.. I'm the one who is demanding and fierce towards him... I really got to watch my tongue and work hard in managing my anger. He's the closest to me and yes, the easiest for me to prey on.. but that's very wrong... Certainly not the way God wants me to behave as a wife....

Scones became muffins

2007-12-27T00:17:00.001+08:00

I was trying to bake scones this evening... Followed the recipe but somehow I didn't manage to get the right texture. It is supposed to be a soft dough but my mixture was too wet to form a dough. Could it be something wrong with the recipe?

In the end, I decided not to take the risk of putting more flour and became something not edible... I turned it into muffins! Chocolate muffins!

Although the muffins look and taste okay, I'm still pretty disappointed... Cos I've been wanting to bake scones. I've finally bought all the things I needed for scones but failed at my first attempt. Thought I could bake it for my son who doesn't really fancy cakes...

Must go internet to check out other scones recipes...

Caleb's Learning milestones

2007-12-11T00:17:00.000+08:00

Speech:
Zero. Now he doesn't even call "mama" or "papa". Isn't it worrisome since he's coming to 22 months old? The only sound he makes is "ahh.. ahhh..."

ABC:
He can identify all the 26 capital and small letters when he was 20 months.

Phonics:
He can identify 80% of the phonics, except those which sounds similar.

Spelling:
He caught us by surprised by forming the word "cat" one day! Then I realised he really knew it and taught him some simple words like dog, pig, sun, hat, key and his name.

Color:
Zero. He's not even interested in it. When I asked him which one is "yellow", he'll just walk way.

Coloring:
No interest. He prefers to throw crayons on the floor.

Numbers:
He used to be very interested in numbers but not now. He can identify 1-20 though. If I ask him beyong 20, he sometimes does not response.

Shapes:
Can identify most of the common shapes.

TV:
His favourite! always ask to watch TV until I have to control it.

Puzzles:
His favourite.

Books:
Not much interest. Must remove all toys then he'll look at books.

Gotcha - Caleb's dry hair

2007-11-29T16:50:00.001+08:00

I noticed Caleb's hair is getting very dry these days but don't really know what's the cause of it..

Today, I finally found out the reason. I caught my maid leaving shampoo on his head without washing it away and continue to wash his body and letting him play with water. This is certainly not what I taught her! See, as time goes by, she'll deviate from my ways and slowly conform into her own habits.. It is really frustrating at times.

I also caught her putting on pants that is not fully dry on Caleb. Thank God I'm at home everyday to monitor. How can I ever leave my precious child to a maid? I don't think I can ever do that... unless the maid is so good that I've had her for years...

My House

2007-11-26T09:20:00.000+08:00

Property prices have risen so much suddenly in just a few months.

We really had sold our condo at the wrong time. If our previous maid was good and I didn't lost my trust in getting another one, I wouldn't need my mum to help in caring for Caleb. Then I wouldn't need to shift nearer to my mum... and I'll be still staying there...

After staying in this cute little HDB terrace house for 9 months, I still prefer condo lifestyle. I missed the facilities I used to enjoy so much with my hubby. Now with Caleb and second one coming, facilities are certainly good for them.

Will I be able to stay in a condo again? Looks tough if the prices continue to stay up so high. Furthermore, we have to stay here for 5 years! Sigh... I can only leave it to God. He will decide...

He's so picky! Again....

2007-11-19T12:31:00.002+08:00

Toddlers are ever changing. Today he's so sweet, tomorrow he could be nerve-wracking. Be it at play, mealtime or bed time...

This week, my dear son has been so picky with food! He will have a few spoonful of his meal and start shaking his head when we bring the spoon near him. Sometimes he will even push us away and start fussing! Each time, I have to prepare different kind of food to suit his appetite of the day. For example, I will prepare different sauce for his pasta. Or an additional creamy soup should he rejects his porridge.

Today, I thought he would be fine with pork rib corn soup and rice which he enjoyed two days ago, but it turned out to be a failure. He didn't want it at all! In the end, I fed him with bread dip in milk. He simply loves it and mouths everything in with a yummy grin. When all failed, I realised bread in milk is something he wouldn't reject... At least there is carbo and protein to sustain him thru...

What should I give him tomorow? I'm running out of ideas...

Burberry Blue Label

2007-11-17T22:30:00.001+08:00

Recently, my SIL and her cousin each bought a Burberry blue label when the former flew to Japan.

At that point in time, that tempted me to get one for myself too since hubby was going to Osaka soon. I searched in the net but their online catalog was so limited. I wanted a sling bag but the smallest size they have is too big for me.

When hubby was there, he kept sms me to check online and confirm the design I wanted. I was kind of pissed off for there were really not much to choose from on the net. And when I sms him to suggest design for a shoulder bag since he was seeing the real thing, he didn't reply me at all despite my few attempts. At the end I told him, "Forget it. I'm not buying already. Just bring back catalog."

Finally he called me on his last day and briefly describe the few shoulder bags they have and suggested that what my SIL bought is the best of all - not too expensive and nice design. So eventually, I agreed to buy the same one but different colour.

Sometimes I feel that I'm buying on impulse. Do I really need the bag? Not at all. I've already had many bags and furthermore I'm not working now. When do I really have the opportunity to carry these bags? When we go out, we have to bring along Caleb's bag and stroller. With #2, there will be more things! hmmm... that's called "desire of the flesh"!

Vroom to Airport

2007-11-17T22:29:00.000+08:00

Hubby said he'll arrive at 10.35pm today. I checked SIA website in the afternoon and it indicated the flight should touched down at 10:04pm. Hooray! For the whole day, I kept checking the clock but the time was crawling like a snail. I couldn't wait for evening to come...

As I planned to pick hubby up at the airport, I let Caleb nap twice so that he could last longer till past 10pm. God is good and Caleb nap so well and so long!

Finally, it was 8:45pm. I asked maid to clean up Caleb and change him into pajamas. We packed along Caleb's snack, milk and water. When we were ready to set off, maid asked me,"Madam, can you drive at night?" I laughed cos I knew she was scared of my driving and I replied," You better pray hard together with Caleb while I am driving."

Yes, all of us prayed and to be frank, I was really nervous at the wheel for I seldom drive. Thank God we arrived at the airport safely!

The flight had already touched down when we reached the airport. "Caleb, you're going to see Daddy soon. Let's wait here for daddy." We sat near the glass panel waiting anxiously. Soon, we saw hubby collecting baggage from far and walking towards exit. I waved at him and exclaimed, "Caleb, that's daddy. Can you see him?" Caleb scanned for a while and soon caught sight of daddy. For a few seconds, he didn't seem to believe his eyes and kept staring at daddy. Then he let out a scream of excitment.

Hubby came out of custom and bent down reaching for Caleb. He said,"Caleb, daddy's back. Did you miss daddy? Daddy missed you very much." For that moment, I felt like crying. Cos I miss hubby mah. And although hubby had asked me not to bring Caleb to airport cos it was too late, I knew he would be touched to see his son waiting for him... God made everything so smooth for the day :)

Osaka - Off he flew

2007-11-12T23:25:00.000+08:00

Hubby has just left for business trip to Osaka.

I'll be alone with Caleb and maid for the next 4 days. The thought of it is really "sian".

Everyday, I always look forward to hubby coming home for dinner together and to have someone to talk to. I can't imagine I'm gonna be so "uncommunicative" for the next few days! Now I realise I'm so scared of loneliness, quietness and darkness...

I'm gonna sleep with Caleb for the next few days...

Fever and breathlessness

2007-11-12T11:00:00.001+08:00

Yesterday, Caleb was a little cranky in the afternoon. I didn't suspect anything until in the evening that I realised that he's a little warmer than usual. A touch at his forehead confirmed my suspicion. He was running a temperature.

We gave him some paracetamol to ease his discomfort. As the time went by, Caleb became crankier and crankier. He'd cry and fuss uncontrollably at the slightest thing. There was this subtle noise that he made after the cry and it seemed like he had difficulty breathing. He was in a daze too though the paracetamol had brought the fever down. I was worried for he had never been like this before. He fell asleep at about 10.30pm.

About an hour later, he was suddenly awakened from sleep. His cry was loud and long and we couldn't pacify him. Again he appeared breathless. This time, I was really scared and told my hubby to bring him to see a doctor immediately.

We got changed quickly and were picking up our handphones. Caleb caught sight of daddy's phone and wanted it. My hubby played his favourite video and he began to calm down... and started laughing while he watched himself in the video. We looked at each other and were really glad that the video did the trick! We joined him in watching the video and soon he became ok! Phew!! Then my hubby commented that I was too "gan cheong" about the whole thing and that had indirectly affected Caleb's reaction too.

Thank God the nite was ok. We slept with him and he woke up only once with a soft whimper and was back to sleep soon after my assurance. This morning, the fever was gone and he was back to his usual self. Till now, I still didn't know why the fever and the breathlessness...

Being a mother...

2007-10-31T16:29:00.000+08:00

I've missed out a lot in life but I've also learnt and am enjoying in another aspect... Which is better? of cos being a mother! There is just so much joy and contentment when you see your child grow each day! And every stage of a child's development is something new and interesting!

Before being a mother, I can't cook at all.. I only know how to cook rice and instant noodles. When Caleb was due for solid, I started reading up cookbooks so that I know what age-appropriate food I should give him. Now, I love looking at cookbooks and I am happy that finally I can cook a simple meal! Although sometimes my cooking turn out to be bad, at least I am motivated to try and improve! Certainly I hope one day my son will say, "Mummy, I love your cookings!" kekeke...

At least for now, my hubby commented that he has seen some improvements.. :)

Pancakes

2007-10-31T16:19:00.000+08:00

First time making pancakes yesterday and Caleb loves it! He kept asking for it after he had eaten his share.

Hence, today I make pancakes for him again.

I love them personally. Never know it is so tasty and easy to make. However, I'm not very good at controlling the fire. My pancakes look different in colours!

If i use low fire, it takes just too long to brown it. If I turn up the fire, my pancake looks like roti prata! Well, both taste equally good though they look ugly cos I can't really achieve a round pancake...

Helpers are afterall helpers

2007-10-19T15:51:00.000+08:00

Yes, they are here to work as domestic helper... How much can you expect from them? If they are really good and up to standard in childcare (or other areas), then they can be nanny or even teacher isn't it...

Generally my helper is good. She tries her best to accomplish her work and role as a helper. But sometimes I am really upset/angry/frustrated by the way she does things. To think about it positively, even sometimes my husband's or my mum's actions irritates me too... Let alone this stranger who comes from a different country of a different culture and lifestyle.

This morning I asked my husband. Am I too particular or is she just not smart in her ways?
She put Caleb on her lap when he was not wearing diaper. She showed my son how to pick up his wooden pin toy using mouth.. She pointed to his nipple and asked him what it was.. She taught him to pour away water from his tub after bath and now my son wanted to pour away everything that caught his sight. Many times even before taking bath! She let him play with her hair.. She came into Caleb's room to pass me my ringing phone when I'm trying to let Caleb sleep.. the list goes on...

I guess I'm seeing my maid too much... everyday, day in day out. Mentally, I am overwhelmed with her presence, her voice, her accent... Somedays I'll escape to my mum's house or go out with friends, at least there are other distractions other than just me, her and Caleb at home...

Neighbour's TV Noise

2007-10-10T16:07:00.000+08:00

I have a neighbour of 2 unmarried brothers in their 60s. One doesn't seem to be mentally sound and the other is a diabetic who has problem walking... I've heard them fighting twice before. Seems like the mentally-not-sound is abusing the diabetic..

Recently, the mentally-not-sound has been behaving mentally not sound for several days already. He has been turning the TV volume to extremely LOUD! Closing our bedroom windows only reduce the noise to slightly higher than normal level when it is night time. And we have to bear with the noise even if it's pass 12mid-nite! I noticed other neighbours shut their doors and windows tight too...

Initially, I was really pissed off and feel like calling the police... But my mum told me not too cos we are neighbours and he's old already. My hubby wanted to walk over to talk to him but I am not agreeable. What if he turns violent? Furthermore, I'm at home in the day. Who knows if he just turn crazy and dash into our house? Scary isn't it! I use to leave the gate unlock. These days, I told the maid to lock it.... better be careful lah...

Neighbour's renovating

2007-10-10T15:57:00.000+08:00

today is the first day of neighbour's renovation! All the drillings and hackings are driving me crazy! Plus the super hot weather these days and pregnancey heat, I've even more reasons to switch on the air-con in the day!

However, see, I'm still paying for part of the household bills... somehow, I'll automatically switch it off when I have enough (Frankly, where got enough one. pockets hurt lah).

My husband somehow doesn't feel any pinch on electricity bills at all... He'll switch it on from 9pm onwards until the next morning... To him, comfort level is more important!

Back to neighbour's reno... the unit is just opposite mine. So can you imagine the noise? Thank God, tomorrow and Fri I don't have to work... Think I'll escape to my mum's place! And hopefully the reno won't take too long....

Maid's Hygiene

2007-10-01T15:08:00.000+08:00

It never occur to me that my helper doesn't wash hair daily until she chatted with me one day. She told me in Myanmar, her mother only allow her to wash hair once a week and it must be around 11am.

I got a shock! As she's new to the family and I'm also new to having a maid, I couldn't tell her what I think on the spot. 2 days later, I explained to her hygiene is very important in my family. As she needs to take care of my son and cook for the family, I'd need her to wash her hair daily and shower twice a day. She nodded her head.

For a start, there were days when I caught her didn't shower/wash hair... And I gave her gentle reminders. Sometimes my tone sounds like an order...

All went well until one fine day, I caught her didn't wash her hair again though she'd taken a shower. I was totally pissed off and I spoke sternly, "Why you didn't wash your hair?" She kept silent and I continued, "I don't like to repeat things again and again. I told you to wash your hair everyday means you have to wash your hair everyday!" She continued to be mum. "Is there any reason why you don't want to wash? You can tell me." She just shake her head...

I reckoned there was no need to ask any further... She wouldn't say and furthermore, she couldn't really speak English. So I just walked away..

Then I found out from my friend who employs my helper's cousin. Apparently, their custom prohibits them to wash hair when having menses for that will bring them headache when they grow old... And in olden days, the women only wash their hair once a month! Gosh!

So now I see why... Well, even then, she has to wash hair everyday in my house. I can't possibly let her wear her dirty and oily hair for a week!

Kitchen Gate

2007-09-25T16:08:00.001+08:00

Caleb had all the freedom to go in and out of kitchen until today! He was so excited when he saw me taking out the nuts and metal pieces from the box, trying to fix the gate. He came over to "help" wanting to meddle with this and that...

When the gate was eventually up, he suddenly realised what it was for. He paused for a while and let out a loud and pathetic cry. Tears were rolling down his little face so quickly that it was all wet and dripping.. For that moment, I felt so sorry to see him cry so painfully... It was like someone had snatched away his favourite toy. I hugged him, stroked his hair, carried him and explained to him why I had to install the gate. He continued crying...

After a few days, he'd gotten used to the gate and accepted the fact that he no longer had access to the kitchen... The gate had been really useful and I no fear of him getting into unnecessary danger anymore.

My new handphone

2007-09-19T23:00:00.000+08:00

I ordered my new Sony Ericsson K810i through Singtel online shop last Friday and received it this morning. I’m so happy! In half an hour’s time, I’d have charged it for 8 hours and ready for use!

It’s quite a good promotion of $184 for a 2-year contract. With my selling of current K750i for $130, I only pay $54 in all. Good deal isn’t it… hee…

I love to snap photos but lazy to download. Worse still, don’t have the patience to upload!

Pics - Phuket

2007-09-18T00:29:00.000+08:00

Documents Verification - Maid's work permit

2007-09-14T15:24:00.000+08:00

When I was on my way to Work Pass Service Centre on wed to submit maid's documents for verification, I just felt the need to pray... I asked God for a fast and smooth process and that I'll meet helpful and friendly staff.

I was at the registration counter and was told that the maid's photo couldn't be used as its background wasn't white. The staff directed me to the opposite room to take maid's photo and told me to go straight to her once it was done instead of queueing up again.

She checked thru my docs, issued me a ticket and said, "Here's your queue number. Very fast it will be your turn." My number was B039 and I could see B038 in the lighted queue number box. True enough. In less than 5 mins my number was called. Praise the Lord!

I managed to settle everything within half an hour despite the packed centre with many foreign workers waiting for their turns. I was really amazed! This was the fastest experience I ever had in a government centre... God is good!

Forum Playground

2007-09-14T15:15:00.000+08:00

Looking forward to an hour later...

Gonna meet 2 church friends and their tods at the Forum playground. It's our first time there and hopefully the kids will enjoy themselves...

Well, all 3 kids are less than 2yo. Likely we may end up having to carry them up the slides and run after them. They'll probably enjoy themselves at the end of the day but not the mummies... haha!

I'm bored at home

2007-09-11T15:21:00.000+08:00

Life is different now. I stay at home most of the time and I really feel bored. During those days without a maid, I will go to my mum's house in the morning, come back home at night and sometimes drop by NTUC to buy groceries... And I have my mum, dad and nephew to chit chat with...

These days, other than working from home, taking care of Caleb, surfing internet and reading, I have nothing much to do. The routine becomes mundane and I stay at home the whole day! Where can I go? The playground here is empty and hot.. There's no park for a walk... And I've got nothing to buy at nearby shops...

Worse still, I look like an "auntie" most of the time with tied-up hair and oily face, and dress in baggy faded tees and shorts!

Crayons

2007-09-05T15:20:00.001+08:00

I gave the maid a box of crayons for her to monitor while Caleb drew on some papers.

I was working in my room and realised the living room had became quiet. I took a look and to my horror, Caleb drew two long blue strokes on the sofa! I asked the maid and she replied, "Caleb wants to draw, I take away." And guess what she did after that... She gave him a beige color crayon instead! And told me Caleb drew on her clothes and sofa but cannot see! My instant reply was a loud "No" and I raised my voice, "Cannot draw means cannot draw. You have to stop him if he's doing something wrong. If he doesn't listen, tell me." And I went on blah blah blah... This was the first time I scolded her and she became upset the whole afternoon...

I told my hubby abt the incidence and he laughed and said, "She's not very smart leh."

I think she's scared to make Caleb cry. Afterall, her job is to look after him and not to upset him. Hopefully after this incidence, she knows what she should do and should not...

Premature awakenings

2007-09-04T15:06:00.000+08:00

Dunno why... Caleb always wakes up prematurely, at least once, during his nap and night time sleep these days. I have to be on an "alert mode" to rush to him as fast as I can so that he won't be awaken fully.

It's tiring for the night duties... I've not slept thru for a long time. That's the thing about having children. Their first few years are really tough... Gosh! I cannot imagine I'm going thru the cycle again soon.

How's the Myanmar maid?

2007-09-03T14:18:00.001+08:00

So far, we are quite pleased with this new maid. If she maintains her standard, she's really God sent!

Other than communication problem which I believe it will get better as time goes by, she's pretty good. She has initiatives and she's observant and sensitive...

She cleans many things in my house such as washer, cabinets, mirrors and etc without having me to tell her so. She observes Caleb's routine and prepares the necessary things on her own.

I'll rate her 8.5/10.

Caleb and Maid

2007-08-29T00:29:00.001+08:00

Caleb was okay with the maid on the first 2 days... He allowed her to change his diapers and clothes without fussing and he gladly obeyed whatever things that the maid was required to do for him. We were quite glad when we saw it... Caleb likes her...

But today, he's back to his usual "color". Changing diaper is again a challenge! Worse still, he doesn't want her to do anything for him! He keeps clinging on to me and will cry out for me if I walk away... And he will brush the maid away should she touches him...

I guess afterall he still needs more time to get used to this new person in the house. Hopefully this won't take long...

Maid's Arrival

2007-08-28T23:50:00.001+08:00

I've been so busy lately. Before the Phuket trip was all the packing for holiday and application and confirmation for maid's arrival.

And finally... She arrived yesterday. Hubby and I went to airport to pick her up. Not bad leh. She took Silkair and paid for her own ticket. I thought she would be taking Jetstar.

After the plane had touched down for 30mins, we still didn't see her. The luggage belt was almost empty. "Can you recognise her?" Hubby asked. "I dunno leh". We looked around near the belt entrance and were worried that she had walked out without us recognising her. "Maybe she went shopping", I said jokingly.

Finally, we saw someone who looked like her walking through the belt entrance scanning left and right timidly. Yeah. It was her. She has shorter hair now and she's darker and shorter than what we expected. She wore a black fitting tee and a pair of tight jeans - a young girl's dressing.

My hubby called out to her. She acknowledged timidly. We spoke to her but she couldn't understand us at all!

"Is she the same person you spoke to over the phone?" Hubby asked. "I dunno leh". We went like "jiat liat"! Communication is a huge problem!

On the way back home, we asked her questions... but most of the time she couldn't understand what we were talking! Oops!! At this stage now, we can only leave this matter to God's hand...

Today she went for her entry test and she passed! How she did it I really have no idea when she can't even understand the word "messy" and "learn" after I spelt them out to her...

Phuket Holiday

2007-08-24T10:07:00.000+08:00

I'm back. After just 3 days 2 nites in Phuket.

As expected, it rained pretty frequently and our activities were very much affected. Well, there wasn't much thing to do in Phuket during monsoon season anyway. The wave was strong and the beach was almost empty. Touring around nearby island was also not truely advisable becasue of the choppy water. With a toddler and 2 elder folks, our activites were basically shopping, eating and resting...

Shopping along Patong beach wasn't great as most of the shops were selling similar stuff. You just need to walk a short stretch and could forget about the rest. The only bazaar we felt worth going was this place called OTOP. It had a wider varieties hence looked more interesting. And I found my favourite Thai sandals there! I ended up buying 5 pairs for myself. Hee... Well, what else can I buy? They don't sell maternity wear!

There was a new shopping centre called Jungceylon there. New and big. Nice embience. We rested there for coffee when the rain was too heavy for shopping. While my MIL and hubby went for facial and massage, my mum, Caleb and I went Carrefour to look for cheap stuff and fruits. Not too bad..

If we have no children i.e. no responsibility as parents, Phuket will be a nice place for hubby and myself. Both of us loves watersports and sun.. We would have gone diving, whitewater rafting and canoeing around the islands. But the situation is different now. Whatever thing we do, we have to spare a thought for our children...

I told my hubby... Looks like I'm not gonna dive again... And no more backpacking in exotic, third world countries... Somehow I missed those "pack-and-go", adventurous and exciting lifestyle we used to have...

Counting Down to a Getaway

2007-08-14T17:53:00.001+08:00

A holiday break before #2 arrives...

We have been considering... with or without Caleb... cruise or resort....

And the decision is.... Yes, our dear son will have his 2nd airplane experience... This time, with my mum and MIL too!

Where to? I wanted either cruise or Koh Samui but my hubby wanted Phuket even though it's moonsoon and raining season right now... *sigh*... It's so inconvenient with an 18m and 2 older folks isn't it.... But I better let him decide. Else he'll have full of comments if he doesn't enjoy cruise or Koh Samui...

It's such a last minute booking and I couldn't get my first choice hotel - Banthai. I'm really very very sad. I thought I will have a room with direct access to the swimming pool! My hubby indicated Graceland as our 2nd choice and now we can't change anymore :( This hotel is not within Patong Town itself so we'll have to take Tuk Tuk everytime we're going out... I'm pretty disappointed...

Hopefully the trip will be enjoyable and make up for this not-ideal hotel location...

Counting down... 4 more days to go... and we'll be flying off in Silkair to Phuket!

Run and run and run

2007-08-10T15:33:00.000+08:00

Frustrations. Embarrassment. Weariness.

This little boy has been so assertive these days that sometimes we really don't know what to do with him.

Bringing him to shopping centre can be a nightmare. After some time on the stroller, he will fuss to get out of it... The moment he's out, he will run and run and refuse to let us hold his hand. When we catch hold of him, he will let loose, sit on the floor and cry.. Can you imagine how the situation look like? It is so embarrassing when I notice other shoppers are looking at us!

Worse still, sometimes Caleb refuses to let us change his diapers. He will struggle and scream! Gosh!! And we have to try all kinds of tricks on him to make him cooperate...

When in public, we give in to him as we do not wish to prolong the scene. The moment we are in the car, we will give him a good lecture. He knows that he's wrong and will hide his face behind his carseat and peep at us... He looks so funny! But it's really scary to bring him out... He certainly need to be disciplined...

Down to 1 Nap

2007-08-08T12:08:00.001+08:00

Yesterday, Caleb refused to take his morning nap. My mum and I tried a couple of times but he cried and cried wanting to get out of the room. Eventually we gave up and let him looked at his book in the playpen. At least he was getting some quiet rest there.

This morning, same thing happened again. Perhaps he's ready for just 1 nap a day? It seemed like he was managing it quite well although he started to get a bit cranky at about 2pm. He finally went for his nap obediently at 2.30pm after having some milk.

I'm a little confused now. Should I bring his lunch forward and let him nap earlier or should I just stick to his normal schedule? Then when should his milk intake comes in? If I bring his lunch forward, this breakfast and lunch are so close but dinner so far apart. But if I stick to the same schedule, he naps late and will wake up late since a single nap will be longer. This may affect his night-time sleep.... Hmmm.. I better check with some experience mummies out there...

Maid part 2

2007-08-07T14:56:00.001+08:00

We eventually decided to employ a Myanmese maid and have just been notified that her permit is in-principle approved. She's 25, single and is a degree holder. She has no prior working experience and her written/spoken English is weak. (I was pretty shocked when I first saw it.. It is so much weaker than a Filipina.)

We have people telling us that Myanmese maids are slow in learning and weak in English. You can be teaching her many times and she still can't get it right month after month... And the degree holders may have "princess" attitude for they just can't fit into the idea/image of being a maid...

So why are we employing her? Frankly, I really dunno. How to ensure that you get a right maid afterall? No one can guarantee you unless the maid is strongly recommended by someone you can trust...

Well, I guess the main reason I can say is, She's a Christian, a Baptist. The second reason is, we have tried Filipina before and we don't really like them... Hence, we don't mind giving Myanmese maid a try...

Now we can only pray that things work out all well and must continuously ask God for wisdom and guidance in coaching and managing her... and ask God to give her wisdom and the right mindset to fit into my family...

Swing

2007-07-31T11:30:00.001+08:00

Ever since I let Caleb plays at neighbour's swing, he will dash for it the moment he's out of the house or when he's coming home. We definitely have to let him play for a while then he's happy and willing to get off without a fuss.

Most of the time, we have to "lure" him with, "Come Caleb, let's go see Ricky. Ricky is waiting for you." Ricky is a neighbour's old and pretty tame German Sherpherd...

This is our swing which is usually folded up when not in use. Can you tell that Caleb was much younger and chubbier in these pixs? He was 13mo then...

The sea and sand

2007-07-30T10:19:00.000+08:00

As usual, after Sunday service and bible study, the 6 of us will go for lunch. It was an impromtu decision to lunch at East Coast MacDonald's and then to let the 2 kids walk along the beach for the first time...

The weather was cool because of the frequent rain lately. MacDonald's was pretty empty and cold... So cold until we couldn't wait to finish our lunch and escape from the freezing sensation.

The park was not too crowded and the weather was perfect for toddler. The pavement was wet but the sand looked just cool to the feet. We stopped and exchanged look. How? Wanna let the kids play at the beach? Dirty nevermind lah! Just clean up later lor. Don't get wet though... Okie!! Kayla and Caleb! take off your shoes and off you go!

The kids were excited. It must be the soft, tickling feeling under their feet that made them wobbled down the beach. Caleb couldn't balance himself on the sloping sandy beach and fell onto his bum. He kept brushing the sand off his hands but couldn't get rid of all... He looked so funny with his little actions!

Kayla had her dress tucked into her diapers and Caleb folded up his jeans. The daddys held their hands and off they went to soak their feet into the water... Here came the wave! And the kids giggled and laughed as the daddys pull them up the shore preventing them from getting wet!

The kids had a good time. We parents too! I'm looking forward to the next trip to the beach and we'll be all geared up...

Some photos to share....

Kayla and Caleb

Caleb looking at the waves...

Caleb and Mummy

Look at Kayla's eyes... so pretty...

Maid

2007-07-18T11:46:00.001+08:00

We are thinking of getting a maid... It's such a tough decision to make... to get a Filipina or a Myanmese... Generally, the former is proud and full of pride but stronger in English while the latter is not as smart but more hardworking.

We have heard a lot of horror stories about maid... Are they really that horrible or is it partly due to employer's mis-management as well?

I had a maid for few months before and as a first-time employer, I must admit that I really have no idea how to handle her. Yes, it went so wrong that we have to send her back and I chose to leave without one after that...

Now #2 is coming and we certainly need a helper... I pray that God will send us a good help and teach us to be good employer as well... it takes two hands to clap isn't it....

Already a toddler....

2007-07-13T15:09:00.001+08:00

Here's my sweet little boy...

He's 16 mths old but he looks like 2-3 years old...

Scrunched up face

2007-07-13T14:43:00.000+08:00

He's funny... For a period of time, he always give us this kind of look!

He looks cool... isn't it?

2007-07-13T14:28:00.001+08:00

Guess what Caleb is doing? In deep thought??

He's actually eating french fries at McDonald's!

I know french fries are unhealthy for toddlers lah.. but no choice cos we need to eat our breakfast peacefully!

I love McDonald's breakfast. yummy!

Connection problem.... 2

2007-07-11T17:23:00.000+08:00

So it's the modem that is spoilt!

Singtel needs to send its technician for further training!!

It has been so frustrating for the past many days. Downloading a page took ages... Sending an email was like a nightmare... And it took my brother and I so much time and effort testing this and that out... If this is my internet account and I'm paying for it, I'll definitely make noise till they give me a satisfactory answer...

All the technical phone supports and home check/test have wasted so much of our time!!

Tongue... Roll, quick roll....

2007-07-11T17:16:00.001+08:00

Caleb is already 17 mth old and he still can't call Papa, Mama... isn't it worrisome?

And he can't nod or shake his head to indicate yes or no... Though he can understand us and follow instructions...

PD said if by 2yo his speech is still not developed, it's best we bring him to a speech therapist...

First time without my dear son

2007-07-09T15:34:00.000+08:00

We had to attend a wedding dinner yesterday hence left Caleb with my mum for one night. We prayed hard that Caleb could get use to the environment and my mum could handle him well. Yes! Our prayer was answered! Caleb slept thru the night till the next morning...

However, when I reached home last night, I felt so strange without my dear son around. I started missing him so much...

I told my husband, "I don't think I can go any holiday without him." We actually thought of going for a short trip, juz the 2 of us... And last night was the test for my mum and Caleb.

They passed the test but I failed... failed miserably... I didn't sleep well. I think I woke up for more than 5 times! Not that I was thinking of him so much but I dunno why I kept waking up... Maybe I was just being emotionally disturbed??

How now? Caleb or no Caleb... Holiday or no holiday...

Connection problem....

2007-07-09T15:28:00.000+08:00

Lately, I'm having internet connection problem... Surfing is very very slow... Sometimes it's just not possible and it's so frustrating.

Had Singtel technician came to check on lines and modem. Both are working fine, which means likely it is the computer that is giving problems!

Sigh... hopefully the problems can be resolved soon and surfing be once again a breeze....

My nephew

2007-06-26T14:48:00.001+08:00

One day, my nephew came up to me and asked,
"Gu Gu, why do you paint your toe nails red but your fingers don't have?"

I was kind of taken aback as I never expect my 7-year-old nephew would comment on my physical appearance. I replied,

"Because I don't know how to paint my fingers... Nice or not?"
"Yes..."

And I asked him further...

"Does your teacher paint her nails?"
"Yes."

"Both the toes and fingers?"
"Yes, same colour..."

"Do they look nice? Do you like them?"
"Yes, they look nice... Hmmm.. I think I like them..."

I was laughing in my heart. How come this primary 1 boy is observing the teacher in such detail that he even noticed her toe nails?!!

I shall ask him about the teacher's dressing next time and see what he says... :)

Caleb's Nick Names

2007-06-25T13:09:00.000+08:00

I've been calling my son either Caleb or Darling.
Sometimes, Darling becomes Nar-ning or Nar-ni...

And lately, it further transformed to "Ni (2nd) Ni (3rd)"...
These days I've been calling him Ni-ni and he's responding well!
Haha!!

Bad Sleeping Habit

2007-06-22T12:49:00.000+08:00

Lately I'm so tired. I'm really sleep-deprived. When will Caleb truely sleep thru the night without crying out for attention? Worse still, he doesn't want daddy. When daddy appears in his room, he'll cry even louder... Until he sees me then he'll stop...

I was so happy several weeks back... I thought my prayers are finally answered! Caleb slept thru the nites and kicked off his habit of having milk at about 5-6am. After so many months, I finally could enjoy undisturbed sleep again (He used to sleep thru when he was few months old).

However, my bliss is short-lived... Ever since he fell sick during church camp, he has been crying out for me at about 3am and wanting milk at about 5-6am again. Sigh...

I gotta break the cycles. It's too tiring to go on this way... I better be diligent and consistent in praying thru his room... I think it got to be an on-going prayer!

Sometimes I lost my way

2007-06-19T12:49:00.001+08:00

These days i'm feeling a bit down... Hormonal changes in me? Or I'm just thinking too much into things and making images of situations which are not even there?

Sometimes I wish I can control everything in life...

Lots of money to solve money related issues...
High EQ to deal with people...
Good IQ to get things done in a fast and effective way...
And a big heart to share and love others...

Well, I have so many things to do until I lost sight of what I need to do. This is unhealthy cos i'm blinded and drained out by chores. And I'm running in the same frustrating circle... What's left in me? A tired body... a crowded mind... a frowning face with increasing fine lines... an overworked pair of hands... an unhappy heart...

And all theses negative effects will pass on to the people around me...

Now I need to get the problem solved. How?

God, Help!

Young Parents Magazine

2007-06-12T16:42:00.000+08:00

I was eagarly looking out for Young Parents magazine during end May but their release was pretty late. Only manage to get it in June itself...

I couldn't wait to flip to the page on Rustic Nirvana's contest when i got hold of a copy. But I was a little bit disappointed when I saw the page... cos there was only a group photo and no individual photos. Dunno why... though all us had taken individual shots for this contest too... And the editor also requested for some pre-treatment pix from me...

The first thought that came to my mind when i saw the photo was, how come the photographer never asked me to pose... all the contestants were either sitting or standing in some nice posture and I seemed to be the odd one out. And Caleb looked so blur... hahaha...

Well, afterall it was a nice exposure. Soon I received SMSs from friends and ex-colleauges who saw me in the mag. They were envious that I got a FREE sponsored treatment package from Rustic! One of them even decided to try it out. I'm sure she'll enjoy the treatment as much as I did!

Friends out there, don't forget to vote me as the most svelte mummy yah! And you'll get a FREE trial treatment from Rustic Nirvana too!

Caleb Rejecting Milk

2007-06-06T15:46:00.001+08:00

Ever since he fell sick last week, he has been drinking very little milk. Sometimes not even a drop from the bottle. I have to use various methods, like using different cups and straws to get him excited then he will drink some...

It's worrisome cos he's losing weight and he's not eating more solid to replace the milk intake...

Brought him to see PD this morning. PD did quite a thorough check and found nothing was wrong with him except that he could be teething. Got to monitor for another 2 weeks and see if it is just a passing phase...

Church Camp

2007-06-05T15:59:00.000+08:00

May was such a busy month for me... So much packing, unpacking, washing and tidying up... so little time for posting...

Went for church camp at Port Dickson last week. I wanted to withdraw very much then when I found out that Caleb would be the only kid under 2yo there. However, I went ahead as a church friend signed up because initially we encouraged her to do so...

It was a challenging trip. On the first nite, my husband started to fall sick and was truly down with fever, flu and cough. I felt so tough as he couldn't help in taking care of Caleb and I still had to take care of him.

On the 3rd nite, he passed the virus to Caleb and we had no medicine. Caleb was so cranky the whole night that all of us didn't have a good rest. And we have to wait until 10am the next morning to purchase panadol from the hotel's gift shop.

I wanted to go home so much for I was really exhausted. Instead of being there to get closer to God and know His words, we spent most of the time in hotel room sleeping/resting.

The 4-day camp was finally over and it was a long tiring drive back. With a sick child in car, every min is a drag and the journey was like never-ending...

We didn't get much out of the camp except learning to trust God to deliver us from all these inconveniences, discomfort and pain. Thank God Caleb recovered fast and we could have better rest back home.

Now the 3 of us still recovering from cough...

Practical lesson learnt: Bring medicine when travelling.

Eating apple vs tearing bread

2007-05-24T00:32:00.000+08:00

I was having lunch with my mum in the kitchen today and realised suddenly there was no noise from Caleb.

I checked it out and saw him sat on the floor quietly eating my nephew's apple! So he was putting his new asset into good use!

However, I forbid that. Though he has bitten off a small piece, I don't think he could chew it further and he may get choked by it!

"Give it to mummy. You cannot eat apple this way yet. Mummy will give you bread." I told him.

Expectedly, he refused. I quickly took a piece of bread and exchanged it with him. He gladly took the bread then gave me the apple.

Now he could tear bread little by little with his front teeth and I am okay to give him a bigger piece. Before that, he would just stuff the whole thing in and I have to be at his side slowly feeding and monitoring him...

Life is indeed getting better each day...

Teething and Cranky

2007-05-15T12:49:00.001+08:00

Last week, Caleb's top front gum was swelling and red. He was salivating so much that his t-shirt got wet just 30 mins after changing and we had to let him wear a bib. However, he wasn't always obedient. Hence, most of the times we had to diligently wipe away his saliva before his shirt became wet.

He had these symptoms of teething for many days then finally I saw the whitish base of his two front teeth. They are finally coming out when he's turning 15 mths old!

But his teething process wasn't an easy one for him. For several nights, he woke up and cried inconsolably.

He started rejecting his food and most of the time he ate the most half of the portion. I could understand that his gum could be too painful for him to eat much. I thought it was fine since he was still drinking milk and I could give him more frequently.

Then he began to drink less and less milk and totally rejecting it. I didn't know why. I had already given the milk in room temperature and applied teething gel before meal and milk. I got really worried as he's not taking enough food.

He did sign to me that he wanted milk. I gave him a bottle, he put it inside his mouth but didn't drink it and passed it back to me. I asked him why was it so since he had requested for milk. Of cos he couldn't answer me....

On Sunday night, he was really cranky. Again he didn't drink his milk and finally slept. I put a straw cup in his room thinking that he should drink more water to stay hydrated. As expected, he woke up in the middle of night and cried badly. I gave him the water, he drank quite a bit and started playing with me. He passed the cup to me and wanted me to drink it too. So we took turn until we finished it.

Then a thought came to me. Why not try giving him milk in straw cup. I did and guess what, he was so excited that he couldn't stop drinking it. This time he refused to let me touch his cup and quickly finished his milk.

My heart was really heavy when I saw that. So my poor son was in so much pain that he couldn't even drink from bottle! So he was in pain and hunger that he kept waking up and cried badly... I felt really sorry for him but I thank God for the wisdom.

The next day, he was taking less food and not drinking much milk too. I was getting really worried cos he had obviously lost weight. I quickly called up the clinic to seek help. Caleb's PD was really helpful. He advised me to give him panadol 6 hourly to ease the pain for the day. Should the situation persist, I would have to bring Caleb to see him the next day.

Thank God! Caleb could eat and drink better after that. And I could safely rule out any other illnesses.

He had been really cranky for days, like a cry baby. Small little things would upset him and he'd cry and cry. He cried so much until one day he become quieter than usual and we realised his voice was affected. So poor thing... And for many days, we didn't sleep well at all...

Now he is getting better... and I know soon he will be back to his usual happy self.

Hong Kong Trip

2007-05-14T16:15:00.000+08:00

Went Hong Kong with hubby and Caleb on 3 May for 4 days.

My first experience with Caleb on plane was really challenging. It was around his nap time and I thought he would sleep on plane. But I was wrong. He was so excited that he kept shouting and simply refused to rest.

He opened and closed the window, played with the tray and arm rest and whatever things that he caught us doing he wanted to do too. It was really tiring as we kept telling him NO and he kept struggling and insisting in doing it. Worse still, he can't stop shouting. The air-stewardess came by and asked him be quiet but he didn't care at all...

Both of us were really tired taking turns to hold him still. Eventually he got cranky and cried loudly out of tireness... And finally slept... It was scary and I felt sorry for the rest of the passengers... haha.

This was my first trip to HK. I remembered someone told me Hongkongers are very "pang dang" and they don't bring baby out. I don't know how true it is but I realised HK is not a baby-friendly place.

1st, most shopping centres/street shops are designed with steps. We have to carry the stroller up and down these steps many times...

2nd, most of the MTR stations have limited escalators. I had to carry Caleb while hubby carry stroller and bags...

3rd, MTR gantry is narrow. Stroller cannot go through. So we have to fold up the stroller and carry the baby.

4th, inside the MTR, I noticed they do not have signs educating people to offer seats to elderly, preggies, or young children. I was carrying Caleb and standing but no one gave seat to me. They continued to watch or talk...

5th, most eating places/restaurants do not have baby chair. I couldn't even enjoy a meal of sumptious food as Caleb couldn't sit for long in stroller.

6th, most places do not serve PLAIN WHITE porridge. I asked and reconfirmed and they said yes, it was plain, nothing added and suitable for young kid. I had 2 bad experiences and had to throw away these salty porridge...

Overall, nothing much for this trip except shopping. Didn't buy much too as the shopping centres are just like Singapore.

Weather wasn't too good with many occassional rains/drizzles and hence we couldn't do much too...

But it's a good getaway for me afterall... :)

My God is so big

2007-04-26T16:06:00.000+08:00

This is the first children Christian song I've learnt with signing:

My God is so big

My God is so big
So strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do (for you)

My God is so big
So strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do (for you)

The mountains are His
The valleys are His
The stars are His handiwork too

My God is so big
So strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do.(for you)

Jeremiah 32:27
"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh:is there any thing too hard for me?"

Yes... Nothing is too difficult for Him. God is faithful. Amen!
What will my life be if I didn't see His goodness?
Misery. fear. struggle.

Lord, thank you for opening my eyes... thank you for loving me... thank you for your grace...

Up and walk

2007-04-26T15:41:00.000+08:00

Caleb finally started walking at 14 .5 months! For the past one month, he could only manage a few steps unassisted and soon dropped on the ground and refused to walk anymore.

Lately, he is more willing to practise his new-found skill. At least he will try to stand up and walk again when he falls, unless he is very tired... And now he enjoys going down to walk when we are out!

My father said, at this stage, yes he will walk... but when he truely mastered the skill of walking, he will be lazy to walk and want to be carried! I've seen this happening to my friend's child too... Will this happen to every kid? I shall wait and see...

For now, I gotta let him get used to wearing shoes... He keeps kicking them off.. :(

Hotline 999

2007-04-19T00:34:00.001+08:00

My in laws are very nice people who dotes on grandchildren so much that they usually allow them to do whatever they like as long as the activities are not dangerous...

They once gave Caleb an orange to throw like a ball... And also let him played with a metal cup which my FIL uses for his hot drinks...

On Sunday, Caleb as usual meddled with whatever that was within his reach at my in laws’ house. He caught sight of the phone, cruised to it and started pressing. My MIL seemed to enjoy watching him playing with the phone and chuckled to his action of bring the receiver to his ears. She then took a stool and sat beside Caleb while he happily pressing away.

I continued to watch TV since Caleb was taken care of.

"Ring.... ", the telephone rang. My MIL answered the phone and then anxiously passed it to me and said, "I think Caleb accidentally called someone. She's speaking in English." I then realised that she actually allowed Caleb to press the buttons with handset lifted up! I took over and the lady at the other line asked, "Is this BLK 56, #05-xx .....?" Is the subscriber Mr Goh xxx? This is police 999. We just received 3 calls from this line and they were silent. Did anyone call?"

Gosh! I was totally shocked! Caleb called the police 3 times when under an adult's "supervision"!

I quickly apologised and said it was my son who had dialed the number. "Please put your phone higher so your child cannot reach. If we continue to receive such calls, the subscriber will be fined $5,000."

It was really amusing and we were all laughing after that. There were so many buttons on the phone and Caleb just happened to strike the number "9" 9 times! We looked at him with wide-opened eyes and went like, "Caleb! Do you know what you've just done? You called the police!" Caleb looked at us with a puzzled look… He must be thinking, "What have I done?"

Hopefully, this incidence will cautious my in laws to be less accommodating and more careful when dealing with children next time...

Golden Topaz Face Therapy

2007-04-18T16:19:00.001+08:00

When I went to Rustic Nirvana for my last post-natal treatment, I saw that they were having a "One for One Face or Body Therapy @ $88" promotion till end of April. I could choose from 3 therapies: Golden Topaz Crystal Face Therapy, Chopsticks Oriental Healing Massage and Aventurine Green Claypot PrataTherapy.

I decided to go for the Golden Topaz therapy since I needed to start fixing my aging skin and this therapy's selling point is that it gives a non-surgical facelift effect after the treatment!

First, the therapist cleansed and exfoliated my face. Then she put collagen gel on my face for abt 10 minutes as I lay resting there. It was then followed by some mild extraction... Now, the real thing began… She asked if my skin is very sensitive. I said no and she said she would use whitening cream on my face. The cream was rich and had a tasty and relaxing smell. Then she took out the golden topaz and started rolling this precious stone on my face together with her palm. The stone was cool and her palm was warm. The feeling was strangely nice… And I could tell that she was “ironing” my face with those continuous firm strokes! A whitening mask was then applied to conclude the facial...

I couldn’t wait to see the result! I got off the bed, thanked the therapist and went straight into the bathroom. “Wow!” I screamed in my heart. I never had such an effect after facials. My usual facial experiences always ended with red spotty face which I needed to head straight home. But this time, I was more than pleased to show my face to the whole world! My face was fair…glowing… and firm… And yes! It was a non-surgical facelift that I was seeing!

I went shopping after that and couldn’t stop looking into the mirror. Hehe... :) Even my hubby commented that I look younger too ;)

Now I'm waiting for my next golden topaz facial treatment with Rustic Nirvana...

How I become a Christian - 1

2007-04-10T18:01:00.000+08:00

I went a long way and finally found Him... God is good! Amen!

I was detouring in my life... round and round, year after years... I was close to finding Him when in my early twenties but the fear of family objections held me back. And soon the thought of God/Christianity drifted further and further away from me.

All those years hadn’t been good. I went thru a lot of struggles and blows especially in relationships and careers. These episodes never cease to squash me and shake my confidence. Life then was miserable and nerve-racking…

I needed help as I couldn’t fight alone anymore. Eventually, I sought help spiritually.

As I was brought up in a Taoist family, I sought help along this line. In fact I became more and more superstitious as the fear and anguish in me intensified. I went temple to draw lots, went for fortune-telling, palm reading, change my name according to my 8-character, read horoscope, buy crystals believing that they bring me luck, and etc. I was desperate...

However, the peace in my heart was only short-lived each time. I was still living in darkness and pain... I started exploring further, observing the attitudes and perspectives of my Christian friends…

Mosquito Bites

2007-04-04T12:07:00.000+08:00

Lately, Caleb has so many mosquito bites on his body... 2 on his face, 5 on his hands and 3 on his legs. My heart really aches when I see those red swollen spots on his little body.

Worse still, the grandparents went like, "aiyoooooooohh! what happen? why like that?" I knew I would get comments... many comments, esp from my mum. So before they could continue further, I interrupted, "We will be contacting NEA tomorrow." I didn't want to hear anymore from them as I'm already feeling lousy for being a mother who couldn't provide a safe and healthy environment for my son. Their comments will only devalue me further...

But I've tried and still trying my best. Well, mosquito devices and air-conditioned room are just not foolproof. Now I can only hope that NEA will send someone soon and uncover the breeding grounds...

1st Complaint

2007-04-03T15:49:00.001+08:00

Yesterday evening, Caleb accidentally caught sight of one of his fave toys which my mum had put away due to a small part which has fallen off. He cried and made so much noise that my mum eventually gave it to him. It was a round musical tower that has an airplane that goes round and round and a train that runs on the track at the base.

Caleb happily sat on the floor and switched it on with his index finger. This toy has an extremely loud music which cannot be adjusted and you can really get frustrated if it goes along with a turned-on TV.

Here came my nephew, Harald, who just woke up from his nap. As usual, he was grouchy and grumpy. He parked himself on the armchair, switching on his favourite Disney Playhouse channel… And this time, Caleb started switching on and off the toy many times…. And the music went on and off and on and off……

Harald: “ Caaaaaaaleb!” This is his normal way of calling Caleb when wanting his attention.

Caleb looked up, looked down, and continued pressing the button….

After some time… Harald shouted, “Aiyoh Caleb! You don’t keep pressing on and off lah. It’s very irritating!”

Caleb’s face frowned. His lips became inverted U and then O, “Waaaaaahhhh!!!!” It was loud… Only my nephew has such an effect on him. I guess he regarded him as a playmate, a good friend… He must be so hurt that he cried pitifully and uncontrollably…

An hour later, my SIL came back from work… Guess what, the moment Caleb saw her, he started crawling to her and pointing at Harald and went, “ah, ah, aahhh!” His face was serious and anxious… It was so funny… My mum went on to explain the situation to my SIL. It was obvious that Caleb was complaining to her abt her son! I’ve never seen Caleb like this before… :)

Photos of Caleb 2

2007-04-03T00:34:00.000+08:00

This is 1-year old Caleb

and 9-month-old Caleb in car

Fave bible verse

2007-04-02T23:33:00.001+08:00

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It is important to put God first in everything you do. Well, it's easy to say so but I always tend to use my own effort and understanding when I do something.

Hence, this verse becomes my favourite which I often recite and meditate upon to remind myself of God's grace and faithfulness...

Many things become effortless when you leave them to God... And He will make a way :)

My last post-natal massage

2007-04-02T23:32:00.000+08:00

Went for my last post-natal treatment with Rustic Nirvana just now. Rustic is so kind. Although the Young Parents contest was over and photo shoot done yesterday, they still allow me to go for my last treatment which I missed earlier on when I told them I my stomach is "windy" these days.

When I was there, I somehow missed the place. I used to be there every week... Sometimes twice a week for the treatment. The moment I stepped in, the friendly and familiar faces greeted me with unpretentious smiles…the cozy place is just perfect for relaxation in this hot, lazy afternoon... How I wish I am a tai-tai who can walk into a spa salon every week! I must really thank Rustic for the few months of “tai-tai” feeling and the slimmer me… heee…

As usual, I placed my shoes on the rack and put on their brown slipper. “Can I get you some water?” asked one of the consultants. I nodded my head and here came the water. This is what I always appreciated. They know you traveled and could be thirsty… and the water keeps you comfortable during the treatment.

I could smell the aromatic jamu oil as I walked into my usual treatment room. So soothing and comforting. Apparently, the jamu oil is made from 24 herbs and spices such as ginger, lemongrass and etc that help to reduce wind, eliminate water retention and tone up body. It is specially formulated by one of the founders… During the treatment, I was a bit anxious and stiff.. I could feel that the wind in my body kept coming out... so much of it! Thank God it has no smell... Else I really pity my therapist as she wasn't wearing a mask! Hahaha...

After the jamu massage, the therapist applied jamu mask all over my body and wrapped me up using cling wrap; from arms, body to legs, just like a mummy, ready for a steam. I love steaming… My face felt cool because of the air-con and my body was hot… It reminded me of hotspring. I could feel myself perspiring! Quick, sweat out more! That means fat/water gone more!

“Ginger or red date tea?” They never fail to ask me this after the treatment. I love this - a hot drink after a relaxing massage and a warm bath to end the session. There was once I had both! Today, I went for ginger… taste good, feel good, look good… Rustic Nirvana? V. Good!

Young Parents Contest Photo Shoot

2007-04-02T10:31:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was the final photo shoot for the Young Parents contest sponsored by Rustic Nirvana. We were supposed to take a group photo with babies and each one a personal shot. Altogether there were 6 contestants. It was fun! For that moment, the place looked more like a nursery room rather than a studio. You could find strollers parking inside the studio and along the corridor, maids/mothers feeding or changing babies, parents exchanging tips and of cos the ear-deafening cries of the sweet, cuddly babies… Apparently, Caleb is the oldest among all, the only toddler among the babies… And I seem to be the oldest mummy… the oldest “auntie” among the women??

See, all of us went thru the post-natal detox and slimming treatment. Inevitably, my eyes roamed around and examined the mummies there from head to toes, lingered especially at the waistline/tummy… Wow, some are really slender and shapely. Even my husband said so! I feel bad… for I’ve done injustice to Rustic. During the treatment, my weight dropped a few kgs and my waistline was more noticeable. However, I ate a lot during CNY and put on some weight and I wasn’t disciplined enough to shed them off before the photo shoot :p btw, I had nasi lemak for supper yesterday.. yummy. Heh…

The photo shoot went on very well… All babies were co-operative i.e. no one cries during shooting. In fact some seem to be future models enjoying the attention and flash! PTL! And all mummies look good… clean outfit, natural makeup, simple hairdos… I’m sure we put on our best posture and best smile… I really can’t wait for the June issue (if everything is on schedule) to be out. Check out my blog then. I’ll post the pixs up!

Peek-a-Poo

2007-03-28T11:49:00.000+08:00

All the while, it has been us playing peek-a-poo with Caleb. These days, he learnt to initiate the game!

Last week, he squatted down behind the sofa and he went up and down flashing his face to me and laughing heartily. It was so funny... Of cos, I was the one who made the "yaown" sound to encourage him to continue with the game...

Yesterday, he hide behind the curtains and played peek-a-poo again. I loved to see him smile... and thank God.. He is such as smiley baby... As a mother, it is always so rewarding to see how my little bundle of joy has progressed in his development...

I'm waiting for the day that he will hide behind his hands and play peek-a-poo with me... :)

Makeover & Photoshoot

2007-03-23T12:19:00.000+08:00

One day, I received a call from BioFocus saying that I was selected for a free makeover & photoshoot and a body or face treatment. And they assured me that it was absolutely free and I didn't have to pay for anything at all i.e. no hidden cost...

I asked them. How could it be free? how did you make money then? She said, it was for me to experience it and introduce my friends to them. And I would get 4 pieces of 4R pixs back.

I was hesistant in going but they called me again and said, "don't miss the opportunity". So finally, I went for the makeover.

When I reached there, I was asked to fill up a form and then waited at a sofa. Then a lady in her early 20s came out and handed me a set of clothes and ask me to get changed. I was surprised because I didn't see her around.... And I asked her, "Did you see me before you choose the clothes?" She said yes. It was a long red and white blouse with flat big collar and puffy sleeves and a pair of black tights...

Then was the makeup. As expected, the young girl tried to sell me something. First, it was a $50 ampule from some european country that promised smooth and lustrous skin under photoshoot lighting. Then it was this $30 fake eyelashes that opened up the eyes... I stayed firm and said no. And I could tell the she was unhappy... Well, I don't need both. My son would probably enjoy playing with the fake eyelashes and eventually pull them out! And how much does an ampule originally cost...

After the photoshoot, she showed me the photos and tried to sell me some packages that cost more than $200. I told her I won't be buying cos I didn't like the overall image. I looked as if I was trying to act cute in such outfit and pin-up messy hairdo! However, the salesperson was very persistent and she was getting impatient. I wasn't happy with what I was sensing too but I tried to stay friendly so she couldn't be too aggressive with me. Again I stayed firm and told her I wouldn't be buying anything and asked if I still get 4 free photos. She said it was 3, not 4 and would be chosen by their designer...

It has been 3 weeks and till now they have not called me to collect the photos. I shall wait and see if they will call me afterall... But frankly, in my heart I do feel bad when I didn't buy anything from them. They are afterall running a business... they have to pay the makeup artiste and the photographer....

I am just wondering. Does this marketing tactic work for them? Are they making money? Had they been less sales-oriented and better in their service, the situation could have been different. One thing for such, the girl is too young for her job...

Rating:
Service (salesperson): 4/10
Makeup artiste: 7/10
photographer: 8/10

Breastfeeding episodes

2007-03-21T18:23:00.000+08:00

Before I gave birth to Caleb, I was determined to breastfeed. My mindset then was, if people around me can make it, I can make it too... And yes, I was successful in breastfeeding but it was after much struggles and in fact my bf experience hasn't been too smooth...

Here are some of the issues I experienced in breastfeeding.

- Didn't know how to massage lumpy breast and milk not flowing. Caleb kept crying out of hunger and a stubborn mummy like me refused to supplement with formula. Kept thinking demand = supply.

- Caleb's weight kept dropping. PD advised to supplement and recommended Fenugreek. I didn't want to supplement so didn't go back to see him anymore.

- Went to see lactation consultant on the 6th day and she said "how do you expect a baby to drink from an "uncut melon"? I felt really bad. My poor baby had always been hungry. Went home "bruised" for they really massaged very hard with palm and knuckle to get rid of the lumps. Breast should be soft but mine tend to be very lumpy once engorged.

- To boost supply, consultant advised to drink green papaya/fish head soup 5 servings a day consecutively for 3 days, followed by once a week. And drink a lot of other soup/water.

- Had sore nipple for an unsually long period. Airing it, applying bm & nipple cream all didn't help. So bad and painful until I couldn't feed Caleb anymore. Couldn't pump too because the pain was unbearable. Went to see lactation consultant again and realised it was caused by a lump that was embedded in the breast for too long.

- Supply became so good and flow was too fast until Caleb was often choked.

- For a period of time, Caleb only wanted to nurse on the left side and not the right side. He would start crying once positioned on the right. Could it be some discomfort on the neck? Or milk flow too slow/fast on the right? I dunno. Very troublesome as I had to feed and pump. And one day, I had to leave a party earlier cos I was too engorged and he was screaming away when made him drank from the right side.

- Had mastitis 4 times in his first year. Doctor prescribed antibiotic - EES and advised not to feed on the affected breast. However, LC said can feed so I continued to feed.

- When he was about 5 months old, he only nursed for 3 mins and refused to drink anymore i.e. milk strike. And I had to pump out the rest.

- Nursed him lying down at night. And for a period of time, he only wanted to nurse lying down and not other positions. I was at Parkway one day and needed to buy something. His feeding time was up but he kicked a big fuss. Where to find bed in nursing room lah.. Eventually, i headed home with unfinished shopping. That period was so inconvenient. Sigh...

- When he was 9 months old, he refused to stop for milk. I had to use "humorous" ways to feed, twisting my body in some weird manner in either sitting or standing position and playing with him at the same time. However, most of the time I had to pump out and spoon feed him.

- Slowly, he started to drink ebm from bottle. Thank God!

- My supply dipped and went up according to his fancy and I was really tired of the struggles and pumping.

- Endured till 2 weeks before his birthday, I introduced formula. He loves it and thought I could slowly wean him off.

- Now he's 13 month old. Guess what, now he wants to nurse at night...

Caleb & TV remote controller

2007-03-20T17:33:00.000+08:00

On Sunday afternoon, I put Caleb on the floor to play with his toys. As usual, he caught sight of the TV remote controller lying on the sofa and headed straight towards it. He started pressing the buttons while looking expectedly at the TV...

I went to him and said, "Caleb, No. Give it to mummy." He looked at me with his innocent eyes and paused for a moment... He then reached out his right hand to grab a ball nearby and handed it to me... I told him, "No. Not the ball. I want the remote controller." He swallowed his saliva, paused and again stretched out the ball to me. In my heart I was laughing. I was happy to see that he's growing and learning each day. But to teach him what not to touch, I took the ball away and placed my palm below the controller and said, "Give the remote controller to mummy."

This time, he obediently gave it to me and turned towards his toys.

What a sweet boy....

Post-natal detox therapy

2007-03-20T15:50:00.000+08:00

I took part in Rustic Nirvana's contest in Young Parents magazine couple of months back and won myself a free package of post-natal Slimming detox therapy! That was definitely the best gift for every mummy, isn't it... :D

Although I didn't put on a lot of weight during my pregnancy, somehow I just couldn't shed off that extra 2-3kg. Worse still, the loose skin on my tummy looks really ugly...

The treatment was really gooooooood... I always looked forward to a pampering and relaxing afternoon and I would step out of Rustic feeling healthier and fresher! It was certainly a good time for me to get away from Caleb too! Spending so much time with him, day in and out really drives me nuts at times... Thank God my mum is in good health to look after him when I was away...

The best thing of course is the result! My husband used to say that he couldn't find my waist (and he would pinch the fat around my waist when he said so.. Very irritating!) Now at least I could see some shape, and I could fit comfortably into all my clothes, hehe!

Rating:
8.5/10

Photos of Caleb

2007-03-20T12:59:00.000+08:00

6-month-old Caleb on high chair taking his rice cereal. He loves it!

4-month-old Caleb on his tummy

Intro

2007-03-19T22:52:00.000+08:00

Hi hi,

How are you today? Hope you are all well and fine.. Welcome to my blog! ~ ;)

Well, I've always been wanting to create a blog to pen down my motherhood and the growing up of my dear son but I didn't get it started until now! Caleb is already 1 year, 1 mth old!

Since I've missed so much of his first year, this blog won't be just abt Caleb... I will talk abt things that have happened to me or happening in my life now... I'm naturally not a humourous nor witty person nor am I good in writing. However, I'll try my best to keep it from being boring... Hee... Hope you like it and come back for more.... feel free to leave me a message or feedback yah!

Thanks for visiting and hope to see you again!

God Bless,
Joy

Caleb Goh, my dear son

2007-03-19T18:19:00.000+08:00

Date of birth: 17 Feb 2006
Birth Weight: 3.1kg

Favourite song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Favourite book: God Made Me
Favourite baby DVD: Baby Noah by Baby Einstein

Rollover: 5 1/2 mth
Sit: 7 mth
Crawl: End of 8th mth
Pull up standing: 10 mth
Cruising: 11.5 mth
First tooth: 11 mth
First step: 13 mth
First word: Not yet