School Bus

It was indicated that the school bus timing will be allocated to us around the 25th of December but when we called up, they told us that they havn't got the schedule ready yet.

Today, I received a sms from the organisation informing us the bus schedule for Renee as : pick-up - 6:30am , back - 2pm(school ends at 1:30pm on most days).  The bus numbers for pickup/return/cca are all different.

I suppose things will be different again when we move...

School Shoes

Don't remember there had been any mention of the type of school shoes allowed, so I called up the school to check.  Was told that as long as the shoes are white, it is allowed(I rem track shoes are not allowed, during our days...).

This is her pair :

HairCut for the New School Year

Supposed to go for a viewing this evening after Renee's lesson but the appointment was cancelled last minute, thus we decided to bring Renee to have her haircut instead.

I've been the one whom cut Renee's hair since birth til she's about 4-5 yrs old when she got too impatient during the cut and it's became a chore for a non-trained person to do the job nicely(even trained hairstylists also gotta keep telling her to stay still, hahaha)

Finally, her hair's short again and she does look nice in this concave bob look(I always like concave cut) - However, I was abit too late to tell her cousin not to cut a 'slope' bob, but I managed to stop her before the 'slope' got 'deeper', :D

Now, she's ready for P1(in terms of appearance lah, hahaha).

*At the salon, aunty Ellen passed Irene's X'mas present to Renee when she came to fetch Louise home and Renee's very happy when she saw what they are when we got home, :)

The Promised Luge & SkyRide

As Papa had promised Renee another Luge & SkyRide at the Sentosa should she get an 'A', they went today.  There had been a little fuss earlier due to the rainfall but it soon cleared as the weather did too.

Meimei had caught a cold(from jiejie?) and since I won't be enjoying the rides nor the wait whilst they do so, I decided to stay home.  It was cosy to be home alone with the baby,  :) - it's like reliving the time with baby Renee...

A Simple X'mas Gathering

It's the Christmas!

Earlier on, I had planned to bring my mom over 'cos she wanted to visit our current home before we relocate, :).  So, just nice that Vicky said to meet us today for the gift exchange and thus, we arranged for mom to come over as well.

Have recommended Vicky the restaurant downstairs my mom's home a long time ago but til date, she's yet to give it a try.  Today, she's finally got a chance to taste their food, :).  Picking mom up, hubby went to 'tapao' food from the restaurant and went to fetch Vicky as well since they stay very near each other.  Renee had gone along, :).

At home, Rachel had fallen asleep on the exersaucer whilst waiting and she woke up when they got back.  Woken up to a stranger's face(juz nice my mom walked into our room), she cried big time, hahahahahaha.(after a while, she's ok liao...)

We just sat and chat around after the dinner but none was able to stomach even a tiny slice of the log cake and thus, it became Toh family's supper, heee.

The balance un-opened pressies

The weather has been really good the past few days and today's extremely cooling/windy that we even let Rachel put on the santarina dress at home without having to switch the air-conditioner on! Should have taken pic of mom with bb santarina!  Perhaps that's what she wanted 'cos she kept reminding us that jie jie(engrossed with the games on Vic's iPhone) hasn't put on hers, aiyah!

Quiet X'mas Eve

It's the eve but we hvn't the mood nor plans to go anywhere(don't wanna squeeze in the crowd nor wait in long que)... And so, instead of dining out, we decided to go pack some simple food(wanted KFC initially) back for a simple, nice cozy dinner at home.

Renee had mentioned a few times earlier, that she hasn't gotten presents for the both of us and since she hasn't got much dollar coins left, I told her it's ok and it's her well-being and good behaviour that we wanted but she insisted(esp. after I've given her, her present this morning, hahaha).

We were on the way out to Bukit Timah Plaza when Renee asked if we could bring her to AMK hub for her to have a quick grab at the things she wanna get for us and Papa, the ever 'spoiling' one, obliged her, :D.

At AMK hub, we headed straight to the store(MiniToons) and she chose a couple of items she wanted to get for Papa, then, urging me to go get my groceries, Papa and her went to look for mine, :D.

With dinner packed and a log cake bought, we quickly headed home and watched tv whilst we munched on, :).

Simple dinner of Korean and Taiwan fried chicken(didn't know that Renee has chosen fried chicken so I bought the Korean one!), Okonomiyaki, Korean Sausage(yummy! and I'm one who doesn't like sausages) and meat balls



Feeding Mei Mei

I have been very very very busy these few days and today, seeing that I needed to rush over some chores, Renee offered to feed mei mei again(this is her 2nd time doing so).  Although she didn't exactly do a perfect job out of it, but still, it's of good help to me(even if it's for that short while before I took over), :)

Home Lunch

We had a western + chinese style lunch today.  For Renee and myself, we had saltish rice with stir fried pork + vege + carrot and it's soup(ribs + sweetcorn + kabocha + bittergourd).  This is hubby's :

Enjoying The Toy

Rachel looking on whilst jie jie played with her X'mas pressie.

(But when the doggy moved nearer to her, she's afraid, hahaha)

Days Without the Maid

The maid's gone for about 3 days and I've lost about 1kg already!(but no worries, at the rate I'm eating, I'd soon put it back on, heee)

Yesterday, the 1st full day without the maid and with the husband being away golfing, was the worst.  A little bit better today though, with some of the earlier chores taken care of and hubby's around to watch over Rachel, at least Renee got to do her practice abit whilst I busied about.

It was busy washing, cleaning, sterislising, preparing and cooking lunch for all(including bb's) in the morning, then it's laundry and ironing which I had to stop midway as hubby came back and told us that we needed to go home viewing...

Another unit at Hillview Green but it seems like the condition of the homes at this place is rather bad(so far, the few we've seen are of about the same condition) and though I quite like the unit at Hazel Park, but what we would be paying for, are more for the facilities which we would most likely be not using., so we're still looking around...

The Weaning Trial & Errors

I don't remember hving to wean Renee off so many 'stuffs' but with Rachel, it's a total different story.

First of all, it's the breastfeeding.  This is something which I think I'd face with most difficulties but as I'm still bf-ing her, I shall talk about it in due course.  Both Renee and Rachel had started on bottle feeding(Expressed Breast Milk-EBM), but for Rachel, heeding advices, I've succumbed to direct latching and have continued bf longer than Renee, so I guess, it'll definitely be harder to wean Rachel off.

Had I not taken the heed of mommies, to latch Rachel more often, perhaps I may not to deal with this 'problem'.  Since the time I took on the advice, soon she began to reject the bottles and numerous times of changing the bottle size and brands of teats didn't help.  She did drink water from the bottle a couple of months ago though but it's also short-lived...  Recently, having read about someone succeeded in weaning after using a soft type of teat, I decided to give it another try.  However, instead of trying the brand that the mommy had used, I chanced upon a Korean brand one and she seems to like it enough to drink water from it(not sure how long this will last but I sure hope it would...).  I hope this would help me to wean her off bf when the time comes...

Pacifier is another thing.  I've never quite like the idea of babies taking the pacifier, simple reason - usually hard to wean off and it may then cause dental problem.  Renee had not taken to sucking a soother, nor has Rachel.  However, the latter had almost taken to it but then, when she showed signs of rejection, I stoppped giving it to her after some tries.  This rejection's a good sign, to someone whom doesn't buy the idea of giving the soother to the baby but when the baby wants suckling to sleep, this would be most handy.  My baby Rachel is one such example! but she just simply wouldn't take the pacifier even when I've given in to giving it to her.

Not just on bottles and teats, we've also spent quite abit on soothers, trying on a few brands/types - Nuk(her milk bottle brand), Tommy Tippee... but she'd simply pull them out and cried non-stop for Moi!  Today, even though I'm dead tired after a whole day of preparing lunch/washing/cleaning/packing myself, we still went out when hubby woke up from his nap after his golf game.  I was contemplating between the Mothercare, Mam and Avent brand of soother and finally settled for the Avent's.

As usual, she's been crying for me after I've cleaned her up but I needed my shower/sterlise her stuffs+ new pacifier/laundry, And... she took the pacifier, only for a while... :(  So I decided to try a different way -  at 10:10pm, I carried her to the room, b/fed her and gave her the pacifier when she'd drifted off to sleep but she woke up the minute the soother touch her mouth and wasn't happy!  She fussed, she pulled it out and cried but since she's fed, it's obvious she just wanna suckle to sleep, so I didn't want to give in.  I struggled with her, 'beat' her thighs(she manja and cried of 'cos), then I played with her abit, with the pacifier and soon, she gave in to fatigue and fell asleep, on our bed, sucking the pacifier, at 10:47pm...

@11:40pm, she woke up in her cot, crying and didn't want the pacifier again.  I put her on our bed, stuff the soother into her mouth and she slept... Arh, this is something I realised recently! - Like Renee, she doesn't quite like to sleep in the cot(and this is a different cot, not the one Renee had used so it shows they really dislike it) and wants to sleep with me.  Oh man, another thing for me to wean off!

An Early Mini X'mas Celebration

Every year, we would hold a small family Christmas celebration on the eve or the actual day.  However, as Elsie and Li are both going on a holiday this year on the eve, we decided last minute to have it earlier, yesterday.

On our way to the airport to send off our maid Yunita, we detoured to Gramercy to pick up the books for Renee.  As both Renee and Rachel had fallen asleep in the car, I didn't follow hubby and Yunita to the terminal when we got there, so I could watch over them.  However, I still got out of the car and wished Yunita the best.  After I've bidded her farewell, she said she wanna say goodbye to Renee and she went to open the car's door...

This year's Christmas gathering was really a simple one but of course, it's not without the usual gift exchange.  Needless to say, Renee's got the most pressies and Rachel's not forgotten, :). 

Actually, Renee had done up some X'mas artwork, intending to pass them to her aunts(and I duno who else), but I guess she had under-estimated the no. of people attending, and had not made enough, thus, she didn't dare to give them at all, poor girl(can't blame her, it's usually hard to tell who is attending our gathering til the last minute...).  However, her cousin Louise saw them and wanted to take them all! for decorating her salon, so in the end, her efforts' still not wasted, :)

Hubby left to join his clients at a dinner and only came back to pick us at around 10pm.  By the time we got home, cleaned up Rachel, do up some chores(my skin's peeling already!), I'm dead beat!  I just have to tackle the rest of the chores tomorrow...(found some stuffs not properly cleaned by the maid...)

It's funny, even though we aren't exactly satisfied with Yunita's work/attitude(with Renee) sometimes, but somehow, we felt abit 'funny' when we got home...  I guess in a way, she's become 'part of the family' or we're too sentimental?...

The Pressies!

The 2 computer gamers, hahaha

*Renee had been nice to help me whilst I cleaned Rachel up.  She helped me to prepare and keep some of the stuffs 'cos she said that she's promised me so, awwwww.....I only wish she'd stop throwing tanthrums - which is something that happens so very often these days, haiz...

Last Minute Shopping

We were supposed to resume Renee's violin practical lessons today(for the holidays) but just as we were leaving home, hubby told me that he hasn't gotten the books from Gramercy!  In this case, there is no point going for the lesson, isn't it?  So, I gave the teacher a call, he confirmed the same and thus, we shall re-arrange another day for the lesson - oh no, he's already mentioned that it might be abit rush if we didn't resume soon but no choice, since we still hvn't got the books...

With no lesson and we were already out, we proceeded to AMK hub to shop for Renee's gifts to her aunts and cousins and me, the gift exchange item.  She had a happy time there with the maid and had forgotten about those times she's 'unhappy' with her.  She even wanted to share her dinner of fish and chips when we were taking her order and sat next to her, aiyoh!  This is a good and bad sign, good - she doesn't hold grudges, bad - get bullied/taken advantage of easily lor next time...

All the time, both hubby and I had this feeling that we had missed something out and it's only when we got home, got a call from the property agent that we realised we've missed the appointment to view some homes!  Guess we'd just have to re-schedule then.

Back home, after our showers, Renee couldn't wait and pestered me to help her wrapped up all her pressies and that's what we did whilst Rachel fussed about, hahaha.

Pre-X'mas PlayDate

Got a sms from Karen yesterday, asking if we'd be free for a meetup today.  Well, we are free(not planning to go out much this week as the maid's leaving this weekend) but unprepared, I hvn't exactly gotten all their pressies ready, so I thought to 'delay' the meetup for a day but Renee didn't want to, :).

So, they came over this afternoon and after a brief play at the room, Renee asked if they could go for a swim and seeing that the weather has turned good again, we agreed.  The girls happily changed into their swimming gear but just before they all got into the wading pool, a contractor told us that the kids are not to swim there as they're going to varnish the floor, OMG!  There hadn't been any notice given to us nor was there any put up at the elevator, which was the case for the previous work done.  In any case, the kids proceeded to the playground and not giving up, we checked with the worker again, as to when they actually need to start the work and if the kids could just have abit of fun first.  He said that as the floor area need to be dry, the kids can only swim at the farther end of the adult pool, which they happily did...  Finally, the kids got to have a little pool/water fun, :).  And lucky us, the rain began just as we were going back home! :D - so much for not allowing us at the wading pool and it turned out that the floor's gonna be all wet after all!

After a quick shower, the girls had snacks of baked chicken wings, fried scallops and chicken nuggets before they continued with their whatever indoor 'fun', :).  When they've had enough, the mommies took over the dishes, hahaha.

Time really flies when one's enjoying the company and soon, it was time for them to go home.  I can tell that Renee's glad to have the girls over and hope that they could come over again, lolz.

Looking longingly at the pool when they were told they cldn't swim...

Couldn't wait to get into the pool after the group shot, hahaha

(poor)Baby Rachel looking on whilst the girls played...

Kissing Grandma II

Remember I wrote about Rachel kissing granny few weeks ago?  Tonight, she did it again but she cried immediately after, so funny, hahahahaha.

X'mas Hat(clip)

Were on our way home from Takashimaya S.C. last weekend and was stopped by a young girl 'selling' these cute X'mas hat clips.

For S$5, we could get this cute clip and do charity at the same time, why not? :)

Oh, the snowman bread doesn't come with it, we just bought it to compliment the mood, hehehe.

Sooo Sleepy...

Her Teeth...

Bought this baby teeth keepsake box couple of years back but haven't got a chance to use it til now.  Actually, what we need is just the box but there wasn't any spree on that then, so no choice...

The Result(Nafa Grade II)

As before, we were informed that the results of the internal exam will be sent to us 2 weeks after the exam but this evening, suddenly reminded, hubby went to retrieve the mails.

I was in the shower when he went and then I heard Renee squealing in delight and hubby saying something like "it's not good enough", then I realised, oh we've got the results!  Shortly, she rushed to the room, stood outside the bathroom and told me her results excitedly : "mommy I've got an A, I've got an A!", and when I came out, I was told that actually she had cried initially, when she saw the 'B' she's gotten for her theory, thinking that she's got a B for her overall results - and that might cause her to lose the opportunity to continue learning the violin, :).

In any case, her overall results and the marking on her practical exam are an 'A-' and this shows that she has not made much/great improvements but since it's an 'A' afterall, she does get to continue...  I only hope she'll buck up soon as according to her teacher, learning is going to be tougher from the next grade onwards and would require lotsa hard work...

Videos of Renee's Playing the Violin

*For those whom had requested an updated view of Renee playing the violin, let me know if U're using facebook, 'cos I'm unable to upload the videos here*

School Bag for P1

After much consideration on the reliability and design, we've finally decided on this(I find it pity tt this doesn't come in pink for S size but fret not, Renee wants it in either blue or this clr, :D) :

German made Deuter Ergonomic School Bag
(how lucky kids these days are...)

The Surgery

For a while now, Renee has quite forgotten about this surgery.  I've scheduled it today without knowing her violin master/studio classes and exam dates and luckily, they were all just before its date, phew...

It is obvious that Renee has been feeling nervous about it since last night but she put on a brave front all the way, from home til she was being led to the OT room.  Even the surgeon, whom was most skeptical about her to be operated only on local anaethesia, came out with all praise on her bravery, :).

Few months back, during our consulation/discussion on this mater, the surgeon had initially wanted her to go on GA but being so young, I really wish they would not use that on her('cos no one is sure if that would cause side-effect like 'poor memory' thereafter) and luckily for us, her dental docter highly recommended that local anesthetic should suffice as she felt that Renee's a 'good girl' whom would co-operate.  She also informed us that she'd take this opportunity(where that area is being numbed) to extract her 2 front lower primary teeth(to make room for the fully grown adult ones).

Within just a short period of an hour(the surgery itself took less than that of cos), we were already on our way home and now, it's just recovery time...

Kissing Grandma

On a lighter note, my mom and my sisters were all surprised that Rachel's able to call 'mama, papa, che che' and mutter 'mum mum'(although lately she's stopped calling 'mama' and say 'mum mum' :(

When the rest have gone to buy dinner, I stayed back and whilst my mom was talking to me/playing with Rachel, I carried Rachel standing on my lap and asked her to give me a kiss.  My mom asked "huh, she can do that?" and to answer to that, Rachel leaned forward and gave me a kiss, hahaha.  My mom was very excited and asked her "give ah mah a kiss", and to my surprise, she leaned forward and kiss grandma!  Good job, baby, u've made your granny happy, hahaha

The Exam

Finally, it is her Nafa GYV internal exam today!

Although Renee's afraid that she might not get to continue with the course(in order to make her work harder, we'd told her that if she doesn't get a full As result from this exam, we'll not let her continue with the course), she's still rather slack with her practices.  Although this 'threat' had not exactly yield the result we wanted - she's still lazy, but she's shown that she would really like to continue - the thing that puzzles me is, why then wouldn't she work harder?.....

She's done rather well for her 2nd Masterclass and had played pretty nicely yesterday during her Studio-class.  However, she didn't do as well today.  Why?  Wanting to catch her theory teacher for her exam papers, I'd told Papa that we'd go on time(we'll leave at 1:30pm since the exam starts at 1:45pm) but it was a mistake, 'cos not only didn't I manage to catch the teacher(y/day and today), but being early, she met her friends and her mind was full of 'play'.  What's worse was, standing outside the examination room, she saw 1 of her friends playing with the violin, she attempted to follow suit.  We stopped her on time and told her "No, the exam's inside this room, you will disturb them". Although she did listen initially, but, when the teacher came out, trying to stop the person whom was causing the din, she still tried to 'copy' her friend.  That coursemate of hers was smart enough to hand the violin quickly over to the parent but our silly Renee, had to insist on taking over the violin from her Papa, whom had been holding her violin for her all this while!  Seeing that she was the one holding the violin, her teacher told her not to play it - Such silly misbehaviour of her had caused her to take the blame!  Needless to say, this upset the both of us, so we reprimanded her and not knowing the actual situation(some were not ard us when it happened), many have thought that we're stressing her on the exam and someone had even deliberately commented loudly to his child "nevermind, don't stress, just play/treat it like your normal practice" -  geez, this is what we've always told Renee too, haiz...  We're angry with her 'cos her unacceptable behaviour had gotten her into 'trouble'(it's good to 'teach' her now as she'd be attending pri sch soon and she's bound to meet more of such people).  With us scolding her and feeling unhappy that she's unable to play with her friends, she didn't perform as well.

Actually, we do not really need her to score As 'cos we're already very happy with what her teachers had told us so far, but we needed her to understand the importance of working hard as talent/gift is merely a fraction to the success of mastering the instrument.

Remembering her teacher's reminders, we quickly went and bought tickets to the Nafa YT concert, last minute, after her exam.  Not wanting Rachel to disturb the others(in case she cries), I decided to give it a miss and waited for them at my mom's.  Later, Papa told me that they've met her teacher at the concert hall and was told that she didn't do so well at the exam as compared to yesterday's Studioclass, but ..........  Anyway, it'll be a good 2 weeks til we get her official results and til then, we'll have to decide if she should continue with this learning...

The Approach of the Half Yearly Exam

It's been 2 weeks now, after the 2nd Masterclass and Renee's still not working hard enough for her coming internal exam.  With her violin being out of tune yesterday, she happily took a rest and she's already been 'resting' quite a bit since the MC, haiz...

Shall see how she performs that fateful day...

New School Bag Search

The children these days are carrying big and heavy schoolbags and I've heard that an ergonomic one would do the kid's back good, and I've been on the lookout for such bags whenever we were out.

 

So far, we've only seen 1 shop at Marina Square and another at United Square, selling such bags but none of their designs appealed to me/us.

 

On a recent trip down to U/Sq, I popped into the shop again and was informed about their promotion and I asked papa to go take a look today, but what we wanted do not have the discount we wanted, nor the right colour(we're alr giving up on the design, hahaha) and since they'd be extending the promotional period, we decided to take the opportunity to look at other bags.  Hope we'll find a right one...

Baking Class & a Caricature

Renee's been looking to the muffins decorating class and she's finally attending it today!

After a short rest/wash up back home after the school orientation, papa took us to a quick lunch at Orchard Central(he kept thinking that this is the mall where Renee's supposed to be attending the class, hahaha) before we rushed over to 313@Somerset. Papa left us there to attend to some work but as he couldn't join us immediately after the session, I took them(the 2 kids) back over to Orchard Central for some photo taking, heee. Then we went for a little shopping at Centrepoint where Renee's given a free caricature of herself(she missed the sculpted balloon giveaway today :D).

 

A very busy and extremely tiring day for me but Renee's happy, :)

Primary School Orientation

The Toh family was up at 7am this morning(no diff for me though, hahaha), getting ready for Renee's primary school orientation.

Fortunately, we arrived at the school late, at around 8:20am 'cos then we need not have to wait in the hall for the Principal to begin her speech at around 8:30am(we read the agenda and decided not to leave home too early, as Rachel may not stand the wait for so long and it's gonna be a long day out for her today).

We've no prior experience(with other schools that is) but comparing to what we've encountered at the other school where we were made to ballot for a placing, this school is way more organised.  And, if they could deliver what that's been cited, then this is indeed, as commented by parents in a few forums, a good school, just overshadowed by the more popular ones around the region.  (but then again, we can only tell more after she's started school with them...)

The minute I arrived(papa went to park the vehicle) at the school hall, a teacher approached me immediately and seeing that I'm carrying Rachel, offered to bring Renee to the 'students' section where a different programme has been drawn up for them - with a tour around the school of 'cos.  After our snacks(provided by the school for the children and even the parents), the form and mother tongue teachers(we were led to our kid's respective classroom) briefed us through on what and how they would be educating our children and the types of materials that will be used.  However, I didn't manage to capture all that's been presented as Rachel, being sleepy, had fussed a little and in order not to disturb the others, I had to get up and try to rock her sleep.  But I guess I could still try and read up most part of it since they've given us some print-ups for home reading.

At the start, they've urged parents whom had come in pairs, to try and split ourselves, so that 1 could attend the briefing whilst the other attends to the acquiring of textbooks, school uniforms and the arrangement of school bus services.  Most of us did that but for uniforms, I told papa that it'd be better for Renee to try them out in person.  Unlike our time, we now have to purchase socks with the school's name printed on them, which I find is a very good idea so that there's a complete standard, uniformity in the students' school attire(not sure if this school socks thingy is the same as with other schools) .

As everything's properly organised, we need not have to wait too long or even extend our stay at the school past the scheduled timing stated in the agenda and we managed to head home for a little rest before we head out again.

Renee has already made a few friends(from the same class) today and she said she would like to attend this school, :).  Well, will she say the same should she has a little argument with her friends in the near future? hahaha.  Oh ya, when we got home, she told me that she saw an ex classmate from her Lorna Whiston S & D classes at the school(at a different class though) but that girl didn't recognise her...

Last Day of Preschool

It's the last day of Renee's preschooling.

Usually, she'd be attending school only on Mondays to Thursdays, Fridays being her Berries lessons day but since it's the last week of school and she's already missed 3 days(2 actually, Tues - Teacher & Parent Meeting, which we didn't attend as well), I asked the Principal if they'd mind if Renee goes in on Friday so that she could have a day more of fun with her friends.  The latter readily agreed and it'd be delightful as they'd be hving a funfare that day for the children!

Although this school does not do what most or infact almost all preschools would, which is a graduation concert, but I'm actually more glad with such arrangements, for I really don't see why we are paying such a high fee(~S$1.5k for a term) for them to get our kid(s) to prepare for the concert instead of learning - preparing them for P1?  I remember seeing K2 children practicing their dance/performance during lesson hours when I sent Renee to her previous Kindy and I was like huh, shouldn't these children be in class learning, getting ready for the next level which is most important? (Since Renee was only in lower presch then, it didn't really bother me but later, this was also 1 of the reasons why I pulled Renee out of their system...)

In any case, Renee had fun today, at the school's funfare, prepared by the teachers.  The children were only asked to make little coupons the day earlier(they just simply wrote the value like 'S$1, S$0.50' etc) out of small pieces of paper which the teachers later stapled up as booklets of coupons for them to make pretend purchases of food at the funfare(this also helps in teaching them to buy food at the school canteen next yr).  They even took turns to tend to the stalls, it had sounded fun when Renee described it to me. Unlike her previous Kindy, everything, including the food the kids would 'buy', were prepared by the school/teachers.  The school even gave them a story book each!  Even though Renee's only been with them for a short 2 terms, I can see that this school has a nice, caring and non-calculative Principal/environment.

Finally got the Green Ambassador Certificate and 'Badge'-Gold
(ya, she's got gold for bugging at me to bring my own shopping bag all the time!)

*Am surprised to receive the deposit refund cheque today - thought we'd have to wait for weeks like with other schools...

Back with Breakfast

As requested, Papa came home this morning with Mac's breakfast for us, :)

Being first to wake up(errm should be baby Rachel, hahaha), I had wanted to wake Renee up but was stopped by hubby whom wanted to give the former a surprise.  She was caught indeed, hahaha, she had even thought that she was woken up by papa in her dreams, hahaha.

Papa's got to attend to some work and after he's collected the baby monitor(they were supposed to deliver!), he came home to take us out.  We have to go to the maid agency to re-select another maid(3rd selection already, why they always can't contact their maids!!!) and hopefully, this shall be the last we have to do so...

More Lovely Stuffs

Bought more socks again today heee...

These were bought earlier, from Mini Princess:

And these were bought today :

Think I'd better stop buying socks for Rachel 'cos I still have some in super good condition or even new ones which I've ordered during Renee's time!

On the other hand, seeing that I'm buying things for mei mei, Renee also wanted something, haiz.  In the end, she chose this over the others :

A Nice Day

We have postponed our meet up to today and after a short chit-chat at home(whilst Renee was fooling around with her practice, haiz...), we headed out to United Square.

With 2 vehicles idly parked at home, I told Vicki to take the V and thus we saved the time on hailing a cab to and fro :).

After our quick dinner(we wanted to go to mouth restaurant but Renee wanted Mac, aiyoh...), we went to Thomson Plaza to get our groceries 'cos we weren't able to find nice vegetables from the Cold Storage.  With the detour, we had to forego our intended drive to Orchard Road to see the Christmas light-up and Renee was unhappy, aiyoh, it's still 1 1/2 mth more to X'mas, we'd have plenty of time to do that!

Back home, she played with Vicki's Ipad again(that makes me feel like getting one, heeee) and kept requesting her to stay later and leave her Ipad behind, hahaha.  In the end, forgetting about the insurance part, we've asked Vicki to take the V back since I've transferred the booster seat back to the other vehicle, so that she could drive it to the airport when she resumes work on Thursday(just nice she's on AM shift and hubby's coming back in the early hours that day, so he said it'd be good if Vicki could take it to the airport for him).   In any case, let's just hope all goes well so we need not worry about the insurance matter...

Papa's Away

Yes, hubby's gone overseas again...

Although he doesn't travel as much as before(the last being in Feb/March this year) and even though I'm staying home, his beloved girl Renee cried....

Last night, just hours before he left home, I teased her about grabbing the opportunity to snuggle up to him and she teared whilst doing so.  Then, as he bid us all goodbye, she stayed put at the sofa, pretending to concentrate on the tv show 'Xi You Ji'.  The minute I returned to the same spot after sending Papa off at the door, she looked at me sadly and teared, Omigosh!  I wonder what would happen if I had really brought meimei and went along with Papa - though she said she'd want to go to aunty PC's home if that's the case, when I teased her about it, hahaha.

Renee's wanted to sleep with me but as baby has been waking up in the wee hours lately regurgitating milk/phlegm after her feed, I didn't allow her to do so, for fear that her sleep/rest would be disturbed by such incidents.  Of course, she wasn't happy but I promised that she'd be allowed to sleep with me after her theory exam today and she'd also be skipping school for the next few days til Papa's back... 

Baby Monitor

Less than 2 weeks and our new baby monitor has conked out on me!

With hubby's going away tonight, I told him to quickly bring the set down to its repair centre but unable to fix the item on the spot, they loaned us another set - one without the monitoring screen!  I'm upset.  Why do they give us an inferior set when we've paid more for something much better/more useful?  It certainly isn't fair.  We needed the screen to monitor the movement of our baby in the cot whilst we're out of the room, if we had wanted something with just sound monitoring, why do we bother to pay higher for one with the screen.  Even the music produced don't sound as nice and do not play continuously like the set we've bought.  This is sooo irrirtating.

With the added-on frustrations I've got from a recent email exchange with their office told me to think twice about buying their products again in the near future...

'Tummiful' Shopping

Was contemplating if I should forego the discount at a maternity/nursing wear boutique and bring my kids down to the Robinsons' private sales event yesterday but decided to go today instead.  Luckily not, 'cos I didn't get to buy much from the boutique but at Robinsons, we managed to get all that we've gone there for(even spent a good S$40+ on Renee's underwear! hahaha) and Renee's got what she wanted when she said she wanted to go yesterday(when she saw what's stated on the store's invitation card) - meeting Santa Claus, who gave her a lollipop and getting her sculpted balloon, hahaha.

One for mei mei too! :)

Papa went with us this time round and feeling hungry, we had gone for our dinner earlier.  Thinking that we might have a long shopping evening, I ate up a plateful roast duck rice but at the Robinsons, we were served sandwiches, quiches, hazel nut cakes, all of which I took with glasses of fruit juices, hahaha, oh man, I don't wanna put on more weight!

 

Earlier on, knowing that I will not have time for their seminar at the boutique this evening, I did not reserve my placing but just went around shopping.  I was the only one doing so and I did feel kinda weird, hahaha.  Then, suddenly, as I was waiting for the staff to get my stuff, a lady 'photographer' approached me asking for my picture to be taken.  Needless to say, I declined, she pleaded but again, I declined with apology...  But, as I was leaving, there seemed to be flash light at my direction!  I hope I won't see my photograph 'accidentally' at their blog or advertorials!

Baby's 1st Words

Since her 1st 2 murmurs of "ma ma" at 5mths old, Rachel's not utter it the 3rd time, no matter how much we'd(me more lah, of cos, hahaha) love to hear it again.

We've been busy at the homefront lately but recently, I decided to 'teach' Rachel how to 'call' moi again, hehehe. I've been telling her "don't arh arh arh, say "ma ma", like this : "mmm, mmma, mmma" and each time, she'd mimick the mouth movement, without a sound.  Not giving up, I did this over a period of 2-3 days, and finally, she did it again today!  It sounded even clearer this time round and to my surprise, it seems like she's also picked up "mum mum" too, when she wanna feed.  The latter need further confirmation(twice so far), But, if it's correct, then hurray, we now have 2 means of finding out if she wanna feed, :).

Luge and Skyride

Decided to go home viewing today and just one location(few homes), I already felt tired, hahaha.  Yet, papa asked jie jie if she'd like to have some fun at Sentosa... Needless to say, the answer's yes and so, we went...

Forgotten how the beach at Sentosa's like, jie jie had wanted to go there to collect shells, hahaha but was disappointed when she got there. In the end, they both went for the Luge and Skyride, not once, but thrice which got me fedup! I had thought they'd both gotten a one-time ride ticket each but papa went and took over 3 rides ticket from a caucasian and I was sooooo tired just waiting for them(nowhere to rest my feet), carrying Rachel! Even had to nurse her whilst waiting for the both of them to finish the rides, :(. Didn't want to speak to either of them til we got home, hahahahaha and papa teased Renee "oh mommy's angry, no more outing/holiday lo...".

Relaxing

Although we've gone out only on Monday(trying to cut down on outings now) and will be out after her lesson tomorrow, I couldn't help but felt like going out today but then again, I also felt kinda lazy(the rain played a part in it too) to do so, heee.  In the end, the fact that papa's not coming back for dinner and on Renee's urgings, I relented - I thought, since the final masterclass(for this semester) has ended, I could let Renee relax abit before we embark on the next piece for the coming exam.

Given 3 choices, Renee chose to go to United Square and being a weekday and we've gone there rather late(we've reached there around 5pm), it wasn't that crowded and we decided to go for an early dinner at Mac's.  Then, she asked to go watch the candy making process(again) and she even made me buy a pack home, hahaha.  Then, we ate at Sogurt(her intention to go there la!  aiyoh, there's 1 Sogurt opp our place leh...but then again, it's 'so near yet so far' kinda situation, hahaha) before heading to the respective stores.

A simple outing like this was enough to make her day and though I'm tired, I'm happy to oblige if I can, :).  Wonder if we'll get to enjoy such 'luxury' when she starts P1 next year and/or after we've relocated...

Independency

We've noted the slack in our maid's work and I had asked her numerous times, if she'd like to go back('cos I've talked to her a few times and she always cited family problems).  Each time she'd tell me that she still wants to continue to work.

  

Many things had also happened and we had always closed an eye 'cos they're tolerable, so far.  I had also took over the care of my baby literally 100% when I first noted the slack and that was a few months ago but as she's still able to help us with the washing and cooking, we didn't think too much about sending her back.

Today, finally she told us that her elder son had been calling her at night, crying, saying that the caregiver, his grandmother had been beating him and she said she couldn't work and wants to go back already.  There could be other reasons like hving already earned enough, etc, but if she wants to go, we won't keep her.  We'd be arranging for her to go back by end of this month and in the meantime, I'd have to look for part-time cleaning help and we'll monitor if I can cope with the baby but with Renee going to P1 soon, I don't know...  What worries me more is the moves that we've to make and without a helper, it's certainly going to be a strain for me...

On the other hand, Renee was very happy upon hearing this and she immediately said that she'd help me with the housework, hahaha.  I doubt lah, but we could start off with her taking her own showers and she said she wanted to start today! hahaha.  And so indeed, we tried it today, with me watching in the shower-room of cos.  Though she didn't do a wonderful job but she has improved, from the last time I've 1st started training her and I believed, and hoped, that after the next few days of monitoring, she'd be able to do it herself entirely, that would save me some time/work in the future.(I guess my earlier training her and those times when she was left to do most of the job herself while e maid was using the hp in the shower, had helped, :D).

Kidz Amaze II

Finally(to Renee, :D), they were going to that place today!  Since we've pulled her out from the morning school(Kinderland) earlier, I've not 'seen' such enthusiastism at the beep of her alarm til today(not even with this new school that she really likes), hahaha.

As expected, she's forgotten the pair of anti-slip soled socks I've prepared for her(had even reminded papa the night before, on where I've placed it, haiz...) but luckily, her teacher had loaned her a pair and she need not purchase a new pair from the playground, otherwise, we'd be stocking up on more socks which she won't get to wear...

She came home super excitedly and described non-stop about her 'adventure' there.  She's even tried the slide which she had been sooo afraid of, much earlier(although she's written on her diary that she had found the slide very scary and will not go for another round, hahaha).  It seems like she's daring/adventurous with her friends around, which has its pros and cons, but for this time, I'm just glad that she's had a good time, :).

Kidz Amaze

Last week, Renee had came home with a note from the school, requesting for permission for the kids to go on a school trip to the Kidz Amaze, in celebration of the Children's Day.

We had brought Renee there once, on an birthday invitation last year but she had not really enjoyed the place 'cos it's actually more suitable for 'climbers' and/or older kids.  However, since the teachers and most importantly, her friends, will be there with her, I told papa that we should just let her go.

Tonight, the night before the trip, she had been sooo excited and had wanted to go to bed early, hahaha but she didn't of course.  She had even offered to let me have all the chocolate and candies from all her school friends' goodie bags(wah, I just checked the fridge, there're quite alot from these few months, hahaha) when I teased her that perhaps we shouldn't let her go, hahaha.

Cream Porridge?

Cream porridge?  Nah, it's smashed(blended) steamed potato, baby loves it, Renee too! ;D

Butterflies & Moths

They were required to gather information about butterflies and moths this time round and remembering that we've liked her previous idea, Renee did it the same way again, hahaha :

Additional task this time round, they have to draw the life cycle of a butterfly/moth.  Luckily it's on this topic which is quite common, so it's easy for her

Ballerinas?

Met up with my Jap SIL with our kiddos at Bukit Timah Plaza today, at the only cafe there, heee.

Had hesistated wheher to go there today 'cos we've only been there on Monday but since I'd be able to collect the ballerina outfits(sent for alteration at the crotch to make it more convenient for their toileting/changing of diaper, hahaha), I decided to go again since Renee could also meet up with her cousins.

Renee didn't get to spend much time with cousin Yu but she played with cousin boy Kay instead whilst mommies chatted/snacked when waiting for Yu's ballet class to end.

Aunty Naoko gave a box of bling sticker maker(had almost put a similar one on her X'mas list last yr, hahaha but chose the normal one instead) to Renee with a reminder to play with caution especially when near meimei(due to its small parts), :).

The ballerina outfits!

Baby's

JieJie's comes in a set

'Orange' Porridge

Since we bought this organic pumpkin on Monday, we've been feeding Rachel with it(blended with her porridge of cos) + spinach.  Even Renee likes it, hahaha.