Straw

After procrastinating for a few weeks now(she's started drinking from a cup 1st), I've finally let Rachel try drinking from a straw this evening and she could!   That means I'd soon have to get her a straw cup soon.  I hope she'd be as receptive when it comes to weaning her off BF...

Bath Time

It was a few months ago when Rachel's started to grab the sides of the supporting net in her bathtub, to bring herself to upright sitting position and if we've laid her further downwards, she'd use her feet to kick-push herself to the upper part of the tub to a more comfortable position for her legs, hahaha, I've been enjoying watching her whilst in the bath.

Recently, again, without any coaching, she'd let go of the toys she's playing with(at times she wldn't give them up though, then she'd find it difficult to perform the task, hahaha), grab the sides of the net, slowly let herself down into lying position, when I tell her to 'lie down'...  I was surprised when she did it the 1st time I tried and have never tire of watching the process even since... 'cos to me, it's just simply sooo cute! hahaha

After a few weeks of 'enjoyment', I remembered last week and told hubby about it on the day he'd give her a bath(Sundays now) and he too, found it simply irresistably cute, hehehe.

Japanese Rice & Guests

Thinking that Renee will soon be getting sick of home-made sandwiches and those breads bought from the bakeries, I've been thinking of packing rice + 'something' for her on some days for a change.

She was happy with the suggestion, 'cos since the day we stopped her from buying the chicken rice, burger, etc etc from school, she's taking a longer time to decide on the choice of recess' snacks. 

However, fearing that the food flask might be a little too heavy to be added to her already heavy bag and the lighter one we have is not tight enough for her to handle, I asked around and heard from my Japanese SIL that she always prepare Japanese rice balls for her girl.  This is because Japanese rice still taste nice when it's cooled.  I've given it some thought and after discussing it with hubby, we decided to give it a try.

Yesterday, whilst sipping our bubble tea(mine's milk shake, heeee, seems like I MUST hv it every Sunday, hahaha), I brought this up again and thus, after our little shopping at Plaza Sin, we drove over to Bukit Timah Plaza, hoping to get a pack of the rice.

It's a good thing we had gone to this branch 'cos not only we saw this authentic Japanese rice on the rack, we were greeted with a few other choices too.  However, remembering my SIL's 'warning' that those made in USA and Vietnam won't taste nice, I avoided those from Australia and even Korea too(though she said Korea's not bad).  This pack of rice, 2kg, cost S$20.

Did a trial on the cooking of the rice this afternoon and by the evening's mealtime, I can roughly gauge on its cooking timing and quantity.  The portion cooked for her lunch was too little and it's a little too much for her dinner, but she said she must finish it 'cos it's expensive, awww...  I guess, with a couple more test runs, I should be able to get it right for the maid to prepare it in the morning - must make sure she REMEMBERS how to do it!

This afternoon, midway through practice, Papa informed that his clients are coming up to our home for a viewing as 1 of them is intending to buy another home from one of the blocks here.  When they arrived(which was super soon), Renee happily stopped her practice and even Rachel was happy to see the guests at our place, oh no, another 'please come to my place and play with me' girl? hahaha

Papa Chauffeur...

Renee had rejected strongly when we suggested that she be chauffered to school by her father but after he's driven her to school last Friday, she began to enjoy and treasure the privilege, hahaha.

Yesterday, as we knew that we might be home abit later, Papa suggested to Renee that he would send her to school probably, every Monday and Friday and he'd pick her up from school on Wednesdays.(luckily, 'cos she has time to complete part of her theory HW at least last night)  She was delighted of 'cos!  We would still keep the school bus service(to and fro) on, to standby on days when hubby needs to travel and so, for the time being, this is the best solution...

Haiku

Last night, with papa sleeping in her room(since last week), Renee came to sleep with me.  Then, as with last week, she did her homework in our room til soooo late that I told her that she is not to sleep in our room whenever papa is golfing the next day - he would have to sleep in her room, with her, I don't care if he can't sleep well, I don't want her to take her own sweet time to dilly dally over her work(actually, she just like to write, erase, write again, I can't stand it, it's just such a waste of time!).

There were some parts of her homework that she had needed a little bit of help and writing a Haiku is one of them.  Initially, at lunch, she'd asked me "mummy, what is Haiku?".  Thinking that she's heard this word from a friend, I replied "Haiku? Oh, tortoise" and she said "No...".  She then to explain it to me but I couldn't comprehend, hahaha til she showed me her homework instruction when she asked how she could do it, only then I got it.

Draw a festival they like and compose 3 Haikus before choosing one

She'd followed the instructions strictly and we chose this over the other 2.

This was done mostly by herself, I've helped her with the other 2 & the last line of this

The work children have to do these days...

A Cousin's Friend

School ends earlier on Wednesdays(1pm) and Fridays(12:30pm).  As she gets to come home earlier today and luckily, with not as much homework, she managed to finish them and her practice earlier too!  With the unexpected time allowance, good behaviour(I had earlier told her that I'd bring her down for a walk if she can finish her hw & practice early and she didn't throw tanthrums when the sky showed signs of rain) and good weather, I decided to bring them down for Renee to have a swim.  The latter was of cos elated, hahaha and kept asking why I changed my mind to letting her do so, haiz... ^ ~ ^

Since Renee's still unable to actually swim, she could only go to the playground pool and when 2 girls came over from the adult pool, I heard 1 of them calling the other 'Nadia', and instantly, I was reminded of what Renee's cousin had told me "my friend Nadia stays there too, she's Spanish and my best friend! If you know her, can you please tell me?".  With that in mind, I asked Renee to confirm with the girl if she's the one but she refused.  Although I could have done that with ease myself but as this could be her cousin's friend, I thought it would be nice if she could talk to her.  She has no problem at all in approaching strangers and had done so with many adult sales staff with her enquiries, so I see no decent reason for her to reject this request except that she's simply unwilling to do so.  I was about to let it go til she started to throw tanthrums and that made me determined for her to do it.

Finally, she relented and we got the answer - she is the one, and a friendly girl too!  This turn-out, also helped me to show Renee, that she can't always 'run away' from something that she doesn't like(esp. not by throwing tanthrums) and at times, things might just turned out to be just fine/nice.

With Renee completing the task, I allowed her extra funtime at the pool, whilst Rachel looking around earnestly, hahaha, :D.

Hidden Toys...

Usually, Rachel would wake up from her sleep/nap making noises(so we know she's awake) but recently, if I'd let her sleep in her cot with some of her toys in it, she'd wake up quietly and then I'd find her sitting by the end with the toys 'gone'.  What had happened to the toys on these occasions?...:

For example, I'd put these toys at the bottom of her cot

And this is what she'd do with them... :) 

I Want "Ma Ma". Oh No...

After Renee's theory class, we went to the mall instead of heading home(since not taking up the swimming lesson yet) as we needed to get new bath towels for the kids.

Whilst Rachel and I were at Mothercare, passing by the feeding bottles and pacifiers section, I turned to her, pointing to the bottles and teats, I asked "you want 'juk juk'?",  she protested loudly with an "arrhhh!" and then she said "ma ma!" - I think she meant she still want to be b-fed, oh man!

No Swimming Lesson?

As we both sat-in during Renee's lesson today(I had to go out with Rachel before papa arrived so she's left alone for quite awhile again, ^_^"), the teacher requested to speak to us without the pressence of Renee when it ended.

Her teacher expressed deep concern for Renee's recent slow-ed progress and wanted to discuss with us on how we could work together to help her.  He reminded us that it'd be a great waste of her talent should we let go and she slack on her own.  Like all the other teachers, he said that most children are like that and we have to try our best to pull her back on track, for at least, the next 2 years.  He's also mindful that either of us is musically trained but he cited that it'd be soon even if not now, that we will not be able to catch up with what she's learning(something of our concern too 'cos e pieces and techniques r getting tougher already!) but he said, a hold on her would still do her good.  He's also suggested that  we do what some other parents had been doing - put up a video camera on tripod during each lesson, so that she could watch back before/during practices(whether she'd really bother to tune to it later is another matter).  Again, he reminded us that the learning at Nafa itself is fast-paced, let alone the 'goal' she's currently working towards and once she slacks, she's going to lose out, no matter how talented the child is and if we allow that to happen to Renee, it would be a big waste.  Oh man, so stressful...

We are extremely grateful of his concern for Renee and honestly, deep down, I would really love to be able to guide her with her practices like I did in the past, but the care of Rachel and time forbids me to do so.  I'm going to have to try my best...

On the other hand, Renee's school seems to be giving her alot of drawing and colouring work(she said they like her work...) which I feel is not elevant to her academic learning at all.  Her teacher had said "do your homework first, the rest later", but are these extra drawings work necessary to her learning?  I don't see it... and given her comment, I suppose she(in fact many people do too) feels that academic achievements are much more important, we agree, but her current commitment to her music learning is not of the usual leisure form and whether she gets the ultimate result or not, we have to let her try, as 'the goal' is afterall, something of a very rare opportunity... Many had suggested that I speak to the school about it but I do not want to seem 'proud' or anything, so I'll just monitor the situation from now, before deciding whether we should speak to the school about it...

Meantime, with such load(including violin practices and theory homework), I've told Renee that until she's able to manage her own schedule, her swimming lessons will have to wait, :(.

A Small Gathering

Finally, Renee's got the gathering she's been sooo looking forward to!  Her aunts came over to our place, together with a couple of her cousins(aunty ellen and the rest cldn't make it...) today.

Although a short swim/play at the playground pool, Renee had her funtime and when we decided for her to go back for her shower before her 2 cousins, the latter 2 went to the adult/whirl pools(with instructions from W to bring down a camera for him...).

Being home, we're able to care for Rachel in a time-controlled way and thus, we managed to have a longer gathering than usual which makes Renee and even sleepy Rachel very happy, hahaha.

Renee looking out for 'gor gor'

          Unaware of the appearance of 'gor gor'...                    Oh no, he's here!

 sexy Pearl looking on whilst Wayne's doing his 1st lap(s) at the deepest of all pools and the rest of us sat nearby, sniffing in the scent of food being BBQ-ed besides the clubhouse, hahaha

 Both enjoying the view on the top section of the 1.2m pool

Bird's eye view of them from our unit 

And then... Wayne has gotta go and pose like this at the whirl pool, hahaha 

A Family Valentine's Day

I've asked Renee to bring some of the doggy cookies to share with her nice friends during recess today.  One girl, after her cookie, insisted on giving Renee 50cents and told her persistently to use it to get something for me, hahaha.  This silly girl, didn't know how to fend off her friend's persistent urgings, relented and got this(below) for me.  It's nice but totally not worth it.  In any case, I gave her the money and told her that she has to return it to her friend.



Renee had only managed a short practice and yet we could only go out at an hour close to 7pm.  Why? 'cos of all the colouring homework she's given!  Haiz...

As we needed to have a quick dinner so we have time to get our groceries, we decided to head to Bukit Timah Plaza where we dined at Pizza Hut and this is our dinner BUT... we were not given the dessert nor the Hershey's chocolates just because we the customers have forgotten about them(in the rush), no good no good(luckily I've slipped the menu card into my bag after Rachel's played with it. They had remembered to give this to everyone else - now I know what's in the box given to the other diners when they asked for the bill)...

Swimming Lessons Coming Up!

With hubby watching her in the room during her practice, Renee must have made some progress that he decided that we should come home right after her theory lesson today, for her to have a swim.

As we were on the way to Nafa, the sky darkened and we have to prepare Renee mentally that she might not get to have that swim today afterall.  The sky cleared up when the lesson ended but, it darkened again when we were near home, hahaha.  But, having been already prep-ed, she didn't make a big fuss like she'd normally do, *phew*.

However, less than 1/2 an hour later, the sky cleared up again and Renee came to me happily and requested for that swim but papa's taking his nap, so I decided to bring her down myself with Rachel since I've not brought baby to the pool before.  She was delighted of 'cos, hahaha and was looking at jie jie and the other children playing at the 'playground pool'(as Renee calls it) excitedly.  I wondered if she'd wish she could join them? hahaha.

Before we went down, we kinda woke papa up and not long later, he came to join us at the children's pool.  He told us that on his way over, he met a swimming coach at the pool on the other side and had made arrangements for Renee to join his current beginners group(about 5 kids now, max 8) next Sunday.  Hurray, Renee is finally going to learn how to swim the correct way! :)

A Birthday Gathering

Today, instead of going to my mom's, we had to go to my SIL's, for a small celebration of Xuan Le, Renee's cousin's 7th birthday.

It had been a nice one and we had gone home rather late...(luckily it's a Saturday, else the girls will not have much time to play at all).

When the birthday cake was collected, I was like "Oh No".  Why?  'cos it was a cake Renee had wanted before!  A doll(don't think they used a real Barbie doll 'cos it looks kinda different) cake and we kinda worry if she'd insist on hving one for her next birthday 'cos it requires a minimum of 3kgs of cake and how are we going to finish the cake with just a small family celebration!(my inlaws have to let us pack home some and distributed some to their neighbours).  In the end, 1 of my SIL's boys pulled out the doll and it's noted that the doll only comes in the upper part of the body, the rest is just a wooden stick!  I guess this should eliminate Renee's interest(or any kid's) in the cake, hahaha.

The cake

1st Sign of Tanthrum

Naughty Rachel's 1st sign of 'xiao jie' tanthrum - she'd not call me "ma ma" after I've chided her... Last night, I've chided her more as she didn't want to go to sleep earlier, and today, she just simply did not wanna call me. We'd usually tease her by calling her 'pet name' and she'd response by answering "ma ma", "pa pa"... today, when I did that, she'd deliberately call "pa pa" and gave me a teasing look.

School Bullies

Renee : "mommy, teacher said I have to take milk"
Mommy : "why? but you're always heaty.  I can get u another tin but u must drink lotsa water ok?"
Renee : "ya, I'm too short"
Mommy : "who said that?"
Renee : "they call me shorty pants at school"
Mommy : (angry) "who called u that?!"
Renee : "the taller girls and boys"
Mommy : "well, ignore these people. but if u're very angry and really need to retaliate, u call them giraffes" "but I would rather you ignore them, no point bothering with such mean people"

Few days later, last evening...

Mommy : "so Renee, do those boys and girls still tease u?"
Renee : "yes, but not as much as to another boy, he's the shortest"
Mommy : "Oh man, these people are really mean, it's not nice to tease people like that"
Renee : "ya mommy, I want to call them giraffe trees, since they call me shorty pants"
Mommy : "oh can I call u 'shorty pants' too?"
Renee : "No!"
Mommy : "why not? I find it rather cute"
Renee : "No"
Mommy : "Ok..." "anyway, don't bother about these people ok? what's wrong with being a little shorter, it's more important to be smart, that's why you have to study/work hard, ya?"
Renee : "ok mommy"

School Bus or Papa?

She's been sleeping in late(after 8:30pm) and my fear that her lack of sleep will make her an even grouchier kid came true... especially during practices(or, this is the norm for her?).

I've spoken to hubby about it earlier but he's worried that no one will send her to school should he need to travel('cos I've specifically told him that I don't wanna drive anymore) but during a recent meet up, a friend, shocked at the early hour that Renee has to wake up due to school bus even though we're staying nearer to the school now, commented that perhaps papa could send her to school and let the bus take her back(this was my initial intention).   That got us into the discussion again.

However, Renee remarked that she wanted to go to school on the school bus!  No choice, I got my sis Elsie to speak to her, she finally relented but pleaded with me to let her have at least another week to go on the bus...  Later, she told us that she would really like to go with the bus and she wouldn't mind going to bed earlier(which she hasn't been doing for the past 3 days! but mainly due to some unfinished homework).  Now it's our turn to relent, haiz...

Cuppy

Rachel dislikes the bottle, even with the super soft bottle teat I've finally found for her.  Worser, if I change to the sprout - she'd only drink water from the bottle if she's very thirsty, so a few months ago, I decided to let her try drinking from the cup.  Surprisingly she did, though with some spillage.

Yesterday, seeing that she's not taking much water for the past few days, I took the bottle back from her(she was biting the bottle teat as usual...), poured some of the water into a cup and feed her with it.  She drank without any spillage!  But I  would still need to hold it for her 'cos though she can handle it herself whilst drinking, she still doesn't know how to control it when she's done with the drinking. Does this mean I can do away without the sprout cuppies and all?  Hmmm, I don't think so, guess I'd still need to get her those training cuppies...

Playmat Replacement

Since the few times we've witnessed the falls Rachel had whilst in the play-yard, we decided that the playmat's abit too rough even for her to crawl on(and we've bought one from the 'better' range, :{).  Remembering how we used to place a 3-fold(minus 1 fold of 'cos) mattress for Renee to sleep in there, we went to buy another to replace the mat(hopefully we'd get to use it when Rachel's older, else it'd be such a waste) last Friday and Rachel likes it better, :)

She now crawls and cruises in the play-yard alot more smoothly ... :)

Showered With More Gifts

Yesterday, during another of our CNY gatherings at Eileen's, Renee was presented by the host a belated birthday gift and she was delighted.  It was a cute musical box with dancing fishes and she now turns the music on whenever she goes to bed, :D (not sure if she remembers that she's supposed to be reminded to work/practice hard with her violin whenever she sees/plays the musical box, hahaha)

Then today, out of the sudden, my SIL sent me a text, asking if we'd be going to Nafa campus today, as Yu, Renee's cousin, would like to pass her a gift.  I found out later that Yu had specially chosen the items for Renee when she went shopping with her mommy for stationaries, awww, that's so nice.  Renee was sooo happy to see the candies and stationaries and stayed up late doing a thank you card for them, haha.

Where's My Baby?!

I've got a big shock today when I came back to meeting hubby at the school's lobby after sending Renee up to her theory class.

We were running abit late and on such occasions, I'd normally rush up to the class with Renee and will meet hubby and baby at the lobby thereafter.  Today, somehow, it just didn't cross hubby's mind that in such rush, I wouldn't have the time to unbuckle Rachel from the car seat and then carry her up and rush jie jie up to the class - well, if that's feasible, why hadn't I done that before, correct?

Anyway, after rushing Renee to the class, I came out of the elevator and saw hubby standing casually outside the door, looking relaxed, alone...  I looked around him, but there's no sign of baby Rachel nor her stroller and my eyes went wide!   He saw the look on my face and asked me where's baby?  OMG, my heart nearly dropped!  We both rushed back to the car and thankfully, it had only been a very short while that he's left her in the car and she was still sleeping, GEEZ!

Air Fryer

We've wanted to give the Philips Air Fryer a try some time ago but losing faith in their products, we decided to get this instead(what's more, it rotates as it air fries, so the heat distribution is more even) :

Going to give it a try finally today...

Another Hair Trim

I've only given Rachel a trim at her fringe before the CNY and my mom commented "huh, why didn't you give her a haircut like her jie jie".  I was wondering, what's there to cut? Her hair's already so short, hahaha.

Today, I decided to give her fringe another trim and seeing how the tip of the hair on the sides are tickling her, I trimmed them off as well, now she looks kinda different, just like her jiejie, a little bit of change - a hat, a bow, a band, a cut...makes them look different, :).