I’m finally back here blogging again. A combination of laziness and busy-ness kept me away. Apart from the preparations for the move (which is a mind numbing-ly long list) , there was also the US trip in between. Much as we have been busy, I am excited too. Excited because of what lies ahead both for me as an individual and for us as a family. I can only pray that the experience will strenghten us and open new doors. Doors that we probably didn’t even know existed.

The little fella has been growing up really quickly. He now needs more ‘management’ as compared to before. The balance between firm-ness and nice-ness is still something I am working on. I really hope that with the shift, he will settle down well in a the new environment with the new teachers and friends and a whole new culture altogether. Can’t wait though to hear how differently he will sound after a couple of years there… think he will be really really cute. Sometimes I am torn between staying put here and moving Down Under. The little fella is at the age where he is intelligent enough to bond with his cousins, friends, uncles and aunties. And he really does love some of them. So part of me wonders whether this is the right time to move or not as he is just developing his social circle. But then the other part of me wonders if there will ever be a right time.

I really want to move but of course my thoughts are centred on how well the family will settle down there. New culture, new place to live in, new frens and new jobs. Is it something I will like? Faith like a mustard seed… shouldn’t be that hard to gather right? But sometimes… it eludes me. Just need to keep foccused and learn to trust. A hard to do but yet a must-do. Just have to remember that I have a lot to be thankful for.A supportive family, a very very nice boss and my job!

We have less than 3 weeks in Singapore and time is definitely going by really quickly. Guess must make the best use of time here before THE day.

Posted: November 4th, 2008 under Family, Observations, Parenting, work.
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Little Fella: Press this button and the taxi will come ( said with a straight face whilst pressing his belly button)

Mummy: You sure a taxi will come if you press the button. What colour taxi do you think it will be?

Little Fella: I think it will be a white one ( he loves the Mercs cabs)

There you go, a brand new way of getting a cab. All with the press of a button.

Posted: August 4th, 2008 under Family, Parenting.
Comments: 1

Been feeling so exhausted recently. Feel like I really need a holiday. Time seems to be split between the little fella and work and it seems neverending. I love the little fella to bits but taking of him when he was sick almost the whole of last week has drained me. The constant need to think of what to cook for him, the battle of getting him to eat more or just ‘one more spoonful’ is exhausting. That coupled with work, late night conference calls has left very little in me. I constantly feel like I could fall asleep standing. I need a cave that I can hibernate in for a while. But unfortunately, this is going to be a busy week again cos my boss and colleague are in town so it is more mind-draining activities this week. That plus that are some decisions that need to be made on the home-front…dun think there is much of me left!I need a new brain and whilst that is being done..perhaps a new energised body and soul won’t hurt too.

Posted: June 23rd, 2008 under Family, work.
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Yes…I have watched it and I LOVE the show. For its one-liners, for its shoes, bags,clothes and evrything pretty. We watched the special sneaks last night as Iz had won them in a competition. It came at the expense of his points but I reckon they were points well-spent. And l love him to bits for winning those tickets. Not only was it a nice movie, it was extra special as they were Gold Class tickets so got to be in a cinema that only sat 40 people, velvety seats with fully extendable leg rests, a blanket and a butler service of  sorts. It was like the ‘business-class’ of movie theatres. Really nice!

The movie did not disappoint and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that in order to fully appreciate and understand it, one would have had to watch the series. The characters are still the same though I feel that a couple of them have aged. Read ages ago that one of them battled breast cancer too. Both Iz and I unanimously liked the same scenes in the movie and at some parts, I teared too. I think that the show though light-hearted and even shallow to some, does have its undercurrents and little ‘morals of the story”. They tend to make one think and to a certain extent even appreciate life/friends/relationships etc.

I would watch the movie again if given the opportunity and I am definitely going to buy the DVD.I think it was a film well-made. I was so excited to go too cos this was the first time that we were going into a movie theatre eversince I got pregnant. Walking hand in hand after the movie, talking about it and having supper made me forget for a moment that we were parents. I felt like we were dating once again. We do go out on our date days on certain weekdays in the afternoon and then pick the little fella up from school in the evening. But somehow this felt different as we were going out at night. Yesterday was also the first time that we hav left the little fella alone in the evening with GG and MM. Was a little worried about how they would cope, if he would fuss, if he would sleep etc, But all my fears were needless, MM said that he did not cry one bit and just asked to go to bed about 8.30 or so. I am so proud of him. This morning, he said that he wanted MM n GG to come again next week. So perhaps, just perhaps, we could have more evening dates.

Posted: May 28th, 2008 under Family, Fashion, My raves, Parenting, Sex and the City.
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Last night, we went to Sokudo, the new-ish Japanese eatery at the basement of Raffles City. It was like a Japanese haven of sorts as there must have been about 10 stalls or more. All sorts of foods cooked in a varity of ways..raw, grilled, fried, soupy ones. Some dishes were nicer than the others. I liked the omelette, the sashimi and the mochi dessert. I think the green tea ice-cream was yummy, it was not too sweet and did taste a lot like green tea powder. Wasn’t too milky, just the way I like it. The red beans that came with it were a tad too sweet though.

Some things that I want to try on my next visit, the grilled squid and the pizza. Others at the table ordered them and they looked quite nice. The place is rather kids-friendly too and has a little playground inside. Not big but when we were there, there was only 1 other kid and the little fella. He sure did enjoy himself there and it kept him entertained for a good while. 

Well..all in all..an all right place though the whole place smelled of food and got quite crowded in the later part of the evening. 

Posted: May 23rd, 2008 under Family, Observations.
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Episode 1:

The little fella wanted to watch Finding Nemo and so we did. He was all excited and sitting on my lap, all geared up for a great movie. As usual..he was asking all the hows, whys, wheres and whats. It was just minutes into the show when his mouth started curling downwards, face scrunched up and wah….he burst into tears. It was all because Nemo had gotten seperated from his daddy and was swimming away. After that, he just wanted to be carried and kept asking for his Daddy. Wanted Daddy to carry him and lie with him on the bed.  That night, Daddy put him to bed and it was all but 8.30pm!

Episode 2:

We were taking a cab to MM and GG’s house this morning and the driver probably thought that he was flying a plane. We went from one lane to the other , zipping quickly past amber lights. At one point, the little fella said..”like racing car like that…” A good thing we still got to MM and GG’s house safe and sound.

Posted: May 13th, 2008 under Family, Parenting.
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I bumped into a friend yesterday at the mall and he did not notice me till I stood right in front of him. He said he did not recognise me as I look very different now. Said I have aged. Well..it has been a good 15/16years since we were in the same class. Not that it is any excuse but i do hope that even if I have aged, I am aging gracefully.Nothing scares me more than being aunty-fied. Maybe  I just haven’t tried hard enough.

Or mebbe being married, being in very fast-paced job, being a mummy has aged me. But then again, if I were asked to choose again, I would still make the same choices. Of being married..of changing jobs and getting out of a really cushy one and of being a mummy. Think the joys ( and pains) of each of them add to the whole story of life. So…never mind a few wrinkles or aging as long as I am aging gracefully. I can be old but elegant..Hahaha.

Posted: May 7th, 2008 under Observations.
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We visited MM and GG last Sunday as MM had cooked crabs ( and I really enjoyed them..Yummy!) and had asked us over for lunch. We went over rather late as the little fella had to nap first. Not long after we reached, GG went off for his tennis game. Apparently, MM was not too happy about that as she feels that Sunday should be family day. Not that the day cannot be spent with friends but rather even if it is with friends, it should be done as a family. Amidst all the theories and principles that MM has, this is one that I do agree with. I always think that weekends should be family days and unless it is work-related, the time should be spent as a family. Of course, everyone needs to unwind and have personal time,but guess there are always the evenings and weekdays for that.

I do enjoy spending time with my friends too on weekends but I would always try to do activities that all of us can do. Or I plans get togethers at our house. Am sure there are ways to be sociable yet have family time.

Posted: May 7th, 2008 under Family.
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As requested, here is my list:

Do Again

• Put him in school as opposed to being home with maid/grandparents
• Read to him right from birth though he may not respond
• Try different foods with him so that he will not be picky about food

Do Differently

• Keep him in the cot, move him to his own room earlier
• Self-feed earlier
• Bottle-feed earlier

Think we are really blessed cos he was a relatively easy baby to take care. Was pretty fuss-free and had no mega problems with all. Of course it was was tiring the first couple of months but at least it was not difficult. I actually much prefer and enjoy it now when the little fella is a little more grown up and can interact better. I like talking to him. Of course, the difficult thing now managing his tantrums and disciplining so that he does not grow up ill-disciplined. I have always liked the mission statement of St Andrew’s School which is “From boys to men, men of grace, polish, wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man.” I used to see it when on the expressway on the wall of the school building. Always thought that it is so nice. And that is something that I want for the little fella to.. to be a man of grace and polish.

Posted: May 2nd, 2008 under Family, Parenting.
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Who is Leila? What is Leila? Just yesterday, the little fella and me were drawing. Out of the blue, he said,”Leila”. I thought it was something he wanted me to draw. So I asked..what Leila? Ladder? But no..it wasn’t anything. THEN it dawned on me that he was speaking Mandarin..he actually meant to say “Lei le” ( meaning:tired). He was tired and wanted to go sleep. It amused us cos he sounded all funny but it was a good thing that he is starting to speak more Mandarin. It is all thanks to his ‘lao shi’ in school. Now when we pick him up..he can say,” Wo de mama lai le” ( my mummy is here) to lao shi. I think I should start buying him more books in Mandarin.

Posted: May 2nd, 2008 under Family, Parenting.
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