Lights

DD's newest pair of Clarks sandals come with lights. For some reason, lights and sounds on their shoes keep the kiddos really happy. DD outgrows her shoes really fast - she's already a size 6.5 on her clarks.

Another

Another homebased playgroup today. Theme was polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear by Eric Carle? Our craftwork included this flamingo as well as word and animal matching.
During the class, there was one girl (about 3 yr old) who was inseperable from her blankie despite chidings from her mommy. It reminded me of the scholastic story "Owen" narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker.
During my conversation with the mommy, I told her that its perfectly fine- kids outgrow their 'dependencies' soon enough. Many kids grow up with all sorts of 'addictions' but they still outgrow them at some point in time.

Vanity

One of dd's favourite toys is this little vanity table that comes with its own hair dryer, nail polishes, etc. We were just about to step out of the house when we spotted dd plonking a hanky on her head and studiously 'blowdrying' her hair. We nearly rolled over with laughter at her antics and quickly snapped some pics before she realised that we were guffawing at her.

She loves role-playing and dabbing on her own lipstick, or 'painting' her nails in front of it. The makings of our little lady.

Fan

This is the 4th tower fan we have bought in the last 1.5 years. Tower fans are great for households with kids as they are 'safer' than fans with open rotating blades, like the huge circulator fan (not safe!) we have in our living room. One of our biggest regret when the interior designer was doing up our home, was that we didn't insist on having a ceiling fan.

Fresh circulating air beats having an airconditioned room anytime, especially with kids in the house. Apart from being child-safe, the truth is, tower fans are so much more aesthetically pleasant than those common standing fans with huge rotating blades.

So now we have one tower fan for every room in the house - don't think we'll be buying anymore just yet. Unless our dream house materialises, of course.

Baluku

Not only is dd usually the most petite in any class, she is also usually the most 'inactive' in any physical activites. It can be dancing, monkey bars, etc. Takes after the mommy completely =P.

Last week, we finally made it to this free gym trial class that we have postponed 4 times by now. Could never quite summon the energy to bring her there. I was so taken with this little girl (top left of the pic) who was in the same class , as she was fantastic at all the different gymnastics. Just as I was applauding her yet again as she did another backward roll, I heard this loud wail coming from the other end of the room. It was dd! She had slipped and hurt herself whilst trying one of the gym equipment. I was filled with guilt for neglecting her (too busy admiring the little girl) and ran over to soothe her. Fortunately she was fine. We didn't sign up with the school as I couldn't quite imagine lugging her every week thru these lessons where obviously I would be the one doing most of the exercising.

This week, out of the blue, as if to prove me wrong that she wasn't that good at physical activities, dd has been suddenly insisting on climbing up onto all the chairs in the house to sit by herself and up onto the table even. She has even been climbing up onto her Combi high chair all by herself ! Thats like a good 1 m off the ground since it has a tray that we never detach. And finally today, for the first time in her 27months, she got herself a baluku :

She was supposed to be in her room soothing herself to sleep (as is the usual practice) when all of a sudden I heard an enormous thud and the loudest wail. I believe I started running and sliding across the marble floor even before the wailing started. Fortunately, she seem alrite so far, save for her very first humongous blue black bruise. She kept saying her 'eyebrow pain'.

Trial

Can't remember the last time we woke up so early on a weekend (or a weekday) and travelled SO far just to attend a 'homebased playgroup' =P. But it was well worth the effort as dd enjoyed herself tremendously. At first I was worried that dd might not be able to follow the lesson since the age band for the group is for 2-4 years old. Not to mention that she also skipped her breakfast. But her active participation soon put my mind at ease. Let the pictures do the talking... Hanging on to every word from teacher Lili, dd followed her instructions and answered her questions promptly. The theme today was 'apples'.Eagerly participating in the lesson with a big jiejie that looks like she's almost 4. She was almost a one and a half head taller than dd =P. Following Lili as she distributes toothpicks for trying out the different types of apples. Hmmm.. yummy .. dd loved the granny smith! I was surprised she could poke the apple by herself but then, its probably the curiousity of trying out new foods. Going back to try a different type of apple After all the munching, the kids were asked to choose a colored circle to depict their favorite type of apple. Naturally, dd chose greenDD assisting teacher Lili in the counting of the 'poll' results to see which apple had the most votes. It was a tie between red and green apples.Its storybook time!Checking out the 'star' at the heart of the apple. At around this time, a little girl started seriously bawling at the back of the class. Her mommy carried her and tried to soothe her but she won't stop. Feeling sorry for her (girl & mommy), I tried to entertain the little girl and dd caught sight of me playing with the girl and came over to sayang her too. Unfortunately the girl refused to be appeased and bawled relentlessly for the next half hour or so. Art and craft time! DD drawing little 'apples' on the border . Her completed work! According to dd, the little dots on the left border were 'tiny' apples. The teachers asked all the kiddos to stand in a line to take a group shot with their handicraft raised up high...(very tough task!)Oops ... Jerome dropped his picture. Megan (on the right) isn't quite ready yet. Hmm.. where's Caius' (boy in red) craftwork??Ok, now everyone's ready . Randall (tallest boy) has even got his 'V' sign all ready. 1, 2, 3, say cheese everyone ... Ooopsss.. Faith decides to do a sudden dash thru, minus her craftworkWe popped over to Jack's Place restaurant after the lesson and ordered ourselves a good meal as we were starving. DD got herself a fish and chips children's set. The only item on the dish that she wolved down was the fish as well as the corn (she finished most of ours too)! I was one surprised mommy. Perhaps kids these days are so discerning that, they can tell which are the 'good' stuff to eat??

Organics

Health conscious mommies may like to know that NTUC xtra now boosts a very decent selection of organic raw food items. I was pleasantly surprised to get 2 big boxes of organic grapes for a reasonable $5.90/box (used to cost >$12 for a bunch). Much less waxy than the usual variety of grapes and sweet too. Even a pair of sweetcorns now cost less than $3 compared t0 $8-$10 previously. I also bought this box of animal pasta just to add some variety to dd's daily meals.

Health

Ah kong is almost 75 years old and today he's being admitted for a medium risk surgery. Ah ma has been super busy driving him to and fro from all his cardiologist visits and other specialists' consultations.
She has also instructed us specifically to keep ourselves healthy for these few weeks because we will not be able to visit him if otherwise. Its imperative that ah kong who will be recuperating in ICU after the op, is not exposed to any virus.

Over the weekend and up to last evening, dh, dd and I have tried to spend more time with ah kong. Unfortunately, Gu ma and the kids were not able to join in as some of them were ill. For ourselves, we have also been denying our urge for a durian feast (since its the durian season) just so that we don't risk ourselves eating any 'heaty' stuff =P. Indeed, health is wealth.

Over the next few days, we expect to be busier than usual. We pray for a speedy recovery for ah kong.

Art

Pablo picasso in an ABC book? Thats what I got in this book borrowed from the library. Its a kiddy book with a twist. Find the alphabets in these renowned works of art by different artists.

Abstract

DD's first attempts at drawing ended up looking errrmmm, rather abstract. She claims this is a picture of a bird This is a frogThis is a angry faceThis is a happy face

Portable

A portable child toilet seat which actually works ! At full size Folded in half At quarter sized - ready to be stowed away in diaper bag

Rabbit

Ever kid has their moments of insisting on eating a certain food(nothing else will do), wearing a certain piece of clothing or playing a certain toy. Today dd insisted on wearing a 'rabbit' shirt which got dh puzzled since we can't remember ever having any 'rabbit' shirt. We allowed her to rummage her wardrobe when lo and behold, she pointed out this pink romper which she hasn't worn for the longest time and which did have a rabbit on it! Naturally, she was most pleased.

Bag

Whats this cute 'bear' bag for ? Its super soft and well padded ...

Its our camera bag ! To replace those dorky black camera bags =P

Independence

DD hasn't succeeded in putting on her own clothes. She has no problem taking off her own panties/ trousers and shirt. But putting them back on is a total different challenge.

One thing I am most happy about is her being able to put on her own shoes (for practical reasons). Gets her out from under our feet whenever we are just about to step out of the house and getting ourselves ready.

These days with her sitting by herself on the pot, we have done away with her potty completely. Too bad she still needs supervision to clamber onto the pot =).

Addition

About a month ago, dd surprised us by doing her 1+1, 1+2, 1+3 sums correctly all the way to 1+14. After 1+14, she invariably ends up giggling =P.

And since sm has started teaching the kiddos additons since 2 weeks back, I decided to buy this set of "my first sums" for dd even tho' the recommended age stated on the box is only from '4 years' onwards.

BBQ

Our turn to host a cousins' party: a BBQ ! Proscuitto ham with melon, salad, prawn verde and roast pork were some of the ready cooked starters for the evening. Paper plates and cups were allowed after much persuasion and dh finally agreed not to use his matching crockery and WMF cutlery. But the crystal wine glasses could not be foregone as he refused to use the plastic disposable wine glasses. Whats for mains? The BBQ spread : Tiger prawns, sambal stingray, sambal squid, mackerel otah, prawn otah, sambal lady's finger, huge bockwursts, gourmet meats, weiners, etc. Everything was neatly pre-packed in aluminium foil to facilitate the barbequeing process - no mess! The Bar : moscato, red wines, sparkling wines, corona beer, budweiser, OJ, apple juice and mineral water. The huge prawns neatly marinated and skewered in a rowA roaring fire handled by all the good chefs in the family While the rest wined and dined in airconditioned comfortThe eldestThe youngest

Grace Kids

A hedgehog themed birthday party for Kae Jin at Grace KidsThe birthday boy The thoughtful (and very talented) mommy handsewed these little 'hedgehog' backpacks! DD was one of the first to notice many bubbles drifting down from the pipes on the ceilingDD taking part in one of the games Running under the limbo-rock bar Parent accompanied for this game of dodging the swinging bollardsThis little hedgehog scampered off for some free play on the gym equipementThe smile tells of the great fun she's havingTime to blow the candles and cut the cakeBarely any interest in taking photos - dd was totally busy stuffing her face with the yummy sandwichesDD quietly sat in her seat and was the last to leave the table as she walloped 2 sandwiches and 1 pizza