Guilty mama

I am very guilty, even after >24 hrs! I still couldn't get over it.

I was the cause of Keisha tumbling down our master bed yesterday morning. Very weekday morning is like a mad rush for me, waking up 6:10am quietly and keeping fingers crossed that Keira is still sleeping... so I have time to brush my teeth, wash my face, put on make up, prepare her school bag and finally change. Most times, I cannot get pass prepare school bag without her screaming from her room for me. So what happened yesterday morning?

Well, I was pretty delighted that Keira was still sound asleep while I get all stuff done. At 630am, Keisha woke up and appeared from our room with papa. Keisha is just so sweet... really sweet. Everytime she comes out from the bedroom, she'll get excited and smile so sweetly to me that my heart melts instantly. I was ready to get changed but didn't want Keisha to make squeakly sound and waking Keira up. Hence, I carried her to our bedroom, left her on master bed, placed pillows and bolster around her.... and started browsing through my wardrobe pondering what to wear for the day. Keisha wanted to participate and I can see her enthusiam and eagerness to piece through the wardrobe doors. Just then, I thought... ok.. go to next room to pick up my fav jeans. Keisha should be fine, afterall, it's only a few sounds!

Zoomed.. off I popped over to the next room. Picked up my jeans and started browsing through racks of clothes again... for just a few minutes ... .then.... a loud BANG!!!

My heart frozed!

I ran over to the room and there Keisha laying face up (back on floor) and crying like the whole world crushed on her! My goodness... what have I done??????????

Not something I do not know.. I mean.. from Keira days, I learnt my lesson and sharing with others never to leave babies off out sight for even seconds! and here... me... DOING IT AGAIN!

2 times bitten... I better not leave my baby on bed without me in sight again!

Very sorry, Keisha.

Keira is driving me into a monster NAG! and she is a BIGGER MONSTER NAG than me!

Saw this blog title??
Read again... and repeat after me! ya.. R-E-P-E-A-T ...

Every day, I have the difficult task of (and struggling) trying to maintan a picture of cool calmness and practice mummy mantras. I am super bad at this - CALM DOWN!

Keira has grown quite substantially.. haha .. .what a way to put it! Every day, I find myself saying the same things to her, and she has learnt to memorize them but not really adopting them... sick? Oh, and I really get my "rest" (that means I don't have to repeat these to anyone) when I am at work.. thank goodness! So between the time from 6:30pm - 8pm, I turned into a super huge monster nag! ... Sicko nagging process of telling her to be careful not to drip around the house when eating fruits/drinking beverage; wash your hands b4/after food; be careful don't drop your rice/veg/meat etc; wear your shoes; don't run; shower now; drink milk; brush teeth... and the list goes on and on - same stuff I say everyday ... and it doesn't come automatically from her though she knows the order by heart now! So I was told to repeat and repeat to kids so they learn .. hmm.. when will I actually get to stop having to repeat before I turn into a real massive nag of all times???!!!????

Incidently.. I came to realise that kids NAG too.. and they do it sooooooooooooo well that they enjoy nagging more than we do! I don't know if my constant nagging of the same activities make Keira irritated... but her nagging irritates me BIG TIME!

Here's one scene....
To set the context for you here, I bought an ice cream in a cup for Keira before and it is a Milo-flavoured one, so it comes in Milo-branding and design. 2 days ago, while set to drive Keira home from mum's place in the evening, Keira started ranting... "mama, I want Milo"... when I ignored her... she continued with a raised voice and shrieks when I continue to ignore ... and she kept going on until I finally said... "ok..ok... go home, you will have it" ... happy with my response, she stopped her "pleas" ... and 1 second later... my nightmare of 15-20 mins began ...
Keira happily repeated "mama, I want Milo" ..... for the entire car ride home!!!!!! mind you... literally....
mama, i want milo; mama, i want milo; mama, i want milo.....................................................................................................................................................................................................

-> nothing I could do to STOP HER... until she finally had her MILO ice cream at home!

Keira in uniform

I had intended to capture a nice picture of Keira in her child-care uniform and ponytails but ended up with a funny expression from her!

We got only 2 sets of Cherie Hearts uniform for Keira, which means she'll wear them only 2 times a week ... :-). It's also a challenge to get her agreement to tie her hair and so this has been one of those days she gladly cooperate. The "thing" she was holding with both hands.. that's actually MY cereal! For some reason, she enjoys MY cereal.. it's with corn flavour and not very sweet, hence, I am fine giving her that.

That fringe ... ya.. trimmed by me .. not that bad right? Keira has never gone to a proper hair salon for trim/cut. My mum has brought her to an auntie who lives near her block just b4 CNY and she cried her lungs out.... basically, she was carried by my mum while having her hair cut! So.. trimming her fringe has been an activity that I will execute, and I have to find the right time to do this, that means; when she is in good mood and a cooperative attitude and this doesn't come all the time.. so I have to capture the right moment through observation. Get it? ... sure all the mums out there can empathize.

My Collage

Here is a collage of pictures taken at V-Day Duck Tour and Keisha at home, using a cool product from my company, Microsoft AutoCollage 2008. Very simple tool to use, just need to select at least 7 fav pictures, put them into a folder and with one click using tool to create the pictures into a collage. No sharp cutting edges, it blends them pretty well. Can't select how I want it to appear but found that if I change their order in the folder, it results in a different blend. Pretty easy... I like it for being an easy to use tool to blend my pics into a collage.

In the pictures, you see me, Vincent, Keira (2.5 yrs) and Keisha (8 mths)

Drive to Genting Highlands

Destination: Genting Highlands, Malaysia

Travellers: Mama Jean, Papa Vincent, Keira, Keisha, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ivan, Aunt Jasmine and Cousin Karin

Date: Feb 21 - 23, 2009

Mode: Drive 800km in 2 7-seaters Honda Stream

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 1 -

Left our home at 730am or Bros' house for breakfast. We departed at 845am for Tuas Checkpoint. Got there pretty fast since we stay in the western part of Singapore. Kids dozed off soon after crossing Malaysia Customs. We had couple of stops for toilet breaks and lunch. By about 2pm, we were on our way up to Genting Highlands. Half way up the mountain, Keira needed to pass motion... gosh what a timing! There was not designated stop for her to pass motion.. so we had to find a wide shoulder to stop for Keira! ... Out of the blue, my mum told me... a very shocking information.... "I brought along a potty and it's in my bag" ...

WHAT??? a potty hidden in her bag for a trip to Genting??? haha...classic grandma!!! here's a great laugh for u!

We finally arrive and checked into hotel at about 5+pm. Took kids to shower, had dinner... and it was bed time for my kids by 8pm! haha ... that's the end of Day 1 for me... without doing anything else!

Day 2 -

Kiddos woke up by about 7pm. Nice cool night... Here's how they look in the morning.. ^_^

After breakfast, it was kiddo's time for FUN - Indoor theme park! Free for Keira who is below 90cm, of course free for Keisha too.

Keira on Merry Go Round!

Keira and Karin on car-ride. This one is really FUN - they took 5 times in total! They looked really cute in the car too.. haha

We on Ferris Wheel!

Day 3 -

Woke up 715am, packed up and had breakfast.

Departed from Genting Highlands at 1040am, and descended down the mountain.... cool nice air, cool nice temperature. My 2 darlings fell asleep within 10 mins!

We finally reached home at 530pm!!! Gosh, what a long trip!

Valentine's Day for the family

No more romantic getaway for 2,
No more quiet dinner for 2,
No more rest n relax aimless window shopping for 2,
No more...and no more....whatever....

Good news is ... we have additional 2 more to go with the original 2... ^_^. Our K n K joined us on V-day this year with something (I thought) was meaningful. Never have I ever in my wildest thoughts wished I was on a Duck Tour! Oh yes, the Fantastic 4 of us did it on V-day! Thought we didn't want to roam the streets aimlessly, dragging 2 darlings, hence, attempted to do something interesting for them, especially Keira.

Never did I expect Duck Tours to be so expensive! Adult per head costs like 30-40+ for an hour trip! My darlings K n K cost 2 per head, now that's cheap! As we were busy making payment, K papa noticed a slim poster stand with a promotion for 48 per couple on V-Day! To top that promo, it has a further $ cuts for every attempts to 1) hold hands, 2) hug, 3) kiss on cheeks, 4) get frenchy kiss. Of course the closer the level of intimacy, the more $ cut you get from the original 48! Well, we got a $8 off for doing the most intimate - ok, don't think too deep.. it's just getting a little french! haha!!!

Here's some pics for you.. sorry, no french pics.. haha!

Fun @ Fidgets

Singapore is not that big isn't it... sometimes we get to a point where we just sit at home on a Saturday morning and wonder what to do for the weekends ... with our kids. Most of the times, I want to avoid staying at home the whole weekends with 2 kids ... for your record again... a 2 yrs 4 months toddler and a 6 months old baby..... When both start playing their horid "musical tantrums" ... you just want to get out of the home to distract them!

I was glad to discover a new place to hang-out. Well, maybe I should not say hang-out place because it has such a steep entrance fee that you may not want to make this a weekly affair! It's Fidgets at Turf City. Nice place for the kids...and for Keira, she really enjoyed her time! Almost everyday for the past month, she has always ask me to bring to "玩" (play). I think she has really grown up! This place, is fun ... with so many kids enjoying to their fill. Keisha was too young to appreciate... but she did find it amazingly refreshing....(other than just lying on her bed, watching hi-5 with her sis, eat/shit and everying else that is boring ^_^)

Enjoy some pics and videos... ^_^

Keira really enjoy driving! Influenced by me....^_^ she sees me drive everyday...

She was quite terrified by the slide...and even my hubby agreed.

Keira likes to observe other people doing stuff....and she learnt fast from them!

Look at Keisha!!!! and Keira the joker!

What a lovely hug from Keira!

Here comes my "BOY" .... @_@

Hmmm... when did my 2nd bb girl became a "BOY"??????

No kidding!!! Keisha is having the same fate as Keira when Keira was her age. Poor girls ... they have always (wthout fail) been mistaken by others as boys. OK.. I must admit ... they do look like boys! Keira used to be mistaken as a boy even though SHE was dressed in ALL PINK! Now, Keisha has been receiving compliments... that "oh.. HE is such a cute BOY"! .... DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Anyway... I am very hopeful ... that Keisha will (very soon) become a sweet little toddler... just like her big sister! Look at Keira now ... who can still say SHE is a BOY??? DUHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Now, back to my original intent of this post.

We are going on a road trip in Feb .. yeah! I am so excited, however, have my reservations as well because Keisha is still so little. Anyway, we embarked on her passport application over the weekends. Before that, we had the exigent task of ..... taking her passport pictures!!!!

The pic above was one of the very few 'ok-looking' ones...

HOW about this?... haha

It's been a L-O-N-G time! I am back with Keira's update!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!

Phew, sorry everyone for not updating my blog for such a long time. I have been super busy since being back at work. It has been non-stop work, kids, and everything.

Keira was sick on New Year's Eve and what a day to fall sick! In fact, she started having fever on 30 Dec and I brought her to Dr Chong on Eve's morning. However, her fever did not subside.. instead, it shot up to 39.2 degrees by evening. Then, I decided to bring her to KK hospital. By the time Dr took her temperature, she was hitting 40 degrees! Goodness! We had to stay there to monitor her temperature and she wasn't allowed to go until her temperature drop to 38.5. We stayed there for almost 2 hrs... and made it back home just before count down...to 2009!

Phew!

Ok, so .. I wanted to show some pics of Keira with her new toy... note: she hardly gets new toys.. meaning, we don't buy toys for her that often.. most of her toys were either gifts from frens at her 1-yr birthday or freebies.. ^_^ so.. K papa decided to get her a battery-operated motor which was on sale at Giant.

Here's the new ride:

It wasn't easy for K papa to install this, it came with a too-simplified 1-page few-words description. K papa had to "imagine" and trial-n-error to get installed.

Keira with her "Helmet hat" and ride.... I think she looks cool on it! Like the saying goes... like mother like daughter... haha...!

Enjoy... Keira's ride @_@ - video:

A long overdue letter to Keira

Why did mummy say "a long overdue letter to Keira"?

It's been ... well... slightly long overdue because .... in the middle of one night (some 2-3 wks ago), after I fed Keisha delicious mummy-milk and seeing that she has dozed off ... I starting thinking about you, my dear Keira.

Why? and why did mummy think of you when I see you everyday? ... *sob* *sob* That night, my mind was full of "u" with lots of questions, thoughts and heartaches. That night, mummy wanted to pen those thoughts in this blog but was too tired to get out of bed. After some weeks today, I found the time, energy and perhaps courage as well to write you my 1st letter here.

Keira, mummy wanted to pen this so that one day, when you grow up and is sensible enough to read this, you will know how much "aches" mummy has gone through during this period of time with you and keisha. These 3 months have been super hectic for mummy... Perhaps having 2 kids with a close age gap is not that good a choice. With you at your Terrible 2, sometimes I don't know how to deal with your tantrums. Worst, mummy is becoming terrified and worried because I do not know when you will stop throwing tantrums as and when you like it. No matter how I explained to you, no matter how I screamed at you... you just don't listen! Not only is this a mental stress on me, I am feeling physically very very tired too. Those evenings that I have to drag and carry you home with so many bags on my shoulders is an extremely exhausting event. Mummy tell u ... I don't like that at all. But the moment you became well-behaved and sweet again, mummy's heart melted instantly!

Some nights, when all's quite with you and keisha sleeping soundly, mummy could only lie down flat on couch and not do anything! Mummy really wish that you can outgrow this T2 and help mummy nurture your lil sis keisha, instead of giving me additional headache. Before, mummy always look forward to weekends, spending time with you. But now, weekends have become my greatest dilemma. The fact that I want to spend all my time with you and keisha has not changed, but with 2 of u, one at 2 and one only 2.5 mths old ... handling both of you is just so challenging. When keisha needed to nap, you will be talking at the top of your voice (even though the room door is shut) and she will be deprived of her sleep. Otherwise, you will be throwing tantrums again for (to us) no reasons.

Though you have not been really obedient, mummy applaud you for not feeling jealous over your lil sis. Of coz, sometimes you do want papa and mummy to carry you when you see us cuddling keisha... but you are really good in this sense. Mummy thank you for that because this has definitely taken a load of my chest worrying how to deal with it if your jealousy gets over your head.

Before I end this note... mummy also hope that you will be cooperative with us in your toilet training. Teachers in school praised you for being very cooperative but you have not extended the same treatment to mummy. Why? are you punishing me? Please... I really hope I don't have to clear your poo and pee soon....

Love,
Mummy