Wednesday, 30 December 2009

As the year draws to a close, I am bogged down by troubling thoughts that have been bothering me throughout the year. Freedom to spend 24/7 with my kids or financial stability? I guess deep in my heart, I know that someday I will need to devote more time to my kids, nuturing and loving them. Yet, is the time now or later? While work committments are not super stressful, they do tend to eat into the time I spend with my kids. When this happens, I get really mad! However, it really is not easy to find a job that allows you the flexibility to work part-time. Well, whatever the decision I make, I just know that the kids will always be my priority.

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Daddy, you're the best! Chilling out on your back is one of my favourite past times :)

Friday, 25 December 2009

Have a blessed Christmas, from Gary, Wei, Nat and Lucas :)

Sunday, 20 December 2009

It's been another whirlwind weekend. On Thursday, we went to the airport to admire the much raved about red musical ball. It was kinda nice and the kids all stared in awe as the ball opened up to reveal many smaller balls within, they also started dancing to the Christmas tunes. However, I did not really think it was worth the drive there.

On Friday, brought the kids to the Science Centre. I feel that it's not really a super fun place for kids their age, nat kinda learned a bit about the concept of echos and enjoyed playing in the space/galaxies section but otherwise, it wasn't too exciting for them. Didi was more interested in riding in the push buggy that one could rent for free at the counter. I was quite impressed and surprised that things come free in this day and age.

That night, gary and I snuck out for a midnite movie, Avatar in 3D, our first since lucas was born. A really good movie! Even grouchy o'le me (who does not stay up late just for movies) managed to sit through the whole show, haha, it helped that we booked the director seats.

In the weekend, we had breakfast with the kids at the Robertson Quay area. It's quite nice, al-fresco American breakfast, space for the children to run/cycle (although we forgot to bring the bike) and a balmy breeze, won't mind going back again soon.

We had initially wanted to bring the kids to the park but the weather was erratic, so we went to Royce Gym at Daimaru instead. Nat and didi lucas went wild, probably because they haven't been there in a while. I think their favourite play equipment is the slides and my adventurous little man even attempted to dive down headfirst, much to my horror! Nat also impressed me with her determination, as she attempted to scale the play equipment. I wanted to help her but she said to me firmly, mummy, you just look ok, I can do this by myself. After a few attempts, she really did manage to do it, and I was filled with pride.

In the late afternoon, nat fell asleep and didi refused to, having slept in the car on the way home. Gary and I decided to bring didi out to United Square. He really enjoyed the one-on-one time with us, squealing and chuckling at everything. I was just telling Gary that I had forgotten how simple and relaxing it is to shop with just one kid.

I love spending time with my kids :) It is nice having conversations with nat now, as she knows exactly what I am talking about and she shares her feelings with me, telling me which part of the day she likes most. Didi is getting more coherent in his verbal skills and from his twinkling eyes, you can see that he knows exactly what you are talking about, especially if you are admonishing him for a naughty deed.

Wanted to end off this entry with a funny story, nat was in the car with me and being extremely fidgety. I told gary, if she is so restless, put her in the car seat "lor"! (in our typical Singlish slang). Immediately, our cheeky babe picked up on that phrase and she has been parroting me the whole day, ending her sentence with "lor" and breaking into giggles after that. Sigh, she really does pick up things very fast, and I must be careful what I say in front of her, who knows what else she will pick up next.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Like a typical boy, didi lucas isn't naturally as affectionate as his sister. My baby girl never rejects a kiss from mummy, and is always ever ready to offer mummy a big hug. But when didi lucas is in a good mood, he plants wet slobbery kisses on your cheek and ends it off with a huge chuckle, manages to melt my heart every time.

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Inspired by a friend, we attempted to bake a gingerbread man on Friday. The result: A blob of hard cookie like thingey, which did not look anything like the cute little gingerbread boy I had in mind. Oh well, who cares, the kids had lots of fun in the process, kneading the dough and generally making a mess of the kitchen.

You know, when you hear of teenagers screaming when they see their latest pop idols appear on stage, you scoff over such silly behaviour that they indulge in. Who would believe that it happens, even when they are at the grand old age of two :) When Barney and friends came on stage, nat screamed ... I wrote it off as a coincidence. When Hi-5 came on stage, nat screamed and waved her arms ... oh man ... I have a teenager wanna be on my hands. She danced and grooved with Hi-5, while poor mummy had to carry her for all of half an hour. Even didi enjoyed himself, struggling to stand on the floor and dance. But I must say, the Hi-5 group is truly an energetic bunch and even I enjoyed the half an hour of song and dance. What next? Hmm ... maybe Mickey @ VivoCity or Sesame Street @ Centrepoint, we'll see.

The Christmas mood is in the air and we have been taking the kids around to soak in the festivities...we should have a Part II to this post by the weekend...

8 December 2009

These days, nat is into make-up, haha! Yes, you heard right. Ask if she would like some lipstick and immediately she will purse her lips. And if you offer to powder her nose, her eyes light up. She prances around the house in her pretty dress and her little tote bag :) I have a theory, the less of a vainpot the mum is, the more vain the daughter will be. No worries though, nat will have more than enough make-up tips from popo and mummy's friends i.e when she is ready to wear make-up in ... hmm ... 20 year's time.

She is also into dancing. At my cousin's wedding recently, after the wedding couple had their first dance, my little girl decided to have a go at it too. Looking around, she didn't see anyone she fancied to dance with (at this age, little girls prefer to dance with their dads), she decided to dance by herself, and, she sure did have fun!

Looking at the pic below, I realise that the kids have added more wrinkles and stress lines to my face, but you know, at the end of the day, it's all worth it. And I guess, that's the joy of motherhood.

Wednesday, 2 December 2009

It's been a while since I blogged, no inspiration? I have recently begun my night walks again, realised that I haven't been exercising, getting fat. The walks are also a good time to chit chat with the kids on a one-to-one basis. I bring along one kid each night, Mondays with nat, Tuesdays with lucas and so on. It's nice, with a slight breeze, zooming cars, twinkling lights, we spot the stars and the moon in the sky, look for the noisy frogs ribbiting in the bushes, sing silly songs. Didi was particularly thrilled at the supermarket, where he wandered around, touching all manner of vegetables.

Just the other night, I was pushing nat home in the pram when she suddenly said "I need to ssh shh (pee)." I asked if she could hold it as we were almost home, just needed to go up the slope and walk a small stretch. I told her I would push faster. She said ok. After the slope, which really wiped me out, I was pushing her along when turned around and said "Faster, mummy, no more slope." Haha the ungrateful brat, here I was catching my breath and there she was telling me to go faster.

Last week, we brought the kids to the zoo, always a fave activity. There, didi experienced his first time on a carousel. Boys and girls have such different reactions to new adventures. While Lucas was scared initially, he still held on, although he did look like he was going to cry. For nat, if something scares her, she will struggle to get out and just bury her face in your neck.

We also brought nat to buy her first uniform. She is starting school (pre-nursery) next year. Looking at her in her cute little school uniform, I can't help but sigh at how fast time flies.

I love Christmas. I love bringing the kids out, enjoying the Christmas music and lights and the concerts at the malls. Nat was scared of the big plush figurines walking around last year, let's see if she has become braver over the year.