Monday, 28 April 2008

Nothing too interesting to update this weekend, spent most of the weekend at home because hormones were running wild again and making me both physically fatigued and moody. Managed to capture this cute little scene of baby nat getting "all ready for school with her little schoolbag" ... she's really a little sweetheart, isn't she?

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

There's this french boy choir that I really love listening to ... listened to it when nat was in my tummy, listened to it when nat was a few months old. Today, I took out the DVD again and watched it together with nat. I think she really does have memories of the songs in her subconscious mind, because she was totally entranced by it.

Monday, 21 April 2008

Down with a bad cough today, so I decided not to go to work and spread the germs around. It's been an eventful weekend. Gary says our weekend schedule is always so "on-the-ball", running here and there from dawn to dusk. Maybe it's just that I wanna squeeze in as much time with both my babies (the big baby, gary and the small one, nat).

This weekend, we brought nat to a Kindermusik class, near my place. I kinda like the environment there, mainly because of the small size (only 3 babies in the class) and it helped that it was in a non air-con environment. I've always been particular about 2 things, when scouting for interesting places for nat a) lots of space for her to run around b) non air-con environment (strong believer in the merits of fresh air). Nat enjoyed herself thoroughly, and I may consider bringing her for another class.

These days, I've also been scouting around for a school for nat. Her Julia Gabriel classes will come to an end June and I've decided not to continue there. Instead, I'm considering other options like Shichida (some right brain stimulation thingey), Montessori (it's an approach to teaching kids that will nurture them to be independent individuals). Over the last week, have been researching a lot, still kind of undecided what to do. Before I start sounding like a kiasu parent, stressing nat out with lots of classes, actually I'm not. It's just that I think it would be good for her to be exposed to some activities, instead of staying at home all day. For example, I truly believe that her 2 terms at Julia Gabriel have helped her immensely in terms of confidence in walking, and also her social skills when interacting with other kids.

Over the weekend, we also brought nat to Bras Basah. Heard that there are a lot of second hand books there at cheap cheap prices. I did manage to buy a small stack of interesting books for nat. Books are in decent condition and nat seems to enjoy it. I've decided to be a more diligent mummy and have started to read to nat every day. Surprisingly, she can stay quite focused and I'm pleased with that.

Finally, this weekend I also introduced nat a new activity, recommended by a friend. Bought her a bucket of sidewalk chalk from Crayola and taught her to scrawl out on the balcony. It's a much better option than paint, if you have a balcony or sidewalk for the kids to draw. The beauty is that after the session, you just have to wait for the rain to wash the chalk away. No cleaning up needed. Phew, this kept nat occupied for an hour!

Thursday, 17 April 2008

I know that I've not been posting any photos or videos recently. Haven't taken many nice photos la ... was all armed and ready to take some pics during the picnic on Sunday at Botanic, but the time was better spent flicking those little black crawlies off the mat instead. Anyway, here are some pics and videos of my little cutie.

This beanie hat used to belong to my bear,
one night, in a moment of boredom, i did this!

This is what nat does when you tell her
that there is a lizard coming.


This is just to show how much of a
pocket dynamo she was at MyGYM,
a bundle of energy and more energy!

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Nat, the pocket dynamo ... she is so full of energy. Yesterday, nat had a date with cutie jamie at MyGYM at Great World City. It's a nice place, lots of space and equipment for babies. Not so great for mummies, spent the whole hour running after nat as she moved from one toy to the next. After a while, I was totally wiped out and just grabbed nat, refusing to let her run around. Of course, you can be sure my feisty little girl put up a mighty struggle, sigh, poor mummy, back to running after her. Especially, when there were some slightly older kids running around, I was so scared they would trample her.

Looking at nat, I think she's a survivor. It's in her personality. Everytime she falls down while running around, she'll just make a squeak of a sound in protest, before moving on and continuing where she left off. Was just telling a friend how scary a thought it is, that how you bring up your baby, things you teach them, things you let them get away with, will have a long lasting impact into their adult life. Think of how your own parents brought you up, and you'll know what I mean. While the child's innate personality plays a major role, I think parents as influencers also play a big part in the child's eventual strength of character.

I love nat lots and often ask gary how it is possible to love a second child as much? Well, I guess, we'll know when #2 comes along. Maybe I'll write a blog entry then.

Monday, 14 April 2008

It's been a while since I last updated the blog. Can be attributed to anything, getting lazy, moody, hormones running wild, stressed at work. At times, that desire to just stay at home with nat surfaces so strongly, I wonder whether I should just do it. But most days, I just trudge on.

Nat has really grown into a sweet little girl. Whereas in the past, she would cry the moment a stranger even approached her, all will she do now is to give you a frown, big improvement you know :) although one hopes there will come a day when that frown will become a big smile instead.

Nat's favourite quirks:
Fave drink: diluted ribena
Fave snack: raisins and haw flakes (haha not too much though)
Fave game: hide and seek with mummy
Fear of: lizards and cutting hair
Fave action: pointing at the person when she is angry

I realise now that she is beginning to understand the concept of punishment and anger. She recently dropped the digital camera on the floor and gary scolded her and gave her a smack on her palm. In the past, when we scolded her, she thought it was a game and would smack us back. This time round, she looked at gary, gave her famous pout and had the loudest wail we have ever heard before. Of course, after scolding her and telling her what she did wrong, we did what all baby textbooks advised, i.e told her what she had done was wrong but reassured her that we all still love her. Wonder if it really works? :)

On Sunday, I had grand plans to bring nat to Botanic Gardens for a picnic, you know, a leisurely day at the park, where the kids would run around, kicking a ball, and the parents would lie back on the mat, enjoying the morning sun? Tell you a secret, doesn't work in Singapore.

1. Morning sun in Singapore is actually quite hot, gets you sweating.
2. The park is wet and muddy, so after nat steps on the grass, she's really quite a mess.
3. There are little black things crawling around called ants.
4. Babies have moods, nat did not feel like running around, kicking a ball, all she really wanted was to be carried.
5. Too many people in the park.

The result: One frazzled set of parents i/e gary and me, with mud on their clothes (thanks to nat), a cranky baby, a picnic mat that could barely fit gary and me (my oversight) and not too successful a picnic.

Haha, well, it's alright, there are other occasions, and maybe we'll have more fun next time.