Secret ID

Nope, it's no secret identity.

Since August, we have been sourcing for an ID for our house... With all our ideal request, it can cough up to a whopping $25k... and frankly, we didn't really do much and did not want to spend too much too.  After going thru many revised quotations, meet ups, visit to on-going projects.. This is the breakdown of the 3 finalist:

Design "I"
Really nice uncle.. very friendly, price is very reasonable but I do not think that he is able to help me bring out the home theme that I want.  He is a contractor, so he is more to those like you show him what you want in a picture, and he will do for you.  He does not fulfil a crucial requirement that I want: sink support.

Design "S"
Introduced by a friend.  It's the lowest and best price quoted that comes with 5 years warranty on carpentry works.  And the carpentry works that we seen at her projects are good and boosted our confidence on their worksmanship.  However, there is a lack of chemisty and communication betweeen us and her.
Chemistry: even though trying to explain what we wanted, she will explain that our design won't work out and it's not nice.  She knows what we want but the options that she open up to us are not what we want.
Communication: She won't allow changes to be made and any changes made would incur cost.  We couldn't click with her.  We don't feel like she wants to make business with us, I do not know if it's due to the low profit she is making from us.  She doesn't explain items that were made chargeable when previously was FOC.  She won't assist to follow up with our other contracts made for this house out of goodwill we have to follow up ourselves. What draw us to her was the good carpentry and sink support.

Design "C"
Highly recommended by a friend who has already recommended to many friends and have no complains about it.  He is friendly, realistic, offer good advice on our queries but his price is definately not the cheapest, infact among the 3 here, his is the highest.  But we like talking to him, he gives us an idea of what he propose to us which matches our request.

Gosh, choosing one is definately not easy, I guess we like those that listens to us. :)
I really hope that we can start soon!~~

The Day he went to School

He is 30 months and before you know it, it's time for him to go to school.  He badly needs it, so that he can learn new stuff and grow.
Infact it is better that he enter early as at this age, learning is like a breeze.. easy.
You will be amazed by how young a child can start wearing his own shoes, holding his first pair of chopsticks, chit chatting like an adult.. But then again, everychild is different.

I very much wanted to see how was his reaction when he entered school.

1st day, he entered the school himself and waves bye to me.
2nd day, he pulled me together to his classroom, and cried till his eyes came out.
3rd day, he cried and refuse to eat lunch.

He was on 2 weeks half day in school even though we signed up for him the full day one. Reason being, we can go pick him up anytime.

He was to go on full day on the following week.. guess what?  More cries of course...
While he is trying to adapt himself in school, I am enjoying the "free" time that I am granted while he is in school.  I had a wicked smile.  Something that I'd yearn for so long - finally, time for myself.

Of course, as the days go by, my heart aches whenever I see him weeping and holding hands with the teacher to go to school.. But I am happy that his friends liked him and everyone in the school knows him and keep calling him.  There were a couple of days when he was absent, but when he returned back to school.. it's heartwarming to see his friends so excitedly cried: "Brayden is here!!!"

It's been about 1 month since he entered school, so far he still cries but he manage to sleep and eat which is good.  Next, I would certainly hope that he would start to be more verbal to me.

Cake Pops!

Oh Oh!!!

I love baking!

I always wondered how cake pops are done, coz whenever I read the online recipes..  it seemed really easy to do!!!

And when Groupon has got a deal.. I immediately signed up for it!

Below are the shaped cake pops and materials.

My baking mates for the day and our creations.

Really busy answering their queries and helping them out. Still, I manage to take some of my simple artwork creations... Hahaha!!! more improvements to go!!!

 

Hope you had fun too!!!

National Day 2012

Hi Singaporeans!

How did you spend your holiday?

We spent ours with a restaurant at a mall near my place.  Hope you enjoyed yours!

=======================================================

From this meal, I discovered that he likes to feed himself!

His Favourite - Broccoli

 He is more open and waved hi and bye at the family dining at the next table.

Happy National Day! Cheers!!!

Childcare (looking for a right one)

Wow, this is quite backdated.. In July - Aug...

 

With Brayden turning 3 next year, we need to start looking out for childcare for Brayden to attend.
As we all know that his speech is delayed.  I am alittle concern.
I hope to look for a place that have trained teachers in this area.
My nephew and niece childcare centre could be the right place and nephew started talking after entering the school.  That's already a plus point.
Feedback from mister on 29-Jun when he went to the school is good as Brayden seems to have interest with the toys and even allowed the Principal to carry him.

It's a matter of time that he enters into the school to learn more things and make new friends.

Being in the same school with them would mean coming home together. 
And they can enjoy each other companion on the way back in the school bus.

I am alittle more concern on his health and behavior as I noticed that his immunity system is not as good. 

Or rather, the exposure to sick bugs are more as they will mix around with children.
And as he has not been to any school, he may not behave like how school children does or have the concept of sharing (even though we had been trying to teach them)

Just to share things that you can look out for if you are finding for your little one:

- Referral (find out from the mummies about their views when you want to know more about the school)

- Proximity (better if it's new in-law's or parent's house whom can help you fetch your child when you are stuck)

- Fees (subject to your pocket; even though there are subsidies, it can be quite expensive)

- Number of children in the class (attention from teacher can be minimal when there are too many)

- Qualifications of the teachers (if you are particular) 

- When visit school, remember to take a look at their cleanliness, timetable to know what kind of environment is he in and what will he be doing.

So I am keeping my fingers cross... and hope that the school can educate him.

Why scratch and bite?

Dear Brayden, recently I find that you show your displeasure by scratching or attempting to bite others.

This is a bad behaviour.  Mama will beat your hands to show that you have to control them.

And gently beat your mouth to inform you that biting is not correct.

But I think best is tell you to apologize and sayang the party who is hurt by you.

Rememeber to say sorry whenever you are in the wrong and don't hurt the person again.

In this way, you are on your way to become a well behave boy.. :)

Love Mama and Papa

Fear of time

Suddenly, a sense of fear overwhelmed me.

It started when I was thinking of you playing with me every night before bedtime.

Your cheeky smiles and chucky laughters filled up my mind.

As I was thinking to myself on how it was difficult to put you through bedtime, I look back and felt that you have grown.  Very quickly, you are already 2 years plus..

Exploring and learning new things.

You love the trains, buses, trucks, cars, mixers, cranes. Everything and anything that is transport.  You would wave bye bye to the transports when we drive pass them.

We went to watch Madagascar 3 on 9-Jun at Vivo City.  Both Papa and I were afraid of your reaction. Too scared too dark maybe?
In the cinema, Papa even jokingly said: "look Brayden, the TV here is so much bigger than the one in PoPo's house".
When the advertisement started, you were all eyes on the screen.  A loud bang and appeared a bear on the screen gave you a shock.
But you didn't cry.  We quickly pat you and said "that's a bear!".
 
Your eyes were glued to the movie screen when Madagascar started.  Sometimes, you looked around and see what others were doing.
When we wanted to feed you fries / popcorns, but you didn't want to eat any.
You enjoyed the show and loves to watch it from Mama phone later.

Brayden's favourite character in Madagascar 3: Marty

 We thought that you might like the toys of Madagascar stars, so we bought the Macdonalds' Happy Meal that comes with the Madagascar cartoons.
We reckon that your favourite cartoon is Marty, as you laugh and smile brightly everytime at me when I sing his tune.

 And in my room, you will always point at Marty, Gloria, Alex and Melman.  They are printed on the newspapers, the map of Universal studios.

 

Our Favourite Snacks!

I noticed that you love eating Honey stars, Cocoa Crunch and I had poured them into 3 separate bowls for you to eat with Nicholas Kor Kor and Mathilda Jie Jie.

Seeing you enjoying your yummy snacks and sharing with them just makes me happy.  Occasionally, when I asked to share, you would offer to Po Po, Gong Gong and Yi Mas too.

Oh yes, please drink more water.

In Jun, we went to an indoor playground at Changi City Point.
Papa was the one that accompanied you.  You played the slide, balloons in big and small sizes, the pool of small balls.  Wooden toys such as trains and tracks.

I caught a Yellow Balloon!

We want to expose you more particularly on outdoor playground and beach play.  So stay tuned!~~

 






Oh, and the fear that I was talking about earlier?  Is the fear of you growing older.

Love you always,
Mama and Papa

Breakfast!

Breakfast - the most important meal of the day.

How do you like yours?

I've tried pancakes, savory crepes, garlic bread, baguette, local delights but nothing beats having this: My favourite!

 

It’s time to say goodbye.

I actually took time to write this detail account on my Granny's funeral.

I jotted these down as I don't wish to forget. 

“Daddy is at Granny’s place.” Mum said.  “She hasn’t been feeling well.” She had fever and lots of phlegm in her.  She even scolded the doc when he wanted to administer an injection on her. 

Granny is 98 years old.

She has been living in darkness ever since she lost her eye sight to cataract.  However this has not stopped her from living.  She lived everyday in her house with a domestic helper to assist her movement in the house as well as take care of her meals.

When she was younger, she has a talent in sewing.  With her nimble fingers, she sewed many beautiful pillow covers for all of us.  She had 8 children (2 boys and 6 girls) and my dad is her eldest son.  She has many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.  She always chuckle when I told her about it.  She is very happy about her family tree.

My relationship with granny is not very close, I think it’s due to communication and generation gap.

I remembered on 1 occasion where I was staying over at my granny place, I ask to eat biscuits (bing gan).  But granny could not speak Chinese.  She can speak Hokkien or Cantonese.  At that young age, the dialect that I know how to use is not many.  In the end, my granny gave me a handkerchief (bin kun) instead.  This caused laughters from my parents when they learnt about it. 

I didn’t know how to communicate with her and there were no toys to play at her home, my visits to her became lesser and lesser. 

On the Thursday morning, 6^th Aunt called and said Granny has left us.  When my dad rushed over, dad called up and said it was false alarm.  No one actually talked about it later.

We visited her later in the day.  I still remembered I had stomach flu.  My body system felt weak and is reacting up and down.  When I reached Granny’s house, there were Ah Kim, 4^th Aunt, Mummy, Cousin Peggy.  Granny’s room was dark, the light bulb blew off.  Daddy went out to buy a bulb to replace it.  The light is situated in the middle of the ceiling, above Granny’s bed.  With the new light bulb, Daddy climb on the bed and stepped on a small wooden table to replace the light bulb.  The wooden table was wobbly as it’s placed on the mattress.  I used my iphone torch light function to shine at the ceiling area so as to provide visibility for my daddy to change the light bulb.  Ah Kim and helper held on to the wooden table.  6^th Aunt joined in with a small torch light.  And after daddy struggles with the light bulb wire, he finally changed it to a brighter bulb.  Then came 5^th Aunt who went home to take a light stand.  This is the first time I saw 5^th Aunt’s husband after many years when they were staying at Senette Lane.

With the light fixed, I went in to see Granny.  I saw her lying on her bed; she looked as though she had difficulty breathing.  Her dentures were loose and her eye pupils were grey and not focused.  Her fingers are short and some were croaked.  She was sleeping.  I didn’t know how to comfort her, by then we couldn’t communicate anymore.  I felt useless there when they wanted to adjust her sleeping position, I stood there not knowing what to do.

I heard the Aunts discussing whether to sent Granny to the hospital.  Or trying other medication to dissolve her phlegm.  6^th Aunt does not prefer Granny to go to the hospital as the last time she was there, she saw other old granny with a huge oxygen tank beside it.  She felt that it was suffering. 

On Friday, Granny could not eat any food.  That was when she was sent into the hospital and on the very night, not long after my mum and brother visited her, she passed away peacefully leaving her family hierarchy behind.

Funeral arrangements start and relatives and friends came to visit and help out.  My sister and I went over to help fold the paper money for Granny to “use” in the other world.  There were paper house, car, rickshaw, servants, cook, and chauffeur to serve her.

Mummy, Daddy and brother showed support by being there from noon to late night.  Sad to say but not many people are willing to stay overnight as it’s tiring.  The money box was mostly brought upstairs back into the house.  On the final night of the wake, there is a ritual and many came to pay their last respects to Granny.  The ritual started at 7.30pm, prayers were conducted and that night is when we need to burn the house and paper money for Granny.  It hurts when you need to tell her to receipt the house and money.  The ritual ended about 11pm.  My 2^nd sister, Mummy, brother and I went back home after the ritual and return back to the wake to help out.  It rained with loud thunder and lightning at about 3plus in the morning, wreaths fell as there were strong wind blowing and rain pouring into the void decks.  I saw the wine cups offered to Granny danced on the spot and landed without spilling over.  After Mummy “cleaned” Granny’s face, we left about 5.30am.

On the day when the cortege is leaving, most of us fall in at 10am.  The “ang mo lo ko” (military band) came as well as a musical band.  Previously, the military band and musical band service can come from the same team but it has since separated and will need to have 2 different teams.  The military band consists of a group of young and old musicians dressed in light turquoise pants and light pink shirt.  They were a black cowboy hat with yellow fluffy trimming around the outline of the hat, some holding about 12 inch “gong” and some beating the drum.  To get ready, we put on our socks and badge and sat around.  The moment the military band started playing, tears filled up my eyes. 

Because to me, it’s really a time to say good bye. 

The music was very loud, it reminds me of a saying: So loud that it would only wake the dead”.  But of course it’s not, I read an article about it, it’s to ward off any evil / wandering spirits as the cortege is leaving.

The catering cooked some porridge for breakfast, taste really yummy.  The ritual starts, we stand in accordance to rank from children to grandchildren to great grand children.  Walked a few times around Granny’s coffin with a joss stick and a stack of “jin zhi” throwing piece by piece.  Having so many children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, it was a crowded event.  I also saw my uncle (mummy’s brother) also have to go thru some ceremony as well as grandson in law (which is my Daddy’s sons in law).  At the final round before they close the coffin, each of us went to talk to Granny, paying our very last respects.  Mine to her was to “bo pi” her children will prosper with wealth. 

Soon, we turned our back and the undertakers closed the coffin.  Some friends from 4^th Aunt’s eldest son came to pay their respect.  They were the ones who helped to carry the coffin.  We bow our heads and the coffin was lifted up and carried out to the roadside.  After securing with poles and paper money, we started our last walk with Granny.  We walked pass the car park, coffee shop and all the way to the main road that it caused some traffic jam on the road.  Daddy said this is to show off the number of children, grandchildren and great grand children that Granny had.

At the main road, before the coffin was loaded into the van (1212), the paper money was thrown straight up into the air.  This snapshot is the most significant in my mind.  We board the bus and headed towards Mandai for cremation.  At the hall, we were seated and it’s the final ritual before proceeding to the cremation’s “viewing hall”.  At the viewing hall, when the coffin is being pushed to the cremation room, we can hear cries from the aunts.  Someone shouted “Ah Ma! Hou Kia” and I can hear Clarissa telling my sister “Mummy don’t cry”…  My hand shook as I held on to the stand: “Ah Ma, Ban Kia…”.

We took off our socks, take off our badge and boarded the bus to the temple where Granny will be resting.  At the temple, we went down car park and into a place where there are other deceased pictures placed there.  This is where Granny will place for the next 49 days.  The monk will offer prayers and meals to Granny.  Mummy and Daddy will need to make a trip down to the temple to pay respects to Granny on certain days during the 49 days period.

Back at the void deck, we washed our face with flower water and trim some of our hair.  Paid 6^th Aunt for the funeral arrangements like the fruits basket for the grandson-in law’s ceremony.  Thereafter, we went to Macdonald’s to have our late lunch and went home.

“Interesting” things that happened:

-          Light bulb fused off at Granny’s room.

-          Felt the negative energy in Granny’s room that I didn’t dare to stay in the room; probably I was not feeling well already.

-          Before the arrival of my Mummy and Brother, Granny’s heartbeat reached “0” but revive again.

-          After arrival and reporting to Granny, Granny sort of acknowledged it with a sound.

-          At the wake, when someone mentioned that he is leaving, it began to rain.  When the rain stopped and someone mentioned that he is leaving again, it began to rain – again.

-          Daddy’s taxi spoilt – again.

-          Saw the wine cups dancing on the offering table and didn’t overturn despite the strong wind.

-          Stomache after I return from the wake.

Just some little thoughts from me:

What is life?  I think it’s going thru the process of birth, happiness, love and then walking towards sadness, death, separation. 

Old age is scary.  Particularly when you can no longer see, hear or walk properly.  So maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important so that we can remain agile at old age and wouldn’t need to leave in fear or let others worry so much for you.

What is the last chapter of my life like?  I dare not think about it.  But I probably would be as blind, deaf and too weak to walk.  Thinking about my parents and grandparents maybe?   In order not to have any regrets, we better start doing what we have always wanted to do, and not wait till we are not able to do it anymore.  Right dear?

I once read a quote something like: “Our success must be faster than the speed of our aging parents.”  To me, being successful means I can have more time to bring my parents to many countries, treat them when they are ill, and pamper them when they are bored.  And these have to take place before our parents aged.

What kind of funeral do I prefer?  I don’t know if anyone has thought about theirs.  But I haven’t thought about it.  Let’s think about how to be successful first. 

Cherish your loved ones and stay healthy everyone!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Dear Brayden 

Sorry for posting this late!

And to mark this special event, we celebrated your 2nd birthday with Mickey Mouse theme! 

We prepared a Mickey Mouse cake, Mickey Mouse Banner, Red Balloons, catering and not forgetting party games too!  Hot Dog!

Special thanks to Sembawang Ah Yi that rented the room at her office recreation club for us to celebrate this special day with you!

Thank you for their lovely presents and red packets too~

Brayden, may you stay happy and fun loving always!

Daddy and Mummy loves you!

Where is the Orange?

Before he became 2...

I begin to worry... He does not seem to be like other children who already started to communicate with others.

He is not pointing, does not know more than 10 words and hostile to others (children / adults).

As his mother, I am worried... Daddy and PoPo thinks that it's normal for boys to be late.

One day just after he turned 2, I was feeding him his meal when I asked him "where is the orange?" (orange is on the table, we have been practising this during meal times, he starts from no response at first, then to just look at the orange) While I pointed to show him and said "there!"

Back to the day when I was feeding him, I asked him "where is the orange?"

He pointed and said "there!"

I was shocked and couldn't believe my ears! I just couldn't believe it. As I do not want to sink into this, I must have a few more "tests". The next few days, I asked him where is
The next day, I asked him again and he showed me again.. and from then he started pointing to us those things that he wanted us to take.

I was relieved and happy!

Come Play with me

Just as I always complain to others that Brayden only finds his daddy for play and carry...

Last night, something interesting happened!

While I was surfing the internet, Brayden came over to me, reach out for my hand on the keyboard and pulled me away from it, pulling me to the bed to lie down with him... He even rub his face on me just like how I rub mine on him usually.. And we played tickling.. We had much laughter especially him being tickled by me..

He just wants to play with me.. for once! that's just once out of so many times he chooses his dad.. Well at least it's an improvement right?... He daddy tried to distract him but he still wants to come pull me away from my monitor (never felt so wanted before)..

This continues when I went back to my lappy, and again he came to pull me over to bed.. Ha, I think he wants all of us to sleep now.. and when I ignore him, I hear him mumbling "Mamy.. Mama.." (plus showing the tugging/ pulling action)..

oh boy, I am smiling ear to ear now.. :)

人的年龄

人会爱美是随着年龄而变吗?

最近我发现我变得爱美了!... 每天都会想化装... 爱打扮.. 闲衣服不多或不美.. 天啊.. 为何???

是因为老了吗?.. 要扮年轻???
是peer pressure吗? 显示身份???
是对外人有所尊重吗? 有教养???
是不想让化装品无辜报废掉? 不浪费???
还是因为越老越没安全感?

快步入BIG 3 的我, 也很想知道...

之前, 没有保养的我, 在产后发现皮肤毛孔很大... 开始担心, 问问身边的朋友是否有什么可以介绍..便勤劳的涂moisturiser 来保护.

保护脸的当儿... "忘了" 体行... 嗯... 应该说没有去注重吧... 但有了孩子与年龄.. 我会想要好好去保养身体... 不知道会 too late 吗? 朋友说: "Nothing is too late". 着应该是要我快点了吧!

我觉得人生很.... 我不知道该这么说(毕竟我自己也在discovering it)... 对我而言, 人生很奇妙...

Seems like, 如果.. 在早期时, 我已经在注重健康与漂亮... 现在的我会不一样吗?

嗨.... 想以前? For what?

应该想以后, 我要的是什么生活... so that I won't get caught in the situation I am in now...

所以是时候规划一下, 给自己一个保障... 带出一位更有自信的我! 走开啦, 胖妞!!!
我想健康是最重要的.. 外表.. 能控制吗? 哈哈哈!~

PLANS:
- 哈哈! 想与老公一起跑步 (plan to start in March)
才一个显得不够积极哦... :) 我不想夸大我的梦想啦...

know what? 我终于写了一个为自己写的 blog!