Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!
May you experience God's love and richest blessing in 2006!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
An Early Birthday Present!
Today, I asked hubby if he would buy me an MP3 player. I've been drooling over them for a while, and now that I have my new workspace (which I still have yet to take a picture of), I find myself wishing for an MP3 player so that I can shut out all the distractions that go by.
So when we saw the ipod nano on sale at one of the shops today, I asked hubby if he would buy it for my birthday (which isn't for another 28 days)... and he agreed! Yay! So now I have an ipod nano, and I've already put in almost 300 songs. It can take about 500 songs, apparently, but I've already used up 1.2 of the 2GB.
So yay!
So when we saw the ipod nano on sale at one of the shops today, I asked hubby if he would buy it for my birthday (which isn't for another 28 days)... and he agreed! Yay! So now I have an ipod nano, and I've already put in almost 300 songs. It can take about 500 songs, apparently, but I've already used up 1.2 of the 2GB.
So yay!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
School's Started... well, almost
Spent my entire morning and then some at school today... we had our major "before school begins" meeting and this took me from 7.30am in the morning right up to 2pm. This included a session of prayer and praise, breakfast (short one), a formal meeting and several informal committee meetings consecutively. I was already on my way to pick up my children before I realised I had not had lunch yet.
But it's exciting, facing a new school year. There are going to be many new challenges ahead... with new things to do and execute and try. For a start, I will be teaching younger pupils than and have been used to, and I will also be juggling two Co-curricular Activities as well. That in itself is going to be a big challenge.
There are also new things that we, collectively as a school, are working towards, and that means more time ensuring that everything is going smoothly and that we all know what we are doing.
I am truly going to be needing the Lord's guidance, wisdom and all that He can give this year. After the long break (I had little classroom time when I went back to school in October, since it was mostly examination period and I did no teaching at all, except to go through papers at the end), my classroom management skills probably need polishing and I have to familiarise myself with all the new equipment that wasn't there a year ago as well as re-acquaint myself with those that were. Time and technology moves fast these days, and one year away can render your existing skills fairly obsolete. Already, I feel like I am way behind times.
Only a few more days, before things go into full swing. Go before me Lord, and make my path smooth. Amen.
But it's exciting, facing a new school year. There are going to be many new challenges ahead... with new things to do and execute and try. For a start, I will be teaching younger pupils than and have been used to, and I will also be juggling two Co-curricular Activities as well. That in itself is going to be a big challenge.
There are also new things that we, collectively as a school, are working towards, and that means more time ensuring that everything is going smoothly and that we all know what we are doing.
I am truly going to be needing the Lord's guidance, wisdom and all that He can give this year. After the long break (I had little classroom time when I went back to school in October, since it was mostly examination period and I did no teaching at all, except to go through papers at the end), my classroom management skills probably need polishing and I have to familiarise myself with all the new equipment that wasn't there a year ago as well as re-acquaint myself with those that were. Time and technology moves fast these days, and one year away can render your existing skills fairly obsolete. Already, I feel like I am way behind times.
Only a few more days, before things go into full swing. Go before me Lord, and make my path smooth. Amen.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Phew!
That exercise (2005 in review) was extremely tiring... I never realised how much I had to say. And things got infinitely more long-winded after we went wireless. But you know what? I am glad for this... because it keeps the memories more vivid, and I am able to recall things I would surely have forgotten by now.
It's been a very long and fruitful year... and I'm looking forward to closing this year and starting a brand new one.
It's been a very long and fruitful year... and I'm looking forward to closing this year and starting a brand new one.
2005 in Review
I saw this done elsewhere on someone else's blog, and I thought it would be interesting to see what would become of such a post. Basically, you take the first sentence of every post of the year and lump it all together. Should be interesting...
And the resulting paragraphs are as follows:
JANUARY - The Chinese New Year holidays are coming, and we are preparing to celebrate it by buying new clothes for the children as well as ourselves. "How are the older ones taking it?" One of the most common questions I am asked these days. The littlest girl...turned 2 months old on the 19th... and she is a giant baby of sorts. "I'm the Winner First!"That's what my son said today, after racing with his sister along the void deck at the ground level of our apartment block.
MARCH - Recently, DH and I were debating on whether to employ a maid (live-in one, quite common here in Singapore) or to send JD to infantcare in October. The Big Girl has yet to leave her terrible twos it seems... although I have to keep reminding myself that she is in reality only 3y4m old. The Big Boy's fast learning to read, write and spell. JD was last weighed on Monday, and she weighed 7.8kg, and measured 67cm tall. It's been eons......since I updated this blog.
APRIL - Sitting at Changi Airport's Mac's and messing around on the internet, waiting for my cousin to turn up. The two elder kids love their gymnastics class. Shannon is getting baptised this morning. I've got a big dinner coming up tomorrow with hubby. I think I've lost a significant part of my brain after having had Shannon. Shannon got baptised after the last post, and Daddy was in charge of capturing the whole significant moment on tape.
JUNE - He's also fast growing. She seems to have had a growth spurt too. Shannon now weighs a whopping 8.4kg... that is pretty close to what a 1yo should weigh, and the little darling is just slightly over 6 months. Time flies. Two blog entries in as many days... that is truly a miracle in a household with three kids, all under five... *grin* Shannon has a fondness for opening her mouth wide like that. OK, I hear the youngest demanding to be fed. My son just walked in to report that his sister "said 'stupid'!" The older nephew has HFMD. We've gone wireless!!! The last 24hours with the kids...has actually not been too bad. My friend gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome about a month ago. Now that I have the wireless hooked up to my laptop, I can surf while DH is on the computer and net in the study's PC. Back when I was a first-time mother...I panicked alot. 'Twas the night before......our holiday / church annual camp, and the elder girl comes down with a raging fever. I signed Shannon up for a baby contest, that is due to begin end of this month. The camp...was wonderful. We're back!!!! I'm on my own again...Nephew still hasn't gotten out of the woods yet. It's 1am and I'm awake...because there's a silly mossie flying around and I want to get at it before it gets my baby and me. That's what my daughter (the elder one, obviously) calls the Bumper Cars she had the privilege of riding on/in while at Cosmos Theme Park in KL. Brought the kids to watch the live Sesame Street Meet and Greet at Marina Square yesterday. Much as the June Holidays are a godsend to teachers, as a teacher-on-leave-fulltime-mother-of-three-kids-under-5 right now, the June Holidays are the most tiring thing I have ever encountered. Big Sister is a remarkably sensitive young lady, who is very good at articulating how she feels, and who is very in touch with her emotions. Shannon's lost all her beautiful curls. The littlest girl has been upgraded to the playpen. Despite our wanting to bring up our children to be independent and not molly-coddled... the middle girl is living up to her nickname "Princess". My children currently have a very busy weeknight schedule. My two older children are attending lessons with this lady, who teaches them Phonics, or sounds of the letters in the english alphabet. My friend and her baby... came to church today. HAPPY 7th MONTH BIRTHDAY SWEET Shannon ! I had been expressing how tired I was looking after the children literally 24hrs a day. My children found a dead butterfly on our balcony floor today. It's amazing how much is interesting to a child. Both older children completed their holiday homework today. Today we went back to the normal holiday routine of spending the morning at home, me and the three kids, then going to grandma's for lunch and staying there till dinner time, squeezing in some bonding time with the elder nephew when he comes home, with SIL when she returns from work and BIL if he's early too, and if the kids don't have any enrichment. Shannon's first tooth cut today. Here's Shannon after her swim, in her little hooded robe. At the camp, the children made their own armor of God, complete with shield of faith, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the spirit, shoes of the gospel of peace, helmet of salvation and belt of truth. The Praise Club (Sunday School for children aged 4-6) organised an outing to the Farm today, and my two older ones went. It's Thursday morning. Yay, the plane tickets to Australia have finally been booked! It's amazing. I'm kinda excited... I'm going for my first baby contest tomorrow. I'm not going to comment too much on the baby contest, since today was just the first day of the preliminary rounds... and there are three more to go. Hahaha... just kidding... I just thought it would be funny to have three such titles in a row. For parents of 6-year-old firstborns in Singapore, July and August of each year is a very stressful time. To my horror and surprise, I find that I am actually missing work... that is, I am thinking of work fondly, and actually looking forward to seeing my students and colleagues again, to being behind my desk and in the classroom. I've discovered the secret of making Shannon sleep through the night. Can you believe it? While the son was having his Phonics class, I brought the two girls to a nearby shopping mall to while away the one-and-a-half hours. JD cut her second tooth today, the partner to the first one that sprouted a few days back. Dictation... The boy had his first dictation test today. Facial... I went for a facial today. A first...Rainbow... I am in uncharted waters. I've been asked to do a short sharing with the girls from my Girls' Brigade Uniform Group this Saturday, because there is going to be a surprise Youth Day Celebration for them, and so the officers are taking over the day, even though the girls are going ahead and planning for the day as per usual.
JULY - Shannon's made it into the second round of the Baby Contest!!! The officers had a special thing for the GB girls today... we took over worship, sharing, recreation and even gave the girls a special lunch. All along, Shannon's been pretty good about sleeping... she doesn't need to be patted, rocked, walked about or anything. Shannon has been pulling to stand! Last night, SIL calls me at around 8+pm to ask me about managing fever in an infant, specifically hers, who also happens to be my nephew. Today I made a few more phone calls, and got Shannon signed up for some infant swimming lessons. Tonight's the third night already that she has been put into the playpen awake and fallen asleep all by herself without any fussing! Nope... Shannon still doesn't crawl in the true meaning of the word, ie. on hands and knees with tummy off the ground. The little piggy is still eating sooooo much it's scary. Today I went back to school, just to pay my colleagues a visit, and to say hello to whatever students I see. Partly, it was also to show off JD, who had not been since she was but a few months old. Hubby had some work to do tonight, so after I had given Shannon her cereal feed (which serves as her last feed before she goes to bed) I managed to settle the older ones in as well. It was a pretty OK day despite the fact that both nephews are ill and at home. It's gonna be a very exciting day tomorrow... in the morning I will be very much occupied by the big boy's birthday celebration in school: this means cutting cake, singing the all-important birthday songs, and the highlight of it all - the goodie bags! Easy to see where the priorities of the children lie.Time flies... exactly five years ago, at this time (approximately 2330h), I was in hospital, shuffling painfully and gingerly to the Special Care Nursery to take a peek at my new little baby boy, who had been whisked away shortly after birth because he was "grunting" or not breathing as well as they would have liked. Brought Shannon for her first trial session at Aquaducks today. I had a marvellous time at the SSO Concert yesterday. Sometime in early April this year, I lost my handphone. Shannon ...is sleeping soundly in the play pen. Today was the last lesson in the term for the older two's gymnastics class. Today the morning sessions of both the Nursery and Kindergarten went for their outing / field trip / excursion (depending on what you call it). Did I tell you the nephew is still ill? Managed to go out with my friend and her baby yesterday, even though both nephews were still home, the older one being sick with fever still. Shannon's been rather constipated ever since she started eating cereal most enthusiastically. Lately, we've been talking at length about the kinds of lessons the children would like. It was a somewhat cool and drizzly day... but I went ahead to the swimming pool anyway, just to see if there was going to be a lesson today, and if not, I'd go shopping. The two older ones have taken to comparing what they got to do when they were babies and what Shannon is getting to do now. Shannon's constipation seems to be easing... she had a hard time passing stools last night, and this morning, she passed another lump... half of it was a solid mass, and the other half looked like it was almost pastey... and that was when I knew it would be OK. I had earlier said that nephew was sick again... well, he managed to pass the bug on to his little brother, and for the last two days, both boys were unwell... again. I'm excited about the baby contest semis tomorrow. Again, today's baby contest thing was a non-event. The children's Godma gave the big boy a green army jacket that her own son had outgrown and had been very reluctant to part with. The big girl got to put on her newly bought leotard for gymnastics class today. I created a new song for the boy, for whenever he pouts when he can't get his way. This Saturday is going to be quite exciting, with an appointment with a photo studio to do a family portrait, and a wedding to attend immediately after! It's her 8th month birthday today... so here's the 8th month update. While at the Japanese Restaurant today, I was laughing at the antics of a 10mo boy who was with his parents. After little Shannon somehow managed to prise (wrong word... makes it sound like it took a lot of effort when all she did was swipe at the keyboard and it came out) the 'up' arrow out and after I clicked it back "into place", or at least I thought I did... now it doesn't make a click click like the rest of the keys. News just in! It's been a wonderful day today! My sleep's been very interrupted these last few nights... and most of the time it was due to the big girl. I had just picked up the boy and girl from gymnastics class today, and the sky was slowly getting darker and darker, due to rain heavy clouds looming overhead and in the not so far away distance. Announcing the arrival of... Shannon's third tooth!!! The Nephew is sick... again! On Monday, I finally got a call from my friend who had given birth about 4 months ago, and whose phone call I had been eagerly awaiting since I lost my phone. Saw the date of my last post, and was reminded that while I am now officially 32-and-a-half, my friend just turned 32. Just saw in the obituaries today... her face jumped out at me... it was so familiar... the name too struck a rather loud bell. Just that... to the baby contest finals... to my long awaited trip to Oz... just one more week.
And the resulting paragraphs are as follows:
JANUARY - The Chinese New Year holidays are coming, and we are preparing to celebrate it by buying new clothes for the children as well as ourselves. "How are the older ones taking it?" One of the most common questions I am asked these days. The littlest girl...turned 2 months old on the 19th... and she is a giant baby of sorts. "I'm the Winner First!"That's what my son said today, after racing with his sister along the void deck at the ground level of our apartment block.
MARCH - Recently, DH and I were debating on whether to employ a maid (live-in one, quite common here in Singapore) or to send JD to infantcare in October. The Big Girl has yet to leave her terrible twos it seems... although I have to keep reminding myself that she is in reality only 3y4m old. The Big Boy's fast learning to read, write and spell. JD was last weighed on Monday, and she weighed 7.8kg, and measured 67cm tall. It's been eons......since I updated this blog.
APRIL - Sitting at Changi Airport's Mac's and messing around on the internet, waiting for my cousin to turn up. The two elder kids love their gymnastics class. Shannon is getting baptised this morning. I've got a big dinner coming up tomorrow with hubby. I think I've lost a significant part of my brain after having had Shannon. Shannon got baptised after the last post, and Daddy was in charge of capturing the whole significant moment on tape.
JUNE - He's also fast growing. She seems to have had a growth spurt too. Shannon now weighs a whopping 8.4kg... that is pretty close to what a 1yo should weigh, and the little darling is just slightly over 6 months. Time flies. Two blog entries in as many days... that is truly a miracle in a household with three kids, all under five... *grin* Shannon has a fondness for opening her mouth wide like that. OK, I hear the youngest demanding to be fed. My son just walked in to report that his sister "said 'stupid'!" The older nephew has HFMD. We've gone wireless!!! The last 24hours with the kids...has actually not been too bad. My friend gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome about a month ago. Now that I have the wireless hooked up to my laptop, I can surf while DH is on the computer and net in the study's PC. Back when I was a first-time mother...I panicked alot. 'Twas the night before......our holiday / church annual camp, and the elder girl comes down with a raging fever. I signed Shannon up for a baby contest, that is due to begin end of this month. The camp...was wonderful. We're back!!!! I'm on my own again...Nephew still hasn't gotten out of the woods yet. It's 1am and I'm awake...because there's a silly mossie flying around and I want to get at it before it gets my baby and me. That's what my daughter (the elder one, obviously) calls the Bumper Cars she had the privilege of riding on/in while at Cosmos Theme Park in KL. Brought the kids to watch the live Sesame Street Meet and Greet at Marina Square yesterday. Much as the June Holidays are a godsend to teachers, as a teacher-on-leave-fulltime-mother-of-three-kids-under-5 right now, the June Holidays are the most tiring thing I have ever encountered. Big Sister is a remarkably sensitive young lady, who is very good at articulating how she feels, and who is very in touch with her emotions. Shannon's lost all her beautiful curls. The littlest girl has been upgraded to the playpen. Despite our wanting to bring up our children to be independent and not molly-coddled... the middle girl is living up to her nickname "Princess". My children currently have a very busy weeknight schedule. My two older children are attending lessons with this lady, who teaches them Phonics, or sounds of the letters in the english alphabet. My friend and her baby... came to church today. HAPPY 7th MONTH BIRTHDAY SWEET Shannon ! I had been expressing how tired I was looking after the children literally 24hrs a day. My children found a dead butterfly on our balcony floor today. It's amazing how much is interesting to a child. Both older children completed their holiday homework today. Today we went back to the normal holiday routine of spending the morning at home, me and the three kids, then going to grandma's for lunch and staying there till dinner time, squeezing in some bonding time with the elder nephew when he comes home, with SIL when she returns from work and BIL if he's early too, and if the kids don't have any enrichment. Shannon's first tooth cut today. Here's Shannon after her swim, in her little hooded robe. At the camp, the children made their own armor of God, complete with shield of faith, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the spirit, shoes of the gospel of peace, helmet of salvation and belt of truth. The Praise Club (Sunday School for children aged 4-6) organised an outing to the Farm today, and my two older ones went. It's Thursday morning. Yay, the plane tickets to Australia have finally been booked! It's amazing. I'm kinda excited... I'm going for my first baby contest tomorrow. I'm not going to comment too much on the baby contest, since today was just the first day of the preliminary rounds... and there are three more to go. Hahaha... just kidding... I just thought it would be funny to have three such titles in a row. For parents of 6-year-old firstborns in Singapore, July and August of each year is a very stressful time. To my horror and surprise, I find that I am actually missing work... that is, I am thinking of work fondly, and actually looking forward to seeing my students and colleagues again, to being behind my desk and in the classroom. I've discovered the secret of making Shannon sleep through the night. Can you believe it? While the son was having his Phonics class, I brought the two girls to a nearby shopping mall to while away the one-and-a-half hours. JD cut her second tooth today, the partner to the first one that sprouted a few days back. Dictation... The boy had his first dictation test today. Facial... I went for a facial today. A first...Rainbow... I am in uncharted waters. I've been asked to do a short sharing with the girls from my Girls' Brigade Uniform Group this Saturday, because there is going to be a surprise Youth Day Celebration for them, and so the officers are taking over the day, even though the girls are going ahead and planning for the day as per usual.
JULY - Shannon's made it into the second round of the Baby Contest!!! The officers had a special thing for the GB girls today... we took over worship, sharing, recreation and even gave the girls a special lunch. All along, Shannon's been pretty good about sleeping... she doesn't need to be patted, rocked, walked about or anything. Shannon has been pulling to stand! Last night, SIL calls me at around 8+pm to ask me about managing fever in an infant, specifically hers, who also happens to be my nephew. Today I made a few more phone calls, and got Shannon signed up for some infant swimming lessons. Tonight's the third night already that she has been put into the playpen awake and fallen asleep all by herself without any fussing! Nope... Shannon still doesn't crawl in the true meaning of the word, ie. on hands and knees with tummy off the ground. The little piggy is still eating sooooo much it's scary. Today I went back to school, just to pay my colleagues a visit, and to say hello to whatever students I see. Partly, it was also to show off JD, who had not been since she was but a few months old. Hubby had some work to do tonight, so after I had given Shannon her cereal feed (which serves as her last feed before she goes to bed) I managed to settle the older ones in as well. It was a pretty OK day despite the fact that both nephews are ill and at home. It's gonna be a very exciting day tomorrow... in the morning I will be very much occupied by the big boy's birthday celebration in school: this means cutting cake, singing the all-important birthday songs, and the highlight of it all - the goodie bags! Easy to see where the priorities of the children lie.Time flies... exactly five years ago, at this time (approximately 2330h), I was in hospital, shuffling painfully and gingerly to the Special Care Nursery to take a peek at my new little baby boy, who had been whisked away shortly after birth because he was "grunting" or not breathing as well as they would have liked. Brought Shannon for her first trial session at Aquaducks today. I had a marvellous time at the SSO Concert yesterday. Sometime in early April this year, I lost my handphone. Shannon ...is sleeping soundly in the play pen. Today was the last lesson in the term for the older two's gymnastics class. Today the morning sessions of both the Nursery and Kindergarten went for their outing / field trip / excursion (depending on what you call it). Did I tell you the nephew is still ill? Managed to go out with my friend and her baby yesterday, even though both nephews were still home, the older one being sick with fever still. Shannon's been rather constipated ever since she started eating cereal most enthusiastically. Lately, we've been talking at length about the kinds of lessons the children would like. It was a somewhat cool and drizzly day... but I went ahead to the swimming pool anyway, just to see if there was going to be a lesson today, and if not, I'd go shopping. The two older ones have taken to comparing what they got to do when they were babies and what Shannon is getting to do now. Shannon's constipation seems to be easing... she had a hard time passing stools last night, and this morning, she passed another lump... half of it was a solid mass, and the other half looked like it was almost pastey... and that was when I knew it would be OK. I had earlier said that nephew was sick again... well, he managed to pass the bug on to his little brother, and for the last two days, both boys were unwell... again. I'm excited about the baby contest semis tomorrow. Again, today's baby contest thing was a non-event. The children's Godma gave the big boy a green army jacket that her own son had outgrown and had been very reluctant to part with. The big girl got to put on her newly bought leotard for gymnastics class today. I created a new song for the boy, for whenever he pouts when he can't get his way. This Saturday is going to be quite exciting, with an appointment with a photo studio to do a family portrait, and a wedding to attend immediately after! It's her 8th month birthday today... so here's the 8th month update. While at the Japanese Restaurant today, I was laughing at the antics of a 10mo boy who was with his parents. After little Shannon somehow managed to prise (wrong word... makes it sound like it took a lot of effort when all she did was swipe at the keyboard and it came out) the 'up' arrow out and after I clicked it back "into place", or at least I thought I did... now it doesn't make a click click like the rest of the keys. News just in! It's been a wonderful day today! My sleep's been very interrupted these last few nights... and most of the time it was due to the big girl. I had just picked up the boy and girl from gymnastics class today, and the sky was slowly getting darker and darker, due to rain heavy clouds looming overhead and in the not so far away distance. Announcing the arrival of... Shannon's third tooth!!! The Nephew is sick... again! On Monday, I finally got a call from my friend who had given birth about 4 months ago, and whose phone call I had been eagerly awaiting since I lost my phone. Saw the date of my last post, and was reminded that while I am now officially 32-and-a-half, my friend just turned 32. Just saw in the obituaries today... her face jumped out at me... it was so familiar... the name too struck a rather loud bell. Just that... to the baby contest finals... to my long awaited trip to Oz... just one more week.
AUGUST - I don't believe it... it is finally August! She's in the playpen all grumpy and whining right now, refusing to stay asleep, even though she is awfully tired. I have 3 'child restraint systems' in my car. This has been my latest craze. Shannon's sick... Shannon's still sick... Nephew was home today... and yesterday too! Tomorrow ...is going to be a terribly busy day. It's now about 11pm, Saturday night... duh, you can see that from the time stamp. Little Miss Shannon is now cruising! Today was the day of Shannon's baby contest. I'm not going to blog in detail tonight. Day 1 went very smoothly. Shannon is seriously off her routine. Well, I know that is like a major understatement, but I guess what I really mean is that my very close friend and great buddy has given birth to her second child... a little girl this time, to complement the little boy she already has. We woke up reasonably early the second day because we had to pack our stuff and check out of the hotel as we were driving down to Margaret River. Shannon finally got the hang of sleeping again... last night, after waking up at about 1am (I was still up catching up on mails and stuff) and getting a good focused feed from me, she went back to bed for the rest of the night! OK, let me get my days straight. Calerpittars... times three. On day 4, we were a little undecided as to what to do with ourselves. On Day 5, we decided that we would thoroughly explore MR this time, because despite the fact that we stayed there, we had not actually had a chance to really explore the shops there and all. In fact, we had not even seen the river. It's so nice to see you all on my blog. The big boy's wound that is healed, but the scab is holding the stitches firmly in place. Day 5 night saw us spending much time packing up, in preparation for returning to Perth. A friend from long ago has been attending our churh for the last few months with her little boy and hubby, and she is getting her boy baptised tomorrow. Feeling a little worn these days... don't know why. On Day 7, which was Sunday, we basically decided that we would spend the day exploring Perth CBD, and so we went shopping in the afternoon. Today is Monday - Gymnastics day. It's been a very packed day for me. Seems I had a very mother-ful day today... interacted (spoke, visited, observed) with quite a few mothers today, all with their own special quirks and situations. They are gone. Today I gave Shannon a Baby Bites biscuit (one of those rice cereal rusks that melt in your mouth) to see if she would be able to handle one. DA stands for Developmental Assessment. Am in the process of trying to wean Shannon ... well, if the truth be told, I haven't actually started on purpose, but it seems that the little girl knows that I am planning to wean her, and today, other than a 6am feed, she didn't take breastmilk at all until almost 9pm just now. It's been a long long day. Gymnastics Day again. Went back to school today to visit my colleagues, and to find out more about next year. My son was sitting in his seat at the back of our car, mumbling to himself when he suddenly shouted "Yawn! Yawn! Mummy! I can spell 'yawn'!" For the first time, JD is finally crawling, in the true sense of the word. I'm in uncharted waters again. It's teachers' day tomorrow. I think I shall end each month with a review.
SEPTEMBER - Had a teachers' day celebration this year despite not being back in school over this period... my GB girls gave teachers and officers a celebration BBQ at one of the girls' condo facilities, and it was quite nice, really... just catching up with my colleagues and seeing the girls again. It's the last day of the Term again. It's that time of year again, when IKEA sends out their annual catalogue. Announcing the arrival of... Shannon's 5th tooth. Went scouting for a new childcare centre for Shannon. That's been pretty much uppermost on my mind these days. In my previous post, I lamented how I was dreading going back to work. It's been an interesting evening. It all started with this conversation.... Shannon has been successfully weaned. My son announced today that he is getting married on 28th July 2007, to two girls... Esther from his N2 class of 2004, and Esther of his K1 class of 2005. We didn't do anything exciting this school holiday. Saw another one of those "Assistants Wanted" ads posted up in a shop window today. Shannon was drinking milk in the pram, all the while holding her own bottle... oblivious to an audience who was gaping and ooh-ing at how "clever" she was because she could hold her own milk bottle, whereas their little girl only started holding her own milk bottle at age 20mths... and they proclaimed her (their little girl) as 'lazy'. Don't ask me the details, but the Lantern / Mooncake festival is here. Argghh!!! I have been the target of comment spam!!! Announcing the cutting of... tooth #6! The big boy asked me an interesting question today while having his dinner of macaroni and soup.This entry is inspired by one of my ex-students who had written about her young nephew and his whining, and how she felt maybe she won't have kids, and will just play with her little nephews and nieces (including all to-be ones as well). I nearly had a heart attack yesterday. Quite a long time ago, the government announced that it was going to make it compulsory that anyone with casement windows (windows that are on hinges that swing outwards) that have aluminium rivets must get the rivets changed to stainless steel ones. Was involved in a minor bang-up today. Not only because she is absolutely tiny in stature, she has this habit of stuffing her cheeks full with her food and just keeping it there. I have officially only another week as a Stay-At-Home-Mom. The children have been making pretty good progress with their phonics. Nephew's been home the last three days. OK, lest I alarm my readers and lead people into thinking that my MIL is some abusive monster, she is not. Hubby and I were playing a game of Opposites with our children during lunch today. You know you're a die-hard teacher when... My little yet-to-be-god-daughter ...is in trouble. It so happens that the lady who reversed into my car with hers is an acquaintance from way back when I was a "freshie" in University. Am without use of the car today. Wish I had a pic to post here, so you could see the actual thing, but while in IKEA yesterday, I saw this poster advertising their seats and chairs and whatnot... the title at the top said "FIRST CLASS SEATS FOR PEANUTS" First Day at Infantcare tomorrow We're preparing for Christmas. Shannon's first day at childcare... was met with a lot of tears and reluctance to part... and it was not all Shannon's. Shannon's second day at infantcare ...wasn't too bad. There are altogether 11 babies, including Shannon , in her infant class.
OCTOBER - Didn't blog yesterday. Today was the first lesson for the big boy. It's my second day at work... and JD's home sick with a fever. The little girl gave us a scare today. I'm enjoying my time back at work so far.JD's all better. I've been very disciplined in my marking these few days. My little Shannon can clap!!! The big girl is having her concert this Saturday... that's tomorrow. The big girl's concert was today. The teacher in me... keeps feeling the overwhelming urge to correct kids when they misbehave... even though the said kids aren't mine. Feeling a little under the weather today. The boy went for his like 6th appointment this year. It's her second official week in infant care... she's doing really well. I had a whole long novel about the history of the big boy's root canal... but I lost it... arrrgghhhh! Seems like it's been a while since I posted. My little 5year 3month old has two wiggly lower front teeth! YES! I have completed my marking! Today's Graduation Ceremony for the Sec 4s and 5s was particularly touching. Shannon started standing solo yesterday! My birthday present surprise for my husband was nearly ruined today. That's what my big boy has now. Woohoo! Shannon is just exactly one month shy of turning one year old.... wow. The big boy is participating in his class item for the upcoming concert, and his class is doing some National Songs segment, so the teacher has asked them all to choose an occupation, and they are to dress up in that particular outfit. Hey Stels... reading your post made me think of this song... it is found in one of Psalty's tapes, and it's about conquering your mountains, not in leaps and bounds, but just one step at a time. It was a pretty good and fun day yesterday... it started with the children surprising daddy with his birthday presents first thing in the morning... well first thing after having brushed their teeth and changed into their uniforms. Couldn't really figure how to title this post. The last two days have been one kind of an experience. Again, time flies. I'm not sure... but if she isn't talking yet, then she sure has had a lot of good flukes lately.
NOVEMBER - My cousin is one year younger than me, and has been married for a while now... not that long, but a while. My big boy in his Fireman outfit for his K1 concert. The big girl celebrated her 4th birthday early because today is actually elder nephew's birthday, and since their birthdays are but 4 days apart, their birthdays are always celebrated together. It's very interesting having conversations with the children these days. Tonight, my daughter and I had a very deep conversation about marriage. Shannon and the big boy playing at a playground one morning, while waiting for the big girl to finish her enrichment lesson. It's 7pm in the evening... the moon is up, the sky is darkening as the sun sets almost completely. Shannon took her first unaided wobbly steps on Saturday, again on Sunday (well, that would be her third, fourth and fifth unaided wobbly steps) and again today (well, that would be her sixth and seventh unaided wobbly steps). The big girl celebrated her birthday yet again (!!) today in school, with her beautiful Princess cake. Happy Birthday to you! Sigh. I had to buy a new handphone today. Little JD has finally been evicted from the master bedroom where she has been occupying a rather large parcel of floor space for the last 12 months and 2 days. Today, the big girl asked me if I rode a horse when I was going to have a baby. It's Auntie W's birthday today... shhh, I won't tell how old you are... heh. My daughter has a rather bad habit of biting at her fingernails and the skin around her nails. Wrote a poem for the newly arrived Ms Brown (the little girl I once suggested names for here), so thought I'd just reproduce it here, simply so I'd have a copy for my collection. Just came back today from GB's 11th Annual Camp.
DECEMBER - The Big Girl went for her 4yo checkup today... without me (longish story, will post separately). My life is getting very exciting. It was the end of a rather long day for the two. Our First Christmas Performance ... that is in preparation for the one at Orchard Road met with more than a few hiccups. It is finally over. Shannon turned 13 months 2 days ago. I have become re-addicted to... believe it or not... Neopets. Our Christmas weekend was rather pleasant and a little busy, but the children had a field day collecting presents. The last week of the year
... has begun... and today was spent at a Staff Retreat, together with our new Principal working on what we hope our pupils would be and would achieve after four or five years with us.
Mom and her Chu-chu (grandchild)
My mom and the big girl. Yes, yes... my mom looks really young for her age... and she's already... erm... that's a secret... but I'll say this... she's no longer in her forties! Duh! I'm already thirty-two!
My 2 girls
My two girls... the big girl is petite and has a smallish head like daddy, while the baby is big and has a biggish head like me... so they may be three years apart in age, but their heads are about the same size.
The last week of the year
... has begun... and today was spent at a Staff Retreat, together with our new Principal working on what we hope our pupils would be and would achieve after four or five years with us. It was a time of regrouping, refocusing and getting into the groove of things.
Today was more a working retreat... but we are told that tomorrow will bring with it more games and bonding... for we were told to "bring socks!" for our bowling game tomorrow. OK. I remember us also having bowling and even shooting (with air rifles, I think) targets last year as part of our teachers' day celebrations, although I didn't take part, since I was heavily pregnant at that time. I had a bowling ball of my own firmly attached to my front to contend with, and I didn't think I wanted to take the risk of rolling down the lane together with both bowling balls - the one on my hand and the one on my abdomen. So I sat out on that one, together with the other pregnant women who were there.
So tomorrow I get to show off what non-existent bowling skills I have... well, I'm pretty good at getting the ball into the gutter... so that is a skill in some sense of the word... right?
This entire week is spent on school stuff. Two days of staff retreat, followed by a morning of staff meeting to get ready for the new year ahead. The next morning will find me supervising mychoir's practice for orientation. The following morning (Saturday) will find me at an Officers' meeting for the Girls' Brigade. And once the weekend is over on Monday, school will begin on Tuesday... bright and early at 7.20am. *yawn*
It's going to be an interesting year ahead. Three children. Lower Secondary Classes. Two CCAs. New Management in school... Dear Lord, I look to you for wisdom, discernment, strength and stamina. I keep my eyes on the goal and work as unto you. To God be the Glory.
Today was more a working retreat... but we are told that tomorrow will bring with it more games and bonding... for we were told to "bring socks!" for our bowling game tomorrow. OK. I remember us also having bowling and even shooting (with air rifles, I think) targets last year as part of our teachers' day celebrations, although I didn't take part, since I was heavily pregnant at that time. I had a bowling ball of my own firmly attached to my front to contend with, and I didn't think I wanted to take the risk of rolling down the lane together with both bowling balls - the one on my hand and the one on my abdomen. So I sat out on that one, together with the other pregnant women who were there.
So tomorrow I get to show off what non-existent bowling skills I have... well, I'm pretty good at getting the ball into the gutter... so that is a skill in some sense of the word... right?
This entire week is spent on school stuff. Two days of staff retreat, followed by a morning of staff meeting to get ready for the new year ahead. The next morning will find me supervising mychoir's practice for orientation. The following morning (Saturday) will find me at an Officers' meeting for the Girls' Brigade. And once the weekend is over on Monday, school will begin on Tuesday... bright and early at 7.20am. *yawn*
It's going to be an interesting year ahead. Three children. Lower Secondary Classes. Two CCAs. New Management in school... Dear Lord, I look to you for wisdom, discernment, strength and stamina. I keep my eyes on the goal and work as unto you. To God be the Glory.
Christmas has come and gone
Our Christmas weekend was rather pleasant and a little busy, but the children had a field day collecting presents.
Now that we have THREE wee ones around the house this year, with the youngest having a better grasp (literally) of presents, our house has become a sort of toystore... I figure that each child receieved about 10 different gifts, and that means we now have 30 new toys in our house. THIRTY. That's a lot of new toys to suddenly have at a go.
The big boy received quite a few trains for his Thomas the Tank Engine collection... I think a total of about 6. He also got some books, Thomas domino set amongst other things. The big girl got THREE dollhouses, TWO sets of toys to do with cooking and food amongst other more girly stuff. The baby got baby stuff, but she was more interested in the wrappers and boxes that were lying around after big brother and sister were done tearing them off to reveal the treasures within. To the baby, the treasure was what was on the outside. The stuff on the inside was lucky if it was accorded more than a quick glance. Sigh.
We had to give an extra round of performance during the Christmas Eve Service, which meant that what was supposed to have been a one-time thing became a three-time thing in all. And all this was done within a short space of about three months. However, this is not the record. I remember that it wasn't too many years ago when we embarked on a rather ambitious set of music with only four weeks and as many practices. It was nothing short of God's grace and miraculous intervention that we managed to pull it off.
Thankfully, this year's Christmas was on a Sunday, which meant that the two older children spent their Saturday Christmas Eve at my mom's as is their usual Saturday practice. And that gave me an opportunity to go last-minute Christmas Shopping for my dad's and hubby's present - both of which were a cordless electric screwdriver... my father seemed quite pleased with his present although hubby knew that the present for him was in part for me, for I like to tinker with putting things together, particularly the IKEA stuff that we buy and put together by ourselves at home.
So overall, it's been a pretty good Christmas. For the children, all that waiting has paid off, but Christmas went by too fast... these post-Christmas days is spent playing with all the newly acquired toys... because all too soon, school will reopen and there will be precious little time to spend on these new acquisitions.
Now that we have THREE wee ones around the house this year, with the youngest having a better grasp (literally) of presents, our house has become a sort of toystore... I figure that each child receieved about 10 different gifts, and that means we now have 30 new toys in our house. THIRTY. That's a lot of new toys to suddenly have at a go.
The big boy received quite a few trains for his Thomas the Tank Engine collection... I think a total of about 6. He also got some books, Thomas domino set amongst other things. The big girl got THREE dollhouses, TWO sets of toys to do with cooking and food amongst other more girly stuff. The baby got baby stuff, but she was more interested in the wrappers and boxes that were lying around after big brother and sister were done tearing them off to reveal the treasures within. To the baby, the treasure was what was on the outside. The stuff on the inside was lucky if it was accorded more than a quick glance. Sigh.
We had to give an extra round of performance during the Christmas Eve Service, which meant that what was supposed to have been a one-time thing became a three-time thing in all. And all this was done within a short space of about three months. However, this is not the record. I remember that it wasn't too many years ago when we embarked on a rather ambitious set of music with only four weeks and as many practices. It was nothing short of God's grace and miraculous intervention that we managed to pull it off.
Thankfully, this year's Christmas was on a Sunday, which meant that the two older children spent their Saturday Christmas Eve at my mom's as is their usual Saturday practice. And that gave me an opportunity to go last-minute Christmas Shopping for my dad's and hubby's present - both of which were a cordless electric screwdriver... my father seemed quite pleased with his present although hubby knew that the present for him was in part for me, for I like to tinker with putting things together, particularly the IKEA stuff that we buy and put together by ourselves at home.
So overall, it's been a pretty good Christmas. For the children, all that waiting has paid off, but Christmas went by too fast... these post-Christmas days is spent playing with all the newly acquired toys... because all too soon, school will reopen and there will be precious little time to spend on these new acquisitions.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Confession - Why I hardly blog these days
...because I have become re-addicted to... believe it or not... Neopets. LOL!
I started this account way back in... umm, actually, I forget... 2001? or maybe 2002? Anyway, it was mostly out of curiousity and having heard that my students were playing and even some of my own colleagues... and so I signed up for an account and found it to be quite fun. It was not easy at first, as there was so much to learn, and over the years, they have added and tweaked the site so much that there is more and more to do. And once you know your way around, there is actually many things to cater to the different interests and needs of the people.
I think what I like most about the site is that it is one of the cleaner game sites. I mean, it is family friendly and they are all out to protect the children and the good. So there is no swearing and nasty words... everything is good clean fun. And that's what I really like about it.
So what have I been so preoccupied with? Collecting secret avatars is one. Keeping up with my guild board and its members (who are all mothers by the way) is another. And collecting items and what not. I have gone from one key interest to another, and as I change, I find more and more things to keep me occupied. Too occupied.
Ah well. Even as I type, I am aware that I have not gone in today to do my "dailies" (a series of things that can be done daily, like collect free gifts, interest in the "money/neopoints" in your bank account, collect free food and stuff... things that you can only do once a day. And I have just promised my sobbing 4-year-old that I will be in her room in ten minutes to keep her company until she falls asleep because her daddy has come out of her room in frustration because she won't sleep and he's tired and cranky and wanting to be in bed himself. Ah well.
I started this account way back in... umm, actually, I forget... 2001? or maybe 2002? Anyway, it was mostly out of curiousity and having heard that my students were playing and even some of my own colleagues... and so I signed up for an account and found it to be quite fun. It was not easy at first, as there was so much to learn, and over the years, they have added and tweaked the site so much that there is more and more to do. And once you know your way around, there is actually many things to cater to the different interests and needs of the people.
I think what I like most about the site is that it is one of the cleaner game sites. I mean, it is family friendly and they are all out to protect the children and the good. So there is no swearing and nasty words... everything is good clean fun. And that's what I really like about it.
So what have I been so preoccupied with? Collecting secret avatars is one. Keeping up with my guild board and its members (who are all mothers by the way) is another. And collecting items and what not. I have gone from one key interest to another, and as I change, I find more and more things to keep me occupied. Too occupied.
Ah well. Even as I type, I am aware that I have not gone in today to do my "dailies" (a series of things that can be done daily, like collect free gifts, interest in the "money/neopoints" in your bank account, collect free food and stuff... things that you can only do once a day. And I have just promised my sobbing 4-year-old that I will be in her room in ten minutes to keep her company until she falls asleep because her daddy has come out of her room in frustration because she won't sleep and he's tired and cranky and wanting to be in bed himself. Ah well.
Update on Shannon- 13months
Shannon turned 13 months 2 days ago. She's very good at walking now, and I consider her officially walking because not only can she walk independently, she prefers walking to crawling now. That's when I consider it "official". *grin*
She seems to be trying to talk quite a bit these days, and her fascination with traffic light is becoming more apparent. For quite a long time now, she would crane her neck to look at the traffic lights whenever we stop close enough to them. She exclaims and makes excited noises while all the time staring most intently at the lights that go from red to green and have the power to stop and start cars and all the big vehicles that go on the road. Even when she is in my arms and we are at a traffic junction, she cannot stop herself from turning this way and that to stare at the all-mighty traffic lights. It's really quite amusing to see her so fascinated by them.
Her babbling sound more like real words now... with mum-mum (food) and nen-nen (milk) being the most obvious. She goes "baah" for the buttons in the lifts that we have to take everyday to get to and from our house. She says "booh!" for anything book-like... even just pieces of paper. She utters "beah-ber" to mean baby, it seems... for this has happened quite a few times now... it's mostly the "b" words... although she was going "tack" (but without actually sounding the "k") while watching this show about Garfield... so I take it that might mean cat. Everytime she saw the cat in any form (animated, cartoon, real etc) she went "tack! tack!" Quite funny when they start this babbling.
I wonder if she will be as advanced as the big girl was in speech. The big girl developed very fast when it came to speech, and by the time she was 18-months, she was already speaking in full sentences, like "I want my bottle." Amazing. But we were talking to the children a lot in those days, and they watched a lot of things like Barney and Hi-5... but these days, there isn't as much exposure for Shannon since the two older ones, especially the boy, has outgrown Barney. The girl still likes Barney (and I confess, so do I - I like anything with children that involve singing and choreography) and that's good. Occasionally, I still dig out the old Barney VCDs for Shannon, and the older two will still settle down to watch it... albeit reluctantly on the boy's part... but he soon forgets and gets just as absorbed.
Shannon is starting to lose the easy-going contented nature and is now insisting on coming out of her seat/high-chair to roam the house and pull on anything that she can reach. It doesn't help that she is getting much taller, having had a growth-spurt of sorts since her last check up. She nows stands at at least 78cm tall, and weighs at least a hefty 11.5 to 12 kg. Just a few days ago, her head was still a good 1cm or so away from the table top, but today, I noticed that the tip of her head/skull was already more than just touching the edge of the table... she could get a good knock if she doesn't watch where she's going... which is most of the time. And that also means that we have to be careful about what we leave on the table because she can easily see what's there and reach up for them. Sigh... it was easier with the big girl 'cos by the time she was tall enough to reach the table top, she was old enough to understand better and obey better... not that she didn't try anyway.... and she was very good at climbing... something Shannon doesn't seem to have got the hang of yet, nor does she seem to have much inclination towards wanting to try to climb anything. *grin* Just as well. She's probably too heavy to haul her bulk upwards onto anything for now.
Ahh, time flies... my baby is walking and already one and a bit.
She seems to be trying to talk quite a bit these days, and her fascination with traffic light is becoming more apparent. For quite a long time now, she would crane her neck to look at the traffic lights whenever we stop close enough to them. She exclaims and makes excited noises while all the time staring most intently at the lights that go from red to green and have the power to stop and start cars and all the big vehicles that go on the road. Even when she is in my arms and we are at a traffic junction, she cannot stop herself from turning this way and that to stare at the all-mighty traffic lights. It's really quite amusing to see her so fascinated by them.
Her babbling sound more like real words now... with mum-mum (food) and nen-nen (milk) being the most obvious. She goes "baah" for the buttons in the lifts that we have to take everyday to get to and from our house. She says "booh!" for anything book-like... even just pieces of paper. She utters "beah-ber" to mean baby, it seems... for this has happened quite a few times now... it's mostly the "b" words... although she was going "tack" (but without actually sounding the "k") while watching this show about Garfield... so I take it that might mean cat. Everytime she saw the cat in any form (animated, cartoon, real etc) she went "tack! tack!" Quite funny when they start this babbling.
I wonder if she will be as advanced as the big girl was in speech. The big girl developed very fast when it came to speech, and by the time she was 18-months, she was already speaking in full sentences, like "I want my bottle." Amazing. But we were talking to the children a lot in those days, and they watched a lot of things like Barney and Hi-5... but these days, there isn't as much exposure for Shannon since the two older ones, especially the boy, has outgrown Barney. The girl still likes Barney (and I confess, so do I - I like anything with children that involve singing and choreography) and that's good. Occasionally, I still dig out the old Barney VCDs for Shannon, and the older two will still settle down to watch it... albeit reluctantly on the boy's part... but he soon forgets and gets just as absorbed.
Shannon is starting to lose the easy-going contented nature and is now insisting on coming out of her seat/high-chair to roam the house and pull on anything that she can reach. It doesn't help that she is getting much taller, having had a growth-spurt of sorts since her last check up. She nows stands at at least 78cm tall, and weighs at least a hefty 11.5 to 12 kg. Just a few days ago, her head was still a good 1cm or so away from the table top, but today, I noticed that the tip of her head/skull was already more than just touching the edge of the table... she could get a good knock if she doesn't watch where she's going... which is most of the time. And that also means that we have to be careful about what we leave on the table because she can easily see what's there and reach up for them. Sigh... it was easier with the big girl 'cos by the time she was tall enough to reach the table top, she was old enough to understand better and obey better... not that she didn't try anyway.... and she was very good at climbing... something Shannon doesn't seem to have got the hang of yet, nor does she seem to have much inclination towards wanting to try to climb anything. *grin* Just as well. She's probably too heavy to haul her bulk upwards onto anything for now.
Ahh, time flies... my baby is walking and already one and a bit.
Orchard Road Christmas Performance
It is finally over. It was a rather trying time making sure that everyone was present and accounted for, and getting everything ready and making sure that all the props and costumes were where they were supposed to be.
One of the ladies from the choir was really sweet... she thanked me and told me what a good job I had done for "it is not easy to tell the aunties to stop talking and to teach them" and gave me a little something for the kiddos. It is always nice to be appreciated. I think I was blushing by the time she had finished.
The performance itself was not without its hiccups. The props people forgot to come on with the stable and farmyard animals, one boom mike fell down when the conductor tripped over it (oops!), I wrongly indicated to the conductor that the choir's part was over in one song when indeed there was still another part (double oops!) and so on... but I think overall, the crowd enjoyed it. While many of our church members did come down to support us, the crowd seemed to be made up mainly of people we did not know. I think they were supporters of the other groups that were performing that night, but it was good to know that there were a good many who were passing by who actually stopped to watch the musical.
I think we did best when the entire cast and choir came together to do the last three songs... we sounded our best, and the entire thing ended on a high note. The last song was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - a familiar song that everyone could identify with... and there were bright smiles around as we sang and the audience sang along, tapping feet and bobbing heads, swaying to the catchy (albeit very fast) tune... I've always felt that this particular song goes at a rather breakneck speed... or breakvoicebox speed... it leaves you feeling rather tongue-twisted and breathless... there is barely enough time to steal a breath between bars and I confess I cheat by breaking off at the oddest places in order to take in a breath to prevent myself from turning blue and collapsing.
Overall, it was a good experience. I would still do it again... but I miss the times when I used to sing with proper performing groups... I miss all the togetherness and appreciate all the various people who work so hard to make everything work so much more. Ahh, if only I could just go off and join a singing travelling group (like the Continentals) and just go singing for the Lord. I wish. Maybe when the children are old enough to be trusted to look after themselves. I just might take a year off with hubby and go join one of these groups... if only... maybe... one day.
One of the ladies from the choir was really sweet... she thanked me and told me what a good job I had done for "it is not easy to tell the aunties to stop talking and to teach them" and gave me a little something for the kiddos. It is always nice to be appreciated. I think I was blushing by the time she had finished.
The performance itself was not without its hiccups. The props people forgot to come on with the stable and farmyard animals, one boom mike fell down when the conductor tripped over it (oops!), I wrongly indicated to the conductor that the choir's part was over in one song when indeed there was still another part (double oops!) and so on... but I think overall, the crowd enjoyed it. While many of our church members did come down to support us, the crowd seemed to be made up mainly of people we did not know. I think they were supporters of the other groups that were performing that night, but it was good to know that there were a good many who were passing by who actually stopped to watch the musical.
I think we did best when the entire cast and choir came together to do the last three songs... we sounded our best, and the entire thing ended on a high note. The last song was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - a familiar song that everyone could identify with... and there were bright smiles around as we sang and the audience sang along, tapping feet and bobbing heads, swaying to the catchy (albeit very fast) tune... I've always felt that this particular song goes at a rather breakneck speed... or breakvoicebox speed... it leaves you feeling rather tongue-twisted and breathless... there is barely enough time to steal a breath between bars and I confess I cheat by breaking off at the oddest places in order to take in a breath to prevent myself from turning blue and collapsing.
Overall, it was a good experience. I would still do it again... but I miss the times when I used to sing with proper performing groups... I miss all the togetherness and appreciate all the various people who work so hard to make everything work so much more. Ahh, if only I could just go off and join a singing travelling group (like the Continentals) and just go singing for the Lord. I wish. Maybe when the children are old enough to be trusted to look after themselves. I just might take a year off with hubby and go join one of these groups... if only... maybe... one day.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Our First Christmas Performance
... that is in preparation for the one at Orchard Road met with more than a few hiccups. Our performance was last night, at one of the estates where my church does much reaching out to the residents who are mostly the elderly, and we serve the community there by having activities and providing various services for the residents.
So last night, we put up the same performance as we will be putting up at Orchard, albeit with the addition of chinese translations and the singing of other songs in various dialects and the playing of games and the throwing in of other items by the residents themselves.
And the performance went less smoothly than we'd hoped. There were problems with the wireless mikes. There were problems with the sound system and the hooking up of a monitor for the choir. The place that the choir was standing had no lights, and many could not see their scores. This whole choir thing was made more interesting by the fact that it is made up of volunteers from church... anyone who wants to join can... even if you are completely tone deaf and cannot sing to save your life. You are still welcome. And we will still try our best to help you hit the correct notes... or as close to them as is humanly possible.
And best of all, I, with no musical training beyond grade two back when I was but 8, was asked to conduct the choir. Right. OK, I admit that I can sort of conduct a choir. Sort of. I can wave my hands around to the beat of the music. I can indicate to the choir when to come in and start singing. Heck, I can even sing along with them. But I can't do dynamics... no loud, no soft, no nothing. Just pure belting out of the pieces, starting and stopping at hopefully the right time. I have been singing in choirs since I was 9. I have performed with various groups up until the time I graduated from University. Then I sang on and off with the church's ad-hoc choirs that were put together whenever there was a performance scheduled. So that is as much conducting as I know how to do. Just copying what I have seen, and trying to read the score as best I can, which is mostly the notes for the ladies' parts.
Thankfully, the choir has more or less learnt their parts and are more or less running on automatic. Which also contributed to the problem... because the choir was not trained to watch the conductor at all times, and to respond accordingly. But it's OK. Somehow... we managed to stumble through the entire thing... bogus conductor and all. *grin* Thankfully, I won't have to do that for the actual thing. For that, we have a fully qualified conductor who has been working very hard to train us (amidst his very very very busy schedule of students taking exams and other school choir performances that he's having at the same time) to conduct and lead us. Yeah!
So last night, we put up the same performance as we will be putting up at Orchard, albeit with the addition of chinese translations and the singing of other songs in various dialects and the playing of games and the throwing in of other items by the residents themselves.
And the performance went less smoothly than we'd hoped. There were problems with the wireless mikes. There were problems with the sound system and the hooking up of a monitor for the choir. The place that the choir was standing had no lights, and many could not see their scores. This whole choir thing was made more interesting by the fact that it is made up of volunteers from church... anyone who wants to join can... even if you are completely tone deaf and cannot sing to save your life. You are still welcome. And we will still try our best to help you hit the correct notes... or as close to them as is humanly possible.
And best of all, I, with no musical training beyond grade two back when I was but 8, was asked to conduct the choir. Right. OK, I admit that I can sort of conduct a choir. Sort of. I can wave my hands around to the beat of the music. I can indicate to the choir when to come in and start singing. Heck, I can even sing along with them. But I can't do dynamics... no loud, no soft, no nothing. Just pure belting out of the pieces, starting and stopping at hopefully the right time. I have been singing in choirs since I was 9. I have performed with various groups up until the time I graduated from University. Then I sang on and off with the church's ad-hoc choirs that were put together whenever there was a performance scheduled. So that is as much conducting as I know how to do. Just copying what I have seen, and trying to read the score as best I can, which is mostly the notes for the ladies' parts.
Thankfully, the choir has more or less learnt their parts and are more or less running on automatic. Which also contributed to the problem... because the choir was not trained to watch the conductor at all times, and to respond accordingly. But it's OK. Somehow... we managed to stumble through the entire thing... bogus conductor and all. *grin* Thankfully, I won't have to do that for the actual thing. For that, we have a fully qualified conductor who has been working very hard to train us (amidst his very very very busy schedule of students taking exams and other school choir performances that he's having at the same time) to conduct and lead us. Yeah!
Joke of the Day
It was the end of a rather long day for the two. We had taken them out shopping today, and had started the day at around noon, and having them walk around the shopping malls and having a great BBQ DIY lunch and then more shopping... most of it being looking at toys and stuff. Daddy was kind enough to entertain the kids at Toys R Us while mommy shopped for back to school stuff and also clothes for school.
By the time we got back to the car, the big girl was tired and grumpy, having missed her afternoon nap, and having walked a longer distance than she is used to. Even my legs were tired, never mind hers. In the car, she was whining and complaining that her legs were tired. So
Mommy: Your legs are tired? Then sleep lah!
Big Girl: No, not me... my legs are tired.
M: Then ask your legs to go to sleep.
BG: Noooooo, my legs cannot sleep!!! They have no eyes.... *pouts* They cannot close their eyes.... *pouts*
At this, both hubby and I burst out laughing.... it was just so hilarious because she was being so whiney and upset that her legs could not go to sleep because they had no eyes... and her logic that it was the possessing of eyes that enabled one to go to sleep... ah, such is the logic of a 4yo. Because we were laughing so hard, she was busy trying to pout and maintain her whiney-ness while stifling laughter at the same time... so she said petulantly... "don't laugh at me...." which only set us off further.
OK... I guess I had better go off and close my eyes and get some sleep.
By the time we got back to the car, the big girl was tired and grumpy, having missed her afternoon nap, and having walked a longer distance than she is used to. Even my legs were tired, never mind hers. In the car, she was whining and complaining that her legs were tired. So
Mommy: Your legs are tired? Then sleep lah!
Big Girl: No, not me... my legs are tired.
M: Then ask your legs to go to sleep.
BG: Noooooo, my legs cannot sleep!!! They have no eyes.... *pouts* They cannot close their eyes.... *pouts*
At this, both hubby and I burst out laughing.... it was just so hilarious because she was being so whiney and upset that her legs could not go to sleep because they had no eyes... and her logic that it was the possessing of eyes that enabled one to go to sleep... ah, such is the logic of a 4yo. Because we were laughing so hard, she was busy trying to pout and maintain her whiney-ness while stifling laughter at the same time... so she said petulantly... "don't laugh at me...." which only set us off further.
OK... I guess I had better go off and close my eyes and get some sleep.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Life in the Fast Lane... or rather the Busy Lane
My life is getting very exciting. The reason I am blogging at 1.30am in the morning is because I have just come back from yet another late rehearsal. You see, I am involved in one of those Christmas In the City programs, and I will be performing on 20th December in Orchard Road. We are putting up a short musical, and we have been rehearsing like mad.
Given that my group is made up of "volunteers" from church and the vast majority of the performers are nowhere near professionals, rehearsals have been somewhat exciting. The event is fast looming and we are madly rehearsing to make sure that we are up to an acceptable standard for performing in front of the Orchard Road crowd. Last night, we were also home late because we were trying to do a recording of our voices for all the songs because we will be performing out in the open and we are afraid that we will not be loud enough and that the sound system will not be adequate to reach the kind of walking by audience that we will be performing to. So we completed our recording (after many many hiccups) only way past midnight. We had anticipated that, so we farmed the three children out to the two grandmas to stay the night. This meant that hubby and I had a "child-free" night... the first one in a long long time. We had wanted to watch a midnight show to celebrate our freedom, but it was too late. So we settled for going home and watching "House" on cable. *grin*
Tonight, we had Shannon with us while the older two were at MIL's. The plan was to pick them up after the rehearsal, and we had not anticipated finishing quite so late. Again, it was past midnight when we ended, and it was a sleeping Big Girl and a very sleepy Big Boy who got into the car at 12.45am. Shannon, meanwhile, had fallen asleep during the rehearsal, despite all the noise and hoohaa going on... such a good baby.
Hubby is also on leave from work these two weeks, but I have not been able to be with him all the time, because I have had to take the opportunity to leave the children with him and go back to school to settle into my new workstation, as well as to prepare for the coming year. I have a meeting with my girls tomorrow, to set in motion plans for next year's orientation. It's going to be a really busy time, because I also have to get another committee from a different group (my choir) going on the same thing. I have more or less unpacked and put all the things in the right places, but now there is the task of going stationery shopping to get the stuff that I need to "decorate" and make my workstation a little more homey.
So my schedule for the rest of this week and next week goes something like this...
Thursday (that's later this morning): Meeting at 9am... expected to end around noon. Children have phonics lessons from 6pm to 8pm. We have to occupy them in between.
Friday: Shannon's infant care school is closed for their annual concert, so we have all three kids. We have to find activities that will suit the presence of the youngest.
Saturday: Music lesson for the boy in the morning from 9-10am. Then the two older ones go to my mom's for their Saturday bonding with her and my dad. In the evening, we have a birthday party to attend... and that's from 4pm.
Sunday: Church in the morning, and at 4.30, we have to report to Kg Arang where we are going to be performing our Christmas show to the residents there. The show is in the evening, but we have to report early to get dressed and whatnot. Children have to be farmed out to the grandparents again.
Monday: We are planning to take the children to the Water Theme Park nearby, since the baby will be at infant care. Then it will be two adults to two kids... safer and easier to keep an eye on them. No gym!
Tuesday: Another practice in the night. Phonics for the boy in the evening too.
Wednesday: Haven't quite planned this one yet... but I still need to go shopping for stuff.
Thursday: Phonics in the evening.
Friday: Nothing... haven't planned yet either. I may have to meet up with my other comittee planning for orientation. In the evening I will have a Anniversary Dinner of my CCA group to attend. Hubby will have to watch the children himself.
Saturday: Mah-mah day... Shannon, hubby and I will be occupying ourselves.
Sunday: Church and VicKids in the afternoon for the kiddos. It's also the last day of hubby's leave. This is also the Sunday before our big performance.
After the big Christmas project is over, School madness begins. I have to get ready earlier this year because I am involved in the Sec 1 Registration, as I will be Form Teacher of a Sec 1 class next year. So 3 days after our performance, PSLE posting results would have been released and we will have to go back to school for the registration. Then comes Christmas. Then there will also be our staff training and retreat over two days in the last week of the year. This is followed closely by our big staff meeting in preparation for the new year. Then I have a choir practice to conduct in preparation for the orientation program... the kids will have to rehearse and prepare the songs that they have learnt early in November. Hmmm. Hopefully they still remember their stuff.
So life is rather exciting... I seem to be more busy now than I am during school term, normally. Oh well. Such is the life of a mother of three...
Given that my group is made up of "volunteers" from church and the vast majority of the performers are nowhere near professionals, rehearsals have been somewhat exciting. The event is fast looming and we are madly rehearsing to make sure that we are up to an acceptable standard for performing in front of the Orchard Road crowd. Last night, we were also home late because we were trying to do a recording of our voices for all the songs because we will be performing out in the open and we are afraid that we will not be loud enough and that the sound system will not be adequate to reach the kind of walking by audience that we will be performing to. So we completed our recording (after many many hiccups) only way past midnight. We had anticipated that, so we farmed the three children out to the two grandmas to stay the night. This meant that hubby and I had a "child-free" night... the first one in a long long time. We had wanted to watch a midnight show to celebrate our freedom, but it was too late. So we settled for going home and watching "House" on cable. *grin*
Tonight, we had Shannon with us while the older two were at MIL's. The plan was to pick them up after the rehearsal, and we had not anticipated finishing quite so late. Again, it was past midnight when we ended, and it was a sleeping Big Girl and a very sleepy Big Boy who got into the car at 12.45am. Shannon, meanwhile, had fallen asleep during the rehearsal, despite all the noise and hoohaa going on... such a good baby.
Hubby is also on leave from work these two weeks, but I have not been able to be with him all the time, because I have had to take the opportunity to leave the children with him and go back to school to settle into my new workstation, as well as to prepare for the coming year. I have a meeting with my girls tomorrow, to set in motion plans for next year's orientation. It's going to be a really busy time, because I also have to get another committee from a different group (my choir) going on the same thing. I have more or less unpacked and put all the things in the right places, but now there is the task of going stationery shopping to get the stuff that I need to "decorate" and make my workstation a little more homey.
So my schedule for the rest of this week and next week goes something like this...
Thursday (that's later this morning): Meeting at 9am... expected to end around noon. Children have phonics lessons from 6pm to 8pm. We have to occupy them in between.
Friday: Shannon's infant care school is closed for their annual concert, so we have all three kids. We have to find activities that will suit the presence of the youngest.
Saturday: Music lesson for the boy in the morning from 9-10am. Then the two older ones go to my mom's for their Saturday bonding with her and my dad. In the evening, we have a birthday party to attend... and that's from 4pm.
Sunday: Church in the morning, and at 4.30, we have to report to Kg Arang where we are going to be performing our Christmas show to the residents there. The show is in the evening, but we have to report early to get dressed and whatnot. Children have to be farmed out to the grandparents again.
Monday: We are planning to take the children to the Water Theme Park nearby, since the baby will be at infant care. Then it will be two adults to two kids... safer and easier to keep an eye on them. No gym!
Tuesday: Another practice in the night. Phonics for the boy in the evening too.
Wednesday: Haven't quite planned this one yet... but I still need to go shopping for stuff.
Thursday: Phonics in the evening.
Friday: Nothing... haven't planned yet either. I may have to meet up with my other comittee planning for orientation. In the evening I will have a Anniversary Dinner of my CCA group to attend. Hubby will have to watch the children himself.
Saturday: Mah-mah day... Shannon, hubby and I will be occupying ourselves.
Sunday: Church and VicKids in the afternoon for the kiddos. It's also the last day of hubby's leave. This is also the Sunday before our big performance.
After the big Christmas project is over, School madness begins. I have to get ready earlier this year because I am involved in the Sec 1 Registration, as I will be Form Teacher of a Sec 1 class next year. So 3 days after our performance, PSLE posting results would have been released and we will have to go back to school for the registration. Then comes Christmas. Then there will also be our staff training and retreat over two days in the last week of the year. This is followed closely by our big staff meeting in preparation for the new year. Then I have a choir practice to conduct in preparation for the orientation program... the kids will have to rehearse and prepare the songs that they have learnt early in November. Hmmm. Hopefully they still remember their stuff.
So life is rather exciting... I seem to be more busy now than I am during school term, normally. Oh well. Such is the life of a mother of three...
Update on Big Girl
The Big Girl went for her 4yo checkup today... without me (longish story, will post separately). My mom, aka Mah-Mah, brought her and her brother for her checkup early in the morning, where she was asked to do an eye-test and another test to see if she could perceive depth and stuff.
Her eye test she passed with almost flying colours. One eye is perfect, while the other one could only read 2 letters of the smallest lines. I don't know the details, but it's nothing to worry about.
I was more interested in her height and weight measurements, for this child has always been on the smallish side, and it seemed that she has been doing much growing lately. So at 4 years and almost 1 month, my Big Girl stands at 99cm tall, and weighed in at a (for her) whopping 14.4kg. This, according to the charts, is just below average... but it is good enough. For a long time, she stagnated at around 12kg, never breaking the 13kg barrier... and this was in this last year. At her 3yo check, she weighed a mere 12.3kg or so... so she has suddenly put on about 2 kg, and has gained quite a bit heightwise too. This trend is similar to that of the Big Boy, who put on quite a bit of weight and gained some in stature between his third and fourth birthday.
Let's see... according to my notes, Big Boy weighed 15.3kg and stood at 95cm tall at 3yo, and weighed in at 16.1kg, standing at 103cm tall at 4yo. That is a gain in weight of 0.8kg and a growth of 8cm. The Big Girl's growth is more dramatic, for she weighed just 12.2kg and stood at 90cm tall at 3yrs of age, and today she is 14.4kg and stands at 99cm... that's a gain of 2.2kg and 9cm. Wow. Although she is still shorter than her big brother's 103cm, that's OK. It's not too far off the scale. She used to be closer to the 10th percentile, but now she is closer to 50th... so that's a dramatic improvement. I'm glad.
She's going to have a very exciting year ahead of her. In 2006, she will begin her Kindergarten education, besides starting her Junior Music Course with Yamaha (a music school) and ballet lessons with my ex-ballet friend's school. She's very excited about the ballet lessons, having waited for so long for this. She has also been promoted to the "big kids' " gymnastics class... it's a class meant for children who have passed their fifth birthday and who are ready, skill-wise, to progress to the class meant for children aged 5-12yrs. She is only 4, having recently had her birthday, but is good enough to be promoted. So her trainer has given special permission for her to begin gymnastics classes with the older children, including her big brother, one year ahead of time. This comes as a tremendous relief for me, for her big brother was already overdue to join the class, and I was dreading having to send them individually for classes that are back to back like that. So now I can continue to have them both in the same class, which makes life a lot easier for me. Of course, I also cannot help feeling very proud that my little gymnast is actually that good, to be promoted ahead of time. Having typed that, I caution myself not to let it get to my head and turn into some obssessive prodigy-mother who becomes hell-bent on having her precious little genius become the world's greatest whatever... if she enjoys it, then so be it... if not, then it's still OK. Right? Right!
Her eye test she passed with almost flying colours. One eye is perfect, while the other one could only read 2 letters of the smallest lines. I don't know the details, but it's nothing to worry about.
I was more interested in her height and weight measurements, for this child has always been on the smallish side, and it seemed that she has been doing much growing lately. So at 4 years and almost 1 month, my Big Girl stands at 99cm tall, and weighed in at a (for her) whopping 14.4kg. This, according to the charts, is just below average... but it is good enough. For a long time, she stagnated at around 12kg, never breaking the 13kg barrier... and this was in this last year. At her 3yo check, she weighed a mere 12.3kg or so... so she has suddenly put on about 2 kg, and has gained quite a bit heightwise too. This trend is similar to that of the Big Boy, who put on quite a bit of weight and gained some in stature between his third and fourth birthday.
Let's see... according to my notes, Big Boy weighed 15.3kg and stood at 95cm tall at 3yo, and weighed in at 16.1kg, standing at 103cm tall at 4yo. That is a gain in weight of 0.8kg and a growth of 8cm. The Big Girl's growth is more dramatic, for she weighed just 12.2kg and stood at 90cm tall at 3yrs of age, and today she is 14.4kg and stands at 99cm... that's a gain of 2.2kg and 9cm. Wow. Although she is still shorter than her big brother's 103cm, that's OK. It's not too far off the scale. She used to be closer to the 10th percentile, but now she is closer to 50th... so that's a dramatic improvement. I'm glad.
She's going to have a very exciting year ahead of her. In 2006, she will begin her Kindergarten education, besides starting her Junior Music Course with Yamaha (a music school) and ballet lessons with my ex-ballet friend's school. She's very excited about the ballet lessons, having waited for so long for this. She has also been promoted to the "big kids' " gymnastics class... it's a class meant for children who have passed their fifth birthday and who are ready, skill-wise, to progress to the class meant for children aged 5-12yrs. She is only 4, having recently had her birthday, but is good enough to be promoted. So her trainer has given special permission for her to begin gymnastics classes with the older children, including her big brother, one year ahead of time. This comes as a tremendous relief for me, for her big brother was already overdue to join the class, and I was dreading having to send them individually for classes that are back to back like that. So now I can continue to have them both in the same class, which makes life a lot easier for me. Of course, I also cannot help feeling very proud that my little gymnast is actually that good, to be promoted ahead of time. Having typed that, I caution myself not to let it get to my head and turn into some obssessive prodigy-mother who becomes hell-bent on having her precious little genius become the world's greatest whatever... if she enjoys it, then so be it... if not, then it's still OK. Right? Right!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
A Dramatic Weekend
Just came back today from GB's 11th Annual Camp. It's been quite a while since I actually stayed throughout (practically, except for 2 short trips out on family errands). This time, I left the 3 children to my wonderful hubby who so bravely took them all under his wings. I think it was the first time I was the one away from home and he was the one left to watch the children.
Camp was quite OK. I got to know the Sec Ones - people I have only heard about and did not really know until now. There are 17 of them, and till now, I still only know a handful... there were three sharing a dorm with me, and there were like quite a few in my group. It was quite an interesting experience, getting to know them, because they are all so different from one another, and yet, at the same time, they are all alike.
There were a few touching moments at camp - the most teary one (on the part of the girls and some officers) being when they were bidding farewell to Elisa... never mind that she is only leaving in February... never mind that after camp breaks she is going with the rest on a mission trip two days later... never mind that she will still be around for a while... no... tears were freely flowing as if it were her last day and she was flying off that very minute. I daren't imagine what the scene at the airport will be like. Changi Airport had better ensure that they have a good drainage system set in place... and lots of tissue on hand.
There were also a few dramatic moments - incidentally one of which involved the said Elisa. After her dramatic moment, she hobbled around on her leg which started swelling and discolouring most dramatically. Poor child.
Amongst the casualties were the one whose bottle of shampoo (or was it conditioner) broke and she started bleeding when she apparently stepped on one of the glass pieces... only for it to be discovered that it was only the smallest of pinpricks. Then there was the one who also fell into the drain and had a slight dent made in her shin. Then there was the one, who on special night, was trying to mime Cinderella fainting when she lost her balance and fell, very nearly fainting for real. Then there was the one who got a bad scratch on something - I don't remember what anymore. And then there were the others whose injuries escape me.
The Officers thank God though that the level of drama did not equally nor accurately reflect the seriousness of those injuries... but I guess when you're thirteen years old, life is very much magnified and everything is a crisis. I remember that time... At the end of the day, most of the drama could be dealt with by simply applying some ointment, a plaster (aka bandaid aka handyplast) and some TLC (tender loving care). The only dramatic thing that was even remotely serious involved our 19yo soon-to-be officer, so that was OK.
Other dramatic moments included fuss made over creepy crawlies - bugs, lizards, spiders, ants and cockroaches. The worst ones were when these huge bugs / moths came flying and buzzing around our heads... eww. I had a great time sqooshing (OK, there isn't really such a word... I just like the sound of it) bugs much to the delight and disgust of my group members. I even revelled in telling them of the time my son stepped on a bug, examined its flattened carcass on his foot, scraped it off with his finger and put it into his mouth before proclaiming the bug to be "Mmmm, good!" while the girls in my group were having their dinner. I'm sure their appetites were greatly enhanced by my very enchanting tale.
The speakers at the sessions were also quite dramatic. The aunty who came to speak to the girls about being ladies and women was most passionate and enthusiastic in her sharing... it was quite a delight to watch how animated she is. The pastor who shared with us during devotions was equally funny with his little anecdotes and the games he played with the girls before he actually shared. I was delighted to learn that he is a father of three... it was a shame I didn't have time to sit down and just chat about children.
Then of course, the highlight of the camp was the girls' Special Night... dressed to the nines, it looked like Prom night had started in Loyang. Even the youngest ones came decked out in heels and evening gowns... I was quite impressed... although it didn't seem quite appropriate for all these 'princesses' to be acting out scripts in their royal attire, but it was all a hoot. I think they mostly enjoyed themselves, although with our humid weather and we being in a non-air-conditioned chalet, most of us were melting in the sweltering tropical night. Nonetheless, the girls enjoyed themselves greatly, for it is a rare opportunity for playing at dressing up and being grown-up.
Still, the 2am bedtimes (for officers and committee members who had to stay up for debrief and what not) and 6.30am wakeup calls have taken their toll. I should be sound asleep, but my body has adjusted to the timing of camp, and therefore I am still awake even though it is close to 1.30am. I think I had better lie down and convince myself it is time for lights out.
But I hear my youngest in the nursery rousing... looks like lights out might be a little later than I had hoped. Shannon calls.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Poem for little Ms Brown
Wrote a poem for the newly arrived Ms Brown (the little girl I once suggested names for here), so thought I'd just reproduce it here, simply so I'd have a copy for my collection.
'Twas the night before Joy Brown
Made her appearance in flesh
Her siblings were psychic
Gave her parents no rest
There was much anticipation
Nerves shook poor ol' Brown
He had so much to handle
Faith, Cot, Bring Cat Down
But time flew by in a hurry
A new day soon dawned
In a blink of an eye
Little Joy Brown was born
Her siblings were enchanted
Her father well-pleased
Her mother had worked hard
And so was relieved
That all had gone so well
The baby was Out
All and sundry soon gathered
To give a great shout
"Congrats to you Brownie!
You have all done well!
When's Number Four coming?
Pray, oh pray tell!"
The Lord bless you Joy Brown
With wisdom and love
May you grow in the favour
Of our Good Lord Above.
by Justpassingby
November 2005
I've always enjoyed reading Mr Brown's blog, since I discovered him a long time ago when he was still mostly doing the SNEs.... but now that he's taken to writing about his family, I love his blog all the more. In fact, I've already forgotten all about reading SNEs until now... and I think he doesn't produce them as regularly anymore.
You need to read this post in order to really understand what I'm writing about.
'Twas the night before Joy Brown
Made her appearance in flesh
Her siblings were psychic
Gave her parents no rest
There was much anticipation
Nerves shook poor ol' Brown
He had so much to handle
Faith, Cot, Bring Cat Down
But time flew by in a hurry
A new day soon dawned
In a blink of an eye
Little Joy Brown was born
Her siblings were enchanted
Her father well-pleased
Her mother had worked hard
And so was relieved
That all had gone so well
The baby was Out
All and sundry soon gathered
To give a great shout
"Congrats to you Brownie!
You have all done well!
When's Number Four coming?
Pray, oh pray tell!"
The Lord bless you Joy Brown
With wisdom and love
May you grow in the favour
Of our Good Lord Above.
by Justpassingby
November 2005
I've always enjoyed reading Mr Brown's blog, since I discovered him a long time ago when he was still mostly doing the SNEs.... but now that he's taken to writing about his family, I love his blog all the more. In fact, I've already forgotten all about reading SNEs until now... and I think he doesn't produce them as regularly anymore.
You need to read this post in order to really understand what I'm writing about.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Mummy Power!
My daughter has a rather bad habit of biting at her fingernails and the skin around her nails. We often have to check her for putting her fingers in her mouth. So just yesterday, she was in her carseat and I could see from the rearview mirror that she was, yet again, chewing on her finger. So I checked her.
The next thing I knew, she was holding her doll up in front of her face, with her eyes watching me in the mirror the whole time. I knew instantly that she was trying to hide the fact that she was still chewing on her finger. So I said,
M: Stop biting your finger. Don't think I don't know that you are biting your finger.
BigGirl: (surprised) Why you have powerful eyes mommy?
M: (trying hard to hide her amusement) Because God gives mommies lots of power, and makes mommies very powerful.
BG: (pouting) I also want to be powerful.
M: When you become a mommy, God will also make you powerful.
Ah, the innocence of a 4yo.
The next thing I knew, she was holding her doll up in front of her face, with her eyes watching me in the mirror the whole time. I knew instantly that she was trying to hide the fact that she was still chewing on her finger. So I said,
M: Stop biting your finger. Don't think I don't know that you are biting your finger.
BigGirl: (surprised) Why you have powerful eyes mommy?
M: (trying hard to hide her amusement) Because God gives mommies lots of power, and makes mommies very powerful.
BG: (pouting) I also want to be powerful.
M: When you become a mommy, God will also make you powerful.
Ah, the innocence of a 4yo.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Happy Birthday Auntie W!!!
It's Auntie W's birthday today... shhh, I won't tell how old you are... heh.
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Auntie W!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Auntie W!
Happy Birthday to you!
Of Horses, Having Babies and the Nativity Story
Today, the big girl asked me if I rode a horse when I was going to have a baby. When I expressed my confounded-ness, she recited a section of the Christmas story that she had learnt in school by way of explanation - Mary and Joseph rode a horse to Beth-thel-ham and they stayed in a bar and had a baby. So, did mommy ride a horse when she went to have a baby? Perfectly logical question to ask... why didn't mommy get it? She (mommy) was being kinda dense today.
So I painstakingly explained that I didn't ride a horse because I had a car, and it was a car that I rode in to go to the hospital to have a baby. And it wasn't a bar either, it was a barn.
Why did Mary ride a horse? Because there were no cars in those days. Why? It was a long time ago, and they didn't know how to make cars work in those days.
Oh. Did mommy ride a horse to have a baby? No. No? But you had a baby... why didn't you ride a horse? Because mommy doesn't need horses now. There are cars to ride in. Mary and Joseph lived a long time ago, when there were no cars, no MRT (subway), no taxis, no buses... the only things that moved that could carry a person was a horse. Horse and carriage? Well, yes, but Mary and Joseph were poor, and they probably couldn't afford a carriage. Only the rich people from a long time ago could buy carriages.
Oh, a long time ago. Did mommy ride a horse when you went to born korkor (dialect for big brother)?
By this time, I am chortling inside, but trying to maintain my composure and answer her questions. She seems to have decided that in order to have a baby, you must ride a horse. And she cannot get that idea out of her mind. The conversation would get interrupted by her being distracted by something else going on outside the car (this whole conversation took place in the car) but it quickly came back to the horse and having a baby... Mary having a baby and me having babies that is... not the horse.
It's hilarious, the connections children make from the stories we tell them that they only half comprehend.
So I painstakingly explained that I didn't ride a horse because I had a car, and it was a car that I rode in to go to the hospital to have a baby. And it wasn't a bar either, it was a barn.
Why did Mary ride a horse? Because there were no cars in those days. Why? It was a long time ago, and they didn't know how to make cars work in those days.
Oh. Did mommy ride a horse to have a baby? No. No? But you had a baby... why didn't you ride a horse? Because mommy doesn't need horses now. There are cars to ride in. Mary and Joseph lived a long time ago, when there were no cars, no MRT (subway), no taxis, no buses... the only things that moved that could carry a person was a horse. Horse and carriage? Well, yes, but Mary and Joseph were poor, and they probably couldn't afford a carriage. Only the rich people from a long time ago could buy carriages.
Oh, a long time ago. Did mommy ride a horse when you went to born korkor (dialect for big brother)?
By this time, I am chortling inside, but trying to maintain my composure and answer her questions. She seems to have decided that in order to have a baby, you must ride a horse. And she cannot get that idea out of her mind. The conversation would get interrupted by her being distracted by something else going on outside the car (this whole conversation took place in the car) but it quickly came back to the horse and having a baby... Mary having a baby and me having babies that is... not the horse.
It's hilarious, the connections children make from the stories we tell them that they only half comprehend.
Evicted
Little Shannon has finally been evicted from the master bedroom where she has been occupying a rather large parcel of floor space for the last 12 months and 2 days. Well, technically, it should be about 4 days less than that since the first 4 days or so was spent in the hospital nursery... and oh yes, almost a month of nights was spent in the TV room with the confinement nanny... so, OK, for about the last 11 months or so.
At 12 months and 2 days old, she is oldest to be evicted, since the big boy was evicted at about 7 months old, when we discovered we were pregnant with the big girl and we didn't want him to associate the birth of his sister with his being evicted. The big girl was evicted at 10 months old, to sleep in the nursery with the big boy. We waited until then because we wanted to do it before she turned a year old, and we weren't sure if the big boy could sleep through the sister's fussing (when she did fuss, that is). Turned out that he slept through thunderstorms, so his sister's fussing was no big deal.
Now the three children are in the nursery together... sleep is hard to come by for all three. For the two older ones, it's the excitement of having their baby sister finally join them in the nursery. For the youngest, it's the new surroundings plus the very exciting prospect of being able to play with her very fun elder siblings even though she's in her PJs and mommy is giving her milk and that signals bedtime. To make matters worse, the baby had a power nap in the rocker earlier at about 8+pm. That means she's bright eyed and bushy tailed right now.
The baby monitor, which was taken off about a year ago, has gone back up on it's old spots, although the one in the nursery has had to move to the socket nearer the window since it's old place is now taken up by the mosquito repellent thing (darn the aedes mossie with its threat of dengue). In our room, the baby monitor has also been moved to occupy the spot nearer us... which means I will be able to hear every single noise that any of the three children make through the night... it is now just centimeters away from my head (and ears) whereas previously it was near the door and quite a distance away. Oh well. Again, in our room, the baby monitor's been ousted by the mossie repellent thingy.
Much as I like having the room to ourselves again, this now means that when baby fusses, I will have to resume the midnight trek across the hall again... to return the lost bottle to the mouth yearning for the comfort of milk from a teat.
At 12 months and 2 days old, she is oldest to be evicted, since the big boy was evicted at about 7 months old, when we discovered we were pregnant with the big girl and we didn't want him to associate the birth of his sister with his being evicted. The big girl was evicted at 10 months old, to sleep in the nursery with the big boy. We waited until then because we wanted to do it before she turned a year old, and we weren't sure if the big boy could sleep through the sister's fussing (when she did fuss, that is). Turned out that he slept through thunderstorms, so his sister's fussing was no big deal.
Now the three children are in the nursery together... sleep is hard to come by for all three. For the two older ones, it's the excitement of having their baby sister finally join them in the nursery. For the youngest, it's the new surroundings plus the very exciting prospect of being able to play with her very fun elder siblings even though she's in her PJs and mommy is giving her milk and that signals bedtime. To make matters worse, the baby had a power nap in the rocker earlier at about 8+pm. That means she's bright eyed and bushy tailed right now.
The baby monitor, which was taken off about a year ago, has gone back up on it's old spots, although the one in the nursery has had to move to the socket nearer the window since it's old place is now taken up by the mosquito repellent thing (darn the aedes mossie with its threat of dengue). In our room, the baby monitor has also been moved to occupy the spot nearer us... which means I will be able to hear every single noise that any of the three children make through the night... it is now just centimeters away from my head (and ears) whereas previously it was near the door and quite a distance away. Oh well. Again, in our room, the baby monitor's been ousted by the mossie repellent thingy.
Much as I like having the room to ourselves again, this now means that when baby fusses, I will have to resume the midnight trek across the hall again... to return the lost bottle to the mouth yearning for the comfort of milk from a teat.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
New Handphone
Sigh. I had to buy a new handphone today.
The one I bought in April this year is already falling apart... and at first, I thought I'd just put up with it, since it was just that the outer rubberish cover was coming up and exposing the stuff underneath (mine's a clam phone... one of the older models, I think... don't ask me what's the number... it's a nokia something... that's all i know... heh) but after a while, the sound started to get affected to. It's still under warranty, but because it's the outside and not the inside, I have to pay to fix it... and I've already had problems with this phone earlier... so I figure, ah, what the heck... I'll just get a new phone.
So I did. Cost me all of $178. It was the second cheapest phone I could buy without a line/contract. The cheapest one was going for $158, but the keys are like joined together, and that makes messaging hard, so I rejected that one.
So yay, I have a new phone... yay, I think.
I got a nice thing to hang on it though, and a new pouch for it, since it's bigger than the older one (bigger than when the older one is folded in half). So it's being charged for the first time now, and that has to be a minimum of 8 hours. So it will be good to go by morning. Yeah.
The one I bought in April this year is already falling apart... and at first, I thought I'd just put up with it, since it was just that the outer rubberish cover was coming up and exposing the stuff underneath (mine's a clam phone... one of the older models, I think... don't ask me what's the number... it's a nokia something... that's all i know... heh) but after a while, the sound started to get affected to. It's still under warranty, but because it's the outside and not the inside, I have to pay to fix it... and I've already had problems with this phone earlier... so I figure, ah, what the heck... I'll just get a new phone.
So I did. Cost me all of $178. It was the second cheapest phone I could buy without a line/contract. The cheapest one was going for $158, but the keys are like joined together, and that makes messaging hard, so I rejected that one.
So yay, I have a new phone... yay, I think.
I got a nice thing to hang on it though, and a new pouch for it, since it's bigger than the older one (bigger than when the older one is folded in half). So it's being charged for the first time now, and that has to be a minimum of 8 hours. So it will be good to go by morning. Yeah.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Happy 1st Birthday Shannon!!!!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Shannon!
Happy Birthday to you!
Again, time flies... my littlest baby is one!
So far, her latest achievements are (amongst other things):
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Shannon!
Happy Birthday to you!
Again, time flies... my littlest baby is one!
So far, her latest achievements are (amongst other things):
- taking up to 5 steps at a time on her own!
- saying "mama" for mummy, "papa" for daddy, "mummum" for food and "nannan" for milk
- sprouting teeth #7 and #8 (bottom ones next to the centermost teeth)
- throwing her first temper tantrum (today! OK, so maybe that's not an achievement, and it's not to be celebrated... but it was certainly a first... :P)
Sigh, (yes, I know I've said this alot, but...) my baby is growing up....
Oh, and I forgot to say that during her checkup, she weighed in at a whopping 11kg!!! Sheesh, no wonder I'm getting a backache from carrying her. And she stands at 74.5cm tall... that's pretty OK for an asian baby. Oh, and just to give you an idea... my big girl who is now 4? She weighs just a featherweight 13.8kg... and she's three whole years older than Shannon! She also stands at a petite 92cm... but all this is apparently very good for her gymnastic talents...
Monday, November 14, 2005
Happy Birthday Big Girl!!!
The big girl celebrated her birthday yet again (!!) today in school, with her beautiful Princess cake. She had a great time, sitting in her chair while her friends surrounded her and they all sang her the birthday song, both in English and Chinese and in the "May the Good Lord bless you" version.
There was a hilarious moment when the children were told by the teacher to "say thank you to (insert big girl's name)'s mommy for preparing the presents for all of you" at which the children promptly chorused "Thank you (big girl)'s mommy!". The teacher's chagrined face was sight to behold as she quickly corrected the children and said, "No, say 'thank you auntie'..." Being the obedient Singaporean children they are, they quickly chorused the "correct" version. So funny.
Happy Birthday my big girl... you're four now... and have come a long way! I love you baby... you'll always be my baby, together with your brother and sister!
There was a hilarious moment when the children were told by the teacher to "say thank you to (insert big girl's name)'s mommy for preparing the presents for all of you" at which the children promptly chorused "Thank you (big girl)'s mommy!". The teacher's chagrined face was sight to behold as she quickly corrected the children and said, "No, say 'thank you auntie'..." Being the obedient Singaporean children they are, they quickly chorused the "correct" version. So funny.
Happy Birthday my big girl... you're four now... and have come a long way! I love you baby... you'll always be my baby, together with your brother and sister!
First Steps!!!
Shannon took her first unaided wobbly steps on Saturday, again on Sunday (well, that would be her third, fourth and fifth unaided wobbly steps) and again today (well, that would be her sixth and seventh unaided wobbly steps).
She's going much faster than the other two ever did. If I remember correctly, the other two only walked on their own when they were about 13.5mths old... and she's taken her first steps just before her first birthday! Woohoo!
And... she's got two new teeth sprouting! So that makes teeth #7 and #8!! No wonder she's been a little cranky at night... too much stimulation over all the birthday celebrations, and too much developing going on. She's gonna be going to the doc's on Thursday for her well-baby check... will be interesting to see where she is on the developmental charts. Heh.
She's going much faster than the other two ever did. If I remember correctly, the other two only walked on their own when they were about 13.5mths old... and she's taken her first steps just before her first birthday! Woohoo!
And... she's got two new teeth sprouting! So that makes teeth #7 and #8!! No wonder she's been a little cranky at night... too much stimulation over all the birthday celebrations, and too much developing going on. She's gonna be going to the doc's on Thursday for her well-baby check... will be interesting to see where she is on the developmental charts. Heh.
Birthday Celebration @ School
The big girl's birthday celebration in school, with all her classmates surrounding her.
The Sun has gone to bed...
It's 7pm in the evening... the moon is up, the sky is darkening as the sun sets almost completely.
Mommy: Look children, look at the moon!
Big Boy: Where's the sun?
Mommy: The sun? Oh, the sun has gone to bed.
BB (looking rather perplexed): Gone to bed? But the sun has got no bed...
Mommy (laughing at his expression): Yes, you're right. The sun has set in Singapore. It has gone to shine on other countries.
I feel a little sad today. My son can no longer be fooled by my childish oversimplified answers. He's growing up.
Mommy: Look children, look at the moon!
Big Boy: Where's the sun?
Mommy: The sun? Oh, the sun has gone to bed.
BB (looking rather perplexed): Gone to bed? But the sun has got no bed...
Mommy (laughing at his expression): Yes, you're right. The sun has set in Singapore. It has gone to shine on other countries.
I feel a little sad today. My son can no longer be fooled by my childish oversimplified answers. He's growing up.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
What are you eating Auntie W?
We had a feast tonight... Auntie W and the big boy oblivious to the camera... LOL! That's daddy looking directly at the camera...
My family...
We celebrated during cell group last night too... one candle in front for Shannon, and 4 at the back for the big girl.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Yummy!
Shannon loves those rice rusks... sheesh, even I like them, and so do the two older ones. They are always asking for a piece when I open up a pack for Shannon. LOL!
That's my korkor!
Shannon and the big boy playing at a playground one morning, while waiting for the big girl to finish her enrichment lesson. I love this picture... it's so colourful and the expression on Shannon's face is priceless.
Green Apple...
Look mommy, what is this big green thing that smells so nice? Yum... is this what it's for?
Conversations with the Children
It's very interesting having conversations with the children these days. Tonight, my daughter and I had a very deep conversation about marriage.
Big Girl: Mommy, when I am big like you, I don't have to sleep in my bed anymore.
Mommy: Not in your bed? Then where are you going to sleep?
BG: I get married then I have my own husband then I got my own bed lah!
Mommy: Orrhh, yah, that's right... when you are big like mommy you can get married and you can buy your own house, own car, own bed... then you can go and stay with your husband in your house.
BG (looking worried): Can I bring my toys?
Mommy: (laughing) Yes, of course you can bring all your toys.
BG (obviously relieved): All my toys? Oh, OK!
(a little later)
Mommy: You must find a good husband who loves Jesus and who loves you too. So that you can both go to church together and teach your children to love Jesus too.
BG: From our church?
M: No, no need from our church... as long as he goes to church and loves Jesus very much, then he will also love you very much, and take good care of you.
BG: Oh, when I grow big I want to marry Max (her classmate).
M: Max? OK, we'll see. If you still remember him when you are big, and if he still remembers you when he is big, and if the two of you are still in touch and like each other, you can get married.
BG: Yah, we will get married.
It is my hope that even as we have these conversations now, the values and guides that I hold dear will be ingrained in her little mind and will stay with her, even as she continues to grow and mature and learn about the world around her.
Big Girl: Mommy, when I am big like you, I don't have to sleep in my bed anymore.
Mommy: Not in your bed? Then where are you going to sleep?
BG: I get married then I have my own husband then I got my own bed lah!
Mommy: Orrhh, yah, that's right... when you are big like mommy you can get married and you can buy your own house, own car, own bed... then you can go and stay with your husband in your house.
BG (looking worried): Can I bring my toys?
Mommy: (laughing) Yes, of course you can bring all your toys.
BG (obviously relieved): All my toys? Oh, OK!
(a little later)
Mommy: You must find a good husband who loves Jesus and who loves you too. So that you can both go to church together and teach your children to love Jesus too.
BG: From our church?
M: No, no need from our church... as long as he goes to church and loves Jesus very much, then he will also love you very much, and take good care of you.
BG: Oh, when I grow big I want to marry Max (her classmate).
M: Max? OK, we'll see. If you still remember him when you are big, and if he still remembers you when he is big, and if the two of you are still in touch and like each other, you can get married.
BG: Yah, we will get married.
It is my hope that even as we have these conversations now, the values and guides that I hold dear will be ingrained in her little mind and will stay with her, even as she continues to grow and mature and learn about the world around her.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
New meaning to biting biscuits
Shannon chewing on a packet of biscuits... the packet of biscuits was subsequently ruined because all the biscuits were mashed into one big chocolatey crumbly lump (they are the type that have chocolate cream inside)... yuck.
Early Happy Birthday to my big girl!
The big girl celebrated her 4th birthday early because today is actually elder nephew's birthday, and since their birthdays are but 4 days apart, their birthdays are always celebrated together. The Humpty Dumpty cake was made by grandma - one for my big girl, one for my nephew. The big girl turns 4 on the 14th of November... can't believe it's been 4 years...
My son, his girl friend and his sister
After the concert. The girl on the right in the SIA costume is M, our good friend's daughter from church. The girl on the left is of course, my big girl.
The handsome Fireman
My big boy in his Fireman outfit for his K1 concert. We bought this from Toys R Us... not bad... comes with a hose too, but we didn't let him have it... too many things to juggle. The "walkie-talkie" thing in his pocket emits sounds, and the fire extinguisher (hidden by the axe) can be filled with water and sprayed. Quite cool! Even mommy thinks so!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
My cousin's long overdue wedding dinner
My cousin is one year younger than me, and has been married for a while now... not that long, but a while. And he's having his long overdue wedding dinner ceremony thing a day after the big girl's birthday.
Actually, he was supposed to "get married" (do the whole wedding dinner traditional ceremony and also the church thing) the same year that I got married, way back when in 1999. I got married in June, and he was due to have his thing in October. He and his then wife had already ROM-ed (registered their marriage legally) a couple of years before that because they wanted to apply for a HDB flat and didn't want to pay the downpayment of $5K. So they went ahead and ROM-ed even though at that time they were both still studying in Poly (I think).
Problems brewed when he went overseas to further his studies, and his 'wife' (I put it like that because although they were legally married, they were not living together as yet, and in all aspects were still only as good as engaged... the registering their marriage part was purely for the sake of the HDB flat) went to visit with him abroad towards the end of his studies. They came home very upset... exactly what the matter was I am not sure, but they decided there and then to call it quits. They decided to break up. Only, it wasn't as simple as that, because in the eyes of the law, they were married. And so he had to get a divorce. That meant that he had to wait out the mandatory period of "separation" of three years before the divorce could be finalised. They declared that they had already been separated one and a half years, so that they could hasten the divorce proceedings. So some time in 2001 they were officially divorced... by which time he was already dating this new girl.
Those were not his only problems though. His mother (who is not well-off) had already put down a hefty deposit for the booking of the hotel for the dinner, and because it was so close to the date of the dinner (just a few months before - close by the standards of the hotel, considering the booking is often done a year in advance), the deposit was forfeited. So his mom declared that she would not be paying for any further wedding dinners, and that he would have to pay for himself in the future when he does settle down.
So now, after working for some time, I guess he's saved up enough to pay for settling down - hotel, house, family etc... it's about time too. I wish him and my new cousin-in-law all the best.
Actually, he was supposed to "get married" (do the whole wedding dinner traditional ceremony and also the church thing) the same year that I got married, way back when in 1999. I got married in June, and he was due to have his thing in October. He and his then wife had already ROM-ed (registered their marriage legally) a couple of years before that because they wanted to apply for a HDB flat and didn't want to pay the downpayment of $5K. So they went ahead and ROM-ed even though at that time they were both still studying in Poly (I think).
Problems brewed when he went overseas to further his studies, and his 'wife' (I put it like that because although they were legally married, they were not living together as yet, and in all aspects were still only as good as engaged... the registering their marriage part was purely for the sake of the HDB flat) went to visit with him abroad towards the end of his studies. They came home very upset... exactly what the matter was I am not sure, but they decided there and then to call it quits. They decided to break up. Only, it wasn't as simple as that, because in the eyes of the law, they were married. And so he had to get a divorce. That meant that he had to wait out the mandatory period of "separation" of three years before the divorce could be finalised. They declared that they had already been separated one and a half years, so that they could hasten the divorce proceedings. So some time in 2001 they were officially divorced... by which time he was already dating this new girl.
Those were not his only problems though. His mother (who is not well-off) had already put down a hefty deposit for the booking of the hotel for the dinner, and because it was so close to the date of the dinner (just a few months before - close by the standards of the hotel, considering the booking is often done a year in advance), the deposit was forfeited. So his mom declared that she would not be paying for any further wedding dinners, and that he would have to pay for himself in the future when he does settle down.
So now, after working for some time, I guess he's saved up enough to pay for settling down - hotel, house, family etc... it's about time too. I wish him and my new cousin-in-law all the best.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Shannon talking?!
I'm not sure... but if she isn't talking yet, then she sure has had a lot of good flukes lately.
The other day, she looked directly at her sister and went "Jiejie" (dialect for big sister).
A few moments later, both hubby and I heard her distinctly and clearly say "dah-dee" while she was looking at him. We were both stunned.
When I give her food, she says "mum mum" (baby dialect for food).
When I ask her if she wants more, she goes "moh!"
Can my 11+mth old talk? I'm not sure... but she's getting more flukes these days if the truth is she can't... so maybe she's getting there.
On the other hand... or rather foot... or rather feet... she's standing more independently these days. She's more willing to let go of her support and stand upright, with this grin plastered on her face as she succeeds in balancing herself. She's also taken to pushing herself upright into a standing position (as opposed to someone pulling her up and then letting go of her) and then successfully moving herself such that she's up straight... again with the same grin, reflecting her awareness that she is succeeding in something major.
My little girl is growing up so fast...
The other day, she looked directly at her sister and went "Jiejie" (dialect for big sister).
A few moments later, both hubby and I heard her distinctly and clearly say "dah-dee" while she was looking at him. We were both stunned.
When I give her food, she says "mum mum" (baby dialect for food).
When I ask her if she wants more, she goes "moh!"
Can my 11+mth old talk? I'm not sure... but she's getting more flukes these days if the truth is she can't... so maybe she's getting there.
On the other hand... or rather foot... or rather feet... she's standing more independently these days. She's more willing to let go of her support and stand upright, with this grin plastered on her face as she succeeds in balancing herself. She's also taken to pushing herself upright into a standing position (as opposed to someone pulling her up and then letting go of her) and then successfully moving herself such that she's up straight... again with the same grin, reflecting her awareness that she is succeeding in something major.
My little girl is growing up so fast...
Last Day of October
Again, time flies. October has already come to an end. November is going to be a rather activity-filled month, and so will December.
Come November, I will have to:
Come November, I will have to:
- conduct and attend choir practices (as in the CCA that I'm in charge of)
- keep track of and celebrate birthdays of at least 7 children (whose presents I bought all within a day... I think the toys 'r' us staff must have thought I was shopping for Christmas really early...)
- finish up some admin work for the year for the choir
- attend a GB camp
- be the local liason officer for my team of girls going up to Thailand for their mission trip
- take Shannon to her 12mth checkup
- attend choir practices (as in for the church thing)
- attend the church anniversary dinner
- attend my cousin's long overdue wedding dinner (long story, that one)
- send my children for their various enrichment lessons
- attend the big boy's concert
- amongst other things which I cannot recall offhand.
Wow. And that's not even thinking of the month of December yet. Sigh.
But, I'm looking forward to it being the holidays and everything. Right now, school's out for the students that I teach, but my own children still have school for another 3 more weeks. Meanwhile, I have to go back to school on average about 3 days a week for various things, but we've been spared from having to return to school everyday like we're supposed to because the staffroom is being renovated and done up and so we have nowhere to go should we return to school... so only those of us with duties and stuff to do will return as and when required.
Come December, the one highlight will be going back to school and doing up my new workspace. Yeah. I'm really excited about that. Still dreaming dreams of how I can make that little space homey. :) I'm thinking lots of photos and organiser things. yeah....
Friday, October 28, 2005
It's been a trying two days
The last two days have been one kind of an experience. A new male colleague gave me a smack in my upper arm, much like you would give a close buddy when the two of you are mucking or messing around. Except that he isn't my buddy. And he definitely isn't close. And he's a guy.
I hate it when guys invade my personal space. To the credit of the guys around me, none (up until yesterday) had invaded that space. People tend to give me a pretty big berth because people quickly learn that I am one of those no-nonsense people. You might say that I'm one of the goody-two-shoes whose very very worst cuss word starts with "sh" and means manure. And even after I utter it, I feel bad and apologise to the Lord for my bad language. I hate lewd jokes and feel that they are an utter insult to women and the sanctity of sex within marriage.
So when I got whacked in the arm by a guy who had on several other occasions already shared his not-so-funny-to-me brand of humour and had showed (in the last 24 days that I have been back in school) that he had a more liberal view on what kind of words are good for expressing frustration, I was seriously upset. It was not like I had not tried to drop hints earlier, and despite telling him in no uncertain terms that "I DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOUCHED!", he continued with his less than desirable comments.
I was so upset I wanted to write an email to him and "carbon copy" it to my husband, another male colleague who is a head of department and a friend whom I respect and so on. I left the school building quickly, for I did not trust myself to speak any further to him. That was how angry I was. And as the day went on, I began to calm down. I still wanted to write a nasty email and cc it all around, but I knew better than that. Finally, I vented to my husband that night, and the next morning, in school, I did write an email.
But it was only to him. Not to anyone else... because in the Bible we are told that when we have a dispute with someone, we are to seek out the person and try to resolve the matter between the two of us first, and if that doesn't work, then to get one other trusted person to help mediate, and if that still doesn't work, then to bring it before a committee... I pray that it doesn't get to that point.
Till now, I haven't received any reply from him. I hope he doesn't take it the wrong way, and I hope that it doesn't ruin our working relationship, especially since he is in my department, and I shall still be seeing plenty of him. I hope he takes my advice that such language and jokes and humour have no place in a school... I hope. Well, I have done what I should... the rest really lies with him.
Sigh.
I hate it when guys invade my personal space. To the credit of the guys around me, none (up until yesterday) had invaded that space. People tend to give me a pretty big berth because people quickly learn that I am one of those no-nonsense people. You might say that I'm one of the goody-two-shoes whose very very worst cuss word starts with "sh" and means manure. And even after I utter it, I feel bad and apologise to the Lord for my bad language. I hate lewd jokes and feel that they are an utter insult to women and the sanctity of sex within marriage.
So when I got whacked in the arm by a guy who had on several other occasions already shared his not-so-funny-to-me brand of humour and had showed (in the last 24 days that I have been back in school) that he had a more liberal view on what kind of words are good for expressing frustration, I was seriously upset. It was not like I had not tried to drop hints earlier, and despite telling him in no uncertain terms that "I DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOUCHED!", he continued with his less than desirable comments.
I was so upset I wanted to write an email to him and "carbon copy" it to my husband, another male colleague who is a head of department and a friend whom I respect and so on. I left the school building quickly, for I did not trust myself to speak any further to him. That was how angry I was. And as the day went on, I began to calm down. I still wanted to write a nasty email and cc it all around, but I knew better than that. Finally, I vented to my husband that night, and the next morning, in school, I did write an email.
But it was only to him. Not to anyone else... because in the Bible we are told that when we have a dispute with someone, we are to seek out the person and try to resolve the matter between the two of us first, and if that doesn't work, then to get one other trusted person to help mediate, and if that still doesn't work, then to bring it before a committee... I pray that it doesn't get to that point.
Till now, I haven't received any reply from him. I hope he doesn't take it the wrong way, and I hope that it doesn't ruin our working relationship, especially since he is in my department, and I shall still be seeing plenty of him. I hope he takes my advice that such language and jokes and humour have no place in a school... I hope. Well, I have done what I should... the rest really lies with him.
Sigh.
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