Summer's Birthday Party

Normal Sunday, after waking up, Lyn Lyn asked Mama to read books with her, play toys with her, etc...Since Summer's birthday doesn't start until 12noon, Mama has brought Lyn Lyn to IMM to do some breakfast and grocery shopping. There isn't much to eat, so Mama brought her to McDonald's again...but today, she ate lesser than yesterday, but still requested for coffee...After breakfast, when we walk pass the Barney ride, she insisted that she wanted to sit...but Mama has no coins...so Lyn Lyn and Mama went for grocery shopping first and exchanged for some coins. Throughout the shopping time, she kept reminding Mama that she wanted to sit on the Barney ride! In the end, she brought her S$1 coin and sat on the ride. As promised, she came off after 1 ride and in return, Mama got her a Thomas the Train watch!

After that, we went home and rest for a while, called Gong Gong and Por Por to talk for a short while. But don't know why she's so tired tired this morning? She didn't say much, but murmured for a little...after that, we set off for Summer's birthday party!

She was all excited during the party, but she didn't take a nap, she was all grumpy and kept asking Uncle Don to change the vcd for her and insisting that she wanted to watch Dora...which Uncle Don doesn't have...after that, when it was cake-cutting time, Lyn Lyn was the most excited...when singing the birthday song, she jumped up and down and sang the loudest. After that, she gave Summer and everyone a shock by blowing out all the candles. Poor Summer...Uncle Don and Auntie Lena re-lit the candles, re-sang the song and Mama hold Lyn Lyn at a distance to make sure that Summer blows her candle this time...it was so embarrassing, but Lyn Lyn didn't know what happened!

Uncle Victor and Uncle Chee Keong were teaching Lyn Lyn how to use a skate bike

Asking Uncle Victor for soft drinks and playing with Uncle Don, Auntie Lena and Summer

Contemplaing a career in modelling

Saturday: Without Papa

Activity 1: Breakfast at Westcoast McDonald with Fredrick Di Di

Not the first time, but this time, Lyn Lyn has asked for Mama's coffee...yum yum...

Activity 2: Observe People Flying Kite, etc

Lyn Lyn saw a loner "uncle" trying to fly a kite and quickly run over and start chatting up the "uncle". The uncle was fairly patient in explaining to her what happened and why the kite cannot fly in the sky. Without Mama being nearby, she communicated with the "uncle" very well and helped to retrieve the string too!

Activity 3: Go to Fredrick Di Di's houst to play dog dog

Lyn Lyn is not afraid of the doggie already and initiated by herself to touch it...she remembered the last time she came "uncle gong gong" was bathing the doggie. This time, she has asked for the doggie to be bathed as well!


Activity 4: Where's my doctor?

Lyn Lyn's doctor, Dr John has shifted to Ghim Moh and since her allergic cough and running nose still hasn't recovered, Mama brought her to Dr John's clinic again. Now, she's not scared of Dr John and has been playing "Dr and Patient" game, with herself being the doctor, whilst Dr John be the patient!

Activity 5: Dinner at Vil'age @ China Square Central

Auntie Tricia and Mama brought me to Suntec Carrefour for some light shopping before head to China Square Central's Vil'age for dinner, since that is a family friendly restaurant with a kid's playground with slides. Lyn Lyn was very hungry and ate 3/4 of a cheesy sausage, a big plate of rosti and quite a few florets of broccoli. After eating, she was playing with another "Jie Jie" at the playground until she finally knocked herself after falling down from the slide. Auntie Tricia and Mama quickly brought her out to the toilet and she was so excited that there is a low sink for kids. She couldn't stop washing and drying her hands there!

Activity 6: Visit to Auntie Nelly

After dinner, Mama brought Lyn Lyn to Auntie Nelly's shop to look at the small TY pumpkin that she has for Halloween. Lyn Lyn, as usual, will pick up "Spot" from amongst all the softies and rub her nose against his nose and kiss it. She couldn't keep her hands off Spot and her other friends at Auntie Nelly's shop.

First time to KFC

Since we haven't been out on Orchard for quite a few weeks, even though Gwendolyn wasn't feeling very well, we went out for shopping. We had brunch in the morning, before heading to the Jurong Regional Library (please see previous post), soon after arriving on Orchard after Lyn Lyn's quick nap, both Lyn Lyn and Mama is feeling a bit hungry. We've decided on a quick snack (or it's original intention was supposed to be a quick one, when it's almost 5pm) at KFC. Whilst Papa was ordering a 3-piece meal for Lyn Lyn and himself to share and a Popcorn Chicken set for Mama, Lyn Lyn was so excited and kept saying the "remains" from the previous customers as her food. Mama corrected her and told her that Papa is ordering "ours", once she saw our food, she kept saying "This is ours"!

She was obviously very hungry, as she kept preying on the chicken, when Mama quickly feed her some of the mash potato. When the chicken were torn into piece for her, she just dipped into the ketchup and couldn't resist asking for more chicken! She ate almost one and a half pieces of thigh meat + 1 tub of mash potato...that's really a lot!!!

P.S. Don't worry, I'm not going to cultivate her habit in junk food...as she's "heavy" enough...

Jurong Regional Library

Following from last week's visit to the National Library, this week, Papa and Mama has brought Gwendolyn to the Jurong Regional Library at Jurong East, which is about 7 minutes away from home. This time, the children's library is situated at the basememt level after the main entrance, so Papa and Mama managed to keep her noise away from the main library area! The layout at this library is quite different from the National Library, whereby there is a "Read Aloud" corner at the far end for parents to read to their children. However, this library is considered quite crowded when compared to the National Library, as Lyn Lyn was having difficulty in finding a place to sit. Mama went to the shelves to dig for all the Spot book available and talk them through with Lyn Lyn and she was happy after reading through them! It is such a quality time in sharing some good reading habits with her...despite her loud voice, while she sang aloud inside the library!

For more information regarding this library, please see: (http://www.nlb.gov.sg/CPMS.portal?_nfpb=true&portlet_7_6_actionOverride=%2FIBMS%2FLibraryBranch%2FbranchDisplayAction&_windowLabel=portlet_7_6&portlet_7_6%7BactionForm.branchName%7D=JRL&portlet_7_6commonBrudCrum=Jurong+&_pageLabel=CPMS_page_visitus_AllLibraries)

New toys

As there wasn't very much to do on Saturday, Gwendolyn has rediscovered some of her "Forgotten" toys...these are the small toys, accompanied with sweets, that Mama buys from either Sogo or Okashi Land (with all the sweets being thrown away)...she knows how to blow her Thomas the Train "flappy" cloud and the Hello Kitty "harmonica"...and plays her Hello Kitty guitar as well. She's only just gotten to know her Pingu bowling pin set, as she was given a bowling pin stress reliever by Dr John, our family doctor. However, she's mistaken it to be a rolling pin that she was exposed to when playing with her play doh!

Feed fish again?!

Started with a coarse voice at the beginning of the week, Gwendolyn slowly developed into Bronchitis and a mild fever on Thursday. She stayed with Grandma on Friday, refraining from going to school, just to give her more time to rest. On saturday, Papa and Mama didn't do much, as Lyn Lyn needed some time to rest. But to spice up her life a little bit, whilst Mama prepared dinner, Papa brought her down to feed the fish again, which she enjoys a lot...while cultivating her love and care for fishes and animals...

Let's go library

Last week, Gwendolyn has been asking to go to the library. Since she is a book lover and Mama hasn't been to a library in Singapore before, Papa and Mama decided to try out the "new" National Library at Bras Brasah Road. For further information about the National Library Board, please go to http://www.nlb.gov.sg/CPMS.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Home

When we have arrived at the Central Lending Area, Lyn Lyn was jumping up and down, shouting: YEAH! I am at the library! YEAH! I am at the library! Before we enter the Children's Area, we need to pass through the main area. When Lyn Lyn started to talk loudly, the readers sitting near to the entrance were staring at Lyn Lyn and Mama, whilst Mama was trying to "sh" Lyn Lyn and cover her mouth at the same time. Once we entered the Children's Area, Lyn Lyn dashed all the way to the kid's table and chairs to find her books! She took a stack of books and sat down on an empty table to read her books, when Mama walk round the area to look for more Spot book. Finally, Mama managed to grab the remaining ones from the shelf for Lyn Lyn's reading and brought over some Miffy books as well. She was engrossed by a book called: Miffy is Crying. She liked the book so much and kept asking Mama to tell her the story over and over again!




She does love going to the library...and Papa and Mama planned to bring her to a different library every time...good to cultivate a good reading habit since young!

Wash car & feed fish

Papa left for Seoul early this morning on business trip, leaving Gwendolyn and Mama to spend the rest of the day together. In fact, Mama has a lot of work to settle and has brought everything home, thinking that she may have some time to attend to it. However, in view of the piling housework and a hyper-active Lyn Lyn today, she had no choice, but to abandon her work plans until tomorrow! Lyn Lyn talked to (on the phone with) Por Por for about 20 minutes this morning and then concentrated at the TV for a while (somehow, she was really interested with her VCDs today?!). Mama cooked some mee sua as brunch, whilst Lyn Lyn kept asking for cheez...she ate 8 cubes of the "laughing cow" bite-size cheez until Mama asked her to stop.

After brunch, Mama brought Lyn Lyn to Cold Storage at Jelita, hoping that after the trolley round, she'll fall asleep in the car. However, as Mama's car is very dirty and petrol is running low, we went to Shell for top-up and car wash. At first, Lyn Lyn wasn't very keen on the washing and kept asking Mama to go home and wash the car. However, while waiting, Mama explained the procedures to Lyn Lyn as she watched other cars being washed. Finally, it's our turn and Lyn Lyn kept saying she want to go "outside". When the water start splashing on the car, Lyn Lyn said she was SCARED and Mama has to hold her hand to calm her down. Next comes the white foam and she can't see anything outside. She was looking really seriously SCARED and Mama has to explain to her that the uncles will wipe away the foam and rinse with water. Slowly, she start to see light and the outside world again and began to relax...until the car was being dried by 2 other uncles and Mama has given her $6 to pay for the wash, she didn't have a single smile on her face...what an experience for her! When we finally leave for home, Mama thought that she will fall asleep in the car...on the contrary, she was getting more and more energetic...oh dear...she didn't nap at all since getting home and was fighting with Mama for reading books, playing games, etc...and Mama was so knackered

Mama tried luring her to feed the fish downstairs, so as to tire her out from walking. Unfortunately, before we reach the pond, it started to rain. In the end, Mama asked her whether she's hungry and she said: YES, I want ABC (macaroni). Mama quickly cooked her some ABC with sausages, while she waited with the TV. After eating her ABC, the sky cleared and finally, we managed to go and feed the fish. On the way, she saw 2 Jie Jie's blowing bubbles and she ignored Mama and ran towards to "catch" the bubbles...when the Jie Jie's were annoyed, they stopped blowing and Mama quicking asked Lyn Lyn to head for the fishes...she enjoyed the feeding so much and Mama promised to bring her again when Papa is back. After this, Mama bathed Lyn Lyn and told stories before she finally fell asleep...WHAT A LONG DAY!

Lyn Lyn saw the bubbles and shouted: I want to catch bubbles!

Lyn Lyn: This is not Hi-5 bread bread, this is for fish fish

Sharing of popcorn at Disneyland

Gwendolyn was so generous in sharing her "Princess" popcorn with everyone at the Disneyland!

I love to sing!

Gwendolyn loves to sing and she knows how to sing both English and Chinese song AND, she's able to tell whether she is singing an English or a Chinese song!

Survival Skills

As mentioned earlier, Gwendolyn likes to take on challenges and exhibit her survival skills learnt from school, i.e. do not let others get into her way when she wants to play. See how she pushed the other boy away when he's obstructing her at her favourite playground!

Re-visiting some old studio photos

Gwendolyn has taken a set of studio photos when she was around 7 months old. Let's re-visit them for fun...

Dinner at The Jewel Box - Mt Faber

Papa and Mama are meeting Mama's ex-colleague from Hong Kong tonight at the Jewel Box - Mt Faber. It is one of the hippest places in town recently (Mama read from some magazines) and since they provide a limited range of local delights as well, with good ambience, we wanted to give it a try. For further information on the Jewel Box, go to: http://www.mountfaber.com.sg/main-winedine.htm. The place that we've gone to is the Glass Bar (http://www.altivo.com.sg/chillout.html)

Papa and Mama booked the restaurant for 7:30pm. Before that, we went to Borders for some book hunting. Whilst Papa went to look for his technical books, Mama brought Gwendolyn to the kid's section in search for Spot! Wow, Lyn Lyn has never seen so many Spot books before. It was so comprehensive and fun...Mama's found so many Spot books from different shelves and laid them in front of her. She sat down and kept reading them...NiCe...

When it's almost time to pick up Uncle Kevin from the Fullerton, Lyn Lyn sadly bid farewell to the Spot books around her and left for the car with Papa and Mama. Before that, Mama pop into Marks & Spencer to grab a small packet of snach, as she is very hungry. Lyn Lyn is hungry too and has asked for a few pieces. Though Mama has chosen the Salt n Vinegar crisps and it's NOT NICE...Lyn Lyn was so hungry that she gave in and had a few pieces...when we had reached the Fullerton, Lyn Lyn said "Hi" to Uncle Kevin and befriended him immediately - shaking hands and playing tickle feet with him.

When we reach the valet parking place, Lyn Lyn allowed Uncle Kevin to hold her hands to walk up the stairs! What an improvement, as she's been very skeptical in holding strangers hands, let alone Uncle Kevin is a male...When we finally sit down and order our food, Mama asked Lyn Lyn for her preference and she said NOODLES! Mama told her that there is no noodles and can we order spaghetti instead, she said YES and then I WANT SPAGHETTI, with a very serious face. In addition, Mama has ordered a Fois Gras and it was soooooooo yummy (thought Taste Paradise was already a surprise, but Glasse is another pleasant surprise! Lyn Lyn shared Papa's soup (cream of asparagus) and ate the toasted bread...then, she asked to "turn turn turn" the spaghetti by herself. Mama gave her a small plate and she helped herself with her dinner...

After dinner, we moved over to the sofa seat in front of the huge glass panel that oversees the sentosa cable cars. It's such a nice view...but Lyn Lyn told us that she's scared...as each cable car is equipped with colourful "flashing butterflies"...so funny.

Lyn Lyn's new friend: Uncle Kevin

Whilst Mama and Uncle Kevin are having a catchup session with a drink, Papa brought Lyn Lyn outside to the Koi pond. She was so amazed to see so many fishes swimming in the pond. Papa brought some "close to expiry" bread from home for Lyn Lyn to feed the fish. She loved it and sat down casually beside the pond, enjoying herself!

Yum Yum "Kou Rou" 扣肉

We went to grandma's house again and she has prepared Papa's favourite dish 扣肉 with chinese buns. Initially, Lyn Lyn was only interested in the meat and kept saying "I want to eat meat". But when Papa introduced her to the fun of dipping, she enjoyed dipping her small pieces of bun into the 扣肉 sauce. Yum Yum...

P.S. As Papa and Mama are conscious of Lyn Lyn's weight, she was only given the lean meat

East Coast Park

Last week, we went to the West Coast Park. This week, Papa and Mama has decided to bring Gwendolyn to the East Coast Park for a bicycle ride! For further information regarding the East Coast Park, try: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks_cms/display_park.asp?parkid=9. Even though Lyn Lyn still hasn't grasped the skills in pedalling a trike, let alone a bike, she's keen to take a bike ride at Papa and Mama's back seat. At first, Mama was a little reserved in her ability to grapple with cycling with a 16.5kg child. But after Lyn Lyn has expressed her frighteness to Mama and she was scared riding on Papa's back seat, Mama has to take up the task and try her limits. Well, at least she managed with Lyn Lyn's thumbs-up approval! We cycled along the bike paths to and fro for a few times until Mama is tired and Papa has to takeover. However, Lyn Lyn was suffering from her nap-time syndrome and finally fell asleep at the back seat...Mama couldn't stop laughing as really, she can sleep anytime, anywhere...the sea breeze must have played a big part as well...

No choice, Papa and Mama has to return the bicycle and head home. As always, after the sweet nap in the car ride and when we reach home, she woke up. She asked to watch the tv and we gave her a new vcd which she's chosen this morning at Toys R Us. Dora...this show teaches both English and Spanish...quite interesting...and Papa and Mama noticed that Lyn Lyn and Dora has similar traits: hair style, tan, like to wear pink t-shirts, denim shorts, pink shoes and with a monkey friend...in this episode of Backpack Adventure, Lyn Lyn asked for her backpack (same as Dora, which is purple in colour). Well, she's almost grown out of Barney totally and kept asking for Spot, Blues and Dora, which are more suitable for her age, with some storytelling...Music and dancing only? Not her cup of tea now...

Teacher's Day - 1st September

Mama didn't know there is a Teacher's Day until Gwendolyn goes to school. Since it's a school holiday on Teacher's Day and all the teachers at Etonhouse Vanda have been so nice to Lyn Lyn, in order to express gratitude to all of them, Mama brought Lyn Lyn to Famous Amos to buy a big tin of cookies as a present. For sure, she had no idea what was happening, apart from Mama telling her that she's going to choose Cookie Monster cookies! She was thrilled and excited in the idea. She pointed at the different variety of cookies available and gave a firm nod to Mama as approval.

The next day, Ms Shu Ping returned with some comments in her Little Blue Book that Lyn Lyn went around the school to offer the cookies to all the teachers there. Everyone was thrilled to see her and she said "Thank You" to every single one of them! Well done, Lyn Lyn!

I am strong...I can carry Joel

Gwendolyn loves to challenge herself and lately, she tried carrying Joel whilst sitting on the chair!

Normal Sunday...

Nothing much to do today, as it was raining in the morning. Gwendolyn started jumping on her bed and singing at the same time...

After that, we went to IMM for breakfast. Lyn Lyn had her favourite wanton noodles...after that, as usual, we went for grocery shopping at Giant and she requested for the Barney ride next to the travelator...happy after the ride!

West Coast Park

Since Papa is out stationed in Taiwan and Uncle Kim Siong has a badminton session, Mama and Auntie Adele decided to go to the West Coast Park McDonald's for breakfast. The McDs there is very nice, with a big outdoor playground outside, Mama was surprised to see such a big crowd so early on a Saturday! (For some facts about the park, please see http://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks_cms/display_park.asp?parkid=10). Since Gwendolyn loves to eat Hot Cake and sausage, Mama ordered 1 Hot Cake and Sausage meal, with an orange juice and hashbrown for Lyn Lyn. She ate 1 and a half pieces of hot cake and 1 whole piece of sausage + a quarter of the hashbrown! She was so satisfied after that. Frederick Di Di ate half a piece as well!

Lyn Lyn saw Mama dipping syrup and asked to dip as well

After that, we went out to the playground. Since it is almost 11 o'clock, the sun is very strong, everyone is very hot. Despite this, Lyn Lyn removed her shoes and ran towards the play area. However, when her feet is in touch with some of the metal parts of the structures, she stood still and said seriously : HOT! In the end, Mama has to carry her off from where she's climbed up to and keep shifting to other structures for her to try...Even though she was still interested in trying, Frederick Di Di is not interested in playing and the entire area is very heated, Mama decided to leave the place and we all went to Auntie Adele's house to see her Doggie!

When we arrive at Auntie Adele's house and saw her Doggie, Lyn Lyn was excited but scared. When the Doggie started rushed out when the gate was open and trying to smell Mama's feet (1st time visiting), Lyn Lyn was murmuring: I don't want this...very typical of her. When we finally got in and settle down, she wanted to touch, but was too scared to touch too...it was so funny seeing her with the Doggie. Whereas Frederick Di Di is so used to him and sometime even bully him...However, to Mama's surprise, instead of being interested with the Doggie, she thought Frederick Di Di's toys are more attractive. In the end, the 2 were playing with the toys and the poor Doggie had to watch them play. After a bit of running around, finally, Lyn Lyn started yawning and rubbing her eyes and Mama knows that it's almost her nap time. We bid farewell and left for home. On the way home, she fell asleep in the car!

Whilst Mama was doing housework and preparing to bring Lyn Lyn to the airport to pick-up Papa for dinner, Auntie Tricia called and we've decided to go together. She came and meet us first before we set off for the airport. Whilst waiting, Auntie Tricia went to Polar to get some sugar rolls and Lyn Lyn has asked for one. She happily sat on the trolley and ate her cake while waiting for Papa...well, eating seems to be her favourite past time activity...no wonder she's over-weight!

My New Bed

As mentioned in one of the earlier posts, Gwendolyn has started sleeping in her new bed, which comprise of a super single mattress (3.5ft x 6.25ft)! She's loving it. Together with her new Thomas the Train bedding set, she loves rolling around in this new paradise of hers! Papa and Mama has heavily padded the surroundings for her, just in case she bangs herself onto one of the walls!

Bath bath...

Even though Gwendolyn has been bathing in the shower at home, but when she goes to grandma's house for dinner + bathing before going home, she will still be bathing in the baby tub! She still enjoys being a "baby" and playing with her "playmates" in the tub! She will sing-a-long during the play according to the Spot vcd: In my bath, my dukie's quacking...and laugh along too!

Playing sand in school

On 11 July 2006, Papa and Mama went to fetch Gwendolyn from school, she was so excited about the sand pit and refused to go home. Reason being that she wanted to show Mama that she can scoop sand using the spade into a few buckets to make "sand castles"! After showing Mama, she reluctantly agreed to go home...

It was after this incident that Papa and Mama brought her to Sentosa and Bintan to "play sand"...


P.S. Mama is trying to cleanup her handphone and noted some unposted photos from there!

Joel and me

Finally, Joel Di Di is sharing the same TV interests as Gwendolyn. Whenever Lyn Lyn goes to grandma's house for dinner, she'll be asking to watch vcd and when she's inserted a vcd into the machine, Di Di will follow and climb onto the chair, with both watching side by side...

Hair Cut

Gwendolyn requested for a hair cut on Sunday, so Papa and Mama jumped at the opportunity to cut for her. Since she's never ever requested it by herself! (P.S. How come there are only photos during the process without the outcome? As Mama has been called upon to help Papa in cutting her hair, as she started to get annoyed by the droppings after a while...immediately after the action, Mama has to bring her for a bath bath in order to wash the hair droppings from her body...)

What is she doing by looking down? She's trying to brush the hair droppings away from her stool as she's finding it very messy!