Child photography?

We went to the West Coast Park McDonald with Auntie Tricia for breakfast on Sunday. Gwendolyn hasn't seen Auntie Tricia for more than 3 months, as Auntie Tricia was busy with her sister's wedding. After breakfast, Lyn Lyn played in the park for a while before we set off to Vivocity to do some Chinese New Year clothing shopping. We went to Sushi Tei for lunch, where Lyn Lyn, had her usual favourite: Edamame, Udon and Yakitori. But this time, Auntie Tricia ordered JUMBO YAKITORI and Lyn Lyn couldn't finish 1 stick!

After that, we went to Haagen-Daz for some ice-cream. As Lyn Lyn couldn't stop, but asking for her STRAWBERRY ICE-CREAM...the adults have decided to order a fondue set to share, whilst giving all the 3 scoops of strawberry ice-cream to Lyn Lyn for her own consumption. Hm...yum yum!

When she's done with her 3 small scoops of strawberry ice-cream, she started taking snapshots of her own feet. Don't ask me why...but this is what she's taken...and kept taking for the next 10 pics!

After admiring her own legs / feet, she started snapping the adults...Mama doesn't understand, but why did the result of Auntie Tricia's picture similar to Mama's, whilst Papa has such a nice picture?????? This is just blatantly UNFAIR!!!

After Haagen-Daz, the ladies went to buy some shoes and Lyn Lyn has got a pair of new shoes at Colette too! She was asking for a pair of shoes with shoe lace, when Mama asked her: Do you know how to tie shoe lace? Lyn Lyn responded: No! But Mama knows! Oh Man...

Christabelle's Baby Shower

Saturday was baby Christabelle's first month baby shower. Papa, Mama and Gwendolyn went to the party at The Madeira at Bukit Batok. Even though the weather wasn't at all great, with occasional showers, but the cosy environment was enjoyable. As usual, Lyn Lyn was enthusiatic in serving herself with "bee hoon" and keep helping herself with the cordial drink. Initially, she was getting to know Uncle Ian and Emily Jie Jie, but suddenly, she asked for the baby and started looking for her.

Finally, she's found baby Christabelle and surprisingly, she started acting like a "Jie Jie" and patting her gently. She kept standing close to her and refused to walk away...which, she's never done something as such before!

After patting baby Christabelle, she kept asking for Uncle Don, Auntie Lena and Summer, as Papa and Mama told her that they'll be coming. As they haven't arrived yet, Lyn Lyn helped herself with exploring the pool area and started running around.


After a long wait, Summer's here...Lyn Lyn couldn't wait for Summer to finish her lunch and led her to the children playground for some fun! It's so cute looking at the two of them, enjoying each other's company!






Unfortunately, Summer has a wedding banquet to attend that night and she has to leave early with Uncle Don and Auntie Lena. Lyn Lyn went all teary face and kept telling Uncle Don that she wanted to go to his house...after "begging" for a few times and they've left, Lyn Lyn changed her focus and kept asking Uncle Victor: I want to go to your house! Hm, what's so fun about going to other people's house??? Food for thought then...!!!

Growing Up?

Recently, Mama has been talking to Gwendolyn, discussing about her upcoming birthday in April. What cake does she want to order, how old she is going to be, etc. But she doesn't seemed to accept the fact that having birthday party is a part of growing up and she rejected the idea that she's going to be THREE, instead of being TWO. She was very anxious and concerned about being THREE! When Mama probed further and heard her response, Mama couldn't stop laughing! Here's the excerpt of the conversation:

M: Mama; G: Gwendolyn

M: Growing up is fun, just like the Barney growing up song.
G: No, I don't like growing up.
M: Why? Why don't you want to grow up?
G: Because I want to be chubby chubby!
M: (laughing non-stop) But you can still be chubby chubby when you grow up! Just like Mama...
G: (seemed enlightened) No, I don't want to grow up. I want to be like Di Di, one-year old...
M: But Di Di is going to be TWO soon, like you!
G: No, I want to be cute cute and chubby chubby...

The conversation goes on about her not wanting to become THREE...

Potty training!

18 January 2007 marks the beginning of a new achievement! Gwendolyn's diapers have been removed for the whole day, except while sleeping. She was doing well throughout the day, going to the toilet to try and pee by herself every 30-45 minutes. There was only a minor accident in the afternoon, when she was too engrossed at play and wet ONE panty and ONE pair of pants! Well done!

To encourage her, Mama packs different types of panties for her to choose in school: strawberry shortcake, barney, hello kitty, dora...all her favourite characters!

Happy Sunday!

Papa and Mama "deposited" Gwendolyn at grandma on Saturday and went off for the My Fair Lady show at the Esplanade. Surprisingly, Lyn Lyn was quite easy in letting Papa and Mama off early in the afternoon, so that Papa and Mama can go home to settle some housework before setting of for the show.

On the gloomy sunday, where weather was terribly grey, Papa and Mama brought Lyn Lyn to Queensway to source for a new pair of track shoes (it's terribily difficult to get a pair for her...REALLY DIFFICULT!). To cut down on the amount of time spent for looking around, Mama asked the shop assistants directly upon arrival. Everyone gave the same answer: New Balance lah...got wide feet design! However, Lyn Lyn was just playing around and wasn't really concentrating on trying to shoes. In the end, we aborted the quest and set off for the newly extended Novena Square, only to be disappointed again that it wasn't great!

However, the only good thing about this new shopping is Haagen-Daz promotion: 1-for-1 takeaway ice-cream. In the end, Lyn Lyn and Mama have 1 cup each...Yum Yum!

After the yummy ice-cream session, Mama got in touch with Auntie Suzie to see whether her family is free to meet up. Why? Since Lyn Lyn has been asking Mama to talk about Auntie Suzie's house everyday. Finally, Auntie Suzie's family is free, so we met up for dinner at the Jurong West Red Chair Coffee Shop for dinner before setting off to have a fun time in their house.

Since Lyn Lyn hasn't been there for quite some time, she was very excited. Especially with the new piano that Ralston Gor Gor has...

She's amazed with this exercise machine of Uncle Ralph too! As a toddler, she's managing her balancing very well!


Wow, she's discovered such a huge ball at the bar corner...trying to play with Shannon Jie Jie together!

Look at me! I can carry the ball up high!

Hair cut at QB House

Papa and Mama wanted to cut Gwendolyn's hair for quite some time, especially behind. However, she's been rejecting the offer for many many times. Saturday morning, when Papa intended to get a haircut himself at the new QB House at IMM, Lyn Lyn was tempted to try for one herself! She was very excited initially, but when the hairdresser put the cloth around her and start cutting, she was scared. Mama has to be close to her and hold her hand. After a few snaps, she said: finished already. I don't want to cut any more. The hairdresser only managed to cut her fringe...oh well, at least the most important portion has been cut...

New Ikea at Tampines

The new Ikea store at Tampines was opened on 16 December 2006. According to the latest Family magazine, it is one of the family-friendly stores in Singapore. Papa and Mama decided to bring Gwendolyn for a trial on Saturday to check it out. FYI, the kid's playroom at Ikea Alexandra was a mere "ball-ground" and Mama has heard of some horror stories about that. Hence, no matter how much Lyn Lyn likes "ball ball", Mama refrained from letting her try.

This time, both Papa and Mama were amazed by the huge playroom at the entrance, with various activities for busy parents to drop their kids for some fun, whilst they go for their shopping. From the outside, Papa and Mama noted that there was a video area on a staircase, an activity table for kids to draw, some slide / crawling areas, etc. Lyn Lyn was so excited to know that she is tall enough to go inside and join the Gor Gor and Jie Jie's for some fun. We queued for a short while before Lyn Lyn is finally admitted. She excitedly removed her sandals, put on the number assigned to her container box and off she dash, exploring the new grounds all by herself. As all the parents are required to leave their mobile phone numbers when registering their kids, just in case anything happens, Papa and Mama enjoyed some carefree shopping for about 15 minutes.

Suddenly, Mama's phone rang. Someone from the "Smalland" informed her that Lyn Lyn was crying and requested Mama to go back immediately. From where Mama was, she tried to get back to "Smalland" as quickly as she could. Initially, Lyn Lyn was too upset to have noticed that Mama was standing right at the door. When she finally realised, she dashed all the way to the door and cried out loud. Below is an excerpt of the conversation of Lyn Lyn is being rescued from the playroom:

P: Papa G: Lyn Lyn

P: Was it fun?

G: (Sobbing) Yes.

P: Do you want to come back again?

G: No......

P: What happened?

G: ......

P: Were the kids rough?

G: Yes......they hit me.

P: Then what happened?

G: I hit them.

Experiencing the theory: Survival of the fittest without people she trust! Bad move...

To distract her from thinking about the bad experience again, Papa and Mama brought her for some food! This is a huge eating restaurant & cafe again, with a pavillion structure for kids to play within and parents sitting around the pavillion. Lyn Lyn was all happy again playing in a confined environment with both Papa and Mama in sight! At first, she was playing whatever was available. In the end, she got herself acquainted to a Jie Jie and started playing Ring-around-the-rosie. Initially, it was only the 2 of them, slowly, the crowd increased to 3 and then 4. Eventually, when we have to go, all the kids at the Pavillion were singing and playing that! What a scene...

Badminton @ the HP Club

Gwendolyn went for a badminton session with Papa and Mama on Sunday to stretch her limbs. It seems that she enjoys racket games...Uncle Don booked the badminton court at the HP Clubhouse from 10am to 12 noon! Lyn Lyn just managed to wake up to catch some exercise. Initially, she was excited about meeting Summer again for some fun. But when she got to know that Summer is unable to make it, she was a little disappointed. In the end, she decided that she can take on the adults single-handedly...here we go!

Warming up

Trying to hit the shuttlecock

Aiming - Coaching by Uncle Victor

Strength training - Coaching by Auntie Tonya

Take a rest, have a drink

Balancing - Passing the shuttlecocks from Auntie Tonya to Auntie Eunice

Playing Hi-5 the baby way

Not forgetting her Spot and Steve!

Drying hair after her shower

Dora Balloon

Finally found a Dora balloon and Gwendolyn loved it!

Choo Choo Train and Swing Swing Swing

During Christmas, IMM offered free choo choo train ride on level 2, right outside the food court, for kids. But kids less than 3 years old must be accompanied by parents, who has to pay S$3 per ride. So Mama accompanied Gwendolyn to try out the "indoor choo choo train". In fact, the choo choo train was going at very high speed within the shopping complex! Mama find it a little dangerous for the kids sitting in the train and passerbys around the shopping area!

After the exciting train ride, we proceed to the playground at level 2, which is meant to be for the older kids (Lyn Lyn saw it during the train ride!). Then there is this hanging slide thing that she's set her eyes on for quite some time, that is not for age, but she was eager to try. Since the playground is not as crowded as the normal days, she played it with Papa's help...she loved it!

Don't eat my ice-cream, okay?

What's so special about Gwendolyn eating ice-cream? Aren't everyone sick of seeing her eating ice-cream already? What's so special this time is that after paying for the ice-cream and she needed to keep the change in her pocket, she entrusted Mama with her cup of ice-cream, pointing 1 finger at Mama and said : Don't eat my ice-cream, okay?! Both Papa and Mama were in SHOCK.....

Dora's house

Papa and Mama's bought Dora's Talking House for Gwendolyn as her X'mas present. It enables her to appreciate more on what's in a house and the related Spanish terms used by Dora's family (fyi: Dora speaks both English and Spanish!). However, Mama haven't read the information on the box entirely and only noticed that the box contains only : Dora, Mami, Popi and a sofa! There is no other furniture, except for those wall-mounted talking items. As such, she's still unable to play and utilise the house fully.

Dora's empty "talking" playhouse

As such, we now need to slowly build up the furniture for this new house. The suggested items are shown below. Please note that even GRANDMA (Abuela) is an "item" to "decorate" Dora's house!!! Papa and Mama have since then bought a dining set for the family to at least sit down together for a meal! If anyone happen to see these items, please let Mama know, because they are quite difficult to find too!

The possible place to find these items? Toys R Us..........................????? HELP..............

Spot and Steve collection

So many......All 7 must be together all the times...You see that single blue Steve? Bao Bei Gu Gu bought her a blue Steve for X'mas present without knowing that there was a blue Spot (which Gwendolyn has seen before!)...when Lyn Lyn accidentally discovered blue Steve hiding behind the X'mas tree, she went to Mama excitedly and screamed! How come? Why is there a blue Steve? Where is blue Spot??? Mama just thought of telling her that Mama need to ask Auntie Nelly for help and source for a blue Spot, just in case she becomes all teary one day...

Changi Beach Park

2 January 2007 is a public holiday in Singapore, so Papa and Mama continued to bring Gwendolyn for some outdoor fun! We thought that the Changi Beach Park would be a good place for her to play some sand and experience pitching and sitting in a tent, like Spot and his friends in one of the episodes, we set off for lunch at Changi Village for some nasi lemak before heading for the beach.

Beach-ready: Sunglasses, sleeveless T, beach shorts and slippers!

Lyn Lyn kept asking for chicken wings

Lyn Lyn called the Changi Village Food Centre : The Sand Restaurant

When we've finally found the perfect place to pitch the tent, Lyn Lyn got into action to help Papa with laying out the base, straightening out the 2 main support sticks and finally raising the tent.

When the tent was up, Lyn Lyn happily jumped into the tent and trying to zip up the 2 entrances...when Mama finally sealed up the 2 sides, she was scared and was on the verge of crying...well, it's an interesting experience for her to go in and out of the tent...after the tent was up and everything was ready, she started unpacking her beach toys and ready to play sand...Mama changed her into her swimming costumes, so that she'll be more willing to get wet and will not asked to removed her clothings like what she did at Sentosa Island few months back...so shameful! Haha!

She was happily building her sand castles, when suddenly, she heard a loud noise from the sky...what has distracted her? She shouted : AEROPLANE...she stared at the sky and waved good-bye to the aeroplanes that were flying pass...

Mama was a little tired and went to lie in the hammock that Papa has just tied to the tree...with the gentle swing and breeze, Mama fell asleep...leaving Papa and Lyn Lyn trying to build sand castles again. In the end, Papa was successful in building the castle and Lyn Lyn jumped happily...how many did they build in the end? FIVE!

Whilst Mama was napping in one of the hammocks, Papa and Lyn Lyn was spending some good quality time in the other hammock. Lyn Lyn stood beside Mama and gently rock Mama in the other hammock, singing : rock-a-by baby...it was so sweet and funny!

After swinging in the hammock for a while, Papa and Lyn Lyn had a little chat with her, sitting on the camping stools that Mama got from Rally Art! It is a completely different outdoor experience for her! We should do this again next time!

Unfortunate and fortunate: When we were about to pack up and leave, it started to drizzle. Fortunately, we have a tent and we hide inside until the rain stopped. After that, Mama brought Lyn Lyn to the shower point to wash off the sand from her body and get her changed into normal clothings. Unfortunately, it started to rain towards the end of the shower...fortunately, Papa has finished packing and reached the shower area before it started to pour again...

For more information about the Changi Beach Park, please visit: - http://www.nparks.gov.sg/park8.asp

Squash and Tennis

Papa and Mama left Gwendolyn with Grandma on New Year's Eve and went for karaoke with Uncle Don, Auntie Lena, Uncle Victor and Auntie Tonya. Papa and Mama didn't pick Lyn Lyn up until afternoon on New Year's Day. After that, we went home for a short while, but later, we went to Uncle Victor's house for some racket ball games! When Lyn Lyn knew that we're heading to Uncle Victor's house to play with Summer, she was all excited. But as it was near her nap time, she almost fell asleep in the car. Both Papa and Mama kept her entertained and kept talking to her, so that she can endure the car journey to get into some action!

When the 2 kids reached the squash court, they were all excited...couldn't wait for the adults and just drag out the rackets from the holders! Both Papa and Uncle Don were trying to throw the balls to the kids and let them hit. But Lyn Lyn seemed to have the upper hand of being "stronger" and have more "ball sense". She was concentrating in touching the ball when the ball was going her direction.

When the adults were ready for squash, the kids moved to the tennis court to try out another type of action. This time, the rackets are so much bigger and heavier...Summer got tired much earlier than Lyn Lyn and resorted in running after the tennis balls instead. Lyn Lyn persevered with Uncle Don and kept asking Uncle Don to throw the ball to her, so that she can aim and hit! Actually, her aiming was quite good and she can hit the ball as it approaches her! Papa and Mama can think about sending her for tennis lessons!

After a round of running, both kids were tired and so, it's time for Uncle Don and Papa to play, whilst Mama was trying to keep the kids entertained, sitting down and watching both Papa play! How to keep them seated without running around? Mama has asked them to laugh out loud when either Papa missed the ball! In the end, both happily laughed throughout the game and we only have to leave the court when it started to rain...