Dinner @ IMM

All of us were busy shopping on Sunday (again...) and we went to IMM for dinner again...yes, kind of boring, but it's the nearest place! We came down from the lift from 5/F and instead of turning right to Giant, Gwendolyn turned left. Immediately, Papa asked Lyn Lyn why she did that and she replied that she wanted to eat "cha siu", hence she turned left to the "cha siu" restaurant, a.k.a Crystal Jade Restaurant...she really knows her way around IMM well...instead of going to Giant first before dinner, we chose to go for dinner first, as Lyn Lyn didn't nap in the afternoon and would fall asleep anytime after 7pm.

Once we sat down, Lyn Lyn ordered her favourite "cha siu", broccoli and white rice and Papa and Mama settled with the rests!

Sharp bone soup (good collagen source) - not exceptionally fantastic though

Lyn Lyn couldn't wait, but already taken the "cha siu" and broccoli to her bowl, hence, the portion looks smaller


See how much she enjoys her food! She finished her bowl of rice, whole plate of "cha siu" and most of the broccoli!

Nowadays, Geraldine will salivate whenever she sees us eat...and did you realise that she's suddenly grown chubbier this week?

Lyn Lyn's special request to take this "V" picture for everyone...well, Geraldine can't do yet

Sense of Security

Papa brought Geraldine to Gwendolyn's for an afternoon nap and when being placed there alone, she was a little scared...not sure why though??? As such, Papa hugged her to sleep and see how secured she looked when lying on Papa's body!

Look at Geraldine's arm...having "bye bye 肉"

Did anyone realise that her face has become more chubby this week, Mama thinks that she's going through the 3rd/4th month growth spurt, hence she had a slight fever 2 weeks ago...

Is Geraldine Holding Her Milk Bottle?

Looks like she is holding...

BUT...

Look carefully, the way she's "supporting" can't really keep the bottle up in it's position!!!

Great Singapore Sale!

Finally, both girls have recovered from their "sickness" in the last 2 days...and finally, we can set off for the Great Singapore Sale...well, at least for Mama, it started from Takashimaya's additional 10% discount for members! Don't think that Mama is the main beneficiary of the GSS...it's actually the 2 girls! As things on Mama's shopping lists were for them both! Well, you just can't go wrong in buying things for your children, since all parents wanted to shower them with love!

Today, Mama's purposely dressed the 2 sisters up in similar clothings...both in red and white (not National Day yet), with polka dots skirts!

Both looking well and healthy before we start off for the shopping trip!

Off we go...we started with breakfast @ McDonalds, as Mama wanted to use up the points that she's accumulated before (the redemption period is going to be over soon).

Geraldine trying to doze off during the car journey, holding her favourite toy rings

Whilst Lyn Lyn was writing and drawing something for Papa and Mama

After that, we set off to Takashimaya, with our shopping list...Gwendolyn already has a lot of things in mind...well, her usual...pretty dresses, just another pair of shoes, toys (maybe, but not so)...We arrived before 12 noon, but the car park was already indicated as FULL...weird...but nevermind, Papa dropped the ladies before he went off to park the car! The first destination: Baby's department...not sure whether it "just happened to be" out-of-stock or because of the sale...quite a few of the pigeon items were not available...or quite a lot have been snatched up in the last 2 days, since it began on 23 May? Oh well, no choice, either Mama has to source from somewhere else or to buy from an alternative brand...Lyn Lyn was such a happy helper along the way, whilst Mama was pushing Geraldine in the stroller...

Lyn Lyn, as usual, knew exactly what she wanted and quickly went to the right places to choose her items...most important of all, she's chosen a pair of boots! Yes...you are right...boots! Not sure why, but she's specially asked for a pair of boots...we bought a pair that is slightly bigger, so that she can wear them when we go to Hong Kong near the end of the year! After trying on the pair of boots, Mama pushed Geraldine around, trying to look for other children items. Not long after that, Lyn Lyn fell asleep on Papa's lap, still seated at the shoes department...then Papa and Mama took turns to shop and watch the 2 dearys...Not sure how long we've spent there and how long Lyn Lyn has napped...but when we've decided that we've had enough and want to call it a day and search for some food, it was around 4pm! By the time we finished our food and left the shopping complex, it was close to 6pm...what a day!

Tired from all the shopping...both conveniently took a nap

Before the 2 kiddos changed out from their outfits...Mama took another picture for them!

Geraldine loves to see herself in the mirror...see how lovely the smile is! (Actually, she's already very tired and wanting to sleep...this was taken whilst waiting for the water to be ready!)

Geraldine is Sick...

Yes...Gwendolyn's just recovered from her fever and then it's Geraldine's turn...not contracted from Lyn Lyn though, as neither of them met each other yesterday...Geraldine didn't sleep well and asked for milk at around 2:30am...Mama fed her and she went back to sleep. Not long after that, at around 4:30am, she started crying...no matter how Mama carried her, gave her water or milk, pat and pacify her...nothing worked. Papa was with Lyn Lyn (since her fever has just subsided), came over and see what happened to this poor baby...she kept making some repeated sound, as if telling Papa and Mama that she's not feeling well. Papa measured her temperature, but it was hovering around 37.5 and 37.8...not really at a feverish state. Papa and Mama took turns to carry and comforted her until Uncle John's clinic opens at 8:00am. Once Mama managed to contact him, off we went!

Poor baby...all teary and not feeling well...

This is how the mutterings sound like

On the way to Uncle John's clinic, Geraldine was such a good baby and stopped crying, as if she knew that Papa and Mama were bringing her to see a doctor to relieve her pain. Once Papa's car stopped at the traffic lights, she started making noise again...as if wondering what's happening to the car, aren't we supposed to go to the doctor? Once the car started moving again, she stopped making any noise. Truly amazing! When we reached the clinic, she let Uncle John examined her...Uncle John checked her mouth (in case she's teething), checked her temperature (not really feverish, in case she has viral fever like Lyn Lyn), checked her tummy (with a lot of wind...that may be the cause of her discomfort)...Papa and Mama collected the medicine and brought her home. Before going to the doctor, she refused to drink any milk or water. However, after we're back from the doctor, she was such a darling and finished her milk before Papa and Mama fed her medicine. Though this was her first time taking medicine and from a syringe, she was such a good baby and finished her 2ml worth of colomix to relief her stomach wind! Thank goodness, she was so much better and poo-ed twice after that...with constant burping and farting to release rge excess wind!

Feeling restless...feeling terrible to sleep alone...required to be carried to have a good rest!

Since her temperature was hovering around the pre-fever stage, Papa and Mama decided to give her some panadol to bring her temperature down to normal...Ooooopz, not sure whether her stomach was too full after finishing her milk, she threw up everything and ended up being a dirty and stinky baby...immediately, Mama bathed her and washed her up...

Seated at the sink, waiting to be washed! (Sad to say...she looked so cute even when not feeling well...)

After washing up, she was feeling much better...well, at least, she's stopped all the muttering sounds and was drinking milk and water...What another hectic day for Papa and Mama...only after Geraldine fell asleep after her night bath and able to sleep in her baby cot, that Papa and Mama can have a sigh of relief. Luckily, that's the first encounter of her feeling unwell...and she was all well after that, sleeping through the night after a feed at 12 mid-night with no further medication administered! Phew......

Etonhouse Sports Day 2008

One year flew by and Mama was anxiously waiting to attend the Etomhouse Sports Day this year. Why is that so? As Mama was busy and missed it last year. This year, Mama told herself that no matter what happens, she must go and support Gwendolyn, as this is the first time she wears her PE uniform! In the morning, Mama dropped Geraldine at grandma, before joining Papa at Lyn Lyn's school. Mama got both cameras and digital video recorder ready to take Lyn Lyn's grand entrance...however to notice that she's not feeling very well. Trying to encourage her to participate, she tried going one round on the obstacle course with her friends, she was actually feeling extremely tired with no strength. You can see from the way she was finishing the course that she was actually very sick...

After all the practising before the actual day, Lyn Lyn could only barely complete 1 round of the course

Lyn Lyn sitting on Mama, waiting for Papa to carry her...poor gal...looking so sick

Without forcing her to go for the other games, Papa quickly carried her back to her classroom to collect her stuff and Mama used the thermometer to measure her temperature, she was running a high fever of 38+ degrees. Mama quickly informed Ms Jo and Ms Jam and we quickly rushed off to Uncle John. At Uncle John, her temperature was as high as 39.6 degrees and she was feeling terrible.

Lyn Lyn was really so unwell that she could only lean against the seat in the car...luckily, she was very willing to drink water...she knows that water is very important when she's not feeling well!

After seeing Uncle John and collected the medicine, Papa and Mama brought her home and took care of her for the whole day...she refused to eat anything and cried whenever she feels unwell...poor gal...running such a high fever, Mama removed her clothings and kepts sponging her for half an hour, whilst Papa and Mama pampered her with unlimited TV shows...however, she was so unwell that she asked to stop watching, as she was feeling terrible...after initmate care for the rest of the afternoon, her temperature has finally gone down and she returned to normal, talking and watching TV again...Phew...what a relieve to Papa and Mama...

After Lyn Lyn is well, Mama went to pick Geraldine from Grandma...and Papa brought Lyn Lyn for some food...they went to IMM to look for some Udon, which Lyn Lyn had asked for. But it was too late...the only thing available was only McDonalds...still, Lyn Lyn was such a good girl that she's only had a kid's meal's corn cup and didn't ask for anything unhealthy...

With both Geraldine and Lyn Lyn home, it was a really hectic day for both Papa and Mama...what a sighed of relieve to see Lyn Lyn all bubbly again, returning to her cheery own self!

I'm Sitting!

Has Mama been challenging Geraldine with new skills at every possible moment, teaching her to hold a rattle, turning her to face down in lifting her head and now...sitting her up? Mama doesn't think so...as Geraldine has been able to "stand" since reaching 1-month...her bones are really strong and well developed...sitting her up to excite her more at a new horizon will just trigger her learning and development!

Smiling to herself, looking so proud to be sitting up

Geraldine Rotate?

What new skill has Geraldine learnt? Not sure whether it's because she has quite a number of rotating toys, e.g. 2 musical mobiles (one @ home and one @ grandma), a mobile fan at her baby cot @ grandma...she's started physically rotating in the cot...

Slanted in the baby cot

Cold Storage Trip

Papa and Mama were searching for the discounted jumbo packs of Huggies Ultra and went to both Jelita and Bukit Timah Cold Storage supermarkets for that! It's only then, Mama realised that Cold Storage has the "baby" trolley, where Geraldine can be placed, without separately bringing her stroller for shopping...and what else did Mama find out? Cold Storage is really the coldest amongst the few supermarkets: NTUC Fairprice, Giant and Carrefour!

Taken @ Jelita

Taken @ Bukit Timah, McDonald's House - Lyn Lyn was so excited about it!Mama took this picture before we went out...isn't Geraldine a replica of Papa?

Gwendolyn's First Story "Book"

Creative Gwendolyn has written her first story "book" on 16 May 2008. The "book" was left in her school bag until she remembered on 20 May and took out to read to Papa in the morning on the way to school. She read:

Dear Dad and Mom - I Have a Letter for You (This is the title of the book)

Once upon a time, there was Gwendolyn, Mummy, Daddy and Geraldine. All decided to go to our park. Then, Mummy and Daddy watched Gwendolyn and Geraldine play hula-hoop. When they were tired, they take a nap. When they were not tired, they woke up. When Summer came, they all played hula-hoop. When all the family came, we all played hula-hoop together. And they lived happily ever after. THE END.

Gwendolyn

Wow...for a 4-year-old child, that sounds very good! At least the sentence structure and grammar was fantastic! Even though the storyline sounds like one of those Mcmug / Mcdull stories, but given again that she's just a 4-year-old, it's very good! Oh yeah, most important of all, though there were no words in her "book", she remembers exactly what the story was! How did Papa and Mama know? It was when Lyn Lyn started asking Papa to tell the story, after she's told him for a few times. Lyn Lyn caught Papa saying different things from her original story, hence, she kept correcting Papa whenever he got it wrong. From her corrections, she consistently corrected with the same wordings and she can really remembers her story very well! Bravo Lyn Lyn~~~

Are You Seeing Double?

Yeah...Mama's been digging and digging and digging more and more of Gwendolyn's baby photos to compare with Geraldine...the bigger they grow, the more you noticed that they do not look alike...see, another classic example below...

Obviously Gwendolyn

Obviously Geraldine

I Know How To Grab a Rattle!

Finally, not only being able to grab or hold a rattle, Geraldine is enjoying the fruitful result of being able to shake it to self-entertain!

In fact, she seemed to be more interested in the colourful rings hung on the stroller even more!

Learning to Hold a Rattle

Another new skill that Mama was training Geraldine to do, so as to introduce her to an all new sensational experience, is the touch of toys and be able to grab one by herself! Removing her mittens to introduce touch to objects, other than the human body...she was positive and interested in trying it...

Geraldine: What is this thing that Mama put in my hand?

Mama let Geraldine sat comfortably on the sofa and tried putting the rattle in her hands, teaching her how to shake for sound to self-entertain. She was experiencing dropping of the rattle from her grasp, having the rattle hung on her hand without falling and even dropped beyond her wrist, like a bracelet!

But her favourite position is still to try putting it into her mouth! Haha...

After-bath

As usual, Mama bathed Geraldine over the weekend and tried a new look for her afterwards...does she look like someone from the middle east, with her hair all wrapped up in the snuggly towel? Cute...

How about a bite at her "thunder thighs"?

Geraldine can't leave her fingers alone, but constantly licking and sucking them for comfort!

Confused again? Don't think so...

Though friends have been telling Papa and Mama how alike Geraldine is, as compared to Gwendolyn when she was a baby, Mama doesn't think so...just see below. It's just getting more and more obvious who's who, right?!

Sleeping looks @ 3 months

I'm a Drummer!

Remember Gwendolyn got a set of drums for her birthday? Occasionally, she will practise her drumming skills when the musical instinct strikes! Last Sunday, she had this sudden urge to display her drumming skills and hid herself behind closed doors (forgotten to switch on air-con and shouted for Papa's help), where Gong Gong taught her to do so due to the noise level, and started her artistic drumming session.

Posing for the session before focussing on her sticks and drums

Listen...she made this up all by herself

Kiddy Ride!

How old is Geraldine? 3 months! Mama wouldn't have thought of bringing Geraldine to try on a kiddy ride, if Gwendolyn didn't ask to try out this new one @ the Paragon! Mama thought that Geraldine will be scared by the movement and music, but see...it seems like Mama was the one being scared (not exactly, but there wasn't enough space for Mama to squeeze in, in order to hold Geraldine tight and keeping her safe) instead. See. Geraldine was actually interested and enjoying it!

Geraldine: What is this red thing that I'm sitting on, which can turn round and round and moving up and down...???

Mother's Day Celebration

Mother's Day Tea Party was held at Etonhouse on 9 May 2008, from 2-3pm. However, Mama was too busy and couldn't leave office until 2pm. Hence, by the time Mama reached, it was already 2:30pm. What's worse is that Mama has just missed the N2 Paricutin performance. Gwendolyn must be really upset, as Mama promised her in the morning that she will be there!

Luckily, Abigial's mum arrived late as well and Ms Jam, ever so nice, asked the class to perform to both mums, who've missed the performance! Here we are...Mama enjoyed the performance so much, with both English and Mandarin songs to praise their mums! What's even better? The class collectively came up with the lyrics for the English song, based on the tune : If you happy and you know it. Let Mama reproduce the lyrics below, in case you couldn't hear the words in the video below:

You, make me feel nice

You, make me feel happy

I love you hugs and kisses

Your love is very precious

Thank you so much mummy, Happy Mother's Day (repeat)

Mama was so happy to hear the song, even though Lyn Lyn has already sung the song once to Mama last week...shhhhhhh...Ms Jam said that it's supposed to be a surprise today...haha...

English Song

Mandarin Song

Mother's Day Gifts prepared by Lyn Lyn

Gift from the school - a nice brooch

A photo for the occasion that Lyn Lyn took after the celebration!

Oh, almost forgotten to mention about an incident that happened the evening before the Celebration. Mama went to pick Lyn Lyn from school, as Papa was out-stationed. Lyn Lyn, excitedly showed me a nice drawing of our family + Gong Gong and Por Por, which was very nice! However, Ms Jam told Mama that : this is just part of the story, as there was something else that Lyn Lyn has to tell Mama about. Out of a sudden, Lyn Lyn's face turned all embarrassed...why is that so? Can you see the box of tiny muffins in the picture below?

Yes. These muffins. These are supposed to be the collective efforts by the N2 Paricutin children, prepared as a token for all the mothers of the class. Whilst waiting for them to cool down from the oven, Lyn Lyn, in all good intents and purposes...fiddled with them, after she's just played with glue. Since HFMD was very serious in the last few weeks, the school is observing strict hygiene protocol that these muffins cannot be shared amongst other children any more...the children must have been disappointed and Lyn Lyn would have learnt her lesson...with no choice, Ms Jam has to report to Ms Jo, the pre-school director about the case. So, Ms Jam has to spend some time in baking some new brownies for the celebration tomorrow morning to replace all these tiny muffins and not to waste these muffins, Mama has to bring them home. Well, at least Lyn Lyn's learnt her lesson about making mistakes and learning to forgive. It's a good lesson, but what happened to these muffins eventually? Mama brought some back to work as breakfast for the next day...and shared with Papa when he returned from his business trip!

Lyn Lyn: Papa and Mama support you...and hope that she's learnt her lesson well this time.

P.S. At least she's m0re conscious of washing her hands with soap before she touches any food item, subsequent to this incident!

Hanging Sea Creatures

Upon reaching 3 months, Mama noticed that Geraldine has become more aware of things happening in her surroundings and be able to visually see more things and being stimulated...Mama placed the baby play gym "sea creatures" to the "day-napper chair" for her to see...she really stares at them, observe them, try touching them and even started "talking to them"! Nowadays, babies are truly amazing at such a young and tender age!

Kick, Baby Kick

Geraldine is working up her leg muscles...see how strong her kicks are!

Frederick Di Di's Birthday Party

This year's Frederick Di Di's birthday party was held @ Costa Sands Resort, Pasir Ris. Auntie Adele and Uncle Kim Siong arranged it on Labour Day holiday and we went for an evening BBQ party! When we first arrived, we noticed that there were many children and baby and most of the babies and mummies were hiding inside the chalet, as if we've entered a childcare centre. So funny...whilst Mama tried feeding Geraldine milk, Gwendolyn was still napping on Frederick Di Di's bed, as she was sooooo tired and fell asleep along the way from home...once Lyn Lyn woke up, she started playing with Frederick Di Di and running around!

All of us had some food and cake-cutting was at around 7:30pm, as next day was a working day! Wow, surprise surprise! It was a football field birthday cake, with 2 goal posts! Lyn Lyn, as always, would stand as near to Frederick Di Di as possible...appearing in every picture...like last year, as if she's one of the family members! Papa and Mama was too busy with Geraldine inside the "childcare centre" and didn't have a chance to take their real family picture...until everybody started singing the birthday song!

Nice cake...even have the words: OLE! GOAL! OLE!

Standing in a strategic position and be in every picture taken with her, as if she's also the birthday girl!

After cake cutting, Lyn Lyn was helping Auntie Adele in distributing the cakes to everyone! Oh yeah...apart from Geraldine, her new born friend Liv was there too...what an opportunity, both Papas were carrying their babies...com'on dads...say CHEEZ...

Doing their paternal duties! Cheez...

After finishing our slices of cakes...it's time to go home...as expected, Lyn Lyn slept along the way...she was sooooo tired...

New Dress

For some time, Gwendolyn has bought a pokka dot red skirt and a red t-shirt with many tiny hearts on it. She loved it so much that when Papa told Lyn Lyn that he's going for his "flying work" (business trip) in Taiwan, she made a special request that Papa needs to find her a one piece dress, with a pokka dot bottom and a "heart" top. She emphasised that it has to be a one piece dress! As she's made such a specific request, Papa had no choice, but to go out and hunt for the dress. Though he couldn't find one with all the fine details...instead of many small hearts, a big heart on top...he even called Mama to confirm Lyn Lyn's dress size before buying the dress!

When Papa returned 2 days later, Lyn Lyn, remembered very well that Papa was supposed to by her the dress. When she saw the dress, she had a smile on her face, but she was a bit disappointed that the dress was not exactly what she's asked for. Oh well, she's a person with strong principles...but Papa managed to convince her that her specific request is not easy to achieve and next time, he'll try and find again! In the end, she happily took a picture with this dress and accepted it...to Papa, it was soooo closed to failure...haha!

Posing for the camera with her new dress!