Double Cake, Double Joy.

We celebrated my dad's birthday in advance by having a sumptuous dinner in Jumbo Seafood Restaurant last Thursday. What is a birthday without a cake? So on his actual birthday, we got him a cake and went over to my parents' place at about 8.30 p.m. to sing him the birthday song and to have the cake cutting ceremony. My dad was thrilled. Phoebe had no present to give her gong gong, so she wanted to give him her box of magnetic alphabet and numbers. Haha :) My sister also got my dad a birthday cake. So, we have a fun cake tasting party! :) I pray that double cake will signify double joy and sweetness in the coming days ahead (^_^)

After the cake, the 2 little ones went to Yi-Yi's (my sister's) room to play, the auntie and mommies help to clean up the mess and the papas sat on the sofa analysing the stock market. We stayed for another 15 mintues before headed home.

Me, My Son and My New Specs

Took this picture of myself using my right hand while carrying Reuben on my left and watching Phoebe feeding the rabbits. Notice my new RED spectacles? Haha. A friend had commented that my orange specs look a little kiddish and cartoonish and it was accidentally bent by Phoebe anyway. So I got myself a new pair of specs :) I think I like this picture of myself and Reuben and my new specs :)

Little Boy Yu Hin

Little Yu Hin was about 5 months 2-3 days old when we visited him last Saturday. He had just gone through a surgery 2-3 weeks back to remove a lump under his left armpit. The lump had developed due to some inaccurate positioning of needle during his BCG vaccination at birth. Poor baby, had to go through surgery at such a young age. *sigh* I can understand the anxiety his parents had experienced. But thank God! He has recovered and the open wound has closed. He is putting on weight and is even heavier than my 6.5 months old Reuben! :) I hope that the lump will not reoccur and he will remind healthy always!

Yu Hin's mommy

Uncle Pilot's Rabbits

I used to bunnysit rabbits for owners who, for some reasons, have to be away from Singapore for a short period of time. I charge $5 per rabbit per day. "Business" was pretty good. At one time, I had about 6 bunnies all in a room (now, Phoebe's playroom). The owners have to bring their bunnies' food, litter beddings, water bottles, cages etc . I basically just provide the care and sort of, "rent out" the space to the rabbits. I will feed the rabbits twice a day and change their litterpan every 1-2 days. It is easy because all the rabbits are litter-trained and they will poo and pee into their litterpan, which are lined with plastic bags. So all I need to do was to throw the soiled plastic bags, put in new ones and new litter beddings. Not bad money for a 5 minute job. Most of the owners have 2 rabbits and the rabbits will usually stay for at least 5 days or more. So if you do your calculation correctly, I will probably earn about $50+ each time. Heehee :)

However, when Phoebe arrived, I stopped bunnysitting completely. Well, almost. I still have one regular "customer". He is a pilot. So Phoebe calls him Uncle Pilot. I have been bunnysitting for him since 2003. He will come in about once a month, each time about 7-14 days. Actually I do it not so much for the money. I have always love rabbits. Since now that I do not have the liberty to keep rabbits, taking care of them once a while is rather fun and less demanding.

Now that Phoebe is old enough to appreciate little furry beings, she enjoys playing with Uncle Pilot's rabbits. There was once she even cried when the rabbits had to go home. Sometimes, her little friend-next-door will come over to play with the rabbits too. Seen in the pictures below, the 2 girls are trying to feed the rabbits with hay. I think it's a good chance for them to learn how to love and appreciate animals :)

Two Babies in A Tub, Rubber Tub Tub

The first thing in the morning when my 2 babies wake up is to have their bath. Reuben will usually bathe first followed by Phoebe. However, this morning, Reuben pooed so much after he had bathed and dressed that we had to bathe him again. Phoebe was still playing in the bath tub, so we decided to put the 2 of them together. It was the first time they bathe together. Not much space left in the smal bath tub but lots of fun :)

Lifeskills and Montessori

Yesterday morning, we had nothing to do, so I decided to teach Phoebe some lifeskills. She had to spread her own bread with jam. She has always loved the Swedish blueberry jam from Ikea. After that, she learnt the proper technique in washing her hands.

If Linah was there, she would have nodded her head in approval and say,

"Yes, that's the Montessori way!"

Haha :) She and her Montessori everything! Right Auntie Linah? (^_^)b

Happy Birthday to Gong Gong

My dad is 67 years old. His birthday is supposed to be on the 22 Sept, Monday. We have intended to celebrate for him on Sunday 21, Sept. However, my mom had to go for her 7th chemotherapy on the 19 Sept, Friday. Hence, we decided to celebrate for him 4 days in advance, 18 Sept.

We went to Jumbo Seafood Restaurant in Serangoon Gardens Country Club. The food was great! All of us enjoyed ourselves. The 2 children were pretty well-behaved. We also took some pictures. At first my mom didn't want her pictures to be taken. She kept complaining that she looked very old with straight hair and her hair is so white now. She used to have coloured and permed her hair but due to her treatment, she is not allowed to put any chemical to her hair. However, when I looked at the pictures of my mom, I thought she look so radiant! She looked fabulous with her new hair cut! She looked totally cancer-free! :) Praise God!! I pray that after her 8th/last chemotherapy, she will be fully restored by the Grace of God.

After the dinner, we drove the 2 old folks home. In the car, Phoebe sang the birthday song to gong gong in 3 languages - English, Chinese and Malay. Gong gong was very thrilled and tickled. We didn't get gong gong a cake on that night because we thought of surprising him with one on either Sunday night or Monday evening, the actual night. I pray that God will grant my dad good health and lots of joy as he retires into his golden years with my mom.

Bedtime Struggles

Every night before Phoebe sleeps, she has to do her routines - drink milk, shee shee (sometimes poo poo too), brush teeth, wash face, quick shower, apply body lotion, wear diaper and pyjamas. Other than drinking milk, the rest of the SOP are usually completed with either some resistance, persuasion, coaxing or threatening. Sometimes we even have to wrestle with her on the bed before we can forcibly carry her into the bathroom. Sometimes while sitting in the toilet bowl, she would want us or auntie to read to her.

After all these, she'll lie on the bed and wants to be read to, book after book. Sometimes 4, sometimes 5. When we signal that it's time for lights off, she'll say, "I don't want to sleep..." And I'll reply, "you don't have to sleep if you don't want to. You just need to close your eyes that's all." Then we'll greet each other "Wan An"and good night. I'll kiss her and sometimes she'll want her bottle of water so that she can suckle at it to soothe herself. And then it's lights off!

The next morning, when we try to wake her up, she'll say, "I don't want to wake up, I want to sleep!"

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Hey mommies! I've chanced upon this You-Tube Story telling video by Eric Carle himself! He is reading his story "Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see?" Show it to your kids. I don't know how to attach the video into my blog. Anyone can teach me? :)

Papa Horse Mommy Cow

These days, my hubby is the horse, and I am the cow. We basically "zhuo nui, zhuo ma". Phoebe loves to ride on her papa. She'll tell her papa,

"Papa horse, papa horse..."

And her beloved papa will transform into a horse for his precious little girl to ride on. And me? I'm the cow, the milk supplier of my son. He is about 6.5 months now and he seems to reject formula milk!! We've tried Friso and Similac on him but he only took a few suckle and started to cry. We've started Phoebe on Similac when she was about 6 months old and she took it on very well. Reuben seems to be a little more fussy. Hmm... I will not give up letting him try formula milk. Will let him try again maybe some time next week. In the meantime, the days of my milking continues...