Quick Update

Has it been that long already? I had better look at my bills too! (after note: yes, i missed some bill payments)

Well, was caught in the Singapore General Elections fever and spent way too much time trawling the net for GE related videos, such as jokes and spoof of the then incumbent MPs. And then I got way too busy with my girl, who was fast turning two.

Well, she is 25 months old now. And how fun she is!

She started asking the "Why" questions a few days ago, just before she turned 25 months.

Like:

Isla.X: Why did you leave the bedroom door opened?

Mommypixie: Because I want to keep the cold air in.

Isla.X: Why do you want to keep the cold air in?

Mommypixie: So that the room would be cold.

(Good thing she stopped there. and the above conversation was in mandarin.)

She can point out airplanes in the sky, during the day and at night!

(You see, we stay near the airport and could see airplanes blinking away in the sky at night. We were out one night and while in the car, she pointed towards the sky and said 'Fei Qi' and me, thought I could play along, looked up, and really saw a plane!)

She would say to the Grandma:"Be careful okay?" when the Grandma was walking on a pavement which has an open drain.

She also said:"Daddy, be careful okay?" when the Daddy accidentally hurt his foot, which made the Daddy really happy.

Update

Date: 25 May 2011
by Mommiesaurus

You were expecting an update on Babysaurus, rite? But this post is about the absent minded stuff that  Mommiesaurus did today:

1. told Daddysaurus to take the parking card from Mommysaurus' car before walking out the door, then walked out the door, loaded the boot and drove off without passing the parking card to Daddysaurus!

2. was suppose to go by the bank to run an errand on the way home but decided to do it after lunch and on the way back to the office - got to the office later and then realised had forgotten to do that errand! doh!!

sheeeeetsss... now Mommiesaurus forgot what was item no. 3....???? Can you tell that there are alot of things on my mind?

oh the other day, wore a close toed pair of shoes to get mani and pedi done - DOH! good thing Daddysaurus was kind enough to drop off a pair of slippers....

now what was no. 3????

ou yea! wasted a bottle of pumped milk today - pumped and then forgot to put it in the fridge before heading back to the office. DOH!

and this looks pretty damn good: 

sighssss...

Stickers

Date: 27 April 2011
by Mommiesaurus

Making our own stickers for Babysaurus's upcoming first birthday party:

Its quite a therapeutic process! And what cool stickers we have. Cheapo mommiesaurus couldn't bring herself to pay the prices the shops wanted when she could so easily produce some of her own at home. With some sticker labels, a color laser printer and a computer at her disposal - she's on a sticker making frenzy! There's no stopping her now!

PS - sorry been quiet. Mommiesaurus has been super uber busy!!! :( spending more time than she likes in the office. Sigh!

Childcare Update 1

Date: 15 April 2011
by Mommypixie


After about 15 lessons or so at her childcare centre, Isla.X suddenly can manage to allow the teachers to carry her and wave bye bye to me when I drop her off at the centre.

The first day she did that, which was in the second half of March, my heart broke.

Well, I should be jumping for joy cos it makes morning drop offs more pleasant and less worrying for me but one BIG part of me doesn't really enjoy seeing her willing to edge her body forward, stretching out her arms to the teacher and letting the teacher carry her! (actually, I was very taken aback and shocked when she did that.)(but I must say my horror only lasted a split second.)

The only consolation was that when her body turned towards me to wave me bye bye, her eyes were really teary and she was reluctant to say bye bye to me, with a frown and her mouth was shaped into a very obvious upside down U.

Though my heart was crying, I gave her my happy look and chirped bye to her with a lively wave and turned and walked away.


It is good for the both of us, I figured.

Wonder how the transformation took place.

Was it because:

- she really got used to the idea?

- that her grandpa and grandma had been drumming in the 'school's fun' idea into her? and not to cry at school?

- that she can relate to the idea of "see you later, alligator"?

All of the above ba.

I felt lost for a good part of that morning.

When I picked her up a few hours later, she was the usual crying baby, shouting Ma Ma Ma Ma, and dashing towards me.

That gave me much comfort.

That my girl still needs and longs for me.

Isn't this whole childcare thingy such a big training on your nerves and emotions?


(side track: Isla.X just woke up from her sleep. She sat up and patted her bolster a few times, and went back to sleep. She is maturing so much each day! More on that in later posts)(She just turned 22 months yesterday).

(some background on her number of childcare days: although she started childcare after the Chinese New Year and was enrolled for 3 half days per week, she doesn't have full attendance due to our visits to malaysia where we would stay for a few days, and sickness, thus missing lessons).

Catfight

Date: 4 April 2011

by Mommiesaurus

Looks like she got into a catfight in her sleep!

She woke up with those scratches on the left side of her face this morning - above the eye, across the cheek, above the ear and some small ones at the neck.

Checked her nails and found the culprit - middle finger nail was chipped and super sharp!

Maybe tats why she woke up last nite?

Aiyo!!

Bus stops

Date: 25 March 2011
by Mommypixie

Slightly freaking out while in the bus.

Last Saturday, we decided to take the bus to a nearby chicken rice place for dinner. 

When we reached the bus stop and sat down, Isla.X started crying and fussing!

Oh my, Mommypixie immediately said,"No, we are not going to school. We are taking the bus to have our dinner." 

This is how much she loves (hates) going to school. 

We take the bus to school (a.k.a childcare centre), which is just one bus stop away.

Even then, Isla.X is not convinced and remained quite apprehensive. So much so that Mommypixie took quite a lot of photos of her looking concerned.

To me, it is a few minutes of peace. Ha! Silver lining. 

The Daddy just found it amusing. 

Isla.X only lightened up after passing a few bus stops and the scene looked decidedly different.

Btw, Isla.X always clings onto me when I am in the bus with her when I send her to school in the morning. And will start fussing and crying and say, Ma Ma, Jin Qu (Ma Ma, go in, meaning she wants me to to into the centre and keep her company) after we alight. 

Therefore, I am delaying starting full day childcare till April. Even then, I am in favour of putting her in just 3 full days instead of 5 full days as earlier planned.

Head

Date: 24 March 2011
by Mommypixie


While getting Isla.X ready for sleep tonight, changing into pjs, the Daddy mentioned something that happened while we were parents-to-be about 2 years ago.

The Daddy: Remember what the doctor said about her head?


Mommypixie: What about the head?

The Daddy: Remember that her head was large and we asked how?


Mommypixie: Her head was large? (which pd said that?) What did the doctor said?

The Daddy: The doctor said, just buy her a bigger hat!

Smiles.


Yah. Now I remember. (It's the obstetrician lah, not doctor. No wonder I can't recall.)

During one of the routine ultra sound scan, it was measured that her head circumference was larger than average while her limbs were shorter than average. So we were concerned.


The obst was this old professor from XieHe Hospital in Beijing. She is simply wonderful, handling our concern is such a humorous and thoughtful way. 


Isla.X's head circumference has always been larger than average. 

Even now, she could not wear the size 26 t-shirt from the childcare centre as her head could not fit through the collar. So she is wearing a size 28 t-shirt which is much too big for her body.

Oh well. Such is life.

Perhaps the shirt can be better designed.

Bye bye milk

Date: 15 March 2011

by Mommiesaurus

Milk that's getting thrown out today. More than 100oz of milk diligently pumped in Nov to early October, ie when Babysaurus was about 4-5 months old.

1st day at childcare

Date: 5 March 2011
by Mommypixie

Playing at the slides. (I can't get the photos in chronological order. The order is reversed.)

Isla.X is the one being carried by the Teacher at the far left end when i went to pick her up.

Cheeky in the morning. She was excited cos she gets to use her green bag bag too. And even managed a pose like this. Wonder where she learn that from.

She could not believe her luck that she gets to go out so early in the morning. Gave me a really co-operative smiling pose.


Isla.X was really excited when Mommypixie was getting her ready to school. She likes the idea of school.

About 5 days before her actual day at school, I started telling her that she would be going to school, learning skills, making new friends and having fun toys to play with. After introducing the idea of school to her, I asked if she would like to go to school, which she had visited twice with me, she nodded her head. A pretty good start!


Then, about 2 days before D day, I told her the truth....that Mommypixie would be working while she is at school. When she heard that, she shook her head, indicating that she doesn't like the idea of going to school without me. Oh well.


On the day of school, while getting her dressed, she was really happy.


And she was still happy when I reached the childcare centre and passed her to Teacher Fen while Teacher Sam attended to me with the logistics of getting her diapers, snacks and water bottle. Teacher Fen and Isla.X then disappeared into the childcare centre.

So all was well!

Until I asked if I should say Bye to my girl, and Teacher Sam said no, she is fine, she's just in there and I asked if I can take a peek and Teacher Sam said yes.


So I went into the centre and well, Isla.X was actually brought upstairs cos Teacher Fen thought that she will be joining the younger toddlers but in fact she should be with the group downstairs so when I stepped in, Teacher Fen was carrying her down and we bumped into each other at the stairs! Isla.X was still smirking at that point.


I did not know how to react and decided to just calmly waved to Isla.X and said:"See you later, alligator!" (avoiding the word 'bye') and Isla.X, immediately upon hearing this, wailed! and wanted me to carry her.

Such a big boo boo.....and I had to 'run' out of the centre....

and heard her crying and shouting for mommy on the way out!

When I went to pick her up 2.5 hours later, during their lunch hour at 12 noon, she was sobbing, eyes red, nose running and holding on to her water bottle for her dear life.

When she saw me, she cried some more and then stopped and was in her element again.

She showed me where to sit, asked me to eat the meal, fed me, showed me the place and the birds, played with the slides, and was smiling.

I was told that she did not take part in any of the activities and was crying on and off.

So, this was how it went on the first day. :)

1 to 10

Date: 28 February 2011
by Mommypixie

Yes, she could say her numbers better already and I've got it recorded. This was recorded when she was 19 months, Jan 2011.


Here goes!

Flying @ 18 months

Date: 22 February 2010
by Mommypixie

All bundled up and ready to go to the airport

Flying back with Isla.X when she was 18 months old in December turned out to be very pleasant!

We took the 8.45am flight.

Isla.X played, then napped, and woke up to play some more. She could also keep herself occupied by checking fellow passengers and smiling to them, being cute.

At one point in time, Mommypixie was just too tired, cos she had been keeping late nights busy with the packing and running errands in Beijing before the flight, and tried to make Isla.X sleep by carrying her like a koala and asking Isla.X to sleep. Isla.X responded by holding onto mommy and her bolster and stayed quite motionless, so much so that Mommypixie just drifted off to sleep.

When Mommypixie woke up, she realised that Isla.X wasn't sleeping at all and was all along trying hard to fall asleep by sucking her pacifier and rubbing her eyelids with the bolster. When Isla.X saw Mommy wake up, she got really excited and was all happy and started playing with Mommy.

Mommypixie was very touched by her thoughtfulness and co-operation.

One thing Mommypixie did, which was unplanned, but felt that it worked out quite well.

I had leftover dark chocolate kisses from christmas present wrapping and brought them onboard. I took them out to munch and decided to share them with Isla.X, fellow passengers and the air steward and stewardess. I felt that they, including Isla.X, appreciated this gesture and I felt less guilty when asking for assistance.

So mommies out there, pack some chocolates or sweets onboard when travelling alone with kids and share them with the people sitting around you.

Etonhouse

Date: 22 February 2010
by Mommypixie

After dropping Isla.X at childcare this morning, I took the bus to work (as there were no cabs in sight! and no cabs for booking too!).

The bus passed by the Mountbatten area and I saw that there were at least 4 Etonhouses!

My, they are so popular isn't it?

Will have to do more research into Etonhouses. And determine if it shall be the pre-school for my girl.

Milestones

Date: 17 February 2011
by Mommypixie

Was checking on the milestone chart for 19 to 24 months.

And noted these under the Advance Skills for a 24 month old: Begins to understand abstract concepts (eg sooner and later), Becomes attuned to gender differences, Learns to jump.

I am kind of surprised that 'jumping' falls under the 24th month mark and under an advanced skill because Isla.X has been jumping already. She has started jumping since ... like 1.5 months ago? I did not take notice because I thought it is something that she should know earlier than at 24 month.

Anyway, she is now 20 months and I am glad to know that she can perform all the tasks the milestone chart states under Mastered Skills up to 24 months (except I did not count whether she has a vocab of 50 to 70 words, which is a milestone for 23 months. probably not.)

I am very blessed to not having to worry about her milestone development.

But I was worried before. She flipped only towards end of 3rd or 4th month, sat at end of her 7th month, and barely crawled at end of 8th month and only starting sprouting very late 9th month.

Her weight is also at the 25th percentile, even though she has a ferocious appetite. Sidetracked.

Happy to learn that Isla.X is developmentally on track.


After note: I decided to count the number of words Isla.X knows. and stopped counting when I hit 105. Out of these 100+ words, she uses about 75 of them regularly. These 100+ words exclude expressions like:

- woh (when the car she's in makes a sharp turn),

- yee (when she sees someone sitting at a corner motionlessly whom she had missed the first time she walked pass),

- wah (when the Grandma wears something nice or when she sees a new toy), and

- oh oh (when she misplaces something and could not find it) and some others.

Bumpity Bump

Date: 16 February 2011
by Mommiesaurus

Following from Mommypixie's post on Isla.X's bump on the head, Mommiesaurus felt she should share about Babysaurus' first bump as well. About 2 weeks ago, Babysaurus got her first bump from crawling towards the kitchen high table and trying to climb up the table leg. Having gained mobility and is now pretty good (or so she thinks anyways) with pulling herself up to stand, she was trying to do just that by pulling up at the kitchen table leg. And Babysaurus somehow slipped and Mommiesaurus wasn't quite in the right position to catch her, so her head took a little bit of a knock against the table leg.

And then shortly after, she developed what Mommypixie called the biggest and most nerve wrecking bump on the head! Babysaurus' wasn't quite bump on bump, but it was bump on mozzie bite, being the same spot where a mozzie had had its meal earlier on.

But Mommiesaurus didn't quite think too much of it, blaisely calling it "ho mou lau"in Cantonese, which translates to 'high rise condominium', as she was quite easily distracted from her crying after getting the bump.

Then the following day came, and it looked like the swelling was spreading downwards towards the nose bridge.... oh uh! alarm bells started ringing and Daddysaurus said maybe we had better get her checked out, in case it was something else, or something else was happening under the skin. y'know how when paranoia starts in your head, it doesn't quite know how to stop itself.

Anyhow, we took her to a paed's clinic that was near our home, instead of trekking all the way to the hospital to see her normal paed. The paed took one look at her and reassured us that it was normal, and even explained to us the different layers of the infant's skull by showing us a picture and basically that it was no reason for concerns. Phew! He said that it was also quite normal for the swelling to "move" (can't remember the correct medical term he used now) and as long as it resolved itself, she was fine. Sometimes, if the bump was around where the veins/blood vessels are quite superficial, ie, near the surface of the skin, babies could end up with what looks like a horrible bruise too!

(I tried to google for the same image that the doc showed us, but came across some horrifying images instead, so I stopped quite quickly after... so, sorry fellas, no images here).

So, my take away from this experience is that babies develop "high rise condos" quite easily.

Week begining 30 Jan 2011

Date: 11 February 2011
by Mommypixie

This is a bit of a backdated post that wasn't published till now. Better late than never, right? 


Tshirt as pants

Isla.X refused to believe that what she is wearing as pants is actually a T-shirt. She is now into learning how to wear pants on her own.

And the weird expression on her face...well, she doesn't know how to smile for the camera yet.


Bump on her head

See the bruise on her head?

On 29 or 30 Jan (can't remember now), while Mommypixie was in the kitchen washing dishes, the Daddy put her on the bed, which was pushed against the wall on one side. The moment she sat foot on the bed, according to the Daddy, she immediately leapt forward and launched herself to the wall, with the head banging flat against the wall.

By the time Mommypixie rushed to the bedroom, Isla.X's forehead had already formed the highest and ugliest and largest bump on bump that both the Daddy and Mommypixie had ever seen in their whole life! This caused a huge panic and phone calls to the Grandma and the Aunty.

Mommypixie was shouting to rush to the nearest clinic/hospital and the Daddy had the most worried and anxious look on the face and kept asking "How?"

After a few minutes of panic and much ado about nothing, the parents finally calmed down and managed to find some ointment and forcefully rubbed Isla.X's forehead.

Poor baby. Just half hour before she got this bruise, she had bumped herself on the forehead on the same wall!

Anyway, she was fine and 72 hours later, Mommypixie and the Daddy finally relaxed, felt and breathe better.


CNY 2011

Happy for her. She got quite a lot of angbaos! Mommypixie has not tallied the takings yet..hahaha...

Childcare

Date: 10 February 2011
by Mommypixie

Will be starting Isla.X on childcare and she will enter childcare this coming Wednesday, on 9 Feb 2011.

Having very mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, it means that I will be able to work, have some personal time and give her some structure and routine, which is sadly lacking for her, due to my work arrangement, our staying in Beijing and me having no help in Singapore. So it is good right?

On the other hand, I do not know how well she or I can handle this separation. Handing her over to strangers instead of trusted relatives.

And I have this guilt that perhaps I did not pick the best possible childcare centre for her. I picked this one mainly due to its close proximity to where we stay. I can walk to the centre with her.

And the guilt that with her in childcare, I will have my freedom back! For like 3 half days per week in Feb, so that I can go to work and perhaps run errands or sleep in on days I don't have to work, without the guilt that my poor mother is looking after Isla.X while I am happily working.

I have to deal with guilt.

Been feeling guilty since I gave birth.

Wonder if it is some kind of depression that I am facing.

Oh, Isla.X will be doing 3 half days in February, and then 3 or 5 full days from March onwards, due to the vacancies available in the childcare centre.

Potty

Date: 8 February 2011
by Mommypixie

Our shipment arrived last friday in Singapore and reached my in-law's place this evening. About 56 boxes.

Before you scream, that is 6 years worth of things we have accumulated and bought just before we left Beijing. And some of the boxes include Isla.X's high chair, which counted as a box. And Isla.X's potty, which is a box as well. So really, it isn't that much stuff.

Well, we left almost all of the boxes at in-law's place and brought back Isla.X's potty and high chair and some other stuff.

Isla.X was simply too happy to see her stuff! She went 'Mum mum' over and over again, as if telling me to assemble her high chair. I don't know how she knew that this thing is her high chair (see picture below) and remembers that the high chair is used for eating. (Mum mum to her is eating.)

The A shaped structure on the right was initially bubble wrapped with lots of yellow duct tape. I had removed the bubble wrap, wanting to assemble the high chair seeing how enthusiastic Isla.X was about the high chair, but decided against in the end.

Well, I don't want to assemble the high chair because I know she would insist on sitting on it once it is done, which is such a no no cos I still have to wipe high chair first. Instead, I took out her potty from the box and let her used it.

She happily sat on it and pee on it!! oh my. and she wanted to still pee on it after I poured away the content. I just ignored her. Then she was still bugging me while I was washing the potty.

When the potty is finally all cleaned up again, she sat and sat yet no pee came out.

So what did she do?

She asked for water.

And drank a sip in the kitchen, and ran to the potty which is in the living room and sat on it.

When no pee came, she asked for the water again.

I have to say, that is pretty good problem solving on her part. But, well, she is too impatient.

After 2 tries of sipping water and potty sitting and yet no pee, she gave up and ran towards the Daddy, who is assembling something else.

@ 19 months

Date: 24 January 2011
by Mommypixie

Last week, the Grandma told me, Isla.X said this today:"Ah Gong, chi fan le!" (literally, Ah Gong, eat rice le, meaning Grandpa, it's dinner time.) She took her initiative and said this when the Grandma had put all the dishes on the table.

I am pleasantly surprised and mighty glad that she is behaving and knows how to get into the right books. 

Yesterday, the Grandma showed me how Isla.X could wear her sandals without assistance. Apparently, Grandma had taught Isla.X how to wear her them by showing her how to wriggle her feet into the sandals. While Isla.X was wearing her sandals, she said, Jin qu, jin qu. (meaning, go in, go in).

Also yesterday, Isla.X said "Wan liao. Finished, all done." after she had finished her milk. (Wan liao literally means 'finished already').

Don't think I have mentioned this. I am the Mandarin speaking parent while the Daddy is the English speaking parent to her. I did not think that she picked up much English as the Daddy does not spend as much time with Isla.X as I do and even then, the Daddy sticks to really simple English.

So, I am intrigued that Isla.X could piece the words together and use both languages to convey her message.

Today, after returning from grocery shopping, she slipped out of her sandals, took one of it and flung it towards the gate and the Grandma started laughing and said:"She could not throw previously and I thought her how and when to release her grip and see...how far she can throw now!"

Isn't it great that you have someone other than yourself to teach your kids?

Mommy Abuse

Date: 23 January 2011
by Mommiesaurus

Is there a mommy abuse bureau? Mommysaurus wants to lodge a complaint.

No sleeping from the hours of 2.30-4.30am. Or rather you're only allowed to shut eye for 3 minutes before you have to open the covers to get out and pick up Babysaurus again.

Then you have to open your eyes at 7.15am to see Babysaurus already on her tummy, crawling towards Mommysaurus.

And then she bites Mommysaurus' arm three times!

Ok! ok! Mommysaurus gets it - she's saying "open up your coffee shop! I am thirsty!"

To add to the complaint case - she's already sprouted one top front incisor.... *rubs bite marks sorely on arm*

Amy Chua's Why Chinese Mothers are superior

Date: 17 January 2011
by Mommypixie

Have you read the book "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua?

Well, I haven't but after reading the article "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior - WSJ.com", it got me really interested.

I was about to write a post about how I do not know how I have fared as a mother and this article made me even more confused.

I was also feeling guilty about how I had screamed at Isla.X a few days ago when she was constantly whining and sticking to me and now, having read the article, made me wonder...So, did I or did I not dent her self esteem and does it or doesn't it matter?

The other thing that was bothering me was whether I should start her on enrichment classes and whether holding her back is limiting what she can achieve. hahaha...oh well...

Sidetrack: You see, Isla.X attended some gym classes when she was in Beijing. We just wanted to bring her to somewhere near and warm and to keep her occupied during the cold winter days. She enjoyed herself tremondously while attending the gym lessons and is game for lots of the activities there.

Since returning to Singapore and Malaysia, we have not brought her to any playdates or classes.

But shortly after returning to Malaysia, she started saying things like "pean pean" and would clench her fist and move them inwards and outwards. For about 3 days, Mommypixie had no idea what she was doing. Then she started saying "see...see" and would sway her body while her arms outstretched to the sides.

Then it dawned on me. She was reciting the commands and moving to the commands that she had learnt from the gym classes from the warming up exercises!! "pean pean" was the command "open", where you have to open up your arms to the sides.

"See" is part of the two word command "See and saw", whereby you have to stretch out your arms, and you sway your body left and right, making your arms move like a see-saw.

So it seems to me that she does pick up skills and has the capacity to remember them.

Back to Amy Chua, I do not know whether I will be chinese or western in raising her up yet. And which will be the best for her and me.

But some things are certain: I would like her have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and have self control.

How will I achieve that?

Leading by example I guess.

Tough one but I will try.