What a night

Last night was long and tiring.

The husband and I were both out doing our own things and when we came home, we managed to have some supper before picking Kate up (from the next room back to ours). She was running a temperature.

I prepped paracetemol, the standard child's fever medication along with a milk feed and fed it to her. She took the medicine, and demanded for water (a lot) and - get this - refused milk. To those who know, Kate is one who loves her food and never says no to food. For her to refuse milk was a dire sign.

She looked very pale and her temperature continued to creep up another 0.5degrees within the hour. What's worse, she was clingy, cranky and sleepy all at once. She then proceeded to retch and threw up - three times.

As she hadn't eaten for hours, she merely threw up the medicine she was just given and all the water she'd consumed. It was horrible. She was upset that she'd vomited and tired and cranky all in one.

Poor girl.

The husband and I were so tired we both took today off to take care - of her and ourselves.

Good news update: she's pretty much back to normal and though her temperature is slightly high, she's fine now.

Putting Kate to sleep

I really love night time with Kate. That half (sometimes longer) hour is preciously mine & hers. She’ll roll on the bed, roll onto me, sit on me and touches me. She'll insist that I "jeep" (sleep) with her on the bed, and she even requests for me to "tab" (pat) her.

Those quiet moments are sometimes trying, I have to admit, as she sometimes take much longer than preferred to fall asleep. And it’s terrible how she’s used to sleeping at 11pm now! *gasp

But bad sleep-timings aside, what really warms my heart is that we’re that close & that we have such moments, how she’s familiar with me being by her side, how she feels comforted - I love how close we are.

Kate @ 3 months old - the days where we could sleep in together (till 9am) when I was on maternity leave

Dear Kate

Dear Kate,

It's been many months since Mommy wrote to you, and I'm suddenly inspired to do so. You have really grown so much and so fast that even being away for one short week, Papa can tell that there are differences in you - whether it's physical or behavioural.

You are a rather naughty one now, at 19.5months old. You throw tantrums when you don't get your way, you cry and insist that you get what you want. Your poor grand-mama is bullied by you daily, as she cannot tolerate you crying. She uses the soft approach where she'll "negotiate" with you; whether it's to give you only a very small piece of biscuit, or allow you a bit of what you want (a short while on the TV, for example). Your papa has his moods, where he may give in to you, though he's got his moments where it's rather clear that he'll not entertain your tantrums - the more you cry, the more you can forget about having what you want. I, on the other hand, like to think that I straddle the extremes.

Sometimes, I think that you are in the mood to absorb and listen (actually, I need to be in the mood too) and I will explain to you rationales. I think you do understand so it's important to impart you the theories rather than saying "no!" or being too harsh with you always. On the other hand, I think that you do push the limits too much sometimes and if you catch me in a lousy mood, I have no qualms about giving you a hard smack on your hand. I think you are a spunky child, sometimes too much so, and I do think that you need to be smacked for you to learn a lesson. Especially at moments where you insist on doing what we say not to, and you repeat your foolish ways over. Those are very trying times! But Papa and I are consistent that you need to be disciplined so you can forget about being a bad kid. We will not allow it!

Generally, I accept that your behaviour is fair and you are being a normal growing child, exploring your boundaries and testing your parents; giving us plenty of opportunities to hone our patience and parenting skills. It's a challenge balancing between doing what's right and what's easy (whipping out the iPhone instantly to appease you takes seconds) but do we really want to always bribe you like that?)

You are a chatty little monkey and it's terribly amusing hearing you jibble and gabble all day. Only us, who are closer to you, can interpret what you say. Others probably catch only 50% of it all! You probably take after me - talkative - like that. You can identify many objects and people and say them accurately. You can piece sentences and desires together - I want to eat; Papa see Kate; Mama come eat; Yiyi bubble; Happy birthday (to) you/Mama/(person)... you can also sing songs! I always feel very happy hearing you go on and on. I also love to talk to you. It amazes me to no end that you can respond accordingly - yes/no/ yao/ bu yao... we can communicate and have a pretty decent conversation really, very impressive.

Your movements are still slightly clumsy, I reckon. You can run and walk and climb all over, but you still trip over things/sometimes nothing when you're just moving too quickly. Is this a sign that you're like me? O dearie me. Preferably not please, your Papa is much more nimble!

Watch me run! Who says I'm clumsy?!

You love to play - we can bring you out on picnics, to the park and you enjoy it so much. Every outing is special because we view things differently and we make the effort to make things exciting so that we all enjoy new experiences together!

Everyone loves happy outings! Family of females at Loewen Gardens on that wet Saturday

You 'wow' at things that fascinate you, you listen intently when we point out new things to you. You ask for things that amuse you - such as Barney in the car, insisting that we make it dance to entertain you. You love big empty spaces where you get to run around freely and madly as kids love to. You also love water - you got a little sunburnt from the picnic we had last weekend, but I'm positive that you enjoyed yourself as you were surrounded by your loved ones and the activities outdoors were nothing but fun for kids.

Family picnic @ Marina Barrage

Water play

You also love occasions, especially birthdays! You like to sing the song "Happy birthday", though the way you pronounce it doesn't make sense to any stranger (daji-daji) - haha it's terribly funny.

Happy birthday, Grandma!

You go to sleep slightly later now, a little too late for my liking. Depending on your mood, you take forever, or not, to fall asleep. You ask for "Mama, pat" if I stop thinking that you've fallen asleep. You request for songs "Barney", "Star", "See-Saw" are the top 3 hits in Kate's favorite play list. You take up a lot of the bed, and Papa and I are trying to work out if it's still/ever possible for us 3 to co-share one bed.

You eat well still, and your favorite food is definitely snacks. Biscuits, fruits, raisins - name it, you love it. You still eat the mushy porridge that is lovingly prepared for you daily, so that's no issue. It's also so much more convenient to bring you out now since you can share our food. I try to order healthier options like fish or soupy stuff so that you can eat those. Papa and I are a lot more relaxed with your diet now - allowing you treats like fries, you tiao, and practically everything in small bits as long as it's not overly salty/sweet. You are quite an adventurous foodie and I love how you are fuss-free in this category.

My foodie baby

You are an affectionate child and are usually generous with hugs and kisses. I love how you always call out "Mama" - though sometimes only upon request - and it is the most precious feeling in the world, knowing that the word is reserved especially for me.

Precious kisses

It's a different phase of you being a toddler now and it's very fun and exciting since you're growing and moulding into a mini person that you are. I hope that I'll always be a good role model to you, as I want you to turn out the best you can be. Papa and I are exploring childcare options for you now, so that you can learn more in a good and right environment. It is a difficult decision for us since we have to leave you in the hands of strangers, people that we are unassociated and unfamiliar with entirely, but it is a step that we have to take for our benefits.

Thank you for being such a lovely child, for being so loving, for being this cheeky and for being the best thing that's happened to my life.

I love you my darling Kate.

Love, Mama

Yay!

The husband is back!

After a day of being out shopping, eating and visiting, Kate and I headed to the airport to pick him up yesterday evening. We arrived just in time to see him walking towards the conveyor belts, and it was a pretty sight seeing Father and Daughter smiling and waving enthusiastically at each other! We had a simple dinner of noodles at a market and headed home where we all crashed out pretty early.

Today, we all slept in and had our meal, before a semi-failed trip to the park. It was too hot for Kate to play at the playground, so I guess it wasn't too enjoyable for her though she was terribly excited by the fact that we were going to the park.

The two of them are home bonding with each other now while I get some me-time (rescuing my dreaded locks).

It's so lovely to have our family complete to do things together! Welcome home, dear husband.

Good Friday

It's been a great day so far. I got to sleep in as the mom and the sister were so kind as to watch Kate (great decision to stayover last night!); woke up to helping out with preparations for our planned picnic and having a rather enjoyable and fun time at the Marina Barrage with the family. We haven't had a picnic in yonks and it's quite a novel experience, special thanks to the sister and the boyfriend who put in much effort to plan it.

I think Kate had fun as she was out in the open with sunshine and (semi) fresh air, she got to fly kites and the highlight for her was probably the water feature where she got to play with water splish-splash!

My baby and I

Now we're hanging for a bit until we head off to the airport to send the mom off on her much-deserved holiday.

It's a sweet start to the long weekend so far. Good Friday!

Bed hogger

The picture says it all!

All grown up

I know she's still little, but I cannot help but be amazed at how Kate's really become a little person. Here's some amazing developments:

1/ She talks
Her vocabulary is amazing for a 19-month-old. She speaks English, Mandarin & Hokkien! She is able to communicate with us in mostly English and Mandarin, she's able to express her desires and unhappiness and she can retaliate by saying "NO" or "bu yao" or "Yes"... it's so amazing. Besides singular words that make total sense, she is also able to form sentences. Her first was "I want to eat", and now she has progressed to filling in that simple sentence with words such as "play" or "drink milk".

She can also communicate via the phone now - where she answers appropriately when we speak with her.

2/ She sings
She's picking up songs and actions to songs really quickly. It's so funny and cute to see her do the actions especially since she's still so tiny and well, her movements are still quite cartoon-y.

3/ She plays
I reckon this is rather typical, where her attention is like that of a tiny insect. But I suppose kids are like that, and yesterday the sister discovered that Kate knows how to play "bathing". She undresses this toy bear she has (that wears a cape), she puts the bear in the toy kitchen sink & "bom boms" for it, then she takes a piece of tissue to dry the bear before putting the cape back on (ok she can't dress or undress the bear herself but she knows what needs to be done)

She also knows how to play with her toys properly such as the "car" - she can navigate and 'vroom' about, the picnic set - she knows how to 'bor' (pour) and make 'brad' (bread); and she'll bring the cup and serve (force) it "Mama eat".

Such joyful developments to know and hear of, my clever little girl.

40 minutes

Time I saw the clock this morning: 8.15am
Time I sat down in my work chair this morning: 8.55am

Man. Thank goodness the traffic was relatively friendly today. *phew

My poor toe

Two weeks ago, I did my first 12km run. It was a great run, as I'd shared before.

I didn't take any pictures before as my foot/toes/blister were really too gross, but it's healed slightly by now.

My awkward foot

Now, it may look like I merely did not paint my 2nd toe (that's the injured one!) but in truth, the reason why I was not able to paint it is because there is no toe nail.

The whole toe was blue-black before ok! Until Dr DIY had to pick at it and remove the dead nail & the dried blood clots. Gross right.

Mama in the morning

I started work earlier today (oh, I really did regret not sleeping earlier!) and when I left home, Kate was still asleep. I just rang home hoping to chat with her but she was taking her afternoon nap. The MIL shared that she called for me the moment her eyes opened though - and that pleases me to no end! I can imagine you calling "MAMA"... as you usually do. *beams

Dear Kate,

I miss you so much. You turned 19 months yesterday and you are a lovely, lovely child. You brighten up my life (and Papa's) and I cannot imagine you being any different - I love you just the way you are, whether you're defiant, cheeky, laughing, naughty or not.

Love you, my little cheeky miss

Au naturel pistachio flavoured ice-cream - yum. There's a mini baluku on your forehead.

HAHA. You're so adorable, little princess. Mommy loves you very much.

Much ado

I'm really going to regret not sleeping when the alarm goes off tomorrow, especially since I have to be at work 1hr15mins earlier than usual, but I figure you cannot fight inspiration nor the urge to write. After all, it's therapeutic to release thoughts.

The past few days have been rather exciting and hectic, starting with two nights of work events. Levi's was the official apparel sponsor of Timbre Rock & Roots 2011. We got a hospitality booth and for those two nights, I had some work to do but also the chance to hang out with colleagues, friends and watch some pretty amazing music acts. I must say that I was rather excited about the entire show - I expected amazing atmosphere, wild crowds; but I must say that the entire experience was less than my expectations.

To be fair, the line-up of artistes were not what I was familiar with, safe for some very big names the likes of Bob Dylan and John Legend. And though a crowded place is inconvenient for many things - long Qs, smelly sweaty people etc - it does make a concert better as it is the people that also maketh the experience.

For me, the best act across both nights has got to be John Legend. He was very charming and totally mesmerized me - and every other girl (and maybe guy) - at the concert. He has a velvet voice that croons very sexily. Nice. At this concert, I saw some friends and managed to hang out and chat with them in bits and pieces. I also discovered that old me could stay up past midnight! Haha.

The husband joined me the first night of the concert, and early Saturday morning, Kate and I sent him off on his work trip at the airport. Kate and I then spent the rest of Saturday with her favorite Grandma and Yiyi, before I went to work again.

Today was spent sleeping in till noon - feeling like crap really when I woke up because sleeping late is such a tiring thing (!!). I accomplished the errands of the day - doing an exchange for the husband, going for a birthday party, buying milk powder for Kate - and watched a bit of TV after Kate knocked out.

This documentation is beginning to sound rather boring, and I wish I had the energy to zest it up. But strangely, Im feeling mildly melancholic. May it be PMS? Perhaps it's because I miss the husband (it's only a week that he's gone though and very manageable). Maybe it's because I miss Kate? Somehow, I feel that I don't spend enough time with her - I have to be more focused and spend quality time with her when I can.

Right - that's what I'll focus on for the week in the husband's absence. I have to do more to help the MIL since it's only her and I that will care for Kate this week, so I may as well set my mind to do it better. She's growing up so fast. She's such a lovely little lady and she amazes me to no end at her intelligence. I also really feel so loved every time she calls out for me, and when she gives me her signature hug. She gives me kisses willingly. She is my baby.

Alright, I guess I really ought to sleep because I'm becoming mildly incoherent.

Here's to a good week ahead.

Rock & Roll

I have an event tonight and tomorrow night, where I'll get to attend my first live musical concert with the likes of big names like Bob Dylan and John Legend!

WOOT!

Sleepy-heads

Morning times are most cosy, where everyone is half-dazed and still in slumberland. You know, that feeling where you're cuddled up in bed, where you half-open your eyes and see that it's still dark-ish and you quickly shut your eyes again and continue to snuggle in the warmth of the bed amidst the cool air-conditioning in the room.

Shot this morning, just before I stepped out of home; my babies.

The husband took this pic of Kate and I the night before, I had no idea of it until I was going through my phone and saw the picture!

Our weekend past

The weekend started for us late, as we did not do our usual Friday dinner. Instead, I was at work (15 hours!) from 9am to midnight overseeing the fashion show that Levi's was taking part in. FSO (Fashion Season @ Orchard) celebrates Fashion in this quarter alongside many other shows such as the Audi Fashion Fest, Men's Fashion Week, etc. The day was spent clearing up work in the office for half the day, then the latter half was spent at Orchard Road. Here are pictures from the day.

Make-up corner, backstage

Our ladies had smoky make-up, love the kohl eyes

Our men did too!

Our only female model with short hair, love how rock she looked

Dressing up, backstage was getting increasingly more stressful. Rizal, the stylist, doing touch-ups to the models

Levi's looking sexy

My favourite male model, how hot is he!

The husband has his own agenda for Friday night and while I don't have any pics of him during the night, here's one of him post:

Hung-over

He was pretty much in a bad state all the day till 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Ha ha.
He was feeling so crap that he asked me to drive, which is practically an unheard of! Here are some pics of my babies crashed out.

The husband's personal leg-rest

View from my mirror in the front

The drunken one

We spent the afternoon at Suntec City to catch a work fashion show, where I also got to spend an hour alone with Kate while the husband rested (from his drunken stupor). She is at a stage now where she is very comfortable sitting in the pram (in fact, she wants to!) and she will sit there relaxedly, enjoying the ride, talking/singing to herself the entire time. How lovely.

The husband and I dropped Kate off with my mom, her weekly sleepover with Grandma & Yeye. The husband and I managed to get a night of nothingness to ourselves where we talked, lazed, ate & attempted to watch a movie. Such nights of no-kid is quite enjoyable. We were also preparing for our 2Xu run the next morning... which got off to an awkward start because we both missed hearing the alarms and instead, woke up startled when the husband's colleague rang him at 5.30am asking "where are you?" Oops.

We very hurriedly washed up and prepared to head out of the house and we did so in record time. By 6.15am, we were at the meeting point @ Marina Square.

This was my 2nd run (the first was Run for Hope 2008) & I was rather psyched about it because I reckon I'm in pretty good shape now, post-birth. I've been exercising regularly for the past 4months and I was rather looking forward to it. I wasn't stressed, and all I wanted to achieve was to keep running (no stopping!) the entire time. I am very proud to say that I did it! I did not stop throughout the entire 12km! I did stop, however, to climb up a set of stairs after the 8km mark. I am not sure of my timing, but if I remember right, I probably did the run in about 1hr 26mins. Wonder if 2Xu will follow-up with a certificate with my actual time, then I'll know for sure?

Feeling victorious post-run, with Eileen, my fellow-female runner

Proud me, with my number tag & finisher medal

The husband and I

We rewarded ourselves with a hearty breakfast

Burrrp

It was only 10ish am after all that hard work, and my parents were super-marketing with Kate and so the husband and I arranged to meet them at the park. This is their new weekly activity with the baby.

The silly husband who spoils this picture with his closed eyes *ggrr

The husband doing what he really wanted to (see picture above), while we waited for Kate & my parents to arrive

Family fun at the kiddy playground

Happy baby!

Sang nila Kate checking out the horizons at Bishan Park

It started to drizzle so we had to make our escape

My loving parents

Nana

The drizzle stopped so Kate continued her exercise in the park, chasing dogs (you can make out the puppy just at the tip of her head from the pic, it just looks like a blob)

We spent the rest of Sunday eating & resting (oh my poor feet) & I got to reward myself with a manicure & pedicure session. Finally! My nails look human!

Sunday ended with the cousins playing together. Lukas can walk on his own already!

Social networking, fashion runway, front row seat & tired feet

That pretty much sums up what my day was about.

It started as usual at 7am where I bus-ed to work and went about my day. I then hit my event site by 2pm and started my very own "catwalk" from Paragon to Ion several times, checking out the hair & make-up for my models for the fashion runway event taking place tonight.

I met many people through the day, from high-ranking people from different organizations, to a friendly uncle who owns a chain of hair boutiques, to work associates that may be very helpful to know, to other randoms... before I knew it, it was showtime and while I was very glad that I didn't have to be involved in the actual show operationally, it was still rather nail-biting to be in the front row alongside your principals waiting to present them all the work that's been put in the apparel selection, hair & make-up style directive...

The show went fine (I did see a lady's chair collapse when she was sitting on it. But, that's not on-stage so... ), and I'm very proud to say that the Levi's segment went off without a hitch. The choreography was quite interesting, but what really really made it go "WOW" was the styling of apparels with excellent make-up & hair that really brought the essence of the brand alive. We looked very sexy.

Through the night, I saw familiar faces, some nice some not so, and all in all, it was very exciting (I do need a better adjective than over-using this same word!) to be in the front row watching my show materialize in front of my eyes.

At the end of it all, I felt a little boo that I didn't have anyone to hang out with; it would have been super if I could have hit No5 for some beer & chicken wings, but it's just as well that I managed to fill my tummy - every trustworthy junk food at all times, Maccas, and - can you believe this - take a very cheap bus ride home (it was midnight!) and now that I'm in the comfort of my scruffy pjs and bedroom, I look at my beautiful sleeping beauty and I think - aahh, just as well that I'm here with my precious.

What a day. My feet, oh, my feet.

Mid-day treat

The day has been quite sh*tty really.

So thank you, for taking the effort to send this to me.

Love

A night and day of celebrations

We celebrated the night by splurging on a sumptuous dinner at The Mandarin Hotel. The spread was pretty good and the quality of food was great! What did we celebrate? Plenty…

First off, to the husband for his super performance in running the IPPT. Not only did he shave off much time from his run compared to the last two years, he also won much pride on a side wager with his colleague. WELL DONE!

Next up, we got a letter that we’d been waiting for with bated breath – the letter from the property developer updating us that we will be getting the keys to our new home by August 2011! YAY!

Thirdly, while it’s some weeks late, I reckon it’s better than never. I officiated the dinner as a celebration of our wedding anniversary. The ambience in the restaurant was rather nice, and rather romantic. So I think that it was truly appropriate. Highlight of the dinner (besides the food), was that Kate was as usual, the joy of our lives. She is such an angel who can eat and feed herself already, and she can sit in the high chair for a rather long period of time, entertaining herself with dinner alongside her (greedy) parents!

Finally, the last part of the night was rather somber, while the husband and I ploughed through some heart-to-heart, but I think it’s still a celebration of sorts as communication is always a good thing.

My triumphant moment

I'm secretly skipping in my seat now! I have figured out, on my own accord, how to sync the phone to the computer as I needed to transfer everything that's important out (only the pictures really, as those are most precious!) as it keeps saying "no space". I tried ringing Sony Ericsson to request for help but the line never got picked up. Hmph.

So anyway, for someone as tech-idiot as I am (the husband will get it) to have figured out and achieved what I wanted/needed to do, it is a huge triumph!

Hoorah!

Singing songstress

She can sing. A little off-key, but she tries. She hums, she makes different pitches, she started off completing the last word of each sentence of songs; her first being "Twinkle Twinkle"; then we experimented and discovered that she knew pretty much most of the nursery rhymes that we have been singing to her since she was born (Humpty Dumpty, See Saw Margery Daw, Hickory Dickory Dock...) and one of her favourite songs has got to be Happy Birthday. She fills in the last words with Papa/ Mama/ Yeye/ Yiyi/ etc.. it's terribly cute.

Last week, my mom taught her this chinese song "Wei Wei Bu Yao Pa" and within a week, she began singing the song on her own! Of course, she didn't manage to say every single word clearly, but she definitely hums and has caught the gist of the lyrics so that we know that it's that song that she's singing.

How clever!

Here's one to sum up all the loose ends

I’ve been feeling rather uninspired lately. I cannot seem to put my feelings into words properly and I feel boring. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been busy and I haven’t had the time to *think*. So now that my work event is over, I want to take this opportunity to just pen down the loose thoughts floating about in my brain.

It was my wedding anniversary - our 3rd - on 24 March 2011. I wasn’t too delighted that the husband and I didn’t get to spend the day together. Not only did we not have a chance to celebrate it with any fancy dinner, we barely saw each other on the day! The husband started work early (or was it me?) and he ended work very late so we basically did not get to see each other that whole day. I remember I was feeling grumps that day because I was meant to finish work at a normal time but there were delays so I ended up working late and I even did a boo-boo where I waited at a wrong bus-stop for the bus that doesn’t reach there.

…

Unpleasant, really. The silver lining on the cloud is that I spent that tragic evening sms-ing my best friend (that’s what friends are for!) about my pathetic state and how I was feeling terribly grumpy that I wasn’t spending my anniversary with the husband. Ah well.

I sent this MMS to the husband with an accompanying message along the lines of “This is what I’m eating alone now. Sucky that we aren’t together”

He responded from his work stint with this MMS & his message was something like this “mine is worse than yours”

So that marked our 3rd wedding anniversary. Nice.

Last Friday, we had our family dinner at 313 @ Somerset. We had German and after that meal, our family of 3 decided that we didn’t fancy it very much. Kate expressed her preference very strongly as she picked food off her tongue and played with it on the table. . I mean, it was nice & fine, but I guess it’s something we’ll keep to occasions or when the mood strikes only.

Kate was dressed in her new shirt-dress from H&M and I think she looked very nice!

Hi!

One

Two

Three

Four!

And to end this entry on an even happier note (who wouldn't be smiling after looking at the series of pics above?!), here's a picture of my daughter who is already a collector at her tender age of 1.5yrs old.

Ta-da! I'm trying to build my furniture collection to help Papa and Mama for our new home!