Favourite books:
1. Nursery Rhymes Book (assortment of rhymes)
This was one of the first books I bought for Kate and the husband and I started reading it to her when she was still in my belly. I bought this book because the fonts are in large print and easy-to-read. The illustrations are also simple and colourful. She's so familiar with this that she'll start doing actions to the rhymes before I start reading them cos she recognises the pictures. Very cute.
2. Where's Harry? (an interactive flip-book in search of Harry the dog)
I bought this only recently, but Kate likes it because she gets to flip the pages. Since she also knows how to bark like a dog (her bark sounds like 'woah'), she'd point at the dog in the picture and bark.
3. This Little Piggy
This particular book is her favourite from a collection of rhymes in a very handy-small size (square of about 5cm). Amidst all the books, she'll pick this one up and hand it to you to read. Many times over.
Favourite toys: Current faves include the big red ball, her dolls (wa wa) and her bike (mostly because she associates going gaigai in it). However, her real favourites are non-toy items such as the our mobile phones, newspapers, thermometer, keys... you get the idea.
Favourite foods: This little girl is not a picky eater (yay! I hope it stays this way). She eats anything, but does not prefer tomatoes (she eats them but not on their own. Think she doesn't fancy the mushy texture) nor potatoes (perhaps it's too starchy for her liking?) nor avocade (attempted this several times before and didn't work with her. Maybe I ought to try it again sometime?) She loves milk (she knows to request for it) and biscuits and bread (bao bao aka mian bao; as the husband says, she's a snacker like you)
Favourite words: Papa, Mama, mum-mum (food), DA-DA! (she'll yell this with gusto - but we don't know what it means!)
Favourite TV shows: "I can read" DVD series, "Hi-5" (the MIL watches this with her, it airs on weekdays so I've not had a chance to watch it with her ever) and (tragically!), the 7pm drama series on Channel 8 (mostly out of habit as she'll watch it with the MIL. She dances to the Hokkien theme song!)
Favourite activities: Pinching, walking everywhere, touching everything and letting everyone know how she feels very loudly. Making friends (constantly smiling at other people).
Story of our simple lives - of our family, of our beautiful children, Kate & Jake
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
My 2 favouritest people in the world
I love how the husband pulls his weight in looking after our precious one, and how she in turn loves us both equally. I love how the dynamics in our three-way relationship is growing and changing each day. I love this pic where the two of them are hand-in-hand, dressed alike in jeans and a tee.I love them with all my heart.
Monday, November 8, 2010
My baby and I
October 2009, Kate at 5weeks old with her birth hair. Picture was taken in the bedroom.
31 December 2009. Kate and I at a friend's wedding dinner at the Singapore Flyer. She didn't have hair anymore (shaven at 2nd month) so we put on caps to make her prettier and to keep her warm.
February 2010, 6-month old Kate and I taking the bus to Orchard Road. We headed to Far East Plaza and visited the sister at work. 
18 March 2010, I celebrate my first birthday as a Mother. My birthday cake bought by the husband read "Happy Birthday Mummy June". 
Kate and I on the swing in a playground in the surburbs in Perth. It was her first holiday overseas in March 2010. Kate was 6 months old. She was wearing her prettiest hat which was worn most often - it was white and easiest to match with clothes. 
May 2010, Kate visits House @ Dempsey for brunch. Love how we were both in yellow, nice and cheery. 
Kate at 9 months old. Look how cute she was! I'd forgotten how yuan she was - haha. Pic taken on-board the tram; we were at the zoo for Matty's 1st birthday party.
Kate and I having brunch at The Saddle Club end August 2010. She was nearly 12 months old. She has hair! Again, I love how we were in the same colours.
Kate at 13months old. Pic was taken one morning 2 weeks ago before I headed off to work. I love that cheeky smile!
Naughty corner
As the little one gains independance, she is also more cheeky and a huge handful.
She wants to walk everywhere on her own and wiggles out of our arms after an average of, well, 3 seconds. It's exasperating because sometimes, I really just wish to hug her but she obviously does not reciprocate. Nonetheless, it is terribly heartening to see her waddling around so cutely. She's still rather unstable but getting better and stronger each day.
I've also heard many times how naughty kids grow - I know it's inevitable and a natural progression as they discover and develop, but it is very frustrating, hair-pulling and overall, unpleasant!
Things I prefer Kate not to do:
She throws a tantrum - cries on demand.
She throws things on the floor - when we tell her not to. She does this to express her annoyance or displeasure when we tell her off, or simply because she is being naughty.
She grabs my glasses off my face.
She spits her food out - this she does when she's bored or full.
She bites - seldom but still happens. Salvation is that she does not bite hard, bit still, it's unacceptable. And what's odd is when she bites herself and we see bite marks on her arms.
She refuses to sleep/stay where we ask her to - attempts to climb off the bed/feeding chair and wriggles whilst screaming murder.
She touches everything lying around - dangerous as she may end up putting small objects into her mouth.
She insists on the pacifier - we only allow her to have it at night time, before she goes to sleep but she will cry for it when she's in the mood (especially when sleepy). Sometimes we give in, especially when she's hysterical.
She demands for biscuits, bread or milk - when she feels like them, even after she has had a meal. Greedy baby.
She picks up her shoes and puts them into her mouth - this is a new-found hobby as of 2 weeks' back. I have no idea why she does this. I am very certain she is not hungry.
Overall, I think Kate is, on the whole, a rather well-behaved child and I count my blessings that she is, but when the moments such as above occur, I really am at my wit's end as to what to do.
(The husband and I have had secret conversations with each other where we despair and worry what we'd do if we are unable to control Kate. Solution? We have to be consistent, firm and support each other. Little else we can do really. Oh, and have faith.)
When she was about 3-4 month's old, I recall the first time I yelled at her and smacked her hands for pulling at the electrical wires. It broke my heart to do it but, hey, it worked! Till today, she knows not to touch them.
Yesterday, I've had it with her nasty behaviour. She had bitten me (lightly on my shoulder) and I put her down on the floor against the wall and held her there while telling her repeatedly that she is not to bite me, nor anyone else. In truth, I was more yelling because I had to make sure she could somehow hear me above the crying racket she was making. It was a challenge as I also had to hold her still, while protecting her head (otherwise she'd smack her head against the wall).
Gotta give it to her, she struggled for her life.
At the end of it, I know she just wanted me to let her go and quit yelling at her - the moment I did, she leaned into my body and put her head on my shoulder, whimpering. My heart melted but I had to keep my voice steady and stern while I repeated to her what she was not to do.
I was drained at the end of the episodes - the second time happened in the evening when she'd misbehaved again. It's the first time that I'd done this with her and I know (gotta have faith!) that soon, she will understand that she will be punished for bad behaviour.
This parenting game is tough - but it's gotta be done. And I know that it is essential that the husband and I are consistent in how we treat and discipline her as this maketh the foundation of how a child behaves in the future. No one likes a brat. And the husband and I will not support bratty behaviour.
She wants to walk everywhere on her own and wiggles out of our arms after an average of, well, 3 seconds. It's exasperating because sometimes, I really just wish to hug her but she obviously does not reciprocate. Nonetheless, it is terribly heartening to see her waddling around so cutely. She's still rather unstable but getting better and stronger each day.
I've also heard many times how naughty kids grow - I know it's inevitable and a natural progression as they discover and develop, but it is very frustrating, hair-pulling and overall, unpleasant!
Things I prefer Kate not to do:
She throws a tantrum - cries on demand.
She throws things on the floor - when we tell her not to. She does this to express her annoyance or displeasure when we tell her off, or simply because she is being naughty.
She grabs my glasses off my face.
She spits her food out - this she does when she's bored or full.
She bites - seldom but still happens. Salvation is that she does not bite hard, bit still, it's unacceptable. And what's odd is when she bites herself and we see bite marks on her arms.
She refuses to sleep/stay where we ask her to - attempts to climb off the bed/feeding chair and wriggles whilst screaming murder.
She touches everything lying around - dangerous as she may end up putting small objects into her mouth.
She insists on the pacifier - we only allow her to have it at night time, before she goes to sleep but she will cry for it when she's in the mood (especially when sleepy). Sometimes we give in, especially when she's hysterical.
She demands for biscuits, bread or milk - when she feels like them, even after she has had a meal. Greedy baby.
She picks up her shoes and puts them into her mouth - this is a new-found hobby as of 2 weeks' back. I have no idea why she does this. I am very certain she is not hungry.
Overall, I think Kate is, on the whole, a rather well-behaved child and I count my blessings that she is, but when the moments such as above occur, I really am at my wit's end as to what to do.
(The husband and I have had secret conversations with each other where we despair and worry what we'd do if we are unable to control Kate. Solution? We have to be consistent, firm and support each other. Little else we can do really. Oh, and have faith.)
When she was about 3-4 month's old, I recall the first time I yelled at her and smacked her hands for pulling at the electrical wires. It broke my heart to do it but, hey, it worked! Till today, she knows not to touch them.
Yesterday, I've had it with her nasty behaviour. She had bitten me (lightly on my shoulder) and I put her down on the floor against the wall and held her there while telling her repeatedly that she is not to bite me, nor anyone else. In truth, I was more yelling because I had to make sure she could somehow hear me above the crying racket she was making. It was a challenge as I also had to hold her still, while protecting her head (otherwise she'd smack her head against the wall).
Gotta give it to her, she struggled for her life.
At the end of it, I know she just wanted me to let her go and quit yelling at her - the moment I did, she leaned into my body and put her head on my shoulder, whimpering. My heart melted but I had to keep my voice steady and stern while I repeated to her what she was not to do.
I was drained at the end of the episodes - the second time happened in the evening when she'd misbehaved again. It's the first time that I'd done this with her and I know (gotta have faith!) that soon, she will understand that she will be punished for bad behaviour.
This parenting game is tough - but it's gotta be done. And I know that it is essential that the husband and I are consistent in how we treat and discipline her as this maketh the foundation of how a child behaves in the future. No one likes a brat. And the husband and I will not support bratty behaviour.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Gaining independence
Kate is definitely becoming more endearing, as she becomes equipped with knowledge each day. Her developments are amazing and I love to watch her execute commands, as she displays proudly the things that she knows - whether she mimics actions that we do, or speaks words.
Last night, she annoyed, surprised and amused me - all at the same time.
It was late, way past her bedtime and she awakened suddenly, wanting to get off the bed. After struggling with her for some tries, I gave up and gave her the "Mommy is very tired. I'm going to sleep!" lecture and proceeded to lay down and pretend sleep. This has happened before and it still annoyed me (I was very tired! She ought to be sleeping!) - but what she did next was pretty amazing.
She picked up the empty milk bottle (from her post-sleep feed), stood by my face and made the milk sign (sign language), and proceeded to walk towards the door holding the bottle tightly in her hand. When she reached the door (which was closed), she turned around to look at me. I was still lying in bed. After waiting 3 seconds, she walked back to me and repeated the sign language and walked to the door again. This little girl was asking for milk and wanted me to head to the kitchen!
I was very impressed and felt, now what I recognise, as pride. My little girl is able to display her intentions through her ways and it is an amazing thing. I'm pretty stoked.
Now, only another 2 days before the husband comes back from his work trip so he can takeover some parenting duties and watch her developments and growth with his own eyes.
Parenting is definitely more rewarding when two people are able to share it.
Last night, she annoyed, surprised and amused me - all at the same time.
It was late, way past her bedtime and she awakened suddenly, wanting to get off the bed. After struggling with her for some tries, I gave up and gave her the "Mommy is very tired. I'm going to sleep!" lecture and proceeded to lay down and pretend sleep. This has happened before and it still annoyed me (I was very tired! She ought to be sleeping!) - but what she did next was pretty amazing.
She picked up the empty milk bottle (from her post-sleep feed), stood by my face and made the milk sign (sign language), and proceeded to walk towards the door holding the bottle tightly in her hand. When she reached the door (which was closed), she turned around to look at me. I was still lying in bed. After waiting 3 seconds, she walked back to me and repeated the sign language and walked to the door again. This little girl was asking for milk and wanted me to head to the kitchen!
I was very impressed and felt, now what I recognise, as pride. My little girl is able to display her intentions through her ways and it is an amazing thing. I'm pretty stoked.
Now, only another 2 days before the husband comes back from his work trip so he can takeover some parenting duties and watch her developments and growth with his own eyes.
Parenting is definitely more rewarding when two people are able to share it.
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