DH's birthday!

Poor HB, back from Japan and down with bad throat. He basically lost his voice and was coughing. Being on mc on your own birthday.. so poor thing. After resting for half a day, he did feel better so we decided to bring Val to Swenson's to have a free Birthday Firehouse.

Knowing that Chocolate is definitely one of the allergy trigger, we went ahead to eat up the choc & peanuts! I don't think she really noticed as she was busy eating up all the whipped cream! Needless to say, the ice cream made her v happy :-)

After having the ice cream, we proceed to buy a small cake so that the kids can sing bday song and cut bday cake. Again, because of her allergy to choc, we have to avoid choc cake (which is VERY hard!). Ultimately we settled for a Pandan Cake from Bengawan Solo.

1st trip to the Library

Today is another 'adventure' for both of us as we'll be taking bus to the library. As we waited quite a while for the bus, Valerie started pointing at any vehicle that drove past the bus stop and asked "Is this the bus?" Hahaha

After waiting for 15-20mins, the bus finally came. Val doesn't have a concession card and I'm not sure if she needed one. When boarding, I asked the bus driver if I need to pay for Val, and the answer as "No need". Hee

When we reached the library, we went to the preschooler's section. It was a nice little area with little tables & chairs and MANY MANY books. Actually so many that I really don't know how or where to start. So I randomly picked out some books and read to her.

We didn't stay very long in the library coz Val kept yawning (hahaha). Besides, it's almost time for lunch so we started heading home. It was a short but at least it's still quality time with Valerie.

But at the near end of it, there was a 'glitch' tho.. that's Val's fingers got caught in the lift door when it was opening! Thankfully nowadays the lift doors have sensor so it quickly shut back when there was something jammed inside. Val's fingers are ok, but she definitely got a fright. But she soon got over it. :p

Smile that melts a million hearts

At 7 weeks plus, this boy is really quite responsive. Maybe his smile will not melt a million hearts as I would have thought. But it definitely melted mine.

Finally.. solo trip with Valerie!

While on maternity leave, I've always wanted to bring Valerie out on my own to spend some quality time alone with her. Finally today we have the chance to. DH left for Japan yesterday night and today being a P.H. means Valerie does not have school and I'll have the use of the car.

She has always wanted to goto the pool so I brought her to NSRCC today. Along the way, she kept saying "No need scared of plane". She still has this fear of the plane flying over her head thus everytime she hears the plane (and at NSRCC you hear that alot due to its proximity to the airport), she'll cover her eyes or seek shelter. Eventhough she kept reminding herself that there is no need to be scared of the plane, she still cover her eyes or ask me to hug her when the plane fly past :p

We spent roughly half hour in the pool. Although the time ain't very long but it's still a wonderful time both of us had spent with each other. I know I'm not as cheeky and 'fun' as her dad but I'm still happy and she enjoys my company (or at least I think so lah). :p

Tomorrow Valerie has no school so I intend to bring her to the Library. She hasn't been to one, hopefully she'll enjoy her 1st trip there.

PS: Sorry no pix of today's dip coz I can't possible take pix while splashing in the pool with her right? :p

Like father like son?

What do you think?

Million-dollar smile

At 6 weeks this boy is actually quite responsive. See how wide his smile is :-) He hasn't started laughing out loud yet, I'm really looking forward to hearing his first laughter

My precious

Valerie is still learning how to be gentle to her lil' bro but we know for sure that she does dote on him.

So does anyone think they resembles each other?

When is too much TV a bad thing?

Was it ever a good thing to introduce TV anyway? I don't know. I didn't want to read those articles coz I don't wish to try to be the best mom and only do all the 'correct' things. Of course I know too much TV is bad, but when is it considered too much? I guess I know the answer now.

Valerie is definitely having way too much TV. Average FIVE hours a day. 1 hour before she goes to school, and at least another 4 hours after she wakes up (5pm - 9pm). It's just too much TV. The moment she wakes up she'll ask for Playhouse Disney. Sigh.

What can be done? Now that we've shifted here, the playground is a tat far for MIL. Other than letting her watch TV, she really do not know how to 'entertain' her. Valerie is already 3+, she should try her hands on some writting (tracing) and recognising words.

I think I must really put my thoughts into action. While I'm still on maternity leave, I should try to bring her to the playground daily. At least try to cut down on TV for the time being.

First solo trip

Other than the trip to ESH, I've not yet bring Nigel out alone. Today is the first. I brought Nigel back to office today to distribute those Bengawan Solo cake cards to colleagues who have given Nigel ang-bao for his 1st month. Unfortunately, quite a few were on leave or on biz trip so Nigel didn't manage to meet all the aunties & uncles that mommy works with.

Nonetheless, I still brought him to walk 1 round in the office just to let my colleagues see him. Most of them said the same thing, i.e. 1) he is fair, 2) he definitely looks like a boy and 3) he got double eye-lid! hahaha

After hanging around in office for 1 hr (Nigel drank milk thus that took half hour already :p), I headed to Raffles Place to meet Lucinda. Along the way, I popped by Madam Milan in Raffles Place MRT station (how could I resist right) and saw that the shop is stocked up with tons of bags. Bottega itself they have 4 or 5 pcs. Many Miu Mius, some TODS/Loewe and of course tons of LVs & Guccis :p

I saw a BV Roma but gosh, it's indeed quite heavy! :p After browsing, I went over to meet Lucinda. Chatted with her for a short while before I went to mom's office for her to parade Nigel around. Hee..

By the time we are ready to head home, it's already past 12! Nigel had been a good boy, sleeping throughout while I sling him. I guess being in the sling is really very cosy to him! The 1st solo trip ended well. Hopefully I can try bringing Nigel + Valerie out on my own soon.

Grandma's birthday

It was my mom's birthday yesterday so we went to GWC for dinner. We took alot of efforts, from soft to hard methods to get Valerie to eat (sigh). She finally did, but didn't eat much. After dinner we hang around in GWC and Valerie came across this 'merry-go-round'.

It was very colourful and we started snapping! :p

Here's a picture of the siblings. Looking forward to the day both of them can sit side by side for a more 'proper' picture :-)

Will he be as smiley?

Brought Nigel for his 4-6weeks review last Friday. He is weighing 5kgs now! Dr Low said he is slightly overweight :p

Can u imagine? Born 3.5kgs and now at 5 weeks, he is 5kgs. I think his weight gain is faster than Valerie! I remember Valerie gained an average of 900gms/mth and 1.5kgs in 5 weeks is definitely MORE than that! :p

Another 'burning' question we have been asking ourselves is.. whether Nigel will be as smiley as his sister. We wouldn't know as yet coz he is only 5 weeks. But I do hope he will be and there are signs that he would! Look at him smile!

How's Valerie?

The focus had been on Nigel lately but no.. I have not forgotten about my precious Valerie :-) I do admit that I have less time to spend with her now as Nigel requires more attention and I need time to express milk etc. But I do try to spend whatever time I have left with her.

Here are some recent pictures of her. Alot thinner now coz she is rather picky with food lately. Things that she used to gooble up 1 year ago (e.g. fried rice, french fries etc), she ain't interested in them now. Hopefully this is a passing phase like what her other cousins went through.

Tummy time

I'm trying to give this boy some tummy time and I must say his neck is actually quite strong! The above picture is not the highest he can reach. He could actually lift his head so high that if u are in front of him, you'll be able to see his entire face! Way to go boy!

My 3 love

There are many things in life money can buy. This? It's priceless.

You are 1 month old!

Nigel is 1 month old (chinese calendar) today! In the morning, MIL came up and ask that I help cut Nigel's nails. They were soooo long! His nails are very soft! I believe it's softer than Valerie's. After that MIL proceed to give him a 'nice' haircut. After bathing, he was changed into a nice romper, ready to be the star for the day!

Late morning we brot him over to my mom's and we had lunch there. KoKo (aka my dog) was very interested to meet a new friend. He kept sniffing at Nigel (we make sure it's not too close for our comfort) while he sleeps inside the infant car seat.

After hanging a short while at my mom's, we headed home to rest. I was having runny nose and feeling kinda terrible. Luckily we still have some time to spare before the caterer came so I pop down some medicine and rest.

Before the start of the buffet, we brot Nigel and pass some tarts/eggs to our neighbours and formally introduce Nigel to them. When the guests finally arrived from 5pm onwards, our house really became a market of sorts! It's so noisy! And guess what? Nigel just slept thru the din! I actually have to carry him up to feed him coz he is 1hr past his meal time! I was so afraid that he wouldn't sleep at night, but luckily he did!

Phew!