Last Day of the Year. So what's Next?

What's Next?

What's Next? What's Next?

What's NEXT, Mum?

What is so Special about the last day of the Year? Calenders are changed time & again, traditions are tweaked over the years and holiday are moved about as if in competition. It is not the month, the time of the year nor even the holidays being celebrated we should give a damn about. It's the opportunity to do so. The emphasis on the very things we should be giving particular attention to year around is just about universal. For me, it is rather simple. Spending time with you.

What better way to wrap up the year and prepare for the next? It's not about resolutions but rather refining the resolution in which I view my life.

There is something special about closing a chapter and opening another new chapter in the book of life with you now. A new Adventure, new laughter, new tears, new friends, new ups and new downs with you. It doesnt really matter what we do. The fact is what ever happens the prospect of 2010 fills me with a sense of excitement and joy. And I hope you can feel the same way too.

I am going to give myself a last gift of the year- Take Stock. By focusing on what's important to me. I'd then know what to spend my time on through the holidays and everyday as well as what goals to work towards to in the new year. It's the simplest equation in life; by prioritising the things that matter, we have more time to enjoy and make the most of them.Beyond not taking all we value for granted, neither can we take for granted what is and isnt possible. I need to question my status Quo.

Cherish 2010 & each other. Cherish the Now.

Grounded

So much for enjoying the festive holidays-We were grounded because my marsh was down with a flu. It all started with a runny nose for a couple of days. I gave you the medication for the runny nose but it didnt get better. Instead it developed into a stuffy nose and a slight Phlegmy cough. PHLEGM!!!! The most feared word in my existing vocabulary due to your unpleasant encounter with it 16 months ago. Daddy and I fled to the PD on Boxing Day with you in tow. Phew! Dr Cheng said you had a mild flu and your lungs were clear. Phew Phew! You cannot imagine my nervousness.....

We went ahead to attend your cousin Val's party.

But the damn flu bug was persistent. You felt warm all over on Monday and your temperature hovered in the 37 range and you woke up couple of times in the night due to your stuffy nose and coughing fits. So we hurried down to Dr Cheng's again on Tuesday. The good news was- your lungs are clear! ! But the bad new was that you had a secondary infection and that explained your fever. We were given antibiotics and 4 other kinds of medication. I can live with that as long as the phlegm leave your lungs alone. Yes, I can live with that. Even though you turned into a monster when it is medicine time.

The next few days saw me stressed and drained trying my best to get some medication into a screaming, kicking toddler with no success. I was exhausted. We wrestled again and again over medicine taking and I guess I lost. (As well as lost my temper and resorted to screaming at you). I gave up and used the last alternative- to add the medicine into your bottles of warm milk or yogurt. Most times this works but sometimes it doesnt. I can still live with that.

I am exhausted, baby. I really am. Pls get well soon. Mummy loves you.

A day in the Life of Keri- before Mummy goes to Work.

Today is another one of those busy days for me as a FULL TIME WORKING MUM now. Getting up early and rushing to drop you off at Popo's before I head off to work. I have a busy day ahead of me fill with never ending meetings. All these madness make me miss my life as a Stay AT HOME MOM with you. It made me see the little wonders in our daily routine, simple and quiet as it may be. So I thought I 'd just pen down a little something about how our day used to be. Just for posterity's sake.

A Day in the Life of Keri- the Baby. (Before Mummy went back to work)

You are not a morning baby just like I am not a morning mummy. We both love to sleep in late and only wake up around 11am. But I always give you your morning milk at around 8.30-9am. You would finish your 240ml of milk in your sleeping mode within 4 minutes and flipped over and fell asleep with me again.

Then I would wake you up at 11ish if you are still not up by then. But you love to spend the next 10 mins tossing and turning about on the bed before you get up willingly. Thereafter, you 'd putter about while I fix your lunch in the kitchen. Then I put you in the highchair and on the TV for your favourite Hi 5! and feed you your lunch. After lunch, you like to zoom around with your toys while I wash up and prepare your bath. YOu love bathtimes and brushing your teeth.

And everyday, I'd play all your kindermusik CDs which you enjoyed and dance to the tunes. Oh yes, you danced alot everyday.

After bath, either we get ready to go for your classes or afternoon outings. And on those rare lazy days, we just stay at home and laze around and do what we do best- Nothing.I usually give you your milk about 3pm. On more exciting days, we hang out at the Airport, Polliwogs, East Coast or Changi Beach, Book stores, grocery shopping..... Some days it's just us, other days, we hang out with friends.

Then by the time we reach home, it's usually 5- 6ish. You 'd take a short nap on our way back. And while I make your dinner, you would just hang around in the kitchen just to be near me or you'd be reading your books by yourself.. And then I feed you your dinner around 7-7.30pm with Baby Estein playing on the google box. And then you are off playing again while I wash up. Mostly at this time, you'd hear the keys to the the door and your face light up and you 'd rush to meet Daddy at the door. Daddy and you would hug and kiss for the next 5 minutes.

Then Daddy and I would have our dinner while you play near us. afterwhich, I bath you and change you into your pyjamas and give you your bottle of milk. Most of the time, you would refuse to sleep and still want to hang out with us. And everynight, you 'd take your favourite books and climbed and sit on your daddy's laps. It's storytime. This has become a routine. Certain days you 'd fall asleep while sitting on Daddy's laps. But we have had our share of enduring nights when you refused to go to bed and stayed up till late.

So that's it. Our life before work. It's a simple life, Marsh. But rather charmed. Magically real with simple happiness and bliss.

Life is a Marshy Bubble bath

In the adventure, there is bath time. It's always great to find something to entertain you. And of course, which baby isnt in love with bubbles? You love bath time. YOu love bubbles.

On this warm Sunday afternoon, Daddy and I decided to let you have your first bubble bath. Oh.. it's a baby's life....

For the record, you can say "Bubble" very well.

Bubble......bubble.......bubble......

CHRISTmastime

Merry Christmas, everyone! May you always be a happy marshmellow- just like me!

Gifts and more gifts.....

Happy Birthday, Cousin Val!

Be it Merry or Happy, this season hold both meaning and moments of joy. Whether we are recreating traditions or recreating new ones, have spent too much or have nothing to spend, what's clear and what's matter is taking the time to reflect. This is the time to ask ourselves: what do you believe, what are you open to and who do you love, but most importantly, how are you showing it? From taking time to be kind to yourself to the thoughtfulness you are showing to the people around you.

I reckon that Saint Father Claus will soon be a controversial character to you in some years time and its origins will also be in question. Yet, whatever you may believe or consider, both represent concepts we should all hold dear. While modern technology has dimmed the intended messages, allow this time of year to be what makes you happy and bring our family together. There's no right or wrong way to go about celebrating whichever holidays we choose. Each of our celebrations are what we make of them and special simply by being ours. My ideal holiday would integrate them all for they each have phenomenal purpose.

For the last nine years now, we had been celebrating Christmas with my family at Auntie Carol's because it is your cousin Val's birthday on Boxing Day. This year is no exception. My favourite niece is turning nine. I cannot believe this. How time flies. She was the first baby in the family and oh.... how I adored her.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, Valerie! I have been searching for an ideal gift for her and finally settled for a MakeItYourself Fairy kit (Cousin Val is into Fairies these days). I wish I can put some of the Christmas spirit in 12 jars and have her open a jar of it every month.

Anyway, Merry Christmas! May all of us have or find something worth commemorating this time of the year!

The Merry Christmas Bash 2009!

16th December 2009 Wednesday

This early Christmas bash with your kindermusik friends kicks off this year's Christmas celebrations. So happy that you are celebrating with these special little people from your life- Julius, Victoria, Trudy, Mia, Claire and Eva. (We are missing Issac here)

We had started talking about this little party way back when we celebrated Halloween. The idea for this party was mooted and readily agreed to by all the mummies. Since then we have been looking forward to this day.

Auntie Jocelyn was really nice to offer to hold the party at her house again. And this time, we had Mia and Eva joined us! The more the more chaotic and more merrier!

The kids are beginning to parallel play less and interact with each other more. I love seeing them together. Too cute. And of course, we tried to take group pictures again. All the mummies were making desperate attempts to get the babies to sit still for a group shot. But we failed again this time. Nevermind. We shall try again.

So now we're thinking of doing this every year. I certainly hope we do! Much as I want to keep them all the adorable babies they are forever, having this group to grow up with is the next best thing.

Thank you mummies and babies all for a wonderful day!

Trudy dancing with her horns!

Tory is sharing a story with her friends.

My Marshmellow- refused to take off her new puma shoes and paraded around in them.

This is the closest we got to taking a group picture.

See Keri Splish! See Keri Splash!

Another Overdue post- 14 Dec 2009

I would love to bring you swimming everyday but it is just not happening. . So this is one of the days when we just pack up and go swimming!

Cant wait!

My sexy Babe!

All set with your entourage for a Splash at the pool.

Popo and Marsh!

I dont need swimming goggles, popo!

Wow! The water is cold!

The ever protective Popo testing the water.

Awesome! I can swim !

This is cool. So relaxing............

Ummmmm.... what is this mushroom above me ?

SSO Baby Prom 2009

12th Dec 2009 Saturday


Motherhood really broadens my horizon. Your arrival and presence unfolds a new life fill with so much fun that I never know or heard of. And Baby Prom is one of them. And I think it's cool.

I first read about Baby Prom from the forum and there were mixed reviews. I didnt give a hoot then. But earlier this year, looking at how much you enjoyed music and dancing, I made a mental note to bring you for the prom. Maybe you would enjoy the prom. SO I thought. Maybe.

But when sistic released the tickets for sale, I was still procrastinating. Then the tickets were snapped up the next day! I couldnt believe it. I was suddenly very disappointed as my baby is going to miss her first prom due to my procrastination! Then I was told that sistic would be releasing more tickets. So you guessed it. I was monitoring the sistic website just like the stock market.... But you are not going to believe this because I missed another chance again.... I was getting really disheartened. But I didnt give up. I maybe a procrastinator but a resourceful one. I changed strategy and utilised another avenue to continue my search.

Well, my patience and persistence paid off. Two misses and finally I managed to get my hands on not One but FOUR tickets! (And prime seats!) I cannot believe my luck! So I decided to share these tickets with our good friends- Trudy, Tory and Julius (too bad he cant make it)

Anyway, I am really happy and will always remember that I had the honour to escort you to your very first prom! I guess you are still too young to appreciate the concert but you certainly had fun with Trudy. You girls were having so much fun playing with each other and auntie Lina and myself were just happy to watch over you girls.

I am looking forward to next year's prom and this time around, I promise to stop procrastinating...



My First Prom 2009

Music to my ears..........

Two good friends all dressed up for their first prom in life

Love this picture- Two pretty girls with their individual mischievous looks.

The highlight of the day started after the prom ended.

Haha... This is even better than the concert!

The girls had so much fun balloon fighting!

The Green Sheep

As you can see, I am not writing and posting as quickly as I want to. Some notes are over 3 weeks old! I just write and save, edit, then write some more, save some more, and edit some more.Now I can only jot down snippets of events and happenings that I can remember as my fingers type away.

I had long known about the popular Green Sheep Play when I was in Melbourne years ago but I would never imagine myself going to one. But when Auntie Steph invited us to join her and Tory for the performance, I was excited. I have always wanted to bring you for plays but didnt manage to. The Green Sheep is an Australian classic by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek, directed by Cate Fowler. Co-Presenter Julia Gabriel. Sing and dance in a world of puppets, musicians and actors in a "sheep pen".

So I took the afternoon off from work and brought you there to join Auntie Lina and Trudy for the 5pm show. We reached Forum at 4pm and there were already a long, and I mean long long queue. We managed to get the tickets and waited for the show to start. The show was wonderful and the crew were really animated and professional and the pace was to my liking. But I think the sets did not do justise to the stories because the place was just too cramp. Anyway, I think most of the kids enjoyed the show and I felt it was a good exposure for you.

Trudy was really enjoying herself too.