20 Months Ago

You have been revisiting your 'old' toys recently. And this day, you decided you wanted to get into your exersaucer which you had outgrown for many months. And I feel you are just alittle too big for it. But what Keri wants, Keri gets. So in you go and we all had a good laugh about it. You looked hmmm.. out of place. But you were unfazed. And played in your long forgotten toy for a good hour and refused to come out.

But amidst all the laughter, I got abit teary eyed. I cant stand it when you grow up so darn fast.

OMG! Look at your chubby arms!

I think you are growing up to be a pixie than a princess. That's fine with me. You inspire me endlessly as I now see the world through your eyes.

Run, baby, run!

I know , I know, this entry is seriously overdue. It was sitting in the draft folder for the longest time but anyway, the pictures looked too good to miss. We had another wonderful playdate with Issac and Julius again. The airport has since became our favourite hang out place. The place is seldom crowded during weekdays and the kids have plenty space to run.


And after we said goodbyes to Keri's dates, as usual, I brought you to the same spot to run loose. And as usual, you had a rolling good time bouncing around in your white sneakers. And this time with little red elmo. You ran amok in the vast space. It's the kind of run only children do - arms swinging like wild waves, glee-full faced. I watched you sprint off in a distance and stopped and laughed your head off. No qualms and fear about falling.

That childlike spirit is so aspiring. I hope one day, I'll run like you. Two arms swinging, smiling, squealing and beatific. And not minding the all funny looks I'll be getting from the tourists and passerbys.

Check out Julius's mischievous look on his face! He is such an adorable baby!

Keri insisted on accompanying Issac by sitting next to him in their strollers.

Elmo, are you ready for a run?

Here we go!

I dont care about poise and posture, Mama. I just want to run!

This is the way to RUN!

Want to join me? Pls call my mama's handphone to make appointment.

Our Time has come

Too many scattered thoughts and too little time. But I am sneaking some time here for the below post. I want to remember this.

I have been intending to blog about the spendid times we had at "Our Time". And yes! We had started another term with Kindermusik's "Our Time" program some weeks back. And you are really enjoying yourself silly there. You love the songs and kept asking for the songs to be played over and over again in my car. And most amazingly, you are engaging in pretend play at home. You'd pretend to be the teacher and I am the baby in the class. This is what you 'd do many times a day:

You grabbed a ball and my hand and said to me: Mama, sit! Roll ball to you!

I would catch the ball and rolled it back to you . And you catch it and said : 'Thank you' while signing it as well!

After some ball rolling, you picked up the ball and say: 'Bye bye, ball! and put the ball away.

Next, you sit with your legs folded and started to sing the Hello song in"Our Time"! Haha! You rocked, you clapped and you sang-OUR TIME...OUR TIME..... Loud and clear, squeling in delight.


Then you took out your musical instruments - drums and bells and flutes and passed me one. And you started saying: "Tap, tap and tap and STOP!!!! Ssshhhhhhhh!" while putting a finger to your lips. Then you turned to me with a cheeky grin and shouted: " CHANGE!" and exchange the instruments with me! Then we had a round of exchanges of instruments before you put them away again.


Then at times, you would hop on to my laps for a donkey ride once you hear the Donkey Song. And to everybody's amusement, you can sing the song really well.

" Sweetly sings the donkey at the break of day"
If you do not feed him, this is what he'll say"
"Hee-haw Hee-haw hee-haw hee-haw"

I watched you grin and sing it over and over again with pleasure- you made the song sound like the greatest hit of all times.

I couldn't stop smiling and couldn't be more happy seeing you happy.

A Day of Friends and Fun!

Marshy, I was looking through your photos and realised that I had forgotten to blog on our recent zoo trip. How could I? Anyway, mummy received an email one of these days- Kindermusik group Reunites? How cool can that be? You are going to see your friends again. I showed you the email and said: We are going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo!

So the Kindermusik Group (6 toddlers, 6 mummies, 1 daddy and 1 granny) gathered at the Zoo and said hi to the animals. (We were missing Tory here!) We went to the Zoo in the hottest of days but the coolest of winds. The kiddos bathed in the bubbly bubbles and we grew sun bleached.

It was a day of friends and fun. Awesome playdate and glorious catch up with old friends. Marshy, pls remind me to take group pictures next time, ok?

See? Same bottles, same styles!

Bossy Marshy trying to get Trudy to stop drinking.

The girls are having fun together!

Cheering her friends from the side.

I think I'd take a dip myself.

Arrgrrr.. The waters is too cold for me. I'd better walk back.

Splish Splash! That's all I know about swimming.

A New Kind Of Joy

It was a Sunday. A perfect day out. Daddy was determined to bring us to the Beach. Even the greyish sky didnt deter him. Nope. It's not going to rain. Daddy declared.

And he was right. It was a decoy. The sun resurfaced while we were heading to the beach. There were sand stains on our knees. And gorgeous glow on our cheeks.

We were baked in the sun and blessed by the breeze. Marshy was equally amazed by both the gigantic aeroplanes and the colourful kites which flew just above our heads.

We had a great time and came back with wonderful pictures and memories. You are besotted by the sandcastles, blue skies and waters. On the way home, you kept repeating in the car : Beach... More Beach.

I'm soaking in every minute with my little family.

We'd be back. For more. Marshy, pls remember the fun times we had. Won't you?

Keeping sane

Mummyhood has been bittersweet. One thing I have come to realise is that this mummyhood started the moment I realised the pregnancy. Before you have a name and before we know you are a little girl, I had already been trekking on the path of parenthood. Although you are 19 months old now, I have been a mum for 28 months now. Wow!

These days, I have had more tough days of sleep deprivation, of sadness, of endless tasks these days. I need to keep my perspective where it belongs. I had so 'managed' without a confinement lady nor a helper since the day you arrived. Sometimes I wonder how did I do it all.


It is getting tougher these days. The challenge of balancing both work and you is taking its toll on me. SOmetimes, I dozed off many times while driving at the speed of 100km/hr along the highway. I slapped myself hard to keep awake because you were in the car. But I dozed off again ten seconds later. And I slapped myself again.


Mummyhood is just amazing. As much as it is about caring for another little being, it is also about realising so much more about oneself and how much more one can do. My parcel of joy has also shown me how much more patient a person can be. To peer down your wailing throat when you are at your most demanding and yet feel an unconditional joy- this is love.

But love does not boast. I hope I am not boasting or even amplifying my love for you. Because this is what all mothers do. Doing and trying our best. I am really trying hard.

I am hanging on. I am determined to do well for us. I didn't know parenthood could make me feel this way. I am thankful to have you.

That's more I can Do

Been a while.

Been busy.

I had lots to write, but I'm feeling baked today. And yesterday. And the day before. I yearned for a good cup of cuppa and a good book. And a scrummy scone. I wish I could sit down proper for a good piece of writing, but I am absorbed by fatigue and scattered thoughts.

For some reason, my recent busy schedule set off a tiny ripple of thoughts in me. I had grand plans to complete your photobook, to bake you yogurt muffins, to sew you a dress, to read you more books, to keep dancing with you.

I now stew in my own guilt.

The days passed into evenings too quickly these days. I haven't sew. I haven't bake. I haven't written. I haven't this. I haven't that. Too many haven'ts. I'm slush.

I want to do more. To be a better mummy. I must . And I will.

You have no idea how much I misses you at work. My heart yearns to rush home to see you. It never fails to brighten my day to hear and see your welcome yells and cheers whenever I am back home. And I 'd also match with a victory dance in tune with yours.

Dear Marshy, I am just as happy to see you too, you know? MaMa miss miss miss you too!

No More Clubbing

Yes. We are taking a break from JG. We have had fun and are very sure this is not the end of our JG's journey. It's a hiatus from a grand plan. Funny how plans are often so far off from reality.

Looking at these pictures taken, I 'm convinced, that we had fun and loving the memories we had created together there.

Marshy loving the playground there!

My little indian Marshmellow!

Marshy-displaying her drumming skills acquired from Kindermusik.

Enjoying a tea break of cheese sandwiches and juices with your best pal- Trudy!

Marshy receiving her certificate from Teacher Safina.

Marshy scrutinising her first certificate from JG.

Trudy and Marshy comparing notes!

Nineteen months of Deep Deep Love

My big big girl whom I so so love!

Grooving away!

See how you grabbed and hugged the cuddlies at the toy store.

Our first Float Ride!

Can we have another round, mama?

Happy Nineteen months old, Marshy!

You turn nineteen months old today. We met up with Auntie Jocelyn and Julius for a playdate. After that, to do something special today, I brought you for your first float ride. You were extremely excited sitting and steering the Giraffe float ride. We had a great grand day together.

I want to tell you so many things. And before you are able to read mommy's scribbled notes, I'll write in this space so they'll never turn yellow.

At 19 months,

- You have become very sticky to me. "Mama.. Mama..." can be heard at all times whenever I walk out of eyeshot. Correspondingly, you get upset when I carry another child (even your cousins) and will burst into tears and try to shove your way back into my arms.

-You have blossomed into a very affectionate toddler. You are very generous with your kisses and hugs. You come up to us every time when you are asked to and bestow us with kisses and hugs. But I am the only one you would come and kiss on the lips voluntary. Most nights when I tuck you in. That makes me a very proud mummy. You even give flying kisses to neighbours, shop assistants, the ladies at the foodstall, old uncles and aunties chatting at the void deck and even the driver in the car next to us.

-You cant get enough of dancing and grooving. And you are singing! You know your Do Re Mi Fa So.........You dance to all kinds of music. You practise what you learn in your kindermusik class at home. Drumming, tapping, grooving... An you would pull my hand and say: Mama, Dance!

-You are in love with all your cuddlies. Mama is helping you to grow your collection. To a certain extent, I am trying to give you what I lacked in my childhood. Loads and loads of cuddlies! I love them all! You are seldom seen without a cuddly You would run and grab at least two when you hear we are going " kaikai".

-You love to play ball ball. Kitty ball, barney ball, soccer ball. You hold my hand and say: Mama, sit. Mama, roll. Mama, bounce. Mama, kick. Mama, throw. And we spend many hours rolling, bouncing, kicking and throwing.

-You are definitely a chatterbox. You have a vocabulary of about 250 words You can generally pronounce any word after us accurately. ANd you have progress into stringing 2, 3, 4 single words into sentences. For example, Mama, see dogdog. Mama, watch Baby Bright. Mama, sleep. Baby, sleep. Mama, sit, read books. And you can express yourself loud and clear: Don't want. Don't Like.

And when I refused you any adult food, you are a great sport and walk away mumbling to yourself: Hot, Hot. Spicy, Spicy.

One day, we were all sitting in Auntie G's car waiting for her to pay for the carpark from her purse.

Marshy: Auntie, more money.

Auntie G: Yes? Baby? You want money?

Marshy: Yes.

Auntie G: Why do you need money, baby?

Marshy: Buy toys.

Auntie G: Huh? What toys?

Marshy: Buy Ball ball.

The pure joy that comes with these milestones is undeniable, unthinkable even. Happy Nineteen, my dear. If there's a divine one somewhere up there, thank you . Thank you for blessing me with this perfect little marshy.

Nineteen months of deep, deep Love.