Selective potty training

Just when I was so proud to announce that Kai is finally ready for potty, his selective toilet-training is driving me crazy.

He knows when he is urgent but he still prefers to pee conveniently into his pampers. However when we are out of the house, he'd always clutch his pampers and said he wants to pee in the toilet. It really makes me wonder what is the reason for his selective toilet-peeing. Maybe he wants to explore the toilets outside (just like his sis who is a fan of toilets and has this crazy toilet-visiting spells when we got out of the house).

So I still put on the pampers for him at home. Sometimes when I took them off, I'd warn him that he cannot pee in his pants but must go to the potty. I wanted him to get use to not wearing pampers but I wasn't quite prepared for all the hassle of cleaning up his messes. There was once when he peed onto the floor, stepped aside to pull down his wet pants and jumped back into his pool of urine, slipped over it and still laughed at his silliness. Then he sat naked-bottom in that pool, spread both hands on the urine around him and sweep them all over the place! You should have seen the smoke fuming out from the top of my head when I saw him doing that! I didn't know what better ways to teach him than to give him two tight slaps on his thighs, followed by "NAUGHTY..." x 10 to the power of infinity (I was lost for words, what a shame!) - OK, please pardon me, this is to illustrate a case of bad parenting.

I think it will still take some time before he knows the difference between what is "clean" and "dirty". And before he can be more obedient and listen to me.

Junk collectors

Xuan is a "junk collector", just like her dad.
She likes to keep "things".
You can call her sentimental.

I am the opposite.
I like to throw away "things", especially things I call junks.
But things I call junks, they call them treasures!
So I have to secretly throw them away without their knowledge, kekeke (*evil laughter*)

The other day, I was putting away Xuan's piles of scribbles into the recycling bag while she was away.
She spotted me when she stepped into the house.
Arrhhh... too late!

"What are you doing mummy?"
"What is that? Let me check first... why you always like to throw away things?... wait you don't throw these..."
So in the end, she picked them all up from the recycling bag.
And there goes my effort of clearing the karang guni house!

My culinary skills

has improved!!!
Let the pictures speak for themselves...

















Simple dishes from an amateur cook.
Many of the seasonings are based on instinct (anyhow hamtam)
You don't believe that these dishes are cooked by me, don't you?

三岁的恺

俊恺三岁了!
高兴。因为终于给我盼到了。

我妄想他三岁后就应该董事一点，再也没有 TERRIBLE TWO'S 的情绪化和无理取闹。

我妄想他三岁后会有多一点的成熟和乖巧，好让我喉咙有得休息，脑袋有一点平静。

不过，我知道这只是一个妄想。


经常，他的横冲直撞让我心惊胆战；他飞快的跑腿让我不停的喊“停”！

经常，他的非一般力量，让我惊讶；他的突然消失让我灵魂出了窍！

虽然有很多很多的经常，恺的天真、活泼和可爱给全家人带来了无数的欢乐。

他是家中的小活宝。

一点小玩意儿就会让他笑的快乐无比。

他顿屁股的舞姿，让大家笑的合不拢嘴。

他对人事物的好奇，流露了他的天真可爱。


但，我最怕他狠狠把我头压到低底，让我挣眼只见书本上的小车，接下来就听他不停的问“WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT?"

我最喜欢对着他呼唤，“COME HERE, I WANT TO HUG YOU！”、“COME HERE, I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.”

因为这两句话是唯一能使他静下来的绝招！

我最爱看他模仿电视上的动画，因为那无限的天真是在不久的将来就会消失的。

我更爱紧紧抱着他，往他脸颊不停的亲。。。


三岁的恺不是一个特别出色或优秀的孩子，他的成长跟一般三岁的孩子一样平凡。

但，他在我心中却是非一般的可爱，他是我生命中不可缺少的一块。

我不期望他出色或优秀，只期望他健康、快乐的成长，将来做一个有用的好人。

New maid

If you think I have thrown in the towel, you are wrong.
Hear me out.

This new maid is very efficient.
She is extremely hardworking.
She is absolutely clean. In fact, I think she is a clean freak.
She picks up every single strand of hair on the floor if she spotted one.
She cleans up every corner of the house, without taking any shortcut.
She cleans the kids' bottles and cups diligently.
I am even amazed that she can cook the kids' meals, and they like to eat them!
The kids enjoy helping her with the housework too.

This new maid is no one but ME ME ME!
The salesman came to our door and saw ME working hard.
He asked for "MAM"
I said "MAM not in"
So he left.
I was amused.
But frankly, I am sad... cos' do I really look like a maid???!!!
HAR??!!!

He is finally ready...

for potty.
No. In fact for toilet. Haha...
He said " Mummy, shee shee toilet"
And I'd quickly bring him to the toilet.
BUt his readiness came at a time when I am not ready.
With so many things to do, I actually prefer him to just pee in the pampers... (ooops lazy mommy)
Ok, I have to admit, so far I have asked him to just pee in his pampers once, after we have stepped out of the house.

Another new phase in life

The maid has gone home for good. Her performance has been deteriorating, so we thought we might as well let her go. My tiring but happier life starts 2 months earlier than the expected date.

So far so good. I'm enjoying it with the kids although my typical day starts as early as 7am in the morning all the way until 10pm at night when I soothe Kai to sleep. I believe I will be more efficient as the days pass, and cut short my working hours by half. So far, I'm clearing up the mess left behind by the maid, which partly explains the long hours. You know, washing those oily pots left in the kitchen cabinets, cleaning up the dirt and mess hidden in corners and undercover, emptying water left in containers and pails, and throwing away unnecessary items in the house. It's like spring cleaning. And a massive one! No doubt the non-stop cleaning is tiring. But I gain a deep sense of satisfaction. At least now I feel a sense of ownership. I can rearrange the items to where I desire and is able to find them in their right place each time I need them. At least now I don't have to fear about uncovering a pot of moldy leftovers in the kitchen cabinets, OR a bowl of cooked food hidden under newspapers in the fridge, OR ants running all over the jar of sugar and milk bottles, OR coffee-stained spoon stuck in the container for salt, OR even dirty socks among the clean laundry...

Everything is in order now, although I'm a little haywire with all the cleaning. I'm glad I have Xuan to help me with the tidying from time to time. Kai is also chipping in a little, although he creates more mess than help. I've always wanted the kids to be more independent. What better time than it is NOW? The only trade off is that I won't have the luxury to visit this space as often as I like...

I tell story

Kai was lying besides me during our usual bedtime routine. I saw him looking at me in the dark. Then he said something which surprised me, "I tell story." I thought I heard wrongly. Usually he'd say "Mummy tell story"... so I really thought either he mumbled or I heard wrongly. Anyway, I remained silent.

He continued, "Once upon a time... once upon a time... (thinking hard)... once upon a time... old woman... made... gingerbread man... (thinking hard again) sugar... give some eyes... put oven... the end."

Haahaa, I was just so thrilled to listen to his first story, although it stopped at the oven! It was a great attempt and I simply love the way he told the story!

Issue of death again

We returned to the topic of death shortly after the last one ended. The dad was quick to twig the issue to focus on life after death (rebirth) this time round. And she clearly was more amiable to his explanations. However after that, the inquisitive girl started asking questions like, "Will I be a boy or girl next time, after I come out as a baby again?" ... "Will I be called Rui Xuan?" At some point, I was even overwhelmed by all her questionings.

There was once when we were talking about road safety in the car. After I have explained the safety issue in great details, she started to ask me worriedly, "Will my parent next time teach me all these things? What if they don't???.... I wish you can be my parent again..."

At that point, I wanted very much to tell her, "I wish for that too, Xuan, I really wish ... "

Hygiene in school

Sometimes I think I've gone overboard in getting the little her to observe the strict hygiene orders in school! In the past, I had to because she always fall sick. Now I have to because of the HFMD, H1N1 influenza and whatever not...

"Never never put your hands in your mouth. Turn your head away when anyone near you coughs or sneezes and quickly cover your mouth and nose with your handkerchief! Don't feel shy (I know she would) about it, because when you fall sick, you are the one who suffer, nobody is going to feel sorry for you!"

My words are harsh to the young heart. But she is used to them and has taken them well in her stride. I know she observed these rules, especially when she replied with "Yes, I DID! Really! SUPER REALLY!!!!" to my interrogation of "DID YOU???"

The only thing I'm worried of now is whether her EQ will be compromised.

Siblings' love

From jealousy, rivalry and fights, to love, affection and lots of hugs.
Xuan has come a long way in learning to appreciate the birth of a little brother and the gift of a loving playmate.

The siblings are happy to have each other's company now. They are playing and laughing together, jumping and running around madly - often threatening to knock down vases and bang into walls. The quiet moments however, saw the duo sitting closely on the sofa reading books. Xuan will teach and Kai will repeat every words after her. To him, it is play -- IT IS FUN! He likes to imitate everything the big sister does. The most treasured moments are those when the duo hug each other affectionately after each play...

世上最珍贵的情是亲情。
做父母最大的欣慰是看到孩子们和睦共处，永远相亲相爱。
萱，恺：你们要切记，将来要像现在这样敬爱彼此，互相扶持。。。因为世界上没有任何东西比亲情更可贵。。。

Blueberry cheesecake

My latest attempt in the kitchen was a no-bake blueberry cheesecake.
It was very much inspired by the yummy one made by my sis.
I set out to buy all the necessary ingredients from Phoon Huat.
And I did an unbelievable task!
For I made the cheesecake without an electric mixer
nor a handheld mixer
but my bare hand and the labourious mixer.
You must think that I am insane.

Even experts on expertvillage.com said I need to use at least a handheld with a good motor, otherwise I risk the burnout of the motor.
Even experts from Phoon Huat said I will have to beat with bare hands till the next morning.

I simply did the unbelievable!
The outcome was a cheesecake that was half the thickness made by my sis, even though I use her recipe.
The result was not very satisfactory though the cake was whacked up by the very next day.
The consequence was a tougher and toner muscular arm... sigh!

What's that, mummy?

Kai shoved me the thing he held in his hand and asked, "What's that, mummy??"

It was a cockroach I saw.
It was fake I knew.
Until a crisp hairy leg dropped onto my leg.
"Yeeeekk!!! It's a cockroach!" I yelled.

Thank goodness it was dead.
Thank goodness it was not a dead lizard.
Please don't ever play this kind of TRICK on me again, Kai!!!

Improvements in Chinese

Xuan's Chinese have improved, I must say.
Not tremendously, but at least she is now able to converse in simple mandarin.
She is able to string words together to make sentences, which she couldn't in the past.
Her mandarin is now more "understoodable" although her vocabulary still needs lots of improvement.

爸爸昨天没有做工。。。课 when she wants to say daddy didn't go to work yesterday. I was very happy when she spoke that sentence until she uttered "课". Sigh! Sometimes, she still needs me to be the translator when she wants to convey some difficult messages to ma-ma. Otherwise she is able to converse with her ma-ma now.

She is gradually learning to appreciate the language more.
I'm very happy to see an improvement in her Chinese.
I was thrilled, even by simple sentences that she uttered,
我今天吃香蕉蛋糕。
我不饿。
我知道了。我明白了。
我自己冲凉。
She's more ready for the language now.
It is not only achievement for her but for me as well, especially when she told me "Mummy, now I love Chinese!"

She has completed the whole course of hanyu pinyin that I taught her.
I guessed that is the reason why she is beginning to love the language...?
Of course her mandarin-speaking classmates in PCF help!

Cheeky fellow

Kai is getting more and more cheeky.
Remember the supreme mantra I taught him?
Now he is chanting it this way:
我爱爸爸。
我爱妈妈。*giggles*
我爱potty!!! " followed by tons of laughter and giggles.

He is also asking and repeating questions like:

Who bought this car?
Who bought this shoe?
Who bought this book?
Who bought this, who bought that???

Last night, while he was trying to lug my elbow to sleep, he asked "Who bought this???" (pointing to my elbow)

Now, I really doubt if he comprehends the meaning of his own questions?
Sigh!

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Update: Today, he pointed to his own elbow and said "Who bought this elbow?"
Then, followed by "buy from the shopping centre!" *slap forehead*

More cards

Xuan is a cards person.
She loves to make cards - greeting cards, birthday cards, and special occasion cards.
I received them on my birthdays, mothers' day, valentines' day... and on each occasion, she didn't just give one or two, she gave more... to a point that I was scared of receiving them. Really. *very bad right?*

So on mothers' day, other than giving me the ones she made in school, she gave me two more... err.. in fact three more -- of the same designs and drawings!

For the third and the last one, she brought it into my room when Kai and I were about to sleep and have switched off all the lights (on mothers' day). So she stood in the dark and wave the card at me, but said, "I made another mothers' day card... but it is not for you!!!
"Then for who?"
"For myself!" *giggle*
"But you are not a mother..." *giggle*
"I keep it first, then next time I will have children and I will be a mother what??!!!"

Funny girl.
She knew I'm phobic of receiving more than one card.
Haha... :P

成绩单

来临八月将是我当“在家全职妈妈”的一周年庆功宴。“庆功”？哈哈，没有功也有劳嘛！在这一年内，我究竟交出怎样的成绩单呢？我想应该有50分吧！成绩不是很理想，但还算及格。

至少。。。
(一)我终于进了厨房烹饪了几道菜，虽不是极好吃，却进得了肚而不使作呕；

(二)我的降级当私人司机，减轻了老公的时间负担；

(三)我对恺的严厉，减轻了他被宠坏的迹象；

(四)我让曾经排斥中文的萱爱上了这个她一向陌生的语文；最大的满足感是听到她对我说“Mummy, now I love Chinese!”

(五)曾经任性的萱现在乖了许多，也独立了许多；

就这样，每一项打十分我就有50分喽！
我希望工人离开后，我会有更好的表现。
因为到时我会辞掉在家的工作，百分百投入，做个实实在在的全职母亲。

You are the best, Mom!

She couldn't wait to show me her proud art work in school yesterday.
So she showed them to me but asked me to "forget" about them as she is supposed to give them to me officially tomorrow on Mothers' Day!
That IS my funny girl.

































































A special dedication to all mothers out there:
You are the best Mom!
Happy Mothers' Day!

To my own mommy:
可爱的老妈，
祝你母亲节快乐！
永远幸福、永远快乐、永远健康。。。

Nothing

Nothing special to report.
Everything is stagnant.
Life is simple, as usual, which is good news.
I wish for more of this kind of simple life.

But Kai has been extremely sticky.
Refusing to let me go anywhere but to stay within his sight.
He is also eating less nowadays, refusing the usual porridge and rice.
Don't know why.

He is crying more often.
I thought the terrible two's phase is going to be over?
He is coming to three in a month's time.
Don't tell me there is horrible three's?
I hope not.

Simple joy

Joy is ...

stopping to admire these simple flowers as you walked past...









making time to enjoy these simple food with your loved ones...









strolling in a simple park with your family, enjoying the breeze...

learning to swim with this kickboard and hearing the little child said "mummy, you ROCK!!!!"

Hahaha...





Simplicity is joy.