A Double Celebration

Dec 13th is a very special day because it's not only Sze Yi's birthday, but it is also my parents wedding anniversary. So I baked a cake to mark this joyous occasion, but I only decorated it as a birthday cake because I didn't know what to write for an anniversary cake :)

I couldn't find any peaches (maybe it's the not the peach season now), so I used kiwi and cherry instead. However, Sze Yi said she wanted a Minnie cake. Here's our conversation the night before:

Sze Yi: I want a Minnie cake, Mommy

Me: But I don't know how to make a Minnie cake...

Sze Yi: Go and buy lar!

(Looks like she thought everything can be bought!)

That actually gave me an idea of using the Minnie sugar paste paper on top, but I didn't know where to get it from, and also time was running out. In the end I told her I couldn't find Minnie and used Kitty instead. She's not very happy. She said she liked Minnie better. But when she saw this, she's very excited all the same...

Peach Marcarpone Cheese Cake without the peaches as deco

She's particularly excited to see the marshmallows and little hearts used to spell her name and her age.

A closer look at the kitty... and my mom's favourite - almond nuts at the sides!

Mothers and daughters - 3-generations apart

Birthday girl waiting to blow the candles

1, 2, 3, blow!

All ready to cut the cake

During the cake cutting

A spontaneous shot taken by my father

The birthday girl enjoying the cake

The cherries collector - she just wanted the cherry!

Jie Jie giving her more cherries!

After that, we had a quick lunch before my parents caught the bus back to Ipoh. Our celebration did not just end there. We took the girls and MIL to watch a movie at GSC Gurney Plaza! Guess what we watched?

Yes, the Princess and the Frog

We couldn't make it for the 3.30pm movie, so we watched the 5.30pm one instead. While waiting for the next screening, we took the girls for rides and shopping. So by the time we went into the cinema, Mei Mei was too tired that she dozed off. Jie Jie was still very excited and she enjoyed the movie very much. At least she could follow the storyline better this time. Halfway thru the movie, Mei Mei woke up and she got scared. She wanted me to take her out of the cinema. I tried to offer her milk, but she didn't want. Luckily Jie Jie kept feeding her pop corn, and she got distracted. So in the end, we all managed to watch the whole movie till the end, both kids co-operated! Indeed, I personally felt this is a very nice movie and really suitable for kids, especially girls who love princess.

This year, Sze Yi became so xiao jie like (everything also wants princess - birthday cake, dress, barbie doll, etc). So I thought the movie would be very appropriate for her too. And my guess was right!

A Memorable Weekend

Last weekend, my parents came over to stay with us. Both the kids were very excited, of course! Even SJ sat quietly in the car seat while I drove them to fetch my parents at the bus station (hubby was having a teambuilding event that time). You see, SJ could struggle out of the car seat by herself, unlike her Jie Jie who had never done such thing before. So, it was rather dangerous for me to take them both out alone, because SJ could never sit still.

Nevertheless, things sailed smoothly, and she only struggled out when we're waiting for them at the bus station. By then, my parents had arrived so it's still manageable. Come to think of that, it's been a long time since I had ever enjoyed any weekend as much, and suddenly I just felt as if all the burdens have been lifted off my shoulder. There's nothing like having someone to rely on, to relieve you when you need them most, and to offer advice as well as support when you felt like the whole world is falling onto you. Well, that's exactly how I felt. I'm so glad I have such great and loving parents, and I wish I could be the same for my kids too.

So many things had happened that weekend. For one, SJ could play on her own at the playground. For the first time, I felt that she's ready to explore things on her own. And I let her wander on her own... see how much she enjoyed herself!

SJ discovered a world of her own!

That Friday night, guess where we took them to?

Yes, the recently opened Hark Rock Hotel in Penang. It was our 2nd time there, and we didn't took any pictures the first time we're there. But this time, we're fully equipped (ah yes, we've finally got a new camera!). Initially we've thought of having a hotel stay there since SY's birthday fell on a weekend, and she loved hotel stay soooo much. However, it was fully booked (yes, we're very bad planners, everything waited until the last minute), so our pockets were saved :P


The kids were having a blast of their time, especially SY. See how she danced around to the music. They also loved to laze around on the sofa, enjoying the band's performance. It was such a carefree and easy night - just the right mood to relax and rock away.

While the kids are enjoying themselves, hubby was busy with his new toy.

There's an LCD screen at the lounge area

A Collection of Statues

This is actually a pillar! The make-you-look-slim pillar

At the poolside

Nice beach by the poolside

The rocking statues on the hotel rooftop

Where do you want to go?

Enjoying the night breeze at the beach

Our camera man

Finally the camera man got to be in the picture too!

The hotel night scene

Our rocking princess

She just loved to make funny poses!

Overall, we had an enjoyable night. The kids were tired and slept right away on the journey home. Can't blame them though, they had been rocking away whole night :P

The next day, we went to another beach at the other side of the island.

Nice beach at Balik Pulau

Despite of the hot weather and also inappropriately dressed, the kids had a fun time playing with their new beach toys.
We toured the island, but unfortunately we couldn't find any good durians along the way. Still the nice scenery and fresh air made the trip worthwhile. By the time we reached home, everyone was so tired that we slept thru the evening. Even by night time, we're too lazy to go out for dinner so we ordered Domino Pizzas.

As bedtime was approaching, I changed them into their new pajamas. And to my dismay, they suddenly became super active again. Do you know why the sudden change of mood? Doh! They were excited to be dressed in the same pajamas! Wrong move!

Mei Mei giving Jie Jie a birthday hug on the eve of Jie Jie's birthday

Luckily my parents were around to entertain them, so it's not that tiring for us.

Playing toot toot train with Poh Poh

Ah, nothing lasts forever, yeah. One moment they were playing together, the next they were angry with each other!

Angry!

Luckily, they made peace with each other finally. How nice if we adults can forget and forgive as easily...

Jie Jie putting Mei Mei to sleep

Sze Yi's Birthday Party at School

Last Friday, we had a birthday party for our girl at school. We asked her to choose one, as we're just planning to have 1 for her, either at home or at school. She chose to have at school, and she requested for a princess birthday cake. Besides the cake, we also prepared little party packs for the kids. Since Christmas is just round the corner, hubby suggested this...

Little christmas socks with some goodies inside

(marshmallows, haw flakes, raisins, gummies)

And since we're in Christmas mood, we prepared for all the kids in the school too. Furthermore, I was concerned of the kids' feelings if some didn't get it, as I thought all the kids would be involved during a birthday celebration.

Here's the birthday girl on that day...

Birthday girl with Mei Mei and the Princess Cake (Sze Juin can wear her Jie Jie's uniform already!)

Family photo session (Yes, both her maternal & paternal grandparents were there too! Including her darling Chik Chik)

Photo session with her classmates and teachers

During the birthday song singing (they actually sang in English, Mandarin and Malay!)

Everyone was enjoying the cake

After the cake was cut by her teacher, Sze Yi was asked to present the birthday cake to Mommy and Daddy herself. This was to teach the child a sense of respect and gratitude to the parents. I was quite touched of this gesture, honestly. While everyone was busy with their cake, this little toddler was enjoying herself too!

See what she was up to... she even tried to make friends with one of the kids there! Ah, and Jie Jie was being manja with her Chik Chik.

Finally, it's the party pack distribution time...

Little Santarina at work

Sze Yi only distributed the goodies to her classmates. The rest would be distributed by her teachers later. It happened that there were some guest downstairs at that time, so the birthday celebration was done upstairs in her classroom. I was a little surprised that the other kids were not invited (unlike previous celebrations). Maybe the classroom was too small to fit in all. However, I informed the teachers that we prepared enough for the whole school, and they assured us that they will distribute to the rest of the kids later.

We also learnt that Sze Yi's best friend has the same birth date as her, and I was thinking what a co-incidence. Maybe that's why they clicked so well in school. And it also happened that we parents chose different days to celebrate for them, or else there would be 2 birthday cakes that day.

We left later, leaving the birthday girl behind. She told us that she didn't want to stay for full day that day, and since it's her birthday (not the real day, though), we relented. We promised her that we'll pick her up after lunch. However, when she was saying bye bye to her Chik Chik, she became all teary and told us that she wanted to go back with Chik Chik and Amah. Daddy became soft-hearted, so he said OK. In the end, our girl was just in school for the birthday celebration that day :) She went in late that day somemore, at the same time as us. We're not so strict with her since it's school holiday and they just play at school anyway. However, I'm worried we've spoilt her. Even her grandparents came all the way to celebrate with her in school, all per her request! Not to mention her Chik Chik, which is her favourite uncle (and she called him her darling) also took leave that day.

p/s: A note from Mommy......

We hope you're happy with the celebration, Sze Yi dear. It was all planned out rather last minute, since Daddy nearly cancelled everything when you misbehaved the week before. It's Mommy who talked to Daddy into keeping his promise, haha :) So pls make sure you won't disappoint us, be a good girl, ok? You're a big girl now, and Mommy and Daddy will always love you no matter what. But please, never use this excuse to be naughty, ok?

My very Firsts...

I had my first lollipop when I was ~18 months. That was right after my MMR vaccination on 22 Nov. Jie Jie was given one by our PD, and so was I. Mommy couldn't stop Daddy in time, so that's how I got to eat my first lollipop :) And would you believe it - my tongue was all greenish when I nearly finished the whole lollipop by myself! Only left a tiny piece before Daddy asked Mommy to throw it away.

If Jie Jie's first sentence is Wo Ai Mama at ~17 months, mine is Papa bu chai jia at ~18 months. Mommy caught me saying this particular phrase, which is part of a Mandarin song (Ke Ren Lai).

I was considered potty trained at ~18 months. I can now tell when I want to wee wee or poo poo. In fact I don't need to use diapers during day time but I still need it at night. Still... we've been out quite frequent for the past few weekends, and since it's more convenient to use a diaper, so now I'm back to using diapers. But when I wee wee or poo poo, I'll inform Mommy. Mommy will say, we're not back yet, go ahead and I'll change you later. Yeah, lazy Mommy. So now, at times I don't even tell her. I guess Mommy's learnt her lesson, now she'll have to be more disciplined if she really wants me to graduate from diapers soon. I guess I'm more ready than Mommy, don't you think so?


Daddy gave me a hair cut for the first time sometime last month! He cut my back, and mommy trimmed my front. Am I considered lucky coz they had never cut Jie Jie's hair, since Amah took care of that all the time. But for me, it was just my 2nd hair cut after the full moon shave, thanks to my hairless state.

I could now play by myself at the playground. I could went up the steps and slide down by myself without Mommy holding me. Yay, I'm a big girl now.

I could also eat on my own now. In fact, I didn't want Mommy to feed me. I insisted to hold the spoon on my own, and feed myself. And I could do it quite neat too. Poh Poh was very impressed, coz I hardly made much mess compared to Jie Jie last time.

Walking Down Memory Lane

It's been awhile since I posted my last post. Also, after Mei Mei's birth, we've all been busy so not much updates then. Mommy found some old photos of us, so I thought it would be nice to compile them all together to make a little summary of what we've been up to together since Mei Mei's born.

Enjoy....!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My New Baby

Yes, we've got a new addition to the family :) And, it's a baby girl! I got her from Toyland (as Jie Jie called it), and I hand-picked her myself.

Unlike Jie Jie who's not attracted to dolls, I was immediately drawn to the dolls on display. Mommy noticed the similarity to the dolls that I liked - hairless like me! I kept pointing to them and said, Baby.

In the end, Mommy let me chose what I wanted and here's what I got. Initially, she tried to choose others which she thought was nicer, meaning with more hair. But I pushed them all away, and I insisted that I wanted this (grinned!).

But, you know what? Actually my baby had a bonnet too, but I didn't want to let her put it on.

I liked to pull the bonnet away so that I can see the hairless state :) Even Jie Jie laughed at me, she tried to convince me to choose another doll with bonnet, smaller ones, and pulled off the bonnet for me to see, while saying, "You see, this one also no hair one". But I didn't want that, I insisted on this one. Finally Daddy got it for me, I wouldn't even want to let the cashier scanned it so she had to pulled off the tag to scan, while my baby was secured in my hands.

So this week, I took my baby over to the babysitter's place too. And the babysitter told Mommy that I couldn't sleep without the baby, because there was once Mommy forgot to let me take her there. Funny, I was not that attached to it when at home, maybe I have Mommy with me.

This photo was taken this morning, while I was preparing to go to the babysitter's place.

The Little Destroyer

Little Sze Juin had destroyed or messed around just too many things recently. First, she played our laptop keyboard until the letters on the keyboard came out! I had never in my life needed to deal with this before, so I took some time to figure out how to put them back. That was when she’s about 9 months old. Then recently, she flipped my monitor display – instead of the horizontal view, the screen had become vertical instead! It took awhile for us to flip it back. And a few days ago, my hard disk gave me the blue screen of death. It couldn’t startup at all, and I’m still figuring ways to backup my data in there.. sigh!

Ok, that was the laptop. See what she did to her Jie Jie’s handiwork?

Before that, when it's still good...

Well, her recent victims were our precious fridge magnets that we bought when we traveled around - she had broken a few too. There went the one from Jurong Bird Park, Singapore, and also the one that our friend gave us from Korea. And just the other night, she broke 2 that we got from Hawaii! I was opening the fridge door while carrying her, and her hands were too fast! The magnets fell onto the floor and broke, sob sob…

When will she stop destroying things? Uh, I don’t have this problem with Sze Yi last time…

A Night of Discoveries

Yeah, and it's mostly related to SJ too. It happened that I was home alone with SJ last night, for a few hours. Well, I was taken aback by the things she said and did, all out of the blue and the least within my expectation.

1. She called me Irene!

2. She pronounced her name correctly, Juin Juin! That was the first time I heard her saying her name, and it came out very clearly too. Unlike when her Jie Jie pronounced it, Jun Jun, or Ji Jin :)

3. I was searching for her nappy cloth that I brought back from the babysitter's place, and I asked myself aloud, "Where did Mommy put that cloth?" And I heard her answered me, "I don't know".

4. Her electronic toolbench toy was out of order, no more battery. So I told her to give me some time to put the batteries in. However, this little girl went to take another battery-operated mini piano, took out the battery from there and passed me that!

5. She requested for milk in the bottle, but after I made for her, she didn't want to drink it. Instead, she kept looking at the measurement scale and started counting, three, four, five! Haha, before that, she's been counting 1,2,3, and that night, she surprised me with 3,4,5 out of the blue :)

Story Time

Sze Yi had been requesting stories from us since she was small. Last time it used to be Cinderella, Ali Baba, etc… but now they were no longer constrained to fairytales. She would say, “I want the policeman story!”. Or Mommy’s stories, or Yi Yi’s stories, or the story of the lost buttons, or this curtain’s story, or the story about the Monster that went to school (RS), etc… Mostly, it’s on things around her, or whatever that came to her mind. She even requested me to tell her stories about my car’s wiper! She normally asked for stories when we’re in the car, or when she’s trying to sleep. Ah, boy was I glad that she's slowly getting over this habit now!

Sometimes she would request for stories that we’re all familiar with, for instance, Pinocchio, or the Goldilocks and the Three Bears. But mind you, the storyline would need to be modified. Either the main characters changed, or the storyline would be twisted here and there, and once she liked that, I’ll have to repeat again and again and again for several times before she finally let me go. So, it’s normally very exhausting and I dreaded it when she asked me for stories.

Then one day, I heard her telling one of the stories to her cousin Sarah. It was Mommy’s story, and she was telling her cousin how she was born. I couldn’t stop laughing when she said Mommy didn’t want her tummy to be cut, but Daddy told her that she had to, if not Sze Yi couldn’t come out! LOL! Hmm... maybe (and hopefully) she'll tell me stories next time instead of me telling her!

Little Things That Surprise Me

Scenario 1:

SJ saw her Jie Jie fell down, and I went to sayang her Jie Jie. Not long later, she imitated her Jie Jie's falling down action, and waited for me to sayang her! She actually repeated that several times just to get my attention that day.

Scenario 2:
SJ asked me to open the cupboard door, saying yiu yiu (oil). So I took out the oil. I was wondering what she's up to, when she pulled up her baby doll's shirt and ask me to apply the oil on her baby doll's tummy.

Scenario 3:

She got an electronic cow lantern from her Chim Po, where the cow can walk. I told her that it’s a niu niu (cow in Mandarin). Now when I got her other types of lantern, (bird and fish), she would still refer to that lanterns as niu niu. (LOL!)
Also, we once took the girls out for a walk with their lanterns at night. So after that incident, everytime she went out, she would want to bring the lantern along and said kai kai .

Scenario 4:

The two sisters were playing together and then suddenly the big one bully the small one. So we asked Jie Jie to say sorry to Mei Mei. After Jie Jie told her "Sorry!", Mei Mei said, "Gau" (clever in hokkien).