Thin Chewy Cholate Chip Cookies!

Raining the whole of today! Wanted to take ern ern out to breathe some fresh air but was really too lazy to move my bones.

Watching her as she plays by herself and occasionally turning her head towards my direction to check if I'm still with her makes me wanna spend time with her indoors. BUT I have this super duper strong sugar craving that I just have to settle. Did some research and off we went to Cold Storage to get some ingredients to make - chocolate chip cookies!!

Ok so it is really not easy to make all the stuff when you have a baby that requires your attention all the time so I got some helpfrom my maids and brother-in-law to help. hahahha... Im like the command in charge. I gave instructions and they got down to work - prontos!

The entire process was really faster than I expected. (hahah got so many hands to help)

Ok I must admit that It doesnt look that great (I think it's a little too big. It really expanded loads manz...)
So much for greasing the tray uh? hahha...

Ok! Done in a flash! Yummy! Highly recommended with a cup of tea like the brits : )

Hong Kong to Julia Gabriel to SHE IS SICK!!

We are back from Hong Kong! Been to hkg soooooooo many times and never have I felt this tired before! wahhahaha... c'mon manz... lugging around my little 10kg and a backpack weighing a whopping 5kg (easily 5kg) is really no joke! : )

Our day will start at 7am (ya know.. that's when she wakes up) shower change, feed her breakfast and meet the rest of the gang and set off at 9pm... till... 9pm! of coz... in between there will be breaks la. So its shopping shopping and more shopping!!

Overall experience: FANTASTIC!! way better to travel with mummies than with friends. hahha mummies will understand we need breaks to feed baby etc and they instinctively knew when to lend a helping hand whereas even for my hubby I still need to tell him what to do. As you can already guess by now, I dont really have much pictures to show here as it's really rather troublesome to reach for the camera.

And so back to reality. Ern attended Julia Gabriel and I would say that she enjoys the class except the painting session... I didnt quite like it myself! wahahhah I mean she obviously cant hold the paint brush and make decent strokes. She ended up eating the blue paint which made my heart skipped a beat. Then why let her attend so early would be the question right? hahhaha... my hubby says its good to start early ... but anyway she enjoyed the rest of the class : ) the mandarin speaking teachers are damn good. Really animated and enthusiastic when they act out the story... singing etc..This is her at water play session : )
She hardly noticed my existence or disappearance!
Taking a break and having her organic honeydew : )


However, that same evening she started vomiting and had diarrhea : ( took her to my trusted doctor and she is currently on medication. She puked like 5 times? and diarrhea like 7 times?! Hubby spoke to his doctor friends. The wife who is a PD and hubby who is a GP said that she most likely kenna the virus from the class she attended at Julia Gabriel : ( sigh... I guess I had better get her MC to excuse her from class before she spread to other children. (I very considerate hor? hehehe) Anyways, I was told that she may take 3 days at least to a weekto recover. Right now just like any other time when she is sick, I have to struggle to syringe feed her medication. Now that she is abstanining from solids and cant really drink too much milk (she pukes them all out) i'm really worried that she may be dyhydrated : ( Really hope she recovers soon..

Invasion

You know how it feels when your personal space is being invaded?

Got the picture? Ok.

So if it's physical personal space, you may just opt to move your arse right? But no. I'm stucked to my seat trimming my bangs in a salon when an AUNTIE is pouring out all her life time sad stories OUT LOUD! and the best part was she was just seated NEXT TO ME!! It came to a point where I started to suspect that she really was shouting so that the entire people in the salon could hear her. Ya know sometimes yu really just wanna relax, get your hair washed, scalp massaged etc... but it was a mistake right from the start to step into that place la. I don't welcome negative conversations or hearing negative stuff la.. it just sucks my energy away... energy suckers shoo! shoo! shoo!
What could I have done in that situation? sigh... now my brain is full of her sad stories.. washing dirty laundry (panties etc) for daughtes and son but only gets peanutz etc etc.. hahahha now Im the energy sucker!!! better shut my trap now manz... hahahha....

East Coast Park

Woke up at 6.30am and off we went to East Coast Park. Daddy F went for his run while ern and mummy went for a long stroll. Think we walked for more than an hour. It's the same old familiar surroundings which brought me back to our good old bayshore days...

We used to wake up in the morning and bring our dogs to the beach for a run and breakfast. We decided to move out 6mths earlier than expected; rented a place at bayshore for 6months before moving into out unit in UE sq. But atlas I got pregnant and have to shift back with my in-laws as UE sq was a little small. (so we thought) Frankly, I think it's a decent space for a family of 3. (but can't accomodate the dogs : (...)

Yesterday hubby and I took ern to Lawrys (paragon) for high tea. It was surprisingly quiet, (we literally had the whole hall to ourselves) and the price was atonishingly cheap manz! It's like $12 ++ per pax!!(it's not buffet style) so we decided to order lotsa other stuff and the total bill is less than 50 bucks! Highly recommended! Will definitely go again!

Ok, it's recipe time again.
Noticed that she loves to eat Toufu. Just throw anything undesirable to her palette into toufu; she will finish up everything.
If your baby loves tofu, can also try these combi:

• tofu + applesauce + squash
• tofu + avocado + pears
• tofe + blueberries + bananas
• tofu + sweet potato + carrots
• tofu + broccoli + parsnips

Things I love to do

Life will never be the same again. : )

Things I love to do then was:

• scrapbooking
• grooming dogs (yes I took up a course for that)

Things that I indulge in NOW:

• cutting her nails (hahha I know you won't believe it)
• cooking for her
• cracking my head over what to cook for her or doing some research on it.
• playing with her
  
• showering her
• taking her out with me
• breastfeeding her (yes! im still breast feeding!)
• dress her up!
• grocery shopping
• COOKING
  

You see... everything revolves around her. What to do... I laugh when she laughs... same goes for my hubby too.

Every minute with her is so precious to me. Sometimes I just wish I have more time with her. But I really shouldn't be complaining as I'm still spending most of my time with her now that I'm working from home and occasionally taking a few hours to meet clients and all..

This November is particularly special. Lotsa events coming up.

1st week of November: Hong Kong trip with some friends and babies!
Last week of November: ern is going for Julia Gabriel class for the entire week! It's some holiday program thingy.
28th of November: My birthday and also happens to be my cousin's wedding! Double bliss!

And then comes Christmas! Though we never really celebrate Christmas but it always feel so special... so joyful. Hopefully can bring her to see some light ups. (things that I have never bothered in the past)

What do you love to do?

Deepavali or Diwali

How did you spend the holiday?

We decided to take little ern out to this new hotel "Klapsons" at Tanjong Pagar for brunch. It's quite a nice boutique hotel. Ern enjoys the little surprise that the chef whipped out for her! Find out in a while...
The food is superb for the price we paid so YES it is highly recommended! The waiters who served us were all "poached" over from other restaurants like Ritz Carlton... etc.. so service wise is efficient and attentive : )

15 hoe chiang road Singapore 089316
T: 6521 9030
www.Klapsons.com

The restaurant we went to is apparently named after the grandson. So this family who opened the hotel is really rich! Hubby told me that on the day of it's officially opening ceremony ALL the banks representative in Singapore were there!This is part of the restaurant with daddy posing with ern ern. See the huge wine bottle behind them? They opened the same kind of bottles for the opening! hahhaa... I have never tried drinking from that kinda bottle before... wonder if it taste better? : )

I had this!! "blackened blue fin tuna" looks like steak hor? I have never really liked tuna coz I find the meat always too dry... but this one changed my opinion on tuna. : )~

hubby had this "wagyu beef burger" - his favourite beef!Foei gras hmm... hope I spelled it right.. slurps... still thinking about it : )
This is for ern ern! mashed sweet potato! See the stae it's in now... its yummy for OUR tummy too!

Bonding

Bought this piano from SMF which costs quite abit. Thought it's worth it though. She plays with it everyday and enjoys "jamming" it which will lasts for about 10 to 15mins. I sure hope that she will develop an interest in piano when she grows up! Daddy F says that his observation with most people that plays piano is that they have a better temperament - which I kinda agree too.

In these pictures daddy is teaching little ern to play some simple notes. Well; I call it BONDING!

From daddy F to mummy to you

Daddy decided to give mummy a surprise by giving a bouquet of flowers. Though it's not mummy's favorite flowers; the thought is definitely 100%! Didnt know what to do with it hence decided to give it to little ern. She decided took it to bed with her. (Of course... its staged.)

November is gonna be event filled month! Will be taking ern to Hong Kong together with aunt Flo and Joey together with baby Victoria and baby Janette! That will fall on the first week of November. The last week of November will be taking little ern for Julia Gabriel's holiday program for consecutive 5 days! And not forgetting another wedding dinner that we will have to attend which coincidentally falls on my birthday! Looking forward to November!

Terrible fever that lasted for 2 weeks!

I finally knew why my fever refuse to go away(38.9).... After visiting 3 different doctors, the last doctor told me I had breast infection! My first question was "am I passing it to my daughter?" The answer is NO. (thankfully) Doctor advised me to continue to breast feed as per normal. (yeah!)

It's no wonder that my breast (right) feels tender to the touch and rather painful when I breastfeed and there is redness on my breast which feels kinda itchy. Im now on antibiotic and fever medication. Crossing my fingers and hope it will soon go away!

teether? soother?!

Bought this soother (pacifier) during the Adelaide trip. It looks kinda weird and feels weird too! Ern chooses to use it as a teether instead. hahaha she still prefers the "traditional" looking one as a soother. Actually I am really thinking if there is a need to get her anymore toys... as of right now, her favourite toy is my water bottle!! Sigh.... the piano came today and she had loads of Fun "jamming" it!! and mummy paid like 400 bucks for it!! for her to "jam"!! *faintz*

A Pleasant Surprise

It was an impromptu decision to bring ern ern out to meet Ophe and Angie today... was too bored at home and haven't really taken her out since coming back from Adelaide... down with a fever and all... We met at Tanglin Mall and daddy F came to meet us for dinner after work. Tried this restaurant caled Chillis on the second floor... ordered their Buffalo wings and drumsticks etc. Verdict: not so good. It tasted more like tobasco wings!

When we reached home, our maid tolds us that we have a package in our room : ) It was given by our neighbour. hahahha... They thanked us for rescuing their dog. A couple of days ago as we were all going out for dinner, a lost looking golden retriever came into our house and instinctively went "nose to nose" with milo (my dog) as if asking for direction! Hubby recgnised he dog and I whipped out a leash from the back of the car and leashed him up.

So I went:
me: "where does this dog belong to?''
hb: "26 oriocle cres"
me: "is it near here?"
hb: "not far"
I took the dog and walked him all the way... I dragged the dog for a good 15mins rather! (my hubby's near is not that near afterall!) That dog.... literally had to be dragged up the slope! A golden retriever! Weighing probably 20kg at least! At the top pf the hill, upon seeing his dear owners; he RAN!! racing towards them!! DARN!! Why didnt he run sooner?! hahhaha... but it was a happy deed la. We really wasn't expecting anything when they said they wanted to "thank us properly". " )

September 11

September 11 is rocky's birthday!! He is 8 yrs old now!! and for a JRT, he sure is fit! I highly suspect his body is mainly made up of muscle mass! will load his picture up when I have taken his latest picture! and of coz as usual, he gets his birthday meal - chicken thigh; his all time favourite. courtesy of my parents!

Septembe 11 is also the day ern ern has totally recovered from her blocked tear duct!(left eye) hooray!!!! I can FINALLY see her individual eyelashes and not "glued" together anymore! and she can now open BOTH her eyes when she wakes up in the morning to give mummy the refreshing smile!

her developments now at 7.5 mos:

• I doubt she wants to crawl. (mummy secretly hope she don't crawl. Skip this step and walk)
• She sure knows how to get what she wants and NOW by SCREAMING!!!!
• She is as sticky as a sticky tape and koala bear all rolled in one.
• She sits up pretty steadily.
• She can play by herself for a good 30mins or so before screaming for attention.
• She claps - her legs. opps!
• She feeds herself biscuits.
• She grabs whatever that's in sight. Especially buttons on the shirts etc... I think she is fine tunning her fine motor skills.
• Grabs and PULLS mummy's hair all the time.
• Stands up with support.
• says "ba ba ba" "ma ma ma" and "mum mum mum"
  

This month, 26th september little ern will be attending a wedding dinner with mummy and daddy F and mummy is hoping she can take the night hours coz little ern still sleeps at 7pm! (sometimes 6pm)

Yesterday mummy, daddy F and ern ern went shopping in suntec city. Oh my... big mistake! due to the comex fair; the crowd is damn jialat. The air was stifling! I really thought I was gonna faint anytime. However, we managed to get what I wanted! My power suit from Blum & Co. Not cheap though but I really LOVE the range they have. The cuttings of the suit and matching skirt was second to none! I told daddy F hat I will have my future suits only from Blum and he said "ok". kewl!!! I went to get the suits mainly because I am almost back to my pre pregnancy weight. (2 more kg to go...) and its high time to change my miserable wardrobe. *_* Can't wait to wear thse suits... I feel empowered when im wearing it! No wonder all super heroes have outfits too!!

Love is not enough

I have always heard mothers saying "give her all the love that you can give."

Looking at her sleeping soundly on my bed; I was wondering how I want her to be brought up. Is love really enough? My thoughts are love - unconditional love is enough to tolerate all the nonsense that we as a mother (or parent) are going to face.

My dad once said this to me years ago "the day you have a child is the day you will worry till the day you die." Well, needless to say when he said that to me I couldnt fathom what he was trying to tell me. I was thinking "wah biangz... I can take care of myself loh.." hahahha... A child will NEVER truly understand and appreciate their parents till the day they are one themselves.

I'm not only going to give her love, but also discipline, boundaries, rules, limitations and the value of money. I didn't really like the word "discipline" as it has a negative connotation. (shouting, punishing and god forbids - beating)

I grew up under the cane. Not that I don't believe in it, it's just that I believe that it is only necessary only when there is a very bad lapse in behaviour. I believe in effective communication. That itself is an art. And yes, parenthood is the time that you really do self evaluation. I guess ern ern will learn from example and that example is us. : ) (and I have countless departments to improve on!)

Hence from now on if I see a kid that is so lovable, I know its the parents' hard work which I believe, involved not only sweat but tears as well. So parents, Jia You!

she flipped! she flipped! she finally flipped!

it happened all of a sudden! Without warning! it was totally unexpected. I saw her reaching out for her teether and thought to myself "ok, she shall entertain herself for a while while I go do my own stuff". The next thing I saw when I turned around; she is on her tummy! I jumped for joy as I shouted to my hubby "wake up! she flipped!!". It got us really excited for the next 10 minutes.

(10 minutes later...)
Well... though I have been waiting for this day to happen (17th July 2009) which marks the next milestone, she has been flipping like nobody's business since . *_* So I have been asking for it uh?

Brought her for her jab this morning and she is weighing a whopping 8.7kg 68cm! (9 days to 6mths) hahha... I'm not sure why, but I am proud of that! hahah the result of the never say die attitude of breast feeding!

For the rest of the day was busy running errands with daddy and with her in tow. : ) and mummy enjoyed every bit of it.

Once we reach home I changed her into her wet suit and hurried down the stairs to put her in our little pool.... bad move! she burst into tears as soon as she touched the water! It wasn't like this the last time... I guess it could be that the water is slighlty colder... or maybe it's due to her jab? or it's time for her 4.30pm nap?? I'm not sure... hahha we decided to abort the idea and poor daddy had to get out of the water as soon as he jumped into it! That's our baby for you!

Eventful day?! well... it's her first time with semi solids!

Today's schedule:

12 noon: Rhonda's place for re'ann's baby shower(sembawang place)

1.30pm: Hang out at Kat's place (Sembawang close)

well.... that was what I planned ...

What actually happened:

12 noon: ern ern wakes up after her 10am nap.

12.30pm: set off to sembawang.

1.30 to 2.15pm: lost in sembawang. (ern ern needs her milk. hence abandoned idea and proceeded to next destination; late)

2.20pm: kat's place; finally!!!

4pm: zoom zoom home..

went to buy her first rice cereal! bellamy's! she took her first semi solid at home and she looked damn satisfied with it! hahha... I had worried that she wasn't ready yet... well... I was so wrong! Can't wait to feed her cereal again! And I'm gonna mix it with breast milk. : )

The power of her smile

Im sure everyone have days when they can't find their things and feel so flustered and frustrated! that happened today. Just I was about to tear my hair I hear her "talking" to me as if asking me "mummy what are you looking for? I'm here!" I turned my head and look at her momentarily and she smiled... and from then on I threw my frustrations away. I scooped her up into my arms and "continued the conversation" with her. After my calmness came back to me I knew where I had misplaced what I was looking for. Isn't she such a darlin...

Every "doll" has it's days...

What?! u mean mummy gave birth to this?!
And... she is bigger and has prettier clothes! just look at me! mummy can't even be bothered to wear my booties!
and now... it's time.... I'm much cuter, stronger and bigger!!
Nobody is watching....
YOU!! COME HERE!!
you think you are pretty uh? u #$%^& blond!
Take this!
This is mine! MINE!!!
Finally! Take that too!
Hmm.... I wonder how it tastes like...
Yummy...

On the day of her discharge

Today is 26th June. Ern's 5th mth = )

Doc did their daily rounds and asked me this question "are you comfortable to bring her home this noon?"

I hopped about with her in my arms "more than just comfortable! Can I pack now?"

While waiting patiently for time to pass, mummy decided to nap with Ern. This time; peacefully.

Apparently Bronchiolitis is fairly common. We made friends with mummies whose babies are also suffering the same dreaded virus.

Hurray... we are finally going home after spending 2 nights in this lonely room..

Sleepy head

Sleeping soundly .... AT LAST..

Brochiolitis

This is my first post and gosh... it had to be this topic. I had been pondering if I should start blogging... hesitating .... and finally decided to just go ahead and document this.

Ern had persistent cough, we took her to the PD. Daddy and I thought that it would go away in a few days time and who could have ever guess it took a turn for the worst just overnight. She was wheezing badly and didnt look at all comfortable to me. I was praying hard that it's not asthma. There is a chance that it could be asthma as mummy had childhood asthma.

Mummy hurried her to the doc's and doc advised to send her to hospital immediately. Im not sure why, but the very mention of "hospital" brought tears streaming down my cheeks. I tried real hard to hold back but my maid only maid it worse when she tried to console me. At that time I was at a total loss. I went back to my parent's place and got my dad to send us to the hospital.

At the hospital Ern was a really brave bb. Though uncomfortabe she was, she never cried.

Doc took her X-ray to make sure it wasn't pneumonia and after an hour or so, the dreaded moment came when we were told that she had to be hospitalised.

Daddy rushed over as soon as his meeting was over and went back to pack my stuff as mummy will be staying over with her precious bb.

The stay at the hospital was far from comfortable! Every hour she had to be checked for oxygen level. Every other hour to check her temperature and every 4 hourly she had to go for treatment. Oh yes not forgetting the PA announcement which was really "timely"! It is really very tiring for the both of us and because her air passage was blocked; she simply didn't want to have her milk. I was really desperate at the rate that she is going, doc says that she may have to be put on a drip. I really don't even want to entertain that thought of needles poking her all the time. I had to be really patient with her feeding. My heart was wrenching in pain each time she refuse to drink. Kept telling myself that I must be strong and this will soon be over...