Birthday Girl

We decided to celebrate Big Bee's 6th birthday in school this year - due to her consistent request. It was a Wednesday, and at 3.30pm, I trooped down to school with her big birthday cake (in the shape of a pink pony!). To create the atmosphere of gay festivities, I engaged the party services of MacDonald's at only $7 per kid, complete with a host, party games and food! Very good deal.

I was slightly late, so MacDonald's was there, setting up the table etc. Before hubby could rush from his meeting, we were already cutting the cake. Big Bee looked ecstatic with all her 12 friends cheering her on and singing the birthday song for her. It is amazing to realise that she had swiftly grown to an age when it is beginning to matter a lot to her that her best friends are all around her during special occasions like this.

After the cake cutting ceremony, games began. Kiasu Big Bee was elated that she won the pass the parcel game, although her team did not win a prize during the second teamwork game. Hubby arrived with packs of goodies for her friends (I bought miniature Guess Who? board games for her friends) as well as her favourite - her 2 new hamsters, Pebbles and Galaxy. They are our birthday gift to her, and I have never seen her soooo happy when we first bought them for her 2 nights before her birthday. She claimed she had been waiting a whole year for pets, and I am quite glad we are able to fulfill her dreams.

All her pals were amazed by the sight of the hamsters, everyone crowding around the hamsters and chatting about them. Big Bee was bursting with joy and happiness, so are we, the proud parents. Little Bee was at home with Mom as she was suffering from a bout of cough, so we wanted her to rest more.

The party ended in one hour after a chattery tea session with MacDonald's. I am so glad we had a simple yet meaningful birthday celebration to celebrate Big Bee's 6 years on this planet :)

Settling In

The little ones moved into our new home on April 12. It had been 2 weeks since (which included both hubby and myself going on business trips each!) and everyone seemed to have settled down comfortably. Mum is happily shuttling between our and her home every other day (if I am in town, of course). Sometimes, she takes the public bus home and everytime she comes here in the morning, she will also take the public bus! She never fails to gush about about convenient it is to come to our place. According to her, it is only 45 minutes by bus ride!

Well, the little ones are now comfy and settled, although in the first 3 nights, Little Bee had much problems sleeping through the night. She would wake up wailing away. I guess she was still trying to adjust to a new bed (we got out her original white cot, instead of the playpen she was used to in my parents' home while we stayed there) and a new room.

Big Bee, being such a big and adventurous girl, settled down with much glee. She loves her double decked bed, and we tried our best to make everything as comfortable and welcoming for both of them, putting toys almost everywhere!

As for hubby and me, because of our 2 consecutive business trips, we did not have much private time to enjoy the house yet. Well, it is time to begin. Our own home. Our own chill out pad!

Memories

We had been unpacking the house for 6 days now. It was a gruelling task, but fulfilling when we saw our 60 boxes reducing to a mere 10 boxes now. Hubby and I had cleared almost all our stuff, and are in the process of clearing the Bees' stuff (they had about 20 boxes on their own, can you imagine!)

As I cleared my stuff, I chanced upon so many things from the past, memories that bring a smile to my tired face - autographs from primary school mates, written pats-on-the-back from ex-teachers, letters and well-wishing cards from my clique's best friends, love letters from hubby and other ex-boyfriends. Memories like these define who we are - our personality, our outlook, our choices in life. It made me realise the speed of time, how precious life is - and that life is truly a linear journey. It doesn't meander, it doesn't wait for anyone along its path. Once we miss out the little enjoyments that life provides, we miss out these moments forever. Which is why it is so important for us to live in the moment, to focus in the right-here-and-now, rather than over-indulging in the past or worrying too much about the future.

Hubby and I also saw old photos of Big and Little Bee, and gazed with wonderment at how fast and how much they had grown. From blur babies unaware of their parents and surroundings to highly alert and sensitive beings with their own feelings, thoughts and personalities. It is just so important to cherish every single day of our children's lives, to relish in their current stage rather than wishing them to grow up soon. For time is cruel, it will quickly swallow up our youth, eating its way into our prime, making no excuses if we fail to grasp precious moments.

It's amazing how moving house can stir up these past memories, making me realise just how precious life is.

Our New Home

I am blogging from SOL Playground in Turf City, after dropping Big Bee off at school.

Today is the BIG DAY, ie the MOVE to our new home, after 9 months of staying at Mom's. I will miss the constant pampering at Mom's place, the squashy but cosy bedroom that all 4 of us called home for the past 9 months...yet I am looking forward to staying at our own place once again, having the space and liberty to chill out anywhere, anytime. But still, am sure my parents will dearly miss having Big Bee and Small Bee staying at their home...

Hubby is now gathering the movers and I am waiting for them to complete the move to the home before he comes to fetch me. And it will be MAJOR CLEANING the whole night. We started cleaning the kitchen cabinets, shoe cabinet, master bedroom wardrobe and living room cabinet last night, together with the maid, and slogged from 10pm to 12 midnight! My hands were chaffed, but I guess a bit of suffering is a perfect harbinger for future bliss!

Alright, it's time to start buying some cleaning equipment (instructions of the hubby) and I am so glad that we will have broadband (finally! After 9 months of internet blockout at home!) so I can blog more :)

Cheers to our brand new home, another phase of our lives.

First Steps!

Both my kiddos are late walkers, which I do not mind at all, judging from Big Bee's supersonic motor skills in preschool despite the fact that she started walking only at 16 months.

Little Bee is now 15+ months, and she is still scared stiff of walking, although she is quite an intrepid crawler, exploring everywhere on all little fours.

We went to Botanic Gardens last Sunday where Big Bee was whizzing adroitly about on her brand new 2-wheel scooter that Papa bought. And we decided to test out Little Bee's walking skills on the green grass of Botanic Gardens' wide expanse of meadows.

I steadied her on her feet right smack in the middle of grassy verdure, and she stood there competently, smiling away at 3 of us. All of us retreated slowly from her, cooing her on, encouraging her. Then, she suddenly started walking one step, two steps, three steps!!! Before she started wobbling. We cheered loudly, elated that we managed to capture Little Bee's first steps indelibly. Big Bee was so sweet, encouraging Little Bee proudly, like the fantastic big sister that she is.

Stay At Home Mom!

Last Friday, I took leave and had the privilege to bring both the kiddos out to meet YM at United Square. It was really fun! We went shopping around, had tea in Globetrotters and went to Toys R Us. I even spent about half an hour alone with them in Swensen's when YM left. Amazingly, I took a cab, lugging the pram and the diaper bag, with the 2 of them in tow - all alone! Pretty proud of this :)

Hubby came and fetch us home at 5pm. I was telling him how stress-free being a stay at home mom is. Tiring, true. But it's fatigue mingled with whole dollops of joy and happiness. Comparing to the hours away at work, facing people whom you dislike, absorbing all the unhealthy pressures of work.

Writing and Talking

Small Bee is now an active toddler. Although she is pretty timid to start walking on her own (despite the fact that she is very stable when standing), she is now starting to talk little words like "Ma" for mummy or practically everything she wants, "mum mum" for food (and this is one baby who really knows how to eat!), "jie jie" for Big Bee and "pa" for hubby, amongst other baby language. So, she can communicate pretty well with us, sparing herself the frustrations of toddler angst as we pretty much understand what she wants most of the time, thanks to her little gabbles and animated gestures of either pointing to the things she wants excitedly, or shaking her head, her whole body and flailing her arms to brush away things we bring to her that she doesn't want! What a baby!

She is following the footsteps of her diligent jie jie as well. Every night, when Big Bee is hard at work at her little desk, doing her activity books, Little Bee would want a share of the action. Sitting at the same desk, scribbling random circles and haphazard lines with her favourite colourful markers, grinning away when she accidentally (or sometimes deliberately!) scribbled on her hands or clothes.

It's really fun chilling out after work with the both of them!

A Student Every Teacher Loves To Have

I went for Big Bee's Parent Teacher talk in school last Friday and was greeted with nothing but good news, to my elation.

Her teacher greeted me with "I love having Big Bee in my class! She is so fun, so helpful and has a great sense of humour! I will always miss her whenever she is not in school!" Which parent will not be bursting with happiness if they hear such comments? She went on to say that Big Bee is one the funniest girls in class, and is so helpful, always volunteering to help the teacher, helping her friends in class, and being so independent and neat in her schoolwork. In the teacher's own words, she is "a student every teacher would love to have in her class"!

I went back from the parent teacher talk, beaming with pride and joy, and hoping that the academic path for my 2 little girls would be smooth and seamless like it had been for me and hubby :)

Ode To Art

This weekend was an artistic one. We brought our 2 ladies to 2 different art galleries. On Saturday, the hubby surprised us by bringing us to Old School on Mt Sophia Rd. It was the old MGS site, and the entire compound was so tranquil and rustic. We can literally hear the rustling of the leaves in those old trees and the intermittent chirping of invisible birds hidden in these verdant trees. The complex was peppered with outstanding sculptures and there was even an idyllic alfresco cafe!

We visited 2 galleries in Old School - one with 2 Asian artists (Zheng Fengjie and Charlie Co) whose paintings reflected their socio-commentary on current society, and another one that is a local photo exhibition that is not particularly interesting. Big Bee was fairly interested in the paintings, making cute remarks and asking appropriate questions, with her ubiquitous "I am bored" or "I have nothing to do" commentary as well! Little Bee seemed pretty amazed, having just woken up from her nap to be faced with all these giant coloured canvasses!

On Sunday morning, we brought them to the Singapore Art Museum, and sauntered through the various galleries there. The galleries were big and empty, so our 2 bees had a fun time skipping around the large spaces, with Little Bee cruising around, holding on to Big Bee's and my hands for support, while walking gleefully around. They both like the "Painted Faces" exhibition, because of the giant paintings and bright pink colours. Little Bee was squealing away at the paintings she enjoyed and Big Bee showed her preference by standing in front of her preferred paintings and staring at them, asking apt questions.

I thought these visits would be great to cultivate the 2 bees' preference for artistic expression...!

Family Togetherness

The Chinese New Year had come and gone once again. This year's holidays gave us ample time to bond as both a nuclear and extended family. 4 days of pure bliss and carefreeness - away from the irksome stresses of work. This is true reality of life at its best. For life is about being close to famiy ties, being happy and contented. Work is a mere secondary supplement of subsistence - never the definitive element of one's life.

The main holidays are spent just visiting during the first day of CNY. Went to both sides of families (Hubby's and mine). We skipped Dad's paternal side because of grandfather's passing last October. However, yesterday, we went as a family to visit Uncle Pat's house, and had a quiet afternoon catching up in Marine Parade. I felt really comfortable there - probably brought back memories of me chilling out there when I was a kiddo.

Anyway, it was pure luxury during the CNY holidays. Waking up every day and planning what to do, where to go with our little happy family. The girls were dolled up every day of the CNY holiday, looking like angels descended from high heavens. They became much closer and very sticky to us, especially the hubby, who was elated at having 2 little girls so enthralled by him.

Family time rocks!

Reading

Big Bee's K2 daily story books are becoming much lengthier and thicker compared to her K1 books. I was really worried whether these books are too advanced for her.

To my pleasant surprise, Big Bee easily and effortlessly read through all the pages (although sometimes she may seem reluctant to read those!), knowing most vocabulary and words in the books!

It's amazing how time flies, and how my darling Big Bee had secretly and all-too-quickly transformed into a little advanced reader. Motherhood is indeed a fulfilling journey.

Anger!

Small Bee is fast developing a temper that may seem larger than her petite little 1-year-old self now! Last night, I tried feeding her papaya in a bowl. While tying the bib for her, I left the bowl with the papaya in front of her, with her happily fiddling with the spoon.

To my horror, when I proceeded to take the bowl away to feed her, she threw a tempestuous tantrum that got me all dumbfounded at the sheer force of it! She was violently screaming her lungs out, flailing her arms out at anything I offered her, crashing her head backwards. Argh!!! Nightmarish!

And stopped immediately with the sweetest of all smiles once I passed her another similar bowl and spoon with some papaya in it!

Dramatic juxtaposition indeed!

Furniture Shopping

Weekends had been spent looking around for home furnishings to doll up our imminent new home. Quite an exciting activity, I must say!

This weekend, we went to a shop selling fountains at Thomson area, and saw all types of different fountains! It was truly amazing! We now have many ideas brewing in our minds on the plethora of fountains we can build up in our balcony!

We also went to a shop at Dempsey selling outdoor furniture and bought a darling-looking (plus oh-so-contemporary!) double seat. It's black fabric, with cool aluminium dressings and a wooden handle bar. Sounds cool, huh?

All our research and plans are fast materialising into concrete reality. Yet, I somehow miss those hardworking days of non-stop research and wishful thinking still :)

A Jazzy Evening

We were feeling really tired last night, so hubby and I met late (working late till 8pm!) and had a slow leisurely dinner at Bugis. I was not feeling very well for some reason, and could not eat much of dinner. Must be all the stress piling up! Hubby was real nice to see my discomfort, and we decided to window shop around, strolling slowly, absorbing the sights and sounds of Bugis. It had been a while since we really slowed down our pace, attuning ourselves to the external stimuli all around us.

At 10pm, instead of going home, we decided to chill out at the lounge in Intercontinential Hotel. The cool soothing sounds of a jazz singer and her accompanying pianist washed over me like a comforting quilt on a cold day, caressing my senses, relaxing my entire mind and soul. We were ensconced in the lounge sofa, quietly chatting about life, sipping delicious juices, and finding a niche for escapism. We departed at 11pm, with refreshed minds and rejuvenated souls.

What a pleasant evening.

Hectic New Year

2008 started with a big bang - I am relieved that my exams are over, and I can focus on many other things now. But work is picking up at a furious pace, and I am sucked into this whole vortex of stress. So much so that I am beginning to experience regular heart palpitations! Must really find a good and consistent yoga practice programme.

Once home, it is a mad whirlwind of letting Nicole read her K2 story books (which are a lot more difficult now!) and appeasing hyper Annette who is more demanding these days.

But I still count my blessings for all these happy busy-ness.

Together, forever

Our family is more closely-knit as before. This past weekend was one filled with laughter, joy and smiles.

On Saturday, we finally selected the tiles and toiletries fixtures for our new home...another step closer to our very own domestic paradise.

On Sunday, we rewarded the kids with a scrumptious breakfast (in which Little Bee persistently tried eating our "adult" food!). She is quite a little greedy baby ;) We then went to the newly open Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, and Big Bee was ecstatic with its lush, wondrous environs. We touched velvety-textured flowers, smelled the fresh smell of foliage, gazed at pretty, bright flowers, listened to the soft whisperings of leaves orchestrating with the wind and immersed our physical selves onto a treehouse and labyrinth. Truly a place to titillate all senses! Big Bee is totally in love with the place!

In the afternoon, the hubby created a resplendant menu for our upcoming new home cafe, and Big Bee was so thrilled. She is really getting extremely attached to us, after we moved in to our parents' place and spend most of our waking leisure hours with her.

2007 in a nutshell

Welcome to the last day of 2007. This had been a momentous year, with many significant events - from a new birth to our family, to us uprooting from our matrimonial home to a brand new place, to 3 sensational overseas trips, amongst other upheavals and beatitudes. Truly memorable.

Unfortunately, I am spending the last few days of the year in a hectic rush, scrambling for time, challenging it, begging for more of it - all in a bid to complete the very final module of my MBA assignment and examination due on the 2nd day of the new year, urgh!

However, I see the blessing in this. For next year will be a year overflowing with quality leisure time.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Little Bee is One :)

Little Bee turns one year on 8 December :) On that joyful Saturday, I happily collected a charming and alluring 3D magic fairy mushroom house cake, all immersed in sweet pink and white icing, with little fairies swirling around its roof. It is a huge 3.2kg cake, and the whole family was awed by it.

We sang her very first birthday song, but she was more enchanted by the cake and the beautiful solitary flickering candle. Time will pass real fast, and before we know it, there will be multiple candles on her cake soon.

It is a simple celebration with our family, as celebrating a loved one's birthday is really about having your closest family members beside you. And for Little Bee, her little world just comprises of us and our immediate families. Soon, she will have more of her own friends gracing her special occasion, just like Big Bee, sharing her unique day with many others. But for now, I am content to know that we are everything in Little Bee's tiny life :)

Happy Birthday, Little Bee :)

Feathered Friends

We brought the 2 Bees to the Jurong Bird Park 2 Saturdays ago (24 Nov). This is Little Bee's first trip to a place of interest. She is a bold little one alright, not batting an eyelid when we entered the World of Darkness. Big Bee decided to be a brave one as well, venturing by herself into the World of Darkness, unlike her timidity during her school's field trip. Well done, Big Bee! It was totally enjoyable, strolling around, dousing ourselves with huge dollops of Mother Nature, amidst blossoming flowers and verdurous foliage, with fluttering feathered wings of all kinds. Little Bee's round eyes are bright and filled with wonder. Big Bee is ecstatic when we brought her to walk around the open aviary. What a fun family outing indeed!

A Sui Generis Teddy Bear

I took leave last Friday, 23 November, and had a wonderful time chilling out with the 2 kids at home. Also very tiring, having to bath 2 kids and feed 2 kids one after the other! But it's fatigue that is worth a million chores :)

In the evening, I took a taxi with Big Bee to meet hubby at his workplace. We decided to go to the Esplanade to be immersed in the artsy Christmas ambience. And we got adventurous with Big Bee, since she is such a big girl already, and went into a Korean BBQ restaurant. However, instead of eating BBQ, we opted for a sumptuous hotpot meal instead! Lots of meat and vegetables, but at the end of the day, I decided I am not exactly a fan of Korean food. The kimchi that my friends so raved about was totally not appreciated by me at all!

After dinner, our princess wanted to go to Mrs Fields for her favourite cookies treat. We also strolled into the Cool Bear Workshop just opposite Mrs Fields. I had to be curious and asked about the prices. After which I found the whole idea of creating your very own individual teddy bear so novel that I asked Big Bee if she wanted to create her own little bear. Her eyes sparkled and twinkled like a thousand stars just dropped into her lap. It was such a pleasure to grant a little girl's wish!

She selected a pink fluffy bear (her favourite colour, no doubt), and took her time to choose a gorgeous outfit for her bear. She settled for a lavender ballerina costume that she had been eyeing since our last visit, I am sure. We then proceeded to create a birth certificate for this bear, and Big Bee named her Pinky. They even measured her height and weight! Thus, a brand new bear is born into the family on 23 Nov 2007 - another birthday to remember ;)

After buying Big Bee her bear, I could not resist asking her to pick another bear for Little Bee's first birthday 2 weeks later. She selected a brown fluffy bear for her, and named this bear Brownie, also another girl bear, with a pretty traditional cardigan and patterned skirt outfit that I chose, to Big Bee's indignation! We embossed "1st Year" on the back of her cardigan so Little Bee will remember this bear as her 1st birthday bear :)

So there we are - a pair of "twin" bears born into our family, within 30 minutes of each other.