Toileting Newbies

If you're the type who has the habit of buying clothes for your kids way before they can fit into them, avoid buying trousers in advance for 2-4yr old girls. Cos that's when they're most likely to be newly toilet-trained and wearing trousers can be a nightmare when you're out in public. They have the habit of telling you only at the last minute. The only time Munches gets to wear her jeans is when we go over to grams.


Since we're still on the subject of jeans.

Chatterbox

Munchkin is in a highly fidgetive and talkative phase.

We were at a mall and she insisted on holding on to a disposable chopstick after we had our food. She fidgeted with it and kept dropping it while we walked so the frustrated mom who was gripping her hand on one hand and carrying a plastic bag on the other said "CAN YOU STOP PLAYING WITH THE CHOPSTICK?". The next minute, we were in a shop and the mom accidentally dropped the plastic bag and Munchkin said "Mama, CAN YOU STOP PLAYING WITH THE PLASTIC?".


No, I didn't color-coord for sleeptime. This was coincidental, I swear.

Queue for a Kiddy Show

5yrs ago, I sniggered and rolled my eyes at disgusting crazy-ass parents who'd queue over an hour with/for their kids for a space to watch one of those free kiddy shows in the malls on school hols even tho the kids didn't ask for it.

Karma's a bitch.

Well-balanced Weekend.

We arranged for band practice on Saturday so in order not to feel so bad about leaving the kids, I took them out earlier in the day for some fun.

In hopes to tire them out so when they spend the next couple of hours sleeping at home minded by Matriarch and helper, we ran for practice.

When Sunday came, Mister had to sleep in after a graveyard shift but I've gotten used to doing things with the kid/s on my own so I planned to take Munchkin to a Cat Show since the little one is skittish of cats. Taking the almost 4yr old out now is convenient cos I don't have to carry around diapers and milk bottles plus she makes great conversations (at any time there's always someone to say I'm pretty even though I look like a train-wreck). But most of the time, I feel wretched about leaving the 17mth-old at home with the helper. So we waited. As soon as the younger one shut her eyes for her 11am nap, Munch and I got dressed and left. It's less of a heartache when the other one sleeps so she doesn't miss much. By the time we got home, it was the elder's turn to nap so I didn't waste any time, got Pumpkin dressed and off we went to a another heartland mall.

Sense of achievement there when both get equal treatment. Now let me think about ways to manage this with a third kid.

1st Plant

Munchkin is currently obsessed with flowers and (the act of) planting thanks to Tigger and Friends so Shad's science experiment triggered me to let her try one.

She has been overly excited about it, going "Mama! Mama! Come and see my plant! So tall now!" for the past 2 days when I got home from work.

The BEST part of this is.. I was able to con her into sleeping early so she could see how tall it has grown when she wakes up.


Munch and her 3-day old sprouts.

Letters to The Kids

Don't you have days where you get random thoughts which you wish you could discuss it but when you wait, it disappears or you simply lose the mood? I often have a lot of things to say to my kids but they wouldn't understand it now (I tried to tell Munchkin why she shouldn't go around telling people "Mama got 'pampers' stuck to underwear"). So for not wanting to forget the things I want to say, I resorted to penning it down. Partially inspired by Grey's Anatomy where Mere gets to read the diaries of her deceased mother.

I'm not sure if my kids will eventually read it but at the moment, at least it serves as a backup. I don't know either if my handwriting is legible enough though. And I have not quite decided when will be the best age to hand over. For all I know, I might re-read it in time to come then change my mind about giving it to them. But one thing good about this is (this will come off a bit morbid), juuuust in case if I don't live long enough (ya Allah, jauhkanlah) at least it has a purpose in partially getting my message across. BUT that's not the real reason. The real reason is, it's monologue. If certain issues come off naggy, I don't get a "SHUT THE Ffff UPPP, ALREADY!!!". Sure they can just throw it off to a dusty corner and leave it infested with silverfish and roach's eggs.. BUT we mothers, are well-equipped with the power of delusion so I've decided to just use that for now.

Toilet-training

Following suit of being late was toilet-training. I read on parents who introduced the potty to their less-than-a-year-old babies which means Munchkin would come off as extremely delayed. I was hoping that it would be one of the things she'd be naturally ready about so I waited till she was 2.5yrs, I introduced her to training pants but upon putting them on, she hated it. She needed diapers for security. At that moment, I could see the problems I’d be getting into.

Since the time I kept persuading her to go diaper-free, she relented only a couple of months ago. Even then, she started trials on weekends since she didn't have to go to school. It was only last month when I decided to go full-force during her June hols. The things is, I skipped potty and put her straight to toilet with the child seat cos knowing her, she has difficulty adapting to changes in routine so from a potty to toilet would take another series of persuasion.

As I haven't been blessed with the virtue of patience, I found the whole issue more frustrating than weaning her off pacifier (which was horrifying but still do-able cos it was within my control). I was frustrated with not being able to control the whole toilet action- I wouldnt know when she'd have the urge; it took a lot of persuasion to get her to go to the bathroom; if nothing came out, I was not to let her sit too long (or she'd take it as a punishment); and if she had accidents, I was not come off disappointed or she'll be discouraged and want to turn to diapers instead. I did a motivational chart as a form of encouragement for her to go to the bathroom, but eventually, the novelty wore off. Pretty underpants didn’t appeal her either so the lazy mother just got more waterproof training pants to minimize cleaning up ‘accidents’. These pants are brilliant though cos not only can the child feel the wetness, but the pants itself is able to hold urine until child gets to bathroom. I kept wondering if Munchkin was not able to recognize the urge or did she forget to ‘feel’ that she needed to go so.. after the 3rd week, I sort of ‘gave up’ and just let her wet her pants in hopes that she will eventually recognize the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom. She’d usually say she’d want to pee after she did or just a second before she peed so a couple of days before her month-long holiday ended, when she said she needed to pee, I was expecting wet pants as I removed for her in the bathroom but lo and behold! It was dry!! She peed slightly afterwards (still in the bathroom) and made me feel like I just won a million dollars (ok maybe a thousand dollars).

She had been quite consistent since, a couple of accidents but not enough to cause disruption though I have not taken her off diapers when outdoors and bedtime. But the whole point is, I realized it’s a super big deal for a parent, that the lateness (at almost 3.5yrs) didn’t kill off the proud parent-moment of every accomplishment. In fact, it’s a bigger relief cos it was a task long overdue but finally completed.


A star-sticker progress chart I made for her. Oh the effort. And the prize - anything that comes in a box with ribbon excites her so I didn't need anything pricey.

Munchkin's Baby Story

Almost every blogging mom I know will, up to a certain degree, blog about their baby's milestones or kids' accomplishment. And to most, that was why they started blogging in the first place. As much as I try to avoid it, blog like I did in 2001 of all things useless and random, I can't cos the best part is, crazy mothers have the tendency to look back and check on what their children did at which age (ok not crazy but we're sentimental like that, can?).

So there aren't any here on Munchkin when she was a baby cos I was inconsistently toggling between multiply and LJ at that time but today there's a need to mention a bit cos it's a sort of reference to my next entry.

Munch was pretty much late in everything. Everything except for speech. And flipping over. She flipped at 3mths 3weeks cos she was an angry baby majoring in kicking. She was wailing and kicking 22hours a day and that day she exerted a little too much force in her kick that she accidentally flipped herself over (it also helped that she was featherweight). The wailing stopped cos she was in awe of seeing the whole world in a different perspective, not just the ceiling.

As for speech, her 1st two words she really meant (babbling mamamama or papapa don't count cos we didn't think she meant them) was burb (bird) and tet (cat) at 8mths but she had pretty good vocab by the time she turned 1. And my theory in this was, because of her short-tempered nature, she couldn't cope very well with people around her not being able to understand what she wanted.

Anyway, the rest came in late. Crawling at 8mths, walking on her own at 15mths, but there's this one that no one can beat - Teething! Her 1st tooth came out at *......drumroll.......* 22 MTHS!. I can't imagine how dreadful it'll be for her if her milk teeth will only drop when she's 13 or so (as mister said, was what happened to his brother).

So if you hear anyone complaining their babies not teething yet, well now you can tell her/him that you know of one who started teething close to turning two.

For The Mommies of Boys

Friends who have baby boys sometimes tell me how lucky I am to be able to play dress-up on my girls (although I don't deliberately do that for the sake of playing dress-up cos realistically, it'd be expensive). But I sometimes have a mental picture of what my sons would wear if I were to have boys.

These would be he images that'll inspire me. They'll wear their hair floppy with chuck taylors and tops that are a tad size smaller too snug.



Mommies, you're so lucky to have boys.

Yoghurt for Babies

Pumpkin loves but it seems not many supermarkets carry them. I got mine at NTUC AMK Hub.

Emelda's 1st Birthday

My cousin's daughter turned 1 and I liked how my aunt did the sweet deco. She has gotten pretty good doing for weddings and company functions but those are major. I like the fact that she takes the trouble to do kids' birthday parties too.



The hut turned into a shisha den.


The "kitchen" was not too close so not interfered by BBQ smoke.




deco: http://rissagallery.multiply.com/

Eventful January

Crazy start of the year when Pumpkin had to be hospitalised for viral infection for five days, Matriarch, Mister and myself took turns to do night duty at the ward but all of us came back sick after one night. Equipped with only my hp, I managed to connect to mobile blog and facebook for updates. As soon as we got her home, I had to rush through the final preps for Munchkin's birthday which turned out very different from other events we had. It was a lot of catching up on cousins-in-law and long lost pals who've got babies and little kiddos. Thanks for coming, people.

Class Birthday

I couldn't resist getting them the Drum cake from Coffee Bean.

3 days at Aloha Loyang













Special thanks to mybakingtray for the complimentary tarts and puffs.

Other sources:
Venue - http://www.aloharesorts.com.sg/

Drum Cake - http://www.coffeebean.com.sg

Image icing birthday cake - http://myssaliana.multiply.com/

Helium-filled plain and foil balloons - http://www.harvestwell.com.sg/

Mickey Mouse Theme partyware -

1. Heartlink Trading
116 Middle Rd #01-02
ICB Enterprise Hse
tel: 6294939

2. Chia Nephews Toys Pte Ltd
5 & 6 Tan Quee Lan Street
Singapore 188094
tel: 63340509

3. THE GIFT BOX (http://www.harvestwell.com.sg)
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-K01 Novena Square2
Singapore 307506

Treat Packs - Various pasar malam

Munchkin's Art Digitized

I finally managed to scan some of Munchkin's art to manipulate and animate them. Wanted to practise a bit of action scripting but all that I tried applying failed to work so I only kept to the basics of basics. Gah.. I'm not a programming person. Guess will just have to stick to visual art. Have a lookie.

Day One

I always hated being emo. I knew I would but I was hoping I wouldn't. But I did. I got all teary after she went in then I felt all silly. It's just pre-school, mimi. Gear up.



It's Day 2 actually today as I write this entry. Mister said it still didn't go very well.

Puddle Pop

Munchkin and I caught Madagascar 2 yesterday at a nearby (near empty)cinema not for the movie (we could've done DVDs like everyone else) but only because I hadn't gone to one in ages and I wanted her to have her first cinema experience (she sure loved it). Another first time was also her going out in wellies and I was glad I made her put them on cos she had a splashing good walk home.

Thing is, Munchkin makes great company to go out with now (I get to laugh at everything she says) but I cannot do that often reason being the dreaded feeling to have to leave Pumpkin at home with Matriarch. But I'll make sure you get your turn, baby.

Question on Parenting

Often I see new parents asking questions such as "When to wean baby off pacifier?" or "When to toilet-train children?" but I've yet to come across one that's been bugging me - When do we stop talking to our kids in third person? We've been talking in third person with Munchkin so much that sometimes, she still hasn't used 'you' and 'me' correctly. Come to think of it, up till now, I still speak this way with Matriarch but then it sounds pretty normal in Malay.

Guess What?

We found a new Elephant!

The family went shopping at Causeway Point last night and we decided to take a look at Kiddy Palace (I didn't see it here the last time I checked) and there it was, only two pieces, almost hidden by the bigger toys on the rack. We showed Munchkin and she beamed but we wanted her to know that it wasn't her old one (though I bet she could tell) and that we had to purchase this so she should be aware that not everything she lost can be retrieved.


We did this while our man tried out a new shirt.

Before heading home, Mister suggested we get the other piece (did I mention before we like to over-react?) without her knowledge. It was after all, only $4.50. And the best part was, the twin brother elephant saved the evening. At the payment counter, I was flustered not being able to find my discount card (we bought other things as well lah.. not that I die die must get discount for a $4.50 item) when another sales person came and asked if I bought the same elephant earlier. I showed her the receipt and lo and behold! They kept my card cos I had left it there earlier.
Phew.

Desperately Seeking Elephant

HELP!

I bought Munchkin this elephant from Kiddy Palace the last time Pau and I went to Marina Square. She had grown so attached to it ever since, they were practically inseparable. Yesterday afternoon, I took Munchkin out to Causeway Pt and before heading home, we loitered around Sunplaza while waiting for the crazy rain to simmer. At this point, I realised Elephant was missing from her stroller. The 1st time I asked her about it, she threw me a blank expression. When I told her she might have dropped it, she acted like she didn't hear and tried to change the subject. When Mister came home, I made him ask her so as to make sure she knew what was going on and that she wouldn't be screaming her lungs out asking for the Elephant. Again, she seemed nonchalant and tried to divert our attention to something else. After much analysis, we concluded that she might be feeling upset especially so that it was her own fault that Elephant is missing.

It broke our hearts more to see her taking the loss so maturely so we went back Marina Square the same evening in hopes to get her a replacement. As I had presumed, they don't have it anymore. But I'm still keen on getting her a new one therefore if you were to come across this elephant being sold anywhere, PLEASE alert me. I remember the tag was a copycat of TY beanie's. Munchkin took very long to fall asleep last night, tossing and turning, but it made me proud that she didn't utter a single word about the Elephant despite her hot-tempered nature.

The one and only photo she has with Elephant taken last weekend.

Feeding Time Recorder

I used to forget Pumpkin's last feeding hour until I found these magnetic numbers among Munchkin's toys. Problem solved!

Lunch-time Haircut Revisited

One of the biggest reason why I waited to return to work to go for a haircut instead of any one of the days of my maternity leave is because I have to fully utilise the leave days with my kids(note to self: wahh.. now plural). My lunch hours are my ME time.. pretty much made me an anti-social at work.

Archived entry on lunch-time haircuts.

Two Months After

I'm back at work today cos I'm breaking down my third month maternity leave to Tuesdays and Thursdays for 10 weeks so not too 'culture-shocking'. The thing I dread most is the journey to and fro. Geographically, my workplace is not that far but because there isn't direct transportation, it requires three transfers making the journey an hour long. I keep thinking about the things I could do with the girls at home with that two hours to and fro. Apart from that, I resent having to squeeze on to the buses with the swarm of poly kids. And driving is so not economical. I long for this:



just for the purpose of getting to and from work, you know? Can cut my journey time by half. But I don't think the people at home would ever approve of me getting a bike license.

How Queer

When the kids are up, I keep wishing they take a nap or go to bed very early but when they are asleep, I miss them and want to play with them.

Is it just me or does every parent feels the same?

Number 3 At An Angle

This afternoon, I wrote the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on a blank piece of paper to check if Munchkin recognises them. To ease my writing, I had the paper slightly slanted away from her and I didn't straighten it back after that. I pointed to the number 1, she said "one", I pointed to 2, she said "two". When I pointed to 3, she said "W".

Another Kind of Addiction

I was spring-cleaning the girls' drawer and realised..



This sick obsession needs to stop. I'm contemplating on whether I should sell a couple of unworn tights or keep as a collection.

I prefer Munchkin in knee-highs now though I still love them tights. I'm mod at heart.

Babywearing

I used to not like the look of slinging a baby until my forum friends swore by it. Munchkin was a demanding baby, constantly wanting to be carried so I tried my first Moms In Mind sateen sling and I too, swore by it since. I got so attracted to the plain black (a fan of The Cure needs to own a plain black of everything right?) Hotsling and I loved the fact that there wasn't any ring for adjustment and no excess cloth.

Photo taken around Dec 2006

I've recently been looking at all kinds of babywearing products and am contemplating on purchasing. Some of them are pretty pricey. Here's a little directory of links if
you're interested:

Moms In Minds Slings and Pouches (local site) - The sateen sling I have is too comfy!


Littlepods (Malaysian site) - For those who prefer without prints (like me). You can get them plain in almost every color!


Hotslings (US site) - Gorgeous prints but this was where I got my plain black from cos I didn't see it anywhere else at that time.


Milky Way (local site) - Nice prints too. They've got less floral designs which are suitable for men.


Pupsik (local site) - By a pretty and hip mommy. The material description is beyond temptation> "Made from cotton stretch sateen so smooth and silky, you've got to feel it to believe it!"


Peanut Shell Pouches/Slings and Wraps (US site) - Check out the Girly Skull Baby wrap. Rockstar essential.


EllaRoo (US site ) - The ella roo wraps look like shawls. An absolute test on my weakness for stripes.


Moby Wrap (US site) - Hello to plain in every color again!


Hug-a-Bub (Australian site) - Wraps with an attached pocket! I doubt you'll use other carriers once you've got one of these.


Mama Kangaroo (Canadian site) - All kinds of carrier with plain and graphical designs.

Firefly (US site) - EllaRoo, Hug-a-Bub, Maya Wrap, TaylorMade, Moby and Ergo all on one site. And they accept Paypal.

-added 25June08-

Ditanny Baby (US site) - Love the prints too.