Happy Mother's Day!

Asked my mum where she wanna enjoy a good meal on mother's day. She said, "No, it'll be crowded. That'll be difficult for you with your two young kids. Just come back and I'll cook for everyone. We'll enjoy a simple meal together and the kids can play and we can just hang out without braving the crowd. We'll dine out another day."

That's why to me, she's forever the best best best mother in the whole wide world!! And I'm forever thankful for being such a blessed daughter.

Count my blessings

Sigh, I think I sprained my right ankle. It started with a mild pain in the morning and it's getting worse throughout the day of walking on flat grounds plus going up and down the stairs. 

What perked me up was when I reached home moments ago, to see my girl dancing around in front of the baby's high chair entertaining her baby sister and laughing away at her own silly moves. My girl has just finished her dinner and mum-in-law's still feeding the littler one. I'm counting my blessings everyday, to have such lovely daughters and wonderful support at home.

Added 2 days later: MIL is a gem! She rubbed my foot with medicated ointment and gave me medicated plasters to apply on my foot overnight, and my foot felt better on the next day. *thankful indeed*

What a scare!

Omg :( my baby girl was in front of me crawling around on the floor but I wasn't watching as big girl was pestering me to do origami. Suddenly baby girl started coughing and MIL asked if she put something into her mouth.

MIL tried to dig her mouth but nothing and baby girl started choking. I quickly reached my finger in (not say very clean but emergency) and I felt something in her throat! I was like omg omg!! And then she choked and kinda swallowed it as I couldn't feel it anymore. I was panicking and literally had one finger stuck down her throat (I'm so glad I trimmed my uneven chipped nails this morning).

She gagged and threw up a rubber band in my hand >____< O M G I totally freaked out but really glad it's out. It's those loom band size kinda tiny rubber bands that big girl's childcare centre uses on their hair.

Latching baby girl in room now as I type. I know big girl was in shock too. She was refusing to respond to anyone as she's afraid that she might get a scolding, and when I just started latching baby girl here, I heard her crying outside.

Now we don't even know how she got the rubber band. The last I saw her crawling on the floor, I don't remember seeing any foreign object lying there. We just can't take our eyes off our baby girl for even a brief moment. Unlike big girl who used to just sit on the play mat and play with her toys, our baby girl is always moving, trying, testing. I just hope there will be no more such episodes!

EO experience

And after hearing so many raves about these essential oils, I finally embarked on our EO experience journey this year.

My girls have been falling sick frequently. I definitely hope these will help them stay well longer!

Found in Facebook

I wrote this last year for a contest to win something for mother's day. It appeared in my Facebook memories today, and I still feel strongly about it.

My mom is the best because she brought me up in the best way anyone could. She's my confidant, my pillar of support, my adviser and my best role-model now that I'm a mom myself. Every time I read some real good parenting advice, I look back and realized my mom has done it all. To me, she's the best parenting guru in my life! <3

I'm forever thankful that I have the best mum ever. Seriously I cannot ask for any more better~ My mum is the best!

Diaper changing facility at Waterway Point

Oh dear, I've forgotten at which level this diaper changing facility is located. These photos were actually taken a couple of weeks ago but I didn't remember to share immediately.

Here's the single (if I remember correctly) nursing cubicle that's found inside the diaper changing room.

After I've changed her diaper, I couldn't find the bin to discard her soiled diaper and I was quite lost for a while as I turned and looked around everywhere.

It was only after I've pressed the door open button then I saw the bin located pretty conveniently, right outside the diaper changing room.

It's actually quite a smart move because I've been to many diaper changing rooms that stink up really badly due to the trash bin overflowing with soiled diapers. By placing the bin outside, the stench will not linger around in the little space, making it more comfortable for the parents and babies who need to make use of the facilities.

All the time

Right?

Thankful

It was my birthday over the weekend. My first birthday as a mother of two.

My hubby, best friends, my bro and his wife collaborated and threw me the most unexpected surprise birthday party ever. This is probably my best birthday celebration ever, in the company of love ones, my favourite cake,  fab songs and yummy food. I couldn't have asked for more. I'm really thankful.

Hubby brought us out for brunch at Rokeby Bistro before driving down to Nex where we went shopping. I was happily shopping when hubby said he needed to meet a friend, and brought us along to Partyworld. I almost wanted to suggest going Starbucks for teabreak.

My primary school friends, including my bestie, plus my bro and his wife were there in the room as we entered and threw me an unforgettable surprise party. There was my favourite carrot walnut cake from Cedele with Hello Kitty candles, all lit up, and the birthday song played on the sound system. The pleasant surprise overwhelmed me with joy and I shed a tear.

My friends were so cute as they narrated how they almost bumped into me several times in the mall and then had to turn around to avoid letting me see them. I was oblivious to all their plans and happily shopping away as they waited for me to arrive. One even messaged my hubby that they're gonna have lunch so if we bumped into them, just act surprised.

I have such fabulous sweethearts in my family and among my dear friends. I'm indeed very very blessed! :)

A reminder for myself

I shared this on my Facebook last year and it appeared in my Facebook memories today...  and I guess I really need another reminder as I become too absorbed in becoming more like my hubby, who's constantly on his phone or computer.

http://time.com/14953/parents-who-use-smartphones-in-front-of-their-kids-are-crankier

I guess my passive aggressive "嫁鸡随鸡、嫁狗随狗" tactic isn't working. My poor kids now have two parents who are more engaged with electronic devices, instead of just one...

I used to have more patience

Baby I'm sorry I slapped you. I'm losing my patience, too fast too furious... This is bad :(

Plus my poor girls are both having cough and running nose. Being left alone with two cranky kids is really a great test of my limits.

In the end it was a major meltdown. Big girl meltdown. Baby girl meltdown. Mummy also meltdown. Three of us screaming at one another... Definitely not a scene to remember.

New work place

Work has been okay... At best. And recently overwhelming. Been doing some wrong things here and there this week. Really have to catch up and the learning curve is steep. Fortunately, my colleagues have been helpful and supportive, and my bosses kind and forgiving. I must continue to learn and to apply. Do the right things and do things right.

Tiring times as my girls and myself have been taking turns falling sick. I wish this will be over soon and my babies stay well!

Broke down

I broke down on Wednesday.

My baby girl fell and I couldn't catch her in time, and she almost hurt her eyes on the corner of a bedside cabinet. I feel really lousy. I was very overwhelmed by the incident and various other feelings that have been bugging me on and off. I felt like I am an incompetent mother because I am unable to stay at home to be a full time mum, and an incompetent teacher because I am unable to place my work as my highest priority. That kinda get to me and for a while, I lost the delicate balance of a working mum, and I broke down and cry.

I cried while washing my pump parts while standing alone at the sink in the kitchen. Then I cried myself to sleep.

Today in NIE, we did a self-awareness activity to share how we are feeling this week in our own group. I told them how I felt and how I had broken down. I did feel better and I guess I've recovered from that tremendously bad day. I hope no one will judge me. I still feel incompetent somehow, but I know I shouldn't be too hard on myself despite wanting to excel in everything. I need to love myself first, before I can love my children and love my job.

Food and bread

Yesterday I brought my girl out for diner at Vegetarian Express Cafe in Heartland Mall. :)

Yummeh!!

Enjoying her dinner~

This time, I did a little experiment with the bread maker!

Usually I follow this recipe in the instruction manual.

Yesterday I replaced water with grape juice!

Moment of truth...

Seems to look fine.

Yay!

Soft and nice. :D

Playdate on a Yelly mat

Before my dinner with my friends last evening, I went to my mummy friend Cheryl's place in the afternoon for our babies to have a little playdate on her brand new Yelly mat! My baby girl gets to wear her pretty flower-print Cheeky Chompers Neckerchew~

Hmm... Where am I?

Wearing her Neckerchew!

This bib's so pretty and chewable too ^^

Hi Leo, your Yelly mat's so much fun to play with!

Yay hey, I love little babies!! *muacks*

Every baby wants a Yelly mat for Christmas!

This is a backdated entry... I have a lot to write about actually, but my days just get busier and busier... it's already near Christmas as I typed, and I just wrapped 5 presents for Christmas gift exchange and my best friend's housewarming party. I must say though, I love both the interactive Yelly mat (oh boy, I had so much fun playing with the talking/singing duckie myself too!) and the Cheeky Chompers Neckerchew~ Both baby girl and I had so much fun at this playdate!! ^^

Avocado

Before I start talking about avocado... well, I'm not good at cutting at all and as I sliced through the loaf of homemade bread yesterday morning for bringing to school, some broken slices were left at home. Today, I decided to make bread pudding with the leftover bits of bread. I made a small bowl with baking paper, broke the bread into smaller pieces and poured in a mixture of a small egg and about two tablespoons of milk, beaten together. Hmmmm... It wasn't a lot of mixture for the bread to soak in, so instead of being pudding-like, the result was more like french toast. I topped with dried cranberries and maple syrup, and it makes a hearty breakfast with my mum-in-law's kopi. Best part is, I know every single ingredient that goes into this breakfast!

And yesterday baby had her first food! She doesn't seem to be ready for solid food though, and only had a tiny little bit of avocado. In short, she had probably 1% of this avocado, and 99% went into the pizza I made last night, in previous entry. :P

We used her Miffy milestone card~ Nope, that's cards, not card... because multiple milestones were achieved yesterday! :D *proud mama*

We even celebrated her half-year-old birthday with a mini cake that MIL bought, and her sis and cousin sang her birthday song! I took a video for keepsake, but not uploading it. Overall, it was a very happy moment for everyone. :)

And today I made "eggocado" with the leftover avocado from her second day of avocado tasting. :)

More bread

Brought my homemade bread to share with my colleagues! ^^

Used left over crust from my homemade bread to make some homemade pizza ^^

This was before baking. My elder girl used to like avocado but now she's become very picky with food. :( So I made a small portion without avocado for her... it's late and this was supper. I didn't want to make her fuss all night by forcing her to eat avocado.

It was so good, she gobbled up everything and asked to make more pizzas in future. :)

Need sleep

These few nights, baby has been waking up more to fuss until I latch her. I don't know if she's hungry, uncomfortable or just addicted to latching... she can be up 4 to 5 times a night and each morning I woke up feeling like I never slept. But I did.

2 days ago I even had a very ridiculous dream that a heavily pregnant lady wearing a revealing tube dress was walking on the street and she fell onto the road and her dress slipped off. I quickly went up to help her up and attempted to cover her revealed chest with my arms as she tried to pull her dress back up. Some men were sitting at the bus stop nearby and saying things like why I want to be so nice and help someone I don't know. I was busy helping while replying (gosh I dunno how I did that but I did in my dream) to them that we ought to help one another and this is what I taught my daughters too. Come on, we need more warmth in this society, we need to be helpful and always look out for one another, and turn this society into a gracious one which we are all happy to be part of! Right?

Weird dream huh? I had so many weird dreams weirder than this that this dream is nowhere near weird for me. Hahaha.

Oh well, I need to sleep. Snooze time!

Home sweet home

Returned home from work to this colourful lovely sight~ mad love my girls! ❤

The family is complete

How time flies. My daughter is growing up so quickly and this evening, she came home with her second set of class photos. Last year was play-group class, and this year it's pre-nursery class. And here, she's proudly showcasing her photos to her baby sister. By the way, we shaved our baby girl a week ago.

MIL tried to make space in the display cabinet for her photos to be displayed, and took out these little plushies that have been around for a long time. My girl took them to my room and played with them.

I bought these for my hubby when we were dating, but I couldn't remember when it happened. So I searched through my old old blog which I wrote about our dating times and found this.

These plushies were bought on 6 January 2007. Now, just like this family of little kawaii tortoise angels, our family is complete. There are always some days when I'm terribly unhappy about my hubby and I get super frustrated and I didn't even want to talk about it because I refused to talk to him. Sometimes I feel he's horribly selfish and I dunno what I got myself into by marrying a man like that. And sometimes I'm mad that he's falling sick so often yet he doesn't take care of himself like a responsible adult. While other fathers set a good example to eat a well-balanced meal, he hates vegetables and loves coca cola. While other fathers bring the family out for excursions over the weekends, he naps more than the girls and I always end up struggling to handle them alone. He plays games excessively, and spends minimal time interacting with his family. He's not setting a good example for our girls. I know I shouldn't be comparing as I'm making myself even more upset. (actually I shouldn't be complaining so much... he's improving afterall and I should be grateful) But I also constantly remind myself that he's fine. He really is. If I really have to compare, there are really bad husbands out there, and he's definitely not like them. He works for the family and he's tired because he's also having part time studies. I'm tired too but I'll strive. I'll strive for our family, and I'll make sacrifices for my daughters. Even if he doesn't and he sticks to being his selfish old self. For the sake of the family's happiness, I'll do what I have to do, to be the tolerating wife and sacrificing mother. At least our family is complete.

End mommy wars

It's really sad to see news on such tragedy - New mother falls to her death

The mother's mental health and overall well-being over breastfeeding please. Breastfeeding is very challenging to many, and it is okay to give baby formula milk if a mother can't give her baby enough breast milk. Don't be stressed over breastfeeding full time, especially in the beginning. I only established my milk supply after baby's full month... we supplemented with formula milk too. I feel that a good mother makes sure the baby's well fed and well taken care of. It doesn't matter if the baby's fed milk from mummy or some cows. I grew up on formula and I think my mum's the greatest mum ever. Not breastfeeding doesn't make anyone lesser of a good mother. Never stress anyone to give full breast milk... a new mum has a lot more to deal with than giving breast milk. It's too much to handle and too stressful for new mums. Post-natal depression is a real problem many new mums struggle with each day. Lend a listening ear and don't be a critic.

Saw this video being shared on Facebook and I feel it's very appropriate for all mommies. We may all grow up with different sets of values and different ideas of what the perfect mom should be like, but in the end we are all the same. We are mothers.

Watch this, and stop judging.

Click image for link to the webpage I got this YouTube clip from.

Quoting the webpage:

Wintsch's own research suggests mothers around the world feel burdened by unreasonable expectations. When she and her team interviewed 5,000 women in 17 countries, they were surprised at the emotion all of them had in common. It wasn't joy or love, though many reported feeling those. The universal experience was self-doubt.

Wintsch's theory is that the mommy wars won't end until mothers develop more confidence in their decision-making. 

"We're so mean to ourselves. We're so critical and question our every move," Wintsch says. "We are at war with ourselves, and we turn that war on other mothers."

All images are taken from the webpage that they are linked to.