Pancake day

Another delayed post.  4th of March was pancake day and school must have told you about it as a few days before it, you already mentioned that you wanted to make pancakes.  So, that's what we did and I was really impressed that you could flip pancakes :)  You really enjoyed flipping it as you asked to make pancakes a few more times after that.

Good combo of you making and Caitlin eating

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to be a mother to 2 such wonderful kids.  Please continue to give me wisdom and strength in bringing them up!!  I got a cooked breakfast :)

Portrait of me

School had slideshow of students with their moms

My carpet lounger and other stories

It was PTA just before you finished for Easter.  Thankfully, you got high praises for everything and is doing really well.  But, just before we left, Mrs F commented 'Ah, but he still loves to lounge on the carpet'.  Hhmmm.. you continue to have this bad habit.  When we got home, we asked you how you lounged.  Your reply was 'like this (then proceeded to lie on the carpet and sighed a loud AAhhhhhh), but when Mrs F comes in, I quickly sit up (and proceeded to bolt up)'  But looks like you've always been caught in the act ;)

Yup, my homework of 'Belvedere Bear came home' a few weeks ago

One day in center parcs,

Ric: Wow Isaac, you've played a lot today

Isaac: But Daddy, that's good!!  Mrs. F says that children learn through play!!

How can we not laugh to that reply?

We are trying to divert your interest into other things rather than just dinosaurs.  So in center parcs, with lots wildlife and bird trails available, we tried to get you interested.  You did show a little enthusiasm and said 'Mummy, I want to leapfrog all about birds when we get home' (It was first through the leapreader by leapfrog that you got so engrossed and into dinosaurs)

Yes leapfrog, maybe you all can consider doing a series on birds? 

It was Mother's day last Sunday.

Ric: Isaac, should we get some daffodils by the road for mummy?

Isaac: No dada, you have to leave them for the bees!!!

Me: Think you better learn from Isaac!! :)

One night while singing one of the 'mother's day concert in school' songs to me in bed,

Isaac: Mummy, mother's day is next week, when's Father's Day?

Me: Father's day is in June

Isaac: Why is there no children's day?

Like in most households, mornings are a rush and so you commonly finish your breakfast in the car on your way to school.  It's interesting how you think as this was what Richard was asked one day.

Isaac: Dada, do you know why there's traffic jam on the way to school?

Ric: Why? 

Isaac: So that I can finish my breakfast!!

We pray with you every night to try inculcate a habit of thanking God and also to pray for things.  Thank God that you do understand prayer as one night before bed after Ming left, this was what you prayed 

'Dear Jesus, please let the train arrive safely in London and don't crash'

You have an excuse for everything!!  Richard told you off again for kicking your legs onto the back of the front seat and dirtying it to which you replied 'But dada, it is the body's fault for controlling the legs to kick and dirtying the car'.

One evening during dinner, you suddenly mentioned 'Mummy, I want to live on earth forever'

Me: No Isaac, we all die one day

Isaac:  But I still have a long time on earth because I am only a kid

Me silently in prayer 'Dear Lord, please let this be true'

I am so proud of you my boy, and can't thank God enough for how much you have enriched our lives.

Nursery 2 months on - Caitlin

I was ecstatic that for the first time, there was no tears when I dropped you off in nursery on the 28th of March (there's been lots and lots of crying before this).  When I picked you up, there was even the hint of a laugh :)  You have finally settled?  Unfortunately, timing's just not right.  As I write this, we have just returned from a week's holiday in center parcs, which meant that you skipped nursery for a whole week, and have been extremely sticky. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Long overdue - Holiday in Malaysia

It's been 4 months since we got back from Malaysia and am now finally writing about the fun times and places visited.  I was back for 6 weeks with Isaac and he 'ponteng' school for the whole duration :)  We did so many things and caught up with so many family and friends.  We went to KL Tower, KLCC aquarium, KL bird park, KK crocodile farm, KK beaches, and lots of parks.   Importantly, we had quality time with both sides of the family and ate lots!!  It would have been perfect if Richard could also be back for the 6 weeks but he had to leave after 3 weeks.  Boy did Isaac miss him.

Another birthday celebration

Isaac developed a love for 'flat noodles with brown sauce' which was 'kon lo quay teow'.  He ate that everywhere we went.  Most of the places visited was to keep him entertained as he missed Richard after he left and his routine back in Liverpool.  He really had a ball of a time with all the activities.  Until now, he talks about 'N' his cousin and says he misses her.

Caitlin was weaned to solids, learnt to sit and crawl in Malaysia.  I was surprised at how early she crawled (on her belly) at just about 6 months plus.  It must have been due to the lack of clothes and having her knees constantly exposed.  Until now, she belly crawls and I wonder if she will ever crawl on her knees :)  Mosquitoes LOVED her and she had quite a few bites.  Thank God there were some effects from the 'mozzie patch'.

Chinese New Year

Thank you gong gong, popo and ah yis for the outfits!!

After the success of last year's cardboard 'dragon', we (a few set of parents with boys) got more ambitious this year with wanting to make it more real and better by doing paper mache lions.  We thought what a good idea to get the boys involved.  Unfortunately they were only interested for about 15 minutes and the rest of the work were done by the parents.  It was sooooo much more work than we expected and this will definitely be the last of our 'art and craft'.  It was good but tiring fun and the final work was superb and really looked like the real thing!!

Step 1: Paper mache of the lion heads

Step 2: Decorating and base coat

Step 3: Painting

Ta-dah!!

In action

Life on maternity leave

Currently, it's such a bliss!!  I would not trade the time I have now for anything.  Not that I had a choice previously, but I really regret not having taken a year of maternity leave with Isaac, time that I will never be able to get back.

I think I took a long time adjusting into this role of being a full time mother.  The first 6 months was really tough, juggling a new born, a toddler and maintaining the household (thank God for parents and in-laws), and I really missed my comfort zone of work.  I remember saying numerous times then, I miss work and work is so much easier as at least people are grateful and I get a break!! It was me grappling at a different identity.  But since then, I have enjoyed my 'time off' more and more, and dreading when maternity leave comes to an end.  I look forward to each morning getting Isaac ready for school, feeding Caitlin and then heading out for our mummy-Caitlin activities (which are packed to the brim), then have the most interesting and entertaining conversations with Isaac after getting him from school, and then it's our mummy-Isaac-Caitlin activities :) Really love seeing them both play together and entertain each other.  It's been slightly hindered by having to prepare for a MD viva next week, but can imagine it to be even better when that's all over and done with!!  Of course there are times when either of them drive me up the wall and I'm tearing my hair out, but thankfully those are relatively rare occasions.  Thank God for such blessings. 

If situation allows, a one year maternity leave is a must for all mothers!!