Still a cheeky boy

Posting a post can take up to a week sometimes as it has to be done in chunks :)

As cheeky as ever

'Mummy, why don't you feed Caitlin on my bed and put me to sleep?  That's a good idea!!'
'We all need to work hard so that we have everything at home.  We can't work softly'
'I'm very good at this, I'm the champion'
'Popo, your hair is getting longer.  Mummy can cut it for you but you need to be brave' (I cut Isaac's hair and he keeps saying he was brave through it)

We do teach him that winning is not everything as long as he's tried his best.  So to make him eat, we 'race' to see who finishes the food first.  This was one evening
Ric: 'I'm finishing my food and I'm going to win'
Isaac: 'Never mind, I tried my best' 

He's been having a good social life with attending a birthday party nearly every other week (making us bankrupt by buying so many presents ;)).  So, this comes up time and time again
Isaac: 'When will I be 4?'
Me: 'Your birthday is in September'
Isaac: 'It's taking a long time for September' or 'Its taking a long time for me to be 4'

He has an obsession with having muscles this period and being strong, and wants to 'show off' his muscles all the time.

 

Life after Caitlin

 

Since the arrival of Caitlin, life is not the same.  Different challenges but there are still lots of fun times.  Isaac has been AMAZING with the arrival of a sister who takes away all his mummy's time.  So, we try and do something each week.

Tried gardening since we were given seeds from a party.  The sunflowers seem to be growing really well

We went up Liverpool wheel and he asked 'Do we have the money now?' He was super happy to go on it

Ric bought him a camera, which costs more than a standard adult camera

Helping out with getting Caitlin's hand and foot prints

Celebrated my birthday - whole month of May is still a blur to me

It was actually time for my parents to leave at 5 weeks but as I found it still a struggle juggling 2 and managing things at home, papa graciously allowed mummy to extend her stay here :)  Thank you so much ma and pa for your sacrifices!! So it was bye bye to 'gong gong' first.

Introducing Caitlin Kia Yi Shwen

Born on 9th April 2013 at 5am, weighing 2.7kg

 

I can't believe my little princess is already 8 weeks old.  This is also how long I have not blogged for.  It has definitely been eventful - mixed feelings of excitement, love, anxiety, and I can say it isn't necessary easier the 2nd time round.

Labour was perfect and couldn't have asked for anything more.  She literally shot out :) The first week was bliss.  I thought everything was going smoothly and wondered what the difficulty or fuss of a 2nd child was about.  I was adrenalin driven!!  Then it all came crashing down in the 2nd week when events included massive weight loss, hospital admission, realising that most of the milk from me was not getting transferred to her and I was making her run a marathon to get food.  Naturally, floodgates opened and there was lots of tears, feelings of guilt, anxiety and the hormones certainly didn't help.  It mainly surrounded the issue of feeding (me wanting to breastfeed and she wouldn't latch properly - same problem I had with Isaac).  So there started the cycle of feeding, topping up and then pumping.  Along with this came stress and sleep deprivation and I also had to devote some time to Isaac, who has been the most amazing, understanding and loving 'koko'.  Seeing how good he is brings me to tears and I just thank God for his maturity.  Yes, I am really happy to be blessed by all that I have. 

We had lots of visitors.  Of course my parents were already here.  All my sisters came for your full moon/thanksgiving tea party.  We had it in Dobbie's cafe (our favourite breakfast place).  Isaac was ecstatic to see everyone and we all had a great time.  Thank you to all for the gifts.

It's now 8 weeks into being a mummy of 2 gorgeous babies (of course I am bias) and there's still lots to learn.  Thank you and forever grateful to all who have been so patient and supportive over the last few weeks (you know who you are).  I suppose there will always be some form of anxiety and worry over the little one, but I need to trust that God will take care of things.

Time with Isaac

I've been advised to spend as much time with Isaac before the arrival of the little one as it will never be the same again.  Coincidentally it was also his school holidays so we have had lots of time together this whole week - Him, my parents and me.  I've really enjoyed it and think he has grown a lot more 'manja' with me.  Ooopppss.. hopefully he'll adjust after the baby comes. 

Some funny/cheeky conversations:

We were driving past 'Liverpool Eye' (big ferris wheel) one day
Me: Look Isaac, its the big wheel!!  Do you want to go on it?
Isaac:  Mummy, we can only go on it when we have the money.
I was stunned for a while until I remembered why he said it and burst out laughing.  He wanted to go on it after the 'Disney on Ice' show (same place) and I said we can't coz we had no money.  Amazing he remembered!!

My mom saw Isaac took 'his' iphone (our old iphone 3) to play
Popo: Isaac, you didn't ask mummy permission to play on the phone
Isaac:  This phone is mine.  I don't need to ask myself
Me *pengsan* 

Isaac:  Popo, you are handsome
Popo:  No, handsome is for boys and beautiful is for girls
Isaac:  But popo, you are handsome like a boy
Popo chuckled as she realised that she was wearing a shirt and a jumper over it and just had a haircut

Kite flying - Liverpool

It was such a fun experience in London that we did it again, and again, and again in Liverpool :)  We first started at a small garden in the housing estate.  But, the space was limited and the kite kept getting caught in the trees.  So, Otterspool we headed for, on 2 different occasions.  It was amazing fun but freezing cold due to the riverside wind!!  As the wind was so strong, kite flying was really quite simple and everybody had a go. 

Again??!! What should we do??

Compare the difference - 'Taking off' in the small garden in the housing estate

'Taking off' in Otterspool

With the kite flying so high, there's the risk of the string coming to the end (and Isaac not realising or strong enough to hang on to it), and away the kite goes with Richard or Justin running after it.  Thankfully it never flew towards the river!!

The waiting game - 38 weeks

It is now 38 weeks.  Everything has been ready and we're awaiting your arrival baby :)  Although I feel huge and like a 'humpty dumpty', you're apparently smaller than your 'koko'.  Still, you're equally active inside, and will definitely miss the feeling of your movements when you decide to come.

The 'koko' enjoying all his previous toys again, and thinks the pram is a rocket

Easter Sunday

Thank God for Easter and the hope and life that Jesus brings!!

There was another short performance in church by the Sunday School kids but somehow you were still not keen to participate ;) Will await another occasion.