Summer came and gone

There is a constant urge to pen all that's been going on, especially the kid's development and activities, but time seem to just slip past and it's always past midnight when I finally 'settle' down.  I suppose all working mothers go through this?  Telling myself it will only get easier helps :)  

We all had an amazing summer with the pampering of gong gong and popo.  It was so much so that Caitlin, you refused to come to me in the mornings as you know that me taking you equates to you going to nursery. You gathered it was much more fun staying at home where you got 100% attention, but meant that popo had her hands tied the whole day :)  Thankfully you pleasantly surprised me by settling nicely back into nursery with no crying when they left.

 

'Makeshift' ping-pong

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We had a week's break to London, Bath, Bristol and Longleat Safari Park,with everybody (wished SW was here too).  In that week, Richard and I actually spent a whole night away without the kids for the first time since Isaac was born, as we had to attend a friend's wedding.  Of course lots of fun the whole week, but alas had to be back to reality after that holiday, and say bye bye to gong gong and popo.  Thankfully SW visited a month later, and boy did we have a shopping spree :)  To my defense, I changed the wardrobe for the whole family.

Summer is well and truly gone now with the chill settling in and the need for central heating.   

Caitlin - 15 months

In another 2 days and you will be 15 months old.  It was such a milestone when you reached 1 year old, but life has got so much better and easier now.  You truly are the little queen of the house, but also bring lots of laughter and joy with your cheekiness.

You babble non-stop and calls 'mama' and 'dada' to us, and points to Isaac when asked where's koko.  You also point to yourself when asked where's Caitlin :) You love 'flying kisses' and 'waving byes', and sticks out your tongue when asked to.  You shout 'Mummm, mummm' when you see food, and frantically points out with a finger to ask for it.  You babble non-stop to yourself lots and maybe you'll speak sooner than Isaac?  From a motor point of view, you have only just learnt to stand on your own and is yet to take your first step.  However, you're lots more confident now with furniture walking and makes us 'walk' with you while holding your hands up.

Similarly to Isaac, you love food.  I have stopped cooking your own food now as you refuse to eat them.  You much prefer the rice, noodles, pasta and dishes that we eat.  You also LOVE anything green, such as cucumbers, avocado, broccolli, peas, spinach and beans.  It's funny how Isaac passes you the peas to eat coz he doesn't like it and knows you will wallop it down for him :)

Your love of food

I thought to put you on the 'toilet seat adapter' to poo as I always know when you're going to do it as you strain so hard, so that I do not have to wipe your bum and the mess after.  Thankfully, you somehow have got the idea now.  I wonder if it is just coincidental but you have never pooed in nursery or outside.  Are you waiting to only do it at home?

Will only poo at home on her throne

Both look forward to this everyday

Blessed with so much clothes

The best part of motherhood now is seeing the both of you play and laugh with each other.  It is really funny how you both try to make each other laugh and when one giggle or laugh, it sets the other one off.  So joyful!!  You both adore each other, especially Isaac to you.  He protects you lots and even asks me to not get angry with you when I raise my voice at you when you whine or cry too much.  I think it has been more difficult caring for you compared with Isaac as you are much fussier and 'manja'.  I suppose that's the different personalities of boys and girls? The both of you have also very different characters, and hopefully it will compliment each other as you both grow up side by side.  I love you both so much!!

Precious weekends

Weekends have become so much more cherished and special since I've gone back to work.  Thank God it is summer and the weather has been mostly amazing.  So we've been 'picnicing' by ourselves or with friends most weekends, in Otterspool, Walton Hall Park, in our back garden or in friends' back garden.  Simple things but so fun.  With wimbledon around the corner, we could not resist the urge to try out tennis lessons for Isaac, which he really enjoyed, but we're still undecided about whether to start him at this age.  We also went to Acorn farm last weekend as a celebration of Richard's birthday and Isaac went on his first horse ride.  This weekend was Isaac's school summer fayre and was another fantastic day out.

Selfie while Caitlin naps in her pram

Caitlin will eat anything that Isaac eats

'Bungee' in Walton Hall Park

Trial tennis class

Chicken pox

Within a week of me being back at work, Isaac got his first spot of chicken pox.  Call this perfect timing?  How was I to explain that I need to be off again after having 14 months off?  Thankfully everybody was understanding and Richard and I took turns to be off to care for both of them.  They had them more than 2 weeks apart.  Caitlin had more spots, was more ill, and 'suffered' the ordeal more.  At least I am done and dusted with it now.  We did think about vaccinating Isaac but changed our mind, which on hind sight was a good thing coz he had it quite mild and was quite unaffected by it, apart from feeling bored at home.  At that time, it was too young to vaccinate Caitlin anyway.

Back to work

Directors of the household

Can't believe it's been more than a month since the last entry.  What can I say, it has been back to work since the 8th of May and there's hardly a free moment.  Life is quite different from when I was off on maternity but thank God we are all finally adjusting.  Caitlin settled into nursery and enjoying it; Isaac spending everyday in after school club and seeing much less of me; Richard having to take care of the both of them while I'm on call, including nights; and me, getting used to being back at work and trying to maintain a household.  It is not easy but Thank God for His strength and faithfulness!!

More classic expressions from Isaac

I was in the bathroom upstairs with Caitlin and Isaac and shouted to Richard for some help.  Isaac tried to help and shouted to Richard: 'Noo dada, it's OK, it's OK. I got it sorted out!!'  Richard came up anyway and we both burst out laughing as he said in an adult voice 'I got it sorted dada, you can go back downstairs!!'

We have a small 'chat' before he sleeps if he throws a tantrum in the morning when trying to wake him up and get ready for school.  On one of these days,
Richard: 'You made mummy and me quite sad this morning when you threw a small tantrum'
Isaac: 'I know.  But it is very complicated to wake up early in the morning'
Think he was trying to use bombastic words? ;)

Richard was in US a month ago and told him that he needed to be the man of the house
Richard:  'Isaac, you need to help mummy and be the man of the house when dada is not around OK?
Isaac: 'Nooo.. I don't want to be the man of the house. I want to be the boy of the house'

While watching a TV programme, I tried to give him a commentary of what was going on as I thought it may be a little too advanced for him
Isaac: 'Mummy, I understand!!  It is in English!!'

While planning for Caitlin's party, he picked some blue and boyish design napkins too and said 'Mummy, we need blue things too because there will be boys at the party!!'

McDonald's was giving out some toy dinosaurs with Happy meals and so we got one for him.  It was however quite a 'cartoon' version one
Me: 'Wow Isaac, another dinosaur!!'
Isaac: 'It is not a real dinosaur mummy.  This one has a big nose and there is no such dinosaurs with big nose.  This is a toy!!'

Easter Holidays

I wanted to spend as much time as possible with them both as there'll probably not be another time like this.  We went to indoor soft-play centers, swam, chilled at home, brought Isaac to see Cbeebies live and celebrated Caitlin's birthday.

Carrot harvest from it being planted a year ago - we dare not eat it

The Cbeebies show was not what Isaac expected and he was bored, asking to go home at the interval.  Maybe I should not have said we were going to see Justin and all his friends as he expected lots of talking and laughter, while the show was more of a song and dance performance.  He kept saying there were too many songs mummy!!  The highlight of the day was getting you a double scoop icecream :)