Christmas 2012

The 3 + 1 on the way

We had so much fun the whole week!!  Thank you, my lovely sisters and Justin for coming up and for making it special and for all the help.  Really missing you all!!

We had a few families over for a traditional roast dinner the weekend before Christmas.  It was 'pot luck' and when it comes to Asians and food, there's definitely no shortage of it.  We ate from 4 till night, and there were still leftovers.

Your first Christmas cracker pulling experience

 

Starters, vege, lamb (2 types), salmon, pork, chicken, different potatoes

The kids' table

Christmas corner

On Christmas day...

You opened the last 'window' of your calender

Lots of presents opening after coming back from church

The state of the living space after playing with everything

It was sushi for Christmas day as none of us could stomach anymore roasts after the weekend dinner

I thought you were too young for board games but you proved me wrong.  'Sai Yi' bought you '3 little pigs' and we all had fun playing.  You initially loved landing on the 'big bad wolf' and blowing houses down then after a while didn't want to do it anymore.  Feeling bad maybe?  Well, we can certainly start board games in the house now :)

 

We also celebrated Sai Yi's birthday before she left in one of our frequently visited restaurants - Otterspool's Harvester

Funny remarks 3

You run over to our room and climb into bed with us every morning without fail.  On one of those mornings.
Isaac:  Move over mummy, I need more space
Me:  But this is my bed, you're supposed to be sleeping in your room in your own bed
Isaac:  But I want to share with you mummy, you need to share!!

On Christmas morning when you climbed into our bed
Me:  It's Christmas today Isaac, Merry Christmas!!
Isaac:  But it is not Christmas yet.
Me:  Yes, it is Christmas today!!
Isaac:  But there is still no snow!!  Christmas is when there is snow falling down
So I had to explain about having no snow.  This is what the media has depicted Christmas to be, all wintery and snowy.  On the contrary, we have had the wettest Christmas, with no hint of snow at all. 

Age of viability - 24 weeks

We have entered the age of viability baby!!  However, you have quite a few more months to go yet and so please don't decide to come anytime soon :)  I have been warned that the 2nd pregnancy is tougher and how true that is!!  Tiredness comes without saying, but being much bigger than when carrying your brother, I've felt like 'humpty dumpty' from a few weeks ago.  Also, there's aches and pains everywhere.  I'm not really moaning but if ligaments and muscles do 'loosen' and stretch with each pregnancy, no wonder our bodies are so 'battered' if we decide to have many babies.  So, 2 is perhaps enough :)

First Christmas play

This was your first public performance - as a sheep in the church Christmas play.  Don't think acting is your talent as you certainly had no expression and did not quite like it.  You refused to wear the head piece of the sheep and did not participate in all the actions.  You were however very good in following your class up and down the stage, and then just standing there with hands in your pocket :)  Acting cool?  Or just did not understand the whole concept of public performance? 

Christmas medley

You taught me 2 new Christmas songs 'When santa's got stuck up a chimney' and 'Dear father Christmas'.  The words are sooo cute and funny!!  Looks like you do learn quite a lot from nursery :) 

Weekend with 'Ah Fu'

It's always nice to have family visiting :)  You in particular love having the attention and also being able to play with more people.  They bought you 2 toy cars (Lightning Mcqueen and Francesco), which have since become your best friends.  In the past 2 weeks, you bring them to nursery in the car, to eat, shower and sleep, and wake up asking for them.   

As it was the first weekend in December, we also put up the Christmas tree.  But, it's only with minimal decorations for now as this is the first time we are having a 6ft tree and need to get more stuff for it.  You were really excited to put up the baubles (but not sure why like to cluster them), and have particularly asked for an angel at the top.  Let's see what we can find. 

Hair cut saga

I thought we had a deal that when your hair reached your eyes you would have it trimmed.  Unfortunately you recognised the route to the hairdresser's place and would not get out of the car after we parked.  The crying started from there.  The same thing happened and you cried, fussed and made a scene.  Maybe I should learn this skill as I'm not sure if they will welcome us back there again as this is the 2nd time now. Thankfully your hair doesn't grow very fast and you only need it cut every 3-4 months.  Alternative suggestion by 'dada' is to keep your hair long :)

Funny remarks

How do people teach kids plurality? 
We were reading a book and there were 3 mice in the picture
Me:  How many mice are there?
Isaac:  That is a mouse mummy.  There are 1, 2, 3 'mouses'
Me:  Clever, but its 1 mouse, 2 mice, 3 mice
Isaac:  But that is a mouse mummy!!
Me:  Ya, it is a mouse, but when there are more than 1, they are called mice
Isaac:  No, there are 3 'mouses'
And it went on and on.. and I gave in, It will be mouse and 'mouses' for now

One evening, I excitedly ask you to feel baby kicking
Me:  Isaac, come and feel the baby kicking
Isaac:  But it is not good to kick people mummy!!
What do I say to that?

We have been trying to make you sleep on your own.  It works on days where you are tired but you run over to our bedroom after 10 mins if you're not ready to sleep.
Richard:  Isaac, be a good boy and sleep self
Isaac:  I'll be a good boy because I want toys!!
Richard:  No, you need to sleep on your own because you are grown up now
Isaac:  No, I don't want to grow up, I want to 'grow down'

Little princess to be

I should perhaps give this little one growing in my belly some attention in these scribbles too!!  Your koko Isaac has always said that he wanted a sister and that you're a girl and he's been right!!  What an added blessing to have one of each.  He strokes my belly every night and is really really looking forward to you coming out!!  Can't believe I'm already halfway there being 20 weeks now. 

I was a lot more tired and had much nausea with you baby, which perhaps is good coz I know that you're doing OK.  My tummy also showed a lot earlier and bulges a lot more compared to previous.  But similarly, you both are very active, as I've felt your kicks from about 15 weeks and its non-stop.  Suppose you'll be like me, on the go all the time :)  We need to start thinking of names now...

 

Is it worth it?

You have your moments and are trying to push boundaries.  Recently, you make promises of 'last time' or 'last one' but then will ask for 'one more'.  We gave in to you initially but realised that the 'one more' became more and more often.  So recently, we became strict with the 'last one'.  This caused you to throw a tantrum and cry, and then end up in the 'naughty corner', which delayed bed time a lot more than just giving in to you.  Is it worth all this hassle and screaming?  Hopefully these thoughts run through all parents' minds?

Our getaway to Disneyland

20th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris

The night version

We wanted to have a holiday before the arrival of the little one which means that we will be 'stuck' for another couple of years.  So, Disneyland Paris here we come!!

Sushi snack before boarding the plane

Keeping yourself entertained - for only 2-3 mins :)

 4 days 3 nights of fun, but the weather could have been better.  Still, the whole 'magical' feeling and the 'wow' factor was still there, especially during the parades.  Theme song was 'Magic Everywhere...' and cheesy slogan of the holiday was 'Disneyland - where dreams do come true' :) 

Your favourite - Buzz and Woody

Christmas Parade in the rain

Icon of Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

Meet Mickey Mouse - we ended up paying for the souvenir photo

Pluto in the hotel we stayed in - Newport Bay

Buzz doing lift-ups with you - You giggled non-stop

Of all the toys, you only wanted T-Rex the dinosaur (Toy Story)

Lots of live shows which we all really enjoyed, you: Disney playhouse live, me: Animagique and Ric: Cars spectacular

Thankfully it was low season so we waited an average of  only10-15 mins for all the rides and went on all the rides that we could go on (some even twice).  I suppose this is the trade off for being in the cold but worth it coz I cannot imagine how restless you would have been if we had to wait longer than this.  Your favourite ride was the carousel where you chose the biggest horse, followed by 'Autopia' which was driving cars.

Disneyland train

 Choo-choo!!!
 

Being silly while waiting for an evening show in Walt Disney Studios

When we arrived home, you went straight for your trainset :)  Despite all the excitement and fun, think you still missed home and your familiar toys...

Interesting conversations

You hate cutting your hair so we made a deal.  You will have a hair cut when your front hair reaches your eyes.  So now when we bring anything up about your hair, you'll reply:
'Not covering my eyes yet!!'

Isaac: Mummy, are you getting fatter?
Me: No, it's the baby growing inside!!
Isaac:  Will it grow bigger than me? But I have 10 babies inside me

You ran over one morning and shouted:
Isaac: Mummy, the car started on its own and you chased after it!!!
Me: Were you in the car?
Isaac: Yes! But I was not scared. Then you catch the car and drive it.
In the morning when we got in the car
Isaac: Mummy, the car is still here and waited for you.  It didn't start by itself!!
 Interesting that you can start recounting your dreams now :)

How did you do this to your shoes?

I am not sure how you drag your feet, walk, or play in nursery to do this to your shoes.  The brown ones cost more than the shoes I buy for myself and became 'torn' after about a month of wearing them in nursery.  I made it last for another 2 months. The black ones became like this after 2 days!!!  These were brand new shoes!! 

So, I tried to get you 'harder' shoes but shopping is no fun as you refuse to try the hard ones.  In the end, I succumbed to buying another pair of Clarks, but this time with hard fronts, and hopefully will last you longer. 

Halloween

You and your electric Buzz Lantern

Giant floor lantern - there were lots of them

Rather than taking the lantern out at the Chinese mooncake lantern festival, we went to a Lantern festival for Halloween.  It was the first that we have ever been to.  If it was not for you, we would not have gone as it was raining quite heavily an hour before, and it was in Sefton Park (hence likely some muddy paths).  However, it was worth it as we've never seen anything like this - giant mobile paper lanterns in all shapes and sizes.  The parade ended with an 'art display', which was very similar to the 'Wayang Kulit'.  After this experience, Wellington boots are definitely on my shopping list as our shoes and socks were soaked through at the end.  I can't believe we've never owned a pair of them after 10 years in this rainy UK weather :)

We also went for the fireworks display for Guy Fawkes.  All these outdoor, cold activities, and at night, only for you.

Some of the lanterns in the parade

The stage at the end of the parade

The European style 'Wayang Kulit

Sefton park lake all lit up

Sefton park

Sefton Park remains my favourite park in Liverpool.  They even have paddle boat rides now but have yet to go on it. So before winter comes, we spend many of the weekends there with your scooter and feeding ducks, which you love.  Puts the unfinished bread to good use too.

Daredevil

We recently went to B's birthday party in an indoor play area and you were so excited you just ran in, forgetting about us.  You joined the big boys in the >4 years old area and was up and down slides etc.  There was this spiral slide that was to the ceiling of the building that you insisted on going in.  I thought the climb up to the beginning of the slide was quite precarious as you were not even tall enough for the height of the 'steps'.  But, you were very determined, pulling on the side safety net to hoist you up until you reached the top.  I am pretty sure you were scared when you reached the top as you shouted 'Mummy' but there was no other way down.. and I heard you 'AAAaaaahhhhhhHHH' all the way down :)  But, that only made your adrenalin pump more as you wanted to go on it again and again :)

Can you see hm on the left?

Soon to be 'Kor-kor'

I suppose as am approaching the 4th month of pregnancy, I can make it official that we will be a family of 4 in April.  At the moment, we're still not sure if it's a boy or girl but you always call it your baby 'sister'.  We'll be happy either way :)  We told you after my 12 week scan.  When we showed you the pictures, you kept asking, 'why is there a hole in mummy's tummy?'  I suppose anything black is a 'hole' to you?  Saying that, you have been very sweet as have been asking to 'sayang' the baby everyday.  Let's pray that it will continue to be like this after the baby is born. We're excited, but a little apprehensive about coping with 2 little ones.  Thank God for His strength and grace :)

3 Years Old

You completed 3 years of your life on 27th September.  How time flies!! 

Thankfully I was on nights and could get some time to see you have a little party with your nursery friends.  You chose your own batman cake (although some were shocked that I didn't make it myself since it was sooo simple ;))

With all your friends that spend most of your time with

For your party, we wanted to do something different, but at the same time did not have much time to plan for it.  Thankfully for the great many outdoor farms and play areas here, we all had an amazing party at Church Farm that weekend.  Thank God for the GORGEOUS weather!!  All we had to do was prepare the food and deco, and everything else was taken care of.  Thank you sisters for all your help!

Feeding the donkey

Barrel ride - your favourite

A giant swing with the girls

All aboard the tractor

Maybe men, you should be giving them a hand? :)

You always said it was going to be a Thomas cake

All eyeing the candle

An attempt at trying to take a family photo - This may be the best shot after numerous times

Spot the birthday boy

Thank you to everybody for your presents!!  I opened it all that night