You Turned 2!

Time flies - It has been 2 years since you were born. Both daddy and mummy took leave to celebrate your birthday in your school. You had a "car car" cake since car is your favourite toy.


Happily waiting outside your school with your pet dog!

All your classmates gathered for photo taking and admiring your cake :>
You are the youngest in class so far.

Giving away the goodies bags with the help of teacher Nancy.

CNY 2010

We celebrated Lunar New Year in our new home @ Jurong. You are fascinated with the amount of space you can run about, especially going up and down the stairs.

Cuiyi Ah Yi and family were the first guests to our new home :>

First guests - Cuiyi Ah Yi & Family

Sarah Jie Jie was camera shy so not in the pix!

The gals having fun in your room :>

New Home - Jurong West

We "officially" moved into our new house 2 days before CNY. Our new place is much bigger but it does not have the facilities which you used to enjoy back in Hillview. You seem to miss our home at Hillview as you mentioned several times that you want to go home. Though mama explained to you that this is our new home, you may not understand that you do not go back to Hillview which you all along regard as your home. Mama also miss Hillview as we have celebrated many memorable events there.

Now you have your own room which is mainly used as a play area. Mama hopes that you will grow to like our new home soon :>


Your "car bed" - gift from Ah Mah

You enjoy drawing on the white board mama bought from Ikea. You said you were drawing fishes!

You also have your new study desk!

Mind of Your Own

Before turning two next month, you are already a little man with your own opinions. Mama is glad that you are able to articulate what you want but sometimes you can be very demanding! Interesting episodes of our daily conversations:

One evening, on the way home, papa asked: “Shall we go MacDonald?”
You said: “No, No, go home, go home!”

One morning, on the way to Ah Mah’s house, you told mama: “I don’t want to go ah mah’s house, I want to go beach!”

When we went to nearby coffeeshop for breakfast recently and you were asked what you would like to have, you said: “I want egg, fishball and chicken!”

Words to Remember

Papa said these to you recently though you were too young to understand:

"What have I done to deserve you?"

"You are everything I want for a son."

"You are my only joy in life."

Mama remembered what papa said and wanted you to know this when you are older. Papa is not an expressive man so we may not get to hear it from him again!

Sentosa

Mama was on leave during the last week of the year and decided to bring you, together with Chloe, Charmaine and Ah Mah, to Sentosa. This was your first time to Sentosa. You had fun playing along the beach, dipped into the water, watched animals show etc. In the evening, we went to play Luge. We took the skyride to the top of the hill and then took the car down the winding slope. You were sitting next to mama in the sky lift which has no safety belt. Mama was so relieved after we got down the chair! Strangers who saw us actually shouted "Be Careful!"!! Phew! We finished both rides uneventfully :>

Snowing!

It was snowing at Tanglin Mall! Mama brought you to the yearly Christmas event where bubbles were used to emulate falling snow. The kids were happily playing with the bubbles.

First Stage Performance

When teacher Karen told me that you were rehearsing for dance performance for the graduation concert, mama was not really keen to let you participate. Mama was worried that you may not be able to follow the steps, you may have stage fright, you may run around or even fall off from the stage..But teacher Karen was very encouraging and patient with you. She wanted you to join the final rehearsal at actual venue to assess whether you were ready for the actual day. Ah mah, Charmaine JJ, Chloe JJ, aunty Tummi and Jui Mu were there with you on the final rehearsal. They were impressed and very entertained by your performance. Without second thought, mama agreed to let you perform on actual day and reserved a table of 10 to support you. Mama was still worried on actual day as you will be watched by so many people and with the loud music and bright lights, you may not be willing to perform. Actually mama's worries were all unfounded. You were so ready and eager to perform even after waiting off stage for almost an hour. You even joined in the dance item by another group while waiting on stage after your performance! The video tape of your performance has been replayed so many times and it never fails to make us smile:> (the video cannot be downloaded due to file size :<)

Waiting patiently at the side of the stage

Baby Show Again!

Mama registered you for another baby show! This was the first time you were competing under the 18 - 24 months category. You were assessed on how well you have mastered those milestones for children under 2 years old. You did pretty well and the judge actually said "very impressive"! Mama was so proud of you at that moment :> You achieved a total score of 86 points and came in second for the healthy baby contest - 2 points short of the top score of 88 points!

Nigel, remember this:

It is not important whether you are a winner in these competitions, mama wants you to be a winner as a person - in every role you play...as a husband, father, son, son-in-law, friend, colleague, employee....

Waiting patiently outside the room for assessment.

Having breakfast at MacDonald while waiting for results

Photo taking session after results were announced

Visit to office

Mama brought you to my office as I need to settle some outstanding issues at work. You were curious about the office environment and busy playing with the phone and laptop. You will not have so much fun in your future office :>

School Excursion

It was your first school outing to the zoo. As each child has to be accompanied by their parent, mama took leave to go with you. You were excited because we were going there by school bus. You always notice public/school buses on the road and thus were really trilled when you got into the bus together with your school mates. Though the kids did not really mingle when we were visiting the various exhibits and shows, they did enjoy and learn as the teachers were pointing out those animals taught in school.



Sitting still watching Rain Forest Show

NZ 09

We just returned from New Zealand after spending 10 days driving around South Island. It was your first time taking the plane and mama was worried that you would not be able to tolerate the 10+hours flight. You actually wanted your own seat though you only have the bassinet! But luckily all went well and the air stewardess actually complimented that you were well behaved.

We touched down at Christchurch and drove to Hanmer Springs. It was very cold and started snowing in the evening. Though it was freezing cold, it made the holiday even more memorable. Then we went to Nelson, Kaikoura, Akoroa and then back to Christchurch. These places are so scenic with lots of sheeps, cows and horses as we drove from one place to another. You certainly enjoyed the drive and would said "hello sheep/horse/cow" and "bye bye sheep/horse/cow" whenever you saw the animals. And mama was so relieved that you were willing to sit in the car seat during those long drive round the island.

You thoroughly enjoyed yourself - taking the plane, feeding the animals, running around the field and plucking flowers, new hotel rooms to explore etc. We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy these experiences together.


Enjoying the audio-visual system on flight

Cows and more cows!

Feeding the sheep - having great fun :>

At the hilltop, Kaikoura

Outside the restaurant where we had lunch

Shopping at supermarket - our daily rountine!

Bird Park

We went to Bird Park with Gong Gong, Puo Puo and Kailei KK's family today. It was a very humid and hot afternoon. First, we went to see the penguins and mama was very keen to stay there longer not because of the penguins but for the air-conditioning! But you were really excited to see the penguins especially those swimming underneath the water. Then we proceed to several other stations to see various types of birds as well as birds show. We also got the chance to feed the birds. Though you were so tired as you have not taken your nap, you stayed awake and enjoyed watching the birds and everyone's company. You were "knock out" the moment we stepped into the car! Glad we had an enjoyable day though it is taxing for your little body.

First encounter with little penguins.

You with Gong Gong in the monorail.

Kaile KK feeding the birds.

You were enjoying and clapping so loudly at the birds show.

Flamingos behind us.

No, No, No

You are getting more and more vocal about your preferences / desires. Very often you would say "no, no, no" if you were told to sleep, off TV, go home, drink water etc. Without any confusion, you would say "yes" to sweets, go out, juice, swimming etc. You would also say "on, on, on" loud and clear when you want the TV. Another favourite phrase you use very often is "I want, I want this!". Recently, you tend to get up in the middle of the night and say "papa, make milk!" Phew, luckily you "instructed" your daddy and not me! Mama is so glad that you are progressing fine :>

Progress @ school

Today is the end of second week since you started attending the playgroup. Mama didn't go to office and went to pick you from school. Mama were there early hoping to check how you are coping. Mama was only able to peep at you through the window. You seem to have settled down pretty well. You were taking books from the shelve and returning to your seat, as well as observing what other kids were doing. Your teacher said you have stopped crying in class and learning to follow the curriculum. Mama is very pleased to hear that.

You have also completed some assignments in class during these 2 weeks. Mama was disturbed initially to learn that you were actually crying while completing these assignments. Glad you have overcome separation anxiety and settled down pretty fast.

your work @ school

Future MBA Player?

We stayed home today as papa is busy planning for our NZ trip in Oct. Late afternoon, mama brought you to the basketball court. You were very eager to join papa and try out your skills! Very well done for first timer! You will definitely have the height to be a basketball player!

Day 1 @ Playgroup

Today is your first day going to "Little Learners" playgroup. It is a 2-hour class from Mon to Fri. Mama was comtemplating whether to send you to school at such young age since you will have many years of schooling ahead. But thought it will be good for you to learn to play and socialise with other kids your age, learn the virture of sharing and independence.

Mama accompanied you to the school on day one. You were quite excited and busy checking around the classroom. During the class, you were not exactly following the program and constantly check to make sure mama was still around. It is a good start but hopefully you will settle down very fast and enjoy going to school.

Bob the Builder

You enjoyed watching the show - Bob the Builder, which mama bought for you recently. You watched it so many times that you can sing along during the chorus "Bob the Buider, can you fix it? Bob the Builder, yes we can!" Though you cannot pronounce each word properly, the words "Bob" and "Can" are usually loud and clear. You will also make mama sing for you. Mama is not good with nursery songs but is trying to remember as many lyrics as possible!

Kiddy ride at HarbourFront

Bukom

We went to Shell Staff Club in Bukom this weekend. This club is opened to Shell staff members and invited guests only. We took the ferry from Pasir Panjang Jetty in the morning. You were the only toddler at the jetty as well as in the ferry since this jetty is meant for people who are working in Bukom and it is daily transport for them. The ferry was a short and enjoyable ride for you as you were able to look out into the sea. The club has a swimming pool, a small bowling alley, bandminton court and a cafeteria. We were the only the group of vistors and thus we had the whole place to ourselves. It was a nice experience.

Fell asleep while playing games and having snack!