Bali 2010

Mummy was in between jobs and we went to Bali for 6 days before mummy started work with the new bank. It was a very good holiday for all of us. You enjoyed the pool and beach the most. Of cos, we enjoyed quality time spent as a family.

You were enjoying the sun!

Behind us is the Tanah Lot Temple

Playground

There is a playground next to our new home. Though it is not as nice as the one at Hillview, you do enjoy playing there whenever mummy has the time to bring you there. It is simple pleasure watching you having great fun at the playground.

Rain Coat

It is raining season and mummy bought you a rain coat to keep you dry when walking to and from school. It has picture of one of your favourite cartoon characters - Thomas & Friends. You were so anxious to try it on after we bought it and mummy was having difficulty persuading you to remove it. You wanted to wear it out though it was bright sunny day! :>

First Puzzle

Mummy bought you the first puzzle - it is a picture of your favourite toy (cars!!). Though it is meant for kids > 4 yrs old since it comprises 48 pieces, mummy bought it cos you insisted! Both papa and mummy were surprised that you actually have the patience and ability to complete the whole puzzle without any help after a few trials. Impressed. Subsequently we bought you a few more puzzles and it is definitely a healthier hobby than watching tele :>

Surprise Birthday Party

It was Yi Yi's surprise birthday party, organised by uncle Leng Hong. Though Yi Yi didn't look surpised (she is too smart!), you kids had fun (especially Sarah jie jie)!!. We are so blessed to know Yi Yi and her family and be invited to all such celebrations :>

Like Mother, Like Son!

You like to mimic what mummy says and it sounds really comical. Recent incidents:

While mummy was lying next to you one night, you said "mummy, close your eyes and sleep"! Mummy says this to you almost every night cos you like to stay up late.

Mummy knocked against you accidently and you said "mummy, say sorry to Nigel"! Mummy always ask you to apologise whenever you are at fault.

Papa came into your room while you were playing puzzle and you said "Don't disturb me, I am playing puzzle. Stop it lah." Both papa and mummy say that to you very often :> Feeling very guilty when I heard you saying it. Hopefully it has not affected you negatively.

Mummy left your water bottle in the restaurant and said "oh no, I forgot to take the water bottle". Then you said to mummy "Mummy, never mind"! Mummy always say "never mind" whenever I don't want you to act up over trivial matters.

Looking at how you mimic the way we talk, papa and mummy have to extra careful on what we say whenever you are around :>

Toys"R"Us

You enjoy going toys shops and very often will tell mummy "I want to go shopping - see many many toys one!" Now that you can verbalise what you want, it is getting difficult not to accede to your requests!


Having fun playing with toys in Toys"r"us!

Rock a bye Baby

You enjoy singing and can sing several songs now. One of yours or rather mummy's favourite is "Rock a bye baby". Mummy did not know the lyrics until recently when mummy found the lyrics and taught you how to sing it. You can sing the entire song and mummy recorded it so that I can play it repeatedly, especially when you are not in the mood to sing :>
(the record cannot be loaded to this blog)

Rock a bye baby on the tree top,
When the wond blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Papa's Birthday 2010

This year was the second time you celebrated papa's birthday (mummy was on business trip last year) and first time you were able to wish papa "happy birthday" and sing birthday song for papa on your own without any help. You were singing non-stop on our way to the restaurant for dinner. Papa was delighted.

Italian restaurant at Demsey Village

Memorable Moments

Mummy was playing with you when you looked at mummy and said "Mummy, I love you very much!". Mummy was very pleasantly surprised and asked you to repeat what you just said :> A few days later, you said that again to mummy as well as daddy. You are such a sweet boy.

Wheels on the Bus (invented version)

Wheels on the Bus is one of your favourite DVDs. Its theme song is very catchy which you sing very often (you would also make papa and mummy sing with you repeatedly!). It goes like this:

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town.

You invented the below version today when papa suggested to go Ikea while we were in the car discussing where to go.

Papa in the bus says go Ikea, go Ikea, go Ikea
Papa in the bus says go Ikea, all through the town

Both papa and mummy were amazed by your wittiness :>

Marina Barrage

We went to Marina Barrage with Jiu Jiu and family. It was our first visit and mummy wanted you to have new experience ie to fly kite. Obviously you were too young to master the skill of flying a kite but you had fun. You enjoyed playing in the water fountain and looking at the sky filled with kites of interesting shapes and colours. One nice surpise : we met MM Lee at close distance there. You waved at him and he waved back :>




Jiu Jiu teaching you how to fly kite!

Hong Kong 2010

We just returned from Hong Kong last week. We were there for 5 days with Ah Mah and this was the first time you got your own seat in the plane :> This trip was meant for rest & relax, thus it didn't have program-packed itinery. We went to The Peak, Disneyland and Tai-O, other than shopping at Mongkok and several shopping malls. We met up with mummy's cousin and her family who reside in Hong Kong. They were very hospitable and accompanied us almost throughout the 5 days. Great time spent with you and Ah Mah.

Playing with your toys in the plane.

We went to Tai-O for lunch and shopping.

We had coffee and snack at the Peak :>

What? Where? Why?

You have so many questions nowsadays but mama is not complaining because this is how you get to learn and grow. In fact, mama is pleased that you are curious and alert about the surroundings as well as eager to ask and learn. Some of your favourite questions:

"What are you doing?" "What is this?" "Why so dark?"

"Where is papa?" "Where are we going?" "What happened?"

Swimming with papa at Downtown East

What do you like?

You have been asking mummy this question recently "Mummy, what do you like?". It went like this:

N : Mummy, what do you like?

M : I like apples.

N : Yeah!!! Mummy, what do you like?

M : I like rice.

N : Yeah!! Mummy, what do you like?

M : I like Nigel!

N : No... Cannot. Mummy, what do you like?

It will go on and on. Mummy does not understand what game is this or where you have learnt this from, but we will continue till your attention is diverted to something else :>

Cool?!!

You put on the shade when we went shopping and gladly pose for a pix!



Looking real cool without smiling :>

Singapore Idol??

You were "helping" mummy to mop the floor and bursted into singing the moment you hold on to your "microphone"!!

Growing Up

You have become so grown up recently that mummy finally realised you are no longer a baby. You are able to respond to questions like an adult and mummy doesn't know how to react at times. Interesting conversations that we had recently:

Mummy : "Nigel, where is mummy's spectacle?"

Nigel : "I don't know...I throw out the window already!" - since then this is your standard answer whenever you are asked the whereabouts of anything.

Charmaine JJ : "Nigel, where is the cover for this bottle?"

Nigel : "In the dustbin!" - ~~ what??

Mummy : "Time to sleep (afternoon nap)"

Nigel : "I sleep already!" - hey, since when??

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