Public Holiday today.

Day out with cell group friends and kids.

Great discussions on why people choose to have children.

Laksa.

Tea + Milk.

Prata.

(more) Tea + Milk.

Share This Post on Facebook

Recently I was invited to be a Guest Blogger at Thinkfamily.sg

It’s actually a new website, set up by the Singapore government in its move towards a more family-friendly society.

[note: it's under the care of Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and National Family Council]

Basically it shares family-related news articles and allows people to discuss or even blog and share their views there.

Frankly, I’m glad to have been given the opportunity to write and contribute.

Anyway.

Don’t forget to visit and check it out from time to time, yes?

PS: They plan to formally launch the site in mid June!

Share This Post on Facebook

This past week Vai’s been climbing on to LOTS of things. Our bed. Toy boxes. Our sofa. Bedside table (then onto our TV cabinet).

Really. It’s quiet an adrenaline rush for me to see him doing all his stunts.

[We never experience this with Anya in her first 2 years, you see]

We don’t quickly carry him down and back to the floor though. We let him explore and test his own balancing skills while watching over him from a close distance. It’s only when we think it’s getting too dangerous for a 9-month-old baby to do that we distract him with another activity.

With something that’s much closer to ‘ground level’, I mean.

Share This Post on Facebook

It’s amazing to see that in less than three months Vai will be a one-year-old boy! Babies grow up SO fast!

And in terms of his developments so far, I guess it’s much easier to list them down using the terms used in the book ‘What To Expect The First Year‘.

Here they are:

>> work to get a toy that’s out of reach

>> look for dropped object

>> pull up to standing from sitting

>> crawl

>> kneel well

>> get into a sitting position from stomach

>> object if you try to take a toy away

>> stand holding on to someone or something

>> pick up tiny object with any part of thumb and finger

>> say “mama” and “dada” indiscriminately

>> babble, using various consonants

>> play peekaboo

>> clap hands and occasionally wave bye bye

>> walk holding on to furniture / cruise

>> understand “no”, but always obey it

>> stand alone momentarily

>> momentarily squat, without holding on to anything

>> climb on to furniture or boxes (or anything!) to reach for objects of interest

Share This Post on Facebook

As usual, I learned a lot from today’s sermon, delivered by Rev. Stephen Tong.

Here’s today’s food for thought.

Too often we think only about ourselves (and our own beloved family). We think about how much we can gain for ourselves and how much we will receive from other people. How WE are the centre of everything because WE feel we’re more important than others.

And the fact that everyone else (read: our society) does the same thing sometimes ‘justifies’ our own actions too. That it’s completely ‘normal’ to focus on just me, me and me.

Today I’m reminded again that instead of thinking about how much we can gain, we should in fact start thinking about how much we can share and give.

How much can I can sacrifice for others? How much can I contribute?

Just like how a candle lights up and brightens its surrounding only when it melts itself.

And One Person, Jesus Christ, sure has shown how HE put others ahead of Himself and sacrificed Himself for the salvation of others.

Share This Post on Facebook

Share This Post on Facebook

Got time?

Click here to read more about milk and our health.

And click here to watch some of their Got Milk? advertising campaign videos.

PS: Oh btw, a friend of mine mentioned that Vai might’ve had what is known as ‘false measles‘. And only then I remember yeah THAT’s what it’s called! [Thanks Henny!]

Vai’s rash is nearly gone now, btw. All of them.

Share This Post on Facebook

Just a quick update.

Vai was feverish for 3 days starting last Monday, and this morning it’s all gone. Instead, red dots start to appear on his face, neck, chest and back. Looks a bit like rash.

Anya went through exactly the same symptoms when she’s about 11 months old, so frankly we’re not that worried about Vai’s condition. Based on what happened to Anya, more will come out before they start to slowly go away.

I know for sure it’s not measles though because when the rash appears, it’s not accompanied by fever. In fact, it’s when his fever is gone that these red dots start to appear.

[Some say this condition is called the 'Fifth disease']

Anyway.

He’s cranky at times today. I guess it’s also because of the heat rash on his neck. Must’ve felt really uncomfortable.

[I apply some skin-rash-powder on him after his shower. Its cooling effect helps a bit, I hope]

Other than that (and a bit of cough, phlegm and runny nose), I can say he’s relatively back to his normal self.

Giggling. Smiling. Messing up Anya’s toys and our DVDs. And trying to munch on our magazines. Hehe.

Share This Post on Facebook

It’s not easy being the big sister I guess.

She’s so used to getting all the attention of both parents. And all the toys found at home most likely belong to her.

And when another little one joins the family, she’s ‘expected’ to welcome the new member with open arms; to somehow learn and accept the fact that she’s no longer ‘the one and only child’ receiving all the attention and time.

Kinda tough I’m sure. Especially for someone who’s just past the age of three.

I often try to put myself in her shoes. To try and understand how Anya must have been feeling now that there’s Vai around. That her toys now need to be shared. That Mom seems to be with the little brother more because he’s still a baby and needs to be breastfed, fed at mealtimes, diaper-changed, etc.

But frankly, it’s also not easy for me to always be ‘understanding’ and ‘accepting’ whenever this big sister is cranky and fussy (though the whole act is done in the name of ‘demanding more attention from Mommy’).

Ah.

In the end I think, we all get to learn.

I learn to balance and juggle everything with more patience, wisdom and perseverence (I can only do this with God’s help and strength).

And Anya gets to learn how she needs to think of others, share what she has and care for another too.

Oh well. That’s life. A never ending learning journey for everyone.

And how much we learn and how far we change and develop towards a better self is entirely up to us.

Share This Post on Facebook

I guess it’s inevitable for siblings to pass flu bugs to each other. Vai seems to have gotten his from Anya.

Yesterday morning, Vai woke up looking unusually … quiet. He looked weak and wasn’t his giggly self for sure. Took his temperature and it was 38.6 degree celsius.

Anyway, I took the kids to see our GP, got some medicines and went home to rest. The doctor said it’s just flu, btw. And even lots of adults get them too nowadays.

Vai has never gotten this ill before. His body temperature was at least 38 degrees and there’s even a time when it reached 39.6 degrees.

He frequently gives out a soft moan. He’d want to be carried a lot. He wants to breastfeed VERY often (I guess it’s his body’s natural way of avoiding dehydration). He vomits during his mealtimes too (I think it’s ‘good’ though because it means his phlegm is out of his throat).

Caring for a sick baby sure requires a lot of Mommy’s energy (not to forget lots of patience too because the older sister also demands attention from Mom).

Ah. At least right now only ONE of my kids who’s not well. Not both at the same time, I mean.

And I hope he’s getting better soon.

PS: He’s now 10,7kg and 74cm long

Share This Post on Facebook