Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Flip for Joy

Do you have any trouble finding good Chinese books for your bubs? One can find a huge array of English books on websites like fishpond.com.sg or bookdepository.com. That's how I usually get books for P. If I do not want to wait for the delivery, there's even a Motherswork at my workplace building. Go in, pick out the book, pay, and I'm out of there.

With Chinese books, it's a different story. Motherswork don't carry Chinese books (at least since the last time I've stepped in), and those in bookstores don't look very interesting. In the online sphere, the options are much much more limited compared to English books.

Hence, it's probably a blessing when I came across this website called Flip for Joy. I've been very tempted to get some of the books for P. The website is quite user friendly and one could navigate the pages easily to look at the description of the book. It's an even bigger blessing when I won a $30 e-gift card in a blog contest.

I placed an order for their "Flip Flip Hooray! Ages 0-3 Starter Pack A" yesterday. Guess what? The bubble wrapped books are sitting at my office table today! Quite impressed with the prompt service and delivery.

The starter pack consists of 3 books
1. 大大小小的书
2. 棕色的熊,棕色的熊,你在看什么?(Translated version of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?)
3. 数一数,亲了几下

I've only opened 大大小小的书 so far, because that's the only one I think can withstand the onslaught of Typhoon P. She hasn't learnt to be gentle with books, and I have tons of magazines to show for that. Of the 2 paperback books she has, both are so torn and tattered that they should be in museums. It might be just P, but she made me wish that all books for Ages 0-3 comes in the board book format.

Anyway, P seems particularly taken with the 圆圆的东西, and kept attempting to open it like a book instead of 'twisting' it to open. I had to step in to prevent serious damage. She also likes the 小小的东西, and that's the one she wanted me to read to her twice! She can already identify snails and bees, and make the "bzzzzzzzzzz" sound when prompted. When we came to the picture of the ants, she patted her chest and gave me a scared look. LOL.

I shall post a review of the other 2 books after I gather enough courage to attempt non-board books with P, haha!


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Books for the Little One I

I've been intending to do a series of posts on the books that P has been exposed to so far.

Part I shall be on religion, and I should probably give some background on our family
  • Hubby's family is Catholic, my family is Buddhist.
  • I did not convert before/after marriage (much to the amazement of my friends who thought it was a MUST to convert before we could get married).
  • I've been going to church with hubby before marriage, and still do after marriage. I'm just not 'eligible' for Holy Communion.
  • P became a baptised Catholic on 2 Oct 2011. It was a joint decision, and we even attended a infant baptism class together, before P got baptised.
I always have this feeling that P is slightly shortchanged on her religion because of me. I do not have the in depth knowledge of her religion, and have since sought to inculcate her with some ideas from books.

Baby's First Bible Stories


Ever since I click 'Buy' on bookdepository.com, I've been waiting excitedly for its arrival. When it finally did, the first thing I hoped to do was to have hubby scan the contents and make sure it's right. However, he wassn't keen to do that and I just have to make do.

This is a series of 12 stories from the bible. The first story is about the creation of the world, and it happens to be P's favorite story among the 12. Pictures of animals on a globe thrilled her, and she is now able to point out most of the animals when prompted. Giraffes, elephants, lions, penguins, rabbit, dog, tortoise, she knows them all. The book is brightly colored and P really likes to sit on my lap and have me flip through the pages. She doesn't have the patience to listen to me read some of the pages though. So for now, the book is only as good as it's first story, and all the colorful pages.
P's fav page
Getting Ready for Christmas

I saw this on sale some 3 weeks before Christmas last year, and decided to buy it online. Alas, the delivery took too long and the book only arrived about 3 days after Christmas. The strange thing about P is that she will only allow us to read the last 2 pages to her. We've tried reading the first few pages, but she would snatch the book, flip it to the 2nd last page and hand it back to us. Yeah, it looks like she only wants to know the ending, haha. We've also managed to teach her some animal sounds. When I point to the cow in this book and ask her what sound it makes, she will go "moooooooooooo", cute factor x 100. Do also check out the video below of hubby reading this book to P.
2nd last page


Monday, February 25, 2013

The Fever

P is running a fever, most likely due to her jab. This is the first time she has gotten a fever after her jab :(

Now I'm at work and fretting over how she is doing. Hope she will get well soon...

Sunday, February 24, 2013

18 month jab

Took P for her 18 month jab yesterday, think is DPT or something. She's definitely much more aware that we're up to no good. Our doc was 'sneaking' around to prepare the jab so that she doesn't know. However, when doc asked hubby to go distract her, she immediately sensed something unpleasant was going to happen behind her (jab in the butt). She kept turning around to see what the doc was up to.

Very swiftly, doc went in for the kill and I could feel her body tensing. 2s later, she started wailing. Haha, she didn't cry as long as last time though. Doc bribed her with a sweet and she's good as new.

1 more jab at 2 years old, and hopefully it will be a long time before she needs to take another jab.

I can't believe she's turning 2 in 6 months' time. Probably time to start the party planning too :)

Self feeding

I don't want to attribute everything to the Terrible Two, but I think P is entering this phase. She is showing signs of independence and having a mind of her own. Self feeding is my greatest headache at the moment. P has progressed from
1. Mildly interested in holding cutlery but wants to be fed
2. Very interested in holding cutlery but still wants to be fed
3. Insists on holding cutlery but still wants to be fed when at home. Outside, she insists on feeding herself, which we are ok since we are not cleaning up
4. Insists on feeding herself both at home at outside. This is the current phase. If she does not get her way (like if you try to take away her spoon), she pulls the maniac cry stunt.

At dinnertime yesterday, I was trying to feed her some puréed food. She was ok during the first 2 mouthfuls, but after that her independent streak kicked in and snatched the spoon from me. She then proceeded to create a mess that got me quite frustrated. Tried to take away the spoon and she cried buckets of tears. Hubby stepped in and I thought he was going to just distract her with something else. My jaw almost dropped when he just led her to the dining table and gave her the spoon and food. She continued to create a bigger mess all over her clothes and table, while hubby just went to bathe and left me with all that shitty clean up. I was very pissed. The relationship with hubby seems to be at an all time low recently. He has little patience for me and we just can't see eye to eye on the simplest things. We've yet to reach our 3rd wedding anniversary and I'm already quite disillusioned with the whole marriage business. Sigh, so bad, I know.

On a much positive note, I'm quite happy with my hauls at the BabyCare Festival on Friday. It was pretty crowded when I got there, but the crowd died down a bit when we returned after lunch to shop. Let me try to recall some of my buys
1. Mustela body and hair wash - 1 for $20, 3 for $55. I bought 2 coz each bottle actually lasts quite long
2. Mustela shampoo - 1 for $11, 3 for $30. Again, I bought 2 coz I foresee it will last equally long.
3. Tollyjoy liquid cleanser (antibacterial) - I'm currently using the normal one, which has been refilled at least 4 times. Bought 2 of the antibacterial one at $17 and will buy a new bottle of it when the current one finishes.
4. See Kai Run - With my SIL in the queue, I managed to battle the throngs of people at the shelves and grab 2 pairs of shoes. Usual price is $65.90, and I got them at $24.90 each, probably my best buy at the fair. Been eyeing this brand for quite long, but can't bear to buy them at the usual price.
5. Potty chair - For direct use on toilet bowl. P doesn't seem to like our current potty, and the cleanup is not v fun too. Bought one at $9 to try. I put her on it earlier, but no results.
6. Pigeon hand mouth wipes. Twin pack at $6.60 each. Bought 2.
Had a great time at the fair, hope the next one comes soon! 
Ollie and P

Conveniently sat on the shoebox to try on her shoes. Another sign of independence.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Someone turns 18 months!

21 Feb 2013 - P turns 18 months. We had a mini celebration at home, with 2 mini slices of Thomas & Friends (well, Edward and Toby to be exact). We had done this on the same day last year. Look how she has 'evolved', from a blur blur infant to a cheeky toddler.

At 18 months, she can do the following
- Say mama, dada, ma (for grandma, ah Ma and godma)
- Understand most of what we are saying, although it's obvious she pretends otherwise sometimes
- Eat most adult food. In fact, she usually insists to eat what we are having, ignoring the baby food I had painstakingly prepared
- I had previously blogged about her struggles with the shape sorter, but I realised today that she has improved leaps and bounds, unknowingly and surprisingly.
- She loves to be read to. I've stocked up slightly more than 10 books, mostly deemed appropriate for her age (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Dear Zoo, Where's Baby's Belly Button). Every night after bath and before she sleeps, she will place book after book in my hands and seat herself comfortably on my lap to wait for the stories to start. Hubby tried reading to her too, but she doesn't give him much face, haha.
- Toys: Really interested in her kitchen toys nowadays, and spends time cutting fish/grapes/ radish and putting them together. Sometimes, she will put lots of ingredients in the Shabu Shabu pot and start to stir vigorously, finally ending off by scooping the contents, place it to her mouth and go "Mmmmmmuuum!"
- Kissing: She kisses inanimate objects with gusto, but seems turned off when it comes to human beings. Once in a blue moon, we'll get a politically correct kiss on the cheek. Other times, she will just put her cheek to yours and go "Mmmm-muack!"
- Bathtime: She used to be really really pissed when water sprays on her face, but I've been trying to introduce her to sprays by turning on the shower at a low level. She likes it, only if the water cascading down onto her face is within her comfort level. If not, the crying begins and I have to wipe the droplets off her face with the bathing towel.
- Snacks: Yogis and more recently, raisins are her favourite. She knows the raisins are kept in the fridge. Everyday when we reach home, the first thing she will do is to rush to the kitchen and grab the fridge handle. Luckily, she hasn't learnt how to open the fridge yet. She would flash her award winning smile, and we found ourselves helpless but to open the fridge for her and let her take her prize.

I'll be on leave tomorrow to head to the Babycare Festival at Expo. Expecting a maniac crowd due to the Natas Fair, but hopefully I can get what I need.

Happy 18 months, my darling!





Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day 2013

I saw plenty of flowers and yummy food on my FB news feed. I saw plenty of girls holding bouquets and balloons at Orchard mrt. I saw shops selling all sorts of lovely gifts. I saw many people picking out gifts in branded retail shops at Ngee Ann City.

I texted Hubby to ask him about dinner plans, and his reply was "Let's dabao food home and not be suckers. V Day is a scam by companies who want to make money." Haha, that's the reality of my married life. 8 years together and we're down to dabao-ing food.

I had plans for a nice dinner at either Basilico at Regent Hotel or even just Jack's Place, but I'm appalled at the sky high prices. Jack's Place already costs a minimum of $39++ per pax, which will work out to more than $90 after taxes. Basilico? Hmmm, $128++ per pax. I dot even bother calculating the after tax amount. I overheard a conversation in the shuttle bus today, a couple of colleagues talking about roses and flowers. Apparently, a bouquet of 10 roses is going at $155 somewhere. Ugh, have I been so lag in keeping up with inflation? It's really scary!

Anyway, what I did was to head to Bishan J8. Intended to get some red velvet cupcakes from Twelve Cupcakes, but they were completely sold out with a prominent sign saying "We're baking fresh cupcakes, and they will be ready in 30 mins." Nah, I can think of a better way to use that 30 min. Bought 2 cups of bubble tea from Gong Cha, 2 sets of Salmon and Chicken from Yoshinoya, and 1 slice of Red Velvet cake from Coffee Bean. Sounds pretty sumptuous eh? Total damage was about $26, plus tastes good too!

How did you celebrate your Valentine's Day?

Sunday, February 10, 2013

CNY 2013 - 初一

The first thing I did on CNY day 1 is to open a new tin of Nan Ha 3. P still runs through the milk powder tin like a bullet train, and I hope this will subside in the year of the water snake.

4 stations to go today
1. Hubby's paternal side
2. Hubby's maternal side
3. My paternal side
4. My maternal side

CNY is really a love-hate relationship with food. There are so much goodies on the table, and all of them contribute to my waistline. I eat and regret, eat and regret, argh!!!

P had a blast too. I lost count of the number of soft drinks she had by stealing/grabbing them from people. It's bad I know, but this indulgence only happens during CNY. She would arrive at each destination feeling shy and clingy. After warming up, she would end off that location with a stomach full of soft drinks.

Her nap today was long overdue too. Everything was so happening for her that she only napped at 2.15pm, instead of her usual 11am.

Snapped a lot of pics today. Showcasing some of the better ones...







Saturday, February 9, 2013

CNY eve

Started CNY eve with a brunch at Canopy Dining at Bishan Park. P didn't eat much of the Eggs Royale and Scrambled Egg with Smoked Salmon, but she drank lots of hubby's orange juice ($7). I find their drinks quite overpriced (my avocado drink costs $12, and that's the price of my food too), and was quite shocked that the bill came up to more than $50 for 2 brunch dishes and 2 drinks. I'd probably return, but just not order their drinks.


We did a last leg of spring cleaning when we got home. Little P tried to help here and there, but she wasn't very effective haha. Hubby kept sending her to me, and I kept sending her back. In the end, she spent more time shuttling between us both than getting anything done.


Reunion dinner is at my maternal grandparent's house. It was great catching up with my cousins. P was kinda overwhelmed by so many people in a 3 room flat, but warmed up after awhile. She even let some of my relatives carry her, which is really rare. Here's the spread that my grandparents lovingly prepare each year. Their ngoh hiang is homemade and tastes oh so good! Haha this is the second year we have 四代同堂, P being the only great grandchild until my cousin's wife pop in March. Love the company of my relatives!

Here's wishing all a happy CNY!




















Saturday, February 2, 2013

Last lesson at OMS

Brought P for her final lesson at OMS this afternoon. That is the last of the 4 vouchers she received for her birthday last year. The vouchers were meant for Musical Babes, program, which is for kids up to 18 months. When I called up to make an appointment this afternoon, the staff suggested for me to let P try the Rhythmic Tots program (18 months to 3 years). I told her about the voucher use, and still she let me proceed. I thought that was really nice (and flexible) of them. P will turn 18 months on 21 Feb.

Before the start of the lesson, I had a chance to speak to the teacher to understand more about the difference between the 2 programs. She explained that it will primarily be the same, save for a section on vocal and a section on story telling. Essentially, the vocal part invokes getting the kids to repeat what she said through a toy microphone, but she did warn me that most of them will shy away. The children in class were mostly 2011 babies, so their speech is not as developed yet.

P did pretty well throughout the lessons. However, I realised she acts up (in previous lessons too) when it comes to the drums section. She would ignore the drum allocated to her and go for other kids' drums, or even the teacher's drum. I guessed its more fun when you play with other people's stuff? Come the story telling section, she tried to go forward and snatch the teacher's book. I wasn't surprised coz that's what she usually do to me as well. I had to pull her back. She enjoyed the bubble session, though it was a short one.

I really like the things that OMS is doing. P will always come out of the lesson a happy kid. The only reason I'm not signing up is because I do not have hubby's buy in to fetch us there every week. He is always complaining that the mall is boring and there's nothing for him to do. Even when I offered to let him attend the lesson with P (so he doesn't have to deal with the boring mall), he isn't keen at all. Sigh, maybe I should get my dad's buy in instead...






P had been really funny recently, and she laughs very often too! I'm quite tickled by her antics, like this pic I took at the playground. She saw some kids sitting in a circle and she decided to join them from afar.


I also caught her trying to put on my work shoes just now.

She saw some moles on my arms, and pretended to pick them up and throw them away.

Whenever she wants me to carry her, she will do the clap clap action, like what adults do to babies when they want to initiate the carry process.

We've been trying to teach her the gongxi gongxi action. Instead of up and down, her version goes left and right, somewhat like how a fish swim.