Yum Yum!

Gar Gar is teething and always wanna put everything in his mouth so I gave him a teether. I normally store it in the freezer so it will help numb the pain.

When Julian saw Gar Gar biting a cold teether, he asked Gar, "Nice?" So I gave him one and he happily biting it. An immature baby!

Teacher Lydia's Wedding

The pretty bride with Prince Julian & Garwyn

Souvenir from Lydia's wedding

Pretty bridemaid - Linda with Prince Gar Gar and Julian

On 31st May 2009, Julian skipped his SHICHIDA class to attend his former pretty teacher Lydia's wedding. And for the first time in my life, I brave the traffic to go to YUNG ANN road to bring my 2 sons to the wedding. I had never dare to drive to a place that I am not familiar with as my driving skill sucks! However, being a mother can really turns me into a WONDERwoman! So there I was, armed with a S$299.00 SHINCO GPS, totally clueless about where is YUNG ANN ROAD, I just trusted my GPS to bring us there. Nevertheless, we reached there safely... SALUTE MOMMY!

Inheritance

Daddy said he wanna work hard to afford another property so that he can leave the 2 kids with inheritance. Mommy being the poorer one starts to ponder what to leave for them...

My dad was an illiterate and he always said that the only way out of poverty is education so he always tell me whether he rob or steal, he must make sure we graduate with a degree. Unfortunately, he passed away in a motor accident and leaving us to struggle with our lives..

When I was in my secondary school, I met my Chinese teacher who told us that he came from a rich family and his dad was a businessman who told his children that while he is alive, they can ask him for money to do whatever they want. His siblings went into business with his dad's money and my teacher used the money to complete his education. Soon his dad passed on, his siblings' businesses failed and penniless... For him, armed with a degree, he became a teacher, VP, inspector....not rich but leading a stable live.

I do not inherit any wealth from my dad and in fact I carried his burden and unfulfilled dreams to move on with life. I struggled with part time jobs and taking care of siblings just for 1 goal - to complete my studies - For my dad and his belief - the way out of poverty!

What my father belief and my teacher's teaching are true! Altho' I'm not a super rich or successful person today or I should call myself a mediocre but I'm not in debt and lead an honest life. What I have inherited from my father is his "upright upbringing" which make me a strong and determined person.

Today I shall pass this belief and upbringing to my sons. Daddy will leave you wealth and Mommy shall make you a "better men" like what Daddy always sing ... to be a better man.

Look who's talking?

Today Gar is able to say more words like walk walk, gor gor, jie jie, po po , yi yi...

How's his development now? Popping teeth. He is a very impatient guy, he took a long time to start teething but he is never behind time cos he doesn't "pop" one at a time but several at a time.

We went to Sembawang Shopping Centre - their favourite Splash Park. After all the fun, we ate at SUBWAY and naughty Gar Gar wander off and I scolded him. I told him "if you walk away and couldn't find mommy how? Can u tell the security your name when they asked? All you know will be cry and cry....by then. " Guess what is his reply? He coolly replied "GAR GAR".

Ok, u win. U can get lost now..

A Mother's Journal - Part III

" BEST MAID OF THE CENTURY"

I read an article that says being mother will make her a smarter person. I strongly agree! I do not understand what is estrogen or scientifically tested or experiment. I flunk my science anyway.

Nevertheless, as a mommy of 2, no! 3, my experience sure proven I've become smarter because being a mother is sure a learning process! As a hands-on mommy, I played many roles!

As a nurse, I swear I never understand those medical terms and medicines names before I was a mother. When doctor asked me what I was taking, beside panadol, I could only describe to him or her it's blue tablet or sarsi favor syrup for coughing. After being a mom, I make sure I understand every words the Dr. says and thus make sure to memorize every terms and medicines.

As a educator, I am a student all over again...I will make it a point to go through all my kids' works and revise it before I teaches them. I just wanna make sure I could answer their questions and not try to "smoke" them like their daddy did! So I begin with learning phonics. Now I could sing it! I also try to be careful with my "Singlish" and speak proper English infront of them. Presently, Julian is very interested in Dinosaurs! So poor mommy has to twist her tongue and pronounce all the tyrannosaurous, albertosauraus, daplextosaurous... then comes the homophone... Next the solar system that consists of Pluto, Earth, Mar, Venus.... Although I was a As student for Geography, that does not mean I could still remember! So I had to go into NASA website to read about it again!

There is a chinese saying that goes "上梁不正，下梁歪". As a discipline mistress, I need to set good examples. So I am now always on my toe! I have a habit of nail biting when I am in stress but I always tell my 2 monsters not to put fingers in their mouths cos they will eat up all the bacteria hidding in the finger nails and the bacteria will start dancing in their tummies! Guess what, Julian caught me nail bitting again and told me this story... I feel so embarassed! I apologised to him and he told me next time dun do that again! I always check their nails weekly and make sure I trim their nails so 1 night Julian asked him to "lift up my hands and show him my finger nails" - I got caught for keeping long nails again! See it's not easy to be a RESPONSIBLE MOMMY, right!?

Now Mommy is like a Sponge all over again!

Hello! Mommies there....do u agreee!?

---------------------------------

I read a magazine somewhere and a mother said this which I totally agree and find it meaningful. So I jotted it down to constantly remind myself to practise it.

"I will stop anything I'm doing for my children. A lot of people have issues and hang-ups that can be traced back to childhood. I don't wanna equip my kids with the negatives when I can envelope them with the happiest things. Hopefully, they feel secure now and throughout their lives."

Our Evening Walk!

My kids love the evening walk after dinner! Nicole loves to walk around smelling other dogs pee and poo while my 2 monsters enjoys watching taxi, bus, train get pass and weirdest of all, they enjoy looking for lizards and snails crawling on the walls.

Gar Gar will go crazY seeing them and will come home telling everybody "LIZARD! LIZARD!"

O ya! Before we go out, the 2 of them will start fighting to hang the condo access card around their neck. So mommy has to tell them to take turn. Gar Gar will tape when we go out and Julian will tape when we come in...

Gar Gar is 15m old!

Gar Gar is 15m old! He is still unable to speak well but we will struggle to understand him otherwise he will get piss off and start biting us like a lion!

Gar Gar loves to reads and will always pester us to read to him. Whenever we asked him who is Humpty Gar Gar and he will point to himself.

Humpty "GAr GaR" - New Version Rhyme

Julian has daddy's talent. Maybe he can join the "DUN FORGET THE LYRICS" contest! HE IS ALWAYS CHANGING THE LYRICS FOR WHATEVER SONGS HE IS SINGING! And Gar Gar is always the target!

This morning when he was taking a shower with Gar Gar... He sang

"Humpty Gar Gar sat on the wall

Humpty Gar Gar had a great fall....... Couldn't put Humpty Gar Gar back...."

Silly Julian

Today I made fun of Julian again. We were preparing to sleep and were chatting. Then I suddenly hold Gar Gar's hand and asked him anxiously where was Julian. Gar Gar didn't bother but Julian came to me and responsed that he was there but I pretended that I didn't see him. I kept calling his names and looking desperately for him. He became very worry and started to say some magic words. He thought fairygodmother had cast a spell on him and made him invisible. So he told her, "I'm a good boy, dun punish me."

Gar Gar is 14m old!

Gar Gar is 14m old! What is he doing at this age? He is an ardent fan of Barney! He may not listen to what Daddy and Mommy says but he will definitlely be listening to what Barney say! I bought him a Barney water bottle but he will always snatches gor gor one. When he refuses to drink water, we will tell him, "Barney says drink more water!"

He is very interested in flashcards and he will demand for it! So mommy is working hard on printing the flashcards. Even the maid is very obssess with the flashing. His latest flashcards were about emotion so he will do a BORING FACE whenever we flash him the card of a boring face!

Bias

My mom always complain that I'm biased. I love Julian more. I guess it's because she always see me attending to him more. That's because he is always the one who is making the world upside down so I've to go after him all the time. And he is afraid of me and only the parents can control him! The more I care for Gar Gar, the more he will harrass Gar Gar. So I normally take him with me!

My 2 monsters have different characters so I need to use different approaches to handle them.

In fact, I love Gar Gar so much. I know Gar Gar loves to take bus. I brought him to take a bus when Julian was taking his nap. I play hide and seek with him and he enjoys so much. He loves to play turning round and round with me so much. I bought so many books especially those on animals cos he loves them and I brought him to Night Safari because he always mimic lion's roar. Just too bad that the lions and tigers went into hiding when they knew the 2 monsters were coming.

So Mom, I'm not biased! I take care of Julian more cos I'm his "克星" so that he will not hit or bite Gar Gar more! I do spend time with Gar Gar whenever I can! I'm still breastfeeding Gar Gar despite him waking up several time at night cos I LOVE HIM!

Sibling Rivalry

Nowadays you often hear screamings follow by crying when you put the 2 together even for juz a second.

Like for instance, I need to dispose Gar Gar's diaper after changing and left them in the room for a minute, I've already make sure the Barney's DVD is on to keep them occupied and make sure they both sat a distance away for each other..but even for that minute, you can hear a little struggling noises, and you quickly hurry back but still it's too late. You'll soon hear a screaming then crying. Guess who is the bully and what is the loser?

It's Julian! He is the bully. He will normally start by hitting Gar Gar's head or start harassing Gar Gar till he is provoked. Then this 14m old will turn into incredible hulk and pounce on Julian and bite him hard. So the screaming and crying comes from Julian in the end. The bully will cry and complain but mommy couldn't be bother.:) Maybe i should say Gar Gar has my gene, never be push over easily. Ha ha..
P.S : Good job for now, Gar Gar. However, in 2 years time n they fight like this every now n then, I will have to use my father's (i.e. your gong gong) method - one for all and all for one! Get it? I will spank all! Monsters!

Our Fight with Virus!

Poor Julian was on drip. Dr Watt disallowed mommy to enter the room when she inserted the needle into him. Dr Watt and nurses used a blanket to tie his body up and inserted the drip. I could hear Julian screaming for me even I was 2 doors away. My heart is so painful..

The hamper was given by his school - Kinderland

Julian only entertainment in Mt Alvernia. He would want us to push him around with this "pole".

For the last 2 weeks, our house was like a war zone. We put on a fierce fight with virus and bacteria. Julian & Gar Gar were down with some virus infection. It started with a running nose. After a course of anti-biotic - Augmentin, it didn't help and especially Julian, he began to develop high fever of over 40C for more than a week. Gar Gar was 38C but he was still very alert. Dr Watt changed their anti-biotic to a stronger Zinnat but Julian's fever continued to surge. I'd not being able to sleep cos I need to monitor their temperatures and sponge them in the middle of the night.

Finally on the seventh day of his fever, I started to panic. I was almost breaking down as I felt that I was so alone watching my sons suffering and Julian was talking non-senses when his fever surged to 40C. Dr Rhonda Watt was very kind. She responded to my desperate call for help. She called me back a few times to check on him that particular night.

The next afternoon, his fever surged to 40c again. I rushed him to the clinic to insert a suppository into his anus to break his fever. His fever subsided very slowly and we agreed that we had to admit him. Dr Watt put him on drip with stronger anti-biotic and did a second blood test for him again. This time, his reactive protein had exceeded the standard limit. After 2 nights in the hospital, his fever had finally gone. Then it's mommy's turn to fall ill. I had been like a 7-11, taking care of both ailing kids. During the day time, I took care of Julian in the hospital then I went back at night to monitor Gar Gar's temperature and to breastfeed him.

Daddy's Story Time

I really salute Daddy's creative ways of telling stories to them. He doesn't need a book.
So far I've heard 2 versions.

Version One:
He told Gar Gar, long long time ago there were 3 monks in living in the mountain, an old monk, a young monk n a chipmunk ...

Version Two:
He told the 2 of them, one day Barney, Dinosaur and Koala bear went to NTUC to buy something. So Barney pushed the trolley and they were stopped by the security cos Dino is too big to enter and Barney is too fat. In the end they had to ask Koala to buy on their behalf...

Mommy nearly fainted..

Mommy is PIG!

Julian asked if he could take out my sunglasses for me. I told him that it is not sunglasses but it's spectacles! Sunglasses have dark coloured lens but spectacles are see thro'. Mommy is wearing a pair of glasses cos without it, mommy cannot see far. Mommy is myopic! At this point, Julian gave me a shocking look & said, "Hah!? Mommy is PIG!?"

At this point of time, I'm speechless.

Shame Shame Mommy

Julian is allergy to Gar Gar's poo poo. Whenever he smelled it, he'll start puking or coughing. As if his poo poo smell great n the rest of us are smelly! However everytime mommy wanna do "big business" in the toilet, he always wanna follow so this time I juz brought the 2 in for a shower as well. Then as I was flushing the toilet bowl, he started to cough, I asked him what happened. He was sitting in the long bath and said, "Mommy, your poo poo so smelly of cos I vomit." He made me so embarrass for that moment.

Lizard Part II

I've a pack of lizard which I bought it to scare Julian so he would not touch those things he was not suppose to touch. But after a while he was no longer afraid of it. Now I left it in the long bath for them to play while showering. The 2 of them always fight for these reptiles. They just can't share. They want it all by themselves & Julian will start beating Gar Gar & Gar Gar will bite him. This morning, they were fighting for it again. I told Julian that Gar Gar didn't snatch his lizards but Gar Gar tought he was afraid of it so wanna eat them up to protect him. He looked at Gar Gar for a moment and told Gar GaR, "Thank u very much! Gar Gar, dun need to eat these lizards for me. I'm not scare anymore."

Gar Gar is 13m old!

(Gar Gar at 13m old)

(Sleepy head Gar Gar fallen asleep in MY GYM)

Prince Gar Gar is learning to talk now. He can mumbles words that has a "B"... like bus, barn (stands for Barney).. Initially Daddy was very excited that he could finally called him pa pa...later then I realised that he was pointing to Barney or Bus!

Julian's 1st words were car and dad but Gar Gar is more fillial, he knows the meaning of "饮奶思源" and he called me FIRST! ke ke ke...

Also when we asked him what's his name, he could say "GAR GAR" but maybe he always heard his gor gor calling him GAR GAR in a very low, harsh tone.. he too uses the same tone when he called himself GAR GAR.

Finally the most important phrase that he knows is of cos "MILK MILK".

P.S: Gar Gar, u r so lovable n mommy can't stop loving u!

Lizard!

As usual, we were in the room preparing to watch some DVDs after dinner. I was looking for a dino DVD that Julian loves to watch, then suddenly Julian was screaming n crying for Daddy. He saw a baby lizard crawling on the wall.

This is the first time he was asking for Daddy to help. So I called Daddy for him but Daddy was very agitated with me n Julian. He was blaming me for making him like a gal, always crying. (Too bad! Daddy doesn't share our interesting moments.)

After I hung up the phone, Julian decided that he should cover his eyes n pretend to see no evil (i.e. to be an ostrich). So to wrap up everything, I told him no more lizard. He asked me where was the lizard. I told him Gar Gar had saved him! While he covered his eyes, the lizard crawled to him n Gar Gar ate the lizard. So it was in Gar Gar's tummy now. At this moment, Gar Gar was making a yummy sound (something that he always do whenever he pretends to eat).

Julian was convinced that Gar Gar had eaten the lizard to save him so he gave Gar a kiss on his cheek. When Gar Gar wanna give him a kiss too, he told Gar Gar cannot cos his mouth is dirty!? (Maybe he has just swallowed a lizard.)

Julian's broken hand

Julian "broken" hand

We were in the room with Gar Gar watching our favourite Barney after dinner when suddenly Julian told me, "Mommy, I wanna sell my backside." I almost burst into laughter. I asked him how much he wanna sell his backside. He would normally say $0.50 but I guessed he knows his backside is worth some money, he said he wanna sell it for $20. I couldn't control my laughter anymore. I moved over to sit beside him and just when I was about to sit next to him, suddenly there was a cracking sound. Immediately, he gave me a worry look n told me, "mommy, I broke my hand." I laughed even more. So I played along with him.

"O no! U broke your hand like your cousin? U need to go hospital to bandage it." I held his hand and started to shake his wrist a little. Then tell him, "see! It's so soft, it's broken. " This made him worried more. I decided to play a joke on him so I carried him up n said will rush him to the hospital. I carried him to the study room and told daddy to send him to hospital. He was so worry that he cried n told daddy his hand was broken. Thinking Daddy would be laughing at his silliness but the impatient daddy brought the crying Julian back to me n scolded me. He said he has no time for this kind of joke!

Mommy has to wrap up my joke with Julian. So i took my heat powder and rubbed it on his wrist then took out a pink handkerchief to bandage his hand (just like his fel fel jie jie). He told me he felt much better and for the whole night he was so careful with his hand and he dare not use it to hold anything.

Before he slept, i asked if he would wanna remove his bandage, he said no. Now he is sleeping with his bandage.

That's naughty mommy n silly Julian! That's how we play with each other!