Candy floss

I brought Yule to my school's annual mid-autumn festival. Yule has been there with me every year for the past few years I was working in the school. The first time she was there, she was only 5 months old, then at 1 plus, then 2 plus and this year at 3 plus. She actually remembered that last year she had candy floss during the event and asked for it again this year. I didn't see what's wrong and queued up to exchange a coupon for candy floss for her.  

When she was eating her candy floss (it wasn't the super big one... just a small fluffy floss), I receievd two comments one after the other "Oh, you actually allow her to eat candy floss?" and "Oh, I never let my son eat such thing." I just came a shrug and a smile to the comments... but the comments didn't fail to make me feel bad and guilty for the next few days.

It sets me thinking.. oh no, what have I been feeding my girl? Both literally and metaphorically. I've also been quite bothered about the things she's exposed to as she picks up things so quickly, both the good and the bad. Bad languages, bad gestures, morbid themes on TV etc... but have I done enough to make sure these are maintained at the minimum level? I can't control all the things she's exposed to.. excuses or not trying hard enough? Sigh... guilty mummy...

The candy floss incident bothered me for a few days until Daddy said something which made me feel a little better, though not in response to the same incident... at the end of the day, all these do not matter, they will still grow up... simple truth... they will still grow up... let go of the unimportant things... not to ignore them totally but I guess I shouldn't let small matters like candy floss bother me too much... what's with a candy floss once or twice a year?? Yes! Move on lah mummy...

So do you allow your pre-schooler to eat candy floss?

Daily dose of laughter

Undeniably, when it comes to playfulness, Daddy will be the more playful parent. Yuxi seems to know that she will have her daily dose of laughter when Daddy comes home in the evening. She will eagerly look at Daddy and laugh repeatedly when Daddy makes some silly sounds or ticklish acts. So cute... can melt one's heart just looking at her =)

Staying at home

This week marks the end of my maternity leave and the beginning of my no-pay leave. This will be the first time since my graduation that I'm not seeing any pay in my bank account on the 12th of every month. Though I've got savings to rely on, still can't help but feel the pinch... I'm telling myself to make the next few of staying at home really worthwhile. Treasure the time! Things I hope to do and accomplish in the next few months...

• Continue to pump so Yuxi will have breastmilk till 6 months old... glad I've come so far. My initial target was only 3 months.
• Take more photos... photos are great to record the kids' milestones
• Blog more... as I want to find time to reflect and think..
• Tidy up the house! The book shelf, toy shelf, my wardrobe.. clear away old stuff
• Read! Yes, I want to get down to read... bought the Mitch Albom book for so long but havent got down to reading it.
• Finish my Art Therapy Module 4, and hopefully start on Module 5... the last module to completion of the certification program
• Do more art and crafts with Yule.. hmmm, watch Mister Maker and surf the net for more ideas.
• Start reading to Yuxi... flashcards too!
• Begin to teach Yule more spellings.. she already knows her A,B,C and 1,2,3.. time to move on... 
• Go on a holiday to a resort... (Daddy, are u reading this?)
• Go back to faith and chant more..
• And perhaps to work on my workplan for 2011
• Exercise too! No excuse since I'm home!

Will add on whenever I think of something else that I really want to accomplish in the next 3 months.

Yule and Yuxi

Being a mother is...

Waiting and constantly checking if baby has pooped! Its been 10 days since baby last pooped!!

I won second prize!

I'm hardly lucky when it comes to Lucky Draws. Surprise surprise surprise! Won second prize at the Teachers' Day Dinner, and that's because I picked the number '18' as my lucky number... Yuxi is borned on 18th May... Yuxi, you are my lucky baby!

My New Parenting Journey

Yuxi is now 3 months old. Feels like its been a long time, yet still feels unreal, or perhaps, still reminiscing the days when I could take on the role of a mother in greater confidence. Now, with 2 kiddos, motherhood seems to take on a new meaning - patience, patience and patience... not only am I constantly tested on my patient quotient, I'm also tested on my creative quotient. How can I get more creative in dealing with one active, demanding kiddo who can upset me with her behaviour, frustrates me and testing my limits in being consistent and follow through with the the consequences.... and a new baby so in need of my care, attention and cuddling. On top of that, still having to juggle and struggle to find in-between time to fulfil my motherly duties to provide to so-called best infant food - pumping milk. Not just that... what about my personal time and space? No more left??

I thought I want to begin to list down the creative ways I have learnt in managing these crazy stuff... some of these may come naturally, some perhaps out of desperation!

1. How do I sit down and pump for 20 minutes while Yule is always demanding my attention? Throw away the idea of privacy! Daddy says, my breasts have already become a 'public property'! Involve her as I pump, let her be around, hover around me or read to her - she flips the book (since I need both hands to hold my pump) and I read. Sounds multi-tasking, but at least she gets the attention and I get to pump.

2. Other ways to find the time to pump? Well, easy one is to get her to watch TV, or 'sneak' away when she is eating or bathing, and of course when she is asleep. But not easy all times as she may still pop inside my room and 'interupt' the process.

3. Yet, I have no 'solution' to a scenario where baby is sleeping in the same room with me where I pump, and I wouldn't want baby to wake at that point which means I have to stop my pumping... Yule comes in and 'disturb'. Not interested to play the 'tip toe' or silent game, gets on her 'you cannot catch me mode' (since she knows I'm kinda stuck there having to pump, and cannot raise my voice as baby is sleeping), she takes the chance to scream in delight.. and give a cheaky smile.. or shake baby's bed.. or jump around my bed (with noise of course) testing my patience, excited by doing the things she is not supposed to do and seeing my reactions. What can I do in this situation? Get angry of course. Then having to thraten her with consequences... not always work.. well, she wins.. at least in irritating me!

4. The above 3 scenarios assume baby is sleeping. What if baby is awake? Or worse, baby wakes up while I'm pumping halfway. Well, not easy.. what I do is talk to baby while I keep both my hands on the pump cupping my breasts, make eye contact and conversations, turn on the radio, sing song... whatever it takes, I will just need those extra few minutes before I finish my pump. Not exactly a nice sight, but what to do??

5. Another way to coo the crying baby when I am pumping halfway.. put her on the U- shaped breastfeeding pillow, give her milk bottle and support it when her beanie pillow! Bravo, hands free feeding! (Though this tests my creativity quotient, I do ger emotional over this irony: instead of breastfeeding her direct, I am pumping at the same time when she is feeding my expressed milk in a bottle... haiz... at least the breastfeeding pillow has got other uses...)

6. Bathing baby while Yule is still demanding attention... involve jie jie in the action. Get her to wash baby's feet, sing and dance in front of baby and make bath bubbles.

7. Now there's another problem with bubbles making from bath soap. How do I stop the enthusiastic toddler from stopping her bubbles making? Cos it can be endless, and she will just pump and pump from the soap bottle and 'wasting' the soap! Tried coercing and threats to get her to stop.... battles and negotiations which may just turn out unpleasant... its not wrong for her to play with bubbles, but yet how do I stop it from becoming something that pissed me off? Think think think! My counselling theories tell me to offer a replacement behaviour.. so what I did, fill a hand soap bottle, that's left with a little soap, with water and told her that she can only use that bottle to make her bubbles. So now, instead of getting angry with her for pumping and pumping from baby's soap bottle, she gets her own soap bottle (that's mainly water, so less wastage) and she continues to make bath bubbles while I bathe baby... simple! Why didn't I think of it earlier? Safe those pissifying episodes!

Yule and Yuxi

Yule: (looking at Mummy's big tummy) 妈咪, 我在妈咪肚子里面的时候, 宇希在哪里?
Mummy: (Of course mummy doesn't quite know how to answer such a question???!!!)Hmmmm, 宇乐在妈咪肚子里面的时候, 宇希还在别的世界.
Yule: (staring at mummy blankly) 什么???
Mummy: ok, you go and ask papa

Yule: 爸爸, 爸爸, 我在妈咪肚子里面的时候, 宇希在哪里?
Papa: 宇希还在游泳!
Yule: (looking even more confused and decided to stop asking and walk away!)

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

Mummy: 宇乐, 妈咪生宇希的时候, 要去医院住两天的.
Yule: (looking sad and hugging mummy) 妈咪,我会勇敢的. 我会 Nam-myo-ho-renge-gyo的. (referring to the chant when making prayer)
Mummy: (can't help but to kiss Yule for being so sweet)
Yule: 妈咪, 我们现在就去 Nam-myo-ho-renge-gyo 啦 (referring that we should go and chant now)
Mummy: Nam-myo-ho-renge-gyo 也可以在心里面的. (pointing to where her heart is)
Yule: 什么???
Mummy: 心就是你的 heart (pointing to where her heart is agian)
Yule: 很像 Good Morning Jesus ah? (referring to the song she sings in her school!)
Mummy: (laughing and speechless...)

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

Yule: 妈咪, 你去医院, doctor 会不会跟你打针的?
Mummy: 会呀!
Yule: 为什么?
Mummy: 这样才可以生 baby 吗
Yule: 我不喜欢 doctor 了!

Happy Wedding to You!

Celebrating Papa and Mummy's 6th year wedding anniversary and 14 years of togetherness...

Happy 3rd Birthday Yule!