Gong Xi Fa Cai

We were the first family to greet my parents on 1st day of CNY. While Jamie has the chance to wear her 1st CNY dress, I decided to doll her up like a oriental looking girl (no clips or hairband) since its once in a year and probably next year she won't be able to wear this dress anymore.

____________________________________________________ Earlier on ..in the morning.... tada!!!

Reunion Dinner with in-laws

SIL did all the cooking this year. Age has catch up with FIL and he has come to recognise that he does not have the physical strength and energy to do all the cooking like he used to do it years back. Strangely I begin to somewhat miss his cooking style though SIL did a very good job tonight. This year's a much mellow one...though few dishes but all of them taste fantastic, well done SIL! These few days, Jamie had been staying awake till in the wee hours, refusing to go to bed till I have to switch off all the lights in the house and keep explaining to her that it's getting very late and we all need to rest.

Thank God she slept shortly...

Reunion Dinner

I know its a bit early but as usual, we normally have our reunion dinner over the weekend, a week earlier, so that the 3 of us (and my 2 elder sis) can have our reunion dinner with our in-laws on the actual day.

We arrived nearly at 7pm cos church service was a bit lengthy thought we left halfway through the service. Though we are the last to arrived, the kids just started having their dinner first, before the adults. So I quickly took out Jamie's porridge and fed her.

As usual, my mum will prepare alot of sumptuous drooling dishes (too bad everybody was busy eating so... no pix taken) on reunion dinner. This year is a bit different. Everyone was given a bowl of sharkfin cum crab meat soup as a appettiser. Strangely after having a full bowl of that, my stomach seemed to be "well satisfied" and in the end, I only managed to have few pieces of abalonce, some toufu, prawns and half bowl of rice. Din managed to have a taste of all the dishes on the table. But that's alright. Everyone was present and this year, we had cousin Cecelia to be with us!

And Jamie had alot of fun playing in her gong gong's little room. She just loves to hover around in the small crampy room. And of course her favourite item, gong gong's chair!

gong gong Chelsea & Nicole

Weird Sleeping Style

This afternoon while Jamie was sleeping... Chunquan took a peek at his dd and without delay, took this picture !

Fav Bear

As usual Jamie loves to flip, giggles and babbling over whenever she reads. But this moring, she suddenly got up and walked to her room. I was very very puzzled and curious but didn't want to interrupt, I waited eagerly for her to return ..... Guess what?? She took out her fav bear and sat down again. Then I found out that the book has this little boy hugging a bear too. That was something which I never thought she would do it.

Once in a blue moon

As I'm writing this I am really exhausted after a 3hrs "battle" I had with Jamie since around 1045pm. Tonight was one of her "once in a blue moon" refusal to sleep or drink. As I am real determined not to hug her till she dozed off, I gently placed her back in her cot when she's about to enter into her dreamland. But this time, she started to make a fuss almost immediately when I left her room! Closed behind our bedroom door, I tried to ignored the long wailing with occasional paused. After some 10mins, the cries continued. Thought she may be hungry for another milk feed, I dragged myself off the bed. Only sucking for perhaps few seconds, she pushed the bottle away, a usual indication that she's ain't wanting to finish her milk. With much frustration and stubborness, I insisted that she should drinks some more. Being a compliance child, she drank few sucks to apeased me. 10mins passed and Jamie almost dozed off on my chest. Again, trying to put her back before she enters dreamland.... arggghhh... here's she goes again!! This time round, with door shut, I waited for something to happen as I knew she might vomit. True enough she did!

So we spent some 1/2hr of cleaning and washing up before coaxing her to bed for the one last time.

It's 1:45am and here she did it again!! As I continue writing this, Jamie is now standng in her cot crying. Now I'm really suspecting she might have some bad dreams perhaps. Hence the refusal to sleep alone as she has not problem doing that since birth. I shall wait till the cries subside before creeping back to bed.

**Phew!! Jamie fell back to bed after about 5mins of standing with occasional weak cries. Finally I can sleep in peace**

Out of Space??

I was doing the usual thing to prepare Jamie for bed and suddenly Chunquan commented that Jamie's hair looked interesting (after removing the rubber bands) so without much delay, this picture was captured.

Thank God for His Provision

Today marked our 5th wedding anniversary and looking back, the Lord has been ever faithful and watches over our relationship and our walk with Him. He never forsakes nor forgets us.

Through our darkest valley, He is always there.. in our wildness disobedience, He forgives us. With our strong-willed stubborness, His hands are always there, healing our broken hearts. And in all our life's milestones, He will set the path straight for us. What else can I say about such a wonderful awesome God?

18th months old !!

Jamie loves to lie down on the colorful mats in the living hall after every bathe. She will waits patiently for her milk feed before taking her afternoon nap. Time really flies!! Unknowingly I have been taking care of our dd for the past 18 mths!!! Jamie hugging her "precious"

Cell Retreat

Tonight I will will leave home around 7:45pm to get a call ride from Jane & Mervyn to our 1st Ladies Cell Group Retreat at Aloha Bunglalow. Am really excited though I'm not quite ready mentally as there's so many things pre-occupied prior this.

It's supposed to be a 3D2N event but I have to leave tomorrow noon so that in the later part of the afternoon (after Jamie naps), both of us can FINALLY go out to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary!! :D

Yup! Without Jamie!! Our ever helpful SIL will be helping us to babysit her till we reach home after dinner.

Siren

This ambulance cum fire bridgage infrared remote control toy has been Jamie's joy since the day I was admitted to hospital. She's always so amazed & amused by the way how the fire ambulance transforms into a ambulance. And vice versa. I'm also quite surprise that at her tender age, she never fears such remote control toys. Brave girl indeed! If I were to tell you that this toy was picked up among other toys that were supposed to be thrown away (at Lisa's house) & it has been "revived" by my dad, would you believe me? Good thing I din discard it despite realising that the batteries leaked in the remote controller as well as in the toy. I just remembered that I should bring it to my dad whom is good at repairing faulty electronic items.

The Long Awaiting

Jamie always gives her papa a cherry cheeky smile or hug whenever he returns from work. This, I will never get it from her. It's just not the same. candid shot taken by papa

The Trio

Don't be mistaken... the baby is not my No.2... not yet. She's Peiling's 5mths old dd, Shiqin. Shiqin was so happy and when we were there. Of course Jamie also enjoyed herself during the short 1 1/2hrs there. But I'm glad I visited Peiling though she's staying quite far away.

Say Cheers!!

Thought this pix is quite cute cos it was taken by Jamie using my GD88 while I'm having my lunch with sil and her two girls.

CRIB

It was Thurs 2am when I was about to retire to bed, I felt very nausea and for the next half hour or so, I kept vomitting at least 5-6times. Even for sips of water, I threw all out to the extend that I was already vomitting bile which was not a good sign. Without much hesitation I asked Chunquan to accompany me to see the doctor at Westpoint Family Hospital which is luckily within 5mins walk from our flat. After examining me, Dr John Chiam immediately advised me to be admitted.As I wanted to recover ASAP, without much thinking, I told Chunquan that I wanted to be admitted. So there I was.... on CRIB (complete rest in bed) for the next 2 1/2days... on drip. Today I was finally discharged around 10am. And the test report diagnosed that I was food poisoned. But I only had Macdonald's breakfast on Wed morning and for the rest of the day, I had home-cooked food... so how did I ended up getting food poisoning?? See the "red tube" ? Its my blood clot! So I was poked twice, now on the right arm :( ____________________________________________________________________ phew! no more blood clot

Bye Bye Ah Chew!

I have postponed my schedule of visiting Peiling & baby Shiqin just to make sure that Jamie has fully recovered from her flu. Good thing she only sneezed once or twice so I presumed she's on the road of recovery!! Sometimes staying at home can be as much fulfilled too. She has now develop a liking for this toy. I watched her hammering, taking and slotting the bars with occasional giggles and babbling for at least 10-15mins.

Flu Bug

Jamie's down with running nose early this morning. Guessed the flu bug is back again. So I cancelled our afternoon outing and stayed at my in-laws house while I had late breakfast there. Not sure if she ever likes the big Miaw or not, Jamie just refused to let go of it. In the end, she lugged it back home.

First few words

Finally for the past 1-2 weeks, I'm like able to hear some audible pronounciation of proper words from Jamie! This afternoon, Jamie subtly mentioned "car, bus, star, black!!" Since many months back . she's able to follow after me fairly well but most of the time, she will just happily babbling with baby talk. This week is indeed a breakthrough as I start to witness her talking proper English words on her own instead of repeating after me.

Stunning Red Dress

Collected few pieces of such dress to sell online. And I thought if Jamie looks good in this dress, I probably be able to put an end to my "freaking nerves cracking" brain in sourcing for a nice dress for CNY... but really, she ain't looking in her best outfit .. so gotta start sourcing again one :(

At the Bus Stop

This pix was taken from Daryl's new MMS fone and sent via infrared to my GD88. And saving it in Sepia mode makes a whole lot of different to the photo!! ______________________________________________________________________ Sherie's son has grown into a cute little boy. He is 8months old now. Lucas has a very nice sweet smile if you know how to capture it .

See How much I have GROWN !

This rose is a miracle to me... Cos it survives (till now) for the past 8 days (see 1st Jan 2005 blog to see how tiny weeny the rose was when brought home) !!! And I revived it on the 2nd or 3rd day when we carelessly left it as it was when bought ie.. with the aluminium foil wrapping. I believe partly also the filtered water that the rose takes that keeps it alive for so long as filtered water is suppose to give better absorption ?? And I'm so glad that we bought the Amway Water Treatment System.. no longer needs to boil and store drinking water! :D

1st Week of 2005

This week opens the new chapter of a new beginning for many of us. Most of my friends have gone back to work after a long holiday. While some mothers are busy with their children school re-opening. Well, as for me, none of the above.. infact I'm rather lazy since the start of the week. Nothing seems to be the start of a new beginning for me, everything as usual / routine. However, I finally managed to worship God with Jamie . This is one of my new year resolution that I have written down. So at least something new & good to praise about. :D _____________________________________________________________________ Siew Nge, if you are reading this blog, fyi, the rainbow colored hairband was meant to be given to you at the airport but in the end.... hahaha... !!!

Goodbye our dear friend

This morning we managed to send Siew Nge off at the airport. Was surprised to see Koon Hung .. though he is a person with few words, I know he treasures friends around him. And finally after about half an hour of small talks, we bid farewell to her.. seeing her backview slowly disappearing among the crowd in the departure hall. I tried not to tears as I would want to her to leave with a happy and light hearted mood. So for now, goodbye and see you back home ! Drop us an email whenever you are free. That's KoonHung!

bye Auntie Siew Nge.....

Farewell Party

Have been going to bed at least 3am for the past 3 nights and yesterday I slept at 6am. What have I been doing?? Well, I was busy making a scrapbook for our dear friend, Siew Nge who is leaving to Shanghai very very soon... in 2 days time. In fact I volunteered to make this scrapbook since I'm not working, am coping pretty well with Jamie and most of all, would want to give something to her since I'm not good with words .. I thank God for this opportunity to make such a wonderful book for her. It's such a great joy and relief to see the completion of the scrapbook especially when it contains precious photos of our past years outings and gathering we had with her. The most memorable part is when everybody contributes in a 1 page of writing of well wishes alongwith individual photo. This gift is priceless... it contains all the fond memories. The night ended with everyone praying for her and at this moment, somehow I couldn't contain my emotions knowing that our friend will not be with us like we used to be. I struggled through my prayer, trying so hard to hold back my tears & trembling voice. It's very upsetting but however we all know that with our prayers and God's protection, Siew Nge will be well taken care of even she's not with us. Siew Nge : first row center (in light blue tee)

Final Finale

Ha after the rose and chocolates, as usual Chunquan always has Part 2 before the final finale. And I got a surprise gift under my pillow. It's my favourite collection, Swatch watch of course! What else would it be??

Happy New Year!

Finally 送走了2004!! This year is exceptionally different.. no countdown, no fireworks, no cheers even at my neighbourhood here when the clock strucked 12. Just as PM Lee said, we should mellow down our New Year celebration this year as it's inappropriate to do so at this moment while millions of victims are still suffering with the aftermath of Tsunami Wave. This year, we have Jamie to welcome 2005 with us. Yes I mean she was awake right after midnight today!! Remember I was saying about my belated Christmas gift from Chunquan? Just few days ago I was lamenting about him losing the romantic moments with me. No surprises. And guess what? He surprised me with a rose and chocolates from Sins!! That's why men need to be reminded and retrained :D

Goodbye 2004.. Welcome 2005

Time really passed like rocket! Before we realise, another new year pushing its way through again. I have not been doing a proper new year resolution since couple of years back. This year is special, thanks to Hsiu Chin who deliberately made everyone to write down our 2005 resolution in details, yes very detailed indeed. And it's good cos by setting such requirement, it gives us a quiet moment to really sit down, ponder and pray over what we really want to do in 2005 instead of just getting on with life without proper goals. Tada!! Here's my goals for 2005 ... AREA NO.1 Personal & Close walk with God GOAL * Spend quality quiet time with God * Read the Bible * Worship God with songs PLANS * Afternoon during Jamie’s nap * Tues & Thurs before bedtime (45mins) * Mon afternoon before Jamie’s nap AREA NO.2 Building on stronger marital relationship with Chunquan GOAL Maintain daily communication & at least once a month outing without Jamie PLANS Phone calls, emails, SMS, chats during dinner or bedtime. Scroll at neighborhood after dinner or go for a movie or dinner or shopping. AREA NO.3 Bring up Jamie in a loving, secured and God’s centered family with happy memories of her childhood. GOALS * Not to raise voice over her. * Giving her lots of love and assurance. * Worship God together with Jamie * Have quality time spend with Jamie PLANS * Control temper and explain to her the way she should behalf and how we feel. * Never leave her without explaining where we are going. * Mon afternoon before Jamie’s nap.* Play/read a story book with her. Bring her out at least once a week for a simple outing. AREA NO.4 Loved Ones GOALS * Spending quality time * Share the Gospel thru own testimonies * Invitation to Church service or church wide events like TGIF etc PLANS (Parents, Godmum, In-laws, and immediate extended relatives) * Parents - Once a week visitation/outing * Godmum - Once a month visitation/outing * In-laws – At least twice a week on quality communication. * Sisters – Once a month phone calls or emails update. Monthly activities with our kids. * Brother – Chat with him when visiting parents. *Create opportunity for personal sharing and to have more in-depth personal conversation. Offer to pray for them. * Actively send invites, give them a personal calls or visitation to invite them over. AREA NO.5 Spiritual family (cell group) GOALS * Bonding (Karen) * Bonding (cell) PLAN Karen: Weekly updates either via phone calls or email. Once a month meetup either to each other place or outing. Cell : * Catch up via phone calls, SMS or email. * Cell meeting esp girls’ nite * Youth service & dinner * Hi tea/ makan * Small groups outing * House visiting

Surprise Visitors

While I thought we will spend the entire day at home, Virn Ping SMSed me around 2pm telling me that he and my godmum will be coming over this evening apparently to pass a Christmas present to Jamie. Was very happy to anticipate their arrival since the last time when they were here was some 2mths ago. I'm so glad to be able to spend some time this evening with them, at least not another usual night at Ah Po's house. Jamie not only receive a Christmas present but also an inflatable basketball car that comes with many colorful plastic balls! I'm sure she will have lotsa fun playing with it, thanks Bro! After about half an hour here, instead of them going home just like that, I suggested to Virn Ping that maybe we can go out for dinner since it's not easy for us to meet up regularly as they all are residing in the furthest East while we are in the furthest West :( So he drove us to Buona Vista for duck porridge. Actually I don't fancy duck meat but then was thinking don't mind try a bit la.. but surprisingly I ate quite a lot. Simply irresistible! Yummy! Yummy! Thanks Virn Ping for coming all the way to pass the present & the toy to your niece and at the same time giving us the opportunity once again to be able to mingle and chit chat with you all! Tonight I shall go to bed with a grin :D Taken at the coffeeshop after dinner My godmum & Jamies' granny Cousin Cheryl lovingly holding onto Jamie's hand

Cool Weather

Initially planning to go Daiso @ IMM to buy some containers for storing some brads, eyelets & snaps for my scrapbook. But perhaps the weather is too comforting that I din even manage to step out of the house :D Spent the whole afternoon doing these (see below) paper stencils for Chelsea Sprayart. I bought it for her Christmas present but realised all the 18 stencils are not ready to play. So I volunteered to bring home some to help her. Only managed to complete 3 stencils during Jamie's 2hrs afternoon nap. See the one without holes ? Suppose to poke the paper thru'

I'm so tired!

Went to my parents' house this afternoon (Tues). Infact it was a unplanned trip cos initially I wanted to go to Growing Fun @ Raffles Place to see if there's any good buy since its 20% storewide sales ending soon by this Friday. But since its so near to my parents' place, might as well. And just now evening, we made a 2nd unplanned trip ... to Lisa's new condo at Kovan. Jamie had a good time playing there and by the time we reached home, its already passed 1030pm! So we were out the whole day! Very exhausted indeed. And when I thought I'm going to sleep soon...haiz... Chunquan's just came out and passed me some CD labels to help him to paste onto the CDs. Gotta push back my bedtime till maybe 3am? Er gosh! .. and I haven't bath yet, yucks!

Tidal Wave Death Toll Rises to 23,000

Was catching 10pm TV news at mil's place earlier on and was daunted by the reports on Tsunami's tidal wave that hit South Asia after a massive earthquate that dubbed the worst natural disaster in recent history. I was particularly disturbed by the short video clips showing the various islands & countries on how the huge tidal wave that came in so suddenly which caught everyone by surprised! Death bodies lying everywhere especially young children and scene of mothers' hugging their death child wailing ... What a sad round up for 2004. Now I'm hoping for more hands to come in to asssist these affects countries to tide over the sudden short of resources for the victims.

Monday Blues = Lifeless Mama??

I'm not sure if its the results of the overwhelming holidays programmes or if its just another Monday blues. This morning I woke up at 1030am, feeling so lifeless. And I refused to do anything except eating & surfing the web. Yes, I mean it. And I seldom spend so much time idling around in the house. And I somehow don't feel like taking a nap though my body ain't giving me the energy to stay lively. I just managed cooking Jamie's porridge. That's usually the most happiest moment of the day cos being a lousy cook myself, I really need to crack my brain to cook nutritious porridge and yet stay tasty to her taste bud. Jamie is still taking her afternoon nap since 4:30pm. I suddenly thought of the Christmas present that Chunquan still owing me... what I want?? Think I better go to my sofa and dream about it first......

Quick! Snap it!

Nowadays taking photos with her becomes a challenge for us!!

Good Afternoon!

It's almost noon and Jamie is still sleeping... very unusual as she normally wakes up around 10am. Perhaps its due to the late nights that she had over the past few days?? Shall submit this short blog and probably have a quick breakfast before she starts kicking and throwing her bear out of her bed.

Boxing Day

She's so doted!! present no.10 ... and where's the present from papa & mama ? Haha... we actually missed out Jamie's present though there's something else we can give her.

Christmas @ Fort Canning Park

I'm glad I brought Jamie to Fort Canning Park. The entire park was nicely decorated with balloons and at the foot of the park, there's a huge stage with 2 projectors, each one on the left and right side of the stage. And the crowd was huge too! Thousands and thousands of people all sitting among their groups, enjoying the breeze and fun. Yup, its Teen Lodi (the opposite of "Idol") competition though we came in late (almost 8pm) and its like the end of the competition :( And we all had a wonderful time worshipping and singing Christmas carols, some holding the glittering light bar (pix below showed Jamie playing it) and waving it in the dark pasture! The party was also filled with artificial snow whereby some were crazy chasing and spraying at each other's body while others plainly sprayed into the sky. It was such a magnificant scene! How we came home?? Karen & family offer us a lift! Yea at least we don't have to frek to get home. Thanks Karen! :) this little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine

Family Photo

Yes it's so difficult to take just one decent family photo! Believe me, this is the best shot though Jamie aint photogenic and it was taken with the help of the tripod stand. 1,2,3 cheers!

Look!!

Found this pair of shorts handmade by Jamie's Ah Po (granny). This shorts is older than me, infact its already more than 36 years old!! Used to be worn by Jamie's "Peh Teh" (Chunquan's brother) wow my "new" shorts

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas

Soon left house early in the wee hour, 6:15am, for a whole day wedding shoot. So this evening I will be bringing Jamie to the Fort Canning Park for a picnic with cell group organised by our church ,YouthNet. I'm a little hesitant to bring her along becos, first of all, I'm not familiar with the location since I last ROMed in 1998 & we are going there by ourselves. Secondly, the whole event expected to end around 10pm. Am thinking... how to come home?? Unless someone offer us a lift. Anyway, I'm bringing some 40 otahs for the picnic so I must go unless I eat it all :o