Completed a...

... a layout of Jillian's photo taken during Christmas with Collage Press Joyride Crafting Kit. It's my fifth layout of my 5mnth young baby.

One year ago in January 2009, I found out I was pregnant. Actually during Christmas 2008, I suspected I was pregnant, but was too busy during my trip back to Singapore to do a test. Plus I was taking care of super active Jonathon. So, I waited till I got back to Miri to test. Then a year later, I have a baby girl to celebrate Christmas.

When I was pregnant, I couldn't believe that I had a little girl inside of me. A darling whom I will be able to share, in future, my love for bags and jewellery (more like accessories, since I love costume jewellery too). She brings so much joy to our lives. She loves to laugh and coo at you if you would just give her your attention, smile at her or talk to her. She is such a happy baby. I couldn't ask for more. Thank you for this wonderful bundle of joy, God.

Sorry for the absence - whole family down

Sorry for the absence. Jon was ill last week, caught a chill and had a sore throat. So we stayed home last weekend and also from Mon to Wed (don't want him spreading his germs to the kids at nursery).

Then Simon got the flu, he says it's Jon who passed to him. And last Wed, Jon decided to kiss me on my cheeks and lips, then went to kiss Simon (more than an assault!), and came back to me again. This time, I got the sniffles....and I don't know if the germs came from Simon or Jon, haha!
But coz I take care of Jillian, I must have spread the germs to her and she had a horrible inflamed throat last Thu night. She cried coz her throat hurt so bad. It hurt when she drank, it hurt when she cried, and when she coughed. poor baby!

We brought her to the doc last Fri and it was confirmed inflammation of the throat. Because there was lots of phlegm at her voice box, she was made to inhale the Pulmicort turbohaler on the Nebuliser for 20mins. The medicine went straight to her voice box to reduce the inflammation and to soften the mucus. The relief will last for 12hrs, which will help buy time for the meds (antibiotic and med for phlegm) to do their job.

But after she took her meds and her nap, she woke up without a voice! I knew it was serious trouble and I had to nurse her very carefully. It was difficult coz Jillian couldn't cry to communicate her needs. Only airy sounds came out from her. And when I put her in the cot and she got stuck flipping over, she couldn't make any sounds to get our attention. So I watched her like a hawk.

After three days without a voice, we got worried and I called the doc on Mon. He said to monitor her. If by Mon night she didn't get her voice back, we were to bring her to see him on Tue. We prayed and asked God for healing. Like an answered prayer, Jillian cried sometime past midnight. Never have I been so relieved to hear a baby cry!

We still brought her to see doc on Tue....just for a check up and for our own assurance. Jillian's throat/voice box was so inflamed that she couldn't produce any sounds. Doc said recovery will take time. Her voice is still not up to her usual yet....so I miss her giggles and laughs. But I am thankful that she's recovering. She's smiling so much today coz she's finally hearing her own voice!

check out her long eyelashes...follows her daddy

scrapbooking furniture

Who, check out Doodlebug's latest craft furniture and accessories! I saw the Craft Cubby Shelf (unit on the floor) in I was back in Singapore in Nov. I wish I had gotten it (left two pieces). Let's hope there're some more stock left when I am back during CNY. Would love to have the Apothecary Chest (just above the desk) and the Fashion Cupboard (with the hanging bag and camera) too! The paper cube would be great to organise any scrapper's stash of patterned papers!

Actually when I fiest saw this photo, I was so checking out the chair. Yes, me and my love for chairs....

Check out the room done up in a Orange...and again, I love the yellow vintage chair...it will go nicely with the blue chair above, yes?

Apple Jack and Cherry

I am delirously happy looking at SSF's newest stuff.

The first collection is called Apple Jack. Check out the

...papers

...stickers

...flags and banners!!!

The second collection - Cherry Delicious - is so ME. Vintage with a side of yummy color plus eclectic bits of beauty!

Can't wait to get my hands on these goodies!!

To the left, to the right and down we go

Jillian's been practicing her flipping. She loves to flip and once I put her down anywhere (the cot, the sofa, the floor), she will flip. She can flip to the left and to the right. Usually babies to flip in one direction first. Not Jill, she can flip in both directions.Happiness in a cute T-shirt from Aunty Tsui.

Jonathan's going to pre-school for the second week now. No crying. How? I carry him down from the car and hand him to his Teach and then she will carry him in. He will wave a small bye-bye to me, and go play with the toys. I hand him to the same Teach Ms Mida everytime so he will get use to her.

Jon having so much fun on the slide. I actually saw him nudging a boy's buttocks because the little one was climbing up the steps very S.L.O.W.L.Y. Aiyo, both Teach and I tried to teach him that he has to wait his turn and be patient with other kids. I found myself saying "no" a few times, but Teach didn't even say no at all. Just "Jonathan, slowly" or "Jonathan, you mustn't do that." Wow, so patient she was.

I wonder how high can he climb, or whether he will inherited my acrophobia.

Every time I pick him up from school, he's all sweaty coz he's had so much fun playing! Good that he enjoys pre-school. This week has been raining a lot, so daddy has been picking him up.

PS: It has been raining almost non-stop these two days. The ceiling in our bedroom is leaking slightly. The house is more than 30 years old. But to repair it, it will have to wait till we move out. So I hope it will hold for this rainy monsoon season!

A housewarming gift

A friend moved into her new home sometime in the last quarter of 2009 and was so happy that she was conceived with child. I am also very happy for her and did a simple housewarming gift using mainly Fancy Pants.

"Through wisdom a house is built,

And by understanding it is established.

Through knowledge its rooms are filled

with all rare and beautiful treasures."

Proverbs 24: 3-4

When I bought it online I didn't know that the papers were all Kraft. It has this brownish feel and was wondering how to use the papers. Anyhows, the photo, the blue cardstock and embellishments managed to brighten the LO a little. I like the gate by Provo Craft. Also used a couple of the stuff from the RAK I got from Pooi. They fit perfectly onto the gate! Thanks Pooi!

The super talented and gorgeous Elizaberth Kartchner has come up with a line of fabric paper. I can't wait to see it in the stores. Look what she did with them here!!!! I also want to buy her book on 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges to jumpstart my creativity. It's sold out in the stores and I want to buy it online as a gift for myself for my birthday that's coming next month!

Free online tutorial from Lilibee & a chance to win Hambly!

There's a new free tutorial online on LilibeeStudio. It features Hambly's amazing new collection of papers, overlays, rub-ons and stickers.

You can also win this gorgeous giveway, generously offered by Hambly. How? Copy Lilibee's post on your blog or one of your forums and include the link on your comment. Good luck!

Tiger - June 2000 to Jan 2010

My poor orange tabby, Tiger, passed away on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 at 11pm. MIL had mentioned that Tiger was throwing up and Simon thought it was just furballs and what not. But I didn't realised he was so skinny. Simon checked him out on Fri and Sat and fed him wet food which he ate all of the serving, so Simon thought he would bring Tiger to the vet on Mon.

I had been bringing Jon to the caged area but Tiger is always in the pet carrier. And I am not supposed to bring Jon inside the caged area in case he breathe in the cat and dog furs and develop an allergy.

By Sun night, Tiger decided to come out and lay on the floor. He was SO skinny! and his heart was pumping very hard and slowly. My heart ached and I cried! He didn't even care about the dogs who came nearby to sniff at him (they are separated by a wire fence). The dogs also kept quiet as if respecting his last moments. I asked Simon how come we didn't bring him to the vet earlier. Simon said he called the vet but no one answered the phone. Guess the vet had to rest on a Sun.

Then around 11pm, the dogs kept barking incessantly. I went down to check and the dogs were almost onto him through the bottom of the fence. His position had changed. I called out to Tiger and he turned his head slightly to look at me. I cried as his eyes met mine. It was as if he was saying goodbye.

I quickly went upstairs to ask Simon to bring him in to the bathroom on the ground floor. Simon was asleep and told me to wait till Mon morning. But I knew in my heart that Tiger would not make it, and wanted him inside the house so I can touch him for the last time, and protect him from the dogs...etc.

I was so sad when Simon turned to go back to bed. Then the dogs kept barking and barking, till Simon couldn't take it. He went down for like a few mins, which to me was like forever. I knew Tiger was gone. I knew he will go after he saw Simon.

Simon came back up and told me Tiger went to the Lord. I cried so hard that Simon asked me to control myself in case the kids woke up.

Simon said we would bury Tiger on Mon morning. But with all the crying, I was so tired and fell asleep and woke up late. Simon had already buried Tiger. I was so mad. But Simon didn't want the maggots to come. It's probably better that I didn't see him coz I would cry again and I needed to bring Jon to school.

I have been grieving for the last two days. Allowing myself to grieve is good. Of course I grieved at night and away from people, in case they think I am mad to cry over a pet. People here keep dogs to keep away burglars, not as pets.

We had Tiger and Tigger half a year before we got married. The cats are so much a part of our lives. They represent my independent life, leaving my family and settin gup a new home with Simon. They were there when we leave for work and will meow and rub at our legs when we come home. They will come and sit with us when we watched TV or when there are thunderstorms. They depend on us for food and to keep them clean. They were my kids before my kids. Tiger has been with my for 9years. How do I say goodbye to 9 years of togetherness?

Tiger, may you rest in heaven. I will take care of Tigger. Missing you so much...

Here're a few of my fave photos of Tiger. I will always remember Tiger, my handsome tabby.

Time to scrap

Now with Jon in nursery/pre-school for about 3 hrs and Jillian asleep with no one to disturb her, I found time to scrap. Based on the sketch from Scrap-It-Lah's Jan 2010 Challenge (deadline is 31 Jan 2010), I did this one of Jon during potty training. I used Fancy Pants Rough & Tough.Love his farnee face in the middle photo.Jon's two albums are filled already. I have to buy a couple of albums at Spotlight or Made With Love when we go back during CNY. I will not be able to catch up scrapping for Jillian...coz she's younger ma! and photos will get more interesting when she gets older. Now only eat and sleep. Will start on her small albums soon.

The crying starts...

Day 2

Jon went to school and he was OK with it. Hours were extended by 30mins (8-10.30am). Teach said that as I had appeared at the window when I picked him up on the first day, he kept looking out for me at the window. Then he wanted to go find me when it was near the pick-up time. I heard him speaking his baby talk when I was at the perimeter fence. By the time I got to the nursery, Teach had just brought him out and he was a red from little crying. I was JIT! He played a little more while I made him drink some water. He didn't drink much water the first two days. Going to have constipation!

Day 3

It was raining, so we decided to go to school earlier and Simon can drive me back home instead of me walking home. I was so confident of my boy that I said, "Bye" once he went to the play area. Oops, mistake. He thought I was asking him to go home! I had to tell him I was going home and he was to stay. Thankfully Teach came to hold his hand and he was OK with that. But he started to call me, "Mama, mama."

I told him I will come soon to pick him up and quickly went to the car. But I forgot to ask what time I should come pick him up, so i got down from the car and asked Teach through the window. Teach came out to talk to me and Jon followed. Oops, here we go again. Teach had to carry him and he called out "Mama" even louder. I quickly walked away and said, "See you later!"

He went to class, but he didn't like one girl crying loudly in the next room that he didn't want to stay in the classroom. so he played outside in the main hall. For all 3 hours. And coz he didn't go to the back, he didn't have any snacks. At least he drank his three quarters of the water in his bottle.

Day 4 (today)

Jon realised I wasn't going to stay with him at nursery. So he made sure I was within his line of sight. I brought him to the sandbox and quietly stole away when he was distracted. Not exactly how I wanted to leave him. When he looked up and didn't see me, he quickly went to the gate...and started crying. I was outside and I decided I had to go back in.

I asked Teach if I should stay till he was comfortable playing with some toys. She said since I had left, if I were to stay, Jon may think his crying will bring me back. So I had to leave him. She assured me they will take care of him. Unless absolutely necessary or if the situation gets that serious, then they will call me.

So I told Jon I had to go and that I would be back. I didn't say "bye" but "see you later". Poor boy cried and cried. My heart ached. Why couldn't it be like his first day? But I didn't want to sneak away and have him think I abandoned him. I want him to see me walking away and waving to him, then later coming back to get him with a cheery "hello".

But when I came back to pick Jon up, he was all smiles. Teach said that Jon improved. He played, he pasted circles within a big printed circle, and he had a snack (just the biscuits, not the sausages). I asked how she did it. She said she told Jon that if he kept on crying, mommy will not come get him! Well, it worked, he stopped crying. Jon then kept pointing to the window and spoke in his toddler language, she would say, "Yes, mommy will be coming."

Anyways, Jon took my hat off and wore it. and he proceeded to show me the toys he played with today.

Hammering good time

Creepy crawlies (yikes)

S.N.A.K.E. (urgh)

E.G.G. (Dinosaur)

Cute Charmaine who always comes to me when she sees me...do you think she will be his first love?

And dear Jon high-fived all the Teachs before leaving. Along the walk home, we saw birds, and two cats lazing in someone's compound.

What will nursery tom be like?

Jonathan's First Day at Nursery

Today was a very special day - Jonathan's first day at nursery. The first day schedule was from 8-10am, just two hours to let the toddlers get used to the new environment. They will try to stretch a little as the days go by to the eventual 4hrs.

Simon drove us to the nursery which was just two streets from our home. I told Jon to say bye to daddy and Simon drove off to work, while I stayed on to make sure Jon's OK.

The toddlers were let into the play area first, while parents handed their bags to the Teachs, passed special instructions, etc. The Teachs would take the water bottles, snacks if any, and put them into a basket. The basket will follow the toddlers as they go from class to class for the different activities. I think I was one of the few who had labelled Jon's bag and water bottle. If you didn't, it's a simple write-on-masking-tape-and stick-it-on.

Checking out the slide. Then a house...then the sand box....

...and the house again. For a minute I thought he was looking at me, but nope, he forgot all about me! Each time a toddler cried coz he/she was separated from the parent, Jonathan would stop his activity and go nearer the kid to see what's the crying about. He couldn't figure why the kid was crying.

After like 20mins of play, finally he saw me and wanted me to go in and join him. Sorry, no can do kiddo. Soon it was time to bring the toddlers to their classrooms. They started with the crying kids first. My guess is to take them away from the view of their parents and perhaps inside the classroom, they will get distracted by the many toys and stuff.

Independent Jon saw the office with the colourful rainbow and toys and went there instead of waiting for Teach to bring him to class. Teach was OK with im inside the office and brought another two kids who were crying in there to pacifiy them. Jon was wondering why they were crying. With that, I said goodbye...and waited. No goodbye from Jon. he seemed contented to be left at nursery, and so I walked back home, a short 5mins away.
When I came to pick him up, he was in this room playing with playdough. Jon didn't want to sit down to play with plasticine, clever Teach asked him to help her cut her worm. From then on, he became the official worm cutter.
Helping Charmaine cut her "worm". Hethen made his rounds and helped a boy Raymond cut his plastic worm, and another Teach's worm.

Before Jon left, he got a goody bag from Teach. It was the birthday of one of the girls, who had left already. Wah, first day already have goody bag! Jon showed me his fave room. It had a toy plane inside and one of the walls had decals of Disney Cars.

Jon waved goodbye to the Teachs, and high fived a couple of them. Not a word...not a single word. Sigh, still the cool big boy.

PS: Jon's the second biggest sized kid in nursery. There's a caucasian girl who's a head taller than everyone else.

PPS: Got feedback from Teach that Jon was nice, and he explored every room (sometimes on his own). Aiyo, this one cannot sit still!

First day at school tomorrow!

Jon's going to nursery tomorrow!

Today we went to get Jon a new water bottle coz his Bob the Builder water bottle was leaking. The rubber seal was worn off after only 3months' of usage. I thought we had better get those Tupperware brands or similar ones since all these cartoon types are more marketing gimmicks than useful containers..but everywhere was crowded, so I just bought something cheap from a supermarket. Thank goodness MIL went to Parksons and got a Rubbermaid water bottle. It's a good size to hold, holds enough water to last Jon two hours at least.

Earlier in the evening, I packed an extra change of clothes, two diapers, his fav book, and his pretend hand phone in Jon's' new Bob the Builder bag and let him carry it. He had a bit of fun with it and the new water bottle too. I then read to him a book about a boy's first day at school and told him to be a good boy tomorrow, and that I will say bye to him after we send him to school.

Jon carried his new bag to show daddy and then grandma. In the kitchen he went to show his bag to grandma. Then he pushed me away and said, "Bye, bye!" and went to grandma. I so felt a tug at my heart! Looks like this mommy is more excited than the little one.

He's asleep now, and I've laid out his nursery T-shirt. He gets to wear his own bottoms. Hope I can wake him up earlier than his usual 7 to 7-ish am time. What to feed him for breakfast? He doesn't like bread anymore, so it'll be either biscuits or Koko Crunch which grandma bought.

Jon's not toilet trained. He swallows his rice with soup, love bee hoon, noodles and kway teow. Not sure if he will like the food served at school (they have sausages which he doesn't want to try).

Anyways, for the first week, nursery will be from 8 to 10am, shorter than the usual 8am to 12pm, to help them ease into the new environment. Well, ready or not, watch out Ria Montessori, here Jonathan comes!

If you have a kid who's going to school tomorrow, how are you feeling? Or how was the first day at school? Tell me, tell me.

Happy New Year!

I meant to post this before the New Year...but Jon wanted me to go to bed with him. Have your heard of Bill Vaughn's quote "Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to." Which age group do you belong to?

Anyways, the last few days of 2009 whizzed by so quickly. As I marked the end of 2009 and look back on the year, I am thankful for God's abundant grace:

* Jonathan & Jillian - I never thought I would have two kids. My journey, though shorter than others, seemed so surreal. And I never thought I would have a girl. My own darling who can inherit my jewellery and handbags (sorry, nothing branded, just baubles and bags to commemorate events for me)

* bumper crop of blessings to people whom I hold dear. Evan to Tsui and Eng Lee, Kai Jae to Sock and Ee Guan, Samantha Ying Ying to Jack and Li Yen, Oscar to Darien and Ee Chiew, Yee Qi to Stanley and Grace. God's blessings are indeed abundant. The journey to parenthood is filled with sweat, heartaches, blood, tears and prayers (lots).

* Close friends who keep in touch. Everyone's leading such a frantic pace of life or they're busy minding babies, kids, working, keeping house, etc. So I am grateful for friends who call, drop a note, email, or sms. And also for friends who meet up with me when I am back in Singapore (even if it means meeting at the airport on departure day!). Would love to have more time to meet more, but I guess the scarcity of time makes me appreciate friends more.

* New friends, in Miri and online. I've got some good friends here in Miri and also made some from scrapbooking forums. Thanks for sharing your experiences with me, listening to me, and for just being there. Your friendship and support means a lot to me.

I don't usually make new year resolutions, coz unless they are printed in bold and in size 100 font, mounted on the wall, I tend to forget them. But this year, I do resolve to be as good a mother as I can to my two Js. And that means lots of love, patience and prayers...and hugs and kisses too! While being a mom has its trying moments, the good ones outweigh the bad ones. And I wouldn't want to change anything.

God has taken so much generous care of me. With that, I have much faith to face 2010.

A post wouldn't be complete without photos, right? Here we have Jonathan with his fave toys of cars and trucks.

Arranging them and adamant on not wanting my help

Using his pretend camera to take some test shots

OK, now we can have a snapshot!

And Jillian who's beginning to flip and loving it!

Wishing you all A blessed New Year!