Progress...

Jon's enjoying school very much, and enjoying the after school care. It's the end of his first month staying at school till about 4pm.

Brushing his teeth in the morning. He didn't want to brush his teeth at school in the morning. Preggers me forgot that I did give him the right toothpaste to bring to school, it's the toothpaste at home that he doesn't like. And coz he doesn't like the one at home (and I didn't go buy the one he likes - Kodomo lion), I haven't been reinforcing his tooth brushing. Bad mommy. Anyhows, after seeing how he dislike brushing his teeth, I went to buy two, yes two, tubes of toothpaste (one for home and another for school). He brushed his teeth like three times that day when he got home. Ahhh, all is well again.

Got his teacher to help take some photos of him at school. Enjoy.

Deep in concentration. Love his hair...anyone wants to use him for shampoo advert?

Doing his worksheets

Enjoying his noodles during break, an all time favourite

Food is the only thing he will share willingly

The worst is over

Jillian was sick for over a week. She had a runny nose two Saturdays ago, and after four days, she had a fever too. Plus she was teething and her gums were all red and swollen. So she had interrupted sleep, and I had to wake up every hour to either pat her bum to soothe her, of give her something to drink or apply the teething gel. When when she's not feeling well, she sticks to me like glue when she's awake. She will not let me change her or put her down for her naps, I have to rely on grandma to help. So thank goodness I am staying with my in-laws.

Anyways, on Tuesday, her drippy nose stopped leaking, but while I was preparing her bath and Simon was looking after her, she walked unsteadily and fell flat on her face resulting in a cut lip! Aiyoh! But after that, the worse is over.

Now my sweet Jill is her smiley, happy self, albeit with a husky voice.

On Sunday, Simon and Jon went out on a trip to Bintulu, a 2hr drive away, to check out the Farmers', Breeders' and Fishermen Day.

Jonathan loved the huge machinery, especially the humongous digger and a beautiful red tractor.

Thanks goodness for Wei Ming and his kids, Toby and sister, who kept Jon occupied during the car ride there.

Over at the Breeders' exhibits, Jon checked out the many local farm animals like sheep, goat, bullocks.

In the photo below, at the bottom of the tank is the famous Ikan Empurau, Sarawak's most expensive fish. It can fetch between RM350 and RM380 a kg and to have it served on the dining table will set you back by about RM1,200/kg at local restaurants. Even at that price, ikan empurau is hard to come by as the fish is rarely found, and only in the interiors of Kapit Division and Baram in northern Sarawak. Wonder if they hired any security guards to guard the fish?

Guess how much it is going for in a Chinese restaurant at the Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore?...a whooping S$1,000/kg! And people don't even bat en eyelid eating a 2-kg fish for a table of 10 diners. Either they struck the jackpot, or the tab is picked up on company accounts.

He had fun on the rides, which was an achievement coz I can't even get him to sit on the coin-operated rides in amusement parks. He even went on an old-fashioned (and literally, old) Ferris wheel, where he was on the same level as the huge kites.

Jon enjoyed the bumper car ride with Simon, where he received a bump. Pun intended.

I stayed at home and rest while Jill took her nap. In the end, the boys came back two hours later due to the heavy rain and bad road conditions. Jon came back so excitedly and spoke so much over a cup of warm Milo and biscuits. Looks like I have to get off my butt and start scrapbooking!

Full day at school for Jon

We started Jon on full day at Level 1 of kindergarten (actually pre-kindy, in Miri, there're 3 levels in kindy) on 1 March. Now, why would we do that when he's only 3+ coming 4 yrs old this Aug? Besides, after school in the morning, he comes home to bathe, have his lunch and then nap, right?

Playing house with cushions...he has a lot of imagination.

When Jon's having his lunch, that's about the time Jillian would wake up. But I would leave her in her sarong, if she doesn't fuss, and quickly feed Jon. Then I would prepare him for his nap and hopefully MIL would have put cousin Mabel down for her nap and come help me feed Jillian. But that would mean MIL would have a super late lunch. Then I would have my lunch and either one of us would bathe Jill.

So we decided to put Jon full day at school and I could take care of Jillian when she wakes up. We also hope Jon would learn to eat with his friends, and he would be able to eat what everyone's eating and not just noodles, or plain rice and soup. And he would learn to nap on the mattress (sans diaper) with his friends and play with them when they wake up.

Currently, he still naps in the sarong wearing a diaper. He has requested not to wear his diaper, but I am afraid he would wet himself. If I wasn't taking care of Jillian, I could attend to him. Twice I forgot to wear his diaper and he would wake up asking to go to the toilet. But if I am taking care of Jillian, we would most probably be in the kitchen or at the back of the house and will not hear him. And he if wakes up to pee, and sees Jillian with me, he would not go back to his nap. In short, we hope he will wean himself off the diaper at school and learn to appreciate the various culinary choices available....haha, yes, we're depending on the school for help.

On the first day, Jon didn't let his teacher bathe him (only wash his face and hands), didn't want lunch (coz he doesn't like to eat veg and meat with rice, and he had loads of kway teow during his morning break) and didn't want to nap. Simon picked him up around 4.15pm and he came home and devoured a tao sa pao. Then it was bathe and dinner, and after playing and watching his Mr Bean video, we went to bed at 8pm, an hour earlier.

Yesterday, I picked him up and spoke with his teacher. He ate his lunch and drank the soup (boiled with sweet corn) and even asked for second helping. He even laid down on the mattress, although he didn't sleep, with his legs against the wall. At least he didn't disturb his friends! and coz he didn't sleep, he didn't wear his diaper. Yay, progress!

Came home, had his biscuits, showered, then had noodles for dinner. While I fed Jillian her dinner, Jon laid on my lap and watched cartoon. After washing the plates, I came back to find Jillian poking at Jon and he was promptly asleep on the sofa at 6pm. Poor tired boy was knackered! But when Simon carried Jon upstairs to put him to bed, he woke up!

I am wondering if I should let Jon take a quick nap after his bath, before dinner. Or should he cheong all the way, and go to bed early at 8pm. Hope 11hours of sleep is enough for the boy. and then one fine day, he would take a hour or more of nap at school.

Jon's fav toy at the moment - a construction building set - Simon helped him build this crane

His favourite pose at the moment - with tongue sticking out

PS: I managed to scrap a min album last month for a friend and here's the cover page. Will post the rest when she's received it. Now to buy a box and send it at the post office!)

PPS: First tri-mester is over and while I still feel nauseous, I don't feel so tired like previously. Now with Jon at school full day, I have more time and need to jumpstart my scrapbooking again. I tried to set up my new Canon Selphy printer, so I can print photos and scrap again. Realised it didn't come with a USB cable, and I had passed mine with my old HP photo printer to a friend. Hope to buy the cable tom so I use the brand new Selphy which has been patiently waiting for me for the last 3months!

Quiz: what is your interior design style?

I chanced upon this while doing research for ID for our new home. It's a simple quiz by Stylish Homes to determine your designing style. Quite fun.

I am suspected to be "Modern Eclectic" and that apparently makes me soulmates with Andy Warhol, Scarlett Johannson and Philip Seymour Hoffman. What's your style?

Raising a high energy boy

"Hi, my name is Kim and I have a high energy child." You know how people at support groups introduce themselves? Well, seems like I need to join a support group to raise Jonathan.

Not sure if you have heard comments like "Wow, your son has lots of energy" or "He will surely sleep well at night". Or you have attracted wide, gaping mouths or irritated stares, or a glance of sympathy like it's a bad thing. Well, I have, lots of times. I worry if Jon has ADHD, or did I allow him to watch too much violent cartoons like Tom & Jerry or Ben 10. It's hard not to worry when I have a tornado running through people's homes or a very vivacious boy who will shout at the top of his voice when he's happy.

Lots of times, I think if I have failed as parent or will I be able to maintain my sanity in raising this ball of energy. How do I embrace Jon without constantly gripping his hand tightly at public places, shouting at him to stay by my side and not to run?

Sure, I would like to think that I have a passionate, loving, imaginative toddler and use positive adjectives to describe Jonathan. To build him up rather than tear him down, to allow him to grow rather than control and restrict him, and to focus on his positive traits and not what mess did he create. It's difficult when most kids will listen to their parents and stay by their sides, play nicely with others, and run at slower speeds.

Just the other day, while MIL was adjusting a car in the car porch so I can drive Jon in the usual one, Jon decided to run towards the car! Shouting and running after him, I gave him a beating when I caught up with him. MIL could hear my frantic shouting and had already stopped her car. Tried to tell Jon about the danger of running and the possibility of being hit by a car. He smiled nicely at me and said, "Tong, tong (painful coz of the beating). Wei sian (dangerous) or...cannot pao (run) coz bang and tong tong." I just hugged him and told him I beat him coz I was so scared he will get hit.

Later in the morning, after putting Jill down for her morning nap, I spent time thinking. How do I embrace Jon and all his qualities,, not to fight them or to change him? He has such a huge love and zest for life, and I don't want to take that away. He plays, eats, loves with such energy that I have to learn to channel that energy somewhere. If I have only one child, sure I can harness and point the energy to one direction. I have two and another one in my oven!

I am thankful for this ball of energy, Jonathan. I think and say to people what a great kid Jon is, how much love and joy he gives to me, how cute and cuddly he is, and how I love his hugs and kisses. He doesn't pretend and he wears his heart on his sleeve - his likes, his dislikes, his loves, his passion. To him, no one is an enemy. I tell myself there's nothing wrong with Jonathan, he just needs to be loved a different way.

Then there are days where I forget all the above and have my battles. My feelings of being overwhelmed come from people telling me I need to discipline Jonathan or what I am doing wrong in disciplining him. Its when I am out and about that I feel insecure. At home, I tend to be more patient with him.

I have read books, exchanged notes with other parents, found a few ways to work with him, instead of yelling at him. I pray that given the situation should he misbehaves, I would be able to remain calm, and talk to him, that he will listen and channel his energy that will not irritate others. Sometimes, I have to ignore him and give him and myself time-outs. But that is difficult when in public.

Having said that, Jonathan has enough personality and humour to fill a whole room, and that's a joy. I found a few coping techniques like taking walks, looking for bugs, playing with Duplo pieces, helping me with simple errands and lately, building his house with the sofa pieces and cushions (but that drives others up the wall). It would take abundance patience and lots of love and cuddles on my part. And I hope I can do it.

Having Jillian is a totally different story. She is a leg attachment and a koala bear, stays by my side, constantly talking to me, sitting on my lap and holding my face with both hands so she has my undivided attention, and wanting to play with me. They are similar in that they love to talk and they love hugs. But that's for another post.

Happy Chinese New Year

So sorry for the long absence. Busy preparing for CNY, and busy with kids....and also busy stuffing my face. I have been meaning to upload posts after the kids go to bed. But when I lay down on the pillow to accompany Jon to sleep, the bed is just so inviting that I can't get up up. Usually, I would wake up to feed Jill before midnight and it would be my own time on the Internet, But for the last two weeks, it had been feed Jill & changer her diaper at 12am, feed again at 3am and then at 6am. Not even wishing to go online save to read a couple of updates on FB or emails.


No long stories so I can complete this post....otherwise la-la-land beckons!!!

Family reunion dinner - early coz Stanley and Grace were going off to JB for CNY. This is our first CNY in Miri, the last three were in SG

The kidlets in their new PJs on CNY eve

Jill was not afraid of her first lion dance encounter

Jon in so into Lion dance his year that he would run to the window each time he hears the drums. But no, I am not buying him the toy lion dance...too many toys and he doesn't play with them for long. Thankfully, he was willing to return this one to his new friend

Jill all sweet in her CNY get-up

I celebrated my birthday on the 2nd day of CNY and I scrapped a mini album about my friends' son's first birthday. Will post photos after I recharged my camera.


OK, now the BIG news...of which some of you may have already known from my update in FB. I am pregnant with #3! Yup, you read rightly. I am pregnant and about nine weeks into my pregnancy. Found out in late Jan coz firstly, I was hungry quite often. The whole family was down with flu while i had blocked nose and body aches. Then the hunger pangs hit so often...but MIL said it could be meds as in the case of my FIL. But panaflu didn't make me hungry when I took it previously. Then it hit me! I could be expecting.


I was meaning to test myself and hoping to give myself a birthday present, but this time, I knew instinctively I was expecting. So it was an early birthday gift to me. BTW, I found out about Jon on Christmas eve 2006, Jill just after New Year on 2008 when I returned from SG.

EDD is in Sept. I am still early in my pregnancy, so please pray for healthy and complete development of the little one. And the good thing is, I don't have to suck in my belly anymore...haha!