A Tribute To My Teachers of Character Montessori (Central)

Happy Teachers' Day to all teachers! Mama went to school with me last Friday to help me to distribute a little gift to all my teachers at Character Montessori, Central. She bought some bottles of lotion, shampoo, moisturizer & hand cream of different fragrances and tied them in little ribbons for them. She then put all the little bottles into a basket and I went around giving out the bottles to each of my teachers. I even gave to the adults at mama's office (those who worked in the curriculum & HR department).

I got the hang of giving out and loving it so much that anyone who passed by me would not be missed. I even wanted to give some to a pair of parents who were coming in with Dorothy! Good thing the uncle was honest enough to decline it and told me he wasn't a teacher. ekkekeke....

I pointed to every teacher to mama and asked if I had given them too, be careful not to miss out any! A very generous giver, huh?! Then mama also took some photos of my class teachers and friends with me. My best pals are Ariel, Isabel (she wasn't there that day), Chloe, Yi Xuan and Timonthy. I kept mentioning their names at home and mama was told by Ms Seng that actually I am very close to Ariel because only the 2 of us (amongst the girls) are full day children.

Then during assembly time, teachers played games and some children presented songs and dance to the teachers too! I had a chanced to go to the microphone and said, "Lao Shi, Wuo Ai Ni." (I love you, teachers!)

I wish all my teachers "Happy teaching!" They have helped me grow and love learning in their nurturing environment. I love the songs Ms Seng, Ms Zie, Chen Lao Shi and Qu Lao Shi taught me. I always go home and sing to my parents.

One of those songs I learnt in school. Mama loves watching me dance to this song because I was one of the few that could dance it exactly like how Ms Seng taught me, mind you, I was dancing in my tiredness hor! Watch me arms and legs co-ordination!

Same But Different Indeed

My lil sister and I are indeed same but different. We do look a little alike (when I was a baby, not sure if she grows up and still looks like me or not) but we are so different in our temperament. I was relatively an easygoing and cheerful baby. My cries sounded like a love-me-I'm-so-poor-thing kinda cry. But muimui's cries are loud, strong and gets angrier if adults don't pick her up fast enough! I would get awaken by the slightest sound when I was sleeping, however, my cry would sound more in fear than in anger (like my muimui). Well, she's still young, let's see if she's really a loud and dominant person when she's older. Hopefully, not. Mama and Papa are praying hard that she's more cheerful and gentle. If not the whole house will be very noisy!! I am already a noise pollutant at home, I think my neighbours can hear me whenever I'm home. So one is enough, if not police will come knocking on our door!

Mama was worried I would get upset if I knew Rae-Ann was lying at my old play gym. But surprisingly, when Mama told me it used to be mine, it didn't bother me. (My parents think that giving the elder one a pressie on behalf of the new sibling helped alot! They gave me a present and said it was from Rae-Ann, I was thrilled and from that day on, my behaviour seemed to show acceptance towards Muimui. I even went to say thank you to Rae without being told after unwrapping the present!)

I wanted to lay inside with Rae-Ann.

Playing with her mobiles! Muimui looked like she was observing me, huh?

2 lil princesses!

(Yawn, not interest with the play gym at all)

Papa said mui mui has a fierce look. Mama said she has a "Don't mess around with me look and temper!"

Hopefully, they are both wrong. But then again, if she's tough, can protect me if anyone bullies me! Hahaha...We will be best sisters together!

Rae-Ann @ 2 Weeks Plus Old

1. Bath time! Rae-Ann hates to be exposed. Bath time and changing diapers time are wailing time too. Only when in this position during bath, she keeps quiet.
   

   My mui mui, so cute, right? :P
   My parents think she looks like me when I was a baby. You think so?
   
   

   
   

   

   
   
   

Rae-Ann Treated for Jaundice

6 days after mui mui got home from the hospital, she had to admit again as her jaundice level went up. Her eyes, face and neck were yellow. She had to stay for 48 hours and my parents had to leave her there. Mama was heart broken. But it was for Rae-Ann's good. Mama couldn't help but cried when she went into the phytotheraphy room to leave mui mui in the care of the nurse. So poor thing....the babies had to be stripped and wore eye mask to protect their eyes. They were only picked up to change diapers or for feeding.

But Mama could bring Rae-Ann out of the room to breastfeed her. Jaundice babies are always sleepy and tired. So breastfeeding for them are rather difficult because they had to suckle harder than from bottles. But Rae-Ann was 'hardworking'. Sometimes she couldn't latch on after half an hour of struggle, but sometimes she could. I must say mui mui did a good job, she tried really hard even though she was bawling in hunger!
Papa carrying mui mui in the nursing room.

My Mui Mui--Rae-Ann is born!

Yeah! My Mui Mui had finally arrived!! Her arrival caught everyone by surprise, especially, my mama. Mama had eaten rotten papaya on 1st Aug 09's night. Painful gastric pain set in throughout the night till the 2nd Aug's morning. It was so painful she couldn't get out of bed. She vomited 3 times before finally going to see a GP.

GP gave her gastric pills but she was still having pain and vomited again when she got home. She held the pain till 4pm plus and eventually pleaded with papa to bring her to A & E.

At the A & E, the resident doctor couldn't do much (thanks for wasting the time and money). He didn't dare give any medication (don't ask us why) but needed to check with mama's gynea on what to do (duh?!). So with Dr Cheng's advice, mama was wheeled (oh and she enjoyed sitting in it and got pushed around) to the delivery ward to be strapped with a machine that could monitor Rae-Ann's heartbeat.

Alas, when the mama was strapped, barely passed half and hour, the midwife came to check the monitor and exclaimed, "Wah, you can't feel it? Your contraction started!" Mama jaw dropped. "What!? You mean I have to endure gastric and contraction, at the same time!?" She couldn't believe that was happening to her. She just wanted the pain, whatever that was, to stop immediately.

So the midwife kept asking mama if she was sure it was gastric and not contraction that she was feeling. Mama told her she didn't know (she's not a doctor what!), she just described the pain--on top of her tummy, which GP, resident doctor and midwife knew it couldn't be contraction pain. Guess the gasrtic pain either trigger contractions or it was so painful that it overwhelmed beginning contraction pain.

At last, after enduring the pain from 5pm to 9pm since they got to the hospital, Dr Cheng finally arrived. His stomach was full from dinner (rolling eye balls). When he got there, he told my parents that since they had scheduled for C section on 8th Aug, and then it seemed Rae-Ann was in distress because her heartbeat was also increasing, and contraction started, he advised to do C section delivery immediately.

Worse, mama was having fever and risk infecting Rae-Ann too. So off mama was wheeled to the operating theatre. She had to be under GA so papa couldn't go in. Mama was scared and sad. The room was extremely cold till she shivered. The nurses worked like they were so pro. Everything was so mechanical and fast.

Not long after, the anaesthetist came and offered an oxygen mask for mama. After a few seconds, mama only could remember she was awaken by a nurse who told her, "Ok, you're done. Baby is out."

The rest would be long story to describe here. The post GA effects; vomiting and wound being painful...etc..

But nothing beat knowing the fact that Rae-Ann could almost died in the womb if not for this emergency C section. When the operation was done, a PD, Dr Ong came out and told papa, "Good thing she did C sect today. Her umbilical cord was coiled around her neck 2 times!"

My parents have so much to thank God for. Thank God for protecting and preserving Rae-Ann's life. Thank God for saving mama from the pain. Thank God for indeed, in His time, 2nd Aug 09, is beautiful and perfect. Thank God for His grace and mercy. And so, Nai Nai was also given the honours to re-name Rae-Ann's Chinese name--Qi Ern. (Kay Yan--in Canto, meaning Amazing grace).

When mui mui is older, I'll be sure to tell her about her miraculous birth!

I Am Growing Up

I am 32 months old now. Being older there are lotsa things I like to do by myself and do not like the adults to interfere. I have my own way of doing things, for instance. I can be very insistent, by the way.

Mama hooked a hand towel for me outside the toilet so I can wipe my hands dry after handwashing. It's my personal towel. I will take it down to wipe then hang it back MY WAY! The above is NOT my way! Papa or Mama initially hung it this way for me, and I would protest every time!

This IS my correct way of hanging a hand towel. Near the edge, barely hanging there, I think. But to their surprise, it does stay put.

You know how some parents are proud of their kids, especially, when they think some of their good character traits are passing on to their kids? Yup, my mama's one of them! She is so impressed by my "obsession" to arrange things in order--just like how she would have them done. This morning as I was getting ready to go to school, she mumbled about making the bed or something. I overheard that and went over to help--my way. I took my blanket and spread it out on my mattress. Just like how she did to her bed--adults usually spread their quilts out on the bed, don't they?

So I did likewise, except, mine was a thermal blanket. After that, I was changed into my school uniform and I saw her trying to flip over my inverted PJ. She mumbled again, "Must spread the PJ on the bed or hang it somewhere. Cannot throw it all over the place. So messy....." Think she was talking about papa! hahahahaa....Cos papa would usually just dump them on the floor or on my bed, in a bundle and all crumpled up. Mama can't stand it. But he wasn't at home then. Think my mama going coo koo talking to herself early in the morning.

So I saw her spreading my PJ pants onto the bed and thought that was an easy job and wanted to help myself with the top. See how I carefully and neatly laid it down? Neat, right? Got mama's standard.
Sometimes when I see some things that are dis-placed, I would comment (sounds like mama too), "Ah! Who mess it up?!" Or "Who put like that?!" kekekeke...papa always feels irritated by such comments cos he's usually at the receiving end!

Bu Yao Pah (Don't be afraid)

My family just wanna thank God for His providence. My Papa had finally found a new job after his retrenchment and being jobless for about 2 months plus. I think Papa had been very blessed already. They have heard stories of people being jobless nowadays for many months, some even for a year. So we wanna thank God for what we have.

Well, they should also give me some credit because I was one of the main factor in landing my papa this current job. To cut the story short, papa was offered a job by 2 companies and both counter offered at least 2 to 3 times. Each time, just as he thought he should reject this one, that company would up their offer. My parents were desperately praying for wisdom. One job required him to travel at least 10% of every month but pay was securely high enough (a fixed pay). But that would mean papa sacrificing not being there to watch RaeAnn and me grow, and spending time with us as a family. And mama would have to manage the house and 2 kids by herself, not forgetting having to work as well.

The other, didn't require him to travel regionally (at least not that he knows for now), but pay was the unknown. Basic was much lower than the previous, but if he made it (cos he's doing sales), the commission would make up to everything or even better. So the risk factor was there.

Both had their pros and cons and so my parents just wanted to be sure that their decision was in God's will. So the day that my papa had to give his ultimate reply to both companies came. They were sending me to school that morning and almost broke into a little husband-and-wife squabble because of the built-up tension of the matter, when I turned to papa, patted on his chest (like he did to me when I was afraid to take medicines) saying, "Bu Yao Pa, papa." (Don't be afraid).

Immediately, they both kept quiet for awhile. Mama and Papa were touched, as if God was talking to them through me. What a great assurance. Actually, Papa had wanted to take up the sales job. It had always been what he liked to venture into. (and of course, those who know him know that he can talk and talk and talk and talk.....(mama calls it cheong hei--long winded) a very basic virtue for any sales person, right?!)

But the low basic pay and unknown commission were his greatest drawbacks. With the load of providing for a family now as a husband and father of 2, he had lost all his risk-taking appetite, unlike his youth days. So when I sensed tension in the car that day, I just had to speak up! (No, they really think it must be God) ekkekekee....so as I was saying, I was partly the main pushing factor for their decision.

Papa felt peace in his heart when he took up that job. They both know that God never fails them even if this path seemed uncertain. From their life experiences, God has never once let them down, surely God will see us through through all times as long as we delight in His ways. God plays His part in keeping His promises, we just have to play ours, keep trusting and have faith! What can I say? My God is Great!

Soccer Bowling

Mama kept some formula tins as my bowling pins. To make my soccer game more challenging! Not bad, I could aim and kick them down. Mama also noticed I jumped as I kicked the ball too, like a pro leh! Don't play play!(Kow Fu, you have not been playing soccer with me for a long time already! When are you coming to play with me!?)

Self-Invent Carom Game

I saw 2 young kids playing a game of carom in an arcade long ago. Then one day, when I was at home, and bored with playing the blocks the usual way, I self-invented my very own home arcade carom!

I took 2 rectangular blocks--one for mama and one for me, and a square block as the "carom" and started to hit it with the rectangular block over to mama. Mama didn't understand it at first. But she played along anyway. I was trying to "teach" her to hit the square block back to me....sigh, some times adults need help at creativity too. Then it dawned on her that we were playing a game of carom! (What took her so long....)

And so, her occupational instinct also kicked in. She took the opportunity to introduce colours to me, calling out the colour of the "carom" as we hit it. It was fun! Though remembering the colours wasn't my objective.

Then mama ran out of energy and passed to a better player--my papa. Papa also creatively played with different colours at the same time. (Maybe men are more ambitious?!) In either case, I must say I had good fun. Mama is proud of my imagination and creativity.

A video of papa and me playing the "carom" game. Notice how I wanted papa to hold the block a certain way. Must follow game rules, you know?!

Learning My Family Members' Names

My parents taught me my name some months back.

Mama: "What's your name?"

Lia: "E-ban-ge-nia."

Mama: "What's your name (In Mandarin)?"

Lia: "Lin Qi Xuan."

So I sort of got a hang of it soon and started asking my parents for their names one fine day. And I got better memory for remembering names as I went along and Mama gradually expanded my memory bank. Not until recently, all thanks to MJ's death, I created a new name for Gong Gong.

Mama: "What's Yeye's name?"

Lia: "Ah Sum." (Nai Nai taught me)

Mama: "What's Papa's name?"

Lia: "Gary." (Very well pronounced)

Mama: "What's mama's name?"

Lia: "E-ter."

Mama: "What's Nai Nai's name?"

Lia: "Ag-ne." (Agnes)

Mama: "What's Poh Poh's name?"

Lia: "Jo-ser-pin." (Josephine)."

Mama: "What's Gong Gong's name?"

Lia: (I used to say "Michael." But one morning while going to school in papa's car, the radio DJ was talking about MJ's death. And I turned around to mama and exclaimed, "Micheal Jackson! Is Gong Gong!") So now, depending on my mood, if you ask me about Gong Gong's name, I'll reply, "Michael Jackson." hehehehee..... well, though I won't want a plastic looking face Gong Gong, if he is really my Gong Gong, I'll be darn rich by now!!!! And Neverland would be my everyday playground!

Next Mama shall expand my memory bank further by teaching me kow fu, kow mo, gugu and gu zhang's name!