My Wish

Birthday-Wish

Just passed my last 20th birthday 4 days back... Sigh... Once the years passed, its never turning back. I never thought my youthful 20s would pass so fast. I always thought, time is on my side. I always thought, I will always be this youthful. But, the reality is not like this.

Next year will be my first big "3". I have to learn to age with grace. I have to learn to embrace LIFE. I have to be grateful for every single year of my life as they are given by my parents and is cherishable!

What I am "fearful" about aging is the signs that will show on my face (e.g. wrinkles, spots, dull looking skin). Maybe can start to use SK II products and eat more bird's nest to nourish my skin and maintain my youth! Haha... Seriously, maybe I can focus more on the important elements of aging, for e.g. matured disposition, more wisdom, being a steady mother , being a more respectful person etc? Well, I shall work harder on focusing on that. But I still WISH I can maintain my youth!!! Hahaha...

Parent-Wish

I wish, as a parent, for my child to be able to explore freely in their world. I wish, as a parent, for my child to be able to grow up feeling confident, and brave. I wish, as a parent, for my child to have unlimited quest for knowledge. I wish, as a parent, for my child to be independent and strong. Unlike me.

I deem myself to be a failure, sometimes. I am conservative and unwilling to explore the world. I am timid and have no confidence in myself (can't even drive a car confidently despite earning myself a license!). I always need other people to give me recognition, and yet I do not give myself any. Maybe I have always been well-protected and pampered by my family so I have always been a da-xiao-jie. When I grew up, I had to learn the hard ways on adjusting to the reality of life. Say for example when I become a mother, I found it so hard coping... If I had been stronger, tougher, independent, or more confident of myself, I would have adjusted to my new role better.

So I hope I can encourage my girl to be more daring to explore, to imagine, to be curious. And I hope my partner can support me by understanding how I want to be as a parent, and encourage her more instead of inhibiting what she can do, what she cannot do. If not, this will be an endless struggle between us, and she may end up being pampered, & being not confident like me when she grows up...

We can never be there for our children. We can never be there holding their hands, or catching them when they fall. Failure, in fact, could be the most effective way to learn and gain experience. So the most critical thing during their learning stage is to encourage and train them lifetime skills & positive attributes, which will be valuable to them for their whole life.

Life-Wish

I have this wish in my life which I have yet to fulfill thou I don't know when it will materialise. My wish is to bring my parents (especially my mother) out on a holiday trip. This is a simple yet not that simple wish. As my mother is very tied up with a demanding and ailing grandmother in the house, she cannot even leave the house for too long. I can understand her situation. Yet at the same time, I wish I can bring her out to see the world, for she had only went to Malaysia ONCE for her honeymoon many many years ago.

Death-Wish

This sounds a bit depressing huh? I have no death thoughts. But thought of penning it down somewhere, in any case... Well, things are so unpredictable. Who knows what happens next?

Its been my wish, when at my funeral, my beloved family and friends to write me a personal note about myself. And shall read to me before I depart the world. I always like to know what does people think of me? Am I a good friend? Or am I a detestable person? Or what have I done/contributed to their lives when I was alive? Or whether we had wonderful and happy memories together? Or whether you will miss me when I am gone... Then burnt me the notes so that I will bring along with me to the other world...

Hubby, you reading this? I know you don't like to write letters/cards to me cuz you are not that sort of person. But I still hope you will let me know your heartfelt thoughts. I hope I had made a positive impact in your life, despite all the unhappy events that had happened.

These are my Wishes....

The Toddler Kayla: 1 month more to 2 years old!

In another month's time, Kayla will be 2 years old le! No doubt that I have planned for a mini birthday party celebration with her closer cousins, I still like to have a theme set and a nice party for her! It will be my favourite.... Winnie the Pooh!

The Party Packs & Decoration!

Mama has also prepared a handmade card for my dearest daughter... I do not know if she will appreciate it, or when she will be able to read it, but I just enjoy doing it and hope she will like it!


Ok, shall update more about her 2nd year old birthday party next round!

Let's talk about the events that had happened in her 23rd month!

...Had a dinner date with Eiman

...Had a gai-gai date with yeye and nai nai

...Had fun posing photos with jiu jiu

Attended Ah Tai's 94th Birthday Bash

Went to Dave's 1st year Birthday Bash!

Met more new friends when the Van Den Bos was back for a home visit!!
Having fun with one another

... knowing new friend from Netherlands!

The lovely faces of the Angels - Part I (well, they can be "devils" too at times!)

The lovely faces of the Angels - Part II
 (The younger generation)

The Toddler Kayla: 21 - 22 months

Another 2 more months, Kayla will be 2 years old!! My girl is growing up very fast every day...

Her developments for the month:

- Learning to count number 1-10 in Cantonese! *clap clap*
- Learning to count "11-20"
- Learning & identifying colors.
- Started to ask us the question "Why?"
- Loves girlish things! For eg accessories, clothes, hair accessories etc & will say "美美!＂

Kayla & her new hairband (only put it on for a short while only...
Always take it off and refuse to wear them again : / )
- Loves looking at photo albums and will identify the people whom I have pointed out to her before.

- Knows how to say " The End" when we finish reading a book to her
- Able to understand the concept of "Similarities". For eg, if a picture card shows "toy cubes", she will go and take her bag of toy cubes to me. And if she sees the picture of "slide", she will ask to play the mini slide in the house. She will also tell us "same same" when she notices the similarities between 2 objects.
- Able to sit her own butt up on the small chair by herself
- Learnt how to switch on and off her toys by herself

- Started "imaginary play"/ role playing with soft toys
- Learning how to show "V" sign with her fingers but her fingers still quite "stiff" so still have been unsuccessful

New foods for the month!


- Started her on Scotts Cod liver oil Emulsion (orange) & she loves it after a few tries & even want more!
In this month, we have both stopped using sterilizer for her milk bottle, and also (finally) completed her mandatory vaccinations! We will then start her on important yet optional vaccinations next - e.g. chicken pox

Activities in May!
- 6 May: We went on a Universal Studios trip on Papa's birthday! And as a family too (cuz Kayla had went twice le!)



- 13 May: We went for our very first outdoor photoshoot (its actually a Mothers' Day photoshoot promo by Oh,Dear! Photography) at Vivo City

Shots with Papa...

The Yammies in action...

Well, it was hard to get Kayla smiling happily, cuz firstly the weather is humid and Kayla does not like being outdoors especially under the sun (xiao jie pattern), and secondly she kept looking at the photographer and may also wondered why she had to do what the photographer/mama kept asking her to do? Luckily we still have quite a considerable amount of few good shots, just pity that Kayla wasn't smiling in most of them...  Papa Yam's mood was also affected by the humid weather and couldn't really show happy faces in the photoshoot... Hmm... only the Mama is enjoying the photoshoot by herself.. (zi high!) haha...

Finally a Happy Kayla!

- Lastly, she had a play date with new friends!

The Toddler Kayla: 20 - 21 months

• It's About Food!

- Tried prawns & hotdog for the first time.
- Loves cheese!! But started to pick on food (removed the cheese from the bread & only eat the cheese)
- Tried new food receipes by mummy!
   ~ Tau pok filled with minced meat filings
   ~ Kway teow mee fish ball soup
   ~ Mixed veg & sausage cheese pasta
  
      ~ Yong Tau Foo Kway teow soup

• Its about Talking! (and Singing!)

- Able to sing "Happy Birthday" song, "泥娃娃", "Muffin Man", "Twinkle Twinkle Little stars" and some songs from her Kindermusik class
- Able to tell us a more structured sentence but with simple short phrases. Overall we can understand at least 60% of what she is trying to tell us what had happened when we were not around.
- Able to use demostratives like "this, that, there, here" , adjectives like "front,back", pronouns like "yours,mine"
- Learnt to be well mannered girl by saying words like "thank you Mama", "goodnight Mama", "please" by her own initiatives.
- Knows how to say "help! Mama help!" when required
- Cheeky girl likes to imitate what we normally call each other. Eg I call my husb "dear" & she will also go "dear...." like me.

• Its about Achievements!

- Learning to drink from cup by herself

- Able to feed herself more steadily

- Started to feed her stuffed toys

- Likes being helpful! Especially in putting her own clothes in the tub for washing, and throwing rubbish into the dustbin, helping to carry things for us!

• Its about Outings!

- 1st time at Jacob Ballas Gardens @ Botanical Gardens. She dun really like the outdoors apparently. Kept wanting to be carried!

The Yammies' 1st trip to Tokyo! (2 Mar - 11 Mar 2011)

It has always been my dream to travel to Japan! And viola! My dream has finally come true! The Yammies are going to Tokyo in March!

We planned for a 10-days trip although we are only touring Tokyo free & easy, cuz firstly there are simply so many wonderful places to visit, with 3 days to be spent solely in Tokyo Disneyland, and most importantly we wouldn't want to rush with a toddler on hand!

Day 1: We departed early in the morning and finally reached Tokyo around 4-tish pm after 7 hours (long) flight journey! By the time we took the airport limousine bus from the Narita airport to our hotel in Shinjuku, it was already 7-tish pm and the skies were really dark now... We were so hungry and we randomly chose a decent looking Japanese restaurant to slurp up our dinner!

Day 2: Our program for the day is Sanrio Puroland!! Although it is quite a small place, it is so good to be in such a kiddy place! haha.. I admit I am a kiddish person lah..haha.. Well, its ok since I have a toddler girl with me, and she knows Hello Kitty! She calls it "I-tty". We first watched the drama show at the Fairyland Theater which happened to start screening. Although we do not understand Japanese, we still enjoyed watching the show! Then we also took the Sanrio Character Boat Ride, and watched the Hello Kitty in The Magical Land of Oz! We had a fun day at the Sanrio Puroland before heading to Shibuya area for dinner. At Shibuya we had a simple dinner, after having to give up a few choices as the restaurants are full of smokers and it was so smoky! Never knew that restaurants in Japan allow smoking. Shock! Disappointed!

Day 3: It's ASAKUSA day! For old streets and Sensoji Temple and traditional goodies! It's a nice feeling walking down the old streets feeling the cool breeze in the face, and trying the nice traditional Japanese snacks, and not forgetting buying souvenirs back home! Next stop is Ameyoko as it is pretty near Asakusa's stop. We didn't do anything there except to SHOP! haha.. Happened to see a big departmental store and then a few good hours are spent there buying my first Samantha Thavasa bag, pouch and a Agnes B bag (on behalf of my colleague) : P SHIOK! But broke : /

Day 4: Today is scenic sightseeing day cuz we are paying a visit to the infamous Mount Fuji! BUT we are not going to climb the Mount Fuji cuz it would be quite tedious for us as it would be a long long journey... So we decided to take the FREE Hakone free pass, and head to Hakone to view Mount Fuji instead.

With Hakone Freepass, one can also ride 7 types of transport in the area, such as the Hakone Tozan Line and the Hakone Ropeway, We started on the Hakone Romancecar, then hop on to Hakone Tozan train, Hakone Tozan cablecar, Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise to cruise the Lake Ashi, then lastly we took the Hakone Tozan bus back.

The day is good and we have a very good view of Mount Fuji! But Kayla had been very tired running around with us, hoping from one transport to another. I am sure she doesn't know what is so great about Mount Fuji! Hee..

Day 5:It is Sunday and it is recommended to visit Harajuku on a Sunday as the cosplay characters would gather on a Sunday. However after walking for the whole day, we only managed to see a few at the end of the day. We seem not to have found their "gathering" place bah. Instead we went to do more shopping at the Omote Sando Hills stretch of branded shops! Haha.. He bought a Black Label Burberry black sling bag whereas I got myself a Blue Label Burberry sling bag and matching ladies wallet. *Satisfied yet feeling abit guilty for the spending* : P

After a long day spent at Harajuku, we went to Times Square - Takashimaya to buy Disneyland tickets and had dinner there to end our Day 5...

Day 6: It was snowing!! I din expect that we can actually see snow in Tokyo, and snowing means its freezing cold out there and a wet weather makes it difficult to travel with a toddler in hand! so we sort of took our time to prepare ourselves, had in-room Nespresso coffee before layering all of us in multiple layers of thick clothings before heading out to Odaiba - our destination of the day!

In Odaiba, we went to Venus Fort in Palette Town - a 3 storeyed building where there is something for everyone in the family - 1st floor: Venus Family, 2nd floor: Venus Grand, 3rd floor: Venus Outlet. The 1st floor is opened to dogs too, since Japanese are well-known to be dog lovers. We saw quite some dogs and their dog owners in Venus Fort. Quite cool since shopping malls seldom allow animals to enter.

Luckily the snow stopped when we reached Odaiba, and also we stayed mostly indoors until we moved on to look for the Rainbow Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and the Tokyo Tower. It was really freezing cold at the outdoors!!! And Kayla was throwing a lot of unhappy tantrums while we rushed from one point to another point.

Day 7: We checked out from our hotel and moved on to Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel as we are going to the Disneyland for the next 3 days!! Our first Disney stop is Disneysea as its smaller in scale compared to Disneyland, and since its something unique in Tokyo, we have to see what's in there!

We were pretty lucky to be in time for the noon session of the Greeting session at the gates upon entering Disneysea. So we got to capture a few pictures with some key Disney characters, feel the excitement in this wonderland, before entering into the fantasy dreamland! Then we noticed that there were quite a crowd sitting around at the Mediterranean Harbour, and realised that the parade show may be starting soon!! We quickly find a good position to sit down and tried to get ourselves warm while waiting in the cold! Kayla loves the Disney parade show very much, and kept clapping hands and jumping up and down with the music and dances...

In Disneysea, we took the 20,000 leagues under the sea ride at the Mysterious Island, took the Caravan Carousel and watched the Aladdin show at The Magic Lamp Theater in the Arabian Coast, then to the Mermaid Lagoon for the Jumpin' Jellyfish ride, and watched the Mermaid Ariel show at the Mermaid Lagoon Theater. We even managed to catch the fireworks at night before leaving for the day.

Actually we have not checked in the hotel room in the afternoon before we rushed to the Disneysea, so we are really pleasant to see our Magic room at Hilton! Its a very massive room with very nicely decorated wall paintings. We simply love it! And there's a very nice sea view when we opened the blinds.

Day 8 - 9: Both days were solely for Disneyland as we knew that it will be too big for us to cover within a day. Unfortunately Kayla caught a cold the night before, and we were so worried for her. Luckily the medication helped and we let her rest more before we went to Disneyland in the afternoon. In the hotel while she was having her nap, we actually felt some earthquake tremors. Initially we were like "Oh Shit! What should we do?" As Japan is prone to earthquakes, we were quite worried whether it would escalate into something massive. Fortunately the tremors didn't continue and we departed with a lighter and happier heart! : )

Again, we managed to catch the Jubilation Live parade in time, and of cuz Kayla enjoyed it very much too! We got to see more Disney characters as compared to the Disneysea's parade.

As we reached Disneyland pretty late, we didn't manage to get fast passes for the rides. So we only watched the Parade, had our late lunch, walked around Disneyland, bought our popcorn baskets(!), and managed to enter It's a Small World as it was only a short queue. Well, not bad for the day given that we started late. At least Kayla was well enough to spend the day with us.

We managed to cover more rides and shows on Day 9! Like the Pooh's Hunny Hunt (my favourite!!), Monster's Inc. Ride & Go Seek, the Western River Railroad, watched the show at the Country Bear Theater and Oh! Minnie Minnie! show and the Electrical Parade Dreamlights at night! Not bad siah!!! And we managed to also saw the fireworks again before leaving.

Other than all the rides and shows, I should not forget to mention we shopped till crazy there!!! We bought many things for ourselves, for Kayla and for our close family and friends! Love Disney to bits!!! Would love to go to another Disney in near future!

~Shortly after we departed from Tokyo on Fri 11 Mar morning flight, a terrible earthquake and Tsunami that struck Japan in the afternoon. We were very very very fortunate and blessed to have escaped from this natural disaster/calamity by a mere difference of 3-4 hours, and returned safely to our home, and to our family. We felt very sorry for the people who were stranded there, and who lost their lives, their families in this unfortunate natural disaster...~

The Toddler Kayla: 19 - 20 months

19-20 mths:

• Able to answer our queries with simple replies & able to tell us her likes/dislikes, wants/don't wants.
• Know how to say "洗手＂& imitate the washing hands action
• Likes to eat noodles n will always says she wants to eat "oon-dle" whenever we ask her. And she will also follow up with "cut-cut" cuz I will use the plastic food cutter to cut her noodles.
• Likes watching theatre & live shows from Puroland & Disneyland.

• Able to press the lowest lift button & happily wanting to press everytime she gets near the lift.

• Likes holding handles! - On subway, Disney train, Disney bus...
  

• Likes shopping! -  Makings of a  "Shopping Princess"! She always want to roam about on her own whenever we go into a shop in a shopping mall. She will keep chanting " gai gai" or "walk walk". Then she will pick things from the racks & even tried putting one into our shopping basket!
• Showing signs of a Singaporean cuz she says words like "Don't want LAH! ", "No LAH!"
• Likes to play "copy cat" game! She does the action, we copy.
• Able to identify and name "bus, van, lorry, car, motorbike"
• Learning to wear her own clothes, and socks

• Being more of a vainpot! Likes bags, accessories etc..

• Started potty training for her! Bought her a pink potty & a potty training book for girls. She is pretty cooperative to sit on the potty, and I do not want to push her too hard or fast on potty training. I started to let her get interested to the potty, let her sit on it with her shorts on, then without her diapers even thou she may not pee out.I just want her to get used to the whole routine first then slowly work towards the goal when she is older and able to understand instructions better. It's pretty taxing to keep trying in every intervals of 1 hour to let her try sit on the potty and try to pee in it. Hope I can be determined enough and will not slack on this important part of training.

The Toddler Kayla: 18 - 19 months

18-19 mths:

• Learnt to identify Number 8!
• Counting "1-10" in mandarin
• Climbing staircase independently, while holding on the side rails
• Identify "hair", "head", "eyes", "mouth", "ear", "nose", "face" and can say all them out as she points to each part
• Able to identify diaper and call it "per"
• Remembered objects like "cow","rab(bit)", "dog" n can say them out
• Likes to identify our clothes n goes "Papa clothe, Mama clothe, etc"
• Knows how to say ＂洗手＂while imitating the action of washing hands
• Knows how to say her own name
• Construct simple 2 to 3 words sentence. Eg, uncle-no more, mama bye bye, gd-nite
• Likes to "choreograph" her own dance steps n choose her own dancing music from the music DJ toy. Her dance steps involve twirling round n round and with one hand up in the air, tapping double feet, clapping... Really comical sight!
• Learning simple Cantonese nursery rhymes thru her grandparents!
• Likes to make funny faces & actions!

• Finishing an Alphabet & a Disney Character wooden puzzle by herself! Including matching the right letters/characters n putting them in! Proud of my girl!