SU ANN'S PROGRESS

At 8 weeks, Su Ann finally showed some interest in Ah Gong's programme. With great excitement, Ah Gong informed Mommy one morning that Su Ann seemed to recognise the black and white picture cards he'd been flashing at her the last few weeks. Su Ann smiled each time Ah Gong flashed a card at her. Ah Gong didn't manage to capture the "Kodak moment" on camera though.

Su Ann has also made slight progress on the crawling track. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Admittedly, my baby sister's progress didn't excite me at all. When I heard Mommy praising Su Ann, I yelled: "I want to put meimei in the dustbin!" A recent conversation with Mommy went like this:-
- Me: "Meimei is a turd."

- Mommy: "Don't call meimei a turd. Turd means a piece of shit."

- Me: "Ok, meimei is a piece of shit."

Then I sat back and calmly watched Mommy tear her hair out in despair. Haha!

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY GONG GONG! (29 JANUARY 2008)

Mommy and Daddy are always looking for excuses to have a big meal. No wonder their plan to lose weight never ever takes off, and they end up gaining more weight instead! The excuse this time was Ah Gong's 60th birthday. Daddy booked us a table at Cafe Brio, the buffet restaurant at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

The buffet spread was good, particularly, the desserts. Mommy and Ipa were craving sashimi, and they were not disappointed. Ipa, who came to Singapore as a simple kampung girl from Java, has acquired a taste for sashimi since working for our family of foodies. The drunken prawns kept Daddy happy. He ate so many bowls of it that he became tipsy!

After dinner, we took a walk by the Singapore River. It was Su Ann's first time by the river. She kept "talking" to the plants by the river.

Later that evening, we had cake at home. Mommy had anticipated that we'd all be too full to eat much, so had bought a tiny chocolate banana cake from Awfully Chocolate for Ah Gong. We sang the birthday song to Ah Gong 4 times, in English, Mandarin, Teochew and Javanese!


Mommy and Daddy gave Ah Gong a fancy, Nikon digital SLR camera for his 60th birthday, and I... I gave him a day off from taking care of me!

PRICEY (27 JANUARY 2008)

Back in the 80s when Mommy and Chia Yee were kids, the family's regular Sunday afternoon past-time was viewing showflats. Ah Gong would drive the family to new developments and Mommy and Chia-Yee would have a ball of a time exploring the various rooms and wow-ing at the plush interiors.

Mommy thought it would be an interesting experience for me to view some showflats too, so last Sunday, I had my first taste of property hunting. Mommy drove around looking for showflats signs by the road. She followed the signs to 2 new developments - The Floridian (near the King Albert Park MacDonald's) and Le Jardin (on the opposite side of the road). Both showflats were beautifully furnished, but so few people came to see them. The agents were happy to show us around, and I had a great time wandering about playing house. The loft unit at Le Jardin was particularly impressive in terms of layout and interior design, but it also came along with a price tag of S$3.6 to S$3.7 million. The agent told Mommy that a 2 bedroom + 1 study unit was going for S$1.7 million (S$1,700 per square foot). Hmmm... steep...

That evening, after dinner at Pepper Lunch, the family went shopping at Takashimaya. It was Su Ann's first trip to a mall, as Ah Ma had refused to let Mommy take Su Ann anywhere too crowded for the longest time. We went through rack after rack of baby clothing, but didn't fall in love with anything. There was a lil' pink dress hanging at the Armani booth which everyone agreed was cute, but Mommy flipped when she saw the price tag. S$269 for a tiny bit of cloth and some sparklies? Mommy's exclamation of "So EXPENSIVE!!!" was so audible that the sales representative backed away from us.

We returned home empty-handed, so Su Ann has to be content with hand-me-downs for the moment. That's the price you pay for being No. 2!

THAIPUSAM (22 JANUARY 2008)

Of the many festivals in Singapore, the most fascinating would undoubtedly be the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, during which devotees pierce their bodies with hooks and skewers and walk about 4 km from Sri Perumal Temple along Serangoon Road to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple along Tank Road. The procession usually takes place from 11.00 pm the night before to midnight the next day.

Mommy is a big fan of Thaipusam. She's watched the devotees get pierced at Sri Perumal Temple, walked the 4 km with them, and watched the devotees remove their piercings at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple before. She's seen devotees balance milk pots on their heads whilst in a trance, spin round and round at amazing speeds with really heavy and tall spiked kavadis on their shoulders, walk on nails for 4 km whilst pulling a charriot hooked to their backs, getting whipped whilst in a trance, etc.

It was Thaipusam yesterday, so Mommy drove the family to Little India to witness the procession. We were there in the afternoon, the time of the day when not so many devotees do the walk. Devotees usually choose to walk early in the morning or in the evening when it is not so hot. We picked a shady spot outside Albert Court Hotel to watch the procession. It was an interesting day out.

MY BABY SISTER'S LESSONS

At 6 weeks, Su Ann still spends most of her day in slumberland. Mommy doesn't remember me sleeping this much. I guess babies born in the Year of the Pig have that as an excuse to sleep (and eat) more! Haha!


When Su Ann's awake, Ah Gong talks to her, shows her things, and makes her do some simple exercises like chin-ups, weightlifting and kickboxing. Just kidding! The regular butterball is not that talented... She can only manage simple things like griping Ah Gong's fingers and getting lifted up.

Despite Su Ann's protests, Ah Gong puts her on the crawling track. Research shows that the act of crying actually helps to propel a baby forward on the crawling track. A wailing Su Ann confirms that.

REVIEW OF MY VARIOUS CLASSES


My first swimming lesson at Marsden Swim School's Turf City branch last Friday went really well. The swim school is well-equipped with teaching materials, the most interesting of which is a floating mat big enough for all the kids (there were 4 of us) to climb on. Coach Pete taught us to blow bubbles from our mouth and nose on that mat. He also made us run down that mat and jump into the water. At the end of the lesson, he pulled a plastic slide to the edge of the pool and let us slide into the pool. It was oodles of fun!

Compared to the others in my class, I'm really over the hill. The other 3 kids are all half my age. I'm the only one who can speak, the others just babble. Hmmm... think I better learn fast so I can graduate! Well, peer pressure in a group lesson like this certainly helps. Mommy noticed that I didn't fuss when Coach Pete gave us instructions, unlike in the past when I had private lessons at home with Coach Mark.

My second music lesson at the Magic Fiddler last Friday also went well. At the moment, I'm attending individual lessons there. Mommy would much rather I attend a group lesson so I can make more friends, but the school is having difficulty finding others who are interested in the programme like me. If you're reading this and would like to join me, let me know!

Finally, my creative ballet lessons at Forms Ballet. It is such a joy to be there! I feel like a princess when I put on my leotard and skirt. It's no wonder my ballet teacher says I'm dreamy in class... hehe.

A NIGHT AT THE SAFARI (17 JANUARY 2008)

Last Thursday, whilst I was in school, Mommy took Su Ann to the paediatrician for her month-old check-up and vaccination. Su Ann weighed in at 5.1 kg; a hefty jump from her birth weight of 3.7 kg. Mommy's milk must be chocked full of nutrients, and all that MacDonald's, Coke, and all things carcinogenic which Mommy survives on must be full of wholesome goodness. Haha!

The paediatrician's clinic is located at United Square, where my school is as well. After Su Ann's visit to the paediatrician, Mommy picked me up from school (for the very first time). Ah Gong is usually the one who picks me up. My teachers were all praises for me, and Mommy was pleased. That evening, Mommy rewarded me with a trip to the Night Safari (http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/)!

I've been to the Singapore Zoo and the Adelaide Zoo, but never to a zoo with a nocturnal theme. There're 3 different walking trails at the Night Safari, a tram and animal show. The park is very big, and we only managed to cover 2 out of 3 walking trails. We took the tram, but missed the animal show.

It was drizzling and the pathways were slippery. Mommy put me in Su Ann's pram and wheeled me about. Ipa had Su Ann in her arms. It was fun snaking through the dark with Mommy, Sri, Ipa and Su Ann, and seeing all the nocturnal animals. The best part was seeing two large leopards up close, and hearing the roar of the lions in the dead of the night. Creepy, but cool!

MY BABY SISTER, THE KUNG FU MISTRESS

Kung Fu Mistress ("KFM"): "Who me? You wanna piece of me?!?!"

KFM: "Woooohooooo... you're gonna be sorry you asked for this!"

KFM: Strikes Kung Fu pose 1, and stabs opponent in the eye.

KFM: Strikes Kung Fu pose 2, punches opponent in the nose and slaps opponent across the face.
KFM: Strikes Kung Fu pose 3 to end off in style, after opponent has already fallen. "And I didn't even have to use my legs."

A VISIT TO THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION (12 JANUARY 2008)

Last Saturday, my dream of being a firefighter came true! Mommy had read online that fire stations in Singapore allow visits on Saturday mornings, so Mommy, Ah Gong, Ah Ma and I paid the Central Fire Station along Hill Street a visit.


Firefighter Chen kindly showed us around the fire station. He let us climb into an ambulance and fire engine, showed us the various parts and uses of a fire engine, allowed us to use a fire hose, and arranged for a firefighter to slide down the fireman's pole. He was a real star!


The guided tour ended at Central Fire Station's Heritage Gallery. Central Fire Station is the oldest fire station in Singapore, and the Heritage Gallery showcases the history of firefighting in Singapore. I really enjoyed viewing the various exhibits. At the end of the trip, Mommy bought me a fire chief's red helmet as a momento. What a wonderful day it was!


For those who're interested in visiting the Central Fire Station, do note that they're open for visits on Saturday mornings from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. Admission is free, and there're free guided tours by firefighters. It's a real gem.

MY TIMETABLE

The school year has started and I'm now in Nursery class at GUG, the same school which I've been attending for the last one year. I've lessons every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 12 noon. Some of the students in my current class were from my former class, and one of the teachers was from my former class too. There was an air of familiarity when term started.

At the start of the school year, Mommy and Ipa decided to design a timetable for me, to introduce more structure to my life. I've always been a slow eater, taking up to 2 ro 3 hours to finish a meal. As I didn't have a fixed bedtime in the past, it also took forever to put me to sleep. These problems frustrated Ipa and she began to threaten me with all sorts of things. For instance, she'll say: "Swallow or I'll lock you in the storeroom", "Close your eyes and sleep or I'll throw your Snoopy DVD away", etc. Mealtimes and bedtimes became terrifying for me. My new timetable has helped to address these issues. Nowadays, I wake up at 8.00 am every morning, eat my lunch at 12.30 pm every day, take a 45-minute nap at 2.00 pm every afternoon, eat my dinner at 6.00 pm every evening, and get ready for bed at 9.00 pm every night. Since the introduction of this timetable, I get hungry about 15 mins before mealtimes and I can finish my meals within an hour. I've also been able to fall asleep much more easily at night.

My new timetable also ensures that I spend an hour each day on learning to write, Art & Craft, and exercise respectively. Ah Gong still spends time reading to me every day, though not as much as before. He now has to divide his time between Su Ann and I. I'm also able to read independently now, whilst Su Ann has only just started her programme with Ah Gong. Ah Gong doesn't read to Su Ann; he talks to her, lets her touch and feel different textures, smell different things, and practises certain techniques recommended by Doman in his "How to Teach Your Baby to be Physically Superb" book.



Mommy has also sourced for extra-curricular activities for me to take part in on a weekly basis. I've just started creative ballet lessons at Forms Ballet School (http://www.formsballet.com/). The lessons take place every Monday afternoon. I attended my first lesson yesterday, and boy was I surprised to see my classmate from GUG, Beverly, there! Mommy has also signed me up for swimming lessons at Marsden Swim School (http://www.marsdenswimschool.com/) and music appreciation classes at Magic Fiddler (http://www.magicfiddler.com/). The swimming lessons will take place on Friday mornings. The music appreciation lessons are on Friday afternoons. I attended my first music class last Friday and it was very enjoyable indeed. Ah Gong accompanied me to class. Both the teacher and Ah Gong were surprised that I could sing along with the teacher with so much ease. I look forward to Fridays!

MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER TURNS 96! (6 JANUARY 2008)

Have you ever attended a 96th birthday party? Well, I have. Born in the year 1912, my maternal Great Grandmother turned 96 this year. The occasion was celebrated at Orchard Hotel's Hua Ting Restaurant.

In traditional Chinese style, a plate of "shou tao" (longevity buns) was delivered to the table to kick off the dinner party. The buns were filled with warm lotus seed paste, and they were nice and sweet. Dinner was followed by a cake-cutting session. The sinfully sweet chocolate mousse cake was so yummy!

So what's the difference between a 96th birthday party and a kiddy birthday party? Well, the lack of a magician, bouncy castles, party packs... and obviously, there're way more candles on a 96th birthday cake! My cousins (kids of Mommy's cousins) and I made up our own party games, so we had plenty of fun nonetheless. The adults yelled at us to "Sit Down!", but that didn't deter us for long. The party was in a private dining room in Orchard Hotel, so we could roam around without disturbing other diners. My baby sister remained sleeping peacefully throughout the chaos.