Freaking Bday Parties

I can't believe the extend parents go to for a child's birthday party. Infact, I am particularly referring to the age group 1-3 yo. I mean, what does a 1yo know about the 1001 flavours and designs of cakes the merchants have conjured. Or how much can the kiddo remember of that 3-4 hours of elaborated planned party? I gotta admit I am as stressed out as I am disgusted.

First, there is the cake. Why does it have to be a NUMBER cake which spells the age of the child? Especially for the 1st birthday (we were given a really nice chocolate mousse cake with the HUGE ONE last year). We liked the cake, it was from Jack's Place EATZI, and it was really tasty, but why "ONE" ? We couldn't finish that enormouse cake of cos.

Then, there is the lunch/dinner. I have been asked countless times ever since Chinese New Year in Feb, what are we doing for Megan's birthday (in MAY). I mean, she is all but 2, what will she know of catering (altho I must add that she has acquired a rather gourmet palette after all that eating out and table food she is now permitted to partake). I, for one, will not cook for a party. Cooking tires me. Cooking stresses me. Cooking is done only when I absolutely have to (eg. feed Megan when no one else is available to cook a meal). To cook for my family (or my husband's) is mission impossible.

Catering requires a min. number of people (I think its usually 30). And we don't really have 30 adults to invite. We do if we combine both my family and my husband's - but that will be another nightmare in itself. I welcome any meal-solutions.

What to do with excess EBM (for yen)

A dear friend just texted me to ask about storing excess ebm. It seems like something that happened ages back (and I actually missed it despite the tendonitis). I thought I should write a little about my bf days before it seems too much of a prehoristic event to me (my memory after becoming a mother is TERRIBLE to say the least).

So if yen is reading this, this is what I did:

• I took the easiest way out, albeit a little costly, and got many small milk bottles.
  
• I expressed directly into the bottles and store them in the fridge for 24 hours (although many literature said 48 hours is fine, but I thought I should just be a bit more cautious with such precious fluids).
• I defrost the ebm a couple of hours in advance, or sometimes, 1 day before I need them.
• It is ok to see yellow, thickened creamy milk (the fats have coagulated)
• I bought a warmer but it was too much of a hassle to time it, so the best way is to defrost the frozen ebm in a mug of hot water.
• Shake/swirl the bottle a little before feeding baby (that way, the 'cream' will mix well with the rest of the liquid).
• Do not ever save defrosted ebm - discard any leftovers.
• It is perfectly normal to note a slight difference in colour of frozen ebm, do not panic as long as you have sterilised your storage container/bottles well (and the freezer is working!)

*You can consider clearing your pimples with ebm too! I read it somewhere that you can use it to help clear mild eczema or acne problems (what I did was to express a little after I shower to moisturise my nipples).

Singapore Flyer Sep 2008

I took Megan and my grandma for a ride on the Flyer last year. It was boring to say the least. We saw sand, water, more sand, more water (for construction of marina IR) and oh, the F1 track. Thank goodness there was another kid to amuse her, and the yakult to keep her happy.

June Is Theatre Month !

We are going to Roald Dahl 's Fantastic Mr Fox and watch Barney live in action. It will be Megan's first trip to the theatre and hopefully she will be sufficiently amused for us to sit through the entire hour. Theatre is just inaccessible for families here in Singapore - its expensive, and mostly child-unfriendly. We gotta pay FULL price for a ticket for Megan who is all but 2yo to be admitted. So imagine what it would cost a family of four to go to the theatre - little wonder most families are milling in the malls instead :(

LEGO DUPLO @16mth

I can't quite figure out how to post really large pics on my blog since html and I don't speak to each other. But I really wanna post some of these older collages I made of Megan's milestones :)

This Is My Fave Shot

Megan's Workout

It doesn't make sense to me to be running about on such a scorchingly hot day. But Megan is perfectly happy to have all the space in school, and the exercise facilities to explore. She had a wonderful time running, and running, and running...

We found the wash-station and cool down by washing our hands, a lot.

When we got onto the taxi, I was bushed and fell asleep! Good thing Megan was cooperative and put her head on my lap and lied down the entire trip home.

Watching Rugby

That is Megan saying "Goal!"

Water Confidence

Megan loves swimming. Not that she can actually swim, but she is getting very confident in the pool - which is why I could take these pictures while I leave her be in the pool (there are usually just the 2 of us at the pool, papa will melt if he gets wet...)

She is now trying her new stunt - getting out of the pool on her own and getting back. I am not so sure of the getting back bit, so I helped her get into the pool instead. She wanted to "tiao" (jump)! But crawling up onto the edge of the pool comes easily for her now.

I wish there were other children at the pool when we visit-we usually have the entire children's pool to ourselves.

Thinking Chair Pics

She was not so reluctant to sit on the "thinking chair" the very first time I introduced it (I felt that "naughty" will come across as being quite punitive). Infact, I couldn't resist taking out my cell phone to take pictures of her cos she was sitting prettily on the chair after I told her to! When Megan saw my phone, she knew it was picture time and smiled at the camera (which of cos, wasn't the idea). So I have to put it aside first, and tell her why she has to sit there. She understood perfectly what I said, and began to sulk after I explained why I brought the stool out. Which is quite to my amazement to be honest, cos I really didn't expect her to fully understand the concept of punishment.

Later in the day, she committed the same offence again. And when I said "sit on thinking chair", she began to wail ! I insisted on her sitting down, and held her down firmly to the chair cos she was struggling to break free. Then, grandaunty came along and 'rescued the princess'.

Mama couldn't let the thinking chair be there for nothing, so the persistent mama took her back after she was less agitated (but still crying) and told Megan she must "sit and think-think" cos mama is gonna "talk". She understood and sat, albeit for less than a minute. I talked as little as I could to explain to her. Then its the sorry mama and xoxo.

Tiring to discipline. But has to be done!

All Children Love Books

All children love books. Its the universal truth. Megan infact, loves her books so much she is suprised to find "stickers" stuck onto all NLB books ! I had to explain to her that the auntys in the library (which she is used to calling it the "ni-or-or", but now she can say "purple!" in perfect english-btw, that's because the Bt Merah branch is painted purple, like Barney) need to stick those in the books so that we know they belong to the libraries.

She has never scribbled in any of her books although she has access to her books and crayons. What I am really proud of is that she will go to her Papa and ask for "zhi" (paper) when she feels like scribbling (she seems to know that he has a tub of recylced paper under his desk in the study). I still can't figure out how she found out about our recycling tubs...

This picture is taken almost the very minute she woke up 2 days ago. She wanted to read "Gor-gor share-share" book (Title: A Boy Shares Food) and its really cute when you hear her say "Ye-Su" :)

This no-pay-leave/stay-at-home deal is working out rather fine it seems.

Introducing: The Thinking Chair

Need I say more (offence: she POURED a cup of water onto the floor and waddled in the puddle)

Kakak di mana?

This week has been madness cos great grandpa is in SGH. And Megan's kakak has to watch over ah-gong during the nights. So there is no one to sweep,mop,wash-up,clean up after the bunnies, or megan for that matter.

Today I cooked lunch for Megan. Its boiled spinach, scrambled eggs and veggie pasta. She ate it up, albeit with the carrot of an ice-cream for dessert. It's madness without my helper. The kitchen is still in a mess (although I merely cooked for Megan alone!) and I haven't found time for a tea/coffee.

I am so not looking forward to dinner time...

Too Hot ! Gotta Swim !

It was simply too hot to even wanna wake up and get out of the airconditioned bedroom ... but of cos we had to drag ourselves out of bed. And it was such a scorching day I cant even think about hitting the shower. So I asked the lil' one if she would like to go swimming and needless to say, we were all packing our stuff the very next second.

Megan has gotten really bold in the pool and refuses to let me hold her hand while she wades around (imagine the day your child tells you not to hold her hand cos she is too grown-up, I will probably go into mourning). She loves to hold on to the edge of the pool and "fly" with her legs afloat. Megan could also get out of this 0.5m pool all by herself by climbing up from the edge of the pool!

Bedtime Prep 1

Coaxing Megan to sleep may require some props at times. Today, she finished her milk and decided to "qi chuang" (wake up) and look for her Poohs. Then she coyly sat around her toys and asked me to take pictures of her. Oh well, how could I resist?

What's In Megan's Bag Today ?

Megan has a "bag habit". Each morning, while I am in the shower, she will get busy picking a bag (her current collection boosts of: 1 Princess Trolley Bag, 1 Princess zipper shoulder bag, 1 Dora backpack, 1 Barney backpack, 1 Hello Kitty backpack). After which, she will choose items from around the house to keep in the bag. And AROUND THE HOUSE I mean. Sometimes, we get really bizarre items like panty-liners from my cupboard - unused of cos! Kekekek....

Dancing Princess

Plie ain't so hard to teach a kid, especially one who loves dance and movement as much as Megan. I am immensely proud of this little rascal who will squat each time I say "Plie" :) Let's hope when the day comes for her to practise as told, she won't be fleeing! Btw, I use this instruction to get the pull-up pants nicely put on.

HFMD good to know

• Most tell-tale sign is the Blister. You can probably find a couple on the feet, soles and fingers at the initial stage.
• FEVER will certainly occur, so medicate with paracetamol every 6 hourly (note: ear thermometers read higher than the ODTs - so don't panic at the readings if you are using the former)
• Blisters on mouth/lips will appear at about day 3-4. If you haven't realised its HFMD, that is another sign which tells u it is the dreadful viral (its the ulcers in the mouth that is spreading out)
• Did I say doctor did not give any oral prescription (but we had a bill of $82.40 !) I say go to a GP, no need for a paed. We were only given a tube of cream for the blisters (ZORAL) and gel (DIFFLAM) for the ulcers in the mouth (which is the major sources of irritation, as kid couldnt eat!)
• Give yogurt, ice-cream, cold milk if not coughing. Don't insist on solids if kid really refuses food (after day 4, Megan could eat her regular meals, but in reduced portion, so I make it up with her PEDIASURE).
• Avoid going out as HFMD is spread via mere contact (so if the child touches a box of cereal in the supermarket, and another kid comes along and touches the same box, he may just get the viral too). Megan got hers from holding a girl's hand for all but 5 MINUTES. And that child doesn't even have HFMD (doc says girl in question is probably a 'carrier' as she is a pre-schooler, aka 'frequent germ/viral carrier').
• Keep child away from all other children or adults with low immunity. 3 of my cousins aged 19 - 22 got the viral from Megan !!!
• Be really sympathetic - the blisters and ulcers are a real nuisance.