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!