Gathering @ Kor's house

I enjoyed this gathering on Christmas Day tremendously... cos it's with my family! :)

Gathering @ Chee Mun's Place

Eliana and Isaiah found their spots in the house!
Estella was so mesmerized by the Christmas tree!

At this gathering, she had totally enjoyed the cartoon Cars and narrated to me at least 20 times the scene when the red & blue cars parted and lost each other! Well, she also told me a lot of other stuff. Most touching of all - she said she wanted to help the red car find the blue car... Awww!

Thanks for the wonderful food, Chee Mun! And the wonderful fellowship of course! :)

Eliana: 3 Months is a Milestone!

Letter to Eliana...

Dear Eliana,

You are past 3-month old officially! With that, it means you'll get to do more exciting things with Mama (especially while I am still on leave!) I've noticed one key change in you this week. You're starting to 'talk'. My longest video recording of our conversation is 4 minutes plus. In fact it could have gone on and on if you hadn't noticed the camera in my outstretched hand. I really enjoy our daily conversations. I guess you have an added motivation as you are eager to join Daddy, Mama and Jie Jie to express yourself. Well done, girl! So far, each time you make a new 'syllabus', we will be so tickled. I believe Auntie Lilian and Auntie Nana shared your joy in discovering your vocal strengths having witnessed you yesterday. Today when we went over to Popo & Gonggong's house, Gong Gong was so amused by your chuckles and your long 'EHHHHhsss' and 'Ahhhsss'! I can't wait to let Ah Yee hear your voice too. She will be convinced that 3-month olds can be just as fun!

Mama and you started some outdoor activities this week. Tuesday was a 3-round walk in our priceless garden; Wednesday was an hour of neighbourhood exploration (where Mama can visit the grocery stores too). It was a good time to pray blessings for the neighbourhood too as afterall, this will be the place for you girls to grow up in. The walkabout also brought back much thanksgiving how the Lord has provided this place for us. Mama will share more with you when you are older. You are now empowered to 'conquer' larger territories, in your stroller of course. :)

Today (Friday), we took a cab together the 1st time to Popo's house. How? This time you sat in the baby sling that is strapped to me. It's so convenient and I could be hands-free momentarily to lock the gate and handle transactions with the taxi-driver. Your neck muscles are much stronger now and you are eager to look left and right. Popo was so happy to see you today! Looks like you had a wonderful 'conversation' with her too. While you spent time bonding with her, Mama went to meet Jie Jie's teacher about her transition to full-day school in 2 weeks' time! Jie Jie was so surprised to see me in school today (after 3 months of complete 'disappearance')! I could tell she was very very happy. With you spending more time with Popo, Mama can also go run errands and maximise the remaining leave.

I guess our Malacca trip has opened up new possibilities for Mama, and given me a fresh impetus to build family stories, create memorable moments with you. If we could conquer the long distance together, there is a lot we can do! You are precious to us, we want you to know that spending time as a family is a priority. :)

Maybe I am in an 'emo state' now. That's what I left on Facebook status this week declaring the end of my 4 months' maternity leave. So much to give thanks to God... your safe and speedy arrival, healthy growth and development, cleared jaundice without extra hospitalisation, adaptive to routines, sleep through the night, cheerful disposition, and I do think you are somewhat a 'Angel' and 'Spirited' baby according to the book The Secrets of The Baby Whisperer. All in all, I am just awed by our Heavenly Father's love for us, and how He has provided for us, especially you.

Keep growing, Darling. Your name Eliana means 'my God has answered me'. It's a reminder for us to always look to God, pray to God, and give thanks always. May your life be a beautiful testimony of our AWESOME God. We are glad to have you celebrating Christmas with us next week. Blessed Christmas, Eliana.

Love,
Mama

Estella: Where's Starrie??!

Can you spot her?
This is where I found Estella one afternoon when she went quiet for a long period of time alone in her room.

There she is! She fell asleep with the mattress folded up. Her new 'hiding place'...

Estella: Mix 'n' Match

It's our regular wash-up and wind-down in preparation for bedtime...
Remember some time back I blogged about Starrie's frenzy with dresses? She is exhibiting her own sense of mix 'n' match lately as well. (My intent was just to let her slip into a comfy set of pyjamas usually cotton pants and comfy tee)

Here's our exchange for 5 minutes:
Mama: (Holding out floral pants) How about these pants? They will be comfy for a cool night like this.
Starrie: NO, Mama... These pants go shopping wan...
Mama: (Holding out pants with fish cartoons) How about these? You wore a few times to sleep before...
Starrie: NO, Mama... This one must wear with fish shirt (it's one of those t-shirt and pants set, but the fish shirt was not there that day)
Mama: (Maybe a dress might work; Holding out a red dress) How about this dress? You like dresses, don't you?
Starrie: NO, Mama... This one wear at Popo's house, not here...
Almost giving up... still sieving through the drawer...
Mama: Hmm... Alright, you wear this Sheep shirt with this blue pants.
Starrie: OK!
Mama: (Phew, finally!) OK, good girl!

So much about choosing her own clothes. I had really wanted to do the recommended approach - Give her 2 sets, and choose 1. No more bargaining - But I guess it was an interesting discovery for me to see how she segregates her clothes and how memories form in her regarding the different clothes she wore for different occasions.

Woooh, my little Young Lady... :)

Estella: Big Girl's Bike!

Our Christmas present for Estella this year - a pinky, flowery, super-sweetie-pie bike from Toys 'R' Us - SPARKLES!

Trying on the bicycle...
Helmet in place...Making her starter rounds...
I must say Estella is such a natural when it comes to cycling! Well, that night's incident proved so...
With our arms full from the shopping trip, Estella demanded to be carried from the carpark to home. There was no way to do that with Eliana in my arms, with a day-pack, a big bag full of gifts, and of course, the bike! So we had no choice but let her cry her way from carpark 2B to ground floor. Since she insisted she didn't want to walk, John had a witty idea to transport everything - by getting Estella to cycle! Well, so she sobbingly cycled from carpark ground floor to the covered walkway, into the lift, out of the lift, and to our doorstep! She made it without us really giving her much riding lesson... She just followed us in her bike to keep up with us. Well, she made it! Ha ha, so funny, what a way to start cycling!

We hope you like the gift, Estella! We are looking forward to more cycling outings with you. Daddy & Mama love you! :)

Eliana: 3 months old & 1st 'chop' on Passport

Eliana has had an earlier chop on her passport than her jiejie (Starrie's was at 6-month-old mark)! It was just a simple trip with 2 other families up at Malacca. Good fellowship with our dear friends. Thank God for the experienced mothers in the same trip who helped take care of Eliana. :) Can you spot her in Auntie Winnie's arms?

She had been an easy passenger in the drive up and down Malacca. As long as the car was in motion, she spotted this position. See this nice and comfy car seat? It's a hand-me-down gift from Auntie Pooja. (Thanks again, Pooja, if you read this!)

Also to put on record, Eliana has just had her 2nd 6-in-1 jab. Good girl, she didn't cry though she was alert throughout. She is now 6.5kg! Eliana is moving on to the 2nd batch of clothes with labels that say 3-6 months, or even 6-12 months. She recently coos and smiles so much. Also capable of a wide selection of sounds like 'woo's, 'ahh's, 'goo-goo's and 'ga-ga's. She is also sleeping more at night, and we are almost there with the 'sleep thru the night' routine. Perhaps she takes after Starrie in this aspect. Starrie started giving mama more rest when week 14 came. I think Eliana is probably able to achieve the same milestone. Jia you, Eliana!! Mama loves you!

Estella: Graduation Pics

I am so tickled by her pose! Hands on the waist please...
Featuring her teachers and friends from the Playgroup...
There she is, on her favourite Miss Koo's laps...

Wow... The standards sure have moved over the years. The other day I signed the consent form for this graduation photo-taking session for Estella's school and we are pleasantly surprised with the outcome. It costs us S$18 for these pics. Well worth it!

Thank God, Estella is much better from her stomach flu already... :)
*beam*
*relief!!*

Estella: Mama wants you to get well soon... & some of Mama's reflections

I was awoken this morning by Estella's chatty conversation with Daddy and not the usual Eliana's cry for milk. Somehow, it was exceptionally relieving to hear her chirpy voice this morning.

So, what exactly did Estella say to me this morning?
"Mama!", "Estella vomit on Daddy, wet"; "Estella cry", "Estella cough cough; cannot cough cough at meimei, must cover mouth", "Estella not feeling well, see Uncle Melvin", "Uncle Melvin gave Estella medicine", "Daddy's mask same! Uncle Melvin (wears a) blue mask", "Estella sleep on Daddy('s) shoulders", "Daddy carry Estella", "No school today, cannot sing with friends", "Estella vomit on car seat also, wet wet. Daddy wash..."
Though it may seem like the things she told me sounded 'messy', nothing beats hearing her usual self.

Last night was really trying... Here's what happened:
6:00pm: Mommy Chng called to say Estella was refusing water and food the whole afternoon, was feeling feverish all over and appeared weak...
6:01pm: I called John to relate Estella's condition. He got worried, left the office immediately, and drove at maximum speed to reach Estella...
6:30pm: John was concerned as Starrie did not run to the door to greet him (which is something she does without fail each time daddy fetches her). Instead, he found her lying listlessly on the sofa watching Barney. He rang the clinic immediately to make an appointment with the dc. There were ~20 patients ahead in queue at that time...
7:10pm: Starrie reached home, on daddy's shoulders. She threw up in the car during the journey and was too weak to walk. She refused to take a shower so John gave her a hot towel instead. She was hungry but only wanted milk. After finishing her feed, she just laid on her bed to rest.
8:00pm: Clinic queue cleared substantially. John brought Estella to clinic. She couldn't hold down the milk and vomited everything out, mainly landed on John who was holding her... very 'lang bei'...
9:00pm: Reached home (again) finally. Bathed and slept straightaway. It was also good for us to administer the medicine while she was sleeping... it's the bullet kind which needs to put into the anus...
...
...
2:00am: Another dose of bullet...
...
...
...
7:00am: Woke up for milk and more medicine...

Well, I read somewhere someone wrote before that "having a child is difficult; having another one is 10x more difficult". Somehow, I am feeling like that. It's being amplified especially when one child is sick. In project-management terms, it's like having multiple concurrent tracks but you have only 1-2 persons (Daddy and/or Mommy) 100% responsible for outcome/s. I am extremely thankful to God that Eliana has been a relatively baby to care for (could be due to experience). Because, it's so vital to have 1-on-1 time with Estella. Eliana also slept so soundly from 10:30pm (all the way till 7:30am with a 4:30am feed in-between). Which, was necessarily... as I had really wanted to extend help and care to not just Estella, but also to the very worn-out Daddy who chauffeured Estella to-and-fro places & gone through 2 pukes with her.

Here's my admiration for my Dearest Chng Ah Dear:
You have taught me to stay calm through it all, not by mere words, but through your actions...
You have taught me unconditional love for the children, not just in times of comfort, but when you were covered in Estella's vomit and had to stand in queue at the clinic for a hour...
You taught me patience, despite all the fatigue, discomfort and bodyaches, you were gentle in your tone, and demonstrated patience beyond imagination...
You have taught me to look to the Lord and not be led by the chaos at the moment...
You have taught me so much, and I am truly grateful to be parenting the 2 darling girls with you...
I thank God for you...

I really can't imagine going through all these without the Lord.
Lord, my life is in Your hands, and so is my family... I am glad You are the one holding us up.
I put my trust in You.

This incident also caused me to be so grateful to my mom... Why did I give her so much nonsense during my teen years?

Thank God for the privilege to be a mother. I really pray that I can be faithful steward to the Lord who entrusted them to us. Estella & Eliana, Mama loves you!!