He is 2....

He woke up whiny....despite having a good sleep (i reckon)...he got his first timeout of the day at his naughty corner at 8.30am.......and he was whiny when we went out for dim sum....and he was whiny, in the car......and then he fell asleep...

and when he woke up, he was oh so demanding (according to hubby, as rachel and i were out for a girly morning).....and when we were back, he was bullying rachel...sitting on rachel when she was lying on the floor taking a rest..... etc etc...

and he was whining and whinging for juice at night......and that got him another timeout at his naughty corner

did not really register on my mind why he was misbehaving today.....until later when it hit me..... he's now officially in his terrible twos!!!!

wish me luck.....:)







Happy Birthday Dearie Kenneth....we love you loads despite you whining and whinging......

cycling

it is hot these days. and we now wait till at least 6pm before the kids get outdoors for a ride to the park...

the kids are thrilled that daddy's back for new year's.... someone for them to bully.....

Happy New Year....

It's 2011 now. Can't believe how time flies. Gotta get used to saying 2011 instead of 2010....might take me a couple of months to get used to it...

I have been rather Missing In Action from blogging.... I totally blame it on the fact that I am lazy.... and would rather plop myself on the bed after a long day, watching movies/series on the iPad. yes, i think it's all the iPad's fault as well....

Kids are growing up wonderfully:) Am so happy at how well they have settled down here with Mummy working fulltime as well. I totally depend on childcare for the kids now. No family around, and no maids.... and Daddy's travelling most of the time..... nearly 15 days in a month away from home.... But the greatest thing is, I have made some really good friends here, and they have helped me out so much.....

We have made ourselves quite comfortable here in Perth. Our next adventure will be moving into our own home...that should be fun....and tiring for daddy and I.... we have just bought a place bigger than the current rental, and it comes with a pool! not too sure whether that is a wise choice.....but loved the house.....so the pool was a "bonus".... though I am still feeling rather shaky in my pants thinking about the mortgage that we have strapped on. Was feeling rather comfy without any debts for quite some time now.... so, this new feeling....rather scary...

For this new year, 2011 will be another busy year. New house, more activities for the kids, resolution to get Rachel to learn how to swim, learn some mandarin.... and Ken to be less whiny (here they call it whingy).....and most importantly, the whole family healthy and happy.......

Kenneth....nearly 2

Can't believe lil Ken is not little anymore...He's nearing 2 years old!!!

Since we moved to Perth, he has started childcare, and has gotten used to the routine already. I am pretty relieved that he has taken quite well to his carers... they have nothing to complain about him, saying he is the easiest child to take care of. And also, with the best temperament.... I find it hard to believe, as he is the biggest bully back at home!!!!! Rachel has to give in to all his whims and whams. Even daddy does so....only mummy punishes him, and puts him to the naughty corner.

Ken loves loves loves animals. Although he prefers looking at them without being next to them, unless there's a cage that separates him and the animals. He loves books and esp books with animals in them.

My lil baby is no more a baby....He's a toddler, and is growing up way too fast.

Bittersweet.......

Nice weather over the weekend

Now that the weather's getting better, we try to spend a couple of hours out in the park or beach, or wherever......during the weekends.

This Sunday, we went to East Perth. Kids ran around, having fun on the grass, walking across a couple of bridges.....it was a nice day....

Beach outing

Perth Outdoors

it's good that daddy's back with us now.....

The kids at the beach......

Happy Birthday Rachel......

and I have been a mom for 5 years now!....how time flies...

New Crocs....yes, AGAIN!!!!

This time, it's big thanks to Aunty Betty and Uncle Mian Hua who queued up to enter the Crocs Warehouse Sale in Ikano:) And they managed to help mummy grab these for Rachel and Kenneth..... The kids love them.... and I loved them more, as for these genuine ones, it only cost me RM160 in TOTAL!!!!! Happy Happy!!!!

Sibling Rivalry

When we were kids, my sister, brother and I fight. We fight.... we FIGHT A LOT.... but we end up hugging, and crying (ok, the crying part is more me and my sis, my brother just FUMES...hehehehe) ..... and I am glad to announce that we have stopped fighting, and we have a wonderful relationship now.... one that makes me glad that Rachel has a brother and makes me want another girl so that Rachel can have a sister:)

So, am not too worried when my two kids fight...

This is a story of sibling rivalry....

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Rachel. She loves watching Special Agent Oso on Playhouse Disney. She was so intrigued with this episode where Special Agent Oso helped a boy fly a kite, she started pestering her mom and dad to buy her a kite!

Her dream came true when she and kung kung went to a field to play, and kung kung bought her a kite. She was thrilled and so happy holding the reel of string while the kite is high up in the air....

...look how happy she is flying a kite...

then, her little brother, Kenneth, stood some distance away, looking at her with the kite with "big bad wolf's eyes".... hehehehe...curiousity, i mean...

...he started persuading her to let him have a go at it...

of course she refused as this was a long-awaited day for her!!!!

....the little fella tried all means to have a go with the kite....he even tried pulling the string in front of Rachel...

...and of course, he was amazed to see the kite in the air, and the feel of the string tugging on his hand...

...so, he tried his luck again.... over and over again..

...sweet Rachel finally relented and passed him the reel. Kung Kung tried helping Kenneth with the reel, as he was in danger of letting it go. It happened a few times, and kung kung had to run after the reel!!!!! The kite was pretty high at that time, and the wind was good!!!!

...ahhhh, this is life.... hmmm, but it is getting a tad boring...after all the persuading and all

..finally, he realised that it was more fun playing with his sister...

and they were both happy to play with each other.... and they live happily ever after (till we brought the kite down)...

THE END

*Photos were taken with my iPhone...

The woes of breastfeeding

When the books and experts talk about breastfeeding, it's all about the good things... bottomline is, it's good for the kid...

However, as I was a SAHM without a maid for both my kids during their first year, I have had problems introducing the bottle to them. (You do need someone other than the mother to feed the baby with the bottle, else they will refuse it) I resorted to exclusive breastfeeding..... and I was quite unyielding in ensuring they only take breastmilk and no formula at all when I still could produce enough to satisfy their needs.

But of course, it's this stubbornness that causes me tears, backache and anguish when I have to wean them off the breast..... I am still tearing at the mo, as I am trying to wean Kenneth now....

I forgot how difficult it was with Rachel. But it was not too bad, as she was willing to sip at least some formula from a straw or sippy cup. But now that I am trying to wean Kenneth off, he does not want any formula or milk.... which is a major worry....

Any regrets ?! Will I do it any differently ?!

Hmmm, it's a question that hubby said I do not have to answer anymore, as we have, for the time being, put a full stop to production:)

Tired Rachel

This is Rachel's day today....

8.10 am.... left for school
12.30 pm... mummy picked her up from school, mummy fed her lunch in the car and sent her to another montessorri for another afternoon session of learning (and playing)
5.30pm....mummy picked her up from her afternoon session, and went to the club to play and swim with cousins Ashley and Daniel
7.30pm ... dinner at the club

reached home at 9.30pm....

i think she's really tired now, but still refuses to sleep!!!!!

activities for rachel

since we are back in m'sia, i have enrolled her in a school, ballet class, and also an afternoon of reading tuition in a montessori, which also gives a free art lesson on Saturday!!!! she has more appointments and activities than myself!!!! Next up will be swimming lessons (if she's willing).... classes here are way cheaper than kuwait, so am taking full advantage of her 2 months here!!! Kiasu mama I am!!!!
And she goes for these activities with her cousins Daniel and Ashley. Ashley and Rachel have become pretty close:) Today, in their first ballet class together, the teacher had to separate them, as they were chatting and playing too much together!!! It's quite fun to see them this close!!!!

Hard work

It's quite hard work...to take the kids to the park/playground. esp so when Kenneth is so unaware of any danger...and he is oh so samseng!!!!!

Kung Kung was drenched with sweat after just 20 mins running after the small guy in the playground....

we are back in Malaysia....

Weather here is hot and humid....really really humid... the kids sweat loads, and we are always sticky!!!! it's not a very pleasant feel for me at least.

as for the kids, they have more people to dote on them. Rachel has her cousins to play with. But it's quite obvious that she misses her daddy.... she talks about her daddy quite often. She is pretty tight with her daddy....since Kenneth was born. That says a lot about my time being more than halved between the kids!!!!!

Since we are back, Kenneth has learned how to say bye bye while waving his hand. And Rachel and I have gotten our flu vaccine...Kenneth got his chicken pox vaccine. They both behaved quite well during and after the jab. Thank goodness. Next up will be Kenneth's flu vaccine.... Getting ready for winter in Australia....That will be another adventure for us soon!!!!

Kenneth on the see-saw...he is most of the time not this serene...:P

Rachel on the other side of the see-saw

Rachel on the swing...

Kenneth just wants to do and play what Rachel does!!!!