Updates, updates

The days are a blur sometimes....with the 2 kids, laundry, housework, and a pain in the neck (literally).... I have had this pain in the neck for like nearly a week. I blame it on my sleeping position. Can't turn my head much, and it's painful... arggggghhh..... it's worse when I have to lift Ken or Rachel up...

Hence....not much updates these days...

Anyways....the kids are occupied with their growing up and their activities. Rachel has school, ballet and when she's home, she plays with the neighbours in the evenings, and in the afternoons, I get her to sit down and do some work. Have started teaching her additions. And also, have started her on the Peter and Jane series. I find that easier to teach rather than phonics. Also, I have started giving her simple sentences to copy. That way, she improves her handwriting, and also she learns new words.

As for Kenneth, he WALKS WALKS WALKS everywhere now. He even tries to run after his sister and her friends when they play outside in the evenings... He is very "samseng" compared to Rachel at this age. He climbs everywhere, and he punches/pinches me or Rachel...and laughs when our faces show pain.... He is quite a possessive boy. Whenever hubby comes near me, or puts an arm around me, he gets all jealous, protests, and pushes his father away.... He loves to play with Rachel's toys and that worries me sometimes, as he plays masak-masak, my makeup, and our combs.....hmmmmm....

Kenneth watching TV...

The kids all tired out during our weekend outings

Rachel fooling around in the garden

Kenneth loves to touch the plants and flowers in the garden...sometimes picking them...

Walking steadily...EVERYWHERE!!!

Rachel doing her homework in the afternoons....

Brother and Sister....very loving....not all the time though...

.....I have started baking some cookies for CNY this weekend....can't believe I am baking:P....

Happy New 2-0-1-0

Kenneth fooling around with a bowl from the kitchen...

The kids love pancakes and I often make more during the weekend and pack them for the road...

The kids looking great in orange.....clothes sponsored by their lovely May Yee

It's been a month since my last post. Much has happened.... our trip back to M'sia, a wedding, Christmas, another course of antibiotics for Kenneth and hubby, coming home to Kuwait (yes, we call this place home now...) and of course the event-less new year. And most importantly, Kenneth calling me mama now. We were not sure initially whether he was calling me when he calls out mama or sometimes meh-meh.... as he has been using this phrase for the last couple of weeks. But hubby finally admitted that Kenneth IS calling me ma-ma....and he calls Rachel - Deh-deh (instead of cheh cheh)...

Lil Kenneth will be turning 1 soon. Time does pass fast. He can stand (hands free) on his own now. And he can walk quite steadily with us holding one of his hands. We know he can walk on his own, but he has not gathered up enough courage to do so. He loves to walk. He has this adorable technique where even if I am lying down, he will grab hold of one of my index fingers, position himself so that his back faces me, pull my hand up and leverage himself on my hand so that he can stand up and subsequently use me as a "walking cane".....

Kenneth loves to get out of the house and walk in the garden. Every time I say "come, let's go", or when his sister starts putting on her jacket, he gets excited, pointing and pulling me towards the door. And when we are out there, he laughs out really loud and starts walk/running towards wherever. I shudder to think how much work it will be to follow him around when he can walk without using me as a walking cane!!!!!

Kenneth loves books. With a box of toys, and a few books lying around, he will always without fail pick up a book and poke us with the book near our faces. His poking will get harder and he will start making lots of noise, until we finally sit down, flip open the book and read to him. His current favourite is one of Rachel's Barney books... Baby Bop's purse.

I have yet to wean Kenneth off my breasts. It does not seem like I will be able to do so in the near future. Also, there's no real urgency for me to give up breastfeeding as yet. Other than breastmilk, Ken takes 3 meals a day, and many little snacks. With 2 bottom teeth now, he can chew on anything, from pieces of chicken to grapes to biscuits.

Kenneth can squeal like a girl. At really high pitch. And this happens when he is unhappy and crying, or when he is happily excited about something, especially when playing with Rachel. It's adorable to see both of them playing together.

Rachel loves Kenneth loads. But my brother has this theory....she acts up more these days, crying and whining, because she subconsciously wants more attention. Well, I can't deny that the time I spend with Rachel and the patience I have when dealing with her has reduced loads. I am just grateful that she does not hate lil Kenneth. So, no matter how much she misbehaves, she never takes it out on Kenneth. Love this girl so much for this....but at the same time, she can really test my patience when she starts whining, which is quite often these days....

She loves school....and hubby and I have concluded that Rachel is no genius. She is an average fun-loving kid who needs to be drilled when it comes to learning. Again, I shudder to think of how stressed I will be when guiding her in her studies.... I have no doubt that job will fall onto my lap, and not hubby's.

Her favourite person now is her daddy. ... sob..sob...it's no more yours truly. She has declared this in front of both hubby and I. Most probably coz I am the strict parent...and not the fun one...Well, I should not expect anything less, right?

Happy New 2-0-1-0 everyone.....

Updates....

Lots to write, lots to tell...

Rachel has stopped school as of last week, as we will be transferring out of town soon. Hubby has already left for this new place, and the 3 of us are back with my parents in my hometown. Don't think I will be able to manage the two kids on my own without my parents!!!! Hubby will only come back to fetch us to Kuwait in a month's time...
We have been talking about this transfer for awhile. Have not directly talked to Rachel about it, but we think she caught bits and pieces from our conversation. So, during her last week at school, she would relate our plans to her teachers and friends... about when's daddy transferring, and us waiting here for daddy, before daddy comes home to fetch us to Kuwait.... Have really got to mind our language and what we say in front of her... she's picking up pretty fast.

Meanwhile... Rachel is slowly adapting to the fact that daddy is not around. She cried big time the first night without daddy. She has become really attached to daddy since my confinement time. Also, she has grown quite attached to her little brother. Very considerate and loving.

As for Kenneth, he is growing ok. A blocked nose since last week, so we went to the doctor this morning. Rachel vomited 2x this morning as well, and it seems there's this gastro..blah..blah.... virus going on around in town for the kids. So, 2 kids were checked by the doc this morning.

Kenneth: Lungs are clear, with just a blocked nose. He is 6.1kg as of today (6 weeks and 3 days).

Rachel : Given "friendly bacteria" medicine, and some other syrup to prevent vomiting. Also, she will have to abstain from formula for a day. Doc said it's good to be able to give her my breastmilk though. So, will attempt to give her my breastmilk!

On a different note, I have transitioned Kenneth from the newborn and 0-3 months clothes to 3-6 months clothes now. It seems to fit him better, with more space for his stretching habit. He loves to stretch and grunt all the time! Maybe it's a boy thing. Don't remember Rachel doing this last time!

Back to our transfer to Kuwait. Since daddy's there now, he has started looking for schools for Rachel. One of the international schools he enquired told him that Rachel would have to take an entrance test before they would accept her! I was shocked! My girl is barely 4 years old. Am I supposed to prepare her for anything? She does not know all her ABCs yet. Or writing.... oh no.... another headache for me? Gotta research more about this.