We are shifting house today

Although the new place is not fit enough to be slept in yet, we are holding the prayers and move-in-house ceremony this morning.

I have a mix emotion in me - a little bit of sadness and happiness and excitement. I think generally, this is going to be a good move.

Will update with photos soon.

Megan today

Megan is now past her 15th month and it has been a joy to have her around. Among her many amusing ways are:

1) She is a no care in the world girl. If she falls, she will pick herself right up and the world goes on for her. Sometimes, she will wail if it got too much, else she will move right along.

2) She can be wet from playing with water, messy after a meal or even sweaty from so much running, but none of these things will bother her ... seems like she can glide through the messiest of messy.

3) She has this habit of hanging out her right leg over her high chair and she will shake it while eating. Bad habit I know, but it is really funny, always makes me smile secretly.

4) She thoroughly enjoys her food. She is not afraid to eat with her hands, elbows, fingers etc. so long as the food gets into her mouth! And she slurps her noodles in and flashes you a big smile!

5) She is feisty. Fights with her brother and usually uses her nail and scratch you like a cat! Don't get near her when she is in this mood!

6) Last week, we went for a swim and she cannot wait to get out of her float and into the water. She literally jumped into the water without any float, arm floats etc. Gave her brother a real scare! Now, she has taken to arm floats and swims around with ease.

7) Brother's dog really likes her. Maybe because he can identify with a her. Puppy = toddler. And she is also into the pup, except when she is too near her too often. That is when she will turn around a slap him a bit.

8) She also babbles and attempts to talk a lot, a lot, a lot. I am soon going to have to tape her up!

Baby Megan is growing so well, she is now really a darling to be with. Looking forward to her growth tomorrow.

Lost my child in Ikea

Yesterday, I was at Ikea with Auntie M with the kids. We figured, between the 2 of us, we can take care of the kids. I wanted to get some accessories for the wardrobes.

Somewhere in the middle, the kids were bored and Megan wanted her milk. I then carried her and Ryan was between Auntie M and I. Between Megan in my hands and trying to find my stuff, Ryan was getting a little restless and he wandered off. Before anyone start to scold me, understand that I will never leave him unattended. He was about within my ear shot because I heard him talking to me.

And then, at the blink of an eye, he was gone. I started to get anxious and then, I panic. He could not have wandered far and we tried in vain to look for him. I finally approached a Ikea personnel and said that I had lost my child.

She calmly phoned customer service. And then, it happened - my phone rang together with the announcement over the PA system "We have a Chinese boy aged 5 years named Ryan with a red Ben 10 shirt here". My heart almost stopped.

The man on the other side of the line told me "Miss, we have your son here".

Apparently he walked off when we were talking and then, after a few turns, he was lost and cried out for me. The Ikea personnel figured he was lost and so, led him to the customer service centre where he gave her my phone number, his name and age.

The lady said he was so clever when I collected him. My poor baby was all traumatized and he was silent for a good 30 minutes or so. I was beside myself and could not resist giving him a lecture. Auntie M came shortly and told him about bad people who cut limbs etc. of kids.

After all that, I must admit that I was proud that he could talk so calmly and could also remember my number in those times of panic.

I will now think more before taking them along with me to these types of places. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I could not find him.

Bless him. And thank goodness for the staff of Ikea. Thank you.

My baby calls me MA-MA

Being a mother is one thing, but having hear your baby acknowledging it by calling you so is another thing altogether.

Megan is now close to 15 months old and she called me the first time, very clearly, last Friday night when I came home.

She flashed me her big smile and said "Ma-Ma". Sweetest thing ever. Made all the cries and pain tolerable now.

On Sunday afternoon, she heard her daddy come through the door while we were getting ready for our afternoon nap. She said "Da-dy". Her daddy did not hear it, but I did and I just want to hold on to that for a while before I let it out to him.

My baby, she finally acknowledges me.

How my kids delight me

In one of those horrible tired days, my kids delight me in so many ways. Amongst them ...

RYAN: Mum, let's play hide and seek.
ME: No, of course not.
RYAN: Why?
ME: Cause I am too big and I have no where to hide.
RYAN: Aiya, you just hide somewhere lo, your stomach is so soft, people will think it is a pillow!
ME: *not sure I should cry or laugh*

But I should go to the gym more often!

In another, I was on the floor lazing around when Megan came to me grinning away and then proceeded to SIT on my tummy. Then, she decided it was more fun to bounce up and down on me!

Now, she is not exactly light and my tummy is not exactly toned, and so, the pain is truly felt! When I push her off, she comes right back at me, grinning. On top of that, she has discovered that it is more fun to poke my navel than hers!

Her ko-ko is of course finding this all amusing and is rolling off the bed laughing!

Me learning phonics

For the life of me, I cannot remember learning any phonics in school. Most of my English is learnt through my reading habits. The foundation came from my mum who was adamant that I should learn my tenses and verbs and past/ present participles - I still don't know all this theory till today.

I usually just speak and write according to what seems right grammatically and if all else fails, there is always spell check!

So when Ryan came back one day and showed me a list of words I was supposed to practise with him - I was dumbfounded. It was a list of phonics which we had to practised on the sounds and the emphasis etc.

To him, it was almost easy since they converse this way - they actually have a ABC song sang to the phonics way. Can you believe that? And I had to struggle to say it out. Finally, I owned up and said that I will ask his teacher to go through with me before we learn together - I don't want to say the wrong thing and be laughed at, you know.

Yesterday, his teacher finally sat me down and went through with me. Imagine, he was running around while the teacher and I sat on the small little chairs and went through EACH word and then she told me to think of a begin sound and see how it linked up. Thank goodness the teacher is older than I, else it will be utterly embarrassing!

Can you imagine next time he goes to primary school and I had to go back to his teacher to learn how to do maths and such? I think I had better go do some work books before he reaches there!

Power to charge

Yesterday, we were in bed in the morning. The kids were lounging around and I was to get up to make some pancakes.

I asked Ryan to give me a big fat juicy kiss to charge me up so that pancakes are on the way. He came, gave me a big hug and a big fat juicy kiss.

His daddy asked for one too and this is what he said ...

"I only have enough energy to charge one battery only la"

*doink*

How many books did you read in 2009?

I wonder if there is such a thing as addiction to buying books? If there is, I wonder if my behaviour qualifies. Every time I am near a book store, chances are I will go in and come out with a couple of hundreds worth of books, magazines, etc.

However, I must admit though, I usually read about 1 out of the stash that I bought at one time and the rest will sit on my shelves till I am ready to read them.

Last year, I read a total of 11 books, I had set my goal at 13 books. This year, I am going to stretch myself a little and will aim for 16 books. And it does not include my kids' books which I also read to them.

Among the books I read last year are:
How to make HOT cold calls
Positive Discipline for Pre schoolers
Twelve Pillars
Problogger
Secrets of A Millionaire Mind
Things I Want My Daughters To Know
Seven Years to Seven Figures
Dated Jekyll, Married Hyde
Confessions of a bad mother
Secrets of Happily Married Women
What to expect when you are expecting

I must say it is a pretty good list of parenting, fiction and business books there. And I think that is important to keep the interest alive.

I am currently reading several at one go - Psychology of selling, The art of closing the sale, Positive Discipline for 1-3 years, The toddler years and Think and grow rich.

So what are you reading now?

The story with Angel(s)

So, this morning, before I send Ryan to school, I said my bye-bye to Megan and called her my little angel. And this is what Ryan has to say ...

RYAN: Don't call Megan little angel.
ME: Why?
RYAN: The Angel in my school is a very rude and naughty girl, so please don't call Megan, angel.
ME: But mummy has a friend called Auntie Angel and she is a nice lady.
RYAN: Yeah, but you have an auntie ya? This girl in school is not an auntie. She is not nice. So, don't call Megan an angel.
ME: Haha, I think Auntie Angel will think you are very cute.
RYAN: Yes, she will think I am a cute little Ryan.
ME: *laughing very hard*

How la like this? He is only 5 years old and already so witty. Wonder what it would be like when he grows a day older tomorrow.

Situations where my son stumps me ...

I remember when I was a kid, I never had the last say. Mum was always right, mum always had the last word, no matter what.

So, when my son said the following things, I was a little stumped and frankly, I actually found it amusing.

SITUATION 1 - One of those busy mornings where I had to nudge him along.
ME: Mummy is sick, why do I still have to nag you? I cannot talk properly now.
RYAN: But you are still talking so much??
ME: *Blink, blink*

SITUATION 2 - I usually bathe Ryan first so that he can dress himself while I bathe Megan.
ME: Aiyo, I am done bathing you sister already, why are you still not dressed? What if you catch a cold?
RYAN: Because I am waiting for the moon to come down lor.
ME: *Blink, blink*

SITUATION 3 - I sometimes have problems getting Ryan to sleep at night.
Ryan: That is because you night time is my morning and your morning is my night time.
ME: *Blink, blink*

SITUATION 4 - Last week Ryan got sent to the Principal's office because he was fighting with another classmate. When he came back, his class teacher asked him what the principal said.
RYAN: I don't know what she said, she talked so much, so much, I cannot remember already.
His teacher shared this with her colleagues and they all had a good laugh.

SITUATION 5 - Ryan hates to cut his nails.

RYAN: Why you always ask me to cut my nails? Your nails are so long too. Why you don't cut it? Huh? Huh?

ME: *I finally cut my nails cause it was too much trouble, but it still stumped me*

I am sure he will continue to brighten my day in the coming weeks. For now, I am still thinking about whether I should continue to put on a stern face and laugh to myself or should I just burst out when he says these things. What say you?