Adri's Fav Song

Adri's been adjusting well to Sunday School and there's a particular song that she loves.
She loves it so much that she'll get Mart and/or I to sing it with her countless of times a day!

Here's how it goes:

Row row row your boat,
gently down the stream...
Merily merily merily,
life is but a dream.
.
Row row row your boat,
gently down the stream...
If you see a crocodile,
don't forget to SCREAM!

While singing, we'll have to hold both hands and rock to-and-fro, pretending to be rowing a boat.
In particluar, Adri loves the last line of the 2nd stanza;
she cackles whenever she hears "crocodile" and cracks up whenever it comes to the screaming part.

Mummy?
At times, I bite (pretending to be the crocodile).
Other times, I tickle her.
Whichever it is, I simply enjoy watching her play and laugh. =)
.
.

2-year-old Adri

Some updates on my lil' Adri..

.

.

5 Dec, @ Kids' Kampong, one of Adri's fav hang-outs.

Having a good time feeding the animals!

6 Dec, @ home + @ Taka

Trying to get her to pose in front of the x'mas tree wasn't that easy!

7 Dec, @ Downtown East

Adri was offered her 1st cotten candy.

She loved it! =D

.
.

I Love...

18.11.09

Yet another of Adri's amazing moments

I was enjoying the tranquility of the night while sipping a cuppa when i heard the room door open.
It was 10.30pm, an hour since my little princess had been put to bed.
Out from the room toddled Adri.
I certainly wasn't expecting her to be awake at that hour; Adri has been sleeping through the night since she was 2.5 months (Thank God!!!).


Adri: Mummy! (Adri offered the widest possible grin)

Mummy: Yes, Adri? Why aren't you asleep? You should be sleeping.

Adri: *Grins* Mummy...

Mummy: Yes...?

Adri: I love...

Mummy: Who do you love?

Adri: I love Sai! (Sai = Poop)

Before i could react to her strange object of "affection", Adri showed me her five fingers.
Nothing unusal with flashing her fingers to me, right?

Nothing, except that the five fingers were covered with poop!
Adri's poop!

Apparantly, Adri had pooped in the night, after her milk.
Instead of telling Mart or me, she had decided to "explore" and play with her poop!

Mummy: EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKSSSSS!

Adri: HEE HEE HEE!!! (and grins)
She prob found it funny when i freaked out and rushed her to the washroom.

Cheeky, isn't she? =/
.
.

Kisses

Yesterday could possibly be one of the most unpleasant evenings for Adri.
She was sent to the "naughty corner" twice and was hit once on her hand for her repeated refusal to head Daddy's and Mummy's instructions and warnings and doing things that really irritated us.

Feeling a "guilty" for being that harsh on my little princess, I decided to be a little sweeter to her, just to affirm her that we still loved her.

.

16.11.09, Sleep Time

Mummy: It's sleeping time, Adri. Goodnight. (Smuack! Mummy plants a kiss on Adri's right cheek)

Adri: *Smiles* Another one? How about Adri's face? (and points at her left cheek)

Mummy: Oh, you want another kiss on your left cheek? Ok, Mummy will kiss you goodnight on your left cheek.

Adri: How about Adri's head? Here here... (and points at her forehead)

Mummy: On your forehead? Okie, Mummy will kiss you goodnight on your forehead.

Adri: How about Adri's nose? (and points at her nose)

Mummy: Ok, another kiss for Adri, on Adri's nose)



Adri obviously didn't mind tha affection that i was showering her with and decided to ASK (reminds me of the biblical verse "ask and you shall receive"..)

Note how she managed to name her cheek and forehead this time round!

Adri: How about Adri's cheek? (and points at her left cheek)

Mummy planted yet another kiss (and smiles with satisfaction that her princess actually managed to replace "face" with "cheek")

Adri: How about Adri's forehead?

Mummy: *Smuack!* (kisses Adri with an even broader smile)

Adri: How about Adri's nose?

Mummy: *Smuack!*

Adri: How about Adri's mouth? (and she pointed at her lips as she pouted her lips, ready to receive the kiss)

Mummy: *Shocked* No, Adri. Not on your lips. Erm...erm...Mummy is not well. Mummy cannot kiss you on your lips.


I was really taken aback by her last request and being ill was the fastest "excuse" i could come up with. Well, it was an excuse, not a lie. My nose was a little running.
Hmm.. what if Adri asks for a kiss on her lips on an occassion that i am totally well?
Oops, I certainly won't be comfortable with that!
How else should i say no?
Hmm...
.
.

Adri's 1st...

Of late, Adri refuses to be held or carried while she's out shopping with us.
Well, not that she had allowed herself to be restrained but Mummy and Daddy had always managed to win the power struggle.

15.11.09
At a shopping mall

Just like what every parent would do when surrounded by crowds of unfamiliar faces, I was holding on fast to my little one's hand, for fear that she might get lost in the sea of strangers.
As expected, Adri tried, countless of times, to shake me off but each to no avail.
Adri whined, but i was to used to it to be embarrassed by it. Neither was Daddy.
Adri probably reckoned that all her usual tricks didn't work and decided to calm down. She walked with complete silence, holding on fast to the little plastic bag that she was helping me with.
Just when Mummy was grinning away and thought that Adri had given up trying, this is what my clever princess came up with:

Adri: Wait first, Mummy, wait first. Adri hold plastic bag properly.

Mummy took a glance at the plastic bag and realised it was slipping off her shoulder and naturally thought that she had wanted to place the handles of the bag on her shoulder, liken to how she had always loved to have her little handbags carried and I let go of her hand without a second thought ...

Guess what Adri did?

Yes, you are right!

The very second i let her loose, she sped off! And she did so without turning back to check if we were able to catch up with her.

Of course, i couldn't run after her. Mart did.

I couldn't cos:
1) I was pregnant (that's pretty obvious)
2) I was too shocked. I had not expected my 2-year-old to be to resort to trickery! Couldn't grapple with the possibility that those moments of silence were actually times when she was "thinking" or "plotting"?
She's only abt to turn 2!
.
.
After her attempt to run away, i exhanged roles with Mart and got him to watch her while i lugged the heavy shopping bags around.

Apparantly, Adri had not given up hope on running away.

Daddy and Adri were engaged in a casual conversation with Adri in Daddy's arms when...

Adri: There! (and pointed to an item some distance away)

Following that, Adri used up every ounce of energy to struggle out of Daddy's arms. Yes, Daddy was distracted and Adri managed to run away.

Yes! Yet again!

I think you can imagine how shocked both Mart and I were!

Has Adri really outwitted us or have we belittled what these littles one can do?


Title of this entry: Adri's 1st Lies?
I'm not sure. I certainly hope today's her first attempt to lie. But then again, she did such a great job at it that i seriously doubt...
.
.

Forgetful Mummy..

Adri did something really sweet before she and I slipped into slumberland last night and I was sure I would be blogging abt the heart-warming incident today.

.

Much to my dismal, regardless of how hard i tried to recall (I literally sat staring at this blog window for half an hour), I just couldn't (and i still don't) remember the slightest detail!

Oh my, the scattered-brain syndrome common to all "bump carrying" women is slipping in!

Okie, i foresee myself jumping out of bed just to pen down minute details in the middle of night.. =(

.

.

Colleagues and I were having a casual conversation over lunch about names of babies. I mentioned that i am one who is particular abt names. I believe you being what your name implies.

At that, one asked me, "So what's the meaning of your name?"

.

BLANK.

.

I used to respond so readily to the meaning of "Julia", my baptism name, but at that split moment (and minutes after that), i simply couldn't recall anything close to "the youthful one".

Of course, i had to sieve that out from the internet. =(

.

My my... wouldn't you agree with me?

The scattered-brain syndrone is creeping in...slowly but surely. =(

.

.

12.11.09, 6.45pm

Drats! I still can't rem what i was supposed to blog on! =(

.

Simple Joy =)

10.11.09

One of the sweetest statements Adri has ever said to me:

"I love Mummy, you know?"


Joy of motherhood. =)
.
.

Say a Lil' Prayer

How would you feel if you were the subject of the following prayer?

"Dear God,
I pray for Yee Yee*.
Amen!"

If i were the subject mentioned in the prayer, i would have felt extremely blessed.

Adri made the above request to God spontaneously (without any coaching) before she slept yesterday.

Isn't that awesome?
Isn't that sweet?

This mummy is blessed indeed, to have such a precious. =)
.
* Yee Yee refers to my eldest sis, Adri's eldest auntie.
.
.

Visit to the Gynae's.

Phew! Finally, Adri is taking her afternoon nap and i can have a quick lunch and put up a quick entry on Baby #2.

Woke up feeling terribly excited as i had not "seen" Baby for a month. I was scheduled to take the blood and down syndrome test this morning.

Dr Chen: Wow, you've grown so big.
Me: Yes, Dr Chen, and i don't know why. My weight is more or less the same. You mentioned that it's cos the gas in me?
Before i received any scolding, I hastily clarified:
Me: I have been good. I have not been taking fizzy drinks, unlike during my first pregnancy.
Dr Chen: Are you still constipated?
Me: Nope. I've been taking bananas regularly.
Dr Chen: Have you been taking a lot of cold drinks?
Me: Erm...once in while
Dr Chen: *laughs at the absence of conviction in my reply*

Dr Chen: Baby's doing very well. A very active baby! Let's try to measure baby's neck thickness, listen to baby's heartbeat, take measurement of baby's size and...have a look at baby's gender!

Believe it or not, the whole scan took some 35 to 40 mins!
Why?
Baby's one of the most active Dr Chen had ever seen. Baby did not fail to wriggle, twist, punch and push all the while. Without being stationery, any measurement taken would have been deemed inaccurate.
While Dr Chen ran the scanner all across my tummy, i was having a good time watching my little active one on screen. =D

Factsheet of Baby #2 @ 14 weeks
Heartbeat - 146 beats per minute (Once more, i went "wow" when i heard baby's heartbeat)
Neck thickness - 1.?? (can't rem. but Dr said it was good)
Length - 8.22 cm (Baby's grown so much! Measurement taken a month ago was 2.23cm!)
Gender - remains a mystery (Baby's feet covered his/her gentials)

At the end of the scan, Dr Chen agreed that Baby was a lot more active than Adri. She added that Adri was already rather active for a girl. Oh Oh...Is baby a boy or a girl?
Hopefully, Mummy's and Daddy's curiosity will be satistified come 24 Nov, when Baby is 17 weeks. =)
.

String of Words...

Before i get any more scattered-brain, i do want to pen down those memorable moments of my princess. =)

Adri has been adding lots of joy to both the Wong and Toh family lately.
She’s getting a lot more expressive, both with her varied (cheeky) facial expressions and with the amazing statements she makes.
Here’s yet another example of how amazing lil’ children can be:

Excerpt I
Mummy: Adri, Mummy has had her bath. Mummy has finished bathing. Mummy wants to go out (of the bedroom, to the living room). Do you want to go out?
Adri: No, no need. I need to stay in the room, you know?


Excerpt II
Adri: Mummy, Mummy! Look here, look at me! See Adrielle climb over.

Adri was trying to climb onto the bed from the bay-window.


Mummy was appalled because those weren’t repeated utterances of mine!
Can you just imagine the euphoria + satisfaction i felt at that moment?
My baby has learnt to string words together to express herself!


The following is an example of a repeated utterance of mine:

01.11.09

Mummy: Ok, Adri. It’s time for your milk. Mummy is going to prepare the water. Mummy is going to boil the water.

A few seconds later...

Mummy: Listen, Adri. The water is boiling, do you hear the water boiling?
Adri: *silence but listens intently*


02.11.09 (Today)

Daddy: It’s milk time! Daddy is going to boil water to make your milk.
Adri: The water is boiling! Can you hear the water boiling? (Of course, the water wasn’t boiling cos Daddy had just started the electic kettle)


My! Although the time frame wasn’t quite right, Adri sure has a good memory and was trying to apply the concept of boiling water in the milk preparation process, wasn’t she?

I AM REALLY PROUD OF MY BABY. =)
.
.

Birthday Cake

30 October 2009

1st Try

Mummy: Adri, your birthday is around the corner. Your birthday is coming. Would you like a Barney or a Mickey Mouse birthday cake?
Adri: I want Mickey Mouse birthday cake.


2nd Try (Some 10 minutes later)

Mummy: Adri, would you like a Mickey Mouse or a Barney birthday cake?
Adri: No need, don't want...
Mummy: *shocked at her response* Then you won't get to blow out candles and cut the birthday cake.
Adr: ... *blinks*


3rd Try (later in the evening)
Mummy: Adri, would you like a Mickey Mouse or a Barney birthday cake?
Adr: I want a bear bear birthday cake!
Mummy: Huh? You don't want a Mickey Mouse birthday cake?
Adri: I want bear bear birthday cake!


4th Try (This morning, during breakfast)

Mummy: Adri, your birthday is around the corner. Your birthday is coming. Would you like a Barney, a Mickey Mouse or a bear bear birthday cake?
Adri: I want Mickey Mouse birthday cake!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I found those short exhanges amusing.
Adri couldn't seem to decide.
So which should i get her? =D
Should a two-year-old be given a choice or will it be ultimately my choice? =)
.

Adri @ 23 Months.

After some laborious few months, i finally found a way to get round (the absolutely irritating) Windows Vista and upload pics from my new labtop.

Here are some recent pics of my cheeky princess. =)

Noticed how she managed to wriggle out of the high chair?

Not too contented on her stroller.

Overjoyed when Daddy carried her.

At home. Posing for Mummy while Mummy explored with her new digi cam.

Love the pic @ the bottom right-hand corner! =D

Love her outfit,. In particular, her skirt! =D


.

Weird Hairdo?

Friday, 16 October 2009

The electrician came to fix up the stove.

Mummy: Adri, can you say hello to Uncle Jimmy?"

Mummy was expecting Adri to either say "hello" or keep absoutely quiet like how she would behave whenever she was feeling shy.

Adri: Why your hair like that?

Mummy: Adri, what did you say?
Adri: Why your hair like that?

Boy, i was both amused and yet shocked!
She was amusingly rude!

Adri caught both Jimmy and I by surprise. We cracked up.
I was simply too amused to correct her.
To affirm that we weren't hearing things, Adri actually asked the same question for the third time when she didn't get an answer.

Nothing was wrong with Jimmy's hair.
It was just slightly long and standing (erm, perhaps he didn't bother to style it?).

Children are really funny. =D
.

Past Vs Present Tense

Adri's been developing so well in her speech that i've kind of taken it as a given; I quit counting the number of words in the sentences that she utters or pay attention to the sentence structures. =)

However, something caught my attention late this week.

Adri was holding her set of Barney crockery.
A matter of factly, she uttered "Grandma bought for me".
I was impressed.
Adri has developed the ability to pick up past tenses!

I recall asking a colleague, who had two daughters and whose elder could speak and read really well, some months back if there was a need for me to deliberate use present tenses (largely words in their base forms) so that my little toddler who had just embarked on her journey of English Language acquistion would be able to comprehend what Mummy was trying to deliver to her .

I recall sharing with her the uneasiness i felt whenever i hear myself uttering ungrammatical sentences in my deliberate attempt to use words in their base forms. Sure, I could have restructured my sentences accordingly but at times, it just came out ungrammatical! =p

I must have dropped that conscientious effort by and by.
It was unpleasantly tough to be a bad model of the English Language to my daughter whom i've reckoned to have a flair for language, both EL and CL.

Adri used to say "Grandma buy for me one".
Now she says "Grandma bought for me".

I'm quite certain Adri is fully aware that "bought" and "buy" have a similiar sense.
Whenever she wants us to get something for her, she'll go "Daddy/Mummy, buy this."
Amazing.
I just cannot comprehend this.
While i fretted over teaching my little one tenses, she has in her own unique way, begun to comprehend and acquired the English Language in the past form! =D

Am proud of her. =)

Now, i'm looking forward to her repeated utterances of:
1) "This is mine" vs "This is my one"
2) "pass motion" vs "ngh ngh"
3) "can i do this" vs "...can or not?"

Awaiting more surprises. =)
.
.

Second Meet-up with Baby #2

01.10.09

I couldn't wait til Saturday. I brought forward my appointment with Baby.
The sharp abdominal pains that i had experienced from Monday to Wednesday left me feeling rather disturbed and unsettled. Although colleagues affirmed me that they too had a similiar encounter and all would be well, i still wanted that assurance from Dr Chen.
Deep within me, i fear that the history of cysts developing within my womb would repeat.

Of course, i didn't mind meeting Baby earlier! =)

Result of the check - All is well. The pain was probably due to constipation. =/

Baby's factsheet as of 01.10.09
Age - 8 weeks 5 days
Length - 2.23cm

i was rather tickled during the scan.
Contrary to the little greyish dot that measured 0.37cm during my last gynae visit, Baby had taken a human form. I could see Baby's head and limbs clearly and Baby has grown to be 2.23cm! What a stark difference for a mere 3 weeks! His/Her heartbeat was a lot more distinct and Baby was moving and waving his/her limbs! Young as he/she was, Baby was that life-like. =D

Even though this is my second experience of carrying a child, i still could not help marvelling at God's creation. The novelty has definitely not worn off and i am still absoutely thankful for yet another miraculous gift.

Next meet-up with Baby - 3rd Nov 2009.
Looking forward. =)
.

Pr?ying Mantis

Sat. 26.09.09

Mart: What's that on the wall above you? It's an insect.
Me: What is it?
Mart: It's a praying mantis.
Me: Preying mantis? What does it prey on?
Mart (ponders for a while): Ants?
Me: Ok

After a few seconds...
Mart: Erm, you do know that it's prAying mantis and not prEying mantis, right?

No pun intended. I felt outright silly.
I have no idea why i had instinctively thought that it was "prEying mantis".
Blame it on my phonetical skills?
.

Testing I, II, III, IV

Friday, 28.08.09

Testing (Part I)
Me: Dearieeeeee! Come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mart: Yes??!!
and appeared with a wide smile at the master washroom.

As per the first round, I stammered and stumbled over my words..
Me: Am i seeing things? Is this real? What does this mean?!

With great composure, Mart took a glance at the "stick"...
Mart: Nope, you are not seeing things.
Me: So what does this mean? (and started to ransack the vanity top for the cover box that held the answer to my question)
Mart: You are pregnant!

Me: Oh my! I thought so too! But but...I don't trust this Watson's brand test-kit. Quick! Can you grab a Clearblue for me? Pleease, pleease?
Mart: Ok.

While i waited for Mart's return, i was filled with gratitude and without a shadow of doubt, immense joy. I literally screamed and called my sister and my best friend to share the joy with them! =D

Testing (Part II)
Instead of the affirmation i was seeking for, the much trusted Clearblue wasn't quite reliable.
The "positive" sign appeared in the test window.
That should call for great rejoicing, right?
Yes, but the control line was missing!

I groused.

Although Mart repeatedly assured me that i WAS pregnant, i wanted to be doubly sure.
Afterall, seeing IS believing.
Because i had bought a twin pack, i repeated the procedure hours later with yet another Watsons testkit.

Testing (Part III)

BLANK!!!

NOTHING!!!

There weren't any lines! Even the control line was missing!
Darn, a spoilt test kit. What luck!
It was already late and i couldn't bring myself to get Mart to buy another test kit.

Testing (Part IV)
Anxious. I couldn't wait.
THe following day, i woke up early and reached the gynae's at the earliest possible time and pleaded with the nurse for a slot to see Dr Chen.
Thankfully, my wish was granted. I couldn't bear the thought of being kept in suspense for a few days til the next available slot.

Dr Chen did a probe but alas, i was at the early stage of my pregnancy so the baby sac could not be spotted. I sighed. I had wanted the confirmation really badly.
After the scan, doc got me to do another UTD and her test kit affirmed that i was indeed carrying a child.
I left the clinic happy but not totally satisfied.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next two weeks were weeks filled with gratitude and yet unfounded fear.
As much as i was thankful for the baby and believed in divine protection, the human side of me simply couldn't help wondering if it would be an ectopic pregnancy. I knew the probability was very low. Nonetheless, somehow, i entertained those thoughts. I even had nightmares of me losing the baby due to an ectopic pregnancy!


Thankfully, my fears were totally dismissed when the scan during my subsequent visit to Dr Chen's 2 weeks after revealed the baby sac and Baby's heartbeat.

=D

Dr Chen took a fetal size measurement and estimated me to be 6 weeks 0 days pregnant as of 12 September.
However, if i were to base it on LMP (last menstrual period), i would have been 9 weeks 0 days.
Which is which?
Well, based on the actual conception date, my EDD is 8 May 2010. =)

How have i been feeling since?
Well, as early as it is, this pregnancy proved to be tougher than the first.

1. Nausea overwhelms me all day long and i can't seem to find the right food to curb it. What worked the last round didn't work at all!
2. I experience heartburns all through the day too and nothing seems to help. I certainly haven't found the right food to rid the heartburns.
3. I feel extremely tired and would be totally flat by 3pm in the day.

Could i have forgotten how it was like when i had Adri or could the toil be due to the fact that i now have my Princess Adri to look after while i am carrying this second precious?
Beats me.
Whichever it is, the "pains" are for a good cause.
Keep my fingers crossed.
The heartburns and nausea stopped the moment i crossed over to my second trimester, at exactly 14 weeks, when i was carrying Adri.
Hopefully, it will be the same for this one, if not earlier.
In the meanwhile, i'll have to continue my search for the remedies to the nausea and heartburns til i see Dr Chen on 3 Oct. =)


Baby #2's Factsheet as of 12 September
Age - 6 weeks 0 days (based on conception)
size - 3.7mm

Thank God for little children! =)

Adri's Response
I couldn't wait to share the news with Adri. Being a member of the family, she absolutely has every right to know that there will soon be an addition.

Well, i did wonder if ADri would understand.

I don't have the answer.

Adri seems to understand.

I get her to "sayang" Baby and pray for Baby daily and much to my relief, she does that willingly.

Adri would often point at my tummy, in particular, my bellybutton, and utter, "Later Baby come out and play with me."

Amazing and amusing, huh?

She probably thought that Baby would be arriving to this world through my bellybutton! =D

I am really thankful that Adri isn't jealous about her little sibling.

I hope sibling rivalry won't surface and she'll be a doting elder sister. =)

.

Scoop n Eat!

25.08.09

Since's Help's return, Mum's been unable to cook dinner cos she has to 'jaga' Adri (who can be quite sticky at times) single-handedly and hence, Mart and I have been eating out.

Instead of watching us, Adri's found something she loves to do!

Mummy's pretty happy. This means that Daddy and Mummy would be able to have our dinner at the same time (instead of one after the other).

How about ADri's dinner?

She has had hers. Mum still cooks porridge for her, twice a day. =)

Adri helping herself to a portion of Daddy's dinner.

Am quite pleased with her progress. =)

Hopefully, she'll perfect the skill of eating on her own prior to going to school next year!

Yep, you heard me right. This KS Mummy has already reserved a place for her at a childcare centre. =)

What Sayeth Adri?

Interesting exchanges made by Adri lately:

1) Ah Pek! Ah Pek! Harlow Ah Pek!
(she used to call them "Uncle")

2) Aunty go home already. No more Aunty.
(waved her hand to imply that maid's gone back)

3) This one Mummy "de" ("de" in Mandarin)

4) Adri take for you, okay?

5) Wa mang ting...wa mang ting...
(sings the Hokkien song of the weekend drama serial "Ai")

6) Mummy sapu
(sapu = sweep)

7) Mummy wash baju
(baju = clothes)

8) Mummy iron baju

9) Pepper lai lai
(lai = come)

10) Daddy neh neh (chest mistaken as breasts) soooo big!

11) Adri hair soooo long!
(not true!)

12) Adri put sauce

13) Eeee....Pepper sai

14) Pepper sai chou chou
(chou chou = smelly)

15) What Mummy doing?

16) Adri want eat rice?

17) Adri poot!
(poot = fart)

18)Daddy panties

19) Mummy is here

20) Pepper cut hair. Adri cut hair also?

21) Adri want go swimming pool?

22) Adri jump! Pomp!
(she added the sound effect)

23) Adri want listen Barney

24) Mummy put make-up

25) Mummy go work.


Which is your favourite?
I love #10!
cracked me up for days! =D

Children are indeed gifts from heaven. =)
.

What a Child!

My second attempt of picking Adri from Mom's single-handedly went well. =)
Just like yesterday, Adri sat at the back seat, belted in her baby chair and sang Barney's "I Love You" repeatedly. I had to repeat the song some 5 times! Each time the tune ended, my little jolly girl would go "Again!". She never seemed to get tired of that song.
Well, I would love to think that she treasured the sing-along session with her Mummy! =D

What a child!
She knew that there was no more Aunty (maid's been fired) and Mummy certainly needed her to be well-behaved in her baby chair instead of monkeying around while Mummy drove her home. =)

Hmm...I'm not too sure if my joy was shortlived.
Just when i thought my little one had finally learnt to sit well in her seat, she behaved adversely during our time out in the evening.

Evening. In Daddy's Car.
Driver - Daddy Wong
Passengers - Adri and Mummy Wong

Adri: Adri want sit baby chair!
Daddy + Mummy: Good girl, Adri. Sit in your baby chair
(baby car seat in Mart's car is placed on the front passenger seat).

After some 5 minutes,
Adri: Adri want Mummy, Adri want Mummy! Adri want Mummy!!!
Mummy: Okie, come to Mummy. Please sit properly. Follow Mummy, fasten your safety belt.

After another 5 minutes, ADri began to bawl and insisted on sitting on her baby chair.

A power struggle ensued.
I refused, restrained and reprimanded her.
It was absolutely dangerous for her to be that "mobile"!

To my dismal, I lost the battle.
Adri wailed non-stop for some 10 minutes and we gave in.
We transferred her to the front when the lights turned red. She grinned.

Another 5 minutes later,
Adri: Adri want Mummy!!!!

I gritted my teeth.
What a child! =/ =I
.

Who Makes the Milk?

10.08.09

9pm (Adri's bedtime)

Adri: Aunty! Make milk!!
Me : No more Aunty, Adri. Aunty has gone home.
Adri blinks and responds almost immediately: Mummy, make milk!

Right, i am "maid-less" again.
Am happy to be without one.
Even more relieved that Adri didn't mind maid's absence. =)


Lobang for a reliable part-time maid, anyone?
I'll steer clear of a full-time maid for now (and hopefully for the next few years...)
.
.

@ Pasir Ris Park

We treasure time out with Adri so much that we'll steal time somehow to take Adri somewhere.

Our latest favourite hang-out - Pasir Ris Park.
Very often, it's a mere half an hour either before or after dinner on weekdays.
Half an hour it may be, but tremendous joy it sure brings!

Check out how confident Adri is! =D

This is wat i always tell Mart: Our baby doesn't need any gymboree classes! =)

.

@ a Wedding

.
i have absolutely no idea why i can't upload pics with blog.com's link.
It's rather troublesome to be using Slide

We attend a cousin's wedding recently and here's how dolled up my little ADri was; we finally managed to don her in this pretty wedding dress that her Grandma had bought her last X'mas!

Guess she will not have the chance to put this princessy piece on again; she's getting tall real fast! =O

Pretty, isn't she? =D
.
.

Trip to Bangkok (Final)

This is what my "demure" princess did at Bangkok Airport

Both Mart and I flipped when she did this!

Erm...was i this rugged when i was a kid? Or...worse?

Onboard the Plane

Feeding Daddy before dozing off...all the way to Singapore! =D

.

Finally, my one of my greatest takeaways from the trip:

Hee, i know i only have one daughter...but there 365 days in a year! =p

.

Trip to Bangkok (Part 2)

We didn't take a lot of pics but here are some of the pics we took...

Told Mart i would love to stay at Baiyoke Sky the next time we visit Bangkok.
The view from their Revolving Tower (@ 83th storey) is simply breathtaking!
.
.

Updates on Bangkok Trip (Part 1)

So, how was my precious princess like when she was onboard the plane this time round?
Excellent! The trip there was really a breeze. We used whatever means we had to keep her engaged during the 2-hour journey.

Check out what we did to keep her occupied on our trip TO Bangkok

Daddy's creative juices =)

.
.
Keeping lil' princess entertained...
.

.

Fly!

Yup, my Adri will be going on her second overseas trip! =D

When?
Tomorrow! =D

Where to?
Bangkok! =D

Adri went on her first overseas trip last Dec, when she was just a year old. Back then, because Mummy and Daddy were a little jittery and we weren't sure if we could handle Adri ourselves (cos Adri wasn't walking independently yet and had to be carried most of the times + she communicated mainly through crying and wailing), we had Grandma and Auntie with us to Hong Kong. The four adults took turns to take care of and carry little Adri as we shopped. Fatigue seeped in at the end of the 5-day trip.

This time, the challenge is going to be greater. it is going to be just the 3 of us - Daddy, Mummy and Adri! Our first family trip! =D

Gee, i can still vividly remember how Adri refused to settle down and be pacified onboard the 4-hour plane ride and was crying incessantly. Those memories still bring a shudder but Daddy and Mummy aren't going to let that impair us and we are confident that it's going to be yet another fulfilling trip. =)

This time round, we envisage ourselves reasoning and talking to Adri (instead of not understanding her wails) and holding her little hand as we moved around the city of Bangkok (instead of carrying or "saronging" her). Food wise, it's also going to be a lot easier because Adri is of age to consume "outside food" ie. non-homecooked food.

We'll be taking off at 7plus tomorrow morning! =D
Extremely excited I am!
Am going to run some errands and get some of the stuff that Adri will need for the trip! =D

Gee, i wonder if Adri can sense my excitement?
keeping my fingers crossed. I hope i will be able to keep Adri engaged throughout 2-hour plane journey! =D

Wish us well! =D

.

ABC

Saw Help talking to Adri early this morning and

i immediately seized the opportunity to capture the interesting exchange! =D

Haha, to be truthful, Help's pronunciation got me worried

but Adri's intelligent response overshadowed the disappointment.

Well, the corrective work will be carried out progressively... =)

Well done, Adri! =D

.

Manners

When is the right time to teach our little ones manners?
At times, i really wonder if they understand what we are saying. Then again, they have their way of surprising us.

Thus far, Adri has been handling the following words very well:
1) Please
Whenever Adri issues an imperative, we'll gently remind her to use the word "please" and she's been doing a great job at remembering that word. Today, her requests are often accompanied with "please" although there are still moments when she still whines a little whenever she wants a favour and/or when she doesn't get her way.

2) Thank you
Adri has learnt that saying "thank you" whenever a favour has been done is very much a desired behavour. Of course, it started with she receiving praises for remembering that magical word. She's progressed much; today, she says "thank you" spontaneously and she enjoys doing that so much that even when she runs an errand for me (eg, getting the tissue box for me), she goes "Thank you, Adrielle!" with a toothy grin. =D

Noticed Adri has developed a new (unpleasant) behaviour lately. She's been pushing her way around and whenever she's stuck, she'll whine and wail. Frustrated and irritated by her relentless whines, Mummy decided to introduce two new words to her - Excuse me.

Adri's Progress Report
Yesterday morning -> "Ah me" = "Excuse me"
Yesterday afternoon -> "Exs me" = "Excuse me"
This morning --> "Exs Q me"! = "Excuse me" =D

Pretty good progress, isn't it?
Well, i certainly hope she will manage the "s" sound in the 2nd syllable real soon! =)

Mummy is proud of her progress. =)
.

Yak Yak!

I appreciate Adri but i can't help but envy Daph at times.
When lil' Zander awakes earlier than his mummy does in the mornings, he will usually lie quietly and play with his toys contentedly.

Adri is a stark contrast. I know having disrupted rest is part of what a mom gets but i just can't help lamenting to Mart that Adri doesn't allow me to sleep.

Adri usually awakes earlier than we do and these are the things my cheeky princess does to wake me up:
- throws herself on my chest
- pulls my clothes
- kicks me
- elbows me
- tosses and turns non-stop
- yaks away

Well, i must say that of all, the last is the most effective means. Boy, her booming voice is my natural alarm clock!

I haven't been waking up feeling good but this morning, i had a pleasant surprise.

Adri was having a little tug-of-war with Daddy and this is what she uttered 3 times:
"Adri put Daddy handphone!"

My thoughts: Adri is uttering in complete sentences (with grammatical errors, of course..)! Wowww! The sentence has 4 words!

I was extremely impressed. I hadn't realised that my girl had progressed from speaking in largely 2-word phrases.
At that point of time, her noisy chatter really seemed melodious. =D
Gee, having a chatty kid isn't that bad afterall, right?
.
.

@ 18.5 Months

Changes?

She's still as cheeky!

She's getting prettier by the day! =D

BUT, still very much a Daddy lookalike.

Did you catch her kissing Pooh?

Growing and still GROWing

Some updates on my lil' (cheeky) princess.

Adri discovers it's not that dangerous

to be bouncing on her bed afterall!

Still alright for this "faint-hearted" mummy...

at least she didn't attempt any dangerous stunt.

*Phew! (Relieved)*

.

Adri takes temperature! =D

Hmm...Now that she's tried this on the Hello Kitty,

I really wonder if she'll try to take the temperature

of the (real) cats in the house one day!

*Tickled + Curious* =D

.

Fun with Dad!

Still can't comprehend how Dads always work the magic...

*Envious (a little)*

.

Absolutely not fearful of the vast sea

noticed how she wanted to approach the deep waters? =O

*Amazed*

.

Adri has a go at handling the fork + food

Think i can entrust her with a metal fork soon?

*Gasp!*

Yes, agree, she definitely needs further practice with the plastic. =)

.

@ Kidz Kampong

Took Adri to Kidz Kampong today!

The cool weather after the storm was perfect for a day for fishing + feeding! =)

Here, Adri catches fish with Daddy.

Adri learns to fetch water...

Adri couldn't decide between feeding the koi fish and the rabbits! =D

Funny, isn't she? =)

.

Adri's latest addition to her collection of toys.

Watch her fish!

She caught one fish! =D
Did she really have the skill or was it sheer luck? =D

Proud Mummy. =) =)
.

Videos! =D

Here, Adri decides to put on her own diaper.

Watch her prior knowledge at work! =)

Do you think she'll succeed?

We were on our way home from mum's when Adri spotted a

motorbike and went, "Bike! Vroom vroom vroom!"

Back home, she tries to ride on, drive and lift one?

My girl. =)

Eat Jelly?

For some reason, this packet of jellies that i bought for Adri consists of only 3 different coloured jellies - green, yellow and orange.

Very accustomed to routine, Adri knew she could only choose two jellies each time.


Squatting next to the fridge, Adri chooses the flavours she prefers

Mummy: Ok, Adri. Here are 3 different coloured jellies - green...yellow...and orange!
You can only choose two. Adri take two..
Adri immediately grabs the green jelly! Mummy was shocked that she was that decisive.

Mummy: Ok, Adri, you can only choose 1 more, only 1 (and shows my index finger to her)

Mummy points at the orange jelly: Adri, do you want this? Yes or no?
Adri: Yes....

Mummy was shocked.
Just to be sure that Adri knew what she was saying, Mummy points at the yellow jelly: And this? Yes or no?
Adri: No...

Mummy beams from ear to ear.
Mummy: Ok, Adri wants the green and orange jelly. Mummy will keep the yellow jelly and give Adri the orange one.

Adri grins and holds the two different flavoured jellies, obivously pleased with her choices.
Mummy too, was pleased that Adri knew what she wanted and was involved in a decision making process, a simple yet important process (to her). =D
.

Wet. How?

At the breakfast table

Adri took a few sips from the water bottle and thereafter diligently placed her bottle on the table.
She paused for a few seconds, reached for her bottle yet again (while Daddy and Mummy were having their breakfast) and fiddled with it.
Seconds later...

Mummy: Oh Oh, Adri, your shorts are wet. (Adri had deliberately tipped her bottle over) How?
Adri : Oh Oh, wet. How?
Mummy : Yes, Adri. Your shorts are wet. How?
Adri pauses for a few seconds and said a matter-of-factly : Mummy clean!
Mummy cracked up and replied : Ok, Mummy clean (and tries to dab her shorts with a little towel). But your shorts are still wet, how?
Adri : Silence

I found that short conversation amusing!
Mummy seems to be the wonderwoman in her eyes. =)
.

Adrielle's Collection

Mummy added 3 other pairs to Adri's present collection of Crocs at the recent Metro Sale (@ Expo) and these are what Adri has thus far:

Ok, I admit i am obsessed. She looks simply cute in Crocs and i just couldn't resist the steal!
Notices two similar pairs? Yup, bought the bigger-sized pair to stock up! =p
.

At the Playground...

Adri Ascending the Steps =)

Watch how she reacted when she encountered puddles of water

at the end of the slide....so funny! =D

P.S. Apologies for the slanted orientation of the video.

This mummy forgot that i shouldn't have taken a video in portrait setting.

No Crying, Speak!

We are in the midst of teaching Adri not to whine and cry

but to express herself in words and actions.

Watch how she expressed herself in this short clip!

Managed to catch her utter "no", "daddy", "down" and "yes"? =)

.

Words & Charts

Inspired by Daph some months back, i too decided to put up some charts on the wall.
But instead of an instructional material, the chart had gradually turned into a decorative piece (well, not exactly cos my house is beginning to look like a messy nursery!)

Somehow, i decided to conduct a little test on Adri today (hee, a teacher's instinct) and these are the items she could identify and point out to me:

- apple

- baby

- car

- dress

- fish

- horse

- ice-cream

- jelly

- parrot

- shoes

- tiger

- umbrella

- water!

.

As a mummy of a little toddler, I was simply thrilled by her progress! Honestly, i didn't think she would be able to do that! I was not even aware that she had picked up that many words!

Not only could she point to the items when i asked her, she could repeat the words after me!

.

Absolutely Amazing!!!! =D Never undermine our little ones! =D

.

.

Lil' Adri

I'm so obsessed with taking pics of Adri!
Did a quick check and realised i've taken 300 pics of her
just within the day! =O

Here are some of the pics...

Adri at the slide

Adri and Daddy fooling around...

Adri = the pearl
mattress = the clam
Adri loves to play this game with daddy.
She laughs hilariously each time daddy finds her hidden in the folden mattress


The multi facades of Adri



Poses and more poses!

I really think my girl is cool + cute! =D
.
.

Fad or Fashion?

She's funny!

Prior to wearing mine, she had a whale of a time

having her daddy chase her around the house for his sandels!

The lil' princess checking how she looks in Mummy's sandals.

Utterly pleased, she was!

Her tiny feet in my "huge" footwear.

Look! She's managing it so well!

Walking and running around in the sandals!

Cute, isn't she? =D
.
.

Clean Up, Clean Up.. =)

Adri made a mess.

Watch her clean up the mess; watch how she managed to get me to clean up her mess. =)

We had a conversation! =D

.

JOY

Before i became a mom, colleagues who were mothers used to tell me that no matter how exhausted or frustrated they were at/with work, the weariness and frustration would disappear the very instant they reach home and were greeted by the smiles on their children's faces. Immersed in an environment of laughter and joy (in particular, the genuine joy that exudes from the innocent little ones), all troubles vanished momentarily.

Today (yes only today), do i fully comprehend or experience what they meant.
Why only today?
I really have no idea.
Perhaps i have never felt this exhausted and downcast?

It has been a horrid week. One of the worst i have ever had - a mental and verbal battle that lasted for a few days got me totally "worn out".

Dazed by the day's series of events, i was pacing along the pave to Mum's, totally unaware of my surroundings. Seconds after i appeared from the multi-storey carpark, i was greeted by a sweet little voice that went "Yayy! Mummy hui (second tone in han yu pin ying) lai (second tone in han yu pin ying) le!" and a bear hug. My little one had been waiting for me and watching out for her Mummy!

Would such a simple act of love and acceptance warm your heart and bring a smile? It sure did brighten my day. Like what the other mummies have experienced, all fatigue and anguish vanished instantaneously. =)

How would you like to return to a family filled with love, joy and peace?

Thank God for my hubby and little Adri. =)

.

Yak Yak!

I am just so thankful for little Adri. She never fails to amaze me. Many a times, i stand in awe at how her young and little mind is able to comprehend what we are trying to communicate to her.
Cambourne's Conditions - Immersion? Demonstration? Expectation?

I strongly believe in those! =D

Instead of the need to point to items when we communicate with her, our mode of communication has reached yet another level and without a doubt, having Adri around has even more meaningful. Adri is now able to capture the directives in our speech. Here are some examples:


After washing my face in the bathroom

Mummy: Adri, could you get my towel for me?

Adri toddled off and reappeared at the bathroom after a few seconds. Clasped in her little palms was my towel! Bearing all her 12 teeth, she chuckled happily as she handled the towel to me. =)

Adri:
i) understood what a towel was
ii) knew that i needed my towel and not hers (her towel was near mine)
iii) remembered where the towels were kept!
( I didn't have to point to her! =D )

After passing my towel to me, my lil' princess toddled off and reappeared yet seconds later with her towel. Sensing what she wanted, I affirmed her, "Yes, Adri, clean your face, just like Mummy did." She did. She mimicked what i did. After some quick seconds, she cleverly uttered "put back", grabbed my towel and diligently placed both my and her towel back to where they were supposed to be hung! Isn't that amazing?

Adri:
i) knew that things ought to be kept after use
ii) understood and could utter the phrase "put back"

I was simply thrilled beyond words. =D


Adrielle was playing in the living room

After playing with several other toys, Adri decided to go on her slide. Spotting that, Mummy served a gentle reminder.

Mummy: Be careful, ADri. Hold tight!

As Adri climbed the steps, she muttered "hold tight" repeatedly and held on fast to the handles of the slide.

Adri knew the meaning of the above-mentioned phrase and could apply them! I didn't have to utter anything else and neither did i have to point to her what i was referring to =D

After ascending the steps, Adri squealed "One, two, three!" and went down the slide.

OMG! What else can i say but thank God for the wisdom that my little princess has? =D

On a weekday

Upon hearing the doorbell and spotting her PaPa at the door, Adri squealed in delight, "Daddy hui (second tone) lai (second tone) le!"

Mandarin! =D

Boy, i was still worried that my girl won't be able to speak Mandarin. Now i know my worry is unfounded. =D

.

.

I Lost My Cool

Yup, I lost it. I hit Adri. Real hard.

Of late, Adri has begun to hit everyone and anyone. Okie, not exactly anyone. She doesn't hit strangers but family members, including the cats and the dog.

Monday 090309.
We picked Adri home from my sis'. Now that my little nephew has arrived and my mum is over at my sis', doubling up as her confinement nanny, Adri goes over to my sis' place instead.
Adri whined and demanded to sit in the front passenger seat. Yup, you guessed it, i gave in to her wails. The moment she came over and sat on my lap, she swung her hard skull backwards deliberately and hit me with it. Boy, i swear i tasted blood that very instant. That hurt! My gums were bleeding! =(
While i groused, Adri was perfectly fine, she didn't seem at all apologetic for hurting her Mum. Why did Adri hit me? God knows! Perhaps she wanted me to know that i had kept her waiting (and crying) for too long?

The moment she reached home, Adri started whacking the pets with her bare hands. Of course, i, or rather, WE stopped her. However, my charismatic daughter refused to heed our advices and carried on whacking the pets. Thank God the cats (who can get very aggressive) decided to be kind to our little terror and didn't scratch. I dare not imagine! They ran away instead. Honestly, i don't think they were fearful of little Adri. They were loving her and understood that she was still a little babe. I HAVE SEEN THEM ATTACK (others), you know?

Whack! Mummy gave little Adri a soft hit on her hand.
To my dismal, that didn't work.
Adri then went on to hit Pepper. This time round, she threw toys at him!
Whack, came yet another hit, a harder one on her hand.
Adri stared at her hand and walked away.
Just when i thought the interventation worked, Adri returned with her little broom stick and started whacking Pepper!

*Faint!*

I grabbed my little terror and a struggle ensued. I had wanted to remove her broom stick but she had refused to have her hands freed from it. In the midst of the struggle, Adri decided to kick me with all her might.

Whack, a slap landed on her thigh.
Adri stopped kicking. Stunned she was, but not deterred.

Little Adri reached forth for her mop stick and hit Help right on her head (Pepper had run away, just like the cats did!)
I really lost my cool. I whacked Adri real hard on her hand for she was being purposefully stubborn, refusing to change from her wrongful means. The very moment i released that hit, i regretted my very action for i had disciplined when i was furious. I had always held on to the belief that one should never discipline when we are angry, for our anger can easily mar our judgement and we can easily lose control and end up being too hard on our little ones.

I had expected Adri to cry at the strength of the hit but my little one didn't even shed a tear. She wasn't even close to tears!
I gave up. I simply scolded her and refused to talk to her. I didn't know how else i should approach her!


Is my little one thick-skinned or what? She's alike her mummy. She has a high threshold for pain. =O

Oh, Adri didn't look for me that night too. She looked for Help and Daddy instead. Quite a character, isn't she? =/
.