Two Dollars

Whenever we ask Renee a "how much" question, 50% of her answers are: Two Dollars.

Example, "how much do you love nai nai?" Answer: Two Dollars

Last night, we had a great one. We went for a walk and she wanted to be carried. Eugene said his back ached and if she didn't want to walk, we'd send her back home. But mummy here wanted to try reasoning. So I carried her, up the Jalan Lokam slope. After some persuasion, she agreed to walk on the double yellow line. We have to keep reminding her to look out for cars. So now she uses cars and cats as her excuse. "Got car, I scared, carry carry". "Got cat, I scared, carry carry". Hmmmm......that is one smart ass I have! What to do? Have to carry lor!

While I was breaking my back carrying her,

Eugene: How much do you love Papa?
Renee: Two Dollars
Eugene: How much do you love Mummy?
Renee: With my heart

AWWWW! Makes all those night time feeds, loss of sleep, tiredness all worth it!

Cheers!

The rascal stands....sorta

Well, in his cot lah, where the "ground" is soft and falling down is not so painful. This is the same sequence as Renee's development.

RUSSELL - NOVEMBER 2008

RENEE - NOVEMBER 2006

My dear Renee loves stickers, we have smiley faces stickers all over the house and the other day, she grabbed some Post-Its and stuck them all over the fridge! Check out her handiwork - pretty much in alignment, I think she's like Eugene, must have PROPER alignment!

Next week, we get the keys to our new place, I can't wait. I think our furniture and boxes can't wait to see the light of day either! It's been 4 long months and almost 5 by the time we physically move in. The kids have been playing with the same old toys and I just refuse to buy new ones because we have so many toys already. I think Renee will have a great time reuniting with her long-lost stuff! And Russell will finally get to play with more than just the same teething ring *pathetic I know*.

Eugene and I will finally have more clothes to wear!! We have been living out of 1 tiny closet, so I think our friends and colleagues think we only have 5 sets of clothing. *sad man*

Russell sits up!

Finally! No more horizontal shots needed!

Yesterday, PILs told me Russell finally managed to sit up on his own, the last few weeks he'd huff and puff and only make it half way. Of course I wasn't the first to witness it because I was at work lah. But I saw it for myself after dinner. He was damn happy with the results as you can see for yourselves!!

RUSSELL - NOVEMBER 2008

On top of that FIL said after sitting up in his cot, he'd try to pry himself up to a standing position. Yes, this little creature is one active baby. For the past 3 months, it's been really difficult to bathe him and dress him cos dude can't lie down and wait for things to happen, namely for me to put cream on his ass and tape up the all important diaper.

His development milestone coincides with Renee's. She was about 8 months plus when she sat up on her own too. I still have that picture.

RENEE - NOVEMBER 2006

She had nappy rash then as does Russell at this point in time. Hmm..That week I was there to take care of her rash and watch her sit up because I was on 1 week medical leave after removing my wisdom teeth. Hee!

Mummy and Daddy become a year older

Yes, I have finally turned 33 and it's Eugene's turn is this Friday. Met a secondary school friend yesterday. He doesn't have children and he said he'll have no freedom when there are kids around. Also, yesterday my cousin said he isn't fond of kids.

Makes me think, have we lost our freedom after becoming parents? Truth is, I never want to leave the kids for more than the time that I am at work. Gone are the days when I would shop shop shop for hours on end, watch midnight shows (well, Eugene still does that but I avoid it because I will be a zombie the day after; zombie and taking care of the kids don't go hand in hand) and hang out at coffee joints every weekend. Do I feel envious of people who have so much freedom? Of course! I envy that they can just take off at moment's notice, go for holidays, etc. But it's also great to have children at our "young" age, can't imagine being older and having to chase 2 or 3 rascals around. That would kill my already killed back.

Every shopping trip we make, we end up buying something kid-related. Be it milk powder, diapers or my weakness, toys or little clothes. On top of all that, there are the visits to their pediatrician, enrichment classes and the all important insurance. That's where all my money has gone to. I am incredibly envious of people who save a big heap of their income (instead of buying kid stuff) to buy a new bag and new clothes every month. But I am confident that my kids will repay me big time when I am old. Fingers crossed lah.

This old fart has mellowed down. Happy birthday to Mummy and Daddy!

Presenting...

As promised.....

Little Ms. Ma-Neh-nek

"kwinkle kwinkle little 'tar" Version 2 (watch around the 3 sec mark, she's not pleased that I stopped her in mid-song...ha ha)

A Song or half of it...

My dear Renee can finally sing a full song on her own!!

"kwinkle kwinkle little 'tar
how I wonder watchu are
up above the world so high
like a diamond in the 'ky
kwinkle kwinkle little 'tar
how I wonder watchu are"

clap clap clap

and another, half song

" 'ol McDonald had a farm
e-i-e-i-o
and er quack quacks here
and er quack quacks there
and er quack quacks here
and er quack quacks there
'ol McDonald had a farm
e-i-e-i-o"

Ha ha ha

And by the way, she's NOT TONE DEAF!!!! Phew, all songs carry correct tunes now!!

She's also got great imagination man! She'd walk up to the stereo to "switch" it on and walk back to her "stage" to perform her ditties.....like 50 times in a row....will try to load a video of her singing soon......haven't explored that function on our camera yet....

And everytime Barney sings, "I love you...", when it comes to "with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you", she'll go up to everyone to hug and kiss everyone.....awwww. She learnt this at school. At the end of the lesson, everyone sings this song and all the kids have to give their teacher a hug goodbye....

Now there is a preview channel on Starhub Channel 1. I hate it man! She always wants to watch cartoon after cartoon. And when it isn't Barney, she'll ask for Barney. What's with the purple dinosaur? Someone explain it to me!

Some photos

Daddy, Russell and Renee.....try to ignore Eugene's spastic expression.....

Hi guys! I am 8 months old already! Still no teeth though!

Renee with her artwork from school....

Really impressed by the stuff they get the kids to do.....Renee's thoroughly proud everytime she brings home her handiwork....

Been trying to get some exercise done these few days as I can feel myself bloating up. Yes, sitting on my ass all day in the office is not doing anything for my body. When I was on leave, I was climbing the stairs at my in-laws at least 30 times everyday because our things are all over the house. We just try to slot stuff wherever there is space. So the workout helped keep my balloning in check. Now that I am back to work, there is less chance of exercising. My colleague Esther actually commented that I put on weight when I returned to work. !##@$@ SHIT!

We have been walking around our estate, or just parking further from our destination and walking the rest of the way. Renee always wants to join us so we bring her along. BUT....she always wants to be CARRIED!! Wah lao!! All 15kg + of her. I will get her exact weight this weekend. As if walking upslope is not bad enough, carrying the heavy rascal just kills our backs!!! So, we decided to get another pram to wheel her around in. Just a cheap one will do as she may decide she wants to walk now.....so we went to Kaki Bukit on Sunday night and ended up with one that costs $65. I say, it actually handles better than the Combi one that cost 5 times more. Geez.....

Sentosa - hmm.....well, it rained really heavily on Saturday morning so we were playing by ear whether to bring the kids. By 11am, it reduced to a slight drizzle, so we just brought Renee along. She had a wonderful time with her buddy Emma, like long lost cousins I tell you. Talking like they had soooo much to talk about! Sandra and I were commenting that at this age, it is so much easier, they can really entertain themselves and don't fight over toys anymore.....just have to keep a lookout in case they wander off on their own. Did I tell you, Eugene and I nearly lost Renee at Borders some weeks ago. We thought the other was with her. ARGHAG!!! Anyways, the sand was kinda soggy so we didn't build sandcastles. The kids just ran after each other and had a ball of a time!
Great weekend man!