Sunday, March 30, 2008

Wilton Cake Decorating Class First Creation!

Ok my creation, please don't laugh!


When it first begun ...



The final product!


See the amazing disappearing trick!

Performed by none other than the famous Miss Vanessa!


Psst: The "cookie" is bigger and thicker than the Singapore 50 cent coin!

Friday, March 28, 2008

We've got an Orange Vampire!



She's not 1 yet, but I decided to let her try some oranges the other day, since sweet oranges are hard to come by.

See how much she enjoys her orange!

See the poor orange with all the life juices sucked out of it!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Photos ...

Just to clarify, the photos displayed in the last 2 post were taken by Mary Ann from Studio Loft. Their website is www.thestudioloft.com.sg.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Expressions!

No, not the slimming centre :P
But a collection of my gal's various facial expressions!



Sunday, March 23, 2008

prelude to the long weekend

I forgot, our weekend actually started on Thursday afternoon. We took the afternoon off to take some pics, and I was quite pleased with the photos, although I wish I am MUCH slimmer.


I picked some of my fav shots to share, so here they are!


Pensive



Energetic


Mesmerised


Cheeky

An exhausting weekend

What did we do over the weekend?

Friday - we went to the zoo. Reached there about 930am and there was a crowd at the entrance. Full of parents with their kids and well, it was rather a breeze to get in once I collected my membership card (thanks to a mummy, we managed to get our membership with a 10% discount). The zoo has really changed quite a fair bit since I last went with my nephew (about 4 years ago). We did the usual meandering around the various exhibits, before it got way too hot at 11am, and we took the tram. The only highlight, which my girl missed as she was fast asleep, was when we sat outside the orang utan exhibit and had our own breakfast (our cheap version of breakfast with the animals). From our view, we saw one orang utan dragged a heap of leaves on top of its head, while it snuggled into a crevice. Brilliant camouflage! Another decided to do some exercise, which included crossing it arms above its head and slapping itself. The same one used some leaves to wipe its backside and pee in front of us. Decided to head for the "Ampang Yong Tau Foo" for lunch, but the place was so packed (no parking lots at all!) so we headed to Casuarina curry instead. Had a quick lunch before proceeding home when I had to bake a cake for my Wilton Cake Decorating Class on Saturday.

Found out at dinner (after slaving over the damn tempura and trying to fry the stuff) that my helper was not feeling well. Think she ate something wrong during lunch and she had the vomitting, the stomachache and headaches. So had our dinner, got the hubby to send the helper to see the doctor, and I went to bed to Vanessa (who was already fast asleep). By the time they came home, I was too tired to make the icing for the cake, so I went to bed and set my alarm clock at 6am.

Saturday - woke up at 6am! Then I washed up the dishes from last night to clear some workspace in the kitchen. Started fixing the icing at 630am, and I am glad none of my neighbours complained cuz my Kenwood mixer makes one hell of a ruckus. By the time I was done sifting the icing sugar, I was staring at the clock in despair, wondering if I was going to make it! Anyway, I just did what I had to do, and I finally managed to finish icing the cake by 10am. Had a quick shower after I started cooking porridge in the rice cooker and it was off to the class. At the class, the other 2 classmates said my cake was nice and I was quite incredulous until I saw theirs. Well, it wasn't the same since I slather on a THICK layer of icing to hide all the defects (too numerous to name here). The class was fun, learnt some of the piping stuff, and tried to pipe roses but it was difficult. I am supposed to practise for the next class, so let's see how it goes :P

Came back, played with Vanessa a little, and I promptly conked out by 4pm. We had tempura leftovers and we cleared up all the porridge (with some help from Vanessa). Watched a little TV and went back to bed.

Sunday - woke up at 6am and headed for the Chinese doctor to get a queue number. My hands are feeling numb again and decided to check it out. When we came back, Vanessa just woke up, so we went out for breakfast at Bukit Timah Hawker Centre. Took a short nap then headed out to the Chinese doctor, waited for 1 hour before it was my turn. Usual tension at the shoulders, causing the nerves to bunch up. Wanted to do the "gua sha" but had to wait again, so I probably will return another day to get it done. Headed for to my mum's place with the cake that I decorated in class, with some cupcakes and leftover icing bags. The kids were having a ball of time hunting for Easter eggs in the garden, and as usual, some were unhappy that they had collected less eggs, didn't get the eggs they designed (they decorated the eggs earlier), but all ended well once we headed back in for the CHOCOLATE eggs. My gal collected her first Easter eggs! I think she enjoyed it although she doesn't have a clue what was happening! As a treat for the kids, who squabbled over the colour of jelly beans, I took out the cupcakes and let them decorate. They had fun, but guess who will end up eating the cakes - the adults or the bin I bet!

Now, my back is killing me and I am wondering if I should bake another cake. Promised my colleague to bake a cake for her so let see how "motivated" I am after dinner.

Back to the grind tomorrow, but it was a fun, although exhausting one, LOOOONNNGGGG weekend I will have in a while. There's another one coming up in May, but I have to work on that Saturday, so I am really looking forward to a nice long break (just 3 days, that's all I am asking for!) after all the weekends and deadlines I have to deal with till end of June, before the vicious cycle starts again in July.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Meet the Tarzaness!

My girl is not a michellin baby yet for her height, she's considered as a semi heavyweight.

As each week progresses, I find that she's straining my muscles, and I struggle to carry her with 1 arm for more than 3 minutes.

Then, I realise why she seems a little heavy for her size. See what she does for her daily exercise!


Psst: Remember that muscles are heavier than fats!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Am I Gifted?

Yes, I believe my girl is gifted - her skills in recognising what is food is amazing!

Today Vanessa attended a trial class at Growing Up Gifted, it's a playschool, not so much as a "intensive course" to make genius out of my girl. It's supposed to help them to explore their senses and improve their motor skills.

Anyway I had to work this morning, so the hubby brought her there with the helper. I managed to get off work early as my colleague very sweetly came earlier to cover my duty. I rushed there and thankfully I made it on time. Anyway I decided I was too hungry and tired to go through the first session of the class, so the hubby did the session with her. I peeked through the window and she seem to be having fun, listening to whatever was being said and staring at the other babies.

Then when I was my turn, I was a bit apprehensive because I was worried she would be cranky. Lo and behold, out came the bubbles and she clambered quickly to catch them! When they were long gone, she would still look up towards the ceiling waiting for more bubbles! Whenever they brought out a box of toys, she would clamber over quickly with the rest of the babies. She very much enjoyed herself, I must say...

I've bought some bubbles solution too, so maybe on Friday we can blow some bubbles for her to play!

No pics as no pics allowed in the classroom!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The Pee Collection

The PD called over the weekend and wanted us to submit another sample of her urine, as a certain bacteria has a very high count. As they can't be sure it's due to contamination (we collected the pee at home) so they just wanted to be sure and to treat it if necessary.

So I dutifully took the morning off yesterday and waited for the pee to be collected. I had reminded the helper to clean the area with soap before attaching the bag, so as to reduce the risk of contamination. *sigh* We failed 3 times! The first time she pooped, so everything went into the dustbin. The second time, the bag leaked, so we collected nothing. That was the last bag we had, so we had to drive down to the clinic and asked for more. Then we waited for the third time and she fell asleep on the bed. Unsuccessful again since the position was had to be somewhat upright for the collection. So I gave up and went to work.

Today we tried again, the first bag again leaked and the second round I was watching her like a hawk. I kept asking the helper and she kept saying no pee. Then I carried her for a little while, and I noticed her diapers were wet! So I yelled out and we quickly stripped her and thankfully, despite the bag having fallen off, we still had some pee left! So we transferred to the bottle, zoom down to the clinic and handed over. I am just crossing my fingers that the test will be OK, as I am paying about $70 for each test!

Sunday, March 09, 2008

half tub full and more

Today the helper's offday, so I checked the last milk feed and amount before she went off.

I cooked instant porridge (the nestle ikan porridge) and added a small slice of threadfin. My gal loved it (I didn't - I thought the porridge tasted mushroomy) and finished 3/4 of the bowl. We had breakfast downstairs again, next to the BBQ pit. It's a nice cool breezy morning so we enjoyed it without any buzzing mosquitoes. The dogs were envious though, they were whining at the balcony (they have a direct view)! I think they got a little upset when we waved at them. *rofl*

We brought Vanessa to United Square today - wanted to bring her for a haircut at the Junior's League (I think) and she was quite good - will post a pic when I get it from the hubby. I also saw a ex-client and I got a shock. He used to be a crew cut-ed no nonsense uncle (check shirt and working pants) and now he has blond CURLS and wearing a tight tee with tight jeans (with a belt that has a huge buckle too!). I was too shocked to think "mid life crisis!" - I went straight in and asked, "what happened to you!!!!" Anyway apparently now he enjoys a healthy lifestyle because he had to go in for an operation, so he started working out. He looks good, so does his wife *thumbs up* Oh yes, as usual my girl charmed them with her coy giggles and smiles.

After her haircut (sporting pink highlights and hair glitter) we went to my mum's place for lunch - had to give the GUG trial class a miss as there was a birthday celebration scheduled today. Anyway my gal was THRILLED - so many things to play with, what's more the pinata were full of goodies. She was actually whining as her plastic was empty (she put her hand in to prove her point) when her cousins were busy filling up theirs. In the end, she got what she wanted, when they were all assessing their loot. She held to 2 gold coins tightly and refused to give it up. In the end, I brought her to wash her hands (and feet) before she was willing to let go of her coins.

Why the title then? A lesson learnt. I always assumed that baby should have more water to splash in the tub, and that I shouldn't deprive her of that. Today, the tub was 5/6 full, and she had difficulty in balancing in the tub. In fact, she lost her balance a few times (even with me holding her) and the last time, she must have swallowed some water and she cried. She's fine, but still - a lesson learnt in child safety. Half tub should be just nice for her to keep her balance and yet enjoy herself.

Dinner for her was porridge (finally decided to grind the remaining tub of brown rice) cooked with chicken stock, threadfin, and some "xiao bai cai". Yummy! Next week would be "stocking" time - will be trying out my new 7 litre stockpot!