Doing the prep work ...

We had to make a trip to the mall to get a luggage bag - I abandoned the idea of bringing #2 along since I am quite tired and I didn't get a chance to nap this weekend yet. We waited till the 2nd hand stroller was delivered (bought it off ebay) and then we went to one of the "mega" malls in the neighbouring areas.

We had lunch first since I was already quite hungry. Hubby suggested Aijisen and I had no objections since I was in the mood for soupy stuff and I like that place anyway. PARENTS ALERT! We ordered our lunch and decided to get 2 set meals plus 1 kid meal for V. SURPRISE!!!! The kid's meal comes free with 2 set meals! It meant that we had to forgo the discount if we pay by a certain card, but the kid's meal was worth more that the discount so we happily forgot the card discount. Although V didn't eat the fried ebi that comes with the set, we exchanged that with her from the side side (fried fish) that the hubby ordered. To my "surprise", he didn't order the fried fish with the intention to share with V, and he "whined" when I was exchanging the items from their plates. Well, no surprise here, I ignored him.

After lunch, we were looking at some stuff at the Timberland outlet and then saw a queue ... and kids were eating candy floss. Hubby and V only saw the pink Christmas tree and they headed toward that while I plonk myself in the queue. They finally figured out that I was missing somewhere and then saw me queueing ... It took a while, there was about 12 kids ahead of us and the lady dishing out the candy floss had to clean and add more sugar from time to time. Finally it was our turn! V let the hubby carry her because this short mummy couldn't carry her high enough to see what was going on in the cauldron. Candy floss is BAD for kids, but once in a purple moon wouldn't hurt. She licked it a few times while us, the parents, were fighting to get a bite out of it (she wouldn't let us!). The last I saw it, V had floss on her face and the hubby was happily licking the stick (I went somewhere to get some stuff). So guess who is the kid after all :P

Originally we wanted to pick up a Samsonite from the outlet shop, but we looked at the price and changed our minds. V was kicking up such a fuss because she was sleepy (wanted me to carry her) but I needed to make a trip to the loo ... on the way to the loo, I passed by Winter Time (where the old factory outlet was based) and saw that they had some luggage bag within our budget so SMSed the hubby to come over. In the end, we bought this "bird shit green" bag (it isn't all that bad) which cost us over $100, and a wooly hat for V (she finally perked up seeing the hat and was running around happily and letting her daddy carry her) and #2. I also picked up one woollen sweater for #2 (which cost 1/2 the price of the luggage bag!!!!) since I don't really have much warm clothing for him.

V is very much in her "spiteful" stage now. She no longer wants mummy to carry her out of the car, etc etc, and she would even smack my hand away when I want to hold her hand. She does get disciplined when she starts stamping feet, throwing tantrums or hitting at us, but generally I will stay away if she prefers the daddy. It's fine with me and she will get the message that throwing tantrums do not help. If she's jealous that I spend time with #2, that's perfectly normal, and I will give her some time to grow out of it.

End of the day, hmmm, well, she still wants me to carry her when she is sleepy right? =)

sweet memories are made of these ...

counting down to ... a holiday of *stress*?

We will be flying off in about a week's time and I'm getting stressed up over it. We have yet to pack, plan the trip and my biggest stress factor, I'll be taking care of #2 myself - without the help of the maids.

Some people applaud my sheer bravery in bringing both kids with us on a long haul trip - it's about 16 hours excluding the stopovers. Bravery or sheer stupidity ... i don't know but I can't bear to leave either kid behind and I cannot afford to pay for the maid to accompany us on the trip ... so there ... well just try it out right? and I hope the other passengers won't line up to strangle me.

Well, I know it's a holiday, and yet I cannot fully enjoy myself running around painting the town red, but it's would be a good time for me to bond with boy boy ... he's a lot more expressive now - showing his displeasure by pushing us or turning away ... and he has learnt to ignore me by looking away if I come back late from work ... i truly look forward to our bonding time and I supposed I just have to learnt how to manage the stress ... i just hope #2 doesn't suffer in anyway!

V recently performed in her childcare centre end of the year concert, and it was quite funny to see her, because she was one of the least expressive one - didn't really want to "shake her booty" and with a perpetual scowl on her face ... but she went through her parts and she was the only one who did the actions in accordance to the music (the rest were a little too ahead) ... and after the concert is _over_, she now starts to sing the song in the car ... and other songs too ... 6 months ago I worry about her not really speaking, and now, she can negotiate and put 2 and 2 together ...

She was also whining about playing this "mango puzzle" and we, for the longest time, just ignore her because we don't have any puzzles that has a picture of a mango! We assumed she was just making it up or just wanted some other puzzles ... then one find day, my ultra slow brain finally figured out what she wanted ... "you want zingo is it?!?" and she nodded slowly ... she must be thinking "finally! what took them so LONG to figure out what is mango puzzle!" So she is happily playing with the daddy on her bed now ... the daddy is happy too, since he gets kisses by giving up his tiles to her, and she would pat his face and promise to find the next tile for him ...

We also recently (just the 3 of us) took some pictures ... V was in a FOUL mood so there was hardly any shots of her... didi had this "gong gong" look about him which I just adore ... will post up later =)

Makeup by mummy dearest

V will be having her school concert this coming Saturday and the rehearsal was today. I read the instructions for parents and duly followed it.

We woke up extra early so that we could get V to eat enough to get her through the rehearsal if necessary and that I have some time to put on makeup for her. She was very cooperative when I was putting on the makeup for her (who knew she was such a vainpot :P) but she kept eating the lipstick. Ah well ... Daddy dearest took a pic for her but I have no idea where he kept it ... I'll post up a link when he uploads to his webby.

Then when we reach the school, they told us the kids would be going out to play first, have their shower, then go for the rehearsal *argh* All my efforts wasted. I wasn't the only parent who misunderstood their instructions - next time I will check with them verbally first!!!

Ian was on the sideline, staring at his sister ... haha ... he looked so cute. These days, he will give me the "grumpy" look when he sees me after work. He will only cheer up a little after I cuddle him. Yes, he can be quite vocal or he can move his body enough to indicate he wants me to carry him. V is a little jealous, and she's sticking to Daddy dearest like glue now. Well, it's good for me because it gives me breathing space. Good for Daddy too, since he used to complain that V doesn't want him around!

I also started Ian on FM today, 1 scoop to mix with BM, in preparation for the trip. I just hope I know how to take care of him! I am quite apprehensive, but hopefully, I can remember what I used to do with V when she was at the same age!