Happy Birthday Hannah

Hannah has turned one recently. Looking at how she has developed really bring a sense of awe, amazement and joy. It seems just recently when she was a little baby. Now she is all grown! - well.. at least as compared to the day she came home with us. :)

Our little baby has become much taller and heavier for sure. She is about 10kg now and 90cm tall. That's quite a great leap from 3.87kg and 52cm at birth. She is now more interactive as she is able to communicate with us. Gone are the days of soliloquy. Now she is able to respond and act (if she's in the mood) as she is told. Time at home has certainly become 'noiser' and filled with excitement.

Recently, she is really into titles on SPOT the puppy. I got her 6 from the series and she would rather re-read them than to move on to the other books that we have been reading. During bedtime, she would choose the book that she likes and snuggle onto mummy's lap and DEMAND to be read to. If I refuse (act like I'm sleeping/ reading..) she would climb onto me and shove the book in my face. Hmm... Should I applaud her enthusiam in reading or be angry over her rudeness? I guess she was not trying to be rude. Perhaps that's the way she thinks would get my attention. Anyway... I am proud of her achievements. I hope her love for books will continue.

These days she is getting more observant too. She would be more aware of her surroundings and is able to point to the things that we name. EG: bird, flowers, train, trees, banana, aeroplane, car, daddy, mummy, nai nai, ye ye, aunty, kor kor, jie jie, ah ma, ah gong, baby,cat, lion, tiger, elephant, watch, clock, piano, book, high chair, fan,air conditioner....
It's interesting teaching her new things and seeing how she is able to remember them so quickly. I think it is a great window period to teach her.


I read that when a child turns one it is also a good time to introduce writing. Well, not exactly that but the concept of writing and the motor skills. So just two days ago, we went to buy mahjong paper and giant size crayons for Hannah. I pasted the paper to the floor and we started scribbling on the paper. At first she was apprenhensive. She stared at the crayon and even attempted to stick it into the mouth and ear! On the second day, however, she has picked up the skill. When I ask her to draw, she was able to hold the crayon (albeit in a queer manner) and draw some lines. WOW! Mummy is so proud and happy that we accomplished something new this weekends.

Yeah... before you start accusing me of robbing Hannah's childhood and being a KS singaporean... Let me state my rationale of doing these things.
First, Hannah is enjoying herself. She does not perceive all these as learning but time with mummy and daddy and fun. She likes the novelty of something new.
Secondly, this is the phase where a child is most susceptible to all the good habits and learning and they are perfect for moulding because we are till the person she prioritise and idolise!
Thirdly, I've seen enough kids who are without the foundation of reading and how this impede not only their language skills but eventually their academic performance which leads to the type of friends they mingle around and their self-esteem. I am not saying that being a reader equates to being successful in life. BUT I know as parents we should give the best to her within our means and this life-skill is one that is of paramount importance.

Having said all that... it is also the reason why I've decided to work part time. I want to devote more time to teaching Hannah and making our home, homely. Money can be earned later when Hannah goes to school and needs me lesser. :) How long this arrangement is possible, I do not know. When will it start, when will it end... only God knows. But like a friend said to me, when you are in God's grace, you will never be short-changed.
How true that is. God has been good to our family. He is indeed the provider to all that we need. And by His grace, we are able to take one step at a time, day by day and know that His best will befall on us as long as we continue to have our trust in Him.

:) Tis' so sweet to trust in Jesus.

A Special Year 2009

This has been an extraordinary year.
I've had many new experiences and have grown much.
I've had my first ...
labour experience!
Epidural!
Confinement!
Breastfeeding!
11months off from work!
SAHM experience!
10-day-stay in hospital ( when Hannah was ill!)
gym membership!
having a helper in the house!
travelling out of Singapore with hubby and baby!
cooking class! (Jap cusine, mind you!)
family portrait taken!
christmas with Hannah!
drawing and painting on a door!
expat friends!
meeting up with mummies over coffee!
bringing baby out on my own!
pushing the pram up and down the escalator!
driving baby around in the car!
Going public with Hannah!
being stranded in the taxi stand with baby cos nobody wanted to help us cos it was raining!

........

The list goes on.
It has been a year of challenge in many ways but through it all, I've witness God's grace and leading in our small family unit. We've got the opportunity to work together as husband and wife to take care of a little life entrusted to our hands. We've learnt to put down our wants and cater to the needs of our baby although it means lesser of what we would want to pursue. Interestingly, as time moves on, we gradually got used to the new life style and started to feel less of the sacrifice but more of the enjoyment a family unit can bring.

My eyes opened up and I saw the many treasures I have. A loving and supporting family who tries to be there for us whenever possible. ( This makes me see that we will always be our mummy's baby regardless of our age!:P) A husband who despite his faigue from work, comes home to help out so that I could take a breather to sleep or to indulge in a session of massage. A baby who despite the brawling and fussiness gives us much joy that warms our heart.

Next year... just a couple of days more... will be a whole new experience. There will be many changes and I am sure obstacles along the way.
But we know, that just like how God has led us through this year, without a moment letting go of our hands, He will do so in the next and the many to come.

BINTAN HERE WE COME

I tried to rotate this pic but failed. And I gave up without trying again! It's nice from this perspective too?!

Welcome!

At the Kelong

Baby! Look where daddy is!

Hannah's first trip!

We went BINTAN. Not too far but a BIG step cos... it's HANNAH's FIRST Trip abroad

IT was fun. I love the suite. Will (if ever) reno our house in that style and manner next time! :)

More pics When I am free!

Time Flies

This wasn't too long ago!

Cherish the treasure

"I will love you forever. "She told me without battering an eyelid or feeling bashful at all when she was a young innocent primary one child.
She was cheeky and naughty and someone you would want to just 'strangle' to keep her still and silent for a moment at times. Yet, she was made my class monitress.
She was the tallest in class and with her blond hair, she was easily spotted no matter where she tries to hide.

One assembly, I was leading the school for some singing sessions.
And I decided to call upon a brave soul to perform a simple song and and dance for the rest.
Her name was the first to come to my mind.
With all spontaneity, she rose bravely and marched up to the stage. She took centre-staged and gave a thumbs-up performance to the joy of all her classmates. She was all-smiles throughout the performance and happily trodded down the steps at the end of her debut.
I was so proud of her.

That was 8 years ago.
Who would have thought that her life will end 2 days ago.
The news shocked me.
I did not know she was suffering from Brain Aneurysem.
She succumbed the to the illness and went into a coma before leaving us.

Who would have thought that her childhood memories will never move on to her adulthood?

I wonder if I have made an impact in her short life. If I have given her the best memories she could have as a P1 child. I hope I did.

I put myself into the shoes of her mother. And my heart aches for her.
How in the world will she ever have the strength to face up to the fact that her little girl is no longer by her side. That she could never hold her, hear her, see her, hug her, kiss her, talk to her, laugh at her, reprimand her or smell her. That the many hopes that she has pinned on her child would end at that moment. That she will never find out who she will marry someday, what she will work as, how pretty she will look in her wedding dress.

I pray that God will give her family the strength to go through this period of bereavement.

Cherish every moment you have with anyone. You never know when that moment will be the last you'll ever have with him/her.

Hannah's first swim

We brought Hannah to the pool yesterday. It was great fun! I think I was more excited than her initially but I managed to rub off some excitement on her! :)

:(

J came by today and though we are more of business aquaintance, she poured out her heart to me. Well... maybe she needed an additional avenue to let that hurt and anger flow. Betrayal, hurt and simply the fact that she has sacrificed everything she had did not seem to pay off at all. My heart went out to her.



8 years of courtship, two decades of marriage... a seemingly blissful family completed with children ended with the appearance of another party. The pain in her eyes and her tone when she spoke. The hurt that she tried to conceal. The anger in her speech. My heart went out to her.



Wasn't she once a beautiful bride filled with joy in her eyes as she said that marriage vow?

Wasn't she once full of hope and pride when she presented to her parents " This is the man I want to marry."

Wasn't she the one who as a little girl looked forward to being a bride don with a long train and veil?

Wasn't she the one who was willing to give up all that she had for the family whom she was willing to lay her life down?



Something within me broke.



She regretted her decision. Felt that she did not deserve all that.

She certainly does not.



What is our world coming to?

I pray that Hannah will find someone who will stay true to her someday. That she will marry someone who will cherish her and love her not for a few decades but for as long as she lives. Someone who despite all odds, will hold on to her hand and finish the path that they vow to do so.

Seriously... if not... I'd rather she stays single and stay with me always.