Jamie goes to School...

Jamie had since started school for 1 month. These days she no longer cries when I dropped her in school. And she seems to be learning lots of new things everyday! Most importantly... She can say so many more words now!

She will tell me she needs the 'towel' and 'diaper' for the bath.

She will also ask me 'Mic Mic go where' when she cannot find her Mickey Mouse.

There was one day she called my colleague's daughter by her name - Lycia... The other day she will try to express in a paragraph of baby language...

It was amusing to watch and listen to Jamie everyday :)

Sometimes I cannot help but feel a bit sad as I am now kinda of redundant. She no longer needs me for the essential chores. And now she does not need me to explore 'new lands' either. I have to find new roles to play in Jamie's life again. Sometimes I secretly feel I should take back my rights as a mother and take charge of Jamie fully again like when I had not started working :(

Sighh...

But well, I do not regret sending Jamie to school at such a young age. I feel that now she understands social norm more than children who undergo home-parenting till N2. Only when she learns to socialise and learns to understand there are some things that just don't seem right, she can start to be more conscious about what she does and says.

Of coz, some parents will feel there is no need to let Jamie be so conscious about her words and actions at such a young age, otherwise she may become too predictable.

I guess no matter what we do for the children, there must always be moderation and a morale of the story behind. Only then the children can understand adults' real intent and rationale behind a certain rule adults set.

House Warming... (09072011)

First of all, I will like to thank everyone who attended my house warming on 9th July 2011 (Saturday)!!!

I understand that Saturdays are really precious to many and hence all the more, I appreciate everyone who reserved their special Saturday to share our joy in our new nest :)

Thank you once again!!!

And for friends who did not managed to make time last Saturday but still like to visit us, feel free to drop us an email/SMS or phonecall to let us know when you are dropping by :) We love playing host and Welcome visitors :D Jamie loves playmates too!!!

Thanks for all the gifts too :D We really like them very much and will make effective use of them :D

Too many photos to share le :P Please browse from my Facebook instead :D

Trying to cope...

I had thought moving into a new place will give me more peace. But I guess I was not ready for the series of changes, new adjustments, unexpected illnesses and increase in household expenses.

I finally realised why we should salute housewives. I think they 'work' as hard as any one of us out there in the office as they do at home. Not only there are tonnes of repeated housework to be done daily, there are also lots of hair-dropping issues to think about = Where to get the cheaper groceries, What to cook tonight and How to save electricity and gas?

We never had to worry about all these before we settled into our new nest. It was as easy as giving a lumpsum alowance to my MIL and leaving the rest of the calculations to her. But now, we have to do the calculations ourselves. And the amount is getting bigger everyday :(

I guess soon, and I really mean very soon, I need to start making the choices, what I have to save on and what I cannot...

But of coz we are much more fortunate than many so we really should not complain. We have a good helper who cooks well and loves Jamie ALOT. So we can continue to have our couplehood and social life. Though there aren't many amenities around, but we have at least a sheng siong and a 24hr coffee shop that serves good food, a bakery, a hair salon, a DIY shop and a clinic. NTUC and Popular is also reachable by LRT now. But of coz I will appreciate the Punggol Central and Bigger shopping malls are setup faster than planned. As we get more crowded in Punggol, I forsee the patience of the Punggolians will drop further...

But many will tell me, that's the 'speciality' about living in Punggol. It's a quiet and youthful estate, unlike the cluttered mature estates... But of coz after living in a kampong style Yishun that has Chong Pang Market just 5min walk away for 20+ yrs + another 2+ yrs in the all accessible Bishan, I really need more time to get used to living in a non-happening and ulu Punggol lolz...

However, I am grateful I have great neighbours and the neighbourhood is brightly lit. I will appreciate there are less irresponsible investors who rent their new homes to foreigners though... Please think about the safety of others too, especially those with young children...

Other than us trying to adjust ourselves, I can see Jamie's frustration and stress too. So much so she fell badly ill. Her fever had been going up and down like roller coaster, however she looked perfectly sober and active. I can only think that she is fighting her own anxiety in her own ways... It's really not easy for a little child like her having to go through the change of a new home and a strange place called school...

Having to cope with insecurity and fear of being left behind is really not easy. I feel really guilty to put her through all these. But my hubby thought this can make Jamie stronger if she can adapt to it faster than expected. However, she is just a young child.. I really hope I am not doing the wrong thing...

I guess other than ourselves and Jamie, my poor helper had a hard time coping in the new home too. The chores are never the same now in the new home because the materials the house is made of and the design is different from my MIL. My MIL doesnt have a built-in stove or hood. She doesnt have kitchen cabinet or vanity. So it's all new to both me and my helper. We are thankful that our design Sean is willing to go through the hassle to teach me how to maintain all these materials in the house. Thanks Sean!!!

He is really a trustworthy and reliable ID who is more than an ID to us now! He is now our friend too!!! And I always to joke about how my hubby will be nagged by Sean for 'destroying' his design concepts of the TV consoles by messying it up with cable wires :P

I guess I feel better already talking about all these stress... Though it takes time to adapt and adjust, I believe we can do it de :D And we can do it well.. building and maintaining and protecting our very own nest...

Movie Review - Xmen First Class

If you are a Xmen or/and Marvel fan, this movie is not to be missed!

It kinda of sum up all the Xmen's series together, telling us how did everything come about:
- How did Prof X and Magneto come about?
- How did the two of them fall apart?
- How did Prof X became handicapped though he seemed so powerful?

And many other questions that popped up in our heads every now and then as we watched the Xmen series.

Like the part wheh Hugh Jackman came on screen as Wolverine. The whole cinema was like screaming uncontrollably!!! OMG... And I did as well~ But pity he did not join the team this early.

Was pretty shocked to know that Prof X was such a flirt in his younger days, using his powers to woo and please girls in the pub. Was surprised to know that Mystic actually likes Prof X initially and what made her turn towards Magneto eventually.

Understood why Magneto was so bitter about humans. It all boiled down to a bad childhood and loneliness and fear of non-acceptance created by the human race. Though its cruel, but we had to admit few humans will acknowledge even the same kind from another country, not to mention a different kind. However, we need to sympathised with most who are fear of the unknown.

It was really sad to see the Mutants fall apart... Afterall, they only have each other. This scene is such a trademark. I cannot but be reminded when the two mutant seniors were allies and great friends.



The actions were great though some may hope for more graphics.

I was shocked to see Hank there in human form. He was so different from the Hank in the Xmen series. He was unable to even accept himself in this drama. The Hank who became the mutant diplomat in the ministry was so much more confident.

After watching this movie, I feel like watching Xmen series all over again...

New House Almost Ready!!!

Past few weekends had always been about the new house.

Am really happy and grateful to my ID who rushed the work for us so as to meet our targeted dateline. But seriously looking at the amount of work to be done, we are really surprise he could complete the reno in less than a month. Most importantly, the job was really well done :D

We really like what we see...

THE RENOVATION PROGRESS

We took 2-3 weeks to confirm the reno design because we went on a short trip during the Labour Day long weekend plus we took some time to think through about the ceiling design to achieve the ambience we want.


17/05/2011 (Tues)
1. Confirm reno design, materials and colours

19/05/2011 (Thur)
1. Measurement for carpentry works
2. Fabrication started in the back end after the measurement

21/05/2011 (Saturday)
1. Bought sink, stove, hood, taps, toilet accessories etc
2. Bought all lights and ceiling fans

23/05/2011 (Mon) to 27/05/2011 (Fri)
1. All Wet Works are done (kitchen base, washing machine base, bathroom kerb etc)
2. All Ceiling Works (living room, dining room and master bedroom)
3. All Painting
4. Acid Wash
5. All Electrical Works and Piping Works
6. Select the grilles and wallpaper we want.
7. Vanity overhead panel

















30/05/2011 (Mon) to 03/06/2011 (Fri)
1. All Carpentry done - kitchen cabinet, master bedroom wardrobe, master toilet vanity, living room cardboard, bomb shelter, bay window, tv console in living room and master bedroom.
2. All Lights up and working
3. Bought roller blinds for 3 bedrooms
4. Aircon installation
5. All Ceiling Fans installation





















Seems that the house is all ready for move in?

Just a bit more till the official move-in date :D

1. Wallpaper for living room and master bedroom
2. Rubber lamination for 3 bedroom
3. Windows and grills for service balcony
4. Grilles for 3 bedrooms and living room
5. Mounting the top layers of the kitchen cabinet and vanity cabinet in master bathroom
6. Installing of stove and hood
7. Installing of sink pipes and taps
8. Paint touch-up
9. Buy basic electrical appliances like rice cooker, electrical flask
10. Buy basic utensils and cutleries

So looking forward to see everything done next week :D