Balloon Twisting @ Vivocity

Whilst shopping at Vivocity, we came across a balloon twister..... so we stood in line and waited for our turn. Finally it was Chloe's turn - the balloon twister lady asked Chloe what she wanted and she shouted out 'Fish !!"......haha...... The $5 fish balloon entertained Chloe the entire afternoon and gave Clare and I some time to do some 'peaceful' window shopping.......

Mother's Day - Backdated

Chloe made me a gift for Mother's Day and here's her master pieces (of course with the help from her teacher). The feeling was just indescribable at that moment when she said "Mommy, I love you" as she presented her little handprint craft and DIY flower to me.


Oh Chloe's teacher mentioned that Chloe has the biggest palm size in her class of 6...haha

Bitter-sweet affair....

The global recession is somewhat a bitter-sweet affair for many. Bitter because people are losing jobs and taking pay-cuts, sweet because parents tend to be less busy at work and hence spend more quality time with their children at home. Nevertheless, with quiet confidence and cautious optimism I'm rather sure the recession will end sooner or later with the economy bouncing back to what it was before....... so I guess it is best to look on the bright side and focus our available time now on the people whom we love.

I am proud to say that Chloe has grown much more attached to me now than before. Personally, I would say that Chloe is perhaps more attached to me now than she is to Clare, but of course this "claim" of mine will be met by a fierce rebuttal from Clare (she would say that it is only because I give in to all of Chloe's whimsical demands, but none of it is true......hahaha). I can barely leave Chloe alone without her searching/looking for me !! When I leave home without her, she cries........ when she's feeling shy she clings on to me........when she's not feeling well, she would come to me for a warm and consoling hug....... and when it's her water-play time, it's me she looks for (and same goes for her bed time....). Earlier this morning when I got home after buying breakfast, Chloe who was lying comfortably on the living room couch heard me opening the main door and suddenly mutterred to her mom....."Papa....", got up quickly from the couch and ran to the door to greet and welcome me home!! It was such a nice and warm feeling to be missed when I'm gone, and I was only away for 20 minutes!!.....hahaha...

Chloe is also demonstrating progress in her communicative skills, and is getting more vocal these days........ She's able to communicate in sentences or at least a 'string of words', even though some of the things she utters could simply be an imitation of what she hears from others. A couple of days back, Chloe came home and all of a sudden uttered to her mom..."Everybody please sit on the mat"...... Clare looked at her blankly, then broke into laughter......haha.... must have been something the teacher said to the toddlers in school. On another ocassion while Clare was feeding Chloe porridge, Chloe for the very first time said to her mom....."Mommy, enough...." - Chloe used to turn her head away or simply refused to open her mouth when she's full. And now whenever Chloe's hands are dirty, she would say to her mom "Mommy, hands dirty cannot touch Nana" - which is something Clare has been re-iterating to her in the past. It's fun to have Chloe communicate with us using more than the usual 'one word or two'......

Other commendable developments include better recognition of places and people........ for example when we've reached home Chloe would never fail to recognise the brightly lighted coffeeshop in our neighbourhood and exclaim "Mommy, we're home...". And each morning when I approach the designated drop off point (near Chloe's child care centre), Chloe would recognise the building and automatically say "Bye bye daddy....". However, such good memory and recognition does sometimes pose a problem........every evening when we pick Chloe up from the childcare centre, we would walk past Sushi-Tei restaurant (@Far East Square) and Chloe would immediately run towards the restaurant entrance asking for her favourite japanese snack 'edamame' (soya beans)!! - so much so that we had to de-tour from the usual path that we normally take whilst walking from the childcare centre to the carpark. Chloe is also able to accurately recognise and distinguish the photos of her paternal grandparents from her maternal grandparents. Her singing skills have also improved..... now she can sing songs like "Happy Birthday" to the both of us (see video clip below)...... and she'll always sing it first to one of us, then to the other, ensuring she doesn't neglect either one of us.....haha....

Well, until the next update on Chloe's developments, here's "Proud Daddy" signing off.....

Waxing lyrical about Chloe

Ocassionally, Clare would have to work long hours at the office and I would end up bringing Chloe home all by myself. I would pick her up from the childcare centre, wash her hands, and fill up her Dora water bottle before we head home. Once back home, I would shower Chloe, dress her in her pajamas and make her a big warm bottle of milk. We would cuddle and spend some time in the living room either playing with her toys or reading story books. As I put her to bed and quietly watch her fall asleep, I can't help but think to myself "Gosh, she's beautiful.....". I am overwhelmed by a feeling that is difficult to articulate.........I guess, just like a cup of hot coffee on a cold rainy day, she warms my soul.

Past conversations with friends and colleagues on the topic of starting a family has truly been an eye opener. There is a spectrum of diversified opinions - ranging from those who can't imagine living life without kids, to those who just don't fancy them at all. Looking back, let's just say I was previously somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. I never did spend a lot of time with kids, which was probably why I was always apprehensive about how I would cope as a parent. How things have changed..........all I can say now is that even if you feel that you don't connect well with children, you WILL definitely love your own child. You will inevitably love them more than yourself. It may sound grossly cliche', but having your own child instils a sense of selflessness in a person.

The challenges and rewards of being a parent are unique - it is an experience which only parents would comprehend. It can be thoroughly exhausting, but utterly satisfying. Kids can make you laugh under the strangest and funniest circumstances - take Chloe for example. Clare would sometimes punish Chloe by sending her to a "naughty corner", complete with a good old-fashioned scolding that is accompanied by the ever-reliable cane (for scaring effect....haha). Guess what........Chloe subsequently began mimicking her mommy by placing her own piglet Nana at the same designated "naughty corner" and gave Nana a good scolding using the same cane!!! Hahaha......

Chloe is indeed the epicentre of our life, and we are eternally grateful for the joy that she has blessed upon us.

Happy "Niu" Year (Moo)

Chinese New Year is here again, and 2009 is the year of the Earth Ox. In chinese astrology, there are 5 elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water and the lunar calendar is represented by 12 chinese animal signs in a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. The twelve animal signs, according to a repeating cycle, are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar/Pig.

On the eve of CNY ( 年除夕), we visited the "River Hong Bao" festivities/celebration at the Marina Bay Floating Platform. The "River Hong Bao" event is organised annually and typically comprises a festive light up, accompanied by a display of lanterns as well as chinese horoscope predictions for each of the twelve animal signs.

Visiting the "River Hong Bao" event has become somewhat an annual routine for us, and it is always accompanied by a steamboat reunion dinner at my in-laws' home.

"River Hong Bao 2009" at the Marina Bay Floating Platform

On the 1st day of CNY (大年初一), we dressed Chloe in her lovely pink cheongsam top & pants which we had bought from Chinatown barely a week ago. In addition, Chloe also has a separate pink cheongsam dress, and there is also the blue cheongsam top/pants which was a gift from my mom..... Personally, I think Chloe appeared the sweetest in the pink cheongsam below...... I gave Chloe two mandarin oranges, and she was all set to go !!

I'm all ready with 2 mandarin oranges in hand !!

As usual, we visited Clare's godmother's home on the first day of CNY..... Chloe tends to be a little shy when it comes to meeting people or relatives whom she hasn't met for a while.....but kids being kids, they also tend to warm up to people fairly quickly (especially when they're offerered sweets or toys !! ......kids are just so easy to bribe....haha...).

As you can see from the pictures below, Chloe was 'monopolizing' the sweets/mixed jelly and I could tell she was hanging on to it pretty protectively....

Chloe has also developed the eagerness to open her angpows immediately when she receives them.......maybe she's starting to understand the concept of money....hahaha

Chloe couldn't take her eyes off the sweets....haha

Chloe with her cousins

Chloe with 'uncle' Kelvin and 'auntie' Christina....

On Day 2 of CNY (年初二), we visited my in-laws' home. To my amazement, even Jovious (the family dog) was all dressed up in CNY clothing, specially bought by Kelvin from Korea !! haha....

One big smile for our family photo.....cheeeese !

Ang Pows........here I come !!!

Jovious (the family dog) smartly decked out in CNY attire....

Chloe and Jovious sharing a cozy moment together...

Gong Xi Gong Xi (恭喜恭喜)

Chloe presented both her grandpa and grandma with mandarin oranges.

We also visited Stella and Kangwei to 'pai nian'

On Day 3 of CNY (年初三), we packed our bags and were all set to depart for my hometown KL. Throughout my last 9 years in Singapore, this is probably the first time I'm able to take time off to visit my parents during CNY...... I decided it was best we took a flight back, as I've been hearing tonnes of horrendous news/stories about the massive traffic congestions at the Tuas 2nd link.... and it is unlikely that Chloe will be able to withstand the boredom of being stuck in a jam on a car journey. My parents were of course delightfully surprised that we could head home, and my mom started her shopping spree almost a month in advance.......toys, educational DVD, etc.... I have to say that both Clare and I truly admire my mom's stamina and patience - she could spend the entire day entertaining Chloe and adhering to all of Chloe's demands, from the moment Chloe wakes up in the morning till the moment Chloe falls asleep at night. Chloe also loves climbing up and down the staircase at home with my mom, and did so umpteen times......Clare and I would just sit back, relax, munch on CNY goodies and catch up on DVDs......(which seems like a dream, now that we're back in Singapore running after Chloe ourselves.....hahaha)

My in-laws sending us off at the airport

'Nana' tagged along as well..... Chloe never leaves home without her darling Nana.... in fact, Nana was at the top of our packing list !!! haha....

Chloe posing affectionately with her Poh Poh

Ooooh......this red packet 'feels thick' !!

Chloe 'fishing' with Poh Poh......

Pastries, anyone ??

Chloe in a picture-perfect pose with Poh Poh and Gong Gong

Chloe is Two

Time files and at the blink of an eye, Chloe is 2 years old, no longer the little baby whom I first held in my arms when she was born. These past 24 months have been filled with lotsa joy n laughter and I am cherishing every moment spent with her. Whenever she tells either one of us "Mummy / Daddy 我 爱 你" or hum the mummy mummy I love you song(her own invention), it really makes our days.

It has been such joy watching her grow, seeing her little face light up, her cute n cheery laughter and her comical moves.


Chloe looking like a little dainty lady in this lovely dress..very soon my little gal will be all grown up.

Happened to chat with her school teacher this morning and I got a very good feedback of Chloe. Was told that she could take instructions from the teachers very well, is a very independent gal and a keen learner. Chloe, daddy & mummy are very proud of you! Hope you keep up the good learning attitude.

Birthday Celebration in School

This year we opted for a small celebration in her school with her classmates. Prior to the actual day, I brought home a couple of brochures and asked Chloe to choose a birthday cake for her birthday celebration. Amongst the different characters like Barney, Looney Tunes, Dora and Hello Kitty, she has chosen the Dora design (not to our surprise). We placed an order for a 2kg Dora birthday cake from ecreative and had our mini party at about 3pm after the kiddos woke up from their nap.

Our Birthday Gal

Chloe distributing chocolates/candies to her classmates

Let's dig in!

Present from Citikids.

Cuddly birthday hug from daddy

Happy birthday our dear Princess! Please know that u'll always be Daddy n Mummy's little Gem. Stay happy n healthy always!