Monday, December 31, 2012

Thankful Today {29th - 31st December}

And to wrap up the Thankful Today series, here's to close 2012 . . .


29th December . . .


2012
It truly was a year where I found myself looking ever more to God for perseverance and wisdom to be the best mother I could be to Julianne. It was also a year where we looked to him for encouragement as a family when the going got tough with Yeye fighting for his life in the ICU, subsequently losing the battle to infection.  It was a year of God's providence and grace, a year of his faithfulness that was unfailing and steadfast, a year of drawing on His strength through those tiring days caring for Jules, a year of humbling ourselves and acknowledging that His ways were greater than ours.  Being thankful for all that God has done and looking forward to what He has in store for us in 2013! 

30 December . . .

Days ahead
I end each year not knowing what God has in store for me in the year ahead.  But I also end each year recounting all those clear blue sky days and cloudy days and giving thanks that through the good and not so good days of the year, God's grace and love keeps me standing firm on His solid ground and growing in my faith as I learn through the bad times to trust in Him, and through the good times to be thankful.  And that's just how my days ahead will be - both clear blue skies and cloudy skies but I hope I'll be like that tree, standing unwavering in my faith.

31st December . . .

Resolutions
Love - that's my resolution for 2013.  To continue to expand my capacity to love.  To love my husband, my daughter and my family more than I ever have this year.  To continue loving the job that I've been in for the past 8 years, to teach my daughter love and above all, to love God with all my heart, my mind and my soul.  It's not the easiest resolution to keep because I know there'll be those days when the husband may irritate, when Julianne may be difficult, when family may upset me, when the boss just makes me hate my job and when things don't go my way and I wonder where God is.  And all I want to do is just snap at everyone.  It's then that I need to remind myself to love and I want to do more of that in 2013.  Be a better wife, a better mother, a better daughter, sister and friend.  A better child of God.  Be better at loving.  

Thankful to God for my 2012 and looking forward to walking each day of 2013 with Him.  

Melbourne

It was a long awaited holiday - we booked the tickets in June and I was really looking forward to my first trip in 2 years and excited (perhaps anxious at times) that it was Julianne's first holiday overseas!!  Melbourne was a first for me.  I've covered most of the cities in Australia and Melbourne remains the one major Australian city I've yet to step foot on.   

Well being her 1st overseas trip, I really didn't quite know what to pack (or not pack) along with us.  I started packing for her 3 weeks before the trip.  All that time, Julianne saw the suitcase in her room filling up - I bet she was wondering in that little brain of hers what was going on.  It probably all made sense when we got into the apartment and unpacked all her stuff! 

There were a few things I was rather anxious about: how she would take to her first flight, her sleep routine and environment and fear that she'll fall sick while we were there.  I had no doubt that she'll actually enjoy being in a different place since our daughter loves exploring anything and everything that is new plus we had my parents and younger sis with us so she was still amongst familiar faces.  In the end, she proved to be a champion traveller I was really proud of her.  She slept throughout all but the first and last 30 minute of our 7 hour flight to Melbourne, she slept so well in the nights - even better than she does back home, adjusted well to having just 1 nap a day and ate so well on the trip - enjoying the different types of breads (which she LOVES) and polishing up her porridge which warmed her tummy in the cool (sometimes cold) weather.  Of course having my parents and sister with us made all the difference - with extra pair of hands to entertain her or help with preparing her meals.  We usually travel as a family anyways, so this trip wasn't going to be any different - you bet Julianne loved all that attention she got from everyone having all of us with her 24/7 the entire week.

Travelling with Julianne meant that our itinerary had to take into consideration making time for her afternoon naps - since she is one baby who won't fall asleep in her pram while allowing you to shop around.  I was prepared for her to skip her morning naps which was something she already started doing on some days since she turned one so thankfully that didn't turn her into a cranky monster.  Despite spending 2-3 hours each afternoon back in the apartment I think we got a fair bit of the city covered.  And lazing around the apartment wasn't a bad thing.  We scored an upgrade at our service apartment on the Southbank and so found ourselves with a unit that had a nice big but cosy hall with comfy couch to laze on, a huge kitchen for mum to pot around and enough space for the little one to explore like it was a big playground!  Perhaps the only one thing I wished we did on this trip was taking the Great Ocean Road drive to see the Twelve Apostles.  We did rent a car - a huge 8 seater Kia Family Mover which was really comfy for everyone (so much so that Dad thinks our next car should be a car like this so that we can all move around in one car) but the GOR was a good 4 hours drive so making that a day trip would just be too tiring for the husband who took charge of the wheels and on Julianne.  And since it was Julianne first trip, I didn't really want to stress her (or myself) with a side trip.   Well, it's just reason to come back and the next time, we'll throw in Phillip Island to check out the cute penguins lined up in a row as well! 

Here are some highlights of our trip and some of my favourite photos from what was a truly an enjoyable break!   

A photo of Juless' first flight.  I had intentionally choosen a red-eye flight in the hope that she'll sleep it through and I'm so glad she did just that.  She was fussy for a few minutes while we were taxi-ing preparing for take off but the minute we took off, I nursed her and she fell right into slumber for the next 6 hours in her bassinet.  
On her first flight
  
We got really comfortable at the Quay West Suites which was to be our home for the next 1 week.  For some reason, we usually stay in service apartments for our trips to Australia so that we can prepare our own breakkie, stock the fridge up with snacks and drinks.  And since I had to prepare meals for Jules, it was all the more reason to stay in an apartment.    
Home away from home

The institutional Queen Victoria Market.  It's somewhat like the markets in Fremantle over in Perth but here, they carry fresh seafood and meats as well.  Don't recall the Fremantle markets having a fresh food section.  On our first visit there, we picked up a fresh cooked lobster and some cooked tiger prawns for lunch! It was soooo good, Dad and the hubs went back again over the weekend and picked up the same items (except this time the lobster was almost twice the size of what we got the first time round).  It was easily one of the best meal we had right in the comforts of the apartment - plus mum cooked up some of her famous butter rice with leftover ham that we had in the fridge! Oohhh, I'm drooling just thinking about that lunch.  Julianne also met Santa for the first time at the market and we also sank our teeth into some freshly fried american donuts from a donut van! 
At the Queen Victoria Market

Markets!! I heart open air markets where you find fresh produce and little yummy treats like freshly baked scones and delicious melt-in-your mouth vanilla bean butter biscuits.  And because markets like these in Australia tend to open only on selected Saturdays or Sundays of the month, we were likely to be there over the 3rd Saturday of the month to visit the Gasworks Saturday market where we picked up some homemade jams, pistacho nuts and fresh vegetables which I used to prepare Jule's soup stock.  We also chanced upon a small indoor flea market while out at the supermarket on Saturday evening where I picked up some handmade clothes for Jules and Sophie.  
To Market to Market

Yarra Valley was on our list of places to visit more for the husband and Daddy than any of us.  It was also for us to take a drive and get away from the city.  I had the long day out planned out - packed Jule's milk in our fridge-to-go for her afternoon milk feed and brought my breastpump along knowing that we won't going to get home before my next scheduled pump.  But what do you know, I brilliantly left the battery pack in the apartment.  And even if there was a power socket at the vineyard where we were planning to have lunch, I would need an international adaptor.  So with lots of prayer we (a) managed to find a travel adaptor at the strip-mall we drove past and (b) found that the handicapped toilet at the restaurant actually had a power socket in there where I could pump.  Really by God's grace.  So back to Yarra Valley.  We ended up only visiting one vineyard partly cos we kinda got lost on route to the Valley and so didn't have much time to go vineyard-hopping.  But we did have a really yummy lunch and wine at the Innocent By Stander with time to spare for the little quaint shops in the town on Healesville before taking a slow drive back to the city where all of us (including Jules) fell asleep in the car.  
Yarra Valley

Catching up with Dad's old friend - Uncle Albert who migrated to Australia many years ago.    We had our fill our wagyu beef with him at a Japanese restuarant on our 2nd night in Melbourne and then met up with him again at his home the day before we left.  That was also probably the highlight of the trip for Jules where she got up close with Mocha, the cocker-spaniel.  I'm embarrassed to say I spent the time in the garden staying in the corner close to the house just in case the dog came pounding on me while my fearless daughter was standing there right next to the dog feeding him his chew toy and stroking his well-groomed fur.  Jules loves dogs.  She goes for walks with grandpa everyday only because she wants to see the doggies at the park.  She also recognises our house by the doggie plague with our house number at our gate.  So you can imagine just how thrilled she was when she actually got to touch the dog.  She almost went slightly hysterical.
Julianne meets Mocha

Introducing Julianne to the sea the waves and the sand.  We don't head to our local beaches very often.  Partly because I'm not a fan of the sea and also because our beaches here are sadly so littered, they're not the best places to bring the little one.  The beaches overseas are just so much more pleasant to be at.  We headed to the St Kilda's beach one morning where Jules took in the sound of the waves, smell from the sea water and the strong sea breeze blowing into her face! I think she found it quite quite an experience.  We would have stayed longer but it got rather cold (crazy considering it's summer in Australia) for everyone so we literally ran to our car to hide from the cold.  I really would love to bring her to beaches more often if only we had cleaner ones here. 

St Kilda's Beach

The one too many good meals we had on the trip.  This is what you expect when you travel with my dad or with any Koh for that matter.  Every night was a good meal - lest for the Chinese takeaway we had in the apartment after our Yarra Valley drive when we decided to just stay in and chill having driven the entire day.  I'll rate the wagyu sushi we had at the Taxi Dining Room as probably the single best thing I ate on the trip.  That piping hot jam donut at the Victoria Market comes a close 3rd after our lobster lunch.  Oh and what turned out expectantly good was also the hot spicy bowl of soupy pho that Uncle Albert brought us to.  That was our last dinner in Melbourne which probably also explains why it was so good cos I think we were all starting to get withdrawal symptoms from chilli and hot soup - just can't run away from our Asian blood.  

Food glorious food

And that wraps up our Melbourne holiday!! It was a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing holiday!  Just the other day, my sis and I were talking about how we miss the place, chilling and relaxing in the apartment and bringing Jules out twice a day - a routine we got so used to while there.  Well that's why it's called a holiday - something special to look forward to.  We do hope to bring Jules on another trip or two next year - possibly Bali and Hongkong - we'll see how those plans pans out.  

Till the next holiday then!   

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Thankful Today {24th - 28th December}

24th December . . .

Star
There wasn't any way for me to take a photo of the Star of Bethlehem so this was taken off the internet.  Just a day to Christmas and we're reminded about Christmas beyond turkey and presents of the true meaning of Christmas and the reason we celebrate.  Thankful for the birth of Christ and the Christmas Star that revealed the birth of Christ to the Wise Men.  I can only imagine it must have been awesome to be at the house of Jesus to see him lying in the manger.  

25th December . . .

Christmas
Nothing like basking in the love of family at Christmas and taking time to be thankful for the year and all of God's providence that is always, always more than we ever need. 

26th December  . . .

Journey
At 14 months, Julianne remains exclusively breastfed - a journey that I embarked on since her birth and one that I'm very thankful I'm still on today.  I'm thankful for understanding bosses that know I need to use the nursing room regularly while at work and thankful that today, I still have sufficient supply to meet her daily milk intake with extra to freeze away in  the milk bank.  I've no plans to wean her just yet and would love to continue on this journey till both of us are ready to be weaned.

27th December . . . 

Someone
Thankful for that one person who has given me tireless support in the past year as I coped with my new demands of motherhood.  For putting up with my impatience, for allowing me to vent on him when the going got tough, for sharing the load of parenting and for being an awesome papa to our daughter.  Really couldn't have made through the year without him standing by me.  

28th December . . .

Where I walked
This is the street where we live - a street Julianne is very familiar with cos we take her for walks daily at the nearby park connector.  Ask her where is our house and she'll point it out to you as we walk past it.  I've been walking this street since I was a kid - it's the same street my dad grew up on and I'm glad my daughter and I are now walking on it the way grandpa did when he was a child.    

My 2nd Christmas

Today with have a guest writer.  She just celebrated her 2nd Christmas and tells me she has lots to say about how that went for her.

**********

Hello everyone!

Merry Christmas!! I sure hope you had a really good time feasting, getting lots of presents and basking in your family love - just like how I pretty much spent my Christmas.  Mama says it was my 2nd Christmas but it feels like the 1st to me since I was all but 7 weeks old at my 1st Christmas last year and pretty much spent my Christmas eve bringing down the Japanese restaurant my parents brought me to for our Christmas eve dinner thinking that I would actually appreciate the tempura and chawamushi! 

This year's Christmas was way more cool! I got to dress up in pretty dresses, put on my dancing shoes and danced with my cousin Sophie, ripped off the many Christmas wrappers and got to keep the many presents that laid underneath and saw my many other baby cousins, yiyis and uncles, grandaunts and granduncles.  I went around giving people Christmas smiles and waves cos Mama says that's what we do at Christmas - Give.  And since I don't know how to buy presents, you people just have to make do with my sweet Christmas smile.  

I really was very happy over Christmas.  It was like Melbourne holiday Part 2.  I think I enjoyed myself too much that I'm now down with a mild cold.  All Mama's fault - she gave me one too many Ribena treats over the holiday season!  They were really yummy sweet though! 

Ok, got to go.  Mama says I am very lor-so - write too much.  Anyway, did you know my Papa loves taking photos.  So here's me at my 2nd Christmas.  I hope you had a blast! 

Mama says if I'm good, she'll let me guest-star n her blog again.  Till then, have a fabulous end to your 2012 and I'll see you in 2013!! 

Ta-ta for now! 

Lots of wet kisses,
Julianne

My 2nd Christmas

Monday, December 24, 2012

Blessed Christmas



May the love of Christ and the warmth of Christmas fill your home and hearts this Christmas! 

Blessed Christmas one and all!! 

In His love and ours, 
Sherri, Piao & Julianne

Thankful Today {22nd - 23rd December}

Phew ... finally caught up (somewhat) ...

22nd December . . . 

Room
Like a boss.  This photo is classic.  Julianne missed stairs so much while we were on our trip to Melbourne, she got so excited when she saw the staircase at Uncle Albert's home she climbed up happily and found herself in the middle of his family area.  She must have decided that it was a good place to do a quick pose.  Gotta love my daughter's sassiness! Thanking God for her oh so adorable disposition! 

23rd December . . .

Celebration
When Julianne celebrated her first birthday two months ago, it was like I should celebrate too for making it past the first year! It has been the most humbling one year for me ever with so much about her life I am so thankful for.  Looking forward to celebrating her many more birthdays with her! 

Thankful Today {15th Dec - 21 Dec}

Playing catch up with Thankful Today ....  Here's being thankful for the week past. 

15th December . . .

Walk
When Julianne took her first steps at 11 months, 2 weeks and 4 days, it was a proud moment for me **sniff sniff**.  Such a milestone and I truly give thanks for how well she's developing.  At the peak of her reflux, I was getting worried that her struggle with putting on the weight would affect her development - just how wrong was I.  

16th December . . . 

Small
Ooh just how small are those tiny hands compared to her Uncle Jude's.  I know I'm going to miss those tiny hands that reaches out to feed me her puffs or carrots or to stroke my face.  Don't grow up too fast Julianne.  

17th December . . .

Bright
Brightly lighted lanterns which we put up year after year to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival.  There's something about celebrating such traditions with my family that warms my heart and I'm thankful that in this home, some things just don't change, just the way my paternal granny would have done things if she was still around today.  

18th December . . .


Gift
This year's Christmas gift for my colleagues at work.  For years now, I've made it a point to present my colleagues with something home-made for Christmas.  Usually a cupcake or something I bake but there were also years when I gave each one a jar of cocoa powder topped with mashmallow for them to prepare their very own hot chocolate drink.  Or the other year when I made almond butter in packed them into little jam jars.  This year after a year's haitus (cos I was on maternity leave last year), they'll each be getting a slice of fudgy chocolate brownie (recipe courtesy of Jamie Oliver), topped with a little Christmas cupcake topper.  Giving thanks that I work with a wonderful bunch of people ... does make the office all that more a better place. 

19th December . . .

Round
Can't say no to cakes.  Realised that this year, all our birthday cakes were round.  Starting with the chocolate cake I baked for the husband for his 36th and then Julianne's special 1st birthday cake ending off the year with my cake from the good people at Patissier.  Thankful for God's providence year after year as we blow out the candles on our cakes.  

20th December . . .


7 o'clock
This is the 7 o'clock in the morning face that I wake up to everyday.  Such a wonderful way to start my day and I count my blessings everyday to have this little sunshine in my life!!! 

21st December . . .


Dinner
p/s: photo not representative of what we have for dinner everyday.  just couldn't find a photo of mum's home-cook meal


Dinners are a huge deal for me.  On weekdays with everyone away at work and school in the day, dinnertime is just about the only time when the family sits down to catch up with each other.  In our family, we make it a point to have dinner together everyday.  I'm thankful that we're usually able to have everyone at the table 3 out of 5 days.  Mondays are Bibles Study Fellowship days for Dad and Sam and the sister is usually out for date-nights on Fridays. 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Thankful Today {8th - 14th Dec}

I'm terribly behind with Thankful Today posts.  Here's being thankful for 2 weeks past ....

8th December ...


Preparation 
Here's our bags on the last day of our Melbourne trip as we scrambled to get our luggages packed.  They were 1/2 filled when we came - and clearly filled to the brim on our return leg.   Truly thankful for a wonderful trip and His journey mercies.

9th December ...


Family
Four words.  Can't Do Without Them.  And this year, I am particularly thankful to have my elder sis, brother-in-law and sweet niece Sophie home for good.  It has got to be the highlight of our year with the family finally united again after having them away for 9 years.

10th December ...


Blue


That big blue sky and vast expanse of sea - this was taken at St Kilda's Beach in Melbourne.  Reminded me that across oceans and continents, we shared the same big sky that God created.  That made me thankful for God's beautiful creation.

11th December ...


Everyday
View from the plane at the crack of dawn as we were about to land in Melbourne.  Giving thanks for God's mercies that are new every morning, every day.  "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness" ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

12th December ...


Growth
My greatest privilege this year was seeing Julianne grow.  She's still a little kampung chicken today but there's no denying that she has done lots of growing up in the past year - physically, developmentally and emotionally.  Am extremely thankful to be there month after month seeing her grow up into the little toddler she is today.  

13th December ...

Write
I'm a planner so when it comes to Julianne's mealtimes, I prefer to plan ahead her meals for the week and write them down on a menu planner.  They sometimes don't go according to plan of course since it also depends if my mum has got the ingredients on hand.  And on that note, we've been teaching her to be thankful for her food by saying her grace before mealtimes.  

14th December ...

Tree
That's our family friend - Uncle Albert's - lemon tree bearing fruits when we visited him on our trip to Melbourne recently.  The famous saying by Dale Carnegie that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonades is just like what the bible says - "To give thanks in all circumstances".  We can always make something good out of bad situations so let's be thankful.  

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Thankful Today {1st - 7th Dec}

This month, as 2012 draws to a close, I'm joining Mama J in giving thanks for an extraordinary year of growing, learning and loving.  

Here's the week's Thankful Today for ....

1st December ...

Beginning
I was reading my sister's blog where she posted this photo and was reminded about how God, who made the heavens and the earth, is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.  I was also reminded of those pre-Julianne years where we will attend watchnight service together to give thanks for the end and the beginning of the new year by renewing our convenant with God.


2nd December ...


Clean
That's the little one getting cleaned up after a day of running around, getting her hands on anything and everything with no understanding of the word "dirty".  I'm thankful that despite going back to work, I have managed to always leave work on time to get home in time for her bathe and have never once missed bathing her.  She loves bath time!! 

3rd December ...



Read
That's my lovely niece -Sophie.  Sophie's 3 and she LOVES to read.  I'm thankful for the many books she has passed on to Julianne.  Some of Julianne's favourite bedtime books today were once Sophie's favourite.  Looking forward to the cousins snuggling up at sleepovers under a cosy tent and reading their bedtime stories.  

4th December ...



Light
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" ... Psalm 119:105 .... Giving thanks for God's word that is our light to keep us walking on straight and narrow paths.

5th December ...


Smile
How not to love that smile?  I'm thankful for her smile, but above all, I'm thankful for her.  

6th December ...


Talk
This was a photo taken a couple of months back when Julianne was just about 5 months.  Its a familiar scene in my family, when we just gather around to chill, chit chat and catch up.  In fact it's something we make a point to do everyday after our dinner.  I'm thankful for family time.  It's not something I know every family in Singapore has the privilege to do given the busy life of individual family members but I'm thankful that in my family, we still find time to do that everyday.  


7th December ...



View
We were up on the Singapore Flyer recently and this was a view of the Singapore skyline by night.  The brightly lit lights was a reflection of a city that was very much alive and vibrant. We truly are fortunate to be blessed as a nation and I think that's something we take for granted sometimes.  

If you'll like to join us in giving thanks for this month of December, here's how



We're off to Melbourne in a couple of days.  I'll try posting next week's Thankful Today from over there.  Till then, have a fabulous week and remember to be Thankful! 

God bless! 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Letters to Julianne #18

Dearest Julianne, 

How was your first month as a toddler little pumpkin?  Well, if your development and chattiness is anything to go by, Mama thinks you're having a time of your life and enjoying every bit of toddlerhood, lest for the few days you were under the weather as a result of your post-MMR vaccination jab!

I sometimes forget you're already 1.  I don't think anything has changed very much for me since you turned one.  You're still that little baby to me, still needing lots of cuddles, lots of tricks and distractions to make you eat your food and that once or twice middle of the night nursing that you crave, for comfort more than anything else. 

If there's anything that has changed, it has got to be your growing ability to understand and communicate with us.  We have not progressed beyond the "bye-bye", "Papa", "Mama" that you can say but I think we've made huge progress in terms of you understanding what we say.  When we ask you something, you can reply with "Yes" or "No" fairly accurately by nodding or shaking your head, although sometimes you have trouble with your coordination when noddling your head.  You understand simple instructions like "take out your diaper" or "wear your shoe" when you will proceed to ripping off the sticky tape on your diaper or pointing to your shoes on the staircase.  You have learnt some body parts and can correctly point to your nose (which you will ungracefully end up picking) and your belly button.  When we ask "where's Juju?", you will pat yourself on the chest - kinda like King Kong.  You do the same action when you're scared - like when you see the vacuum cleaner (I think the sound of the vacuum cleaner scares you).  And this one is my favourite - when we ask you to Praise God, you'll raise both hands high up in the air - model sunday school student in the making!! I think God must be rather tickled! : )

You're like a sponge, absorbing so much everyday just by observing what we do around you, the words we say and our every little action.  When you spill water on the floor, you will voluntarily pull a tissue, squat down and wipe the spill.  I say OCD while cleanliness obsessed Por Por says good girl and that everyone else in the family should be ashamed of ourselves because we're not as clean as you.  Spoiling market at this age?  Por Por also thinks that the fact you will go to a corner and squat whenever you do a poo poo also means you that you may well be ready to be potty trained.  Mama thinks not quite yet.  

Well other than the fact that you're still pretty much a kampung chicken, I think we're pretty please with your development.  You are getting to be quite a handful at home having to watch over you constantly and run after you especially now that you're completely mobile and running even.  Por Por can't keep up anymore.  We are looking at putting you into a playgroup of sorts once you turn 18 months just to help move you along with your social skills before sending you for pre-nursery when you turn 3 in 2014.  Did I tell you that we've already registered you for your pre-N class?  Yup, Mama did that on your 1st birthday.  Well not quite registered but we've gotten your name down on the list so that the school can buzz Mama once registration opens in March next year.

This month, you spent your first night away from home when we took you along for our weekend staycation at the Four Seasons.  It was a little prelude to what is to come in about a week's time, when we scoot off together for our very first family vacation to Melbourne!! I am praying you do not bring the plane down with your screams and that you'll travel well.  We opted for a red-eye flight in the hope that you'll sleep (although I've been warned that toddlers like you usually aren't so co-operative on red-eye flights).  Would you like to proof that theory wrong? Please? 

You've got an exciting December in store.  There's Melbourne, your second Christmas (which I think you'll appreciate more this year - the lights and glitters at least - since you were all but 2 months all at your first Christmas last year) and lots of quality time with Mama and Papa.  I'm looking forward to it and I hope you are too! 

Happy 13th month my dearest Julianne!! We love you very very much!! 

I'm 13 months young!
Big kisses
Mama 


  

    

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Count Down ....


Melbourne in less than 2 weeks!! First flight out in 2 years!!  Can't wait!! And look who's all ready for her virgin overseas vacation!

Mama says I'm going on a holiday!!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Just once a year . . .

We found ourselves back at the Four Seasons just the weekend past, a 'tradition' we've been keeping to for the last four years since we got married except for the one year we were away in LA.  With both my birthday and our anniversary in the month of November, it was always good reason for us to pamper ourselves that once in a year.  And now, we have Julianne's birthday to add to the excuse for a staycation at the Four Seasons.  This year was also special because we were back with our little one in toll. thankful that we could now celebrate our wedding anniversary with an extra special someone. 

It was embarrassingly also the very first time we as parents took care of Julianne for a entire 24 hours (we were there for a 2-night stay but met up with my folks for dinner on the 2nd night) all by ourselves - no grandparents to take her off us so that we could have some alone time nor helper to help me wash my pump parts after I was done with expressing.  

I appreciated the quality time we got to spend with her and each other and I think she too was savouring all that attention she was getting from us - must have been wondering in that little mind of hers how come I get Papa and Mama all to myself this weekend?  She refused to be put down to sleep unless her Papa - who was watching tv in the hall outside - was in the room with us (something she didn't need back home).  While she was totally excited by the new surroundings in the hotel room, busy exploring every nook and cranny and loving particularly the toilet (not hard to understand why since it is quite a gorgeous toilet) and the dustbin, it took her a while to settle down for her sleep on the first night.  Not surprisingly since she has not slept elsewhere (including day time naps - lest for the once or twice at my sister's) other than home for the past year.  She did much better on night 2 though, sleeping for a longer than usual stretch even before waking up for her middle of the night snack.    

It was a good break and a trial run of sorts for us in preparation for our upcoming trip to Melbourne.  At least now I know I won't have to lug so many toys with me cos she ended up exploring the room and wasn't so interested with the toys I had brought along.  Can't wait!! 

Our weekend getaway

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