三只小猪

Jules went on her very first school excursion last week and judging from the fact that she has gone around telling everyone (including Dr V whom she visited for her jab yesterday) who would hear her out "pig! pig!" followed by a pretty convincing "blowing" action, I think she had a blast of a time! 

As Jules is under 2 years, the school required that a parent accompanies the child.  So I tagged along and got a chance to see how the little pumpkin interacted with her friends and teachers in school.  

The school brought the kids to the Singapore Repertory Theatre's play of The Three Little Pigs in Mandrine - 三只小猪.  It was SRT's The Little Company's very first Mandrine production and I have to say they did a fabulous job!  

This is the first SRT production for children that I have seen and I have to say I am impressed.  The casts were able to engage their little audiences with their ocassional funny dialogue, the props and costumes were colorful and well designed and the music was catchy enough for the young ones to wanna clap along!  The entire dialogue is in Mandrine - not that Jules understood anything (I mean even if it was in English, she wasn't going to understand much of it) but she definitely knew what the story was about which to her just means 2 things - pig and blow.  Thanks to this Barney video, she has a rough sense of what the 3 Little Pigs story is about.  So when the school asked if I wanted to bring her to watch the play, I thought it would be great for her to see the story unfold before her very eyes.  

We prepped her the night before, and told her that tomorrow was going to be a special day and that she was going on an outing with all her friends and teachers to watch the 3 Little Pigs.  We also told her that she would get to wear her special jersey uniform, with her very own name on it.  She must have been dreaming of it all night cos she woke up exceptionally early the next morning and the first thing she said after her usual morning roll-call of everyone at home was "pig"!

It's so adorable just seeing all the little kids line up (choo choo train style) to get ready to board the bus.  They got everyone buckled in and as the bus went off, the teachers led them in the "Wheels on the Bus" song.  All the excited faces - too cute!! And our daughter, all she lasted in the seat buckled down was 15 minutes before the novelty of sitting on a bus died and up she was wanting to climb around the seats.  I can totally understand why they insist parents of children below 2 had to come along.  

All in all, a lovely morning spent with Jules.  She had fun and I relived a little bit of childhood through her that morning. 

The next school adventure, her Papa will go with her.  I think they'll have a blast too!! 

Tomorrow, 28 Jul is the last day for 三只小猪.  Unfortunately, I think only single seat tickets are left.  SRT's The Little Company's next production is the The Tale of the Frog Prince.  Check it out with your little ones if you can!  I think we will be doing just that! 

Talking Points #4

As she approaches 21 months, Jules spent her last month picking another whole lot of new words. Sometimes, you feel like you can have a conversation with her already!

New words this month . . .

People

Jude (Finally mastered my brother-in-law's name.  Now is to teach her to piece Uncle and Jude together)

Aunty (She'll call any random lady we see on the streets "aunty")

Uncle

Food

Bread

Puff (Although her cereals are also puffs)

Body Parts (Has mastered saying most of her body parts.  We're still working on her 10 little fingers and toes)

Nose

Hair

Eye

Ear

Mouth

Armpit (She finds this word particularly funny and will always break into laughter after we point to her armpit and ask her what it was)

Leg

Hand

Manners (Can say these words but unfortunately has not learnt to say them spontaneously.  Still has to be told to say her please and sorry.  We're still working on the "Thank you")

Please

Sorry 

Animals/Insects

Ants

Kitty (Refers both to cats and Hello Kitty - no I was not crazy enough to buy her the MacD Hello Kitties. We just happen to have some Kitty stuff toys at home)

Phrases

What is this? 

This one (Used whenever she is trying to tell us her preferred choice of books/toys/food/outfit etc)

Characters

Elmo (She's currently going through a serious Elmo phase.  She usually calls for me when she wakes up from her nap.  Yesterday, she called out for Elmo.  Enuff said.)

Others

Dirty

Down

Kim (For cream.  She's a little obessed with creams - moisturising cream I mean.  She likes to dunk her finger into bottles of body/hand/face cream and smear them on herself and others) 

Mask (Thanks to the haze.  During the week when the haze was at its peak, we made sure that she had her mask on whenever we left the house.  She would only put it on if she saw us with it too.  By the time she got into the habit of wearing it, the haze was gone - thankfully)

Mop (I told you before she has a little OCD)

Pain pain

Pants

Shirt

Smile (She LOVES hijacking our phones and taking selfies.  She'll either go "smile" or "cheese")

Swim 

Up

And this, is my favourite! After hearing us whenever we prayed together or for her, she has learnt to close our prayers.  The minute I say "In Jesus name we pray", she'll go "Ah-meh".  Sometimes, she says it even before I can finish closing the prayer.  It really is quite precious. 

Enjoy your new found vocabulary my little munch'kin! 

Too much fun!

With my brother-in-law away, my sis brought Sophie over just to hang out and chill.  And with the drizzle that put a damper on our plans for the pool, it was the perfect excuse to bring out the under-used waddling pool.  Under-used cos it is such a chore pumping up that inflatable pool - but so worth it after seeing how much fun the kiddos had in it!  They ended up spending more than an hour in it! 

Jules had so much fun (a little too much) over the weekend, she kept waking up from her sleep on Sunday night (too much stimulation) and was calling out "Che Che" at one point.  She really adores her cousin - although she also really needs to learn that that adoration must come with learning how to share. 

We also recently got her a lady bug wheely from the Better Toy Store.  Whenever we're at my sister's place, she'll insist on riding on Sophie's wheely.  As with everything else (from water bottles to scooter), we believed the only reason she liked it was cos it was her Che Che's.  But I caved in eventually and decided to get her one.  Well thankfully, it hasn't become abandoned (yet).  For now, she loves riding on it clowning around the house. Very adorable to watch. 

Wheely good time!

Happy child after a weekend of fun!

It was a good weekend!  Hope you had a good one too!! 

Us by the beach - Gotta love her cheeky grin!

Letters to Julianne #25

Dearest Julianne, 

Happy happy 20 months Jujubee!!! Is it just 4 months to your 2nd birthday?  Gosh where did all that time go?  You are baby no more.  You've developed your own personality, your own character and your own temper.  You are starting to exhibit signs of the Terrible Twos - I smell nothing but trouble on the way.  Just last night, Mama had to spank you hands right?  Cos you were naughty when you pushed Che Che Sophie off the chair.  You haven't understood what "sharing" is and I feel a little sad seeing you behaving selfishly.  I think it's time we get serious with this disciplining business.  That's going to be the order of the day once your Papa gets home from his business trip.  

We're having a bit of a quiet spell here at home with both Papa and Yiyi Sam away.  But that just means lots of bonding time with Mama, Gong Gong and Por Por.  You've grown very attached to Por Por during this time, always looking out for her like when we were out over the weekend and she went to get something from the stall during lunch.  You realised she wasn't at the table and kept calling out for her.  You also insist she joins us in the bedroom every night and pats you to sleep as Mama nurses you.  They are the best aren't they?  Mama can't imagine how I'll cope without the support of your grandparents. 

Your biggest development in the last month must have been your speech.  You have picked up a whole bag of new words and say them rather spontaneously whenever you spy them with your eye and not just when we ask you to.  Like when we're out and you see the waiter filling our cups, you'll go "pour".  You're of course still learning to associate actions with words.  We've been trying to teach you what "drive" is - referring to Gong Gong driving the car.  But when we ask you what is Gong Gong doing, you'll go "car" instead of "drive".  Almost there baby, but not quite.  We learn slowly.  

We were plagued by the week of crazy haze so I pretty much kept you home and confined in the aircon room, including having your meals in there.  Not that you complained - aircon, tv and lunch.  What's there not to like.  We couldn't go cycling, couldn't play with bubbles outdoors so we spent alot of time just reading and making music with your little friends.  You love re-enacting circle time at home and will sit all your little animal pals in a big circle, take out your tambourine and xylophone and start singing.  I'm hearing some mish-mash of mandrine in your speech, I think you're trying to sing a Chinese song.  I just don't know what.  So I make up my own and you just happily sing along.  

I can see you're really enjoying school these days.  I'm very happy.  You've also started bringing home all these cute little handi-crafts you make in school.  Now that you're in toddler class, art and craft have become part of the curriculum.  You made Mama and Papa little gifts for Mothers' and Fathers' day.  There was also that Panda and Duck which you put together.  All so cute.  Reminded me of those days Yiyi Sam brought home her art work from school too.  So surreal that my daughter is doing the same now.  You don't show very much interest in coloring at home though.  It's Grandma's bedsheets that usually end up being coloured instead of the elephant in your colouring book.  You show more interest in reading and love climbing onto my lap for a good read.  You tend to me a little impatient though, also wanting to flip to your favourite page in the book.  But dancing and music still remains your all-time favourite. 

While the Terrible Twos phase slowly creeps in, I'm just thankful you haven't lost your sweet loving personality.  You are quite fair in showing people love.  When you kiss Gong Gong, you'll make sure Por Por also receives a kiss.  When Mama had a dengue-scare a few weeks ago and hit a high of 39.7 degC, you helped Dada sponge me on my back and head and took your job rather seriously if I may add - Daddy's little helper.  

Bubble fun!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jude

As you go in search of your own personality, my prayer is that you will remain sweet-natured with a big heart for God and His people.  That you will always embrace Love and shower it on the people around you just like they do you.  

Papa isn't around today to celebrate your 20th month but he got you lots of pressies and I'm sure all that will make you one happy 20 month old camper once he's home!  

Us on Fathers' Day

We love you soooo much Jujubee!! May God always shine His blessings on you so that you can shine shine shine for Jesus!!! 

Love, 

Mama

Solo

I'm solo parenting for the first time since Jules' birth.  I guess it *had* to happen at some point and when it did, it's for a good 11 days and at the exact same time her Yiyi Sam is also away. The hubs is away for a work trip to the US and UK.  Miss him lots. Miss the partner in our tag team who'll help with a diaper change, entertain Jules while I shower and pick her up from the cot in the wee hours of the night and bring her to me for her night comfort feeds.

I'm not sure how the daughter is feeling about not having her Papa around though.  The first time her Papa appeared on Skype, she just stared at the computer screen, not quite sure what to make out of the idea that her Papa was on screen - just like Barney in her Barney videos. The second time was slightly better, we figured she got the idea, plus with the littlest aunt also away in Australia, she kinda got use to this whole Skyping business. The past few days though, she has been ignoring her Papa whenever he comes on Skype.  I'm thinking she's quietly angry with him for not being around and throwing this "you-don't-want-to-be-home-so-I'm-not-talking-to-you-either" fit.

It thankfully hasn't been too bad.  Yeah for family.  For wonderful grandparents who entertain her in the evenings so that I can shower and get the room ready for bedtime.  It's rare to see grandpa feeding Jules her bowl of sweet potato soup for dessert or giving her a piggy-back ride around the room - things her Dada usually does. And there's Por Por who she insists must come to the bedroom to put her to pat her to sleep while I nurse her - our daughter likes crowds.  And nothing beats having her favourite cousin spend Sunday with her - even if it means fighting over a stool - hugs from her Che Che makes her day.

Cousin hugs

4 more nights to go!! I'm counting down.  I'm sure Jules is also secretly wondering where her Dada is and hoping every night she sees him before bed.  Well, wait till she sees all the goodies he's bringing back, I'm sure his disappearance will be all forgiven.

We miss you Papa!

Come back soon Papa!!