Happy Birthday Dad!!

The 3rd birthday celebration Jules attended was Gong Gong's 64th birthday!  We had a simple family dim sum lunch at Royal China over at Raffles Hotel where Dad gamely and proudly worn his Birthday badge which the little sis made (he was a little shy about it to begin)!

Happy Birthday Dad!! 

Jules probably knows nothing about what a birthday means but she did wish her Gong Gong "Happy" that morning and planted a big kiss on his cheeks.  Jules adores my Dad!  She knows he is her go-to for fun and thrill - like jumping on the bed, doing somersaults or trying out some funny (at times dangerous) acrobatic stint.  She looks forward to Gong Gong coming home every evening and is always ready with a big hug and snuggle on his shoulder.  It warms my heart seeing my Dad break into a big smile every time Jules runs into his arms to give him a big tight hug ... so glad our daughter is helps add that sunshine to his day. 

Happy birthday Dad!! Thanks for being the awesome Dad you are, always still looking out for us (and now our kids) even when we've become parents ourselves.  Love you lots!!

Brought to you by the Number 4!

Jules' cousins - Sophie and Sean - were born exactly 1 week apart.  So you can imagine, with my sister now back, the month of August is like birthday parties galore!! Just over the National Day long weekend, Jules went to 3 birthday parties!! That must have been a record! And the result of that is a full-blown cough and a fever that doesn't seem to go away (but that's not the point of this post). 

So my little niece and nephew turned 4 this year!! (well technically, Sean doesn't till tomorrow) And their parents did what most 4 year old parents would do - throw them a party with all the crazy ideas and crafts, they never in their TKGS days thought they'll ever find themselves doing or scrambling to complete at 1am in the morning.  They must have been all "If my daughter wants Truffula trees on her cake, I just have to make sure Truffula trees appear on the cake".  "If my son wants a Robots theme, I better put together all that I learnt about Reuse & Recycle in school and create that Robot Centerpiece for his party"!  And as with all the parties they throw, my sis and sis-in-law did a fabulous job!! The good thing about having a younger kid - I can steal all these crazy party ideas when it's Jules' turn to turn 4! Haha! 

Jules was a little overwhelmed at Sophie's party having just woken up from her nap but at least she managed to have a go at the rainbow pinata, even if it was only after all the candies rained down.  

Sophie's Lorax-Themed 4th Birthday!

Yiyi Loraxes

We were also very late for Sean's pool side bash so she pretty much missed out on all the fun musical chair and pass-the-parcel games.  Plus it was the start of her flu so she wasn't in her usual cheery mood.   

Sean's Robot Themed 4th Birthday! 

But the birthday kiddos had fun and I guess that's all that matters! 

Happy birthday Sophie & Sean!!! Here's to more colorful birthday bashes and lots of candies and rainbows to fill your 4th year!! Till your 5th birthday!! 

Talking Points #4

Phrase of the week! "I want to ...."!  Our 21 month old Little Miss Chatterbox has taken to speaking more frequently in sentences of which her favourite has to be the "I want to ..." phrase.  

"I want to sleep", "I want to play, please", "I want to eat apple", "I want to sit", "I want to read, Piece (referring to the Missing Piece book which she's currently obsessed over)".  I still can't get over the fact that she's articulating her needs (or wants for that matter) so clearly now.  Hearing her actually speak proper words and sentences these days is such a milestone to celebrate I think and something we as parents are very proud of!  

Our little munch'kin is growing up so fast ... slow down Juju ... Mama still wants to savour your little baby days!

Letters to Julianne #26

Dearest Julianne,

If I had to use one word to sum up your July, it would be "FUN"!  You went on a school excursion, we brought you to explore new playgrounds, you had your cousin Sophie staying over during the weekends and turned the house upside down with her.  If that's not fun by a 21 month old standard than I don't know what is!  

Playground fun with cousin Sophie

Fresh children from the veggie isle

You're making the biggest development in your speech.  These days, you are starting to speak in simple short sentences like "Gong Gong, sit car" or the other day when again Por Por sat on Papa's usual seat at dinner time, you very protectively exclaimed "Por Por sit (pointing to where Por Por should be sitting), no, Dada" (trying to say no, you cannot sit on Dada's seat).  We all burst out laughing! 

You are generally very sweet natured and so generous with your hugs and kisses.  When the Barney theme song "I Love You" comes on, you will literally drop whatever you're doing (even if you're halfway through eating your favourite fried bee-hoon) and give everyone around you a big hug.  You will also always insist on kissing and hugging Por Por and Gong Gong goodnight before bed.  But like any child, you are not all angelic.  You can get quite feisty at times.  Quite a chilli-padi you are.  When you don't get your way, you throw a tantrum either by pouting or showing your angry face and going "Argh" in our faces to show your displeasure.  We have started time-out with you when you misbehave this way and will send you away to your naughty corner.  Unfortunately, that plan isn't working as so well cos you think it's a new game we're playing with you.  I've tasked your Dada to work on Plan B.  The last thing I want is to see you growing up to be this little spoilt brad so we're going to have to get serious on this discipline business.  

These days, you enjoy having fun on your micro scooter which we just got you after seeing how you have mastered it on Che Che Sophie's.  You are like a pro on it!  I'm mighty impressed.  Now you just need to learn how to use the brakes!  You also like me to take you on walks every evening to see the dogs in the neighbourhood.  You're going through a massive Elmo/Sesame Street craze at the moment where you insist on wearing your Elmo tee everyday and drinking only from your Elmo water-bottle.  So when Yiyi Sam came home with Mr Elmo after her trip to Universal Studios, you went almost hysterical! You still love sitting your stuff toys in a circle and pretend to be reading or singing to them.  This month - thanks to Dada - you've added to new students to your class - Mr Gruffalo and Ms American Doll.  

Spot Elmo, Oscar and Mr Gruffalo!

3 months to your 2nd birthday.  Mama has some idea of what the plan's going to be.  So exciting!  We also got our year end travel plans booked and I'm looking forward to bundling you up in your fleece and winter hat! For now, you enjoy what's left of your 2nd year and have fun exploring the big world around you! 

This perhaps sums up how I feel in a day

Love you Jujubee!! Can't imagine my world without you!! 

Love,
Mama