School's Cool!

We survived week 1 of play school! It wasn’t without it tears but thankfully only for about 5 minutes on the 2^nd day when she refused to let her teacher feed her lunch.  Other than that, I am told our daughter is doing great!

Admittedly, 16 months may be a little young to send her off to playschool since the norm is usually 18 months especially amongst my friends who have some form of home care support.  And because we have my mum who has been helping us take care of Jules since I went back to work after maternity, finding a playschool/nursery wasn't going to be on our to-do list till she was 2.5-3 and ready for pre-nursery.  But as we observed Jules over the past months sometime towards the end of last year, we found her getting increasingly restless and bored with staying home.  If she wasn’t on the phone talking to her imaginary friend, she’ll be busy pulling out the tees in grandpa’s wardrobe.  If not, she’ll be in the pantry, pretending to drink up the cans of coke light and grandpa’s beer.  Otherwise, you’ll find her pulling tissue from the tissue box and helping grandma clean the floor.  It was all nice and cute to watch but not exactly the best form of stimulation I’ll like to give her at this age.   

The husband and I thought it may be a better idea to send her off to playschool just for a couple of hours, a few days a week.  That way, she got to interact with other kids, pick up some new skills, be introduced to Phonics and more importantly some form of Mandarin and be on her own to hone her independence.  It also gave my mum a few hours break in the morning to run her own errands and take a breather (because looking after Jules the entire day while we’re at work is can be like running the half marathon because our daughter is this energizer bunny who runs on adrenaline and doesn’t believe is slowing down to rest – she’s very much like me in that aspect) – something we figured she’ll appreciate. 

We had some simple criteria as far as choosing a school was concern.  1^st – Distance.  It shouldn’t be too far from home, ideally within walking distance so that mum or my helper could pick her up at mid-day since we could do the drop off in the morning.  2^nd – A good mix of learning from phonics and Chinese class to more fun music and movement, art and craft, sensory play kind of activities.  Our first choice was the Little Skool House located in a semi-detach house just 10 minutes walk from home but when we called to make enquiries, we were told they were relocating and handing over the place to another operator.  I also called up Pat Schoolhouse which is also within walking distance but was put off by their arrogance over the phone.  I appreciate that they have won numerous awards for their programmes but if arrogance is something you’re going to be teaching my daughter then no thank you.  With all the schools near home exhausted (there ain’t many, just 2 – or so I thought), we were introduced to a development centre about 5 minutes drive from home.  We went for a trial class and Jules seemed to enjoy herself but I was a little concern with the distance and the curriculum.  The distance wasn’t something we couldn’t work around but just not the most ideal since it meant getting my Dad involved in sending her to school and my Mum taking a bus out to pick her and hailing a cab with her after school rain or shine.  I also wasn’t entirely comfortable with the curriculum (or lack of).  They were housed in a row of shophouses which means no open spaces for the kids to run or for outdoor activities.  But my folks convinced that since it’s meant to be playschool, we didn’t have to be so concerned with the curriculum.  We were all prepared to place a deposit since we couldn’t find any other schools nearer home.  Thankfully – call it mummy's intuition – I kept procrastinating about putting a deposit at the school as I just felt we haven’t tried searching hard enough or doing enough homework in getting Jules a reasonably good school.  And so with some prayer, God led me to one of the connecting streets near home one day when I accidentally missed my usually turning and had to turn into the next street.  A signboard caught my attention and I of course did the next best thing I had to do – call to make enquiries.  The teacher on the line was warm and friendly (unlike my experience with Pat’s Schoolhouse) and suggested we went down to the school for a viewing.  And the rest they say is history.  The husband immediately liked the school, he was so eager, he wanted to write out the cheque to make a deposit there and then.  That was before the Chinese New Year but Teacher S was nice enough to say she trusted us and that we could make the payment after the New Year and perhaps bring Jules down to the centre as well to take a look.  The montessori takes in children from 2 months to 6 years.  They’re housed in a huge bungalow with a big garden (with slides and pretend play houses) for the kids to play and run around.  They also have water-play sessions messy art and craft sessions outdoors.  What I like also like is how they appreciate the needs of different parents and so have flexi programmes available to suit individual needs – half days, full days, 3 times a week, 5 times a week.  You choose what suits you best.  And because I still wanted to keep Jules home for her naps and didn’t want to ‘stress’ her with having to go to school every day, we decided to put her on a 3 mornings a week programme.  So today, the arrangement is for my mum to walk her to school (about 15 minutes) in the stroller and either myself or the husband will try to drive back during lunchtime to pick her up (to spare them from walking in the scorching sun at mid-day).    

Jules is with the 12-18 months old class now.  Come May, she’ll move on to the toddler class.  But being the ‘I have a mind of my own’ girl she is, I got feedback from her teacher this week that she keeps wanting to join the toddler class and even opened the door to the toddler class session wanting to go in and join them.  She also won’t eat her lunch because she refused to be fed by her teacher with the rest of the 12 -18 months old kids, much preferring to eat together downstairs where the big toddler girls and boys have their lunch on little kiddie tables.  On my day off yesterday, the teacher asked if I could go by during lunch to feed her so that they could observe any particular feeding habits she had.  So we put her with the big kids at the table and I fed her and she ate perfectly.  I think it’s a combination of not being used to a stranger feeding her and wanting to be amongst the “action” where all the bigger kids are.  Plus there actually only 3 of them (including her) in the 12 -18 months old class so I think she wants company and be amongst the crowd.  It probably also has to do with the fact that as far as playing with children is concern, she is most familiar with playing with Sophie who is older than her and a big Che Che.  Which probably explains why she wants to be with the toddlers.  My dad was convinced she was looking for Sophie amongst the crowd!

Well but the not eating lunch and wanting to be amongst older kids aside, I think Jules has done great for the first week! I was half expecting her to cry when I dropped her off yesterday but she didn’t and happily opened her arms for her teacher to carry her.  Even blew me a kiss as I said bye!  When I picked her up the past few days, she was all ready with a big surprise smile (as if wondering “Eh – where have you been the past 3 hours Mama?”).  I’ll carry her up and plant a big kiss on the sweaty, sticky face!! But this time, her uniform will be all out of her oversized boomers, she would also have misplaced her hair clip so her fringe will be all over her tiny face.  Still adorable!

My little pumpkin is all grown up now and off to school.  I felt both proud and a tinge sad when I left her behind on the first day of school.  Proud that she was big enough to be on her own for a while now but at the same time a little sad that my little girl is perhaps not so little any more.  The house was also unbearably quiet for that few hours without her at home - haven't been like that since she discovered her voice!   

Well, new phase for her and for us.  I'm just happy she’s embracing change like a real trooper! Atta girl!    

Playing happily in the playhouse at school

                  

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!   

Letters to Julianne #17

Dearest Julianne, 

Happy happy 1st birthday my little munch'kin!  I sure hope you have enjoyed the past one year.  Well what's there not to enjoy when you have people doing things for you at your command - change your poop, feed you, bath you, sing you lullabies, rock you to sleep - basically, never keeping our eyes off you for a moment.  Mama won't mind living that kind of life! 

I remember fondly the day you came into our lives, all ready to change it forever.  And you sure have done a fabulous job at doing that.  But it was all for the better.  You made me a better person and you made my world a brighter place.  We had some grey days but God always sent His rainbow at the end of it. 

Minutes Old

You've accomplished much in your first year, I can't be more proud of you.  Two weeks shy of your first birthday, you took your official first steps, all ready to explore the world around you.  Soon you'll be running and like Aunty Rain says, I'll need to take you with me on my marathons! 

There's ain't much of your first year that you're going to remember.  What I can, I hope to preserve them in a time capsule for your 16th or 21st birthday.  Like the little name tag you wore around your ankle during our week stay at the hospital after your birth, or the little love notes your Yiyis wrote you on your first birthday.  Perhaps too your first walking shoe or the Number 1 candle you (or Mama) blew out at your party. 

Here're highlights of your first year Julianne and I look forward to telling you stories behind each of them one day ...

♥ Seeing Mama and Papa for the first time on the night of 1 Nov 2011 after putting Mama through a 15 hour long labour. 

♥ Coming along on the breastfeeding journey with Mama this past 12 months.  Till today, you're exclusively breastfed and while we went through a rough patch with your drinking, I truly treasure every nursing session with you even at 3am in the morning.  There were calls for me to feed you formula milk instead - like at the peak of your reflux when some said formula would help keep the milk down since it was thicker - but I choose to believe that breastmilk was still the best thing I could give you.  I'm glad I stuck with it. 

♥ Your daily walks with Gong Gong - once in the morning and another in the evening.  Gong Gong adores you and I know the feeling is mutual.  He's like your buddy, the one that rescues you out of every trap we put you in - the high chair, the exersaucer, the playpen. 

♥ How Por Por gave up her job to take care of you full time.  You have no idea what a blessed child you are and I want you to grow up, being always thankful to Por Por for doing that. 

♥ Welcoming your Da-yi, Uncle Jude and Che Che Sophie home permanently after nine years.  You adored them almost immediately and today, Che Che Sophie is like this big sister you look up to - your thrilled reaction whenever she hugs you or gives you kisses is so precious, I really need to video it down one of these days.  

♥ All the many tricks you learnt from Yiy Sam like - clapping hands, doing the twinkle twinkle little star action, kissing, identifying your starfish stuff toy and the many episodes of Doc McStuffins which she watches with you.  You love her (Yiyi Sam I mean) don't you? 

♥ Seeing your great-grandfather for the last time and making him smile so widely before he went for his operation and fell so ill, you had to eventually say goodbye.  Since then, great granny has been coming to visit you whenever she was bored at home and I'm just glad you have been able to add some cheer with your sweet smiles. 

♥ Taking your first official steps at 11 months and 2 weeks.  This was probably the only milestone that made Mama tear.  I'm not sure what it is about walking but it was a rather profound moment for me.  Perhaps something to do with seeing that you're now all grown up and taking your own steps.  

♥ Blowing out the candle on your first birthday cake that Mama baked you and giving thanks to God for blessing me with such a beautiful child like you then asking Him for the wisdom to bring you up in ways that will always honour Him. 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127:3

I hope you have enjoyed your first year Julianne.  Mama promises to take you on greater adventures in your second year.  One that will take you places, teach you new things, let you scale new heights and show you beyond what you have seen, heard and tasted in your first year.  

We love you very very much Jujubee!  Thank you for being our sunshine (or what your Papa will say - kaya to his kaya toast, sambal to his nasi lemak).  Here's a video that Papa made specially for you.    

Blessed birthday my sweet child.  God bless you and make His face shine upon you always. 

Love you soooo much

Mama

   

Sneak

Julianne turns one in about 10 days and we're throwing her a cosy little party next weekend amongst family mostly.  Here's a sneak of what I've been busy with .... 

Getting ready for her 1st birthday!!

Baby steps ....

At 11 months, 2 weeks and 4 days, Julianne decided that it was time to take her first baby steps in our giant world.  She has been cruising for a while now and started to take tentative steps a few weeks ago but they were just mere 1 or 2 steps so I didn't really consider that walking.  But today, after standing on her own without support and dancing enthusiastically to the Gangnam Style song, she somehow plucked up enough confidence to really walk.  By that I mean she took about 6 steps toward her Yiyi Sam, although it was the telephone she was more interested in.  

I am just so glad I didn't miss the moment and it was such an accomplishment on her part, I felt like a proud Mama.  I really did and couldn't help but tear a little.  Soon my baby isn't gonna be so baby anymore.  

Letters to Julianne #9

Dearest Julianne, 

You're two weeks shy of 7 months and in the past two weeks since your half year birthday, you have learnt so many new tricks and had your many firsts, Mama is truly excited at how you're developing. 

Let's see.  You've started to sit up by yourself without us or pillows supporting you and can balance yourself for a good ten minutes or so before you do a humpty dumpty onto the bed.  You like sitting up by yourself.  You'll start smiling and flapping your hands in excitement whenever you're in a sitting position.  Tired of lying on your back and tummy for the past 6 months huh?

Sitting up like a big gal

More interestingly, you're showing signs of understanding what we say and tell you.  The very first word you showed you understood was the word 'pat pat'.  You always pat pat the characters in your bed-time books.  Then the other day, when I casually just said 'pat pat Mama', you started doing the 'pat pat' action on my arm.  We confirmed that it was no fluke when you when around giving everyone including your soft toys little pat pats.  You also understand 'turn the page' - yet another instruction you learn from your bed time reading routine.  You are the official 'turn the page' person during our bedtime storytime sessions. 

Oh oh oh and this trick is the cutest - doing the twinkle twinkle little star action - whenever we start singing the twinkle twinkle little star nursery rhyme!  Seeing is believing so here's video Papa took for posterity.  Yiyi Sam taught you this trick and we've been making you repeat it over and over again just because it is so adorable to see your little hand open and shut.

And so to reward you for all that hard work you've done this month, we brought you on your many firsts. Like your first picnic where you saw a live fish for a first time and your first swim where you showed us how much you enjoyed the pool.  Soon, we'll be taking you on your very first holiday!! Air tickets have been booked and your very own bassinet seat secured!! Mama can't wait for December!! Yes its still some time away with lots of growing up to in between but still, its always nice to know that a holiday awaits.  Its your incentive to do more growing up little pumpkin!

Papa and Mama are truly happy at how well you're developing and we know how very proud you are of yourself whenever you hit these milestones.  They are like giants in your little baby world ain't they?  But you accomplish them all in your time!  We are so proud of you Julianne! 

Continue to have fun growing up and Mama promise you that more exciting days are ahead of us especially come July!! I can't wait!!! 

Love you so much, 

Mama

Julianne's first swim

Swimming is so much fun!!

Now that she's 6 months old, we thought it'll be a good time to get her acquainted with the pool!  And what better present to receive from my sister Serene than a lovely Gap cheery swimming costume that comes with a cute little hoodie!! 

We couldn't wait to dress Julianne in it.  So on our mid-week off the other day, we brought Julianne on her very first swim at our condo pool.  The Papa for one was more excited than her.  He sacrificed his lunch the day before to go get her a float and some swim diapers.  Then on the day of the swim itself, he insisted I woke her up from her afternoon nap so that we could beat those clouds that were threatening to rob us of pool time! 

I'm glad we made it, even though it was a short 10 minute dip before the skies gave way.  Julianne was clearly very thrilled with swimming in a big bath tub!  She has always enjoyed bathe time so it was no surprise that she took so well to the pool.  She started a little apprehensive, wondering what was going on but in no time, she was smiling and kicking in that Disney float Papa got.  

As soon as we got up from the pool, Grandma swaddled her up with layers of towel just to make sure she didn't catch a chill.  Our daughter likes being swaddled and I think she was enjoying the post-swim cuddle from Por Por just as much as the water.  

So glad she enjoyed herself!!  Thanks Yiyi Rene for the cute little costume!!