Fun way to spend 3 hours of the afternoon. 4 mommy friends left our kids at home for a mommy's only indulgence. With a hands on workshop using luxurious La Mer products, delectable high tea spread (we love the scones!), La Mer samples to bring away, and wonderful vouchers too! hehehee..... It was fun fun fun....
4 hardworking mommies being tai tais for the day!
Tasting of premium Prestat Chocolates.
La Mer products for our use.. The blob of La Mer facial cleanser...
The high tea spread....
yak yak...
Me silly in the "hair band" After the hands-on skin care/pampering and La Mer makeup!
He's growing up and learning so fast. So many things happen over the weeks, faster than I can blog. Thus I have to compile everything, jot them down before I forget, then record them at one go in the blog. My little boy is reaching 2 yrs old soon....
Recently brought him a set of toy rackets. I think they are meant to be toy badminton (coz it comes with a toy shuttlecock) or tennis (coz it comes with a ball too) racket. He loves it, and the first day he plays it he used it to hit the big bola bola, and chase the small ball all over the living room. He screeched with laughter when I demonstrated how to hit the ball across the room with it. And it costs only $3.90 for the whole set.
His recent favourite DVD is the Brainy Baby ABCs that I bought from Tangs that day using our Tangs vouchers. I was amazed he likes it, and now he will actually ask for it esp if he sees any of us going near a dvd player or TV. He goes "abc, abc, ABC!" and if we responded by asking if he wants to watch the ABC DVD, he will nod his head enthusiastically. The longest stretch that he sat through the dvd was at Ma Ma's place last Monday, the day we returned from Banyan Tree. He actually sat through from A - Z with me beside him! At intervals he will try to repeat what the DVD said, its super cute listening to him.
Last Tuesday (24 June), he was very naughty when trying to put him down for his afternoon nap. He refused to sleep even after an hour of coaxing, and hubby and I gave up, and just lie down on our bed, with J in his cot turning left and right. 15mins later, J called to be let out, but we deliberately ignored him. I turned towards hubby and made a show of hugging him instead. Jovann started crying and yelling! Daddy took him out of the cot onto our bed, and we tried again by putting out arms around each other. Jovann cried and called "Mommy mommy....mommy!!", came towards us and tried to push Daddy away saying "go away!" and when I peeped up his eyes were filled with tears and he was looking reproachfully at me! I released hubby and Jovann gave me a hug and a kiss. It was so cute! heheheee....
He has also finally learnt to blow bubbles in the water. During aquaducks he refused to do it when the instructor asks, but instead opens his mouth to drink in the pool water instead. So hubby suggested I tried it in the shower. I used a small tupperware, filled it with water from the shower head, then blew bubbles in it making funny noises. J found it funny and kept chuckling. I encouraged him to try it and after 3 tries he managed to blow bubbles instead of swallowing the water, yeah! For the next few baths, he will request for me to blow bubbles, and we will take turns blowing and giggling.
Another thing he does before our nightly shower is pick up the small stool and place it in my usual position from which I bathe for him, and say "Mommy sit, mommy sit". awwww....so sweet.
As mentioned 1-2 mths ago, he loves to take the roll of mahjong paper, pretend to drum it like a guitar, and shake/nod his head with his imaginary music. So when I learnt that Auntie June had bought a nice toy guitar, I hunted down the shop when I was in near Clementi one day, and found it! That was the same shop I bought the badminton/tennis rackets from. The guitar is only $3.90 too! but somehow he didnt like it as much as the rackets. He "plays" it sometimes but only for a while. Last Saturday, Daddy tried to interests him by playing a few songs ("More than Words" and the jungle song) on his own guitar. I sang along and it was quite fun. Jovann appears to prefer playing with his Daddy's real guitar strings instead of his own.....hhhhmm.......
Just 2 days ago, I accidentally discovered Jovann can complete the songs we are singing. I never thought he could until I was singing with him the jungle song in the shower on Saturday. When I reached the part "...a great big crocodile washing his ___" he suddenly said "clothes"....and when I continued singing ".....thats the way he washes his clothes.." and the next part should be "Boom ba lee boom ba lee Boom ba lee SNAP!", he went "Boom boom Boom!". hehehe. I usually sing Twinkle Twinkle little Star when making him sleep at night. That same night, hubby called me into the room when he making him sleep, coz Jovann just completed each sentence of the song by singing the words "star", "are", "high" then "sky", though the "sky" was more like "dye". hehee...
Recently, although he refused to let Daddy bathe him (he only wants me to do it), he prefers Daddy to put him to bed at night. After his brushing teeth, when I was feeding him water, 9 times out of 10 he will ask for Daddy. I will tell him Daddy busy, Mommy make you sleep. He was say "Daddy" again. I asked him "Mommy make you sleep alright?". he will shake his head and say "Mommy, no...". Me : "you want Daddy?" and J will go "Daddy..." and nod his head. But many times, once I open the bedroom door, and J sees Daddy walking towards him in response to his calls of "daddy....Daddy!", Jovann will hastily close the bedroom door and say "close close...no no....", then giggle when Daddy peep around the door at him. Cheeky boy.
He is back to the car loving phase. Whenever he reach home, he will climb onto his FP school bus/car and zipped around the house, following me into bedrooms, kitchen, even attempting to enter the bathroom with it. When its time for shower, we will ask him to "park" his car beside his rocking house, Playskool car and wooden blocks trolley, then he will totter to the bathroom. Tonight (1 July) during shower time, is the first night he actually use a container to pour water over his own head and giggling happily. so proud of him. he has come a long way coz he used to scream and cry when we wash his hair. Even during Aquaducks when the instructor made to pour water over his head or dunk his head under water, he will gesture frantically and say "no no!". But if the instructor still do it, J will afterwards still good-naturedly respond to his "high-five" very loudly and forgivingly, hehee....
Been busy enjoying Jovann the past week, did not have time to blog about the trip. In fact, felt so tired after the trip I slept the earliest ever for the past few mths. coz both hubby and I felt the bed in the villa not as pampering as our Simmons. Think we just too pampered hehhee. so we didn't sleep well, hubby especially.
That aside, we enjoyed our getaway tremendously. 2days of relaxation, indulgence, pampering...and definitely missing Jovann. we called back very often and hubby and I spent the whole trip speaking "Jovann-innish" coz we miss him so much. During the ferry to Bintan, hubby kept going "eh-phant" (Jovann's "elephant") and "no-no" when he is playing his suduko. I think the guy sitting beside him must have thought him mad.
Banyan Tree service is excellent, indulging their guests comes naturally to them. All staffs encountered wore such a smile, and the buggy drivers go out of the way to ask you about your trip and make you feel welcome and at home. Its fun being chaffeured from villa to dinner venue by buggy, from place to place by buggy. first day, we were not familar with the layout and we actually called a buggy to pick us from the spa gallery to our villa. in the pouring rain. then we sheepishly realised our villa is 5 villas away. but the driver did not mention this hehehe, must have thought we are a couple of pampered singaporeans.
The welcoming lounge.. The welcome tea and towels. Only the lady's tray has the pretty orchid in it. We tasted risotto for the first time there. yes yes we are quite suaku, coz never ordered that before in Singapore. We had it at The Cove.
Starters at The Cove. The small bits of thing on the toothpicks are delicious. They are actually olives grilled with fetta cheese. Our fav was Dining of the Legends, a unique dining experience that both of us have never before encountered. It was as nice or even better than in the photos, as they added little touches which was not mentioned when I booked it. Upon approaching the canopy on the beach, our personal waiter lighted up a bonfire in welcome, then ignited a flaming heart shaped made in the sand right in front of our dining table. We laze on the huge day bed throughout the dinner, and called for him with a tinkling bell that makes a sweet sound. The food spread was delicious. Both of us kicked ourselves for eating so full a lunch earlier. I was initially worried if the food will be cold since we are in the middle of the beach, no where near any equipped kitchen. but Banyan tree amazed us by presenting each hot dish in a cute little earthenware heated individually by a tea light. even the satay has its own mini charcoal pit. When the dessert came, both of us dugged into the jackfruit icecream (in the coconut husk) with relish. We have never tasted anything so delicious!!!
Walking across the beach towards our private dining. The starters Mains The desserts Of course, how to miss the Banyan Tree spa? hehehhe! we indulged twice. first treatment, I had the most pampering 2 hour pedicure ever in my life. firstly, i have never had a 2 hour pedicure. 2ndly, most of my pedicures back home requires you to be awake as you have to alternate lifting up your feet for cleaning, cuticle treatment, buffing, painting etc etc. Perhaps coz the therapist (Yeni) know I am pregnant, or perhaps its just their way of service, but she brought a foot stool for me and my feet didn't need to move at all as she adjusted herself to accomodate me throughout the treatment. I could close my eyes, doze, day dream, enjoy the fruits and hot ginger tea. at one point, she was preparing something at the basin and overheard me muttering to myself. she asked politely was I talking to her, and I gave a sheepish "no, sorry I scared you"....then she correctly guessed that I was talking to baby heheheee.....well, she understood, coz she has 2 kids herself. :) Hubby had the Banyan Hair Indulgence, which I signed up for him and which he was shocked to find includes a hair wash besides the nice relaxing head massage (which he had in the treatment room seperately). When he came into the salon, he looks half asleep so I knew he had enjoyed the head massage hehe. When he had his hair washed, I was wondering where on earth is his therapist going to clean off the shampoo since I did not see any place for him to lie down with his head in the basin. Turns out in Banyan Tree spas, all you need to do is recline back in your seat, while they adjusted a mobile basin under your hair. Never saw that before hehee. and it was rather comfy too. :)
2nd treatment, I had the collagen facial and hubby the balinese massage. It was in the Spa Villa this time...and wow....we relived our Mandara Spa experience (minus the rain shower, steam room and flower bath soak hehehe). Had a pampering foot ritual, then the 90mins treatment, followed by the relaxation time in the lounge seats in the balcony facing the sea, with hot lemongrass tea and fruits. Lovely.
Foot soak before treatment. Relaxing after treatment. We wanna come back for more, and bring Jovann and his little sis with us next time....
The Villa Dining staff setting up our In Villa dining
Lazing on the pool chairs The Cliff Pool Dinner at The Saffrons. All lady diners are given an orchid to wear in their hair. I flaunted mine quite vainly as you can see. Another example of Banyan Service. The shape of a heart made by the cleaning staff during a routine villa turnover. Another lovely touch was the Intimate Moments Villa Deco, which I find worth every cent. the villa was transformed, and there were pretty purple and yellow orchids all over the floor, villa, on the bed and in the canopy.
miss J like crazy...both of us rushed to ma ma's place, go into the room to watch him sleep. But somehow he heard us. He opened his eyes, saw hubby, turned and saw me, got up and crawled sleepily towards me to hug me, laying his head on my shoulder....awwwwwww.......
We are going to Banyan Tree. We have stayed in Banyan Tree before, only once during hubby’s business trip 4 years ago, but that was in BKK. I really wanted to stay in a Banyan Tree villa, and hubby and I decided on Bintan. This shall be our couple trip before the 2nd baby comes along, a chance for us to reconnect, know each other, and spend some time building our relationship as husband and wife besides Daddy and Mommy.
This is our FIRST TRIP without Jovann. I really do not know how we will feel when we board the ferry. Already, over the weekend, when I saw Jovann quietly playing with his cooking set and frying the steak, I felt a sudden deep sense of δΈθη . All the while when planning for this trip, from the choosing of the villa, booking of the spa treatments, reserving the destination dining and booking ferry tickets, I was looking forward to having this time alone with Hubby before my time will be taken up by the excitement and duties of being a Mommy a 2nd time. I treasure this trip coz I know its good for us. But at the back of my head, I know I will miss Jovann terribly. So will hubby. It was hubby who insisted on Bintan, so that we can be nearby to Singapore. And it’s him who asked me to shorten the trip to 2 nights instead of the original 3. We had originally planned to go in May, but as I was spotting throughout my first trimester, my gynae advised no overseas trip that time. So I postponed it.
This will be the first time we are not sleeping with Jovann beside us or in the room with us…2 nights without him… :( will miss him so much…….
Our main task at Banyan Tree is to indulge ourselves, spend time with each other, and just chill out. I have booked their destination dining, Dinner at the Legends. Dinner under the stars with sand on our feet. So nice…..
But somehow the excitement of looking forward to the trip is dampened by the thought of missing Jovann. What if he cries over the phone when we call home? I think we will wanna jump onto the next ferry right away. What if he misses us and cannot sleep at Gong Gong Ma Ma place? What if they let him sleep too late at night and upset his routine? What if he wakes up middle of the night and cannot find us? will he be traumatised? Are we thinking too much?
The colour code is yellow, applies to the whole family.
There are 7 toddlers!
And we are going to the ZOOOOOooo….!!!
It was fun fun fun! We went straight from our morning swim, and J is fresh but only had a ½ hour nap in the morning. Not sure if he can last till after the Elephant show. But he did! Auntie June was so nice, she nearly planned out the whole route for us with her knowledge of each attractions show times and locations.
We had lunch together at Forest Fare…or was it Jungle Fare, I always mixing it up. Auntie Brenda has reserved tables for 4 families, and the place was set up very nicely. We have a corner all to ourselves, and 6 tables were set up with 3 adult chairs and 1 high chair. Cosy. Each family took one table and off we started. I started feeding Jovann first his pork, carrots and daikon stew with porridge, while hubby started on the laksa. The laksa was not bad, hubby took a hotter bowl for me later when I am done with feeding Jovann.
I was quite happy with the meal that time, that’s why I even remembered what I ate. A bowl of laksa, chicken rice, stir fry thai chicken, bread with butter, mushroom soup, chicken congee (sounds like a lot of chicken) and for dessert Bread and Butter pudding!!! Slurp. *Burp*
All the while we were eating, Jovann was making himself heard by calling Arianne to him again and again. He called her by “Airy!! Airy!!!”, I had to remind him to add the “Rianne” at the back, which he sometimes do as an afterthought. So funny. Arianne will respond to his calls, and trots over to him and gaze up at him. Then Jovann will either stare back at her, or look away. Then when she walks away bored, Jovann will shout for her again. It went back and forth until I was almost done and put him on the floor with her. Then the 2 of them prompty zoomed around the whole place, with Rae-Ann and Clarence. It was so cute…Hubby took some photos while they were admiring the elephant rides outside the window.
We started off and met up with Der Nen and Clarice on the way to the Splish Splash Aqaurium, where we arrived 10mins before showtime and found ourselves stranded outsite coz the whole place was seated to overflowing oredi! We decided to explore the rest of the zoo instead of waiting.
Went to the Australian Outback, Elephants of Asia (where Reubern joined us in time to catch the 3.30pm show), we saw snakes and orang utans and tigers. As well as baboons, deers, kangaroos and a bird that starts with a C which I cannot remember the name now heheehehee. We wanted to go Children’s world but decided to avoid it due to the recent HFMD outbreak. I munched on ice cream and hubby and I downed 3 bottles of cold mineral water.
Then of course on the way back we saw giraffes and zebras and lions and saw a monkey feeding and photography session. Jovann had such fun running around, he only napped towards the end, in the stroller, when we are walking back to the exit. We had reached the zoo around 12.45pm, and left that place around 6pm! Gosh! Hehehe Auntie Peach actually left us around 5.30pm, but we bumped into her at the shopping area near the exit, where we grabbed her to go dinner with us.
Dinner was at Orchid ville and the kids had fun running up and down the stage and making so much noise! Jovann woke up late (Daddy accompanied him in the car to let him rest), and after his dinner he joined them too. He had a lot of fun running from one end of the stage to the other, with Daddy watching over him. Its amazing what toddlers can find to entertain them. At one point, he fell and hurt his cheek. I heard his cry and recognise it from all the way from the dinner table 20 metres away, and ran towards the stage to sayang him.
We left around 8pm, after a nice round of dinner and dessert (my favourite sea coconut, aloe vera and longan).
Barney Live Extravanganza! - 6 June Friday... My FIRST CONCERT! So Exciting!
Mommy Daddy bought the $48 tickets (2 adults) when Auntie Jencelynn jio-ed them to some weeks back. They managed to get very good seats, with the tips of Auntie Jen. But as the days lead up to the concert, Mommy starts feeling tinges of anxiety....can I sit through the concert? Will I scream? is it too loud for my ears? Will I be scared of the big lifesize Barney??
But they still looked forward to the big day with anticipation....and sweaty palms....
Its a Friday! Mommy took afternoon leave, had lunch with Daddy then came and fetch me! She dressed me up in my new Levi's jeans and we all happily went out...
On the way to suntec....I was asking Mommy to open up my new Doggy Coin Bank, and I contently hugged it all the way to Suntec....I look so cute Mommy can't resist taking some pics... Reached Suntec...on the way to Hall 602! Posing with Barney... Walking in in in!!!!! inside was cold! Mommy was glad she wore jeans for me upon Ah Gong's advice! We have good seats! seats we can play in front of...when I get grouchy, Daddy can squat in front and entertain me hehehe...
The curtains opened! Barney appears! So exciting! Mommy and Daddy was so excited! especially when I was neither scared nor bored by Barney during the first half of the show. I just sat on Mommy's lap and looked and looked at the stage for that first 30-40mins or so... Then there was a break time for the kids to stretch their legs and for the souvenoir counters to earn some bucks. Daddy Mommy bought me a little plush Barney, a Barney watch, 1 Barney Tshirt (plus an exact same one for Kieira my cousin). I love my Barney plush! I kept hugging it to me when taking photos.. :)
Back to the concert! I kept looking back at the jie jie behind you and refused to let her touch the back of our chair. When I sit in Daddy's seat, I kept playing with the hand rest, and staring at the boy next seat who is eating You Zhar Kuay...until the nice old grandmother of his offered me a piece of you zhar kuay too...hehee..so sweet. But Mommy Daddy said no coz I won't be able to chew it yet....
Then I kept struggling and struggling, until Mommy carried me over to her lap. But I still fidgeted after a while.... Mommy Daddy was despairing that perhaps I won't sit through after all, when at that precise moment, an Elephant appears on stage and they started singing an elephant song! Mommy directed my attention to the elephant, and I was at once riveted to the stage! Coz so far I think thats my favourite animal. I kept turning around and saying "Eh phant Eh phant" to Mommy....
Then came the 2 monkeys, blue and red, and I stayed riveted to the stage...
Those 2 appearances helped me stayed moderately well behaved until the end of the show. Towards the end, during the Barney party dance, I actually stomped on my feet on the floor, laughing gleefully.... Mommy exchanged a happy and relieved look with Daddy, hehehee.....
Yeah!!! curtains down! I survived the Barney Show! Mommy Daddy so pleased! They even asked Auntie Jen..."Huh so fast ah???".
We shopped around Marina Square after that...Mommy checked out Maternity Exchange for a nice dinner dress, then went to Kiddy Palace to buy me a BPA free B-free bottle to try. Then she went to check out Dian Xiao Er if they have porridge for me, but in the end decided to bring me back to Suntec for Crytal Jade instead to be safer.
However, I still didnt behave through dinner. I ate the first piece of tofu very eagerly....but only ate one tiny bowl of porridge...then started fussing....nothing mommy daddy feed will appease me. I just kept asking for the spoons, bowls, and wanna play with my food....and asking for water... In the end, Mommy so stressed, coz she was the one who decided not to cook dinner for me coz we left house so early...she felt responsible that I am not eating my full dinner portion....and it stressed her so much she left her own dinner to become cold, and by then she don't have appetite..... :(
Daddy kept encouraging Mommy to eat her dinner, and heaped beef and tendons to her bowl....
Later, we went to the kiddy place, where Mommy found the horse rides that she wanted to bring me on all along. Pity they have locked them up by then. Wanted to bring me for haircut at little league, but the lady said they are closing too. The shops at Suntec closes so early! Mommy managed to buy a California Baby insect repellent spray, and a dress from Cloud 9. then off we go to the carpark to proceed home, on the way stopping at the Koi Pond, where I kept pointing at the fish and laughing to myself! heheheee...I did the characteristic cover-my-mouth-with-my-hand laugh and Mommy can't help giggling.....
Finally! Mommy has been bugging Daddy for ages to bring her to IKEA to buy a set of table and chair for ME. Today, we went!!! Mommy is so happy! She was more excited than me over the trip! She has heard so many friends having little table and chairs at home since months ago, and their kids love them, and she also knows I love sitting at the little table and chair at JG to eat my food. I think she has visions of a well behaved little me sitting at the table, drawing knights and castles primly with crayons on paper and generally being a model kid. Well......hhhmmm.......
Anyway, she was also excited about letting me run wild in IKEA, especially in the children's section. Daddy Mommy also intend to buy a wardrobe for my room, coz my clothes are bursting out of the 6 drawer cabinet already, and I have a little sibling coming... :) So another wardrobe is a must.
They combed through IKEA and attacked the wardrobe section, and spent about 1/2 hour figuring out which wardobe is suitable. At one point, Mommy let me down, and I played around with the moving lights projection on the floor with another jie jie....then i went wild and wanted to zoom around the place while Daddy looking at wardrobes. I screamed and kicked when Mommy grabbed me up, making a scene. Only when Daddy appeared then I sobered.
After the wardrobe, we went to the children's section. It was 1/2 hour before my dinner time, so Mommy was very happy that I have 1/2hour of running loose time around kiddy safe furniture.
I explored all the tables and chairs, but couldn't make up my mind what I want. I wanted to keep the colourful boxes on the table and refused to let go, until Mommy bought one set for me, which I kept asking her to "ah pu....ah pu....(my version of "open...open"...). I sat on the red rocking reindeer, which is exactly what I had at home, and also in the little blue hammock....
It was fun!!! fun fun day! We then went to the IKEA cafe, which they had renovated and now boasts more seats. I finished my dinner very quickly that evening, much to Mommy's delight. By the time Daddy came back with their food, I was halfway through my last bowl portion......
Then I spent time making sheep's eyes at the girl at the next table... Oh, think I forgot to mention, Mommy and Daddy decided to get me the plastic red table eventually. Mommy actually preferred the white one (I was sitting at the photo above) but Daddy pointed out that wooden tables are harder to wash. If I happen to scribble on and dirty the plastic table, we can just bring it to the utility area and wash it with soap and water...that kinda makes sense to Mommy. So she contented herself with getting wooden CHAIRS instead...but in red and orange to match the red table. NICE!
While putting me to bed that night, Daddy very quickly and efficiently assembled the table and chairs. The next morning, he guided me to it, and I happily sat down and played with the boxes in which Mommy later put some Legos and alphabets. (She don't have the guts to put crayons yet hehehee). Mommy tried feeding me breakfast at the table that day, and I was more cooperative than usual, she was so pleased!
The next day, they moved the table to a more suitable and brighter place in the living room, and I continued visiting the table every day...sometimes to do my puzzle..... sometimes to eat my breakfast.......
By now, Daddy had taught me to push in the chairs after use. And now Mommy feeds me cod liver oil at the table every evening before bedtime...
I love my own table! Mommy thinks she may be adding crayons soon...she bought a huge roll of drawing paper from Ikea that day hehee...much more convenient than the mahjong papers...
