Having girls....

People has been asking me what's it like having a boy and a girl, any different?
Yes there are differences. Interestingly, Jaz is very girl girl when she's young now, and there's a marked difference between her behaviour, developments compared to Jovann at the same age.

* Her cognition is more advanced than her gorgor. Jovann in the first 3-4mths of my breastfeeding never looks at me during nursing, think he sees me as a mommy cow. Only at 4th mth did he held my gaze when nursing. Jazreel started gazing at me during nursing the day she turned 1 mth old. She held my gaze for very very long while I sing her a lullaby again and again. That evening was so sweet to me....
* Her fine motor skills are developed at an earlier stage. When she plays with my hair, she fingers it and plays with a few strands, instead of grabbing a huge chunk like her gorgor. But its still painful. :P
* Her gross motor skills however is slightly more relaxed. She don't seemed as eager or hyperactive as her gorgor in exploring/pushing her physical limits.
* Jaz is more manja, loves to lean her head on your shoulder in a sweet dependent gesture. And she does this very often when someone else wants to carry her. She will lean on you, and smile at the person a trifle defiantly yet with a sweet expression.
* She don't smile that readily at strangers, unlike J at this age is smiling at every uncle and auntie he sees. She's more reserved. But she will laugh unreservedly with people she loves. Ah Ma Ah Gong commented that she laughs as loud as me hehe.
* She's very obliging when having her pedis and manis. seemed to enjoy them. :)
* She is more contented and can play on her own for longer periods of time as a newborn compared to her gorgor.
* Sometimes you hardly know when she's hungry. Coz she don't outright wail for milk at all, sometimes just quietly sucking her thumb loudly, and talk to herself in the cot or rocker. Only when you pick her up and she started rooting when I prepare myself then I realise she's hungry. Many times she's like that in the middle of the night, wake up but quietly talk to herself in the cot. Its only when I sleep with her in room that I can hear that she's awake.

I count my blessings every day to have both Jovann and Jazreel. Both of them are so special in their own way.


On 12 June, her stats:
Weight 8.1kg
Height 68cm tall
Head Circumference 45.5cm

22 June She waved for the first time! Bringing her home from ma ma house, and mama was outside the car waving at her. She suddenly brought up her right hand and did a waving action, resembling her hitting the air in front of her enthusiastically. She's waving!! when we praised her, she's so pleased, she did it again. Daddy craned his neck around in his seat to watch her do it, she looks so cute doing it. We are so pleased. :)

23 June, really crawl for the first time. Got distinct, sustained and coordinated forward motion. Yeah! Daddy caught it on video (Tue morning) to show me. :)



Same day, at mama house, Jazreel was lying on the mattress when the rainbow fish CD is playing in the living room. She held up her hands in front of her and did "dancing motions". hehehee....


24 June
It seemed that she suddenly became harder to carry, and more restless and mobile when being carried. She started climbing up our chest when carrying her. hehehe...and struggles more now too. what happened to my sweet contented Jaz?


She has always been babbling to herself, but now even more of her own conversations than ever. with her cute little "ah....ah....babababa...." Daddy fancies that she's calling him when she says that. :P


The best thing about having a girl, is you can doll her up!!!






her Baby Gap swimsuit (2Y) , too big for her yet hehee.

Jovann's June updates

His new favourite toy. Bought it at Isetan after a high tea with some mommy friends. Coz before I left the house I promised Jov I am going out to buy him a toy, else he refused to let me know. Oh dear, the things I resorted to. So anyway,after the hightea, Auntie Grace insisted I MUST get him a toy, and she spotted this for me coz I was looking for excavators coz J is into green Rex from Animal Mechanicals now! Although Rex is not strictly an excavator...but try telling that to a 3yr old boy. :P

anyway, he loves this! and he assembled it himself. :P NOw he calls it the "yellow Rex". :P That first night he brought it to bed with him. And every morning when he wakes up he will play.

22 June

We were in the bedroom going through his current favourite book, the N-Z workbook I mentioned in an earlier post. We were doing the letter "X", and when I prompted him for what starts with the letter "X", he went ...." mmmmm.....eXcellent!!" hahahahaa..... so funny...

23 June

This is something he's been saying sometimes. Whenever we responded to a conversation with him and said "Me too!", he will cheekily reply us "Me three.....under the tree!".

??? He can make rhymes! hahahaaa....

That night, Daddy was busy working so I made him sleep. He has gotten so used to Daddy putting him to bed these few weeks that he kept asking for Daddy.

Jovann: I want Daddy...

Mommy: Daddy busy tonight ok, Mommy make sleep.

Jovann: I want Daddy make sleep. Mommy lie up there (indicating our adult bed. The person who makes him sleep will usually lie on the floor mattress with him).

Mommy: Mommy make sleep tonight ok?

Jovann: I dont want Mommy make sleep.

Mommy: (made sad face) you don't want Mommy already? *sad*

Jovann: You know I love you OK? BUT I (still) want you to sleep up there.

MOmmy: ??????

24 June

For some reason, he took out the Gymboree bubble blower tonight and ran around the house pretending its an Olympic torch, coz he shoved the blower in all of our faces, and yelled "Fire! Fire!"

Then he suddenly put the thing on his chest, thrusted out his chest towards me, and said "Mommy drink milk!"

Ah ma was looking for tissue, and J wanted to help, saying “我帮你拿tissue", but in the process hit his lips against the corner of the table and got a mild cut. He was so manja, and wanted all of us to sayang him. he even asked me in a tearful voice to hug him and sing twinkle twinkle little star, right there in the middle of the bright living room. I noticed he's been more in need of hugs and assurances laterly. I must be more conscious of this....

Some of the letters he traced on his favourite writing book. The more unsteady ones are his of course.

He wrote the "A" here himself. As he wrote, he muttered "Up....down....across" hehehe like Daddy taught him.

A morning with my son

Early June

Brought him to Jacob Ballas sand pit on a weekday morning, just like I promised him around 4mths ago.

Took a cab there, and I brought along his sand toys! The weather was hot hot hot, but he enjoyed himself all the same. We played, scooped, built, flung....yes he flung...flung some sand at some jiejies on a field trip. Hhmmm.....

Having fun fun fun....

Even the lunch was fun. Now that he chews rather well and likes fish, I was looking fwd to having lunch with him at this cafe. I ordered fish and chips, and a large cheese dog set to share. He ate like half of the huge cheese dog, and 1 of the 2 big slices of fish fillet, and some chips. I am very very pleased!

The photo of the butterfly on the table is taken by him.

Before

After

Jovann chasing birds after a satisfying meal. He even drank around 2/3 cup of orange juice, then asked for apple juice.

Later, on the way home in the cab....he was playing with my wallet, and asking me to take out the coins let him play.

Jovann: I want to play coins

Mommy: I am sorry but the coins are dirty

Jovann: (indicating my bag) got water, got water inside

Mommy: uh huh....

Jovann: take out water, use water clean coins...

Mommy: .....

Jovann: Then I can play.....

Jovann is 2yrs 9mths already? And 1st unaccompanied swim!

2 Sundays ago (14 June)

Today is a groundbreaking day in swimming history.
Heeee....Jovann has his first real unaccompanied lesson at his Sunday class.

The fathers stay on the ground, burning under the hot sun, while the kids went into the pool with only the coach.

Exciting! J swim very short tiny laps, and swam with the noodle by himself.

We are ALL SO PROUD of them!
**

**

Jovann turns 33 months last week. I can't believe that he will be 3 yrs old in 3 months time.

What is Jovann like at 2 yrs 9mths old?

* Took his latest weight and height 6 days ago when we brought him and Jaz for jabs at PD.
Height = 98cm
Weight = 14.2kg

Woo hoo! 98cm?? we couldn't believe our ears. Thats like 2 cm short of 1metre? They are growing SO fast? Its scary isn't it? What happened to my little boy.....?

* He used to be a chatterbox who asked non stop questions during car rides, no end to his comments, probes, songs. But recently, I noticed that when for example Jaz is sleeping in the sling in the car, and J knows he's supposed to keep quiet, he's very nicely obliging, and is capable of keeping quiet for longer periods of time (only in the car). He can stare out of the window and watch the passing scenery for a while, or play with a toy in his hand, without asking me any questions or commenting anything. Pls note though that this only happens in the car hahaha.

* He says "here" as "S-here"

* He has become more and more sensitive to our moods, and when we raised our voices in discussion or argument, or looks upset at something, he will ask us "Mommy, are you happy?" Its his way of asking if we are angry, the way he asks seems to imply he wish to assure himself that we are happy. Everytime he ask me this, I soften and find that whatever that's irritating me is so trivial and does not warrant my son's anxiety.

* He's been asking more and more "WHY" questions now.....

* He can build things himself using the Junior Engineers set. On 11 June he build himself something he called a snake. :P

* Daddy showed J recently a photo of J in sunglasses and sports jersey, looking especially cool.

Daddy: Is he handsome?
Jovann: YES!!
Daddy: Do you know who this is?
Jovann: Yes, its Jovann!
Daddy: (teasing) No, its my new darling son....
Jovann: NOT handsome!!! (then grabbed the phone from Daddy when Daddy tried to hug the phone closer to him).

* He recently pretended to be a doctor. We were taken aback when during our bedtime snuggling, he suddenly lifted up our t-shirts and started doing tapping motions with both hands that doctors do when checking tummy for air. He did this quite correctly and thoroughly, then pronounced us "Ok!". When we continued gazing at him curiously, wondering when did he pick that up, he told us matter of factly "Like Dr Gong." hehee...

* After his that first unaccompanied swim, he came and proudly showed Jaz how he swam on his own, then asked Jaz "You saw that???" HOw on EARTH did he get the tense correct?

Jovann saying his prayers

For the past 1-2months now, Daddy has been teaching Jovann to say his prayers every night at bedtime. J has happily done so, and have been repeating after Daddy every single sentence. Gradually, he has shown signs that he can remember the lines, and many a times just need prompting of the first few words before he can complete that sentence and the next.

And tonight, Daddy is SO PROUD OF HIM. Jovann recited nearly 95% of the entire 2 prayers on his own, with hardly any prompting! In his adorable cute voice....

***The Lord's Prayer***
Our father in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, forgive us our sins.
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from evil. Amen

***Hail Mary***
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

He also does the "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen" complete with actions perfectly.

Why the long absence

What's the reason for my absence? It’s been 2mths since my last post. I figured I better get my butt moving else Jov and Jaz would be teenagers and I would have forgotten their precious baby years and my fingers would be stiff with arthritis and can’t type.

The longer one “abstain” from blogging and instead spent those nights reading books OR making their kids sleep, many times dozing away with them in my work clothes, OR watching re-runs of FRIENDS with hubby while pumping (or munching Caramel Corns or icecream), the harder it is to restart one’s engines. I contented myself with scribbling and making notes of their development milestones and new quirks in my notebook and handphone in the meanwhile.

(Note: the 6 posts before these, after "Starting Solids" were post-dated)

Why the absence?

***My 200GB external harddisk is full. Yes. 200GB. F-U-L-L. I think that’s to be expected from an over zealous mom with 2 cameras at home with 2 kids to boot. So, I couldn’t organize any more photos, couldn’t edit them thus couldn’t blog, until I get my new 640GB HDD. Hahaha. And hey, now the new HDD is here, sleek and black with piano finish. Swanky…..

***I completed reading the entire series of the riveting and exhilarating vampire series by Stephenie Meyers. It got me hooked. I know, I am no longer a teenager and I have 2 kids and a piece of flab I used to call my tummy. But I am still a female right? Much as I disliked that heroine in the book when she’s human, the story line got me reading the 4 books during breakfast, lunch, dinner, on the bus, on the taxi, in the toilet, once even when nursing Jaz (hubby threw me a contemptuous look), during my lunch hour at work whether I dine in or out, during my pumping in the office and at home. And boy, was the ending worth it.

***The passing of my dear maternal grandmother. She was 79. I am mentioning this here because I want Jovann and Jazreel to remember her as I remember her. She, whom has been asking my mother 4 yrs ago whether I am pregnant yet, were not even aware that she has 3 great grandchildren before she passed away on 26 May 09. 3 yrs 11months ago, she was still an energetic old lady. Though 76, she takes public transport by herself from Redhill to BP to deliver goodies to me and my mother, eldest of her 7 children (6 daughters and 1 son). It could be something we have mentioned we like, or some little purse or clothing that she happened to acquire recently.

She nagged, she scolded, she mistrusted people. But she has a heart of gold. How else could you explain how a woman would singlehandedly (my grandfather is not the fatherly type) bring up 7 kids, only 1 of them her own flesh and blood? 2 of these kids are adopted, and the other 4 are fathered by my grandfather. No complains that I can hear of, no discrimination that I can see, just simple love and care for all 7, and all their children, her grandchildren. I admire her resilience, her enthusiastic attitude in life. She didn’t receive education, but one doesn’t need education to teach others how to love.

Then, the hours of panic and frantic searching 3yrs 11mths ago when she went missing. The eventual find at the scene of an attempted robbery gone wrong and violent. She was bedridden since then, no awareness of her loved ones, no recognition in her eyes, no speech. For 3 yrs 11mths. She didn’t even know I was pregnant with Jovann half a year later, didn’t know that the great grandchildren she has been waiting for are now born. Not 1, but 3 (2 boys 1 girl).

Jov and Jaz will never see her travelling from Redhill to BP delivering goodies, never taste her CNY steamboat which has been my favourite event every CNY for years of my life, never see her bustling around making sure all of us have enough of our favourite ingredients, making sure the soup is full. Simple love but so warm and true and many times just taken for granted. I trust my kids will be old enough to handle this reality by the time they can understand this blog. I just want them to know they have 2 great grandmothers who would have loved them had they known their existence.

My paternal grandmother has passed away many years ago, but I still remember her vividly as the grandmother who brought me up when I was a baby and toddler, before my mom stopped work. I remembered how, even in my sec and JC days, I will go to her house to stay nights, and she will zealously go market to buy my favourite foods to cook all 3 meals for me. I remember how I crave her home cooked simple and nutritious teochew dishes, how we shared the same tastes, how I persuade my dad to cook the same way.

I definitely also remember how she cooked dried noodles every day for my breakfast, using instant noodles but her own concocted sauce that got me salivating at 1st whiff. How we sat at the ledge between her kitchen and living room and I taught her how to fold hearts and cranes from bus tickets and papers. How I gazed intently when she wrapped her homemade cigarettes, how she fan herself with her rattan fan when the weather’s hot, how we settle down on the sofa to watch TV together. Remember her disappointed eyes when I said I am going back home the next day. Worst, I will always feel indebted and guilty towards her, for not spending more time with her when she’s around.

I hope Jovann and Jazreel will grow up to be children and adults who will not take their loved ones for granted when these loved ones are alive, and be respectful, loving and filial. May they be true to their hearts, and do nothing that would leave them a lifetime of regret when someone leaves them. I hope my children will live rich and fulfilling lives and emulate the very qualities they want my grandchildren to have.

All about my 2 darlings in June

**************Jazreel*****************

1 June, Daddy called me on the phone and told me he win again. Turns out Jaz started off by calling Daddy first before Mommy, same like Jovann! Brrrr!!!! Just now when she playing on her back in the living room at Ma Ma place, she suddenly said "pa pa pa pa" for the first time. I am jealous! Hhmmph.

4 June, when she woke up in the night (before our own bedtime again), she was complaining when I got to her cot. At one point, she said "ma ma ma ma" hehehe y heart melted quickly carried her up and soothed her that Mommy's here.

She has been clasping her hands together under her chin, in front of her chest, when she laughs. A adorably unique gesture of hers that’s so girlish and endearing. Hehehe.

The 2 siblings adore each other. In the morning, when they see each other e.g. in her bedroom, she will squeal with delight at her gorgor, smiling at him through the bars of her cot, and he would be calling “meimei…meimei…”, “hello meimei!”, “hello Jazreel….”, "I want to hug meimei……”, sometimes making the cluck clucking sound we sometimes do to play with her, and if she fusses, he will say “orh lah orh lah” in the same way we do when soothing her. Its really warming and cute to see both their eyes light up when they see each other. If Jaz comes to our bed in the morning, Jov will want to bao bao her, and will imitate each and every action that she does like flinging himself down on the bed, down to the squeals and “aaahhhhh!!!” that Jaz makes. At times like this, hubby and I are blissfully contented lying in bed observing the 2 of them playing.

3 kids riding bike.


Jaz has always love having something tickling her face, be it my hair, a pillow case, our small pillow (when playing peekaboo without Jov present), fabric. She will laugh, squeal, and kick her legs so energetically when we do that.

Saturday 6 June 09
**Jaz first time deliberately dropping toys from the high chair. When feeding her, she picked up a toy, lifted it over the edge of the table, and dropped it onto the floor with a crash. She peered down to watch its downward motion. Hehehee…

**She has started rocking on her knees, when on all fours, as if preparing to spring forward 5 metres. Very cute watching her do it, wondering when’s her next action.

**And on the changing table, she loves it when I feign pain or shock when she kick out and her little feet connect with my tummy or chest. I often do that now to soothe her coz now she sometimes fuss when put on the changing table unlike last time.

Photo taken by bo liao Daddy on a Monday (15 June) at home with the kids.


11 June Thursday
She moved into a sitting position from her back all on her own the first time today! She’s 7.5months old. I think the reason why she only did it only now is she has always been quite a contented baby, happy in her position and had no urgent desire to stress herself. To her, the world looks interesting enough from her vantage point on her back or tummy, and of course she has learnt how to sit unsupported since 6mths. But now that she discovered this ability to move from tummy down to sitting up, she soon waste no time lying down. :P Its so fun watching her do it again and again. I missed it the first time, and the 2nd, 3rd time, but eventually saw it on the playmat on an evening when Ah Gong, Ah Ma, and Jovann was all around the mat, watching Jaz. Many times I cheered too early and she lost focus, but eventually she “performed” it for me. :P Her way of doing it is different from Jov, she pushed herself backwards and her 2 legs hardly get stuck under her bum coz they are wide at the sides.

We recently noticed also that she loves shaking her leg, especially her right leg, either when she’s drinking milk, when she’s eating, or sometimes even when she’s being carried. This is so me! When I was young, my parents told me I shake my legs under the table when eating something I enjoy. :P


***************Jovann*********************

15 June 09 Monday
I was wearing the flowing patterned skirt, and when I reached home that day, he touched my skirt, looked up at me, and asked me “Mommy, are you princess?” Awwwww……… I don’t know is it coz he linked princess to flowy ball gowns, or did he just suddenly find me exuding poise and elegance (the latter is highly unlikely, as he was looking more at the skirt than me), but it sure feels good when someone, your own son lagi better, ask you that question. Or am I just hopelessly vain? Ok, humour me. :P

22 June 09 Monday
The past week, he has been bringing his latest favourite book to bed with him. Its the N-Z alphabet workbook which I bought from second hand bookstore near my work place. Its so cheap, but so fun. It has stickers of objects starting with letters N-Z (I can't find the A-M one), big letters with tracing dots for the kids to trace on (he trace with his fingers), and words of objects too. We play "find the word" games with him, and he also love looking for the right picture sticker to go with the word on that page. Its fun to him, so it makes us happy too. For the past 3-4 nights, he's been asking to bring the book to bed with him when I make him sleep. Just last night, Daddy was the one making him sleep again and he wanted to bring the book to bed. Initially Daddy desist, then Jovann told Daddy "Mommy say OK". Heeee....

The same night tonight, he had brought his Bus and sponge into the bathroom with him. He left them in the shower area after he's done with the bath. When being towelled dry by Daddy, he looked towards the shower area and said "B" and "S". Daddy looked confused for a moment, and J repeated "B" and "S". Then Daddy realised that J was telling him Bus and Sponge starts with the letters "B" and "S". Hahaha....

When reading the "When you Give A Mouse A Cookie" book for him tonight (its been a long long time since I read this), he insisted on reading it himself, and he started every 3-4 stories in the book with "Once Upon A Time....", and made up stories as he went. So cute. :)