Bye-bye playhouse...

Mommy and I are feeling sad
Why?
Coz we have just sent our "playhouse" away to the old newspaper collector.

When daddy took out the koyak koyak playhouse and passed to the collector,
I told daddy "No NO..I want it!"
Yes...it's mine...mommy made it for me. I still like it and I still want to play with it.
Although the playhouse cannot stand anymore, I still can "di mong di mong" on the floor with my red car.
Although I can't hide in the playhouse anymore, I still can lay it down and put my soft toys inside and make a small pet house, with window somemore.

Although mommy also feel very heartache giving it away, she decided to do so coz we don't want to keep any rubbish in the storeroom.
We are in the mood of decluttering and spring cleaning. That's why mommy decided not to keep it.

Daddy said, "Ask mommy to make one more for you, ok?"
Mommy answered, "I don't know I have anymore energy to do it again or not?"
Although I can get over my emotion quite fast, by watching Special Agent OSO
But mommy is still feeling very sad and emotional.
She missed the playhouse coz
She has put in A LOT of effort into it.

Bye-bye playhouse....


Link to my playhouse..http://babysecret.blogspot.com/2008/02/wowplayhouse.html

Is 8 am too early for a preschooler?

A big question asked by mommy.

Darren's school starts at 8am. Meaning I have to wake him up at 7.30am to prepare him to school. BUT...sad to say that i never did that and we have never reached school in time since school starts. WHY? Because this mommy just could not bear to wake him up so early in the morning while seeing him sleeping so peacefully in his slumberland.

As a SAHM, we never need to rush to get up early in the morning. Since he was born, I never wake him purposely unless we need to rush for something once in a while. I'll let him wake up himself when he feels he has enough sleep. Same for nap time too. Even we ourselves don't like people to wake us up, so I am thinking why do we need to wake him while he is still sleeping. Usually he will wake up around 9am++, he will be earlier if we have visitors in our house.

So, when I first knew that his school starts at 8am, I know I'll have problem getting him to reach school IN TIME. Teachers told me that I have to slowly change his body clock to sleep early and wake up early but I tell you it is not easy. WHY?

You see....hubby came back from work quite late, around 8 to 8.15pm. After taking his bath and dinner, it is around 9pm. This is the only time he starts to relax in front of the tv and spend some time with Darren. Time flies and without realising it, it is almost 11pm before we move our butt from the sofa and go to the bedroom. Prepare milk for Darren, brush his teeth, change pyjamas and definitely some bonding time for all of us in our bedroom (chatting, playing, reading books), this boy will only doze off around 12am. To me, I feel it is definitely not enough sleep for him if I have to wake him up at 7.30am. But he does take his 2 hours nap in the afternoon from 3pm to 5pm usually.

I have tried moving his nap earlier, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. I also tried getting him earlier to the bedroom around 10pm. But somehow, he still sleeps past 11pm. I did tell myself to make him go to the bedroom latest by 9.30pm but I feel that he was still very active at that hour. Sigh......it is just so hard to adjust the time, coz if he sleeps early, I feel he will miss out LOTs of time with hubby.

So, I would really like to know what time does your kid sleep at night and how do you get them to wake up early in the morning.

Leona, Judy, Florence, Ann ..I know you guys wake up really early and send them to school in time...can you tell me how can you all do it??? I appreciate others to give me suggestions and tell me how do you all do it too.

Happy 3 years & 8 months old!!

Everyone said I have grown up a lot. Well, I don't know...but let's see..

Weight: 17.8kg
Height:.....

The other day when I was at the clinic, the doctor was surprised that I have put on so much weight in about 7 months time. My last weight 7 months ago was like 14++kg. However, I don't look fat but probably I have heavy bone.

My speech has improved a lot and getting clearer. However I cannot pronounce the C,G,K properly. Instead the sound come from the throat, I am using the front to produce the sound. Mommy said I need lots of practice on this. I am also started to imitate the adult to talk fast. When I talk fast, I stutter. Mommy always asked me to talk slowly. Sometimes when I want to say something but could not construct the sentences, I'll get frustrated or sometimes embarrassed.

I like to ask lots of "WHY" nowadays until mommy is fed up in answering me. Sometimes my WHY questions, mommy has no answer for me, she just kept quiet. I also like to confirm certain things with mommy and get her to agree with me.

Some of the conversations or things that I have said or asked are like below:

1. What time mei mei come out?
(I'll ask this Q almost every night. Doctor told me after CNY, mommy said still got 2 more months to go. However, I still don't know what time mei mei come out.)

2. What are you doing?

3. Where is daddy?

4. Darren: Daddy, my head always itchy.
(No response from daddy)
Daddy, scratch my head. My head always itchy.
Daddy: You can scratch yourself.
Darren: I scratch hard hard..got blood.
(I like people to scratch my back and head when I am in bed. Daddy is the one who scratch me nowadays since he accompanied to sleep.)

5. When no one accompanied to sleep or be with me in the hall...I'll shout in a very pity voice.."No one sleep/play with me!" or "No one jaga Darren!"

6. Started to imagine things..One fine day, I was telling mommy...
Darren: "When I'm big big, daddy and mommy go to work. I'll drive daddy's car, bring my wallet and handphone. Bring mei mei out mum mum. Mei mei sit high chair and I feed mei mei."
Mommy: "If mei mei want to play with your hp, how? Can mei mei use your hp?" (I like to play with mommy's hp.)
Darren: Cannot. Mei mei cannot call Darren's friend.
Mommy: But mei mei want to call mommy.
Darren: Can. Can call mommy.

7. Grandma: Where is daddy?
Darren: Daddy in office.
Grandma: What is daddy doing in the office? Sleeping?
Darren: No. Daddy office work.
Grandma: Why daddy need to work?
Darren: Daddy work, make money. Go McDonald. Make money for Darren, mommy and kakak.

8. When I am on the phone, I like to ask "Where is so and so (everybody's name one by one). So there was once.. (at 10.30pm)
Darren: Where is Jie Qian jia jia?
Yi Yi SS: Jie Qian jia jia needs to go to school tomorrow. So, she is studying now.
Darren: (interpret wrongly)..Oh SO LATE...in the school....

9. When playing certain game with him, I will know this game is "Not easy" or "Too easy".

10. When I did something wrong, I will say "sorry". When someone said "Sorry" to me, I will tell them "Never mind" or "It's ok!".

I still love handphone very much. I can remember telephone numbers very well. I can just see the numbers twice and start to tell you the numbers. I also can recognise names very well. When someone called, I'll know who called based on the incoming call numbers. Mommy said I am just so good in memorising the caller and the telephone number. Some of the telephone numbers I can remember are:

1. Daddy's hp number.
2. Mommy's hp number.
3. Grandma's hp number.
4. Grandpa's 2 sets of hp numbers.
5. Grandparent's melaka house number.
6. Yi Yi SY's hp number.
7. Yi Yi SY's house number.
8. Aunty Siew Li's house number.
9. Aunty May's house number.

Some numbers I may not be able to memorise all but when I looked at the number, I know who it is belongs to.

I also like to check the missed called, called out and called in numbers in the handphone. So, mommy cannot cheat me if she has called someone without letting me know. I also will always ask mommy why so and so called coz I saw the number listed in "called in". Daddy said they have no more privacy already. I also check the sms too.

When mommy wears skirts or flowery blouse or with ribbons, I'll tell mommy "Mommy pretty!"

I like to play pretend play. When I pretend to be someone else, I'll say "My name is so and so (old town, yi yi SY, Uncle Edwin, darling....).

My crave of Hi-5 is back. Now I like Kathleen instead of Charli.

I love to sing song. Some songs that I can sing on my own are ABC, Rain Rain Go Away, Rasa Sayang, Burung Kakak Tua.

My favourite cartoon shows are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mr. Bean (Live & animation), Ben 10. (I started watching channel 615 & 616 in Astro).

I love to play buy things nowadays. I will push the trolley, pay at the cash register and take out cards and money from my wallet. Sometimes I am the seller, sometimes I am the buyer.

I love to drink VICO instead of MILO. I love the ZOO biscuits with VICO for my tea time.

I love to eat broccoli and baby french beans. I hate leafy vegetables.

I can eat on my own very well. (Provided I like the food.)

I love the nyonya pink colour layered kuih. I love hard boiled eggs and cheese too.

I don't like the home made bread or cake.

I love toast bread, especially old town toast bread.

I like people to play with me, I don't like to play on my own.

I am very fussy with clothes. I like jeans and yellow coloured shirt for kai kai.

I am still very passionate about the baby. I'll kiss mommy's stomach on and off. I'll greet mei mei "good night mei mei. I love you mei mei!" EVERY NIGHT.

A lot of people love me. They said I am very obedient, well mannered (I called people, I wish them Good morning, say thanks).

The biggest milestone of all for this month...I am officially going to school now. Mommy is trying to get me sleep early and get up early. Mommy realised that I hum and sing more nowadays and has learn something. (better than the previous one.) I am wearing my uniform NOW...mommy is proud of me.

There should be more about me but till then..

Cough & running nose AGAIN!

updated by mommy.

Since school started, this is his 2nd time having cough and running nose. He has just recovered fully last week and on last Saturday night, he started sneezing and then coughing AGAIN. We were supposed to go up to Genting yesterday (Monday - Wednesday) but we have to cancel it. In fact, we already developed phobia when planning for the trip to Genting. Well, this is more or less a yearly family trip to Genting. First time, he was fine; Second time, he fell sick after he came back; Third time, he fell sick in Genting; Now...he fell sick BEFORE we even reach there. I guess he has no fate with Genting....hahaha.....

Anyway, I guess he must have got it from school. He has been missing school so frequent because of this. Although he has no fever, we prefer to keep him at home, so that he will not infect the rest with his mucous.

We did not send him see doctor this time. I just boiled some chinese herbs (chuin pui, nam hang, pak hang, kat peng...) and gave him some "poh ying tan". He seems better today and intend to send him to school tomorrow.

Well, this is one thing I hate most about him going to school. I know it is very common for a new preschooler and he has to go through it to develop the immune system but seeing him sick, really make me heart ache (especially he is those who hardly sick.) Sigh...really hope his body will get used to it soon....

Get well soon, son.....and be STRONG!!

My official start of preschool

updated by mommy.

We registered Darren to this preschool during the last week of December. December month is also considered an orientation month for them - which means anyone who has registered and paid for the child, the child can starts the school the next day. The child will join those day care students and start to has a feel of how school like. I think this is a fantastic idea coz the teachers don't need to handle a big bunch of new students when the new school term starts. (I'm sure there will be lots of student crying and clinging on to their parents on the first day of school - it'll be havoc.)

So, I started Darren on Tuesday (29 Dec). He attended a 3 days orientation (29 - 31 Dec) prior to the official school started. His cousin - Chloe is attending the same preschool since half a year ago. So, he will has a companion in the school.

Before we sent him to school, we have been emphasising that he will be attending the school together with Chloe mei mei. He was happy. I also bought him an Elmo bag as his new school bag.

29 Dec (Tuesday) - First day of school
---------------------------------------
School starts around 8.30am but we arrived there around 9am. I parked my car and walked him into the school. We saw all the children playing at the open area in the centre of the school. Teacher brought Darren to his classroom and put his bag. Remove his shoe, teacher called out Chloe. Chloe came forward and hold Darren's hand and led Darren to start playing. They were together all the time and Chloe like a big sister, has been holding his hand. Darren was fine (although he looked a bit blur but he did not cling on to me). He just looked at me once in a while.

Since he is coping well, I told the teacher I should make a move. I am afraid if I stayed there too long, he will request me to stay there every day like those days in F&J. I walked to him, told him to take care of Chloe mei mei and also told Chloe the same thing - to take care of Darren. I told him I will come and fetch him later and bid him goodbye. He noted his head and bid me goodbye too.

It was a very smooth start.

I picked him up at 11.30am. I did not park my car this time but to drive through the lobby. I noticed he was reluctant to come out. Asked the teacher what happened, apparently he doesn't want to come out before confirming is ME and my car. After he saw me, he walked out, looking shy (i dunno why) and smiled at me. After entered the car, I asked him why he looked so shy, his answer was "HAPPY". That was what I want to hear. I am glad that he was happy at school. This is all what I want.

30 Dec (Wed) - 31 Dec (Thurs)
--------------------------------
I dropped him off at the lobby since then. He seems ok with the teachers who helped to load and unload him every time. Every time when I pick him up, he seems to refuse to come out. According to teachers, he just want to make sure it is me and my car before walking out of the glass door. I am glad and proud of him coz he doesn't simply step out and get into people's car.

Since the last 3 days was orientation week, he doesn't need to wear uniform. (Somehow he just doesn't like the uniform. He even refused to try it on.)

During the weekend
--------------------
He was having a mild fever on Saturday but has recovered on Sunday. Hubby said should let him rest one day before starting him on school again on Tuesday.

5 Jan 2010 (Tuesday)
----------------------
Sent him to school but we were late. Somehow we have not been puncture. I just couldn't bring myself to wake him up in such an early hour (at least to me it is early). He refused to put on his uniform. We brought the uniform to school but somehow not managed to make him wear it.

When I was supposed to pick him up that time, i discovered my car window was smashed on the driver's side. I called my sister and asked her to drive me to pick up Darren. The funny thing is, when we were driving through the gate, I already saw Darren standing outside the lobby with the teacher. Suddenly he just ran inside the glass door again. When we reached the lobby, I saw him sitting obediently at the bench. It was such a funny sight. Later, the teacher talked to him and I opened the car door and showed my face. Only then he started smiling and walked out of the glass door. The teacher told me that he saw different car (my sister's car) and never thought it was me. So, he ran inside again. It was so cute of him. He was surprised to see me in my sister's car.

Packed hard-boiled egg for him to school and he finished his hard-boiled egg.

6 Jan (wed) - 8 Jan (Friday)
-------------------------------
He has developed cough with phlegm on Tuesday night. He woke up few times coughing. So, we brought him to see pead on Wed. So, he started missing school from Wed to Friday. I felt bad as he has fallen sick on the 2nd week of school. I kept asking myself is there anyway to avoid him falling sick. I know it is impossible especially when they first started school, sure they will tend to fall sick easily. Well, just hope he recovered soon. He started recovered during the weekend.

11 Jan (Monday)
-----------------
Resume back to school. Daddy sent him to school and everything as per normal. Packed bread with peanut butter to school but he did not touch it at all. Came back so hungry and asked to eat bread before lunch time. Headache.

12 Jan (Tuesday)
------------------
Missed school again as I need to go for my pregnancy checkup. He followed us.

13 Jan (Wednesday)
------------------
Back to school and everything as per normal. Packed his favourite zoo biscuit to school and he ate - left 2 pcs. I am happy. At least he is eating now.

I discovered a lot of mosquitoes bite today in the evening. I suspect he got it from the school. Around 8 and mostly at the leg and thigh area.

14 Jan (Thursday)
------------------
Today is PE day. He needs to wear his PE uniform to school. I told him the night before that he has to wake up early, so he can run and exercise in school. He was excited - kept saying he wanted to run and run in school. We broke our record by waking up at 7.45am and started to convince him to wear his PE uniform. He obliged coz he wanted to "exercise" in school. We reached school at 8.25am. Considered the earliest of all days...hahaha..... We saw children outside playing at the playground and also exercising at the school compound. The teacher was so proud of him wearing his PE uniform and ushered him to the playground.

Packed his favourite pink nyonya layered kuih to school and he finished everything. I was happy.

15 Jan (Friday)
-----------------
Today...I am super proud of him. I have to wake him up at 8.15am and convinced him to wear his school uniform. He refused and after many tries and convincing, I promised to let him bring some stickers to school and give to his teachers and friends. He finally agreed to put on his uniform. I am very proud of him. He just looked so smart in his uniform. Teachers was delighted and kept praising him when saw him in his uniform. Hope he will like his uniform from now on.

Side notes:
--------------
- I realised that i have to pack his favourite snack to school. Or else, he won't touch it at all.
- We are trying to sleep early and wake up early, so that he won't miss the morning sessions so much. But somehow I just couldn't bring myself to wake him in the morning. Sigh.....really need to work on this.
- He is placed in the same class as Chloe and sitting next to her.
- He sings more after attending this school.
- I have to always tell him that Chloe is waiting for him in the school every morning.

Conclusions:
------------
He likes the school but he still prefer kai kai more. hahaha....He doesn't mind going to school but at times he will tell me that he still wants to sleep and doesn't want to go to school. He dislike his uniform but i hope he will change his mind after today.

My first official Preschool....

Updated by mommy.

We have tried F&J preschool last Nov 09 and realised he did not enjoy much there. I guess he is more of a outdoor boy who needs more space for him to run. (F&J is located on top of a shop lot). So, we went for preschool hunt last minute in Dec. Not many we surveyed - Total Child & Kinderland (located at those corner house just few rows from my house - nearby); TCS (my first option coz the main medium is Chinese and I want him to learn Chinese); Current school (Darren's cousin is there for 1/2 year).

Finally we ruled out Total Child & Kinderland coz there are not only expensive but I don't like the idea of putting Darren into a corner house preschool. With around 60++ students in a house, I feel it is just too cramp. Kinderland branch for 3-4 years old was not impressive at all - gloomy and not attractive. Come to TCS, in fact, they are the cheapest among all but I feel the school is just TOO BIG for a new preschooler. They combined primary and secondary together. Also, I have to walk in a distance to pick him up after school which I don't prefer coz as my pregnancy progresses, it will be hard for me. Maybe I'll consider sending him there next year.

So, come to the current preschool...it is a 2.5 storey building by itself. Very new and considerable big.

1. 25 students to 2 teachers in a class.
2. The toilet is built for kid's use (for boys, they just need to pee into a drain like area and the water is continuously dripping down from the stainless steel wall to wash away the urine) and there is always an aunty stand by at the toilet to clean and help up the children.
3. 3-4 years old students are all located at ground floor - no need to climb stairs = safer. (There are 6 classrooms located at the ground floor).
4. There is a special kids canteen for children who stays back for lunch.
5. All drains are cover with cement = no tripping.
6. The centre of the building is covered with skylight roof - which means children still can carry on outdoor activities (obstacle games/playing balls/exercising/running around) even if it rains.
7. All classrooms have lots of windows and used mainly ceiling fan. Ventilation is good. - less passing on virus if any student fall sick.

Things that really impressed me and make them different from the rest are:

8. There are CCTV in every classrooms and corner of the school.
9. The main entrance glass door is secured by security system and children will not be able to run out of the school compound easily. Other exit gates are locked with pad lock with grill door. No stranger can entered the school compound easily too.
10. Parent will have to register their car plate number with the office and only those registered cars and authorised person can pick up the child. If someone's else is picking up the kids, you need to call the school earlier and tell them the new car plate number and the person's IC number. They will check the IC number before releasing the child.
11. The car will drive through the lobby (the gate will open only for certain hours.) There will be teachers standing in front of the lobby to unload your child off the car, take their temperature and walked them to the class. (I like this coz I don't need to find a car park and walk him to the school. Even if it is a rainy day, I am not afraid he will get wet.) The car then drive out from another gate. So, the traffic is always one-way and it is smooth sailing.
12. Pick up time. Children will be waiting inside the glass door (sitting at the bench) and there are teachers standing outside the lobby to look at the cars coming in. The teachers already memorised the car plate number will call out the student name with a mic when they see the car coming in. A teacher will bring the child out and when the car reached the lobby, they will help to load the child into the car. They even help to buckle up the child with seat belt. So again, I don't need to park my car and susah pick him up.

Oppss...am I promoting too much about this preschool??? We chose this preschool mainly becoz hubby and I found that the environment is safe and clean. Safety is our priority and I don't really care about the academic at this stage yet.

So, my next post - Darren's official start of preschool....

My Play Kitchen

Mommy's 3rd DIY project - a play kitchen.

Although I am a boy, I like to play pretend cooking and washing plates. Whenever I go to yi yi SY's or Chloe mei mei's house, I enjoyed playing with their play kitchen. It inspired mommy to make one when I enjoyed playing so much at the play kitchen at Ikea in December last year. Mommy knows that those proper play kitchen was not cheap. The cheapest one also costs around RM80++ and it is so small and simple.

So, even though with the big tummy, mommy decided to make one SIMPLE one for me using carton box again. She did not intend to make a fancy one coz she realised she find it hard to throw it away/discard it when the play kitchen is out of shape or I stopped playing in the future. (Just like the playhouse that she made last time, although it has torn into pieces now, we are still keeping it in the store room coz we find it so wasted to just throw it away. It is all mommy's hard effort.)

Thanks kakak for helping up mommy with some cutting too. Although this play kitchen is much simplier than the playhouse (required less effort), mommy found it so hard to complete the play kitchen. With her big tummy, it was just so hard for her to bend down to do the work. It takes her 2 days to complete but lots of break in between. It also took us 1 trip to econsave and another trip to Tesco to get some parts and play kitchen cooking set to complete the play kitchen.

Let's see my new play kitchen...(completed on 23 December 2009)

A simple play kitchen but took lots of mommy's brain juice and effort to complete it.


A play kitchen completed with accessories and other utensils.


Me cooking at the play kitchen....




Me washing at the basin.


Thank you mommy for the play kitchen.......

My Christmas this year....

My Christmas present this year from Daddy....




I like using the mic to call "Mommy....mommy..where are u?"

Actually not really meant for Christmas but mommy has some Toys R Us vouchers to utilise before 15 Dec. They were looking around on what to get me. Being me don't like toys, daddy and mommy found it hard to get me something that I like. I always like to play this whenever I saw this at shopping centre, so daddy was the one decided to top up money to get me this game. He said instead of getting me something that i don't like (even though educational), the item will just sit at the corner collecting dust. Why not get something that I like, yet educational, even though it is expensive.

I love it very much. I started playing it when we reached home. I laughed and laughed and even played on my own in the hall alone without making a fuss to follow them to the kitchen (I never like to be alone and want to follow whoever that goes to the kitchen).

My christmas present from mommy....



Other than daddy and mommy, I also received christmas presents from all my yi yis and Aunty Angela. But all these presents arrived at different timing (very early instead), so I have started opening it when I receive it. (Left Yi Yi SY's one unopened but I already know what is it inside...heheh...)



On Christmas eve, I also bought one orange colour t-shirt for daddy as his christmas present. None for mommy though....

Taken in Bukit Tinggi Jusco on Christmas eve...


The highlight of the day....On the christmas day.

I have been asking to see Santa Clause on the christmas eve. Mommy never knew I love seeing Santa Clause so much. So, we went for Santa Clause hunting in Bukit Tinggi Jusco but couldn't see one. On the Christmas day, daddy purposely sent us to Sunway Pyramid to meet Santa. Due to the extremely heavy traffic, daddy dropped us there and he went to Starbucks in Sunway hospital (what a place to go on christmas day) for a drink. Mommy, kakak and myself went in to meet Santa Clause.

There were so many people there and finally I can meet my Santa Clause and Santa Rina. I even took pictures with them. They gave me 1 sweet. I was satisfied after this.







After Sunway Pyramid, we left for Melaka. My grandparents has organised a BBQ dinner with Uncle Edwin's family. We stayed in Melaka for 1 night and left on Saturday after dinner around 9.30pm.

I love going to Melaka as I can run and run as the house is so big. There are also so many things for me to touch and play which I couldn't do it in my own house. I was just so busy exploring at the garden and also playing with grandma's computer. Daddy was dead tired chasing after me.





This was my Christmas. How about yours?