I can walk!

After 1 week of practising, Janine can now really walk :)

Blues

People usually have Monday blues, but mine are Wednesday blues. Wednesday - because my parents who have been staying here with us for 1-over month are going back to Singapore! Argh. I have been too pampered the past month, not needing to cook meals or do much housework because it had all been done for me. I'll have to start doing it all by myself after this Wednesday!

My blues turned deeper blue (?!) when I received a call from Royston confirming that he'll be away at school camp from Tuesday to Friday next week, and wouldn't be coming home. It means 4 days 3 nights that I'll be alone with my 2 girls, no maid, no parents' help, and with no kopitiam within walking distance from home!! I was wondering how I was going to send them to childcare, rush to work on time, and pick them up from childcare on time, go home and cook dinner, bathe them, put them to bed....the list of disgruntlement goes on and on. And it must have been divine coincidence (if there's such a term) that after I received this phonecall, I met this lady who was out alone with her 4 children, aged 8, 6, 3 and 1! Her husband was on an overseas business trip and she traveled some distance alone with her kids to stay at a friend's place. I was impressed with how brave she was to manage alone with 4 kids and somehow, it felt like the Lord was encouraging me through her - that it would all turn out fine for me.

Well, if you compare her situation to mine, mine's definitely not half as bad (after all, she managed alone with 4 kids! I only have 2 :)) Guess I shall take heart in that! And I shall have to spend the weekend stocking up pre-cooked food in my fridge for the week ahead

Trip Back to Singapore

It was a sad yet fulfilling trip back to Singapore - sad because this trip was made to attend Royston's grandmother's funeral, yet fulfilling because we had a really good time with his extended family. Plus we managed to meet up with several friends, see our good friends' new baby, meet our little nephew for the first time, and spend a few days in KL with family.

Janine didn't get to celebrate her first birthday on 31 Dec 08 as it was the day of the funeral, so we celebrated it after that. On the first day of 2009, Janine took her first few steps unaided. She was laughing away and very wobbly though! She's also starting to imitate words and sounds. She can say "mama", "daddy", "papa" (for grandpa), "flower", teh-teh (for cheh-cheh, ie. her older sister), "baobao" (ie. carry).  

Janelle had a very good time with all her cousins in KL. She really enjoyed the company of her cousins, and they all happen to be boys! To think she ever used to tell me "Mummy, I don't like boys. I like girls only." Well, looks like she's mincing her words already

Janelle seemed to take on a different personality while in Singapore - she ceased to show love to her little sister, became more disobedient, and was extremely quiet while in the company of others. It's really strange, but I think somehow she knew she was in a different environment and behaved like that. Thank God she's back to her "normal" self here in Oz!

As a family, we really enjoyed our time back home in Singapore. We're missing all our family and friends already!

Janine's first few steps

Taken in Singapore a few days ago at Grandpa/Grandma's house.