New Milestones

Yes! Finally! I have opened the new pack of undies for Josiah! As I opened the pack of undies, I am reminded that we are also entering into a different milestone in his life...

I was told by several mums that boys would take a longer time to toilet-train, but still decided to go ahead with the training as I wanted Josiah to be toilet trained before we head back to Singapore in mid-December. It was tough at first, but I really prayed that God would make this toilet-training experience enjoyable for me! I must say that toilet-training is probably the most-detested part of parenthood - well, at least for me! Really thank God that He answers prayers, even the littlest and most minute of prayers like easy and enjoyable toilet-training for a toddler! 

Josiah has also been enjoying drawing and cutting paper! His favourite thing to draw is balloons (why am I not surprised!). Above is his drawing of balloons - all by himself using different coloured markers to indicate different coloured balloons. 

Pushing the kids' sized trolley cart around the supermarket has got to be the most favourite activity for Josiah! It takes my shopping experience to a whole new level altogether :) He will really miss grocery shopping with Janine next year, since Janine starts 'big school' and will not be home on weekdays. Josiah will be starting daycare twice a week next year. I think he will enjoy it tremendously!

Giving thanks!

This year is nearly over and looking back, I am thankful for this 2nd year of being a full-time stay-at-home-mum. Actually, it cannot be termed as "stay-home-mum" because the truth is, I do not stay home all day! We make two trips daily to and from school - one in the morning to drop Janelle off at school, and another in the afternoon to pick her up from school. In between the school hours, I shop for groceries, run errands, and get some housework done. There is never a boring, stay-home-all-day thing!

I am thankful for our 3 lovely kids who keep us very busy. When Janine starts kindergarten next year, I know that Josiah will definitely miss having his er-jie (ie. second sister) home on Mondays and Tuesdays to play with him! Both Janelle and Janine have settled down very well in school, with Janine being very excited at the prospect of starting kindergarten next year. When I asked her what was it about kindy that she was looking forward to, she said it was the HOMEWORK because she thinks it is fun to do homework!?! Not sure where she got that idea from, but it is a welcoming and innocent perspective to have! I am glad to have spent some time with Janine at home two weekdays a week, because the time will fly by so quickly once she starts kindy!

Josiah still loves his balls, balloons and cars. Sticks and stones are also his favourite. He is such a boy in so many ways - and yet he has caught on several girly activities from his two sisters, like singing, reading books, and drawing. With Janelle and Janine spending most of their free time doodling, drawing and doing craft, it is no wonder that this has rubbed off Josiah. Today he drew a picture all by himself and proudly showed to me saying "Mummy, look!". I must say I am pretty impressed with his balloons drawing! 

Our 3 Js have been enjoying their time helping me with some household chores. Their recent favourite activity is to fill up their little baskets with fallen leaves from our front yard! The challenge would be to see who would be the first to fill up the basket and it is great that they enjoy something that adults would deem as a chore! Both girls also enjoy scrubbing our floor tile grout! I am so glad that they actually enjoy it and can pretend they are Cinderellas scrubbing out our floor!

Birthday Surprises!

This year's 33rd birthday was a special one because of how excited the kids were in celebrating my birthday! Janelle busied herself making cards, drawing, writing and decorating. She would then tie up her masterpieces with a bow or string and present them proudly to me as a birthday gift! Following in her sister's shoes, Janine also enjoyed making cards for me. They made so many cards it would have been sufficient to last me for the next 5 years' worth of birthdays! I love their drawing and writing and I think my girls have got beautiful handwriting 

Josiah's favourite song is currently "Happy Birthday to You" which works out well and he sings it with great gusto! Not to mention, the best part about it is that he gets to blow the candles on the cake. In the whole process, the cake gets sprinkled with some extras (ie. saliva), but I suppose that is part and parcel of being a parent!

Whilst the girls presented me with their beautiful handiwork and cards in the morning, Josiah presented me with his Nutella-stained face and hands! 

2nd Birthday Letter to Josiah

Dear Josiah,

Happy 2nd Birthday to you! In this past one year, you have just grown up so much! Not only are you attempting to imitate whatever your older sisters do, you are also trying to participate in their type of play (much to their distress). Whenever we send or pick your sisters up from school, you will insist on carrying your backpack along, which is really cute. You have matured so quickly!

You are still such a cheerful, cheeky and loud boy. And so so active! What can I say?! When I was pregnant with you I wished that I would have a typical active boy just so I would know how different it is to have a boy compared to a girl. Well, I can only say that my wish came true! Your gross motor and fine motor skills are so advanced - perhaps a little too advanced for your age. You have learnt to jump with two feet off the ground many months back. And now you can open the doors, unbuckle your seatbelt, turn off/on the tap, etc. I believe you will turn out to be my little handyman round the house! You have mastered so many knobs and buttons that even your older sisters have not attempted to touch! 

I thank God for you being such a joy and sunshine in our lives! You are always so easily humoured and entertained, and always giving me the best cuddles and kisses. Now that you have learnt to talk a bit more, the house is never quiet with you around! "Happy Birthday To You" is still your all-time favourite song, and Humpty Dumpty is still undoubtedly your favourite nursery rhyme. You enjoy music and singing and dancing, which is really lovely to watch. 

Right now I am still reveling in the fact that you are a mummy's boy. I know that you will choose me over any other adult, which makes me glad and fulfilled that I made the choice to be a full-time stay-home mum! Not sure how long this would last, but I will just rejoice with the way things are right now. It is nice to have you wake up in the mornings calling for "mummy! mummy!!" at the top of your lungs, and to always keep a look out for me.

I pray that you will grow to learn to love others with the love of Christ, to share toys and belongings, and to be kind and compassionate to all. Bless you my dear son!

love,

mummy

Chocolate ice-cream, please?

Janelle comes running to me, eagerly asking, "Mummy, mummy! Can I have some of the chocolate ice-cream that Josiah had??"

Sounds like a perfectly normal request? Sure. Until..... you realise that you haven't given Josiah any chocolate ice-cream, and that Josiah is supposed to be watching TV with the girls, and that he is now nowhere in sight. 

I call for Josiah and soon he comes toddling down the stairs. True enough, his fingers are covered with some dark brown stuff, and his mouth and chin are smeared with what looks like dark chocolate ice-cream.

Knowing that we have no chocolate or ice-cream within reach, I try to sniff at his fingers to find out what the dark brown stuff is. Unable to pick up any smell, I decide to take him to the basin to have his hands and face washed. It is only then that I realise what this chocolate ice-cream is - SOIL. It feels grainy and matches the description of the one-tonne-load of topsoil we had just bought that was piled in a heap on our front yard.

I can understand that a heap of soil looks inviting enough for a child to want to step on it, climb on top of it, pick it up and throw around, etc. But to eat it?? I would not have imagined! Apparently the heap of soil proved too tempting for Josiah, that he just could not resist tasting it. He probably tried to spit it out, which explains the brown dribble down his chin. I was well-assured after this that the girls did not try bugging me for any more "chocolate ice-cream" after they found out what it really was. Phew! And eeewww!

Reflection on a 4-year-old's question

Today just out of the blue Janine asked me this question: "Why did God make the world and all of us?". It is truly a profound question worthy of a theological paper! The question she was asking was "Why?". Why would God want to create us human beings?

I think it is because God is a God of Love. In 1 John 4:7 we know that "God is love". Being the loving God, He created human beings to demonstrate His love for us. (And we can and should reciprocate this love by loving and enjoying Him.) After all, what fun is it to be the great big God and create an empty world? Or a world of robots? It just does not make sense because it does not tally with the very nature of God - LOVE. 

This question that my four-year-old posed me was a stark reminder of my existence on earth. It is ultimately to ENJOY God. He created us to love Him, to enjoy Him, and to make Him known. Too often we get caught up with pursuing the gifts He has in store, and in the process neglect the Giver Himself. May we all be reminded of the reason for our existence! 

My First 'Baboon'

Josiah will be turning two in September and till now, his favourite toys are still balloons and balls. He especially loves ballons - which he calls "BABOONS" as he is not yet able to pronounce the "L" sound in "balloons". It gets kind of embarrassing when he dashes through the crowds with only one goal in mind - to get nearer to the balloon decoration or any balloon in sight. And being at the age where "me" and "mine" are the two most important words in his vocabulary, he attempts to stake his claim on balloons that are used for advertising or decoration in the shops. Being the doting mother, I have developed a thicker skin and actually asked shopowners or service staff if they could spare my eager son one of their balloons. Half the time they oblige - to Josiah's utter delight! 

Today while I was at home preparing dinner, Josiah came running to me excitedly and pointed in the living room, exclaiming "Baboon! Baboon!!". Not wanting to disappoint him, I dropped what I was doing and followed him to the living room, where he led me to his drawing of.....a BALLOON!! This is the first time he has actually drawn something comprehensible and I am really amazed because all he has managed thus far are scribbles and random lines! I whipped out the camera and managed to capture his very first picture before he "erased" it away :)

I am also very proud and happy that Josiah's first Chinese sentence that he can say with clarity is "wo3 ai4 ni3" which means "I Love You". He says it with such sweetness that you just cannot resist giving him a big hug and kiss! I figure this is not too bad considering his first English word was "No!". His "no" then developed to "oh no!", and now it is "don't know". He now replies "don't know" to questions that he really does not know how to answer. Life is getting amusing with Josiah responding and articulating a little bit more than before!

8 years and counting

Exactly 8 years ago, on this day 19 June 2004, I walked down the aisle to say my vows before God to get married to Royston. Whether it is today, or 10, 20, 30 years down the road, I think we will always be saying that we can't believe it has been xxx years that we are married! And indeed, I do think that with each year as we celebrate our wedding anniversary, there is and should be a sense of awe that we have made it thus far! By human efforts, it would probably not have been possible. We are in awe that it is with Christ our cornerstone that we can stand in this marriage and truly say Blessed Wedding Anniversary because we are blessed with Christ as the center of our marriage.

We have been blessed with an amazing journey the past 8 years. Imagine going through the whole process of pregnancy with the nausea and discomforts, followed by months of sleepless nights and 12 months of breastfeeding, and then dealing with toddler tantrums and whatever unbecoming behaviours, toilet training, etc - and multiply this 3 times over! And to add to that, probably the biggest transition in our lives would have been our major move in migrating to Australia with a toddler and 6-month-old in tow. I am indeed in awe that we have not only survived, but by God's grace, we are thriving in what He has led us into. 

As our pastor used to say, our love for each other grows. He described it as saying that 10 years ago, he may have loved his wife 100%. But 10 years later, he still loves his wife 100%, but this 100% has grown in capacity. I am understanding a bit more of what this really means. Through all that we've been through the past 8 years, I know our love for each other has grown. Our 100% has become bigger.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

(Jeremiah 29:11)

I have decided....

Janelle and Janine's favourite car-ride entertainment is to choose a song to sing, and then sing it together over and over again. Even little Josiah (who can barely talk) who is seated in between his two sisters would attempt to sing along together with them. 

During one of our car journeys, the girls were trying to decide on a song to sing. Finally, Janelle decided that she wanted to sing the song "I have decided to follow Jesus", which goes like this:

I have decided to follow Jesus

I have decided to follow Jesus

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back

We all (Josiah included) sang the song loudly and with great gusto. I decided to ask the girls some questions to see if they understood the lyrics of the song.

Me: "When you get older, and if your friends decide that they don't want to follow Jesus, will you still follow Him?"

Janine (confidently): "Yes I will follow Jesus."

Janelle: "I think so. Yes I will follow Jesus."

I felt a bit of pride swelling up in me as I heard them proclaim their allegiance to Christ. After all, as Christian parents, we desire for our children to grow up loving God and serving Him isn't it? Before I could say anything else, Janelle then popped the million-dollar question: 

"But mummy, where is Jesus going??"

Even though I burst out laughing (it was so funny at that point in time), I felt that her question was a very relevant one. After all, in a child's mind, you need to know where Jesus is going if you are to follow Him! Hence, I tried to explain that when we say we are following Jesus, we are actually following the ways of Jesus - ie. loving people around us, loving and obeying God, being kind to others, etc. We are not actually following Jesus to get to a physical place, but we are following the ways of Jesus. 

Janelle at 6-years-old could understand what I was talking about, but 4-year-old Janine probably couldn't fully grasp what I was trying to say. At this age children are still very literal in their thinking and cannot quite grasp metaphors or imagery. I can only trust that these nuggets of truth that are deposited in their hearts will one day impact and transform their lives as they mature.

This simple question has challenged me: "Where is Jesus going?" 

I know that in following Jesus, we are headed heavenward. We are not just citizens of a country here on earth, but we are truly citizens of heaven. Am I following the ways of Jesus and living my life as though it is merely temporal on earth?

Life is Colourful :)

Josiah is now 17 months old and nearly 18 months old (ie. 1.5 years old). Life has truly been much more colourful, interesting, and fun with him around. I remember that when I was expecting Josiah in the early stages of pregnancy, I wished that I was having a boy (NOT because of the traditional thinking of how boys carry on the family name, etc) just so that I can experience how different motherhood is when you have a boy. God is gracious and answered my heart's desire!

If there is one word to describe how motherhood has been for me ever since Josiah came along, it would be COLOURFUL. It's as though this boy sees the world through a different set of lenses as compared to girls! The same toy given to a boy would yield a different play response. For example, my girls treat their Barbie dolls like princesses - combing their hair, dolling them up, doing imaginary play, etc. On the other hand, Josiah plays with his sisters' Barbie dolls by grabbing the doll's feet, turning the poor doll upside down, and using Barbie's long silky tresses to sweep the floor or wipe the tables!
In the eyes of Josiah, every item and piece of furniture is meant to be climbed on. He has climbed on top of most tables in the house and loves standing on them. His toys are stepped on in a bid to climb out of his playpen (a.k.a. cage), and the stairs are climbed several times a day. Whenever I'm at the supermarket paying at the counter, the cashier would always exclaim that "your baby is climbing out of the trolley!". It is so normal for Josiah to climb out of the shopping trolley (despite being buckled in) that I would be surprised if he does not attempt to do so.

Whilst Janelle at 6 years of age is still hesitant to turn on the bath tap, Josiah at 1 year old had already learnt how to turn on the water faucet and finds great delight in doing so. He also has a fascination with all types of switches, knobs, doors and drawers around the house. Because of this, his chubby little fingers always get caught in door hinges (yes, ouch!) and drawers. Currently, he has got one big toenail with a deep blue bruise, and one fingernail already three-quarters off the skin (after getting slammed upon on two consecutive days).
Just a few days' ago I found him holding on to a green marker, with his tongue and fingers all green! Apparently he had uncapped the watermelon-scented marker, and decided to give it a taste to see if it indeed tasted like watermelon! The list could go on and on about all the interesting and colourful things that Josiah does!

I am extremely thankful for this boisterous little boy, who can be so loud and impatient, yet on the other hand, be so humourous and cheerful. His sisters absolutely adore him, despite him messing up their play-stuff and destroying their art work. They love playing with him and vice versa, and their play times are always filled with so much fun and laughter :)

Back to Reality

After 7 weeks of holidaying - mostly in Singapore, Hong Kong & China (6 days), and Malacca (3 days) - we are now finally back home in Sydney! It took us a while to settle back into routine, and the greatest challenge for me was to get used to doing everything on my own after being pampered on for nearly 2 months!

Thankfully we have all settled back in nice and well, and the girls are thoroughly enjoying their time at PHCS. The greatest thrill for them is to be able to see Daddy in school, and for Daddy to take a peek at them during their class time. Yet on the other hand, the greatest challenge is for me to leave home 30 minutes earlier than before to take the 20 minute drive to the school. Now that we're into Week 4 of the school term, we have all gotten used to whatever thrills or challenges in this new season of life.

Janelle has adapted smoothly to the change in school, and has made some new friends. She has also just started piano lessons this year. Janine enjoys Prep and has been finishing up all the lunch and morning tea that I pack for her, making me very proud! Josiah is as active as ever and now understands everything that we say, just that he cannot speak as well as he comprehends. He always keeps himself very busy toddling around the house and checking out everything with great curiousity. The 3 Js have lots of fun together every day - playing and fighting together!

We are looking forward to lots of relatives visiting us this year as the cost of air tickets to fly from Singapore to Sydney has dropped significantly and many family members have already bought their tickets to come and visit us!