Mid Autumn 2011

Angel 1st handmade lantern.

My mom is the one playing with candles while Angel look-on patiently.. waiting for her turn!

Some lanterns in front of mom house... by yours truly ;)

Happy (Belated) Mid-Autumn to everyone ;)

Going to school - Open Day

Does kid act differently when they are with and without the parents?

It was Angel's school open day on Saturday. She was very excited about it and have been telling everyone in the house about "Saturday is open day". So I told hubby that there is no way we don't attend (not that we plan not to show up). Angel was telling us that she will show us this and show us that at school.

On Saturday morning, Angel is all ready and excited on our way to the kindy. She starting pointing at the tent in the playground and told us there is something she want to show us. So we happily walk towards the school, teachers greeted us and Angel. I registered ourselves and then .......

Angel refuse to move a step from the door. She just kept very still and quiet. Teacher asked her to go in and play games but she just stand on the same spot without moving. The impatient daddy started to boil up and scolded Angel. 

We somehow manage to get her into the kindy, went to her classroom. Her teacher came and discussed Angel's progress. All the time Angel just kept very quiet and did not look at her teacher. I started talking to Angel and show her the work she done at school. I tried to get her to talk by asking her to show me her school. She refused :( Hubby got very angry at Angel's behaviour and leave the kindy after less than 30 minutes there.

On our way out, some teachers notice Angel's behaviour and commented that Angel never behave like that at school. Angel is the apple of all the teachers. She is very obedient and happy girl.

So, why is my cutie pie acting so differently? Yesterday night while we were chatting, she did mention that she is a bit shy at school that day. But then she just didn't want to continue the conversation. Kids also know how to find excuses :) Now I'm wondering how is she going to act on the school's concert day.

Something on the Open day. The theme of this year's open day is "Children of the World" and below are some craft Angel did for the open day. No wonder she insist on wearing jeans ;)

Now she keep asking me to bring her to Australia ;P

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hei, I'm back and wish I'm not :p

Disneyland is wonderful and everyone is a kid again once we step into the park, or at least I am. I think I am more excited than my girl ;) I wish I could spend more time exploring every single ride and take photos with Disney every character. Unfortunately, we are on a tight schedule and only manage to spend half a day in the park.

Since we stayed at Disneyland Hotel, we got the chance to go back and freshen up before we catch the fireworks and have dinner. Transportation around the resort (Disneyland Park, Disneyland Hotel and Disney Hollywood Hotel) is very convenient. It takes not more than 10 minutes wait for a bus to arrive at the hotel and take you to the park. From the park, buses will wait and leave every 10-15 minutes depending on the crowd.

Below some photos taken during our visit to the park....

oohh.. Mickey and Minnie greeted us at the lobby of the Disneyland Hotel.

And, the arch that greet you once the shuttle bus from the hotel reach the park.

From here its about 5 minutes walk to the entrance of the park.

Before you reach the entrance, you will be greeted by Mickey on the whale.

Angel running about.. happy girl!

The entrance to the magical world of Disney!

Flying Dumbo

Non-flying Dumbo ;)

Alice's spinning cups.

Angel spin the cup so fast that I have to slow it down (secretly.. hehehe)

Waiting for the parade to start.

Its HK Disneyland 5th Anniversary and the theme of the parade is "Flight of Fantasy".

Another ride after the parade, at Tomorrowland.

The night view just before Tinkerbell light-up Sleeping Beauty's castle.

 

The light-up and fireworks are fantastic. You got to see it yourself. Photos do not do justice to the view. And that end our day at the park.

 

We did not cover all 3 themes of the park or all the rides in the park. Some rides may not be suitable for my little girl of 4 years old. Nevertheless, Angel have a great time in the park. Hope to bring her back for the other rides some other time ;)

First Baking for Angel's party @ school

Before the school holidays, Angel and her friends have a party at their school. I bake some cupcakes for her to share with her friends ;)

 

Angel tasting the cupcakes.. "Mummy, very good" :)

Some sugar print to decorate the cupcakes

Angel's class photo - sitted second from right, with her funny face LOL

Weekend with Angel

Weekend is no longer a rest day and its always too short for us. We spend lots of time at home during weekend to bond and relax. Sometimes I cook, which i wish i could do more. Last weekend, Angel requested fried rice and so here are some pictures of her having the fried rice from mummy ;)

I say, "Show me your teeth" and this is what I get LOL

Fried rice with prawn

She is trying to finish the rice so that she can have one of the chocolate from my annual dinner.

Sleepless night :(

I guess this is not a new subject for all parents out there. From the day we become parents, we have to wake up between our ZZzzzz. Some for the first few months while others may be few years.

I am fortunate that during Angel's first 2 years, she sleeps with her grandma. But Angel was a..... difficult baby from young. She will wake up and cry non-stop for 1-2 hours for consecutive nights. That's when MIL will start praying at the altar and then go to temple. Things improve when she turn one year old and stop waking up for milk.

Recently, Angel starts to wake us up middle of the night. Usually she will make a few noise or cry and then seems to be angry with something. Just like when she wanted something and not given in the day. This have been happening for the past month. Really don't know what is going on with her. I asked mom but she say she is fine during the day. Even the teacher says Angel is chirpy in class, no signs of unhappiness.

For the past one week, she only sleep through one night. That's when she is so tired caused she did not have her afternoon nap on Saturday. Monday night, i consider her to sleep through with occasional cough after taking her medicine.

So, what could be wrong?

My Baby .. Throwing Tantrum

Part One

I'm driving Angel back from mom house yesterday night. We reach a traffic lights and we stopped. Angel say turn left and used the side road to skip the traffic light (that's what hubby did before when there is a massive jam). I refused and told her that we need to stop just awhile. And, she start showing me her dissatisfaction - kicking her legs at the car seat, making sound like a roaring lion! 

At first I try to explain, and then I ignored her until she started making those irritating sound to show her dissatisfaction! She drive me to my limit and I started raising my voice. I said I will stop the car and she will walk her way back home. She kept quiet a moment but continue with her tantrum when I stopped nagging her.

When we reached home, hubby noted that I look angry. Asked me why. I told him and started to carry Angel from the car. My angry little princess still not happy, showing her dissatisfaction to her daddy. I ignore her and went to take my bath.

Part Two

After my bath, cooled down. Went downstairs, hubby having dinner and saw Angel sleeping on the sofa. Guess she must be tired. Hubby suggested carrying her to her bed and we did just that. But she started crying once hubby carry her and want to go downstairs. Continue crying when she is on her bed. Try to sweet talk with her, still continue crying. Asked her what she wants, still cry. My blood start boiling again. Told her a thousand times (maybe not that many but ...) and she still cries and not answer my questions.

Give her a choice whether to keep quiet and answer my question or I will carry her down as she 'shouted' for. She refused. I can't stand her crying anymore and carry her with her crying louder!

Part Three

Angel continue crying while my blood is boiling inside and thinking what should I do with her. How do you make a 3 years old listen to you in that kind of situation? I thought of my niece, who are just as stubborn - don't listen and not afraid of canning. Is my Angel going to be just like that? I'm got worried.

I took the cane, not wanting to used it. Start talking/nagging at my Angel. Make her stop crying by suggesting she go out of the house if she don't stop. She started to cool down. I started talking. She seems to understand and got 'sad' when i describe how stubborn and naughty she was. How she make mommy mad and angry. I continue talking and as I talk I cool down. Angel start yawning (guess nagging does have the same effect on any age). I suggested she goes to sleep and she obeyed.

Part Four

When she on bed, Angel started crying and want to hug me. I think she understand that I am angry because she is naughty. I hug her, start to tell her to be a good girl so mommy won't get angry, wont' scold her and won't caned her. She cry and hug me more tightly.

........... Angel have been showing her temper very frequent, usually after her nap or when she is tired. So, most of the time I give-in and try to accommodate her. Hubby always say I pampered her, am I? I usually don't canned her but I do shout at her. I think I shouldn't because some experts say that kids will imitate us and re-act the same way. Is that why Angel is throwing tantrum? Haii.... what should I do? Scold her or not? Cane her or not? Hubby still joked and say "wait till she go dating!"

Going to school ...3

Some updates on Angel going to school.

Looks like Angel's sad mode is over. She is now excited to go to school :) Just today, mom told me that Angel changed and keep asking whether its time to go to school! Yes, she is that excited to go to school.

Hope this mood will continue :)

Going to school ...2

I didn't thought there will be a part 2 to this but there is now. Angel is crying since last week when told that its time to go to school.

The funny thing is she will happily change to her uniform but when told its time to leave the house, she started crying. I have been asking her since last week, why but she just keep quiet. Oh dear...

Last week (during my medical leave) I went to the school and asked the teacher. The teacher noticed that Angel is not quite happy last week. Angel will not go into the class room until being persuaded by her teacher. What could happen?

Today she is crying again. Mom asked her why, she say kids at school beat him. But the teacher did not say anything about other kids beating her, could the teacher hiding something from us?

Or, could it be the baby at home? My mom started looking after my nephew 2 weeks ago, so could Angel felt left out with the baby around. Everyone attention is at the baby and so she is unhappy? There is so many maybe and I don't know how to get her talking to me.

Why is my baby unhappy?

This is making me unhappy too.. and the person sleeping next to me is getting the heat :(

Going to school

Angel have been going to school since March 2010. I sign her up for the 2 days a week class at a montessori near my mom place. Why only 2 days and not whole week? When I suggested sending Angel to school, my parents and hubby are not very supportive. They are of the view that she is too young to go to school. In fact for her age, the curriculum include mostly play then study. During her 3 hours session, she sings song, listens to story and most of the time she plays games. Do you think its too hectic for a 3 years old?

During her first two weeks, Angel cried when dad or mom send her to school. She have been happy telling us her activities at school but when it comes to going to school, she will start to have a sad face.

But recently, mom said Angel enjoy going to school and look forward to her school day. She will get down from the car with the help of a teacher and walk straight to the door for her little gift from teacher - a stamp on her fore-hand ;-) I'm so glad that she enjoy school and did not regret sending her.

But the other day, she came back from school and told mom that her back ache. Angel asked mom to put ointment at her back and must do it right-away. Mom asked her to wait till after her bath but she insist that it hurt very much and must put the ointment right away! Then mom saw that there is 2 little mark on Angel's back right at the backbone. When mom asked Angel, she say a boy beat her.

When we went to fetch Angel that night and saw the mark, we got a bit worry. We keep asking her who, how and where it happened? We asked whether she told the teacher, why she didn't tell the teacher etc... In my mind, I feel like calling the teacher right away and asked her what happen. I could sense hubby is also kind of angry that someone bullied his princess ;(

During our ride back home from mom's place, I keep asking Angel question about the incident.Then I found out that she might not be telling the truth. When we first asked her, she said its a boy who heat her. Then when we asked some more, she said its a girl. Oh gosh.. and finally when we asked further, she said she fell down by herself when she was playing at the playground. She can even describe how she fell and from her look, I know this is the truth.

This incident enlighten me that I have to teach Angel how to protect herself and how helpless she could be without us around her. I know I sound over-protective but can't bear to hear it if she is bullied by other kids.

So, how do you teach a kid to protect herself??

My Baby after all..

I have always thought Angel prefer her grandma and cousins over me. But yesterday's incident tells me that she still want ME!

We were at MIL's house for lunch and SIL and her kids were there too. As usual, Angel will be very happy to be there playing with her cousins. We were there for a few hours and then we decided to go do some groceries shopping. Angel don't want to follow us (me and hubby). She says she want to stay at grandma house. I'm so sad to hear that thinking my girl prefer to stay with grandma. I unwillingly give-in and told Angel that we will pick her in the evening.

Evening came and I drove to MIL house to pick Angel. SIL have left with her kids. When my Angel came to the door, I can sense that she is unhappy. She is not her usual talking self. Then the moment she reach the door step, she jump and hug me. Her eyes started to turn red, my poor baby. She didn't cry at that moment.

Once we were in my car, she started crying and came over my seat to hug me... my eye sight also become blurred. I asked Angel whether she is afraid that I'm not coming back for her. She nodded and cry even louder. My heart ache and in the same time glad that she is still my girl and I still have a place in her heart.

I love you my Angel and I will never want to leave you out of my sight, if I can help it.

Angel and her dolls

I have been exposing Angel to various type of soft-toys - teddy bears, little dolls etc. These two are my favorite. They are Angel's favorite too.

I'm not a fan of Doraemon but when I saw these dolls (which i bought on 2 separate occasions from Bangkok) I just love it. I bought Sizuka first as I wanna introduce girl to Angel. Then I introduce Nobita as a friend to Sizuka.

Angel sleep with both the dolls. She will not sleep if she do not see them both! In the morning she will ask me to carry one of the doll to downstairs, saying she can't carry both but look she got no problem carrying both here.

Now it sort of worries me cause she talk to the dolls when we are not watching. Perhaps, she is too lonely.

Faces of Angel

This is Angel in her crying mode!

We went to inspect the house on Saturday and the workers are working and it was dusty and noisy, so we were talking to the contractor outside the house. Angel was happily walking up and down the corridor. 

I, as usual, will be shouting, like a mad women, at her for running while she just ignore me. And, when I stopped shouting, she start crying! She fell down on the cement pavement while running. Come to think of it, Angel never really fell down with such injury on her knees.

I also have not took any picture of her crying. She is so angry that I take a picture of her crying, she cry even louder!

Discipline

How do you discipline your kids?

My parents used cane to discipline me and my brothers, less on my baby brother. I still remember one day when i was around 5 or 6 years old, I was caned by my father cause i refuse to leave my grandma's house as I was enjoying myself playing with my cousins. My dad have to drag me to the car and when at home drag me out of the car and started to caned me. The caning leave some very noticebale mark, lucky its no longer visible after a few days. And, ever since I'm absolutely scared of my dad.

I read through a lots of reading (especially Western) about disciplining your kids and these professionals advice against caning or any form of beating. I will actually like that idea cause I do not want to hurt my baby like how my parents did.

I tried putting Angel facing the wall and after 2 attempts, she is well aware that it is a form of punishment. She will cry/scream whenever I mentioned 'go face the wall'. I refuse to use cane but still unable to control myself, sometimes I do hit Angel with my pair of hands. Regretting after that :(

She is only 2. Is it too young for us to punish her?

The other day, Angel was playing with the Astro remote control and accidentally press on the 'Guide' button and the blue screen appear. We asked her who did that, she replied "Pa pa". Hubby refuse to let her getaway with this (lying) and insist that she tell us the truth. Angel refuse and keep repeating "pa pa". Hubby carry to aside and Angel started crying very loudly. Hubby in his attempt to control Angel and himself, asked Angel to say sorry. This girl is so stubborn. She pleaded with her daddy but still REFUSE to say sorry!

I gotta say I'm surprise that Hubby did not lose his temper nor hit Angel. Instead, he tried to reason with her. But Angel just refuse to admit and say sorry :( I'm just wondering - if she is so stubborn now at 2, what will she be like when she is older?

Angel have been sick

Friends who are connected to me via FB will know that I have been busy worrying about my girl for the pass week. She have been vomiting at night after her milk for almost the whole week. Have been monitoring her food intake during the night as suggested by the paed and also controlling her fluid intake 2 hours prior to her bedtime.

So far, so good. She stop vomiting since the monitoring of her food and fluid intake. But these two days, she started coughing which get worst yesterday night. Cause she sipped on my Milo Dinosaur while we were having supper with K & W.

I noticed that Angel got her cough easily whenever she have cold drinks even the Yakult or the drinkable calcium. Mom says its because her lungs are cold after a few session of playing in the water ie swimming pool! That's her experience with my baby brother. Hence, mom is always against my idea of bringing Angel for swimming session unless its on a hot sunny day.



Lately with Angel quite frequently cough at night, I starts to believe in mom. I'm trying chinese remedy such as chinese herb as I alsways feel that herbs are better than those medicine/vitamin produced using chemical. I'm still very much a China-mom :P

So, any advice on other remedy that I could try?

Angel and Daddy on Kiddy Ride

We were at Alamnda on Sunday for dinner. As usual when Angel saw those kiddy ride along the corridor, she will insist that we let her ride. She is so cunning. While we were having our dinner...

Angel: Daddy, I wanna poo poo

Daddy: Sure?

Angel: Yessss

Daddy carry her and on the way...

Daddy: You sure you wanna go toilet?

Angel: Yes, I wanna go toilet (and after a pause) with the kiddy ride (smile)

Daddy stop, look at her...

Daddy: Ok, you poo poo first and then we ride

Angel: No, I wanna ride first

At that, hubby carry Angel back to our dinning table and tell us the story. Hahahahaha.. my Angel is getting very cunning :)

But at last she did get to ride on a few kiddy ride...

She insist Daddy to ride with her.

At first Hubby just get half of himself into the ride.

And, then....

Angel insist that Daddy sit beside her.

Hence, this is what it look like.

I still can't stop laughing by looking at the picture.

Hubby can be very accomodating to his princess's demand.

Faces of Angel

During our Sunday brunch, after another inspection of our new house.......

After Angel saw the above picture of herself, she asked "Where is Angel's eyes?"
Muahahahahaha.... hers are really sepet!

Deepavali Gift from Employer

As mentioned in my earlier post, staffs were presented with the Deepavali gift during our Raya celebration. The gift is a box of 12 mini cheese cake from the famous the Loaf.

All the boxes of cakes lined up to be given away.

The look :)

And, all the 12 cheese cake lined-up in the box.

I served the cheese cake as breakfast for Angel.

One look and she reach for the one with chocolate topping.

Guess she really like chocolate very much.

Angel trying to poke through the chocolate topping.

Mommy, I can do it! No, I don't need your help. Angel, can do it!

After her first taste of the cheese cake, Angel give me this look.

Its her latest look with a peace sign ;)

After 2 bites of the cake, she left the cake with me. As always, mommy have to finish the left-over for her. How can I keep to my diet plan :(