Meal Time Battle

Recently I found myself in constant battle with Gabriel during meal time. I also found that I am getting a lesser degree of patience with my boy, so there is lot of stressful times.

My sweetheart is becoming very very fussy with food. Gone were good days he ate everything -I was once proud mummy of my boy being a keen & easy eater. BUT NOW, thing is at opposite end - he choose his food extremely carefully. That say -no carrot, no pea, no broccoli, no blueberry, no apple, no kiwi, no courgette, no tomato, no sweetcorn....gosh, it is awful if I go on the list. He watches every spoonful of food going into his mouth, any green or red he spotted declare start of food-battle or end of meal time. He is so picky, so choosy, so fussy that it is so difficult cooking for him and even more stress when he reject my yummy food!!

His favourite food now are very limited... yogurt, peach, cheese, meat and he can eat them for a meal. I don't like his idea. So I decided to change approach - if he refuse my food, then no food for him. I am testing this out, no idea how it would work. Meantime, I am trying new dishes, it is difficult when you only have so little choice of food. sigh..

Oh another thing, changing clothe now also becoming a big challenge. Imagine a 2 year old refuse to wear this jumper and insists on the other jacket?! Or one bringing a pair of jean to you demanding to change so that he can go out?! Or refuse to cleaning up because they thot after cleaning up will be nap time??!! oh....all is real, no joke. And it is very frustrating when you want to get things done.

Fortunately, daddy always has this magical authority to get him co-operate. Daren's been my saviour during these battles but I am starting to wonder how I can cope without Daren on the upcoming trip to asia in Nov?!

Little Artist at home

I decided to do some art work at home with Gabriel so there I went for my little boy's art shopping at ELC. I got some basic art equipment and a very nice art apron (I like it myself!). So there it goes.....our budding artist Chia junior.

Will show his work in future post....now just warming up to the fun but mummy has well prepared for the big mess!!

Embarrassed but Not Wrong

I took Gabriel to St Stephen church last Sunday. It was our 1st time to church on our own. Eunice, Ruth and Hannah were there. Gabriel refuse to stay at the Creche so I took him with me at the service. He was good, surprisingly, but his patience ran out in the mid of the service.

I took him back to the Creche, and met a new friend there. Then it was time for the Christian's tradition - 'the bread and the wine'. they called it Communion. Honestly, I didn't know a thing about this. My new friend said to me to go out with her if I want to receive blessing, so I did.

At the stage, I followed what others did, together with Gabriel. I put Gabriel's hand out and the Christian people put some bread on Gabriel's hand. My little boy ATE THE BREAD AND BURST OUT LOUDLY- 'MORE', AT THE STAGE!!! It was completely embarrassing!!!! Then followed by the wine - it was offered to me but I didn't know what to do so I said 'I don't know what to do....'

I felt completely silly and ignorant but I know in my heart, this is not wrong.

I am not a christian. I am not any religion. I am open to all good teaching but for some reason I feel there is one very powerful person over me - watching and guiding me....I like to find out more.

Mummy the chocolate is so yummy...

Yesterday Daren came home from Cannes with 2 huge block of chocolate. Our dear son wanted to eat but I said to him "honey, no, this is not for you, you can't eat this, and it is dinner time now".

Then, I was doing the washing up in the kitchen while Daren in the room doing some work, Gabriel was sitting quietly on the high-chair at the dining table.

It was extraordinary silent, I came out from kitchen to find this.......

He tore the nicely wrapped chocolate and helped himself to the sweet - happily munching the big chunk of Toblerone - the 100 years limited edition 'Fruit n Nut'. Before I can say a word to him, he happily raise thumb-up to me - telling "IT IS YUMMY"!!!

He was just too cute for me to get crossed!! So there, his 1st bite into the Toblerone...

Good day Bad day

I had a very good day and a very bad day over the last 3 days.....

ON SATURDAY, I went out with my 2 lovely freinds - Michelle and Patricia. Daren stayed home looking after Gabriel and for Michelle, Gavin took over the job (what a great husband they are eh....we certainly are very proud wife!!) We went for Spore buffet at Royal Garden, it was a good pamper indulge in the vast variety of Spore food (though I must say the food at the buffet weren't great) We had LOT LOT LOT of FUN catching up - chatting away sharing our ups and downs in everyday life, girlie talks from beauty salon to mowing lawn, lot of laughters, jokes & fun, shopping, coffee....it was truly a GREAT GIRL DAY-OUT!!! I enjoyed so much that I wish we could stay longer (and wonder why we hadn't done this earlier???)....never mind now we promise to meet again next month!! woohoo....

Michelle, Patricia....you are just wonderful. Our friendship is very magical.....we don't know each long and don't see often but we are so closed and comfortable that we can talk literally everything and anything. Michelle is right - 'we have the chemistry'!!! Thank you friends, you made my day - a wonderful day I truly enjoyed!! We parted at High Street Kensington station after cup-of-coffee at Nero, each to our own way home carrying tons of fun, sweet and warm momeries....only waiting to meet next soon...

ON SUNDAY, Gabriel gave daddy mummy extra shots of stress and troubles. We spent the morning at A&E - he has this minor injury turned virul infection that cause open wound on his face. It spread very quickly, really scared me and Daren. Doctor said it was a skin virul infection, and it is contagious. Gabriel was put on antibiotic for 7 days, 4 times a day. And no outdoor activity until he is well. He refuse the medicine and is not easy to trick him. It was my 1st time handling a situation like this (Gabriel used to love medicine...) I was madly calling for help on how to make him gulp down the medicine.....it was extremely stressful on the Sunday, indeed....a very bad day after my wonderful day out with my girlfriends!!...sigh

Anyways, Gabriel is recovering well, the antibiotic work magic. The thing is he has to finish the whole course so that say - another 5 days of medicine-battle...oh dear...anyone any brilliant trick?!...I mixed with ice-cream, no good, he is too smart!

Gabriel's Developmental Progress

Today, Gabriel is 2 year 1 month old. This post is written on his developmental progress.

Height - 83cm

Weight - 12kg

Language - Gabriel comes pretty slow in talking, and nope, no sentence yet! His mini vocabulary consist : daddy, mummy, baby, wah ma, yiyi, koko, meimei, kaikai, car, carkey, door, go, out, eat, dog, cow, mau (cat), hou (hot), cool, clock, no, more, nomore, moon,me, meat, star, nice, please, peach, pear, bread, ball, bubble, bee, book, toot-toot (train), teeth, gurt-gurt (yogurt),tea...and many more of his own kiddy words!! Recently we notice he is saying more words and is more keen to talk...

Motor Skill - His physical development is more advance than his linguistic intellectual. He is a very brave and confident child and not afraid of falling. His limbs/eye co-ordination is good. He can eat by himself and hold fork & spoon pretty well. He tends to use more left hand than the right - we will monitor this...

Understanding - He understands far more things than he can say. He can point to his body part to my demand but do not say any of them. He understand instructions, and most importantly, he understand his boundary and recognise the power of authority (especially from his daddy) -of course he is continually testing his limit from time to time which drive us mad!

Likes - food (Gabriel ENJOYS FOOD A LOT!!), car, ball, penguin, bubble, bath.....daddy is his all-time favourite play mate and mummy his full-time on-call-maid!!

Dislikes - shower running over his face, mummy shouting and daddy angry.....

Favourite book - Not Now Bernard, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, You are All My Favourite, Guess How Much I love You, Dear Zoo, Bible Favourite Story (with the goggle eye), Good Morning Engine....and many more - I am glad he like books, hope this continue!

Activities - nursery, art, gym, music, swim, play in the park, shopping at Kew retail with mummy, dancing at home with mummy, playing at home with mummy....and DISTURBING mummy!!

Gabriel, my sweetheart....he is getting more cute and fun to play and be with. I am a very lucky mother to stay home to look after my child (albeit lack of domestic help!!!). I truly appreciate the chance to watch Gabriel's developmental progress at every stages. I love the close knitted bond we build. I enjoy watching my son and hubby - my new hobby now is to watch them and spent time together laughing.

Car Lover

My son love car. He love car a lot...

Everyday he calls 'carkey-carkey' and demands to go to the car.......

He also thinks of car in his dream coz he calls 'carkey-carkey' while sleeping.....

I found a way to please his car-dream and to save taking him to the car everyday......

This is a toy, for budding car-racer!! It is very handy when my little man craze for car, and this is good to keep little girl and boy entertained when travelling for long journey in car

It worked!! See my lovely boy enjoying the new toy......

BUT IT DIDN'T WORK LONG, he soon discover it is not fun as real car.........

There he goes.....can you see the excitement of him holding the car key.......

He love car.....he like them a lot.......

...dear Gabriel, mummy will remember how much you love car. You demand 'carkey' days and nights and you are extremely good spoting AUDI and HONDA on road. Mummy think you will grown up liking car a lot. Tell mummy, by then, what car you like....mummy waiting for the day you can drive mummy around!! For now, mummy will be your driver for the next 17 years...

Welcome Winter

I turned on the radiator yesterday. For the last six months.....finally it is time to turn on the heating system. Let's welcome the winter!!

I like living in a four seasons country. Really like it!! Imagine....the smell of tree in the spring, the hot & breezy day in the summer, leafs turning yellow in the fall, the crisp and cold in the winter....Though there are likes and dislikes on each season, I still think it is very interesting to have 4 seasons. I like the changing of season. I like the need to dress up for different weather, I enjoy the different style of fashion. There are more to look forward or hope for on the climate, so it is not boring....unlike the all-year-round hot climate in tropical country....sorry I say that even I come from Msia.

Spring is always good, I bet it is everyone favourite!! This summer, unfortunately, hardly a summer-too much rain!! Whenever the weather permit, I like putting Gabriel out in the garden for play. We specially love this mini paddling pool, so much fun we all had!! I can still feel the joys from the pictures!!

It was very nice eating alfesco during the summer. We had meals in the garden, Gabriel love it, and the adults too.




I signed up to the Kew member this summer, so we been to the Kew garden a few times. These pictures were taken with Lisa and baby Aurelia, we had a great day out in Kew Garden!!






These activities are now cease until the next spring. We are now into winter. I am all gear up to the chilly weather, and prepared to take Gab to expereince winter at Kew (since paid, must go again...hehe)

These pictures taken last winter......

I love these winter shots!! Gabriel looking so cute in the puffy red jacket and I guess I did a reasonable good-job in the snaps...hehe...Now waiting for the snow to come, look forward to another winter-wonderland photo-shot!! Maybe a digi-SLR will do me good!?....hmm...Daren would loath to read this.

Time to wave bye-bye to the summer.

We will make the most of this winter!

Enjoy the chill........

Assignment by dear Michelle

Title : THE AGE THAT I WISH TO GO BACK TO

If you read Michelle's blog, you can read her post on this title. Now I have been tagged by her, and I feel obliged to complete the task. Mind you, this is my 1st tag - I don't know what a 'tag' is honestly. But I decide to continue. Plus, this is an interesting topic, which spur great thought.

I ponder very long but couldn't come out the age I wish to go back. But I say I enjoyed college and university time most. I enjoyed the carefree teenage time, very green, very naive, very happy. I love the powerful energy at that stage. I lived in a very simplify world - see no evil, no pain, no hardship and hardly know what sadness is. I presumed everyone was at their most genuine course for one another, everything build from honesty. I was a very lucky girl, then, never got to worry for money, very very blessed. My days were just to focus on my own life - no family pressure, no peer competition, no aim in life, no dream for future. Just CAREFREE, not the slightest taint of stress. (except the exam madness of course!)

Despite the blank happiness I enjoyed, I did reasonable well in my exam too-not the super grade but enough to get a degree. However, I guess I didn't achieve my grade the smart way. If I turn back the clock, I wish to go back to school time - to expand my study outside the book, set a goal, dream future, do a science degree, finish my piano grade 8!! So given a chance, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AGE - to relive my carefree day, to make the aimless days more directional. I enjoyed being a student but I do not like living in complete ignorant of the world. I like to be a more informed, more solid teenager who is able to plan, dream and acheive goal. I like to take my study more seriously, especially English and science. And I certainly want to complete grade 8 piano!!

SO, there is no particular bright period of time I want to go back. If I do, it will be for re-living to make my life more memorable so that when I next write this topic, I will have a direct answer.

For now, I am very happy with the present. Learn to accept the fact of ageing but must live to the fullest, everyday. To many of us, life is just starting to get very joyous and meaningful.

Messy Eater

For the past many months I was always busy cleaning up mess after every meal, and still, I am!! Not particular happy with food mess but with help of anti-bacterial wipe, I survived. Feeding kids is much easier than kids feeding themselves BUT these 2 issues standing at a very thin line - save trouble, or to encourage independence?!

Look at these pictures....

What do you think?! Food wasted more outside than going in the tummy....so many kids are on 1st option - be fed. I also find this interesting trend - more asian kids are on 1st option than the western kids. Simple rationale behind - the west strongly believe learning through play and play come with mess so mess is good!! Asian, on the other hand, tends to delay exposure to nasty germ in mess?! So many choose to feed to avoid mess plus cleaning.

We took the other route (largely we want our meal-time freedom!!) - Gab feed himself. But still, I find myself busy during meal time - to stop him from playing, throwing, squeezing, spitting food! It can drive any mummy MAD but this is part of learning process, so I have came to term with - 'MESS IS GOOD'!!

Mid-Autumn Festival

Yesterday was the mid-autumn festival, it was a quiet day, nothing more than normal in UK. But our day was special - we received parcels and warm wishes from family in asia. It was for Gabriel birthday presents, and we also found lot of extra goodies for the festival - lantern and snack!!

Thank you very much to Si Hui and aunty WY, you are very very thoughtful. The electric octopus lantern is very cute, the Mickey lantern is very modern & nice, and we love the magic ducky that light up by fingertip - all are sooooo nice!! Daren asked to keep them all!!! Another heart-warming festive-wish was from A Joan. She wrote us a poem using chinese "ping yin". It took us a long while to figure out the poem (neither of us read well in "ping yin"). It was very lovely, and you know, our dearly A Joan now learning Mandarin, I am very proub of her progress. Thank you for the poem!!

This is cute, isn't it? It sing well too 'twinkle twinkle little star....'

This is mine now....since Gab doesn't appreciate (yet)....

I talked to Gabriel about this festival but he doesn't know a thing and he ignored me ; -(

It is ok, at least he know what a lantern is - he likes them, he played with them but he seems to enjoy more smashing the paper lantern?! ....boy!!

In the afternoon...
In the night after dinner.... Our quiet and chilly mid-autumn day......
When I see the lantern, my thought was full of idea organising a get-together with friends. I know children will be thrill to see the lantern, plus it is fun to have more noise and people on the festive day but nope, I didn't do anything. Shame.....


...Gabriel, you smashed 1 lantern and spoiled the octopus, now it don't sing. Mummy want you to know, you are a very lucky boy. Even we live 3000+miles away from home in asia, we are always in their thought. This festival only reveal how grateful mummy feel.

steamer, grill, bread maker

Now that our kitchen spare us extra space, we bought a steamer, a grill and a bread maker. Not all at once but one at a time. These keep us amused for while but Daren's interest died pretty soon on bread maker. For me, they are savior in my cooking. Steamer is specially helpful in preparing meal for my boy. Most importantly, they are healthier choice of cooking. Oh, not forgetting slow cooker too, these are the MUST HAVE for busy(and lazy) cooking-mum like me!

The grilling machine is superb - it is simple-mess-free to do meat, minus the the fat!! The fat melt under the hot plate, dreadful to see the amount of fat dripping down but you can eat more meat feeling guilt-free. We use it for toasting bread too. We made a modified ham & cheese panini, yummy, Gaby like it!! Daren like the grill a lot. His verdict - fantastic, mess free, fuss free!! Now that our oven is not working so the grill come in extremely helpful....and you know it only cost us 10 pound - from Sainsbury.

Thumb up for the steamer. I strongly recommend if you want to cook easy and eat healthy. It is silly of me not getting it much earlier....anyway, now I steam almost everything, every meal. I promise to keep food tasty and creative with steamer but quite a challenge so my wok still a major part in my kitchen!! I just whipped up a delicious lunch this afternoon - cauliflower cheese salad. Nice, yummy and healthy.

Bread maker - our latest toy!! It is very satisfying when you hold the warm bread in your hand, and the smell of the freshly baked bread is very aromatic - it wake you up, jumping out of bed to eat-bread!! The machine is idiot prove - you follow instruction, get the right ingredients. We can do a lot with the machine, yet to explore... At moment I still find bread from outside taste better (I love British bread!!). Will continue to test and trial until I get 100% right taste and texture. Just bought 2 pack of different flour, let see how it make a change. We bought the Panasonic SD-255, it cost 90 pound, expensive but we are sure we get the right one. This is not a must but if you fancy making your own bread, this is good.

Armed with these new gadget, I want to be an amateur chef. I love baking and cooking, but a shame I can't afford much time after I became a mother. I want to re-new my interest. Now only lacking a maid to do all the washing up ;-))

Our next thing to buy? The "Trunki' for Gabriel.....I think he is a very lucky boy, I never got so many things at his age. These days there are a lot of wonderful mothers eh!!!

My Girl

I watched a few movie recently, I like this one the most - My Girl. This is a Korean series, a comedy about love and family. I have never like a Korean movie like this one - I like so much that I watch for 2nd time ; - ) My Girl is very un-Korean - you don't cry but laugh through all way until the last bit of show, your heart wrench. A good mix of fun for laugh and moment for tear. The story line is unique, and I really really enjoyed the chemistry between GongChan and YooRin. YooRin (by Lee Da Hae) is so beautiful - she is drop-dead gorgeous!!! I love her images in the show and it make me want to change my outfit for this winter and laugh sweetly like her. She fit impeccably in the role as YooRin, her acting skill is GOOD. I like GongChan (by Lee Dong Wook) for his mature and inflexible self but bring you sense of security and romance. I like the rest of the characters too in the show...JungWoo is cute, YieYie is funny, even the secretary is so nice looking. One last things, the songs are very very nice!! You know, I guess I will probably watch for 3rd time...silly me, ha!!

Legoland - Windsor

We went to Legoland last Sunday, part of Gabriel's birthday treat. It was a very nice day out, weather was perfect - warm with gentle breeze. This was our 1st trip to Legoland, we like it!! It is a good family destination, with lot of green for picnic, rides for thrilling scream, things to see, feel, touch and enjoy!! We will visit again next year, and plan to purchase the annual ticket - cheaper!!

Gabriel and Thomas in the souvenior shop...

Daddy and baby in the green...

Mini Legoland - London miniature...

Few things that we learnt from this trip, not to repeat the 'mistake' for next visit :-

...Pack your own food for picnic. We tried the food there, sorry to say, it is completely tasteless!! Sitting down on the green having your own big feast is far more fun!!

...Visit the shops 1st thing if you intend to buy any Lego things!! as in the end of the day, there will be big rush of visitors poping in and hanging round to buy souvenirs.

...Avoid visit at peak period, the crowd is big even during non-peak!! Queueing for ride is a pain, so if you don't mind a few more bucks to spent, get the priority ticket, you can junmp the queue, save the time.

...Bring extra clothes for kids, there are water-fun play area, too good to resist, adult like it too...so why not get wet.

I think Gabriel will enjoy more when he get older, so next year.....I will do all the above, but not priorty ticket. We are not too far away, plus the annual ticket, we can visit anytime!!

Gabriel love the wheel and the car....

The handsome horse-riders....


If you have not planned Legoland this year with your boys and girls, do so soon before they close for winter. It is good time to visit now, sure you have fun!!

Ghost

This is a documentary about the tragic of 23 Chinese cockle-pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay in February 2004. They are illegal immigrant. This documentary highlight the reality of their life - the works they do and the living condition. It gave a clear and honest account of the terrible plight these Chinese immigrants are shouldering. They are burdened with huge debt when they sail painfully to UK - a big sum money the 'traffic-agent' charge for the logistic. This film uses non-actor cast. The people are immigrant themselves and one of the cast, AiQin (one of the lucky survivor), is the real person in this incident. She travelled 6 months from Fujian to UK. It was heart-wrenching to watch her story and her experiences. The cruel separation from her young baby is enough to put you in tear. These immigrants have no social status, no identity, they are a shell the society do not recognise - they are what the documentary named, "Ghost".

We watched this last nite on Channel 4. This is a very powerful and moving documentary. It touch me and Daren very very deep, and put us in extreme sadness for the people and their family. We would like to lend a helping hand but do not know how and where. This film help reflect our life, help remind us we are very blessed to live in a comfortable zone, indeed. So next time when I complain, I must think of people who live far far worst than me. When I see AiQin in the show, I cried. As a mother myself, I can sense her desperation for her son. The amount of stress and fear she carried was enormous. Alone in foreign land in her condition is complete hardship and pain. AiQin make me feel DEEPLY GRATEFUL to able to stay together with my family, in touch with all my love ones.

Daren and me think that this film should be broadcast in China. To let the Chinese know that 'the grass is NOT always greener the other side'. Chinese like to think that the 'west' is easier money but this is not true. The hardship we see in this film tell us it might not worth the cost of leaving family behind, let alone when they risk their life for the extra money?! I hope all 'potential immigrant' can see this film and learn the lesson. For now, I want to hold a minute grief for the 23 Chinese who died in this incident. For their family, we feel extremely sorry, great sympathy for them.

Happy Birthday

Gabriel turn 2 on 7 September. Time whizz by incredibly fast, two years back I was holding him in my arm, now he is a full grown happy cheeky boy! It is very emotional when I recall my journey as a mother, I feel proud!! Now, everyday is full of challenges, fun and pain. The learning curve is huge and steep but I am very blessed to have strong support from Daren. I won't be able to sail through this far without him. We enjoyed Gabriel from day 1, and our love grow everyday. He bring enormous joys to our life. Happy Birthday Gabriel - our angel, our sweetheart!!

Baby growing at an amazing rate......

...new born









...one year old

...two year old

See how much he has changed - the charm is always the same, only get more cute! His smile is the sweetest things anyone could resist!! Daddy is truly deeply madly in love with him!!!

Gift from daddy mummy....

We had a small celebration at home, very exclusive family time, very warm, very loving. Mummy brought him big presents, daddy took him to Legoland, we went Tooties for birthday lunch and Indian Memory for birthday dinner, plus pre-birthday treat at William Curley - wow, long enough list for his birthday?!...quite eventful huh!!

I made a resolution at Gabriel's birthday - to treasure every moment with my little boy, less angry, less temper!! Time is a cruel factor and only when we live to fullest that we could prove 'past' is fully worthy, with no regret. This is hard. Now I need to tame my temper.

Birthday fun.....





And more fun..............

...Happy Birthday Gabriel!! Daddy mummy want you to be happy and healthy,our love to you is indescribable!!