The kindergarten has scheduled its first parent-teacher session on 30th April and well, I guess now would be a good time to do a roundup of what has been happening, because really, since baby K came along, time has become even more precious.

Most of what follows, true to report card style, is quite erhmm, boring. So skip along if you want. We won’t judge.

Jayden has remained ‘true to form’ showing a fair bit of development this year. Since school started in January, you see him growing to be more sociable with children… his age. He has also begun to actually know their names although, he is very ’self centred’, prefixing everyone, name or thing, with ‘my’. Normal really. Because that is how children are.

He has dominated the toys at home, even gender specific ones like kitchen sets and cooking toys. I guess ‘playing house’ is something for both genders(?) and he can often be found wanting to clean, sweep and mop. In addition to cooking. His cooking, in the words of my dad, is a rip off. “Collecting real money (ok, 10, 20 cents) for fake food that he serves again and again.” No wonder his bank is well fed.

His numbers are really quite good. From not being able to count properly for the longest time, to laughable (and questionable) identification (imagine naming 10 as one-zero), he has since graduated to knowing zero through ten and scarily, other numbers as well.

Like… 53 (fifty three instead of five three).

His colours is being worked upon, and his alphabets too. Progress is slow and somewhat difficult to gauge because the cheeky boy always tries to be funny about it. We have watched Barney countless times. To the extent that we are going to be excellent voice-overs, and him, able to memorise the sequence, but I don’t think he has all 26 letters of the alphabet down pat.

On a positive side, he eats a whole lot more. Just minus the vegetables and over a very long period of time. Which creates for a lot of poop. And brings us to another point. We think we are on the home stretch to being diaper free. He could tell when he wanted to erhmm, go for the longest time, but perhaps he was not ready (as in, unable to control properly?). But right now, he usually goes to school in his favourite red (don’t ask!) underwear and has not had any accidents… at school. A couple at home but by and large most of it gets into the potty. Nights he still wears but we note that they are increasingly dry in the morning. Yay!

Jayden is also increasingly able to articulate what he wants. He gets on the imaginary phone and blabbers away for long stretches. Quite fun to eavesdrop because you learn interesting insights into what is going on in that little head of his. Things like who he likes, what happened in school, what happened when you were not watching… because you know, you don’t say such things to your parents. Not directly anyway. So… right now, he wants to go to the Science Centre (especially WaterWorks) but not the beach because he is scared of water. He loves shopping and is extremely observant. *orange juice for uncle K, milk for uncle T, long pants for himself, tea for me… yaddayaddayadda*

Frightening sometimes because you realise that (like passion) it was caught and not taught. Like little quirks in our personalities / way we do things. He HAS to bring something to read at the potty even though he cannot understand a word of randomly grabbed flyer. He loves photos and can recall most of the details that took place at the time the photo was taken although he insists HE was the baby in one particular shot when really, it was baby K.

All in, he is a very sensitive boy. For the first couple of months, he took the transition to going to school hard. Then we realised that he was vying for attention. Nowadays, the two show signs of bickering like cat and dog (hah, we got that one right) but also, that there is a strong sibling affection. They will both look for the other. And break out into a smile.We think the two will enjoy each other’s company even if they will rather die than admit it.

We have been ‘going places’. Little trips out of country and out of home. The best thing about having flexi hours (dad) and working from home is that, sometimes you can just up and go. We have discovered some really child friendly places in Singapore. Not because it is exciting but because they have the space for the children to wreck havoc. It isn’t quite what is done but who is going along for the ride.

Has been an eventful ride thus far! And now, I wonder what the school’s report card is going to read. Hmm.

You know, with all the talk about how fast kids learn to read, write and spell, more so with the use of flashcards, why on earth would a childcare centre name themselves “My First Skool”?

I’m sure there’s a good reason and most adults would smile at the kiddish spelling of school, but really. Seeing “Skool” spelt as such, everyday is not going to help the kid.

No?

Ok, random rant over and out. That aside, they just opened a branch within walking distance. Everything is NEW and utterly appealing. Plus, the student-teacher ratio is great as erhmm, no students yet. But it does seem depressing for the kids. They look so lonely in there.

Updates have been very random and very late. So much so that sometimes I don’t quite feel like blogging anymore. It is quite a ‘chore‘ to blog when the event is long over. I find myself rambling on (ok, I do that a lot, no matter how ‘fresh’ the event is).

These days, there really isn’t much time to blog. BabyK sleeps really late. Following in the footsteps of her brother. More accurately, she is spoiled rotten and needs to be carried to sleep. She usually knocks off around 12plus (11 if we are lucky) and then wakes to nurse around 3plus or 6 (again if we are really lucky).

She then sleeps through till 9ish, 10. Sounds good, but then there is older brother J to think about. He wakes around the same time and the day begins with a struggle to get him ready for school with teeth brushed, breakfast in tummy and all changed (hopefully with a bath) and out the door. Usually babyK is fed her solid brekkie, ie, non-breastmilk food at the same time.

Then J’s off to school at 10plus and hopefully, babyK’s down for her nap. If she does her *ahem* business early, she gets an early bath. Otherwise, we’d play by ear. Then it is a constant sleep-wake-play cycle for her. Most of the time with her attempting to stick herself to me.

3 hours FLY by and I’m off to pick Jayden up from school. If the weather’s fine, we are all happy. If it is hot or rainy, I question whether it is a boon or bane to be staying so near. Although I have not tried, I’m positive  no taxi in their right mind would take us.

Back home again with the boy and we spend the afternoon cajoling him to have his food. We have activity time throughout. And the activity of the day depends on our mood. His as well as mine. Sometimes it is the tv as the babysitter to the rescue with Hi5 (current favourite) as he is somewhat obsessed with song and dance right now. Music he calls it. But any non-parent would be faster to call it noise.

By the time 6pm rolls around, we start him on his dinner and try to wind down his activities and pack him off to bed by 8. He gets some reading done (C.A.T cat!) and when he finally nods off, I get some peace. That is, if babyK allows.

Inbetween, I try and create new items, pack orders, list new items and blog. I wonder why I don’t get more done. Hmm.

And all this is only possible because my mum’s around to help (thank you mummy!).

Just realised that a proper update on what this little girl has been up to is probably wanting. She has been on a real journey these couple of months and it is probably good I journal it down before her milestones are forgotten.

On one of those days when the two kiddos drove me nuts, I started to teach K to call ‘papa’, in the hope ala Baby Blues that daddy will help change her butt/bathe her/feed her food etc etc etc. And right now, she does so with great skill now. She has figured out how to pull herself up to a standing position, and can do so with great speed and, stand for quite some time. Crawling is no problem for her though, like her brother, she doesn’t look like she’s ever going to do it with her tummy off the floor. Instead, she is learning how to walk.

Nowadays, she lurches for her brother’s tricycle and uses it as a means to ‘getaway’, covering quite a bit of distance in the process. Scary stuff really. She appears to understand the spoken word very well and constantly surprises us with the correct response (we never learn huh?).

Today she discovered the mirror that is above her bathtub. Her bathtub is typically placed on the vanity, above which hangs a mirror. She squealed with delight when she pulled herself up to a standing position to discover a reflection staring back at her. So bathtimes are now erhmm, ‘jack in the box’ times with her popping up and down. Insane really. She literally creates quite a splash.

I guess we are in for more discoveries… and it does seem true after all. Having an older sibling hastens their development.

Wish us luck and may we remain sane.

Well, errr, hello and goodbye We’re off to Hong Kong this Friday for a short break and will only be back next Wednesday. Updates have been short and slow on the blog. But they have been quite regular on facebook and the like. Blame it on the Iphone. And school. And flu.

Jayden had a bad case of flu a week or so ago, with his temperature shooting up to 40deg. Coupled with the gibberish he was sprouting, we packed him off to KK’s A&E in the middle of the night. Service was fast and efficient, and the environment has ‘changed’ from the last time we were there. All’s good though. Nice and more cheerful. Which *should* help in lifting moods in difficult times.

Other than that, everything’s fine. Kath’s still growing. See you again soon. Hopefully not as long as the last time.

One thing great about school being in the morning session is that Jayden sleeps early and wakes up early. The bad thing is that my days are even longer than ever. You win some, you lose some. If he is not out, he’d drift off into dreamland around 8pm and then we have one less kid to deal with.We should have sent him to school earlier!

Heh. Anyhow, we think he is enjoying it. It is getting increasingly difficult to get him to share about the going-on in school. Save for the ‘chocolate cake birthday celebration’ yesterday, ‘cooking popcorn chicken’, ‘2 children cried today’… and stuff like that. We got to dig his bag for leaflets that the teacher slips in for our attention… and boy, there are quite a number. “Vitagen, schoolbooks, lesson updates”.

But today was nice. He came back beaming and holding his first craftwork at school. He’s rather independent with a routine we set for him. Back from school –> take of shoes and socks –> wash feet –> and hopefully eat. He told how he glued the papers on, including the hair. And stuff like that. Was a good time talking over ‘tea’.

Whilst baby Kath looked mighty bored on the floor.

What a year it has been! We started off with a nasty fall on New Year’s Day and resulted in an early night for flu-y Jayden. Somewhere along the way, Baby K was born (she’s sitting on my lap as I type this!) and Jayden lost his four front teeth. We registered Jayden for pre-nursery (which he’d be starting in a few day’s time) and grandma moved in with us to help with the kids.

Jayden finally got over his fear of water and had his first (and one more since) visit to the Science Centre. He has increased in vocabulary by leaps and bounds, and is proficient in both English and Mandarin. Or so we think. He has turned into this toddler that is able to talk back, get into endless trouble and is superbly mischievous. But deep down inside, he loves hs little sister.

Kathlene on the other hand, has matured (if you can call being 5 months old ‘mature’) into a little character in her own right. She is showing signs of being a toughie. No pushover and an excellent screamer. She’s definitely gifted with a great pair of lungs and can hold her own in any crying competition.

She shows preference for all things natural – the thumb and the breast as opposed to the pacifier or the bottle, she wants demands her mother and does not let up until she gets her way. She is able to flip and somehow wriggle her way across the living room floor. She can mangle brochures into a crumpled ball, showing an intense interest in the glossy ones right this moment. She tries to stand all the time and is way too strong. *sigh*

We got a dslr (courtesy of grandpa) and have loads of huge-ass photos of the children. We’d probably start printing them out soon. Before the task gets too daunting. Already, it feels like a mountain load.

Even now, she still does. not quite the neatest eater, but it is a start. She spends half her mealtime in her bumbo before she gets bored and wants out. Hence the second half of the meal sees her seated on my lap, eating away. Well, her version of it anyway.

Hello… just a quick note. I’m ok. My skin’s all blotchy due to suspected eczema. My brother’s been very naughty and getting a fair bit of disciplining. My mum’s busy rushing Christmas / custom / sale orders and my daddy’s busy with a couple of projects on hand. That said, I get to go out with mum because she still hasn’t gotten rid of her milkbar status. I’m very persistent at resisting the bottle you see. My brother gets to go out with grandpa and grandma so it does seem fair. No?

They said today’s a public holiday which means we’d get to go out together and have fun. But right now, we’re alll paying our sleep debt. I don’t know about the rest but I got a lot of work to do too and its tiring.

Anyway, we are all fine… just overwhelmed. Well, at least the adults are. I’m counting down to when my brother starts pre-nursery. I heard its in January. That’s like… hmm, way too many more days to go! *sigh* And all for a miserly 3 hours. Oh well, I guess its better than nothing.

Self explanatory really. We didn’t disappear into some blackhole or other but really, were trying to survive the twosome. Jayden is 4 months shy of turning 3 but we don’t see the end of the ‘terrible twos’ stage. Nowhere in sight. Nope. In fact, it feels like it is getting worse.

He is testing boundaries, pushing limits and has spent an insane amount of time getting to know Mister Cane. A part of us suspect that he might be ADHD but there’s no way to actually test it out until he turns 3. And even so, will take a while before a proper conclusion can be reached. He has turned the home topsy turvy and been chalking up a whole list of ‘naughty’ deeds. Like spoiling a perfectly new-old TV that we had just brought home yesterday. And refusing his medicine. And not eating. Flipping tables in acts of defiance and turning around to hit whoever is disciplining him.

No fun I say.

Behavioural issues aside, we did a whole host of other things over the last week. Like visit Changi Airport to watch the aeroplanes take off (and a couple taking ROM shots), stare at fountains and rub out etched carvings of ‘iconic’ Singapore. (Terrorise the foodcourt is not the main point but they did just that. Jayden did. Kathlene just slept through most of the meals).

Baptise Baby K 2 Saturdays ago. Monkey around with the gramps. Life does go on. Just that we need a whole lot more comfort food. And canes. And more raised voices.

As for Baby K, well, she is a screamer. And a spoilt brat (quote unquote my mum). She is quite the koala, nevermind who is carrying her. Just so long as she is being carried. Sometimes she takes it up a notch higher by disallowing said person to sit. Time consuming. And also, since she’s on a developmental streak, she has learnt how to flip perfectly and is constantly ’showing off’.

I had quite forgotten how difficult it is to change the diapers of babies who love to flip. And am not enjoying the reminder.

Oh. I forgot. She’s quite the tv addict too.

Enough photos for today. Till the next round… Hopefully sooner than later!