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!).

Jayden has had a sudden about turn with regards to going to school. He sometimes cries and throws a big fit when we drop him off. We are still trying to figure out what the root of the problem is but needless to say, its driving us insane in the meantime. He stubbornly refuses to participate or listen to instructions at lessontime so we are seeing how things go. Nerve-wrecking. Especially when he woke up one night crying incessantly.

*sigh* the joys of growing up.

In more positive news, baby K is progressing really well. She is sitting up with great skill and forever looks set to surprise us one day by standing. I’d probably get a heart attack if she does so soon because, really, one active kid is enough to handle. Argh. But at least, for now, it means that she can finally sit in them baby high chairs when we go out for dinner. Ok, if she’d stay in them that is.

And in even more random updates, here are some ‘out and about’ shots with the iphone. Gotta love it!

woh… the camera’s pointed at me again…

… so ok, you mean you want to take a profile shot of me?

how about this signature pose?

So… baby Kathlene needs a passport! And this time round we tried taking a passport photo on our own. I’m not quite sure whether it passed the standard but we hope it did clear the authorities and that we’d be getting the prized passport by this week. Meantime, the outtakes. They are so much for fun than the official ‘proper’ shot!

In other news, Kathlene is scaring the life out of us with her push-ups, almost there ability to kick herself into a stand or sitting pose, and not to mention, the speed at which she scoots across the living room floor. We thought Jayden was bad. This is worse. *Hello, play-yard barricades!* Once again, the living room is no longer our own.

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.

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!

Baby Kathlene went for her 3 month paed visit and came away with her second dose of 3 different. She let out her usual blood curling yell when the needle went in and didn’t let up till a while later. Not quite the trooper but still a survivor. She did get warm after but not high enough to be classified as a fever or warrant medication. She did, however become wary of anyone pulling her pants off. She semi-freaked out during diaper changes for the day… starting from the moment we touched her pants… Hmm.

But other than that, all’s well. She’s growing well. Tipping the scales at 5.6kg and measuring 61cm. Numbers her brother only reached in his 4th month. So erhmm, yay?

thanks for all the love, care and concern.

(and the whacks on the butt, caning and disciplining…)