Be Patient

I'm sure most parents get a taste of their own medicine. Things or words that the parents used on the kids eventually come back to haunt the parents.
I have a classic example. When Lucas insist on wanting something right away, I will tell him to be patient. 2 days ago, I got the taste of my own medicine.

Lucas: (watching the second episode of Mickey Mouse clubhouse at 9+ pm)
Me: Lucas, enough TV. Go to sleep now.
Lucas: I'm watching the second Mickey Mouse.
Me: It's late, please go to bed now.
Lucas: Mommy, be patient please. I want to watch the second Mickey Mouse.

Another incident:
Lucas: (15 mins after his bath, he is still playing in his bath tub)
Me: Lucas, enough. Get out of the bath tub.
Lucas: I'm making coffee for you and Daddy.
Me: I have enough coffee for today. Make it tomorrow. Go wear your pyjamas now.
Lucas: Be patient, I said I'm making coffee.

This boy really know how to use the word to his advantage.

I Cheated

Tonight, I wanted Lucas to go to bed early. He did not have his afternoon nap and was already sleepy during dinner. Most days, he will watch his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from 8.30 - 9.00 pm. Then he will go to bed but will not fall asleep until 10pm. So, I 'brought' the Mickey Mouse show earlier. I played a pre-recorded Mickey Mouse at 7.45pm and it finished by 8.15pm. He then proceed to bed and fall asleep before 9pm...haha..what a cheeky mother am I. This trick will only work as long as he cannot tell the time. Hmmm..maybe I should not teach him to read the clock so soon!

This gives me time to blog and to read my book.

School Again

Today, I went to register Lucas in a new school for next year, Oct 2010. I was being kiasu and decided to register him before the empty slots are filled up. The reason we selected this future school is because it is very convenient, just 5 mins drive from the house, as opposed to the current school which is 20 mins drive away. Dominic intends to cycle Lucas to the future school. Well, he can just do so. I will take the car when it is my turn to send him to school. Then, the never ending debate on which school to send Lucas to for primary is still never ending.

The future school is a full school, that is from nursery to Form 5. There is an option to do local curriculum or British curriculum from Standard 1 onwards. The British curriculum fee is of course almost double that of the local curriculum. The nursery has only 1 curriculum.

One of Lucas' classmate just started the nursery in this school. The mother was commenting that the school rules are very strict and not so personal. Parents are not allowed to stay with the child in the classroom, not even on the first day of school. Mind you, these kids are only 3+ years old. The teachers did not even allowed parents to peep thru the windows from outside. If parents has any query for the teacher, the parents are to write on the 'diary' which the kid carry to school everyday. Likewise, if the teacher wish to tell the parents any news, it will be written on the diary as well. Not very personal, isn't it? But the mother said her son enjoyed it. Well, that is all that matter. The strictness is also reflected in the newsletter. One of the paragraph on the newsletter is really funny, or rather sadist - 'Swimming is one of the compulsory physical education. There is no excuse for exemption except on doctor's advice. If your child is fit enough to attend school, then your child is fit enough to swim' Dominic and myself were laughing when we read this.

As for Lucas' formal education, we are still deciding should he goes to Chinese school or private school. We would prefer something in between but of course there is no such option. We don't think Lucas will fare well in Chinese school. He asks too many questions and has his arguments and thoughts for everything, and he wants us to listen and answer him. Don't think the teacher in Chinese school has time for these as there are 40-50 students in a class. Imagine if all the 40-50 students are like Lucas ..... teacher will go crazy. The easiest way for the teacher to do is ask the student to be quiet or get punished. I can imagine Lucas will either stop asking or get punish everyday. We don't think it is good idea to stop children from asking questions. They are young and curious, and their curiosity need to be addressed properly. That's part of learning process.
On the other hand, private school is good as it emphasized on physical activities, music and arts and being a well rounder. But hey, we pay a lot of money for tax every year. Why should I pay again for private education when my tax money should cover that!

Oh well....we still have 2 years to decide!

Things that Lucas Does

Some of Lucas' pastime:

Watching his favourite cartoons, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.


Lucas: Mommy, I almost fall down today.
Me: What did you do?
Lucas: The house was turning (actually he was the one turning until he gets giddy)


Lucas: Mommy, I hide under the curtain today.
Me: Why do you hide behind the curtain?
Lucas: I spit my saliva because I need to draw.
Me: Yicks..which bedroom did you spit on?
Lucas: YOUR bedroom.


Dominic: Lucas, do you want to go cycling?
Lucas: YES
Dominic: Do you want to ride on my bicycle or you want to ride on your own?
LUCAS: I want to ride on YOUR bicycle.


While all these are happening with Lucas, Chloe is blissfully sleeping in her dreamland.

Early Celebration

We had a first round of celebration for Lucas' 3rd birthday last weekend. We have a cousin whose birthday is 2 weeks earlier than Lucas (different year) and we usually celebrate both their birthday together.
Lucas asked for the same birthday cake as last year.

Should Have Known

Lucas was down with running nose and cough last week. Luckily, there was no fever. I was so busy with him that I forgot the virus is contagious. Then it hit me yesterday that Chloe is the easy target. When one child is sick, the rest in the family will eventually catch the bug. So, yesterday, when I got home after spending a few nights at my parents, both kids had bad running nose. Chloe couldn't sleep well. I was worried as this is the first time she got the bug. Had to take Chloe to see the paediatrician today, just in case it gets serious. Lucas running nose is attacking him again.
Now, when Lucas is sick next time, how to I 'protect' Chloe from catching the bug?

Birthday Parties

Now that Lucas has his own friends, he got invited to birthday parties. His first party was from his classmate and at a very posh place .... KL Hilton for a 3 year old girl!! Dominic took him to the party as I chose to stay at home with Chloe. He had a good time there. This party was so high-class, as Dominic described it. There was a clown to entertain the kids, 2 professional photographers, free flow of beer (Dominic's haven), gift pack to the guests which probably worth more than the gift Lucas gave to the birthday girl, small indoor playground at the corner of the lobby lounge especially for the kids. You can't beat this party.

Lucas and his classmates and the birthday girl.

As for us, the parents, we have to stock up different things now. When we see toys / gadgets suitable for Lucas, we will buy a few. To keep for future birthday parties. We also stock up on kiddy wrapping paper, stickers for the cards and colourful pencils. This is definitely new to us. What a change of lifestyle.
His next party is tomorrow!!

Chloe is 2 months old

Chloe is 2 months old today - sometimes it feels like a long time (when she is fussing) and sometimes it feels like she was only born yesterday (when she is in a good mood).
For 2 months, she weighs 4.8 kg and her length is 59cm. Basically, she is not fat but tall. Oh well....I think all these patterns changed all the time as she grows..
Lucas 'ballooned' when he was 3 months old but he is such a skinny boy now.

At 2 months, Chloe can smile back. She knows how to turn her head to the noise or sound such as our voices or the rattle. Her eating habit is so inconsistent. It can varies from 1 1/2 hr to 3 hr per feed. I tried to keep to every 3 hours but sometimes she started wailing for food after 1 1/2 hour. One good thing is she sleeps well at night. If she was last fed at 9pm, she can last until 5am the next day. If she was last feed at 11pm, she last until 7am the next day - almost sleeping through the night. Hmm....I am planning to put her on her own room as soon as she is sleeping through. Right now, both she and Lucas are sleeping in my room. When Lucas made noise, Chloe will wake up. When Chloe cried, Lucas will wake up. I am perpetually putting each of them to sleep.

Clean Girl

This afternoon, Chloe had a big poo. She only poo-ed every 4 days for the past 8 days! The paed said it is ok...
She was drinking her milk when the big poo came. She cried and I can see her pushing hard. Her face turned red and of course there was the noise. Then she stopped drinking and wailed. I was thinking of changing her later just in case she has not finished her business but she insisted to be changed now. So, I cleaned her up and then fed her again. This time, she was all smile. What a clean girl she is.

Meanwhile, she does react to us. She does smile back and said 'ouuu'....

Just Let Her Cry

The true boss is back in action. At night, when I tried to put both of them to bed, which is a challenge, Chloe will cried asking to be carried. Sometimes, I get frustrated when I do not know which position she wants me to carry her. She will continue fussing even when I carried her. I will just put her in her baby cot and let her cry.

The true boss will say:
Lucas: Just let her cry, but don't let me cry.
Me: I will let both of you cry.
Lucas: No, let her cry but don't let me cry.
Me: Why are you so special?
Lucas: (smile)

Cheeky fella....

I Have No Time

Lucas new favourite phase is 'I have no time'.
When I asked him to fetch his sister handky, he said 'I have no time'.
When I waked him up in the morning to go to school, he said 'I have no time'.
When I asked him to go for his bath while he was watching Mickey Mouse Playhouse, he said 'I have no time'.
A true boss material!

Meanwhile, this is his first week of school after a month holiday. His grandfather is so kind to offer his chauffeuring service. But this boy is not used to having his grandfather sending him to school. To him, grandfather picks him up to go to grandparents house and go shopping, not to school. He makes fuss every morning, demanding that I go to the car with him. Next week, when I send him, we will see if he still make any fuss.