Hair Dropping

There is a saying that the mother's hair will drop once the baby can laugh.
Maybe there is some truth....
Chloe can laugh out loud and spontaneously.....and my hair is everywhere on the floor!

What a Vocab!

My Mr Little Smart Alec has really some bombardist vocab. Some examples:

Lucas: Mommy, come up with me to watch TV.
Me: You go first. Mommy has to fold the clothes. Mommy will go after Mommy finished.
Lucas: That sounds good to me.

We were reading his book and there was a picture of sand castle.
Me: Do you know how to build a sand castle?
Lucas: That is a bit tricky.

Lucas dropped some gadgets on his bed.
Lucas: Mommy, you pick up my snake and ladder (small tokens to play snake and ladder).
Me: No, you spill it, you pick it up.
Lucas: Mommy, share. (means to pick up together with him)

While, I was giving him his bath one afternoon.
Lucas: Mommy, do you know Michael Jackson?
Me: Yes. What does Michael Jackson do?
Lucas: Sing and dance.
Me: Can you sing and dance like Michael Jackson?
Lucas: No. I can only sing balik kampung.
Me: How to you sing Balik Kampung?
Lucas: La - la la la ..la..
Me: That's all?
Lucas: YES

When his grandfather was sending Lucas home from school, the grandfather kept talking to him to prevent him from taking his power nap in the car. When Lucas was quiet for a while, his grandfather stopped talking thinking Lucas has dozed off. Then suddenly Lucas said.
Lucas: I thought you were talking to the wall!
Grandfather: (flabbergasted, then laughed)

His grandmother was trying to put him to sleep.
Grandmother: Lucas, let's go to sleep.
Lucas: Why?
Grandmother: Omi is tired?
Lucas: Why?
Grandmother: Omi is old.
Lucas: I am not tired because I am new.

We were reading a book and there were pictures of 3 small bugs.
Lucas: This one will bite but these 2 will not bite.
Me: How do you know?
Lucas: These 2 are fami-ly. Girl. They don't bite.
Me: You mean feminine?
Lucas: No, fami-ly.
Me: What is fami-ly?
Lucas: Mommy, Daddy, Chloe, Ah Kong, Omi and Aunty Mercy.
Me: How about Kong Kong, Poh Poh, Yee Yee and Ciu Ciu?
Lucas: Yes. That's enough.

During dinner,
Lucas: Is Daddy at friend's house again?
Me: No, Daddy is on holiday.
Lucas: Where?
Me: A place with beach and sea. Daddy is swimming.
Lucas: But the water is dirty!
Me: You tell Daddy that.

I showed him the stickers I paste on Chloe's room which has swing.
Lucas: Can I move it (the swing)?
Me: You can try.
Lucas: (Tried to move the swing like in playground). Why cannot move?
Me: It is only a picture.

Lucas was singing and here is his lyrics...vroom vroom vroom on Daddy's Proton Perdana.

I was busying cleaning up after dinner.
Lucas: Mommy, I want milk.
Me: Wait, let me finished cleaning first.
Lucas: You bring the milk up here to me. Say OK.
Me: OK.

During bath, I spilt some water from his cup.
Lucas: Mommy, why you make my coffee (bath water) come out? You, naughty girl. Say SORRY.
Me: Sorry.

During our drive home from school.
Lucas: Mommy, I want a Nissan.
Me: I don't know where to buy a Nissan.
Lucas: Are you a big girl?
Me: Yes.
Lucas: Then why you don't know where to buy a Nissan.

Things that he said - wonder if he has offended/insulted anyone other than the fami-ly.

Retail Therapy

After months of 'holing-up' at home (during advance pregnancy and the birth), I needed a break badly. So, I embarked on a day off doing retail therapy while Lucas is in school and Dominic stayed at home with Chloe.
I had my hair cut and then started on my shopping spree. I went to a make-up counter and told the sales lady that I needed something to make my eyes look fresher. Business was slow for her and she gladly gave me a make-over. I walked away with a bag of goods. When I get home Lucas asked, 'Mommy, are you wearing make-up?'.
Then I proceed to shop for clothes. My wardrobe needed an overhaul badly. I was looking at the old photos, the trips we made before we got married till now. Guess what?? I'm still wearing those clothes!! As I'm taking a trip end November, I told myself that I do not want to be pictured wearing the same clothes as 7-9 years ago. At the end, I walked home with 2 tops and 1 pant. I wish I was doing better.

Retail therapy is only a temporary relief from taking care of the kids. When I'm back from shopping, it is actually very pleasant to see the kids. Retail therapy rocks when you are not too worry about the price tag.

Things that They Do

This is what happened when Lucas refused to take the afternoon lap....
At 6+pm, when Dominic took him for a ride, he comes back in this state

Sound asleep in the bicycle seat.

While they were out riding bicycle, I put on skirt for Chloe to try on. Then I was out for 2-3 mins to snap the picture of Lucas sleeping on the bicycle seat, and this is what happened to her skirt...


The skirt went up...so unfeminine. Dominic was saying 'Aiyor...which boy wants to go out with you?'

Chloe Sleeping on Stomach

Chloe never like to be on her stomach. She cries as though she has been tortured each time we tried to put her on her stomach. This morning, she was crying - having difficulty falling asleep. Dominic said since she is crying we might as well put her on her stomach. We think she needed more time on her stomach to feel more comfortable and eventually learn how to crawl. So, there he was putting her on her stomach and off I went for my shower. When I came out from the shower, it was all quiet. I thought she was asleep. She was asleep indeed but on her stomach.



She must have been so tired that she just knocked off. Now, I have to sit here and watch her to make sure her nose and mouth are not blocked. Let's see if she is more comfortable on her stomach after this episode.

Back to Work in 2010

My previous boss wrote to me and asked if I am interested in returning to work next year. I gladly said yes. This job is work from home and it's the most ideal for mothers with young children. So, now here I am looking for babysitter / nanny again. The place that I am living now must be in a middle of nowhere. I couldn't get a cleaning lady with car to come even once a week. Her reason was too far. Then I rationalize that nobody will want to come daily! I have tried asking around but all to no vial. So, the next solution is to get a live-in maid. Sigh...having a stranger living under the same roof is no fun. Loss of privacy, and have to take care of her (like another big child at home) and all the headaches she is going to bring!!
So, now here we are looking for a Filipino maid. We just got rid of one and looking for another one. Isn't it like jumping from one hot pot to another hot pot? Trying our luck again...isn't there another option? It will be a waste to send Lucas and Chloe to full day-care right? That really defeat the purpose of working from home where I can keep an eye on them.

Life Without Maid

This is my third day without maid (helper). It is not exactly relaxing but manageable...so far. That is with me and Dominic at home fulltime. Daily chores we have to do are:
1. open and close the windows - which are quite alot. If it rains suddenly, we both scramble to close them before the rooms get wet. And we have already stop bothering open/close the windows on the rooms that we do not use.
2. Clean the floor. I only sweep them. Forget about mopping. I leave the vacuuming and mopping to the cleaning lady that comes once a week. We are thinking about getting the iRobot initially but decided against it. iRobot can't clean bathroom and windows and these robots are not cheap either.
3. Do my own laundry, folding and ironing. Forget about ironing bedsheet. At one time, I was thinking of getting a dryer but Dominic is not game for it. He said why add more carbon the atmosphere, pay higher electricity when we get plenty of sunshine everyday. I was thinking of saving some time on hanging the laundry under the sun and clothes are generally less wrinkly after dryer.
4. Clean up after each meal. I put everything I can into the dishwasher. The rest have to be hand washed. We are also making sure Lucas is not making a mess after each meal. We used to be lenient on his mess cause we know we don't have to clean the mess but not anymore.
5. Boil drinking water. Haha...I just bought a water filter that comes with both room temperature and hot water. So, no need to boil drinking water and the water is also much cleaner.
6. Surface outside the house like the patio, garage and backyard don't get cleaned. If anyone wants to go out, just wear slippers. I make sure I put the slippers on all exit points.
7. Water the plant and clear the dried leaves from the garden.
8. Take the rubbish out.

Sometimes, I think it would be a lot simpler if we have a smaller place :) But Lucas enjoyed the space here.
My fingers are quite sore from all the cleaning after 7 months break. Need some really heavy duty hand cream to salvage those hands.

We have a conversation with Lucas preparing him for days without kakak. We told him he has to clean up his own mess like his playroom, bedroom and after each meal to take the plates to the kitchen sink. To our pleasant surprise, he knows how to clean up his own mess. He just need encouragement and persuasion to do the tasks. That's the blessing in disguise.

Mini Projects at Home

We have moved to this house for 7 months and there are still so much to be done. I am now doing up Chloe's room. Changed the curtain to a set of more girlie fabric with red/pink and flower motive. Bought some wall stickers but have yet to stick them on her wall. When I was renovating the house, she was not in the picture at all. Dominic is already planning on what to do with the space in our bedroom currently occupied by Chloe.

Got Lucas his dining chair cover. It is washable and partially water proof. Lucas has outgrown his high chair when we moved in and would prefer to sit on the same chair as us. Since our dining chair is made of fabric, I am very nervous each time Lucas eats. This chair cover will help (I hope) and can pass on to Chloe. Oh..and Lucas chose a bright orange color for his cover.

The garden light is finally up. When we moved in, we omit that part as we are not sure how do we want to do the landscaping. Now that we pretty much have planted the plants in the garden, we know where to position those garden lights.

My house is powered by the energy saving bulbs and I am not sure if it was a wise decision. Those bulbs are so darn expensive and they blow so easily. I just realised that I am using 112 energy saving bulbs and in 7 months, 15 bulbs already blew off!! Each bulb costs RM15 (US$4) ! The costs of changing the bulb may not justified the electricity saving.

My next project is to complete the garden. There are still scrubs and potted plants to be bought and planted. The garden looks rather bare compared to the neighbours. My house wall also looks bare. I have yet to hang any of my painting. Oh...work is never ending if you are trying to find them.

Talking about work, next week onwards are going to be challenging. I have sent my maid away as she is giving me her attitude problem and I just have no time to monitor her. She finds short cut whenever she can or whenever she thinks I am not looking. She is also not able to help me to take care of the kids, so I decided enough is enough. I am currently 'borrowing' my mother's maid until this Saturday. Next week, it is going to be me and Dominic and the 2 kids!

All these mini projects cost money. One two thousand here and one two thousand there - it all adds up. Sigh...don't know when will I have enough for the 2 kids and to retire. We were joking the other day - maybe we should hook up the kids with rich girlfriend / boyfriend. Then, hopefully the kid's financial will be taken care of! FAT THINKING!

Chloe is 3 months old

I have been in such a laid back mood that I lost track of Chloe's development. She dislikes to be on her stomach. When I put her on her stomach, she doesn't know how to position her head. Most of the time, I have to turn her head for her. She starts wailing after less than 2 mins. Wonder how is she going to crawl. However, she tries to sit up. She will try to lift her head when I carry her. Lucas on the other hand was an expert lying on his stomach when he was at Chloe's age. He slept on this stomach and can lift his head 45 degree on his second month.

Not much going on with Chloe's hair. Her newborn hair has neither dropped nor grow much longer. So, she still has her spiky hair and bald forehead. Lucas was almost bald when he was 3 months old.

Chloe is going to be chatty like her brother. She tries to talk by making the 'urr' and 'ahh' sound. She enjoys people talking to her and generous with her smile. Once in a while, she will laugh out loud.

She likes to eat her hand and drools a lot. Sometimes she choke on her own saliva. Her mitten is usually wet. Can't remembered that Lucas did any of these.

They both develop on their own pace.

Lucas is 3 !

Since it is his birthday, we allowed him to have more sugar than usual. Enjoying his candy floss.

Opening his presents - more cars.


Yup...the boy is 3 now. And he knows what is birthday and expecting his presents. Everyone knows he likes cars and he has been getting cars for presents. Despite his vast colletion, he is still asking for more cars.

At 3, he weighs 13 kg and his height is 98 cm. Not short but skinny. He is such a fussy eater and he only like to eat mushroom, potatoes, egg, tofu. Vegetables need to be mashed so that he cannot pick them out. Meat need to be finely minced else he chew forever and then spit them out. Luckily, he likes fruits. I gave him lots of fruits to compensate for the missing vegetables. Candy, sweets are not a problem at all.

His mental development is fine. I think he is just like any other 3 years old kid. Very chatty if he chooses to talk. As for his character, he is a bit shy. Takes time to warm up to strangers. His grandfather described him, 'If he doesn't want to talk, you cannot make him talk. Once he starts talking, he is unstopped-able'. Very true.

Happy Birthday, Lucas.

Posing with his Sunglasses

Last weekend was quite exciting for Lucas. We got him a pair of sunglasses (he insisted on this pair of sunglasses despite being a bit too big for him) and he has been happily wearing it. He was wearing it to his school concert and even posed for Dominic to snap some photos.

Aren't I cool?

All dressed up to go for his school concert.

Driving his cabriolet Beetle, as he called his car.



Novelty wears off fast. Today is Monday and he has not asked for his sunglasses. And his cabriolet Beetle is having battery problem today.