So Happening...

Since we were back from our holidays, there we so much happening with Christmas and New Year around the corner. So much food, catching up with friends and getting ready for 2010.

Lucas enjoyed this year Christmas. He knows about getting presents, chocolates, candies in abundance during Christmas. On the eve, as usual we had dinner at my in-laws place. After the dinner, it is time to open presents. Lucas knows how to tear away the wrappers by himself. No need help from us anymore. Then on Christmas day itself, he opened the presents we gave him. On the Boxing Day, he opened the presents from my family. He got so excited that he asked on Christmas Day if 'Is tomorrow Christmas again?'.

As for Chloe, she is still doesn't know any better. It is the time of the year where I dressed and dolled her up. Put on her nice and cute dresses and the hair accessories. She started on solid 2 weeks ago but I have stopped it a week later. She doesn't want to eat her apples and were getting constipation. I have to stopped to get the bowel motion back in place. Today, I tried the solid again. I puree the apple as opposed to grate the apple previously. She finished her apple but were complaining after that. Wasn't sure if the apple is making her discomfort or the teething. She has been drooling like nobody business and eating anything she can grabbed - her pillow, cot bumper, skirts, handkie. Poor girl. I did not try to give her the teething toy as I find it unsuitable - either too big or too hard. Nothing is as yummy as her tiny fingers.

I have also moved Chloe to her own room on Christmas Day. She is now sleeping on her own, in her own room. I have completed her room decoration project. Honestly, it is easier to move the kid now than later. She is sleeping well in her room. I have to a baby monitor for nighttime use. It was Lucas that is difficult to adjust. He walks to my room two to three times each night and I have to shoo him back to him own room. With the two kids out of my room, I have so much space in the bedroom!!

For myself, I am trying to finish the house project I was doing. The current task is to tidy up the study room cum home office. Need to file all the papers and books and junk neatly. One thing I just realised, there is no such thing as enough shelves or storage space. The clutter seems to fill itself up.

Next few days are going to be more food and entertaining friends. We have a friend and family coming over on Monday. Dominic is cooking wagyu beef. On Tuesday, it is going to be our few hours off. Going to watch Avatar while the kids are bonding with the grandparents. On Wednesday, some friends from overseas are coming. We are having Klang Bak Kut Teh and cendol - all food local for overseas friends. No plan yet on New Year Eve. We are going to missed the firework which we can watched from our apartment's balcony previously. New Year day, we are having my family over. Will be feeding them pork knuckles and sausages. Then............................it will be back to normal. Lucas starting school on Monday, I start work on Tuesday and the nanny is starting work on Wednesday.

For whatever it is, it has been a great year. Looking forward to 2010 when I will turn 40 ..ahem...and even greater happenings.

Merry Christmas

Cuti-Cuti Malaysia

After we had our share of holiday without the kids, we have to take the kids for holidays as well right. So, we had a cuti-cuti Malaysia or vacation as Lucas called it. We drove to Penang and stayed for 3 nights. The kids were surprisingly very well behaved in the long journey. It took us 7 hours to get to Penang (inclusive of pit stop time). The traffic was rather heavy in the long weekend. During the journey, Lucas asked 'Are we on vacation yet?'. He doesn't quite understand the meaning of vacation but he knows is going out and doing something. Chloe was contented to be sitting in her car seat.

Penang stay was good and relaxing. We stayed put with relatives and they helped out taking care of the kids. So, we do get some time off. Went to Penang Hill via the funicular train at 6am! Dragged Lucas along and he was still on his pyjamas and diaper when we left at 6am. It was all worth it. Also checked out the new Hard Rock Hotel. I must said the hotel is quite nicely done. And of course being in Penang means food and food. Lucas enjoyed the beaches.

Then we drove to Cameron Highlands and spent 2 nights at Cameron Highlands Resort. The hotel is nice and the weather was good - cool. The high during daytime was 18 degrees. It was the only time the kids get to wear the long sleeve shirt! This stay was also our first vacation with both kids without help. Boy...it was stressful. The whole day was spent taking care of them and not doing much. Lucas was not so interested with the scenery and Chloe was getting car motion sickness from the windy road. She cried and vomited. We now know the kids are not highlands people. I guess we need more practice taking them out on vacation and adjust ourselves to their schedule and interest.

Favourite pastime in Penang is to play with sand by the beach.

Favourite pastime in Cameron Highlands is watch TV.

Look, pancakes for breakfast.

Haircut Day

Both Lucas and Chloe got a haircut on Thursday. It was also Chloe's first haircut. Her newborn hair has yet to dropped fully and the new hair grown rather slowly. So, we decided to give her a trim to make her hair looks more even.

Lucas in his underwear getting his hair cut as well.

Chloe first haircut and I am keeping her hair.

Little Helper

I was at the backyard doing laundry this morning. I spilled some water from the bucket and Lucas who was playing sand there asked, 'Mommy, can I help you?' - very sweet of him. So, I asked him to dry the floor.

Chloe is 5 months old

We started Chloe on solid the day she turned 5 months old. So far, she has tasted cereal, carrots and broccoli. Tomorrow, I will introduce apple to her. The first time she had solid, she played the food on her lips and the tip of her tongue. She does not quite know what to do. Now, on her third day, she knows how to take the food from the spoon. The solid still is not able to help her sleep through the night. She still wakes up at 2+ am. I am contemplating waking her up and feed her at 10+ pm before I go to sleep. Hmm....better to let her sleep or eat??

I let her sit on the bouncer initially as she still cannot sit well. But she grows restless after 5 mins. Now, I strapped her on the high chair.

She weighs 6.3 kg. She can spin on her bed and turn halfway, not fully on her tummy. With her development pattern, I think she might just skip crawling and go straight to walking.

Food, oh glorious food.

Look, I can sit unassisted.....for seconds.

Starting Solid

Since we came back form Sydney, Chloe has not been sleeping thru the night. She woke up at 2+ am asking for milk. Previously, she needs her milk at 5+ am. During daytime, she is drinking more often than usual. That must be a sign saying she is ready for solid. So, when I get a chance to go to supermarket, I will need to get her the cereal and other food as well. Need to recall all the puree recipes.

She is not turning just yet but can spin 180 degrees on her bed. Can't put her on Lucas's bed. She is capable of falling off now. This morning, one of her feet was on top of the lower railing. Need to lower her bed by 2 notches. Oh...she is going to be mobile very soon and that means need to keep my eye closer on her.

Look, I have changed my position...

Baking Cookies

It all started when one fine day Lucas came to me and said 'Mommy, I'm making pancake (using his play dough) but I don't have a cooking hat (chef hat). You buy for me a cooking hat, ok.'
During one of our shopping trip in Sydney, we saw a pack of kids disposable apron and chef hat. It is a pack with 4 sets with all his favourite colours. We took the apron and hat but need to do something to use the apron and hat right. Then we saw Christmas cookies cutter with the shape of Christmas tree, reindeer, star, angels. So, it was decided that we are going to bake Christmas cookies with Lucas.

Mixing the dough.

Showing off the finished dough.

Cutting the dough with the cookie cutter.

Decorating the cookies with sprinkle.

Savouring his fruit of labour.

Dominic did most of the preparation and baking. I did the most important task, that is clean up the kitchen after all the excitement.
One Monday, Lucas brought the cookies to school to share with his friends. His friends asked for more. He and Dominic are all excited now and they are planning to make cupcakes next!

Christmas Tree is Up

My Christmas tree is up. Dominic's father helped us transport the fresh cut 6 foot tree from Ikea to home. This is the second year we are getting the fresh cut tree. It is nice and not too expensive. And the best part is there is no worry if the tree is not growing too well during the year for next Christmas. It is a new tree every year!
Lucas is older and hence understand more. He helped unpacked the decoration and passed on to Dominic to hang on the tree. At times, he even pointed the exact spots to hang the decorations. Maybe next year, he can hang those ornaments himself. Having said that, Lucas hanged THE ornament, the star on top of the tree.
Chloe was watching from her bouncer. Next year, she can participate.

Lucas is admiring the star he put up earlier.

Chloe is fascinated by the chasing lights.

Sydney

Our holiday in Sydney was great. Good weather, good food and good company.
During our short stay, we managed to eat all the food we wanted .... big shrimps, calamaries, mussels, fresh oyster, steak and even dim sum.
Sites we have covered were the ever famous harbour cruise and other cruises, wineyard on Hawksbury, beaches, bays, parks and a bit of shopping.
We catched up with some goods friends and have a good Aussie BBQ at one of their house.

Travelling first class with flat bed..

and champagne

At Hawksbury

Sydney's iconic view of the bridge

Yam Cha with friends

By the beach

While We Were Away...

The kids were doing just fine. We preped Lucas a week before the trip. First, he insisted that he wanted to come along. We told him children cannot go...
When we told him we will be away for 5 days, he bargained and said 1 day only. We said one day is not enough, then he was generous to say 2 days! What a negotiator.
On the actual day, when we about to board the taxi, he clinged on to me and cried, insisting that I should stayed. Of course I felt bad. When I called home from the airport, my sister said he was ok. Went about doing his own things. He was ok for the next 5 days..did not cry for us. But he was definitely very happy to see us when we returned. And we bought him tons of presents and chocolate to redeem our guilt.
Meanwhile, Chloe did not know any better. She was just happy that she she is being fed and entertained.

We figured we can't have this escape anymore. Soon, both of them will understand and won't let us off.