My bedtime friends

In just two years, you have made so many little 'friends' that keep you company just before bedtime. And these days, you have become a stuffed toy girl. You would cuddle them and look fondly at them when we return in the evening or when you wake up in the morning. You enjoy bringing your stuff toy out when we go for our outing. Take the Singapore Flyer outing for example, you actually brought your Pooh Bear on board too! Some of your cuddlies are:
1. Baby bop
2. Barney
3. Love carebear (the first thing that Daddy bought for you)
4. A big snoopy (tks to Ah ma)
5. Pooh Bear 1 (courtesy of Adeline Ah yi)
6. Pooh Bear 2 (courtesy of Adeline Ah yi)
7. Doggie (mummy bought for you for your bravery when you went for our 3rd month jab)
8. UOB bear (San yi gave you when you were two months old)
9. 'Patsy' the doll ( a cloth doll from mothercare which you used to hate it)
10. moo-cow bolster (tks to Er Yi)
And a few more. You would roll yourself over these stuff toys middle of the night or role play by bringing them on a 'bus-ride'. Silly girl.

Let's Fly

Dearest Phoebe, Daddy is a little late with this entry as I was procrastinating again. Bad, bad habit which you should avoid like the plague. Yesterday, we were on the top of the world! We took the Singapore Flyer, the largest Ferris Wheel in the world (for now). It was on the spur of the moment that we decided to go to the Singapore Flyer. You fell into a deep sleep while we were on the bus to Suntec Convention Centre as you were probably lulled to sleep by the noise of the bus engine. Upon arrival at the Singapore Flyer, Mummy and I decided to eat some snacks at the Popeyes. It is a fried chicken fast food restaurant located just below the Flyer and it has a quaint coffee joint inside its premises. While you were sleeping, Mummy and I were engaged in conversation but somehow our discussions always digressed to you in general. Probably it's because you are always on our minds constantly. We got tickets for the 6:30 ride and we even got a you a lollypop to distract you in case you were bored with the ride. We didn't bring along our regular camera as our trip down to the Flyer was impromptu. Hence, Mummy's phone camera was put to good use. We boarded the capsule at six thirty sharp and as our capsule was thrusted heavenward, we just kicked back and enjoyed the view. The sight was simply breathtaking, our grainy photos captured do not do justice to the sheer panoramic view that the Flyer offers. You would have to see it to feel the grandiose and lifting effect of the ride. Darling, you were pretty much engrossed in sucking on your lollypop while comfortably seated in a corner of the capsule. After the ride, we headed to Marina Square for a dinner at a Japanese restaurant where you had two servings of the steamed egg. Daddy even got an early birthday present from Mummy, a spanking new 3.5G phone!!!! We headed home after dinner, still high on the fumes of euphoria and exhiliration. BTW, I really like the way you say "Singapore Flyer". You said it with so much conviction and enthusiasm such that our tourism board will probably bill your words as a verbial testmonial from one of their youngest satisfied customer! Be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

My favourite phrases @23 months

My favourite phrases

At 23 months, you have become very inquisitive and have been asking mummy questions almost non-stop. Some of your favourite phrases are "What's that word?", "Who's that person?" On Saturday, we brought you to Suntec after your Trio class, together with Ah Ma and Cindy jie jie before we headed for the duck tour. You were so busy pointing at the shops' signboards and sometimes mummy just had to ignore you. But one of the favourite shop names that caught your attention and you love to repeat after it was 'Adidas'. Mummy is now trying to look for a kid's size addidas bag for your school next month. When we had our father's day dinner two weeks back, you looked across the table and saw an unfamiliar face and you asked "Who's that person?". When mummy told you its Jiu Jiu's friend, Uncle Desmond, your reply was "Oh Uncle Desmond, not Uncle Diamond!". Another word which you are so fond of is 'Deck 1B'. Whenever we walked past the carpark, you would go "Deck!!!!" as if you found a long lost friend!

By the way, the longest sentence that you have put together to date was:

"Mummy bring baby see auntie help Cindy cut her hair." Gosh... a real mouthful and we could see you panting a little after that :-)

Mummy's dilemma...

Dearest Phoebe, mummy took leave last week to spend some quality time with you. We experimented with various art mediums such as crayons, paint and your favourite crayola markers. We also tried playing different types of puzzles together. Perhaps when you are at Ah Ma's house, you rarely get to venture into such activities.We even had a good 3-hour nap together!

My little darling, for a couple of times, mummy had toyed with the idea of being a stay-home mum. We were confident that you would benefit more if mummy could be around to guide you in your toddler years. I remember sharing this blog of a brilliant child with Daddy and Daddy's encouraging words were " Our little girl could probably be like him too if you are a stay-home mum.' And a few times when mummy asked if you would want mummy to stay home and be with you, your 'Yes' could not have been more affirmative. What's more painful is at times when we put you at Ah Ma's place in the morning to leave for work, you would put up with occasional struggle and at times, violent protests. When we walked off and enter the lift, mummy and daddy would just look at each other, take a deep breath and had to let go.

However, each time when mummy makes up her mind to be with you 24/7, new opportunity arises; one which is difficult to forgo. If you are older now, I could not fathom the look of disappointment you would have with mummy for the reversal of decisions that she makes when it comes to taking care of you. Well, it's probably difficult for you to comprehend all these now. But being a parent, a lot of decisions we make now would have a lot of impact on you next time especially your educational needs. We hope to be able to provide the same level of support, if not better, just like how Ye Ye and Nai Nai have given to Daddy. Wish you would understand.

There are somethings money can't buy...

Philips 390W Vacuum Cleaner = S$ 320.00

3M Magic Mop = S$29.00

Phoebe's help in cleaning up the living room = Priceless

Great Expectations

Dearest Phoebe,
You caught a nasty flu bug last week and have a recurring coughing bout that will surface in the nights. I hope you respond to the Chinese medication that we are surreptitously slipping into your night feeds. You would throw a tantrum and crying fit when we make you take your medication! So I really hope the Chinese meds kick in fast else your coughing fits will really disrupt your sleep. Do bear with the weird medicinal taste in your night feeds. (Yes, Daddy did sample your Chinese meds and it has this earthy, bark-like taste. Not too palatable but fortunately, it comes in a small capsule.)

Daddy and Mummy took a break from work last Wednesday to bring to for a CareBear show at DownTown East. Mummy and you took two rides on the CareBear train. You clamoured for more but the rides were just too dear! In retrospect, Mummy said that she would bring you down again for the train ride before the CareBear show ends it run. We also saw the indoor Ferris Wheel at E-Hub while lunch was a non-event at the SuperDog outlet whose only saving grace was its vantage view of the Ferris Wheel. I remembered you were scoffing down the bite size bits of sausages while going "throat uncomfortable, eat too much sausage" in between bites. You had a nasty run-in with poor quality sausages a couple of months back and somehow you were recalling it during lunch that day! We rounded up the day viewing the dance ensemble by the CareBears, culminating in a miscalculated photo op with two prancing CareBears. You were too focused with the protaganists of the ensemble to face the camera! But, you had fun dancing with the other kids! All I can say that your relationship with CareBears go way back when you were just a wee baby.

On Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day with a sumptuous seafood dinner at One Fullerton. It's a swanky waterfront area with many restaurants and coffee joints. As usual, you paid scant interest to the food as you were probably more fixated with the two Merlions outside the restaurant. Ah Gong, Ah Ma and your cousins took turns bringing you out to view the tourist icons in their evening splendour. Mummy and Daddy took the opportunity to have a peaceful sit-down dinner. You even managed to scoff a toy tour bus from one of the wait staff by turning on your charms! It was a really enjoyable dinner.

The Father's Day weekend was a first for Daddy and it got me thinking about this whole Daddy-Father thing. Fatherhood to Daddy means a role with certain responsibilites. With such responsibilties, certain expectations are bound to follow. It got me thinking about your role as our daughter and our expectations of you. At times, I think I am guilty of extrapolating your responsibilites into unjust expectations prematurely and I do get frustrated when you do not meet my expectations. Do you get frustrated when I fail to meet yours? I'm sure you have had your fair share but with this in mind, we would have to find our common ground as a cohesive family unit with our expectations of each other in line. In the meantime, be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

PS: Daddy's expectations of you can be summmarised by the lyrics excerpted from a folksong by Barry Louis Polisar
"If you were a castle, I would be the moat.
And if you were the sea, I would learn to float.
If I was a flower growing wild and free,
All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.
And if I was a tree growing tall and green,
All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves."

Celebrating Father's Day

Dearest Phoebe, we had good fun over the weekend as we celebrated Father's Day even though you are nursing a bad cough which has been going on for over a month. On Saturday, we visited the museum again since we prefer a less crowded place. But before that, we had breakfast at Park Mall's Dome. It was a nice nostaglic feeling as Daddy and Mummy used to chill out there. While at the national museum, we were pleasantly surprised that the statue of David was still around as Daddy had thought it was just temporary. Nonetheless, you were awed by his sheer size. We then headed to the murmurs playground where you enjoyed yourself tremendously.



On Sunday, we chilled out at home before heading to One Fullerton to celebrate Father's Day with Ah Gong. We took some time in the afternoon to draw a card (a big card) for Daddy. It was a combined effort between you and mummy. You helped in the pasting and colouring while mummy did the rest. You were so proud of the artwork as you handed it to Daddy yourself. Mummy hopes over time, you learn to appreciate Daddy's love for you better. If not for Daddy, mummy would have still been struggling with post-natal blues for a longer period of time. For months after you were born, Daddy would wake up middle of the night to put his hand on your chest to make sure you were sleeping soundly. And whenever mummy needs him for a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, he would be there for us. That's Daddy dearest.

Baby, SOoooO Happy! (Même Histoire)

Dearest Phoebe, we had a great weekend but Daddy had to spend Sunday evening away from you and Mummy due to another family commitment. I had to attend the wedding dinner of your Auntie Pei Fen and your newly minted Uncle Sean Teo.It was a rather grand affair and Daddy took the opportunity to catch up with your other Uncles present at the dinner. Some of them enquired about your absence and I explained that you were just recovering from your nasty bout of cough.
Earlier in the day, we took the NEL to Clarke Quay where you fell madly in love with a pink elephant mascot for some Japanese pharmaceutical firm. You kept giving it "Big Hugs" (in your own words) and you actually shed tears when we had to tear you away from your newfound inanimate friend. You also enjoyed some yummy gelato (just a little) while you shouted "Baby so happy". I guess you were probably experiencing a sugar rush!
Mummy and Daddy were pleasantly surprised at the way you emote your feelings; however, last week, you were involved in an early morning shoving match with Daddy as you were extremely upset as Daddy tried to get near you. I responded in kind by shouting at you (Daddy's dynamite stick temper at work again). Mummy was rather distressed but she offered kind words of advice that by raising my voice at you would most likely perpetuated the myth that shouting is condoned in this household. I agree with her wholeheartedly. As parents, we are in a privileged position as our kids look to us for guidance, sustenance or simply a hug to say "I miss you!". I guess I didn't even realised the privilege I have or how I was abusing it. I was so relieved that Mummy reminded me with her kind words.
Last week was probably a rough week for Mummy and Daddy. Mummy had to grapple with some delegate visit and a gala dinner with VIPs. Daddy messed up on other fronts. We stumbled and were trying to find our footing. I am really glad that we rounded up the week with our steps in synch.
Phoebe, for what it's worth, at least we still have each other.
Be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

Bubbles bubbles everywhere

Make You Feel My Love

Yesterday, I saw sadness in your eyes as you leaned your weary chin on Mummy's shoulders when we went out for our evening outing. Your usual radiant black pools for eyes seems glazed over with sadness tinged with hints of tears.
It was most probably due to the fact your favourite playmate, Cindy has gone home for the school hoildays. We expected you to bawl and kick a fuss when Cindy left. As she boarded the taxi with Ah Ma, I heard you say "It's alright", somewhat resigning yourself to fate.
Well, Phoebe, you are really attached to Cindy but as a teenager she has her own commitments to pursue.
In life, we have to accept the good, the bad and all the rest that fall in between. For you, my darling angel, are the good I accept wholeheartedly.
Be good and smile pretty, Daddy Dearest.

Miss Golden Sun

Something hilarious happened last night; we were on our way back from Ah Ma's house when we saw Ah Ma's neighbour. As it was quite dark at the park and the auntie was a distant away, mummy told her rather loudly "We saw your son went upstairs already," as we gathered that the auntie was waiting for her son at the park. Shortly, you started looking into the dark sky. Moments later, you looked at me and asked," Where's the sun?"
Daddy and mummy really broke into laughter! Silly girl...the sun had set, and if there is one still around, you are the golden sun :-)

Chip off the old block

Dearest Phoebe, Daddy is penning this entry while looking at some photos we took over the weekend. I would also like to comment about Mummy's past blog entries. Well, as you might have read, Mummy and I do engage in some verbal jousting or verbal sparring as I do attempt to crack some jokes at Mummy's expense.
But all these are done in the name of good fun, I have known Mummy since mid 1994 and we have hit it off ever since. We have rather similar interests and we have enjoyed many a cuppa while talking about our interests and anything that happens to be on our mutual agenda.
Thesse days after our Sat morning classes, we would head off breakfast at coffee joints and you would naturally partake in our coffee sessions. This particular weekend, you were enjoyin' some Mocha Mudslide with some good ole New York bagel at Suntec City. Probably you knew you needed to get your energy level up for the koi feeding session later.
Well, as you grow up, Daddy will probably see some of my character traits in you. For starters, I can confidently say you would be a coffee lover! Just look at the way you indulged in the Mocha Mudslide.
Be good and smile pretty, Daddy dearest.