Words of the day - after 7 years

My first blog post, "Words of the day" was written in October 2008 during Lehman crisis as stocks indices dropped like flies every other day. Seven years later, I am experiencing déjà vu as my screen turned into a patch of red sea today, in need of Moses :) Today, it's not about the American banks, but the Chinese and Asean crisis of Ringgit plunge, RMB devaluation, Tianjin plant explosion and Bangkok bombing.

Words of the day 2015 version:-
Panic selling : According to investopedia :"Wide-scale selling of an investment, causing a sharp decline in price. In most instances of panic selling, investors just want to get out of the investment, with little regard for the price at which they sell"

I'm none the wiser about the stocks market but just feel compelled to pen today's event . Who knows by 2022 we might see a repeat of the seven-year cycle...

12 weeks old

Traits:

I’m 5.2kg.

I have a serious look.

I’m a cooing machine.

I like to be carried.

I’m often being mistaken as a boy.

I have started to sleep through the night.

I’ve got the power

I’m not a techno geek. I don’t have the constant need to be equipped with the latest gadget in town. BUT the recent addition of an ipad mini 2 (to replace my hand-me-down gen 1 ipad from daddy M) is life changing! I feel POWERFUL. Technically, I can take pictures, I can check emails, I can blog with this all-in-one handy gadget! More importantly, gone are also the days of s.l.o.w-m.o.t.i.o.n downloading of Cantonese/Chinese/Korean drama from the net – maybe this is THE ONLY life changing experience !

Thanks daddy M!

Now… I can survive the upcoming confinement month better (I hope)!

My family

Daddy M found this in S school bag! We're not sure when she drew this but I believe this is her perception of "My family".
The big face is Sonia, two at the top are both daddy M and I. The bottom is her as a baby.



October's fruit

October was all about THE WEDDING. All things worked out within expectations. It was a beautiful and blissful one. I loved my flowers creation!
Post wedding, a friend encouraged me to set up my own wedding planning business. I seriously considered about it and was almost convinced that I could do it. Flexi hours, doing what I really love, reasonable income... But the thought of having to work on Sunday (ie, giving up Rock Kidz) turned me off. And I stopped dreaming.
From time to time I still wonder, was I using Rock Kidz as an excuse to front the lack of courage to make a switch?
In any case, I am thankful that my dream of becoming a wedding planner was fulfilled… and more importantly, for a dear friend.

Holy communion

Every morning, after the two stickers (reward for S if she sleeps through in her cot) are given, it's our holy communion time. S will happily sit and partake the ready-made elements - biscuit and Ribena. Our prayers are simple and short - "Father, thank you for your broken body and by your stripes we are whole and strong" and "by your blood we are forgiven and righteous". I enjoy these short precious moments that are exclusive to the three of us...

It's not a ritual and we are not going through the motion for the sake of it. Each time we take the holy com, we remember Jesus, knowing that we are righteous through Him. What's better than confessing and proclaiming blessings together as a family every morning ?

Cling on me

 

A picture of dependence, love and closeness which makes us want to cherish every single bit of S.

I hardly decline her requests of “Carry please, mommy” (except when she refuses to go to bed) because I know in no time she’ll grow out of this phase and too heavy for me to carry anyway.

19 months of blessings and we’re enjoying more than ever…

S plus S

A few days ago, M and I became the temporary guardian of his 9-year old god-daughter. So now we have a bb S and a bigger S under our care. Bb S is the happiest person in the household with a new big sister to play with, following her wherever she goes. Perhaps this is a chance to prepare us for number 2 (wink).

Our conversations have expanded from milk feed and frequency of naps to logistics to/from school, time table and homework.

I am thankful that we have the ability to take on more in life – the opportunity to serve in children’s ministry, ministering to His flock as well as the capacity to care and help those who are in need.

I don’t know how we will do it or if we can do it well but I know God will give us the wisdom and cause everything to turn out well.

Happy list

Work took over my birthday but I felt extra love this year for the little things and thoughts that others spared me.

Colleagues at work penned down their wishes on little heart-shapes card and put them into a well-wishes jar.  And my junior who has seen me slogged for the past few weeks surprised me with a bottle of sake delivered by a waitress from the nearby bar to my WORKSTATION as I was busy typing away!

SL made me a collage with my favourite list!

Facebook and phone wishes kept me going as I went in and out of meetings…

Hand-peeled (by shih) crab meat Claypot Tanghoon was truly love.

Unplanned mini birthday celebration at Pave.

And because of my crazy schedule this period, I get extended birthday celebrations till July with different groups of friends, including one with daddy M post-birthday (a half-day spa at the St Regis – looking forward!).

Quality time

What can you do in 2 hours? A lot.

6.30pm: Mommy arrived home

6.45pm: Mother and daughter took a walk to the nearest playground. Daughter ran around happily…

7.00pm: Both strolled home

7.10pm: Mommy slowly enjoyed her dinner while toddler played with the helper

7.30pm: Let’s play stacking the cups

7.35pm: Let’s do some reading

7.45pm: Called home and have a chat with Ah Boh (my sis)

7.55pm: Let’s do some massage (Baby lied on her tummy, mommy pretended to massage baby’s body)

8.00pm: Let’s play baby gym (Mommy lifted baby up and down like a dumbbell)

8.05pm : Butt wash

8.15pm: Bible story time

8.30pm: … and baby went into dreamland…

Hmmm….My ideal mother & daughter time.

Stop and smell the roses

We were caught by surprise when she walked straight to the almost-green Poinsettia, bent down and kissed it. Speechless.

Lesson to learn from a 15 month old…

Kodak moment

“This makes a hard day at work worthwhile”

                                                ~~~~Daddy M      

Don’t disturb me!

When I said “make fun of little things” in my previous post, this is what I meant. S is part of the little things, literally.

Party planner wannabe

Perhaps one day kids party planning may be my business venture if I ditch equity research? The recent P.O.P party for S has received a few compliments and best of all, I’ve inspired a friend wanting to do more for her daughter’s birthday and I’m asked to help! So for Rie’s 8th birthday, the theme is somewhat '‘pink’ with My Little Pony as her favourite character. We are also reusing the P.O.P colour to create a banner for Rie.

I heard that the Middletons made their millions from organising parties! Maybe, just maybe one day I can inspire other mothers to create magical parties at home and make party organising a little easier yet affordable.

Effective parenting

Parenting tip #101: Strategically position your play pan facing the TV. Play some bible stories or children gospel songs and enjoy your meal in peace for a good 30 minutes. 

xoxo,

First-time parent to a fast-crawling baby

Contemplation

This shot was taken when bb S was watching TV. I wonder what was going through her mind…Judging from her fingers, it appeared as if she’s contemplating…

Pumpkin day

Another dress up party.

My sweet neighbour made us a Halloween meal– eye balls, meat loaf, coffin sandwich and fingers…

Potty glamour

Only a baby can execute an unglamorous act so beautifully and adorably…

Let’s play dress up

Daddy: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

Daughter: Charlie’s Angels-Full Throttle

Flowers and butterflies

Apart from my Saturday flowers, these butterflies dough from the Mayflower hawker centre keeps me sane as I do my weekly marketing. It’s popular for its freshness because the seller fries them on the spot as you place your order. The generous sesame seeds also makes it crunchier than the normal ones. Top it up with a cup of black coffee, my unhealthy indulgence is complete!