Kung Fu Panda II

The 1st cartoon instalment had me laughing so hard, i had stitches.  Not to mention I only watch the last 10 mins of it.


So, I had an itch to watch this 2nd instalment.  And, with no available babysitter and not willing to waste my leave, we brought Ashley to watch... YES! Her 1st movie in a real cinema (at a grand old age of 4yrs 7mths).  Haha!  It helped that I had brought her to Science Centre in the last month, and we watched an IMAX movie.  She was (expectedly) scare of the wide screen and dark atmosphere and told me several times she's scared.  But I am proud of her because when I asked her if she wanted to go out of the theatre, she said no, n bravely watched the whole movie.  Of course, it helped that other kids (some younger than her) were in the same theatre as well.


We had an enjoyable time watching the movie.  I gave her 2 booster seats, so she could watch the screen easily.  Munching on popcorn, we all had great laughs.  I did anyway, I laughed alot and aloud.  After an especially lousy week at work, this was a great temp stress reliever...  Ashley didn't really understand the movie, I think she's more captivated over the 1st time experience of watching a movie in a theatre.  She was also the self-appointed popcorn person, holding the tub and handing us popcorn when we want to eat.  Towards the last 15 mins of the movie, she started getting fidgety.  Worried that she may disturb others, I offered to let her sit on my lap, which she did contentedly.  :-)


We are going to watch another movie soon... Transformers III... is it rate G, i wonder?

新年快乐

The ONE constant thing (or person) in the morning

You know just how it tears u apart when u hear ur child crying on e other side of e fone? I juz had one episode n it's one too many. It's e 1 constant thing in her life - me. Every day, she wakes up wif me around. And she didn't today bcos I wanted to let her sleep in a bit more b4 gg to sch. It's a rare thing tt Alan doesn't need to go to work. So, I left for work b4 she woke up.

I thought she'd b upset but didn't expect her to cry. I guess tt's e bond tt we hv, and I never want it to break.

I had to promise her never to leave b4 she wakes up in future.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Update: If u hear Alan's version, I am the sabo king because of my call to Ashley, managed to disconcert her enough to hv her refuse to go to school.  So, now she's happily playing with her cousin at mil's place.

I had a good laugh, when told of how Ashley manipulated her daddy around... hahaha!  Attagirl, my dear!

Ashley's debut performance

Anyone guessed wrongly - abt my previous post?  Hah!!

This is the vid I took of her debut performance in the year-end concert.  Pardon the amateurish quality, it's taken with a digicam and we were sitting quite far back... oh, and also, the out-of-focus few secs during the vid bcos I was busy watching her dance and forgot abt the camera positioning.

Can't spot her?  She's in the last row, with 2 ponytails, the one dancing with the most fervour.

P/S: Hate that cameraman who kept walking up and down, blocking my view!

Who's that girl??

Never again!

I lost sight of her for 5 secs or so, and my heart kinda stopped for that same 5 secs...

It was just the 2 of us.  I was shopping in a store.  She was playing at the door entrance.  I kept sight of her out of the corner of my eye and tuned in to her soft singing.

All of a sudden, I couldn't hear her voice anymore and she had disappeared from my sight.

I rushed out of the store, turned left n right, couldn't see her anymore.

I ran back into the store, called out her name, and there she was, abt 15m away from me.

I remembered to breathe again.

She was looking for me, as well.

Never again!

Ashley's tastebuds...

I had originally wanted to write about some funny things that popped out of Ashley’s mouth yesterday, but for the life of me, I really CANNOT REMEMBER (this forgetfulness thingy is really grating for me… URGHH!)

Anyway, I want to talk about Ashley’s tastebuds. I must say that Ashley has very simple tastes.

Bread – hohoho! My deardear is crazy about bread. I think she can eat bread for every meal, if I allow her to. The thing about her is she doesn’t like fancy bread, just simple plain butter buns will make her very happy. I recalled one particular morning, she ate 2 whole pieces of butter buns (normal regular size type) for breakfast…

One of the good things about Ashley is she likes her fruits, not just one or two kinds, but many. Offhand I can think of are apple, orange, grape, pear, honeydew, rockmelon, watermelon and longan. Kiwi and papaya – depending on her mood… Just yesterday, after she had finished her dinner, I asked her if she wanted to eat fruits. She shouted yes so excitedly and beamed happily at me. Alan bought watermelon and rockmelon and she ate both happily, even telling us which are hers, which are mine and which are Alan’s.

Fishball noodles – I think a lot of little kids love them. Before I became a mom, I used to see a lot of mommies letting their kids eat fishball noodles and I always wonder why. Now I know – the kids simply love them… Ashley being one of them and she keeps reiterating to me that she loves the yellow noodles.

Cake. You’d think that ALL kids like cake, wouldn’t you? Well, not Ashley. Even her teacher commented that she takes ages to eat cake and always, she can’t even finish a slice of it, where other kids are asking for 2nd/3rd helpings. The cakes that I buy for our birthday celebrations are mostly consumed by Alan and me. Hah!

Sweets/desserts. My daughter doesn’t have a sweet tooth. YET. I’ve long learned to never say never, because you never know. But as of now, she doesn’t eat sweets. She likes to buy sweets though. Just the other day, she wanted Alan to buy lollipops for her. He did and it end up in the rubbish chute 2 days later.

Yogurt. She likes yogurt, more than ice-cream I think. Weird? I am again happy though, because I think yogurt really helps in digestion. I recalled there was a few days she was unable to eat yogurt because she had a cough. And during that few days, she kept complaining of stomach pain pain off and on, and her stomach looked bloated and felt hard to the touch. After we resumed giving yogurt, she didn’t complain of pain and her stomach wasn’t bloated and hard anymore.

Looking at my daughter, I was reminded of the simple pleasures in life. And I feel sad just thinking how, as we grow up, we lose this kind of innocence and ability to appreciate the simple things in life. A piece of bread, a bowl of fishball noodles, a slice of watermelon is enough to put a big smile on Ashley’s face. I want to capture this moment forever.

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And when I am about to end this post, I suddenly remembered a funny conversation I had with Ashley.
Ashley: Mommy, can I eat this? – pointing to the potato chips that I was eating
Mommy: No, you are having a cough.
Ashley: Ok. Can I see?
Mommy lets her peek into the packet of chips.
Ashley: Ok (trots away, satisfied after having seen the packet of chips).

The next night,
Ashley: Mommy, I cannot eat this right? I cough cough, right?
Mommy: Yes, that’s correct, dear.
Ashley: Mommy, can you tell me I cannot eat this?
Mommy: Ok, you cannot eat this.
Ashley: OK. (goes back to doing whatever she was doing previously)

Ashley with Singa

Ashley has been telling me she wants to take a pic with Singa for quite some time.  Last Sunday, I spotted a nice big Singa and got Ashley to pose with it..

Being princessy

Oh my gosh! Ashley is so princessy these days.  She wants to wear skirts all the time and she's into all the accessories like necklace, bracelet, headband.  Yesterday, she even told me to buy a ring for her.  She uses my lip balm, takes out my pocket mirror n pretends she's applying lipstick.  And she's creative enough to use the stamp chop to chop on her nails so that it's like red nail polish...

That's how princessy she's becoming...

Ok, I am definitely not complaining bcos I was actually abit worried that I may turn her into a tomboy as I like to dress her in pants/shorts most of the time (to avoid any accidental showing of her panty)... But these days, I just let her enjoy wearing skirts and all those accessories.  I just have to keep reminding her that wearing skirts mean she has to be ladylike... but that's easy, I usually just "threaten" her that I'm not going to buy any more skirts for you, and that'll get her to do as I say immediately... :-)

Singapore cheer - Ashley's version

I couldn't resist taking a vid of her shouting the Singapore cheer.  I think the school taught them for the National Day celebration.

Guilt attack... AGAIN!

It happened yesterday night.

Me: Ashley, Mummy needs to work tonight.
Ashley: Ok, don't disturb you right?
Me: Uh... yes...
(I felt thoroughly guilty.  I think she must have been scolded too much by me when she comes to me and wants my attention, when I was working... haiz...)

2hrs later, I had completed most of my work, and started to wonder what Ashley was doing (yes, when I am doing my work, most of the time i become oblivious to what's happening around me), I called her.  And she gave an exuberant shout of joy and answer "Yes, Mummy...".  Like a little bullet train, she ran out of the bedroom where she was playing with Alan and came to my side with a gorgeous heartbreakingly sweet smile.  She was so happy to be able to have my attention... my sweet sweet darling...

小毛驴

Taken from my trusty iPhone...

Ashley's love for Mommy

The depth of love Ashley has for me humbles me...  While her friends draw their other fav person/thing, Ashley drew ME.

"Why" is killing me

Let me take a deep breath, let me count slowly 1-10, let me meditate...


BECAUSE Ashley is slowly killing me with her millionth WHYs...


Just this morning,
Me: Ashley, you can't take this hello kitty bag to school.
Ashley: Why I cannot take this hello kitty bag to school?
Me: Because it's too small to put your clothes in.
Ashley: Why is it too small to put my clothes in?
Me: Because we didn't buy a bigger-sized bag.
Ashley: Why didn't we buy a bigger-sized bag?
Me: Because you have a bigger-sized bag, tt's your strawberry bag.
Ashley: Orh...
Me: (Action: breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out)...




I know, these are the simple "Whys"... wait till she gets to the level "Mommy, why is the sky blue?, why is the earth round?... "


ROFAF
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Roll On Floor And Fainted

Gong Xi Gong Xi

Conversations with Ashley

Ashley: Mommy, I am going to the market.
Me: Ok, what you want to buy?
Ashley: I am going to buy fishballs and apples for you to eat.
(Me secretly "awww.....", heart melting)
Me: Ok, thank you baby


Me: Ashley, you cannot ask Ma-ma (granny) to buy things for you ok? Ma-ma not working, no money to buy things for you.  If you want to buy things, you must ask Mommy or Daddy, ok?
Ashley (in the past): Orh...  (end of conversation)
Ashley (yesterday): Then, you give Ma-ma money lah...
Me: (surprised, but quickly recovers and change direction): But you cannot ask Ma-ma to bring you out gai-gai.  Ma-ma old already, need to rest at home.  Mommy and Daddy bring you go gai-gai when we are not working, ok?
Ashley: Orh... (end of conversation)


While in the car,
Me: Why the car in front drive so slow?
Ashley: (shouts) Car, car, go away!!!
Me: Ashley, what you doing?
Ashley: I scold car car for you.
Me: :-p


Me: Ouch, mommy hurt my leg.  (Action: rubs leg)
Ashley: (Action: walks over).... where?
Me: (Action: points to leg)
Ashley: I rub for you. (Action: rubs my leg)
Me: Thank you, baby.
Ashley: Tomorrow will be ok, no pain pain already.
Me: Ok, baby.

Groovin' babe

Ashley likes to groove to the beat, especially when we r in shopping malls. She dances to the tunes and doesn't care who's watching. That's what I want - for her to feel confident to express herself, as long as she doesn't disturb others.


I have quite a number of videos of her dancing, here's one of my favoured ones...

P.U.K.E

You know how sometimes, you jinx it when you say/think that something will not happen to you, and then IT DOES!!!
 As I read about a puking incident that unfortunately happened to LJ, I was counting my lucky stars that it had not happened to me.  Well, that must have jinxed it for me... bcos it HAPPENED to me, and it was worse, much much worser than LJ's experience.


We were on the way back from Bintan.  I'd expected I'd feel a little woosy from seasickness, but thought it would be mild (as it was for me during the trip there).  I was so so wrong.  About 10 minutes after we sailed off, we could see the sea was rather turbulent, with lots of choppy wave.  And the darn jerk who manned the wheel kept riding the waves and increasing the ship's speed.  It got worse as there was a stupid stupid group of idiots sitting in front who kept cheering n egging him on.


I was feeling giddy and sick, so didn't detect that Ashley was not feeling well too.  Ashley got all whiny and kept insisting to sit on my lap.  She was hot and sweating all over, so I lifted the back of her t-shirt to cool her down.  And she kept telling me her stomach pain pain.  I didn't even catch on that she might be seasick too, and kept rubbing on her stomach.  Goodness! Now that I think back, I may have made her feel worse.  And then she P.U.K.E.D!  I was in the ship, our luggage was checked in, I didn't keep an extra set of clothes for her and myself.  The ship was full of passengers.  The stench from the vomit was overwhelming, and it made me who already teetering on the brink of vomiting myself, almost doubled over as well.  Ashley's t-shirt and jeans, and my t-shirt were all splattered with Ashley's breakfast - mostly bread and scrambled egg.... GROSS!


Immediate reaction: I closed my eyes, and tried to convince myself "it isn't real, this isn't happening..." for all of 3secs bcos I opened my eyes then, and saw my darling's face.  She looked downright miserable and scared.  I couldn't bear it, so I hugged her hard (yeah, with all the yucky stuff on our shirts and hair) and told her "it's ok, it's ok, mommy will take care of you."


I carried her to the toilet to clean up, with Alan following me.  On the way, we saw one of the crew members, explained the situation asked if we could get my luggage bag.  Initially, he said cannot, but I think he saw the pathetic situation we were in and told us he'd try.  And bless the guy, he actually came through and Alan was able to secure clean clothes for us.  I managed to clean Ashley up first.  And as I was cleaning myself up in the toilet, I also P.U.K.E.D (yep! it finally got to me, the seasickness and the pungent smell of vomit).


P/S: You can't possibly imagine the relief I had when I stepped onto solid ground...

Ashley in school

This is a long overdule post, but nevertheless, a necessary one.


I want to blog down Ashley's 1st experience with formal schooling, even if it is Pre-Nursery.


The first day wasn't too bad, as you can see here, she was all smiley and cooperative for school.  I could sense an underlying sense of worry in Ashley, over the excitement and anticipation of a new experience.  The 2nd day wasn't too bad, she showed a bit of reluctance when I told her she had to go school again.  But overall, she was still cooperative.  The next few days was quite emotional as she started to cry when we helped her put on her uniform.  She'd look at me with a plea in her eyes (all red from crying), sniffling, puffy-faced, and tell me "Mommy, I don't want to go to school.  I want to go to Ma-Ma place."  And in school, she will start doing koala- hugs, refusing to let me go.  Everytime, I'd repeat the same things to her, summarizing to her the half-day schedule, and reassuring her that half-a-day will go by very fast and I'd be there to fetch her after she's had her lunch.


All in all, Ashley took about 2 weeks to settle down in school.  She's fine to go to school now, and has started telling us the stuff she learns in school, friends that she play in school with.  She has even started to teach us the songs she learned in school and the accompanying action steps.


The final thing that set me at ease was the short note from Teacher Sue on her progress in school.  This note came in sometime during the 4th week Ashley started school.

Ashley's special day...

Both of us took leave on Ashley's birthday, to spend the day with our little gal.  Being able to spend days out with her - putting work aside, is the best pressie for her.  I can sense her happiness just by looking at her.

(all ready to go out...)

There were actually 2 places I had in mind to go - Fidgets or cycling in ECP.  I know these are the 2 activities that she enjoys most.  In the end, Fidgets won out as I wanted to see how she'd progressed since her last trip there about 6mths' ago.  She has a blasting fun time there, spent 2hrs climbing, skipping, rolling, sliding, crawling, etc...  And I was pleased that she did quite a few things that she didn't dare the last time - she went walking along the rope bridge, she climbed into the spaceship-like thing and waved to us, she even glided on the bar-thingy n swung from one end to the other, unaided.

I wondered and I concluded she knows it's a special day for her.  Even though she was obviously tired out after the session in Fidgets, she didn't want to nap.   So, I changed my plan and pushed the cake-cutting to the afternoon (anticipating she'll probably conk out early tonite).  Alas, the major blip of the day - the cake - looks nice if u ignore Barney-lookalike's flat head and the toppled panda - flopped the taste test big time!  Sponge cake was too hard.  It was supposed to be vanilla lemon, but I couldn't taste the lemony zing at all.  Yeah, I know... i should hv tried their cakes first before going for the expensive stuff huh...  But I thought, it had several good reviews from the forum... :-(  On hindsight, i wondered if those mommies were all friends???

But anyway, it didn't spoil Ashley's mood at all.... Y?  Because she doesn't really fancy cakes... yep, my daughter is strange that way... ;-)

We had dinner at Sushi Tei, ECP branch.  Ambience is real nice there, food was ok... I'd wanted to check out a special nice place for dinner, but since the leading lady here likes simple fare, we opted for Sushi Tei.

I got her this Swarovski crystal this year.  Alan bought her a toy, on my suggestion (based on what I'd read from Welch's blog).  I like the toy, it's fun and I had a great time building some of the stuff too.  Needless to say, Ashley can't build anything yet, but she too had fun fiddling with the parts and she likes the stuff I build too, like the flower, windmill...

It was an enjoyable day, and most of all, a remarkable day as 3 years ago, on this day, we were blessed with Ashley...