Dear daddy

Dear daddy,

How are you in heaven? You have been away since 19 January 2014. We miss you. I have not been updating this blog but because of tonight's incident, I update.

Ever since you left us, Ian still cry once in a while when he misses you. Many times, he would become very quiet, hide one place...then when i find him, he just break down and cry. Nathan, on the other hand, I have never seen him cried like Ian. He will look sad, looking at Ian...but he never cry......till tonight. Tonight is just one of those typical nights, when I need to chase the kids to sleep and they simply refuse to sleep night??! It's Mother's Day today and exam day tomorrow, these 2 wonderful days arrange to meet one another so nicely together? 

Anyways

When I went into the room. Seated next to Jon. Nathan said "I can't sleep because I miss grandpa"...the next moment, he broke down. First time...after 2 years plus....Nathan broke down because he's missing you. I have never seen him like this before. Ian also cried, he said they have kept this to themselves for a long time. Whenever they can't sleep at night, they think of you. He missed you and ah bo.....after the older boys cried for about 20 mins, Jon joined up. All 3 boys were crying because they missed you so much. Hannah was sleeping soundly.

They said they missed you as you used to bring them to playground, send them to school every day. I have never known, simple activities like these.... meant so much to them. Jon can even remember you left us when he's K1. Ian said he missed your famous watery fart. He would laugh as he said this and then continue to cry.

I told them you're with Jesus now. Having great time and they will meet you again one day. I guess none of these can make them feel better...I just....let them cry. And then the boys wanted Jem to go into the room and they cried another round again. The tissues they used enough form big white ball.

Ever since you left. I seldom bring them to playground now. Poor boys, once they reached home, they stay home all the way each day. I just couldn't bring them down. All I can do now is always bring them to the same petrol station you used to go. That's where Ian would say "grandpa used to buy snacks for me when he pumps petrol."

I miss you too, daddy. After you left, after the wake. after the perth trip, after school reopen...i still feel so unsettled..till my sister called me. I just cried so hard over the phone because I miss you so much too. That's when the healing come...I know. I don't cry much anymore. But i still miss you.

After your grandsons cried for at least half an hour. They grew hungry....they can't sleep. I refuse to give them food. Nathan, the first to cry, the last to sleep at 1120pm. Lets see how he can wake up for school tomorrow ok! 

Good night, daddy. Ian said "grandpa is the most awesome grandpa in the world" 

**Dear Jesus, if daddy can't read this. Please tell him. Thank You.

When you pray for your baby, perhaps...pray for specific feature eg. hair, shape of head, eyes. I didn't pray, so God chose her grandfather's (my dad) hairstyle for her.




The letter 'M' hairstyle.
20 months old now and with occasional trimming of her fringe, she's a cute little girl with letter 'M' hidden.




My sweet Hannah, we love you so so so much :)

Christmas Present

Khia Tun's wife, Michelle gave me this last night! Am so so so loving it!



Merry Christmas to all of you!

Random conversations at home

Ian: "Daddy, my birthday is coming and I already got many presents!!!"

Jem: "Daddy also bought present for you too!"

Ian: very excited "really???! what is it?"

Jem: "daddy bought you a lot of homework!!!"

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Grandma: scolding tone "ian!!!!"

nathan quickly took out a book and started reading.

When I came back.

Nathan: "mommy!!!! Grandma scold kor kor and i very good boy, i read book."

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Watching the popular Taiwan magician 刘谦. He borrowed a coat from a lady, used that to get into a latched shutters shop, and retrieved a little girl's handphone from the glass display showcase

Mother in law: "dear, retire quickly and learn magic tricks. Then go and steal some diamonds for me"

3 months old

ah po passed me 3 photos albums just now. Saw the 1st photo, then quickly took out my iPhone and browse my photos...

The one in the 1st picture is ian when he's 3 months old.
And of course the 2nd is Hannah, also abt 3 months old this 29th.

像吗?

Pictures

Took this morning. Before going to school.














Ian is graduating soon...P1 next year

Random pictures

We got a 2nd keyboard. Taught Nathan to play do re mi and he feels like he's an expert already.






"Come Hannah, let's play football manager"

Toilet trained

During the confinement month, 3 boys kena stomach flu. Jon the worst and because he's still on diaper and keep having diarrhea, he ended up having a real bad diaper rash, we have to clean/wash his buttock after each poo and yet he was so scared to let us wash, painful!!!

I have been wanting to toilet trained him during my pregnancy, thinking that I won't have time to train him once Hannah is born. But am just not ready. I told God my concerns that Jon may still not be toilet trained when he attends kindy next year :(

But during the stomach flu period, I felt ready all the sudden. Told him not to wear diaper, explain to him airing his buttock will recover faster and i assured him the pain will be gone if he go diaperless. He listened.

In 2 days, only 3 accidents and he can tell us he wants to poo and pee (oh well, actually he uses the same word 'boot boot' whenever he wants to pee or poo) and even nap without diaper. Wow! That's fast! Faster than his brothers, coz I trained the older ones stage by stage. 1. Poo 2. Pee 3. Nap without diaper. Then slowly move on to diaperless when going out and lastly diaperless at night.

Can save on diapers but which also means gonna take longer to clear his diaper stocks as we still have a few more in the storeroom :p.

Blessing in disguise. Stomach flu is no fun but no complaints...God answered my prayers.

#4 Confinement Experience

it's been 1.5 weeks since confinement aunty left. i feel as though she has left long ago. life has been extra busy but i thank God that Hannah is an easy girl to take care.

i had a different experience in this confinement period. oh...a...luxury one i would say :P

my mom in law once asked me "Connie, do you want 'urut'?"
my confinement aunty added in "you should have it, that massage help to push your womb back into proper place and help dispel water retention"
i've been thinking, why didn't i do in my last 3 pregnancies...
1. i doubt of its effectiveness
2. i was breastfeeding and baby wants it anytime, i'll have lots of interrupted massage when baby wants milk
3. am afraid of ticklish

but my confinement aunty said "don't worry, you should take care of your body more, baby i'll take care, just go for it"

then i sourced for recommendation. checked out forums, asking contacts from jem's friend...etc.
and that was it, i had my 1st ever massage experience, 2 hours each session and i had 5. i enjoyed it and it's nice to talk to people while massaging...

Then how about the main 3 concerns?
1. I did see my tummy flatten (though not completely) after my first session.
2. I nurse Hannah while lying down and still have my massage at the same time
3. I hold my bolster tight and covered my face when comes to that part.

one day, my mom in law and confinement aunty were chatting. then aunty showed us her photo when she put on makeup (she looks good). and she said 'because i'm working as confinement nanny, i have to wear something comfortably, but when i'm not working, i'll make myself look nice. it's important for woman to look healthy and good than to look haggard and wear beggy clothes (i was wearing one...:P). as we get older, we must take care of our face even more"

first, the body, now face.

to cut long story short, i sourced for home facial. i remembered joyce kept telling me about her facial lady, has good skills and can do at people's home, and we can split transport charges if mom in law, myself and her do together. and there you go, thanks to joyce, i had my first facial at home, it was great!

it is also my most expensive confinement too, confinement aunty is my mom's friend, my mom told her to make sure i am well rested and eat well. so 天天大鱼大肉, all are expensive and best part of the meat. she cooks well. thanks to my mom. everybody who visited me said i look good coz i have more 'meat', look radiant and of course well rested (kind of). i still running around the house doing this and that till my confinement aunty have to constantly remind me 'you should rest' and i listened to her.

through the massage lady, she introduced me one of her customers, mother of 4 kiddos, no helper, hubby travels a lot and.....homeschooling some more. my massage lady is a muslim, and she said 'you must get to know her, she always calm, she has verses that help to keep her calm, her kids are all well-behaved, she doesn't yell at her kids and she's a 'practised christian' (oooo, Godly woman :))...so i also make new friend, introducing myself thru sms and we have been communicating thru sms since then.

massage and facial lady...one thing in common. they are strong willed and very independant. both..somehow...at some point of the conversation, told me, should their other half cheated on her or hv unhappy marriage, they still can survive because of the skills they have. massage lady said "a woman cannot be without skill" i guess that applies to everybody...and of course...that makes me think...till today...what skill do i have and want to develop. not because am fearful of what will happen to my marriage in future...but simply...it's important to have skill.

3 ladies i see...
cleaning aunty - $11/hour
massage lady - 55/hr
facial lady - $60/hr

the one with most physical draining work earn the least...but somehow that makes me appreciate my cleaning lady even more.

i have my challenge now. nathan, our precious middle child starts to exhibit what I suspected is the 'middle child syndrome'...causing troubles, get very emotional with little things. Ian's work took up most of my time in coaching him and I have to make super extra effort not to neglect nathan. Jon is ok coz he divert his attention seeking to his grandma.

Coping and adjusting. God is good.

Will update more soon.

After one month

1 month old Hannah



The liangsters



Vege for Penang laksa


Penang Laksa! Ate half way then remember to take picture, so yummy! Sorry abt the messy look! I just want to eat, no heart to make it look nice




How about Penang pork ribs and prawn noodle for lunch? Don't be deceived by tt 1 prawn, there are many deep inside confinement aunty cooked both of these noodle, so yummy!

Painting

Can't remember when is the last time my boys do painting. My
boys have been requesting but I kept delaying it.
They absolutely enjoying this art moment, am using the mahjong paper, let them draw freely.







Looking at what nathan is doing now, better give only black color. The way he mixes all the colors will ended up black. I guess i know why I didn't do for so long.
Anyway, thank goodness the colors are washable.



That's ian's 'polar express' (train)