Coin depositing service for kids

Did you know??

 

Coin depositing service for your kids is non-surcharge chargeable.
That means, you can deposit any amount of coins into your kids' Savings account (OCBC or POSB kids) and you won't have to pay the $1.50 surcharge per 100pc of coins to the bank for processing.



Below is the coin depositing guide for POSB. Coin depositing service for POSB is available from Monday to Friday during their bank opening hours.
For OCBC, their coin deposit service is available only on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-11am.

I only knew about this today from my mummy-friend Twinkle!
Silly me always find coins so heavy and usually use them up first, to buy small items or tidbits for Adam.

Now, we have a new motivation and incentive for Adam to save up! By the way, we counted $80 worth of coins from his piggy Border Collie bank tonight and I told him I will help him save into his bank tomorrow. Didn't know my Hubby has been so diligent.


Hope you learned something new today!

P.S. Be sure to sort the coins according to denomination and pack them separately. For us, we used small ziplock bags which my clinic uses for sterile consumables.

 

Breastfeeding: Leaky boobs issue

Hello, Leaky boobies. Oh how I missed you.
You leak when I see my hungry baby.
You leak when I take a warm bath.
You leak when 3 hours is up.
When my baby is suckling on one boobie, you leak on the other like a tap.
I'm tempted to salvage all the liquid gold by catching the leaks with a cup, but too bad I only have a pair of hands.

Leaky boobies, although you cause me some inconvenience like wet mounts on my blouse / round the clock nursing, you are welcome to stay for as long as you wish.
My kids, they love you too.

the most beautiful room in the house

Presenting....


our Little Boy's Room.

Progress of our renovation works:
Paint jobs are complete, laminate tops are installed for bay windows.
We're left with some touch ups and carpentry work.
Tomorrow, the landscape company is coming to install our fibreglass tank.

I'm getting more and more excited by the unfolding of our almost-done home :)

What kind of a Mom is I?

You are 100%* Mom!

You are SUPER-MOM. You are the envy of every mother. You have perfect kids and balance it all wonderfully. You beleive in a strict schedule with every little detail worked in to a T. Your home runs like a clock and you like it that way.

What kind of Mom are you?
Take More Quizzes

I'll remember to ask Adam next time.

Life as a SAHM: Insight

If you think the job of a SAHM equals that of a Tai-tai, then I urge you to think again.
Envious of being a SAHM? Here's an insight of one:

- Not having to wake up to alarms anymore? Think again.
My new alarm is none other than my son. He wakes up earlier than all of us, so no matter what time I sleep the night before (I'm not working now right? I can go out for late night movies or supper with Hubby right?? Right.) I still have to wake up at 7am to prepare Kai's milk, and pack his school bag (if it's not done the night before due to waiting for towel or uniform to dry)
When everything's rushedly done, I send him to school so that he is in time for breakfast.

- I am mostly in glasses and T-shirts/shorts now, because what's the point of dressing up when there is nobody at home to appreciate it except my MIL and dog. So out goes well-groomed and well-heeled working-class adult. This is where Frumpy Housewife comes in.

- The obvious: Doing the roles of a mother, a wife, a cook, a maid, a teacher, a nurse... ALL without being paid and efforts not recognised by society. A Mom is not a job just because she doesnt draw a salary??? On top of that, no leave, no MC, no medical benefits, no bonuses. But Moms still do it. Round of applause please.

- It gets lonely. Why? If you are under the impression that SAHMs do nothing but hang out with other SAHMs and form a Tai-tai clan, it's a myth. Because when I drop my son off at school and fetch him back, the other carers I see are not fellow Tai-tais, but really maids and Grandmothers! Maids form their own cliques. Grandmothers cannot be bothered. The SAHM is the odd one out.

Sure, when Kai is at school I get some down time doing things I want like reading newspapers in peace, sipping hot Milo/coffee.
But other times I'm mostly busy with Kai, especially when he's at home and not napping, I need to keep him adequately stimulated most of the time - read him a book, do flash cards with him, play with him. Even when he is playing on his own, he often looks up to me to make sure I'm seeing his progress (at whatever he's doing : riding his vehicle, doodling etc) Therefore I NEED to be within his sight.
And this, can get really tiring because don't forget I get to bed late the nights before and it takes alot of energy just to get through a seemingly simple task of keeping a toddler occupied.


Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful that I am lucky enough to get the freedom to choose - whether to work or stay at home has entirely been my idea. My family is very supportive of whatever decision I make. And I do enjoy my time with my toddler because I'm well aware that one fine day, my baby is going to leave me for real school, go to the army, go to work, and I will miss him being a baby.
However, being a SAHM is nothing to be envious about, because many SAHMs are dying to get back into society. It's totally cliche I know, but the grass is greener on the other side eh.

A dog named Alice

I had a Shetland Sheepdog, her name is Alice.
I adopted her almost a decade ago. This July, she would have been 10.
She has been with me through thick and thin, through singlehood, dating, marriage and finally my starting a family of my own.
She was a pampered pooch, sleeping on my bed and going on car rides with us.
She was gentle and had a great temperament, she would make the perfect dog, except she had skin problems.
We brought her to countless vets, from ARC to Namly to All Pets. We ran a battery of tests on her, blood tests, allergy tests, skin scrapings, samples, hormone tests.... but everytime, those tests came back Normal. While other people jump at the word "normal", for us, it just meant they couldn't find the root of Alice's problems.
The vets told us there was no cure for Alice. We could only do symptomatic treatment and hope that her skin problem doesnt come back.
But we didnt stop there - for Alice, I researched and fed her BARF, we tried Homeopathy, steroids, hormone replacements, antibiotics, even a vegetarian diet at one point ..... We tried everything we could, but still nothing worked for my Alice.


Alice moved with me to my in-law's house when I got married and Adam was born. She stayed with Maverick, our other dog, and everyone stayed under the same roof.
Bless my in-laws, though they had asked me to give Alice away, they didn't force me to when I declined.
When my family knew I was pregnant with Adam, they wanted me to give her away.
I was adamant on keeping her. It wasn't easy juggling work/school/baby/dogs (esp one unwell dog), but I did [keep her].
I am a strong believer that kids who grow up with dogs end up being better people in life.
So kept Alice I did, and Adam loves our 2 dogs. He knows them by name. In fact, he knew their names even before he knew how to call anyone of us in the household.



Adam, compared to my cousins' and friends' children who didn't have dogs, was on the contrary stronger than them, as in he seldom fell sick and even if he had the occasional flu or cough, he bounced back to health very fast, fit like a horse. Frequent travelling, climate & weather changes also didn't seem a problem.
Alice's skin problems didn't seem to bother him either when he was crawling and picking everything up from the floor to eat, including balls of dog fur at 7-8mths old.
Maybe he was already immune since Day 3 of his life at home.
Now that Adam is walking, I let him walk Alice downstairs when I am around, and it's always a funny sight, one Terror Tod with one Old Dame. My son & dog are walking proof to those ignorant Aunties that not all dogs bite and children CAN have dogs and still not be retarded.
My fav retort to those Aunties when they tell their charges "Dont go near, the woh-woh will bite" is - "Yah lor go away my dog will bite one" and there Adam is, bossing my dogs around, making those Aunties look stupid.
Therefore, having Alice coexist with Adam didn't bother us. Until recently.


For 3 weeks now, Adam is having progressively worsening Bronchitis.
He's coughing so badly, every cough brings up alot of secretions and several times he nearly got choked on his own phlegm. From a normal cough mixture from our regular PD, he was "upgraded" to Augmentin from another PD whose clinic is near our home and more convenient for me at that point because I was working night shifts then and barely had enough sleep.
Still, one week of Augmentin and 2 different types of cough/runny nose meds didn't cure.
So I brought him to yet another doctor which Aunt LY recommended, Nam Seng Clinic at Bukit Timah. I brought my Baby across the island to see the doctor and he said Adam's Bronchitis has worsened to a very dangerous stage. He even did a scope on Adam and asked me to see for myself, which I did, and his nasal cavities and throat were all lined with thick secretions and were inflamed.
The doctor gave us lots of advise, one of which is to remove the dogs otherwise Adam would develop more major illnesses such as Asthma and/or need to be hospitalised.

It was a painful decision to make, but if faced with such a dilemma in life - who would you choose?


I had no choice but to let Alice go. I asked everywhere, nobody was willing to take in a 10yr old dog with skin problems. People wanted young and healthy dogs, and I don't blame them.
Dog shelters I tried calling were also unable to take her, due to "space constraints". I don't blame them either - those young healthy dogs probably had better chances of being rehomed.
Andy tried posting in VW Forum but so far only one person PMed him but didn't call.
Bringing Alice to a vet to be "put to sleep" has never been one of my options, because I am not God and I am in no position to decide whether she lives or dies, and under what circumstances she dies.
So really, I am faced with no other choice. She has already been dealt with a death sentence by societal standards.


People always say "Having kids changes everything". Sure they do, but it had never crossed my mind to give up my dogs when we have a baby. So it must be a cruel irony that right now, I am faced with such a situation that God decided to let me make a choice - my son or my dog.

Right now, I can only feel great pain and sorrow because I have never wanted Alice to think that I would abandon her one day, but I did.
Some days, I come home exhausted from work, some days I work night shifts, some days I forget to feed her till the next morning. Her bowls are always empty because Mavy is a faster eater, and Alice now has to drink from the toilet pails.
She no longer shares our bed, and no longer leads a Diva life. But no matter how badly we treat her, she always loves us and forgives us.
There is nowhere in this world where she would rather be other than in our room, and we know it because room is where she always ends up being.

It is a painful decision for me to make.
No matter what happens, I hope that Alice will go on to be a happy dog in a better place, and may she suffer no more. If I ever meet her again, I will still love her all the same and I will still want her to be my dog.

She's a great dog that deserves no suffering and no pain.
Dear Alice, I have lost the battle I fought so hard for - for you to be with us till your last breath.
I hope that you can forgive us one last time.

The Pencil and the Eraser

Hubby sent this to me the other day. Author unknown.

Pencil: I'm sorry
Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong.
Pencil: I'm sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.
Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad.

I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way, they get hurt, and become smaller / older, and eventually pass on. Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad.

All my life, I've been the pencil. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I'm left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have.

This is to all the parents out there. Be nice, because your kids choose which nursing home you go to!


As a parent, there are ups and downs in parenting, as with everything else in life. It's not all a bed of roses, but at the end of the day, we still love our children more than our hearts can muster.
My friends comment that obviously Kai must be a good child, otherwise how can I take him on holidays and do everything with him and still not complain. But sometimes, it's not what I dont feel, it's what I dont show. I choose to be optimistic and not sweat the small stuff.
What my friends dont see is my cynical Mom, who has always taken a different stand on child-rearing, "diagnosing" my son with Autism, ADHD, and how she says she'll use the cane on him if she's his caregiver because she thinks Kai cannot sit still for even one minute. Hubby & I, on the other hand, do not practice corporal punishment because we believe that there must be a better way to nurture your own child other than to instill fear.
But to begin with, I have never been that close to my Mom because since young, my Grandma and Aunty LY took care of me & my brothers, and now, Aunty LY is continuing to take care of Kai whenever she can. But I digress. This post is not about my own life story.

What other people do not see are my struggles as a parent, disciplining is just one of them.
However, with good faith and love, we are thankful for getting by each and every day.
Hubby is the stronger of us both.
He reminds me to believe in our son and he is one man who truly sees the beauty in parenthood, accepting all the bad as well as the good. For that, I thank God for letting me marry such a good man.

I look at our son everyday and thank God for blessing us with a healthy and beautiful child. I wish nothing more than for him to grow into a beautiful person, both inside and out.

Me & him against the world.

The weather has been unforgivingly hot these few days. Our world is dying.
To escape the heat, I brought Kai to IKEA Tampines to hide in the aircon while he played at the Children's section. I love going to IKEA - there are recycling bins everywhere, reminding us that there is still hope for Gaia if we ever do try to do our part.

Just me and him, enjoying eachother's company. Watching him grow up so fast.

Kai kept wanting to play with the other children. I think my son is lonely and needs a sibling.
But the question is - "When?"
I love children, don't get me wrong. And I do enjoy motherhood alot, but I just think it is too much pain going through another pregnancy, another childbirth. Everything kinda goes haywire, and then takes another year to go back to pre-pregnancy state.
I hate to admit it, but I'm terrified of being cut up all over again.

It's easy for Hubby to say. Of course, he loves kids. He even made a poor attempt to humour me, saying since I don't look like I've ever been preggy n given birth before, we can go ahead and have more children. Er, hur hur.
And my parents & aunt have not-so-subtly dropped hints that it's time for us to make more babies. As a matter of fact, my Dad told me that he wants at least FOUR grand-children! *runs away* Everytime I wanna pack Kai's outgrown clothes and toys to hand down to friends & relatives, my Mum and Aunt LY object, saying they can be used for my subsequent children.
I always have to remind them that "Look, Kai has 2 (sometimes more) of EVERYTHING. Like why does he need 2 high chairs? He's not sitting in them anymore anyway".

Honestly, I wish everyone could gimme a break. It's not easy to raise a child, especially in our saturated and competitive country. If we were in Aust where perinatal care and delivery is FOC, and if we led a self-sufficient life in a farm growing our own food, making soap and knitting clothes, YES I will consider to have more children. But right now, we have to face reality.
It's not cheap to raise a child here. Baby bonus of $4k you ask?? My delivery cum hospitalisation costs already more than that, dahhling.
I'm not even talking about the Ralph Lauren or Baby Burberry apparel. Or the two-thousand-dollars pram. Those are just one-off purchases, you pay and then you forget about it. I'm saying, to have a sustainable life here needs alot of $$.

Kai is special to us. We want him to have the best in our abilities. Call me selfish, but a large part of me is also worried that if we have another child, we will have to share that love and attention. And that, makes me reluctant. I don't want Kai to share our love. He deserves our undivided affection.
If he tells us he wants a didi (brother) or meimei (sister), yes I will have mind-blowing (unprotected) sex with Hubby in a heartbeat.

But right now, on some days - like today - it's just Kai and me against the world.

Another baby

I know Andy has always wanted another baby, and recently the baby-making topic came up between us again.
Me: But I'm not ready.
Andy: I give you 9 months. By then you'll be ready.

HAHAHAHAH Seriously, my husband is a funny man.

What then, and what now?

So my son has officially graduated to becoming a Toddler, the questions I often ponder - what then, what now, and what next?

In retrospect, the year with Baby Kai has been full of ups and downs. More ups than downs, but there were the Downs nonetheless. I'd be lying if I said it was all rosy like in the photos. The downs are what other parents won't admit - he's a fussy eater, I'm struggling with his lack of sleep, he's throwing tantrums and it's hard to get through a decent meal with him, he's demanding to sleep with us at night so whatever happened to that dream designer nursery? Heave a sigh of relief - you are not alone on that.

I used to feel mighty accomplished and competent at work - make sure IV lines are running, medications are administered, appointments are arranged, admissions & discharges done... Everything goes on like clockwork before the end of my shift.
However, on days when I'm home with my Terror Tod, I'd just be glad if I could take a shower and brush my teeth within the same toilet trip.

And to parents with tall orders for bringing up their children - Good luck with your rules.
You must've known or heard at least one such parent in your life - "I'm never gonna let my baby suck the pacifier", "my baby can only sleep on her own bed", "my child will have to sit still and endure our adult dinners if he has to come out with us" ... yadayada.

One day, you're just gonna throw these golden rules out the window and do whatever it takes.
Sure, Andy & I made all those "golden rules" before, but now, they've gone out the windows and we just have to play by ear.
With some common sense and lots of love (and what little I learned in Psychology in school), we just let Baby Kai do what he wants, as long as it doesn't compromise his well-being and safety, there is no malicious intent, and makes him happy. When he is happy, he is cooperative and we are happy. Therefore, this equation works fine in our household.

Now, I don't even bother advising Tall Order Parents & friends anymore. Because my advice is - there is no advice. Just go with the flow and follow your instincts that you want the best for your child.
Whatever it takes, mate.

Meet my Godson!

Ladies, hold your breath - my Godson is here!
Born: 16 May 2010
Weight: 6.6lbs

Isn't he gorgeous? *sigh*



The house is filled with heaps of baby stuff!

The baby room piled to the max with baby changing station, and tons of nappies/clothes/cot bumpers etc

Went to Meena's house today to meet my godson for the first time and teach her how to bathe our little fella. He has a sharp nose and jet black hair, and he's so fair for an Indian baby!

He doesn't have a name yet, so my dear Godson, when you are older, please remember that it's your Godma who gave you your very first bath ok?? *beams proudly*
He's so tiny and precious. Reminds me of my very own Baby Kai when he was teeny, which was a year ago. I don't even remember Kai being so tiny, but of course he was. How reminiscent. *dabs eyes*

I remember Andy & I used to just stare at Baby Kai during the first few weeks of his life, just to make sure he was breathing. So precious. Babies can be lost, and I believe it is every parent's worry to keep their children alive, agree?
As Courteney Cox's character in the television series Cougar Town says: 'That's all that parenting really is: trying to keep your kids from dying. When they're babies, it's swimming pools. When they're 50, it's heart attacks and Russian prostitutes.'

Oh I feel so excited and happy for my dear Aunty Meena and Uncle Ramesh.
Welcome to the parenthood band wagon, where you'll never sleep again for the next 20 years!

Everything

The other night, I went grocery-shopping after work, and Andy texted me: "Any goodies for me hon?"
This simple question jolted me as I checked my grocery bag - organic oats, baby powder, plain yogurt, fresh milk, sweet potatos, wholemeal bread - EVERYTHING was for Baby Kai and NONE for the parents, ie. US.
This realisation that everything is about Baby Kai now gave me a minor fright.

I wonder if he would buy us $2000-wheelchairs and change our diapers when we are old and incontinent.

We love Baby Kai so much, it's scary. Do all parents feel the same way?

Kate Spade Henry diaper bag

I've always wanted a Kate Spade diaper bag, and when my trusty babyish-looking one gave way, it gave me good excuse to splurge on a new one.
It may appear small, but it's actually quite roomy, with 2 side pockets for milk bottles, and an interior zippered compartment large enough to put my handphone and wallet, and 2 interior patch pockets to put Kai's utensil set and another bottle.

I like the matching changing mat and its functionality without compromising style and looks.
I've yet to come across any designer who does diaper bags that are affordable on the wallet and eye-candy at the same time.
This is The quintessential diaper bag for all fashionista mommies *thumbs up*

It was a Good Friday

Hubby booked us a couple spa treatment at Spa Sauvignon. What a gem!
Did a red-wine body scrub and bodywrap followed by massage. The Malay aunty who massaged me was terrific - she pounded and kneaded on my muscles and I emerged a brand new me :D

After the spa, we headed to Robinsons sale again. 2 days in a row. Woah.
Then we headed home to fetch Kai and went for dinner with Grandparents Tan, and to Giant hypermart for late night grocery shopping.

Shag!
We ended the night by watching Marley & Me on DVD and I fell asleep halfway. When I next opened my eyes, it was 8.30am today and Baby Kai was chuckling at me in his cot, holding my mascara that he took from the drawer next to his cot and waving the wand at me triumphantly.
He has mastered the skill of standing at the edge of his cot and pulling out my makeup drawer, emptying the contents inside. (One morning, Andy called me at work and asked if my electric eyelash curler comes with a cap because Kai was trying to eat it and thankfully it had no cap, not that the baby had devoured it).

Anyways, I promised myself that I would catch up with lost sleep when he is napping but here I am typing furiously on my laptop, while the carrots are steaming on the stove for his lunch. Yawn.
Plan later: Go to the printer's to get his birthday banner printed (more about the banner later), buy diapers, go to Kiddy Palace. That's all on our to-do list today.

Robinsons Members Sale this weekend

It's every woman's favourite word - S A L E !
At Robinsons Centrepoint this weekend. For shopaholic mummies like myself, it is not to be missed, even more so if you are a member because of the discounts on top of usual discounts. How great is that? DOn't know where to go this long weekend? Head down to Robinsons Centrepoint then ;)

I went with Aunty Meena and she went crazy with all the newborn sleepsuits, booties, mittens. How reminiscent of those days when Baby Kai was still a newborn!
And oh, I love their Eath Baby organic bath product range as well and I bought a few bottles to stock up.

Check out Baby Kai's new toys. He seems delighted! Thanks to my colleague Jenny who recommended the Aqua Doodle which leaves no mess after water ink dries up :)

Busy baby and the busy bodies!

Last but not least, I wanted to buy this Little Tikes coupe car but it was too bulky & heavy for me to lug home on my own. Sigh! :(

This is officially on Baby Kai's BIRTHDAY WISHLIST. Can some kind soul please buy it for him? :P

Babies are perfect...

...excuses (oops!) reasons for everything.
Stuck in a call with someone who doesn't know when to hang up? "Sorry I gotta go now! Adam's crying for milk".

Don't know how to turn down your Mom who wants you to run errands for her when you're already up to your neck at work/home?
"I can't. Not today. I gotta look after Adam. He hasn't spent quality time with me all week".

Or simply... "I better bring him outside" makes a quick escape strategy.


Prior to having kids, I was absolutely clueless about what to say/ask around people who have kids, mainly because not many relatives/friends I know have children.
In order to make conversation, I said/asked things like "Did she cry?" (after a fall), "Do they cry all the time?" In retrospect, I feel like kicking myself in the shin right now when I think about that.
And my idea of a perfect way to spend an off-day in the past? To laze around at home with a magazine, sleep in till I need to go pee, then come back and sleep somemore, wake up, refuse to brush teeth, eat, take a long bath and finally brush my teeth, doll up, go shopping, meet Andy after he knocked off, go for romantic dinner for two, or meet my gal friends...


NOW, I seem to have gotten used to not getting enough sleep, no time on my hands, our worlds all centred around Little Adam, who has EVERYONE wrapped around his little little metacarpals.
Oh wait, Sundays are good for sleeping in, even with a baby! One of the rare treats in a parent's life.

And I appreciate people who ask me about motherhood, about Adam, and friends who still remember me as "Veron" and not merely "Adam's Mummy".
It's great talking about Bugaboo, Stokke, milk bottles ("Orthodontic or normal teats?"), where to buy what, etc with my friends, particularly a certain gal friend *cough cough*, who is gonna have her bundle delivered in May!

But really, babies are good excuses to go shopping! They need wardrobe changes all the time, and everything's too cute to walk away from at Mothercare.
Speaking of Mothercare, go check out the flagship at Harbourfront. It has the largest collection of all the other outlets combined into one.

Baby Adrina's Full Month Shower 170510

It was a bright and happy Sunday blessed with good weather.
Baby Adam turns 8 Months old today too. Happy one-month-older son!
After breakfast, we headed to Baby Adrina's Full Month Shower.

The gift for Baby Adrina! A one-tier diaper cake.


The star of the day

Mummy is very happy to have everyone pass Baby Adam around so she can enjoy her buffet. *evil sinister grin*




Daddy & Adam the Charmer

Sloppy kiss!

"Stop acting cute Daddy!" *frowns & glares*

If I'd known the pool is just next to the Function Room I would wear my bikini and bring Baby Adam for a swim!




Enjoying being kissed!

Mummy's little Prince charming his way into people's hearts.

and showing off his toothsome twos


Kids making merry and dancing around...





Baby Adam gives Donovan korkor a kiss!


Cake cutting time!

Kids really light up everybody's life.
With so many mommies around my age, we could talk about feeding and other babytalk.
It was a GRAND time with lots of food & desserts and everybody couldnt stop smiling and laughing at the cheeky children!