Jolie's 1st Racial Harmony Day 2011

Jolie didn't go to class until Wednesday due to the flu, so on Wednesday the teacher told me that they will be celebrating Racial Harmony Day on Friday. How am I suppose to find a traditional outfit for Jolie and prepare a traditinal snack in 2 days? So I just had to let her wear her Chinese New Year outfit and prepare something simple, like cornflake clusters.

This was the full outfit. Personally, I didn't like it cause it looked a little like pyjamas. Mother-in-law bought it, so out of respect I only let her wear the top with a pair of jeans during CNY.



When we got to the school, the entrance was like a Hollywood red carpet! Parents were praising each other's kids on how cute they were and snapping pictures, children were shouting in excitment. Jolie was actually quite excited when we left the house, but she got quite nervous with all the comotion. She wouldn't go into class, and when I got irritated, she started sobbing! What a party pooper!



The teacher had to carry her into the class...



Parents were asked to come back nearing the end of class for the party. All the kids were dressed up!



Some of the treats the kids had, my cornflake clusters, home made spring rolls and polar sugar rolls. Yumz...



Jolie really liked the home made tofu spring rolls! I liked them too, made by one of the mamas. Unfortunately, my cornflake clusters were a little too hard, so not very popular with the kids. :(



My pink Chinese princess. Wanted to dress up in my CNY clothes too, but I think I would be overdressed among the other mamas.



It's pretty cool, some of the Indian mamas also made their home made traditional treats, like this chickpea salad. All the adults love it, but only some kids knew how to appreciate it. But I think it's great to expose kids (and parents) to other culture's dishes.





OMG the classroom was so noisy! Kids screaming, parents chatting, teacher shouting...







The teacher also brought some henna and started to draw for the kids. But the Indian mama kindly offered to do it and soon, all the kids crowded around the mamas, taking turns to have their hands drawn.



Jolie's first henna! Well, this was actually her second one. The 1st one was destroyed when she accidentally smeared it. Later she would have her 3rd one as this one would be destroyed it as she swiped it onto her legs during the group photo. -_- (I understand it's educational, but seriously!? Henna and hyper 2-3 year olds don't mix)



A poor attempt to take a class photo. 2-3 year olds just wouldn't sit still!!!



Oh well, time to dance!



We stayed way pass her usual class time, so when she started going all quiet, I know it's time for her to go home and rest.



Our 1st class party. Quite fun, but my ears were really tortured by all the noise in that enclosed space! It felt instantly comforting when we left the noisy classroom into the peaceful void decks. Next year, I'll get nicer outfits for Jo and more kid-friendly treats!

Potty Training, a messy business

On April 19, I finally took up the courage to start potty training Jolie using panties. I have been procrastinating for so long, but can you blame me? Just thinking of moping up her pee and poop made me want to delay her potty training for another day. But there's no escaping this stage of motherhood, so we started.

The potty was no stranger to Jolie, we tried letting her use the potty a few months back, but it didn't really take flight, as we still stuck with diapers. So this time I let her wear regular cotton panties, so that both she and I would know that she has wet herself.

I really felt like a broken record! All day long, I would keep repeating over, over, over and over again, the same few sentences.

"Jolie, if you need to shee-shee or poop poop, please do it on the pot-pot ok?"
"Jolie, do you need to shee-shee?"
"Jolie! NO! Don't shee-shee on the floor! Shee-shee inside the pot-pot! Shee-shee here(indicating panties or floor) bad! Shee-shee here(indicating potty)!!"

So the next few days were pretty stressful. In the beginning, I think she don't get it. But subsequently, I think she understand, but doesn't know how to control her "flow". Like they said, "when you gotta go, you gotta go!". Why I think she understand? She would actually stand somewhere beyond my line of sight, like behind a wall, and wet herself. And when I find her, she would look so guilty, and compensate by taking off her panties and sitting on her potty. Hmm... a little too late isn't it?

I tried not to scold her, afterall, she's still learning. But I need to let her know that wetting herself is wrong! Sooo... it's more like a stern, nagging. Sigh... so it's kind of a repetitive thing:

- asking her if she needs to pee(she would always say NO)
- her peeing on the floor, once she even pooped in her panties (Ewww...)
- me cleaning up while nagging at her
- repeat

It's not always bad, sometimes I would encourage her by making her seat on the potty, even give her a book to read. You never know, maybe after squatting for awhile, something might come out right? Most of the time, nothing. She would sit for awhile, then say "Nope!" and get up. Sometimes, with a book, she would sit longer, and would produce "results". Haha...

One day, on the 29 April, I was in the kitchen preparing lunch. She was begin very quiet in the living room, so I went to check on her. Surprise surprise! My girl had actually taken off her panties herself, sat on her potty and peed! When I got out, she was actually taking the potty dish out. I was so proud of her as I helped her flush away her pee into the toilet. Just when I thought what great progress it was, she surprised me further a few minutes later by producing me a potty of poop! All by herself!

OH JOY!! I was SO PROUD of her as I kissed and hugged her, and telling her what a good girl she was. Still I didn't think it was enough, so I rewarded her further with yummy cupcakes! But just as I thought that the potty training has completed, she wet herself again that afternoon. Sigh, I guess this stuff takes time, but I'm glad there's improvement.

So this is the situation now. We have our hits and misses. Sometimes she would just take off her panties herself and sit on her potty, but nothing comes out, so I don't know if she needs to go? Or maybe my positive reinforcement tactics was too effective that she hopes to be rewarded? Or she just likes to run around the house half naked. -_-

Anyway, it's really great to potty train your kid, diaper usage has reduced, so soon we won't be needing to buy diapers. So far she's only wearing her panties while at home. She still wears her diapers to her playgroup and while sleeping. I thought we should take a step at a time. :) We've gotten her to wear diapers at my Mom's place too, same, there were hits and misses, but it was a necessary evil.

I wanted to take some photos of her on her potty, but it seemed wrong to post half naked photos of my baby on the web, so I gave up on that. I wonder how we're going to potty train her when we're outdoors?

Jolie's 1st day at playgroup

Alot of friends have asked about Jolie's 1st day at school, and I'm proud to say that she handled it much better than I've expected. Days before school started, we would ask her if she wanted to go to school, and she would always answer with an excited "YES!" On the morning of her 1st day of school, I was a wreck! It was as if I was preparing for MY 1st day of school. There was that familiar constant twist in my stomach as I looked at the clock for the hundredth time.

1 hour to go, 45 mins to go, 15mins to go!

I don't know why I was so anxious? nervous? excited? See? I don't even know what the heck the emotion was! I think there was a mixture of fear and also anticipation. Anticipation for that 1 hour plus all to myself! It's funny how the parent seemed more stressed out than the child, who was quietly enjoying her morning cartoon as her mother hung on the verge of an emotional meltdown.

Finally the time has arrived and I quickly change her clothes. Looks like the clothes were too big. :P I thought that I was going to get emotional again, thankfully the nerves in my stomach overpowered any other feelings that threatened to pour out. We have to move out!



It was the 1st class after a week long school holiday break, so most students were excited to return to class. After the jumble to check the mouth, hands and feet of all students, they were allowed into the play area where the teacher's assistant poured out 2 whole baskets of masak-masak (toys). How can any child resist? Jolie's curiosity overcame her shyness as she slowly walked to the giant pile of toys and squat down to play with her head bow low.



After awhile the teacher offered her some puzzles and she sat on the table and started playing.



The girl next to her showed her how to put the puzzle pieces in and I wanted to hug her in gratitude. This is exactly what I wanted for Jolie. Other than the mental stimulation, I wanted her to interact and socialize with other children, instead of just the adults in her life. Besides, a new friend is just what she needed in a strange new environment.

After awhile she got bored with the puzzles and went back to play with her masak. I can sense her shyness melting away as she played, and I smiled in relief.



She was doing so well that I was starting to get a little bored! As I fiddled with my new smartphone, the teacher seemed to share my sentiments and suggested that I take my leave. So I told Jolie that I'm going off for awhile, but I will come back later, OK? The little brat didn't even turn around to look at me when she mumbled "okay...", and carried on playing with her toys.

As I stepped out of the school into the bright sunlight, there was a jumble of emotions inside me. That's it? All that anxiousness and nervousness and she didn't even attempted to make me stay? I was feeling so proud of my independent little girl, yet sad and hurt that she didn't need me by her side. Also... FREEDOM!!! Short, but hey, I'll take it.

Then... lost.

What am I supposed to do now? Lunch is done, so there's no reason to go home, so I cycled to MacDonald's and hung out in the air-conditioned restaurant, ate fries with a cool drink and played with my phone until it was time to go pick up Jolie.

When I reached there, class was still on going, so I peeked through the window and saw my girl having a snack.



I wanted to continue to peep through the window, but it felt kind of weird and the teacher thought that I was some psycho until they found out that it was me. So I smiled in embarrassment and hung out on the void deck instead until the class was dismissed.

When the door opened, Jolie was the 1st one at the door and she ran into my arms, screaming, "MAMA!!!" Then we were hugging and kissing each other like we've been separated for years as the other Moms and grandmas led their child home. DRAMA sia... I don't care what they think, I just felt SO happy to be with my girl again and SO glad that she felt the same way too.

A trip to the Singapore Zoo

Cobby's workplace organised an anniversary celebration to the Zoo, so Jolie and I joined him on a Friday morning. Afterall, Jolie have never been to the Zoo before. When we got there, I think there were several corporate functions that morning, so it was practically packed with people! Poor Cobby had to drop us at the entrance and park bloody far away from the Zoo. Thankfully a kind man who parked in front of Cobby flagged a taxi and offered to give him a ride to the Zoo entrance.

Jolie and I waiting for Daddy to come...



Taking pictures with the Ben and Jerry's cow. Waiting for the guy who's supposed to take Cobby's attendance. But he ended up so late we just went in. Duh...



Jolie fascinated with otters.



A kangaroo was so near us! But she didn't even bother to turn around and look at us. Scratching her ankles...



Jolie helping us to find the way to the next place.



Elephants!



We stopped to watch the sea lion show. It was quite fun and the place was packed with students and tourists. But I think Jolie still don't quite get it. She was only interested in the ball the sealion was playing with. She would say, "Ball!" Later we found this funny poster. Which one of us look most alike to the late ah meng?



Finally found the kid's section. The ponies were so adorable! Like mini horses! Cobby didn't think it's safe for Jolie to go for the pony ride, so we just look at them.



The goats were so cute! See the one at the back, so agile! Climbed up so high up the branch! Jolie was starting to feel a little cranky, cause it's nap time.



We had to distract her from seeing the water playground as we didn't bring any swim wear. But she was just as happy when we let her ride the carousel. Nobody was sitting in it! Jolie had the carousel all to herself!



By then we were getting a little tired from walking, so we bought a ticket and hopped on the tram to get back to the entrance, the ride was so breezy and relaxing!



Turns out that the tram doesn't drive to the entrance anymore, so we just drop at the stop nearest to the entrance and walked. We were walking when we heard howling! Initially I thought that it's some young kids fooling around. Then we realised that it's the howling monkeys! They're so loud and so funny!



Near the entrance we saw the parrots. So we took some photos before saying goodbye.



My family used to have a parrot like that named Micheal. Missed him much!



In the air-con comforts of the car, Jolie finally gave up the fight and fell asleep.



Like all outings with Jolie, we didn't get to do much. But I think we had fun that morning. :)

Jolie's 1st Swim

Brought Jolie to the Safra Yishun for a swim in the late afternoon. It was only the two of us, so no one to take pictures of our cute little princess in her pink and blue swimming suit, with her cute little tummy sticking out. It's not those cute swimming costumes or bikini, it's a very practical suit with 3/4 sleeves, so to keep her more warm.

Anyway, she was very hesitant in the beginning and didn't even want to get inside the pool. But I was very patient as I didn't want to traumatize her by forcing her into the pool. So we took our time, walking and looking at every pool there, waddling at the edge of the water. after a while she decided that she's ready to sit at one of the step of the baby pool, so we sat there and played with the water till she was finally comfortable to go into the pool.

When she was finally in the water, she was running in the water, screaming and laughing, having the best time ever. It was fun to watch her, but it was also tiring as I have to make sure she don't fall. As the water level was at her chest, if she falls while walking in the water, she would go under, and I don't want to frighten her.

As tiring as it was, we had a real good time, so much so that she didn't want to leave. Cobby suggest that we go to the Temasek Club this weekend to swim, so I'll make sure to bring the camera this time!

Jolie Visits Disneyland!

Today Jolie visits Disneyland! We decided to go early in the morning so that we can be back by afternoon. I wonder if Jolie knew that she would soon be seeing her beloved Mickey Mouse in person!

It's a public holiday, so sis could accompany us there. The best way was by train, so we hopped on and played Angry Bird on Sis's iPhone all the way. Jolie seemed to enjoy it, she would clap each time the bird manage to hit the target.



Time flies when you're having fun, before we know it, we've already reached our stop, in fact, we almost forgot to alight! We next hopped on the Mickey train and Jolie immediately recognize the Mickey handrails.



We're here! Jolie squealed in delight as she spotted Mickey on top of the banner.



It was very sunny, so I quickly bought a cute cap for Jolie, she likes it too! By the way I was wearing one of the T-shirts that I just bought.



When we arrived all the Disney characters were out for everyone to take photos with. But the queue for Mickey was SOOO long! We opted to take photo with Pluto instead. Besides, Jolie didn't mind, she was just as excited to see Pluto live in 'person'.



In case you're wondering about my crazy-woman-hair, it was windy!



We didn't really eat breakfast, so we took refuge from the heat in the cool comforts of an air-conditioned restaurant. Their waffles and fruits are Mickey Mouse shaped! So cute!





It was really sunny and hot, and I was worried that Jolie wouldn't be able to handle the heat. So we chose all the rides that was either sheltered or indoors.



We bee-lined to our favourite ride, The Pooh Bear Hunny Pot ride! So shiok, got air-con...



Next was the Cinderella's Carousel. She wanted to get out even before the ride starts, so in the end I had to sit behind her on the horse. Squeezy, but it's the only way she'll stay on the horse. I think the heat was making her tired, she was getting more and more cranky.



I think the last time I rode the Dumbo ride, I was just a child in Tokyo Disneyland. I never rode it again as I thought it was too kiddy, so this time I have the perfect excuse to get on it again. :)





We also watched a 4D show. Jolie wouldn't put the glasses on, so she didn't really watch it. But Sis and I sure enjoyed it!



After lunch, Jolie was getting tired, so Sis suggested that we make a move. But I just can't leave without letting Jolie take a picture with Mickey! I mean, we flew all the way here just for her to meet her beloved Mouse! Lucky lucky! The Mickey gang was out again, so we queued for Mickey while sweating away in the freaking hot and humid weather. Seriously, I think they should arrange the photo taking sessions in an air-conditioned studio! This way everybody would be comfortable right?!

So finally it was our turn. We looked sweaty and oily, but Jolie's face lid up when she saw Mickey. That alone was enough to make it all worth it. :)





By the time we reached the train station, I can't take it anymore. My legs were aching like mad, not forgetting my ankle was starting to swell up again. Must.Sit.Down. Jolie came over to join me when she saw me sit on the steps.



Poor baby must have been SO tired. The moment we got on the train, she was like, KO!



She slept through the whole train ride and even continued sleeping while Sis and I ate at this fabulous noodle restaurant, 喜宴. It was a little difficult to eat while carrying her, but I managed to finish a whole meal while she slept in my arms!



She woke up when we were almost finished and gave us a groggy smile. I wondered if she dreamt of Mickey Mouse and flying elephants? They say that children wouldn't have much memories of their life before 3 years old, I wonder if Jolie would remember anything from her very 1st trip to Disneyland?