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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Hello.

It’s been some time. Quite a long some time since I’ve posted anything here.

I have 2 blogs, and the initial intention was to keep family-type entries separate from other-type entries. In hindsight (and with much confusion as to which blog should be updated, when), there’s really no point in having 2 blogs since life, is life, and everything is intermeshed into one anyhow. So, I’m probably just updating one blog from hereon (and will try to maintain the other, just so past entries are not lost).

So. Some updates since my last entry.

Ethan is now 5yo and attending year 1 of kindergarten in a nearby, rather well-known pre-school franchise, which has good school amenities (as opposed to other pre-schools in the same fee range). Lots of Chinese classmates, with a smattering of Indians and Malays. So he sounds a lot Chinese. I think it’s an alright mix. He started play school when he was 4yo (in 2012) and had an Indian teacher who was lovely. This year, we chose a Chinese teacher for him just to give him a “rounded education”. Perhaps next year, when he’s 6yo, we’ll choose a Malay teacher to prepare him for primary school. He’s doing well and it quite a talkative little boy. Loves everything American Idol (especially Ryan Seacrest, microphones, speakers & stages). At some point, he was a big Tom Jones fan and was able to perform a couple songs (with much panache!) Ethan is still not much of an eater. He doesn’t take anything sweet (other than classic donuts which he calls snow donuts or our make-do, snow toast which he has at home). He is a big fan of spaghetti & pepperoni pizza. Quite the daredevil when it comes to water parks. Hates alligators. He can recite the Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be with minimal mistakes – and says his nightly prayers to ward away “bad dreams”. Pretty protective over his little sister but lately has started defending himself as she’s always trying to irritate him.

Ava is now 2yo and is a real mummy’s girl. She’s super touchy-feely and loves to touch my arms while sucking her 2 fingers –her comfort when she’s feeling sleepy. She’s doing great development-wise, excellent motor skills, loves to climb, run, balance, do the downward-facing dog pose, is able to speak & converse pretty well. Oh yes, she can tell jokes. She loves chocolates & sweet drinks, cakes, sweets and is basically like any typical kid who stuff their faces with junk until stopped. Generally, shes got no problems with eating but do have a preference for the junk over the nutritious. Still, shes game for trying out new things (plain yoghurt with honey, all sorts of fruits & juices). She’s quite possessive over me, and cannot see me sitting with daddy or big brother Ethan. She swings between being a princess (loves purple & pink, glitter etc) and being a tomboy (loves jeans, shorts). Ava’s relationship with her father is somewhat funny with her always insisting “I love mummy”, even if the father says “But I love you Ava!”. Like Ethan, Ava too sleeps through the night. Unlike her brother, she never took to the pacifier much, preferring instead her own fingers. Often times, her hands smell icky due to her sucking but I love it. It’s amazing how the horrid smells your own child emits/creates is something that you revel in (yes including their morning breath).

Both the kids get along pretty well with each other. Thanks to Ethan who just loves his sister and wouldn’t allow us to be too hard on her, even if shes naughty and hes getting bullied.

So now we get to the latest news.

We’re expecting Baby No. 3. I am about 14 weeks and am due on 6 Apr 2014 (based on LMP) OR 16 weeks and due on 29 Mar 2014 (based on baby’s development). In short, I’m past my 1st trimester and all the inherent challenges therein. We were definitely trying for a 3rd child, my being 36 this year and wanting to add on to the brood. So we weren’t surprised when the home kit tested positive (well I wasn’t; the husband, on the other hand, fell back on his default reaction: skepticism. tsk tsk). Given my history with early miscarriages, we went full out on the pregnancy support (as prescribed by the gynea) to ensure that the pregnancy is, well, supported. So far so good. 1st trimester has come and gone and I’m off the support. Baby is doing good and hopefully will continue to be blessed and do well till delivery. We’ll be able to tell the gender at the next check-up (which is about 2 weeks away). ~Let baby be healthy and strong~

Ethan seems to be doing ok with the news and often kisses my tummy saying “Hello Baby!”. However, apparently, he did mention to his cousin “My mummy is having another baby. She doesn’t love me anymore.”

Ava, hmm, I’m not too sure. I don’t think she understand what this means. But when you lay it out clearly, she seems to know how it will affect her. Example:

Me: Ava, you’re gonna have a baby soon! You’re gonna be a “Kakak”.
Ava: Noooo… I not big! I baby!

Plus, everyone keeps talking to me about the middle child syndrome. Sigh. I hope she doesn’t have too hard a time. Ethan had it a bit tough when Ava was born, and he wasn’t even the clingy type. Ava on the other hand, is very attached to me and that seems to have escalated lately (perhaps due to Baby No. 3 coming).

Oh well. Let’s just hope everything and everyone will be ok.



So, there’s my news. Will hopefully be able to post new entries every now and again. Perhaps not as often as before, when I used to have more downtime than my present company. Till then.