One fine free day at home

Thanks to the Bersih Rally, Mama decided to stay home the whole Saturday to avoid the massive jam in KL. *** Actually it was just an excuse for me to skip work!***Ahem, for safety reason, Mama stayed home with everyone else except for my Boss cum Dad who actually went to office to work.

We woke up in the morning, together with Chloe and Clarisse. As usual, Papa a.k.a the lazy cat, This is show Chloe called him sometimes, was still in his dreamland. I didn't bother to wake him up, cause waking him up means quarrels which I am not interested at all. Therefore, Mama made a smart choice to spend some quality with my princesses like a walk inside the house garden, we played cooking cooking, played bubbles and then Mama bathed both my girls. A complete Spa treatment from head to toe i.e pretend body scrub using foam instead, then a total hair wash, then a warm bath in a tiny blue tub. Followed by a 5mins massage with Chico Baby Body Lotion, then put on comfy cotton clothing. The Spa completed with a Baby Manicure and a Stylist Hairblow.

After the Spa treatment, Clarisse was so comfortable that she went to sleep immediately while Chloe was in the kitchen with Mama baking Butter Cake. To be Precised, it is a cinnamon apple BUTTER CAKE, which I also added the blueberries which are going to rot anytime soon like the other raspberries in the fridge. *sigh* It was a total failure, my mum said it was too buttery (butter cake is too butterish? Hmm...) and my brother who is my former dessert supporter rated it 4 out of 10. My sis said it's ok but she wouldn't have another. Hubby said NO without even tasting it, well, he is never a sweet person so no comment from him. My dad had most if it, but his comment was "you've improved".... Yeah, it was really bad. I want to put all this lousy rating to the recipe. :p To be honest, there is nothing wrong with the cake except the burnt side, it was the butter cake too buttery which the crumbs don't go well with butter cake.

Then, we had a simple lunch prepared by my mum, noodles and fish balls in anchovies soup. After lunch, I sent Chloe and Clarisse to the room for their afternoon nap. Then, Mama got back to the kitchen and went on with my secong baking project - Egg Tarts. Hey, it was not o bad too but my bother rated it 6, then he went on to tell me that,"after tasting this tart, the cake is 2 and your tart is 6." My mum said it was too sweet which I agree.

I wanted to take a pictures of my projects before I start writing this blog, but I realized that all the tarts are all gone! They were 8-9 mini tarts, 4 medium tarts and 2 large tarts. They are all in different sizes because there are not enough tart moulds at home. Mum bought them in 4 different sizes. So, just in one days, all the tarts are one, it can't be too bad. The huge cake left 1/8 of the portion, but I agree that this recipe doesn't suit my taste. Butter Cake is better off being simply butter cake without any fancy variation. Egg tarts wise, I will try making it again, with a little changes in the recipe like reduce the sugar, use high protein flour, don't over bake it, try to make a softer crust. Try it again until I get it right, if I have the time. But sweets are not popular at home, all the effort made will not be popular. So, I'm going make buns and loaves in the next rally, which is....dunno when...haha....

After all the baking projects, and babies are awake. Mama got my two babies dipped into a shallow balloon pool, a present for Chloe from ayi two years ago. After a long day with babies and project, mama's energy had a sudden drop to th minimum, and I rested on the couch before dinner. Had home cook dinner At home with everyone...

I was too tired to stay up late, watched bride's war and slept at 11.30pm.....

When Papa was away for 4 days....

I used to feel really really emotional when Papa travelled overseas. Papa was actually away for 4 days and I didn't post anything about how much I miss him. Maybe I don't love you anymore, Papa. :P

My daily schedule is so tight that I don't have time to actually "MISS" Papa. 

I wake up everyday "SO EARLY" (**7.30am**) in the morning and then I have to pick Chloe's clothes from her "extensive closets". After that, I have to get myself prepared for work. 

At about 8.30am, Chloe and Mama will leave home for Breakfast. Usually, we will take up another 5 - 10 minutes to do the "goodbye hand wave" to Baby Clarisse or Mama would carry her to have a 5 mins walk around the house compound. 

We arrived the Breakfast place at about 9.00am, which is nearby the Learning Centre. After Breakfast, Mama would walk Chloe up to the centre. I can tell everyone now that Chloe is very stable now, no more tears. She said "byebye" to Mama on Tuesday with a sulky face and a little of tears. And today, Mama is so proud of Chloe. Before I sent her up to the centre today, she said," Mama, Chloe Good Girl, No Cry ah" . When we arrived the centre's doorstep, Chloe gave Mama a kiss and said bye to me in her very confident and loud voice. 

Then, Mama rushed back to the office because Mama's terribly late for work. Since Mama is late for work, Mama is usually rushing a lot at work in order to clear up all my work before it piles up. At about 11.45am, Mama has to prepare to leave the office to pick up my darling.

Depending on the traffic, it usually takes me an hour to fetch Chloe home and back to the office. Then, I will have a quick lunch in the office, and back to my work again. Due to the limited working time, I am always in the rush. Hehehe..because Mama needs to make sure I am able attend the classes at the GYM. :P 

By the time Mama's GYM session is over, Mama arrived home at about 8.30pm. After a shower, it's time to have some bonding time with my babies. Right after a very short bonding time, Chloe & Clarisse will have their milk. After the milk, Novi will take Baby Clarisse and Mama will stay in the room to make Chloe sleep. 

Other than Monday night, the rest of the night was smooth sailing without Papa. Chloe has noone to turn to when Mama scold her or punish (**Just like Monday**). Mama switched on the light, reading some recipe while Chloe lied down on her sleeping spot quietly until she feel asleep herself. 

No Patting. No Hugging. No Scratching Back. Not a single funny request from Chloe. 

If Mama is not too tired, Mama will go watch a DVD. Otherwise, Mama would just go to sleep. Baby Clarisse usually will be sent into the room even before Chloe fall asleep. Only on certain day, she wake up asking for some cuddling from Mama. But, rarely. She would just sleep through and indulge herself in her sweet dreamland. 

Mama is so BUSY! 

Cry Again!

When Mama is trying to google which is the better choice of nursery for my preschooler next year, this little angel cries again when she goes to "school" today. She was smiling away and telling me how she is going to show off her "leng leng" bracelets to her teacher, but the moment we arrived, she pulled my hands and told me that she wants Papa and she wants Breakfast. 

"Let's go Breakfast first," Chloe said. So cheeky!! 

"Darling, No Breakfast today. We are late. Let's go to school first," I told her as I picked her up and walked up to the center. She was screaming for Mama, even though Ms. Chan was there to calm her down. Once again, the moment Ms. Chan brought her into the classroom, her cries faded off also.  

When I fetched her earlier at 11.30am, I was standing outside the centre door. I was told to stand at the door while waiting for Chloe to wash her hands (after snack time). Didn't understand. Why at the door? Let me in LA! *sigh* I wanted to peek at her progress, but Chloe was called to wash her hand and pick up her bag. Chloe teared again when she saw me turned my head away from the door, she thought that I am going to leave her at the centre again. Quickly, she ran towards the door without her shoes and bag. Ms. Chan came forwards and helped her wear her shoes and hand over Chloe's bag to me. 

"Chloe, remember what teacher told you? Don't tear" Ms. Chan continued, "So, I will see you tomorrow and you promise not to tear."

"How's Chloe?" I asked...

"Oh, She's OK? She didn't cry when I brought her to the classroom. No problem. All kids are like that." Ms. Chan replied.

I expected myself to be in the centre to have a peek on her progress. I expected Ms. Chan to elaborate on Chloe's progress and adaptation so far instead of OK only. *sigh*

Like I said earlier on "TEMPORARY".. I am going to find a proper nursery where I can be more involved in my daughter's progress whether on her learning or adaptation.... SOON....

My Baby Clarisse already a Big Girl

Baby Clarisse is now 10 months and one week old. 

Baby Clarisse has mastered her crawling skill, and she is definitely a fast runner when she is on her walker.  Baby Clarisse loves her walker a lot since she can move to anywhere she likes without restriction. Mama has no doubts that Baby Clarisse is very confident with her crawling skill even on the marble flooring, BUT (Hahaha..) Mama wants to MINIMIZE the chances of injury, in any case that she might rest her head to the HARD SOLID FLOOR when she gets lazy. Therefore, she is only allowed to crawl on our mattress, her small little confined crib or the matted floor. 

At this point, Baby Clarisse is learning to stand. She knows how to find a support to push herself up to an  upright standing positing, a little wobbly still and can't hold it for too long. Yesterday, she pushed herself up by pressing down the mattress and stood on the bed without any support for about 5 seconds. Good Job!! Papa & Mama also encourage Baby Clarisse to walk by holding her hands during the Gymboree Playclass. 

Mobility-wise, I think Baby Clarisse is on track and doing very good so far.

Baby Clarisse calls "Ma Ma" a lot since she was 8 months old. I could still remember Chloe called everyone else in the family except "Ma Ma" until she was 13months. Gosh...So sad and yet it was so REWARDING when she finally call Ma Ma" and I teared. Anyway, Initially when Baby Clarisse calls "Ma Ma", I think she meant "Mum Mum" (food). Now, I am 100% sure that she is calling me when she calls "Ma Ma" because she will reach her hand to me and gaze at my direction. Another word that she picked up is "Jie Jie". She loves calling "Jie Jie" too, she always call "JieJie" in her sweet smiles (while pulling Jie Jie's shirt/hands/pants/hair/anything that she can grab. Hehehe)

Baby Clarisse would laugh whenever Chloe dances and sings happily. Baby Clarisse would start to clap and try to imitate her Jie Jie's movements except that Chloe is dancing in a standing position and Baby Clarisse is moving her body and hands in her sitting position or with her both legs tucked under her buttock. It is always an emotional scene to me, this heart melting moment just make me the happiest Mama in the world. Nothing matters to me including NASTY PAPA. 

In terms of speech, So far, Clarisse is calling "Mama" and "JieJie" which I am very proud of. Other than that, she is always making some sound like "ta ta ta" "ah yiiiii yiiiii" and etc. 

In fact, she tried calling "Pa Pa" a few times whenever she saw Papa carrying Jie Jie. Yes, She is definitely a little jealousy pumpkin. She would make a fuss when Mama hugged Jie Jie, and she wants to be hugged or carried too..... Awww, Notti Girl!!!

She cries..

Chloe certainly loves to go to "school", especially when she knows that Mama has prepared a sausage bun as her snack. 

Again, she waved bye delightedly to everyone at home. I told her in the morning that Papa and Mama are going to have breakfast with Chloe before Mama send Chloe to "school". When we about to arrive, She asked, "Mama, let's go breakfast".

"Yes, darling. Papa is going to meet us at the "mum mum" (eatery) place. Do you want to have some Noodle?"

She nodded and replied, "Yes"

Papa is always the loving papa. He hugged Chloe, Carried Chloe around and Chloe even asked to sit beside Papa when we were having breakfast.

After Breakfast, Papa kissed Chloe goodbye. Everything is just FINE, nothing unusual up to the moment we arrived the doorstep. Next, One teacher opened the door and greeted us. I didn't see Ms. Chan, which I saw her at her desk for the past three days. Chloe cries out of sudden as she walked into the centre. One of the teachers led Chloe into the Classroom, and then the other teacher just close the main door. I could hear Chloe was crying for Mama loudly. Luckily, it did not trigger my "crying" mode today, because it is not her first day in class. She was happy for the past three days, I don't think there is a major problem for her. It could be many reasons which lead to her sudden cries. But, anyway, I was at the door, hiding a corner (from Chloe, of course), listening to Chloe cries. Her cries actually faded after 3 minutes or so. I could hear her sobbing but at least this is a sign that she is settling down. Then, I left the centre. 

Funnily enough that it didn't distract me from my work. Perhaps, I have already accepted the fact that my baby is no longer a baby, and she is READY for nursery next year. I handle her cries logically.. Hahaha....I give myself several reasons 

1. She did not see Ms. Chan like she did for the past three days. I think Ms. Chan attended her personally the last three days. 

2. She missed Papa, especially Papa's EXTRA DOSE of TLC (Tender Loving Care) before class.

3. All of the above

I arrived the centre at 12.10noon, and Chloe and all her other friends were all waiting outside the classroom (in the centre). Chloe walked to the door when one of the teachers called her name. Chloe looks perfectly normal to me, smiling away. Then, I asked the "teacher?" "Lady"? (I believe is Ms. Chan's partner that she mentioned it to me before), "How's Chloe?"

Her reply was ambiguous, "Oh, fine" she said. 

"Oh No. She was crying this morning when I drop her off. After that, did she cry? How did you cope with it?" I asked.

"No, She didn't cry. See, She is not crying. She is fine. She's happy. After I brought her into the room, then she never cry already" She said again.

I didn't ask further even though I wanted to know more how they actually deal with her this morning. I know I will not get much of the answers. As long as, I see my happy girl when I fetch her home. She waved bye happily to everyone in the centre as we left. 

As I told hubby earlier. This is not a proper nursery or school. I shall quickly find out a better place for Chloe. The centre solely concentrate on teaching them how to read and how to write. To educate a child, is more than reading and writing I believe. I don't blame them, they have already indicated their intention, Vital Years are here to teach your child how to READ and WRITE. So, they are not cheating. hahaha.....

Maybe I am expecting too much. I am expecting someone to update me on my child's progress regularly, not just in terms of academic but also behaviour and attitude towards "school". Growing up is not determined by just academic results but overall behaviour and attitude. Aiyaya...Mama commented so much and did not action. 

OK. I shall stop here and google on schools for Chloe...