Free Swenson Ice-cream!

Remember the FREE Swensen's Kids' Club membership I applied for about a month ago? We received a letter addressed to Rynae a few days ago and it was her very own membership card! Mummy was still skeptical about the free ice-cream and decided to try redeem one for month of April. Without any questions asked and with much politeness, I was ushered to the counter inside the restaurant to choose my ice-cream flavour. I handed the treat to Rynae who happily start feasting on spot. So from now on, we'll pop into Swensen's for our free dessert every month! That's too good to be true!

Helpful Decorator

Rynae likes to doodle especially when she feels bored so Mummy makes sure she has ample stationaries that any inspired artist will have. There're crayons, colour pencils, magic pens, sketch books, note books and blank papers on her writing table, waiting for her pampering. Sometimes, she'll draw abstracts, sometimes she draw things as close as real life (well, almost!). I let her loose with regards to the things she wanna make or draw so as not to restrict creativity and emotional expression.

However, she wasn't satisfied keeping her work binded in books or chucked away as loose sheets of papers. She wanted to exhibit them! Her excuse? To help me decorate the house. Yeah, thanks for the much-needed decoration. My living room now looks like a low-budgeted child care centre. I wonder if things are the same in every family with little tods.

Below are some art pieces taken from her personal exhibition. Bidding starts from S$50 each. All keepings will go towards Rynae Bong's educational fund.

Beat The Heat

What's up with the weather these few days? The heat is unbearable! Mummy had wanted to bring Rynae out for a weekend shopping spree but the heat was such a deterrent. We dilly-dallied till half a day was gone before deciding to bring our gal for a dip in the pool instead. Excellent choice to beat the heat.

29 Weeks Antenatal Check-Up

In a twinkle of an eye, Cowboy is now 29 weeks weighing in at 1.35kg. I haven't a nice ultrasound scan of him to share because he was in the downward position, facing my spine. I did however, see a 3D picture of him during last month's antenatal check up. The chap was happily sucking his fist then! I regretted not asking my gynae to print out that picture because I reckon I'll get a good 3D shot of him from now onwards.

So far, we've brought Rynae to every antenatal check-up to keep her involved in the waiting process and also kept aware of her akan datang new sibling. I try to pre-empt her where matters of his arrival is concerned. She's well aware that didi's coming out in June and I would be giving birth in a hospital and that I would not be able to step out of the house during my confinement, which means I cannot bring her to school then. Goodness gracious me. It was a good intention gone bad. She became hysterical when she heard that I cannot bring her to school! For some unknowing reason, she has been fearful of speaking up to her teacher that she doesn't need the school toilet as she has gone to the toilet at home. In order to make her attend school, I made a pact with her that I will help her to tell her teacher EVERYTIME. Even till today, she never forgets to remind me (like a broken record) to tell her teacher.

Hence, when I told her I couldn't do this for 1 whole month, her tiny world seem to come crushing down and she became insecure, disturbed and depressed. She begged not to be sent to school during my confinement! It occured to me that it would be the school holidays then so as a matter-of-fact, I told her she really doesn't need to attend school then! It took me a few days to repair the mayhem. My! I should have been more tactful... and less truthful. After that episode, I made an effort not to highlight the negativity and disturbance of our lives after Cowboy's arrival. Instead, we joked about letting him wear her passed-down dresses, playing with her used toys and sleeping in her yesteryears' baby cot.

I am glad to know that she loves her baby brother afterall...

Good Friday @ Zoo

It is Good Friday today - a public holiday. How should we spend it? We decided at the eleventh hour to visit the Singapore Zoo. Somehow expected, there was a hugh holiday crowd at the zoo entrance. We're in for the big squeeze! This is our 3rd visit this year and zoo's getting a little bored for Dad and Mum. The only and forever excited person is... Rynae.

We took a different route to visit the kangaroos in Australian Outback. Coincidentally and unknowingly, we ran into their kangaroo feeding time. Our friend requested to feed the pouched animals so Mummy paid $5 for a cup of animal feed. The zookeeper showed us the correct way to feed them - pour the feed onto our palms for the animals to pick up. We did as told and poured some onto Rynae's tiny palm. But god knows what.. the kangaroos were salivating all over her hand when they ate! Mum knew trouble's brewing because Rynae hates getting her hands dirty! Next moment I knew, I heard her screaming and calling it quit. Daddy had to come in and finish up the job.

A usual pitstop in the zoo is the Kidzworld but remember Rynae's cousin's fall there? It cuts such a deep impression in her that she refused to step into the pool. We allowed her to ride the carousel instead. Weather that day was unbearably hot so we made an exit soon after lunch.

Painting Easter Eggs

Easter's round the corner and Mummy has emptied 6 egg shells for Rynae to paint. Honestly, I've been too lazy to do much paintings with her recently thus my gal was exceptionally excited when I proposed egg painting activity to her. I participated as I wanna try decorating one myself but while I'm waiting for my white base coat to dry, Rynae grabbed it and kindly offered to help me finish it up. I couldn't stop her in time and my egg was smeared with thick, green paints. Urgh... thanks men...

Our precious Easter Eggs. Looks nice from afar, not close.

Want me to paint your face?

I'm done with the eggs. Next are my hands!

Speed Rider

Daddy came home with yet another surprise today - a bike for Rynae! He's been contemplating about getting a bike for various safety reasons but he has finally made a decision! Our friend was over the top and wanted to test drive the moment she saw it.

"Mummy, you see, I can stand up and paddle!"

"Mummy, is xx around? I wanna show him my new bike!"

"Can you see, I know how to use the brake!"

Having a bicycle at this age somehow boosts kids' ego and make them feel BIG on achievement... that they've grown up and am no longer paddling kiddy tricycle.

With her new mode of transport, Rynae generously volunteered to give her tricycle to her baby brother...

My New Camera

Mummy got a wonderful surprise from Daddy yesterday when he came home with a gift - a brand new Panasonic DMC-FS6! It has been months since Mummy's digicam died on her and it felt so handicapped without a camera of my own! I didn't want Daddy to spend a bomb and neither do I want a super complicated, multi-functioned camera, so this one suits me just fine. Hurray!

I harassed (who else?) Rynae to be my model while I try to get myself familiarised with my new found toy. Tell ya... she wasn't the least pleased! *Grinning*

Uniqlo's Opening in 8 days' time!

I have this habit to open a few tabs while waiting for my web pages to load. This evening, I decided to google for Uniqlo just to browse through their catalogue but I got a pleasant surprise. Uniqlo is opening its first Singapore and Southeast Asia store in Tampines on 9th April! It's just 8 days' away! Second store here is due to open soon in Ion Orchard!

I've never stepped into a Uniqlo boutique but this brand is so familiar to me. Uncle Leslie has given Rynae some clothes from Uniqlo Hong Kong before and when Aunt Caryn was in Japan last year, she has also bought some Uniqlo stuffs for me! The product catalogue in the Singapore website was limited. There weren't even any childrens' clothes! Anyway, it's ok. I'll try to find some time before I bomb to pay the new shopping centre a visit.