Visit to BabyCare Festival 2009

In case you're not aware, Expo is buzzing with events this weekend! Natas and BabyCare Festival are both being organised in the same time frame and the expected crowd is gonna be horrific! I don't wanna be stampeded so I choose to go on a Friday. The line up of participating merchants and starbuys at this year's BCF was attractive and now that I am preggy, there's an even valid reason for me to check out promotional bb products and services! Praise the exhibitors for organising BCF in Hall 6B because I do not have to cut through crowds along the long and squeezy hallway.

Big brands like Avent, J&J, Cordlife and OCBC had their prominent brand presence in the hall. There were genuine great buys everywhere! Maternity bottoms on sale from $25 onwards, toys at more than 50% discount and baby skincare products at special prices! I had to exercise monetary self-control many a times. This event is also an opportunity for merchants to collect database sales lead hence there were many free samples/gifts to be collected, on condition. Do a survey with NTUC and you get a bib. Give your feedback on healthcare to Parkway Health and you get a bladder weekness slim pad plus a pair of mitten. I completed several of such 'non obligation' forms and got away with a bagful of freebies. I know that I would be bombarded with phone calls and newsletters but if these sales people are not aggressive, I'm fine with the information they provide.

I sat down for a lengthy consultaion with Cordlife too - my main reason for being there actually. I gained some insights but I did not sign up with them on impulse. I needed to do the necessary research so that I know I have made a good choice. With the knowledge on cordblood banking, I would then be a good adviser to many people and I bet you will trust my advice then! Stay tuned if you're interested. Once I've got enough information, I'll do a post on 'cord blood banking'.

Sushi Doh

I thought it was a sushi masa masa set at first sight but after flipping over to see the pictures on the reverse packaging, I realised that it was actually a sushi doh making kit! Interesting!

It was so coincidental. We just had a meal of Sakae Sushi the night before and these delicacies are still fresh in Rynae's mind. I grabbed it as it was just $5 (U.P. $18.90). Our friend was elated when I presented her with the gift. She chuckled with familiarity when she made the sushis.

Baby Cow

I've a piece of good news to break herein. I'm knocked up again! This time, I was told I am gonna expect a boy. Let me call him cowboy for now. I'm into my second trimester and am so glad my bloated-ness, nausea and my headache are all gone. In fact, I'm now eating like there's no tommorrow! Sis Rynae is conscious of the arrival of her little bb brother and is looking forward to the day Mum bombs.

Because of this little, helpless life that is dependant on me for survival, I'm on weekly dose of cordyseps and am also watching what I eat now. For donkey years, I've never felt being such a health freak!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day this year falls on a Saturday but it's another ordinary family day for us. Hence, Daddy and Mummy's not having any special line-ups for today. We spent a wonderful afternoon at the extended Jurong Point SC and Daddy received a free Cornetto ice-cream cone from Walls as a prelude for its 'Show your love' campaign. BUT THEN, dinner that evening was mouth-dropping and so must-blog! Daddy cooked noodles for us! It was Rynae's first taste of food cooked by him for the past 4 years! He's no cook hence getting a bowl of home-cooked noodle from him is the best one can expect. I gotta record it somewhere, I gotta take pictures and I've gotta tell the whole world - Our Daddy made our Valentine's Day so romantic!

My Gardening Update

Here's an update on my gardening project. Many weeks back, I planted some black beans, some green beans and a potato. I'm so proud to tell you today that they've sprouted! Though not all the beans survived, I'm already glad that at least 1 of each type managed to push itself up the soil! What a wonderful boost after many failed attempts. Both Rynae and I are looking forward to the day when we can harvest our own beans.

Teaching Chinese

Rynae has a strong interest for English language. She articulates well in English, understands English and is a competent reader albeit her young age. On the contrary, when it comes to Chinese language, she showed not the slightest interest, even when I offered to read her Chinese story books. The set of Chinese words flash cards I bought her were left idle. I hear alarm.

When she was small, I did some labelings like 'door', 'chair', 'fan' etc, around the house in a bid to help her to recognise the words. I removed all these during spring cleaning as she already knew how to read them. It seems that I have to use the same method, in Chinese this time, to help her recognise some simple household words. Below are some of the cards I DIY-ed. It doesn't take much time to print and laminitate though. To make sure she pays attention to the words, I asked her to repeat after me, thereafter paste each onto the respective items.

Adding on, I also made her a set of Chinese Numerical Dominoes. Remember I preach Learn Thru' Play? I hope this does her good. Afterall, she responded well to the Time, Dora and Dots Dominoes I made for her so this shouldn't go too wrong. And boy! Was I happy when she suggested the card game herself. If this method goes well, I'll make her more Chinese Dominoes!

Moo-ving into the New Year

Every year without fail, we'll be back to Indonesia for CNY and this year's no exception. We had a lengthy 1 week stay there gorging on new year goodies, otah and karopok. I think I should have easily gained 4 kg on this eating spree.

If you agree, CNY this year is exceptionally dry and hot. There was hardly any rain and because of the dry spell, Indo's house's rain water reserve was used up and the whole family has to use spring water (bought from the government) from big barrels. It was SO SO SO... inconvenient and troublesome not having water running from taps. I count my blessings not having to worry about the shortage of water, food or electricity in Singapore.

My girl celebrated her English birthday on Lunar NY Day 4 in the pleasant company of grandparents, many cousins, uncle and aunts. She collected a lot of additional ang baos too!

Catching guppies for good luck. 'Cos... 'Nian Nian You Yu'!

Swallows are abundant in Indonesia. Some Indonesian Chinese striked it rich by just selling bird's nest. During yesteryears good times, a kg can fetch S$2000! My god. If you convert to rupiah, this earning can last them a few months! Because it is so lucrative, Yue Niang in Little Nyonya was trading in birds nest too! I borrowed from grandma some freshly picked, unprocessed bird's nest and snapped some pictures for fun sake. Not many people has the fortune to see raw bird's nest hor.