to the zoo

Before the wedding dinner, we went to the zoo with Aunty Sandra, Uncle Jerome and his pretty niece Sarah. (She said she is #2 prettiest in class)

It was a rare day that Joel sat inside his stroller. Of course, you can still see he has his Bear Bear and pacificer at all times. The weather was good - not too warm - becoz all of us prayed to God. (It has been raining everyday for the past week)

Sarah liked the elephant ride and the tram ride - the 2 reason she came to the zoo for. But the highlight of the zoo trip was the Water Play for both Sarah and Joel. Although Joel was timid and not well prepared (Mommy didnt bring Joel's swimsuit), he enjoyed "drinking" the water pretty much. Keke...

We went to VivoCity after the zoo to Build-A-Bear for Sarah's coming 6th birthday. The bear was named Stephanie who also likes pink - just like Sarah!

We got home 30 mins before we had to leave for the wedding...so i guess Joel was pretty tired that he slept till noon the next day. Haha! ;p

celine's wedding

Yesterday's wedding went pretty well. It wasnt very warm and it didnt rain - although there were dark clouds hovering above. Celine looked pretty on her big day. Josefyne got an admirer - one of the "brother's" younger brother - whom we're hoping is not too young. Linda & Jaslin looked pretty as always. Gwen managed to lose some of the extra weight. The Malay guys put on weight (Haha!) except for Shawn who looked exactly the same as he did 15 years ago. Cynthia also look the same, but her husband trims and shapes his eyebrows (!!!). It was great to see some familiar faces on a beautiful wedding day.

AND...Keke... Everyone said Joel looked cute and stylish...and very much like Elvis.

O...but the cooler fans at Fort Canning suck!

The Solemnization



Joel: Mommy, I'm very sleepy!


Catching up...






Group photos





Restless Joel




Joel got a Goofy at the end of the day. ;)

first kiss

The night Joel & Joey lost their first kiss.
~ 9 Nov 2009, carpark 11:00pm

They actually kissed a number of times (upon request), a few times lips-to-lips (without Joel's pacifier). Joel even tiptoed coz Joey who is 1 month older, is slighty taller. Oooo~

just wait a litte more

The day i've been waiting for is almost here! It's this Sunday, 15 Nov 2009. It's my friend Celine's wedding - the reason i'm staying behind in Singapore with Joel for. (Found out that my cousin Andrew's wedding dinner falls on 19 Nov 2009...so i can also stay for his wedding.)

Last week, i was feeling so tired and frustrated that i wanted to give up "waiting" and go home. But i felt silly coz i would have suffered these 3 weeks for nothing.

Yesterday, i met up with the bride-to-be and our girlfriends (to discuss how to sabotage the groom) ...and Joel was naughty as usual - screaming and shouting. He also has his pacifier and bear bear at all times. -.-lll

Bear with it a little more.
Soon. Soon...

which is better

That's the question i'm asked pretty often lately. Living in Singapore or Shanghai?

Most people feel i'm pitiful to be stuck with Joel 24/7 and i cannot go out peacefully. In some ways, this is true. But i've only felt this way right now, right here, when we're in Singapore. In Shanghai, i go out whenever i please, knowing that Joel is safe with Ahyi. He even waves Bye-Bye to me when i leave, and i get a sweet smile when i come home. I dont feel guilty going out.

I feel suffocated here especially now that Joel is uncontrollable and super "sticky" to me (and only me). Literally i'm suffocated in the heat too. Ever since i've had Joel, i've been perspiring more easily than ever (hormonal changes?), and it feels terrible having to wrestle an active kid in this climate. Joel is also very afraid of the heat. Hence, i prefer having him indoors, at home. Besides, he cries when i disappear from his sight for a minute and he even follows me to the toilet - to pee, shit and bathe. Yes, it's this bad!

In these 3 weeks after Elvis left, other than the few times i've met up with my girlfriends, visiting Elvis' parents and visting Aunty YenYen's new condo, we havent done much "socializing" or catching up with wanna-meet-if-have-time friends. However, we've been going to IMM many times a week, thanks to Aunty Audrey who always suggest bringing Joel out for a ride. It also helps that i get some help with the bags etc from my sisters/mom. As for bringing Joel out alone, i'll most probably give it a miss... There's just too many things to "worry" about - Joel misbehave, Joel wants me to carry him throughout, bring stroller or not...and of course, the heat.

Elvis asked me to leave Joel at home with my parents, and go out alone with my friends. BUT BUT BUT how can i do that knowing that Joel will cry his lungs out??? If Joel is indeed feeling lost in a new environment (i'm trying to justify his "stickiness"), i wouldnt want him to feel that Mommy is gone too.

I guess i'm feeling the "helplessness" of most fulltime mothers WITHOUT ANY HELP from grandparents or maid. There's a term 'SAHM' (Stay-at-home-mom) which i hate becoz it just sounds "pitiful". I'm sure these mothers chose to stay at home becoz they really want to look after their kid(s) the best that they can, watch them learn and grow daily and to nuture them. Not becoz they havent got anything else better to do. They're not good-for-nothings staying at home. Everyone can make all the money they want, but their kid's childhood years are gone in a flash.

I dont consider myself a SAHM becoz I stopped working before i became a mom. When we went to Shanghai, Elvis is supportive of my not working and he doesnt mind my bumping around. After we had Joel, it just makes my bumping around even more meaningful. Haha!

My answer to which i prefer? Living in Shanghai or Singapore? Yes, i miss Shanghai and i definitely miss going out alone in Shanghai.

skyping shanghai

Whenever we can, we'll skype so that Joel can see his beloved Daddy. Even if it's just on a small screen, it's enough to get Joel smiling, giggling, laughing...and kissing! Yes, he'll automatically kiss the screen! So cute, huh.

Yesterday, Joel couldnt stop smiling and laughing when he saw his soft toys - panda, Monchichi & rabbit - on screen! He was really really happy. Thanks, Daddy!

Although our skypes are not much of a real conversation (mostly just kiss, wave, say hi and reciting ABCs & 123), all of us will have a good time.

mommy's sick again

When i woke up yesterday, the room was spinning. I vomitted, had diarrhoea and everywhere i looked was dizzy. I dont know how i managed to go through the rest of the day. I was really sick. I felt weak and tired. I was worried that i wouldnt be able to look after Joel especially since he's stuck to me and no one else.

Fortunately, Joel took a long nap with me. When we woke up for dinner, i felt sick again and finally went to see a doctor. The doctor said it's viral infection.

Thank God i'm feeling much better today - to go through with today's activities with Joel.

more pix

more pictures uploaded below...

Joel has longer legs, slimmer thighs, grown a neck, no fats on his body... (Daddy Elvis was so sad to see a skinny Joel during bath time.)

3 of us

This was taken during our trip to Club Med Bintan which we enjoyed tremendously. Check out the Joel's tann!

He loves the water so much he cries when we drag him out. It was way past his nap time...and he fell asleep the minute he came out of the water.

tv addict

When someone is watching the TV in the living room, Joel will automatically go to Aunty Audrey's room and ask Mommy to turn on his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD. Hence, Popo took out her old portable DVD player specially for Joel. Now, he has his own private viewing times when we have ours.

22 months

Joel is 22 months and weighs 11.4kg. 2 months short to his 2nd Birthday on Christmas Eve! Yippie! (No big celebration though)

We're back in Singapore and Joel has fallen sick, perhaps due to the (super hot) weather. During this period, he's grouchy, whiny and extremely "sticky" to Mama. Hope it's just a phase.

the heat and virus

Thanks to everyone for reading despite not having many updates since we came back to Singapore.

Singapore is just too warm! Arrgghh... Mommy Jo is also down with flu and cough last week. Fortunately, Joel is feeling better, i hope. Slight runny nose now but still coughing. Yes, it's been 3 weeks and he hasnt fully recovered. Aunties Sandra & Audrey also got Joel's virus (or not). Hope everyone else in the house is protected and stay healthy.

Hope we'll recover soon, Joel will like to sit on his stroller like before (dont ask to be carried), we'll get to see more of Singapore (besides Jurong), go to bday parties (which is this Sat), go out with friends and little ones, go shopping! AMEN.

This is Joel (one month ago) on the day we arrived in Singapore. He still has his Monchichi hairstyle and extra 200 grams of fats.

God, help us

Joel has been sooooo super naughty he's gets on my nerves and i get a headache - like now.

I cannot disappear from Joel's sight for more than a minute. Even when i go to the toilet, Joel will cry so loudly it gives everyone (else) a headache too! He also wants me to carry him ALL THE TIME when we're outside.

With Joel's bad behaviour, i dont even need to think about going shopping in town. The furthest we've ventured is still this Jurong area. Jurong East market, Jurong West market, all the market markets with his grandparents, Jurong Point, IMM... If you're thinking my parents can help me out, you're wrong. They also shake their heads when they see Joel.

Initially, i thought that perhaps Joel felt lost in a new environment, plus he's sick, plus his Daddy has left. Now i'm not sure why... Maybe it's the Terrible Two.

Last night was the worse experience ever. I really didnt know what to do. I doubt he'll change for the better... I really wish we could leave earlier.

but 1 more month to go...

God, help me. Help us.