congratulations

It's official. Elvis has been promoted from Senior CD to ECD of JWT Shanghai.

I dont know if we should be happy becoz you're going to be even busier than what you already are. But, this is good news after all...and it's a 双喜喜 Double Happiness too! So, congratulations to our Extremely Caring Daddy!

Elvis started his career with JWT Singapore in 1999. And he moved on to JWT’s Bangkok office, winning over a hundred creative awards along the way He picked up awards in shows such as Cannes, Clio, London International, Adfest, Media Spikes, as well as Thailand and Singapore Creative Circle Awards.

In 2006, Elvis joined TBWA Shanghai as creative director on adidas, creating great success for adidas in the Chinese market with his Olympics campaign. The campaign was also internationally acclaimed in awards shows all over the world, bringing home the first gold lion for China in Cannes.

In 2008, Elvis joined JWT Shanghai to work on Ford.

Some of the key clients he worked with include Ford, adidas, Unilever, Unif President, Asia-Pacific Brewery and Standard Chartered

* Taken from here.

on a us day

On our 4th wedding anniversary (30 June 2010), Elvis took leave. When he came home the previous night, he said, "Sorry, no flowers. But i took leave tomorrow and booked dinner at The Peninsula." Although i've never been a flower-person (i just dont go WOW when i see flowers), i'm still always touched by his gesture. I hope we're not past the romantic and loving stage - after 4 years and 1.5 kids. But i was touched he took leave coz i know he's busy at work. Plus, after our recent dimsum lunch at The Peninsula, i was "worried" that the dinner would be too expensive. Keke... ;p

We decided to go out in the afternoon and come home to bring Joel out for dinner with us. I told him that i booked lunch at Koyama (which is our recent fav lunch place). It's at XTD and near our house, so we wont be too starved by the time we wait till Ahyi to reach our house.

By the time we finished our lunch, the timings for movies wasnt good, so we decided to head to the Shanghai Sculpture Square. It was a very very warm day!!! (It was sooo hot i had to open my umbrella and look like super aunty!) We walked so much under the sun it was really exhausting!

Although Elvis booked the dinner with a baby highchair, we decided to have dinner without Joel. There was a little time till our dinner reservation, so we headed to H&M SALE! I managed to find "too many" items for our baby girl & Elvis found 1 cool bermudas for Joel.

(Sorry, Joel. We left you at home. Thank you for being such a good boy and welcoming us happily when we reached home. We missed you too!)

lost time

It seems that lately, everyone is not updating their blogs much - at least for those blogs that appear on my dashboard. Perhaps everyone is busy or lazy or have too much going on...

I have also not been updating my blog for a while...and i realized yesterday that i've missed Joel's 30-month update. How could i have forgotten?! I feel quite guilty. He's 31 months now. I'm only pregnant. It's not a good enough excuse to forget.

Anyway, we're back in Shanghai after a 2-week break in Singapore - my last trip before baby #2 pops in October. I can only facebook whenever Elvis is not using his office Mac which he has brought along becoz he needs to work throughout our "holiday". Fortunately, we get internet access this time. Sometimes we steal network from others, other times we use the prepaid USB thingie. Some minor hiccups along the way too... Joel cough persisted throughout our trip and it turned into a flu and slight fever (for 1 night). The fulltime Ahyi cum confinement nanny who was supposed to start in Aug called and said she's not coming after all. So we have to look for another Ahyi AND a confinement nanny ASAP. On our return flight, i wasnt allowed to board the aircraft becoz SQ check-in counter gals thinks my tummy is too huge. (I didnt have any problems with that when i was 7 months pregnant with Joel) Hence, we had to rush to Raffles Medical at the basement of T3 to get a gestation certificate from their doctor. Fortunately, it was done within 10 minutes (it costs S$60+) and we were bound for home. Here feels more like 'home' to me/us.

I still have a 'draft' in my blog which i will try to upload with pictures soon...and i also need to sort out our Singapore photos and also do up my sis' wedding invite card. Time is running out... For me at least.

31 months

Joel is 31 months and weighs 12.5kg.

He can count from 1 to 99. I'm so glad he's figured out the next number after the 19, 29, 39...

He's started talking more and constructing his own phrases. He likes to ask, "What's that?" We figured that's becoz it's the same question we ask him all the time! Keke... Joel has also become braver and is able to climb (a little more) on his own. But most of the time, he still needs to hold our hands when it comes to walking up/down the stairs.

Joel seems to love singing (out of tune) and he sang the 'Happy Birthday' song on Daddy Elvis' birthday this month. We were very happy coz it wasnt out of tune. It was perfect!

He can be loving and naughty at the same time...and we've just bought our first rattan cane from Singapore - to scare him. He's terrified and his eyes keep blinking...then he will say, "Daddy, put back." It makes us want to laugh. (We've been using a plastic balloon stick for a few months with the same effect)

It suddenly occurred to me that Joel will be 3 years old very soon (2 months after baby sister is born)! He's still too short for Disneyland (the not-so-kiddy rides) and i'm beginning to wonder when we'll ever get there since baby #2 is on the way... Soon, Joel will become a big brother. Mommy is also starting to "worry" that my baby is growing up... No more cute baby proportions, no more cute baby voice... No more my little baby...

Cute little boy who wants to sit on the luggage arrives in Shanghai PVG Airport after spending 2 weeks in Singapore. This is the first time we managed to travel "light" - 1 big, 1 small suitcase, 1 stroller and 2 carry-on bags (excluding the Bengawan Solo goodies for Elvis' team).
24 July 2010

30 months

Joel is 30 months and weighs Xkg.

He's developed a love for stacking blocks and lining things up. He looks very serious when he's at it. I think he's getting cuter and more handsome too! ;)

24 June 2010

on a rainy day

24 June 2010

weekends

On days that we dont take any pictures, i will forget what we did...

13 June
Lunch at XTD Koyama, Gymboree.


19 June
We went to Joel's MiKids class in the morning then to XTD Crystal Jade for brunch, home to rest since it was early... (Joel took a long nap) and we didnt feel like going out again coz it was too warm.


20 June
Lunch at XTD Koyama, Gymboree, shopping at ChangLe/Huaihai Road, dinner at Ginger Indochine with Ann.


26 June
MiKids, Sushi Tei (in the far right picture is the girl who is sooo crazy over Joel that she gives us free sushi whenever we go. She remembers we like a particular ¥19 sushi and will give us about 2-3 plates even before we place our orders...and probably a free chawanmushi too. It makes us feel uncomfortable and we agreed that we wont patronize again), shopping at ChangLe Road, Gymboree, Sosuke & HongAi's farewell dinner with friends.

baby #2

I found the prints!
Here's baby #2 at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 11 weeks

15 weeks, 20 weeks (as on previous post)

I think the best thing about having a girl is The SHOPPING!!!

I bought the first set of 3 (unisex) rompers from H&M when we didnt even know the gender. I ♥ MUM, I ♥ DAD, B/W Stripes. At ¥99/pack, i had to grab them! I think i've also forgotten how tiny babies can be when they're born. It's for 2-4months and it looks really really really small! They're long-sleeves too, which is good for when she is born.

Since we knew it was going to be a girl, we've shopped a few times for her too - the warm winter clothings, long-sleeves for Shanghai, short-sleeves for Singapore (during CNY), leggings, skirts & dresses. Suddenly, i realized that Joel gets only a few items while unborn baby sister gets a whole bagful...or two!
(I'm sooo sorry, my darling Baby Joel)

I also have to be VERY kiasu and buy in advance for winter & CNY 2011 becoz i'm afraid that i wont have the energy & time to shop after the baby is born. It would also be almost winter then (and no summer clothes in shops). Plus i needed to do the washing in summer. Elvis says that i should STOP buying or we wont have anything to do after the baby is born. HAHA! Actually, it kinda set my mind at ease with the reassurance that we'll still go out and eat & shop on weekends. ;)

Fear Not Daddy Elvis, I think i'm almost done with her shopping - for now. Ooo...i still need to get some mittens & socks. That's all, i promise.

P.S. Moms out there! You can also check out NEXT stores for their inexpensive pretty girls clothes.

on the bike

Around the house...

poster boy

Yesterday, we finally went to frame up Joel's big poster. It was delivered today and he loves looking at himself!

happy anniversary

It's been 4 wonderful years! ;)

Sir Elly's, The Peninsula Shanghai.

2nd visit to the expo

15 June 2010
On the 2nd day of the Dragon Boat Festival public holiday, we went to the Expo without Joel. He felt sad when we left the house, but was soon OK after we told him that we would buy a toy bus & car for him when we come home. (I had some "standby toys" at home. Keke!)

We decided to go to the Puxi site first as both of us had never been there before. I've gone to the Pudong site for 1 day with my friends when they were here. Elvis went to the New Zealand pavilion for an event one of the weekday nights when the weather was still very comfortable. On this day, it has just started to get warm! There were also a lot more people compared to the last time i was there (and 4 May was the first official off-peak Standard Day).

When we arrived at 11+am, we knew it was a right decision to leave Joel at home becoz it spared him the agony of having to squeeze with the crowd and also withstanding the terrible heat.


We took a taxi which dropped us off near some of the more popular pavilions and we got into the Aviation & Automobile pavilions using their Express Lanes. No queue! We spent less than 10mins inside each pavilion.

After that, we walked quite a distance to get to the Coca-Cola pavilion. We were told that the normal Q takes 4 hours (to get in) and the Express Lane was 90mins. There wasnt exactly a lot of people in the lane...and it took us about 30-40mins to get in. Inside, we watched 2 videos. (I was told the whole process inside the pavilion takes about ONLY 15mins!!!) Then, we were each given a 200ml regular-temperature bottle of Coke and taught how to make it turn icy cold by:
1. Releasing a little air from the cap,
2. Tightening the cap, and finally
3. Turning the bottle upside down about 3-4 times!
It was pretty amazing when i saw tiny ICE crystals forming inside, overflowing slightly to the brim!
(There was an Ahyi stationed there to wipe off the Coke that dripped onto the floor!)


After that, we took the ferry into the Pudong site at about 1pm - also using the Express Lane at the ferry terminal. It was pretty funny to see the people RUNNING to get onto the ferry!!! Super duper Kiasu-ism! The Expo Park where the ferry docked was quite a walking distance from all the pavilions. It was a very beautiful garden and many people laid on the grass to rest. I wished i could be this relaxed (like them) but time was very precious when you're at the Expo. Maybe i dont understand these people... They rush (and shove) when there's no need to... They rest/sleep when they should be rushing against time...

We started looking for some place to have our lunch and settled for Afternoon Tea (which we like) but it was "fast food-styled" and the food tasted horrible. They had a different menu from their restaurants downtown. We quickly continued to see the rest of the pavilions...

The 12-storey China pavilion looked quite spectacular when you stand just below it. There wasnt any Express Lane becoz limited tickets were still given out daily from 9am. (There were people selling 黄牛票 /illegal "yellow cow tickets" discretely near the China pavilion)

Some of the pavilions we saw at the Pudong site...

We (I) snacked and snacked throughout...

Our feets ached sooo much (perhaps from the previous day of walking at the zoo) and we were tired from walking aimlessly. It was by chance that we walked past the France pavilion and saw the Express Lane. Again no queue! So we got in! I was excited coz it's one of the more popular pavilions. But when we left the pavilion, we felt there was too much hype about it.

It was 6pm. We couldnt walk any longer and decided to call it a day. (We had planned to have our dinner there and stay till 8/9pm when the pavilions light up) While walking towards one of the exit, we happened to see (again) that there's NO QUEUE at the Finland pavilion Express Lane! So we went in before heading home... There was a lot of nicely designed things to see! I love it!

And this marks Day-1 Elvis & i toured the Expo together for 7 hours using our 3-day ticket. We only managed to get into 5 pavilions - Aviation, Automobile, Coca-Cola, France & Finland. It's really exhausting - especially for a pregnant woman! I cannot imagine how it'll be when the weather gets HOTTER (up to 40+˚C) and i get clumsier and heavier... We figured we'll probably visit again in the evenings when we have a live-in Ahyi. I hope the crowd fizzles out too...

3 days of holiday

It was the Dragon Boat Festival and Daddy Elvis had Monday-Wednesday off. We decided to leave Joel at home with Ahyi on the 2nd day while we go to the Expo becoz bringing a kid could be tough in summer.

On the first day of the holiday, we went to the zoo with some friends. It was supposed to start with a picnic in the morning, but we missed it becoz it was raining. When we reached, the rain had stopped and the picnic had also ended. I was surprised that the zoo had made some improvements since the last time we were there last summer. All thanks to the Shanghai Expo 2010. At least the main entrance was really nice & proper now!

Joel was pretty excited and happy when he recognized some of the animals (from his books) - the rhino, hippo, gorilla, panda.

We saw some small kangaroos (while resting our tired feet) and 1 of the kangaroo came close to the fence/us! Joel was sooo happy feeding it with leaves and tomato-flavored Poky (with compliments from Ann). We think Joel really loves ALL animals and isnt afraid of them. Perhaps he'll be equally happy in the same enclosure with a super huge gorilla! (FYI, Joel didnt climb up the fence on his own in the middle picture. We carried him and left him clinging onto his dear life on the wooden fence. He was screaming throughout the 1-minute ordeal! HAHA!)

We brought along some of Joel's toy cars and football (for the picnic) but he didnt get to play with them until it was time to go leave. While waiting a few others to meet at the exit, he played happily with his ball. (As usual, the girls went crazy over him!) It was a fun day... At least, Joel was very happy. The weather was a bit humid but not overly warm. I remembered the last time we were there, it was one of the hottest day in summer with temperatures at 42˚C!!!

We had Korean BBQ dinner at GuBei and went to the nearby Carrefour afterwards with Ann. The rest went to watch the soccer match at Raymond's house. I was glad Daddy Elvis decided to come home with us instead of joining the guys. (It was quite rare. Keke!)



Visit to the Expo in another post.

On the 3rd day of the holiday, we went to IKEA wanting to get the TROFAST toy shelving combination and a "pull-out" bed for Joel and the new Ahyi. We left without anything!!! Becoz the TROFAST is phasing out soon and they dont produce the "wardrobe door units" anymore. There'll be a new system out by late July and we're told to check it out. We also didnt like the 2 pull-out beds we saw. :(