That little imp.....

...is turning out to be quite a handful!!

She is ALL OVER THE PLACE NOW!
My back is aching from bending down and carting her off 137 times a day.

Megan has found a new playground. Our bed.
Everytime my back is turned, she goes to our master room and crawls up our bed. (It's actually quite cute) But she likes to fiddle with the stuff on our bedside tables (ie. hand lotion, lip gloss, hair clips, aroma essence..), which are NOT her play toys. Once I found her in the middle of our bed and pretended to chase her. She got excited, started chuckling and crawled so fast towards the bolster and pillows and threw herself on them.. hahaha.

She is walking really well now.
A particularly touching moment today was when Zack came home from his course. She was walking about and when he squatted down and opened his arms to her, she walked to him, leaned in and gave him a hug! TWICE! One arm on his shoulder, the other on his arm with her head tucked beneath his chin :) *misty-eyed* - my cam was too late :(

Job as a mother... is very tiring yet so rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!!!


Read the news just now.
And this article got me shuddering in fear for our future: Click: "There should be no retirement age for spore mm lee"

No retirement age?! It used to be 55, then 62.. followed by 65 by 2012. Say what you may. I only got 1 question: "What about our CPF?" Are you gonna hold it back til we reach 70 now?! Then again, we will never get to see the rest of our CPF. I had a shock when I learnt of our current CPF governance. (Go to CPF board) It's ridiculous and utter rubbish. I've worked hard all my life and when I want to retire, I want to be comfortable. Spend the rest of my life doing what I want. I do not want my money (which I've earned all my life by the way) controlled by the government, keeping my money for 20 years and dispensing me pocket money every month.

Oh yes, I've been thinking and planning for our retirement. Some people say i'm crazy to be thinking of retirement. I say I'm a wee bit too late! Plans should be underway at mid 20s. And that's a few years lost for me (not many though). How do I want to retire? I keep asking myself..

Got the ingredients for chicken katsu curry. Now to find the time to prepare it! The little queen is watching 'Friends' now. Long nap later please sweetheart..

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20 July: Megan turns ONE!!!

Happy Birthday Baby!!!!

Many people asked how we will be celebrating Megan's 1st birthday.
It's her 1st birthday and a big celebration is rightfully in order.

However, we decided to not take the conventional route of holding a big party, inviting family, friends and colleagues.. some of which in all honesty don't really care hoot about her. Just attending for the parents.

We want a celebration MEGAN will enjoy. Something that is meaningful FOR HER (not us).

At 1 year old, Megan doesn't take well to unfamiliar people. Having a party with a big crowd, will only put pressure on her to perform. I sure don't want my baby to have a stressful bday.

So we have decided to have a series of small celebrations. With family and with close friends who really care and love Megan. On her actual day, Megan will spend it with her 2 most favourite people in the whole wide world - Daddy and Mummy!

We brought her to Sentosa - Underwater World. Zoo and Birdpark were considered but due to the unpredictable weather, we stick to Underwater World. A place for her to engage her senses, broaden her exposure. I don't care what people say about babies not remembering anything - holidays or otherwise. I say any and every experience counts. Babies have the most complex brain, learning and developing at great leaps and bounds. I want to provide Megan with the best platform to learn and experience.

Now that's quite a talk. Here are some pictures!

On our way to Sentosa!



don't she look smashing in her outfit??
Thanks Aunty Elynne for buying her this sexy tube top :)


Daddy and Megan watching the stingrays..



"I want this stingray... bbq in sambal."







watching the octopus..




















"ooohhhhhhh.... jumping jellyfish.."



The Pink Dolphins!

Nearing her naptime... thus the grumpiness.. haha




but she did clap along!






KO on our way home..

Thought it'll be nice to have some 'noise' for her cakecutting, we called Rachel Ah Yi if she is free to pop over after work. She was and excited to be invited so we picked her up on our way home.


Reach home only look so happy... she is clearly a homebaby :)

For her 1st birthday, Mummy baked Megan her very own birthday cake!
No money in the world can buy a cake baked with love ;)

Sugar-free applesauce and banana cake with creamcheese/maple syrup frosting
It's for babies so not that palatable for adults.. haha.

See how happy Megan is :)



see this gal... always like to disturb Pappe...

OUR FAMILY PHOTO



eating her bday cake..


"Very good Megan?"

"Yes!"

This marks Megan's 3rd celebration.
1st: Sat - 17th, with Godpa Marky+Aunty Christina, Aunty Elynne, Godpa Fu, Aunty Des, Aunty Renee+Uncle Colin
2nd: Sun - 18th, with Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle Adrian
3rd: Tues - 20th (Birthday!), with Daddy and Mummy and Rachel Ah Yi and Andrew Yi Zhang.
4th: Sat - 24th, with Mama Nancy and Rachel Ah Yi.

Small meaningful celebrations..
I know Megan had a great time :)

Ju is addicted...

HELP!

I wanna re-install my SIMS!!!!

'Inception' is BRILLIANT!!!

and the ending... just screws your mind! (no spoilers here.. don't worry ;))
I like~
AWESOME! *2 thumbs up and I'd borrow Megan's too!*

We then had dinner with Chris @ Tims! Had my fav steak and sausage :)
i still LOVE the teh tarik. If i'm not wrong, it's nestle.

Zack's on course the next 2.5weeks. Not sure I like it cos he wouldnt be home during the day :(


Late night cos I took a nap just now.
Woke up with a slight sorethroat and stuffy nose.
Praying I wouldn't fall sick.
I havent been sick since...... gosh, since before I got pregnant!
Zack and I did abit of research just now.. hehe.
We're just so addicted!

Niteeees...

A BIG FAT RAT ATE MY FISHCAKE!

Woke up and find half my fishcake gone!!!

First he woke both Megan and me up and I have to spend an hour coaxing her to sleep. THEN he ate my fishcake! This Isaac is so gonna get it when he wakes later.

it's 6:20am and i cant sleep!

(and i hate typing on my hp!!)
all thanks to zack.

He was on the com and laughing so loud that megan and i got woken up.. sheesh! Hard to put her back to sleep cos she was wide awake. She finally did at 6 but i cant go back to slp! Looked at the clock n got a jolt when i saw the time. Sigh.. Hoping megan will sleep in today. Best if it rains. Not happy with zack right now. He can sleep til way past noon but i wake when megan wakes! Some consideration next time will nice!

Weekend sleepins is a long forgotten past.
But that impish grin every morning makes it all worthwhile.

Let me go try to get back to sleep.

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Just clocked in 4 solid hours of work *yawns*
Work work work work.....
Feels like I clock in more hours than a full time staff.
I check and reply my emails all day,
when Megan is down for the night is when I sit down and get the proper work done. The analysis and planning part where I need concentration. It's impossible to do that when you have a toddler (my baby is a toddler now!!) walking and crawling all over, trying to wash her hands in pap's water bowl, pulling the fancover off and all sorts of mischief!

That leaves me getting work done til past midnight. I have a very considerate chairman this year. He asked me if I am coping well and to let him know when I'm getting stressed (he knows i'm juggling work and a baby toddler) Somehow it's nice and understanding bosses like him that just spurs you on to do your best. With all modesty, I do say i'm a responsible person. When I say I will get something done, I will. Even if I have to work round the clock, I will deliver.

I have chosen the tough life.. yet I'm lovin' it!
Godma is coming tomorrow!!! To celebrate Megan's birthday :)

She checks Megan's blog a few times a day!
Anxious to read more development on her little darling.
When I don't post anything for days, she says mummy is lazy!
See how busy I am?!! Hahahha
So yeah, I try to update Megan's blog more often.
Mighty good that I take so many pics of Megan
so some days I just post pics to keep that grandma happy :P


Gonna do up Megan's birthday post soon!
Finally done uploading the pics on to the laptop.
Too many pics....!

Here's my fav... our family shot :)

Note to self: Just remembered I have to buzz Vincent. He left me a msg the other day.

Finally!

I caught Midnight Bayou at 10pm just now! It's crazy how i missed the past 3 screenings.

1) Sat, 9pm: Megan's bday celebration with the gang.

2) Sun, 5pm: Grandpa & grandma were here and we went out for early dinner to celebrate lil darlings bday.

3) Tue, 3pm: Megan's bday, brought her out to celebrate, sentosa underwater world.

See how i was SO NOT meant to watch and i was REALLY looking forward to it. Now i finally did! Adapted from one of my fav book. Did it justice i might add.

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2:30am...

...just settled down.Went to Rachel's hse at 9plus to bake megan's bday cake! Frosting and cake deco as well. Incredibly busy gettin the ingredients. im beat right now honestly. im leaving the deco til tomorrow cos im simply too tired. Waking up earlier too to get some work. Didnt do anything but read my emails. So gonna get fired! Taking megan out to celebrate her bday!! So i gotta be a gd gal, get my work done bfore we go out to play. MY BABY IS 1 YR OLD ALREADY!!! *beams*

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Needs to buy:

- bananas
- bigger baking pan
- tiara deco

Megan's series of 1 year old birthday celebrations started last night...

....with a BLAST!

We had an absolutely awesome time last evening! :) Kicked off Megan's series of bday celebrations with the gang: Godpa Marky + Aunty Christina, Aunty Renee + Uncle Colin, Aunty Elynne came too (while Uncle Chris is in Indo for a wedding), Godpa Fu and Aunty Des. It touched us so when all our good friends made the effort to come celebrate with Megan :)

Godpa Marky & Aunty Christina came early to play with Megan. Then we headed off to Bugis for dinner at Nandos. Elynne and Renee met us there. Bought a cake on our way there and the staff at Nandos sang a birthday song for Megan. She looked so bewildered.. hahaha! They even went out to buy a present for Megan! How nice of them :) One thing was very evident.. and that's: Megan likes the Aunties way better! She didn't fuss one bit when Aunty Renee carried her, sat quietly on her lap. But when Godpa Fu came, she started to cry.. hahah. She had to take a while to warm up to Godpa Marky too. Funny yah. Godpa Marky was sad. Godpa Fu felt insulted.. ahahaha!

*remember to get vid from Marky on the Nandos celebration.

*break* going for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa! 2nd bday celebrations. Ta~

Continued on to our humble abode. After her bath and milk, little princess didn't wanna sleep. It was only when Renee and Colin arrived and wanted to see Megan. Everyone came into Megan's room and Megan had a great time being the centre of attention. Walked for all the uncles and aunties.. haha. After awhile, the guys went off to smoke shisha while Elynne, Christina, Renee and I stayed back in the room and chat. Megan finally settled down.. with the dim lights and our chatter.. she fell asleep on my lap :)

Our night didn't end til almost 4pm. Late night chat, dim light, shisha smoke.. with just a tad of gossip..haha. It was a great night with our friends :) We told them and we're glad we did :)

Megan thanks all uncles and aunties for the lovely presents :)

Godpa Marky and Aunty Christina for 'hugalot' (if i'm not wrong) from toy story 3 and the prettiest top and tutu skirt!


Aunty Renee and Uncle Colin for this pretty top. Can't wait for Megan to grow up so she can wear this.


Aunty Elynne bought Megan this sexy tube top! :)

TODAY'S CELEBRATION...
is with family: Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Adrian!

2 more to go ;)

I cant cant cant watch those vids on EVIL people doing despicable things to animals - in fact, I don't. Words are enough. A picture is enough to haunt me for days. I WANT JUSTICE! I want those dogs, animals to be safe. I want those evil creatures dealt with in the most horrendous and painful way. What can i do?!! I wanna do something besides watching vids on youtube and fb then posting them! China, Indo.. and all you animal abusers, you watch it. I wanna be Robinhood. I wanna be Dexter. God, pleeeease do something! I'm begging you! Save those animals! They are yours too.

Gosh, what a horrid start to the day.
In a terrible mood.

Got a thousand things to do and i'm wondering if i got the time to bake Megan's bday cake. Buy ingredients then go to Rachel's to bake. On top of that, clean and tidy the house. We are having visitors today. I'll be so pissed if Zack is not helping out. He'll probably sleep til it's time to leave the house. I'm stretched tight with work, megan and house. Millions things on my mind and certainly not in the best of mood.

Fuck.

I'm worried about Pappe.

Review from the vet ain't good. Her heart murmur has gone up to grade 3. It used to be 2/3. She is on another heart medication and it causes her to pee/drink alot. She hasn't been able to get used to the increase in pee flow and I found her covered in pee (funnily only at night). Hopefully it'll be better as days go by. She's gonna be the last dog I will ever have. I can't stand the heartache.

I am considering doing the whole series of test for her now. Then we can plan from there. Her tick-fever test is negative and that's a HUGE relief! There are other tests she gotta pass too. I wanna get everything done before her condition worsens. *Sigh*

*praying hard*

taking a breather...

Hectic day.
Terribly humid.
Just gave pap a bath and she is napping on megan's couch.
Megan is blabbering in her cot. She has an entire lauguage of her own.. it's too cute!!
Gotta wake Zack up in 10mins.
Bringing pap to the vet for review.

I'm so tired.....

Tomorrow will be burnt - Work.
Megan's bday celebrations start on sat.
Everyone's been asking how are we gonna celebrate.. haha.
There will be a series of mini celebrations.
Taking her out with the gang.
I wanna bake her bday cake! Got the recipe and all.
Even only I can find the time.
Gotta go Rachel's for the oven.

Oohh.. time to change the diaper.

I can never take a break for long.
There are always a million things to do.
You really gotta be in my shoes to understand.

Did i mention i'm soooo tired?

I just want one day.... with absolutely nothing to do. Alone. In my bed, with a book and hot latte. No work. No lunch to prepare. Nothing to plan. Just me, alone. I realised.. i've not had that for.. close to a year!

i fell down...

...with megan in my arms (at home). But when I landed on my ass, i looked down at her and she grined back! hahahah. Such a brave strong gal!

Now I'm aching and bruised :( Just realised my butt is bruised as well.. haha.

Done with work at 1plus. Tried doing some research but kept dozing (i'm dozing even as i type this!) Time to head to bed..

Long hectic day...... or week for that matter.

*plop*

Lunch at Jai Thai!

Our 1st time dining in.
We ordered take-away the first time round cos it was late (Megan's bedtime). Got there at 11:45am, managed to beat the lunchtime crowd.

Food: Authentic thai cuisine - Excellent! Portion a tad small. It's so good you just want more!
Price: Very reasonable
Service: Friendly (thai) staff and helpful in recommending dishes.

Definitely one of our haunts now! Gotta go early as it gets very crowded. Thanks Ben and Val for the recommendation :)


thai iced coffee - Zack's
thai iced tea - Mine and lovin' it!!! (wishing for one right now...)


The squid in basil leaves is just PERFECT...

Tom yam soup came later but I was too busy stuffing my face to take any pics. And also engrossed in our topic of conversation.. haha.

(I really shouldn't be blogging about food at 2plus in the morning.. i'm hungry!)


Nearing Megan's naptime so she was a little grumpy..


"I want mummy's thai iced tea.."
(Had to keep her entertained. You get very creative when you become a mum)


"Ahhhh! It's COLD!"
(ain't she adorable?? :))


Waiting for our beef noodles - takeaway for our dinner.

Beef noodles are sooooooo good! Rivals the street vendor 30baht beef noodles we had at Koh Samui - just the taste, NOT the price.

Perfect timing. On our way home, fed her lunch (oats/apple/cheese) which I cooked and packed along. Promptly fell asleep :)

nap tight baby...

on a separate note: Faded Violet is lovely!

my black/white baby knows how to enjoy life..

went in to check on megan and this was where i found pap - on the couch with the aircon blowing at her, licking her paws. All cosily snuggled into my pillow.

this gal ah.. :)

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Dreaming.. literally!

Gosh.. i've been looking at them so much i even dreamt about it. I blame zack! He got me hooked!

Funnily alota ppl i come across with recently seems to talk bout this issue. Even the cab driver ydae. He was really nice, saw me waiting and turned back for me after dropping his passenger. When he could have picked someone there. We chatted the whole trip, he has some really good insight.

i wonder... *ponders*
*praying hard*

hmmm...
9:08 and little queen is still asleep. Better go check on her.

Meeting RB at 2:30 later.
Site visit tomorrow. Maybe i will bring megn along.
Busy week!

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butterflies in my tummy...

Last night Zack and I spent a whole 6 hours doing our homework. With him taking a break to cook (my sweetheart cooked tom yam and steam fish :)). 1am and my back couldn't stand it so we called it a night. Terrifying yet thrilling. I only wish it will pull through. So much planning to do. But one thing I know one thing that's certain about Zack and I. We make things happen. Nothing is NATO for us ;) In our 6 years together, we have done tons. And most of them started from just a thought in our head. We are not afraid of making decisions, then plunging ourselves into it.. haha. Free fall!!! - just hope we land safely. But such is life.. be advantureous! Bottomline: At least we tried ;)

Saw Zack off to work this morning and couldn't get back to sleep (adrenaline still cruising through my veins!) so here I am hitting those buttons.. haha. Megan should sleep in cos she was fussing last night. Had to cuddle her to sleep. Must be her gums.. My poor baby.

3.2.2
Why so little of them!?!?!

MEGAN JUST TOOK HER 1st STEP!!!

tumbled on her 2nd step but she is so confident now! Was so cautious when she took that first teetering step. My heart just sang~

My baby is stepping into toddler-hood :)

Oh my gosh.. as I typing this, she did it again!!! Moved away from the sofa and took that first step. Tumbled on the 2nd and crawled away.. hahhaha!

At 11m 2w 5d: Megan took her 1st step!!!

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The Hos and Chans on a thurs night..

Ben and Val came to visit last evening.. to play with little Megan. Unfortunately, Megan was Little Miss Grumpy - she was tired. So any loud laughter from Godpa Ben, she started to wail. Hahaha. Poor gal. I should have put her down for a nap at 5pm but Zack and I had to buy some grocery for dinner. I boiled soup and bought some dishes. They love my soup :)

Val gave lotsa beautiful books to Megan. I LOVE the flashcards! And the colorful textile books too. Gotta teach Megan how to care for them and play with them lovingly (yeah more so after watching Toy Story 3).

Still, Godpa Ben managed to catch a few nice albeit grumpy shots of our little princess.











out like a light...

My fav shot!

Zack calls this Megan's vogue pose.. haha!

We had a great chat over dinner after Megan went to bed. Had some very valuable advice from them. They really are a good source of info given their background and future plans. Very encouraging too. Zack is even more excited and convinced.. haha. I'm on the same page with them as well. Now it's time for serious planning. Dreaming big with butterflies in my tummy. But at the end of the day, we will leave it up to HIM. If it's meant to be, it will be.

Quite a bit of ramifications. Travel plans might have to change too.

After they left, Zack and I did more digging and reading. I'm excited for him! :)

one step at a time....