My Rant

Its been nearly weeks and finally I'm able to write these unhappy events without getting too emotional or agitated.

Since we gotten our new place, my SIL and MIL had been the topic of our near daily arguments and both hubby and I are tired of it. Its not that I started the fire, its MIL and SIL that did. At the end of every visit by them, Hubby and I would end up arguing after they left and the last incident really is the last straw for me!

It all begin this way:

Before the idea of in-laws coming over to stay with us, we have ample rooms for everyone in our family... the girls will share one room while the boys in one. We even have a big study room for the kids and I to do our work + a guest room/ playroom.

So now, with in-laws and SIL coming, we (my kids and I) are left without an area to do our work. Yes, of course, the kids can study in the dining/living area, even their own room. But I need a place to work and hubby needs too when he is at home. Now we are sharing the same work area and he couldn't stand my style (I have lots of KIV and paper works, so desk is usually filled with papers and stuff). So, I suggested to "built" a room outside our bedroom at the balcony area while hubby pointed out that we can share the BIG room with SIL instead. I was reluctant.

Incident One

On the informal house warming night, they came over to tour the house. When they were in my room, I heard SIL commenting to her daddy "Oh! They (hubby and I) are so lucky! They even have a walk-in wardrobe!" This sentence was not said with envy but with jealous tone..(there's a different if you know what I mean). Oh..I forgot to add that currently SIL is taking the master bedroom in their own place.

That night when she was back at her house, she actually cried to MIL!! One must be very puzzled..why, since her room is already the biggest among all of us (she was told that the big room is hers). MIL told hubby that SIL was upset that my girls' room has all the nice built-in shelving and hers is so bare!!! Then MIL as usual tried to cover up for SIL by saying "She is just a kid".

When hubby told me this, I was puzzled and also boiling inside but kept my cool. She is not a kid anymore!! She is a teenager! A 14 years old girl!! Even my sister who is 1 year older than her would not have said such a thing!

We had given her a big room and yet she still make a fuss over it. So I told hubby the next night that I will take up his suggestion (to share the room with her). I know I did it out of spike and anger. Although she is such an ungrateful brat, I felt terrible inside that I have turn myself into Cinderella's stepmother. Felt so evil...guilty feeling?? I don't know but my thinking was that I am only allowing her to be with us till she turns 21 and out she goes..the most I gave her till 24 years old. I'm not going to have her till she decides to marry off..what if she doesn't?!

Incident Two

One week later, they came again and hubby broke the decision to them. Right away, MIL protested in her usual discreet way, telling hubby "This isn't very good idea, right? What if your sister make too much noise while the kids are studying? Also, you have 4 children. Think long term, with only that half, it would not be enough, isn't it?" Hubby kept quiet.

Then, they went downstairs and MIL suddenly suggested for us to built a study room at the side of the house instead. I heard everything and I told hubby off in front of MIL. That place is so hot, it would be a glass house effect! MIL kept quiet. She is very good in portraying a pathetic person. I was stupid to fall in the trap!

Hubby reprimanded me that night for shutting other people's kind suggestion. He said that MIL is just being nice and worried for the kids being disturb by SIL if they were to share the same room.

Since that night, we have been arguing on where the room should be. I know my stand was not make with clear cool mind but I just couldn't control my anger whenever I thought of what SIL said and how MIL maneuver the whole thing.

Hubby thinks that to make that as a bedroom will look funny but if its a study room, its good idea since it overlooking the garden. But I just don't want her to come up stairs and intrude into our private area.

We finally came to the conclusion to give it a try and plans were made to divide the room.

Then came the finally straw!!

Incident Three

They came and SIL rushed upstairs to "her" room with a bag of things. Rachel was with her and Rachel told her that that room is not only hers but theirs too. They were talking and Rachel shouted for me saying that SIL is putting things up on the wall. SIL standing at her halve of the room asking me "Is THAT their study room?" I replied "Yes" and I walked off, not wanting to talk to her.

When I came back out, I met her at the stairs and she stomped passed me and showed me her white eyes!! What the shit she think she is!!! Yet, I still kept my cool. Only after they left did I know that she actually cried and complained to PIL and hubby that I said that room was not hers!! When did I said that!!! I only says "yes" to her question if half of the room belongs to the girls!! Hubby said that though SIL is rude but by what I said, I was the one that started the provocation!! He went on to give a stupid example "if you stared at someone and got beaten up, when the police question you, you think you did not do anything which provocate the other person, but by staring, you are asking for trouble."

We had the biggest argument that night since we moved in!!!

What made matter worst is the next day, MIL brought SIL to hubby's office and do what she is best at. She made SIL apologise to him and MIL told hubby to "forget about it" and don't pursue the incident with me anymore. Hubby interpret that MIL is scared of me but I know her well. Its not she is scared of me, she is trying to be the Mrs Nice in front of him. And by telling hubby to forget about the incident meant that I was in the wrong and they are forgiving me!!!! ARHhhhh...super angry!!

Throughout the week, the tension in our house was so high. Any mentioned of SIL's name will see both of us really to "fight" in words. It really affected me and I totally have no more mood to cook or do anything. I tried to talk myself out of this anger but I really was mad.

Then, Hubby commended one night that the food was so boring, every day the same stuff. My reply to him was "when a woman gave up the kitchen, it also means the woman had given up on the family" He knows this time I was truly angry. After dinner that night, I gave him the ultimatum. If he insist on SIL coming in, the children and I will move out. I can't stand the sight of them anymore. I cannot bring myself to be a hypocrite. I am a person that show all my emotion on my face, I cannot pretend to welcome them when they had caused us so many unhappy nights.

Only after the ultimatum was served, hubby finally decided to sit through and talked about the whole thing and addressed my feelings without ending up quarrelling. The decision make that night was, instead building it for our study, we are going to make it as SIL room. The kids and I will use the entire room that was meant to be hers.

Am I being mean? Am I unreasonable? It makes her like Cinderella, sleeping outside the house and me the evil/ cruel stepmother.

They know I am unhappy and didn't come for a while. Our house was peaceful!

Anyway, I can feel the regrets in hubby for asking them in but its too late to say no now. He has been cracking his head for other options to place them but none is financially wise....

Tell me, was I wrong in anyway? Was my decision right?

Latest happening

They came over for dinner and that brat didn't even greeted me!! She see through me as if I wasn't even there!! No greeting when they arrived, no greeting when we start our dinner and no bye-bye when they left!!! If she is angry, so AM I!!!

Our Christmas...

The condo we used to live in organised a Christmas party for the residents and since we are eligible, I registered the kids for the party which was on 18th Dec. The turn out was not as good as last year but that means more chance to go up stage to play games for the girls.

The girls went up stage twice to play the games (though wining nothing) while Nicholas watched.

As usual, they had this Santa appearance and Santa will distribute the presents (which the parents had bought) to the kids. This is the most exciting part for my girls, for they were told that Santa had been "watching" them all year round and will have presents only for the good children. So they were very eager to listen out if their names were being called.

Nicholas was very anxious waiting...but when his name was being called, he refused to go up stage to take his present.

The girls each get a present from "Santa" and they were so excited!!

On 19th Dec, hubby's friend from Malaysia came over for dinner and I wasn't told till the morning itself!! I was so nervous as hubby suggested for me to whip up some Christmas dinner which I totally have never tried before. Moreover, they will be our first official guest to come over to our new place for dinner...*more sweats*... So, I dashed down to the Cold Storage and grabbed the frozen turkey; ham; sausages; salad...and a yummy log cake from Swiss cake. It was my first time roasting stuffed turkey and was so super nervous...I was praying real hard inside that I won't embarrass myself. But they were very nice people..everything I served, they ate as if it was really very yummy. It really flatter me!

The girls playing with their new friend in our garden...

On 22nd Dec, hubby suddenly suggested over dinner that we take a MRT down to Orchard Road and soaked into the mood! I was worried off the crowd but surprised to find its manageable. The kids, especially Nicholas, was so excited over the train ride!

Finally Christmas came!! The kids were the most excited ones. FIL and SIL came over for dinner and I made stuffed turkey again! Yup..its really yummy..the meat was not tough but tender and juicy..yum yum! This time, I placed some bacon on top of the turkey to give it some taste.

Made some baked scallops with cheese too. A new dish I tried today.

After ice-cream, the kids couldn't wait to unwrap their presents.

How can we leave Baby Ryan out of this , right?!

A family photo in front of the Christmas tree.

See those Thomas and Friend's shoes on his feet? He just couldn't resist wearing them right away!

And this present is from Santa @ the Condo's party. His favourite digger! See how happy he was?! He even pose for the photo take which was really rare!

And what's my Christmas's present? My best present is FINALLY, my baby can sit in the car seat for short distance drive (20minutes so far) without crying!!! Isn't it great news! YIPPEE!!! I can at least have my sanity back when I have to ferry the kids around!!

Merry Christmas!!

His school taught him this song for their In-House Christmas celebration performance.

Amazing that he can remember the entire song! I can even sing pass the 5 Golden Rings..everytime we have to look at him to give us the lyrics!

Leave this video to all of you and Wish You All A Merry & Blessed Christmas!!

Hollywood Dinos! Here We Come!!

Nicholas's school organised an excursion to the Jurong Bird Park to visit the Asia first Hollywood Dinos. I decided to sign the 2 girls up too. The kids were very excited and we talked about it the entire week, reading up about Dinosaurs. He was cooled about it and in fact looking forward to seeing the Dinosaurs.

But he got panicky once he saw the first Dino, a Stegosaurus. It didn't help with the dino moving and jumping by "itself"! He cling on to me tightly..he thought that was real!! Even after I explained to him that its not real, he still insisted it is... "No! They are real, not toys! See, the dinosaur can move and jump by itself! I'm scared, mommy!" I explained to him that it was controlled by those uncles in the tent, just like how he control his fire engine with the remote, but he doesn't buy that...*sigh*

Can't remember the name for this one...

They had "actors" there at the cave, one with head beaten off by a T-rex and another dropped into the water at the floating bridge. The girls really enjoyed it! Oh..forgot to mentioned that Nicholas was too frighten and I didn't want to scare him any further, thus handed him to his teacher who had just came out of the "cave". So he did not see all these special effects.

Its not the same as the Dinosaur exhibition years ago at the Science centre. Those were "dead" but these are "alive".

My dear boy enjoys better with the birds...the timid ones were playing happily with the black swan when we came out.

The tour supposed to take about 30 minutes but there's only 1 attraction. The rest of are booths selling stuffs with one or 2 dinosaurs to see along the way. The walk in the cave lasted less than 10 minutes! But I must say the experience is worth the money.

Botanica Garden - Trees Of The World Light-Up

We had wanted to join the Botanical Party on 5th Dec but daddy had to prepare for his overseas trip and thus, we waited for him to be back to check out the Botanical Garden - Trees of the World Light-up.

We had a quick and early dinner and drive down to Botanical Garden. The deco at the Visitor's Centre is nice and the girls love those lights dangling down from the trees.

As the path leads, we saw Christmas trees decorated by different countries, schools and associations. Most of them lack creativity, they look just like how we would decorated our Christmas tree. Only a few really stood out, one of them is from a landscape company, below.

We should have come on the opening night itself..more fun to walk with music in the background. (On the opening night, there was a concert performance). But nevertheless, we had a good walk...good exercise after dinner. By the time we were done, its past 9pm and daddy gave the kids a treats at Swensen. That really light-up the kids' face!

Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage

Saw on newspaper months back that Thomas the Tank Engine will be performing in Singapore and without delay, we got the tickets to this little boy's favourite show.

We only told him about it yesterday as we do not want him to "wait" so long to meet the engine Live. I told him that he has to be a good boy in order to watch Thomas and I'm proud to say he is. He kept telling me the whole day that he is a good boy, so can I bring him to watch Thomas?

Though its not in cartoon form, but little darling enjoys every single moments, especially when Thomas and Percy appeared.

Early Christmas Present from Santa Daddy

Christmas came early this year for my 2 girls. Their daddy bought them this Wii game with many game discs, and since then, they have been trying out almost all the games available.

I tried the "Cooking Mama" and gosh! Its tiring and so difficult to control! Wonder why they make it seems so easy?!

Baby Ryan @ 7 1/2 Months old

How time flies! It was as if yesterday you were such helpless baby being bundle up in that blue cloth and today, you are able to crawl to get what you set your eyes on. While nursing you today, memories of the 3 days hospital stay flooded my mind, oh...you have grown so much!

From a tiny 3.16kg infant to now a 8.1kg baby, carrying you now is no longer an easy task. Even with the help of the Sarong sling, though my hands do not ache, but my back does from long hour of carrying you when I had to bring you around to do my errands. And you love to wriggle around which make carrying you even more challenging!

And you have also taken up the role of a taster , tasting everything you can, from the floor to the wall to the furniture! *yuck*...

Since you are into exploring, mommy bought this Exersaucer for you to keep you occupied while I rushed about doing my work. It managed to keep you occupied for good 15 minutes, as long as I am in your sight.

You are the only one among the 4 kids that dislike medicine. Feeding you your medication is a struggle. We have to hold both your hands and secure your head to feed you. Even at such tender age, you know how to close your mouth so tightly that we practically have to "force" the syringe in! And when you tastes the medicine, your eyes will go blinking..(open/close/open/close), oh so cute! What a way to provide entertainment for mommy amidst the power struggle.

You still needs to suckle to sleep 90% of the time. The times when you don't need to nurse are when you are really too tired and had just been fed. Unlike other babies, you only sleep at 10pm every night and wakes up at 6am!! While other mommies talked about the last feed for their baby, I wonder when I can use those words, with you waking up at least twice in the middle of the night demanding for comfort suckle. Twice is when you are in better mood or HOURLY when you are in bad mood! Oh..when will you sleep through?...I'm so longing for a unbroken sleep...I want to ignore you sometimes, but you would continue your fake cry and I just have to raise my white flag and gave you what you want.

You sure are a kisser! hahaha..when I carry you, you will cupped my cheeks with both your tiny hands and pull me to your mouth and kisses my chin!

Love that feeling!!! Wonder will you still kiss me this way when you grows up...

Though you may not be fast for your age, PD assure us that you are not slow, just average. You definitely need more muscle exercise so as to be not so "soft". I shall try not to bring you out so often so you can "crawl" on the floor at home. Oh, and the way you crawl is just so cute! You dared not, though you tried, to lift up your buttocks and crawl. To move around, you will pull yourself forward with both hands, just like the army style!

Your weight and height have dropped from the 90 percentile to now 50 which made mommy so guilty. I have been bringing you around that you hardly have time for your cereals. Paed said if we want to pump you up, we can start you with vegetables and porridge now. So we shall!

You want nobody but me when I'm in sight. Once, aunty brought you to the playground with Nicholas, you suddenly burst into tears when you saw someone like me from far. You dashed your body forward indicating that you want to go to that lady (thinking that was mommy).

Nicholas's 2nd Year-End Concert

His concert day is finally here. In the morning before dropping him off at school, I actually bribed him. Told him that if he danced for me later on, I will get him a "BIG" ice-cream.

His class was the first to perform. I was so happy to see him shaking his buttock, though little, but still a very big progress from last year whereby he just stood there like a statue. This time, he did some shaking, turning and even a little hand movements. So proud of him!

Just in case you can't locate him, Little Nicholas is the 2nd boy from the left. The boss of the centre told me that he can dance very well during those practises and she insisted that she is going to send me one of those video. I know he can dance cos I saw him dancing too at home and also singing the song. Nonetheless, I am really very proud of him moving even that little bit.

The K2s from another branch did a guest performance. It was a tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Think they danced rather well. Oh, this year concert theme is Super Star and my girls thought they are really in a concert. See Charmaine and her classmate, jumping up and down as if they were in a rock concert! Catch them in action towards the end of the short clip.

Isn't He Cute?

Look at his mouth!! Maid said like "chicken buttock"! hahaha...so cute! Got no idea how he does it, we tried imitating him, sucking in our lips but can't make it.

He is now very into blowing bubbles with his saliva. hmmm..Is that a form of self-entertainment?

His First Biscuit

After a week of boring plain rice cereals, baby Ryan finally had his first HEINZ Baby Biscuit. Its melts in his mouth and he loves it!

He has finally know how to suckle from his trainer's cup too! What an achievement!

I was holding the biscuit in one hand and the trainer's cup in another and this little boy was so cute. He took one bite from my left hand, which was holding the biscuit and then turn to my right hand for the water. So to and fro his face turns till the biscuit no more.

His First Solid

Supposed to start baby Ryan with rice cereals last week but was so busy that we only gave him today.

But guessed he didn't really fancy that as I need to put him on my lap to feed him instead of laying on his rocking chair.

Will try again tomorrow.

He begun to recognise people too. He doesn't want anyone to carry him except ME! So tired...

I Have A Terrorist In My Car!!! Help!!

Help! Help! I am totally at a lost at what to do to get baby Ryan sit in his car seat without bursting into tears!! I really envy those lucky mommies out there that can have their baby sit in the car seat without bursting into tears.

You see, I have to ferry my 2 girls to and fro their enrichment class which is in the East (a good 25 minutes journey when there's no jam) and baby Ryan will cry non-stop when strapped in his car seat. I have to really try my best to turn a deaf ears to his crying, actually more of screaming nowadays. Its really tough to concentrate on driving with a screaming baby in the car and I'm so lucky that no accident so far *touch wood*, only 2 tickets for speeding from "cops on the top" just because I want to reach home fast so I can carry/ soothe that poor boy.

He was never like that when he was a baby. I still remember he would quietly sleep through or even laid on his baby car seat when we drove up to Kuala Lumpur in June. That was a good few hours drive but not a single sound from him at that time.

Even when he was 3 months old, he was able to sit in there without making any sound as long as my car was moving. Whenever I stop, he will gave out warning sound but stop once the car moved.

And when he was 4 months old, sometimes he will cry even when my car was moving and I tried playing some familiar songs for him and that does the trick.

But now, at 5 months old, my gosh! He will cry and scream no matter what we do and however the 2 jiejies tried to entertain him in the car. It makes the 2 jiejies sometimes very irritated.

Poor thing, right?? And those uncles that stop beside us whenever we were at the traffic lights will give me a funny look. Hello!? Do you think I want to let my baby cry until this way?? If the government allows me to carry the baby in one hand and drive, I would have done that. And it definitely solve the problem..but too bad, I can't!

Then, I saw this car toy in the Takashimaya kid's sales and bought it for a try. Hoping that it will at least help to distract and provide some entertainment for him.

It seems to fulfilled it task for the 1st week! When we placed him on the car seat, he will still cry but once he got hold of the little chick's feet, he stop as he will stuffed that in his mouth.

But after a week, even the little chick's leg cannot help. And now, every time I drive, he will be crying in better days or screaming in bad days. The only time I can have a peaceful drive is when he was sound asleep before entering the car. Everyone will try to keep as quiet as possible for fear of waking him. But I couldn't possibility wait for him to sleep every time.

His voice had turn hoarse with all the screaming. Anyone with good advice how to soothe him while I'm driving? Sometimes, I just hope I can press a button and my car will be transported to our destination right away!

Please rule out hunger as I always make it a point to feed him first before we embark on this tiring journey.

Baby Ryan @ 5 1/2 months old

Went to Paed for his 5 month old check up. Yes, we are 2 weeks late due to his cough/ runny nose as we do not want to give him any injection when he is unwell.

Anyway, his weight still hovers around the 7kgs but he definitely shoot longer within the last 2 months. He is now 66.6cm "long" !

Paed accessed his development and was very happy with him. Baby Ryan can now "sit" unsupported for at least a minute and he is also able to lift his chest up when placed on his tummy. He had started wriggling backward too. When Paed asked if he is wary of stranger, I told I don't think so as he smile at everyone but he sure know who the "cow" is.

Paed had a look at his skin and confirmed that he had enzyma (Is that the correct spelling) and advised us to apply lotion for him more often. Hmm..wonder where all the Bird nest gone to.. I was told that when expecting, consuming bird nest will help give baby nice skin, so why the enzyma??

His hernia is better now but his left eyes still has some discharge. I was told to continue to apply pressure message on the side of the bridge 3 times a day till no more discharge.

After all the checking, its time for his 6-in-one vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine. Again, this time, they had to poke 2 needles at one go! I was holding him this time round and I dared not even look when they poked. He cried just for a while but quiet down fast.

Some development of his to note down:-

* He laughs when I sing "round and round the garden, goes the teddy bear..." he will giggle loudly as he knows I'm gonna tickle him.

* He is my only baby that is not frighten of balloon. In fact, he will laugh loudly when we bring the balloon near him.

* He is able to "sit" with korkor when we had our story time. He will kicks his legs and moves his hands excitedly when he sees us holding a storybook.

* Still need to wake up for night feed, twice a night.

* During the day, he will wake up from his nap crying. When we carry him, he will pee..and after changing him, he goes back to sleep. hmm...so will he be the easist baby to train bladder control??

* He baby talk a lot to himself too. Now when I'm busy in the office, will place him on his play mat and he will "talk" to his animal friends for a good 5 to 10 minutes. Ohh..its so so cute!

* But he is also a TERROR when he is in the car. Shall talk about it in my next post.

Birthday Present from School!

What a surprised!! This school is really fantastic! In fact, RARE!!

Beside having the initiatives to help videoed Nicholas's birthday celebration without us even asking, Nicholas came back today with a present from the school! Wonderful!!

Nicholas never had this type before and he was so fascinated with his new toy. The 2 jiejies played Tic-Tac-Toe with him on this..and of course, he lost. The 2 big bully..

Mini Birthday Celebration For Nicholas

We had a mini birthday celebration for Nicholas in his school today. The goodies bag was prepared on the night before and Nicholas was so excited with the content in the bag that he refused to let it go and wants to bring it to his room and sleep with them!

Its my first time preparing goodies bag for 3 years old kiddos and I was totally lost with what to put in there. Didn't want it to be filled with sweets, so only 1 sweet per goodies bag. Bought the sunglasses, playdoh and Mickey Mouse blower sets from IMM Jurong.

Like last year, I ordered cupcakes for the children as I find that they can handle it much easier. This year, I ordered from Cupcake Divinity. Nicholas got to choose what he want this year and his choice is obviously none other than Thomas the Train and Bob The Builder. I was glad I ordered 2 months ahead as they are almost fully booked by the time I confirmed the orders (for Nicholas & Charmaine).

And Nicholas had been telling everyone since that mommy is going to buy Thomas and Bob's birthday cake for him on his birthday.

I had informed the teacher and centre earlier on that we will be celebrating there and guessed what?! The school thought hubby and I won't be there and they got ready a video camera to help record the moments for us! Isn't they great! They stop only to realised that we will be staying for the party. that's a WOW!

And unlike last year, Nicholas is in his camera shy mood and refused to smile at the camera. And he didn't blow the candles like he did last year too. He just stayed there and "act cool". Look at all his friends, all happy and ready for the camera, only him giving a funny impatient face. *faint*

No matter how we persuade and dangle the goodies bag in front of him, he just refused to blow the candle. So in the end, the friends got tired of waiting and help him blow.

A family picture minus the 2 sisters (they were in school)

Once home, Nicholas couldn't wait to open his own goodies bag. Seen here with the sunglasses.

That night, we have a mini family celebration for him at home. As I had ordered 28 cupcakes, (there are only 14 kids in school), we bought the rest back for the night celebration. heehee..

This time, he blows...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICHOLAS! MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESSED YOU WITH GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPY HAPPY TIMES!