Baby3 Updates: 30 Weeks

We are now 30 weeks pregnant. Visited the gynae on 19 January 2012. Baby now weighs 1.6kg.

Julian likes to feel baby moving inside Mummy's tummy. He's getting more excited about baby's arrival :-) Ever since we told him baby's due in March, he's been constantly telling us "When March, baby will come out! Then there will be 3 children. Hooray!" :-)

Justin would sometimes pat Mummy's tummy but is more interested in his own play than in the growing bundle :-) Nevertheless, he always remembers to pray for baby when saying his prayers :-)

Thirteenth Encounter

We presented our thirteenth Engaged Encounter Weekend. The 85th Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend was held from 6-8 January 2012 at Stella Maris, Penang. 20 couples attended the weekend. We were on the presenting team with Fr. Gerard Theraviam, and Joseph & Terri Kwok from the Singapore Engaged Encounter Community.


[Participants of EE85]

Justin Goes To School

Justin started playschool officially on 3 January 2012. A week earlier, from 27-30 December 2011, he went for 'orientation'.

During the Orientation Week he was enthusiastic about going to school, especially on the first day. His first one-and-a-half weeks went fairly well. The only snag was that, except for the third day of orientation, he refused to eat the porridge that was offered at lunch, preferring to go back for 'new moi-moi' at the babysitter's.

On Friday, 6 January 2012, he refused to put on his sports uniform and didn't want to go to school anymore. I guess the novelty of going to school had worn off! From then, he has refused to put on his school uniform every morning and always says 'mai school'. Up to Wednesday, 11 January 2012, he would be crying and saying "I want daddy/mummy..." when we dropped him off at school. We were told that he was alright after a while, and would participate in the activities.

On Thursday, 12 January 2012, he didn't cry anymore when we dropped him off. He seemed resigned to the fact that he has to go to school and sadly said "Bye, mummy" when dropped off. He still refuses to wear his school uniform in the morning and eat lunch at school.

We thought he would settle in well and like school since he seems to be the participative kind of child (unlike Julian at that age)... I guess we were wrong... We hope he will eventually (and hopefully soon!) like school and look forward to going...

Julian at 55 Months

Julian turned 55 months (4 years 7 months) on 28 December 2011.

Here are his updates:

• He sometimes turns the conversation around to favour him. For instance, instead of volunteering to do something, he'll ask us to ask him to do it (e.g. "You say 'Julian press G'"). Then, he'll ask us to say 'thank you' ("Now say 'thank you'"). He's now 'teaching' us what we taught him!
  
• He likes to play the role of 'teacher' to Justin as well, teaching little bro to say words, phrases and sentences. A typical lesson would go something like this:
  Julian: Justin, say 'we'...
  Justin: we...
  Julian: are...
  Justin: are...
  Julian: going...
  Justin: going...
  Julian: home!
  Justin: home!
  Julian: Now say 'We are going home!'
  Justin: We are going home!
  Julian: Good!
  
• Sometimes he wants to dictate how we respond. For example when he spots an aeroplane in the sky and points it out to us, we would often respond "oh yes, it's an aeroplane." He would then 'correct' us - "Say, 'You're right!'"
  
• When we ask him to choose between two things, he often chooses both! E.g.
  Mummy/Daddy: Julian, when you grow up do you want to be a pilot or a teacher?
  Julian: Pilot and teacher.
  

[Julian and his funny thoughts]


[Julian being cheeky]

Justin at 29 Months

Justin turned 29 months on 25 December 2011.

Here are his updates:

• He likes to ask the questions "Who that?" (which can mean "What's that?" or "Who's that?") and "what sound?" (What's that sound?)
  
• His speech has improved by leaps and bounds. He can make simple sentences although he cannot articulate every syllable of every word.
  
• While listening to the Christmas CD in the car, he would 'command': "Daddy/Mummy song, song!" (asking us to sing along with the CD).
  
• He is making demands on what he wants to see on the computer. We see another 'war' coming soon between the brothers...
  
• He holds certain 'comfort toys' to sleep. There's Thomas the train, red angry bird, yellow pig and black car. Earlier he was holding on to a 'baby' green ball.
  
• He can recognise and count up to 20.
  

[Justin's headgear]


[Justin loves puzzles]

Christmas 2011

We travelled to Menglembu on 23 December 2011 for the Christmas holidays. The boys went to the Pasar Malam that night - their first on low land (they've been to the one in Cameron Highlands). Grandma & Grandpa bought them aeroplanes which thrilled them.

The next day, Daddy and Julian went for a hair cut in Batu Gajah. Niq, Chui Ying, Gabriel and Rosalie came back. In the evening, we took the children to the playground in Batu Gajah.


[Justin through the tube]


[Julian monkeying around]


[See-saw foursome: The boys with their cousins]

Christmas Day began with Mass at St Joseph's Church in Batu Gajah. Then it was the time the children had been waiting for - opening presents! Lunch followed and then it was water fun with Grandma for the boys :-)


[Grandpa and Grandma with the grandkids at Christmas]


[Rub-a-dub-dub...]

We left for Butterworth in the afternoon. Antonia was back from KL. The boys had more presents to open! Boxing Day saw the boys having more water fun in Ah Kong and Poh Poh's house. We returned to Penang late evening.

 
[Jambu Julian]


[Jambu Justin]  


[More tub fun...]

At the Rattan Shop

On 17 December 2011, we went to a rattan shop in Penang Road in search of a rattan basket. The shop is situated near the Komtar overhead pedestrian crossing.


[At the rattan shop... what shall we buy?]


[Justin: What about this basket?]


[Julian: What about this rocking horse?]


[Julian: Anything but rattan canes!]

Puncak Mutiara Cafe

On 11 December 2011, we had dinner at Puncak Mutiara Cafe in Kampung Pelet, Bukit Mertajam. We found our way there armed with a GPS with details from their website.

The atmosphere at the cafe is quite pleasant and you can choose to dine outdoors, either sitting at regular tables with benches or sitting on the floor Malay-style, or indoors in air-conditioned comfort.

There's quite a variety of food available, ranging from soup to nasi briyani, and from eastern to western. They also serve exotic meats such as ostrich, deer, and rabbit.


[The boys distracted by the fish pond]


[Deep fried squid: RM6.50]


[Fried rice with satay: RM8.50]


[Fish and chips: RM13.00]


[Nasi briyani ayam ros: RM15.70]

Reunion at Feringghi Garden Restaurant

I attended a reunion of some former coursemates on 10 December 2011 at Feringghi Garden Restaurant.

The restaurant itself is a nice place and the food is not bad. Limited parking is available from the entrance facing the Batu Ferringhi beach as you come from the Bayu Senja shops.


[Ferringhi Garden outdoor dining]


[Ferringhi Garden longhouse]


[Cafe Latte: RM9.80]


[Grilled Lamb Chop: RM36.80]

Hiking at the Penang National Park

We took the boys to the Penang National Park on 27 November 2011. Angie and I are no strangers here but it was ages since we last visited. We arrived at the visitor's complex at about 10.45am. After registering ourselves, off we went on our little hike in the direction of Teluk Aling.

For the boys, getting to the destination didn't mean anything to them. They just enjoyed going on a hike, stopping anywhere or at anything that caught their attention, e.g. the beach, the wooden/rope swings, the bridge, thick overhead vines, etc. Hence, we got nowhere near Teluk Aling, but it was time well spent nonetheless. We showed the boys the interesting coastal screwpine plants (pandanus odoratissimus) which had fruits that looked like pineapples. We also spotted a skink climbing a tree.


[Justin having a break on a branch]


[Julian hot on the trail]


[Justin testing the bridge]


[Destination: Teluk Aling, or so it seemed]


[Beach-side swing]


[Julian and Justin at the signpost]

It was about 12.45pm and scorching hot by the time we got back to the car. We headed straight to a restaurant not far from the visitor's complex for lunch.

The Js Duet

On the night of 18 December 2011, Julian and Justin sang their first duet.

Julian: Twinkle, twinkle little...
Justin: Star
Julian: How I wonder what you...
Justin: Are
Julian: Up above the world so...
Justin: High
Julian: Like a diamond in the...
Justin: Sky
Julian: Twinkle, twinkle little...
Justin: Star
Julian: How I wonder what you...
Justin: Are

Daddy and Mummy just had to applaud... even though it was bedtime and they should be in bed! :-)

We're Pregnant, Yet Again!

We're expecting our third baby! Angie is now 25 weeks along and baby is due end of March 2012.

Unlike when we were expecting Julian and Justin, Angie had some cravings for certain food.

This time, we decided that we wanted to know baby's gender. From our two previous visits to the gynaecologist, baby is a girl! :o)


[Baby at 11 weeks]


[Baby's face at 25 weeks]

Goodies from Italy

Mom and Dad went on an 8D5N trip to Italy (5-12 November 2011). They brought back lots of goodies such as big sausages, wooden Pinocchio toys, pasta, pasta sauces, chocolates, coffee, T-shirt, and rosaries. During their transit at Abu Dhabi, they bought some pistachio nuts. Thanks, Mom and Dad!


[Italian stuff]

Read about their trip: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Double Horsey Again

Here are some recent photos of the boys taken in November 2011.


[What's cooking?]


[Boys with balloons]


[Double horsey with Daddy]

Julian at 54 Months

Julian turned 54 months (4 years 6 months) on 28 November 2011.

Here are his updates:

• He can read quite well now. I think we did not mention this in his earlier blog entries.
  
• He now eats more varieties of food. He is more open to eating (certain) noodles but would opt for rice anytime. He would happily eat fish, meat, and of course egg and tofu. No veg still, but he will eat certain fruits. He generally refuses porridge and anything mushy like mashed potatoes.
  
• He's not very adventurous with food, often declining new food offered.
  
• After dinner at home, he would always say "I need a surprise". Translation: "I want a treat" (chocolate/box drink/any other goodies).
  

[Julian sleeping in a box]


[Julian eating in a box, or is he at a fish spa?]


[Modern cooking, the handphone way]


[Julian the pilot-wannabe]

Speaking of airplanes... Julian had a tendency to look at things from the corner of his eyes when pointing at something. We told him to not to do this, and to look straight... otherwise, he couldn't be a pilot when he grows up (because pilots are supposed to have good eyesight). So, one day, this conversation ensued...
Daddy: What is the pilot doing?
Julian: Looking straight!
Daddy: ?!?!

Justin at 28 Months

Justin turned 28 months on 25 November 2011.

Here are his updates:

• He can recognise all the letters of the alphabet, both capitals and small letters.
  
• He can pretend to sleep, complete with snoring!
  
• He likes to ask "what you doing (mummy/daddy)?"
  
• He is friendly with others and would willingly say, "hello aunty/uncle".
  
• He likes jigsaw puzzles.
  
• He can 'fill in the blanks' for a few Christmas songs: Jingle bells (his favourite), Deck the Halls (the Fa la la part) and We wish you a merry Christmas.
  
• He can spoon-feed himself quite well - when he wants to.
  
• He can express his preferences and is talking a lot more now. Picking up fast from big bro!
  
• He is now strong enough to open the fridge door at home! *horrors* He likes to rummage for - what else - chocolates (or any other 'goodies')!

[Justin on Daddy's head]


[Justin on the stairs]


[Justin on the stairs, again]


[Have wheels will travel]


[Justin doing the Angry Bird squint]

Julian's 2011 Kindy Concert

Julian's kindy held their annual concert on 19 November 2011 at the school premises. Grandpa and Grandma, and Ah Kong and Poh Poh were amongst those in the audience.

He was involved in a dance (to the song Choco Latte), and in a play set according to Disney's version of Beauty and the Beast. He played the baker in the market scene (he called himself the "roti man"), and was later part of the mob.


[One, two, three! Cho-co Lat-te...]


[There goes the "roti man" with his tray like always...]


[Part of the mob, armed with a rolling pin]