Playing with my loot
Izzy tries on the shoes and necklace I bought on a shopping trip with Khoo in London over Easter. It's dark but I think you can make out just how high the platforms are. I was impressed she didn't tip over.
30 March 2008
22 March 2008
Back to work
So we've pretty much settled back into the rhythm of things here. The holiday back was so good - nothing but laid-back eating and sleeping - I didn't even get post-holiday blues until the following week. Mind you it helps that we came back to a three-day week and then two four-day weeks thanks to the Easter weekend.
Izzy had a couple of days crying for me at nap time at nursery but otherwise was quite overjoyed to see her nursery friends again. Which is nice considering she was dreaming about Felix and having imaginary phone conversations with her friends the last week of our holiday.
Today we took her out to Beale Park, and arranged to go with Big Sam and another colleague's two children. We all arrived separately but hooked up at lunchtime in the restaurant thanks to the forecast sudden shower. But it didn't last long - just long enough for us to get told off for allowing the children to eat some of our picnic food (we'd planned a picnic but it was way too blustery to eat outside) - and then afterward we had a goodish couple more hours.
Beale Park was lovely for several reasons:
1. It wasn't crowded at all
2. It was so laid back - it's a non-profit business - and you don't feel like you're getting ripped off about things
3. There's a nice variety of things: indoor play area, outdoor playgrounds, a little train ride and lots of animals: meerkats, squirrel monkeys, and lots of birds, particularly some awe-inducing owls
We'll probably be back!
"I love you..."
Izzy has been singing the Barney song all over the place. One day her key worker at nursery told me she'd sung it to Felix, who suddenly went all shy, covered his face and went "No, no, don't sing..." Undaunted, Izz apparently put her hands round his face, turned it towards her own and kept on:
"I love you, you love me
We're best friends like friends should be
With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too.
OK, Felix? OK?"
Thas' ma gurl!
She's still taking to altering the words in songs for a laugh too. We sing this ditty to each other: "I love you, I miss you, I just want to KISS you." So today she sang "I love you, I miss you, I just want to pat you!" Followed by not-very-gentle patting of my chest and lots of giggles. She was so tickled that sometimes she'd forget the pat bit and sing kiss but still thump my chest vigorously while laughing.
Shout out to the aunties!
Aunties Elaine and Sophie should know Izzy still remembers/misses you. On being told we were having lunch with Weifs and Lucy this weekend she went all pensive for a moment. Then said "I want Aunty 'Laine." I then had to explain we would next see Aunty Elaine only at Aunty Soph's big party - to which she cheered lustily. Unfortunately for Uncle Vik this girl obviously has an elephantine memory. Because when I said we would see Aunty Elaine and Uncle Vik there, her face darkened. And then she said: "I don't want him to pinch my cheeks."
Scarred, Vik, scarred for life.
So we've pretty much settled back into the rhythm of things here. The holiday back was so good - nothing but laid-back eating and sleeping - I didn't even get post-holiday blues until the following week. Mind you it helps that we came back to a three-day week and then two four-day weeks thanks to the Easter weekend.
Izzy had a couple of days crying for me at nap time at nursery but otherwise was quite overjoyed to see her nursery friends again. Which is nice considering she was dreaming about Felix and having imaginary phone conversations with her friends the last week of our holiday.
Today we took her out to Beale Park, and arranged to go with Big Sam and another colleague's two children. We all arrived separately but hooked up at lunchtime in the restaurant thanks to the forecast sudden shower. But it didn't last long - just long enough for us to get told off for allowing the children to eat some of our picnic food (we'd planned a picnic but it was way too blustery to eat outside) - and then afterward we had a goodish couple more hours.
Beale Park was lovely for several reasons:
1. It wasn't crowded at all
2. It was so laid back - it's a non-profit business - and you don't feel like you're getting ripped off about things
3. There's a nice variety of things: indoor play area, outdoor playgrounds, a little train ride and lots of animals: meerkats, squirrel monkeys, and lots of birds, particularly some awe-inducing owls
We'll probably be back!
"I love you..."
Izzy has been singing the Barney song all over the place. One day her key worker at nursery told me she'd sung it to Felix, who suddenly went all shy, covered his face and went "No, no, don't sing..." Undaunted, Izz apparently put her hands round his face, turned it towards her own and kept on:
"I love you, you love me
We're best friends like friends should be
With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too.
OK, Felix? OK?"
Thas' ma gurl!
She's still taking to altering the words in songs for a laugh too. We sing this ditty to each other: "I love you, I miss you, I just want to KISS you." So today she sang "I love you, I miss you, I just want to pat you!" Followed by not-very-gentle patting of my chest and lots of giggles. She was so tickled that sometimes she'd forget the pat bit and sing kiss but still thump my chest vigorously while laughing.
Shout out to the aunties!
Aunties Elaine and Sophie should know Izzy still remembers/misses you. On being told we were having lunch with Weifs and Lucy this weekend she went all pensive for a moment. Then said "I want Aunty 'Laine." I then had to explain we would next see Aunty Elaine only at Aunty Soph's big party - to which she cheered lustily. Unfortunately for Uncle Vik this girl obviously has an elephantine memory. Because when I said we would see Aunty Elaine and Uncle Vik there, her face darkened. And then she said: "I don't want him to pinch my cheeks."
Scarred, Vik, scarred for life.
16 March 2008
15 March 2008
12 March 2008
Well we are back
We got home safe and sound; flight uneventful but for Boo kicking herself slowly but surely into my seat so that I eventually wound up sleeping on the floor. Unfortunately the plane was full coming back, unlike our trip out. Next time must remember to check if there are connecting Garuda flight people getting on. But at least she slept reasonably soundly and so did we, even if I was once awoken by baby realising I was on the floor. She sweetly climbed down, squeezed herself next to me and then demanded 'Susu, mummy.'
Am sorry to say I am now reverting to scare tactics to get her to behave - like wearing her seat belt when landing "or the cheche will come by and tell you off" - just because it gets results so much more quickly. Unfortunately the downside of this was that the poor stewerdess who was very sweet to her got nothing but suspicious looks every time she stopped by with a treat for Boo.
She was very happy to see her nursery friends again this morning and was all smiles when I left her but apparently she then howled for me at nap time and wouldn't go to sleep. So she fell asleep in the car on the way home and hasn't woken for dinner. And now I am thinking I might join her because I know what this means - at 0430 tomorrow there will be the familiar tap on my face and 'Mummy, susu. I want susu.'
This morning was rather hellish as we tried for two hours to get her to go back to sleep or at least talk about her trip home. Alex eventually gave up at about half past six and got up to shower. I've spent most of today in the usual daze of the first day back after two weeks off, catching up on emails - deleting spam took at least 20 minutes - and then trying to marshall the brain to some purpose.
Not unsuccessful but already I'm thinking about the next holiday and had to stop myself checking my holiday allocation in the first hour I was back. Mom's chocolate chip cookies, pineapple tarts and kuih kapit have been some, but only some, consolation.
We got home safe and sound; flight uneventful but for Boo kicking herself slowly but surely into my seat so that I eventually wound up sleeping on the floor. Unfortunately the plane was full coming back, unlike our trip out. Next time must remember to check if there are connecting Garuda flight people getting on. But at least she slept reasonably soundly and so did we, even if I was once awoken by baby realising I was on the floor. She sweetly climbed down, squeezed herself next to me and then demanded 'Susu, mummy.'
Am sorry to say I am now reverting to scare tactics to get her to behave - like wearing her seat belt when landing "or the cheche will come by and tell you off" - just because it gets results so much more quickly. Unfortunately the downside of this was that the poor stewerdess who was very sweet to her got nothing but suspicious looks every time she stopped by with a treat for Boo.
She was very happy to see her nursery friends again this morning and was all smiles when I left her but apparently she then howled for me at nap time and wouldn't go to sleep. So she fell asleep in the car on the way home and hasn't woken for dinner. And now I am thinking I might join her because I know what this means - at 0430 tomorrow there will be the familiar tap on my face and 'Mummy, susu. I want susu.'
This morning was rather hellish as we tried for two hours to get her to go back to sleep or at least talk about her trip home. Alex eventually gave up at about half past six and got up to shower. I've spent most of today in the usual daze of the first day back after two weeks off, catching up on emails - deleting spam took at least 20 minutes - and then trying to marshall the brain to some purpose.
Not unsuccessful but already I'm thinking about the next holiday and had to stop myself checking my holiday allocation in the first hour I was back. Mom's chocolate chip cookies, pineapple tarts and kuih kapit have been some, but only some, consolation.
05 March 2008
Uncle Wai entertains Boo
Of whom she is inexplicably fond despite him being the loudest boy in PJ. Izzy also seems to bring out the best in Wai. For all his pre-teen swagger and rough-housing, he has never once behaved in any manner but gently to his little niece. Perhaps there's a gentleman in there yet! That or he knows I makes good on threats to sit on him and pinch him blue-black if needs must.
Of whom she is inexplicably fond despite him being the loudest boy in PJ. Izzy also seems to bring out the best in Wai. For all his pre-teen swagger and rough-housing, he has never once behaved in any manner but gently to his little niece. Perhaps there's a gentleman in there yet! That or he knows I makes good on threats to sit on him and pinch him blue-black if needs must.
Princess tantrums
On being told she cannot take the shopping basket home. And after Popo is told not to buy one for her, regardless of whether the shop is willing to sell it to her.
And not to buy one for her from another shop either.
Yes I am a hard-hearted cross-patch mother but if you'd seen the amateur dramatics on display you'd find it very hard to believe there was real heart behind the apparent dismay as she went from happy to this in two seconds flat.
On being told she cannot take the shopping basket home. And after Popo is told not to buy one for her, regardless of whether the shop is willing to sell it to her.And not to buy one for her from another shop either.
Yes I am a hard-hearted cross-patch mother but if you'd seen the amateur dramatics on display you'd find it very hard to believe there was real heart behind the apparent dismay as she went from happy to this in two seconds flat.
03 March 2008
01 March 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)