While Daddy was Away...

Dan has to travel sometimes for his work and this year was no exception. However, as Jedi is now older, he has begun to understand the emotion of missing someone. On the third night Dan was away, I heard some sniffing sounds from his room and went inside to see Jedi sobbing softly. When I asked him what was the matter he said tearfully, "I want Daddy!". After some reassurance, he went back to sleep. This happened again for the next night and gradually he began to understand that Daddy was away but will be coming back soon.
He would often doodle on his doodle board and on the day Daddy was about to come home, he drew this and said it was Daddy wearing a shirt.

The kids especially Jedi were very happy to hear that Daddy was coming home and were in a very good mood smiling and posing for the camera.

So to welcome Daddy home, I learnt to cook some bittergourd chicken from my MIL and made it a few days later. Can't put the recipe here as it is her secret recipe. Turned out good for hubby so thats good enough for me. Still need to fine tune it a little. All in all, I'm glad my dear is home. Been a tough week without him. Welcome home dear.

In Daddy's Arms

One afternoon Krisa didn't want to nap long so Dan carried her out so she would stop hollering in her room and wake Jedi up. He held her in his arms and she stayed so still and was so contented that he fell asleep. She never does that with me! Guess Daddy's arms are just as good as her bed. Captured some snapshots of the sweet moments...

This is how World War III starts....

Krisa has begun to be very interested in whatever Jedi does and wants to follow or do the same much to his dismay at times. Unintentionally she would take a piece of his Thomas the train track or a lego piece that architectually decides the success of his creation! Depending on Jedi's mood or whether he has had enough sleep, Jedi would either errupt in a flood of angry tears and say " You naughty girl!' or if he is in a good mood, he would actually sound quite motherly and say, "Mei Mei don't destroy my tracks. You see now? How?" Whatever it is, Dan and I often watch with apprehension and amusement when Mei Mei is on her curiosity quest while Jedi is having is Einstien moment... Here's an example...

hmmmmm... Since i can't reach the pile...

I'm sure Kor Kor wouldn't mind.....

Mealtime Battles!

Mealtimes are literally becoming a battleground for me! Feeding Krisa can be so patience-trying! I was so frustrated that I just simply could not feed her...not even ONE spoon of food in her mouth! And she would willingly go hungry for lunch and dinner! Then one day I was soooooo fedup I just placed the bowl of food with her spoon in front of her and to my amazement she begain attempting to feed herself. Yes..this mommy has literally forgotten that Krisa, although she is a Mei Mei, is also growing up and wanting to be independent! So its wasn't that she didn't want to eat....she wanted to try by herself. Of course the floor was fed too but at least some of it was in her mouth and I could 'steer' the spoon into her mouth at certain intervals. Well done sweetie pie!

Circles Circles Everywhere!

I'm wondering is it a guy thing to love round things??! Jedi loves balls, cars coz of thier wheels and now he has started to arrange everything in a circle. It has to be in perfect symetry so you can guess the reaction when Mei Mei is in her Destroyer mode to wreck that neverending perfection! yup! World War III and a mommy whose eyes are rolled heavenward!
But we were really impressed by his arrangement. He has had this trait of arranging his cars or trains since he was young. Used to be in a straight line but now the current fashion of the month for him is CIRCLES! Check this out...

Balancing Work and Mummyhood....

What a month! Just started doing some contract work for my ex-company and balancing working life and mummyhood is TOUGH!! I really miss my afternoon snoozes and internet sufring time! But I tell myself to finish fast so I can enjoy the rest of my time off with Dan and the kids. The extra income is good too!
My comp crashed just after i started work from home! I guess like me its not used to working! Thank God for my dear aunt's laptop which saved me much lost time! Finally my comp is back and running again and I am feeling less traumaitsed too! Then, I fell sick and lost my voice as I wasn't used to talking for such long stretches to conduct interviews.
Initially, it was a change for me as I had to be more disciplined with time and use my kiddies' nap time to do some snippets of work here and there. And it was a releif and wonderful to see the work coming together to be submitted. One thing I told myself was to allow myself to do my work only when the kids are sleeping and for a little while at night so that I don't neglect Dan and the kids and become my workaholic self when I didn't have kids. I thank the Lord for somehow multiplying my time.
But I thank the Lord for all the little blessings. For Dan who helps me with the kids at night if I need to do a home visit or interview. That my workload is flexible. That my workplace is within walking distance if I need to conduct interviews once or twice a week. For my aunt who is always there to help me in my time of need. And most of all for Dan and my kids who have given me much support. These little blessings remind me to be thankful in all circumstances. Adjustments are the humps in life but they will smoothen out in time with prayer and patience.

Learning to Smile for the Camera!

These are Krisa's recent attempts at smiling for the camera! I wonder who in the family smiles like that! Then I realised the 'culprit'....