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Dear Vera, you are your Daddy's pride. Daddy always says, "I think our daughter will grow up to be very pretty" To him, you are the world's prettiest girl and he knows there'd be many suitors after you, many of whom he'd feel not that good enough for you. You are so precious to him!
Dear Isaac, you are your Daddy's joy. Daddy always says you've inherited his 'guai-lan'-ness. And he loves it that you're so active, inquisitive, talktative and cheeky! You bring so much joy to your Daddy. Remember always how he'd hug and kiss you and say "Daddy loves you" to you. You are his darling!
Psalm 127: 3 - 5
3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
4 Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
(New Living Translation)
- Mood:
loved
- Mood:
jubilant
Today, Vera turns 3 month-old. In the last 2-3 weeks, she's found a very important part of her body - the thumb. And to show how much she loves her thumb, she sucks it... day and night. She's even chosen the thumb over mummy's nipple. When I try to breastfeed her, she'd push my breast away and stuck her thumb into her mouth instead! Whenever we see her trying to put her thumb in, we'd say "No" in a very firm tone. She seems to understand that cause she'd stop her act and cry in frustration. To wean her off, we swaddle her now each time we put her down to sleep. Of course she'd protest but her whining would soon give way to fatigue and she'd be knocked out to dreamland. In the battle with mummy over thumb sucking, mummy will always win! Hahaha...
(Can see that Vera truly lovessss sucking her thumb...)
(This is Isaac when he was 3 month-old. Sucks thumb as well. And they look so alike!)
- Mood:
amused
1. Meet & Greet - Magadascar. His favourite! He patiently took the half-an-hour train ride with Mummy to Jurong Point. Patiently sat through lunch as Mummy yakked, yakked, yakked with her colleagues (ok... Mummy had fun catching up too). Finally, patiently queued for almost half-an-hour for his turn to go up the stage for the meet-and-greet.
Then he asked again. "Where's Thomas' home?".
"Backstage".
"Oh... Thomas' room in the stage" Well, at least he understood what I told him.
4. Cell Bonding @ Seletar County Club. Isaac's first try at bowling and karaoke singing!
6. Church Camp @ Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside, Malaysia. It was a nice quiet resort, away from mega shopping malls. Both Isaac and Vera survived the almost 4 hour car ride up. Mummy and Daddy were thankful we convoyed up with friends who helped us with the kids. Thanks Uncle EuLee, Uncle Chris, Aunty Zin Ee and Aunty Sheila!
(Isaac enjoying pool-time with Daddy. Mummy enjoyed the bonding Dad & son shared)
(We bought a neck support pillow for Vera but it was too big for her! So Mummy placed it on her head instead. Hahaha...)
- Mood: cheerful
- Vera's clubfoot - Problem resolved
- Vera's stiffness in her hips - Results of ultrasound scan shows both hips are normal. PD's check on her hips again showed the degree of stiffness has lessened as compared to the last assessment. Physiotherapist's assessment of her hips showed no or very little stiffness in her right hip, which can be easily corrected with physio exercises to be done at home.
- Vera's blocked nose - Cleared. In fact, PD was pleased with her weight gain in such short span of time. On 28 May, her weight was 5.01kg. On 8 June, her weight was 5.4kg. She had put on 300g in about 10 days. Good good :)
God brings joy and gladness into our lives and once again, raised our level of faith. I give birth to 'faith' (aka Vera), faith I shall have!
- Mood: high
The first fun place Isaac went to on Friday morning was the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden.
Getting water from the water pump
Getting some help from yi-yi
Little gardener at work... A 'job' he seemed to enjoy so much. And the second fun place was the Central Fire Station which we visited on Saturday.
We had a ride on the aerial ladder. Isaac was actually quite scared as the cage climbed up to 4 - 5 storeys high. But we're so proud that he did not cry!
Daddy was actually the one who wanted to get behind the wheels... The fireman even turned the engine on for him!
My little fireman!
- Mood: excited
For the first 24 months of Isaac's life, I'd take a photo of him on every 18 of the month cos he's born on 18 October... I shall try to do the same for Vera.
Vera turns two month-old on 29 May 2009... Here's her @ 2 month-old.
- Mood:
good
On 28 May, Thursday, we brought Vera to KKH for her checkup. She was due to have a review on her feet condition. When Vera was born, the PD told me that she has mild CTEV. Below's some info I took from KKH's website:
CTEV (Congenital Talipes Equino Varus) is commonly known as clubfoot. The cause of this condition is unknown but thought to be related to the baby’s position in the womb.
Your baby will have either one foot or two feet that are turned inwards.
According to the PD, Vera's CTEV's mild and we just need to do daily physio exercise on her feet which will be sufficient to help her. Thurs's checkup was to review her condition.
During the checkup, the PD also helped to complete the 4-6 weeks assessment for Vera. She then told us that Vera needs to have an ultrasound done on her hips as her hips are not opening as wide enough as most babies. Of course the moment I hear this, I almost broke down. Before the clubfoot could be corrected to perfect, we received another disheartening news. The PD did not want to comment more till she sees the ultrasound so it'd be another 2 more visits to KKH for Vera next 2 weeks.
Vera's also nursing a blocked nose which, according to the PD, is quite bad. This explains her crankiness to nurse and inability to sleep well.
When these 3 pieces of news (clubfeet, hips & blocked nose) add up, it can be very over-whelming. However, by the grace of God, I was very composed. I seek solace and strength in Jesus... I tell myself that from that day on, the only tears I will shed for my children will be tears of joy. I shall not worry nor be anxious for and over my children anymore because God is with us. I give birth to 'faith' (ie. Vera, which means 'faith' in Russian) thus, we shall have faith! God sees us through the pregnancy. His hands and blessings and protection will continue to be with us. Let faith arise!
- Mood: hopeful
- Mood:
bouncy
- Mood: happy
On Sunday, 24 May, we went to McDonald's for breakfast. There happen to be the Red PEA programme (Interactive and creative programme by McDonald's). I was excited to have Isaac join in the fun. He did not want to participate in the 'Art' segment, saying he wanted to eat first. Ok... he's able to make small decisions for himself, hurray. Then, when the 'Play' segment, which was story telling through puppetry, started, he rushed to join the group without finishing his food. Isaac loves stories, so he was fully captivated by the story teller and his puppets.
THEN, came the 'Exercise' segment. And, there's a special appearance by Ronald McDonald, the clown himself! Well, to meet Ronald! It's one of the most exciting thing to a kid right? Apparently not for Isaac leh... The pictures below were taken while Ronald was singing and dancing and entertaining the kids...
Err... Why was Isaac not excited and looked least 'entertained'?? That's why I worry... Actually I can't exactly explain what it is that worries me... It's either Mr Ronald not entertaining enough or my son no concept of clown & entertainment or .... Aiyah, I also dunno....
The first thing Isaac said to me when the show ended, "Old McDonald go home already"... No tinge of sadness nor excitement...
- Mood:
worried
Isaac was being punished by me today. Made him face the wall. The first thing he did immediately was to run to 奶奶. Alas, 奶奶 wasn't able to shield him from this punishment. So, off he went and sat in front of the wall. Though I can't hear it, I'm very sure 奶奶's heart ache like broken glass to see him being punished. But as she can't ask him to defy Mummy's punishment, so... 奶奶 sat together with Isaac! It was actually quite comical to see the young and old sitting next to each other, facing the wall... But in less than 10 seconds, 奶奶 started singing nursery rhymes with Isaac. The next thing I know, Isaac got 奶奶 to take a storybook from his room (cos he knows he's not allowed to move or go to his room) and he happily read the book with 奶奶! Nevermind that she can't read English. She's happy as long as he is....
Sigh... Told Andrew... Next time, I'd spoil my own grandchildren too!
- Mood:
thoughtful
19 May we celebrated my birthday... The kids gave me a birthday card. Courtesy of, as usual, Daddy. Hubby gave me a card too. For the celebration, it was simple, but pampering. We went for a spa in the afternoon and had dinner at an Italian restaurant @ Sentosa Golf Club. The best part of the celebration? My big man took leave to spend the day with me... It made me feel important and loved... That I'm more important to him than his work... Feel so in love... I'd choose vegetables over steak anytime! Why do I say that? Cos...
Proverbs 15:17 "A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate"
The restaurant gave a complimentary cake, delivered by 4 singing waiters.
Each time there's a birthday cake, it always seems like Isaac's the birthday boy... Cos he'd want to blow out the candle. Here, he's attempting to blow out the candle... Seems easy to most of us but not to him!
He sure had fun!
Mummy getting a little help from Isaac (actually it's the other way round!)
Ironically, the spa made me look more tired then relaxed...
- Mood: loved
Ever since, I've been receiving M Day cards yearly... This year, there were 2 names on the card. Isaac's scribbling, held by Daddy's hand and Vera (no scribbling from her lah... she only knows how to grab a finger, not a pen yet...) I've also received 2 cards... One from the kids. The other, from Isaac which was a flower made in school... Sadly, he doesn't know the significance of M Day yet and when asked who's the flower for, his answer... "Isaac!"
- Mood: happy
As for Vera, at 5 weeks old, she now weighs 5kg. Good gain as well....
Life's joy can be as simple as seeing my children putting on weight and growing healthily...
( Milk... Good... Yum.... )
- Mood: happy
Took only one pix... That of the full month cake we gave to the relatives...
This Sunday, 3 May, we’re having a ‘birthday’ party for Vera. To celebrate her ‘coming-of-age’, the full month 满月 celebration’s a chance for the relatives and friends to meet her.
Part of the preparation calls for a ‘what-to-wear’ decision. So, Mummy and Gor Gor played dress up yesterday.
Gor Gor Isaac helping to put on a pair of shoes
Thus the pink hairband to try to make her look more girly.
I’m definitely going to keep her hair long!
Vera Leung Yan Shun
梁恩信
Vera means ‘Faith’ in Russian.
恩 means ‘thanksgiving’ and 信 means ‘faith’.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails
1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 8
Who does Baby Vera resemble the most? Not Mummy, not Daddy... But Gor Gor Isaac!
Isaac @ birth
- Mood: amused
