A School Excursion to the Farm

Just before I left for HK/China. I managed to fulfill the role as a mother by bringing Ziv to a school excursion. I recalled vividly that it was pouring in the morning and I almost gave up by returning to bed. Kevin nagged at me all the way until I decided to wake up and go to the excursion. Lug my Speedy and overloaded it with lots of stuff, brolly, raincoat, wet tissues and whatnot (never took so many Ziv's stuff ever since he turned 1.)

As expected, we were 15 minutes late, and it was also foreseeable that the class would not leave the school so soon since it was raining. We had nothing much to do but stayed in class from 8am to about 915am. Nothing to do, so we took pictures. And I was famished that I sneakily took some of Ziv's biscuits to eat.


And finally, the rain stopped... Welcome to the Animal Farm. Geese...

Giant Rabbit.

Peacock?

I forgot what is this.

Spent $2 to buy some food for the animals. Ziv enjoyed feeding them. He was bold.

Horsey.

As a shifless mother, I decided not to venture too far because of the muddy ground. I turned back half way and convinced that it was not worth going down to see other animals. And I warned him that the geese were all wild and he might not like them.

The farm tour ended early. And so we took pictures and had fun making funny faces while waiting for Daddy to fetch us home.

Enacting As a Detective

It is 1130am, time to do the needful. Launch my Internet Explorer, punch the key. Alright, I’m on duty.

Call me Cel, Detective Cel.

Recently I was up for a mission, a mission to spy on my target while he is in the childcare centre. Ahh. The wonderous of technology, make spying so much hassle-free and definitely less arduous.

Thanks to the invention of webcam, and Cherie Hearts for the great idea.
Mummy, ahemm, I mean Detective like me, who is constantly thirsty for information about the target, has given up sitting on reeking and bleak corner to peer through a peephole with the size of a 5cent coin.

1. Anyway, the target has been doing pretty good in the childcare center and didn’t really cry when Kevin sends him there and we saw improvement in him.
2. He has learnt to feed himself.
3. Less picky about food, will eat whatever we give to him.
4. Able to finish all the food given to him.
5. Socialised with other kids mainly those older kids.
6. Learn to accept the fact that there are other adults in this world other than Mummy and Daddy, hence is less shy when facing them.
7. Not afraid of water when we bath him.

Some snapshots: (Can you spot Ziv?)

Answer Revealed: (Picture from first to last)

• Watching his peers eat from the left hand bottom corner of the picture.
• This one is pretty obvious, disturbing his teacher in pink.
• Playing with his teacher, seated on her lap.
• Probably crying in his teacher’s arms.
• Playing with older gals, he is dressed in white.
• ‘Talking’ to his teacher, he is dressed in white.
• Waiting for food to arrive, seated facing the webcam.
• Throwing tantrum and probably crying in his teacher’s arm.
• Eating alone, top left corner of the picture.
• Eating alone, top left corner of the picture.

About Ziv’s Deposit

Last week was the end of our 2-week extended trial over at Cherie Hearts. First week was disastrous; with the whole family contacted stomach flu and that means Ziv only attended 2 half days last week, which calculated up to only 5 hours of stay for 2 days. This week is very much an improvement. He attended all days except Friday and sometimes more than half a day.

His adaptation capability is improving tremendously and alarmingly. Even his teachers are appalled by the big leap, from a Day 1 cry baby to what he is today. We thought he will cry for like 1-2 months, however, today when Kevin sent him to school, he wasn’t crying. I started to feel sanguine about him attending schools. My little baby has finally grown up!

Sometimes I feel relieved that he is beginning to be more independent, however, another part of me wanted him to be like a baby or Mummy’s boy, relying on me. Well, the boy has to grow up. And that is part of life.

Ziv is going to childcare center

Barney bag... checked!
Towel... checked!
Labeling machine... checked!
Lunch box... checked!

Last Friday was pretty eventful for me, went around and along Yio Chu Kang road for a suitable childcare for the little prince at home.

Kevin and I deemed that "its time" to bring our little prince to childcare center, hoping that he learns to be independent and get socialised. After haunting for almost the entire day, we still could not find THE right center, and finally, our last stop, we reached Cherie Hearts above Sheng Shiong supermarket at Serangoon North, we concurred that "this is it".

The environment is spick and span and even equiped with video camera that provides 'live' telecasts to parents, teachers are amicable, and is less crowded as compared to other popoular centers.

Immediately we paid the downpayment of around 2k and planned to start on 23rd Feb.

I hope our little shy prince is able to adapt to the environment. Unfortunately that I cannot be with him for the first day @ the center due to my work commitment. I hope to join him the day after.

Smile!! (You Better Do It)

Better post some pictures of Ziv smiling, else someone will say I look FIERCE. At least there's a smiling kid on this blog.



Ziv has been cruising alot lately, and sometimes without supporting. Ain't too proud of it cause some of the babies at this age, have been walking independently.

These days Gymboree is so boring. Ziv is finding it boring too. The programmes seemed to be reptitive. I wonder will someone ever change the programmes at least it is more fun. Let me see, 10 more classes to attend. What shall we do??!!!

Ziv's 3rd Gymboree Lesson... when is this going to end??!!

I have been a diligent Mummy. Posting about Ziv’s Gymboree lessons and his pictures.

Ok, I promised myself that this is the last time bringing camera to Gymboree classes. Cause it was quite 'disturbing' to constantly remind myself to snap pictures. But I feel slightly irresponsible whenever I see Ziv enjoying and yet not capturing these precious moments.

Seriously, I still cannot get over his new hairdo, in fact, I feel humiliated bringing him out with that hair style. It’s atrocious!

Here's Ziv, before class. And yes, we were (for once) EARLY! That's because, I screamed with the shrillest cry, tapped on my foot till the tiles crack and snapped my fingers till they nearly dislocate, just to rush Kevin to move fast at home and stop being a dilly dally idiot.

Ziv trying to hide his excitement before the class...




Ziv simply loves bubble...


As usual, the stomachs of mommy and daddy started to rumble in the midst of the lesson. We both looked at each other, prayed that no one can hear our couplet symphony. And as usual, immediately after the lesson, we would rush down to any of the available restaurants to feast. We tried oomphatico's and I had to recommend the crab and bell pepper risottos. We waited for almost half an hour for our food to be served cause it was super crowded and the kitchen seemed short-handed.

Anyway, being an avid fan of Japanese cuisine, I have planned to try out Tetsu next Sunday.

When did I deviate this posting to food? Hmmm…

My Trip to Dental Clinic

Went to the see a dentist today during lunch break. The dentist told me, “It’s a shame that you have perfect teeth but unhealthy gums.” I have always been proud of my teeth because I have no decay tooth compared to the one sleeping next to me every night. He has like a whole mouth of decay teeth! Gross!

Anyway, I was ordered to floss my teeth and use mouth wash twice per day. Seems like I am going to be very busy before I sleep.

2nd Lesson @ Gymboree

The lackadaisical couple finally get their butts off the sofa once again and head to Gymboree @ Tanglin Mall.

Yes, we were late again.
Nothing unusual.
We were late on Saturday music lesson and we were late yesterday.
We were so lazy that we didn't bring any camera to capture Ziv having fun.

But FORTUNATELY, I managed to get some pictures from one of the wonderful mommies, Phyllis whose daughter, Vanessa attended the same Gymboree II session as Ziv.

Phyllis had brought her cutie-pie daughter, Vanessa to Gymboree for her first time trial. Unlike Ziv, Vanessa is jovial and amiable. I still remembered Ziv being uptight during his first session.

Nevertheless, that uptightness feeling in him was gone yesterday! In fact, he was among one of the few babies who crawled towards the pool of balls to grab some balls!

Has Ziv adopted "laziness" from his parents? Cause, he likes to lie on his stomach, instead of crawling (despite knowing how to crawl), it seems like he crawls only "when necessary", once he is there (the place he wants to be), he will relax and lie flat. See the 'hardworking' boy besides him...




Here's a peak preview of Vanessa...

Ziv goes to Gymboree

Procrastination is irresponsible. Kevin and I decided to put an end to our dalliance and enrolled Ziv to Gymboree. This was a promised made long ago to Ziv, way before Chinese Lunar New Year and no action since then.

A typical conversation:

Kevin: Are you sure you wanna go Gymboree? HFMD, you know?
Me: Yeah, wonder how safe are these places.
Kevin: Are you going to hold responsibilities if he contacted HFMD?
Me: Hell no.

Nevertheless, this morning Ziv woke us up at 10am and we gave Gymboree a buzz and within seconds, Ziv’s first lesson was fixed! We didn’t opt for the trial lesson cause, we thought, so be it, just engage Ziv in some interactions with other babies will be good.

Verdict? The first lesson was alright, some singing and physical activities. It allowed me to gauge the development of Ziv since, the class is mainly for infant between 6 to 9 months (Level 2). So far, Ziv can catch up with his ‘classmates’ since the consultant told us, it was better to enroll him when he is able to sit unsupported, stand with support and crawl for the Level 2 class. Of course, the courses do not come cheap. Membership alone already cost us $50 and the total cost for 12 lessons cost us a whopping $358! Not a lot of money, but to spend on some play group IS expensive. What to do?

During certain part of the lesson, Ziv was chuckling and he was extremely chummy to his classmates and wanted to touch them. He was usually aloof and afraid of strangers.

See how he enjoys the class...

Digress a little, I had a rejuvenating spa on Saturday, everything seems so copacetic until I fish out my mobile phone and saw a sms by my boss it reminds me of the stress at work. Hate it.