Goodbye 2014.

2014 was an eventful and significant year for me. So many things happened. I've grown so much over the past year.

 

My main highlights:

1. Learning to be mummy. 

I gave birth to Leia in December 2013. So 2014 really was about me learning how to be a parent... From the basics of feeding my child, changing diapers, bathing her... Trying to soothe her when she cries. Getting her to sleep at night or nap in the day. 

Struggling with lost sleep and emotional coaster rides post delivery. Getting used to loss of me and couple time.

Becoming mentally stronger to deal with all challenges because I love Leia so much. 

I believe I've grown in ways that hard to describe in words. If you're a mummy, you would understand.

2. Watching Leia grow up so so fast.

They always say children grow up so fast. And it's especially true in their 1st year! It's amazing how they transform from a little newborn to a toddler at one year old. The 1st year yields the most milestones! 

A lot of 2014 holds moments of me delighting in Leia doing new things.

3. Renovation and moving into our home at Punggol.

Yes, we moved into our very own home on 30th April this year. Designed just the way we wanted. Having your own place to stay is seriously one of the best joys and milestones in life. 

You have your own space to create memories for your own family. A place to seek comfort and rest from the outside world. A place to do anything you want!

After moving in, I've learnt how to grocery shop and manage the household. Now I can proudly say that I'm capable of grocery shopping own my own and I do it very systematically! Lol.

3. Engaging a helper and becoming an employer.

We hires a domestic helper from Philippines when we knew we were going to move to Punggol. 

We're so thankful to have her help and stay with us. She's good with Leia, which is the most important thing since I've gone back to working flexi time.

I've learnt how to become an employer, which isn't easy. There are many things to balance. You have to treat your helper right yet at the same time, maintain authority and assertiveness at times. 

4. Going back to work after half a year of maternity leave. 

Honestly, I was dreading going back to work because I wanted to spend more time with Leia. But it turned out well because working kept my mind active and busy. 

And I had an interesting project to do when I went back so it was a good experience. I was lucky to be offered the option to work flexi time, until 3pm everyday so that I can go back early to Leia =). Really thankful for that. 

5. Completing a major work project in September. 

I learnt so much during this project and met some really fantastic mentors who are so patient to guide me and the team. 

6. Couple trip to Hong Kong in December!

We enjoyed the trip immensely, especially since we haven't travelled in a while. We had much couple time needed to connect with each other again.

7. Leia's 1st birthday party!

8. Our 2nd year Anniversary. 

We celebrated simply by having dinner at Ambush then watched Hobbit at PS. I originally planned to have a fancy dinner at Black Swan with G but we felt it was more us to do the former.

9. Celebrating our first Christmas as a family and at our own home!

We invited my family over to have a cosy Christmas celebration during lunch. Always nice to have family around.

I remember how my mum, brother and I would celebrate Christmas by going to town together and see the lights. Such memories are precious. 

(Little Leia) Learning so fast!

For the past 2 weeks, Leia has been picking up things really fast! Is this what happens when they turn a year old?!

1. She knows how to wave and say bye! But sometimes, she says 'dye' instead, which is so funny. I love it when she waves her little hand whenever we go to the door.

2. I love this one. Leia literally roars like a baby cub when I say 'lion'. I just discovered this! She learnt this because whenever I read Dear Zoo (one of her favourites), I roar immediately after I point and mention the lion to her. G heard witnessed this yesterday, and he found it hilarious!

3. She's been pointing at things and says 'dis'. I've been reading to her regularly and asking her 'what's this?' when I point at images. Maybe that's how she picked it up!

4. Uhhhh... She points with her middle finger. I have no idea why! No one taught her that and I've been trying to correct her -.- hopefully she will outgrow this phase!

5. In the evenings, I call G using the house phone and I always let her watch me use it. So recently, when she holds the house phone, she puts it next to her ear and says 'hieee'. It's the cutest thing ever. And it's so funny cos she always holds the phone the wrong side. 

Baby Leia's milestones: 1st birthday!

Leia turns 1 today! =D My sweet little girl is a big girl now hehe. I'm feeling happy but also bittersweet.

Exactly one year ago, I went through labour and delivered our sweet Leia. At that time, I knew life was going to be different but I didn't know how much it would change.

We learnt that over the past year that parenthood isn't a bed of roses. We developed a new found respect for our own parents and others as well! It was tough, especially the first 6 months for us. We  struggled with breastfeeding issues, lost sleep (constant panda eyes), baby reflux, baby sleep regression. Lost me time... The list goes on. 

But these really cannot be compared to the immense joy of watching your little one grow and hit new milestones! Her first smile, laugh, reaching out for a toy... Her flipping over, first solid food... Learning to crawl. And when she starts to look at you lovingly for comfort. Everything little thing she does makes you happy and makes your heart melt.

You come to love your child so so so much that sometimes, it's hard to comprehend. You don't know how it's even possible. 

And with Leia, G and I have grown. We've grown mentally stronger and when you become parents, you really let go of things that don't matter anymore. 

We love you Leia! Happy 1st birthday! You make daddy and mummy so happy. And you definitely make us better people =) 

We threw Leia her 1st birthday party at our place yesterday! It was a blast! It was a yellow themed party with DIY decor, huge alphabet balloons and nice polka dot ones! Food was from chilli padi again. We invited close family and friends only... About 30 came. It was a happy happy occasion! Will post about it another entry soon!

Anyways, here are her latest milestones!

1. Leia can now understand what 'give' means! Everytime we say that, she hands us her toy or whatever she's holding. Uber cute! And after that, she claps her hands because that's how we re-affirm her for being such a good girl!

Her claps are better than before too! Previously they were silent claps. Now they're definitely louder!

2. She claps her hands when she hears us sing 'when you're happy and you know it clap your hands!' It's almost immediate! When I sing to her 'daddy finger', she sometimes moves her fingers too!

3. After our Hk trip, she somehow started talking more! She tries to say words with meaning! Her recent favorite have been 'da da da', 'ba ba ba', 'ding er' and the list continues hehe.

Hong Kong Travelogue: Day 4 at Jordon and Mongkok

It's our final day in Hong Kong! 

We started late because my poor G woke up early in the morning with super, abdominal pain. It was scary because we didn't know what it was... Gastric, food poisoning or something else. I gave him gastric medicine to try my luck. Thank goodness he fell asleep and woke up without the pain.

Here are our highlights of the day!

1. Mike and ky were so sweet. They bought soupy breakfast for us from Tsui Wah and we had brekkie in our room. Soup was so yummy! 

2. The four of us and lil luke went to Jordon! We wanted to try Australian dairy company and buy our luggage at Wing on. We reached the cafe and it had a loooong queue! So we decided to try Mak's noodle that was just a few shops away! And whilst it wasn't the original Mak's at Central, it was soooo goooooood! We had soup beef brisket and tendon noodle and it was just yummmmy. I think it's was the best food we had during this entire trip!

We bought Huai lau shan to go before we headed to Wing on!

3. We actually had fun shopping for luggage at Wing on! We bought a nice Beverly Hills polo club luggage for about $115 only! Really good deal.

4. We went back to our hotel to rest and shop at Langham! I wanted to check out h&m but unfortunately there was nothing to buy! We visited the higher levels for fun. So we ended up at Lush =D More  wonderful soap bars and body creams!

5. G went back to Gwang hua street to buy his Gundam. So we got street food from Dundas again! We had lychee share tea and this tasty waffle with condensed milk + peanut butter. Super great combination! 

6. Dinner was at Chan kee again! Had to eat our roast goose leg with rice! =D

7. Did some last minute shopping at Gap, Aldo and Kee Wah! We bought an uber cute Gap denim jacket for Leia. G got a pair of cool shoes.

8. We went back and I have my lovely, indulgent bubble bath to rest! 

Hong Kong Travelogue: Day 3 at Mongkok and Sham shui po

Managed to wake up early today! Left our hotel at 10am after going to Mike and  Ky's room to visit.

Here are our highlights for day 3!

1. We had brekkie at Man Wah again lol. Wanted to eat my steamed rice with minced meat + octopus. And we tried their chicken feet which was heavenly! I love this restaurant just that it's kinda far and we have to walk quite a bit.

2. Visited New town mall @ Argyle center but all the shops were closed! Apparently the female shops open quite late after 12pm only. I went to the Colour Mix on the ground floor though and got Innisfree volcanic mask, bioderma and fancl washing powder. Bioderma is so much cheaper in hk! Only 95hkd whereas sg sells at $29.90 I think.

3. Shopped along Sai Yeung choi street. I wanted to buy my cosmetics from Laneige, Bonjour and Sasa. The original Laneige store doesn't sell much cheaper than Singapore. I only managed to get my water bank gel cream for 196hkd at Bonjour. Bought Dollywink and my beauty diary mask at Sasa. I have nothing much to buy actually! Unlike all the mainland Chinese who are stocking up so much at these stores. 

4. After resting at our hotel, we took a train to Sham shui po and exited b2! We wanted to get to Fuk wing street to see G's toy street and eat at the original Tim ho wan. It's such a bustling area! So many shops selling toys, Christmas decor and cute stationery. 

G found the shop he was looking for!

One of the shops sold super cute, small fluffy toys. I'm not a fan of soft toys but I still couldn't resist. Isn't the totoro uber cute?!

5. We walked a looooong way and finally saw this!

THE original Tim ho wan! This place is quite far man lol. But we found it! 

Dim sum was really really really good. Better and cheaper than Lei garden! Better than Singapore's!

A Russian tourist was actually sitting beside us and told us, in basic English, how good the baked BBQ pork buns and liver cheong fun was. G was friendly and had a lil chit chat with him and found out he was going to Singapore in feb next year! And he's staying in MBS! Man.