Presents X4

Last year, I have received so many presents!  In fact, I have lost count how many have I received already...

First of all, I received many many presents from Si Yi Po and Go Yi Po and Aunty Audrey.  Of course, Ah Gong and Ah Ma also bought me a present.  Mummy and Daddy, too.

Then, we went back to TI for Christmas since Daddy needed to preach his last sermon there.  Many uncles and aunties gave me presents, too.

After that, we came back to Subang and Ah Ma's friends gave me more presents!

Even few days ago, though Christmas is over, I still received another round of presents from Ah Ma's friends.

Oooh... I simply love presents!  Do you?

The Photoshoot

End of last year I came across this deal from Dealmates.com, and instantly I purchased this as I have always wanted to have a photograph session for both of my children.

Each child has different stages of facial expressions and movements, each stage has a different lovely expression, but it all happens in a glimpse. There will be no chance to relive it once the moment passed.

Moments recorded in the mind will gradually blurred, especially I am not getting younger.  The best way is to immediately capture each stage of the cute little baby's lovely moments and turn it into something tangible - photographs.  But too bad, both Andrew and I are not good with taking good pictures.

The Ad:
Capture your Child's Precious Moments Professionally! Kids Studio Photgraphy Package for RM47 Instead of RM470 at Kiddie Fotolab, The Strand, Kota Damansara (For Ages 12 and Below).

Although the ad is meant for one child, the personnel from Kids Studio has graciously allowed both of my children to be the supermodels of the day.  What a bonus!

The photographer started out by shooting some photos on Baby Erwyn.  As we placed Erwyn on the cot, he began his shooting while we tried to talk and played with him. 

Then it was Elyse's turn.  As she was having fun in the indoor playground, the photographer took down those treasured moments.

After that, Erwyn and I proceeded to the studio to take more pictures while Elyse and Andrew stayed outside.  The staff played a Disney movie "Beauty & The Beast" for them as they waited for their turn next.

Back in the studio, I was told to remove Erwyn's clothes leaving only his diaper.  Placing him on a comfortable pillow, they began their task of capturing his natural yet sweet smile.  Next, diaper was also out of the way!  Follow after that was a cutie bee in a flower pot.  Then, that's all for the baby.

Just then, we heard the cry of my darling.  I headed out to comfort my little princess and brought her into the studio while Andrew took care for Erwyn.

We began with Elyse playing with a children racket followed by a hula hoop.  It took us quite awhile to get her on track.  Nevertheless, the clicking of the cameras continued.

Next, costume potraits.  Elyse likes fairies.  So, when she saw one of the constumes that has a pair of wing, she picked that instantly.  The second outfit she chose was a nurse outfit.  Of late, Andrew has been playing role play with Elyse - Doctor (Daddy), Nurse (Elyse) and Patient (Mummy).  But during the shooting, the doctor was absent and the nurse has to care for the patient - a big teddy bear.

All in all, the photoshoot took nearly 2 hours to complete.  Altogether there are 100 edited photos made available for us.  WOW! 

It was not easy to make both of them smile with the camera.  I was exhausted after the photoshoot.  However, we have such a wonderful time with the kids.  Elyse was having so much fun that she wanted to come back again.

My only regret is Andrew and I were not in the shooting with our children except for one family shot. 

Kindergarten

Hurray!  Elyse is finally going to kindergarten....

Since months ago, we have been educating Elyse on her needs to go to kindergarten.  Our aim is to prepare her mentally so that she would not caught off guard when the time comes.

Initally she was very resistant, knowing that Daddy and Mummy will not be there with her.  Recently she has shown much interest to go for kindergarten, so much so until she claimed that she would love to stay in kindergarten then to be back home with Daddy & Mummy.

Today is the first day of kindergarten.  After washing up, we sent her over.  The teacher brought her into the class and all the parents stayed outside of the class.  A few kids were crying but Elyse remained calm.

Since today is the Orientation Week, the kindy ends at 11am.  Mummy was so worried for Elyse.  In fact, the night before Mummy had a nightmare that Elyse was crying in the kindy.

To our amazement, Elyse likes the kindy so much.  The teacher told us that she was very good in the class, talking a lot to the teacher.  It was such a relief when Mummy found out that she was doing so well.

Thank God for answered prayer - that Elyse is able to fit in so well in the kindy.  Praise God!

Count your blessings

There are so many things we are grateful to God in this past year.  Just want to highlight a few things here.
We thank you God for:-

1. The church in Teluk Intan received us warmly.  The leadership has been so supportive to Andrew. 
2. Elyse adjusted fairly well to the new house, new environment and the new church.
3. The moving was done smoothly.  Nothing was damaged.
4. Andrew is safe on the road, either by bus or by car.  There was once the bus had an accident, another time the bus took him all the way to Taiping instead of TI.
5. Elyse is finally potty trained.
6. A safe delivery and baby Erwyn is a healthy baby.
7. Elyse is finally free from rashes and cough -  allergy reaction.  We have identified the cause of allergy and since then she has been healthy and active (too active, sometimes).
8. Erwyn has been a healthy boy so far. 
9. Shally is healthy for one whole year (except for 2 days at the end of the year having mild fever) although there were so many things going on.
10. We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. 
11. Helps rendered to us by family members to ease our burdens in taking care of the two little ones.
12. Friends and family who encouraged Ah Ma as she goes through this challenging time to battle with cancer.

Above all, we thank you for having God in our lives. 

His provision, His guidance, His wisdom, His favor, His grace...

An Eventful Year 2011 Part 2

August

• A backhoe  was removing a tree root from our garden.

September

• Ah Ma has not been feeling very well lately.  Finally she is diagnosed with lung cancer.  It is a shocking news to all of us but we commit everything to God. 
• My mom visited us and decided to stay with us for a month.  This was her first time to TI and I simply missed her cooking.  Yummy!
• Mom saw an iguana in our backyard.  Hmm... snake, iguana, grasshopper, ladybird, anthill - a mini zoo indeed!
• Andrew's aunt and sis came back for a short trip.  The happiest person was none other than Elyse.  There were so many of us celebrating Elyse's birthday together.  She received so many presents and had such a memorable time.  Our little girl is growing each day. 

• I brought Elyse to participate in the Lantern Parade in Summit.  This was her first time carrying a lantern.  We had such a good time.

• Erwyn has dropped his night feed although he was only 4 months old.

October

• Je Ee and Uncle Lloyd visited us.  This was the first time Elyse met them.  She likes them a lot.
• We visited Logos Hope together with the family.  First time for Elyse and I, and of course Erwyn, to be found on board.
• Erwyn has learned to flip over from his back to his tummy.

November

• Mummy choose to keep it low profile for her birthday this year.
• We took up a photoshoot package for our little princess and prince.  Awesome!
• Elyse has mastered her alphabet.  Well done, my dear!

December

• We were so delighted to have Andrew's aunts and sis all the way from Australia to celebrate Christmas with us this year.  Elyse was overjoyed to have so many play mates and presents!
• Again, we are moving!  Andrew is posted to KL Wesley next year so another round of packing.

An Eventful Year 2011 Part 1

As the year is drawing to an end, I wished to take a look at some of the significant incidents that played a major part of our lives in the past 12 months.

January

• Andrew was officially posted to Teluk Intan to pastor the Wesley Methodist Church.  He travelled weekly as the manse was not ready for the family to move in yet.
• Daddy's birthday!

Daddy's birthday, but I get to play.  Yippee!

February

• Celebrated CNY.  



Daddy and Ah Ma playing fireworks with me - fun, fun, fun!



my new cheongsam, am I pretty?



love the lion dance

• We moved up to TI and settled down for good.  Elyse loves the house.  It was difficult for me to do all the cleaning with a big bump.  But everthing went on well.  The members from TI visited us to offer some help.  We were warmly welcomed by everyone here. 

Full load



Boxes, boxes, more boxes



Living Hall - Before



Living Hall - After



Daddy's study room - Before



Daddy's study room - After

• We found hundres of ants in one of the bathrooms.  It looked like the ants have built a nest there (somehow???).

March

• My family visited me in PJ and my sister has graciously 'lent' me her maid for a month to clean up the house and tidy up the loose ends.  Elyse likes the 'kakak' a lot.  Cling to her more than me.  Am I jealous?  No.  It gave me a much needed break. 

Having fun playing with my cousins

Daddy joined us too



Zi Ying Jie Jie was right behind me, can you see?

• 'Kakak' saw a snake in our garden.  But never seen it again after that.

April

• Family vacation to Cameron Highlands.  This was Elyse and my first time up the hill and first time plucking a strawberry.  We enjoyed the fresh and cool air.

More photos are found in our facebook

• Together with Elyse and 'kakak', we flew down to JB with my little prince sleeping soundly in my tummy.  I was already 34th week then.  Had a little 'drama' in the plane but everything went on fine.

May

• What else is more important than the birth of our prince - Erwyn?  The delivery is one experience that I would never want to go through, yet having Erwyn with us is the greatest joy of our lives. 

June

• First time bringing Elyse to DUMC Children Church.  She enjoys it.  Since then, whenever we are back in Subang and are free, we will be there.
• Celebrated Erwyn's fullmoon.

Fullmoon boxes

Gifts from friends and relatives

July

• Celebrated Erwyn's fullmoon in TI church.



Red eggs



Fast asleep in the church.



Mummy & Elyse - looking good?

• First outing for Erwyn - not very far, just hang around in the mall.

Chrome Heart

We visited City Harvest Church KL last Saturday.  I was browsing thru the web for musical and came across this production by CHC.

We reached there around 4:15pm.  The musical was supposed to start at 5pm but someone told us to come early for a good seat.  It was drizzling.  We were guided by the traffic marshall to park in one of the factories nearby.

I have visited CHC a few times.  Few of our friends are worshipping in this church.  But this was my first visit after the new building is completed. The hall is very beautiful.  I totally like the big screen.

The hall was only opened when it was nearly 5pm.  Within minutes the hall was packed and we started with worship.  Then the show began.  The performance was fantastic.  There were at least 100 cast involved in this musical.  The props, costumes,

I was delighted to be warned earlier by one of the children leaders that the musical might be a little disturbing to toddlers.  The werewolf and vampires were indeed frightening to Elyse.  We left the auditorium for awhile.  There was a screen outside the hall which broadcast the performance.  We watched the show from there.  When we were outside, I asked Elyse:-

Mummy:  Elyse, are you scared?
Elyse:  No, because Daddy and God will protect me.

After a short while, Elyse requested to go inside again.  She loves the big TV screen, she said.  I was a bit hesitated but finally we went back into the auditorium.  This time, Elyse stayed in the hall until the show was over.  The next day, when I told her we are going to church.  She asked me to bring her back to CHC. 

Reason:  I want to watch the show again