hahaha...

taking pen, got style one.... as if really doing sth important....

My new toys

Boys are boys

so young, the inborn instinct to climb like a monkey is already obvious.

Aidan

my baby is now a stumbling toddler

We had wanted to bring Aidan back home more often now that he is no longer a sleeping baby. Now is when the fun begins. Now is also the more intense bonding time. As always, he prefered his 'babysitter' Ma Ma more than me. He has many, many times pushed me away in preference to his Ma Ma.... i felt a twinge of hurt every now and then..... i had hope to be the person my son looks for, at night or when he is despair, but if i continue to let him stay at babysitter's 24 x 7, it's not gonna happen. In exchange for our freedom now, we may face to 'lose' a son in future... so serious?? Think so... the bonding...

Last weekend, we brought him back for trial... Well, it went ok la... Both my hubby and I never get to rest. And I was like rushing here and there - cleaning, mopping, washing, cooking, hanging and folding, feeding do-re-mi, phew..... Not a while is free-and-easy. I actually went out dinner last night without combing my hair. Just manage to run my fingers through my hair while looking at the car window. incredible!!

Aidan now can walk with us holding his hand. Yesterday, he can even manage a few steps without help. In the babycot, he can climb out.

Being a 'hard-headed cow' boy, with 2 round 圈 on his head, he has a real temper to match. When he wanted something, he will use all his energy, and all his voice, to get it! When he doesn't want something, no 'sweet talk' can make him take it. Cannot soft, use hard way? Worse, he is harder!

Many times, felt that Brian is such a nice a boy to teach and discipline. Brian can be reluctant to do something and cried, but he will still do what we wanted him to do - almost obediently..... He can be reluctant to go to school (Krista, last time) yet he can still be crying and walking towards the car, and into the car, without adult intervention! and asked "why do i have to go to school?" in between sobs.

With Aidan, guess he will not follow an inch of our instruction....
well, i hope and i pray that with divine's intervention, this son will be 'tamed' soon.

Doing what they love most

will pester us at every chance available in the weekend. surprisingly, ah boy looked much grown up liao...

Wonderful surprise

Today, 29.09.2010, is our Pak Tor Anniversary. This date marks our 12 years being together.

I had a wonderful surprise when I got to office. My hubby had secretly stuffed a present into my notebook bag, and I only realised when i reached office.

beautifully-wrapped with teddies....

This is the present. It is especially sweet when he painstakingly edit this photo to remove all the imperfections (according to him, not me) like dark eye circles, uneven skin tone and he decorated a tattoo on myself and himself also because i fancied. He then printed the photo at home, last nite, all without me having any inkling... and here it comes in a pretty photo frame.

It's the thought that counts. It has been very long since I get such surprises...

As always, we will go to somewhere to celebrate, be it restaurant, beach or a day trip to outskirts without the kids....

But getting a surprise in the form of a unexpected, unanticipated gift makes it all the more wonderful.

soundly asleep

Oblivious to hustle and bustle around...

Joanne Look-alike Meter (2)

cudn't believe it, as a lot of ppl said she looks more like dad. so, took the test again, wa.... even higher resemblance??? hmm... like mother, like daughter...

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Joanne Look-alike Meter (1)

she looks like me more?

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Brian Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Geneology - Family tree program

Aidan Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family history - Family websites

Hidden talent?

Some kids' gifts are on display for the world to see. Others may have hidden talents that masquerade as chattiness, daydreaming, or high energy. Sometimes clues to their gifts lie in how they play with puzzles, sort objects, or pull apart mechanical things.

Below, experts on gifted children tell you how to read the clues to your child's hidden talents and offer advice on how to help her blossom.

Your child loves to sort objects

She pairs up socks, lines up toy cars, or groups items by color, size, or shape. She may also like things to be organized and orderly.

What it may mean: Your child is probably what's known as an auditory sequential learner, meaning she is an analytical thinker, is well organized, and pays attention to details. She may be looking for patterns, often an early indicator of aptitude in math and science, says Linda Powers Leviton, an expert in gifted education.

How to nurture: Explore projects and games that involve patterns and matching, such as beading or Go Fish. Teaching your child to keep track of sports statistics or letting her have a pretend stock portfolio might appeal. The fan of sorting and cataloging may love a visit to a natural history museum or archeological dig.

Find activities to encourage math skills and experiments to interest a budding scientist.

Put your child in charge of sorting the silverware and organizing the cans in the cupboard. Give her the change jar and have her sort the coins.

Your child talks nonstop

Your chatty kid may have an advanced vocabulary, concoct elaborate stories, and make few grammatical or pronunciation errors, says Judy Galbraith, author of You Know Your Child Is Gifted When… She may also talk very fast and often doesn't stop until she's asleep. She wants to have the last word in every argument.

What it may mean: Verbal proficiency can be an early sign of a gifted kid. It's also key to success in school and many other aspects of life. Kids with the gift of persuasion may someday choose professions such as law or journalism.

How to nurture: Ask your talkative kid to dictate stories to you. As she begins to write herself, suggest that she put her tales down on paper. You can turn them into books that she can illustrate. Interview your child and record her thoughts on tape or video. This is a good age to introduce the concept of reflection (asking your child to write or draw what's on her mind can help).

Along with promoting speaking and writing skills, teach her to be a good listener, too.

Visit the library often and find books that challenge your child. She may prefer books with more words and fewer pictures than other kids her age.

Encourage her to think about what she's going to say before she speaks. Listen to your child's musings and arguments – but set a time limit if she's a tireless debater.

And build some quiet time into the day, for everyone's sake.

Your child fiddles with everything

She's compelled to explore how things work – she likes to fiddle with buttons and switches. She may pull something apart and then try to figure out how to put it back together. She's fascinated by machines.

What it may mean: Your child is probably a visual-spatial learner. A child who enjoys tinkering may be a future mechanic, engineer, inventor, or scientist. She may design anything from a better mousetrap to a state-of-the-art laptop.

How to nurture: Keep your builder supplied with construction toys, so she can create, break down, and rebuild her own designs. Also encourage her to build with thread spools, empty tissue boxes, or whatever else she finds around the house.

Visit play centers or playgrounds designed for hands-on exploration. Satisfy her urge to figure out how things work by giving her safe gizmos to play with, such as a padlock and key, an old-fashioned alarm clock, or a broken toaster (unplugged, of course). Point out mechanical objects, such as traffic lights, when you're out and about.

Keep close watch over your child, as these are the types of kids who will reach for a power tool or try to learn about an electrical socket by sticking a knife into it.

Your child is a daydreamer

She may seem to be off in her own world communing with the pixies. She may enjoy pretend play, spend free time painting, and have lots of ideas to share. She may use things in new and unusual ways (such as shoveling with a shoe or storing things in it), be open to zany ideas, and think of creative ways to solve problems. She may also ask show-stopping questions such as, "Why is the sky blue?"

What it may mean: Your little visionary may seem unfocused but probably spends her time dreaming up big ideas. This often indicates a strong creative streak, a telltale sign of giftedness. Everyday life may seem boring to this imaginative thinker, who may escape into fantasy and have a tough time separating what's real from what's not.

Down the road, your child may pursue vocations like artist, actor, writer, filmmaker, or fashion or interior designer. Or she may make use of her think-outside-the-box brain and problem-solving skills in innovative ways in the arts or sciences.

How to nurture: Encourage your child's creativity, in whatever form it takes. Provide a budding artist with plenty of materials to stretch her imagination. Play music and sing songs. Experiment with science projects.

Take your child to plays and concerts, listen to her fantastic tales, and provide props (and an audience) for her performances. Take advantage of free "family days" at art museums.

Your child may take to science-fiction books; ask a librarian for age-appropriate recommendations.

If you're hard-pressed to answer all the tricky questions this child pitches, don't sweat it, says Galbraith. Simply make it a project to find out together.

Your child loves to solve puzzles

She enjoys solving puzzles of any kind – jigsaws, a round of "I Spy," riddles, or a mystery story. When solving jigsaws, she's less likely to use trial and error and more likely to place a piece where it belongs on or near her first attempt.

What it may mean: She may be a visual-spatial learner. She's likely to think in images and put her talents to use by taking in the whole picture. Down the track she may make a good detective, archeologist, or research scientist.

How to nurture: Keep the puzzles coming, and don't forget other activities that require spatial problem solving, such as labyrinths. Include crossword puzzles, word games, riddles, and mystery stories in the mix. An older child might like exploring the neighborhood together with a map and a compass.

Your kid is a take-charge type

Your child has strong opinions about how things should be done. She likes to call the shots with games, dramatic play, and most everything else.

What it may mean: Your bossy boots may be a natural-born leader, which will serve her well in school, sports, and many other aspects of life. A take-charge child may inspire others, see conflicts from different perspectives, and bring out the best in a team, says Powers Leviton. In the future? Leadership is especially valued in business, politics, community organizing, and mediation.

How to nurture: Whenever you can, let this child lead the way. She may want you to follow her on the hiking trail. Put her in charge of a project at home, like organizing the pantry. Let her arrange things in her room the way she likes (within reason).

Give choices and let your child decide when possible. Say, "We need to go the grocery, gas station, and library. Where should we go first?" When you get to the store, give her a list of items to gather. She needs the opportunity to contribute in a real way.

Ask for her help in solving a family problem: "We're always late for swimming. Can you think of anything that would help us be on time?" At this age, you could even call a family meeting and let your child facilitate.

Satisfy her need to lead but make sure she knows you're in charge when it comes to safety and other matters grown-ups need to have the say-so on. And introduce her to the notion of taking turns calling the shots and listening, so she's less likely to alienate playmates.

Your child can't keep still

She likes to do everything on the go – or at least standing up. She enjoys anything where movement is the name of the game.

What it may mean: Your child is likely what's known as a bodily-kinesthetic or physical learner, who absorbs information best and is most interested when activities involve action and motion.

She may take to sports, dance, or music and may have advanced fine-motor skills. She may gravitate toward jobs that aren't deskbound, such as teacher or park ranger. Or she may use her superior hand skills as a chef.

How to nurture: Make sure each day includes lots of time for physical activity. Movers and shakers can get bored easily, so rotate activities to keep things fresh. These children may also enjoy exploring music through movement, so give them the chance to sing and dance. For kids who like to use their hands, bring out drawing, painting, beading, and sculpting projects.

Some children feel they do their best thinking while wriggling around. You might let yours sit on a child-size rubber exercise ball while doing homework.

It's equally important for this busy child that you establish soothing bedtime rituals. Try a soothing snack, like milk and whole-grain cereal, an hour or two before it's time to sleep, suggests Galbraith. Then follow with a bath, book, and bed. Listening to relaxing music in the dark can also help your antsy child rest.

Your child's talents are still a mystery to you

If you don't see any of these signs in your child, stay open to teasing out her hidden talents. Chances are you'll spot her special gifts over time.

Asking for feedback from other adults in your child's life can give you fresh insights. Her teacher may point out her fascination with the piano. Or maybe Grandpa comments on her ability to remember all types of plants and flowers.

By noticing the areas where she has natural talent, you can help her be seen, heard, and understood. But your ultimate goal is to love her for who she is while you help her reach her full potential.

trying my hands at photography

Inquisitive kiddo vs Grumpy mama

Kids do have a natural instinct to ask and learn and have a zest for life.... Everything is interesting. Everything 'nice' should be done repeatedly.... Is it curiousity, inquisitiveness or just the feel-good feeling of being read to by mommy?
But to me, as a grown-up, do not share the same view.... Guess it shows on my face, a tinge of "ha? repeat-the-same-story-again?" feeling! hahaha......!! must be aware and improve ownself!

Posing for camera

Joanne - spontaneously just took a coat off a rack, and asked daddy to take a snap.... guess she enjoyed posing for the camera.... living out her girlish dreams of being a model.... like that in the SG movies... while the salesgirl at the back was trying to stop us from taking photos, and looking quite crossed that we actually din listen... :-P

Aidan and new toy

Taken by babysitter

Brian's bicycle

Would u punish your child for lying?

Toddlers who lie 'will do better'

Researchers said most children lied

Toddlers who tell lies early on are more likely to do well later, researchers claim.

The complex brain processes involved in formulating a lie are an indicator of a child's early intelligence, they add.

A Canadian study of 1,200 children aged two to 17 suggests those who are able to lie have reached an important developmental stage.

Only a fifth of two-year-olds tested in the study were able to lie.

But at age four, 90% were capable of lying, the study found. The rate increases with age to a peak at age 12.

'Developmental milestone'

The director of the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University, Dr Kang Lee, said: "Parents should not be alarmed if their child tells a fib.

"Their children are not going to turn out to be pathological liars. Almost all children lie.

"It is a sign that they have reached a new developmental milestone.

"Those who have better cognitive development lie because they can cover up their tracks."

This was because they had developed the ability to carry out a complex juggling act which involves keeping the truth at the back of their brains.

He added: "They even make bankers in later life."

Dr Kang tested the children's honesty by telling them not to peek at a toy placed behind their backs while leaving the room.

He then monitored their reactions by video and returned to ask if they had turned around, checking their responses against the recording.

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Page last updated at 10:55 GMT, Monday, 17 May 2010 11:55 UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/education/10119297.stm

how good a mother am i, i wonder...?!

i sub-con my son to my babysitter - Full-time!!

i hv been toying with the idea for a long time, and have been weighing this and that, i still clung onto taking him back home at nite, at least 4 nights in a week....

guess his reluctance to drink milk during our care, until today, is the 'last straw that broke the camel's back', so to speak.

with heavy hearts, we sent him to babysitter last nite.

Lessons for us, for sake of our children

Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People
- by Dale Carnegie

The gist of the book says:

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Six Ways to Make People Like You

1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Smile.
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
6. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

Win People to Your Way of Thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
10. Appeal to the nobler motives.
11. Dramatize your ideas.
12. Throw down a challenge.

Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

In my first reaction, these are useful tips for enhancing our social life and career. But thinking further, it is equally useful to be practiced at home - on our children.

Children - if treated well and guided properly, will be good and admirable persons whom others will look up to, someday, when they come of age. We can and should help bring the BEST out of them.

Aidan abt 6.5 month

my new office

relocated to be nearer to users, or so they said. so, got a room - Assistant GM room... wa....

looking out, open space.... nice!

looking in... not bad....

huge table, manager's table....

but my table is not that one la, it's tis one laaa.... aduh...

doesn't it look like a huge luckydraw box? it's a student computer table, which 'open concept' everywhere, so open that i need to look up and down for sth to cover up....

on my first day, i used empty boxes to cover... seeing me being so pitiful, the staff here helped to 'decorate' the lower part of the table.... hahaha...

ta daa....!

my new workspace - temporary only, phew!

3 musketeers

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

RM1 for common illness & treatment

The RM1 Per Visit 1Malaysia Clinics Address in Perak and Sarawak

There are 50 1Malaysia Clinics in Malaysia and they started operation from 4 January 2010 onwards. The 1Malaysia Clinic offers treatment for common illnesses and follow-up checks for chronic diseases for RM1 (US$0.40) whereas foreigners seeking treatment will have to pay a flat rate of 15 ringgit (US$4). The 1Malaysia clinics operating hours - operate daily, seven days a week, from 10am to 10pm. It is manned by paramedics comprising medical assistants and trained nurses. Here is the the list of 1Malaysia Clinics in Perak and Sarawak.

PERAK
1. Klinik 1Malaysia Teluk Intan, No 1, Taman Medan Maharaja, Jalan Kampung Banjar, Teluk Intan
2. Klinik 1Malaysia Bandar Seri Iskandar, No 32, Blok D, Bandar Seri Iskandar shophouses, Perak Tengah
3. Klinik 1Malaysia Aulong, No 51 dan 53, Jalan Medan Bersatu, Taman Medan Bersatu, Taiping
4. Klinik 1Malaysia Bercham, No 6A1 dan 10, Persiaran Medan Bercham 7, Pusat Bandar Bercham Timur, Ipoh

SARAWAK
1. Klinik 1Malaysia Jalan Teku, Sibu, Lot 302, Blok 7, Teku Road, Sibu
2. Klinik 1Malaysia Matang Jaya, Lot 9746, Seksyen 65, KTLD Taman Lee Ling, Jalan Matang, Kuching
3. Klinik 1Malaysia Taman Tunku, Lot 2350, Blok 5, LLD Jalan Kuching, Taman Tunku, Miri
4. Klinik 1Malaysia Sungai Plan, S/L 517, Sungai Plan, Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu

New Year Resolution!

This new year, must strive harder to make myself look (and be) younger!!!

- update 1

to start off, will religiously go for facials. was so aghast when the beautician said i looked my age (sob, sob - previously, i always don look my age) and my cheek a little sagging....well, what to do, after 3 kids, that's the sacrifice.

well, bought some massage cream and a mask , and the benefits were sooooo much!

1- free facial massage service, was advised to go every week. well, can always scheduled in between lunch hour. facial massage is supposed to do wonder to the skin texture and elasticity.... hmm, we'll see how.

2- freebies -> moisture lotion to boost moisture level, 2 pc of radiance boosting masks, day moisturizer & night cream

3- free lifetime membership which allows me to go for full facials at rm45!!! what a deal!!!

here's my catch for the day!