I call her Sweetie

Above: Kaitlyn flashes Jon a big smile, two Sundays ago after her baptism, and just before Nana went off a week ago now.

Kait didn't wince when our pastor sprinkled water on her head. And as he carried her and prayed, it felt like we were taking it from the beginning again; Ben was just as little when we called this place our home away from home.

There's more to juggle now than at the outset, and with the boys growing, they do demand lots of energy and patience from us. But whether as parents to two before, or blessed with three now, may God be our guide always.

Good morning, God

This is your day

I am your child

Show me your way.

The simple lyrics of this song Ben learned from his teacher becomes a prayer for myself also, as I sing it to Kait every morning she greets me with her sweet smiles, and especially when she's had a fair amount of sleep! =)

Think happy thoughts

On Picture Day this week...

I asked the boys to 'practise' smiling first thing in the morning, before sending them off with a "I love you", and "Don't forget to smile big smiles!".

And I hoped too, they would be thinking happy thoughts when their Kodak moments were captured by the profe$sional photographer in school later that day!

To be honest, I'm the one guilty of not always sounding chirpy, or thinking happy thoughts. Just been wishing Kaitlyn will distinguish night from day soon! My sleep has been scarce, and the graveyards shifts the most tiring!

But practicality dictates that I get back into the swing of things fast. Besides basic needs like cooking and laundry I can't detach myself from and went back to doing after the first few days, I also resumed driving the boys and running errands after the second week, ahead of Kaitlyn turning a month old this weekend. My MIL had said at the outset, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Referring to how (we think) our American counterparts do not practise confinement after the birth of a child.

It's true that when there are other kids and everyday stuff needing to be done, besides just the baby to take care of, it's hard for a mother to find quality rest. By the same token, Vern has his deadlines to focus on. So it's good while my MIL is still visiting us, she is able to take care of Kaitlyn when my hands are full with the boys, and especially when I go and drive them home from school. That's also when I'll squeeze in a quick grocery stop with the boys on the way back, before the baby needs to nurse, and then I'll have to make dinner and get on with the rest of our evening routine.

With the jet lag at first and with the ailments getting to my MIL more now, I try not to overly bother her in the day and leave her to have a good sleep in the nights. But I am not zonked.

Day by day...

by the grace of God, we manage life one day at a time...

And in the larger scheme of things, I concluded, it should not matter that I did not cook for myself those sesame oil and gingery dishes during my "confinement" month, but just regular food we could all enjoy together. One has only this much energy before I'm running on empty. I'm not some super woman.



Then, listening to the old Christian song "Nothing but the blood of Jesus" whilst driving to school to fetch the boys, my eyes filled with tears, touched by how much our Heavenly Father has done for us. And yet, there I was, getting upset with the husband, over the housewifey and motherly duties expected of me.

I thought also, about what my own dad told me before Kaitlyn's arrival -- to not worry, but be happy, for it's important to stay positive! And there is indeed so much to rejoice, so much to be thankful for!

So with that, it's on a cheery note I'll like to end this post...

Jon trying to get a smile out from Kaitlyn...

... and she has started smiling, except I've not been quick enough to grab the camera to capture a shot of it!

And now, don't babies all like to look at faces... monkey faces included? ;p

Wishing you a happy, and worry-free weekend!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable— if anything

is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

~ Philippians 4:8

Are we there yet?

"Is baby coming?" asks Jon.
"I want her to come now!" wishes Ben.

The home stretch is one filled with eager anticipation, but don't we all know that babies come when they want to?

And I'm trying not to overworry, or be daunted already by how much more there is to juggle in the days ahead. But to look forward to the joy of being a new parent again.

Right: Earlier this month, a cheeky Ben who likes to place his hand on my tummy to feel the lil one's movements, has concluded, "Baby is nocturnal"! Referring to how the kicks, as I know them for awhile now, take place mostly throughout the night. As if Baby is already training me for the exhausting part of being a new mother -- the non-stop nursing and poopy diaper changing! But it only gets better, and better, yeah? =)

Meanwhile, we are in the last leg of summer...

Below: A mix of old and new experiences that Jon and Ben got to enjoy this month. Also like a reminder for me of some basic things that we can afford to have more of, whether I'm doing something for the umpteenth time or approaching it brand new...

Ask, "How can I serve you?"

"Serving in God's big backyard" was the theme for our church Vacation Bible School this year. At the end of each morning, the children took back with them a simple lesson of who we can serve -- our family, friends, neighbours, and the community, besides just the church and God, honouring Him in the different facets of our lives.

There are times when housewifey and motherly duties sap me, pregnant or not, and I get all grumpy and tell the husband he should be appreciative. I forget that loving = serving, without reservations, unconditionally. And there's stuff the man of the house does that's beyond me, like ending up having to install the dishwasher DIY when our oven conked out last week (I'll spare you the long story), that I too need to appreciate him for, and make it a point to say "thank you"!

Laughter, the best medicine

Leslie and Jay of "Laughing Matters" lived it up, by injecting fun into learning, as part of the Catch the Reading Bug programme at the library.

Not just for the boys, I could use the laughter myself. It was a nice little midweek break for us when temperatures soared, and I couldn't think of anywhere else to take them without venturing too far.


Try, try again... and don't stop practising

Ben waited for the weekend to roll around when Vern could go ice-skating with him and Jon. It's only Ben's second time at the rink, but no different from that first time last year, he put his best foot forward, and picked himself up whenever he fell down.

Jon, who had taken lessons before, was more confident on the ice. Still, he knew that without practice, we get rusty at doing anything we have grasped. However, ice-skating is something we haven't managed to make time for in awhile, because of crazy enough schedules.


Interest sparks imagination
Here's something that each boy especially likes this summer. And watching each child work on it like a pet project, it's true that interest is a key ingredient in sparking anyone's imagination and creativity.

Jon, and the Stargate -- inspired by the Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis shows on Sci-Fi channel -- he put together using recyclable stuff, and couldn't wait to declare open!



Ben and his drawings and stories to tell, like for this "flip the flap" book, that's a good opportunity to encourage writing of the alphabet as well...

White Easter here!

How'd your Easter go?

Over our end, while spring has started, the last frost may not be over yet. Imagine our pleasant surprise when fluffy snow started coming down this morning, and continued on and off throughout the day!

It sure wasn't in the forecast, when we checked the day before. But watching the snowflakes fall from the sky, I said to the husband that the heavenlies must be raining down white confetti to celebrate the risen Christ! ;p

It was the familiar song, "In Christ Alone" -- for which a mime was done at the Christian school's Easter service the other day, that caused tears to well up in my eyes. The same song, we sang in church today, just when I had been trying to look for the lyrics. And like an answered prayer, there it was, in black in white, in the bulletin!

Now to share it with you also, here's one of many videoclips for the song, available on Youtube! Maybe you had just sung it this weekend, too? I still have the tune playing in my head =).



Oh, the love of God, the love of Jesus!

In Him, we stand.

C is for...

...COOKIES and CLEMENTINES!

• These baby mandarin oranges are in season, ahead of Chinese New Year. Almost didn't get them, because they have a way of bringing on the sniffles and phlegm, I've noticed, for my boys. But I guess everything in moderation is alright, and the Clementines' really sweet, and mostly seedless!

... what's COOKING?

• Our friends made pineapple rice, kungbao chicken, curry chicken, and brinjal with beef! Yum, yum, yum!!! I made grilled chicken, pork stew, a seafoodish noodle, two vegetables, and a salad. Together, that's what we had!

... CHEESECAKE

• A lovely vanilla bean one that Mandy made!

... CHERISHED moments

• and memories are made of these!

C is also for CHRIST in Christmas...
After our party, we got an impromptu invitation from an American couple to have dinner at their home. We went and got gifts for their children before shops closed for Christmas, and I also made these cut-out cookies for them.



I know they weren't expecting us to bring anything, but the best part was that they had everything thought out -- on how to celebrate the reason for the season, and in ways our children, not just theirs, would be able to identify with!

Jon and their eldest read out verses from the bible about the angel visiting Mary and Joseph. We also sang some Christmas songs -- the carols that my own boys had told me we didn't manage to do during our gathering earlier. Every one of us, including their youngest, and Ben, also prayed what came to mind, and there were many a thankful heart there!



Our hostess had made a nice chocolate cake, that we all ate after dinner. But not before we'd sung "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, and all the children -- gathered around the cake -- had blown the candles!

It was all very informal and relaxed. In fact, she was just starting to prepare dinner when we arrived, and as she got the chicken cooking, I did the vegetable stir-fry. We chatted some, so did the two husbands; all this, while the children were running around, quite crazy at times (you know kids!), but enjoying themselves!

... and thank you for CARING!
Now, I must say, that it is truly such spotaneity among friends, not only within our immediate circle, but also with those we don't know all that well -- that we are very thankful for!

The wonderful people that God brings into our lives, to be there for us, sometimes when we least expect it! Pretty much like how with those of you out there, too, whose path mine has met, and I am grateful to have found a friend in you!

Have a restful rest of the year now, and ready (or not?) to go full steam ahead for...

A

COOL

2008!

Jon and Ben helping me with the QC (quality control) part of our last batch of Christmas cookies for the year!