The day we were both depressed

19 December 2010

Jen & Sharon had a Christmas party and we were invited.

There were many kids there so I decided to be more lax with K's dinner and let her join the kids instead of watching her like a hawk. She hadn't been eating well for days already. But it was Christmas, right?

Mary-Jane got her a plate of fried rice but she didn't want it, understandably since there was kiddy food prepared. So I struck an agreement with her. She would eat two slices of ham, some cocktail sausages and a non-spicy otah instead. She promised so I left her in the company of the other kids.

I checked on her once thereafter. The next time I saw her after that, she was without her plate of food. Suspicious, I asked her about it. She said it was finished. I asked if she finished it. She said she was full. I asked what happened to the food and she said aunty ate it. I asked Mary-Jane who then told me that she said she was full and needed help to finish the food. Hmm.

After reminding her of her promise, she agreed to a slice of ham and two cocktail sausages before she could go play with the kids again. This time she sat at the adults' table so we could all keep an eye on her. When I left the table to get a drink, she offered Michele her ham. Thinking she was so sweet, Michele fell for it and took a bite before realising what my daughter was up to. When K offered Mich some more, Mich promptly refused. Sigh.

Later after finally finishing her plate of food, she was given some jelly. This time Mich asked her for some. She replied, "Mummy said I sick, cannot share food."

Dumbfounded. I told her we had to go see TK since she was sick and she then claimed she wasn't anymore.

She finally was allowed to leave the table. She joined the kids who were playing with the toy hamster. The kids were mostly in primary school and they sat in a circle watching the toy hamster run around its cage. K picked it up. The other kids immediately told her not to. She replied, "My mummy said can." This, Siew Li related to me.

When I asked her about it in the car on the way home, she claimed that she had told the kids that I had said she cannot hold it. I confronted her about her lying. She finally admitted that she did in fact lie to me in the car and also to the kids.

P and I went home in almost complete silence and spent the rest of the night in near depression wondering what had happened to the innocence of our three year old.

Kim prays

At dinner, K said, "Never say grace yet." So we did.

Then she said, "Father God, pray for good health for papa, mama and Ben. Pray for Chyna and Dopey, pray for good polarship."

Polarship = fellowship

Kim says

We just finished watching the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Kim: I want to watch another one.

Me: Nope

Kim: I want to watch another one!

Me: N.O. No.

Kim: N.N. Yes!

Kim says

Papa to me: I just put eighty bucks in your wallet.

Me: Ok. Thanks.

Kim: I want to see mama's wallet.

Me: Why?

Kim: I want to see the ladybug.

Our little K is three

Our little girl has turned 3. We had two little celebrations for her. One with the family (grandparents) and another in school.

I couldn't wait to give her her present so during the weekend when we were having the family celebration I gave it to her. She loved the dresser especially the makeup pieces, which she promptly put to use on me, papa and Ben.



Apparently, I need to apply eyeshadow at home.



And foundation.



We had our little family celebration at Bukit where she ate her pasta really quickly. The incentive was that she could open the pressie from her grandparents after.



Opening her pressie - a Hello Kitty doctor set.



The birthday cake she wanted. She told me several months before her actual birthday that she wanted a donkey cake. The only donkey she knew was Eeyore so I ploughed the web for an Eeyore cake and here it is.



Except that Eeyore looks like he got a sunburn on his face. But the little girl didn't notice and was very happy to eat the little bugs and probably Eeyore too if we didn't stop her.



Enjoying her cake.



Picking off the ladybug to eat.



Our cheeky monkey posing.

Finally a demure one.

This was her birthday in school. Her nursery class was going outdoors and we hovered around them.

Hopping around like frogs.

Simon says, "Touch your knees."

Simon says, "Touch your toes."

Free running.

Look out! Here comes the crocodile.

Crossing the road.

Bye for now. See you at tea-time.

With her new friend and outdoor partner, Hui Wen.

The birthday girl takes her seat.



Her friends sang to her in both English and Mandarin. She did sit by herself and did not cry from the attention. A vast improvement from last year. But she did not want to blow out the candle nor cut her cake.

Enjoying cake no.2, which she also chose, from pictures she saw with me. The baby beetle was her choice consistently for several weeks so I got it for her.

Her classmates enjoying the cake. Some friends (Eugene) had three helpings! They really love cakes!

Giving of goody bags. Her little friends each got one. She received a hug and thanks in return.

She gets a hug from the Chinese teacher - Zhou Lao Shi

And one from Teacher Gladys.

Checking out her own goody bag! A kaleidoscope. She helped to pack all 22 goody bags the night before.

After school, another surprise. Aunty Sharon and Hannah came to visit. She was thrilled to play with Hannah.

And have Hannah read to her.

Then it was Macs for dinner. When we told her we were going to Macs for dinner, her response was, "Today?"

Our little girl is now in nursery class. She is learning to bathe herself in school and has to feed herself totally. The teachers are training them to be more independent so she comes home and wants to dress and undress herself. Sometimes it can be quite funny. She understands alot more now and would often retort by trying to exert herself verbally. Most of the time we think it's funny but try to keep a straight face.

She loves her brother to bits. She tries really hard to amuse him. She could have a conversation with him for a long time in the car. Mostly shouting out names of things she sees as we drive by them and he would squeal with laughter. Whenever we tell her to show him how to do something, she would be very diligent about it. We mostly tell her to show him how to eat fast. Something that seems more effective than repeated reminders which always progress to threats and warnings. Yes, she still takes an hour plus to finish ONE meal much to our dismay but aside from feeding, she is the perfect child. Sure, she throws tantrums and shouts to get her way sometimes but she always makes us laugh and has brought so much joy to us in the last three years.

She is growing at such an amazing rate that we already miss the baby and toddler stage where she was so small and dependent. But even as she becomes more independent, it'll just be other fun things we can do. She still loves animals. She is learning to identify common birds - mynahs, sparrows, crows & the night jar which we have tried twice in vain to find again since spotting it at the club.

Our darling girl. Already three. A source of joy. A source of laughter. Our baby. We love you.

=============================================
Goals for her 3rd birthday: Not to cling to mummy the whole time. Not to cry when children sing to her. Both successful.

Goals for her 4th birthday: Blow out candle. Cut the cake.

Note to mummy: Remember plates and cutlery next year

Kim says

Papa: Kim, let's get ready. We are going to have communion.

Kim: Huh?! Catch chameleon?

K tries really hard to amuse B

K learnt the YOG cheer some time ago in school. She was trying to amuse B with it, with some success. Until she got over enthusiastic with being animated.

It seems here like she realises when he starts to get upset. She went up to him to hug him just as he started to get upset. Interesting.