Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Fingers. Thumb. Fist.

Our 14 week old Brie has been putting them into her mouth in the past week or so.

I imagine, if babies could speak their mind, they probably would say, ‘The journey of exploring the world begins with the exploration and taste of one’s own tiny finger.’

=)

…

Anyway.

Here’s some useful info from babycenter.co.uk on ‘Why babies put everything into their mouth‘:

– Until a baby is about 7 months old, he can’t really use his hands and fingers to explore objects. So, since he can control his lips and tongue, he’d mouth and gum objects as he pleases.

– A baby’s mouth has more nerve endings per square  millimetre than any other part of her body!

– If a baby really wants to find out what something feels like, he’d put it in his mouth. So, if you don’t want something to go into your baby’s mouth, don’t leave it where he can get hold of it!

If you are a family with kids, then MILK is definitely in your grocery shopping list, yes? =)

And, if they’re ‘bigger kids’ (like mine, who are 7yo and soon-to-be 5yo), then my guess is … you have stopped buying powdered milk in tins?

Anya and Vai have been drinking fresh milk since they’re about 3 years old.

I’d usually pour some to the kids’ mugs and let them drink their milk cold. They’d have it with their breakfast cereals too.

As for me and Wilson, we either drink it cold too like the kids, or mix it with Milo =)

Recently, I was asked if I’ve ever CHECKED where the milk product I buy is actually from.

THAT made me stop and think, because hey … come to think of it, I have NEVER checked!

I know very few people who actually check the product labels (and expiry dates) whenever they go and buy something.

But err, I’m not quite like that.

When it comes to buying milk for the family, I have a few brands in mind and usually I’d just scan the rows of milk, look for our usual brands, and … grab the ones on sale, haha!

So, just recently, the kids and I spent a little more time at the supermarket.

We looked at a few different ‘fresh milk’ brands and checked out the labels.

And hey hey … interesting findings!

You see, I personally prefer ‘Australian Fresh Milk’, simply because I feel the milk from Australian cows are … better =)

I mean, the cows there are exposed to green pastures, fresh air and sunshine, and I somehow believe milk from such cows are higher in quality and somewhat tastes better! =)

Now.

After checking out the different labels, I actually found out that apparently, NOT ALL that I thought are ‘from Australia’ are actually ‘100% fresh milk from Australian dairy cows’!

Okay, check this out:

– GREENFIELDS
The pack (and its promoters) says that it’s milk from Australian dairy cows. Naturally, consumers assume Greenfields milk is from Australia.

But, a closer look at the product reveals that it is in fact ‘fresh milk from dairy cows IMPORTED from Australia’.

Now, I never knew that!

They ARE apparently Australian cows, that are farmed in Indonesia!

…

– I then took a closer look at MEIJI.

I’m sure I’m like many others who are under the impression that Meiji is made in Japan. But, hey hey … after a quick check on its label, it actually says, ”Made from 100% Fresh Milk’ and is ‘Product of Thailand’ (though it’s under ‘License and strict quality control by Meiji Dairies Corporation, Japan’).

Ah. So it is NOT made in Japan then?

Interesting.

– I checked out MARIGOLD Fresh Milk as well.

Frankly, I’ve never read their labels closely, well … not until that day at the supermarket. All this while, at the back of my mind, I sort of ‘assume’ that it’s probably from Malaysia or something.

But then the label says, ‘Ingredient: Fresh Milk’ and ‘100% Australian’!

.

I went on to check and I found out that MARIGOLD Fresh Milk IS from Australia, and it contains 100% fresh milk from Australian cows (Click the link to read more about it)

What a nice surprise!

The ones that I thought are from Australia and Japan are not really ‘fresh milk from those countries’, and the one that I thought is from Malaysia actually is fresh milk from Australian dairy cows, that are farmed in Australia!

(I wouldn’t have noticed all these facts / misconceptions, if I hadn’t checked the labels more closely)

If you haven’t taken a closer look at your milk products’ details all this while, I’d really recommend that you go and check them out before you grab your next bottles / cartons of milk.

And perhaps, just like me, you’ll be surprised too by what you’ll find!

Extra info to share :

– Singapore does not have a milk farming industry apart from the goat farms in Lim Chu Kang.

– Most milk found on our supermarket shelves are apparently imported in bulk from countries like Malaysia and Australia, and packed in Singapore, while some others are packed and imported from Thailand.

– Sometimes, the same brand of milk in 1-litre cartons and 2-litre bottles may come from different countries!

I know it’s the ‘third time round’, but I still can’t help but love holding Brie’s little hands, watching her little fingers wrapped around mine. They’re all so tiny, so fragile, seemingly ‘in need’ of our protection and care.

This shot reminds me of the Bible verses that we read out together last Sunday though. They’re taken from John 10:27-29 :

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

…

As much as I love our little Brie, and as much as we care and watch over her, nothing can truly beat having (and placing) our lives in the hands of the unchanging, holy and everlasting Almighty who loves and cares for us so much,

so much so … that HE died for us.

This is one simple recipe you can surely try out!

No mixer needed!

Just sift the flour, mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl, and plonk the pan / tin into the oven. That’s it!

And, enjoy the home-made banana bread aroma while waiting for the nice little ‘ding’ sound from the oven =)

We had this on Saturday night, while we all enjoyed our Family Movie Nite together in bed!

Here’s the recipe!
(Thanks to Nic for sharing it with me)

…

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups self-raising flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons grated orange rinds

2 medium-sized bananas, mashed (I used 3! =)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used unsalted butter)

…

1. Sift flour into bowl

2. Add sugar, orange rinds and mashed bananas. Mix.

3. Stir in egg, orange juice and oil / butter

4. Pour into tin / pan. Bake at 180deg celsius for about 45 mins.

5. Stand 5 mins, turn onto wire rack to cool.

[Trying serving it nice and warm with butter. Yumm!]

Here’re some thoughts that inspired me today, which I’d like to share with you.

…

It’s better to be someone who has learned a lot but continually feel like it’s not yet enough,

than be someone who has NOT learned much, but feel like he/she has learned and known a lot.

…

It’s better to be someone who shares and gives a lot to others, but continually feel like he/she has been receiving too much instead and needs to give and share more with others,

than be someone who has NOT given / shared much at all with others, but feel like he/she has given a lot to others, and there’s no need to share anything more with others.

…

When WE are the former (the ones who’ve done our best but sincerely feel we should do more for others, eg), it will drive / push us to become a better person everyday.

Hope you had a blessed Sunday, everyone!

Here’re some quick, interesting facts on 13-week-old babies’ developments:

– Should be sleeping for about 10 hours at night

Brie >> Yes, she does now. Yay!*

– Can see objects up to 6m away! The view of baby’s world is very different from ours, so it’s always recommended to get down on the floor and see what baby sees.

Brie >> On this one, I remind myself to check on Brie every now and then – when we’re going out during the day and she’s on the pram – to see if sunlight directly shines to her face!

– Baby can sit when supported by the hips, and enjoys sitting in a semi upright position. This position is also best for learning and for play.

Brie >> She now also mostly sits in a semi upright position when on the pram.

– Baby’s hands are now open most of the time, and he/she will shake and hold a rattle, or grab at your hair and jewelry.

Brie >> Oh yes, she’d grab my shirt, or my necklace, but she can’t quite grab a rattle for long just yet.

– Baby will smile and laugh more, cooing, whimpering and gurgling. Because you talk to him/her, baby is beginning to understand a message is made up of syllables, and that’s why baby will also start making sounds such as “ooh” and “aah”.

Brie >> Oh, I love this part! I love it when I look into her eyes, smile and talk to her softly and she’d smile and coo back to me.

…

Yes, I must say, it’s just SO heartwarming to have a little baby around.

Love you, lil Brie!

[In red and white, the Indonesian flag’s colour!]

I was recently asked by at least three people about our kids and how they speak in Bahasa Indonesia to each other.

The questions were more about : WHY we teach them Bahasa Indonesia, and aren’t we worried that they can’t cope with the english-speaking schools here.

Since today is Indonesia’s Independence Day, I thought it’s ‘timely’ to share our answers (read: our personal take) to the two questions above today =)

Here they are.

> WHY do we teach our children Bahasa Indonesia? (Especially since they’re born in Singapore and have always lived in Singapore)

I’d say, why not?

Wilson and I were born in Indonesia. We speak to each other in Bahasa all the time. We go to an Indonesian-speaking church service. We have Indonesian friends here in Singapore. We love Indonesian food. Our parents all live in Jakarta too.

So, it’s only natural for us to teach our children Bahasa Indonesia.

We wish for our children to communicate and relate well with their grandparents, cousins and relatives back in Indonesia. We want them to know that their parents were born there and Bahasa Indonesia is their ‘mother tongue’. We also wish for them (in years and years to come) to actually ‘understand’ what’s being said and shared during the Indonesian-speaking service we attend every Sunday.

Wilson and I also believe that the more language one can master, the better too, as it will allow them to reach out, communicate and relate to MORE people, more communities, around the world.

[The best people who can teach them a ‘foreign language’ – a language that’s not commonly spoken in the country they live in –  from day one are their parents, yes? =) ]

If Wilson and I could speak any OTHER languages, we would definitely pass them on to our kids too! Too bad we’re stuck with just English and Bahasa Indonesia so far (Okay, and a liiiiittttle bit of Mandarin. Anya and Vai know Mandarin so much better than us though by now, haha)

…

> Are you not worried that your children will find it difficult to speak English when they enter nursery school?

We believe children are really like a sponge. They absorb knowledge and information very fast and well. When it’s time for our children to enter school (eg. Nursery school, when a child turns 4yo in that particular year), we believe that they WILL learn how to converse in English, how to write in English, etc.

We saw it happen when both Anya and Vai started going to N2 (Nursery 2).

In their first 2-3 weeks of school, … yes, they spoke in ‘mixed languages’ =)

Vai, for example, did say something like this: ‘Mommy, di kelas tadi so cold, Vai mau wear jacket besok!’

=)

But you know what, after that initial 2 – 4 weeks, our kids started speaking English at school.

With NO problems.

They continue speaking to us in Bahasa Indonesia though (and I guess it’s because it’s something that we do since the kids were born).

There’s one interesting thing I noticed though: Anya and Vai always speak in Bahasa to each other, but somehow when they’re with their friends (even if they’re Indonesian friends), everyone automatically speak in English to one another.

Perhaps they kinda feel like they’re with their school friends, and at school, everybody speaks English to each other?

…

Anyway.

We don’t just teach our kids to speak in Bahasa Indonesia. We also introduce them to some Indonesian folklore stories, Indonesian songs and of course the National Anthem – Indonesia Raya =)

And, to close today’s post, I’d like to share with you this video we made today.

It’s of Anya and Vai attempting to sing ‘Indonesia Raya’ (only the reffrain) earlier today =)

Enjoy the clip!

Last year Mister Maker (yes, the guy from Cbeebies channel!) dropped by Singapore and we joined his exclusive arts and crafts session! Anya and Vai had lots of fun!

I uploaded our video on Youtube last year!

Here’s the news!

Mister Maker will be in Singapore again!

At the end of THIS MONTH!

And you know what’s even MORE awesome?

YOU (Yes, YOU and YOUR CHILD!) can meet him in person too and join his exclusive arts and crafts session when he’s here in Singapore!

Here’s how :

1. Leave your answer to this simple question: ‘Which country is Mister Maker from?’

2. Subscribe to my feed, by clicking THIS LINK

3. Share this contest on Facebook, Twitter or via Email to friends!

That’s it! =)

Contest will close on Thursday, 18 August, 11.59pm. Then, I’ll be selecting THREE winners randomly (using a generator) and announce the names on Friday, 19 August!

Three winners and their children (one child per parent) will then get to meet Mister Maker and take part in his exclusive arts and crafts session! *WOOHOO*

Here’re the details of the session:

Date: Friday, 26 August 2011
Venue: Forum Shopping Mall (atrium), 583 Orchard Road
Time: 10.30am – 11am

Quick! Leave your comments! Getting your chance for your little kiddo to meet Mister Maker can’t be simpler than this!! =)

All the best everyone!!

…

[Added, 21 August]

Three numbers have been picked out by random.org, and hey hey … CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING LUCKY WINNERS :

1) Lacy

2) Samantha

3) Adora

The winners’ kids (one child to each winner) will get to attend Mister Maker’s exclusive arts and crafts session on Friday, 26 August, 10.30am session!

Winners, please email me your contact number yeah (latest by Monday, 22 August, 5pm), as I need to pass them to the organiser! Thanks heaps!

To those who didn’t win this contest, I have another giveaway contest happening this week! Look out for it yeah!! =)