Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Hi everyone,

Here we are in Jakarta! I’m so enjoying heaps of Indonesian food (drinks and desserts too!) as well as our get-together with family!

[Yummy Pempek Palembang at Grand Indonesia’s Food Louver! Photo taken by hubby]

[Very ‘meaty’ durians from Thailand. Sooo yummy! Photo taken by Vai]

Family members from around the world is here to celebrate my grandpa’s 91st birthday AND my grandparents’ 70th wedding anniversary!

Yes, they’ve been married for THAT long and they’re so blessed with good health till today! (If I were to live till I celebrate my 70th wedding anniversary with hubby, I’d be … 95yo!!)

[Here they are with some of their great grandkids during one of our dinner celebrations!]

Really. I feel so blessed to have been around to witness and be part of the whole celebration. Rare to (still) have such occasions these days!

Basically THIS is the main reason why we let Anya and Vai skip school for close to two weeks to go and attend this big family get-together.

I mean, events come and go, but we believe that there are moments in life that we should NOT miss. And to us, THIS is one of them.

[With torchlights in my cousins’ hands, I experimented on making the numbers ‘7’ and ‘0’, to represent my grandparents’ 70th wedding anniversary! Turned out pretty well, heh]

The kids dressed up a bit too for some of the occasions. Here’s Vai in his (oversized!) Batik shirt and Anya in her cheongsam!

Will update and post more photos of our Jakarta trip soon! Stay tuned!

I LOVEEEE how so much more affordable hair salons are in Jakarta (ie. compared to Singapore prices)

In Singapore, for S$10, you can get your hair cut in about 10 minutes.

But that is it. A hair cut.

In Jakarta, however … for the same amount, at a proper hair salon in a shopping centre, you can enjoy :

– getting your hair thoroughly washed and massaged
– a hair cut (properly cut, not some ‘rushed work’)
– having your hair blow-dried and styled a bit

Yes, for just S$10 =)

…

Both Anya and Vai had their hair cut the other day.

And I think the hair stylist had quite a bit of fun doing up Vai’s new hair! =)

[Vai flattened his spikes within 1 minute afterwards though! Luckily I took shots of the hairdo before that happened! =) ]

[Photo was taken by Anya]

People sometimes ask me, ‘How do you manage to still breastfeed baby Brie when you’re out and about with your two other kids?’

Well, I guess I have no problems with breastfeeding Brie (or Anya and Vai when they were babies) because I don’t specifically look for nursing rooms when I’m outside.

I simply breastfeed discreetly, … whenever I need to, and wherever I happen to be at the time.

On the train, on the bus, at food courts, at restaurants, at the beach, etc.

And with a sling and an extra cloth that I drape over my shoulder, it’s completely discreet and convenient, ie. I don’t have to desperately look for nearby nursing rooms (whether I happen to be alone or with Anya and Vai).

…

This is what I usually do when Brie is hungry but I’m outside:

– Decide if this time round Brie needs to feed from the left or right

– Put on my sling accordingly (note: In the photo above, Brie is feeding from my right, and hence the sling’s ring is on my left shoulder)

– Let Brie lie comfortably inside the sling (sleeping position)

– Drape an extra cloth over the shoulder where Brie’s head is (see picture above)

– Lift shirt discreetly from behind the cloth and sling, adjust Brie’s head level accordingly

– Brie starts feeding, and I continue with my meal if I happen to be eating at the time =)

…

Once Brie is comfortably feeding (and latched on), I can actually stand and continue walking to wherever that I’m supposed to go. I simply need to gently support the lower part of the sling (ie. Brie’s back) with my arms.

(I do this very often actually =)

And to me, this approach to breastfeeding really gives me the ‘freedom’ and ‘convenience’, allowing me to still continue with my other tasks or plans, though I have a small baby in tow.

…

How’s your approach to breastfeeding so far? Do you breastfeed in public? How do YOU do it?

Today, Wilson and I have officially been married for TEN years.

Yes, ten good years.

I say that it’s been ‘good’ because it’s been that long without us ‘feeling’ it.

It sure does NOT mean our ten years together have not been filled with ups and downs though (because I sure remember how there were lots of tough moments!)

But.

Somehow I think it’s the ups and downs of life that we both face together (with God as our Lord and Pillar of strength) that make our relationship stronger.

Anyway.

We’re honoured to have been interviewed and featured on the Singaporebrides.com as the couple who’s been married for ten years =)

Thanks Adora for the interview.

Please click HERE to read the whole article! (and to see our ‘wedding photo’!)

[Just in case you’re wondering about where I took this shot, … we’re all inside a changing room, hehe]

I’m SO looking forward to the trip because,

… It’s our very first time traveling as a family of five!

… Family members from around the world are getting together as it’s my grandfather’s 91st birthday celebration!

… I’ll be speaking and sharing at the Children Photography and Blogging workshop this Sunday, 10 July! (Btw, have YOU registered? Hope to see many of you there!)

And I will definitely be getting a full body massage and all sorts of hair treatments! *Woohoo*

Time to relax a bit lah, hehe.

(I love how so much more affordable these services are back in Jakarta!)

…

Will post photos during my trip, and will update my Facebook too!

(Most welcome to add me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter if you haven’t yeah!)

Let’s see how things are now that our little baby Brie is 6 weeks old :

– Her jaundice is almost 100% gone (The whites of her eyes are no longer yellowish now)

– Exclusively breastfed (and Mommy plans to continue till she’s at least … 1.5 yo?)

– On average, she’d nurse for about 20 minutes each time

– When placed in her cot (still half-asleep), she generally can fall asleep by herself

[I’m writing this down because this did NOT happen when Vai was a baby. He was a very light sleeper, and would fall asleep if breastfed and would wake up if I put him down on his cot however super slowly I did it!]

– Still sleeps a lot during the day (but I can see how she’s awake for about an hour longer lately)

– Can lift head temporarily and turns from left to right when sleeping on tummy

– Asks for milk every 2 hours on average during the day AND night.

– Likes to grunt and make noises (as if she’s stretching her arms and legs)

– No longer cries much when bathed, but still frequently does AFTER being bathed

– Mommy needs to change diapers about 7-8 times a day

– Poops for at least 2 times a day (without fail)

– Poop has turned to yellow in colour since she’s about 4 weeks old.

– Weight (as at 4 July) : 4.7kg

And finally, … she’s adored by her big sister and brother.

They will go to her and say things like, ‘Hi Brie! Hello big girl … what are you doing? We’re going out soon ya … ‘ =)

And, when Brie is in my arms, they’d ask me to bend down, so they can see how she’s doing and kiss her.

=)

It’s cute to watch.

Here’s one exciting news to share!

We’ll be in Jakarta next week and I’ll be doing a workshop!

Yep, in Jakarta!

I’m so excited about this because finally I get to share and learn from fellow Indonesians, in my hometown!

I’m SO inviting as many of you as possible to the workshop!

Please do come, mingle, learn from each other.

I myself will be sharing practical tips on how to take better photos of our kids and family, and also a bit on blogging (eg. Things to watch out for when we create a family blog, etc)

Please mark the date and time on your calendar yeah:

Sunday, 10 July 2011
11am – 2.30pm (inclusive of lunch)

Admission is FREE!
(Yep, it’s free for you to attend! You’d need to invite and bring along as many friends as possible though! Hehe)

Venue is to be confirmed (will announce it as soon as it’s finalised)

…

Edited (1 July 2011):

Confirmed venue for Workshop:
Bumbu Tjobek Restaurant (next to Central Park Shopping Centre!)

Address:
Ruko Garden Shopping Arcade Blk B-8AP Podomoro City, Central Park, Jakarta, 11470

…

And to inject more fun to the workshop, I’ll let you in on a little surprise : There will be Sponsored Prizes to give away at the workshop! *YAY*

To register, just drop me an email and let me know your full name and contact number. It’s THAT easy!

Email: leonny[at]oureverydaythings[dot]com

Don’t miss this out yeah!

I soooo am looking forward to seeing many of you, in person, in Jakarta! =)

Please pass the news. Invite others. Share on Facebook and Twitter!

Thanks everyone!

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[Top photo : Saw a nice contrast just outside Marina Bay MRT station the other day! In the background are the towering modern office buildings; On the foreground are a row of simple bikes that belong to construction workers, the ones who sweat it out and build those buildings and underground train stations]