Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Public Holiday today.

Day out with cell group friends and kids.

Great discussions on why people choose to have children.

Laksa.

Tea + Milk.

Prata.

(more) Tea + Milk.

Recently I was invited to be a Guest Blogger at Thinkfamily.sg

It’s actually a new website, set up by the Singapore government in its move towards a more family-friendly society.

[note: it’s under the care of Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and National Family Council]

Basically it shares family-related news articles and allows people to discuss or even blog and share their views there.

Frankly, I’m glad to have been given the opportunity to write and contribute.

Anyway.

Don’t forget to visit and check it out from time to time, yes?

PS: They plan to formally launch the site in mid June!

This past week Vai’s been climbing on to LOTS of things. Our bed. Toy boxes. Our sofa. Bedside table (then onto our TV cabinet).

Really. It’s quiet an adrenaline rush for me to see him doing all his stunts.

[We never experience this with Anya in her first 2 years, you see]

We don’t quickly carry him down and back to the floor though. We let him explore and test his own balancing skills while watching over him from a close distance. It’s only when we think it’s getting too dangerous for a 9-month-old baby to do that we distract him with another activity.

With something that’s much closer to ‘ground level’, I mean.

It’s amazing to see that in less than three months Vai will be a one-year-old boy! Babies grow up SO fast!

And in terms of his developments so far, I guess it’s much easier to list them down using the terms used in the book ‘What To Expect The First Year‘.

Here they are:

>> work to get a toy that’s out of reach

>> look for dropped object

>> pull up to standing from sitting

>> crawl

>> kneel well

>> get into a sitting position from stomach

>> object if you try to take a toy away

>> stand holding on to someone or something

>> pick up tiny object with any part of thumb and finger

>> say “mama” and “dada” indiscriminately

>> babble, using various consonants

>> play peekaboo

>> clap hands and occasionally wave bye bye

>> walk holding on to furniture / cruise

>> understand “no”, but always obey it

>> stand alone momentarily

>> momentarily squat, without holding on to anything

>> climb on to furniture or boxes (or anything!) to reach for objects of interest

As usual, I learned a lot from today’s sermon, delivered by Rev. Stephen Tong.

Here’s today’s food for thought.

Too often we think only about ourselves (and our own beloved family). We think about how much we can gain for ourselves and how much we will receive from other people. How WE are the centre of everything because WE feel we’re more important than others.

And the fact that everyone else (read: our society) does the same thing sometimes ‘justifies’ our own actions too. That it’s completely ‘normal’ to focus on just me, me and me.

Today I’m reminded again that instead of thinking about how much we can gain, we should in fact start thinking about how much we can share and give.

How much can I can sacrifice for others? How much can I contribute?

Just like how a candle lights up and brightens its surrounding only when it melts itself.

And One Person, Jesus Christ, sure has shown how HE put others ahead of Himself and sacrificed Himself for the salvation of others.

Got time?

Click here to read more about milk and our health.

And click here to watch some of their Got Milk? advertising campaign videos.

PS: Oh btw, a friend of mine mentioned that Vai might’ve had what is known as ‘false measles‘. And only then I remember yeah THAT’s what it’s called! [Thanks Henny!]

Vai’s rash is nearly gone now, btw. All of them.

Just a quick update.

Vai was feverish for 3 days starting last Monday, and this morning it’s all gone. Instead, red dots start to appear on his face, neck, chest and back. Looks a bit like rash.

Anya went through exactly the same symptoms when she’s about 11 months old, so frankly we’re not that worried about Vai’s condition. Based on what happened to Anya, more will come out before they start to slowly go away.

I know for sure it’s not measles though because when the rash appears, it’s not accompanied by fever. In fact, it’s when his fever is gone that these red dots start to appear.

[Some say this condition is called the ‘Fifth disease‘]

Anyway.

He’s cranky at times today. I guess it’s also because of the heat rash on his neck. Must’ve felt really uncomfortable.

[I apply some skin-rash-powder on him after his shower. Its cooling effect helps a bit, I hope]

Other than that (and a bit of cough, phlegm and runny nose), I can say he’s relatively back to his normal self.

Giggling. Smiling. Messing up Anya’s toys and our DVDs. And trying to munch on our magazines. Hehe.