Category Archives: life

baby diaries: 5

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Mom friends at the office are organising a small get together this Friday in celebration of our motherhood. Five years. You’re five. I’ve been a mother for five years. Somehow it feels so surreal as it feels like it was just yesterday that you were kicking inside my tummy. Now YOU’RE the one asking for a baby boy inside MY tummy (tall order, little one). 

Five. Truth be told, I feel (and know) I’m very far from being the perfect Mom. Sometimes, I feel like I’m so hard and strict on you. But I’m learning by the day little love, and you are teaching me too. 

I love your laughter. And your tight hugs. And your sweet kisses (which are sometimes too wet!). And your thoughtfulness. And your empathy. At your tender age of 4, you have comforted me several times, patting my back and my head. In those times, I have only gratitude – thankful of how God has made you and how He is honing you for the future He has planned for you. 

During bath time this evening, I asked you what’s your birthday wish. You had an easy answer – love, laughter (you demonstrated it too). 

With that kind of birthday wish, I’d say I am a blessed Mom. 

Grow up well, Anak. We wish you beauty inside and out, love, passion, a faithful soul, and a kind heart. 

The Examined Life

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Realised it’s been a month since my last post. Been so busy recently I’ve been giving up some of my passions – writing, reading a good book. Ah, I miss being passionate about a book. Been having working lunches for the past two weeks in that even the one hour that I could study Nihongo has been taken away from me. 

I could go on and blame the person who’s behind this busyness. But no I shouldn’t. He probably is also in hot water because he left (for vacation!) at a very crucial time. 

So I just have to count the blessings and look at the positive side of things. That Hubs has been very supportive of my schedule and knows when I’m on short fuse. That Yui is such a sweet darling, that she is. That I could recommend ways that paved for huge cost savings. That (hopefully) my efforts will reach far. I can only hope and pray. 

6th for A&M

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Today was laid back and nice; the weather beautiful and perfect for walking around after Church. Perfect for reflections and thanksgiving, most specially since Yui didn’t throw any tantrum and was such a big sport at the museum – totally had her voice down the whole time! 

But what really touched me was how Yui highlighted our anniversary day, twice today. 

We walked by a billboard with a woman on a wedding dress and her man looking at her. Yui stopped and exclaimed excitedly that “Mommy also wore the same beautiful dress and Daddy was the Prince! And then you both danced!”

Later, while we were sitting and waiting for the bus, Yui, seated between us, gathered both our heads together and exclaimed happily, “Mommy, Daddy, happily ever after ne! Yui wa, dou ka na; mada ka na (how about Yui; maybe it’s not yet my time)”. That last sentence she uttered with a sigh. 

There’s much to be thankful for. But we are most thankful for you, dear Yui, for the person that you are. Little still, yet big of heart. 

life with a kindergartener: the T-Rex and its digits 

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We’ve been arguing for weeks now about this particular issue. You against me & your Dad. But you just won’t relent. In fact, you’ve grown more vehement in your belief that you were right. That it is an indisputable fact that the T-Rex has only two digits on its fore limbs. Your Dad and I insist it had three. 

At one point, Gon the dinosaur was even involved in our discussion as we (Me and your Dad), suggested Gon is a T-Rex. And with this, you passionately told us this is not correct because Gon has three fingers. 

It went on for weeks. But it was only tonight that I thought of checking it out so that once and for all, the matter will be settled. And I was shocked to see you were right! You were jumping gayly on your bed, saying “desu yo?! Desu yo?!! I won!” while Dad hid under the covers because well, we lost. 


Yes I’m very proud that you were able to notice such detail. 

But I’m even more proud on how relentless you were on your stand; how confident you were even when your views were very different from Mom and Dad. You didn’t even go and look for proof (as I would do at the office); you just say it in a very confident manner that  has a tone of a “full stop” on it; no room for discussion. 

By even as you rejoiced, you also felt the need to comfort Mom and Dad because we lost in our big debate. And so you went really really generous. You shared with us your two most favourite toys that you almost couldn’t go to bed without. You gave Pinkie Pie to Daddy for the night, and to me, Arlo. 

I pray the world, us including, doesn’t change you anak. May you continue to be firm yet gentle; determined yet generous. 

A day well spent

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For many, it can probably be described as a very laid back birthday. I’d say it was one of my special ones. Was able to have a “me” time with a good movie (La la Land), lunch date with Hubs, salon pampering, cake date with Yui, a beautiful bouquet from Hubs, good dinner, relaxing evening. And messages from family and close friends across the globe even sans FB usage (well, discount Messenger since it’s another app). I even love how the weather today was – sunny early morning, gentle rain the rest of the day and stopping at late afternoon such that Yui and I could enjoy singing while  walking. And since I picked Yui up early today, while she went to toilet, I got to talk with her classmates who were all eager to show off their newly-learned English words. Love it as well that the evening was capped with Yui sweetly singing “happy birthday” while holding  her Lego cake. 

Heart overflowing with gratitude and brimming with anticipation. 

life with a kindergartener: when I grow up….

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On a visit to our daughter’s daycare, one of her girl classmates suddenly exclaimed  albeit with a serious expression while looking so self-assured at me: I’ll be a pianist when I grow up!

Boy classmate then piped in, “I’ll be a Godzilla or dinosaur when I grow up! Really, really big!!” (His voice then changed to emphasise how big he is gonna be)

Of course my daughter wouldn’t allow herself to loose ground. She also has to say her own piece. 

Yui: when I grow up, I will be a….FLAMINGO!!

There’s a golden rule: never, ever laugh at someone else’s dream. And so of course, I tried not to. 

A few weeks later…

Yui: I will be a prime minister. Flamingo prime minister! 

Well, at least she’s consistent.