2013

So yet another year is coming to an end and once again I am saying, "Where has time gone?"

I spent the first 8 months of this year being a SAHM. After the experience of going back to work when N was 4 months old, I decided that it would be better to spend more time at home this time with T. So based on my work roster, I decided to take 9 months off. I did enjoy my time at home with the kids. Especially with T. I think it helped with bonding and with the breastfeeding experience. N stopped direct latching from 6 months as I was back at work and working ridiculous hours. I got to go to baby activities and play dates with T. I do have some regrets that I wasn't more well organized though. Perhaps it's cos I am a hugely idealistic person. I had all these wonderful thoughts of all the exciting activities I would do with N while looking after T. Well... let's just say with a little one and a toddler, the days were mainly planned on a day by day basis. I say this wistfully... once again, N spent more time with his grandparents while I was being a cow to T. Sigh... trying to bond more with #1 is still a struggling priority on my list! He loves his grandparents.

Talking about N. He grew so much this year. At his second birthday, I was worried that he wasn't saying much. He was only saying short phrases. He didn't even say mummy. He called us 'mee mee' and 'dee dee'. He appeared to understand things but he didn't say much. Then suddenly, after his second birthday, his vocabulary just blossomed and now people marvel at how much he can say and how well he can say it. Sometimes I wonder if there was a way to tone down his jabber! Kids say the darndest things and N can be really funny! Just yesterday, he came up to me and said, "Mummy, my OYG (grandpa's full name) is tired!" He sings songs in tune, tells his own stories... still has a huge stubborn streak!! He's learning to be a good big brother, even when the little one annoys him. He is really becoming his own little person. We recently celebrated his last day at childcare and I thought I was going to cry! We are also currently toilet training. Yes, we left it slightly late. Seems somewhat successful thus far! He loves his music and his animals. He also loves his lego and can build animals and buildings all by himself. He'll be starting violin lessons soon and is really excited about them. He also knows he holds the key to his grandparents' hearts and really knows how to get his way with them! Oh, and he performed successfully with his Sunday School class for Fathers' day. So proud of him! He now understands the concepts of birthdays and Christmas (except that I think he thinks they last for longer than a day).

Little T has shown me how different siblings can be. Where N is serious and cautious, T is playful and cheeky. I love how Little T is affectionate and smiley most of the time. He is also our human dustbin! He loves his food and he loves to eat and gets angry when he doesn't get his food fast enough. The first year is all about firsts and we celebrated so many firsts this year. First time sitting up, first time standing up, first steps (still not walking yet!), first time sleeping through the night!! (Whee!!!) Little T loves his big brother. The first night he got evicted from Mummy & Daddy's room, he slept right through cos he knew his kor kor was right there with him. He wants everything that kor kor has. Tonight he even decided kor kor's food is better than his! We celebrated first words.. dadee, kor! Na-Na, gong (grandpa), crock (clock). He can clap his hands, identify various objects and people, knock his head (don't ask!!!) Younger siblings are so lucky that they have older ones to learn from... just observing T, I think he picks up things much faster than N cos he has N to exemplify everything!

Learning to be a mummy of 2 (and going back to work!) has not been easy. Sometimes I sit at work and think about my little ones at home. There are always times when I ask myself if I made the right decision to return to work. I think mummy-guilt will always exist. It is learning how to accept and be satisfied with whatever situation God puts you in and continuing to believe that He was always guide us.

Learning to be parents of 2 was another great challenge. Parenting is a team effort and I thank God for a great partner who picks up heaps of my slack. (Yes, I still love to sleep after 2 kids!) He changes to poopy nappies, does the sleep training, cleans up the puke mess... The kids couldn't ask for a better Daddy. Oh and of course he had to deal with the grumpy mummy as well. Being a cow with little sleep makes one extremely grumpy!

So what does 2014 hold for us? Well.. I know one thing. My future lies in my Saviour's hands.

Blessed New Year Everyone!

Our second 1st Birthday

So last week I celebrated being a mummy of 2 for 1 year.

I have always felt first birthdays were more for the parents to celebrate one year of parenting. I mean, do you remember your first birthday?

One year of parenting a baby and a toddler. 10 months of that year included interrupted, sleepless nights. One year of sweet baby chuckles and heaps of spit ups. One year of marking those exciting 1st year milestones again. One year of learning to deal with a toddler's jealousy. One year of learning how to cope with one going 'mummy, mummy, mummy' and one crying at the same time. One more year of being extremely grateful to have the parents help out. One year of being mummy cow again.

My 2 Little Songs, always remember that you are very much loved. Though I do have wistful thoughts at times of our childless days, I am very grateful to have the 2 of you in our lives. Though at times I get driven a little crazy by your antics, Mummy loves nothing more than to hug and kiss my Little Songs and sing silly songs at bath time, meal time and bed time.. (yes, we sing a lot!)

To Timmy Wimmy Song, Happy 1st Birthday.

To Kor Kor Nat, don't worry, your birthday will be here soon! Didi won't be having another birthday for a year. :P