Bloom and Teeny Weeny Photo Shoot (Overdue post)

After getting pregnant a second time, I wasted no time in telling hubby that I wanted to have a maternity photo shoot. The photo shoot would entail some artistic bare it all shots. Hubby was of course apprehensive at first until I told him that I will try to choose a studio with a female photographer. What I wanted to do was to capture the rare moments of a stretched tummy with a baby inside and of course while my skin is still smooth...  

I shortlisted a few photo studios which were known to take really nice maternity photos and studios or free lancers who have just joined this lucrative business. As I was looking around, the Parenthood Fair came along and one of my top choice studio actually had a promo! As luck would have it, I only needed to pay $500 for maternity and newborn photo shoot! I slept over it for a week (since it was announced on the studio's facebook page) and decided to just go ahead with it. The studio had at that time also published their new rates card and the package was really a "not to be missed!". Got my sister to go down to the fair with me just so I can book the package and appointments. Hubby was overseas then and it was quite a feat trying to book an appointment that would fit his schedule. 

My studio of choice was (drum rollssss.....) The Studio Loft! I have always admired the photos on their Facebook page after knowing about them through my colleague who took family photos with them. There was just something that struck a cord with me - what I can't really tell. All I can say is I really love the photos. :p

The maternity photo shoot was enjoyable. I wanted to be a little more adventurous but I guess I got conscious because my older daughter was with me. I didn't want her to have the impression that it is perfectly ok to take photos without clothes (not that the poses were raunchy or that she will understand that I was taking it to remember the big tummy). 

The newborn photo shoot on the other hand was quite difficult. Baby M fussed for quite a bit and was not really co-operative - wanting to latch and latch and latch... It was really stressful and I really hated the first half of the photo shoot. My worry was that none of the photos were going to turn out right. That said Maryann was really calm and cool in handling babies (being a mother herself) and managed to take many pretty shots (yes I wanted to buy all but hubby the disciplined one said no. *bleah*). And there was Joanne who was there to lighten the mood and keep N in a perky mood for the sisters' portion. :)

It was a great experience and I would surely go back for another one if I were to get pregnant again. 

It's time for the reveal (do not worry... no NC16 or M18 photos will be posted here)...

The Bloom Shoot 

This is my favourite! N looking so sweet isn't it?

The Teeny Weeny Shoot 

Pardon me... But hubby wanted this finger sucking photo... :p

Aren't tiny feet cute?

The sleeping child...

That sweet smile

The sisters!!!

Love how the two of them look in this photo...

Angels...

 Papa Mama & Baby M 

Just the girls and I...

 Realised that this looks so much like the photo of me and the girls! *faint*

Busy weekends...

Life for typical Singapore parents on weekends = shuttling their kids around for classes. 

We have signed N for classes at a slow pace... It first started with Berries, swimming then ballet... Berries was not something that N chose but something which hubby and I wanted her to pick up. I must say that Berries is really good and I kinda regret not sending her when she was in N2. For now, she is slowly but surely picking up character recognition.

Swimming and ballet are two activities which N loves. It's easy to tell when she comes home practicing whatever she learns in class. For example, she was prancing around the house like a butterfly today because the teacher thought her the moves.  

Here is a photo of her in her favorite attire  (ps: papa actually forgot to bring that little tutu skirt! So she wears the skirt that she had on before the class. 

While N goes for her ballet class, M would go for her "baby spa"... Aka tub swimming. Apparently she enjoys swimming without diapers on. As soon as the lady took it off, she was smiling happily in the water... :p 

"Kracie" Cooking Fun...

This was something which I first saw on a Facebook BP. For some reason, I did not join the BP as I was doubtful about it's origins and the ingredients used to make these. It was also during this time, I actually viewed videos of how to make "ice cream" and even showed it to N.

This started her off and suprisingly she manage to find other videos of people making other things like sushi, bento, cheese burger, etc on Youtube. Being someone who enjoys "cooking" play, she kept asking papa to buy it for her.

I googled and found that these kits were sold by Candyplay and they had rented retail spaces in TOYoutpost to sell them. Each box cost $11.90!!! And 5 sets cost $50. You know what happens... We walked out of the vivo outlet with 5 boxes! One would be given to my niece as a belated birthday present...

Here are photos of the four boxes which little gal would be cooking and the proud little girl with her "ice cream" creations...

Happy Birthday!

The little gal is turning four this year. Since it's the last birthday as an only child, this birthday celebration was kind of special and I made it a point to start planning early.

She wanted a "princess" birthday party due her (over)exposure of Disney DVD cartoons like Cinderella, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid and Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. For some reason, she loves Snow White the most. The theme then evolved from "Princesses" to "Snow White".

I started my search for the cake topper about 5 months prior but could not find one that could make me go "OK! This is the one!". In early November, the frenzy started since figurines/toppers from US Disney would take some time to reach Singapore. I then sought help from a colleague to see if she knew where I could get decent toppers (not those where Snow White has small slits for her eyes). Well, I finally found one sold on the SMH forum!

Two weeks before the "birthday party", another frenzy  moment took place as we hunted for THE birthday cake design. Hubby felt that a "garden theme" cake would go with the topper and sure enough, it did!

Then it was on to the ding-dong-ing back and forth with Pine Garden (via email) for the design of the cake. Seriously email is surely the most inefficient manner of doing it, so many thanks to hubby, who went down to Pine Garden with our "sweat & tears" art work to place the order. Pine Garden does not do Disney themed cakes so they decorated the cake according to my request and I placed the topper on my own after that.

The teachers and children "Oooooooo-ed" and "Uhhhhhhhh-ed" over the cake. We ordered a 2kg Hazelnut Chocolate Crunch cake and it was moist and soft!  The children were particularly enchanted by the blue cream (yes, can you believe it?), edible lady bugs, strawberries, flowers, snails and of course the fondant words that read Happy 4th Birthday Nicole.

Now, let's just allow the photos to do the talking... :)




The Birthday Cake! :)



More shots with the bright and cherry "Snow White & 7 Dwarf" birthday cake.
 

The family shot :)



Kiddos surrounding the cake and little gal blowing out the candle.

 

Cutting the cake and having a HUGE SLICE of the cake! :)

 



Aloha Loyang Chalet (art & craft on Day 1 & 2)

This is the second year 4 families come together for an R&R weekend at the Aloha Loyang chalet during the December school holidays. This time round we stayed at Bungalow 14. The condition of this chalet was worse than the previous and was quite a distance from the swimming pool. The only perk is that the unit was facing the sea (so it was windy) and there is a mango tree outside which was bearing lots of fruits! :)

This time round, two mummies prepared some craft material for the kids to entertain themselves during the chalet. There were 2 toddlers (including little gal) and 2 older children. Doing crafts entertains the kids and doing it at the chalet takes away lots of stress (translate to: no worries about the sand all over the floor or paint on your precious furniture/wall). The best part is seeing all 4 kids enjoying themselves!

There were other things which the kids did like painting the sea creature coaster and "free hand" doodling/drawing which were not captured on photos.

But here are some pictures captured of the children in action!

Day 1: Little gal doing foam art with another little gal (who turns out to be her best friend throughout this entire chalet!)



Day 2: Batik Painting all around! All serious at work... :)

Everyone "flashing" their work of art... and laying them out to dry outside the chalet

 

All posing with their art pieces! All very pretty isn't it? *Well done!*



Two mummies helping their gals with the "Glow-in-the-dark" sand art pieces! (PS: The messy messy SUPER messy but super fun craft! Most fun to do at Chalet cos even if the sand spills, the parents can still chill!)

The little gal with her finished piece!

 

Hubby helped the kids "sun" the glow in the dark sand & all the kids went into the room to see the "glowing" art work. Quite impressed that the glow in the dark sand really "glows". LOL!

Red Rhino in "action"...

Came home from grocery shopping to find the car park fire alarm triggered and ringing away. Shortly after parking the car, a red rhino was despatched to scene. While the fire-fighters checked out if there was a real fire, they parked the Red Rhino at the shelter.

Such a rare opportunity! So took the chance to let the little gal have some "close look" at the vehicle... Technically it is a "fast response" vehicle for small fire incidences. But too complex for me to explain it to her. In the end, she calls it a "mini-fire engine".

The fire fighters were of course amused by our "suaku-ness" since we asked little gal to take a photo with the Red Rhino. They must be wondering if this extreme mother will put the little gal behind the wheels for another photo (worrying since the engine was on and none of the official personnel was in that vehicle...). :p

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

It's the end of the year and Christmas lightings are already up along Orchard Road! The little gal kept asking if she could have her own Christmas tree. This being the second year she asked, hubby initially told her that she could go to my neighbour's to see their tree.

Perhaps it's the pregnancy or because she has grown up and I wanted her to have the experience, so I told hubby that we would get one for her this year. Hubby of course jumped at the idea - he wanted a Christmas tree too, the first year we moved into our place. My reaction was "huh? For what?". LOL. The things we would do to win a child's joy and laughter...

Shopped around at both TANGS and GIANT hypermart for the Xmas tree. My criteria was simple, a tree that cost as little as possible but still look decent enough (since the tree will be back in the store room after a year). And this also applies to the deco.

Checked out the prices and decided to get the cheapest one at GIANT... Damage: Xmas tree 1.5m tall ($12.99) + Multi-colored lighting ($19.99) + Ikea Xmas 25 piece deco ($5.90). I know what the reaction will be: the lighting actually cost more than the tree!!! But it's really pretty with bells and snowflakes... ;)

And here are some pics of the little gal decorating the Xmas tree and a picture with the Xmas tree. :) haven't gotten the star so asked Hello Kitty to stand in first...

When there is only you and me...

It was a date with little gal... ;) Picked her up from mother in law's place and brought her for tuina at TMC's TCM clinic. At almost age 4, bringing her out is easier...

We adjourned to Starbucks for her "cake". Starbucks at United Square shopping centre is always packed! (its perpetually filled with students and there is no seats for customers like me). *oh well* This time I managed to get a seat by "sharing" it with someone (who was not studying). He left soon after partly because no privacy... *haha evil laughter*

Here are shots of the little gal enjoying her hot chocolate & oreo cheese cake.

High tea with mummies - Rose Veranda

After a tuina session for little gal and Jinny's baby boy, we met Stella for lunch/high tea at Shangrila's Rose Veranda. It was really nice to catch up with fellow mummies in the 2008 group. ;)

Stella brought Evan along. Evan and little gal had loads of fun together making animal mask, colouring and doodling which the mummies sipped tea and ate.

Here are pictures of them colouring, with the animal mask and little gal's doodling... ;)

Little gal's colouring... If u noticed, she added a sun at the top of the picture. The butterflies are drawn by me. The one directly below the sun is drawn by her (and it looks like a dollar sign...).



Little gal drawing her "My family" - from her left: Mei mei, mummy, daddy and herself. (noticed she has got two pony tails)



I asked her who was she drawing and she says: "Mama". Haha, not bad at least I look decent. And I have long eye-lashes!

The 2012 graduation concert...

Nope my little gal did not graduate but participated in the school's concert... The song she danced to was called the 加油歌. It seems like her passion for dancing, shaking around is pretty strong. Perhaps it's because of early exposure to music (kindermusik) and this is her 2nd participation in a dance item (her first was in Cherie Hearts).

With the little pompoms, the dance was energetic and high spirited. The kids on stage all enjoyed themselves despite being a little messy in terms of movement and coordination. Can't expect professional cheer leading precision at this age... :p

Some photos taken during the dance, with her classmates and of course a family portrait (can't tell my tummy is there ya?). ;)

Little gal's garden!

I've always recalled fond memories of my very young days at grandma's old landed property which consist of a mini garden. During my pre-school days, my younger sister and I would be disturbing the life of spiders (destroying webs), ants and even the goldfish (by over feeding them) in the fish tank. We would also spy my grandma when she was doing her gardening.

When my sis and i were in Primary school, we started growing green beans on wet cotton wool (i bet many of my peers would remember this). We had the opportunity of growing long beans in the backyard and even harvested the long beans when they grew! Cool isnt it?

I wanted to recreate this for the little gal despite the fact that we were staying in HDB. Hopefully the little morning sun will keep the plant alive and good enough for it to flower and fruit some day. ;)

Planning went well and she picked out the seeds from far east flora (okra/lady fingers & long beans). After that, we took a long break as little gal pestered us daily, shaking the seeds in our faces and asking when she could start. (opps)

One fine day, she finally put her foot down and insisted we got down to it. Little gal counted the seeds and pressed them into the moist wet sand. Then a thin layer of sand by papa and she patted the sand down.

Since it was her little garden, she waters the plants everyday and boy did they grow tremendously within the 3 days!

I decided to do a side project with her: a signage. Decided on a design (arrow pointing to the left) and words. I drew the words with her inputs, she drew the tree and grass and did the colouring all by herself. Super colurful isn't it?

Hopefully the plants will grow well and start growing lady fingers and long beans! (fingers super crossed). ;p

Batik Painting

Finally caught the trend of letting my little girl try "batik painting". It's meant to help children gain control and coordination. ;)

Today papa guided lil gal by helping her pour out the colors and telling her which to mix to get other colors... Midway through, she was so happy she held up the painting and exclaimed "wow so beautiful!". And she did not want papa to do any of the painting for her... Lolz...