Goodbye, Goodbye..

It was finally time to close the door to one of our life's firsts, to our 1st apartment that signify the start of our married life.

It was more heart wrenching then i realised. I knew every corner of this place, having re-done it from scratch with alot of frustration and pride, at a time when we were just starting out in our careers.. we made so much FIRSTS here in that apartment. It was always my pride.. now it belongs to another..

There was where we had Jadelle, our sanctuary from the world, our parties and gatherings, the numerous fireworks view during events, the quiet moments we enjoyed at our wondows. So much memories, so short a time here.

My heart almost broke when Jadelle waved sadly to her spiders "Goodbye" for the last time (The winkplay spiders in her playroom).. oh gosh.. now remembering it, my tears start to fall..

The new place still got some carpentry to go. Then it will be cleaning up time, and we can move back in with our essentials and slowly unpack. It is an unsavory location, only saved by the upgrading works done, and the size and GENERAL location - central. The row of terrace houses in front of its entrance.. hmm.. not very safe to walk in if you are female, young and alone. Drivers only!

Am wondering how much $$ we will lose on this unit if the economy ever falters.

Still pending:
- glass backing on stove
- get washing machine working
- fix up roller blinds
- feature light problem (keeps tripping up the electrical circuit.. time to change?)
- TV feature wall lighting
- dressing table lighting
- tighten hinges
- repair parquet floor (was damaged during move)
- repair the bracket that came out during moving in living room
- glass cover for headboard
- buy bamboos

Once dressing table lighting is up, we can clean up toilets, the areas and move in already..

colour scheme for TV feature wall?

I want to install onto the brown TV feature wall this design..

cannot decide on colour scheme.. a good friend did this for me on the com. Thks Alf!

Looks like dark brown on brown seems alright..

More pictures of apartment, at night!

Sink in Master bedroom toilet. Yucky!


1 more picture of kitchen


Dining room wall. Painted yellow. nice, but cannot be seen in the yellow lighting!


Entrance to the apartment. Dark red entrance wall, glossy marble. What will be visible now will be curtains and the feature light. TV wall not so obvious now.




Feature lights up and running, um, but in partial glory! Gotta replace some bulbs!









Hm, dining room's yellow wall not obvious when bathed in warm white lighting!






The shiny marble floor after polishing! You can see the yellow dining wall much better from this angle.






The recessed wall area has been partially boarded up to accomodate easy furniture placement.






Rainshower in master bedroom. Quality sucks! Gonna remove in and put back my Grohe.




estimated Costs so far:
1) 8ft wardrobe - 2.4k
2) 8" storage cabinet - 1.3k
3) electrical wiring - 1.6k
4) false ceiling - 1.6k
5) revarnishing of all wooden stuff (doors, parquet, cabinets) - 1.8k
6) TV wall & plastering of 3 walls & Master bedroom headboard - 2.1k
7) grilles & rubbish chute - 0.9k
8) marble grinding - 0.8k
9) painting - 1.6k
10) plumbing (change mixers and taps and basins) - 0.4k
11) Haulage & debris clearance - 0.5k
12) REpaint the wrought iron gate - 0.4k

TOTAL: 13.8K

Psst!! She's 16 months old!

Jadelle drawing in Julia Gabriel's playnest class. She has been receiving extremely positive feedback from teachers in her classes on how receptive she is to the lessons. I noted it too. Pleased that she enjoys it.. at least money is well spent!

it rained so heavily today @ Forum. MIL went to TAKASHIMAYA to enjoy her hair spa.. unfortunately for me, it rained so heavily! I have no choice but to put Jadelle in the stroller after class, add on the maclaren rain cover and dashed through the rain! The poor baby was not happy at all and wailed her way all through the journey from Forum to Isetan! Poor mummy was drenched despite an umbrella.

I had to get to Takashimaya, and with the rain, a screaming toddler and a maclaren stroller, and what more, 2 bags (mine & Jade's diaper bag!). It was a nightmare, never to be repeated! There were no ramps to use when the tunnels have to be used during heavy rain! and poor me! i had to climb down isetan- CK tang tunnel x 2 flights of stairs.. climb down lucky plaza's 3 flights of stairs and up 3 flights, to reach Takashimaya!

How do you promote Singapore as a family destination if the shopping centres aren't wheelchair/ stroller friendly???!!!!




Daddy managed to put a hairband on the vainpot's head without her pulling it out!



Showing off their dimples.. kaoz! Mummy is Outcasted!



Jadelle managed to solve the puzzle - um at least of tiger and dog!


Jadelle in her broomstick hair!

Our new home.. close to completion!

The old kitchen left from previous owner. Full solid wood. much better quality then today's kitchen's solid plywood. I am so fed up of the previous nice looking but not lasting kitchen!

Track spotlights highlighted and bring a modern touch to the look.. the real lighting will come from countertop T5 lighting under the top cabinets!


The entrance gate! To the left is a full height solid cabinet. Painted the wall red in anticipation of more decoration to come!


My miserable master bedroom with only 2 panels of windows! on the bottom right is the new headboard with lights to level up the recessed wall. A pendant light from Blk 21 to be re-used as a dressing table light!



Grilles are up! No full height, thank you!






Storage cabinet in living room. Mirrored doors not yet up! Just a little red to bring to the living room!






Marble grinding in process. Old Lights from Blk 21 are installed!






A change: A study room in shades of green! Still wondering how to squeeze in the furniture.




Jadelle's room is much bigger then the study! Note the windows ain't full width! sigh!

our new home: an old apartment revamped!

Sanding the old wooden room doors.. undecided if i should change it?


TV feature wall : - also a chance to board up the recess area!
False ceiling in living room done!


False ceiling in Dining hall in process.
Storage cabinet not yet up.


Balcony with upgraded windows. Note no grilles yet! We are on the fifth floor and we get a tree top view!

This picture was taken last week of December!

A year ago, my sister posted a video of my 3rd sister burping Jade on youtube.com.. It looked really scary.. and unknowingly, it has gotten really popular with some whacky comments..

Take a look!

Talent scouts prowling orchard..

Economy is growing and it seems like the number of "talent scouts" in Orchard area have increased. I am now getting stopped along Orchard almost 2 weeks 1x..

They must be blind not to notice my wrinkles and eyebags and sagging post pregnancy tummy under the make-up and clothes.

This round, it was for L'oreal & SKII, i explained to the young chap who must be >10 yrs younger then me that I am too old. The difference? He refused to give up and insisted on my number for followup with his supervisor.

What the heck.. it's X'mas and a new year is coming! Time for new challenges and experiences. It has been a while since I went under the camera again, so why not re-live the thrill again? i gave him a contact.

This got me thinking. Perhaps it is time to consider sending Jadelle's photos for agency screening. She can earn her own money for her education.And that exposure to cameras, I really would like her to experience what Daddy & Mummy tried before, after all, AK is a Manhunt winner in NUS!

Now, we just see if these "scouts" really do their jobs well.

my X'mas gift to myself.. and finally, i found my Jade necklace after 3 yrs!

My friend, Marene was raving about Brenda Cheah and how much she love her jewellery.. She splurged 500 sgd on 2 pairs of earrings!

Curious, and also, being end of the year (XMAS mood), PLUS, Takashimaya was having 10% off storewide.. i went to check it out!

Sigh, the pitfalls of working in Orchard! I ended up buying a pearl necklace with a jade pendant. I have been looking for it for 3 years! One versatile enough to change straps, classic enough to pass to my daughter without looking outdated, yet with a modern touch. I simply love my Chee-na stuff! Cost me 550sgd.. but I reckon it is worth it, after all, i don't spend often on jewellary, and if I do, i want it to be of good quality as I wear them sooo often! The string pearl straps can be removed and changed to other designs! Isn't this great for travelling & work and weekends and dinners?

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the necklace was too long and the sales person will convert the excess to a complimentary pair of pearl earrings, which was another of my classic favorite, updated in style!

Really look forward to getting it on friday!

And what the heck, i walked into Gucci too.. decided to take the plunge and buy that waterproof canvas shoulder bag I have been eyeing for 5 months. It cost me 800 sgd, but for the price, it is 40% cheaper then other Gucci bags and being waterproof is a definite plus for me!

Ok, for once, CNY, will be Gucci for me!

AK, please dun faint tonight! *cross my fingers*

busy as a bee!!

Life speeds passed so fast! A quick post of happenings:

- jadelle went for JG holiday program

- we went bintan trip, AK, Jade & I

- jadelle starts to assert her own independence. self feed, self bathe, self EVERYTHING

- princess temper is pretty hot!

- started getting renovation quotes. settle with arts & thots. renovation starts 21st Dec and hope to complete Jan 15th

- started packing up blk 21

- goodbye to lots of precious memories.. renovation, getting married, ttc-ing, m/c, destressing by window city view, bringing jadelle back 1st time, confinement, staying home with jadelle 1st 3 months, weekends at home with AK & Jade, numerous mahjong games, parties and celebration gatherings..

- SAD, but must be done to achieve our goal. Need to harden my heart. I only hope Jadelle will remember her first home...

- Got a Flat panel TV for siblings n parents, but not appreciated by my mum.. karang guni nature.. haiz..

- starting new job 1st march 2008, life will be changed frrom that point onwards..

Jadelle is now 14 months in a blink..

Life has been breezing pass us with all that is ongoing in our lives! it suddenly occurred to me that my baby is no longer a baby, but a precocious little gal..

We celebrated her birthday at home. A home that gave us beautiful memories for the last 3 years... Will always remember it for all the joy and laughter and tears it provided us. It is also where alot of FIRSTS for us took place..

As a result of another FIRST, we will soon leave this place behind.. with lots of tears and brave smiles.. goodbye blk 21...

26th August.. Jadelle finally stood a few seconds without support!

I need to record this... before i forgotten it in the years ahead... She crawled so confidently and halted, looked at us, raised her butt into the air on firm legs (absence of jelly legs!) and push herself up to a standing position and started clapping in glee!

We were all so surprised, but clapped along too! Grandpa, Daddy, Auntie & Uncle & mummy all witnessed it! Too bad Grandma went into the room to change and missed it!!

More and more, i need to refer to her as my Toddler, not my Baby.. She has grown so much.. and so pretty now with big trusting eyes that sparkle mischieviously at times.

I love her laughter, her smiles, her hugs and her kisses! (She love to kiss me on the mouth!). Time is spinning forward already..

Is it time for another one? I am resisting it, yet, knowing that age is against me.. sigh..What if I get another girl? Will I love her less? Will people pressure me for a boy to "carry on the family name" and all those nonsense? I can't imagine 2 girls..but i also cannot stop wondering, if we have a boy, who will he look like? Jadelle looks so much like AK.. i struggle to find myself in her sometimes..

Sometimes, i feel that my daughter don't belong to me and is claimed by his family. Should we ever separate, will this happen and Jadelle don't get to stay with me? I still don't feel a part of them. Maybe this is the struggle of all married women?

When my mood is dark, I wonder: if anything ever happened to my other half, what I will do? What will his family do? Do i have to take on the responsibility of supporting his parents? That seems unfair to me? Strangely, as years passed, my heart hardens towards them.

He is not planning well for us. Myopic, is what i called it. I understand fully that any unforeseen circumstances on him will put Jadelle and me in difficulty. I am concerned.. If anything were to happen to me? What role does my own family play in the upbringing of Jadelle? Re-marriage? quite possible, knowing him...

Sometimes, i look back and wonder.. why all the sacrifices that i have made? Why must I be the one agonising over milk feeds and night feeds and go through labour and make sacrifices at work? I seemed to have taken a step down the ladder to allow others to step over me?

I fully understand the phrase now, that you cannot marry for love alone... Fate really plays with me..

Jadelle learning to self feed!

Jadelle is galloping ahead. I can see her soon in a while, to start bombarding me and AK with "why" why" why"...

She is one determined princess. Really wants her own way and gets angry with us when we take away her play items.

Now, she has started to self feed last weekend. I was only testing out, so i place newspapers all over the floor, put her in her high chair and place a spoon and fork and some cereals in front of her. Showed her how to scoop and she did it!!! Experimented with fork too and she also managed it!

Now, she can managed to finish 1 potato with cream sauce and jam all by herself (with mummy's help) but got herself really dirty in IKEA today!

We went IKEA tampines after her 1st Julia Gabriel class (Playnest). 12 babies! Quite full class!
But, i can see her interacting slowly with other babies. This week, she got flour paint all over her nice polo dress! hahahaha..

Looking forward to next lesson.. and her birthday bash!




Yesterday

Check out my Slide Show!

My pathetic attempts at creating a DSB..using powerpoint!

Video of the making of Jadelle's 1st photo shoot!

Photo taking with a baby is really tiring.. no.. a toddler!!

Here are some pictures of Jade latching on for my own memory.. She bit me so hard this weekend that tears rolled.. Maybe it is time to stop now..



I will miss her sleepy look..

and how she fell asleep while drinking milk and being cuddled..


ok, the photos look really relaxed rite? But, wow, at the end of the session.. i was like phew.. so tiring!! To make jadelle smile.. yikes!!! We feel like idiots manz!!



Surprise! She can actually sit still long enough on the chair for this shot!



I'll smiling for you, Auntie Wai Peng!



Hmm.. this horse harder then my own one.. can bite or not?








AK, LK, me were quite tired and hoarse and thirsty after the session! We took almost 300 shots! And WP still charged us the same amount! So paisay!





After that, we attended AK's colleague's bb 1st month.. she stay in a mansionette in Hougang.. quite big, would we choose such a location, i wonder?





Jadelle started to cough after that, i felt guilty.. was it due to the halterneck she wore for photoshoot? Or was it due to my cooking again? She really don't like my food.. feel like a failure..

Pondering over childcare issues @ Jadelle's 10th month

As Jade gets more mobile, life for us is again entering a new phase. Things she learnt recently:

1) learnt to yak on her mobile phone

2) put a comb through her hair

3) starting to recognise colours like red...

She is attempting to learn how to stand and walk, but you can see she is fearful of falling and hitting herself on the hard ground..

L gonna pop soon in September... Her tummy is extremely pointed and no way you can avoid the point that its a PRINCE!

Issues now that surface:

1) How come L no need to buy infant carrier/ stroller/cot/ sterilizer/ BB clothes/ wipes/ tummy wrap for bb??

Ans: Cos, her stupid SIL bought all the stuff ready at her place already, which is meant for MIL to use for Jade actually !!

2) L assumed that MIL will cook and look after her bb during confinement.. but what's going to happen to Jade who will be even more mobile then?

3) Will Jade feels neglected by the sudden shift of attention towards the new bb?

4) Maybe, as mum says, i should start to put Jade @ her place with Auntie Lily.. at least I have a piece of mind.. but, MIL will mind?

5) I don't want to hire a maid! How? Get lily to come over more often?

6) should i start on a playgroup for jade @ 18 months?

I am due for a trip to China in Early September.. Wanted AK to go with me for our anniversary... now with L going to pop soon.. MIL ask me to take leave when she POPS. How?

Maybe i bring baby with me.. think we can survive the plane ride there?? And AK can cope with bb alone when i am working?

Yesterday, AK tested market saying need more $$ to pass to lawyer to clear OL completely. L pretended she didn't hear it. when MIL ask her to temp. come up with a partial amount, she refuse... say, need $$ for bb to deliver then. But, she gonna work to get her profit manz.. think all burden shift to us?? This shows, never work with her for anything, she will take advantage!

i curse the day i know AK sometimes... when you marry, you marry the entire family! Take note!