Father's Day..

Yesterday was Father's day.. I don't like these family gatherings, as it makes me prioritize between my own family and my hubby's family. Both sides feel neglected when on the ACTUAL Day, we cannot be with them..

There was again a dispute with my SIL... Hubby & her agreed to buy a mobile for their dad.. plus dinner, it cost ~146sgd per sibling. She baulked at the figure and decided to back out of her previous agreement to take over hubby's pda phone.. when made hubby really angry cos, he was doing her a favour, otherwise, he would have traded in for his new HTC diamond phone at the PC show. He had asked her several times over the last 4 days if she is very sure about taking over the pda phone (especially knowing her financial situation).. and she affirmed that she still want it. Now, hubby's stuck.. He feels trapped as to force her to continue with the agreement meant that she will have more financial problems, yet, he thought that she has considered it seriously..

It seems that she want the best of all worlds:

1) Stay at home mom
2) Tai tai style with spending money available to splurge on life's little luxuries on herself (mobile phones, LV bags, shopping online)
3) Have a maid to order around (compliments of me!)
4) Chauffeurred around (by her dad and brother)
5) Get luxury baby items to use (strollers, car seats, potty seats, high chairs, branded clothes - compliments of me again, no permission required!)
6) Have a hen pecked and submissive hubby to order about and scold all the time
7) No need to do housework (her mum does it for her)

How can 2 siblings, brought up together, have such different character? Hubby very independent and refuse to rely on parents for anything. She is simply put, a LEECH.

With No. 2 on the way, it is time to get her out. I will refuse to support her luxuries and add on to it with a maid.

week 7 and 5 days

we have already went for 2nd scan.. 1st scan showed only a pregnancy scan and did nothing to reassure AK & I, except to confirm that the pregnancy is in the right location and no worries of ectopic pregnancy.

2nd scan, gynae used ultrasound and did not detect a heartbeat.. Immediately, it seems that AK & the gynae was extremely concerned as i was already 7 weeks. AK later asked me why i wasn't panicking when the gynae said to do a v-scan.. I supposed it is cos, the symptoms continued and i also only detected heartbeat with Jadelle via v-scan during 6 weeks plus..

V-scan showed the flickering picture on the screen. a relief for us, but the next day, the panic started, cos the symptoms disappear for 2 days!

Meanwhile, Jade is extremely sticky, naughty and adorable. sigh.. we are now wondering about job stability, childcare options, maid.. and also stupid issues wrt my SIL's stupid behaviour and whether she will continue to take advantage of us...

Confirmed on test!

Ok, the photos all showed positive results of the test. Now, all i got to do is to wait.

Alot of questions now going through my head..

Preggie

What you think?

new job, new life, new challenges

It been a while since i have posted. My baby has become a really pretty 20 month old princess.. adorable, cute, with lovely big melting eyes that makes me ponder by her side every night at our ability to produce her from my womb.

With a new job and no more travelling in the region, i now have more time for Jade every night. I am glad about that.

Work-wise, new product, new start-up company and local firm. It is lucky for me that I work under the distributor's side which is a listed company, but still local, but better organised. The new product is giving my team alot of headache with the supplier unsure about how to organise themselves. Quite a mess. Site visits are hot, lots of climbing on pipes (I enjoyed these actually) and i get to drive my beemer more now.

Probation, still 3 months to go.

And, i just took 2 hpt test.. i got weird results meaning, faint positive on 2 different brands.. not sure about how to interpret it. Anyway, will take another test 3 days later.. trying not to think about it. How to cope? no idea. How to work? even more questions! Can this be kept under wraps for 3 months?

finally, everything's up!

The mirrored storage cabinet is up! Love it! and Jadelle loves dancing in front of in and preening like a peacock, the vainpot!

Can also see the feature wall. We opted to be plain about it this round, in order not to crowd and make the living area even smaller.

Can see my organza day curtains (NEW!)..no intention to put up night curtains!



Looks like blk 21 eh.. but then, i moved all my furniture over leh!



Dining room.. already my mess have started!


Wardrobe in Master bedroom. Colours to blend in with existing furniture.. hides a TV inside too! Brought all my lights over!

Ok, now it is time to get ready for CNY!

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...