The celebration of the (mis)adventures, the mundane, and the magical moments of my family. Join us as we gypsy around the world. It gets manic sometimes but we figure we can't go wrong as long as we stay close together and embrace every moment of every day ... Relax, take it easy!
I want to say that January was an easy month but it wasn't. That is not to say that I'm assuming everyone else had the best month, but ours was filled with lots of uncertainty, frustration and ... I had one too many mother-daughter 'confrontations' with my Sera. I don't even want to say she is going through her 'terrible twos' as warned by many parents or books. I'm just going to say, she's going through her 'how far can I push my boundaries (with mama)' stage. I know ... it happens between every parent and her toddler, I'm sure, and this month especially, I had to learn to deal with it.
So now we end the month on a slightly more positive note. Job wise, we'll be ok. Yah, we'll be relocating again but we're going to deal with it and make it like a new adventure for the kids (and for us adults too). Yasmin has just grown up so much this month and really, she's been a breeze to look after. Sera is stringing together longer sentences these days, thus we have expanded our types of conversations (arguments) too. There have been many moments when I caught myself thinking, "And we were so excited when you uttered your first word!"
It's February tomorrow and there's much to look forward to ...
Sera has taken over dressing herself and we've learned to accept her dress sense, and the curious stares from others
She used to just sit on the swing, stationery. Nowadays, Sera asks for 'small pushes" ...
Just before a dip in the pool. Yas has gotten very used to her big sister's crazy antics. Check out her nonchalant look. Just before this, Sera was practically eating up her face when she lovingly planted a kiss on her.
We celebrated International Day at Kangaroo Kids this morning. We were blessed with a warm, sunny day compared to the dreadful weather last week. In fact, it was a little too warm for the kids, who were all dressed in their national costumes. But it was so cute seeing the kids dressed as 'mini adults', holding their national flags. There was even a magician who wasn't really getting the crowd excited with his 'magic'. But it was just nice to be outdoors with Yasmin crawling all over the grass (even munching on some along the way) and Sera was pretty good about wearing the cheongsam(in that weather) though I did have a little 'wear this or you're not going to school' exchange in the morning. I know, I'm sorry Sera for using that tactic once again ... it must have been done to me many times by your grandma when I was little. 'wink'
Yas had a great time just being outdoors on the grass. She's chewing on Sera's teething stick
Sera in her cheongsam from Chinese New year 2008, from auntie Evan. This was the only 'national' outfit I had in her wardrobe. No worries, she didn't forget her Dutch roots ... she was waving a Dutch flag that she made in school
Flanked by her two classmates. Love their outfits!
With the rest of the kids, watching the magic show
There was an international 'potluck' spread for the kids and the parents to sample
This weekend was a cold, overcast and a wind swept one ... thus we stayed indoors - at home and mingled with other 'mall rats' for two afternoons in a row. We made the best of it, even Johan (yah, we all know he does not function in a mall). Have a good week ahead ...
I bought her a goggle and of course she insisted on wearing it immediately. So she was wearing it in the mall and she thought she was the coolest kid. ha ha
Yah, she had her goggles on during her bath and even got her papa to put his own
Day two ... at the mall, chilling out at Barista Cafe
January seems to be dragging along ... it could be the cold weather here, the fact that we keep saying we'll pack away the Christmas tree away this coming weekend but it's been many weekends past, or maybe ... I should just show you some photos of the girls.
My lovely girls
Bonding while watching TV
As a final resort, we decided to get Yas a stroller of her own. She's been a happy camper since then ...
Mornings with Reef and Edouard ...
Sera having a peanut butter sandwich after school (can someone please pack away the Christmas tree!!!)
You know how 'they' say that the second child does everything faster? Well, for once I may just believe 'them'. Yasmin has been dropping little milestone surprises everyday. So it started with her sitting up on her own, and then she went on all fours and did, I like to call it, the 'rocking horse' movement and just yesterday she actually crawled to reach for a toy.
So I'm enjoying this time with her ... watching her, laughing with her ... and just so thankful I can be with her everyday!
Her hair looks like a toupee huh?
This is her thing at the moment ... 'rocking horse'
Ok, maybe Johan and I have a queer sense of humour but I laughed when I saw Yasmin caught in this awkward position. Yes, she was crying for help and I did want to pull her out but it was Johan who asked me to take a photo. That's the truth!
Anyway, Yas has been stuck many times like this and I think she's getting used to it. In this photo, she's not actually sleeping, just resting her head because she's probably tired from trying, in vain, to un-stuck herself.
I woke up this morning at 6, feeling unusually rested. Strange, did I or didn't I feed Yas during the night? I DIDN'T! She slept through the night? Oh my gosh ... CELEBRATION! Ok, just a little smile would do since Sera was beside me, fast asleep. Yah, well ... she has kind of made it a habit to sneak into our bed, in the middle of the night. We have not turned her away only because we're too sleepy and mostly lazy to even think about discipline in the middle of the night. So ... it's become an expected thing when Sera crawls into our bed. Oh well, you win some and you lose some.
But back to Yas. Oh exciting times, isn't it? I wonder what happened last night? Could it be because she has started on solids, just exhausted from our day at the beach and park ... or was it maybe a 'one off sleep through the night just to get mama all excited ... and hopeful'? Anyways, let's not assume too much ... I'm just happy for that one very restful night. And maybe, just maybe ... it's a start of beautiful nights. 'wink'.
Where to go this weekend? To the beach again, why not? So we found ourselves at Umm Suqeim beach and it was a different beach scene altogether. It was windy and the the waves were high, so it was definitely a surf's up for many. It was still lovely to though it was actually very cold, what with the strong winds. Sera and Yasmin still had a good time and we even spent a good long time at the park, just across the beach. Now, how convenient is that?
Kite surfers!
First time on the swing and she was so thrilled ...
Sera went on the big swing and only wanted tiny pushes ... she was more fascinated by her shadow
I went on the swing, trying to encourage Sera to swing a little harder but she was having none of that
Johan's turn on the swing, but it wasn't swinging ...
One of the very rare occasions when Yas sleeps in the pram ...
We ushered the new year with home-cooked Indian food. Bonnie and I (I know, like we have so much time with two kids of our own) decided on a last minute dinner get together and we had to choose one of the most difficult cuisines to cook. But it was worth it because we impressed ourselves with the spread that was finally laid onto the table. And we didn't stay up for the countdown to 2009 (we've stopped doing that since Sera and now Yasmin came into the picture (please ... sleep has become a priority above all).
We did start the new year on a very promising high by having a great day at the beach. Yup, that same beach between the Burj Al Arab and a sand dump. Let's just called it Umm Suqeim beach for now. The beach was still empty (all the new year revellers were still asleep I guess) albeit for young families like ours. Sera, needless to say, had a swell time and Yasmin played with sand, probably ate some too. Oh, and today, marking the first day of 2009, saw Yasmin push herself into sitting position while she was lying on her tummy. Johan and I just happen to be looking at her, and he casually remarked, "Did she just sit up by herself?"
Good job Yasmin!
Happy New Year dearest family and friends. We were thinking of you all today ... really!!!
Yasmin is growing, growing and growing ... just look at those cheeks! She's sitting up now and so loving it. She also had her first taste of solid food this morning - apple puree. She immediately scrunched up her face, can't really tell if she likes or dislikes it. More like a strange taste since she's been getting mama's milk since birth. But she's been a sweetheart these days and life is good for her.
Sitting up in her cot, gazing at the musical mobile
Getting ready to jump into the bath with Sera and papa
It's happy days for her, now that she can sit at the table with us
For Johan's birthday, Sera and I gave him a little tea party. Ha ha, sounds like such a 'girly' thing but he loved it. Sera was very excited about her papa's party and even went shopping with me, to find a cake for him. We invited some neighbours over and I laid out some light snacks out in the garden (much to the delight of the flies). Happy Birthday babe!
The gang relaxing while waiting for the guests to arrive
Such a pretty cake. Sera helped with three of the candles (can you tell which ones?). And the candles are supposed to indicate 33 years old.
The birthday boy with his two girls, err ... and one boy. That's Etienne who stood in for Yasmin, who was asleep in her cot.
I was in the kitchen making pancakes. Honestly, like I have the time ... I forgot to buy bread the day before and I know how Johan must have his bread and Nutella. But I also know he couldn't say 'no' to pancakes.
I dashed to the room, and lo and behold, Sera's eyes were SWOLLEN. Bee-stung, goldfish, punched up eyes ... my poor little girl. She looked so, so pitiful. Her left eye were mere slits and her right eye was struggling to open too. Johan was horrified, and all I could do was hug her. What a start to our Christmas together! It's surprising how methodical I was actually (Johan would say I was Miss Bossy!!!). I quickly called for the doctor, got Sera to open her presents, made the pancakes, bathe Yasmin, got everyone dressed up for Johan's company luncheon at the Atlantis Hotel but first, a stop at the doctor's.
An insect bit her, so the doctor claimed. There were 3 red dots around her eyes ... why those nasty insects!!!! He prescribed an antihistamine to bring down the swelling and then we were off for lunch. Lunch at the Atlantis was a 4-hour long affair. Sera (who was knocked out by the medication for the first half) and Yasmin were well behaved, considering the amount of hours spent indoors, in the restaurant. Even I was getting very restless!
The day is coming to an end and I'm totally exhausted. Johan and the girls are fast asleep. It may seem like it was just another crazy day but it was special in its own odd way. Like how we took a really nice family photo at Cooper's Clinic. I was so proud of Sera who still felt so pretty in her purple dress, despite her horribly swollen eyes. And most importantly, this Christmas, Sera listened intently and wide eyed when I told her the story of baby Jesus.
Happy Christmas everyone ... much love, Yasmin, Sera, Johan and Des
It's hard to tell, but Sera was excited to open up the presents
Sera presented Yasmin with her present
Our beautiful daughter who didn't let vanity spoil her day
Johan has strange ideas sometimes, like taking a family photo at Cooper's Clinic. But I'm going to love this photo for a long time because somehow, we always find something to smile about
Lunch. We were slightly disturbed by this Santa who had a habit of sneaking up on the diners with a weird sniggering sound and a strange walk. And this Santa also needed some fattening up! Yasmin was not at all impressed with him.
A crown for a king!
That's the over hyped Atlantis hotel behind us ...
Her eyes improved as the day progressed
And we can't forget how sweet Yasmin was despite fighting a cold all day
Sera has taken over dressing herself and we've learned to accept her dress sense, and the curious stares from others
She used to just sit on the swing, stationery. Nowadays, Sera asks for 'small pushes" ... 
Just before a dip in the pool. Yas has gotten very used to her big sister's crazy antics. Check out her nonchalant look. Just before this, Sera was practically eating up her face when she lovingly planted a kiss on her. 
