Conversations with a Three Year Old – 5

14. May 2013 by CY · 2 comments · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues

Another recent conversation with Hannah, and on last Friday just before Mother’s Day.

H: Mommy, mommy, I’m going to give you a surprise tomorrow!
M: Really?! That’s nice, sweetie.
H: The paint is still not dry. Tomorrow it will dry ok!
M: Hmmmm…………
H: It’s a Mother’s Day card I made in school, you know.
M: Oh.
H: It’s going to be a surprise ok; I will give you a card and there is a ribbon on it! *beaming to herself*
M: Hannah, you shouldn’t tell mommy about the surprise if you want it to be a surprise.
H: And there are 2 hearts on the card, you know. Teacher said must use two hands to give you the card!
D: What about daddy?
H: Father’s Day is many days later but I’m going to give you a toilet roll ok! It’s going to be a surprise too!
D: I’m getting a toilet roll…?!

Time for us soon also to change the title of this blog series to “Conversations with a Four Year Old” too!

Looks like the red hand of Sauron. Been re-watching LOTR over the weekend LOL.

Looks like the red hand of Sauron. Been re-watching LOTR over the weekend LOL.

 

Hannah @ 14mm – Part 5

06. May 2013 by CY · 1 comment · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues · Tags: ,

Hannah added a new plush toy to her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse collection over the weekend, and this time round, it was the titular character to match her earlier Minnie Mouse acquisition from several weeks ago. There were several available sizes for Mickey at the same store again, and our girl took a while to decide (scary thought – what if she picks up Ling’s habit of taking her time to choose things?!). The 14mm was on photographic duties again for the weekend.

Just check out how happy she was on our way home. She spent the ride home adjusting (and readjusting) the two toys beside her.=)

Just check out how happy she was on our way home. She spent the ride home adjusting (and readjusting) the two toys beside her.=)

She's very aware how many more toys there are left to complete her Clubhouse collection now.

She’s very aware how many more toys there are left to complete her Clubhouse collection now.

Fortunately, all’s not lost. Ling already has an idea what to get her for her fourth birthday next month. It certainly won’t be another character toy from the series.=)

Conversations with a Three Year Old – 4

19. April 2013 by CY · 4 comments · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues

I was remarking to Ling that our girl is really growing quick, and maybe just a tad too quick! Here’s a recent ‘toilet conversation’ between Mommy and Hannah just before her bed-time.

H: Mommy, why are you wearing this pajamas?
M: Mommy could no longer fit into many of my T-shirts.
H: I buy you bigger shirts, ok.
M: Thank you, sweetie. :)
H: I will drive to Compass Point, buy pretty butterfly shirts from Metro for you ok.
M: Do you have money to buy the shirts?
H: You give me $20 ok. No…no, you give me many $20 dollars so that I can buy you many shirts ya.
H: Then you buy me a wallet from the shop that daddy bought his wallet…is it at Tampines Mall?…so that I can put my money in the wallet ok? Then you also give me some cards to put in my wallet too ok?
M: *laughs* Ok, sweetie.
H: When I grow taller…at 5 years old, I will drive to City Square when mommy and daddy is at work.
M:??!!
H: I will go my own self, yup, I will go alone and buy my own food. I will order a burger and also orange juice with a straw inside. Oh yeah, must order French fries too. Yup.
M: ???!!!

Hannah @ 14mm – Part 3

16. April 2013 by CY · 1 comment · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues, Photography & Cameras · Tags: ,

We had a rather eventul last week, starting off when our girl accidentally left behind her Pluto – yep the orange plush toy you see in many pictures here on our blog – at a toy store in Compass Point, only realizing it when we were on our way home. As soon as that happened, she bawled loud enough for the whole Sengkang to hear. Except that it was confined to the car – you can imagine what a din that was!

It was a teachable moment for us as parents. We impressed upon her that it was her responsibility to take care of her toys, and that we’d only get her a new Pluto if she showed to us over the next few days she was able to do this. I secretly went by the store nonetheless the next day to pick it up after Ling called the night before to report its loss.

Thing is though; those lessons will take a while to stick. Just over this weekend, Ling took me aside and asked that I withhold several of Hannah’s entertainment privileges as she’d been misbehaving. E.g. talking back to Mommy and leaving her toys on the floor. And I obliged, though that’d mean I now have to log into Hannah’s Hello Kitty Town on her behalf and to keep up her town and crops there LOL.

On the overall, Hannah’s still very well-behaved though, and she at least is responsive to the both of us when we have to discipline her. She’s not into tantrums (yet?), and seems to genuinely show remorse when we take her aside and educate her on responsible and proper behavior. Interestingly too, while she enjoys her entertainment privileges, e.g. Mickey Mouse Cluhouse, Angry Birds (!), and Hello Kitty Town, she doesn’t pine for them too much when they’re taken away from her. She instead goes about occupying herself with books, more plush toys, and builds and stacks things up, like this:

A Facebook friend who saw the picture immediately guess that she got inspired by Angry Birds Rio.=)

A Facebook friend who saw the picture immediately guessed that she got inspired by Angry Birds Rio.=)

Oh yes; all the pictures here were taken again on the 14mm. The next two turned out very well, especially the latter with a mix of strong primary colors.=)

Having a cup of warm milo during weekend brunch with grandparents.

Having a cup of warm milo during weekend brunch with grandparents.

Munching on strawberries.

Munching on strawberries.

Yummy Toddler Foods: Rubber-band Noodles :P

23. March 2013 by Ling · Write a comment · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Recipes, Recipes

When it comes to noodles, there are just too many types that I don’t think I’ll ever get round to trying all of them in my lifetime. My dad used to ta-bao (do take-away) ee-fu noodles or yee mee for me for dinner. I’d affectionately call it rubber-band noodles. Because it’s brown and its texture is like rubber-bands; chewy and somewhat spongy. Of course, it doesn’t taste like rubber!

Tuck in :D

Tuck in :D

Ee-fu noodles also have some variation as well. I managed to find only one type at NTUC recently and so settled for it. Its cross-section was squarish. The other common type has an oblong cross-section. Tried a new recipe using this type of noodles for lunch and it was a hit with Hannah. :)

Ingredients (serves 2-3 persons)

  • Ee-fu noodles (Yee mee) – 1 to 2 cakes (depending on size)
  • Chicken broth – 300 ml (for braising)
  • Sweet peas – 6, sliced breadth-wise
  • Carrot – 1 small, peeled and cut into strips
  • Baby corn – 3 fresh, sliced diagonally
  • Shiitake mushrooms – 3 fresh, sliced
  • Prawns – 8, shelled, deveined
  • Sauce: 1tbsp oyster sauce, 1/2 tsp light soy sauce, 1/2 dark soy sauce, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp cornflour, dash of pepper, few drops of sesame oil, 200 ml chicken broth

Method

  1. Soak noodles in hot water in a medium pot. Use a pair of chopsticks to loosen and drain at once. Discard the hot water and add 300 ml chicken broth into the same pot and heat up to boiling.
  2. Add noodles into the pot of boiling broth and lower the heat to simmer gently until broth is reduced. (If the noodles look plumped up and there is still some sauce left, it is okay) Dish up and divide amongst bowls.
  3. Mix sauce ingredients and set aside.
  4. Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a heated wok and stir-fry sweet peas, carrot strips and baby corn for about 4-5 minutes. Add mushrooms and continue to stir fry until they soften.
  5. Stir the sauce mixture well and add it to the veggies. Bring to boil. When the sauce begins to thicken, add prawns to cook briefly (avoid over-cooking the prawns).
  6. Turn off the heat and dish the sauce mixture onto the noodles in each bowl.
  7. Serve hot.

The original recipe calls for only yellow chives, bean sprouts and straw mushrooms as the veggie components. I really liked this combination but yellow chives are not commonly available and so I improvised.

Hannah @ 25mm – Part 2

19. March 2013 by CY · 3 comments · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues · Tags: ,

The March school holidays have begun. I was able to take a couple days off work at the start of the stretch and spend time with our girl (“I’m 60 days away to four years old!”). All but the last pictures taken using the Panasonic 25mm f1.4 and between f1.4 and f1.6 f-stops. It’s often a bit of a challenge shooting mostly wide-open, what with the number of foreground and background object clutter and the very narrow focus areas. Quite a contrast when I’m using the wider 14mm f2.5!

Wide-open at f1.4. This one was easier since the shot was directly head-on, though in relatively low-light.

Wide-open at f1.4. This one was easier since the shot was directly head-on, though in relatively low-light.

At f1.6 over brunch at Serangoon Nex. Her classmate gave her a faux pearl necklace that she's taken to wearing whenever we go out.

At f1.6 over brunch at Serangoon Nex. Her classmate gave her a faux pearl necklace that she’s taken to wearing whenever we go out.

Drawing as morning activities. Tricky deciding which focus point at f1.6 as she was lying on the ground - articulating screen on the E-M5 real handy in these situation!

Drawing as morning activities. Tricky deciding which focus point at f1.6 as she was lying on the ground – articulating screen on the E-M5 real handy in these situation!

Using the 14mm f2.5. One of those self-portrait shots where the E-M5 was held at arms length in front the both of us.

Using the 14mm f2.5. One of those self-portrait shots where the E-M5 was held at arms length in front the both of us.

An interesting conversation took place in the car too on the weekend morning while we were heading out to visit our new home at The Minton.

“Mommy, you cannot be too pretty!”

“Oh why is that so, Hannah dear?”

“Because I’m a princess and you cannot also be a princess. There can only be one princess and not two princess, you know?”

And she’s just asked for her ear lobes to be pierced so that she can start wearing ear studs!

Baby Names – Chinese Version – Again

17. March 2013 by CY · Write a comment · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues

If there’s one thing that Chinese-teacher parents can help that many other parents can’t, it’s in helping think of Chinese names for new-borns! Can’t believe that it’s been almost exactly four years ago when we had this same exercise for Hannah, blogged here. We’re still undecided about the baby’s Christian name (I have one that I really like but Ling’s still undecided LOL), but parents have their list ready.

blog-baby-name

Of the list of eight possibilities, our two favorites were:

Foo Jie ‘qín’ – 符杰勤 – diligence

Foo Jie ‘xūn’ – 符杰勋 – meritorious

My instinctive preference was the latter though on account of how it sounds when spoken, and also that his name would be similar to Hannah’s. Hannah’s name in Chinese is Foo Jiexīn – 符婕昕 (“dawn and the rising sun”); so her brother could be Foo Jiexūn. ‘xīn’ and ‘xūn’. Ling likes it too so looks like this will be what we’ll go with- unless we get other ideas later! :)

Re-entering the Kitchen: Rice topped with Red and White Sauce

11. March 2013 by Ling · 2 comments · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Recipes

It has been a long time since I tried any new recipes at home. I bought a simple Chinese cuisine cookbook some time back and finally inspiration led me to try out one of the dishes over the last weekend.

 Heart-shaped design for Hannah's bowl :)Heart-shaped design for Hannah’s bowl :)

The recipe requires the rice to be fried simply and so I fried overnight rice with egg and corn. For the red sauce, I replaced chicken strips with white fish as I wanted to clear the frozen threadfin sitting in the freezer. The red sauce contained skinned tomato pieces, sliced onion, ketchup, sugar, salt, pepper, cornflour and water. For the white sauce, it contained prawns, sweet peas, evaporated milk, water, corn flour, sugar and salt.

Ran out of white sauce for Yang's bowl...so the fried rice was exposed in the middle :P

Ran out of white sauce for Yang’s bowl…so the fried rice was exposed in the middle :P

The novel part of the recipe was to use folded aluminium foil to create patterns with the two sauces on the rice. I attempted a heart shape for Hannah’s bowl. Glad to learn and experience something new :) Taste-wise was okay. I plan to use curry leaves to infuse into the white sauce in my next attempt to create more kick in the flavour.

A strip of aluminium foil folded twice for creating patterns with the red and white sauces.

A strip of aluminium foil folded twice for creating patterns with the red and white sauces.

Verdict: A fun and satisfying one-dish meal. :)

Hannah – The Little Helper :)

06. March 2013 by Ling · 4 comments · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues, Baby Videos

Today marks the 3rd time Hannah volunteered to scrub the bathtub she used for showering. I actually had to curb her enthusiasm by reducing the frequency she does the scrubbing! Otherwise she would want to scrub it every night! Not sure where she got the inspiration but the 3.75 year-old started asking for a sponge to clean our windows. I thought it would be quite a messy job and so suggested the bathtub instead as the soapy water would go straight down the drainage pipe and she could shower herself clean immediately after that.

Here’s a video capture for keepsake :)

Hannah @ 14mm – Part 1

25. February 2013 by CY · 4 comments · Categories: All Posts, At Home, Baby Blues, Photography & Cameras · Tags: ,

Hannah and I had such a great time doing a 2 hour leisure exploration of our neighborhood last weekend we went for it again last evening, this time round with Mommy coming along. Ling’s feeling all of five months pregnant now though and was a little nervous if she was going to be able to keep up with the two of us – especially after I said we were going to walk to Compass Point “using the long route” to which she worryingly replied “… er, what long route…??”

The E-M5 alongside the new pancake lens did the picture-taking this time. The lens is quite a wonder; compact, focuses reliably and sharp right in the center. It’s just a little on the wide side though for casual shots like these, so I had to take care not to have frame and keep Hannah right in the center and the frame edges clear.

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Without hair clips, she looks like a little China doll now.

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We counted the number of playgrounds we walked through – and eventually it was 7 on our way to dinner, 4 more on the way back.

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Our girl the chatterbox – who gave us a running commentary of everything she was doing, looking and seeing.

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She still can’t put both feet on this balancing plank yet though.

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She ran and accidentally fell at the carpark near her nanny’s place midweek, scraping her kneecap. Hopefully there’s no scaring.

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Still teaching her the do’s and dont’s of crossing the roads here: “Look right, then look left, then look right again before crossing.”

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Having fun with her Crocs She took the right one off to scratch her ankle a bit.

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Having her first taste of ice-kachang. She loved it!

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