Yee Sinn wishes a Happy "Niu"(Cow) Year to all!!!!

The first and second day of Chinese New Year went past in a jiffy. It was kind of rush as we had quite a few places to visit... this year with Yee Sinn. It meant that we had to plan our route and time so that she'll get her meals and naps on time.

We started the day visiting the Burmese Temple at Toa Payoh, followed by Grandma Chang's place. At Grandma Chang's place, we continued with our tradition of taking our yearly family photos with the extended family. Here is a Chinese New Year photo of hubby, Yee Sinn and I. It wasn't too difficult except that our little girl kept putting her fingers into her mouth. Soon after, we headed to my paternal aunt's house where most of the Changs would meet. This year was quieter than usual as some of my cousins and aunts were out of the countries travelling.

We celebrated Yee Sinn's birthday at my maternal aunt's place. The "party" if you should ever call it, was kept simple and fuss free - Just a small Doremon cake from Polar Cake. Yee Sinn was in a very happy mood when all of us sang and clapped with her. Below is a short movie clip of her birthday celebration.

2nd day was more interesting. We visited Hubby's Sifu (Zen Master) at the temple at Lavender Street. Yee Sinn was warmly welcomed by the people there. She warmed up to them quite quickly and remained chatty throughout our short stay.

The folks there brought her around the prayer hall and showed her how several instruments where played. She tried her hands on the drumset... Yes, those huge big ones that are used during Lion Dances. We thought it was lovely that she felt comfortable in the temple setting. Perhaps it will be a matter of time that her papa will bring her there for meditation classes. That should teach her how to sit quiet and still.... Hee Hee.

We visited one of Hubby's Aunt at Clementi before popping by my friends Jo & Clement's place. Interestingly, their block numbers were 339 and 338 in the same district BUT the physical block of flats were not side by side. Instead, it was more than a street away... which was kind of ridiculous. The joke of the day was the government planners must have made a mistake while planning for the estate layout years ago. Hahahhah.

Oh well, that's was how eventful our Chinese New Year holidays were. 2 days down and 13 more days to go till the end of the festive season. The next 2 weekends approaching will be packed with more visting or being visited too.

Clean, clean, clean. Wash, wash, wash, pack, pack, pack. That was what I have been doing the last few days. Up till today, the entire family have been chipping in to tidy up our house in preparation for Chinese New Year. Everyone including Yee Sinn... she helped out by being good and staying out of the way.

The beds are now polished with a layer of teak oil, our funitures were cleaned with Old English dunno-what. Kitchen, toilets and service balcony have also been washed and scrubbed very thoroughly. Ang Pows have also been packed and our clothes nicely pressed. And FINALLY, we're ready to usher in the new year!! Thank goodness.

We had a simple reunion dinner just now with our little princess... she was kind of bored after awhile. I guess she is still too young to understand what are all these fuss the adults are up too. Oh well, it's once a year anyway.

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all!! Have a great year ahead! Yay!

I took leave from work today to take Yee Sinn to her Papa's school in the morning. I was hoping to catch their school lion dance during their Chinese New Year celebration. Unfortunately, Yee Sinn and I got there a little late. Nevertheless, I think Yee Sinn enjoyed herself walking around the school compound and messing up her papa's desk. I took a short video of her in action but will only upload it when I have a bit more time.

Yee Sinn enjoys sitting on her Papa's shoulder... she gets a better view or what was going on during the school outdoor performance.

Ahh.. my little girl is going to grow up being a geek!! She loves computers, PDAs, Handphones or anything with buttons.

Yee Sinn got a little bored so she started to explore the stationary on Papa's desk. Oh, if you noticed, she had some terrible mosquito bites on her face. *Sigh*. Her skin always reacts quite badly to these bites.... and it's so near Chinese New Year... let's hope her bites will clear up in the next few days.

Was organising the files in my laptop this morning and came accross these 2 pictures. The first was taken in 2003 at KLCC. It was one of the first few trips that hubby and I took together with our bunch of friends. We happened to see Cookie Monster again a couple of weeks ago at Tanglin Mall so here we are...Hubby with the SAME pose but I was without a drink. Yee Sinn was clueless as usual... guess Papa and Mama haven't really gown up. Hahahahahha.

Weekend was fun. We brought Yee Sinn out to the Botanic Gardens yesterday morning. Like a little puppy, we felt that it's important to walk our girl so that she'll grow up enjoying her walks - just like her Papa.

Along the way to the grass slope near the famous Tembusu Tree, we stopped and fed the greedy fishes and lots of pigeons. We also ran into a dog and her owner. Being a risk-taker, Yee Sinn bravely reached out her hands and patted the dog... much to our surprise. She is now begining to recognise animals. She now knows what cats, dogs and birds are. She calls them "Dat", "Dod" and "Bard".

Below are some photos taken at the park. Enjoy.

Yee Sinn and I feeding the severely over-weight Kois. She enjoyed seeing the fishes gulping the food.

"Papa will you hold my hand?"

"I can walk steadily now... But I will still need you by my side"

It has been a horrible week at work and I was too busy to update the blog.

Anyway, we celebrated Yee Sinn's first Chinese Lunar birthday on Wednesday. Both hubby and Grandma Lee felt Yee Sinn's chinese birthday is more significant than her birth date on 26th Jan. So, we decided to have a simple celebration at home. I took half an hour time off from work so that I can be home to help out. Unfortunately, when I got back, all at home were already done with the simple prayers. We got her a small cake from Polar Cakes which kind of got Yee Sinn really interested. Yes, you guessed it.. she couldn't keep her hands off the cake and kept wanting to touch the flame on the candle.

Many friends and relatives asked if we are going to throw a big bash for Yee Sinn's first birthday. Nope, hubby and I don't intend to. We don't want to set a precedent and give her the expectation of having big birthday parties are a must. Instead, we prefer a nice quiet get together that is simple and cosy... just like Wednesday's.

Hope my little princess will grow up to be healthy, happy, kind and considerate.

That's us kidding around a bit when I got back home a little early.

That's the small... really small cake that we got for Yee Sinn... notice that the candle and the "Happy Birthday" took up much of the space already? Thank goodness we got a small cake because we finished it all within the day.

Ah Hah!! Caught Yee Sinn red-handed while trying to mess up the cake and all... but never mind, it was HER cake anyway. Hee Hee.

This morning, Yee Sinn interestingly became engrossed with the 4D forms that Grandma Lee uses every weekend. Wondering if she has the magic to make the numbers Grandma Lee chooses come true...... Hee Hee.

It was so fun meeting up with some old friends this afternoon in town. It sure takes quite a bit of effort arranging for this small gathering now that all of us are working and have our own committments. Pity one of our friends were down with fever else lunch today would have been livelier. I got to know them through joining one of the trekking activities organised by the NUS Rovers many years back. Most of them are at least 3-4 years younger. Some of us have became travelling companions and firm friends since then. It was quite fun watching these bunch of "kids" bickering and "suaning" each other during lunch... guess they haven't really grown up much. HAHAHHAHA.

They group was comtemplating making another trip to Mt Kinnabalu again..... and all I could tell them was I'll be at base camp waiting for their decend if they ever drag me there again. I guess age is catching up on me and I would not have the energy to spend my holiday "suffering" the lack of oxygen to climb another mountain. Give me Club Med anytime anywhere instead!!

Yee Sinn's first pair of new shoes!! Yee Sinn received her first pair of shoes from her Grand Aunt over the weekend. It's a Clarks size four and a half. Though pricey, Hubby felt that it's important that her first pair of shoes gives her sufficient leg support and sole grip as this will determine how she'll walk.

I called home this morning and hubby was telling me how excited Yee Sinn was while wearing her new shoes. Grandma Lee and hubby then held her hands while they walked to NTUC for their weekly groceries. Am now looking forward to the weekends when we can bring her to the parks and playground.

My dear friend Andrew is getting married!!! I received his wedding invitation card not too long ago. I found out that the card was handmade by his dad! Apparently, retired Mr Yip took up Chinese calligraphy at the community centre and he has been helping Andrew write the "Xi" (happiness) on each and every card. That's how I would like to retire too.... taking up lessons on Chinese paintings, knitting, baking etc. during my free time. But I guess that will be like 20 to 30 years down the road.

How time flies... Kiddo Andrew is now going to get married. Still remembered fondly the first few times we met shy little Andrew in his sec school uniform while mugging for our Uni projects at Josephine's place. And his sister will share with us what all the naughty little things he had been up to. Can even remember his DIY drum set (and his drumstick collection) and stories of his crushes with his Chinese tuition teacher. Hahahah. Anyway, Best wishes for the new couple of their new life ahead!! Yes, can't wait to attend his big day!

Happy New Year to all! 2008 has been a significant year for our family with the arrival of our little girl. With Yee Sinn as a new addition to the Lee family, our lives are now fuller and richer. Yee Sinn will be turning 1 in a couple of weeks time. I have taken some time to do up a simple collage of pictures taken over the last 12 months. Enjoy.