We love summer

In this summer holiday, I can spend much more time with Lucas and Linus.

Lucas is attending summer holiday, it is great that he enjoys it much.

To make the summer more interesting, we sometimes invite Clarice and Isaac to come over to join our 'home summer camp'.  These are the activities we would hold from time to time:

• Water painting
• Finger painting
• Playdoh time (I would even make them homemade playdoh, which is very soft and with vibrant colours)
• Swimming
• Outdoor bubbles time (if the sun is not too fierce)
• Reading time
• Little chef time (they help me to make cookies)

Have fun kids!!

My mischievous Linus

Linus's recent favorite activity - drinking bath water.....


Ahhhhhhh.....


This cheeky kid, every time I scold him for drinking bath water, he is just giggling.....

迪欣湖

上星期六我們第一次去迪欣湖,天氣剛好,不太熱不太冷,陰天°

由於是週六早上,沒有太多旅遊巴來的遊客,環境很舒服,我們在草地上野餐,還過到一種極小的青蛙,我想它就是全球只有大嶼山獨有的盧文氏樹蛙°

立立愛跳,我們要不停阻止立立誤踏小青蛙,它們是面臨絕種的動物啊!

這是一個好地方,我們考慮找一個早上架車到那兒跑步和踏單車!

I love sunshine!!

It has been very warm in Hong Kong right after the CNY.


Last Sunday, we went to the Gold Coast to enjoy the sunshine (BTW, how come Hongkongese love to use names of places from other countries,there are places called Soho, Manhattan... Hill, and Gold Coast!!!  I know Hong Kong has its colonial history, but definitely it is not the key reason that people raise such kind of names for places).


Anyway, the babies wore short sleeves T-shirt and pants.  We walked along the beach, built sand tunnels and volcanoes, picked shells, stepped into the cold sea water.


What a beautiful afternoon.

Little Linus was watching youtube

Aside from babbling, chortling, running around the dining table, kicking balls and flipping story books, another Linus's favorite is - watching youtube.


He climbed on my lap when I was web-surfing, he asked me to watch videos, we browsed from "Thomas friends and engines", to "Charlie and Lola" to basket ball and end up to billiards.


So cute!

Lucas and Linus loved mommy-made chocolate sponge cake!

Yesterday Lucas told me he wanted to eat mommy-made cake.  I gave him several options: cookies, green tea sponge cake, chocolate sponge cake and fluffy paper-wrapped cake, then he chose chocolate sponge cake.


When the baby woke up from a nap, they could not wait to pop a piece of cake into their mouths.  Finally, they ate more half of the cake (I used a 8 inches cake mould).


I 'melted' when I saw my adorable babies enjoyed eating what I had made.

Linus is two years old

My adorable sweetie Linus turned into 2 years old. This half-angel and half-monster creature brightens my life and brings me loads of happiness.

Thank you baby.

Me and Linus Drawing - by Corel Painter

Ok, it's Linus's turn.

Linus drew this picture almost without my assistance. He is so cute.

Baby Linus

Baby Linus is turning to 2 years old.

I think he is a type of kid with very baby-looking. When Lucas was 2, he looked like a boy rather than a baby. However, if Linus is sitting or lying down, you doesn't notice his height, you will think he is still a small baby.

See? He was whining at the roof top of Terminal 2 of the Hong Kong International Airport.

Linus is very adorable and sweet, he is a born-to-be comedian, with a strong sense of humor, a person who always make others laugh.

He still calls me "Ng- Mi", not mommy.

He is a courteous boy, when you give him something, he will say "Ah-du" (That means 'thank you'), with both hands cover his own cheeks.

Me and Lucas Drawing - by Corel Painter

Wow... look at this. In the first few weeks of my full time mommy life, I experience totally that my personal time has always been intruded by the two young men.

This is a vivid example, when I was reading online news, Lucas said he wanted to do drawing by the computer. I tried to refuse but he had already climbed up on my laps and controlled the drawing pen. I had to face the fact that I was no longer the key decision maker of the usage of all gadgets at home. We then drew this picture by Corel Painter.

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, I should rather thank god he has yet reached the teenage, otherwise:

1. Due to the hormonal fluctuation inside his body during the puberty, He won't bother to talk to me much, no to mention to climb up on my laps and asking me to draw pictures with him.

2. He would have his own gadget and no need to share this stone-age computer (from the perspective of technological development in the next ten years, don't be humiliating, Mr. Yuen Senior) with me.

3. He would rather have such intimated drawing activity with his girlfriend(s) instead of his mother.

Anyway, it is lovely, isn't it?

當個全職媽媽

我的寶貝朗朗立立:

你們知道嗎?媽媽作了一個很勇敢的決定,我當上全職媽媽°

為什麼?真的沒有什麼,只是想見到你們多一些,想跟你們一起玩,一起笑°

想多點時間跟Daddy拍拖°

想做多些好吃的蛋糕及曲奇餅給你們°

希望十年後,我回頭看時,不會覺得錯過些甚麼°

哈哈,這篇網誌是趁著你們午睡時寫的!

當媽媽的感覺

當媽媽的感覺,就是孩子在他們的房裡睡著時,在客廳的我也會想念著他們°這是一種很牽腸掛肚的滋味......


我這個傻媽媽,竟然因為太念他們,在這個寒夜對著電腦偷偷哭了一點......

Lucas's 3rd birthday

Lucas turns into 3 years old.

Last Thursday was May 21. I took a day off and sent a birthday cake to his school with Jeff.

It was his first time to celebrate birthday with "friends", although technically he did not think the kids were his friends.

However, he seemed very happy when he came back home.

After the delivery, Jeff and I went to Element for lunch, he also bought me a gift. He said three years ago it was the most difficult day in my life, and I was really brave.

We held a mini birthday party for Lucas this Saturday. I had baked a cake. It was the first time I baked a birthday cake.

I want to bake birthday cakes for Jeff, Lucas and Linus every year!!! =)

Lucas, I love you. Wish you have a wonderful three years old.

1年前的朗立

回看一年前的朗朗和立立,孩子大得真快.

每看到佢地的照片,都會特別

掛住. 我做daddy的都會如此掛念,莫說每天一早就要返工的mami.

Photos are soft lens processed.

Lucas's first school day - follow up

We talked with a teacher through phone this afternoon.

She said Lucas was actually doing fine.  He had a tearful moment but not the whole day, he was observing and loved story telling time.

She suggested us not to keep asking him about his school day.  Keep drilling him or force him for discussion would only make him stress out.

The evening when we arrived home, he avoided my eye contact but I knew he wanted to smile.  After a while, we cuddled and sang song and he praised my new dress.

Lucas's mind is quite complex but after all he is still a baby boy.

Lucas's first school day

Lucas has had his first school day finally.

He had cried since he stepped into the school bus.

When he returned home, he didn't talk to anyone.

He hadn't drunk water in school, the same amount of water left as he left home.

It is heartbroken but at least he made the first step.

This is a big fear to leave parents and familiar faces and go to an unknown land with strangers.

Hope he would get used of and enjoyed the school life soon.

Lucas, you are a brave kid!

超級撒亞人~袁路加

撒亞人 生於這個地方稱呼叫Lucas....反地心吸力,厲害呀!

立立鐘意的事物.

1.媽咪-媽咪放工返到屋企會"嘩"一聲撲去媽咪到.

2.長cushion- 睡覺必備,平時下摟都好開心.試過唔覺意比佢偷偷地攞咗出街

3.玩具-一定係哥哥玩梗果件玩具,坐梗張椅,食梗果件餅,飲梗果支水.......

4.米餅-最鐘意食

5.行路-唔單止鐘意行,依家開始鐘意拂開你自己行.

6.節奏強勁的音樂 - 只要聽到,就算細細聲,都會un下un下.

cont..

小朋友唔讚得?!

小朋友真係唔讚得,睇吓下邊兩篇post就知點解.

Linus is sick

Linus is having sore throat and running nose. I transmitted the virus to him...

Sigh....

Hope he will get well soon.

Strong boys

Lucas weights 31.5 pounds, Linus is 22 pounds.

Lucas is slender but he is tall. Linus, simply look at his belly and you can tell how chubby he is.

Hurray!!!!

Globe

Lucas loves learning.

Since he was very small we taught him about our Earth. We said to him we are living in a big planet called the Earth. There was a map hanged at his room (but we threw it when moving to the new home, because the wet weather made it wrinkled and old).

Several days ago, we brought the babies to a bookstore. Lucas picked a small plastic globe and asked us to buy for him. He liked the globe a lot and even slept next to it at night.

Lucas loves to spin the Earth and asks us the name of the oceans and the continents. Last time I mentioned to him I had sponsored a baby in Africa, he called the boy “Africa Baby”, and asked me where the kid is on the globe.

Then I pointed him other places on the Earth – Hong Kong, Macau, China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, America, Europe, North Pole and South Pole. He also wanted to know where the Philippines is, a country where our domestic helper from.

I am so happy he is interested in the planet we are living. I talked to him that the Earth is very big, there are many places worth to go. When he grows big one day, he can travel to other countries, to experience different kind of life and culture.

When Linus gets bigger, I will also teach him to read map. =)

Linus's new word

The first two-syllables we hear from Linus is....

BISCUIT

Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve

We went to Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve yesterday for hiking. Four of us (Jeff, Lucas, Linus and me) walked for around two hours.

There was something funny (yet a bit dangerous) happened. When I was swinging hands with Lucas and walked up the path, something from the top fell down, the first thing was a piece of bark. Then when we walked closely, more pieces of barks came off, then followed by two big pieces of logs. When I looked up, it was a MONKEY!!! I told Lucas there was a naughty monkey above us and wanted to bully mamei. We ran away from that monkey but Lucas seemed to miss it a lot, he kept singing, “Monkey is naughty, he wanna play with mamei and Long Long”.

We walked further into the area and reached a “park”, there was a wooden slide, the babies ran up and down it without a stop. The passer-by joked that they were very happy but I should be very exhausted. (I brought Linus up and down the slide; it was just like having weight-lifting exercise, with a 30 pounds dumbbell)…
What a happy morning, all of us love hiking.

New Sofa

We bought a 2-seat sofa for double "L"s, you can tell they like it a lot.

Active Linus

Linus is now walking well and becomes more and more active. As he looks very sweet and cute, I am not aware he can be a little monster sometimes.

Last weekend I had been ‘attacked’ twice.

On Saturday evening, Linus was moody and threw toys everywhere. Daddy lectured him then he started to cry. I went to him, looked closely to him and asked him what happened gently, and then he slapped his metal train to my forehead with all his strength…. I was bleeding and crying instantly. Lucas then came to me and touched my head gently, and Jeff punished Linus.

On Sunday afternoon, we went to a supermarket. Linus was sitting on the baby seat on a trolley, which was right above the wheels.
When we passed by the racks with seasonings, Linus suddenly pulled out a bottle of vinegar from the lower rack. The bottle fell onto my leg foot and smashed…. The glass bounced all over the place and my foot was soaked in vinegar… Jeff helped me to clear the glasses on my foot, and thanks the staff who helped us to clean the mess. I had some little wounds on my foot but which were not serious. It seemed Linus had no idea that he created a big mess, because he kept laughing and yelling….

Early babies eat bread

Lucas and Linus know what “Dolce Vita” is.

Every morning after milk, the two babies would sit on (sometimes fight for) their little sofa together, to enjoy their second breakfast, usually bread or toast.

Their pose is just like a boss in the office, sometime they put their legs up and lean backward, to rest in a very laid-back position, and watching Disney Channel, smiling with Little Einsteins or Noddy or Handy Manny.

Mommy and Daddy will work hard to win you bread!

Linus and "Ball-E"

Do you think they look like each others?

Linus's excellent progress

Last week I received a video call from Jeff. He was at home with the babies, telling me with great excitement that Linus could walk several steps.

In the tiny screen, I witnessed Linus’s wobbly steps; he was looking at his feet and moved prudently. What a precious moment.

Wow, this is a scene that mobile phone or telecommunication companies would like to capture in order to promote the video conferencing function.

********
Linus is also learning how to speak; he always mimics what we say. Yesterday when I brought him to wash hands, I told him it was water from the tap, he then said “Wada” in a low sexy voice.

What a lovely baby.

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten

Today is the open day of the kindergarten that Lucas is going to attend. Jeff and me went with him to have a "preview" of school life.

It is an international school and its education mission meets ours. Right next to the entrance, there is a poster called "All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten":

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.These are the things I learned:

• Share everything.
  
• Play fair.
  
• Don't hit people.
  
• Put things back where you found them.
  
• Clean up your own mess.
  
• Don't take things that aren't yours.
  
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
  
• Wash your hands before you eat.
  
• Flush.
  
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
  
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
  
• Take a nap every afternoon.
  
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
  
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
  
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
  
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
  

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

It is written by Robert Fulghum http://www.robertfulghum.com/. I love it a lot. It reminds the basic things of the most of us had already learned since the elementary school.

I am pleased to send my babyto such a liberal school with the right mind to do education. I don't care whether my kids can recognize 2000 words in two years old or not, I just want them to learn the beauty of life.

Lucas starts asking why

Lucas is a smart baby, he is now entering the “what” stage.

He is curious of everything and wants to know the name of everything, including a black spot on a pavement, sometimes I can hardly find a name of some objects.

Anyway, this is a wonderful stage. We can chat with Lucas now, he only how to reply us even for some complex concept verbally.

This is exciting, I can’t wait to discuss with him what is the meaning of life, or his view on global warming etc.

Linus's one year old birthday gift

Linus loves his birthday toy a lot, he always push this cart and run everywhere in home.  He can control it very well, I bet he is a inborn sport man!!

立立生日快樂

立立你一歲啦!
Daddy Mami 見到你今日剛剛可以站立起來,很好啊!
比心機, 你好快就識行嫁啦!

Organic skincare

The rashes on Linus’s face was getting worse, due to the dry and cold weather in the past two weeks. I am sourcing skin care product for him, but there is lack of sophisticated brand which provide choices that are really good for baby delicate skin.

Yesterday I picked Kielh’s baby cream, it was expensive, last year it cost HKD150 but now it is HKD200, 33% price increase.

I am looking for those made by natural ingredients or organic materials. I will keep searching.

Good boy Lucas

Lucas is growing up in this holiday. He is more open to communicate with others, and is willing to try new things.

We had a BBQ plus Christmas party with Jeff’s ex-schoolmates in the Boxing Day. The babies received many gifts. Lucas behaved very well and he thanked the “uncles and aunties”. This is almost the first time he was willing to talk with someone he was not familiar with.

On Dec 27, we visited Disneyland. Lucas was excited to everything in front of his eyes. Unlike the first two times he was in the wonderland, this time he tried to make sense of everything, and enjoyed all games. We had ride the train, the boat to an adventure (whatever its name is), the flying Dumbo, the Winnie the Pooh journey, It’s a small world, the Buzz Lightyear’s mission, etc. When we were watching the 3D movie, Lucas wore those pair of funny looking spectacles and sat straight next to us to enjoy the movie.

In the next day, when Samantha visited us, Lucas chatted with her, a real conversation. He told Samantha he had been Disneyland, and was meeting Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck had felt into the water (Donald Duck was flying and tucked onto the wall in the 3D movie).

Well done Lucas!!

Yuen Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free family tree - Find ancestors

Christmas Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The meaning of Christmas

I was very lazy in blog writing in recent few months. The key reason is I was terribly busy at home. (Yesterday Lucas did not allow me to go washroom because he did not want me to be out of his radar, when I was really having the urge). Having two babies is difficult to having your own time.

Christmas is all around and I have bought two cartoon DVDs for the babies. One is Peanut, another one is Little Einstein.

Four of us watched the Peanut DVD altogether. The babies were not very interest though. I always feel Peanut comic fits adults more.

It is about Charile Brown, the pessimistic boy who is feeling isolated and miserable during the Christmas time. He feels Christmas is just an enormous commercial activity which give excuse to merchants to encourage customers to have extravagant spending. He craves to know the true meaning of Christmas. At that moment, he is nominated to be the director of a Christmas drama, and everyone is wondering this would be the lousiest Christmas performance ever, because Charlie Brown has picked a small and weak Christmas tree with falling leaves and for the performance…

When Charlie feels hopeless and everyone is frustrated, Linus tells Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas is wishing the world full of joy, bliss and peace. Charlie brings this humble tree to his backyard; he doesn’t notice the kids are following him. When he goes back home desperately, the kids work together and beautify the tree, it becomes as attractive and fabulous as other metallic big ones.

Charlie hears the noise and he runs out from his house. He cannot believe what in front of his eyes. The kids hold him tight and sing songs together.

This is the meaning of Christmas!

This is the sweetest Christmas story I have ever heard.

"Dad Dad"

Yesterday Linus said the second word "Dad", he had already known the word "Ba" last month.

I brought him for a walk around the estate yesterday. Jeff came down, when Linus saw Daddy, he spoke "Ba Ba", then opened his arms and tended to Daddy. Jeff melted down instantly.

I am really jealous!! =p

First phase

Linus speaks his first phase finally, it is "Ah Ba"!

Little brother

Someone asks me if I love any one of my babies more than another. I don't think I would be, because each of them are unique to me.

Lucas and Linus are totally different, they are not look identical, and their personalities are not the alike. However, I am sure they can be good friends, the life-long type.

One day, I was asking Jeff what he would think they would be when they grow up. Actually I think we can hardly answer it correctly. We can never know how the world would be in the coming 20 years. Look at ourselves, our parents can never tell their children would become something called "programmer" and "researcher", they even had no idea about what they are, right?

I just wish them can devote themselves to something they enjoy and are proud of. What we should do is to provide opportunities for them to explore their talents and interest.

Kiss Axx

One morning Daddy wanted to stir up Lucas's jealousy, he said "I want to kiss Mamei" to Lucas.

Then Lucas replied, "Daddy kiss ass!!!!!", sweetly.

I burst into a big big laugh.

I asked Lucas, "did you learn it from your cousin (a boy in primary 2, it is the time kids picking up some foul language."

"No!" he said.

"Then you think of it by yourself?" I asked.

He didn't answer.

Is there really some ideas or concepts that already programed in human mind, which is universal?

Offer

By the way, Lucas received an offer from the kindergarten last week. It is the only kindergarten we applied. We are very unusual because many Hong Kong parents apply at least 5-6 schools for their kids.

We are really a pair of lazy parents, hahah.

Hurray!!! Lucas will start to receive the "institutionalized education" (I learnt this term of sociology) next year! We may accept the offer of early intake in April 09, to let him experience this "institutionalized education" earlier...

Sky

We moved to our own cozy net finally.

Lucas loves the new place, he wanders around the flat everyday and pushing bean bags and boxes everywhere.

Unlike his elder brother, little Linus needs more time to get used of the new environment, but he is still as cheerful as usual.

People comment their room is extraordinarily beautiful. It is like a lovely corner of a pair of little princes.

I love the view outside also. You can see a hill from the windows. If they lie on the floor, they can stare at a large piece of non-fragmented sky, and to study the movement of clouds, or simply to day dream.

This is the most precious thing we can give them.

I hope when they grow bigger, they will know how to appreciate the sky, which would allow them to stretch their imagination beyond any boundaries.

Interview

Lucas will have his first interview, an interview of the kindergarten.

I would accompany with him.  It is an international school, which focuses more on talent exploration, instead of squeezing kids into a shape based on social expectation, such as knowing two thousands words at two years old, etc.

The principal told me it would not really be an interview of the child, but more like a chat with the parents, to see if they go for the same goal as the school.

I am a bit nervous, hahah.

Turtle

Tonight we chatted with Lucas and asked if he would like to dress up in Halloween. He said yes, then when we asked him what he would want to dress like, he said....

TURTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We burst into laugh. Then we asked him what Daddy should dress like, he said....

TOOTHPASTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so lucky that he had made up his mind what I should dress like.

We are thinking Linus can be a pumpkin that night!

Love and Jealousy

I feel there is a bonding between the brothers. They find each other interesting and love to stay together, but at the same time they are jealous with each other, especially when I am hugging one of them.

I was a believer of dualism, that means I think everything/ everyone can be distinguished into black or white, good or bad, love or hatre. Jeff always teases it is "Manki's logic". However, from Lucas and Linus, I find a person can love and be jealous on another person at the same time. Love and jealousy seems in the extreme ends of a spectrum, but they can exist concurrently.

I am sure the boys will be best friends when they are getting older. Lucas and Linus, you know what, I love both of you, and each of you is unique to me.

Sep 2008 MSN Icon

今個月係Linus!

Linus 呢個笑容好熟識.

My two little angels

I should count my blessings everyday. I am so lucky to have two angel-like babies, they are god sent gifts.

The brothers have totally different personality. Lucas is sensitive, Linus is straight forward. Lucas is delicate, Linus is more sturdy. I feel it is amazing.

I love to cuddle both of them while watching TV in sofa or in bed, the babies will stay quietly and enjoy such cozy moment. I do hope such comfortable feeling can imprint in their mind. When they grow up, they may face a lot challenges and difficulties, I hope they will recall such homey feeling, and remember that no matter what, their mommy also thinks they are the best, and support them unconditionally.

This is what mommy should be, and love to be!!

Plum and Bum

Yesterday we asked Lucas to pass us some grapes and plums. Lucas took me some green grapes and a big purple plum. He pointed to the plum and said 'Mamei, this is a big grape!'

Then I replied him it was actually a plum, not a grape. Then he said, 'Mamei, this is bum bum...' He was pointing to the centre line of the fruit.

I explained, 'No this is not a bum bum, this is a plum.'

And then he further commented, 'mamei, this is gu gu (a slang of penis in Cantonese).

I couldn't reply anymore......

Happy face

Linus is always cheerful. When he smiles, he opens his mouth wide, and squeezes his huge eyes into lines.

I always feel this is one of the most rewarding moment to see babies' happy faces. This is a 'prestige' to be a parent.

When I feel upset, I always remind myself to learn from Linus, to be happy and carefree anytime.

It is a bless that he grows into a strong baby, you cannot imagine how tiny he was after birth. I could still remember the hard feeling when I was standing in front of his incurbator.

Work hard boy, I am proud of yourself.

A letter I wrote long time ago

I am tidying up files in my computer, then I 'fished' out this one. A letter I wrote to unborn Lucas when I was in my first pregnancy.

Being a working mom?!

Dear baby,

You know, I am planning to be a working mom. A lot of friends suggested me to be a full-time mom, and someone ( I won’t count this person as a friend) even attacked me verbally as he thinks stay-home mom is the only way a mother should behave.

However, I do believe all decisions have merits and drawbacks. I am sure I love you devotedly since the first time I saw you in your first ultrasound picture. However, having a career in the same time doesn’t make me I love you lesser.

In an on-line forum of a group of working moms, some of the ladies do feel guilty to leave their new born baby at home, and feel jealous when they see their kids develop the intimate bonding with the maids. However, they stress that QUALITY TIME to stay with the baby is much more important. And impressively, they believe that their working life could also provide a positive model for the kids. Financially speaking, some of them are the main bread winners, and that is why they would not consider to quit the jobs, and other claimed that working hard to gain money is also for the good sake of their children, they want to save the education funds for their future.

For me, I would not limit my decisions; I plan to be a working mom because I want to connect to the outside world, and to continue my social personal growth. I do believe this will bring you and me a positive effect. And I can further safeguard our family financial security and provide you more opportunities for the future education.
Striving balance means that I have to choose, but the decision is not all-or-nothing. Since the first moment you appear in my life, I should face the fact that my career development will be slow down a bit, but I don’t care, I love you!!

It is really sweet.. and I am really lazy in my work.... How can I type such a long letter during working hours?

Linus can lie on his tummy and head up

What a great achievement. Linus can now lie on his tummy and raise up his head!!

We believe he can crawl soon!!

It is not easy to be a mother....

Lucas loves tunnel, but he was scared to go into this tunnel by himself, so I squeezed into the tunnel with him, which actually big enough for kids only....

Little brother love to eat solid food

Every evening I love to hold Linus while having dinner at home. (This is the secret tip of getting slim, as you cannot concentrate on eating anymore, haha). It is funny that he keeps moving up and down and tears off the plastic table cover. (now you know why I cannot be laid back and eat). Sometimes he even screams, then we know actually he wants to eat our food also.

Since last week we had tried to feed him baby cereal. He did not really know how to swallow the food, but you can tell he is learning.

This morning we had breakfast in Pacific Coffee, I fed Linus little pieces of bread (it is like feeding bird). He tried hard to keep the bread in his mouth and then spitting out and sucking in. He was satisfied and showing cheerful smile.

Did I tell you playing saliva is Linus's recent hobby? He does this when he is happy, also after eating.

Baby massage

Despite the long working hours, if possible, I would do baby massage in the evening.

I have finished a can of L'occitane Mama-bebe cream, it is no longer available in the stores. Then I switch to Julique Baby's calming massage oil, which contains chamomile and lavender essential oils.

My sister said the kids are really having great life, and Jeff is jealous about it.

Baby massage can achieve bonding between parents and children. Tonight when I was squeezing Linus's arms gently, he rewarded me a big sweet toothless smile!!!

I wish I could spend more time with them.

Maturity

This is a conversation between our domestic helper and Lucas:

Helper A: Will you go to Po Po (Grandma)'s home tonight?
Lucas: Yes.
Helper A: Who tell you?
Lucas: Mommy and Daddy
Helper A: Are you sure?
Lucas: Sure! (Confident, calm, stable and confirmed)

Lucas behaves like other toddlers in front of me, but he is actually a young man when interacting with other people....

"All good mothers are addicted to their newborn babies."

Accroading to a study show that monthers will getting high when they see babies smiles.

In a study of 28 first-time moms, seeing pictures of their babies' smiles
activated parts of the brain involved in rewarding certain behaviors — such as
finding food, water or a mate — that are vital to the species' survival, says
co-author P. Read Montague, a neuroscientist at Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston.

I am sure that you are addicted to both new bron and two years old babies! This study make me understand why you always like to see the ablums.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-07-babysmiles_N.htm

Blissful babyhood

Several months ago I bought a book called Your Happy Baby. It guides parents some simple ways to contribute a blissful babyhood, such as massage, aromatherapy and baby yoga.

I massage Linus whenever I have time. He loves it a lot.

Then, Lucas starts to feel interest to be massaged. He disliked it when he was a few months old. Now he enjoys lying down and let me squeeze and sliding his delicate skin.

I tried massage oil before, but I found Loccitane Mom & Baby Balm is also fantastic. It is 100% vegetable oil, no artificial scent, and smooth.

If the boys are irritating at night, I will use essential oil to create a comfortable atmosphere. I diffuse several drop of mandarin, lavender or sweet orange in a electronic vaporizer. These three essential oil are good for babies. Chamomile is also an amazing oil, which can even heal gentle skin problem, however, it is same as Rose, very expensive if you look for high quality one. I hope I will have one 100% chamomile essential oil one day.

There are many interesting baby yoga postures demonstrated in the book. Some pictures are stunning, such as the head stand. I tried several moderate one, such as tailor pose and swing. Both boys love that little movement and stretching sensation.

I do hope all these can give the babies some little happy memories.

Lucas's favourite website

Lucas's recent favourite website are:

1. www.google.com - to search for whatever he loves, such as cars, trains, Little Einsteins, etc.

2. www.youtube.com - he requested me to search Thomas train from you tube once.

What a generation in internet era.

Linus is making good progress

It is almost five months since the birth of Linus. He is growing fast. The chubby cheeks are still lingering at each side of his face.

He is doing great. Last night he saw me when I got back home from work, he looked at me with a knowing smile, it seemed he was saying ‘Mamei welcome back home!’

Life is more beautiful to have a baby welcome you warmly everyday after work..

I am sure next time he will wink at me when he grows a little bit bigger. He is that type of cute boy.

Monday Blue

Lucas was suffering from Monday Blue yesterday. This is not an exclusive pain for working people.

Every Sunday night, he refuses to sleep because he knows too well that mom and dad should resume work the next day.

He is very sensitive, takes every comments too personally. Yesterday morning Grandmom simply asked him to drink water as Nanny had reminded him many times. He then burst into big fat tears.

And then he squeezed Linus's legs during nap time and made the little brother cried.

Lucas insisted to sleep with me last night. He waited for me until I blew dry my hair after bathing. I lied next to him, then he said 'mamei' gently to me, and closed his eyes with a softest grin I have ever seen.

Dance Dance Dance

Last Saturday we celebrated with mom-in-law for her birthday in the dancing place. My parents-in-law just addicted to ballroom dancing, they go to that night club three times a week, plus all anniversary/ birthday celebrations.

We brought Lucas this time. Linus is too small and cannot take such a big noise and dazzle lighting effect. Nanny stayed with him at home.

Lucas was stunned by all pairs on the dancing floor. He suddenly took my hand and led me out. We held hands and formed a circle, we kept turning and laughing along with the vibrant music. I stared at his eyes, I found the genuine happiness.

He looked through my eyes, laughed happily, it also seemed this was one of his most joyful moments.

This is LOVE!!! The love between a little mother and her little boy.

I hope such pure sweet memory can imprint in his mind. He may not able to remember what exactly happened that night, but at least he can recall this loving feeling throughout his life. He will remember that mamei loves him unconditionally always.

Black Friday vs. Happy Friday

After a fed up working day in this rainy black Friday, I just had had a nice evening with my family to celebrate the Father's Day. We had a nice dinner in Telford Plaza.

Nothing is better than surrounding by your beloved ones after a tough day! The two gorgeous babies melted my frowning face immediately, it is like a icing cube reaching fire.

Daddy, happy father's day.

Jeff, you are doing great and I am on behalf of the two boys to say happy father's day to you!

Linus wanna stand up!!

If you put a finger in each of Linus's palm, he will grab it tight and bring himself up, with his little mouth open, like those weightlifters. To keep the balance, he will even move one step forward.

He is such as gorgeous baby.

I always want to bring Linus out to open up his eyes, but he just keeps his eyes shut literally, because he always falls asleep when people carrying him.

When four of us go out, sometimes people pass by turn their shoulder to look at Linus, and then Lucas, and then the whole chunk of us, with their eyes wide open. We can tell they are astonished by our reproduction effectiveness.

Milk tea foot spa

Yesterday was Sunday, Jeff and I walked down the hill to a tea restaurant for breakfast, with the two little boys.

I looked after Lucas and Jeff carried Linus. We tried our best to show people we could cope with the whole thing casually.

After the serious punishment on Saturday night, Lucas dared not playing mischief when eating. He ate by himself decently.

Finally, we were getting move, Lucas accidentally pushed the ice milk tea down, then my right ballerina shoe carried a 'shoe full' of milk tea, and my foot soaked in the milk tea foot spa.

Playgroup and Marriage

There is a plot in Extreme Motherhood: Jackie brings her toddler daughter Saoirse to playgroups. She finds it is pointless because the kids even do not play with each other in this age, they just practise what the expert called "parallel play" - "ignoring each other and carrying on in their own little world" - this is what she says.

So, Jackie supposes playgroups are actually the preparatory class of MARRIAGE.

This woman really gets a brain!!

Talking about preschool learning, I do not have a concrete planning about how to cultivate Lucas. Frankly, I do not have great interest to spoon-feed my sons all those super intensive talent developing classes. No one sent Einstein to any of these institution, he was still a genius. You see what I mean?

陽光男孩

有時相片唔駛太清,要有feel ,陽光永遠係最自然的光源.

Milk production in downward trend

I resumed work last than a month, my milk production has already slipped gradually from 1200 ml per day to 700ml this week.

Tiredness is the key reason of the reduction.

Which may not be bad, at least it is still enough for Linus's consumption, with the provision of reserved milk I save in past two months. And I suffered lesser from breast engorgement.

With the reference of last experience, I would not force myself too harsh, but I wish I could generate breast milk for 6 months.

Folding

Linus is very very chubby... I just realize it brings a small problem...

This afternoon, my domestic helper found a little wound at the "fold" hiding in his neck. As Linus is too cheeky, moisture is easily trapped under his neck, and then with the mix of sweat and bacteria, a mild infection caused.

Luckily it is very easy to alleviate, we just need to apply some baby powder around his neck, have a thorough clean after every feeding, and let his head tilt a bit backward when lying on our thighs for better 'ventilation'.

Big Big cheek Linus

Linus has good appetite, he could drink 150 ml per feeding.

I think he is one of the fattest premature babies. My sister said his cheeks could not resist the force of gravity, which are closer to the ground than his chin.

It is worth for me to continue expressing breast milk.

*******
I joked with Samantha that I am running a dairy product business. I have sophisticated systems of expressed breast milk production, which include:

• Production - we invest the best machinery (the cutting edge Medela swing pump), the around-the-clock milk production everyday.


• Storage - milk that would be consumed within a day would be stored in the fridge. I produce approximately 1200ml a day. The surplus milk would be frozen and saved in a freezer. Currently we have around 100 packs of frozen milk bags. Inventory check twice a month.


• Transportation - A reliable cooler with ice packs to keep milk I generate in office to maintain its freshness.

Plus the systems are flexible and adjustment is possible according to consumer (Linus and Lucas) needs.

Okay, I have breastfed Linus for almost 4 months, just 2 more months to go. Hope it can be accomplished.

Happy birthday Lucas

Today is Lucas's birthday. We had held birthday partIES in past two weeks, one with my parental family, another with my in-laws. We are on behalf of him to donate part of his birthday red packet to Sichuan.

If you ask him how old he is, he will tell you he is TWO years old.

How do you define "AFFLUENCE"? When I look at my two happy healthy kids, I feel I am an affluent person!

Yuen Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs - Collage - Morph

See? Technology tells the truth, hahahha.

Coming up, testing Linus in the next entry.

I bite you

I was wrestling with Lucas during dinner. He refused to eat but demanded to get food from all dishes. If I tried to deliver a small piece into his mouth, he just pushed my hands away.

I was furious then punished him. He was forced to stay in a little carpet for 2 minutes. He cried and struggled. After the punishment, he was willing to sit still and ate a little bit more. After the meal, I wanted to hug him again, but he just rushed to Daddy.

I felt quite exhausted and desperate. Maybe I was a bit moody, I just thought too much... I worried I would not be able to communicate with my sons when they reach adolescence, and I could not manage their radical and rebellious behaviours partly due to the enormous hormonal changes inside their bodies?

Tears dropped and crawled down my face.

After awhile Lucas came back to me, I held him tight. We watched Playhouse Disney together, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were speaking English. I understood Mickey perfectly but I could not hear even a word from Donald... Well, was he speaking human language? I wonder.

It was time to feed Linus. I was holding this chubby angel, he could drink more than 5 oz. each time. After the feeding, I talked, sang and massaged him. He was a cheerful and simple baby, he smiled back to me always. How could I take my eyes off him? He was just too adorable.

It was sleeping time of the kids, I said "I love you" and kissed their foreheads and lips. Lucas could not pronounce "love" correctly, instead, he replied "Mommy, I bite you!" and smiled sheepishly.

Oscar

We used to bring Lucas to one restaurant in our neighbourhood for casual meals during weekends. There is a waitress likes him a lot, but every time she mistakenly calls him Oscar instead of Lucas. I just feel too embarrassed to correct her.

I construct a scene in my mind, like those plots in melodrama - Lucas, the young man who goes back to his hometown when he has grown up, all old neighbours who knew him since he was a child recognized him. A old lady came over and held this young men's hands tight, then said, "Oh Oscar, so nice to see you again!! Wow, you are so tall, I still remember how you looked when you were a toddler...." Lucas plasters a freak broad grin on his face, he is too embarrassed to tell this lady that his real name is Lucas...

I am a breadwinner!

After longer than 3-month maternity leave, I have resumed my work this Monday.

The feeling was not that fluctuating as last time when I was just a mother of one kid. Now I still missed my two angels, but I did not feel desperate, I know I can contribute my family in various ways.

My mom visited my babies everyday to ensure everything is on the right track. My nanny is also very helpful. Mom told me that Lucas talked to her and said "Mommy goes for work and Daddy goes for work". He is a very mature baby.

Anyway, I am happy to be one of the breadwinners in my family.

I always want to protect you

Linus was a premature baby and that is why I always feel he is very delicate and fragile.

I always make him curl his body and embrace him tight in front of my chest, which is like the pose he was in my tummy.

I love this photo, it is a bit out focus but I still love it.

He is so bossy

I can't believe I listened to him...

Lucas wanted me to wear a pair of wedge when I was going to put my feet into the sandals. I turned down his suggestion politely, then he whined.

Then I gave in. I went out with those wedges.

When had he became my personal stylist??

Every time before we go out, we let him to decide what pants and shoes he can wear that day.

Jeans are always his first choice.

Between sandals and sport shoes, he usually cannot make up his mind. However, once he has made the decision, do not try to change it, he will never give in....

Oh my goodness, how come I gave in then??

New hair cut

Finally, we convinced Lucas to have hair cut in salon.

He managed to sit on my laps and stayed still when the stylist trimmed hair at the top. However, when the scissors slided near his ears, he struggled and screamed for rescue. Then we had no other choice but to hold his head with some force and distraction to allow the stylist to finish her job. Thanks god it did not spend too much time.

See Lucas's new hair style, isn't it nice?

We treated him a cup of ice milk tea afterward, you cannot imagine that it is his favourite.

******

Recently, Lucas loves singing, his 'play list' includes ABC, My Bonnie, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Row Row Row your boat.

This morning he sang ABC with me and woke Jeff up. How sweet!!!