Daddy words on video journey to celebrate Claire's one year birthday

Justin Papa's words on the making of this video. 

          A year in the making. We decided to produce a short clip to showcase the different stages that little Claire had went through for the party. Searching and picking the right mix of photos and videos capturing her many milestones was arduous and enjoyable. Felt like I just went back on a time machine.

          Her every smile, cry, laughter and sound bring new joy to our life. Selfishly, hoping she don't grow up so fast but also eager to see her reach another new milestone like walking, running and her first word.

          The simple iMovie tool in our MacBook again help us through this. Music chosen was Beyoncé "God made you Beautiful" for my lovely, always smiling little Claire:) but could not load it online with the video due to copyright.

Love,

Deariebear Daddy

Baby Claire One Year Birthday Party Experience + photos!!

That day had finally arrived. It was Baby Claire 1 year old Party!! It happened on the 31st of Dec 2013 @Bukit Batok Civil Service Club's Children Party Room.

This is the banner which I've mentioned in the earlier post. (Please read about our planning in this post) I personally felt a sense of achievement after completing this as it took me some time to nicely cut and paste the Hippa Hippa Hey and the Baby Hood characters from Baby TV. Fortunately, we also have pretty good resolution photos of Claire which completed the picture for this banner. Doesn't it looks cute and nice with the colorful background of the room. We also managed to get cute helium  and colorful balloons from thePartyStuff online to liven up the room.

Even the kids love the colorful balloons. This little kid is a natural in front of the camera :)

Claire also received her special balloon which is a giraffe. The balloonist is so skilled in creating this on the spot! Look at Claire's surprised look!

Beside balloonist, we also hired a magician from the same company, THAT Balloons , who did a fantastic job in making both children and adults laughed out in joy through his various tricks :)

We also received compliments on the sweet delights. Since our aim is to make the party as colorful as possible. We just can't do without the rainbow cupcakes. They are soft, fluffy and topped with yummy cheese cream. These are from Hey Cupcake!

And the main item for the party, the Cake! We discussed with Pine Garden's cake shop and designed a Baby TV theme cake with her favorite characters on it. Took their recommendation to opt for the Hazelnut Chocolate Crunch cake which had been a hot favorite with children. Our friends and relatives found them yummy too and some asked for a second helping :)

And one necessary item to take note! A good photographer with patience. I took some time to search for photographers who have experiences in children birthday parties, and finally chose Waipeng to capture the key moments for Claire's first birthday. We really appreciate how she mingled so well with the kids at the party and Gosh!, I was surprise when i noticed that she even remember their names. Look at more of the nice moments from the party.

Our Birthday Girl! Looking so so happy at the children playroom, just beside the party room. This was taken after the party. Many kids stayed after the party and went wild in the party room :P

Lastly, Baby Claire and us would like to thank lots of people. 

Thank to all our relatives and friends and their kids who took special effort to come to our party despite it being a holiday eve. All of you made it a great memory for us and Claire. Of course, thanks for all the wonderful presents too. 

Thanks to our brothers especially Ah Yuan, who took half-day to come down to help us to set-up the place.

Thanks to our caring family members especially to my parents-in-laws who selflessly offered help and patiently took care of Claire this past one year. They have sure made her a very happy baby.

To my devoted hubby and daddy who plays, cares and loves Claire. Though he is tired, he still tolerate my nagging, and my stubbornness in creating a well drilled routine for Claire.

Last but not least, to my little girl, Claire. Time really flies and sometimes I really hope the clock will stop as you are growing too fast. Thanks for coming into our lives. We found new joys in life which will not happened if you are not here with us. Thank you for sharing with us your vulnerability, clumsiness, mischievous actions, mesmerizing smiles and infectious laughters. We hope to hold you for a long long time before you are ready to let go of our hands and explore the world independently. Though, I hope that day would not come too soon... :)

More beautiful photos can be found via our facebook page and here. Please like us at our facebook page for more updates on tips for new parents. :)

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Preparing Baby Claire 1st year Birthday Party

It is going to be one year ever since our little baby came to our world. To us, time really flies. When we were looking at the photos taken during this past one year when preparing her birthday montage, there was a gush of feeling that came over us.."oh mine...see how much Claire has grown and developed". I even mentioned "Claire looks pretty fat when she was younger, no wonder his uncle said she looked like Hao Shao Wen, the famous shaolin monk kid actor". Now, she looks much more like a girl (refer to the 2nd pic). At least, some passerby asked "She is a girl rite?", not "Is she a boy?" :P

Papa Justin has volunteered to take up the task to create the montage. Can't wait to see how it looks like. Aren't you are excited as me too?

So what are we preparing for the party?

A checklist of items:

• e-invitation
• Banner. This took me some time. I have to cut and copy from her favorite characters from Baby TV.
• programme with activities
• Cakes, cupcakes, buffet, special plates, cups for kids
• Decorations
• Present Wish-list (Since some of our friends asked for a wish-list)
• Claire Video + surprise babytv clips
• Venue @ Bukit Batok CSC, Children Party Room. Initially, we booked a chalet at Aloha Changi. We decided to change venue due to inaccessibility and ...lots of mosquitos which we don't think it will be good for the kids
• Kids' goodie bags
• Play mat, coloring materials for kids
• Music

We wanted to make it a Baby TV theme however, the lack of decorations may be an issue. Thus, we will made do of whatever we have. We will include characters from Hippa Hippa Hey, and characters from Baby Hood.

This is the invitation card created for our relatives and close friends. A friend mentioned that it as so cute. It seemed that Claire was the one inviting them. :)

This is the programme outline. We hope the party will be full of fun for the families and kids. The wonderful thing about this venue is that kids are able to run to the indoor playground next door to have some physical activities.

And..nothing forgetting the cute little things like cupcakes. The rainbow cupcakes from Hey Cupcakes are so cute and yummy for kids. We bet they will love them. Claire can't wait to take a big mouthful of it. :P 

Last but not least.....the Kids Goodie Bags! Pretty simple stuff. A sneak preview into one of the items, the hand clappers! Claire loves it and started clapping with it :)

3 more days to go! :) 

Cheers,

Deariebear Mommie

Claire Delivery on the 30th of Dec 2012

On 30th Dec 2012, 12am, I began to feel a short intervals of pain. Being a first time pregnant women, I really wonder is this real? or a BX? Though I had taken those pre-natal courses but I wasn't sure. Thus, I decided to wait and try to go to sleep. However, I COULDN'T.

Between 12a.m to 4a.m, I was feel really uncomfortable, wondering is it coming? I googled *Gosh, google became my support* and try to find out whether am i in it now? However, pain became pretty unbearable and I kicked my husband, who was sleeping on the bed below. "Cannot, cannot, think it might be real". Justin was in shock, maybe because I kicked him damn hard. Or perhaps, he was too sleepy to accept this sudden news.

We immediately changed our clothes and brought our maternity bag. Fortunately we prepared this bag last weekend. This came too suddenly and 2 weeks early. I actually followed most of the guide at Babycenter website. I even had a birth plan too :P

When I reached the hospital, I was 4cm dilated. I was immediately given the epidural, and the pain became slowly manageable, and was injected something to help to speed the process however, i heard this might make the baby become less active. Time to time, a nurse will come in and check and adjust the dosage.

Less than 4 hours, I was ready to push! In the begnining, I pushed and pushed but hubby said, "Hey, you are doing the wrong way!, Don't use your throat to push, use your diagram!". Cos I was making a lot of noise through my throat, thus I focused my strength on the wrong place. After his enlightenment, I did the right way, and at 9.19a.m, Baby Claire was born :)




We were so so happy and that mommie did well.

Actually, we were hoping that she will arrive in 2013, but i guess she must be anxious to get out especially her umbilical cord got wrapped around her neck. I'm so glad she made it.

Overall, it was a pretty smooth delivery. Bear Bear (that's my hubby) booked me a single-bed room so I can peacefully try breastfeeding. So sweet :)

Cheers,
Deariebear Mommie

Is Birthday Month!

August is a month full of family members' birthdays, my mother, my brother and my father-in-law birthdays. Is full of fun and good food but it also meant quite a sum of money would be spent. But it is worth to see the smiles of our family members enjoying the food.

Yesterday just brought my family outside for a meal. We hope to bring my brother to whatever places or food he wishes to enjoy while he still is able to feed himself....

Tonight, we prepared a steamboat feast for 8 people (erm..is it a feast? well, we prepared quite a variety of stuff and we tried out our 1st time hand-made wanton dumplings). Ah Yong mentioned that it tasted not bad. Didn't manage to hear from the rest though. The thought of Justin and I trying to fit as much fillings into the small piece of wanton skin was kinda funny.

Justin and I mentioned that his brothers should take turn to organize all the different celebrations in his family because it is kinda tiring to plan for every events. I suggest if so, why don't each brother take turn to plan yearly. I wonder will that happen :P

Now, while I am lonely in the living room after finished the cleaning, Justin is driving his family back home. I'm happy that Ah Yong's girlfriend Joey helped out in the cleaning too, that's so nice of her :)

That's all about the bdae.

By the way...I don't think we are able to go Taiwan this time round because Justin mentioned he will be very busy at the rest of the year. I also will be busy too in planning a new module in SP.

*busy busy*

Bryan & Jiayi BB full month

Last Sunday, J and I went to Bryan & Jiayi first baby boy's full month bdae. Despite it was only my 2nd day of my eye lasik, I still went ahead to congrats the couple.

Baby's skin is much of darker that most babies I encountered. I wonder maybe he will be a future star sportsman in many years to come. One thing to note: For his age, he already know how to focus. Here are some nice shots by J.

"So glaring" seemed like what he is thinking. Hahahaha :P

J and I waiting for Bryan at his 2nd story study room. The couple was very busy, hardly have time for us. We managed to chat up with them when there's less crowd in the house. I'm still wearing sunglasses because I'm still sensitive to glare and light.

Didn't managed to get a nice shot of the couple. I kept telling J "Go and ask them to pose to take a nice picture lah. Don't just take the baby only lah."

We had a hard time reaching this place. We took MRT from our house to AMK mrt, and then take bus 196. As usual, we nearly lost our way. We aligned 2 stops before and wondering around. Hahahaha. When we reached the destination, it was almost 3.00p.m. We took around 1.5 hr.

Baby Qi Xin's Full Month Celebration

The gem from Val and Daphne bonding, Qi Xin. If I understood correctly, her lovely name signified the togetherness of the family in overcoming all challenges and embracing all joys in their future life.

The cute baby girl celebrated her first month on 01082009. Had the opportunity to be close to the baby girl before all the relative arrived. Cute photos were taken with our new D90 but not all turned out ok. Need more training.

Her lovely smile captured. She was sleeping throughout our private time with her but managed to get a few glimpse of her smile.

Felt she was smiling in this photo but dear say she was frowning.

Guess all babies will be sleeping in the first few months to grow faster. Ha Ha. Daphne shared that Qi Xin weigh 3.2kg as a newborn. Jus amazed that how thick is her flock, guess she got that from Val.

The lovely couple.

Proud mother with her bundle fo joy. Will be as pretty as mama.

Dear trying to pacify the baby with some humming of baby tunes.

And finally a shot of me and Qi Xin. Cheers.

Hong wei's lunch buffet reception at Furuma Hotel

These photos were taken in my cousin, Hongwei lunch wedding buffet at Furuma hotel. It was a casual setting. We got to mingle some of our relatives and ate the food and left. I personally do not like this setting if it is serving to replace a chinese banquet. Hahahaha. I also dunno lah. But I'm glad I have the chance to have both, a causal setting during my ROM, and a formal sit-down lunch banquet next year March.

This is my brother, Roy. I'm always very glad that despite his illness, he still tries to be happy :)

This is my mum. I have this hate-and-love relationship with her. Sometimes, she really have zero eq, and yet sometimes she can be so adorable.

Taking pictures with my iphone has not been very successful all the time especially with this setting. Bear is now trying his best to pick up some useful skills to use his new Nikon D90 camera for 2molo's Val & Dap's full month baby celebration and his cousin's wedding dinner. Go Bear!

Our one year wedding anniversary - Thank you for a year of love

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Lyrics - Taylor Swift : Crazier Lyrics

I've never gone with the wind
Just let it flow
Let it take me where it wants to go
'till you open the door
There's so much more
I'd never seen it before

I was tryin' to fly
but I couldn't find wings
but you came along
and you changed everything

You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm falling
And I am lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier
Crazier

I watched from a distance as you
Made life your own
Every sky was your own kind of blue
And I wanted to know
How that would feel
And you made it so real
You showed me somethin'
That I couldn't see
Opened my eyes and
You made me believe

You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm falling
And I am lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier
Crazier, Oh

Baby you showed me
What livin' is for
I don't wanna hide anymore

You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm falling
And I am lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier
Crazier, crazier
Crazier

Celebrating Justin's Father's Day

I have been pretty lazy to do blogging recently because was hooked to facebook's restaurant city. hee.hee.

This was taken on 21st of June, Sunday, Fathers' Day. I reminded Justin to organize a celebration, and we could learn some new dishes and cook for the family of 8. Since, I never had a chance to celebrate Father's Day with my deceased father, I always wanted to do something for Fathers..people who are often neglected because in favor of Mothers.

This displayed a table of food, mainly there are 6 dishes.

This is a spinach with oyster mushrooms. This is pretty easy to cook. Instead of stir-fried, we boiled some chicken broth and with some seasoning and cook the vegetables and mushrooms. It is much healthier.

This is our new learnt dish. It is called braised chestnuts mushroom chicken. This took quite a whole to cook. We bought fresh meats from our wet market and was also much cheaper. Cost around $5 to have 2 chicken bodies (without thighs, drumsticks) and diced it. As a beginner, I personally feel that this dish is simply delicious.

This dish was cooked by my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. This is the Braised pork with Toufu. A pity it was a bit too wet however, it taste great too.

Another 2 dishes was my usual Ma Po Tofu with mince meat and another new learnt dish called the Furong Prawn Egg, which I guess was the most favorite by looking how fast it got dished out.

This is steamfish. Our first time steaming a whole fish. We bought this golden pomfret for $6. My mother-in-law felt I should have cook a bit longer but I feel was just right else the meat will be too tough.

The day was ended with a nice hearty meals and chit-chats. The only thing was that my mother-in-law kept nagging my brother-in-law to have babies...omg.