Josiah my big boy!

Since I am a mom of two now, many mothers I meet with one child always asks me if it is easier because of my big age gap.  I struggle to answer them because although it is easier in some ways, it is also harder in others.  What matters is that I was not ready to look after a newborn with Josiah being so needy and in my care almost 24/7 when he was aged 0 to 3.5 years old.
So for me and our family, having the gap was so important for my sanity and maintain some sort of calm that I need in order not too lose it.  HAhaha....sorry making myself sound like a loony.  But mental health is no laughing matter, and being a stay-at-home mom in a foreign place without family makes it more important to keep mental health in tip top condition.
So let's see the pros and cons of the larger than average age gap between my kids. They are exactly 4.5 years apart but in schooling year would be 5 years apart.

Pros

1.  Able to give Joanna almost 100% of my attention from Monday-Friday, 9am till 3pm.
2. Josiah is able to change, feed, entertain himself most of the time so even when the both of them are home, it is not too bad
3. Josiah is already sleeping through the night so if Joanna has a good night, Shaun and I have a good night too
4. Only one set of nappies and bottles
5. We are able to start travelling again because we only need to handle Joanna 
6. Less sibling rivalry 
7. Josiah can help me with simple tasks
8. I hardly feel guilty spending time with Joanna because I feel that Josiah doesn't need me as much as when he was 2 years old.

Cons

1. Starting all over in terms of buying baby stuff: bottles, diapers, creams, rocker, high chair, baby spoon, potty training stuff....list goes on and on. Maybe some people would keep all the baby stuff but living in apartments makes it impossible.
2. Dealing with lack of sleep after getting used to sleeping uninterrupted for few years.  Your body really does go whacko!  We try to minimise the effect by taking turns with Joanna but then age also plays a factor. Very tiring!
3. Having to start a collection of baby toys again.  Joanna has a few from Josiah's time and I even let her play with most of Josiah's boy toys but it is necessary to get her a few age appropriate toys.  
4. Books!!  She needs all those board books again.  A lot of which were passed on already.  
5. Clothes.  Well, maybe this is not a fair point since she is a girl and I would have had to buy new ones anyway.
6. Both of them require my attention in different ways.  I need to sit and help Josiah with school work, but then Joanna wants to tear his homework, Josiah wants to play boardgames but she would just come and try to eat up the pieces...etc
7. At the playground, I'm literally being torn apart, Josiah runs around everywhere and I'm having to be with Joanna at all times making it hard to keep an eye on him

My sweetie pie and baby girl *hugs*

I caved and got this double stroller from Craigslist

Josiah being cheeky, annoying Joanna by sitting in her car seat

Still the same 4 teeth - where is the rest??

April updates

The month of March and April flew by.  We did our first holiday on our own with the kids to California to visit my cousin.  Needless to say, I was all stressed up about the trip as it involved airplane ride, sleeping in other people's house and with the time difference, who knows!  It all worked out perfect - we had a great time with family.  WEather was wonderful.  Visited Disneyland for 2 days - woo hoo!!!  Went to Hollywood and had lots of delicious home made Malaysian food thanks to my Koo Ma.  We headed back to NY, back to school for 2 days and then headed to Washington DC for Easter break.  We took the Amtrak there and it was surprisingly convenient way to travel for us.  Definitely be doing more holidays using Amtrak.   I was excited to see The White House, and other historical places and had a relaxing time in DC.  Oh yes, also celebrated my birthday there :)
Our first trip in one hotel room with both the kids.  Went well too - Joanna just went to bed late but she was fine so we were fine too.

Pictures will help me remember what happened :)

Josiah went fishing for first time and caught 3 fishes

Our pathetic family shot in Disneyland...well, better than none

Joanna has her first swing ride at 9 months old

Joanna's milestone:

- able to crawl, sometime will crawl on her knees

- sleeping through the night

- calls me Ma Ma

- can identify Shaun, Josiah, 

- has 2 teeth at the bottom

- is not allergic to peanuts

- still sucking her 2nd and 3rd finger on her left hand

- loves reading her books

Photo Story

Basically, let me try to remember things by looking at pictures on my phone...

Joanna aged ?? in her snowsuit

Made this bath salt from jar, bath salts and food coloring for Shaun for  Valentines  Day courtesy of MOPS crafty Tuesday

Josiah loves his teacher, Miss Joong - check out his foot :)

I made these for CNY 2012

February 2012

February 3: First playdate with both kids. I took Josiah to his classmates house on the upper west side. We took a taxi there with Joanna in the Byorn carrier.

February 4: Our first attempt at hosting more than 20 people at our apartment. I cooked curry chicken, mixed veggie and caprese salad. Bought fried rice, fried noodles, chicken and pizza.

February 6 :Joanna drank her cereal (quite watery) from a small cup! So excited as she seems to be a good at baby led weaning! She had rice and tiny pieces of chicken yesterday.
Managed to cook with her in the carrier.
Josiah got his report card and it was not good.  Not good for me that is - he apparently doesn't focus during group time.  Teacher says he is playing his "pretend superheroes" making flying motions and the likes!  When confronted, Josiah was so surprised I knew about his antics :p
He promised to behave and has improved.  Shaun thinks teacher is just too hard on boys....

February updates...

Went to my first basketball game with S.  It was in the afternoon so Janice came to help look after the kids.  Definitely exciting, NY Knicks vs Orlando Magic..too bad Knicks lost at the last quarter.

Josiah was finally chosen as Star of The Week.  He was so excited and enjoyed finding things to bring to school in the mystery bag beginning with letters Q and R.  We gave him quilt, quarter, Quaker Oats, razor, Ribbon, red packet

His teacher said he did not understand how to give clues and instead just gave the answer to class....oh well, I did try to ask her what does he need to do but she told me that he would know.

Josiah recited John 10: 11, 14 for Midland Park Gospel Hall Sunday School Treat.  Will post video later.

Joanna is sitting up unassisted and not toppling over at all.  She is eating apple, pear, toast, rice, egg, cheese, sweet potato, carrot, oatmeal cereal in very small quantity.  Recently I caved and bought her some commercial baby food as it was a hassle to prepare 1 tablespoon of baby food 3 times a day.  I do freeze batches of apple, pear & carrot puree but would probably try to be more chill about her eating habits and quantity.  For instance, on weekends, if we are out or at church I do not even bring food for her.  She has milk and will have a little table food if suitable.  Very chill, right :p


Personal achievement this past month:

- Took Joanna to FAO Scharz to hang out and look at baby stuff.  Walked her around Central Park and even bought an artwork.  Not a big deal but Joanna hardly goes out with me alone unless we are going to the grocery store round the corner.  Central Park is a good 25 minute walk away and being a Malaysian at heart, I find that way too far :p


- looking after both kids till bedtime as S is busy with work/ work function/ NBA match. Figured out how to get dinner, bath & bedtime routine for both of them.  Thank God for Ipad2!  First dinner for Josiah, then dinner for Joanna, then bathe Joanna, dinner for me (if she is not fussy otherwise no dinner for me till late), bathe Josiah, iPad time for Josiah with threat of punishment if he comes in to disturb me putting Joanna to sleep, brush teeth and read story for Josiah, clean up mess from dinner, pray Joanna will sleep through the night....

- made my first ever CNY cookies : Almond cookies - looks good but taste okay only

- made pineapple tart for CNY - looks okay only but tastes good

- made new friends with another mum in building.  She has been God sent and so friendly and helpful.  We just had our first family meet-up and it went very well.  Planning to spend Superbowl Sunday with them over steamboat

- going out with other adults for lunch!  crazy but very good for keeping my sanity and need for socialisation

- taking Josiah for playdate with his classmate.  It is so difficult to make this effort as I'm still not comfortable bringing Joanna along.

- managing to print photos and make photo album for Joanna as well as greeting cards for the believers in London whom I miss dearly.

- planning lunch date with S as it is Restaurant Week in NYC.  We are going to Bar Boulud, owned by famous Daniel Boulud for $24.99 (3 course)

Josiah 5 yrs old and Joanna 7 months old 

Mini Shaun, she likes doing the lip thing

My big boy

I love this picture so much

Josiah's coat from his old school in London!

Week to jan 15th

Sun: we went to Kim's place for lunch. We picked up Eunice (Kevin xiao's fren) and she left her phone and had an arduous time getting it back.

Mon: Josiah back to school - it went ok but he had the longest nap, even he mentioned it. S went to his 1st bball game NYK vs bobcats.

Tue: crazy day. Went for listed, girl was asleep so no need for crèche, went out for lunch, hung out in the park, forgot buggy board and poor Josiah walked back. Burnt the microwave cover cos I left it on the top of the stove.

Wed: went to BBB and got iPad holder. S picked up J and we ordered from the Land of Plenty. Spicy noodles but pretty good.

Thurs: rainy day. Picked up J but rain stopped thankfully. Made tau foo Soong. Woo!

Fri: play date on 19th floor, came back went to food emporium to buy cupcakes for J's bday celebration in school. Jackson asked me where are the party bags? Came back and J wanted to play with Jack and somehow all the neighbors ended up in the apartment. Made kaya also. Phew! J was star of the week - he needs to bring letters Q and R to school.

Sat: went to flushing and ate Malaysian in a Vietnamese rest. Bought groceries for Chinese New Year.

Sun: went to mary zudeima's place for lunch. Nice home. J learnt to lie today. Refused to say sorry. Argh!