APSS Novice Swim Meet 2013

This certainly marks a milestone for Xav as he took part in his first ever Swim Meet on 10th September 2013.

With the intention to expose him to competition, this is a friendly one of course. ? To also allow him to build up confidence in himself, have fun at the events as well as to teach him on what's about having good sportsmanship.

We have always emphasised to him that in every game or race, be it whatever the outcome is, the most important factor has to be, one has put his/ her best foot forward. Should one wins the race/ game, one has to learn to be humble. Should one loses the race, it is even more important that one does not get upset or feels sore over it and should even have the right mindset to do it better the next time.

The swim meet began with a march past of all the participants.

Spot him !

The first event he took part was 15 LC Meter "Treasure Hunt", mixed 4-6 years old. He had to go underwater and hunt for 8 coloured chips. He came in third at his timing of 22.16. A trophy officially earned based on his own efforts ! Well done, Xav ! He was beaming with joy and yes of course we were proud of him !

The second fun event that we signed him up was 30m Fun Swim for Front crawl kick. He has to swim using the front crawl kick method and at the same time, balance the bowl containing a ping pong ball, without letting the bowl capsized. Sounds easy for us but definitely not for the 5 year old as I believe it be pretty challenging for them.

We realised through this event that he was so conscious of how fast others were, probably to pace himself better ? Eventually, he did not come into the top three. Still, we encouraged him that he had tried his best and he shall aim to do better the next time, with better concentration on how he himself is performing and not being too concern about how far his competitors have gone.

This reminded me of what his Mindchamps trainer told me. He was so mindful over his scoring that he kept wanting to "look" at how his gradings were, which I told him that this should not be the way. He should just perform his usual self and not stressed by the final result. We have never "pushed" him to perform but allow him to perform and shine at his own pace but certainly from here, I felt his stress. We hope that he enjoys whatever he is doing now to have a happy childhood and not feel the stress which would start to creep in once official schooling starts.

Back to the swim meet, he took part in the 30m Pizza category as well. We watched him, his strokes are not perfect and he didn't come in the top three, but I would still say this to him "Well done, my boy !" Seriously, I have doubts if he can "survive" and finish this 30m event as he just learned this stroke recently. He has definitely surprised me with his determination and confidence in completing the pizza swim.



The school is really encouraging, they encourage the students to strive and perform better by giving medals for 4th placement onwards. See how he was beaming away, another medal to add on to his collection.

 His supporters for that evening of course got to be his best daddy, best mummy and of course Baby Vera was there too! The youngest supporter of all.

All we got to say is, it's more than just a race. We taught Xav the determination to keep going, never give up easily, strive to do better if there is room for improvement and be humble should there be a victory !

Most importantly, we want Xav to "Stay healthy and grow up a happy boy !"

Back to the basic - Mini pork chops

I would not have know that the recipe behind the yummy pork chop which my confinement lady cooked for us is that simple !  Both the father and son has asked Meijie to cook again and yes by request dear asked me to learn how to cook this. So how much do they love this dish ?

Another simple dish which all can put on to your weekly homecook menu ! It does not take long to cook this. Meijie knows that after she leaves, I be left alone to :
- Tidy up the warzone, cleaning and washing ...
- Cook for all meals
- Juggling between the two kids
- Prepare home learning materials as well as to supervise Xav in his work.

Hence, she taught me to marinate the fillets before hand so that when I need to cook, I will just need to take out the amount I wanted to cook and pan fry it till cooked and serve.

Literally, the marination of the pork fillets are these basic; soy sauce, dark sauce, dash of sesame oil, sugar and corn flour.

Layer the base with lettuce if you want. Normally for pan fried/ fried meaty dish, I will balance it up with some vegetables.

Linking up

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Quick Fix - Sliced Fish Soup

With a new baby to look after on top of the five year old. I seriously need to come up with quick fix for a one dish meal. Hence, decided to make my first attempt on cooking Sliced fish soup.

I have frozen some stock which my confinement lady helped me to prepare. I de-froze it the night before and added some  water as the soup base and bring to boil with a few pieces of ginger slice.

Ingredients :
-slices threadfin (marinated with a dash of pepper)
- few slices of ginger
- 2 tomatoes
- lettuce (wash and rinse)

You can add other ingredients like tofu or prawns if you want.

It does not take up much time to cook this, probably a 5-10 mins. I added in the tomatoes, as well as the lettuce. Threadfin slices were added in last, bring to boil and there you are ready to serve.

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Family Photography by Orange Studios << Sponsored Photoshoot >>

Orange Studios - Be Loving. Be Fun. Be Spontaneous !

The newly set up Orange Studios, specializes in family photography which includes maternity, newborn babies, children as well as pets. Gearing towards personalization, what you get from Orange Studios is sure to be solely one of a kind ! Just be sure to turn up at the studio, with your favourite things or probably a concept of your own and let the friendly photographer, Ryan know about it.

Thank you Princess Dana Diaries for referring us, we were happy to receive an invitation from Wini of Orange Studios for a photography session. The session came in just nice as we would normally go for an annual family photography session and in addition, we have a new family member in our family - Baby Vera !

(These are the images we have shortlisted )

Seriously, I was really cracking my head when I was informed by Ryan to bring my own props as they do not provide with any and to decide on some colour theme for their background is only a white backdrop.

Initially, when Ryan asked me what is the favourite activity we do as a family during our free time (cycling) and what best describes us (Outdoor kind of family). The idea of bringing our bicycles to the studio as suggested by Ryan was pretty cool but we do not drive and plus carrying a newborn with our bicycles definitely is not feasible. So what else ?

Just a day before the shoot, I finally decided that TOYS theme it shall be ! Since Daddy and Xav are always into it and yes, they are colourful !

As for attire, we wanted to have the same colour theme. But to the pieces Baby Vera has, pink is the most common. Definitely not very outstanding in the white backdrop, but am sure Ryan would be able to bring it out well.

Welcomed by Ryan and Wini, we stepped into the cosy studio, settled down and had a quick update to Ryan on what my "theme" is going to be. Without further delay, we got started with Baby Vera before she gets wide awake.

The sweet lil' one

 After a few attempts of moving her, being the light sleeper her was awake ! And this was before she started to be cranky, Ryan managed to capture her alertness. We totally love this !

Baby Vera

Next was Xav as I was called for milk feed duty to the cranky Vera. I was behind the curtains when Xav was with Ryan. Though I did not see what went on, but I could hear Ryan was pretty good with Xav and I believed he has a way with kids which is one of the important factor I look for if I were to look for a photographer for kids. (Personally I have encountered twice whereby the PG couldn't communicate with the child at all).

Here are some of Xav's shots. We brought his favourite toys for the session.

The Iron man fan !

Minions frenzy

His new friend, Zespri, the golden kiwi ! By Xav's request to bring along for the session.

Xav & his Kiwi !

With his best buddy - daddy

 Now the doting brother with his beloved sister

The Siblings

Mummy and baby ...

Mummy & the babe

Another family picture that we selected. I did Vera's name using washi tapes and canvas boards.

 

We hope you have enjoyed viewing through our pictures.

Thank you Orange Studios for having us and the lovely pictures taken ! We will definitely recommend your personalized service to friends who would want something extraordinary ! Of course we are much looking forward to receive our 20" by 20" family portrait too !

Pricing starts from :
$150 for a Creative Session
$200 upwards for the packages (Excluding Creative Session)
Refer to their menu for the number of photographs for each package as well as the pricing for the different canvas sizes.

If you are planning to have your family photography sessions or a session with your friends, Orange Studios is offering a promotional rate for all Xavvy-licious' Readers.
Simply quote Xavvy-licious for a $150 discount to offset *Packages only*

Bookings to be made by 30th September 2013.

To find out more about Orange Studios,
you can visit their website at : http://www.orangestudios.sg
or visit their Facebook Fan Page, Orange Studios

A'POSH BIZHUB
1, Yishun Industrial Street 1
#07-04,
Singapore 768160
Email : contact@orangestudios.sg
Mobile : 8606-6950


Disclaimer : We are offered a sponsored photography session by Orange Studios. No monetary compensation is involved and all opinions are of my own.

Black Chicken Soup with Brands

This is another super, duper easy chicken soup, which my confinement lady taught me to cook. You don't need to be in confinement to enjoy this. This can be drank by anyone, especially when you are feeling tired easily

It's really simple, all you need is a piece of black chicken (I used thigh instead) and two bottles of Brands Chicken Essence. Simple just throw them into the slow cooker and cooked for 2-3 hours.

Why Black Chicken ?

These are the benefits, read more about it click HERE !

Who benefits from the soup :
- Senior Citizens
- Fatigue women with menstrual irregularities,
- Person recovering from an illness or operation

This yummms ...

* Do note that, I used high heat for the 1st hour and subsequently change to Auto mode for the next hour or two. *

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A new journey begins ...

A new journey begins on the 30th July 2013, when we welcome Baby Vera into our family !

As soon as Day 1, I had already started "training" Vera at the hospital with the help of the nurses, bringing her to me every three hourly for milk feed, which is part of the routine which I want her to follow, just like Xav.

Why is a routine necessary ? For main caregivers with no strong family support, a routine set for the baby is definitely going to benefit both the caregiver and baby. A routine is there to serve you, do not be a slave by a routine.

A routine basically :
- makes the baby/ child feels more secure and what to expect.
- allows the child to be more prepared to do what is required.
- should encourage the formation of good habits and the disposal of bad habits, this applies the same to adult.

Upon discharge from the hospital, thankfully I had a really nice confinement lady, Meijie, as recommended by a close friend of mine. She works on the same frequency as me. Very pro breastfeeding and had assisted me in establishing a routine gradually for Vera.
Hence, after she left, I continued on with the daily routine and Vera seems to be settling in quite well.

Vera had jaundice for as long as until her full month. Every morning without fail when Mr Sun came out, Meijie will helped to sun her for 20 mins (10 mins for each side). Every alternate day, we brought Vera to Sengkang Polyclinic for blood test to make sure her jaundice level goes down gradually with all the mornings and evenings sun bathing.

To bring down Jaundice, you may want to boil some honey suckle flowers and bathe baby in it. This
is something new which I learnt.

Meijie has also been recording down the number of feed and poo daily.

Vera's routine is as follows :
- Have her morning feed depending on what time she wakes and have her shower after resting for a 15 mins. After bathe, I will play with her for a while and put her back in cot.

 

- Am using the guide : Feed + Play = 1 hour, sleep about 2 hours.

- Milk feed is about every 3-4 hourly, drinking about 60-70ml per feed and latching for 30-40 mins for both sides of the breasts.

- Night feed she would sometimes wake to have one feed after a 4 to 5 hourly stretch. On bad days, she wakes twice or more. But that hardly happens . Thankful for that ! But during the one month when she still have her jaundice, we do wake her up for milk so that her body is well hydrated and she can flushed it out through the pee.

For breastfeeding, definitely no comfort latch is going to happen as I do not want to be a walking pacifier.

I chose to go on routine feeding as I have seen children who are on demand feeding when they were babies, grew up to look for or depend on food when they are unhappy to comfort themselves. But in reality of life, food is not going to be the answer to all problems in life.

So far, be it direct latching or bottle feeding, I have no problem with nipple confusion nor refusing either method by both Xav and Vera. They are both accepting it well.

Just to share a point which I learnt from a Parenting class. Always remember that babies need to sleep well or rest well before they can drink well. If they do not rest well, they will just fall asleep on your breast during feeding time and in such a way, they don't get good sleep either.

Should you want to start training your baby, do it when they are young. Trust me that it will be so much easier as compared to when they are months older.

Do share with me your tips if you are "training" your baby too ! Although I may be a second time mum, but this journey, I am definitely learning more and going through a totally different experience !

 

 

The Coolest Stickerkid Labels - World Wide Giveaway !

My first ever encounter was having my new pair of Fit Flop sandals got "exchanged" ! I wore another pair of sandals of exactly the same colour, same design and yes, same size as well, unknowingly ! Only got to realize that it's not my new pair but an old pair which belongs to somebody else !

If this can happened to me, the chances of happening to our little ones getting their belongings mixed up in school or in childcare is so much higher ! Imagine, all their stationeries being "mixed" together and the kids went home with the wrong stationeries that do not belong to them.

What we have done normally was writing Xav's name with a marker on his belongings. until Stickerkid offered to send us a pack of personalized labels for Xav. Bid goodbye to the black markers !

Xav's personalized sticker labels from Stickerkid

These colourful and stylish stickers are Swiss made of high, quality material, making them most durable for at least a 45 machine washes, at 60 degree Celsius. Not only they are durable, you can even choose the design you preferred from the different categories, your favourite colour as well as the name you wish to be printed on the labels. For Xav, I chose his favourite colour and added a Cowboy print.

Stickerkid label stickers by far is the only one I came across after getting in touch with water, the label does not have "bubbles" after multiple washing and does not peel up. Goodbye to the ugly masking tape with his name, sticked on by his teachers.

Medium sticker for water bottle

Every student in the swim school, carries the same bag. Now with the label, we can easily identify Xav's bag.

For his swim bag

Small sticker on the swimboard

Small stickers for stationeries

No fear of taking the wrong swim board nor have to keep rewriting his name over the faded writings.
 The iron label is soft to touch even after I have ironed onto Xav's uniform. No pricky feel !

Iron-on cloth sticker

The shoe stickers cut to fit the contour of the shoes nicely.

Shoe stickers

Wish to win a set of Stickerkid label stickers ? Read on !

I'm giving away one set of My First Pack (Pack of 156 Stickers), worth S$49 ! It consists of :
- 32 large stickers
- 60 small stickers
- 14 shoe stickers
-50 iron-on cloth stickers

This is a WORLDWIDE GIVEAWAY, it is opened to all local readers of Xavvy-licious as well as readers who are residing overseas ! * Shipping is included *

Follow the steps to join !
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Note that giveaway will be closed on 13th Sept 2013, 2359 hrs. Winner will be notified on 14th Sept 2013.

On top of the giveaway, from now until 31 September 2013, all readers of Xavvy-licious are entitled to a 10% discount off all Stickerkid products (Excluding S$6 shipping cost) - just enter the discount code: Xavvylicious2013 when you check out!

Disclaimer : We received a pack of sticker labels from Stickerkid for review purposes. No monetary compensation is involved. All opinions are of my own.