Two cute to be

NB: I drafted this ages ago but never got around to publishing the draft.

We made it! She’s two and I’ve been back at work a year now. 

I thought she’d be terrible but surprisingly with us standing our ground, she’s starting to understand she cannot get her way and the tantrums subside into a tearful, “I’m sorry mummy” instead.

She knows more than I gave her credit for. She understands the words we speak in both English and sometimes Mandarin. Whilst not as creative at expressing herself, between her sister and I, we understand her quite well. She picks up on sound a lot better than her sister does and she can carry a tune better. Ah yes, she sings. Lots of singing and she shushes next too sometimes. She knows most of the classics, Horsey, Horsey, ABC, Wheels on the bus, Twinkle star, Baa Baa Sheep, speckled frogs, zoom zoom zoom, 5 little monkeys, old MacDonald, once I caught a fish alive. She can sit with the book of Nursery Rhymes and turn each page and sing a song in relation to the picture on the page. 

She is keen for us to read to her now as she begins to be curious about stories and what pictures mean. Whilst she doesn’t know her colours well, she can certainly name things well and proudly acclaims, ‘I made this’ or ‘I did it’

She plays Simon says really well, and enjoys drawing, adores Peppa Pig as well as play dough. She’s starting to like stickers and definitely can count to ten (plus backwards too I’ve been told). 

She loves jumping, swimming (which we don’t take her to enough) and dances by wiggling her bottom. With us she truly blossoms, but in public she observes for a very long time, too cautious to join in independently. She loves helping me in the kitchen, eggwashing, shelling peas, filling up pots with rice or pasta, spending time with me by her side or her by my side is a big must in her every waking (and sleeping) moment.

Yes, we still cosleep. She cannot let me go yet. Perhaps we don’t spend enough of our day together anymore and so it’s down to the nighttime snuggles. I forget to see the world through her eyes so much as I did with my firstborn.

But last week we taught her the art of trick and treating. Whilst she refused to don a costume, she got the hang of walking up the driveway with the other children and choosing a candy of choice from the bucket. We are still working on her saying thank you to strangers, but she gave one of them a high five after she scored a chocolate coin from the treasure chest at the haunted pirate ship.

After all that fun and candy counting, we settled as a family of four to watch the BATTERSEA Park fireworks display for Bonfire night. It was glorious to introduce my children to a firework display when their daddy and I have enjoyed so many with each other in the past 18 years. This was our first as a family of four. I am pleased that they loved it every bit as we adults do. Am thinking of making this our tradition now. 

At her two year old birthday she did a poo in her potty, and was frankly quite surprised it happened. She tries to copy her big sister but also gives as good as she gets. I am thankful that they play well together.

Dahling, I love you and I miss you the moment you aren’t in my arms. Something about you being my youngest and last makes me just want to keep you tiny for just a bit longer. Hope you don’t mind being my baby. 

To my 2 year old

You woke up this morning and decided to let me have a lie in. I woke to find you in the lounge entertaining yourself with your books.

Another year. What a journey it's been. We went from fighting and disagreeing on the crying it out method to really now enjoying our time with you. You made the parenthood thing seem all that much more worthwhile this year now that you talk and express yourself and exude self confidence.

Of course your skill set has improved by leaps and bounds in the last year and I know you and your friends are aware of each other now and they look forward to seeing you each day (they even made you a card for your bday which I am keeping to hopefully show you one day)as much as you look forward to being there with them in nursery. Your educators report that you are such a book lover, that you are caring and will readily give cuddles and say hi and bye to everyone you see at the nursery, that you help give out the water bottles at meal times, that you are really quite the tall poppy with yelling out the right answer when it comes to categories you know, that you are everyday a pleasure for them to be with. You are now branching too from books into exploring drawing, play dough, dancing and singing. For all of that I am ever so grateful and thankful because i just want you be happy and well-fulfilled.

Your daddy is so proud of you. Of how brave you are and your high threshold for pain. Indeed you are fearless poking at spiders and throwing yourself into swimming pools dive after dive, you will pick yourself up again after a fall and hobble along with just kisses to make you feel better. I hope I never project my own phobias onto you in our lifetime together.

I never thought I would end up with you. The determined, independent and straightforward little person that you are (which you got from your father), but also how seeking of positive reinforcement, imaginative and emotional you can be, taking after me. Perhaps this means you'd become a stronger woman than I am, rational and decisive like your father but empathetic and strategic like me. I quiver with excitement just imagining the person you could become and the endless possibilities there are for you that I didn't have because your father and I are so determined to give you the cultural and educational best that our worlds can offer you.

My darling daughter, for one, I still cannot forget how you told me in a dream that you are a daughter way before we met you or knew what gender you were. And how despite hoping for a boy, you've proven to me that I needed a girl as my first born and you've been ever so gentle with us as new parents being a good little girl that doesn't test your boundaries in ways that we are ill prepared for. You have in a way made parenting a toddler rather easy so far so I pray that you shall be just as understanding in your older years and dare I hope your teens? I get ahead of myself. Happy birthday darling! Looking forward to another year of joy and chats with you.




























I made the achievement cards a couple of weeks back and pre-empted a few things. In favour of not posting untruths, you haven't mastered the shapes yet but you are definitely better at potty training than I expected you would be.

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The years are short

Anecdotes from my toddler who is nowadays so full of sass:

Dad: are you causing havoc for mummy?
She looks up from the pile of stuff she's pulled out of my kitchen cupboards and grins. "Not yet," she cheekily replies.

She comes to me," Mummy High five?" As I put my hand out she withdraws and says, "Too slow".

Whenever her daddy is eating and she isn't, she'll walk up to him and demand,"Some"

She threw our ceramic monkey onto the tile floor and its head broke off. Two days later I had to take her to the doctor's and she requested we brought monkey in too. "The Dr said no more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

In front of her dad, I cheekily asked," Shall we cut up the Mango tomorrow when Daddy isn't around and share amongst ourselves?" She looks at me with a glint in her eye and says "Yeah!"

Points at my pimple scab and says "Yuck! Mummy face dirty"

Also points at bathroom mould near the taps,"Bathroom dirty". Yes Boss!

At any time when you ask her a question about something she wants or knows, she'd affirm with "Yeah" in the same intonation as "Duh!". All that's missing is the rolling of eyes, although I swear it's there sometimes in my mind.





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Commitment of the heart

I went to a wedding last night after work. Don't ask, kinda don't wanna waste twenty minutes of your life, just wanted to share on the thrills of helping out with wedding plans again. It's been so long.

I was the first person to arrive at the venue. Eventhough I was family (in-laws), I really had no idea what was the reception schedule, I could only base it on how we had it done last year, find out what the venue's boundaries are and say I will follow up when the family arrives and I have found out the answers they seek.

I did rock up with music though. Stolen off Mr.HEA's computer as he has less Indie taste in music. Then half an hour before the reception start time it was a whirlwind as the wines arrive, reception decorations were set out, the cupcake tiers set up, table numbers and seat charts communicated and wishing well assembled. I got given duties to man the reception table.

I was rather lonely, attending the wedding by myself without Mr. HEA, the last time I did this, it was a while ago and I wasn't surrounded by family. Sob story aside though it was fun playing with the kids at these family events. I didn't care if I was considered the clucky lady chasing down any child that would let me hold them or take them around.

Here are some aspects of the night to share with you all, I am back on my crappy iPhone this week so bear with the once again lower resolution pictures. At least I don't have to block out faces I suppose (I don't like showing pics of children on the web usually, but the below I hope are not clear enough to be in any way incriminating for them).

Cupcakes that the groom's sister made. How loving!

Pretty bouquet of ranunculas and roses

Check out the little flower girls in their cutesy dresses from Target. They wore floral headbands too (K is for Kani style)purchased from the Marrickville Markets, but the headbands had fallen off by this time of the night as they went crazy hyper from the sugat in the icing and kept twirling in their flouncy skirts. You remember what that was like?

Wondered if you'd be interested in seeing her dress. It was simple and elegant, with the sash straps extending to the small of her back and ending with three dainty sash rossettes and a sweet little train. Childhood sweethearts of twenty years, finally tying the knot. If that is not a commitment of the heart as any, then there is no hope for the rest of us.

Oblivious to the festivities, a child sits in the middle of the stage, kept entertained blowing bubbles.

Discovery of the day

If you catch the bus and you get to the last dip on your travel ten like I did this morning, the first thing in your mind when you see a potential newsagency would be to purchase a new MyBus card.

Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner on this News Stand kiosk on the corner of Martin Place and Elizabeth and realised it sold coffee and Sparkle cupcakes!




If you hadn't had Sparkle cupcakes before, you may not be lured by their plain frosting compared to the delicate and intricate counterparts available elsewhere.




Oh but give it a chance like I did on a couple of other occasions and you'll find that under its unassuming presentation, it delivers flavours true to its name and have the most gourmet fillings oozing out of its insides.

Here's the innards of my salted caramel:




I thought the soy latte was pretty good, coming out of a kiosk, but it was a novelty thing and I might not be back there everyday... picking it up as a Personal treat today though, it was sooo worthwhile. I'd recommend you head there if you were looking for a sweet treat in the morn. *wink*

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Thoroughly spoilt

I have had the best birthday this Friday gone past. It is late and I am tired but I feel like if I go to bed, this beautiful day will end and so I must write it all down so that I can at least dream about it.
I started the day thinking oh my I have some fine lines now. Where I once thought I was invincible and didn't care about the biggest beauty faux pas of rubbing my eyes excessively, I am now paying for it. So I took action and got myself an early bday present from Strawberry net (actually my bellabox which arrived the day before would have been the first part of my bday pressies, but we'll start here). Chanel for my peepers!

Can't complain if you can get Chanel for under fifty bucks!
I got to work and saw this taped on my monitor:

And this on my desk:

Well this was all good so far but i wasnt expecting more, cause we all already had cake on thursday:

And lunch on Tuesday at Fratelli fresh:

But then my manager walks in with this!

At this point I was so flabbergasted. My team has really gone overboard already. But i read through my fifteen emails and one of it was from the mailroom saying i've got a delivery to pick up:

They also got me yummy edible blooms. Whee!
So after hugging and kissing and telling everyone about my other pressie from S being:

And being really excited over the chatter, Pete from concierge calls up for me to come down and sign for these:

I had to choke back a tear at this card:

Who'd knew that S could be even more sweet and romantic after we got married?

Sighs... If only this day wouldn't end. We went on to musashi for dinner before the show and I will blog about it another time, I absolutely loved it and am sure my thoughts on it would be another whole post.
But throughout all this, I had been getting messages and what's apps from friends and family, not thinking I needed to check FB. When I finally did, I grew weak at the knees; so humbled and overwhelmed... I had 59 posts on my FB timeline today. And America just got up, so I think there could be just a couple more. Truly truly blessed birthday and very very spoilt.
Having this today, and sharing my edible pressies with everyone, I sigh with contentment and know that even if next year's isn't as fabulous, my memories of today will suffice.
Celebrating with today's sweet:

Birthday brunch surprise

Is there really anything better than a lazy sunday? Reading the paper in bed, sipping coffee, scrambling an egg or two. Yeah, right. We Upper East Siders don’t do lazy: Breakfast is brunch and it comes with champagne, a dress code and a hundred of our closest friends…

Gossip Girl Episode Two: The Wild Brunch

We love brunch at our household, but yesterday was quite something different, A Birthday Brunch for our dear friend J. Each of us brought a dish, and gathered at this beautiful sun-lit house on a hill and sipped tea and coffee whilst waiting for J to arrive, unceremoniously late.

Looks like the tables are all set. As soon as the guests arrive we can start dishing. Here’s what’s on the menu.

Cake, Muffins, Cheese and Spinach Scrolls, Cinammon Sugar scrolls, Fresh fruit, Croissants, Spring Rolls, Cold Meats Platter, Crab& Salmon Pasta Salad...




Wait did somebody say Cake? 

This was definitely a wonderful idea eventhough we had to wake up real early on a weekend. Wouldn't have traded it for another way to celebrate really.

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Hen's weekend just passed

If you had checked my facebook wall this past weekend you would have seen something like this:

Mrs.Happyeverafter was with J & E at Pitt St Mall
Mrs.Happyeverafter was with J at MSM cafe
Mrs.Happyeverafter was with 20 others at the Gazebo
Mrs.Happyeverafter was with 20 others at Kit & Kaboodle

Then on Sun it continues:
Mrs.Happyeverafter was with 6 others at The Victoria Room
Mrs.Happyeverafter was with 4 others at The Goldfish. $10 cocktails till midnight Yeah!

What a cocktail filled weekend it was. This was a big one with A and SY getting married this year, both members of our bridal party and both destination weddings that I cannot attend. Sighz...but, it was good to be celebrating others for a change. 2011 was all about me in the limelight and it stressed me out big time. This year I can focus on helping them have the best year ever and I was happy in that role.

A is a very different personality from SY. She is vibrant, sociable and a great dancer. So it was no surprise that she had a danceoff with another birthday guy at Kit & Kaboodle. It was $10 cocktails there till midnight too so we had lychee bellinis and swayed to the RnB/ dance DJ mix that night. I loved dancing when I was in uni, but haven't really gone dancing in a while (bar my hen's when I was absolutley plastered). It took me a while and quite some watering before I lost my awkwardness and self awareness. And it was a really good time with lots of really nice girls from all walks of A's life, but I was still very happy for Mr.Happyeverafter to come swish me away from outside the club slightly after twelve, and then after a hot shower, climb into bed with my husband in my warm pajamas.

SY's Hen's was more intimate, with just one group of us that all used to work at the same place so we all had something in common. High tea at The Victoria Room is gorgeous. It was a bustling place, but nestled into a corner and tucked away from the crowd, we devoured the decadent sweets and sandwiches and sipped away at our lovely teas and cocktails chatting about the good ol' times.

Red Velvet cupcakes, cucumber sandwiches, scones and little cheesecakes...amongst others

SY enjoyed herself which was important. I can tell she's been really stressed out organising her destination wedding and balancing western ideas with eastern cultures. I saw her more relaxed yesterday with the girls and just voicing her frustrations from the wedding planning and the other more delightful parts where she is getting the things that she wants whilst we nodded in support and agreement. Another friend shares about her experiences with a one year old child and all eager ears from the newly weds in the group lapped up the wisdom hungrily, storing it away from the blessed time in the future when we become mothers ourselves. I loved it! The epitomy of what a girly High Tea should entail.

So, here we are today, most of us feeling a little weary from the Monday blues and the one-too-many cocktails. We are all happy about our friendship and the network of support we have built over the years. J is already happily brewing away at a surprise wedding present for SY having picked up on something juicy from yesterday that she will need. (Those are the best surprises!)

And me? I am just happy. Happy to have a lovely bunch of people in my daily life. Happy to have S to come home to each night. Happy to have had such good food, wine and company this weekend.

Something Yummy on the menu in Gazebo turns out to be a rich warm brownie with ice cream and topped with choco fairy floss. *droolz*

Sipping at the Queen Mary tea at the Victoria Room

The Gilded Lily drink from the Victoria Room

<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/70/752358/restaurant/Sydney/The-Victoria-Room-Darlinghurst"><img alt="The Victoria Room on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/752358/biglink.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:200px;height:146px" /></a>

Bring on the X'mas cheer!

This year, the Happyeverafters have resolved to keep the little tree on the mantelpiece instead of getting a proper one until we have kids who are old enough to appreciate it.

In the whirlwind month that has been December, there has been little time to take care of Xmas shopping, what with the last minute summer preparations such as buying the Weber Q and installing new blinds in the rooms and a fly screen for the Kitchen; and preparing for the big weekend just passed celebrating S's birthday and also an Xmas bbq with some close friends.

So, between all that, I just wanted to share a few pics in this pre-xmas post on all the little bits of Xmas that did creep up on me in December. The gorgeous tree I pass by everyday at Martin Place with its tinsel proudly glistening in the light; the yummy baked goods my talented colleagues have shared with us; my delectable Christmas centerpiece for the Sunday lunch; our humble Christmas display above our fireplace and the delish choccie trifle L made for the Xmas lunch that has no doubt contributed to my holiday waistline.

Merry Christmas folks! May you all have a jolly good one!



The Reception at Bondi Kam Fook



Table Settings



Bridal Table





Cake Table





Cootie Catchers and Jellybeans for the kids





Wedding flowers!

Flowers we had in the house

Bridal Bouquet

Bridesmaids flowers

Icing Flowers on the cake... still counts!

Wedding dress fitting

I am stoked! We went to collect the dress today after alterations and it is perfect! I never thought I'd be this excited over the one dress but I am!












And I decided to change the lace for our wedding cake. The one the lady showed me in Van Hung Bridal fabrics trumps the lace border I had originally I am sure you would agree:

 This is the old one:

 

Especially when this is the vision now for the cake:

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