Isabel's first cinema experience

Last night I made the decision to send the boys to the cinema today and I would take Isabel shopping. So I bought two movie tickets online for Ice Age 3.

Unfortunately Isaac changed his mind this morning. He didn't want to go any more. Isabel, on the other hand, was so excited and kept saying "Me! Me! I want to go to the movies!!" Although I had great doubts whether she could sit through the whole movie nicely, I had to let Mark take her because I didn't want to waste the movie tickets. I told Mark "I feel sorry for you. Good luck!"

When we met again after the movie, I can't wait to hear how it went. To my surprise, Isabel behaved well and only whinged a little bit occasionally. She even sat on the daddy's laps for half of the movie which made daddy very happy. When the movie ended, she said to daddy "thank you daddy for taking me to movie!" How sweet. When I asked Isabel what she had seen in the movie, she said "Ice age and dinosaurs!" and started imitating the dinosaur's walk and roar. I must say she is pretty good at that.

For the rest of the day, daddy was Isabel's best friend and mommy was abandoned. Going to the cinema is definitely a great bonding experience.

One sunny winter day at Darling Harbour

Where is Isaac in those family photos?

He was the photographer taking these photos!!

We went to the city yesterday (taking the advantage of daddy's flexi day). While wandering around at Darling Harbour, Isaac insisted taking photos for us. He looked gorgeous with a big camera and lens hanging around his neck. He was definitely the star attraction because everyone walking passed us kept looking at him with a big smile on the face.

Mission accomplished

I was a bit worried today at work, without knowing what's happening with Isabel's toilet business. When I returned home, I got the perfect daily report: Isabel didn't have any accident. She did all the business in the toilet including three poo poo. Apparently Nan and Opa didn't even have to remind her, what a good girl! Before dinner, she went to toilet again twice and she even pulled down/up her pants and sat down by herself with the help of her little stool.

I think I can safely say now that the mission is accomplished. :)

The next task is to try to make her forget about the association between toilet and chocolate.

Isabel's toilet training

Thanks to the tips and encouragement from Katarina, I finally made the move and started training Isabel to go to the toilet since last Thursday. It seemed promising to start with: she loved wearing her pretty undies. But to get her to sit on the toilet for the first time, it took a lot of efforts. At last she agreed to sit after watching Annabel do her business. Even though nothing happened the first and the second time she sat down, at least she was happy to do it and I rewarded her a little chocolate. Things started to look good since then: that afternoon and evening, after my numerous and constant reminder, she went to toilet three times and did wee wee each time. The first time she did it, we looked at each other, laughing out loud and screaming with joy! Of course she got chocolate and a sticker every time.

Isabel did well with wee wee business and no accident in that. However the poo poo business was proven much more difficult. In the last four days, she did poo in the nappy twice （after she got up in the morning）, and did in her undies twice (including last Friday in day care, uh gross...). Finally the breakthrough came tonight after dinner. She said she wanted to wee, so I took her to the toilet. Then she said her poo was coming... and that was it! She went again within half an hour and succeeded again. I reckon she was going as often as possible in order to get more chocolate!

I told her how proud and happy I am. She was obviously very excited as well and promised she would do all business in the toilet tomorrow morning. I will be rushing out of the door just after 7am, so I can only hope that she will be keeping her promise and be good for nan and opa.

Congratulations daddy!

Mark's boss is retiring. He applied for the job and got it!! He wanted that job so badly that he couldn't stop smiling for half a day after hearing the good news. So happy and proud of him!!

It would be a challenge for both of us. For him, more responsibilities, more stress, and probably stay back a lot; For me, more housework and kids duties and probably more mood swings. Well I can see retail therapy is going to play a bigger role to improve my wellbeing, hehe.

The little ballerina

Bought a ballerina dress for Isabel yesterday at 50% off. Size 5 and it already fits well! Tried it on tonight before her bath time. She loved it and so did we! She was dancing around and posing for the camera, a total star.

Can't wait for summer. Can't wait to send Isabel to the ballet lesson. Isn't this the joy of having a little girl? :)

New bike for Isaac

Isaac got a new big bike!

He was over the bike for several months. Last Christmas we offered to buy him a new one, but he kept saying no. All of a sudden he wanted to ride bike again and wanted a new, big one. We were happy to follow his instruction and bought the one that he picked.

He loved his new bike and rode it whenever he could. When it's raining or dark, he rode in the garage. When it's sunny, he rode in the park. He kept saying "I love my new bike!". Hopefully he will get rid of the training wheels soon.

Isabel learns her name

Isabel is still very excited about her new bed. Today she is fascinated about the new canopy we bought for her bed. And daddy said apparently she has been absent-minded during her bedtime story time because she was too busy looking at the colours and flowers on her quilt cover!

Our little girl has certainly grown so fast. She talks a lot. Her favourite thing to say now is "I can spell my name! I-S-A-B-E-L, Isabel!!" She also spells Isaac's name easily. She has been showing off (under mommy's instruction) at every opportunity and got lots of compliments. :) This morning at church, Isaac and Isabel were busy drawing when we were singing. At one point we looked down and saw Isabel had written down her name on the paper! Mark and I were shocked. She is definitely a quicker learner.

Unfortunately she is still not toilet trained. We believe that she knows all about it, but is just too lazy. We tried to bribe her with chocolate, still no success. Every time changing her nappy, she would say "Mommy I will go to toilet next time to do poo poo, I promise!! And you will give me chocolate!" Yeah, I'm hoping for that day.

Since we got back from China, Isabel hasn't had bad terrible-two moments. Soon she will turn three, and hopefully she will be an angel like Isaac.