Dear Zoe

God bless you, mummy!

2009-08-05T15:16:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,

This morning you woke up and ask me, "Mummy, am I going to school today?" And I told you no, because you were recovering from a mild flu and mummy wanted you to get really well before you return to school. As I was leaving the house this morning, you came to give me a hug and a kiss and mummy hugged you tight and kissed your little adorable face.

Mummy reminded you to not bully kakak and you said, "Ok mummy. I will ask kakak to take good, good care of me."

As I walked to my car, you called out to me and said, "God bless you, mummy!' and "Quickly go into your car, it's smelly outside!" It was hazy outside you see.

You're such a little sweet angel, Zoe and God bless you too, forever and ever!

Love,

Mummy

p.s. Just 2 nights back, mummy and you prayed for God to heal you of your wheezing and your cough and miraculously, your wheezing was completely gone the next morning! Although you had taken the usual medicine for cough and wheezing plus those expensive cordyceps, we never experienced your wheezing going off so fast especially when it seemed quite pronouced the night before. So, it was definitely Jesus who healed you and mummy and you prayed and thanked God every night before going to bed.

Grand Daddy Special Girl

2008-09-10T22:24:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,
You are Grand daddy (Segamat Kong-Kong) no.1 girl. You just adore and stick to them like glue as they are here for a visit.

This is so despite the fact that they are rarely here. But you remember them and love them so much that your grannies are so happy each time they see you!

Sorry Mummy...

2008-04-15T09:17:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,
(Mummy writing)

Today i was quite upset in the morning.

You have not been sleeping properly in your own nice beautiful bed throughout the night but had instead decided to climb out in the middle of the night, plop yourself between me & dad, give us a kick on our face or totally take over our pillows and sleeping place, thus causing us to not sleep well.

And I wanted to go to work by 7.30 a.m. so that i can go home earlier but u got up too, asked me to pat u to sleep and it was impossible to leave by then. Brought u downstairs, patted u for a while & the moment i put u down u wake up and cried for me.

Finally i took u upstairs while I change & u just cried there asking me to "pao pao" so poor thing. So, I told u I was very angry with u for not wanting to sleep and that mommy have to go to work.

After i finished dressing up, I asked u to give me a hug and said, "Zoe, I'm so sorry I got angry with you just now. Mommy loves you" and gave u a long, big hug.

And u said to me, "Mommy, I'm so sorry I hurt you."

Wasn't that sweeeet...

Zoe in the park

2008-04-05T16:49:00.001+08:00

What do you think of this pic?

First lady F1 driver

2008-03-28T12:30:00.001+08:00

Toll Gate

2008-03-28T12:08:00.001+08:00

Zoe in Jusco in December with her cute attire.

Our walks

2008-03-19T16:40:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,

This period of transition in between jobs has been very rewarding. Its the only time I get to leave the office at 5.30pm sharp, raced my way home so that I can walk with you to the nearby park.

That is if it does not rain. It has been raining almost everyday.

When it is not raining, you will force me to change into my Holland jersey - to match yours and we will take the nice walk to the park. Your little hands will grab mine and you will ask me to "pao pao" whenever a car comes near us. These walks are the best part of my day. I cherish them in my heart and have captured every possible moments of it in my memory. These are the best of times with you.

Usually we will stop in front of a few neighbor's houses and greet the dogs and puppies. You loves dogs. But are afraid of big dogs.

"Daddy, I dont want big doggy, I want little doggy", you demanded.
"Okay dear, we will have a little doggy in our new house next time."

And you would give me a big tight hug. My heart will melt and then well up with joy and pride.

Then a sadness it would dawn on me.

When I think of all the best things I want you to have, and compare them to where we are now - where we are staying (dusty land of Puchong) and the park we visit, which is very run down and debilitated, and I would begin to feel sad and incapable. Sorry I can't provide you with a bigger home in a nicer neighbourhood. (Or nicer neighbours!)

The big house in Bukit Jelutong with a park and playground at the backyard, came to my mind.

Daddy could not afford to get you a bigger house and a nicer neighborhood yet. But hopefully soon.

1st Birthday card

2008-03-17T16:51:00.001+08:00

Daddy made this birthday card for your first birthday.

Football Gal

2008-02-25T16:48:00.002+08:00

Dear Zoe,
We bought this football jersey because it is the Holland football team's jersey and your daddy is a mad Oranje fan. And you actually like the matching colours of Orange and Black too.

You probably can't remember this, but you insisted on wearing this jersey when we were going out to the park.

Besides insisting that, you also insist that I wear the same jersey to match with yours!

Seductive

2008-01-30T00:04:00.000+08:00

Gotcha there... what were u expecting? a babe?

Daddy made this cake

2008-01-28T14:47:00.001+08:00

... in his dream.

Dear Zoe,
I bet you wont remember your 2nd birthday when you can actually read
this post, but just remember that mommy & daddy gave you a very nice
birthday party.

Your Segamat grandma served very very delicious nasi lemak with Tomato
Chicken. Everybody loved it. Your auntie Swee Sean made very nice
jelly. And your daddy served his wonderful Fettuccine Carbonara.

Mommy wanted to bake you a nice cake but thought the power-puff girls
cake was probably your kind of cake. Your auntie Jamie bought the
cake.

You had a great time bullying David and chasing him around with Ruby.

Yeah, you had such a great time that you woke us up a few times
because of nightmares.

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-01-27T02:11:00.001+08:00

Blogged with Flock

Actual Zoe's Cake

2008-01-27T02:09:00.001+08:00

Zoe's is Two-e

2008-01-25T16:46:00.001+08:00

My dearest & loveliest daughter is two today!

I just thank God for such a wonderful daughter. She brings so much joy and cheers to our lives everyday.

Seeing her grow in her speech and comprehension is amazing. She talks to us like a 4 year old! She can understand us very quickly and picks up English words easily.

Mom has tried for days to make the best cake ever with our small little (cheapo) fan oven. I think she has perfected it.
And it looks like this!

2 boys and a Zoe

2008-01-10T23:49:00.000+08:00

Zoe's table antics

2008-01-09T00:06:00.000+08:00

Playground shots

2008-01-07T16:59:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,
You absolutely go bonkers whenever you see a playground.

Whenever your daddy gets to go off from office early - he will try his best to drive home as quickly as he can, grab you and head towards the nearest park. You just love to play in the park or playground.

This is a shot (with the cameraphone) of your holding on with a strong grip. You really could carry your own weight now.

Melbourne with the Chins

2008-01-07T00:08:00.000+08:00

Nice pic with my mommy

2007-12-31T00:41:00.001+08:00

Nice pictures with my mommy today!

Again & Only

2007-12-24T10:29:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,
As parents we are so proud of your ability to communicate. You are not even 2 yet, but you are beginning to speak like a 3 year old.

Just a few days ago, we noted that you used the word "only". I could not remember what was the context, but you knew what the word meant.

While we were out for a Christmas dinner in town, you had a bad bout of diarrhea and were were forced to leave earlier. You ran out of diapers and mommy didn't want to risk another leak from you. But you did exercise good self-control and did not purge while were having dinner but waiting till you were in the toilet to pooh.

The great bit is that you said to us "Zoe, pooh pooh again." Obviously you understood the meaning of the word "again".

Zoe loves rides

2007-12-21T17:15:00.001+08:00

Dear Zoe,
We were back in Segamat twice in December. And in both instances, you were very well behaved during our travels. You didn't cry and did not demand to be out of your car seat. I suppose you have grown out of that uneasiness.

But you love to ride - rides! Thank God, Giant in Segamat offers free rides and mom had to stand by you for more than half an hour as you enjoyed yourselves with the little rides.

Canopy girl

2007-12-12T00:16:00.000+08:00

Dear Zoe,

The last few days has been thoroughly enjoyable for both you and me. We bonded better since Mommy when to the annual dinner and left us the whole night together.

And we discovered how you love to be in canopies!

We played together under our comforter to "chah-chah" and discovered it was too hot. I turned on the standing fan to blow into the comforters. Then I had the great idea of letting the air in and to make it a little cocoon of a canopy!

You had so much fun you did not want to sleep last night.

Christmas Time 2007

2007-12-10T23:50:00.000+08:00

Calen and Zoe

2007-12-09T23:18:00.000+08:00

Dear Zoe,
You met a new friend today. His name is Calen and he is the son of uncle Kao, daddy's friend from our old church.

This new ko-ko was very funny and playful and took you to ride the train a few times. He specialized in sticking his tongue out.

Happy Daddy day

2007-06-18T20:05:00.000+08:00

Dear Zoe,
I thought you wished me 'Happy Daddy day'. As usual, you spoke in a soft-gentle voice "Appy Daddy Ay". A big smile on my face and warm glow inside.

Sometime this year, June 2006 i remember how i felt about being a father and 'celebrating' Father's day for the first time. I was both elated and also troubled.

Fathers always try to do /be the best for their kids. And you, Zoe, deserves my fullest attention and love.