2 year old Noelia

Children Cereals, are they good?

Kids love sweetened cereal for breakfast. I used to see on TV about average American families have for breakfast. They usualy on the breakfast table having the bowls of cereals with milk and a glass of orange juice. And for quite sometimes I thought, this is what normal family need to do in the morning before doing their activities.

Little did I know that not all breakfast cereals are healthy, even though they may seem like they are. I spent sometimes on the research of this issue when I started to walk on the aisle of supermarket figuring out what to serve my family for breakfast. There are many brands of cereals from oatmeal to US cereals dedicated for children. And I thought, let's do some researchs on what is the good brand to choose since I would like to give the best to my family. A good, healthy and sometimes fun breakfast helps children to start the day out right.

One of other reason why I need to know this issue is to be able to explain someday to my kids why it is better not to have sweetened cereals for breakfast. Someday Noelia would probably come back home and request to get the same cereals as her friends have in the morning.

According to US Consumer reports, Cereal companies spend about US $229 million a year advertising cereals to the children, hoping to get them to beg to their parents for their favorite brands. Are they good enough?

Studied have been made that 161 breakfast children cereals from 4 leading manufacturers were high in calories, sodium, carbohydrate, and sugar but significantly lower in fiber and protein. Why not sugars for them?
We need to ensure the children maintain a diet of complex carbohydrates and decreasing simple sugars will help them maintain their energy throughout the day rather than all at once. When children have long days and need to concentrate in school providing unhealthy start to their day can inhibit their development and progress.

Apparently, breakfast cereal is among the worst in the industry, labelling their products being "made from the whole grains" when they are made primarly with refined grains. Those US made cereals such as Kellogg's Honey and Post Golden Crisp, are more than 50 percent sugars and 9 or at least 40 percent sugar. Some of it has high sodium and zero in dietary fiber. Many cereals that have "chocolate" in it actually the chocolate made out of sugars. It is partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, and cocoa. I think the real chocolate would have been healthier.

Some of the best cereal for breakfast which could be fun for the kids are;

1. Raisin Bran
Love the organic Raisin Bran. We can find it in supermarket and it is cheaper than US made cereals marketed for children.

2. Granola
This probably consume for most European.

3. Oatmeal
I served organic oatmeal that I found in NTUC supermarket on alternative days for Noelia. Some days she has wholegrain bread that I bought in Cedele as a 'tartine' in french. It is a slice
of bread with the fruit jam. That bakery shop has a good range of healthy diet breads and cake.

4. Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite-Sized
I am not bias, although that I do not serve this to my family but according to research this can be a good option for fun breakfast. It has 12 grams sugar per serving but it also very low in sodium and has 6 grams of fiber.

5. Honey Nut Cheerios
If I am forced to have choices I may get this as an alternative for other healthy breakfast

6. Cheerios (all General Mills)
Personally, I want to help and support the products from small farmers not big
manufacter like General Mills. I will have to do more more research on this issue
as General Mills maycontribute to global warming.

7. Kix

Luckily, Noelia is not fussy about breakfast. She loves multi-grain or whole-grain bread with a jam or oatmeal because it contains lots of fiber and iron she needs. She usually starts with Kiwi or other vitamin C fruits and followed by 'tartine' or oatmeal porridge with milk.

Honestly, I prefer not only encouraging the healthy habit to the children but purchasing with consciousness the products we consume everyday. This involves also the whole stakeholders, the farmers, the environment, the distributors and the products.

Remember, check the nutritional value on the box if we have to purchase the cereals. The cereals who have 'a halo effect' such as added iron and calcium need to be examined before purchase.

And Have a healthy breakfast to start your day!

Lazy Sunday Mini Cheesecakes

Ludo is in Cambodia for more than a week. This weekend, I wanted to go easy. The weather has been perfect for cocooning on the canapes with a cup of tea while watching TV. It's rare to have rainy and windy weather in the hot spot Singapore. Ah no, I wished I could do that.....I have a toddler!!

So I put those minds away from me. I called my ex-room mate who stayed a few months after I came back from Paris in 2004. She lives in Yishun now, 40 minutes away by MRT train. We used to bake or cook together on the weekend if she wasn't busy with hairsaloon training. It always nice to have a visit and we plan to do simple baking on lazy sunday while we update each other lives. She loves baking cheesecake and I miss it!

Noelia decided not to nap at her usual time. My friend came, and she immediately wanted to play with her. Noelia used to be shy with new people, but with my friend she loved her. They gigled, danced, sang, and do the silly things. After a few hours, finally she napped! There you go, we have time to make the cheesecake inspired from the toddler's recipe book.

Mini Cheesecakes

No Baking. The muffin cases are needed for these cheesecakes. It's great for tea party and I think I'm gonna make these for her birthday celebration.

Ingredients

6 digestive biscuits

50 g butter

1 tub of philadelphia low fat cream cheese or mascarpone cheese (if we use this mascarpone we need to add 120ml double cream)

icing sugar (it depends how much sweet you want)

fruits, anythings like kiwi, strawberry or canned-peaches.

Line the muffin-tray with 6 large paper cases. Put the biscuits in the ziplock bag and crush them using your hands or a rolling pin. Take out the butter from the fridge and let it soft a few minutes. Put the butter together with the crushed biscuits in the bowl and stir it with your hand or wooden spoon. Divide the crumbs between the cases and use clean fingers to press firmly into the base of paper. Chill in the fridge whilst you prepare the filing.

Mix and fold it together the philadelphia cream cheese and icing sugar until soft. Spoon the filling onto the crumbs on paper cases. You may put them back in the fridge for awhile so the cream chesee will get hardened. Meanwhile, you can prepare for the fruits by cutting them small. You can decorate the top part anything you like.

Good luck!

Take them Outside!

A couple of days ago, my friend asked me "Why don't you try Little Gym or Gym for the toddlers in Forum and other shopping centres? They have a good reputation among parents with toddlers to improve their skills and confidence"

And I was wondering for awhile that it is not a bad idea to try a couple of times for Noelia. She probably required more skills and it looks like she's ready. Of course, I wasn't agreed to do it when she was below 1 year old. Furthermore, it's a comfortable place to hang out in aircon room. There are many indoor playground in Singapore these days.

When we look for child care around where we live, I took the consideration on how much time she can play outside. The staff explained to me about 45 min in the morning from 9-9.45 am. So I was pleased to hear that. She loves to ride a tricyle, jumping around on the grass, exploring the toy house with friends. But yesterday when I picked her up, Noelia jumped in to the tricyle and did not want to leave. The teacher told me that they didn't have outdoor activities because it was a morning rush for them and really busy. I regretted that they did not plan the day properly. But hopefully, it will be one occasion that won't be repeated again.

This morning I read an article titled 'Playtime-Take it Outside' by Rae Pica which now I have cleared the doubts about Indoor Playground on regular basis.

She said, "... The outdoor is a very best place for preschooler to practice and master emerging hysical skills...that the children can fully and freely experience motor skills like jumping, running and leaping.
The Outside is also important because the outdoor light stimulates the pineal gland, the part of the brain that regulates"biological clock", is vital to immune system and make us feel happier. Outside children more likely to invent games. As they do they are able to express themselves and learn about the world in their own way. They feel safe and in control, which promotes autonomy, decision making and organizational skills. Although the children are playing only to have fun, they're learning the following;

• communication skills and vocabulary (as they invent, modify and enforce rules)
• number of relationships (as they keep score and count)
• social custom (as they learn to play together and cooperate)

Furthermore she said, "...Children who spend alot of time acquiring their experiences through television and computers are using only two senses (hearing and sight), which can seriously affect their perceptual abilities"

Now I believe that outdoor in nature is their classroom. It may be hard sometimes for us to spend sometimes outdoor because of the heat and humidity under the sun. I know even if we are going for a jogging, we will choose the time after the sun goes down. But I know for sure that I won't pay to get my daughter enrolled in indoor gym on regular basis. Whatever the ad says that it improves the flexibility and skills, maybe it is. But nature is best for them now.

Recently I allow 30 minutes of Baby TV program, 4 times in a week. No, I am not thinking about introducing computer or laptop until she really needs it. Although most parents are proud that their kids (below 5 years old) can use the computer, well I don't.

Paris in Our Hearts

A month already we left Paris. But I still hear the accordion music played in the metro, the bicycle I rode when I stucked in the strikes season, the letters of every cafes, boutiques and restaurants, every morning I run to the boulangerie for 1.20 euro baguette and the lights of the buildings at night!! Is there any better place to declare the truth feeling of each other as we cruise the river in bateaux-mouche Paris at night?

I'd love being lost inside the city.

Therefore, I remember the song "Paris in our hearts" which I never know who sing it. But I love the lyrics!

Paris in our hearts

memories of a town
with millions of lights
reliving the time
when i close my eyes
longing for the place
where i felt so alive
longing for the place
where lovers lay

chorus :
we always have paris in our hearts
and our minds
we always have a passion for life
on our side
we always have the colour and light
through the night
we always have the touch of a hand
to understand

drinking our morning coffee
by the riverside
watching the water flow
through this old town
wanting to be there again
with you by my side
wanting to feel like lovers
through the morning sun

chorus :
we always have paris in our hearts
and our minds
we always have a passion for life
on our side
we always have the colour and light
through the night
we always have the touch of a hand
to understand

walking though a busy
main street at night
looking at the art
that gives pleasure to my eyes
needing to be in a town
that never sleeps
needing to wake up with you
so close to heaven

chorus:
we always have paris in our hearts
and our minds
we always have a passion for life
on our side
we always have the colour and light
through the night
we always have the touch of a hand
to understand we always have paris in our hearts !

Things I miss about Paris

It's been several months we're based in Paris and a few days from today we will re-unite with the whole family again. Me and my daughter, Noelia are having lotsa fun being in melting-pot city of Paris. I don't like to be the tourist in a city. I'd love to be in a small cafe and having a good conversation with the locals. It's easier when I get Noelia around, because they are friendly with the children.

Paris is one of the melting-pot city with so many immigrants, tourists, expats etc. I'm looking for something more profound than just what a spectacular Paris is. I am not talking about Paris museums and old buildings.

So, here things I am going to miss here ....

1. The Butter
It's amazing to see so many kinds of butters in the shelves of the supermarket. It has different taste from the butter where I lived in Singapore. Those butters over here are deliciously good, creamy, a little bit sweet and oohh heaven! At the beginning, I didn't understand why they can be contented with croissant and butter or la crepe and butter only. Now I want to taste all the butter they have in the shelves.

2. Cafes and Bistros
The service could be bad but being in the cafe is more than that. I am not even a coffee drinker. Well, I stopped drinking coffee when I got pregnant and now I am a tea lover. But for me the cafes and bistros are meant to be the gathering places, and the less-fancy the better. The old grunted man behind the bar prepare the drinks while the waitress guy takes your order, that's the first impression when you enter the cafes. If you can win their affection, you are lucky cos they can be really realy nice. But that's hard! I only managed to do it in one of the cafe in boulevard Raspail. I've got a free coffee and good conversation, that's good enough.

3. Cycling around with Vélib'
Paris is notorious for having the street demonstration, strikes and other surprising events which can affect our plan to move around. Luckily, the governement provides the bicycles everywhere for the Parisien to move around. I used the service once, when I was really late to my class during the demonstration around Gare Montparnasse. It's really a good alternative beside buses and metros. Especially during a hot day, you don't want to jump into bus and metro! You'll feel like in the oven, they don't use aircon (not like busses in Singapore!!). But of course, we need to be brave to cycle in between all those crazy Parisien drivers, especially taxi! But I love the look of Velib bicycle, and it's ecolo! For once, it's the transport which doesn't produces a lot of hazard for the environment.

4. The unique sense of fashion
Of course, Paris is the fashion city and I understand a little bit more than that now. Anything that feel comfortable is the key, and everybody is an unique individual. Although most of the famous designers are from Paris, but everybody doesn't need to have Louis Vuitton and Prada bag or shoes. It is more than luxury brands. There are higher end society group who are happy to show off those branded stuffs to each other. But for the most part, they don't look like carrying the common Gucci or Louis Vuitton stuffs around the town. I think those are for the tourists (especially Asians!!!)
Their sense of fashion is dorky and Bohemian or Bobo (Bohemian Bourgeois), in a way. They don't really care about the global luxury brand, it's the mix between our old and new ones. A funky jacket with the vintage t-shirt, with the grandmother's jewellry. The good example from the celebrities are Kate Moss and Nicole Richie's sense of fashion. They are not neatly attire but it's attractive. And we can google what is BoBo, a Bohemian bourgeouis...
Fashion for the French is for tout le monde with young, fresh brands at affordable prices making you look fashionable with no excuses. Just take a look at those adolescent lycéennes and you’ll get my drift.
Hair and make-up must look effortless and natural (so, no big fake eyelashes and thick make-up powder here, that goes for CanCan dancers). I am not sure how they do these, I never found a secret or not just yet. They are less flamboyant than the ones in London.

5. The Boulangerie (Bakery)
My friend who lives in the city of Paris told me that he loves to smell the fresh bread from the nearest bakery in the morning. He sometimes walk around 3 or 4 o'clocks in the morning and smell 'the morning aroma'. Thierry, that's for you!! Haha...
It's true, it's amazing how I grow in love with the French baguette which costs 1.60 euro (medium quality). I love cutting the fresh bread for breakfast (only), but I love it fresh for the tartine. I am lucky, we have home-made jam over here too! In Singapore, those quality bread is priceeyy...

6. Accordion musician busking in the metro (trains)
Noelia loves when there's somebody plays an accordion in the metro. It can be bored sitting in the stroller for a journey, the music is good to bring up the spirit. I just loved the instrumental music and not when they are singing. Crossing down the quai and looking out the busy and narrow streets of Paris entertained with these buskers make us framed in the nostalgia of old Paris.

7. The smelly cheeses
I could be a little bit crazy if I say this, but truthfully I love them. There are sooooo many different kinds of cheeses but I only love soft and creamy cheese. I know it's fatty. But during my diet, every evening for dinner I have to choose between having a dessert or cheeses. I usually have cheese twice or three times a week, it's enough. The foul smelling of them could be 'hazardous' for some people, but even me too. I just have to switch off my smelling sense for a while and trust my taste buds to work it out for me.

8. The cutest and SIMPLE children clothing
I know, I am a mom. But Paris has a simple, most adorable, gorgeous, well-made children clothing. Forget GAP, OSHKOSH B'GOSH, BENETTON (boring), WALT DISNEY characters (sorry, I never fond on them). Sometimes I really can't help it but what I can do when they dedicated the entire streets for children boutiques.

9. Friendly passer by who helped with the strollers
It could be a little bit a hazzle to travel around Paris with the stroller and the baby. I would say the condition is not baby friendly, because there are many stairs to go up and down. I usually have to lift up the stroller with Noelia inside of it. It is heavy. But I love to see how young or old people ask "Avez-vous besoin d'aide avec la poussette? (Do you need help with the stroller)". They help me to carry the stroller together. It's one of the good basic courtesy over here beside opening up the door for us. I don't normally get those in Singapore. The men couldn't care less about opening the door in the shopping center for us to get in. Even when they see we are with the baby, the shopping bags and stroller.

10. La Creperie, chocolate noir, and sumptuous kinds of desserts
Should I write more about these? It's extraordinary. It's hard to look for the good crepe restaurants around Paris. The good crepe is coming from brittany (Bretagne) part, so usually we can get those places around Montparnasse area.
I am not going to explain how the taste could be, but you just need to look out the window display the variety of desserts and you'll know.

I will definetely come back for more, it is only 10 things at the moment! Maybe I will change my taste about Paris in the future, but it is one of our home.

Lovely

Lovely, originally uploaded by L'Aubergine Grillée.

Off to the park Bagatelle, Bolougne in the hot day.

Getting "off the hook" for a while...

I am gonna have my written final exam this saturday afternoon. And I am practically busting my butt off to 'digest' the extraordinary French grammar in a few nights. In the day, I am busy with my demanding role as a full time mom. The house is empty as my parents-in-law went off for a wedding in Bretagne, north east of France and will be back on Monday.

But I have welcomed my niece to stay over for a few days because her family will be spending a week of vacation outside Paris. They only take the other 2 kids, and she stays with me cos she will need to attend a class on Friday. Her school is 1 minute away from our apartment, so it is convenient for her too. She's 11 years old, a teenager.

Ok, practically I am a mom and a baby sitter...I am a nocturnal too.

So, I will try to be focus and stay away from internet blogging or surfing. Will write soon!!

Spring fashion for children

A few months after I became a mom, I get connected to the network of moms. It's pretty fun to read and share their experiences. I've got to know some moms who live in Singapore, Europe and USA from networking. And one of them is Leonny, her website Our Everyday Things shares her practical parenting and motherhood tips of her two adorable children.

Leonny Atmadja, an Indonesian lady who lives in Singapore with her family shares her ups and downs being a parent. It's interesting to read her blog as it shares some simple creative activities for the toddlers. And the most important thing is how to enjoy the parenting's tasks.

Recently, she opened an online shopping store for children fashion called Spring Kids which she employed her cute and photogenic children to be her models. You need to check out the website and get the latest spring fashion for your little ones!

During the opening launch her online store, there's a giveaway contest and big discount for selected items. The contest is open until 31 May 2009 and for you who live in Indonesia or Australia, you are welcome to join too!

A windy weekend with Noelia's cousins!

Zen-ing your zone, Mama!

I know, it's international mother's day.And I have been a mother for about 18 months, and I say 'what a ride'!

We just got back from a weekend getaway with the family of my husband. We went to Revel in the South of France and rented some chalets with 7 toddlers and 2 adolescents. It is situated in a nice green space with a swimming pool facilities. We had a real fun together as a big family in the southern France compound where the children get to catch up with cousins and play. It is one of rare occasion that the family can be together as some of us live miles away from each other.

Did I mention surrounded by 'children'? Oohh, children!! How life could be fun on your side but it is a lot of work for the adults to raise you? I have been spending quite a bit of time with some young parents with younger kids. Of course, in our background there are must be shoutings, cries, laughs, accidents, bleeds, breaking furnitures, runs, and lotsa other 'fun' things. As time to time, I heard the parents who want to keep control of their children says, "Eat properly", "Play gently", "Don't run", "Eat with spoon and fork", "Be nice", "Don't eat this", "Get out", "Eat your lunch", "Don't cry" etc.

I do feel sorry for the children who can't contain themselves to be curious and make mistakes for their development. We think sometimes they push our buttons real hard. We may become depressed and emotional at work or elsewhere if we have relatively bad incidence with our childen. I have seen it everywhere and even our mom and dad did the same thing during our childhood. We've been told not to do this or that, if not something bad would happened.

I am looking carefully for other solutions more than screaming off our children all the time.

I am reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle and I thought it is probably relevant to the subject I have been searching all this time. Haha, Yes...I am getting ready to face a toddler's life soon! Those once cherub angels' faces may turn upside down our life. It is part of our growing up too, yes we are! Any form of activity to calm our mind such as yoga, meditation, or pilates and so on may not be effective if we do not change our ways of parenting.
.......

"Many children harbor hidden anger and resentment towards their parents and often the cause is in-authenticity in the relationship, the child has a deep longing for the parent to be there as a human being not as a role, no matter how conscientiously that role is being played. You may be doing all the right things and the best you can for your child but even doing the best you can is not enough. In fact doing is never enough if you neglect being.How can you bring being into a busy family, into the relationship you have with your child? The key is to give your child attention.

There are two kinds of attention, one we may call form-based attention, the other is formless attention. Form-based attention is always connected in some way with doing or evaluating, “Have you done your homework? Eat your dinner, tidy up your room…….do this, do that, hurry up, get ready.”

Form-based attention is necessary and of course has its place, but if that is all there is in the relationship with your child then the most vital dimension is missing and being becomes directly obscured by doing. Formless attention is inseparable with the dimension of being.

How does it work?

As you look at, listen to, touch or help your child with this or that you are alert, still, completely present, not wanting anything other than that moment as it is. In this way you make room for being. In that moment, if you are present, you are not a mother or father, you are the alertness, the stillness, the presence that is looking, listening, touching, even speaking. You are the being behind the doing.

In the human dimension, you are unquestionably superior to your child; you are bigger, stronger, know more, can do more – if that dimension is all you know, you will feel superior to your child, if only unconsciously and you will make your child feel inferior, if only unconsciously. There is no equality between you and your child because there is only form in your relationship and in form you are not equal. You may love your child but your love will be human only, that is to say conditional, possessive, intermittent. Only beyond form and in being are you equal and only when you find the formless dimension in yourself can there be true love in that relationship. The presence that you are recognises itself in another and the other, the child in this case, feels loved, that is to say recognised.

The longing for love that is in every child is the longing to be recognised, not on the level of form, but on the level of being. If parents honor only the human dimension of the child but neglect being, the child will sense that the relationship is unfulfilled, that something absolutely vital is missing and there will be a build up of pain in the child and sometimes unconscious resentment towards the parents. “Why don’t you recognise me?” This what the pain or resentment seems to be saying....." Eckhart Tolle.


Happy Mother's Day! Hope we have a Zen day ....

Viva La Vida

I am learning the history of France at the moment at school. This song could accompany me while studying Eugene Delacroix and his paintings....oooh, trop fort...trop fort! Je ne peux plus....

Getting ready

We are going home in about a month time. Yayy! I will be finishing my study at the end of May and hop, we will be off to Singapore. I can't believe how time flies so quickly!

Sure, I still wanna be around France throughout the springtime but there's nothing much better than our own home. I am not talking about the important of the place, we could be anywhere else in the world. It is the homey feeling, our nest and of course, our love. We miss a part of us, my darling husband who has been working 24 hours without us around.

I really can't imagine myself found my own bed and cooking in my own kitchen after a long time. And I do hope Noelia could sleep well in her own bedroom. She's getting taller and lost her baby chubbiness at around 17 months, she's a little girl now. Each morning when she wokes up, I found something in her has changed. Sometimes she mentioned a word that she heard yesterday from me or her grandmere. Haha, I believe her brain is actively working and rehearsing during her sleep....

When we arrived in Singapore she should be 18 months of age. We decided to put her in the child care for a half-day for her and my own sake. I don't believe in having a maid at home will be much of a great help since our house is not that big. We are able to get regular part-time helper that we have been using for almost 2 years. One of the other reason to put her in the child care for a trial at least 3 months is to provide her a space to express herself and socialize with other adults and kids. I know, it is hard on my part to let her go just like that everyday. I don't have much difficulties with her alone, she understands and can adjust the situation pretty well. Beside, it is the good place to play with toys since we don't want to pamper her with too much plastic toys at home. The good toys are precious learning tools and it is not easy to look for. And I hate to spend soo much money to buy new toys to be throwned out everywhere in the house.

I don't believe in structured education for such a young age. I've been looking from the child care around our place until the most exclusive childcare in town. I was surprised that the higher cost could get as much as our university's fee per semester. This make me wondering what can of education system they offered to their young students. Sure, I was tempted to listen to my ego to put her in the best school for 18 months old girl! She could be a genius kid, she will learn mathematics and singing like a rock star, maybe she could even work by the age of 6 years old and I will be retiring young. How nice! She'll probably will suffer pyschological problem soon...

I need to work for my own sanity and our financial budget to raise Noelia. Some people don't have much choice especially when we live in the big metropolitan city of Singapore. Those green notes are the only precious transaction acceptable to satisfy our physical being at the moment. If I can choose, I'd like to work beside my children someday so I can spend sometimes together.

Ok, I still need to do more research on what child care I should get Noelia when we're back. Really looking forward!

16 months

16 months, originally uploaded by L'Aubergine Grillée.

Happy Nawruz!!

Sign of spring, originally uploaded by L'Aubergine Grillée.

Even it is late. My soul still celebrating Nawruz!
The colourful flowers are blooming, the trees are showing off their green leaves, sweet smelling parfums of the plants, we never see the blessing so real after the winter season.
Sometimes we take advantage of being in tropical country where everything stay the same. But being in the country with four seasons we appreciate the difference of weather. It tickles our body and senses towards cold, hot, windy and frozen.

We are still enjoying springtime! 21 March is the equinox day where the sun is vertically above equator!

Happy Nawruz!

Eat for Goodness sake!

They say if we have the kids on your own, we will know more about ourselves well. I understand why there are so many Dummies books sold out in the bookstore about the preparation of toddler's life for mommy and daddy. Many mothers or professional chefs and pediatrician write some recipe books for toddler's meal and how it is important to watch what they're eat.

I am not too sure how my mom had raised me when I was a kid. Did I push the food away that my mom had prepared? Those spinaches that I was forced to gulped down the throat, did I throw some tantrums afterwards? Those soft boiled eggs every morning she prepared, how did I start to like it? I remember how I felt I wanted to throw up after she forced me taking a spoonful of cod fish liver oil. But hei, thanks to her I escaped from many sickness like asthma, eczhema, rashes, TBC, earache etc.

These days I am waking up to most mornings thinking " What the hell I am going to cook for her today?" A little latter in the day I text my husband "What are we going to eat for dinner tonight, honey?"I planned the food chart list for the well-balanced diet before she even popped out. I have done some research and still doing it to give the best for kid (who doesn't?). Sometimes I think I should just become kids nutrition if I ever re-born again.

She is beginning to test my patients sometimes with the foods. I need to be freaking creative with the menu. She pushed the foods away or simply looked away not interested with it. I leave her for awhile and offer her the dessert (at least it is fruit she loves) and finish the session without main course. At least she respects the manner to sit on the chair at every meals! No, I can't imagine myself running after her just to spoonfed her bowl. And strictly not in front of TV (why? so she can appreciate the variety of taste and respect the foods. I am an old fashioned one) She now understands to wipe off her mouth after each meals. For the meals she love means she will feed herself, I am just supervised her. I used to let her experimenting to touch her food. It was a messy business, it is her learning! No, there's no violence during mealtimes ( or yet)! I managed to bottled up all the emotions and leave it. It is part of our growth, oh yes physically and mentally.

I don't leave her to decide what to eat. She still needs nutrition from good vegetables and meats which means I am trying not to give additional vitamins. I used to be a little bit frustrated if she doesn't eat much but I understand that she has the right to do it. It will be worse for her physcology to forced her to eat at every meal, for my good sake too. It is okay not to finish her plate (seldom...) because forcing them may cause obesity or bulimia in the later age.

There you go the typical breakfast for our toddler;

• Brekkie 0730 am --> Oatmeal with fruits (banana, kiwi, milk, avocado) or 2 croissants
  (gosh, she's so frenchie!) or toasts with homemade jams or crepe with fruits
• Lunch 0100 pm --> chicken pie or courgette and potato gratin or salmon with spinach and
  potato or le boudin noir with potato (gosh, I am raising a french baby !!) or pasta with brocolli or beef with rice porridge
  Dessert consists of plain fruits like kiwi/yogurts with fruits/vanilla rice milk/strawberries, she no longer like apple and pear puree!
• Snacks 0500pm --> toasts, oatmeal biscuits without sugar ( I am limiting her sugar intakes!), crepes
• Dinner 0730pm --> soups! Potato, leeks, and carrots/ lentils with carrots/ and sometimes
  no idea! Just anything I could get from the stock in the fridge.
  
  I never know how toddler's meal could be so elaborate. I am obliged to change the menu every weeks! How lucky she has the private chef! No creamy sugar, no cheap US cereal (Nestle etc, they are chemicals and contains too much sugar), not so much fruit juice boxes, not so much salty food.
  
  Honey, that's all the budget spent every months!
  
  I should be able to read Zen Parenting next year! Yeah...I should do it while listening Björk.

Beautiful

A sweet thin lips
Blue eyes
Fair skin colour
Blonde long hair
smooth long legs

Not everyone is Paris Hilton!
But I do hope to explain the meaning of 'beautiful' to my daughter someday. But before knowing the beauty from the (stupid) teenage magazine on how to dress like a rock star, I hope i can introduce the image of nature beauty such as a waterfall cascading over mossy rocks in the forest or a stunning orange setting over the lake. I choose to equate beauty to something that moves my heart and cause me to smile. Beauty doesn't fit into logical equatation. It is poetic, natural, visual and emotional. I find the most attractive physical beauty on the person is the freckles on the skin, the wrinkles on the face, the clear eyes, the tears and smiles.

These days if we turn on TV and chose a channel, we'll see the same image of beautiful women. The beauty pageant, "beautiful" women in their ideal body promoting the products in the ads, mini series, video clips etc. As an Asian woman, I know exactly what the women do with their body to get lighter skin and hair, taller, big butts and boobs. I used to ask by a staff in the spa to lighten my skin colour with their products or even to straighten my lovely locks.

We are not created the same. Beauty is humility, happiness, creativity, tolerance, and all virtues which should be our adorning.I am not banning Barbie dolls, Disney musicals, Prince and princesse stories at home. But I will never let the kids alone playing and figuring it without some guidances. I hope I am not a control freak mom. Also, I am not buying those stuffs too (soon)! We should be able to see the uniqueness because it is beautiful!

At the moment I am happy to see her sleeping, holding Lapinou (Teddy Bear)...

La Crepe

La Chandeleur, Crêpe day, which happens today on 2nd February. I like crêpes so much and that's why I wrote about them now.If you happen to visit France, you will see many crepe stands and creperies all over. That is the indication of popularity of this delicate pancakes which they make it sense to dedicate a whole day to celebrate it. It is called "La Chandeleur" the holiday that celebrate the return of spring. It is also known as Crepe Day.

The thin pancake is made of flour, eggs, milk, sugar (options), and butter. The difference between pancakes and crepe are the thickness, the size and the way we serve it. Personally, I am not a fan of pancakes (especially US MacDonalds breakfast) because that maple syrup to go with them is killing the taste and you get full easily. Meanwhile, crepe is much more versatile and can be eaten rolled with just butter and sugar, ham and egg, cheese and vegetables. One of my favourite dishes is crepe suzette, which are filled with orange sauce and flammed.

On my the recent trip to La Croisic (Bretagne Sud), north-west of France we saw many creperies around. This is where crepe originated, savoury versions called "gallette" are popular.

Today I made a couple of crepe with eggs and ham for lunch. It took a couple of minutes for Noelia to acquire the taste but she finished her portion. I do not give salt and sugar for her food, but I encourage the variety of foods such as vegetables and herbs. Because I believe eating is not only to make us full and satisfied, but to enjoy the diversity of taste and knowledge.

A day in Paris with the stroller and a baby

It's been almost 2 months that we are here in Paris. I have not been around so much like I used to. It could be because I have Noelia that I choose wherever it is convenient for her to go. Most of the time I get a little bit nervous going around in Paris with Metro. There are too many stairs up and downs which could be difficult to go with the baby stroller. I choose to stay in the house or visiting markets or shops atound the neighbourhood. We do not stay in Paris, a little suburban called Meudon which is south west of Paris.

Yesterday, my in-law would like to go to Printemps Magazine to look for canape. I decided to go to Paris with Noelia together with them. They drove us until Saint Lazare Metro and Noelia was asleep. I was thinking at the moment, it was pretty alright and ma poulette was looking okay. So, I had to decide whether I want to go to Bonpoint children boutique in rue de l'universite (Metro Invalides) or Le Poussette Cafe at rue Pierre Semard (Metro Poissonniere). These days, my priority is to ensure Noelia is content at least for the whole day. And it is getting near lunch time for Noelia and I really need to rush before she started to scream in the metro. When the baby screams could be cute and her mama is used to it but not the ears of other adults.

I thought I made a good choice being in Le Poussette Cafe. Noelia ran around and greeted the other babies in that spacious cafe. It is rare to see cafe or bistro which has some space dedicated to children to play. The front of the cafe is the boutique where they display children winter jackets, toys, accessories for the little room, etc. The cafe is further inside with the walls full of cute decoration but it really looks neat and sweet. There are baby changing room attached to toilet and next door is where we park the strollers.

I ordered a homemade baby food in the menu, I think it was vegetables de provencale. It costs 4.40 euro a meal! Yeah that much...And I thought I am going to skip lunch, just tea will do me good. It was a delicious meal for Noelia (darn, she's lucky!). She met a couple of other kids around her age, and she had a good time. There was a boy who is around the same age as Noelia who keeps running and touching the products they display. His mom screamed 'Non, ne touch pas!', 'Non, fais pas ca', 'Non, je suis tres fache'...I could see that her nerves were out. I don't usually do that, because I trust Noelia to explore as long as it is not life threatening activities. And I think I would make her nervous by saying 'No' all the time. She touched some products but not pulling them, she observes the babies and touch their faces or hands, she smiled and flipping the books full of pictures. I am lucky not running around too much after her.

I got really hungry and decided to buy some food somewhere else cheaper. I bought a decoration cat in colourful fabrics around 42 euro because I always wanted to do some deco stuffs made out of fabrics. That bloody expensive cat deco made in vietnam could be a sample of what I really want to do later in Singapore.

We're off to Saint-Placide. Pffhh, we were lucky because there is l'escalier roulant for stroller. If I stopped in Montparnasse, it would be a long walk with stairs up and down inside the tunnel. Noelia was still asleep in the stroller until we were inside of Fnac. I bought 2 children books, 'Une souris verte' and 'Tous les pipis', they are cool! Noelia started to get a little cranky and we stopped in La Brioche Doree. Voila, at 4 pm my lunch cost 7.50 euro with the boisson + dessert tout compris!

Back home in Meudon after we got in transilien sncf train from Gare Montparnasse. The day is almost gone, I quickly prepared Noelia to go to bed. I am pleased that I can go around Paris with the stroller that day. I probably would like to go again to visit museum with her someday.

My day out alone ...

Charming clear blue sky in Paris, originally uploaded by L'Aubergine Grillée.

Yes, I was in Paris today and took the metro everywhere. I went to register for the French course in La Sorbonne. I managed to find the way to the building that I used to visit everyday a few years back. I got off Metro Jardin du Luxembourg and went all the way up to rue de L'Estrapade. It was such a nice feeling I have! Especially when I was alone and had a good long walk.

Noelia was with her grandma for half-day. She is very kind to volunteer herself to do it among her busy schedule. We had tried to call La Halte Garderie in the neighbourhood to keep Noelia for a day or two in a week. But they are full until September 09!

In France, La Halte-Garderie is a children daycare for non-working mother. This is to give the moms a break for a couple of hours or a day without having the children around. This service is completely free of charge. La Creche is for the day care that is permanent for working parent to leave their children for a full day in a week.

Early before I left the house, I became a little bit nervous to leave ma poulet with her grandmere. I am worry that she will cry and break something in the house full of everything. I used to leave her at home with her nounou for half day, but now we are staying at my parent-in-law. Although they themselves have take care of other grandchildren, but I am still worry. So, I quickly ran back home after I finished my pita bread lunch in boulevard St. Michel.

How my life has changed since I have a little girl. Those clear blue sky to watch, sitting in the bench of the park or window shopping around town and even enjoying a cup of coffee are seldom in my agenda right now. I choose to quickly run back to kiss my little poulet. Sometimes I feel like I'd like to go back to my singlehood. But I said No, my life has been so colourful and rich right now by building a family.

I always thinking that if I am single, I would probably be the fashion conscious woman who wears Prada shoes, Louis Vuitton bag (like rich Indonesian ladies), twice a week to hair salon, drinking a cup of coffee and smoke Marlboro Light. My nights would be full of pretentious friends in the clubs or bars who wants to get recognized around the community. I am not sure if I could be happy, but I will be shortsighted to just live for a day.

I am still enjoying those clear blue sky now ...

The Winter in France

The green and the blue sky, originally uploaded by L'Aubergine Grillée.

We have decided to come to France for a long holiday from Winter to Spring. I am not sure why I choose to come and stay for long in these snowy and cold season in Europe. Of all the beautiful seasons of Spring, Summer and Autumn in France, I chosed to freezed my butts off over here.

This is the slowest period I feel of all the other seasons. I needed a break from overhectic season in Singapore. It is the city which never sleeps, even coming in to holiday season in this economy crisis they are still busy shopping for everybody. The heat of the sun of the day has forced me to keep on running to meet a deadline.

Don't get me wrong, we love the sun. It's a source of the energy but we needed some moment to reflect. I see winter as the season to slow down and reflect what I've been doing, I'd like to restore my energy for the coming few months.

I like the tingle sensation of coldness into my skin when the cold breezes blows me. I like observing how the day light passes quickly and the dark night is appearing faster. It is telling me the time to get ready for Noelia to prepare her dinner and bedtime story. The cold weekend just right for baking and sleeping on the couch listening Noelia singing strange song. The afternoon for hot ginger tea and a piece of chocolate. It's quiet evening to read and teaching Noelia another song...

Every morning I have 4 pieces of tartine marmalade after my morning duties with Noelia. In this slow winter, the morning activities could be a real hectic if I do not organise it really well. Since a couple of days ago, she starts the day a couple of hours later than she was in Singapore. I have to wake her up at 8 am by opening up the big shutter which darkened the room all day. Every evening we close the shutter of the big sliding windows to prevent the cold outside creeping inside the room even with the window closed.

We are so lucky, Noelia's body has a good system to defend the cold. Thanks God, she hasn't feel sick although the viruses from children have been all around her. Maybe I give her enough vitamin C from Kiwi and Orange Juice every morning and Iron on her green legumes. After breakfast, we are out for a walk about 1 hour in the cold winter. Yes, it's a little bit troublesome to put on layers of winter clothes and take them off again when we got home. But life goes on even in this period.

Snow, Snow in Paris

First night in Paris, originally uploaded by L'Aubergine Grillée.

It's been such a long time for me to write again. We arrived in Paris on the 12 Dec and moved to South West of France, Lot-et-Garonne area for a few weeks. There wasn't any good internet connection in the countryside. Furthermore, it was christmas holiday. It's totally different from Singapore, we found empty streets, boulangeries, markets and cafes.

We're back in Paris and just re-connect my computer to available networks for internet. Yayy!

I'll write more now...