Eelyn
Go for the PIS - it's the best. Met a colleague recently and she said the best motherhood advice she got was from me when she was preggie - which was to get a PIS.
I've not really heard of the freestyle.
on pregnancy, I had a super dream pregnancy, felt good, no MS, face complexion actually improved (now back to lousy), only had breakout on my back. and Kate's a girl. So sometimes I think even the hormonal theories must be taken with pinch of salt. all varies.
Fruits
I'm lazy so I just share with Kate. If it's pear or apple, I'll bite off and eat the skin, and bite of small chunks to feed her. like mama bird regurigitating. Same with grapes.
My MIL commented obliquely that that's old fashioned... haha. she takes the trouble to peel and cut the fruits up nicely. For bread also, I just tear with my hands. she will use scissors to cut nicely. hee.
Schools and GEP
what do you guys think abt the gifted scheme ah? Now that it's only pri sch sometimes I wonder why they even retained that part at all.
I personally think it's a good, fun scheme but over-hyped. A lot of non GEP kids do better than the GEP kids in PSLE and O levels anyway.
Agree with Ypg that a good proportion of GEP kids come from neighbourhood schs before p3 and PCF kindys, with the caveat that they have good home support. So HOME SUPPORT is key!