It was a really lazy weekend with lots of time spent at home. Guess it was a good time to rest since we were all sick the previous weekend. But I got a bit bored towards the end so brought the little fella to the park and explore playgrounds nearby. It was the first time I was bringing both the little fella and Jeremiah out. I made the little fella promise that he would walk and not make me carry him. So he was really good. In the midst of our walking around, we found this quite nice playground and it was meant for little kids. The equipments were all from Little Tikes so the playground was nice and safe. 

Posted: March 31st, 2008 under Family, Parenting, Pets.
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Since my work trip cum holiday was postponed, we decided to take a trip to Adelaide. It was partly a holiday and partly also to recce the place.And because it was such a last minute trip, we had problems getting a direct flight. So had to transit in Perth. The flights itself were an experience but more about that later.

This is the 3rd flight (1st was when he was 6 months and 2nd was when he was 1 year old) for the little fella and we were initially a little apprehensive as he is a lot more active now. So we were wondering how much we had to do to occupy him. So we armed ourselves with plenty of snacks and some of his books as well. I think it helped that he chose the books himself. He was then a little more keen to read it onboard the flight. Overall, he was quite a good kid on the plane, slept some, ate a little and watched quite a bit of the in flight entertainment stuff. It was good that there was Playhouse Disney And of course, it helped that there were 2 of us taking care of him.

All in all, we had a good trip and like always, we tried to balance it with activities that he liked and stuff that we like. So that no one gets shortchanged. It was a great thing that we brought the stroller along so many of his daytime naps were spent in the stroller. We discovered this nice Japanese place that sold udon soup so meals generally weren’t a problem. It was funny but I think the little fella missed eating fishballs as he kept asking for them.

We did lots in Adelaide. Shopped, attended 2 fringe festival events, took a day trip to the hills where the little fella thoroughly enjoyed picking strawberries at the farm,went to the beach, went to the zoo.Was a bit sian that I had to work some of the nights but guess I cannot complain since boss agreed so readily to my 2 weeks leave though it was a busy period here. But then again, when it is really not busy?

The trip gave me a better sense of the place and what to expect should we shift there anytime soon. Definitely want to move but there are tens of trillions of worries in my mind now. Must really learn to keep the faith and not let the worrywart in me take over.

Posted: March 14th, 2008 under Family, Shopping, Weather.
Comments: 3

I have decided that we/I should bring the little fella out more for outdoor play rather than to stay at home and watch telly all the time. He loves his Playhouse Disney but I reckon he should not be watching too much telly. So over the last weekend, I tried to engage him in as much outdoor / non-telly activities. As Daddy was working, I brought him to the playground on Sat morning and after that, trooped off all hot and sweaty to MM and GG’s house. At the playground, there was the usual slides and steps.But he has gotten more adventurous, now he wanted to walk across the concrete slabs by himself. It was a nice little walk because the concrete slabs were on water and laid across a little stream of sorts. It taught him focus and balance ‘cos there were gaps in between the slabs and if he was not careful, his lil feet could very well slip between the slabs. We did that till it threatened to rain and I whisked him away.

At MM and GG’s house, he could feed the fishes and prawns and there he probably had a little ecological lesson. He saw the fishes and prawns eating.Oh..he also saw a little prawn that had jumped out of the tank and was being attacked by the ants. That probably traumatised him a little. Hee..

Yesterday, we had a nice easy morning playing with his toys and watching a bit of telly. Had a nice pizza/lagsane lunch and played a little while more before it was nap time. He was good cos I told him he could play with bubbles after he woke up. So we did and after that, I brought him downstairs with his soccer ball. Had a rather nice ( and hot!) time chasing and kicking the ball all around. People who saw us probably thought of us as 2 weirdos who held hands and just ran all around with the ball. Whilst resting, he saw a man loading up boxes on a lorry and covering them with the canvas. So he asked questions like what is he doing, what is the cover for etc etc.

The after an hour plus downstairs, it was shower time. He wanted the tub and he also wanted to bathe the ball. So together with his ball (rinsed already), he went into the tub. Played with the bubbles and bathed his ball. Oh..before he showered, he helped me cook his dinner by scooping the brown rice porridge into the cup and then into the top. So told him that he was such a big boy already and could help cook his own dinner. Think that made him rather pleased.

He was really really good…after he was changed and all, i placed him on the couch ( with the telly) and told him to stay there whilst I took my shower. And when i came out some 20 mins later, he shouted from the couch ” Mummy, I am playing with your coins.” He had found my coin pouch on the table by the couch, unzipped it and was playing with all the coins. A good thing he has learnt not to put things into his mouth.

After that, had his salmon and mixed veg miso brown rice porridge..Finished all and asked for more soup! No..not the end of the day yet ..still had about 3 hours before bedtime. So I decided to bring him shopping since he wanted a new water bottle. So we went to Causeway Point and shopped. He was being really good..walked with me all the way so brought him to Kiddy Palace to choose his water bottle.As usual, he took ten thousand minutes choosing one he liked. Finally found one he liked cos he said that his classmate had it too. It was some unidentifiable bear character. Then wanted to buy him a pencil case so that he can use it when we go out. But after looking at the pencil cases there( there was Thomas the tank engine, Bob the builder, Strawberry Shortcake etc etc), he said..”I don’t like any of these.” So I told him we will go elsewhere to look and he agreed without a fuss.

After that it was off to Mothercare..I wanted to get him jeans for our NYC trip. And they were having a 30% discount for their winter wear collection so it was perfect. Tried some on for him and let him choose which one he liked. So he did after much deliberation.

After shopping and a bubble tea treat..it was off to the Library. He was really happy especially when he saw Daddy! He told Daddy who was on the 3rd floor, ” Wait..I am going to look for my books..Wait..Patience.” So off we trooped to the J section in the Library.

The day ended about 10 or so and think with all the activities, he was tired out. So slept rather quickly. All these activities in a span of 2 days…I need to find more things to do. I have been toying with the idea of creating a little garden for him in our corridor..then he can learn about plants and maybe insects. Wonder if he will like that….

Posted: January 28th, 2008 under Family, Parenting.
Comments: 2

I believe if the trip is meant as a family trip…it will happen.Just got to believe that all things will fall in place…

Posted: January 12th, 2008 under Family, work.
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I have been wondering if perhaps we both need parenting classes. On how to be a better parent and how to communicate better. Through the past year especially,I realised that both Iz and I have very diffirent parenting styles. Of course, they are things we agree on but there are also others that we simply can’t seem to find middle ground. And of course, when that happens, we both end up being unhappy. And it bothers me a whole lot cos one of my pet peeves is being faced with someone who is really grouchy.

Who is right?Admittedly, I am the less fierce one at home and tend to give in to the little fella more. But I feel that I am firm enough when I need to be. Obviously, Iz dosen’t think so and he believes in ‘discipline’ when the need arises. Of course, I do agree but I also feel that talking to the little fella helps too in bringing the point across..instead of mere punishment and scoldings that will only result in more tantrums.

I used the ‘distraction’ tactic quite a lot and I like it because it seems to work but Iz feel that that is giving in. Just like earlier on, the little fella was throwing a tantrum because he saw Iz playing on his PSP too. So he wanted it too. This is where you can clearly see our diffrent parenting styles.

 Me: I tried coaxing him and distracting him with other things..tickling him..asking him to read etc etc. But he still continued crying so I just persisted in talking and pacifying till he quietened down. Only after he quietened down, then did i ask if he could take someone else’s toy and whether it was right. So I asked…can u take Teacher XYZ’s toy? Can u take Teacher ABC’’s toy? He shook his head and said no. So asked if he was still going to take Daddy’s toy and he said No. So, it worked for today and I am hoping that he will remember it and I will reinforce with all these ‘pep talks’ whenever i can.

 Iz:When the little fella started crying, he very firmly told him ‘No’ and just stood his ground. That, to him, is not giving in and just persisting in being firm and consistent about not giving in to demands.

So obviously, there is a difference in our styles and sometimes they clash. Is there one that is more effective/ That is where we then become unhappy with each other and the problem escalates from one of the little fella to us. Of course, it passes but then I do think it is very unhealthy..that it will have its detrimental effect in the long run.

 But how do we reach middle ground without stepping on each other’s toes?Do we need to be reminded that we are first husband and wife before we are parents?

Posted: January 9th, 2008 under Family, Marriage, Parenting.
Comments: none

It has been a really busy month with work as usual and stuff on the homefront. Work has been busy as usual and it has twarted my body clock as well. Cos I stay up for late night calls, I am now such a nocturnal creature. And on the home front, the little fella just  recovered from gastric flu. And like any other parent would say, it is the most tiring when little kids fall sick. And really most of the time, you are wishing that you are the one sick instead. He had it quite bad this time around and it took him a full week before he was finally OK. Anyway…all is well now and I can only pray that all will stay well especially since Christmas is round the corner. I do want to celebrate it this year since we gave last year’s a miss cos of the Pox.So fingers crossed…all will be well.

 Last evening, we went to this Korean restaurant in West Coast. Can’t remember what it is called…food was all right but what I liked was the play room for kids. It was a ‘ball room’, pretty much like the one at Ikea,just that it is shallow-er and more suitable for younger kids.And the little fella was so happy in there, throwing the balls, swimming in it etc etc. I was just thinking how nice it would be if we had a play room like that too. Am sure the little fella would love it to bits. Well…maybe when we shift to the bigger place, he could have a play/activity room. He enjoyed himself so much that he did not want to come out for dinner or to rest. Just wanted to play ‘a little while more’.

He is now learning to bargain with us. “A little while more”..”Last one”…” 5 mins more”.. Cute but also got to teach him his boundaries already!

Posted: December 10th, 2007 under Christmas, Family, Parenting, work.
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Spent the night tossing and turning, thinking about this and also during my ride to work this morning. Basically started cos Iz said that he wanted to go for a fren’s birthday dinner on Sun. Took it to mean that he wanted to go without me and the little fella so I wasn’t too pleased. I wasn’t really happy because I see weekends as family time. Not that we don’t do that on other evenings but it is different when you get to spend the entire day as a family. I do see the importance of personal space and time and perhaps I am being selfish, but I really don’t like either of us going off on our own during weekends except for work, of course. As a rule of thumb, I wun do it myself. Of course, then it would also mean that I have to handle the little fella on my own. Already Iz is working on Sat so I got the whole afternoon with the little fella and then now Sun evening as well. Dun mean to make the little fellla sound like a burden but it is not easy handling a very active little one. An extra pair of hands really really help.

But then again, am I being too selfish? Too demanding? Making a mountain out of a molehill? I really  don’t want to be accused of being petty or whatever else. In anycase…will go with whatever Iz decides. Just dun want this to become a point of contention between us… There…I have said my piece and this shall be the last of it.

Posted: October 18th, 2007 under Family, Marriage.
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We recently discovered that Mana Kor Kor seemed to be having problems with his eyesight. He is unable to see bits of food even if they are placed in front of it. He cannot see the step down into the toilet and as a result, he stumbles and falls. He is a really resilient fella though, sniffing his way around. Somehow, I reckon though that he is not as happy as he used to be. He seems to growling a lot more and looking a lot more grouchy. Perhaps it is because he is older too. He sleeps a lot more these days too. I really want to spend more time with him and all but sometimes the little fella preoccupies me. I remember..when I first delivered, I felt so guilty about not spending time with Mana Kor Kor that I kept having nightmares. Dreamt that he ran away from home, committed suicide etc etc

I don’t like not being able to give him my attention too but sometimes he is so so naughty. But I try…..hope it is not too late now though.  Like I was telling a fren sometime back, aging pets scare me…it is not something I want to face. It reminds me too much of Terry.

Posted: October 16th, 2007 under Family, Parenting, Pets.
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Over the last weekend, we caught up with some of my uni frens. It is  amazing to see, how after a deacde, some things haven’t changed. The likes and dislikes of people..their habits..It is something I have known all the while but yet when you really think about it, it is funny how people are all intricately linked in the human web. Like how my secondary school teacher is now my mil, like how my uni fren was also Iz’s secondary/JC friend. Weird huh?!

 Meeting up with old frens always brings back such memories. Though a decade has passed, it did not seem too long ago that we were in school and doodling away during lectures. And of course, in all conversations, our infamous garden with th tall, tall weeds would always be talked about. I think about those days even more now because I suddenly ‘met’ so many people again via Facebook. And I realised that half or more than half of the Singaporeans in my batch are no longer living in Singapore. I wonder when it would be my turn…really can’t wait to relocate. Though things may be iffy for us, I think if we both take that step of faith and walk hand-in-hand, we will be all right. It is a gigantic adventure that I sure am looking forward to. Afterall, if we don’t do it now, when will we ever do it?

Posted: October 16th, 2007 under Family, Marriage.
Comments: 1

We had such a taste of ‘great’ customer service that I decided that I just had to blog about it. We went by the tailors’ in the evening to collect the pants that Iz tailored about a 3.5 weeks back. When the receipt was produced, the lady there just explained that it was nearly a month back and there was no way the pants could have been there. She just kept on insisting that we must have collected the pants already and were just out to pull a fast one on her. Throughout our wait there, she just said that there was no way the pants could have been uncollected after so long. After listening to her rant for a while, I could not hold back at her already and simply said that we did not collect the pants and that was that. There was no two ways about it. So eventually she went to the shop and said she would check with the factory. Basically, gave her a piece of my mind and said that she should be doing that instead of just insisting that pants were collected already. If the conversation was not in Mandarin, I would have scolded her more. I simply have no patience for bad service.  And if it was not dramatic enough, in the middle of it all, there was a power trip. Calls to the factory led to no results either..so said she would check further and call us back.So insisted on knowing when she would call us back. By this time, my patience had really gone out of the back door already. Was telling Iz that he should just forget the pants and get back his deposit. And of course, Iz, being the ever patient one, was peeved but nowhere as ruffled as I was. Whilst we were shopping, lady called and said that the factory had delivered the pants to the wrong shop and it was sitting in the Jurong shop. And again…she insisted that the people there had been trying to call him all these while. I mean…what the &*@#$? Surely, we would know if calls had been made.

Anyway…was telling Iz that when he goes to collect the pants, he should just tell them that the service there is appalling and this should be the last time he would be making pants there. There is just no reason why we should put up with the bad service. If there were some higher up authority that we could have complained to, I would definitely have done so. In times like this, I feel like such an aunty but I really have no patience for bad service. I do not feel like the most gracious person around but me thinks..why should I when I get crap service???

Good thing the rest of the evening went well and spending time with Iz and the little fella just soothes it all…Thank God for good-natured husbands and charming little sons!

Posted: October 13th, 2007 under Family.
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