Aunty Magnet

Jo was up every 1 to 1.5 hour last night. In fact, he was doing just that for the past week or so. I was very exhausted, so I took the opportunity to sleep in (& missed church totally). Of course, my defination of "sleep in" nowadays, is simply a lil later than usual work week.

I loathe eating at home on weekend morns. So there I was in the busy foodcourt with Jo - just the 2 of us. Ordering something to go to bring home was ideal, but I thought, let's be ambitious! With Jo in 1 arm, a spoon in the other hand, I attempted to eat my porridge (piping hot bowl placed very far away from us both of course). Was difficult cos Jo kept eyeing my spoon, & then was prying my mouth open. He already had breakfast at home??!! This wasn't working, so I had to get him a bowl of bean curd jelly. He a spoonful, me a spoonful.

We went on for a while, until an elderly stranger stopped by to play with him. He reached for her, so she said she'll carry him for a while so that I could eat. Was I doing so badly? Was I looking pathetic in my attempt to have breakfast with my 6 month old? I thought I was accomplishing something??!

Appreciated her kind offer, but I did not really eat. I chatted with her about Jo (cos she thought he was a `she', & that he was older cos of his thick mop of hair). Then, along came 2 more strangers (who I had spied looking at me from many tables away). They thought I was feeding him porridge, & was relived to find that it was only the bean curd jelly. They played with him, and when all left, my porridge had cooled to a temperature that was easy to gobble all down (*with Jo, gobble is Andy's favourite new word at all meal-times).

I went shopping for my clothes next. Yes, was feeling very, very ambitious & confident cos I had all the right gear with me - stroller, hip seat, & carrier. I could actually browse, try on some clothes, & buy some of them! You see, there were some aunties here as well. He gamely entertained them till he fell asleep. That's where I took advantage & tried on clothes. So happy, I think I lost some weight, & could fit into some new outfit :) :) :)

So, on the whole, I think there were no less than 5-6 aunties who came over to play with him. He's such an aunty magnet :)

Happy Birthday Michael & Connor!

Michael (9) & Connor (3) celebrated their Birthdays with a whole bunch (BIG bunch) of kiddy pals. Timo, Danielle, Jo & Bella were invited to the BBQ. There were bouncy castle, inflatable slide & pool, & the kids' all-time fav - the pinata.

Amanda arranged for 2 (Nemo & a treasure chest) that the older kids pretty much bashed to bits. Timo & Danielle simply stood & gawked. They were too little to be part of it.

When we went home, Timo grumbled that he did not have a go & bashing them. Will have do up one for these 2 kiddies, just to make up for it. This will be my next project - handmade pinatas by me.

Danielle had a fantastic time. Agnes said she was asking about going to the party again. Timo too. I had a good time with the wine & beer :) Great work Amanda on putting together a fun party for all!!

Lazy Saturday morn

Saturday morns are great. Breakfast at leisurely pace with the family, & then a trip to the neighbourhood mall. With 2 kids, there are more accessories, so that makes the pace even more leisurely.



Timo now likes the stroller, & sits in it whenever he gets the chance cos he's too lazy to walk.



Jo likes the view in this carrier. Quite a strain on our backs though, cos he's well over 9kg.

Jail break!

Row, row your boat

Timo loves to play pretend `row your boat' with Jo. However, we have to pack this `tyre' in the store as Jo is now able to bend over & fall out.

Happy 6 months Bella!

Bathtime nostalgia

Timo's been eying his old baby bath tub ever since we took it out for Jo. He finally had his chance to bathe in it & boy! Was he really happy in it!!

Vivian's pregnant!!!

Whoppeee!!! My colleague's pregnant!!
3 month's gone past. Only 2 trimesters left to go.
Isn't timing impeccable again? Her 1st boy is the same age as mine, & she's going to deliver around the same time as I did, but 1 year later :)

Meet the local kampong boy

Don't know why, but there's something very dated about this series of photos. They remind me of some kampong in the 70s. Maybe it's the clothes, maybe it's the colour, maybe it's the backdrop, or maybe it's because Timo looks kinda Malay. But whatever it is, Timo had a good time with his new pal, Aidan. Aidan's so much taller, although he's just a year older.

I spy a 3rd tooth!!

Happy Birthday Chee!!!

Pizza, pool, & karaoke was how Chee celebrated her birthday.

For me (& I think some of us too), it was the 1st time that I stayed out that late at Cineleisure. I was a lil taken aback by the crowd. It was close to midnight when we made our way here, & it was packed everywhere??!!

Anyhow, we played some pool at the back of the hall, & I observed the crowd here. I told Bren that I think we're the oldest here (cos everyone looked like in their teens, or early 20s at the very most). Bren said, "no lah, there are some uncles in front". To which I said, "what makes you think they won't ask the same, & that 1 might reply: no lah, there are some aunties at the back"??!!!

This is depressing. Only in early 30s, & feeling like there's a generation gap. So, where do people in the 30s hangout in the wee hours of Saturday? "Home" was my colleague's reply. Now, that's really sad... are 30-somethings supposed to be banished to their homes?

Buffet for Jo

Andy learnt that the Polyclinic near our home would be having a nutritional talk: how to wean your babies, what to feed, how to prepare, store food, etc. Nurse told him to `bring your baby' cos there'll be a variety of food prepared. Buffet for Jo? Hahaa.. that would be cute I thought.

So there we were, 4 of us (Timo wanted to tag along too) in the room with 3 other parties. Talk was really educational. Andy found it really invaluable. Although we have done it once with Timo, there were some tips that we never knew of, that was pretty handy.

Buffet? Well, that didn't happen of course. Only person who was given a munchie was Timo. Nurse gave him a banana.

Hello Isaac!

William finally sent me photos of his 1 month old boy - Isaac. He's adorable! Very chubby. I told William, Isaac looks like a tubby version of him :)

I like the photo in which he makes the "O" with his mouth :)

New swing for Jo?

Next on my `Should I get this for Jo' list is this Fisherprice swing. Jo has a hand-me-down Graco swing from Timo. It's a lifesaver for us. This baby wants to be carried most of the time, & we do not want him in 1 of those sarong. We put him in the swing whenever our arms & back need a rest. He doesn't sleep in it, so there's no 'withdrawal symptoms' at bed or naptime.

But, we had to try out this new swing at the mall, & it seems better (smaller equipment, can fold & take around, & easier to access). Cost similar to our Graco one, which really is the problem. I refuse to fork out another close to $200 on another swing, cos that would mean spending a total of $400 for these babies to `swing'???!! Doesn't make sense. But why is that item still stuck in my mind? Why do I still feel like getting that new swing???

Tsk.. tsk.. tsk... This bad... buying fetish.

Bumboo seats

These bumboo seats are really popular on the marketplace section of singapore motherhood website. I wonder why? Agnes bought one 1-2 years back and said that it is an excellent product for babies who cannot sit properly. Saw these at the mall, and thought I'd let Jo have a go in it. He looks like he likes sitting in it, but the problem is, I had to squash his butt & thighs in. I do not think he can sit in there for long, so there's 1 item struck off my `Should I get for Jo' list.

Congratulations Smally & Aug!!!

We were @ the ROM to witness & to celebrate the union of Smally & Aug. They've been talking about this for some time, & I am so happy for them that they have finally realised this. Here's wishing you two the very, very best for the many years to come :) :) :)

Happy 6 mths Joshua!!!

Happy 6 months joshua! Just halfway to a full year old :-) Daddy had to celebrate by feeding you with his favourite food - egg. Hope you do not break out with rash, so you can share eggs with him often1

Jo's 1st real food

Jo had his 1st real food tonight. We served him sweet potatoe & pear puree. From his expression, I didn't think he enjoyed it, but he finished every last scoop of it. So, I am led to think that he did like his 1st real meal :)

What I am not looking forward to though, is the big stinky poop bomb tomorrow...

Beg bugs!!!

Andy's been bitten by something for the past week or so.  We thought it was mosquitoes bites, but there are way too many scars on his arms (easily 20 on each arm).    My mil said it may be bed bugs / mites.  But we thought it may not be as I have not been bitten.  Neither has Jo.  Timo has only 1 or 2 marks.

 

Today, Andy decided to have a closer look at the mattress, & to his horror, he discovered a whole bunch of them.

 

YUUUUCCCKS!!! 

 

& to think I have been sharing the bed with these creepy crawlies??!!! He's arranging to have the mattress & the bed frame thrown out right now.  We'll have to get a total new set.  In the meantime, I foresee us having to sleep on the floor or couch till the new set arrives.

 

Eeeky yewwwwww!!!!!

Rice cereal

Since doc @ hospital noted that Jo's a lil anemic, we've been feeding him rice cereal everyday for lunch & dinner. His appetite has grown. From 2 teaspoon of rice cereal, he's progressed to 3. Think he's getting the hang of eating from a spoon.

Timo @ grooming & modeling class

Just for the fun of it, I enrolled Timo in a basic grooming & modeling class today. The moment he saw the wooden floor, velvet drapes, & light sets, he was ecstatic!. He shouted "stage, stage"! Looks like he's really keen on drama class.

Anyway, after 4hrs & quite a bit of $, I could not quite decide if it was $ well spent. He was really happy (whole day & did not even want to nap, even my mil noted it), but could not quite tell me what went on in that 4hr. I am still deliberating if he should proceed with the full course. Trainer noted that Timo's a "dreamer", "requires more attention than other kids", "very creative", & suggested we explore drama classes for him. So we shall.

I spy a tooth!!!

Jo had been drooling much for the past mth, and for about a week or so, I had been wondering if I was seeing a pale pinkish-white patch on Jo's lower gums. This week, I am sure it's a tooth. Or rather, 2 teeth. 1 has already popped up, & another is peeping though. This is too early for me. Timo's 1st only sprouted when he was 11 mths old. I fear greatly for my tits!!! HELP!!!

Backtracking

Andy had a change of mind.  When I started this blog, he thought it was kind of silly to post things up on the web.  Now, he thinks it's not too bad an idea afterall.  It's useful for keeping in contact with our friends & families, both overseas & locally.  He suggested doing a `backtrack' of events.  So, on & off, we'll be posting pictures from the past on this blog.  So friends & families, do not be surprised if you see Yr 2004 & beyond, appearing on this blog.

What else is there?

I am at a lost. I do not know where to take Timo this weekend. I did promise to make it up to him, to spend some time together with him (just the 2 of us). I'm always lamenting that there's nothing much to do in Singapore. Malls and movies are the staple. Of course, there's also sentosa, the zoo & the bird park (we bought the annual pass & been there only 2x). What else is there?

I stumbled on this website, but could not find anything that might be suitable. It cites the usual national attractions, and some farms. We went to one last year. It was horrifying! I think it was Farm Mart or something. There was a tiny section where miserable looking animals were stuffed into tiny cages. Stench was overwhelming too. Timo was terribly disappointed. He kept asking where the white fences, spotted cows, pigs, etc were. He had `Old MacDonald's Farm' etched into his mind. Anyway, it was an absolute waste of time!

The fire station tour looks interesting. I might bring him to one.

Timo the Magician

Agnes says that 'role-playing' among kids are pretty big in Australia. She got Timo a magician cloak. He loves it to bits. Today, I got him a top hat, magic wane, & a stuffed bunny, & he was thrilled. During the recent school hols, we enrolled him in an arts class. He didn't seem to like it that much. He seems to like to perform, but then again, doesn't most kids his age? Perhaps for the next holiday camp, we'll ask him if he wants to be in a speech & drama environment?

Timo & Vic

Timo has a girlfriend. Well, Lin always refers to them as that. Vic is now in Japan, but Timo still thinks that she lives in the next block. We told him that we'll be bringing him to the themepark, & he wanted to ask her along. Somehow, he does not understand.

It's interesting. Lin's just dropped me an email. She said that "Vic speaks of Mo all the time n makes imaginary phone calls to him everyday. When I commented why is it she calls only mo mo she made another call n said it was mo mo mummy. Then another one, to mo mo daddy."

How sweet :) :) :)

I owe Timo big time

Things have hopefully settled back to norm. Jo's voice is still a lil missing (odd to see a baby open his mouth to cry, but to hear only squeak, barely too). Other than that, he seems pretty ok. Active, sleeping and breathing well.

I went to work today. Timo was at the door, not letting me go. He said he wanted me to be with him. It kills me each time he does this. He's not done this for a long time. Maybe it's because I have been away from home much these past 6D/5N at the hospital with Jo. I owe him big time. Have to somehow make it up to him this weekend.

Yipeee!! We can go home!

Doc has signed the discharge papers. We can go home now :)

A 9 year old who had been here with us since Sunday, is also able to go home. He's in here for the same thing. A 1 mth old just got in, & she's in for the same thing. On the way to the car park, we met a 4 mth old. Also in here for the same thing.

Doc told us earlier, that `it's the season' now for this RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus), a viral disease of the lungs. Looks like she wasn't exaggerating. She said it was best to keep Jo at home as much as possible for now, lest he gets infected again.

We are still here

We are still in hospital. Doc said jo is much better, but they want to monitor him a little more as he is still very phelgmy. The pharmacist came by to pass jo his medication to take home. Looks like his chances of being discharged is high. We will see.

I am losing track of time

I know it is tues today cos CSI was on telly. Nights and days do not quite matter now. Any chance to catch 40 winks are all that matters. I did not get a chance to go home yesterday. Fortunately my mil came by in the pm to relieve me. Zipped home for a shut eye. Timo was having his afternoon nap on my bed. I had a quick bath and slipped in bed with him. He is such a lil darling. He was told that i was in need of sleep. So when he got up, he lay quietly beside me and browsed through his books til his daddy got home in the evening. I think he will make a fine big bro :)

Speaking of which, i know of a 2 yr old who became a big bro yesterday. A family friend was here at this same hospital to have her boy delivered. His name is Hauuy. Unfortunately, like his big bro, he has G6PD (i think i may have toggled the alpha and numeric). His mom was discharged today, but the baby has to stay on for another 2 wks. Doc wants to monitor him and to ensure that his jaundice level does not shoot up too high.

I am sure God is watching over these kids. Since we got here on fri, kids have been admitted to our 4-bedder room, and have since been discharged. Perhaps it will be jo's turn tomorrow? He seems better today.