My favourite kind of sandwich

 

Kayden made this for me today. I think its meant to be a sandwich. He showed me how to eat it, then put it in my hand and said "Thank you!" then walked away.

Yummiest sandwich I've ever seen. I wasn't as keen to try it though.

Kids.

=)

Is this a sign?

 

I didn't realize we do this so often that Kayden's actually copying us!  But obviously we spend way too much time on things like these. 

Over here, we live for the food

 

Hi again. We have been buzzing around here! Of late, there has been bursts of warm sunny days. And we are loving it!

I thank my lucky stars for being on an extremely friendly street. We have since got to know our neighbours really well and we are all zipping in and out each other's houses. And we've only been at our new place for just over a month. The kids play together, and we've been taking turns making lunches. It makes such a difference having great neighbours.

Above is a photo of Kayden with his mate Harrison. They are only 4 months apart. The closeness in age means his mum and I have alot in common to talk about! We have even started swim class with them! More on that later.

With a spanking new kitchen, I've been whipping up a storm in there too. I've been churning out baked goods at least once a week. We have to feed those kids something don't we? Us Moms will have nothing less than fresh homemade muffins for afternoon tea of course. Blueberry, double choc chip, apple and cinnamon muffins in our tummy!

 

But sometimes even food fails to impress. Like this mince beef taco wrap I made the other day. 

Kayden took one look at it and literally said "Nah."  I was so taken aback by that, I burst out laughing. It's not very often my baby refuses food! My rice baby no see no rice on the taco! He ended up having leftovers instead. 

Have rice equals happy baby.

All aboard

Following my previous post about his love of soft toys, this is what Kayden does.

He carefully arranges his little plush friends on his little couch then proceeds to squeeze his nappy bum in between them all as well. If someone were to fall off, he jumps off his seat with a "OH!!!" and then rearranges everybody once again. This little activity keeps him occupied for all of ten minutes or so.

Mommy is NOT allowed on it with them. 

It really is entertainment for Mommy and Daddy when he does this. I bend over laughing so much when he gets all frustrated, does the "Oh no!", and then does a pouty lip face haha!

Storytime

Of late, Kayden has been really into his books. He brings me a book, and asks for it to be read to him. When I say "OK. Come on!", he climbs onto my lap or goes to sit in his bed for storytime.

He's also really into his soft toys lately. And he MUST share all activities with a friend or two.

It gets tricky when I have to balance all 3 of them on my lap, hold and flip the pages as I read!

Brown confetti

 

Wednesday afternoon was apparently the warmest winter's day since they started recording the weather some 150 years ago.  There was no stopping Kayden from going to the door, saying "Open! Open!". Yea, that seems to be the word of the moment now. He perfected it during his escape fiascoes.

We have yet to lay out the lawn. It won't be happening till spring time, but that didn't stop Kayden from bringing his book and bowl of snack (not pictured) into the backyard for some time in the warm winter's sunshine. 

He poked around at weeds, peered into empty bottles that tradies left behind and did a perfect impersonation of a wild hippie child going "Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!' in circles around the yard. 

When he got tired, he plonked his nappy bum down, and was throwing  handfuls of dirt into the air like brown confetti over his head. 

Just before the warmth disappeared, we went for a walk around the neighbourhood and he made some new little friends on our street. (with K covered in dirt and all haha!)

Loving life at the moment!

Co-sleeping

Depending on the way I look at it, it is both a good thing and a bad thing. Of course I am acutely aware that there are the risks of co-sleeping even at K's age, but when exhaustion takes over, you surrender.

While we were away in Singapore at my parent's place, Kayden and I shared a room. We each had separate beds, but sometimes I would find him snuggled up right next to me in the middle of the night. I hadn't gotten used to caring for a cheeky toddler without hubby's help and was naturally tired at the end of most days. So I let him. When we got back to Melbourne, my toddler became even more clingy, probably due to yet another change of environment. And then again, when we moved to our new home a couple of weeks back.

It is fair I think, not to expect him to be sleeping on his own, in an unfamiliar room now.

It has been just over 2 weeks since we have moved in. And I have started the process of weaning him off sleeping with us. I can't bear hearing his distressed cries of "Open! Open!" (his room door) as he tries to open it. He has succeeded once and tumbled out of his room right into our arms as we stood outside listening in. Just to make sure he is ok. Once we saw him putting his toy keyboard under the window, lifting the blinds and trying to climb out of the (locked) window!

So, I give in most nights (even thought I know it shouldn't), snuggle into his bed with him and help him doze off to sleep, then tip toe out of his room.  Of course it is only my own fault Des and I are both rudely awoken (despite the baby monitor being on the lowest setting) every single night by his cries.

If you have been through this, or know of someone who has, share with me your experiences! I would love to hear and learn. It's going to be a loooong journey towards sleeping on his own. One for both him and us.

A different type of Jingle

Not the Santa type but the kind, that had me on the edge of my seat at my builder's swish leather office almost inappropriately screaming Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!

WE. HAVE. KEYS!

As we sat in our car and watched silently as the garage door slowly roll open, Hubby and I turned to face other with that knowing smile. Our new house!

So far, it has been a slow process of driving up to the new place with however much we can fill the car with.

We still have fences to put up, blinds to install, and grass to lay. At the moment, my backyard is just dirt. Slowly but surely, let's make this house a home!

My 20 month old prank caller

As seen on my sister-in-law's Facebook.

Weekend dining

Our little family have been enjoying our time together so much since we've been back. On the weekends, we kick start the day by heading out for a nice brunch. Yes. By the time we're ready to start our day on the weekends, more often than not, it is to some an ungodly 11am. Brunch it is.

Recently, we also attended the wedding of a close family friend. Despite being extremely well travelled for the month, the couple looked radiantly blissful. The groom is a close childhood friend of my husband. Their union could not have been any more appropriately celebrated with some fireworks! A private show of fireworks for a wedding!

Wow, definitely a first for me!  It was a cold, cold icy winter's night. But the skies were clear and starry. Most of the guests rugged up with scarves and coats and streamed out onto the balcony to watch the spectacular displays! It drew gasps and squeals of delight from most of us! Somebody said it was better than the New Year's fireworks!

Naturally, we were all wondering in hush tones how much that cost! We later found out from Richard, that it was actually alot more affordable than most of us thought it would cost! If the thought of ever saving up for that Chanel Jumbo ever crossed your mind, you can most probably enjoy a 15 minute display at the very least. I see that one tick off my bucket list for the future!

Matching electricals

Our hairdryer was calling out to be replaced. Whoever knew it could be that mind boggling standing in front of a whole wall of them at the store. This one was silently screaming out at me to pick it. And so I did. Hubby laughed when I said, "Oh! This one's good! It'll match our bathroom."

You know you're alittle too obsessed with your new house when you start colour coordinating your electrical appliances to match.

THE ALL ACCESS PASS

I have never directly addressed the issue here. Even though I knew he was capable of it, Kayden has flatly refused to say "Mommy". He says Daddy, Goong Goong (my Dad), Por Por (My Mum), Ye Ye (hubby's Dad) and Gor Gor (big brother). All perfectly. He's cantonese, and he even says it all with that perfect Hong Kong accent.

He says it in that cutsy sing song tone, which makes them all melt and go goo goo ga ga over him. I observe as they all give squeals of delight, and flash their widest grins. Then they pick him up and give him big cuddles and kisses. Then give him a biscuit. Or juice. They eventually surrender their mobiles, bunches of keys, coins, cameras, wallets and bags the moment he says "Goong Goong/Por Por" while giving them that doe eyed puppy look. Watch them cave in when he brings them their shoes and putS it at their feet. "Gai Gai!", "Let's go!". Then watch them from the window, as they walk hand in hand to the playground or for that obligatory neighbourhood walk.

Everyone does that. Except me. (And Daddy. But technically, it doesn't count, because he's not physically around).

Most of the times when I ask for a "Mommy" or 'Mama', he defiantly says "Da Da!" or "Mmmmmmm....". Yup. Just a Mmm. As in, when you're thinking about something, and you go MmmmMm... maybe? The best he said was "Maa?" Question mark intended. I was that desperate, I actually started asking if would say "Kelly". But nope he didn't want to say that either. No can do Mommy.

So..........I resorted to blackmailing. He loves songs from the Australian television programme Playschool. And I go onto youtube to let him watch it when we're here in Singapore. He recognizes the website. And he starts nodding his head vigourously, while bouncing up and down excitedly in his seat. Sometimes he says "YAY!" even before I play it. Before I hit the button, I ask.

Me: "Say Maaaaa Meeeeeee?"

Kayden: "DA DA!"

Me: "No boy. I'm not Daddy. I'm Maaaaa Meeee."

Kayden: " DAAA DAA!!!! Yea yea yea yea YEA!" (while nodding his head at the screen)

Me: "You have to say Mommy, otherwise no 'Watermelon for you'" (title of song).

Kayden: (Shakes head)

Me: "Okay then. No watermelon for you."


At the beginning, after repeating that type of conversation once or twice more I played it for him anyway. I just couldn't bear disappointing him. But I toughed up. Muahahahaha. I can tell when he wants to watch the song clip. So I'd ask him to say Mommy every single time. Most of the times he shakes his head, or struts off! My little man is that stubborn! He would rather give up listening to his favourite song than to say Mommy.

Then one day he said it. That magical word.


Me: "Would you like a biscuit Kayden?"

Kayden: (Nods head)

Me: "Say please?"

Kayden: "Mama?"

Me: "You have to say pl....Huh?! ...WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!!"

Kayden: "MaaaaMaaaa?"

Me: "Awwwww!!!! GoooOOoood boy! You said Mama! Yea yea yea yea YEA!!"

Mama's boy: "Yeaaaa!!!" (hands up in the air. By the way he loves doing that. If u say Yea! He's most likely to follow and then stick his hands high up in the air above his head)

A seemingly somewhat totally unrelated picture. But you see my new kitchen pantry? I think that corner on that top shelf right there, is reserved for the very same biscuits he was asking me for.  Because that day he said Mama, I actually let him finish a whole pack of biscuits. Time to stock up!

First weekend back

 

 

OK. It's much too cold to have my fingers exposed on the keyboard any longer than 5 minutes. Pardon me for dumping this lot of photos and running! 

We spent a whole day out in the city last weekend! It was cold, but we had a ball!

A catch up with friends was long due and of course, shopping for furniture for the new place. The hubs and I found a couch we can both agree on! 1 couch found, another to go! And a whole bunch of other stuff to hunt still. But that couch was major progress. Woot!

Ok, its back to snuggling under the covers near the heater. Pronto!

Back home

I know he looks all scrunched up in a corner, but he was so comfy in there!

Trust me, he was snug as a bug in there!

 
We flew home last Sunday evening. And we are finally back home in Antarctica Melbourne. We had an eventful week before we left Singapore! Daddy coming back to Singapore to pick us all up, birthday celebrations (mine!) and food poisoning! Huge week for us. We're tired, still acclimatising but glad to finally be home!

Kayden dozed off as our flight taxied across the runway just before taking off. And except for stirring during turbulence (which meant we had to pick him up from the basinnett twice when that happened), he only really fully awoke when the seat belt signs went off after touch down! Thank you Kayden!

Lots of updating to do, but I am taking it easy! The cold is enough to deal with for now! Have a great week everyone!

Week 15 Getting there

Yup! We're almost there! This is my lounge. I now have my dirty new floor!  With abit of leftover carpet that the builders have chucked right in the middle of the room (Maybe for an afternoon nap?). We are now at lock up stage and I couldn't be happier!

The timing's been just fantastic. By the time we all return home, there will hopefully just only be a few more loose ends to tie up and we would be trucking our stuff in!





And by loose ends, I meant that broken downlight in my kitchen needs to be fixed.

And it's really no point having soft closing doors on my cabinets if they don't actually close? 

And I'm guessing our plumber is possibly left handed? Well, I'm right handed, and I prefer my spigot (I love how I can pretend I am smarter by using building terms haha) to be on the right hand side of my laundry tap!

There's also a few more similar minor defects that Gino our builder has already started following up on. Within less than a day of being informed! Such efficiency from a builder is almost unheard of! We are very blessed indeed.

People have been saying we've hit the jackpot and got a really good builder. I tell them straight out, NOPE.

 That, by no chance is just LUCK.

Besides, Oprah Winfrey (I am a fan! A very sad one at the moment, because she just did her finale) doesn't believe in luck. "Luck is when preparation meets the moment of opportunity", she says.

Hubby spent a great deal of time researching and compiling stacks of reviews, months before we even started looking for a plot of land to build on. Back then, when Kayden was just a little joey, we trudged through dozens of display homes and builder's office with his research file. To which one of the prospective builders actually asked where we got that copy! So I say a BIG pat on the back for my hubby for a job well done! I am so proud!

Speaking of the hubby, he is en route to Singapore! Our little family is going to be reunited! Daddy's coming Kayden! I wonder how you're going to react when you spot him through the glass window at the airport!

All very exciting!

Perfect..... almost.

That was one perfect sunset evening. Just perfect.

.

.

.

Except for oily fingers touching my camera lense!

Once that's fixed up, I might do these up into a canvas print! What do you think?

Smiling with your eyes

Every year my mum makes her own dumplings for 端午节, or what I grew up being told it was called the Dragon Boat Festival. We are very lucky it happens before we leave, so I get to savour some yummy homemade ones!

Kayden was most intrigued, he settled himself next to my mum and observed her at the beginning while she went on wrapping the first few dumplings. Then after a little bit, he went on to explore the different condiments.  He poked at the glutinous rice, then the fillings and then the leaves used for the wrapping of the dumplings.

And then, he wanted to have a go at wrapping his own dumpling too! Scoop!

Furrowed brows.

This dumpling wrapping is serious business. That look of concentration! 

He was even seen 'helping' Por Por 'test' a batch of the fillings! He was so pleased with himself, he flashed me this 'no eyes' smile every now and then. Seeing my baby this happy makes me happy too! (Plus I get to eat the dumplings after of course).

=)

Through an 18 month's old eyes

K makes a beeline for my camera EVERYTIME he sees it within his reach. So one day, I gave in and supervised while he played around with it.

I taught him how to press the capture button and these were some of the shots he took. All floor shots but I was suitably impressed when quite a number of them were quite focused! And I could tell what he was trying to capture! Bravo my boy!

Drama King

Ice Age was on television one evening the other day. I settled him on the couch, gave him something to snack on, and left him on the couch to watch it. He loved the movie, it looked like he thoroughly enjoyed it. So, I thought oh good! Something else that he will sit down quietly and watch, mermerized. Besides that Giggle and Hoot DVD which he's watched 2,457 times.

I only stepped away for a couple of minutes when I heard an outcry of horror! Kayden came running into my arms. Tears! Quivering lips! Even trembling a little.

I wasted no time in checking him all over for a signs of a fall, a bruise or a cut. Nope. No blood thank God.

So I asked, "Did you fall Kayden!???! WHERE does it hurt!!? WHAT HAPPENED????"

Then what was happening on Ice Age struck me.

Oh.

"Kayden? Are you upset because the baby elephant got taken away from his Mommy and Daddy? Mommy and Daddy elephant no more? Gone?"

He nodded furiously. Then with an upside down smile, he sobbed into my neck again!

Everybody say Nawww!

You know that scene in Ice Age, in that re-enactment scene that Manny the mammoth recalled the time when he was young? He got separated from his parents as a young mammoth. Where if my memory doesn't fail me (it's rare these days), it wasn't even the proper animation shot for it, it was portrayed as a sketch?

I thought it was just oh too cute! Who would have known! My little man getting all emotional over that?

Of course, I smothered him with hugs and kisses, and promises that it will be ok.  But as he buried his face into me, I was trying my darn hardest not to laugh! I was actually fighting back chuckling out loud to save hurting his feelings! I shouldn't be even thinking it, but it was so funny!

Talk about shopping in comfort

This is our study. How nice would it be to be online shopping while having a warm soak in the tub? 

=)