Who needs chocolate when there's vegemite?



We do this!



And so we get THIS!

Photos taken from my ancient mobile, crappy! My little aussie man at heart LOVES his vegemite,

this was him one evening before dinner. He had us all in a laughing fit!

The eating machine

I am amazed by the amount of food Kayden eats. I'm convinced he can't be the only one. Right? This was what happened the other day.

By 10am in the morning, he's usually already had cup of milk, a slice (or two) of bread with vegemite, maybe some grapes or fruit of some sort and a handful of biscuits. Then at 11am, he has his lunch. A full bowl of porridge, noodles or macaroni. Then, when its time for my lunch around noon, he's peckish again, and goes "Mmmmmore" at me. So I may feed him abit of my lunch, depending on what it is.

Then he goes for a nap and is up again 2 hours later, at 3pm. Ravenous.

Snack again. Somebody bought him some Chwee Kuehs. I took out the condiments,  he had it plain. He wolfed down 3. Then at 4pm, he had 2 slices of cheese. And then more bikkies. All these time while having water and juice.

I'd like to know where all the food went? How is he still able to have dinner again at 6pm later that night? And then yoghurt, and then his milk before bedtime?

Are his legs hollow? Just how much is he going to be eating when he's a growing teenager? I think we need to know. So we can start saving.

Going through the rubbish

..is what I have to do these days. I've recently taught Kayden where to put his dirty nappies. He trots off to the bin with it in hand and pops it in with a satisfied grin on his face.

It is like having a personal butler at your beck and call. Very handy when I am too lazy to walk to the bin myself. I also hand him little bits of rubbish like cracker wrappers, scraps of papers, food scraps, tissues, junk mail and empty juice packs. He happily takes it from me and walks off to complete his task.

However, the problem now is that he tends to put other things in the bin too. Especially things that he decides has done it's job. His socks and shoes. My mum's phone was ringing in the bin once. Then his cup found its way in there too.

So I have developed a habit of peeking into the household bin whenever I walk pass.

Just in case.

The face only a mother would love

Absence makes the heart fonder

We're still here in Singapore. Enjoying the company of family and friends around us. But I am missing my hubby terribly. I'm sure Kayden is too. Despite skyping at least once a day, I find Kayden taking glimpses at the laptop, going Da Da! Da Da! He wriggles onto my lap excitedly, whenever he realises we're connecting a video call.

Hubby's got a stopover in June. JUNE! I thought it was a great idea for an extended trip for us (while K's not in school yet), reunite and then return home to Melbourne together. But right now, June feels so far away.

I miss griping about the cold, haha! In fact, I'm yearning to feel the cold air on my cheeks while on our tranquil walks in the local park back home.

Mostly, I can't wait until we're our little family is reunited again. (and the completion of the new house too)

Hiss

The main topic hubby and I find outselves discussing so much about this week - Kayden's temper tantrums.

Recently, they have been like nothing I have ever seen before with Kayden. When he goes into one of them, he screams. He pinches, shoves, pulls my hair, tries to slap me and finds things to stab me with and throws his stuff around. AND THEN, he tears into the room and slams his door shut.  He cries until he is beetroot red. Trembling. Going into the room to give him a hug only makes him even more agitated. From inside, he wails. I let him.

I have learnt to go in when he calms down.

When he is completely settled, I ask him for an apology after explaining to him that Mommy doesn't like it when he does that. It's just not nice to throw your chewed up fruits on the ground. I will take it away if you keep doing that. He nestles his head in my neck, and puts his arms around me to mean he is sorry (not always, but most of the times).

But it doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't repeat the misbehaviour.

I pray this sort of thing doesn't happen in public. Not a temper tantrum like this. Please?

Sigh.

Kayden Uncut

His fruits that is. I've come to realise, he enjoys his fruits alot more when he has them whole. My mum's fruit basket looks like it has been attacked by mice overnight. Kayden picks an apple up and proceeds to leave a bite mark on it. Then he puts it down and does the same to the rest of the fruits. Ergh. It's like an uncontrollable urge he has. He does that everytime he sees a fruit. So now, I park the supermarket trolley a few steps away to prevent all of you from buying Kayden branded fruits (which has happened plenty of times already!).

After dinner, Goong Goong cuts apples and pears for everyone. Kayden goes "Air-per!" and tries to clamour onto him as he does it. He would be happily munching on a slice of apple until he notices more uncut apples in the fruit basket.

So what's the most natural thing to do? Throw sliced apple onto floor and make a mad dash for the fruit basket of course!

Kayden finishes his meals usually within ten minutes flat. A blessing I know. But sometimes he (still) forgets to chew. And ends up with a face like that last picture, which PoPo describes as "Eyes as big as marbles! Chew boy boy!".

Plenty of apples in the fruit basket. No hurry. Nobody's going to fight you for those apples you've marked.

Hello? This is a library.

DO NOT be fooled by that face. That is called a look of oblivion. Around us were many pairs of dagger sharp stares looking our way. I took this photo while hiding in between 2 rows of bookshelves with this little monkey face!

The other day, I brought Kayden to a library. I thought I'd let him get oriented with the place first before we sat down for a read. Well, let's just say that reading part didn't quite happen. 

He was madly dashing around the place. I couldn't keep up. The more I tried to move forward to stop him from running around, the louder he laughs, and the faster and wilder he runs in the opposite direction, his legs kicking into the air and his arms flinging around at his sides. It looked like I was an incompetent mom who couldn't control her child. Luckily I have developed the 'thick skinned mother syndrome' where no amount of staring at me will make me feeling embarassed no more.

But still, argh!

So I decided to follow him around loosely instead. BAD move. He thought that I was playing a game of hide and seek. He peeks through the rows of shelves like that, trying to see where I am. Everytime he spots me a few rows away, he would wait until I mak eye contact, then cackle away loudly, turn away and run off again!

Just a word of advice. Yes, that's right. From me. When your child misbehaves at a library, head to the parenting section right away. Like I found myself wandering. Titles like these will pop out at you within 5 seconds flat, so you can flip through it wildly then attempt to rectify his misbehaviour asap.

But on your way home, remember to pick up books like these so you can do some desperate late night reading as your 'strong-willed child' sleeps. Maybe something for Daddy to read too.

Leave the actual baby lift the flap books for next time.

More Thailand

Would you have believed me if I said I had never been to Bangkok?

It seems like the whole world around me had, and I didn't. But now, I can say I've been. And I LOVE BANGKOK! I think I've fallen in love with Thailand! But this city is my new love for sure.

The bestie and I jetted off for a girly trip away.

Indeed, it is THE land of smiles. People are friendly, despite the busy nature of their lifestyles. Their skytrain is superb! Clean, timely and efficient. Even when it is crowded, people give way and are considerate. Once during the peak lunch time hour, we approached a office lady for directions. She did it gladly with a smile and a slight bow. That very same minute, somebody else came up and tried to offer help too! Of course, it also helps that both the young and the old are largely able to converse in English.

It was a girly trip where we intended to shop until we dropped. And that we did! There were trinkets of all sorts and sizes. The only hard bit was to try not to buy everything we saw.

A friend has purchased an apartment to retire there in his future years. When I first heart of that, I was thoroughly surprised. Retire in Bangkok? He described the place that is chaotic, peaceful, ancient, modern, magical and realistic all at the time. I have never had anyone paint me a picture of Bangkok that way. Not even my Thai friends. I was naturally intrigued.

But after the trip. I get it.

Traffic snarls, temples and swanky hotels all along the same stretch of road. Monks in their orange robes and women dressed in the latest designer gear all living together at the same place. Street side stalls line the streets. People who had just moments ago, just swiped their magical cards (quoting my Thai friend N) at the posh Prada store across the road sit on make shift tables and chairs, enjoying their grilled delights. Stray cats sitting at their manicured feet, quietly hoping somebody throws a bone or two on the ground.

Amazing!

A gelati like icy treat encased in a ball! i-maru

 

My 40baht lunch (AUD1.20) Can't beat that!



It is a place to be explored. I find myself wishing I am back sooner than later!

Week 8

Bear with me while I relish in the building process. Bricking is complete. Des has been dutifully going into the house every weekend to check and capture shots of the the house for me to look at. And as I look at the space, I try and imagine us lounging on a new couch, mug in hand, everybody snuggled up under the covers watching the telly. Or sitting at the kitchen bench, reading the papers as we have our morning cereal.

So now, the outside is waiting to be rendered. Thank god for that. I don't have the answer to those different coloured bricks. 

The builder says the kitchen goes in next. Right smack in the middle of this area too. The island goes on top those little stumps on the ground. Woohoo! My lovely sparkly benchtop, I am looking forward to seeing you!

Can't wait, can't wait!

Couch potato in the making

He later had his arms crossed over the pillow in front of him. Looking very comfortable.

Not good.