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? 

=)

Stupidity happened

In the midst of all the initial excitment of our Singapore trip a couple of months back, I totally forgot to post about an incident the very night before our Singapore flight. MamaJ had a similar ordeal recently which has reminded me to post this entry.

Back story first. Just before christmas, we had a neighbour whose van had a pretty serious gas leak. Serious enough to have 4 fire trucks and firemen strutting around doing their thing for a bit. They told us there was a possibility that a huge explosion could happen if not dealt with tactfully.

So second time round, when I heard 2 loud explosions right outside our bedroom window (it sounded like fireworks) AND saw a fire that went up to 2 storeys high, I FREAKED. It was no fireworks.

I thought the worst. Let me just put it plainly.

I thought we were all going to die if we don't get the hell out of the place. (sorry about the pun)

Just when I realised what was going on outside, our other next door neighbour was frantically ringing our doorbell telling us there is a fire!

When you have firemen telling you once before, that a gas leak is no laughing matter, you'll know what I mean. The scenes are still very vivid in my mind. And that feeling of helplessness. The terror and the adrenalin.

A fire! With the possibility of a gas explosion no less.

I GRABBED MY SLEEPING BABY from his cot. And I RAN.

All the way to the other end of the house. I didn't run outside because at that point, I thought it was another gas leak. What if another explosion happens? I don't know if it was a good idea to stay inside. But I was visualizing being flung into the air when that explosion happens. I know. I watch too many of these action movie flicks. But hey, I wasn't taking chances! I wanted some sort of protection. Just as well I didn't step outside. It was freezing outside. I was in such a panic stricken mode, I didn't even have the sense to grab a jacket for K.

By the time I had put my baby in a safe spot (still sleeping and totally unaware of the whole fiasco), hubby had gone out to find out what happened.

Two doors away, a massive fire was eating its way into a part of a neighbour's house. Nothing to do with the said van (but that neighbour raced his van out of our court, just in case, he said later on). Neighbours were all pitching in to fill buckets of water to help douse out the fire.

But to no avail.



This time round, I know I'll be forgiven for the crappy blurry photo. My hands were shaking!

 My sister in law was quick on her feet, and had the sense to ring the police. And in no time, there was the blaring of the sirens into the silence of the night. The fire trucks arrived. In short, they scurried around in an orderly fashion, put out the flames after what seemed like an agonising half an hour or so.

I tucked K back into his cot, grabbed the baby monitor and hurried outside to find out we really didn't need to evacuate.

Fast forward an hour later, the firemen and the occupants of that house were still sitting on the grass on our front lawn. With their faces in their hands, some in tears, barefoot and dishevelled.

What happened?


Stupidity happened. That's what.


Someone was silly enough to light a naked flame next to a half installed airconditioning unit. Exposed electrical wires and all. The result was a gutted garage, affecting also part of their house. The lucky thing was, everyone managed to get out of the house in time. And that the fire didn't spread to the surrounding houses.

Thankfully for us, if we had to evacuate, our bags were already packed! Afterall, our flight takes off in another 10 hours! It was waaaay past midnight when our household calmed down enough to settle back to bed.

And in hindsight, it is now very clear, what I consider the most important thing in the world.

My baby.

I didn't grab my wallet. Our passports. Our phones. NOTHING.

Dear god, come to think of it now, I really should have! What was I thinking!? So this time, when we move into our new home, I'm gonna make sure ALL the important things are kept in one safe spot. Maybe also a small amount of cash with it. So, *touch wood* should something like that were to happen again, I will be able to grab it and go. IF I am still thinking that is!

How an earth did I not remember to blog about this is beyond me! This literally happened almost 4 months back! Having someone yell out "FIRE!" in the middle of the night is truly one heck of an adrenalin punch! Dramatic!

There! and Scoop!

Kayden actually spends a considerable amount of time at my mum's kitchen window pointing and saying "There!!!!" whenever he spots an aeroplane (and sometimes 4 or 5!). She has the best unobstructed view of these aircrafts taking off into the sky and making its descent in the direction of the airport. It is actually very soothing to be standing at the window looking out, waiting and spotting them in the skies with Kayden.

Anyway. My aunt decided to bring us all to the beach last weekend, so Kayden could take a closer look at the aeroplanes flying right over us there. If you have been reading my blog for a bit, you may remember the time where I first brought Kayden to the beach. He is terrified of the sand.



Fingers and toes all curled up!



Well. Status quo. The photos say it all. Including me snickering at him, being so paranoid his feet were about to touch the sand. He was clinging onto me for dear life once again. He lifted his foot, and pointed his toes up as much as he could.

Yes, I was laughing at his expense, but you haven't heard about the time where he thought having juice poured into my top was the best joke in the world. He was the only one into the joke that time.



They say time is the best medicine. They need to add, that putting on some footwear will help too. Because an hour later, he was alot more willing to give it a go again. "ScooOoop!", he says.

Unfortunately, photos end right about there. Because when he said that, he meant scooping it into his mouth.

OK, granted that NOSE and TOES sounds similar. But NO.

And P/S: That's so not your colour boy. You ain't a metrosexual YET.

Pardon the even crappier pics, I've gotten way lazier. These are just off my phone.

K's almost birthday celebration

Last week, we celebrated K's 18 months milestone. K had a blast! Here are a few highlights of the evening.



Till today, K's still not used to the Singapore weather, he sweats like a pig!
With only a nappy on, he was almost butt naked on his day!



I just had to take a photo of this! Too cute!
I must be the only person who haven't seen something like this before!



To his delight, someone gifted him a reindeer balloon. He was zipping around the room taking his new found friend for a 'walk'. Just barely a week later, poor Rudolph looks more than a little weary. Too many walks with Kayden I reckon.

The boy keeps forgetting he comes with a leash, and is often dragging his friend around the house by its ear.

That broken horn was no accident. Then off came one of his hooves later as well because he kept stepping on it accidentaly. I"ll spare you it's sorry state. Too gruesome for a happy kiddy post.

I hear it didn't come too cheap.  But hey! Well worth the price paid for it I reckon! It's a sure winner! He absolutely LOVES it. I've seen him give him slobbery kisses, eye popping hugs and heard many intimate conversations between the two.  These days, he even shares his food with Rudolph. "Ahhhhhhhmmmmm!", he says, before feeding it to Rudolph.

When I told hubby I was organizing this little celebration, he joked that Kayden might be more interested in smashing into his cake.

Well. It happened. Even before we had a chance to light the candles on it too!

We all laughed it off, but the boy was horrified that the blue icing was smeared into his palm. And that his hand was stained blue. He squished it around and proclaimed "Eeeeeee!!"  while the rest of us said, "Blue hands!". He had his arm outstretched for a while, waiting for somebody to wipe it off for him.

All good after. Until he did it AGAIN!

No kidding! The cake was so badly mauled I think I went into denial, so no photos of it after that.  I just wanted to eat some cake already! I did respond hubby back then that K could do whatever he wanted with his cake. It's his anyway. But I should really have stated he might do so AFTER the obligatory photos and cake cutting. 6 more months to your 2nd birthday boy, I'll remember next time.

And next time, I'll also save my money on buying party hats. He absolutely hated it! I swear he probably only had it on his head for 5 seconds before he tried to pull it off everytime.

 It's all good, the money can go towards his eating fund.

You don't need me to tell you which were the crappy photos I took! All the other beautiful shots credited to K's Godma!

Thanks for all the well wishes and pressies everyone!

A different kind of beautiful

Seen on my Facebook status one day:


Me: It's snowing shredded tissues in the living room here. Everywhere. =|

A: So beautiful isn't it? Such a clever little boy... making snow flakes for mama to clean up.

Me: yea he's going to get a beautiful ass soon if he keeps it up!

A: LOL!

Week 12





So we're now at week 12 of construction. Kitchen cabinets are in! Painters were in the house painting the interiors when hubby was there to take a look around. From what I can see from my screen, the white is what I was hoping for. A warm and soft off-white shade. But we've noticed there was no provisions for lighting in the kitchen area. We have 6 downlights. Still some work to be done there.

And as you can see, the rendering is done too. We're still waiting on painting to start on the outside of the house. But I am actually loving the white on the rendering! At colour selection, we were tempted to have it white, but being lazy but practical folks, we opted a darker shade so wear and tear would be less obvious in the future.

We've also played safe and hired an external building inspector to check on the quality. Report just came back yesterday and inspector says it is excellent! Yipee! Albeit some minor fixable defects he says is completely common, and usually fixed up before handover. It is comforting to know that your site supervisor takes pride in his work.

Tiling in the bathrooms are being carried out as I type. And throughout the week, I suspect the rest of the tiling work will commence too.

On another note, this time, next month, we are reunited with Daddy! But that also means it's almost time to go back home to Melbourne!

Happy 18 months Kayden

Kayden turns 18 months today! Later today, we have close family and friends who will be helping him blow out some candles. Most of the family won't be making it to his 2nd birthday later this year, so we're making up for it with his 18 months milestone.



Is anyone looking???

 

Oops! They caught me! *Kayden does scary*

 For the past month his emotional development has really shot through the roof. He clasps his hands in great excitement and makes little rapid steps on the spot when he discovers that someone has left the television remote unattended. The look on his face says it all! He takes furtive glances around him, then when he thinks it's safe, he sneakily goes forward to claim his prize.

My mum helps to babysit the next door neighbour's baby every so often. Needless to say, he gets jealous when any of us helps to rock her in her bouncer. Or pat her. Or talk to her. He insists on sitting on our laps or cling onto us, while we awkwardly reach over him to attend to her. 

But saying that, he also  likes patting her on her tummy, help to rock her, and fling his soft toys at her (his idea of sharing). He goes up to her real close, right in front of her nose and attempts to give her awkward hugs while she's lying in her bouncer. Naturally, baby M gets annoyed at his persistant wooings, so she cries. Ah my boy, you ain't a cassanova yet! And when she cries, K cries too.

I understand this 'contagious distress' is part of his social and emotional growth, so I pick him up, cuddle him and explain (sometimes unfruitfully) that baby does not like you sticking your face so close to her! And of course I have fallen into his trap haven't I? Having my attention back on him is what he really wants!

He also loves imitating the things I do. Here is K imitating me as I sat beside him flossing. He also pretends to sneeze when I do. Or carry my handbag like I do. His favourite gadget besides the remotes would be Por Por's old hand me down mobile which she has gifted him. He walks around the room chatting candidly to his imaginery friend. It goes "Ah! Ki na chu ah kisch mmmm ohhh bideh? Gubilah bilah BILAAAH!" It's hilarious, we all sit and watch him carry out his important business deal.

Sometimes when I lay down for some shut eye, he pats me like how I do at his naptime. But son, I hope one day you realise it's to lull Mommy into a peaceful slumber. Not a chance to see how loud your 'pats' can sound. (So when exactly does the empathy thing come?) How about one day you put out the laundry like Mommy does? Or wipe up your crayon marks off the floor and walls, like I do 10 million times a day? (Thank god for Crayola's washable crayons. I am 10 steps ahead of you my son).

And to my surprise, he sometimes also brushes his feet on the bathroom mat everytime he steps out. And he actually flicks his hands into the sink after washing! Somebody's actually considerate for a change!

He says quite a few words now. Go, wow, more, up, da da, cheese, Gai gai (cantonese for going out), take, where, yes, star, apple, dinner (lunch is also dinner), gor gor(big brother), oh oh and open. And most recently to his grandfather's delight, Goong Goong! BUT. Sadly, Mama is still a hit and miss. Why??? At the moment, I'm pulling out the guns, he can call me Kelly if he really wants!

True to his nature, he started attempting to run even before he mastered walking. These days his favourite thing to do when bored is to tear through the living room yelling 'YeeeeeeeeeAAaaaaAAA!!!!" as he waves his hands in the air. Or shake out his crayons from the box, then proceed to draw on the floor tiles if I havent't laid some paper out. Doing that while hiding behind the couch. Sneaky much?

More to come, time to celebrate!