The Airport

We like bringing Matt to the airport. It is at the airport that he can see almost all modes of public transportation. Without fail, he will take the inter-terminal shuttle train, look at plane take off and land, see the many tour and mini buses outside the terminals, and the taxis queueing for passengers.

For me, it is a great place for him to run amok. And many a times, it means we are there to welcome home the man of our household, all tired from business trip, but elated to be home with his family. The most recent trip was even more meaningful because I have taught Matt to run up to papa and give him a big hug and a big kiss!

happy on the shuttle train; tired from all that running; hooded up and playing with mama's cards while waiting for papa

I Wanna Be Everywhere Mama Is

Even if it means I sit outside the bathroom waiting for her to finish her shower

Sleep Graduation In Progress

Last two nights, I decided to 'sleep train' Matt. Nothing too drastic. I don't think I can deal with cry-it-out method, not even when he is older now. What's more he is older now!

Matt usually falls asleep to me pat-patting him on the sofa in his room, then gets transferred, deep in sleep, to his cot.

First night, I plonked him into his cot directly and pat-patted him there. He protested, but he didn't fight too much since I was doing the usual patting. And he fell asleep soon enough.

Last night, I did the same, but no pat-patting this time round. I laid down to sleep on the sofa and told him mama's here repeatedly each time he made a big fuss and pretended to wail. Some bursts of violent protest, but nothing that melted the weak steel in my heart. I heard a lot of shuffling all about the cot. Sleep sleep, baby, mama's here. Sleep sleep.

And he did.

I don't know when or how. Cause I fell asleep first.

I was SO tired.

Lets see how it goes tonight.

Help(er) Me!

I have been very busy. And tired.

Old helper left. New helper in. I should re-phrase. New want-to-help-er. She's not quite at the level to be able to help me efficiently and effectively. Needs some SERIOUS training. Kinda forgetful. First ONLY words were yes ma'am and no ma'am.

A conversation about brocolli which she has not seen before.

Ok, what is this called again?
Yes ma'am
No, Maria, what is the name of this vegetable?
No ma'am

I shake my head in disbelief. She looks lost.

The worst bit? Matt doesn't take well to her.

Yet.

I hope.

So I have been doing almost everything for Matt, over and above training her. I only have one window of opprtunity - when Matt is taking his afternoon nap. Provided I am not working in the office.

One week has passed, and I'd like to believe she has somewhat moved up the curve. One inch.

Out of a 100-inch curve.

I urged her to speak up more, not mumble, to open up, to ask. I showed her what are Matthew's favourite toys, asked her to tell Matthew what she is doing, to give instructions to him instead of 'just doing.' She is not confident of her English, so she is not generous with her words, very unlike my previous helper.

BUT. She seems a very honest person, and is appreciative for all the good things. She is rather pleasant-looking, more so when not stressed. And I can see her genuinely trying her best.

In the time being, hubs and I have concluded that we need to chip in and help her do some housework until she slowly moves further along the curve. Beats reprimanding her when she forgets to do something we taught her. Helps me maintain some sanity.

Hubs has been most helpful; he went wet-marketing and brought Matt out all by himself, the former, he absolutely hates. When I am tired, he takes over where he can and even trains the helper. Don't think I can manage without him.

Sometimes, we have a good laugh about conversations like the one about the brocolli, and then we are ready to face her again.

We have a good feel about her nonetheless, and are confident that she will slowly be the helper we need her to be.

A Happy Family

Matt ran to me one day when I got home in the evening, threw himself into my arms and sang: I yove you, you yove me, we ah happi fa-mi-i.

So that purple creature Barney did teach you something.

Yes, we are happy family :)

I Can Do It By Meself

Yesterday marked a little milestone in Matt's quest towards independence - he took off his own sandals.

Arranger Extraordinaire!

If there is one thing that is very peculiar to Matt, I would say is his love to arrange things. He arranges ANYthing that is arrange-able. He used to arrange these. His repertoire has expanded.

These days, before he sleeps, he has added to his routine to put all his books into his book trolley, then he will painstakingly put the Sebamed baby lotion, the facial cream, his water bottle, the remote control, and the mopiko, side-by-side, too.

Interesting.

Last of Milk Teeth

Think Matt's last four molars are making their way out. He has been drooling endlessly for the last 2 weeks.

Matt's teeth grew in an "unusual" sequence. Apparently, most baby cut their bottom 2 central incisors first, but Matt's upper 2 were out first. Same for the lateral incisors and canines. His teeth grew very nicely side by side, which makes me wonder sometimes if they'd get crooked since these teeth can only get larger.

Brushing his teeth can get quite nightmarish. We have progressed though. When we first started, he wouldn't open his mouth. He soon opened his mouth but would bite the bristles hard. But it was progress nonetheless. These days, front teeth no problem, but the molars are hard to get to. Work in progress.

Mozzie

I hate it when Matt gets bitten by mozzies. He'd scratch until they bleed, and they'd take forever to heal. Went home yeaterday to discover some mozzie had been feasting on my son during his nap at my in-law's place! EIGHT BIG hearty bites!! Damn you mozzie!

Heritage Boy

My hometown in Malaysia is very well-known for ONE dish - bah kut teh. So when I brought Matt home some time back, I had to do the customary induction to the dish. He walloped it. Truly mama's boy! :)

Yesterday, we introduced him to another important food heritage of his. Hainanese chicken rice. My little Hainanese boy walloped it, too!

Okay. So I am exaggerating. He just ATE them normally.

But given his lack of adventure with food, opening his mouth for a few spoonfuls means eating, and eating a lot of it means walloping. In both instances, he whacked a whole bowl of rice and shredded meat.

The chicken rice has a story that we will tell to embarass Matt when he is older. We ate at Wee Nam Kee at Novena. We chose to sit outside near the bus stop so he can see his favourite buses, as a form of distraction.

BIG MISTAKE.

He didn't protest that much to the chicken rice. But he protested badly that he cannot BE at the bus stop to board the bus. Towards the end of the lunch, after hubs was done with his, he had to carry Matt to and fro between the bus stop and me in a bid to stop the boy from struggling. It also helped Matt ate better because he knows that after he takes 2 mouthfuls, he gets to go to the bus stop.

Poor hubs. No bus stop next time, he said wearily at the end.

I couldn't agree more.

But we were both elated, nonetheless. Another sort-of-successful eat-outside episode.

Safety First, Finally!

After months of trying, we finally managed to coax Matthew to wear his helmet! By threatening him that if he doesn't wear it, there will be no cycling! I was over the moon by both the fact that he finally has his protective headgear on AND the fact that he is SO FREAKING CUTE in it! :)

Safety first, my boys!

Tram Ride!

We brought Matt and my parents to the zoo. Matt loved it that we went out somewhere every day when my parents were in town. He seems to enjoy the zoo more and more these days. He'd point out the animals, and stop sometimes to look at them curiously. He remained cautious at the Rainforest Kidzworld.

He was elated when we went on the tram ride for the first time! He could hardly stay still for us to take a good shot, until he was suitably tired ..

Christmas 2009

Somehow, we were very busy this Christmas. A week leading to Christmas, my parents were in town. That made it special for us. Plus sis-in-law also returned from Canberra for Christmas. But amidst all the hectic schedules plus a super-busy-at-work hubs, we managed to squeeze one cozy family dinner on Christmas eve, just the 3 of us!

We love this place since our two-some days. When Matt was very little but old enough to sit up, we brought him there, too. And he enjoyed himself flirting with the other guests and the waiters! By some sheer coincidence, we would get the same table whenever we visited!



This Christmas eve, it was made even more special cause Matt liked the food there!! You know how Matt is not too adventurous with food ... So I had little expectation when I let him try the pizza, expecting him to spit out as usual. BUT he gave a big grin and exclaimed "NICE!" and asked for more! And he liked the fresh bread with herbs, and the beef, and was even adventurous enough to drink the red red cranberry juice! Hah! We were elated!

Matt had a great Christmas Day at church where my FIL got baptised (hallelujah!), followed by a lunch reception at their place. Matt loves the joyous atmosphere of a place with many people. At home after nap, he did not object when we said "lets go yeye's house" when he'd normally protest (because it means mama's going to work.) For days after, in fact, he asked to go to yeye's house!

Celebration for Matt "continued" on Sat and Sun. We brought him to town to see Christmas lights, and bought a replacement for his little Tomika bus that plunged down the drainage in the bathroom. Plus another decker bus, much to his delight. We also went to Botanical Gardens to see the many Christmas trees, and to test out his Thomas the Train bubble machine and cool adidas mini football Christmas gifts.


Christmas gifts - I think I have another year or two of him being somewhat ignorant about that aspect of Christmas. This Christmas, though, he learnt the concept of presents under the tree. When we opened one for him on Christmas morning, he took another to ask us to open. Sure learns fast ...

As for me, I now join the ranks of those owning a cool iPhone .. :)

But, really, above all, Christmas was great because I celebrated it with my favourite people! Couldn't ask for more!

Blessed Christmas!

May the reason of Christmas fill your heart with joy, hope, peace and thankfulness. Merry Christmas everyone!

Things that Maketh Me Happy

It's Christmas eve, but I am somehow feeling negative for MANY reasons. Probably trivial and will seem silly in hindsight, but at the moment, they are making me feel down.

One of them is dealing with hubs busy at work. I know he is tired. But it doesn't stop me from making some demands out of my own frustrations. I try not to, but I fail miserably most of the time. Still, they don't get heard, or the message gets across differently (I am guilty of the women-don't-say-what-they-want problem). Today, for once, I did not make any demands. I went about my own way. But I feel down.

But it's Christmas eve, and I choose to think happy thoughts, to give thanks this Christmas.

For God has blessed me with a son who calls me "mama" with such tenderness when he is sleepy, and with such excitement when he sees me arrive home after work;

who gives me hugs and kisses, and shouts "I yove you!";

who never fails to smile in the mornings if it is me waking him up from his slumber;

who laughs and giggles so hysterically when I give him a mega tickling session;

who makes a dash to jump into my embrace whenever I open up my arms (and killing my bladder, my womb and/or my chest at the same time with his powerful lunge);

who somehow knows mommy is feeling down and gives the biggest hug and kiss!

Matt Loves Ah Ma and Ah Gong

I have been extremely busy lately with my parents in town. It was lovely having them over, and for Matt to hang out with them. I thought Matt would resist them since he last saw them when he was relatively young, but he surprised me when he happily toddled over and gave them hugs when they arrived.

Everywhere he went, he'd make sure ah gong and ah ma went along. He'd watch tv, go for evening walks, eat, and play with them. He'd hold their hands when we walked in malls, much to the delight of my folks. I was surprised by the affection he showed them as he hardly sees them. But I am proud of him. Naturally, my parents are head-over-heels in love with him.

He stared at my mom when she spoke hokkien to him. We tried to teach him a few words, and being the kentang that he is, he said them with an English twang.

Wish my parents could be around us more often. Miss them loads.

Christmas Time

I love Christmas. It is just a wonderful time for thanksgiving, for looking back over the year (years, sometimes), to give thanks for all of God's blessings. I look forward to the smell of pine tree in the house, the blinking lights on the Christmas tree, to friends coming together for a great time, the gift exchanges.

This will be Matt's third Christmas - He was only a month old his first Christmas, and I remember dressing him in pink pants for our Christmas party which theme that year was "pink or green". This was after winning a 'scissors, paper, stone' game against hubs who is rather imposing on his "no pink" fashion statement. So happened we had a pair of rabbit brand pink pyjama pants that came pre-packaged in half dozens of yellow, blue and pink.

Handsome in pink, 2007

Preferring the box over the presents, 2008

When I was small ...

... and Christmas Tree was tall