Happy birthday to Sito! :)

I have not been feeling very well.. Gastric pains almost killed me last week.. But well, I'm better these two days and ready to write!

(This should have come before the previous post but I was so overwhelmed by the bag :p)

My dear husband has turned 33!

We finally made full use of Y that weekend - on Saturday, we got her to put ZK in bed while we scooted off for our 8 pm dinner at Ruth's Chris.

We started with their crab cakes. Then came our steak - medium rare plus for me and medium rare for him. But we had to send Sito's back cos it was too rare. This had never happened before! Seemed that they were expecting the steak to keep cooking on the hot plate but we thought the hot plate just wasn't as hot as they thought... We had steak fries and asparagus to go with our meat. And they gave us a complimentary expresso cake for Sito's birthday!



We sang a little song and blew out the candle :)

It was past 9 pm by then but we took a walk through Marina Square and Suntec City anyway before cabbing home. We alighted at our block then decided on ice cream. So we walked to the heart of Holland Village thinking of cold stone ice cream only to find it gone! Nevermind, there's always Haagen Dazs. We shared a cone of two scoops on the way home, very happy :)

And on Sunday, we had a birthday dinner with the rest of the family. So much food! And little ZK ate a lot as well - Mum's porridge plus our noodles plus prawn crackers and cake!

Mama was trying to make ZK sing for Papa while Papa smiled for the camera :)


Source: Mum or Jiejie

Blow it out! Have fun cos next year (and some more years), ZK would probably want to do it!


Source: Mum or Jiejie

Love my boys :)

My husband is very "spoil market"

Sito came home with this last night:



I was speechless.

I was in shock.

Then, I remembered what Yan told me about the cost of Chanel bags and I was in fear - I might get mugged on the streets for this! Haha!

I was gripped by a mix of emotions that I'm experiencing all over again as I type!

So I gingerly opened the nicely packaged bag. I think 包装文化 is a waste of resources but I must admit that opening up a beautifully wrapped present is very exciting.. What's inside?!



Well, it's obviously a bag! But I must get to it layer by layer..

Even the bag holding the bag looks like a flap bag.



My new bag! For the anniversary of our wedding party and my grand 34th :)



Sito knows me well - black, classic design, all leather and easy to maintain. And he told me about all the little compartments of the bag, as related to him by the sales person - this is to hold money for tipping; this is for lipstick; this is for secret letters. Huh? Haha!

To be honest, I was in so much shock last night that after opening it, I could only tell Sito, yes, I like it, no need to exchange. But now, I can't wait to wear it!! I promise I will do better than tee and sweat pants in order to go with the bag..

Hmm, this must sound really sua ku but well, I'm sua ku what hoho!

Funny how my (ex-)colleagues and I were talking about buying nice bags over lunch yesterday. I didn't say it but I was thinking, I don't need to buy bags cos Sito has got me nicer bags than I've ever bought for myself.

But we agreed that he wouldn't have to buy me a bag for at least 10 years. Perhaps forever..? I'm very contented :)

ZK's verbal development

Last night, I went for my office D&D and had Mum help to pick up ZK. Y said he didn't look for me, bah! And on Thursday, he wouldn't even repeat "mama" after me, much less call me!! But when I said Meh Meh, he repeated Meh Meh; when I said Papa, he repeated Papa; when we were going to school that morning, he said Kakak in her direction! Sighs.. Where is "mama"??

Well, apparently, on Wednesday when I wasn't around, ZK called for "mama" :) This boy, he didn't want to spoil me, heh! But he finally did this morning - he went "mama" a few times :) Although he started while looking at Sophie the giraffe *.* But then he turned to me, said "mama" and gave me a big smile! :)

He know Sito is Papa since late October. He even repeated "mama" shortly after that, if he was happy. Last weekend, he kept going "nehneh" when he wanted Meh Meh. So I spoke very slowly and deliberately when he was looking at me - mmMeh mmMeh - and he has been going Meh Meh ever since.

The other day, I said 饼 very slowly and deliberately too. He watched and listened intently, pursed his lips a few times, then broke into a grin and gestured for biscuits as usual. Ah well, it's only a matter of time.. He's understanding a lot now, this boy.. We'd ask him a question and if he disagrees, he would shake his head, violently at times; if he agrees, he just won't move, or he would do as he's told.

My fave is about his shoes. I only need to change or say let's go or ask him to get his 鞋鞋 and he would run over to find his shoes! And when we were at Mum's place, we only have to say 回家家 and he would go for his 鞋鞋! And when he's not wearing his shoes and I mentioned them, he would bring up his feet, sometimes gesturing "no more" or shaking his head :)

And he knows he should sit down to wear his shoes. At home, he'll go for the little yellow chair. At Mum's place, there's a little foot rest that he likes. And while we're putting on his socks, he likes to hold out a shoe or both to us - yes, my dear, after the socks!

I also like to just "relax one corner" and ask him to pick up his toys. I would point to something on the floor and he would look, walk over and pick it up. Then it's off to his toy box - with a big thud cos he tends to throw the toy back *.* And he often leaves a couple of toys lying around cos he couldn't be bothered to listen to Mama who only just sits there, hoho! Well, it's a start :)

The other day, he was being naughty with his water bottle - he sucked up the water and spit it down his shirt. I scolded him. At first he laughed. Then he saw my fierce look and caught the tone of my words, and he started to cry! I found it so funny but I managed to stay fierce and lecture him that he must not do this again. Then I walked away to put down his bottle before returning to him to change him out of his wet clothes. By then, he was no longer bawling, just looking a little sad. So poor thing :(

Now my little boy is in school. These days, even when I'm not working on Saturdays, I'd park him there for a few hours while I go grocery shopping or run errands. Or like now, relax a bit. Going to pick him up soon for a family lunch at home! :) Then we'll take a family nap and go to the library. Today, he'll have an early night for a Saturday cos Papa and Mama are going on a date night - it's Papa's birthday on Monday! :)

When the son is so cute...

For the first time, I was late in picking ZK up today due to a lapse in judgement - I agreed to leave with my boss who kindly offered to drop me at Farrer Road MRT. We left before 6 pm but her husband was late and there was a jam and I was late. In the end, I dropped opposite Gleneagles to catch a bus home instead. Luckily, Mum and Y were there. ZK was having the last of his porridge by the time I got home.

With this change in routine, something unexpected happened in the lift. A neighbour sharing the lift asked me suddenly, "Not picking up your son today?" I didn't and still don't even remember seeing her before!! But she must have seen me more than once to notice that I pick ZK up every day.

I put it down to ZK's cuteness :)

A few old ladies in our block often say hello to us, especially a nenek who speaks little English and a popo who speaks Cantonese-laced Mandarin. Then there were other neighbours who at one point or another would happen to catch ZK staring at their phone/key/food and smile at him. Of course, he very seldom returns the smile *.* And that's the best part - he usually has his sulky face on and people still say cutesy hellos to this unresponsive chao bin baby!

Now, Sito and I find some other babies very cute as well so we always thought we're being objective when we think ZK is cute. The above just shows that that's true - he's cute not just to us but also to others despite that li-kua-simi face!

But there are downsides to being cute. One is that random people like to touch his face *.* I have to wipe down his face before dinner lest some food rubs off his face and he eats in all the germs! I mean, hey, how do I know your hand wasn't scratching your leg or rubbing or resting on a foot during dinner just now or perhaps you just swiped that oily face of yours?? It's so yucky just thinking about it.

The other downside is that, well, we want to give in to him! But for his sake and ours, we must stand firm when no means no. Sorry, cutie pie. After all, he will grow up and the only people finding him cute may just be us - and perhaps his spouse, if he's anything like Sito haha!

My little monkey

While waiting for Sito to get online, I'll share cute photos!

ZK plucked the peacock off its tail :(



Only the tail is left now!! There are small prints of each animal on the facing page. So when I pointed out to him that “这里有鸟鸟，这里鸟鸟 no more了”, he would point to the small peacock and then do the gesture for no more at the tail area. Very fun :)

Two weekends ago, Sito couldn't come back until Saturday night so we went to the indoor playground on Saturday afternoon where he spent quite some time in the ball pit - quite happy :)



ZK managed to climb up the sofa on his own that weekend. But the bay window remains a challenge! A little bit taller, baby :)



Monday night - Meh Meh happened to be looking at the camera :) The heap next to her is of course my baby..



ZK's Halloween fun pack from school - candies and a cobra *.*



Sito left the TV remote control on the sofa last Saturday night. ZK found it the next morning and thought he could control his DVD flashcards *.* You've got the idea!



Sunday morning nap for my boys.. After leaving a streak of gooey stuff on the bottom end of my duvet the day before, the younger boy found it fit to balance things out by leaving a sweat/saliva combo patch on the head end - and on my pillow, no less!



Tried to take a photo of him for his India visa - have I mentioned we're going to India yet? We ARE GOING TO INDIA!!!  :)

Anyway, look at his monkey face!



Cute but still a monkey! (Who has two ears - his right is just more prominent and his left hidden :p)



Why, when some other kids know how to look at camera and pose, you like to poke your finger on the lens?!



I love you anyway :)

Took so many photos but only one was usable. Hope they won't be too strict about photos of toddlers..

I was on leave yesterday and went shopping - bought so much! - before sending ZK for his MMRV and Hep A vaccinations. The latter was to prepare for the India trip. Now I'm keeping watch in case of fever - I've heard too many cases of fever after MMRV! Keeping fingers crossed..

From Joo Chiat to property

Just uploaded photos but no time to post on ZK cos my Sito is home and I want to nua in bed instead of sitting at the desk - even though he's doing work now and I'll probably fall asleep to the sound of his typing!

Joined a work event two Saturdays ago in the Joo Chiat area. Stopped by an otak shop - supposedly the best in Singapore! - and bought 10 otak sticks. We had two for our sinful but oh-so-yummy instant mee dinner last night, heh...

But what's more interesting is the sign next to the otak shop:



Yup, we get the "mencare" part from the Chinese emphasis...

And this was by Ernest Zacharevic. Heard from the guide that he finished this drawing only the day before. More of what he did in Singapore here.



And I learnt something on the trip as well - you know the Chinese stone lions right? They come in a pair, or rather, a couple. How do you tell the gender? Go to a Chinese temple and check it out! (Or, scroll to the end of this post!)

I'm a stranger to the east but every time I'm there, I always think that it's quite an interesting part of town, not to mention lots of good food. But I'm no foodie. Think I'll continue to stay in central west, or the northwest in a few years' time. Last Friday, 1 Nov 2013, we completed the transfer of our little flat - we're now "occupiers" of our marital home.. It's been a good four years and five months... Ah well, darn you cooling measures!!

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Answer to the stone lion mystery:
Papa plays with ball; mama plays with baby :p Where? Right under their paws!

1 Nov is a happy day! :)

Why? ZK played peekaboo for one!

Recently, I started putting a blanket on him like in IFC, and I thought he seemed to fall asleep more quickly. But tonight, he decided to prove me wrong - he kept tossing and pulling at the blanket. So I just pulled the thing over his face, and when he pulled it off, I went BOO! And then it carried on - peeka peeka peeka BOO! He started laughing after a few times :)

And he also suddenly spit out his pacifier and brought his left foot up to eat his big toe - he hasn't done that for a long time! My big baby really didn't want to sleep hur...

We had a fun time at dinner too. I was feeding him his pumpkin porridge when I decided that I should eat too - and he decided, too, that he would have my dinner! But I was glad he liked it - it was pasta! I like too! :) He also had some beef and scrambled egg - I kind of like scrambled egg in pasta :p So the pumpkin porridge is now in the fridge for my breakfast tmr..

Oh, and he can feed himself too! Well, kind of.. He hasn't managed to eat much yet :p



And he's now more willing to drink water.. He even put it back on the table himself after drinking yesterday! But he banged it on the table a few times - ya, he likes noise *.*

Sometimes, I like to give him biscuits or Gerber puffs after his dinner, if he is a good boy and eats his dinner. Tonight, I gave him biscuit and he offered me a bite :) But yesterday, he had some puffs and he refused to share! Or rather, he brought it to just in front of my mouth and retracted his arm - with a smile! Once he put the puff into my mouth - I could taste it - but he didn't let go and took it back out and into his mouth!

Anyway, so I've decided that we will give him rice every Tuesday and Thursday since he's eating it quite well starting this week - Monday, he wanted to eat my dinner and he did; Tuesday he had rice for lunch at home, and yesterday he finished a lot of rice, eggs and spinach. Hopefully, we can transit to no porridge soon :)

To think that just last Friday, he refused his porridge and had to go to bed hungry - I decided that he's old enough to be taught a lesson in food, ha! But he slept all the way to morning. Last Saturday, he refused his dinner again and woke around 4 am asking for milk. I patted him back to sleep - and I didn't feel terribly bad :p

Now I hope he stays soundly asleep. He hasn't been sleeping very well the past few nights - we suspect teething as he would cry out and/or throw out his pacifier. His left incisor has cut through. Wondering if more are on their way out already.. Last night and this morning, I had to lie next to him to sayang him when he cried out. Or pop back the pacifier, which is getting difficult when his mouth is pursed cos the teeth are in the way! :p