Actually, we didn't know it was this Sunday until dinner yesterday when the waiter asked if we were celebrating Fathers' Day!
We were at Morganfield's for ribs. It was very nice! Firstly, the food was good - we ordered this huge plate of meat advertised on the placemats to share. And, kids eat free! So ordered chicken tenders as I wanted him to hold it and eat it on his own. Fish fingers are good too but they tend to be more processed..
Excited over his menu :)
Anyway, we were not disappointed when the food arrived :) ZK's not-so-little plate came first. He looked at it apprehensively, and not too impressed. But he swiftly reached out to grab something - anything!
I gave him a chip to hold and eat. He promptly dropped it! Decided to pinch out the chicken for him instead of letting him hold. But first, off with the breaded portion! Quite pleased to find real chicken fillet inside, and not some processed chicken meat. Even more pleased that ZK was happy to eat them - I guess no kid can resist chips?! After a few pinches of chicken and chips, we gave him another chip to hold. This time, he managed to feed himself! :)
When our food arrived, Sito had the honour of cutting it up and feeding me while I fed ZK :p Quite happy, especially about seeing ZK feed himself and eating chunks of meat instead of the usual mince :)
The waiting staff there were pretty friendly too. ZK dropped his menu many times. Most of the time, Sito picked it up. But a few times, a couple of waiters passing by picked it up. One of them even stopped to play with him. Later, same waiter asked if we were from Hong Kong! Um, strange! He sounded Singaporean but he said he was from Malaysia. We heard a few others who sounded very local too. Quite a surprise not to hear mainland Chinese accent or see visibly foreign wait staff these days..
We had mango frozen yogurt cake after that, yes, including ZK! We tried -18C at the basement - got the idea of getting a frozen yogurt cake from LS as we wanted ZK to get to eat his own cake too. They can't customise a design for us but I think I may get a cake topper instead... See how..
Today, ZK had yet another culinary adventure - shabu shabu! He had rice, dory, tofu and pumpkin :) And later, I thought he could do with some wagyu so I fed him small pieces with my chopsticks :p And then, I thought he should also have some vege so I tore out pieces of xiao bai cai for him :p He also had a tiny bit of matcha icecream and durian crunchy McFlurry minus the crunch!
Now, food aside... ZK had a haircut today, and he was so good about it - he wasn't fussy at all! Now his hair is shorter and neater. By his birthday next month, he will be a 小帅哥 again :)
Oh, but we had such a scare this morning. ZK was on our bed and suddenly he crawled very fast to the edge and dropped over! Luckily Sito caught him! Gee! Just a few minutes ago, he was getting off the bed legs first - what made him so overly excited this time?!
But he had a small achievement at our bed too - he let go and hit his palms against an invisible wall over his head! Once, he promptly held on to the bed. Another time, he fell on his bum. But he was pleased :)
Sito spent some time alone with ZK yesterday as I couldn't be back in time to fetch him from IFC. Seems that he wasn't able to settle very well without me around. But when I was back, he didn't stick to me either; he was quite happy playing with Papa too. I guess he's attached to me in a good way, but I think he needs to be attached to Papa this way too..
Anyway, I couldn't make it back as I was visiting Na - she just had a little girl! :) So sweet! And so tiny! I don't remember ZK being this small almost a year back! He's now more than 9 kg and the IFC measured him at 72 cm a few weeks ago.. Can't wait for him to turn one - not like he will suddenly eat and poop and sleep by himself! But well, it's nice to see your kid grow up :)
PS: I've been lazy uploading photos from my phone to my laptop but I'll do it soon and go back to insert pictures in all the June posts!
ZK pointed at me and said mama while waiting for the lift!! :)
Before that, I thought he said 猫 when I pointed one out to him.
And back at home, he looked at the light and said 灯灯 finally!
Love hearing him talk :)
Anyway, today was the first day back at IFC! And we barely stepped into the grounds when it started pouring crazily! So lucky...
Had to bring along a doctor's letter certifying him fit for school. Brought him to the doctor at 8.30 am yesterday. Everything was fine but there was a red spot on his thigh away from the other ex-spotty area that the doctor couldn't be sure if it was HFMD. So he told me to monitor until Tuesday - if it disappeared, could certify fit; if it did not disappear, it was probably not HFMD, also could certify fit... Wth?!
We got a second opinion at 10.30 am. This older doctor was great - he checked ZK's mouth, hands and feet. "If there is no rash on the hands and feet, then it's not hand foot mouth la!" He had a point!! So yes, we got our letter. Papa and Mama were happy. ZK was happy too - back to more toys at IFC!!
Anyway, I don't know if it was linked to our first day in school/at work after a week away, but I had a dream last night - I dreamt that I was looking for my NJ uniform on the morning that school started, and I could find only the top!! I was freaking out in my dream *.* It was not the first time I dreamt of uniform trouble but I can't remember if I had such a dream on my first day of something too..
Oh, yesterday morning, something funny happened. ZK was nursing but got distracted by my phone on his bed. So he let go and went for the phone. It was about 10 min so I thought he had had enough so I drew my PJs shut again - I wore the top kimono style. Then he dropped the phone and turned to me only to find no milk milk factory. He kept staring at my PJs. And then, slowly, he pulled on my top until he saw flesh. Pulled more and ah, food! And he had more to drink. It must be the first time he found food himself! Dear baby, one more month ok? After that, it's the bottle, sigh...
Cos my tummy was funny today :( The first time, ZK was strapped in his seat so I just kept talking while in the toilet. He was quite happy kicking his legs and hitting his tray and occasionally seeing my outstretched arm from the toilet. Yes, I had to keep the door open!
The second time, I left him in a hurry in our bedroom where he was flipping books. While in the toilet, I was so worried that he would wander to the stroller area and fibre connection area. Well, no fear, cos he chased a plastic ball to the kitchen instead - I could see him kneeling and looking under the cabinet for his ball. "Uh-oh" :p Super cute :) But the next thing I knew, he crawled in *.* Super gross!! But he wasn't interested in me at all. He was trying to go for the slippers and peering over me at the toilet brush. In between supporting the little standing man and stopping him from grabbing stuff, I somehow managed to clean up but one little hand touched the toilet bowl - yeeks! Wash hands together!
Then poor ZK caught his left fourth finger in the kitchen stand cabinet too. It was slight but he cried for a couple of minutes. Poor thing :( So besides the drawer in our bedside table, he can now open the kitchen stand cabinet and a drawer in the built-in cabinet which contains baby-proofing stuff, what irony..
Taken the next day - he put it into his mouth just as I snapped this shot! Look so funny :p
Oh, I forgot to mention earlier - ZK can point at stuff now. But the only thing he could definitely name is his plastic ball. And he doesn't point to that - he either looks at it or holds it up for me. He also seems to understand the phone - he brought it to his ears (or thereabouts!) a few times.
And, very important - he seems to like durian! Had three little bits from my durian strudel :)
Today also marks the first time he took two long naps - more than 1.5 hr each! Hmmm, seems like quite a happy day leh, heh :p
Anyway, another reason I'm not all happy is that I'm having a dull gastric pain now. Nothing debilitating but it just hurts continuously. I should find a better position than this.
We played and read in the morning. He didn't ask to be carried a lot, which was good. He napped for only a short while in the morning but it was enough for me to cook his porridge and wash up, phew!
Then we played until lunch time, when, yes, blasphemy wrt my beef porridge, he would only have it with brown rice cereal.
Mum and I then went for lunch downstairs. ZK tried some barley - from a straw! He succeeded in sucking up the drink, and he liked it! But it was rather sweet so I didn't let him have too much. Mum gave him a noodle, like a strand of noodle - is that the right 量词 for noodle?? Anyway, he refused to have it plain. We added some chicken soup, and he lapped it all up! He was so happy in the restaurant even when he wasn't being fed and was justing looking around, touching stuff. Pictures later..
Cute face :)
I want to eat! I want to eat!
I like the noodles, yeah!
He was also very happy yesterday..
Cos he found buttons on the duvet cover!!
Then we went home for a mama-and-son nap - two plus hours for him (yay!) and almost an hour for me (yay yay!) - so happy :) The nap did him good - after that, he wasn't clingy and played on his own a lot. At one point, I turned on the TV cos I was so bored! Thankfully, he was more interested in the remote control than the TV!
And he played with me. He crawled to the glass table before and I said nono. This afternoon, he purposely crawled towards the glass table, stopped before reaching, sat and turned to smile at me, then carried on towards the table! Cheeky boy! We had a lot of fun though :) But he dropped my phone a few times and cracked the screen!! Oh well, time to get a new phone for my empty iPhone 5 cover...
Dinner was oats! Decided to re-introduce it to him, and I'm glad I did! He took a few mouthfuls and decided that he didn't like it - plain. I added a bit of soy milk, which he had tried before and liked, and he ate the whole bowl. This boy sure knows how to pick his food.. Perhaps I should get some full fat milk already.. Yummy..
We played a bit in the bath - actually more like he played while I got wet.. Gave him a head massage while drying his long hair - he sat very still! This boy also knows how to enjoy life hur... He rolled around quite a bit but he eventually fell asleep in a funny position. Last checked, he was in a better position. Please stay asleep until after 6 am! :)
Update 10 Jun 2013
Silly me.. I was showing Sito my cracked phone and it turned out that it wasn't cracked at all! It was just a very bad scratch on the screen protector *.* Still can buy new phone? :p
Thought his rash seemed to be subsiding. And then after lunch, I saw two red bits after wiping his ass, sighs..
It's been a long day. I took a nap in the morning when Mum came over to help. Had some pretty weird dreams! Only remember one in which I was making porridge for ZK..
I did make porridge early this morning - beef porridge with vege stock. But he refused to take it :( Later, I mixed it into some brown rice cereal and he took it happily. What blasphemy!
Anyway, the afternoons are always more difficult cos he's usually awake more. So after lunch, he played for quite a bit, went places he shouldn't, stared in bewilderment when Sito came back for his luggage - kena called to KL suddenly :( No husband until Saturday morning :(
Papa, where are you going? I want to go too!
But it was after his nap that was really tiring - he had to be carried all the time! And I must be standing or moving, not sitting!! And on a day when my tailbone pain has subsided but a butt muscle was starting to ache - more on that later..
Somehow, we got by with the laundry as a distraction - great, just remember I still have some items in the dryer! Well, anyway, I managed to put him down and throw clothes into the dryer. Later, just before dinner time, he decided that it was ok to come down and play after all. Phew! Went to collect clothes from the dryer and managed to hang some up before he came over to find me. That explains why some clothes remain inside, and why I must stop now lest I forget about them again! Pea brain!
ZK is in his third HFMD day, and I have come down with a cold... While Sito will be in Singapore this week, he's going to work late tonight and be in Jakarta again (from?) next week.
"Ball!" Nicely occupied with balls in his bathtub - five days of bathing in this!
I was a little sleepy after the medicine. Thankfully, ZK was quite happily "reading" on the floor in our bedroom so I was in a state of 半梦半醒 for a good 45 min. I woke to find him holding a small bit of the book - he tore the stem of a cut-down apply off the page!!
We then played a little game - he would take my phone and I would ask for it from him. He would place it in my outstretched palm, and if he didn't regret it (:p), I would take it and say thanks. Then I would look at it for a moment and place it slightly further away from him. He would go for the phone and we played the game again :) Once he would drop the phone accidentally and he went uh-oh many times haha!
As I type, I can feel the drowsiness setting in from my second dose of the medicine.. I should go sleep while I can...
He felt warmer than usual on Saturday morning, measuring 37.3, but I thought he might be hot from playing in his long PJs. So off to school he went while I went to collect a toy I bought from an online bulk buy and ran some errands, including getting his birthday present! To be revealed...
When Sito and I went to fetch him, he was warmer on one side cos he just woke. But when we it home, he was hot! And while it was normal for him to be quiet along the way in his stroller, it was unlike him to be so lethargic that he didn't even move forward to be carried off the stroller once home. True enough, fever of 38.4!
At NUH A&E, he registered 38.6 :( But we were seen fairly quickly. Told the doc about the four HFMD cases in school among the older kids. He confirmed ZK had HFMD after seeing a blister on each foot and two ulcers in his mouth. MC until Thursday. Then we had to see a GP to certify him fit for school.
Force fed paracetamol to ZK and he took a nap. He was all active and smiling after that, phew! He was such a poor thing before that! So we decided to go ahead with our plan to leave him with Mum for a few hours while we had our anniversary inner at Bornga - very good!
Even while down with HFMD, he did two things worth mentioning. Actually everything he does is worth mentioning :) He was playing at the bedside table when he suddenly pulled the drawer open! Time to install baby locks.. He was playing with his mechanical giraffe when I asked for it with my hand outstretched. He threw it into my hand! The next few times, he simply put it on my hand. And today, I added "thanks" when he gave me a toy.
More blisters today, around his mouth, on his arms and legs. I read that they shouldn't be itchy. I hope he doesn't get more ulcers though - I know how painful that is! I'm glad his appetite remains healthy. In fact, he drank lots more plain water than usual.
He's still happy though clingy towards the end of the day. Perhaps cos he didn't sleep enough - he totally didn't want his morning nap and napped for only an hour at 1 plus. Put him in bed by 7 pm, although he stirred a few times already.
Yup, happy baby! Woke up and played with his pacifier as usual :)
The next five days will be challenging; it's been a while since I took care of him on my own, full time! Besides making porridge for lunch and bathing him, the most difficult thing is keeping him engaged when he's awake. Sighs.. Anyway, a big pot of stock is simmering now. Lucky Mum will prepare his lunch tmr so I only need to start on Tuesday. I just hope that his missing his morning nap today was just one-off else making porridge will be challenging!
With our anniversary on Monday, we had a little celebration today instead. Just us two; ZK was at home with Mum. Felt a little guilty as ZK just caught HFMD but he was quite happy after the fever went away so...
Anyway, we figured that we're not the fine dining sort. The whole dainty dishes thing is ok but we prefer a more relaxed environment where dropping a fork doesn't disturb the entire restaurant. So we had Korean BBQ at Star Vista. We ate with our hands. We sat back and declared we were stuffed. And we walked home holding hands and a large Koi bubble tea.
I was thinking the other day that I could write a little every day instead of posting a long one in one shot. I shall try! I wrote today's on the way to work this morning, and only edited it slightly just now...
Like some days when he woke very early and fell asleep again, he woke eventually at 7 plus today and we reached the IFC later. The twins had already arrived and this was the first time I met them. They were both crying non-stop! Hannah was happily crawling about as usual. But ZK refused to be let go or distracted.
He clung on to me and wanted to be carried. But I just let him stand on the floor in front of me. And suddenly, he let go of my knees and stood in his own for at least a full second! I'm so happy to have seen that :)
Then he sat down and whined. Actually he seldom cries. He usually whines tearlessly. But of course, at first glance and sound, everyone would think he's crying and rush to him. But the mama cannot be fooled!!
He has a couple of new toys lately. Last night, Sito came back with a crocodile for him - he could pull it along when he can walk. I said Sito is bad, trying to turn our son into a little buaya!! :p I also got an activity table for him but it's a hand-me-down from W who got it from DC but never used it as her husband's friend gave them the same thing. Her son is now 2+ and still loving it! And tmr, I'm going to collect an activity cube for him - bought it from an online mummy bulk buy. And just when I thought that was it for him when it comes to toys, I saw another bulk buy - smart trike 4-in-1! Should we...?
Update 24 Jun 2013
Taken on 8 Jun 2013 - he started playing with the crocodile..with his mouth! Yesterday, he was pulling it around him while sitting on the floor.
Sighs, I've been really busy at night. ZK usually sleeps between 8.30 pm and 9 pm now, and after that, I have to tidy up the dining area, wash his bottles and prepare his bag for the next day before I could have my dinner and shower. That doesn't leave me much time to do much before I get sleepy. And I usually get sleepy by 11 pm...
Anyway, I love May because it always starts with a public holiday! :) But this time, Sito had to work, bah! So it was up to ZK and me to find something fun to do..
Spent the morning rolling around in the house. Was it that day that I introduced the mechanical giraffe? Can't remember.. Anyway, the giraffe was speeding across the room and ZK had fun chasing after it - and chewing on it!
I also decided to dismantle his baby gym that day. In this shot, it seemed as though he was a bit sad.. But his room looked like that for a couple more days cos I couldn't get the arches off the mat until the weekend! Then I moved his foam mat nearer his bed instead. I thought I would wash everything and put back only the mat and not the arches but yesterday morning, I rearranged his bedroom such that his bed was no longer at the window so I'm not sure if replacing the gym mat would make his room super cluttered.. We shall see...
He was very funny at breakfast - trying to poop!
He wasn't successful *.* But after his nap, he rolled on to the gym to play and suddenly, he just sat there quietly. The next thing I knew, his face was all red again! Success this time!
As I was changing his dirty diaper, we had a little conversation:
ZK: Papa?
mf: Papa is working :)
ZK: Mama?
mf: Mama is here changing your diaper!
Yes, he really made it sound like questions! And he turned to look at me to ask his questions!
Anyway, the plan of the day was to find Mother. He was all over the place! First on the floor...
Source: YQ
Then on me... (Please ignore the blue baby handkerchief on the auntie..)
Source: YQ
Then on the mesh chair! Eh, what's with that expression??
Source: YQ
Much better :)
Source: MZ
Decided to give him some bread for dinner that day but he just wasn't interested in all these little pieces! He just took them up and dropped them to the floor! I had to put only one on the tray before he would pick it up himself. Anyway, he's still toothless, though that Saturday, I finally spotted a bit of white under his gums..
That Friday, Sito was home real early so we spent some time together before ZK's bedtime. He was looking at his flashcard DVD.
So happy!
So 得意!
Then it was time for his bedtime story. It was about hands. He was really looking and enjoying himself right? :) A couple of weeks later, I walked into IFC to find him quietly reading some Chinese flashcards while the carer was busy - I was so proud!
Sito was sleeping in as usual when ZK pushed open our door.. I just let him :p
But this proved to be a prelude to what happened two weeks later - I woke to a noise at about 3 am and found him on the way OUT of our room! He had crawled out of his room, came into ours, and probably went one round before making some noise on his way out!
The next night was worse. I woke to him banging on our door on the outside. Not sure why he did not just push the door open. I set him back in bed and went to the toilet. But even before I turned the toilet light on, I felt something was wrong. I turned on the light and saw an ant bait outside the toilet - wrong location! I quickly checked for the second ant bait - not there! I turned on the light in the study and found that the books on the lower shelf were on the floor. This boy had really gone around the house! Eventually I found the second ant bait in the cleaning pail, phew!
Now I no longer keep his door ajar; it's not locked but it's closed, for his safety and our peace of mind! And just in case he learns to open the door some day, as he can already stand up behind the door, I have pulled the window grilles together and cleared reachable space of dangerous materials.
Anyway, that Saturday, he fell asleep on his own immediately after I set him down! Wow! He slept very well the couple of nights after we returned from Malaysia, including a 11-hour feat! But I found him sleeping on the foam mat halfway across the room in the middle of the night :p
But that couldn't beat the night of Vesak Day - half of him off the bed! Yes, I had to take a photo before I picked him up, if only to laugh with him when he grows up :)
We went to Plaza Sing for swim spa that afternoon and guess who entered the lift with us? Fandi and his family! Lovely family and the wife thought ZK looked bewildered. Well, he probably was - where are we? Who are they? Where are we going? :p
5 May is Japanese Children's Day!! I made a koinobori for ZK :) Later, I found that Daiso in Malaysia sold this; the Singapore one probably did too! Mine so ugly :(
But still, we hung it up for him. Look at my boys! :)
Our little boy has really grown that day when he first crawled into our room - 18 May. Besides knowing how to crawl and walk - with support - everywhere, he decided that the right way to get off our bed was to turn to let his legs reach the floor first. Very clumsy but he got the idea! Now, I only taught him that once about a week before that. And no one else had taught him that! Again, Mama so proud :)
Then, he started crawling on his knees instead of doing his usual lizard crawl. Not very consistent yet but it's a start - less dirty clothes for me to wash!
He also showed his temper - he threw and broke his bottle of ruyi oil :( Mama had to scrub floor like mad ok.. When he isn't pleased, his little legs show it too:
But I always go "uh-oh" when he does something he shouldn't have. That day, when he threw a bottle cover to the floor, he went "uh-oh" after me!
We celebrated Mum's birthday at Forest that evening, where ZK tried some sour food! Not his first time :p He gave a face but was open to more. We also gave him ice cream - and realised it was teh tarik flavour! Oops :p But the attendant was very nice - he noticed and gave us a mango sorbet for ZK :) In fact, he also noticed that we preferred the small teaspoon for our appetiser to the plastic one that came with the baby set, and that a bowl was better than a plate for ZK's cereals. Good experience there. If only there's a baby changing room - Sito had to go to the ladies' with me cos ZK took a dump *.*
And he has been making clucking and plucking sounds - then he'll smile :) Or he'll stick his tongue out like :d
He's beginning to recognise more things, like the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - he would only rock with this song!
Vesak Day 24 May was the death anniversary of my maternal grandfather so we had a gathering at Ah Yee's place. It felt so strange to gather mostly in the back bedroom as the front bedroom was rented out. The front bedroom used to be the centre of activity.
This little boy rejected porridge for lunch and oats for dinner after we returned from KL. It took a few tries before he started to take the porridge in school again. But he rejected all my porridge until Vesak Day when he ate quite a lot! :) As for dinner, I was so happy that he accepted oats for the week or so before our trip! Now he likes only cereals for dinner. Easier for me but no variety and more expensive! So last night, I tried wholemeal bread with cottage cheese instead. The bread was ok but the cheese was not. Oh well, at least there's variety!
This evening, I gave him a bit of bread to hold and eat but he tore it up and threw everything to the floor :( Only fed him a little so I had to give him some cereals. Tonight, he didn't have milk before bed for the first time - he didn't drink much the past few days so I figure no need to waste.
Our little karate boy while waiting for the train. Went to Novena to shop for a pair of running shoes for Sito.
Last Saturday, we discovered something. Besides knowing how to get off our bed, he also knows when he needs to get his legs down first - I was squatting next to the bed and he just kept going headfirst onto my legs but when I put him back and moved further away, he turned around to get down! :)
We discovered that he could say "ball" at baby spa! :) Makes me want to get a 3D cake in the shape of a ball haha! Nah, I shall save money and get a usual cake with a picture on it.
But he keeps stuffing things into his mouth. I was clipping his fingernails last Sunday and he was playing with the cover with his free hand while I was at the other. Then suddenly, the cover disappeared! I had to quickly dig it out of his mouth! Gaar!
Our little boy seems popular with girls. Um, actually, just one girl. Need to bring him to meet other girls too haha!
Sito's Tumi was put to the test every weekend but last weekend, besides chewing on it and lying on it, he stood on it.
I like this series. He discovered that he could open the close the unused rubbish bin.
I close..
I open.. What can you do about that hur? :p
Love him in sleeveless - super cute!
Today, when I picked him up, his teachers said he said "noooo!" They said before that he seemed to say it and I thought I heard something like that the day before. But well, we like to "put words into his mouth", as Sito would say.. So it's now confirmed - he knows how to say "no". I hope he can also understand "no" when we tell him so!
I wanted to post this the first time but I didn't manage to. Now that I have been angry with him a second time, I decided I must rant.
Some weeks ago, on a Sunday, ZK didn't sleep long enough and was cranky. I was halfway through keeping clothes from the dryer so things were all over the place. It was 11 am or so so I nudged Sito to wake up to help. He only acknowledged verbally but didn't move. After a few times, I was very pissed and packed ZK off to Mum's place before returning to finish up.
When he finally woke, he explained that he had a headache - he kept having headaches on only weekends, probably the result of MSG from instant noodles the night before but hey I didn't tell him to have that supper!
I was very pissed because it suddenly dawned on me that if I were to die suddenly, ZK wouldn't just lose his mother, he would also lose his father cos he would just leave him with Mum and go play with him when (headache-)free. Wtf.
Then more recently, on our second night in KL, I got super angry again. Some background - when I bathe ZK on my own at home, I would lay out his towel before I start bathing him so that I can carry the dripping boy straight from bath to bed; when Sito is around, he can hold the towel and wrap ZK up immediately after I take him out of the bath. The second method is preferred in a hotel cos of the aircon.
That evening, ZK took a dump at dinner so we had a poopy diaper before his bath. That was nasty, and Sito had prepared a plastic bag for it so that he could bring it out to throw to avoid stinking up the room. That was fine. Except that he had to do it right after removing it from ZK when ZK had to go straight to the bath, and that he took such a long time doing it that when ZK was done with his bath, there was still no sight of him. I was shouting for him as I couldn't leave ZK on his own in the bath tub and I was so afraid he would catch a cold cos of the aircon. Suffice to say I totally flew off the handle.
After we put ZK to bed, he explained that he went downstairs to throw the freaking diaper so that it didn't stink up our corridor. Downstairs?! Really?! And knowing that ZK was going into the bath, which wouldn't take long?! I scolded him for getting his priorities all wrong. I couldn't care less about the diaper. It could stink up the room. Heck, let's sleep with it! But I couldn't let ZK fall ill! He was such a poor thing when he was ill. And since Sito couldn't take leave here and there, it would fall on me to shoulder the responsibility.
I very gladly take care of ZK on my own most of the time when Sito is away. But when he is not working, I expect only full attention from him on ZK. Is it really that difficult to be a more involved parent?
I had a thought some time ago, before the first angry episode, that I had married my boyfriend, not a father to my child(ren), cos he's great boyfriend/husband material but not that amazing as a co-parent. And that is fully demonstrated in his reaction to my anger. Both times, he apologised with that expression of his - a mix of "oh no, I don't know what I've just/not done :(" and "oh no, what have I just/not done?!" - and guess what? I smiled/laughed despite my best effort to stay angry.
I have failed miserably to stay angry with him for a prolonged period of time. I can only hope that my scolding got through to him, and that when it comes to disciplining ZK, I would not be "cutified" and break into a smile which would only be a sure recipe for recidivism.
ZK looked a bit lost as we left the house early Saturday morning. Yes, I'm in my PJs, but why are we not taking the stroller? And Papa is here with us too?
Let him sit with Papa for a while :)
He was all over the place - so excited he was!
When we got to Malacca, we went to find TaiMa - he eventually let her carry him on the second day :)
Found a fantastic rattan chair - see last photo in link - so they must have a photo together :) But dear son, why were you sulking?!
Much better!
We had lunch - ZK had bread with fish and tofu cos he refused the rice - and then stayed there for most of the afternoon. ZK played with some toy fruits and climbed up and down a few steps of the stairs in the house!
Then we checked into Hatten Hotel. It was nice enough but not kid-friendly - they had no baby cot or bathtub! There was a heated pool though but we had no time to use it. The breakfast buffet had a ridiculously long line. Thankfully Mum and Dad were there earlier so we just joined them else we would be late for ZK's breakfast!
I fed ZK some porridge, baked beans and bread. Kind of regretted the beans - he started farting quite a bit *.*
Dinner was at a Chinese Restaurant somewhere and we went to bed after that - followed ZK's bedtime! Although it was later than usual..
The next day, we left ZK with his grandparents and went out with our cousin KS to Jusco before joining everyone for a dim sum lunch. And ZK chose to take a dump just before the food arrived! We changed him on the sofa outside the restaurant - smelly poop!
And later, he got cranky. But for two minutes, I had my time - he refused to be carried by anyone but me! Ah, my Mothers' Day gift??! Anyway, Mothers' Day had been totally eclipsed by ZK taking his first overseas trip :)
It was off to TaiMa's place for the rest of the afternoon before KS drove us to KL where he lived. Cranky in the car after waking up from a nap. Then, cranky in the restaurant, Oversea Restoran where four of had us dinner - while comforting him by carrying him around, I realised that that was probably our last time to that place. The char siew was very good, but they ran out when we went. The place was too crowded. The service was no good. And the food was not cheap. When I shared that with Sito, he had the same thought as well. Ah well..
We stayed in the Westin in KL. They provided a baby cot, a baby bath tub and - when we requested for it cos we left ours at Hatten - baby amenities. No diapers and wet unlike as St Regis but it was very good already. But well, ZK wasn't too keen on the cot - except to play! So he ended up on our bed again, and that night, he forced Sito off the bed to the sofa *.*
And despite me being in PJs and a freaking huge turban on my head, I'm posting this picture cos it's the only one of me and ZK on Mothers' Day! And that day also marked him turning 10 months, woohoo! (That was the adults' supper - mee mamak! - cos dinner just didn't cut it.)
At breakfast the next day...
"Huh, you mean this costs S$70?!"
Yes, my dear toothless baby who chews on hard breadstick all the same, it was an expensive breakfast! Just that we didn't know at that time!! Following our wonderful staycation at St Regis, we assumed breakfast was included in the rate but we had a rude shock at checkout :(
But it was still a lot of fun, especially after the first breakfast when ZK discovered Sito's wallet!! Um, a good thing that our baby loves to lie in a pile of cash, or not? :p
After he woke from a good nap, we left for Times Square - it was within walking distance. After walking around, we decided on Japanese for lunch. ZK had his cereals there too, and the staff were so friendly to him :) He had a great time too - he pooped ^.^
Next was foot reflexology! We remember doing that at this particular corner unit but it was run by different people, it seemed. And the prices had gone by a lot since end of 2009! We spent RM45 per person for an hour of bliss. Well, still cheaper than in Sg. And we could still feel the effects for the next couple of days!!
What followed was episodes of gluttony in the Tiny Taiwan section of the mall - sausage was followed by ham and cheese waffle on a stick, and then we had mango ice at Hui Lau Shan where ZK had his first taste of sourness! And he liked it! We packed some guilinggao and left.
Passed by another mall on the way back to the hotel, where Sito found this sign on the escalator - lots of funny stuff! Our fave at nine o'clock - what's that?!
Had time to check out the hotel pool - cold water - and the kids' club after a little rest before we went to Pavilion across the road for dinner. After some deliberation, as is normal when it comes to eating with Sito food, we decided on Duck King Express! We realised we were there the last time too but only for a little dim sum snack. This time, we found that they had super good char siew too! That's it, confirmed ditching Oversea Restoran!
And ZK was a Super Boy :)
Super cute :) But cranky - the whole place was littered with food he threw or spit out :( We left some change behind for the waiter.. But that was partly because he pooped - yes, second time that day! We packed a piece of cake and KFC (oops) before heading back to the hotel, where I got angry with Sito for the second time this year - more on that separately..
But the next morning, he was open to trying plum! I gave him a chunk to hold and suck but he dropped the whole thing pretty soon. He also tried peanut butter! No funny face with that one.
After a very good nap again, we had bah kut teh at Pavilion where he had a poop - smelly! Then we had more episodes of gluttony - mochi and crepe cake at the Japanese area of the mall, followed by grass jelly ice at Meet Fresh.
All too soon, it was time to go home.. But it was exciting too - ZK's first flight!!
ZK's boarding pass :)
And just before boarding with Mama! He was like, so what? Show him next time :)
*imagined conversation with older ZK*
ZK: Huh, my first flight was on a budget airline??
mf: You took your first flight before one. I took mine at 19 so shut up.
:p
On the plane with Papa! We had an infant seat belt around him but that didn't restrain him one bit! He was having lots of fun pulling stuff out from the pocket in front of them only to drop them. Managed to give him a dinner of bread I kopped from breakfast :p
We reached Sg just before 8 pm, very close to his bedtime. He fell asleep on the way back from the airport. So tired, poor boy. But he woke up when we came back so we gave him a quick shower and sent him off to bed.
The next day, it was couple time as ZK continued to go to IFC. In the morning while Sito was sleeping, I finally opened a savings account for the little one. Also had a foot treatment downstairs - now I have softer soles! Then we lunched at Royal China - spent less than an hour there, given how quickly we ate! Iron Man 3 followed - loved it!! Picked ZK up together after that. I even taught Sito how to put ZK in bed - though many iterations of ZK rolling in bed! Very sad to have to return to work the next day but we think it has really been a good holiday for us all, Papa, Mama and ZK :)
