SG50!

Just managed to sort out photos from a month back. Plenty to update but I want to start with National Day - inspired by ZK who sang in the car this afternoon:

We are Singapore
We are Singapore
We will sing... *mumble* (?)
Oh oh oh oh! Oh oh oh~ oh!
Oh oh oh oh! Oh oh oh~ oh!

Found the 2013 theme song, which I had absolutely no memory of! But now it's an earworm *.*

Anyway, our celebrations began back in July. As Sito was to go to the US for a work trip on Sunday, we had a family dinner on Saturday at Four Seasons. We came out to a nice little fountain, pretty at dusk.

Fascinated by the fountain

And then the tanks rolled by! Lots of them! And many other different trucks as SAF, SCDF etc went by. There was a short burst of fireworks, probably for a show. ZY was getting sleepy so we left.

Interested in trucks but everything is generally too loud for this boy *.*

Fireworks were especially loud!

Yup, the following Saturday, Mum took ZK to watch the fireworks! I took ZY to Mother's place instead. He slept before ZK returned. And when ZK returned, he was still outside the door but couldn't wait to tell me about the fireworks which were so loud and so scary! He clearly enjoyed himself though :)

The next day, we went to collect our NDP fun pack at the CC. And on the way, we passed by the little play area. ZK was happy to play there again!

So happy! And bigger than the last time we were there!

ZY had his first ride there too

The collection was accompanied by a little carnival at the CC. We were given balloon sculptures, and ZK even won a packet of snacks from a game of tic-tac-toe - just throw three balls into three aligned holes la.

ZY's little flower bracelet! Um, strange, haha!

ZK enjoying his snacks

We also had some prata. We as in all of us, including ZY who liked it :) There was an instant photo service too, all free! Only wished Sito was back already... We went to fetch him at the airport after the collection.

Me and my little ones!

And the jubilee weekend started with these when the kids came home on Thursday:

We stayed in the next day for a play date with CY that didn't materialise *.* Lucky I also arranged for Mother they all to come back so we didn't stay in in vain.

On Saturday, we happened to be in Vivocity as we brought ZY for baby spa. Then ZK said he wanted to see the Merlion! Um, ok... We had an earlier dinner and went to Sentosa via the Board Walk - free until end of the year! We spotted the big Merlion along the way - ZK was full of anticipation :)

Boy, was it crowded! We wanted to take the Sentosa Express to the Merlion but the queue was so long! But a staff told us that the Merlion was only five minutes away on foot so we walked. And indeed, it soon came within view!

First, with the colourful Merlion at RWS

With the real deal, yeah!

But then he found the Merlion scary cos it had scary eyes *.*

Anyway, we didn't bother to queue to go into the Merlion. Took a walk around it instead, trying to find a spot where ZK could touch but nope, the Merlion could only be touched on the inside :p

Family shot before we left

We left the Merlion with a great lesson learnt - the Merlion was so tall cos it ate vegetables.. Deep! :p

The Sentosa Express back to Vivocity had a manageable queue so we didn't have to walk all the way back. We promised to bring ZK to see the Merlion fountain one day :)

Finally, National Day!

I tuned in to the 9.00 am broadcast of the Proclamation recorded by LKY. I turned up the volume so that Sito could hear from the toilet :p But ZK was not pleased cos his video was drowned out *.* He was crying when I stood with ZY for the Anthem that followed.

Oh, I turned the TV on five minutes early and Katy Perry was singing - this ZY danced along *.* I was glad when he was as mesmerised when they showed the ND message after the Proclamation.

Who's that talking, baby?

Then we went for the RC event near Mum's place.

Found a paper Merlion!

There were a lot of people. Some were quite pissed there weren't any more coupons left. We didn't get any too. The event started at 8 am but we arrived closer to 10 am... Ah well, nice to walk there for a few minutes, just taking in the atmosphere and all the songs :)

We watched only part of the NDP. Left Mum's place after the parade. Missed the performances and the fireworks as we had to settled the kids for the night back home.

ZY mesmerised by the TV again

Stand up for Singapore!

The next day, still a public holiday, we went to MOS burger for breakfast! It was kind of late though so we had breakfast - mid morning snacks for the kids - and lunch pretty close together..

ZK had almost the entire burger by himself! 

We brought ZK's scooter around so that he could scoot his way into Sentosa!

Watching boats or the Merlion?

Awww!

Can see ZY's big eye looking at me? :p I forgot his shoes cos he was asleep when we left the house...

We headed for lunch at Putien when we crossed the Board Walk. Then it was back to Vivocity via the Sentosa Express. There was significantly fewer people than on Saturday, phew!

And so that was our ND celebrations. ZY didn't understand a thing but ZK could sing some SG songs and recognise the Merlion and our flag - good start :)

ZY is 13 months old!

Well, ZY turned 13 months on Monday so I'm four days late.. But that's how it is with two kids and that's how it is especially for the second kid. I feel kind of bad sometimes that I can't document ZY's growth and development as much as I would like to. Even if I have time, I may not have the energy...

But today, I decide that I've had enough OT! I want to share photos of my littler boy :)

小猪猪 - beats me why he decides to make that a common expression of his!

And ZY can stand with support!

He's such a dao boy...

But when he laughs!

On another occasion, he splashed the water so hard his head and face got quite wet...

Holding his bread and eating parts of it!

This boy is a little slow with food. While ZK could eat rice quite well before one, it's only lately that he started to eat more rice. And it's only in the past couple of weeks that he finally could put Gerber puffs into his mouth. He's now showing signs of wanting to hold the spoon too :) Oh, and he likes to have whatever we're having.

Some bread nicely broken up for him at Tony Romas :p

First time on a swing :)

That was after a jab. Looking happy :)

That was quite a funny trip to the PD. ZY had his jab first and ZK saw the whole procedure and saw ZY cry a little. When it was ZK's turn, the PD distracted him with candies and a sticker before preparing the syringe. So ZK was watching the PD doing it.. And then he got distracted by one of us and looked away. When he looked back, the PD was facing him with the syringe near his thigh and he went "nonono!" But in the needle went and he cried for a short while. It was hilarious! Ok, we're so mean :p

ZY saw his brother helping AhYe so he wanted to help too :)

Mama, you're blocking me..

Still blocking me...

ZY threw a ball.... backwards!

Stand up for Singapore - without support! :)

Playing with AhMa - very happy!

ZY can be so cheeky. He would crawl out of the room, sit there and wait for someone to spot him before continuing his escape! And if no one bothers, he may crawl back cheekily and entice us to chase after him... Looks like we have quite a handful with two cheeky boys!

Finally ZY can sign "please" but only for food *.*

This boy is really quite different from ZK in a number of ways. He loves reading for one! I finally started reading to him regularly at bedtime this week. He would follow my finger and I underline the words and point out the pictures. And today, he placed his hands on this particularly page filled with handprints without me prompting! And I really like it when he takes a book or a toy and snuggles into my lap :)

He refuses to go back to sleep quietly if he wakes after 4.30 am. Nothing but the bottle can pacify him - we tried water which worked too - although I succeeded in silencing him with the pacifier once... ZK used to wake too but he did not cry loudly; he just stayed there quietly even though he might not sleep for the next two or three hours *.*

Although both boys were breastfed and then had the same formula, their poop smelled so different. Even when solely breastfed, ZY smelled like the zoo when he pooped! So cute, yet so smelly! It got better recently, phew! But he refused to stay still for his post dinner diaper change every day!! ZK didn't like it all the much but it wasn't 100% refusal to lie down..

This boy also tried to open a cabinet door in his room. ZK has not tried to open cabinets there yet even though he can now pull the door open if he wants to. And ZY could call me mama earlier than ZK. Well, subsequent kids generally learn to speak and walk earlier than the eldest kid, right? Monkey see, monkey do..

But like ZK, he very quickly got the idea of getting off a higher place legs first. He would do that even for his bed sometimes, even though it is very low already. And like ZK, when he wants to eat, he wants to eat NOW! And what a foul temper lies beneath that cute look too!

ZY's big fall

We had quite a scare last Friday, Hari Raya Puasa.

After ZY woke and had his 10 am milk in our bed, I left him with Sito to wash his pacifier and put down the milk bottle. And when I was almost done, I heard a loud thud and my heart sank. The next moment, ZY cried out. I rushed in to find Sito carrying a crying ZY who had fallen on the back of his head. Scolded Sito! My heart ached for my baby! :(

Shortly before he fell

He stopped crying pretty soon so we changed him to go out. We were heading out to get ZK a helmet to go with his new scooter. But shortly after we drove off, ZY looked a little too quiet, just sitting on Sito. And suddenly, he vomited! The milk came out, the blueberries he had during the diaper change came out, his breakfast from 8.30 am came out! Mum turned for NUH A&E.

Not sure whether it was not crowded or because of our case - fell on his head and vomited - but we were whisked in very quickly after we cleaned him up in the toilet. The PD felt around his head and took a little hammer to his limbs. All the while, this baby was quietly watching her.

She then asked us questions over his fall, and was satisfied that he did not lose consciousness. She said she didn't find anything wrong with ZY upon examination and told us to stay there for observation for some four hours. If there was no more than one more vomiting episode and behaviour was normal, we could go home.

So we asked Mum and Dad to bring ZK out while we stayed in the hospital. We had a little cubicle with a bed and two chairs. ZY was more alert and active by then, and was trying to stand and grab and throw things. Four hours - gosh!

Worried Mama with ZY in NUH

While Sito went for lunch, I brought ZY around the ward and saw other babies and kids, and scrutinised kiddy wallpaper. When Sito returned with my lunch, we fed ZY - we asked the nurse for the necessary and she found us cups and plastic spoons which served us fine.

Then it was time to let ZY sleep. As he was dozing off, the PD came to us and said that she wouldn't keep us longer as ZY seemed fine. She told us what to watch out for and gave us a pamphlet to bring home.

ZY napped for more than an hour after we got back - that was a little scary; I kept checking for his heaving little chest. When he woke, he was all sweaty cos we didn't turn the aircon on. But otherwise, he seemed like the usual ZY!

Sweaty!

ZK was napping at Mum's place so we went over when he woke. ZY was all over the place again when we got in the car - tiring for me but I was glad he was normal again :)

ZK hugs ZY in the car

We continued to monitor him for the next couple of days. Alerted his teachers as well to inform me if they felt he wasn't behaving as usual.

This week, after his fall, he slept differently from before. He used to lie down on his back to sleep, or turn on his side, with his little head on his bolster. Now, he grabs his bolster and throws it all over until he falls asleep in some funny position. Was it yesterday? He hit me repeatedly with his bolster before he fell asleep *.* But this isn't new. ZK went through this as well! Or I should say, ZK is still like this *.*

Now we're super paranoid when he's on the bed. He can get off the bed legs first for quite some time already but this scary episode showed that accidents could still happen. One second with my eyes turned away is one second too long. No more falls!

ZK is three!

Can't believe it has been three years! Happy birthday, ZK! :)

Now that he's older, it's easier to bring him out. So I ventured out with him on Saturday, the day before his birthday.

Waiting for the bus

We reached the National Museum a few minutes before my scheduled brunch hour with LS and SX, and the Masak Masak exhibition was right in front of us. So ZK wanted to play! Unfortunately, it was not open yet as the staff was still cleaning up the inflated playground.

Running about the playground and having fun anyway

Mama, this is how you do it...

Bumped into LS there. She brought mini SX and so the kids met for the nth time but no longer in slings! And this meeting really made me wonder - why is ZK everywhere?! Example - LS went to the washroom and asked mini SX to stay with me. She obliged and even let me hold her as I went after ZK who ran into the museum when the doors opened. And when LS left the table later, she was quietly occupied at the table; I was sitting right there and yet my son was running all over the place *.* Why??

ZK had some food and asked for cake when he saw the cakes. Well, it was his birthday weekend so I gave him a warm chocolate fudge cake. We sang him a birthday song too! :)

Yummy! And the boy is still....

When I wanted to go pee, he wanted to go pee too. Um, ok... So I had him pee standing - but he just had to take off his shoes and pants and underwear, and he stood such that his scrotum was resting on the toilet bowl, yucks!!! And of course, I was in an unglam mama position - kiapping his clothes under one armpit and holding his penis with my fingers *.*

Later at home, I showed him a photo of him pooping with his pants at his ankles. Thankfully after that, he was ok not to take off everything in the toilet, phew!

Had some fun with the Masak Masak exhibition and the kids area after brunch.

Hula hoops!

Playing with his "new friend", as he calls her, even today!

Took a double decker bus home - not his first time but it was the first time I went up with him. He enjoyed the view from the upper deck :)

Sleepily watching the excavators as we passed by...

Took ZY to baby spa after their nap. ZK had fun there too even though he couldn't go into the pool anymore :) But when a new baby went into the pool, he poured water over the baby's head!! Luckily the parents were quite chill about it..

Happily playing water with Papa

Learning about electromagnetic field at a science fair at Vivo - way to go, boy!

We got a cake from Bakerzin on the way home. We couldn't wait for him to blow out the candles! :)

But first, his present!

Mum and Dad got him a helmet for safety. Will upload pictures one day - it's so big on his head. And he looks like ALIEN :p

Surprise at Mum's place!

(He was trying to smile for the camera :p)

More natural :)

Eh, big boy, feed yourself leh!

ZY had some fun too! Looks so fat here!

Cake time!

ZK blew out the candle right after the song ended. RIGHT AFTER. No time for Chinese version, no time to ask him to make a wish, even if he knew what that was all about.

The little family! (While restraining him from cutting the cake!)

Yummy again!

Looks like a big boy with no top, in army pants and some underwear showing haha!

Dinner was at Long Beach at IMM cos there's a playground right outside. Pretty uneventful but I think it's a pretty good birthday :)

Hope you've enjoyed your day, my love! :)