Farewell with some old friends

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Tuesday night, 28th August.

Some old friends came to our place for a pot luck farewell dinner. Grace prepared curry chicken using Prima premix, it tasted excellent, we almost drank up the entire pot of curry, and of course, no chicken pieces left over. Andrea asked her maid to fry bee hoon,she brought a really large pot, could have easily fed a class of pupils, haha, but also tasted yummy, loved the pork rib streaded meat in there ... and I fried some veg, and 'fake' breaded scallops.

Oh, the best part, Tina and Jim suprised us with a chococlate cake, with really nice engravings, I mean, simple but nice, "God bless your Family." Indeed, we need alot of that as we depart from home and head to a brand new place, far far away from the familiar.

As usual, we chatted about almost everything, talked about everyone, some nice old friends whom we missed that night, like Roger, who had to work, and some not so nice old friends we had before.

When the evening meeting came to a close, our dear friends surrounded us and prayed for us. Brought me back to all the good old days when we often did that in church in the days of our youth. They prayed for our safety, health, new friends that we would meet, and the fondest of all, a great time of intimacy with God, and with one another.

As much as we look forward to an exciting year ahead in Cambridge, we are starting to miss home already, our mums and dad, our friends. No matter how efficient technology might guarantee us, the closeness will never be dearer than being with with one another.

Play time

Nathan's at a really fun age now. He loves to play. The best part, he's learning new language, following instructions during play.

So we started playing games, like hide-and-seek. I would run nosily and repeat his name over and over untill he finds me. Whenever he approaches, he slows down and peeks, and gives a scream when he finds me, sometimes, he gets startled too, surprised by my 'wow'. This gamecan go on for a while untill mummie gets tired from running and hiding. He doesn't know how to hide yet. It'll be even tougher when he does that... when i need to find him.

And we like to play 'put your thing on my head'. We usually use the plastic coloured ring to do this. I would try balancing one on his head, he would take it out, then put it on mine, then himself. of course, he's yet to master that balancing act. But we always have lots of fun just passing the ring from one head to another.

Games are simple, yet really fun, and a great way to past time. Besides feeding and sleeping, at least we have one more thing to look forward to now, playing. He can play by himself too. He walks to his usualy corner where his books lie, take out one at a time to flip the pages. He can do that for a while. Sometimes he still gets the book upside down.

Last night, Chong and I were watching Oceans 12 on TV, and Nathan was keeping himself occupied the whole time, messing with tissue paper from the box, then with a little plastic cup and cover. This little explorere, you really don't know what he's thinking about during play, if he smiles, he's having fun, and to me, that's the most important thing.

Out and About in the Neighbourhood

Each new day, nathan looks forward to going out and getting down. Once I carried him to the6th fl, he would want to get down on his feet to walk. I would play 'chase', he would run after me and walk right into the lift.

Once we get downstairs, he usually stands around and gaze for a moment, as if wondering where his adventure might begin that day. Most of the time, he heads straight to where the sun would be shining, not under the block of course, either at the badminton court, or unfortunately, the car park, on good days, not a crowded one.

He likes to climb stairs too. Not that he is capable of walking up by himself, he would hold on to me for help. When mummy refuses, he is determined, he would go down on his fours to do it, upwards, no problem at all,but when he turns around and wants to get down, I had to go to his rescue, which he delightfully appreciates.

A boy,he is, very active nature, quite adventurous. I even saw him chase after a rather huge dog which I dare take a step nearer, and strangely, that dog ran away from him, my boy.

My dad often comments, if only he has a play mate, well, not yet, but we certainly hope in time to come, just not now.

Self Feeding

I started teaching Nathan to use spoon and put food in his mouth. Read a bk which enouraged me to do it now before he starts rejecting this very tedious task. So, while he hasn't got quite lazy with food being served for him each meal, he should work at it himself.

I started with hardier food stuff like pear. I slide it in cubes, helped him scoop it onto his spoon, then direct it to his mouth. He could cup it with his mouth pretty well, and in slide the pear. He knows he's accomplishing a new task, and looks proud of himself, indeed.

Nathan@16months

In 2 days'time, Nathan would be 16mth old. So, why wait, blog while I ve the time, and he's pretty occupied with Sesame str on TV from 9-10 every morning.

Nathan's been waking very early everyday, at 700, some days, even before Chong's alarm clock rings. And that's frustrating, esp on rainy and cold mornings, when you wish to snooze longer and lie around on bed, this little otod just won't take 'no' for an answer, he wants mum to get up and make his milk.

The past month has been high on medical bills, He started coughing 24th July, and after seeing 3 pd, he's stil coughing bad, lots of phlem, watery eyes and nose. Mean time asking around for reco for CH doc instead, really want him to recover before he faces the cold in England in less than 3 wks time.

Nathan's a darling too. He loves to kiss, with loud sound, mind you. Usually, we would have him wave his goodbye, then fly his kisses, granny loves that very much, Imsure.

Granda brought us to TPY central for lunch andstroll. Nathan loved to watch the flags flying in the sky. He would stand very still and watch for a good minute, fantazie by its movements. Some aunties and passer by would stop and look at him too, commenting he's so cute, yes they're right, haha.

Granda bought him a pair of new sandals, easy to put on and take off. It gives out a twit twit sound too, how adorable. he loves to step on it real hard to make that sound when he walks.

Has he said any word yet, nope, just lotsa of noise, the usual ones, but he definitely understands more things now, like being scolded, what's permitted and what's out of bounds, and he chooses to obey sometimes, and others, not quite a good boy. We pretty much let him be still, considering his young age, don't intend to spank yet, but we'll see, prefer reasoning to brutality.

May God give us wisdom in this matter.

Pictures with Beth

Farewell Lunch with Pagon

The day before, Pagon and I met at Bishan park with our kids for a morning play.

And Beth left one side of her shoe in the car. We met again on Sunday for lunch to return the princess her shoe, and bid farewell to each other.

Here's some shots from the meeting.

Botanic Gardens

Nathan woke up very early as usual, the weather looked perfect for a day out in the sun. Shortly after Chong left for work, I rang Eileen up, she agreed to go Botanic with us!

She took a cab and picked us up about 9.30am, then off we went...

We found a shady spot, laid down the poncho, and off Nathan went, roaming about on his own, initially constraint to the grass patch, but shortly after, he found more interesting grounds - the roads and drains. Mummie went in time to catch him back.

Sometimes, Nathan still loves to go on fours, even outdoors. He loves to explore what it feels like with his hands and fingers. He crawled on the grass patch for a while too, messing with muddy ground, leaves, twigs, and ants too. I just got to let him go for it, regardless how dirty I thought. Clean him after will do ....

We went to Taka to have lunch, then tea at Coffee club. It was fun hanging out with a friend and her 4mth old baby too. Quite a lot of fun today.

Bishan Park Outing

Last Saturday, we met with pagon and Beth, her daughter at Bishan park. It was a beautiful sunny and windy day, lovely for the kids to be outdoors getting some vitE.

My mum stayed over the night before, so she was with us to help baby sit too. Nathan loves the swing. It looks like a huge bucket where the child could sit and swing in it safely. Since it was Beth's first try on it, she was apprehensive.

Nathan loves sand play too. He's definitely better at walking now. He managed to balance himself walking on the sand that day. Quite a sight. He would also go on fours once in a while, dig his hands and feet in the sand. He does looked very rugged indeed.

Been enjoyable just watching them play, not together though, both in a world of their own.

Clapping hands

Wow, imagine my joy the day Nathan could clap his hands when asked! It was sometime last wk.

I thought I should start teaching him more tricks, cos it always warm my heart to see him learn and catch on something new. He looked absolutely adorable when he claps his hands. And when he does it, he does it a good many time. I don't like my mum, whenever I tell her something I thought exciting for Nathan, she always gives a negative comment, like ' Others could clap their hands at 6mths!' Makes me not want to share anything with her altogether, also reminds me that I should never do that next time, should always remain excited and thrilled about each new discovery, be it the first child or the second or the third.

Since 2 Mondays ago, Nathan never got really well. His nose has stopped dripping after 2 wks, exzema's healing fast too, but today, he ran a fever - 37.5. I felt his body warm and head turning hot at every hour, appetite dropped significantly, and very inactive, cling on to me the entire day, I knew immediately my boy's unwell. When he has fever, it's the toughest for me, coughs and flu don't seem to take as much from him compared to fever.

Poor boy, hope he gain back his health soon.

First Brush

I was thinking about this for a while, finally settled on buying this toothpaste that comes with a finger brush, with milk enzymes, and apple and banana flavour (REAL), and safe to swallow, flouride free, and guess how much it costs??

$21.70 from Carefour.

We only realized the costly baby toothpaste after purchase when we checked the receipt. LC asked me what I bought, there were so few items and yet costs more than expected, so, it was the toothpaste, eh?? OOps ....

That night, I tried it on Nathan. Smeared some paste on the brush, stood him in front of the mirror, and wen brush brush. Of course, I faced some strong resistant initially, but when he got to taste the flavour, he kind of liked it, good grief, else LC would b screaming at yet another wasted expenditure.

Second night, I did the same thing, a brush before bed time, after last milk feed, this time, he took it even better, allowed me to go all over his gums, and in and out of teeth, good boy. Well, perhaps that explains the price we paid for it, hmm, consolation??

Still, too high a price, is it? Every brush's a dollar down his throat.

Lunch at Grace's place

Today' s an unusual day.

Whenever we get to go out, esp meeting friends for lunch or tea, it will be fresher than staying at home. I'm not sure which is better or preferred for Nathan, he seems quite the same either. One thing out is, he won't get his nap right. The moment I carried him down to the car and buckled him, he fell asleep, all the way home, and on his bed, slept another hr, oh boy, he must be beat all the time we were at Grace's place.

It was a nice afternoon. We spent much of the time entertaining and being entertained by the three kids- Sara and Nathan, the two tods, and even 9mths old Aidan, though not moving much at all, he just kicks about, makes some noises in his pram, sitting down playing with a truck, he makes us smile big time too. How lovely the watch kids, " let the little children come to me, " Yes, Lord, I understand why.

Grace prepared chicken rice, soup and veg. What a sumptuous meal. How time has changed. We grew up in Sunday school together, continued at teenagers, now we're married, some with kids! And we go to one another's house to eat and chat, something we couldn't have done earlier.

We talked about our kids, how nice to see them grow up together, just like us! But a pity, we're not in the same church anymore, if only. Well, God will put us together somehow, that's what friendship is about, not just where you are, but who you are that makes us friends for alife time.