Midnight Encounters

These days around midnight or close, I'd find myself in a state of shock. Like last night, I was lying down on the floor next to the coffee table watching Idol, I saw a pair of (toddler's) legs from under it. Other times while I was in the kitchen, I'd catch glimpses of a tottering entity in the dark, accompanied by clicking sounds of the pacifier ring hitting against it's shield.

Pumpkin sleepwalks a lot. She sleeps as early as 8pm, and gets off the bed around 11pm carrying her little pillow out of the room looking for me where she'd just stand silently till I put her back in bed. Like last night, she came to look for me in the living room and stood still next to the table where my view was blocked. Before this sleepwalking phase (when she was still sleeping in the cot) she'd sit upright for a couple of seconds in the middle of her sleep before she crashed her head back on to the pillow. This, the Mister witnessed when he came home past midnight when the rest of us are asleep.

Very often, at the point of time these events happened (in the dark), it's not very funny.


Too much dark and goth isnt good

Toileting Newbies

If you're the type who has the habit of buying clothes for your kids way before they can fit into them, avoid buying trousers in advance for 2-4yr old girls. Cos that's when they're most likely to be newly toilet-trained and wearing trousers can be a nightmare when you're out in public. They have the habit of telling you only at the last minute. The only time Munches gets to wear her jeans is when we go over to grams.


Since we're still on the subject of jeans.

Chatterbox

Munchkin is in a highly fidgetive and talkative phase.

We were at a mall and she insisted on holding on to a disposable chopstick after we had our food. She fidgeted with it and kept dropping it while we walked so the frustrated mom who was gripping her hand on one hand and carrying a plastic bag on the other said "CAN YOU STOP PLAYING WITH THE CHOPSTICK?". The next minute, we were in a shop and the mom accidentally dropped the plastic bag and Munchkin said "Mama, CAN YOU STOP PLAYING WITH THE PLASTIC?".


No, I didn't color-coord for sleeptime. This was coincidental, I swear.

Family of Black and Red

This thing with colors was inspired by Jarvis Cocker.

extracted from an interview:

Camille: Jarvis did this thing that I love. At first I thought it was weird, but now I like it. When we go out he checks to see what I'm wearing, like the colours or shapes. It's not that he tries to match me but he can dress in the same family of colours. It's this old school way of showing that you belong.

Jarvis: Yeah, but it's not like we wear exactly the same thing. It's not like it's his n' hers.

Camille: No, no, that's not what I'm saying at all. It's just like the same family of colours.

Jarvis: It's about wearing something related.

Red, White, Blue

One of the things I like about having a mini-collective of my own is, they become an outlet for my lunatic obsession with color-coords. Not a fan of identical getups though. It's just colors.

Well-balanced Weekend.

We arranged for band practice on Saturday so in order not to feel so bad about leaving the kids, I took them out earlier in the day for some fun.

In hopes to tire them out so when they spend the next couple of hours sleeping at home minded by Matriarch and helper, we ran for practice.

When Sunday came, Mister had to sleep in after a graveyard shift but I've gotten used to doing things with the kid/s on my own so I planned to take Munchkin to a Cat Show since the little one is skittish of cats. Taking the almost 4yr old out now is convenient cos I don't have to carry around diapers and milk bottles plus she makes great conversations (at any time there's always someone to say I'm pretty even though I look like a train-wreck). But most of the time, I feel wretched about leaving the 17mth-old at home with the helper. So we waited. As soon as the younger one shut her eyes for her 11am nap, Munch and I got dressed and left. It's less of a heartache when the other one sleeps so she doesn't miss much. By the time we got home, it was the elder's turn to nap so I didn't waste any time, got Pumpkin dressed and off we went to a another heartland mall.

Sense of achievement there when both get equal treatment. Now let me think about ways to manage this with a third kid.

Eid 09

Main culprit for the absence has to be the (not so) new handphone cos my little twitter community enjoys mini-pics and text of less than 140 characters (i love my intimate twitter circle btw cos they're small and consists of mainly girls).

And Eid this year hasn't been very merry cos Matriarch was away for a mini-pilgrimage and was back only on the 2nd day which we then spent catching up and bonding with her and her side of the family who all came to fetch her from the airport and convoyed back to our house (yes we dont call her matriarch for nuffin).

I know I only had one day of visiting so far and it was rather bad of me to be complaining about dragging two fidgety kids from house to house all decked in the traditional outfit and trying to maintain my (not so) poised kebaya and make-up. But I took my words back almost immediately cos I was self-reminded of the less fortunate. There are ppl out there who'd give anything to be able to spend eid with healthy kids.

So yes. I thank God for what I have today.

We Miss Gigs

Finally got round to sending the cybergamer brother to the airport last night. He was off to Seoul to challenge but we killed two birds with a stone; gathered a bit to meet The Guragas before he heads back ozzie for start of term.



And why I still yearn for a DSLR; Depth-of-field photos. Did I mention I lost my Nikon FM2 while I studying?

One Year Old

Pumpkin turns one tomorrow but since I had gotten these junior gig-goers to come over last friday, I made it an excuse to celebrate her 1st.

Motherhood Unites

Cheesy title but it's a fact.

Sue and I have known each other since our days in art school but we couldn't term ourselves friends then cos in that 3 years, we barely spoke. Later we found each other working in the same building but there weren't anything more than hello-goodbye exchanges. Even our occasional running into each other at Tower Records were nothing more than 3 sentences. We were stiff like that.

Until (was it?) last year when were reunited via FB and blogsphere, we learnt that our 1st-born are both girls, only 3mths apart. We got pregnant again and we both gave birth to another girl, a month apart. All of a sudden, I think we felt like we've been BFFs forever.

Never mind the fact that we both came from the same school, same workplace, currently temporarily living in the north, share the same taste in music, had the same man attending to our southern region (we shared the same obygyn. what were you thinking?), it only took motherhood to break the ice.

I spent a lovely afternoon with her and our girls and our helpers. She has the cutest pair, they make heads turn.

What's Latest.

The Spouse and I speak Singlish. If I need to tell him to wait for me, I would most likely say "wait ar.. very fast one." Imagine how silly it made us feel when the other day, the 3yo Munches told her dad "Papa, I'll be right back" when I interrupted her playtime with him.

That is what too much telly did to her.

Meanwhile, the 11 mth old Pumps has started walking 2weeks ago but not practising enough. She only walks in favour of food.


This is us from my cousin's wedding this afternoon.

My Six Kitties

My love-hate relationship with a certain $2-shop that starts with "D". You end up buying nothing that you actually need. Like these kitty cat headbands. Which made 3yo Munches not stop pretending she's a cat.

The Pumpkin Today

This is The Pumpkin.
She is exactly 10mths old today.
She is big and chubby.
She weighs over 8kg.
She eats anything (edible and inedible).
She loves kisses and cuddles.
She hates seeing any family member leaving the house without her.
She hates unfamiliar faces.
She bops and claps when she hears music.
She stands up on her own but is too afraid to take a step forward.

Pumpkin's 1st Trip

Spent the long weekend tripping to Awana Kijal Terengganu with the camera's battery charging at home. The hotel was okay, beach was pretty but not safe for swim and the kids were at their best. Not a single whimper throughout the 8hr long bus ride except for Pumpkin's regular indication for milk.




The tantrum started as soon as we got to our doorstep last night. Munches refused to enter, wailing non-stop "Want to go to our room!". She was referring to the hotel room at Awana. Took a while to pacify her so I thought that was a good excuse to plan something for later weeks of June.

Photo Entry

why are they capable of waking up at 7am on a wet sunday despite having a late night?

guapunya minahs.

Mini gig-goers

Sunday got fine (what more with Mister beaming ear to ear over pool's win) and our trip to esplanade with the kids was fab. from the weather, to the bands to the sound technicals, to our parking spot, to our seats (thanks faezah who spared us centre top space when the place is almost packed to brim) to the company. mocca+yuna+typewriter = one of the best reasons to take the trip down with the kids.

Yoghurt for Babies

Pumpkin loves but it seems not many supermarkets carry them. I got mine at NTUC AMK Hub.

Eventful January

Crazy start of the year when Pumpkin had to be hospitalised for viral infection for five days, Matriarch, Mister and myself took turns to do night duty at the ward but all of us came back sick after one night. Equipped with only my hp, I managed to connect to mobile blog and facebook for updates. As soon as we got her home, I had to rush through the final preps for Munchkin's birthday which turned out very different from other events we had. It was a lot of catching up on cousins-in-law and long lost pals who've got babies and little kiddos. Thanks for coming, people.

Class Birthday

I couldn't resist getting them the Drum cake from Coffee Bean.

3 days at Aloha Loyang













Special thanks to mybakingtray for the complimentary tarts and puffs.

Other sources:
Venue - http://www.aloharesorts.com.sg/

Drum Cake - http://www.coffeebean.com.sg

Image icing birthday cake - http://myssaliana.multiply.com/

Helium-filled plain and foil balloons - http://www.harvestwell.com.sg/

Mickey Mouse Theme partyware -

1. Heartlink Trading
116 Middle Rd #01-02
ICB Enterprise Hse
tel: 6294939

2. Chia Nephews Toys Pte Ltd
5 & 6 Tan Quee Lan Street
Singapore 188094
tel: 63340509

3. THE GIFT BOX (http://www.harvestwell.com.sg)
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-K01 Novena Square2
Singapore 307506

Treat Packs - Various pasar malam

Me as Baby

Following the trend of uploading stone-age photos. I realise my girls don't look anything like me and I'm not complaining.

edited: regarding queries on the nestle photo, yeppp crowned for 1st prize Geylang Constituency Baby Contest in 1976. ahem.. (but I lost at national competition - according to Matriarch, I slept through).


and I was aggro from the start:

Puddle Pop

Munchkin and I caught Madagascar 2 yesterday at a nearby (near empty)cinema not for the movie (we could've done DVDs like everyone else) but only because I hadn't gone to one in ages and I wanted her to have her first cinema experience (she sure loved it). Another first time was also her going out in wellies and I was glad I made her put them on cos she had a splashing good walk home.

Thing is, Munchkin makes great company to go out with now (I get to laugh at everything she says) but I cannot do that often reason being the dreaded feeling to have to leave Pumpkin at home with Matriarch. But I'll make sure you get your turn, baby.

Two Weddings in One Evening

Pumpkin is now able to wear her sister's garb meant for 6-12mths.


Munchkin's favourite playmate.


The Khans current lineup.


Gambar curi from Linda.

Jalan Raya

The bigger reason why I don't take that many photos of Pumpkin is because she's always sleeping. Which I'm truly grateful for, syukur alhamdulillah, that she's been sleeping through the night since three weeks old, pretty much the opposite of Munches both in behaviour and ermm.. size (just look at her).



Munchkin, now approaching 3, is still waking up at night, ok?

Guess What?

We found a new Elephant!

The family went shopping at Causeway Point last night and we decided to take a look at Kiddy Palace (I didn't see it here the last time I checked) and there it was, only two pieces, almost hidden by the bigger toys on the rack. We showed Munchkin and she beamed but we wanted her to know that it wasn't her old one (though I bet she could tell) and that we had to purchase this so she should be aware that not everything she lost can be retrieved.


We did this while our man tried out a new shirt.

Before heading home, Mister suggested we get the other piece (did I mention before we like to over-react?) without her knowledge. It was after all, only $4.50. And the best part was, the twin brother elephant saved the evening. At the payment counter, I was flustered not being able to find my discount card (we bought other things as well lah.. not that I die die must get discount for a $4.50 item) when another sales person came and asked if I bought the same elephant earlier. I showed her the receipt and lo and behold! They kept my card cos I had left it there earlier.
Phew.

Eid 2008

Munchkin threw a professional tantrum on the morning of Eid.


Hello lilac and purple to us and 3/4 of the malay community we saw on the streets that day.

Feeding Time Recorder

I used to forget Pumpkin's last feeding hour until I found these magnetic numbers among Munchkin's toys. Problem solved!