In The Tradition of Papi?

My first BFF was Pokpok. And I think Emily may have found hers too in a little green tortoise named BianBian. Its a provisional name I gave the little toy before Emily can name her own.

Meimei bought this years ago in Taiwan if I'm not mistaken and its been in the study since we first moved in. Somehow our baby gets very excited every time she sees BianBian and will kick and lunge towards it.

I hope she finds as much fun, joy and companionship as I have with PokPok in my younger days. Of course we are going to try to give her brothers or sisters. But that really depends on fate ... we can only hope. So in the meantime, she has BianBian to play with.

I Can't Hear Her

I don't know why. 

I hear the sound of her voice, but can't make out the words. Was I distracted? Nope. Maybe I'm loosing my hearing on one side? Don't think so. 

Its frustrating. She keeps having to repeat herself and I keep having to second guess if I was hearing her right or wrong. Sometimes I resort to repeating her words. And when it's different, the look of disappointment and irritation shows on her face.

Could it be the lack of sleep? I mean we wake up several times at night these days. I don't know. All I know is that it is putting an unhealthy strain on us.

I hope this is temporary.

Our Little KayPoh Queen

Emily is one curious kid and that's good. I rather she is acutely aware of her surroundings than have the blur blur look like other babies of her age. She is also smart ... in manipulating Papi to carry her around.

Whenever I carry her, she will confidently stretch out her legs to kick, followed by a quick twist. And anyone carrying her will have a reflex action to hold her by the chest and thigh ... So wala~! she is now facing frontwards.

I really don't know when or how she figured out this manoeuvre but it strikes me as an example of a keen sense of her environment and a quick mind to link things together. We need to expose her to more things to expand her talents.

But that said she is still too young to really go into anything. So days are spent just kaypoh-ing where she can. Like today while in the bedroom she hears the sound of running water and proceeded to kick and pull me towards the white sliding door ....

What have we here ... ??   

Wow that's a big mirror

Oh Hi Mami! Found You!

Starting To Thin At 7 Months

She's starting to thin at 7 months. But then it could be the recent bout of diarrhoea. 

Kisses for Great Grandma!

Wah ... Papi, what are you doing?

Are we going on holiday?!

This feels so uncomfortable ...

Good Morning Papi Mami~!

Serving Your Nation, The Easier Way

After a long hiatus, I'm back in an Army camp for reservist. It's a new place this time since my battalion already stand down six years ago. I'm now assigned to a Brigade and it sure is different.

First and foremost, there isn't any stay-in. I thought it was gonna be the same drill and had packed enough clothes, toiletries and other essentials for the one and half weeks stint. I was actually shocked when I found out that we didn't have to sleep over. Its a long way from home to camp ... about an hour's drive each way. And we had to report to camp at 8am every morning.

So I did the unthinkable (at least in my colleagues' view) and went to make a special request for a bunk bed to sleep over. Sadly I was given a flat no to my request ... and this was not before the officers gave me a weird "why in the world, is he out of his mind" look. They had not catered for any beds and basically I will just have to suck it up and make the daily trip.

So what this also means is that there is no dinner catered, hence we were able to leave for the day from 4-5pm. Wow ... this is a far cry from the days we spend at the specialist mess drinking beers to laze through the nights.

The next biggest difference was the number of people they had for each function. I am in the RP section and in brigade we were augmenting the MP platoon. Read - Platoon. They had a good 30-40 doing the same task we used to do in Battalion with a section of 7-8 people.

And the best part of all of this is that they were complaining that the in-camp training this year is tougher ... what the ... these people have been so pampered that they can mouth out about being allowed to leave earlier so they can go back home earlier. "There has to be balance with our private lives too" is a common theme with these folks. Gosh ... the army should consider throwing these ingrates to the Battalion for a couple of years and let them taste the real training. They will then learn how to appreciate the luxury they are having now.

Phhhfff seriously there never is fair in this world. How is it that these people can go through their reservist in relative easy in-camps and others have to slog it out. What's so special about these people? I'll never find out and don't intend to. I have one more high key and that's it I'm done. And if I can pass through it in such an easy way I'm gonna go with it.