Belated 2018 Christmas Gifts

I remembered Meimei has been hunting for a hands free headphone. And that she mentioned she prefers the apple headphone to the common rubbery stud type. Thankfully finance are a little tiny better this year, I decide to surprise her with a gift.

I had placed an order online for collection at the Orchard Apple store. I purposely arrived earlier so I can collect it and place it on the dashboard in front of her seat. Then I went off to window shop in Robinsons till she came down. I deliberately came to the car late to see if she noticed the apple bag.

Oh that glee and smile on Meimei's face as I walked towards the car .... Priceless ... she was beaming and grinning from ear to ear, pure genuine surprise. 

就为了一笑. Totally worth it.

Meimei also bought me a headphone for Christmas heheh.

Mignon's Steak & Grill

Sorta of a belated Christmas celebratory meal but that's ok. It's hard to find time for a date night meal so we appreciate any chance we get.

Meimei brought me to Mignon's Steak & Grill at the basement marketplace of Takashimaya. We had a monster of meal ... 1kg of T-Bone steak to share. Slurp!

Sheltered Playgrounds

OO behaved well yesterday morning so I rewarded her with a trip to the playground. We initially started at the 3 slides playground but it had rained earlier in the wee hours and she couldn't play on the slides. The only ones she could play were the climbing obstacles. She's fearless even on the tough ones.

She seemed disappointed after awhile as there were limited fixtures to play so I decided that we should go explore and see if we can find new playgrounds. We had previously driven past the area and saw playgrounds that were sheltered.

The first one we found was just off the road and was similarly wet due to the rain. We stopped for probably 5 minutes before moving to another. I rode further into the neighbour and found the first sheltered playground.

It had a nice tall roof and was relatively clean and new. OO had a wonderful time climbing up the different obstacles and diving down the slides. We spend a good half hour there before she was willing to leave. And that's only because I offered that we go look for another one.

It didn't take long for us to find the next sheltered playground. It was probably only about 200-300 metres from the first. OO was totally elated to play in the new playgrounds. She made me promise to bring her back here again before agreeing to leave for home.

Personally I was just as excited to find sheltered playgrounds. OO had been behaving well, sleeping in the afternoons the past month. But since it was December and the rainy season, we always end up disappointing her. So to find options for play and encourage good behaviour was a definite plus.

Christmas 2018

With 2 little kids, Christmas was always going to be a simple affair. We put up the tree but had to move all the ornaments on the top part so YY cannot go pulling on them.

We had a great dinner on Christmas Eve with everyone around the table including YeeYee and GX.

This is YY's first Christmas so Meimei has been very generous in dishing out all the toys for him. We definitely need to control the number of gifts as they get older hehe.

12 Chinese Zodiac Stuffed Toys

I'm guessing these probably belonged to Meimei but now they are somehow OO's. Either OO's gone ransacking in 406 and found them or Nyama might have been clearing them from 406.

Whichever it is, they are now in 405 and part of OO's collection of bed mates.

Pink Sand

OO has been pretty good lately so Meimei wanted to reward her with new play toys. So out came a bag of sand which she bought awhile earlier. OO has always been excited to play with sand. She even ask us to bring her to Gardens by the Bay's children garden to play at the sand pit.

A big applause to Meimei for the utmost patience and restraint in letting OO play with the sand at home. Hehe.

YY @ 10 Months - Standing Up On His Own

YY's starting to stand at 10 months. OO didn't start till she was close to a year old. But I guess each child is different and we won't be able to stop him from trying anyways. Meimei is worried he might have U-shaped legs if he started early but the only thing we can do is not to encourage him by holding him. If he does it on his own, he is ready I suppose.

护士，我又长高吗？

'Up To No Good' look hehe

I can balance on my own!

Hold my hand please?!

Hehe Papa washing my smelly poopoo!

Hillview Trip - Dec 2018 #2

Kids fight over anything and everything.OO says she doesn't want to go Hillview because she don't want to play with Gareth. But when we are there she is constantly playing with Gareth, chasing and running and getting into all sorts of arguments or mischief together.

Here you have the two fighting over the same seat during lunch. Hahahah. Joys of innocence and youth.

Queuing For The Other Kitty

Surprise surprise, the pale sister to the world's most famous kitty is getting her own limelight at McDonald's.

It's Thursday morning but Meimei loves MyMelody so I breeze walked to Bedok Mall in hopes of getting my hands on them.

I managed to get in line where they issued queue tickets to everyone and indicating the number each are buying. The max is 5 per pax but I only need 2, one for Meimei and another for OO.

I didn't expect so many people to be queuing at 7am in the morning. I think there must be at least 30 pax in front of me. I must also be the only one who isn't buying the full quota of 5. The cashier automatically charged me for 5 at the counter and gave me a weird look when I pointed out the error and requested for only 2. Hehehe.

"Papa, I don't want you to grow old"

I was driving OO to a playground she saw along the PIE on our way home from Hillview when she suddenly said "Papa, I don't want you to grow old". I didn't know how to respond to that.

I was keeping my attention on the road while starting to tear as I think about it. "Yes, Papa don't want to grow old too, I would like to be with you always" I thought. But that wasn't the right answer so I bravely told OO "Everyone grows old OO, it's more important how we spend the time with each other."

Thankfully, she didn't continue to say it. I was close to tears already thinking about it. It wasn't the first time she said it. The first was when I told her I didn't have the strength to carry her because I'm getting old. But this time it was different. She said it because I was her 'Best Friend' who could bring her to playgrounds and have fun together. And she didn't want that to stop ... and neither did I.

And yes, this gives me the drive to spend more time with Meimei, OO and YY. These are valuable years when we are still the center of their world. Enjoy it as much as we can before life takes over I say.

Hillview Trip - Dec 2018 #1

Meimei has her jujube gang gathering today so I brought OO and YY to Hillview. This week we brought the bicycle so she was taking turns on it with Gareth.

Gareth doesn't like to wear his helmet and makes sure everyone knows it.

With the older kids playing outside, I was watching YY as he rummages through the toy storage boxes.

He just kept flipping the cover up. I think he is learning how to open boxes through repetitive actions.

Hillview Trip - Nov 2018 #2

Owing to the success of the water pool, Meimei ordered another water play toy for OO. Again the kids were highly excited with it and had a great time splashing water around and getting all wet.

Disney Winter TsumTsum @Gardens By The Bay

We went out early today to Gardens By the Bay to catch the Disney Winter TsumTsum displays.

Nothing novel but Meimei has been a long time player of TsumTsum so I thought she would be excited to see the displays.

OO was particularly obedient and holding her hands together after we warned her not to touch any of the flowers. We had forgotten to bring her jacket so she was using YY's which is way too small for her haha.

YY's First Biscuit

Meimei has been careful to give only bland food to YY since he is still breastfeeding. I recall we started giving OO biscuits when she turned 7 months. So today marks the first time YY's getting biscuit treats.

It helps that he already knows how to hold food. He seems apprehensive about it at first since we have always been stopping him from putting things into his mouth. He was kinda looking for approval from everyone around the table before putting the biscuits into his mouth. But once he started he was lapping it up. Congrats YY! Hehehe more treats to come!

Carrying YY To Sleep

First time I managed to carry and sing YY till he slept. 9 months plus and this is the first time. Kudos to Meimei for enduring all the hardships of the constant waking up at night.

I got him on "Hush Little Baby". OO had silly self made one liners to bore her to sleep. Thankfully I didn't get to repeat the same and instead gave YY a proper lullaby song.

Interestingly though, I wasn't able to coax him to sleep sideways on my arms. He would only rest on my shoulders. Hmmm maybe he is repulsed by my armpit body odour. Oh well who knows. I'm just glad I was able to get him to sleep when everyone else was busy. I'll chalk this up as a win hehehe.

YY's First Taste Of Ice Cream

Meimei brought YY to collect his passport today and dropped by Bedok Mall McDonald's for lunch. The smart people at the fast food joint offered mini ice cream cones and YY got one to share with Siti. They really know how to hook them young haha.

I think there was this initial ... "Hmmm what is this?" sort of moment.

Not sure if he knows how to appreciate an ice cream yet. I suspect he is a little shocked of the cold feel of the ice cream.

Baby Garen

OO and YY have a new cousin, baby Garen! Arrive at a healthy 3.71kg and looks to be splitting image of Gareth.

I'm happy the family is growing. I'm sure YY and Garen will be playing together in no time since they are the same age. Much like how Gareth and OO loves playing together.

Ball Pool

The pool was such a success that we bought a round one for home. It looked much smaller in the picture .... We filled it with balls and was hoping we could keep YY in it. At least that was the plan when Siti suggest we bought one.

The plan was a good one ... for a couple of hours. YY started to lift up a leg and stepped on the tubes walls. Siti had to jump right after him before he fell over the edge. Hahahaha ... we were all outsmarted by a 9 month old.

YY @ 9 Months - Standing Steadily With Support

YY's pretty steady on his feet now with support. There are still the occasional backward tumbles but nothing serious. Everyone's hoping he continues to keep his joyful and smiley demeanour as he grows up.

Trying To Take A Passport Photo

Bath Time Is Happy Time

Cuddling With  姐姐

Beaming At Us During Dinner

Feeling The Hair Stumps On My Chin

Never Lose That Cheekiness YY!

"Get It Off My Head!!"

One of the rare occasions we brought both kids out for a meal. YY wore a hoody jacket and Siti couldn't resist pulling it up to his utter dismay.

He was frantically trying to pull it off and kinda made it worst when it tightens.

Thankfully it was all action and he does not go into a screaming mode. He is a different sort of baby. OO would have yelled at her loudest voice at the instant of discomfort.

We only had him struggle for less than a minute before pulling the hood down again. Don't want our sweet little sunshine having bad dreams from the hoody yah. *kiss

Hillview Trip - Nov 2018 #1

On my birthday, instead of having a 'me' day, Meimei and I were out buying 'presents' for OO and YY. Birthdays for ourselves no longer seems as important as creating and having fun with our children.

It's a good thing Hillview has a huge garden (by Singapore standard). We had bought a mini play pool for the kids. Although it was supposed to be a mini pool, it took awhile to fill it up with a third of water.

The kids couldn't wait to jump right in. We prepared the wet suit for YY too so he doesn't miss out on all the fun.

I like how the wall of the pool were thick and strong so the children will not fall out easily, especially when YY is only 9 months old.

It was a roaring success, everyone had loads of fun. We left the pool at Hillview so we can play in it next time.

Big 40

Turning 40. Average lifespan of a male Singaporean is 80.1 years. That means I've arrived at the half way point of my life. Surreal, fear, content, all boiled into a calm, unassuming thought of looking forward to the next 40.

Surreal - Life was always this endless boundary when you are in your teens or early 20s and 30s. There is so much opportunities and discovery in those ages. But now coming to 40 you start to see the end and all the finiteness and fraility of life. It's not a morbid thought but rather a realisation that I need to get things I want to do done soon.  

Fear - I believe everyone fears death. I don't say it in a bad way. I think those that say they don't fear death are not really living. It's death that gives living its worth. My fear is broken in two forms. One for myself ... can I really live up to the ripe age of 80? And live it in a healthy and rewarding way? The other fear is for my spouse, children and hopefully grandchildren. Have I spend enough quality time with them? Have I prepared them well for my eventual departure?

Content - Because I think I've lived my first 40 well. It's not like I had the chance to travel the world or make big bucks and party every night. But lived well as in life has been good to me generally. Much much more so in the last decade with Meimei and the arrival of OO and YY. I think I'm made for married life and the last ten years has been truly exciting. Content because I have a wonderful partner for the next 40 and also I see in YY and OO figments of Meimei and me.

So I'm looking forward to the next 40. The next 10-15 years is probably the golden years when everyone, including Nyaung and Nyama, would sit together during dinner and chat about our day. Also these are the best times to be travelling together as a family since the kids are going to be on holiday twice a year.

After that another 10-15 years will be the second honeymoon period for Meimei and me, with the kids in their teenage years and joining their friends for outings. Time to ditch the kids and travel the world or pick up hobbies together.

And after that, hopefully we can look forward to playing with grandchildren. Heheh. So much more life moments and events to enjoy. No doubt there will be ups and downs, surprises and disappointment. Things never really go exactly as planned. But, nevertheless nothing is going to stop me from dreaming about another awesome 40 years.

P.S. my big 40 birthday celebration was a get-together meal at home. Opened a bottle of red wine for the occasion and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Simple fun is always that much better when savoured with family.

Colouring Mat

Meimei bought a set of mats with colouring pens and OO has been happily working on it. She loves to colour and usually gets pen marks all over her arms and hands.

New Improved Disk Rack

A new disk rack to replace the SimpleHuman one which has rusted at the metal grills. Meimei got this online at a fraction of a SimpleHuman ($50+ vs $200+) rack.

I like the two tier setup. More space to dry cups and dishes.