Monthly Archives: August 2008

Of one-armed bandits and midnight pees

Posted on 30 August, 2008

For the past few nights; enough nights to make me forget exactly how many, my two kids wake in the middle of the night, a few times. One cries, the other cries out; sometimes one starts the other going. One … Continue reading →

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Daddee’s first big lesson in raising a girl

Posted on 26 August, 2008 | 5 Comments

For a few months now I have been having this pain when I pee- it’s not all the time, it’s only sometimes. I told Daddee about it, but he looked like he didn’t know what to do. He said to just make sure I continually washed after I pee; it’s usually Daddee who washes me at home after I pee.

I think now he thinks he hasn’t been washing me properly. Poor Daddee, I think he feels sad and, what’s the word- Inadequate?

So last Saturday Daddee took me to see TuaKor (Eldest paternal aunty, or Dr Pixie) for a few things: That I have (still) been having hard stools, that I don’t go poo-poo everyday, and also for this pain when I pee.

So TuaKor examined me. I was so scared and I didn’t let her touch me. Daddee said it was okay; TuaKor needs to see why it’s been pain-pain when I pee.

They were right; TuaKor only opened me up a little and that was enough to see some, err, inflammation; I think they called it, that it is pinky-red. They started talking about me, saying that to make sure I am washed inside and not just outside my skin area. Also, sometimes using only toilet paper to wipe is not enough. Daddee used this big word to say that he wasn’t familiar the girl body.. ana.. anatom-something. I think that first big word is how he feels about touching this ana-thing.

So TuaKor asked Daddee to go buy this wash called Lactacyd, and to use it after each time I pee, for 3 days straight. TuaKor also said my no-poo-poo has something to do with my inflammation, but I think Daddee can’t see the connection either…. But I will continue making sure I eat lots of vegetables still.

First few times he washed me it was so painful I cried. I don’t know why- it could be that the soap or it could be that Daddee was too hard. After a few times, Daddee thought to ask me to wash myself. That’s a good idea Daddee. He stood by with the shower head running and made sure I washed inside before spraying me while I continue washing.

It’s been 3 days of use now; except when I went back to school after the holidays this morning. I think Daddee will insist I am washed with this wash tomorrow, and then that would be enough. I think NaiNai (paternal grandma) was also teaching Daddee that this wash is quite drying, but suggested to still use it once a week to ensure.. hy… hy… oh I give up.

Daddee forgot to ask Dr Pixie what the adult-name is for my pain-pain.

After the visit to TuaKor’s clinic, as promised, Daddee took me to the big underground aquarium at the twin towers KLCC to check out the sharks being fed… I think he felt bad to miss his friend Auntie Kathie and her 2 boys!

:)

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Posted in A father's POV, A toddler's POV, Ailments & cures, Caitlin the heiress, Dr Pixie says

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Adding some colour to this blog!

Posted on 22 August, 2008

Sharing some still shots from the videos taken… Teeth, anytime now! And no- that’s not a caterpillar crawling out of his head! Snapped just before that drop left his chin! Daddee with his no-chin (as opposed to double-chin) Heh….

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Cardboard kitchen, finally. Or is it?

Posted on 18 August, 2008
kitch_inbox_head

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Almost a year ago I had visited this blog and saw this prototype, and declared (to myself, mostly) that I would attempt this myself. Here’s the finished product of that prototype, by the way, by the very talented Anna. Bit … Continue reading →

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Mini milestone in the pool…

Posted on 17 August, 2008 | 3 Comments

Today I took Caitlin for a swim. Long story short, it had involved going out of my way just to keep my promise to her that I would bring her for a swim, particularly this morning.

Anyway. A short proud note to my friends here, that she achieved two small feats in the pool:

  1. She held her breath and went underwater for a peek; with goggles.
    What’s the big deal you ask? It’s because she’s never gone underwater intentionally before. Which means she was both fearful of the “unknown” of “going under” as she calls it, as well as subsequently freaking out and take in some water. Unintentionally of course means the times when she’s jumped in too eagerly and had gone under for a while, taking in water especially through the nose.

    Apparently there is a whole new world underwater….

  2. She took off her floats for a while in the adult pool, wading in 0.5m deep of water (in the shallow end)
    What’s the big deal you ask? It’s because again of conquering fear, but not as explicit as it sounds. Other than the first time getting in, it’s never been an issue with the adult pool anymore while wearing the float. Taking it off however, was more like a real excitement for her and more like concern for me! I know, it was my idea, but I just wanted to try it out, let her touch the floor with her feet on her own, wade around for a while.

    floaties.jpg
    Picture taken Sept 2007, ankle deep in the baby pool.

These events actually happened in reverse. You see, at the condo poolside there is also a jacuzzi thing that we sometimes also visit when I bring her for a swim. It’s a round pool, with “steps” which act as seats all round the pool. It’s the deepest in the middle; and today I measured it at Caitlin’s chin-height.

I actually took her floats out at the jacuzzi, wanting her more “freedom” in her play in there. It was then that I asked if she’d wanna try going under with the goggles, to see the bubbles underwater. It was then after that that I braved going (back) into the adult pool without her wearing the floats in her costume.

On the way back to my parents’ after the swim at our condo, I had the opportunity to “teach” her that the bubbles she saw underwater are actually just air, and very different from the bubbles that she’d get from blowing through the loopy thing that comes with the bottle of soap from Toys’ R Us; even though both are called bubbles.

I think she got it.

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Posted in A father's POV, A toddler's POV, Adventures, Caitlin the heiress, milestones, Parenting musing

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A cultural experience..

Posted on 14 August, 2008 | 6 Comments

Our recent attendance of the MTV Asia Awards was something of a cultural experience for my brother, WyLuxx, and I guess his 16 year old daughter.

Not bragging that I am more exposed than he is, but I did have more opportunities to attend concerts and also be more familiar with outdoor nocturnal activities. What more an international-level music industry gig like this.

For eg, what the youngsters these days were dressed in, that I was only in my tees and jeans when he wasn’t sure what to wear since this was an awards show (think the Grammies), commented about the superb “chest thumping” sound system was at the awards show (he is an audiophile too). I had forgotten that that was a given “feature” at gigs like this.

But more importantly how a young person like my niece would react to attending something like this.

Our circle of family has been rather “sheltered” in that the kids don’t go out that much.Yet. To be fair, they are not the type that don’t go out at all, but it’s only been lunches and shopping trips; and I guess they have only recently become “of age”- that they would be starting to want to go out more now. All this while it’s only been school-related activities like ball games and school-friend birthday parties at home.

So, in some ways, my niece didn’t know how to behave at the MTV awards.

Granted we weren’t in the moshpit. But if we were; and leaving aside my middle aged brother (!), I reckon I would be as crazy as the next half-my-age person in there, other than the fact that my knees would probably be aching from jumping too much, my lower back would be aching from standing too long, my feet would probably be aching from, well, just age ache.

So, from where we were- and we were right up at the back of the venue, I cheered and sang and bobbed along with the performers where others sat crossed arms and legs. I wasn’t “crazy” like the dude seated infront of us, who stood up and cheered Woo Hoo at every mention of his favourite bands (and you know these award shows and their various nominations and mentions of bands). I didn’t mind that, only that the seats were such that once people infront stood up we’d be blocked; whereas the lady beside him leaned away from him each time, looking up-down at him.

But when I did cheer, I could see in the corner of my eye my niece quick-glancing at me. It wasn’t a case of OHMIGAWDIAMSOEMBARRASEDBYMYUNCLE but more of oh yeah it’s time to / ok to cheer.. at least that’s what I think she was thinking! Sometime into the show she did lean to me saying I can be her screaming partner!

This to me was a case of an older generation knowing how to behave at a supposedly-meant-for-the-young gig, and at the same time another of the same generation acting his age!

Yes, I am proud of my immaturity!

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Posted in A father's POV, Parenting musing

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Aspirations for my kids

Posted on 11 August, 2008 | 10 Comments

No, not setting high or any expectations at all.

Merely small stuff that I’d like my kids to have / equipped with / to be skilled at.

  • Some form of martial arts
    To me, I think this is quite an important “skill” to have. Not only is it a form of exercise, it can also be some kinda self defense for fending off (to an extent) bad guys. It builds confidence, and also kinda sexy on girls ;)
  • Know how to swim
    Again, a form of regular exercise. I think humans should know how to swim too. This may be a surprise to “sporting nations” like Australia, but believe me, there are families and folks here who don’t know how to swim.
  • Bike riding
    As a matter of personal preference, to me whether or not this is a regular sport is not important. What is important is at least knowing how to cycle…
  • Can cook
    There will be some point in any adult life where one will have to cook for themselves- I know I had to, while attending uni and living with flatmates etc, where we may have to take turns in cooking. At least know how to cook some pasta and fry a decent wok of rice! (Not necessarily having both these at the same meal though)
  • Doing the dishes
    While this is related more on one’s upbringing and contributing to around the house, this is also a skill that one needs to have. Sometimes there are old ladies that guys need to impress when visiting them (or their daughters!)
  • Some level of street smart
    I don’t mean Jason Bourne type of street smart, but enough sense to watch out for things like: Avoid walking into secluded areas, know when someone is trying to scam you, walking to the car with the car keys in hand sharp end pointing out, locking the car doors after getting in, making sure the house is secure at all times, etc.


What life-skills can’t you live without?

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Posted in A father's POV, Ergonomics

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