Yes, I know this is overdue, so overdue that the fortnight of Chinese New Year celebrations are already over.

Just thought I’d share this lovely photo of my two lovely kids.

Grandma bought these outfits for them- trust her (and her taste) to find these treasures. The kids wore these on the first day of the new [...]]]>

Yes, I know this is overdue, so overdue that the fortnight of Chinese New Year celebrations are already over.

Just thought I’d share this lovely photo of my two lovely kids.

Grandma bought these outfits for them- trust her (and her taste) to find these treasures. The kids wore these on the first day of the new year. Never mind that Hot Mummee took forever to get them ready and was therefore late coming downstairs to greet and wish everyone- they looked fantastic and everyone ooh and ahh-ed.

Taking these shots of them wasn’t easy. As you can tell it’s not that easy telling a 2 year old boy to stand still, look this way, and smile, while at the same time telling his jie-jie to hold that pose and smile too, waiting for that opportune time of him.

During the few days we were at my parents’ house, one of the nearby neighbours had a lion dance come bless their new house. As this was already Day something-or-other, we weren’t dressed in our best (anymore); in fact it was still rather early in the morning and, well, my hair was still in a mess. Not to let the chance pass, I grabbed the kids and got into the car to search for the origin of the drumbeats.

It was just around the bend. There were scores of other neighbours already, keen to get a good angle of the performance. It was also rather sunny, but I insisted the kids get exposed to this once-a-year cultural performance. I grabbed a brollie and the kids, and started finding a good spot on the road, in the sun. The host auntie owner-of-the-house saw us, “Come! Come inside and watch! It’s okay!” And so we did. It was good timing too cos the crew was just about to start (I don’t know what I heard earlier then- must have been a rehearsal…?)

I found a corner of their living room to stand, a spot where we shouldn’t be blocking the dancing. I was holding Caleb, while Caitlin was beside my left thigh. Caleb hasn’t seen one of these before, being only 2 years old; while Caitlin should be alright.

The dancing started. The opposite of what I was expecting happened. Caleb was staring wide-eyed at the whole thing, poker-faced reactionless, taking in the whole noise of the drums and cymbals and the strange looking creature. Caitlin however was cowering, left thigh, right thigh, face buried in thigh.

Then the big event came. The 10-foot long firecracker was lit. Since it was rather crowded and we were boxed-in where we stood, I used my opposite hand to close Caleb’s far-side ear and pushed his near-side ear against my cheek, covering them from the loud popping of the firecrackers; we were after all only about 20 feet from it. They didn’t flinch, and in fact I think they enjoyed the suspense of it, hearing it and seeing it pop, red paper sprayed into the air by bright flashes.

When it was over, the owner-auntie came and gave all the children ang pau’s, mine included

I have said before that I envy Caleb’s head-shape: Cos this Daddee can never pull off getting a crew cut like this and still look “normal”, instead, likely to even get a chuckle from people at first sight.

This shot was taken under 30min of him having it cut. As you can guess, it was in [...]]]>

I have said before that I envy Caleb’s head-shape: Cos this Daddee can never pull off getting a crew cut like this and still look “normal”, instead, likely to even get a chuckle from people at first sight.

This shot was taken under 30min of him having it cut. As you can guess, it was in a major shopping centre. Here we are taking some snaps of the Chinese New Year decor.

Despite minor protests from Hot Mummee, I stand by my decision for this crew cut… And no, this is not a sign of things to come, insofar as fathers imposing their wishes onto their kids! IT’S ONLY A HAIRCUT!

The other day, while assisting with her pj’s, she noted “M” on the tag of her pj pants.

“Daddee, why am I wearing pyjamas for boys?”

“Huh?” Looking at the colour scheme of what she had on. “No, these are colourful [...]]]> So it’s good that Caitlin has been able to read the alphabet for a while now.

The other day, while assisting with her pj’s, she noted “M” on the tag of her pj pants.

“Daddee, why am I wearing pyjamas for boys?”

“Huh?” Looking at the colour scheme of what she had on. “No, these are colourful pyjamas, both boys and girls can wear them…”

“But there’s a “M” written on it, and “M” is for Man.”

Everyone has their styles. Some hold their groins scurrying and yelling “I gotta go I GOTTA GO” while others do so subtly, yet while others (still) don’t tell you AT ALL that they have done it.

As far as a number 1 goes, Caleb won’t tell you. At all. [...]]]> This title certainly got you clicking

Everyone has their styles. Some hold their groins scurrying and yelling “I gotta go I GOTTA GO” while others do so subtly, yet while others (still) don’t tell you AT ALL that they have done it.

As far as a number 1 goes, Caleb won’t tell you. At all. Until you carry him and feel the wet diaper on your forearm, or when you discover the puddle of pee on the floor, while he is still running around being his 2year old self discovering and/or copying what his older sister does.

For his number 2’s however, is something I haven’t seen “done” before.

I understand everyone needs their privacy, whether it’s cos the poop is gonna stink, or that it’s simply because it’s the action of pooping. But for a 2 year old, what’s “privacy”? So it is with a lot of laughter of adorableness when we hear about, and then get to see, how my boy does it.

In private.

When you kinda suddenly discover him missing, you start to wonder whether he’s okay- but more often than not it’s because he has run to some corner of the room/house; preferably behind something, and pushing. It doesn’t matter if the pusher is 2 or 20 years old, I believe all humans push the same way. It becomes a lot more “funny” when it’s on a 2 year old boy. The same slight-squirm, the same red-face. Only standing up, hiding in some corner.

When we discover him “midway” he is somewhat apprehensive, don’t-come-any-closer kinda gesture. Dunno why. Perhaps at (only?) 2 he is starting to feel shame and embarrassment already. This idea is emphasised when I tease him (yes this Daddee teases his kids)- at any “usual” moment I’d look at him and say “Ngg ngg? Ngg ngg??” (the local baby talk for pooping; I think you can imagine how that term came about!) where he’d quite vehemently declare “Mai! MAI!” (which till today we are wondering whether he is trying to speak Hokkien dialect when most of what he hears is Cantonese where “no” is “moi”, not the Hokkien “mai”) as if the act of it is shameful.

Not that we make fun of him, maybe he is starting to develop his own self awareness and image (self respect?)

For now, I will still laugh at him. It’s okay if he develops a complex surrounding pooping. Having a complex surrounding pooping is okay compared to “performance anxiety” surrounding peeing, at the men’s room urinal.

Heh.

One day she came up to me all serious and asked “Daddee, am I tall?”

“Yes darling, you are considered tall for your age. Why?”

“I heard Grandma and Mummee telling their friends and say that I am tall.. and I don’t like when they laugh [...]]]> Caitlin has always been a little taller than average for her age.

One day she came up to me all serious and asked “Daddee, am I tall?”

“Yes darling, you are considered tall for your age. Why?”

“I heard Grandma and Mummee telling their friends and say that I am tall.. and I don’t like when they laugh at me..”

“They are not laughing at you; why would you think that?”

“….”

“It’s ok, maybe even good, that you are tall for your age. You know how you are in Pre-3 class where your friends are at least more than a year older than you?”

Nods.

“Well, even though you may be the youngest there at least you are not the shortest.”

“I guess… but I don’t like it when they laugh at me..”

“They are not laughing at you, they are just saying that you are. Well, now that you are tall, don’t you think that it’s good, that you can reach for things by yourself now? You can almost touch the light switches now when you jump, wash your hands now without a stool, you feet now being able to reach the ground when you cycle?”

“I guess…”

~~~~

Years ago when I was an adolescent I remember a conversation my parents had with Dr Pixie. I can’t recall how the topic was brought up, but it revolved around someone who was still quite short for his/her age, and Dr Pixie said there was something- either a shot or taken orally (hormones?) that can assist this kid in a growth spurt.

“Wouldn’t that just make him grow faster, rather than taller (eventually)?” I asked.

Dr Pixie looked at me, almost looking glad that someone asked that. “Good question” she said readily, “that could very well be the case- yes”- to which my brother gave me a thumbs-up “Can be a doctor!”

Dr Pixie proceeded to offer that ultimately it was still one’s genetics that determined a person’s height.

I am happy that Caitlin is tall for her age- she is not too tall, just that she therefore appears older than her age. Call me discriminating, but I’d prefer her to ultimately be an average height woman. I have seen really tall ladies and I do know they have trouble finding men!

Would I personally be intimidated about dating a taller woman? Possibly. I say this because I suppose I’d never approached and chat up anyone taller than I!

There’s something I just revealed about myself; well we also know that I am not a doctor, as much as I’d like to be

Being the rather laid back parents that we are; okay maybe “lazy” is the better description, we had only left it to the kids to entertain themselves with repeated playing of their favourite DVD’s.

One in particular this season was/is Ice Age [...]]]> Kids had only just gone back to school after a really really long year-end break.

Being the rather laid back parents that we are; okay maybe “lazy” is the better description, we had only left it to the kids to entertain themselves with repeated playing of their favourite DVD’s.

One in particular this season was/is Ice Age 3 (as opposed to last season, being Bee Movie). If you don’t know the franchise, the main characters are a couple of mammoths, a sabre tooth tiger, a sloth, and two brothers of possums. In a previous installment these have banded together as a herd, sharing with us viewers their adventures. I wouldn’t call them “adorable”; maybe because it has been repeatedly played-to-death so often that it has definitely lost its appeal.

They say kids and people dream about what they thought of or saw the most of during the day. Yup, you guessed it: Caitlin dreamt about these characters. Two nights in a row, in fact.

She shared this with me over a few “sessions”, first being during our car ride to Grandma’s in the morning before going to work, and then continued when she saw me afterwards.

She dreamt of Manny and Elly, the mammoth couple.

I asked if I was there. No. I asked if they were big. She said not really. I corrected her that mammoths used to be huge like a big car or bus (I try to watch Discovery channel as much as I can; will explain “try” another time!) I wanted to ask if they were friendly, but she quickly offered that they were, ‘cos they and the herd were travelling together with her; except Diego the sabre tooth lion. I guess Caitlin doesn’t quite fancy him all that much.

Later at home when she was relating her dreams during her later sessions, we overheard Hot Mummee exclaiming how she’s got a headache. Caitlin whispers to me “Maybe Mummee didn’t have nice dreams like I did; please don’t tell her I said that, okay?”

I like when she shares stuff with me. I hope she keeps this up forever through the ages, for obvious reasons.

Last year’s Halloween in particular (because I can’t remember if 2007’s Halloween left any impression on this then-just under 4 years old), the kids in our building came around all dressed and made up. Caitlin was more than just a little [...]]]> Last night was Caitlin’s real experience of Halloween; well, for this Daddee too, actually.

Last year’s Halloween in particular (because I can’t remember if 2007’s Halloween left any impression on this then-just under 4 years old), the kids in our building came around all dressed and made up. Caitlin was more than just a little disturbed, besides seeing “ugly” faces she was also left wondering why the hell kids would wanna scare other fellow human beings, what possible pleasure would be derived from going through all that trouble.

This year, as the date was approaching and shops started putting up the decor, she kinda grew accustomed to this once-a-year event (”just like a birthday”) and somewhat accepted this oddity in human psyche. Either that or she’s been quietly getting more and more disturbed harboring and bottling this up to someday become a really disturbed serial killer to carry out acts like in movies of similar namesake.

Since my parents have moved to the new gated community, we had spent our first weekend at their new house; as we do every weekend (since otherwise we don’t get to see my parents during the week). This community also has a few expats, and, unsurprisingly, they were going to do something with/for their kids. There was a flyer indicating a party starting at 7pm, that for all interested kids (and adults alike) to gather at the playground, and for interested residents game enough to treat or be tricked, to at least paste a picture of a pumpkin on their doors/windows.

Caitlin’s cousins were initially interested in participating, so Caitlin was kinda roped into it too. So, earlier in the afternoon we went shopping for a costume for her amidst buying stuff for the new house. We went to Toys R Us, and instead of choosing something typical to Halloween, she opted for what she’s kinda always wanted: a pair of fairy wings and a wand. Good too, cos I was somewhat concerned about what to do with the costumer come this time tomorrow.

The time came, and we were getting ready. Caitlin’s cousins pulled out, problem thought they were too old for this. I didn’t really know how to dress her seeing as she was going to be (just!) a fairy, I let her decide what to wear; which was just a t-shirt and jeans. Already looking out the window there were kids all decked out; i saw a lot of black (witches, Morticia Addams-like We were a little late; by the time we had gulped down our dinner there were traveling parties of kids door-knocking already.

And wouldn’t it you know it, it started drizzling! I quickly grabbed a brolly and got ourselves to join one of the groups. Being the odd one out amongst the group of kids who obviously already knew each other, we just tagged along and tried to make small talk; Caitlin too Ok, there were also parents who were also dressed up and played chaperones.

To be honest in my mind i had wanted to tag along on my inline skates: Nothing is more scary than an old man trying to be young by being on skates! It was just too bad that it started raining. Honestly. Caitlin is still too young to say these words: Dad, you embarrass me.

It was a rather fun time even for Caitlin She managed to collect a substantial amount of candy, getting more into this after each door-knock. She was still rather apprehensive though, as she wasn’t really audible with her “trick or treat” and “thank yous”.

It was quite nice culturally to see how the residents got into this: The porches were decorated with the typical pumpkin and other “scary” things; there was one with a severed head and hand; which I can only presume that Caitlin either didn’t see or pretend she didn’t to someday grow up to be…

The timing was such that the small groups somehow all finished nearly the same time, and instead of gathering at the now-drenched playground the setup was moved to presumably the organiser’s porch. it was a potluck event, but I had only brought drinks. Caitlin however was already quite relaxed once she got stuck into the chips and the mini sausages. The lady (organizer) even had a game. She took out a stack of disposable diapers and lined them along the table, saying that this is a game but not a race; “who wants to join in?” I yelled out that Caitlin’s brother has some used ones where we could provide, to which she said “these ARE used ones!” There were kids who were game, and when the game started they were told to open it up and eat what was inside: very real looking op! She had really gone through the trouble and made whatever that was to look very very much like what Caleb produces in his diapers! Most of the kids and even some adults were really enjoying it though!

My brother, seeing as this was a “photo event” had set up his camera on his porch, that for a “fee” for the candy, you gotta pose for him

I agree with him (on his Flickr site) that this would be the best dressed of the night

There are more at his site

We made sure Caitlin understands that she has to bring and share all that sugar with her school friends. No resistance there, she’s always liked to bring stuff to share, if only there were enough to go around when there’s something she wants to bring.

I’d say given how Caitlin admitted that she had fun, next year she’d likely be as game and enthusiastic as the older kids from the night. Her little bother would be just under 3 then; cant say how he’d be yet, seeing as he is actually showing signs of timidness yet look-at-you-from-corner-of-the-eye attitude.

Granted it would always be the parents’ fault if children don’t get sufficient sleep/not going to bed early enough. Of late, I have found that Caitlin would still wake at around the same time in the morning, [...]]]> I was just reading this article about disciplining children, and reminded me of what had happened only this morning.

Granted it would always be the parents’ fault if children don’t get sufficient sleep/not going to bed early enough. Of late, I have found that Caitlin would still wake at around the same time in the morning, even if it wasn’t a school day (much like last week’s week-long break), even if she did not retire on time. She still gets her afternoon naps, so I am a little relieved that she would still be getting some growing-time (research says that baby lambs can actually grow cm’s while sleeping; let alone the rest the brain requires).

Still, no excuses though.

Of late on schooldays, I have also started waking her a little later than earlier this year- I have started waking her almost 30min later now. Decided on this because, other than both of us getting a little more sleep, I had also found that she used to be waiting to leave, all dressed and ready and catching a bit more of Playhouse Disney in the meantime.

Waking her this morning wasn’t as difficult as Monday morning this week (cos we were all at a relative’s wedding dinner and all retired very much later than usual). Still, being her usual self she was moping around and taking too long doing everything (getting her morning dose of milk, teeth-brushing, washing up).

Instead of grunting at her, I tried this: “You know, if you wanna do things so slowly, then Daddee will have to wake you earlier so that you won’t be late for school… Either you do things quickly and not be day dreaming and wake up a bit later/get to sleep some more, or I wake you earlier.”

Knowing that sleep is quite precious, I think it may actually work. “OKAY OKAY..”

Not to contradict myself, I didn’t have the time to go get the recent “toy” I bought her. I got her a cardboard clockface from MPH for RM6.90 (if I recall correctly) with movable hands and hour and minutes on the face. I have been trying to teach her how to read the clock.

I had wanted to show her what I meant about waking earlier. But “I will have to wake you even before the sky turns bright” was enough to drive the message home.

Let’s hope she sticks to it.

It was also Hot Mummee’s birthday on the 21st Also, Yee yee [...]]]> For the end of Ramadhan month here in Malaysia, we had a really long weekend off work. Caitlin’s school, in fact, had the whole week off (they had a couple of Saturdays of school to make up for closing the whole week).

It was also Hot Mummee’s birthday on the 21st Also, Yee yee (HM’s younger sister) is also back from Hawaii for a month; and it’s also going to be HM’s cousin’s wedding this weekend!

So we had quite a few activities lined up in the last 2 weeks or so!

As a nice little “cheap” treat, I brought Caitlin for a swim in our pool downstairs (of the condo building). Off and on I have been taking her floats out of her swimgear the last few times we went for a dip- she is tall enough already and can stand at the shallow end. She really surprised me by “going under” (as she calls it) and even remembering that one time I tried to teach her to exhale through her nose. I was watching her submerging and blowing bubbles out of her nose and really enjoy exploring this new skill and sensations!

The other highlight was also the rare times that we as a family ventured outdoors together! HM’s not really an outdoorsy person, and with Caleb being still somewhat waddling, we don’t venture outdoors much. But being somewhat bored with the days-off, we contacted Moomykin and Cuddlyfamily to see what they were doing.

We ended up planning a picnic!

The kids had the most fun, whilst I enjoyed (not enough of!) Moomykin’s decadent potato and egg salad and Cuddlyfamily’s homemade cookies! Most of my time was spent watching over the kids; more so with Caleb and (possibly?) his first visit to a playground.

Oh, we had also bumped into See Ming (aka xmocha) and Sim and Max!

The picnic wasn’t as scary as we had feared (okay we are city folks after all). The dreaded rain held off just for us, where it had been raining every 12 hours or so the previous umpteen days regardless of day or night, and also the kids weren’t too much of a handful.

After the picnic morning HM, Yee yee and I, and their brother and some friends went for karaoke (don’t laugh- all are quite good singers and it’s also good stress relief!), followed by seafood dinner- it was after all HM’s day, and she got to choose which crab, and the cooking style to eat!

But the news hour is more interesting…

Took today and Friday off from work, just to “do stuff” with Caitlin. All week so far she’s been holed up in the apartment with Hot Mummee working from home, and really working. Poor kids haven’t been outdoors at all for some 72 hours or so earlier [...]]]> Yup- it’s already going to be Friday already tomorrow.

Took today and Friday off from work, just to “do stuff” with Caitlin. All week so far she’s been holed up in the apartment with Hot Mummee working from home, and really working. Poor kids haven’t been outdoors at all for some 72 hours or so earlier in the week.

Today I took Caitlin for a long-awaited swim. Long, cos as you know she’s not been well, and then there was the hazy spell. Not surprisingly it was a good fun-time in the sun; we both got a slight but much needed tan from it. She hasn’t forgotten what she’s learnt from the pool- not that I had taught her a lot, but she still managed to paddle from the ends of the pool to the other, still with her floaties of course.

Later in the day I had wanted her to catch some shuteye before the replacement art class- again, replacement from when she was down with fever, but she won’t have it. 35min before the class was to start, this is what happened- I reckon she had only dozed off 5 minutes before I snapped this.

I still woke her up though, partly cos I was “selfish” and wanted her to still attend this cos, after all its paid for. But partly also I know (hoped?) she would still enjoy it.

Woke her, asked if she still wanted to go.

Rubbing her eyes, “Yes….”

When I signed her up for this replacement class last week, I had noticed that this session, being on a Thursday afternoon, only had 4 names. Today, she was the only one who turned up.

So, given the undivided attention, when I went to get Caitlin at the end of the class the teacher told me that because she was the only one, they had finished one, and resumed to make another

So for tomorrow, Friday, I was thinking I’d bring her to go watch Up. Let’s hope the plan goes well; cos I have a feeling somehow it won’t….

UPDATE

Well, we managed to catch the movie Up.

As usual Caitlin didn’t catch her afternoon nap. I had to force her to lie down with the threat of no-movie if she didn’t try. As the protesting died down because she eventually dozed off, I snuck out to get the tickets in order to maximise her shut-eye time, waking her only at the last minute.

As I woke her, it crossed my mind that she may want to continue sleeping as she normally does when awoken “prematurely”, ending up being a grump for about 30 minutes. Waking her, I popped the make-or-break question: Do you wanna go for the movie (or not)? It was quite the waker-upper question- we were on time and all for the movie.

To my slight disappointment, being her third ever movie outing, she still asked “Is it finishing yet?” some 3/4 way into the movie. She is still obviously not mature enough to follow a storyline yet the first time (meaning she’s gotta be watching a movie repeatedly like on a DVD before somewhat understanding what’s going on.

Ah well, at least she did go to a cinema and catch this movie, after months of requesting we do each time we drive past the poster on the highway every morning.

But just like Daddee being innocently ignorant about its proper description, Caitlin was referring to her new pair of shoes as the “up down shoes”.

Now you gotta really sit down and think about how she could possibly come up with a name like that. I did, yet [...]]]> At least I also think that’s what it’s called.

But just like Daddee being innocently ignorant about its proper description, Caitlin was referring to her new pair of shoes as the “up down shoes”.

Now you gotta really sit down and think about how she could possibly come up with a name like that. I did, yet still couldn’t work it out; where for a while we were both frustrated that we didn’t know what she was referring to.

Until I sat her down and asked her what up-down shoes.

And she went and got it to show me.

“Why did you call it the ‘up-down shoes’?”

She pointed to the heel. “See Daddee; up?” and pointed to the toe “Down”.

Showed him the tongue action of his jie-jie

He immediately copied what he saw!

And by the way, having the radio going all [...]]]> I was showing Caleb some of the videos I have taken; he does seem to like watching them too, and I kinda condone it ‘cos I remind him of who everyone is especially the relatives.

Showed him the tongue action of his jie-jie

He immediately copied what he saw!

And by the way, having the radio going all the time while I drive, Caitlin has taken a liking to this currently popular song.

From a personal perspective, a great deal of how I learned English was also from songs, and “breaking down” the lyrics so that I could sing along (I suppose one also has to like music and singing to learn English this way, even if it’s only in the shower!) So, I found this YouTube clip while I was looking online for the lyrics for Caitlin to sing along too, as well.

My little girl is bobbing like she’s in a moshpit now; well, gentle bobs anyway. Maybe I should have left it for her to work out the lyrics herself too?

Does this look like a hand of a 4 year old?

Maybe it does to you. To me it looks more like- maybe a 10 year old’s hand.

This was when Auntie Susan and Uncle Jonathan had lunch with us at [...]]]> I was just going through the photo library on my laptop… and this just occurred to me.

Does this look like a hand of a 4 year old?

Maybe it does to you. To me it looks more like- maybe a 10 year old’s hand.

This was when Auntie Susan and Uncle Jonathan had lunch with us at Dragon-i. These pigs were desert dishes, I think there was lotus paste in them. Quite yummy too.

So she didn’t attend her 1st session of her art class (actually it would be her 2nd session, they allowed her a trial session last weekend to assess her: behaviour, “standard” of her skills like drawing & painting, etc, to decide which level / class to put her). We decided [...]]]> Caitlin had fever on Sunday.

So she didn’t attend her 1st session of her art class (actually it would be her 2nd session, they allowed her a trial session last weekend to assess her: behaviour, “standard” of her skills like drawing & painting, etc, to decide which level / class to put her). We decided to let her try out these art classes to see how she goes with her keen interest in drawing and colouring.

So she stayed at home, despite very much looking forward to attending it. Sometimes she is such a darling with her “okaaay” when we explain how she can’t do something she really wants to.

Tried my best to keep her occupied, though she had already planned on an activity- to cook herself some soup.

ABC soup no less. Locals cook this with the most basic of ingredients: Tomato, onions, potatos.

She had wanted to add some beans too, and I insisted we added some peas too though she doesn’t really like them in real life.

In case you can’t tell, there’s the stove, the pot, and the ingredients. I helped her staple the ring to make up the pot

Yes, she is handling a pair of scissors. She started using them last year before turning 4 without my knowledge, to make things. Touch-wood she hasn’t hurt herself yet so far, and under my watchful eye since (when I do see her use it) she’s been quite okay with them. Let’s hope she remembers to keep them from her younger brother though.