Growing up

Holidays are not just a great time to bond with Kai. We also learn new things about him which we wouldn't under normal circumstances.

Kai has been to Phuket three times. Once when he was still a baby in my tummy, the second time when he was two and most recently, we treated ourselves to a short getaway in a two-bedroom apartment in Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Phuket.

This time, he didn't mind being tumbled round and round by the waves--something which terrified him so much in the past. In fact, he rather enjoyed it. He even surprised us by agreeing to sleeping in his own room--something which we didn't think he was brave enough to do. But we told him it was something only 'big boys' get to do on a vacation, and he happily went to bed with his three 'friends' (i.e. Eeyore, lamb, and guinea pig).

Our little boy... he's growing up. :-)

Sunshiny babe

We survived travelling with two kids. It helps that Kit is quite an easy-going baby to start with. He hardly fussed except when it came to nap and bed times.

We went to the beach every day when we were Phuket, and he always fall asleep after 10 minutes or so. But not before spending some time sitting on the sand with Terence, watching the waves crash in one after another, and getting his butt and toes wet as the water runs up the shore.

Blue skies. Smiling at me.

It's nice to wake up every morning, and see the expanse of the blue sky just in front of me. Makes me feel like life is full of wonderful possibilities. Happy weekend, everyone!

La Petite Cuisine

La Petite Cuisine is the type of place you go to if you want good French bistro fare that's friendly to the pocket. My steak (medium rare) with potato gratin was just S$13.50 and came in a serving size that's well, petite. I've no complaints regarding the serving size though; I was full, but not too full.

But seats are limited and fill up very quickly. So either go there early (or late), or be prepared to wait. And because they are popular, the service staff can afford to be rude. Someone behind me at the ordering counter asked: "How long is it going to take?" The reply: "You want fast? There's McDonald's around the corner."

I couldn't believe my ears.

That aside, the food has so far been great. Worth a try if you are in the area.

Where:

La Petite Cuisine

10 Jalan Serene

#01-05 Serene Centre

Perspective

We can either view our lives as a cup that is half full or half empty. It's all about perspective.

US architect Michael Graves lent a creative hand to the Fiesta restaurant at Resorts World Singapore, and I turned his ceiling up-side-down so I can have my own piece of an Avatar-inspired garden. There's beauty even when things are topsy-turvy, isn't it? :-)

Below is what it looks right-side-up.

Baby ball pool

I was tickled pink when the folks at the baby gym pulled out what looked like a big green dish filled with balls for the babies to sit in. What amused me was that all the babies loved it. I guess ball pools are timeless, no matter the age.

Nap time woes

It's no wonder people--doctors, researchers, nannies--make tons of money just writing books and dishing out wisdom on how to get babies/toddlers to sleep on their own. I, like many experienced and inexperienced mothers out there, need help some time or another on how to get their babies to sleep on their own. Without hours of rocking, suckling, patting, crying.

I sometimes spend half an hour to an hour getting Kit to take his afternoon naps. And he would wake up just 15 minutes after all that effort. Or just as I have nearly extricated my arm from under his head or from his grasp, he wakes up from my last jolt to freedom.

Misery.

Is it possible for us mothers to get a tax break for the work that we put into nap times? Please?

Passport photo: Time for an update!

Aw... so sweet. But eyes can't be seen.

Currently, Kai's passport photo looks nothing like the charming 3yo that he is now. :p Since we are going on a short family getaway in June, Terence thought it was prudent to update Kai's photo. There has been a lot of debate in the Singapore forum pages about why the Immigration and Checkpoint Authorities should not charge S$70--price of a new passport--for parents to update their children's passport. It's just an update; not like the child's passport is expired or close to expiring.

Now, a mug shot won't do either.

True. True. But Terence has many wise sayings (ha!), and this time he says: "We've paid the air fare. We've paid for the hotel. Just pay S$70 (so we won't get turned back at the checkpoint/s." All right....

Now. I don't know which is harder. Taking a picture of a toddler or of a baby. But trying to get a toddler to be serious in front of a camera for official purposes is HARD. Kai kept making funny faces or he smiled (so sweetly) that his eyes couldn't be seen. We need (or rather, I want) a passport photo that will be approved at first go.

He wanted to stick out his tongue.

Here are our attempts at taking a passport photo. Stay tuned for a photo that we submitted to the authorities!

Related posts:

- Will we pass?

- Please don't cry

- We passed!