Nathan's playground

Our living room has been turned into Nathan's playground.

The routine every morning has been, wake, play in the cot, wipe and change to day clothes, then breakfast and watch 'wheels on the bus'. The rest of the day, he would be on the floor, most of the time in the living room, haven't quite got an interest in the other rooms, well, thankfully. Unless i'm in the kitchen cooking, or preparing the water in the bathroom, he would crawl up to me, quite a cute sight, little Nathan on all fours, coming to look for mummie ...

I've grown lazy trying to pack and keep his toys away at the end of the day. He would also throw his toys about, and I don't want to go reaching out for those under the sofa and tables. Talk about kids losing interest in toys. He very much prefers to chew on his books or rock the table and fan, try pulling himself up to stand using all kinds of furnishings, than play with what can be played - his toys. Sometimes I feel like keeping all his toys away for a week, then bring them out again the following to see if he misses any of his toys anyway. Hmm, what's it with babies and toys? Have I gotten him the wrong ones, or he is simply bored stiff with them?

I started inventing household toys, like plastic utensils, mircowave containers tissue boxes. Improvise and make it a toy!! Wala. I read somewhere which says, anything that is not dangerous is a toy, no sharp edges, chipped off, or large not to be swallowed etc. You know what I mean, mums out there.

So, stop spending and start thinking, which else do I have at home and can be used as a 'new' toy for the kido? How about yogurt cups, heh heh heh, I got it again. They're great, cos Nathan loves squeezing them and making them crack crack crack. Anything with loud noises are great for him. I've stopped saying 'no', and try something new instead.

Old friends' gathering

It was another well meaning saturday with some good old friends.

Looking at the pics, checking back how time waits for no man. Sara's turning 2 this May, and Aiden's 1 this Oct, and my dear Nathan boy, in one month's time, he'll be 1.

We ordered pizza for lunch, some drank wine, others hot tea and packet drinks. It wasn't the food, it was the fellowship that was great. We didn't have much agenda planned, we just said we would come together for lunch and 'farewell blessing' for James, as Tina put it.

The nice thing about that afternoon was, we didn't have any plans at all. So we sat and chatted, about what you ask me, I can't quite recall now, probably about kids. That's what old friends can do. There were just too many fond memories to recount, if we were to sit down and talk about them, there would have been no end, and not forgetting, bountiful laughters about one another's idiosyncrasies.

We missed certain individuals like Gerald, Joel, Grace, and Joelle Lim, of course, whom we look forward to having by the end of the yr.

Some of us work with companies, others 'slaves' for the government, and still others, stay home like me, or gone full time like grace. Different paths, different lives, yet same mind of christ, or so, we pray.

I hope for the best for our friendship, perhaps more changes coming along our way, separating us further away from each other, yet we will always remember the good times we shared, and in our own chamber rooms, say a short prayer for everyone.

Nathan@11mths

Nathan turned 11 months old last Sat. How time flies, in a month's time, he'll be one yr old. It's quite hard to imagine how I managed the past one yr, home with him all by myself, but surely I know that the souverign Lord has been my help day and night. There were many rough patches every now and then, God has shown himself faithful in all his ways, and his loving eyes continuelly assuring me that he watches over our coming in and going out.

What has he been able to accomplish thus far? Well, there hasn't been much change or progress in terms of speech, just 'na' and 'ma', and physically, he enjoys walking, with his hands clinging tightly to one of my fingers.

We bought him a bag of plastic 'fruits', he likes throwing them out and about. Talking abouy tv addict? He's able to sit in his high chair and finish one episode of 'wheels on the bus'. he loves it. I limit him once a day in the morning during breakfast. Still couldn't quite get him to sit down with me to finish a book. Got him a pack of flash cards, but hadn't used it effectively with him yet, he just won't look.

I'm hoping that he starts walking when he turns 1.

Fun in the sun

Last Sat, Tina invited us to her place for Jap curry dinner. We went earlier to have a bath in the sun. Sara joined us. Chong stayed dry to shoot some fantastic shots of us in the water. Nathan's still very cautious, not thoroughly enjoying himself as much as 2 yr old Sara, who looked so adorable in her 'jedi' bath robe and colourful swim wear. She's a doll. Great to have pals like her to play with once in a while.

Weight gain or loss?

I thought it rather confusing, or misleading as to Nathan's weight gain or loss day to day. Usually, he weighs heavier when he wakes up in the morning, then as the day progresses, even after lunch and dinner, he would weigh lighter than the morning, which is really strange to our human calculated logic.

Yesterday, he clocked a good weigh gain of 10.5kg, both of us were delighted, saying well done, cos he's been hovering around 10kg since 9mths old and haven't had any significant growth. But this morning, when I checked, he lost 300g, straight after his big breakfast of oats and a cup of yogurt! What has he lost overnight? I'm not too sure about that...

We also measured his height last night, a very conventional way, using measuring tape. He's about 70cm tall only, gained roughly 21cm since birth, thought its pathetic. Hopefully, he gets taller than dad someday, that's our target for him.

New pot

I've been scouting around for a new pot, basically a small one, just right to prepare Nathan's portions. I've tried the steel ones from NTUC, Zebra brands, but they're handles gave way after a short one month of usage, and they burn my food very quickly too, I gave up on that. Finally decided to get a glass one, heats up fast, and doesn't burn that easily too. I settled on a corning ware, costs us $28.50, petite sized, 10 yrs warranty, glass cover, comes with an extra plastic cover to store the food if left unfinished. I'm very happy using it for a week now.

There always seems to be things to buy for Nathan, be it food, or toys. We haven't been forum galleria this past yr, but I've heard from many mums that it's been their favourite haunt. So I persuaded Chong to bring us there. It is indeed a shopping paradiz for kids' stuff, I didn't walk all the shops, too tired from my high heels, and staying at home all week, mons to fri, haven't got me into shape for long hours of shopping at all.

Bought him a pack of flash cards (A-Z), heard from many moms that they start 'lessons' as early as 4-6 weeks of child, hmm, I'm not that kiasu, and a new toy, stacking plastic rings. I wanted to buy the wooden ones, but Chong suggested plastic ones instead, not just becos they're cheaper, but it is a wiser choice that I realized only later, Nathan's still biting his toys, and likes to throw them around, if it were wooden, they would spoil in no time. When you shop, it's always good to get second opinion, eh?

New food - Sunflower

Sunflowers're my favourite flowers, recently did I realize that they have many good uses too!.

I introduced sunflower seeds into Nathan's diet, just ground a teaspoon and put add it to yogurt or porridge. Then, last weekend, I was visiting an organic stall, they were selling sunflower sprout. I read somewhere that sprouts are super nutritious for babies, cos they're young and have all the nutrients retained before they become 'adults'. I bought a small bunch for $1.50, steam them, blend and freeze. They look really green, and Nathan doesn't seem to mind its strong taste.

Fell off bed.

Just when I thought Nathan's been safe from accidents so far, he fell from our master bed this afternoon.

I didn't know what I was thinking about. Perhaps I was too tired from the housework, I just sat there both eyes starring at his back while he crawled slowly but steadily towards the edge of the bed, and there before I could catch his legs, he slipped right down.

I thought he would fall head down, I think he did, but a somersaut more likely, cos he was face up when I picked him up. No obvious bruises found anywhere, got to watch him for a day or two to see more signs, hopefully, nothing seriously wrong.

Somehow I didn't panic much, not like the previous fall at 7months old from the sofa when i rang the clinic immediately and brought him to the doc. This time, I was cooler, much more calm, just prayed over him, carried him for a while, and there he goes, crawling on the floor again. Guess what they get bigger, your heart gets steadier too. He's so chubby now, I thought nothing will hurt him back. Thank God!

Visit to the dentist

I don't mind going to the dentist, but Chong 'hates' it. The last time we visited, which was 3 yrs back, we hadn't gone for a check-up for 10 yrs! But I recently went cos my wisdom tooth was giving me pain, and Chong escaped that visit.

Just Wed ago, he was half day, and we decided to pay the dentist a visit. I had two fillings, unfortunately, hard brushing, she commented, but I thought I was already being careful, cost us 160 dollars.

Then Chong's turn. Boy, it hurts, he said, and we went on a spending spree thereafter. First to another doc friend to get his Hap B booster jab, $30, and hop over to Queensway, got himself a second pair of crocs, $60. I wanted to get kappa t-shirt for sometime now, and we both bought one each, to wear for the night - disney on ice show. That makes $65.

We were miscalculated our time, and had to rush off for the show which started at 7.30p.m. Both of us were famished! Bought a sandwich to share from 7 elevens, not the place to get any good food at all. After a long day, finally settled down to watch the show, which was really good indeed.

Everyone retired by 11p.m. nathan's exhausted too.

A week like no other...

It was an exciting week. We had visits from some friends during the week, so I had my dose of social life with their visits, chatted about school mostly, and pregnancy too, cos both of them are pregnant. I've got a strange feeling when I shared with them about my pregnancy, seem so long ago looking at Nathan now, but only one yr has passed. Thank God for short term memory loss sometimes, i don't quite remember the pain and agony of bringing a big tummy around.

And, grandpa came every single day to bring lunch for me! He thinks I look malnutrition, so he's determined to fatten me up, and true enough, after a week of rice for lunch and desserts thereafter, I have gained a good 1kg! That's my dad, in his eyes, though I'm a mum now, i'm still his little girl.

Wednesday night, March 14th, was the 7th time Chong and I watched 'Disney on Ice'. We started going yr 2000 to mark our1st yr dating anniversary, thereafter, we never failed to trun up for the show, except for one yr when he went for an overseas trip, he bought the tickets anyway and I watched with a friend, the experience of course, was very different, no one beside to curdle up and laugh with.

It was however, Nathan's first show. He didn't quite 'enjoy' it, not yet, thankfully, he wasn't frightened by the loud noises and mini fire works, some of the sea creatures and dances were rather awefully scary, so I had to hide his face away from the stage. We took a $15 shot from a studio to remember the day. I had to plead with chong to spend that money though.

Somehow when I can visits from friends, it was also nice. Someone else to talk to, share my joys and adventures about Nathan, else I would be sitting around watching out for him or read a book, or prepare meal after another. Dull, I would say, hmm, I must think of something else to do ...

Housework, yes! It's been a while Chong has relieved me from sweeping and mopping the floor. I woke up this morning and decided to pick up the broom and clean up the house myself, while Nathan's busy with his toys. He can be left off on his own sometimes, which is really great, I managed to get all floors done except where he was playing, the living room, which I did after he fell asleep. Somehow, though more tired, I felt accomplished, seeing the clean floors, feel it on my feet, I patted myself for a job well done. I used to complain to Chong that he didn't do a good job, that I could still see specks of dust and hair lying around, guess I saved the trouble from now on altogether, DO IT MYSELF, then there's no one to complain about. Good idea?

Maybe I should try out new receipes too. I have been cooking the same old styles of dishes every night. Though very nutritous, like steam fish, porridge, fry veggies, pasta but I should be more adventurous eh, since I've got the time anyway. I've failed in baking many times, I'll stick to the wok.

Independence

Nathan is an independent boy, he plays by himself and can be left alone for a good amount of time. Sometimes I miss him and go over to hug him for a while before 'releasing' him to play in his own whole of toys and friends once again. As such, I would be able to read the bible, check mails, and have my meals. I think the problem is me. I simply couldn't leave let him be alone too long, I would want to go to him, in fact, I feel 'bad' about it, thought that he might feel neglected? So I would take a story book and try to have him with me to read along, which is often too impossible a task, no longer than 5-10mins. Or I would pick up a toy and try to 'play' with him, but he seems happier to be in his own world, crawling to places, touching corners, pulling things down, throwing about.

Now that he is more able, he is even more active. He has explored every room, even to the kitchen. The fan has was pushed down, drawer knob pulled out, and wire cords entangled, all thanks to him. He does have a pair of strong hands. Sometimes he pinched me so hard I thought I'd be bruised.

These days he likes to walk too with his hands held on to my fingers. But he's still taking 'elephant' steps, very unstable, but determined to get to places that way.

Sunday Creche

We have long decided to put Nathan at creche while we attend the adult service, and we finally did so last Sunday. For once in 10 months, we were able to sit through the entire service uninterrupted!

But, I have not been away from my boy for more than an hour, and that was a great challenge for me. I kept telling chong that I missed the boy and wanted to step out to peek in his room. Chong advised me to remain calm and listen to the sermon, which I did, quite reluctantly. That was what I call, parent anxiety. And did my boy miss me at all? Not really.

Immediately upon the closing prayer, I dashed towards the room where my dear darling could be found. And to my pleasant surprise, he was sound asleep on a teacher's chest!! According to her, he was crawling around for a long time, then started crying a little, then fell asleep.

It was not that bad afterall, hmm, might consider putting him there for good.

Near accident

We have since started the 'good' habit of talking to God each morning before breakfast or toys. And it was indeed neccessary day to do just that, cos he was so near to accident on quite a few occassions.

He took his usual morning nap which lasted from an hour an a half, then he actually woke up without making any noise! I was doing his scrap book in the study and was just going to wash my hand from glue, peek into the room to check on him, and to my surprise, he was up, sitting at the edge of the bed. If I had been later a second, he could have fallen off the bed. Good grief, i ran to him and hugged him. he must be wondering, 'what's the big fuss, i just woke up.'

I was just bringing the bamboo polls in from outside cos it looked like it was going to storm, a minute later, I heard a loud noise. The standing fan had fallen to the ground. Nathan was tucking at the wire, and this strong boy actually pulled the wire so hard that the whole fan lost its balance. Thank God he wasn't hurt a bit from the falling fan. But it did give him a big fright.

I was relating the day's incidents to chong and he said that we must keep an eye on him, literally, he meant 'an eye', or both. Nathan's crawling so fast now, he could be in the living, and the next minute, in the bed room. And he could be really quiet, I got to look for him sometimes.

Being able to play by himself is a good attribute that some kids find it hard or impossible to do, this guy doesn't need play mates at all, but the dangers of independence is frightening too. He has no interest in toys, he prefers roaming and tugging at wire cords, poking at corners of tables and furnitures, or pulling anything he could to help himself stand on his feet. Quite an active boy he is.

Outing to Pasir Ris Park

We haven't been to a park for a while. Well, Nathan has been many places. As early as 2 months old, we brought him to Botanic Gardens. Then, at 3 mths, to Xiao Gui Ling, which I have not been in my life! Macritchie reservoir, East Coast Park, even to Organic farms way out at Lim Chu Kang. We have been far more adventurous travelling places since he's born. All thanks to him. See, when you have a baby, you just can't go the usual places like the movies, or shopping too much, the best places are those without or very little crowds, like parks.

Unfortunately, Chong had to return to office the entire day, so I pleaded with uncle Bay, my brother to bring us out instead. Of course, granny had to come along. We checked out the URA Villa at Pasir Ris, hoping to have Nathan one yr birthday bash there, it was more than suitable, except that we might inconvenience some of our friends, it's way down east. It's a large place, with 3 bed rooms, and a Karoke room, all air conditioned, with a kitchen and a dining area, and even a front porch for bbq and drive way to park the cars, just like any other big bungalows. All these 8 yrs Chong's been working there, this will be our very first time booking it, cross our fingers, there's a slight chance of not getting it.

The weather was great for strolling at the park. I brought along his 'mickey' tricycle. Granny bought an ice cream and nearly put it in his mouth, 'everything also must try ma,' that's granny for you. I stopped her just in time. The breeze was nice, some families here and there at the playground, nice to hear laughters and screams of Joy from kids. This is what I call value added family life, not those pushing strollers at shopping malls.

Uncle Bay was trying to get Nathan to enjoy the scenery, to admire the birds, gaze at the sparkling waters, marvel at the older children playing and so on, but our dear little boy, all he did was play with the buttons on the tricycle, or tug at the plastic fish on his shirt, occassionally, looking up at us or caught the cries of other babies somewhere. He is obviously not at the age of play yet, still very much self absorbed. I hope that he felt the difference between going out and staying home at least. Sometimes I do think he prefers to stay home, cooler, and familiarity is always good for him, he's got his favourite corners nowadays.