Had a couple of launches over the weekend! They have it's ups and downs, from members loving the candle ambiance, to member threatening to cancel membership just because the Air con wasn't cold enough. I learnt to be more resilient and come up with ideas to manage the class coz hey, I cannot do things beyond my control. Only within, the rest I leave to the universe to sort for me.

And......What do you do before your MIL takes off for a month? Go on a date so she can babysit! She did really well actually, didn’t bother us most times but gave her a set of instructions to follow for nap time routine. She did her own way of feeding Ezra by the spoon too. I guess we can manage by mixing things up abit for him. We went on a Thai massage at Golden Fingers first and man the lady I had was SO GOOD. I asked for Golden Thai version and they said it’s their signature mixing between rubs and stretches. She went from top down with some focus in the legs and back. WOW, she used her ENTIRE body on me. Elbows, fingers and even the legs to get into the big muscles (OMG my hamstrings were TIGHT!). And she released my spine and neck with a few clicks (but safe). I could not fall asleep because it was sore in some areas, so nice in others and only a small area was so so. Gosh, if I come back for this I’ll ask for her again. They might have taken their best two for us lol.

We explored Ponsonby together, after deciding out an Argentinian restaurant on Zomato so we finally were in Ponsonby Central at El Chorizo with wood fire steaks. OMG, meat over load but it was so so so so so so sooooooooooooooooooo good. Not often we have HUGE steak ribs coming off the bone so tender and juicy. dC mentioned his craving was finally satisfied as he could not find this in Singapore nor Malaysia. We wandered along the streets checking out new cafes and restaurants and enjoyed ice cream.


 Back to full mode on Sunday. Swim lessons for Ezra (he was abit off this session, and I almost forgot my togs). He’s such a careful boy. We had lunch at Westfield Pakuranga while waiting for our friends for Ambury farm and off we went. Ezra was really constipated the whole session where he finally poop whilst looking at a bunch of letters. He was left behind most times in terms of walking, looking and touching animals. As well as he was really grumpy because he only had half an hour of nap. I didn’t enjoy the trip myself (not sure why).

 Weekends come and gone with the previous one being amazing just coz we had both days with sunshine outside.

So off we went to visit my sis up north, and we also headed out to Mangawhai heads with little one and his playdate. The winds were really blowing but little E was completely ignorant about everything except for water and sand. Belle though had a tough time with her poor eczema condition, so the water and sandy winds were hurting her. We were not there for long but it was just amazing to admire beauty with our kids. We pretty much pushed E’s nap so by the time we got him out we had to be quick and got him dried up. He knocked out in his car and so off we went to my sis’s place where there where chooks and tea made. They are slowly getting one container done by having the kitchen and bathroom set up so watch the live show of getting one side of the container ‘sliced’ for the doors. 


E unusually woke up before 7am the next day, crying to go out. I think he was wanting his swim lessons? No idea but was a late night sleep and an early rise for him. We were finally in the right session for swimming, he was really engaged and it didn’t take long to pick up the new skills he learnt on the spot and it’s amazing to see how much he absorbs in the pool. We were pretty much at home to recover, so I had a nap before teaching my class in the evening. I love weekends like this.

Long weekend!

What did I do what did I do….well, pretty much the usual haha. Loads of kids activities so it started off with a Bang at the movies where Ezra only watched it for a good 5 mins before he got bored. So off I went gallivanting with him up and down the cinema (where he accidently bang his head against a window) and then to the toy shop down the road (where he greedily played with many fire engines). We had lunch (good ole pizza) at Garrisons and caught up with people. And then on was another birthday invite and spontaneous event the next day, bbq at a friend’s place. Will talk about that later in the second paragraph. After that we then took our time to head to my parent’s place where Ezra is getting more confident at running the outskirts of the trampoline. I took the opportunity to take more of his favourite things for speech therapy on Thursday. Dinner was at Mamarich and Ezra too spent time making wonderful mess exploring the food he had.

Sunday started off later in the afternoon, where we head off to a friend’s place who pretty much have everything a little kid can wish for. Really cool toys, a backyard, bbq, 2-storey house with a warm sundeck. Comfy modern living room but little E was a little overwhelmed with the environment. We tried to get the both boys to play with each other but it isn’t happening. And I think little E was a little anxious and feeling the need of being led by me. I had to rush off back for class and came back again which of course took 3 hours since this event was organised spontaneously. Coming back I knew something was gona happen and it was true, Ezra missed me and felt lost even when dC was there. Sigh. And he’s not used to the kids rowdiness since he hasn’t been exposed to playing with them. The only place that he opened up was the bathtub. So he felt much better in the bath with the kids playing side-on with foam.



I’ve never asked for this and I do wish sometimes he appreciates his dad more often. Oh well.

There were more plans on Monday but the weather clouded it on its entirety. So the plans for the beach was scraped and I was sulking because it was my extra day off. So I pushed to go indoors eventhough it’s a short time at Kelly Tarltons. Ezra was grumpy, and I had no idea what he was moaning about all morning (sore stomach I’m guessing) so it was on my nerves. He felt much better when I took him for an hour an abit at Kelly T. He was mesmerised not by penguins (since they stood still on land and floated above water) but the conveyer that took him around the aquarium. He took time to look above (after 2 rounds of running round) before we were told to move onwards. And it took time for him to notice the wet area at the Playland. I pretty much went into the playland with him and he was happily following my lead. Down the slide, up the stair, through the bips and bops and then he was attracted with the numbers and letters on the wall. He admired the fishes in the aquarium (specially those clown and blue fish from Finding Nemo) but of course was attracted to dipping his hand into any aquarium. Gotta come here again :=).


Off to Silo park we went, where we had fish and chips (lousy, remind me not to come into town for that meal) and playing with water and sand. We trained him to walk on different terrains so it was up and down the foothpath hill where he slows down and speeds up. I think it works his reflexes too as he had to co-ordinate and can’t really measure the height of the cement ground. Off home and it was timely for his shower since he pooped lol. We have the usual nursery rhymes in bed, but the lights needs to be off for an hour before he gives into his sleep at 10.30pm.

Yep, no surprises that he woke up at 4.45am this morning hungry but sleepy and pushed me out of bed.

Random day at the zoo...

That was what the weekend was all about just coz it was the only day the sun came out! My whole whanau was back too so it was a few trip runs to their place to just get Ezra out and about with fresh air and new environment =). Plus more mother and son bonding. I do am hoping he will have a sibling just so they both can get on the same level (doubt it these days, oh well). So it’s mainly on play dates (yay).

Saturday started off with me heading over to Mom’s with ezra while he is awake as we slowly thought of plans to do. It was initially lunch, but the weather was really good so a friend of ours whom I wanted to have Ezra tagging along with suggested the zoo. I did want to bring my sis along so off we went (as soon as dC wakes up). 3 hours was enough to enjoy the whole event. Li’l E was also engaged by Li’l B and we are amazed on his progress of observing other kids around him and he really wants to follow what they do. We are really hoping that things progress as the day goes and that it was just a mere milestone he had left behind maybe because we really attended to his cries which was a need back then.

Nothing much, hung out at Mid Valley where things has changed abit.
So happen there was a baby show and bump into a really old time friend who used to be a swimmer. He's got a kid who is 2 months shy from E. Big difference in sizes lol.

But the trip has been truly amazing, especially spending time with E. He was initially fussy with eating because of his sore throat, and through the trip he has gotten close to me. Clingy I would perceive. I was of course surprised and touched by his gestures. He now can fall asleep being held with his head over our shoulder and in the stroller.

And through the trip, you just can't stop wondering if your kid is ok as he has actually reduced his eye contact with many but me when he needs milk and this time when he needs a hug. It's hard as we struggle to teach him when he isn't looking. He is babbling and now tries to pronounce numbers. Often around the mall he stops and looks at numbers and letters.

Through the trip one things shakens my mind. With some of his 'milestones' behind, one would think he may have a mild 'Autism Spectrum Disorder' from afar. It's just worrying to see the symptoms read all labeled on him. And so the snowball effect of my thoughts began. Just how I predict death of my loved ones, I have a nature to accept the worse even before the worse may or may not happen. To get over the denial stage because embracing the uncertainties, embracing change is never easy. We too need our security blanket to come back to. So I tend to search hard, to see if he is subtly communicating in his usual conservative and introverted ways. As I too am subtle myself. The things that are listed in the disorder spectrum are the things I do right up to date. But of course I don't think my parents would remember the time I was barely 2.

My thoughts as others would perceive is how would I react should the worse come? Right now it's devastation. Right now I would be in sheer denial. Often we take things for granted and this has shaken me. I just hop I am doing the right thing. Or perhaps something to get me closer to him so that he can manage to get by with my support.

Anyway, flying home felt long as I had to stay awake to beat the jetlag. I saw a couple of movies though which was touching and fun. X-men Apocalypse and The Intern. Getting out of the airport was long through bio security but it didn't take long to get out of the plane and immigration.

7th Sept, Wednesday we drove down.

Always a welcoming country when you can drive and pay hahaha. I looked forward to this place for the accommodation is always pleasant with dC's brother around. Not only that, E can spend more time with his cousin plus his cousin's toys haha.

The house wasn't really baby proof as it had a lot of stairs and loopholes for E but he was careful and he loved the floors, to the point I dub him 'mopping boy' coz he literally also sticks his tongue to lick the floor lol.



There's just too many things to mention in this trip so let's go step by step, day by day. We settled into the house first, and the surroundings. Next day (Thursday) we took a trip to NEX mall and E had a lot of first times. Manage to get a car trolley when shopping for groceries and he also had a ball playing with the wading pool of his cousins. He was still down with the cold and cough so we were weary of course. All good though, the bug don't last in a warm country.


Dinner was stumbled across a Teochew steamboat (we wanted to go have porridge but walked the wrong way).

Friday we had no plans as E was unwell to meet his friends (one of my gym mentor) so we abruptly went to Vivo city hoping to get into the wet area. Was so hot so we pretty much hung out at a toy shop or around the malls in general as E loves sleeping in the mall (he can literally sleep for 2 hours in the stroller).


Saturday was Elliot's birthday (the reason how we timed our trip here). Poor birthday boy had a few days of long nights so he wasn't himself on the day. Happens haha. As usual I had to watch out for E because he just love lying on the floor. One person commented how they would expect the parents to tell the kid off for doing that. In my mind I wondered why as he is exploring.

He loved bubbles. That was all that matters. And stickers on the wall.

It was off to visit another old friend of mine, whom we met at Kindergarten. He just had a baby boy born too. Poor parents they are having it rough for the first few months more than us. Different bottles, different teats, long hours just to get the little baby to survive and they actually was trying for over a year. His apartment is amazing though but not baby proof yet haha. Baby steps as one would suggest. They wish that they could swap babies with us but we have our worries too.

So good to see him again this time as a dad :)

It was another mall again after to get E to sleep (don't we love malls). This time this mall is called 1 KM (Katong Mall).

Sunday was my favourite day as I got to team teach with a real good buddy of mine in a class I used to teach! It was surreal to meet familiar faces again and of course catch up after for lunch whilst E was sleeping. The fun bit too was that he could run around freely in the busiest MRT on weekdays. So I had not much worries letting him go with decent space.

We also took him out by the river where the pavement was hot. He was just happy running. And then when he needs to he comes back to the stroller as a security. We then walk to areas where we could cool him off before hitting the Air conditioning spaces. Singapore is really suited for kids to be honest. Cleaner, and there are convenient ways to taper them to change in some ways.

On Monday (Hari Raya Haji) I got E and myself to go meet some girl friends of mine. We got dropped off at my favourite place Maple Tree Business Park since we are early and so he was walking with me and the stroller for over half an hour. He's really good, holds on to me tightly whilst we walk to the side of the road where traffics go past. He was drawn to the bus with the loud noise and I had to use some screen time when he ate.

Off again to 1KM to meet with more friends. He was really obsessed with the arcade areas as I let him loose after his nap and so I quickly had to find distractions. Very interesting nature he has.

Tuesday was the eve before I head back and the family spontaneously decided to go to Marina Sands. There was dinner plans with a family friend out West but didn't happen so re-arranged dinner whilst I go teach my other favourite usual class with my all time Mentor. Gosh, you can never learn enough from him. So many tips and cues I could use for my class. It was a messy class though as my phone decided to die on me but I think I manage to grab the class's attention.

Juliet was bawling her eyes out when we left, it was heart warming I teared. But it was time to head back indeed and loving car rides Ezra slept most of his trip back.

Malaysia had no itinerary in particular as I didn't really have many friends I know off and I honestly haven't lived here since I was 16. The friends I am close with are all single and I usually hang out with dC's friends more when I come back.

Even with relatives it takes my mom to organise things. So hopefully something happens when they come back here whilst part of my whanau is here. Coming back on a public holiday we tend to avoid the malls by either staying at home or going somewhere the crowd don't haha. It was off to dad's place first to check up on the status, grab bills and send it to him and then the impromptu meet up with our oldest friends whom I will probably meet more when I am around or whilst they are still around too.

 


It was a lot of new things for little E, from pure marble floor to parquet stairs to shirt and shorts plus air con so it was an excitement itself observing him and his physic. He had a bad cold that left him sniffing and coughing. But no fever and he has a huge shift in food appetite whereby he wants to feed himself these days. Initially there were a lot of coaxing with the screen, slowly weaning off as he opens up to different food almost every single time. He has started to notice what he eats and will willingly try initially. Also he has been teething too as he chews on his car wheels a whole lot. He has probably lost weight (he was 12.5kg before we flew off just coz we weighed him on the check in luggage weighing scale haha) so we really don't care what food he eats as long as he eats it. Bread was a good alternative, so we're crackers and rice puffs. I keep feeling a little less guilty with the screen time when a good friend told me that they do learn very quickly through those.

He was really fussy at one stage so the dad dump him on a tricycle outdoors to distract him. It
worked.

There were 2 week days this week where everyone went back to work so we took the chance to bring E and cousins to Atria on Friday after finding out that there was a jungle gym. We tried our luck at the Curve on Thursday but found nothing suitable for E's age but went along walking around the mall as he was often lay attracted to things.




Weekend was at One Utama Mall, as we were shopping for sandals and maybe decent shoes for him. And so we stumbled across a new an amazing toy shop called Hamleys. Ended up buying a toy set for his birthday but we wanted it ourselves because we didn't have the chance to have one when we were younger haha.


As he was at the malls, often he prefers not to be held so I had to cunningly maneuver him at times. He is at this stage of semi independence, where he wants to be left alone to explore. So more time and effort was needed to follow him as he will shortly come after either my hand or the stroller haha. It was really fun to see what he sees and it's amazing that he recognises things like letters and numbers so I pretty much try to explain what they mean. Also, the new thing was that when we carry him and he has enough, he would hug us tightly. Sometimes preferring this way to sleep after a fun day at the malls. There also different types of pronunciation coming from him too and I can detect some things he can say so perhaps one or two words has formed. He is still the usual not giving eye contact unless he is tired or wanting his milk and he still gets overly excited when we give him screen time..he does love his books still so we bought one with wheels on it, that now looks 5 years old after being bought a day later. Yeah he still bites things.

I have a feeling he bites his toys to own them or acknowledged that it belongs to him...

We were at our apartment trying to sort things when The staff was at lunch and the office was by the pool. Oh yes, like moth lured to the light.this little fella walked towards the pool without knowing what revolved around him. The weather was semi hot and he was semi better so off he went with the dad fors half an hour. It was a good idea showering outside by the pool area too as we had to distract him haha. And I could dry him up quickly under the sun.

I find that it really feels much easier bringing up the kid here in this country, Just coz i was brought up here so things feel natural and convenient. Whereas New Zealand is a whole new lifestyle so I do hope I can manage. Maybe it's also coz I am working too so time can be limited in one way.