dinner at goodwood

Went out for dinner with Steve, Lily and baby Laura in a Chinese restaurant at Goodwood Park Hotel. Our table were just next to the pool area. The entire hotel was pretty, especially when it has been decorated with lots of lights in conjunction with Christmas that is just around the corner!!

Caden slept late again today! I can see that he is growing up! He can take up to (or even more) than 4 hours without sleep now! [He used to knock off after only 3 hours].

He still naps 2 times a day, in the morning at about 9-10 am for about 1-2 hours. Then in the afternoon at about 2 pm for 2-3 hours. Total he sleeps about 14 hours/day.

Many people said that he sleep a lot for his age, but daddy said, "it's very easy to get kids to sleep less than more. And since sleep is the only time that his brain and body will grow, why should we worry? Soon, he would asking for less sleep anyway!! ^_^

@ 14 months

Indoor Playground at Forum

I just found out about this ‘free’ playground in Forum. A friend told us about it. Well, actually we have to pay $10 for 2 years membership, but with this, we can use the playground for free (they have limited hours but it works fine with Caden’s schedule) and on top of that, we can get discounts at participating stores and restaurants! Don't forget, it's also close by from home! Not bad, huh? How I wish I know about this earlier!

Being a full time mom, I can bring Caden to play on weekdays’ afternoon which is the least crowded time of all. [I heard in the evenings and weekends are bad…huge crowd of kids and maids filling up the place]

Caden loves to play there! He especially loves the pool of colorful balls. He likes to be submerged in it, doing nothing, though, but he could ask for more and more. In the picture, suster was playing with Caden, she gently threw the balls on him while saying “Caden is gone” to submerged his whole body (leaving the head only) in. And the whole time, he looked just like he enjoyed being inside the pool that he didn't care of anything else!

I was actually thinking of making a pool of balls at home but it requires lots of balls and I am afraid Caden will throw the ball everywhere and make a huge mess out of it. Now that I found this playground, I am glad that I have not bought any of the balls yet.

PS: This one is much better from the one at Paragon; bigger in size and much more equipments for the kids to play.

At Gymboree

We went for trial again at Gymboree. The last time we were here is when Caden was only 6 months old (at level 1), and I felt that the class was too slow for Caden. Eerrr... They had massage time (with massage oil & we had to whisper to them to ask for their permission!!!) + questions & answers time for the mothers. And at that time, Caden was wriggling everywhere (read: he was bored).

A friend told us that the class for older kids is different. It is more fast-paced and challenging. So, with that in mind, I tried it again.

[I am just looking for different gym classes around the central area, I am just weighing my options, maybe there is better gym school than The Little Gym]

Caden who is at level 3 now, is even more active and socialized. We arrived at 11.15pm, the class was already started. They just moved to a different level and it looked very clean and nice. The first thing in my mind when we entered the room was, it’s huge and filled with lots of different equipment which looked new, challenging and expensive.

I was excited at first but soon feel a little disappointed and even more disappointed as the class continued. First of all, the teacher did not seem to know exactly what she was doing. She only introduced everyone to different sets of equipment and kept saying that “this equipment is good for their (the kids’) fine motor skill” again and again at each one of them.

Secondly, she sang out of tune!! And this one I cannot tolerate! Grrr…I just hate someone sings out of tune, especially when you are teaching a class that require lots of singing as most children loves to sing.

Although their class is a bit small and doesn't have open gym time for Caden to play, I feel that The Little Gym has the best teachers of all. All of them are energetic, friendly, knowledgeable, really loves children, really enjoy their job (you know when people do something just for the sake of the money), and last but not least, sings in the right tune (^_^).

With this bad experience, I don’t think I am going to the My Gym trial on Thurs. It would only be wasting my time and money!

house cleaning

PS: The green-tea box was empty!!

My First Moving Car Experience (with daddy)

Caden always afraid to stay on any of moving car rides. In Tanglin Mall, they have a few of them. Suster had brought him there earlier when all of us were eating and Caden was crying, as he wanted to stay on longer, when suster told him to get back to the restaurant.

Out of curiosity, we tried to put money on it (again!!) and he immediately cued us to carry him the minute it moved.

Then daddy had an idea, “maybe if I sits down with him, Caden would want to sit throughout the $1 ride”

And, guess what? It works!

But I think the train moves slower with such heavy weight on it! Haha…

My First Spaghetti Experience

There were times that I was worried about Caden. He didn’t seem to like new food or snacks, especially when it is hard and need time to chew on. I was afraid that his food need to be smashed all the time and that might not be convenient when we are traveling.

When we give him new snacks or rice, spaghetti or even raisins, he would either put his fingers on the mouth to take it out or close his mouth real tight.

I felt like he doesn’t like new challenges! *not good!!*

But today was different! We ate at Spageddies restaurant in Tanglin Mall with Ainsley’s (Caden’s friend from Little Gym) family. We were having a late lunch (at 12.30pm) so Caden had eaten at home earlier and also to avoid mess at the restaurant.

[I have been observing him for the past 2 weeks; meal times are more difficult when daddy is around. He pointed his fingers to things but when we gave them to him, he refused them. Or, he would close his mouth with no reason, etc]

Anyway, back to the hard food topic, Caden was curious of my spaghetti, so I thought, I give some for him to play (never thought that he would actually ate it). I sprinklered some cheese on the side, too. Then I asked suster to give the spaghetti with lots of cheese to him. He refused at first, but after the first bite, to my surprise, he asked for more again and again.

Haha…

Daddy is right: "Girls are WEIRD!!!"

this time with friends....

Friends in Little Gym decided to check out the garden, too. So we planned to meet up today. Unfortunately, they forgot to bring extra clothes so we could not play in the water park area.

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Oh well!!

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But we had fun walking and chatting at the cafe afterwards! ^_^

My Gym

We went to Great World City Mall today. It’s been a while since I visited the mall. I thought we could have lunch there and checked out the kid’s gym place called “My Gym.”

They have a huge place, much bigger than The Little Gym but I am not too sure if the teachers are good. From a glimpse, they looked very young and not so experience with the job.

What make me interested with this one is that, they have an open gym time. That means, all members can use the gym free of charge at that time, non member has to pay $19 which I did as Caden was pointing to the gym all the time (which means, he wanted to go in and play).

Anyway, I booked for a trial class next week on Thursday. I am still not sure if I should even come for the trial, but I think that open gym time will be very helpful for Caden to burn off his excess energy which always seems to be too much.
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PS: Caden like to go up and down on the plastic stairs. The stairs are designed specifically for young toddler; therefore, he could hold onto the handles and go up and down without help or falling off.

Jacob Ballas Children Garden

I have been heard good things about Jacob Ballas Children Garden, the first Children Garden in Asia, but we have not had the chance to go there. I decided visit the garden last Thursday and I just realized that the park is very close to our home. It took us less than 10 minutes to get there.

The weather was a bit hot but it was such a refreshing day out, instead of going to the mall all the time. At first Caden doesn’t want to walk by himself but soon, he insisted to walk without us holding onto his hands….ughh…scarry … I was so afraid that he fell.

So we went there again today. Unlike last week, this time is more crowded as school holiday had started.

What I like from the trips to the garden is, Caden, the super active dude, usually knocked out once we reach home (of course after we bathed him).

His favorite area is the water park. But we always visit it before we went home, so he could clean up right after we arrived at home.

Definitely, there would be many trips to this garden in the future. Hihi.

Sunday School today...

Caden always looks very happy to be in Sunday school, that’s why I always bring him there every week. At first, I thought it would be too early for him as most of the kids there are older than him. And bringing him to the 2.30pm service means that I will have to wake him up half-way through his nap time which would messing up all his usual sleeping schedules for the day.

I also think that bringing him to Church at young age will do good for his future. He would know more of our loving GOD through the stories and the songs that being taught earlier and I hope it would stay in his mind forever!

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His activities there would be walking here and there, looking at the older kids sing with so much enthusiasm, listening to the Bible story of the week and sometimes even grabbing someone else’s things. ^_^

For today’s activity, the kids had to draw using crayons on the paper that was given. Caden, who was not really able to hold onto the crayons properly, was just messing around with it.

Caden's master piece....or rather, it's suster's.

The messy lines around the white background is Caden's. hihi.

party day...

Today was a busy day for us. We went to two parties: to Dylan's 1 month celebration in the morning and to Nathan 1 year old birthday in the afternoon. Both were held at their respective home. It was fun, especially for Caden who seemed to enjoy meeting other children at the parties.

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But we were soon feel very tired and poor daddy! He wasn't able to took his usual weekend nap before going back to Dubai at 9pm today.

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"Hope you can catch some sleep in the plane, daddy and see you next weekend!"

dinner at Vivo City

All the three of us went to Vivo today! We departed from home right after Caden woke up from his afternoon nap (around 5 pm). We had an early dinner there, window shopping at Toys R Us & Crocs store and arrived at home at around 8pm.

Very seldom we brought Caden out this late, but it's nice to do this once in a while, especially since daddy has so little time at home; we have to maximize all the time that we have.
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When daddy is here, Caden would cling to his daddy; Wanting him to carry him everywhere and demanding him to play with him all the time. It's nice to see them both play and laugh, how I wish they would have more time together!

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But I remind myself that we should always be grateful of what we have now!

Julia Gabriel's party day

Today was the last day of Julia Gabriel class which means, it's party day. Teacher Winnie said that we have to dress-up for the party. So Caden was in his tux today. All of the kids received a gift (from other parents that was given a week before) that was given by a Santarina (female version of Santa Clause). hihi... It was hmmm...different and fun!

Caden was lucky enough to have daddy to come to for the party. This would be daddy's first time accompanying Caden in a class. ^_^ Thanks daddy for coming!

cleanning mom's bedroom

Jab: Chickenpox

We went to the doctor again today to get the chickenpox jab and to ask the doctor about Caden’s cough and flu. He has been having flu for about a month and never really recovers from it. At some point he seems to get much better but soon, it get worst again.

Then the doctor said, Caden had gotten 2 (or three) different viruses, that’s explained the almost recovering period (and soon got worst again).

Again, he was seen bright and happy in the waiting room but immediately cried when he saw the doctor! He was crying even more when he was given the jab. Poor Caden!

I don’t usually allow him to wait inside the waiting room cos’ there are always too many kids that have cold and flu (or other sickness) and I don’t want Caden to get infected with new viruses. But today is different, we were the first patient and not much people were inside the waiting room yet.

By the end of the consultation, people were starting to come! So while I was waiting for the payment, I told suster to bring Caden outside. And apparently, he wanted to be inside with me and to play with the toys again.

visiting Kongco at hospital

Kongco is in Singapore since last Saturday night. He was rushed to Singapore as he was having some health problems and we would want to make sure that everything is alright with him.

He is 81 years old and never had any serious problem with his health until he has to be admitted to a hospital. So this will be the first time.

He looked worried on his first day here but today, he looked so much better. There were smiles on his face again! Doctors said, he could go back home tomorrow, everything seems alright and there was no major problem, he just have to eat some medications.

So I decided to bring Caden to see his great-grandpa. I know hospital is not for babies, but, it would only be for a while and I am sure this could give more smiles on Kongco's face.

So here we were…half an hour inside the room and Caden was destroying everything that he could touch. We then took some pictures for nai nai (great-grandma) who is in Jakarta to see before we go home.

Fuihh…Thanks GOD that everything is good with Kongco! We hope GOD will continue to bless Kongco and Nai-Nai always! AMEN!!

the mouse in the house...

At 6 months old, Caden found out that his hands taste really good. At around 7 months old onwards, he always brought EVERYTHING that he can grab into his mouth.

And now, he brought them into his mouth, bite it with his only four teeth (2 below and 2 directly above them) and leave it there for a few moments. When it fell, he will try to put it in again and again.

He did this with almost everything that is light and small enough for his teeth to hold; chopsticks (his favorite), yogurt plastic can, toys, pens, and even his mut-mut.

He gets more attached with this security blanket. But I think, compare to some children, his attachment is not that bad. He doesn’t have to bring it everywhere (outside home) and only use it when he is going to sleep but sometimes he carries it outside to the living room to play with.

Christmas is just around the corner...

I can't belive it that Christmas is just around the corner. The year of 2007 is going to end very soon. I still remember Caden's first Christmas last year. He was only 3 months old and wasn't able to do much. Now he is more than 1 years old and he can walk and talk (though mostly in his own language ^_^).

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I loves Christmas, everything seems to look prettier at this time of the year. Orchard Road has been decorated with lots of christmas ornaments and lights. It's going to be pretty!

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We were surprise to see the huge Christmas tree in Takashimaya. I guess, in Singapore, Christmas starts in early November and probably going to end in February next year. hehe...

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But we don't mind, we enjoyed the beautiful sight. Caden looked at the Christmas tree with owe. It is indeed a hugeee oneee...

morning celery creambath...

This is how Caden looks every the morning (though I admit we styled his hair a little bit today -- by messing it up a little with my hand ^_^).

Caden usually woke up at around 6-7am, we put him on his potty (on most days he cooperates to pup), give him breakfast which consist of any flavor of baby cereal and any fruit (one banana, or half avocado, or a little mango, or half peach, etc)..

Then we creambath him (for about 30 minutes)-- not to mention the specific shampoo and hair lotion that follow afterwards. We have done this since he was 4 months old and....well, there is actually some improvement but I think it's too minimal, compared to what we have done for his hair...

And now people are starting to give assurance by saying..."Wait until he is 2 years old! The hair will grow..." I just laughed when people told me that, cos' the same people used to say, "Wait until he is 1 year old..." and now he is already more than 13 months old!

I don't know when Caden’s hair will grow, at least to cover up his scalp!

But one thing I know for sure that it will grow eventually. I just found out from my mom that my hair was worst compared to Caden's. So this probably genetic genes from me (though I hoped he got Paul's thick hair).

Well, I think my super thin hair doesn't look that bad considering I almost had no hair when I was born.

So I am waiting for the perfect day for his hair to grow!!!

"Mirror mirror on the wall....when will Caden's hair ever grow??"

I want (more) of my daddy....

I always wonder why Caden is always afraid of male adults. He would cry out loud as soon as a male figure confronted him (doesn’t matter how gentle they were).

Then, I found out what could be the answer to it. A teacher from Caden’s Julia Gabriel class told me that it could be because Caden doesn’t see his dad often enough. He (the teacher) told me this even before he knew that Paul’s is not around most of the time.

This project is the worst so far because Paul has to travel to Dubai, which took about 8 hours flight + 4 hours time difference. So lots of time is wasted due to it. Paul arrives at home at around 8.30am on Fridays and has to go to the airport on Saturdays at 9pm.

[Dubai has holiday on Fridays but they have to work on Sundays].

So in total, Caden only meet his daddy for 1.5 days/week. *sigh*

Caden’s teacher told me that there are two types of children whose dads are not around most of the time. One is, they can get so much clingier to other males figures and the other is, they can get so scared and dislike other male figures. And Caden obviously fall for the last category.

Although Paul hates to be out of Caden’s life most of the time, there is not much we can do for now. As a consultant in this small country, he would get projects in another countries most of the time. We got lucky once this year that Paul was here with us for almost 3 months. But that are just one out of so many projects. For now, we just have to accept it and hope for the best for Caden.

I am just soooo glad that Caden is actually adores his daddy, who loves to play with him and pampered him, so much. He would cling to him the whole time he is in his side and he would treat me like a statue. Haha…yes…when there is daddy, mommy is gonee!!!

school today...

to Jakarta

In about a month time, we are going to Jakarta and plan to stay there for about a month time. I am excited as well as nervous at the same time. I am excited because I have plans to see friends and family that I have not seen for a while and catch up with them and not to forget to visit restaurants and places that I used to go.

I am nervous because, I don't think Jakarta is a good enough place for Caden to stay (even for a while). Living in USA and Singapore, changed my whole view about Jakarta.

Jakarta now for me is

1. a very polluted city (I watched a documentary movie not too long ago and it said that Jakarta only had 5 good air days in 2006), therefore is not a good place to raise children, if you have an option to stay somewhere else like me,
2. the place for traffic jam = waste your time (destination that can be reach in 30 minutes, could take up to 2-3 hours at peak times),
3. not a fun place for children to stay. Here in Singapore, I can take Caden to the garden and pool area below our condominium or I can take him to the nearby park. I can also bring Caden to many enrichment centers that are not offered in Jakarta (or you choose not to take it because you might be wasting your time for the hours and hours journey to reach the place and back!)
4. Because of the Government lack of control, some of the food products are not safe to eat and difficult to find a fresh ones like in Singapore.
5. a place where Caden may fall sick expecially flu!

Anyway, despite of that, Jakarta is still my country where I was born and stay for my first 14 years of life. Many of my relatives are still living there. So we have to visit Jakarta every so often, and Caden has to adjust to the super dirty and polluted air and not so clean environment.

I have prepared myself with our trip to Jakarta. I have bought all kinds of medicine just in case; diarrhea, flu and cough (from doctors and organic ones), vomiting, mosquito patch (100 patch in all - about 3 a day), fever, and medicines for blocked nose.

I am also bringing Caden's formula from here because I heard the one in Jakara is different (although the same brand), just to make sure Caden won't get diarrhea. I was thinking of bringing meats and vegetable from here but I think it's a crazy idea..... but I will bringing his brown rice from here though.....^_^

I just hope Caden will cope well there and hope all the preparation that I have done, will make this travel to Jakarta easier for him.

PS: A friend told me that babies at the age of 6-18 months don't like to travel, they like routines very much and different environment and different routines will confused them which could results in refusing to eat or difficult to sleep. I pray hard that this won't happen!

rainy season

It's rainy season now! Well, at least for people who lives in the Central area. I hate raining cos that means we could not swim. The water would be too cold for ME!

[hehe... Caden doesn't seem care even if when I think the water would be sooo coldd.... He just enjoyed swimming very much!]
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When it rains in the morning or afternoon, that means the water would not be hot enough. But unfortunately, it has been raining almost everyday and the strong wind, makes it even colder.

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So, I changed our swimming time into a picnic time beside the pool. I let Caden used his swim suits, hoping that the water would be warm enough for us to swim. But when I feel it was still cold and windy, I let Caden play beside the pool.

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And to my surprise, he enjoyed it!

separation anxiety

Not sure why!! But Caden has been very clingy for the last week. He always looking for me and now call 'ma ma ma ma' --- a lot of times until I carries him.

Night times are worst! He would call out my name until I could not resist to go in to his room and rescue him (although suster is there but he will keep crying and called out my name).

I tried to sleep at my own room and let him sleep in his crib with suster in the same room but in the end, suster called me cos' Caden kept calling my name and cried at the same time.

When we are at the mall or down at the park/pool below our house, he would (most of the time) want me to carry him rather that walk by himself. -- He used to walk!

I think it could be because he has developed what usually called by separation anxiety. I heard, it start at around 7 months and peaks just after the first birthday. At this time, young children are beginning to understand that each object and person in the environment is different and permanent. They cannot yet understand time, therefore they do not know when or even if I will return.

And the fact that now Caden had been off from my breast for the past 6 days in a row (I am very proud of him, by the way!!) could be another reason for it.

I hope he knows that I will always be there for him and I pray that this phase soon will be gone and he would grow up to be a mature independent person!...

Peek-a-boo...

This works most of time when meal times gone bad! ^_^

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==> I give him his booster-seat-tray-cover
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Then I asked: "Where is Caden??? oh nooo..... Caden is goneeee!!!!"
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==> he would pressed him face so hard on it so that his mouth and nose (particularly) will look like alien's.
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Then I would open up the green cover,
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and say: "boo....here he is....!!"

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==> then he will laugh out loud... ^_^

to Rachel's birthday party

We were invited to Rachel's Birthday Party at the American Club. It was a fun day filled with a lot activities. Caden eyes were hooked to see the balloon-man making all sorts of interesting shape of the balloons.

When we got home, we got 2 (green and yellow balloons) swords and a (blue balloon) puddle from him. ^_^

Rachel was so cute...she refused to cut the cake and insisted to listen to the birthday song theme again and again.

What a great day for all of us, especially for Rachel....

Happy 2nd Birthday again! May GOD bless you and keep you, always!

Love,
-Caden

@ Takashimaya today....

We went to Takashimaya today!! Ate lunch at the food court...went early so that we will get seats... hehe... then we browsed at the children section for a while... Caden had fun playing with the display toys there...