Zoo with Daddy

Ii Ani and family is here for the weekend so we decided to go to the Zoo again, and surprisingly, Caden wanted to tag along as well.

So off we go…

We were so disappointed to know that the Rainforest Fights Back show was cancelled only due to some drizzling at that hour.

Daddy was so looking forward to it as Caden talks about it quite often.

Well, that means, you have to tag along again, daddy! Hehe….

At Dr. Rashid Office

We went to Dr. Rashid office again today.

Dr. Rashid was still trying to persuade me and suster to stop Caden’s milk intake in the middle of the night.

[He drinks at least 2 x 240ml at night, sometimes up to 3 bottles. Before he sleeps, he drinks at least 420ml or more]

But I am quite reluctant to do it, especially when most of the time he didn’t eat anything in the day time.

Dr. Rashid told me that in 6 months time, he will try to clean Caden teeth. Haha… I don’t think he will succeed though, we’ll see…

Overall, Caden’s teeth are in good condition. I think he still able to have those good teeth is because he doesn’t drink or eat sweet stuffs at all (cakes, candies, ice cream, sugary drink, etc).

I hope his teeth will stay this way until he is older and he could eat better in the day time, which (I hope) will stop the late night feeding.

In the Lounge as David (not Caden)

When David is reading 'David and Goliath' book with David’s grandmother.

The red hairband is Sasya’s. David borrowed it to make him feel more like David in the story book.

When David is watching 'David and Goliath' DVD

When David is singing, just like David in the DVD was

When David pretending to be Goliath who fell down after David hit him with a stone

At the Perth Airport

Yes I still carry this 16kg boy sometimes, especially when he was a little bit excited and couldn’t be controlled.

This sling indeed great. It can carry such heavy loads.

I still remember that it was not long ago when Caden was only as big as Sasya’s. At half of Caden’s weight, Ii Ani can carry Sasya’s for a long time, while I can only carry Caden for a while.

The Most Expensive Breakfast Ever

Today is our last day. As usual Caden woke up at 6am. After we were done with packing, we went out for breakfast.

It was the most expensive breakfast ever.

We went to this coffee shop nearby which served continental breakfast and kid’s meal, too.

It cost us $60 for 3 breakfast meals for Caden, the nanny and I.

The food was just okay for the price, nothing extra ordinary about it.

Cohunu Koala Park

I was told that only a few parks in Australia that allow us to carry the Koala for pictures. And if they do have, it cost a fortune.

It cost us $15/person for the park entry and $35/person to take pictures with the Koalas.

The park itself has a few other animals and a few animal statues in their premises. Caden especially like the blue Dinosaurs which looked like it was praying.

Caden liked the encounter with the Koalas very much. He touched the Koala every time any of us carried it. Too bad he is too young to handle the Koala.

He even had his own idea to kiss one of them on the back.

And of course they never take a bath. Hehe…

When we explore the park and found some deer, ponies, donkey, wolf, ducks, and swan, he was scared to get close to them or not that interested.

(Fake) Farm Stay at The River Retreat

So here’s what happen, I wanted to do farm stay for Caden but afraid that Oma will freak out and plus, I was not in the mood of travelling for hours myself just to get to the farm.

Then I find farm stay that is close to the hotel at Swan Valley area which I hope it is as clean as hotels.

Bad idea.

The cottage which consisted of 3 bedrooms was clean indeed. But there was no feeling like we are in a farm at all. The animals were very minimal, not interesting at all. There was no activity at all, eg. looking for chicken eggs in the morning.

I felt we were just in a cottage in Puncak, not in a farm stay at all.

We shouldn’t waste our money staying here.

Oh well…

We basically only used the cottage to sleep and then went out this morning as early as we could.

[Actually, we paid for a late check out until 5 pm today, but we didn't even bother; we checked out at 9am]

It was really bad! We should have been staying in a real farm or not at all.

Lunch at one of the Wineries

Great weather!!! But the food was bad! We need Asian food...!!! ^_^

@ Cuddly Farm Animals

We went to check out a local farm nearby called Cuddly Farm Animal. [Thanks again for GPS, or else, we would not find it]

We had fun there, especially Caden, whom all along is a city boy. He was very busy patting all the animals there and riding the tractor around the farm.

We all were quite scared when it was time to feed the baby cows. The babies themselves were pretty big and they were very aggressive, they showed it very clearly that they were really hungry.

We were told to keep the bottle in ready position for them to drink, even though it’s empty, because sometimes the calf could kick us, thinking that we don’t want to give them their food.

That was a little scary though. All of us were kept screaming and Caden refused to stand up by himself. I have to carry him and the bottle and keep feeding the calf all at the same time.

But it was fun… ^_^

The Margaret River Chocolate Company

No we are not driving all the way to Margaret River.

.

We went to their branch in Swan Valley. Bought a few chocolates for souvenirs and then continue our journey.

Morning of Day 3

Missing my piano at home….

Pretending to play piano while waiting for Sasya to wake up and get ready for our next adventure journey to the Swan Valley.

AQWA

This place is very similar to Underwater World in Singapore.

Two major differences are they have much more variety of marine animals and the colors of them were much beautiful than the one in Singapore.

We saw the scary big white shark (like the one in the Jaws movie). It was really huge!!!

We went to the touch and see section, too. Caden and I touched and felt the texture of a star fish.

Before headed home, we went around the area for a while.

The whole harbor was extremely quiet with only a few people walked pass us. Maybe it was not holiday season yet?

Hillarys Boat Harbour

Since daddy is headed back home to Singapore, mommy had to drive the mini-van all around Perth by herself.

It’s quite a big car, but I really enjoyed driving it. I had actually been nagging Paul to buy me one in Singapore. My current car seems so small compare to this mini-van.

We rented the car complete with a GPS, therefore, we could almost go anywhere that we want within the island of Australia. It was indeed a life-saver. Without it, we would have been stuck in the hotel all day.

Anyway, after Caden took his 1.5 hrs nap, we headed to Hillarys Boat Harbour. We wanted to check out AQWA (something like Underwater World) and the surrounding area as well.

@ Nao's

How lucky we are to have this well-known Japanese noodle restaurant within 5 minutes walk from our hotel.

Travelling with Caden, who is still a very fussy eater, is difficult. If I couldn’t find udon, chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg) or Chinese fried rice, then that means he will not eat anything for the day.

He ate quite a lot during our two visits to the restaurant.

Caversham Wildlife Park

Today is daddy’s birthday. “Happy Birthday, daddy!!!”

Despite that all of us went home very late last night, we woke up early and went to Caversham Wildlife Park at 8.30am.

[Daddy will headed back to Singapore on a 3pm flight]

It was a relatively small but enjoyable park. All of us had fun there, except daddy with some occasional yawning here and there. ^_^

Caden loved their Kangaroo’s site. It was huge and they had close or maybe more than 100 Kangaroos inside.

There were some big ones, small ones, the one with the Joey inside the pouch, the old one, the hungry one, the timid one, the aggressive one….you name it…

We spent more than half an hour inside.

Then he went to the animal show where they showed us how to cut the lambs wool, how to handle a flock of lambs with the help of a horse and a trained dog.

We were chosen among the few to give some milk to the baby lambs. Caden was a little scared at first, but was fine after a while.

Before we went home, we visited the Koala’s site. We were so disappointed that we couldn’t hold the Koala at this park. So there, we only took some pictures and gently patted the koalas.

It was just in time for us to grab lunch and then send daddy to the airport.

Thank GOD for this Invention

Since I bought this portable DVD player last September, I couldn’t imagine living without this when I am travelling.

When we travelled, I bought it everywhere. To me, it is as important as baby wipes and extra diapers. It is always charged next to my cell phone at night and into the backpack the next morning.

Having a very active and easily bored child like Caden, who always hooked by any DVDs that I show to him, makes my life very dependent on this.

[We never use it when we are back home, though]

This evening, he was a little tired already. It was 7.30pm, passed his bedtime. And the whole reception thing was so boring for him. He was starting to make noises and refused to sit still in his high-chair.

Quickly I took out the DVD player and turned it on.

And…voila….

He was as quite as an ant.

No noise.

Not a single one.

He was sitting still, watching one of his favorite Christian cartoon characters, Hermie and Friends, while I was clapping for the bride and groom to enter the room.

This portable DVD player will always go whenever we travel for sure. It’s the only thing that could calm Caden down at whatever situation.

The Wedding

All of us were very glad for this perfect weeding for my cousin.

Our uncle had recently passed away which made a lot of our relatives couldn’t make it for the wedding.

But everything went so well since this morning and the bride looks very beautiful.

Caden attended the reception for a while and then Paul brought the kids (Caden and Sasya) back to the hotel.

I am so glad that we decided to bring the nanny along, so Paul and I could be in the reception, joining the celebration until it ends at 11pm.

The Church

Very beautiful church. Perfect wedding.

The Next Morning...

Started with breakfast at a coffee shop closeby to our hotel in downtown

Went straight to Sasya's room to wake her up and to help her clean her nose afterwards ^_^

A hug for his sister....

Took the last picture before Caden had to head back to his room to wake daddy up, while Sasya took another nap

Arrived in Perth

At last we survived the 6 hours journey. Caden didn’t stop moving around but thanks to his 1.5 hrs nap time and portable dvd player that makes him sit down for a little while.

Caden was in a good shape when we arrived, too excited I should say.

Suster (the Nanny) was very surprised how super small and minimal work done Perth Airport is. Hehe…She compared it with Singapore Changi, she thought as this is Australia, it should be better than Changi.

The picture was taken while Paul (behind) was completing the paper work for the rental car.

We all can’t wait to start our journey to explore Perth tomorrow.

Perth here we come...

---At terminal 3---

Caden was super excited to know that he was going to fly on an airplane!!

When He Turns 3 Years Old

Today, Mark, the swimming instructor saw Caden for the first time. He said indeed that Caden is very advance for his age in swimming, but let’s wait until he is three for the lesson to start.

By that time, Caden would able to listen better.

Caden now able to swim in short distance and take his breath by himself. I am very happy that now he is able to pull his head up himself to catch that breath.

Caden could also swim by himself in the adult pool without any floating device. Of course the nanny should be at the side of the pool to watch him, just in case.

Mark told me too that once Caden starts his swimming lesson, he will feel that swimming is not as fun as before when he will have a great deal of time playing with mommy.

I agree completely, so let’s wait for his 3rd birthday which will come in 4 months time.

[Woww….how time flies…]

Rare Opportunity

At the Singapore Zoo today, Caden, Suster and I were the only one who was on the boat ride to the Rainforest Kids World.

At first, Caden was told that he could be the co-captain today, i.e. he sat next to the captain.

Then half way through the ride, the captain let him drive the MOVING boat for about 10 minutes…

I was a little bit breathless though as I know when kids are driving, the like to spin around the wheel continuously in every direction.

But the captain was guiding Caden carefully and all of us arrived at the other side of the Zoo safe and sound.

I want MOMMY!!!

I wonder if he knew about my 15 days trip to US without him in July. Caden has been acting so strange this past week. He has been asking for Mommy and only MOMMY!!!

[This similar thing happen last year too when I have to leave him for 14 days]

Mommy has to read the stories for him. Mommy has to put him to bed. Mommy has to play with him. Mommy has to strap his shoes (where he can actually strap it himself). And wherever mommy goes, that’s where I will be!!!

Grrr…at the end of the week, this is starting to get annoyinggg…..

One of this most annoying one is, Mommy has to be inside the class with ME! He cried and wailed for it and refused to go to school and change his clothes if I didn’t say ok. Usually I only said, “We’ll see if your teacher allow mommy to be inside the class”

But once he arrived at the class, he smiles, looks happy and when the teacher told him to say good by and kiss me, he did just that with no hesitations.

*Shaking head!!*

Oma's Effort

It’s been a month since Caden ate his one a day meal. For this past one month, he only eats about 1 bowl of porridge/rice in total.

Oma has this new idea that Caden has to be taken to a psychiatrics as she observed that Caden has a phobia to food.

Hehe…

If someone describe him in two word, it will be NOT GREEDY.

Everything that we offer him (except: cheerios and chawanmushi (Japanese steam-egg) and occasionally noodles, fried rice, porridge, and soup), he will say “NO”

From fruit (banana, avocado, apple, grapes) and meat (chicken wings, shredded meat) to snack (plain bread, bread with toppings, ice cream, muffins, chocolate) – all are big NO for him.

He even almost vomited when he sees the adults eating something (like a chicken thigh).

Oma said Caden has a diamond throat that is very sensitive to things.

But don’t get me wrong, Caden can chew alright. He is just being super picky when it comes to food.

In this picture, Oma was trying really hard to make Caden like yogurt. There was some fruits on this yogurt (Oma didn’t buy the plain ones), so when Caden told her that he wanted to try, Oma quickly separated the yogurt with the fruit.

He tried a really tiny bit and vomited because of that. Caden said, “don’t like”! hehe….

Thank you Oma for your effort.

[Although he is not eating, Caden is actually gaining in weight. His milk intake is shoot up close to 1,5lt per day, not including his fresh milk intake which I always give it to him every time he asks]

Private Swimming Lesson Scheduled

I have been observing Caden for a while and I think he needs a swimming lesson to perfected his swimming strokes.

I have been teaching Caden all the time and I am running out of things to teach him. I don’t even know how to start teaching him for the strokes.

We have tried a class at Marsden Swim School, but he gets really bored. It was too easy, he is much too advance for his age in swimming.

Caden is able to pick up things from the bottom of the swimming pool since November last year. And now, while I am still is the one who push him down to the bottom of the pool, he is now able to push his two feet to bring him back up.

He is also able to swim by himself to the shore after he is jumping (by himself) into the pool.

I thought swimming class, where his friends are around, would be fun for him. But after that one trial, I decided to try on a private one instead.

I spoke to Mark, a regular swimming instructor in our condo today. He said he never takes in kids younger than 3.5 years, but he is surprised to hear about Caden’s swim ability as such a young age. He agreed to give Caden a trial next week.

I am so excited to this. Hope Caden like the teacher and hope he will enjoys his lesson as much as he enjoys playing in the pool.

Drop off School Update

On the way back to the class for snack time from washing their hands

Not too badd!!! Caden is doing very well at school. The teachers said he could participate in class quite well and able to listen to instructions.

One weird feedback I had from his English teacher, Hasannah, today is for some reason Caden likes to sit on other kids’ lap????!!!!

I am speechless and didn’t know what to respond. Both Hasannah and I were just laughing about it.

She told me, the kids would sing a song or playing something on the table and Caden would stand up and suddenly sit on one of the kids’ lap … and of course that will make that kid scream so loud….

I really don’t know why he did that often in school. Yes he likes to sit on my or the nanny’s lap, but I never thought he would do the same to kids his age.

Oh well…. This kid of mine has a mind on his own.

Singapore Chinese Orchestra's Children Concert

We went to watch the Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s Children concert. It’s very similar to the Babies Prom's Concert we watched last December, but in this concert, most of the instruments are the typical ones that you found in Chinese songs.

But they have some modern instrument as well, just like the big Harp in the picture above. Caden was so excited to see that as it is the same instrument just like the one David, in the bible, play when he accompanying his sheep.

We learnt about major and minor and the seven major keys in music in this concert. But the one thing that captured most of Caden’s attention is the musicians. Caden couldn’t stop pointing and told me, that uncle is playing cello, or that one is playing double bass.

He asked questions too when he didn’t know the name of the instrument. There was this big xylo-piano. It looked familiar cos’ we have the miniature at home but he couldn’t figure it out. And when I told him what it’s called and told him that it was just like the one at home, I could see his face saying, “yeahh…that’s why it looks familiar” ^_^

Training Chopsticks

I bought these training chopsticks for Caden. I was so surprise to know that he was able to grab onto his favorite snack, cheerios, without any problem at all.

When I first bought this, I thought he will only able to do it when he is more than 3 years old, but at the same time, I also thought, there is no harm in teaching him early.

But then I found out, he could do it right from the beginning!! Right after he put his thumb and pointer inside the holes (he couldn’t put his middle finger inside the specified hole yet as his finger is still too short for it).

Pretend Play

Caden is into pretend-play nowadays.

He pretended to be Moses holding the big rocks of the tenth commandments, David (himself) who fights with Goliath (Mommy, the Nanny, Oma, or Daddy) all the time, or just simply be one of his teachers.

In this picture, he was pretending to be Jonah who was being thrown out from the boat.

When he became David, he will shouted, “I am brave, I am not scared of Goliath…” Then he will take his slingshot (which I made it from my old pointe shoes ribbon) and hit it onto Goliath.

The difficult part is, he insisted that Goliath (who most of the time is Mommy) has to fall down on the ground (just like in his book and DVD) every time he hit him. When he is really into the character, I should pretend to be dead for more than 10 times! Every time I stand up, Caden will hit me again with his slingshot.

I encourage this pretend play for his age. It’s fun for him and it’s could makes him to be a creative person in the future.

The Flyer...Once Again

Off we go to the Singapore Flyer again. It’s been 5 months since we last visited the flyer, since that terrible incident.

But I thought, it should be ok now. I believe the government has put up new and necessary measures so that similar incident won’t happen again.

I still feel a weird feeling when I am at the very top of the flyer, though. I can’t imagine if someone stuck inside it for hours and hours…

Caden as usual enjoyed his favorite ride!! He told everyone that he went to the flyer today.