THE MANY FACES OF RYAN

Ryan is an exceptionally H-A-P-P-Y child ... & I ain't exaggerating! When he's happy, he can be super duper cute & adorable, all smiley & will pose readily for the endless photos I snap. On the other hand, when he's not a happy camper, nothing can make him smile or change his mood (so easily). He'll sulk or look sour & he won't be co-operative either. Oh well, that's my Ryan! Smiley or sour ... he's my boy!

I managed to snap two rather extreme reactions from Ryan. In the first batch of pics, Ryan & Hubby were being rather cheeky. I managed to get few good pics, especially of my boy. Some of his smiles were rather coy even ... haha!

In the lower batch, Ryan was on a Thomas the Train ride, but he was kinda throwing a mini tantrum. I can't really recall what he was upset about ... not that it matters though ... haha!

Is that how a model poses? ... Haha!

Posey, posey!

Now, he's smiley! So was Daddy!

Upset ... over something?!

On the verge ... of crying?

Sour, sour ... all the way! Oh, well!

OOPS ... BACK-DATED HARI RAYA PICS

Well, as you might have guessed the following pics were the tail-end of our yearly family celebrations for Hari Raya. As we usually make our rounds to each others' home, we had our usual makan session at me elder brother's place. This year, my place was not visited because I told everyone we were not doing anything special. As Ryan had just recovered from a bad bout of fever & stomach flu, we weren't really in the mood for celebrations. To make up for it, I told everyone that next year's birthday celebration for Ryan (his 3rd) will be held at our home, instead of my brother's (2 of my nephews have birthdays close to my son's) place, like this year.

Well, actually I wasn't sure about putting these pics up. They're nothing much really. I wonder why I took so few photos. I guess I was just distracted by the food & other stuff ... haha! I resolve to get better photos next year!

Ryan was busy playing with a toy camera.

Click!

Done!

The pack ... just sitting around.

Of course, there's always the scrumptious array of food. Cheng Tng (my limited speciality) & baked honey chicken wings, made by muah at home & carried all the way here. There was also the ever-popular Mini Cheese Springrolls (not seen here) as they were being fried by my ever hardworking SIL, Kak Idah. Thanks to her & my bro, I just had to make the springrolls & they helped me to fry & bake the chicken wings, so that everything's warm & ultra-crispy when its time to eat ... so yummy! See ... even when they don't come to my place for makan, I still make my "specials" ... so that no one misses out on the "yearly" goodies. Ain't I a good daughter-sis-auntie ... wink wink!

For next year, I hope to create more speciality dishes ... well, we'll see.

RIDES & TRAINS ... CHOO CHOO!

Just some pics of Ryan doing his (usual) thing. As usual its kiddy rides, this time its a cute blue truck & a Tasmania Devil in a car.

Giving Mummy a cute look!

See ... even the truck is called "Kiddy Trucking Co." ... haha!

Looking very confident!

Hi Mummy!

Yes ... sometimes Ryan can be as mischievous as Taz the Tasmania Devil, but we still L-O-V-E & adore him to bits!

Here's Ryan on a train ride, in a local Pasar Malam-Mini Fun Fair. He wanted to ride a Ferris Wheel but both Hubby & me thought that the other rides were too dangerous for a two year old. Instead, we chose this train ride for him. Funnily, even though he loves Thomas The Train (& other trains), he was giving me his "lemon-lime look" when he was riding the train. Actually, he was kinda lucky that he didn't have to "share the ride" with anyone else (that usually triggers his perpetual sour look) ... but this time round, he was a lone rider! I wonder why he was so "unhappy" looking. It seemed that he didn't enjoy the ride at all. The only thing I can think of ... was maybe he was kinda "stressed" or sacred ... because the train & track was kinda big & loud (with blaring awful music) so it might have rankled him a bit. My poor boy ... he sometimes doesn't enjoy things that he's supposed to. Hhmm, I guess I just need to expose him to more "adventurous" stuff, crank up his nerves & make him more confident ... especially since he'll be attending school next year!

Look at the serious looking child ... in the moving train!

Still not a happy camper!

He didn't move his left hand, throughout the whole ride ... sigh!

Seems like he couldn't wait for the ride to end!

Can you still see the Luo Han bump? Its still very visible.

THE LUO HAN BUMP ... LUMP

A couple of years back, Singapore was gripped with Luo Han "fever". As Singaporeans can't get enough of things that bring you luck, prosperity & ahem ... money, nearly every fish loving enthusiast had a Luo Han or two, at home. Haha ... we were no different. They could cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. We ... were contented with ones that costs just a couple of bucks (they have since died, due to fish-disease).

Ok, the story links up to the Luo Han fish ... because somewhere in early September 2009, my dear son had the unfortunate luck to land straight on his forehead after repeatedly being told to stop jumping on our bed. As you would have guessed, Ryan landed face down, before Hubby could get to him on time (muah was in the loo ... when I heard the loud thud & subsequently Ryan screaming!). Ryan was bawling his eyes out! He was crying so loudly & the bump was sooo huge, it scared the hell out of me! We quickly calmed him down & managed to put ice on the bump (plus Zambuck, of course). After awhile, he calmed down & so did the big lump. We decided to wait & see ... before we decided to bring him to see the doctor.

The following day, the bump decided to reappear big time, after Ryan accidentally rubbed on it. It grew even bigger than the previous night. Hubby was at work so I called him to hurry back home. I was petrified! After a short discussion, we decided to bring Ryan to the KK Emergency Department, to check if it was more serious than we thought. Call me a super-kiasu parent, but I wasn't gonna gamble on my son's health & well-being. Some people may think ... its just a bump, what's the worry? But a bump that re-appeared worst than when it happened? ... errm, I wasn't gonna risk it! My instincts told me to go for a check, an X-ray .... to give me peace of mind. So we waited ... patiently, for Hubby to be back home ....

A picture of the Luo Han or Flowerhorn Fish

A picture of my son, Ryan ... less than 24 hours after the fall.

At the Emergency Department, waiting for our turn.

Does he look like he's in pain, to you?

On the 3rd day, after the fall. The doc said there were no cracks visible in the X-ray. So we were very relieved!

I wasn't trying to make a joke out of my poor son's fall but Ryan did look like he had a Luo Han's bump on his forehead. Of all his falls, this was the worst by far. I really really hope it will be the last ... for my hyper-active boy (though I really doubt so). The bruise took a very long time to disappear. Until today, there's a slight bump where the bruise was ... I wonder if it will ever level? Maybe it will always remain there, as a "soldier's" scar of battle.

A lesson learnt people ... NEVER JUMP ON YOUR PARENT'S BED! - you might just end up falling on your face!

THE THINGS WE DO ... TO DISTRACT

All parents have tricks up their sleeves to entertain the kids ... to will away the time. We are no different. Some parents let their kids enjoy the PSPs or Gameboys, some hand over their handphones or digicams, gosh ... I've even seen a Caucasian child in Orchard Road, playing with an expensive computer tablet in a moving pram (can you imagine if it drops? ouch! expensive mistake!).

For us simple folks, we used some (rather) ingenious ways to distract our extremely hyper-active kid. We sometimes bring along a small notebook for him to scribble or draw on & even brought along a portable Magna-doodle. Lately, as my son is terribly obsessed with Transformers, Hubby has even his youngster hooked on the theme song for the first movie. The song by modern rock band Linkin Park called "What I've Done" is my two year old's favourite song. What is the world coming to ... when a 2 year old listens to Linkin Park ... I rest my case!

So Hubby has recently resorted to downloading his son's fav song on the handphone & playing it for Ryan to listen. It does distract him quite a bit. The only catch is that Ryan wants the song to be played over & over & over & over ... again! I told Hubby, maybe it was a big mistake to let him listen to the song ... not only is he addicted to the 2 movies (the 3rd movie's being filmed soon, I think), Ryan is equally addicted to the theme song. Oh God! what have I created? ... a Transformers ADDICT !!!

We were breaking fast that night. Waiting ... & waiting, for the right time to eat ...

Ryan, putting Daddy's handphone to his ears ... just in case, he's hard of hearing.

Ryan : "Daddy, its Mem-mem song"

Hehe ... Hubby looking rather "tired" ... as his son keeps shoving the song, right up his ear canal.

Haha! its now Ryan's turn to get the song, into his ears.

OF THOSE EYE-LASHES

If you've read this blog since its inception, you might have read about my son's (often admired) ultra-long eyelashes. Yes, people still rave about them ... I'm long pass being shy (or blush) when someone compliments his beautiful lashes. Yes, I have learnt to accept these comments rather gracefully ... if you may. I guess, Ryan will forever be commented about his lashes, whether he's a small baby or a grown man, later on. I just hope these people ... will stop thinking he's a GIRL ... that's all!

Below are just some pics at a kiddy ride. The one below captured his eyelashes very well.

Vrrroom!

His eyes look so BIG here!

Ryan wanted a chocolate milkshake at tea-time (so we indulged). He seemed to be deep in thought ... even propping his elbow to his forehead ... haha!

Sipping away!

Doesn't he look cute here?