UPDATE ON RYAN'S VOCAB

The list goes on ...

220. Tele-fone (telephone)
221. Sound
222. Song
223. Tools ("Handy Manny" set of tools)
224. Dun work (Don't work - when something doesn't work/spoils)
225. (Pa, Ma) What you doing? (Papa/Mama ... What are you doing?
226. Mine
227. My
228. Me
229. Give me!
230. My tata (My prata)
231. Seat
232. My seat
233. Turn
234. My turn
235. Pace (Space)
236. A
237. B
238. KFC (the fast food restaurant)
239. I dun wan KFC (I don't want to eat at KFC)
240. When Papa come back? (When will Papa be back home?)
241. Where Papa go? (Where's Papa?)
242. But-er-fly (butterfly)
243. Ka-chawk (cockroach)
244. Mau (the sound a cat makes)
245. Baby
246. Baby bird
247. Mummy bird
248. Bum-bee (Bumble Bee from the Transformers)
249. Starscream (from the Transformers)
250. Ionhide (Ironhide from the Transformers)
251. Mem-mem coming! (a scene from the Transformers when the robots were dropping from the sky like meteorites)
252. What doin ... Pa/Ma? (What are you doing, Pa/Ma?)
253. Ow, pain pain (Ouch! pain)
254. Press
255. Feet
256. Peanut
257. Pa why stop? (Papa, why did you stop? - when hubby stops at a traffic light/junction)
258. I can't see
259. Its dark
260. Big world (from "Little People Big World" reality series)
261. Big water (pond/beach/swimming pool)
262. Dopped (dropped)
263. Fall
264. Jump high, jump low
265. Up down, up down (from cartoon "Little Einsteins")
266. Mozzie (monster from "World World" ... haha! don't ask me why)
267. Straw
268. Moon
269. Cheek
270. Ee-hor (Eyehore from "My Friends Tigger & Pooh")
271. Water (he used to call it ter, he's improved since)
272. Cartoon
273. I wan watch cartoon (I want to watch cartoon)
274. Cuse me! (Excuse me!)
275. Open light (switch on the lights)
276. Wipe
277. Mickey (Mickey Mouse)
278. Minnie (Minnie Mouse)
279. Mouse (from toon "Animal Mechanicals")
280. Uni-con (Unicorn from toon "Animal Mechanicals")
281. Herro (Hello)
282. No bathe
283. No cut hair (when he doesn't want a hair cut)
284. Hug
285. Mama hug (haha ... when he wants a hug from me)
286. Bag
287. Big bag
288. Wite (write)
289. I wite (I write)
290. Phone
291. Meg-tron (Megatron from the Transformers)

RYAN'S A-OK!

Woohoo!!! My baby has finally recovered! Just in time for the long-weekend celebrations! I'm just relieved ... really, mainly because now that Ryan's well, me & hubby can heave a huge sigh of relief.

Eventhough we don't celebrate Hari Raya like most average (typical) Malay families, I do indulge (& encourage) some rather old-fashioned practices - like colour co-ordinationg our Raya outfits, eating lots of yummy food & new year goodies, giving out modest "ang pows" to the kiddies & house visiting some close relatives. Errm ... that's about it! Haha! I'm not one to hang decor or colourful bling-bling lights (though I like seeing them on other people's home), nor cooking those fantastic Hari Raya dishes because I'm not a very good cook.

Now that I have a son, I see it as my duty (as a Muslim & Malay parent) to raise & "teach" Ryan (in my small way), a part of his culture & heritage, how Hari Raya is a very important & special occasion for us, Malays. Eventhough Ryan is half Malay, I've never considered him a (full) Malay, neither is he a (full) Chinese. I guess as a bi-racial child, Ryan lives in a world that is neither here nor there. Since he is a mixture of two races, he has to immerse himself in both cultures & heritage. As a Muslim, I want him to grow up, never forgetting his religion nor his roots but I also don't want him to ignore or abandon his (father's) Chinese roots. As a child with a Chinese surname & a Malay-Muslim name, Ryan carries this burden with him ... all his life. As a parent, I will be there for him .. to guide & protect but ultimately, he is a bearer of two cultures, he is his own man. Oops! I'm digressing again ....

Eventhough we celebrate with new outfits & delicious food, we must never forget that its a celebration after a month of deprivation ... oops! fasting. Its also to celebrate the coming & arrival of the beautiful month of Syawal! Its also a time to spring-clean the (dusty) house, clear unwanted & redundant junk-stuff & at times buys new things for decorating the home. Its also a time to seek forgiveness from our loved ones, family & friends.

As a child, I used to silently chuckle when my parents (especially my mum & maternal aunts) shed a tear (or many) when they carried out the forgiveness thingy. Haha! how life bites you on the butt - hard! Now as an adult, I basically do the same thing. Yep, I tear ... & though I don't go into hysterics & stuff, its enough to see the irony of it. As a child, you never understood the significance of the seeking of forgiveness, as people usually excuse the antics of a child as sheer childishness or just a part of growing up. But as grown ups, we have plenty of forgiveness to seek & some forgiving to do to. Forgiving someone else also frees your heart, for other more beautiful things. Being able to forgive & let go of the past, is cleansing & empowering, for the forgiver. It also gives peace of mind to the one seeking forgiveness.

Hell, I am no angel ... & though I seek forgiveness from my loved ones, the one I seek forgiveness most is ... God. Eventhough life has been tough these couple of years, I am always grateful to God ... for the many blessings in my life. I still have a roof over my head, I have a beautiful & healthy child, I have a hardworking & loving hubby, I have a wonderful extended family who is always there for moral support, I have my parents with us. There are times that I feel a need to do more in the name of religion or be closer to God, but I know that I'm (really) not there yet. Maybe ... in the future, who knows! Sometimes its hard to teach your child about his religion, when you (as a parent) are not even well versed or (remotely) religious in the first place. I try, whenever I can but I know its (usually) not nearly enough. I need to be a better example to my son ... & hubby. That is the "burden" that I have to bear. I am aware of my heavy responsibilities but I am far from being an example (not even a half-baked one) ... not to mention a good one. Maybe by next year, I will have more to ponder on ... but until then, I will trudge as best I can ... like I always do!

If I don't get the chance (which I doubt), ...

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA KEPADA SEMUA YANG DI SAYANGI & DI HORMATI. MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN."

One thing for sure, I will definitely enjoy this weekend's scrumptious menu, as my Mum is preparing her Hari Raya (worth-its-weight-in-gold) specialities. This year it includes the elusive & ultra delish Beef Rendang (which she hasn't made for many years) & the (seldom-seen) Sambal Goreng ... YUM-MY! I know its a lot of hard work for her (& my dad) to prepare the many special dishes for the whole family to enjoy but I really do appreciate & look forward to it ... every year! I've never even tried to cook my mum's recipes coz I know I will fail (ever so) miserably & it will never even come close to the mark! My mum is the best cook ever & I always never fail to over-eat (as usual)... when it comes to her fantastic cooking. All this food talk is making me hungry ... haha!

OK, let's get ready to eat!

MY BABY'S S-I-C-K !

We have been having a very tough week or so as my baby is very very sick ... with high fever (reaching 41 degrees) & stuff. Don't really have the mood to blog much, just a simple update. Hari Raya's coming ... but I'm not really in the mood ... sigh! I guess I'm too pre-occupied with getting my son well again, that everything else is secondary.

Hope Ryan will recover in time for the New Year's celebration. Meanwhile, I am bloody exhausted & all that is ringing in my head is Ryan's ever-constant whining ... yes, my cutie-pie whines ... like there's no tomorrow (on most normal healthy days) & basically its in overdrive, now that he's super sick. I am but Ryan's humble servant ... but I take it all. Sometimes my patience runs thin (very thin) but I keep telling myself that its just a phase ... because he's sick, that he's being EXTRA whiny. Oh God! I really hope its just a phase.

Please pray for Ryan's health & for my sanity. Talk to you guys ... very soon!

YEP! RYAN IS STILL A BOY ...

Ermm ... I know you've heard me say this before, but Ryan is really a BOY! Lest some people forget, my son was born a male & will always be a male. Why am I so full of it? Because even at the ripe ol' age of 2 & a half years old, Ryan is still constantly being mistaken as a GIRL! A girl!??! Can you believe it?

Maybe when Ryan was much younger ... well, maybe its kinda alright (& rather acceptable), when people always mistaken him for a girl because as babies, some girls look like boys & boys look like girls. When they are babies, & their hair is very short or non-existent (botak), its easy to mistake a baby girl for a boy. But as a toddler, isn't it much easier to spot a boy from a girl? I never dressed Ryan like a girl & he's very much a boyish boy, rough & tumble kinda kid. He's mostly in T-shirts or sleeveless tops & shorts-bermudas-long pants combo. So where does the girly part come in? I really don't know! Haha! ... I think these strangers really need to "sharpen their eyes" or clean their prescription glasses, when they leave their homes.

Oh another thing that makes Ryan obviously a little boy ... his haircut. Doesn't it look like a boy's cut? Do most girls go round having a very short haircut like his? Isn't it obvious that Ryan's a boy from the way his hair looks? Ok ... his hair is not as trim as his Daddy's ... not because we don't want it that way. Its because Ryan screams & cries like there's no tomorrow, whenever he gets a haircut at home (courtesy from his parents). Its virtually impossible to get him to enter a barber or hair salon & frankly speaking we have never even tried, for fear that Ryan will throw the mother of tantrums in the salon & we will end up wasting time & money (when we have to walk out - without the haircut)! I wanted to shave his head for the longest time (with Hubby's support, of course) so that it will take a longer time for his hair to grow into an unmanageable mess but my mum has been on my case - not to do it, saying that it will look awful on him. Arrgh!

Even if a kid looks kinda sweet (which Ryan does, I know), don't they look at the kid's dressing or clothes? I mean if I had a girl, do you think I will dress her constantly in T-shirts & pants, with colours like blue, red, green & yellow (Ryan's new fav colour coz of Bumble Bee)? If I had a girl, I would definitely dress her in cute little skirts, girly blouses, colourful feminine dresses, grow her hair & put barrettes & clips & ribbons up, let her wear tons of pink-everything ... isn't that what most mum's do, when they are blessed with little girls?

Eventhough Steve & me always wanted a baby girl, we have been blessed with our beautiful son, Ryan. And though I miss out on decking my only child in frills & pinks, I still revel at dressing up my kid, whenever I can. I like to dress Ryan in cheerful hues (especially since he's very fair) & most bright colours look good on him. Hehe ... I also tend to go overboard with the camouflage prints ... which I am actually amazed that I am rather obsessed with (since Hubby is already in the military & we see it everyday ... duh!). Ryan has quite a few pants in camo ... haha!

When I wanted to purchase yet another camo pants recently ...

Hubby said ..."Another one? He has so many, right?"

.... & I had to defend my lame choice, by saying "But its so cute, mah" ...

Oh well ... I decided to listen to the voice of reason & told the patient sales assistant that I didn't want to buy the pants coz Hubby didn't like it ... shucks!

(Not to worry, I will get another chance, next time ... hehe!)

Does this look like a girl to you?

Does he look girly-girl at all?

ITS NOT BUMBLE BEE ... IT'S STAR SCREAM!

This was the outing to Takashimaya, to try & see if we can purchase my son's new craze, Bumble Bee. We have been searching high & low for the elusive toy - at Kiddy Palace, Toys R Us, Metro & other small stores. Finally we thought of Takashimaya (which stocks a good range of kids toys, albeit rather expensive ones), as we still have some unused vouchers from there. So off we went on that day!

A back view of my two boys, whilst walking to Ngee Ann City to look for the Transformers at Takashimaya S C. We always never park at NAC as it costs a bomb, I remembered paying about 8 bucks for about two hours of stay (awhile back). Duh! might as well use that sum of money for better things, right?

Here we are (at nearby Burger King) after purchasing the Transformers. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to find the mid-sized Bumble Bee, only the tiny one. So we purchased that for Ryan. As the vouchers were in denominations of ten & the Bum Bee was $ 11.90, we decided to get him another figurine. As expected, he chose Star Scream, which transforms into a fighter jet. Infact, awhile back we bought for Ryan the Transformers first movie's Star Scream, which is world's apart from the figurine from 2nd instalment of the movie. What a difference a few years made! I guess Ryan didn't know that its the same figurine. I don't think it mattered to him though ... he just liked anything that flies. Even after I tried to influence him to get an Optimus Prime (which I like), he refused to budge & insisted on his Star Scream. Sigh ... so Star Scream it is, my dear boy!

I don't always have photos of myself taken, as I'm always the one behind the digicam (& I hate my photos being taken). This time round (dunno why) Hubby decided to get several shots of me & the little one. Errm ... notice how our outfits "merged" with the Burger King's (red decor) background? Haha .... it wasn't intentional, though the pics turned out rather well.

Ryan playing with his Star Scream.

A dreamy look from Ryan.

All smiles!

Ryan giving me an impish look. Can you see the red mark (still) on his cheek? Courtesy of his visit to Polliwogs, the day before.

Hubby concentrating hard, in order to transform Bumble Bee into a Corvette.

Now its Star Scream's turn to transform.

Please excuse the (obvious) double chin on the adult. Please look at the cute toddler instead. Thank you for your kind consideration!

Look at the happiness on this child's face ... it makes everything worth it, doesn't it?

POLLIWOGS - PLAYTIME

Whilst browsing blogland, I discovered a kids indoor playground at East Coast Beach. This place is relatively new (just a couple of months old), so most of their equipment look brand new. It was sweltering hot outside & we didn't really plan to let Ryan play there ... just wanted to drop by & check it out.

When we got there, Ryan's eyes were sooo big. He was excited just looking at the playground. Hubby wasn't very keen on it (though he was the one who suggested driving there, after I told him of this place). Well, after looking at my son's pleading eyes, I caved in. The thing about this place is - you need socks to play in the area & of course we came unprepared. So how? They provided socks - for $3 a pair. And because Ryan is too young (& too small) to be alone in the playground, Hubby had to accompany him. So we HAD to purchase 2 socks - well, that's 6 bucks gone (yah, we get to keep them, since we did pay for them). I wish I had known about the socks requirements, I would have bought our own & saved us some money ... arrgh!

Anyway, here are the pics of father & son. The playtime was about an hour & a half. So by the time it was over, Hubby was dead tired (poor thing). Ryan was tired too ... but (as expected) he cried a little when its times to go home. Its his first time at an (proper) indoor playground, so I guessed he really enjoyed himself & didn't want to leave the place.

Oops! Ryan landed on the floor.

Ryan in the ball-pit. You can see here, Hubby wearing the ugly maroon coloured (new) socks. Notice also his sweat-stained shirt ... perspiring hard, running after his boy.

Peace away!

Father & son, playing with many many balls!

Ryan practising his ball-throwing skills.

Ryan pulling his Papa's hand ... to the next station.

Going round & round. You can see Ryan's red coloured socks here (they were too big for him).

He went into the ball-pit again (his favourite).

Notice by this time, Ryan had a large red swell (that looked like a stain) on his right cheek ... he got it whilst playing inside.

Looking like he's really enjoying himself.

The other side of the playground.

They dwelled awhile, inside the "obstacle" course.

A last pose, before departing.

Overall, Ryan enjoyed himself thoroughly. Its a good place to bring the kiddies coz I'm sure most kids will enjoy their time there. My only complaint - its DAMN expensive. So I don't really expect us to return here very often, as its not economical for us to do so. The place is actually very comfortable, they've got plenty of designer-like mini sofas & chairs for the parents or family to enjoy the air-conditioned comfort. They also provide plenty of good reading materials (magazines) & surprise, surprise ... there's an area where free tea, coffee & even cappuccino is provided. There's also a vending machine that sells snacks & tit-bits. I'm glad Ryan enjoyed himself. Yeah! score one for the parents!

P.S : I have the place info somewhere, will update the details if I can find it.

JUST SOME RANDOM PICS

... of my boy, yet again ... haha! I never tire of them I'll tell you ... though I can understand if others are .. hehe! I can't help it. I whip out my digicam every opportunity I can coz I don't ever want to miss those special moments. How do I know that it'll be a special moment? I don't really ... but I usually just take a "gamble" & snap away.

After doing this for a couple of years (since Ryan's arrival), I realised that a lot of times the candid & "un-posed" pics are the ones that are usually more memorable. Being spontaneous, it usually gets the subject matter (especially a squirmy toddler like Ryan) at his most natural. I have managed to get a lot of cute & adorable photos of my boy this way. If I had chosen to go the "boring-posey" way, I would have missed out on a lot of gems. And though these random pics entries are many & varied, each & every one of them is special to me.

Happy browsing everyone !

At the foodcourt, eating ... this time Ryan was sitting in the baby-chair (something that he's refused for quite a while, preferring to sit on the "normal" chairs.

Pointing away.

Admiring a simple straw.

A serious look?

Playing with the digicam cover ... yet again.

P.S : This is the start of a string of back-dated posts. Please bear with me as I try to get everything up-to-date.

ARMY OPEN HOUSE 2009

On 7th September, Hubby took Ryan, my niece Ayra & of course, me ... to this year's Army Open House. It was my idea to bring Ayra coz I know she has never been to one of these exhibitions. I remembered many years ago, when we were still childless, we took my two eldest nephews, Syakir & Syafiq to a similar Army Open House. The 2 boys were much younger. This time round, its Ryan's & Ayra's turn, to come close to these military vehicles & equipment.

We took the kids for a quick lunch at (where else) McDonald's & proceeded to the Jurong Camp thereafter. We had to "ditch" our car & ride the shuttle service bus to the Pasir Laba Camp, where the Open House was held this year. Even the ride there seemed exciting to the kids ... haha! It was a pretty warm day too but the kids did not seemed to mind (though I was sweating buckets).

First stop was "Combat World". Why was this station chosen first? It was one of the nearest station where we were dropped off by the bus & the place that I know the kids will love. This is where all the military vehicles - land & air, were "parked" for everyone to admire. Of course, a round of photographs do not do justice to these majestic machines that protect us from harm. The good men & women of the Military (Land, Air & Sea) are often overlooked & taken for granted. We are fortunate in modern Singapore, we are well protected & we do not often see or hear of their hard work, unless something goes wrong.

Being a military wife all these years, I have been exposed to their rigorous training, the sheer dedication & the sacrifices our men in green have to make. Our humble island-home is safe from harm ... because of them. And though I have many grouses about a lot of things in Singapore, we should never doubt that these men in green ... deserve our respect & admiration, for all their hard work & dedication. We should salute them ... instead!

P/S : We all wore red that day. Haha ... that's what we do as a family. We dress in similar colours for the fun of it, for camaraderie & togetherness. Trust me ... its makes life easier when they're all wearing the same colour (especially a bright hue, its makes it much easier to spot in the crowd).

Ayra, with her ever-peace sign in tow ... with my Munchkin, Ryan ... posing alongside the majestic Chinook.

Inside the Chinook, we can't help but take a snapshot of the kids.

Hubby & the kids take a breather at the tip of the Chinook.

Ryan, showing his Papa, that its time to move on to the next wonder-machine.

Whilst waiting for our turn, Hubby turned the camera on me & the 2 kids.

Ayra, looking all sweet & demure.

All three posed.

Ryan didn't look like a happy camper here. If you can see on the right, the hands of another kid that was behind us (in the queue). Ryan is rather territorial by nature (errm ... just like his Mummy) so whenever he is doing his thing & another kid, "interferes" or budges in, he will show his displeasure by muttering something or he'll give his "lemon-lime-sour look". I tell you, I didn't go out & teach my kid to behave like this but he's really, naturally like that. Not something to "trumpet" about, just his character I guess. Don't know what to make of it, though. I know that it might seem a bit odd to be so territorial about his "personal space" at such a young age but as someone who has similar thoughts, I can't really say that he's doing anything wrong. Its just that as an adult I am more acutely aware of my surroundings & am capable of being tactful & "reign" in my emotions or thoughts. Ryan, at two & a half, is not there yet. So there are times where I have to be the tactful parent & "apologise" on my son's behaviour or when he's being a little bratty .... The things a parent has to do!

See Ryan giving the other kid, the evil eye ... hehe!

Ayra, as a soldier.

Ryan's turn to be the soldier.

They look so obedient here.

Ayra, doesn't forget her peace sign, whilst Ryan hitches a ride.

The three of them inside a Unimog.

Ayra posing as a strong girl.

Ryan, poses as the "small" hero, guarding the vehicle.

Look at my little poser behind!

Ayra, with a very funny pose! So glamour rite?

My son ... looking very serious, like he's really reading from the notebook ... haha!

Auntie & niece pose awhile.

Ryan looking very gleeful.

The three of them pose beside the Apache.

Whilst in the queue for a photo-op in the Apache (which took a loooong hour), Ryan was busying himself, killing the tiny ants on the ground (my little sadist - he loves killing the poor insects).

Snack time for the kiddies. A small part of the cone biscuits got stuck at Ryan's lips & he was trying "valiantly" to lick it off, without much success. He looked rather cute, whilst doing it.

These may look like ants in the sky ... but they are actually 6 parachutist dropping from the sky (from a Chinook). We were lucky to get a glimpse of that!

Finally! Awaiting their turn, next in the Apache.

This cute little girl & her family were in front of us in the queue. She & Ayra started talking & made friends during the short time. She insisted on taking a photo with my lovable niece. Don't they look cute!

My son, giving his best grumpy look ... why? Because the guy that was manning the Apache was leaning too close for his comfort & Ryan ... no like! So it showed on his face. Haha .. my baby is as grumpy as sour grapes!

Still not a happy camper!

Ah! Ryan's best friend, Ms Ayra, saves the day ... he finally has smiles for the camera!

The front of the Apache.

This was a free train ride for the kiddies. They like!

There was a bouncy castle but I didn't allow Ryan to join in as it was rather high, so we let him jump at the tip only.

You can see Ayra enjoying her short stint on the bouncy castle.

Haha ... don't ask me what the kids were doing? I just asked Hubby to snap a pic of the 2 kids, as they were just being their usual "impish-mischevious" selves. Luckily, we were the only ones in the place ... so thats a quiet relief.

Overall, it was a damn tiring afternoon but I'm glad the kids enjoyed themselves. As usual, the lovely sweet Ayra was a great companion. She looked like she throughly enjoyed herself. I wasn't sure that she would like the exhibition, it being Army stuff & all, which most girls don't fancy but it turned out that I think she enjoyed herself more than Ryan did. I guess Ryan still has this phobia of strangers or people touching him (when he's being helped in or out of the exhibits). He's also very wary of new experiences & unsure of a lot of things. Whereas Ayra was extremely gungho & daring to try nearly everything. I'm really glad she enjoyed herself. Maybe we'll go again next time, if Hubby is willing to bring the whole gang again. We'll see.