2001 TH POST !!!

Oops! I had wanted to write up something short, for my 200th post (when I saw the 196th post yesterday) but I kinda just plain forgotten ... hehe! I guess it doesn't help that I am now trying (valiantly) to get almost all of my back-dated posts up to date ... that at times, I do up to 4 or five posts at a time. Talk about being rather PRO-ductive ... haha!

Well, well ... I never thought I'll get this far, to tell you the truth. I must say that I do rather enjoy "yakking" away on my blog ... about our latest adventures and expeditions. Not to mention our never-ending quest to find cheap & delicious food, affordable buys or just the many random things that we do, as a family. We enjoy searching & introducing new experiences to my little boy & putting it up here, for Ryan to ponder on. He just loves to sit on my lap & look through my blog (especially when I'm busy updating). Yep! my son loves to look at the millions of photos that I snap & put up here, in blogland. That always puts a smile on my face coz at least I know ... all my effort, in taking those pictures, putting them up & with the mighty-lengthy narration (no less) ... is being appreciated & cherished. * smiles *

Never was it my intention to start this blog ... to get worldwide readers, advertisement "traffic" or free stuff. Though I sometimes wish that my life is a little more exciting, I am basically a very simple person. I am contented with the simplest things & just happy & thankful that my family is safe, healthy & well loved. That's all. Haha ... I guess the only 5 people that read my blog are - Me, Ryan (ok, he doesn't know how to read yet but he looks at the pics, so that counts, rite?), my Hubby, my younger sis & my buddy, Jess. See ... I told you my life was boring & won't interest that many people. But really ... that's ok with me ... even if no one else reads my blog, I would be A-OK ... coz I am really writing it for me ... myself ... and I !!!

I am equally amazed ... that some mummy bloggers manage to find the time to update their blogs, every day! Granted most of them are stay at home mums (like me) but still? .... Really, I just can't find the time nor energy to write an entry ... every single day of the week. I would find that such a chore, an obligation even! I update whenever I can, if I have something to say (or rant about) ... or some photos to upload. I guess that's why I've got so many back-dated stuff to write on. Yes, I don't have a full time job ... but anyone that's been a full time housewife knows that its not all free & easy, being at home. There's always a ton of chores to be done, 3 meals to prepare & cook (almost daily), dishes to wash & put away, laundry to do, clothes to fold, toys to keep & re-arrange, (baby) bottoms to clean, showers for the hyper-active kid, etc. Its a never-ending chore list ... that never gets done & once you finish doing something ... some other thing, awaits you.

You don't have time-offs, annual leave, MC-sick leave, maternity leave, child-sick leave, year end bonus, 13th month pay, yearly increments, salary upgrades ... the list goes on. Heck! You don't even get bl**dy paid! All your hard work is F.O.C - free of charge! You don't get appreciated nor appraised, you don't get flowers or a fantastic lunch treat on Secretaries' Day (like I used to), shucks! you don't get anything! Zip !!!

But would I give all this up to go back to work? .... NAH! Nope! I am contented being a stay at home mum, taking care of my only son. I take care of his & my Hubby's daily needs. I am hands-on in nearly every aspect of Ryan's life, since the day he was born ... & eventhough its back-breaking & extremely tiring at times, the countless hugs & kisses he gives me everytime ... makes up for it! All of the sleepless nights, vomit, piss, poop that Ryan has kindly "deposited" on me .... its all part & parcel of my journey, into becoming a better parent ... one day!

I'm really just glad that I took up writing, blogging. It has allowed me to rant, grumble ... & bitch, all I want ... whilst allowing me to stay sane & happy. Pouring my thoughts & feelings here has allowed me to be a better person (I hope) & given me a creative outlet to (sometimes) vent my anger & frustrations. Heck! It even helped me get through a very tough & sad episode this year. It allowed me to cry, write depressing anecdotes, pen sobbingly mushy poems, it let me grief ... on my own terms. In time I learnt to accept my situation & move forward. It helped me make the right decision & to give myself the time & space to grieve my past .... & yet to look forward, into the future. Amen!

Whatever 2010 & beyond has in store for me, I will bravely stand tall & fight ... for a better tomorrow, for my family. Be damned to those who look down on us, be damned to those who doubt us, be damned to those disbelievers, be damned to those who belittle us ... we don't need your sympathy nor your callous words. Keep your biting thoughts to yourself & leave us alone to fight our own battles. We will survive, we will make it, we will still be here .... when all is said & done!

OH! ITS ANOTHER FAMILY BIRTHDAY

P.S : This is a back-dated post, early October 2009.

Its time once again ... for another good makan session with the family. This time its my brother's youngest son, Sahmi, who turns 4 this year. As usual, we had cake, delicious home cooked food, drinks & other goodies. My never-tiring & dedicated mum, always finds the time to cook her extremely yummy dishes, at most of our family home-gatherings. The kids were out in full force, playing & joking around ... as usual.

A good round-up of the kids in the family. The eldest grandchild, Syakir wasn't in attendance, so there were only 6 of them here.

Can you see the birthday boy, beside the presents (hands cupped). I bet he couldn't wait to open them all up ... haha!

Yeah! It's presents time!

Ryan, posing with his Kaka Ayra & Abang Fuddin.

Leaning on Daddy, for some extra support.

Hey, where did Papa go to??

Well, I'll jump around then ...

My two nephews riding around.

Its cake time! I see some wishes being hoped on ...

Hey! that's not the birthday boy cutting the cake!

Birthday boy, Sahmi (in red & white stripes), smiling gleefully as he's about to blow on his Tom & Jerry cake.

See the kaypoh little boy named Ryan (held by his Daddy) ... who seem to think that its his birthday cake to blow ... haha!

Making a silent wish ... maybe?

Finally, its time to cut the cake! Errm ... why was there a hand sticking out?

Little Ms Ayra, joins the birthday boy for a photo op.

This is how you cut a cake ... ok?

After a long & tiring day ... of endless playing, Ryan sees it fit to put his weary little head ... on the lap of his elder cousin, Syafiq ... whilst holding a football, no less ... is that cute or what?

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!