And off he goes (again)

For the too-manyth time in a month, the husband is off for work. Only 3 days, but which can seem soo looong. Through the years we've been together, I'm pretty much used to his work travels by now. However, I don't have to like them. And last night, as we both moved around the room in quiet stealth (as Kate was sleeping), I said to him "I increasingly do not like you going away."

As much as I am the world's most supportive wife (you may verify this with the husband, thank you very much), I do miss him when he goes away and now that we have Kate, it's even more difficult to have him go away. Yes, I miss him as my husband, yes I miss the extra pair of hands that is so good-to-have when you have a little child, yes I miss someone I can poke fun of at any/all time, yes I miss talking to him, but with Kate, there's been a slight shift and the separation is more tough.

I know many people everywhere in the world endure separation, and some of these are for truly long periods of times away from their loved ones. So I'm trying to stay thankful that the husband's away trips are bearably short.

We miss you.

Running like clockwork

Time allows people to sync with each other well. Love adds that dash of smooth when working together, complementing each other so much that you barely notice the running; you just move alongside each other.

Long weekend begins with staycation!

The husband had an off-day on Friday and that marked the start of our long weekend together - YAY! First stop, dim-sum for brunch. Then came the event of our day - an overnight stay at a hotel.

Sometime back, the husband and I wanted to go on a short holiday with Kate. Due to his hectic work schedule and a mishmash of different reasons, this holiday didn't happen. So the husband planned for this staycation and I gotta say, it is totally lux to have somewhere different to sleep in for the night. Helps that we don't have to make the beds and that the shops are just below the block - a very ideal alternative to our holiday, really.

Someone got comfy rather quickly

Kate and I dressed alike by chance - white with red-stripes

One had a shower, one went for a run & one did nothing!

Balcony view

It's really late now but I wanted to capture our Family Friday. I'm pleased that we spent all day together, and even more pleased that we have tomorrow and Sunday to go! It's so comfortable to have all of us sleeping on the same bed on this large-sized bed. Really ought to convince the husband to upgrade our mattress at home.

Today, I'm thankful that my baby wants me - she's a little more clingy to me lately, it seems. I also appreciate the husband acting as my personal shopper. And as I look to my left and see my 2 most favourite people in the world beside me, I cannot help but feel blessed.

Ice-cream makes people happy

Thursday was boring. Though I had plans to make plans and I tried to do so with various people, none of them materialised and the day went by with little for us to do. The highlight was definitely when the husband came back from work and after dinner exclaimed "let's go out!"

YAY!

Ice-cream time!

Kate (does not) hop-scotch

"woah woah" (the way Kate barks), says Kate the moment she saw the SPCA dog

They all look so yummy, wonder if Mommy will let me eat any?

Happy Kate

My baby and I

After a waffle with yumsy black forest ice-cream, we headed to do groceries. I realise that the husband and I do an awful lot of grocery-shopping. I think it's mostly because groceries are necessary but I also think it's a sign that we have matured and mellowed - afterall, we have to prioritise our spending and diapers are a must-have in our lives now!

Zooming down the aisles

I gotta say that the day ended on a high despite the most of it being rather unexciting. I do think that being with your loved ones make any activity more cheerful and fun, simply because.

True love

I've been walking around the past 2 days with mini-patches of plasters on my face and arm. Though relieved that I'm not in real pain, these patches are not sightly - at all. Close ones (relatives) have pointedly asked me 'what's wrong why like that ah?' whereas strangers, well, just stare (some more obviously than others).

I'm pretty thick-skinned so I just plough on as normal and try to respond with minimal fuss.

The husband and I had a wedding dinner to attend, and after much debate and (internal) struggle, I decided to go (for various reasons - the most obvious being that it was a wedding dinner to celebrate a friend's love and union. Who am I to act so selfish and vain to think that people may mind what I looked like?!) So in the middle of dinner, when the husband made a passing remark to me "my friends are rather tactful not pointedly asking you what's wrong with you, hor"; something struck me.

Truly, the only person who did not ask or question me, was Kate. Neither did she eye me strangely or differently - at all. To her, oh the lovely innocence and pureness of a child, I was her mother and still am. Regardless of what I look like, how I smelt, how I dressed, whether I ignored her, scolded her or anything - she still treated me exactly the same.

Of course, the husband and my family were cool about my looks, not like anyone dodged me like the plague - but that's not the point. What is, is that my little precious did not judge me and impressed upon me how she is really my offspring and she loves me unconditionally.

I reciprocate whole-heartedly. True love.

Mid-week public holiday; Kate turns 14-months-old

It would have been halfway through my short break. Knowing that the break is now doubled brought me immense joy. This Wednesday coincided with a public holiday and it was great the the husband could spend the day with Kate and I.

Kate heading out of the room enthusiastically for breakfast.

We'd originally planned to bring Kate to the zoo, but the doctor's ordered 'no sun' (for me) so after some thought, we decided to head to Ikea! As it was a public holiday, the crowds were crazy - there was a Q that snaked more than halfway through the popular Ikea restaurant! We were determined troupers and luckily for us, managed to share a table and the husband headed off to get us food. We had not prepared Kate's usual porridge, so she also shared the food that we ate!

Kate browsing the catalogue while Daddy prepared her food

Kate takes her reading very seriously

UMM

Not sure what, but something's tickled her fancy!

After our hearty meal, we headed to walk-around the showroom. I always like going to Ikea, even if I don't need to get anything. I find the displays extremely pretty and lovely to look at.

Fiddling with a kiddy chair

Hi Mama

Independent Kate - she'd refused to allow us to lead her, much preferring to do her own thing halfway through

Doing her own thing includes squatting in the middle of nowhere

GUESS WHAT SHE'S DOING!!

Yup, she did a poo. That pretty much ended our Ikea adventure.

We then headed off to the next destination in our plans for the day: a visit to my dayi's house. She made popiah (yums) and it was also a mini celebration for my niece, Annette.

Kate plays bubbles with the kids

Birthday girl, Annette standing on the left of the picture. She turns 9!

Relatives who hadn't seen her for a while lamented at how she's grown and how cute she looked waddling around; Kate delighted and amused everyone with her antics, and it made me happy to hear everyone praise and dote on her. She's a lucky child! We bade everyone goodbye by 4pm as she was becoming cranky from fatigue, and indeed she kicked up a huge fuss in the car on our way home; I know the husband and I were very relieved when she finally settled down to sleep.

The day with Kate ended there as the husband and I headed out to an adult affair (wedding dinner) without her. It was nice to spend adult time with the husband and I constantly remind myself how fortunate I am to have him in my life. Things may not always be smooth-sailing, but it doesn't have to be. What's important is that we are always there for and continue to love one another.

Happy 14-months old, dearest baby Kate. Love always, Mommy

Another day and a bonus week!

Tuesday began with me being awakened by the husband preparing to go to work. I remember him buzzing around the room in his typical tornado-style, kissing Kate and I before he went off. Kate and I, the lucky ones, continued to snooze though I was semi-awake by 7.30am. Kate was still asleep and I let her be while I savoured a half-hour on my own before she finally turned and stretched herself awake. I immediately grinned happily at her and gave her a big "Good morning!"

Cheeky Kate

Rolling Kate (she is a snoozer)

Beautiful Kate - love those half-awake eyes

Kisses for Kate (check out her sleep-mohawk)

Kate kisses me

I love these morning moments with her - it isn't very often that I get the opportunity to laze in bed and muck around with her, so it's especially sweet that I have pictures to capture them. As always, she'll cry for food (growing children are often hungry) and we quickly headed to the kitchen for her breakfast.

Today, I had to go run a personal errand, so after breakfast, I headed off. Kate didn't seem to know any different - she probably thought I was going to work - and today was a day she waved goodbye to me quite happily. I spent the whole morning out and by the time I was done, it was already 3pm (I really expected to be done 2 hours earlier). This errand of mine turned out to be a little more time-consuming than I'd expected, not just in the case of today, but turns out that I gotta dedicate some time next week to it, so very quickly, I made some calls and now, instead of having a week-long break, turns out that I have an extra week of time-off! Woot!

I missed bringing Kate for her (month-late) vaccination at the polyclinic yesterday, so after I was done with my errand and a quick-but-satisfying (in terms of quality of time spent, not food consumed) lunch with the sister, I quickly rushed home and brought Kate to the polyclinic nearby. It was a challenge getting her there as it was drizzling and I had to juggle a bag (her barang) as well as an umbrella. These weren't the difficult bits (I'd learnt how to be a juggler when I became a Mother) - it was the fact that Kate was uber insistent that I opened the umbrella (even when we were under shelter) and cried until I did. I ended up carrying her and holding an open umbrella all the way - good thing the polyclinic was merely a 10-minute walk away (could have been quicker without the challenges!

Some lessons learnt from today's trip to the polyclinic:

1/ You have to make an appointment at polyclinics

When I reached the entrance of the polyclinic at 3.45pm (officially they'd indicated that registrations close at 4pm), I was actually turned away.

They do not allow walk-in vaccination patients. I presented my case to the nurse on duty that (i) it was my first time at the polyclinic and I didn't know that I had to make a prior appointment (ii) it was raining and I'd already made it all the way there (with a bag, umbrella and a fidgety baby) so please, I'll really like to make the trip fruitful. Maybe it was the fact that I looked quite a state (ask the sister, I look a sight today post-errand), maybe it was that I had a cute baby, maybe it was that the nurse was a kind and understanding soul - whichever the case or combo of reasons, I was allowed to proceed - not without a kind reminder that in the future, I should make an appointment.

2/ The newly renovated polyclinic was rather nice

It was spacious and everything looked spanking new. I didn't feel that it was as contaminated nor 'germy' compared to other clinics - which was a great thing.

3/ It is not true that every clinic can provide your child with vaccinations

It's what I've been told by several parents: Go to any clinic, the shots are the same. The prices vary and polyclinics are much cheaper.

In a general sense, I believe this is true. However, in my case for today, it wasn't. Kate was due for her 3rd dose of pneumococcus but she left the clinic without a jab in her butt because the polyclinic did not have any records in their system that displayed the brand of vaccination she received at the private clinic. Therefore, as this was the third dose, the clinic was unable to match the brand of the previous doses provided and were unwilling to give her any possibly an un-matching brand as the previous two doses. What a letdown! I'd made the virgin trip to the polyclinic because of the heresays and the convenience of it being a walk away but turned out that it was a semi-waste of time. I say semi because ultimately, it was still time spent with Kate and that can never ever be considered waste. Of course, if the goal was attained it would have been better, but I've learnt to let go and be alot more magnanimous - virtues of becoming a mother.

Also, we had a relatively decent time playing around at the clinic while waiting for our turn:

Kate staring intently at...

Another kid being fed - this girl can sniff food a mile away!

We also played

peek-a-

boo!

After returning from the clinic, Kate collapsed from fatigue and I managed to take a shower and wash the rain grime off my body. When she awoke, I treated her to kiddy songs and videos from youtube; as well as introduced Pocoyo to her (she preferred the kiddy songs).

Mac-potatoes

After 20minutes, I distracted her with toys and books.

Playing

And crying because she didn't get her way

Humpty Dumpty

Each day seems the same with Kate - as it ought to be as routines are good for children such as her feeding and nap times, some books and toys (repetition is key to drumming it into a child's brain). However, I love to make our days a little different and special so that she is introduced to different things constantly. She's always curious and I'm certain that her vocabulary is improving each day. Even how she is very mischievous and temperamental are signs that she is developing.

I'm very thankful that we had yet another lovely day and even more that I have a bonus week with her! Yaay