Feeling somewhat better

The whole week whizzed by so quickly (so much happening all at once made it just pass by with me/us moving from one to another non-stop). Yet felt so long (mainly the bad bits like "why haven't their fevers gone away"/ "omg its 4am and I'm so tired but I need to accompany the sick child"/ never-ending work that needs attention else it'd just snowball). I think I felt gutted on Thursday night, when Jake developed a rash and he was so grumpy and had such puffy eyes and was soooo poor thing; I felt so helpless and lost;  yet unable to do much because I had to be at work.

So when Friday rolled around, I felt like I was just bouncing along like a ping-pong ball attending to work, quicker than ever because I knew it was the last day before the weekend and I could smell the break - I was so happy to be able to snitch a beer at the end of the day (half a can, to be exact. I shared) and when I finally ate dinner on Friday night; I just felt relief and some mini bit of victory to having survived the week.

I know this is not possible without the support of the husband, who is my perfect tag-partner to ensure that I'm not alone, and also our super helper who really, I am so thankful for.

So today, the start of Saturday, was extra special after a tough & long week (for the kids too) and I'm so glad that life is slowly returning to normal after they are both relatively normal (except that Jake is still cranky and Kate is coughing - but they are definitely better and at the tail end of this nasty bug). The husband and I started the day with a run at McRitchie. After not exercising for 3 weeks (groan, let's not get into the failed diet), the run felt so good yet bad (creaky feet and bones). But it was more good than bad of course and I'm feeling a good kinda ache right now *insert muscular emoticon

The husband and I also brought Jake out on a supermarket run in the afternoon and it was nice spending some alone time with my son.

The highlight of the week so far, really, has got to be this evening where I brought Kate (along with my uncle and his son) to the National Day Parade 2013 rehearsal! Not only was it a good time to bond with her alone (Jake didn't go), I really enjoyed myself too. The NDP session warrants a dedicated entry; but now is not the time for me to do it because my eyelids are already closing as I struggle to keep my thoughts coherent and fingers agile.

So goodbye, bad week and tomorrow is another day filled with plans; I'm looking forward!

#badstartbegone #goodtimesberolling

Midweek ramble

The kids are sick. They had fever over the weekend and it kinda rolled downhill from there. Temperatures soared to 38.8 yesterday, and the fever comes and goes. Jake's throat infection is slightly better after he started antibiotics but Kate's cough is really bad. She's hacking away like an old lady.

Sucks. The husband and I have been taking turns to watch the kids at night and we are *yawn so tired. I'm so tired. Today was a very-long-work-day-kinda work-day and I'm thankful that the husband was able to be on home-duty. Right now, I pray that the damn virus leaves and my kids be normal and chirpy and less whiney and well.

Fever on night 1 was persistently 38.5; night 2 38.8. Please, I hope it becomes better tonight.

She was actually better but fever will return each night and that cough! 

Hello Kitty frenzy

As we know, Hello Kitty fever hit Singapore recently. I didn't join the craze, nor did I consume MacDonald's during this period. The report stated that some people got into tussles and fights and unhappiness in an attempt to secure themselves the Hello Kitty.

Well, I also have fights, some unhappiness and tussles with my very own limited edition Hello Kitty, singing version! I wouldn't trade this for anything else in the world because she's truly a limited edition gem.

The best Hello Kitty one can ever have! 

Evening at the beach

So this evening, the husband suggested going to East Coast Park and I was happy to oblige. It was rather late by the time we went so we didn't prepare too much (sand/water play). We had time for a short ride, some quiet time on the beach and a lovely family picture.

This was the first time we rented this monster-on-wheels and it was truly a disaster. The kids didn't want to sit upfront, both wanted to steer which was impossible because this machine is rather heavy and moves quicker when two people are peddling and the steering wheels are located right where the peddlers need to be... so anyway if you didn't get all that it's fine because the point is, we abandoned riding too far and parked to lay out our picnic mat on the beach some metres down the road. This pic was taken on the way back to return the monster vehicle and as you can tell, it was K (steering on the dummy steering wheel) and the husband controlling it. Jake and I had aborted riding in it because there was no space and it was getting dangerous for him to sit in it! (I didn't see anyone else have such problems man, geez.) 

This was us, trailing behind the husband and K. Someone was obviously in a good mood and I whipped out my camera asking him to "smile" and smile he did! This picture was taken on the first try! Amazing. #pincheshistoocutecheeks #icansmotherhimwithkissesallday

Frantic calls

So it seems like little miss K called 8 people in a span of 4 minutes yesterday morning. I only found out when I returned a call.... and all I could think of was thank goodness it was already 8.20am!

Dear Jake, happy 16 months!

Dear Jake,

Happy 16 months!

Where do I begin? Truly, in a blink of an eye, you have turned from a baby into a toddler – A TODDLER!

Moving about like a very active boy

From walking 6 months ago (SIX MONTHS ago!), you have begun to run lately, and it is the cutest sight to watch you run with your orbs arm swing (I don't know why but your sister used to do that too. Perhaps it helps you balance yourselves?). Though you are generally great in walking already, you do seem to tumble over occasionally. This bit of clumsiness is so endearing. You don't get too bothered about falling over/bumping yourself really. When it hurts, you cry though cease once we show you some concern/distract you with something (so truly, it can't be that painful). Or if it's not even painful (by your own, rather high standards), you just continue with whatever you're doing. I like that you're quite a manly man, rather fuss-free!

Talking like a baby 

You speak quite a lot now, some words more accurately than others. Unless the words are very clear, most people don't get what you're saying unless it's us. My favourite words are Mah-mee (Mommy) and I-rur-ooo (I love you). Important words that will get you everything you want in life… for this time being anyway. Your vocabulary is not bad, though you can improve on your pronunciation. Just for the record… Ball, nor-neeng (morning), Jak (Jake), nartt (night), brad (bread), murk (milk), oh oh (oh oh), NO (no), yeahs (yes), Papa (Papa, usually said in the sweetest voice!), che che (cheche), Tare (Tess, our helper), ee-eeee (yiyi), yeah yeahhhh (yeye), ngai ngah (nainai), book, car, war-tee (water – and you say this in a very cute sing-song repetitive manner) poon (spoon), tarch (touch), nare-not (cannot), WAAHH (wah, at things that you fancy such as when you see the ball pit in the indoor playground/ when you lift the interactive flap books, soo cute)… You just really mimic everything that we say to your best capability and I am very pleased at this development! You're not as chatty as your sister, but I don't expect you to be really, given how your personality is not as loud as hers. Your comprehension level is good and you know how to point to what you want/whinge and you also know how to pull/push us towards your target. 

Teething

You now have 4 teeth on top, and 3.5 on the bottom (that 0.5 is still peeking out a bit through the gums, not fully sprouted yet!) and I also spy 2 halves of molars on the bottom right of your gums. You gnaw at everything and anything, just like your sister, much to the annoyance and exasperation of us. 

nomnomnom

Eating

You are truly my son, and like your sister, have no problems with food at all! Nothing to say in this arena – top points! You are beginning to wanna exercise your independence and create a mess feed yourself and we try to oblige.

nomnomnom (told you he eats well. Eats everything well.)

Behaviour

You are strong and throw a lot of things. We call you "Jake, the destroyer". I don't think you do intentionally, more like you do so because you can. While we do reprimand and spank you, you do not flinch and that's quite astounding. You merely cry or shrink back when you know you're going to punished. You have thrown several things out from the balcony, must to our dismay, and we really need to keep a tighter watch over you! You observe and pretend to cry to get our attention, and you fake-laugh when you see us playing around. Cliché as it is, you really are a BOY and you well, are Jake the destroyer.

Loving you 

You are undeniably, a very adorable boy and continue to charm all around you. Your easy-going and chillax demeanour (when unprovoked/un-angry) is so amusing to watch – a marked difference from your sister who is a typically girly girl who requires maintenance. It is so easy to love you and I wish you will stay still so that I can hug and love you more. Your favourite people are definitely your Papa, cheche, nainai, Aunty Tess and me. It is very easy to love you, my boy. 

You are the best thing I can ever gift your sister, and vice versa and I really hope that you both keep growing closer, loving each other and be there for each other for life. 

Best friends

I am so thankful that I have you in my life and you and your sister really complete the lives of your father and I. Occasionally, you have your clingy moments where you want me to carry you and I really am happy! I'm not shy to say that I'm probably the more needy one in this relationship. I really hope that you will sleep through the night though, you're a big boy already, sleep properly please?

He who doesn't sleep well. Please do baby, please do! And you love your pacifier. Should I be concerned? Maybe... maybe not.

Happy 16 months my dear son. I love you to the moon and back.

Jake, 16 months old.

Love always and forever, Mommy

Midweek ramble

Because of the haze, our family of four has been squashed into one room for the past week. (Actually, come to think of it, we can still split sleeping into two rooms ... but this is more economical anyway.) So this means that I go to sleep rather early with Kate. My desire to stay up and watch TV and do nothingmuchatall has not materialised because I become so lazy and well, fall asleep with her. I think the husband was startled that I went to sleep with K before 9pm on Monday night! (I was too, really.)

With the haze, I have also stopped running. And my body is slowly, but surely, degenerating.

It's the last week of Kate's school holidays (GASP. WHERE is time?!) and thankfully, her schedule is pretty packed this week. The MIL stayed over for two nights; the cousins and aunts brought both monkeys out to the library yesterday, and tomorrow they will be going out with their Godpa, and Friday is family dine-out night. We also have a wedding to attend this Sat, plus a birthday party for Sun - her holidays are coming to an exciting finale!

The husband and I have discussed and are making an effort to have dinners together regularly on the weekdays. At least one night every weekday. I like such homely arrangements.

The kids are growing up so quickly. I look at kawaii Jake and marvel at how he's such an able-bodied active stubborn little monkey. Kate has also grown to such a mini adult, exercising her independence and announcing proudly "I did ______ all by myself, you know?" 

Truly, I got a mini fright yesterday when I looked at the calendar and realise that its the end of June this week and this means that we are halfway through the year. O.M.G.

So anyway, this midweek ramble is just that - a ramble. And as always, I love to end off sweetly with (what else?) a pic I took of the kids this morning.

K had woken up grumpily and she dragged herself out of the room and found J snoozing in the other room; she immediately laid down beside him and in typical J fashion, he was up and about in seconds - and this was that moment. Somehow, them cuddled up together in their snuffly pyjamas reminded me of hamsters. Hah!