Super Saturday

Started the day with home-made pancakes. Here are my handy helpers who helped with the pancake batter.

TADAH! This is a plate of pancakes cooked by me. Truly, that is like accomplishment. But what's even more amazing, is why I cooked the entire batch of batter.

I was close to giving up like, 4 pancakes in - it was hot and sticky and I was really not enjoying myself. I exclaimed "Ah, I wanna stop already!" and was this close to passing the pan over to my helper when Kate said "Mommy, you're doing a great job! You're trying your best right? I love you!" Those words, unsolicited by me, shot through me like this amazing smushy feeling.

I was
1. Amused/amazed that my discomfort was so evident she picked it up
2. Touched beyond words at her forthcoming encouragement
3. Motivated beyond myself and stuck on to finish frying all the batter.

I guess this is what parenting is about. While you give your time, your energy, your best to your child, they truly, in return, give you the best thing in life - surprises, happiness and true love. I love my firstborn because she is so insightful and mature for a soon-to-be four-year-old.

The day passed quite uneventfully then the mother & sister helped babysit the kids and I took time out to run. What started out as a run in the evening turned out to be a pretty-damn-good-run. I clocked 9.5km in an hour & felt like a superwoman after!

Spotted these cool little bladers on my run and I'm so going to sign my kids up so they'll be cool too! #Idunnohowtoblade

Weaning off the pacifier

It was a horrific first night. This stubborn little boy kept crying and crying and crying - I swear he cried for a total of 4-5 hours through the whole night. He'd collapse into exhaustion, then jolt awake remembering he needed his poison and cried as hard as before. He'd throw a fit and lie on the ground, and there was a point in the night when the husband and I just looked helplessly at each other, as we watched him writhe and wail... and I felt pretty awful. But I knew that it was only a necessary evil (process) for him to wean himself off the pacifier.

Surprisingly (and thankfully), he fussed a lot less the next day. Today is day 5 and he no longer asks for the pacifier! HOORAY!

So he's adjusted to being off the pacifier at home, but I'm a little mindful how he'd behave when he was in the car seat. Guess we'll find out soon!

Since we're on this topic of the pacifier, here's just a series of him with it.

Tutu

Tutu

Tutu

Tutu

Me-time

A random evening with the sister yesterday. Silly conversations, first-world problem dining decisions, serious conversations, frivolous errands, necessary purchases - all in good company. 

Great start to Thursday - a run before a crazy storm hit!

Project butterfly - audience participation

Jake gets all the viewing attention (see only, cannot do/touch anything) with this project.

Poke.

Another view?

RAWRR!! (that was my exclamation. HA!)

Note: No caterpillars were harmed in the presence of this little man's curiosity.

Project butterfly

K's friend got her two little caterpillars to incubate and (hopefully) grow into butterflies. Today is day two and I'm excited about it. I hope hope hope it happens! So far, the kids are quite enthralled with it. I can't help but stare at the gross creatures and well, get grossed out. Wish us luck!

Jake, the (adorable) menace

Last Thursday - I had showered for the two kiddos; and I brought Jake out to dress first. After he was done, I left him in the room and went to fetch K out from the bath and we headed to the room to dress her. I heard suspect splashing sounds... and I'd initially thought it was Jake playing with the toilet bowl (again). Turns out, our little water baby simply plonked himself - clean diapers, pyjamas and all - back into the tub! 

Last Friday - I handed Jake a bit of digestive biscuit and left him to nibble it... or so I thought. Caught him crumbling the cookies all over the table. 

Last Saturday - after water play. This has no story other than the fact that he looks absolutely adorable in his robe. Hah! #biasedmombutidonchcare

The Army Half Marathon Run - I did 10km

It was an awfully organised run, by any standard. It started with when we couldn't get parking (but the super husband settled that and I know we are discouraged to drive. But to drive 4 people seemed a pretty good idea), then it took us forever to get to the start point (no one seemed interested and were strolling along creating a severe human jam - I think we started the run 15minutes past); and once it started there were many - and I mean many - bottlenecks where you cannot run even if you wanted to. It was quite frustrating, to say the least.

I burst out laughing (not in a good way) when we had to crawl through the finishing line (think a mass bunch of people during peak traffic at the MRT station. Yup, just like that!) while hearing the emcee lament the (pathetic) state at the finishing line "well done runners! There's a huge crowd so don't focus on the timing, just congratulate yourself on the run completed - well done!" Pfft. 

But. It's still a good workout and I did clock pretty average time and I kept pushing myself to keep running and I did feel pretty strong throughout the whole journey.

I'll never join this run again, but I'm pleased enough that I completed it.