Season's Greeting

Here's wishing everyone at home a Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2009.

New Ride

Hello everyone, here's me and my new ride..I am so in love with it

I show you how cool I look on it ok?!

I love the smooth lines on this baby

Hahah! I am a stunt man!

But normally, I prefer to take a slow ride on it or just chill with it...

The Tree

Over the weekend, we got ourselves our first family Christmas tree! It's a plain 6 feet 6 inches tree decorated with bronze and reddish baubles plus star shaped lights. I remember in my childhood, it cost a bomb to decorate a tree, but nowadays with recession sales everywhere, the total cost of this was only £27!

18 Months Old

At playgroup

Yesterday was the first time Tobey and I ventured into our new city centre without SK. It was easier than thought, but I had to constantly mind those bicycles zooming by the sides and front! There's bicycle lanes on almost every busy road, hence made the road narrower for cars. My objective was to try to score some bargains at The Pier, who recently went into administration. When I was there, I realised all dining sets were sold, even those on the shop front. I wanted several mirrors, but they don't do delivery anymore and expect me to carry it out of the shop on my own! Obviously it's not possible as I have a stroller and an active toddler to care for. Their staff were rather unhelpful and rude. I know there's no incentive for them to be nice as they were about to loose their jobs (one of them told me it'll be before Christmas), but it's not the customers' fault. Anyway, I only managed to grab some coasters, hooks and Christmas wreath. I guess it's good anyway, since the recession is on. It's best to spend frugally.

Anyway, after lunch at Giraffe (he refused half his home-made lunch, but ate the small bowl of fries I ordered for him), Tobey had a jog around the park separating the 2 shopping areas. We went home soon after that.

"hai yah! This mommy ar, so cold also want to snap pictures"

"I'll pose for you anyway"

Today my darling is 18 months old already. He is growing up to be a boy with a rather strong personality. Wants to do things for himself (for us too) and participate more in household chores. For example, when it's time for his evening bath, he wants to get his own towel, turn on the bathroom lights and open the bathroom door. He wants to put the lid back on his flask, bottles, jar and such. If I were to describe him in words, they would be happy, giving, sociable, insistent/stubborn and loud but with a very gentle soul. Sometimes when he's annoyed with us, he would not look at us and not speak to us for quite a while, which is so funny to watch. As parents, we try to stay as firm (but kind) as we can in terms of discipline. I am sure parents out there would agree that it's easier to spoil a child than to keep him/her grounded. Quite challenging as he changes each week. He's a fruit and vege addict now. When in the supermarket, he would scream if I don't add his broccoli, carrots, grapes, satsumas and bananas into his shopping cart. Which is a good thing :) At least my effort of incorporating vege in his daily meal paid off.

"not again! I am eating, go away!"

"ahhh...bliss"

"Yum yum"

"All gone!"

Happy 1 1/2 years old my baby. You've brought more joy and meaning to our lives than you can ever imagine. Lots of love.

New Beginnings

The real Master of the house

Above are pics of Tobey in his new Tigger jacket. He outgrew the China jackets. This is the only jacket he willingly tried on, just because there's Tigger on it.

We've been here for 2 weeks already and loving it. Enjoying the open spaces and the safe, child-friendliness quality of the village. That explains the high birthrate here. He now attends 2 music classes, 2 playgroups and will enrol him in a Tumbletot class for after Christmas. They are all 5-10 mins walk from our house. Tobey just blended in. It helps that he's used to these classes and playgroups from his activities back in Northampton. Honestly, I was abit worried on him settling in. But kids adapt really well! I have made many new friends too from all these activities, which has really been good for the soul :)

SK on, what must be the most photographed spot, the bridge over the canal

In the new Grand Arcade

Ventured into our new city centre over the weekend. Weather was wet and windy, but we persevered and managed to get a feel of the place, such as the city boundaries, the wheres and whats. The city centre basically comprises of two shopping areas ( an upmarket one and another standard one)separated by a lovely park. Of course there are the grand old buildings Cambridge is famous for.

Wearing his paper hat and smooching himself in the mirror

I haven't got Internet access for the last 2 weeks, me and Tobey have been spending alot of time trying new things. I've started some Arts and Crafts activities with him. We tried collaging and cutting. He was more interested in the material and equipments used rather than the end product...haha....

Lighting mad

I like the round one in the last pic...

New Home

Fan Pics ;P

The New President

Something amongst the sea of post-election news stood out to me today. It was a scene of President Barack Obama's paternal grandma and brother celebrating his victory in Kenya, East Africa.

America has indeed been united.

5th November 2008

SK has been overseas for work for a couple of days now. As expected, Tobey misses his daddy and best friend. On the first night he's away, Tobey asked for his daddy before bed. It's part of Tobey's bedtime routine for SK to play chase with him a little in his bedroom before saying goodnight to him. The nights after that he stopped asking.

Instead, during the days he reached out for his daddy's framed picture (that he can reach and grab from the book shelves)

stares at it for the longest time, point at him in the picture and says "tati"...

...And then KISSES the picture.

To distract him from missing his dad too much, I've been bringing him out daily after his nap. SK told me to shower him with toys :)

Few weekends ago, we saw this from mothercare that has a price tag of £54.99.
We liked it as it has got a parental steering bar. It gives us the option to push him around during our walks. Since, Tobey still can't really reach the pedals yet, we decided to wait for the January sales, hoping to get it on discount.

But as I was loitering in Tesco today, looking for a small ride-on toy (he's been sitting on his remote control cars and pushing himself with his legs), I came across this. It was on half-price, only £17.50!

Can't wait to open the packaging

Happy! (look at where he placed his legs)

There were just 3 left and I grabbed it straight away. Brought it home and promptly assembled it all on my own! It was a bargain!

********

5th of November is also Bonfire night. The fireworks have been going off in the neighbourhood since 5 pm till now. I carried Tobey out into the front and back garden to look at some. He was mesmerised. But I realised later on that he's actually afraid of the loud noises they make, as he cried frightfully when I went off to do some chores.

Evening fireworks over lake originally uploaded at flickr by fensterbme

Autumn Snow and Winter Hat

I've never seen snow in October before until a few days ago

28th October 2008, back garden

Tobey hates wearing a winter hat. The usual beanies or knitted ski-caps for children wouldn't work for him as he pulls them off straight away. SO, here's the solution;

warm and toasty in another "made-in-China" jacket and winter hat

He's will only wear it out in the FREEZING cold.

Updates

cheeky boy

Lately I've been spending alot of time eyeing Tobey. He pulls out new tricks overnight. For the past week, we were stunned to see him climbing on the dining chair and sat on it as if he's been doing it all his life.

Look! I don't need the high chair anymore!

Then the next day, he climbed onto the dining chair to get onto the dining table, where we kept all the dangerous stuff away from him. I screamed inside when I caught him on the table holding a cake knife, before I swiftly took it away from him. Now we stacked away the dining chairs.

The following day saw him raiding the book shelves.

Hello there!

I wonder what tomorrow brings.