The Kids are fine. And so are we!: January 2007
The Kids are fine. And so are we!
"The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed." ~ Anonymous Lilypie 3rd Birthday Ticker Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker   
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Exploding Dog
Sam Brown of explodingdog.com has a knack for drawing pictures from given titles. I like how he is able to capture the mood and essence of any given title in a simplistic manner. He has certain characters that appears in his drawing, like the big-eyed stick-man, clouds, stars, robots and of course, the dog (refer to title of his website). I think that this guy is a genius and he has put up probably over a thousand drawings since 2000 (if you go through the years, you will see the progression of skills, characters and ideas).

Mr Brown invites his fans to write to him or send him a title. He might actually draw something on that. Perhaps you may wish to send him a title.

(*Disclaimer – according to Sam Brown, there are many people who send him titles, but many of them are never drawn).

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posted by Chris @ 5:15 pm   0 comments
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Island Hopping
Here I am, outside Room 118 of Patong Paragon Hotel in Phuket! Look at this girl's face man! After almost 2 years without going on a vacation trip, I am totally elated! Oh... Oh... I forget to mention that we went without the kid! Muah haha!


The agenda for the trip was "not to have an agenda". It was to (1) chill-out, (2)read, (3)eat, (4)chill-out and read. (5)Chill-out and eat... (6)Chill out and chill... Wow! Come to think of it, that was actually quite alot to do...

The weather was lovely the entire time we were there. The sky was blue with cotton-candy white clouds and cool breeze. Main factors for a wonderful trip at the beach. I guess, let the pictures (below) speak for themselves...

Arh! Tom Yum soup, freshly prepared by Thai hands, along Patong Beach. Slurp slurp! ~Burp~


Picture taken at Starbucks, Phuket. Looking at the patrons, you would not have guess, would you?


We are on Khai Nai Island (around 15 minutes from Sin-Sangrat Pier on Phuket). It was a fantastic day. We looked pretty fine as well, don't you think?


Don't need much to chill out do you? Sunglasses (Check). Water (Check). Iced drink (Check). Tanning oil (Check). Room service (oh what the heck! Check & cheque). A great smile (Check)!


My highlights of the trip are:-


  1. Snorkeling in the open sea
  2. Seafood dinner at along Patong Beach (we forgotten the camera that night)
  3. Chilling out doing nothing
  4. Be thankful for each other
  5. Grateful for the nice kid we have
  6. Spending 24-seven with each other
  7. Catching great tans
  8. Watching sunset by the beach

Perhaps Wil has more to add. But I know he agrees with me that it was had been one fantastic getaway!

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posted by Chris @ 8:31 pm   0 comments
Friday, January 19, 2007
Cool Tools
Check out Tara-Jade's first teeth : )=

This is not a flattering photo of the kid. It is up on this blog because her first teeth are showing in it. Yup! We managed to get one with them showing. All thanks to the power of digital cameras, the power of probability had worked with us. No photo is an extra photo!

I had written about her teeth here, when they first came out. She was so cranky back then, with her bouts of night crying! Sure am glad she is over that phrase.

Right now, those teeth are serving as great tools, like they should be. She uses them to scratch bits from the apples that we give her sometimes. Pretty sure she uses them to get at toys, blankets, hands and arms. They are great tools and it seems, they will be joined by others soon!

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posted by Chris @ 10:18 pm   0 comments
Sunday, January 14, 2007
A Day in the Life of a 7 months, 3 weeks and 1 day old
The kid treating our bed as her playground.

6.13AM Woke up and gave myself a nice, good stretch. Looked around for some company, but no one was within view. Was deciding whether to kick about the cot or to make an announcement?

6.14AM I could hear someone doing washing in the yard. It was probably the one who calls herself “Auntie”. The ones who called themselves “Daddy” and “Mommy” were not in view. The door that led to their big cot was closed. They could still be asleep. They were probably tired because there was some party at our place last night. I know that because someone had the TV on very loudly. I had to protest louder so that they know it woke me up. “Mommy” came to give me a cuddle and I thought she smelt like seafood pasta. Still, she smelt good. The TV was tuned down as well. I think I must have fallen asleep again because here I am now – in the cot.

6.15AM Today, I decided to give them a break today. I figured I would hang out in the cot a bit, for I rather hang outside during the day.

6.22AM Pulled myself up and walked around the cot a bit. I had to say I am definitely getting better at this going-around-on-two-legs thingy. Sure I need to hold on to something/someone, but I am undeniably going places.

6.25AM Hmmm… I needed to poo. Oh what the heck!

6.26AM See! It was not that bad. My bum feels sort of mushy but the cot was clean. I can get used to this.

6.33AM The mushy feeling around my bum did not seem to go away. Anyway, I was starting to feel bored. No one was around. I cried for one of the three to come get me. I had not figure out how to get out of the cot yet.

6.34AM “Auntie” came and smiled at me. “Good morning!” she said. I cried louder to show my displeasure - she could be quicker to pick me up. That worked.

6.35AM Maybe it was the smell because she asked “You poo?”. What was I to say? She took me to the toilet where she took away the mushy stuffs and washed my bums. I was cleaned again!

6.36AM I hated the changing station. It was the necessary evil. All three of them expected me to remain absolutely still whenever I am on it. Just so that they could slap some cream and put on a fresh bum-covering thing on me. Fine, Fine. I was good today. I remembered the “Daddy” and “Mommy” were still in bed.

6.40AM I played with some toys on the tall chair. I wondered if they were changing those toys anytime soon. I have gotten quiet used to the noises that came from them.

6.46AM “Mommy” came out from her room to look at me. I stretched my arms out and smiled. I looked so cute, so she ought to carry me. “Good morning!” she said. Yes! She walked nearer. Yes! Yes! I continued to smile and stretched my arms wider. She came over and stroked my cheeks. Good! She turned and started to walk off. What! I called as loudly as I could. If she turned now, she would be able to see the tears forming in my eyes. Hey! I called but she did not turn back.

6.47AM I was pretty sure she was not coming for me. Went back to the toys.

6.58AM Could hear the spoon again the rim of the milk tin. It better be because I should be getting my milk at 7AM.

7.01AM “Auntie” came over and stuffed this bit of cloth under my collar. That was fine because the milk came next. It was nice and warmed. I felt all fuzzy inside.

7.05AM Argh! I just did not get them. What’s with the cloth over the mouth routine? I liked having milk on my face. It smelt good. Protested without avail, as usual.

7.06AM They finally put me at the mat. I loved playing with the baby gym.

7.30AM Got a little support and practice a little moving around on those legs.

8.01AM Back to the changing station. I was striped naked. I was getting excited now. It was bath-time.

8.02AM Was carried into the room with the big cot without the bars. I saw “Daddy” with his eyes closed. Maybe he was bluffing “Mommy”, like how I would sometimes.

8.05AM Loved it… Love splashing water. Love my green tub. Love my duckie. Love my boat. Love the soap. Love the toothbrush. Especially love the banana-vanilla favoured toothpaste.

8.07AM Back to the changing station. It would be a long stay involving the big, hairy cloth, more creams, powders, brushes, pastes, gels, more clothes… I rolled around and kicked my legs. I waved my arms. They ought to be faster at that.

8.17AM I crawled around the sofa a bit. Then, “Mommy” told me the story of Thomas (the tank engine) with the nice rainbow three times. She read it so many times already, but I just can’t get enough of it. I liked Bill the yellow engine. I enjoyed touching his face.

9.26AM Time passed really fast. My eyes felt itchy and I rubbed them. That always caused one or all of them to say “She’s tired”. I did not mind that. They carried me to bed.

10.15AM I heard “Mommy” call my name. I thought she told me I have napped enough. I opened my eyes to scream at her. She was fast though, she picked me up and gave me a cuddle. She even allowed me on the big cot without the bars. Fair enough.

10.52AM “Daddy” and “Mommy” came over to say bye–bye. They were all dressed up. My hand was grabbed by “Auntie” who was trying to make me wave.

11.00AM More milk. Love my bottle. Love my milk. Love the cloth stuffed under my collar. Love my milk...

11.07AM My tummy was fuzzy again.

12.11PM I was protesting. I told “Auntie” off for trying to make me sleep when I was not ready. She gave up after awhile. I got to go onto the play mat again.

12.58PM My eyes gave me away again. They itched and I had to rub them. “Auntie” brought me to the cot. This time I was glad.

2.23PM I woke up with a hungry tummy. I had to tell them I am up. “Mommy” came over to carry me. They must have gotten home while I was asleep.

2.31PM “Auntie” scurried into the kitchen and I could hear knocking of the spoon against the bowl. Wondered what’s for lunch today.

2.33PM For lunch, they would usually put this bigger cloth with strings around my neck. I had always wonder why I needed an extra cloth for lunch.

2.34PM It was porridge with fish today. Porridge is so-so food. I preferred potatos and carrots and cereal. I did not finish foods that were so-so. I would just take half of what they served me.

2.45PM A bell went. “Daddy” went over to the brown door and opened it. There were two ladies, and one of them was holding another person just like me. She was just like me except a little bigger. “Mommy” and “Daddy” seemed to know them. They handed a bag to “Mommy” who got excited. I heard her saying “Thanks for the baby's clothes”.

3.05PM The visitors left. Just as well because I finished the half-bowl of porridge. It’s was more playtime.

4.00PM I got a small bottle of milk from “Mommy”. Fuzziness.

4.33PM Them eyes again! They quickly moved me into the cot.

5.05PM I got up and sat in the cot. The place is quiet. I had to let them know that I was no longer asleep.

5.15PM A little more porridge. “Auntie” told me my sleeping time was good but eating was not. What gave?

5.30PM On the changing station again! Oh… It was for the next bath-time.

5.33PM Hi Duckie, boat, tub, water, toothbrush, toothpaste. Splash splash!

5.41PM Not the changing station! The big hairier cloth, creams, gels, brushes. Wait! They put a dress over me. That meant that I get to go outside soon!

6.18PM We went into the small room with mirrors on three sides. It moved, but we don't see it moving. You could feel movement though. When the door opened, we walked to our moving chairs with thick strings that went across our chests. Except it was not moving then.

6.49PM “A-Gong” and “A-Mah” were at the door of this big room. There were lots of people there. I saw “Yee-Yee”, “Gor-Gor” and “Jie-Jie”.

6.51PM “Mommy” caught hold of “Gor-Gor” who was going around – he was fast on his legs, and said “Happy Birthday”.

7.00PM Everyone moved into another big room. This one has a huge structure with nets, tunnels, ropes, tubes and BALLS!!! Lots of them!!! The people who were like me, except bigger were inside the big shape. I stayed outside, “Mommy” was carrying me. Then, I got my last bottle of milk for the day. Fuzziness!

7.46PM My eyes itched. I rubbed them and longed for my cot. Warm. Soft. Kwua-Kwua. Quiet. Quiet! I protested loudly and longer. It was very noisy. “Mommy” took me to another room that was quiet. I wanted to close my eyes, but was not my cot. It was not noisy, but not my cot.

8.10PM Back into our chairs that moved, except it was still then. “Daddy” told me we were going home. I figured that was where my cot was. I was contented. They placed me in my own chair and we moved.

8.38PM The changing station. That time, I did not protest. They took off the dress and put my sleeping-in cloths on. I was in my cot soon. I sat up for awhile, to arrange the pillow and looked for Kwua-Kwua. All there… Just where I left them. Hmm… So warm. Soft. Kwua-Kwua. Quiet….

11.41PM The kid is sleeping. And I am here blogging.

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posted by Chris @ 11:50 pm   0 comments
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Branded for Life













Spoke to Mark today. We used to just have to turn around and talk to each other. Now that he works a good fifteen -minutes drive from office, we do not do that anymore. These days, we have conversations over the internet.

Mark told me that his kid Christian Ryan is ten months old today – that makes CR about a month and one half older that the kid. It delights me to have a pal’s kid who close in age to ours. Speaking to Mark about the kid’s antics has a calming effect because he has the been-there-done-that quality.

Back to our internet conversation which naturally turned into baby talk, we found out that we buy the same brand of milk formula for our kids. Mark causally told me that he got that brand because he was brought up with it. Well, my mom told me to get that because sister and I took it when we were younger. We all turned out great so why change something that ain’t broken. We exhibited a classic case of brand loyalty. We must have this "mother knows best" attitude because honestly I did not do my homework. I did not compare the nutritional values or price. My eyes just zoomed onto the brand of milk from the many other brands displayed on the shelves.

I can list a number of items that in some semi-unconscious way, my mother has influenced me and now I may have on the kid:

Baby Food – Heinz
Canned Soup – Campbell’s
Cheese – Kraft’s
Cornflakes – Kellogg’s
Diapers – Pampers
Facial Tissue – Kleenex
Fizzy Drinks – Coke
Orange – Sunkist
Peanut Butter – Skippy
Spaghetti Sauce – Prego
Tea – Lipton

I wonder if advertisers should start targeting babies next. Kind of brain-wash them into buying their products. I wonder what attracts kids.

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posted by Chris @ 10:02 pm   2 comments
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy 2007!
Modern Painting Of Sun Rays, 1967 Kunstdruck by Roy Lichtenstein

Happy New Year, All!!!

Interestingly enough. The passing of an old year and the entry of the new one was a non-event. We spent the evening before at home watching telly. Say, I was asleep before the new year arrived. I wonder if my other biological clock has started to wind down because for the life of me, I could not stay up for the count-down : (

However, I have mentioned it to lots of my close friends - why should I celebrate the fact that I am not getting younger? This new year as other years before, I did not have any resolution. I am not aware of achieving any of those targets set. Being clear about what I do not want in life has been a good motto for me. I stay away from what I don't wish for. That rule rules by me. Simple and mindless enough.

(Mental note to self - to ask Wil if he made any.)

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posted by Chris @ 8:34 pm   0 comments
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