All About Your Child

Keatkeat’s Excitement:

This was the hat we bought specially for him for today’s trip to learn more about plants and flowers. It was one of the requirements for this excursion. The others include bringing, snacks, water bottle, raincoat and a handkerchief.

Its was really easy to wake the 4-year-old this morning at 7am. All I need to say was, “I don’t think the school bus to the Mandai Orchid Garden will wait for you, if you are late.” Immediately, he sits up like a robot, went straight to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. They should have more of such trips, then I won’t need to crack my head for new ideas to get the kid out of bed every monday to friday.

Before we left the house, Keatkeat insisted on taking photos for him when he is going up the bus, so I brought the camera down. I was the only parent who did that. So you can imagine that look from the other parents.

I forgot to check the settings on the digital camera. It was on video mode. When I finally realised my mistake, it was too late. He was already on the bus. This photo was a screen capture from the video shot that lasted for 3 seconds, because I was pressing the button so many times. Its quite blur, sorry.

Here’s the tired boy after 2 hours, coming down from the bus with the help of his English Teacher Mdm Normah.

Keatkeat’s summary of the trip:

“Mommy, there were alot of mosquitoes at the Orchid Garden. See?! I got 3 bites. Chen Lao Shi (Chinese Teacher, Miss Chen) applied lotion for me…… Didn’t do anything, just walk, walk, walk and walk…….. Kayong got lost there. He cannot find us. Mdm Normah go look for him. He didn’t cry. But Mdm Normah was very angry and scolded him…… I saw bees too. Flying in the flowers…… The floor there is very dirty, look at my shoes (the sides were covered with mud)………. Then I saw 3 blue cars at the carpark too (my car-crazy boy never forgets to notice cars wherever he goes). That’s all, nothing already.”

This was the souvenir he brought back. Seeing it in another way, this tiny pot cost S$13.00 (the cost to be on this trip)

Mommy: “What’s the name of this plant?”

Keatkeat: “Don’t know.”

Mommy: “So, what do you want to call it?”

Keatkeat: “Water plant”

Mommy: “Why?”

Keatkeat: “Because I need to water the plant.” (Hmmm….sounds logical ya?)

“Oh no, Mommy, the plant shh…shh… (pass urine)”

“Ok, that’s enough water for you today, you drank too much. That’s why you shh…shh…so much. I will give you water again tomorrow.”

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My Excitement:

Finally I get to see the SUN and NO RAIN after 9 days of dark clouds. Yeah! Yipee! Those 9 days were horrible. The clothes were still wet even after hanging up for almost 24 hours.

Look at everyone, taking this opportunity to sun their clothes.

Some even gave their birds a ‘Sun-tan’. (Picture below) 2nd column from the right, 3rd unit from the bottom. See the 2 bird cages in brown?

Too many clothes to hang after so many rainy days, people tried to do stunts with their bamboo. (See photo below) Far right, 2nd unit from the bottom.

It was so sunny and windy (see photo below, you can see my boys clothes flying high), my washing machine washed 3 full loads of clothes. Yes, that many clothes were left unwashed after so many gloomy days. Hmmm….maybe that’s why my kitchen starts to smell weird. Ewww….

I am so glad that the Sun and Wind are here today, ‘cos every Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for my sister to wash her working clothes.

“sorry washing machine, you must be exhausted! I can’t imagine life without you…”

The smell of clothes that have been sun bathed……..(inhaling) its just so assuring (that you clothes are really dry and clean)…….I am in love with that smell…….Hmmmm…..

After clearing all the vomits for Keatkeat for 2 days, his stomach flu is getting better. I am so glad I no longer need to worry that however small amount of food went into his mouth will be regurgitated in less than 15 minutes.

Dealing with the smell, bathing him over and over again, washing lots of soiled clothes….and as if its not terrible enough, the weather for these few days are so cold, no sun, just chilling breezes from morning till night, the clothes are so cold even though they are hung up for more than 24 hours. I can’t even tell if the clothes are cold because of the wind or they are cold because its still not dry yet!

My super long day started when the clock strikes 12 in the morning. I didn’t type wrongly, I mean in the morning, the very moment, 2nd of March began.

12am – Lie down beside Keatkeat to pat his bottom till he sleeps. I am still trying very hard to stop this habit that was passed down by his grandma, when he was under her care while I was doing my retail business. I fell asleep. Not too sure who fell asleep first though.

12.30am – I was woken up by laughter from the bubbly little Binbin and his Papa. Binbin took a very long nap yesterday and woke up at 8pm, so even though its past midnight, that little rascal is still super active and high in spirit.

The price to pay for being a busybody is really high!

12.30am – Went to check out what was so amusing. Found the father and son playing with this. Fisher Price Baby 1st Blocks – it was Keatkeat’s present when he was 6 months old. The 2 look-a-like males were playing a different game with the blocks.

Instead of putting them in the container according to the shapes, they were stacking them up to form one tall tower. Pretending that it was dad’s birthday candle and they tried to bloooooow the tall candle down. When it does land on the ground with a big crash (its late remember?) the little one laughed his heart out. They do it over and over again!

As I approached, the dad gleefully walked back towards his PC which was updating the highlights of the many English Soccer Matches going on, sat down and said, “yeah! your favourite mommy is here.”

12.45am – I continued the blow-the-candle game with my little laughable. Suddenly, water was gushing out of the little boy’s long pants. Yes! Binbin urinated on the floor! The last time he did this was 1 year ago! Was it the extensive laughing? Was it the coldness of the floor? Was it the 3 cups of water which he drank an hour ago? I don’t know!

The only thing I know was I am back to cleaning up and washing of soil clothes! Although I am spared from the smell part, ahhhh… I told Allan, “Now I know why I am woken from my sleep, ‘cos I had to fulfill my duties as a mother – you will never get to rest till your kids are asleep!”

Binbin complained with a frown, “I can’t believe I shh…shh… on the floor.”Ya man! Indeed its unbelievable. Sigh…..

1.05am – Help the little fellow with his diapers (he’s not toilet-trained for night yet) before the next mishap occurs. Tucked him into bed and pat on his buttocks to get him to dreamland. He was really NOT TIRED. He started to chat with me. “no…no…boy, its late, sleeping time….we’ll talk again tomorrow. Now close your eyes and sleep.”

2am – FINALLY! Asleep! But now I am wide awake with a growling tummy. Went to cook my favourite Korean Instant Noodle.

Switched on the TV as I savour the delicious taste of the unhealthy food.

The more I sat in front of the square box! The more awake I became. Oh no! This is not happening!

3 am – Forced myself to switch off the addictive set powered by an invisible force known as electricity. Washed up the pots and bowls. Drank a big glass of water. “Yup! I am ready to sleep!” and so I thought! I was wrong! Dead wrong!

3.15am – Tossing and turning in bed as if I had a thousand worries. But I don’t! I only had ONE worry, that is when am I going to sleep?!

3.45am – Got out of bed again. Turn on another addictive set run by the same powerful force – the computer. Watch lots of ‘nothings’ from Youtube. Ahhh.. I have downgraded myself from the bigger screen to the smaller one, yet I am still doing the same thing – staring at the screen.

5am – My 30 year old body finally shows signs of fatigue. I was unconscious almost instantly when my head touches the pillow.

8.30am – My rooster boy, Binbin is up and about! Are all kids born in the year of the Rooster such early wakers, irregardless of what time they sleep? I already know 3 kids who have this wake-up-early-automatically blood cells in them and lo and behold, they are Rooster babies!

There goes my sleep. I am up with my heavy eye-bags and dark eye-rings, playing with the 2-year-old again.

10.30am – The elder one woke up and we got ourselves dressed up to go to my in-law’s house for the usual-Sunday-family-gathering.

That’s the place I least want to be in when I am soooooooo tired. Every Sunday is more or less the same – Play with all my nieces and nephews, be the listening ear for my mother-in-law’s never-ending lists of complaints and the updates from my sister-in-laws.

Today is extremely terrible because my mother-in-law is furious over my eldest sis-in-law’s decision about going for a holiday on her own. I promise, I will tell you the juicy story tomorrow. (My eyes lids are getting heavier)

We were lucky. In order to escape from hearing all the fury words, it was Hougang Residents Day today. They had a carnival right below her block.

We managed to get 8 free coupons. 1 used to claim a packet of popcorn. The rest were all for games. Binbin got to touch a yellow python for the very first time. He was so excited. Kept touching it but Keatkeat dare not even get close. The snake was under the care of the owner who allows people to take photograph with the snakes without any cost involved.

10pm – Back home. Got the kids ready for bed with a big help from the man of the house.

Though so tired, I can’t wait till tomorrow to get all these written down. Now at 11.37pm, my mission is done. Oh man….tomorrow is monday, school day, got to wake up at 7am! I am really exhausted. Time for bed. Good night everyone, sweet dreams! *Big Sigh*