Adjusting to Liverpool

We were all sad when the holiday came to an end and had to fly back to UK, back to routine and reality. However, you gave the most dramatic goodbye and made all our hearts 'crack'. You cried when I took you from Gong-gong's arms at the airport, and continued crying/screaming all the way past passport control and security checks until we managed to distract you on the skytrain to the departure gate. We had so many stares and am sure people thought we kidnapped you, from the way u were kicking and screaming. It also did not help that you were not very well and had fever and diarrhoea throughout our journey back to Liverpool. It was not pleasant.

Unfortunately, your 'depression' continued for a few days as you threw tantrums and wasn't sleeping well (am sure there was also the element of jetlag). I also decided to start you on your first course of antibiotics as your fever was ongoing for a few days, which was unusual for you. The poor you had also got to adjust to a new nursery, on top of all the changes. Thankfully 'sam-yi' and 'sai-yi' came for the long weekend. It allowed us to get new furniture, unpack out of boxes, settle into the new home, and played with you. Your mood was totally different and was obvious that you terribly missed your grandparents and time back in Malaysia.

Well, lets hope all these made you stronger, as you seem to have adjusted to life back in Liverpool, with just Richard and I. You probably also love your new nursery. Your answer is always 'yes' when asked whether you want to go to nursery and look very happy on arrival there and when we come to collect you. What a relief!!

I probably underestimated the impact of all the changes on you (physically and emotionally) at once and maybe should have allowed for a few more days of adjustments. Oh well, parenthood is about learning after all.

Singapore-Malaysia Holiday

This was the long awaited 3 week holiday, and we obviously enjoyed a good break and eating :)

Loving the TV sets and control on the plane

It started well as we were on a night flight and you slept most of the journey (thankfully). You had the time of your life with attention from lots and lots of relatives and friends. Singapore was good as you were pampered by both sets of grandparents at once!! In these weeks, you also showed your character of determination and wanting to be independent, and was super cheeky and more difficult to care for. Was it because of all the attention and you thought you were invincible? You tried lots of new food (but refused to taste durian) and had new experiences (went from not wanting to step on the sand to running around on the seashore, chasing waves, not wanting to hold on to anybody). You also spoke a few more words ('ello', bye-bye, tiger, bubble, more, ng-moi (no in cantonese), pao-pao (carry), pls (please) and lots of yes) and met many new friends (was so fun to see you playing with cousins and friends' kids).

There are so many photos and videos but so little time to go through them to select the best to publish. They will be uploaded in time to come. But, I had the greatest horror when I found out that the SD card of all the Singapore photos got corrupted (still trying to get it fixed).


Some photos of Singapore:

Enjoying your first proper bath in Singapore

Loving the water fountains in Sentosa Island

Your best friends? Mah-mah bought you a bodysuit for remembrance

Feeling on top of the world at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark - you ran wild

Not too impressed by the infinity pool though

You left your mark outside the hotel room after swimming :)

Some of the photos in KK:

Enjoying the Tanjung Aru sunset - unfortunately it rained nearly everyday and we couldn't go to the beach as often as we had wanted to

'Masak masak' with sand - after lots of hard work from ye-ye, who played a major role into getting you playing in sand and sea

You went from 'seaphobia' to running around chasing waves, not wanting to hold onto us, getting totally wet, and not wanting to leave the sea

Banana competition with your cousin

With your favourite toy fan, which keeps you entertained until now (we still do not know what your fascination with fans are but that was certainly your favourite 'product' in Asia)

Some photos in KL:

With your cousins

Playing with your friends in a tent -try taking a photo of 3 constantly moving objects

Your airport 'pram'

Thinking of getting one of these for the house in UK - U absolutely LOVE slides

A New Home

Our first home - Flat 3, 8 Livingston Avenue, now belongs to someone else. We said goodbye officially on 31st March 2011. It was where we began as a family, with tons of memories. But, moving on was what we had to do. We needed more space, and there will be better schools for you.
We are so grateful to Yeye and Mah-mah who did most of the packing for us, and to 'sam-yi' for taking care of you during the whole 'moving' process. There is still much unpacking to do, and exciting times of buying new furniture (yes, we need more despite moving everything from the old place) and redocorating, one of my favourite hobbies (maybe I should have been an interior designer?)

The day when we handed the keys over was sad, but am sure we will be creating new memories in our new home.

A glimpse of the living room

Miami - SGI

Fontainebleau Resort

3 weeks ago was the first time I left you in the care of DaDa, YeYe and Mah-Mah for a week long. Although I had the luxury of staying in the junior suite of Fontainebleau Hotel, with a view to die for, all I could think about was you!! To make matters worse, I could not even skype with you as you cried badly after our first 'Skype session'. Thankfully you became much closer to DaDa during that time, and he learnt to care for you at night.

View from the room

Then, on the last day, when I was so looking forward to having dinner with you, my flight got delayed in France and I was stuck in Europe for 12 hours!! So near yet so far... But, you stayed up to welcome me home :)

New words

'Yeye' and 'Mahmah' arrived on Monday and you are totally enjoying the attention again. It is such a joy to see you so, so, so happy!!

It even sparked a few new words from you :) Over the weekend, you said 'Yes', 'Egg', 'Apple', 'Ba-ba' (maybe bye-bye?). Amazing that you learnt to say 'Yes' first before 'No'. We have also got to watch what we say and do as you're learning to copy everything that is going on.

I am soooooo going to miss you next week when I am in the USA. Please don't let me miss too much of your development. It is the first time we'll be away from each other for a week.

New friends

While on maternity leave, I made a few friends while joining the activities of the children centres. It would have been nice to meet up regularly, but everbody sort of lost touch after returning to work. A few weeks ago, one of them made an effort to arrange a get-together and we all had lots of fun. Although the 2 boys were about 4-5 months older, you all had a great time.

A mini orchestra and you loved the drums the most

Trademark of?

Hmmm.. I wonder whom you got this 'pose' from? Lots of things could have gone into your mouth.