Chester Zoo

This is your second visit to a zoo (but the first UK zoo visit for ric and I). You had a whale of a time with your friend 'D' whose mom I met from the post-natal parent-baby group and have kept in touch with. It was really funny and amusing watching the both of you imitate each other's actions and words. You both enjoyed the free space, chasing each other around, and I think altogether ran the distance of a marathon :) We were certainly VERY tired as our thighs ached the next day. It's always worth it seeing you so happy, but we were educated as well, seeing animals that I never knew existed like bongos, lechwes and sitatungas. Amazingly, you were not afraid of any of the animals.

zookeeper's jeep

this is not just any monkey (but I can't remember the name now ;))

You really enjoyed watching the monkeys (there were so many species), but the spider monkeys were the best. One conversation went:
Me: Isaac, you like the monkeys?
Isaac: Yup (and starts jumping around)
Me: You want to bring them home to sleep with you?
Isaac: NNNNooooooooooo

life-size moving dinosaurs exhibiton too

'Deer, can you hear me?????!!!!'

Hello 'cousin'

this was what you both did most of the time

Interview with Isaac

Father and son time while I was working the weekend

Little frog

Always full of energy

Jigsaw

I know it's too early for you to do jigsaws but as you now love trains too and this was a bargain, there's no harm in letting you 'play' with it. Surprisingly, you're very patient in learning to piece it together.

Badminton at home

'Sam yi' bought a set of toy racquets and it may be sooner than we think that we can start playing badminton again

First Home BBQ

It was the weekend that we were supposed to have gone camping but had to cancel as a friend broke his ankle. So, the alternative was a BBQ in our 'private garden'. It was also the first time we hosted a BBQ, something that I've wanted to do since coming to UK, but didn't have a chance to. It was great!! Superb weather, good fellowship and as usual, lots of yummy food :)

Chefs in action

Trying to 'kow lui'?

2 men vs 2 boys

Chilling under an apple tree is NOT a good idea when football is played nearby. I suppose apples are smaller, and not thorny, compared with durians :)

Crying 'wolf'

I've not formally or whole-heartedly tried to potty train you yet, but have been telling you what 'poo-poo' and 'wee-wee' are, which you understand. We have actually been quite successful with 'poo-poo', as we have not needed to clean dirty nappies much anymore, but is nowhere near the 'wee-wee' yet.

Unfortunately, you have also learnt that when you say 'poo-poo', you get my immediate attention, which you take advantage of. For example, one morning, I tried to get a few more minutes of sleep and asked you to play with your cars. After a while, you said 'mummy, poo-poo', and of course I got up to get you on the 'throne'. But, after a short while (and no poo), you cheekily said 'no more poo-poo, finished' and then wanted to get off.

However, you took it to another level over the weekend by saying 'mummy, poo-poo' 3 times while eating in a restaurant. After being 'cheated' twice (to toilet, undressed, sat a while, then wanting to get off), I was quite irritated, as knew you 'abused' this command to wander around. So, with the 3rd 'mummy, poo-poo', we ignored and distracted you. Then when home and during your bath, this happened:

You: Mummy, poo-poo
Me: Again? Isaac, don't bluff, finish bathing first..
Sam-yi: NNNOOOOOOooooo!!! (within seconds)

Yes, you 'pooed' into your bath water!!! A lot of it in seconds.. Ming and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was hilarious. How in the world am I to toilet train you? How do I know when it is real, and when it is an excuse to get attention? Thankfully you don't 'abuse' it very often.