A Home

I think I've not posted about this before.

David and I bought our own place nearly a year after we got married in 2011. It's a double-storey link house. And it's 22 years old =.=!

Both of us took some time to search for a house that we can build a home. A place with enough rooms to accommodate our guests and children. Somewhere near my parents' and most importantly my in-law's place because we foresee my mom-in-law taking care of our children.

It took us about a few months viewing houses, bargaining prices with house owners and finally I made a call to a housing agent and viewed this current house that we finally bought. We had to fight for it against another couple who was viewing the place on the same day as well! But yah, it was so competitive that we had no choice but to pay the down payment there and then. What a business.

We were lucky to have my ex-tuition student's father, who is a property lawyer, helping us with all the paperwork. He gave us a special discount just because I taught his son :) So nice of him. We got everything settled in a swift with Mr Liu's lawyer firm. Thank God. I know nuts about all these papers. Only knew I had to sign about 30 pages worth of document that day.

After a few months, I got pregnant (heh!) so by Chinese tradition, no knocking and nailing and pregnant woman not allowed at construction site! So, we postponed renovation works. But as the days go by, we were determined to have our own place for our son as we do not have a room for him to sleep in if we were to still stay at my in-law's place. David contacted and dealt with the contractors everything on his own without my knowledge towards the third trimester of my pregnancy. Poor him ...

After months and many more months of wet work, design, furniture sourcing and some other stuff that I have no idea with (like wires and cables and stuff?), our house is finally in its final touches!

I'm meeting the painter to ask him to do some final touch here and there this weekend and then call the shops to get our furnitures in by our move-in date! Hope all is well and I'll be posting up pictures here soon! :)


XOXO,
theRascal

A Quiet BIrthday

Ethan is a very happy baby. He has brought a lot of laughter and joy into our lives. I just can't get enough of him!

We brought Ethan to Bali in April when he was about to turn 5 months. Celebrated my 29th birthday there :)

Like this new Burberry that I got for myself from Japan for my 29th birthday? :)

He's such a lucky baby. First international flight and already taking Business Class. The air-stewardess gave him so much attention.

Our first proper family photo <3 td="">

My favourite picture of us

The first night we were there, he slept throughout. It was bliss.

Look how he has grown at 4 months old!

But on the second and third day, we find that he would not want to latch on and breastfeed as always. I tried so hard to feed him but he would refuse. I was a little worried because I only brought 3 feeds of milk powder as back up! I figured it must be the bottle feed that we gave him when we were away in Japan for 1 whole week.

Ethan woke up and cried a few times a night. I didn't know what to do except trying to let him latch on, which he continuously refuse. We were so worried. I decided to just give him the bottle as he must be hungry to keep waking up and cry.

So I pump and feed him through bottle for the rest of the trip. It was quite troublesome because I didn't bring the warmer. Plus, had to be very careful of sterelising the bottles properly.

The following night, on my birthday, we decided to order room service just in case Ethan is cranky. My husband ordered fresh barbeque lobster from a nearby famous restaurant called The Mead. Food was so delicious! Novotel gave me a little cake too.

Ignore the decorations. The cake tasted so good!

To our surprise, Ethan slept throughout and only woke up at 10pm for milk. I guess, he knows we needed quiet time :)

I thought we both look really lovely here

And so it was a really sweet birthday celebration. Just the 3 of us.
I love it.



XOXO
theRascal

6 Month Old

I can't imagine having more than 1 child right now. I salute mothers who have twins/multiple births and also all mothers who have many children and have no help!

I wonder how do they cope?

Yes, we can all say that things were much simpler - not much kidnap cases, living expenses is cheaper, etc.

I still think it is not an easy feat.

We've started him on puree at 5 months. At first, he hated it! I made sweet potato puree and he shouted, not wanting to close his mouth at all. He is very stubborn and a fighter. But we tried a few more times and he slowly learns how to eat from a spoon and with different textures.

We started with just 1 meal of puree, then increase to 2 meals a day. Now, we're giving him 3 meals including breakfast!

I blend all sorts of puree for him.

1. Pumpkin
2. Avocado
3. Red apple
4. Sweet potato
5. Carrot

Then, I added in baby porridge and fruit yoggurt by Heinz.

I thought since Ethan is quite picky with exploring new taste/textures, I better explore him to as many as possible. I'm allergic to kids picking their food, so I hope this would not happen to me.

Ethan only turns his body from the chest to the back and refuse to learn how to do it the other way round. Doctor Anna said that he would most likely skip that because he loves to sit and stand. Oh well.

Ethan was down with fever for 2 days when he was about 4 months and 2 weeks old. I didn't sleep the whole night. Not a single wink. Because he's so clingy and refuse to let me put him down. We brought him to the doctor and he was OK right after taking his 1st dose of anti-biotics and paracetamol. I felt so bad for having him take meds at such a young age. But that's the only way to make him feel better.

Ethan is now 6 months old. He'll be turning 7 months in 2 weeks time. Oh my!
Here are some pictures of him:

XOXO,
theRascal

Four Months Old

Ethan is four months today!

My mom-in-law said that it is time to put on his bib, dry his saliva with it and then hang it up high. It's an old wives tale that the baby will stop salivating after doing this. We'll see!

I'm leaving for Japan with the husband but without my baby on Thursday :(
Half excited half not. Mainly because we know we will be missing him a lot.

BUT, once back from Japan, we've booked ourselves tickets to Bali with Ethan along.
So looking forward to the trip. Lets hope for the best :)

Teething

Ethan is turning 4 months old in 5 days time. How time flies!

He is teething already. I could feel the 2 bottom teeth :) we bought the tether for him but he has yet to figure out how to grib. 

 Baby is also lifting his head much stronger and higher! So proud of him. But his feeding pattern is a little messed up. He no longer wants to direct feed from my boobs that much anymore. Not much appetite due to teething as well.

Mommy loves you :)

Xoxo,

TheRascal 

My Best Friend

Have not been spending a lot of time with my one and only best friend in the world since I gave birth.

Here is one poet to appreciate your love and care.

Here is to our friendship

Here is one special moment to remember you by!

To us! And many more years to come :)

Xoxo
theRascal

Pictorial Updates

Here are some pictorial updates for the moment. It'd been a long time since I upload pictures.

For Valentine's Day, I bought Darling something he has been longing for. :)

My Valentine bought me an iPad mini, which is so useful!
Fits right in my handbag!

Ethan and Daddy in Genting Highlands during CNY 2013

Ethan at First World, Genting Highlands during CNY 2013

We brought Ethan out for house visiting during CNY.
He loves to be out and about :)

Ethan in great-grandma's arms during CNY 2013
Grandma is 80 years old this year.

Mommy and Ethan
I love this pic a lot.
Aww :)

XOXO,
theRascal