All new – Week Two May 4, 2012

It gets tougher, but fun-er. I’m halfway in my renewal commitment, and really, it feels good.

Day 9, 28 April, Saturday:: New family photos. We won a photoshoot with Gideon Koh Photography, the very awesome, handsome guy behind my wedding photos, first family photoshoot and Missy Messy photos. The huddy and I are big fans of his work and personality, and were more than thrilled when he announced us as the winner of a little contest he held on Facebook. I wrote a comment about my special someone, and his readers have very kindly voted for me. It’s special this time, because by some twist of fate, we ended up shooting in the homeland. I’m a huge homebody, so this is just about the most comfortable shoot ever.

Day 10, 29 April, Sunday:: New recipe for Latte’s food. My little boy has been eating homecooked meals everyday since he was eight months old. On a whim, I gathered our herbs from the garden and stirred up minced pork fried rice for him, together with some local vegetables. Raeann had it for lunch too and she was more than amused how they were having the exact same thing.

Day 11, 30 April, Monday:: New shirt. It’s pale blue with puffy sleeves, and I love how the buttons allow  for transformation to a chic jacket too. It makes me feel a little preppy on a Monday morning.

Day 12, 1 May, Tuesday:: New month. May spells a busy time for me and the huddy. So on its first day, we embraced it with coffee, eggs, pancakes and a slice of lemon cake. I like the sound of ‘May’. It’s the name of my beautiful friend, the month my man was born in, and hey, the shortest word to spell in the calendar.

Day 13, 2 May, Wednesday:: New bubble tea drink. I’m skeptical about bubble tea. Most aren’t good. I randomly ordered a honey green tea from the school canteen. It wasn’t great, as expected. But at least I tried. And I like that I did.

Day 14, 3 May, Thursday:: New canteen stall. It’s my fifth year in the institution and I eat just about the same few things all the time. This endeavour brought me to a Malay stall that serves up pretty neat assam fish curry. I even tried out a new dessert – red tea jelly with longans. I know desserts to be cakes and ice cream. Local desserts aren’t quite appealing to me, but this works. Quite the perfect sweet ending to my work week.

Day 15, 4 May, Friday:: New work haunt. So I found a pretty quiet Starbucks to round up my grading for the week, and to type this blog entry. The latte’s mild, but it’ll do for a quick charge for the day.

Halfway through. Half-new-ed.

All new (week 1) April 27, 2012

So, I did commit to my ‘all new’ endeavour. Here’s week one.

Day 1, 20 April, Friday:: New ice cream parlour. It’s good old Udders at a spanking new outlet in Thomson. The missy was all too eager to pick her flavours. She tiptoed, squashed her nose against the glass display, startled the service crew behind the counter, her eyes peering from behind her bangs. We had strawberry fields and earl grey and a monster cone for supper. The best kind of supper.

Day 2, 21 April, Saturday:: Newborn. The sweetie was still in neo-natal care as she had some amniotic fluids in her lungs. But all’s good now. A new beginning, always a blessing.

Day 3, 22 April, Sunday:: New dish, old eatery. We went back to Real Food again, this time to celebrate a dear girlfriend’s birthday. I have missed her so, that girl. And this time, I ordered something I’ve never had before here at Real Food – the calzone, and a really good vegetable salad. There’s a beetroot loaf in there, and pretty radishes. I’ve always had a thing for little radishes. The deep purplish-red trimmings and cute tiny sprouts, my kind of eye candy.

Day 4, 23 April, Monday:: New class. This is one very vocal, active, happy class. They screamed ‘yay’ when I wanted to play an icebreaker. They laughed heartily at my comments (I really don’t think I’m very funny). And they called me their “coolest facilitator”. Yay.

Day 5, 24 April, Tuesday:: New dress. I’ve never liked dresses when I was younger. (My evil friends had to sneak my jeans away so I will put on the skirt they bought for me as a birthday present in college!) I own several dresses now, and while I still don’t rock them, I like to twirl them a little just to make the missy laugh. And they make great hideouts in our hide-and-seek games with the daddy.

Day 6, 25 April, Wednesday:: New haunt. We’ve just discovered the library near our workplace! It’s got fake turf grass, giant stump of a fake tree, too-cute toadstool seats, and we spent an hour reading Dr Seuss’, looking at running kids (and I heaved many many many sighs of relief I only have one child), and being grateful I am now well enough to smell the mildly sweaty scent of Raeann’s hair.

Day 7, 26 April, Thursday:: New craft. The little missy is having Dessert Day in school on Friday, so I made her a little chef’s hat. It’s got flowers, strawberries and cherries. Everything a little girl needs.

Day 8, 27 April, Friday:: New walk route. I woke up at 6 am, to work and to walk Latte. Today, we tried a new route further away from our estate. The boy was all too delighted to step on grass and sniff new scents. People scampered by us, to rush to work, to hurry to school. We strolled by the seniors taking their morning walk, their arms taking deliberately huge swings. And I think, I’m thankful for this morning.

To more new things.

September days September 16, 2011

Life has been pretty peachy these days, I would say.

First up. An old friend has just opened a coffee joint Smitten at the laid-back Robertson Quay, serving up cups of rich, smooth brew I so love. I’m no coffee connoisseur – I just know when I like that cuppa, or not. I like coffee that doesn’t leave that sour aftertaste. I like coffee that doesn’t leave me nauseous. I like coffee that is served with pretty latte art (yes very shallow of me, yes). I like coffee that perks me up just enough to smile at and forgive the person who just cut my queue, but not that much of a caffeine high that I can’t stop talking. I like coffee served by people who drink and appreciate coffee. Smitten does coffee like that. Even more awesome that everything in the cafe is so pretty – the sugar rack, the water jug, the white bricks, the wooden table, and the lovely lovely couple. Day makers, this place really is.

And there’s walks aplenty these days. The missy and I talk (mostly she) while walking across the field, the early morning sun behind me. I’m a little more tanned now, and a little lighter, both physically and figuratively. Sometimes I walk Latte boy and the missy together, and we go for breakfast picnics in the estate, stopping when we want, when we could. I pack us little blueberries, carrot sticks, croutons, frozen juices, cherry apples, muesli and yoghurt. We stop by the slide and she waves bye while I run Latte round the playground for a bit. She invites me to her ‘home’ and says she will drive us. She has even invited random strangers to her party (which we are not really having). We make up stories, we find Latte doggy friends, we get darker shade by shade every day. It’s fun, this little thing we have going.

The huddy and I had some run-ins over the week, but all’s good now. Very good actually. I like how we grow as a couple to discover more about each other, our dreams, our peeves, our differences, our connections. Not so fond of the way we got there, but we made a pact to live and let live, love and love more. So yes, life is good in the homeland. The daddy, mommy, missy and doggy.

I’m smelling the roses, one by one. Some are thorny, some are wilting, some are just bursting into blooms, but they all smell good in one way or another. I’m gonna take my time. To a beautiful weekend, my friends.

Saturday morning, you always are beautiful May 28, 2011

My weekend mornings in this semester go like this:

I set the alarm half an hour later than usual. When it rings, I snooze in a little longer. Sometimes for 9 more minutes, sometimes another luxurious half an hour. Then I crouch silently out of the room so the missy and the huddy can snooze in a little longer. Latte greets me outside. He ALWAYS knows when I’m awake and in the mood for a cuddle and a pat with him. And then I grade. I type ferociously. I love the ‘tick-tiak’ sound on my MacBook Air as I punch away. Work gets done, and the morning unfolds before me.

The missy calls for mommy. “Mommy, where are you?”

And so the day has begun – the sky is sometimes coloured pale apricot, muted by my sheer curtains. On days when she wakes up later, the morning warmth spreads. So does my hunger. I go back into the room, laugh at her tossled hair, smell her still-fresh morning breath. This is the best part of my day. The three of us tucked in under the duvet, all lazy and drunk from the morning cheer. She talks non-stop, and Daddy entertains her with made-up songs and stories. I listen in, contented to just laugh and be there.

This is my heartbeat of Saturdays, sometimes Sundays.

How are your weekend  mornings like?

Voiceless March 23, 2011

I have been managing a bad throat for a while. My voice comes and goes, the cough gets better then worse then all good then rinse repeat then I’m cursed with a croaky throaty sound from my vocal cords which I hesitate to call a voice.

So I get up every now and then in the darkness of the night for some water, for a dessert spoon of honey that glides down my throat. I  stand by the sink, blurry-eyed, into the darkness. Each time I do that, I see at least a flat opposite with a light on. I crane my neck, strain my eyes to see what’s inside, then remember I don’t have my glasses on. And I wish in my heart, that the people inside aren’t up because they are coughing like me. They should be having a nice slumber party, you know those with pillow fights and everyone dressed in jammies and cute hats?

By this time, Latte would have made himself comfortable by my feet. I would pat him, smell him, and say good night to him. I walk through the hall, and feel a warm spot where Latte must have been sleeping on earlier. For some reason, this makes me smile.

Back in the bedroom, I smile again to see the Missy in the middle of our bed, her head on anywhere except the pillow, and her legs, dangerously close to the huddy’s face. I pick up her teddy bear, smell the scent of sleep on it, then tuck it under the missy’s arm. She would stir, her legs would shift down, now resting on the huddy’s chest or tummy.

I would smile again, look at the time on my iphone, be thankful it’s still hours away from morning, cough again.

This is the diary of a coughing mommy.

Rain, rain, come again July 30, 2010

A pink bloom from the huddy

Today feels like one of those pretty December days where raindrops are fat and the world comes to a standstill. The wind is in my face, the room is dark and the songs are slow. I put on our (very) old ipod playlist and the wedding songs streamed on by. When “Orchard Boulevard” was on, my heart went soft and I badly want to hug the huddy who’s away at work. Latte seems to be feeling the lightness of the day too – he spins around in merry circles and now sits right at my feet, nudging his wet little nose at my knee. And little missy, nicely perched on her high chair, busying herself with Dr. Seuss.

To a beautiful weekend.

Hello again March 27, 2010

It’s been a while. All’s great in the homeland (thanks for asking!), and we cannot be more thankful for work pouring in during this long term break. This freelance/self-employment arrangement is working out pretty well for the two of us now, and with a new Auyongs project brewing, we are one very happy little family.

The busier days have however swirled themselves into my languid days somehow – there are too many meandering thoughts, I’m not slowing down as much as I would have liked to, and snooze time is thronged with odd random bits of memories and elusive bubbles of inspiration.

It doesn’t help that the missy is going through an untypically difficult teething phase – she’s not eating well, not sleeping well. Late at night, I listen out for her soft breathing – slow, gentle, syncopated, restful. Then, she starts to toss and whine and stick her fingers into her mouth with swollen white gums. Rounded edges, white offensive shadows of the sharp teeth hiding beneath. Evil.

Eating is now a chore for her, my poor sweetheart. So we cook and bake and innovate. Sometimes she gets a degustation of all her favourites. Sometimes meals are served in the fanciest table settings a toddler can get (she’s rather particular in this aspect, just like her mommy). Sometimes we eat together in the European way – fruits, bread, nuts and cheese. Sometimes we let her simply drink her meals. This food nazi mommy is measuring her growth (or lack of) by her belly size, which has always been the perfect cutest rounded dome. It’s deflated quite a bit already, to my heartache.

All will be good, I trust. Latte and her are getting along so well I’m convinced she does not need another sibling. In her long babbles and appropriate pauses and laughter, she seems convinced she’s speaking our language. The huddy is also happily busying around some new assignments, so really, I’m thankful.

Looking at these pictures, I’m convinced too, that we are on the same page, speaking the same language, loving the same memories we created together.

Warming up for her swim

A scrunged-up smile for the camera

Brekkie by the huddy, who took over the morning care of Missy and ate yucky breakfast himself just so I can have everything yummy.

Strawberry yogurt muffins I baked for the missy (and Latte had three!).

A surprise find that made my day - a red jambu tree!

Fun at The Little Gym

Yogurt, yogurt and more yogurt

I’m sitting here on a wooden Ikea chair with legs chipped by Latte’s puppy bites, wearing an old pair of dowdy glasses, smelling of cranberry shower, and bathing in a kind of wonderment. There’s really no other place I would rather be right now.

Serendipity January 21, 2010

The sky was endlessly blue this morning, with a benign breeze beckoning. So I dressed the missy in a chirpy blue, put on her new blue maryjanes, and off we went on a morning stroll round our lovely neighbourhood. Four of us, hand in hand, small and complete. I even took a serendipitous shot on my iphone of the charming Community Centre while trying to keep the phone out of reach of the missy. Such a happy happy morning.

All in one January 6, 2010

The days have disappeared into the nights in an orangey haze. We’ve been out and about, dancing around. There were many awesome playdates, glorious catchups with friends old and new, and treasured quiet moments with my loved ones. We’ve even said hi to the animals at the zoo.

She’s such a big girl now, isn’t she?

She’s grown so, my baby. The missy is now on almost full self-feeding – I only have to sit next to her to clean up the morsels before she picks them up deftly with her fat little fingers. Oats, mash, rice, pasta, yogurt – she clears them all with her little spoon, sometimes with the big ones that we use. She keeps her toys after play. She pulls my hand to hold on to the pole when I’m in the train. She insists that I use the handrail when on the escalator. She shows me where to keep her changing mat and diapers. She sweeps my fringe to the side of my face if any strands are not in place. She knows that the sleek white iphone is mommy’s, and the glossy black is daddy’s, and she makes sure it stays this way. (Do I have an obsessive child in the making?) And oh, she calls me with high urgency (never the sweet ‘mama’, always ‘maaaaa-maaaaaaa’).

She fuels me, this little lady.

So here I sit in the coolness of the night, cradling my cup of hot chocolate, and giving thanks. To a great year gone by. To a blessed one in twenty-ten. To my baby with a perfect smile. To my husband with the biggest heart. To my Latte with the sweetest charm.

Blissed-out.

My boy turns three! December 18, 2009

Dear Latte,

My boy, it’s your big three today. Mommy baked you some banana pupcakes, and I saved you some for tomorrow’s dessert as well. I’ll top it with yogurt frosting again for you, since you love it so. I still owe you a birthday gift. A chew toy, or a soft one?

It must have been tough for you this year, with Missy Raeann reigning the homeland so. I know you miss our long long walks and runs together. I know you miss being the first one Mommy hugs when I get home. I know you can’t quite understand why the humans always stay in the nursery and you can’t get a paw in. I also know you are clueless why you can’t sniff Missy’s face even though it’s right in your face.

You’ll understand someday, you will. You will know how much we still love you. Remember that morning when Missy Raeann kept beckoning you to the kitchen? She saw Mommy put your food in your bowl and wanted you to have your breakfast pronto. See how much she loves you too?

You are not forgotten, Latte boy. You’re still my fuzzy, furry, funny little darling, and Missy’s best Gor Gor she can ever have.

Happy birthday, my boy!

Love,

Mommy

The green green grass of home November 7, 2009

Every Sunday before Raeann came along, we used to get our hands chocolatey-brown with earth, pruning and primping away on our greens. It was our weekly routine, this gardening. I liked to pretend we are farmers on the meadows, waiting for a new leaf to unfurl, a new bud to un-tighten, a new bloom to love. Latte would watch us from the inside, patiently waiting, occasionally squeezing his long snout and velvety nose between the gate grilles.

So now our baby’s here. We still garden, but never quite together. I would water, and he would carry the girl and go, “Baby, this is mint”. Or he would water, and I would carry the girl and go, “Baby, this colour is green.”

I guess, in more ways than one, we still garden together.

Can you imagine Missy Raeann carrying a little watering pot with a cute little spout, watering the greens? It’ll be one that she picks, and I’ll paint little flowers and her name on it.

One day, very soon, we’ll all garden together. Missy, huddy and me. And Latte still patiently watching.

Staying home June 13, 2009

It was supposed to be a swim date with the Kohs today. As luck would have it, the huddy got a recall back to the army, just as we were able to step out of the house. So there goes a beautiful day out.

I haven’t felt this disappointed in a while. This flip-flop in my heart. And so I look for cheer-uppers, and found these.

Snapshots of Latte boy and Missy Raeann. Missy settled on a nice neat routine (two naps a day, one-half hours each, bedtime at 8-8.30pm, three meals of solids, four milk feeds). A dear dear dear friend homeward-bound in four days. Chocolate swirl pound cake with lemonade. New onesies for the Missy on the way to the mailbox. A vintagey ring from the huddy. Drippy, cooler day. A long warm bath with the Missy.

No pool, we’ll make do.

Just another day June 4, 2009

I opened the door this morning to a surprisingly balmy weather. Hello June.

So today we decided to stay home. I couldn’t take anymore of Missy Raeann in my pouch. She has taken such a strong liking to it, she wouldn’t sit in her stroller. My back, my back.

I let myself ooze into the couch while the huddy and the baby take an afternoon siesta. Outside, the children in the playschool are singing. Our cream sheer curtains move like gentle waves in the light June breeze. Latte watches me, then nods off to sleep under the white wicker bench.  With a mug of icy cold lemonade (with grapefruit pulp!), a cranberry cream cheese bun and a thick novel, I’m having just about the perfect home-day.

Tell me, what makes your day at home?

It’s in the little things June 3, 2009

Tonight::

Missy Raeann’s sleeping sweetly with Buddy, her new Goldie stuffie from Ikea that she picked out herself. I watch Marley and Me, with Latte at my feet. He presses his nose to mine as I sob streams of hot tears with twisted knots in my tummy. What a tremendous relief that I’m watching this at home and not at the theatre. Then the huddy returns with a warm lava chocolate cake and a punnet of vanilla ice cream. And a most touching text message that made me tear.

Nights like this heal even the most battered of souls.

Good night.

The warmth in the hot day April 19, 2009

These made me melt, in a good way this hot Sunday.

I’ve been waiting so long for my two babies to get together. As expected, there was a frisson of panic in the folks, but as usual, I’m one stubborn mommy who chooses to ignore lectures of bacteria/dirty/unhygienic and the like. It’s all hogwash if there isn’t evidence to back up what one is saying. I have the research results, the credible articles. I know what I’m doing, and I’ll continue to do it. My babies deserve each other. Six months has been too long a wait.

And there was freshly squeezed juice from the huddy, with thick pulp and countless ice cubes in the cup, just the way I like it. The orangey scent lingers around the sink late into the evening. I think about how lovely it would be to dig my fingers into a cold orange and feel that cool first spray on my skin. I mustn’t let the heat get to me.

It’s probably a good day to start singing “Here comes the sun” to the little missy.

There’s more I can do April 7, 2009

For some reason, the huddy’s most recent post set off a tiny ripple of thoughts in me.

We had grand plans to write the little missy a storybook, complete with whimsical illustrations and poetic testimonies to her cute antics. We never got down to doing it. To my credit, I have sporadic drafts – potential titles, two-liners for three chapters, and maybe five verses. But nowhere near a complete book. I now stew in my own guilt.

The huddy got more going on. He whisked off to the bookstore one day, got his drawing supplies, and sat quietly at the coffee table to draw. I know I’m biased, but I’ve never seen anything sweeter.

That’s how he is. He sings into the iPhone to record songs for our babe – “So she won’t be bored in the train,” he says. He dreams of opening an ice cream parlour – “So little missy will be the most popular girl in school.” He cleans up Latte’s pee tray every morning, just so I don’t need to get dirty. And he stocks the fridge with cakes, ice cream and cookies, because his wifey has a tooth sweeter than sweet.

Mommyhood has been merry, but I know it wouldn’t have been so easy if not for him.

This ethereal life is mine to keep, but I want to do more. To be a better wife, a better mommy, a better daughter, a better sister, a better friend.

Can I?

I must. And I will.

Pink and brown and white March 21, 2009

What a wet month. Gone are the long, warm, golden days. The hallmark of March this year is torrential rain that strikes in the most unpredictable of hours. The maddening idiosyncracies of the local weather.

So we spend the grey-hued Saturday afternoon in the nursery listening to the rain outside, the homeland smelling of mango and camomile – Latte’s bodywash. The boy’s getting some soft stools, and the huddy is one tired man cleaning up after him.

I settle down with a book on the bed beside Raeann’s bouncer. The nursery is pretty – stripes on the curtains, flowers on the cushions. There are lovely shades of pink, brown and white, some of the yummiest colours ever. And best of all, it’s filled with handwritten cards, toys and gifts with love from all around. And Raeann’s playtime squeals.

I can’t believe that it won’t be long before she wakes up in this very room, to morning light sliced in from underneath the drawn curtains, to Latte scratching at her door. And she will soon learn to embellish her room with our country finds, and be enamoured of all things country and pretty.

It’s a nice thought for a quiet Saturday afternoon at the homeland.

What did you think about this Saturday?

My boy March 16, 2009

This was Latte in 2006, when he was four to five months old.

He’s grown so much, my boy. Now, he’s Gor Gor Latte to Missy Raeann.

When I first found out I was pregnant, one of the consolations for the unplanned pregnancy was knowing that my little bub gets to be the happiest baby because she would have the loveliest doggy. I know this for sure – Latte’s going to give Raeann some pawsome love-filled years that every child deserves.

Latte boy, Mommy loves you so, still. I can’t cuddle you as much. I can’t bring you out on walks. I can’t clear your pee tray. But when Raeann’s older, Mommy can do all that, and more. I’m all achy-breaky when you whine because I can’t play. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.

I need another me December 21, 2008

It had been a long, long week. Cyn left, Trina’s back, Shane’s here, Superstar visited. Amidst the get-togethers and pretty pressies, the little missy is turning fussy. Just yesterday, I nursed her from 2.35pm to 8pm, with breaks of only 15 to 30 minutes in between each feed. Another growth spurt. I needed afternoon tea to clear my fuzzy mind. The huddy busied himself baking fresh bread in the kitchen, and I can’t even begin to describe how much the heavenly scent of bread and ice cold peppermint tea in a pot have helped. I took in a deep whiff, and I’m ready to be moo moo mom again.

Latte has been howling everytime I head out with Raeann. Prior to Raeann’s arrival, we have only heard him howl once for Armani. Now, it’s a regular affair. Treats and toys have lost their charm on my boy. Today, his long, saddening howls sank my heart. I teared.

What a week.

Latte boy, happy barkday December 18, 2008

Chicken and oatmeal cake with yogurt frosting. Dog treats (from his dog pal Scottie in Malaysia!) as candles.

Can’t wait!

Just for you, Mommy

In a glorious swirl of time, Latte boy turns two today. Truth be told, I would rather he remain one every year. He has been the most pawsome dog one can ever ask for. I have been charged with guilt ever since Raeann came along – he has been getting less of me, and howls whenever I go out with Raeann. It breaks my heart so.

Latte, hope you like the cake Mommy baked for you. I wish I could do so much more. Happy barkday, my precious boy.