Some lovely lovely things for this idyllic Saturday:
Missy Raeann with a flower tucked behind her ear.
Glorious warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and pretty trickles of chocolate sauce.
Mango udon wrap with sweet chilli.
Cucumber sticks in wasabi mayo.
Afternoon siesta with the little missy.
A book, a dvd, a hug.
And a diet of chuckles and giggles and tickles.
Because of Missy Raeann’s early bedtime, this mommy hasn’t been out in the evenings for more than half a year. I haven’t been moping about the loss of spontaneity in the nights, but there are times I so wish I could be out there, watching the streetlights cast a fuzzy glow on the sidewalks.
Last night, the huddy joined the Kohs for a late night tea at The Cookie Museum. The sweet couple very thoughtfully bought me a lemon steamed cake with lavender flowers. I love lemon, I love lavender, I love cakes! Of heady lemony scent, this cake was glorious (albeit a little dry because I left it in the fridge to eat for breakfast this morning), and just perfect for a Sunday morning breakfast with lemonade sloshing up and down the side of my glass.
Thank you guys, for thinking of me.
The huddy tried to recreate the Penang laksa we were so in love with (from the lovely Hos two doors down!). It wasn’t quite the same, but it was still yummy. We’re so going to try it again, time-consuming as it may be. I was eager to do up the blend for the paste, but Missy Raeann chose to go on a nap-strike that day. She was kind enough, though, to play with her toes long enough for me to bake Superstar some really soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies that I am rather proud of. It was a cosy evening with one of my besties, someone who played such an integral role in my getting together with the huddy. Happy birthday, Superstar dear.
From the Superstar. Pretty in pink! Worn today to the third of many weddings.
Hey you! Yes, you, mommy. Better take a pretty pic of me!
The huddy brought me back to Buko Nero. It always has a special place in my heart. Lovely Tracy remembered us as the couple who took our wedding pictures there some three years back. I couldn’t stop smiling – this place holds too many precious memories. Lunch was as usual, a sweet delight under the tangerine light. I fell in love with the fresh strawberry salad with yogurt and lime foam, peppered with crushed mint. So wonderfully light and refreshing it’s about the best (healthy) dessert I had in years. Equally amazing was their milk chocolate and coconut cake with gula melaka coulis. Crusty at the side, chewy on the inside. And made especially sweeter because the huddy gave up his dessert for me. Not because he wouldn’t like one, but because I would love one more.
On the way to the wedding, I looped my arm through his, with Raeann snug in my sling. This is – my beautiful family.
Today, I had fun. Like getting candy-cane on a non-Christmas Day.
Lunch Unlimited at 7atenine was an eye-opener. A degustation of sorts, we were served around 15 items from a surprise menu, each so exquisite and pretty we had to take pictures of them all. Each nibble was heavenly. Service was impeccable. I ate like a queen. Only better.
Photos and montage courtesy of the girlfriend
And there was shopping for the little missy, who slept snug and sound in the pouch, waking up only for quick big chomps on our hands. She’s getting more bubblegummy – sweeter, stickier. And as always, endearing as can be.
Mommy and Aunty, can't you see I'm sleeping? No pictures, please!
So this is today. Today, unlimited. Today, spring. Today, perfect.
I’ve had the most marvellous of time romping about the island with the little missy. Crabs and Thai food and birthday celebrations with the good goblins. A most beautiful afternoon tea with Gen and Jon at Tea Cosy, with the prettiness of everything so exciting I’m feeling inspired to do some tea parties again. I’m so glad for this blossoming friendship, for someone who knows exactly how much it means to savour tea with a pretty name from a pretty teacup. Enid Blyton, country florals, minutae writing – we can’t get more similar. Thank you, dear, for everything.
And then there was ice cream with Beanbean and little Noah! The babies’ second meeting, and this time, they sure seem to hit it off. To more playdates.
He’s not looking at ice cream.
He’s looking at my babe!
Raeann couldn’t stop smiling at Noah. She knows a handsome boy when she sees one.
Life’s picking up tempo for the next three weeks when I go back to cover some lessons. I can’t bear to leave Raeann, I can’t.
As the little one wondered how best to say goodbye to 2008, we whisked her away on a dim sum date at Victor’s Kitchen with the Kohs! I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend the eve – exquisite simple dim sum, minty lychee, fabulous company, away from the hustle bustle of the city.
Looking at this picture, I can only say – Raeann, hooray to eyes bigger than Mommy’s! And yes, we shall work hard together on the triceps.
There is no place I would rather be, than with my little family.
Blessed 2009, everyone. To love, peace and all things lovely.
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.
The mommy is proud to announce her weight loss of 8 kg within two weeks. Sure, it includes the 3.18 kg Raeann now outside of me, but weight loss of any amount has got to be great news.
I looked back on my diet the past two weeks, and I really should be thankful the scales are in my favour. In one hour after lunch (for the record, two pieces of rump steak, pasta shell salad, steamed kai lan), I had a chicken pie, a slice of banana cake, an apple, one litre of plain water and a bowl of fish soup. And I still felt peckish.
Has breastfeeding made me perpetually, ravenously hungry, like when I was in the first trimester? Or am I alone in this?
Besides the usual fare of red dates tea, fish soup and chicken soup to keep the milk supply and mommy healthy, here’s what’s keeping the tummies of mommy and baby VERY happy::
Salmon and cheese on pita. Potato and egg salad with djion mustard mayo dressing. Teriyaki beef steak. Strawberry smoothies. Orange and cranberry muffins. Lemon cream cheese tarts. Durian puffs. Oreo cream cheese cake. Mango mousse cake. Homemade pumpkin cake with bacon.
Pure delight.
The folks are wonderfully open-minded, considering how adamant I am on not eating the traditional Chinese confinement food which will make me a grouchy mommy (I asked for Western even in the hospital since the confinement food really made me feel sick). The confinement purists (all the aunts I’ll meet in the next couple of weeks!) will so tick me off when they know I’ve been out on walks round the neighbourhood, brief baby shopping trips at Junction 8, solitary trips to the hospital when Raeann was admitted for jaundice.
The huddy is like a superhero. He cooks almost all my meals, spoils me with desserts, embarks on whirlwind home improvement projects, walks Latte, and even has the time and mood to steam pumpkin cake for the fun of it. He’s on a high.
In the darkness of the night, we sing a made-up lullaby to the little cherub in the cot, share a kiss and a cuddle, and I tell him, oh my, I’m so in love with you.
Dinner was smoked salmon pizza, two Beigian waffles with a big dollop of chocolate ice cream, and a glass of lemonade jingling with ice. Then a slow leisurely walk home with the huddy holding my hand tight.
I tell myself – I’m just a little more cushion-y. Not fat.
My very handsome boy
Pollination in progress. Do not disturb.
Gotta love this month. Good week, all.
We spent a most delightful Saturday afternoon with Adrian and Xinyun, parents-to-be in less than two weeks’ time (gosh, the excitement!). There is something quite magical in good friends going through parenthood together – pigeon is more than a bird, beef stew is about the iron, the mummies’ tummies are hard as candy, and the daddies are always amused by the random kicking.
Dinner was at the most awesome Stewhaus at Cactus Road (how I wish the website could be better). We had lamb stew with a shot of Guinness Stout, beef goulash, oxtail stew and pork knuckle, with the lots of carbohydrates like mash, garlic bread, fresh-baked bread, and pasta with white wine sauce. I haven’t eaten so much, so well in a while. Very much worth the traipse there, I must say.
Thick stews with bread and mash and big whoops of laughter and chummy company – more pre-pop parties please.
I love how homemade bread looks - with an ugly break in the centre!
I’ve been missing my weekly bakes because of this wretch of a cough. Today, I could finally taste my food, and I very happily set about to do something for tea. There was cream cheese in the fridge, so I baked a cream cheese banana bread, without the pecans since I didn’t have any (Tastes more like cake really. If you’re using salted butter like me, omit the salt. And go easy on the sugar – I added half a cup less). The baking took longer than expected, but it’s so worth the wait. Tea was just lovely, and tomorrow’s breakfast will be another slice of the yummy bread with a hot cup of English Breakfast. This should make waking up a lot easier.
July’s almost over, can you believe it? The way time flies makes me feel inadequate sometimes. I need homemade anything and fresh blossoms from the garden to remind me that it’s alright to be where I am now.
This week’s big big breakfast, not unlike the previous one, has the usual staple of scrambled eggs (I did them more runny, with more milk this time), bacon (all for the huddy) and tomatoes (with loads of paprika because I love it). And we had English muffins with mild cheese from the Ikea swedish food marketplace that was just simply heavenly without the dairy aftertaste that I loathe. We tuned in low to Astrud Gilberto in the background, breathing in the Sunday morning air that comes tinted with scents of sizzling bacon and hot toast.
Right after breakfast, I had a minor fall in the hall, so now there’s a teeny bruise on my left knee. In the split second of falling, I put my hand over my tummy, and yelled loudly. The huddy came running from the kitchen. Latte was so stressed out he pressed his head against my leg, circled around us, pawed incessantly. All the while, my heart was thumping faster than it has ever had in ages. The huddy brought me to the couch, and as I settled down, baby kicked me. I’m fine, mummy, just don’t fall again. It’s like bungy-jumping. Scary.
I must so take care of myself.
On a whim, we decided we are going to establish a weekly home-cooked big breakfast routine. So today was scrambled eggs, German Bratwursts (boiled to remove the grease and salt, then toasted to perfection), bacon, sauteed tomatoes with basil, and toasted butter croissants. With a freshly brewed cuppa for him and mango juice for me. I rattled the ice in my juice, and knew, even before eating, that the day is going to be just beautiful.
One bite into the long stem strawberry that Imp got, and I’m sold. The huddy exclaimed, “OMG, what rubbish strawberries have we been eating?” I almost laughed out my berry. I think I’ll make my way to Cold Storage more often these days. And the weekend has been nothing short of fruity. Strawberries, cherries, apricots, kiwis, tangerines, apples, pears, and even durians (D24 – thick, creamy, yellow, awesome!) – I ate them all. So high in antioxidant and goodness, I would like to believe I’ve redeemed myself for all the junk I’ve been stuffing myself with. I cooked porridge with chicken stock, salmon and greens tonight, just to make myself feel a little less guilty. I could barely finish half a bowl. I’m on a junk-food roll now. Give me my fried chicken and fries and cheesecake and chocolate pie.
You see, I’ve my power berries and fruities to make things right.
We wanted to bring Latte to the Earth Cafe for a while. So on this glorious evening of pinkish dusk, we walked him over. And it was a major disappointment.
Still, the darling had a fabulous time frolicking, herding and just being happy. For that, I’m thankful that there is such a space in the neighbourhood within walking distance.
It got us thinking on the walk back home. One day when we have the resources to set up one ourselves, it’ll be one done with love, done for love. Dogs deserve much much more than what they are getting at this cafe. We won’t be back.
it doesn’t take a drippy day to make home-leaving a dreadful one. the huddy woke up early just to make me a deli cheese omelette with sauteed tomatoes. colourful toys were strewn all over the floor – latte’s little way of marking his territory in the homeland. he was an especially sticky one this morning , following me wherever i went, attempting to knock down the door in his latte way when i made a brief trip to the washroom, and keeping vigil under the dining table while i had my breakfast. “he seems to know you’re going to work,” the huddy said. as if on cue, latte sat down right beside me. that sweetheart. my two loves at home while i walked out into chips of blue sky. work has been lovely, but not so when i just miss this and that. good thing i only work out of home three days a week this semester. latte boy, mummy will be home before you know it.
amidst the grading, it was a sweet saturday afternoon of colourful theatrics and bollywood dancing from om shanti om, latte warming our feet, and finally getting our hands on jagabee. the heady scent of deep fried potatoes and the strangely comforting crunch of junk make for one great break. and i had a cool vanilla and chendol softie too. never mind that they are artery-clogging. indulgence is bliss.
