You'll Never Walk Alone

Can't think of a better title to this post hence this corny name of the Anfield anthem. Oliver likes to go out for a walk on his pram, his eyes lights up and he will crawl animatedly whenever I put on a shirt, wear my waist-pouch and open the front door. If I don't put on a shirt he will also know that I'm just throwing the thrash or mom is watering the plant, I think.

Anyway, recently he is also walking with the aid of the walker used by Yuen Yuen's daughter. In fact that is his favourite plaything now, almost like a coveted goldplated lawnmower to him. He can walk to and fro the house countless times without getting tired. The ones who are tired are us, bending over to follow him so that he won't knock himself over.

I can't wait for him to walk on his own.

The seat is just not high enough

It is a daily dinner ritual for Oliver to climb up his chair and sit on the edge. After a few mostly close encounter with falling off the chair, we have moved Oliver to sit on the high chair

Coming to a TV screen near you...

Some exciting news to chase away the gloom. Oliver, our dear Oliver, was recently headhunted and talentspotted! And there wasn't even a need to queue for hours for audition.

Our neighbours, Jean and Richard, were helping Jean's sister in filming a short film for Arts Central, and required some extras to be passengers on a bus. So they asked if mum and Oliver could cameo? And of course, I readily agreed without thinking of all the hassle and inconvenience. Afterall, opportunity (to become a movie star) may only knock once in a lifetime.

The 2-hour or so filming for a less than 15 seconds(?) scene was done in the late morning of 24 October in the Sembawang area. I got mixed up with Sembawang Interchange with the long-gone Sembawang bus terminal, and were starting to panic when we didn't see any filming crew. Later, it came to my sense that there might be an interchange that wasn't in my 2004 edition of street directory. We managed to hop on a TIBS bus that brought us to the right place quite in time.

What impressed me was that the TIBS driver seems to know a lot of his passengers when they board the bus, guess they must be regulars. An old man, who did not board the bus at a bus stop, even gave a bunch of bananas to the driver for him to share with other drivers at the interchange. Apparently he has some banana trees in his yard, and often does so, listening to the conversation of the driver and one of his passengers. Impressive, because it is almost surreal that such "villageness" exist in Singapore. Almost like some Aussie or NZ town (mebbe some feeder bus in Toa Payoh also has that kinda friendiness, but I doubt so, and I think the Sembawang estate ambience makes it somehow different).

Anyway, back to the film. Oliver is very cooperative in front of the camera, much more than we had anticipated. Even past his morning naptime, he is still eagerly acting out his role and laughing and squealing. Too bad it was quite difficult to take any nice photo because the camera was usually rolling, we can't really get out of our seat, and the whole process was quite hectic.

But Oliver is quite a natural thespian, at one stage even acting out the script himself (ie throwing his toy Mr Bear on the floor). Guess we have just discover a star. Just one little problem... we fear that the producer might chop his scene and only his back will be shown on screen, if at all. Oh well. Stay tuned for the broadcast...

Gloomy

Today, we went back to Raffles Hospital's Dr Veronica Toh for Oliver's review. Instead of getting better, Oliver was diagnosed as having more mucus, possibly caused by a chest infection that refuses to go away even after 10 days of oral medication. So it is back to the nubiliser routine for the next 3 or 4 days. He had one round of it at the hospital, and despite coaxing from the nurse and us, he still cried like there's no tomorrow.

He seems well enough though, and his appetite has never been better, in fact quite humongous and he often amazes us and our relatives and friends by the amount of porridge that he takes, which probably can feed Sophia as well.

So we will have to see for the next few days if he gets better. If not, I (Boon Heng) might need to quit my job and be a full time nanny.

"Bear"

Gosh, this is the next word Oliver says. "Bear" is the cuddling friend of Oliver. Got to be patient, Sophia.

Saying "PaPa" indiscriminately

As much as I wish Oliver's first word is to call "mummy", "papa" is his first vocalised choice. Boon Heng enjoys Oliver's babbling of "papa" that it has been the buzz word at home. I wonder if Oliver really understand the meaning of "papa". I asked Boon Heng if he thinks Oliver knows that "papa" refers to him. He said "yes" but I was doubtful. One day while I was changing diaper for Oliver with the TV switched on and showing football, Oliver said "papa". Maybe Oliver does understand. Why so? Only Boon Heng watches football with Oliver in the bedroom. Ain't Boon Heng lucky? I just have to wait for my turn patiently.

Proud of Boon Heng

Boon Heng has been a great father to Oliver. While I have been a short-tempered mother to Oliver, Boon Heng makes it up to Oliver with his seemingly endless bounds of energy and patience toward him. I still find it hard to believe sometimes that Boon Heng actually scarifice his sunday football sessions to spend time with us. It has been for many months since. Although of recent, I can feel that his legs are getting restless and it is about time he goes back to the field again.

Another amazing thing happens this week, Boon Heng is able to lull Oliver to sleep since Monday night. This has never happened. Oliver had been fussy and demanded only I to carry him to sleep at bedtimes. If I am lucky, he would sleep within 5 minutes and not so lucky, it will take close to an hour. But it has always been less than 5 minutes that Boon Heng could get Oliver to sleep and to sleep on his bony chest. Gosh, I don't know am I suppose to feel jealous or proud of Boon Heng.

Losing our sanity soon..

... if Oliver were to catch another virus from school this few weeks. For the past four weeks, we had been taking leave to stay home to look after sick Oliver.

The last visit to Aglow last Wednesday was another traumatic experience. We decided not to admit Oliver to hospital in case he catches another virus from there. Oliver therefore had his blood taken for a blood test, and his urine sample taken to test for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Dr Ong could not draw his blood from Oliver's left hand after trying for at least 3 minutes and switched to his right hand. Poor Oliver's left hand was left bruised and the bruise is still evident now. For the UTI, the nurse attached a plastic bag to his birdie. We waited for almost an hour before Oliver pees. Poor Oliver was uncomfortable throughout that he did just lie down on his stroller quietly looking tired.

Fortunately, the results were both negative, except his white blood count was on the higher side. Dr Ong cited the higher white blood count due to the existence of virus in body. Phews! Glad it is nothing serious.

Cultivating the good habit of brushing teeth

Oliver initially brushed off his new toothbrush. To motivate him, I brush my teeth in front of him. Now, he is used to the strange tool in his mouth and seems to enjoy the sensation of brushing and rubbing.

Oliver at Botanic Garden

My first cup of real coffee today at Killiney...

..eversince the day I know I have Oliver. Life is back.

Enchanting spells of Laura?

On the first occasion, I remember Laura sang to Oliver. Oliver was totally enchanted by her singing. I know it because it was very rare that Oliver would lie on his bouncer quietly without making any fuss. Oliver just enjoyed Laura's singing for an amazing half hour. On the second occasion, Laura tirelessly carried Oliver and walked him around our office till he dozed off on her arms. Today, Oliver keep glancing at Laura during our dinner outing at Kampong Glam. Enchanted again??

To Laura, Oliver will be happy to be your pageboy. But he cannot wait for 15 years.

Godmama Karen pays Oliver a visit

I think Oliver finds Godmama Karen's red hair a bit overwhelming for him. Oliver has so far being exposed to a pink hairdo of mine (when I put on my pink towel on my wet hair). And possibly because of that, Oliver seems to prefer Aung's companionship even if Aung will to lose both socks of Oliver's.

Oliver loves the vibrator. Usually, Oliver will take a week to get himself used to new toys. The toy house that we bought, took Oliver more than one month before he realises its existence. Not for this toy, he played it the very next day.

Amusing behavour No. 1 - Faking sleep at 11.00 pm

I am beginning to find Oliver very amusing, and wonder if all his strange behaviour is the aftermath of the medication taken.

Yesterday, Oliver had his final doses of medication. Instead of feeling drowsy like his dad (who was also on medication), he was wide awake at 11.00 pm. In fact, he was so awake that he played tricks on me more than once.

After the usual ritual of getting Oliver to sleep, he closed his eyes. I tucked him on his bed with his booster. He rested for one minute, opened his eyes and crawled onto my bed. Once again, I carried him and rocked him to sleep, and tucked him on bed. He slept and woke up two minutes later while I was brushing my teeth. Got to stop brushing and rushed back to him with toothpaste in my mouth loh. The cycle repeated and I gave up. Left Oliver on his bed while I pretended to sleep on my bed hoping that he would follow suit. To my surprise, Oliver came over to my bed and lie beside me. There was complete slient. I lie beside him and was on seventh heaven thinking that my littleboy can fall asleep on his own.

No way you gal, fat hope!

Oliver played tricks on me. He wasn't sleeping at all. He lie on the bed just like what I was doing, not moving his body just like what I was doing, pretending to be sleeping which was also just like what I was doing. I only knew it when I woke up and found his eyes wide open and showed no intention that he was going to sleep anytime soon. The moment I got up, he also started to move around. Oh man... Can you believe this actually happened three times? Oliver outsmart me. = ( Or perhap I am just a stupid mama. )

Amusing Behavour No.2 - Counting fingers at 5.00am

His fingers counting kept me so amused that I joked with my colleagues that Oliver can be a potential Muslim.

At around 430am today, Oliver cried and Boon Heng fed him milk. After drinking 3/4 of it,he refused to drink further and could not go back to sleep. I failed in my several attempts to lull him to sleep. Feeling tired and sleepy, I put him beside me. I was in a state of half sleep and half awake when I noticed Oliver raised both hands and moved his fingers as if he was counting them. He continued to count his fingers for almost 15 minutes and in my complete sleepy state of mind, I thought I saw him raised his feet to count them. unfortunately, he couldn't count his toes because he was wearing socks.

Now, why I say potential Muslim? Because Oliver woke up to eat and pray before the sun rises. Praying with his finger plays loh.. haha. Really amusing.

Another evidence against Karen's claim

This picture shows Oliver laughing big, which works against Karen's claim that Oliver's mouth resembling hers.

Roti Prata Shop

One of our favourite place for breakfast is the roti prata shop just beside Keppel Tower, because it is within walking distance from our house, there's nothing else better to eat around our place especially on weekends, and the prata and teh alia, when the man making the prata and the other man brewing the teh alia is in the mood, can be quite heavenly (much better than the overhyped Jalan Kayu ones). It is quite a happening place at night too, where a lot of people who OT at night in the surrounding offices will have their supper there, and tables would be placed alfresco along the small lane beside it. We are there so frequent that some of the regular servers recognise us, remember our usual order, and talk to Oliver. Here you can see Oliver chatting up one of the Indian server, talking about the weather, the increasing cost of living and such. This is also the place where he would finish up his leftover milk if he don't feel like drinking it at home. I think Oliver likes the prata joint too.