East Coast

Today is the 3rd consecutive day that I brought Oliver to East Coast Park, to exactly the same spot, which is near the water venture place and where there are ample parking space as cars park along the service road.

It started on Christmas day, when we fetched Oliver from my mom's place and thought that he might enjoyed a walk. But he was clingy and not too adventuous, as he hadn't really recovered yet, or he just wanted to manja.

Then on Boxing Day, I brought him there again to get him out of the house and to let Sophia have some rest. Same place, although he slept for more than 2 hours in the car and barely set foot for 3 minutes after he had woken up, before he had enough and wanted to go home.

Today, deja vu. Either I'm so absolutely predictable and boring or Singapore is a boring place. Today he was happier and more playful, almost back to his normal self. He must really love East Coast.

Missing Oliver on Christmas Eve

It was a Christmas Eve without Oliver around, and we missed him badly. Oliver has taken ill and is at his grandma's place. Poor Oliver once again fell sick. Last Saturday, he had fever as high as 39c and it lasted for almost 5 days. We gave him paracetamol but it did not seemed to help. It worsened on Monday when Oliver started to develop sore eye. We decided to bring him to see a paediatrician instead of the GP near our house. However, Dr Veronica Toh from Raffles Children Clinic was fully booked and we were told to wait for 2 hours. In the end, we decided to try another doctor who I heard from my friend Eve was quite good.

We managed to walk in and see Dr Vasanthi at Kinderclinic in Paragon. I was expecting a rather old doctor, but she turned out to be rather young, perhap at her late 30 or early 40. She kinda resembled the Dr Veronica Toh. She was patient and detailed in her explanation, and told us that to bring Oliver's high fever down, we need to put a depository into Oliver's anus. Gosh, I was quite worried about the pain Oliver would have for placing a foreign object placed in such a sensitive part. We waited for a while before the nurse demonstrated how she deposited it there. Being a worried mother, I asked the nurse if the insertion would be painful and the nurse was not very reasurring and not empathy. She just replied that being a child, he would definitely cry. That irritated me. How can she be so insensitive towards both the parents and the child? Not a big deal, but little things like that does show the attitude of a person towards caring for others.
Poor Oliver. The total bill came up to about $150 with us bringing tons of medicine back for Oliver.

Oliver, this time round, was very grouchy. He refused to take the medicine through feeding, like his usual brave self. He kept clinging to me and asking me to carry him around at home. At his grandma's place, his 'gu-gu' took over the role. Imagine carrying a 12 kg boy around the house, it can be really tiring. Oliver, you got to recover quickly so that papa can bring you to swim with you new swimsuit brought specially for you by Uncle Augustine from Melbourne.

Chubby Oliver

... a result of too much carbo (rice, bread, biscult and banana) load up

Oliver's latest Lookalike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Black and white photographs - Geneology

Rice and Bread will do

That's what Oliver will eat for his meals over the weekend when he is with us. At school, he is a different kid. He will eat most of the stuff, but once a while, the teacher will say that he refuses to eat certain dishes. For now, he must have "ber-na" (banana) and "grip" (grapes) every night. At times, he also asks for "bis-cake" (biscuit).

Oliver is out of control

When my handphone rang these days, I hope it is not from Delcare. It brings news of Oliver's, usually not too good news. Last Friday, toddler benjamin from the same class hit Oliver's eye while playing. Oliver cried of course. This week, Oliver bit Benjamin because he slept on Oliver's bed. Yesterday, Oliver scratched a older girl's face and leaving marks on her face. The day before yesterday, he hit Heidi. This morning, Oliver bit Boon Heng's finger. And almost everyday, he will hit our face, laugh and refuse to apologise.

Oliver has finally reached the stage where the "terrible two" starts to manifest. As so aptly defined by The National Childbirth Trust, a tantrum is a supercharged emotional explosion that occurs when your toddler feels out of control; it's a practical demonstration of how your toddler feels inside - chaotic, confused and in pieces; (and the not-so-good news for parents) Almost all tantrums happen when your toddler is with the people he loves the most. Or look at it this way, if Oliver alway throws tantrum at you.. it could very well mean he loves you. haha

Very positively, the Trust also explains that tantrums are natural, frequent and positive steps forward in your child's development. Oliver's throwing tantrum is also the beginning of his development of a sense of himself and a sense of his place in the world. And I believe, learning to deal with his temper tantrums will be a practical training lesson for us to develop our sense of patience, and make a sense of our place as parents in this world too.

Funky boy

This photo was taken by Nate's mommy, Maye, at his birthday. She managed to capture the boys in action. I love Oliver's fussy hairdo when he jumped. Perhap we should perm his hair one of these days.

Oliver expresses.. moo moo

Big brother doing his part for Sister Heidi

Oliver says Mommy!

It is such a wonderful feeling to hear Oliver call me Mommy after waiting for two years. Although it sounded more like money or sometimes monkey.. it is still great. Oliver, your cute little baby.. finally hear you calling me.. = )

Oliver finally meets Siti

It has been almost for 6 months since Oliver last met Siti. It is really nice to meet Siti again. She is still the happy old self.

Before the meeting, I wondered if Oliver can still remember Siti. No worries at all, Oliver immediately recognised Siti and the two of them clicked so well together. It was like going back to the good old days when Siti was still with Del-Care. Needless to say, Oliver was excited throughout the gathering session and keep shouting with joy in the restaurant.

It is such a happy occasion to meet Siti again, especially for Oliver. He was bursting with joy and energy during the session that he felt asleep in the car seat even before we left the car park in Tampines Mall.

Siti, we should meet again soon.