Bob the Builder

We bought this Bob the Builder toy dashboard a while back for Oliver to keep him occupied while in the car. It was a belated gift from Oliver's late great grandma actually. Often when we strap him in the babyseat, he will instinctively want to reach for it. This toy is really value-for-money and is one of the best investment, as Oliver has short attention span with most things. The dashboard comes with a steering wheel, a keyless ignition switch (more hightech than my car), a gear lever, and some buttons that sing the theme song of Bob the Builder or the lines of some of its characters.

One thing good about this toy is that after a minute or two of inactivity, ie if no button is pressed or the steering wheel or gear is not touched , Bob will call it a day and yawn and sing his last song. The toy will then auto shut down, apparently to save battery as well, but will spring back to life once any of the buttons etc is pressed again.

Recently I've come to notice one peculiar thing about Oliver. He will not touch the buttons or knobs for the full one minute or so, so that Bob can do his yawning. Almost immediately after that, he will deliberately meddle with it again to resuscitate Bob back to life. Very funny. To see him pressing a button nonchalantly without looking at it.

At first I thought it is a coincidence, but after Oliver does that repeatedly, and on all journeys, it is quite obvious that he knows what he is doing.

Celebrating a quiet Lunar New Year

Oliver celebrates his second Lunar New Year. Although today is the first day of LNY, somehow I feel that the new year mood is different, or perhap, it will never be the same again. Last year, we went to my parent's place at around 10 am, spent an hour there and left together to my grandma's place. I would see my cousins and eat the vegetarian food prepared by my grandma and fourth Auntie. I would see my playmate cousin Hong Hoon and her family, catch up with her for around one hour and then head towards my dad's elder brother's home.

This year, we did not made our way to my grandma's place (uncle's house). Since my uncle is the youngest and that my grandma passed away, it is not longer appropriate to go to my uncle's place. So we just made our way to my parent's house and then my dad's elder brother's place. Strangely, we did not see anyone other than my uncle. The whole household was having a very serious "meeting" upstair, and they were too caught up with their affairs to say "hi" to us. We sat for an hour, playing with their house pet and watching my cousin's wedding on TV. Still no sight of my cousins and auntie, we decided to go home. By the time we reached home, it was past 3pm. Even Karen sms me that she will be leaving her house soon for dinner at Aung's place. Around 5pm, we left for Tampines to visit Boon Heng's parents and her sister. The house was also empty except for Boon Heng's mum and her sister.


Is it really LNY? I have not felt the mood yet. It is a quiet LNY, and it makes me feel sentimental. Oliver, I miss your great-grandma very much and wish she is around today with us.

Okay, gonna think positive, at least the reunion dinner at Prima Tower and Legend Gardens were great. Although, you had fever at Prima Tower, but glad to know that you have enjoyed the ramp at Legend Gardens - judging by the fact that you walked at least 20 rounds on the ramp.

At Prima Tower

Oliver looks kinda huge with his grandma

Oliver's cousin - Jian Xin

Oliver with Aunite Serena

P.S. Even our clock in our living room stops moving at 715am this morning.

Oliver, do you know Siti is leaving?

I am just too sad to pen anything. I think Oliver will be lovesick when Siti leaves Del-care at the end of the month. Will you be okay without Siti? will you still be your cheeky self when I leave office to fetch you home from Del-care? Will there be a empty hole in your heart?

Siti, probably nobody else's peg will fit in Oliver's life ever after you leave.

What is the date today?

It is rather tough sometimes to make decision, even when they are easy decisions like "you prefer to eat Steamboat or Malay food at Kampong Glam?". Often, I would want to please Boon Heng and choose a place that Boon Heng likes. Likewise, Boon Heng will do the same thing. Sometimes, we ended up throwing a coin to decide our fate. Often than not, we decide not to follow the fate set by the landed coin.

Recently, we decide to use the date to help us in choosing the place to eat. Today is 1st Feb, and 1st being the odd number, Boon Heng will decide. I will decide if the date is an even number. Bingo! So far, it has worked really well for us. Surprisely, our little Oliver seems to find it working for him too. He will alternate Boon Heng and I to be his preferred friend of the day. Day 1, Oliver will shake his head vigourously when I attempt to carry him. He wants only Boon Heng to carry him. Day 2, he will stick to me like a koala bear, and yells if Boon Heng tries to carry him. He is quite fair, isn't he? I wonder what is his date tomorrow.

Mommy's Hair Salon

Not too sure how other kids do it, but we don't think Oliver will stay still for a haircut. So Sophia has to trim his hair only when he's sleeping, and usually we can only trim one side, or it gets lopsided because he's not sitting upright, or he wakes up during the haircut.

Anyway, the latest trim wasn't too bad a job and he looks really like Vivian his cousin after that.

Oliver the domestic help

Recently Sophia has been training Oliver to do housework. We also learnt that he helps to put away the toys in school. Here you can see Oliver busy passing the laundry for me to hang up =)

Something about Oliver

I don't think I can be a good childcare teacher. I do not have the love and patience. I don't think I will fall in love with babies. I am simply not those type. I can't be a Stay-at-home mum because I will go crazy looking at the walls.

But there is something about Oliver, and I don't know what's that. I ask my colleague if she misses her daughter while she is working. While working, no, but on the way home, yes. But I miss Oliver almost every hour of the day. Perhap it is his cute little face which keeps looking at me from his photo frame. Or perhap, it has become a habit for me to blog about him daily. Or perhap, it is just his chickadee smell that has been infectious.

Gosh, just what is that something about Oliver? Whatever it is, Stop it Oliver. I need to bring the bacon home.

Oliver is 1 year and 2 months old today!