Vandal!

He's faster than Dash, peskier than Dennis the Menace....

Meet my 13 mo who, in a blink of an eye, managed to drag his play mat and completely dissembled it to little pieces, making a mess of the area.

He was pretty happy with his act and gave himself 2 BIG outstretched claps.

The satisfied vandal.

Kids just do the darnest thing ...when you least expect them to.

iBooth

The boys getting in on some action in the photo booth.

The silly billies......I love them both.

Evenflo Exersaucer Ultra 2 in 1

The Exersaucer was our first rental so in many ways, this toy was special.

"He is very happy w his new toy," texted the nanny.

These were music to any mummy's ears, specially when she's just returned to the work force and missing the bubs heaps. At least, he's having fun.

Bud's just discovered the joy of bouncing and needless to say, any pair of arms spared for a baby with never-ending energy is a welcome reprieve.

When we returned home, Bud was bouncing on the toy like a happy bunny to the extent that the toys were vibrating with his energy. It was a funny sight!

The height of the chair can be adjusted to 3 various positions so the toy can grow with your baby. The playmat is slightly quilted so there is additional padding for your baby's fleshy undersole. The table is supported/suspended by springs in its 3 legs.

The table is replete with toys for tiny, wondering fingers; Baby will be hard-pressed to get bored of it easily. Bud's motor skills were not that developed at that point to utilize the toys fully. I reckon that you'll get your 32 credits well-spent there and perhaps some time to potter about the house while Baby gets busy in the exersaucer.

As a bouncer, the toy definitely satisfied that criteria.

The downside is that the toy is a tad old-looking. Not a biggie, really, but has to be said in the spirit of honesty here.

The toys are a wee bit close for comfort. There is a cup that comes up in close proximity to Bud's head with a rather sharp rim. An orange star could potentially poke the little one's eye. A yellow teddy bear gave Bud a nasty scratch at the eyebrow as it was poking out on the tray. So you see, quite a few nasty traps lurking about. We ended up removing one or 2 toys which then falls short an effective toy on the whole.

I would recommend renting this for an older baby to enjoy it to its fullest potential.

Bright Starts Bounce Bounce Baby

This toy got Bud & I waiting for about 2 months on the reservation list.

Bud had started to jump around on laps or any surface he was on. This flooring secured by suspension was perfect for him, I thought; not as hard as the floor and he could get the upward leverage that he desired as well.

Maybe it was the wait that built up the hype or perhaps Bud had simply outgrown his wants and looked for greater ‘adventures’ in a toy.

Quite often, he fussed when placed in the Bounce. The platform frustrated him because the upward mobility was lacking. The Sun toy stalk ratchets proved a potential danger for head/facial injury when Bud threw back his head while rotating in his seat. Bud used it as a teether, bending the stalk down to put his mouth to it but the catapult action had smacked him in the face before. The Bounce is quite compact as a triangular space saving design but has compromised on the range of toys offered.

We were quite happy when the lease was ending with a new toy on its way.

Bud's Monthly Treats

Thanks to Toy Rental World, I have reaffirmed my decision not to buy toys for Bud.

We shuttle between 2 homes every week where one, the space is tight and the other, clutter is abhorred.

At the rate that Bud is growing, certain toys may be rendered superfluous in a matter of weeks.

Bud is certainly not complaining.

We keep his toy offerings fresh.

Luckily, Bud doesn’t have any special affinity or attachment to his toys which makes it easy to transition from one toy to another.

Toy Rental disinfects the toys and wraps them up in plastic (if regular-shaped) for delivery. It’s hassle-free: the toys are delivered to your door-step and pick-up is also arranged. The site owner is easily contactable should there be any queries or issues to be clarified. Rentals are for a month at a time and some popular items can be reserved, if so desired. I’ve checked out some other similar sites but the toy offerings are not as varied and the prices not as competitive.

We’ve been renting their toys for 6 months now.

Bud certainly liked some more than others from the ‘abuse’ that he’s put the hapless ones through.

Bear with me while I attempt to do a review on each of the toy Bud’s played with:

Evenflo Exersaucer Ultra 2_in_1

Evenflo In the Garden ExerSaucer Walk Around

Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Activity Station

Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Stn (Tropical Fun/DoodleBug)

Bright Starts Bounce Bounce Baby Activity Zone

Nothing Frosty About This Love

I read blogs and cannot help but get reeled into the author's lives -- their pain, their struggles, their joys, their love.

This is my drama serial and the good news (to me) is-- there never has to be an end, a final episode.

I am a sucker for love stories...especially those of 2 people who'd dated, broken up, been with other people, only to rekindle their love and end up marrying each other.

Early this year, my best pop artist had won his best girl.

Jason Mraz co-wrote what I think is a really sexy come-on song with Tristan Prettyman (isn't her name pretty?) called "Shy That Way" in 2002. They dated and ended their relationship in 2006.
I'll like to think that he wrote "You & I Both" for her.




I got the chance to know her through her concert here at the Esplanade. We had a very short chat. She's so tall, pretty, unassuming with a laid-back surfer girl vibe who's not shy that she's an A.D.D.



I'd secretly hoped that they'll get back together as a couple.

Fast forward 5 years, Jason proposed to Tristan on 23 Dec and tweeted that "She said Yes." -- a funny romantic recount of his near-perfect proposal that almost was not.

Then came her blog about her newly-engaged status and her 'love-song' for her man, how she knew he'd be the One from Day One. Swoon.......

Maybe at the end of the day, the twists and turns that life throws at us, while playing an important role in moulding who we are, are just teasers to the what we intuitively know to be the end result. It's like we take the detour just to be sure of our dreams/goals. Am I making sense?

I leave you with this song that they wrote ""All I Want For Christmas is Us" together in November 2005.



May they write many more beautiful music together and have lovely kids.

Love is all around. Go seek yours.

PS: Mraz is Czech for "Frost".

A Ta-Da Outburst

It was a Saturday night on day 295 and we were getting ready for bed.

I was in the bathroom doing what I usually do.

Wei was with Bud on the bed having some quiet down time.

There were laughter, there were the gurgling sounds that Bud has a habit of making.

"Da Da!", said the little voice.

It was short, it was clear and by golly, it was resounding.

It prompted me to walk out to the bedroom.

"Did you hear that?!", I asked.

I egged him on to repeat it.

"Say 'Da Da'!"

"Da Da!" said little Bud.

As magical and unexpected as it came, I've not had much success for Bud to say those words again; each attempt elicits a smile or laughter from him.

'Da Da'......his first little word.

And that's ok.

Welcoming 2011!

As we send off 2010 into a blaze of glory, our young cowboy tips his hat to welcome the New Year.



Yee Haw!

Christmas 2010: Bud's First

In a not too distant past, Pa would always ask us what we wanted for Christmas so he could pass on the message to Santa. On Christmas morning, we'd inevitably find our gifts under the tree.

I'd received some of the best gifts ever from under that tree...gifts I'd wish I'd kept.

Bud is not too young to know about Christmas.

I sang to him Christmas hymns, placed him on my lap amidst studying while Corrinne May crooned in the background about The Gift, pasted Christmas jelly stickers in places where he'd gaze. My happiest contribution yet was to bring him to church to welcome the birth of The Emmanuel. There'll be more Christmas traditions to be embraced as he gets older.

We took Bud to the restaurant where Wei & I spent our last Christmas as a DINK (double income no kids).

Pre-Bud

He was a sweetheart and slept through most of our dinner and made an appearance for a special family shot.

This Christmas he got to see his cousins from Hong Kong for the first time. There's no greater love and joy than time spent with family. I put him in silly festive costumes which will make great pictures for the album. And the gifts.....so many nice gifts from the people who cares for him.

I do hope I made his first Christmas a special one.

Our Christmas sure has been magical with him around.



**See our Christmas in stills here.**

Good Morning You 2

I woke up one morning to see my fave boys pouring over something interesting on the net in their best outfit yet.

What a great way to kick start the day.