2014

Taking stock of the year that has passed often brings about a sense of dread in me.

What have I achieved in the past year? Oh, nothing much. Same old, same old. Not much of a "career" in the traditional sense. Sure, I've had a kid. Sure, I've had two. Sure, I'm about to celebrate 10 years of marriage in a few months. But other than that? Ho-hum. Nothing much. It's hot today isn't it?

Except, why do I keenly feel the need to identify myself within the confines of a career?

I guess I've always thought I'd be a bit of an achiever when it came to work. (At the very least, I thought I'd be earning more!) And it's a battle I fight each year, when December 31 comes around.

With the drama and adventure of 2013, you'd think I'd have learnt my lesson on what deems as important!

So I guess I really should take stock and refocus on my real achievements hey?

• I've had a kid! He's turned 7! And he's smart and won't stop talking!
• I've had another kid! He's just turned 4 months! And he's smart and won't stop coo-ing!
• Hubby and I have a strong marriage (which I gather, by the rate of relationships dissolving in 2014, is quite a feat).
• I spent the last year in a job I truly enjoyed, and made new friends, some who remain very close.
• I spent Christmas in Brisbane with close friends and got to ride the roller-coasters at the theme parks - trust me, this was a huge Win for me LOL.
• Got to make new friends through Social Media, especially Instagram.

So! What do I look forward to for 2015?

• Baby hitting new milestones
• Celebrating 10 years of marriage
• Deepening meaningful relationships
• Possibly returning back to work. Possibly.
• Trying out new cake designs and recipes and hopefully revamp the cake website.
• Opening a new cafe with hubby and friends.
• Flying back to Singapore to visit family.
• Perhaps taking a holiday to a new destination - maybe Japan? Or Europe again (I wish!!)

In the meantime, this being a BABY blog, and since I've just had another BABY,  here're some pictures to drool over (literally, there's saliva everywhere right now!)

Soooo tiny 

Guess which one is Aidan and which is Adam?!

Aidan celebrating his 7th birthday at school 

Made a Minecraft cake

My lovely kikki. K family 

#squishycheeks

Family shot on my birthday 

More piccies to come!

Happy 2012 and the chronicles of Batboy...

Wow another year has passed. And we've seen such exciting adventures! We've started 3 y.o kinder, and made yummy baked treats for people via Buttercup Bakeshoppe.

Lately Aidan's major obsession is a red cape he got as a birthday pressie in September.

With the weather warming up and GORGEOUS, he's been spending more time in the park, and always, always with the red cape. That, along with the varied costumes he's received as Christmas pressies, can make a simple trip to the shops and cafes a completely fun dressup experience!

Batboy with his super spy goggles

Transformer Aidan

 

Transformer Aidan, seen here with Tradie Dad

"Oh my GAHD, the Decepticons are drunk on Energon. Again!!"

 

Batboy strategising the reclamation of Arkham City from the hands of the Joker

and his nefarious gang of asylum inmates.

Batboy enjoying a well-deserved treat after his victorious reclamation of Gotham City 

(previously known as Arkham City) from the hands of the Joker 

and his nefarious gang of asylum inmates.

Batboy accepting his trophy for defeating the Joker and...oh you get the drift.

How humble and shy he is, oh great warrior-boy.

One of Batboy's many tricky disguises! 

And his able sidekick, the Pink Avenger!!

Spiderboy, with his many Christmas pressies!

Skywalker Jones launching his super missle!

Ah, and sharing some good times with his Godma and Didi this morning!

Well, after a whirlwind 2011, I'm really looking forward to some R & R in Singers next Sunday. NEXT SUNDAY I can't wait to get back for a loooong vacation! Woot!

Soh, from the Soh family, a very Happy New Year!

Lookalike!!

We picked up a free book that teaches kids how to care for their teeth, and the accompanying poster.

WHO DO YOU THINK THIS LOOKS LIKE?!!

It's uncanny isn't it?

Of course, it makes it much easier to coax my little man to brush his teeth "like the Aidan in the poster!"

Teeheehee!

If we were in a band...

...what would we call ourselves?

I'm open to suggestions.


 

Finders Keepers market

Shots my friend Shaun took at the Finders Keepers market over the weekend...

Pucker up!

Spilt

No point crying over spilt milk!

(NB: Took this awhile back in Singapore, but kept forgetting to post!)

All grown up

This has gotta be my favourite photo of Aidan right now. It says so much!

Thanks Michelle. It was SO lovely meeting you and can't wait to hang out again!

He turns 3!!

WOW!

Last year I turned the big THREE O.

Tomorrow, my boy turns THREE.

Time just really flies!

He talks so much now, and sings songs I've never heard before! (Like the one about 5 currant buns this morning...I think he learnt that at school.)

At 2 years 364 days, he loves Buzz Lightyear, his Mama and Dadda, is super expressive, and has boundless energy.

He just started his 3 y.o. swim class on Monday (which he was really afraid to because the teacher and classmates were new and I wasn't in the pool with him) but he braved it, what a champ!

And tomorrow we'll celebrate his birthday at school with his friends, and a low-key birthday dinner tomorrow night. (The par-tay's next Sat...will post more on our ideas for that soon...)

To infinity, and beyond!

He literally said, "PEW PEW PEW!!"

Sheriff Woody! 

(The costume, courtesy of Ivy, is reversible)

The nerd pirate Aidan...looks strangely familiar...

Can't wait to give you a birthday cuddle tomorrow! And because you're finally a big boy, hopefully you'll STOP COMING INTO MY ROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!

Friends

It's been a whirlwind 4 weeks as we had the Foos staying with us and Kienan being Aidan's new best bud! They look for each other each morning and play great...that is until 5 mins later when one's crying coz the other's hit him. Kidsssssssssss....

But we bid adieu to them today, *sob*!!! It's been a terrific time together, and I'm going to miss all our late night chats and snacking on cheese, tim-tams, wine, teas (altho my waistline will thank me!) The house is so quiet and lonely...only the refrain of cheering coming from EG playing Winning 11 on the XBox (only thing missing is the slap of high-fives between EG and Kev...withdrawal symptoms methinks...)

We will miss you fondly, Foos!

Their trip here has been pretty fruitful (judging by all the luggage they had to lug home!) But I reckon both little boys have learnt much from each other, like K's learnt to eat a bigger variety of foods and fruits and sleep well, and Aidan's finally getting the hang of toilet training.

YES! Toilet training! He actually knows when to go to pee when the urge strikes; I think going cold turkey (for me) and putting him in underwear helped...just a month ago he was oblivious to his wet pants and undies, but now he can actually hold his bladder and rush to the toilet!

And TODAY! A poo in the toilet when he needed to (he used to do it only when we put him on, but today he said "Mama, I need to poo!") I'm really hoping that this is the start of a brand new beginning and the end of expensive nappies (will start training earlier for the next kid...cheaper!!)

Anyhoos, here're a couple pics from Aidan and Kienan's time together...and their favourite Buzz Lightyear (they each have one, with their names under Buzz's "spaceboot", just like in the movie!)

 

Kienan's favourite pose - sticking his tongue out

I can't believe how our kids are now friends. Charmaine, Kev and I have known each other since WE were Kienan and Aidan's age (maybe a bit older...5 years?) in GMC Sunday School (I met EG much later, although Kev and EG met in Sunday School about age 5 too.) Now it's our kids' turns!

It's amazing isn't it, the journey of friendship? I'm just so grateful for the history and moments we've shared through the years, and look forward to more to come! From holidays to Desaru and Malacca that Maine's and my parents brought us on when we were little, to the Penang church camp that the four of us really bonded (four friends becoming two couples eventually!!), to now our 2 kids being friends...even though we're separated by seas. It just really shows how God's hand is really upon all our lives.

 L-R: Random person, Cheryl, Tessa, Joanna, Uncle Lawrence, Me, Charmaine