School Holiday Treats

After hitting a nearby playground this afternoon, Chubbs and I decided to seek reprieve from the humidity and heat in Daily Scoop, our favourite ice-cream joint. I thoroughly enjoy sharing a scoop with my son, not at all because I enjoy the frozen treat myself, but I love watching him devour his chocolate ice-cream and chomping on the cone. It's also great talking with him about random topics and listening as hums songs that he made up, as he eats.

Today at the next table, I saw a middle-aged Caucasian lady, sitting with her son who's around 20 years old, sipping a couple of milkshakes, chatting happily with each other, and sharing many laughs. As I watch them, the only thought I had was that in the years to come, I hope I can have a similar relationship with my children. One where we can sit and chat freely about what's happening in our lives, no matter how trivial, and the we would truly be interested in what each other is saying and really listen. But I know that to get there, I need to work hard everyday from now, to build a strong bond and relationship with Chubbs, and also with baby who's coming really soon.

Days at SAM

We love the Children's Art Garden at SAM, and decided to bring Chubbs before the school hols are over. Had a lovely sushi dinner at Itacho at Plaza Singapura before taking the train to the museum. We tried to buy a ticket for Chubbs, but the passenger service station there did not sell concession tickets?!?! So the attendant allowed Chubbs could pass through for free, even though he was way past 90cm tall.

Trying to impress the poster girl with his muscles.

Walter and Chubbs.

We felt that this year's exhibits were a lot more interactive than last year's. Here were some of the highlights.

Colouring a picture of Walter and decorating with stencils.

Proud of their joint effort.

In the super colourful room with Mommy; where he could move the stools to match the colours on the ground. But could not get him to face the camera, no matter what.

"Trees" full of animals and figurines. The kids were allowed to further decorate them.

Easily his favourite room. There were train tracks all over the ceiling and walls. Plus construction vehicles and animals scattered everywhere. We were in here for so long; could not tear him away from this room. He kept running back in.

My son is camouflaged.

Creating Superboy at the dress-up exhibit.

Holding his arm out like an elephant's trunk.

It was such a fun family outing that we repeated everything the very next week. Dinner at Itacho, then MRT ride, and museum.

Finally got a concession card for him and he could tap and go!

Using light from the torch to activate the flowers.

He coloured an elephant this week.

He even managed to catch a great film about the friendship and adventures between a penguin and a young boy at the Video Art section this time. It was a great night out, and I'm already planning a third trip.

Sand and More at Jacob Ballas

Brought Chubbs out for some school holiday fun with my friend, S, at Jacob Ballas Garden last week for our boys to have a runaround in the sandpit and splash for a bit in the water fountain.

Digging around with his toys and driving the excavator.

Covering the fountain, letting go, then running away before the bulk of water got to him.

Filling odd cups and containers with water.

Libraries are FUN!

Besides shopping malls, there's not much else to do in Singapore during the stormy (read: flooding) season. So last weekend, we brought Chubbs along for a library exploration weekend at the Esplanade and National Library (the only public libraries with sheltered parking).

There was also an animal exhibit at the Esplanade, which Chubbs enjoyed checking out.

Another animal exhibit.

Pointing out "A" for his name.

Unfortunately for Chubbs, the Esplanade library is one dedicated to the Arts. So they had stacks of DVDs carrying movies from all over the world. But he did manage to browse an entire book weighing a few kilos, depicting Sesame Street characters and the people behind the voice and puppetry, and also borrow the sequel to Land Before Time to watch back home.

The next day, still raining, we were off to the National Library. I love the kids' corner in this place. Lots and lots of comfy chairs and couches for the children to sit and read. But Chubbs sometimes preferred joining older girls to read on the floor.

This is a great humidity-free, perspiration-proof, educational family activity! Think we might make this a bi-monthly outing from now on, and I especially love how the library quietens down closer to dinner, when the kids are all hauled back for their meals. Chubbs loved all the books we borrowed and I've been re-reading them to him, numerous times daily since then.

McDonald's Initiation

Believe it or not, Chubbs is now three months to three, and today was the first day Chubbs had a taste of Maccer's offerings. He was excited by the general buzz of the fast-food joint, and liked the hotcakes neat, with a carton of milk. But the thrill came with the Po and Tigress figurines he got with the Happy Meal (He's currently fascinated with Kungfu Panda). I was a happy Mommy too, getting my first Maccer's hit since mid '08.

The slow but sure downward spiral to nutritional oblivion begins here :(

The Things He Says...

Chubbs is one who, five seconds upon opening his eyes in the morning, would be pulling up a book, and demanding that I read it to him, whether I'm still asleep or not. Sometimes, he'd head straight for his Matchbox cars even before he can shake off the grogginess to walk in a straight line.

It's such an endearing trait to Fuzzy and I, that I've taken note of Chubbs' first words each morning. Here's what I heard upon being woken up every morning this week.

"Mommy, can I pull you down to my bed?"

"Can you sing me the Thomas theme song?"

"Mommy, where's Daddy?"

"Baby... baby... baby..." He then reached under my shirt to put his hand on my big tummy, and we cuddled for 30-min that way. It's a rarity for him to stay in bed for so long after waking.

"Can I watch TV at the sofa?"

"I want to tickle your armpits!" I get this from him quite a lot, and it baffles me all the time.

Cheery and cheeky in his jammies just moments after waking up; bed-hair still evident.