Photography Smart

Mom's camera

Aung's camera

Myles stayed focused on what he thinks is the right place, looking at where both cameras DO NOT EXIST, happily in his world.
Me, forever, following the wrong light at the wrong time, always too slow or too fast but smiles anyway.
Callum so effortlessly nailed it all the time.
Speaks alot of our personalities and who is best at staying focused.




 

Successful Parenting Tip (Again!)

Following my successful mom tips some weeks ago, Aung had his fair share of good tips to share. We are wonderful parents, so please watch and learn.

Whenever Aung walks Mylo after his dinner (to give my mom's sanity a reason to return), he ALWAYS return with a sleeping baby. We are always very impressed that the ball of energy would hibernate and peace and tranquility could resume for all. Aung always emerged like a hero that had strike down this ferorious bear that had caused damage to the village - It honestly feels like that. We will cheer and squeal with delight!

A few days ago, Mylo was at his best, in terms of stretching his physical and energy capacity. He napped only for ONE PRECIOUS HOUR and refused to sleep anymore. This means, he is, roaming around, waiting to be entertained, fed and changed and up to his activities the entire day. When I returned home from work that day, my mom IMMEDIATELY summoned me to bring him for a walk. In almost the exact words of my mom (translated), " Do what your husband does, bring him for a walk and bring him back ASLEEP!"

That's what I did, rather confidently. I called Aung and told him that I will be bringing Mylo for a walk for some sleep inducement program. Aung said,"Yup, bring him to walk, he surely will sleep."

I  brought him to walk around the neighbourhood. I brought him to the junior college right behind my mom's and walk around the premise. We watched students played basketball. He coo-ed at most of the stuff, pointed in delight that I brought him to the junior college and then even attempted to play basketball with the students. After an hour - he was NOT ASLEEP. In fact, he was really ON FIRE, walking round the basketball courts and chasing after basketballs with screaming students who fear that the ball might just fly at him and strike him dead.

I went home with my failed mission and a wide awake baby. My mom's first reaction was," WHAT!" She would have packed her luggage and left if she didn't have to feed the hamsters and terrapins.

Aung came home and of cos I passed Mylo to him IMMEDIATELY. On the way home, I was complaining to Aung that Mylo didn't sleep when he was with me for an hour walk, I felt like a failure!

Then as if he was hit by the frisbee, Aung excitedly exclaimed, " OH, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING WHEN U CALLED. WHEN YOU BRING HIM TO WALK, DO NOT TALK TO HIM, KEEP PATTING HIS HEAD AND AVOID EYE CONTACT AT ALL COST!"

Then I realised, my darling mylo slept because he was BORED with his father. That was the tip of the day. BORE YOUR CHILD TO SLEEP. This is Aung's parenting tip for all.

Founder of "bore your child to sleep" and success story

Wishing you a very successful parenting journey.

Camps.

We are divided. We now have camps. It is not hard to figure out that Maoster and Aung are in the same camp. They are alike in so many ways that makes me and thankfully now with Mylo "THE ODD ONES OUT" - or something like that. They can be characterised by the following:

1. Love to read
2. Hate the sun
3. Indoor rather than outdoor
4. Fried rice/chicken rice/duck rice over anything else you can find in coffeeshop
5. Laughs at stupid cartoons and shows such as Running man
6. Don't like their food piping HOT
7. Poor motor skills
8. High empathy
9. Knows difference between aligator and crocodile and whatever you can find in science books
10. Poor memory
11. Says sorry easily
12. Likes language and will be on repeat mode*
13. Eats cheeseburgers with apples pies in Mcdonalds and nothing elses (no chicken burgers, no fish burgers, just beef patties burgers with cheese which basically in honestly is a cheeseburger)
14. Love animals, want to have them as pets and will (please don't) turn into vegan if I dun insist meat is supreme food.
15. relaxed and chill. No sense of urgency.

and the list goes on. How can they be so alike????? I always thought I have done my fair share of influencing my firstborn to become where and what I wanna be  - like grow your child your way thingy but no GENES dominates.

Last Saturday as we were at the zoo, I was complaining how fat I looked in photos so I asked Maoster firmly - " Can you just tell me the truth, is mummy like hopelessly FAT?"
Aung was dead quiet. Maoster rolled his eyes, thought for a minute ( like Aung) and he replied, "well..... you know I do not mind..." ( This is so Aung) and I pressed on and asked," So am I or not, like so fat????"

Maoster replied," Well, mummy, I really wouldn't say that (So Aung again).... you are just...hmmmm how should I put it (here we have Mr Aung again), you are like, an UNFED PIG."
"What do you mean, I said?"
Maoster cheekily answered but gently (like Aung), " Well, you are a pig but a thin one... Unfed one... okay, mummy... get it?" and both Aung and Maoster laughed out loud.

Mylo looked at me and I looked at Mylo. Now, we only have each other.

*About the repeat mode: Maoster will repeat words he likes under his breathe when he usese them in a speech. For example, he says to me, "Oh mummy, that show is like super awesome and that boy is like out of the world... ( and he repeats quietly..... out of the world... out of the world.... out of the world....) It is very weird and funny at the same time. (Aung then tells me he does this too, but only in his mind)....

Isn't it weird? (weird... weird.... weird.... repeat mode on....)




 

A good mother is one who will...

ensure that their chil(ren) is safe, secure and happy.

Now look at these following pictures. These pictures demonstrates how your child should look like when they are with you. HAPPY, CAREFREE, CONFIDENT. (refers to baby on the bicycle seat). So happy that he is doing almost a VICTORY sign. If there is a background song, it should be ...."and I think to myself... what a wonderful world..." on loop.

Note that the Victory sign is child-initiated.



Mylo with my sister in law.  

 Now, look at the following picture. This picture is a negative demonstration of how your child should look like when he/she is with you. Note the firm grip (on both hands)on the bicycle seat, the gaze of fear on the child's eyes and the disapproving frown.

Note that the Victory Sign is mom-initiated.

 

The above pictures will guide you in evaluating if you are bringing up your child(ren) the way a good parent should be and how does your child(ren) really feels when he/she/they are with you.Wishing you all a very successful parenting journey.



123, Look who turned ONE.

Callum turns ONE on 11.12.13

A year ago on the same day, both Aung and I were excited to go to the hospital to deliver our 2nd child.  It was a child that we  both had prayed for, teared for and waited for.

Well, enough of emotional ribbons on the crib of gift - I would like to recall the "memorable" stuff that happened on the day of his birth in the delivery suite and to commerate this special 1 2 3 once in a lifetime rubbish date that alot of people are excited about.

So, my 1 2 3 are:

1. The pump that supported the epidural drip DID NOT WORK.
This explains ALOT about the pain that I still felt despite being "wired" up. I keep telling the anesthesiologist that I can still feel the pain down there. After he realised that it is NOT in my mind - it was way too late. Callum is all ready down there wondering what is the fuss outside.

2. Twist and Turn is NOT my dance
Both my boys likes to "burrow" downwards facing up. This is NOT right, according to who else but the gynae who says that babies need to be facing downards this brought to the whole decision that he (the gynae) would have to perform a twist and turn in the delivery suite. Twist & Turn basically means, he puts his hand into me and twist the baby and tries to turn him to face downwards. With Maoster, that was not a problem because the pump worked ( refer to point 1). I was in such a pain down there and Callum being himself was stubborn like a mule and was strong beyond words so, the twist and turn actually took few minutes. Sure, whatever, I was strapped up anyway and just pretend I am not there. Dance like no one was looking.... dance away people....

3. Never eat Mee Siam for BF when you need to poop your baby out.
No pun intended. They asked me to push. I did. I mean - HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT MEE SIAM WAS NOT MY BABY????

So after the above 1 2 3 - my baby is finally OUT!

Blessed 1st birthday Babycake!

May you grow to know just how good our God is.

We love you so much - your smiles, your growls, your silly actions.

We hope you have enjoyed your 1st year with us as we celebrate being four with your arrival.

The very grouchy face when he first woke up realising he turned 1. He had the same annoyed face when he was pulled out. 

 

Becoming four... our thanksgiving journey

 

 

We cannot be thankful enough and we have not been happier.

Because turning 7 is a blessing itself...

Maoster turned 7 years old yesterday.

This year I was specially reminded of the grace and mercy that was upon us during Maoster's delivery 7 years ago. Many times, as we celebrate Mylo's arrival after a good 6 years of "incompetency and frustrations", this year, I sorta of reflected that Myles' birth was also rather "dramatic".

Maoster was always a small baby. Each time we go to the gynae, there would be extreme remarks - mummy's weight gain is remarkable whereas Maoster is barely struggling to meet the lower percentile.

Then, there was the "show' at exactly 35 weeks. I remembered clearly that I had a business lunch and then I had to go to the hospital. In fear. In panic. I was rushed to the labour ward and all I could do was to tell the nurses that," I AM NOT READY FOR DELIVERY. MY BABY IS TOO SMALL."  The gynae came, he wasn't really delighted. He said we will try our best to keep the baby inside the tummy because he may be too small in terms of weight and his lungs are not ready.

I stayed an awful night over at the observation ward. It was nasty. I hated that place. That place had too much crying for my liking. Women were admitted for all the reasons that I had never ONCE thought of - water bags bursting or leaking where their babies  are not ready for delivery. It means they may lose their babies as I lay there quietly in my bed. I thought I had a problem, but at least my baby is most probably going to make it - just whether or not he would be in NICU or something like that. Not ideal but would make it. Already I was quite a wreck, I really wouldn't want to be in their shoes. I was given jabs to enlarged the baby's lungs in case I had to deliver like now or tomorrow.

After a day, I was "released", and after a week, there was really no way I could stop the birth. I was strangely "induced". Many people prayed alongside us. The prayers were specific: A healthy baby that could breath and eat on his own, weighing at least 2kg (that were the non- NICU requirements). Our last weigh for the baby a day before was 1.9kg or less.

Maoster was born, 20th October 2006 weighing 2.6kg. Healthy with loads of hair! A charmer till today.

And.

God's love and mercy fills my heart and I am thankful and grateful that God gave us what we prayed for when He need not.

                                                          Myles Aung. 20 October 2006.

 

                                                                   His last day of being six.

Our prayers for Maoster is that he grows up fearing and loving our Father and know that indeed God's love is sufficient for all our needs all our days on earth.

 

Happy Birthday, Babycake. We love you so much.

So different, yet the same.

Six years of solo Maoster. Six good years with Maoster. Six calm good years with Maoster. Six serene, calm, gentle years with Maoster.

Then, with the grace of God, came Mylo.

Mylo is really different from Mao. Refreshing different? Alarmingly different? Amazingly different?  Every day Aung and myself will be talking about their striking differences when they are babies.

1. Maoster waits, Mylo wails.

Maoster gives us time. Time to react. When he is hungry, he toss and he turns and makes a gentle reminder sound and goes off all quiet. And we have time to tell him, we know, we have received his"order" and then calmly go to make his milk.

Mylo gives us no time. He flips, he frowns, he wails. As if he had placed his "order" with you long long long time ago and you did not register. He wails as if you had neglected him and he is upset. Angrily upset. If his wails could be googled translated, it probably means," I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR BOSS! WHY IS YOUR SERVICE STANDARDS SO POOR!" And we rush to make him milk, trembled as his cries gets louder and he only stops when he tasted milk.

2. Maoster is cautious, Mylo is chiongster.

Maoster, at a very young age, knows that his actions will lead to our approval or displeasure. And, to our happiness, he aims to please. There is NO problem in telling him what not to touch, what not to eat and what not to do. He will obey and will not question. He was easy to please and persuaded.

Mylo knows no fear. He knows exactly what he wants. If he wants this ball, he wants this ball. He will scream and yell and tell you the very instant if the ball is taken away from him. He wants the steering wheel of the car ( his favourite!) and everytime he goes into the car, he would want to hold it, touch it and lick it! He is not easily distracted and not at all persuaded.

3. Maoster has table manners, Mylo has hearty appetite.

Maoster does not cry over food. He does not place 10 biscults in his mouth at a time. He does not want your food when he has his own. He does not eat when he is already full. He will not want ramen at age of 9 months.

Oh, Mylo, he loves eating everything that is not his. He loves our food - he will eat anything. He will use his powerful fingers to grab all food and his techniques are rather well executed that he will be able to place MOST of the things he grabbed into his mouth and he will purse his mouth and you will NEVER be able to get the food out of his mouth. This include mostly papers and big chucks of food that he will choke. He rather choke than not to eat. DIE OR EAT. I CHOOSE EAT!

4. Maoster acts on his knowledge, Mylo acts on his guts.

His first flip, his first stand, his first crawl and his first walk. Maoster will do it the first time well. As if he had been practising it when we were asleep and he will not do it unless he is confident to do it. He took a longer time to crawl, to walk and to stand. But when the time comes, he just performed.

Mylo just do it. He knocks himself. He falls flat on his tummy. He screams and is angry for his incompetency. He will attempt all acts even though he has NO IDEA what he is doing. He climbs up the chairs, he squeezed himself out of the grills of the door to get himself out of the corridoor. He refused to calmly composed himself to get himself in a right or comfortable position. He wants to do it. Mylo therefore, after all that struggles and pains and squeals, crawled, sit, stand and walk way beyond his time.

5. Maoster loves books, music and watches the day past by. Maoster loves to be carried, thrown in the air, chew and screamed the day away.


6. Maoster sayang, Mylo knows kungfu!

Maoster will cuddle up close like a Koala when we carry him and he will be happy to be snuggled up our body close and be at that position like forever.

Mylo loves to strike when we least expected. It is a chain of kungfu techniques - He will 1) Pull our hair with both hands, 2) Bang his face on our face and 3) the most deadly act of all, he will sink his choppers into our cheeks and 4) he will go AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

The list goes on. From strength, to vocal, to temprements........... their differences are more significant day by day.

Does their differences brings about our preferences?

Aung calls one, WORLD PEACE and the other WORLD DOMINATION.
Aung calls one, ORIGINAL MAO and the other SPICY MAO

We laugh at their differences. We exclaimed their differences and we celebrate their differences.

They are the same what, says Aung, they are BOTH SO CUTE and BOTH SO ENDEARING.

 

TOP MAN TIME.

Our first.

As a family.

Animal devotion book was used.

Adventure bible was deployed.

Everything was going smoothly.

It was about giving thanks for your family.

We tell each other why we like each other.

Maoster said Aung is patient and helpful.
Moster said Mom is funny and also helpful.
Mom said Aung is patient and kind.
Mom said Maoster is kind and a great brother.
Dad said I LOVE YOU MAO MAO AND MUMMY. He sorta didn't follow the rules but it's fine.

Then.........our conversations turned to prayers.

I told Maoster that God communicates to us through prayers. He asked what does that mean - COMMUNICATION.

I said it's God talking or speaking to us.

Maoster's eyes grew bigger. He said, " I prayed for Mylo. That he will be okay. But GOD never REPLIES. But Mylo turns out okay. But I never hear HIM talk. Like telephone talk."

Aung was excited. He answered like he was the only boy in class that knew the answer.....

"Oh, God only talk to very few special people. Like ..... Moses you know?"

Maoster turned quiet.... his eyes turned red....... he begin to tear quietly....... and muttered...." I AM NOT SPECIAL TO GOD....."

And that's how the cookie crumbled.

Aung quickly explained what he meant - in the old testament.. bleah bleah bleah.... it was hilarious to me.... I tried not to laugh cos Aung was in a panic..... like oh man, I have not conveyed the words of God correctly....like an ill-trained shepherd trying to care for the lamb.

I think I will always remember our first family devotion time.

The way boys shop

I have this problem with shopping with my boys. It is always darn boring. I went Sim Lim once with my Aung - that experience was never repeated. He would look at EVERYTHING, even if they are same items. He would excitedly tell me this printer would be like this and that ram is like that and I really died on the spot.

Yesterday I had a chance to shop with Mao (window of course) and with time to kill before our movie, I brought him to the departmental store. He is just like his dad. He looked at EVERY toy and describes to me every single thing it is there. It was both cute and highly irritating at the same time.

I captured a video of him looking at his toys - what you are going to see is only 2 minutes. I was at the store with him for 45 minutes and he goes on and on and on. I particularly like the last part when he said, "We think about it". That's so Aung as well.



Shop with the boys? No way! I need my girlfriends and our shopping are definitely much more interesting!

Childhood Cherished and Relived

:. We cheered and shouted like mad. But in the end, we haven't quite realised who won. .:
:. We rolled our eyes - although it did make our heads slightly dizzy. .:

:. We went to the zoo and got ourselves so wet. 5 more minutes please? .:

Why dads are important (esp Mao's)

Because, he brings us towels whenever we take a shower every single day.
Because, he draws down the blind whenever the sun is up and both of us are still in bed.
Because, he carries all the stuff from the car and bring it up home.
Because, he always get body slam from both of us when we are playing KungFu.
Because he makes the milk at night (every single night)
Because he puts on the diaper at night after Mao is asleep (as Mao feels he is too "MAN"for it anymore despite his "immature" urine techniques when asleep)
Because, he washes the dishes whenever there is a heavy massive cook out.
Because, most importantly, he defends mummy when his ungrateful 3.5 year old son commented that some other woman is prettier than mummy. He says, "It doesn't matter what you think, the important fact is that daddy finds mummy prettiest and that's the most important thing."

So to my dearest Aung, Blessed Daddy's Day in advance. :)

Mao's picking the tab! Woot!

So Godma Gee told us she bought some YOG commemorative card for her godson Mao (at $25 bucks each - oh my!) and we really didn't take this matter to heart and brushed it with an okay.

The excited Godma drove and deliver this LYO card to Maoster and HOLY MOLY, its a prepaid VISA card. I was like :" What? VISA CARD? DEBIT CARD? CASH CARD? At 3.5 years old?" I think Maoster has arrived with this new card.

Back at home, he was playing with the card, pretending to enter the gantry of the gates of the MRT, paying for his purchases etc.....

His only complain was: " How come only got MYLES AUNG on the card? Where's HE LEI?"

So..... now we are trying to con Godma to top up the card for him and there's no more question who's going to pick up the tab the next time round.

Do you accept VISA?

Good times that flies at bullet train speed

I was rather determined (after Gee's rather determined) to travel nearby to eat and play and relax. The opportunity came at the Vesak day break. Determined am I, despite Maoster's HFMD breakout, the doctor certified him clean on thursday morning. Despite my hubby's reservist, the army decided to let him out at 6pm (yes the latest we could imagined it to be) and despite the fact that we only managed to find rooms for 1 night as Vesak day holidays proved to be booming the Malaysia's tourist economy.

And Aung's happiness was when he found rootbeer float with frozen mugs. He ordered a coney dog meal with it. Seldom will Aung eat when he already had lunch. Aung seldom snack. So good for me cos I am now NOT THE ONLY ONE who snack. Maoster refused the drink and asked me if its medicine.

Then Maoster happiness came when this really ridiculously looking kiddy joy ride came. Of cos they have to choose a rabbit carriage to sit on - I am tickled by this rabbit. Aung only comments were after looking at this pic is that he has always insist on riding on rabbits only. Hmmmmmm. Next.
Then Godma brought Maoster to the fishing shop and he got this fishing net at RM3. Not bad, we managed to catch 6 fishes with it on Sunday when I went "fishing" with Maoster at Lower Pierce Reservoir. Don't worry, we let the fishes go before we left - Maoster was cool with it. He says the fishes, see you next week.

And of cos by God's abundence grace- we managed to find a family suite at this 5 month old boutique hotel ( someone cancelled last min) and we got this room with a master bedroom, 2 singles and a jacuzzi in it. Maoster must be praying very hard because as we are searching for hotels, driving around, he will ask- have room? have swimming pool?

We did some shopping and some eating and we had a blasting good time. We will be back Malacca!

Elvis

He came to us during the period of Sars (for reasons I do not wish to explain). Aung welcomed the small furry animal with delight and immediately he was family.

We gave him the name Elvis, because he got such a wild streak in him with nice spikey hair. Everyday he gets fresh carrots, grass and pellets and I suspect he just like Maoster enjoys long beans. He makes such nice long squeaky voice when we come near his cage.

I broke the news to Maoster yesterday about his demise. I think he knows die = not good and Maoster shouted," NO! Cannot. Not die!". This strange sadnesss envelope our family that shrunk from 4 to 3. Maoster has this funny song he like to sing, "WE ARE FAMILY, DADDY, MUMMY, MAO MAO and ELVIS! "

Although it is a comfort that he has outlived his peer but Elvis, although you have never slept on our beds, or eat from our plates, or shared a good tv with us or went out shopping with us - We missed you and we hope that you have enjoyed your time with us.

This is Elvis in his old age - smaller and less furry but still extremely amusing

I bow down to the Pugilistic 5....

These 5 monkeys threw my house upside down.

Milo! More Milo!

Hungry More Hungry!

TV! More TV!

Too Hot! On Air Con!

Too Cold! Air con off!

I need to pee!

I need to shit!

Can I have that super YoYo?

Buy me that book!

Buy me that toy!

I want to sit with Mao!

I want to sleep together!

I love to stay at Yee Yee's house!

I love to stay at Xiao Gu's house!

I love kor kor and jie jie in my house!

NO LOR. I DON'T WANT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!

I WASH MY HANDS IN THAT GOLDEN BASIN.

I DID IT ONCE. NOW DUN SAY, I NEVER LET ALL OF U STAY AT MY HOUSE AH...

Happy Birthday Babycake!

Happy Birthday Babycake!

May each moment of your days be like this;

Of Sweetness, Joyfulness and Laughter,

Topped with Prayers, Love , Hugs and Kisses

God and We Love you. Alot. Too much. So much.

What Boys do when they go Shopping

They hunt down a Harley motorbike and consider it their new toy.....

And then, they say, Maybe with that new toy, I may need cool Bikers' Jacket.

Marina Barrage & Mao's Words of Wisdom

Was it a nice place?

Well, its okay - a relatively safe place for kids to run and play and best of all its FOC.

Did Mao had fun? Of cos he did, he was fascinated by the kites in the skies, sustainable sinagapore museum and the water playground.

Would we go again? Sure, but not when the sun is scorching like ytd....

*************************************************************************************

MAO'S WORDS OF WISDOM

On our way to church, we saw a sparrow. Trying hard to educate my son on mother nature, I told my son, look mao, a sparrow.

Bunster: So, can a sparrow fly?

Maoster: Yes! A sparrow can fly!

Bunster: So what other animals fly?

Maoster: Smiling happily. Other sparrows

I hope he's trying to be cheeky and not that of a sparrow sized brain....

Aung words of wisdom and why Mao is truly my son.

WORDS OF WISDOM
We were walking down my mom's block to get newspaper when Aung exclaimed:
Aung: Did you see that!
Bunster: Oh my goodness... why would someone throw their used sanitary pad out of the window to be on the floor!
Aung: I mean... do girls changed their pad in the living room near the window?
Bunster: Ha ha ha... I dunno, maybe emergency... Have to change like NOW!
Aung: It's dangerous to walk down the flat.
Bunster: But, honestly I dun really know WHY ON EARTH WOULD PEOPLE THROW DOWN THE PAD! HUH? YOU KNOW? TELL ME? WHY? SO SILLY RIGHT?
Aung: They are testing if the WINGS work.

MAO's MINE

I've always complained that my son apart from his cheeky overloads has more of Aung's genes (minus temper). He likes his vegetables, refused junks, throw fries away and will beg for carrots. I always feel that I would have greater joy eating out with him if he liked what I like ( AKA fried food). However I am glad to announce that MAO's MINE becos that day he was sleeping and...

Mao asleep and he cried in his dream: " LET MAO MAO EAT! PLEASE LET MAO MAO EAT!"
Aung and I woke up to see this boy of mine sleep talking - Aung says, That's your son for sure now! :)