Oliver and Martin

Hi!!!!!

Oliver at tae kwon do. He did well at his first paid class. We were able to get him into the costume (with some cajoling, but he put it on). At first he didn't participate much, but he didn't run to us either. And then they brought out the obstacle course. He LOVED that. He was first in line and he kept cutting in line to do it more. They had to crawl, then run between pylons, jump over some small pads, and then do a punch. He was pretty good at it to.

Martin is another water baby. We had him in (and around) the pool for an hour each day of the weekend. He goes underwater and comes up smiling, and not sputtering at all. He has no issues getting his face wet. He also loves to play in the outdoor showers (but funny enough, he isn't crazy about the shower in the bath).

Go read my craft post. But I thought I'd do another post, as I know some people (who are in Paris right now!!) are needing a grandson fix.

Thomas & Friends: Live on Stage!!

Yesterday, we went and saw Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage in "Thomas Saves the Day"

It is a live show, featuring Thomas, Percy and Diesel. There is much singing and dancing, and of course the trains. Frankly, they could have had the trains a little more and less singing and dancing. Joe barely stayed awake. But when Thomas came on stage, Oliver jumped up and yelled "Thomas! Thomas! Thomas" while running around in a circle in front of his seat. Oliver liked it and that's what really matters.

Update on Oliver and Martin

First off, I apologize for no pictures. Joe's added new servers and I have no idea where the pictures are. But good news is the website should be back soon. Bad news, no new pictures until I know where they are!

Oliver
Oliver did another Tae Kwon Do lesson this morning. It went much much better, so we have signed him up for lessons. It looks quite fun, and will be good for him. We have moved him into a group swimming lesson, with 2 other boys here at the complex. That's going well, and will be easier on the pocketbook.

He's becoming more and more independent. He likes his "privacy" when he's using the washroom, and wanting to do more and more himself. He wants to walk to school (as opposed to the stroller) and carries his own backpack.

Martin
Martin is choosing to walk pretty much all the time. He rarely crawls, just to reach for something. He's showing a sense of humour, as he will after dinner, take his bib, and hide behind it. It you say "Where's Martin?", he'll pull it down with a big grin.

He's loves to ride the tricycle (since Oliver is always on his Lightening McQueen toy), and crawls onto it frequently, and then yells at us to push him around. He has a new tooth, so he has 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom.

Quick trip to Hong Kong

I made a quick trip to Hong Kong, leaving Sunday afternoon and returning on Monday night.

When setting off, I went to give Oliver a hug, and he ran over and said "I love you" with no prompting. So sweet.

The flight was good. I read up on Islamic finance and listened to Garth Brooks. Probably not a combination that happens every day.

Hong Kong sure has a lot of neon. I remember arriving in HK after our China trip and being very impressed with it, and happy to see so much English. Now, HK seemed to be very Chinese. Guess, its all a matter of perspective.

The conference went well. My session was not well attended, but was very interactive, and good for the participants. I also sat on a panel and that went well also.

I already had my boarding pass for the flight home, so when I arrived at the airport, I went straight in. I saw that there was a flight boarding for Singapore, and I got on it! So I arrived home 2 hours earlier. I watched the Sex and the City Movie. It was really good. I laughed. I cried (luckily I had the row to myself). It also didn't seem to be censored.

Then Tuesday morning, when I saw Martin again, he gave me a great big hug and rested his head on my shoulder. Sigh.

Oliver Funny

I finished reading Oliver his bedtime story. I was then lying on top of him "squishing" him. He then returned the favour and as squishing me. He then sat up and started bouncing on me. I said "Don't bounce on my, I'm an old woman". He got off, looked me right in the face and said "You don't look old, you look brand new." So sweet. Then he said "Daddy looks old".

Redang

We arrived this afternoon after being delayed for about an hour. We fly from Seletar airport which is the old army airport, which was the smallest airport I've been to, until I landed 90 minutes later in Redang.

Redang is an island in Malaysia. And that's the end of my knowledge.

We finished check in around 5 and headed straight for the beach. Its beautiful soft talc like sand, very shallow as the tide was out and what I thought was perfect light (not so perfect when we reviewed the pictures, lots of shadows). So I made Joe go get the camera and take these pictures. Here are some edited ones. I should really start doing that, it didn't take him long.

Martin's birthday party

What a great day. It all started last night when we gave Martin his birthday present. A ride-on Lightening McQueen!!

The biggest challenge has been keeping Oliver off of it, so that Martin gets proper turns. Martin just loves it though.

They today, we called Grandma and Grandpa on the webcam, after having a pancake breakfast. The quality wasn't great but we got to see each other. After Martin's morning nap, we went and got the boys hair cuts.

Oliver was quite stressed during the whole process, but he didn't cry. Martin was very relaxed and curious, and didn't flinch when they used the clippers on him. Both boys sat on my lap. We then ate lunch out.

Martin then had his afternoon nap, during which we got things ready for the party. We borrowed a gazebo from a neighbour, which worked out quite well. Basil made lots of food (but her and Joe forgot to put out half of it!!). We had a good turnout, with lots of people coming.

I dressed up Martin and Oliver for the party. Here are my handsome boys.

And here we are getting ready to blow out the candle on his cake.
The kids had a great time running around, and now they are asleep in their beds. A very fun and exhausting day!

Update on Oliver and Martin

Oliver!!

His swimming has gone to the next level, and he's able to dive down to the bottom of the pool on his own power. He even brought back up his plastic truck that sunk down there! I'm teaching him how to do somersaults in the water.

Our neighbours moving out gave us their old bike. He loved it, and is a natural on it (unlike his mother who learned to ride a bike, at what 9?).
Martin!
He's turning into a real toddler, as he chooses to walk about 50% of the time. He's actually quite stable and good at it. He is always full of smiles, and has lots of friends to play with during the day, so that's nice for him. He's starting to "play" and will take a toy airplane, and fly it around.

He's cute even when making a mad face.

Update on Oliver and Martin

Oliver
Oliver's imagination play has really exploded. As you can see above he's playing superhero, with a pillow case cape (my idea) and safety goggles (his idea). He was also playing with a stuffed animal this weekend "My Baby" and taking it out on his trike, which he called his Baby's stroller. He took his Baby to play at the playground on the slide, and did some elaborate stories with him.

He's recently started to get interested in dinosaurs, as a friend bought him so toys, and I found the book that Mom bought him a couple of years ago. When I said that Grandma bought the book he said "Thank you Grandma!! Why doesn't Grandpa doesn't buy me anything". To which I said "Grandpa doesn't like to shop. He likes to do things like go to the Air Show with you."

Martin

He's walking!!!! He can do a couple of unsteady steps between people. In fact, he did 3 steps on his own tonight, while I had my back turned getting out the video camera. He's growing and getting taller, I just had the crib lowered, as it looked like he was going to climb out soon. He's eating well and still not sleeping great. He's now 11 months old. He's quite vocal, with "baba", "mama", "dada". He often plays with the other children in the complex. His favorite thing to do is to go swimming, he just grins ear to ear when he's in the water.

Update on Oliver and Martin

Oliver

Oliver is doing well. He's not complaining of any pain from his stitches. He wanted to see them in the mirror the other day, so I held him up and he said "where is it?". I guess he was expecting something more dramatic.

He's suffering a little bit of jet lag, waking up pretty early (6am), but he's in good spirits and talking up a storm as usual.

Martin
Martin has cut another tooth on the bottom. So that's 3 on the bottom and 4 on top. He took to shrieking at dinner time when we were in Waterloo, but thankfully that seems to be done. He's starting to sleep a bit better, but he's up early also. Still no walking.

Scarred in Seoul

On the way home, Oliver was playing around at our layover in Seoul. He slipped and cut his face, right above his eye, below his eyebrow with a big gash. Oliver immediately started screaming (I don't blame him, it looked like it hurt). We gathered our belongings and set out to find a first aid kit. We walked/run down to the next Singapore Airlines booth (they had just boarded the plane there) and they called for the medic. The cut, while not bleeding a lot, looked deep, and looked like it would require stitches.

Three medics showed up, cleaned up the wound and said we should take him to stitches. No chance of making the flight. Mr. Lee from Singapore Airlines, took over. He took us to the clinic (it was in the other terminal, we had to take the monorail there), the nurse there put on a fresh bandaid, and said we could go 24 hours without getting it stitched. This was important as there was a 7:45pm flight that Mr. Lee was trying to get us on to. It was the last flight for the day, and there was room. The flights the next morning were quite full, so it was important to get on this flight.

We rushed back to the other terminal, Mr. Lee got us tickets, and escorted us to the plane. He was indispensable as he had to negotiate us through immigration, security, etc. We couldn't have done it without him.

Oliver slept on the flight to Singapore and didn't complain of pain. We got to Singapore, and got home. We woke up Basil to watch Martin, and then set off to go to local 24 hour clinic to get Oliver's stitches (it's about 1am right then). We go down to the car, and the clicker isn't opening the car door. The battery is dead on the car. We set off to walk to the clinic (it's just at Thompson road). Along the way, a taxi spots us, so we hop in. The 24 clinic turned us away, as they won't do stitches on children, as you may have to sedate them.

So back into the taxi we go, and off to Raffles Hospital. They were able to give Oliver 3 stitches. He screamed like a banshee, but we were able to do it without sedating him. We swaddled him up, and a nurse held his head. We've promised him a new toy, to which he immediate said "Car. A Honda Edix, like Daddy's".

Back home by taxi, and a bowl of cereal for both Oliver and I (3 am-ish). Then Martin woke up, hasn't been back to sleep and neither has Oliver (though he was quiet in his room). I've given up, and me and the boys are now downstairs (6am Singapore time). Joe is sleeping (or trying to), as he has his first sailing class today.

But we are back home. With Republic of Korea stamps in our passports. Oliver is in good spirits and playing and demanding I turn on Little Einsteins instead of be on the computer.

Update on Oliver & Martin

MartinNO! Seems to be Martin's new name, at least that is what Oliver is always calling him. Martin is very inquisitive and Oliver's toys are especially interesting. He's standing with support quite well, and can move along a table while still standing (i.e. kind of walking). He also walks while pushing a walker toy.

He's enjoying food a lot more now, he prefers veggies to fruit, and he's quite lucky, as Basil makes him fresh baby food every day, so he only gets jarred on Sunday (when she's not working). He still doesn't sleep through the night. He's a pretty happy, smiley boy, and while I was bemoaning the fact that he got teeth, they just make him cuter.

Here is Oliver displaying his big blue bus that he picked out himself for being potty trained. It is certainly the favorite toy du jour. He talks a lot (don't know where he got that from) and his imagination is really taking off. He routinely makes up interesting stories. He very much likes to know the "rules" of things, and will often ask why, and if he can do something. His manners are getting back on track (they fell to the wayside there for a bit). He plays well with others, and is getting a lot more social. His favorite activity is still swimming.

Joe is busy with a lot of work from different sources. He was sick quite a bit in April, so he fell behind, but now he's feeling better and is always working away.

I'm good. On the last couple of inches of the baby blanket. You know how I feel about the last couple hours of a project. I hate them. I hope David Cook wins American Idol. Though I wouldn't buy his music. But I don't buy music anymore, as I never listen to it.

Oliver is now daytime toilet trained!!

Yay Oliver!!! He's been this way for a while, but I implemented a sticker system, so that he got a sticker each time he used the potty. We had a bit of regression with being sick, but he's now done with the diaper, and fully into underwear!

With the sticker chart being complete, we took him shopping. At first he wanted Toby from Thomas the Tank Engine, then he wanted a van, but he saw a blue touring passenger bus that he fell in love with. So that's what we got.

New pictures are up!!

New pictures are up on www.joeandjill.ca, in March, April and Crafts.

There are quite a few pictures of Martin (so no worries, Auntie Lana, he has lots of pics on his own). We did a couple of photo "sessions" with Joe taking tons of pictures. I tried to pick out the best of the best.

Enjoy!!

Update on Oliver & Martin

Oliver!

Oliver is doing really well. He's a typical 3 year old. He's getting a lot more interested in letters, and is often asking what the different letters are. He has an imaginary friend "The Little Monster" who is sometimes a she and sometimes a he. The first thing Oliver told me when I saw him after school was "The Little Monster went poop in the potty at our house", so the Little Monster is toilet trained. Good to know.

He's pretty funny. I've been taking a course this week, so I told him I was at school. The first thing he asked me when I picked him up was "Did you have a nap today at school Mommy?".

He's started calling me "Mom". His volume level has gone through the roof, so we need to work on the concept of the "indoor voice". He talks constantly, and has picked up a big of a Singaporean accent, especially when he says phrases his friends at school say.

Martin!

You might be able to see Martin's tooth in this picture. Look closely on the top. Or else it's just saliva glare, not sure. He's very mobile now. Still doing his try to walk with one leg, drag the other leg crawl. I should take some video of it this weekend. He has 3 teeth coming in right now. He's eating more food, he's a little bit picky, but we are working on that. He's a very messy eater, or else I'm a very messy feeder (it could be me).

You don't have to worry about us not taking any pictures of him. The current card is 95% pictures of Martin by himself!

Brothers!
Oliver and Martin are interacting together a lot more. It's nice too see. Although most of it consists of Oliver telling on Martin and telling him no.

Oliver's first trip to the Dentist

Oliver had his first trip to the dentist this week. It went really well, as it lasted all of 5 minutes where he looked at his teeth and proclaimed all was good. He thought the spacing in his teeth was good, but I said, that won't last as genetics are against him. Though Joe never had any work done, so maybe we'll save some money.

We also had doctor checkups. The doctor is really pleased with both boys. She's impressed that Oliver knows his colours so well (I'm surprized by that, he's known them a while) and she said we should start teaching him letters.

She also thought Martin was physically acting more like a 8-9 month old (he's 7 months), she's pleased with his weight gain, and we were both impressed with how little he cried over his shots. The first one, he didn't even cry!

Oliver funny from tonight:
"I have a rubber band. I'm going to put it on". He puts in on his wrist. Then you hear the "snap!". "Ouch! That was painful".

Some of life lessons you need to learn on your own.

Update on Oliver and Martin

Oliver

Oliver is doing pretty much the same. He's a pretty sweet guy. The past couple of nights he has helped me bathe Martin, and will rinse him off with the shower hose. He also wanted to read Martin stories one night, which actually meant that Oliver held Martin in the big chair and I sat on the kiddie chair and read stories.

He also got Tiffany and Sofya (9 year old neighbours) to bathe him one night and kept telling them "one at a time!" (He must have learned that at school) and he got both girls to wash his bum!

Martin
Martin is still a pretty happy baby. I haven't seen him crawl yet, but Basil said he did today. He likes to play with his toys on the floor. He isn't sleeping well (he's awake right now, after 3 unsuccessful attempts to put him down), and is waking up multiple times in the night. I really need to dig out the baby book on that one. He's started rice cereal, not sure if he likes it, he cries a lot during feeding, but when you do manage to get the food in him, he seems to like it.

He's still super cute.

Update on Oliver and Martin

Martin can now get himself into a sitting position. He just started that today. He's also very keen to stand, and everyone (but me) is encouraging him standing and walking. He still doesn't crawl forward but he does get around and can crawl backwards. He also is practicing his singing. He's more Chinese Opera than American Idol though.

Oliver is developing quite the sense of humour and is telling jokes. He took Martin's knit zebra puppet and folded it in half, called it a zebra sandwich and pretended to eat it. His potty training is going very well.

He's also learning the power of sucking up. I refused to buy him a book as he didn't behave when we were out but I said that Grandma might. So he started asking her. I said if you hold her hand, you'll have a better chance. Well, didn't he drop Daddy's hand like a hot potato and ran over to Grandma to hold her hand. He also let her read him the stories at home, giving Grandma some cuddle time.

They are both having a great time with Grandma and Grandpa. Tomorrow we are going to the zoo (I've taken the day off).

Field Trip!!

Today I went on my first field trip with Oliver. We went to Jalan Bahar Clay Studios to see the Dragon kiln. A dragon kiln is a large tube like kiln, large enough to walk in, and looks like a reclining dragon. It originates from China, and was built originally to support the rubber industry with making clay pots to gather rubber in.

After seeing the kiln, we made some pottery.

Grandma and Grandpa got to come on the trip as they were in town. They had a good time as well.

Happy Birthday to me!!

Today is my birthday and also Chinese New Year's Eve. That conveniently worked out for me, as today was a half day and Thursday and Friday are holidays.

I went for lunch with Joe and Basil to Din Tai Fung for wonton soup. The best in the city, in my opinion. Then went home and played with Oliver, Martin and Sofya. Oliver had his swimming lesson so we all (including Martin) went swimming before hand. Martin did really well, not crying at all. Oliver's front crawl is also improving.

We then had steak for dinner with roasted garlic. Yummy. Then chocolate cake for my birthday. Then it was gift time. Out came a large box tied with a ribbon. I undid the ribbon and lifted the lid. Just like they open presents on Young and the Restless (Mom and Lana would know what I mean) and inside was the prettiest purse you have ever seen:

The Madeline from Coach. It's from Joe, Oliver, Martin & Mom and Dad. Thank you very much!! I also got a lovely picture with the two cutest boys I've ever had the pleasure to know.

Typical of my life, I was nursing Martin when the cake came out and my hair was still wet from swimming. That didn't stop me from posing with my new Purse (capital "P") like I was on America's Next Top Model.

After getting Martin to bed, I went in to read to Oliver, who said "I love you Mama". All in all, a great birthday.