DIY play dough

Basic ingredient ratios:
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)

food coloring (liquid, powder, or unsweetened drink mix)
scented oils

Instructions:
Just put everything in pot and bring to boil. stir continuously until liquid hardens into dough. knead to smoothen.

Stay home activity 3

Cupcake garden made by mama n mountain boy.

Stay home activity 2

Helping mama bake lemon cupcakes! He is pretty good w the instructions.

Paper City

Mountain Boy had been sick for 3 days so we are both going loco at home.

In a moment of brilliance i was inspired by mb to draw some roads for his Tomicas, one thing led to another and we built an entire make believe city with endless possibilities!

To make your own paper city, you will need:
Colored paper (or white is fine!)
Markers
Sticky tape
Your child's favourite Tomicas
His imagination

Start with a blank piece and draw a cross junction. Involve the child by asking him where he would like to go. Mountain boy said he wanted to go to the airport, zoo, beach, swimming pool, school (yes he loves school and we even drew 3 of his friends), shopping mall, and a tunnel! Just keep adding more paper with each destination and you have yourself a paper city, built 100%from degradable materials.

He had a good time fetching his "friends" from school and going to a few different places. Of course his little excursion involved a number of car crashes n aeroplane explosions!

Perv alert!

Mountain Boy went for a haircut at Melonheads at The Place two days ago. Afterwhich i told the nanny to watch Mountain Boy at the playground opposite while i rummage through the Zara summer sale (awesome yield this year btw).

Upon returning, i sat next to this young man not more than 25. Tanned, stud in his ear, looks decent. Most of the parents who were watching by the sidelines were screaming their heads off at their kids, "Careful! Don't snatch anything! Come on you can climb over that obstacle" etc etc... But this dude, he was calm and collected. Didn't seem fussed about his "child" at all.

With my back facing him, i suddenly felt a nudge on my waist. I glared at him and gave him the "wtf" look but brushed it off as an accident. After i managed to get Mountain Boy out of the Playground after an eternity of yelling and threats, I saw the same man staring himself down at the mirror in the wash area, posing and admiring himself! *goosebumps*

So the nanny and I proceeded to the rather secluded lift lobby to take the lift down and he followed us. I muttered "变态!" under my breath... He pressed "up" and the lift for "up" came first so he went in. BUT GUESS WHAT, he didn't go up. He waited for the lift door to close and re-open so the lift would then be go going down. EEEKS! He gestured and wondered why we didn't enter the lift. I gave him the "Do i look stupid or what?" look. Will a lamb willingly enter a wolf's den?

The scary part was, he was there before I came back from Zara, observing the kids. I wonder what he would have done! Should have called security or taken a spy picture of him. Maybe he was a pickpocket, maybe a pedophile, or a kidnapper i don't know. But man he is sick in the brain.

So parents, you've been warned.

Mountain Boy is doing great

For those who've been wondering how Mountain Boy is recovering after the incident, he is very much well and alive, the stitches have come off, he is itching a little but it's overall healing perfectly.

We are barely making it though. The new nanny has been around for almost a week and Mountain Boy is blowing hot and cold. Sometimes he refuses to let her touch him, sometimes he waves goodbye to me and voluntarily plays with her. The sleeping has also been affected, we're basically co-sleeping now and he kicks up a fuss during naptimes so i break all the sleep-training rules. It happens i guess. Mountain Man and I are officially just tired all the time. 1 whole week of not sleeping through and i'm completely destroyed. Poor Mountain Man still has to go to work and have important meetings in Chinese!

Anyways, here's a cute video of the boy doing his favourite action song. I've been wanting a good video of it for a long time so i'm glad he was finally cooperative in front of the camera. Watch out for his expression at the end.

A look into the Deep Blue

Over the weekend, we took Mountain Boy to the Blue Zoo. Being an avid scuba diver (or maybe i should use past tense because I can't even remember the last time i went scuba diving!) I had to give Mountain Boy a taste of the underwater world. I want him to appreciate God's marvelous creations in an up-close manner, and i wanted to make sure he knows what a fish is!

The mandatory tourist pose with scary shark shark.

Hey fishy fishy...

Father and Son in the crowded tunnel.

I think Mountain Boy was pretty confused when we pointed out the "wugui". The only "wugui" he knows of is fuzzy orange with colourful polka dots and vibrates to the tune of Baba Black Sheep when pressed.

Now that's a real shark shark.

After the visit, I really ached to plunge into the deep ocean so badly that i dreamt i went scuba diving that same night! And it's not the first time.

Swimming with the girlfriend!

Mister Hunky Dory

Aren't they a cute couple!

First visit to the Salon

Mountain Boy gets a lot of compliments for his hair from strangers. Usually the girls will squeal and say "so cool, like Beckham". I of course beam with pride because i've actually been cutting his hair myself the past few months using a pair of handicraft scissors and a comb. But in recent weeks, the hair has somehow gone from beckham to dragonball, the 40 degrees weather is also not helping. I felt that he was in dire need of some professional styling.

So we brought him to the first and only Children salon i came across. Each haircut cost RMB120! Mountain Man exclaimed "whoa, so expensive. My haircut only RMB20." I did feel it was a bit steep but on hindsight, it was quite worth it. The salon is well-equipped with distraction tools like Cars and motorcycles for seats, flat screen TVs and various toys. They even have an indoor pond with fish and a turtle!!

The experience wasn't so bad. He cried but at least he stayed still 70% of the time. That was good enough to get a decent haircut.

Mountain Boy protesting to the ugly Hello Kitty poncho thingie he had to wear.

Ma, 我的头发有没有乱?

When the school closes...

Mountain Boy's babygroup reported a few positive cases of HFMD a couple of weeks back so all music and babygym classes have come to a stop until further notice. YIKES!

Not good news at all cos that means i'd have to find other ways to entertain my little energizer bunny. Here's what we've been up to lately.

Artist at work:

We've finally tried hand painting last week. Looks like a major project but believe me the painting lasted not more than 5 minutes before Mountain Boy got bored and started chewing on the paint tubes- which is non-toxic not to worry. The cleaning took another 30 minutes.

His entire leg was covered in paint. It reminded me of those heavily tattooed yakuzas.

2 Second tent:

A friend bought a 2 second-tent (takes 2 seconds to erect, but 2 hrs to fold back together) and a group of mommies and i decided to hold a ceremonial picnic just to break into the tent. I think Mountain Boy likes it. I am considering getting one for the camping trip that will never happen.

Cheap Good Fun

I remember making myself a resolution some time ago that i wouldn't spend too much money on toys unless it's necessary, or a special occasion. It's so tempting to just pick up a toy at the department store to entertain Mountain Boy, especially when things are so cheap. But i really don't want to spoil him too much so I've been thinking of creative ways to have fun without spending and accumulating too much barang barang.

We've been making an effort to reuse some household items and turn them into DIY toys. Mountain Boy especially love "playing drums" with his used milk cans. My latest project is a cardboard house carved out of an air-filter box. It's not perfect, he can barely stand in it but it was fun doing this together.

Mountain Boy's bachelor pad has 2 windows, front and back doors and 2 makeshift sofas made out of styrofoam.

He held a housewarming party and invited the Nanny and I.

He is almost as tall as the box! He prefers crawling round the box looking through the windows rather than actually being IN the house.

Another good way to have fun is to window shop at toy department stores and play with the display sets. It may sound very cheapo but trust me, kids somehow prefer something they can't have. Same reason why Adam and Eve only wanted the forbidden fruit. It's also very bonding for the family because we make an effort to take Mountain boy out and spend quality time together.

This sunday for example, we spent an afternoon at Decathlon (a department store selling sporting goods) and tested out all the different gadgets and balls without spending a single cent!

Mountain boy enjoying a makeshift ride in the shopping cart.

Faster faster!

We love doing our part to preserve the Earth. Share your tips with us too!

My "Playboy"

Mountain boy is beginning to appreciate his playtime more and more. I've started bringing him to montessori playgroups and indoor/outdoor playgrounds just so he can soak in the experience. It's evident that he enjoys being amongst other kids. He is always happy to follow the teachers' actions and is quite game to try everything that is age appropriate.

Before you start calling me a kiasu parent, i must say that all these activities are purely for play. It doesn't give him any head start or anything, it's just a good way to while away time and improve mother/child bonding. On top of that, i get to meet other mothers with children around the same age so it's great for me.

Today we attended a photoshoot by Kindermusik, they needed baby models for an upcoming promotion and Mountain boy really had a blast! He was the youngest (and the only pure chinese boy) but he didn't disappoint. He played along with the older kids and the photographer actually took quite alot of pictures of him! I shamelessly say that i hope they use his pictures so i can feel yaya (arrogant).

Anyway, until those pictures come out, here's some we took ourselves at the playground next to our place. Not bad also...

Letter to Mountain Boy: Happy 8 months...

Dear Mountain Boy,

Can't believe you are 8 months already!! Time really flies. Do you know that you are exactly how i imagined you to be? You are cheerful, playful and very fun-loving. On top of that you are also quite problem free- u eat and sleep relatively well, and developmentally you are normal if not slightly quicker in some aspects. I really have God to thank for giving me such a wonderful son.

Since becoming a crawler, you have become a lot more independent and you show no signs of separation anxiety. But i know you still love me because you will always crawl back and snuggle up.

Today you've attended your first baby gym class and you did exceptionally well. One of the baby girls was actually very forthcoming and wanted to hug you but you rejected her outright. Instead you crawled to another girl across the room who had long curly hair. Maybe she reminds you of mommy?? (i have long curly hair now). In the future, you need to learn some courting skills from your dad ok? He is quite smooth, that's how he got mommy. tsk tsk.

By the time you read this letter you will probably be quite grown-up and who knows maybe rebellious, but i hope my entries about you will remind you of how much i love you.

Always remember that mommy made you from scratch, so love yourself too.

xoxo,

mom