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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!

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The day he called me Mama

My 9 month old acknowledged me verbally for the very first time this morning, it happened twice actually. He wasn't just practicing a syllable, he called me because i ignored him while making milk. The nanny confirms.

If you could see my heart, it has melted into mush. My head is spinning and i am on cloud nine.

Mountain man is not admitting his jealousy, but he's been going "call papa, call papa" to Mountain boy all morning.

9 (updated photos)

Mountain Boy turns 9 months tomorrow. How time flies.

Expressing his feelings...

Over the last month, Mountain boy has become more expressive with his wants and demands. Frankly I'm a little worried that he may be becoming too boisterous. When he doesn't get what he wants or if something doesn't go the way he desires, he will wail like the ambulance complete with tears and a flushed face, sometimes he even trembles (i must remember to take a picture when that happens). I'm quite worried to the point where i've been seeking advice from fellow parents and reading up on child discipline & communication books.

Mountain boy fake crying because he can't get the camera. It's so hard to take a decent picture of him nowadays.

Lucky thing he also expresses his love with the same intensity. He'll crawl over to me enthusiastically when he sees me in the morning, snuggle into my jelly belly and sometimes try to give me a big slobbery kiss. He'll follow me around the house like a little puppy when i'm busy so that he can "be with me".

Becoming more active...

I've been bringing him to babygroups and i've come to realise how active he is compared to the other babies. Some mothers actually asked if i get any respite at all at home. His actions are really faster than mine these days. Once i was chatting with a mommy in the group and he came back dangling a cleaning rag in his mouth. yucks!

The activeness also means that he injures himself quite often. Only 9 months old and i think he has had about 7 bruises on his face, all in the last 3 months.

I think i add too many crabs when i was pregnant because he touches everything he sees! Leaves, vegetables, clothes, he nearly pulled down a rack of cabbages at the supermarket once. He loves opening and emptying drawers and cupboards. Here he tries to steal some cheap tequila from Mountain Man's liquor cupboard. Mountain Boy, go for the single malts!

Flair for music

He takes after his dad. Other than "singing" while pooing, I often hear him "play the piano" for a long time in the morning. He bangs on every surface and experiments with the sounds they make. It's very cute watching him hang around Daddy like the biggest fan while Daddy plays the drums.

Actually, Mountain boy is so much like his father that it freaks me out sometimes.

1. Likes to shake leg. He does it all the time during milk feeds and bedtime stories.
2. Thinks farting is funny. Mountain boy laughed after he made a huge one yesterday. Sometimes he also laughs when Daddy makes a huge one. And i checked with friends and confirmed that their babies didn't find farting funny.

One Little Two Little Three Little Indians...(updated photos)

Red indian chief in full costume.

Cannot sit still as usual.

We love costume parties! Today we attended a friend's 2nd birthday party and we came fully committed to the Red Indian theme. Mountain Boy's costume was hand-sewn by the nanny and decorated by yours truly. And he won the Best Costume award!!

A decent family picture at last.

Probably the only time you'll see Mountain Man with long/so much hair.

Mountain Boy: Hey lady, we meet again.

Mencia: Oh what a pleasure to see u again my gentleman.

Mencia: Get your filthy paws of me!

Mountain boy: come on just a peek.

Luckily Mencia's chaperone came to her rescue.

On our way to babygroup

The big move

I haven't been blogging because we've moved house, AGAIN. It has become a yearly affair for us. This time is quite different than the others though because we have a baby, and that really changes everything.

Moving with a baby is no simple feat really. I think it's toughest on Mountain Boy because he doesn't quite understand the concept of moving house yet. So he must have thought that we were at a "friend's house" and got really cranky when we didn't take him home.

The first 2 days were rather sleepless. He kept feeling insecure in his new room despite us not changing the sheets and sleeping bag to maintain the so called "familiar scents". He was so tired and kept falling asleep during mealtimes. Its funny but also quite heartbreaking to watch.

Mountain Boy fell asleep during lunch.

Familiarizing with the new "terrain" was also a challenge. He used to rush to the bathroom when he hears water sounds (signaling bath time), but he couldn't find the bathroom the first few days and got frustrated getting lost.

Today is our 5th day in the new pad and i think we've finally settled in properly. A new routine, a different place for marketing, shortcuts to beat the traffic and getting to know new neighbours, which unfortunately isn't working out as well as i imagined. I've met a grand total of 2 people and 1 of them is 3 yrs old so i'm not sure if that counts.

But i'm confident that this new place will create new and wonderful experiences for us three.