Decoding Mountain Boy

Mountain Boy is learning more advanced english these days. I think he finally just got the gist of the difference between YOU and ME. Most recently he is unto the word "because". He knows that it is a response that usually comes after "WHY?".

Eg:
Me: Why did you step on Mei mei?
Mountain Boy: Because mei mei!

Me: Do you know why you cannot eat food from the floor?
Mountain Boy: Because! Because! (looking all proud)

Lily inspired: Wear Sunscreen

No actually, avoid the sun like a vampire if you can. 

When i was in my teens and early adulthood i loved the sun. Hours and hours i'll spend sun bathing, no SPF. In fact I used sun tan lotion not sunscreen. I got a lot of compliments on my tan, i meekly boast that i don't get sun burns and i tend to tan evenly.

Mid-twenties came. Uhm, the skin starts to sallow and yellow due to late nights (work, parties, surfing the net etc). I realize i needed more and more make up to make myself look better. And because i was tanned and always a different shade, my powder was never the right shade. And powder on dark skin looks gray. I started investing in skincare. No more supermarket products, give me the caviar, gold flakes, highly scientific pitera mambo jumbo. 

And then late twenties. On my wedding day the make-up-artiste told me that the best way to keep our skin looking fresh is to go a shade lighter. You'll look younger, make up will look better, wrinkles will look less obvious. The chinese has a saying, a shade of white covers three shades of ugly "一白遮三丑". Wish I knew that earlier! Think Scarlet Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett!


Then... the big 30 came. I had your brother, then i had you. Freckles started to appear. These dust-sized flecks may look adorable sprinkled on the cheeks of a teenager, but when they become snowflakes on an old lady no amount of concealer can cover it.

If you have my genes then "lucky you". But if you have your dad's genes and you go sun tanning, chances are you'll turn red like a lobster, peel like a shrimp and then become pale again. And btw, your dad has freckles too so you can't escape these brown little flakes. 

So my dear daughter no matter how tempted you are to flaunt your figure at the beach (then again if you have my genes there goes the flaunting), at the very least wear sunscreen. 

请问。。。

Did i ever say that i have the "ask me for directions" face? Whether i'm pregnant, with kid or alone minding my own business, i'm surprised at the frequency i get stopped by strangers to ask for directions. Do i look local? Or perhaps i look particularly kind-hearted enough to stop and help those in need.

Either way i take it as a compliment to myself.

But to be honest, i won't ask me for directions. I've led my friends cars and my driver astray so many times that i'm embarrassed. Mountain Man won't let me book hotels for holidays anymore because we'd end up in the suburban projects. North South East West are nothing but mahjong seating positions to me. It took me almost 4 years of marriage before i get my bearings of my in-laws' estate.

So yeah... don't ask me for directions ever.

The Water Dragon

We got back from Singapore about 4 days ago. Seems like an eternity because our nanny hasn't returned from her hometown. Makes me realize how much she contributes to this household and we appreciate her even more now.

Anyway Singapore was great. Big thanks to my in-laws who washed and cleaned up after us, if you're reading we couldn't have done it without you.

Here are some choice pictures from our Singaporean Lunar New Year.

Family from Jakarta came to Singapore. It's so nice to see the children play together. It's even nicer that we don't have to watch Mountain Boy like a hawk because the older jiejies do a fine job. 

 Akhim! There's a better picture of her not squirming but it took forever to upload this one. 

The only family photo we took on the Singapore Duck Tour. 

Lilybuff just looks adorable here. 

And here too. She is photogenic isn't she.

The cousins meet again! The last night they hung out till WAAAAy past their bedtime. 

2 men and 3 babies.

Lily Inspired: Daddy's Girl

You are my muse. Because of you, I've decided i'm going to start a new "label" on the blog called Lily Inspired where i'll capture all the advice a mother can give to her baby daughter. 

I think it'll be fun. Right now you're kind of like a tortilla wrap who smiles back but can't talk yet (that's what 2.5 months old babies do fyi), so this will be like me time traveling to the future and talking to you like a friend. Sounds good right? yay!

Okay where do i begin. 

Your dad... He is the sweetest to you. He has been telling everyone that your brother can go sow the wild oats when he grows older but he wants to put a chastity belt on you. Very protective he is. I don't know if he notices but when he plays with you he puts on this gentle smile like you're this piece of eggshell he is afraid to drop, with the older brother he's like growl here and growl there, tickle and throw in the air type of thing. I think he is apprehensive about having you, in a good way. 

I once read that a daughter's relationship with her father will determine the kind of husband she finds. The closer she is to her dad, the greater her expectations of her husband. I guess it's quite similar to the notion that men tend to find wives who embody qualities of their mothers. 

Anyway, i can't wait to start this journey with you. Already you are melting my heart all the time. 

OMG why why...

Itchy backside me went to click the button for new blogger interface now i don't know how to go back to the good old ways.

Don't give me new technology, i'm a laggard. I like uploading photos one by one, i like knowing where each button leads to even though it's 10 times slower. I cannot handle tech support people because they speak in alienish. HELP.

First post from iPhone

I've been enjoying my new toy past couple of days.