Brushing Jolie's Teeth

Jolie's getting more and more teeth now, so one of the challenges we face twice a day, everyday, would be to brush her teeth. Without toothpaste, it's still manageable. All you need is some coaxing. But somehow, with the introduction of toothpaste, the difficulty level of whole process would be up by a few notches. Like Darryl in Baby Blues, I often find myself sounding like a broken record player, trying to get Jolie to:

(A) Open her mouth so that I can actually brush her teeth
(B) Open her mouth so that I can get back the toothbrush

Sometimes I just don't understand what is so horrible about brushing her teeth! If she would only cooperate, given the size of her mouth, it would take less than 30 seconds for me to finish brushing her teeth. I guess that's just one of those phase that a Mom had to go through when raising a child.

Masak Masak

Jolie have a new interest right now, which is make believe food, or in local terms, masak masak.

Swinging around

I would bring Jolie down for a walk almost on a daily basis. Unless it's raining or if she's sick. On the way to the playground we'll always pass by the exercise section for the elderly, one of which is Jolie's favourite, the leg swinger.



It looks a little dangerous for someone as small as her, but you can say she's pretty well trained. Ever since she started walking, she has been attempting to climb on the thing, mimicking the adults swinging their legs. So now, after months of trying, it looks almost too easy for her. Haha...

Happy 3rd Wedding Anniversary

Cobby was all mysterious and secretive about how we're going to celebrate our anniversary, but seldom could he keep secrets from me, so I have a few suspicions...

1. Going Malaysia? - Couldn't be, he didn't ask me to bring passport
2. He said we're going overseas - so if no passport is involved, Sentosa must be it.
3. He was doing a bad job at acting dumb the other day when I mentioned how lovely the Siloso Beach Resort looked. So most likely Sentosa.
4. Complained that he had to at least tell me what to bring, so he said swimsuit. Hmmm... most likely a hotel or resort at Sentosa. Are we going to the Genting Resort world? Spending a day at Universal Studios? Or checking into one of the hotels there and spending a day at Sentosa?



So we dropped Jolie at Mom's place, grabbed a quick breakfast at MacDonald's, and true enough, we're heading towards Sentosa! We drove pass Genting Resort World, so Universal Studio's out. Then after awhile of driving and asking for directions, we arrived at our destination!

Spa Botanica

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. Afterall, don't we share the same indifference to spa experiences? So we're spending a whole day doing this? But even so, I did heard about Spa Botanica before, and it's supposed to be quite famous, as compared to the one we had in Phuket. So I was ready to give it a chance.

I only know that we're there for the Couple's Treatment and nothing else, so when the staff lead me to the ladies changing room to get changed, I was ready confused as to what the heck I'm suppose to do next. She showed me to my locker, showed me the bathrobe, disposable undies and slippers. Then she showed me where the indoor jacuzzi was, where are the bathrooms were, and then just wished me a pleasant treatment.

.......

Erm... so... what am I supposed to do? I think I should remove my clothes, but do I need to wear the disposable undies? Or go naked all the way? I better wear the undies, or else the massage ladies may think I'm some weird woman. So... now that I'm undressed, where do I go? Do I enjoy the indoor jacuzzi by myself? But it's a couple therapy right? So after some thought, I guess I should go look for Cobby outside. That was a good move, cause apparently there was a lady outside the changing room waiting for me. Thank goodness! So she led me to our personal villa, where Cobby was waiting for me.

It was such a beautiful little place! There was the main massage room with two 'beds', behind was a beautiful little open air jacuzzi. So we started with a foot scrub while sipping tea, then we moved inside and enjoyed our dry body massage, which was like a salt and spices scrub. After the scrub, the ladies leave us to shower and gave us 20mins to enjoy the open air jacuzzi. The water was WARM! SO SUPER DUPER NICE LOR!!! It's like having a open air bath with jacuzzi! SHIOK MAN! Some more got a squirrel running around in the trees above us. :)

After the bath we carried on with the oil massage, it was SO GOOD, halfway through, I don't know when, I fell asleep and so did Cobby! Haha... So the ladies woke us up and led us to the restaurant, where we had our lunch. OK, to be honest, lunch wasn't that fantastic as it was a little too healthy for us. Haha... It's fancy healthy sandwiches with chips made out of root vegetables.

During lunch, we were laughing about how we were like two pieces of meat, being prepared to be cooked. 1st they tenderize the meat by kneading it, rub spices all over it, and later rub oil all over it. I wouldn't be surprised if we find a campfire outside the villa, in preparation to skewer us and roast us over the fire! Haha...

But honestly I think the whole session was fantastic. Taking care of a toddler is physically quite demanding, so the message really helped rub away all the soreness and gave us a good opportunity to relax and be pampered. Now the idea of going to a spa is nothing less of a genius! Really thankful to Cobby for thinking of that.

After lunch it started to rain big time, but since we're entitled to stay till 6pm, we didn't care and changed into our swimming costume. They have this amazing little waterfall pool with floating mattress on it, a mud pool(it was raining, so we didn't try that), and a Olympic size pool with surprisingly warm water. We didn't take any photos inside cause, well, we were mostly naked with only a bathrobe. But after awhile I felt a little bored, so we packed up and left.

Really felt like having coffee, so we headed toward Vivo for our caffeine fix and enjoy a really sinful chocolate lava cake.



I bought some nice hairband too!



I wanted to have dinner somewhere new, so I suggested going to Sunset Grill, this restaurant at Seletar Airbase. They have this famous Buffalo Wings that was supposedly super duper spicy. On the menu was only level 1-10, and there's the level 30 if you are up for a challenge! Look at all these crazy people!



We ordered half a dozen of level 3, thinking that it couldn't be THAT spicy. Oh boy were we wrong! IT WAS FREAKING HOT!



We couldn't finish the wings, each of us only ate 2 pieces before surrendering. I really COULD NOT imagine level 30. Seriously. Anyway, we also ordered calamari, steak for me and pork chops for Cobby.



Frankly speaking, not that I'm a sore loser or anything, but the buffalo wings were not that tasty. It tasted heavily of dried chilli and some other spice, and seriously, not very tasty. The steak was very tough even though I ordered medium doneness, and Cobby's pork chop wasn't that fantastic either. I guess people like this place just to boast how much spice they can handle? Or maybe it's the secluded peaceful outdoor seating right next to a airfield. Anyway, we don't get it, and we probably wouldn't go back again. But it did end a very special day on an interesting note.

How time flies, it's been three years since the big wedding dinner. So much changes in our lives. I wonder how are we going to celebrate our wedding anniversary next year? :)

The Gift

Truth to be told, I actually forgot all about our wedding anniversary. Cobby mentioned it one day and playfully asked if I've forgotten about it. "Of course I didn't forget! Duh!" I put on my best poker face and scoffed, but my mind was screaming. Shit! I totally forgot! No worries! I still got about a week, I'll find him a gift!

I later remembered that I always wanted to get him a model of his favourite tank, but I could never remember early enough to get someone to make one from scratch. Now I've only got a week. Would I be lucky enough to find one ready made? I headed to the only model shop I know on my 'day off', while Jolie's with my Mom.

Unfortunately the guy at the shop at Marina Square didn't have any Merkava Tanks, which is Cobby's favourite. But he made a call and told me that he know this guy who makes models. He can give me his contact number and said that whatever arrangement we make will be between the two of us. So I called this guy and he said that he have a Merkava tank already made, and I can come to his "office" at Geylang to take a look at the "goods" before we discuss the price. I feel like a secret agent who is about to buy illegal goods from the black market... Haha...

I was a little worried, I mean, meeting some guy I don't know in his office at Geylang?? So I brought Jolie along that day, just in case. Haha... Turns out that I was over-reacting. The place was actually a small workshop inside a shophouse near Geylang. When we arrived, there were two friendly guys there. The place was very clean, no shoes inside, and filled with boxes and models.

So anyway, turns out they were pretty decent guys who make models to sell on e-bay. So I confirmed my purchase and collected it the day before my anniversary. Unfortunately the acrylic casing couldn't make it in time, so now the tank is quite exposed. But hey, it's the thought that counts right?

Cobby like the gift, afterall, it's his favourite model. But too bad he wasn't too surprised. I had to confirm with him that it's Merkava 4 that he likes, not Merkava 3, so it sort of let the cat out of the cat. Meow~!

But he said that he liked it and it's very well made, so that made me very happy! What a unique gift! Happy Anniversary Dear!

National Day 2010

Woke up early on National Day due to Jolie, so I thought to give everybody a treat by making pancakes!



Jolie being entertained by our babysitter (a.k.a. The TV) while I make breakfast.



It's a public holiday, so I thought I let Cobby sleep in until breakfast was ready.



After our yummy breakfast, we hung around the house until it was time for lunch. Sis was back in town for National Day, so all of us dressed up in RED and headed over to a Weiye's place for lunch. When we arrived, almost EVERYBODY was dressed in red, well, except for the older aunties and uncles. It's kindda funny cause there was NO dress code for this lunch. It was just great initiative from everyone. :)

Mom even went early to lent a hand in preparing the feast, and what a feast it was! Seriously, there was SO MUCH food, I stared at the overflowing table, not knowing where to start. So while Jolie was busy playing with all the other children there, Cobby and I dig in. But in the end I could only eat a little of everything, and I was stuffed!

My Sis's in-law side of the family was all there, even my cousin, Linda was there. The last time I saw her was during Jolie's full month party, and I didn't have much chance to chat with her then. So that afternoon, it's nice that we got to sit down together to actually chit chat with her.

There were alot of children and Jolie had plenty of fun playing with them, but as usual, she seemed more comfortable playing around us than with the older kids. Linda and Yee Mei said that it's normal for 1st born kids and they'll grow out of it. Hope so, I don't want Jolie to be anti-social or something.

In the mid afternoon, when we were all stuffed and Jolie way pass her nap time, we said our farewell. Cobby wanted to watch the NDP at home, so we just hung out at home the rest of the day.

I like how the day went. Spending time with family and friends, hanging out at our home sweet home, and ending the day with me singing, dancing and cheering at the TV screen. I'm such a sucker for NDP, I love watching the military march pass and I get all choked up with emotion on national day songs (especially HOME by Kit Chan) and reciting the pledge. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

P.S. Will add more pics when I get them from Sis. :)

New IKEA wall shelf

One of the wall shelves in the study seems to be sagging dangerously. Possibly from Jolie's constant torture. So when we passed by this new shelf at IKEA, we knew it would be a perfect replacement. I was feeling under the weather yesterday, so I couldn't help Cobby with the setting up the shelf. Besides, someone's gotta help keep Jolie away from all the nails, hammer, screwdrivers and drill right? :) So poor Cobby had to remove the old shelf and install the new one all by himself.

It took him a couple of hours, but the end result was great!



The new shelf was definitely more sturdy and I love the drawers as we would finally have a place to keep the controllers. The design looks nice too, simple, elegant.



Another adjustment to our love-nest. :)

Pig-tails and new friends

I was just playing around with Jolie's hair when I realised that I could actually tie Jolie's hair up! So I took small clips and got two pigtails.



So cute! But there was so little hair that it wasn't long before the clips fall out by themselves.



In the afternoon, we were down at the playground as usual. After playing for awhile, Jolie sat on one of the steps and patted on the little space next to her, motioning for me to join her. Of course I couldn't possibly fit into that tiny space, but a little Indian girl saw that and sat next to her instead.



They looked so adorable I tell you, the two of them, squeezed together on the tiny space. They looked kindda of awkward initially, like they don't know how to react to each other. So Jolie broke the ice by making "small talk", speaking in what I call "Jolie's language", which is actually baby gibberish. But she made it like she's really having a conversation with the girl, with hand signs and everything. Super cute! I wanted to take a video, but I don't know if the little girl's Mother would be OK with that, so I didn't.

I think she will grow up to be a talkative girl. :)

Jolie's 18 months Vocabulary