It's school holidays in Singapore at the moment, unlike mid-year school holidays in Aus, the kids are on holidays for 4 whole weeks. I know of very few working parents who are happy about this. However, school holidays come with some advantages too.
A few of the restaurants offer a discount off the bill if you come in to dine early. Perfect for parents with young kids who like to occasionally indulge in a bit of yummy mud crab and still get home in time before the little emperor gets cranky!
There are also live shows and activities for older kids at many of the malls. We're steering clear of these as along with school holidays, the GSS (Great Singapore Sale) which runs from the 28 May to 25 July is on right now as well and besides Matthew is a little young for them. The GSS means that EVERY store in Singapore is on sale, which is great if you are an avid shopper, but along with the bargains to be had, there are the crowds and the queues to deal with too. Grrrr.
Tonight we're going to check out the Singapore River Festival. Living a stones' throw away from the river at Clarke Quay we might as well brave the crowds and see what is happening at our doorstep. There are street performers, art, parades on the river and also jazz and wine. Matthew is a huge fan of all things neon and flashing... hmmm, come to think of it, the last time we did this Matthew didnt sleep too well that night :(
Next weekend, I'm dragging the boys to the farmer's market at Loewen Gardens which is held once a month and run by a cookery school here called 'The Pantry'. So you see there's never a lack of something to do on the weekend, and once we tire of Singapore, holiday hotspots like Phuket and Cebu are only a short and cheap flight away.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Matthew 56 weeks
...only another week to go before we get the keys to our new apartment. It will be so nice to move into our own space.
We are settling into Singapore well. However I'm not used to the price of good quality meat here, especially beef and lamb. Also the price of organic goods is at least twice the price of that back in Aus, eg 1 litre of organic milk is S$ 12.95! Fortunately there are plenty of alternatives and it's a matter of finding them.
Matthew's capacity for learning and grasping the world around him seems to be excelerating, so much so that it's a source of frustration as he's able to understand a lot more than he can say. We try to introduce a new word into his vocabulary each week, for instance this week it's 'Duck'. Though I've found that he'll understand some commands and words surprisingly quickly, while others he'll simply ignore no matter how many times you try... He also enjoys time alone to do some fun independent exploration (under supervision of course).
Matthew is still signing the word 'eat' and occasionally sign a modified version of 'water'.
This is the sign for 'eat' or 'food'
Here is a video of Matthew signing for us.
We are settling into Singapore well. However I'm not used to the price of good quality meat here, especially beef and lamb. Also the price of organic goods is at least twice the price of that back in Aus, eg 1 litre of organic milk is S$ 12.95! Fortunately there are plenty of alternatives and it's a matter of finding them.
Matthew's capacity for learning and grasping the world around him seems to be excelerating, so much so that it's a source of frustration as he's able to understand a lot more than he can say. We try to introduce a new word into his vocabulary each week, for instance this week it's 'Duck'. Though I've found that he'll understand some commands and words surprisingly quickly, while others he'll simply ignore no matter how many times you try... He also enjoys time alone to do some fun independent exploration (under supervision of course).
Matthew is still signing the word 'eat' and occasionally sign a modified version of 'water'.
This is the sign for 'eat' or 'food'
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Matthew 55 weeks
Things we don't care to mention....
I was asked today by one of the Mums at Matthew's playgym if I blog about everything and I promptly answered 'hell no!'. If I did you'd be reading about the time Matthew ate a rehydrated sultana that fell out of his dirty nappy. Oh yes, you heard right :( this did happen and was the most disgusting thing EVER!. You'd also hear that Matthew threw the remote control for the aircond in the toilet tonight and yesterday morning said with much glee;
Matthew: Dad dad die die die!
Mum: (giggles - surely he has no idea what he's saying)
Matthew: Mum mum die die die!
Mum: (frowns)
I was asked today by one of the Mums at Matthew's playgym if I blog about everything and I promptly answered 'hell no!'. If I did you'd be reading about the time Matthew ate a rehydrated sultana that fell out of his dirty nappy. Oh yes, you heard right :( this did happen and was the most disgusting thing EVER!. You'd also hear that Matthew threw the remote control for the aircond in the toilet tonight and yesterday morning said with much glee;
Matthew: Dad dad die die die!
Mum: (giggles - surely he has no idea what he's saying)
Matthew: Mum mum die die die!
Mum: (frowns)
We love our cheeky boy.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Baby sign language
Matthew is signing back to us! After months and months of signing to him, he signed back for the first time the word 'eat' this morning. Once to his Dad and twice to me right before breakfast to tell me he wanted his oats!!
I've been using the Australian Baby Hands method for teaching baby sign language to Matthew. We were introduced to the author Jackie Durnin last May before Matthew was born and both agreed that it would be something we wanted to teach to our baby. Matthew signing back this morning, means that he's able to communicate his basic needs to us while he is still pre-verbal. Some of the other words I've been teaching him to sign are 'drink', 'book', 'fish', 'more' and 'finish'. (will try to post a video soon).
I've been using the Australian Baby Hands method for teaching baby sign language to Matthew. We were introduced to the author Jackie Durnin last May before Matthew was born and both agreed that it would be something we wanted to teach to our baby. Matthew signing back this morning, means that he's able to communicate his basic needs to us while he is still pre-verbal. Some of the other words I've been teaching him to sign are 'drink', 'book', 'fish', 'more' and 'finish'. (will try to post a video soon).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Our New Home
Yay! we found a home in Singapore. Below are some pictures of our apartment(condominium) complex. Majority of the Singapore population live in apartments (like other heavily populated Asian cities -Hong Kong, Beijing). It's a 3 bedroom, plus study (glass cubicle and very much like a fish bowl) apartment on the 8th floor and apartment number 8 (08-08). Apparently a lot of the local folks have been interested in the apartment because the number '8' is considered lucky. (To find out more, click HERE) Hope it brings us luck! We move in around the first week of July. Our 20 foot container of 'stuff' arrives in Singapore on the 26 June and I'm really looking forward to being surrounded by own things. I'm sure Matthew will love being able to get his hands on the toys he scored on his birthday!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Matthew firsts ....
16 Sept, 2009 (15 weeks) Rolling Over
5 Nov, 2009 (22 weeks) Solid food
15 Nov, 2009 (24 weeks) Crawling
28 Nov, 2009 (26 weeks) First word (Mamama), sat up, 1st & 2nd tooth
Jan, 2010 (32 weeks) Standing, Cruising
20 April, 2010 (47 weeks) Steps unaided
30 April, 2010 (49 weeks) Plane ride
16 May, 2010 (51 weeks) Clapping
28 May, 2010 (52 weeks) Walking
but as all mums know, the first year is so much more than just a checklist of milestones. There are all those precious moments in between that cant be summed up in a list. x
5 Nov, 2009 (22 weeks) Solid food
15 Nov, 2009 (24 weeks) Crawling
28 Nov, 2009 (26 weeks) First word (Mamama), sat up, 1st & 2nd tooth
Jan, 2010 (32 weeks) Standing, Cruising
20 April, 2010 (47 weeks) Steps unaided
30 April, 2010 (49 weeks) Plane ride
16 May, 2010 (51 weeks) Clapping
28 May, 2010 (52 weeks) Walking
but as all mums know, the first year is so much more than just a checklist of milestones. There are all those precious moments in between that cant be summed up in a list. x
Saturday, June 12, 2010
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
to the Blackwells who had a baby girl!!!
We cant wait to meet her in November.
Erin Ave Blackwell
Born 12.06.10 at noon We cant wait to meet her in November.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Book, Water, Shoe and more
We made it to Singapore and have already made ourselves quite a little nest in our temporary apartment. Matthew has a bit of a cough, probably from the change in climate and travelling but that hasnt stopped him from being his mischievous self. He's walking a lot more confidently these couple of days, wanting to spend most of the day on his feet actually. I'm looking forward to the day when I can actually embark on one of our little adventures without bringing either the carrier or the pram. We are still a way off I think :) Matthew's dad still thinks he walks like a little zombie.
He's also understanding and learning words rapidly. It took him a couple of weeks to grasp the first few words but since then every couple of days he'll pick up another word. So far, we have 'cheese stick', 'car', 'book', 'shoe', 'bowl', 'spoon', 'water' (his drink bottle), 'grapes', 'blueberries' (aka 'bluebies'), 'carrot', 'pear', 'oats/oatties', 'ball', 'Mama' and 'Dada' to name a few.. I'm also pretty sure he knows the word 'nose' but because I havent been able to teach him to point and he cant indicate to me that he understands what I'm referring to. He also understands 'turn the page' (when reading a book), 'brush brush brush' (brush your teeth), 'ta for mama/dada' (give it to Mum/Dad), 'bathtime/bath' and 'bedtime/lie down'. He's never too impressed when told to 'lie down'.
Our limited conversations consists of;
'where's Matthew's water/shoe/ball/book?' etc
Matthew responds by fetching or going to the item.
'Matthew lie down'
Often after I've put him in his bed, I'll check on him and find him standing and chatting to himself. On the odd occasion he'll oblige and go to sleep when I tell him to lie down without having to set foot in his nursery!
I've got a cute new video of Matthew's progress this week on YouTube. Till next time.
He's also understanding and learning words rapidly. It took him a couple of weeks to grasp the first few words but since then every couple of days he'll pick up another word. So far, we have 'cheese stick', 'car', 'book', 'shoe', 'bowl', 'spoon', 'water' (his drink bottle), 'grapes', 'blueberries' (aka 'bluebies'), 'carrot', 'pear', 'oats/oatties', 'ball', 'Mama' and 'Dada' to name a few.. I'm also pretty sure he knows the word 'nose' but because I havent been able to teach him to point and he cant indicate to me that he understands what I'm referring to. He also understands 'turn the page' (when reading a book), 'brush brush brush' (brush your teeth), 'ta for mama/dada' (give it to Mum/Dad), 'bathtime/bath' and 'bedtime/lie down'. He's never too impressed when told to 'lie down'.
Our limited conversations consists of;
'where's Matthew's water/shoe/ball/book?' etc
Matthew responds by fetching or going to the item.
'Matthew want water?'
Matthew replies by putting both arms out for his water bottle'Matthew lie down'
Often after I've put him in his bed, I'll check on him and find him standing and chatting to himself. On the odd occasion he'll oblige and go to sleep when I tell him to lie down without having to set foot in his nursery!
I've got a cute new video of Matthew's progress this week on YouTube. Till next time.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
9 Boxes of toys?!?!
... but Matthew's only one! How did this happen?
The packing is in full swing, in fact by the end of the day everything that we need will be on it's way to be loaded in to a 20 foot container bound for our new home country! I'm hiding out in Matthew's grandparents place in the meantime to avoid the chaos. Last night was our last night in the house as we check into a hotel tonight for the next 3 nights before flying out on Sunday morning. It feels a little strange leaving Sydney again as it felt like only yesterday that we returned home from our last overseas stint.
Can't help but feel a little sad about the family we are leaving behind, but on the upside there are lots to look forward to. Finding a new place, settling in to life in Singapore and welcoming plenty of visitors over the next 6 mths! We're also planning to take Matthew to some of our favourite holiday spots and hopefully fit in some new ones as well.
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