Blowing his own trumpet

One day, not too long ago, Aidan found a toy trumpet in the toy box. He got curious and after a demo by someone (I can't remember who!) he tried it himself. He put his lips to the mouthpiece and blew. And there was sound! Yeah, it was a "cheap-plastic-toy-squeak-kinda-sound" but he was hooked!

He kept blowing the lil toy trumpet day after day. Mind you, there was lots of drool produced in this daily endeavour! My parents were tickled pink and thought he was rather smart cos most babies his age don't really get the concept of blowing into an instrument.

And then one day, Aidan decided to whack the trumpet on the floor besides just blowing it and the mouthpiece cracked. That was the end of his short career as a trumpeteer! haha!

Tales & Travails: Transportin the kiddos

Everytime we go shopping, I see parents pushing their kids around in strollers. The kids would be sleeping or quietly sitting/lying in the stroller observing their surroundings & the parents would be free to shop.

My kids on the other hand, ...

I still remember trying to shop with Sean in his stroller when he was 3 months old. We were in Tesco. He didn't like being in the stroller & would fidget or cry. As he grew, we didn't have much success keeping him in the stroller. Most times he'll sit in it for a bit & then start bugging us to carry him. So we'll be lugging him and the stroller. He wouldn't sit for long in the shopping cart either.

Then when Aidan was old enough to be in the stroller, Sean of course has to decide to assert his claim on the stroller. So the "big buffalo" (Sean at 2yrs +) would go in the stroller & I'd sling Aidan in the sarong sling. This way, we manage to get some shopping done. Sean would even fall asleep in the stroller (a feat we only dared to dream of when he was younger).

Aidan has been in the stroller once or twice and seemed to be really excited about it. Lately, he's been having a go at sitting in shopping trolleys and seemed to enjoy it as well. A good thing. He's getting a bit heavy to sling comfortably for long.

Sean was trained from infancy to travel in a car seat. Aidan on the other hand, was not, for lack of a seat belt to fasten the car seat in the back seat of the car. Lately, we've begun training him and let's just say there's still some way to go before peaceful car trips can be enjoyed.


At Tesco. Aidan's snoozing in the sarong sling.


The one & only time we managed to get Aidan into the baby-seat of a shopping trolley. He didn't stay in it for long.


The first time Aidan was put in the car seat. He cried & fretted & finally fell asleep!

Tom & Jerry

A few months ago, Sean suddenly asked for a pet tortoise. He bugged my dad so much & that very evening (granddads can work wonders) my dad came home with 2 small tortoises. Needless to say, Sean was terribly excited.

He faithfully fed them each day but left the cleaning of the aquarium to his dad - smart choice. Every few days he'll tell his dad, "Daddy the tortoises dirty edi. Please wash!"

My dad asked him to name the tortoises. He was rather stumped. So, my dad gave him a choice of "Jack & Jill" or "Tom & Jerry". He chose "Tom & Jerry". At Sean's age, gender isn't a big deal so we all happily call the pets Tom & Jerry without knowing for sure if they're both males. haha!

Sean's been watching Animal Planet. Lately, he's been saying, "Must ask kongkong (that's my dad) buy shark!" Or elephant, or snake, or crocodile....whatever animal's being featured that day! One day it was an elephant and so I asked him, "The elephant is so big! Where will it stay?" He thought a bit & replied, "Elephant can sleep on daddy's bed!" I laughed my head off! And he continued, "can eat worms!" See, to Sean, all animals eat worms! hahaha!


Tom & Jerry