We survived HONG KONG!!!

This post is way overdue. Have been rather lethargic in getting down to blog but there has been this nagging thought in me that has been pestering me to pen down this trip as it is way too precious and memorable.

I have always wanted to bring E to Hong Kong to visit my in-laws and his relatives for a long time but we just never got to planning one. When Larry was due for a July HK business trip, we decided to ride on it and so, E and myself joined him in HK, midway through his trip which also meant that I would be alone with E on the flight there to HK!!

On departure day, my parents sent us to the airport and I repeatedly assured them that all will be fine and that I have got everything checked and was good to go! SO we waved goodbye to them at immigrations and tadaa!!.. its just me and the kiddo, leaving on the SQ jetplane! Only to realize (TO MY COMPLETE HORROR & DISMAY) a couple of minutes after that I HAD LEFT MY IPHONE @ HOME!!!!!!!! Facepalm to the max!!

How in the world did my Iphone get left behind! I was so angry with myself the entire trip. Because of my big boo boo, there were zero photos of our epic flight together ;(

Any case, E was generally well-behaved throughout the flight. I could not have been more blessed and thankful. Thank you God and thank you son!

Arriving at HONG KONG airport! E still stoning from his nap and a relieved me! ;) 

HOWEVER....

E became Mister Koala once he touched down at HK. For example, he was unresponsive when he saw my mother-in-law and refused to let her touch or carry him. And this carried on for the entire trip... he was S-T-I-C-K-Y to me like never before..! Of all in the stroller unfriendly land of HK! 

Loving his hotel room, the only place where he returned to his normal self 

Loving the bed @ Shang!! 

Receiving gifts from his yeye & mama immediately!

   The rare one & only time he allowed my MIL to carry (                                          

               

Finally allowing yeye to carry... only once though. At least he's fair ;p

Gifts from his 'fans' in HK... love his wake up hairdo! 

Nice outlet store that sold really cool kid's furniture

Attempt to take family pict @ the Peak = fail! Haha, love his expression though 

The best restaurant in HK! E eyeing the malagao!!

NICE!! 

Realized that I do not have much pictures to upload... painful lesson learnt. Any case, I'm glad I survived the HK trip  koala trip but I'm even more relieved that I survived the dinner session with the extended relatives. Everyone was speaking in canto and I felt like I was in my own bubble most all the time. NO one spoketo me at all and there was an awkward moment when I was left alone at the table with Mok's uncle and cousin. It was just dead silence and I felt like burying my head in the ground. SO GLAD IT WAS ONLY 1 NIGHT!!

BYE BYE HK!! YOU ARE SO NOT BABY FRIENDLY though I still love your food!!

Yeye and Mama's visit!! April 2013

My in-laws visited us during the Good Friday week and this is E's 2nd time seeing them in person! His first was when he was only 1 month old. Grandparents were elated to see him and of course, our dear E was taking in ALL the attention he was receiving. They stayed over at our place so there were 6 adults to 1 kiddo... so it was really ALOT of attention on him. ;) 

I was really glad to see how easily E warmed up to them... think he remembered them briefly as the faces that he sees every Sunday through the Mac screen. 

Bringing nainai to her favorite restaurant in SG!! *spotting a satisfied look on her ;) 

Her fav chinese pizza 'He Zi'!! 

Uncle Leong Seafood... yeye's pride!..  

Gong gong's pride too of course!!!

All 7 of us, full from the sumptuous meal... Best dish goes to the crab bee hoon!! Yumzz!! 

 '/.

Action speaks louder than words... ;)  

Chilli crab never fails! The crabs served that day were huge, fleshy and fresh.. nice! 

My 2 darlings KOed from a hectic day... Mok just ran a half marathon that morning

Dinner @ my granddad's 

Look carefully and you can spot E's greatest fan! 'nainai'... who happens to be videoing E's every move ;) 

2D1N trip to Melaka... E was very cooperative and took a good 2 hours nap on the drive there! Good start!!

Hi there sleepy one! 

With papa @ Hotel Hattan. It was a nice hotel but service was lacking. Found many items lacking in the various rooms but overall was a nice stay! ;) 

Disappointing rice balls... couldn't take the sour tinge and the mashed rice.. we tried their normal chicken rice and it was 10x nicer! What a waste!  

Meet the Moks (3 generation)!!  

Hmmm... wonder what he was doing/thinking.. .

E happily designing Nainai's birthday card!! 

Celebrated my MiL's birthday at Sushi Tei, just in time before they fly off! IT was a successful surprise with lotsa love and gifts! 

The birthday gal showing off her birthday gifts and making us all take pictures with her! The KS bag is from us and the tops are from my parents. E gave Nainai his hand-drawn bday card!! 

She's the queen!

My favorite of the lot!! ;p 

Spending time with nainai on the day of their flight back to HK ;( 

Happy Grandparents!!

Goodbyes are tough but we are so thankful for the bonding time that E had with his paternal grandparents...  More to come!!

15 months already...

Where has all the time gone to that E is already 15 months old!

From the helpless little one who can't even raise his head or flip over to, the present active toddler who loves to run around exploring all the forbidden places!

Phrases or words he loves:
1) A says Ah!!! (To my dismay, I realized that A says aeehh... which makes total sense when you pronounce the word Apple!! *education's fault for not teaching us phonics in the past! ;p) ... We are desperately trying to correct him now which is making -_- progress.. but we will press on.

2) Nononono.... this boy has no qualms in objecting or rejecting your offer. He would shake his head as he says nonono...

3) Hi!! Ultra Meltzzz when he says it with a smile

4) Kaka... which means kaykay (going out) ... he would immediately head towards the shoe cabinet and seek out his shoes when he sees any of us get changed and dressed up.

5) Mum mum... Mama... occasionally. Gong gong and Yeye are the clearest. An occasional papa too. Popo is waiting to hear him address her...

6) Hahaha... E loves to do that some times... the fake laughter.. ultra cute

and his favourite action,

PLEASE PLEASE... he does it for everything that he hopes to have! Please please when he wants bread, please please when he needs help to take a toy that is stuck, please please when he hopes to get onto the tricycle...please please when he wants his fav gerber snack!!!!


E is also very observant and loves to imitate.
Recently, we were at a friend's place and E found a treasure- A set of keys. He then went to a bathroom door which was closed, and he started to try to open the door with a key! Tiptoed in his bid to reach the key hole!! We were stunned!!

He also learnt to tip toe one random day! Mok and I return home from work one evening and he started to perform in front of us.. his tip toe dance! ;) He is still not too able to balance himself while tip toeing though.

Grandparents took out his favourite ABC blocks which we have kept it away for a while.. he simply loves it! He used to enjoy destroying the towers of blocks we have built.. but today, I managed to video him building some mini ones instead. ;)

Highlight of March-April has to be yeye and mama's visit, all the way from HK! That deserves a post on its own... but E really enjoyed the company of his grandparents.

Happy Birthday to us!!

We decided to throw a party for Bb E after all!! Somehow we just could not bear the thought of letting his 1st birthday go by without a mini celebration... err... well, it was supposed to be a mini one..though we ended up with close to 70++ friends! Well, our little one is so loved!!!!!! 

The party was a blast! We were initially rather stressed as the birthday boy refused to cooperate and have his naps that day! Not too sure if he was able to sense something coming... he finally took his nap at 4ish and his party was supposed to start at 530pm!

He made a grand entrance at around 620pm... oops... but at least we had a happy birthday boy that evening!!

We have tons of beautiful pictures, thanks to our photography, Rachel! Thanks Bff for the hard work!!

Party gifts for the babies and kids! 

Early birds were entertained by the bubbles! 

The patient uncle KH ;) 

Coaching in action! 

;) KUDOS to KH! 

Caleb obviously impressed by Uncle Roy's skill in spinning the top! 

He did it too! Alot of effort in entertaining the kids and the birthday boy was still nowhere in sight ;0 

Haha... this is what happens when the bigger boys get bored! 

Cousin Joel made it to the party! Hurray!!

Announcing the arrival of the birthday boy!!!! AT LAST.. he made it! 

Me & the little prince... he was obviously not too glad with the huge crowd that had arrived by the time he made his grand entrance! 

Pardon his ungentlemanly manners... 

Real glad Johnny and Er Yan made it for the party! 

Hello Bb Evan! 

Godma and the boys!

Thanks Bffs for helping with the party!! U gals are simply awesome! 

Can't believe that Elijah is catching up with Jaydon already!! 

When Sonia meets Elijah! Muahahah.... 

The group is expanding fast!  

Cousin Matt!! Love his cheeks.. ;) 

Yummy Orange Zest Cake from Pines Garden  

Find this shot really hilarious! 

Family shot!

Our awesome cell IGNITE! 

Church mates! 

CE kids! 

Hall friends 

Elijah and his gal friend, Sonia! Muahaha.. they keep taking turns to look at each other that evening! ;p 

My Sec gals and our precious kiddos! 

wow.. can't believe I have such a huge cake for my bday (and I can't eat it -_-) 

Love this shot! He looks so proud of his cake! 

lol..

E and his awesome grandma

Vote for me! 

Thank you Gong Gong and Po Po for the unconditional love for the past 1 year.. many more years to come! ;) 

Finally a picture with korkor Lucas, with both of u looking at the cam! 

Both boys in a great mood that day!

Bb E with Uncle KH & Aunty Rach! 

Haha.. Family theme? 

Post party shoots 

Up? 

Calling it a day! Happy 1st birthday dear boy! 

What is a birthday party without gifts!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts showered upon our little one!

Overwhelmed by all the presents! ;) 

NEXT question is: WHERE DO WE STORE ALL THESE GIFTS?!!! LOL!