So Happy

Took Jayden out for a swim after work. He had just gotten up from his nap, and usually he'd have a snack and play with his toys till it's time for dinner, but today I felt unusually energetic and asked he'd like to go for a swim.

It took me three seconds to change him into his bathing suit, and we were off. I got Jona (our helper) to bring Hannah in for a quick dip too, but she kept climbing up my arm every time I lowered her down to the water (I think the water was too cold for her), so I had Jona wrap her up in a towel and take her back.

Jayden played with his water toys in the kiddie pool while I lounged at the jacuzzi. Heh. We did play at the adult pool together for quite a bit, then it was time to head back.

"Want play somemore," Jayden pleaded as I pushed him up the pool ladder.

"We can play somemore in the bathtub," I replied as I picked up his float and toys and wrap him up in his towel at the same time.

"OK!" He dashed his way back into the house, leaving a wet trail behind.

Back in the house, I filled up the bathtub with warm water and stripped him of his bathing suit. He was already 'showering' his Thomas trains with the water scoops. I started lathering him up with shampoo as he played.

"I'm so happy." He announced, white frothy bubbles dripping from his hair.

"You are?" I wanted to make sure he knew what he was saying.

"Ya," he nodded as he picked up Spencer the silver train. "I'm sooo happy."

"Aww, I'm glad you're happy. Mommy is happy too."

And I was. Happy that I decided to do something fun with him, rather than leave him to his toys and TV. Happy to be reminded that it took so little to make my child happy. He didn't need more toys, or new videos on the tablet, or more chocolates. All he needed was a patient mommy who was willing to play with him.

"So do you want to go to the swimming pool tomorrow? Or the playground?"

"Mmm.. playgwound!"

Rainbow Noodles

He was having macaroni with miso soup for lunch.

"Ainboh oodel." He muttered in between bites.

"Eh? What is it?"

"Ain Boh Oo Del." He pointed to the macaroni.

"This is ma-ca-ro-ni. You like this noodle, ya?"

"Noo. Rainbow. See." He held a piece of macaroni close to my face.

"Ooohh. It does look like a rainbow eh?? Rainbow noodles?"

"Ya. Rainbow noodles." He gave me a wide smile, the way he always does when I figured out what he was trying to say.

I ruffled the top of his head. Rainbow noodles does sound a lot more fun than macaroni. :D:D

I Buy Coconuts

Jayden got a purple angpow from our Deepavali visit at a friend's house, and he was meticulously prying open the flossy paper as we settled down in the car.

"I got money!" He announced with much pride, lifting up a five-ringgit note with his free hand.

"Oh wow. Cool! So you can buy things already." I played along.

"Ya. I want buy coconut."

"Coconut??" To be fair, this request was not totally out of the blue. We were talking about getting a coconut drink as we passed by a few coconut stalls on the way to our friend's house.

"Ya ya. I got money. We go. OK?" He nodded his head suggestively.

"OK. We have to find the coconut shop though. Now raining wor..." I gestured sadly out the window, an exaggerated pout on my face.

"Ohh.. Raining... Rain rain, go away!" He made a shooing gesture at the pesky raindrops.

"When the rain stops, we can look for the coconuts, OK?" I suggested.

"Ya ya. I got money. Rain stop. We go. Uh huh."

"So how many coconuts do you wanna buy?"

"Uhhh.. one, two, three... four! Ya, four." To my amusement, he actually pointed at each of us in the car as he counted. And he tried to make the four symbol with his chubby fingers. Too cute I cannot.

"Four ar? You got enough money??"

"Ya ya. I got money." He waved his money at me. Point taken.

"OK but we still need to find the coconut shop ya? If it's raining, there won't be any coconuts," I informed him to avoid any unnecessary disappointment.

"Oohh... Rain, go away!"

Miraculously, the rain did stop. We found a coconut stall, and he called out to his dad, "Papa! Nah. Money. Go buy." I had to laugh out loud.

The father played along. "OK. How many you want?" He unfastened his seat belt and reached over to take the money.

"No no! Want go down also." Jayden decided he was going to buy the coconuts himself, it seemed.

So they went, while I waited in the car with Hannah.

Jayden came back with two packets of coconut juice. "Nah. Mommy. I buy."

"Aww thanks for sharing, Jayden. We go back and drink OK?"

"Uh huh. I buy."

Just Shopping for Little Man Stuff

A Boat Ride with My Little Man

The last time I went to Clarke Quay, I was carried out of a busy night club by two besties, piss drunk from a long night of partying with the amazing girlfriends who had organized the best bachelorette weekend for me.

Now I am back here, chasing after my firstborn who was running and counting aloud the number of boats sailing down the river.

I was about to catch up with him when he stopped and said, 'Want go boat.' He pointed at the nearest boat docked at the side.

I told him no, we had to leave soon for a dinner appointment with friends. He was not having it.

'Want go BOAT!!' He dodged away as I reached out for his arm.

Thankfully, our adult plans changed and I managed to prevent a complete toddler meltdown in the middle of the crowded street.

The boat tickets were expensive, and no one else wanted to go on a boat cruise, so it was just Jayden and I.

It was a nice, peaceful date with my little man. The weather was breezy and comfortable,  and he was so well-behaved the entire time. He sat on my lap so that he could look out the window, and we talked about everything and anything we saw as the boat cruised lazily past the busy city of Singapore. I could almost see his young mind taking everything in, from the Merlion (water funtan!) to the many bridges we passed under. Everything was new and interesting to him. We even shared a banana together, like a proper date LOL.

Soon we returned to the dock where we started. We held hands as we jumped off the boat, and he rushed off to tell his papa everything he saw from the boat.

I love it when he makes it so easy to love him.