On Tuesday, I had an appointment with a cardiologist. Steven was able to go with me. I've been having some aches in my chest area, and my obstetrician wanted me to get checked out. Thankfully, the heart ultrasound and ECG looked normal. The doctor said that the pains could be related to stress and anxiety. Even though I don't really feel anxious, we are living overseas, I am pregnant, and I am very busy keeping up with a toddler. Lots to handle with no help. Since Tuesday, the pains have subsided, but I'll touch base with my obstetrician at my next appointment.
Brandon and I had a great surprise on Thursday. We walked to the Forum that morning, and we ran into our new friends, Christine and Lily. Since they are new to SG, Christine's husband's company had hired a relocation agency to give them a short driving tour of things to do in Singapore. Valerie, the guide, invited me and Brandon along for the tour. Too good to pass up!
We had a great time on the tour! It actually made me feel good about how I have spent our last 4-plus months here in SG. Most of the places that we visited, Brandon and I had already been to. However, we were also introduced to a few new sites. For example, we had never been to the mall United Square or the MacRitchie Reservoir. The tour was great because we made a stop every 10-15 minutes, and we got to get out of the van for a quick walk and view of the stop.
At lunch time, we took a break so Brandon and Lily could nap. Brandon and I stayed at Christine's new apartment for a couple of hours, and Brandon napped in the stroller. Not a great nap, but it's not something we do often. After the break, the van picked us back up for the afternoon part of the tour. Brandon and I were both tired of riding in the van by the end, but we were so happy to have the afternoon tour with friends. Brandon also made a new friend. Our van driver, Eric, loved Brandon and Lily. When he dropped us off at the end of the day, he told Brandon, "Uncle loves you!" The local people here in SG really love children.
Early that evening, we spent a few minutes hanging out with some other people down at the pool. Below is a picture of the Leonie View children who are often out at the pool. What a gang!
On Friday afternoon, we went down to Jo, Jessie, and Jake's apartment. Jo, Stella, and Sam were leaving SG for good on Saturday after their three months here, and we wanted to do a little farewell party for them. So sad that they left. Brandon and I will miss them all!
Stella and Jessie
Brandon, Stella, and Jessie
Brandon, Stella, Sammy, Jessie, and Jake. So hard to get all of the kids to look at the same camera at once!
On Saturday, Steven, Brandon, and I went to the zoo. Even though we've been to the zoo many times already, we still see new exhibits when we go. On this visit, we walked through the zoo's Fragile Forest. There were free ranging lemurs, bats, flying foxes, sloths, birds, ducks, butterflies, and more.
Daddy and Brandon admired the lemurs.
Flying fox
Sloth.
Sunday morning was spent at church and a nice lunch at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK, as they call it here). Later that afternoon, we went to VivoCity. Brandon had a blast playing in the water and the rest of the kids' play area. Strange feeling at VivoCity. The last time we were there was our first weekend in SG. So many things have changed and happened since then!
Wow. Brandon has changed so much in the last couple of weeks, even since the grandmas left.
He understands so much. If he throws a toy, we tell him that the toy will go "bye bye" if he throws it again. He often makes the good decision not to throw the toy again. Although, sometimes he has to learn a hard lesson. Brandon also likes to turn the lamp in his bedroom on and off during reading time at night. We tell him that if he isn't interested in the books and turns the light off again, then it is "night night". Brandon has had to go to bed a few books short a couple of nights.
I think we are officially entering the "Terrible Twos". Brandon is starting to throw some fits, he is constantly saying "no", and he has taken to some biting and hitting. Nothing major yet, and we still have our sweet, loving Brandon. But, Steven and I are definitely having some conversations about what is appropriate, fair, and best, and we are doing our best to be consistent. We have been doing some reading on the internet about different approaches to dealing with certain behaviors. We are trying to figure out what works best for our parenting style and our goals for Brandon. Definitely the hardest job we have ever had. And, it doesn't end! :)
Some funny stories from the week -
Brandon was in the bath tub one night. I told him that he had "five more minutes". He looked at me with a not so happy face and shook his pointer finger at me. He said, "No, no, blah, blah, blah, Mama. One more." I said, "Okay. You can have one more minute." He gave me the biggest grin! I'll enjoy this while it lasts. :)
While I was in the bathroom one day, Brandon reached up on the table and grabbed my cell phone. No big deal. He was pushing buttons, and he put the phone up to his ear. "Hi. Hello, Dadda." I laughed. When I'm on the phone here, it is most always with Steven. A little later, Steven called our apartment phone. When I answered, he told me that he was surprised I let Brandon answer my cell phone earlier. What? Evidently, Steven called when Brandon was playing with my phone. Brandon answered the phone and was really having a conversation with Daddy. I thought he was pretending. So cute!
We were out for dinner on Sunday night. We ordered Brandon some chicken fingers, but he, of course, saw our french fries and wanted those. We told him that if he ate a bite of chicken, he would get a fry. He ate a bite, and he got a fry as promised. He wanted another fry. We told him the same. However, this time Brandon refused to eat the chicken. So, no french fry. Brandon cried and fussed. In the cab on the way home, Brandon gave me the hungry "mmmmm, mmmmm". I pulled out the leftover chicken. He gobbled down 2 1/2 large chicken strips. Steven and I were smiling and doing our very best not to laugh out loud. Hilarious! Honestly, I felt pretty crappy when we left the restaurant. But, after Brandon ate in the car, it made me feel better about sticking to what we said. Deep sigh...
One of my favorite things right now -
If Steven is home from work, Brandon likes him to do the bedtime routine. Brandon doesn't want Mommy. He doesn't even want me to hold him for a cuddle and a kiss because he is worried that I will take him from his Daddy. But, if I go into Brandon's bedroom once Steven is in there starting to read bedtime books, Brandon will come and give me the BEST kisses and cuddles. He tells me "night night" and "bye bye, Mama". I can often even get "one more" kiss before the final "night night". He is such a loving boy!
