Us, 3.

I had a bit of a fear that Michael wouldn't recognize his daddy when he saw him. After all, his daddy saw him when he was only 1 week old and only for 2 weeks. But during those 2 weeks, Amin carried him all through the night sometimes just to feel him close and let him sleep on him and I read somewhere that babies know their parents' scent. Yes, I said parents'. Not just mothers, they apparently know their dad's scent as well. So it was lovely that Amin carried him and they snuggled and he got a whiff of his dad.

So it was only after awhile before the 3 of us were reunited. We came to Dubai on M's 6 monthsary! So basically, 6 months of being apart. Michael basically is the kind that when he sees a new person, he usually surveys their face for emotions and whatnot. Not always does he smile and laugh. Definitely not always does he allow that new person to carry him. But when he saw Amin, he had a huge smile! His face lit up and he started kicking like crazy to be carried out of his stroller.

He was smiling a lot when his daddy carried him and he always would suddenly slow down, stare at his face and touch his face. Which is beautiful cause he does that to me and I feel the intense love when that little hand touches my cheek or forehead or my nose. So when I saw him touch his daddy's face without scratching or pulling but touching, it warmed my heart.

And now he bullies Amin! Always wanting Amin to carry him and play with him, seriously. When Amin leaves the room, he either cries or make some weird scream and when Amin comes back, there's the smile again!

God knows what is right. God always has a plan for us whether we believe in him or not, whether we believe his plans or not. His choices are right, we are nothing to try to change his plans.
This is right, and I thank God everyday for giving me strength to tolerate all the nonsense and hurtful words that has been thrown at me. I thank him for giving me patience to see his plan in a clearer light.

Eating healthy.

Eating healthy, doesn't mean fruits, vegetables and water... Only. Well that was what I thought before. I thought salads were good and chocolate was bad. But hey! Good news random chocolate lovers!

It is NOT bad! I read somewhere that a trick to losing weight was having dessert for breakfast. Yea, like cake or a bar of chocolate. Just one bar, let's not go overboard. But anyway yea apparently that excess sugar consumed, will be lost with the day's energy consumption and cause its consumed early, it throws your body into overdrive to start consuming the energy, as compared to an apple or whatever. See if you had cake for dessert at dinner, it'll just go to your hips cause you tend to sleep in an hour or so.

And thinking back, when I was small and tiny where the memory saddens me at times, I used to do that! I used to party so much that I would be so hungry at like 8ish or 9 in the morning but way to exhausted to actually get out of bed to get food so I used to pop chocolates in my mouth then snooze and wake a little later and have a proper meal. And somehow my weight either maintained or dropped.

Well now I'm older. I don't party no more or have not yet, and I need to lose weight proper and I wanna live longer too. I don't wanna live till 150 years old or whatever but how do they do it? I mean as a Singaporean, you see the food your elders eat and you think, they can't be healthy! Like come on, rice rice and more rice. Then there's the Sambal Kang Kong which floats in oil, there's all the fried food and whatever so what am I missing here?

So I read, foods that help you live longer include:

Brightly coloured fruit and vegetables cause of the nutrients they contain. They have natural pigments that give them their colour, can actually prevent cancer.

Dark Chocolate cause the cocoa beans are packed with antioxidants that can help cut the risk of heart diseases. One square a day is enough to boost your health though. Just one.

Oily Fish such as Salmon, Sardine and Trout actually reduce risk that can be associated with red meat, like heart diseases. Oily food has many vitamins that are good for the immune system and have been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease, brain damage and stroke.

Green Tea. Which I don't like so moving along.

Olive Oil reduces risk of heart diseases and stroke.

I always knew Olive Oil was the healthier option, and the more expensive one, but I never understood why cause you associate oil with fat. Yea, well now you know. 

Welcoming the 6 Month train.

Wow. So many changes! A few days after turning 6 months old, I found Michael sitting! Yupp, all by his self! I remember how he was always trying to accomplish that so one day while carrying him, I just sat him on his bum expecting him to fall on me but he just looked at me like "Right, so what you expecting you old fart". He wasn't all that steady though. He would be able to sit for a bit but gets tired and falls forward and just lies down.

So cute cause I would put him down for a nap and I would hear him wailing in the room, when I went in to see him, little man was sitting there with a sad face. Can't help but give him a hug.

When in Singapore, he was also trying hard to crawl. He would be in a weird position with his arse facing the sky and on all fours. Yes very much like a downward facing dog, weird ass position indeed. But he somehow just found that he couldn't move. He is 6 months 3 weeks and I've realised that this little bugger can crawl! He was just playing alone when he saw his pacifier and tried to grab it. The thing moved out of reach and he went after it. So we move the pacifier and he chases it. Its progressing for sure. 1, 2 steps then fall and kick. 1, 2 steps then fall and kick again. But he gets there alright and he gets that bloody pacifier. Gees, disappear for 2 seconds and he's gone.

AND! Yupp, it isn't over. He can basically stand alone. Okay not alone but he just needs to lean on something and he'll just be there leaning. Being very cool. When he carry him and let him stand, remove our hands, he stands for a bit before falling on us and laughing his arse off. He thinks its a game, we think its progress. Also, when he was younger, when we try to make him walk by just holding him by his hands, he sometimes walks then sometimes lets his feet drag like he wasn't sure. But he's sure as hell sure now. Now, we do that and he knows what comes after left is right and he basically walks with gusto, he marches basically! 

He also feels ticklish now! Before, fiddle with his feet or toesies and no reaction or he just stares at you but now, tickle and hear he laugh in a very obnoxious way and kick like crazy!

I'm typing this and he's beside me, lying down on his dinosaur and he just gave me a big toothless grin. I'm so proud of you my little one. 
Yes, life is great! Great indeed.

Footsie.

I read this article just the other day and I bet everyone that reads what I read prolly think I'm a little crazy cause I find fascination in these type of articles but hey, to each his own yes?

Anyways. It was an article about shoes! Everyone knows my massive love for shoes so this was a good read. My shoe fetish is is a little insane and I basically always buy the same type of shoes if you know what I mean. Different but same.

Okay yes the article. What your shoes say about you.

Anyways, if you really did click it to read it. What shoe type are you! I'm a 'Stilletos', 'Colours & Patterns' and 'Wedges' kinda girl! And its spot on! Spot bloody on. If you didn't read the article, shame on you for not clicking the click-able words.

STILLETOS
You're the life of the party. You're a confident lass and you know what your sex appeal can get you. Some may call you silly, shallow and spoilt, but that's only because they're jealous.


COLOURS & PATTERNS  
There's never a dull moment with you.
Bright colours are an indication that you're confident, sexy and all-round extroverted. They convery uniqueness and a girl who's not concerned about simply pleasing others.

WEDGES
No nonsense for you. In relationships, you value reliability and trust the most. As a person, you're straight forward and love power.

Funny huh? I thought it was only clothes that could say a lot about a person but apparently not. Apparently its everything. I bet if I searched, the type of nail colour a girl has on could say something about them too. Or the type of hair for men. Or glasses. Its a little freaky though, like everything can be displayed. Talk about disguises or hiding behind a mask or front. But everything else can be picked at and your personality broken down.

Anyways, there's another article that are the Do's & Don'ts of Footwear. Some interesting things to take note of that many people just blow over.

Don't wear high heels for too long. We've all been there: out on the town in an amazing pair of pumps ... with achy feet and knees. A 2010 study found that over time, wearing heels higher than 2 inches can put you at risk for joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis, and a new study finds that high heels are a leading cause of ingrown toenails, which can lead to infection and permanent nail damage.

Don't wear flip-flops everywhere. Flip-flops give your foot basically no support, and the constant rubbing of the thong between the toes can cause a friction blister. Not to mention they make stubbed toes, cuts, and sprained ankles more likely.

Don't wear the same shoes every day. It's tempting to always throw on your trusty flats. But alternating shoes can help keep your feet limber.

There's more but I am such a heels and flip flops girl. I hate flats, barely wear them. Ballerina flats are NOT my thing. Sandals are an occasional affair. And I hate those heels that are so ridiculously low that its like 10cm high. Why wear them and call them heels when they're flats. So like above, I am a Stilletto or Wedges heels kinda girl. Or flip flops.

And I'm not gonna lie and say I'm just like Beyonce and I can walk a mile in heels then dance like her in clubs without cringing on the way home. That's if I can even make it home without falling. Heels hurt dammit! But they're so pretty. But I'm pretty realistic, if I feel like its a heels day, I have a pair of flip flops in the car, regardless of what I'm wearing. I figure a fancy dress with flip flops look better than walking like I have something up my bum or falling and showing everyone my undies just cause I keep trying to stay in something that's killing me.

I'm sure you agree with me. Flip flops > Undies showing heels. 

Snoozefest.

I saw a friend of mine post this video on facebook and I couldn't help but check it out. Firstly, it is really adorable. Secondly, I have actually heard of some of the methods to make a baby fall asleep, especially the hairdryer one or a vacuum. It also helps if babies have colic. That horrifying moment, when your baby is colicky. Luckily for me, Michael is a pretty healthy baby.

Anyways, some of the stuff that babies need are hilarious! Like the smartphone one. I wish Michael was like that! Goodness! But instead, he wants to see what applications I have and whatnot. Not cool Michael.

I actually couldn't find tricks to get Michael to sleep. I mean how do you experiment to find these stuff out? It has to have started by experiments right? One point of time, it was carry carry carry till my arms ached. Then it was tiptoeing around him so as not to wake him. Then, after frustration, it was the cry it out method which I adopted cause my back couldn't take it no more and it worked. Of course this is only done at home. Imagine the horror of that happening in the mall. Whoosh. Madness.

But alas! I have found some tricks! The cry it out method works. He's kinda figured I won't carry him every single time no more. And since I know he needs his pacifier to fall asleep so the trick is I let him cry it out till I can hear it in his voice that he's just exhausted, he tends to have a higher pitch and more angry cry, that's when I go in, pop the pacifier and he'll be knocked out! Baha! Figured you out you little monkey you. And cause of this, he doesn't want to be carried so much when out. Only if he's uncomfortable. But other than that, the trick is, put a cloth over his eyes!

I know this took me a grand 4 to 5 months to figure out but hey, I did it. And I'm glad that he's learning to fall asleep alone as well cause my back is dead and although my clothes are looser, my weight isn't dropping. I'm freakin gaining muscle mass thank you. I'm sending in my resume to become a wrestler soon, I'm getting muscles in places I never knew girls could. Ish.

Dangers of being airbound with a baby.

I was so overpacked, it was ridiculous.
I flew Emirates and basically its 30kg for adults and 10kg for babies. 10kg? Haha! Please my toes are laughing.
Then its 7kg allowed as a carry on and a baby bag.
So basically, 40kg, 1 heavy as hell bag on flight, 1 baby bag, 1 stroller and 1 baby.
Oh, and ONE, me.

Obviously, my luggages were over the limit allowed.
Obviously, I wiggled my way out of paying $40 per kg over limit.
Obviously, my shoulders were dead thanks to carrying an equivalent to 2 Michaels' on flight.
Obviously, no one knows how to work my stroller, making it difficult to get the car seat off the stroller with Michael in it with 10kg of hand carry, fold the stroller down, lift Michael and the bags.
OBVIOUSLY!

I made it out alive thankfully. Nearly fell a few times, no one was around, I checked.
I did make it out alive, yes I did. With more aches and muscles than it took to get in 6 months.

I was honestly freaking out about the flight. Never been on a flight with a baby, ever. Plus, it was a night flight so I thought Oh no, if Michael goes on his screaming antics, I'll get daggers for stares on the way out. But Michael's always been a good sleeper so I'm not sure what I was freaking out about. Oh right, I was freaking out about the Ear Issue. I read up online about how to deal with babies on flights and every site said that babies need to be fed during take off and landing. So there I was, like a fool waiting with milk in hand and all ready to just pop it in once the plane started increasing speed.

Then, Michael decides to wake to have his milk earlier than usual, which means he won't be drinking during take off. My God thought I. But then, I remembered one site saying, if your baby is asleep don't bother waking him up for the feeds. Usually babies have their own sucking reflex which is exactly what is needed to not get the ear thing. So I thought that was all. Cabin crew comes around with some weird ass seat belt attachment to strap M in with me and I like how she placed it in front of me and said, Well you know what to do with the loveliest smile. No, no I do not know what to do with this alien belt. Then she comes around again and says I need to put your bag up. Ahh fantastic, take the Baby bag away, and store it in a place I definitely cannot reach, SURE!

I did not sleep at all during the flight. Okay maybe I did. Like half a bloody hour! Eventually, the bassinet comes along and as I place M in there I think, haha oh god imagine if he decides to turn and falls while I sleep. An unfriendly crew comes about and tells me Hi, you know that whenever there's turbulence, you need to strap yourself with THE baby in whether he's in the bassinet or not. You need to take him out. THE baby was where my focus stopped. THE? It should have been YOUR, you dimwit.

Anyway, surprisingly all went well. Better than well! I was so proud of myself! It was quite an interesting flight. Some guy always running to the bathroom to throw up. Haha! But one time, he didn't make it on time, that wasn't funny. He puked beside me. A guy that gobbles his special food in record time of 2 minutes then sleeps immediately. Best of all? The awkward smell I got from the baby I was carrying. Yes, M pooped all over me. All over my clothes and his. All over. So was the smell, all over. Thank God for overpacked hand luggages.

He smelt great as we got off the plane. Me not so, but I cleaned up before I reached immigration. Didn't wanna get pulled over.

So basically. I'm pretty proud of myself that I handled that alone. I mean I really didn't think I could. But I did. Michael was amazing. 5 Gold Stars for me.