Never underestimate your two-year-old

On Saturday, we spent an afternoon with some really good friends. Zach was quite taken by the toys at their place, in particular a guitar.


When it was time to go, he wanted to take the guitar home. The following is the conversation he had with his dad:

Khoa: Zach, can we have a conversation?
Zach: NO!
Khoa: Zach...
(Zach obediently walks over to his dad)
Khoa: Son, listen. This guitar belongs to Dylan. Dylan was kind enough to let you play with it. Now, if Dylan came over to our house and you let Dylan play with your dinosaurs and Dylan wanted to take them home to his house, how would you feel?
(Zach paused in deep thought. Then without a word, walked over to Dylan and gave the guitar back and said, "Thank you" and hugged him.)

Sleep training part II

So I hear you asking how is the sleep training going? Well, I think it is going very well. The training is almost done now. The only problem is that the trainee is me!

I gave up fighting as it became too difficult a battle and it would ruin what little time I had with Zach after work. I figured that I might as well enjoy the time I have with him instead of insisting that he went to bed on his own. The time is precious and I shouldn't waste it.

So, now at about 8:30pm, we whisper our way into bed as Amelia is already asleep. He has his last cup of milk, say our little prayer and we go to sleep. Well, I turn my back to him and go to sleep while he continues to whisper stories and songs behind me. By the time I wake again at about 11:30, he is asleep and I have had my little late night nap. A nap that allows me to stay up for about an hour to do stuff around the house, spend time with Khoa and have my daily dose of net time.

It is working very well for us and I like the fact that there is no crying involved. I feel very strongly that when it comes to parenting if it feels right for you and it doesn't harm the child, it is right.

continuing on this memory lane...

...is another one of my rediscoveries: Bic Runga's Sway.



I find her music honest and raw. I remember distinctly the first time I heard this song. It stopped me in my tracks. It was something about the lyrics and something about the guitar and something about her voice. I wanted to run up to someone, anyone, and beg them to stay because I needed them. The yearning was overflowing.

Rediscovering...

... songs that speak to me and in all too many ways is telling of my age!

Of late, we have been listening to 720 ABC Perth in the car. A radio channel on the AM frequency with a lot of meat in terms of content and information. It doesn't broadcast tunes and the mindless drone that other more main stream radio stations play which is oh so refreshing since lately, the music quality of R&B (which comprises about 80% of the music played) just doesn't cut it for me.

Anyway, I've been rediscovering songs of my younger days and strangely are still timeless and relevant. Like this one by Peter Gabriel, Solsbury Hill, and John Farnham's The Voice. AND one of my all time favourites, Sarah MacLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy:

Extraordinary Mondays - Stairporn

A friend sent me this link and my immediate reaction when it loaded on to my screen was to scream with glee!

An entire website dedicated to the element I love most about architecture: STAIRS!!

Photo taken from Apartment Therapy
Stairs by London-based Levitate Architects

Go ahead, I dare you not to be inspired.

early beginnings...

... of a potential?

"Mickey Mouse Shoes" by Zachary

"Mummy Pterodactyl*" by Zachary

* I'll explain later.

Always a little guilty in the morning...

...when I pass the train as I am chauffeured to work by Khoa. I really should be taking public transport but he insists on sending and picking me up from work. I do enjoy the time with him and Zach, who has been coming along for the ride since Khoa is currently on leave.

By the way, the photo was taken by Zach (aged 2 and 4 months) with my iPhone. That little son of mine knows how to turn it on, slide the "slider" along the screen to unlock the phone, touch the camera button to start camera mode, and take photos. Always makes me wonder what I was doing when I was his age.

What a weekend!

I had a wonderful weekend just past.

It actually started on Friday morning when I was witness to some history-making decisions at work. More details to come once I clear that it isn't confidential. It has to do with the exercising of a part of the Heritage Act that has never been used before!

Then, I had lunch with Khoa and a good friend who dropped into Perth for some business at Botanical Cafe at King's Park. It was such a beautiful day and food was great and not exceptionally expensive for the atmosphere and the quality. Khoa and I had the grilled fish that was served on a bed of broccoli and zucchini drizzled with a lemon aioli and our friend had the fish and chips which was served in a wooden box! The fish was grilled to a perfection and this was what crowned us as we ate. What a beautiful scene!

Due to a change in plans, we were urged by our friend to spend some time together (work-less and kid-less) before meeting up with him again that evening for a citation ceremony at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle. So off we went and spent the rest of the beautiful afternoon window shopping in Freo. The markets haven't really changed since the last time I was there which would have been more than two years ago I reckon. It sure brought back great memories. I love going to markets! There is such a grittiness and rawness that I absolutely love. Too bad I don't get to the markets enough. I was resolute to take the kids along once Amelia is a little older. I know Zach would adore the little curios and knick-knacks offered by the stalls.

We met up with our friend again at the citation ceremony that was organised by the Australia Teaching and Learning Council to recognise the efforts by lecturers and support staff at universities in Western Australia. Both Khoa and I were really inspired and have set our eyes on getting a citation. (I do intend to return to lecturing) It was good to meet up and thank some people who were an integral part of getting my PhD through the various loops and over the hurdles.

The weekend got even better on Saturday night when we joined another good friend for his 60th birthday celebrations. We were most honoured to be part of the celebrations as we were the only ones that he invited from our circle of friends and oh! the space where the dinner was held was magical!


What a wonderful weekend! I'm simply looking forward to this weekend!

OMG!

I can't believe that it has been almost a month since my last post! That is incredible. Time sure flies when you have:

1. an almost two and half year old not wanting to sleep early
2. a five and half month old who is suffering from a bad case of rash/eczema/doctor doesn't even know what it is. (Breaks my heart everytime I see Amelia's cheeks)
3. a husband that doesn't seem to have kicked the cold/flu completely
4. a job that requires so much energy at the moment because I'm not only embracing change but instigating it
5. a never ending pile of clean laundry waiting to be folded. (I simply HATE folding clothes)

For those who are wondering, I'm still here. Alive and kicking. But I must admit, turning the laptop on when all I want to do at night is sleep, has been rather difficult.

I still have so much to show you. I have a load of photos to share and projects to write about. Stick around and you'll be rewarded soon. I promise.