Foul Smell

There had been a lingering foul smell at the corner of the living room for the past week. We searched high and low but couldn't find where the smell came from. One moment the smell disappeared, then came back again. In the end, we decided to call the management to check if it was coming out from one of the aircon vents in the living room. We suspected that something (a rat, perhaps) died in the vent.

Today the technician came up to clean all the aircon filters. The landlady had given approval to clean all the ventilators for us. Guess what we found? No rats (A sigh of relief from papa). Just dust and dirt.

We were about to move the book shelves back in place, when something rolled down from the shelf with a "splat"!

Lo and Behold! We found our culprit!

There lying on the floor was a 2 week old Easter egg, shell painted blue, green and red, which Justin had brought home from school. The cracked egg was greenish yellow, and gave out a putrid smell of sulphur.

Out of sight, out of mind. I must have put it right on top of the shelf to prevent Jonathan from touching. I thought that the contents of the egg had been removed. But apparently, the school used boiled eggs. Mmmm..... I did remember using empty egg shells during my school days though. Boiled eggs used because they are harder and less easy to crack?

Anyway, it was a blessing in disguise. Good time to service the aircon before summer arrives.

Update on the Boys

We have finally settled down to a comfortable routine here. Justin goes to school and comes back late in the afternoon. Jonathan happily plays his toys while looking out of the window watching the cars and buses on the streets. Mummy is busy exploring the little lanes around the neighbourhood, excited to find something new each day.

Jonathan at 1 yr 5 mths : -

- Babbles more often. Words include:

* "There!" - finger pointing to the object when we ask him where it is
* "Mum Mum" - food
* "Tar" - star
* "Ma ma ma ma ma" - could be calling mummy
* "Pa pa pa pa pa" - daddy
* "Dong" - down

- Puts food in his mouth using a fork or spoon
- His molars are coming out, drooling and drooling non-stop
- Climbs down the bed by himself
- Says goodbye by blowing a kiss
- Smiles cheekily and looks at people using the corner of his eye when playing
- Loves to eat bread
- Nods his head to say "Yes" and shakes his head to say "No"
- Loves Kor Kor's Thomas the Train books (of all the books on the shelf, he only takes those)
- Takes tissue to wipe the table / floor when it is wet
- Throws his diapers into the dustbin on his own

Jonathan is more manageable than Justin at the same age. Maybe it's because I am more experienced. But then again, they have different natures. Jon is more quiet and docile while Jus is active and cheeky.


Justin at 4 yrs 7 mths : -

- Favourite quote: "Mummy, you ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~, ok? Ok Mummy? Ok? Ok Mummy?" And even after so many Yes-es, he still asks the same question just to be sure. Sigh! Super long-winded.

- Favourite food: Cheese & anything with tomato sauce in it

- Reading has progressed from simple words at 3 yrs, short sentences at 3 and a half yrs, to story books at 4 yrs

- Starts to speak Mandarin after 3 mths and uses words like "我要坐飞机", "弟弟来了", "弟弟比较坏", etc. You might think that these words are simple, but it's quite an achievement for him coming from an English speaking environment. I was very impressed when I heard his school friends say 4 worded 成语 in class at the young age of 4!

There was a period of time when Justin was miserable in school. He didn't like school because his teacher and class-mates spoke Mandarin and he couldn't understand or communicate with them.

Almost every night he dreamt and screamed, "I don't want (to go to school)! I don't want!". My heart broke when I saw the little boy so stressed. Thank goodness, he has adapted to the school environment after some time.

Now he enjoys his extra Art Class in school, so much so that he tells me he wants to have Art Class everyday.

Justin has matured and toned down quite a lot. I praise him even more nowadays because he genuinely deserves them. He is an understanding brother and never retaliates when Jon hits him. Oh yes, he feels happy when I scold Jonathan. He will run t0 tell Papa about the mischief Jon has done. 真的是幸灾乐祸! (*Smiles*)

Trip to Children's Museum of Taipei

It was great meeting up with Hui Li, a fellow Singaporean SAHM, over coffee while the kids went to play at the Children's Museum. The kids roamed freely within the museum which had different exhibits based on 5 main themes. One moment they can be fire fighters, and the next little dentists. At the end of the hour, Jonathan was quite reluctant to leave the tractor. (See last picture)

Ky-Shan & Jonathan

Young scientists at work

Bob the Builder, Yes We Can!

A Night's Stay Over at BeiTou

** Back-dated post**Beitou is well-known for its Hot Spring Resorts situated in the North of Taipei City. We had a relaxing night's stay at Spring City Resort. Justin enjoyed himself tremendously at both the indoor and outdoor hotsprings.

Indoor hotspring bath in the room

Pretty flowers on the way downhill

First herald of Spring - Cherry Blossoms

Mini Japanese Garden

BeiTou Children's Playground

Near the Hot Spring Museum

Sick - sick - sick

Justin is the 3rd casualty from the flu virus. He has been at home for 3 days, with fever going on like a roller-coaster. I was worried that he would get fits again (after his fever went up to 40 degrees celsius the last time). Searched the medicine cabinet for Voltaren suppository - just in case. But thank goodness I didn't have to use it.

First night he was moaning and groaning because of his sore throat, blocked nose and fever. Next morning, I brought him to see a PD. Gave him lots of vitamin C and fluids. The fever still went up and down the first two days. One minute he was okay, the next minute he didn't feel too well. It only seemed to have levelled off to a comfortable temperature this evening.

This afternoon he got a little bored and started fixing his mini "Glow in the dark" Lego Racer.

Earthquake

I just experienced my first earthquake at 12:58am, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale.

The boys were not sleeping well, tossing and turning in their sleep. Justin made so much noise in his dream that Jonathan began to stir. I was patting Jon back to sleep when the tremours started. The bed started moving left and right.

My first thought was, "Geez, I am getting a little dizzy. Must be due to the lack of sleep." Then Desmond rushed in excitedly "EARTHQUAKE! Did you feel it?"

"Erm... yeah, I felt the movements". It only lasted for a few seconds. The boys were then fast asleep and didn't realise anything. My heart pounded for a few seconds at the thought of how it would be like if the magnitude of the quake was stronger. It would have been scary.

Strangely enough, we were talking about earthquakes the day before.