Xavier "Bruised" Lee

Xavier had his second haircut on Wednesday (25 Nov 09). The first was when he was five months ago when we shaved his head bald. He certainly looks much neater after the haircut.

He would also remember this day for another reason, a bad one. You guys see the red mark on his forehead? He was actually bitten by an older boy in his class. It actually looked pretty bad, as you could probably see from the photo it was red and swollen.

We are not angry with the boy, for we as parents know kids "play rough" at time and as they are still young, they are still learning. Fight, biting, pushing, hitting are all part and parcel of play for kids their age. What we are displease about is the fact that the parents of that boy didn't even bother to give us a courtesy apology. One of the teachers at the center had told the parents what happen on Friday (about the time when we went to pick up Xavier), as we see her carrying Xavier and showing the "damage".

What happens next was the parents saw us coming to pick Xavier up, they just left without a word. Thursday morning when we bring Xavier to the center, again we cross path at the entrance and again they treated us as transparent. What ill-manners parents.

I been trying to teach Xavier self-defence and lesson one happens to be "Poke the freaking eyes". Tell your Master Ong not to come near Xavier for he might not get away the next time round.

On a side note, Lilian and my Mum had ask me not to teach kids such violent thoughts. I think its a guy thing but I strongly believe being about the fend for yourself and to be able to fight back as self defence is important. Its a different story if he starts a fight and bully someone else, that is when I would discipline him. But if he bites back when someone bites him, I would give him a pat and say "Well done boy!".

Baby "Mah Piu Poh" (Newspaper)

Yesterday we went to Lilian's colleague's baby girl Kirsten's 1st Birthday party. Her colleague is also a photo enthusiast and was running slideshow of Kristen's photos from birth. It sort of kick me in the head that I have taken much lesser photos of Xavier recently than during his first three months.

Lilian recently bought for Xavier a baby newspaper from Combi. I love this Japanese company products, especially the Smile Lab series. Its pretty innovative and cute.
It is made of synthetic material so it is almost "indestructible" by a baby. They also pack a rattle and a squeaky in it. Below is an image of it beside today's Sunday Times.
So did Xavier have fun "reading" his newspaper? Not really, he throws it away like all other toys. Haha...

"Hello, where is my newspaper?"

"Ok, let's see today NTUC got any diapers on offer or not..."

Da Jia Shi Porridge

We went for a short staycation at The Sentosa Resort and Spa with Eric and Elsie as we were not too confident of bringing Xavier on an overseas trip but we badly wanted a getaway nonetheless. But before we set out to Sentosa, Eric brought us to one of his favourite porridge stall, Da Jia Shi Porridge.

What's unique with this porridge stall the couple serve up the tasty Mixed Deep Fried Pig's Intestine Porridge.
The fried pig intestines are yummy and pair very well with the porridge. It has this crispy outer layer that is so addictive, I just could not stop eating. And as you can see from the photo, the portions are generous. Mine even has cuttlefish in it (I think Eric added that when he ordered). Even after finishing a bowl, I didn't have that jerlat feeling.

They also sell raw fish which you can order as a side dish. I am not a big fan of raw fish so I can't really comment on it.

Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-147 Chinatown Complex Market
Singapore 050335

Xavier's First Tooth

We got a pleasant surprise yesterday when I notice his first tooth sprouting out from his gum. You can also see the gum forming the shape of the front two teeth.

I been trying to get a natural smiling Xavier to show off his first pearly but he is either too fast resulting in blurry image (like the shot below), or his tongue would block it or he would grab the toy I use to distract him and hit my lens.

In the end we had to resort to pulling his lower chin down to get a clear shot. Will try to get a smiling shot again when the tooth is more obvious.

Season Greetings...

As we inch closer to the holiday season, the X'mas feel gets stronger. Malls are playing X'mas songs and Orchard Road is once again lighted with X'mas lights. We went shopping at Daiso today and they had some X'mas hair bands. Couldn't help but put them on Xavier.

Does he look abit like Dr. Evil with his finger in his mouth? Hehe...

Major Drama yesterday, Drama today

Yesterday morning was one of the more dramatic morning I had in a long time. We were at the Koufu food court at Market Street car pack having our breakfast when Xavier started making the "Mm Mm" sound like he was passing motion.

I was jokingly asking him "Xavier 大便啊?", he just looked at me and smile. I checked his diaper from the top of his butt and it looked clean (didn't pass motion). So I played with him while Lilian disappears somewhere (she didn't want me to say in blog where she went).

Anyway moments later I detected a foul smell. Since I just checked him not long ago it was clean and thinking he just had a smelly fart (he has been hacing lots of smelly farts recently) , I carried him up from his pram. To my horror, his mega size poo has overwhelmed his diaper and covered the back of his right leg. I quickly lift him up and lay the underproof pad over his pram to prevent is from dirtying the pram. But he refused to sit down after I carried him.

Now, imagine myself wearing long sleeve rolled up and work pants, carrying Xavier under his arm-pit with his poo staining the right side of his long pants, in the middle of an air-conditioned food court. And Xavier was yelling and kicking at the same time. So Drama. And I was in that position for a good 5 mins before Lilian appears again. Those 5 minutes felt like eternity.

With Lilian back, the next challenge was changing his super soiled pants and diaper using the pram, with Xavier kicking, yelling and trying to turn onto his tummy while on the pram. We almost went MAD, both of us. Somehow after another 5 minutes we manage to successfully change his diaper. And it was left to me to wash his super soiled pants before putting in a plastic bag to bring back to wash. What a morning.

And today, it was mini déjà vu. Xavier made the same sound again and Lilian disappeared yet again. This time I carried him early to check if he poo and if it leaked. But as he was wearing a suit outfit, it was hard to check if he poo unless I strip his lower half. So I just checked if any leaked. As there were none, I then carried him with his bum sitting on my arm.

The fact is he did poo and I think it was due to this action that the poo got squeezed out of his diaper onto his suit and my sleeve. Although it was more manageable today, I am now very weary whenever he makes that "Mm Mm" sound now.

Greedy Xavier

We got the first "complaint" from Xavier's teacher yesterday. It seems he is very greedy and even after he is fed, he would eye other babies milk bottles or porriage bowls when the teachers are feeding the other babies.

When I say eye, I mean really eye, like a hungry wolf watching rabbits hopping around. In fact, the "complaint" was he "bit" a teacher on the arm when being denied food that is not his. Well I think he didn't literally bite, probably just did his "Goldfish" move.

So what is his "Goldfish" move? He would open his mouth wide and attach it to one of your bodyparts, then while attached, shake his head like he is saying "no". Nothing harmful except that area get wet with his saliva. He likes to do that to my shoulder, my arm and my fingers.

Anyway there is now another commercial that would catch his attention and make him stop whatever he is doing and stare at the television. I have attached it below. Pretty nice song I must say.

Soon Soon Huat Seafood Restaurant

Had a boys night out with Rick and Guoxian recently and I suggested we try out this place I saw on the TV program "煮炒来咯" featuring pig intestine on sizzling hotplate. We decided to order the three dishes featured on the TV program and add a vegetable dish and rice to complete our dinner.

First up was the vegetable, Sambal Kangkong. I find the taste pretty bland. I mean its spicy but without much flavour. I could hardly taste the shrimp paste.

Next up was the reason I suggested this place. Named "SSH Special Sizzling Hotplate Dish", its sambal pig intestine on hotplate. This dish is very unique as the usual pig intestine dish is the Kway Chap and you would hardly find pig intestine on hotplate. I was half expecting some intestine to have the black char on it but none of it was burned. The hotplate did well to keep the dishes warm throughout the whole dinner. The pig intestine is very Q and doesn't have any smell to it.

I would highly recommend this dish. Named "Royal Pork Ribs", its actually pork ribs over creamy butter sauce and curry leave. I love pork ribs to death and this is an exciting twist to the usual sweet and soar/coffee/mongolian style. The pork ribs are tender and the creamy butter sauce pair very well with the ribs. There isn't much fatty bits to it, which is good. I would come back to this place just for this dish.


The last dish is named "Dragon Ball", I think after the popular Japanese anime ドラゴンボール (七龙珠). There were exactly seven pices on the plate (yes we counted them). Fried yam balls that are crispy on the outside and oh so smooth and soft on the inside. And there is a piece of scallop in each ball. A must have for yam lovers.

Soon Soon Huat Seafood Restaurant
Blk 94 Henderson Road
Singapore 150094

The curse of October...

Xavier seems to be under a certain spell. He has been sick for the WHOLE of October. Started with running nose, followed by cough, cough again, diarrhoea, diarrhoea again, running nose and today, cough yet again. The cycle never seems to end. Is it too much to ask for Xavier not to be sick for at least a month?!?!

Ok, now that's out of my chest, let's talk about something more light-hearted.

We went to The Calrose yesterday to a baby's 1st birthday celebration. It's the second time I've been there in 2 weeks, the first being Anthony's baby girl Kaelyn's baby shower celebration. This development gave me a very nice feel when I first came. Low rise blocks surrounding a number of swimming pools and water features, giving the whole place a very resort feel.

Lilian says this is the kind of condo she wants to stay in. So are we gonna buy a condo soon? The answer is NO. Firstly, we have not satisfied the HDB's required occupation period of 5 years. Secondly, we do not have the money. But its always to have dreams right?

Anyway, Xavier was grouchy throughout the whole party, as if saying, "Why I sick again?". We ask the same question too.