Flashback Friday #8

22 May 2011: After dipping Blake in the swimming pool to train him how to hold his breath underwater over 2 sessions, my aunt passed us a baby neck float which my cousin (who's 9 months older than Blake) had been using. It had gotten a little too small for her, and my aunt thought it would be one way for Blake to enjoy the water fully.

The day we went to the swimming pool to test out the baby neck float on Blake, we went with high hopes. We really, really hoped that he would enjoy playing in the water with the neck float on. Sadly, that wasn't the case.

Blake was still terrified of the swimming pool, and the moment we changed him into his swimming costume, he started crying. He knew we were going into the swimming pool, and he probably thought we would dip him underwater again, which we did.

Truth be told, we weren't sure how many sessions it would take for Blake to learn how to hold his breath underwater. Perhaps just one session, with maybe 3 dips, was enough... All I know is that after the first time we brought him to the swimming pool, our little darling begin to develop a phobia for swimming pools.

Every trip to the swimming pool was tough on Blake, and on us. Handling a crying baby isn't the easiest job to do. From changing him into his swimming costume, to trying to get him to play in the pool, to getting the swimming costume off, to bathing him, and dressing him - he cries throughout, and it really breaks my heart. The only way to stop him from crying is to have him strapped up to one of us, and taken on a walk for a little while, after he has been bathed and clothed.

In any case, after this particular trip to the swimming pool, we kept all swimming gear away, and decided not to put him through this again.

Related posts:
Blake's First Swim
Blake's Swim (Video)

Back to Baby

Recently, Blake has a taken a liking to a Chinese cartoon called《摩尔庄园》(loosely translated: ‘Mole Garden’). The characters in this series of cartoon (there are quite a few series and movies) are exactly the same as the ones in the Mole Kart game he enjoys playing on Sean’s HTC. Sean had chanced upon the cartoon when we were showing Blake recorded demos of the Mole Kart on Youtube. Not sure if the game was a spin-off from the cartoon, or the other way round, but I’m guessing the former.

It doesn’t really matter, cos I couldn’t be happier that Blake enjoys watching this cartoon. It is his first Mandarin cartoon!

Here’s an episode from one of the many seasons we found on Youtube:


Watching this cartoon has also made our big boy a baby again. Why do I say that? Well, if you watch the above clip, you will notice that there are tiny creatures in the cartoon that only says, “Bi bo! Bi bo!”, and Blake took it to mean “Baby! Baby!”

Blake will pat his chest whenever the tiny creature speaks, and says, “Baby! Baby!” as many times as he could till he catches our attention and we acknowledge that he is ‘baby’. By the way, “Baby” was Blake’s first word. He used to pat his chest and say, “Baby”, but stopped subsequently as he grew older. He knows mommy calls him “Baby” almost all the time.

At one point, he had wanted to go back to sleeping on Sean, like when he was a baby!


Thankfully, this period was short-lived.

And now that we head out without a stroller, cos our big boy prefers to walk or be carried now, we have also gone back to using the sling which Sean used to carry Blake in, when Blake was still a baby. It is only used when Blake sleeps though. Blake will try his best to wiggle his way out the moment he wakes up, and finds himself ‘trap’ in the sling.


All these happening before our number 2 arrive; Blake enjoying being a baby again. It’s definitely something worth putting down on record for!

Oh yes, how could I possibly leave this out? Here's a video recording of Blake going, "Baby! Baby!" :P

Tale of a Boy and his Duckie

It all started on when we went to my mom’s place on 18^th August 2012 for dinner, and Blake explored the place solo, venturing into the bedrooms. He saw a soft toy duck laying on my sister’s bed, and promptly took it to play with. He grew attached to it within seconds. It was pretty funny because this soft toy has been in the house, on my sister’s bed (which he often plays on), from since he was born, I think. And he never noticed it till that particular Saturday.

He then took it out of the bedroom and into the living room, sat on the sofa with it, and started to shower it with kisses – something he never does to anyone, even me! He always leans in for me to kiss him, but never ever kisses me.

It was quite a hilarious sight – the way he hugs and kisses the toy duck.

Sean and I discussed, after seeing how reluctant Blake was when he had to return the soft toy when we left, and we decided to get him the soft toy too. Sadly, it’s no longer available in that big size; there are only the medium and small sizes left. I even called up the manufacturer/distributor to ask!

My mom had wanted to get my sister to give up her big soft toy duck to Blake, but we came to a conclusion that it would not do Blake any good in the long run. We do not want him to think that by simply wanting it, he can just take someone else’s toy.

It was also just as well that the big sizes have gone out of production, Sean says this can teach him how to differentiate items that belongs to him, and items that belong to others, especially items that look very similar to one another.

In any case, we bought him the medium-sized soft toy duck, the name’s ‘Duckie’, and he’s so attached to it.

I’m really puzzled by this sudden love for this particular soft toy duck! Haha. I had to get him the small-sized duckie - for him to bring out, and to school. His school teacher messaged to let me know Blake was in a foul mood, and I’m guessing it had something to do with the absence of his Duckie…

Such bonding. Hehe.

Flashback Friday #7

14 May 2011: We try to take a family photo every month. Reason #1, cos I particularly enjoy taking photos. Reason #2, cos we can see how much Blake has grown, and how much we have too :)

21 May 2011: My sweet little darling and me enjoying one of the many, many afternoons we spend together - eating, sleeping, playing (and for me, working) :)

Of Boys and Cars - Video

On National Day, we had lunch at Long John Silver, and Blake had his toy cars to entertain himself with while we ate. The sound effect that he is making is from a game called Mole Kart, which Sean plays with him on his mobile phone. Apparently, that's the sound the character will make when it takes the ramp and fly to the other side of the track. Haha! Too cute! :D

Of Boys and Cars

I think it’s in them. Boys just seem particularly attracted to cars and other motor vehicles. We do not even have to teach them how it’s supposed to be used. They just know!

Blake started to take a fancy to cars after his first birthday. He would find it amusing that toy cars would move on its own with just a little push. Naturally, seeing how our little boy enjoy playing with cars and other vehicles, we bought vehicles in all shapes, sizes and colours for him to play with.

These are just a few of all his toys with wheels that he decided to line up

As he got older, and gradually started to prefer roaming around on his own and ditched the stroller, Blake took a liking to those car rides seen in most shopping malls.

His face would light up when he sees one and he would make a beeline towards it, regardless of how crowded the shopping mall might be.

Once, Sean brought Blake to every single ride in the shopping mall while I went to the supermarket to get groceries done. It was really fun for Blake, but tiring for Sean!

The strangest thing is, we never have to spend a single cent on these rides! Blake is just happy to be sitting in it, pushing all the buttons, and playing with the steering wheel. He would even make his own sound effect, and go, “Voooom! Voooom!” Haha!

Yup, even the motorcycle rides are fun for him!

The other place Blake likes to go to play with cars is the arcade. He enjoys this more than those found around shopping malls because there are actual visuals in front of him. There is a couple of such racing car machines at the swimming club’s bowling alley, and Blake would always try to get into the bowling alley and make his way to the cars. If we don’t let him enter the bowling alley, he would kick up a big fuss!

Then, he realize that arcades in shopping malls have similar machines, and would sometimes run into the arcade when we’re in shopping malls just to find these racing car machines to sit on and pretend to race. It’s quite an amusing sight. It’s also easy on us, cos he’ll just sit there and play. When he’s ready to go, he’ll get up, wave and say, “Bye! See you!” Haha!

I know some parents might be shaking their heads in disapproval now, towards arcade gaming, but I think it’s perfectly fine. Sean and I used to frequent the arcades together on weekends, solely playing a racing car machine called Battle Gear 3. I guess the gaming blood runs in the family. Haha. The only problem I have is that it’s kind of a loud place for Blake to be in at this age. I fear for his ear drums! And then, I fear for my pockets, should he really enjoy going to the arcade. Haha! Maybe I could make a deal with him when he’s older. Hmm….

And not forgetting...
Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri to all my Muslim friends and readers!
Have a great celebration! :D

Flashback Friday #6

10 May 2011: I love waking up to such big smiles from my boy!! :D