Repairs

The bathroom in Bryan's room is under repair these few days. The door has been removed from it's hinges and everything has been uprooted. Including the tiles. So now it looks like above. And he obviously can't sleep in his room for the moment. So we have moved his bed into our room for the time being. It definately takes some getting used to, sharing a room with my boy. We have to be fully dressed, no funny business.

Random Photo

I thought I needed an extra post today. We got Bryan a pair of sunglasses this weekend and he really enjoyed playing around with it. But seriously, Bryan really brightens up my day.

It's been really bad in the polyclinics these couple of weeks. I work in a government polyclinic. And I'm seriously overworked and underpaid. I'm sure there lots of my friends in banking and finance who are earning easily twice my pay. But these couple of weeks have been horrible. I have topped my maximum of 80 plus patients a day a few days running. That's about 3 to 5 minutes per patient. It's absolutely insane. I'm really tired and drained at the end of the day. Plus my pregnancy is draining me a lot too. By the time I put Bryan to sleep at night I barely have the energy to do anything else.

I think the public health system in Singapore is running at over capacity. Every single polyclinic I go to help out is the same. There are people out there who can clearly afford to see their friendly neighbourhood GP but prefer to save a few bucks by clogging up the public healthcare system. And the thing that really pisses me off is that they want first class service at a subsidised rate.

To all Singaporeans out there who complained about the polyclinic, if you don't like the service in the polyclinic, DON'T COME BACK!!! We don't want you around. We don't need you around. Don't try to be cheapskate. This is the reason why I'm quitting polyclinics. Rude demanding patients who want to save a few dollars. Be more considerate to those who actually can't afford healthcare. You want to see ugly Singaporeans, come down to any polyclinic. You'll see lots of them around.

Growl!

Hubbie's New Toy

We collected the new car on Sat. And my hubbie is really excited about it. It's a brand new Suzuki Swift Sport in Nocturne Blue. It's only 1.6 litres in capacity but runs very well. It goes 0 - 100 in 8.9 seconds. We bought the manual version because my hubbie thought it would be more fun... It actually is. After a couple of turns behind the wheel, it all came back to me. I used to impress my clasmates in university when I gave them a lift with the Mazda manual car I used to drive some years ago. I'll borrow the car during the weekends.

National Service

These 2 weeks my hubbie is off serving his country. It's compulsary here in Singapore. It's actually mandatory for companies to give their employee's the time off to do their bit for the country, no matter how long it's deemed necessary. It's supposed to keep our men operationally ready. Some of my colleagues see it as a good break from their otherwise hectic jobs. I think, in a war, the women will be left running the country. That should be fun.

New Glasses

I was cleverly trying to straighten my old pair of glasses and used a bit too much force. The side snapped off. It got bent while I was sleeping with it on. Not a very good idea. Especially as my hubbie would say, I don't need my glasses to see in my dreams. But that pair is about 3 years old already.

So this is my new pair. I went for black this time. And I happened to chance on this frame which is by Ted Baker. It was the exact shape I wanted, the right size and in black. Perfect! Plus the optometrist offered a pretty good discount on it too.

Kate Spade

She makes these gorgeous bags....


lovely wallets, with pink inner lining...


even diaper bags with change mats...


and organisers.

Easter's Coming

But let us not forget the real meaning behind Easter. The day when Christ died to save us from our sins.

Resolutions Revisited

Looking back at my resolutions for 2008.

1. Have another baby. My mother-in-law has been dropping hints about Bryan needing some company and how the age gap is just perfect.

2. Find a better paying job. Government service is great for the masses but I need a new car.

3. Find more time in a day. I need to find the time to go to the gym at least once a week. The last time I went after 6 months of inertia, I only managed half my usual workout and I'm still aching. AND I need time to read up for my Graduate Diploma Course.

4. Maybe if I spent less time on Facebook, I'd find the time to do other stuff...

5. Like blog more often.

6. Get a new car, like one of those hybrid ones that don't use as much petrol. But also see point 2.

7. Wean Bryan completely off diapers and his milk bottle. That should save me some money for another baby's diapers and milk. Also see point 1.

I've managed to accomplish almost all of them. I still need to work on finding more time to study but I'm managing to do my tutorials and the necessary work on time. I'm weaned off Facebook too. Almost.

Bryan is also halfway out of diapers. He is toilet trained in the day but not yet at night. He also only needs to drink milk at night. I will probably switch him entirely onto drinking from the cup at 3 years or so.

So now, I thought I probably need more resolutions for the rest of the year...

1. Spend more quality time with Bryan. Actually doing stuff with him, not watching him while he plays. I usually buy puzzles and help him with it or buy activity books, colouring books, sticker books and do them with him, or read books to him. I'm not so good with the toys bit. Daddy usually is better at playing cars and stuff with him. Weekends too, I will need to find time to bring him to the zoo or to swimming...

2. I really miss graphic designing. And making layouts. I want to try to do more of that in between my scrapbooking. I should try taking more photos and incorporating that into my designs and blog.

3. Read more. I have a book I bought in 2007 that I haven't even read yet. My favourite authors all have new books out which I haven't even read the synopsis of. Maybe squeeze in a couple of parenting books too. How to deal with tantrums.

4. Save more. Baby needs diapers and milk and clothes and an education fund. Bryan has his school fees, worksheets and other activities to pay for, and we need to top up his education fund. Plus a new car loan. And my maternity visits and delivery.

Pregnancy Week 8

We went for my first antenatal visit earlier this week. My gynae was one of my consultants before at KKH and I remembered her as being really nice. She didn't disappoint. She spent quite a bit of time with me. Especially doing the ultrasound.

Baby is fine. About 1cm or so. Still very tiny but growing. We saw the hearbeat on the ultrasound, which is reassuring. Mommy is absolutely fine. No nausea, no cravings. Just a little tired. I can't fit into some of my tighter fitting clothes now. I have to wear my looser pants and tops. Thank goodness the fashion these days include lots of empire line tops that flare at the waist. I don't have to specially get maternity clothes just yet.

Lessons from a 2 (and a half) year old

1. Never leave anything in plain sight that you don't want a 2 year old to get at. Even if it's out of reach.

Bryan managed to climb up to the table, get hold of his medicines and swallowed 2 bottles of syrup. We had to rush him to hospital, where he was given charcoal, observed for a day and discharged with no lasting ill effects. Thank goodness. It was a big hairy scare for me though. Luckily the concentration in the bottles weren't that much and we got there early so the charcoal worked to neutralise some of the medication. Bryan meanwhile, felt it was like a bit of a holiday for him. He had a suite with sofas and a big cot to sleep in.

2. Prevention is better than cure.

Don't spoil a child. It's easier to discipline a child when he's younger than when he's bigger and throwing tantrums. I had to reprimand my maid for letting Bryan run all over her especially when he is being fed. Apparently he's been asking to play with his toys while eating. I always make him sit down to finish his meals.

3. A good sound smack works very well when it's about the tenth time he's pressed the ESC button on your keyboard while you're typing out an important email.

4. It doesn't matter what time you want to put a 2 year old to bed. He will sleep only when he's good and ready. You just have to be patient and wait for him to tire out. In the meantime, saddle up with a book or the computer.

5. Be careful what you say. He will pick up whatever you say and repeat it a million times. Therefore, no swearing at all times, even if you've stubbed your toe on the door.