We Can Smell Trouble?

A couple of recent photos of the kids.


[Jianna: My brother can smell trouble...]


[Recipe for trouble: One on top, one lop-sided, and one asking for more...]

Chinese New Year 2013

We had a low-key Chinese New Year this year.

We were back in Menglembu on 9 February 2013 to celebrate Mom's birthday. Throughout the celebration, it was generally a foodie affair as always. However, on 10 February 2013 night, frightened by fire crackers, a pregnant dog came into the porch to hide under our car. The next day, we found seven puppies.


[Family Photo in Menglembu]


[Puppies!]

We left Menglembu on 11 February 2013 to spend some time in Butterworth.

Baby Sunbird

During lunchtime on 1 February 2013, I happened to be back home when I heard a persistent chirping of a sunbird. I thought one had perched itself somewhere on our balcony and was desperately trying to attract attention. Each time I parted the curtains in an effort to locate it, the chirping would stop, only to resume a little later.

Eventually, I noticed that the chirping seemed to be coming from within the living room. After some careful searching, I found a baby olive-backed sunbird hiding in the television cabinet.

I tried using a cloth rag to try to gently move it away but it then landed into one of the children's toybox. Then, it flew to the balcony and perched itself just under the railing. It appeared to be fledging. After some hopping around, it dropped off the balcony. Hopefully it managed to fly.

All the best to you, little birdy!


[The baby sunbird in the television cabinet]


[In the toybox]


[The baby sunbird on the balcony]


[Another shot of the baby sunbird]

Jianna at 10 Months

Jianna turned 10 months old on 30 January 2013. Here are her updates:

• She can wave "bye bye" when instructed. She can nod her head for "yes", and shake her head for "no".
  
• She can give a "flying kiss" although she just puts her hand to her mouth.
  
• Prefers eating solids to drinking milk. So, at day care, she's given porridge or cereal once or twice daily. Over the weekends, she even eats rice with some toufu or egg yolk.
  
• Now that she can stand by herself, she has progressed to walking while holding our hands. She had even tried taking one step by herself.
  
• Her two upper front incisors, and bottom left incisor made their appearance this month.
  
• We discovered she can drink from a straw.

[Jianna standing by herself]


[Jianna]


[Jianna guarding the bookshelf]

Julian at 68 Months

Julian turned 68 months old on 28 January 2013. Here are his updates:

• He likes to "help out" at home, e.g. "wash" the dishes, put clothes in the washing machine, help to read our SMSes, etc.
  
• He can be quite talkative, much to Grandma's amusement.
  

In our effort to introduce Julian to some popular riddles and jokes, here're the consequences:
Mummy: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Julian: I didn't see any chicken!
Mummy: *rolls eyes*

Daddy: Knock, knock!
Mummy: Julian, you must say, "Who's there?"
Julian: Who's there?
Daddy: You're a lady.
Julian: I'm not a lady!
Daddy: *rolls eyes*
Mummy: You must teach him how to say "You're a lady who?!"


[Julian]


[Julian as Fireman Sam]


[Julian with the Christmas decorations at Gurney Paragon]