I refuse to be fed and i refuse to sleep through the night but mummy and daddy still loves me...i hope!

Yes...we still love him.
Zac has decided one fine day that he no longer wants to be fed but to feed himself. We used to be able to let him feed himself with some finger food (like boiled brocolli, carrots, cereal etc) while i shove his porridge down as quick as possible! But 2 days back...he absolutely refused to open his mouth and just wanted to pick up the food on his own to feed himself. When i insisted in feeding him and appeared not to know what he wanted he threw a huge tantrum...the kind that i've never seen before! After battling a few more meals with him, we surrendered and decided that indeed he just wants to be independent and feed himself. I guess no reason to get all worked up about it. Sigh...just when i was getting proficient in planning, cooking and feeding him his meals, everything has changed again!
So now i have to think finger-foods...i have to crack my brains to think of all his meals in terms of "finger-food" form! Means no more porridge!! Everything needs to be held!! That means...soft rice, boiled carrots, peas, brocolli, meat and fish (that can be held), eggs (to be held) URGH!!! When is it going to get easier!! I regretted the day i said that i can't wait for him to eat solids! Thank God that after a few days of frustration and VERY MESSY meals...think we have settled into an understanding of some form...
THe NEXT thing...
He used to be able to sleep through the night pretty well...wakes up at 6am for a quick drink and then falls back to sleep till about 730. BUT the last few nights has been HORRENDOUS...last night was the worst...waking up every hour to cry...after stuffing the dummy into his mouth he would sleep for a few hours before the same thing happens again! It better just be his teething issues, cos i read that this usually happens during teething...cos gums are itching and hurting. Only 1 tooth is very visible...he has lots more to go!! SIGH
Fortunately the good bits during the day makes up for all the bad ones...

Houston...we have made contact!

Zac has decided that he can't turn 13 months without any teeth...so he has summoned one! Yeah! Finally...we don't have to start wondering if late teething is normal! Now hopefully the emergence of the phantom teeth don't cause him too much grieve!

Ho residence...

Its getting there...we have been checking the place a few times each week and willing the renovations to progress quicker! So far so good...prob cos we didn't really do extensive-knock-down-walls kind of renos...with God's grace it should be done by the end of this month. Hopefully able to move in by the end of next month...And by then we can finally put Zac in his own room! Yeah...no more sneaking around in the room and trying to ignore him (by pretending to be busy reading) while he tries to put himself to sleep!
Now have to settle the soft furnishings for our place...anybody have good lobang (bargains) for curtains and blinds?

Status update on Zac's teeth

Update...still trying to locate teeth or tooth!!!!!

Leaving him behind...

Feeling ill-equipped to face the toddler years...we signed ourselves up for a short parenting seminar lasting 2 days at the Singapore Bible College. It starts tonight and ends tomorrow afternoon. So taking this opportunity to fulfill my parent's "desire" to have Zachary stay with them for a sleep over...we are leaving Mr mini Ho with his tata and nei nei (we decided to embrace our Hakka roots...Hakka for grandpa and grandma) tonight.
Feeling abit nervous about how he will treat them! And strangely felt abit lost just thinking about it...but of cos it is a very welcomed break! The first time he stayed with them...it went quite well...so they shouldn't have any problems...technically speaking!

I want to touch too!

Our supermarket experiences used to be pretty relaxing and fun...i get to buy what i want to buy in peace, with Zac strapped to the baby carrier and Zac contentedly taking in all the sights and sounds with a running commentary by moi!
But these days...it is no longer PEACEFUL!!
Firstly...i can no longer strap him into the carrier...he is too big for it, feel bad squashing him in..although it is so so convenient as it gives me hands-free shopping! So now i have to trick him into the pram...why trick, cos our Mr all-grown-up hates being in the pram these days!! He wants to either be carried or get down to "walk".
Secondly...he wants to touch EVERYTHING!! When i am choosing cereals or stuff...he wants to hold it or demands to be entertained. If i am choosing vegetables or fruits, he wants to be in the know and wants to touch it too!! URGH! If i refuse to let him have it...he screams in anguish! SIGH
Thirdly...it doesn't help that supermarket queues seem to be getting longer and longer...and nobody is sympathetic to a mother with a whiney kid in a pram!
And lastly...of cos when i take my wallet to pay up and press the buttons on the ATM machine...Mr want-to-be-involved-in-everything wants a piece of the action too!
And oh yah...it doesn't end there...there is another big struggle and cajoling when i have to strap him in his car seat. Eversince he turned one...this great need of independence is rearing its ugly head!
Yup...my days are never "boring".

We are now heading towards toddlerhood!

Celebrated Zac's first year on earth over the weekend. Lots of last minute preparation as we were pretty complacent about the details! But essentially we were glad to have loved ones with us on that day...and most importantly i think Zac had a bit TOO much fun!

But as i looked at him that day crawling round the cafe...my heart filled with much love and thankfulness toward the Almighty for blessing us with this little one...so now i am a mother of a 1 year old! Facing the toddler years are going to be challenging...but i thank God for the support and guidance that He has given me through the various people He has placed in my life.

The beautifully taken photograph was taken by a good friend, Shawn. We requested for his services for that day...so if anybody is interested to "hire" him you know who to ask!