MY TINKER BABY

Foodie

2016-01-19T01:56:00.000+08:00

This section will be dedicated to depict my Life's Simple Pleasures in all food that interests me.

It can be anything from anywhere as long as it is yummylicious or pretty enough to catch my eye. Thus, it can be anything from a simple hawker fare, a luxurious buffet spread, something from a fanciful eatery or even something from my home-made fare.

Bite-Sized Cranberry Muffins (with receipe)
Honey Sweet Potato Onde-Onde (with receipe)
Golden Nuggets (Pineapple Tarts)
Larry is 1! Birthday Cake!!
Sweet Potato Fa Gao
Larry is 2! Birthday Cake!!

More on my Life's Simple Pleasures Coming up ...

Larry is 2!

2016-01-18T22:41:00.000+08:00

Just as I have promised, I baked Larry's 2nd birthday cake! You know you are a mom when you do things for your child unwaveringly no matter how tedious it gets. I am definitely not a baker by profession and I am pleased that it was completed. Most importantly, my little boy gets his mommy's special one of its kind birthday cake. It is a Thomas the train themed birthday cake, a smaller scale design compared to his 1st birthday cake but it took me quite a while to complete as well. It's the cake on the bottom left of the pic below.

This year, Larry had 3 cakes for his 2 year old birthday. One baked specially for him by me (bottom left in pic), another (bottom right cake) he brought to celebrate in his school and yet another (top right in pic) he had for his birthday bash with his peers.

Counting down... 7 more months to go before his next birthday. What birthday cake shall it be this time? Hahah we shall see!

5 Essential Items for my Baby's Personal Hygiene

2015-12-28T23:42:00.002+08:00

Babies: really cute, small, lovely beings with neurons in the brain that grows at a thunderous speed. They are learning new things about their environment, their fellow beings and themselves. In short almost everything is new to them and they have a brain that absorbs everything like a sponge to liquid. Larry always surprises me with something.

Now what has this got to do with hygiene? Oh well, with an inquisitive active baby in a stage of adopting a touch, kiss, taste and chew on everything that looks new to me behaviour, hygiene in the environment where the baby is in becomes upmost priority. Thus, for the sake of simplicity, I have compiled my top 5 most handy, useful and essential items to upkeep my baby's environment.

1) Mustela non-rinse

This is my must-have when we are on-the-go to keep my baby clean, rashes free and fresh after pooing or when he needs a dry-clean. This non-rinse formula is exceptionally useful when cleaning water is not easily found or when we are visiting places where water is scare. It gentle enough to be used anywhere on baby's sensitive skin (e.g face, neck, body, bum) and removes dirt very effectively, leaving a pleasant and refreshing after scent. Because it comes in a standard 500ml bottle with a pump, it is easy to use and dispense. However, I always transfer some to a small bottle just enough and all I need for the day for convienance as we usually travel light.

2) Dapple high chair and toy cleaner

Have you ever encountered situations where your playful baby just made a mess out of his highchair, table and surroundings after his mealtime with his food strewn everywhere? Or his toys or cot rails are so slimed with his saliva that they smell FISHY just like what they had eaten?

As a parent with a rambunctious toddler, I am concerned with both cleaning his "mess", reinstating his environment to what it was before as well as ensuring that the chemicals used for cleaning is baby friendly as he loves to put things into his mouth. In short we need an environment that is CLEAN and HYGENIC and BABY SAFE.

In this aspect, Dapple's highchair and toy cleaner works well for us. The no-rinse formula gives it another star as we do not need to worry about rinsing.

3) ICM sanitizer

Another convenient non-rinse formula that saves the day. We use this very often e.g. to sanitize our hands before handling the baby, on the baby's changing mat after a change of poo diapers, to sanitize the baby's high chair and table where he touches when we are out for dinner, and the list goes on...

A small bottle of sanitizer kept in the bag is exceptionally handy especially when tap water is no where in sight.

4) Pigeon Hands and mouth wipes

An essential for Larry who is learning to self-feed or any baby at the drooling stage. Saves us the hassle of washing or keeping the dirty used bib/ face cloth when we are on the move. We got one that is food-grade as he likes to snatch it sometimes and explore it in his mouth. The wet wipes cleans food mess on him easily and I have a peace of mind as it is food-grade, thick and just the right size for his little mouth. No worries even if he puts his fingers in his mouth after cleaning with the food-grade wet wipes. We use it to wipe his face, hands and back, freshening him up a bit after perspiring from playing at the playground too.

5) Bosom wet wipes

Larry has sensitive skin and prone to diaper rash if he uses wipes or diapers that don't agree with his delicate skin. These thick wet wipes has been working well as they are soft and gentle enough for his baby soft skin.

Sweet Potato Fa Gao !

2015-11-01T21:50:00.002+08:00

HUAT AH!

Today after making odeh-odeh, I still had some sweet potato left and so I decided to try making sweet potato HUAT gao which blossomed beautifully.

Sweet Potato Fa Gao

It has a natural yellow tint from the sweet potato. I would describe it as ALL NATURAL and HEALTHY. My favourite part about home-made food is you always know what goes into the food and can be rest assured about quality and health. CHEERS to home-made food!

Little man Big surprises, Larry from birth to now (19 months)

2015-03-31T13:47:00.000+08:00

Larry's Stages of Early Childhood Development:
NEWBORN => CURIOUS CRAWLER => RAMBUNCTIOUS WALKER => BUSY TODDLER aka

LITTLE RESEARCH FELLOW

Ever since Larry discovered that he can flip, the surprises he gave us came one after another sometimes back to back in consecutive days. It is a wonderful experience for me to be able to witness Larry reach his milestones and share the numerous joyous occasions with him. Every individual is unique and so is Larry. As a newborn, he does not like to be restricted and would wriggle out of his swaddle, pull off his mittens and kick away his socks.

Larry @ 13 Days Old
Larry in his Milk Drunken Kong Fu Stance

Larry @ 3 Days Old

As a result, we found ourselves putting on his mittens and socks for him countless times a day. Since 1 month old, he took a liking to blabbering and would smile happily at anyone who talks to him and listens to his blabber.

Larry @ 3 Months

Larry @ 8 Months
He LOVES talking so much that most of the time we find saliva all over his smiley face.

As he grew older, he became fascinated with his hands and fingers and would spend hours looking at them happily as though telling himself "I HAVE GOT HANDS!".

Larry @ 5 Months
Larry giving his hands a thorough analysis

The other pastime he had was kicking his legs high up in the air. Sometimes I really wonder where this little guy who takes only milk derive all his energy from.

Soon he was happily flipping away but his new found mobility only made him crave for more as he spent hours in his cot observing us walking around him. He was also very much attracted to the colourful, soothing mobile cot that had been his companion whenever he was awake since he came home as a new-born. Spending endless hours in his cot, his exploratory mind began devising ways to reach out and touch his mobile cot. To our astonishment, we found him lying on top of two of his pillows, shaking and pulling at his mobile cot!

Larry @ 8 Months
Larry pulling hard at his favourite mobile cot

Larry observes us attentively whenever we are walking around him... he would be having the "Wow, how do they do that! I want to walk too and go to any where I want!" kind of look. Though we were forseeing it, he gave us a nice surprise when he sat up on his cot by himself one evening after dinner. We placed him back on his back to see what this little baby would do. First, he flipped then he pushed his butt against the rails of his cot backwards till he was in upright sitting position. Wala! He looked so pleased with himself as he is able to have a better view of his surroundings including the floor!

Larry @ 9 Months
"I can SIT!"

But that didn't satisfy our little Larry boy. Two days later, we found him standing by the rails on his cot! He looked very pleased with himself and his new found view. Again, his favourite mobile cot toy was one of the compelling reasons for him in yearning to stand so much.

Since the day he discovered standing, he was usually in that position holding on to the rails in his cot while his eyes followed us around the room. Soon he took his first few baby steps and was absolutely overwhelmed by his new found freedom as he squeals and laughs in delight.

As HAPPY as LARRY, now at 19 months, he is enjoying all the mobility he has within his warm home. Walking and running around our home while exploring with his vocal cords all the time. My home is never the same. It's normal if I hear him and gets me worried if I don't. His inquisitive mind always keeps him on the move, from figuring out where the music streams from his music DJ toy to exploring the different ways he can get down from the seat... that is from bottoms down, front down or jump and slide off with the seat's cover!

Larry @ 19 Months
"Let's try jumping off the chair with the seat cover..."

Yes JUMP!... Our little research fellow does give mummy countless heart-attacks and still counting.

Larry-ism: As HAPPY as LARRY

Larry-ism: As HAPPY as LARRY.
Have Larry-ism gotten into you? Hopefully these pictures help to brighten up your day!

Larry's 1st Birthday Cake

2014-12-30T23:46:00.000+08:00

I was organizing the photos in my PC when I chanced upon these pictures of Larry's 1 year old birthday cake. Yes, Larry is 1 year old! It means a lot to us as it marks our 1 year odyssey.

Larry is One ! - Birthday Cake

I had wanted Larry's birthday cake to be a special one. One that is as unique as him and one that can be associated with him. Thus, I decided that I will bake him a birthday cake that is one of it's kind in the world.

Larry's Birthday Cake

The number 1 took centre stage as it marks Larry's 1 year old birthday. AS HAPPY AS LARRY, a friendly bear sits among the bees while the ladybirds surround the cake. The bees are a reflection of how busy Larry is as he welcomes each day with an inquisitive exploratory mind . The stars on the cake is an analogy for how he has added sparks and made a difference to our lives. The sides of the cake is weaved in a basket weaving pattern to add texture to the sides reflecting how precious our little boy is to us.

Happy 1ST Birthday my little boy !
Btw, Larry is 17months coming to 18months now and I hope to be able to personally bake a birthday cake for him every year :) 6 more months to go !

Resources (for Mum)

2014-12-29T10:24:00.000+08:00

Below is a list of articles depicting the experiences, research and discoveries I made in my motherhood journey.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months).

More Resources for Mum Coming Up...

Golden Nuggets (Pineapple Tarts)

2014-11-28T23:06:00.003+08:00

During Chinese New Year, pineapple tarts are a must-have and not to be missed traditional, festive pastry. That buttery, melt in the mouth taste of these golden nuggets has always been something I look forward very much to for CNY.

Just the thought of these yummy pineapple tarts makes me start craving for them. I definitely can't wait till the coming CNY which is still so many months away. Since it is pouring outside and I am stuck at home, I decided to satisfy my cravings. Thankfully, these pineapple tarts are easy to make and in an hour’s time, the fragrance of freshly baked pineapple tarts penetrated my kitchen into the living room and I was able to savour my homemade pineapple tarts with a cup of tea.

Golden Nuggets (Pineapple Tarts)

The crust turned out to be just what I had imagined - shiny and golden brown. I made the nuggets bite-sized so I was able to pop the whole jewel into my mouth and have it melt in my mouth.

LOVE it!

It is one of the very addictive pastry my family and I could not stop tasting. The whole box of pineapple tarts could last us only for a day or two before my hubby was asking me for those golden nuggets again.

Bite-Sized Cranberry Muffins

2014-10-17T10:42:00.000+08:00

During our most recent road trip to Malaysia, I made a box of bite-sized cranberry muffins to bring along. Our journey took longer than expected due to the heavy traffic at both the Singapore and Malaysian Customs. It is always good to have something on standby to munch on just in case someone gets hungry. On this occasion, we had my home-made bite-sized cranberry muffins to see us through. I like it bite-size especially for road trips as you can put the whole muffin in your mouth, making it easy to eat without having crumbs drop all over the place.

We all loved the cranberry muffins. Not only is it moist with lots of cranberry, it can really fill the tummy with just a few pieces. It is not too sweet and the cranberry adds flavour to the muffin making it good to chew at the same time.

Cranberry Muffins

The recipe below makes roughly 24 bite-sized muffins depending on the size of muffin tray.

Estimated preparation time to enjoyment: About 45 minutes

*Ingredients Used*	*Quantity*	*Units*
Self-Raising Flour	2	Cup
Sugar	1/2	Cup
Salt	1/2	Tsp
Egg	1	-
Milk	3/4	Cup
Vegetable Oil	1/3	Cup
Vanilla Extract	1	Tsp
Dried Cranberry	1	Cup

Preparation

In a bowl, combine the self-raising flour, sugar and salt. -> Mixture A
In another bowl, mix the egg, milk and vegetable oil -> Mixture B
Pour Mixture B into Mixture A and mix till just combined
Add in vanilla extract and mix well
Pre-heat oven to 180 degree Celsius
Spray "non-stick canola oil" or any other non-stick cooking spray onto muffin hole tray
Pour mixture into muffin tray filling up 2/3 of each muffin hole
Bake for 20 minutes or until muffin top is golden brown

VOILA! Enjoy the cranberry muffins !

Childcare Search and Factors to Consider

2014-10-17T09:44:00.000+08:00

In my quest for a suitable childcare centre to register Larry with, the ECDA's website (Early Childhood Development Agency) provides a very comprehensive starting point. It provides a childcare centre search engine with filter options such as location, fee range, dietary preference etc. and shows the list of childcare centres that matches my selected criteria. Besides this very useful childcare search engine, the ECDA website contains information pertaining to childcare on financial matters like childcare subsidies, baby bonus and financial assistance as well as other useful information.

I utilised the ECDA website's childcare search engine to locate all the childcare centres that are in the vicinity of my home. The search engine came back with a list of childcare centres in the area that I selected. It also provided me with further information on the individual childcare centres like their address, contact details, operating hours, current and past license tenure, fees charged, vacancy, health alert issued within the past 12 months etc.

After shortlisting a few of the childcare centres from the list, I contacted them to arrange for a centre visit. I tried scheduling my visits to their centre at a time when the children are either having their activities or meals so that I can observe how the centre and their teachers conduct these activities and how the children respond to them.

Some of the factors which I had taken into consideration, paid attention to and enquired about during my childcare centre visits are as follows:

Miscellaneous / Incidental Charges

Besides the monthly fee, other charges payable to the childcare might include one-time payments like registration fee and deposit. Some childcare centres might require payment for new mattress and mattress cover. Uniforms for the child might be mandatory for some childcare centres but optional for others. All these will add up to the final total cost for childcare.

Are there any other additional optional charges?

Some childcare centres might introduce optional enrichment programs for the children. They might engage teachers from schools that specialises in certain enrichment programs to visit the childcare centre and teach the children. These enrichment programs might be offered as an option and parents will have to pay for them on top of the existing monthly fee that they have already paid the childcare centre if they decide to enrol their child in these optional enrichment programs. Thus, I enquired if all the enrichment classes that the centre has for the children are already included in the monthly childcare fee or do I still have to pay additional for them if I decide to enrol my child for it.

Trial Program and Deposit/ Refund Policy

Some centres offer a 2 or 4 weeks trial at prorated fees before confirming enrolment. For me, this is good as I can put Larry at the childcare centre for at least 2 weeks to see if he can fit into the environment. Other centres might offer a free 3 half-day trial session.

Different childcare centres might have a different refund policy as well as notice period for withdrawal. Some require a notice period of 1 month for withdrawal whereas others might require a notice period of 2 months. Some require the registration fee to be paid upon registration for the trial program; others require payment for registration fee only when you decide to enrol in their centre. The registration fee is usually not refundable. Most centres require a deposit of 1 month fee either upon confirmation of enrolling in the centre after or before the trial program. When this deposit is to be paid and if it is refundable in full or pro-rated is again dependent on the centre's policy.

Quality Indicators of the Childcare Centre

Licence tenure of the childcare centre

The licence tenure issued to a centre by MCYS (Ministry of Community Development) is 6 months, 12 months or 24 months. It is a quality indicator which is reflective on the centre's standards in hygiene, safety, nutrition and health measures. A centre issued with a 24 months licence means that it has a high standard of care while a 12 month licence is issued to a centre that has met the minimum standard. Unless the childcare is a newly opened centre or has a good reason, I will rank a childcare centre with 24 months licence tenure higher on my list.

Is the centre accredited with SPARK?

Childcare centres which had chosen to participate and be accredited with SPARK (Singapore Pre-School Accreditation Framework) have been assessed in 7 aspects of preschool education (Leadership, Planning and Administration, Staff Management, Resources, Curriculum, Pedagogy and Health, Hygiene and Safety) and have met the requirements.

Is the centre participating in HECCP (Healthy Eating in Child Care Centres Programme)?

Childcare centres that participate in HECCP comply with the food service guidelines endorsed by the Health Promotion Board. The food service guidelines promotes healthy set meals with no deep-fried and preserved food, regulates the amount of salt and sugar used in meals ensuring that the set meal is balanced from the four main group foods: rice and alternatives, meat and alternatives, fruits and vegetables. I can be more assured that my child will be eating healthily in childcare centres with HECCP.

For more information on the food service guidelines of HECCP, Google "healthy eating in child care centres programme health promotion board"

Staff to Children Ratio

As per licensing agreement, for childcare with children above 18 months to 30 months, the minimum number of staff in charge of this age group of children is 1:8. With para-personnel it is 1+1:12. (If you are wondering who para-personnels are, they are staffs who assist the educarers/ teachers in childcare. The minimum level of training for para-personnels in this age group is "Fundamentals in Early Childhood Care and Education" whereas for educarers/ teachers it is "Certification in Early Childhood Care and Education"). I will enquire on the childcare's staff to children ratio and of course the lesser children to staff the better as the children will have more of the caregiver's attention. I will also enquire if the centre employs part-time caregivers in the event that the staff cannot turn up for work and how they handle such situations when they are shorthanded. I will be concerned if the centre employs part-time caregivers very often (especially part-timers without proper childcare qualifications) as they might not be as committed as the permanent qualified staff.

Mealtime Menu

During centre visits, I will enquire about their mealtime menu and activity schedule. Usually the childcare centre will have their current mealtime menu post on the wall. Centres which participate in HECCP or do not serve fried, preserved food (like sausage, ham and luncheon meat) and includes milk in their menu ranks higher on my list. Most childcare employs a chef to prepare the food in their kitchen while some childcare caters their food from a caterer. Not all centres allow parents to bring their own food for their child's mealtime. Centres which offer this flexibility and option would also rank higher on my list as I might wish to prepare my own food for my child to consume at the childcare centre on certain days.

Activity Schedule

Some childcare centres is able to provide a hardcopy of the centre's activity schedule, others have theirs posted on the wall. I would look through the activity schedule, paying attention if the centre's activities meet my child's needs in providing a balanced schedule with sufficient time for learning, rest and play. I would also observe how the children and teachers are interacting. Are the children participating in the activities? How do the teachers get the children interested? Are the children happy and interested in the activities? How do the teachers respond and handle situations where the child is crying?

Does the childcare centre provide transportation services?

Some centres offer a one-way or two-way bus service for a fee. For centres which provides this optional bus service, it gives me the option of engaging the bus service for my child so that I can have the convenience and flexibility of not needing to send him personally to childcare every day, thus having more time for myself and not worrying about running late to pick him up. I believe that taking the bus to childcare on his own will also train him to be more independent.

Bathrooms/ Toilets and Toiletries

For full-day childcare, most centres baths the children once a day after lunch before nap time so that the children feels clean and naps better. For the minority of those centres that do not provide baths, I would enquire on their procedure for handling children who pooped or dirtied themselves. Some of these centres do have a bathroom where they will wash the child's backside with water if they pooped.

During centre visits, I would request to visit the toilets and bathrooms. I always feel that in order to feel clean after bathing, places like the toilet and bathroom needs to be kept clean and free from odour. Other areas which I will pay attention to are the safety precautions that are in place for both the toilets and bathrooms. Since the floor in these areas might be wet, are there non-slip mats placed on the floor? Are there handles attached to the walls? What is the procedure for bathing, wiping dry and clothing the children? Is there more 1 caregiver to help during bath-time? Are the children wiped dry immediately after bath? What are measures to ensure that the children will be well taken care of and will not catch a cold during bath? I would also enquire on the brand of body soap and shampoo provided by the childcare centre to ensure that it suits my child's sensitive skin or else I would bring his own body soap and shampoo. I would also enquire if the centre provides other toiletries like body moisturisers, diaper wipes etc.

Environment

Ventilation of the centre

During centre visits, I will observe if the rooms in the childcare centre are well ventilated as it can get quite warm with weather like Singapore's and Larry is quite prone to heat rash. Some questions which I will ask are:

- Are the rooms going to be air conditioned the whole day or are the windows opened for fresh air?

- If the rooms are air conditioned the whole day, do they open the windows during cleaning to ventilate the room and let fresh air in?

- If the rooms are not air conditioned the whole day then under what circumstances do they turn on the air-con for the children?

- If there is no air-con at the centre, do they have fans? How do they manage warm days?

Cleanliness of the centre

Besides the condition of air ventilation in the childcare centre, I will also enquire if the centre employs a cleaner to ensure the cleanliness of the place and to be on standby to clean up whenever required (e.g. a child just vomited on the floor). If the centre is big I will also enquire on the number of cleaners that they have. A centre should have sufficient cleaners so that the place can always be kept clean for the hygiene of the children and the educarers/ teachers/ caregivers can focus on taking good care of the children. Different centres vary in their frequency of having the toys sanitized and the furniture and centre cleaned. Some centres sanitize the toys after the children have played with them. Others sanitize the toys once a week. But most of the centres do a thorough cleaning of the place and toys on Saturdays when most of the children do not come in on that day. Some centres do fogging of their centre in the morning to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Children tend to like crawling on the floor and then rubbing their eyes with their hands or putting them in the mouth. Childcare centres always have everyone remove their shoes before they enter the centre so that the floor can be kept clean. During the centre visit, I will observe how stringent the centre is in enforcing this rule.

Child safety features in the centre

Most centres have safety gates installed at the doors, staircase, and doorway leading to the kitchen or garden and children's hand bars along the stairs. During centre visits, I will observe if the centre emphasize on leaving the safety gates closed at all times or are they quite flexible in that? Are the staffs making sure that the children use the hand bars when walking on the stairs? I will also observe if the centre's environment is child safe and free from areas which a child might get injured. Thus, I will observe that small objects like beads or peas are not left lying around as a child might swallow them or put them in his ears/ nose out of curiosity.

When will the rental contract of the childcare centre end?

Location of the centre is very important to me as it is our starting point for our childcare search. Thus, I am very concerned that the centre might move somewhere else when Larry is enrolled with them. I always enquire if the place that centre is operating in is owned by them or rented. If it is rented, I will enquire on the tenure of the rental contract and when it is due for renewal. Hopefully, the centre will not move to another location while Larry is with them.

Health Alert Disclosure

I will enquire if the centre has any incidents of HFMD (hand foot and mouth disease) or Dengue. To me, the number of HFMD incidents in the centre is an indication of how well the centre handles and isolates children, thus preventing the spread of the illness. If there is more than 1 HFMD incident in a year, I would enquire if the subsequent HFMD is due to the infected child coming into contact with the other children.

Policy on handling children who have fallen ill

Naturally as a parent who hopes that her child stays healthy and strong, I am very concerned on whether the centre has an adequate policy in screening for sick children and handling children who have fallen ill and how stringent the childcare centre is in carrying out this policy to prevent the rest of the healthy children from falling sick. Usually childcare centres would take and record the temperature of the child when he reports to the centre. When a child is running a temperature, most centres will request the parents to bring the child home but some centres allow the child to stay in the centre and participate in the activities as long as his temperature is not high.

Policy on picking up the child

Childcare centres usually operate from 7am to 7pm. 7pm being the latest that the child should be picked up. As there might be times due to some reasons we might run late in picking up our child, I always enquire on the centre's policy on picking up our child late and if special arrangements can be made. Some centres might impose a late penalty charge of $1 per min after 7pm. Others, especially those that are not a franchise might be able to accommodate special arrangements in pickup time without imposing any penalty.

For the safety of the children, does the childcare centre have a procedure/ policy in place to ensure that the child is picked up only by authorised people?

Usually there will be an authorisation form for parents to provide the information of the people whom they authorise to pick up their child from childcare. Most centres identity the authorised personnel by their identification card. Some centres will request for a photo of the person to identify with and others might take a picture of the person when they pick the child up. The centres should have a procedure in place to handle situations where the parents request for a person not in the authorised list to pick their child up. The childcare centre should make all the reasonable and prudent measures of ensuring that the child is picked up by the right person.

Does the childcare provide after school services?

Some childcare centres provide after school services where children go to these centres after school to be taken care of, supervised in homework and rest. If the childcare centre that we choose for Larry provides after school service as well, it will be an added benefit as he will not need to readjust to a new environment should we decide to enrol him for after school service when he starts school in future.

Sibling Discount

Some centres offer discount off the monthly fee if siblings are placed in the same centre. This will be an added benefit if I decide to put my second child (if I ever have another child) in the same centre in future.

Honey Sweet Potato Onde-Onde

2014-10-15T10:51:00.000+08:00

Onde-onde is also known as bueh melaka in Malaysia and Sumatra (Indonesia) or klepon in Java (Indonesia). It can be served as a dessert after meals or as a snack for afternoon tea. It comes in a shape of a ball and is usually made of glutinous rice flour with melted palm sugar, also known as gala melaka in the centre. The shredded coconut coating gives it a nice fragrance.

Eating onde-onde can be very addictive so much that once you start eating it you can't stop craving for more. Just the thought of the gala melaka juice OOZING out into my mouth makes me crave for it. Thus, I decided to make dozens of onde-onde to satisfy my taste buds. The best part about preparing your own food is you can have it anytime regardless of the time of the day. There is no need to join long queues or wait for the operating hours of the shop before you can indulge yourself in it and satisfy your craving. Saying that, this is my home-made onde-onde...

Sweet Potato Onde-Onde

Pardon me for the hole in the picture. Once it was done, I could not resist the temptation but to gobble some up yummylicious onde-onde leaving a gap in the middle of the container.

I made variations of the onde-onde, using different types of pumpkin and sweet potato. For pumpkin, I tried the butternut squash pumpkin and the blue pumpkin. For sweet potato, I tried it with the yellow-fleshed, orange-fleshed (honey sweet potato) and purple-fleshed sweet potato. The honey sweet potato is my favourite in terms of taste as the onde-onde tastes naturally sweeter and it has a nice golden colour. However, for presentation purposes, I made both the honey and purple-fleshed sweet potato onde-onde. I noticed that the friends and relatives I made the onde-onde for tend to pick the purple onde-onde more often than the orange ones. Oh well, after all purple is stronger and more attractive colour... I am glad that they enjoyed the chewy oozing onde-onde as much as I do.

The recipe below makes roughly 13 onde-onde depending on the size of the onde-onde.

Estimated preparation time to enjoyment: About 1 hour

*Ingredients Used*	*Quantity*	*Units*
Honey Sweet Potato	75	Grams
Glutinous Rice Flour	75	Grams
Cold Refrigerated Water	-	Grams
Gula Melaka	50	Grams
Grated coconut	50	Grams
Salt	1	Pinch
Pandan Leaf	1	Leaf

Preparation

Cut the pandan leaf into pieces and steam it with the grated coconut with an added pinch of salt for about 20 minutes. Set aside for it cool down.
Grind the gula melaka till it resembles a paste. Set aside for use as filling later.
Boil the sweet potato, remove the skin, mash it and put it through a sieve to make it fine and remove strains of roots.
Work your hands with the mashed sweet potato into the glutinous rice flour in a big bowl till the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add cold refrigerated water to the crumbs, a bit at a time and knead till the dough is smooth.
Pinch a small piece from the dough and flatten it on your palm.
Pinch a small ball of grinded gula melaka, place it in the middle of the flatten dough, seal it and roll the dough into a ball.
To cook, put the ball into boiling water. It is cooked when the balls float to the surface.
Drain the balls and place them into cold refrigerated water for them to cool down.
Drain the balls from the cold water and coat it with the steamed grated coconut.

VOILA! Enjoy the Chewy OOZING Onde-Onde!

As mentioned above, pumpkin can be used instead of sweet potatoes. I noticed that onde-onde placed in the fridge becomes chewier in texture.

Deciding between Childcare and Homecare

2014-10-13T09:34:00.000+08:00

Childcare or Homecare? Larry is coming to 18 months in 4 months’ time and I have been reviewing if we should enrol him in a childcare centre (half-day/ full-day) or continue to care for him at home. Weighing the pros and cons of childcare versus homecare, and after much thought, we decided that it is of ours and Larry's best interest that we place him in the care of professionals at the childcare centre. Some advantages which I value in placing Larry at the childcare centre are:

Professional Caregivers

The childcare centre provides caregivers who are professionally trained and qualified in baby/ toddler care with certification. Many of the caregivers/ teachers bring with them years of valuable experience and knowledge in baby/ toddler care and education.

The quality of the caregivers are managed by the childcare centre and regulated by ECDA. This assures me that the caregivers have been screened, are professionally managed and meets the minimum requirements needed for employment in childcare. It has been mandated that by 1 January 2016, at least 75% of educarers in all childcare centres for Infants, Playgroup and Nursery 1 children has to be trained at ACEY or CECCE level. (ACEY=WSQ Advance Certificate in Early Years. CECCE=Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education)

For those who might be wondering what is ECDA, here's a description of some of the things they do:

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is a government agency that acts as the regulatory and developmental authority for all aspects of children's development below the age of 6, across both kindergartens and child care centres in Singapore. The ECDA processes the Recognition of Pre-school Qualifications together with Teacher Certification. It regulates the criterion and deployment levels for Early Childhood Teachers and certifies teachers based on their qualifications.

Scheduled Activities

As a parent, I would like to know what my child is doing when he is away from me in childcare. Childcare centres offer a list of activities to help in the child's development. They are required to engage the children in age appropriate activities which would stimulate their mental, physical and social development. These activities are all pre-planned and set out in a timetable format which is shared with parents.

Children like daily, predictable routines. Knowing that they will be doing certain things like having lunch, showering, napping etc. at certain times of the day, the childcare centre's structured timetable will allow Larry to develop a sense security and order. It will also help him develop self-discipline as he learns to follow a routine.

Planned Meals

Just like the activities, the menu for the children’s mealtimes is planned out in advance and this information can be shared with parents. As a parent, I would like to be well-informed that my child is having a balanced diet in childcare.

Structured Curriculum

Childcare centres offer a structured curriculum for activities like English/ Mandarin language lessons etc. Thus, I can be assured that my child is learning something useful in childcare and progressing. My child would be able to benefit academically from childcare through the centre's structured curriculum which will help prepare him for school in future.

Attainable skills

Through interaction with the caregivers, teachers and other children in childcare, my child will be able to learn valuable social and communication skills. There will also be a wide variety of games and toys that he can play with and activities which he can be involved in at the childcare centre. Some childcare centres have a library corner where the children can read and conveniently borrow books home. This means that we can save on buying toys and books!

The activities and toys at the childcare centres are pre-planned with the children's development in mind to help them develop in their speech, motor skills etc. guiding them to reach their developmental milestones.

Environment

In childcare, everything is done in a controlled manner as childcare centres are required to meet acceptable standards in safety, hygiene, health and nutrition. Childcare centres carry out scheduled cleaning of the centres very frequently and the toys are sanitized very frequently as well. These assure me that my child will be taken care of in a clean and safe environment.

With all the above mentioned, I embark on my search for a suitable childcare centre. In my next post, I will share the factors which I had taken into consideration, paid attention to and enquired about during childcare centre visits when choosing a suitable childcare centre for Larry. To read more, click here.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)

2014-10-09T11:55:00.000+08:00

There is such a wide variety of gadgets for both mummy and baby these days that it makes one wonder if all of these are necessary, especially when babies grow so fast. Even for a particular baby item there can be so many different brands out there these days that it makes mums totally spoilt for choice. Sometimes while shopping for my little one, I really hope that there is less variety so that I do not need to be so distracted, confused and overwhelmed by the different gadgets and brands. Shopping will definitely be easier and faster with less choice. I have also been asked many times especially by first time mums "There are so many baby stuff out there but what are the basic things I need to get for my new born?”. Thus, I decide to document what I feel are the things most useful and essential for baby care, omitting out all the good-to-haves and fanciful gadgets. Babies are either sleeping/napping, feeding, pooping/bathing or having a bit of activity time. Thus, I will be listing the essentials for each of these categories below. To read more about the items in each category, click on their respective links or scroll down to their respective sections below.

Sleep/Nap (To read more, click here)

1) Baby Cot
2) Cot Mobile
3) Swaddle
4) Cot Toys
5) Pacifier
6) Mattress Cover and Protector

Clean-Up Time (Bath/ Change of diapers e.g. after Pooping) (To read more, click here)

1) Changing Mat
2) Diaper Wipes

3) No-Rinse Cleansing Fluid

4) Cotton Wool

5) Diaper Rash Cream

6) Diapers

7) Bathtub and Non-Slip Mat

8) Bath Cloth
9) Shampoo and Body Wash
10) Bath Towel
11) Moisturisers
12) Cloths

Feeding (To read more, click here)

1) Breast Pump

2) Milk Bottles

3) Steriliser

4) Cleaning Brushes

5) Cleanser

6) Breast Milk Storage Bags/ Containers

Activity Time (To read more, click here)

1) Baby Rattle

2) Rocker/ Bouncer
3) Activity Gym/ Mat
4) Toys

Going Outing with Baby (To read more, click here)

1) Car Seat

2) Baby Stroller/ Carrier
3) Diaper Bag
4) Milk Powder Dispenser
5) Thermo Flask

Sanitisation/ Washing (To read more, click here)

This category covers all the sanitisation and washing liquids which are not mentioned in the earlier categories.

1) Sanitizer

2) Baby Laundry Detergent

3) Baby Furniture or Toy No-Rinse Cleaner

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months) for Sleep/ Nap

2014-10-09T10:14:00.001+08:00

This section provides more details on the items for the New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months), Sleep/ Nap Category.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

Sleep/ Nap

1) Baby Cot

To save me the hassle of getting another bed when Larry grows older, we bought him a 4-in-1 convertible baby cot. It can be converted and used as a playpen, sofa bed and junior bed as he gets older. These convertible cots are usually bigger in size compared with non-convertible beds in order to accommodate your child as he grows older. Other things I looked out for are:

- Food grade teething rails

- Non-toxic paint used

- Type of wood, pine wood being my favourite

- Compliance with latest safety standards set in the country of origin

2) Cot Mobile

This is useful to keep baby entertained and can be used to soother baby to sleep. Some cot mobile comes with soothing lights that will turn off automatically once the music stops. A cot mobile that runs on batteries will save the hassle of needing to rewind it every now and then. Some cot mobile comes with a remote control. A take along mobile will be useful as it can be used both at home and brought along when outside with baby. When choosing a cot mobile, I paid attention to getting one that has at least 30 minutes of continuous music so that I do not need to keep restarting the cot mobile.

3) Swaddle

To give baby that in-womb, secure feeling.

4) Cot Toys

To keep baby entertained. I chose those toys that are soft and small so that it will not suffocate the baby accidentally.

5) Pacifier

Helps to soother baby and keep my sanity intact.

6) Mattress Cover and Protector

The mattress protector will help to protect the mattress from being dirtied or wet from baby's saliva, spilled milk, leaked urine/poo etc. Things I look out for when buying the mattress protector includes:

- 100% cotton, so that it feels soft, smooth and cool to baby's delicate skin.

- As thick as possible preferably 4-ply to give extra waterproof protection to the mattress.

- Reinforced corners, so that it is easy to fit it onto the mattress and it will stay onto mattress even with an active baby.

- Machine washable, so that it can be easily maintained as I can just throw it into the washing machine for washing.

Similar to the mattress protector, I will choose those made of 100% cotton, with reinforced corners and machine washable when buying a mattress cover.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months) for Clean-Up Time (Bath/ Change of diapers)

2014-10-09T10:12:00.002+08:00

This section provides more details on the items for the New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months), Clean-Up Time (Bath/ Change of diapers e.g. after Pooping) Category.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

Clean-Up Time (Bath/ Change of diapers e.g. after Pooping)

1) Changing Mat

Changing Mat

I have been using this changing mat for over a year now as I find it easy to maintain and versatile. It is thick, cushy, and water-proof, can be placed on any surface and has slightly raised side frames at three of its sides to prevent a small baby from rolling over. Being water-proof, I can easily wash it with water and soap whenever it gets dirtied.

2) Diaper Wipes
I have tried a number of brands on my baby's sensitive butt but at last chose to stick with pampers sensitive wipes. It is thick, alcohol and perfume free. I use it for cleaning my baby's butt after he has pooped.

3) No-Rinse Cleansing Fluid
This is useful when baby is out and for travelling especially when water might not be so easily accessible. It helps to thoroughly clean off stubborn poo stains and removes the bad odour of poo leaving behind a pleasant smell. I have tried both "California Baby Calming Diaper Area Wash" and "Mustela PhysiObébé". Both work well. But I prefer Mustela's bottle which is easy to pump using just one hand while I can have the other free hand to hold my baby down especially when he has learnt and started flipping. The other reasons why I prefer Mustela is it can be used on both face and diaper area.

4) Cotton Wool
During a change of diapers (when diaper is full of urine), I will dip the cotton wool into water to clean my baby's butt.

5) Diaper Rash Cream
To prevent my baby from getting diaper rash, I always apply a thin layer of diaper rash cream or moisturiser onto my baby's butt. I have tried many different brands on my baby but the ones I like best are California Baby, Bepanthen, GAIA, Skincando Combat Ready Cream and Desitin. For bad diaper rash, Desitin Rapid Relief Cream and Skincando Combat Ready Cream work best for Larry.

6) Diapers
I have tried many different brands of diapers. Due to Larry's sensitive skin, he uses Pampers tape diapers during the day and MamyPoko tape diapers at night. MamyPoko has a good absorbency feature and is able to keep baby's butt dry throughout the night. Thanks to MamyPoko, Larry was able to sleep through the night as he gets older.

7) Bathtub and Non-Slip Mat
I chose a medium size bathtub for Larry and he has been using it since birth till now (he is currently 14 months old). There is still some leg room for him but I intend not to use the bathtub and to bath him in a standing position instead once he gets more stable in standing and walking. The non-slip mat is placed in the bathtub to prevent him from slipping easily into the bathtub.

8) Bath Cloth
This is used for cleaning the baby's face, hair and body during bathing.

9) Shampoo and Body Wash
I prefer those 2 in 1 Shampoo and Body Wash as it can be used for both body and hair thus omitting the need to buy and keep two separate bottles. It is easier and space saving to bring on travels too. I will choose those that are mild and tear-free. Some brands that I have tried on Larry and liked includes "California Baby Shampoo & Body Wash", "Mustela 2 in 1 Hair and Body Wash" and "Kodomo Hair & Body Wash".

10) Bath Towel
For drying baby after the bath, I use bath towels that are 100% cotton, highly absorbent and hooded. I prefer white colour bath towels as any dirt can be easily identified. The hood on the towel helps to protect, cover and absorb the water from the baby's hair.

Hooded Bath Towel and Waterproof Mat

11) Moisturisers

The new-born baby's skin is extremely delicate. Thus, moisturisers are important to provide a protective barrier for keeping baby's skin soft, smooth and free from rash. I prefer using those all-in-1 moisturisers which can be used from head to toe. Not only are they more convenient to bring along when going out with baby, they are also a better option for active babies who might touch themselves all over causing the body moisturiser to get onto their face etc. "Avent Soothing Magic Cream" by far is my favourite baby moisturiser. Not only is it an all-in-1 moisturiser, it helps to heal rashes and keeps rashes at bay. It has a very nice fragrance, is easily absorbed, skin feels smooth and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. It can also be used on the butt to prevent diaper rash. Other all-in-1 moisturisers that work well on Larry are "California Baby Calendula Cream" and "Skincando Combat-Ready Balm" but "Avent Soothing Magic Cream" is the least pricy among them.

Whenever Larry develops rashes on any part of himself, I will apply more of the "Avent Soothing Magic Cream". But if it does not get any better or gets worse, I will apply "Skincando Combat-Ready Balm" as the last resort. To me, the "Skincando Combat-Ready Balm" is a must-have magic potion that has helped treat Larry's rashes and insect bites.

12) Cloths
Due to the hot climate in Singapore, during the day, I will usually put Larry in short-sleeve rompers, mittens and socks. In the evenings, I will change him into long pants. I always choose cloths that are made of 100% cotton as they are soft and cool to baby's delicate skin.

13) Waterproof Mat

I change my baby on bed after bathing. The waterproof mat helps to prevent the bed from getting wet. I place it on bed before putting baby with bath towel on it. For a visual view of how it looks like, refer to the picture mentioned in point 10 above. Alternatively, the changing mat can be used as well. But I prefer to keep them separate such that the changing mat is strictly used for diapering baby when he poops or diapers gets too full for hygiene reasons.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months) for Feeding

2014-10-09T10:11:00.001+08:00

This section provides more details on the items for the New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months), Feeding Category.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

Feeding
1) Breast Pump
For working mums, a mobile dual-electric breast pump enables working mums to continue breastfeeding and helps save time.

2) Milk Bottles
There are many different types of milk bottles out there. Some helps to reduces colic, spit-up, burping and gas.

3) Steriliser
Sterilising helps to keep protect babies from bacteria, germs and infection. I chose the electric steam steriliser as it is fast (takes about 6 to 15mins depending on model) and convenient to use. The steam from the steriliser also helps remove any remaining oil and milk stains. When choosing a steriliser, I pay attention to the size of the steriliser and choose one that can accommodate the number of milk bottles that I need to sterilise. Besides milk bottles, I put in pacifiers, spoons, milk powder dispenser that can be sterilised.

4) Cleaning Brushes
It helps to remove milk stains from difficult to reach places in milk bottle. It is better to get brushes of the same brand as different brands of milk bottles comes in different shapes and brushes of the same brand would have been designed to reach all areas of the milk bottle. I particularly like the brush shown in the picture below as it is very useful in reaching and scrubbing edges and/or other hard to reach areas of accessories like the milk bottle and food containers.

Brush

5) Cleanser
I chose a food grade liquid cleanser to wash the milk bottles and all other baby accessories like the pacifiers, milk dispenser, spoons, food containers etc. Pigeon, Tollyjoy, NUK are the few brands that carry food grade liquid cleanser.

6) Breast Milk Storage Bags/ Containers
Breast milk storage bags can only be used once and are used to store breast milk in the freezer for future consumption. Some milk storage containers can be placed in the freezer or the fridge. I particularly like the Philips Avent Breast Milk Storage Containers as they reusable, BPA free, can be freeze, can be sterilised, dishwasher safe and can be used in future to store baby food.

Storage Containers/ Bags

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months) for Activity Time

2014-10-06T10:10:00.000+08:00

This section provides more details on the items for the New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months), Activity Time Category.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

Activity Time

1) Baby Rattle
Babies likes things that makes sounds, this will help keep baby entertained. When buying a rattle, choose one that has a slim body that can be easily grasped by the small hands of the baby.

2) Rocker/ Bouncer
It helps to keep baby entertained and baby can nap/ feed in it during the day. Some rockers/ bouncers come with a toy bar that has dangling toys for baby to reach out to and play with helping them to train their motor skills. I bought Larry a manual fisher-price rocker that has a toy bar which is removable and vibration function which is battery operated. The vibration of the rocker helps to calm and soothe baby. It also has a reclining seat which is adjustable to 3 levels, thus it can be used for new-borns to toddler. It can also be converted from a rocker to a stationary seat. Being light and foldable, it makes this rocker portable and easy to keep.

New-born to Toddler Portable Rocker

3) Activity Gym/ Mat
An activity gym helps to stimulate babies with games, textures and colours. The dangling toys will encourage babies to reach out and explore them using both hands and legs. It helps babies to learn about cause and effect, trains their motor skills and provides a comfortable mat for baby to enjoy some tummy time play, strengthening their back and neck muscles at the same time. Some activity gyms are battery operated and come with music and lights.

4) Toys
Age appropriate educational toys can help babies develop healthily while keeping them entertained. It can help develop their motor skills, auditory sense and in other areas as well. I particularly like toys like the "Lamaze Freddie the Firefly" which has a chain link for easy attachment to a baby cot rail, car seat, stroller, activity mat or other toys. This toy has been one of Larry's favourite ever since we introduced it to him when he was a new-born. I hung it on the rail of his cot and he still plays with it now every time when he is in his cot.

Educational Toy

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months) for Going Outing with Baby

2014-10-06T10:08:00.000+08:00

This section provides more details on the items for the New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months), Going Outing with Baby Category.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

Going Out with Baby

1) Car Seat
The car seat helps to keep baby safe and comfortable during car rides. I chose a car seat which can be adjusted to both rear and forward facing. Depending on the car seats design, rear facing is usually used when baby is still at his infant stage (0 months to around 11 months). The car seat will have to be adjusted to forward facing when the baby is older (around 10kg and above depending on the specifications of the car seat). Besides providing safety, the cushy car seat allows the baby to easily slip into dreamland.

2) Baby Stroller/ Carrier
When going out with baby, having a baby stroller or carrier helps to lighten your load in needing to carry baby in your arms the whole time. Larry does not like being carried in a baby carrier. Thus, I use the baby stroller when I go out with him most of the time. Some things I take note of when choosing a baby stroller:
- Light weight
- Easy to manoeuvre
- Has a large storage basket below
- Folds quickly and easily
- Reclining position of seat is adjustable
- Can accommodate my child from birth up to 2-3 years old

3) Diaper Bag
I prefer diaper bags with pockets on the outside, wide openings, sufficient horizontal length and compartments inside. A diaper bag with wipe openings makes it easier to take and put things into the bag. The compartments will help to get things in the diaper bag more organised for easy access. Pockets on the outside of the diaper bag is useful for putting things like pacifier, wet mouth and hand wipes, keys, hand phone etc. which makes them more accessible.

4) Milk Powder Dispenser
A milk powder dispenser is needed if baby drinks formula milk when outside. I prefer milk powder dispensers with a lid on every compartment as it helps the milk powder stay fresh longer.

Part of Milk Powder Dispenser

5) Thermo Flask
Having a flask of hot water is useful when hot water is not so easily accessible when travelling with baby. It can be used in the preparation of formula milk or used to wash baby's pacifier. I prefer thermo flask with a lid and lock to prevent the lid from opening accidentally.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months) for Sanitisation/ Washing

2014-10-06T09:51:00.000+08:00

This section provides more details on the items for the New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0-6 Months), Sanitisation/ Washing Category.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

Sanitisation/ Washing

This category covers all the sanitisation and washing liquids which are not mentioned in the earlier categories.

1) Sanitizer
I chose an antiseptic alcoholic multi-purpose no-rinse liquid sanitizer which can be used on hands, skin and hard surface. It can effectively kill most bacteria and fungi, and stop some viruses. I use it on the changing mat especially after cleaning baby when he has pooped. It can also used for cleaning baby's stuff like stroller, baby's furniture etc. However, ensure that baby does not consume it.

2) Baby Laundry Detergent
Babies have more sensitive skin than adults. Thus, baby's cloths needs to be washed separately from ours with milder detergent.

3) Baby Furniture or Toy No-Rinse Cleaner
For baby's furniture like his cot and rocker, I use a no-rinse baby safe liquid cleaner that works like a thorough wash with soap and water to clean them. Other baby stuff that I use the no-rinse cleaner on is for things like the electronic toys which cannot be immersed in water.

To go back the main article "New Baby Must-Haves (Age 0 - 6 Months)", click here.

About Me

2014-10-03T08:44:00.000+08:00

Hallo, I am Edna, a mum to my dearest baby boy Larry who has come to us in God's graciousness, brought us lots of joy and shown me a new perspective of life. As a mum who loves her son dearly, I am on a constant lookout for the best or safest things for my child so that he can grow up healthy, strong and happy. These researches, discoveries and experiences will be documented in this site.

Life is full of surprises and Larry has by far been one of the most wonderful surprises for me. My motherhood journey begins when Larry came to us unexpectedly on one of our vacations while I was taking a short break from work. We decided to name our baby Larry as there is an English idiom "As Happy As Larry" and we wanted our child to be always happy. True to his name, Larry always greets me with the sweetest cheery smile every morning. Similar to that of the sunshine that shines upon the country that we live in (Singapore) where it is bright and sunny most of the time. Larry is a happy friendly baby who smiles easily in the company of anyone and whoever that plays with him.

Till now, I am still amazed by how the tummy of a pregnant lady can accommodate a baby of such size, who stays and grows inside the womb for months. Once the baby arrives and breaths air, not only does his small body seem to grow at such a phenomenal speed, his mind develops at a rapid pace too. LIFE is such a MIRACLE! There are times when I am completely exhausted by my very curious and active baby, so much that I secretly wished and even dreamt that I am back at work again away from my energy zapping, attention seeking and opera singing baby. However, I am thankful that I can be around to witness Larry reach his milestones, spend precious moments bonding with him and watch him grow. Whenever Larry looks at me in the eye and gives me a smile, it makes my heart feel so warm and sweet that I feel all energized again to fulfil his curious mind. Yes, his smile seems to be an energy booster for me. Oh well, that's part of motherhood!

In this site, I hope to capture the journey of my motherhood and grow it with Larry. Just like Larry, I am learning and making new discoveries every other day. It can be about Larry, myself, our surroundings, motherhood or life's simple pleasures like food etc. which I hope to document them in this site.

Thanks for visiting my blog and of course I would love to hear from you!

You can either drop me a note at the comment section or via email at mytinkerbaby@yahoo.com.sg and I will try my best to reply to you as soon as I can.

Enjoy your life's journey wherever it might take you!

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2014-10-02T08:52:00.000+08:00

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2014-10-02T08:13:00.000+08:00

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2014-10-02T08:12:00.000+08:00

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2014-10-02T08:10:00.000+08:00

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2014-10-02T07:52:00.000+08:00

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