precious moments

Once in a while, I bring one of the kids out alone for some one on one time. Usually, we just head out for an afternoon to run some errands and then in between, we sit down together for a nice lunch, stop by for a scoop of ice-cream, head to the library to pick out a couple of books and they get a dollar to go on their favorite kiddie ride. It’s nothing fancy but they get to have mommy all to themselves for a couple of hours.

It doesn’t happen a lot with 3 in the house and especially since baby Finn is still in a needy phase but when it does happen, it’s like a special treat for them.

It’s good for me too because after the usual madness of going out with 3 kids, going out with 1 is so relaxing.

So I was out with Kirsten a while back and I let her choose her favorite activities to do. She wanted fries, ice-cream and instead of a kiddie ride, she wanted to go to Toys ‘R Us to pick out a toy. I told her she could just pick out 1 item and I’d think about it. I thought she would pick out a doll for princess collection but when we got there, she took my hand and brought me to the Transformers aisle.

“Mmm…I want to get this Optimus Prime for kor kor, he likes Transformers so much. He didn’t get to come out with us so I want to get something special for him.”

I’ll be honest – usually, thinking about it means there’s a slim chance of it happening but this was one of those moments that was impossible to refuse. I gave her the $6.90 to pay for the toy and she carefully held the little bag all the way home for Truett.

It was a small gesture but Truett was so thrilled with it he hugged her super tight and said “THANK YOU KIRSTEN I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU.”

*Total heart melt*

So guess who played with sand for the first time in his life?

We were taking a walk along the sandy white beach in Bali last week and mister tiny toes got to dip his teensy weensy toes in the soft, warm sand.

It’s so cute to watch them experience something new for the first time because at first, he was really grossed out and he scrunched up his face like he was tasting something weirdish like lemon or spinach.

Then after a few bounces in the sand, he was like “oooh, this feels strangely fun and comforting.”

And a little while later, he was completely sold on the whole sand experience. Like “MOAR SAND! MOAR MOAR SAND!! ME LIKE SAND. IMMA PACK SOME OF THIS STUFF IN MY DIAPER AND THIGHS AND TOES WHERE MOMMA CAN’T SEE IT SO I CAN BRING SOME HOME TO PLAY WITH LATER…”

Which is exactly what he did because after we got back, I got to play a game called The Hunt For Hidden Sand Granules.

Wherein I’m supposed to hunt for hidden sand granules on my baby including but not limited to the following areas: between the digits of his toes, behind his knees, in the folds of his thighs, wrist and neck.

Me no like this game.

It used to be that babies learnt to flip through practice, hard work  and determination. We’d put them on their tummies and cheer them on with words of encouragement as they struggled and flopped around like a fish out of water. It’s brutal but it’s only through the struggle that the caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

<What’s up with the animal analogies, you ask? It’s animal week and that means too many Nat Geo youtube videos.>

Well, baby Finn is not like most babies. When it’s the dreaded tummy time, he realizes that resistance is futile so instead of struggling and trying so hard to flip on his own, he just lets his head flop down to the side and waits for someone to rescue him. Coupled with his charming grin, it almost always works.

Who needs to develop stomach muscles when it’s so much easier to smile?

Step 1: The Tummy Time.

Step 2: The Pout. 

Step 3: The Floppy Head. 

Step 4: The Strategy.

Step 5: The Smile.

Step 6: Parental Intervention. Also known as The Win.

The holiday cheer is officially upon us – we’ve put up the tree and decorations and acorns and lots of lights to get everyone in the mood for Christmas. We even had some presents under the tree but I left the kids alone in the living room for 5 minutes and I came out to find them shredding wrappers. Like two little frenzied hamsters.

“GUYS!! NOOOOOO!!!! You can’t open them for another 3 weeks,” I said, looking horrified.

“But this one is mine! See, K-I-R-S-T-E-N. That’s my name, so I can open it,” Kirsten explained while holding up a half-torn wrapper.

“Yes, but not yet. You can look at it and admire it and shake it to guess what’s inside but you can’t open it till Christmas morning.”

It was her turn to look horrified and then I realized that ok, it was a little cruel to make them resist the urge to rip open their presents for 3 whole weeks. Delayed gratification is not one of their strengths.

So long story short, the presents are now stashed in a secure location, away from compulsive, itchy fingers. We’ll only put them under the tree on Christmas eve and hope they don’t go into hamster mode in the middle of the night.

Just 15 days to go, I think their excitement is rubbing off on us too.

P.S. Kirsten was quite ill but she insisted that she wanted to take a picture with the Christmas tree. I thought she was being festive but right after, she was all “I took pictures very well so I can get potato chips right?” Well played, my mercenary little genius.

P.P.S. She didn’t get her chips but I did give her a coupon to trade for some when she’s feeling better.

P.P.P.S. Shortly after, she asked to take pictures with baby Finn. Guess who’s not falling for that?