Baby Seth Lo Hei #1

HUAT AHHH!!!

Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!!

I'm mostly a very happy person (mostly like I said) but when it comes to CNY, I'm more like a grinch than anything. However, this year's CNY is a little different for me as it is baby Seth's 1st CNY!

I'm not going to write a post and tell you what you can tell my son or not, or what you can feed my son or not during CNY. I mean I do have a list of likes and dislikes but hey, I'm not going to verbalise it on my blog and make it sounds like a FAQ or instruction manual for my son. (And partly also because you probably would not see us during CNY as I'm hiding at home grinch-ing away. So it doesn't matter. LOL)

Neither am I going to teach you "how to survive CNY with a toddler." (On hindsight, it's one of those articles that probably will travel far within the parents community. DAMN IT!) Like who died and made me the father of all parenting tips right? pui pui pui, CNY cannot say bad words like died, pok gai, fat, stupid, fuck up, etc etc. Which is also one of the many reasons why I hate CNY I guess. LOL.

So what is this post about? About how my son gets dirty with his lo hei the night before!! LOL.

Someone looks happy.

Daddy says that as a Chinese, the skill of using a pair of chopsticks is very very important. Because they too serve Chinese takeout even in New York. LOL

BUTTTT.. Baby says, frog it. We have hands for reason. USE EM!

 Why stop at only one hand when we are given two hands? RIGHT HAND ALSO LAI LIAO!!

Sorry Seth, didn't dressed you up nicely for the shoot as we didn't want to soil the nice nice CNY clothes. Just pretend you are celebrating year of the Frogs okay?

And yes, concern parents of the internet, it is kinda too sweet for the kid thus he only ate a few strands of carrots(for the photoshoot). No, he did not get a diarrhoea but the fibre did make him poop a little more the following day.

CNY JUST GOT A BIT MORE FUN WITH THIS BALL OF FATS!!!

And also the right way to eat Lo Hei.

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Managing Happiness - Year of The Monkey.

My mum stayed over with us during this Chinese New Year because of the arrival of the lil one. If I've never told you guys before I am telling you now that I am actually a very big mummy's boy. I might look at the big tough guy with tattoos and doesn't care much but I'm actually a little bit of a gentle giant myself where I really care a lot for my immediate family. 

Chinese New Year was never easy for me when I was younger. Meeting relatives talking about things I do not care and listening to them showing off how much more they have on the plate than us, driving a bigger car or even as simple as having a better computer system at home that runs CS1.5 faster than mine. I guess I always felt inferior to my relatives. Maybe they did not go out to show off on purpose but I was envy with everything they had and I didn't. No doubt that I love my mum for how she takes care of us but a kid being a kid makes me question my parents, "Why are we not having as much as my relatives?" 

10mm Lens - making HDB looks big one click at a time.

The mum working hard to put food on the table. Both ways.

So I had this conversation with a friend the other day that "Money ain't everything in life". I mean that was what she was saying and I was quite surprised by my own reply because we ain't exactly very close friends and I replied saying "That's usually what one will say when you already have it." I thought I sounded a little too hard on hindsight. oops. But I guess I do feel a lot when it comes to childhood and money.

Yes, no doubt money can't solve every problem but the fact is that it CAN solve most problems. While on the other hand, not having money is the root of many problems as I experienced it myself when I was younger.

And here's something someone shared with me recently about how "money" can make a difference in one's childhood. No shit. it's real. Link

This is why I love having meals at home. Nobody is going to judge me for being socially unacceptable 

I started playing basketball at a new court these days, and because of this I got to make many new friends. They are nice kids age around 16 - 20, the age where you should be planning for your future but you don't. I love kids at this age because this is the age where you can actually talk sense to them and I think it is those age where I can relate to very easily. (but maybe if you asked them they will just find me preachy and annoying. I think not lah hor. Or rather I hope not.)

They have many questions about being an adult and some told me they can't wait to be an adult. They asked me questions about how much I earn, what I do, what I REALLY DO, (Because they don't believe that I'm a part time lecturer and also business owner, given how erm.. "young" I act when I'm with them.) how I become "successful", how long I've been dating before I got married, etc etc.  

Is Ohana everything?

Almost complete but never will be. Missing Kor and that's something that will never change.

I told the kids how I would change my life if I could. I would have put in more effort on my studies, in sports, and in fact in everything I do. I am not saying studies is everything and is the only way to success, but I must say, we are very fortunate to be born in Singapore where social mobility is not just a myth and yet I feel like I didn't fully make use for the opportunities that was available for me when I was a kid because of the lack of exposure. To make things worst, I was never committed in anything I do simply because... No, I've no good excuses actually. That was just who I was as a kid. 

Some of the kids told me that they feel like I am in a very good place. I mean, I have a wife, a kid, a roof over my head, a car, decent and stable income, more than happy family, and of course, good looks. (THEY SAID THAT! Or maybe they didn't. :p) They would be more than content to be in my shoes in years to come. Maybe you can call me greedy, maybe you would ask me to learn the act of being content but I feel like I can still do more for myself, my son, and even the society as a whole. So why do we stop just because we think we are "okay" instead of pushing ourselves to a greater heights when we are still able to?

人如果没有梦想，跟咸鱼有什么两样？

Once upon a time the babies of the families and now taking care of my lil one. It's so strange to see my lil sister being 24, niece being in Primary school when my greatest memory of them was actually the 1st time I met them as a baby in my arms.

I know we always believe that family and relationships should be above money but that doesn't means one have to give money just for family right? Why not win them all by balancing them as much as possible? Life doesn't always have to give right? I mean I know you can't be both fat and skinny at the same time but I don't see why can't we be a awesome individual as well as a loving son, responsible father, and a loyal country man. 

No harm making some random wishes for better health and future right? I mean we should all work hard but such practices do make us feel a little better about the new year no?

I have no idea how big corps CEO does it. Getting everything under their feet. I am sure they had their tough times that people don't see it. Like many of my friends always like to ask me how I actually juggle the new born, my businesses, my blog and my other 7908572132 social media platforms and hobbies. I do get a little jaded sometimes and wonder why must we do so much. Can we just forget everything and buy a little piece of land in Philippines and be a small time farmer? 

Well, I really don't think my life is that busy YET considering how I still have time for sleep and hobbies but I guess the secret is really to not sweat the small things and focus on bigger pictures. And also, I always compare up. I always look at how some of these people are doing more than me, achieving more than me, and you will realise that your life ain't that difficult after all. Look at how people that are taking care of themselves, family, upgrading themselves, voluntary work , and more. 

I know people always say "Don't compare lah." but if there's no comparison, there's no competition and when will improvement starts?  

The kids put up some GXFC choreography. 

No doubt, happiness is to each's own and there ain't no one size fit all solution. But the question is, are you truly happy or are you setting your expectations lower so as to not feel sad?

I started this post actually just to share my Chinese New Year pictures but it ended up becoming a little cheong hei. oops. I guess that's the very 1st syndrome of me becoming a preachy old man?

To end off this post, always remember, keep grinding and DO NOT stay in the comfort zone! Have a good year of the Monkey!

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Gong Xi Valentine's Day-ed

Year 2010 is going to be a very beautiful year for all especially for the Chinese. The year kicked off with two very beautiful events falling on the same day. The all lover's day - Valentine's Day and a very important festival to the Chinese - Lunar New Year.

Although it's interesting to see both occasions falling on 1 day, it ain't that easy to plan both celebration on 1 day too. Thus Ah Dum and I decided to take a break on Friday to do our little "Pak Tor".

The Valentine's Day

As much as many of you guys will give me the o_O face upon knowing where we went to celebrate our V.day, we still went ahead with it.

After being together for 8 long years, we have done enough of movie watching or star glazing. We decided to do a human glazing - dead human. " Body Worlds"

It was an amazing trip cause we have to travel 2 dang hrs from Tampines to Singapore Science Centre and the best part was I left the tickets which Ah Dum pre-purchase at home. So we wasted another 30 mins to go back home from Tampines interchange to reach home to pick up and tickets and than head for Jurong.

We can't take pictures in the exhibition and thus I could only take some picture outside.

And they actually have this cute little iPhone casing for sale.

Get it? I heart myIphone.. Get it ??

The exhibition was so so for me, in fact it's kinda sick. I understand the view of science and all but cutting them up and putting them in different weird position is no science to me man..

And then after we decide to spoil ourselves for the evening and kushin.bo we go !!! it's $41 per pax !! AHHH !!! So much so for saving for HDB..

My fav Unagi..

The population of Salmon drop by quite a bit on that nite. We ate really really really lots of it

Ah Dum's fav crab crab !

My Shit Chocolate Yogurt

So that's pretty much V.day for us, a lil walk and then dinner. Many individual has mention before that "if you are in love, everyday is V.day" which I totally disagree cause it's really impossible to keep it that way right ? Even if everyday is lovely enough u can still break ur limit and make V.day a lil different right ??

CNY Celebration

Although I mention that CNY is a beauuutiful festival, I must admit that I am the CNY Grinch.

I hate the spring cleaning.

I hate planning CNY Events/Campaigns .

I hate meeting my relatives who will compare all shit on earth and ask me about my blardy class 3 license.

I hate meeting friends who do coffee table talks about which car u are buying soon and which girl they fuck recently.

I hate have 5 long days of break and returning to office with no idea what to do next.

BUT there are things which I like too ! The very nice people who let me "shoot" them !

The Old Bean and Mummy

Sister - Joyc-phat

Sorry for the shaky hands

Shaky hands of my mum.. dun blame the 60 yrs old pls..

Ah Dum and Joyc-Phat

My Ah Dum and I

The lil boy whom my mum use to baby sit !!

And his sister

My Fav Aunt and My Mum !!

My Fav Cousin with his Mum and my Mum !

Cousin and his future Wifey.. nice young girl !

And we play cards.....

in the day... with the elders..

in the nite... with some friends..

and even at other people's place...

Not too sure about you guys but I prefer peeps to visit my place comparing to me visiting others, no doubt I have to give the drinks and cookies and mop the floor afterwards but it's the season of love and giving right ? ( hmmm.. sounds like the wrong season hor??? )

But of course I visit too !!

At Ah Keong's Place..

Ah Keong lazing around watching teebee..

Some surprises you will get when you do visiting.. Ah Boon's toy Snake !!! Very Real Right ???

Looks like the long holiday was a great one for me after all ? What about you guys ? Did you enjoy your long holiday ??

Mr.Smith Wishes All A Gong Xi Valentine's Day !!

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