Strange Machines

Today we celebrated Father’s Day at Modestos and then went to paint Takashimaya red. Our dear aunt NH called to say she was at the airport with her boys and we sped off to meet them. I told Wolf in the car we were going to see his grandaunt and uncles and he was thrilled. It had been 4 months since he saw them and he remembered them very well.

In fact, when they showed up, he walked right up to her, peered at her and said “Gu Puo (grandaunt in Chinese)”. She was so amazed she gave him a big hug. We had dinner at Crystal Kitten and he let his young uncles carry and play with him. He even showed off the “car bag” I made for him.

“Car bag,” he proclaimed, and proudly displayed the sling bag hung diagonally around him. “Mama made!” I was so thrilled. It was the first thing he showed everyone at lunch and at the airport today when he met them, right after wishing all the fathers a loud “Happy Father’s Day!”. His Dad and I were so proud of him.

He remembers things very acutely. From the broken car mirror on the silver car at the Forum Toys R Us (now fixed, but he reminds me every time, “not broken”, when we go there) to who bought him what. He remembers all his extended family and even people he met just once and where. It is remarkable. Even the things we don’t review at the end of the day. I would always ask him if he had a great day and what he did today. Still months later he will amaze me by remembering something I barely registered.

At Terminal 3, he weighed himself at an empty check-in counter. He is 12.3kg and 94 cm tall at 25 months, one heck of a runner, bilingual, a competent singer (he sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to me this morning, out of nowhere), an avid dreamer (he’ll tell me about his dreams – sweet dreams about everyone hugging), a loving and affectionate child (he’ll hug and kiss and tell his loved ones he loves them in English and Chinese), and that amazing memory.

And in other news, a sweet evening with Boy tonight. Ah I love my boys so much.

I did this with Buffy in one second, yet Boy struggled, howled and swatted. Here’s a useful life hack on How to give your cat a pill in 7 steps, with step by step picture inclusion. Boy needs his pill daily so I might try these few useful ideas.

On a separate note, Kaku (see above pic) found herself on the wrong end of the door. I just went to the bathroom and this little cat came meowing rather anxiously at me. Just like the old days, she rolled around and let me pet her till I led her back to the others out back. It was so sweet though.

Mom’s Beef Stew: an original recipe.

Makes one week’s supply of beef stew for babies and cats. So far the hubby says it is tasty, Wolf (the baby) likes only 3 bites, and the cats love it.

Ingredients:
300g premium minced beef
1 handful frozen sweet corn, peas, carrots
1/2 handful pasta (twirly ones in durum wheat)
1 small tomato (cut in 4)
10 leaves of baby spinach

Non-edibles:
Non-stick pot with cover
5 baby glass bottles, sterilised and dried
Bowl for distribution to cats

Cook it:
1. Throw all ingredients into pot.
2. Add water to just cover the ingredients.
3. Turn on fire. Ensure is boiling then turn to low.
4. Leave for 1 hour but return every 15 minutes to make sure it is not burnt. If running low on water, add a small bit more.
5. When cooked, let cool for a while before bottling. Put in freezer.
6. Place remainder in bowl and distribute to cats.

How to use:
When you wish to feed baby, put 1 bottle to thaw in refrigerator 4 hours before. If you forget, microwave on high for 1 minute then use spoon to stir. If still cold, repeat. If baby dislikes food, feed cats. If cats dislike it, you don’t have to make lunch for yourself.

Although he began cruising in a fashion a couple of weeks ago, Wolf is seriously at it now. Today, being open house day for the cats and all, he cooed at the cats and crawled confidently to the living room where he cruised from one chair to another while looking triumphantly at me.

After his nap, he played with Boy some excitedly patting his tummy pretty hard till I had to put an end to it. Boy lay there tolerating it for quite a while before getting annoyed and leaving. Tux went up to Wolf later to meow at him, maybe to thank him for annoying Boy. :p

It is open day for the cats every Saturday and Sunday, and supervised playtime for the cats and Wolf. Today, the kids got all upclose and personal.

Wolf wakes up from a nap, looking rather disoriented.

He notices his brother Boy lying nearby.

Then goes across to say hi.

It’s open house day today for the cats and the critters cheerily explored the house then went to their fave corners for a nap. Wolf, too was due for a nap but was too distracted to sleep. He pooped twice and I wanted to slip out to wash my hands.

Buffy was lying on her usual perch and I edged to the bathroom saying, “Mommy will be back in 1 minute”. He kept looking and smiling at Buffy who was blinking back. I quickly washed my hands and returned. There was nary a peep!

I decided to try again shortly after he nipped my nipple and refused to nap. I got up and said, “Mommy will be back in 1 minute”. He smiled and stayed put till I returned. This is monumental as he’d never let me out of his sight before (unless someone else was around).

The kids seem calm around him now and he’s simply delighted to see them. They’re used to his crying and it seems unlikely they’ll mark again out of fear. Looks like open house might be able to be extended forever now.

I’m back from an hour trying to get Wolf back to bed. It’s been so tiring that I can’t sleep although I am really tired. Sometimes I just need to unwind.

Someone’s been burning something near my home and the smoke’s been lingering in the rooms, even the bedroom. Poor Wolf woke up crying repeatedly, refusing to be soothed even by boob. Till I think finally out of exhaustion, and maybe the OSIM air purifier finally kicking in.

Even Boy and Tux were howling some. I don’t know if it was because of the smoke, or because Wolf was crying so plaintively. They started only when he cried so it is possible it is most likely the latter. I would hate for them to be suffering from smoke inhalation.

As for why Wolf was temporarily inconsolable, it could be that the smoke upset his nose, hence he couldn’t suck well. But then again, he was drinking fine intermittently. Or perhaps the smoke bothers his eyes. Mine sting.

Is it a tradition for burning on the 7th day of Chinese New Year? I don’t remember. But I do remember groups of people burning stuff in the middle of the night last year. Whether it was for Chinese New Year or hungry ghost festival, I am not certain.

Anyhow, I’ve turned on both fans and opened all the windows. Hopefully the air will clear soon. I’m heading to bed.

It’s sad to hear the older generation criticise us for loving and giving our cats a home, but for the most part, most quietly accept it despite how they feel. When baby makes 8 (5 cats, hubby, and me), gentle and less gentle reminders resurface.

I will go with the evidence. Scientists have been proving for years that children are better off growing up with pets. They’re stronger, more responsible, more compassionate, and have less allergies than children who haven’t.

Nonetheless, as hard as it has been, I have stuck to my guns.

Wolf enjoys supervised playtime with the cats now. He’ll sit next to Tux, eagerly patting him while I guide his hand to be gentle. He understands gentle, just as he understands light, flower, Buffy, and cats. He stays his hand until he gets excited again.

But he will learn. Already he no longer grabs at something. He pats at things he likes: Mommy, Daddy, Boy, Tuxie, Buffy (Sam and Kaku are too shy for now). So he likes the cats. Very much. That just brings a smile to my face.

There is a curious similarity between my two boys Wolf and Tux. They both love to slide open their father’s cupboard door, go through the garbage bin, and even tear open supermarket-sized plastic bags with stuff inside.

Both howl a lot, and demand a lot of their parents’ attention. They both love to eat a lot and just about anything. Tuxie has been known to even tear through candy and chocolate wrappers. Wolf gnaws through anything plastic-wrapped.

Both are big-boned and heavy. In fact they weigh the same: 9kg!

Both have the same naughty look on their faces…

I never thought I’d ever be a devoted mother, yet over 8 months after my son was born, I am sacrificing sleep, shopping, and my yearly book quota to bring him up the best I can. I had never warmed to children, even while pregnant. My friend Karen, mother of 2, cheerily brought me to visit her year-old son when I was 7 months pregnant. I didn’t know what to do with him (according to Karen amusedly, I shied away in horror) but hubby happily played with him, um… more like played with his bike. Now I find myself talking to other moms and cooing at their babies!

Interestingly, the hub never had any doubt. I asked him, how did you know? He said, well, it was the way you cared for our cats. When Boy cried out at night, you leapt out of bed to tend to him. You took all the kids to the vet. You made sure Boy had his meds every day. You had a sixth sense when one of them was sick. You always bought them the best food. That’s why I married you. Hmm…

Thinking back, I remember (with my Mommy brain) bringing Boy to see Dr E waddling 8 months pregnant to check out his bladder, hugging him when he was insecure at night, gaining Kaku’s trust by petting her… yeah, I guess I was a good cat mom. But it didn’t necessarily mean I would be a good human mom. Does it automatically translate that if you are a good cat/dog/other pet mom that you’d be a good human mom?