Medical science is so very reliant on it now and it is one of the reasons many of us are living long and healthy lives in the last 100 years. Electricity has enabled us to do intricate research and construct minute instruments to enable this. It has also allowed us to learn, work, and play at night. It allows us to live in more hostile climates and explore them. It has brought us planes and electric trains, and electric cars. Rockets and exploring the moon and very soon, Mars.

I am grateful we have electricity in our lives.

We are so thrilled to announce that we have adopted a one year old tabby named Kitty (or as Kitten likes to call her, Cutie).

She is a dead ringer for Boy but also looks like herself in many ways. Her personality is totally different though. She loves being petted and held. A record 15 minutes!

What a joy it is to have her in our family.

The seller Laurie (shop FrivolTees) was really lovely to work with. She responded to me quickly and was incredibly helpful with fabric samples and advice.

Shipping was super fast too, considering it was a custom order for 3 houses and dolls. I ordered on 14 July. Production took a few days and it arrived on the 1st of August. That’s about 14 days altogether!

They are sturdily made and well crafted. Packaging was beautiful and professional too with thoughtful notes and cards which the children treasure. My greatest and utmost respect for a talented artisan working from home and raising five children!

The children are so happy and love their own fairy dollhouses so much! They had a hand in selecting their fabrics of choice and were especially thrilled to see the end result.

And I get to play with them too, now that I have my own mini fairy avatar me and my own fairy dollhouse.

Truth is, my bookshelf is already bursting with books I’ve had since I was a teenager and then subsequently an adult. I am a voracious reader. I have read my favourite books between 20 to 50 times. And reading is my number one hobby. Always been, always will be.

So since I had the kids, I entered the world of ebooks. They cost considerably less, take up virtually (excuse the pun) no space, and are very very portable, thanks to the iPhone. Incredibly, I carry my entire library around (okay, not every single book as they are not all available in ebook, but definitely my favourite books which I have bought ecopies of).

I have to say this though, the reading experience is totally different. I find I have a much shorter attention span and get agitated more often. The book has to be exponentially more engaging to keep me reading. It’s something to do with the backlighting and the glare that causes this, but since my favourite activity of lying in bed reading is no longer an option, ebooks has been the way and will probably be for a long time coming.

Some of my friends are recommending I get a Kindle. I have to confess to be extremely annoyed at the geographic restrictions on many new ebooks when the print book is readily available in hardcover in Kinokuniya. Since I can’t read print anymore (for now, because of my motherly obligations – I’ll explain the logistics another time but suffice to say, it is about space and comfort), I have to patiently wait for an ebook to be released to the international audience about a year later. This doesn’t make sense. So publishers, if you are reading this, please think of the poor readers stuck with ereaders waiting patiently to read a book which is not available to them, just because it is digital content.

Still the cost of ebooks is a great lure. You can save on kindle fire books and other ebooks by signing up for ebook store newsletters where they routinely send you coupons, or just Google the store name plus coupon. I’ve print and digital copies of all my favourite books now. It feels great to carry them around (although my eyesight is seriously going!).

The kids have begun swim class, which they both love immensely. Their coach is wonderful with kids and so very funny and relaxed. I am so grateful we found this place.

I also try to make sure they have plenty of time with the grandparents. I always wish I had known my grandparents better before they passed. It is a beautiful relationship and I have my happiest moments watching my folks have a bonding moment with my kids, usually a smile or a hug or sharing a joke.

The years fly by too fast. Although I often wish I have more time to myself, I remind myself I will have plenty of that when they enter their teen years and adulthood. This precious decade I spend close to them and nurturing their relationship with their grandparents is but a blink in all our lives. I try hard to make sure we all cherish it.

Going to go hug them now.

It’s been 2 kids and half a dozen baby carriers. Overall, I have to say that the Ergo Organic still is the best one for me. It is incredibly soft and cool (in this hot humid weather we have here) and is the most comfy for me, probably because of the material. We also have the original canvas Ergo but find it hotter and rougher on the shoulders.

For my husband who loves to back carry the 5 year old when he is tired, he swears by the Boba (1st gen). It has better back and hip support due to its thick and stiff waist band. The Boba is my go-to second and while it is hard for me to nurse it, it does support my back better and sits the little one higher. When he carries the little one, he does also prefer the Ergo Organic.

Bottom line is though, everyone’s body is different and their needs are different too. Ideally we should all try our carriers before buying (I didn’t). For my nomadic lifestyle where the kids go wherever I do on public transport, on my thin 5″8 frame, the Ergo Organic works best.

One thing for sure is, I have loved every minute of cuddling my little ones in our carriers and weaving through shops and supermarkets with ease. (Wish my back was as grateful though…)