quick update.

I realized I haven't posted anything in almost a month, so here's why. Things have been pretty busy lately. We've made quite a few life-changing choices.

1. We've signed another 2 year contract after weighing many possibilities. I say contract, singular, because I'm going to be subbing next year and not full-time.

2. We've both decided to start our Master's degrees in International Education in the Fall from 2 different universities.

3.We have booked all of our tickets/apartments/cars for the grand adventure across North America this summer. What does this look like?
Singapore- Japan- Vancouver- Austin- Va Beach- Calgary, Invermere- Vancouver- Japan- Singapore
(Might even have a few spontaneous trips.)

4. We are moving apartments to the other side of the island- yes, a whole 15 minutes away. (Which actually seems very far.) Very excited about it though. We will be a block from the beach where there's lots of bike paths which should be fun. Can't wait to explore another part of the city.

Here is LBC checking out the new apt while the agents negotiate price.

5. And we are in the process of hiring a Helper or Foreign Domestic Worker. For everyone outside of Asia, this is a very foreign idea. She will help out with the cooking, cleaning and babysit Caiden when I'm at work. Think of it like a nanny who also cleans. Or a maid who also babysits. So the weird part is that she will live with us. We are still getting used to the idea and I think it will take some time to figure out what this relationship will look like. BUT very excited to have someone do ALL of the housework for us.

6. Oh, and we've decided to get a car. This might not seem like a big deal, but here's a little example of what cars cost here. This is a lady in one of my facebook groups who is selling her used car. Yes, that is the price in dollars- for a 2009 CHEVY. And yes, there is a yearly road tax on top of that! AND you can't own a car that's older than 10 years. Lots of rules to prevent people from having too many cars on the road.

We've gone 6 years without a car, but it's time to get one. It's a huge expense so it wasn't an easy decision.

Right in the middle of all of this, Caiden has learned to wave bye-bye. While doing this for the first time, he scratched my eye. It was so painful, I had to go to the eye doctor and sure enough, there was a huge corneal abrasion. I had to get a bandage lens put in for a few days. I was pretty disappointed that I didn't need a pirate patch, but it's 2014. Technology, people. It's all good now, but quite painful for awhile. 

The yellow part is the scratch. 

One of the best parts about moving every 2 years is that you are always cleaning out your closets and getting rid of stuff you don't really need. You can't keep a lot of junk around which I really like. So this week, I've begun the process of cleaning out the closets and even getting rid of some bigger baby stuff that we aren't using. Busy time of year and can't wait to relax in North America for June/July! 

Back to Thailand

We just got back from our second trip to Thailand with baby a few days early. He wasn't feeling well and it's a good thing we got back here since he's fighting a virus with his first fever. He's doing better, but you can tell he's glad to be home and in his real bed. We had a great time with good friends. Rented a HUGE condo with 2 other families and just enjoyed 5 days of beer, sun, beach, playing with babies. Just another typical Thai holiday. 

Someone's excited for the beach....

Choosing an ice cream. 

Liked the ocean a bit more this time. 

And ate some sand. 

 One pad thai, please. 

Dinner on the beach at sunset. 

The search for a real coffee ended here. 

Oh my, we've come a long way, Wolf Pack. 

Cute little Thai high chair. 

Got caught playing with a doll. 

 Loved the trees on the walk to the beach. 

The pool at the resort. 

 Surin Beach. 

How to live cheaply in the most expensive city in the world.

A few weeks ago, there was THIS ARTICLE that came out that named Singapore to be the most expensive city in the world. I found these quotes to be true: "The city's strong currency combined with the high cost of running a car and soaring utility bills contributed to Singapore topping the list.

It is also the most expensive place in the world to buy clothes." 

Yes, it can be expensive if you let it. There are many ways to avoid extra expenses. First of all, it's cheaper for me to buy clothes in the US and then have them shipped here. Actually, it's cheaper to buy almost ANYTHING from the US and have it shipped here. For example, I bought a digital thermometer from Amazon for US$40 and guess what, at the store here it was S$150!! O bought a bike and the shipping was over $200 to send it here and still we saved hundreds of dollars rather than buy a bike here.

We use public transport a lot. It's simple, it's easy, it's cheap. There's this awesome app where you put in your location and it compares public transport so you can choose the best way to get there. For example, on Friday I went to the water park (which is free) at gardens by the bay and these were the options. You just click on either choice and it gives a detailed map. 

(The prices are in Singaporean dollars. S$1= USD$1.25)

I do take the MRT and bus quite often. LBC likes the bus and MRT probably because he gets so much attention. 

Waiting to board the MRT.

But sometimes I take a taxi. What's awesome is there's an app when you book a taxi and it shows you exactly where the taxi is. This is so great with a baby so I know how much time I have before I go downstairs. 

There are actually a few free activities that I do each week. For example, there's the Botanic Gardens which I walk through every morning. And a few play gyms are free for babies under 1. There are dozens of other free things to do with kids in SG. 

At the food court. (You can't tell, but there are some fried ducks hanging behind us)

Here is one at Marina Bay Sands( you know that building that looks like a boat on top). We took the bus there and back which cost S$2.46 total. We even ate at the food court. Which had awesome food. Eating out can be a cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. We've spent $37 for a GLASS of HOUSE white wine and could easily spend over $100 for just a couple beers at a local pub. BUT we spend a lot of time drinking some of the cheapest and coldest beers in town at Newton Food Centre. I'm sure you've seen lots of pics of this on Instagram. We also have an amazing credit card that has dozens of restaurants for 50% off! We also shop at the local wet market where fruits and veggies are much cheaper. Baby food is expensive, so I make my own. We get lots of things 2nd hand and all of our furniture is from Ikea. 

Shopping at Ikea.

So really, life is what you make it. 

Cheers! Beers at newton. 

8 months

I know what you're all thinking. Why have I not entered him in more cute baby contests? Well, we've been busy lately as he's crawling all over the place. 

Can you believe this outfit is for 18 months!! 

He loves standing up and pulling himself up especially on the couch. Oh and in his crib when he should be sleeping. 

His hair is getting longer but not really any thicker. He's using those 8 teeth to chew on anything and everything. I might start a blog entitled "why are you eating that?". 

5 more weeks.....

Definitely ready for a vacation.... Can't wait to get back to Thailand. The countdown is on!

January 2014

Weekly Market & Hawker

Once a week, O goes over to the local wet market to get groceries and has a coffee and roti prata.  Sometimes other dads bring their babies and meet up. 

 One week I came along to take some pics. 

LBC contemplating what to eat. So many choices.

Coffee and prata. 

A prata is kinda like an omelet meets a crepe. They are cooked fresh when you order. Dip it in some curry sauce and you are eating just like a local. The coffee was surprisingly good. This meal costs $3.

Hawker stall. 

Each stall sells a different type of food (Chinese, Malay, Indian). They each have a very basic menu, maybe only 5-6 items. Everything is cooked as you order it, but made very quickly. The stalls are surprisingly very clean and each has a rating A, B, C, etc, which every stall and restaurant in town has to display. 

Fruits and veggies. They even have organic. 

Visiting the chicken lady. 

She loooves Caiden. And yes, there are all parts of the chicken sold here. You have to be very specific when you order. No head or feet, please. 

The tale of 3 teeth.

We started this week off to a rocky start with the appearance of 3 new teeth. Yes. That's right, 3 at once. What's worse than a baby cutting a new tooth? Try 3 at once. He's been put off with food some days and others can't get enough. Sleep is a thing of the past. The drooling is ungodly. Puddles of drool on the tile.  By Tuesday he just wanted to cuddle all day long. Who is going to say no to that face? Whilst cuddling I noticed we had a 4th tooth coming in. Oh dear Lord, help us. It's only Wednesday and O found a 5th tooth today! What's going on? Trying to break a world record for most teeth in a week ? So now he has 4 in total poking out on the top and 4 showing on the bottom. Ridiculous. Make it stop.

We just aren't quite ourselves this week. Usually he loves playing with his toys. 

Not too excited about anything....

 And Bunny is just boring....

  Pulling up the rug normally brings such joy.... 

Ok, found something he likes.... a nice cold teething ring. 

At least we got a smile!