Tuesday, February 23, 2010

A 3 year old and 11 months old and other reflections...

It's about time I did a new post I think.
Jodie has been gone for about a month now, and the family is now starting to get used to being without a dog. Initially, the house felt so empty despite having 3 kids to fill the space and add to the noise pollution. It's just how Jodie used to be around, yet be unnoticed, the way she would greet us at the door, then go off to her corner, or snuggle up to us when we sat on the floor. The squeak of her ball occasionally, then her persistence in wanting you to play 'fetch' with her... all these little things are just taken for granted, and dearly missed when it's not around. We used to think twice about leaving food on low tables for fear of Jodie grabbing at them, it still is instinctive to think twice, then realise that she's not around anymore... We also realised that we started to get more mynahs in our kitchen, leaving their droppings, stealing food from the bins, and even picking food out of the pots on the stove! I kept wondering why it was less so in the 2 months since we moved in... then the realisation hit me, when I deduced that Jodie must have been keeping the birds away! Either by chasing them, or that they knew that a dog was around here, and never tried to get too close! These are things we just take for granted, and don't appreciate about others, whether 4 or 2-legged, until they are gone...
Anyway, K and I were toying with the idea of getting another dog immediately. We went to SPCA, the pet farm, and some pet shops looking for a replacement. A month on, we have gotten used to not having a dog to take on our walks, not needing to clean up after her, not needing to think about whether she needs to go out to do her business etc... I have decided that we'll wait till the kids are older before we venture into getting another pet... the thought of training a puppy all over again is just a bit too daunting for me now.

Well, this year has been rather eventful thus far... K2 had her 3rd birthday, and baby D turns 11 months today!
The day before her birthday, I made a cake and brought to school for her to celebrate with her friends in school. The next day, we had a simple day out with all the kids. Both daddy and I took the day off work, and brought her to the playground in the morning. She was allowed to do and eat anything she wanted for the day! After getting K1 from school, we had lunch at Macs, and then headed off to Sentosa for the afternoon. K2 requested to go to Underwater world, so that's where we headed. We had a great time, and she especially enjoyed the dolphin and fur seals show at the new dolphin lagoon. After which, we went to the beach, and played on the sand till it was time to go home for dinner. All the grandparents were at home waiting for the birthday girl for dinner, and to have her birthday cake! Hopefully she'll remember this day for a while.
Mr D is 11 months old today... so here this mummy has to start cracking her head to think of how to celebrate his 1st birthday. Traditionally, the other 2 girls had a party with cousins at their 1st birthday... so I guess it'll have to be so too... must be fair right?
D has been practicing his walking with the push-walker for about 1 month now and has started standing for a few seconds on his own... so I anticipate his first steps soon... He is such a bundle of joy to be with. He has such a pleasant disposition, crying only when he's hungry or tired. He has smiles for everyone most of the time... just makes me smile....

I'll leave you with these pics... and more on FB