A year older (part 2)

Yesterday went well for me. I spent time with Jillian in the morning while Jon was at nursery. Jon came back and MIL helped put Jillian down for her nap. I had a yummy lunch, while they both napped. I had thought of scrapping in the afternoon, but Jillian woke up for two hours. So I decided to play with her and she rewarded me with smiles and singing.

Simon came back after work and went to wash the car. I made Jillian nap while I watched a tape with Jon. Then when Jill woke up, I bathed and fed her, then did the same with Jon.

We cut the cake before dinner coz Jillian was going to bed. Poor girl was awake for two hours (all the bathing and feeding, mommy had to shower too). But she smiled big time for the camera! She's such a smiley baby, but whenever I whip out the camera, she will stare at the camera instead of smiling at me!

I didn't really planned for the photo, like make sure the background was clear and the cakes properly display (so we had "things" growing from the back of our heads, and cakes on cake boxes). But I was happy that my sis-in-law Catherine was there to help me take photos of me and my family. You know how it's difficult to cut a cake with kids and it's even harder to get a photo a complete family (it's usually Simon or me taking the photos). So, danguberrimuch Catherine!

I had two birthday cakes, thanks to Simon and Catherine. Jon was all excited about the cake that instead of persuading to bathe so we can have cake, he wanted to have the cake first! And he found out what a matchstick was....oh no! Thankfully, he was attracted by the cake too. He used his fingers to get some cake and licked them clean.

After cutting up the cakes, and packing some for Catherine and Stanley, I put Jillian into the sarong. Then Simon brought me and Jon out for dinner.

Jon was on his best behaviour. He didn't want to hold our hands though and walked excitedly through a shopping centre on the way to a western restaurant in a local hotel. Simon had his salad and rib eye steak. It's been so long that he had one that he forgot to indicate how he wanted it done. I had oxtail soup and lamb chops. yums! and Jon had fries.

Jon explored the restaurant a little and settled down (good that the restaurant had a singing trio). The friendly waitress cleared the his cutlery and even the vase, pepper and salt holders upon seeing how we kept moving them away from Jon. He sat down to have his fries and drew a little on the feedback form. I think colouring at nursery helped and he is exploring colouring.

I passed Jon a side dish of tomato ketchup and that engaged him further. He doesn't know the difference between tomato and chilli sauce and kept dipping his fries in it and feeding me. After a while, I switched to chilli sauce, couldn't take the sweetness of the ketchup!

He was on his best behaviour and sat down long enough for us to finish our meal. He was also engaged by the singing band, and clapped along! What bliss, no tantrums and Simon and I even managed to have a decent conversation! Must be thanks to another sis-in-law's birthday wish that my kids will be guai. haha.

And the sweetest thing was Jon's kisses! He kissed me on my cheeks and then landed a big one on my lips. He had the same pout when my gynae scanned him in my womb!

This was a lovely birthday for me! I have my husband (others have husbands who travel lots or who are based overseas) and two happy and healthy children, and two cakes. It was a simple day, but what matters was that it was celebrated, and spent with my loved ones.