Wonderworld Work Bench ‘N’ Box

This is such a beautifully crafted toy with vibrant colours! Since Baby O is only 14 months and this work bench is recommended for 36 months and above, I intend to only introduce her to the hammer and nails while keeping the rest like the nuts and bolts and screwdriver for future use so that she will not get bored of the toy by the time she is ready for it. Anyway, toys should be rotated to reach their maximum potential.

Work benches are recommended at this age as it works the motor skills and improves creativity amongst other skills. (Baby O creatively used it as a sitting stool!) Activities like shaking a maracas or hammering on a work bench also help babies/ toddlers to release stress! This particular Wonderworld Work Bench ‘N’ Box is made of environmentally-friendly replantable rubber wood and water-based non-toxic colours. When not in use, the bench can be flipped over and turn into a carry tool box. Made in Thailand and available at a pretty reasonable price of RM106.90.

Precious Ones Educational Toy Store

Someone recommended us the Precious Ones toy store which stocks up on wooden toys here in Penang. It’s located just a few houses (converted to shops) away from the famous Penang Char Kway Teow stall on the famous Lorong Selamat, Penang. To be honest, if we were not told about this place, we wouldn’t have found it. As you approach the front, there are three different entrances leading to three different businesses! That explains why the signboards are so crowded and confusing. Inside Precious Ones, you will go agog with the plethora of educational toys available! All packed in one-third of the space allocated to them. From cloth books to DVDs, wooden work benches to cook stoves, growth charts to crafts. We couldn’t spend too much time in there but this will definitely be one place I will go to to purchase toys for babies/ toddlers in the future!

Location: 56, Lorong Selamat, Penang, Malaysia.

siTigun Bicycle Pit-Stop Café

We've been wanting to check out this place and finally managed to drop in for breakfast this morning.

siTigun is a nice little carefree hang-out park-your-bikes café with the word green in mind. Don't expect air-conditioning or expensive ice-blends. Instead siTigun serves home-roasted, rich Robusta coffee (from Bali, Indonesia), home-made croissants and cinnamon rolls amongst others. We like!

Why a bicycle pit-stop café? The owner, Tigun Wibisana used to travel around on his bike searching for the right place to settle down. If you're looking for a relaxing place to exchange conversations over a cup of roasted coffee in one of Penang's heritage buildings, check out siTigun!

Location: 15 - 17 Jalan Nagore, Penang

This Mama’s little kitchen helper

Since succumbing to the flu a few days back, Baby O has been stuck to me like glue as she reached the peak of her separation anxiety. Preparing meals was T.O.U.G.H. with no one around to keep her occupied and away from me. The TV (only used in times of desperation) didn’t do any good either. She also refused to stay in her playpen in the corner of the kitchen even though I am in sight. I was getting a little fed up with my limitation. Quick! Think of a distraction! Out came a colander, some measuring spoons, an empty plastic container and an empty (and clean!!) milk carton. My sous chef instantly went to work to dish up the most delectable (and invisible) gourmet dinner while I stir-fried some vegetables and cooked steamed rice! Ahh... another ‘genius’ moment! *Gleam!*

Do note though that I DO NOT encourage Baby O to play in the kitchen. I had to ensure that she is in a safe corner away from where all the action take place. Somewhere I won’t trip on her or her ‘equipments’ on the floor. Whenever I move around, I made sure she has not suddenly appear near me especially when handling the knife or hot water! Pot and pan handles are turned in and nothing is jutting out from the work top that will tempt her to reach up for it. She also understands not to open drawers and cupboards around in case they catch her fingers. I usually only work in the kitchen when Baby O is safe in the playpen, seated on her high chair, having a nap or when someone else is looking after her. She is however not entirely forbidden and frequently makes and appearance in the kitchen so she knows what is going on in there. Who knows? I might have a Nigella Lawson in the making!

Cheesy Toast

Since her flu a few days back, Baby O’s appetite dropped tremendously and she lost 300g. I can feel less of her and have been trying to get her to eat by offering her everything under the sun. I managed to leave a bowl of toast, raisins and cheerios (the only thing that she will eat at the moment) on the coffee table for her to pick and place into her mouth as and when because she will not sit in her high chair and finish them up like how she would normally do. Surely she can’t survive on a toast-raisins-cheerios diet! Had my thinking cap on and stormed into the kitchen to prepare something that she’ll hopefully not refuse - Cheesy Toast!

I chopped up some onions, about two florets of organic broccoli, a strip of organic red bell pepper and a tablespoon of free range chicken drumstick. I fried the onions with very little olive oil in a non-stick wok. (I know non-stick woks are a no-no to chefs but they make life so much easier and a little healthier!) Added the drumstick and fried for about 3 minutes till brown before adding the pepper and broccoli. Fried them for another 3 minutes. I then spread the concoction onto a slice of wholemeal bread and put slices of cheese on top before popping it into the oven for 2 minutes. When ready, I cut the slice up into bite-size pieces. Baby O chomped up all the carbohydrate, protein, iron, vitamins, calcium and left only two little pieces which is a vast improvement compared to what she has been eating the last few days! Ureka moments like this (although just plain common sense to others) makes me feel like such a genius sometimes! :-D

p.s. Beware of cheesy fingers all over your furniture!

THE flu

This is the first time Baby O has been down with a flu in her 14 months of life - a mild grade fever, phlegmy cough and a leaky nose. I have never seen her so unwell before! Her eyes are droopy, red and watery. She even vomited for the first time from the amount of mucous accumulated in her throat. Peaceful sleep through the night is non-existent at the moment. Naps is down from 2-3 hours to only an hour plus. Separation anxiety is at its ultimate peak and she hangs on to me 24/7. However, she still managed to keep her little spirit up (and mine) by smiling and laughing at our silly antics. 

It’s tough. I expected her to lose some appetite but it’s no to yummy yogurt, no to ridiculously expensive formula milk, no to organic oats, no to tasty free-range chicken stock porridge with organic broccoli florets. So what has she been eating then? Mainly, make that Only toasts, raisins, cheerios and bananas! Unfortunately fruits like kiwi and apples gave her diarrhoea. Fortunately she regularly goes for a sip of water throughout the day.

We have been observing her initially but finally decided to go to the paediatrician to stock up on some medicines yesterday. Our paediatrician is great. He said that paracetamol is not necessary if the fever is not any higher than 38’C and he does not prescribe any anti-diarrhoeals in the clinic. I’m glad we’re on the same boat. As a healthcare professional myself, I don’t take and do not recommend medicines unnecessarily. Sometimes the body just needs to fight the illness to be stronger.

However, Baby O is such a druggie. She loves taking medicine. Maybe she just loves the novelty of taking medicine from a syringe. She’ll say ‘More!’ after a dose and she’ll point in the direction of the kitchen leading to the bottle of paracetamol! This time round, one of her medicines has to be dissolved in a spoonful of water before being administered. She didn’t want it from the spoon but gladly stuff it in her mouth from a syringe! Hmm....

It’s the weekend!!

... and I’m about to embark on a blog posts frenzy!