"I AM MOVING..."

Effective tomorrow, Caitlynn and I welcomes you to come over to our new blog where together, we shall be known as the Playful Pups! Click on the link below to zoom straight there - bookmark it and visit us often for updates! Happy New Year!!

PLAYFUL PUPS 
(http://playfulpups.ourdogkennel.com) - 

Collin & Caitlynn's amazing journey on God's wonderful adventure called life...

Battering Ram

I admit…it may be painful, or irritating, or even downright silly…but it is still my strange way of showing my affections! Yup, my tried and tested battering ram aka head butt is here to stay!

So, please do remember to love me back when I head butt you next, ok? Hee!

Wave Your Flag!

Don’t we all just love our Malaysian flag? I for one, simply cannot stop waving and flapping the flag at every opportunity…even months after our National day! I have even perfected calling out “Merdeka! Merdeka!”

In reality, the flag sure helps to keep all those mozzies away! Besides, it makes for a good drumstick too when I misplaced the real ones! Hee!

Band Dreams

I have not figured out what it is yet, but there is just something about the Boys Brigade band that makes me stand in awe and admiration.

Is it those cool band uniforms?

Or the fact that the are playing under the hot sun and courageously not showing it?

Or is it the way all instruments combine so well with one another?

Or that they don’t need any speaker enhancements?

Whatever it is, I certainly enjoy these moments when they play and dream about when I will be in such a band…hee!

Ski Flyer

I noticed there are a lot of rolls of wrapping paper in the house. I guess Papa and Mama must really like to wrap presents! Hmmm…that’s an exciting thought.

Anyway, I find myself seriously addicted to taking at least two of these rolls and walk around with them. Sure gives me that skiing in snow feeling.

Hope Papa and Mama are good at catching hints…

Christmas Wishes!

"Merry Christmas 2009 everyone!"

(on behalf of Papa, Mama and Caitlynn)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:15)

Mystery of Moving Items

Strange things have been happening around the house of late. I have heard Papa and Mama mentioning some items seem to have disappeared from where they were supposed to be…only to see them reappear elsewhere, where they should never be. Erm, geddit?

Like the TV remote found in the food cabinet.

Like books found in the laundry basket.

Like pens and clothes hangers found on beds.

Like clean diapers found in the wastepaper basket.

Hmmm. I wish I could help look for the missing items but I’m just a little toddler. How could I help. Besides, I’m always too busy moving things around the house too…

Throwing Tantrums…and so much more..

Is it an in-built character? Or did I learn it from somewhere? Even I cannot explain how I have developed this not very good habit of throwing ‘silent’ tantrums by showing my long sulking, expressionless face…and then proceeding to pick up nearby objects and throwing them everywhere…

Worse part of it is that after being sounded by Papa or Mama, I would then have to travel all over to pick up those objects thrown…sigh.

Is there a better way to throw tantrums?

Feeding the Cow

I have been taught to save money from young. See, Ah Ma gave me this cute little cow coin-box for me to insert coins (what else?!) into it. The coin jingling sound and the challenge of squeezing in the small little miserable coin into the equally small coin slit makes this activity quite interesting!

It also makes me wonder why they don’t just give me a bucket to throw those coins it. Wouldn’t you think that would save a lot of time? Strange adult toys…

Hygiene Freak

Recently I have realized that I am beginning to turn out to be quite a hygiene freak! As I reflect, I have listed down the following tell-tale signs…

1. Runs gleefully to the bath room to wash my feet and hands when asked to do so

2. Finds the broom and dustpan very fun to use

3. Fascinated by how the vacuum cleaner works

4. Exclaims “Aiyeeeee!!” when I see insects or rubbish on the floor

5. Uses whatever that is in my hands to hit ants or insects on the floor

6. Fascinated when the windows or sliding doors are being washed

7. Delighted to use those hand sanitizers

8. Can be quite good in keeping stuff in order, like books or toys

Gasp…

Collin's Dictionary: Phototherapy

“Phototherapy” – A unique form of medical treatment where the infected adult is prescribed prolonged permission and access to snap excessive photos of babies. Higher intensity is usually required whenever a newborn baby arrives.

Papa’s phototherapy treatment had already begun when I first opened my eyes into the world about 22 moons ago. I still remember him snapping and flashing away at my every pose, yawn, smile, breath… yup, it’s almost like having a blinking flashlight permanently docked on your eyes!

And with the recent birth of my baby sister Caitlynn, I noticed Papa’s camera required re-charging on a more frequent basis. Definitely an increase in his phototherapy treatment levels!

Anyway, Papa tells me he likes to keep the camera handy and ready to use at anytime because we never know when the next outrageous pose of cuteness will appear. He also shared with me how he wishes the next technology breakthrough would be “camera eyes” that would allow photos to be taken as and when our eyes see them!

Ahhh…perhaps that’s why natural photos always look much better compared to conventional studio shots. I’d cringe everytime I see Animal Planet-obsessed parents forcing animal costumes into their babies for such shots. And the amount of artificial spotlight lighting flooded on the poor child…*shakes head* Don’t we get enough free radioactive exposure from TV at home already?! Sigh.

So I was quite excited when I came across this interesting website with a cute name, TwoPixels Photography, who specializes in professional phototherapy in taking portraitures of newborns, pregnant mothers, children and family. Portraiture sure is a funny word. Perhaps it is derived from the words portrait and literature, which would mean ‘images that reads itself like a story?’ Hmmm….

Anyway, after browsing through some of their work, I must say I was really impressed with their fresh ideas of capturing life in motion and imaginative baby postures. Personally, I liked their contemporary use of furniture, books, trees, people and other nearby objects to complement the baby. The end result are beautiful and simple yet amazing photos that are easy on the eyes and tugs at our heartstrings – each with a delightful story to tell! Ahhh...I guess that's where the word portraiture comes in...hee!

However, the best part of it all is their ridiculously affordable prices! Basically, the price for each photo session starts from RM 400, where you will receive 15 – 20 images that will be shown in your personal gallery, and also the complete gallery of about 100 shots on CD. My math may not be that good yet but I think it roughly works out to only about RM 4 per shot! The complete price list of their photo session packages can be viewed HERE.

Congrats to TwoPixels Photography who recently celebrated their 1^st year anniversary on 27 Nov 2009. I was really excited that they are celebrating it by offering giveaway photo sessions to at least three bloggers to review and write about them. Coincidentally, Caitlynn was born just a day before their anniversary date so that gives me more reason to hope we can get a free phototherapy session with TwoPixels Photography through this blog review of their site! Hee!

 

Meanwhile, I guess we shall have to be contented and patient with Papa’s regular phototherapy treatment…Sigh.

Funny Face Friday!

Nostalgic Seat

Ah….I sure remember this car seat! Used to be so big but looks like I’ve really grown up since. Whew. Took this pic when Mama took it out to wash before Caitlynn came out. Enjoyed climbing in and out of it again now that I’m sort of bigger than it. Hee!

Yup, still strong and sturdy enough to carry out its duties to support my lil sister. :-D

“Open Please?...”

Of the numerous words I have been learning and picking up, among my favourites are these two words – “Open, please?”

When used together, it enables whatever nearby object I’m holding to be opened for me. Like my drum set…or plastic containers…or spectacle cases…or food jars…etc.

Still cannot figure out why adults would sometimes say somethings cannot be opened. Still think they are still hiding come things from me. Hmmmmmph!

Things I learnt from kite-flying…

From where I live, I can sometimes experience the strong winds blowing into the house, especially if I’m outside or when the sliding doors are open. Times like these tend to bring back memories of my first kite-flying experience with Papa when we were back in Sitiawan.

These were some of the things I learnt from that adventure:

1. Wind plays an important role in this activity. It is very much needed to bring up the kite to fly higher and higher…and Papa also needs to run like the wind to increase the chances of it getting up in the air.

2. Grass that are short with sharp thorny stuff does not go well with my skin…

3. If the kite is up there, you’d better keep it up there as long as possible! The string rewinding session is a real pain…

4. If one flys the kite like Papa did, one is sure to burn calories…

5. If you plan to run to fly kites, make sure you run in a direction so that you eventually reach your starting point. If not, it will be a long way to walk back….

Brushed & Cleaned

One of the main highlights of taking baths these days would be right at the end where I would be given this little sick with delicate, soft brushes at the end of it. Adults call this a toothbrush and I still cannot understand why it can be called a ‘tooth’brush when it is obviously used to brush ALL my ‘teeth’? English sure is a strange language…

Anyway, I would enjoy the sensation of poking this toothbrush around the insides of my mouth and teeth. Together with Papa or Mama, who would usually be armed with another toothbrush, we would brush all of my teeth. After that, I would be asked to spit.

Now, could you understand why I’m so excited about brushing my teeth? I mean, when else would I get the chance to be asked to ‘spit?!!’ Hee!

Racket Raiser

With drumsticks or similar objects in hand, I am highly capable of raising noisy rackets just about anywhere! So, it was rather strange when I was given a racket to hold in my hand…

Not sure what to do with it. Something tells me it is wrong to hit people with it… coz maybe I have seen on TV how people hitting a ball of feathers over a fishing net with it. Don’t look fun at all to me but lots of people seem to enjoy watching it.

Ah well…till I understand the game, hitting the walls, chairs and people shall have to do…hee!

Smile of the Day!

Cone of Silence

This is so cool.

Whenever I have a secret to share…

Or when I need to talk or share my feelings in private…

Or when certain conversations are deemed private and confidential…

Or when top secret stuff needs to be mentioned…

We have our very own ‘Cone of Silence’ right here in our house. Trust me. It’s loads of fun and laughter too. Hee!

Run-leashed!

Further proof that Papa and Mama misses walking the dog, especially in shopping malls… They bought me this cute little cow-motif backpack that comes complete with a harness and a cloth cord tied to it like a dog-leash that ends in a handle in Papa and Mama’s hands.

Though I must admit it kinda looks cute on me, my movements has been greatly limited everytime I put it on. Yup, my running has been effectively leashed. Heck, I can’t even play hide and seek now! Wonder if I’m required to do any rollovers or barks too? Hmmmm.

Thoughtful Caitlynn

I had a surprise when Caitlynn was brought home from hospital. Was kinda excited to see her again and also how she will change our home. So, when she came in the house, Papa brought a present and gave it to me, saying it was a "hello, big brother" present, from Caitlynn. Wow.


Not thinking any further, I tore the present apart and found the cool form of Optimash Prime! It's a potato head with lots of funny accessories that looks like it came from the Transformers cartoon. Somehow, I have the feeling Papa had a BIG hand in choosing the pressie.

Anyway, I had loads fun with it! Thanks Caitlynn....really thoughtful of you!   and, er, yeah...welcome home!! :-)

Of Guitar Mouths & Saliva Trumpets

One fine day I realized that I don’t really need those items called musical instruments like drums and guitars and pianos to make music! I have my very own hand-made instruments (literally) with me all the time!

Say hello to my Guitar Mouth and Saliva Trumpet!

Yeah, when I make a fist with my hands and move it up and down my gaping mouth, I produce some form of vibrating music-sound thingy. Or when I purse my lips together tightly and blow in and out repeatedly, it makes a similar sound to that of a trumpet – only with less bass and more erm. saliva…

Ok ok, maybe not so much on the music part yet, but trust me, a few more weeks of practice and I should be even able to write some songs with these instruments! :-p

Pose of the Day!

I don’t quite understand…

…why so many people are wearing face masks?

…why everything seems so slow during fasting month?

…why everyone seems to be washing their hands more often?

…why I need to be buckled up inside the car?

…why Papa is so fanatical over football?

…why my clothes need to be washed separately from me. Can’t they be washed together with me as I take my bath?

…why some hymns are sung standing and some seated in church?

…why Malaysian politics is not categorized under Cartoon Network?

Perhaps I will understand more when I grow up and my mind expands a little bit more. But, all I need to know today is that God cares for me and He’s in complete control over all those things that I totally do not understand.

Crouching Tiger Pouncing Dragon

My new action sequence revealed to all!

Bend down on your knees with arms on your side in a crouching position. Take in a deep breath and assume this position so as not to arouse suspicion. This is the standby position. Whenever you are ready, use the springs from your knees or legs (hey, I’m a baby, not a physicist!) to push the entire body to a standing position. At the same time, extend your arms away from your sides like wings. Remember to flash a cheeky smile as you land on your feet from the springy jettison action.

Fun with Ethan!

One of the best things about having a new baby sister is that friends and relatives would surely make time to come and visit. So I had loads of fun over last weekend when Ethan Koko and family came down to KL to see baby Caitlynn.

It has been some time since we last met but I think with age comes closer bonding of brotherhood. Hee! We are now able to play and mix better. And baby Hannah seems pretty amused (or was it bemused) by the two of us.

Here are some of our fun moments captured together...

Boy band in the making...jamming with noisy musical instruments...

Hand in hand we stand...

Decorating Mama's hospital room with noodle like paper...hee!

Looks like we're fighting but we were really hugging each other goodbyes! Honest!

Close Eyes Detected

Hey, I can’t help it if my cuteness comes packaged with my closed slit eyes whenever I smile broadly, OK?

Silly new technology in those digital cameras can seemingly detect my closed eyes sometimes during my smiley photo shoots.

Sorry, don’t think I can change the way I smile. Would you prefer an open eyes and closed mouth pose? Don’t think so… :-p

Pose of the Day!

Malaysia Boleh!!

And Baby Makes Four...in Thanksgiving!

I read that in USA, they celebrate Thanksgiving on every fourth Thursday of November, which this year falls on 26 Nov 2009. Coincidentally, that date this year also marks a very special occasion in our family and I am honored with the task of blogging about it on behalf of my family! Hee!

On 26 Nov 2009, our family has indeed a long list of items to be thankful for! We're ever thankful to God...

...for the fast and safe delivery of my baby sister
...for keeping Mama safe throughout the entire labor process
...for having Papa to provide support throughout the labor
...for choosing a great timing of delivery where I could be taken care by Mrs D
...and with the next day being a public holiday gives us all more rest!
...for smooth traffic when Papa took Mama to the hospital
...for the friendly and efficient doctor and nurses
...for wonderful friends and relatives who prayed for us (especially Mama)
...for beautiful wishes from everyone after the delivery

and last but not least...for Caitlynn Cheah Ying Shan, my new baby sister, who opened up her eyes to this world at 3.48pm, 26 Nov 2009, staring into the joyful teary eyes of Papa and Mama. She weighed in at 2.76kg but stretched herself at 52 cm in length! That's even longer than when I first came out! Destined for supermodelling, perhaps? :-p Her head measured at 32.5cm, slightly smaller then mine.

Now, that alone is surely something priceless to be thankful for during this thanksgiving!

Looking ahead, I am very excited to be elevated to big brother status. Sure hope I can be a good role model for Caitlynn to follow. Hee! Hmmm, it would be intersting to see how we would eventually be sharing blogging space too once she can start to blog like me! I'm sure she can relate and share more about the adventures that took place in the delivery room.

In the meantime, I'd just have to make do with some photos Papa took yesterday during Caitlynn's birth. Enjoy the photos and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Happy Mama before the delivery process...

Caitlynn is born...isn't she a beauty?

"Here's looking at you kid! *wink!*"

Vital stats at birth!

Mama poses with little Caitlynn

Papa having his moment with Caitlynn

Ah Ma also came to see baby Caitlynn in person!

Our first family photo together! Hee!

The Many Hats I Wear...

"Oh no! Not another hat?!!"

"methinks hat is too big for me..."

"Mama...there's a bear on my head!!"

Big Shoes to Fill

Looking up to Papa, I know I sure have big shoes to fill if I want to be like him when I grow up. Let me see some habits that we already share:

1. We like to sleep face down

2. We are extremely hard to wake up in the morning

3. We are stubborn to go to sleep even when we’re really tired

4. We love noodles

5. We don’t drink a lot of water

Getting there…getting there…

Bend it like Backwards

This particular stunt is just driving Papa and Mama nuts! By bending over backwards whenever possible sure is one cool stunt!

The world sure looks funny upside down too. Wait a minute. The world is already funny right side up too. Hehe!

Feared Fears

Even at my tender age, I have begun to develop certain fears. Fears that will cause me to tremble in my spot, unable to move, except for my tears…

Though the list may change or increase as I grow older, my challenge is to stay clear of these top three fears to date:

1. Automatic car washes – I am always traumatized whenever Papa drives the car through those automatic car washes where tonnes and tonnes of water and soap is splashed all over the car.

A bigger version of the above comes when this thing called rain starts to pour. Heavy rain feels like a giant car wash with water coming down from the sky. Sure is scary when accompanied with thunder and lightning.

2. Sniffing doggie noses – Doggies are cute only when they are not charging straight at you and smelling all over you. Scary experience!

3. Grass – Although I can step on it, my confidence is quickly shaken on this surface as I will be extra-careful…especially when they sometimes have those short thorny stuff that pricks the legs. Painful indeed!

Smile of the Day!

The Smell of Success...

(warning: 18-PL photo contained within blog...)

It's working! My potty training is on track! Every morning I would be rushed to sit on my hurry potty whilst Papa gets ready to go to work.

The result? My lump of morning poop safely delivered in the potty. Yes!! Another diaper saved...

Victory! Ahhh...the smell of success...

Measuring Madness!

Yay! I finally have a ruler pasted on my house wall! Now, I can stand next to it and and measure how tall I have grown. I wonder why Papa didn’t simply lay this sheet of ruler on my bed so my height can be measured the same time as I’m sleeping? Hee!

Notice my obsession with measuring stuff as I fiddle around with the measuring tape in my hand...hehe...

Satay Satisfaction

I have come to a conclusion that good stuff always comes at the end of a stick. Let's see, there was..

... the cool lantern that I enjoyed playing with that came at the end of a stick

... my ever favourite drumstick that produces noises at the end of drums

... the strings that came with the stick that was joint to the kite!

... the stick in Papa's car that helps take us go places!

... the broom, with brushes at the end of the stick that makes sweeping fun!

... the net at the end of the badminton stick sure makes beating really fun too!

...and of course last weekend, when Ah Kong and Ah Ma came down to visit last weekend, it was somehow decided that we were going for Satay Kajang - so I was introduced to this local dish, which had a whole chunk of meat at the end of the stick! Cool! Only disappointment was that I was still deemed to young (probably it's the teeth) to eat it, so I could only watch the adults enjoy themselves...sigh.

Looking forward to the next time when I would hopefully have strong enough teeth to sink into some Satay!

Mr. Bus Driver!

My obsession with buses took another turn for the extreme when Papa found me this stationery bus machine in a shopping mall that would shake and move when some coins were inserted into a slot next to it.

Imagine my delight when I got to experience first hand handling the bus, complete with steering wheel and all! Wee! Too bad I couldn’t move it anywhere though. Sigh. :-p

Funny Face Friday!

Hurry Potty

About more than a month back, I was introduced to this strange small plastic bucket where I would be placed to sit on whenever I needed to poop. I would call this my ‘hurry potty’ because everytime I give the signal that it is time to poop, Papa and Mama would rush me very quickly to sit on the ‘hurry potty’.

Too bad, most of the time, the entire sequence of hurrying me to this potty would be so funny, I would lose my urge to poop properly already. Need more practice before I fully master the art of pooping in a dignified manner. Hee!

Rocking the Horse

After months of rodeo riding on Papa, Mama, and other things all over the house, I had a glimpse or teaser of how riding a horse would be like when I was in the children’s section of Ikea. They had this toy rocking horse on display and I just couldn’t resist riding it. Wee!

Sure feels good riding it! Wonder why Papa and mama didn’t buy it for me? Perhaps they are afraid their riding duties may be replaced at home. Hehe…:-p