Our boys’ new adventures

I grew up going to Thailand for our annual vacations; hanging out around the swimming pools and fighting with my brothers.  That was my childhood.  It was hard to imagine for Benjamin and Michael to do it any other way, esp. Ian LOVES going to the beach (he had the luxury of growing up around Australian beaches!!!).  So this is our 3rd year bringing our two bubbas to our beloved Thailand.  Michael gets his hello (sawat-dee kap!) and  thank you (Khop khun khrap) down pat and Benjamin has suddenly turned into a pool jumping diver at every opportunity.  This is our second time in a row, we are staying at our lovely apartment in Phuket (thanks to Hannah R.!) and even found a direct flight from Shanghai to Phuket (despite the 1-hour delay – which is somewhat expected of the Shanghai Airport!)

The boys are having the best of times.  The beach is still so huge to them and so Ian made Benjamin little pools to dip in and Michael is learning to jump the waves.  And they are loving the swimming pools and Benjamin just couldn’t wait to get his swimming “lessons” from dada.  Michael is swimming like a fish – getting very confident (sometimes too much) around the water, diving board and slides (thanks to the Kellys!)  Benjamin is babbling a lot more clearly these days:

- Ben ben is his name

- Saw Saw is when he is saying sorry (he does it very quick whenever he knew he got into trouble!)

- Ai is his hi and Bye seems too easy to say now

- a blow kiss melts all of us away…

When it was raining outside (like now), Michael enjoyed learning from his activities book of English and Maths (of course very limited TV was allowed!) with either Ian or me.   We all had a somewhat very relaxing time (and managed a romantic dinner when the boys are down asleep!).

Until next time, enjoy our photos and much love from Phuket, 

Our Boys’ Album – October 2011

Ian, Stacey, Michael (almost at 4) and Benjamin (at 19 months soon).

Ian and I are soooo excited!  Benjamin finally took his first step today without any assistance, Tuesday May 3, 2011 (just about 13.5 months young!).  Benjamin was a somewhat slower developer, he is only starting to have his upper fourth teeth to grow in the last 1.5 month.  He didn’t turn to his back by himself until he was 10 months old (normally babies turn at 5-6 months).  But he quickly learned to start to crawl (when he met his nanna in Oz during last Christmas) and walking with help seemed to come quite naturally when he “competes” with Michael everyday up and down our hallway.

We always knew that he was ready to take off anytime soon and he did it today!!!!!  Both Ian and I are a bit disappointed that we didn’t see it for the first time, but we are just so excited and thrilled that our Benjamin has taken his first step and became a real toddler.

From Our Boys’ album – Video Clips

Much Congratulations, our Benjamini… we’re so proud of you.

Your Mom, Dad and bigger brother.

It has been a few busy days.  Michael and Benjamin finally went to Disneyland and they LOVED it.  Michael enjoyed every minute of Disney (although he knows little about the famous characters like Dumbo or Lion King!) and Benjamin was oohing and ahing during the afternoon parade!  We left there still haven’t done all the rides or show, but Michael said that we will be back soon (and Mom suspects that it will be a few years before we visit again!). But iIt was simplya  magical day.

Then there was a lot of catching up with friends and family.  Michael was especially stimulated from all the new sights, sounds, and public transport that his imaginary boarding house is  filling up quickly with green car, new kids and new tables / food.  It is amazing to watch a 3-year old boy absorb all these new things and translate / transform them into his imaginary world!

Benjamin has been quite the darling, although permanently attached to his mom.  He’d cry everytime I am out of sight.  It is fascinating to watch esp for me as I am a working mom (which means he leaves me every day for a good number of hours) but secretly thrilled that my boys are so attached to me!

We got Ian here for the weekend which was fantastic… we tried to do the least but managed to get away for a date-night as well.  It was nice to be back to Hong Kong, a place where we met, got married and had Michael.

Enjoy our photos and until the next blog,

Our trip to HK – April 2011

Ian, Stacey, Michael & Benjamin.

As we finally enter warmer weather, the boys and us got to leave the house in fewer layers of clothes and get our feet on the grass!  We have had a fun few weeks as Benjamin turned 1 year old and Uncle Frank came to visit and babysat the boys while he figures out what to do after graduations!

Benjamin had a great birthday and we made him a nice butter cake.  He was a little miffed about Michael “helping” him out with blowing the candle and all his new toys, but at least Michael knows that these new toys are Benjamin’s and he asks to borrow them for a play!  Benjamin is “almost” walking especially with the practice of chasing his brother every day with the walker or scooter.  It’s any wonder that they avoid the corners so skillfully!  It gives me so much fright just to look!

China doesn’t seem to agree with any of the photo uploader and hence we’re stuck with the below options.  Enjoy our photos!

 

With love from Shanghai,
Ian, Stacey, Michael (who can write and spell his name) & Benjamin (can now turn the walker direction as he pleases!)

Our little baby Benjamin who was only so tiny (and took only two push to come out) is turning ONE year old on Friday 3/18/2011.  How did the time go?????????  As usual, we won’t throw a huge party for Benjamin but will make a small cake for him (according to Michael, the cake is white and it will have a blue color “B” and “1″ on it!)

While we have been slack w/ photos and videos, Benjamin is already almost turning into a toddler:

- He is almost walking (he races against his brother Michael with the walker and Michael’s scooter!)

- He crawls so fast that Nanna calls him speedy gozales !

- He is refusing to eat mashed up food (and want real pasta, fish, meat, and fruit!)

- He is almost out of his bottle (Mom has been adamant in “training” him in using a zippy cup!)

- He now baths with Michael where Michael draws a line in the bath to make sure that his little brother doesn’t “bother” him!

- He is babbling about curtains, ge ge (Michael), dada (Ian), and when he cries, he goes “mama mamma”….  so cute.

- He has got more nicknames than all three of us combined (didi – mean little brother in mandarin, mimi – a name suggested by michael, Benjamini – don’t ask us why?!)…

We are going to miss our little baby but we warmly welcome him to toddlerhood.  Happy Birthday, our beloved Benjamin.

Much love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (at 3+ but still wants to be 5) and Benjamin (who turns 1 tomorrow).

It has been so busy for us since Christmas Holidays, followed by new year and then chinese new year.  Of course the boys are continuing to make tremendous progress and are our joy and happiness every day (see photos below taken just before Christmas by our friend Belinda).

Benjamin finally took has first crawl in Australia (in front of Nana – again!).  Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best (re. rain, later flood and cyclone in Queensland) but it was nice to see Michael and Benjamin hang out with the Aussie Cousins.  All of the cousins have grown a lot in 12 months and Michael just adored being around every one of them.  Charlie is his favourite (seeing that she is the only girl cousin on the Lacy family side and she is FIVE years old).  All the boys show Michael how to be more Australian (catching spiders, climbing on cubby house and jumping the waves).  Every day (if it didn’t rain), we were out swimming and playing.  Michael also took his first boat ride in his Poppa’s boat and thought it was so “cool”.  Of course Christmas day was just too great with all the great presents from all the uncles, aunties and Nanna & Poppa.  Both Michael and Benjamin were well spoiled.

Once settled back in Shanghai, we had to face the once-again too-cold winter.  This is the coldest winter in our 2+ years in Shanghai and there were days that poor Benjamin would not be able to step out of the house for a stroll (too windy / cold).  Michael was especially delighted to be back to school (he didn’t forget his mandarin this time, as we tried to speak to him as much as possible in Oz).  With the many new books he got from Santa, Michael has also improved on his reading / listening / memorizing capability.  He is now able to read stories to Benjamin by memory holding up a book and it’s so sweet to watch.  Benjamin continues to want to meddle into Michael’s latest lego tower, train track and drawing.  And we’d suppose that’s what sibling relationship is all about.

During Chinese New Year, we stayed in Shanghai for a break from all the travels (and SH is actually half decent from a “crowd” perspective as half the population has left for travels / home-town visits).  We finally became the tourists and did lots of “touristy” activities; riding on the tourist tunnel from Pudong to the Bund, riding on the ferry and going to the aquarium (there was only ONE diverman, so you can imagine Michael’s disappointment!).  The weather was absolutely glorious 10-15 degrees Celsius and sunny every day.  Our best 7-days in Shanghai to-date.

Benjamin is turning one soon (March 18 – how did the time go!?) and Michael is well established in his “older brother” status (i.e. bossing Benjamin around).  We are looking forward to warmer weather and until next time, much love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (who loves to read “ali baba &the thieves) and Benjamin (who now can wobbly “walk” with his walker)

Our Boys’ Album – Special Edition – December 2010

Dear friends and family, we (i.e. Stacey) couldn’t help but make our boys take   photo with Santa in Shanghai this year.  Michael had a ball (hence the cheeky look!) and Benjamin was apprehensive about this white-beard man.  We hope to save the environment by sending you our e-wishes again this year.

May this card finds you and your family happy, healthy and joyous in this Christmas!

With much love,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (at 3 and about to jump on a plane to meet diverman in oz) and Benjamin (who would be most pleased to get out of the cold!)

right… i am a bad mother. It has been a month since a blog update although lots have happened! The fact that China has blogged my website and picasa goggle again don’t really help or motivate me into writing!

Benjamin’s first tooth came out at 8 months and he is now onto his second tooth. the bottom ones – they’re SOOO cute.

Michael has mastered the art of somersault without any assistance. He is pretty pleased with that achievement.

All is well and we’re all busy preparing for our annual Australia trip to the beach (yipee!)

Videos and Photos to come shortly. Meanwhile loads of love from freezing Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (who calls us “little sweetie”), and Benjamin (who is trying to crawl, but still not turning!!!)

The fact that we haven’t written for awhile means we have been busy, busy, busy.  The boys are growing really nicely and we have had several adventures.

Ian and I took the courage the take the boys on our first holiday as family of four to Phuket, Thailand (Sans helpers!).  It was a FANTASTIC holidays (which seemed so far away already!).  We had to run some errands in HK prior to Phuket and it really rocked Benjamin’s routines abit (he woke up every hour of the night while he was there!)  At least it was all peaceful when we got to Phuket.  We stayed at a lovely apartment just minutes to the beach and town and it was the perfect place to be.  Mornings would be the beach and afternoons would be the pool.    Michael also advanced heaps with his swimming (jumping off spring board and riding with the waves)… We can’t wait to show off these skills to his cousins when we get to Oz at X’mas!

After returning from the much-needed break, it was hustle and bustle again.  Everything is a bit of a blur, but Michael had a lovely birthday being 3 (he kept saying he is FIVE!) and after last year laborious weekend of making his “Haibo” birthday cake, we outsourced it to a cupcake baker and they made the most impressive “cupcake” cake where the icing was a Spiderman on top and connected by mini-cupcakes!  I doubt we would ever really “make” the cake again…

Now that both the boys are older, they are interacting a lot more and Michael is as “bossy” as ever telling Benjamin what to do and how to do things, such as:

- Bennnjamin, that’s not such a GREEEAT idea!

- Bennnjamin, this toy is hard, not yours, this one… a soft one.

- Bennnjamin, you can’t play with the legos, you will eat them and then go to the hospital!

These are just a few… although it’s a lot of work every day (esp the weekend), seeing them play / interact together is worth a millions.

Until next time, enjoy our photos and much love from Shanghai,

Our Boy’s Album – Special Edition – October 2010

Our Boy’s Album – October 2010

Our Boy’s Album – September 2010

p.s. finally got to write this blog after much a “writer’s block”!!!!!

Having lived in mainland China for some 8 months, it was time for us as a family to explore our nearby travel options.  Therefor we chose to travel to Beijing.  The first time I visited Beijing was 16 years ago and that was also the first time that I was really proud to be Chinese.  Visiting Beijing again gives me a lot of pride.  Also I felt I was actually showing Ian my history/country (which he has been doing of Australia for years)!!!

Although we were only there for four days and had only visited a few places (Bird’s Nest Stadium, Water-cube, Forbidden city, Tianamen Square and the Great Wall), we had an incredible time.  We also had glorious weather the whole time (what was all the fuss about Beijing Pollution!?  It’s sooo much worse in Shanghai!).  Money must have solved some of those pollution problems!

Michael just had the best time – he LOVED the GREAT WALL!  We went to the part of Mutianyu (there are several parts of the Great Wall which are opened for tourism.  I went to the Badaling part in my first visit however, I have to say that, Mutianyu is MUCH better)!  We went really early in the morning and pulled out all the tricks in the 1.5 hour car ride with Michael!  Books, toys, songs, camera (with video of Michael)…and books again!  Michael finally lost it just as we approached the Wall.  Then it was uphill from there. 

We took the cable car (which Michael was scared – and is still saying “skard” when he sees the cable car brochure) and he attempted to walk most of the Wall that we did.  The weather was beautiful and it wasn’t crowded (until we were on our way leaving the Wall).  Then we topped it off by going to a local “western” cafe which had a terrace – it was set in a school house (and hence its name).  It was perfect. 

After returning to the Beijing city, we took an adventure and took the subway to the Olympic Stadiums.  They were magnificent.  Michael couldn’t care less about where he was – but he was excited about the HUGE square and proceeded to run everywhere.  Needless to say, he had a great sleep that night – Beijing definitely worked those little legs!

In this holiday, it made very clear a few things about a toddler:

- doesn’t matter where you go, as long as Mama and Dada are around

- doesn’t matter what you do, as long as there is a big area to run around

- doesn’t matter how much you plan, as long as you sort of follow some routine and don’t be overly-aggressive in the planning.

All in all, we had a wonderful time.  Can’t wait for the next holidays!  Until then, enjoy our photos and love from Shanghai.

Michael’s Album – Beijing, China