Silhouette in the middle of the night

At around 2:00am this morning, I awoke to the sound of thunder. It was raining heavily and the wind was howling outside the room window. I got up to close the windows in all the rooms and went back to bed. 

As I drifted back to sleep, a bright strike of lighting flashed in the sky followed by a deafening sound of thunder and car alarms ringing through the air. The power tripped.

And then, I saw a silhouette. I wasn't wearing my spectacles and was wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. I glared hard. I notice it's a human-like shadow on the wall, swaying very gently. My heart was beating faster. I couldn't tell if there was someone standing outside the window or if something is in the room.

I lay still for a while, observing the shadow and was wondering whether I should jump out of bed or stay still or start screaming. I tried to remember whether my golf stick was beside my bed.

Hubby was snoring beside me and I didn't dare to turn. I quickly calm myself down and said a  quick prayer. I decided to just sit up straight in bed and to confront my fears.

It was Eryn, standing by the foot of my bed, staring at me. She gave me a fright. She said in a hushed tone that her back ached. I knew it was just an excuse and could have been frightened by the sound of thunder. I gave her a back rub and then she went back to bed.

Hubby got up and went downstairs to check on the circuit box. I went back to bed and closed my eyes. Once again, I had a big fright when there was this face right in front of me, with eyes wide open and whispering in a slow voice in Mandarin saying that the power has tripped. That was Brendan, speaking slowly and whispering so as not to fighten me. Sigh!

This kind of experience is definitely not for the faint-hearted. I remember the older folks used to have a chinese saying : "frightened by a human being can cause a fright to death where else frightened by a ghost can still be overcomed".

This is not the first time that Eryn has given me such fright. She has always stood there quietly and very straight and looked at me, always careful not to disturb me - while I'm cooking, while I'm in the toilet or while I'm watching TV or working on my pc at night. 

She's not always like that though. She likes to come up to me and snuggle and hug me but cooking time and toilet time are a big no-no. When it's bed time, she's not to come downstairs too. So, she'll just stand still and look. 

During such times, when I noticed a silhouette, I would normally turned very quickly, and there stood Eryn, looking at me and then breaking out in a wide grin. 

What would you do if you encounter a silhouette in your room?

Cup Bangle?

On school days, my mornings are the routine of waking the kids up, showering them, preparing breakfast for kids, wash their water tumbler, ensuring their bags are properly packed, washing the dishes and then sending them to school. In-between, there's the constant nagging to get them to hurry up cos they like to take their own sweet time, dilly-dallying here and there.

Anyway, this morning. I did the usual routine, and then this happened!!

While I was washing this particular glass, the bottom just broke and in a split second just before I realised the bottom was broken, I pulled my hand back in and had various cuts all over my right hand, plus one on my left hand too. The one on the second finger on my right hand is really deep. I put on soap and tried to pull my hand out gently. There were blood all over the sink.

The kids started screaming! "No! Mummy! No! Don't do that!"

Sigh! Had to get Brendan to bring the hammer out. Wrapped my hand in towel and smashed the cup away.

 I can feel my whole hand throbbing with pain right now.

Damn!! A domestic goddess I'm not! Not domesticated, and definitely not a goddess. So, you see, my days are NOT filled with pleasant mornings all the time.

I don't know what is more comforting. Brendan taking this photo for remembrance, or Eryn saying "Mummy, don't die! Who is going to take care of us?!" or the kids suddenly became so grown up and concern and started taking their bags and stood at the door without me having to open my mouth.

Oh well, just another day in paradise........not!

Happy Mother's day to all

As I was picking out some pictures on random to make the heart shape card below, I suddenly felt overwhelmed with lots of emotions, in my journey to be a mother.

In a flash, I never realised that motherhood has changed me so much as a person and at the way I look at things in life. For me, to give up great careers opportunity to start fresh into something new was something I didn't knew could happen to me until I made that decision to JUST DO IT. The initial period started with lots doubts on how I was suppose to live a life without a good income and lots of benefits given to me when I was a single woman. I'm glad to have a supportive husband who encourage me to follow my heart.

Looking back, I'm glad I made the right choice. The journey may be tough, but it was one of the greatest decision I've ever made, a treasure so precious that money can't buy. I've gotten quite good in my new found career, with lots of flexibility and to lead a life many would admire. It's a continuing journey but one that I know I'm satisfied with.

My mum will always be in my thoughts but unfortunately, I'm not able to spend it with her this year as it's Brendan's school exam week. As I prepare my card, my thoughts go out to those struggling and single mothers, SAHM mothers who stressed themselves to give the best for their children, WAHM mothers who work to contribute to the household income, and especially so to mothers with special kids. I know of friends who have special kids, and two of them came to mind today. One of them has a son who has superb gift in art and another had struggled for more than 10 years to bring up two disabled kids along with two other normal kids on her own. Her husband left her many years back. Her heart is full of love, but the physical tiredness shown on her face proves that life had been tough for her.

Another special mother just came to mind, she was someone who treated me like her daughther. She said that to me just months before she took her own life many years back. She had been going through a tough time with her health problem. No one knows the internal turmoil in her. She is quite well to-do but was quite lonely at times too. She took in a baby as her own and brought up the child until he was old enough to take care of himself. And that was when she decided to end her life. It didn't came to mind when she had hinted on wanting to meet me to pass me all her clothings, some accessories and children's books. I have delayed meeting her until one day, when I decided to call her. Her only child picked up the phone and said, "I'm sorry to let you know that my mum is not around". I asked where has she gone to and when will she be back, only to realise that she has chosen to end her life just one night before the day I called her. I don't know why she came to thoughts today. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about her....

To my mum and all mothers out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and God bless you.

Happy Mother's Day

I received a lovely card from Eryn two days ago. She handed it to me and said that it was for me. I was touched by her simple yet meaningful gesture. Below is what the card looks like.

Yesterday, she left another mother's day card on my laptop. She didn't say a word about it and had quietly put it on my table. She was a little naughty yesterday and I had scolded her. So, later that night, when I opened my laptop, I saw that tiny little card. I touched my little heart and when she came downstairs to drink a glass of water, she came to me and whispered to me, "Mummy, did you get my card? I made it for you"

Brendan woke up this morning asking for some colour papers. I asked him what it is for and he said that he was going to make me a mother's day card. He didn't manage to make it cos his teacher called me to say that he was feeling unwell. So I rushed to school to pick him up and he told me, "Mummy, sorry, I didn't get to make you a mother's day card". awww... so thoughtful of him.

Being a mother changed my perception of life. I left a wonderful working life to start fresh in a totally different area to have more time more myself and for my children. It was never an easy journey but I'm learning and taking it one day at a time. From being a new mum, to those crazy breastfeeding days, to the ups and the downs and many more to come, I gave up my 9-5 career (more like 7-9) so that I could be available for my kids whenever they need me, just like how my mum was always there to meet to our basic needs.

To all mothers and grandmothers, and especially to my mum and sis,  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. Here's a poem I found on the net dedicated just for you.

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside your laughter.

She's crystallized in every tear drop.

She's the place you came from,

   your first home.

She's the map you follow

   with every step that you take.

She's your first love

   and your first heart break.

and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space,

Not even death,

   will ever separate you

from your mother.

You carry her inside of you...

Happy Mother's Day

Tomorrow morning, we'll all be going back to my hometown to celebrate Mother's Day with my mum as well as her birthday celebration.


As I was driving to work this morning, I heard a live call on radio about this lady who lied to her mother about busy to avoid going back to visit her mother during one Mother's Day weekend. Her mum was really upset. The most unfortunate thing that happen in that same week was that her mother passed away very suddenly and she didn't even got the chance to see her to say goodbye for the last time. It brought tears to my eyes to think of that.


Today, I had lunch with two lovely mothers and bought quite a number of gifts to give away to some friends who are mothers. Most of them were surprised by the gift, but for all that these mothers went through, and for all their devotion to their families, I thought that would bring joy to these lovely mummies...


Here's wishing all mummies, Happy Mother's Day to all.


Would love to share this story tand some beautiful verses that I received via email quite some time ago.


As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother".


But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars." The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose."


He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."


She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.




The Mother's Day artcraft card that my darling Brendan made for me :-)

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing all mummies out there a Happy Mother's Day...

Eryn wearing mummy's old dress

My mum will clean and rearrange her cupboard once in a while and 4 months back, while cleaning the cupboard, she took out 2 cute little dresses that was once worn by me more than 30 years ago. My mum kept a lot of our baby clothes, and she has sewn many lovely dresses for me and my sis, but somehow most of it disappeared, or got stolen, when she left it at my grandma's place.

Here's Eryn in one of my baby dress - photo taken about 4 months back when Eryn was 16.5 months.

This is when I wore it many many moons back!

Here's another one of Eryn wearing my dress.

Brendan stays strong

Brendan has always been more matured for his age.

After sending poh-poh to the bus station yesterday, Brendan was very much quiet in the car. He didn't really ask for poh-poh nor did he made any big fuss.

In fact, he didn't even cry for poh-poh upon reaching back home. The whole family spent a very quiet time together in the hall at home last night. We were all watching TV at one point in time when Brendan suddenly took up a big toy watch and put it up his ears.

He went, "Hello? Hello? Poh-poh.... come home. Hello? Hello? blah..blah..blah.."

We were all staring at each other and not wanting to create any confusion as to why poh-poh has left him, I quickly said, "Brendan calling poh-poh is it? Poh-poh now in Kluang. Poh-poh has lots of things to do in Kluang. Poh-poh sayang Brendan very much. Brendan misses poh-poh is it?"

He turned and smiled at us and then he walked away to a corner, continuing his "conversation" over his big toy watch which he treated as a phone. He has tears in his eyes, but he stayed strong..... In fact, for the first time, well... 2nd time actually, he slept without his poh-poh beside him and this morning woke up without a fuss.

My boy has grown...... *sob* *sob*

Poh Poh goes back Kluang

My mum went back to Kluang yesterday afternoon.

As we were on our way to Puduraya, there was a terrible jam. It took us one hour just to reach Puduraya. My mum had 5 bags to carry. Her bus was to leave at 2pm and it was already 1:55pm. My hubby left us at the roadside, asking me to take 3 bags first. Brendan was in the car wailing away, wanting to come down as well. My mum carried Eryn and we (my mum, Eryn and myself) all rushed to the bus, to tell the driver to wait for a few minutes while my hubby went into the carpark to find parking. After putting the bags in the bus, I quickly pushd my way through the crowd to wait at the bottom of the staircase leading to the car park. At 2:10pm, my hubby came rushing down with the other 2 bags.

He left Brendan in the car with our maid as there was no parking.. So I quickly grabbed the bag and once again, pushed my way through the mad crowd. The bus was about to leave when I reached it. I said a quick bye to my mum, carried Eryn, and quickly walked back up the stairs, again, pushing through the crazy crowd with Eryn tight in my arms and crying with all the strangers around us pushing here and there. I was hoping to drive out of the place a.s.a.p. to let Brendan catch a glimpse of my mum at the bus station exit.

Upon reaching the exit, the bus was already right in front of us. I was crying away, missing my mum already, but more so because Brendan didn't get to kiss and say his goodbyes to my mum - Brendan's precious poh-poh whom he has slept with for the past 30 months.

Hubby made a crazy rush to chase after the bus. We did caught up with it, but couldn't see inside the bus. We then headed home, with my eyes all red and Brendan blurry about what is happening.

It pains my heart to think of the wonderful times Brendan shared with his poh-poh and the wonderful job my mum did in helping us out with the kids. I couldn't help but felt guilty of not taking Brendan down instead of Eryn.

I think I'll probably take the effort to drive back home in 2 weekend's time to spend mother's day with my mum and the children..

Setting goals

I've set goals in my life... Empty goals, to be exact.

In school, I didn't really set goals to reach a certain no. of As or Credits, or passes.....
Upon graduation, I didn't really set goals to what I want to do in my career life....
When I got married, I didn't set goals as to when I want to start a family until baby came....

BUT, when I became a mother, I set lots of goals. Some met. Some not. One of which is to breastfeed Brendan until he reaches 6 months. I did, but not 100% cos by 4 months I had to supplement with formula. I pumped, travelled every Friday night from KL to Johor by LRT, then by bus, carrying a cooler box FULL of frozen breastmilk just to let my dear son get his breastmilk. I did that every weekend. It takes between 4 hours to 6 hours max. to get home to Brendan who was with my mum at that time. Even after I stopped breastfeeding, my weekly journey continued up to the time I was 8 months pregnant with no. 2.

By the time no. 2 came, I set a goal to breastfeed Eryn 100% until 6 months. I did. Then I set it even further - to breastfeed Eryn until she's1 year old. Eryn is almost 10 months now and she is still 100% on breastmilk and haven't started on formula yet.

That's really funny. Imagine your priority and sacrifice as a mother. To think I wouldn't really care less about setting goals and meeting them. For the first time in my life, I'm proud to say that I set it, despite all the obstacles, and I did it! How? I did it MY WAY...

Mummy work there...

This morning, my son saw my name tag and access card and pointed to it and say "mummy work there".

Brendan recognises my company logo a few months back and I believe credance should go to his grandma or daddy (despite them denying teaching my son that) cos I've never tell him where I work in. Whenever he sees my company's logo in the newspaper, he'll go "mummy work there". He sees it on the paper bag, he'll go "mummy work there". Whenever he sees the logo on a car or in a banner, or on a t-shirt, or in a magazine, or paperbag, or anywhere else, he'll go "mummy work there".

Each time he says it, I'll be patient and reply "smart boy! Yes, mummy work in this company" and smile.

This morning, it was a different story. With low morale, and straight face, I told Brendan "Yes, mummy work here, but mummy might not be working in this company in the future". I then went to work with tears swelling in my eyes.

For those who know of the vss announcement, I was asked to stay on to serve the company. I wrote in an appeal but was rejected. For certain reasons, my morale has been very low, I'm demotivated and gloomy. 3 days ago, I've rejected a high pay job to give myself a chance to serve the company, but in a different environment now.

I've loved my job and my company all these while. The last day for my colleagues who got the vss is today. I'll be having 2 farewell parties today. The place has been very nostalgic for me. I thought everything should be ok until Brendan had to point out to me and made me aware of the presence and facts of what's happening.

The sentence "mummy work there" lies lingering in my head the whole morning...

Home Orchestra

The flu season is in. Everyone in the house were either sneezing, coughing, sniffing, talking in a coarse voice and the two kids are making all sort of orchestra.

This mini orchestra had been going on for quite a while. My little girl is not that badly affected and I believe it's the power of breastmilk. With Christmas around the corner, I wonder what kind of Christmas we'll be having.

It's "nggghhhhmmm" here and "heeeekkk heeeekkk" there, "sqeirubndfsbdt" here and "sigh...." there....

No longer a baby

Being the only baby in the house, Brendan used to be showered with tons of attention, buckets of love, millions of hugs, never-ending pampering and always, always at the centre of attration.

When mummy found out she was pregnant by accident, Brendan was only 11 months old. Mummy didn't know whether to cry or to smile, and didn't know if she could love another baby more than Brendan. As the pregnancy advances, Brendan grew bigger.

Brendan is no longer a baby and Mummy has come to love the new baby as much as Brendan, so much so that Brendan gets very jealous, till he screams for attention and smack his little sister on the head.

It's been a lovely (and challenging) motherhood journey, and there'll be a long way to go.

Brendan will always be a baby in mummy's heart...

My little babies

As Brendan is away in his grandparents place for a week, my time alone with Eryn brought back memories of when Brendan was still a little baby. Everyone has been commenting on how Eryn is a replica of Brendan when he was a baby. They have a differences in personality and milestones development. I've never seen the facial similarity until I made the comparison here :

Milk supply

For the past 2 weeks, I noticed the sudden ample space in the top part of my freezer. My milk bottles are also getting less. I started to add another pumping session whenever I can.

It's been quite hard to pump in the office with so many unpredictable meetings and work to do. I used to pump in the server room, but have now "migrated" to my own room so I can multi-task at the same time - pumping and doing my work. I brought a long piece of cloth from home to cover the glass partition in my room to avoid having a "free show". So, whenever the cloth and a cardboard box are up against my glass partition with my room door closed, everyone knows that a session is in progress. hehehe.

I've been quite concerned over our dept. shifting to a new location come next month. I wonder if there will be a PLACE for me to pump, and whether there's going to be a fridge for me to STORE my milk.

Now, my concern has shifted to whether I have the TIME to pump and whether I can keep up with the pumping now that the milk supply in my freezer is slowly diminishing. Eryn is drinking more now and I'm NOT prepared to start on formula just yet. The only way to keep up is to pump more, but where am I going to find time to pump?!! Pumping 3X a day is considered part of my daily routine. Adding one more is considered to be quite a burden to my already heavy routine.

sob! sob! no choice but to boost up that supply soon. Those who have gone through this should understand the predicament I'm in. sob! sob!

Laughing baby

Babies.... They are such magnificient beings created by God. No matter how stressed and tired you are, they bring you the joy and gives you the medicine for the sadness. They are what I call the "antibiotic" solution after a weary day.

When I was much, much younger, I used to frown on parents with babies who cry, poo, puke, makes a fuss, scream etc. Then when I got older, I couldn't imagine how people can have babies living with them, draining out all the energy from their daddies and mummies. To me, babies are always so so so cute. Well, "nice to play with" according to most of my single friends, but "not to take care of". Then, when I got pregnant, I knew my carefree lifestyle is over. Caring for a baby takes lots and lots of time and effort (not to mention the money). I knew that there's lots of responsibilities, there will be the lack of sleep and the adjustment of my lifestyle to suit a new comer to the family. BUT...... I didn't expect more than that than what I had imagined and expected. It took more than that to be a mother!! Well, time is the factor that brings you through the phase day by day and by God's grace, I'm still taking a day at a time, absorbing all the baby vibes around me. Though the thick and thin, I know that I'll pull through....

Here's one of the many many many best moments I've ever had in my WHOLE life....


Eryn (4 months) laughing at the sound that daddy is making.

Nen-Nen -every single ounce matters

Brendan (23 months) always stand by me whenever I do my breastmilk pumping at home. He'll even try to help "pump" by holding the handle and pressing it down. Sometimes, he'll laugh and then say "mama nen-nen".

I normally try to pump 3X at the office to maintain my milk supply. But how do you juggle your pumping schedule when there's meeting to attend here and there? No choice but to find time to fit in somewhere lor.

I remember attending a press launch when Brendan was around 4 months+. While the press launch was going on, I suddenly felt that my blouse was wet when I crossed my arms. Dang! I quickly used a folder and hold it high up my chest so as not to make it too obvious. Luckily, I was wearing a striped colourful red top on that day otherwise got free show liao. I left early and turn my car air-con to full blast.

I used to use an electrical breastpump and pump in the toilet at that time. People are quite sua-ku then. Once, I came out from the toilet cubicle and noticed some ladies standing at the entrace of the door waiting for me to come out. When they saw me, they started laughing. One of them said "oh, it's you! We were wondering what sound was that and got scared!" Aiyo..... So, now I got myself a manual Avent pump, and I pump in the server room. More privacy and cleaner. Well, there are still colleagues of mine (male colleagues some more) who come knocking on the door just for the heck of it. sigh!

Well, breastmilk is worth it. Every single drop of it. When Brendan was in the care of my mum in Johor, I used to transport my glass jars of breastmilk in a cooler box and take it back home in Johor. Now, I just can't imagine that I used to carry my cooler box from the lrt station to Puduraya, and then board the bus home and then quickly put it in the freezer for Brendan's one week supply. Week after week it was the same routine. I used to get worried when my bus is delayed or when I have to take a later bus - afraid that the milk will all melt and get spoilt.

Anyway, now that my kids are both with me in KL, I don't have to worry about the weekly transportation. I also don't have to stay up late or get up early to pump milk. I just need to direct breastfeed Eryn from 9:30pm onwards. She gets up about 3x at night for her feeding, but it's so much more easier than having to pump them out.

A mother of two

1st June -the day of my inducement. I've read a lot about it and it is really scaring me. People talk about the pain, the long delay, the complications, etc... Well, I have to go through it. I'm one week overdue. My baby is still comfy inside, but she's gotta come out.

I went to the hospital at 8:30am. The nurses checked on me. Waited for the doctor and at 9am, he came in. He inserted some sort of a pill in me to dilate my cervix and sent me to my single-bedded room to wait for the "signs". And so I waited, and waited, and waited... The nurse came in every half hour to one hour asking if I felt any pain. I kept saying "no" "no" "no". I was beginning to get worried. Why wasn't I dilated yet? Why isn't there any pain? Why am I not having a show? Tried to watch TV, but the TV only had one pathetic channel on. I tried tuning it but tak jadi lah.

It was the doctor's halfday today. He came back at around 4:30pm. Checked on me and said, "you're only at 2cm dilation". ONLY TWO cm? So? What you want me to do? "Nurse, I'm doing an A.R.M." Hey! Tell that to me also lah. Not the nurse. You think I don't know what is A.R.M ar? I've been doing lots of self-study and research.... Anyway, chuik chuik... The A.R.M. was done. So, the wait began. I waited, and waited, and waited... again! Nothing much happen! The nurse kept reminding me to tell her if I felt any pain and if I felt the urge to pass motion. Time passes... nothing happen. No show, which was very wierd, and the water bag was only leaking, no gushing or anything. 5:30pm came and the doctor checked and said he'll cut the membrane bigger coz nothing seems to be happening. No pain, no reaction. The baby heartbeat's was normal. So, again I waited. This time I'm only at 3 cm dilation.

With Brendan, I had a show at 9pm+, started having contraction at 1am which went on and on every 5 minutes. I delivered Brendan at around noon. Almost 12 hours of painful labour!!! Hubby rushed back from Penang to Johor only to find me huffing and puffing away during my first labour. haha
There I lay down, responding to some SMSes, looking at the baby's heartbeat monitor, relaxing myself and doing some light breathing exercise. I was thinking to myself, this time sure beranak at almost midnight one. Wait so long also nothing happen. There were mild contractions and they were like mild period cramps to me.

At almost 7pm, the doctor said that he's going home for dinner and told the nurse to call him once I show the indications. At 7pm, I was beginning to have more pain and was already at 5cm dilation. The nurse called the doctor and poor fella, I think he hasn't really sit down at the dinner table when he was called back. Surprise! Surprise! I delivered at around 7:40pm.... The push was quite easy... The nurse said "eh, u tak sakit ar? You sudah boleh push lah.." he he he
It was a good labour... The inducement was no problem to me at all. Everything went on well.... And now, another chapter of my life as begun.....

Eryn Lim Shu Jynn

D.O.B. 1st June 2005

I'm due!

I'm due today.... no signs, no spotting, no pain, practically nothing!! My firstborn was delivered 2 days earlier. And so I thought, my gal would be early as well.

I went for my check-up today and Dr Tan of Johor Maternity Specialist said that he'll set a date for inducement if I'm not delivered in the next one week. I went back home, read all I could about inducement, praying that I won't have to go through the horrors of being induced.

Mum has been forcing me to get up early to take long walks to open my cervix and relax my muscle. Walk walk walk.... pengsan lor.... My tummy seems low.

I remember finding out that I was pregnant. It was a surprise to me coz this baby was not planned. Deep down, I just couldn't know how to accept this little baby when my boy is still a baby himself! Brendan is only 19 months and there is just so much more development in him. I don't know how am I going to cope with 2 kids. Brendan has always been in the care of my mum in Kluang, Johor. I travel every weekend back from KL to Kluang by bus (except for once a month when his daddy drives).

Anyway, now that I'm at full term, I can suddenly feel that surge of being a new mother again, the joy of seeing a little baby responding to your smiles, touch, etc. Brendan has been very manja and I don't know how am I going to manage two attention-seekers now.

Babies and sixth sense

Published in THE STAR ( StarTwo, Page 17 )
Thursday March 24, 2005
by Sharon Boo

What is it with babies and their sixth sense? I’ve always been amazed at how babies and toddlers just seem to know what’s going on around them even from the time they are newborns.

They know when mummy is not in the room, or when you are about to sit down after cradling them to sleep while walking up and down the room. And then they kick up a fuss.
Last night, about half an hour before my hubby and I left for Kuala Lumpur, our 16-month-old son, Brendan, suddenly tried to draw our attention by telling us to play the piano for him, showing us how he drives a car using an empty tin cover as a steering wheel, asking daddy to carry him, tugging at my dress and patting my seven months pregnant tummy.

And then he suddenly sat beside me and kept very quiet and stared blankly at the television. I turned to look at him and saw tears welling up in his eyes. Clearly, something was disturbing him. He knew that daddy and mummy were leaving for KL, despite us not telling him beforehand.

After two days of crazy laughter and fun with daddy and mummy (Brendan is in Johor under the good care of my parents), sleeping at 1am because he wants to play with daddy and mummy, he suddenly felt lonely again (well, at least for a while because when I called the following day, he was back to his normal self, carrying on with his everyday life of playing and doing everything a toddler does).

We finally left my parent’s place at 8.30 that night and Brendan just stared at us. He didn’t cry, didn’t make a fuss and didn’t smile. He gave us never-ending flying kisses with that "staring into space" look in his eyes. That broke my heart.

Until now, I am still trying to hold back my tears in public, thinking of that one moment when I turned to see tears in Brendan’s eyes. He was trying hard not to cry and behaving like an older kid instead of a 16-month-old toddler!

What is it with a baby and his sixth sense?

Anyway, on a lighter note, daddy and mummy were sitting side by side earlier in the day with tummies exposed.

Brendan was patting mummy’s tummy and as usual, giving hugs and planting wet kisses on mummy’s big tummy when daddy said: "Brendan, come kiss baby in daddy’s tummy too!"
He just looked at daddy’s tummy and pushed it away. He poked at daddy’s navel, touched daddy’s tummy and hit it and started smiling, as though trying to tell us that there’s no baby in daddy’s tummy.

He turned to mummy’s tummy and give it another peck and a big koala hug. Again, it made me wonder. How does he know?

Call it extra sensory perception, or telepathy or whatever. I’d certainly like to comprehend this special gift in babies and toddlers.