Just Ramblings 嫻言嫻語

People kept telling me that it would be easier once he turned 6 months old when I complained to them about his spitting up problem and the mid-night feeding hassle. Yeah, then now he’s 7 months and 11 days, colic stays and so does his crave for feeding at night. For a while, he was able to sleep 8hr or 9hr in a roll, from 7:30pm-3:30/4:00am. What a blessing! We thought, yeah, now it might be the time to train him to sleep through the night.  I looked up in the book and we went with the most traditional method, the cold turkey approach. Uhoh… wrong move. He cried to the top of his lungs, so loud that we were afraid that he would wake up the whole city. Scissors was pacing up and down the stairs, saying that it’s hard to hear him cry like this. I was like, wait wait, the book said we should not pick him up right a way. Two more minutes, just two more min I’ll pick him up. But no, I could not wait and I had to pick him up before our neighbor dialed 911. He would not stop crying until I fed him. The next evening, we tried again (the Sleep Lady kept telling us that persistency is so important and we have to follow the rules… blah blah blah) and of course, he cried even louder and worse than the night before. The third night, we decided to drop the plan. It’s hard not to comfort a crying baby especially when you know what exactly he wants. Yes, being able to sleep through the night is nice. But having him thriving happily is even nicer and wiser to me. And yes, waking up in the middle of the night is awful but I kind of got to used by now. I don’t care about what the Sleep Lady says or what other moms say. Every baby is different and mine is certainly special. Ever since then, he wakes up twice at night and he would not fall asleep on his own like he did before (don’t even think about letting him to fall asleep in his crib). He wants to be fed and he wants to be held. He wants to sleep on my chest. Imagine having a 20 pounder lying on your chest for hours and hours every night? I guarantee you, it’s NOT fun, not at all. He is teething. It could be a good reason, top on colic, for his crankiness and fussiness . But he really needs more sleep because he yawns when he wakes him in the morning.

What can I do to get him more sleep?  

Or should I just follow his rules?
Feed me. Hold me. Play with me.

 **************** Side Notes *****************

Took my car for regular service at the dealer today. They used to have this 29 min guarantee thing but now it is 2 hr!!! I hate waiting at the lounge, it’s so boring (of course I could have made an appointment, drop the car off and have them to pick me up later). My friend called and I told her my whereabout, she said, “I love being at the dealer, you get to have free popcorn and sold and coffee and TV!” I am like… “Girl, you are the funniest weirdo I’ve ever seen.”

I finally got my HK Passport! Hurrah… So what now? I can travel! A friend of mine has good connection in the travel business (yeah it’s all about networks). She throws me a number and reminds me to mention that “I was the girl who once slept with her.” ???!!!! Is it necessary? I mean to reveal our “close relationship” in order to get a good deal? 

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七個月零１星期，彌敦道的霸業與日俱增。

星期五是交剪生日，前一晚彌敦道突然不斷的說dadad dadad，在他的定議這也許是抱抱餓餓濕濕。。。。在我們的定議卻是如此重要，他會叫daddy 啦，非常一廂情願的說。

本來還把交剪哄得高高興興的，幾小時後卻來個１８０度大轉變。從晚上１１：３０到天亮，就是不停的哭鬧，那個天搖地動，任由怎麼安慰也無用，只有喂他才稍為安靜下來，可是又要burp,　又是掙扎一輪，又是哭，哭得累了又睡不著，又哭，好不容易睡著了，３０分鐘後又醒來，如此這般的循環又循環。他累我們也累。

早上八時，決定開車帶他四處走走，經驗所得，每次車行他就睡著。一夜沒睡的我戴上墨鏡，沿著Foothill Boulevard一直向東行，清早的陽光已經十分耀眼，還好，這樣我不會睡著。車中播著古典音樂，我家小魔怪是個怪人，只要是音樂他就喜歡，rock n roll，classical, pop rock。。。起初他仍是eearar的，沒多久就睡著了。上午九時，準時到達nanny家，交代情況後就回家，帶病在身的交剪也已經呼呼熟睡，我也趁機小睡。

下午五時致電nanny詢問情況，驚聞他發燒了！Nanny用冷毛巾給他降溫，燒是退了可是他整天的sneeze和流鼻水，病了。。。又病了。。。連忙趕去接他回家觀察，必要時帶他去urgent care （學乖了，要不是有即時生命威協的話，ER　比　urgent care等候時間還要長。）

原來安排好晚上和交剪去party慶祝的計劃只好報消。沒辨法，誰叫小魔怪才是主子？

Ju聽說他病了也趕來看看，還帶來藥物和他的新夏裝。這麼小的年紀，我不想太早給他用藥，除非是迫不得已。Ju很明白我的方式，她帶的只是外用的藥，也不過是舒緩鼻塞的嬰兒沐浴露，那天晚上，三個大人，六隻手，服侍一個小魔怪。Nanny說他白天睡不著，想必是很累的，又是earthshaking的哭，又是一翻折騰，最後終於睡了。。。我們只有買外帶sushi做晚餐。

第二天他乖巧得不得了。帶他到Toys R Us買玩具，他乖乖的坐在嬰兒車裡四處張望，彷彿經理在巡視業務似的。下午nanny來電問他的情況，我說他正和交剪一起彈琴！

小魔怪就是霸道，定要人們認請Who’s the boss／Who’s the center of attention。   

Nanny的鄰居每次見他就說：“He’s the boss. He takes over the house whenever he comes in.”

Nanny一見他就說：“Here comes my King.” 

今天交剪發現他出了第一顆牙，雖然還未見其漂亮的小珍珠，觸手還是有點利的。

這陣子的哭鬧不知是不是出牙的原故。。。

Maggie說她家的寶寶每天都有新花樣，我們的也是，每天為著他的轉變而變遷。君臣之別，顯而易見。

唉，為人母親者花十月懷胎等待，用一生去牽腸掛肚。 (more…)

這兩個星期Spring Break, 還好，可以抖抖氣，要不我這spring很快就break。

其實也沒有放假，壓大也一樣的大，甚至有過之而無不及，因為要寫paper，這個月底一定要攪妥，往後最好互不相幹。

很不想很不想去寫，很想很想放棄，寫paper本來就是很難的事，加上不情願，大腦栓塞，望著一堆辛辛苦苦整理好的data發呆，感覺就像剛從堆田區拾回不小心遺棄的東東，累。

只有盼寫好了就有好日子過，至少可以高枕無憂，各行各路。

SF告知正打算暑假去倫敦，假如我們的巴黎行成事的話，說不定可以見見面，一起遊逛。夏天請快來。

今年雨多，沙漠中的poppy該開得燦爛，賞花季節剛剛開始，盼著找個良（週 ）日和友人再次結伴賞花去。

週六晚和身在加拿大的Ｃarrie煲電話粥，＞一小時，破紀錄，很久沒有和她通話了， 依然動聽的熟悉的聲音，聽得我那個心安靈靜。親愛的，謝謝妳的來電，那天晚上掛了電話，突然有種沖動，想買張機票飛到多倫多再找間茶餐廳邊吃早餐A邊天南地北的糊扯個痛快。要是現在不可能成事就盼望很快可以，又或者我們認該約個時間，不如明天夏天相會在香港，到時應妳所說：拖男帶女的相聚囉。。。呵呵。。 (more…)

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, whohas been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets theworm; Life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend morethan you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are incharge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned butoverbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boycharged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspendedfrom school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired forreprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing thejob that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parentalconsent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; butcould not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted tohave an abortion.Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received bettertreatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglarcould sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed torealize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little inher lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; hiswife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now,Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
And a little extra……………………
Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600 employees and has the following statistics?
29 have been accused of spouse abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad cheques
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
4 have been arrested on drug-related charges8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year
Which organization is this?It’s the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranksout hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us inline. (more…)

天氣很好，好得讓人有點不相信。
三月的天氣，溫度是８１F，大約２７C。
交剪說不如出去附近的Cafe lunch，那裡設有露天茶座，即使小魔怪不高興哭起來又或有太多意見要表達時也不用覺太embarrassing。
好好好，高高興興的給小魔怪穿上春裝，自己卻急不及待穿上夏天的衣服。
“你好，很久沒見，是的，我知道去年你們沒有出場。”　
坐下點菜，當然首要是安頓小魔怪，慰解他的溫飽。
吃過奶，交剪抱著他到四圍走走，回來時跟我說有個中年黑人男人看見他們竟然停車說：”Cherish those moments coz they go by so fast. Ｉ was like you 30 years ago. Now I am a grandpa.”
一直以為只有天真的師奶和少女見他一個男人帶著小孩才會感興趣上前搭訕。
吃飽飽天氣又那麼暖，小魔怪就在嬰兒車上睡著啦。後來和他散步他仍是乖乖的一直睡。 　  

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最性感的男人，不用擁有Brad Pitt的身材。
最性感的男人，不用擁有George Clooney 的笑容。
最性感的男人，不用擁有Leonardo DiCaprio的眼神。
最性感的男人，不用擁有Kurt Cobain的音樂才華。
最性感的男人，不用擁有Albert Einstein的IQ。  
最性感的男人，只要擁有一副會為生活不惜辛勞工作的身軀。
最性感的男人，只要擁有一個為有妳相伴而綻開的笑容。
最性感的男人，只要擁有一對看到妳好妳美的眼睛。
最性感的男人，只要擁有一份會為妳寫情歌的熱忱。
最性感的男人，只要擁有永遠諒解永遠樂觀的EQ。
最最性感的男人，是擁有一對會燒菜會做家務會給妳massage的手。
最最最性感的男人，是會喂奶會換尿片會帶孩子散步會說故事會唱歌哄孩子睡覺的男人。 (more…)

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人大了越明白很多傳統中國思想，又或應該說是處事態度。
相見如賓，一直也不太懂其箇中道理。
交剪上星期突然趕回法國，事出必有因，就是因為他的婆婆過身了。所以，雖然十萬個不想留下老婆和幼兒隻身回家，還是要回去的，那是他最愛的婆婆。
彌敦道和我之所以未能一起前往funeral，完全是我的護照誤事，無錯，自去年十月至今，我仍然在等待renew我的特區護照，這本護照一定是非常特別的！
婆婆享年９４歲零６個月，活了差不多一世紀，經歷兩次世界大戰。婆婆畢生和時裝結下良緣，曾是畫家和布料設計師的她，葬禮剛好落在巴黎時裝週，為她精彩的人生劃上stylish休止符。 
我和婆婆見過三次面，由於我不懂法文，每次也只是禮貌的打過招呼就算，也沒有機會談話。不過，她老人家一雙清澈的大眼睛卻從沒有離開我的身影。第一次見面時她在French Alps渡假，那裡是她出生的地方。時間緊迫，我們只有匆匆的來匆匆的走，吃過午飯便道別趕回巴黎，第二天的飛機回LA。後來聽交剪媽說，我們走了不久，婆婆跟她說：“交剪的老婆人很nice。”
印像中的婆婆，９０高齡可是皮膚仍然是光滑幼嫩，這從交剪和交剪媽身上也可以見到。聽說她的秘訣是每天吃蕃茄和喝一杯紅酒！ 不難想像她年輕時是如何的傾國傾城，即使到了老年，成了外婆，６０出頭的她仍然有一位比她年輕１０年的日本商人拜倒裙下，甘心拋下在日本的一切到法國和她相廝守。她說他是她的Love of my life。
有多少人可以找到生命中的真愛？
婆婆年輕時白手成家，成立自己品牌的布料設計，經常到日本出差，小時候的交剪也常常跟著她到日本渡假，住在京都，有時更是一個月之久，交剪媽便安排他到當地的國際學校上學。（他的初戀情人是位住在瑞士的日本女孩，他們在日本認識的。這。。。。就是他後來患上yellow fever的伏線。。。）
交剪媽是獨女，和婆婆感情深厚，這些年來見她盡心盡力的照顧她的媽媽，百分百的孝感動天。我可以非常肯定的說，天下間沒有多少人比她更有孝心。
交剪和婆婆的感情也很深厚，今天所寫的都是他（維園亞伯話當年時）告知我的。我更明白失去至親的痛楚。故此，雖然我有百萬個不願意讓交剪出門留下我和小魔怪，還是支持他回家。另一方面，也為自己不能同行感無奈。交剪回來了，想不到他給我帶來一封信，是交剪媽給我的。內容大致是多謝我讓交剪回法國，他的出席對她很重要。 雖然是聊聊數行字，我卻感動流淚。
交剪媽和我的婆媳關係不錯，（當然可以說我們不是住在一起少了磨擦），週末也會和我聊電話，特別是現在有了彌敦道，話題自然是圍著他來說，沒完沒了的。
很多時候我們都將事情當成“老奉”（take it granted)，忘了站在別人的角度去看去想，也忽略了別人的感受。原來即使是簡單的一聲多謝可以令人感動不已。
相見如賓，或者就是如此。不論是多親蜜的人也好，別忘了待人如客，而不是一聲“自己人”“一家人”而將所有事情當成理所當然化。 (more…)

對不起，標題失準，因為沒有照片，因為沒有拍照片，因為忙沒法拍照片。
無錯，一個忙字可以遮擋很多麻煩，免除很多責任。
六個月大的彌敦道，懂得俯卧著反身，就是從屁股朝天轉成四腳朝天那種。
可以坐著玩玩具，沒有扶持下勉強可以坐起大約５分鐘，然後像不倒翁那樣前俯後仰，東歪西倒。
喜歡盡力盡心嘗試新東西，甚麼也好只要在手就是往口裡送，然後滿足的大口大口的咬。
和他玩peekaboo，他會溫柔的碰碰我的手，當我鬆開手掌露出笑面時，他像發現新大陸一般的興奮雀躍有成就感，格格格格的笑。
六個月大的小魔怪，頭髮依然短短的，娥黃色的髮絲，柔柔的，綿綿的，觸手動心，就如他娘的cashmere毛衣。 
六個月大的彌敦道，依然colicky，依然半夜醒來找吃的。Sleep through the night，看來像個童話。
這一週趁著Daddy不在家，他還幾乎每晚醒來兩次！
我的天！誰叫我是他娘？
小魔怪不知是不是看穿我的不滿，笑臉盈盈的，彷彿在說有天他長大成人，自立自足時，會給我買黑珍珠首飾Hermes Cartier。
只是到那時候，只需要每星期在日理萬機的忙碌生活中抽出一天陪陪老太婆老公公吃早餐閑話家常，那已經很滿足了。  (more…)