We're back!

Now that we finally have internet back, here's some fun photos of what we've been up to in the past 3 weeks!

We'll send out pictures of our new flat soon.

[Fun at Regents Park]







[Fun at home]

Abbey House

Chances are those of you reading this blog have heard either Matt or myself complain about our flat. It's small, it's worn down, it's dark, it's dingy and often has a mysterious musty smell to it. We've complained about the ugly furniture, the uncomfortable beds and the size of our rooms (kitchen, bathroom and living room especially). But if you've also spoken to us about our flat, you will also know that despite all our complaining, we don't really hate this flat that much. Well, let me clarify, we definitely don't like the flat. But despite it's short comings, this has been home for the last two years.

It's this flat where Matt and I entered as a newly married couple, where we went from the giddy stages of being first married to learning to live with each other. And function effectively as a family. It's the place where we've gotten into our worst arguments and had our best discussions.

It is in the small, cramped kitchen where I realized I might be able to actually learn to cook after all. It was where I learned to perfect crock pot meals, meatloaf and home made ice cream.

It's this flat where, when returning from one of our long travels, we breathe a sigh of relief, we know it's not perfect, but it it's home.

It's in our living room where we became addicted to X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. It's in this flat where Matt introduced me to the car wreck that is Eurovision.

It is in this flat where I learned I was pregnant. Where I waited anxiously for the stick to change colors. Where I woke up Matt (it was early on a Saturday morning) and told him he was going to be a dad (he smiled, then fell back asleep).

It is in this flat where I suffered from morning sickness, on this ugly couch where I would lay, hoping the nausea would pass.

It's on our ugly couch where I sat, swollen and pregnant. It's where we discussed with excitement our upcoming arrival. Whether it would be a boy or girl, and where we went through a million names. And then went through them again. Where we shared our nervousness about becoming parents. And our dreams for our child. Several times we expressed our anxiety and impatience to meet this new member of our family.

It was on our uncomfortable lumpy bed where I tried to sleep, while being kicked all night while pregnant. Where my husband sacrificed his precious pillow (that he brought all the way from Australia) so I could be more comfortable.

It's on that bed where we came up with the name for our daughter. We didn't want to jinx it then, but we both knew it felt right. And when we saw her, we knew we'd made the right choice.

It was in the living room, on the ugly couch where I finally knew what it was like to go into labor. Where we left, knowing the next time we came back, we'd have one more.

It's the home where we brought our tiny 2 day old daughter. I'll never forget bringing Amelia home. It was a Sunday, and Matt's birthday. Our iconic London black cab pulled up right in front of Abbey Road Studios. Matt got out first, and unbuckled Amelia. I then stepped out, sore and tired. There were tourists there, from somewhere in the south of the US who looked at us with interest as we got out. They'd been taking pictures in front of the studios. They appropriately ooohed and aaahed at Amelia. They gave us some great advice about children and how hard they are but also, what a joy.

It is here in Abbey House that we walked in with our daughter. It is in this small cramped living room where we watched her in wonder while she slept. Looked at each other in panic when she cried. Where we gave her her first bath, first taste of solid food and ice cream.

This flat is where Amelia first met three of her four grandparents. Where she smiled and showed off for them.

This is where Amelia learned to stand, learned to say 'mama' and 'dada' (even if they're not quite directed at us yet). And learned to dance.

It's this flat that Amelia is familiar with. She visibly relaxes when we return here after a long day out. She knows this is her kingdom and here she is Queen.

Yes, there is a lot to complain about in this flat. In one very real way, Matt and I are ready to leave the leaking ceilings, non ventilated bathroom, icky carpets and uncomfortable furniture.

But nostalgia has hit us hard. We're leaving behind a chapter in our lives. We will never have an address as cool or as famous as what we've enjoyed the last two years. We can never claim the famous crosswalk as part of our daily path and look down our noses on the tourists that hold up traffic. We will no longer snicker in satisfaction when the graffiti of Abbey Road Studios is painted over with a fresh coat of white paint, knowing that 'John from New York' believed that his mark would be there forever.

We certainly won't be able to ruin as many tourist pictures anymore.

We've certainly loved living on Abbey Road. We're not even moving too far, just a few blocks away. But despite the short distance, I know there's not enough to draw us back to Abbey Road very often. There aren't any transport links or shops that we need.

But we'll always take the memory of Abbey Road with us. Not in the least because we named our daughter after this iconic place. I can't wait to tell her about her first home, not because she lived in a place rich with history, but because it was our first home as a family. And no matter how many homes you live in since then, nothing quite takes the place of the first.


Thanks Abbey House, you provided some of our greatest frustrations. But you were also witness to some of our happiest moments. Cheers.

Favourite pastimes

Amelia loves playing on her bouncy castle and reading her books.

It's Timmy Time!

So it's official, Amelia has a favorite TV show. She doesn't watch too much telly, but lately she's been waking up at 6:30am and well, I'm just too tired to do much with her after feeding her breakfast. So the last week or so I've been turning on Cbeebies (which is the children's channel for the BBC) and so we've discovered Timmy Time. And actually, it's pretty cute. There are some really crazy shows for kids on this channel, but a few good ones.

But the Ngai Family favorite is now Timmy Time. TT only lasts about 10 minutes, and the animals don't actually talk in English. Timmy is a lamb and he talks by saying 'baa baa' his friend the duck will reply by saying 'quack quack' and the teacher tells them to get ready for lunch by saying 'hoot hoot'. Pretty simple.

However TT does have about the catchiest theme song I've ever heard. Amelia breaks out in a huge grin and starts shaking her booty when she hears the Timmy Time song.

See for yourself:



Now I'll bet money that sometime after hearing this you'll catch yourself humming it.

So yeah, Amelia loves Timmy Time, it's 10 minutes of telly, so I think she'll survive. Of course, when Matt gets up with her, they watch Chuggington which comes on right after. It's about trains and Matt likes the lessons you learn. Like today Matt learned that if you stay up too late the night before, you might be too tired to do a good job at work the next day. Apparently he'd never figured that out before.

So here we go, another new chapter in our life as we enter into the strange new world of children's television.

Mia Moment

I've decided to start posting (at least try) something daily that Amelia does that is cute or noteworthy. Because she's growing so much, you all should be hearing about it!

So this one actually happened yesterday and it goes under the 'isn't she so clever' heading. While we're still in the Abbey Road flat (we move next week!) we have to bathe Amelia 'pioneer style' which means we set up a portable tub in the spare room, on some towels and fill up a bucket in the shower and then pour it into the tub. We have it down to a pretty good science now. Amelia loves to take baths. She knows when it's time, because she sees us setting up. I can bathe her on my own, but it is easier when we tag team it (the water gets cold by the time I've undressed her etc).

So yesterday I started setting out her bath stuff in preparation to bathe her right when Matt got home. I laid out the towels and put the bath on it. Usually when I'm in other parts of the flat, I let Amelia out of her 'area' so she can crawl around and putter with me. I was doing my thing when I looked behind me to see what Mia was up to. Usually she plays with the shoes on the shelf by the door, or something in the spare room. I couldn't believe it when I saw she had her bottle of bath soap in her hand! This is placed on a higher shelf, one I didn't think she could reach.

But she apparently she can. She held it out to me with a huge grin. So yeah, that's it. Maybe you had to be there, but I was very impressed that not only had she figured out that it was bath time, but she even knew to reach for the soap that we always use on her.

So there you have it. Isn't she so clever?

Rebel Child

Amelia is developing a very nasty habit. No, it's not smoking or picking her nose in public. It's much worse. She has developed the talent to zoom in and pick up/throw/grab/play with the one thing in an otherwise completely child proof room that she's not allowed to. I'm not sure where she gets this rebellious streak from, it certainly isn't me.

Luckily for me, she's only 9 months old, so I'm still outsmart her. For example, there's a perfectly good book on the floor in her area (the Hungry Caterpillar) which when she's in the mood, she loves to read. However, when she's feeling contrary, she'll reject it purely because it's me who gave it to her.

So lately I've been putting it in places that are kind of out of reach, but not really. Just enough so that she thinks she's being sneaky. And I'll say to her "Don't read this book." or "It's not for little girls." etc

Of course the minute my attention is diverted (at least if she thinks it is, see how smart I am?), sure enough she'll pick up the book and happily read it for minutes (because, come on, she is only 9 months old, she doesn't have that big of an attention span yet).

Will this practice get me in trouble? Is it teaching her to disobey what I say? Maybe. Personally, I prefer to think of it as adapting my parenting style to my child's needs. Once she can communicate back, it'll be something else.

In fact, I think I'm so clever, I should get an award. Like maybe a full night's sleep, uninterrupted.