Enjoy while you can...

Time, Kids and Family.

I noticed the kids are fast growing-up and catching-up with each other.

Noah is now coming to 7 months by 30th Jan 2011. Now he can sit by himself and once in a while I even catch him try to pull himself to stand. I'm still giving him breastmilk and introduced rice cereal when he turned 6months last year on the 30th Dec 2010. He's got one tooth which I felt since last month when he breast feed. He's an average breastfeeder - in a sense he doesn't really bite me but if I'm delay feeding him (let him cry for longer than it should - I'm talking about until he terbatuk-batuk) he will bite me before sucking furiously (marah la tu).
The siblings call him baby "botak" because he's the only one born with the least hair (but now his hair started growing already). So it won't be long when all of us miss his "botak" head. He weight 7.5kg and fluctuates around the weight this month (maybe because of the cough and flu).
He babbles a lot and he puts everything he caught with his hand into his mouth. He's a pretty serious baby - doesn't really laugh unless the gesture/action pass his funny test. Like the Paed said to me, everyone must love him because he's the youngest - it seems in the house he's got the most attention from everyone including the siblings. Even Titi and Momoi likes to go into the baby cot and play with him.

Theodore - the funny guy. I love his cheeky face. This little guy can look at you and can make you smile for no reason. He is now obssessed with following what Moira is doing - be it girlie thing or just anything. And this little mouse bites and he loves to bite Moira or Joshua if they refuse to share. And when this happens our whole house turn into a small running track with Titi chasing Momoi and Uaua around the house.
To make matters worst, whenever I tie a ribbon on Moira's hair, Titi also wants a ribbon on his hair. When Moira put on her pink school uniform, Titi also want to put on the pink school uniform. I wonder why he didn't choose his older brother Joshua as a role model instead of Moira.
He is now learning to talk simple words, some we understand but some we need some de-cryptography skill.

Moira - the "parrot" in the house, if she is not singing or talking then she'll be crying - the only time when Moira is quiet is when she is asleep. Last weekend she drew a few parrots with her signature "big eyes" drawing. At first her drawings doesn't have pupils, but Papa taught her to draw the pupils so that her parrot doesn't look like a blind parrot.
We send Momoi to the Chinese Playschool and as we anticipated she cried on the first day and she refuse to let me go. The second day - same thing happen but I manage to leave her in the class. The third day - she puked in the car and Titi also almost puked in the car as he wanted to follow Momoi to school. The fourth day - claws on Papa. The fifth day - No more crying (maybe she accepted the fact/fate).
Last Saturday, she followed Joshua to abacus. At first she was a bit sceptical about following Joshua but when the teacher showed her the book she shoo-ed me out of the class. I was quite surprised that she like the class and the teacher liked her too. The teacher said she can write numbers, recognise number and can concentrate (even better than some kindie kids). Well, we'll see again this weekend if she wanted to follow Joshua again.

Joshua - my "big" boy is in primary 2 this year. And he was just happy to be promoted to the best class this year. It means this year will be a challenging year for Uaua to compete against his already bright classmates. Well, we'll just do our best and guide him. Interestingly, he likes to learn and love to be in the class but doesn't like to read story or whatever books. I remember when I was his age I was a book worm- I read anything from magazine, story books, newspaper, labels, anything. I noticed children nowadays doesn't appreciate the essence of holding a book and reading from a book. They prefer reading from the internet which I believe a long jump from the fundamental.
I'm not sure how to go about this, but perhaps a more often visit to the library may help. I'm not sure. I'm just envious of parents' having kids who loves reading books - how do they do it?

Now back to the topic - enjoy while you can is what my husband says when I complaint of having not enough time for everything. So hubby said I should enjoy now while I can and don't complaint so much or worry so much or think so much. And so I started to enjoy what ever time I had with the kids, just do what I can do for everyone, fit everything in the limited time frame and at the end of the day have enough rest to face another tomorrow.

Seems tiring but the time is worth spent and I'm content - no regrets. Just like my mother used to say to me, "If you want to do something make sure you'll not regret later".

Papa & Son Birthday Celebration

This is a late entry but I just want to post it here for record purpose.

We celebrated Papa's **th Birthday and Joshua's 7th Birthday on the 27th November. Joshua's actual birthdate is 25th November just 2 days apart from hubby's birthday on the 27th.


It was just a small and close gathering of family members at our little house. I can see that our family is growing bigger now that our house seems pretty crowded with kids and siblings/in-laws. I originally planned the party theme to be pizza and spaghetti but dad also brought 2 chinese dishes which everyone gladly chomped as well. Despite the inpromptu planning, I'm glad the dishes turned out well and the kids were well behaved and co-operative while I was preparing and cooking. The birthday menu was Spaghetti Al-tonno (Tuna), Pumpkin Soup, fruit salad and cheezy-pizza from pizza hut.

Anyway, it was a fun gathering for the kids. They have to find the hidden pictures before they can get the cake.
Prior to the cake cutting, Joshua also did his first piano recital for the family members on a song London Bridge is Falling Down (DIL got it on his videocam, will paste the link here once I figure out how to upload the video).

Everyone is waiting anxiously for the cake, including the 2 cousins Ryan andTiti patiently waiting by the table for their share. The birthday cake was Strawberry Truffle Ice Cream cake. Yummy...
And finally before everyone goes home we had a family photo taking session. It was very hard to keep the kids stick to one place or put a straight face.

The end... (I wish to write more but I also have piles of reports & papers to write... tsk...tsk...)

Funny moments...

At dinner table... (2 weeks ago)
Papa: Uaua... eee you eat orange like monkey!
Momoi: (Teasing) Eeee... Uaua Monkey, Uaua Monkey...
Uaua: Kau tu Baboon...
Papa: (Laughing) Ngamla tu... monkey & baboon adik-beradik...

Breakfast this morning...
Mama: Titi sit if you want to eat the cake...
(And Titi came running to the kitchen and find his little spot next to the fridge...)

At lunch-time yesterday...
Titi protested when he didn't get Papa's portion of the chicken rice and finally fell asleep at the dining table...


Kids really colour our days in so many ways. I just want to capture moments like this here for the kids to see when they are bigger...

Updates...

Update no 1:
Noah is 3 months and during last check-up his weight is 6.8kg and this is how he looks now...


And he started to show attempt to roll over...


Update no 2:
I celebrated my 33rd birthday on the 3rd October with hubby, kids, dad and PIL at Oldtown Citimall - lunch is on Hubby (Thanks darling!) and then a little shopping at Giant (Got new shoes for the kids except Noah). Everyone had a great time - especially the kids. We seldom bring them out together as it is not easy to control 4 kids outside the house.

Update no 3:
Titi have started to articulate simple words... latest ones are "give" and "Delicious"

Welcome Home Baby Noah James!

We are happy to announce the new addition to the Happy Little People gang

Baby Noah James

DOB: 30 June 2010
Time: 2.20pm
Weight: 3.24kg
Length: 49cm

Me - just happy baby is finally delivered safely. So here's my delivery story for treasure.

I was worried sick since the day I got false labour. Everytime the contraction hit me I was ready to run back to the hospital but at the same time worry that it might be another false labour. I must have got food poisoning as I had a feast of young jackfruit soup, hinava, bamboo shoot soup, peanut soup, cake, etc on Saturday (day before false labour). Perhaps the food mixture trigger some chemical reaction in my tummy that's causing me to have contraction.

Glad to be home next day (Monday) and went to work on 28-29th June. I even went to Ryan's birthday dinner on 29th June and ate a variety of dishes. And again that night, my tummy start to grumble again. At 3 am, I cried because I feel as if my tummy going to burst like full blown balloon (feels like tummy cramps too). Hubby call MIL to come over and we head to the hospital straight away.

As soon as we reach the hospital, contraction monitored again and was showing dwindling pattern just like before and baby heartbeat is somewhat faster than normal. Anxious that it maybe another bout of food poisoning, I asked for enema to relieve constipation. I was feeling better after some bowel movement but contraction still went on but not as strong as before.

Then, Dr came at around 9am and checked but I haven't effaced and dilated yet. So he suggested that it's better for me to be induced as prolonging the unsteady contraction may not be good for baby. Well, I agreed but with heavy heart (just afraid it does not work and I had to go for emergency c-sect).

So I was induced with pitocin 8ml at first - result no contraction and still smilling. An hour later, Dr ordered to increase to 10ml, few minutes later I felt the strong contraction again. At 1pm, Dr came and felt I only opened 3-4cm and still high. So he broke my water and told me I'm going to deliver at 5pm. I shouted... whaaat still a long way to go (I was already in pain...).

At around 2pm, the contraction already torturing me and I can even feel the baby is pushing himself out. Hubby even asked, "Sakit kah?" I answered him "Napa mau rasa kah?" He answered back smiling "Tidak apalah ko sajalah". (Kurang asam...)

Told the nurses baby is coming out and frantically they send me to the delivery room. I was already shouting... "Nurse call the Dr I can feel baby's head... and call my hubby too" and yet they still give me that cool look. Finally few minutes later, Dr came and said "Cepat juga...". He took his time to tie my legs, injected the LA and cut perineum area and asked me to push (I just can't believe how the Dr and nurses can do everything so gracefully and slowly when I can feel the baby head going to pop... unbelieveable no panic at all). So with one push baby Noah is safely delivered. After baby is out I told Dr "I thought you couldn't make it already..." He said smilling, "No la..." (Ciss... confident punya Dr).

The nurse showed the baby to me and Noah gracefully peed for the first time (just like his brother Joshua).

The End







.

Wishful thinking...

I did another Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) today - the usual test I would do everytime I get pregnant. I dislike the glassful of glucose on empty stomach. It made me dizzy and nauseous. I dislike the needles, they need to take 3 blood samples (each sample one hour apart). I dislike the long wait. But, yay! Test ended just now. I hope I don't need to do this test again ever in my life.

Anyway, on another note I've been contemplating last night what to do after the baby arrive. I expect "extra-busy" will be my vocabulary everyday. Now, with 3 kids at home with no maid somehow I can still manage the house and work. Not sure when it's 4 though. The first year is always the difficult year. Sometimes, I wonder how other mothers with 8-9 kids manage their family. Hubby casually mentioned to me last night that perhaps they are full-time housewives.

However, I'm in a situation where I'm holding 2 important posts right now - one where I answer to my boss who pays my salary every month-end and the other one where I answer to God, kids and hubby who pay no salary only satisfaction when all things turned out well. The question now is it still possible for me to keep this 2 posts with 4 kids + 1 hubby needing attention and a house and business to run? I need to device some ways to make life manageable. After brainstorming last night I came out with a list of stuff that could make my life easier (whether it's available in the market, that I have to find out)...

1. Washer and Dryer (so I can just dump the dirty laundry and it'll come out clean and dry)
2. Home-cooking catering with home delivery service (anyone who does this business please contact me)
3. Robot (Hubby laughed at this idea - well I need a robot who can do all the folding, vacuuming and mopping. I've seen one that does vacuuming and mopping not sure about folding though.)
4. Dishwasher and Dish dryer

Hey, that's not that many isn't it. So I guess my life will still be manageable with 4 kids provided we have someone to look after them while we go to work. No need to worry so much now.

I need a lot of patient and help me God so that I have plenty of them.

Breaking the long silence...

Been silent for many many months now. The year end activities and the 1st quarter of 2010 has kept me busy. (Perhaps if I'm diligent enough I will post some backdated entry)

This shall be my first entry for this year and so I would like to start with the recent photo taking session we had with inspiredbygavin during the Chinese New Year break (18 Feb 2010).
(InspiredbyGavin is also having school break promotion, to find out more click here)

A lot has happened during the past few months... birthdays, celebrations, family event, kids growing-up and etc. All happen before my eyes but time and other important stuff I need to attend to did not permit me update here. It would nice to have all that jotted down somewhere here.

Anyway, for today's record here is a new song Moira sang to tease her brother this morning.

Si Joshua... Si Joshua...
Dimana...
Disitu... disitu...
Kencing tilam...

Hearing this coming from a soon to be a 3-year old (tomorrow is her birthday) is really amazing. Hubby and I had a good morning laugh this morning but we also remind her not to do others what she doesn't want other to do to her. And everyday we wonder what they'll be like when the kids grow-up, we just hope 3 of them be nice to each other and keep each other company.

Theo is 1 week old!

Time flies so fast and it's been a week since baby Theo first introduction to the new environment (other than the darkness in the womb). Here is his photo at 1 week...


He still looked bit jaundiced but he is feeding well and now start to have regular bowel movement. Hope this will help clear the bilirubin. Actually, Theo has undecended testicle (both left & right) at birth but I got one of the local masseurs to correct the position and lucky she managed to get one testicle down. The other one still a bit higher but I can see that he is finally wetting more nappies now as compared to the first few days only3 nappies in a day (Perhaps it was due to his testicle being undecended).

Theo is also exclusively breastfeed and I was quite amused at 1 week old he totally refused to suck the expressed breastmilk from the bottle. I guess I have to train him to accept bottle earlier - otherwise I would have problem when I go to work or outstation later.

Life is good at the moment after 1 week with a new-born baby - long break, spending more time with the kids but I was a bit sad that the school holiday is going to be over soon and I didn't do much things with Uaua - I have lots of plans of things to do with him but somehow it didn't materialised. The only thing that I manage to get him to learn is swimming which starts 28 November 08. It was his first time in the pool and having sensitive nose he sneezes all the time - poor boy.

Momoi is also pretty grown up now - I spend most of the time with her during the 2 weeks nursery break. Comparing her with Theo now I can't believe she has grown this big - I still miss the baby Moira. She is so adorable with her smiles, big eyes and chubby cheeks. She can sing A-Z, say 1-10, sing few nursery rhymes (in her own language) and can understand simple instruction. She eats on her own (starts taking solid - rice & family meal when Theo arrives). I can see she can be independent and loves her baby brother. I guess the timing is just right - the only thing that I didn't manage to teach her yet is potty training. At night, she still try to escape from her brother's room to our room to sleep next to me.

While Dodu (MIL) was busy bathing Theo I manage to catch Moira doing her funny stuff again - she took the small bucket and put on top of her head. MIL & I can't help but laugh... hehe...


Finally thanks to MIL for helping with bathing Theo and cooking delicious meals for hubby and kids. All this time I never get bored with my confinement food until I saw my MIL cooking in the house - I almost forgot I am only allowed to take my food. Thanks to Mom & Dad too for sending me my delicious confinement soup (so eager to have them- my favorite lihing soup) and bath daily and even stayed with me in the hospital until I delivered. I know mom is not feeling very well but she still stayed on. I am so lucky to have such wonderful parents and in-laws.

Here's a photo of MIL with Theo at 1 week. This photo was taken by our talented Joshua.

Me and My Girl...

Let the pictures tell a thousand words...

2008 Family Day

This year we manage to attend 3 family days. Uaua's school family Day was held on 16th August 2008 at Uaua's school, Papa's company family day was held at Menara Tun Mustapha (previously known as Yayasan Sabah building) car park area on the 17th August 2008 and Mama's company family day was held at the Marina Sutera on the 8th November 2008.

Uaua's school family day was also held in conjunction of the Merdeka celebration so the kids did some marching and sang the 'Tanggal 31" song by the Late Sudirman. There were also tele-match between the classes (more like matches between the class teacher as they were shouting/cheering on-top of their voices for their teams).

We didn't get much shots during Papa's family day as we were too pre-occupied with queing-up to get the food and finishing our meal. We were really hungry, the food was not that yummy and not enough to feed the crowd and the queue was damn long. The activities was also held under the hot sun and not kids friendly, so we only helped in the "makan" department. We only manage to take some shots on the way home when we brought the kids to visit the famous tall (est?) building in KK.

Last weekend we attended another family day, and this time we brought Aki and Dodu along. We were given 900 tokens to be used to participate in the games and redeem household goods (rice, Milo, detergent, etc). We managed to get Aki to participate in the games - Golf putting and Lawn bowling. While Uaua, participated in the Fancy Dress and Filling up water in the bottle. Although we didn't win in any of the games/activites but Uaua is still happy as he was given consolation prize for participating the fancy dress (fortunately "sour face" didn't count as not-qualified for consolation). Uaua was reluctant to put on his "Hawaiian" costume but after much persuasion he obliged and even brought along his favorite yellow pail (but he didn't agree to wear his sunnies though - it would make him look dashing if he did).

Quite a productive year for us in terms of participation/attendance in the family days organized by the school and company unlike the previous years. Now, looking forward to 2009 Family days.