spring cleaning in summertime

I have three months before my EDD to make sure the house is spotless.
Been procrastinating for quite sometime (oh well, blame it on the pregnancy)
We have to make room for the kids.
That means the double decker bed from the landlord has to be disassembled and stashed in the store room.

We thought of moving out to a new place once our contract ended but last night after having a discussion, we decided to stay for another year and save for our 2nd house's downpayment(For those who wonder why 2nd, please don't make me explain, buat sakit hati je :P)

Goal for 2009, to be financially independent, that is to clear all the credit card debts and save for our next holiday and the house.

Okay, back to spring cleaning.

Things to be done:

1- Kids' bedroom
Not much to buy just new bedsheets, mattress (note: must be girly and pink),curtain and some shelves for toys and books

2-Kitchen
Buy new rack for the stoves, major cleaning up - that is dear's task, hehe

3- Rearrange and tidy up the storage room
to make room for the double decker bedframe, and other stuffs that we rarely use.

4- maintain the cleanliness of the house especially the living room
that means Aresha's toys has to be in her room not laying around anymore

The list is not that long but we only have few months to make sure everything's ready . I often get backaches now so I wouldn't be much help in the future.
Started with things I could do own my own while dear's at work.

I'm surprised that suddenly I got this energy to do everything, though I'm quite worried that I push myself too hard.

Managed to clean up the guest room (which will converted to the kids' room soon), and we agreed on spending 30 minutes everyday to clean the storage room, so it is 25% done now :)

We're quite pleased with the progress and hope to meet the deadline (before Ramadhan)
By that time I might not be able to do much anymore.

Now, I gotta go and finish vacuuming the living room, 2 cats + one toddler = countless time of vacuuming everyday!

Courtesy

It's sad that we're becoming a nation of selfish and discourteous.
Why such a statement?

I've experienced it myself last night.
Aresha and I took LRT from Masjid Jamek (as our bus stopped @Puduraya)
It was 10.30pm.
LRT was packed like a sardine can, I was standing near a pole and kept on reminding Aresha to hold on to one.

Then at KLCC station more people got in and we front of the seats that clearly stated for pregnant women, women with child, elderly etc. I kept glancing on the sign and looking at the faces of people who sat there, nobody offered me a seat. Okay, expected.

Last time I got a seat, was when Carolina (a Cser from Argentina) asked a girl to get up for this pregnant lady. It works and the girl smiled sheepishly(more like stupidly for being so ignorant)

To be honest, I don't really need a seat but after a while, Aresha made a fuss and whine saying that she's tired. A 3 1/2 year old toddler couldn't endure 20 minutes train ride, anybody could see that, but hey! Everybody just pretend they didn't hear her or see her crying! Maybe they thought 'why the hell is the pregnant lady and her daughter took this train? I'm not giving up my seat!' There's this lady who kept glancing at me, but her ass is too heavy kot?

Seriously, I vow to teach Aresha common courtesy. I'm not saying that their parents didn't taught them well, but sometimes we forgot the importance of being polite and courteous.

Maybe I don't look pregnant? I'm just a fat lady with a huge tummy.
I don't deserve a seat.
or
Maybe I should just stay home since I'm pregnant.

And we still call ourselves rakyat Malaysia 'berbudi bahasa and bersopan santun'?
Wow!

Monthly getaway

I didn't realize I was travelling to neigbouring countries every month since April.
First it was Phuket, then short weekend visit to S'pore in May(which coincides with Great S'pore Sale but everything is too expensive even after discount!) Last 2 weeks we were in Bandung for 4 days (sans Aresha,and I don't feel that guilty anymore, though I kept thinking about her all the time!) and tomorrow we're off to Hatyai!

Looks like I'm pushing myself to the limit eh? Backaches doesn't stop me from long-haul bus ride. Heck, I used to ride on Faizal's Springer till 9 months when I was preggy with Aresha! But I do get tired easily compared to the last one. However when we were in Bandung last time, I didn't feel exhausted at all from walking and shopping (typical , woman!) until we get home and couldn't get up the whole day!

Strangely enough we only bought a shirt for the baby. Aresha on the other hand got herself a whole lotta dresses, skirts, even a hat! I went gaga over toddler clothes but err infant clothes didn't attract my attention. Don't ask me why, I just don't fell like buying.
Maybe because there are hands-me-down from Aresha, it will be a totally different scenario if this is our first.

I love Bandung people, well generally Indonesian. Made friends with Csers from Bandung and Jakarta. They were so nice to send me back to the hotel :)
Not to forget the staffs at Rip Curl's clearance sale @ Chiwalk. They were so excited to know that I came from KL, the best customer service I've ever had in my entire life!

What I love the most of Bandung (which explains why Jakarta people always flock Bandung during weekends) is the cheap food, strawberry juice!, romantic cafes and restaurants at the hilltop.

Will definitely coming back for more next year. My Bandung friends had already offered to take me around exploring Bandung (other than FO's of course!)

Cravings

Strangely, I have cravings for traditional kuihs. It was kuih bakar kemboja the last few weeks which I only managed to indulge at mama's place (not homemade but her friend brought, sedap gile!)
Yesterday I wanted cekodok pisang
Okay laugh all you want, at least it's not those unthinkable food.

I've satisfied my cravings over cekodok this morning.
Funny thing about this mengidam is that after few bites you'll realize tht is is not tasty or more like had enough of it :P

Don't know what else I want to eat next, but a nice bowl of cendol would be great ;)

girls day out!

Went out with Nad for banana leaf lunch, of course the cheeky little Aresha came along.

We passed through a toy fare at Bangsar Village and she made a scene refusing to follow us to the restaurant.
Refuse to sit
Refuse to eat

Okay whatever, we're both hungry and after a while she came to me and eat rice at the corner of my banana leaf ;)

Oh yeah she spilled a half-full cup of milo. And no, we didn't get it refilled, bahhh!

It was fun anyway spending time chit-chatting at Starbucks, Aresha is just so 'perasan'.
Look at how she pose :P

Alang's engagement

We have a new addition in the family (next year insya Allah)
Alang just got engaged last month 26th May in Bangi.
It was a short and sweet ceremony, filled with laughter and joy :)
Rini's side wasn't very fussy and they already agreed beforehand on the syarat-syarat.

I rarely go to engagement ceremony and this is one is just perfect.
We are excited to welcome Rini to the family as she's such a nice girl and got along with us really well.

Here's looking forward to go to Kota Bharu next year and experience the wedding Kelantan style!

Our future sis-in-law

us with newly-engaged couple (note how tall is the younger brother?)

The Reza's family of 5 boys, mak and spouses

of weddings and baju kurungs

Oh wow, it's exactly a month since I last updated my blog, this is insane!
Well, I'm just too lazy to get my fat ass upstairs, and rather glued to the tv all day to be exact.
But now even lying down for few minutes causing me backache and leg cramps!
Is that a sign for me to get myself busy? Haha.
Sign or not, I'll just do whatever I feel like doing. hehe

Good news, hematoma is completely gone (what a relief),alhamdulillah :) baby is growing accordingly and healthily.
I'm trying not to eat so much to avoid ballooning like my previous pregnancy, stick to the healthy food, vitamins and milk!


I got my brother-in-law's engagement this weekend and already bought a nice traditional kerongsang for the kebaya(which I can still fit it but to my horror, I can't even do the zippers! There goes my RM55!

So what should I do now,less than 4 days, I desperately need a new sarong.
Dear just laughed at me silly,
'Cannot fit in already?'
You're not helping at all my dear.

Now I got Ajeep's wedding at the end of the month and more than 5 kain to send to tailor.
What's the most flattering design for a very pregnant mommy (by then, Erie's wedding in August)

Ok, I'm not gonna blab, off to bed now. Hope that I'll find solutions soon!

Back from hols!

Sorry peeps, forgot to tell y'all that we were in Phuket (Patong to be exact) from 10th to 15th April.

Still on holiday mode, Aresha couldn't get enough of the beach (not to mention her 'someone' push her in the water incident, seram!)

We all came back with a 'nice' tan,haha!

Aresha is the most tanned of all, looks more like a real island girl.

Funnily enough I didn't get anything for myself, Phuket is just too expensive compared to Bangkok (:P)
If you count my one-piece Triumph swimsuit that I got for THB 399 (which is a steal and I got it on my last day in Patong, damn!)
That's the only thing tht I got for miself.

Aresha came back with 2 dresses, Hello Kitty belt and Princess nightie (which we hated, but she is a princess, she always get what she wants)

It was too short for dear as he arrived a day later and rode home a day earlier. No fun without him :(

I actually felt empty and lonely when he left on the 14th morning. I think I shed some tears, missing him terribly.
Err forgive my sentimentalness here ;) I'm a hopeless romantic, did I tell you tht?
We exchanged texts (thank God for 12Call prepaid) saying how much we miss each other.

I finally drag myself out to Jungceylon, for retail therapy and daily dose of Green Spot Lime.

37 back in business!

Last Sunday our kitchen is back in business.
Went to JJ to buy all the ingredients and voila! that very night we had homemade fries and jumbo hot dog for dinner.

Yeay!

And I haven't stopped cooking ever since, breakfast , lunch, dinner.

Healthy, home cook for my loved ones :)

We had stuffed omelette for breakfast.
Chicken fajitas w/ warm tortilla complete with tomato salsa - Monday
Fish and chips - Tuesday
Spaghetti bolognese w/caesar's salad - tonite

We have to make do of this menu since I get heartburn easily from spices.
Aresha couldn't get enough of mommy's spaghetti (she call it 'fata') made me smile from ear to ear.

Of course, my dearest is the happiest person on earth and he wouldn't mind doing the dishes, yippee!

Alamak, we're out of flour to make pizza, what's for dinner tomorrow?

p/s: No pics at the moment, not that I didn't take any, as of now I'm online only when dear's home, why?
My harddisk went kaput!

"V" for Vambutan

Aresha has strange pelatness she'd pronounce words started with R with V.

Vambutan = Rambutan
Vabina = Ribena

Where did she get that I don't know and even though I tried to correct her everytime, she refuse to follow.

Poor Aresha , mommy is so cranky these days that I can't tolerate her being disobedient to me, Aiyoh! I feel guilty everytime I scolded her. She'd quickly say sorry( which melts my heart) and the past few days (or maybe I just realize this) she'd say
"Aresha sayang mommy" countless times (followed with a huge hug)

She's very loving and becoming very manja with her daddy.
Whenever daddy's home she'll sit on his lap and watch tv , 80's rock videos (her favorite, KISS), pandai beli jiwa!

Last night after dinner, she said
'let's lepak, Aresha nak tgk cinta (=cerita, over-generalizing movies and footie match) Adebayor'
Mentioning the only player she knew. Hehe
She knows what daddy loves, and enjoy even watching footie with him :)

Last few hours, while having dinner, she purposely said she wants to poo poo and wee wee because she's tired and wants to sleep. I had to quickly finish my meal, only to find out that she tricked us this time.
Btw, she sleeps early now, alhamdulillah :)

I'm doing okay now, still resting whenever I could though so much chores piling up now, and almost sick of eating out.
Told dear, give it another one or two weeks, tak boleh tahan eating out.
He quickly replied" Can't wait!" Cheh!

Emm craving for fajitas, plan to shop for items needed to make 'em this weekend. Saw Martha made easy guacamole this morning, yumm!

Bun in the oven

I was on bed rest the last few weeks.
Nauseous, fatigue and it's been almost a month that our dapur tak berasap(read I didn't cook at all)

I guess most of my closest friends and family already knew that I am pregnant.
As Dr B said 9 weeks 5 days (yes we switch from Dr A to Dr B)

This pregnancy is DIFFERENT.
with Aresha my morning sickness is only 2 weeks but this baby, don't even let me go to the kitchen even the smell of fried eggs would make me nauseous.

Dear has to put up with me, he has to cook his own breakfast and we now eat out almost every single day.

Last Monday nite, 9pm I bleed and we all went panic.
Out of the blue I felt like having my period again, which is impossible, right?

Too late to go to the gynae, we decided to wait till tomorrow.
I texted Ain, she replied early in the morning.

It is called threatened miscarriege.

We had the ultrasound scan and to be honest we already prepared for the worst.
Maybe not our rezeki this time.

I'm having subchorionic hematoma, bleeding at some part of the placenta.

You can see it from the scan, there's a huge hole in my placenta.

Alhamdulillah the fetus is growing healthily and we can hear the heartbeat.
What a relief! Even Aresha saw her sibling as she called it sleeping baby.

I was given a hormone and it's funny to see Aresha's reaction when the doctor put the needle in my arms. She seems so furious like 'what the hell is he doing to my mommy?'

And I'm now on duphaston for few weeks and scheduled for another checkup in 2 weeks time.

We just hope that we can get through the whole pregnancy without any complication.

I was told to have plenty of rest.

So, there goes my first entry on the second pregnancy.

I'm off to rest now, talk to y'all soon!

Off to grandma's

Aresha and I will be spending the night at my mom's and the next day we're off to Segamat to visit my grandma(papa's side)
It's been a while, I remember eating her specialty, for breakfastputu piring, fluffy , tasty and yellow unlike KL ones :P
Sadly she didn't make it anymore (use to sell though)Sometimes the old methods are the best. She tumbuk her own flour mixture, hard work and she just don't have the energy for that anymore :(

But I've already learnt to make her other specialty kuih bakar kemboja, yumm!

I'm old school, lol!

Alternative nation?

It's interesting tht living in this area made us unofficially subscribed to the alternative party campaign bulletin. 8 full pages of thought-provoking, somehow to good to be true(propagandha?)
I like their ideas anyway

What the ALTERNATIVE would do for the ppl (I can only speak for Selangor but no doubt the flyer would be applicable to all over Malaysia, Peninsular at least)

Health (this is the best part of the manifesto)

- 90 days of maternity leave
- 14 days paternity leave (this is heaven!)
- 30 days leave for wives who recently lost their husband
- free medical for 65 years and above


More to come! But if they could realize the 4 above I would vote for them, no hesitation at all.

Don't be like NATO, you get wht I mean right?

Little miss particular

Had a really busy weekend.

Dear has cravings for mak's mee kari (the best ever!) we spent the whole Saturday @ Cochrane.
Was tres delicioux I ate two bowls, plus countless servings of bubur jagung and spring rolls, yum!

Dear had a luncheon at Mandarin Oriental with his creative team celebrating Ogilvy1, number 6 in world rank!

It's unusual for us to wake up early on Sunday morning, while dear's having a feast at their buffet, Aresha and I had chicken rice at the foodcourt, lol!


Walk around with her, spent almost an hour @ Kinokuniya reading Dora adventures and Blues Clues and searching for toddlers toilet (It's KLCC dammit, most of them are out of service, can u believe that?)

She has a thing for potty and the miniature toilet, and recently we realized tht she is meticulous ala daddy dearest :) as in arranging her shoes facing forward, which tee goes with which pants/skirt etc

Such a daddy's girl eyy?

All grown up

Mama and papa came to send my ol' powerbook and took Aresha with them :(

Well, actually she wants to follow them home which is really strange.
She smiled all the way and didn't even hesitate on her decision.

She is a BIG girl.

How can I underestimate her all this while?

She's capable of making up her mind (especially in the wardrobe area)

Now I'm left alone, staring at the ceiling.

Baby talk

You know it's crucial to have a second child when your toddler is talking to her toys as if they're her friends!

Aresha did just that and I can't help to laugh but pity her at the same time.
Why does it took us so long to have another one?
So many reason which is so irrelevant now.

To start over is one thing but I always love pregnancy and baby smell.

Aresha has grown out of tht smell and we miss it so very much!

Those cute little shoes and onesies.

Ahhhh, can't wait for my baby bump to show up, lol! (not tht I've peed on the stick yet!)

Blissful fourth :)

Anniversary once again!
As usual we stick to Fridays (tho was thinking of going to Tony Roma's , maybe next time) Aresha emptied her 'kids eat for free' plate of chicken fingers in just few minutes.

We had a really big meal, my 3 course meal and succulent steak for dear.
even Aresha had enough of the ice-cream, haha!

Joyful joyful and we're blessed with a wonderful year(s) together.



while waiting for our meal

love you mommy!

she got it from daddy, Skuirt would kill if I post the picture here, lol!

Aresha now loves to make funny face everytime the camera's pointing at her.
I guess she'd beam proudly, "I got it from my daddy!" LOL!

Baby making

After doing research and what not about trying to get a baby boy we finally decided...let's just do whatever we could and leave it to Allah :)

I look through Chinese Calender and found out that January is the month to conceive a baby boy and my birth year (according to Chinese zodiac)coincide with the calculation :) Not that I believe it 100% but at least it gives us a good feeling, hehe.


So we've tried and my most fertile dates are only 2 days left. It's so much stressful when you really want a baby rather than doing it without any expectation like 4 years earlier, lol!

Aresha has begin to understand the idea of having a sibling. She wants to hold the baby and sleeps with him/her. We watched'In the Womb' on National Geographic last Sunday and she gets so excited seeing a newborn baby :) That's a good start.

I know it wasn't easy being the eldest. I remember (tho I was only 2 1/2) being so jealous of my cute baby brother when suddenly the attention goes to him and ppl commenting on how adorable he was. I hit his head once when no one's looking, lol! Evil sister!

It is important to introduce Aresha to her soon-to-be sibling as early as the baby bump starts showing and remember to let her touch the baby (and not get too paranoid) anyway she likes so that she won't feel left out or even worse less special than the baby.

Here's hoping to hear baby cries and laughter by the end of this year :)
And start digging out all the bottles, sterilizer and old infant clothes, ha!

the unintended playdate with Aiman

Sunday has become flea market day for us the past few weeks. We always lepak at Amcorp Mall, the military stall owned by Che Mat & Kak Nori.

Aiman rarely come with his atuk and nanny but today, he was there.. with his mom, too bad he's already sleeping under the table.

When he woke up, these two best friends clicked instantly! They shared toys together (which is rare for kids their age) and smiled sheepishly (malu-malu kucingla konon)
but as soon as they saw my camera, they posed, giving me the best shot!

I love the last pic.Imagine when they grow up, they'd be so ashamed to admit they were friends back when they were toddlers. But mommy got evidence!

Before saying byebyes, these two hugged each other, awww so sweet! Looking forward to see Aiman again, right Aresha? ;)

First, 10 years

Today marked 10 years we first met :)
Time flies when you're having so much fun right?

And in few days, we'll be celebrating our 4th anniversary.

So much has changed but we're still going strong as ever.

Here's to wonderful years ahead!