life. undressed

Nineteen Going On Twenty (Four)!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

Frappy is just doing (and saying) too many new things that I have (to try my best) to jot them down here. She is nineteen months old now and is every bit a sweet pea!

Frappy says:
Kap – duck

Bop – frog

Mamiii - mom

Papa - dad

Popo – grandma
G’ng g’ng – grandpa (it’s this really weird but funny nasal sound she makes)
Diu diu – her uncle my brother
Jie jie – generally that’s how she’d address girls
Kaka – kakak
Kar – car
Ball – ball
Hai – hi/hello
Babai – bye bye
Xie xie – mandarin for thank you.
Vou vou – dog (used to call them dogs, but picked up the baby language – wou wou – for dog from somewhere and is stuck now. But instead of the common -w- sound, Frappy does it the mat salleh way – vou vou. Zzz.)
Nen nen – banana (can you believe it?! -.-)
Ees – please

Frappy does:
When getting ready to shower, she’d pick up and place the stool and her shower gel on the floor, before squatting down on her own and make the shhh sound (if that’s not obvious for you then I erm, let’s just forget it lah) and brush her own teeth with the toothbrush.

When eating (meals or snacks), she’d clasps her hands, bows her head, and sometimes shuts her eyes to say grace. These days, she’s picked up the habit of holding out her arms to hold the persons on both her sides’ hands when saying grace. It’s pretty darn cute when she seems so serious about it. Oh and when we are praying, she’d also bow and nod her head in agreement. Haha!

She enjoys waving hellos and goodbyes to everyone (known or unknown); while doing that she’d say haiii enthusiastically, and babaiii forlornly. Going to the hospital or strolling in our neighbourhood feels like doctor’s rounds for us (she being the doctor), given the way she greets and chats with everyone in sight. And she does it with utmost empathy for that matter. Like, seriously.

Whenever she picks up something with handles (bags, baskets, etc), she’d start dragging it in her arm towards the door while turning back intermittently to say babaiiii.

According to Jason, on a few occasions when he plays ball with her, she was able to catch the ball accurately.

When Oli sleeps, Frappy would ask us (by making the sound) to shhhh, and placing a finger in front of her lips.

She still loves dancing! You should see how she’d drop everything she’s doing when she hears a catchy tune and just stands up and dance! Upbeat, vigorous moves for rap, girly twirls for slower beats. It really taught me to just live in the moment.

Taught her how to do ballet twirls (with both hands above the head!) and she loves it! She'd twirl for ages, and I regret for teaching her because I need to keep humming that whatsitsname classical piece and it gets boring.

She still nods as a sign of thank you, but she’d say xie xie. I guess it’s easier to pronounce.

She’s learned her body parts! She can point to her fingers, toes, mouth, eyes, cheeks, forehead, chin, ears, nose, and tummy.

Sometimes I suspect she can understand complex sentences, just like an adult. When I ask her to “step on mommy’s feet” (to move and dance), immediately she would do so although that was the first time I gave such instruction. Or when I ask her to go pick something that she wants to wear after shower, she would go straight to her drawer and pull out something.

When asked if she wants milk, she’d go running looking for her bottle and bring it to me, flash me the biggest smile, nod her head, and scoot over to lie down on the couch and wait for her milk.

Needs to be independant now, by wanting to do everything on her own. Sometimes the power struggle goes on, like, when out, she wants to walk and explore the place on her own, which is dangerous, and when we insist to hold her hand, she'd fight to free herself, and she's unable to do so, she'd sit/squat on the spot refused to budge. So it gets tiring to bring her out. I definitely want to get that toddler leash and harness thing. Don't care lah what people think. Her safety is above all things.

Still loves Barney, and is pretty good in imitating lots of dance moves. The cool thing is, she remembers the sequence of the steps, and would do it even before the move takes place. And due to my divided attention for Oli, she entertains herself with a lot more cartoon time now :( which she enjoys (only certain cartoons like Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Aladdin. But not Snow White HAHA!). She learned how to play with her hair shyly from Mulan! And Bob the Builder does a good job in lulling her to sleep HAHAHA! My fav CD to play when I want her to nap.

Loves talking on the phone like a real aunty. Always requests me to dial for papa, popo, diu diu and goes to a corner to talk. -.-

Oh! She knows how to give shoulder massage AND asks for a massage.

She likes helping out. When she sees me sweeping, she’d go pick a broom; when she sees me hanging out clothes, she’d sit by and help hand me the hangers and pegs, and when I’m done, she’d push the laundry basket all the way back to the kitchen; when I bring in the clothes, she’d stand by the door to help me bring in the clothes (a piece at a time, of course); she’d pick up a random piece of cloth and start wiping the table; cool things like these.

She’s a darn good actress. She’s learned how to be shy by tilting her head just slightly lower to the side and twirl her fingers; how to be angry and acting all stubborn; how to be sad and how to burst out in tears by hanging her head low covering her face with hands, shaking her head dramatically when she’s got a scolding; and the list goes on quite a bit, and most of the time, she doesn’t mean any of them, she’s just acting out, trying her boundaries, because seconds later, she’d burst out laughing and give you the biggest hug.

That’s all I can remember now. Any more you’d fall asleep too, assuming you read this far. Haha. Oklah, check back later kthxbai!

About Oli. And Then Some.

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Few days ago, Oli turned 3 months old. It was bittersweet for me because looking back, not too long ago, Frappy was 3 months old, too! And it was all so new, so sweet, and so exciting for us. I remember how I would carry her in my arms for hours on end and would find all the reasons just so that she could sleep on the bed with me. And now, look at her, a big girl who’d knock on the door gently and calls out to me ever so sweetly to get her after she wakes up from her naps in the room, instead of crying because she wakes up alone.

Well of course not that we are not excited about Oli or that Oli is not as sweet, far from that! It's just things are kinda different the second time around. Jason is busier at work with higher goals and expectations to meet; I get all tired out caring for 2 girls on my own whose age gap is so close and by the feeling of getting trapped with no escape route in the house with housework (and that doesn’t even include house cleaning!) all day long, I mean, what about my dreams? My plans? My career? And to think it’s gonna be like this for the next 20 years. Dear Lord, it’s just, exhausting, really.

Sometimes, I feel terribly guilty secretly, that I haven’t love Oli enough, that I haven’t spent enough time with her doing nothing, just basking in each other’s presence, that I don’t breastfeed her as much as I did with Frappy, that I hardly sleep with her on the bed, that I don’t take a million pictures of her every day, that I’m not as tender loving as I did with the firstborn simply because I don’t have the luxury of time to take things slowly, that I feel so stressed out at times and thus, she doesn’t get a 100% of her mama in the most patient ways, that sometimes I wish and hope my mom would take her and the sister away from me so that I can sit down and breathe for awhile. And I don’t dare voicing these sentiments out loud. For fear of what, I don’t know; being judged for such a horrible mother? Being look down upon? Feeling guiltier if the response was neutral instead of full-on supportive? Yeah, maybe. I mean, mothers the world over is doing this every day, so why do I have to be such a big baby about it, right?

But of course, I know full well that these are the ups and downs of life. I suppose it’s the same in most other situations each individual is in; it’s just something one goes through every day in different settings. So yeah, I complain, but I’m not all depressed and dying don’t worry (although Jason would beg to differ!) haha. I have meant to write about Oli’s growth progress in this post, but somehow side tracked and here we are. Ah well.

For the record, Oli is a total sweetheart (when it’s not her sleeping time, to which she’d become this ~~crying~~ screaming monster -_-). In fact, I’ve never met any other babies who are as responsive as Oli at this tender age. Right from the first month, she’s been gurgling when talked to, smile even! And then by second month, she’d demand to be carried/sit upright. When you put her down and hold her like you would a newborn in your arms, she’d pushed her head up with all her might. I suspect her eyesight is pretty focused too, because she’s never go cross-eyed, and can respond with an excited chuckle even if I was calling out to her from quite a distance away. And at the age of 2 months old, she’s gotten way chattier than when she was in her first month.

Now at 3 months old, she’s practically a smiling machine! Every time one of us turns to her, she’d flash us a sunny smile, and that just makes everything OK again. And she’d gurgle, and babble, and gibber all day through, be it on her own or when talked to. She gets cranky when left alone too long. When she's on her tummy, she can stick her head up like bobble head dog haha!

She now drinks 4oz of milk every 3 hours plus minus; goes to bed by 7pm, wakes up for a feed around 12am, and then sleeps through till about 6/7am. With Frappy, we never used a pacifier, but now Oli does. Some say it's a bad habit to start, some say it's good. I'm not sure, but I guess in different situations bad things can be helpful and vice versa; and in this sense, it helps me in putting her to sleep rather effortlessly, without having to lie down with her and pat her forever. So yes, for the convenience of the mother, Oli is started on a pacifier.

Just the other day – the first day after she turned 3 months old – I was pleasantly shocked to hear her laughed! A hearty, vigorous laugh that lasted a few seconds each time, and that’s because I tickled her lightly on the cheeks! I was taken aback because firstly, I thought it was Frappy and Frappy wasn’t in the room with us then, so I was like, who the heck just laughed like Frappy?! Come out right now!!! Zzz. I know. And secondly, I never knew young babies can respond to such stimulus and wouah, laugh! OK, maybe I was just plain ignorant and actually all babies do laugh like that, but hey, nobody told me! I actually caught the laughing act on camera and it amazes me endlessly every time I watch it.

Last time, with just one baby, Frappy went to bed according to our schedules – she got to go out with us everywhere – as a result, she’s very accustomed to noisy environment and would sleep through most everywhere. In came Oli and this practice goes down the drain because going out with two babies is more tiring than fun for us parents, one because Frappy is at this toddler age where you need to constantly keep an eye on her, and she's so friendly?! What if she follows some indon lady and never come back? T__T plus Oli is fussier with her sleeping and milk time, everything has to be on the dot. So end up, I began to need the comfort of being at home and I shy away from outings. Going out makes me jittery, for I don’t know when Frappy will misbehave (and I can’t calm her by letting her watch her Barney videos in the safe confinement of her cot), and I don’t know when Oli will start screaming (because she’s overtired and by then, there’s just no way you can calm her down without you breaking down in the public). I begin to need familiar routines.

So there, who says being a second time parent is a piece of cake? Haha! OK, so at least not for me. The only cake-like experience is I don’t get too paranoid as compared to the first baby, i.e oh dear she’s gonna die because she’s not finishing her milk 2 times in a row! Oh no, she’s gonna grow worms in her tummy because I only rinse her bottles with just hot water during night feeds instead of sterilizing it in the sterilizer! I think I better go check on her again (for the 104th time in 5 minutes), what if she gets this SID or the bed sheet mysteriously wraps her up and choke her to death?! You know, stuff like that.

Alright, so all these aside – my stress level, the endless housework, the getting trapped at home the whole day everyday – I am, no doubt, honestly, extremely thankful for a newborn as cheerful as Oli, and a toddler as friendly and loving as Frappy. Really. I won’t say it’s all worth it, because that’s not how I’m feeling right now and it’s cliché, but it is something I will continue doing, to nurture and raise these 2 girls as best as I can simply because I love them, instead of say, send them to babysitters so that I can go out and bring in my share of dough; and I know, it’s a responsibility God has bestowed upon me and that He’s grace will definitely see me through this season of life.

Haha. So much for a report on Oli’s growth progress! But yeah, at 3 months old, how much do you expect a baby to be able to do? Anyway I can’t wait for her to grow a little older so that I’ll have more things to brag about in this space :D Until then, here we go with the bottle washing again! :)

Last Night

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:27:00 +0000

Pizzas, movies, sleeping babies. Just can't ask for more. /heart/

The Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:54:00 +0000

You know the terrible twos? I think it’s hitting me already. Maybe it’s the teething, maybe it’s the frustration of unable to express herself and getting what she wants, Frappy wants me to be where she wants me to be, doing what she wants me to do, like, NAO! MOM! NAO! DROP EVERYTHING (living, i.e baby Oli or dead) AND COME TO ME NAO! Walao, srsly. Zzz.

Most days, by 3pm, we’d both be worn out by each other and ready to call it a day, but the problem is, it’s only three pee em! Bedtime’s still a long way to go. T_T Being the drama queen that she is, sometime’s when she doesn’t get what she wants (after all the sweet mommeees and pleaseeees), she’d squat down, cover her face (peeping from between her chubby fingers), and fake cry. And when she sees that I’m not responding, she’d come over to me, tap my knee, go back to her original spot, cover face, and start fake crying again. -___-‘

I don’t know to cry or to laugh. Usually I’d do both. I do impress myself so. Ha!

My drama princess #1 (let's not even start on the #2)

When Nose Pump Is Out Of Reach

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:44:00 +0000

Frappy caught a cold and though she is not too fussy and still cheerful, the runny nose does bother her especially when she sleeps. And being the awesome mother that I am, I always, always forget to buy a baby nose pump for times like this /stabself

Maybe it’s the maternal erm, creativity (? Haha!) that was triggered by the sight of a suffering child who couldn’t sleep and breathe and lie down, my head just went LIGHT BULB a la Gru and I dug out this baby:

Plastic Syringe

And it works just as well (but OBVIOUSLY please be careful when you poke that thing into your baby’s nose, because the head is so slim, unlike a nose pump's which is specially designed for the shape of a baby’s nose, like, you don't know it already. Don't go and cucuk and hurt an already suffering child and come blame me ok T_T)!

Now, really, nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing glob and globs of mucous being sucked out. /happymamamode. Oh wait, /undohappymamamode, cause I just remembered how Oli is at risk to the virus, being a baby and all, and so exposed to Frappy! T___T Story of my life. T___T

Moments Like This Are Rare. Like, Srsly Rare.

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Both Jason and I had a sudden case of food poisoning for no good reason over the long holiday weekend, but that didn’t damper MY plan for some almost-me time! Was planning to send the girls away on Sunday night, but had to do so earlier due to our, erm, condition and didn't want to jangkit them (and apparently we parents weren’t missed one bit by them girls during our absence T_T then again, maybe it's a good thing. Haha).

Anyway, in view of my super lazy bug attack (as usual), here’s a photo blog post to capture my awesome weekend (minus the toilet-runs and the crazy beeyotch of an ulcer because Frappy accidentally head- and knee-butted me, twice! On the upper lip! At the same spot! GRR).

My first visit to a board game café! Played a ditzy game called Cloud 9 with some crazy people and won the game, too!

With super good cards! Got 2 wilds 2 times! Take that!

Had McD's and chatted rubbish with the crazy people till the wee hours, which was especially refreshing cause you get to laugh at lame jokes and gorge junk food without a care of diaper-changing time and go home late!

The next day, splurged on lunch at

And finally got my wardrobe some polka dots and a splash of orange!

Had meant to grab some coffee and quiet time to read or something, but someone’s missing the girls way too much to allow me the luxury so, off we went back to reality of being ~~slaves~~ parents.

I hope your weekend was as good if not better! Here’s to the next delicious me time (and I'm telling you I can’t wait already)!

Deep Breath And Here We Go Again

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:07:00 +0000

Here’s to a new chapter of never ending diapers, milk bottles, screaming, crying, and of course, love, laughter, and God’s grace – as we welcome little Olivia Halle Jason into the world.

Thank you all for your concerns, prayers, and unceasing support throughout these past crazy 9 months! It has been one heck of a ride, fuh! :)

Frap-Less For A Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:43:00 +0000

Was to due on the 31st! Alas, an EDD is just what it is, an EDD. There's no sign of the little one yet! Disappointed? A little, but no one will be pregnant forever, I'm definitely positive she will arrive soon, like duh.

On a different note, on the 30th we chucked Frappy with the lovely Catherine and Diana for a day, while Jason and I dashed off to One U like two overly excited kids! It was such a liberating feeling, haha! We walked and shopped 5 hours straight. Plus, we didn't need to swallow our food, I mean, we get to chew every grain of rice AND actually sit down for coffee! Oh the bliss!

And looks like we were not the only one enjoying the freedom. A few calls and smses exchanges told us that Frappy too, was having the time of her life without two crazy parents hawkeyeing over her. She went to the park, she had her tea time, she got to chat with Daisy the Labrador forever, she was carried around being pampered like a princess, and she got to have a bottle of milk right after she had her dinner, not something she gets everyday!

All those running and walking and shopping did us all good individually that day, because we all slept through. Well, at least I did! (Frappy didn't stir one bit till 10 the next morning! Hee!)

Of Ayam Kurma, Nutella, & Cinnamon!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:48:00 +0000

Been acting very erm… motherly, lately! Cooking and baking and ironing clothes! I do amaze myself sometimes. Must be the pregger hormones!

What I’ve been up to in the kitchen recently:

Chicken & Lots-O-Root-Veges Kurma

You can't really see the chicken because this is leftover from dinner! OK, it might not look very appetizing (I like stewy, one-pot-cooks-all stuff like that), but man I tell you! This is da bomb! Here, I just had the leftover with toasted sunflower seeds bread for lunch. YUM!

No Bake Nutella Cookies

OK, visually superbly unpresentable. But the recipe says "drop it quickly on the wax paper" So I got very kancheong and antsy when it came to that step, and anyhowly just drop every blob abruptly and very quickly. erm, so maybe the measurements are not right either, because I didn't use proper measuring equipments? So they didn't set very well. They sat out on the table the whole day and were still gooey, in the end I had to freeze them in the freezer. Brought them to home-life, and everyone very give-face-ly had one. But it's really not that bad lah. Erm alright, I rest my case. -.-

No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls

I woke up wanting to eat these stuff so much, I had to google the simplest recipe, and bugged my sister to bake it with me at night. I was so gungho about it that I drove all the way to my mom's place at night to get these done. Since it was our first time making these, it obviously didn't turn out very well, too sweet and dough-y for our liking - we overdid on the sugar and cinnamon and rolled the dough too thin. But, hey! It feeds the craving! :)

Elephant Is Me

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:00:00 +0000

I have lost count on which week I am in now! All I know is that I am suppose to due on the 31st this month, so I am counting days. Every now and then I can feel this sudden tightness or punch on my lower abdomen and it’s so uncomfortable. Zzz. Just yesterday I was starving while preparing lunch, and just as I was laying out the food and cutleries, getting ready to dig in, I felt a sudden stop-you-mid-track punch and I thought, O__O oh God, not now! Not when just my food’s ready. I want to eat!!! I need to eeeeattttt!!! T___T And then it went away =)

Sleep is difficult too, especially at night. Most nights I would dilly-dally till 3am, and still! I kept waking up every 15 minutes and it’s annoying, and by 7am Frappy’s up! Urgh, end this thing already T____T

On a different note /radom/ look what I found laying on the couch this morning when I took my eyes off of Frappy for a sec:

Frappy's *ahem* perspective

When I saw it I was mighty impressed, I mean, look! The cubes were neatly laid out in one straight line (ber-perspective somemore ok!)! *tearsofjoy* Now, let me give you a bit of background: Frappy is never interested with her toys, toys for her age. She prefers remote controls, handphones, clothe pegs, hangers, CDs, pens, books, anything and everything that a toddler is not supposed to be playing with.

And tried as I have, to play and teach her the concept of inserting the cubes into the shape sorter toy, she did it once twice, and then guess what she did after - remove the cover, put all the cubes into the tray, and cover the sorter back, and give me the widest, proudest ma-I-did-it smile. -_____- I'm not sure if I should cry or praise her. Anyone?

Anyway. Yeah. We’ll see, if some fanciful, bombastic talents entail out of this! Haha! /ambitiousmamamode

OK, off to the hospital for another checkup I go now (and endless waiting! Zzz).

Nineth July

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:08:00 +0000

Really, there's nothing else to say. You know I know what's going on in this country. We've been too blinded and ignorant in the past - sure, for the lack of technologies. But now with all the information and education we received, if we continue to adopt the close-one-eye attitude, then that's downright irresponsible, and we have no right to complain, not even when you get stuck in the traffic and you want to complain about the transport system. Absolutely no right.

So now that you know I know what to do, we'll take on them giants, however impossible they are, with the Might of God, and see them at the ballot box.

Kaki Clubbing

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 08:37:00 +0000

We are finally home after being away for 5 days in Penang and Ipoh! Nothing beats home, no matter how dirty and dusty it is! Heh!

So anyway one night after dinner during our stay in Penang, we went for a little walk in the hotel’s lobby (did I mention already? Frappy can now walk a little distance without being held! And boy has she found her freedom. Zzz. But she still can’t stand up on her own haha!) and we were all drawn in by the hotel’s lounge live band... uh, does one singer + one keyboardist combo consider a “band”? Anyways! Frappy was particularly attracted to all the singing and music going on in there, so we decided to just go in and chill.

And it was here, that both Jason and I look forward to when Frappy is old enough and we can all go clubbing together one day. I mean, she was going nuts over the music! Jigging, shaking her booty, throwing her hands in the air, shaking her head, messing her hair, clapping, dancing with the waiter, and getting on stage for special appearances! -_-

At first I was going all stingy to go in and order drinks, because it was so expensive! Not to mention we were so full from dinner. But at the end of the little visit to the lounge, I kinda felt good. I realized sometimes money really can’t buy you the special moments and experience. And I’ve bought mine with RM12 only mah huhu (that's the price of a slim glass of orange juice =_=).

Kaputed after some hardcore night out clubbing.

Spirally Pasta In Béchamel Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 08:01:00 +0000

So I got tired of making porridge everyday for the Frap, so I came up with something really simple, but equally boring for her! Haha!

Spirally Pasta In Béchamel Sauce

I thought it looked pretty ok, except a bit bland, which it was la to be honest, but I am very proud of my effort ok! Recipe for the, ahem, Béchamel Sauce (which really, is actually just plain white sauce!):

Ingredients:
Butter
Plain flour
Milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter and stir in the plain flour for about a minute, until the mixture turns golden. Then remove from heat and stir in the milk until smooth. After that, return to the heat and continue stirring until the mixture boils and thickens. Season as required.

Voilà! C’ést tout! Béchamel Sauce, how glam!

A Hungry Tummy Is A Random Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:50:00 +0000

I was working on some (never ending!!! Urgh!) translations and got really hungry. And since I was on a mission to clear out my fridge, hence, this weird combo came out of the kitchen…

Kolo Noodle With Mushrooms & Luncheon Meat

... right into the growling tummy.

The Obligatory Growth Progress Report!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Today I’m going to write about the growth progress of my little Frappy. Well, I’ll TRY to write about it, seeing how it is a practice of all mother bloggers. Anyway it serves as a good reminder too, because looking back, I can’t remember a thing about my first pregnancy since Frappy’s arrival and I have nothing to refer back to now that I’m pregger again. Simply brilliant. Not. So here goes.

(Not for the faint hearted as even myself find this post pretty looonggg… haha)

Frappy is now 13 months old, a very cheeky 13 month-old at that. I have no idea where she learned all those cheeky little quirks from but sometimes it’s scaring me how fast she is growing. It’s as if she’s already a big little girl! (Don’t all mothers say that?)

That femes kapchai aka bieber hair. And cheeky face

For example, when I found her biscuit/bread thrown on the floor, I’d glared at her and she would tilt her head to one side, shrug her shoulder, give me that puppy eye look, and a cheeky smile!

Or when she throws something angrily on the floor, I’d give her little palm a spank and a stern “No!”. She would hang her head low, tilting it slightly, play with her hands and fingers, and softly hum to herself, trying to play oblivious. Then, to test the water, she’d slowly lift up her head to look at me, and then flash the biggest smile she can summon hoping all’s well. But when I don’t react positively, she’d lean close, stretch out both her arms, hands holding my shoulder, and kiss me on the lips. confirmcandie.com -__-

Or when she’s angry for some reason, she’d scrunch up her face and give you the palm gesture, you know, the… what la you how can liddat –gesture.

There are also times we both would lie down on the bed, and just simply chilling, baby-talking and singing together, then at the end of the silly singing, we’d look at each other and laugh. And it’s really a priceless feeling.

Since the time she was able to pull herself up to sitting position, Frappy has always loved jigging. She would dance and sway to any sound/noise just as long as there’s a beat. And it’s awesome to watch her boogie her tubby little belly and limbs away. Sometimes if she gets so high on dancing, she’d lift up both her plumpy arms and wave them in the air while sitting cross legged.

And she knows her beats well. Slow songs get gentle side-to-side sways. Fast songs get clubbing/free-style moves. Hip hop songs get head bops and hands-in-the-air moves. And worship songs get hand-lifts. There was once we were at an Indian wedding and the traditional percussion band was at it, Frappy was quietly sitting on the father’s lap while gently groove into the beat with the Indian dance side-to-side head swing a la Stevie Wonder.

As much as she likes to jig, she can’t walk yet. She took a tiny baby step last night, going back and forth between me and my sis, but she’s still at the very beginning stage – you know the pull herself up and walk while holding on to things stage. She’s trying to let go her hands and stand on her own a lot more these days though. But she is super fast on her crawls. And she would pull down everything she can lay her hands on. It’s as if tornadoes have pass through wherever she goes.

Recently she’s learned the wonders of screaming, say, to get the attention of a random little girl she saw on the streets/mall/anywhere! She just loves little children and she’d get so excited seeing them, she’d scream for their attention. But, the problem is, she’s not very good at containing her excitement, because she’d start pulling their hair and slapping them so hard, I swear their mothers are this close in slapping me in return T_T. However, she’s somewhat better now, much gentler, shall I say. She’d reach out her hands in excitement, and just as you thought she’d go all rough again, you’d see her slowing down, and gently run her palms down the random little girl’s cheek, then she’d turn and look at me with the proudest smile on her face /melt. And now that she knows she’s break the ice, she’d lean forward for a kiss, a forehead bump, and a nose rub. Then repeat the routine 5678 times. Or until the random little girl leaves. Whichever comes first. It’s quite tiring, really, for me, the mother, to watch and applaud along, 5678 times.

She’s beginning to “talk” from age 7/8 months on, by making sounds like, mama, papa, be, de (for dog), te (for water), -is (for fish), da (for duck, I think! Or dog?), mum-mum (for food, which is her favouritestestest word), kom (for come), and a whole range of random combo of syllables. .

Glorious food! Biskut pun jadilah!

And speaking of mum-mum, what can I say other than, oh she feeds well. Like, reallllly well. Since young, I have no problem in getting her to eat. She just loves it! As long as we are eating, be sure she must have her food too. Currently, she has 2-3 bottles of milk (6-7oz each), and 2 solids (porridge/vege purees/cereal), and snacks in between (bread, biscuits, bit of rice and noodles, fruits).

She’s been fed all kinds of junk food too (Mentos! Assam! Sweet cakes! /omg paranoid!) during the 4-day church camp recently (and ice creams before this!). My fingers’ all crossed she won’t grow up looking for all these things and that her teeth are still in good condition! ~_~

Ah and speaking of teeth, she has 4 on top, and 4 at the bottom! And she would pick up my finger at random times and bite into it T_____T trust me, it’s really not cute.

She doesn’t like crowds. When people are crowding around her she gets agitated and generally, not a sweet baby to be around with. That said, if she’s in a relaxed environment, no one crowding her, she would turn into this super friendly baby, so friendly, it’s scary. She’d wave at everyone, call out and smile to random strangers, and throw herself to whichever willing arms to carry and cuddle her. But generally she’d avoid uncles.
Other quirks, habits, motor skills:

She does this =O face whenever the dog barks or the alarm goes off or someone sneezes (or farts! Hahahha!) or when she throws something on purpose.

Say whaaa?

She still takes 2 naps a day if not more, and usually 2 hours per nap.

When we say grace at meal times and close with Amen, she would nod hard in agreement and clap hands in glee (because she could finally eat!).

She’s vaguely able to associate clasping her hands together when praying. And she’d keep blinking her eyes in lieu of close-eyes-bow-head.

Every time she does something, say got down from the bed by herself without falling down, obeyed an order, burped, or just whenever you go like wahhhhh at her, she would clap her hands proudly (and expects you to clap along.)

She can climb the stairs, all the way up with no mishap, but coming down is a bit of a problem as she’s found a whole new world on the 1st floor and keep getting distracted.

She can wave hello and goodbye, throw flying kiss, kiss when saying her goodbyes, salam (a peck on the other person’s hand), high five, shake hand, and hug.

She’s learned to cover her mouth when coughing and yawning.

She loves throwing objects.

Understands Yes and No; and would agree along with a nod or a shake.

She can understand simple instructions like “pick it up and put it on the table”.

Enjoys flipping through books.

Sleeps very well throughout the night despite having her nap times throughout the day. (Hallelujah!)

She’s quite stubborn, persistent, knows how to use her temper (and voice and tears and face-in-palm tactics!!!), a total drama queen. She’s also very expressive.

Yet a sweetheart when it comes to bumps and cuts – she won’t cry the roof down if she suffers a fall or a knock on the head. If it really hurts, she’d cry like anyone would, but as long as you pick her up she’s fine and dandy almost immediately.

She’s able to hold her own bottle when drinking milk since 5/6 months old, I think; and also learned to hold her food (biscuits, bread) at about that time.

Before she sleeps or naps, she likes to pull up my shirt, poke the baby bump before planting a kiss or two on it. She’d “sayang” the bump too when asked to. Of course she’d get all carried away and start slapping it. -.-

Recently she’s begin to associate my bump with her tummy. After doing the above routine, she’d pull her shirt up, poke it, and try to kiss her tummy, only to find herself topple over.

Generally she listens to the father more, as in, somehow associates him as the disciplinarian and you don’t mess with him, while she’d bully me, no matter how I raised my voice or pull my face really long, she’d give me that infamous scrunched-face cheeky smile (WTH! Even babies can bully me! Waitaminute, actually pets can also bully me T____T)

Eh I think that’s it for now lah. Been jogging the memory the entire day to come up with this list, it’s sapping all my energy! ZZZ. Time to hit the sack!

The weekend is here! Have a good one people!!! =)

My ray of sunshine

The World Will Be A Better Place

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Thu, 12 May 2011 04:47:00 +0000

... when you learn to love yourself...

Just A Note. Pregger Note.

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Wed, 11 May 2011 06:10:00 +0000

Yeah, yeah, so you think you’ve got pretty good eye sight and spotted some bump somewhere or you heard something somewhere or a little bird flew by and whispered something into your ears…

So yes, I am… preg. nant. Pretty preg. nant. Yeah. Should be 6 months along by now! Wahey! Surprise! Haha! We’re expecting the bub around Aug/Sept. So yeaaah. I’m telling this now because I don’t want you go like, WHAT?! YOU WHAT?!!!! Not that you’re not now but, it’s better now than later, say when you see Jason, Leishia, Frappy, and then one. Hehe.

Really, the reason I didn’t really like, officially announce it, besides the fact that managing my own life and Frappy’s has already taken up all my time (it also doesn’t help that she now hogs my laptop because she wants to watch baby MTVs’ on my lap. Zzz), it’s also because, well, I thought it was quite, you know… like, hmmmmmm. Yeah. But of course it’s always God’s timing and it’s His blessing. So I’ll hang in there and get this whole baby rearing job done and over with, AND THEN! HELLOOOO WORLD! =D

Now shoo, and don’t say I didn’t tell already!

Frappy Turned Uno!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Tue, 10 May 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Every time I blogged, I would start with “how time flies!”; it’s the same this time around and for real, how time really flies! Frappy is now one year old! It was just yesterday at 5.30pm I was wheeled into the surgery room, and I was told that at precisely 6pm on the 7th of May 2010, I was wheeled out, all groggy and drowsy, together with a brand new bundle of joy (still a bundle of joy no less, but now also a bundle of terror and havoc and never-ending-hyperness. Urgh -_-).

So we celebrated the anniversary with a small bunch of family members and friends in KFC! Oh best decision ever made – hassle free, no pre and post cleaning up, and no sweating running around making sure there’s enough food on the table; just be there on time, fellowship, eat, and bid farewell later on! Ah, bliss! I’ve also ordered a birthday cake for Frappy and it’s just so cute!

The night ended pretty nicely, with the 3 of us in bed by 12am, browsing the pictures taken earlier, recollecting what happened at the party, and having a good laugh. T’was a good birthday night. :)

So Long

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 05:38:00 +0000

A month plus after the post on Christmas dinner plans, my beloved grandma passed away. 2 days after my birthday. So obviously, the dinner never happened, because it was around that time she fell ill, hospitalized, got better, discharged, then her condition just suddenly spiraled downwards, she couldn’t eat, couldn’t walk, couldn’t sleep, and then she bade farewell…

It was tough for all of us. Outwardly we say consoling things like oh, it’s for the better, she’s been suffering, now she need not go through all these pain anymore, she’s in heaven, she’s free now blah blah. But deep down, who could ever see your loved ones go?

I kept putting off updating this space, because I just can’t bring myself to write about the loss of my grandma – the person who took care and raised me since I was a wee newborn while my parents worked so hard to make sure there’s food on the table for all of us. She’s the most selfless, dedicated, and hardworking person I’ve ever met. She’d rather go hungry than seeing others without food. That’s her way of loving us – by making sure we get the best food, best shelter, best care. OK except that time when she put butter in her coffee while a chubby me looked on in wide eyed wonder hoping I’d get a taste and then she said “not for you. Too fattening.” /glass shatters/ T_T

Haiks. She’s the one who tucked us in at night and nursed us back to health when we were sick. Tell us stories about her birthplace in Jamaica and the adventure migrating to Malaysia, and how she survived the 日本时代 – the days under Japanese’ ruling – as she’d called it. She’s also the one who’d chase us around the house with a rotan with her booming hakka lady voice threatening to wallop us because we poured talcum powder all over the floor in the guest room and glided around bare footed, thus making a mess, while we hid behind the sofa giggling away seeing her panting for breath. Hah, good old days. The days when she was still strong and healthy and mighty, and loud! She was this… super grandma!

Eh, seriously, I can’t believe it! It’s been more than 3 months now and I still cannot write this without crying myself a river like a fool! T_T

Ah well, she’s gone now. For good. For real. Forever. No tears can ever bring her back.

Ah Nei, I thank God for sending you to me… or, me to you. You have been such a blessing to all of us at home. Our Kelana Inn will never be the same without you there now, but we will learn to move on bravely – just as how you have bravely embraced all the challenges that came your way in your entire life without grumbling and how willingly you dedicated your life to us, giving us the best you can ever summoned. Thank you. I will definitely see you again when my time’s up too, in heaven. For now, rest by Him and bask in His Glory! I love you so much!!!

Your love has brought up 3 generations, and counting! RIP now, Ah Nei.

And It's Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:42:00 +0000

Finally got the tree up – our first ever (and I’m so proud of my effort! Jason K you owe me big time!)! With Frappy’s arrival, we are living more like family people now, what with setting up a Christmas tree and planning for a Christmas meal! Haha!

I’m outlining the menu now. There are so many cool recipes out there and I just wish to try them all! I’m thinking an appetizer of pita with pesto/olive oil and cheese dips; vegetarian minestrone soup (for my parents are vegetarians); baked chicken with root veges; a stew maybe? Oh, and cheddar and chives cupcake! But I’m still short on vegetarian dishes… hmm, a stir fry garlic butter abalone mushrooms? Oh I know! A pesto pasta! That’ll fill an Asian stomach I reckon! Awesome!

On the 23rd and 24th, we’ll be in church for a Christmas Musical Production – a proud in-house effort by all my talented and awesomepossumsupercoolio friends – join us! You won’t regret it ;) Plus, you get to ~~laugh at~~ support Jason because he’ll be acting!

So how are you celebrating your Christmas? A couple of years back, a friend made me a card that says “This Christmas, let us not only remember that ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart’, but also, ‘till it happens in your life’.”

It finally hit me now… Gift-exchanges, lavish feasts, and all the merriment don’t even come close to the real meaning of Christmas. It’s about the greatest Gift of all times – given with complete Love, and paid by Blood. If you receive it with an open heart, this Gift is eternal.

The Gift of Jesus, have you receive Him into your heart today? :)

Halloween Came Late For Me

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:35:00 +0000

My worst nightmare (ok, ONE of my worst nightmares) finally happened on Sunday.

Frappy fell from the bed. And a pretty high bed at that T__T

The thing is, she was sleeping on my parents’ bed when I checked on her, and then 5 minutes later, there was a loud bang, followed by loud wailing. I’m telling you, when you become a parent, you will understand how that feels. That surreal, heart-stops-beating, complete horror, I’m-dying-right-now feeling. Actually, you know what, there’s just no word can ever describe that moment! I just dieded 100 million times. T___T

I fell hard you know! But I'm a brave girl!

My guess is, she woke up because she pooped, and then she attempted her 360 degrees turn, only it wasn’t that successful this time, she only managed 180 degrees, reached the edge of the bed, slipped, and fell, free style. Onto her tummy. In a room permeated with the smell of poo. T___________T

But my Frappy is a strong and mighty baby of God! She just cried very kesianly for a minute or two, and then she started smiling and playing with me as if nothing happened (with tears in her eyes can you imagine that pitiful face?! T___T). But I’m still paranoid!!!!!!!!! What if she sustained a concussion or whatever you call it! I pressed and rubbed every inch of her skin trying to see if there’s any internal injury that will make her cry. No such thing. She’s as happy as happy can ever be. BUT I’M STILL PARANOID!!!!!! T______________T

Oh but there is one difference I noticed. She’s more smiley than before. After the fall, she was smiling whenever anyone smiled to her, it’s as if her smiles are free (it wasn’t before)! Am I paranoid? Yes I think I'm paranoid! Is it wrong to be paranoid? I'm a mother! Mothers should be paranoid right? What if that's an after-fall effect?! It's that good? Or bad? And I'm blabbering to myself now right? Yes you are, Leishia. And you are calling yourself by name. Great. Kill me now please. =___='''

Jason says looks like she needs more falling from now on to get her to smile more. -_- Don’t you just love his post-incident humour when he was the one who went all berserk asking me how I can LET her fall? Zzzz. Yay for dads.

My Pocky Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:56:00 +0000

So good, even babies want 'em!

Butterfly Kisses' Playing On My Radio T_T

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:41:00 +0000

In a bid to eat healthfully and properly, I’ve started to add one or two super ingredients into our food to boost our diet, well as much as I can lah. I must admit I’m totally not a housewife material, one who cleans, scrubs, sweeps, mops, babysits, tidies, AND COOKS EVERYDAY FOR EVERY MEAL. Urgh. I won't go about putting up a front trying to be a supermom cum wife.
But I digressed. -.-

So anyway, seeing how Frappy is growing and how I’ve started her on cereal, we need to set good eating habits and examples for her, not to mention save a ton from eating out. So I’ve make it a point now to visit the market more (bleurgh!) and try preparing healthier food.

Last night I made Sesame Ginger Chicken, which was a little bit of a failure, because the minute Frappy cried, I over fried my ginger. Zzz. Not to toot my own horn, but it was still nice (there's no way you can fail this dish seriously!), albeit the bitter-ish taste. Gotta remake this dish! Humph!

And this afternoon for lunch, I made a Chicken & ~~Avacodo~~ Avocado Sandwich, using Ramly chicken patty (Hehe! I know! Not very healthy to begin with! But I don’t have chicken breasts hokay!), avocado, cheese, and drizzled with chilli sauce! It’s actually quite yum. Haha! The fact that I’ve packed in a super ingredient in my meal makes me feel good about my effort, and that motivates me to do more!

So here’s to simple but yummy meals and a healthier life! :)

I Can Now Has Play!

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:55:00 +0000

Frappy is growing up fast! At 5 months-going-on-6, she no longer likes lying flat on the rocker doing nothing, while watching mommy going about having all the fun. Naturally, she (fake-) cries a lot for attention (srsly the next generation scream queen -_-); wanting to be carried around, played with, or even if it’s just sitting next to her, doing or saying nothing, she’d be happy.

So until we get her a playpen/ mattress-on-the-floor/walker/high chair/whathaveyous, I set this beautiful white crib (a gift from Dewgem! Thanks babe!) up in the living room for her to roam and nap in. And this is what I’ve got:

I is happyz!

Love Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Leishia J) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:42:00 +0000

when you forgive with a big heart.

My cup-of-cino. Yum :)