20.08.2010

On one weekend, I went out for an appointment pertaining to an aside job that I am currently working on. Nada was left home with her Daddy. (Barangsiapa yang membaca dan memandang serong terhadap suamiku kerana manjaga anak di rumah dan membenarkan isteri keluar bekerja… Mind your own business)

Right after finishing with the fruitful meeting, I rushed home as I was already late for Maghrib prayers.

I reached home to find out :

What a lovely site. My heart melt. I took the camera and snapped this photo. You know, I want my girl to treat me as her best friend, but …. I believe being a daddy’s girl is so cool too.
Nothing compares to being lifted and carried by strong arms, ain’t it?

Out of my mind, I uttered “Bestnya Nada ada Daddy”………………………..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night, Harris was sitting on the sofa the same way. Looking at him, I straight away jumped onto the sofa and laid on his big fat tummy. Wahhhh! Heaven.

Annnnd… the tiny lil Dew never likes to see this kind of scene because she feels being left out. So she tried as much as she could to squeeze for a space on Daddy’s tummy.

My husband said : “It’s ok, Nada baring sini… (pointing to the available space on his tummy)”..
What I appreciate is… He didn’t ask me to make way for Nada, he offered warmth to us both, instead.

How I love this man. Not only he knows how to handle the stubborn-ugly-women me…. He also treats me like a small child with so much love.
I pray to Allah s.w.t for HIS blessing upon my husband.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Abang. May it brings us more joy in years ahead.

This is what I got for our 1st anniversary in 2005.

I love the artist and the album title says it all... I was very happy with this gift. :) Am not a difficult women to be pleased, aren't I? Never ask for rantai emas sebesar tali kapal.....

p.s :

Dear Abang, Here is my wish list for this year’s anniversary :
1. Trip to Hong Kong become a reality
2. A sewing machine foot press. *wink*

The wishlist... :(

Early this year, I have three items in my wish list for 2010 in no particular order. To renovate our Puncak Jalil house, to get an MPV and to berlibur in London and Paris if not part Europe. They all require thick packs in my pocket or rather said my bank account need to show many zeros in front of the decimal points.. not after!
Though, I already work like a horse… it seems still not enough, we may only choose one.

Our Puncak Jalil house is as it was when we received Vacant Possession in August last year. The only different would be, it is without TNB meter now! Dah kena curik. I am not so sure what is holding us back from proceeding with the renovation. Harris is comfortable with our current address. Near to his work place and easy access to mine.

Getting an MPV is a dream preparation should we are blessed with a new addition to the family. However, the trials aren’t showing any success thus far. I’ve been shoving 400mg Folic Acid every day my eyes are turning yellow. (Errrr…. Itu Mek bikin gempak je) I guess, we’ll be reducing our account figure and contributing to Dr Ishak’s account soon for the ‘see-doctor-to-get-baby’ regime.
Sigh – this is so depressing and reading news on baby dumping makes me real sick, you know what I mean…

London and Paris is far reach. It is August now, soon would not be so good seasons for visiting.

Ahhhh… punah ranah segala harapanku.

The patchwork and bag and stuff

I aimed for a self made patchwork blanket for my girl before her age is seven when Harris gifted me with a set of rotary cutter and self-heal cutting board for my 35th birthday last March.
Never I expected that it was achieved so much earlier and I did it in three weekends, I consider quite fast as it is my first time :

TADAAAAA : My first patchwork project!
Ya Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, give me the strength to work hard for your halal rezeki and get rich, that one day I can afford to buy one of these kind of bungalow.... Selingan

The urge to doing (can I use ‘ing after to here ? How come it sounds right ? Kerabu Jantung, betul ke grammar ni?) this quilt is related to our decision in sending Nada to daycare nursery. Nada’s nanny returned to Medan is prolonged due to a road accident occurred to her sons. One deceased and another is in critical condition. Only her husband came back while she stays.

So after being a nomad for more than a week at my Aunty’s place in Kota Damansara in seeking her help to look after Nada, we decided to go for nursery.

It was Friday that Harris fetched Nada on the first day at nursery. He was told by the babysitter that we have to provide with a sleeping mat for daytime nap. Huh! Why wouldn’t I think about it earlier? I felt bad that I didn’t make available the necessary for my girl…. I told Nada – Mommy’s gonna make her a beautiful quilt. The most beautiful one would be at the nursery.

On Saturday afternoon of first weekend, I took out a craft book Harris bought for me some five years ago to learn about patchwork.

I firmed up to try the Log Cabin pattern due to it’s simplicity. At night before going to bed, I found myself cutting whatever fabric I have. That explains the non co-ordinated colors of the quilt. Even my koyak rabak caftan was sacrified too. :-)
Next day Sunday, I started with sewing after Subuh prayers and completed all 6 Log Cabins by the time my two loves woke up from sleep.

In the late afternoon then, we headed to Jalan TAR in search for quilt wadding and bought it at Bunga & Riben for 3m ready cut cost RM 45.

The second weekend, I proceeded with attaching all 6 Log Cabins with the polka-dot pattern fabric and the border. I also made back part of the quilt which was so much simpler. Once done with the front and back part of the quilt, it’s time for me to get it laid on the floor and assembling.
You see, the moment things were on the floor.. my speed was reduced tremendously. Big thanks to the tiny helper.

She did her catwalk on the quilt... she decided to play the shape sorter when it was long left out

She wanted to play elephant while I was basting (jelujor)

But, I would have to go with the flow. Because the more I say “NO NADA”… the more she would act against me by … “YES MOMMY!”
I just let her be.. that’s one tips for those of you whom are with a busy body toddler but insist on doing craft works. Let them ‘help’ you.

As you can see here, even though I am not on craft works she would also want to attract my attention, ain’t she? You really think she’s sleeping? That was pretending… siap buat bunyi berdengkur. So why bother to scold… bior je.

In making this quilt, I would say quilting is the most difficult part. I was cursing myself while quilting for not following the suggestion in the book that beginners should start with a simple project. Mine is simple too but the size is way to big for a beginner like me. The fact that I am using an old inherited SINGER sewing machine, I named her Lady Gaga from my mami without the machine foot press gives you the idea of how I had to struggle. My right hand rolling the machine roller start and left hand trying to push and control the thick quilt while both my feet peddling the machine. Not an easy task at all.

Anyway, I wouldn’t want to stop what I have started… it is just not me. I finished quilting on Saturday of the second week and got stuck. I didn’t have a suitable material to proceed for the edging and at the same time I was thinking of additional accessory I should include for the ease of storing the quilt, but I did not know what to do. To make some kind of a rope with velcro attach to the quilt? It is an idea that came across.

I asked Harris of what he thinks about the quilt thus far. Harris, though not having soft fingers for craft works, has very sharp eyes and mind. He hardly gives me good praises of what I do instead provide superb comments or suggestions – I like that it triggers my anxiety. He suggested for me to make a bag to put the quilt in for easy storage. I didn’t even tell him that I was thinking for an accessory for that purpose.

Bag ? .. That made us off to IKEA on Sunday of the second week for suitable fabrics. I bought these. and used the green stripes fabric for the quilt edging. The edging required hand stitch all around and I did it during weekdays night after I came back from work… bit by bit. The part took so long and only completed by Friday night. Again, ‘thanks’ to my baby.

When she could lay down anywhere within our tiny apartment, she insisted to opt for my lap the moment I picked up the quilt. Hmmmmm :-) Saja je dia nak kacau.

I didn’t really know how to make a bag and do not own a book that teach of such. There are a lot of bag making tutorials from the internet but I didn’t find any that teach to make a bag for quilt storing. So, I improvised the making and tried with a miniature which turned out to be a gadget for Dew’s pretend play.

As for the actual bag for the quilt, it looks like this.

Nothing so outstanding, I gave myself a pass onlylah. My mami would did it with one eye closed.

I really wanted to finish up the bag the fastest I could but daytime of the 3rd weekend was really meant to be full of events.

* We had to bring Nada for Hepatitis A jab in Seremban (yeah, yeah, yeah… I still visit the same Pediatrician for the last 2 and half years… walaupun alasan sebenarnya Mek nak pergi makan mee bandung kat Seremban),

Had her bath at LEKAS R&R on the way back...

Also stopped by at Nilai 3 for more fabrics... I bought Japanese cotton this time.

* I promised my boss to present a draft project report on Monday that I had to complete over the weekend, (ini memang kena buat siang hari… malam kalu… muka Mek tersembam atas lap top! zzzzzzzzzzz)

* attending to the part time job that I indulged myself in and hoping for the return soon,

* house errands, biasala….
* keeping promise to bring my girl to the park
* the first time visit to spa for a body massage (yelah…. Mek orang kampong… tak biasa spa-spa, facial-facial ni..)
* get a gift and attending friend’s wedding,

the bride is Harris's batch mate in uni.

the bride's sister is my batch mate in uni,.. they both are pretty ladies

* bringing my girl for swimming and bla-bla-bla

So, I had no choice. I stayed up on Saturday night from 12night till 5am… and the bag was finished just in time for Subuh prayers.

I love the effort that I have put in. I am very proud when the babysitter at nursery told me how Nada drag her quilt bag and asked the babysitter to spread it out when she sensed a baby crying wanting to sleep. I guess my baby is so proud of her quilt, she doesn’t mind to share with other babies.

P/s –
whoot-whhooott – though I love sewing, I am still an architect by profession ya!

Please

It is customary for us to greet “Assalamualaikum” whenever we are entering houses. We also do it upon entering our own home though nobody is in. Well, it is a well wish and surely there’ll be the Al-Mighty’s creation ‘living’ in the house other than us, the human being. We hope good ones! Our girl had also picked up the habit and whenever we open our house door, she’ll greet “AAAeeekooooMMM……..”

Different Note:

I’ve been trying to teach Nada to include the word “Please” in her gibberish talking. Sometimes she uses, mostly… she won’t. Today while I was in the kitchen cooking for lunch, she came in asking for her yogurt drink from the fridge.

Nada while pointing to the fridge door – “Mommy, nak ashiyum… ipen” means – Mommy, I want Calsiyum…open (the fridge)”

Mommy – “Nada, how should you say if you want Mommy to open the fridge door for you?”

Nada replied – “AAAeeekooooMMM……..”

Mommy – Ketawa tertonggeng-tonggeng!

We love her so much.

Long silence and activities

OOOOhhh, dah lama betul tak update blog ni. Luckily I do not forget my password! Life has been pretty hectic, with endless load of office works and also trying to slot in a couple of aside jobs. What to do..... Mek tidak dilahirkan dengan sudu perak, got to work extra hard for few extra grant.

Nada's Nanny is away for her balik kampung in Medan. She told us, she might go back for 10 to 14 days. I guess that is sensible as she has not gone back for about two years to see her family. It has been 12 days and I really hope she would return.

The first day she was not around, I brought Nada to office and my boss 'loan' his maid to me to look after my girl.

.... like a tuition class, after my boss's children came to office too at 3pm till 6 accompanying Nada!

Then after until tomorrow, I am lucky to have my cousin Shasha who is in her uni semester break to help babysitting. Though Nada cries like a 'mad' girl every morning as we leave home for office, she settles down few minutes after as per reported by Shasha.

However, until tomorrow I am still clueless of where? whom? how? would I arrange Nada to be taken care since Shasha is going back tomorrow night and starting her semester soon. Berdenyut kepala Mek!

Okeh-okeh... Aside of all these busy and clutter life I am going through right now, lets talk about something joyfull - at least to me.

All said with below photos... I've been tailoring dressess to keep me sane.

Dress 1 - I call it Tartan Pleat Dress


Dress 2 - Tie a Green Ribbon Dress

Dress 3 - Bareback Shirring Dress

Dress 4 - Reversible Tier Twirl Dress

Dress 5 - Beachcomber Dress (from Daddy's undershirt)... uh! Dew is super cute in this, I've yet to transfer photos of her.

There goes, few more 'under construction' and more fabric waiting!

Having these dressess, I have a special note for my dear friend, Toughcookie.

Dear Juan,

I meant one of the dressess numbered 1, 2 & 3 for Jada as a gift for her coming 2nd birthday soon. They may not be as gorgeous as the lines that she's having but rest assured... each one is unique. Well, it's handmade.....

I couldn't make up my mind which one to be gifted to her, I thought there would be no one better than you to choose. Furthermore, I came to understand that you seems to prefer choosing a gift so it will be to your liking (harap ada yang disuka!)... and hopefully will still be pleasantly surprised once received.

The Tartan Pleat Dress could be tat bit too long for petite Jada now. Tie a Green Ribbon Dress and Bareback Shirring Dress were 'test drive' to Nada like these :

She's picking Mommy's balcony pot flowers....

Nada viewing Jada's on phone video.

Promise : Only 'test drive' ............. never worn. So TC, leave me your mailing address in my FB inbox should you sudi to accept this gift on behalf of Jada.

with Love : Mario

Kota Bharu and I

It is not my working Monday morning at 2.16am and we are in M.S Garden Hotel, Kuantan. Both Harris and Dew are asleep while I am still wide awake. Must be the hot shower or could be the jumping jacks on hotel bed with Dew earlier that made my eyes wouldn’t want to rest as yet.
We are on our way back to KL after a short trip to beloved home town. I persuaded Harris for a night stay over here with me giving reason that he has to attend for a site inspection. Co-incidentally, he has an ongoing project in Kuantan. Yea..yea…yea… I am always his unofficial boss what !
Well in a more serious mode, he really needs a follow-up inspection after last Thursday’s inspection anyway. I just made it more assured.

I had been postponing for my balik kampong trip since 2 months back. There were always matter(s) that came up which didn’t allow me to do so. Not until last week and after long fought with my boss.
Dew and I took a flight on Wednesday night which later was followed by Harris the next day after his site visit, yes,, here in Kuantan.

My mami’s house is merely 10minutes away from Kota Bharu Airport and I was supposed to contact any of my family members to fetch us once we arrived. I didn’t and instead, decided to opt for a cab to ferry us home from airport. No..no..no, of course I didn’t tell Harris until I did so. Kalau tak.. sure tak boleh punya. Kalau dah buat, then he has nothing to say… except to accept that he has a stubborn wife. Whee hee hee.

It has been long since the last event that I hop on a cab in KB. I always have this uneasy feeling of KB cab drivers. Please don’t get me wrong especially those whom are associated with cab drivers, be it you are the cab driver, or your father or mother or brother or anyone you know, I do not mean bad.

Those days, when I was small and at the time I accompanied my mami to town, we would take a cab or we call it kegheto sewo. The drivers that I encountered always wanting to know and had a gelenya way of asking my mami whom is a single parent if she had a husband like :

“Bakpo la che’ abe tok maghi ambik” means : Why is your husband not fetching you?

or

“Come-come ni che’ abe bui ko naik kegheto sewo” means : You are beautiful… does your husband allows you to hitch a cab?

I may be was a young kid but I did understand and was able to read between the lines. I detested the gelenyaness for ever! Like, for your own sake… Do you have to ask the questions?... I don’t remember my mami answering any of those.

Here now, Nada and I experiencing the cab ride the way my mami and I did years ago. Two females with no male guardian. I swear if I ever being asked the question, I’m gonna switch on my hand phone recorder, record the ‘conversation’ and make a police report for sexual harassment case!

Allahamdulillah, my ‘fear’ was groundless may be at least to KB Airport cab drivers. May be also I am not as beautiful as my mami.

The man was polite to me. I gave him the ticket indicating my destination and he requested me if I could help to fold Dew’s pushchair for he’s not familiar with it. Yeah, I don’t mind. He asked me if we were on a ‘balik kampong’ trip and I answered with a short one. He seemed to understand and respected that I didn’t want for any long conversation. The cab is clean and smell fresh. Better than our own sedan. It was a safe ride home……, only then I realized why was I really wanting to hitch a cab.

I want to face my ‘fear’ and hoping for my daughter not to have to go through the bad experience I had.

oh... how i love this cutie pie.

That’s a little sour experience of mine, I carried for so long……… I just want to share.

On the other hand, I also want to share this wonderful activity for many Kelantanese, especially whom reside in KB, I witnessed ever since I was a small child. I want to believe whoever that had gone trough the cupid love phase of their life in KB, surely had experienced this activity for a date. I did !

…. Lepak tepi pagar airport tengok kapal terbang turun dan naik. Muakakakakakakaaka. It is so festive, isn’t it?

You can judge by the numbers of cars being parked by the roadside. :) LOL.