DRESSES

Thursday, February 18, 2010

She is becoming like Mommy

The past two years, we have made collection of thousands of Dew's photos. I believe most parents are doing the same thing in current era... to capture as much possible of our lilttle love ones developments and antics. Big thanks to technology, digital camera makes of what seems to be impossible 20 years ago is actually so simple now.
However, there is also the down side of digital camera. I do not know about you people but for us, we may have captured thousands of Dew's photos but only have ONE being printed. That is her passport photo. Itu pun sebab ambik gambar kat kedai. Teruk eh!

Well, those days..... provided we were using instant polaroid camera, we wouldn't know how a photo looks like unless we get the negative films sent to a photo shop to be developed and printed. Long gone the dinosour age, we now could instantly view the photos we captured. So, I blame technology for not having Dew's 'hardcopy' photos as of now! He he.

Very often I find myself browsing My Pictures sub-folders in my laptop. I LOVE IT each time. Tonite, I realize how Dew has pick-up a lot of things from me... and becoming more and more like Mommy.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009, 7:50:46 PM @16months - 'wipe clean' house floor

Saturday, June 06, 2009, 9:02:16 PM @ 16months - 'wipe clean' house floor again

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 5:12:52 PM @ 20 months - 'sweep clean' Nek's house compound

Saturday, October 17, 2009, 11:57:46 AM @ 20months and half - 'vacuum clean' carpet

Saturday, October 17, 2009, 3:04:58 PM

Saturday, October 17, 2009, 3:04:32 PM @20 months and half - only to wear make-up in the car!!!

p/s : mek memang cincai... guna ponds cream saje sejak 15 tahun lalu.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Bukit Bandaraya, Shah Alam

I just came back from Klang…., exhausted! Work has been so tiring and stressful. To top that up, I have forever hated to drive.

While I was driving somewhere along NKVE, HOT.FM played the currently top number by Anang Separuh Jiwaku Pergi. Cis… that song is so sadis la…
I broke down to tears listening to the song for reasons I myself not certain of. Others whom had passed and noticed me crying surely thought – This lady must be some pathetic hot chick being dumped big time.
For whatever matters came to my mind … I cannot be that emotional. Damn!

I guess it must be the Bukit Bandaraya, Shah Alam signboard.

Update :
Oooohhh.. work is not so stressful after all, with the received of double check just now before we all break off for Chinese New Year holidays. :)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

....pembob

Dew was playing with our tv remote control last night while we were watching Oprah Winfrey Show. She simply pressed the button and nothing of she wanted seems to appear.

The little girl then came to me with the most innocent face saying “Mommy.. nak pembob” while handed over the remote control.
Awww… she was asking my help to watch Spongebob Squarepants. How my heart melt with that simple gesture.
(Errrr, don’t talk about when she happens to be the annoying Woody Woodpecker)

Unfortunately…. No Spongebob show at the hour.

Yeah, next task in line -
Get for Dew Spongebob Squarepants DVD and only let her watch if she behave.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Of about silicon nipple, collar and bottle

Being the conventional 9-6 office working mom means I have to find a way for my baby to be looked after while I am at work. This is the most difficult task to do in my motherhood experience. Nothing like choosing a car seat or what type of feeding bottles to opt for. Main reason is because I am dealing with homo sapiens who have different ways and opinions in getting things done. Many times I have to step back and accept though it is not to my favor.

Some time back, I was so agitated to fetch Dew from the Nanny all covered with smell of cigarette smoke. No offence to smokers out there. But I really detest to have the thought that my daughter has to bear that more than 1000 mixture of unbeneficial chemical substances into her lungs, blood stream and brain. Puuulllleeesssseeee……….. go spoil yours not my daughter’s. I beg you!

I gave the Nanny the most diplomatic speech I could and repeatedly told her that I do not want it to happen anymore. That episode had passed and it hardly repeats anymore. Really, I am so-so glad that she at least took serious action towards it.

Other than this one issue, I would say she has done a pretty good job in taking care other people’s off spring. I thought, the Nanny is all my concern of which I have to be cautious with when I decided to send Dew to her. My thought was not full right.

Last Friday, I came back from office close to 11pm. That was really late even to my nature and I was in a very physically and mentally fatigue condition. I went straight to the kitchen with intention to wash my hands. To my shock, I saw an Avent nipple attached to it’s collar laying on the kitchen table which was really in a bad state.

I almost fainted. Literally – I almost fainted. How could that happened?

The nipple had formula stain at it’s lower part and lots of black spots as if it’s been there for ages. Macam KULAT-KULAPOK. The inner side of collar looked the same. Damn disgusting, I tell you. I grabbed them both and washed and brushed. Believe it or not, I still had my handbag and working bag hanging on both of my shoulders while I was washing. I didn’t even thought of putting them down. While washing, I was ‘cursing’ Harris for not doing proper cleaning.
(I always have this bad habit to blame that old man first before anybody else). The stain just wouldn’t be able to be cleaned. Only then I realize, eh – Those are not Dew’s. The nipple was number 4, I never bought for Dew number 4. (if you are unfamiliar with Avent nipples – number 4 nipples are with 4 holes for fast flow). Dew is now on slot nipple for her Avent. I also no longer use that non-BPA free Avent bottles. I have changed to BPA-free ever since the supplies reached Malaysia selling racks.

Harris told me that he found out about the nipple and collar when he wanted to mix formula for Dew earlier. He too was too GELI to even look at it.
Sigh! The Nanny had mistakenly switched the bottles. She has four tots now in her care. I don’t really mind because she has a helper from 9am to 4pm. The children are at 5, 3, 2 and 18months. Three are still on bottles.

I couldn’t resist but to make a phone call to the Nanny though it was almost midnight to tell her of the switched and also to find out whose rotten nipple and collar could that be. I am not sure about the later objective of my call but the urge to know was so strong. I tried not to judge people but failed when I made that thiak-thiak-thiak sound with tips of my tongue and my head swayed from side to side upon knowing.

How could a mother let that nipple and collar been in such bad state? Come to think of it, mistakenly switched by the Nanny at the end of the day is still considerably acceptable. But what if Dew has been sucking on that sucker for the whole day long? I fainted again!

Every time I send Dew to the Nanny, I made some reserve to accept flaws or whatever things which I consider as ‘defects’. This mistakenly switched bottles incident anyhow, didn’t bring me to the Nanny but the mother of the child. I consider myself as particular in cleanliness, what more on feeding bottles. A friend told me that it is unnecessary to sterile bottles once babies start to put things in their mouth. Germs get in their system anyway. I don’t take that opinion though it was from a practitioner doctor. I still sterile Dew’s bottles until now even she is already two, fear for me leaving any unwanted traces to the bottles and nipples after washing. Anyway, I didn’t spend RM500 for the sterilizer to beautify my kitchen or to balance some ying and yang energy. It is for it’s intended purpose.
That awful nipple was truly-truly UNACCEPTABLE. How much does the bottle cost la…? Ganti la weh!

So now, is there any possible way that I can choose the type of parents whom send their child to the Nanny? Isk-isk-isk, I am so lost.

You mommies who have the luxury to take care of your own child, I envy you!
Sekadar gambar hiasan :
Dew's Minnie Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Pureen gifted bottles which are never used. Now became her toys.
Dew's Avent and B-free nipples and bottles which are no longer in use due to the life span.
Dew's Avent and MAM bottles which are currently in use.

Friday, February 5, 2010

How we celebrated our baby girl's 2nd birthday.

This is a much due post I would say, when my baby girl’s birthday had passed for almost a week. Since I’ve made that quiet promise to blog about it… I better do so, ain’t I?
Last Friday on the 29.01.10, Harris asked me if we should a buy a cake to celebrate Dew’s birthday. I thought that would be fine and we grabbed a tiny lychee cheese cake at our neighborhood cake shop after work that day.



We headed home upon fetching Dew from her Nanny’s. Like the usual, we had our time entertaining the cheeky chic and I dozed off on the sofa. (It was a loooong tiring week, ok. Give me break!)
I was only to wake up when Harris awaken me, saying – “It’s 15 minutes to 12, let’s blow the candles!”
Hah! It’s late at night and Dew’s asleep! Never mind, I then took my bath to freshen up while Harris prepared the cake.

At 12 midnight just as it strike 30.01.10, we awaken Dew and started singing the birthday song. Dew was puzzled… only if she could speak well, she could have said – What a pair of crazy fun parents I have. As her sleep being disturbed, she couldn’t hold but to protest to put her back to bed without even blowing the candles. Wheee he he. So the cake was saved from being absorbed into our gastronomy system.

It was a real special day, which the justification was - I COOKED FOR LUNCH. Cheeewah! Cincai-cincai je. Prior to that we still had our breakfast outside.
In the late afternoon, we made the Birthday Girl on cloud nine with Daddy purchasing her long waited red ‘ayckel (bicycle – in her lingo)

Macam yo-yo je dia kayuh!

The cake had yet to be cut. Harris suggested for us to go to one of our best cousins place – the Mentibangs, for cake cutting occasion. Surely it would be more fun to have many people around. I was slightly reluctant earlier on because the cake was a tiny one it could not be enough for everyone. But what the heck… I agreed with him.
Dew was all happy once we were about to reach Mentibang’s place for she knew she’d have other 2+1 kiddos to share the fun with.

So, here goes the smooth-kalut, finally smooth Dew’s birthday cake cutting occasion.

Ibu had to barge in with a point finger and be the life saver, eh ?
Every time we show Dew this video, her chest raises up and down showing her breathing accelerating rapidly and repeatedly saying – Kakak, Kakak, Adha – to yo! I guess she wanted to say “Kakak had interrupted into Nada’s “Happy Birthday to you”….
He he, I know they two will be best of friends.

We left Mentibang’s family over 11pm close to 12night being so sleepy. So late… thanks to Harris for wanting to have ‘tutorials’ from Nslave of his newly bought birthday present - the E72.

That was how we celebrated our baby girl’s birthday. No fancy party with party planner, nothing so glamorous but we slept very blissful that night.

It is a joyous event every time to celebrate birthdays, but this particular birthday of a particular special girl also brings a poignant feeling to me. She’s growing up too fast, one day she no longer needs Mommy’s eyebrows and eyelashes when she wants to sleep or to soothe her.

To my baby girl, Mommy has to admit that Mommy is not a very patient mom that at times anger is on you unlike Daddy whom is always a cool Dad. Even so, always remember - Mommy loves you just as much as Daddy if not more!

Little notes for you to know....,
You may not be the winner of a cute baby contest, but you are the cutest baby in this entire Milky Way to Mommy and have long won Mommy and Daddy’s heart.

You may not be the genius baby that can point out countries on World map and appears in Oprah Winfrey Show at 20mo, but all the little achievement you’ve succeed thus far made Mommy really proud of you.

You may not be the eloquent baby that fascinates people around with vast use of vocabulary, but your gibberish talk and laugh and sing and shout and cries never fail to fulfill Mommy’s day.

You may not be the whiz kid but you just know how to console and cheer Mommy up when ever Mommy is feeling down or even angry at you.

Happy Second Birthday, Che’ Embun.. muah.

Sleepy Baby Singing

P/s : My dear readers want to know what I get for my girl this year ?… I didn’t get her anything…. I made her two dresses.



I call this flowery dress Mario Sommerset - nama mek salleh



and this one Si Kembang Payung.... i like them both.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Shepherd's Pie out of me

I am one person that I think who is really bad in cooking though at times that I cook, people will say Hmmm – Not Bad, Sedap. Not only I think I am lousy in cooking, I also do not have much interest in it. Cooking is my last choice to do in the house chores categories or of a wifey responsibility, though watching cooking programs on tele is one of my liking. What is wrong with me?

Even if I am at my parents-in law’s house, I have never tried to look good by trying to perform some culinary skill because I just know myself. I think I am suck at it. And if they detest me because of that, I have no points to back myself up. I lose.

Telling people that I could cook delicious cuisines is really something out of my mind. I could say “Come over to my house, I‘ll make you bake macaroni and bread pudding” but I will never say “Come over to my house, you should taste my wonderful bake macaroni and bread pudding”. I dare not.

Minus preparing meals for Nada which include her breakfast, lunch and dinner that I do religiously due to my subconscious mind keep reminding me that I have to feed her with healthy home cook food, I have to admit that I hardly cook for Harris and myself.
We eat out almost E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.

Harris has never complaint neither has he ever forced me to cook thus far. How can I be thankful enough to him?

The other day, we dined at Delifrance in Ampang Point. I had Shepherd’s Pie and I kinda wished if I could do it myself that I should try, but I figured I am incapable of that.
Then, things sometimes happens coincidentally when later my friend TC posted her delicious looking home made Shepherd’s Pie pix on FB.

I again, wish if I could bake a Shepherd’s Pie special for my love one – Harris.

Do ya'll think I should give it a try? What if my Shepherd's Pie turn out to be Burnt Pizza?
p/s : I received quite numbers of praises of this Harris & me photo. Some say, pix is nice…. Some say, the outfit is nice. For information, my mami made that superb piece for me. Isn't she a brilliant?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Piala Malaysia 09 - my experience : As expected

Kami langsung tidak berpeluang untuk mendapat tempat duduk kerana kesemuanya telah penuh. Oleh itu, kami terpaksa berpuas hati dengan hanya duduk bersila di bahagian laluan belakang zon berkerusi stadium.



Selama waktu menunggu perlawanan bermula, tindak-tanduk penyokong yang mewarnai keseluruhan Piala Malaysia begitu menarik perhatian saya. Ada yang menari-nari mengikut rentak irama yang dimainkan pancaragam, membuat gelombang manusia dan juga bercakap-cakap akan harapan kemenangan buat pasukan Kijang.

Saya ketawa terkekek-kekek setiap kali mendengar celoteh anak-anak muda yang tentu dialeknya sangat mencuit hati. :) Antara yang tidak boleh dilupakan, budak lelaki yang memakai kemeja T bertulisan RED WARRIOR ini dengan penuh syahdu berkata:


Abe, abe.. maing molek male ni neh.. Jauh ambo maghi ni… kheto api selle air doh semale di Manek Ugha. Mujo sapa kolupo ni.”
(Abang, Abang main elok-elok malam ni ya. Jauh saya datang ni. Keretapi sudah tenggelam dalam air di Manek Urai. Nasib baik sampai ke Kuala Lumpur). Kebetulan pula Kelantan dilanda banjir sewaktu itu.

Permainan skuad Kijang begitu ketara pincangnya di sepanjang masa perlawanan. Setelah tamat waktu rehat separuh masa pertama, Harris dan saya berkira-kira untuk keluar awal sedikit sebelum tamat waktu keseluruhan permainan. Ini kerana kami tidak mahu berebut-rebut untuk menaiki tren.

Sebaik gol ketiga melepasi gawang Kelantan dan penyokong Hobin Jang Hobin pula meneriak Gomo Kelate Gomo sebagai sindiran, penyokong-penyokong ‘setia’ the red warrior mula naik angin dan berpusu-pusu keluar dari stadium. Harris juga mengajak saya untuk keluar sama. Saya yang pada mulanya berniat untuk keluar awal, tidak selesa pula memikirkan untuk ‘meninggalkan’ pemain-pemain yang masih bertungkus-lumus di padang. Ini kerana saya sendiri pernah berada di atas padang dalam keadaan sebegitu dan ia bukanlah satu perasaan yang seronok ditinggalkan oleh penyokong ketika waktu perlawanan masih berbaki.

Harris menyedarkan saya supaya tidak terlalu sentimental kerana ‘penyokong-penyokong’ yang tinggal bukan lagi berminat untuk menonton perlawanan sebaliknya mula bertindak di luar kawalan dan mungkin mengundang bahaya. Saya terpaksa bersetuju dengan pandangannya. Seperti anak kecil, Harris memimpin seolah-olah mengheret tangan saya dan berjalan dengan pantas menuruni anak-anak tangga stadium yang bagaikan anak tangga Batu Caves, meredah pusuan manusia tanpa sedikit pun menoleh ke belakang atau memperlahankan langkahnya yang sudah tentu lebih panjang daripada langkah saya. Sepanjang langkahan deras ke stesen tren kedengaran suara teriakan “Bakar lrt. bakar lrt, bakar lrt, bakar lrt……..” berulang-ulang kali. Saya teramat teringin untuk berhenti berjalan sejenak dan duduk di suatu penjuru untuk melihat gelagat manusia, tetapi dihalang oleh Harris.
He and his renown statement : “Don’t take the risk, this is not covered in our life insuance.

Harris sebetulnya seseorang yang sangat ‘cool’ berbanding saya, tetapi dalam hal sebegini dia sangat berhati-hati dan jarang sekali melibatkan diri. Jauh bezanya dengan saya yang amat curious untuk ambil pusing. He he he.

Sesampai di stesen tren, kedengaran kuat bunyi dentingan besi waja berlaga dengan lantai konkrit. Harris mengatakan kepada saya : “Ha! Kan abang dah cakap!!! It’s about to get started”. Agakan saya itu adalah bunyi jatuh pengadang sementara berupa tiang besi dengan rantai plastik yang selalunya digunakan untuk mengepung sesuatu kawasan atau membuat lorong barisan yang dapat dilihat di bank-bank dsb.
Saya tidak dapat menahan keinginan untuk menoleh tetapi Harris lekas-lekas menarik saya masuk melepasi stesen tren.

Tren pertama tiba dan kami terus menaikinya untuk pulang ke rumah. Semasa di dalam tren saya menerima panggilan telefon daripada sepupu saya, Rafi yang juga pergi menonton perlawanan tersebut tetapi secara berasingan. Dia bertanyakan dan memberitahu saya : “Kak Yanti kat mana ? Dalam stadium dah start bakar kerusi ni……

Dalam hati saya berkata : tak heran la… ini penyokong Kelantan……………semangat gila dia lain sikit.

Saya tumpang bangga jika dikatakan orang-orang Kelantan mempunyai semangat kenegerian yang sangat tinggi kerana ia menujukkan kemuafakatan walaupun saya tidak kategorikan diri saya sebagai salah seorang yang begitu. Namun saya sangat JIJIK melihat tindak-tanduk vandalisme yang ditunjukkan anak-anak Kelantan di atas nama semangat kenegerian. Betul ke tak betul kepala-hotak ni?

Perbuatan membuang sampah merata-rata mungkin perkara normal bagi penduduk Malaysia secara am pada masa seperti perlawanan bola sepak sebegini.
Tetapi bagi saya yang sanggup menyimpan lampin pakai buang anak yang telah digunakan di dalam beg tangan atau tisu yang telah digunakan di lantai kereta kerana tidak menjumpai tong sampah dan tidak sanggup meninggalkannya sewenang-wenang, saya tidak faham kenapa Kelantanese yang begitu mendokong ajaran Islam dapat membuang begitu banyak sampah di seluruh kawasan stadium.

Saya dengan yakin dapat mengatakan saya bukan orang yang menyumbang kepada sampah-sampah tersebut walau sekecil bungkusan gula-gula, tambahan pula saya memang tidak gemar akan gula-gula.
Untuk kesekian kali saya terfikir – Kelantan memanglah antara negeri yang tercorot dalam bab-bab kebersihan pada pandangan saya. It is a shameful thing, I would say.
*Saya mungkin akan dilarang memasuki negeri sendiri selepas tulisan ini dipos*

Saya dan Harris mengutarakan pendapat masing-masing secara analitikal kenapa adanya penyokong Kelantan extrimis yang bertindak sedemikian rupa walaupun mugkin hanya segelintir daripada kami. Ini kerana secara relatif, penyokong negeri lain pun sepatutnya ada segelintir penyokong yang sebegini jika tindak-tanduk vandalisme penyokong Kelantan itu adalah sesuatu yang normal, tetapi jarang-jarang pula terjadi. (Salah jika dikatakan tiada langsung terjadi bagi penyokong negeri-negeri lain)

Usah diragu kenapa kami laki-bini suka membicarakan hal-hal sedikit ilmiah sebegini kerana perkara yang sama juga diteliti oleh pihak berwajib bagi penyokong bolasepak England yang kita sedia maklum mempunyai perangai yang buruk berbanding negara-negara Eropah lain.

Banyak yang kami bahaskan. Namun, bagi tujuan penulisan ini, saya simpulkan 2 perkara :


1. Spesifik kepada perbuatan membakar dan membaling mercun di dalam stadium adalah, medium tersebut amat mudah diperolehi di Kelantan. Mungkin disebabkan faktor geografi yang berjiran dengan Thailand. Mercun adalah sesuatu yang ‘biasa’ di Kelantan dan penggunaannya amat meluas tanpa banyak halangan dari pihak berkuasa atau ibu bapa. Malah ibu bapa turut serta dalam perang mercun di musim raya. Saya tidak menunding jari kepada sesiapa kerana keluarga saya sendiri terlibat sama iaitu sukakan mercun di waktu raya. Sesuatu yang telah menjadi kebiasaan tentunya tidak membawa perasaan bersalah atau takut untuk dilakukan. Entah-entah saudara-mara saya turut terlibat sama dalam acara membaling mercun dalam stadium. Ya, saya memang bukan golongan yang nampak di seberang tanpa melihat diri sendiri di dalam cermin.

2. Ini pula adalah “solely my opinion” – Saya rasakan penyokong Kelantan menganggap perlakuan vandalisme adalah suatu bentuk hiburan. Bola sepak sendiri adalah hiburan yang diterima ramai di Kelantan. Oleh itu, membesar-besarkan agenda Bola sepak adalah sesuatu yang menggembirakan. Maka tercetuslah idea-idea untuk menarik perhatian spesifik ketika perlawanan bola sepak dengan perlakuan buruk itu kerana hanya duduk menonton tidaklah begitu seronok. Di kala ini, anak-anak muda yang energetik ingin meluahkan ekspresi diri masing-masing. Silap mereka hanyalah ia diluahkan dengan cara yang jijik.

Namun, sila lihat di Kelantan, apakah hiburan yang sesuai untuk remaja disediakan? Hiburan bukan sekadar tempat-tempat judi, karaoke atau panggung wayang tetapi mempunyai maksud yang luas mengikut intepretasi tertentu. Hiburan yang melibatkan aktiviti-aktiviti sihat adalah satu cara untuk meningkatkan jati diri. Saya pernah diberitahu mengenai pertandingan penguasaan kenderaan pacuan empat roda, pertandingan go-cart di Kelantan, tetapi berapa ramailah yang boleh menyertainya. Di Kelantan, usah bercerita pasal “theme park” walau sesederhana Lost World of Tambun Water Park (Ipoh), padang permainan kanak-kanak yang decent pun sukar ditemui.

Zaman kanak-kanak saya yang indah adalah di Kg Lundang, Kelantan. Saya amat bangga dengan tempat saya membesar walaupun ketika itu kami juga tiada taman permainan. Dahulu kami dapat bermain di bawah rumah yang bertiang tinggi, menyelinap di kebun-kebun getah mencari biji getah, meraduk lopak-lopak air menangkap berudu, memanjat pokok-pokok jambu batu dan pelbagai lagi. Tetapi zaman telah jauh berubah. Jelas sekali saya tidak dapat bayangkan untuk membesarkan anak sendiri di sana tanpa “play-park areas” seperti yang saya dan anak sekarang nikmati.
*Ini satu lagi kenyataan yang memungkinkan saya dilarang memasuki negeri sendiri dengan gambar-gambar poster muka saya dipangkah besar dan digantung di setiap jalan masuk ke Kelantan !*

Saya berharap kita sedar, program keagamaan sahaja tidak mencukupi untuk perisian masa buat remaja. Saya tidak katakan program keagamaan itu tidak baik tetapi sekiranya kita berjaya membentuk sahsiah dan jati diri remaja dengan hanya program keagamaan, tanggungjawab ibu bapa dan pihak bertanggung jawab tentulah sesuatu yang sangat mudah. Berpijaklah di dunia nyata. Program masjid bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah untuk diterapkan bagi golongan remaja, walaupun kita amat berharap untuk itu terjadi.
Hendak tak hendak, kita harus melihat potensi pendekatan lain contohnya extreme sports yang memang mengikut naluri remaja. Atau sekurang-kurangnya anjuran rat race, independent summer camps, paintballs, kayaking…. Terlalu banyak kalau hendak disenaraikan.

Objektifnya adalah sangat ringkas, supaya ramai di antara kita dapat melihat perbuatan vandalisme bukanlah suatu perbuatan yang hebat kerana terdapat pelbagai aktiviti lain yang boleh dieksplorasi.

Dengan ini, tamatlah sudah siri Piala Malaysia tulisan saya :)