Song to end this beautiful month

Visitors from Miri&Limbang

My grandmother was born in Limbang, Sarawak... and when she got married, she moved to Brunei. We have therefore relatives all over Malaysia, mainly in Miri and Limbang, and some in Kuching. Brunei being in the middle of these two Malaysian towns/cities, whenever my relatives do a road trip to and fro, they usually do a stopover in Brunei... and visit their Aunt/Grandaunt - my grandmother, Ama.

If it wasn't for their usual stopovers, I wouldn't have known them this close. Yea, we also do our regular trips across border and do visit them. I must say, it is a privilege to know and learn about our roots... of how our family has grown and listening to their childhood stories.

It was nice to see them visiting my grandmother... At a age of 84, she is still able to give them her wise advice being their aunt. So much respect I have for my grandmother. Only Allah knows...

My Ama checking out the coffee to be served

The 3 sisters on a stopover visit - their trip from Miri to Limbang. Tasting our homemade 'nasi lemak' and fried mee

'Mummy I want to use tudung...'

Had a 'doa selamat' at my aunt's house. I got myself prepared with baju kurung and tudung. Brought Aqilah along as well and she too wanted to dress like Mummy. I put her tudung on for her... and thought to myself "This will not last long...".

But to my surprise, Aqilah wore hers the whole night long during the function. Though running around the house playing with her cousins, and her tudung kept slipping forwards and backwards... all in all, she kept it on the whole night. Made me realise she is a big girl now ;)

Close up

At Pose

Beware: New Warriors in Town!

Have my nephew, Ai, staying with us for a week plus now.. I guess he is pretty entertained with himself.

See how 'Ultra-Ai' has defeated all the animals with his mighty power!.. 

Next is his partner in crime... Ultra-Ir with mighty moves.

Trip to Seria

Nasha will be 2mths tomorrow and she is due for her monthly jab in Seria. She was given an appointment yesterday so once again, we stepped out together as a family to Seria.This time I borrowed my brother's van as he was not using it that time, so climbing in and out the car would be so much easier. Plus I liked the space in the car which makes the passengers feel less claustrophobic.

I brought along my older kids' health cards as well to check whether they too are due for their jabs (since they both recently celebrated their own bdays too). So after I gave the cards to the receptionist, it was confirmed that all my kids needed their jab. Geez - I thought... who will be first!

Well of course Nasha was the easiest of them all... Irfan was ok too however struggled real hard once the needle went in (he had a scratch from it - as he moved, needle scratched him. Oh, poor nurse too... we forgot to hold his legs so he actually kicked the nurse which left him with a scratch). As for Aqilah, she was the hardest.. One, she is big enough to know about it! Bribing her did not work this time - she is clever too... she will not fall for Mummy's little briberies cause she knows that needle is gonna hurt!!! So what to do then to hold her very tight (while she is still crying).. had one nurse ready with her needle, another holding her legs (we learnt from Irfan's lesson), and myself holding her head and arm. It was a struggle - I must say! They left the clinic with a new fashion in town...

New look in town...

bDay celeb with Po! - partDeux

Yes, that was the movie in the earlier post.

Forgot to mention! I actually brought along my camera and videocamera to the movies! Yes, a very heavy bag lugged into the cinema to capture Irfan's 2nd bday outing trip to the cinema.

After the movie, got the kids to pose in front of KungfuPanda's big poster, and got my sister-in-law to help catch the shot.

Despite the crowd, I insisted to have a picture taken. Click Click Click - my camera went.. Hmm, sighed my sisinlaw.. and shouted back at me "I think the batt's out!"... Duh! How can I not charge the camera. I took it for granted that there is still life left in my camera! GOOD THING I had my videocamera with me...

So the only remembrance I have to mark Irfan's 2nd bday are the videoshots and... the cinema ticket! 

Music of the week

bDay celeb with Po!

Yes... Irfan's 2nd bday today! We spent this day at the Mall - to watch the long-awaited KungfuPanda. Was hesitated to bring him since I was thinking he may still be too young for the movies.. So I prayed and prayed and hope he will stay throughout the movie.

And to my surprise, he did! I was prepared though that if he does breakout into uncomfortable acts, I will leave the cinema. 

HOWEVER,... half way through the movie.. during a peaceful moment of the movie.. when everyone were dead silence... Irfan 'decided' to burst into tears! I did realise before then he kept looking to the back (the Exit).. though still concentrating with the movie. Poor boy! I guess he was kinda excited coming to the movies - something.. somewhere different and realised he was in a strange place!

I was about to leave the cinema with my hand sealed against his mouth.. but with my other hand, I was searching his emergency aid. Finally, he was peacefully calmed with his precious pacifier:) Phew! Mummy can then enjoy the rest of the movie! Woohoo!

As for Aqilah, she was never a movie fan. Before entering the cinema, she would already cover her ears. I had to feed her popcorn as her hands are occupied to feed herself! I actually brainwashed her days before and she did make herself clear with me that she wants 'mummy's computer..' she wants 'buy movie in the shop'... she wants 'cd' version. Well! Sorry girl! Mummy wants to watch it big-screen and I had to bribe her to come! hahahaha... 

Well she has me to thank for now - I think she was the loudest laughing person in the cinema - with her hands covering her ears! 

Now Irfan just can't leave his KungfuPanda vcd alone! You will find him running around the house with the cd in his hands and sometimes doing his own kungfu moves, Irfan-style, with sound effects! My boy... 

Bday Celebration

As mentioned in my earlier post, we decided to celebrate my daughter's 4th bday (6thJune), my mum's 60th bday (9thJune), and my son's advance 2nd bday (14thJune) today. It was an honour too to have my grandfather there to celebrate with us. Despite his limited mobility, he still came. I believe he has a strong heart to be there with us.. and he looked very happy to be there too (see last picture below). Thanks Ba/Kong/AhCho! Glad you enjoyed the food too!

The birthday cake - the promised Little Einsteins and Diego characters for Aqilah and Irfan respectively. As for mum, the beautiful carved butterflies and flowers :) oooohhh, and beautifully decorated with lotta cocopops and M&Ms

Little Mickeys and Minnies

Our beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather

Shopping @ Sarah's

Spent the day at Jazz's finally to crop my long-awaited project. Met a friend of Jazz's having to find that she has her own little home-business too. She brings in products from the US - the oh-la-la Victoria Secrets and scrumcilious Bath & Body Works products. We (as well as our little girls) had a go at the testers and came out smelling all fruity and flowery! Of course, we brought home gifts for ourselves too!

My BigBaby turns 4!

Wow! 4 years it has been since I last had my 1st experience of labour pains and cramps! Not only birthdays mark the day your child is born, I like to see it as the day the mother experiences the strongest forces her body can ever experience.. However, I did not quite experience such - not only did I experience strong contractions, I also had a caesarean wound to look after the birth.

Woke up and greeted my little girl a happy birthday. My parents and I got ready her surprise we kept the night before.. two little green birds in the cage. So this morning, we covered the cage and presented it to her.. She couldn't guess what it was and was quite hesitant to open. Though she loves surprises, she hates loudness that is accompanied with the surprises. Anyway, she peeped under the cloth and was happy to see the little birds :) 

Hmm... What's under the cloth?

Today is my little girl's day... Besides my personal time in the morning at the banks, the rest was hers. She met up with her little cousins, Kholil and Alya. I brought them 3 to the mall for yummy hot&sweet popcorn, and the little girls got themselves some hair accessories, while the boy got himself an animal book.

Sisters at heart... with their new diamante hairbands

Today was not intended to have a party celebration as it is planned to be held on the 9th June - inlieu of mum's 60th bday!, and an advance celebration for my son's 2nd birthday (falls on 14th June). There will be 3 people to celebrate together, so I went to search for a cake for that night. Aqilah insisted to have June (a little girl cartoon character from The Little Einsteins) on her cake, and for my son (not that he chose), I decided to give him Diego, a little boy cartoon character, Dora the Explorer's cousin. As for my mum, will have to think about that. Didn't manage to pre-order the cake today, but the little kids got their own little cake to bring home.

The afternoon, it was the little girls and I to the toy shop - to get Aqilah's friend a birthday present. She is celebrating her birthday in school the next day. Next to another shopping mall for teatime with sis in law and her son. Had some yummy dimsum (hot steamed dumplings).. and at this place, Aqilah learnt her first stake at holding a chopsticks and ate her dumpling from it! I was surprised she could do it with ease! Something to remember on her 4th year milestone :) Well done!

We finished the day back at my parents house, to have a go with singing the birthday song and blowing the candle... Did this on her small Little Mermaid cake we bought earlier on...

Kholil ate his Spiderman cake earlier the day

Aqilah with a funny grin to her face... and her little birthday cake

Alya wanted to have a go as well in blowing the candle on her cake ;)

Irfan with choc - Yummy!

We were all exhausted in the end... but it was a nice day to cherish! 

On the Bottle!

It will be another one more month till I start work so it's time to start Nasha's training on the bottle. Two weeks ago I rummaged cupboards and drawers for bottles bought but never been used and my breastpump, and stuffed them in a basket. A week ago, I went through all of them sorting which bottles I will need to start Nasha off. Irfan had 2 new bottles bought when he was a year plus. Since he is a growing boy, I got him to start using a bigger bottle. Well, anyway, he did use it for awhile but didn't like it as much as his old little 5ounce bottle. The problem with his bottle is that the teat is has only 3mth+. Anyway, now he is two years, he is still happy on it.
So, I've decided to have Nasha try on this big bottle although it will look gigantic on her (I think they have smaller bottles with this range). I thought as long as she is ok with the teat (I was doubtful knowing both my older kids preferred smaller teats, and this one looked a little bit bigger), then let's just stick with it.
And finally today, I got the bottles and pump sterilised AND managed to express enough for trial. We waited for the moment she cries for her next feed... and when she did, POP went the bottle and she was happily sucking her new bottle away. YAY!!! I know it sounds corky, but I was so thrilled Nasha managed to feed straight from the bottle her first time through. She was either very hungry or she likes her bottle:) I had to go through 3 types of bottles to find the right one for Aqilah which was why it was a relief to see Nasha fuss-free. Yea she did fuss abit of course, but next thing you know she was bottle-drinking like she has done this before!

Notice the oversized bottle for 1mth old Nasha.. She's doing well:)