nourishing thoughts

Song to end this beautiful month

2008-06-29T00:12:00.000+08:00

Visitors from Miri&Limbang

2008-06-26T09:03:00.004+08:00

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...'

2008-06-25T19:35:00.003+08:00

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!

2008-06-24T10:43:00.005+08:00

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

2008-06-21T22:10:00.003+08:00

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

2008-06-18T18:34:00.002+08:00

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

2008-06-17T12:30:00.002+08:00

bDay celeb with Po!

2008-06-15T11:59:00.005+08:00

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

2008-06-09T21:00:00.002+08:00

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

2008-06-07T22:36:00.002+08:00

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!

2008-06-06T22:48:00.000+08:00

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!

2008-06-02T16:51:00.003+08:00

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:)

2008-06-01T11:28:00.001+08:00

Classic Lock-Out!

2008-05-30T23:06:00.005+08:00

While skype-ing with my husband just this night, my sister-in-law was also online. Hardly able to catch her online at this time of night.. but this was a rare night. She just completed her night giving tuition class in her home, and a funny little incident happened right after that. She got online and having to found me online too, decided to share her funny moment with me.

As I mentioned earlier, she just completed her night giving tuition class in her home. She was outside her bedroom and she heard her bedroom door closed by her intelligent little 4year-old daughter... Not only did she hear the door closed, but she heard the lock of the door clicked. She then thought to herself, "OK, that sounded like the door is locked, am sure Alya will open the door soon". Few moments later, sister-in-law made her way to the room, door was still locked. Great! Knock.. Knock.. Hello... Open the door.. - no answer.. no sound of movements.. Not sure how many times she knocked.. till she decided not to bother her tired little family in the room (hubby, son, daughter, and baby son). If I'm not mistaken from her story, she called her husband's phone but to no avail, it was not answered.

I can imagine her standing outside her bedroom door feeling left and locked out, thinking how in the world could she deserve this. And after having such a tiring day (their family spent the day at our parents), and also a night stressing her brain out running a tuition class (although with only two kids).. and to be left outside, laughing but crying in the inside... Not be able to sleep on her big comfy bed, but to resort to her older son's playroom-cum-sometimes-bedroom for her night...

Think the kids were too tired too to realise their mum is not in the room with them! She was telling me how she felt like she was in one of those comic strips, where kids locked their parents outside.. and what kids do are just unpredictable sometimes.

Oh well, she thought to herself, she could have her night all to herself... so, may you sleep well sis!!! Thanks for the funny moment to share and yes, a classic story to cherish :) And am proud of you for staying sane about it....!!!! hahaha..

Playtime at nenek's house

2008-05-28T21:07:00.002+08:00

Don't tell me what that thing Irfan has on his head! Found lying around my father-in-law's house and decided to wear it as a hat.. or a wig?!

Always surprises me boy.. xoxo

More updates coming up

One Step At A Time...

2008-05-28T16:44:00.006+08:00

As mentioned in my earlier post, Nasha's 1mth jab had to be postponed. So today was the day she had her jab, which involved us driving an hour and a half to our destination.

The night before, I pre-packed what there is to bring especially for entertainment in the car... Aqilah's game, colouring pencils, and notepad, and Irfan's books (he especially loves his sister's phonics books), and as for Nasha - the ride itself should be comforting for her.

Arrived our destination before noon in time for a quick visit to my office and for early lunch at the town's Discovery Centre. Lucky there was no crowd so having the kids running around was not making too much of a scene. Left for my house after half an hour of lunch as Nasha was starting to squirm here and there in her car seat she was happily sleeping in during our lunch.

Once I opened the door of the house, Aqilah and her little brother was so thrilled to enter the house they left for a few months. Out came the toys and the house was back to normal - a mess! After their satisfaction of play, we left the house an hour later and it was a good time too as the afternoon office hour has started. Rushed to the clinic in case there would be a long queue, and within half an hour, Nasha had her 1mth jab! Yea, she cried - but only for a few seconds! Phew!

Throughout the journey, Jordin Sparks' first 2 tracks were the only favourites for my children especially my son. They were played repeatedly... over and over again. Once it hit the third track, a faint voice at the back of the car crying "No mummy... no mummy...". Irfan 'demanding' to repeat the first two tracks once again! Sure, I can handle the repeated songs :)

Anyhow, after Nasha's jab, on the way back to Bandar, we stopped over at my father-in-laws house. He said that he will be home during the afternoon, and it was a good thing I pushed Nasha's jab with the clinic earlier on. We stayed there for a good hour. It was nice seeing him again and having all the kids visiting their Nenek (grandfather) after a long while. He was a happy man that day, which I saw in his eyes. Irfan had a terriyfing experience when he walked out the front door to check out the 'neighbourhood'. He didn't realise there was a black cat was relaxing at the porch. While chatting with my inlaws, suddenly we heard a loud scream, and it was Irfan, screeching back into the house. I assumed the cat must have come up to him to greet him... however he was not happy with the greeting perhaps!

Kids with grandparents... (notice Nasha's thigh)

Finally, we bid farewell to my inlaws and set ourself for our final journey back to Bandar. No other music is to be played other than Miss Sparks' tracks.

Driving on the road home was an opportunity for me to have some reflections on the day we had. I was actually surprised at myself to have managed to do what I have planned to do - from setting off early, to have managed cleaned the house, to have the kids visit the fishes at the Discovery centre, and to have met my inlaws. Of course, having extra hands (domestic helper) was a lot of help too!... It was a nice trip back, having all my kids in the car with me, and to have fulfilled all the things (small things) I deemed I may have not be able to do so, and within limited time frame.

I thought to myself again, that we are all given the strength and energy, and we should be blessed by that. It is how we use it and to what extent. And with determination, we can always achieve it. And it is not about the product, but how we get to it is worth thinking of. Anyhow, here is an article to share with about knowing your limits...

Oh and also our track of the day! ENJOY...

Cant Wait!!!

2008-05-25T08:23:00.004+08:00

... for the opening of the new movie 'Kungfu Panda' - out on 6th June (which also falls on my big girl's 4th bday!). Can't wait can't wait! Check out the trailers here! Enjoy...

LilyPie.com

2008-05-24T10:10:00.004+08:00

Found this site while reading someone else's blog, and thought it was real cute.

The product can be seen at the bottom of my blog page... just scroll down :)

You Give Me Fever

2008-05-24T09:51:00.003+08:00

The weather is so hot these days that both Aqilah and Irfan had high fever for about two days. Staying indoors is the only place to be - with full blast aircon!

Irfan was being all 'koala-bear' to me and lucky a month has passed since I gave birth.. - carrying him was a toughie...

Irfan looking well here - but with a high fever...

Umbrella... ella.. ella..

2008-05-23T14:30:00.000+08:00

I particularly like this picture taken of Aqilah (unclear - as she was moving alot and too fast!)... as it's hard to get all the 'equipment' at the same time and take a pic of it. Equipment/Settings:

1. hooded blouse

2. long pants

2. boots

3. umbrella

4. rain

5. wet ground

6. slightly drenched pants

I'm singing in the raaaaiinnn....

Happy Bday dear...

2008-05-23T12:00:00.000+08:00

Today marks hubby's birthday... Unfortunately we are unable to celebrate together as a new family (hubby on abroad-studies). The nearest we can get to celebrate is via videocall!! How convenient! I am still thinking whether I should buy a cake and let the kids blow the candles while he is on the other end of the call line looking on... Maybe too depressing to do so. Just let the kids sing him a birthday song would be good enough:) with kisses xoxo

Kids with their dad... strolling..

Happy 1mth Nasha...

2008-05-22T16:00:00.000+08:00

Coming from a mixed-racial family, my daughter had an opportunity to be blessed by my grandmother (her Great-grandmother) with a hokkien good-luck poem, 2 red-egss (eggshell coloured in red), and sweet mee-suah (white noodles). As a tradition, once the baby has turned a month old, her/his hair will be trimmed, and redeggs and sweet meesuah is to be eaten by everyone in the family. All my nieces and nephews have been blessed like so, and Nasha was lucky to be blessed as well :) She is the youngest of 13grandchildren of my parents, and 21great-grandchildren of my grandparents! May God Bless Us All...

Nasha & her Ah-Choh (great-grandma)

D Blog

2008-05-22T12:00:00.002+08:00

Yes... another blog for me. I think the older blog had not much of a kick to me ie you may see that there is nothing much going on.. let alone UPDATES! Sooo, during my spare spare moment during my maternity leave, nothing better to do then... CREATE A NEW ONE! Spent days finding, thinking hard and strong on an inspiring name for the blogsite and tada!.. ReensReflections. I had gone to the extent of creating odd names (velvetcream,... blacktallula,... chezelza.. etc), and nothing reflects me, and what I want the blog to be. These are just funky weird names that I find them cute, but too odd for my blog. I guess I've landed back on earth and created a much more simple and serene name to remember! of course a catchy one too..

Thanks to those who have put up with the previous blog...!

So anyway, continuing from my previous blog, Nasha is a month old today. Brought her to the hospital this morning thinking she would get her jab, but came to find that the hospital does not do 1mth jab anymore.. I was pretty relieved but at the same time thinking I have to bring her to another hospital/clinic to get her 1mth jab. This particular one (that I went too) does a package which provides 2,4,6mths jab (and with a cost)...