In His Time

I have 3 daughters now. And a pretty one too. Not I say one ah.

Well, I believe some of you can guess who “she” is. “She” is Barnabas, my son, a boy, male, got koo koo bird.

He looks like a girl because I refused to trim his hair and let them grow long. Reason being, I am waiting for his fringe to grow thicker and also I had bad experienced during his first hair cut.

If I were to live in US, I will sure look for good recommendation of hair saloon that provide good baby hair cut at LilaGuide.com. This website isn’t any typical baby stores. Go take a look at it and you would be surprise with the services that they offer.

My children love donuts. They can eat donut for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even the plain donut coated with sugar that my dad buys from the Malay stall they will sapu. I think it is because of the sweetness. Most children love sweets right.

Well, in Malacca, we don’t have J.Co. or whatever famous donut outlet. We only have Dunkin’ Donuts which I don’t like theirs. I can’t remember why but the first time I tried one, I told myself that I will never buy from them again. That was many years ago.

This one I got them from a small donut stall in Tesco. The stall is called Honey Donut. They donut looks so beautiful and tempting. I bought half a dozen and the chocolate inside out is way too much for me and my children.

My girls showing off their umbrella dress made by Jess. Just got them today. Thank you so much Jess. They love it but Belle’s dress is very tight at the chest. Gonna send it for alteration.

And they want more of these dress. After CNY, I told them.

Oh ya, when I let them try the dress on, Barnabas wanted it too. Since he did not get one, he wore Belle’s tappy tappy shoe.

My girls are growing up real fast. They are not interested in the children’s educational cartoon as much as last time. They can sit down with me to watch movies!

My girls have not watch Sister Act. I am sure if they watch it, they might like it as much as I do. I worried that they will ask me to bring them to Las Vegas after watching the movie.

If you ever plan to visit Las Vegas and want to get the best price for Las Vegas Hotels and Las Vegas Shows, please book them from BestofVegas.com. I am sure you will be amazed by the saving that they offer.

I read this poem a few days ago and was thinking that this is cute. Didn’t know that it comes with a tag too until this lovely lady, who still not yet reveal her face to blogging world, tagged me.

However below poem are not 100% true for me because I helped my mom to babysit my cousin from 2 months old when I was 18 years old and I was Mommy to her. I love her like my own daughter.

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

This poem has been passed around to the other blogging mommies below.

Here’s the first chain, to which you add your link at the bottom after mine.

1. Montessorimum
2. clumsy mommy
3. Sandra
4. VivianZ
5. AllThingsPurple
6. KittyCat
7. Mumsgather
8. In His Time

Well, I don’t normally do tag unless it requires less thinking. So it is ok if you don’t wanna do tag from me. I’ll just give you linky love.

My linky love goes to…
1. Michelle
2. Chooi Peng
3. Jesslyn
4. Sweatpea
5. Kidnus

As much as possible, I try not to complaint about my maid. I should be thankful that I have a helper now. But when it comes to my children’s well being, I cannot help it.

It has been a month that hubby went back to work, leaving my children under the care of the maid with the help from MIL. During this period I always returned home to a messy 3 musketeers and most of the time I will meet them outdoor, playing under the tree, in the tree and exposed to the afternoon heat with lots of mosquito bites. I don’t mind about the mosquito bite but the heat and other insects’ bite that troubled me.

Barnabas is much darker now compared to his sisters coz my girls spend less time outdoor compared to his brother. However, I did not say much about it as the maid has to be outdoor to clean the compound. She does not belong to me 100%. She is here to help MIL maintain the house and the compound.

But yesterday, I couldn’t help it but to “tegur” the maid. I was busy making the pineapple tarts and Barnabas wanted to nap. So I asked the maid to help put him to sleep. She carried him and walked away. Then I realized that she is not in the house, MIL told me that they are outside. She carried him outside to see the dog in the cage, under the hot sun! I told her not to let Barnabas go under the hot sun coz he is having runny nose. Then I continued making the tarts. She is still not in yet. Maybe my instruction wasn’t that clear. They are still out there. I called her to come in that instance and lectured her. Also reminded her that my children can only go outdoor after 5.30pm. She told me that they want to go out. Well, I told her that she is not to follow all their wishes. If possible they want to be outdoor the moment the open their eyes.

This is also part of my reason to resign. Cannot depend on the maid and MIL to mind my children. They are too soft and give in to all their wishes even if I reminded them many times not to.

Btw, I tendered my resignation today.

When it comes to education, all parents would want to give the best to their children; the same for me if I can afford it. If possible, I want to send my children to international school because I don’t have faith in my country’s education system. So, another option for me is to homeschool them because the homeschool syllabus is either from US, UK or Australia. The only negative effect to homeschooling is you will not be accepted in the local university. Oh well, by them my children will have many online degree programs to choose from. Capella University is one of them.

“This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

Their grandpa and grandma uses prescription eyeglasses and their grandpa kept misplacing his and ended up have to buy new ones. I think I will get a few of Zenni Optical $8 Rx Glasses. It is cheap and they shipped internationally too. At Best Thing Found: Zenni Optical their eyeglasses are every stylish too.

On ya, I heard from my mom that she and my dad wanted to sell Nyonya food at night market, I wonder whether they will be interested to sell eyeglasses from Great Discovery: Zenni Optical. hehe.

Old cars have no value now unless they are those antic cars. Some of my rich church members always donate car to the pastor or other church members that are without a car.

If you are living in US and have old junk to dispose and do not know who to give them too, please call Car Angel (www.carangel.com). It is a non-profit company that uses car and other donations to make videos for kids and teens.

I read from some mommies’ blog that their 3yo can remember their mobile phone number, office telephone number and their own number. Well there are pros and cons to it. What if they are the talkative child and blab the numbers to strangers? Imagine the phone bill will shoot up if they keep calling you when you are in the office. Office work will also be delayed to entertain them. Maybe you should inform the people who set up the Call Center VoIP Phone Systems to divert your numbers to their daddy instead. I am sure they won’t call again!

“Mommy, why cow eats grass?”

“So that the animals can have a bath.”

Looking at the cow chewing his grass in the rain.

“Mommy, animals can eat when they bathe?”

“Errmmm….ahhhh….Yes!”

Kidz Says is brought to you by Wilmington NC real estate.

Hubby buzz me on Gmail chat that his staff not coming to work tonight. So hubby has to work the whole day. Asking me to bring some clothes for him. I went with Belle coz Clarissa was taking her nap, Barnabas was at my mom’s. After he bathe, Belle and myself went shopping to buy “loose hamper” for my parent and ingredients for Nestum Cookies that I plan to make tomorrow. You see I don’t like to buy those ready made hamper coz most of the things are are not my preference and they are expensive.

Before we shop, we fill our tummy at KFC. Belle’s choice. “Mommy, I don’t want ice cream. It is not good for my stomach. My stomach is painful now. I need to eat a little bit. I like chicken.” Don’t you wish all our children is like Belle? hehe

We shared a plate of X-Meal. Chicken for Belle and Zinger for Mommy.

Why can’t we get like this???

Picture source

Ours looks so “dead”.

Anyway, I am hungry now! Waiting for hubby to come back to go for supper. That will be after 1am!!! No wonder I am FAT!

I was busy looking for the stuff in my invisible shopping list (hehe) and Belle kept pestering me to buy her hamster.

“Mommy, I want a hamster, let’s find the hamster house.”
“Mommy told you that you will only get a hamster when you are 7yo. How old are you now?”
“5yo but 5yo also can Mommy.”

To shut her up, I told her that she can buy one thing in the shopping centre. Not toys but something edible. Of all the junk food that she can pick, she chose Ferrero Rocher. “Belle, this chocolate is expensive lar, what about this one?” showed her Vochelle.

Shake her head, “I want this one. This one very nice Mommy.” Why lar you got so expensive taste??? What to do, promised her already right? Buy lor.

I also bought a smaller purple water bottle for Clarissa coz her current one is too big. Also bought a pink one for Belle coz hers leak from the top that caused her book to get wet.

On the way down from Giant, she grabbed a donut. One small drumstick ain’t enough for Belle.

Friday, no homework at all! Angry lah…give lar 8 pages. Then we have Friday, Saturday and Sunday to complete them! If this continues, I think I might get migraine. Pening! Pening!

So we did some reading yesterday. I took out the book about Lying! Before reading I asked her about that day when she lied to us just to find out whether she understand we were angry at her. At first she points her finger at Clarissa but when I ask a more specific question, she admitted. Oh ya..one funny line. “Mommy, when daddy carry me to put me inside the car, I was so strong. I kick my leg like this (showed me how she struggle and kick) and daddy cannot put me inside the car!”

I am so glad that she understood about telling the truth and not lying. I hope she won’t repeat it again. Honestly, I doubt. Kids mah.

Belle lied to us for the first time yesterday! All because of her homework.

She has 4 pages of Chinese strokes to be completed. She told me that this time it is simpler so I told her to finish them before I come home from office.

When I arrived home, she is sleeping and when I check her book, it is completed.

After she woke up, I asked her about it. Her reply, “I finished my homework already. Kakak help. Opps!” Quickly cover her mouth.

You asked Kakak to do your homework??? I asked many times and all I got is “No”.

Then daddy came home. I told him about it and it is his turn to interrogate her. hehe. She is very persistent in denying it even daddy threaten to put her in the car and throw her away.

So I went to ask the maid. She told me that Belle forced her to write 2 characters because she wanted to sleep already (that’s just an excuse, she has not been napping for a few days already). Belle pulled her t-shirt until she wrote it. Then reminded her not to tell me! Well, she did nap, out of guilt I guess.

Then I went to see Belle again who is still being interrogated by her daddy and told her that Kakak told me all about it. She still denies it! She is very persistent. So daddy starts the car and she ran to her grandma. Daddy carried her to the car, she screams and cries but she still denies it! I called the maid to come and she told us what happened in front of Belle. Belle still denies it! You see how persistent she is.

I didn’t know what happened after that caused I went to save Clarissa from the fall.

She finally admitted it. So we told her that she is never to ask the maid to do her homework but to wait for me to come home. Then there were apologies, forgives and hugs. She is all happy and bubbly again when I told her that I will no longer go to work after CNY.

Daddy wrote: Nipping it at the bud

Yesterday evening, Clarissa was playing at the swing with Barnabas and the maid. As I was walking out to get them. I saw Clarissa fell down while trying to get up on the swing by herself. This time she fell on her face! This is not good.

I was saying to myself, “Please God, no scratches or cuts on her face please.”

But then, the ground is covered with stones and cuts are inevitable. She got a two not so deep cut and lots of scratches on her cheek.

Now I am praying that they won’t leave any marks behind. If not, I need to send her to Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon. Girl mah; face must be flawless.

Updated ~ 24.01.08 6.15pm…

The two lines reminds me of the Red Indian girl.

Yesterday was the first day Belle brought home so many homework. It was 8 pages of Chinese characters to write and a page of Malay words. The moment we arrived home I flipped open her exercise book and tell her to write them. Then off I went to work.

As expected, only one page done when I arrived home from work. “Mommy, my hand got tired. I need to rest.”

So I took out her exercise book and get her to continue while I quickly swallow my dinner. Then went to fetch Barnabas from my mom’s and reminded Belle to not stop to rest!

I arrived home, “Mommy, my hand tired already.” *sigh* me not Belle.

I was extremely sleepy yesterday and her slowness really test my patience. Write one character paused for a few seconds…Hello, those are only lines. What is so difficult about it???

Thank God hubby took over and I fed them their dinner. No time for her to sit on the dining table to eat. Seeing how tense and stressful I am, hubby shooed me to bed.

I think ah, after I resigned and be a SAHM, I don’t think I would ever need weight loss pills to keep me slim. Stress from making sure Belle finishes her homework will make me skinny!

You know what hubby told her, “This is why daddy don’t like going to school.” Anyway, hubby helped make her homework fun by singing about it and asking her to follow along. Well, it was fun, she enjoyed doing her homework but she slept way after her bedtime. Maybe I can do the same if I have the whole day with her.

Daddy wrote: Homework and stomach

I finally bought the electric toothbrush. Cheap ones; Tesco brand; RM16.90 for trying out whether my children would want to use them. Only Belle likes it but not Clarissa and Barnabas. So I tried it myself. It feel so ticklish when it brushes over my gum. No wonder Clarissa doesn’t want it.

Yesterday, she willingly asks for her normal toothbrush and brushes her own teeth. No need to force her because she doesn’t want me to brush her teeth with the electric toothbrush. Well, in away I managed to get her to brush her teeth. Mission accomplished.

I have read a few mommies bought the electric toothbrush for their children. I am thinking to do the same too to encourage my children to brush their teeth. I have no problem in getting Belle to brush her teeth. She has a set of beautiful white teeth.

Sadly I can’t say the same about Clarissa and Barnabas. Clarissa refused to brush her teeth even though I tried to force open her mouth. She will struggle with me; like wanna slaughter chicken like that.

Barnabas has uneven teeth; overlapping and some out, some in. This is due to eating hard food when his teeth just started to emerge. He only started teething at 8 mths and by then he is already eating lots of stuff. Since his teeth overlaps, the more I have to pay attention to brushing his teeth.

I hope they will enjoy brushing with their new gadget soon and no more smelly mouth or green products stuck in between their teeth.

I was surprise to see my BIL came back for bags of grated pineapple. MIL is going to make pineapple tarts this year??? I have been living with her for almost 7 years and I never once seen her make pineapple tarts.

So I asked. She told me that she wanted to try it out. She did make last year with one of her son in laws. So yesterday was the preparation of the pineapple tarts filling. She asked me to call my mom to ask for my mom’s recipe.

I think ah, this year we have maid so there is someone to do all the hard job. Hehe.

My children observing the maid cooking the pineapple. My girls love pineapple tarts and this year they would be able to witness the making of pineapple tarts from scratch.

Wanna know How To Make Pineapple Tarts Filling? Click this link.

He pointed to the bicycle and wanted to climb it. So I lift him up and let him sit on the seat. And the above is what he did. He holds the handle, balances himself then let go of the handle and stood up right for a few seconds!

Haiyo! This boy ah, clever to show off.

Then he sits down and started to paddle! Huh??? I was so surprised that he can paddle. Don’t who taught him!

Hey, I just realised that Valentine’s day is just a week after Chinese New Year. I totally forgotten about it as I was only thinking about the Chinese New Year celebration and my resignation date. hehe.

Thank God couponchief.com reminded me. Now I need to head to the website and try to dig the best Valentine’s gift for my children’s daddy.

I wonder whether he would be happy if I get the diet plan from Weight Watchers. His tummy is growing too!

Or chocolates from Fannie May. If he doesn’t want it, his children are always there to help. I will around too when he opens his gift. Family must share right? hehe.

On the first night, I left the door slightly open, just in case he woke up in the middle of the night to look for me. No problem dozing off for me on the first night.

On the 2nd night, I left the door slightly open and left one of the dining hall lights on, just in case he can’t find his way to my room. Contemplated to bring him back to sleep beside me but sleepiness took over me.

On the 3rd night, I just can’t sleep because I thought of him all the time. Sneak out and bring him back to me. Aahhh!!! It feels so good and fulfilling to feel his warmth as he snuggles at my side.

On the 4th night, that’s last night. I wanted him back badly but I know hubby wouldn’t let me. Well, he managed to get my thoughts of him away for a lil while then we talk until we fell asleep.

Suddenly I heard cries. Not one but all 3 of them. Yay! They missed me after all. I jumped out of my bed and ran out. All 3 were standing outside their room with only Clarissa crying. She wanted to shee-shee. I think she cried too loud that caused the other 2 to wake up.

Well, they wanted me to sleep with them after that and I willingly obliged. Hubby doesn’t need me anymore, he is snoring away. Hehe

I think I need self assessment to find out whether it is really time for me to let go. I roughly know the answer already.

This is one of the books that I bought from Leah. And this is my girls’ favorite. They can ask me to read this book every night without getting bored of it.

I got a shock when I came to this page. In my heart I was saying, “Please don’t ask me where the sperm comes from and how it come.” I am not ready for this stuff yet!!! If they ask, I will get them to ask their daddy!

The moment I have been waiting for… “Mommy, what is sperm?”

Pointing to the picture.

“There, that one is sperm lor.”
“That cute lil thing, Mommy?”
“Yes, Belle.”
“Mommy, the sperm can make baby ah?”
“Yes, the sperm goes into the egg and the egg will split many many times to make a baby.”
“Then the baby stay in the Mommy’s stomach until it grows bigger and bigger then the Mommy gives birth ah?”
“Clever, Belle.”
Quickly flip to the next page.

That was on the first day. A few days ago, she asked how the baby comes out. Then I got panic! I am sure she will ask me the Where and How question about the sperm soon. I think I need to hide that book!

****

Last week I bought a pack of sanitary pad for the maid and asked Belle to hand it to her. After giving it to the maid, she came to me saying this… “Mommy, Kakak grown up already.” Huh??? I nodded. I wonder who told her that. Me??? I can’t remember what I told her when she saw blood on my pad when we bathe together!

****

It seems that other mommies are blogging about the birds and the bees too today. Hmmm? Is this the “mating” season? LOL!

Elina on The E Word!
Chinnee on Yeah! Mummy is getting married!!
Mamapumpkin on Just before bathtime today…..

I wonder who else is in the same boat as us.

He is no longer Mommy’s boy, in a way. It has been 2 nights, he slept without me beside him and in a separate room, with his sisters. His sisters shared the same bed but my brave boy slept all by himself.

It looks so easy for him. Sleeping through the night without waking up. But it is not easy for me! I had problem dozing off because I kept thinking about him.

What if he needs someone to hug? I hope my bolster is sufficient.
What if suddenly he gets hungry at night? That hardly happen.
What if he feels like snuggling under my armpit? I left the door slightly open in case he wakes up to look for me.

For the past 2 nights, I wish he would wake up and look for me but he didn’t! I is sad!

On the positive side, it is good that he is detached from me. Then I won’t worry too much when I need to leave him for honeymoon or work.

I think this is the reason Clarissa slept during class in kindy.

We brought them to check out the newly opened Carrefour on school day. We don’t like going town on weekends due to the jams and crowds. So happened on that day, they did not take their nap too.

This was what happened during the 20 mins journey there.

Hubby and I were talking. We were thinking of upgrading the Internet Cafe to a real cafe by getting espresso machines but then I wonder whether it would sell since most of our customers are Malay who are not into “expensive” coffee. Oh well, it was just a thought.

As we were chatting, my girls wanted to talk too but we told them to wait till we finished. By the time we ended our conversation, there was silence. I was expecting Belle to start asking her questions.

When I look back, this was what I saw first.

Then I turn my back, I saw this.

This is how they shared the small space on the back seat of my old junk.

On not so sleepy days, they will be fighting for the space. This shows that they are way too sleepy to fight!

Look! My girls busy helping me fixing the bookshelf I bought from Tesco just now. Belle did quite well in screwing in the screw inside the hole. Maybe, I should bring her to my office and help me out tighten some screws on my office desks.

Anyway, until now, the bookshelf is not up yet because when I tried to combine one piece to another Barnabas pulls it away and snatches my screwdriver. I gave up and leave it to their daddy.

These are the books that I bought from Leah. I paid USD36 and RM10 for all the above. I got the Character books, Little Readers, Junior Science Explorer, Peter and Jane, I Wonder Why about Stars and Space, a book about Dinosaurs, another Science book with cool experiment and Where’s Spot?.

We (hubby n I) went to her house last night to “sapu” the above before other mommies come and grab it all. Hmmm…I am kiasu too eh? hehehe

I am glad that I got the books. Belle did not even ask for my computer to play. Once she arrived home from my mom’s today, she straight away look for the books and go threw them.

Now she is reading with her daddy.

In 5 years old class, the children will be given homework. So now everyday I cannot be lazy anymore and have to start digging Belle’s bag to check whether she has homework to be done.

On Tuesday, she had colouring to be done. She was very happy to start doing her homework but after a few strokes, excuses starts to come out from her mouth.

“Mommy, you help me colour. My hand is getting tired already.”
“Mommy, I colour not nice. You colour for me.”
“Mommy, my hand getting tired how?”

“I’ll chop it off and throw it to the dogs.” Notti Mommy eh?

Yesterday, there was some more colouring to be done. Colour the same picture and colour the picture that is different.

Aiya, why must colour all the time? Circle only not enough meh? No wonder children so fast get tired of colouring. Everything needs to colour.

Anyway, I helped and she was telling me that she wanted to colour like Chee Ee, her classmate. So I asked whether that girl speak Chinese or English to her. Belle told me both.

“Mommy, I don’t speak Chinese. I am not Chinese.”

“No! I am English Girl!”

Ok lar, English, English lar. Your Mommy also doesn’t know Chinese and she looks like a Chinese!

I live in a kampong house. As usual a kampong house will tend to have extension as the years goes by. It started with one simple house with 3 rooms and window all around it. The house is well lighted and bright.

Twenty years later the family grew and there is a need for more bedrooms. The extension begins and the windows are “moved” into the bedroom and the house became poorly lighted.

I am talking about the house that I am living now. I really hate to go home to a dark house. I know MIL wants to save electricity but at least turn on a table lamp. I don’t think it uses a lot of electricity.

So I am thinking of getting one or two table lamp to the house. As I browse through the net for ideas, I came across Upscale Lighting Home Page.

I love this Spiral table lamp with can be found under Hot Deals on Upscale Lighting section. Their “Hot Deals” section is frequently updated and we can savings up to 50%.

Looking for more incredibly low prices items, then check out their Clearance on Upscale Lighting. Those items there are no longer in production too but you won’t definitely get the same elsewhere with such low prices.

Check them out, you might find something that you have been looking for.

When Belle was 4 years old, I never receive any “bad” complaint from the teacher until towards the end of the year when she is more familiar with the kindy, the teacher and have more friends. She became more playful and did not pay attention during lesson. But then the teacher did not complaint to me. It was the remark in her report card.

Today is only the 2nd week of kindy and I got a complaint about Clarissa! She lay her face down on her pillow and sucks her finger! Did not pay attention to the lesson that was going on. tsk tsk tsk

Me: Clarissa, you cannot sleep in class, ok?
Belle: Yes! Teacher said, cannot sleep and cannot cry in school.
Clarissa: But Mommy, teacher scold me already.

When she was 3, the teachers always reminded me to bring her pillow (bantal busuk) along coz without it she will cry.

This year she is in 4 years old class and there is real lesson now. From this Friday onwards, the bantal busuk will not follow her to school anymore!