Adel turns 9 months yesterday!

Adel sayang,

Mummy should have posted this out yesterday but I was too bogged down with work and stuff and I didn't get a chance to do so. Anyhoo, happy 9 months to you! OK, your accomplishments thus far..you can now definitely crawl and you occasionally creep-ala-commando style, you can stand on your own for a good 5 seconds and then you'd just land on your bum in a thump! You prefer me over everyone else ;). You definitely have a temper which I think you got it from me ;p. You like to stand up and fall down in your cot. You prefer the letter "I"over other alphabets, we're still puzzled about that. You scolded the ball this morning because it won't budge from behind the chair. You try to make conversation with a cat and we call this neighbour cat "cat-cat", so it's permanently ingrained in your head..hehe. Mummy's looking forward to your first birthday sayang!! Can't wait! Ok, have to wrap up now, I still have work to do *sob*. I love you. I love you so much. I love you so so much. I love you so so so so so so so so so so so so much. Hehe. Before I forget, you now have 4 teeth!! Yay!

Ooooo..you have a fave lullaby! That song called "Deliver us" sung by Ofra Haza from the Prince of Egypt. Will tell you more about that later! 


Love you sayang,

Mummy xxx

Happy Belated Birthday Sheena!

 

Hey, little sister, I love you mucho, mucho! 

***UPDATE***

My sister just emailed me a pic of the inside of the cupcake

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Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkk!!

Aidil Adha 2010

So yesterday was Aidil Adha. It came and go oh so very quickly. Am starting to forget what I did yesterday, lol!

I was very (very) happy that Daddy came to our house for Aidil Adha. Lately, I've sensed the sudden need of being close to my family. My emotions nowadays are definitely worst than a roller coaster ride. So yesterday kinda did me good because I get to spend time with Daddy, Aunty Alang and my sister. Funny enough, when it comes to family, I'm not the type of person who would openly show my affection. But strangely enough, even I can't defy the need to be close to my relatives. So yesterday really made my day and I thank Allah for every possible chance I get to spend with them. Because I love them so much.

Yesterday started with a breakfast of lemang, rendang daging and my home cooked kurma ayam! Then we (Adel, hubby and I. Daddy stayed at home because he wasn't feeling too shabby :( ) headed to the mosque for the qurban. We paid for the second portion of Adel's aqiqah. We did the first one in May but because we have a son, it is recommended to aqiqah 2 portion of lamb or cow.

See No. 7!

Adel's aqiqah is lembu or cow number 4. By the way, this took place at Masjid Muadz Bin Jabal. Setiawangsa. Gotta love this masjid, the qurban was so systematic and carefully planned. 

Adel's lembu

Adel and I didn't stay there too long because Adel was sleepy. So we went to the car and waited for hubby while he waits for our portion. Afterward, we went to PIL and had laksa Johor and no, they are not from Johor. Adel was super clingy yesterday and I was super happy that he was that clingy! Adel's clingy-ness was seriously pure exaggeration (to the irritation of others)! And I loved every moment of it *evil grin*.

We headed back home almost immediately because we left Daddy alone at home for too long. I prepped Daddy's lunch and then all of us had a siesta. Daddy packed up and left us at 5pm so we decided to leave together to Mummy's grave. 

I always (without fail) choked up when I visit Mummy. I miss her so much. I'd usually sit next to her grave and say loudly in my head that I miss her and I love her so much. That she now has a ferocious grandson whom she would definitely adore and go crazy with. I'd say all kinds of things and pretend that she's listening to me. Oh, Mummy, how I wish you were still here. There is never a day that goes by where I don't think of you. I keep your pictures around the house to remind me of your strength and courage and also as a reminder to Adel that his grandma was eloquently pretty and tasteful. I miss you.

We went to Aunty Alang's later for more food! We had nasi something, lasagna, macaroni and cupcakes. I wish I had pictures of the food, was busy stuffing my face non-stop! My cousins makes killer cupcakes!! Yesterday's flavour was cookies and cream and it was soooo good! But I had to gallop everything quickly because Adel was clingy and would not let me out of his sight for long. I cannot complain and do not want to complain because I enjoy his clingy-ness, remember! My sister was there too and we exchanged daging qurban, lol! 

Around 8pm, we left and headed back home and quickly called it a day!

W for Weekend

My weekend was packed with interesting albeit unexpected things. I'll do a pictorial post this time round for time is of the essence and am rushing on a couple of things today.

Friday, 12 November 2010

We had dinner at Sakura Kristal, Jusco Setiawangsa. I had Indonesia Fried Rice. I've been inseparable from rice ever since I was pregnant with Adel. It's like a curse because I was so good at avoiding rice during my dieting days, now rice is the only comfort food I have. Plus, I think I'm obsessed with all things and dishes associated to Indonesia. I do have Indonesian blood but it has over the years been diluted with so many different ethnic blends. My latest craze and crave I think.

Hubby had some Malay chop-chop. Can't really recall the name of the dish but it was meat alright. It was so so.

Adel behaved exceptionally well that night Good boy sayang! But he was sleepy, as you can see from the picture, kan?

Saturday, 13 November 2010

I made breakfast! I have not been cooking since after Eid I think. I've been so busy and selfish. I did not have time to cook anything nowadays. But I had the urge to make pancakes, sausages and cheesy scrambled eggs on Saturday. The pancakes was a disaster! Only because I ran out of flour and the batter became runny like no one's business. What the heck, it was still edible but it was definitely far from delicious, lol!

Hubby wanted to go to his friend's workshop near Batu Caves and coincidentally my sister and my BIL was also there but they were actually heading to a different shop. Adel and I hang out with them there because we thought it was much more fun than accompanying my hubby with his ailing car to his friend's workshop. Adel was very clingy. He won't even let my sister or BIL or hubby carry him. I was gleaming with pride, lol! Mummy's boy :) As you can see from the picture here, Adel had a taste of his first bike ride in Batu Caves *grin*. That's my sister holding him which explains his less than happy look.

We headed to Kelana Jaya afterwards because hubby had found a new hobby. He calls it his new hobby but I call it mid-life crisis. Will tell you more later. Anyhoo, we were so hungry after going around in circles in Kelana Jaya and we wanted to have lunch badly so we went to Cineleisure in Damansara and had lunch at Tony Romas. This is the starter, some kind of fried onions. Merepek I tell you! Onions? For starter? Eh, kerepek bawang is much more tastier than this!

But because we were extremely hungry, we did not let it go to waste, we almost finished it, lol!

This was mine. Garlic and rosemary chicken something. I can't remember. It was so so jugak. But I was soooooooooo famished.

And I finished it *bats eyelashes*.

Hubby had some macho burger. It tastes like any other burger does. Nothing special here.

Adel had a balloon to play with!

The most delicious dessert ever! This is like the best dessert I have ever tasted. Period. I think it's called Apple Crisp A la Mode. It has granola, baked apples in heavy sugar and cinnamon syrup served with a heap spoonful of ice cream. Because we were so full after a generous course of starters and mains, we didn't finish this but we told them to tapau this for us. And I was deliriously happy that I had this  again for dinner, lol!

Sunday, 14 November 2010

Aunty Alang called me several times that morning because she wanted to know how to make Pavlova. It was Uncle Mansor's birthday yesterday so she wanted to bake him that. Happy Birthday Uncle!

We didn't have breakfast because we were still full from yesterday's meal. But we had lunch though at Ayam Penyet Ria near Ampang Point. Not as good as the one in Wangsa Walk though hubby claims it's just the same. And then, we went off again to Kelana Jaya. Hubby couldn't get over his new found hobby.

 

Later that night, I was out doing laundry at the utilities area and had the strangest feeling when I came in to the living room. I couldn't see hubby and Adel there. They weren't in their rooms either. And then I heard a 'click-click' noise coming from the store room. And this was what I saw.

Hubby, in his boxer, was practicing his swing or putting, or whatever you call it and Adel, the adorable cheeky guy, seated in his high chair was daddy's little loyal spectator! The sight of this was so hilarious I tell you! I laughed out so loud that it gave me tummy aches afterward!! Hubby and his mid-life crisis, lol!  

So that was what we did over the weekend!

Foodie Thursday

I had a lot to eat yesterday *evil grin*. 

Exhibit 1

Kak Ani bought this from San Terri Cottage at BSV. Do you want to know what's inside?

Tadaa! The top one is called Black Magic and the below one is called Chantily. Both were just yummeh!! My personal favourite has to be Black Magic. The dark chocolate cake with all its yummy gooeyness, it just melts in your mouth! Chantily was light and fluffy, not to sweet, just perfect. Because I love chocolates and I'm being bias here, Black Magic was just, well..magical and oh-so-delicious! In essence, it's better than Chantily.

Exhibit 2

Who would have thought that KFC now sells egg tarts?

I didn't. And I could not believe my eyes when I saw this:

The inside? Mind the chicken ;p

Portuguese egg tarts! The taste? Again, not too sweet. These desserts seems to be hitting the right button! It's quite tasty and I am quite surprised, I tell you! Will definitely purchase them in the future.

Exhibit 3

Hubby and I had din-din at this place called Lerk Thai in Jusco, Setiawangsa.  We had this:

The drinks were made from Serai and Pandan! Mine was Pandan and it was very refreshing! Hubby had Serai and it tasted a bit funky but sweet. The drinks was nice and it definitely cleansed our palette.

This is Ayam Pandan. There are 2 pieces and the whole plate costs RM10 so technically it's RM5 each. I was happy with it because the chicken was boneless and it was very tasty. RM10 well spent if you ask me, lol!

I had Pad Thai. Pad Thai has always been a favourite of mine. But this one just massacred all the other Pad Thais. It was sooooooooooooooooo sweet. Like yucks! I didn't finish it. It was so hard to eat. I like mine hot, sour and spicy. But this was just wrong, wrong, wrong. The chef must hang himself this instantly! Such an embarrassment and disappointment to have cooked this appalling dish. Shame on you!

Hubby had Belachan Fried Rice (?!). So not adventurous, lol! He said it tasted bad but I had some of it and I liked it. But again, maybe I'm being bias because I love belachan, so I have different set of views altogether. To me, belachan is like the best invention ever created!

And we had this for dessert, lol! 

OK, am going bananas now. Too much eating yesterday.

Please show me this post, if and when I whined about not losing any weight.

Many thanks *winks*

Life Questions

I had lunch at Bangsar with my colleagues today. I saw a couple with their 2 or 3 year old son. The boy was super adorable and was very opinionated. I thought to myself, what would Adel be like when he's that old? Opinionated as well? I don't mind. I'd definitely want him to be loud, outspoken and of course, opinionated. In short, like me ;p.

And then I went off to a bakery to gaze at the buns and cakes. There were primary school boys there dressed in sports attire and back packs planning on making acquisitions of mexican buns. Again, I thought to myself, what would it be like for me when Adel is prudent enough to handle this kind of transactions? Can he handle it? Would he still be my darling baby once he is able to comprehend the complexities of life? Will he cope? Can I cope with the transition?

Life is full of questions and uncertainties.

*sigh*

Deepavali 2010

Happy Deepavali Malaysia!

I don’t know if it’s just me or it is really happening but I sense that we don’t have enough Deepavali ads on the telly. We have abundance of Raya and CNY ads but why is it that we don’t have enough ads for Deepavali? I’m just saying that in good spirit of equality and 1 Malaysia. All races should be treated equally, including having a fair share of festive ads on the telly. My two cents worth for today anyway ;p

Back to the subject, I spent my wee morning at the office on Deepavali. *shoots head*. Left home when both hubby and Adel was still asleep, reached office to get some job done for an hour, grab breakfast for both hubby and I and head straight back home. Hubby and Adel were still asleep when I got there!   

We didn’t do much except for substantive amount of lazying around! Adel and hubby went swimming and I was the designated photographer. 

"Just the two of us"

Flat out after swimming in the pool

We later had dinner with daddy, my sister and my BIL at Al Rawsha in Kampung Pandan, a Lebanese restaurant. We’ve been to Al Rawsha before but that was at Jalan Damai I think. So the Kampung Pandan was a newly erected building which looks like a castle and it was friggin’ hot! Seriously! The heat reminded us of Madina or Mecca so much and the interior was that of a castle or traditional mosque. Food was so so lah. Service was also so so. Will go there again but maybe in another year’s time, lol!

The rest of the weekends were like usual. We stayed at home most of the time. Here are some pictures:

dismantling Thomas the tank engine at Wadi Al Farook

Destroying mummy's Harper's Bazaar or was it Her World magazine

Helping mummy with the laundry

Btw, I think the weekend did me some good and the dark clouds has disappeared! All I needed was my sister, daddy and aunty :). I needed to see familiar faces and am planning on doing that more often!

Dark cloud over my head

When will this end?

Gloom doom

I have been feeling gloomy for the past couple of days. Everything is just 'bleurrrgh' to me. But this guy brightens up my day even when I'm in the gloomiest region.

I love you sayang!

I am his MOTHER

I’ve been having a lot of personal issues lately and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and soul-searching. I’ve concluded that I take motherhood and parenting very seriously. Only because I’m a working mum and I don’t really get to splurge on time with my little one. And maybe because of this I get super sensitive. Like seriously sensitive. Like no one’s beeswax. Once in a while I get insecure on my parenting abilities. And I don’t appreciate it when people criticize my inexperienced and untested parenting skill and do things behind my back.

Adel is a hyper active baby. He cannot be still. He always has something on his mind and he’s on the move constantly. That’s not an issue to me but it does exhaust me sometimes. We normally (read: normally) strap him up in his car seat when we travel. But lately, since he’s getting a bit mature for his age, he wants out from the car seat. I do occasionally give in to his wants but would normally put him back in the car seat once he has had enough fun. This time around because we (with other people) traveled quite far with a few other passengers, Adel refuses to seat in his car seat. But he sits on my lap and sometimes goes sit on other people’s lap too. I don’t know what came over him but he cried non-stop. Like seriously crying and wailing his lungs out as if he had been possessed. Hubby was driving at that time and I got all panicky. Other people tried to calmed him but to no avail. Adel did not stop crying and things had gotten really serious. I lashed out at hubby. I needed help. But he was silent throughout the ordeal.

I carried Adel and pat him on my shoulder. He would stop crying for 5 seconds or so and continued wailing non-stop. Hubby pulled over, stopped the car and brought Adel outside the car. He stopped crying. We decided to change his diaper and gave him a teaspoon of gripe water because we felt that he was having an upset tummy. Other people interjected saying that he does not want to be strapped in his car seat. And he’s going nuts because he was restricted to the confines of his car seat. I argued saying that he was not in his car seat when it happened and he was perfectly OK when we went back to my dad’s hometown. Then those people interjected again saying that during that time, Adel was still little and does not know the meaning of restriction. I went livid. I held my tongue. If I had it my way I would have gone ballistic and shot them with my uncultured and uncivilized mouth. Out of respect I held back and I even held my tears. Hubby did not defend me.

After giving Adel some gripe water, he looked OK and we hit the road again. This time, hubby sat with me at the back just in case Adel went bananas again. He was alright and fell asleep. I placed him in his car seat immediately after he dozed off. He had a good one hour plus nap. When we finally reached another stop, Adel woke up and was a tad bit cranky but he’s always like that when he wakes up from a nap. When other people asked how he was in the car, I said he was OK and the crying fiesta he had earlier was attributed to the upset tummy. Clearly he settled down after a dose of gripe water. Maybe he did go berserk because he was restricted but that was not the main reason why it happened. I know that. Because I am his MOTHER.   

Another reason why I’ve been feeling awful lately is because it has only made known to me that Adel has been eating other foodstuffs without my knowledge. I am very careful and selective when it comes to feeding Adel. I do a lot of research on how and what can a baby eat when they are at a certain stage of life. Maybe I’m a control freak but wouldn’t you if you’re a first time mother? Adel has been getting this annoying bumpy rash on his body. It puzzled me as to what has caused him to have those rashes. Because I thought I knew what he has been eating. I’d usually tell that person on what to feed Adel with. Only a couple of days back I came to know that Adel has been eating Gardenia bread dunk in milk. I, again, went livid. But I said nothing. I don’t care what you dunk the stupid bread in! He is my child. You should ask me what he can or cannot eat. Maybe it is edible for his age but we don’t know if it can cause him to have allergic reactions to it. It irritates the hell out of me. I involuntarily put my trust in you to care for my baby and you do this behind my back. I told hubby about this and he confirmed that he knows Adel has been eating bread. So, you and this other person know about this and dare not ask me whether it’s OK? Need I repeat myself? I am his MOTHER. Hence, I have all the flippin’ right in the world to know about this and all other things associated with Adel.

Their ignorant or plain stupid attitude has taken a toll on my life and my marriage. I felt disregarded, humiliated, useless and pathetic. I have been crying for days. It’s affecting me a lot. To some, maybe I’m overreacting. I concede. But I have all the right in the world to overreact. I have earned those rights. Because I am his MOTHER.