What a week it was. I put in 12hrs daily at work, slept at 1am 2am; even worked on Thaipusam day and still, I couldn’t finish what I should have finished.

Zara had really high fever last night, almost reaching 41degrees. Schools are the best places to pass on germs!
She was sweating profusely in her sleep one minute, and then another, she woke me up saying, “Mum, I’m very cold.”. True enough, her hands were cold and she was shivering.  I stayed up almost the whole night to watch over her, give her suppository, sponge her.

This morning when we asked if she was ok, and if we should bring her to see a doctor, she said “I’m feeling alright. I just feel very tired only.” How comforting to hear this.

Zaria woke up with a slight temparature too. Sigh! What bad timing, as I’ll be away for a week for work, and I’ll be worried about them. Tonight, Daddy will be looking after Zara, while Jelly will look after Zaria.

While I was packing, there was a thunderstorm, and Zara was accompanying me.
“Mummy, I don’t want you to go Japan.”
“Mummy has to, mummy’s boss wants to meet with mummy.” (can’t say ‘work’ because she told me I could work at home)
“Mummy, I want you to play with me.”
“Mummy will play with you when mummy comes back ok?”
Then there was a loud thunder, and she said, “Mum, you hear or not? Even the thunder don’t want you to go! See. Mummy, don’t go mummy.”

Wait till the girls are bigger, and both are able to say such things! *sigh*

Hope they will get well soon, and Daddy will take good care of them.

Just before she turned 1, there were occasions where Zaria would do a poo, and she would stand still in a frozen state and utter, “Poo Poo”.
3 weeks ago, when I checked with Jelly on Zaria’s bowel movement, Jelly told me Zaria has been doing her business in the toilet bowl. “She said poo poo mum (that’s the Filipino pronunciation for Maam), I put her in the toilet bowl, she poo poo mum.”

I didn’t believe Jelly, as well as Zaria’s ability.
It was the same story Jelly gave me for the next 2 weeks, although there will be occasions where Jelly said Zaria did it on the diaper. Still, it’s hard to believe what Zaria could do.

Yesterday, while I was taking care of Zaria, she suddenly froze, and said, “Poo Poo” and held out her hand (to indicate she wanted to be held to walk).
I quickly asked, “Meimei want to poo poo is it?”
Still with hand outstretched, she repeated, “Poo Poo”. and then had the expression that she’s pushing something out.
I did a quick check of her diaper, and saw a stool just being pushed out. Yikes.
In an urgent voice I told her, “Meimei wait, mummy bring you to the toilet.”. In a dash, I removed her diaper and sat her on the toilet bowl. “Meimei can poo poo now. Mmmm Mmmm.. Mmm Mmm.” (urging her).
She sat still and really did it! She did 2 more big poops, and then wanted to get down. Probably an indication she’s done!

I didn’t believe what Jelly told me, but when I saw it myself, I was really amazed. Even Daddy think this girl is unbelievable. And there was no concious effort to toilet trained Zaria. Not when she’s still so young though.

Zara was able to tell us she’d done a poo only after the fact at 18 months. Zaria hasn’t reached 13 month yet, and she is able to tell us before she actually does it! I find this really amazing.

See what we got in the mails the last 2 months.

♥For Zara♥

A beautiful hand made dress from Jesslyn.

A sexy dress/top with crocheted word “Zara” from someone who doesn’t want to be named (just in case everybody ask her to do one for them).

♥For Myself♥

A practical bag holder from DR.

And a set of Dove items with a tote (which I gave them to Jelly, since I don’t think I’ll ever use them) and a t-shirt from Dove (which says, “Be yourself. Be Beutiful.”) that I like very much, for writing this; all the way from US.

And also greeting cards from May and Hui Sia!

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! ♥Muaks♥

My google ranking is ZERO now! (actually not just now, but since Jan 1st)

Daddy is not around, so I have to send Zara to school in the mornings, getting stuck in the heavy traffic!

Only 1 maid at home, cannot do my own things or work after 6:30pm until the girls are asleep.

Zara throwing lots of tamtrums, probably missing Tuyam, and maybe also because she’s tired sleeping late and waking up early for school.

So many escalations lately at work. Working late all the time!

I want to do this tooo…..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

(but then I’ll be careful and not knock my head so hard until I get a permanant bruise on my forehead)
(this also explains why I have not been visiting your blogs)

After 8years of working with us, Tuyam finally decided to go home for good, to get married and start a family.

She may not be the most efficient or productive maid, but we’re used to each other. She cooks well, we trusted her, and Zara was in her care since day 1 (this was when Tuyam picked up most of her English). I vent my frustration to her about Daddy, In-laws and sometimes work (whether or not she understood or able to fully comprehend me, she listened).

Yesterday, we drove her to the airport and bid her farewell. Only my Filipino maid, Jelly, was in tears, Tuyam has been her companion since she started working with us in March 2007.

All of us have been preparing Zara for Tuyam’s departure, but I think she didn’t know that this time her kakak wasn’t coming back anymore (unlike previous years where Tuyam went home for holidays and came back). Zara has been saying things like, “I’m going to lock all the doors, so kakak cannot go home.” or “Kakak go back Indonesia, buy me mangos and princess bajus (Malay : clothes) when you come back ok?”

Last night before sleeping, Zara told me, “Mummy I want kakak.” When I told her kakak has already gone, she replied, “I’m going to take a rope and catch the aeroplane. Then I’m going swing the aeroplane so everybody will get dizzy and the plane cannot fly any more. I’ll bring kakak home!” She then came back to reality and said, “We’ll go Indonesia for holiday and visit kakak when kakak get married. Or kakak will come for holidays, right?” That’s what Daddy had agreed, we’ll visit Tuyam sometime this year in Indonesia, or she can always stay with us when she comes to Malaysia for holiday.

Even Zaria is missing Tuyam, this morning she woke up and started calling out, “Kakak.. kakak…”

Bye bye Tuyam, you may not be the best maid but you’d been our companion and we will all miss you.

It’s getting really interesting with Zaria, who starts to say words here and there based on her understanding of things and her perception of the world.

She calls a banana, Nana
Any type of fruits besides banana to her is Ah-Per (as in Apple).

A cat to her is, Cat (evolved from AO).
A duck to her is Duck duck
Any other furry animals besides a cat is Eh-bit (as in Rabbit).
Any flying creatures, birds, bugs is Bird bird

She calls every body except Jelly.
Zawa or Jeh-jeh for Zara
Papa for Daddy
Mummy for me
Kakak for Tuyam
Yeh-Yeh for FIL
Ah-Ter for older looking men and Kor kor for younger looking boys.
Bay-Bee for toddlers and babies.
And she calls herself “Meh-mei” for Mei-mei

When she wants milk, she calls for me, “Mummy” (signs milk) and says “Milk”(yes, perfect sounding), then she’ll proceed to lie down on the bed or point to the sofa where I normally feed her.
After feeding, she likes to press on my breast and cheekily says, “Pee Peet” while flashing a smile.

She knows when to use Please. E.g.
Request for biscuit, “Ker Ker (Biscuit), (points to the biscuit, and then to her palm which is “more” or “want” sign) “Pis”
Wants me to get her the doll, “Doh Doh! (points to the doll, and then to her palm) Pis.”
Wants to go some where, “Go (points to the location), pis.”

She likes to stroke people and says “Ah Yang” (Sayang, Malay : Pat lovingly).
She likes to be held and walk about now, she says “Walk walk” and holds out her hand to be assisted.
She answers “K” for OK or Yes. E.g. “Zaria wants to go upstairs”; she’ll answer “K” and smiles.
She says NO by either saying “No” or makes the sound “Ugh!” while frowning.

Once we saw Zara snatching a toy from Zaria, while saying “This is Jiejie’s!” and Zaria shouted back, “Meh-Mei!” .
Another time, Zara tried to replace a toy Zaria was holding with something less interesting, and Zaria shouted, “No!”. Zara replied with a “Yes”. And Zaria responded with another “No!”. It was cute seeing them talk to each other like that (Maybe it won’t be so cute any more when the real verbal fight begins).
Then today, when Daddy showed her his pair of socks next to hers, and said, “Zaria, see, Daddy’s socks so BIG.”. Instead, Zaria smiled and pointed at him “BIIIIG Papa!”

I asked Daddy if these were a fluke shot, but Daddy said it can’t be, based on the way she interacts and communicate with us. She is doing as well as her sister in terms of language development at 1 year old. Fun!

During the year end, there’s normally a lot of partying to do within the family. There are lots of birthdays to celebrate, and then Christmas and New Year celebration etc etc.

Here are some photos of 2007 year end parties (oh well, if you could call the eat-and-talk, eat-and-more-talk sessions parties).

Tasha’s birthday was celebrated in a Chinese Restaurant, it was also my dad’s early Christmas treat to the family.

Tasha’s cuting her cake. The girls checking out the Elmo Jelly cake

We had a Nasi Lemak pot luck at King’s Wife’s place on Christmas Eve.

My father entertaining Zaria; The older kids played charade while we adults do the guessing

We also celebrated Zaria’s 1st birthday together with my brother’s XXth birthday. Since Lilian from a Piece of Cake could not bake Zaria’s cake, I made it myself. Banana cake with Mascarpone frosting.

Applying the frosting and drizzling toffee just before it was served (kids have fun helping and licking the spatula). Not too bad looking for a first time effort (in frosting a cake).

Before 12am, kids were getting restless and eager to open up the presents.

All happily checking out the presents while Zaria was more keen on tearing the wrapper than the present itself.

Turkey was too expensive this year, so instead of paying for a RM200 bird, I roasted a RM14 chicken at home on Christmas Day.

Preparing the potato casserole; the chicken all roasted; the chicken ready to be served; the mix fruit and nuts stuffing

Last week, I was still working half days on certain days. Now that the holidays are over, it’s back to the grind! Baaaa!

I took half day off and sent Zara to her kindergarten today.

I was expecting a little reluctance, or maybe whining, or even some crying when I left her in her class.

She surprised me again. She just said her bye bye, joined in, blended in, and didn’t ask for me. Half the children around her were crying and clinging on to their mummies or daddies, and my little girl didn’t even look out the classroom to see if I was waiting for her there.

I sneaked out to the bank, and came back and class has been dismissed earlier than scheduled. I was a bit worried, and was trying to locate a crying face but I found Zara happily playing in the play ground. When I told her I need to go to the office to settle her fees, she said she would stay outside and play.

My, has she grown up!

Zara’s first day of school and no hic-ups. I’m so proud of my girl. 😀

~~~~~~~~~ . ~~~~~~~~~

On the other hand, Zaria at home was missing me. According to the maid, she was whiney, crying a bit and kept saying “Maaaameeee Maaaameee”, looking for me.

This year went by really quickly. I guess having 2 young kids mean time is more precious and it vanishes before you knew it.

In 2007
Little Zaria got jaundice.
Zara caught a mild chicken pox.
Zara trying to get used to having Zaria around.
Zara toilet trained.
Indulged in Zara’s horse riding hobby.
We braved Frasers Hill and Genting Highland with the 2 girls.
Enjoyed Zaria’s first : First sit, first crawl, first solids, first stand, first laugh, first word, etc etc.
Finished my 3 months maternity and brought work home, started working almost full time at home.
Have Jelly joined us as an additional helper at home.
I declined a high profile and high stress role and instead chose to be a kooly.

In 2007
Baked a lot.
Girls getting to use to each other, and sometimes even enjoy each other’s company.
Braved Langkawi without the maids.
Went up North to say our thanks.
Daddy and mummy went for a holiday without the girls first time in 3 years.
I joined the blog for money gang.
Zara’s 3rd Birthday.
I got my medical results and am so happy all looks well except I have to watch my cholesterol.
Zaria’s 1st Birthday.

In 2007
3 of my good friends who’d been married for more than 5years, and tried for a baby for as long as I did, concieved.
One just gave birth to a girl.
One is expecting twins, a girl and a boy.
And I hope my best friend will very soon go pass the 1st trimester with no problems.

♥Happy New Year to Everybody!♥
♥Hope 2008 bring you Joy, Happiness, Health and Peace.♥