My Two Girls – All About Zara and Zaria

On Saturday, Daddy brought us on an excursion to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, which is located at the Temerloh district. It was ~2hrs drive on Karak Highway (towards Raub and Exit : Lanchang) and small roads (with very good signage to the Santuary), passing small villages and Orang Asli settlements.

When we arrived ~2:30pm; they had finished distributing the ‘yellow stickers’ (which entitled you a ride on the elephant), and only left with ‘red stickers’ (which is just an ‘entrance ticket’). Entrance is free! Can you beat it? It seems the place is getting funds mainly from foreign tourists’ donation.

What the girls got to do was got real close to the elephants. However, Zara thought the elephant was dirty, didn’t want to get too close.

The elephant had just performed a trick (greeting visitors) and being awarded a pack of crysenthimum tea. o.O”

After seeing how the elephant took peanuts from my hand, Zaria too tried to feed the elephant.

Zara afraid of getting herself dirty, stood aside and watch.

Zaria is very proud she dared to do something her sister was afraid of doing.

After the feeding, the elephants were led to the river for a bath. Visitors can join in and bath the elephants. The elephants actually got a bit afraid when a big crowd jumped into the river and chased after them; they actually went to the other side of the river, and wanted to climb up to the banks. After a lot of persuation from the handlers, then only they came to the centre.

Daddy wasn’t properly dressed, so I went into the water together with the girls.

Splash! Splash! Splash! See the huge crowd?

For those with yellow stickers, you can actually take a ride on the elephant in the water.

The elephant will dive into the water.

And throw you off their backs!

After the elephants climbed back up to land, the girls wanted to swim in the water. Gosh, there’s elephants’ dropping here and there, but they refused to get up, so I have to stay with them. The river was shallow and the water extremely cooling, and there’s no foul smell or anything (but still, I DID see the droppings).

I just walked away a bit so that Daddy could take a photo of just the girls and Zaria started complaining “Mummy, why you go away? I’m drowing you know.” o.O”

They were probably in the water for about half an hour before they were willing to leave. Both girls got themselves a lilly leaf (I think that’s what it is).

Girls giving the thumbsup for the trip. I think they really like the cool dip in the pool.

In terms of washing facilities, like all Malaysian public restrooms, they are horrendous. There’s however running water, so I just gave the girls a rinse and got them changed outside of the restrooms. I cringed when I changed myself. BUEK!

On our way back to Karak highway, Daddy stopped by at a road side stall and ordered a durian. (Just in case you are wondering, no that’s not Daddy).

Zara had a taste of durian and didn’t quite like it (btw, we not a family of durian eaters).

Zara and myself waited for Daddy at the orchard owner’s shed, whiled Daddy finished off the durian.

Zara and the orchard owner.

(Daddy likes to rob the colours from our lives black and whilte photography these days; so everything is boring black and white).

Having 2 daugthers who are of similar sizes do have its advangtage. They can share clothes.

If a dress is too short, just add a pair of pants.

She saw how her jiejie wore the dress with a pair of pants, she wanted the same (although the dress is long enough for her).

Daddy and I are not the most loving couple, but recently, we try to have more couple time by sneaking going out for meals without the girls (mind you, the times we did this are probably ~ 5 times since Zara was born but they all happened this year). Here is my marriage counsellor’s view.

Me : Do you think Daddy love mummy?
Zara : No, I don’t think so.
Me : Why don’t you think Daddy love mummy?
Zara : If he loved you right, he will have a party like the party Ah Ku have for Ah Kim. o.O”

When we got back from late lunch without the girls on Saturday (we actually went out while the girls took their naps to a near by restaurant for lunch, but Zara woke up earlier than normal so she ‘caught us’ red handedly), Zara was very upset, and started questioning why we went out without them etc.
I had to spend a great deal of time explaining to her, in gist, I told her we are married, and sometimes we need to have some time on our own without them, so that we will be closer and more loving etc.

On Sunday, when we went to have lunch in Fish & Co (this time with the girls of course), Zara said, “Mummy and Daddy, the 2 of you sit that side (pointing to 1 side of the table with 2 seats). Zaria and me sit this side. Then you can spend time together.” o.O”

I get a lot of pleasure these days talking to Zaria or just listening to what she has to say about things. This girl does not at all speak like a two and a half, but like a little old lady, and the things she says always bring smiles to our faces.

She likes to look at the photos in our study, those photos were taken before the girls were born, and she would always ask me, “Where is meimei?” last time. After explaining to her a few times, now she would point to the various photos and say, “This one I not yet born?” (she’s stopped calling herself ‘mei-mei’ and refer to herself as I or Me). “This one jiejie born already? I not yet born?” and to those photos with her, “This one I born already right? Remember, yesterday, I went to ….” and she’ll start telling us where the photo was taken (but the timing is always ‘yesterday’) and what she was doing.

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We were at my sister’s place on Saturday, and my BIL whom Zaria has not seen for a while was home. She came to me, and peeped at my BIL and then asked me in a small voice, “Mummy, what’s the name of the boy?” (BIL, it must have boosted your ego as Zaria called you a boy, and not a man)

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Over the weekend, Daddy and I sneaked out for our hair cuts when the girls were taking their naps. When we came back home, we were expecting kids with teary eyes or complaints from them, but was pleasantly surprised when Zaria dashed out with a big smile to hug me and said, “Mummy!!! I’m so glad to see you.”.

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She was entertaining herself in the study, and I caught her like this.

Two nights ago, she was in the study, and she asked me to show her “Where’s your mama gone” and “Sugar-Sugar” on my computer, I told her I had to finish work first.
“When you are done, you call my name ok?”
“ZA-REEE-AH… like that. Ok?”
After I’d done with my work, I showed her those videos as promised, but it was taking a long time to load. “What happened?” she asked.
“Zaria, Something is wrong with the video”
Like a tech support, she pointed to a key on my key board, “Maybe you need to press this button first.” o.O”

After showing her the videos, I asked her to go to the room first while I shut down my computer. She could now reach for the door knob and open the door on her own, but she didn’t close the door after her. Daddy, who was in the room, told her to shut the door immediately, or else we’ll get mossies in the room. “But mummy need to come in.” (How thoughtful to keep the door opened for me. Daddy should learn from her.)

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Yesterday after dinner, she wanted a drink, and she said this, “I cannot drink cold drinks you know. I got running nose. I better already, after that I can drink cold drinks. Wait ah, after I get better first. Five minutes.” (It’s obvious doesn’t know how long is five minutes)

Doesn’t she talk like an old lady?

Comments on previous post : Ok, I have decided that it’s a good thing that Zara is able to talk back, and we should not discourage her unless she’s using rude words.

Besides talking, I think this girl of mine is quite good with her arts.

Here are her recent art work.

Most of her drawings are on princesses, fairies, mermaids, things she likes.

Fairies

Mama fairy, and a little fairy (top right). With worms underground.

Flower Fairy

Check out the bugs!

Mermaids

Flower Princess

2 big sisters, and 1 baby, and they are under a rainbow

She also started puting caption on some of her drawings. She draw on one page, and wrote the caption on another.

Flower.

Girl with a mop

Guess what’s she’s writing here?

This is the clue.

Lick On The Lollipop, that’s what she wrote.

Sometimes she just creates patterns.

Or even arts and crafts. Do you know what she’s trying to make here with tissue stuffed with white paper coloured with some green?

That’s her juicy pow (xiao long bao) served on a plate.

She also likes colouring, but unfortunately, do not have the patience to finish a big picture.

And the best of all, she leaves me drawings as notes. This one, she put in an ang pow (as an envolope) and left it in my wardrobe. But she doesn’t quite know how to ‘surprise’ me, she took it out to show me first, then put it back there, and said “I left you a surprise in the cupboard.”

I’m inpatient.
I stress out easily.
I can be very fierce.
Zara is rather emotional.
And Zara is very good with her words.
So, here is a recipe for disaster…

Scene 1
We were in a crowded Chinese restaurant ordering our Father’s Day dinner (Father’s Day or no Father’s Day, Daddy always leave the stress ordering in a Chinese restaurant to me so if there’s not enough food or the food does not cater to everybody, I get the blame). FIL was with us. It’s already 9pm.
Imagine my stress.
Have to order something suitable for the kids; have to order something not too hard for my FIL (since his dentures doesn’t fit him that well); have to make sure Daddy has his fish.
Zara was pretending she cooked some ‘tooth-pick’ noodle, and was serving me in the midst of a very stress me giving our orders to the waiter.
I just glared at her and said, “Later.”
While I was still choosing dishes, Zara continued, “Mummy, why are you showing me sour face?”
Because I was still busy, I didn’t answer.
“Mummy, why are you showing me sour face? You tell me? Why are you so rude?”
“Excuse me!! exCUSSSSSEE MEEEEEE! Why are you not answering me. Huh?”
I was rather annoyed and replied, “Zara, mummy is ordering dinner ok? Hush!”
After that she went quiet.
When I finished ordering, and stretched out my hand to hold hers (our ‘piece giving’ sign), she withdrew her hand, glared at me and started muttering, “Hmmph! So rude. Don’t hold my hand.”
When I explained to her I was busy, she said, “Hphmm! Why you show me sour face then? Huh? Why?”
Again I stretched out my hand and told her because I was busy ordering and she was disturbing me. She still didn’t want to accept my peace offering.
So I turned my attention to Zaria, and Zara started sobbing.
When I tried to pat/sayang her, she withdrew, and said, “Don’t touch me.”
“Aiya, don’t touch don’t touch la.” I got rather annoyed.
So the whole dinner was like that.. she’s upset I didn’t continue to try to pacify her, and when I did, she turned away.. tired.

Scene 2
It’s a rule that when we walked home from the park, the girls have to stop at the pavement and wait for me to hold their hands to cross the road.
Two days ago, Zara was dashing towards our house, and when she was close to the pavement I didn’t see her intention of stopping and there was a car coming.
I shouted very loudly to issue my warning, “Zara!! Stop!!!”
She stopped, turned back and glared at me. I stretched out my hand to hold hers and asked, “What were you trying to do? Dashing off like that?”
She folded her arm and answered “Hmmph! I was going to stop O-K!!? Why did you shout at me?”
“I saw you dashing off like that, and a car was coming, so I have to shout at you to tell you to stop right?”
“Why did you shout so loud? It’s so irritating you know or not??!!”
And then it was another round of peace offering, not accepted, upset because no more peace offering etc…. tired.

Scene 3
We were doing her Bahasa homework, and after many times of teaching her how to read the word “MALAM” (night), she was able to read M-A = MA, L-A-M= LAM, but didn’t know how to join the MA & LAM together to make the word MALAM. So I said, “M-A, MA. Now put MA in your head (and I use my index finger to point to her head). Then tell me what is L-A-M?”
She glared at me, “Don’t push my head like that ok? You are making my head spin.”
I pointed to her head again a little harder this time and said, “I just pointed at your head only. And asked you to put MA in your head.”
She folded her arms and turned away from me, “You are pushing, not pointing, ok? I don’t want you to help me with my home work. I want Daddy to help.”
Grrrrrrrr!!!!

She’s only Four and The Half, and already ‘ting-sum-ting-fai’ (Chinese : talking back, rebelling). Aigh. I wonder what it’s going to be like when she’s in her teens.

Zaria has become very possessive recently.

When Daddy reads to Zara, and Zara sits on his lap, Zaria will quickly try to squeeze herself on Daddy’s lap too. Sometimes pushing Zara away in the process.

When Zara lies close to me on the bed, she would try to squeeze herself in between us (even though there are lots of space on my other side). Failing to do so, she would complain “Mummy, jiejie don’t take turns.”

When I carry other babies or toddlers in the park, she will quickly leave whatever she is doing and come over and tug on my t-shirt, “Mummy, cannot carry XXXX.” (XXXX the name of the toddler or baby).
When I reply, “It’s ok, mummy carry XXXX for a while.”
She will then say something like, “I want to go home now. It’s getting dark. Put XXXX down.”

The latest incident further proved her possessiveness.

Normally I would carry her on my back after our daily park visit.
Two days ago, on our way home, Zara fell and scratched both her knees. She complained she couldn’t walk, and asked me to carry her. So I asked Zaria to walk and then I piggy-backed Zara.
Zaria : *screaming* “Mummy, I want you to carry me!!”
Me : “Jiejie fell down, she cannot walk, mummy need to carry her.
Next thing I knew, she plonked herself on the road, siting ther and telling me, “See, I fall down already. Now you carry me.” o.O”

I didn’t fall for her trick, even though she cried all the way home, I got her to walk.

As we do not want the girls to see anything not meant for their eyes or pick up languages that they were not supposed to learn, we never watched any ‘adult’ movies (here, adult means any movies not created for kids) in front of the girls. Even if we did watch something in their presence, it’s always ‘screened’ first by us, before watching the movie together with them (normally selected scenes which we think might interest them). What they pick up or watch in other people’s house is something I can’t control, but this is what is practiced in our house.

So far Mama Mia is the only ‘adult’ movie that we have allowed them to watch from beginning till the end, and because it’s a movie they love, they have been watching it over and over again.. this is the effect.. (you will only ‘appreciate’ if you have watched the movie)

Both girls can sing almost all the songs in the movie.

Zaria who used to be a bit reserved (in kissing), is now giving long kisses on the lips. I saw her giving Zara a long kiss on the lips once when they were watching the scene of Sam (Pierce Brosnan) proposing to Donna (Meryl Streep) in the church.

Once, they kept talking about puting different things in people’s petpet (Lemon in poh-poh’s petpet, vege in auntie’s petpet etc). When I asked them why they kept saying rude things like that, they told me “the auntie put flower in her petpet wut when she sing (sang) Dancing Queen in Mama Mia”. o.O”

And the best one..

Yesterday I was making some cheese puffs for the girls. After puting the tray into the oven, I asked Zara, “You come and see if these cheese puffs are enough for you or you think mummy should make more?”

Zara took a peek at the amount of cheese puff on the tray and said, “I’m not a bigamist, you fool.” o.O”
After recovering from my shock, I asked her, “Jie, do you know what bigamist is or not?”
Innocently, she replied, “Bigamist is big lo. I’m not so big, I don’t need to eat so much.”

See.. let them watch ‘adult’ movies, and they pick up words they have no idea what it meant.

Added June 18th :
After explaining what bigamist to Zara, to test her knowledge, I asked her yesterday“So, is mummy and daddy bigamist or not?”
Zara replied, “No. You have 1 husband, and Daddy have 1 wife. You are not bigamist.”
Good, now she understood. Then she added, “Daddy and you are smallamist.”
o.O”

FIL stayed over for the week, and this morning when Zaria came down for breakfast, she asked, “Yeh yeh, what are you doing in my house?” o.O”

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Zaria : “Mummy, I love you.” (she’s saying this so frequently now, and it really makes my day.)
Me : (just asked for the fun of it) “Why you love mummy?”
Zaria : “Because… (thinking).. I like you.”
Me : “But why you like mummy?”
Zaria : “Because… (thinking).. Because… (still thinking).. You are cute.”
Haha.. I think she couldn’t find a reason.

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After getting down friom the car in the car park, I was carrying Zaria to enter Ikano (for those outside of Malaysia, it’s where Ikea is).
Zaria : “Mummy, Where are we going?”
Me : (just for the fun of it) “We’re going One Utama.”
Zaria : “No, this is not One Ooftama.” (she knows where we were but she was playing along. “Where are we going?”
Me : “We’re going Five Utama, maybe.”
Zaria : “No, this is not Five Ooftama. This is Ikea.”
Me : “Who said this is Ikea. This is Five Utama.”
Zaria : “No..” *she took a sniff of the air* “You smell (and see).”
(The Ikea smell is unmistakable, that’s for sure).