My Two Girls – All About Zara and Zaria

Another 3 more days to go and it’s the end of Chinese New Year and this will be stale news.

This year, we have such a low key Chinese New Year, mainly because the 2 weekends before Chinese New Year, I was in Japan. There was no cookie baking or buying at all, and the decoration in the house is minimal. Thanks to Daddy who didn’t do anything during my absence.

This year’s reunion dinner was held at our house, and we did something different from the past 9 years! We had steam boat, instead of the anual steam fish, steam chicken, stewed mushroom that MIL always dished out. I was busy in the kitchen and later with serving everybody food that I forgot to take photo of my handy work. *sigh*

1st day of Chinese New Year is always the same, we visit MIL and FIL in the morning, and then it’s off to lunch with my family and then a visit to my close to 90 year old maternal grand father.

And that’s it for us, the rest of the new year, it’s stay at home (except for the open house that my bro threw). So low key, huh?

Some of the photos taken during the New Year.

Yearly, we serve tea to my dad and wish him good health, and in return get a big ang pow. This year, Zaria joined in as well.

Zaria enjoying a stroll and a roll in the royal garden.

Zara playing those (hopefully kid friendly) Pop Pop fire crackers. Red Cheong-sum was hand-me-down from my niece Samantha (and Zara’s favourite cousin) who wore that to my wedding 10yrs ago!

It’s always a difficult feat to take photos of the cousins together. At some point, one will try to sneak away, or one or two will cry. These few are by far the best shot during this Chinese New Year.

I bought a new set of pajamas for Zara and had her put on tonight.

Me : *pretending* Who bought this pajamas for you, huh?
Zara : “Mummy bought from Reject Shop (this shows how often I buy her clothes from Reject Shop) one.”
Me : “This is not from Reject Shop. This is from Marks & Spencer. Do you like it?”
Zara : “Yah it’s very nice.”
Me : *testing her*“Mummy used your ang pow money to buy the pajamas you know?”
Zara : “It’s ok, you can use the money.”
(Talking like an adult!)
Me : “What about other things? Mummy can use your money to buy other things or not?”
Zara : “You are my mummy, of course you can use my money. Other people cannot use my money, but mummy can.”

^.^ How sweet.

If she said this to me when she’s 20, that’ll be really nice.

I think I’m slacking I’d not been writing as regularly as I have wanted because of work commitments.
I’m supposed to write about CNY but then I thought let me write this first before I forget or it becomes stale news.

On Zaria

She started taking her first steps 3 weeks ago.
1, 2, 3 steps while her hands were let go, and now 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ….. until she lost her balance, and thud, she lands on her buttocks.
Most of the time, she holds on to the wall and cover the distance she wants to travel.
When she looses her balance and lands on her buttocks, she frowns and looks at us, waiting for the encouraging words from us.

When I returned from Japan, she clung on to Daddy, and cried when she saw me.
Didn’t allow me to carry or touch her.
When I offered her the breast, she pinched it, and looked at me with suspicion.
Daddy said she’s taking the bottle really well when I was away, maybe I should wean her.
But then, I wanted to breastfeed her till she is at least 18months like I did with Zara to be fair, so I continued to offer her.
On the 2nd day, she clung on to me, as though regaining her memory of me and the breast.

She started ‘hitting’ her self when she is angry or unhappy, she just smacks the head and frowns. Don’t know where she learns that. *sigh*

A typical conversation we have during feeding time. I like to tease her and see her reaction.
Zaria : “Milk”.
Me : “Bottle milk or breast milk?”
Zaria : “Best”.
Me : “Mummy gives you bottle milk, ok?”
Zaria : *smacks herself and frowns* “Ugh!” or *moves her index finger in front of her face* “No”
Me : “Mummy gives you breast milk then”
Zaria : *smiles and moves herself to the bed or sofa* “K!”

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On Zara

I don’t think I’d mentioned this before, but since her 3rd birthday, she refused to put on a diaper. She has been diaperless ever since. She has 2 accidents so far and we thought that has to do with Tuyam leaving us.

She’s talking and singing more. She’ll entertain us with her make up stories or songs, or sometimes throws in some dance moves as well.

Some recent events :
She was singing Baa Baa Black Sheep and sang, “Yes sir, yes sir, three bag full.”
Daddy corrected her by saying it’s three bagS full, not three bag full. Daddy told her she needed 3 bagS or else there won’t be enough to give the master, the dame and the little boy.
She kept getting it wrong, and after several corrections by Daddy, she sang, “Yes sir, Yes sir, one bag full. None for the master, none for the dame, one for the little boy who lives down the lane.”

On our way home one day, she wanted to get off her car seat to sit close to me.
“Mummy I don’t want to sit in the car seat any more.”
“We’re on the highway, so you must sit on your car seat.” (I sometimes allow her to be without her car seat when we make short trips to the nearby mini-market.)
“What if we’re on the low-way, can I come out from the car seat?.”

MIL nick-named her Lou-chou (老粗, which is used for someone who’s roudy in Cantonese) when she becomes too rough.
So these days, when we see a behaviour we didn’t like, we ask her, “Are you a lou-chou?”
She’ll quickly replies, “I’m a princess, not a lou-chou.”, and quickly change her behaviour.
It’s a very good way to remind her of her manners, and that she’s a girl. 😛

Back from my trip of 8 days in Japan, it was super! This is my fifth trip to Japan, but the 1st four was spending a night in Narita town while in transit to US.

I have always loved Japanese food and Japanese snack; so being there in Japan, was like being in ♥gastronomic heaven!♥!

I stayed 5 days in Hachioji (八王子) which is 1hr train ride from Tokyo downtown. We worked hard everyday, so there was no time to sight see. And then when we moved to Ueno (上野), which is in Tokyo downtown for an additional 2 days, we spent most of our time shopping. So most photos taken were food shot!

Breakfast is near the hotel or the office (walking distant from each other).

Breakfast menu : Green tea latte that beats any other latte; Mos burger; fruits (the dried one is persimmon, which is abolutely devine!); Noodles and Rice from Donut King

Lunch is always some where near the office, which normally comes in a set, about RM21 to RM30.

I have mainly fish or tempura. Delicious!

We have more time for dinner so we’ll walk further. Japan really have fantastic fish and seafood menu! One day, we had Sashimi, and even though the fish was sliced up with its head still in tact, its mouth was moving and its eyes were clear and silvery staring at us. It was difficult, but I still stomached one slice of that sashimi. Blech. I also discovered Sawa (サワー), Japanese cocktail. Love it, especially the one with melon syrup!

Try spotting the fish with its silver eyes, staring back at you.

The best meal we had was the king crab meal. It was expensive (but not as expensive as my crab meal in Shanghai); we took 2 sets and shared it among the four of us.

Boiled crab, crab roe (so delicious!), crab sashimi, BBQ crab (at your table). Delicious! 美味しい! Oishi!

The cheapest meal we had was a ‘fast food’ restaurant, where food is ordered through a coupon vending machine, coupon is then passed to the chef, and your selected meal will be served to you in a minute or two. No seats! Stand while you eat. But, quite Delicious! And then there was the RM30 green tea crème brûlée that I have which was oh-so-heavenly.

My RM12 Tenzaru soba; the coupon vending machine; the box that held my RM30 green tea crème brûlée; the box came with 2 small pack of ice to keep the crème brûlée fresh.

On our last day, while walking to lunch and realised there was actually a temple and a shrine just at the back of the office.

Some nice scenary around the office

We stayed in Hotel Park Side in Ueno (上野) on our last 2 nights. It was near to Ameyokocho, a shopping street for snacks, seafood and apparels.

Seafood in Ameyokocho, the last picture are Bonito pieces. You shave it, and you get bonito flakes!

♥Japanese culture♥
People are so polite there. They took the time to explain the menu to us with their limited English; they offered us help when we looked lost; they queue up in train station and wait for their turns; they seem to always have time for us when they are so busy! This is so different from the Shanghainese.

Our Japanese colleagues threw us a dinner party, and forked out their own money to pay for the party. We told them we were on expense and they should let us settle the bill, but we were told this is their way they show their hospitality.

In almost every toilet in Japan, you get this toilet seat with gadget! To be discreet, you can play a ‘flushing sound’ for 10seconds while you do your business. Your seat is warmed, and you get bidet, and a spray. One of the toilet we went to, even have blower to dry the royal a** after you are done! My bottom never remain so clean before!!

Toilet seat control panel

And just before I left, I got this!
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And everything went white!

Snow covered Tokyo! (and imagine dragging a heavy suitcase, notebook bag, handbag, 2 other hand luggages with all the shopping 1Km in this weather to the station!)

Japan, I really love it there!

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♥Happy Chinese New Year to all who celebrates! 新年快乐!♥

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…..
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(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!