My Two Girls – All About Zara and Zaria

Zara had a great time in Tanjung Jara. This is the 2nd time she went on a beach holiday, when we went to Penang in August 2005, she was much younger and wasn’t talking and walking yet. This time round, I think she enjoyed it more since she’s more aware of her surrounding. Daddy and myself could also enjoy ourselves as we have so many people taking turns to keep an eye on Zara who’s constantly on the move especially during meal times.

Some moments with photos.

Fish Feeding
There were lots of ponds with fishes surrounding the main restaurant. Fish food was given by the resort, and kids can help to feed the fishes. After letting her feed the fish once, at every meal time, Zara would walk to the reception area shouting, “Wis! Mum mum! Wis!” Her way of asking fish food from the hotel staff. She would then sit at the side of the pond, happily throwing fish pellets to the fishes, sometimes submerging her hand into the pond to feel the fish nibbling her.

Sea and Sand
Initially she was very uncomfortable walking at the beach. She didn’t like the feel of the sand and was very afraid of the fierce east coast waves. However, on the last day of our stay, while we were walking at the beach, she actually dragged us out to the shore, and enjoyed the waves lapping at her feet.

Dinner time entertainment
We were entertained by a trio of musicians every night while dining. Zara really enjoyed their presence. She would go near the cello and try to strum the string, or she would join in by dancing. It was like she was part of the team.

Cycling
Daddy took the girls for a trishaw ride, and then we rented some bicycles. We cycled around the resort, with Zara taking a ride in Daddy’s (it came with a child seat). It was really nice, especially when we rode on the path next to the beach, where we got lots of cool breeze. Zara very soon fell asleep, still clinging on to the child seat, on the moving bicycle.

Swimming
She really liked the pool. She was either in her neck float or was just playing in the jacuzzi or the baby pool assisted. Even on a gloomy day, she still wanted to stay in the pool despite the chill.

Exploring
Nothing beats checking out a new environment. The unfamiliar feel of the bed sheet, the height of the bed, the steps and walls around, a fallen leave or coconut, the canopy of trees, the bridges and the ponds. There was so much to explore for Zara. Of course, there’s so much chasing to do as well for the adults.

The Finale
We had this special steam boat dinner arranged at the pool side on our last day, very romantic setting, although the food sucked! You could hear waves lapping, and get lots of sea breeze. Too bad it was a cloudy day and no stars can be spotted. (Can you spot King’s Wife in this photo)

Our next holiday?? Bali probably. Oh, I just can’t wait!

Our 4D/3N holidays up on the east cost finally ended, and we had to return home *sigh*.

We were in Tanjung Jara for a family (my side) holiday, 18 of us (inc 1 infant, 1 toddler and 2 maids) in 4 cars went and we took up 6 rooms. It was actually the very first ever family holiday where every one were present (except my mum) since we were kids.

We stayed in the resort the whole time, enjoying the pool and the sea, and some of us got to enjoy the spa as well (part of the package). I had 2 spa treatments consisting of 100min massage each as I took Daddy’s session since he didn’t like people to ‘work’ on him (his exact words). It was blissful….

The only complain about this trip was the mediocre food in the resort (where we took all meals) and the journey to and fro (almost 6hrs/trip) . Thank goodness for the new Karak Highway, or the journey would have been 8hrs from KL!

We were lucky because King’s Wife‘s daughter, Samantha, decided to come in our car on both the journeys, and Zara was really happy having her as company.

Just before we left the resort for home. We were the last to leave.

Samantha Che-che tickled one of Zara’s funny bones on the journey home.

More photos and moments captured will be in later posts.

On Chinese New Year eve, instead of dining at our place (the initial plan), we had it in MIL’s because BIL was bringing 6 of his friends from the Philippines to join the dinner (we only knew later that these ‘friends’ were actually his new girl friend and her family/chaperon).

No pix to show for the dinner since it was quite kelam-kabut (Malay: chaotic) to be having so many people in the house for dinner (normally it’s just 6 of us).

On the first day of Chinese New Year, as usual, we visited MIL early morning, and then it was lunch with my family. Zara did the GONG XI, GONG XI sign while addressing the family, and she also served tea to my side of the family (since this is our tradition).
All I could say is these 2 days were really hot!

Next few days there’ll be no blogging as we’ll be going for a holiday (unless I got so bored and there’s free broad band connection in the hotel).

HERE IS TO WISH EVERY ONE

A HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

GONG XI FA CHAI.

????!

Have seen many photos from Mom2Ashley titled Good Morning Ashley. Just like Ashley, Zara is always in a good mood when she wakes up in the morning, I thought I too should capture moments like this.

This was taken last week, Zara was still sleeping when I had finished changing for work. Camera in hand, I woke her up by using the standard wake up call, “Wakey, Wakey, Sleepy Baby!” This was what greeted me, a smiling and good smelling (yes she smells like a sweet in the morning, and best of all, no morning breath!) toddler!

eyes opened; a cheeky smile; hands stretched out to be lifted up (to sitting position); a moment on the bed before she climbed down to start her busy day

On another note, I contributed my angelic voice singing to Lin Peh’s Chinese New Year sing song project. Go here, if you want to know what it’s all about and hear some of the bloggers singing!

Tasha’s Fullmoon Dinner
It was already a month since Tasha (my eldest sis’ daughter) was born. We had a little family dinner party in a restaurant.

It was a typical Chinese dinner with shark fin soup and suckling pig (both of which we don’t take), and because it was close to CNY, we got to lou-sang (raw fish salad) as well.

A full blown karaoke session was going on in another section of the restaurant (probably a company dinner). This group of people, blasting singing extremely outdated songs in horrendous voices. Tasha slept through, oblivious to the noise. Zara on the other hand was showing lots of interest in what was going on on stage, she kept wanting to get out of the room and when she saw people singing, she started dancing too, never mind if their singing sucked!

Tasha sleeping
Zara dancing

The singing and torturing didn’t end, until our last course was served and when the group has left. What a noisy dinner.

Zoo Visit
Daddy dragged brought us to the zoo again on Sunday. He thought Zara has picked up quite a lot of names for animals, and it should be more fun for her compared to the last time.

The weather was so hot, and Zara so much heavier, it was quite a torture, physically, when I had to carry her in the sling.

Zara was quite excited when we could see the elephants, giraffes and flamingoes up close. We got a chance to feed the camel, but Zara wouldn’t do it as she was afraid. I fed it instead, and Zara just looked on gingerly.

At one resting area, the zoo keeper was handling a tiny green snake. He passed it to me when I showed interest in it. And yes, I had the little fella twirled around my arm (Daddy was so disgusted he just walked away, so no photos of the snake lady). I asked Zara to stroke the snake, but instead, she was squashing the snake with her pincher grip! I had to unclutch her 2 fingers, fearing for the snake’s life. I quickly passed the snake back to the zoo keeper.

We spent almost 2 hours in the zoo and at the end of it, we were all sweaty and smelly, and then, it was to KLCC to enjoy the aircon and to get some retail therapy!

Shopping
This was the only weekend left before CNY (Chinese New Year), so we went to KLCC and did lots of shopping both on Saturday and Sunday. The sales are still on, more reason to grab something.

As usual, we bought the most for Zara. She had to have new top, new bottom, new pajamas, new everything for CNY.

Daddy wanted to get me a good and expensive handbag. One which is big enough to hold some of Zara’s stuff like a water bottle, a few pieces of diaper, a tupperware to hold some biscuits.

We were looking around in Coach, Furla, Burberry (oh, Zara just loves the signature sheep on display) and Ferragamo. I loved this and this (with pix shown), but when I looked at the price tag, I just cringed (although I pretended to look cool and behaved I could afford 10 of those).

In the end, I settled for a LeSportSac which was just 10% of the price of the above items. I am too kiam siap (Chinese: stingy) still can’t bring myself to buy a bag with a 4digit price tag.

I have to be discipline and do this every month, just to capture Zara’s development. She turned 14 on Saturday, I had been so busy, only have time to do this now.

Weight: ~ 7.9Kg (weighed 27/12) but I believe she’s about 8.5Kg now b’cos she feels very heavy.
Height: ~77cm
This month, she sprouted another tooth, so she has 4 upper teeth, and 4 lower teeth now.

Dexterity :

I got tagged by King’s Wife, Egghead, The Diva, YL, Greenapple, on the same tag, I’d better do this quick, since this is spreading so fast, most of the bloggers I know would have been ‘infested’ with it very soon!

Here’s the tag/meme:

4 jobs you’ve had in your life:

4 movies you could watch over and over

4 TV shows you love(d) to watch

4 places you’ve lived

4 places you’ve been on vacation to

Thailand – Kok Mak, Kanchanaburi (for our 5th wedding anniversary)
and many more before Zara was born, but I chose these 4 as they gave me the biggest impact.

4 places you would rather be

4 of your favourite foods

4 of your favourite beverages

4 (or more) websites you visit daily

4 tagged

So we’re supposed to buy new clothes for ourselves for Chinese New Year.

Since I eat full nothing to do (Chinese: too much time in my hands) the blog template is the ‘clothing’ to our blog, I thought I’ll spruce it up and give it a new look too.

After all, some of these itchy backsides people, like LB (going for the minimalist look, but in the beginning was giving maximum firewalling to his site anxiety among his readers); Ah Pek (now the romantic poet); Seng Kor (his blog now has his portrait, mask removed); have already upgraded theirs.

I made some changes to this template, and Viola! New Year, new clothes!

PS! Do I still need to give this guy credit since the template no longer looks like the original?

Zara’s Ku-che (my SIL) gave her this bag over the weekend, she told Zara it’s for her to take along when she goes shopping.

Yesterday, when we were about to leave the house for King’s Wife’s place, Zara wanted to take the bag along, and she kept muttering “Ping” “Ping” while holding it. Probably she wanted to go shopping with it. Here is Zara with her ‘aunty’ looking bag.

(L) We going shopping?? Let me take my bag
(R) Oh, I better make sure I bring my phone along.

(L) Ok, I think I got everything in my bag
(R) Lets go now

(L) I need to make a call to get an appointment to do my hair
(R) Hello? Baldilocks Hair Salon? Can I speak to Richardo please?

Zara was in one of her ‘naughty’ mood this morning.

I gave Zara her First 1000 words book to ‘read’, while Daddy and I were busy getting ready for work. She was happily flipping, pointing out to things she knew and uttering the words.
“Ao” (Cat)
“Dog”
“Nai-yen” (Lion)
“Eh-Bit” (Rabbit)
and then “PIAAK…” she tore out one of the pages; she held the torn piece in her hand and looked at me.

Since she learnt how to appreciate books, she had never torn any pages out of any books. I wonder what happened this time. I went over to her :
Me : (stern voice) Zara, that’s not nice! Why Zara tear the book?
Zara : Tuck (Take)! (she gave me the torn piece)
Me : (stern voice) Mummy don’t want!
Zara : (gave me a fake smile)
Me : (lecture time) Zara likes this book right? Then why Zara naughty? Tear the book?
Now you see (put the torn piece next to the page it was torn out), you cannot see Elephant any more.
(Shouted to Daddy) Daddy, you see, Zara tore her book!

Zara stood up, and started pulling her pajamas top up (a sign showing that she’s nervous). I picked up the book, and wanted to put it back to the shelf. Zara immediately hugged my leg.

At this time, Daddy stuck his head out from the bathroom, “What happened?”. Before he could say anything else, Zara quickly let go of my leg, walked to daddy, and hugged his leg. This is probably her way of saying sorry, so I thought.

I picked her up, and said tenderly, “Zara saying sorry is it? OK, next time don’t tear your book any more ok?” I put her down, and continue dressing, while Zara walked to the shelf to pick another book.

5 seconds later, “PIAAK..” She did it again, this time she tore a page from her Nursery Rhyme book.

I quickly went to her, smacked her hand, and told her sternly, “Zara cannot tear your book! Why Zara naughty?” Daddy chipped in, “Zara, you tear your book again huh? Why you naughty?”

What happened next really caught us off guard.

Zara looked at us (normally if I smacked her, she would fret a bit, but this time she didn’t).
Tossed the torn piece down at the book.
Waved her hand in the air and said, “Bye”
While walking towards the bed room door nonchalantly.

What the.. ?? My jaw dropped!

I asked, “And where is Zara going?” She just turned back and looked at us one more time, and tried to reach for the door knob, and said “Bye” again (of course she’s not tall enough to actually open the door and get out)

Cha-dou! (Cantonese : Being caught off guard)

I can’t help wondering what will happen when she gets older, she’ll pack her bags and go to Mama’s (Cantonese : Paternal Grandma) or YiYi’s (Hokkien : Mum’s sis) house? Or she would talk back like this kid when she knows how to speak better?

Note: I normally used yai-yai (Cantonese: naughty in a mild form) instead of naughty, unless she’s really badly behaved. As for smacking, I do it only when warning has been issued and she just ignored it.