My Two Girls – All About Zara and Zaria

I worked from home yesterday because I have back to back meeting starting from 7am (starting work so early is a torture like asking me to die early early, don’t know how egghead does it).

In the evening, I asked Tuyam to chop some iceberg lettuce and abalone mushroom, and then used this to make porridge for Zara. I left her with the instructions and went back to work.

When dinner was served, I scooped out some of Zara’s porridge into her bowl (I prefer to feed Zara when I’m around instead of getting the maid to do it). I noticed instead of chopping up the lettuce or mushroom to real small (baby with 4 teeth) bite size, Tuyam has cut the lettuce to long strips, and the mushroom big chunks. Both are not easy to chew. How’s the little girl going to manage?

I asked Tuyam, what happened here? She said “tak cukup kecil ke (is it not small enough)?” I told her both are equally difficult to chew, they are not fish or carrots, so these fibrous or rubbery stuff should be chop real finely like we chop up garlic for stirfrying.

Anyway, I scooped smaller pieces of the chopped up vege and mushroom and started feeding Zara, and reminded her to chew.

She took a mouth full, chewed real hard. Started whining, “Errr..” Gave her another mouth, she took it, and whined further. When the 3rd spoon reached her mouth, she pursed her lips, refused to opened again, and just turned her head away from the spoon. This didn’t look like her usual shake-head-don’t-want-any-more reaction. Let me try again.

I dipped a pair of kitchen scissors into the porridge to try to cut the vege and mushroom into smaller pieces. Then offered it to her, she pursed her lip still, and looked the other way.

We told her, “Zara, you try first, mummy cut up everything smaller already“.
The lips are pursed, head to one side.
“Zara, please. You try first”
Still the lips are pursed, but she looked at me
“Zara, really, you look at the spoon, every thing small small already”
Lips still pursed, but she looked at the spoon
“See, mummy didn’t bluff you, you try first. Please”
Opened her mouth, took the porridge.

Aaah, she finally accepted the spoon. We continued to feed her, and she continued to eat it, until she was full, she started shaking her head to indicate she didn’t want any more.

So, our little critic has come out with her own way of giving different ratings to her food:
4 star : eat, and eat, and eat — food is really good, right consistency for me, thumbs up to the chef
3 star : eat, eat again, then turned head, pursed lip — food is good, but not right consistency for me (like this case), please do some thing to correct it.
2 star : eat for a while, then shake head — food is bearable, but enough is enough.
1 star : 1st bite already shake head — I hate this please feed this to the cat

Although I’m a born Catholic, I’m never the real pious type. I went to the church because my parents made me go with them every Sunday. In fact, the last time I went to church for a mass, it was my wedding service, 7 years ago (My dad always tells me, my mum is turning in her grave because all her daughters have stopped going to church once they got married).

However, I DO believe in God, I try to do things/behave according to His teaching (at least I think I am). Every night, I will join my hands, and say a short ittle prayer before I go to sleep, my prayer goes something like this.

“Thanks for everything.
Please continue to let Zara be strong and healthy;
Protect her from any harm or danger (don’t let her fall, don’t let any bad people come close to her, don’t let her touch accidentally or intentionally any thing dangerous);
Guide me to be a better mother (don’t let me swear in front of her, don’t make me lose my temper with her, be patient with her, provide me with the wisdom to bring her up)”

And then, I’ll ask St Anne (as She’d done during my pregnancy).
“Please continue to guard over Zara”

I have nothing to ask for myself, because if Zara continues to be strong and healthy, and away from harm, I’m already most blessed.

Yesterday, I sms-ed one of my Malay colleague who happened to live in the same residential area as me to see if he knew of the nearest buka puasa (break fast) stall. He told me to head on to the Stadium.

After Zara woke from her nap at about 5pm+, we drove there to check out the place. This is the first time I’m glad to be living in Shah Alam (that’s the greedy me speaking). The whole Stadium Shah Alam car park has been converted to a wai-sek-guy (greedy street). 3 long rows of stalls, selling all kinds of Malay goodies.

The whole place was packed with vendors and customers. You can smell the aroma of satay, percik and grill fish in the air, I could feel the gastric juice in my stomach churning, mouth salivating, seeing the different kinds of food, kueh/cakes, colourful drinks (a turn-off for me). This is Gastronomic heaven! I just don’t know how our Muslim friends could walk in here, and not feel tortured, able to buy these goodies but could only eat this in an hour or so when they break fast.

We bought some raw dates, they were lovely, plum and sweet. We were eating the dates while walking and shopping for more goodies. Zara loved it too, she was taking big bites from my hand. Daddy then reminded that we should respect our Muslim friends, and should not eat here while they have not broken fast yet. I quickly fed Zara the last chunk of the date, and kept the rest for later.

We smelled a very strong whisp of santan (coconut milk) in the air, following the scent, it led us to this stall, with stack of steamer steaming nasi lemak (coconut milk rice). There were lots of people packing their nasi (rice) from the stall, we thought it must be pretty good, so we bought 3 packs as well for dinner.

After that, I had to queue at an ayam percik (barbequeu spiced chicken) stall to get some ayam percik. There were so many people waiting for their order to be fulfilled. Workers fanning away at the many charcoal stoves at the back of the stall, the whole place was smokey but smelled yummy. I asked Daddy to go ahead and bring Zara out of here first since it was too smokey for her, while I waited. I ordered 3 wings, and since many people ordered drumsticks, the first skewer of roasted wings went to me.

That night, we feasted on the nasi lemak and ayam percik (there were really good), while poor Zara had poridge cooked with watercrest soup. We all liked what we had, including Zara.

Zara has always been attracted to oranges. Since I’d read that citrus fruits should not be given to babies below 1yr old as it may cause allergy, I’d never given her oranges before, only the whole unpeel orange for her to play with. And every time when she wanted to put the orange in the mouth, I would stop it, worried about the pesticide and all. Of course, to her, the temptation to bite the fruit is greater if the fruit is forbidden.

Today, I thought I’d do her a favour, I cleaned an orange with those plant based vegetable detergent, and passed it to her. She happily took it, and started putting it in her mouth, biting on it (she probably thought how come I didn’t stop her from biting this time). The oil from the orange peel must have tasted bitter, she cringed, then whined, even shed some tears, yet, she continued to put it in her mouth for another bite, and another bite. It was real funny to see her doing this, bite, cry, bite, cry. Wicked, I know.

Here’s a video clip of her with the orange, she probably can’t decide if she should give up or take another bite. A love / hate tug of war.

click here for video

After dinner
Zara crawled to the TV cabinet in my sis’ house yesterday.
Touched some of the switches
Pulled some of the wires
Took her Wheels In the Bus VCD
Handed me the VCD and said, “put, put, put, put, put”, and then kept touching the TV screen.
Did she just say “PUT?”, or was it just coincidence? We never really taught her this word before, and we always say “Play” for VCD/DVD, never “Put”.
Anyway, it was time to go home, so I told, “We go home first, mummy will PUT for you at home”

Back At Home
Told Daddy about what happened ealier.
Daddy: Zara mummy said you so clever, you know how to say PUT? Say again. PUT
Zara : Put Put Put Put Put
(Daddy clapped hands, Zara grinned)
Daddy: Zara, say mum, mum, mum, mum, mum
Zara : Mum, mum, mum, mum, mum…. (non stop)
(wow, in the mood to talk)
Daddy: Call Daddy then, Pa Pa Pa Pa Pa
Zara : Pa Pa Pa Pa Pa (didn’t look like she was directing this to Daddy)
(I cannot tahan/stand any more, so I chipped in)
Me : Zara, call mummy, Muh-mee, Muh-meee
Zara : …… (grinned)
(Maybe too hard to call Mummy, let me try again)
Me : Zara, say Mimi, mi-mi
Zara : (immediately) Aao, Aao, Aao, Aao
Me : Zara, Mummy is not a cat, say Mimi, MI MI
Zara : Aao, Aao, Aao, Aao (non stop)
Me : *roll eyes*
Daddy : *Laugh*

I don’t know which part of me resembles a cat or a furry animal (which she also uses “AaO” on).

Up till today, she still doesn’t want to call me. Aigh.

This Tag is easier, it’s from YL :

List 10 things that bring you a moment of joy. Tag 5 friends to do the same.

Simple things bring me joy, and I count my blessing everyday, especially when I see Zara lie next to me. Still (to complete this tag) here they are :

1. Waking up with Zara next to me
2. Knowing I’d given birth to a healthy Zara, when I see her
3. Sniffing Zara (some how, she smells like a candy)
4. Getting a hug or kiss from Zara, or having her head lean on me
5. Seeing Zara enjoy herself
6. Being close to nature (waterfalls, beach, mountains, woods)
7. Driving along a scenic route in US with a Never Lost GPS
8. Visiting a wet or street market in a foreign country
9. Enjoying a good meal at my own pace (now it has become a rare luxury, as Daddy & I always have to eat fast, so that we can take turns to look after Zara)
10. Cooking a good meal, and seeing friends or Zara enjoying it

And I’m going to tag :
1) Seng Kor (what brings you joy besides …..)
2) Dinah
3) Mei
4) Jasmine
5) Jefferene

Sue, I’ll give you a pass on this. I know being pregnant, you need the rest. 😛
Egghead, you are busy preparing for the bloggers’ meet, I also give you a pass. *curtsy*

(it says 1st here because there’s another one coming)

Sue tagged me on 23rd September, I have promised to do my ‘homework’, but found it difficult to come out with 7 of everything. But anyway, here it is:

7 things I plan to do before I die :
1) Visit Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Sahara Dessert, Ayers Rock with Zara & Daddy
2) Read all the books I bought (during those warehouse sales)
3) Watch all the VCDs/DVDs I bought from pasar malam/night market
4) Go Tracking in East Malaysia, track to the Pinacles, and climb Mount Kinabalu again.
5) Spend a month in a beautiful island
6) Take 1 year off work to spend time doing things I want to do
7) Take up an international cooking and baking class (Switzerland if got the $)
**wow (*hand slap forehead*), out of the 7 items 5 of them also need a lot of $$$$. 🙁

7 things I could do :
1) Learn to be a better mummy
2) Learn to be a patient wife
3) Help some poor and needy (via donation or volunteer work)
4) Not to swear in the presence of Zara
5) Move to a property within a gated community ($ again)
6) Work part time so that I can spend more time with Zara (looks like hard to achieve liao)
7) Find time to work out

7 celebrity crushes:
1) Brad Pitt
2) James Caviezel
3) Jackie Cheung
4) David Tao
5) Lihom
6) Hideki Saijo ???? (when I was a teenager)
7) Hiroyuki Sanada ???? (when I was a teenager. He looks so old already in Last Samurai)
**3, 4, 5 are not really ‘crush’ but I admire their talent

7 often repeated words/phrase:
1) Shit
2) nia seng
3) celaka
4) I love you (to Zara)
5) bloody
6) aiyoh
7) stupid

7 physical traits I look for in the opposite sex:
1) penetrating eyes
2) tall
3) nice luscious hair
4) good skin
5) big hands
6) nice smile
7) big frame (to protect me)
**wa, fits Daddy’s description

7 tags go to :
1) YL (you scratch my back, I scratch your back la, 2nd tag will be yours)
2) Ethylyn’s mama
3) Damien’s mama (sorry hor, need you to do another tag)
…..

I’ll spare the rest with the easier tag.

If you don’t do also never mind la.. but it’s nice to know these *SEVENs* from you.

I have waited 6years to have Zara (I’ll blog about the ‘wait’ another time), when we knew she was coming (and ‘staying’), we started the shopping spree, clothes, toys, necessities and non-necessities, to prepare for her arrival. The shopping intensified after she was born, and it’s still a weekly event.

Here are some of the good buys that we’d made, and I’ll recommend them if you are shopping around for such items. My views are bias, determined by Zara’s willingness to ‘use’ it, its usability (by us) and Zara’s liking for the item (nobody pays me to do this).

1) Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier/Sling:

This was a gift from my sister, being very generous, she bought one of the best in the market. I must say it’s worth it, and if I would have to buy it (and pay for it with discount), I would get this same one as well.

Zara started being carried around the Baby Bjorn when she was a week old. It’s very comfortable for Zara, as well as for whoever is carrying her. Today, when we go to the wet market or for walks (recently to the zoo), we carry her in this carrier, and she always enjoys it (even if she’s in it for a long time).

Suitable for new born up till the baby reaches 10Kg. Babies are carried face in initially and then face out when they can support their head.

If you are looking for a baby carrier, get this (if you have the budget), and if not, try to get a good one. Cheap carrier causes discomfort to both the baby and the person carrying the baby and not to mention the potential danger (of the baby slipping out of the carrier).

2) Tripp Trapp The Chair that grows with the child

I was attracted by the design of the chair when I first saw it in Singapore. Bebehaus in KL carries it, and it’s cheaper here too.

The seat and the foot rest is adjustable, so it grows with the child, later, it can be converted to a proper adult chair. It comes in beautiful colours and pretty cushions.

We like the chair because it allows Zara to join us at meal times at the dining table (the chair is w/out a tray, so it can be pushed very close to the table). She normally can sit through the whole meal on this chair (we can’t do it in other chairs at restaurants, she gets restless half way through). I believe it’s because her feet are comfortably rested on the foot rest, and if she wanted to stand up she can as well (if the chair is adjusted properly, the baby can stand up, but won’t be able to climb out of the chair).

This is the most expensive item we got for Zara by far, but we always look at it as an investment, since she can use this chair for many years to come (support up till ~145kg), and it’ll be our ‘kah-chong’ (??/dowry) to her.

3) Lamaze Freddie The Firefly Plush Toy

The Dragonfly (it says it’s a firefly, but it looks more like a dragonfly to me) has provided a lot of play hours and fun to Zara. Starting from her 3rd months, this was the toy that we took for shopping trips and dinners since it keeps her happily occupied. She doesn’t seem to get tired with it (maybe very soon, she will).

4) Graco Infant Carrier cum Car Seat

It can be any brand, but I think an infant Carrier is much better than immediately getting a car seat. Many a times, Zara fell asleep in the car when we were on our way to lunch or dinner or to visit friends/relatives, all we need is just to bring the carrier down. We didn’t have to interrupt her sleep, and she has a comfortable place to sleep on.

Occasionally, we even put her in the carrier to rock her to sleep if she has problem getting to sleep.

5) Baby, Boo! (a photobook)

Zara started appreciating books and giving kisses after we exposed her to this book.

The phrases in the book are simple, and comes with baby photos. This is still one of her favourite books.

And here are the ones which I think are bad buys, and if you are thinking of buying, make sure your little one really likes it or you will use it on her (even if she/he doesnt’ like it) before getting it.

**disclaimer: I have nothing against these products, but they are not something my little girl likes; and this may be just her preference which is not shared by others.

1) Baby Einstein DVDs

Much hyped about program developed by Disney. Some titles can be introduced to new borns. An original DVD costs ~RM90/copy, I got the entire set of 18 DVDs from eBay for ~RM200 including postage (I think they must be pirated).

The program teaches baby different body parts, animals, colours etc using story board method (a bit like flash cards), with very soothing (too soothing) classical music played at the back ground.

Maybe Zara isn’t Einstein. She is not interested in any of them, she’ll be yawning (sometimes even falling asleep half way), or playing with her toys when we put this on for her. She only likes 1 section of the Old Mc Donald disc (~3mins out of the 18x30min= 540mins total DVDs play time, only ~0.5% utilisation) where the song Old Mc Donald is sung.

2) Leap Frog Baby Tad

I got this for Zara after she recovered from her 2 days fever to cheer her up. She showed no interest at all (and still show little interest). It plays 6 nursery rhymes, and I think I could get about 10 original nursery rhyme CDs with the price I paid for this green fella.

3) Molto Baby Chair

Molto is a company that manufacture toys in Spain. The baby chair from them looks and feels like a toy too. Zara is constantly complaining (and want to get out of it) when she’s placed in the chair during meal times.

It has an easy to install but difficult to remove tray, making quick exit for the child (with the help of an adult) difficult. When fixed on a dining chair, it does not stay on well and the height adjustment very ‘fah hok’ (??/flimsy).

We bought this first, then regretted it, and bought the Tripp Trapp. Now, this is used in my brother’s house for her weekday (while I’m at work) feeding. My maid said, most of the time, few minutes into a meal, Zara would be fretting, and she’ll end up standing or just sitting on the floor eating.

4) All the crib shoes I bought (before Zara’s arrival)

None of them have been or will be worn. When she hasn’t started walking, she’s left bare footed most of the time; if we go out to an airconditioned place, I put on a pair of socks for her instead.

Now she’s started to walk, it’ll be too flimsy to support her weight, and too slippery for her to walk around with.

So these pretty little crib shoes are just lying in the cupboard, waiting to be given away on the next full moon invitation I get (kekeke).

5) All the long sleeves dresses, blouses, cardigan I bought (before Zara’s arrival)

We always thought babies should be protected from cold (from all the angmoh child care websites and books), not knowing Malaysia’s weather is never THAT cold. Zara wore one of the long sleeve cute little blouse on the first night she was home (from hospital) in a fan room (so worried air con would be too cold for her); next morning, she had heat rash all over her back, no thanks to the kiasi parents.

Together with the pretty little crib shoes, waiting to be given away on the next full moon invitation I get (kekeke again).

Phew, luckily not that many regret buys. I try to control my spending now, and only buy things necessary (only if I’m not hit with the next too-good-a-bargain-and-hard-to-resist sales). Hytex Warehouse sales, lets see if I can buy any will-regret-after-paying things.

A colleague who took beautiful photographs for her sons gave me this tip on photography

Simple tips of taking good shot of children with any camera is to “GET CLOSER”. Moving closer eliminates all the distracting elements in the background and show a more intimate picture of your subject.

I took her advice and over the weekend tried to shoot some close up photos of Zara, and yes, the result is amazing.

Zara’s hand in mine.

Our feet. I like the shot Dinah took with Ashley. Here’s my version.

Zara sucking on her thumb in her cot early Sunday morning.

Zara staring at the TV, watching her favourite VCD, Wheels On the Bus

Still staring at the TV.

Here she is, playing with the toys on her walker.

Both Daddy & I last went to the zoo probably 20-30yrs ago. Having Zara means we have to revisit some of these places we would never go on our own as adults.

Before we went, I made a few SMSs to check if my nieces and nephews would like to go with us, however no takers, nieces have full day activities, nephews shopping in KLCC.

We arrived at the Zoo about 4:30pm. It just rained, so it was quite cooling and the sun was tucked behind some clouds, a very pleasant day to walk about outdoor.

Just after the entrance, there was a miniature horse and an orangutan out with the zoo staffs which we were allowed to pose next to them for photographs. With the horse, Zara was ok, although not daring to stroke it, she didn’t mind taking a photo with it; when I brought her to the Orangutan, and asked her to give the Orangutan ‘five-five’, she just stared and the Orangutan’s palm (which was extended out to receive the ‘five’ by its handler) and its longish fingers for 5seconds, and then turned away crying.

We didn’t bring our pram, so Daddy carried her in the carrier throughout.

We can see that she likes the birds, Pelicans, and Flamingos at the lake; the primates; the giraffes; she would look at them, and then back at us to smile. I also brought her small animal photo book along, every time we came across an animal which could be found in her book, I flipped and show the page to her. Hopefully, she can relate the 2 later.

When we arrived at the section with all the big cats, she started meowing like a cat. Pointed to the panther (which looks very much like our Rusty at home), she said “Aao”. Pointed to the jungle cat, she said, “Aao”. And then it was “Aao, Aao, Aao” non-stop.

She got her first fright when we were looking at a huge bull. While we were near the bar, trying to get a closer look, it threatened to charge at us. All of us had a fright; you know you are safe behind the bar, but the menacing bull looked as though it was going to charge out of the bar, to rip us apart with its horn. Daddy took flight with Zara, Zara cried in fear, I too almost dropped the camera. (seen here is daddy fleeing with Zara from the charging bull)

The 2nd fright she had was with the Hippopotamus. We were lucky, the hippo decided to emerge from the water when we were at its cell. The animal was extremely huge, dark skin glistening, walking clumsily around. Zara cried seeing such a giant. I tried to pacify her by telling her that the Hippo is not ‘naughty’, so she didn’t have to be afraid off. But nothing could console her; she looked at the harmless beast, and cried in fear. Daddy had to quickly take her away. While I was taking a photo of the Hippo, I could hear Zara’s cry echoing, poor girl.

After this fright, we had to bring her to see something she’s familiar with. We brought her to see some local bulls (not as intimidating as the earlier bull) and some wild boars. While pointing out the animals to her, we sang her the Old Mc Donald song, Oink Oink here, moo moo there, and she started being cheerful again, and squealed with delight occasionally.

We left the place all in good spirit.

It was a nice visit, I think we’ll probably do this again when Zara can walk on her own, and can appreciate the animals better. I believe it will be soon.