Have You Written Your Resolutions Hmm? Pt. 1

Greetings! And a very Happy New Year I wish you, beautiful people of the earth! 

Let me just take a moment and go, woouoah! Like, seriously, what’s the deal with time man, why the hurry?! It was just what, yesterday? That my second baby arrived! And suddenly, she’s like 1 plus. And then in a couple of week’s time, ahem, I’m turning a year older cooler! 

WOUAH! 

Really, exclamation marks are really an understatement, though very necessary haha. ANYWAY!
Regardless, I’m really excited about the year 2013! 12 months of endless possibilities! Thank God for His grace and mercy! Speaking of which, I saw someone shared a picture on instagram, and I find it so funny I made a mental note to share it somewhere. But I really don’t mean to be rude in any sense ok! Here, this:

HAHAHA! Funny right!!!

:x OK moving on! 

So I mentioned that WELL, in a few weeks’ time my birthday will be rolling right over and I’ve decided to be shameless declare the month of January a month of celebration! Yes, please, you can take a day off and feel free to bask in my awesomeness for you will find no other. *angels sing*

But I’m super lousy in coming up with plans and stuff lah. So all I did manage was a pathetic list of things that I want to do (starting) this month – 

1. Eat Korean bbq because erm, I’ve never tried it before? -.-

2. Start taking supplements and collagen and stuff because well it’s high time? Actually, I don't know how is this part of my birthday celebration. Sorry wrong list. Zzz.
3. Plant potatoes and spinach. HAHAHA! Because it’s time I make myself useful by bringing some bread to the table too. I’m serious ok.
4. To have a truckload of cool presents! 
5. To own a ukulele! For no apparent reasons; it’s just something I’ve always thought it’s cool to have, never mind the fact that I play no string instruments. Uh, yeah. 

So that’s it! For now. But really, how simple I am! The hubs should really be counting his blessings. 

Oh and have lotsa makan and yumcha sessions with friends! Nothing makes me happier than just lepak-ing with friends, gossiping updating each other about the happenings.

Anyway, this being my grand birthday month aside, have you come up with your resolutions for this year? I was never a erm, resolutionist. But I figured (how smart right hehe) one needs some kinda goals or plans to motivate you through, I mean, otherwise, what’s the point of you being alive right? Takkan just wipe your babies’ shit and cook porridge for them only! But you see, even that is some kinda resolution already! You resolute to be a better parent who wipes their butts cleaner and better, see?! And you will act accordingly and that makes your life purposeful! SEE?! Light bulb! Nuff said!

So then, in place of a to-do list, I decided each year, I’ll give myself a word to live by. Last year my word was “NEW”. And I’m pretty proud to report back that I’ve lived up to that word, by seizing opportunities whenever I can and try doing new things – like organizing meetups and meeting new friends, both of which makes me wiggle in anxiety and discomfort; signing up for a makeup course that I don’t see the point of doing (but enjoyed it thoroughly in the end, plus met new friends, plus had good fellowship with the friends I attended the class with!); and going on a short holiday trip with ONE friend who was really just a hello-goodbye friend (in a much closer sense), and now I dare say we’ve found a friend in each other (I hope!); with the help of the hubs, I've also organized a crazy preloved clothing sales and I’m just so proud that I could even pull it off in the first place; and erm, dip-dying my hair haha never mind I look like an old lala mui now; dress up more, just because I can, why wait until I’m all gray and wrinkly right? Seriously what was I thinking when I was like, 10 years younger?! When I was 20, I lived in tents and men’s jeans, likka a real aunty. The late bloomer in me has once again, live up to its true character. Yerrr! Why! Y_Y

So yeah, stuff like that lah! I tried to go with the flow more, even if it makes me uncomfortable but eventually usually I'll end up having fun. And that was pretty much my 2012, on a personal level!

And this year, behold, my word – POSITIVE. *cues spotlight shining down from behind the clouds

This year, besides continue trying new things, I also resolute to learn to be more positive; to think positively; to see the positive side of every negative situation and thought. Because I think, how things turn out depends so much on how we think. Positive attracts positive. Positive words and thoughts reap positive results. Besides, if the mama is positive, the littlings will be happier too. You get my drift? Yeah…

OK NOW! After getting all these sappy a-year-older-a-year-wiser stuff outta the way! Let me give you a small little “gift”, ok not so much a gift from me, but you know, just a little something to get the fashion-loving blood in you pumping  a teensy bit faster (thus more oxygen into your heart and brain! More oxygen means better well being! GOOD NEWS, THIS! :D)

**wait, let me cut this post into 2 parts so that you won’t get overwhelmed with all my words of wisdom! Haha! 

Please stay tuned with the part 2! YOU REALLY DOWAN TO MISS IT (cos I’m modeling with a pathetic half-length mirror and an iphone camera. Self-shoot no less. z. Story of my miserable blogger life  -.-)**

MEANWHILE, what's a blog without pictures right? (You saw that coming, doncha? haha!)

Dong Zhi Day, where we fought for tang yuen! Ah, good times!

Christmas Dinner and free choc drink! Because this lil missy smiled and waved to the barista and melted his heart! Think it'll work if I do the same? Hmmmmmm

A sisterly aww moment there. Right after that, Frappy told Oli "no more. one only!" -_-

Yummy dinner @ La La Chong with great company!

Our impromptu stay at Saujana Hotel, thanks to a sweet angel!

Buffet breakfast time! My fav!

Oli's first dip and frappy clinging on to her dear life.

We're chilling, no pictures please.

pic nipped from melly

Girly sleepover (with super noob boys in attendance, who got excited over exfoliating their faces. Like, seriously? Yes, seriously. HAHA! I don't know why I like to answer my own questions likka pro =_=)

Facial / brotherly bonding time

I know it's too late, but I hope it's not too late anyway, to wish one and all a very Blessed Christmas and an awesome New Year! May the Lord keep lotsa cool stuff in store for you in 2013. It's gonna be uhmaizing! 

But before the uhmaizing begins, gotta crash now! I pretty much typed this whole thing with my eyes half closed. BUT! Remember to check back for the part 2 of this post k! Nightssss!!!

The Diva Is Officially One!

Dear Oli,

Today (ok, 1.5 weeks ago), you turned one! Imagine that! All grown up and ready to conquer the world, you! And we didn’t even see you growing! But despite the fact that we can’t lavish you with our full attention, please, please know that we are always, and I do mean always, always proud of you, precious!

Right this moment, you have cut 8 teeth. The double eyelid on your right eye is more apparent now (phew!). You can crawl on your belly and your knees with the grace and speed of a snake. You can stand supported and are showing signs of wanting to stand on your own already. You love to eat. You don’t like to drink water. You still wake up one time at night for milk (pfft, which is pretty annoying lah girl please just sleep through lah can? Zzz). You are climbing anywhere and anything like a pro, and giving us that smug face when you succeed. You know how to wave goodbye, blow kisses, kiss on the lips, and do that layan cheek-brush when you don’t want to lip-kiss, or smack people’s face away when you don’t feel generous with your kisses (mommy does have divas for babies!). You are making the mama/mum mum sounds already! You loved to be tackled and tickled, especially by your jie jie. You love “reading”. You love imitating us when we talk on the phone, by clasping your ear with one hand and go, ah! Ah!. You clap hands when asked to. You clap hands when you see your sister achieved a task or danced or sang or being praised by the grownups. You put away toys. Yes. Let me say this again, you put away toys! How freaking cool is that?! This, my dear, makes mommy so, awesomely proud! Honestly, I really think you’re a genius. I have you on videos putting away toys on various occasions. Genius. Nuff said. 

You love to laugh. You love to cry more. You’re crazy active. You have the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen, the type that just freeze you in the moment and you pretty much turn me into a blob of messy goo. You also know how to sucker up to me when I’m angry with you – by gently resting your head on my chest/shoulders, then slowly and lightly plant a kiss on my cheek, and keep silent till I give in and bear hug you. You go to sleep in a jiffy if it’s papa who put you down, but you’ll go all demanding wanting to hold my hand/fingers to sleep when it was me. You still drink 6oz of milk. You have curly hair! You dance when you hear music. Did I mention that you love to laugh?

Oh that laughter is just glorious. It’s the most carefree, hearty laugh. The best thing to happen in a day is to hear you and your jie jie laugh. Together. So if there’s one thing you can keep, my baby, is that God-given laugh. No matter what life brings you, just laugh that hearty laugh. And you’ll see, no problems, no heartaches, are bigger than God, you hear me baby?

You are a fast learner, Oli. And your jie jie is your ultimate partner in crime; she’s always so supportive of all the mischief you have up your sleeve. I do hope you both will stay close that way. Just tone down on all those mischief, especially those targeted at me, alright love?

We didn’t manage to celebrate your birthday in a fast food outlet with the mascot and lavish novelty cake as planned. But we did plan out a weekend full of activities for you and your jie jie. It was so tiring for both mommy and papa but looking back at the pictures now, it’s worth it. I wish we had done more for you. 

On your birthday morning, we had brunch with jie jie Rachel and Beatrice; and your birthday meal was a butter sandwich toast. Ain’t it awesome?! And that butter toast was just a starter baby! You have thus begun a relationship with oily food yo!

After taking a nap, you woke up and watched your favourite Madagascar (erm, I just made that up. Actually all animations can hold your attention). And later when papa came home, we brought you to McDonald’s! Haha! I was so excited I ordered the entire kitchen, I mean, we’re talking about celebrating your first birthday man! Bring on the fast food and the wicked black liquid (erm, coke?)! We had wanted to let you roam the playroom, but decided the boys in there were too rowdy (your jie jie got kicked in the face by them when coming down from the slide. Now, do you still think you want a brother?). So, you ended up in the high chair most of the night, chomping on fries! I’d say that’s a pretty awesome birthday already! 

And then! On Saturday, we got ourselves tickets to… wait for it… tada!

Hi5 baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

But then we were late by half an hour. As usual, because your papa did not listen when I told him a million times that the show starts at 3.30pm! Grr. And of course your jie jie was sleeping forever! So yeah. But still, we made it! Totally all out of breath. No matter, because they were awesome! One of the cute Hi5-er did the gagman style dance to the roaring applause of the crowd parents moms, actually. /shifty eyes 

Anyway! That was Saturday. And Sunday was your big day! We decorated the house a bit (I just love that old school accordian streamers that I made! That's right, I did craft! Hee! I wrote about it at friendlyfashion.my), changed the lighting, catered food, oh and I bought you a beautiful cake! And your jiu jiu made the most amazing cheese dip for the party (for your jie jie’s fullmoon party too. Well he has this foolproof, sure-win cheese dip recipe that will get him any girl, or aunty, that he wants, if he wants; you just have to get it from him later ok?) 

don't you just love the gradient? heart!

We invited your closest family and friends to celebrate the occasion with us, it’s a shame though your grandma from Melaka couldn’t make the party, but we will visit her soon so you can tell her how awesome the party went. 

OHH! And you were dressed in the most adorable ballerina costume! I’m talking about legit doll-face adorable with all the multiple folds all over your tummy and arms and legs! If only I can have that moment with you in that costume forever…

sorry doll, it's once size too big. hah.

Baby Olivia, darling, thank you for coming into our lives, into my life. Your arrival reaffirms that I can be that strong woman I’ve always seen in other mothers and thought it crazy impossible to be like that. You, have helped me to be strong, to be that mother that I never thought I could be. I may not be the best mother on earth, far from it actually, but I’m learning. And I truly thank God for you and your jie jie everyday. I mean, what are the odds for ordinary persons like mommy and papa to be entrusted with the two most beautiful girls in the entire universe?! Man, it’s crazy! Ahh but let’s not get sappy now, shall we (because it's one in the AM and ma eyes oh ma eyes are burning sleepy!!! =__=)?

Baby here’s wishing you a very blessed first birthday, my darling! I hope this first will propel you to greater heights in the many years to come! And may God continue to keep you in the center of his Will and Love!

Now go out and break some hearts kick some butts! 

Love always,
The One Who Gives You Those Good Genes 
a.k.a Your Mom

Grace

When I brought Frappy's lunch out from the kitchen today, she quickly got herself up at the table, put her hands together, slightly bowed her head, and said:

"Ah ehka. AHH BAYBEE, ah oish ko, ah MUM MUM! NGAMI!"

O_O

Did she just said grace? I just sat there, watching in amazement, and for awhile there I didn't know how to respond nor remember how to laugh. Although it was really funny, I must say!

My baby just said grace! And "ngami" is amen; usually we would say grace and frap would end with ngami. The reason she mentioned baby was because normally I would feed her and Oli at the same time.

AND after saying her ngami, she called out to Oli,

BAYBEEE!!!! MUM MUM!!!!! 

To which Oli would scoot over in her speediest crawl with the widest smile on her face, eyes on the food. Eyes always on the food.

HAHAHAHA!

Ahh! I guess we stay at home parents live (and suffer the down times!) for moments like this, don't we? Is it worth it? I don't know, but it's pretty darn priceless. :)

Yes. What About Boys?

So I was having a conversation with the frap, that goes something like this. And for the record, I did not dream this up ok!

Frap: Mommyyy, schatat bee me guys. Guys.
Me: Wha...? Did you say guys?
Frap: *smiles* Guys chu ba gai gao car ya ba eh yu bao cook!
Me: What? Are we gonna talk about guys now? Seriously?
Frap: Schatat mommy beeyo papa yuuba kabir da *sighs*
Me: I'm not sure you are ready for them boys, at least for now, you know.
Frap: Har? Guys car!
Me: Yeah, cars are nice, but they are not everything you know. I mean, you're so young! And, and fragile and naive! And boys being boys, you know. And the commitment! Oh, let's not even go there. Ugh.
Frap: Mommy.
Me: Yes darling?
Frap: Stay cool.

FOR REALS! PEOPLE! FOR. REALS.

The little lady actually said stay cool! STAY COOL! She's asking me, HER MOTHER, to freaking STAY COOL because, oh you know, it's only boys, mom and I can so handle them! *rolls eyes* oh won't you just kill me now? !!!

Exclamation marks. That's all I have for you now.  -_-

Oh and some pictures from the week. /continue dying in exclamation marks

Stay cool, she says. Pfft!

brekkie

virgin beer

a whole new world from up that height

spot the red!

hope

yes, i'm afraid you can't choose your parents, oli

prisoned

icky!

obsessed about colours

rotterdam! it's like, wearing ten tiny pieces of starry night skies on you!

lazing around. everyday.

smelly bunnies

I'm sure the hubs and I would need helmets to face them boys head on. Sigh.
We will definitely make you wear helmet from now on. To fend off the guys.

The Obligatory Growth Progress Report: Oli’s Turn!

Today in the Jason household, we are celebrating another milestone – Oli turned 7 months old! So now she’s graduated from the newborn phase, it kinda saddens me a little. I know, I know, I’ve been saying how I can’t wait for her to grow up a little bigger a little faster, and now that she is all grown up a little bigger, I’m all sad and nostalgic. It’s just I’m gonna miss those new baby smell, and the fragile, angelic look when she yawns. Ah, human. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Anyway, Oli is a real big girl now! She’s since learned to turn over and back at the age of 5 months old, and she squirms and wiggles everywhere now, and I do mean, EVERYWHERE! Recently I’ve seen her lifting her butt up so high it almost touched the sky (haha I just have to!), and was almost in the kneeling position, I guess she’ll be crawling soon! 

She’s cut 2 bottom teeth 2 months back and she’s so cute! I’ve started her on solids, but the progress is slow; fed her applesauce, pureed pumpkin, and plain porridge, she doesn’t seem to like it or maybe it’s just an auto reflex thing where babies will spit out? Anyway I bought a can of rice and soy bean cereal, and she managed a spoonful yesterday! According to the directions on the formula can, she should be fed 7oz of milk by now, but she’s still on 6oz, most of the time she can’t even finish the bottle leaving an oz. I’m gonna try banana next! Oh and the teething biscuits and rusks! I keep forgetting those! Heck, I don’t even remember what I’ve done with Frappy when she was this age.

She’s a fast learner and loves to hang around her big sister. In the mornings, Frappy would wake up and head straight over to Oli’s cot, climb right in and both would have a gala time yakking and laughing about nothing. Even when Frappy thought it funny to piggy ride on her, Oli would still laugh like a madwoman instead of crying for help. I dread the day when both would gang up against their poor mama. 

She responds well when we call out to her and ask her to come. She’d flash the sweetest smile when heard her name and wiggles straight towards us with a smitten face. It’s really very cute.  

Earlier I blogged about giving Oli the pacifier, thinking it will help soothe her without needing me around her all the time? But looks like it’s not entirely working, because she’s much clingier than Frappy; she actually needs to hold our finger to sleep! And she’s at this stage where no one can hold me except for mommy! And daddy. OK and jie jie Frappy too, but she’d always drop me! So now here’s another thing that I can’t wait for her to grow out of soon! 

When you become a second time parent and counting, you’ll automatically be relaxed about what your baby plays with and puts in her mouth. Very relaxed, in fact. With Frappy, we were so paranoid that we confined her mobile perimeter to within the mattress (sandwiched between 2 couches) because oh you know, she’d bang her head on the floor, the floor is dirty and dusty. Let’s wait until she’s much older. And then the second child comes along and all things go. Oli gets full access to the toy cabinet, hands and mouth, plus she gets to roam the floor like she owns it. And we’re so freaking relaxed about it, you’d want to hand us the worst parents of the year award. But really, hey, if there’s anything we can tell you, is that children grow, thrive even, in every living condition you put them in, as long as we are careful about keeping hazardous items out of reach, and she gets fed, cleaned, and loved, I think she’s fine… uh, right? No? Yes, please? OK fine, stone me now. 

In any case, I’m truly thankful that despite our relaxed attitude, Oli is growing healthily and is a happy baby, uh, when she doesn’t cry as if we’ve abandoned her, that is. I do pray that as she continues on this journey of life, I’ll be able to leave her a legacy to draw inspiration, strength, and love from. 

I love you, Oli! - credit Sharlene