Jia Wen & The Birthday Boys 

Jia Wen & Birthday daddy 

Happy Birthday Boys

We were all in Melaka for the weekend to celebrate Shien Wei (1 November) and Shien Lung (26 October)'s birthdays. As their birthdays were a week apart, we usually have dinner and cake cutting in somewhere in between. We sent to a Chinese restaurant in Melaka.

Our German friend Katrin also came along with us to Melaka where we brought her to eat Chicken Rice Ball, walked at Jonker Walk and watched Desperate Housewives at night. Not such an interesting weekend for a tourist but it wasn't her first time to Melaka so I hope she didn't regret making the trip with us. She did want to go to the beach and go to Pulau Besar, but we dismissed her request thinking that she was crazy! Sorry Fraulein Katrin.

We are now back in Nilai but Jia Wen is down with a fever. Gave her a dose of medicine and hope she'll sleep it off.

Happy Birthday Boys! 

Our latest family pic. 

Astro is Huge

Today I went to Astro to collecct our gift vouchers for the Mix.FM's Perfect Match contest we took a few weeks ago. It was a RM250 cash voucher from Giant. And because Astro wouldn't send / courier the gift to us, I had to go collect it myself. They say it is because gift vouchers are as good as cash so they don't put into the mail. Oh well, for RM250 almost cash, I drove to Astro.

Never quite imagined how big Astro is. It is huge. They have North, South, East & West wings. There were lots of people there going in and out of the building (mostly visitors). I went into the South Wing (I think) and there was a booth set up recruiting audiences for The Lilian Too Show and so I approached the counter. They asked me whether I would like to go as the show was going to start recording soon. Well, since I was there, I said yes but guess what? I wasn't dressed "properly". I was wearing sleeveless and didn't have a jacket or a cardigan so I couldn't go. So sad. If not you guys can at least see part of me on TV! I didn't know that it was that simple. Just walk into Astro and there they were! They have a few more shows to film before they start the new season on Astro TV.

Darn, I was in the wrong wing and had to walk to another wing (West Wing) I think to collect my prize. Was looking out for "celebreties" but I only saw Shazmin walking out of the station. I think the West Wing is the radio wing. I also saw all the radio cars parked outside the station (Mix Road Runners, etc). Got my prize with no problems and walked out hoping to bump into more celebreties but sighs, obviously I didn't loh.

So that's my highlight for the day - an trip to Astro. Nevertheless, night has yet to come. Having some friends over for drinks. Any takers?

Who said Chinese people not wild? 

Too bad not clear lah 

A Mum's Hideout Turn Dirty

So sorry if my blog just took a unfamiliar turn but I couldn't resist putting the pictures up. Hey, a mum's got to do it too right?! hahaha..

My Little Actress

It is hard to blog about what happened today but try to imagine this;

Today at the dinner table, Jia Wen got hold of the chopsticks (had noodles for dinner) and started banging the bowl with them. We told her repeatedly not to do it and she continued banging the bowl so I raised my voice and said "Stop It!". Guess what she did? She threw the chopsticks away showing her tantrum! So I beat her hands.

I expected her to retaliate and shout back like she always does. Instead, she put her head down and sulked very quietly. She wasn't crying or anything and she maintained that way for like 2 mins and we wondered whether she fell asleep. I told Shien Wei that she was trying to get sympathy and attention. I tried to peek under and she looked at me at the corner of her eyes! She didn't make a sound and her head went lower and lower until she was practically lying her head on the table. At this point we were already giggling.

And suddenly, she sat up and started laughing out loud! Like laughing at us and saying "Got ya". See my little actress.

I guess you just have to be here to understand the story. But it was so funny!

Bree Van De Kamp Wannabe

In my quest to be more like Bree, today I baked a cake and made jelly in cups with mixed fruits! And I did it all in like hhmm.. 1 hour? Great isn't it? Of course I cheated a little with the cake but heck, I baked!

After baking, like any good neighbour would, I took some to Kiren (my neighbour). I didn't put into a basket laced with tea towels and ribbons but not bad right?! Hahaha...

Oh yes, I also invited a friend over for dinner. So am I Bree yet?

Standing beside the runway, waiting for planes to land. 

The plane's backside 

See the plane behind? 

Jia Wen and I by the runway 

Jia Wen waiting for planes to land 

A smooth landing? 

Coming in for landing 

Flying over me 

Approaching the runway 

MAS plane landing 

Quite a close shot! 

Jia Wen and her funny face 

Lazing in my sis's room 

Jia Wen and my sis making funny faces 

House Warming

Yesterday Shien Wei, Jia Wen and I hosted a small housewarming with some families and close friends. Since my parents were in town, we decided to invite the family and a few friends over to come warm the house up.

Unfortunately, we didn't take any photos (totally forgot about taking pics) but it was a good party and my house was definitely warmed up.

We would like to thank everyone who came with lots of cheer and happiness and of course thanks for all the gifts. Shien Wei, Jia Wen and I look forward to many more happy years here. Do drop by anytime!

A Lazy Sunday

After a very hectic week and an extraordinarly busy Saturday yesterday, it was decided that today be declared a lazy Sunday (aren't all Sundays lazy?) But it was a day that I refused to do anything, absolutely nothing! My mum was still here this morning so she woke up and, bathed and fed Jia Wen while I stayed in bed for a while more until some people came to dismantle the canopy from yesterday. Could have stayed in bed longer if it wasn't for them but I didn't complain though my body was exhausted and want to rest longer.

Had left overs from last night for breakfast and after that, we all decided not to do anything but laze, sleep, read, play... whatever lah! For lunch, we had fruits! Pure fruits! Got a big "Bree Van De Kamp" like fruit basket yesterday so thought it would be a good idea to have fruits for lunch since breakfast was a heavy one. Guess what I made out of the watermelon? I made ice-blended watermelon with my new Panasonic food processor (Thanks Eees). Wow.. that was good!!

After lunch, we went back to lazing around. Spent the whole afternoon (literally) in my sis's room. All 5 of us (Jia Wen, my sis, my parents and I) just went in there and lazed. Playing with Jia Wen and letting her entertain us. Of course we took some pictures! Where's Shien Wei you might wonder, he was playing his computer game. Oh well, he couldn't have fitted into my sis's room anyway! It was already cramped enough with the 5 of us.

So just before sending my parents off to the airport, we stopped at a mamak shop to have tea since our lunch was just made of fruits, we were a tad hungry at that point.

After dropping my parents off at the airport, Shien Wei and I took Jia Wen to the end of the runway to look at planes landing. We got there at the correct time where we caught quite a few planes landing, one after another. It was almost like Heathrow were you could see planes lining up in the air taking turns to land. It was quite cool. Jia Wen enjoyed herself of course.

As for the rest of the Sunday, it is pretty much the usual... Shien Wei is at work, Jia Wen is already asleep and I am on the PC, blogging. What's new?! A new week tomorrow, not sure whether I look forward to it now that my parents are not around to help mind Jia Wen. But then again, my sis will be on her 2 months break from Wednesday onwards, so I shall make full use of that! Hahahahahahahah.....

Mix.FM's Perfect Match

In case none of you caught the action, Shien Wei and I were on air about 2 weeks ago for the Mix.Fm's perfect match contest. I am sure most of you know what it is all about.

It was I (who else?) who registered ourselves for the contest thinking "what the heck, get get lah". Hahaha.. So I registered our names in their website (click above link) and about 2 weeks later, one morning we were woken up by Richard Ng. But because we were in the same room, we promised Richard that I will go to the next room where Shien Wei won't be able to hear me. Hey, if you are really in the same room, they'll know you are cheating and cheaters don't get anything (happened before). So I went to my sis's room which is across the hall and there is no way we could have cheated (ha).

Richard had a few technical problems with the phone lines and had to try a few times. He nearly gave up but finally managed to get the phone lines working (phew).

Richard asked me the questions first. Here were the questions:

1. Which men in uniform would you prefer - a fireman, a navy officer, a pilot?
2. If you and your husband were to go to a wedding, how much Ang Pow would you pack?
3. When it comes to festive seasons, what sort of greetings will you send out? A traditional card by mail, internet or sms?

My answers respectively:

1. A Navy officer. Asked why - I said because the chances are navy officers are in good shape and so they will always look good in their uniform. Plus it is white!
2. RM100 each
3. The traditional way of course (most of you know me)

Obviously my answers checked out with my hubby's so we won RM250 cash voucher from Giant!!! Yahoo! And today, I got a call for me to go pick the prize up.

This was what Bee Leng left in my autograph book years ago. 

My Dear Bee Leng

This morning I received an SMS from a friend from UK telling me that our classmate had just passed away of ovarian cancer!

I am hardly 30 years old and to know that you have a friend who is the same age as you die of ovarian cancer is SCARY! I have been thinking about her and how young she is / was to have died of such a disease, it is quite disturbing.

I haven't been in touch with this friend of mine for years now and didn't know that she was ill. I spoke to her cousin sister who is also my classmate and she said that she had only found out her cyst less than 2 years ago. Imagine how fast it took her life? I can't help but think of how she suffered before she died yesterday and at such age, she must have been devastated when she found out. So let's see, she found out about her cyst say less than 2 years ago and has been going for operations and treatments since then. That means she has probably have had the cancer say 24 years old?! We normally hear of people suffering or dying of ovarian cancer when they are probably after 40 but my dear friend was hardly 30!

Dearest Bee Leng, whereever you are now, my prayers are with you. I am so sorry that I haven't been in touch with you for so long and didn't know that you were sick. May you rest in peace and know that your friends are thinking of you. God bless and rest well.

Who does Jia Wen look like? 

Look-a-like contest

I have put up some pictures of myself and Shien Wei when we were babies along with 2 pics of Jia Wen around the same age.

The top left picture is of Shien Wei and next to him is yours truly.

So, who does Jia Wen look like more? Shien Wei or I? Look closely. Leave your comments and I will compile the results at the end of the month.

Monday, 3 October 2005

Forgot to blog this momentous, unforgettable moment.

One this date, Jia Wen finally called me "Mummy"! It was one fine Monday morning when she decided that "Ok, let's please my mum by calling her Mummy". And she did! At first I couldn't believe my ears but she said it many times!

I think I am the last person in the family tree (sigh) that she learns to call. She could say Daddy like many moons ago, called her grandparents since the ice age, calls her aunt and uncles well before this historical date!

I was a joy for a while to hear her calling me "mummy" but now, every little thing she will shout "Mummy!" Now, when she wakes up in the morning, she will call my name! Before this, she simply shouted for anyone. Now it is personal!

Nonetheless, at most times she pronounces it so well and so sweetly. You must hear to melt! The same as when she calls her daddy, Shien Wei will fall right into her arms (or should it be the other way round?).

Observant Kid

Babies and kids are probably one of the most observant creature around us. They pick things up so fast and without you realizing where and how the picked it up. Really!

My mum-in-law related the following incident when Jia Wen spent the weekend in Melaka;

• She came across a bottle of deodorizer and guess what she did with it? She put up her arms and started to mimic deodorizing her armpits! Hahahahahah!
• She got hold of a pencil which looked like an eye-liner and guess what she did with it? She started to mimic lining the eye with the pencil! Hahahahah... albeit dangerous.

It is amazing how they learn and pick up things and actions that you don't realize that it actually came from you. I don't even remember doing all the above in front of her and even if there were, it could only have been once or twice at the most.

And guess what she did today? Something that I am very very sure neither Shien Wei or I do at all. She got hold of a metal pole (just slightly shorter than her) and started singing to the top of the pole as though it was a real mic and with actions too! You wouldn't believe what song she sang - she sang Mandy by Barry Manilow! She went like "Mandy.... Mandy... Mandy"... My sister and I looked at each other confused, amazed, amused! Where on earth did she learn and thought of the name "Mandy"?!?! And it wasn't like once, it went on and on with melody (of course not the exact tune) but hey, she knows that Mandy is a song! We do not even own a single Barry Manilow CD or I don't think she has ever heard it on radio before! I am sure most of you will say that this is a coincident, I as a proud mother (bewildered at the same time) will hold on to this as a proud moment.

Nicole, I believe you have a story to tell about "observence" as well? Do share. I think your's is better than mine!

So for you parents out there, be careful of your actions and what you say. We are now trying very hard to hold our tongues especially me when I am driving.

Jia Wen's Dictionary

Jia Wen's list of words to date:

1. Cat
2. Frog
3. Bird
4. Neh-neh (Barney)
5. Aight (light)
6. Lamp
7. Fan
8. Chair
9. Car
10. Mummy
11. Daddy
12. Ee-ee (her aunt)
13. Ah-ku (her uncle)
14. Chek-chek (her uncle)
15. Ah Mah (grandma)
16. Kong-Kong (grandpa)
17. Ah Chor (great-grandparents)
18. Atie (aunty)
19. Uncle
20. Koko (big brother)
21. Che-che (big sister)
22. Baby
23. Stairs
24. Cle (circle)
25. Bath
26. Eye
27. Nose
28. Teeth
29. Toe
30. Ear
31. Watch
32. Clock
33. Down
34. Ant (insects in general)
35. Ek-ek (dirty)
36. Rain
37. Thunder
38. Cold
39. Hot
40. Warm
41. Flower
42. Hug
43. Mu-mum (eat)
44. Bomb (household name for poo)
45. Shee-shee (pee)
46. Tree
47. Book
48. Pooh
49. House
50. Bear
51. Moom (moon)
52. Star
53. Cup
54. Bike
55. Bite
56. Key
57. Door
58. Soap
59. Wash
60. Hand
61. Craw (draw)
62. Anda (panda)
63. Tiger
64. Onkey (monkey)
65. Hair
66. Head
67. Armpit
68. Ple (nipple)
69. Pen
70. Bag
71. Phone
72. Pig
73. Sound
74. Sun
75. Nana (fruits in general)
76. Kern (chicken)
77. Kout (take out)
78. Opah (Oprah)
79. Floor
80. Wet
81. Fix
82. Spoon
83. Fork
84. Elmo
85. Jojo (Disney cartoon)
86. Night
87. Dark
88. Duck
89. Fish
90. Ne-nen (milk in hokkien)
91. Sheep
92. Walk
93. Socks
94. Shoe
95. Hi
96. Bye
97. Kai-kai (going out in Hokkien)
98. Oh-O
99. Duk-dou (another version of Oh-O)
100. Sit
101. Otto (photo)
102. Shen (lotion)
103. Hat
104. Pane (plane)
105. Bunch (punch)
106. Kick
107. Jump
108. Drum
109. Gate
110. Dance
111. Sharp
112. Cut
113. No!
114. One
115. Two
116. Four
117. Five
118. Six
119. Eight
120. Nine
121. Ro (zero)
122. Bed
123. Up
124. Good
125. Cicak (lizard)
126. En (herself)
127. Comb
128. Tie
129. On
130. K-k-k (ok)
131. Change
132. Dog
133. Pain-pain (pain)
134. Come
135. Push
136. Horse
137. Cow
138. There
139. How
140. Bus
141. Orry (lorry)
142. Train
143. Throw
144. Cake
145. Toy
146. Brush
147. Bob (baby Bob in Barney, Bob in Bob the Builder)
148. J (BJ in Barney)
149. Foot (rarely)
150. Con (aircon)
151. Spoil
152. Peace (please)
153. Cereal (with slang)
154. Walk
155. Yes
156. Bow (blow)

For a 20-month old baby, I think her vocabulary is fantastic. Although she may not know how to pronounce all the words as clearly as we adults do but generally, her pronounciation is very good. Most of the words she says, almost any outsider can undertand what she is trying to say. And recently, she has tried to put 2 - 3 words together to form a sentence.

There are many words that she may not be able to say or pronounce but she associates many things to people / other stuff. For example she can identify which clothes including underwears to the owner. She identifies Honda City to her grandma's car, Waja to my car and a Kelisa to Shien Wei's car. She associates candles to her Chek-chek (her uncle in Melaka) because he always burn candles and incents in the house.

Also, there are words that she cannot say / pronounce, but she knows what it is, where it is, etc, e.g. body parts.

I might have missed a few words but basically, the list is the bulk of it. <>156 words - pretty impressive eh?

Upgraded!

Not me lah!

My parents and two of my aunts who had just flown off to Auckland this evening were upgraded to business class. Yes, all 4 of them!

I am so so so so jealous as I was the one who checked them in, stayed at the counter for nearly an hour due to system down, waited patiently and finally, without even asking or hinting, the lady (Mas Hanni) told me that she upgraded everyone! You should have seen my face of disbelief!

How come I never never never get such upgrades when I travel quite a bit too?!?!!? ARGH! So jealous! I guess it must be because of my "association" with MAS! Sigh..

Safe journey and enjoy the business class!

Lastest pic of father and daughter 

Cool eh? 

I got a rocking chair! 

Comments please! 

I need a better bling bling! 

Check out bling bling! 

Good ad for 100+? 

Sweet! 

Are blogs full of bollocks?

I recently got a comment from someone close about blogs saying "blogs are bollocks"! And it really sounded really personal and it felt like the comment was meant for me! Eversince that day, I have been feeling offended!

Are blogs really full of shit? I am not sure about others' but I certainly do not think my blog is full of crap! People, please back me up here. I have read really good blogs and blogging have introduced me to a world of writing, a whole new experience, a new hobby, and something that I want to pursue and be better at - writing!

Indeed there are different kind of blogs out there but I think it is all a matter of personal preference and it is up to readers to tune in or tune out! Why make nasty remarks?!?!

CRAP!

Fooled by 8TV

People, we have been fooled! If you are an avid fan and follower of the series LOST and thought you saw yesterday and todays' The Star saying that Lost's second season will be premiering on 8TV tonight, we were fooled!! They are bloody showing the first season!

At first I didn't quite believe yesterday's paper when they said they were going to show the second season but when I saw today's TV schedule, I once again saw that they were going to show season 2! So excited lah me!

Now I am sitting in front of the TV, disappointed!

Are you aroused by this picture? 

Censor-less

Another letter to The Star:

Thank you Ng Mar Lee (Pure Waste of Censors' Time, 2 October 2005) for pointing this matter out.

I too had just received the September 05 issue of the National Geographic's Africa Special Issue. I have flipped through the editorial of "Who Rules The Forest" and saw in awe not at the featured tribe, but at what the censorship board had done. Not only did they waste time on darkening tribal womens' breasts but wasting taxpayers' money buying black marker pens!

This editorial clearly isn't featuring vices and what the censors did might have just insulted the tribe concerned. National Geographic magazine is not some cheap tabloid and its readers do not appreciate such scribbles.

Poor Pensioners

Another letter to The Star (wrote this on behalf of Poor Pensioners):

As a retired pensioner, I thank the Government for its generosity of RM200.

However to my dismay, RM200 is not enough especially with the high inflation caused by high fuel price. What is RM200 worth these days? Shouldn't it be a RM200 increment rather than a once off payment?

Care-less Budget

Another letter to The Star:

Following the recent "caring" Budget 2006, I as a middle class private sector employee, am disappointed!

In this Budget 2006, I am not getting any incentives to work harder while being taxed heavily. My tax money eventually ends up in the hands of very pampered Civil Servants who so far are the best cared for receiving yearly increments and bonuses, getting full benefits and perks! And what do folks like myself get in return? - Bad service at public counters, traffic police still asking for "money", shorter service hours? Why are civil servants so cared for? Aren't private sector employees Malaysians? Whatever happened to the caring Malaysian concept?

The Government should come to realize that no amount of yearly bribes are going to get government servants to work harder. Rewards should only be given for good performance.

At the rate it's going, I would encourage all private sector employees to work for the Government to enjoy this subsidized lifestyle!

Desperate Housewives

I just took the "Which Housewife Are You" Quiz and turns out that I am Susan Mayer? What do you guys think? You don't think so either right? I don't think I am, really! Of course some of the questions from the quiz were a bit "duh" but I was hoping that I would turn out to be Bree Van De Kamp. Susan is such a mess!

I know I am not half as neat, clean, proper and perfect as Bree but I really wouldn't mind being her. Her house is perfect, she cooks so well, excellent presentation skills, full of grace, so becoming, so controlled, very ethical and nothing can go wrong with her type of person. Of course I wouldn't brag about her "up-tightness" and making her home a living hell to people who live there just because she doesn't like a single spec of dust on the table, but wouldn't you like to go and live in her house as guest? Perfectly made-up bed, perhaps a breakfast in-bed service, excellent food, fresh flowers all the time and fresh warm towels! A perfect host!

Of course I don't blame Rex (Bree's husband to those who do not follow) for leaving (?) her but hey, he isn't / wasn't that perfect a husband either! I don't envy the her kids either. Could it be because of how and what she is to her family? Well, if it is - perhaps I may need to think twice of aspiring to be Bree.

After finishing the entire first season, I think my favourite character is Lynette's husband, Tom Scavo. Though a passive character in the show, but he is such a loving, patient, romantic, patient, understanding, patient, accommodating, patient, supportive, patient, forgiving, patient, tolerant, patient, patient, patient husband! Lynette has thrown so many selfish (most times not so selfish), unfair, sarcastic comments at him to causing him his job and yet he takes it so well. Watch the show and you'll understand what I mean. He may create a bad image and name for men out there and they may even want to bash him up by setting such a impossible bar but let's face it - it is the type of man most (not all) ladies dream of!

Season 2 welcomes a new neighbour into Wisteria Lane and the family too is hiding a huge secret!

I am Susan Mayer?! 

Waiting for Laundry

It is 10 PM Nilai time and I am now surfing (and blogging) on my sis's notebook (bloody hell, she's got a notebook) waiting for my laundry to finish cycling in the machine. I like doing my laundry at night so that I don't have an extra chore to do in the morning when I have to tend to Jia Wen and other house chores. Plus, the morning sun hits the laundrette area quite early so I like to catch that.

Sipping Ribena and now I feel like having some Cadbury Fruit & Nuts choc! I am heading to the fridge now... anyone care for some? Heck, too lazy to walk there... so I have asked my sis to go get it. Broke a piece and I have just popped it into my mouth and oopss.. it's gone!

Had a good weekend in Melaka and guess what? I finished the entire first season of Desperate Housewives! It has been quite an interesting sitcom and now I can't wait to watch the second season which just premiered in the States last week. So tempted to download!

Oh yes, I also streaked my hair and instead of the usual red, I went for brown tints! Not sure whether I look good or not but I am not unhappy about it. I hope and pray I will not be labelled "Ah Lian"! hahahahah... Don't panic people, I didn't colour the whole head brown lah, I only highlighted my hair so it isn't that brown-brown! Something different.

Laundry is done and I better go hang it out before it gets all crumpled! Ciao people!