I spent the Deepavali weekend over at mum’s place with the kids. Yesterday evening, we decided to give the kids a treat and brought them to Euro Fun Park since we didn’t have anything planned for them for the long weekend. The park set itself up at Aeon Bukit Tinggi’s carpark, like the last time they set themselves up at the 1Utama carpark when we brought a duck-walking Ivan almost 3 years ago.

Like previously, they charged entrance fees of RM3 for adults and RM2 for kids 3 to 12 years old. On top of the entrance fees, we have to pay for rides as well… mostly costing 2 tokens (RM2 for 1 token). Needless to say, the kids had fun and for just a short 2 hours of fun we spent about RM140 in total.

I guess it’s considered money well spent, as going for a short trip away from home would cost much more than this. And what’s more, the photography buff in me just couldn’t miss this chance of trying out panning technique on the merry-go-round.

As you can see from the picture, I was wondering why Izac’s got that stoned face while Ivan was absolutely ecstatic! I was afraid that he got scared on some of the rides. It turned out that he was merely so tired that he conked out as soon as we reached home.

I guess I should really update something about what’s up with me. Being gone for too long from this blog makes me lazy, as you can see from my sporadic entries these past few months. Even my feed reader’s topping the charts at 1200 unread posts after 3 weeks of absence, that’s also coz I managed to clear off those paid posts written by those in my feed and leaving behind only those I plan to read… soon… *hehe*

First off, this marks the beginning of my 3rd week at work. I started work the week after the Raya holidays (6th October) and faced a mountain of faulty parts waiting to be sent out. Even now, they’re not all cleared yet, what with new stuff to do everyday while having to deal with the old stuff as well.

About the kids… they’re just doing great… driving their mommy up the wall, that is! Ivan has been a really good boy. Izac is the one driving me up the wall. Jolie… she’s an angel, when she’s not wailing! But really, Jolie is quite a good baby, probably because I co-sleep with her at nights so I hardly ever have to get up from my slumber too. More updates about them coming up one by one :D.

On newborn photography, I have done 2 photoshoots since the last I wrote an entry… one for my friend’s first child Cody and after that for Sasha’s brand new boy Justin. Those will be coming soon too!

Do check back soon (but don’t hold your breath, ya!)…

One of the things I will miss most when I return to work next week will be sending Ivan to school. Izac usually tags along for the car ride. On the way to Ivan’s school, these two boys sitting at the back seats would be non-stop entertainment for me (if they don’t start fighting) as more often than not, they will verbally assault each other.

Ivan: “Izaaaaaac…”
Izac: “…”
Ivan: “Later kor kor put your head in the window and then I close it, then your head come out lor…” (Mummy: O.o”)
Izac: “Then Izac put back and become Superman lor…” (Mummy: =.=”)
Ivan: “Eeeh… cannot put back, then you put back you become hantu lor…”
Izac: “Then Ultraman come and Superman come. Beat you ah…”
Ivan: “You don’t have Ultraman, I have Ultraman R, T, U come and then bish bish bish… you die!”

This can go on and on, sometimes ending up with hitting and pinching. They do not have verbal killings each day, sometimes it’s just plain imaginary talks about being super heroes or role playing. In the car, though, they do not fight very often (as I’m there to keep reminding them not to). I just wish I can record what they say every time I send Ivan to school and put it down on this blog. I’m sure it would be so entertaining if they were to read it when they grow up later.

Anyone know whether Sony Ericsson Z610i comes with a voice recorder??

Time flies, my confinement is over and I can now do whatever I want! As of today, Jolie is already 1 month and 1 week old. I was supposed to blog about her progress last week but was too tired due to…

1. My confinement helper left on the 31st of August.
2. Izac started crying and whining for no particular reason, at random times of the day.
3. Ivan gave me issues of scratching (Izac’s face mainly) and hitting people (his classmate, which I was later told by his teacher that it could be accidental).
4. Both boys are sleeping later and later, I’m pratically going bonkers with 3 kids in the bedroom in the evenings… but I’m surviving.

Both issues pertaining my boys will be in another post. With regards to Jolie…

Vital Stats:
♥ Weight: Approximately 4.00kgs (I measured by deducting our weight when I carried her and my weight)
♥ Height: No idea

Dietary:
♥ I think she can drink about 3 - 3.5 ounces of breast milk every 2.5 to 3 hours. I haven’t really measured her intake and time as I have not really started pumping fully during the day.

Achievement:
♥ Drinks well from a bottle, so sometimes I leave EBM for her if I go out without bringing her along.
♥ Able to lift her head for a short while when mommy burps her
♥ Smiles and coos when someone talks to her
♥ Able to track objects, hands and face when we move it left and right

Mommy Says:
♥ She has started to settle down, and has really been much easier to handle than both her brothers when they were her age (I’m wondering if it’s because I’m more pro at this already!).
♥ She is a good weight now… and increase of about 1.2kgs from birth.
♥ I just love to smell her… everywhere, especially her tiny hands and feet.
♥ She fusses on time every evening, around 7.30 pm until about 10.00pm… my guess is colic or tummy upset, so we normally give her cuddles rather than put her down in the cot.
♥ She sleeps well at nights, only waking up to feed.
♥ She hates having her hands tied in with the swaddle, so she always frees them very quickly and puts them next to her face.
♥ We celebrated her full moon on the 30th of August by having dinner with family. And mommy gave out full moon packs to colleagues and some friends on the 2nd of September.
♥ Took her to the barber and shaved her bald on the 2nd of September, just like her brothers.
♥ I won’t need to bring her in for her 1st month jab like her brothers as there is a new 6-in-1 jab for her, and it’s due on the 2nd month.

Dreams

Ivan just woke up and told me that he had a nice dream just now.

He dreamt that he was fighting with three people and he used a soup bowl which spinned and hit all three of them. All three of them were so scared of him. *hehe* It’s so nice to hear that your kid woke up with a nice dream isn’t it? Err… but then, do you think it could be a case of too much Ultraman or Power Rangers??

There was once when he peed in his sleep, and when I asked him why didn’t he go to the potty, he told me that he dreamt he was in the toilet *hahaha*. I think probably that night he slept too late and was so lazy to wake up to visit the potty so he ended up having a dream that he was actually in the toilet…

I used to wonder what my children dream of, and when they actually start having dreams which they can remember. Do your children tell you their dreams??

Talking Back

Izac wakes up after peeing in his sleep (he’s in potty training mode) and asks for Milo. Supini makes a bottle for him and goes downstairs. He drank a little bit and told me that he’s full.

::::::::::: IZAC SAYS :::::::::::

Mommy: “Aiyoh, ask aunty to make and then you don’t finish it. Next time I don’t make for you ah…”
Izac: “Next time me sendiri make for myself…” (and hides his face in the pillow)
Mommy: o.O”

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

And you’d think a 2-and-a-half year old boy would not know how to talk back… and he only just started talking after he turned 2! Hmm…

Izac has been promoted to Kor Kor status on the 30th of July *hehe*. Both boys were thrilled to see Jolie back from the hospital on the 1st of August, moreso Izac because that was the first time he saw her. Ivan has been going to the hospital after school the two days I was there, so he has already seen and carried her before.

Both of them accepted Jolie well, and they want to kiss her so often. Ivan is more gentle, but Izac is a little rough. I doubt both of them know how fragile a newborn is *hehe*. Izac just love to kiss Jolie (on the lips, mind you!) and sometimes when she’s in an awkward position, he will try to twist her head so that he can get her lips. That’s why we never ever leave the boys alone with Jolie.

You know what? I just can’t wait for Jolie to grow bigger so all three of them can play together. Only thing is, I hope the Kor Kors won’t make a tomboy out of their little sister!

p/s: Both boys decided that Jolie is a nice name, so I guess they made the final decision for baby’s name!

(Backdated post, bowled on 20th July 2008)

My 2 boys just love to go rolling bowling (yes, yes, Izac included!). Last last weekend, after having dinner at 1U and with me rushing off to buy some last minute things for baby, SIL#1 decided that we should bring the kids to U-Bowl. Upon hearing SIL#1’s suggestion, of course there was no escape as the kids kept reminding us of it. I think including this session, they have bowled a total of 3 or 4 times already.

After bowling a few times before, Ivan “the strong” has had all the experience he need and is able to help himself to a ball at the conveyor, carry it and roll it all by himself (by the way, we had the sides raised so there’s no way their bowling balls could go in the drain and the lightest 6-pound ball can be requested from the counter). He refused to quit at 1 game, so the kids had 2 games.

Izac also had fun rolling the ball, with help from SIL#1 and also Uncle Kenny. However, it took forever for the ball to reach the end of the line *LOL*. Being a pregnant mum, what can I do but sit at the sidelines with fear, watching the kids prance around the slippery wooden floor with their socks (non-slip for Izac). Ivan was like a little monkey doing a breakdance kind of move there *sweats*.

By the time we reached home, it was already around 11-ish pm. During bedtime, Ivan told me his muscle hurts so I had to massage the little king’s right leg. What a day!

… in being sick!

So, yeah, Ivan was down with fever from Tuesday morning. It was really out of the blue because he was fine and dandy on Monday night. I found him heating up on Tuesday morning and steadily gotten hotter so I called work to tell them that I would be late and brought him to the GP (after working at my current company for 5 years, my children are entitled to free medical at our panel clinics).

The boy refused to kepit the thermometer under his armpits, so Dr said nevermind since he was already so hot, he’s confirmed to have fever. Also, his throat was very red. He was prescribed to take 3 days worth of Zithromax antibiotics, fever medicine and cold medicine.

When I was at work, SIL#2 called up to say that he was really HOT and that made me worry like hell. Then SIL#2 turned up at my house and made Ivan take a cold bath to bring his fever down, and she called and told me that she had promised him 6 Ultraman toys to make him agree *faints*.

After 1 day of fasting (he refused to eat due to sore throat), sleeping and medication, he was way better already. He told me yesterday evening that his neck hurts when he turn right, I guess the boy must have slept too much and in awkward positions, so he’s got stiff neck.

Today will be his last day to take the antibiotics. Tomorrow, I will probably send him to school if he’s okay, since I will be going for my pregnancy checkup.

Izac has started talking a lot more after he turned 2 in January. Even though his speech started a few months later than Ivan; kids being kids, once they start, they can’t stop! His speech is getting better daily, and really peppered with lots of Malay. He’s now able to string complete sentences and he WILL NOT stop asking WHY! He’s got more WHYs than Ivan ever did at this age…

::::::::::: IZAC SAYS :::::::::::

His sentences starts with a why and ends with a why…

Izac: (When I tell him something cannot be eaten) “Why ini cannot eat… why?”
Mommy: “Because it’s dirty already.”
Izac: “Why ini dirty didi (already)… why?”
Mommy: “Because someone dropped it on the floor already.”
Izac: “Why sum…one drop on floor didi (already)… why?”
Mommy: =_=” (Sometimes it’s reeaaally never-ending…)

::::::::::: IZAC SAYS :::::::::::

Ivan: (Whining and whining…) “Mummeeee… I’m tired, I want to sleep…”
Mommy: (As usual, stuck in front of my laptop before bedtime) “……”
Ivan: (Still whining, and already got down from the bed and started rolling on the floor) “Mummeee…. I want to sleeeeeep…” (He wants me to lie down next to him)
Mommy: (Still no response) “……”
Izac: (Gets on the bed and pats on the pillow) “Come kor kor, Izac sleep you…”

I guess the little one pity his brother whining and getting no response from mummy, and offered to sleep with him instead…

::::::::::: IZAC SAYS :::::::::::

Other times, this little boy loves to imitate what Ivan says and does. Izac was talking to me one night, I can’t really recall what he was telling me…

Izac: (Telling mummy something)
Mommy: “……”
Izac: (Started playing his recorded message) “Mami, Izac tok…ing to you, Izac not tok…ing the wall…”
Mommy: “Ooo, sorry darling, yeah you’re not talking to the wall…”
Izac: (Continued with this chant even after lights out) “Mami, Izac tok…ing to you, Izac not tok…ing the wall…”
Mommy: (Speechless)

I don’t recall him ever telling me what he told me that night… before the chant started. o.O”

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yesterday after fetching Ivan home from school, I urge the children to take a nap. Izac took a nap between 3.30pm until 4.30pm and was awaken by Ivan. Ivan, who didn’t sleep all this while, said he wanted to sleep when 6.00pm came around. For me, a naptime before 4.30pm is still considered ok, any later than that and the kids will be “owls” come night time.

So instead of letting him sleep, I took out the box of chalks which I bought from Ikea recently and told them that they could draw on the cement floor outside (these are the times I’m thankful for our unrenovated porch area). Of course the kids were excited… can get dirty and not be scolded *hehehe*. At the same time, I was able to let Ivan do some drawing which he loves to do nowadays. Below are some examples of his “monsters”…

Izac on the other hand, just had fun getting dirty… he didn’t do much drawing, probably coz mommy was busy snapping pictures and not helping him with it (next time, I promise!). After some attempts at scribbling or rolling the chalk around, the little one took off his slippers and started walking around barefooted. I kept reminding him NOT to go inside the house and to let Supini carry him straight into the toilet for a bath. As usual, no one heeds advise and I get chalky footprints on the kids’ day mattress o.O”.

It was a short but fun activity, something to do in the evenings when the sun is not scorching. It also kept the kids (Ivan, in this case) from sleeping before dinner time. So I guess, this was a win-win situation *winks*.