Happy Father’s Day!! We tried to make it a good one for Vin, his first Father’s Day as the father of multiple children. First off let’s start with home-made cards: [[image:2012-fathersday07.jpg:Hearts from Yaya, People from Adik:center:0]] Mama helped by manning the sharp scissors to cut the string paper dolls out. Yaya wrote and decorated her own card (the hearts design) and was kind enough to write and decorate a card on behalf of her baby brother (the people design). She’s getting good at writing PAPA, no? On the backs Yaya wrote who the card was from: [[image:2012-fathersday05.jpg:YAYA:center:0]] [[image:2012-fathersday06.jpg:ADIK:center:0]] I think we may need to practise writing the “K” in Adik a bit more ;-). Now the food. Vin chose pancakes and hash browns for his Father’s Day brunch: [[image:2012-fathersday02.jpg:Blueberry pancakes for Vin:center:0]] [[image:2012-fathersday01.jpg:Chocolate chip pancakes for me:center:0]] [[image:2012-fathersday03.jpg:Hash browns err.. browning in the pan:center:0]] [[image:2012-fathersday04.jpg:Syrupy pancakes:center:0]] And a few presents: […]
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On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese
A list of our family’s adventures through this simulated universe. Strangely, this is represented by several methods. Firstly, my thoughts in words and then a host of two-dimensional images configured for the human visible spectrum. Finally the blog itself as a medium of information. Also, sometimes there is cake.
Abang Ngah’s Wedding
Six years ago we attended Abang Long’s wedding kenduri at Kampung Permatang during a balik kampung trip back to Sitiawan. It was now time for his younger brother Abang Ngah’s wedding, though technically the aqad was performed in Ipoh the previous weekend. As always it was great to see relatives pooling together to get the kenduri running, working the logistics, greeting and serving guests. We had visited the previous night when they were building up the main table and backdrop from scratch. The following morning it looked like this: Here are assorted photos from the kenduri that day. Congratulations again to Abang Ngah & Kak Ngah.
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How Everyone Lost Their Tooth In Sitiawan
We balik kampung to Sitiawan the other week and everyone – Irfan, Ain and I – lost one tooth each while there. Irfan extracted his own tooth even before we arrived at Atok & Opah’s house. He proudly showed his freshly drawn molars. He’s been doing it a lot with his baby teeth lately. Then, we thought we’d visit the government dentist for a check-up, because it’d be less expensive than going to a private clinic in Kuala Lumpur. Ain had a wonky tooth and she had that extracted. Come my turn and the dentist discovered a dead tooth. It was a different colour from other teeth and the top part was brittle. Ain had complained for a long time that my mouth had a strange smell – a rotten smell. A silvery, glistening needle was produced and I swallowed my fear, and allowed the cold metal to plunge into […]
Continue readingRafe’s 5 Month Birthday
Adik is five months old! Almost to the half-year mark! Where does the time go? [[image:2012_0529_rafe02.jpg:Good morning smiley boy!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions So May was an action-packed month, as we mentioned in Yaya’s last entry. We did some traveling while the kids’ Auntie Jo was here. In this past month Adik went on a couple of road trips, crossed the state line for the first time, and even crossed an international border for the first time! Adik has now been to Indiana and Canada. He took the road trip OK although he hated being alone in the back seat and howled till we were all heartbroken when that happened. But he loved visiting with people, especially when he never got put down and was passed around from person to person. As long as he was full and not sleepy, he was happy to be held and […]
Continue readingThe Amazing Adventures of Yaya, Adik and Auntie Jo – Part 1
We had a nice treat when the kids’ Auntie Jo visited all the way from Leeds! Yaya had lots of time to play with Jo, and Jo had lots of time to cuddle Adik. And still spend some time with Vin and me ;-). The last time Jo visited was at Yaya’s 2nd birthday, and this time with not as hot weather in May, it was just as much fun. [[image:2012-jovisit-02.jpg:Jo with Yaya and Adik:center:0]] * Mouse over pictures for captions We hung out at home for the first few days, chilling and letting the kids get to know their Aunt. Yaya took to her right away and showed her her room, and included Jo in all the games, and gave Jo her own roles to play in the play-acting games. [[image:2012-jovisit-01.jpg:This shirt that Auntie Jo gave Yaya has an “attached tutu”!!:center:0]] [[image:2012-jovisit-03.jpg:Let’s all make Adik laugh!:center:0]] [[image:2012-jovisit-04.jpg:Auntie Jo gives […]
Continue reading46 Months
The countdown is on! The girl is two months away from her fourth birthday! Woohooo! [[image:2012-yaya46month-01.jpg:Purple flowers:center:0]] It has been an action-packed month, since Vin’s sister Jo was here for over two weeks. (More on that later) * Mouse over the pictures for captions I won’t go into the details of all the goings-on while Jo was here (stay tuned for that), but it’s been a busy month! Yaya keeps getting bigger and saying funnier things. I just don’t believe she used to be as small as her little brother! Little Miss Pot-pet (chatterbox) will talk your ears off, it’s hard to believe that she didn’t even speak until she was 27 months old! Food status: still no change. What can we say? She does seem healthy enough. Bananas, toast, butter, and lots of whole milk (with a dash of chocolate soy milk) seems to be working for her. She […]
Continue readingA Yaya and Adik Story – April 2012
OK, a second installment of the “choose your own adventure” of Yaya and Adik. This time I did jumble up the order (last time I went chronologically) to make up the story. Enjoy! Also, feel free to write your own version! [[image:2012_yayaadikapr_01.jpg:Photo 1:center:0]] Photo 1: Yaya: Adik, let’s lie down on the pillow! Adik: OK, Kak Yaya, but you play nice this time, OK? [[image:2012_yayaadikapr_05.jpg:Photo 2:center:0]] Photo 2: Yaya: Adik, I want to introduce you to someone special. He is my favorite stuffed animal, Purrsley! Adik: He is cute. I like his nose, so pink and triangular. [[image:2012_yayaadikapr_07.jpg:Photo 3:center:0]] Photo 3: Yaya: Let’s share him, Adik. Now you hug Purrsley (he’s such a good hugger) while I tuck the blanket around us. Adik: Oooo he’s so soft! And cuddly! [[image:2012_yayaadikapr_08.jpg:Photo 4:center:0]] Photo 4: Adik: And now he’s mine! All mine! Bwahahahahaaaaa! *kicks blanket off* [[image:2012_yayaadikapr_06.jpg:Photo 5:center:0]] Photo 5: Yaya: Adik, […]
Continue readingRafe’s 4 Month Birthday
Here we are, at the four month mark. He’s just getting so big now! He seems to be just growing up almost too quickly! [[image:2012_0429_rafe14.jpg:I’m droooooling!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions He went out to dinner with us and was quite sociable – he was passed around the table and was content to be held by everyone. He just quietly sat there and observed us. He did not cry. We were very pleased. He’s also been to Yaya’s soccer matches and was quite content to stay in the carrier, enjoy the fresh air, and watch all the little kids running around. Again, no tears. He had his first trip to the grocery store – he just slept in his car seat the entire time! So far, so good, still a mellow little fellow! The day after his 4-month birthday (since it fell on a Sunday), we went to […]
Continue reading45 Months
This cheeky girl is 3 months away from her fourth birthday! [[image:2012-yaya45month-04.jpg:Waaaaa!:center:0]] Amazingly, that is what you get when you ask Yaya to cry! She can’t help smiling while she does it :-). Another month of fun-filled days has passed very quickly! * Mouse over the pictures for captions In a similar vein to last month, Yaya has had a physically active month. Not only does she tear around the house at top speed (why walk when you can run, skip or hop around?), she has played soccer and gone swimming at the pool, and gone outside to do yardwork. Lots of fun physical activities. [[image:2012-yaya45month-10.jpg:Having fun catching and throwing the pink ball:center:0]] She plays all day long, and has a dozen costume changes a day (at least) where she transforms herself into a different character. Previously she could switch roles without a change of clothing, but now that she […]
Continue readingGoooooooooolllllll!!!!!
So we signed Yaya up for the Itty Bitty Soccer league (for three-year-olds) at the local Y and it’s been an interesting time. She had her very first soccer practise a few weeks ago: [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer05.jpg:Wearing her Tigers uniform courtesy of Aunty Yati:center:0]] She loved the practise so much that she cried when it was over! * Mouse over pictures for captions Here are a few more pictures from said first practise: [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer01.jpg:Standing in a line:center:0]] [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer02.jpg:Papa, this is fun!:center:0]] [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer03.jpg:Kicking (it is football, after all):center:0]] [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer04.jpg:Getting sweaty in the sun:center:0]] The following week, she did not want to put on her soccer clothes, so she ended up practising as a ballerina-footballer: [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer06.jpg:Tutu and shin guards:center:0]] [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer07.jpg:More standing in a line:center:0]] [[image:2012-april-yayasoccer08.jpg:No hands in football, Yaya!:center:0]] On the morning of her first match, she refused to go because it was too cold. We were the snack parents, so Vin and Yaya […]
Continue readingIrfan’s Transmogrifying Present
Irfan received a gift over the mail from Ryan Rhodes. There is a great sketch of Irfan with the octopus plushie at Wan Chor’s house in the inner cover! Here’s hoping Irfan will never stop dreaming. (Although he has been dreaming of zombie attacks these days…) It’s a Calvin and Hobbes collection – which in my opinion is tied with Bloom County as the best newspaper comic ever. Irfan says, “Thanks for the book, Uncle Ryan.” Bo shuda.
Continue readingRafe’s 3 Month Birthday
Rafe (a.k.a. Adik) turned 3 months old! His first quarter of the year mark. He has been growing and growing (and maybe getting a little cheeky too!) [[image:2012_0329_rafe11.jpg:Thhptt!:center:0]] He enjoys tummy time and can keep his head upright, looking at things while his little legs kick and push. Perhaps not long before he’s mobile? * Mouse over the pictures for captions Adik is almost fully breastfed at this time. He still gets about 2-3 ounces of formula to supplement the breast milk, and that seems to be working so I suppose we’re in no hurry to change our schedule. Adik flipped from his tummy to his back the day before he turned three months old! It was quite an impressive feat. We think he’s just raring to run around with his big sister. 🙂 He cannot take his eyes off Yaya and will often smile and laugh at her even […]
Continue reading44 Months
It has been a busy and activity-filled month for our Yaya! And very quickly she turned 44 months old. She has definitely come a long way from the little baby that we brought home from the hospital. She can even successfully blow her own bubbles! [[image:2012-yaya44month-03.jpg:Mari kita main buih sabun (Let us play bubbles):center:0]] *Mouse over the pictures for additional captions. As mentioned above, it has been an action-packed month for Yaya. She has gone to the pool almost weekly (and we are guaranteed a post-pool nap). Otherwise she seems to be giving up the nap, which really is a big change for us. It’s really a shame for Vin who has to give up that one-two hours of peace and quiet that he used to get daily. But, on the flip side, she falls asleep quickly and easily at night! Give and take I suppose. She is a helpful […]
Continue readingA Yaya and Adik Story – February 2012
When we were kids, Hisham and I went through a “Choose your own adventure” book phase. You know, where you read the story and at the end of a chapter, you decide what the character should do. For instance, cross the bridge, proceed to Chapter 5, or take the footpath along the river go to Chapter 7. Wiki says this about it. But I think of it as kind of a watered-down RPG. Perhaps it led to Hisham’s enduring passion (and my old love) for it. In any case, what does that have to do with Yaya and Adik, you ask? Simple. This entry contains nine photos of a single interaction between the two children. For my version, I have ordered Photos 1 through 9 chronologically. The captions tell my fictional version of the story. But If you were to reorder the pictures, what kind of story could you come […]
Continue readingRafe’s 2 Month Birthday
Despite the date on this entry, it has been a long time since the boy’s 2 month birthday. It’s been a crazy busy time, but definitely a wonderful, and exhausting time for Vin and me. Just look at this entry as a way to show some cute pictures of Rafe 🙂 [[image:2012_0229_rafe07.jpg:Bright eyed and a little drooly:center:0]] The above really shows off his gray-green eyes and is one of my favorites. *Mouse over pictures for captions Rafe is coming along nicely and quite recovered from his bilirubin difficulties. On this leap-day, he had his 2-month checkup. He measured 24 inches long (90th percentile, surprise!) and was at 50th percentile for weight. He recovered from his 3 jabs, heel poking, and oral vaccine in record time, barely crying at all. And then he got to show off his bandages to Kak Yaya (she had band-aid envy). He was a little feverish […]
Continue reading43 Months
So another month has passed. Another fast and hectic one! We are settled in and pretty well adjusted to the new member of our family, and Kak Yaya is doing a great job of being an older sister! [[image:2012_yaya_43months_04.jpg:Mama, look at me!:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for additional captions Yaya is definitely becoming a good big sister. She still loves to pet, touch, hug and kiss her little brother. She even tries to whisper and be quieter while Rafe naps, which is a sweet effort. It’s hard for her to remember though, so Adik usually naps upstairs without her. 😉 She does like to help out, and for her efforts she’s rewarded with different activities. This month she has gotten to go to the playground and the pool (also courtesy of the mild winter we have been having). She also finds all kinds of things to do at home […]
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