2009 recap

I can't believe it. Father Time really flew past me so fast that I did not even realized that it has already been a year, or at least a day left to one whole year of 2009.

I don't think I have achieved much this year in terms of my own personal goals. I mean, what personal goals? Its been locked in, key threw away since I got married and was pregnant. All what Hubby wanted for me was to concentrate on having a safe pregnancy and delivery, and then after that shifting all the 100% focus on nobody but the little bundle of joy who is not so little now.

This year had its ups and down for me but it taught me quite a lot. In short, the mind matures from there.

So I guess its time to recap what has happened in 2009 for me and the rest of the SimonYap clan.

• My big left toenail came right off the toe.
• Worked throughout Chinese New Year, thus explains the staying home throughout. Need to work for moo-lah to ensure a good life for the little boy.
• Iz sprung a surprise visit on us -He is back!!!!!
• Tasted Beggar Chicken at Bkt Jugra for my very first time. Yums!
• Jaden is weaned off breastmilk and started on Pediasure Vanilla Milk
• Jaden changed milk brand to Enfagrow A+ once he piled on the desired weight..
  
• Jaden and I went back to Penang THREE times this year to attend wedding
• Mom is so much better now after receiving treatment at UMMC and continuously taking her meds
• Mom moved back to Penang for good in July (which I am still feeling a little sore about it and will continue feeling so)
• Jaden had his first hotel stay and he absolutely loves it
• Jaden had his first swim at the hotel pool too... not really liking it and was scared of the sand by the beach.
• o.Oh and Jaden took his first flight and one year, three times. Twice on AirAsia and once on MAS.
• Tasted durian cheesecake for my very first time, bought it as birthday cake for Hubby. YUMMY!
• Jaden finally took his first steps when he turned 16 months old.
• Jaden puked out all he ate at Satay Kajang Uptown branch, resulted in high fever that very night and we had to go to see a doctor at an emergency at DU hospital. NO MORE SATAY KAJANG for the boy.
• Hubby bought me a Coach bag. =) =)
• Went to LeeHom concert.. *schoolgirl giggles*
• Edwin. Wei Wei, NickLenny and Heng Hoow and Tommy TKC got married this year.
• Hubby and Jaden had chicken pox but Jaden's recovery process was much more faster.
• Hubby looked like some spotted monster and he has to live in the house one whole week by himself.
• Kefentse came back to Msia for a short holiday and it united some of us the LUCT peeps.
• Mr Augustin, my beloved school headmaster passed away in June.
• Howard Au-Yong, my sister's son turns ONE
• Jaden had a birthday party by the pool, with caterers and an Elmo cake. Attendees? Mommy and Daddy's family and friends.
• Jaden enrolled into Kizports Little Rompers class.
• Julian and Kelly had a baby son, Dylan
• Dannis Eee also had baby son, Ethan Eee
• Gwen was in town and I had to get up at 6 something to go get her.. grrr but anything lah for the bestie!
• Got to see Wilbur Pan live in person and so up close summore.. *swoons*
• Cut my hair real short.. above the neckline.. *phew* lucky it didn turn out BADDDDD
• Took Jaden to Genting for his very first time with IzGrace & Hubby
• WWei stayed over at my place and was such a big help for me with Jaden
  
• I cooked a fish dish! *miracle it turned out well!*
• Jaden has his OWN bank account now..
• *surprise* (will reveal in 2010 when the right time comes...)
  

Not much of any achievements yea? but still.. well, looking forward to 2010 and wondering whats in store for me..

So till then, may all of you have a Happy New Year!

xoxo

Tummy bug?

Jaden has been having loose bowels for the past few days. If counted the soft mushy plus one big stool, but mustardy-yellow with black pepper seeds lookalike, it would have been his 5th day today.

Brought him to see the paed early this morning and we all just could not get downright to the source other than suspecting its the bug virus in the tummy that is causing him to have diarrhoea.

He has not been eating anything that he is not supposed to eat, or something new. Just his usual milk, rice cereals, rice & porridge how I usually cook for him so he might have caught it from somewhere. *sigh*

The paed then prescribed us one diarrhoea med to take, a cream to apply to the rash that is growing so red and fierce that it hurts him the instant he poos it out and some prebiotics (good germs) to be added inside his milk intake to fight the bad germs inside.

The advice the paed gave was to give him lots of fluids to keep him hydrated because having diarrhoea can be really dehydrating. Jaden is still as active, eating as usual, no unusual warm body temperature **touches wood** so I guess it does all come down to the bug in the tummy.

Poor little boy. It hurts Hubby and I to see him suffer like that. Hoping it will all go away soon, with the help of the medication. The first two days, I have to change at least 6-7 diapers a day, then the third day, about 4 diapers and today.. well, the count is at 2.. but I am guessing with tonight's meal and all, should be 3 (which I am hoping it would be the hard stools rather than the watery farted out poo. Its just that one fart will be like opening a water pipe at his butt and woooooosh everything comes out all wet mustardy.

Have been taking him to wash his butt each time he poos to avoid the rash from spreading. Now I am keeping it under control with just warm water, soap and pat-dried ass and crotch area before applying Drapolene/doc's cream.

Please get well soon, baby boy...

p/s: *updated like 10 minutes after this post.. the boy had a go again at it.. and the rash looks pretty bad.. oh why?*

Songs I *heart* by female Chinese singers...

just some of them at the moment...

It feels like Christmas to me...=)

I enjoyed myself tremendously in Penang the one whole week I was back. Well, AirAsia lived up to my expectation of delayed flights but nevertheless, I would have preferred it to be on time FOR ONCE.

Jaden threw a major tantrum when we were boarding the plane as it was his nap time and he was awoken up when I had to carry him up the plane. It was almost 3/4 way before he decides to calm down and play with the sweets one passenger gave him. He was only fine after we landed, strapped into his stroller and wheeled out of the airport.



We went to Bali Seafood for dinner and we had my usual dishes of BBQ codfish. YUMMY! Kam Heong Lala and Claypot tofu for the boy to eat. Lets just say it was really good till I thought I wanted to order another round of the BBQ codfish!



Early in the morning, at about 9am, I woke the boy up to go have breakfast with my parents. We had dimsum. Boy had fishball, some loh mai kai and at about 2pm, the boy had his nap. Mom then took me to buy my Cendol and Popiah to dip in Assam Laksa soup. o.Oh I likey! Mom cooked dinner at home and the little boy walloped it mostly. He loves the fried egg with his chicken porridge.

















Took the boy out to Gurney Plaza to meet up with Evon and SChee. Had a chicken and mushroom pie at The Dome and waited for my two busy friends to come. Took them almost an hour to finally sit down together and had some girly chitchats. SChee send me home and showed me the bite mark Jaden left on her Mini dashboard last April. *sigh*










Sunday was a day I wanted to rest more so I won't be tired when evening comes. The small one only fell asleep at about 5pm, and right after he wakes up at about 645pm, I quickly fed him full, changed him and out the door we went to attend NickLenny's wedding. He had his bath before his nap so all is planned out.

Met up wtih my old school friends. some junior and my batchmates since like standard 2. The groom I had known since standard 4 and the bride, Form Four. We are the Inaians!




























Did nothing much on Monday and Tuesday except for accompanying my mom and taking here out to shopping malls where she wanted to look for a dinner dress to wear to one of my cousin's wedding this coming Feb. Found a couple of nice dresses and tops and I am glad she got them. At least now she will have something different and a little modern looking to wear compared to what she will usually wear.



Initially I thought of having the Lrg Selamat CKT but they are close on Tuesdays so we ended up having lunch over at the New World Park. The hawkers used to be from Swatow Lane (famous ABC with fruits) but they were all moved to the new food court so well, had curry mee, fish ball tanghun, otak-otak and yam kueh! Never had it been so satisfying. If I had not eaten that much at the food court, I would have walloped a bowl of beef noodles at Milky restaurant in Prangin Mall. *sigh*




At night, we went and tapao-ed Ayer Itam Laksa because there were no babychairs for Jaden to sit while we eat. Mom bought him two nice persimmons and he loves it! After that, I stopped by this one popular Ayer Itam hawker shop and tapao-ed 10 Apoms, 10 Huat Kuehs, 2 jagungs and RM3 worth of Fried Chicken Skin. o.Oh yummy yummy! I love me Penang food!




On Wed, I drove over to Butterworth and met up with my besties while my parents, relatives all babysat Jaden for me. It was a really good Wed.. followed by Thursday night when we all yamcha-ed. Jeff came along despite nursing a sore throat and headache. He did not stay long though. He ciao-ed after a while Evon came. So in the end, it was just us three girls talking the night away. We called it an early night anyway, at about 11nish because all of them had to work the next day despite it being a public holidays. My three hardworking friends. This is what happens when you run your family business. Same goes with my Hubby. That is why you will hardly see him on a break with Jaden and I. So me, being the 'free' woman, I plan Jaden and my own. *gRin*







Had lunch with my parents @ AROI thai restaurant @ Pulau Tikus. Met up with my two cousins whom I have not seen for quite some time. They mentioned something like ever since I got married, they have not seen me. A little catching up and soon, we had to leave because I wanted to let the boy nap kao kao so he won't throw tantrum when we are at the airport or waiting for the plane.




I belanja-ed my parents McD's at the airport before going inside to the waiting lounge to wait because inside was not as freezing as outside. This time round, the flight was horrendously delayed. Luckily, the boy entertained himself and behaved throughout the whole thing. The only thing that really got me frustrated was the cab fees home. Instead of just RM88, because its past midnight, we were charged RM126. The cab fees that costs so much more than both Jaden and my flight ticket.



My heart was left in Penang but well, once the cab reached home, and Hubby in sight, I could see my daily routine falls into place again. I wonder when I can go back to Penang like that again....

and by the way, Merry Christmas everyone!

and finally I turned 22.. or is it 23?

Having two birthday cakes for this one special occasion, two birthday dinners and one birthday lunch, celebrating with loved ones and bestfriends were more than enough to make me appreciate the beautiful life that I am living every day.

*p/s: while I was typing this very para above, the electricity on my whole floor went off *poof into darkness* and Jaden and I were home alone. Luckily, the boy was fast asleep.. but well, soon the heat got the better of him and that woke him up... poor lil one!

First, let me tell all about what my Hubby did for me on my actual birthday.

Jaden and I got delayed in Penang. AirAsia really never fails to surprise us with all these delays. Our flight back to Penang was already delayed and the flight back to KL, too was delayed. In fact, it was actually a 9pm flight but got delayed to 1230am.. thankfully, they arranged for a 1030pm flight for us but that, too got delayed till about 1050pm. *sigh* Both Jaden and I reached LCCT at about 1202am, waiting for our luggage and by the time we sat in the cab.. it was about 1230am.

I have already got three smses so far from my friends here in KL -VeeMei, Xy and YitFong wishing me Happy Birthday when I touched down in LCCT.

Hubby, was waiting down at the lift there when we arrived home to help me with Jaden and the luggages. I was so happy that he actually prepared a Birthday Cake for me, one of my favourite BlueBerry CheeseCake with the word "Happy Birthday Mummy" written on it. *yay* I got to make a birthday wish and blow out my birthday candles with my two boys.

Nothing much after that till I caught glimpse of my birthday present from Hubby. Costing over RM200 for it, I was so touched that he actually did go out to get me that... Nothing much happened after that was because both Jaden and I were too tired to do anything but sleep.. o.Oh glorious sleep!

The next day, Hubby took me to eat at one of the places I have been meaning to try out. Korean BBQ dinner. It was a very satisfying meal because ONE: THE FOOD WAS WONDERFUL AND IT FILLED ME UP! TWO: Service was great! THREE: I fell in love with Korean Kimchi soup that has the tanghun inside.. ooh la la!

So that was pretty it. A nice quiet little birthday this year with just two of my boys. Just what I wanted back home here in KL.

BIRTHDAY LUNCH WITH PARENTS:-



Took my parents to try out my cousin's Thai Restaurant as my birthday lunch treat.




Its been years since I last sat down with both of them together for my birthday. The last I remembered was when I turned 19.. and then it was mostly on my own or just one of them. So this year, with both of them together sitting down celebrating my birthday was wonderful.




We had it on the 18th December though because I was coming back in the evening.


BIRTHDAY DINNER WITH BESTIES:-

SChee and Jeff took me to this one restaurant in Autocity for dinner. At first, I really thought it was just a dinner with both of them without expecting anything much. All I wanted to do was to go have coffee after dinner and making them buy me a mini little cake and a candle to blow.

We had Japanese buffet for dinner and it was laughter all the way over the dinner table. The last I had dinner with them was end of April this year at Tambun. The last time Jeff and SChee celebrated my birthday together was when I was turning 18 if I am not mistaken... So this will be the 3rd time both of them are celebrating with me. *sigh* Gwen celebrate it most with me, almost every year we will meet up. I am expecting her to be down in KL early Jan 2010 and celebrating a post-birthday thing with me and take our annual photo!


SChee came up with the most horrendous excuse which I believed. Gawd.. to think I actually believed her! She told me that Jeff has a look that means he has to go do 'business' and off he went to God knows where. So I was busy talking to SChee and suddenly out of nowhere, Jeff sprung out from behind and gave me a bouquet of roses. That was from SChee of course but she enslaved him to do so so I would be more distracted with her than if I am with Jeff. I was already so happy and all.. and then a group of waiters and waitresses started lining up and coming up to our table, holding the birthday cake with a musical candle.



I was so touched! So surprised!!!!!! Really! It was really really very unexpected of both of them to prepare such a thing for me! =) =)

SChee put two candles for me to blow it out and well, I got tricked again by her. She stuck a trick candle there, that can't be put out by just blowing at it. Cheated for the second time. She got me a Strawberry Chocolate cake. Yummy too. Ate most of it there at the restaurant and took the leftover back for mom to try.


Jeff paid for dinner because he claimed to be big boss. *sigh* SChee pulak was laughing away saying the reason she asked Jeff out to join us is so that he can pay for our meals. LOL I know this sounds like we are using him but truthfully, its not that way. Its just that in Penang, our way of inviting one out to dinner and treating one another is different from what is usually practiced in KL. That was why I was so not used to it when I first came down to KL to study and when it came down to a RM0.20 also some calculated it to the max.





We then camwhored ourselves outside the restaurant for a while before splitting ways back home. It was really a nice birthday surprise from my friends this year.



The next night, I was supposed to meet up with another friend but got FFK for her boyfriend. So I met up with SChee, Jeff and Evon again for a cuppa coffee @ Coffee Bean. Now that was one nice way to end the one week I have in Penang with my friends. To spend with the ones closest to heart is always the best!



So yea, with all the candle blowing and birthday cakes I had, I am finally 26 years old.

Happy Birthday to me!

A matter of hours ...

It is just a matter of hours away before I check in Jaden's and my luggage, waiting to board the big bird home to my beloved island.

This would be Jaden's third trip on a plane on his first year of flying. Can you imagine that? 3 times in a year for a 1-2year old. From a non-paying passenger to one. Luckily, this trip back will only costs both of us plus luggage fees, to and fro -RM50. Yes. You read it right. ONLY RM50 for both of us, including the luggage fees. That is like even cheaper than taking the bus for once. It is the trip to the airport and back that will be costing more than the flight ticket, if you take into account the petrol, toll and cab (when we come back). The good samaritan Iz has agreed to sacrifice his public holiday sleep to fetch us mother and son to the airport. Thus, which means Hubby will be tagging along to wave bon voyage to his son for a week.

Well, all my bags are packed now. Nothing to insert in anymore. I hope. Its already 11 and in about 1 1/2 hr's time, we will be leaving.. so yah, crossing my fingers hard I did not leave anything out. Hubby was complaining last night that how am I supposed to handle two luggages and a baby stroller all at once. Simple I told him. Check in those two luggages and I have only the baby stroller to worry about. Can't survive without the baby stroller. I would be zonked out before the plane even takes off. Its much more a controlled situation when Jaden is seated and tied down to his baby stroller.

Last night, 1st batch of Hubby's laundry were washed and hung dry. Now, I am waiting for the 2nd batch to be done, which includes bath towels and a few of my clothes too. So I don't have to worry that he runs out of clothes to wear out when I am not home. Drinking water stored up, another is seating in the kettle waiting to be cooled. Work shirts are ironed. At least 3 to last him for the 4 working days. *gRin* Rabbits's pellets are put up on higher ground so he don't have to bend to pick up the heavy load. The only thing I didn't store up for him is food in the fridge but the big boy will figure it all out once the tummy growls. I am sure he manages his hunger way better off than me. =)

Alright, guess I better get going to folding the 1st batch of sun-dried laundry and wait for Mr Toshiba washing machine to be done with the 2nd batch which is like 2 minutes away. So toodles, have a great great weekend everybody and a great week ahead!

I love Penang! WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO~

Tomorrow =)

I am so excited. Its exactly in 24 hours where Jaden and I will be happily be boarding the plane, unless they delay again (which they always do, never fail to surprise me) and we will soon be on our way to my beloved island. My home sweet home.

One bag is packed full to the brim, Jaden's 5 days full of clothes for a week long stay, his diapers, baby wipes, my clothes for a week long, with extra tees here and there. I mean, a girl can't make her mind up instantly what she is going to wear depending on places she will go so I packed a little extra just to be wardrobe safe.

I have yet to packed my shoes, my makeup bag, hairdryer and bag yet. OMG! Luckily this time, its two bags back instead of just one. If not, I am sure going to have a headache trying to figure out how to stuff everything into ONE. Since the airflight company is charging me for luggage fees, and that includes Jaden's -another 15kg extra to pay for.. so why not lug back two bags instead of one?

Went out with XY for lunch yesterday and ended up at One U looking for accessories / clutch bags to see if I could find a perfect match to go with my dinner dress. Alas, none caught my eye, except for two bracelets -one costing RM77, the other RM69. Bullshit! and then least expected, a really really nice sweet dress in Miss Selfridge. I didn't even check the price out but if I am not mistaken, should be RM300++. Its that nice the dress. Instead of checking out the price, I checked out the size first. As if lah, got size sure buy! BUT BUT BUT.. will keep my options opened.. maybe I just will if I happen to come across it in size 6 or is there even a smaller size? size 4? *gRin*

I am doing Hubby's laundry now, that will be sufficient enough to last him through one week, will iron his work clothes tonight for next week. Store up on water in the fridge so he will have enough to drink.. and what else? o.Oh wash all the towels so he can change whenever he likes.

There is so many things I want to do in Penang. To go eat, to go meet up with relatives and friends. Just to stay home and look at my old stuff... *sigh* It is going to be a wonderful wonderful week for Jaden and I in Penang. o.Oh oooooh I just can't wait! =)

Fav among the girls

Another Sunday where Jaden gets to go for class. Today, the class had 5 students. 3 girls and 2 boys. Wen Jie and Olivia came, two new people which we have never seen before, Natalie and Marcus.

The difference between the girls and boys is that the girls will sit around with their mummies, or be in the circle when music is played and movements are taught. The two boys, they were running around with a ball each in their hands, running different directions till both Marcus's mum and I got tired of asking them to be careful and "Come Here!"

Olivia is so sweet. Each time she catches Jaden's ball, she will not hesitate to give him back the ball. Jaden, well, didn't snatch back the ball like what other kids would usually do but just waits there behind the kid that got his ball or stand in front and look at him.

Wen Jie is also very sweet. At the end of the class, she came and hug me goodbye. Soooo cute I tell you. *sigh* children! =)

The two girls are rather fond of Jaden. It might be because they are used to him by now and Marcus, wow! Hes like some energizer bunny. I thought Jaden was hyper.. Marcus, hes like x5 of Jaden's hyperness. Boys would be boys.

Jaden was already yawning before the class started and by the time it ended, he was more or less zapped out and just sat still in the car while I quickly drove home to put him down for nap. He fell asleep after a while tossing and turning, sitting up and babytalking because no one else entertained him. I, too fell asleep for almost an hour before I woke up to quickly go prepare ingredients for dinner.

While the two boys were snoring away, happily facing each other, I quickly put the rice to cook, diced the garlic and chilli padi. I also cut the potatos into wedges and deep-fried them while cutting up the brocolli. Killing two birds with a stone.

So whats on the dinner menu? Nothing creative. The usual brocolli dish and sweet sour pork. By the time the sweet sour pork dish was done, so was Jaden's plain white porridge with a few brocolli in it. Jaden was hungry by then, so he got to eat first while Hubby made an extra dish -fried luncheon meat.

Jaden finished everything on his plate -the last few mouths were forced because I didn't want him to have the habit of wasting food like that. It was only like 5 mouthfuls left. Hey, pork is expensive!

Hubby and I ate after Jaden and right after Hubby finished his food, I carried Jaden down his babychair and the small one instantly went into poo poo mode. How right-lah the timing. With food still full till our neck and the heavenly smell of his poo. Hubby had to run into the toilet, take a sniff of his cigarette and a spray or two of Dettol.

Took the opportunity to bathe Jaden and then, setlle down to watch some MTV/Channel V.. wash the dishes, put the boy down for second round nap, which its almost time for him to wake up now, hung Jaden's laundry... and well sit down and blog.

Speaking of which, Jaden took out tissues from the tissue box and had them strewn all over the floor. When I was picking up piece by piece fo put it back in, I asked Jaden to help me but all he did was just look at me, stand on them when I pick them up and when I reached the last two piece, only did he offer to pick them up and give it to me. GGrrrrrrrr...




Well, its kind of relaxing to be staying home during weekends. *sigh* got to go now tho, Hubby's turn to use the comp back.

p/s: Giant was having some coupon sale on MamyPoko and we bought 6 packets of it for Jaden. Some passer-by thought I had like ten kids or something to put diapers on. Rm31 for a pack of 28. Its cheaper than the usual RM39.90.

Our Meal Today

Woke up earlier than both the boys today because I had an errand to run early in the morning. There goes another good day of sleep for me. *gRin* When I came home, Hubby was already up from bed. Thankfully I bought breakfast/lunch back for both of us. We ate, he went and showered and after ironing his shirt, I thought I wanted to lie down. I did not even hear him come out from the shower or leave the house. I was already deep in slumber dreaming away beside Jaden.

Jaden woke up at 1230pm, which also means that it is time for me to wake up together with Jaden. I only got about 45 minutes of sleep then... * y a w n **

After feeding Jaden his cereals, I went on about to prepare the ingredients to cook for dinner. The pork and the minced chicken was defrosted earlier so I just have to marinate both the spareribs and minced chicken. Then I cooked the chicken stock with carrots on the side to sweeten the stock to pour into the slow cooker together with the rice and marinated minced chicken with bits of corn here and there (the boy loves it).

After settling the boy's porridge, I went on to prepare ours. Washed thoroughly the spareribs and marinated them with soya sauce and pepper, cut up the lotus root and put the pot of water to a boil. On the dinner menu today was lotus roots spareribs soup with red dates. The soup turned out not too salty, not too bland. The red dates really compliment the taste of the soup.


While waiting for the soup to cook, I washed the four angled beans carefully, stripped them off whatever that is not supposed to be there and then cut them into small strips. Diced up some garlic and chilli padi.


I stir-fried the four angled beans in belachan, some dried shrimps to go with it. It was good.. It sure did taste better than the first time I attempted this dish.

Hubby came home in time to cook his tauki-taufupok dish in oyster sauce and garlic. That is also one yummy dish, which I cleaned the plate empty.


So there, the three dishes for dinner tonight.

Jaden finished his whole bowl of porridge as well. Thinking if tomorrow he is feeling better, prolly will try pasta for him instead of porridge in case he gets bored or eek-ed out with it. Got to change the menu every now and then for kids.



As for his health, he is getting better. He is still sweating out lots, runny nose not that bad anymore. It is still there but it has recovered quite a bit. Just that when he coughs, I can still hear the phlegm in there. The wheezing however is out of the system. GOOD! *phew* Still keeping him in the house though so that he can recover 100%.

Will start on The Time Traveller's Wife soon, maybe in Penang... and speaking of Penang, I must start planning for the packing for a week long of clothes -both Jaden and mine. BAH and the diapers! Am thinking whether if I could start to toilet train him back in Penang.. maybe I will just do that. *gRin*

I have just finished reading My Sister's Keeper and I totally hate it. I hate it because it made me cry like a girl got dumped by her first love. I hate it that the book had me 'living' with it, breathing the same air as the characters and then suddenly it toyed with your emotions leaving you dissatisfied. Aarrrgghh... but c'est la vie.