Boy!!.. It was a pretty awesome week.

Brought Azalia to the doctor on Wednesday (9.11.11) to see the gender of the baby. And before the doctor told us what it was, I could see the 'thing' right in the middle.

Yes... it's a boy!!. Syukur Alhamdulillah.

But apparently it wasn't good news for Azalia. She cried and said how she wanted a sister and ordered the doctor to say it's a girl. But all the doctor could do was say.. mummy will try again next time.. ok? erk!!

She only calmed down after I said having a baby bro would actually be a good thing for her because her baby bro will grow up to be strong and can defend her against anyone who likes to tease her.

Afif boleh mak? Yeah her uncle Afif teases her A LOT!! and he's 13 ok!!!.

I said sure.. why not... And she immediately smiled and cheered about having a baby brother.

Oh boy.

haha.

But overall it was a very good week last week. We found out the gender of the baby. I was on holiday from work. Although Azalia had fever since Eiduladha but she was her usual active self so it wasn't much to worry about except the high temperature she would suddenly get in the middle of the night for 2 nights in a row. (My worry mode kicked in and thought it was dengue but God had mercy on me and the it immediately came down during daytime. )

Asa had a good run with his propery project.

A really good friend got married and we got to see some old friends that we haven't seen for quite sometime at the reception...

So all in all a pretty awesome week.

And you know how sometimes you're having a good run you're just waiting for things to go wrong? well... it crossed my mind today but I'm praying it won't.

It's been awhile....

Recent event have made me stop blogging for awhile. This is due to the vomiting and headaches and constant seasick feeling it has caused me.

Yes.. I'm pregnant.

And yes... the morning sickness was bad.... really bad.

Plus not to mention finding out I was pregnant scared me a bit. What with the whole 3 miscarriages incident I had.. But all's good now. InsyaAllah. Baby is in its 15th week and it's still hanging on in there.

Azalia is excited at the thought of being a sister. She's been praying for mommy to have a baby for almost a year now. Just before I found out I was preggers she actually got impatient and asked where's the baby she's been praying for. Well Alia.. Allah heard you now you have to do your part to be the good sister ok.

It might be the hormones or it might be the situation I'm currently in... but whatever it is... I find myself re-evaluating my life. The thing is..I've never been the sort of person to have a 5 or 10 years plan in life. Heck I don't even have a 1 year plan in life. I plan and organise my daily life but I don't plan my whole life which makes me think that maybe along the way I've missed a few opportunities.

But I've always believed that God has a plan for you. That whenever I'm at a crossroads I would turn to him to lead me to the best decision for me and my family. And yes... that is what I've been doing so far. Do I have any regrets??? Honestly.. not really. But I think I'm just unsure where do I go from here. What's the next step I should be taking. Hmmm... Istikharah time perhaps?

Whatever is it..first things first.. Getting this baby safely out into this world. To be honest I think I'm beginning to understand why only now I'm meant to have another child... Be safe little one. Your sister has already made all sorts of plans for you.

Of old age.

My grandfather has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months. He has his good days but they are minimal compared to his bad days. Right now, he's back in the hospital. He looks weak. I'm not used to seeing him this weak. The other day we had a scare when he suddenly collapsed and was semi concious. He was slurring a bit. I thought he had another stroke. But turned out he was so exhausted. Kidney and heart is not functioning well. It's almost time he would say with that cheeky smile on his face.

He's always joking about how his time is near. He would say my first house is this house, my second house is the hospital and my third house is where I'm going next. Always with a laugh at the end.

It's inevitable I know, but you can't help but feel sad and in denial a bit right!!.

Anyway looking at how my parents are taking care of him, attending to him at home, at the hospital, my mom sleeping there when he was extra weak. And going to work the next day. My uncles taking turns being there for him at the hospital, taking his medication at the hospital.. etc... basically its hard work. Sure you love your parents and would do anything you can for them , but at the same time, life goes on and you have to go to work, tend to your own family and other obligations to tend to.

I pray that I would be as strong as my parents when their time comes. And for that, I need to make sure I have a flexible job, (or maybe not work when the time comes..hehe), kids are all grown up and can take care of themselves(its easier.. you don't have to worry about them and focus on your parents more) and are financially ready to bear any costs that they can't handle themselves (which I think they can manage but who knows.. which also reminds me to save for when my time comes because its not cheap to have some comfort in your later years i tell you).

Plus, it helps to have lots of kids. They can take turns seeing you at the hospital, bring you for checkups, get your medications, at least the burden won't fall on only one person.. haha. If Azalia is my only child, I have told my cousins whom I took care of when they were little and still sometimes do now, that I expect them to take care of me when I'm old just like how they would take care of their mom. "Ye kakak Anis" they answered.. hehe. Must make voice record so they would keep their word.. HAHAHAHA.

I pray that whatever time my grandfather has left in this world, he would not suffer. I pray that we would be there with him when his time has come. I pray to Allah the Merciful that He would make it easy for my grandfather.

wordless means.. no words.

There's this thing going on in the blogging world called Wordless Wednesdays. Basically on Wednesdays you post pictures instead of writeups. The title is wordless wednesdays right... W.O.R.D.L.E.S.S. Means.. No words. Then no need for captions for the photos right?? I know people are doing it just for fun but if there are captions and not just pictures than maybe they should rename the whole thing.

p.s: Saje je nak cari pasal.. hehehe.

Nagging feeling

Somehow I'm not feeling so upbeat suddenly. Maybe its that work I'm supposed to do but still haven't finish doing because I'm just too lazy to ?? Hehe. Whatever it is there's always tomorrow and it's 6pm already. Let's just hope that work is not due tomorrow first thing in the morning ok??

Ooops..

My parents went to our next door neighbour's daughter's wedding dinner last weekend. They sat at the same table with our neighbour from across the road. Mom told me about their conversation that night:

Neighbour: You dah ada cucu kan?

Mom: Yes. Ada dua dah. One living with us.

Neighbour: Oh ya, girl kan? Sometimes I can hear her mother calling her Alia kan. My cucu also Alia.

Mom: *embarrased* Yes, she(me) can be quite loud sometimes.

Ooops. Sorry mak. hehehehe.

Who's your window??

Read this and immediately my mind drifted to my windows.

To my triple As, I am forever thankful for having all of you in my life. What a coincidence that all of your names start with A's too.

Each of you were there for me in different phase of my life. I'm glad our paths crossed. :)

Nak travel Europe lagi.. please? hehehehe

It's the cold season.

Azalia is a better patient than I am. Both of us are currently down with cough and cold and while mummy is moody and cranky, Azalia is just being herself jumping up and down, running here and there. Well to be fair, she didn't lose her voice and doesn't have a sore throat.

Asa has been lovely taking care the two of us and I especially am grateful for him taking over most things when it comes to Azalia. Honestly I just couldn't be bothered because I couldn't stop coughing and sneezing and that causes my nose and chest to hurt and muscles cramping. I pray to God this will be over soon because I need to get things done. My coughs are worse at night and it is disturbing my sleep.. ARGHHH.

Azalia would sometimes forget that I'm not well and proceed to testing my patience. But as soon as she realises (with help from mummy grunting and ignoring her) she would proceed to bebel mummy to eat ubat ("all 10 mummy I want to see all finish ok", she would say) and tiptoe around me. Of course once she saw me up doing something she assumes I'm all fine and proceed to her usual antics.

I was hoping it would be a lovely long weekend this CNY weekend but boohoo..I just see myself recuperating at home. I'm suppose to be a dulang girl for my bestfriend's wedding but I wonder if I can stop myself from coughing while carrying the dulang. Or worse.. cough on the dulang. Errr better not be carrying food item.

I'm forcing myself to be up and about for work today and also for bestfriend's wedding prep tomorrow. Pray for my health will you?? Thanks.

I soooo need a getaway.

p.s: Read about the ALIMKids PJ preview here.

Funny story..

After months of nagging from my mother and aunt (who I think is nagging me abt this because she is already pregnant with her 5th child while I'm still at one...so..) I finally made an appointment to see a fertility specialist.

It was just across the street that I worked, so I thought.. why not. Since it's a fertility consultation the company's not paying for it. I asked a friend who's been to one and she said the cost for her 1st visit was around RM200 so.. I brought RM200. I thought if its more than that I could just charge it. Turns out.. it was RM420. Sure the consultation and scan was RM200. But he diagnosed me after the scan and a blood test was needed to confirm hence the extra RM200. I was horrified that they didn't accept card, only cash or cheque. So.. I told them to hold the RM200 while I went to the ATM to withdraw some more cash.. MALU!!!..hehehehe. tu lah dah biasa sangat pergi clinic FOC terus tatau nak budget nak bawak berapa.

Next trip confirm bwk cheque book.

Surprise

Sometime ago.. I asked Asa what he wanted for his birthday. He said he wanted a surprise. I told him his surprise would be whether he gets a gift from me or not. hehehe.

To Do do

The thing about having an active 2plus year old is you're always thinking of activities for your active child. You want the activities to appeal to the child and also for them to get really active and tired on the way so you can get your weekend rest too.. well at least that's the plan.

Anyway... we've always find things to do for a 3-day weekend. The 2-day weekends are a no brainer but more than that.. we have to put some thought into it. Usually the first day it'll be household chores day. Activities are normally to the playground/swimming pool and at home. The second day we would usually go on an outing, most of the time it's the shopping malls, ie bookstores, kiddy rides, etc. Sometimes to my in-laws. But when we have more than 2 days it's time to put on my thinking cap and think, think, think (to quote tigger, pooh and friends)

The last 3-day weekend we went to Bird Park. Before that it was brunch at Seremban and swimming pool the whole day at Allson Klana Resort with the whole family. Yeah the Yatim clan conquered the whole swimming pool because no one in their right mindh would swim at 2 in the afternoon. So... what about this week??

Well I'm thinking something in KL. I wanted to go to Zoo Melaka and stay there 1 night (WHAT??!! AGAIN!! hey what can I say.. we love the place) but it's a super peak period so that's out of the window. So... my choices are

1. Taman Tasik Titiwangsa - playground and horse ride

2. Zoo Negara

3. Deer Park in Kuala Gandah (ok this is not in KL but it's near so we can make this a day trip!!)

4. Maybe FRIM?? but I think Azalia can't appreciate this yet.

5. Aquaria

6. KLCC park

7. Metropolitan park - playground and KITE!!!!!

Kalau tak mak dgn anak main sorok2 dekat rumah je lah..hahaha

On baking

Kicking off my baking reso, I've baked 2 batches of triple fudge brownies (one for sale and the other for Asma's birthday) and just recently Hawa's Peach Banana Crumble. Azalia helped with the brownies and she certainly had fun licking the leftover batter.

Next up is a simple butter cake but with a strawberry jam layer.

Funny how I'm posting this right after I've posted on eating healthy.. HAHAHA

I love the LRT

Well.. takdelah love it smpi nak tido dlm tu kan. But life has been easier with the latest 4 carriage train addition. If I'm not mistaken, they have only 3 trains at the mo, so the old ones are still in use but even with the 3, service have improved. There used to be a huge crowd in the LRT by the time it reaches my station (which is only the third station from KJ), and sometimes I have to squeeze myself in there (but I have to point out that some of the time this is caused by people who refused to give way or didn't go in the carriages to make way for others to come in..that's just plain annoying laaa). But ever since the new trains took off the crowd is smaller even in the old trains. So yeay to improvement!!!.

In someways I've always prefered the LRT than driving to the office. But if someone were to send me of course I'll be glad to take that offer, but to drive.. hehehe malas laa. Plus I'm not that relaxed in a traffic jam. It takes me 45mins door to door with the LRT and by car, about the same too. Without traffic of course it takes me less but hello.. this is KL we're talking about so there's traffic everywhere except on weekends. Itupun weekends in the early morn.

I also get to catch up on my reading AND tv shows in the LRT which is a blessing because most of the time I don't have to do either at home what with entertaining the little one, household chores, running errands etc.

Walking to the station also helps in making sure I exercise.. although only for 10 mins a day but.. at least that's something. Right?

Hahaha... Why am I suddenly talking about the LRT? I'm just excited about the new train that's all. It's like the train on the Jubilee line in London !!!!

I love my scissors.

We had Mon's baby shower on Saturday and it was fun. Doing the deco was definitely the highlight for me. It's been awhile since I've done any crafts so to be able to take out my scissors is definitely something I look forward too. It's nothing artsy, very simple and basic but I love how my friends put the whole decoration thing together. Everything looks so pretty.

Next events are Dina's and Azie's baby shower. Yeay!!! I get to use my scissors again!!!

Other than that, my good friend from Uni just gave birth to a healthy baby boy yesterday. I am so happy!!!!!! I can't wait to see both mother and son.

Anyway, Azalia is into ultraman these days. Abg Boy really has a lot of influence on this little girl. Her body language is so girly sometimes but when she's playing.. habis.. semua girly manners out the window and she'll happily join the boys wrestling on the ground. She even bites them. Kesian Adam got a bruise on his chest from her bitings.

I miss Alwi.

Yes yes.. my writing is kinda erratic on today's posting but lantaklah. I just couldn't be bothered to susun my thoughts. So I'm just writing things down as I'm thinking about it.

Ahhh work is calling. laterss~~

Grrrreat

Had a great lunch. Great conversations, great company what, No-so-great food(masing2 tapau food and apparently the nasi ayam tak sedap) but I think my brownies were pretty awesome.. (puji diri seehhh) so yeah... it was a pretty great lunch. Plus we totally surprised Asma (yep celebrated her bday too).

Last night Azalia helped in baking the brownies. She was all cheeky about it too. Licking the spoon when I turned my back, touching the pan when I told her not to just to prove that I'm wrong (I'm so NOT..kan dah sakit). But it was fun. Definitely would include her in ALL my baking process.

Finished the decos I'm supposed to do for the Baby Shower tomorrow. Ho yeah!!!! Mon's about to pop!!!!!

And I finally got my period which is a definite relief NOT because I know I'm not pregnant (because we all know how much I want to be pregnant) but because I had to go through 2 weeks of PMS and it wasn't very pleasant for my family or myself..huhu. Now the mood swings just dissappeared into thin air and I'm happy again. hehe

The whole thing is a mess.

They preach tolerance but I don't see any tolerance on their part. It is clear that their request hurt a lot of people but they refuse to back down. Shouldn't tolerance come from both party and not just one. Why are we always the one who is asked to be tolerant towards others. Why not others to us??

What's cooking.

I just thought of a resolution for 2010. I never really make any resolutions but since I really want to do this and alang2 it's January so can lah make it a resolution. Anyway.. I want to cook/bake more.

In my student days I've always cooked my meals. But ever since we got back here and living with my parents, on average I might have cooked only once a month. Why am I not cooking for my parents instead?? well... First, they are great cooks. Second, they get home much earlier than I do soooo they are always in the kitchen first. What about weekends? Aaahhhh they cook lunch so early that by the time I'm awake all the prep is done and all is left is to put everything on the stove. Plus I feel my cooking is inferior to theirs and since I can't handle criticism I usually let them cook.. HAHAHA.

Anyway.... I miss cooking and the food that I used to dish out. I miss experimenting with recipes. I miss smelling like food and have food stains on my tees(oh wait.. I still stain my tees because my 2 year old is a fussy eater). Plus, I think my cooking skills are getting really rusty. Also... it would be great that my daughter can help me with the baking.

Only problem is.. Asa loves cakes too much so if I bake a cake he'll have an even bigger waistline. But I want to bake a cake. I think my solution to this is to give it away to my colleagues. Yes yes.. I think that's what I'll do.

So.. yes people.. that is my resolution for the year 2010. I WILL MAKE SURE THE KITCHEN BERASAP WITH MY COOKING!!! and of course to have the courage to accept my parents' critics on my cooking. Seriously... they are so good that if we dine out, they almost always would say... "mine taste better" and it's true.. they do.. Sigh.

oh Snniiipppeeeee

Azalia loves the movie UP so much that I bought her a helium balloon sold for RM5 at the pasar malam in Manjung. She chose a parrot(maybe because of the bird in the movie, the boy called it Kevin) and she loved loved loved it.

We brought it back to KL and she put it safely on her bed. Then my cousin came and she was so eager to show it to him she ran out of the door and the door accidently shut and snapped the string of the balloon and it floated up to the ceiling, towards the ceiling fan.

From the horrified look on Azalia's face, you would have thought it was a real bird and was about to be killed by the ceiling fan. Her cries sounded so scared that I quickly ran to the switch to turn it off.

Thankfully the balloon didn't burst otherwise I think Azalia wouldn't sleep so peacefully if she saw her bird burst into pieces.

Anyhoo..I wonder how she would react once the balloon runs out of air. Well at least when that happens, it's still intact.

I like I like I like!!!

I got myself a treat on the last day of 2009. Am feeling absolutely giddy over it. Was thinking of getting one for my 5 years wedding anni but this pretty little thing was on sale so I can't wait can I.. hehe. Will think of something else for my anni. But a brother or sister for Azalia would be the greatest gift ever. AMEENN.