Valencia Oranges

Argh!!!! Something must be terribly wrong with my computer. I typed a looooooong post and the browser just shut off by itself. I got so angry that I can’t be bothered to type another posting until 3 days later, which is, today. Anyway, the post was about Sheryl Ang turning 20 month and having show signs of the “terrible two” phrase already. She just seems to or rather wants to provoke me on purposely. Long gone are the days when she will do whatever I asked her to and it was like only 2 months back? Why was the change in behavior so sudden? I guess it is part of the development. She will just refused to eat after she request for her lunch, refused to sleep when she is clearly very tired and refuse to let me wear her diapers. Many mummies have told me that this is a passing phrase and it is normal and soon be over. I hope it is true. Oh well, below are some of the things that happens on a daily basis. Oh ya, her vocab has expanded quite a bit too.

When we are downstair
- Mummy, (go)upstair

When we are upstair
- Mummy, go down

When I am cooking
- Mummy, make bread
- Mummy, bee cake (biscuit)
- Mummy, nana (banana)
- Mummy, go sit (and feed me)
- Mummy, mum mum
- Mummy, see (wanting to see what I am cooking in the pan)

When I am watching tv
- Mummy, come play
- Mummy, play toys
- Mummy, kick ball
- Mummy, cook cook (in her toy kitchen)
- Mummy, eat (after she cooked)
- Mummy, fork

Before she sleep
- Mummy, milk milk
- Daddy, make milk milk
- Mummy, book ( to read her stories)
- Mummy, make bread

Other random
- water boil
- (Micro)wave! (when she heard the “ting” sound)
- Bird bird, dog dog, cat cat, aeroplane, car, diaper, (body)cream, water…and so on..

Sometimes it so funny when she repeats after her daddy and myself but not so funny when we were cursing. You know like the word “sh*t” and …. ok i better not say it! It can be really comical but I rather she learn the right things. Anyway, there’s so much to write. Will udpate often.

At the moment, I just hope I won’t need to use the cane too often!

It had been so long since I last blogged that I’ve actually forgotten what my admin password is. It took me nearly 3 tries before I managed to get it right. It had been a hectic one month with me falling sick for nearly 33 days, followed by my dearest baby. I had never spent so much on the been to the doctors as many times as I had for the past one month. 4 trips trying to get myself better medicine each time and twice for my baby. It’s really no joke being sick. You feel like a battery that can never be recharged no matter how hard you try. It’s especially worst when the hubby had to work till so late every night on his events. Before I got married and having a baby, sleeping to me is a waste of time. I will rather finish a book or go shopping. I can never understand how some people can sleep their day away.

Now, 19 months into motherhood, I can fully understand. The hubby always ask me why I always look so listless and tired. I really can’t give an explanation why. Not that I do not know the reason, but I feel bad saying that it’s because I’ve been looking after our baby round the clock. I do not like the feeling of blaming Sheryl when it’s not her fault. But all the “sleeplessness ” has really taken a toll on my body. I used to be able to recover from flu in 3 days, 4 the max. Now I need 33 days. It’s really no joke when we slept at 9.30pm and I having to wake up at 12am to make sure that she is covered with blanket, 3am to make milk, 5am before I can get back to sleep, wake up at 6.30am to work, make her milk at 7am, leave the house at 7.30am to take bus, reached home at 7.45pm, a 10 min dinner with Sheryl on my lap most of the time and bathing her at 8.30pm. By this time, I’m nearly left with 10% of battery life. Not forgetting, after bathing her and before she sleep, I have to be her story teller and her playmate. And this cycle will repeat and repeat till I get a day off or two when she’s at my mum’s place.

People had told my my face look bloated and I really can’t understand why I continued to put on weight and look so puffy despite not able to sleep and eat well. I’m really clueless about this. People had been telling me how they had lost weight after taking care of their baby. I became shagged and sick instead. I really can’t understand how some mother can look so fresh everytime they go out. There are so much things to worried about. I worried about what Sheryl might be eating when I am at work, are the food fresh and warm? I wonder if she had her mid morning and afternoon naps, I wonder if there’s anyone making sure she’s not playing near the stairs, did anyone wash her up after her meals and did anyone noticed her soiled diapers? All these thoughts are running though my mind the whole day except when she is at my mum’s place. But unfortunately, she can’t be at my mum’s place all the time since my mum has a really bad back and my in laws are trying their best with so many children at home. I also know that the mother’s love to her child cannot be delegated. I can’t expect others to care as much as I care about Sheryl. So people, pls be kind on your words. I know I don’t look the best as before but I am really trying my best. 

To the hubby, I know you are tired from your work and I truely appreciate you trying your best to “off-load” some of my duties (but I was really pissed when you decided to go drinking and leave me alone with baby especially when she’s down with a fever!) . But I really need time to get fully recharged and although the chicken essence does help, they are not magic potion. I need time to “recover”. Aside from this, it’s another 11 days before we are off to Brisbane for the next 1.5 year. Hopefully things will get better! Hmm.. it had been so long since I had a nice and romantic dinner and evening with the hubby. I guess It’s not going to happen anytime soon till Sheryl is 3 when we are back from Brisbane?! 

With facebook, this blog has really become secondary. Anyway, I am not going to write about which is better today. Rather, I am going to talk about the carrot rice I prepared for Sheryl. I am not sure about other babies toddlers but it’s getting more and more challenging to get Sheryl to eat her veg. However, she’s quite a big fan of rice. Hence, that’s how I came up with the following recipe. Prep time is about 5 min and cooking time is less than 10 min.

Ingredients (serves one adult and one child)

2 teaspoon silver fish (rinse and pad dry with kitchen towel)
100g of minced pork or chicken
4 tablespoon of pureed carrot
1 egg
1 teaspoon of tomatoe sauce
1 bowl of rice (you have to estimate yourself)
Basically just marinate the minced meat with a little bit of soya sauce and pepper. First, heat up some extra virgin olive oil. Put in the silver fish and lightly fried and when its’ color changes from white to brown, throw in the minced meat and saute it for 2 minutes. Pour in the egg. Next, empty the bowl of rice and basically just toss them in the wok. Finally, throw in the pureed carrot. Remember the carrot have to go in last to retain the vitamin. If you would like some color, add in the tomatoe sauce. Stir fry for 1 one minute it’s ready to be serve.

It taste great! I feel it tasted a tad like paella (I hope you know I’m kidding)! hahaha.. Anyway, no photo to show since it’s the first attempt. I shall do it again and post some picture.

On another note, I tried making cream of mushroom from scratch today after looking at some video online. However, it turned out less than satisfying. Actually, it’s quite disgusting inedible. To think I even mention about it! hehe…

Alright, photo next time. At lesat Sheryl likes my Carrot Fried Rice. Shall try it with pumpkin next time. :)

This thing really works!

Does people spend more at the end of the year? I can’t agree more. Darlin had to spend close to 2K within the last one month? First, it was us, falling sick after one another. That means medical fees - $200. Just a week ago, I stepped on my trusty spec and it breaks into two. I could have saved it IF it was Sheryl stepping on it but well, I’m sure you know what is the state of the spec when I stepped on it. Another - $300 from darlin’s pocket.

And last came the big ticket item. My stupid acer laptop died on me. The screen just went white and I couldn’t even save anything out from it. Darlin had to get me a Toshiba laptop and what does it means? Another - $1400 from darlin’s pocket.

That’s why I say, christmas came early, for me, not darlin.

I highly suspect the current flu carries a new strain! Daddy Ang had been sick for almost 5 days! I was sick for almost 5 days too. You know how the doctor always give you extra pain killer and anti swell medicine and most of the time we will just take some and leave the rest aside. This time round i had to  literally finished all my medicine before I actually recovered! and I am not talking about jsut myself. Daddy Ang will usually be well after a night but unfortunately, he’s still pretty much ‘lem beh’ while I am typing this. Almost all the children in my household are down with flu at this moment. oh no!   That partly explains the fact why I’ve not been taking photos recently. How to take pictures when everyone is looking like a ghost zombie!

This is definitely not a good season. The little one was down with fever about a week ago. In her first year, she was pretty healthy and had steered clear of medicine *ok touched wood*. Just barely a year over, she caught the bug. She couldn’t drink well, only manage 2 to 3 ounces 3 times a days and wouldn’t touch any solid food. Most of the time, she just lazed around in bed and couldn’t even bother to come towards us when we were eating. How my heart aches! Just when she got well, I fell sick! How terrible. Had to see the doc last Sunday and there goes the $$. The doctor must have earned big bucks this month consider both baby and I had spent nearly $150 on medicine and consultation. Well, at least I did become better after the medicine. But the not so good news is, now daddy Ang is down with fever. I guess it must be the endless nights of looking after the baby and working the following day that makes the very sleep-deprived daddy ill. Unfortunately, daddy Ang still had to attend some courses today and tomorrow. Jia You daddy!

Anyway, I think it’s partly my fault that Missy Ang fall ill. It’s time to make more nutritious meal for her! I’ve come up with 3 new porridge combi that she has taken a liking for. Ham and carrot P, Chicken liver and cucumber and eggy fish porridge. Hope the flu season will be over soon!

More photos in my facebook!

Bringing a baby out for shopping is never easy. I’ve to lug around a bag fill with thermos flask, bottles, diapers, wet tissues etc etc. I’ve been using the free purple similac bag given by the KKH when I had given birth. It was a good practical bag BUT it gets really dusty when I start bringing it to everywhere I go. So, not so nice to bring it out for shopping, nice dinners and friend’s wedding right? Thus Sheryl’s daddy decided to be generous and bought me the Damier Neverfull from LV. Being the very kiasu me, I have to choose the GM one to ensure I can practically dump everything inside. I was contemplating between the monogram or the damier one and decided the the latter is more me. Love the red interior! I must say it’s a really good bag! Hmmm….Now i think I need a new sling bag too…….

Pic from http://www.ilvoelv.com/2008/11/louis-vuitton-damier-neverfull.html

I tried this a few year back and now tried it again. Tian mentioned it’s pretty accurate and I must say it sure is! Now I know why am I losing sleep!

This is my profile!

You are constantly hoping that your good fellowship and attitude and your ‘love for your fellow man (or women)’ will give you peace of mind. You need people - people around you to care for you and to show you that they care. It is this hope that keeps you going, the hope that makes you the type of person that indeed you are. Your own need for approval seemingly makes you always ready to help others and in exchange you seek love, warmth and understanding. You will always listen to others and you are open to new ideas which hopefully will prove fruitful and interesting.

You are finding the present situation extremely demanding and you’re having difficulty coping with it. A great deal of strain is involved and you would really like everyone and everything to leave you alone for a while, just so that you can put everything into perspective.

Many people will consider you egotistical and full of your own self importance. On the surface you could well give this impression and perhaps the reason for this complacent attitude is because at times you indeed have that ’short fuse’ and are quick to take offence.

You are feeling trapped by the situation as it stands at this time and what is more, you feel powerless to remedy it. You are stressful, angry and disgruntled. You feel that everything that you try to do to change the situation is thwarted and your hopes and aspirations all seem to be receding into the ever distant future. You have reached the state where you now doubt whether your dreams will ever be achieved and this is not only causing mental stress but heartache. You need to get away from it all - you need to have time to think, to recuperate, to be able to make your own decisions.

You are anxious about all the limitations to which you are subjected to at this time. You feel that you are not valued for what or who you are. You need OUT. So why procrastinate any longer - MOVE!

I don’t understand how this post can disappear repeatedly for the last 2 weeks?!!

..that make my heart breaks.

Sheryl had been having really bad nappy rash lately. The skin on her little butts are covered with angry red patches. The topmost skin had came off and I can literally see her ‘raw’ skin, if you know what I mean. That was on Monday night. I could feel my eyes filled with tears as I cleaned her little butts. When she sleeps, I have to quickly remove her napkin to air the skin. I really wish I was the one getting all these rashes, never mind if it’s ten times worst on me. Darlin and I had to get up several times in the night to make sure her butt is dry so that it won’t irritate her skin further. Thank god she is feeling a lot better already. A bigger thank you to her daddy who bought her to the paediatrician when I was working yesterday.

It was only 2 weeks ago that she recovered from her runny nose. First it was Daddy Ang who was sick. I guess Sheryl got the germs from her daddy since she is so close to him Because of her stuffy nose, my usually very cheerful baby was extremely clingy. She wouldn’t sleep unless I held her in an upright position so that she can breathe better. We were sleeping lesser than 4 hours during that few days. Now, either darlin or i will be quarantined if we are sick. I am not taking any more chance!

On another note, I think the baby panda might mistaken me as their mother. The dark rings under my eyes are really bad.

Sheryl has been pretty active these days. She has learned how to roll over, sit up and now started to learn how to crawl. Often when she wakes up, she will just lay there, roll a little and played by herself. Well I must say this is a good thing but not this early morning. My poor Sheryl baby woke up, rolled over and experienced her first fall at 4.25am.

I was away in slumberland when I was woken up by her cries! It was really dark (and I’m a blind mice without my specs) and I panic when I can’t feel her on the bed. I dare not step out of bed for fear of stepping on her. I had no choice but to shout for darlin who was sleeping next door because of his flu. My gosh, I can literally feel my heart breaking when I saw her crying and waving her limbs frantically on the floor after darlin switched on the light. Luckily we managed to soothe her and she fell asleep after some milk. Man, I was so worried that I could not sleep the whole night. I kept checking to make sure she’s breathing normally and did not vomit.

I told darlin, ”This must be the second shock of her life. The first was when she was just borned.” 

Was thinking of this when I was on my way home and I thought I will just have it down so that I can remember

My dearest daughter Sheryl
Do you know you are such a cute little dear
Every morning when you wake up with a smile
That simply makes daddy and mummy’s heart melts

When you are unhappy you will scream and frown
But a simple peek a boo will always calm you down
Mummy loves to watch you play by yourself
And often wonder when you will be tall enough to touch the shelf

I feel happy when I see you grow and grow each day
I can’t wait to catch the first word that you say
Having you with us for the past seven months has been such a joy
 I can’t believe you are now already able to hold your own toy

Sometimes you make mummy so angry because you have been naughty
But I guess mummy doesn’t mind as long as you are happy and healthy!