Fischer-Price Animal Activity Puzzle

This is the latest toy purchased for my little Munchkin. Here in Sandakan, we're not exactly spoilt for choice,so am really happy we found this.

I really do love this toy as it develops problem solving skills, eye-hand coordination, fine and gross motor skills as well as visual skills and many more. Each animal has an enhancing visual and tactile development. The Bird, when squeezed goes 'Tweet! Tweet!', the Lion has a spinning mane (my favourite), the Butterfly has soft wings made from fabric, the Monkey goes 'Squeak! Squeak! when you shake it, the Elephant has rattle beads in its ears and the Fish has a googly eye. Retailed at Giant Sandakan, Sabah at RM42.99 I think it's a good buy.

Morgan Freeman is very much ALIVE!!

It was on my mind to write a post about Morgan Freeman for some time now... Actually, ever since I read on FB that he had passed away. Gosh don't people have better things to do than HOAX a person's death. I can't help smiling from ear to ear because I'm so happy he's alive : ) It's not like I meet him every day or even know him but I do admire him as an actor and I do like his voice... He's one of those good actors.. Hollywood needs him to be around for a long time more...

Found this on the Internet and caught myself...yup, I was doing just that...What am I talking about? Check this out...

Were you? I was and still am... : )

Thank you Mickey Mouse Hair Scrunchie

I don't know about you, but getting my daughter to stand still and let me comb and tie her hair is a daily challenge. However, it has become relatively easier thanks to this plastic spiral twirly rubber scrunchie henceforth referred to as scrunchie, that she asked us to buy for her. And I thought to myself, this 'mouseketool' definitely deserves three cheers and a blog post!

It's actually a Minnie Mouse one but she prefers to call it her Mickey Mouse scrunchie. Cost us RM7 at a shop in Miri.

Another 1derful ONE!!

On the 5th of July, a day and many years after his father's birthday, our Munchkin turned one. As the 5th fell on a Thursday, we celebrated on Saturday, the 7th of July. 07.07 nice right... Well, we went for the Prince theme as he is our little prince..

As we did for my daughter, we celebrated his 1st birthday @ Subang National Golf Club or KGNS (Kelab Golf Negara Subang) located in SS7, Kelana Jaya. We are not members at this club but their hall/ballroom can be rented at a non member rate. They've added off white cloth blinds for the windows and it's a nice touch. We chose the President Hall as it suited all our needs. You can look them up at http://www.subanggolf.com/.

We went back to Choffles because as far as I am concerned Mr. David and his crew are the best. They are at the Sunway outlet. Not only do they deliver what they promise, they give you more than that and it's to your liking.. Check them out at http://www.choffles.com

As always, when you are looking for something you can't find it. We searched for my boy's outfit at Wonder Tots but did not find anything suitable. This was where we found my daughter's dress for her birthday.  In the end, to cut a really long search short, we bought his shirt, vest, bow tie and little black shiny shoes at Lovely Lace. We went to the branch at Empire Shopping Gallery. As for our little girl, we got her dress at Party Princess.

Hmmm...what else? Invitations? It was difficult to get ready made invitations that I liked so once again my husband created our son's invitation card. Because we had limited time- we were flying back to Sandakan, the people at the printers, charged us double the price. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to accept. The best part was they took 3 days. A rip off? Maybe but like I said we just didn't want to prolong the whole thing. 

Balloon Buzz at Section 14 is THE place to go for decorations. They were fabulous. They even came and fixed the deco for us at the hall. We spent more than RM1000 at their shop. A bit on the excessive side some may say, but the next time our little munchkin will celebrate this grandly will be when he's 21! Ask for Mr Hugh or Hew not sure of the spelling, he was great.

As our little Cupcake is bigger, we decided to get a clown. We hired through Balloon Buzz. They have different packages. You can choose either a clown or a magician. RM45o for 2 hours. You do not get to speak to the clown beforehand, you can only liaise through Balloon Buzz.  

We chose the Big Rajah Caterers. (http://www.thebigrajah.com.my/) The person we liased with for our daughter's birthday function was Mr. Paul  but he has left the company. Mr Kuldip was in charge this time round. I have to say, he was very efficient and if you told him you needed something he would somehow make it happen. The food as usual was tasty. This time, we made sure we ate. I think that it's important to taste the food you spent a fortune on. ha,ha

We used the invitation card design as the cover for the bulletin. The bulletin was for songs, the bible passage, and a short poem dedicated to our son.

We also hires a professional photographer from JAC Photography. They are a group of photographer's who specialise in all areas of photography. Our photographer's name was Jonathan and I would definitely recommend him. Their basic package starts at RM850 for four hours and includes a session of portraiture. Check them out here.

We loved the outcome of our efforts as we were with our daughter's party. We're glad however that we don't have to plan anymore grand birthday parties soon..I hope. Our wallets are too : )

I am 30 going on 31....

On September 21, I turned 31.. It was a beautiful day from the beginning until the end. The day before, Hubby would say out loud, "T minus ...hours and .....minutes" depending on how much time was left to 12midnight and it would be my birthday. He would announce it in a loud and deep baritone.. And I would break into girlish giggles with my daughter running around saying, "Happy Birthday Mummy". The children and Hubby had gone out to Secret Recipe and bought a cake. When leaving it with the hotel staff to be delivered to us later, my daughter started crying. Hubby explained to her that it was Mummy's birthday cake and it was a secret and not to tell me. This happened at 6pm. Can you imagine, my daughter NEVER said a word. She never even mentioned the word cake. She would say happy birthday and kiss me and all but nada about the cake. And mind you, she tells me everything. She turns 3 tomorrow and I have to say she keeps a secret better than so many adults I know.

At 12midnight, the hotel staff brought the cake. The F&B manager, Mr Eddie had stayed back and brought 4 other staff. He played the guitar as they sang Happy Birthday! Can you imagine. Such lovely people. Where are we staying? We're at the Best Western Hotel and Residence Sandakan. This is a wonderful hotel and I love it her for many reasons. In total we've stayed here for about 5months now. Mom called and so did my BFF.

The next morning, I found a lovely note that Hubby had written. From work he sent a really, really cute e-mail using lots of emoticons..was awesome.. Once back from work, he took the kids and said he was going to reception to collect something. So, i thought hmm must be balloons or flowers or something...Then, he calls me and asks me to go to a certain room to collect something. I'm thinking hmm he must want me out of the room for this next surprise. The hotel has a spa called Lembah Impian Spa and they just started operation. I was their first customer. That was where Hubby made me go! The bliss of it all.. They were really good and my masseur massaged away my aches and pains...I put my phone in the silent mode -sorry peeps getting myself pampered : )

When I came back to the room, a beautiful hand made card was waiting for me. I love hand made cards! It was made by Hubby and my two kids! I shed tears of happiness as this surpassed any gift... I managed to convince Hubby I didn't want to go out for dinner (I was too content and relaxed after my spa) and so we ordered our favourite pizzas from Pizza Hut... All in all it was a beautiful day and I couldn't have had a better celebration. I thank the Lord for my lovely husband and kids. 

What about the Birds and the Bees?

InteRastic is what I call anything that I find INTEResting or find to be fanTASTIC or a little of both (INTER)!!

Wonder how many parents will have to have this conversation with kids...

How to Stop Hunching

I have had the habit of hunching as far back as I can remember.. I recall making it one of my New Year resolutions when I was 12 years old. I'll be turning 31 this coming Friday (yay! It's my birthday!) and I am still hunching..even more so actually.. Well, so much for New Year resolutions huh.. Talk about lifetime ones..'I shall stop hunching by the time this lifetime of mine is over'..ha,ha what if it ends soon though...

Now, according to my best bud Google, how you sit, stand and walk determines the health of your neck, back and shoulders. I constantly have lower backaches. I've had these for a long time and now after the birth of my second child, it has gotten worse. The constant breastfeeding doesn't help either. Wearing high heeled shoes most of the time can alter your body's alignment. No problem there as I usually opt for comfy shoes..One of the perks of being a SAHM. But I do wear my high heels for functions and certain occasions. I mean all girls love shoes and I'm just as bad. So, I'm going to zone in on the 'most of the time' part and let it go. 

Ever been told to, "Stand up straight?" Keep this mantra close. If left unattended, hunching can become permanent hunching. Stick post it notes, write it down or you can even set reminders that go off at different times of the day to remind you. Imagine.. "Are you bending over?" : )

Well, what else can be done? Calcium. Don't just give your kids milk, we need it too. Our body needs 1,000mg of calcium a day and 1,500mg if you are postmenopausal. Plus, I'm breastfeeding so I really need to focus on drinking milk. Of course, I can meet my daily requirements by eating cheese and yogurt or just taking Calcium tablets!

Sitting positions. Make sure your not hunched over while on the sofa watching your favorite drama. When driving, the best position for your seat is a 90-degree angle. If you spend a lot of time in the car purchase a lumbar roll (or you can roll a towel) and place it behind your back.

Different types of lumbar rolls

Yoga. I love yoga. That said, I do not do yoga. I think about, I look it up, I watch it on youtube, I imagine doing it... but I don't have the opportunity to do it. And when I do have the opportunity, I just don't do it. Hmm....wonder if I should make it a resolution... Anyway, checkout various yoga poses to stop hunching and rounded shoulders and those that strengthen your back. Make sure you read up on it as some poses aren't suitable for sensitive backs, especially without supervision. For me, supervision comes in two forms; my soon to be 3year old Cupcake and 15 month Munchkin!!

Lifting positions. It doesn't apply just for lifting but also for the million times you bend to pick up toys. What I do is I just get on all fours and move along picking up stuff with my kids trying to hitch a ride... When you lift stuff, grasp around the bottom and lift straight upward. Remember to put pressure on your legs and not your back.

Personally, I'm going to try all of these and let's see if I can finally stop hunching... 

Potty Outing

Today was Day 6 of potty training our little Cupcake. She's been really good thus far. There hasn't been any more accidents but she still has her false alarms. So, today we had the opportunity to go out and thought it would be the best time to see how it goes..... I took her to the toilet before we left but according to her, there was "no shi shi mummy." She still hadn't pooped yet and so that was another concern. On the way she suddenly said she wanted to go but then when I told my hubby to stop the car she quickly decided she didn't want to go all the way this time with a false alarm. I really do wonder if many parents go through these 'false alarms' as I've not read about it..but that could also be because I did not read extensively enough on this topic of potty training.. 

I digress...All in all she was terrific. No accidents and all was fine. I kept asking her off and on to tell me if she needed to use the toilet until my hubby told me to stop.."Hey, easy for you to say," I replied "it's not your lap she's sitting on!" : )

We're so proud of you Cupcake! You're doing well my dear : )

Two Important Management Lessons

InteRastic is what I call anything that I find INTEResting or find to be fanTASTIC or a little of both (INTER)!!

I received this in my mail today and thought that it is worth sharing. I do not know if Mr Prakash Iyer really is the MD of Kimberly-Clark Lever or whether he did share this. I do however know that it's the message that counts and this is worth the read...

Prakash Iyer, Managing Director, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach shares two important management lessons he learnt from a 500-rupee note. Read on: -
 
It happened some years ago but I can recall the evening like it happened just last week. I was in an audience listening to a motivational guru. The speaker whipped out his wallet and pulled out a five hundred-rupee note.  Holding it up, he asked, "Who wants this five hundred rupee note?"  Lots of hands went up. Including mine. A slow chorus began to build as people began to shout "Me!" "Me!"  I began to wonder who the lucky one would be who the speaker would choose. And I also secretly wondered - and I am sure others did too - why he would simply give away five hundred rupees. Even as the shouts of "I want it" grew louder, I noticed a young woman running down the aisle. She ran up onto the stage, went up to the speaker, and grabbed the five hundred-rupee note from his hand.
 
"Well done, young lady," said the speaker into the microphone."Most of us just wait for good things to happen. That's of no use. You've got to make things happen."  The speaker's words have stayed with me ever since. 'Simply thinking about doing something is of no use'  Our lives are like that. We all see opportunities around us. We all want the good things. But the problem is we don't take action.  We all want the five hundred rupee notes on offer. But we don't make the move. We look at it longingly . Get up, and do something about it. Don't worry about what other people might think. Take action.  Several years later, it was another day, another time. And another motivational guru.  As I watched him pull out a five hundred rupee note and hold it up for all to see, I thought I knew what he was going to do next.
 
But he just asked a simple question. "How much is this worth?"  "Five Hundred rupees!" the crowd yelled in unison. "Right," said the speaker. He then took the note and crumpled it into a ball and asked "How much is it worth now?"  "Five Hundred rupees!" screamed the audience.  He then threw the note on the ground, stamped all over it and picked up the note and asked one more time: "And how much is it worth now?"  "Five Hundred rupees!" was the response. "I want you to remember this," said the speaker.  "Just because someone crumples it, or stamps on it, the value of the note does not diminish. All of you should all be like the five hundred rupee note.

In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten. But never let your self-worth diminish. Just because someone chooses to crush you - that doesn't change your worth one bit! 

Hope you enjoyed reading this!

Fickle Pickles

In August we scouted around and looked at many houses. But not to buy.. We are planning to rent, you see. Why rent and not buy? Because we're not sure of certain things and these variables will determine where we ultimately purchase a house. We paid the one month booking or whatever you call it plus RM300 for them to prepare the agreement and so on. We signed the tenant agreement proposal (I think that's what it's called) which states that the owner can decide to change his mind and the money will be returned to us. However, if we change our minds we lose the RM300.  Mind you all this was done with the owner's full consent.

We were supposed to move in at the beginning of October. We've been in contact with the agent that showed us the house from time to time making sure the lights, fan and grille are put in on time. Suddenly, on Monday the agent calls and says the owner has changed his mind. That's nice, so now what do we do? We particularly like this area because it's gated and guarded and their security is tighter than most G&G housing areas I've seen. Now, for the past 4 days we've been looking for another place to rent and it's been hard. I don't understand how people can just behave like this. If you don't want to rent then you shouldn't put up your house for rent. Don't let your fickleness affect others. Especially if it affects them in a big way. Especially if it puts them in a pickle...Although I am one of the fickle pickles of the world, I wouldn't pickle another family...You get me?

MMRV Vaccination for Kids

My Cupcake and Munchkin took their MMRV shots last week.. My Munchkin was due for his first year MMR shot.. so we took the MMRV which adds the Varicella vaccination. Measles, Mumps, Rubella & Varicella (chicken pox) is what MMRV is.

These may appear as harmless illnesses in children but can lead to serious complications that may involve hospitalisation. According to a pamphlet, these viruses are highly contagious and mainly target children so it is vital to prevent them from harming your child. It goes on to say, 'An infection may spread to other family members plus burden parents who have to miss work to care for a sick child. Now, additional protection from the Varicella (chicken pox) virus alongside the compulsory MMR vaccinations is available. You can spare your child from the extra pain and injections by protecting against 4 threats at 1 go.'

The MMR is a must in our country (Malaysia) but the Varicella shot is optional. Some parents prefer their kids to get it when they are young and be done with it. I've heard of chicken pox parties overseas but do not know if we have that here in Malaysia. When Cupcake turned 1 and had her shots we opted for the compulsory MMR shot and did not take the Varicella shot. However, when Munchkin turned 1 it coincided with a friend getting the chicken pox (you can read about it here) and so we took the MMRV shot for him as well as for my daughter. Apparently, she will not have to take the compulsory MMR shot in Primary One (when she is 7years old) later as she has already been vaccinated. 

Since we are in Sandakan, Sabah we went to Klinik Pakar Kanak-Kanak Chin. Details about this very good paediatrician and his clinic can be found here. 

Klinik Pakar Kanak- Kanak Chin Tshun Leong

Soon after my Cupcake and I had diarrhea..actually come to think about it, it was the next night..Hubby says one of his collegues who is also here in Sandakan for the project, has got chicken pox! Oh oh..Cupcake and Munchkin have not got it before although Hubby has.. Me? Many many years ago my mom and brother got it and I freaked out that I was next. I mean we all lived together but somehow I didn't get it My mother couldn't remember whether I'd ever gotten it before. One simple blood test could have cleared up the mystery but hey you don't really think of doing things like that unless you're in the situation.

Praise God there is a wonderful paediatrician here in Sandakan. Off we went early the next morning..they were already closed the night before when we heard about the chicken pox or I'd have gone then to get my kids vaccinated : )

We went to Klinik Pakar Kanak-Kanak Chin (details at the end of this post) in Bandar Tyng, Sandakan. My munchkin was due for his 1 year shot and we wanted to get that as well. The clinic was packed okay.. But they have a wonderful play area for the kids..Lots of toys..I love the deco of the clinic..Cute colourful pictures in white frames adorn the walls.. I wanted to take photos but I didn't think it would go down well with the other parents..Like who is this weird person taking shots of a CLINIC! Who does that?? Bloggers and mummies do right (and daddies too) but I didn't wanna take the risk..

Even though the Dr Chin had so many patients and he had a seminar to rush off to later, he spent about 15minutes or more I tell you with us.. Awesome right.. A young Dr who studied in the UK, he was knowledgeable and patient and all you would want your paediatrician to be...

Not only did my Cupcake and Munchkin get vaccinated but so did I.. We'll be going back in 2 months for our booster shots.. We were a cute sight, mummy and kiddies all had a plaster on our left arm... Looking for a good paediatrician in Sandakan, Sabah? Look no further, head on to Chin Child Specialist Clinic...

Klinik Pakar Kanak-Kanak Dr Chin Tshun Leong
Block A, Lot 5, Bandar Tyng, Mile 6, Jalan Utara, 90000, Sandakan, Sabah
089 672809

Mon to Fri : 8.30am - 12 pm
                   2.00pm - 5pm
                   6.30pm - 8pm
Saturday   :  8.30am - 12pm
                    2.00pm- 4pm
Sunday & Public Holidays : 8.30am - 12pm

Potty Training Diary: Day 1 & 2

So, the day before yesterday was our first day potty training or rather retraining our little cupcake...How was it? Hmm.. It went pretty well. She had only two accidents. Small ones and it was because she was watching her favourite friendly Disney mouse cartoon...

Usually, she would poop in the afternoon but yesterday it was night when she finally pooped....in the toilet! Yippee!!

One interesting thing was that throughout the day she would have false alarms..She had many.. and I mean many.. Gosh, for two days there were so many many false alarms. "Mummy, I need to go to the toilet" she would say in a sing-song manner and run to the toilet.. "Quickly, Mummy" and I would hurry to be there and then..... nada...nothing. When asked where was the shi shi (urine) or kaka (poop) she would say "Ohh..It's gone" in the cutest way.. Aisay little girl no more okay..now mummy knows how firefighters feel when there is a prank call.. (except that this is on a smaller scale)

Come nightfall and it was time to sleep and I started getting jittery. "Am I rushing her?" "Gosh I want this to work so how do I handle this properly" "Have I chosen the most suitable method for her" Sink or swim versus give it time. In the end at the very last moment I decided to go with my instincts and I only put on her diapers when she's nodding off to sleep. I read that as time goes, children start waking up with dry diapers. Okay,  so I'll take it from there. Give her time to adjust...Or is it just me giving me time to adjust? ha,ha..mummies are little girls after all..well at least I am...

Sabah Road Trip: Race to Rafflesia Mountain

Alright so maybe it wasn't a race and it sure wasn't a mountain known as Rafflesia but the way I was out of breath, you'd think it was! Some experiences are better shared from the beginning to the end and yet some are better if you start at the end. Hence, I shall show you pictures of the elusive and exclusive Rafflesia. Although technically a member of the plant kingdom, a Rafflesia challenges the traditional definition of what a plant should be. It is a parasitic jungle plant native to the Southeast Asian tropics. It takes a bud about 9 months to bloom and lasts for 5-7 days.

Can you spot it's root?

Right, our journey to see this flower starts at a humble bamboo bridge.

No wait, I better explain more. On the way to the Poring Hot Springs (and back, of course) we saw about 3 different places where they advertise the presence of a Rafflesia. Now by places, I mean 'a huge umbrella, and a couple of chairs/ a small umbrella and one chair' and by advertise I mean 'a hastily scribbled boards'. So, we choose the only one that took the effort to name their 'business'. I think it was Erry but I forget.

We had to park our car and get into an old battered Proton Saga whose glory days were long gone, up a steep, muddy and bumpy hill. All the windows were wound down for us to feel at one with nature and probably because it didn't work anymore. Nevertheless, we preferred it that way. At one point, a small river or stream really, runs across the road...it was beautiful.. On rainy days, the water level rises and the road becomes inaccessible.

3 minutes into the drive, we arrived at a big wooden house on stilts. A family lived here. Apparently, it belonged to the brother of the man who drove us up here. Oh yes, he charged us RM 5 per adult as the Rafflesia was into it's last day. On the first day, viewers were charged as high as RM40 per person. Since it was it's last day, I feel we were really lucky to have been able to see it at all. Our driver said the flower 'had been bright orange but now a dull red' (and I thought drat, we missed it) 'initially, it would produce a stench to attract flies as pollinators and it would be covered in flies.' Eeek!! (roll in Psycho music, please) Thank God we missed those stages because I wouldn't have wanted to expose my kids to that at their age (my daughter; 2 years and my son; 7+ months).

They had a guest book! Of course, we signed it!! I was looking around hoping to spot the flower. I mean it is the world's largest flower after all! Our guide, Nain set off into the jungle and it was all downhill (in more than one sense!) so I couldn't take photos. Plus, I thought it was just around the bend. Boy, was I ever wrong. On the way back, I made it a point to snap photos as I took deep, laboured breaths of air. I usually carry my son in a sling but I had left the sling in our car. So, it was just too much for me to handle on the way back. Halfway, my husband had to carry my daughter and son while I struggled to carry our weightless Lumix!! What a sight! My husband, my hero! He just went on, barely stopping! Ain't I a lucky gal *girlie sigh*

Here's the trail from the flower back to the house. Some snaps of parts of the trail are missing as the photographer (me) was under duress : )

A scorpion looking insect

Our cheerful and helpful guide Nain.. She even gave us suggestions on different poses when snapping photos! Talk about a complete package!

Tip: Have a good motivator with you if you may find it difficult to walk the trail. My husband told me later that our daughter would count each step he took and if he lingered before the next step, she would say. "Come on Acha, Come on! You can do it" and resume counting. (Acha is Malayalam for Dad) I said I had a whole bunch of motivators in my head and a lot of good it did me! : ) Was it all worth it? You betcha!

Photos of Ivanka Trump's New Penthouse

Kelly Behun

Ivanka Trump needs no introduction and not just because of who her Dad is. Recently, she was on the cover of Elle Decor. Her Manhattan penthouse was photographed and I have to say I'm quite surprised at the lack of bling and super extravagance. That said, even though the items in the penthouse may look simple I'm pretty sure they cost a bomb. A huge bomb.. Most are custom made and all carry designer labels.. She hired a designer named Kelly Behun to decorate her penthouse.. makes you think of Bihun right? : ) So I was curious how she looked..One word..gorr-ge-ous! 

Let's start with the foyer...

The mural was hand painted and the base of the table is driftwood

Moving along to the living room.. Ha,ha think I'd make a good real estate agent?

The sofa is upholstered in Elitis velvet and the armchairs are designer vintage

Next, is the den..

The cocktail table is custom made

Kelly designed the lacquered desk

The dining.....

Custom made dining table

And the nursery...

I totally heart the ceiling wallpaper

All in all a beautiful penthouse but maybe a little too simple for someone as high profile as her..but then again home is where you get to express 'you' and if this is Ivanka's 'you' then I'm impressed...

Alll photos are taken from the Elle Decor website and belong to them. Photographed by Eric Piasecki and produced by Cynthia Frank.

I've got my blog a new Header..

I've been looking for a free header for some time now and finally found one that I liked today...I was looking for something that had a 3D look and one that was colourful and had a scrapbook-ish feeling to it... I got mine from this wonderful blog. "I'm a creator of cool blog designs, doodles, illustrations, image stock and more" she says. And I absolutely agree with her!! You can go to her website by either clicking on the link in this post or on the 'I'm a fan of Louise Franks Designs' buttons on the right side bar... 

Cheers and enjoy!

Once upon a potty training boot camp

Tomorrow is the day! I've decided to organize a diaper free weekend boot camp for my daughter. Want to know why now? You can read about it here. As the day looms before me, I feel excited and anxious.. worried and hopeful... all rolled into one..

My unsuspecting munchkin on the other hand is quite oblivious (I think) to the task at hand although I have been telling her about it for some time already now. I've also been reinforcing the fact that she can't wear diapers to preschool next year..and boy does she want to go to preschool! (we have already been given strict instructions on what bag she wants). We've had some sort of countdown this week and today as I was changing her diapers, I said, "Wuhoo, bye-bye diapers. No more diapers from tomorrow" she quickly turned her head to where we store the diapers as if she thought we'd ran out of it! Aw, you sweet child...

I guess it would be easier if there weren't any diapers anywhere but I still need them for my son and he's definitely not ready to be potty trained.. Been praying about this matter and I really hope that everything goes well...

I Absolutely Love IKEA

Just like so many others I have been eagerly waiting for the 2013 IKEA catalogue and when it came I was uber excited! As I am in Sandakan now, I have to rely on the online catalogue. So for those of you who love IKEA but can't get your hands on a copy of the 328 pages 2013 catalogue, do not fret my friends. Just click HERE. 

You can also access the catalogue through your tablet or smartphone by going HERE. Just follow the instructions to download the app. All prices are valid until 31 July 2013.

What I love about IKEA is that they don't just sell you the product. They sell you the idea, the concept and the possibilities. They give you hope that any kind of room is possible, any type of space is decoratable (is that even a word, I doubt it) and they do it will style and flair.

Another note worthy aspect is that they think of everything. A place for kids to play and don't get me started on their food. You can go karayzee shopping at IKEA cos you want it all. Plus, you even have assembly, delivery and sewing services! Duh right, who doesn't know all this but this post is mainly for the links : ) and to rave about IKEA...

I shall be moving to a new place soon and can't wait to get back and visit IKEA! Photos courtesy of IKEA the swedish wonderland...

Potty oh Potty

Last December, I thought I'd slowly give potty training a try with my 2 year old. So, I bought the child seat and also a simple pink potty. My daughter usually follows me when I use the loo as is the case with most moms who are alone with little kids. She was asleep when we made the purchase. Once back at the hotel (we were in Sandakan at that time) I showed her both her options and she immediately took a liking to her pink potty. Just like that she would tell me when she wanted to 'shi shi' (urinate) or 'kaka' (poop) and use her simple little pink potty.

 I was amazed...wow could this be too good to be true.. the next few days we only had a couple of shi shi accidents whenever she was too engrossed watching mickey mouse clubhouse. I never did make the move to train her or rather let her train herself for night potty training. After a few months, once we were back in KL, she became shy and would plead with me for her diapers. And I would relent. You see we weren't staying at our place and I read somewhere that change of environment can cause children to fall back to using diapers. Ever since then, she has refused to not wear diapers and I have let her be.

But now..jeng,jeng,jeng...enter mommy with a vengeance. I've already informed my hubby that this Saturday will be D-Day. I need him around to keep my boy away from the training session as my son can only be a viewer as opposed to being a participant or worse an accomplice... What a coincidence that we are back in Sandakan where it all began.. But this time I plan to night train her as well so that she'll forget entirely about her reliable friend..Diapers. Wish me luck!! : )

I came across this book by Alona Frankel called Once Upon a Potty. There is a book for girls and a different one for boys. It explains why and how a little girl/boy uses a potty. There are anatomically-correct plush toys available too; Prudence and Joshua. It is also an  app and of course can be found in DVD form too. Since, my daughter already grasps the concept of potty, I think I'll give this a pass though it looks absolutely adorable!

About a Bout of Toddler Vomitting

Warning: Long post but worth the read : )

There is a reason why the police like to interrogate people right after a crime or incident. This is because as time goes you forget details and things seem a little fuzzy or you want to talk about it but you lack the strength or you just don't know where to start. Of course, I always knew this but what happened a few days ago reminded me of the fact.

On Tuesday, my soon to be 3 year old daughter had diarrhea. Her poop was extremely and I mean extremely watery. She had it twice and the next day in the evening her poop was normal. *sigh of relief. Then, suddenly at 10p.m. she vomitted. And after an hour she vomitted again. And after that she vomitted every half an hour. So, here we are in a first time situation of such a nature and we find ourselves not in a place where you can find a clinic or hospital at almost every end. We are in Sandakan, Sabah where there is only ONE hospital. A government hospital with a classy name; The Duchess of Kent. They do have a new building and children who are admitted are warded in the new building. The rest of the hospital is very much like other Malaysian government hospitals.

Right, so after the first time she vomitted we went to a clinic nearby (we know the Dr and his clinic is opened till 12pm), Klinik Dr Mahen.(See end of post for details) At that time she had just vomitted once and was still looking okay. Dr. Mahen gave us some medicine to be taken orally to help stop the vomitting. Alas, Cupcake couldn't even drink water so she also vomitted out the med.

So about 1.20a.m. we went to the only available hospital at that time; The Duchess of Kent Hospital Emergency Unit. First, you have to register your kid and pay RM1. Then, they give you a number. Ours was 232. The number on the screen was 162. ???? Huh? Okay so there must be a system of some sort that we were unaware of. One family brought in their elderly mom. She had already seen the Dr. There was another lady. That's it. A few minutes after taking our number, they called us to take Cupcake's weight, gave her ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) and asked us questions about her condition.

Once that was done we waited and waited and waited. There were 2 Medical Officers on duty. How long can it take, right. Maybe they were taking a break?

After about an hour, an ambulance arrived and 2 teenage girls were brought in. They had been in a minor car accident. I heard they rammed into a concrete pillar or wall or something. One had slight scratches on her arms and feet. The other had a wound under her right chin. Then, I noticed a board with a notice that said if your condition was critical you would have to wait erm..I can't remember how long and semi critical you have to wait..err I forgot again *smile sheepishly. Well, I do remember that if your condition is not critical you have to wait for 90minutes to 120minutes which was what we were doing. There was another mom who came in later with a child who had fever and she went in first.

Right, fast forward.....  My hubby prayed for our little girl. For the next half and hour thank God she took the ORS water and did not vomit.  Finally, we got to see the doctor. He wanted to put her on drips but we asked if it was possible to wait and see as she had seemed to have stopped vomitting. So, we hung around and Praise God our daughter was fine. What a relief..  The doctor checked her again (no other patients were around) and gave us the green light to go home. They gave us more ORS sachets.

When we reached the hotel room at 4.30 I started to feel queasy and 2 hours later my  diarrhea and vomitting started! Oh yes, earlier when I had asked the Dr if it could be food poisoning, he was adamant that that never happens in Sandakan. I asked him if it could be stomach flu and he laughed derogatively at me looking at me like I was speaking gibberish and said, "Stomach flu? Ha,ha,ha. What's that?" (Another laugh squezees through) and he says, " I've never heard of that. There's no such thing". Gives me a queer look.

Gosh...


Klinik Dr Mahen
Ground Floor, Lot 10, Block I, Prima Square, Mile 4, North Road, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah
Tel: 089 218273
Monday - Sunday including Public Holidays
8am - 12.30pm
2pm - 4pm
7pm - 12am

Miri Kindergartens

There was and may still be in the future (like in a couple of years) a possibility that we may settle down in Miri, Sarawak. Miri is a beautiful place to live, if you ask me. Cost of living is a little high as Bruneians come to Miri to shop and relax. During weekends hotels have a surge of guests and are usually fully booked.

So, naturally when something is considered an option I like to do a little research. Here's a list of kindies in Miri. I can't write anything about the kindergartens themselves as I did not get the chance to go over and see for myself. But, I would like to share what basic info I have found.

UPDATE (24/11/2012) : Read  HERE Tadika In Kidz Tunas Canggih

Tadika Sri Mawar

Lot 1051, Jalan Acacia 3, Shang Garden

085 419089

Methodist Kindergarten

776, Jalan Jee Foh 9

085 416640

Tadika Chung Hua 

SJK Chung Hua, Limbang
085 211620

Tadika Chung Hua Lutong
Jalan Sekolah, Lutong
085 654492

Tadika Faith Montessori

Piasau Lorong 9, off Lutong-Pujut Road, Opposite Pujut Primary School

013 8332193          085 653400

Q-Dees Tadika Bintang Ria (I've seen this kindie from outside and it's big)

Lot 2331, Taman Desa Seri, Jalan Desa Seri 6, Krokop

017 8531112          085 421112

Taska Ceria

1627, Jalan Jee Foh 6, Krokop

014 6923255

Taska Junior-3Q MRC

Lot 768, Jalan Miri-Bintulu, Batu 5, Riam Road

016 866

Tadika Tunas Ria  (Boulevard)

Lot 2719, Taman Boulevard

016 8786161          085 422757

Tadika Sri Mawar

Lot 1051, Jalan Acacia 3, Shang Garden

085 419089

Tadika Methodist Limbang

902, Jalan Kubu Limbang

085 214320

Tadika Harmoni

84, Hilltop Garden

085 424618          085 415907

Tadika Bright Kids (Bintang Baru)

1B, Lot 1138, Jalan Jee Eng, Krokop

013 3936080          085 428284

Tadika Tunas Jaya (Permyjaya)

Lot 4494, Lorong 4, RPR Permyjaya

012 8468019

Tadika Meriah
5382, Jalan Desa Senadin, Lutong
085 661599

Tadika Bandar Peranginan

Jalan Bakam, Luak Bay

019 855 4277         085 410912

Tadika Sinar Mentari

Lot 1919, Block 4 MCLD, Jalan Regelia, Piasau

017 2287010

Living Seed Montessori

Taman Bayshore

085 650097

Smart IT Learning Centre

2281, Ist Floor, Jalan Datuk Muip, Bulatan Commercial Centre, Lutong

Chinese Kindergarten School Miri

814, Jalan Piasau, Lorong 1B Lutong

085 650893

Krokop Kindergarten

950, Jalan Chong Poh 

085 423690

Tadika Miri Gospel Chapel

251, Jalan Taman Merbau 1

085 410026

Riam Road Kindergarten

4386, Jalan Pinang

085 612807

Tadika Sibuti

92, Bekenu

085 

Tadika Pujut Miri
750, Jalan Piasau, Loeong 8, Lutong
085 651087

Tadika St Columbas
Jalan Datuk Abang Indeh
085 432021

This list is not exhaustive but it is the list that I compiled as part of my STEP ONE which was to identify all logistically possible kindergartens. Alas, as mentioned earlier we will not be staying in Miri after all. So, I do not have further information on these kindies as I did not progress to STEP TWO. Hope this helps you though, on your quest to finding 'the' preschool for your little angel...