IDLAN'S FIRST OUTING

In celebrating our liberation from the gates of confinement, we went for our very first outing yesterday! It was an unplanned, impromptu trip. My sister who was on leave yesterday suddenly had this crazy idea of bringing our offsprings to 1 Utama to look around. So off we went to 1 Utama at 5pm after 45 minutes of getting ourselves, the kids and all their gear into the car. Lucky for us we managed to secure a car park near the entrance on level 3. We struggled to get Idlan into the baby carrier which was strapped onto me while trying to distract my niece who was already impatient in her stroller. Minutes later we entered 1 Utama with a sense of triumph that we managed to enter it after all.

Our first stop was Toys R Us. We descended two escalators with success to get there. We had just entered Toys R Us and were looking at the first toy at the baby section when my son started to cry! We hadn't even started to look at anything yet and my son had started to cry, and rather loudly, mind you!! Seemed like he was hungry (again?!) although I had just fed him before we came to 1 Utama. So quickly we dashed to the Baby Room in Jusco to feed this hungry boy. I went in with Idlan first and 5 minutes later my sister and her daughter joined us. Seeing Idlan being fed, Nurin, my niece also demanded to be fed as well. So we were in the Baby Room for about 40 minutes which included feeding and diaper change for Idlan.

Our whole purpose of this outing was to buy Idlan an activity play-mat for sensory stimulation. So quickly we looked through the available choices at Jusco and Toys R Us with a happy Nurin and a 'woody woodpecker' Idlan. 'Woody Woodpecker' you may ask... well, after feeding we tossed away the baby carrier and I was carrying him with his head on my left shoulder, legs downwards, and all the while he was bouncing his head to and fro from my hand supporting his neck towards my shoulders with an open mouth! Exactly like woody woodpecker's movements after his signature laugh (or was it before, not sure). My son's woody-like movements indicates that he wants to be fed... he wasn't fullly satisfied in the Baby Room. So finally, after 15 minutes of browsing I decided to get him Fisher-Price's 'Kick n Crawl Barn' which was a play-mat packed with entertaining features, including smiling animal friends, flashing lights and music - Old MacDonald had a farm (e-i-e-i-o).





Quickly we bought the 'barn' for 20% less at Jusco. My sister helped to pay at the counter while Idlan and I paid yet another visit to the Baby Room! After making the payment my sister joined us...she sat next to me on the sofa, leaning back while keeping an eye on Nurin, next to her trying to climb on the arms of the sofa. We were beat! We decided that we had had enough of 1 Utama and wanted to go home. Yeayyy!

So, that ended Idlan's first outing which lasted 2 hours including the drive to and fro. Only two hours and I was already so exhausted! Well, at least we bought what we intended to! Considerably a successful outing-lah since we met our objective.

Man! Baru nak berangan pergi Nando's bawak dia! heeee....

-woody woodpecker signing out-

MERDEKA!

Let your hair down… grab your dancing shoes and lets party!! Toss the bengkung out and put on that slick outfit (oopppsss buttons popping out – tak muat!). Put on the music and come on celebrate with me!

Yeahh…. At loooong last! The end of 44 days of confinement. This marks the stepping stone of returning back to civilization and its comforts. wuhuuuuu.....

Ketepi ketepi GERGASI sudah kembali (read ala KRU song) and eyyy .. Everyone nalia's back allright!! (read ala Backstreet Boys song). BIGGER, better and now with her little sidekick!



Coincidently my merdeka falls during the start of our nation's Merdeka Month celebrations. Selamat Hari Merdeka.... keranamu malaysia.....

I'd like to congratulate myself for having this much patience in enduring the past 44 days. Pat on my back *pat*pat* and I'd like to say.....To hell with bengkungs and heyyyy it's great to be backk!

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SAURDAY SUNDAY

Its a lazy Sunday afternoon.... Everyone has gone out save myself, the baby and my two adiks who are supposedly studying - one for the UPSR and the other for PMR. My other half has gone to work.... Nothing interesting on the telly... I've finished reading the papers inside out.... Too lazy to surf.... Finished blog reading already..... And its only 2 pm! Huahh, so boring..... I know I know people look forward to Sundays the weekend but I've had a bit too much of it already don't you think?.... It has been 42 days of "Sundays" for me! On a brighter side, the 44 days is actually coming to an end this Tuesday, can't wait! :-)

OK Nalia... stop whinning! I'll leave you this slow Sunday afternoon with this great song by Black Dog Bone called 'Khayalan', which has recently been given 'nafas baru' by VE & Ruffedge....

Khayalan menjelma ketika fikiran
Melayang menjauh menenangkan mu
Suaramu yang mesra mengalunkan lagu
Irama hatimu yang sepi

Aku dapat merasa
Engkau dalam derita
Kerna kasihmu tinggalkan pergi

Kumasih terkenang senandung dukamu
Yang engkau curahkan dimalam itu
Wajahmu terbayang mengukir senyuman
Yang penuh dengan kepahitan

Aku sungguh simpati
Akan nasib dirimu
Tapi apakan dayaku ini

Diriku sudah pun berpunya kekasih hati
Tak mungkin kutukar ganti
Padamu yang datang dalam khayalan
Khayalan

( kau )carilah pengganti agar kau gembira lagi
Usahlah engkau mengganggu
Wajahmu muncul dalam khayalan

END of the boring story about boredom

THE QUEST FOR NALIA

My name is a 3 syllable, 5 letter word name - NALIA, pronounced as NA-LEE-YA. My mom told me that she liked the name ALIA after the late Queen Alia from Jordan who died in a helicopter crash in 1977 at the age of 28. Since my mom didn't like the idea of having her daughter called first when sorted in alphabetical order (especially during oral exams) and since my older sister's name starts with an "N" (Natasha), she added an "N" in front.

I have never personally met or heard of anybody named Nalia. Now Nadia is common, a name which I am always mistakenly called. Sometimes I go to the extent of spelling my name out so that it is pronounced properly! hehe... Let me tell you a story about my first encounter with my good friend :
It was during our orientation. She was compiling a list of names for the trainers and went to each person to confirm the spelling. Mine was as usual spelled as "NADIA".
I said "Tak bestnya, they put my name as Nadia" (What I meant was I didn't like my name being misspelled)
She questioned "What's wrong with the name Nadia?" (Her interpretation of my statement was that I did not like the name Nadia)
I quickly glanced at her name tag. It wrote "NADIA"!
I replied "Eh, nothing wrong with the name Nadia....I'm just expressing my irritation over my name being misspelled"
heee... my first introduction to Nadia Ithnin my good friend.

Anyway, in the quest of finding NALIA, I searched the internet using Google. I have done this before in 1998 and the results yielded where mostly from the word PARAPHERNALIA (The articles used in a particular activity; equipment), not a word by itself.
So today after searching again, I found the results to be pretty interesting..... read on...

1. Short for NATIONAL ART LIBRARY ILLUSTRATION AWARDS (NALIA) - an annual competition promoting the art of illustration in UK's National Art Library

2. Nalia de'Arnise - a character from the game Baldur's Gate II



3. A boutique in Spain selling wedding gowns, and cute dresses for girls

4. 13 year old French girl's name (via her homepage) --> translated courtesy of google

5. A Portuguese girl with a blogspot

6. National Airline Leadership & Information Association -> self explanitory

7. Nalia of Taroc in comic CrossGen Chronicles #5 >



8. Mart'Nalia - artiste with album Pe Do Meu Samba , label Natasha (watta coincidence...my sis' name!)



9. A character in a novel - House of Women



10. Nalia air base, close to Bhuj in Gujarat

11. A lady from Ukraine who has posted her name n pix thru an agency for overseas matchmaking

12. A village name in Kutch, India

By the way, my blogspot was on the 8th pg of the search results.

So now I know real people with the name Nalia - one in Portuguese and the other in France.....

DURIAN LOVER - NOT!

Nearly everyone loves Durian. And now that the season is in, you can see it being sold everywhere and people are eating them like there's no tomorrow! People are amazed that I don't like durians and they'd give me this RUGI BESAR look. I am always mentioned as the 'rugi' one in my family's durian feast. When my in-laws first knew about it, they quickly finished the durians they had bought to get rid of them fast so that the smell would not linger any longer. No offense (to all those durian lovers) but I just cannot stand the pungent smell.... it gives me a headache. I do know its tasty...I still 'remember' the taste, but the smell takes away my appetite. Being in the car wit durians in the boot is a BIG NO-NO.
Well, it wasn't always this way...
I used to eat durians... When I was 10, my father brought home a boot full of durians one day. And I ate a lot! .... durian after durian after durian.... until I got sick. I was ill for two days. And since then, I never ate another durian again. No siree! Other forms of durian? I don't like tempoyak, unless it is very diluted in gulai tempoyak. Bubur durian, serawa, durian ice-cream, durian cake, durian sweets is unacceptable to my tekak and hidung.

So that's my durian story...

5 GENERATIONS

My great-grandmother i.e my grandmother's mother is still alive. With the birth of my niece and my son, this means that this grand old lady has lived to see her great-great grandchildren! Now this really is panjang umur! Her IC shows that she is 96 years old this year but this is not the exact year because you know-lah the ICs last time were not that accurate. She could probably be a few years older than 96. years. Hajjah Asmah bt Hj Noor has outlived three out of her 10 children including my own grandmother. Although she is now very old and already nyanyuk, she will always be remembered as a a kind and pious lady.

Sidelining a bit, I watched a documentary on the Legend of Mahsuri last weekend (a good one surprisingly produced by KRU Berhad) where it was trying to find the roots of the story and find proof about this legend. Anyway, Mahsuri supposedly cast a curse whereby Langkawi would be a barren land for seven generations. Speaking of seven generations... to illustrate seven generations lets look at my family tree.. The 7th gen starting from my great grandmother is Idlan's grandchild! Now that is for probably 60 years to come.... wonder if I'd be around that long?

ADDICT

"HELLO, my name is Nalia. I am a TV addict..." (read in the Kembara DVVT advert style)

Yes! That's me.... pengakuan terbaru.... can't believe it myself.

I've never really been a great TV watcher due to my mother's strict rule when we were still schooling --> "No TV on weekdays / weeknights". I don't even switch-on the TV when I enter the empty room (unlike my husband who habitually switches on the TV the moment he enters the room). When I did watch TV, all the adverts seem to be new to me.
This is what you get after staying at home this long!

Nowadays, the first thing I do in the morning is switch on the TV to catch Malaysia Hari Ini on TV3 until the end of siaran. I watch EVERYTHING from cartoons to cooking shows to Spanish soaps to Tamil dramas!

How to detect a TV addict (as defined by naliao) :

1. You switch on the TV first thing in the morning.
2. When entering an empty room, the first thing you do is to switch-on the TV.
3. You set the timer-off before going to bed because you can't sleep without the TV on, the sounds from the TV puts you to sleep.
4. You follow Spanish language soap operas (i.e Mis tres Hermanas, La Intrusa, La Duda, Juana's Miracle)
5. You follow Korean language drama series (e.g Invitation)
6. You get irritated by the Celebrity Squares gazette on NTV7.
7. You follow Metti Oli (Tamil drama series) on Saturday afternoons.
8. You can actually multi-task between watching the TV and having a conversation.
9. You can sing-along to "Make Way for Noddy" cartoon .
10. You remember the 'Intisari Rancangan' of each day of the week.
11. For that split second of a time, you are actually influenced by the smartshop ads (comes with watching the same ads over and over again)
12. You can't watch the TV without holding on to the remote.

Since we're talking about TV, I'd like to express my extreme irritation to NTV's gazette on Celebrity Squares. Urghhh so irritating, be it the English / BM version :

"Saya sukeeeee Hari Jumaat (4x) ..... Nak tau kenapa? (4x) ... Ini adalah kerana saya seorang celebrity...kami celebrity...org kata saya ni celebrity... saya ni kan celebrity.... Setiap hari Jumaat 830 mlm di saluran ceria anda" (mimik muka included)

"I LooOvee Fridays... do you wanna why? This is because I am a celebrity.... I'm your celebrity baby......."

Irritating nya!!

COOL NEW RED HANDBAG

Mr Posto ting-tonged the house today to deliver a package for me (thanks Mr Postman). The package was from my dear dear friend Ainol all the way from Ipoh Perak. Oh Ain dearie, thank you ever so much for the cool red handbag and Winnie the Pooh outfit for the baby. Don't worry... he hasn't outgrown it yet, "undergrown" rather.... I suspect he shall fit into it in another 2 months or so.

Thank you thank you thank you! :-)

DISCLAIMER

2 consumer products that have disclaimers on them :

1- Ciggarattes - "Amaran oleh kerajaan Malaysia : Merokok membahayakan kesihatan" --> from our local brand
- "Merokok dapat menyebabkan serangan jantung & impotensi" --> 'kretek' from seberang

2- Infant Formula - "Susu ibu adalah makanan terbaik untuk bayi"


Any other observations?

SYMPHONY

Due to unforseen circumstances, my 2 year old cousin's babysitter could not take care of her for 2 days. And so, she was sent to our house. Our house already has 2 children - my 1 month old son and 1 year old niece. And there you have it - a fussion of shouting, screaming and crying from 3 children aged 2 years, 1 year and 1 month old.... simply a symphony! NOT!! Each had individual needs and each wanted attention. Although I did not do this alone (thx to dear auntie and kakak), I don't think I can handle 3 small children at one time. I just can't imagine how people can manage with having children spaced a year aprt from each other. Can't imagine how my auntie, Dr Roziah, can cope with six children aged 4, 3, 2, 1 and the latest addition 3 week old TWIN girls!!
Whoaaa... respect aa....

LAGUKU UNTUKMU

Downloaded Laguku Untukmu thru Kaza...

This song by Hasnol is truly special for me and my dear friend in Ipoh - AIN.

I dedicate this song to you Ain, with the message I miss you! So sorry we haven't been able to chit-chat yet although its been 30 days already with 3 attempts made.

POSTNATAL CHECKUP

Day 30!.. hey, I've got exactly 2 weeks @ 14 days to go!!! Can't wait to get out again!!! First place to go - MidValley. First thing to eat -Nandos! Nyum! Nyum! Possibly a movie / a game of bowling -if I can get someone to baby-sit (any volunteers??) >>> wah...ini sudah over..haha....

Went for the 30 day postnatal follow-up checkup. Damn! The clinic's scale was not accurate! Showed that I was one kilo heavier than the scale at home!! (hey...1 kilo does actually count tau! it counts for your self-esteem!). Anyway, the doctor asked how I was..."fine..fine.. thanks". Baby? "fine also.." Then she did a pap smear or pap test to check for any changes in the cells of the cervix. This test can tell if you have infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cells, or cancer. Quoted from the reference site "A Pap test can save your life. It can find cancer of the cervix - a common cancer in women - before it moves to other parts of your body (becomes invasive). If caught early, treatment for cancer of the cervix can be easier and the chances of curing it are far greater. Pap tests can also pick up infections and inflammation, and abnormal cells that can change into cancer cells." Did you know that it is important for all women to make Pap Test, along with pelvic exam, as part of their routine health care? Here, read more...worth reading..

Then the doc discussed about contraceptives / family planning. Its good to know the choices out there:
1. Oral contraceptives a.k.a The Pill - either combined pill (synthetic estrogen + progestogen) or "mini" pill (synthetic progestogen only)
2. Injectable contraception -injection given monthly / 3-monthly depending on the brand
3. Time-Release Hormones (Norplant) -small tubes implanted in the arm, just below the skin's surface
4. Barrier methods: condom (male / female)
5. Barrier methods: Diaphragm & cervical cap - covers the cervix, blocking sperm from reaching the eggs
6. Barrier methods: Spermicides - sperm is instantly killed upon contact with it
7. Intra-Uterine Device (IUD) -inserted in the uterus to inhibit fertilization
8. Natural Family Planning - avoiding intercourse during the "fertile period", which is the time when the egg leaves the ovary and enters the fallopian tube
9. Female Sterilisation - surgical method severs or closes the Fallopian tube, which carries the eggs from the ovary to the uterus
10. Male Sterilisation -surgical procedure that severs or closes the vas deferens (duct that transports sperm)

There you have it.... just click on to read more...

WORRIED AND ANXIOUS

I didn't know how worried and anxious I could get until the birth of my son. Well, sure, I had my fair share of worries in the past like worrying before an ill-prepared exam, worrying about weight, worrying about the safety of your loved ones when they travel and stuff like that. But I've never known me to be worried over something... which is never-ending.

When he was 5 days old he developed jaundice. We were so worried although the pediatrician did tell us before we were discharged that it is a normal event that is not serious. We went to the hospital with our "yellowish" baby to check. They had to run a blood test, and so they had to poke him to get some sample. Kesian dia... I didn't have the heart to watch....I just heard him scream in the next room. Test results showed that his bilirubin level was slightly above the bilirubin range for his age. But as it was only slight, he asked us to go back home and come again the next day to check the bilirubin level again. When we came again the next day, his bilirubin had risen slightly from yesterday. But still the jaundice was considered mild that phototherapy (flourescent lights) was not needed. He asked us to come again two days after. I was worried... I wished that the doc would put him under the light anyway just to get my conscience clear that he was free from jaundice. I hate to just "wait & see" because I felt powerless. The doc's advice was to expose him to the 7.30 - 8.30am morning sun. I think we overdid it because his skin became quite tanned (it remains until now!!). When we went for the follow-up session, his bilirubin had decreased slightly but still above the range...Still there....

Being anxious new parents, we were not satisfied with the doctor's explanation and went to get a second opinion at a child clinic nearby the next day. Dr Altaf explained that indeed he had jaundice but it was only mild and that we need not be alarmed. Jaundice in less than one week old was a cause of concern. As he was 2 weeks by that time, and the jaundice was coming down slowly but surely (slowly due to the fact that he was fully breast fed), he was alright. No special treatment was required except for the sun-bathing. Jaundice develops from face down to the feet and goes-off from feet up till the face... the eyes are the last to go off.
As of right now, yellow traces can still be found on his chest and face....slowly disappearing..

Then, last week he had colic. He started crying uncontrollably in the middle of the night for quite sometime. There seemed to be wind in his tummy and he felt very uncomfortable. We wrapped him in a blanket and carried him all over the house. Talking about being anxious, the very next morning, his father bought not only one but 3 different kinds of Colic medicine from the pharmacy! (one of it suggested by Uncle Nazry). And of course we went to the child clinic to check too. We were told that colic would come and go until the baby is 3 months old.

Jaundice and colic are not the only things we are anxiuos and worried about. We also worry if he poops too frequent... worry if he doesn't... We worry if he can sleep on his stomach....we worry if he gets enough milk or not... we worry if he cries too much... we worry if he feeds too much... we worry if he sleeps too much.....

The worrying seems never-ending! And it shall continue not only in infant years but through toddler, child,teenage, young adult & adulthood.... because your child is forever YOUR CHILD! No wonder parents nag! Because they are worried about us... because they care!
But of course, as a saying goes "Worrying is like sitting on chair that gets you nowhere".... so you gotta chill right? So, I'm taking this one day at a time... one event at a time.... and enjoy him as he grows.........

My son...oh..my son..

My son has developed a new behaviour these past few days. He doesn't seem to want to be placed down. He wants to be carried most of the time! My arms hurt... how about a back rub?


ps: Am cradling him as I type this....!