Long Time No News...!!

Oh boy... I am so guilty! I haven't been to this site for almost a year... So, what's up? A LOT!
A quick catch up..

1. Rayna is going to be exactly a year on 25 April 2011
2. After writing my last entry last year, we moved into our new house and we love everything about it. So July 2011 will also be our first moving-into-the-new-house anniversay
3. 24 April 2011 will be our Stream's first birthday
4. Abang Iqie is still very much into Ben 10. But now he's also branched out.. he's into (Cartoon Network) GENERATOR REX by the same people who created Ben 10. And like Ben 10, he has us hooked to it too...
5. Abang Afeeq is pretty much the same cool but don't-mess-with-me Afeeq. He can speak quite well now, but of course in his 'slang'. If you are not used to listening to him talking, you'll take a while before knowing what he is talking about.
6. THE MOST SHOCKING NEWS - Our SuperEK was stolen...!! Right under our nose (while parked at our parking spot). This devastating event happened on 24 October 2010. And just a day ago, we went to collect the check from the insurance company. The sad part is, we lost our bragging right and our cult status with that car gone. The bright side, on the other hand, we're a few thou richer.

So, those are the highlights of my life since July last year to this date. I'll make it a point to continue writing. Next, may be about my new job... :P

ieja

WELCOME RAYNA "PRINCESS BABY"

Rayna Shazmeen had finally arrived. 25 April 2010 marked another milestone for our family. Welcome Rayna. Abang Iqie calls her Rayna "Princess Baby". He is so affectionate towards her, kissing her every 5 minutes. Afeeq calls out her name and gently pats her every now and then. Thank god there is no showing of jealousy (yet!!).

All of us are adjusting to the life with Rayna around. Me with my breastfeeding and handling 2 older boys. Daddy with 2 older boys. 2 older boys with Rayna around and sharing of attention and affection.

But all in all, we're happy... very very happy!

ieja

THE LAST MILE

My Pregnancy

I'm in my last few weeks of my pregnancy. My back hurts like hell and walking (more like waddling..!!) is such a chore. To make things worse, I have deadlines before I go into the labour room... But people at the office have been very kind. I am pampered in so many ways that I feel like kissing everyone of them.

Abang Iqie

He has been an angel. He talks to the baby inside my tummy and sometimes plays doctor whenever I tell him that my tummy hurts. Nowadays, he is obsessed with Ben 10 (Cartoon Network). He can tell you almost all of the names of Ben 10's aliens. He has 4 already in his collection and has been (subtly) persuading us to buy more.

His obsession is contagious. Hubby and I even know the names of all Ben's aliens, and watch all Ben 10 series. With Abang Iqie, we call name them Small Ben 10 (for series that feature Ben 10 when he is 10 years old), and Ben 10 Big or Ben 10 Abang for Ben 10 Alien Force (the succeeded series - when he is a teenager).

When ever we go out, he never misses asking us to buy any of his Ben 10 things. We bought him Ben 10 magazines. He read them every time he goes to bed, reciting all the alien's names and making up his own story when he reads the comic. He even brings his collection to bed, kissing them good night before he closes his eyes. My god... and he's not even 4 yet... I wonder what other obsessions he will have after this.

Abang Iqie now is practising his writing. Although he is yet to recognise the alphabets, he can recite them pretty well... thanks to that ABC song... His counting is also better nowadays. He can count accurately and show it with his fingers. But what he likes the most is colouring... especially after we bought him Ben 10 colouring book!!

Afeeq

Afeeq is still not talking yet. But when persuaded, he can say Abang Iqie (he pronounces it as Bang Chi), Daddy, Ma or Mammm. He's very playful and when ever he wants something, he will drag us with him, make noises and point to the things he wants us to do.

Afeeq's obsession is now the children's song... Old Mc Donald had a Farm, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and a lot more. He would sit in front of the telly and just shake his body to the music. Sometimes he dances and sings (incomprehensibly) in front of the telly. When we put him to bed, we would sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and he would finish the last word for us.

ieja

ARGGHHHH....

Yes... I know... such a gimmic that I have for the title. But the actual fact - that is what I want to do right now...

THE MAID

She just told me this morning that her relative had arranged for her to go back home this Saturday. WTF...!!!! Without consulting us at all...!! I gave her a piece of my mind, and for the whole day, I was disturbed by phone calls from her relatives, not to apologise, but to confirm that we are sending her to the bus station this Saturday. I've been in a foul mood (so to speak) and I really feel like shouting at her. Haven't she heard of "advanced notice" before????

THE PREGNANCY

I'm in my last month of the preganacy. As much as I'm excited to welcome the new addition to our family, I'm also bothered with the severe pain that I have on my back. It makes it very uncomfortable for me to sit or stand or walk or even sleep. Whenever I need to toss around in bed, I will have to moan and grab the edge of the bed for support. It is that bad. Making it worse, Afeeq usually wakes up 2-3 times at night for his bottle (used to be every 2 hours). And he usually shows his impatience by kicking things around me, and the nearest target would always be ME...!!! And Abang Iqie... he usually asks me to put him to bed and asks for his milk like 20 times before falling asleep (OK I'm exaggerating... may be for like 5 times only...). I have to get up that many times and hold the cup for him. Can you imagine the pain and the effort that I have to make to endure all those?

THE WORK

Last week, I started a project in a big company. The first few days went quite well with all the rapport built between my team and the other team members. But on the last 2 days of the week, the project director and the project manager came to tell me that they had issues with their project sponsor, hence, our team was booted out. They had to "deferred the project until further notice". What a clown... And on last Monday, we cleaned up our workspace.

THE CONCLUSION

Those are some of the things that caused my low blood pressure...!!

ieja

SNIPPETS

I've been neglecting this blog and for the same ol' reason. I'm caught in the web of corporate world. So... what has been going on in my life? Remember my entry on What a Busy January? Well... pretty much the same, but maybe with some more encouraging updates...

1. OF OUR NEW RIDE

In my last entry, I mentioed that we had postponed our search for the right ride. Well... because of a few reasons. But we made up our mind last 2 weeks to just go ahead with it and cross our fingers... So, we marched to a Honda showroom near Jalan Genting Kelang, and gnawed at the new Stream. Hubby was as excited as I was. Then, we made our choice and submitted whatever was necessary. And alhamdulillah, a few days ago, we were informed that everything went well and that we would be getting our new ride in 2 months' time...YuHoOoOOoOooooooOooOoOo..!!

2. OF OUR HELPER

Things have been good with the new helper although she still insists on going home. Abang Iqie and Afeeq have got used to having her around, so we don't have much tantrum from both of them around the house nowadays. But to get her home is very challenging indeed as the agent doesn't want to pick up our calls anymore. I've left thousands missed calls and numerous texts on her mobile. She just doesn't want to pick up, answer our calls, or reply our texts. What kind of person does that? We don't want to send our helper back on her own - she doesn't know her way around. We also don't want to be responsible if anything happens to her when she's alone travelling back home. Most importantly, we want a replacement before we send her back home. Hey... I'm due next month and we're going to move to the new house soon... what do you expect..!!

3. OF OUR NEW HOUSE

We've been to the new house a couple of times now, and we have started to buy the things needed for the renovation. We're going to get some other things this weekend too. I guess the renovation work will start soon. And I just hope that the house will be ready before I deliver my new baby... Crossing my fingers...!!

4. OF MY PREGNANCY

I'm in my final trimester now and due in mid of April, which is next month!! Hmmm... the anticipation...!!! Sometimes I just wish that this could be over as soon as possible. I have severe back pain and my blood pressure has dropped to 50. The doctor said that I could fall flat unconscious on the floor anytime if I'm not careful. I've had contractions, and yesterday morning was the longest and most painful one I got. That reminded me of what I would have to go through on D-DAY... Arghhhhhhhh...!!! Please pray for my safe delivery...

ieja

UPDATES ON "WHAT A BUSY JANUARY"

Just some updates on what I had posted in my entry What a Busy January.

1. We've got my SuperEK back from the workshop. All shiny at the back... but all scratchy at the front :) And we're still proceeding with the plan of spraying it black or grey...
2. We have decided to drop the Stream that we found. After looking at our immediate financial needs, we would be doing the renovation first (among other reasons of course). Then, move into the new house before I actually deliver so that my confinement will be at the new house. Time is the essence here... so we have to renovate fast as I'm in my 3rd trimester already...
3. The new helper has made up her mind - she wants to go home even if we have't got a replacement from the agent... What can I say... She wanted to go home ASAP... Like that's going to happen with Chinese New Year around the corner. We're definitely not going to send her home. The agent would have to collect her...
4. We have collected our keys to the new home :) So the updates are the same as No. 1 hehehhee... renovation first, then move in, then deliver baby, then confinement, then house warming party perhaps??
5. So far work is manageable. I've got one of my best friends to work with me... hahahhaaa... see how it goes... Since Chinese New Year is just around the corner, I can have my long rest...

ieja

WHAT I HAVE INSTALLED FOR 2010

Just a short entry to remind myself what I want to do this year.

I had reflected in my entry (The End of the Year - 2009) that there was one part of my life that I really wanted to focus and improve on. This year is going to be it... I have started to do it since early this year. And I pray really hard that this new positive change in me will last... Amin!

I have also set my mind to read at least 6 books this year, be it for entertainment or self development. I have started with a storybook a few days ago. I have to guilty admit that I actually bought that book when I was in Singapore last year. But I know myself... once I'm hooked, that's it..!! And last night just proved it... I slept at 5.30 am because I just couldn't put down the book. Now, I'm having a major headache... serves me right...!!! *sigh* I wish I could do the same with "Blue Ocean Strategy" which I was supposed to finish years ago... I abandoned the book after a few chapters..!!

There are actually other things that I want to achieve this year, but I'll let those 2 to be the main focus. The rest are just work-related and socially-related matters. I'll get to pen them down one of these days...

ieja