Happy New Year!
It's been quiet in here. But i'm in the mood to rant today so here goes.
Dear Amir,
You are 30 months old now, big big boy. You havent shed much of your babyfat yet so you still have those nice round cheeks that never fail to draw attention when we're out. We call them your 'tomatoes' cos they turn bright red when you're hot. You also inherited Papa's belly (hhehe), which you endearingly refer to as "wa-tea-melon". You are wearing 5yo sizes now and that helps to curb my spending a bit cos buying clothes for you is sooooo susah!
Although you're essentially a 'big baby', your mouth is not. It's so mak nenek i tell you. As a result of spending too much time with your Tok Ma, you now sound just like her. Which makes you an interesting mind (and mouth) to manipulate. You have understood that the word "gemuk" is not a good thing (thanks to your Uncles/Tok Pa) so it has become like your swear word when you dont get things your way. I've been called "Mama gemuk" on several occasions in front of strangers and although you are correct to say that, i wish you hadnt.
During Uncle Yeh's wedding
We were a bit concern with your weight recently so we casually saw few doctors. Most of which advised us not to cut down on your food intake but just let you be you. Of course with less sugary stuff and lesser formula milk. Coincidently you were down with fever few weeks back, puked everytime you have your milk, which was a bit traumatising for you..which led to you weaning off the formula totally! Let me repeat that, Amir is not taking formula anymore, not from the bottle, not from spout or glass. So that's one thing done.. without much effort huh? Miracle betul.
So now, without much feeding, only main meals, you have a better bladder control. So currently we're on a mission to put you off the diapers pulak. We're still struggling at this though. You hate the diapers (maybe cos the biggest size available in the market pun dah too snug on you), hated commando style (Gelila mama!) so would go completely nude most of the time. Yes, nude at home, nude in the car to tok Ma's house, nude at tok ma's, nude at the office.. Havent tried underwear but looking at one pun you detest already. You wont sit on the toilet bowl, wont use potty, so we had to wash the toilet floor quite frequently now.. hehe. Small business dah sorted out cos you would promptly tell, go to toilet, squat, done.. but big business still is a major problem. You would promptly tell but would hold back once we're 'in position'.. but i guess u did well by telling already, so take your time dear.. you've done great!
Socially speaking, we noticed that you like to mingle with adults or older kids compared to kids your age. In fact, i think you're awkward around kids your age. Expectedla kot, being brought up around adults. But you love little babies still and is endearingly adoring your little sister. Though she is sometimes granted with a knock on her head, or a shove on the tummy by you. Yelah, wat to do, you have one fiesty persistent little sister who would do anything to grb and bite you or your toys when she feels like it, kan?
During Elena's bday - pic courtesy of Uncle Khalid's fb
Speaking of Sarah, she is now 10 months old. I know! 2 months till she hits 1!! oh my. Feel a tiny bit of guilt/frustration that i didnt document those past few months of her progress.. alih2 dah nak first birthday. But i'm a far from a perfect blogger mom, am not crying buckets over it, perhaps will put up a pics entry to make up for it la kot. Anyway, Sarah is already standing on her two feet now, trying very hard to take her first independant step. We figure by next mth, she'll be walking. She's not as vocal as you were at her age. Havent utter the magic word "Mama" yet but very close to saying "Papa" (how is this possible??). She's still toothless. She hasnt grown much hair either, unlike your luscious lock then. She's also kinda 'slim'.. very different build compared to her brother.
Personalitywise, she's one very determined girl. She doesnt say much but she's all over the place all the time. It's hard to keep up with her cos she's like one curious cat. She loves to lick and taste everything she can get her hands on. Recently we noticed that she has learnt the shrieking, tossing and turning on the ground skill, whenever we take away something from her. Just like you, she also prefers older kids, not her peers. She likes challenging physical activities, like climbing over things rather than sit, sing and clap like babies her age. Her caretaker at her nursery even commented that she gets irritated by her peers' babbling and prefer to join the older kids running around. She's not easily amused but she never fail to smile and laugh at your antics. In fact, one sure way to comfort her when she's crying is just to have you by her side.. how sweet is that.
The youngest girl at a bridal shower. Pic credit to Hetz
As for me, nothing is new, work is never ending, but still manageable and enjoyable. The Totshop is gaining more visitors and getting more enquiries though orders are still by referrals, through friends and family members. Last few months, we were busy with new project, tenders and yes, Uncle Yeh's wedding. Around the same time, your kakak went on a 2 months leave (she wanted to quit at first but decided to return after settling her matters). We found a nice nursery for Sarah and decided to continue with that arrangement even when kakak returned later. Thank God we did, Sarah is more sociable now and less clingy and demanding. We were down with fever and flu back to back, one after another. It was difficult months for us, financially, physically, emotionally (first few weeks sending off Sarah to the nursery was hard, for her and for me..). So there was a series of breakdowns, to say the least.. mixing business and family and everything under the sky. But all has settled now, alhamdulillah, and insyaAllah..
At Uncle Yeh's reception, you were too cranky to pose
Here's hoping 2010 would be much much better for us, amin.
