Save Me From The Terrible Twos

Just look at that cheekiness

This is the babyD most of us are used to. Always smiling and laughing.

Nowadays, gets easily angry. Pouting and tantrums are his weapons.

Gone are the days when my sweet little 2 year old would listen and obey everything mommy told him. These days, "NO" and "DON'T WANT" easily rolls off his tongue and seems to be the predominant words in his vocabulary. To top off his new found rights to defy his parents, he has also learned the art of ear piercing, glass shattering screaming. Hate it when it happens at 3am in the morning. Yeah, he'll wake up in the middle of the night, creating a fuss and ruckus, and I'm too tired and sleepy to be a loving mother.

Okay, so what have I done to combat the Terrible Twos?

STRATEGIES THAT DON'T WORK

• Usually, my first strategy to "counter-attack" is to firmly tell him to "STOP SCREAMING". In the end, I'm screaming and he is still screaming. Too much screaming.
  
• Another strategy is to reason with him. That doesn't work either. When he turns on the "screaming mode", there is no compromise. This strategy can only be used after he has calmed down.
  
• Sometimes, the reason for such an outburst is not readily known. Then you'll hear me saying "You have to talk. I don't understand what you want. I can't help you if I don't know what you want." That is usually followed by more screaming on his part. I've learned that the more I try to communicate with him, the louder the screams become. 
• DISCIPLINE him. Put him on the bench (Or time-out. Whatever you want to call it). Throw him out of the house. This results in more screams, lots of kicking and also knee hugging.
  
•  PUNISHMENT him.Give him a few whacks. This strategy gives me 100% failure. It doesn't work. But it sure gives me a way to vent my frustration WHICH is not right. I know, I know.
• IGNORE him. You'd think they'd lose their voice after a while. How come they don't lose their voice after 1/2 hour of screaming? If I let him, I think he can scream for a few hours non-stop. Amazing! Not really recommended coz' it's not good for your eardrums.

WHAT WORKS!
I finally found a strategy that works for me.............. DUNK HIM WITH WATER!
Yeah, I got so fed up that one night that I carried him to the bathroom and drenched him. I kept splashing water over his head until he decided to quit it. He decided very quickly to stop screaming. He started his nonsense again 15 minutes later and back to the bathroom we went. The only negative side to this was I had 2 sets of wet clothes added to my already overflowing pile of laundry. But I believe splashing him with water "shocks" him out of the screaming phase. It's like they get soooo into it and don't know how to get out of it.

Results? When he starts screaming now, I just have to ask if we need to go to the bathroom and he stops immediately.

So, what strategies have you tried to combat your Terrible Twos?

Painting Pumpkins For Halloween

Happy Halloween to everyone! Too bad we don't really celebrate it over here in Malaysia. I know my kids would love to dress up and collect a mountain of candy (much to me and my husband's dismay).

I can just imagine the excitement and fun our American friends are having this Halloween season. There are many Halloween activities children can do. Pumpkin carving is a traditional activity but it can be quite dangerous with the knife. Definitely not very suitable for young children. I read about a more kid-friendly option - Pumpkin Painting.

The video below shows how easy it is to paint a pumpkin face.


Painting pumpkin faces looks like a lot of fun. If you're having a kids Halloween party, this would be a good activity. Or if you have very bored children at home driving you nuts, give them some pumpkins and let them be creative. Also a perfect activity for children playgroups. Put a whole bunch of pumpkin faces out in your garden and I'm sure you'll get a lot of lovely compliments from your neighbors.

Click here to discover the easy way to painting pumpkins.

Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Wash

Finally, it's here! 2 1/2 months of waiting, and now it's in my bathroom. What is it? Dove's Nutrium Moisture Body Wash all the wayyyyyyy from U.S.

Yes, they sent me all 3 types: Gentle Exfoliating, Deep Moisture and Sensitive Skin. It's groundbreaking technology okay! This body wash has even been honored with one of Allure magazine’s 2009 Best of Beauty Breakthrough awards. So, how come I'm so lucky to have them send it to me for free? Coz' I promised I'd share with all you online folks what I think about it.So yes, I'm disclosing to you that I'm writing this review coz' they gave me free products to try. (Can you see I'm trying to be a good girl and abide by FTC new rules. By the way, if you still don't know what the new rules are on writing product reviews, you better update yourself quick.)

What's So Great About Dove's Nutrium Moisture Body Wash?
They claim that this new body wash retains your skin's moisture better than other brands. Dove's Nutrium Moisture can penetrate deep into your skin's layers whereas the moisturizers in other body wash only sits on top of your skin. No need for me to explain so much. You can just watch the video below to see how it works.



What do I think about it?

• The body wash is very thick. It doesn't just flow out. It feels like a cream. Doesn't get very foamy. However, it does clean the skin. I don't like how some moisturizing body wash leave your skin feeling oily. This Dove's body wash doesn't. 
• Does my skin feel moisturized? I don't really know. It's definitely not a "WOW, what a difference" experience. I don't think it works overnight too. If the body wash really does moisturize my skin 10 layers deep, I'm sure the results will show eventually. But I don't think it'll put me on any cover magazine :P
• I like the Gentle Exfoliating the best. You can feel the little beads scrubbing your body. Some people may not like the harsh feeling but I like the idea of scrubbing away dirt and dead cells. My son doesn't like it though. He says it tickles his stomach. Hahaha.
• The scent is very mild. In fact, the one that says "Sensitive Skin" has no scent. Definitely not for girls who like to leave a trail of sweet smell for guys to follow. You'll have to use that delicious soft skin to lure them instead :)
• I don't think guys care much about moisturizing their skin while bathing. This body wash definitely appeals more to women. And don't bother asking your husband if your skin feels softer. He probably won't know the difference. Or maybe it's just my husband. Hahaha.

 Well done Dove! Keep those innovations coming. Now, could you come up with a body wash that gets rid of stretch marks?

Baby Is 1 Month Old

Can't believe that baby is already 1 month old. Seemed just like yesterday I was hurrying her to pop out of the womb. She is getting big fast. Her 1 month checkup had her weighed in at 4.3kg. Her legs and cheeks are filling up. No more "chicken legs". Yup, that was my nickname for her the first few days. Her face is changing. We don't quite notice it because we see her everyday. It's more noticeable to church friends who see her once a week.

Okay, so here is a list of "stuff" about babyK at 1 month old:

• The first few weeks, she liked to poo-poo into fresh diapers. Daddy's wallet cringed every time that happened.
  
• She cried the first few times she bathed. But now she likes the water. She will just relax and not make a sound.
  
• A few times she peed into the towel after bathing. Then Mommy got smart. Now after I take her out, I will make the "shee shee" sound and most of the time she will pee. Only after that do I wrap her with the towel.
  
• I think she can recognize who is mommy. This is both a good thing and a bad thing.
  
• Likes to be carried. Which baby doesn't? Daddy is enjoying carrying her while she is still so small. No, we are not scared that we will "spoil" her. I'm a firm believer that if baby needs the security, then we must provide it. They don't need to learn "independence" as a baby. That's not what they need.
  
• Vomits milk quite a lot and quite often.
• Likes sleeping in the baby carrier. She feels more comfortable in an inclined position rather than flat on her back.
• Siblings like to kacau her and wake her up.
  
• One way to put her to sleep is to stroke her hair.
  
• She has a "sleep days" and her "wake up" days. One day she will sleep a lot, and the next day her big-big eyes don't stay close for long. But she's really good at night and will pretty much sleep throughout. Even if she wakes up, she doesn't cry. You'll just hear lots of grunting... trying to do "big business" I guess.
• Stomach is a bit gassy at times. When she gets cranky, I lay her on her back and do "fart exercises". You can check you tube for massages and leg exercises to help baby get rid of wind. BabyK don't really fancy the massages. She enjoys the leg exercises more. It's really simple. I just take both legs and move them up towards the stomach and down while singing "row, row, row your boat". After a while, she really does fart. Hehehe.
  

Traditional "ang ku" kuih for full moon celebration

Of the 4 kids we have, she is the only one we threw a full moon party. Biase? No lah. It's not that we love her more. Everything we do depends on the wallet. Some parents feel that what they do for one, they must do for all, if not there will be jealousy. For example, if one kid has a special ordered birthday cake, then all the kids must have one too. For us, we explain to the kids that it depends on their luck. If daddy's economy is good, they get "stuff". If not, too bad. So, we are fair and equal in a different sense. "Fair and equal" doesn't mean getting the same things. It means for every child, the decision whether they "get" or "don't get", depends on the same factors - daddy's wallet and the current situation :) Makes sense?

Mommy Bloggers Now Required To Give Full Disclosure

Are you a mommy blogger who receive freebies or payments in exchange for reviews and testimonials? If you are, then you need to read these 2 news report. Basically, they are saying you must tell your readers that you have been compensated (either in cash or kind) for writing the blog post. If you fail to do this, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will take action against you. So mommy bloggers, please familiarize yourself with their new guidelines.

• Soon, Bloggers Must Give Full Disclosure by nytimes.com
  
• Mommy Bloggers Could Be Held Liable for Product Reviews by abcnews.go.com

Yummy Butter Cake

Made this yummy butter cake Wednesday just because I felt like eating cake. Probably a side effect of "starving" myself from sweets and dessert after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Not pregnant anymore but can still have cravings. Hehehe. Actually, I'm being naughty coz' I haven't been cleared of the diabetes diagnosis yet. Another glucose tolerance test will only be done in several weeks time before I'll know for sure whether I still have diabetes or not. Anyway, now that baby is out, I don't have to worry that my sweet tooth will result in giving birth to an 8kg baby (btw, did you hear about that big Indonesian baby?)

If you are looking for a simple yet yummy butter cake, try this recipe I found on Martha Stewarts' website. It makes two 9-inch cake layers.

BUTTER CAKE INGREDIENTS
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk

HOW TO BAKE

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit (about 180 degrees celcius).
  
• Rub some butter on your cake pans (recommended 9-by-2-inch round cake pans). Dust with flour.
  
• Sift together flours, baking powder, and salt.
• In your mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla.
  
• Turn mixer to low speed. Alternately add in the flour mixture, followed by milk. Begin and end with the flour.
  
• Divide batter between the 2 pans. Bake until cakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. My oven is a small one, so it took between 15-20 minutes.
  

For the frosting, I used the following recipe. One day I want to try to make fondant, but I don't have the ingredients. So for now, this is it.

ORANGE FROSTING
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp milk or water
1 tbsp orange juice and some grated rind (you could use lemon too)
Cream butter and sugar first. Next add the milk and orange juice.
I had to do 2 rounds of this coz' the recipe here wasn't enough for me to cover the whole cake.

Okay, so my decorating skills aren't that great. I don't have the proper tools for it too. Also, baby woke up so I had to hurry and finish it. BUT the cake does taste good. It was gone in 24 hours.
HAPPY BAKING!

p.s. I found a site that offers step-by-step online videos on how to decorate cakes and cookies. They also have how-to articles, ideas, tips & tricks on cake decorating. Get instant access to dozens and dozens of cakes, cookies and candies online training videos, stories, recipes, pictures and so much more. It's truly a one-of-a-kind membership site.
Click here to check it out: BIRTHDAY CAKE AND COOKIE DECORATING IDEAS

Toddlers and Powder

What's with toddlers and powder? And is this a boy thing? Look at the two pictures below:

KokoD taken in 2004

BabyD taken yesterday.

SAME MISCHIEF! SAME CRIME!

Life with baby #4

So, babyK is now about 2 weeks plus. How is life with 4 kids? Still okay coz' DH is handling some areas such as cooking and bathing baby. It's a good thing I have him to help at home. However, things will get more hectic for me the next few more days coz' I have to take back my kitchen duty. I foresee lots of "sandwich" days.

As for sleep, I'm one of the lucky ones that is NOT suffering from sleep deprivation. This baby has been good so far. Doesn't cry at nights. In fact, she's a really good sleeper and would almost sleep throughout the night. Even if she wakes up for a feed, she's right next to me and I feed her lying down. Sometimes I have to wake her to feed.

My SIL asked me "what's the difference between my eldest girl and this baby?" With my eldest, I kept my eye on the clock. Fed baby every 2 hours (even during the nights). Being a first time mother then, I was more...ermm... diligent (I think that is the best word to describe it). I also would breastfeed her sitting up. With baby #4, I don't really recall what time was her last feed. I just feed on demand. Feeding is not dependent on the clock anymore. Feeding time is when she cries or when the boobies starts to leak. Yeah, you gotta love your own body. It's got its own alarm clock. So with baby #4, things are more relaxed.

I gotta tell ya, one of the most beneficial lesson you should learn as a new mother is how to feed your baby lying down. And I'm an advocate of sleeping with your baby. Don't worry about "how am I going to kick them out of my bed later?" To me, it is more important that you first address the question of "how am I going to get enough rest?" Definitely not by getting out of bed 3-4 times throughout the night to take your baby out of the crib so he/she can be fed (or whatever). With baby lying next to you, you just turn to face her/him and have her/him latch on, then you keep on sleeping (well, that's what I do, hehehe). Well, I'll have to get up at least once to change her diaper.

One thing that I've forgotten about newborns is the many, many, many diapers they use in one day. AND, babyK just loves pooping into fresh diapers. I brought 6 diapers to the hospital, thinking it was enough for 24 hours. Before 12 hours was up, I only had 1 spare left. So pregnant mothers, make sure you have PLENTY of diapers in your hospital bag, like half a pack!

I think I've spoilt babyK by carrying her too much. I can't help it. How often does one get to cuddle tiny little babies. They're just not that much fun when they get bigger. Also I think she gets tummy aches (maybe wind). So the cuddling and rocking helps to settle her.

Anyway, I'm glad babyD is a very understanding boy. He doesn't make a fuss or cause any trouble when he sees me carrying baby. If he needs some loving, he now runs to his daddy. Daddy feels like he is 2nd choice. Only when mommy is not available does he get "chosen". Hahahah.

BabyK in her new baby carrier (Halford Elite Classic).

Baby Poop During Birth

Some people wonder, "do baby's poop in the mother's womb?" The answer is NO.

However, it can happen just before or during labor. That's what happened with babyK. I don't know if she actually inhaled the mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid. The doctor or nurses didn't bother to tell me what was going on. All I know is that she was whisked away and then kept under observation for 2 hours. Even after asking "What's wrong with the baby? What's the complication?" All I got out of them was "Your baby is okay".

So, what's the danger in baby pooping in your womb? Well, meconium is what we call baby's first poop. It is sticky, thick, and dark green. If baby inhales it, baby might have difficulty breathing as it can obstruct the airways or cause an infection. You might also want to know that the real term for this is called meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).

And to think I had to learn this through the internet. Such a simple explanation and yet they couldn't give it to me.

Holiday Recipe Guide

Found a great recipe resource that many of you might be interested in. It's by Carnation and they are giving away a Free Holiday Recipe Guide. You'll have to give them your email though. The recipes sure do look delicious and kid friendly. They also look perfect for busy moms.

Click here to get your Free Holiday Recipe Guide.

p.s. If you're looking to cultivate good eating habits in your children, check out Kids Meal Ideas: Yummy Healthy Tummy

BabyK is Born!

BabyK decided to come a few days earlier than the due date. This is a record in the family as all her siblings were over due.

The labour was really fast. Actually, I was having some pain throughout Sunday (13 Sept). But it was mild and not very consistent. I did wonder if I was dilated though. Next day I went about as usual. Halfway cooking lunch for the kids I had to turn off the stove and conclude that it was indeed time to go to the hospital. Made sure I took a bath first.

Contractions started around 10:30am. I got to the hospital around 11:45am (darn those big lorries and other slow moving vehicles). Contractions were about 3 minutes apart then and quite intense. Nurse did a quick check and found me 9cm dilated (full dilation is 10cm). So everything had to be in rushed mode. The nurse even said, "please don't push yet, you need to give us time to prepare you." The contractions were pretty intense that I had trouble changing into the hospital gown and climbing onto the delivery bed. Once on the bed, the doctor burst my water bag and gave me the go ahead to push if I felt like it. It was as if she said the magic words coz immediately after that I needed to push. With 3 long, hard and painful pushes baby was out. Time of birth... 12:09pm. Baby was 3.37kg.

After I was all stitched up and cleaned, they called DH to come in. So, just for your information, if you deliver at Sg. Buloh hospital, they do allow your husbands to come in for a few minutes and that only after baby is delivered. With regards to the service there, it is okay. I just wished they did a better job at informing me what was going on. For example, I had to ask if I was dilated before the nurse announced I was at 9cm. After delivery, baby was put under observation for 2 hours. I was not told about this and was left in the delivery room waiting and waiting and waiting. Even after I asked what was the complication, there was no explanation, just a simple "your baby is okay". Other than that, the staff is pretty nice.

I was discharged the next evening. Total bill = RM44. Hah! Can you beat that? For my stay, they charged RM3 per day. Most expensive item on the bill was the blood test at RM28. All my prenatal checkups were also free coz' I did them at the g'ment clinic. So you see, you really don't need to spend several thousand dollars to have a baby.

Well, I'm enjoying having a tiny baby to hold again.Breastfeeding is going great. She's been a really good baby so far. Going through a lot of diapers though. Her siblings adore her and all fight for a turn to carry her.

So here we start babyK's story. Check back for more updates.

SpellQuizzer Contest Results

And the winner of the SpellQuizzer Contest is..... ALOHAMOLLY!

Congratulations to Molly. I hope you and your children will enjoy the software. To my only other entry, CrazyMommy, thank you so much for joining in. Next freebie I come across, you'll be the first one to get it. Really appreciate your support.

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner. Baby did decide to come out earlier than the due date. Will update on the new babyK soon.

Kids Meal Ideas: Macaroni

Looking for a quick dish that your children will love? Try these 2 macaroni meals.

MAC AND CHEESE
I haven't really tried cooking Mac and Cheese before. The biggest reason is because cheese here in Malaysia is really expensive. But I wanted to do something simple that the kids would love and so, I came up with this version of Mac and Cheese.


Ingredients:

• Macaroni pasta
• Cheddar cheese (You could add a mixture of different cheese if you want. I wish I had some Mozarrella as well. Just love the stretchy, chewiness of it)
• Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme). You can buy a small bottle of it at the store. It's all mixed together already. Just open the cap and shake-shake onto the dish.
• Butter
• Milk
• Campbell's cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom)
• Campbell's cheese and herbs spaghetti sauce

How to cook?

1. Cook the macaroni in boiling water until al dente -- meaning don't cook it too long until it's too soft. Also, don't under-cook it. When you bite into it, it still has some firmness. So don't boil it in the pot and run away. After about 10 minutes, just scoop one out and try it. When you've got it at the texture you want, remove the macaroni from the boiling water and set aside.
2. Start working on the sauce. Melt butter and then add some milk. If it's too fatty to your liking, you probably can skip the butter and milk.
   
3. Add in the cheese and herbs spaghetti sauce.
4. Add in the cream of chicken. If you use 1 whole can, fill up the same can with water and add to the sauce. Whatever amount of cream of chicken you use, add that same amount of water.
5. Sprinkle in some Italian seasoning
   
6. Put your macaroni in whatever baking pan or dish and pour the sauce over it.
7. Top it off with cheese.
8. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius or until cheese melts and a little brown on top.

Okay, I didn't list down any measurements because I didn't follow any measurements myself. Heheheh. BUT, this much I can tell you. The bag of macaroni pasta I bought was 500g. I cooked half of that packet. I used 1 can of the cheese and herb spaghetti sauce and 1 can of cream of chicken soup. I felt the pasta was a little salty but the kids and DH said it was ok. Anyway, I think I should have just used 1/2 the cans.
Also, I felt it was too plain. Next time I think I'll try adding some chicken meat or mushrooms. Maybe you could sneak in some veges like broccoli in there too. Anyway, experiment and enjoy.

MACARONI ASIAN STYLE
Okay, this recipe I copied from a church friend. Sorry I didn't take a picture of it before it was all eaten up. It's got a little bit of sweet and sour taste to it.

Ingredients:

• Macaroni
• Sausages. Americans prefer to call them hotdogs. Slice it.
  
• Garlic (2-3 pips all chopped up to small pieces)
• Plum sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Chili sauce (this is not available in the US. Maybe you can substitute with ketchup instead)

How to cook?

1. Boil the macaroni until al-dente then put aside.
   
2. With a little bit of cooking oil (or butter), fry the garlic.
3. Throw in your sliced sausages. Stir fry until they become nicely cooked.
   
4. Add in macaroni pasta.
5. Pour in your oyster sauce, plum sauce and chili sauce. Oyster sauce and chili sauce not that much. Plum sauce you'll have to add quite a fair amount. Just keep tasting as you cook. Stop adding the plum sauce when you're satisfied. Well, at least that's what I did. Heheheh.

Both these macaroni dishes were given the thumbs up by my kids. So, if you've run out of kids meal ideas, I hope this post has helped.

p.s. Recommended e-book on nutritious recipes for kids

YUMMY HEALTHY TUMMY
The Secrets of Raising Healthy Kids Every Parent Should Know

• For parents who want to prepare nutritious meals for their children
• For parents who want their children to choose healthy foods always
• For parents having trouble getting their children to eat the right kinds of foods
  

Click here to discover how you can create healthy meals your kids will love!

SpellQuizzer Review and Giveaway

Here's another effective spelling software for parents who want to improve their children's spelling - SPELLQUIZZER!

AND I have 1 free license to giveaway (valued at USD29.95)

Let me tell you a little bit about this software. I was given a license to this and have tested it on my own children. What can I say, they love it even though there are no cartoon graphics or animation. It's a simple program where you input your own list of words that you want your children to learn.

The interface looks like the image above. So first you click on "create a spelling list". There will be a place for you to type in the word. Then you record your voice and give a sentence that contains the word. So for example, you want your children to spell the word "butterfly". You type in the word "butterfly", then you press the record button and say "Butterfly. A caterpillar grows up to be a butterfly." End the recording session.

So you do this for each word until you've created your list. Obviously you'll need a microphone to record your voice. If you don't have one, you can still use this software. You'll have to type in a description of the word instead. However, it's better to do the voice recording. That way children can hear the word instead of trying to guess the word by reading your sentence.

Click here for a video on how it works:
SpellQuizzer Spelling Software Demonstrations

Don't feel intimidated about recording your own voice. It's quite fun actually coz' you can say funny things to make your children's spelling practice more enjoyable. For example, one of the words I gave my children to spell was "over", and I said "baby like to crawl over jie-jie's stomach". They thought it was so funny. Also, my daughter insisted she wanted to record her own voice. That was even better for me coz' she not only get to practice her spelling, she also gets to practice making sentences.

Actually, you also have the option of importing a spelling list. These lists have been pre-recorded by someone else. Click here to see the downloadable spelling lists.

So after you've created your list, you give it a name and then, when you want your children to practice their spelling, you go to the interface and select "quiz me on a list!" The words will be played one by one. If your child spells it incorrectly, immediately a box will pop up with both the right and wrong spelling (so they can compare and know where they went wrong).

Who is SpellQuizzer for?

• Children who have to take spelling tests in school.
• Children who want to prepare for spelling contests or spelling bees.
• Homeschoolers. (Click here for a page specially for homeschoolers: SPELLQUIZZER FOR HOMESCHOOLERS )
• Parents who want to improve their children's spelling and improve their vocabulary.
  

Here is a video of my 2yrs 8mths old son using this software. He knows the sounds of all the alphabets and can also recognize what they look like. I'm guessing he likes to "play" SpellQuizzer because he gets to type on the keyboard like us adults :) So for him I have a simple list of "a-h". His spelling lists goes something like this "/a/ for apple", "/b/ for ball" etc.... And he just types in the right letters. He does get it wrong sometimes because the keyboard is in capital letters instead of smallcaps.

This is a downloadable kids spelling software, not an online program.

JOIN THE SPELLQUIZZER GIVEAWAY!
As mentioned earlier, I have 1 free license to giveaway. This is what you need to do to participate in this lucky draw. Each action is considered 1 entry for the lucky draw.

1. Leave a comment here, tell me why you like this software. If you want to test it out for yourself, click here to download a FREE TRIAL.
2. Subscribe to my Family Book Store (http://valuebookshop.com). Go to the website and you'll find a box on the sidebar where you enter your email address. There's a button that says "subscribe".
3. Write a short blog post about SpellQuizzer. In your post, use these words "downloadable kids spelling software" and link it to http://valuebookshop.com/2009/spellquizzer-downloadable-kids-spelling-software/. That's where I have my full review of the program. Give me the link to your post.

Since my baby is due to come out 17 Sept 2009, I will have to make this contest short.
Last day for entries: 14 Sept 2009
Who is eligible: Everyone, all over the world

Once again I will assign each entry a number and then use random.org to choose the winning number. I will post who the winner is on the 15th Sept 2009. Hopefully, baby doesn't decide to come out earlier than the due date. Hahahah.

Winners for ClickN Read Phonics and ClickN Spell Giveaway

The 2 lucky winners for the ClickN Read Phonics and ClickN Spell kids spelling software giveaway are... (drum roll)

Sweetmomblog
&
Miela77

Just to give you an idea of how the winners were selected:
1. I assigned numbers to each entry
2. Went to random.org and used the "true random number generator" to pick two numbers.

To the winners, congratulations. You also need to email me the following details so we can set up your free account (send to limailian at gmail dot com):

• First & Last Name
• Email
• Mailing Address
• Phone

To all participants, thank you for joining in. Don't be disheartened, I have one more contest coming up and it involves another spelling software! Check back here soon!

Want To Be A Frugal Mom?

How good are you at being frugal? Would you like to learn more on:

• how to save money?
• how to cook low-cost healthful meals?
• how to become debt-free?

Well, there's a special place where frugal minded moms meet and it's called the Hillbilly Housewife Club. Normal monthly membership is $15 but now there's a special offer where you can have a 7-day preview of the Club for only $1.

So, for 7-days you can access:

• A Monthly Report on a Money Saving Or Homemaking Topic
• More Frugal Recipes both From Susanne and Other HBHW Club Members
• Frugal Living and Homemaking Articles
• Daily Reflections
• Mingle with other HBHW Club Forum members where you can exchange ideas with other members, make new friends and become part of the HBHW Club community

If you've ever wanted a place to go where you could find caring women on the same road as you and get step-by-step action plans, each month, that will help you toward your goals, then you owe it to yourself to take a look at the Hillbilly Housewife Club.

Want to find out more? Click the link below:
I WANT TO BE A FRUGAL MOM

Happy 8th Birthday

We celebrated K's 8th birthday day before yesterday. Nothing fancy, just a special dinner cooked to her request.

I'm grateful that my kids have never asked for a big birthday party. The last "big" party we had was when kokoD turned 1 and K turned 3. It was a 2-in-1 party coz' both of their birthdays are in August. We booked an indoor futsal area and had lots of friends attend. Since then all their birthdays have been really simple - specially cooked lunch/dinner at home cooked by me. I also try to take them somewhere special. Last year I took them to a movie. This year we visited Gardenia's Bread factory. They are also given a budget of RM5 to spend on whatever they like.

In front of the Gardenia Bread factory with their goody bags.

This was K's specially requested birthday dinner:

Mommy's Fried Chicken Drumsticks (finger licking good MFC), chicken fingers, mash potatoes with gravy, french fries and coleslaw.

K enjoyed her chicken drumsticks and coleslaw to the max. I feel blessed that my children can enjoy a relatively inexpensive birthday meal (considering it would have cost me much, much more if ordered from KFC). I guess she also saw how mommy (with her big, big tummy) spent many hours in the kitchen preparing her meal and that made her appreciate the dinner more.

Mama's Parenting Tip on birthdays:

• Don't have to throw an elaborate birthday party each year for your children. You can still make it special in small ways.
• Start a family birthday tradition to make the birthday child feel extra special. For example: a special day out for the birthday child, a new dress/shirt, trip to the bookstore to select a book of their choice, birthday child picks the menu for the day, treasure hunt to find presents bought by family members etc....
  

Most Loving Sibling Contest

MOBS & ComfyBebe are hosting a contest and it's about Loving Siblings. At this very moment, my 2 boys are playing peacefully together. 5 minutes ago one was yelling at the other. That's just typical of siblings. One minute they are at each others throats, the next minute they are best buddies.

Anyway, I'm to choose one photo that exemplifies these "loving siblings". Here's my choice:

These pictures were taken in June 2007. That time Karina was only 6, Damus was 4 and baby Danic was only 5 months old. Baby still couldn't sit on his own yet and so the other two squashed him in the middle (acted as support) and enjoyed their motorcycle ride. I took this picture because it showed 2 things:

1. Even though baby was still very young, the older two included him in their play. They took care of him and made sure he was okay which gave mommy time to do other things.
2. Baby just looked soooo happy to be with his siblings.
   

There are many more examples of their loving relationship. I try to capture them whenever I can.

BabyD giving his koko kisses. He tags along when I send kokoD to school in the morning. He makes sure to give koko a goodbye kiss before koko gets down from the car.

See how he "manja" with the sister sometimes.

Even till today, the 3 of them will gather in their "playroom" every night and do "stuff". There'll be talking, laughter, shouting, teasing, screaming, fighting, playing etc.

Mamas Parenting Tips on Sibling Rivalry:

• Don't take sides. It's not who is right but what is right. So stop the finger pointing and blaming. AND don't ever ask "who started it first?" or "who did it?" You're just asking for more trouble.
  
• Sometimes I "bench" them all and have them figure out a solution to their problem.
  
• Hitting is not tolerated at all. Separate all parties involved until everyone cools down.
• Remove the cause of the conflict e.g. if they are fighting over a toy, I take it away untill they can tell me a good reason to give it back.
  
• Continue to teach tolerance, respect and understanding (even though it seems only the walls are listening).

Latest "sibling bonding" picture:

Totally Free Tuesday for New WAHMs

Are you a new WAHM? Not sure if you're doing things right or headed in the right direction? Well, mark this date down then: 8 Sept 2009 (Tuesday). Mom's Talk Affiliates is having a TOTALLY FREE TUESDAY! It's like an orientation for new WAHMs.

What's happening on that day?

• Free Webinars where you'll hear from other successful WAHMs.
• Free Gifts by eMail
• Special Giveaways

So, when that day comes rolling by, just click on the banner above.

Crispy Brinjal with Dried Shrimp and Garlic

There's a restaurant in Ijok (can't remember the name now) that serves this really nice brinjal dish. It's crispy and has dried shrimp and garlic. Not sure if there are other ingredients (probably yes), and I don't think they are going to share their secret recipe with us.

Anyway, thought I'd try to do a dish something like that. I don't know how they cook it until crispy. So I improvised and coated the brinjals with flour first before frying. Turns out okay. Not too bad. DH gives me the thumbs up. The kids didn't want to eat it at first. But once they tried it, they liked it too.

So, here's my recipe:

Ingredients:

• Brinjal (Egg Plant, Aubergine or whatever else you want to call it)
  
• Wheat Flour
• Rice Flour
• Salt
• Dried Shrimp (Hokkien call "Hay Bee) - wash and chop it to smaller pieces
• Garlic - chopped to small pieces too.

How To Cook?
1. Skin the brinjal. Cut them into longish rectangles (refer to picture below). Soak in salt water so it doesn't turn brown.

2. Mix together wheat flour, rice flour and a pinch of salt. How much depends on how much brinjals you are cooking. Coat the cut brinjals with the mixed flour. The brinjals will be a bit wet still so the flour will stick to the brinjals.

3. Deep fry the coated brinjals until golden brown. Set aside.

4. Fry the garlic and dried shrimp until golden brown. Get rid of the oil.


5. Mix the fried brinjals with the garlic and dried shrimp. Sprinkle a bit more salt for taste.

THAT'S IT!

Give it a try and if you improve on it, let me know.

Get Kids To Help In The Kitchen

You know, people tell me that I'm lucky to have a girl as the eldest in the family. You know what? They are right. K has been a willing helper in the kitchen and that has lightened my load. The 2 main things I have her do are:

• wash the rice
• cut / peel and wash vegetables (see what a good job she is doing with my spinach)

PARENTING TIP:
Don't chase your children out of the kitchen. Take time to teach them how to prepare food. They'll make mistakes, it's okay. You'll get beans cut at different lengths, it's okay. They learn through practice.

8th Month of Pregnancy

I'm now about 34 weeks preggy. As you can see, the baby clothes have all come out of storage. So exciting to see all those tiny clothes again. Can you tell I'm getting impatient? I'll only get more impatient as the weeks roll by.

Why am I impatient? Afterall, these are the few weeks left I have of uninterrupted sleep right? The few weeks left I have of being diaper free. The few weeks left I have of having normal size breasts. The few weeks left of having my arms free from weights. The few weeks left I have with dealing with 3 kids instead of 4.

Well, I'm getting impatient because this bump is getting really uncomfortable. I can't sit or lie down comfortably. Plus, it's difficult to do things. I'm out of breath a lot. My ears are stuck the whole day (don't know why). And I can't wait to get rid of this diabetes so I can eat my favorite desserts again. Oh, I also am tired of trying to remember to count baby's movements. AND tired of going to the clinic so often for checkups.

The clinic here gave me a referral letter to go to the Sg. Buloh hospital to make an appointment with the specialist. They said it was necessary at 34 weeks. So off I went last week. Must remember to wear a mask next time I go because of the H1N1 cases. They took a blood sample and told me to come back on the 26/8. So, now I have my checkup at the clinic on the 18/8 where I also do my BSP test the same day (which means going to the clinic 4 times that day to get my finger poked). Then I have to go to the clinic again the next day to meet with the doctor who will go through the results of the BSP test. The week after that I have to go to the Sg. Buloh hospital to meet with the specialist. And the week after that is my checkup again at the clinic. Sigh! Sooooo many visits to the clinic and doctors. Hopefully the doctor at the hospital do not ask me to go there for checkup too. If not I'll be going for checkup here and checkup there (sounds like "Old McDonald Had a Farm").

Okay, some of the things I'm grateful for:

• I don't have high blood pressure
• I don't suffer from heartburns
• I don't have edema

Need to do:

• Buy newborn diapers
• Pack my bag for the hospital
• Get diaper rash cream
• Get new rubber thingy for the baby tub
  

What I hope for:

• Quick delivery
• Normal delivery
• No tearing
• Good doctors and nurses
• Be able to bear the pain once again
• Baby doesn't stay inside past due date
  

Watch Out for Me On Malaysian Women's Weekly

Last year, I got an email from Malaysian Women's Weekly saying they would like to interview me for an article. I was told the feature would maybe be in the January issue. But then, I heard no news from them after that and didn't see anything on me in the magazine. I wrote to ask what happened and didn't get a reply. So I thought maybe the idea was cut.

Last week, I get a call asking when I would be free for a photo shoot. Imagine my surprise. I can't even remember what the interview was about. I remember faintly that it was about my blog (or was it my online shop?). Aiyoh, this pregnant woman has really lost a lot of brain cells I believe. Well, they were very kind to come out all the way to my home to do the photo shoot. They took some individual shots and also some with my kids.

This is KokoD with the makeup artist. Poor girl got a bit lost trying to find her way to my house. Anyway, I doubt they'll use the photos with KokoD because he became so shy in front of the camera. Either he didn't smile or his eyes would be close.


My living room turned into a photo studio.

Poor me with my big belly had to lie down on the floor for one of the poses. Thank goodness I could get up after that :) But the photographer was a very nice guy. The makeup artist also had to keep dabbing sweat off my face. Sorry-lah, when you are this advanced into pregnancy, you automatically become a heat generator.

Well, not often we get to be in a women's magazine. So I thought I'd let the whole world know. Heheheh. They haven't decided yet which issue this is coming out (Oct 09 onwards). Just keep a lookout for me.

I don't know if I can post some of the photographs up. I'll just post 3 and if they object, I'll just take it down.

(update 1/10/09)): I was told that the pictures will have to wait until the artcle is published. So I'm taking them out till then.

Happy 6th Birthday KokoD

KokoD's birthday was on Sunday but we only celebrated yesterday. His special dinner order was Chicken in Mushroom Sauce (I've posted this dish here before so just click on the link if you want to know how to make it). It's a really simply dish but really delish. It was served together with another simple dish of french beans with carrots. Drinks were cincau-soy milk. And the
cake was again my frugal Jelly Cake. I made this cake for them last year and he wanted it again. Jie-jie K's birthday is coming up and she also wants the Jelly Cake, but different flavors and mixed fruit instead of peaches. This may be the standing order for the next few years. Heheheh. I don't mind coz' it's cheap and easy to do.

I got the candles at Tesco. They had it on sale. 1 box was less then RM1. There was even a musical candle.

So, how do I describe this boy of mine who just turned 6?

• Still active and playful as ever. Can't sit still and can't keep quiet.
• Has lost his interest for dinosaurs. Instead, it's dragons, Ben 10, guns, swords and Transformers now.
• Needs plenty of reminders on manners and speaking uplifting words.
• Still a mama's boy. He still sticks near to me and needs his hugs and cuddles.
• Very sensitive and gets angry quickly.
• Can be very helpful and considerate if he wants to.

Happy Birthday KokoD.

Who Wants A Free Account with ClickN READ or ClickN SPELL?

August is a birthday month in my family. Two of my kids were born on this month. My brother and mom are also born in this month. So, what do we do with a birthday month?

Time for giveaways!

THE PRIZE
A free account to ClickN READ PHONICS or ClickN SPELL.
2 winners will be chosen.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO?

1. Leave a comment here on which program you want and why you want it.
   
2. Optional: In your blog or website, link to one of the following pages using the given anchor text below. Let me know when you've done the linking.
   
• ClickN Read Phonics - link to http://valuebookshop.com/clicknreadphonics.htm
  
• ClickN Spell kids spelling software - link to http://valuebookshop.com/2009/clickn-spell-kids-spelling-software
  
  

HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED?
To give everyone a fair chance, I'll be doing a lucky draw on the1st September 2009. So, all entries must be in by 31st August 2009. If you choose the additional option of linking to one of the specified pages, you will have 2 entries instead of 1. Meaning, your chances of winning is higher.

Good luck everyone.

If you want to learn more about what the programs are about, click on the links below:

• ClickN READ PHONICS:Learning to read with phonics
• ClickN SPELL: Kids spelling software

p.s. Oh, and make sure if you are selected as a winner, I have a way of contacting you to get details so I can set up your free account. Best way is to subscribe to this blog of mine (you'll find the "subscribe me" form on the right-hand bar) so you don't miss the winner announcement.

Cloth Diapers On Discount

If you want to try cloth diapers or are one of those mothers who are crazy over cloth diapers, then you will want to know that Nice Cloth Diaper is having a sale. You can get 10% off. The sale is only until 28 August 2009. Actually the discount is storewide. They not only have cloth diapers, but also wetbag, mattress protector, flash cards, cotton menstrual pad, environmental friendly cockroach and mosquito repellent, 100% cold crafted soap, environmental friendly laundry ball, baby sling and pouch etc....

Discount code is SALES2009.

Plus, for every RM70 that you spend, you get a piece of cotton flannel baby wipe worth RM4.50.

Sounds interesting?
Click here to find out more: Nice Cloth Diaper

Online Kids Spelling Software: ClickN SPELL

Have you heard about ClickN Read Phonics? It's quite a popular online reading program. Well, the same company has just come up with another program called ClickN SPELL. The name of their software should already give you an idea what it does: TEACH YOUR CHILD SPELLING!

I believe you can start teaching your child spelling around 4-5 years old. However, it shouldn't be just about memorizing the sequence of letters, it helps to teach them phonics first. That way it's easier for them to spell coz' they listen for the sounds and select the letters to match those sounds.

Anyway, children are always keen to get on the computer to play games. Why not get them excited about learning to spell with this fun, interactive software. Sure beats the traditional way of writing words line after line after line....

If you have a child struggling to learn spelling, or you have no time to teach your child spelling, you might want to check out ClickN SPELL. You can learn more about ClickN SPELL by going to my product report. Just click the following link: ClickN SPELL KIDS SPELLING SOFTWARE
At the end of the review, you'll find a discount code that will get you 5% off.

Or go ahead and test out the program now. You get 2 free lessons to try. Just click on the banner below:

Learning Bahasa Malaysia From Friends

I sent my son to the g'ment kindergarten so he could adapt to the language and culture before starting Std.1 next year. Well, let me share with you the Bahasa Malaysia my son is learning... not from school books, but from friends. I thought of calling this "Bahasa Malaysia words and phrases your child should know before they start Std.1 in a kebangsaan school".

• Tak nak kawan lah
• Bodoh
• Padan muka
• Kau 'pa hal?
• Jangan kacau
• Pinjam
  

I'm sure there is some more. Will add to the list when I hear more. As you can see, most of the words not very nice to hear. I'm sure you already know they pick up bad things faster than they pick up good things. A few days ago, my son asked me "mommy, what is 'toyol'?" It seems his friend told him that he saw a "toyol" before. So there, another word added to his vocabulary. Not something he'll learn from a text book.

Oh, and there is also this game which I'm sure some of you may be familiar with. Amazing, it's still around. My son has been driving me a little insane with his repetitive recitation of it. He's even got babyD to learn some of it:

Assalamualaikum
Kum apa? kombat
Bat apa? batman
Man apa? mentol
Tol apa? tolak
Lak apa? laksa
Sa apa? Sepak
Pak apa? pakcik
Cik apa? cicak
Cak apa? cawan
Wan apa, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (counting in english).

Actually, the one written above is how it is suppose to be. My son's version is a bit different. He gets to "Man apa?", he says "Mentos" instead of "mentol". Then he just makes up the rest of it, even to the point of gibberish.

Well, just thought I'd let you know to get ready for your child's language to be "contaminated" when they start schooling.

FREE Potty Training Kit from Pampers

ONLY FOR US RESIDENTS

If you are currently potty training your child, you'll be interested in this offer. You can put in a request to have Pampers send you a Potty Training Kit. It includes:

• A free sample of Easy Ups Trainers
• High-value coupons
• Fun stickers & coloring pages
• Step-by-step potty training tips
• Potty Progress Chart
• Dora or Diego training trophy

Click the following link to put in your potty kit request:
Potty Training Kit

Cheap Nursing Bra

Just a quick note to tell all breastfeeding moomies and breastfeeding moomies to-be that you can get a RM10 nursing bra at Fabulousmom.com. You can click here to go direct to the product page:
Eunice Nursing Maternity Bra

BSP Test no.2 - Gestational Diabetes Update

Once again I had to do the BSP (Blood Sugar Profile) test on Tuesday. Once again I had my finger poked 4 times in a day. Actually, it was poked 5 times. One time they poked but not enough blood oozed out. The readings seem to be higher then the first BSP test: 5.4, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.5. The last reading was not satisfactory. They marked it in red, like having red marks on your report card when you fail. Hahahah. Ideally, the readings need to be lower than 6.0.

So, doctor told me to repeat the last reading on Wednesday night. I made sure I didn't eat too much rice and bumped up the vegetable intake. I cooked spinach and french beans with carrots for dinner that night. Thank goodness the reading was 5.5. I was so worried because if it was still high, then I would have to go to the hospital for insulin jabs.

On Tuesday night when the reading was 6.5, I had noodle soup (kuey teow and yellow mee). Didn't have time to cook a real meal that day so opted for something simple. Too much carbo I guess. Plus, I was hungry that night and may have eaten more than I should have.

Well, I guess I just have to keep on watching the diet. It's a bit difficult when I see my children and DH enjoying treats and I cannot participate. The sugar craving is still there to tempt me. 2 more months, 2 more months... 2 dragging more months. Sigh!

HugaMonkey Baby Sling Review

Do you practice baby wearing? Then you'll want to know about HugaMonkey baby sling. It's a sling that looks like a tube that conforms to your body. It is easy to put on when you want to carry your baby around. It requires no folding and doesn't use rings, buckles or tons of fabric. You won't have to worry about slipping too.

The fabric is made from 100% Kona cotton. It is a breathable, durable and soft natural fabric. In other words, it's very lightweight and comfortable. They also have baby slings made from natural organic cotton (60% organic cotton and 40% organic bamboo).
The designs are simple and the colors easy to match with your wardrobe. You can use these slings on your newborns up until they are 3 years old or 30 pounds.

How To Use It?
You can wear baby several ways with the Hugamonkey baby sling:

• Tummy to tummy carry. Baby is sitting and facing you.
• Back hip sit carry.
• Hip sit carry
• Kangaroo carry. Baby is sitting and facing outwards.
• Traditional lying down carry. Great for newborns.

Watch these videos for a better idea on how simple it is to use it:

How to put on the sling


Traditional lying down carry


How Well Does It Work?
Looking around the web, I found some testimonials by users of HugaMonkey baby slings. These people are not being compensated for their views. You can be sure they are being honest in what they are saying.

I have a hugaMonkey sling and it works great. Mine is the lightweight version for hot weather. It is a basic pouch, the fabric I have does not have stretch. Make sure you get it in the right size or it won't be secure for your newborn. Mine is a bit big, but it will work better when my LO is heavier.
(Excerpt from a comment at community.babycenter.com)


What I was looking for! I can wear it without spending hours trying to fold it. No loops or buckles to mess with. Very prompt courteous service when I had an ordering question. Recommended highly!
(Excerpt from a comment at www.affordablebabyorganics.com)


Love the sling, it was just a little too big. I worked with Carrie to determine if it was too big or not. My sling has been washed and tried on and she still said its no problem to exchange. Wonderful company. I would recommend you to any of my friends that is considering buying a sling. Thanks!
(Review submitted at hugamonkey.com)


I own a traditional sling and a Maclaren carrier. The Hugamonkey is much more comfortable. You almost feel pregnant again because the baby is so close to you. My daughter loves to be in it and almost instantly goes to sleep. I really wish I had this for my first child so I could have used it for all of them, especially my colicky son. The crazy thing is it cost me less than what I had, was shipped free to my door, is much cuter and so much better. I'm loving the Hugamonkey!!
(Review submitted at hugamonkey.com)

I was looking to find a negative review and came across only one at amazon.com. Her complain was she didn't get the right size. But from other users feedback, there is no problem if you order the wrong size. You can send it back for an exchange and the customer service is very prompt and good.

MY VERDICT
This is one baby sling I would like to get. Some of the things I look for when it comes to baby slings are:

• Easy to use.
• Doesn't hurt my shoulder or back
• Easy to pack in a bag
• Not bulky
• Baby is comfortable
• Affordable

Looks like HugaMonkey baby sling meets all those criterias.

PRODUCT OPTIONS:
The sling comes in 5 sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
They have a size chart, so do check that out to get the right size.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR HUGAMONKEY BABY SLING TODAY!

Busy Toddler

HOW DOES MY TODDLER KEEP HIMSELF BUSY?
BabyD is quite good at keeping himself busy. Well, decided to grab my camera to see what he has been up to.

Riding on a motorcycle. He's using a bolster here. Sometimes, he uses a pillow. Few minutes later, I hear him say "aeroplane". After that it's back to "motorcycle". Maybe I need to invent something where he can play motorcycle and mop my floor at the same time. Anyway, this is another example of why kids don't need so many battery operated plastic toys that don't last long.

Seeing mommy so busy with her camera, he decided he also wanted to take pictures. He grabbed this toy telescope and pretended to take pictures.

Enjoying himself talking into the fan because it sounds funny.

Every afternoon he turns on the music, climbs onto the top bunk (which is his jie-jie's bed and she's at school) with the CD player's remote control.

Because of his "botak" head, we use to pull his ears and call him Dopey for fun. He seems to think it's funny too.

Wrapping a pen with paper

According to him, he was writing "W"s.

Reading books.

Mommy, Can I Have Some Money?

For the last few weeks, KokoD requested that I come late to pick him up after kindergarten. He says he wants time to play with his friends. Seeing that he is enjoying his friends company so much, I said okay. So for the past week or so I've been going late -- giving him about 15 minutes extra time after school to "play".

Unfortunately, this extra time of "play" is turning out to be extra time for mischief. The first few days of extra time, I would pick up a kid that was dripping in sweat. Yes, literally dripping in sweat. Not only was he sweaty, he was dirty as well. One of the days he said his friend threw sand on his head. Another day as I was doing laundry, I threw into the wash his underwear that was the same color as the sandy slope outside his school. I checked his pants, no such color. So I'm wondering, how is this so? Underwear dirty but pants clean?

Well, the last few school days, the dirty boy is no more. He is up to something else. He comes home and tells me that his friends "belanja him makan" (treating him to food). They've been buying stuff and sharing with him. That's nice I guess, but also dangerous since the school was recently hit with H1N1. Well, he asked me if he could have some money because he wants to buy stuff from the stalls outside his school, like his friends. I told him "NO" because he hasn't learned how to handle money and also doesn't know the value of things. When I picked him up on Thursday, he was eating a piece of "jambu". Obviously courtesy of his friend. On Friday, I found him at one of the stalls with a bunch of his friends... HOLDING SOME MONEY! He was very keen on buying the "jambu" and had me wait while he put in his order.

Me: Where did you get the money from?
KokoD: My friend gave it to me.
Me: Did you ask for it?
KokoD: No.
Me: How much was the jambu?
KokoD: Don't know.
Me: How much did you give the lady?
KokoD: One 50cent, two 10cents and one 20cent.
Me: How many times have you taken money from your friend?
KokoD: One time only. Today.

The reason why I asked him these questions is because of what I saw as he was buying the jambu:
1. The lady asked him how many he wanted.
2. He didn't answer.
3. The lady asked him how much money he has.
4. He just put out his hand to show her.
5. Then she packed the jambu accordingly.
ALAMAK! How can buy things like that!

Anyway, we firmly told him that he must give the money back to his friend. Goodness knows what will happen if his friend's parents found out that my son has been living off their good fortune. They might think my son was an extortionist! Later, he declared that he still had another 50cents, also from his friend. Aiyoh! I almost pengsan.

Anyway, this was a good reminder that I need to spend less time on the computer and more time teaching my son stuff like "how to count money."

Mama's Parenting Tip:
1. Sometimes (or most of the time) we cannot put all the blame on our children when they do something wrong. If we don't teach them properly, how will they know to choose the right?

2. Don't just teach children to count money. Have to also teach them the value of money and the value of things. For example, I let him buy a cup of drink which cost RM1. It was not a very big cup. To him it was "very cheap what!" Then I calculated for him, one cup everyday would mean RM5 every week. By the end of the month, it would be RM20. With RM20, we could go to Tesco and buy 1 big bottle of Ribena or about 3 bottles of fruit juice syrup. We could then make many, many, many cups of delicious drink. These are difficult times and teaching frugality is a must! Teach them how to be wise shoppers (of course, we have to be wise first).

3. When teaching young children, don't just use workbooks to teach them. Bring out your wallet and let them touch and see REAL money. For example, RM5 is green color and RM10 is red.

4. We all know that children lose things easily, especially stationeries. You can set up a mini stationery shop at home. Lose an eraser, buy one from mommy.

5. It's good that when children get older, for us to give them opportunities to earn their own money. Not for everyday chores but "special" work like washing the car or weeding the garden. Of course, take into consideration their age and capabilities.

Counting Baby's Movements

Did you ever count your baby's movements when you were pregnant? I didn't do it with my first 2 babies. I had to do it with babyD and I've been asked to do it with this baby too. Many of my friends mentioned that they didn't do it. I've come to the conclusion that when you go to private clinics, this is not a requirement. But when you have your checkups at the government clinics, they suggest you do it and provide a chart for you to do your recording too. It's known as a Fetal Movement Count.

The procedure is as such:
Starting at 9am, count baby's movements until 10 times. For every movement, you put a check mark on the chart. Once you've had 10 movements, record down the time. So, if the 10th movement was at 2pm, you write 2pm on the chart. Now, the trick is, if baby continuously kicks you 3 times (like within 2 seconds), that is counted as 1 movement. And hiccups don't count.

The reason for doing this is to be aware of baby's well-being. By charting baby's movements, you can know if there is a decrease in activity which usually indicates that baby is in distress. If you cannot count 10 movements within 12 hours, you are to go to the hospital IMMEDIATELY.

The problem:
I KEEP FORGETTING TO COUNT!
I'll begin counting at 9am. Then I'll get engrossed in doing house chores and cooking, I'll forget to keep counting. Plus, when the kids do something wrong and I'm in the middle of blowing fire out of my dragon nostrils, how to remember to count? I mean it's almost impossible while you're screaming at the kids and fuming mad to suddenly stop and say "hey, that's movement no. 6". I wish there was an instrument that I could just attach to my tummy that would do the counting for me. I've put up a notice on the wall, just above my computer monitor that reads "don't forget to count." Even then, I still forget.

So, this counting business is good stuff... IF I remember to do it. You know what they say about pregnant women -- memory is not their strongest point.

Gestational Diabetes Update

I did the BSP test (Blood Sugar Profile) on Tuesday. They poked my finger 4 times that day to record 4 readings. Once at 8am, 12 pm, 4pm and 9pm. For the first reading, I had to fast 10 hours before. Subsequent readings required me to fast 2 hours before.

So, what was my result (in mmol/L)?
5.1, 3.8, 4.8 and 3.7

I believe a normal reading for blood glucose levels are between 5-7. So, my readings were pretty good. Met up with the doctor the day after the BSP test and she was satisfied. Said that it is what they are looking for.

So, what did I eat that day?
Breakfast = 2 pieces of wholegrain toast bread with butter and a few raisins.
Lunch = Sandwiches. 2 pieces of wholegrain bread with either a sausage or chicken ham, scrambled eggs, cucumber, tomatoes, and salad leaf.
Dinner = "Bangkuang char" with salad leaf.

Seeing my blood sugar level was pretty low during the test, I've loosened up a bit. Still worried but not as worried. Still eating in small portions - less rice, more veges and meat (protein). Also allowed small treats of rambutans and mangoes.

I have to do another BSP test in 2 weeks. We'll see if I can keep my sugar level at a steady low.

p.s.: Doc did a scan and said baby is probably a girl. But she also added "kalau keluar lain, tak tau lah". So what that means is it looks like a girl but there's the chance she could be wrong. Well, although not 100% sure, it's better than not knowing at all. At least now I have a reason to bring out all the girly clothes that I've been keeping for 8 years (yeah, hand-me-downs of jie-jie K). Can't believe I've been hanging on to them for so many years.