God is Watching

 JZ: Mommy, koko is playing with the knife!

JM: Where got?

JZ: You are always telling a lie, lie, lie!!  Remember, god is watching. God is watching us from up there! God gave us eyes, nose and mouth! (I'm not sure where he learnt that God is up there and watching us??)😄😄

Cherries - 25 Feb 2019

One fine night, during our pillow talk:

JM: Mommy, can you buy cherries for me to eat? I really like it when I first ate it at uncle's house.

Mommy: But I've bought you cherries before when you were younger, do you remember?

JM: That was so many years ago Mommy! That's in 2013!!  (2013 was the year he was born) How can I remember the taste from so long ago!!! 😁

Billy - 22 Feb 2019

One night, during our pillow talk:

JM: You know Mommy, today Eugene woke up and went to fight with Billy.  And he woke me up.
Mommy: Why did Eugene fight with Billy?
JM: Huh?
Mommy: What happened? Why did Eugene go over and fight with Billy?
JM: What?
Mommy: You said Eugene woke up, and then went to fight with Billy
JM: No, he didn't fight with Billy. He went to fight with a boy, but I don't know his name. There's no one called Billy in school. 😅
JZ: Mommy, why did Billy wake up and fight with Eugene?
JM: No, its Eugene who woke up and fight with a boy.  But it's not Billy!  There's no one called Billy! 😂


Then the next night, during pillow talk again:

JZ: Mommy, why did Eugene wake up and fight with Billy?
JM: There's no one in school called Billy
Mommy: But you said billy yesterday, both "didi" and me heard it
JM: Just forget it Mommy!  😂

How was your day? - 29 October 2018

Ever since my boy entered pre-school, I used to ask him, "How was your day today", "What did you do today?", "Did you have fun in school today?".  He would give me a short answer of "Yes".  But occasionally he would elaborate further only during our daily routine pillow talk time.

Then one fine day, he started to ask me about MY day too.😲

JM: Mummy, tell me about your day today
Mummy: There's nothing to tell, nothing special happened.
JM: But I heard you telling daddy about your day in the car
Mummy: Oh I was just telling daddy about my plans for the next day.  It wasn't about my day today. Nothing special happen so I have nothing to tell you.
JM: Okay. (And then he goes on to tell me about his day.)
.....
JM: And then I had half boiled eggs, and then I did my drawing...
(I was quite surprised the school serve half boiled eggs) 
Mummy: How did your half boiled eggs look like?
JM: Eggs cut into half lo
Mummy: Oh, that is a called half of a "hard" boiled eggs.  Half boiled eggs are different
JM: Oh okay, I had half of a hard boiled eggs then


On another occasion:

JM: Mummy let's pillow talk.  Tell me about your day
Mummy: Well, nothing special happened so there really is nothing to tell
JM: Even though nothing special happened, I still want to hear about your day. Come on, tell me
Mummy: Oh well, okay. 😊

What's Cooking? - 27 October 2018

Two boys found some new fun in two mini tubs from my laundry - having one each.  They used to imagine them as fireman helmets only.

But today, the boys started taking apart their toys and throwing every little thing into the mini tubs to "cook", e.g. cars, puzzles, balls, bus, papers, necklace, coins, anything they can get their hands on...

JZ: I'm cooking, put some salt, some sugar, some pepper.  Its still hot (...and he continues on stirring his "pot" with a ruler)

JM: Let's add pepperoni, ...(we never had pizza together, how did he think of adding pepperoni?!)

Mummy: What are you cooking?

JM: Ming Tien Char Kuey Teow la! (Funny that he related it to Ming Tien, which is a food eatery place that we often do our takeaways 😁)

JZ: I'm cooking cookies

Mummy: You "bake" cookies dear

JM: Mummy, its Loke Kee Chicken Rice Cookie 

(Loke Kee Chicken Rice is his favorite food from Ming Tien)

Mummy: What? Loke-Kee Coo-kie?!?

JM: Yes, chicken and cookies!

.....

JZ: Come on mummy, its ready! Where's the spoon? (he went looking for a laundry detergent scoop that I let them play with)

JM: Time to eat mummy!  Quickly come.

Mummy: Ok, coming

JZ: Open your mouth (mummy goes ah, and takes a mouthful)

I pointed to my chin, mimicking him when there are food spills around his mouth.  JZ very promptly takes the spoon (the scoop) and catches the spill from my chin 😆

Then I take the scoop and knocks (the spoon) on the corner of the tub to ask for more, again mimicking him when he's impatient at the table.  JZ gave me a frown and said "no knocking!" 😅

💕It was a wonderful and fun family time for us 💕

Tear Free Baby Head to Toe Shower Gel - Apr 2018

JM: Mummy, why didn't you tear this off?
Mummy: Tear what?
JM: There, the wrapper on this shampoo?  It says tear here
Mummy: (Looking at the tear free label on the shampoo) Oh this is saying "tear free", as in the tears in your eyes, not asking you to tear the label off my dear
JM: Why does it say tear free?
Mummy: I know the spelling is the same as "tearing a paper" but it actually means "crying tears" here.  When soapy bubbles get into your eyes, it might sting and make you cry.  But with this shampoo, its saying it won't sting your eyes even if the bubbles get to your eyes.
JM: Oh I see.

😄😄😄

Night Weaning

Great info and resource on night weaning

1. Night Weaning of Older Babies and Toddlers: Mothers share their experiences
2. Ask Dr Sears: Night Weaning: 12 Alternatives for the All-Night Toddler Nurser

Nourishing Bird's Nest Soup Recipe by The Fuss Free Chef

Haven't tried making one of these myself...eager to find out what's the outcome following this recipe.

Nourishing Soups and Teas - Post #1 : Bird Nest Soup

The whole family is coughing, no thanks to the haze.   Itchy throat, sniffling and phlegmy cough. I seem to have it particularly bad. At times my rib cage hurts due to the hacking cough, my head feels light, and even my eye balls feel sore (does that make sense?!)

Hubby bought a box of raw bird nest a few months ago, but i had forgotten all about it, having chucked it into the fridge. I suddenly remembered about it when i was thinking of what nourishing soups to make.

The Chinese have been cooking bird nests for over 400 years, and many firmly believed that it has significant healing properties in terms of improving asthma, minimising coughs (especially the phlegmy type) and generally strengthening overall body immune system. 

 In the last decade, bird nest prices have soared to ridiculous levels.  That is why I honestly believe there is no point in eating it outside because 1. they'd probably serve you the fake stuff, and then 2. charge you an arm and a leg for it.  Unless you eat at the really top end reputable restaurants, AND pay with both legs and arms for a teeny weeny portion.  Even then, I seriously doubt if the entire portion is the real deal (I'm the biggest sceptic).

So the next best thing is to cook it yourself.  i didn't ask hubby how much was the box of 20 pieces of dried swallow/swiftlet saliva - I don't really want to know since it's already been paid for.  I just prayed real hard that it's the real deal, and took out four pieces.  

I know that's A LOT to cook at one go, but hey, we are all sick. When is a better time than now?  And guess what, mummy is going to take double portion, because mummy has to take care of everyone so mummy can't afford to be sick :P

The dried bird nests, before soaking

The only cumbersome part about cooking this is the cleaning.  There is no way out - you will be straining and squinting your (failing) eyesight to diligently pluck out all the tiny feathers and dirt that is trapped inside the strands of the bird nests.  If you happen to have bought those that are not very clean, this will kill you.  So try to get those that are cleanest possible without breaking the bank. 

This is best taken right before you go to bed.  Warm it up before consuming. 


Bird Nest Soup, Slow Cooker Recipe
Serves 4

• 4 pieces of dried bird nest
• 3 medium or large size red dates, pitted
• 1 medium size honey date
• 1 medium size rock sugar
• 400ml water

1.  Soak the dried bird nests in tap water for about 1-2 hours, or until the layers have soften and expanded.

2.  Use a pointed tweezer to carefully pluck out the tiny feathers and dirt in between the layers.  Be careful not to press or separate the layers too much with your fingers, it could easily disintegrate.  Transfer the cleaned bird nests into another bowl with water, and repeat this process 2-3 times.  Once done, drain the bird nests using a sift and pour all into a slow cooker. 

From left, clockwise: Picture 1 - The equipment you will need: 
(A) an extra bowl to transfer the cleaned bird nests, 
(B) a cup preferably with an all white inside, so you 
can see the dirt that has been removed, 
(C) tweezer  (D) a sift to drain the cleaned 
bird nests before pouring into the slow cooker.  
Picture 2 - Get a pointed tweezer, do not get the straight line type.  
Picture 3 - the small slow cooker (good for two servings).  
The cup is to visualise the scale of the cooker.  
It is only marginally taller than a regular mug.

See the tiny feathers and dirt that has been plucked out from the bird nests.

3.  Rinse the dates and put on top the cleaned bird nest in the slow cooker.  Add in the rock sugar.  Boil the water in a separate saucepan.  Once the water is boiling, pour into the slow cooker, cover and set to High.  Once the soup is boiling, turn the heat down to Medium and let simmer for 1 hour.  Check occassionally and stir once or twice.  

From top left, clockwise: Honey date, red dates and rock sugar;  
My SIL bought me some jumbo sized red dates from Singapore, 
thanks Vanessa!;  The cleaned bird nests, see that the strands 
are still intact;  Put everything into the slow 
cooker and pour boiling water

4.  Once the time is up, taste and adjust the sweetness and consistency of the soup.  I made this pretty concentrated, so if you feel it is too thick, add some hot water in.  Do not add cool water as it would bring down the temperature of the soup.

5.  Switch off the heat and consume warm just before you go to bed. 

A pot of concentrated goodness

The gooey, gelatinuos bird nests, strands still intact. 
This is a real treat, thanks daddy for buying!

Note:  Given the weather these days,  I will be posting a series on Nourishing Soups and Teas, starting with this post.  Next post up is on Double Boiled Snow Pear with Almond Seeds and White Fungus.  Stay tuned!

Resources on Confinement Ladies

Breastfeeding Advocates

List of Bad Confinement Ladies
List of BF Friendly Confinement Ladies

Facebook Group
NAME & SHAME Bad Confinement Ladies / Urut Ladies in Malaysia

All About Breastfeeding and Lactation - Starting it Out Right

How much pain and anguish a mother can go through, especially when a mother with endless responsibilities could also be susceptible to postpartum blues?

The following are three handy resources on breastfeeding that has helped me in one way or another throughout my entire breastfeeding journey as a first time mom who experiences lactation issues:
1. KellyMom - http://kellymom.com
2. Ask Dr Sears - http://www.askdrsears.com
3. La Leche League - http://www.llli.org
4. Breastfeeding USA - https://breastfeedingusa.org/

Breastfeeding Basics
Breastfeeding - Starting Out Right - A MUST READ article for all to-be mothers who is determined to exclusively breastfeed their little ones.  The points outlined here are what every mother who experience breastfeeding difficulties needs to help guide them through the challenges of breastfeeding.  If I had read this and drummed the points into my mind, I believe my breastfeeding journey would have been much easier.
How does milk production work?
Nursing your newborn — what to expect in the early weeks
Breastfeeding Information Articles - Great information and quality articles shared

Lactation Issues
Latching and Positioning Resources : KellyMom - KellyMom is a wonderful resource for information on breastfeeding.   I find that any questions or doubts I had on breastfeeding, Google always brings me back to this site and indeed it has the best answers you can find.  The articles here provide very comprehensive advice that are easy to comprehend.
LLLI | The Mother-Baby Dance: Positioning and Latch-On
How do I position my baby to breastfeed?
Help for latch on infant led breastfeeding
Video - Breastfeeding Help Videos - nbci
FALC - Find a Lactation Consultant - International Lactation Consultant Association


Milk Supply Issues
Milk Calculator
Living with Chronic Low Milk Supply: A Basic Guide - MOBI for Mothers Overcoming Breastfeeding Issues has heartwarming and encouraging articles that summarizes mothers' experiences.  It is written based on what these mothers face and have plenty of practical tips on overcoming these challenges.
Increasing Low Milk Supply
Establishing and maintaining milk supply when baby is not breastfeeding : KellyMom

Expressing Breast Milk

Exclusive Pumping – The Best… Expressed!
How much expressed milk will my baby need? : KellyMom
I’m not pumping enough milk. What can I do?
How to Videos on Breastfeeding and Pumping Breastmilk at The Pump Station
Storing & Transporting Breast Milk | Ask Dr. Sears®

Guide to Choosing the Right Breastpump
A Guide to Popular Breastpumps | Ask Dr. Sears®
All About Breastpumps


Hope these links help and please do feel free to share any breastfeeding resource that you have come across as useful.

Happy Breastfeeding Mummy! :-)