Category Archives: Motherhood

Mum Guilt – Pre Vacation

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Well, this past week has been quite trying.

And today, well today had to top it all!

Rush from home to office to the embassy to the office.. we are still on the way back to the office. Took the tram across the city holding a guilty lunch packed in a brown bag with Golden Arches in front of it. No not for me but for Ayden. Yes. Judge me. All you want.

Amidst the crazy rush this morning, Ayden was with me the whole time. Had to pull him to walk quickly so we won’t have to queue long at the embassy or missed the tram to catch the bus in the city to head back to the office. He was tired.

For the first time in a while, I panicked. I guess I was too exhausted to care about anything else except for work and these boys. Up till 4am this morning, went to the bathroom and decided (God knows!) to check my email. We got a check in email from the Airline and advised us to check our Visa requirements. And that 4am was the start of my day, because only then we realised Ayden needed a visa to enter China as he holds a different passport to Hubs and I.

I got all the details, checklists and decided to print all the paperwork at home. And of all days, none of the printers at home has any INK left! Subhanallah. I thought that was it and my heart broke further, when it states that it takes 3-4 working days to process. That’s why we had to make an emergency stop at the office.

I was ready to bring on the waterworks at the Embassy. Our flight departs at 6pm the next day, we literally only have less than 24hours to get hold of a Visa for this toddler of ours!

When we got to the embassy, there were not too many people just as yet. Luckily they have forms there to fill up and a copier to make copies of any relevant documents. The normal cost for a Holiday Visa to China was from $109.50. We had to fork out $209 altogether for a rush visa! OMG. i never had to pay that much for a Visa before. Well, whats done is done.

So we arranged for Ali to pick up the Visa the next morning. And finally, we can check in for our flight to Shanghai with a quick pit stop to Singapore for a wedding.

Virus

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4 days ago, Ayden got home from Childcare with a 39.5 fever. Weak and with no appetite after his evening bath, he slumped on the couch. Next minute, he threw up all over it.

And here I go, INDEED. Not long before the childcare virus got on to him. A day later, Hubs got the virus but he was worst off. His body practically shuts down on him, he couldn’t even lift a finger, he was that weak. He was bedridden for a couple of days.

Exhausted is an understatement. Cleaning up after every vomit, every hour, everywhere. Pulled an arm muscle from Ayden’s clinginess and asking to be carried everywhere. Every 15mins, he kept wailing that his stomach is in pain. His poor appetite doesn’t help either.

Here I am trying to coax Ayden back to sleep for the fifteenth time in the last two hours, because his stomach was painful and his coughs were disrupting his sleep. We bought a 100ml Neurofen on Thursday and its 1/4 left now!

Still feeling helpless, like I have got no idea what to do, I’ve been rubbing oil on his tummy, giving him cuddles, hot water bottle, trying all home remedies that Google told me to. His fever has been on and off.

Just too stressful.

We just need to wait for another Doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Because the Husband is still unwell, got to bring Ayden for an early start at work. Payroll day is super busy. Then rush for his doctor appointment then rush home and hoping to cook lunch for both.

Apart from my sorrows, a lil part of me are glad that it happened now rather than on our holidays.

May Allah ease our affairs tomorrow. 3 more days ✈️

Back to first loves.

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What’s life without social media?

Honestly, full of curiosity but it definitely gives me a breather.
✖️ Facebook ✖️ Instagram ✖️ Whatsapp
Although I cheated on whatsapp when I have to call Bibik to video chat with Mum. Other than that, here I am back to basics with texting, emails and letters. Back to writing and journaling of which I used to love.
“Back to my first loves” he said.

My sincere apologies for unanswered messages on Whatsapp (im hardly on it) and social media. Texting me is the way to go.

Back to first loves, also meant for the love of libraries. If only, the State library was merely a walk away. The whole idea of immersing myself with a book; finding my little cosy corner in the library full of character which I feel is part of a good meditation on a Saturday morning. I knew Azura will agree with me on this one.


Ayden and Ali decided to come with me to the Library the other day, Ayden was happily glancing and hopping through the library and picking out picture books with cars and buses on its cover. And Mummy is thoroughly happy with her Marie Kondo‘s books that came in at the most apt timing! Also very excited to try out some kitchen experiments with Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings cookbook!


Marie Kondo’s Life-Changing Magic: A Journal – Spark Joy Every Day, is all about the KonMari method of decluttering and tidying. I am only halfway through the book, but acts of thanking each item before discarding them off, working through categories instead of places and most interestingly does the item sparks joy? If they are not, thank them and discard them. You’ll find it easier to discard them. I am quite a sentimental hoarder and find it quite effective using the KonMari method to declutter my clothes. With her method, folding is one of the highlights and the way to go. She can fold anything and everything. And using her method of folding too; you will learn to love folding in no time and find yourself maximising your wardrobe/drawer space! Can’t wait to finish reading her books and as you can see someone love it too! 😂


Ayden’s all time favourites are the Maisy books as well as Spots but these days anything with cars and buses really. And sometimes helicopters or aeroplanes too. Like any active toddlers, his attention span can for from 5mins to 0 in a second! Some mums are lucky enough to incorporate bed time storybook routine, for me, I’m just content if he sits with me reading a couple of books a day without any distractions. Our goals for 2018!

 

xoxo

ana

Ayden’s Pooh Party {Long Overdue}

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It’s almost 6am. And I can’t go back to sleep.

I realised I haven’t document anything about Ayden’s First Birthday! Indeed it’s long overdue my apologies! 10 months!

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Because I am practically obsessed with Winnie The Pooh naturally Ayden is showered with anything Pooh since the day he was born. No guesses why the theme of the party is Winnie The Pooh.

We practically DIY his birthday favours for all the attendees. Ordered the wooden honey sticks from EBay, jars from IKEA, tubs of Honey from the local supermarket, fabric from Spotlight and print the “HUNNY” labels from home! The husband did that so it was great! I think from a less crafty couple, we did quite well as a team!

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We opt for simple decor; hunny gold foil balloons from EBay, red and yellow tablecovers from the local dollar shop, red/yellow cutleries and plates from KMART. I can’t stress enough that if you are putting tablecovers, you definitely need these babies, it helps a lot especially those unexpected winds! Cheap and practical!

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We try to use whatever we already have at home to reduce our expenses, so we used the light box that we’ve had for awhile and the Disneyland frame we bought from Disneyland Paris which we insert our favourite Winnie The Pooh quote. At my baby shower, I was gifted a Winnie The Pooh storybook and I added that as a prop on the table as well!

We were rummaging through my MIL’s cabinets and found two bowls of honey 🍯 like drips on the sides and we used them to put pretzels and lollies. And found whatever lolly bowls we could use for the party.

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Our cake was made by Mas Creations who have been amazing to accomodate to our requests! Oh my, i didn’t expect to be that huge! I managed to bake meringues, honey joys and butter cookies with the Winnie The Pooh Cutter i got from our holidays in Singapore.

Our food spread consist of noodles lovingly made by the Mother In Law. While I put together the fresh orange almond salad and the boys have been awesome barbecuing rump steaks, lamb cutlets, sausages and chicken wings! We even had Salmon steaks for our Vegetarian friends. I’m glad everything sufficed and we managed to feed everyone!

I must admit, planning and executing a kids birthday party is very tedious, tiring and can be costly if you haven’t done enough look around.

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First Cake Smash!