Heads will roll

I think its the PMS. I'm feeling super angry today for no bloody good reason- well there is ONE good reason and I've already prepared myself for a showdown on Wednesday when HE comes back from Philippines.

I'm really gonna TARUK you in your place buddy-boy. Don't mess with me, I've had enough of bending over backwards for you but when you start (mis)using the other staff's kindness and expect the team to cover for you, mean 'ole Office Manager has to set you straight. If my mood is terpleot that day, I may just get you sacked (since you're on your FINAL WARNING anyway). Let me chew on whether we should cover your backside one more time. Hrmph.

****

So after a blasting from me, AGAIN he says

"Sorry I really promise it won't happen again. I will go to the bike shop on my own time"...

and

"I told boss, I will give my 100% when I am here. I already put AJI in the back of my mind"...

and

"Anytime you need me to work on weekends, just let me know. As long as I have some advance notice to tell my wife, I will be here to work"

But do we believe him?

As my Gallery Supervisor aptly puts "He's all talk, no action".

Before & After

BEFORE
Chunks and chunks of unhealthy carpet that has been contributing to Arissa's allergy.

AFTER
I likey!!

Bilrich came highly recommended by 2 family members who had good experiences with their service. Our project coordinator, May, was excellent and it was a smooth-sailing transaction from Day 1. She came to our house and gave us a quotation on the spot and followed up tenaciously. She was on top of all my other extra requests thrown at her.

The only thing I would suggest is to pop down thei warehouse to pick out your flooring AND skirting as the latter is limited in colours and you may not get the same colour flooring and skirting if you're not careful.

They can do your floor on weekends and PHs. We required them to tear out our carpet and fill the huge gap between my wall and toilet door but they got everything completed in 8hours, ready for me to move back in.

The room is looking like a proper hotel room, compliments hubby and I am one satisfied customer.

Bedtime Stories

When I bought Arissa her first 'proper' book with paragraphs of words and pages full of colour pictures, I wasn't prepared for her obsession with it. Up til this point, all she ever does to the little popup/baby books I've bought for her were to chew it up like a little hamster.

But now...she is loving her Winnie The Pooh Thinking Spot series. She is constantly flipping through it, pointing at Winnie or Tigger or Roo and giggling to herself.

I bought 2 books from Popular bookstore titled 'Why Does It Have to Rain' and 'How Do You Hop So High'. Each story incorporates simple scientific facts while examining how young children learn through listening, questioning, observing, comparing, and experimenting. And every story ends with a hands-on activity but she's too young for that.

I started reading her the books last week, usually after her bedtime milk whilst she's unwinding in bed, and now she brings it to me every night. The best thing is that she lies still and listens to every word I read aloud, and then falls asleep without any fuss when I'm through reading and turn off the lights! Like Disney Magic!

When I'm not too tired, I'll do the whole Brit english accent (actually I should be doing American cos it is Disney cartoons. pah.) but when I'm totally shacked and have taken off my glasses I will translate to her in 'chapalang' Malay cos we want her bilingual?!? *heh*

Must say I really enjoy our quiet bedtime together, and I only dream about the colourful Hundred-Acre Wood these days. :)

Me, the Career Woman

Jonathan, an ex-colleague rang me the other day to say hi and we got to talking about our kids (what else). His little bub, Josh Blu, turned 1 on Xmas and his wife, Gloria, is expecting again. "It was a case of Oops, we did it again", he laughingly added.

This was great news to me! Joshy was conceived right after I announced my pregnancy to the office. It was great being able to share my pregnancy blues with an office partner whose wife was also going through the same deal. We shared bibs and bobs of useful (and useless) pregnancy information. And now, they're on to No 2...

I've always felt guilty about admitting this but Jon came right out and took the words from my mouth. "I don't look forward to my weekends anymore," he starts saying. "I love Josh but I get so fu*&in exhausted by Sunday afternoon that I actually feel glad I'm off to work the next day. Its awful isn't it?" I almost died laughing in agreement, I always thought I was alone in my selfishness. To a large extent, I feel a lot more relaxed at work than at home taking care of a tot.

I took leave yesterday because I wanted to spend more time with my 'lil pumpkin who was having viral fever and by 7pm I was begging Hafidz to take me to the kopitiam. Or somewhere in the middle of Timbuktu.

"Dear, I don't think I can ever be a housewife lar..." I 'fessed up. He looked at Arissa who was busy flinging all her blocks and plastic farm animals from the sofa to the floor and shrieking at the same time and smiled wisely...

Mum & Bub

"Stop trying to perfect your children, but keep trying to perfect your relationship with them"

http://www.coolnsmart.com/

Three's a crowd

Had I known the 3 of us would be cozying up in 1 bed, I would've listened to Fidza and bought a King sized matrimonial bed.



From Day 1, we taught Arissa to sleep in her playpen but somehow she'd always end up on our bed, sandwiched between Hafidz & me- her favourite position.

We then tried putting her to sleep in our bed (a mistake but makes sleeptime a lot more manageable with less tears) and then move her afterwards. This worked erratically- sometimes she'd sleep through the night, other times she'd wake up screaming for us.

She was also quickly outgrowing her playpen so we bought her a pretty little girly bed and placed it next to ours. Its an extendable bed from Ikea and pretty large so she can thrash around in her sleep comfortably. Alas... it has now become MY bed. She has purposefully taken over my side of the big bed, right next to Daddy. And she claims her rightful place every night when we hand her the milk bottle.

I think my spine will be permanently bent into an 'S' position if this goes on any longer. :[

@ 16 months

Time Waits for No Man

...which also means "A Sale Waits for No Woman".

With the Canon Sale ending on 2 Mar, I rushed down to Audio House with Hafidz and the Godparents to pick out my next digital camera- the Canon Powershot SX100 IS.

And I am back in love with the wonderful world of technology.


:::Image with no zoom:::





















:::@ 10x Digital Zoom:::





















:::Indoor MACRO without flash:::





















I've used it all of 3 days and an amateur like me is still learning the workings of a mini SLR (the manual has become a permanent handbag item). I'm still slow deciding on the correct settings to pick- Portrait/ Landscape/ Nightshot/ Kids&Pets/ Special Scenes (indoor/fireworks/nightscene/aquarium/snow/beach!!!) but here's a quick rundown of the things I already love about it:

a) Colours are lovely and vibrant.
b) Using flash does not wash out all the colours.
c) Point & Shoot 'Auto' feature is still a favourite for basic use until I learn what the other stuff's about.
d) Easy menu bar and dials.
e) Chunky but not heavy.
f) 10x Digital zoom
g) Pixelated photos are a thing of the past (hurrah!)
h) on MACRO setting, it takes a really sharp closeup of subject.

I must say it is well worth the money! :)))