TGIT

Yes, I love it's Thursday, even more than Friday... been enough tackled errands alone for 4 days 4 nights as he goes to work up north in the field. He's always back on Thursday night. I know, I let him work there. I said OK I can handle them, shouldn't be difficult. He is paid 20% more money there, even they give $245 cloth allowance per year, great saving for our next summer vacation.

This week, I have been busy browsing preschool for Rafee. Time flies so fast. Almost beginning of the 2010. He will start in September,10. I know, still long way to go but I don't wanna miss registration season. Like what happened last year.. he supposed to start preschool last year. But due to ignorant mommy he didn't, end up indulging himself at home, no learning at all. Well, it's o good at least he knows alphabet and number now. He talks too much tough.. I guess he's got more than 200 vocab now..
Back to the business, So far I have got narrowed down the school list with 2 options either near campus or home. Near campus, I found some good preschools. Near house well, it's so so, should be fine for preparing him to wait for K school.
I have figured out typical schedule of my courses so I can choose class schedule for him. So well done..

Finalization

I've been in no-posting mode for almost 2 months. Got no desire at all to share all ideas, happenings here to my sis and gals. I held them off, though once ideas came across and thought of writing it here.

Anyway, I try finally to sum up :

- OTG, I got a job at an oilsands business company. I should say FINALLY after about 6 months trying to find the realistic one and had to decline one unrealistic job offer last month. Implies that I don't need to sacrifice my family unity, that job can be done in flextime and decent work hour. SO relieved, though it won't start till Jan'08. Hoping that they take me earlier especially this time when winter drilling started.

- So, in that case finding a dayhome is urgent for Rafee. Today, I ended my dayhome search at one family dayhome whose a great playroom colorful wall decoration, a lot of toys and also got play area at the backyard to enjoy the sunny day. The most important one, the provider is very friendly and competent as a caregiver. She's meet all my requirements. Frankly, I am so weary of the search. In 3 weeks, more than 10 dayhomes I called to make appointment to visit. To check, to see how are the kids. Are they happy? Is the provider confident in giving the care, the loves. What they do? What they eat. I asked almost everything. I am so glad today, I finalized it.
- On the other hand, I still dream on continuing my geothermal profession here, in the city boomed by oilsands. Last month, I was networked with one geothermal company in Vancouver whose projects are mostly located in Nevada. They called to chat to know more what I have done in geothermal industry. They wanted me to join in Vancouver which unfortunately made me think twice as I can't sacrifice my family to move there just for the sake of my career ambition. Negotiation is still on the way for the possibility to work as a freelance geologist, based in my own home office with limited travel as needed. Neat. Hoping it happens.

- When you google me, you may find I've signed up a number of imaginative social networking i.e. Twitter , facebook, and LinkedIn. The latter is more job related. The former I found it so cool, microblogging provider for instant messaging to answer such questions of what ru doin'? what ru up to? what've u been up to? But the Facebook is SUPERCOOL! It got number of extraordinary applications using some imaginative spooky icons, attractive and more specific actions that can be directed to anybody in your network. In one day, enough made me a virtual
network junkie. Huh..

- I 've bought some healthy treats welcoming kids wearing spooky costumes who will knock our door next Wed. I found a local phone/internet operator here support the Halloween providing Pumpkin patrol in some communities for a safer Halloween. They will ensure little ghosts and spooky faces are safe and happy. I have a plan to accompany my 5yr old niece who's visiting us around the Halloween, holding Rafee with a Bear costume, begging for sweet treats from neighbors. Gonna be their first exciting fun experience.

Little bookworm

Today, we have a wonderful day, at almost near summer end. The sky is clear blue - I think I never see this such clear blue sky here before. The sky is not even tinted with any single of thin, wispy layer of cirrus cloud. That really amazed me when I took a walk to library at our neighborhood this morning. I need to pick up a book that I asked for a hold. It was so nice and warm.

My little one, Rafee starts enjoying library visit since he started walking. I let him walk himself, passing the automatic door and dropping the books to return by the small window close to the entrance. That becomes things he likes to do on the library visit. He goes through the door and normally he will go through to the children book section which is located at far back of the library area. He can remember the way. He likes to drop by playing the computer. I bet almost kids will be interested in playing with a colorful keyboard and tiny transparent mouse, though just for clicking them.

What he likes to get from the library? Flip board books, any books with images of train, cars, fish, animal and numbers. He is also big fan of Thomas and Bob. Hm.. pretty standard I guess for small boy at his age. I am so blessed that he likes books so much, it’s actually what I aimed at.

I introduced books when he was around 3-4 months. I know, at the beginning I felt a bit awkward, introducing books to babies?? Reading him, showing him page by page while he wonders what’s all about, Mommy. In fact, for them books are educational toys as they can play and learn. It stimulates their visions, their hearing and also introducing to different textures. I kept doing that with the hope of he will love to books. I believe the habit will develop later on when he’s big enough to flip the book and enjoy it.

Now, I feel so glad, I am benefited from it. He is never far from books. Always wanna have reading session during his playtime. Never get bored ask me or his daddy to read his books, over and over again. Sometimes I notice if nobody around him, he flips the pages and rattles as if he reads it. Oh.. so funny to hear his sounds.

Hope he will not get bored, or maybe there will be a time he will not be interested in anymore. I don’t know. But I think most of kids like to have someone read books, right.

So, start introducing books to your little ones since their babyhood.

Pinning the Caplang

No need to wrinkle your eyebrow. It means pulling back stick-out ears (caplang) as what Rafee has. Its medical term is Otoplasty. This is a new issue on him. Well, I just wanna share this and if you wish you can post some comments.
So, last week, I took him to a nearby clinic, just for walk-in visit as it was urgent thing to check his ears. It's a been a week, I notice he kept rubbing his right ear and that night he was so fussy when he slept. I was worried that he may get ear infection. So the doctor checked him. This is my first time to see this doctor. He looks like an experienced doctor. He said that I need not to worry. Rafee is OK. I asked why he keeps rubbing his ear. He answered, possibly he is teething as some babies like to rub ears when teething. OK, I didn't know as he normally bites my nipple when teething. No wonder I didn't know. Then, we had the conversation -

Doc = By the way, your son got stick out ears. You are aware of it, aren't you?
Me = Yes, you have a concern on it, doc?
Doc = Well, I just wanna let you know that if you wanna pin his ears, it's covered by the govt.
Me = What?? pinning?? what's wrong with them?
Doc = well it's a minor surgery to pull back the ears, will not harm the hearing ability. You don't want you son being teased right when he is at school. Children are cruel in there. They love to tease on weird thing on other kids.

In seconds, I was totally shocked hearing what he said. Immediately, I realized too, what he said may be right too. Then I bombed him with questions. Like, is this case common here, how they fix it, when the best time to fix it, what happened if it's not fixed, what the psychological concerns, is it common case here and so on.

I went home with question marks on my head. It's a dilemma. I wanna keep it as is, it's God's a gift. On the other hand I don't want my son get sad because his friends tease him. Overall, it may affect to his personality, his health and also motivation to go to school, and other problems that may come up. If I ignore doctor's advise I may regret later on when the kids really tease him. In the meantime, I try to get second opinions for Rafee's ear. I guess, the best thing is to do as early as possible, so the surgery will not hurt him too much. So what do

you say??

Breastfeed toddler

Thank God, It's been a month - finally- he takes cow milk with sippy cup. It took almost 2 months to make him drink the milk with the cup. I notice he even enjoys drinking from it. He always listens to me whenever I said to him “Rafee drink your milk, please!” He voluntarily follow what I said. I learnt the hint, just put the cup around his playing area so he can easily grab the cup whenever he feels like it. Well, what they said is right most breastfed babies are a lot easier to switch to cup-fed. It's proven!!
However, he still can be away from mommy’s breast!! Maybe he thinks mommy's breasts are too good to be left alone :). And so far, he takes breast milk only 2 - 3 times during the day. But, he can’t sleep without sucking my breasts!! Honestly, I can’t do much for the latter. I have no complaints so far, though I know it may not be a good idea for his teeth. In fact most of the time, I enjoy looking at how his face changes when he looks at my breast, asking for nursing. He is extremely happy. During nursing, It’s like there is an electric connection between, they call it parental attachment.

On the other hand, I realize that I am a lucky mom among other moms who desperately want to breastfeed their babies while their breasts do not really cooperate to produce milk for their babies. Yesss, while my breasts are still productive to provide milk for my boy until now, why I need to wean him from it especially when I have no complaints to do so.

After I read a lot of reading, surfing on breastfeeding issues, I realize now, it's a stupid idea if I disconnect that attachment I have made through my breast. I understand that by giving him my milk which contain incredible healthy nutrients, also brain boosting fat (DHA), I not only feed him to grow as a healthy boy, but actually I also feed his brain to grow to boost his intelligence. Breastfeed toddler also provides security and comfort for them. By continuing to breastfeed my boy until he is ready to wean, it helps ensure that his dependency needs are being met, thus providing my boy with optimal emotional growth.

I summarize here what they say about breastfeeding toddler :

• Parents, and many experts, have noticed that the children whose emotional and dependence needs have met fully during early childhood, tend to be the children who are the most independent and emotionally secure when they are older. Child-led weaning helps build trust between parent and child, allowing the child to develop independence at her own pace.
  Continuing to breastfeed can enhance the relationship between mother and child. Because your nursing toddlers needs are being met, she will feel better about herself and thus tend to accept discipline more easily.
• Nursing eases frustration and smooths over many of the tough transitions that a make up a toddlers life. You may find that your nursing toddler rarely has temper tantrums or, if he does, that they are easily "tamed". This particular benefit depends on the other aspects of your parenting style as well as your toddlers individual temperament.
• Breastfeeding also provides calm, quiet moments that are restorative and de-stressing for both you and your toddler. It can be a wonderful way to maintain your connection to your toddler if you must work.
  

Soo.. yeah.. both of us are enjoying breastfeeding, I am not in too big of a rush to give it up. Even when I start my job, I still can nurse him when I get home.

Little climber

Ini dia gaya si pemanjat kecil yang lagi seneng-senengnya naikin tangga di rumah. Dulu saat dia masih 10 bulan, aku tunjukin gimana caranya manjat.. eh sekarang dia dah mahir, ya tapi tetep aja deh aku tetep waspada kalo dia dah lari ke ujung anak tangga tuk manjat.. aku buru2 deh berdiri di belakangnya. Kadang kalo dia mo break sebentar, dengan santai dia duduk di anak tangga, tanpa sadar kalo itu anak tangga nga cukup ruang tuk menopang pantatnya, ya jelas bisa jatuh tho.. he2.. tole2, kamu ini koq makin keliatan ya polahnya..

FIRST THING on MOM vs RAFEE

This idea came up when my hubby was chatting with Rafee, comparing Rafee and his mommy. Gap of generation.

Mom - Started learning computer when 18 yo.
Rafee - Sat in front of the compuetr when 10 days old and happily played the keyboard when 3 months old.

Mom - Got allowance from schoolboard (scholarship) when 10 yo.
Rafee - Got money from Govt when 3 months old.


Mom - Received the first mail from penfriend when 10 yo.
Rafee - Recieved a formal mail under his name from Govt when 10 days old.

Mom - Took airplane flying 1.5hours to Medan when 26 yo.
Rafee - Will be flying crossing Pacific Ocean to Jakarta for 20 hours when he gets 6 months old.

One hot summer day

Yesterday, oh gosh ! It was really hot summer day. It was only 27°C but it felt like 35°C due to humidity.
It was okay, in the morning when I went out with Rafee. It was sunny and a bit windy. Our outing program was quite hectic. First, I drop some bric-brac of stuffs that no longer used at Thrift shop, then to Public Library.
At library, I picked up a book of Mitch Albom " Tuesdays with Morrie" that I requested to hold. This book in fact was referred by Slesta. "This's a great book", said one library staff at the checkout. I can't wait to read that. Other things, decorating books. Why so?
This is part of our big plan this year. Hooorayy finally ... we will be moving to our new house end of this July. I have been dreaming to decorate my own house. To gather ideas for the project, initially I visited website of my favourite TV shows - HGTV . Then, I was thinking why not getting the books from the library. So here we are.. I have got some projects to do for the house.

Around noon, I headed to one mall to meet my officemates at the foodcourt. Well, they are new mom too. Bronwen, a geologist with a 10-month baby girl and Debbie, an environmentalist with a 9-month baby boy. So, 3 moms and 3 babies met together. We chatted, shared stories, asked each other about plan to go back to office. Oh.. typical mom talks. I had a wonderful time and also Rafee as he had chance to see and maybe also to learn what big babies were doing.
When, I went to the parking area, ready to drive home. I realised the day got hot. Phew.. hot..hot.. hurry to get on the car, turned on the AC otherwise Rafee would cry all the way. I just can't concentrate to drive when he starts crying at the back seat - I have to put his car seat at the back seat. Finally, we got home. Though, I opened the window and door in our room, it was still hot. Rafee was crying, I guess because of the heat. I took off his cloth. He was smiling at me, happy .. then fallen to sleep.
I can't believe I will do that here. As since he was born, we always try not to let him be exposed with cold weather. It was the first time my baby sleep, just with his nappy on.

Hobby baru

Ah ada-ada aja kelakuan bayiku ini..



Lucu, nggemesin..

I am coming, weeked!

TGIF

Thank God it's Friday again.
I didn't realise it until I see this little guy showing "Friday" in his shirt.

Oh yeah, that's his daily suit I always put on him, kinda a reminder for me who easily forget days due to routinity as a full-time mom.

Though, today the weather is still not promising to enjoy being outside I and my little boy tried to do fun with the computer.
This weekend not much to do I guess, though we will have picnic with Indonesian community here but again I don't think they can make it due to gloomy, rainy weather.

Look below here, just click the video box, nice way to share video huh!



Note : This video was taken on March 14, 2006.
Normally, when I need to make up the bed I put him in his bassinet.
I had a chance to record him.. he is so adorable..
watch his action!

GLoomy week, but it's OK (^_^)

World Cup vs Stanley Cup

Weather this week is so gloomy, uncomfy for me to walk outside. It has been three days, morning are always cloudy with cold wind. At night, mostly shower pours sounded by thunder.
On Saturday, last weekend my hubby so panicked as he thought he would not be able to watch the World Cup games. He was mad at the TV cable provider we subscribe. They don't air live matches of the World Cup, they only air the recorded ones. Worstly, when he knew that CBC Sport program (note Canadian National TV) and other TV channels here prefer airing live matches of Stanley's NHL so called Canadian Sport to World Cup. Well, it is so obvious, they would rather cover the hockey because Edmonton team from Alberta (one Canada's province) is the winner of the West Region and will be playing in final play off with the East Region winner which is North Carolina (USA).
I still wonder why they don't cover the World Cup, I believe they know that World Cup is World sport, played and faved by all nations in this world. Moreover, we know that population of Canada are occupied by immigrants from various nations. FYI: Canada is known as the second favorite destination country for immigrants after USA. So if the Canadian TV channels take the chance to air the World CUp I believe they will collect more mony from commercials.
Anyway, my hubby is finally happy enough found that ABC covers most of the live matches. That's American channel. For sure they won't miss the chance to air the matches indulging the American which are mostly 50% from South America as one continent where the best football player are from.

Vacation goodies

One of it is passport. Its application was sent yesterday. First for Rafee, then for my expired passport. It was not so complicated to apply one for Rafee.. I can't believe he will bear Canadian passport while mine is green Indonesian passport. We just need to provide birth certificate then whoala he will get one. Yes, for thsi vacation, I will be flying solo just with him. Imagine when I land at CKG airport, I will be in the Visa on Arrival line, holding him. Hm.. I bet an officer will come toward me cynically tell me "Mam, what for visa?? You don't look like foreigner". This happened to my hubby when he came to Jakarta two years ago (his face is a typical Indonesian face). Well, possibly when I line up I need to show up Rafee's passport which is not a green one.
For mine, luckily it can be extended in the Consulate General office in Vancouver. I also ask them to put my address here in Canada so I can be free from paying fiscal fee when I return to Calgary. Talking about fiscal.. I think it's too expensive for Indonesian to pay 1 million rups just to go overseas. I heard Govt will revisit this regulation. Hope they did.

Got an extra cash

Why not, while I can manage doing it at home. Yum huh! making extra money to shop souvernirs for my siblings back home. This morning, when I checked my emails, I got one from the secretary of the office where I worked. She asked to call the chief geologist. I wondered what's up. I talked to the chief. He told me they are working on Buton's project (one mining area in Eastern Indonesia). To generate report, they have logs from previous report but need translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English. Yupe, they surely remember me. I am so pleased to do the job. I think I can manage my time. Importantly, they don't mind to pay me cash.

First Trisemester

Yes, my dear Rafee is 3 months now. Time flies like rocket. Look the pictures below showing how he is on his tummy, though he can't really flip over by himself.

Additionally, he becomes good at cooing-gaggling-gurgling. Well, those sometimes make me smile. I wish I could I understand what he says. I believe I can hear he can pronounce 5 vowels, also some important consonants for calling his mom-dad.

One Fine Day

PUL-KAM PLAN
Yesterday was really effective day, not like other days. Since I have Rafee, my days are just filled with routine nurturing activities such as nursing, diapering, bathing him, and also playing. The latter gives so much fun and incredible pleasant feelings. Especially, when I observe and keep watching his development in behavior and mood changes. I love noticing every movement of his adorable tiny hands. They are just like mini size of adult’s.
In between those if possible, quite often I am able to multitask to cook some dishes, to hang out with internet. Well of course, cook simple ones. Anyway, daily life being a fulltime mom of a new baby is really up and down. Sometimes, I feel bored when things go dreary; sometimes excited especially when I am happy with his behavior or other thing comes up. So what’s up yesterday, accidentally, I called one travel agent appointed by my hubby to get an update on inquiry email I sent to them for my vacation ticket back home. Luckily, the lady there said there was a sale from CX whose time fits with my plan. So within 1 hour I decided to book and buy the ticket from this agent. To make me satisfied, I compared the price to other agent recommended by my friend.

This CX flight gives convenient route especially when you fly with baby who will sit with you. Hm.. talking about flying with baby, I found some helpful links. Overall we need to be well prepared otherwise you will have tiring, unpleasant flight moreover when you fly more than 20hours. You won’t believe you should know the tricks, tips, ways how to choose the seat, to make your baby happy not cranky during the flight, to get around, how to have your meals without disturbing your baby, to manage nappy time and sleep conveniently, to sneak out to washroom and also to breastfeed my baby like me.

Speechless expressions

Guemesin deh kamu !!!

Saat-saat membahagiakan itu akhirnya datang...

Adalah proses panjang yang harus kujalani
Untuk suatu kebahagian yang kunanti-nanti
Akhirnya dia datang juga
Begitu mengharukan saat menit-menit itu datang...

Selamat datang Rafee-ku...
Terima kasih buat teman-teman atas support-nya..

Miserable days

Again about my pregnancy. It's been 3 days I have never ending cough... When I cough, it really hurts my chest. It's so dry, nothing come out so it makes my throat sore and like burning. I hadn't had enough sleep. Worsely, I am suffered from asthma too. What a complete gank of sicknesses huh! Well though the asthma is not really that bad but it still annoys me. I can hear the wheezing sound of my breath. Sounds like group of violists play a Mozart's. A good thing my baby keeps active, keeps kicking me most of the time as if what happens to me doesn't affect him. Oh, Hopefully. I am sure he wonders " What the heck is mom doing.. Hello I am shaken!! What kind of game is it!!" On the other hand, I keep telling him that he'd better come out when mommy feels better.
I am not sure what triggers this sickness. But I can guess it is mostly due to the reduced condition of my immune system which is common for pregnant woman in the last stage term. Besides weather also makes it even worse which becomes so cooler these days. Moreover, I lost my appetite these days.  That's why I become so weak, easily get sick. Today, I am gonna see my doctor. Hope everything it is OK.

Bakal kejutan di bulan Maret

Ya sebenernya sih mau kapan aja dia lahir 'ndak masalah buat aku.. aku 'dah siap siaga. Satu tas berisi perlengkapan inap buat bayi dan aku di rumah sakit dah siap tinggal bawa. Cuma satu harapanku, jangan minggu ini aja ya 'dek bayi keluarnya (^_^)

Lho kenapa sih aku khawatir sekali? Ya beginilah situasinya kalau jauh dari orangtua pas disaat-saat seperti ini kehadirannya bisa membuat ringan beban melahirkan. Tapi kenyataannya aku tidak mungkin menghadirkan mereka disini. Satu-satunya orang yang bisa menenangkan dan membantuku yang suamiku. Minggu ini dia lagi keluar kota. So, mudah2an bayiku 'ni tahu diri ya.. ngak mau merepotkan ibunya.

Leganya, hari ini aku mulai maternity leave. So aku bisa lebih santai 'tuk lebih mempersiapkan kelahiran. Yang dari latihan labour, ngumpulin info, baca sana-sini, telpon sana sini, bolak-balik sms adekku ttg gimana rasanya dan ciri2nya kontraksi (baru bisa ngebayangin aja nih), apa bedanya pipis ama pecah ketuban. Lumayan lah aku dah ada gambaran deh. Lucunya semalam aku nggak bisa tidur dan tiba-tiba aku mrasa seperti ada yang mengalir dan membasahi celana dalamku. Waduh aku langsung panik dan cek apa benar itu bertanda "waktunya". Oh, syukur deh ternyata bukan, mungkin hanya keputihan aja.

Ok kembali ttg maternity leave, enaknya disini bisa ambil jatah max 1 tahun cuti. Serunya, disini selama satu tahun aku bisa tetap dapet penghasilan tapi dari pemerintah bukan dari kantor tempat kerja. Karena selama kerja gajiku dipotong untuk employment benefit. Begitu selesai cuti aku bisa kembali kerja ke kantorku.

.:He is always there for me..

"Tuna, can you feel it?". I asked my husband again to make sure that he can feel the fetal movement inside my womb. He fixed his palm a bit to the left of my tummy so that he can feel the movement. "No, not yet..", he said. Then we were in silent for two seconds. Then suddenly he shouted, " Wow! What a big kick, I just feel it, Tuni". I was smiling at him. "Oh yeah, I feel it too. I think our baby is so excited as we put attention to him", I said. After that, the movement was kind of slowing down for about five seconds. I felt it softly and made me a bit tickle in my left tummy.

It becomes our habit every morning to check and feel our baby’s movement. It is too amazing to miss the moment. It seems he’s got regular biologic time to wake up, to move around or to sleep inside my womb.

I remember, one night, it was the new year eve. I guess it is really not a good thing to welcome New Year. But I can never forget that moment. I couldn’t sleep as I found that my baby was so quiet, not move at all. That night, for almost 3 to 4 hours, I kept changing my position in the bed. Tried every seconds to sleep on my left side, my right side, to feel my baby movement. But I couldn’t feel it. I was so worried something might happened to my baby. I whispered to my husband, telling him that our baby hadn’t moved at all this night. He was worried too, but then he felt asleep again. As I got tired, finally I could sleep. But when I woke up, I still felt tired.

I remember, that night as if my anxiety that night was continued into my dream. I dreamed that I went to my doctor to check what’s going on with my baby. In the morning, I was telling about my dream to my hubby. He realized too that I didn’t have a good sleep. Not long after that, we felt relieved finally we can be assured that our baby is back as I felt his movement.

Now I am rest assured, my baby will always be there for me.

Imagining how my baby is nested in my womb this time (almost 32weeks) is more less shown in the figure on right. (wprc).

She is strong enough to come out prematurely, but that’s not what I want. I want her to hibernate to develop and strengthen himself. Let him there till the right time to inhale the fresh air in this real world.

Imagine in that small room of my womb, when he feels bored with his position he tries to re-orient till he feel a cozy position. He has started to breathe in the amniotic fluid. That’s why sometimes I can feel he got hiccups. It’s really amazing thing to experience.

My baby, I will be patient to wait for you. I am always excited with what you are doing there as you give me wonderful feeling that I will never have if you are not there.