Murungai Curry with Sardine

First Attempt of Murungai Sardine Curry!

Finally Mel got me a few sticks of fresh Murungai. And I made an effort to leave work early to cook.

Half way cooking, Hubs join in the fun to prepare the chapatti and roti canai. It took me about 1.5hour for the cooking and finally we ate at 9pm!

It's diluted as we kept adding water to boil but without adding extra curry powder and salt. So we had to top up with a bit of soy sauce to make it edible. Overall not too bad for my first attempt!

Here's the recipe from Mel:

Sardine Curry Recipe

Sautée the onions, garlic, spices 1/2 teaspoon, add 1/4 teaspoon of fenugreek seed, curry leaves and green chilli.

Once slightly cooked, put in 2-2.5 tablespoon of fish curry powder, 1/2 teaspoon of tumeric powder and one cup of water.

Wait for it to simmer then add more water, put in veges and Murungai.

Halfway boiling, put in sardine into the boiling pot. Once potatoes are softened, ready to serve.

Breastfeeding Toddler

Breastfeeding a toddler!

I'm proud to say that my 19-month-old Darling still a nursing champion, only getting stronger. Each night, that's her bedtime routine to have her nen-nen before falling asleep.

Her favourite position is climbing on me, lie on her stomach comfortably to have her milk. Lately she learned to ask for the next breast after emptying one!

Expectedly, people around us are often amazed that why are we still breastfeeding? My toddler is going to be 2-year-old! Let's see what's the benefits of breastfeeding a toddler.

The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.." * The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two years.

Breastfeeding a toddler helps with the child's ability to mature. Although some experts say a toddler who is not weaned will have difficulty becoming independent, it's usually the fearful, clingy children that have been pushed into situations requiring too much independence too soon. A breastfeeding toddler is having his dependency needs met. The closeness and availability of the mother through breastfeeding is one of the best ways to help toddlers grow emotionally.

Breastfeeding can help a toddler understand discipline as well. Discipline is teaching a child about what is right and good, not punishment for normal toddler behavior. To help a toddler with discipline, he needs to feel good about himself and his world. Breastfeeding helps a toddler feel good about himself, because his needs are being met.

Just as babies do, toddlers receive health benefits from breastfeeding. Your milk continues to provide immunities and vitamins, and can help protect your toddler from illness and allergies. If your toddler does get sick, nursing will help comfort him. In fact, a toddler with an upset stomach may be able to tolerate nothing but human milk.

Is any of these benefits convincing enough for you?

18 Months Old, Already!

Enjoying the sun and the greenery :)

It still blows my mind that you're now 18 months old and soon to be two year old within a good few months. Time really does fly, I just wish I could pause in between sometimes.

You've been a real chatty little gal lately, communicating with everyone with your very own language, sometimes Korean, sometimes French. It's such a cute scene when we have to react by guessing what you're trying to mean :) Because we know that you do really mean something especially when you're talking with your serious expression and little arms swinging.

We're implementing manners and you're doing pretty well. Calling everyone very often, learned to express yourself especially to get things you want; learned to say thank you as well. Another cutest things is, you just love talking on the phone! From your toy phone to an apple or an empty hand, you can just pop it next to your ear and talk while walking :) That's taught by Daddy!

We're so proud that we can let u go nappy-free by this early age, such a great accomplishment! We credit that to your PoPo, who patiently trained you on potty. You only wear nappy for day nap and night. Sleeping without nappy is going to be another milestone that we're aiming for.

Some of your major milestones:

- Getting to really love swimming. The most recent swim with Grandpa, you stunned us by lying on your stomach, kicking water and moving your arm at the same time, without guidance!
Later we found out from PoPo that you've been practising on the sofa, finally you got to apply it in the pool! :)

- It was just a while ago that you're learning to walk, now that you're running already :)
Few hiccups here and there when you're learning to pull the handbrake and controlling the speed. Now that you've mastered it :)

- Singing is something that you enjoy too. You love it when we duet with you.
Favourite song of the month:
The Muppets - Mahna Mahna :)

- Learned to jump as you see the neighbour's cats jumping all the time. Enjoying outdoor so much nowadays that you get to say hello to next door's cats and dogs.

More to add on later :)

Happy 18 months old my dearest Darling.

Love you,
Sweet Pea Mom

Medela Service Center

That's a breastfed baby! :)

I'm always proud of myself and Darling that we made the breastfeeding journey through her 18months of age, and still going strong. Though I'm struggling with low supply of late. In the dilemma of supplementing other milk for her. Feeling bad that I'm not providing enough for her needs. Loads of complicated emotions adding into the frustrations.

I'm using one of the best breast pump in the world, Medela Freestyle. It's been so great battling with me through the hardest times. Such a wonderful gift from Hubs. But recently I'm having a bit of problem with the pump. The battery just not charging. Problem starts surfacing right after the 1year warranty over.

Yesterday finally paid a visit to the Medela Service Center in Ampang. After a general diagnosis, it's concluded that the machine is not communicating with the battery. So my only choice is to send it for repair, pray hard that it won't cost me a bomb. Paid RM500 (!!!) for deposit to get a loan unit until my machine is back.

Managed to speak to the service staff for some advice on boosting milk supply. She recommended to take fenugreek, the actual seed instead of powder, since I'm having trouble swallowing the mixed powder drink. About 10-20 seeds, wash, soak in hot water, chew the seed and drink the water. Twice a day. Alright I'm gonna give it a try.

She also mentioned that I should be pumping not more than 3hours interval. Each pump I'll use the massage mode for at least 6mins before going into the pumping mode. Massage helps open the milk ducts and stimulate the let down. By doin that I should be getting more milk than usual. Really?? Why didn't anyone tell me that special technique when I bought the pump?! Well I guess it's better late than never. Tried that for my next pumping session, it seems working well!

Medela Service Center
Lot B2-G Jalan Selaman 1
Dataran Palma Off Jalan Ampang
68000 Ampang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel:  603-4270 1128
Fax: 603-4270 6451
cs.ampang@lacta-equip.com(
Mon-Fri: 10am - 7pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
Sun & Public Holidays: Closed

Happy 17 Months old!

Favourite food of the month: Egg!!!

My Darling turns 17th months old today. Feeling so quilty I wasn't prepared for her list of milestones. Been really packed with the handmade soaps lately.

In terms of solid foods, she's been eating adult foods quite often and she loves it. Of course, we try to limit that so majority she still be eating her usual steamed vege, fish and egg, without salt or any flavouring.

Yea egg is one of her favourite right now. So excited by just seeing it. Keeps saying,"Aedgg, Aedgg, Aedgg!"

She's been playing with hard boiled egg for quite a while. She knows how to knocked it slightly and break the shell. 2 weeks ago, she managed to peel egg for the first time! By a little guidance, she peeled off bit by bit, gently scraped off by nail, and, tada! There you go a nicely peeled hard boiled egg! Such a great accomplishment! She can't wait to send it right into her mouth and take a big bite :)

Mommy love ya,
Xoxoxo

Beautiful

16 Months Old!

Daddy, when are you coming home?

Can't believe my Darling has turned 16months old!

She's totally grown so much. Each day she shows me surprises of what she learned when I come home.
That's the little surprises that keeps me going, especially when the day is tough!

The list is gonna be so long so I'd just try my best:

Enjoying her flashcards!

Speech:
She can say pretty much every part of her face and body. Each time I ask her where's her nose, she'll point at hers then she'll point at mine, and Popo's too.
One of her favourite bedtime story book, A Kiss Goodnight, that I read to her every night, about Mommy kissing Baby from toe to head before bed. Each time we open first page, she'll raise her toe to me saying "doe"; turning 2nd page, she'll show her knee saying "niiiiiii". But 3rd page onwards usually she'll lose her interest and roll away!
I love it when she sings too! Her favourite song: Old McDonald Had A Farm, Elmo Song. She also creates her own tunes and happily hums away. Such a happy baby :)

Potty Training:
I'm proud to say that Darling is officially diaper-free in the day! She'll tell,"Ng Nnnng" each time she wanna poop or pee. She even knows how to use it as a trick to get us to carry her away from the high chair or avoid sleeping! Next we will be training for bedtime too.

Motor Skills:
Claps, dance, sing (that's the cutest singing I've ever heard!).
She can also stack toys with her IKEA MULA Stacking Rings, sorting the right shapes through the hole with IKEA MULA Shape Sorter. Picks up rubbish, walks to the dustbin to dump it in. Keeps her toys into the box. Plays her little piano well. Turning the winnie pooh toy's twist dial with her little finger to make it move.

Social Skills
She learned to hi-5, fist bump, wave to bye, "Muah" with flying kiss, sayang and hugs. She'll be so excited whenever she sees babies and run to them, sayang and bao-bao (hug). It's so cute!


Mmmmmmuah!
Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

You Don't Have Enough Milk?

Proud to say that I successfully and EXCLUSIVELY breastfeed my Darling through the difficult journey of 16months, we're still going strong. It's my mission to help other mommies who's fighting the batter too. Recently found out from two friends who just gave birth, are supplementing infant formula to their babies. Reason being is they don't have 'enough' milk.
It made me feel like I'm so helpless when coming to see all those commercial infant formulas making their way through to the families which were breastfeeding well initially. It's like all the effort goes to waste.

Most new moms struggle to make it past the first few weeks and many stop breastfeeding long before they even reach their personal goals. How is that possible when the majority of breastfeeding problems (95%) are easily prevented and fully resolvable with the right help?

Chances are your baby is going through a growth spurt in the first few weeks, which last about 7-10 days. During this period, your baby will nurse more often than usual (sometimes as often as every hour) and often act fussier than usual. It also often takes a toll on a newly gave birth and exhausted mommy (that's when they give in to infant formulas!). Hang on in there!

What is the best way to handle a growth spurt?

Follow your child’s lead. Baby will automatically get more milk by nursing more frequently, and your milk supply will increase due to the increased nursing. Supplementing (and/or scheduling feeds) interferes with the natural supply and demand of milk production and will prevent your body from getting the message to make more milk during the growth spurt. In that way, after the growth spurt your supply stays the same while your baby's intake increased. No wonder you don't have enough milk! 

Each ounce of infant formula you supplementing = each ounce of your milk supply reduced.
Understand what your little one is doing to your body and you'll be happy you followed his guidance and be able to meet his need.

Be Strong.
Cheers,
Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

Happy 15 Months Old My Darling!

Posing for the camera already!

2 days ago I got to spend a day with Darling as Mom fell sick so reasonably I took leave.

Darling seems to know that it's rare that I'm home with her. She's rather clingy to me since morning. A bit more cranky than usual too. Wanted me to carry immediately after she woke up and refused to be in the playpen even though I was so desperate to pee!

In the end I had no choice but to put on her shoes, send her out to the porch with Grandpa who's doing gardening, at least she'll be under supervision. The moment she turned around and I wasn't there, she started crying. All I can do is dash to the loo, take a quick pee and rush back. Grandpa was inside the house with her as he worried that she'll be the target of mosquitoes. Smile all over when she saw Mommy :)

I love that she hugged me and lay her head on my shoulder while I'm carrying her to sleep. Occasionally she'll look up, gently touching my eyes, nose and mouth (she learnt about hers lately). Or, she'll 'sayang' my face and give me a gentle kiss. When she got so close to me, I rubbed my nose with hers. She just loved this new game and picked it up right away. Came close to me wanted to rub my nose! :)

I'd say that I pretty enjoy the day with Darling as it's really only once in a while. I don't mind the clinginess too! As a mother who practice attachment parenting, I appreciate it instead of avoiding it :)

Again, happy 15-month-old my Darling! Mommy Daddy love you so much!
xoxoxo

Forza Azzurri

I took part in a Euro 2013 bet by chance, kinda by luck too. It's been a while since the last time I woke up in the middle of the night joining Hubs to watch football ever since Darling came to our lovely family, so in terms of football knowledge I'm the most outdated one. Without investing even a tiny bit of hope to win, I choose my final teams to be Spain, Germany & Italy.

Congratulations Spain! And to my favourites Fernando Torress & Xabi Alonso, I am so proud of you! Seen here with Spain Daddy players with their proud cutie kids & family.

It was a special night for Fernando Torres, the footballer won the Euro 2012 Golden Boot award 

after scoring three goals in the tournament 

Xabi Alonso celebrates with his wife Nagore Aramburu and their children Jontxu and Ane

Sorry Italy that you lost the final, but without you I wouldn't have own the bet! 
Oh, did I mention that I won this Euro 2012 bet? I also won the previous bets twice? :D

So... Forza Azzurri!!!

xoxoxo