The Birthday Party!!

We celebrated Felicia's 2nd birthday at her school few weeks ago on Friday, 9 October 2009

Of course, for her birthday cake we chose Thomas & Friends theme, her favorite this year, which we got in Igor Bakery....


The top layer is Mocca Cake and the bottom one is Banana Cake....the cake is too huge for a class of 9 students (Felicia included), so for Felicia's classmates I got them those cute Cupcakes ....

The party went ... as good as you expected from a bunch of two year olds, but they're very impressed with the cake...which you can tell since the moment we placed the cake it's as if they're enchanted and walked towards it like those zombies you watched on Night of the Living Dead and tried to grab and poke at it (we actually had to restrain a couple of kids) and in the end when I asked Felicia to give out the cupcakes and we're down to three left, she told me to "Ma, wes ma, taruh!" hihihihi....




There were supposed to be nine kids, but one of them refused to join in...I think two-year-olds made the best candid picture, don't you think?

From left to right (the kids) are: Joseph, James (new kid on trial, that's why he's not wearing uniform), Felicia, Isabelle, McKenzie, Candy, Nathan, and another McKenzie.

Felicia's very sleepy that morning, so she's a bit cranky and don't want to smile for the camera...



Praying hard for plenty of gifts!


...And it came true!! thanks to all her classmates and Aunties and Uncles for the gifts...

The lil one...

Could She be anymore cuter???


Hmm...

.....


point taken. YES, SHE CAN!!!

YAY!

Oct 19 - 25 week recap:

Felicia got a fever after visiting the decently crowded Galaxy Mall on Sunday, there was a SALE and of course her mom and her grandma had to plot in their visit there. While they were in the shopping trance, I took turns with her grandad (mostly me) to watch over her. The easiest way to do it was to bring her to the "PLOROTAN" ground inside ACE hardware. There were several other kids there but she was already accustomed to crowds and blended in straight away. She even managed to give instructions to some of the other kids who cut lines on the little stairs when she was going to slide herself through. Anyway, fun was had but all until the next day when she woke up with fever! Add to that that we were going to China on wednesday ended up with two trips to the doctor, one immediately on Monday morning at the doctor's residence while the next one was on Tuesday night. Apparently packs of people spread viruses for little kids around. The flu was quite mild too, only different parts of Felicia were warm, mostly the upper torso and she got red marks all over the body that according to the doctor was the 'virus getting out'. So lesson of the week: dont take kid to crowded mall on weekends. The weekday nights will be better as there will be fewer people.

Anyway after we came back from China, she was quite clingy for the first day (Sunday) that she didn't want us to get out of her view, and even on Monday morning when she was usually quite content to see us off, she insisted on coming with us!! So we did and today it's back to normal, yay!

Also we had a very nice martabak with rice yesterday, yay!

Congrats again to Vivi on her birthday and the new BRANDED (ZOMG!) sunglasses, wooohoo!

Quote of the week:

"Ma, jok di-pek maaa!", Felicia, whenever she saw Vivi hugging me

Relaxation

Felicia enjoys massage! In fact according to the mbok pijet that does the round, she is the second kid out of her whole experience that can lie still and enjoys the process, she even gave a contended grunt when the massage hit the right spot! Apparently it's genetics from the mom's family :P

Gaya Lembeng

For some reason Felicia associates "Gaya" and "Lembeng" with turning her head sideways.

Quote of the week: "Ojok lembeng pa", Felicia to me, when I was turning my head to play peek-a-boo with her!!

Updates.... 1st Part

Tuesday, May 26th 2009. Felicia's 1st day at school!

Well, at least for the trial base. We decided to try the PreSchool program offered by SURABAYA MONTESSORY SCHOOL. So that morning, Lawrence, me and my Jakarta mother in law visited the school. Felicia was excited, mainly because they have LOTS of toys.

She wasn't afraid of the other students, who were accompanied by their parents/grandparents/nannies. At one point, we encouraged her to shake hands with this one other girl accompanied by her grandma.

Felicia considered the merit of it for a while, then she held out her hand, promptly shook the other girl's, and then without further ado, grabbed the other girl's toy, turned her back, and played by herself again. Of course, I apologized profusely for her rather rude behaviour, but the grandma said it's okay.

She also still did not know the concept of "Waiting for Your Turn". She's playing the sliding toy, and of course must wait for the other kids in front of her. When the boy in front of her took longer than she thought he should, she promptly pushed him aside, and the teacher had to remind my darling girl that pushing is not acceptable and she should wait for her turn.

Although she's not the oldest student, and definately that was the first day, she seemed more interested with the class' activities compare to other students (of course I can be rather subjective here). She was curious about the singing and dancing, she often looked at us and smiling and we could tell that she really wants to join but still a bit unsure and shy. The other kids...well, it seems to me they barely have any expression. They didn't smile, didn't cry, they played and stayed close to their parents like Felicia did, but they didn't seem as curious/enthusiastic as Felicia.

At first, Felicia refused to speak. Then the teachers distribute cups of sweet tea. She's immediately curious of course, and after the first sip, she gulped down the entire thing and said, "lagi !"

I encouraged her to ask to the teacher, and she stepped forward, and held out her cup and said loudly "Lagi!" I reminded her to be polite and so she added "P[l]ease!" Needless to say, the teacher was rather impressed, since despite it was Felicia's first day, I know she's the only one in her class who ever said something.

By the end of the day, when it was time to go home, I tried to have a little chat with the teacher, telling more about my daughter, but Felicia wrapped it up pretty impressively when she said,"Pa, dangdut Pa!" and request her favorite song back then, Cucak Rowo...(she has since upgrade her taste in music, but that's another post altogether...)

Since then...

Though the trial was in May, the school year started on Monday, July 13th. Felicia didn't join the class she took in trial, she went to one level higher because of her age. Still in Toddler Class, Felicia supposedly came unaccompanied except for the first two weeks. Long story short, due to the fact that 90% of the class went hysteric and caused the rest 10% to promptly follow suit when the nannies/mommies left them in the class, the school revised their policy and allowed the nannies/mommies to accompany them as long as it takes for them to feel comfortable and to start trusting their teachers.

There were originally five students and two teachers, but now there are eight students in the class. It was three times per week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 08:30 to 10:30 am.

Felicia LOVES the physical activities, climbing stairs, and the Bouncy activities.

I know. PICTURES needed. Will try to snap pictures later....

I accompanied her during the first week, but afterwards She was with her nanny.

Guess what, she makes friend already!!

If you asked my 23 months young daughter, "Felicia, temennya dikelas namanya sapa?" She would answer "CANDY!"

I was told that once Candy arrives, she would call her "Feli! Feli!" and Felicia would look for her too. So sweet eh? but there's more...

Now, though Candy was supposedly her friend, and they did share food together during snack time ( I've always packed extra for her friends), Felicia REFUSED to share her nanny. Candy LOVES Felicia's nanny, but she knows Felicia doesn't want to share, so she'd wait until Felicia got distracted and went to her nanny. Once Felicia spotted her though, she'd came to them and shoo Candy while saying, "Gak Usah! Gak Usah!" and waving her hand off to push Candy.

I was also told by her teacher that Felicia has another friend, an 18 months boy called Nathan. Nathan hasn't been able to speak yet, but he loves socializing, loves to smile and approaches other students. The teachers said that everybody in the class LOVES Nathan. Anyway, Nathan and Felicia have one thing in common: They love to play in the Kolam Bola.

They would play together and the teacher said it was pretty obvious Nathan wants to say something to Felicia but he can't. He'd follow Felicia around during this time and Felicia was pretty cuek [seriously, what's the appropriate translations for this?]. Then afterwards, Felicia is able to get out of the ball pool by herself, but Nathan, being overweight, cannot. So Felicia's nanny would help him, and of course, once Felicia spotted that, she'd go to them and said, "Gak usah! Gak usah!"

On last Parents-Teachers Meeting, the teachers shared another story too. Apparently, there's a girl in Felicia's class named MacKenzie. Now, she's not that close to Felicia. But during snack time, the teachers notice that Felicia swapped food with other students but not with MacKenzie. So the teachers asked Felicia to share food with MacKenzie too. You know what she did?

She THREW the food at her!!! the teacher stopped her and asked her again to share it nicely. She threw it again. I was concerned that Felicia showed early signs of being a bully, but the teachers assured me that it wasn't the case, it's just that MacKenzie wasn't in her circle of friends and she never shared her food with Felicia as well. Anyway, I told them I found that unacceptable and asked them to help correct her reactions.

The thing is, when I tried to talk to Felicia about Candy and her nanny, she would at first confirm it. E.g: "Felicia, Candy kalo mau pinjem Sus nya felicia, dipinjemi ya?" She would promptly said, "Nggak Mau!" Then of course I would talk to her about how sharing is important, how Candy only "borrowed" the nanny for a while and that the nanny would still go home with Felicia, and that's what friends do.

And Felicia completely turned deft ear and ignored me. She turned her back and did something else. I found it amusing. For now. Am not so sure if I'd think the same in the next few years. SHE's NOT YET TWO!!

So I thought Felicia's teachers would need to immediately get involved too if they saw something like that happening in the classroom.

The teachers think that Felicia is quite outstanding academically. She can recall the meaning of Chinese words (that I don't even know) that they taught in the school. Also, when the teacher mixed two different kinds of wooden puzzles, she's able to solve it. But she wouldn't do it in front of the teacher. She told me that Felicia refused at first, but once the teacher moved away (but observed her behind her back), she'd solve it easily. Hmmm...interesting eh?

Other than having outstanding academic potential, the teachers thought Felicia is Cuek and Bossy as well from her interactions with her classmates and her nanny. I thought about it and would like to add that she's also quite Proud [but NOT arrogant] as well.

So far, that's what happened at school ... and here's some pics from the Independence Day Celebration in her school....

Felicia's in pink

Getting Ready for the race (Lomba Tempel Bendera)....she didn't win, but she did have great time! The boy in AIG shirt won...

Ming's # 1 Fan...

...is definately Felicia...

I have no intention to return to blogging, and officially still on a break, but I just HAVE to write this down ....

This morning, as I was preparing to go to the office, Ming brought Felicia to our room.  She was busy watching the "(J)oged (Nd)angdut" from his blackberry when I hugged Ming Good Morning (it's a part of my morning ritual).  

But then, while my arms still around Ming, I looked at her, and she's no longer watching the video clip (and take my words when I said almost NOTHING can distract her when she's watching those clips)...instead, she's staring at us ... and moments later, she started to cry!

She's like, "...ooooo, moh! moh! moh!"

She's pretty upset that I hugged Ming!!  

I tried the second time and she's crying again!  then she came to her Dad, lift both her arms and said, "Papa, Ndong!"

Felicia has always been attached to her dad, she would follow Ming everywhere, demanded to see Ming and be with Ming all the time.  If Ming went to the washroom, she wouldn't get a moment's piece and would keep calling his name every minutes until he came out.

But this is the first time she's jealous of me! hihihihi....

I asked around and apparently it's quite normal, usually daughters would get jealous of their moms, and sons would get jealous of their dads....interesting...

I really should consider making a son ASAP....

I Dreamed A Dream

Is the title of the song which Susan Boyle performed in Britain Got Talent 2009.

Another extraordinary person I wish Felicia one day would appreciate for her talent, tenacity, and her courage to pursue her dream, regardless of what others think....

On A Break

Yup... I've decided not to blog for a while...

call it a writer's block (though I won't call myself a writer), call it boredom or simply laziness ... but I'm off for now.

Felicia, however, still is getting cuter and smarter by the hour....

She can count 1 - 10 in Indonesian and English, and in Chinese from 1 - 5
She will automatically say "Shie Shie, Ya" when she receives something or (forcely) takes something.
She can name in a mixed of Indonesian and English the following animals: Rabbit, Sapi, Ayam, Babi, Duck / bebek, Gajah, Bee, Burung, Cicak, horse /kuda, and Gorilla (pronounced GOLILA)
Everytime I asked her if she loves me, she would say "Ya", but then proceed to pat her dad in his arms and said, "Papa Sayang".
She often ordered us to sit next to her, saying "Papa/Mama! duduk!" and pat the space next to her.
She loves getting carried on Ming's shoulder, often demanding "Papa! Ndong! Atas!!"
She loves watching video clips on Ming's blackberry, saying "Papa! (J)oged! (Nd)angdut!"
She's still a big fan of Thomas
She knows (though sometimes still confused) the color Red and Green, which we showed in every intersection with the traffic light.  
She loves watching "(F)ontain"
Last time my mom stopped by wearing a party gown and she immediately said "Bobo! (C)antik!" and then demand her dad to see "Papa! (C) antik! (B) agus!" while patting the embroidery and the beads on my mom's dress.
Whenever I winked at her she'd say, "Mama! No no no!" and shaking her finger, but if her dad winked at her she'd winked back.
She ALWAYS followed her papa around.
She loves sitting with her papa while he's playing World of Warcraft, and once demanded the character flying with VECI instead of getting a ride from a big bird.  
She knows "Bintang", and often confused saying "Balon" instead of "Bulan"
She can sing a long with me to the following songs:

• Bintang Kecil
  
• Cicak
• Potong Bebek
• Pok Ami Ami (She;d ran away before the chorus ended with the tickling)
• Nina Bobok
• Mari Pulang

And she makes clear that while she wants to have siblings ("dua!" she'd say), and that she'll love them, she will NOT lend them her "Guwing!".  But she'll lend me the precious "Guwing"

When she saw Keito, her cousin, from video call, the first thing she'd do was crying and saying "Guwing! Guwing!"....

She's a true Daddy's little girl....more so than I ever am...

Well, that's all for now folks!

Nightshow in Istanbul

I was given this picture shot during my dinner in Turkey. The place used to be a brothel!!!

Hubba hubba

Old Picture

The Princess and The Bodyguard

Book for March '09

'Love means not ever having to say you're sorry.'

From Love Story, by Erich Segal

At first, the words may not make sense; as I told my colleague, if you're acting like an ass or a bitch to your significant other, of course you have to say you're sorry.

But after reading this book, what it said makes perfect sense.

If you truly love someone, you don't need to say you're sorry, because, well, won't that person become the most important reason in your life that you treat him or her with such respect and devotion so that you won't ever slight them? Then again, maybe not. After all, I know how easily it is to treat a complete stranger with exquisite manners and then turn around and yell to your loved ones because, really, shouldn't they know better?

But again, if you truly love someone, shouldn't you accept that person's flaws as well? Shouldn't you be forgiving without having to ask that person to apologize first?

I know that when I quarrel with my Ming, and those incidents are not infrequent believe you me, and he said he's sorry (though sometimes, very seldom occasions I tell you, quite rare really, that the fault is mine), somehow his sorry is not what I want to hear. It's not what I need. It doesn't lessen the pain, so to speak.

Sometimes, what I want from him is to really listen to how I feel about the whole thing, and understand. My feeling and thoughts may be ridiculous according to him, it doesn't make any sense and he even may think I'm wrong, and maybe I am, but above all else, I can say with utmost certainty, that I don't need, or want, his sorry.

I want his understanding; I want him to go the extra miles in not only understanding but also accepting the twisted mind of a hormonal and irrational-at-times woman he vows to love for better or worse till death do us part. Just because. Just because with this woman, it's different. Just because this woman is his wife, his significant other, the mother of his child. Just because he loves this woman.

And that is how I see this book all about. Loving someone without motives. Loving someone just because.

When you read this book, you may get different message, or no message at all. I don't think the author meant to impart life-changing experience for the readers. But for me, well, it conveys perfectly in words what I've been trying to grasp, what i try to tell Ming after we have all those fights that really, he doesn't ever have to say he's sorry. Just Because.

Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema (1836 - 1912)

For some reason, this painting took my breath away....

.......

As of this moment, My Ming, Felicia, along with my sister Vini and her son, Keito, are not feeling well from either sore throat/runny nose or both.

And I have a nasty feeling that I will be the next victim.

My head felt heavy and my throat doesn't feel good....

Oh dear.

Glimpse of Married life (Wife's perspective) Part 2

On answering a simple question...

V(ivi) :honey, can we talk?

M(ing) (groan): sure

V: so, how do you know that I'm the one?

M: (sigh) isn't it a bit too late to wonder?

V (swatting him on the shoulder): I'm serious. After all, you have just broken up with your ex of four years, then within a week you're going out with me and within five months you ...

M: ask you to marry me?

V: TELL me to marry you, you never really ask me, remember?

M: are you regretting it?

V: don't change the subject dear, I'm asking you a question. Quite simple really, how do you know?

M (start to get annoyed): I don't know! I can't point out exactly when or where or how!! No man can! it doesn't make any sense! You read too much romance !!

V: Come on honey, it's really simple question.

M: No it's not! It's a trap question I tell you! why don't you shoot me in the head instead?!

V: hhhh.....

Disclaimer:
Based on actual event happening less than 24 hours ago actually...

Glimpse of Married LIfe (Husband Perspective)

explanation: actions written between * are done in my head and not to be known by persons outside

Incident 1 (aka trap question 1):

V: Honey, do I look fat to you?
M: errr..... *glance over to make sure*.... of course not honey.... *prays that the delay in answering is just enough so it doesn't sound like automatic defense mechanism was activated*...
V: awwwww.... so sweet!
M: *whew, passed this time!*

Incident 2 (aka trap question 2):

V: Honey, do you love me?
M: errr.... *appears to think the answer carefully* .... of course honey..... *prays that the delay in answering is just enough so it doesn't sound like automatic defense mechanism was activated*...
V: awwwww.... so sweet!
M: *whew, passed this time!*

Incident 3 (aka trap question 3):

V: Honey, how can you be sure that you picked the right person when you chose me? Are you sure that I'm the one for you? (or anything that resembles this statement in spirit)
M: errr.... *appears to think the answer carefully* .... of course honey..... *prays that the delay in answering is just enough so it doesn't sound like automatic defense mechanism was activated*...
V: awwwww.... so sweet!
M: *whew, passed this time!*

Incident 4:
please look at Incident 1

Incident 5:
please look at Incident 2

Incident 6:
please look at Incident 3

Incident 7:
rinse and repeat

Incident 8:
repeat the rinsing

Incident 9:
you get the idea
and so on and so forth, the terrorized life of a husband ever so fearful of that wrong answer....

disclaimer:
The names mentioned in this story are purely fictional and any resemblance to any real persons MUST BE incidental. This story is just that, a story with no historical basis and should be treated as such. M stands for Mars and V stands for Venus, you know, those planets orbiting the sun, yay!

*riiiiight*

Glimpse of Married LIfe (Wife Perspective)

On trying to come to term with the fact that your beloved husband spent hours playing game:

V(ivi): Honey, Can I ask you something?

M(ing): Sure

V: When you spend hours and hours playing game, was it because before you got married and still living with your parents, you're too anxious and not pleased with the whole situation and couldn't find a moment's peace there so that after you got married, you're content with having your own family and just want to enjoy yourself and play games?

M: err.....what was the question again?

V: I mean, are you so happily married to me that you feel you can spend hours playing game because you're just that content ?

M: Of course

V (Smiling happily): that it makes you happy just staying at home with me, not doing anything, playing your game and knowing I'm around?

M: Yes, that too.

V (Smiling more): So, it's not that you ignoring me when you play games?

M: Don't be ridiculous.....

V (Smiling -if that's possible-- even widely more)

M: ......I Ignore everybody when I play games

V (NOT smiling): .........

Happy Valentine!!

Today is the fourth Valentine I have with Ming, but it is the FIRST time we celebrate it.

Well, I have to add that since yesterday was the day Ming returned from a week long trip abroad, we did have an impromptu "early" celebration.  If you know what I mean.

But, Ming has, or at least, had, always been somewhat an opponent of Valentine's Day.  As a matter of fact 14 February 2006, our first Valentine when we're still dating, was the only day when we did not go out to eat/watch movie/ window shopping (yup, while we're dating, we went out EVERY single day until 19 May 2006, when I was not supposed to meet him until 21 May 2006 when we got married).  

In fact, we spent that day watching Star Wars III (pirated CD, of course) from a laptop in my house, while at the same time listening to his many complaints on the commercialized, overrated, Valentine's Day.

I didn't mind, am not an over the top romantic myself, and we did go out so much that it was actually a relieve just staying home then.

And last year, Ming was abroad during Valentine.  I forgot what we did in 2007.

Anyway, so this morning when I woke up, he just said, "Happy Valentine!" and I said the same to him, thinking that was it.  And probably a nice dinner later on.

I took a shower and got ready... looked up in my wardrobe for a shirt, and then look down to find a matching skirt, and I thought, hm...that's weird...how come my skirts was pushed to the left side?  and then, I saw it.

A very pretty flower pot with heart-shaped chocolates at the bottom and a nice stuffed animal next to it...

and the first thing, THE VERY FIRST THING that came to my mind was.... "Who's having a new baby?  Who's sending the first-month-new-baby-celebration-package to me and more importantly, what the fu$% is it doing in my wardrobe??  and what were those maids thinking, placing an edible package here?  Are they so unbelievably...."

Oh.

OH (loud Gasp)

Then I heard Ming from our bedroom next door, "HAPPY VALENTINE!!"

I ran and jumped on our bed like a silly sixteen year old girl and hugged him and kissed him and just lying next to him, curled on the crook of his arm for the next five minutes.  Smiling giddily and feeling....content.  

Fine.  I got teary-eyed too.  There, i admitted it.  Am a girl after all, and this is certainly a heart-warming surprise.  

Of course, Ming tried to say his annoying joke, but I cut him off and said, "You will not ruin this perfect moment for me!" and returned next to him blissfully.  He didn't say a word after that.  He didn't need to.  He just hugged me.  

Until he told me, "Honey, I can't feel my arm"

hihihihihi....I know I have to get up then....

We arrived in the office pretty late.  

Neither of us care.

Can't stop smiling since....

Dimarahi Felicia....

Kemarin aku pura pura tidur diranjange felicia sambil meluk "guweng" e.  Although I don't think she considers her guling as sort of security blanket, she's still a bit more touchy about her guling more than she is about her other belongings, including her "(Th)Omas".  

Anyhow, true enough, she screamed, but i ignored her.  After all, I want to point out to her that screaming won't get her anything nor anywhere, at least with me.  She screamed twice more. I still ignored her, pretending to sleep.

Then she smacked me in the head, waved her forefinger in front of me, tilt her head to the side a bit, looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Vi, No!"

I looked at her.  Shocked.  Dumbfounded.  Astonished.  Rendered speechless.

Then she said again, "Viiii, no no no no!" with more determination.

and she's not even 1.5 years yet!

Have I told you that my daughter is a genius?

Felicia...at sixteen months!

Yesterday Felicia was exactly 16 months young....

But I didn't get to see her until 8:30 pm since I have to work overtime, and Lawrence is also away to India until the end of the week (but will be back in town just in time for Valentine!! -- not that we have any special plan...)

Anyway, Just few days ago I woke up in the morning and when I saw Felicia, I realized that my lil daughter is getting prettier!!! hihihi....she is, truly.  I love the way her face lit up when she smile, the sparkle in her eyes can brightened my day anytime!.

She learns so many new words, she can pronounce my name perfectly: "Vivi", not pipi.  She sometimes called me like that, "Vivi!!" instead of "mama" hihihi....her naughty dad tought her that, and my mom encouraged her sometimes....I honestly don't mind, because she only said it when she was teasing me while playing Peek A Boo...only this time she did the hiding behind the door then said "Baaa!!" to me and if I didn't notice her, she'd said "Vi!!" hehehehe....And when I asked her what's her dad's name, she answered, "Ming (M)ing"

Last time I asked her, "Felicia, how old are you?"  and she said, "Dua!"  I tried to correct her, saying that she's only one year old, but she wouldn't have it.  

Then I asked her again, "Felicia, mau adik?"  She was quiet for a while, then said, "Mau".  I'm not so sure if she knows what is the meaning of "Adik", so I asked her, "Felicia, Adik kalo nangis gimana?"  She said, "Oek oek".  "Jadi Felicia mau adik ya?"  "Iya"  and at that time, she's not even 16 months yet!!!

She can also said (Se)peda, Tu(r)un, Tas, Hat, Buang, Ambi(l), (Em)peng, Cucu, Mo wes....And she's now in that stage where if she didn't get what she wants, she'd screamed till your ear hurts.  

I tried to teach her to say "No!" if she doesn't like something.  However, usually she only remembered to say "No!" (complete with waving her index finger, copying me when I told her "No!") only after she screamed her lungs out.

I'm teaching her to say "Please" now, but not yet successful, although if she's in a good mood, she'd automatically said "S(hi)e  S(hi)e" if her nanny gave her something she asked (her pacifier, her toys)

She also LOVES high-fiving us hehehehe....but this is purely based on her mood.  She has no particular reasons or under no special circumstances...I think she considered it a game...in which when the nanny didn't high-fiving her on time, she'll smack her nanny instead....

Another favorite past time is to push one of the plastic chair around, and lifting the other...her nanny once said, "Felicia, jangan diangkat, nggak kuat" and she looked pretty much incensed at the suggestion that she's not strong enough that she said "kuat!" while lifting the chair to prove it.

She can't take "No!" for an answer though, we have to explain to her why she can't go to the front terrace after dark, why I can't let her walk (because she hasn't put on her shoes yet), and she'd think about it for a while and only then she agreed.

Oh, and my daughter now is trying to deceive us!!! I should not be proud of this trait, but it never cease to amaze me!!.  It happened first time when she threw up one day and I took her to a doctor and he prescribed a medicine.  The next day while she's playing on her bed, her nanny and I told her that it was time to take her medicine, and immediately, she hugged her "guweng" -- guling--. and said, "Tatuk, tatuk" -- ngantuk, ngantuk.  

I thought it was funny and just a rare event, but then she applied that to my mom when she's giving her dinner, and fooled her!  My mom stopped giving her dinner and asked my nanny to change her clothing, ready for her bed.  

My mom told me that Felicia's sleepy and she didn't finish her dinner.  Of course I told her about the other day incident, so now when Felicia claimed to be "Tatuk" during her meal, her nanny and my mom knows better.  And rightly so, immediately after she finished her meal, she'd asked for her favourite toy, "(Th)omas!!"

Yup, despite the plenty of stuffed animals she has and enjoys playing with occasionally, and despite my efforts to introduce her to Barbie (which she couldn't care less), she's now quite obsessed with Thomas & His Friends.

She's frantic and kept picking up the plenty Thomas toys in the stores and she looked quite unsure when both her hands were full but she saw another Thomas toys that she'd love to have.  She kept pointing out "Thomas!!" to Lawrence and me and giggling...

Already she got two almost identical Thomas (one is bigger than the other and the bigger one can roll his eyes!!), and three Thomas CDs.  I got her the CD after she kept whining after the Thomas episodes finished in the cable TV.

I know, I spoil her.  

Can't help it though, it breaks my heart when she said "uuuuuuu....." and her nose and eyes are getting red...

Anyhow, she loves Thomas so much that when we asked her to copy Thomas rolling his eyes, She did!! Well, not rolling her eyes, only blinking repeatedly...

Oh, and she also know how to handle a pen, she'd asked to "Tuwis" -- Tulis -- and then grab the pen, and if she's holding too far from the tip, she'd adjust her hand and starts scribbling on the paper.  

She also knows "phone"  and always pretends as if she's talking with someone, only she's holding the phone backward, and she'd say "(H)alo ... iya..." and proceed with the intelligent baby talks I don't quite understand -- I'm not that smart, but she's a genius!! hehehehe....

I've decided to send her to school when she's 2 years old, a pre-school/nursery school, but have not quite made up my mind between a Montessori School and another school associated with FunGates

Both use English and neither offer program in Chinese (at least not the FunGates here in Indonesia), but I believe Felicia would do just fine learning Chinese in kindergarten later on.  Another school, Surabaya Children Academy, offered both Chinese and English, but it was so far away on the other side of the city.  Their closer branch is not so good i think.

Anyhow...have started to blabber here....

I'll ask Ming to post the pictures later on...as for now...I really have to start earning my salary instead of writing blogs and reading e-books during office hour!!

Gong Xi!! ... full account on the Lunar New Year 2009's Tour of Duty...

Yesterday we celebrated the much anticipated yet dreaded event: The Lunar New Year...

The celebration started on Sunday night, when we gathered for the New Year's Eve dinner party at Kowloon with my dad in law's families...I brought Felicia as well, and it soon became obvious that she's the most active toddler in the hood....She walked around, she tried to follow where other kids are doing (including going to the stage), she danced when she saw the barongsai, she screamed when Ming won't give her sampler of the first dish (to the amusement of Ming's cousins...)

Speaking of cousins, I still haven't remembered all the cousins name from Ming's dad's side...come to think of it, I don't remember the name of all the uncles/aunts from his side...then there are their respective wives/husbands...then their children (Uncle N, does he have four or three children, that dude over there, i've seen him several times, whose child is he?  Uncle X or Aunt Y??)  then their children's spouses...then their grandchildren...FYI, my dad in law is from a family of 9 brothers and sisters...(my mom in law has 10 siblings, my mom has 7 siblings, three of them has dearly departed) and for the brothers, their names all start with Wen-something..., oh but I do have to mention that three of them has distinctive (nick)name: Hong Kong Uncle (because he lives in Hong Kong), Bagong (because...I'm not sure why actually...) and the oldest brother, who everybody called the Great Ogre behind his back.  I'm not going to speculate why.

Anyway, after the night of celebration, the next morning we started the Tour of Duty from my parents in law's house where we had the traditional misoa breakfast at 10 am.  My parents in law have quite a big fish pond and also keep a pair of chicken at the back of the house.  That was the first time Felicia saw a chicken, and Felicia's laughing when she saw the chicken's antiques and heard the noises that chicken usually made.  Oh, and she enjoyed going up and down the stairs and loved the elevator ride as well...

Then we went to my mom in law's family.

Although I'm much more familiar with her family than my dad in law's family (one of Ming's cousins from mom side actually got married with the daughter of my dad's cousin), there's still that confusion over how to call who...leave it to the chinese to have every name for each different relationship; they won't settle for Aunt or Uncle, the way you called your dad's older sister is different from the way you called your dad's younger sister and both cannot be applied to your mom's younger or older sister, which have their own way of calling.  There's Giu Nyong, I'ie, Wa'i...and so forth....I have to practically whispered to ko Ming Ming and ask, "So, how should I call that aunt in red and white shirt..." and so forth...

Anyway, after a very brief visit (which is actually last for 45 minutes), which includes an obligatory KiongHi/GongXi, dividing angpaos and receiving angpaos on Felicia's behalf, plus tasting the feast, we said our goodbyes and headed to my parents.

Since my sisters are not in town, and since my grandmother (who used to live with us) has passed away, my parents are only expecting my family.  So lunch is more subdued, though my dad's younger brother did come for a visit and Cici's boyfriend, who's from a holland sprechen background also stopped by.  Which is very nice of him.  I can see plainly that he's very uncomfortable coz he's never been to such visit, and there's only my dad who accompanied him.  and my mom.  not exactly how a 21 year old guy would imagine spending a holiday.  

So the effort is well noticed and appreciated, Aldo ;)

Anyway, after the lunch in my parents' house, we all drove to my granddad from my dad's side home.  well, not exactly his home, rather my cousin's home where my granddad stayed during his visit in Surabaya.  This would be the first time he saw my Felicia, his great-granddaughter, as he has been in central java in the past two years.  Felicia made a great impression as usual.  She is really not afraid of the dog there, and in fact when the dog hid under a chain, she tried to reach him, coaxed him out and gave something to him.  The dog is bigger than our poms and reach her chest, but she's not afraid at all...

Anyways, after that visit, we took a deep breath, and went home at 2:15 pm.

All of us got a nice, long nap, and when we woke up, it's already 6pm.  We took a shower and got ready for the last visit to my mom's family.  

We gathered in our Aking's house (that's how we called the wives of my uncles from my mom's family side, which is different from how the wives from Ming's uncles from Ming's family side).  Felicia met my cousin's daughter, who's two months younger, and have a very pretty eyes.  She extended her hands when I asked her too, but Karen didn't want to shake hands with Felicia...or perhaps she doesn't understand yet.  For the first ten minutes, they became the centre of the attentions, since last year both of them are only babies who's doing nothing but sleeping and crying and now they're babies who started walking, managed to make a mess out of everything, screaming, and cooing baby talks.  

Then more cousins arrive, more uncles and aunts, my cousins' cousin, and my cousins' fiances/girlfriends, my cousins's children and their respective boyfriends/girlfriend and so forth...

Surprisingly, this time, they really do not have something bad to say.  Which is weird since last year they still managed to comment on my weight, Felicia's (lack of) hair and nose.  But this year, they are all very well-behaved I must say.  

Anyway, one thing that my mom's family know how to do it right is how to make the spicy sauce.  Which is the most anticipated dish really.  I think that if Ming's family is what you'd call a Totok Family, mine is leaning toward peranakan, so the dishes are more decidedly indonesian.

Starving as we were, we're waiting patiently until the Sambal is ready, served in a huge cowek in the middle ( I should have took pictures!!).  It was Sambal Terasi Terong, with just the right degree of spiciness that can make you sweat just enough and sent tingling sensation to heightened your senses.

Anyway....after the dinner and desert (es puter), we went home, and so ended the holiday which is more like a hard working day for us.  

Now...as usual, a couple of days before the celebration, all wives would sit down and distribution the angpao's money, and by the end of the celebration, all moms sit down and start counting money and so was I.  And this year, I don't actually need to count to know that I may actually lose money: the money I gave away is far more than the money I received.  But it is really not a bad thing, I actually felt sincerely pleased because I know that the money I gave away is for our parents and grandparents.  The money I gave away for cousins and cousins's children have significant returns I must say hahahahhaa....

Felicia got a lot of angpao, far more than Ming and I used to get, but since she's still 16 months, to my dismay she usually threw away the red envelopes once she received them.  She also refused to do Gongxi although she knows how.  

But in overall, we're happy to see how much she learnt and how much she has grown and how she's interacting with other people (she's the boss, and she makes sure everyone knows it).  

In overall, it has been a good visits, especially since Ming has decided to cooperate and only one time he asked me why we're doing this ( I said because we have to, and decided not to respond when he wailed "But why??").

I was also ready to go to my mom's family celebration at night alone with my parents, but he gamely joined us, which is a pleasant surprise indeed.

Now I was thinking if next year would be easier if we bail to Singapore....(could be cheaper too!!) ...   

History in the Making

Last night I watched CNN, live coverage of President Barrack Obama's inaugurial speech.  At first I planned to sleep early, but me mom called and told me about the ceremony.  I started watching from 10 pm and it went on and on and on....

And when he delivered the speech...it's all worth it.  

I didn't watch it because he's the first African American to be president ( I often wondered how convenient it is for people to forget about his white mother), but I watched it because, regardless of the color of his skin, he seems to be truly, one great person.  A true leader, someone trustworthy, with integrity, and mindful of others.  It's like, he should be a reverend, or spiritual guru, or write a self-help book.  Definately not a politician.  that's for sure.

And his speech....Oh my, it was perfect.  I have never been the one who's interested in politics, but after hearing his speech, it made me want to stand up and said, "YEAH!!"  and proud about being American...until a second later I realized that I'm not an American.  and he's not my president.  

Anyway, I have no favorite line from the speech, and I equally love his " Yes, We Can " victory speech last November 5th, 2008 in Chicago (it's 3 parts! -- if you want to jump to the exciting part, you should go to part 3, but you'd appreciate it more when you listen from the start) 

But as I listened to him, I remembered how my mom always told me how great of an orator President Soekarno was.  How when he delivered his speech, everybody from the most educated and from the rickshaw drivers, all stopped and listened from the radio.  

Having to endure President Soeharto's so-called speech (reading directly from the transcript, without any eye contact) which was on air in all television stations, both private and public ( I imagine the Ministry of Information put a gun behind the stations' owners to force them to air it), I have always been curious about it.

And when President Obama gave his speech, I know that I have to make sure Felicia will have the opportunity to listen to it.  After all, I hope one day Felicia will read this blog, and understand a little bit more about her mom, about who I am as a person, what I like and dislike, and what I considered important.  And this, is important.  

He personifies hope and defiance of what people deemed impossible.  

And although he is not my president, and we do not live in America and we're not American, I can't help but thinking, Yes, I want Felicia to know that She Can too; not only having dream, but also make it come true.  I would not laugh if she said she wants to be President, or Austronout, or Writer, or Journalist, or Teacher, or perhaps even, a Librarian.  

Yes, She Can.

Some quotations from his inaugurial speech...

" ...we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — ...who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

"But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

"They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."

And of course...

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

Felicia, listen to what Mr. Obama has to say!

Happy New Year!!

Lawrence, Vivi, and Felicia
Would like to wish you

A Happy New Year....

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