Thursday, December 13, 2007

Update On Umar&Zaky..


Been a while forgetting that this blog exists...FP has taken it all I suppose. :-P
Umar is now 4yrs 4mths, & Zaky 1yr 5mths.
I can't remember to details what Umar has achieved since his last achievement on something. The latest one is he finished Iqra' 1 last weekend. Alhamdulillah..Now on Iqra' 2. We were away for 5 wks, so after coming back, we restart again. This Iqra' thing has to be a constant thing which is hard for Mummy, esp with Zaky trying on anything and everything since he started walking few mths ago. Umar decided to get his 1st GeoTrax train as a reward for finishing Iqra' 1. GeoTrax by FisherPrice, started on tele while he was away in M'sia/S'pore. When he came back, he started to hook on this new train! (While I'm writing this, Umar was saying I should write "I started to watch it at 'What's New On Demand"..) Adoii...kena ajar lah pulak apa nak tulis!!...Alhamdulillah he's better & better at reading. And today on the way walking to his school fr the car park, he was counting 1-100, then by 10s, then by 100s for the 1st time. He managed to finish 100s to 1000, and he was so proud of himself that he can count to 1000 (as he told his teacher in the class! Teacher just looked at me, and I said yes..by 100s..) Previously Teacher Mary asked him to read with her the big story book to the class, and first time teacher Mary knew he can read well. Mummy does not want to tell everybody of course..Don't let other Mums worried that their children is still learning. Of course some Mums did ask me on how he can read that early... actually earlier..:-P since he's 3 (Alhamdulillah..) But with those achievements, becoming 4 yrs old...he got lots more to say in anything and everything...It is harder to get him to do anything! Lotsa his activity, colouring, writing books been forgotten!...Hhhmm...Mummy just go with the flow. Whatever I can...for this boy to learn before he starts Kindergarten at real school in Sep 08. A number of times Mummy got frustrated as knowing he can do much more, but he doesn't want to do it. Being a preschooler, Mummy really have to be patient if I want him to learn anything. And trying to get him interested in something that we want, is not easy. It's even easier to get him interested in Starfall.com at 2+ yrs old!...Now I understand the parents saying that it's becoming more harder, complicated in different ways when the children getting older, and older.. (Many incidents of forcing him on reading Iqra' would make unpleasant situation to everybody! Crying and all..If he doesn't want to read, hhmmm...better try another time...kdg2 geram jugak!!..:-P)
And Zaky...he can call "Mummy" properly now!!..since 2 wks ago. He can already call Ayah a long time ago! :-P even Umar!..Zaky basically can understand what we'r saying, & simple instructions..He talks a lot, but 99% is like in German!..So funny!..Mcm real aje...bercerita, membebel...We tend to imitate him, but we shouldn't, we should speak to him properly...Which is what we r trying now, so he can speak properly soon. I remember Umar can speak a lot more when he's at 1 1/2 yrs old. But what Zaky can say most is..."O-oo" if something goes wrong, or mostly he does it himself! :-) "Yesh, yesh".. or "No, no, no!" (geleng2 kepala mcm nak pusing kepala!) Especially the part what he wanted to eat!!.. Choosy at times...Even different type of cereals he's fussy about!..And making a mess on everything in da house!! Urrgghhhh... Ni part paling tak tahan!!!! Zaky!!!!!! Urrgggghhhh!!!...
Another thing, whatever Umar does, he would like to do the same thing. So whenever doing something with Umar, Zaky has to have about the same thing, same papers, markers, crayons.. And having Umar&Zaky now...Lotsa books are torn, toys damaged etc (Zaky lah!!!). Mummy not used to it, but now have to!...If Mummy wants Umar to achieve/learn a little something, have to let go some other stuffs been done by Zaky! Getting used to all the mess, torn papers, story books, even writing on the sofa, wall, carpet!.. Zaky!!!!!!...Arrrggghhhh!!!!....#!#!#!#
With Zaky...seemed like he does lotsa things, explore things by himself most of the time. Because Mummy have 2 to look after...It's different fr Umar when we got lots of time only for him until he's nearly 3. We hope Zaky's going to be more independent in the future.. will he?..We just wait and see. :-)
We love you Zaky..We love you Umar!..

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

of Monosodium Glutamate


Could not make it to prepare pasta soup on time for Umar's lunch...(yeah..sometimes Zaky took Mummy's time more than normal!..:-P)..so Mummy just prepared him the instant vermicelli of Ayah's favourite, also becoming the family's favourite-fried onion flavour. Put half of the 'perencah' for this toddler..
While eating it, Mummy asked him to have some. So I told him, one packet is too much for you. What he answered..?..

"Why Mummy?..Is it if I finished them all, it's going to be too much MSG?"

Terkejut jugak Mummy dengar... Just once the other day, may be I just told him that we should not eat too much instant noodles coz they all got MSG, and MSG is not good for our body.
So what you said will me reminded back!..hahahahahhaa...:-)

August 5, 2007 Kiddos and their language


Of 4 different occasions:

1) Mummy was getting Zaky ready, putting on lotion, cream (all sorts!), nappy..., While Umar was next to us with Zaky's lotion on his hand and applied it on his feet. Mummy just watching him and told him not to use to much. He massage his feet with the lotion, and after he finished he said, "Now I fixed my bones."
Mummy, "Ha?..." What is it? What did u say?.."
Umar, "I already fix my bones in my feet"..
Mummy, "How do you do that?.." Mummy already know what he meant, lotion did the job...but curious to know how he's gonna explain it.
Umar, "When I put the lotion, my bones are getting better, I fix it." (Mummy thought so...Hahahaha.....)

2) Zaky in the bath playing with the water in pail and the toys. Mummy left him for a minute to check something in the kitchen. When Mummy's back..Umar was there and he said, "I water Zaky so that he will grow." (budak..budak..)
Mummy then replied, "I think Zaky's not a plant Umar, he needs food and drink to grow. We only water the plants"

3) Tiba2 terlupa lah pulak... (remember again after weeks..)
Umar pulled out the toy club from its head, and use it to play. He put parts of wooden train blocks (that got hole in it) thru the club stick, various colours and shapes. And he came to me..
"Mummy I'm cooking kebab.."
Mummy,"What kind of kebab is that?.."
"It's fruit kebab...Which colour you like Mummy?.."
Mummy, "The yellow one..what fruit is that?.."
"I think it's lemon. Good choice Mummy, it has vitamin J,K and L" (hahahaha....)
When we talk about food and their vitamins and what it is for, he always ask other vitamins than the usual ones, A,B,C,D,E.
I think he still assume vitamins are from A-Z!
Umar, "I want to keep this for Ayah when he comes back from work.."

4) We were doing some colouring together in Thomas Colouring book. And he was colouring the moon with blue crayon. So Mummy asked him, "Why your moon is blue Umar?"
Umar, "When the white moon did not come out, the blue moon will come out"

July 18, 2007 "Who will marry me Mummy..?.."


Yesterday at the dining table...Mummy was having early dinner, and Umar was eating cereal without milk as his snack. Mummy trying to make him finish his snack before we go out to play. So we were talking about food, food gives energy, all sorts of vitamins etc, African people without food...at this topic, Umar will always say...
"African people, they only have beans to eat...And they have no toys to play"..
"Yes Umar", Mummy replied. "And you should be thankful that Allah gives us food to make you strong. Allah can make your bones strong you know.."
Then Umar answered.."Allah make our bones?.."
"Yes..And Allah create us Umar.."
"So Allah make you. .....And you marry Ayah. ...And who will marry me?... I don't have anyone to marry me Mummy."
Hehehehehe....ketawa Mummy dalam hati!...And I smiled at him at his frowning face! (serious mukanye! Takde org nak kahwin dia!..Hahahaha...)
"Don't worry Umar...It's not the time yet. U got school and lots of things to do first..."
"I want Ayah to marry me...and you marry Zaky Mummy."
iyelah tu Umar... Ayah saje favourite dia!..
After few minutes, both of us finished our food and ready to go out with Zaky (was trying on Umar's crocs as always! hehehe.. We'll get you one when the smallest fits you ok.. )

June 2007 Of Allah & Rezeki


One conversation with Umar few days back that Mummy cannot forget.
I was helping Umar to put up his underpants and trousers quickly since Zaky is screaming at the top of his lung in his cot as Mummy left him for few minutes to help Umar in the bathroom..(Zaky is good at crying so loud! when sleepy and wanted Mummy to dukung him to sleep! Urrgggghhh....Day and Night!)
While Mummy's mind is on Zaky and trying to tell Umar 1,2,3 things that he need to do after finished in the bathroom. So Mummy spoke fast and loud (while saying.."Listen..Umar! Listen! ..coz he never stop talking, and talking!..) And just after I finished the instructions to him in less than a minute may be (like a bullet train-tetetetetete...-trying to get back asap to Zaky that is still screaming!..) then Umar said seriously!..

"Mummy...Don't speak too fast and too loud...Because Allah won't give you rezeki,...if we speak to fast and too loud." (with very serious face staring at Mummy's face! )
Mummy's reaction -terkejut at first ..and Hahahahaha...nak ketawa, but I did not...try to be serious... So Mummy goes,
"Really..?.."
"Mmmm...I think you'r right Umar.." (It did..hit me hard!...I shouldn't shout to my toddler!...Too many of these incidents previous week (coz Umar hardly listen to what Mummy told him to do!!! )...that is why Umar cannot stand it!.. (Hey! Your Mummy cannot stand you not listening to Mummy too!!!!..)
Mummy trying to look at it positively...
"Ok Umar..I'm sorry..I try not to shout at you ok...But can you please listen to what Mummy say....And you know what....If you don't listen to your Mummy, Allah won't give you rezeki too...And you cannot buy anymore toys.."
So Umar goes.."OK Mummy..." with frowning face.. (But Mummy knows Umar still Umar... Just wish he's gonna listen better..)

Umar actually using word rezeki as we always explain to him during meals that we have to finish our food (always took him ages to finish his meal!) coz it is rezeki from Allah..And don't forget to thank Allah (and say Alhamdulillah..) for what Allah have given us...If we don't finish our food, may be Allah cannot give us more rezeki coz you don't finish what Allah already given you...(Hope it make sense to a toddler!!..)

March 24, 2007 Time Flies

(Just got back here to this Blog after more than 6 mths! even forget the logging in name+password! After all, I think it's best blogging at blogger, not at Space! :-P)

And the two boys are growing day by day..

Umar is now 3 yrs 7 mths and Zaky 8 mths. It's amazing watching the changes/development time by time... A baby, I have seen and experience one when I had Umar.. But Zaky cries so loud!! unlike Umar.. Zaky sleeps a lot less! than Umar when Umar was baby.. Or may be Umar slept so much when he was baby!

The big brother that fascinated Mummy..
Looking at Umar now and 6-7 mths ago... Mummy can see that he can do a lot more now. How much a child can learn in 6 mths time! (This is a child not going to school (Umar just started 2 weeks ago..) and no schedule whatsoever at home! Just trying to teach him whenever there's opportunity in whatever he do!) He can read better..I was surprised sometimes he reads fast! Especially familiar story books. At 3rd b'day he can only write letter A. Now he can write lots of letters, although not all of them. Months ago, he surprised Mummy by writing Thomas's name (with a chalk on the pavement at a playground)all by himself - Mummy only explained to him how to do the letters e.g. T-you do line from up to down, then on top a line from left to right, M-you make a line go up, then down, then up then down again, S is like a snake. So Thomas is the first full word he ever written in his life!
After a few days he's interested to write his own name, which he can do it, except for distorted R at the end..
Alhamdulillah...Thanks to Allah..I really did not put much effort on these stuffs... The essential in early learning..for life!
At 3 yrs old he can read Al-Fatihah & Al-Ikhlas, now he can also do An-Nas (he said surah with Ayah's name!) and Al-Falak. Alif-Ba-Ta, he's familiar with about 13 arabic letters now, Alif to Syim. He did A-i-u, Ba-bi-bu..but Mummy not sure how much has he got that.. (Mummy still forgot to take out Iqrak! Lupa mana letak!!)

Last weekend at Majlis Tahlil in LA, first time ever.. Umar sit down with Ayah all the way thru baca Yassin and all in Tahlil..Until the closing doa. Alhamdulillah... Our friends know how playful, energetic, and susah nak dgr kata si Umar ni!! (so far..But Mummy doa he can listen more to us soon!!!! Amin..) And he can do the Tahlil with us.. Of course with 'umpan'lah.. Ayah said he can get a present if he stayed throughout-of course few times he's asking.. "Are we done yet..?" Kuat2 pulak tu!.. There's about 20-30 adults for the Majlis, and children were playing around.. He was excited when reciting Al-Fatihah, Al-ikhlas, An-Nas, Al-Falak coz he knows them.. Also when 'La-ila-ha-illa-Allah..he did it like adults, nodding the head and all... Mummy doa Umar will be anak soleh for us... Amin..
And for that he asked a present of Hot Wheels... It's ok whatever he wants coz we r so happy that he joined the Tahlil throughout. So next day, went to the shop as promised. We thought he's gonna choose the one that he showed us from the internet (he browse himself..as always..). At the shop, he told Ayah.. "I don't want that Hot Wheels with racing machine because that is for my 4th birthday." (yeah..whenever he saw that Hot Wheels racing machine on the computer, he will want to show Mummy and said Can I have that for my 4th b'day..? Mummy will say...Yes, of course..if you are a good boy.) And he chose the 94 cents! Hot Wheel van instead!

And few days back.. he surprised Mummy by doing the 1st puzzle that Mummy ever bought him (like 1.5 year ago!) all by himself. It was quite a challenge for a 3 yr old. It's a 25 piece puzzle. He nearly got bored before finishing it few times.. But Mummy encouraged him, and Alhamdulillah..eventually he did it all by himself. I told him..Good boy don't give up..They try and try...And he told Ayah exactly the same words when Ayah came back from work that day. Everyday Mummy try to make him do something to surprise Ayah.. be it anything Art, projects, writing..and this works with Umar. Tapi ada hari taknak buat ape2 pun ada.. And he got weekend like us too..Outing, relaxing..
Mummy & Ayah doakan Umar menjadi anak soleh, cerdik-pandai... Aaminnn.. And Zaky too!!

Monday, January 29, 2007

Zaky is 7 months today!

picture taken at 6.5 months old.

Zaky is 7 months old today. I did not realise it until I check my e-mail, which I got the message from BabyCentre.com

Hello Rozita, from BabyCentre! Your 7-Month-Old, First Week
Has your baby turned into a bouncing machine? This game is fun for him now if he can support his weight on his legs. What's more, he can probably sit unsupported, which will free his hands for exploring. At this age he'll also probably start reaching for things and scooping them up with one hand. You can encourage his independence and new skills by placing a toy just out of his reach. After a few tries, he'll be able to lean forward to grab it and then straighten himself again. You may notice him turn things round now, finding out what they look like upside down or sideways. And of course, he'll wonder what everything tastes like, too.Find out more fascinating facts about your seven-month-old.

It's time to introduce Zaky to more variety of food. Mummy is not so keen, as to date he has 2-3 times allergy reaction to certain food. One time was the formula milk. We'll give it a try ok..
And it's time to get you a walker! And can't wait for you to be able to sit on high chair at meal time! Ops! Not so fast...coz we will miss your Baby Time!..
Also today is 10 Muharram:
14 perkara yang sunat dilakukan pada hari Asyura (10 Muharram, bersamaan Isnin, 29hb Jan 2007)
1. Melapangkan masa / belanja anak isteri fadhilat - Allah akan melapangkan hidupnya pada tahun ini.
2. Memuliakan fakir miskin fadhilat - Allah akan melapangkannya dalam kubur nanti
3. Menahan marah fadhilat - Di akhirat nanti Allah akan memasukkannya ke dalam golongan yang ridha
4. Menunjukkan orang sesat fadhilat - Allah akan memenuhkan cahaya iman dalam hatinya
5. Menyapu / mengusap kepala anak yatim fadhilat - Allah akan mengurniakan sepohon pokok di syurga bagi tiap-tiap rambut yang di sapunya.
6. Bersedekah fadhilat - Allah akan menjauhkannya daripada neraka sekadar jauh seekor gagak terbang tak berhenti-henti dari kecil sehingga ia mati. Diberi pahala seperti bersedekah kepada semua fakir miskin di dunia ini.
7. Memelihara kehormatan diri fadhilat - Allah akan mengurniakan hidupnya sentiasa diterangi cahaya keimanan.
8. Mandi Sunat fadhilat - Tidak sakit (sakit berat)pada tahun itu lafaz niat : sahaja aku mandi sunat hari Asyura kerana Allah Taala.
9. Bercelak fadhilat - tidak akan sakit mata pada tahun itu
10. Membaca Qulhuwallah hingga akhir seribu kali fadhilat - Allah akan memandanginya dengan pandangan rahmah diakhirat nanti
11. Sembahyang sunat empat rakaat fadhilat - Allah akan mengampunkan dosanya walau telah berlarutan selama 50 tahun melakukannya. lafaz niat : sahaja aku sembahyang sunat hari Asyura empat rakaat kerana Allah Taala. Pada rakaat pertama dan kedua selepas fatihah di baca Qulhuwallah sebelas kali.
12. Membaca "ham biallahhu wa nik mal wa kila nikmal maula wa nikmannasiru" fadhilat - Tidak mati pada tahun ini
13. Menjamu orang berbuka puasa fadhilat - Diberi pahala seperti memberi sekalian orang Islam berbuka puasa.
14. Puasa Niat - Sahaja aku berpuasa esok hari sunat hari Asyura kerana Allah Taala. fadhilat - Diberi pahala seribu kali Haji, seribu kali umrah dan seribu kali syahid dan diharamkannya daripada neraka.
Semoga bermanfaat dan dapat dipanjangkan kepada yang lain-lain.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

What does Umar answers..

Some of the conversations with Umar that Mummy can remember.

1) Why do you love your brother?
Because he's a baby and he is cute and he always wakes up everytime.
??? The last part because he always disturbed Zaky when baby's sleeping, and he claimed his baby brother wants to wake up. Of course Zaky wakes up and smiles at him! Yes.. Umar is Zaky's idola. Anything Umar does, can make Zaky laugh!..

2) Are you a man? (When his fortune cookies says "Man is what he believes")
No I am not a man. I'm a children. When I grow up, I become a man. (Not too bad answer for a 3 yr old!)

3) Why do you like Thomas so much..?
Because it's so Thomassy...Hahahahahaha.. (he actually laughed! He can be so cheeky sometimes!)

4) What is best describes you? (One of the questions for Thomas create-your-own-story on the computer)
Train.

5) Umar..Do you want to go to Disneyland? (We have been asking this one now and then!)
No. I want to go to Thomasland. (As if there is one! :-P)

6) Who else live on Earth? (he learnt solar system from Zaky's baby Einstein dvd)
Luqman, the clinic, and Dr Tai. (Hahahahhaa...Zaky's paediatrician!)

7) There's nobody lives on Mars (Mummy answered when he asked me who lives there)
But there's Boing-ga on Mars. (hahahaha...Boing-gas are aliens on Mars in Backyardigans!)

8) Mummy wanted to ask few more questions, but when I turned to him...He's Zzzzzz with bagel not finished!...This is his pic!









Saturday, January 20, 2007

Happy New Year.


Happy Awal Muharram 1428! It is big deal celebrating New Year of Roman calendar. 2007 years now. But some people like me! sometimes forgotten that our own lunar calendar (accuracy by nature by Allah!), islamic calendar year. 1428 hijrah years today. Our children won't know about this if we do not tell them. I imagine myself would not remember if I did not get e-mails from people who remember! And imagine the future generation..And I do not remember I ever learnt about the 12 islamic months name! Wish could remember the nasyid by the local group! And would like to teach our children...so Mummy and son learn together!
And with the 3 year old who never tired of asking.. Why, why, why... hhhmmm.... Until our mind exhausted of thinking of how to answer them!
"Why do we have to eat Mummy?"
"Why do we have to shower Mummy?"
"Why this apple is green?"
"Why the sun has gone?" Because it's winter, and the day is short! "Why..?".."...."
And not only that.. Sometimes they say things unexpectedly.
"I had enough of you Mummy." "Why?"..This time is Mummy Why!
"Because you alway say to me, Don't do this, Don't do that Umar." With his facial expression micmicking his Mummy! (I wanted to laugh, but if I laughed he would think it's funny, and he will always do the same thing!)
Children say anything they wanted to say.. Apart from practising vocabulary, sometimes it's amazing how children think. And there's always a why for them saying anything..Some of them are not nice things, but when we asked why they said that..Their answers should be logic...at least for them! :-) So we parents have to be careful of what we say to them. And it's not easy to compose only nice words! positive words! for negative things they do! We are learning...and trying.

Friday, January 5, 2007

All About Umar..




Umar, at 3 yrs 4 mths. A toddler that is exploring, experimenting more! things around him. Also experiencing the different feelings, to the extend of pretending! And Umar sometimes go to the extreme where other toddlers won't dare to try! Falling off from bicycle is nothing for him (he always does it on purpose! His own stunts!), Umar can do split! He tried it himself! (while writing this, Mummy is playing with Umar with the alphabets, words puzzle! while Zaky is sleeping of course.), He likes rolling over from the hilly grass, running like a sprinter (Mummy was a sprinter.. Hahahahaha..) and lots and lots of things that keep him active inside and outside the house. Luckily at night time, his Ayah have made it reading time before he goes to sleep. His routine will be, doa tidur, Al-Fatihah, Al-ikhlas, An-Nas, Al-Falaq (which now he's 80% at it. Others he had memorize them) before he can have the stories read to him. But when he had wetting accidents that day, he will read the stories to Ayah! Hahahaha. Win-win situation, but this kid does not know that! Hehehehe... For surahs and doas, We both were pretty surprised by his ability to memorize things pretty fast...since he was a lot younger. Alhamdulillah.. Umar can read better now..Apart from story books, he's reading magazines, brochures! Hahahaha...At the same time we still try encourage him to practise reading at starfall.com. Very rare that he listens and interested when we asked! Umar..Umar..He has shown his strong character. If you are angry with him, ask him to do things when you are in temper, he will not do it.. Hhhmmm..This is really challenging for Mummy and Ayah claimed he takes after Ayah's character! Hhhhmmm....So Mummy learning how to control temper (kids does make your blood boiling sometimes!) and trying to use kids psychology (konon..)to make him do things, and think on how to put things in nice, good words for him so that he can try to listen! So with this type of character it's not easy for us to teach him lotsa things, except when he's interested and because it is fun to do (writing, reading, drawing, kids projects etc.)
Alhamdulillah.. Umar can count 1-100 in English and recognized all the numbers, 1-10 in Spanish and Malay. He's at simple additions at the moment. Mummy were quite ambitious, already getting him the Grade 1 book (6 yrs old) coz when I see the contents, Umar can do some of it, especially the reading part. But with other pre-school activity book, first dictionary, colourings, writing alphabets, sometimes Mummy forgot to do it!
That's what they say...2 minutes of quality learning is better than 30 minutes of force learning! So this is what Mummy trying on Umar now.. Whenever he's at it. Like today, alhamdulillah a bit fruitful with him. He agreed to arranged Card Numbers with me, 1-100. With fun and games to finish it!
And yes.. Umar not started going to school yet (InsyaAllah soon..) In this case, I like UK more..At 3 it's free education! And school was walking distance from our house in UK. At this age, we are concern more of his social skills..(which is what they do at pre-school) and Alhamdulillah he got his best play buddy, Luqman. And twice or more a week they will meet to play together. Alhamdulillah both of them are really bright kids. People are impressed with their language/speech skills! And they do argue a lot! About favourite colors! trains (Umar's fav)! Cars(Luqman's fav)! and other stuffs which make us laugh! Hehehehe...It is good language, speech, thinking, debating skills practice! Both parents are happy for them. Mind you they both have a very different character! It's really interesting to see them both...
Thank you Luqman for being there for Umar!