Umar's 1st Person!

At last...I can see the 1st person drawing Umar draw on his very own! Happened earlier this month. (there was 1,2 occasion Mummy tried to ask him to follow the stick man drawing that I did, but to no avail! :-P) I always wonder when can he start to draw a person, which that's what normally a child be able to draw using their memory and imagination. Like Umar's preschool teacher said, to be able to draw a person, it will require such a skill from a child, not by teaching them on how to draw it. It's by their memory and imagination. Be it stick man, with/without hand etc. Today, at the clinic! While waiting for Aqil's turn for his 1st imunisation, he wanted to have a paper and a pen to draw because there were 2 siblings age 6,7 were drawing! :-P After he didn't like what he started on the plain paper from the receptionist, Mummy gave him the doctor's notes, and asked him to draw at the back of it. Then with a bit of encouragement, he started to draw a circle, soon he said, 'hey, this looks like a rock'. 'Isn't it great to have a big rock at the park Mummy?'.. sure it is. 'So what is that rock for Umar?'... 'Mmmm...children can slide down the rock'. Soon he drew a rectangle that he claimed to be bouncy so that children will land safely! LOL Then Mummy said, 'may be you can draw somebody using it'.. Luckily he accepted my view and drew one person on top of the rock! (clap,clap,clap)..Mummy was so excited to see it! :-) Then that person has another friend at the bottom of the rock, but soon he claimed this person is actually the father because he's tall! LOL And he drew another person who he claimed as Mummy who's waiting for the child on the rock to slide down and waving at the child! LOL
'So how's the park that day Umar, is it nice weather there?'...'Mmmm...it's a sunny day so children can play all day long' LOL so Umar drew the sun! Eventually he thought that the rock is too high so it needs a rope to climb up, and an arch to get thru it! LOL So there is Umar's 1st drawing of person! Well done Umar!..

All about Umar

Umar just turned 4yrs and 9mths last 2 days. Our 1st boy is going to be 5 yrs old this year. How time flies. Have not written about Umar for a long time.
He's getting smarter each day, and also getting harder! to listen to Mummy&Ayah especially to do educational things. Mummy is a bit scared because he's started to say boring, and don't like all the educational things i.e. his activity books that has been abandoned for a while, his colouring book that Zaky has used them all! (I pray to Allah he's going to be fine learning at school starting this September!)
Umar is more into computer games, which 90% is from the children's website (Noggin, Disney, CBeebies etc), which is not so bad. The 10% is the car racing game etc, which he got to play with his dad on weekends conditionally! when he does 2,3 pages of his activity book, be it Maths or others (this started since 2 wks ago and it worked)
However Umar always amazed us with his speech and thinking. One day at school, the topic at circle time was about Energy, source of energy and how to save energy. When teacher Mary asked about energy, Umar told the class about electricity, energy from the sun! batteries! and how not to waste them! I was surprised that all that Mummy talking (and nagging! :-P) to him spontaneously in daily life made him think and be part of his knowledge. Alhamdulillah.. And next Ayah told us about geo-thermal energy! Mummy also learn new things! :-)
Another day when he got to put number 2 for May calendar at school. He showed me and said, "Hey Mummy..this looks like number 2 in Arabic!" (when he turned it the other way) I looked at it and "Yes! it is.." I was surprised myself how did he remembered it. I only showed him the pages number (in Arabic) when we read Iqra'.
All in all I think talking to your children about anything and everything in daily lives makes them think and think. They might not ask you anything at that time but you never knew how much knowledge that is absorbed to their brain each day, if not it is practicing their brain to think, resolve things and memory! that is vital for future use when they start school.
When teacher Mary asked how did you know about all the months of the year? Umar said, "from the song in the car!" I nodded to the teacher when she looked at me.. We have few children's cds that is about basic learning, alphabets, numbers, Simon says game etc. Mummy turned the cd on alternately and it's fun for them and unconsciously they got it! easily!.. Now they also got dvd to watch in the car. Short journey, we TRY! not to let them watch dvd :-P
One day, few weeks ago Mummy got the chance to get Umar interested to do odd & even numbers, and Mummy's intention was to make him learn more about numbers after 100. Alhamdulillah..like playing game with him, we did it until 200+, that is until there's no more space to write on the board! Mummy also tried to get him understand about quarter, half etc. It's good enough to get him into the ideas first, not forcing him to know lotsa things at one go.. But! When there is opportunity, teach them as much as we can! (Ha,ha,ha!:-) )That's what Mummy does... Especially when I got 2 children, now 3! It is so hard to find the time to teach Umar alone. But what is good is that Zaky always interested in whatever we do. Any activity with Umar we got to involve him! In a way Zaky learn a lot for his age.
This is what Mummy got Umar into for about an hour or so. While having fun with him of course. If he doesn't think it's fun and games, Mummy won't be able to do this! So there r times that we got things for 10 minutes, sometimes more.. It's all depends on how long we can get their attention in having fun in learning.And this is when Mummy tried to get him to start to draw. The 2 paper are on a different day! I told him that drawing shapes make you can draw lotsa things that you can imagine. There was Diego&Dora storybook next to us, so I flipped and showed him a picture of trees and flowers and how easy it is to draw them, with shapes. So I did and he followed suit.. And we play the games of how many different types of green and brown can we create for the trees..(making him wanted to do varieties! meaning more trees to draw! and don't forget to praise them!) and same goes with the flowers. So at least I know my son can draw a bit now... The next week I encouraged him to make a Teacher's Day card to teacher Mary. I told him girls love flowers, so does teacher Mary, and how happy will teacher Mary be to get a card full of colourful flowers. So he did... the project over 2 days to finish! :-P But he did it:-) (it was.. a big card.)
In teaching him to read Quran, Umar now is at Iqra' 3, another 10 pages to finish and he can start Iqra' 4. Mummy always trying to get him interested (whenever I have time, when am not busy with baby Aqil!) , but sometimes failing to do so.. Wish we can finish the 6 Iqra' before he starts school in September.. just go with the flow. Ops! I got to return call for Umar's placement test for his new school in September! We hope you can get to the Islamic School Umar... Aminn...

Zaky at 22 months

Just received e-mail fr BabyCentre.co.uk to remind this hands-full Mummy that our 2nd boy, Zaky is 22 months today. And this is excerpt for the topic,

Sets Goals.
Your toddler will begin to have very particular ideas about what he wants to accomplish, such as pushing his car down the path or fitting together all the pieces in a puzzle. The outcome will be important to him. He will be pleased when he's successful and frustrated when he is unsuccessful.

Ooohhh...I remember his everyday plays involve around this. He can fit Thomas' rail tracks together! it was to our surprise that one day he did it until it goes outside the room! he just continue as long as he likes! Hahahaha...He tried puzzle (Umar's) on his own..although it's not right, he was happy with it! hahaha...(at least he got the idea!), He mastered shape sorting puzzle. His favourite is lining up his hotwheel's cars together, can be up to 8 vehicles at one time, nicely arranged! :-) And lots more other interesting things for this toddler! Well done Zaky!

On the language part, he can do 2 word sentence..most of it still with his 'pelat'..so cute, that we have to translate them ourselves! Hahaha...He knows lotsa animals and how they sound (he got it most at his 'song time' with Ayah at his bedtime..he will go, "Song, song.." then Ayah asked what song do you like? He will say, "Fish.."
"1 2 3 4 5, Once I caught a fish alive..6 7 8 9 10, the I let it go again...,...." (Americans don't know this, British do!..) And the Old McDonald song, he will choose what animal, and making the sound with Ayah.. (he also knows turtle, hippo, frog(1st animal that he recognised!), alligator..and duck of course! :-)
And also to our surprise, he can count (or rather say!) 1 to 5!, after that jumbled up..up to 10. But at least he always use 1,2,3 to count things! Good Zaky!.. He knows some colours, sometimes he got it right, sometimes he says whatever he likes! Hahaha... he recognised simple shapes too. Other words are aeroplane (air-pane), helicopter (coper), fire truck (fa-yer!) yeah, a number of these vehicles he encountered here! everyday! hehehe... and not to forget his old time favourite, until today.."Taxi!" he got it from our S'pore holiday last year! Until now whenever he sees cars, he will likely say taxi!..Hahahaha...
Nowadays when he heard any sound that's not familiar, he will say," What's that?" or rather u hear 'wat-thet?"...hehehehe.. Also another phrase of his is, "Watch Out!!"..(with full facial expression!) he must have got it fr any of children's programme on tele! :-P Other funny one is "Find you!" to people and things! His blankie as usual.."Bankie, bankie.. r.... u....?.." (where r u? with leeenngthhy echooo...hehehe...) then when he found it, after searching the whole house!.."Find you!" or u may hear "Find-ju".. Hahahaha... :-) So funny to see Zaky using "find you" to basically anything!..Hahahaha.. :-)
Another thing, He always pulled you to the kitchen for food! And choosy!! Urrghhh..:-P Never said please..but always say "Te-ku" (thank you!)... Good boy Zaky!
And he can interact well especially at playing computer games with Umar. It's so funny to see esp. when Umar asked him what does he wants to choose for his car colour, wheels, pattern etc at hotwheels car games. He will say the colour, then Umar tried his best to scroll thru, asking him each of them..and Zaky will say a different colour fr what is shown...and until the last choice, Umar will ask, "Is it this one Zaky?" And Zaky will go... "No..".. Geleng kepala si abang Umar!.. :-) Hahahaha..
Lots more funny, interesting things with Zaky... Guess this story sums up our 22 mth old toddler that is growing each day, becoming smarter each day... And more cheeky! Like to tease you! (running away with yr things etc!) Zaky..Zaky.. :-) We all love you dearly..

Coming home with baby Aqil...

After birth pain & contraction...Hardly heard Mums talking about this. And I just knew from chatting with nurses at the hospital. The more numbers you give birth, the more after birth pain & contraction you will get! It's because the uterus works/contracts harder to get it back to usual size. No wonder.. And of course I do experience this, for this 3rd child is the worst!..At least during labour, u can opt for epidural. But after birth only the pain killer, which u can still feel the contraction pain! So much pain!..(sabar..) And also since I had forcep delivery the soreness at your pelvic area...Aarrgghhh...My gynae sister said it's the forcep tool that give abbrasion to the inside of vagina! I felt all these pain, soreness.. However this time I only got a bit of episiotomy cut. Thanks to Dr Simpson (male gynae). Naz said he's very good, even comparing to my previous female gynae when we had Zaky (I got 4th degree tear then!:-P)

2 days at the hospital after delivery...then Mummy&baby can come home. Our first ride in the car with baby Aqil, altogether 6 of us, with Aunty Nun, that flew fr S'pore to give Mummy a helping hand for 3 mths! Thank you Aunty Nun! Thank you so much!..:-) Umar was willing to sit at the back row, so excited that the new baby's coming home. Every few minutes, asking Ayah to drive slowly, in case baby's not comfortable if it's bumpy ride! Hahahaha....
And I remember his 1st conversation with baby Aqil at the hospital...He was looking at baby Aqil and said,
"Soon you will have a set of teeth like me Aqil.."
hahahahha....

On 5th day, Baby Aqil's 1st appointment to see paediatrician. First time for Mummy to get the bottle for him to pack his milk, breast milk! As usual, my milk is already over flowing, so it's handy to get them in the bottle for going out. This is just in case of situation of not the right place, and time (I need at least 20-30mins for a session of breast feeding!)
He's all well except for jaundice. Umar&Zaky both got jaundice for about 4 wks when they were born. So straight to the lab for blood test (it seems like we r used to this before with Zaky!). Doctor called and the results was 16. It was high but less than 20, so doc advised baby to be put under sun ray 4 times a day. Unlike Zaky before, we gotta go to clinic every 3-4 days for another check up on jaundice. Ohh..we forgot to ask for circumcision. Zaky had circumcision at the hospital, but new recommendation is to do when baby is about a week old. So we got baby Aqil's circumcision appointment on his 9th day.

Our 3rd baby! Aqil..

On Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at12.00am, my water broke...I was already 3cm dilated the day before. At last..this is it..We all were waiting for this baby since 2 weeks ago! Since Umar was born at 36+wks, Zaky at 38wks. And this baby is at his actual due date! (which at first Mummy thought March 27! :-P) Call hospital, they asked to come for check-up. Was hard for the doc whether I can go home or should stay. Eventually they asked me to stay although I was still at 3cm. So 2.10am, straight to labour room for drip, then pitocin. Progress was slow...At 9am, I asked epidural, I was about 5-6cm then. At 2pm I was fully dilated, but baby's spine is at the side. Therefore when it's time to push, I have to be moved left and right alternately hoping the baby will turn for it to come out! My God..what an experience! U'r in total pain, and still have to move yr body left and right, and also I was given oxygen for a while coz the baby's heart rate is not good. I was vomiting 2-3 times at the same time! After more than hour, the baby's position is still the same. Doctor made decision for forcep delivery in Operation room, and if baby cannot be turned, C section will be done straight away! (I was praying, "Please no C Section..") So my bed being pushed to operation room, with anesthetist to add more of epidural! With oxygen mask for the baby! (not for me!:-P) that made me vomitted again! & again!..OMG all those moments..I felt like a dream..I was so light headed (mabuk mcm gini agaknya..), blurry, can listen to what people speaking..can see baby been pulled out, wiped, & Naz been asked to cut the cord. After all that, (a nurse offered us to take a picture with the baby in that Operation room! Cool!..:-) ) I was pushed to the my room again, still light headed, blurry vision.. for the next half an hr.
alhamdulillah... Welcome baby Aqil!...

Umar, Zaky, Arissa & Sofea...Holiday together!..

These pictures from Arissa&Sofea's Daddy of http://kitab-atok.blogspot.com/

Watch this video of Umar&Sofea, the 4 yr old friends..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLjckN28zjI

19Dec07-1Jan08

13 days of Happy Holidays for the 2 families...Used to live not far from each other but now separated by the Atlantic Ocean. We have not seen each for about 2 yrs since we moved to San Diego from UK.
What do we do..where do we go...
Eating, shopping, sight seeing...and children having fun time together..
San Diego attractions.. SeaWorld 3 times! La Jolla shores, La Jolla Cove, Downtown San Diego, SeaPort Village, Coronado Island, beach; Old Town San Diego, Laguna Mountain for the snow!, Wild Animal Park, Viejas Outlet, Las Americas Outlet, Carlsbad Outlet!..(not to mention other shopping places nearby!)..
Hollywood!!!..Boomers for the kids..And we managed to have mini bbq, with Satay & chicken wings, 3 times eating at Belacan Grill at Redondo Beach in Los Angeles!..Indian buffet, Seafood buffet! and other halal places... It wasn't feel like 13 days, when u have loads of happy times together!... Thank you Allah for this wonderful time..
Our holiday pictures at http://zienaz.fotopages.com/

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!..