Away

Hubby is away for outstation work..only for 2 days and one night..just at MODENAS, Gurun, Kedah...but still...i feel helpless a lil bit..starting to miss him already..haha...2 hari je pun..i'm gonna be ok!

The longest period that he went for outstation was last December, to Jakarta and Bandung, for one week..i know i would cry a river..so i asked my mom to come and stay for one week. Besides, i was having my terrible all-day sickness on that particular time.

I don't like him to be away. In fact, if possible, i would just love him to be at home and lepak with me and fahri, just inside our home sweet home. but, being wife, we shouldn't control or set limitation to our husband. They need freedom as much as we do. Even though we are already married, but sometimes we just need time with our own bffs or doing things that we like (which might not suitable for the spouse to join). That's why i don't mind if he wants to play paintball on the weekend or snooker once a week. But, being myself, i just don't have the interest to involve in those activities..i rather stay with my son at home, spring cleaning, online...that's it..if i really have to go for bff-girls-outing, then i will go...I guess that's how difference men and women devote themselves in marriage...

I have my hundred percent respect towards married couple who have to be apart or 'weekend husband and wife'. I can't imagine if i have to go through that kind of marriage. Who knows, only Allah s.w.t. knows....

hmm..hope that my hubby will settle his job well and come back quick!

Alhamdulillah...i did it!

Alhamdulillah..finally..i managed to complete my thesis. 21st of March 2012 was the date of my hard covers submission...it is a relief..syukran...now..i am waiting for the Senate Letter before i can decide further on my career enhancement...and InsyaAllah..of course October is the month that i've been waiting like...for ages! My EDD for this second baby is 15/8/2012...oh i really hope i can make it for the big day! InsyaAllah..

I am grateful after the submission because i did achieve my target to get my master's degree before reaching 30...but still...i guess i need to challenge myself more...by planning for PHD degree...will blog about "why i think i need to do my PHD" sooner...but of course..i want to treat myself first before pursuing to the next level...i want to have more focus to my family, work and myself. i really need that before doing anything else...

Fahri at 1.6 yrs old

Name: Ashman Fahri bin Saipul Nizam
D.O.B: 30th September 2010
P.O.B: Hospital Umra, Shah Alam
Age: 1 yr 6 mnths
Hobby: 'cleaning' things from wardrobe or kitchen cabinet and put them somewhere else till mama n papa need to do the 'selongkar' process all over again..
Favorite Song: Falling in Love- Siti Nurhaliza
Favorite TV Show: Money Drop & Raja Lawak
Favorite DVD show: Disney Magic English
Words uttered: 'Mama', 'papa', 'baby', 'sejukkkk', 'tepi', 'air', 'ti (roti)', 'bird', 'miaoww', 'si (nasi)', 'susu', 'nak'

I am so happy to see Fahri already could understand orders and instructions from us. For example, he will pick up things if he is being told so. Most of the times, he is independent and could spend time playing with his 'car' and 'bike'. I just need to monitor him while doing my work. It's a relief to have him being a lil bit more self-reliant as I am easily get tired nowadays...

I just cant wait to see his reaction on the first day he will be the big bro..insyaAllah....

up-dates!

My nyawa

1. I am on my 15th week of pregnancy. Feeling better, but i am still having my nausea and vomiting at times. The tummy is getting obvious..and most comments that i have received from colleagues were "OMG! your tummy is big! it looks like u're 6-month pregnant!"..yes, my dear friends..it is big! and i think 60% of my abdomen is filled with my fat from my last pregnancy ;) and only 40% of it is my fetus! =)

2. Fahri is 1 year and 5 months now. He walks very fast. We must keep our eyes on him on every single minute. He likes to play hide and seek ...he will hide behind the curtain and wait for my hubby and I to call his name "Fahri !!!!!!"..then, he will slowly reveal himself haha...but..i have a confession to make..it is..challenging to get pregnant when your first child is still demanding attention from u... I always have the feeling of pitying my Fahri...because sometimes..i am just too tired and helpless to play hide and seek with him. But, my hubby keeps saying that it's ok.. we'll go through this together...insyaAllah..

with my Bachelor in Culinary Arts students

3. My thesis? I will say..I am 95% towards the completion of my master's program. I am at the final stage of correcting my thesis and next week will be the week that i am going to submit my hard copies! Please pray for me!

4. It is the final week of teaching. I only have few more speaking presentations that need to be assessed on. My students were awesome this semester! They understood my helpless condition, like unbelievably. I will remember them as one of the most happening students through out my teaching years...

Nielson Chen

I posted a status in my FB, saying that

"Every time Chinese New year is around the corner, i will think about my ex Form One student when i was teaching at Sri Bestari, Damansara. His name is Nielson Chen. He was the naughtiest boy in class, yet he was the one who cried the most on my last day at that school. He left a box of Limau Mandarin in my office and one card with an ang pau of rm20 inside with the note, "Teacher, don't leave us". oohh nielson..where lar are now? huhu..happy Chinese New Year to all"

And I received comments from my friends, saying that it was really touching...and suddenly i remembered i have blogged about this in my old blog..i have googled it ...and yes..i found it hehe..let me re-post it over here

Monday, 28 January 2008:

feeling that u cannot get anywhere else... today is my last day working in sri bestari school. there are mix feelings inside. Leaving the school, i feel sad but at the same time i just can't wait to start a new chapter in my new workplace tomorrow. All the teachers in the school are super nice. they are just like my family. plus, my students. i feel like crying when i told them today is my last day.they were really shocked when i told them the news. all the noisy and naughty boys stopped talking among themselves out of sudden n they started asking me.. " Teacher...what are u saying? u're leaving us? why? u don't like us meh?" just imagine...they are form 1 Chinese students. i just said " i have to go.. to purchase my dreams".. one of the boy, named Nielson said "ohhh... u get higher pay arr teacher" haha...nope...not the payment matters here, but the satisfaction i guess. but yeah..of coz..payment does matter. but in this case, i guess i am still not good enough to teach kids. i mean young kids like them. i need to learn more on how to handle kids. So, meantime let me do something that i really think i am more competent n enjoy doing it, which is teaching young adults. Even though they were asking me a lot of questions, 100 of questions why i am leaving...but i can say that they really didn't want me to leave. And one of the smartest boys in the class whispered to me " teacher..dont go la. i love u" i felt like crying. Nielson, the class rep., said that he didnt have the mood to learn today because i am leaving ( Nielson is soooo adorable 13 years old boy. sooo comel =) ) He asked me what do i want for my last day.. i said i want limau mandarin and ang pau. then he said.. "okeh no problem. i'll get u one" well of course i was just joking. After the class, i went back to staffroom and found out there were two ang paus inside my handbag. And Nielsen gave me angpau worth 10 ringgit. He is.... serious.Then, i gave him back the ang paus and told him i was just kidding. Then, he said dont worry, he will get me the limau mandarin. He said how many limau i want. Joking around again with this cute Nielson, i said "i want one busket or one packet".. then he said "okeh...no problem" n of coz i thought he is not serious because he wont get the limau as it's a school time. he couldn't go anywhere. About one hour before i was about leaving the school, i was on my way down the stairs to return the students' book and suddenly i met Nielson. Again!, carrying a box of limau mandarin! OMG! I said to him " Nielson, where are u going?" n he said " i want to give this to u laa teacher" ( just imagine, small kid like him carrying a box of limau mandarin. it was quite heavy for a boy like him) i was almost crying there. i asked him where did he get the limau. then he told me he asked his maid to come and went buy the limau outside. i was so speechless. I felt like wanna hug him. i told him that he shouldnt do that for me. it's a school time. but he said " anything for u teacher "...then after giving me the limau he said, almost crying " teacher....miss u...gonna miss u teacher.." i cant stand it anymore n said thanx to him n am gonna miss him too as well as the school. And, after i went back to my room, i found one card on my desk by Nielson, saying " Don't forget me- Nielson' n yess... i did give Nielson my number because this is the feeling that i cannot get somewhere else...

Mac n Cheese for toddler

Source: Mr Google =)

Ingredients (2 Adults + 1 Child)/Prep
200-230g Elbows or Macaroni/Boil with some salt then drain.
250-300g Cheese(I used mixed Shredded Parmesan & Cheddar this time, bought at Cold Storage)
500-600ml Fresh Full Cream Milk(Add or lessen when necessary)
100g Butter/Divide to 40g/60g
30g Plain Flour
80g Bread or Cracker(Khong Guan Plain) Crumbs
2 cloves Garlic/Mash and dice
Few leaves of Basil/Wash thoroughly then mince.
Dashes of Ground Black Pepper(or Sweet Paprika powder)

Cook
1. In a sauce pan using small heat, add the 40g butter and brown the diced garlic.
2. Using a fork, stir in the plain flour.
3. When the flour has soaked in all the melted butter, stir in the fresh milk. Using the fork, keeps stirring constantly.
4. When the milk starts to simmer, add in the cheese and stir till all melted.
5. Add in the minced basil and ground black pepper then mix well. Remove from heat and set aside.
6. Place the boiled macaroni/elbows in the casserole, pour the cheese sauce over. Use the fork to mix well.
7. In a small frying pan, melt the other 60g butter then brown the bread crumbs until crispy.
8. Layer the fried bread crumbs on the macaroni, bake in oven at 180degC for about 35-40minutes. Serve while it's warm.

Remarks
: If desired, add veggies such as peas or capsicum. Dice the veggie and add to cook after the fresh milk has been added.

Mashed Potatoes for toddler

Source: Mr Google =)

Ingredients/Prep for a toddler
1 Big-sized Russet Potato/Remove skin, cut into big chunks and boil in water until softened. Drain the water and leave the cooked potatoes in the pot.

30-50g Unsalted Butter

100-200ml Full Cream Milk

Salt & Pepper (Amount as desired)

To Make1. Right after the potatoes are softened, drain the water and quickly add in the butter, milk, salt & pepper(as desired) and use a fork or masher to combine everything in a smooth paste.

2. Serve when it's piping hot.

Remarks: Add oven-roasted bacon bits for a different texture or cheese for added flavour(then skip salt totally). I've got a cheese mashed potato recipe for reference.

: For a different variation, use sweet potatoes instead.