Bandage

Nah, Sofia is not injured. I am just fed up of reminding her numerous times when we go to bed not to suck her thumb. Just before I tuck her into bed, I would always remind her,"Sofia, you promised NOT to suck your thumb, so no sucking ok?". She would nod her head innocently.

Barely five minutes later, I would hear the familiar sound of "muuukkmmmuuuukmmuuuuk", then I would sit up and look over.

"I am NOT sucking my thumb!" AFTER she pulls her thumb out.

It always leads to me getting angry and she getting upset for being caught, thus bedtime is not pleasant at all.

One week ago, I went to the pharmacy and bought a roll of surgical tape. So I have been taping her two thumbs every single night for the past one week. With the tape there, it stops her from sucking and it works! I was afraid she would not let me put on the tape or peel off the tape by herself at night. But she was pretty cooperative and
kind of enjoyed it!

Daddy and I find it kind of funny too, as if her thumbs have been injured severely every night. I do not know how long this will take to break her habit, but my gut feel is probably a month or so?

If it is going to take longer, so be it, it is a pretty cheap solution at RM2.55 per roll!

Domestic Helper

I started out thinking July was probably too early to start searching for a domestic help but nonetheless I started. As I search, I went into a shock which lead to despair and subsequently, DESPERATE. Apparently, because of some memorandum that has not been signed between Indonesia and Malaysia regarding domestic help, there are no housemaids being released into Malaysia now. WHAO! The numerous agents that I contacted simply just turn me away and asked me to come back in a few months' time. FEW MONTH's time???

So Daddy and I sat down to discuss IF we can do without a domestic helper, or perhaps we should engage a baby sitter? Our talk went on for many days and we finally concluded we needed a helper or a pair of extra hands at home. It may be just as simple as having someone at home with Jerry while I run errands or picking up Sofia from school. There will be days I need a break and I can safely hit the malls or going for a massage and know that Jerry is safe at home. Daddy travels quite frequently so a housemad would provide some company for me and also help with the housechores.

With the direction all set, I tried my luck again, this time round, I called Ana's agent in Jarkata. He got me linked up with his KL agent and yes, something can be done! It was such a BIG relief off my mind, I could eat, sleep and dream peacefully again. Yes, we are very dependent on domestic help and I never never fail to admire those SAHMs who take care of their kids and manage the household with their bare two hands.

To me, it is nothing short of a MIRACLE.

Hokkaido Fair

One big difference about living in Kuching vs living in KL is that the variety of food we can hunt down to eat. Basically we like to EAT. We eat almost anything, other than those bugs or "exotic food". Back in Kuching, it was always those few restaurants and cafes that we took turns patronizing. Here, we are busy trying out new restaurants over weekends.

Isetan here organizes Hokkaido fair every year and we have put off going to it because of the crowd. But today, we just wanted to have that "Japan" feeling again so off we went with Sofia. Daddy had this "Shoyu Ramen" which smelled and tasted just as good. Sofia liked the ramen too and helped Daddy to polish his bowl real clean.

My seafood fried rice was so-so, it tasted more like teow chew type of "Mui Fan" where you just pour soup/gravy over cooked rice.

But we enjoyed ourselves very much, it was nice to experience the Japanese culture for that brief period, where people around you are so hyped up and warm.

We would love to visit Hokkaido as one of our holiday destination in future. I remembered the photos my BIL took when he visited Hokkaido with my sister, the animals were gorgeous.

I am sure Sofia and Jerry would be delighted to see them all. This plan would probably materialize when the kids are older and are fully aware of what is going on then the holiday would be more meaningful to them.

The 8th Tooth

The 8th one on its way out!

Tommy

Victim : Sofia

Aggressor : Tommy the persian cat (who looks remotely similar to Tiger)

When : Sunday, 04 July @ 9pm

Where : 表伯的家

How many? : 6 angry scratches

Why?

The picture says it all. Our dear animal lover was all over the cat the moment she saw him. A pat here ... a pat there ... hello Tommy! ... Hello Tommy!! ... HELLO Tommy!!! ... HELLO TOMMY!!!! ...
The cat was overwhelmed by the attention from both Sofia and Jeremiah and started hidding. Jeremiah was very much watched over by Ana while Sofia was just after the cat's tail. The cat was pulled out from under the car and I think it made him snapped.

"Wwwwwuuuhhhhhhaahhhhhhhhh ...... mmmuuuuuaahhhhhhahhhhhhh .... mommaaaaa ....."
Instantly my antennas shot up, something must have happened for Sofia to cry like that. Luckily the scratches are not very deep and she quietened down after washing and application of medicine.

On the way home, she was quiet like a mouse, which was very unlike her.

"Daddy, why did Tommy scratch me?" Sofia asked as we alighted.

So Daddy spend the next half an hour explaining to her cats' temperaments, what she should and should not do next time. We hoped she understand what had happened and would be careful next time. Then we also asked her to forgive Tommy and she agreed. We think she really did because after that, she went straight to the toy room to look for Tiger and insisted on hugging him to bed that night.

Aren't children so forgiving?