Home and Away

Note: I had originally wanted to post this in the wee hours of Tuesday morning but the erratic connection had other plans in mind.
Thus explains this belated posting. I am happy to report the trip to the doctor went well (screaming at vaccination notwithstanding), the shipping stuff are now taking over the other guest room and the living room is officially a lounging zone.

p.s. I have yet to post those photos.POSTED!
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In some way or another, life is picking up back home in Malaysia.

I’d not be so bold as to say that I’ve completely adjusted to the temperament and temperatures of the Klang Valley.

Thankfully, the climate turned moderate with the scattered thunderstorms we’ve been experiencing since the day we arrived. In fact, my twin recalled it didn’t rain until the day we came home.

So, what have we been up to?

There’s the cleaning of the apartment – dust bunnies and dust dinosaurs everywhere.

And there’s the question of getting the place toddler-proof and looking more live-in.

Also, our shipping items have yet to arrive at our doorstep. They were supposed to be delivered last Wednesday but owing to some technical malfunctions and problem at Customs clearance, they could only come this afternoon. *Fingers crossed*

At least, that’s what the shipping agent informed us last over the phone yesterday’s afternoon. This postponement is not good for KLM’s business, nor is it doing anything to uphold Malaysian Custom’s efficiency.

We only have clothes, a tot tricycle, books as well as some kitchen utensils and foodstuffs (extra Senseo Koffie Pads!) in those boxes and bags. I’m sure they won’t raise the eyebrows of any Custom officials, or will they?

Aside from that, we have a pediatrician’s appointment today for Sadia’s compulsory 18-month shot. I do hope everything will go well and that Sadia is more than amenable to the whole idea.

Her appetite has yet to increase and in fact, it has gone downhill ever since we landed. It’s probably mostly attributed to adapting to a new environment and lifestyle. No more feeding of ducks or pigeons, or evening walks on the Delft Square chasing them pigeons.

Sometimes I am worried about her missing her old routines and way of life. We do try to provide the same kind of food that she’s been eating, or at least a semblance of it, but the waning appetite continues to prevail.

We’ll see what the doctor has to say and recommend. I must say Sadia is more of a grazer who prefers nibbling on food whenever she feels hungry, instead of eating at designated mealtimes. Probably therein lies the problem but we couldn’t possibly force her to eat at those times, more so when her ‘eating schedule’ has gone topsy-turvy.

When your kid refuses to eat, you get frustrated in turn and feel helpless because you don’t know what else to do. God willing, she’d resume eating as soon as she acclimatized herself to our old home.

On a familial front, there was a Kenduri Arwah for my late granddad (Malay for Thanksgiving for the Deceased) at my grandma’s in Kampung Bharu over the weekend. It was a small affair, with mom’s close first cousins as well as family friends and the Orang Surau (Malay for the Congregation of the Neighborhood Prayer Hall) as invited guests.

In a true maternal family’s tradition, the Asar (late afternoon prayer) event was followed by a birthday party for my 15-year-old nephew.

And as predicted, Sadia was overwhelmed by the usual Saturday crowd at my grandma’s and wailed uncontrollably to be carried away from the sea of unfamiliar faces. We had to cool – literally and figuratively - her off in the car before slowly entering the living room.

With her cousins and my young nieces and nephews milling about to sing Happy Birthday, Sadia instantly warmed up to them. Sadia loves to make friends with children of all ages (except for babies!) and that somewhat mollified her fears of the new territory.

If you’d like to view photos of the Do, please click here. That is, if my intermittent internet access lets me post them!

With Merdeka long weekend around the corner, I sincerely hope we get settled down really soon. Last night we rearranged the furniture in the living room so as to free up some space for Sadia to roam around. It worked! She has been running back and fro from one side of the room to the other! :)

As Sadia’s face beamed with joy, so were her parents, sensing that Sadia has finally come to love this place as her new home. Why, she even has that special nook in the clothes-drying cum store cum guest’s room to quietly do her business! (if you get what I mean ;) )

Next on the itinerary: Kuching visit during the fasting month!