I recently received 9 safety tips in a forward e-mail from a friend.  I obviously was very tempted to forward it to my friends since it sounds quite useful.  However, as usual, with all forward e-mails that I plan to forward, I look it up to see if it’s a hoax first.  Just “google” the “title of the e-mail + hoax”.  Sure enough, I actually find even better tips on snopes.com.

I often enjoy reading from websites that catch hoaxes because they are quite informative and can be very funny.

Too bad the important stuff is actually at the end of the webpage.  So, be sure to read all the way from top to bottom or just skip to the bottom:

“If attacked or threatened, run, and if you can’t run, scream.”

There are other useful tips after this sentence too.  Take care!!!

Our city/state increased Sales Tax by a whole percentage point last month.  Hubby said they will increase it by another percentage point in June.

My reaction?  Let’s go shopping!  Hubby is like, “No!!!  That’s not what I meant.”  LOL.  Well… That’s what I did though.  $150 of purchase at Target last week!  Sales Tax increase was one excuse; of course, the other excuse is Baby Roo is coming.  I got a 4-drawer Sterilite cart (~$25), 2-1.1 Qt Thermos (~$25 each), 3 packages of diapers (2 Size N Huggies and 1 Size 1 Target Brand), and other stuff.

The drawer-cart is for Baby Roo’s clothes.  Koala has the same one but older design.  The 1.1-Qt Thermos is for my fish soup.  People have been telling me fish soup is good for breastmilk supply.  2 lbs of fish pan-fried until dry.  Then put them into a big pot with a few pieces of ginger and water 1-2 inches above the fish.  Boil for 1-2 hours.  Drink 5-6 bowls of the soup everyday after the baby is born if you plan to breastfeed.  Pick small fish to reduce chemical and mercury in-take.  My mom’s advice: give the fish a good squeeze afterward to make sure ALL the soup come out.  =)  I plan to start drinking this on my expected due date just to ensure there’s milk once the baby is born!

Now, back to shopping… I heard there’s usually a mid-year sale at Target in July.  Let’s see what else can I buy…  =P

A few days ago, Koala played with 2 neighbor friends since it’s their Spring Break and they are home during business/school hours.  They are 5-yr old and 8-yr old sisters.  We were talking and they brought up their b-days then I said, “Oh, that’s the same as my sister’s b-day.”

The 5-yr old said, “my mom has a sister too!”

First thought that came to my mind, “why did she bring up her mom?”

Of course, I quickly forgot about it and continued the conversation, “really?”

Believe me, there’s no time to “think” when talking to 3 girls at the same time!  As I was driving home from work that night, I thought about the conversation again: “why did she bring up her mom?  The 5-yr old has a sister too!  She is right there!”  Then I realized, “I’m Koala’s mom.  Of course she will compare me to her mom.”

Wow… I never thought about being compared to someone’s mom!  It is kind of weird.  I guess I rarely talk to children so it’s pretty much the first time I hear someone compare me to his/her mom.  I guess I’m a mom now; not a child any more.  I will always be seen as Koala’s mom in front of Koala’s friends.  I guess I still was wishing to be seen as “friend”.  Nope, that wouldn’t work.  Oh well…  At least they are not comparing me to their Grandmas…  =)

Recently I got in touch with my 4th cousin on Facebook after 10 years of not contacting each other.  When I say 4th cousin, it means that we were related by blood more than 4 generations ago.  Due to the family-connection within my grandparents’ village, any one from the same village is considered “family”.  =)

I obviously told her about Koala and Baby Roo right away!  She was like, “Really can’t imagine you are a Mother now.”

Well, I can’t imagine I’m a Mother also!  Me?  I have overprotective parents and sister and husband.  I was always well taken care of.  I never needed to grow up.  I just need to study, graduate from college, and get a job.  Hubby and I love kids.  So we got married and have kids.  Bam!  I’m a Mother!

Really?  Am I really a Mother?  My life certainly changed after becoming a Mother, no doubt about that.  Light out before 9pm, no TV, no junk food, no instant noodle, chemical phobia.  What is a movie theatre?  Disneyland is no longer a place where I try to get on as many ride as possible, catch the parade, and decide rather to leave before midnight.  Disneyland is now a place where I try to get Koala to stay through 2 rides, call it a success, and head home.

It’s no longer me who has emotional meltdowns; the one who does complaining; nor the one who annoys Hubby until he jumps up and down and throws his arms in the air.  Koala has this “responsibility” now.

Still, a mother?  I giggle and laugh while Koala has her emotional meltdowns, complains, and annoys Hubby.  I talk to Koala like an adult.  I am still very persistent, especially with Koala.  I still need hugs and kisses to feel better.  The hugs and kisses no longer come from Hubby, but from Koala now… even better: I can get it 24/7!

I guess my daily routine and part of my personality show a motherly side: preparing breakfast and lunch; feeding milk and potty-training.  I’m a lot more protective of Koala, Hubby, and myself.  My caring nature and patience show through Koala.

Oh well, I AM A MOTHER no matter if I seem like a mother or not.  I no longer just live for myself.  I live and stay healthy for Hubby, Koala, and Baby Roo.  I guess that’s the only feeling needed to make a person feel like a Mother.

Koala is very shy.  She is particulary scared of male adults.  I don’t know why.  It’s fine with me.  This reduces the chances of kidnapping because as a male adult is 8 feet away from her, she would scream and run to me.  It’s a bit hard for any male adult to approach her.

Living in an apartment, things get broken, and repairmen come in to fix stuff.  No gender discrimination… but most people who come up to repair are men.  Any how, when they are at our place, Koala needs me to carry her.  She won’t even let me sit.  I guess she must think if anything happens, it’s faster to run from a standing position than a sitting position.

Being pregnant, it gets pretty tiring carrying her for the whole length of someone fixing “stuff”.  I sat down.  Koala demanded me to stand up.  I said to her, “Mommy is holding you.  Don’t worry.  No one would want to approach Mommy maliciously.  Remember how Mommy can be very mean and scary when you are bad?  That’s why no one want to approach Mommy.”

It worked!  I don’t feel guilty as a mean and scary Mom any more.  It provides the safe reassurance for Koala.  =)

I have always donated to different “groups” since I was very little.  Of course, when I was a child, I gave my money to my parents and told them to donate them to the “needies”.  My guess is good that they probably pocketed my money!  LOL.  oh well.

Ever since I got pregnant with Koala though, with limited budget, I only donated to groups related to children; like children’s hospital, children’s cancer/diabetes/heart disease research, etc.

A few days ago, I went to In N Out for burger, fries, and strawberry milkshake.  I saw that they are doing a 3 to 1 match if you donate to their foundation.    “100% of what you give goes directly toward local organizations that provide residential treatment, emergency shelter, foster care and early intervention for children in need.”  They are doing their part for this month: Child Abuse Prevention Month.  You can donate online, in-store, or by mail.

If you are REALLY tight on money, you can also “donate” by just clicking on TheChildHealtSite.com on the right under “Click to Give”.  Once you click to give, you can go through the 6 tabs on the top to continue to click to give.

Have fun!

An interesting conversation between Hubby and me:

Daddy: Do whatever you want.  Just don’t yell at our girl.

Mommy: She threw scissors!

D: I will yell at her.

M: It almost hit another girl.

D: I will yell at her.

M: She hit me.

D: I will yell at her.

M: She bit me.

D: I will yell at her.

M: I have never seen you yell at her.

D: I yell at her in my own way.

Mommy thinks, “yes, very, VERY silently.”

Yup, as I mentioned in the previous post, Koala is at her tantrum phase again.  She had trouble cutting paper, so she threw the scissors on the ground.  Of course, I asked her to pick it up and put it back nicely on the table.  She refused.  I gave her 10 seconds.  She picked it up and as she “almost” nicely put it back on the table, she threw it a little bit.  It could have hit another girl sitting across from us.  I apologized and I made Koala apologized.

Yup, Koala hit me.  Although playfully, it’s still hitting.  Daddy immediately picked her up and said, “it’s just playing.”  I stared at her dreadfully as she mumbled repeatedly, “Koala isn’t bad.  Koala isn’t bad.  Koala isn’t bad.”  I found out it was Daddy who encouraged her.  We are teaching Koala the phrase “no hitting” and Daddy obviously thought Koala can’t comprehend basic lessons verbally.  He just had to do it by role-modeling.  So, he would let Koala hit him and he would tell her “no hitting”.  Sigh…  Believe me, I won’t let that “game” happen on me.

Yup, Koala also bit me.  Although by accident, she still had to apologize.  She some times likes to playfully bite my clothes.  One time, she accidentally bit me while trying to bite my clothes.

Sure enough, on all three occasions, I gave her a good lecture after things calm down a bit; usually in the evening.  So far, no repeat yet.  Sigh…

Yes, I love Koala very, very much.  She is still a very, very good girl.  I know she is acting out just to be playful or to learn to control her emotions.  I do feel bad having to stare her dreadfully.  I know I scare her a lot.  She always look to me for comfort, yet I am the one who some times have to give her a mean and scary look.  =(  I have to though… I have to…  I have to be a good Mom and teach Koala the correct behaviors so that she will make good friends in the future.  I’ve always wanted to be a Mom and a friend.  Hubby always tell me that doesn’t work.  I know, I know… then I have to be a Mom first so that she can make many good friends that will have good influences on her.

Yup, I’m sick again with a cold.  I was sick for 10 days, recovered for 10 days, and now sick again.  For those 10 days that I recovered, 5 of which Koala had runny nose/coughing.  She was uncomfortable for only 2 days but still… she threw tantrum for all 5 days.  I hope she doesn’t throw tantrums while I’m sick.  I don’t know when I will run out of patience.  I think she threw the doodle-board today; not very far, but still.  The good thing is… she is getting stronger arms!  =)

As I mentioned, Koala can be quite “determined” at times.  Lately, she has a growing spurt of independence.  Awhile back, I taught her that if she found anything too difficult to do on her own, there’s no need to throw a tantrum, just ask Mommy or Daddy to help.  Fortunately, that short phase of throwing tantrum fizzled with a determined mom who repeated the same sentence over and over again.  I actually think Koala stopped throwing tantrum just so that I would stop saying it.

With the combination of her determination and recent need for independence, that tantrum phase seems to come back.  Urgh…  I have to go through the same lecture over and over again:

Koala throwing things, lying down, kicking.

Mommy ignoring Koala.

Koala: Mommy, help me!

Mommy: Stop throwing a tantrum and I will.  Is there a need to throw tantrum?

Koala: Yes, yes, yes!!!

Mommy ignoring Koala.  Sigh… and this continues until Koala calms down and asks me to help her or moves on to doing something else.

This doesn’t go well with my raging pregnancy hormones.  I “lost it” a few days ago:

Koala throwing a tantrum, throwing a “thing”, lying down, and kicking (again).

Koala: Mommy, pick it up!

Mommy: You think I’m stupid?  You threw it, you pick it up!

Okay, my first statement “You think I’m stupid?” wasn’t necessary but it’s actually my common talk-back with adults.  I know I shouldn’t use it on Koala because I’m sure she will use it very soon…  sigh.  The “you threw it, you pick it up” is a commont phrase used at home.  Koala some times likes to push stuff onto the floor.  So, I tell her that all the time whenever she asks me to pick it up for her.  If she drops something accidentally, I will pick it up for her, but not when she drop/push/throw something on the ground on purpose.  In fact, one time, I accidentally dropped something on the ground.  I politely asked Koala, “Can you please pick it up for Mommy, please?”

Koala: You dropped it.  You pick it up.

Mommy: Yes, but I accidentally dropped it.  Can you please pick it up for Mommy?

Koala picked it up for me.

She is a really good girl.  She just lets her frustration gets to her and takes control of her.  I “feel” for her because I know many adults have trouble controlling their emotions, me included, so expecting her to control all her emotions is unreasonable.  Still, I just want to teach her to control the emotion so that she can actually solve problems and not scare away her friends.

Do I really have to deal with the tantrum phase again?

I don’t know how to say this… Koala likes to eat; yet she doesn’t eat very much.  So, it makes her seem like she doesn’t like to eat?  It’s weird.  Well, lately, she seems to eat a lot more with an increase in physical activities.  Her muscles built-up maybe 10-fold this past month!  We didn’t push her or anything.  She just developed on her own.  She decided to jump, climb, and run all over the place.

As I was saying, Koala likes to eat…  When she likes to eat something, she tries quite many methods in getting that food.  For example, she peeled her own banana before she walked by herself.  For awhile, we actually have to put the banana out of her reach so that she won’t open every banana and just take a bite out of each of them.  Now, it’s better.  She knows better than to open more than 1 banana.  Plus, she lost the initial interest/challenge to open the banana and eat it.  At times, she only take a few bites of the banana now.  At other times, she can still finish a whole banana the length of her whole arm!

Yesterday, she peeled her own shrimp!  Whenever we have shrimp, we limit her intake to 3 shrimps only.  We buy previously frozen shrimp so they have preservatives in them.  We actually soak the shrimp very well before we boil them in a huge pot of water to reduce as much preservatives as possible.  Plus, Chinese believe shrimps are “toxic”.  That usually means it’s hard work for the liver to filter this “foreign food”.  For these 2 reasons, we limit Koala’s intake of shrimp to 3 a day.

After we served her the 3 shrimps (shells peeled; 1 shrimp was even cut into little pieces… some times she likes her shrimp that way), she grabbed an unshelled-shrimp from the plate.  Hubby and I were fine with that: just let her play with it a little.  She tried to peel the shrimp.  I taught her to pull out the legs first but Hubby taught her to just twist the shrimp until the shell breaks.  It’s just playing, whatever… right?  Well, she did manage to unshell the shrimp down to the last tiny piece of leg.  So, she ate 2 extra shrimps last night before I told Hubby to put away the shrimps.

What can we expect from a child of 2 parents who love food?  I liked shrimp when I was little too but I didn’t try to peel it myself though.  In fact, my uncle yelled at me for not being able to peel a shrimp when I was in elementary school!

Another example of determination, again, related to eating…  Koala likes rice.  However, it’s definitely not the first thing she goes for on her plate.  By the time she finishes her “favorites” on her plate, she is ready to get out of the highchair and her rice is left pretty much untouched.  How does my hubby, who insists that rice is a MUST, resolve this “problem”?  He took advantage of the fact that Koala loves oyster (especially with the black bean and garlic sauce… very little sauce though, in fact, just a hint of the taste of the sauce with the oyster.)  He cut up the oyster into bits and pieces and made a rule: you must eat a tiny piece of oyster with a spoonful of rice.  He called it “oyster rice”.  Sure enough, Koala finishes the whole plate of oyster and rice all on her own with a spoon.

Today, before I left for work, I saw Hubby left 2 shrimps on her plate to unshell instead of peeling the shrimps for her.  I’m very interested in what happened afterall?