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Food & Feeding

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Cooking Class

April 16, 2013 in Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Hannah | No comments

Lately Hannah has been slightly disinterested about going to school.  She would grumble about being sleepy in the morning and I would have a hard time waking her up.  Then she would be all clingy and did not want us to leave her in school in the morning, sometimes citing tiredness or tummy upsets.  Her teacher however, says that she is enjoying her time in school, and her uneasiness wears off after about 3 minutes.

Nevertheless we tried many methods to make her like going to school: bringing a soft toy, bringing a book to share, telling her about something interesting that would happen in school.  Some worked for a while.  She’s also been asking me to pick her up a little earlier from school.  You see, her class has activities in the a.m. and then lunch at about 11:30a.m. After lunch, the kids wind down for some quiet time or nap time, around 12:15p.m.  Hannah asks me to pick her up around 12:30p.m. and we’re guessing it could be that she’s a bit bored by the non-activity.

In any case, I’ve decided to start her off on a weekly cooking class on Fridays in school.  Hopefully it will be something she will look forward to every week for the next 2 months or so, at least till we leave.  (She’s been looking forward to her Phonics Adventures classes every Monday and Wednesday, so having a Friday cooking class to look forward to could be the answer!)

She had her first class last Friday, and I was surprised to see her get up early that day, all by herself too!  The Cooking Class method must be working, as she was excitedly looking forward to it the whole week!

Last week, she made Dunkaroo Dip, using yogurt, cool whip and confetti cake mix.  She definitely had fun making and sharing it with us when she brought it home.  We had the dip with some Teddy graham crackers.

I’m sure she can’t wait for her next cooking class! 🙂

Hannah Turns Four!

March 5, 2013 in Celebrations, Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Hannah, Milestones | 3 comments

Last Saturday, my little sweetheart of a little girl turned FOUR!!  She had been looking forward to this day for a long, long time, and she had already started the countdown to this auspicious day after Ethan celebrated his birthday about a month ago.

Being a little paranoid and worried that my third little bub might arrive on that same day, I had a contingency plan in place for Hannah’s birthday cake.  Thankfully, this year, Hannah requested for a cake that did not require much shaping and moulding on my part.  So the backup plan in case I was not around was that Pete go get a store-bought cake and then decorate the top with my ready-made cake topper.

However, in the end, since my third little one decided that it was still more comfy in Mommy’s womb, I still got to bake and decorate Hannah’s cake….and a whole lot of fun I had!

 

Hannah’s crazy about Princess Jasmine and the song from the movie Aladdin: A Whole New World, so it came as no surprise when she’d requested for a Princess Jasmine-themed cake.  I ordered the edible cake topper online and only had to bake the chocolate cake and decorated it with chocolate ganache, frosting, chocolate rice and some orange slices.  The addition of the fruits was Hannah’s idea too.

 

And afterward, because the weather was not-too-cold, she took her present for a “test drive”…or “test ride”.

It was the first time Ethan took his scooter (our Christmas present to him) for a spin too…and boy, did we have fun!

Definitely an awesome way to spend a birthday!  Happy Birthday Hannah!

Ethan Is Seven Years Old!

February 1, 2013 in Celebrations, Ethan, Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Milestones | 2 comments

Yesterday, my little Ethan turned seven.  I still can’t believe how much he has grown.  I told him that now when someone asks how old he is, he can say, “I’m seven years old!” instead of his usual “I’m six…but I’m gonna be seven soon!” 🙂

Here in Massachusetts, schools are very strict about food being brought into the classrooms in view of hygiene and food allergy.  So instead of edible stuff for the kids, I prepared little birthday treats for every one of Ethan’s classmates, so that he could pass it round during snack time.  His teacher(s) had suggested something practical and useful for the kids like a pencil or a fun eraser, so here’s what we prepared:

The kids helped me with the packing and arranging.  The treats were just something very simple and useful: A mini memo pad and a cute little pencil.  The memo pads came in 5 different colors and the pencils were just fun-looking and colorful.  Ethan told me he had a great time passing these round to his friends, and they were thrilled to get them.

Back on the home front, we had a little celebration of our own.  What would a birthday be without a birthday cake eh?

That’s right!  I made him a Captain America shield cake! 🙂

He’d been consistently asking for it for a year and thankfully, it wasn’t too difficult to make, but I ran into a few minor glitches when I realized that I had left my cake leveler, fondant smoother and offset spatula back in Penang.  So I had to just make do with whatever I had here, which explains why some parts of the cake were a bit uneven.

Ethan didn’t seem to mind though, and was really looking forward to blowing out the candle and eating the cake.

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Look At My Kitchen Mittens!

January 10, 2013 in Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Hannah, Parenting | No comments

For weeks Hannah has been playing with her toy kitchen utensils and pretend food in the lovely little toy kitchen set we got her for Christmas.  In her own creative way, she has been using little plastic bags and wrappers as kitchen mittens.

It was an absolute eyesore for me, so I took out my sewing set and what I brought along with it, found some pieces of felt material and measured Hannah’s hands.  I simply sewed two pieces together using the backstitch (oh yes, I know what a backstitch is even though I did not take Home Science in school!), and then turned them inside out!

I made one mitten two days ago, and Hannah wanted another one, so now she has two, and it’s such a joy to see her “cooking” now.

Even more fulfilling is when she gave me the biggest widest smile and said, “Thank you for making me the kitchen mittens, Mommy!  I promise to share them with Ethan!”

Mastering Chopsticks

July 18, 2012 in Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Hannah, Milestones | 1 comment

Whenever I serve noodles or koay teow at home, Hannah will request to eat with a pair of chopsticks.  We only have one pair of training chopsticks though, so sometimes she needs to compromise with her brother; but thank goodness her brother is usually very accommodating, and she gets to train with the chopsticks.

I’ll have to say Hannah is doing pretty well for a three-year-old!  She can finish her bowl of koay teow by using that pair of chopsticks.

First, grab some koay teow with the chopsticks:

Then, place carefully onto spoon…careful there with the coordination ;P …

Lastly, the easiest part: place spoonful of koay teow into mouth!

Sous-Chef and Chef de Partie

July 17, 2012 in Ethan, Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Parenting | No comments

Here’s my homegrown version of Hot Guys Can Cook 🙂

Ever since I discovered my skin allergy to raw prawns, Pete has always been designated the role of “chief prawn peeler” whenever I cook kai see hor fun or seafood spaghetti.  However, yesterday, Pete had a helper too…in the form of little Ethan 🙂

Apparently he did a great job as well!  Way to go, Ethan! 😀

(pssstt….check out the apron too!  He made it himself!)

A Heart Full of Courage Makes the Medicine Go Down

August 16, 2011 in Ethan, Food & Feeding, Growing Up | 1 comment

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We thought this day would never come.  We overcame and survived obstacles, negotiation and difficult sessions of coaxing, force-feeding and bribing.

Yes, it was THAT difficult to feed Ethan his medicine, and it started all the way back when he was a wee babe.  He would kick and scream and absolutely refuse his medicine.  Nothing would work, and we’ve tried virtually everything.  As he grew bigger and stronger, it became increasingly difficult because he would push with all his might.

SIGH.

But then one day the turning point came when we managed to cajole him into taking his antibiotics.  It was either white or colorless, and he didn’t mind it.  He had other medication to take too, but he would only want the WHITE/colorless medicine.  He would also take Zyrtec (an antihistamine) and now he will take Mucosolvan (for cough) too.

When once he flatly refused, he began by asking for chocolate milk or water immediately after his medication.  By the by, he proudly told me that he didn’t need water anymore, just as long as Zyrtec is the last dose of medicine he takes.

So now, the kids are nursing a cough again (SIGH), and Ethan will take Mucosolvan first (peppermint flavor) followed by Zyrtec (banana flavor).  And it’s a breeze feeding him medicine now 🙂

Two shots of 5ml using two separate syringes and we’re done!  You’ve really matured beyond your years, dearest Ethan boy!  And Mommy and Daddy are ever so proud of you! 🙂

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The Art of Using Chopsticks

June 20, 2011 in Ethan, Food & Feeding, Growing Up, Milestones | No comments

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Doesn’t Ethan look like a pro using his pair of training chopsticks?  They were a gift from Pauline Kor Kor a couple of years ago (when Ethan was way too small for chopsticks), but look at my little big boy now…

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He is not really a fan of noodles or beehoon, but just last week, I just asked him for fun if he wanted rice or beehoon for lunch.  Surprisingly, Ethan said he wanted beehoon soup, so that’s what I served him! 🙂

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Add a pair of chopsticks to the equation and you have a happy camper of a toddler 🙂

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Celebrating Hannah’s birthday in KL

February 23, 2011 in Celebrations, Food & Feeding, Hannah, Milestones | 5 comments

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Although it would have been a good 2 weeks more before Hannah officially turns two, we decided to have a birthday celebration for her in KL anyway.  This would also make it easier for the “Klang Valley” folks to attend the celebration.  And besides, we were planning a short vacation to KL anyways…one of the reasons being to visit that mecca of storage and organization solutions… 🙂

I was looking for a kid-friendly place to have the lunch celebration, and decided on Marmalade in Bangsar Village II.   I’d read great reviews about this restaurant which offers healthy and delicious food and was looking forward to having lunch there.   Reservations were made like 2 days before the event, and we were very pleased with experience.

The restaurant was abuzz with activity, and as we walked in, who should we bump into but Paik Ling and her family!  Good to meet her again after such a long time, and I was amazed by how much her boys have grown!

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And here, we have some random shots taken at lunch:

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Ethan *telling* us what he thinks of his Oreo milkshake.

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Enjoying Spaghetti Carbonara (for the first time!)

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Hannah: Love that dress you’re wearing, darlin’….where did you get it from?
Caitlynn: Ooohhh yes, I got it on sale at the *Princess Mall* last month!

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Contented in Pauline Korkor/Godma’s arms…

 

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Special yummy cookie treat for the birthday girl!  Unfortunately neither Ethan nor Hannah wanted to eat it.  Ethan said, “Mommy, if we eat it, the face will say, ‘Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!'”
So Mommy had to eat it all on her own…

And what about the food at Marmalade?  I was in full blogger mode that day, as I tried to capture as many shots of the food as possible… For starters, we had Healthy Nachos, topped with delicious minced beef and melting cheese…really good, especially with the three different dips: guacamole, salsa and sour cream!

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We also ordered a plate of fries served with aioli.  Surprisingly, Ethan was very adventurous, and loved the aioli dip (maybe because it didn’t have such a strong garlic taste as expected)!  Fries were done to perfection, not too oily and not too soggy.  Just the way I like it.

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Of course, the kids’ meals arrived first: Spaghetti Bolognese and Spaghetti Carbonara.

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Hannah didn’t want to eat much (perhaps she was excited about her birthday?), but Ethan ate quite a lot…maybe cuz he wanted to go play in the kids’ play area (which I must say is a welcome addition to any restaurant).  I was pretty surprised he was willing to try the Spaghetti Carbonara that day too 🙂 

Drinks we ordered: Day Starter on the left and Paw Paw Passion (Papaya milkshake) on the right. 

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Sounds of Havana: a very colorful salad, which tasted absolutely delicious…and of course, healthy to boot! 🙂

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I had to order the Spaghetti Pesto with Chicken , which was highly recommended by Rinnah.  And I was glad I did.  The spaghetti was served perfectly al dente, and the combination of herbs and flavors infused into the pasta was simply sublime.

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Hubbs ordered his all-time favorite, the Spaghetti Aglio Olio.  Almost everyone who tasted it said it was better than that Italian restaurant we like to frequent in KL.  Maybe because the aglio olio here is cooked in a more oriental way.  Me?  I love both versions!  Yeah, I’m a pasta freak 🙂

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Moroccan Lamb Shank for the lamb lovers…the lamb was tender and very flavorful.  I didn’t try the brown rice served with it though, but those who did said it was done just right, and didn’t taste anything like brown rice should…whatever that meant. LOL

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And finally, we ordered a plate of the Turkey Ham, Bacon and Mushroom Quiche.  I was incredibly grateful I had space in my tummy for this dish, because it was SO good!  Had been ages since I had quiche, so I relished and cherished every morsel.

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So after lunch, we headed back to Pauline’s house for cake cutting and presents.  This was the cake I baked for Hannah.  We brought it all the way from Penang, with me holding on to it in the car and then setting up the fondant pieces before the birthday song was sung.

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The ribbons at the side of the cake were not there initially.  I had to use them to salvage the cake the night before because it was falling apart.  Find out how I saved the cake here.

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Hannah’s surprised expression was priceless as she saw her favorite character on her cake: Baby Bop.  We had kept the cake a secret from her all this time.  I had shown the cake decorations to Ethan but everytime Hannah was within earshot of us, he would cheekily say, “Hannah – nothing!! hehehe…”

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Ethan asked Hannah to say hi to Baby Bop, to which she happily said, “Hi Baby Bop!”, while waving her hand.

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Hannah was smiling all the way when we sang her the Happy Birthday song.  She even knew how to blow out the candle on cue, without getting saliva all over the cake!  Everyone was SO impressed 🙂

The boys tried to *help* her to cut the cake…

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…but ultimately, the birthday girl got to do the honors…

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Busy opening presents…

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…and being “creative” in using the presents…

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** I don’t have the heart to throw out the Baby Bop figurine yet.  Just the other day, Hannah asked to let her “touch Baby Bop”. SIGH.

A bit milk left…

February 16, 2011 in Breastfeeding, Food & Feeding, Hannah | 1 comment

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If anyone wants advice or information on breastfeeding, I will be more than willing to share my experiences and good practices.  I can tell you how to improve milk production, what to eat, how to start off on breastfeeding as soon as baby is born, and I can also offer tips on how to express milk if you are still working and want to feed your baby EBM.  If you need recommendations on a good breast pump, I can also give you my two cents’ worth, including where to buy and how much to expect, be it a manual pump or an electric one.  If you want my thoughts on which types of nursing pads to use, I’m your gal too.

But if you ask me how to wean baby from the breast, sorry…I’m stumped myself.

It was very hard for me to wean Ethan the last time, and now, I am facing an equally arduous task of weaning Hannah.  With Ethan, I used Bonjela, but since then I have heard conflicting opinions on how Bonjela might not be the safest best for kids.  If anyone has any insight on this, I’d be happy to find out more.

Anyway, I have been slowly telling Hannah that Mommy’s milk supply is running low.  Sometimes when she asks for milk, I’d tell her, “You just had some milk Hannah.  And anyway, Mommy has very little milk left.  Only a bit milk left, baby.”

She’ll look at me pleadingly with those big brown eyes of hers and say, “A bit milk!” and position herself for a feed.  Talk about persistence.

Sometimes after a feed, she’ll tell me “Milk finish!”

I’ll then ask her, “Do you want more milk in your cup?”

She’ll nod and say, “Yellow cup!”

So now when she wants to be breastfed, she’ll say, “A bit milk!” or “A bit left!”, or depending on the situation, she’ll sometimes say, “Other side!”

Yes, as you can see, I have no idea how to wean her yet.  I’m praying she’ll wean herself off on her own…anyone experienced that before?

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