Monday, December 31, 2018

So long 2018 hello 2019~!

Tomorrow is the first blank page of 365-pages of book,
so I suggest we write a good one.
Another chance for us to get it right, InsyaAllah~~

To sum up this year, in a word, I would choose, COURAGE.
With courage, we strive our best at work, to provide better future for our kids,
With courage, we learned a lot of new things in parenthood to support our kids who are in need of love and attention.
With courage, we finally venture into new chapter of life, which is Daddy going for Master of Public Health,
And with courage, we learn to become better muslims and appreciate everything that Allah has given to us, grab opportunities to help those underprivileged and the sick,
and be grateful with all the blessings and tests He gave us through out the year, and become better person, InsyaAllah~~
My children looking so ecstatic on their birthday party! 
October, November and December are the months of birthdays celebrations for Mommy, Ammar+Marissa and Daddy.
The kids just could not wait any longer.
Just about everyday Ammar will ask, ada birthday party ke mommy?
Harini birthday Ammar and Marissa ke?
24/11/2018 we finally had our annual birthday party at our home
The kids are deep into outer space stuff,
They love space shuttle and trips to International Space Station, and planets and such!
They even requested to see rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Station,
errr... that is in United States, sayang hahaha~!

Oh my gosh!! sayang nak makan!

They have made me so curious until I became the fan of space discovery myself.
I watched space documentaries, and the history of space shuttle (so geek lah mommy!), and got to educate myself that there were few space shuttles ever created and their names were Atlantis, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour, Columbia and Enterprise.
I even watched the tragedies of Challenger and Columbia and learnt that there were many astronauts who lost their lives in making history to the mankind.
Look how my kids have influenced me on my knowledge of science, good!
Beautiful moments captured
How intriguing!

So, the ultimate space shuttle cake made by our loyal baker, @prettyyummythings,
the inside was red velvet cake, Ammar's n Marissa's favourite!
He even gave us the firework candles, awesome!











"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced"
"Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive!"


Mommy just prepared simple Nasik Beriyani with Sambal Udang Galah, and Percik Ayam this time.
Cooked with the help of my adik adik, of course. Prepared fettuccine carbonara for the kids,
and laku keras!
Habis licin, alhamdulillah~~
The kids were all stuffed and so were the parents haha.
Thank you to the Otago clan, my fellowship of the rings; Melor, Azza, Udeq, and Ayuni Zen, Aini Cikhens.
Thanks for making the time to celebrate our kids special day!


You guys will always be in the kids memories as the sporting uncles and aunties who never fail to show up every year for their birthday parties!! Hehe~~


We got the kids big presents this year as they have been in good behaviours, haha
not much dramas.
Ammar has shown tremendous progress and Marissa is getting cheekier each day.
That justified for big presents right!
hehe..actually they seldom ask for toys, whenever we pass Toys R Us he will say bestnya toys tu nak tu nak ni, but when we said, oh belum birthday Ammar n Marissa lagi, and they will say oookayyyy..walaupon buat sad eyes! hahaha,
so yes, you are getting the big presents during your birthdays, don't you worry kids hehe~~
You deserved them!

2018 we spent so much time with the kids, and our families,
Penang, Langkawi, Cameron Highlands, Malacca, Pangkor, Kuching, Malacca Malacca Malacca hahaha,
InsyaAllah next year, we will wait for Daddy's convocation master InsyaAllah and to continue DrPH.
And..maybe an overseas trip next year, wink wink ehhee.
The small family of Najib, Anna, Ammar and little Marissa 
Ammar Haikal, and Marissa Anna,
Semoga membesar sihat, kuat, pandai dan soleh solehah my children sayang.
2019 awaits you and many many many more years to come,
InsyaAllah mommy and daddy will always be there for you,
And praying the best for our family.


Much love,
Mommy n Daddy.

31st December 2018. Hello 2019!


The Anna's kitchen ~~

If I were not a doctor?
I would certainly, yes very certain,
that I would be a CHEF!
haha.
Not sure a good or a mediocre chef, but somehow a chef!
I don't really know why I love cooking, it maybe because the satisfaction you get every time you get to feed your family and friends.
When they love or pretend to swallow everything you cooked, haha.
I think that is what I love most about cooking.

2018, has given me opportunities to try few new things in Anna's kitchen.
Apart from my usual boring children menus,
and my usual Chicken Rice, Nasik Lemak, Nasik Beriani, and countless Grilled Fish, lambs and stuff.
I came to discover Masak Lemak Daging Salai.

I fall in love with this dish the first time i tried, and I've been spending time to recreate it at home, and voila!!
I have never been a fan of masak lemak, any masak lemak at all.
But for this daging salai masak lemak,
I think the smoky taste of the beef, and coconut milk and spicy bird-eye chillies, give this dish its outstanding taste.
I have tried prepare this dish few times in Anna's kitchen and finally got the taste that I love.
And, of course, a great quality smoke beef is essential for this dish and I found Kuala Pilah smoke beef is the ultimate winner!
Thank you to my bff Nadia aka Mek Nad who would bring the authentic Kuala Pilah smoke beef fresh from her hometown to Anna's kitchen for dinner to-die-for!

I think the most frequent and most wanted dish that I've prepared in Anna's kitchen was undoubtedly this Lala spicy sweet dish!
I discovered Lala after my sister Aida introduced them to me, she is a big fan and I have not tried Lala before. and my, the taste is so distinct, you gotta want more!
After that, it became one of Anna's kitchen favourite dish for 2018 and served to many family and friends since hehhehehe~~

arghh...so yummy!
I think the best part of this dish is the coriander.
You cannot do this dish without it.
I usually put tons of coriander and lurveee the smell!

Seafood galore with bffs, Dr Faridah Hanim and Dr Nurul Amal
Lala pedas 
Recipe:
Tumis crushed garlic(lots of garlic! hehe) + crushed chillies or paste
Masukkan lala (I usually use 1-2kg)
Cook till lala terbukak and keluar air
Masukkan garam sikit, and gula sikit
and lots of coriander (ketumbar)
siap!!

All my friends and family know that I don't really know the quantities of whatever I put in my cooking. Haha~~
You just have to estimate, and practice,
and by the hundred times you done it, you should be a master on how much to put in!

The next new thing in our kitchen for 2018 was Gulai Ketam or Crabs cooked in spicy coconut gravy with tumeric.
Crabs were not really my favourite actually, as they are hard to eat.
I guess you gotta put some efforts to eat them, haha, but being a seafood lover, I could not resist the taste of crabs, the juice when you cook them in that spicy coconut gravy.
By the time you prepare it in your kitchen, the smell will make just about everyone hypersalivating! hahahaha~~ Just how good they are.
And turned out I love them!
I have not tried making chilli crabs and salted egg yolk crabs n such yet, but I am starting with this Gulai Ketam, and it will get better, I promise!hahaha!
Another seafood galore for guests coming to our humble abode.
Spicy sambal udang galah and gulai ketam seen in the pics!
Gulai Ketam
Resepi:
Pound fresh tumeric, shallots, bird-eye chillies
Mix coconut milk together
Put in the crabs, and cook in low to medium heat
Salt to taste, and that's it!!!
(I usually add in a bit of sugar, being Kelantanese you know)

I am not actually a fan of instant noodle.
Yes, because it is not healthy. Ehem ehem. Haha yes it is not!
However, I came across a very tasty Kerabu Megi recently and I just could not resist to try remake it at home.
My nannies love Kerabu Megi, and I kept resisted to do it as it falls under my unhealthy food list, but for this time, I was determined to try recreate the famous thai dish for a challenge!
Haha, takboleh jadi diorg buat sedap, kene try buat sendiri, gitu
Kerabu Megi Anna's kitchen ~~
Resepi:
Kerabu Megi
Cut shallots, tomato, chillies (depends how spicy you prefer), and lots of coriander!
Rebus udang geragau, sotong putih, or anything you want to throw in
Perah air limau nipis
Air gula
Mix them and adjust the taste.
It should be masam, pedas and a little sweet.
Good luck!

Don't you just love good food?...heheh~~

My Udang butter nestum.
My favourite thing to order everytime at the seafood restaurant, and gosh they were expensive!
But now I can make it at home, and taste just the same~~

2019 is just around the corner.
I hope to be given health, wealth and times, and motivation and courage to try more new things, and it will certainly and hopefully be;
-more grilled or oven ideas for fish, chicken and lamb
-will try learn to do own steak and western dishes
-maybe perfecting malay dishes like gulai ayam, kurma, kari and such
-explore exotic dish, hahaha who knows!


Thursday, December 13, 2018

The Najibs and the second half of 2018; Diary of a mother

They do look alike! Don't they?! 3 years apart.
I came to parenting the way most of us do,
knowing nothing and trying to learn everything!
Pregnancy and motherhood are the most beautiful and significantly life-altering events that I have ever experienced. Alhamdulillah~~
Having kids, dragged me, kicking and screaming, from the world of self-absorption.
As a mother,
You have that impulse to wish that no child should ever be hurt, or abused, or hungry or not have opportunities in life.
I got teary just seeing kids got scolded in front of people for silly things,
I got emotional when seeing babies who are sick, and when seeing babies in market or crowded places like pasar malam, because I know they will catch bugs and get sick!
I got angry if I saw kids being abused and could cry for days for them.
It completely change me from who I was before kids.




I wish I have them sooner?!
That was obviously beyond my control.
We waited for three years before we finally have Ammar Haikal.
As usual everyone's asking when when when like I can dictate when will I get pregnant, haha. people.
So I gave birth to Ammar when I was 29 years old.
And he is a great kid.
He had 5 hospital admissions for Pneumonia from age 4,5,6,7,8 months of life! That was monthly admission! Nasty taska bugs!
Gosh I could not describe how devastated I felt that time. How helpless I was.
The most severe was at the last admission where he required intensive care almost needing intubation and was warded 9 days during his first Eid in 2014.
That was the most difficult time and we are the first time parents.
We both doctors with experience, but with our child, we became just like other parents.
Worried and worried. Tears and rain.
I still get traumatized when I picture him on the HDU bed with those wires and oxygen mask n all.
I still got teary everytime I walk by the taska that he stayed for 5 months before we finally found a nanny to stay at our home to help caring for Ammar.

Ammar with his friends at kindy with his teacher Sha. 
These events might have lead to his current developmental delay. So the paeds said.
But that does not change our love to him.
He has speech issues, communication and fine motor delay, but he is catching up.
We have spent 2018 getting him to get all the help that he needed, and all the support that is available for him, and Alhamdulillah, he is making great progress.
He is surrounded by the people who love him, the teachers that care about him just like any other kid.
He went to speech, occupational therapist, play therapist and not to mention holiday therapies hahaha. What more important is that you bond with your children. 
Not the expensive therapies, but the love that you are giving to them. Despite the difference, the hardship, the people that stare, the relatives who talk and never understand their role in supporting special needs kid, don't waste time getting emotional, just assume they have no awareness and lack of education and you just be tough and become stronger. 
So yes, being a parent.
You learn about strengths you never know you had, 
and dealing with fears you did not know existed!
So you have no option to be sissies,
You have to sacrifice and grow up!

Mommy Anna, daughter Anna and son Ammar during EidulAdha 2018
One important thing in a happy family is undoubtedly a happy mother.
You gotta be happy to raise happy kids.
You gotta be positive and take everything in a positive way.
If you are miserable,
If you are angry and tired,
A miserable mother will make a home one living hell, this is no joke, haha.


I don't know who said this,
but there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.
This is so true, for me, I have never know that anyone could love another human being, this much,
just like how I feel, towards my children.
It is beautiful. Alhamdulillah for this opportunity.




I looked on childrearing not only as a work of love, and duty, but as a profession that was fully interesting and challenging as any honourable profession in the world and one demanded the best that I could bring to it.
As a medical doctor, who is in time for pursuing master and specialties,
and has passion in research and contributing more towards medicine, I have my dreams,
But I have to weigh pros and cons. I have to support my husband for his Master of Public Health before I pursue mine.
I make the call and postpone my studies for now, I have to say not because I have children.
But because I want to enjoy motherhood before they dont need my hugs, my kisses, my caress, my full attention anymore. Before they outgrown my lap.
I don't want to miss that. (I am not saying that those who pursue missed the time with their children, they have their own ways)
I am just having the time of my life, getting back home in time, making dinner for my little family,
Dancing in front of TV for Thomas and Friends series with my children,
Enjoy being silly and have time to teach Ammar, and spend time playing PlayDoh with Marissa,
caring for them and just having fun!
I will one day pursue my career, I don't care if I will be 38 or even 40 at that time,
I am not in race.
I am who I am best at right now, a mother.

"When you make a decision to have a child, you are also making the decision to take responsibility for that child. You don't abandon your obligation as a parent, just because you have 'other plans' "

Hari Raya AidilAdha 2018 in Putrajaya

The best security blanket a child can have is parents who love each other.
I am truly grateful for this loving husband.
I have known him for 13 years now and married to him for nearly 9 years now, and not once he raised his voice to me.
His words are always comforting and positive, and calming and make me feel safe.
We grow wiser together and I love his passion towards our family, children and medicine.
He is so husband material, and I am truly blessed for that, alhamdulillah~~
Looking back, I have never thought of meeting my soul mate in Friendster (like Facebook today!) and and to have met such a great guy for a husband and a father to my children, in this millenia, is truly magical. for me.
I pray that we will be given opportunities, health and wealth to raise our children, to see them grow, and succeed in life insyaAllah.
I also pray that we will have the opportunities to contribute more to the society in making the world a better place. ( so much for public health! hahaha)
10th November 2005-my first time meeting my future husband that time, in KLIA.
I am more than glad to have found the courage to step out of the
plane and met him that day!

The Najibs, during Floria Putrajaya 2018



Gotta make time.

Time for dates with husband.
This includes sneaking out for movies haha. (usually Friday evening after work!)
We will find time to go for dates in fancy cafe or just Seoul Garden in boring Alamanda.
Gotta make time for the kids of course, everyday they will screamm yayy mommy balik daddy balik when our car reached home.
We always take them to KLCC playground during weekend to let loose all the energy haha.
And this year, we decided that they are ready for some patriotic event, which was the National Day!







Celebration of National Independence Day witnessed by the duo
And we were right, they were stunned by everything there.
The armies, the assets, the people, the song, yes the song.
They became obsessed with Malaysia song by Faizal Tahir and we had to listen as well as sing along that song for months! (Faizal Tahir sang the song live in Putrajaya that day)
And they forced us to circle around the concert area coz Faizal Tahir sang that night live also, hahaha.
Yes, August till October, it was all about Faizal Tahir songs!
Humming and singing Starfeather, Buta, Malaysia, Sayang...my kids were so into Faizal Tahir that time, and of course he is our favourite singer too.
Marissa and Ammar would act out like in Sayang video,
and will hug and kiss us just like in the video of lagu Sayang, and said, mommy dia sayang dia, daddy dia sayang dia, macam mommy sayang ammar sayang maysa, hahaha., so adorable la!

Came October, and Encik Lebah partially surprised me (he was the one who were surprised when he saw the dates for the holiday actually the weekend before his exam! haha) by getting us booked in flight to Kuching, Sarawak!
Yes, Sarawak has a lot of memories of us together.
We spent the our engagement months there and of course the honeymoon years of marriage were all in Sarawak.
I guess, it is always good to have a walk down the memory lane, gituuu.
We stayed at the Grand Magherita Hotel, and I have to say that it was a great stay.
Don't be fooled by the outside look of that hotel, haha, and what more was that the location.
Just in front the cat statues, and along the river, where we keep on repeating naik bot to kuih lapis, and round the bridge and all.
Went to seafood topspot of course and just having fun with the children.
Running around the waterfront.
Catch up session with bestie, Dr Faridah Hanim.
It was a nice getaway, thank you husband.
And he got almost full mark for his statistic exam after that weekend full of fun and conversation about biostatistics hahaha. yes, berkat bawak isteri anak jalan2 keh, hehehe.



Marissa Anna and M Ammar Haikal at the Wonderboom cafe, Kuching, October 2018

Marissa came as a big surprise for us, coz I thought we would have to wait for maybe longer this time to have a second baby.
And alhamdulillah~~ we are blessed with a little girl.
Initially we were to name her only Marissa Humaira, but I went thru complications for this second cesarean, so she maybe and most likely will be our last child.
So I gotta put Anna as her middle name, hahahaha.
I have to. I mean, kamon, she was in me for 9 months!
She gotta be my little Anna.hehe~~

She is demonstrating "SAYANG DADDY", mommy is so jealous!!!
Marissa Anna Humaira,
a complete opposite of her brother.
She has an outgoing extrovert persona, with cheekiness and drama.
She is more of a diva.
Just like mommy! hahahhaa~~
Encik Lebah said, why you have to add Anna in the middle, she is so just like you, suka merajuk, drama drama hahahahah.
She is so manja. She would cry like a baby and demanded for 'tiup' if she stumbled on anything.
She would kacau2 her brother and made it look like she is the victim hahaha
She is her brother best girl. and best friend.
Sayang Marissa!
The hearts that go walking outside my body ehhehe
Back to should I have them (the children) sooner?
I would say YES.
YES big time. if only I could decide on that hahaha,

I think, and of course, medically, having children sooner will definitely reduce your risk of having complications in pregnancy and delivery.
And, and pregnancy during the 30s is actually more tiring and eventful than when you are in your 20s.
To add to that,
the sooner you have children, the lesser the worries,
the merrier the house,
and life is short,
don't postpone motherhood,
if you don't have any issues,
then I would suggest you go for it!!

Motherhood is amazing, and you have no idea, until there's a life growing inside of you.



Come November and we were given opportunity to see Ammar Haikal performed Dikir Barat with friends at his school's graduation ceremony in front of media and hundreds!
Even Siti Nurhaliza, Estranged were there, how cool was that, mommy melopong hahaha.
We were impressed, I mean, where were we when 5 years old? haha. main pasir??
It was an achievement.
He was so happy and that what matters the most to me. He looked like he enjoyed it so much and had fun performing.
Well done!
Mommy and Daddy are always proud of you, son.
We pray the best for the years to come,InsyaAllah~~


The Najibs during our regular evening stroll at the park, taking time to feed some hungry fish! hahaha
So yeah, that was 2018 in a glance.
2018 has been amazing to us.
We worked hard this year, for our career, for our children, and family.
It was not a smooth journey but we manage to pull it thru, alhamdulillah~~
and always be positive.
We have to remind ourselves on that everytime.
and count our blessings!

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

The Najibs, and the first half of 2018.

We finally moved in the new house in February 2018.
(the house is not that new, I think maybe 10 years, but is in mint condition and was refurbished for us, so yay!)
Two trips of 5tonnes mover with about more than 50 boxes!
My my Anna, that's a lot of stuff!
Bye bye smurf house (coz it was painted in purple haha) and hello new house!
It is a semi-d with 5 rooms, 
and in a beautiful neighborhood in Putrajaya.
I called this neighbourhood, the Wisteria Lane hahahaha. the wisteria lane of desperate housewives!
only that in this neighbourhood we dont have Bree, Susan, and please not Gabrielle Solis! hahaha.
or maybe?
I will find out.haha.
Marissa Anna, 1 year 2 months old in front of the house
Anyway, living here in Putrajaya is absolutely convenient. 
Except for the fact that there is no single food stall near any street, and we get lots of comments on there is no gate to every house, nothing, just like Wisteria Lane, see, I told ya haha.
But here, is freakishly clean.
No junk, no bottles no plastics laying around, no smelly dumpsters,
the kids just freely roaming and socialize with each other in the neighbourhood.
There is always a park or something close to the neighbourhood for you to do recreational activities.
I can definitely say, if you have lived here, you keep wishing other places look like Putrajaya hahahaha (I swear this is not paid review!)




Marissa Anna wont let Abg Ammar have fun playing football without her, of course!
Mommy Anna and daughter Anna, Wetland Putrajaya
Our kids love this new surroundings as much as we do.
We make new friends and get to know new neighbours.
They are all nice! and our next door neighbour have 6 kids!
So we gonna be friendly bunch to them hehe.

The first half of 2018,
we spent it so much at the new house and enjoying every weekend camping, bbq in the backyard, and also Port Dickson countless picnics.
We just got a tent and went nuts about it.
haha, went to PD every available weekend.
and also just got some skills in bbq, hence the bbq madness hahaha.
In PD, there's a place that we love so much for lunch, which is the Cowboy Ayam Bakar.
The chicken grilled in marinated spicy sweet sauce and yummy!
The only thing that turns me off there is the extreme use of polystyrene plates, cups, bowls and just about everythinggg!.
Obviously they are not thinking about planet earth I suppose.
Maybe I should suggest something to them, yes I should!






































From picnic in the evening, to candlelight dinner at night.
Certainly cannot get over the backyard hahaha.
Albeit so small, it is so meaningful to us.
The place of making memories.

And to add to the excitement,
my loving father made us this bench!
How cool!!!
I am forever grateful for his effort and contribution for his daughter, son in law and grandchildren for this bench that he had made together with my mom!
Hand made with love.

Thank you abah, thank you Ma.
We love youuu!

Nasi Lemak Ayam by Anna's kitchen for breakfast served in Potmeirion UK
Our backyard party with the neighbour next door on Saturday evening
From balloons, to cake, and yummy bbq chicken, lambs and seafood, we have tried them all in the backyard kitchen haha. 
Thank god we have a baker in the house, my little sista! 
She made the cake for us, and entertained her nephew and niece who love cakes of course!

I finally have nice plates for us and our guests hahaha. Alhamdulillah, I have grown into a mature woman I guess, wink wink.
For years, we have been married,
I have never thought of plates being that important.
I mean, it's just plates.
haha.
But I have to agree, with Potmeirion UK, everything I put on it, look so much nicer and delicious!
so yeah, I finally chose Potmeirion!
And I love themmmmm.!
Thank you to my bestie Dr Faridah Hanim who brought it back all the way from UK for me.
(you know I love ya hahaha)
I would have bought every single serveware, dinnerware, serving platters, bowls and you name it, if only it does not cost arms and legs!!!!
Ammar and Marissa enjoying breakfast with view in the backyard
















Around March,
Encik Lebah aka daddy got scholarship for Master of Public Health, and Doctor of Public Health (MPH, DrPH) in UPM!.
That's great news!
He got in in his first try, alhamdulillah~~
rezeki us, insyaAllah.
So, I will support Encik Lebah on his journey to become public health physician, and succeed in four years time insyaAllah amin.
Mommy will give her utmost support and love during these tough years ahead and help manage our family in this difficult time.
I cannot be selfish and pursue at the same time, as our children need attention and I don't wanna jeopardize that.
More of like, I want to spend time with them.
It's not like I have to halt my dreams, it's just that my dream for now is watching them grow first.
InsyaAllah, my time will come.

of wrinkles, panda eyes, and endless fatigue! Mommy Anna rocking motherhood!

Handsome boy!
 Some pics from trillion pics that were in the Iphone just for Port Dickson!

Ammar Haikal.
4years 5months old.
His speech progress is great!
Alhamdulillah, now he is attending Early Intervention Program (EIP) and also attending typical kindy, and he is doing well.
The speech now getting more complex, and can answer why, and how.
His communication with us much improved with interventions. and insyaAllah will catch up.
It's okay if you are different, you are never less, sayang.
Keep up dear,
Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible.
Mommy believes in you!
you can do it, anak soleh~~

She looks like Amira kecik. "When in Malibu"

Marissa Anna Humaira.
1 year 5 months old.
She is just so adorable.
Her speech now beginning to develop,
she talks in two-words sentence, I am amazed!
Girls, they can talk all night ay??! hahahaha.
She can say, mommy sini, mommy jom, mana susu? mana daddy?
She loves outdoor, and beach of course.
But she still prefers out of the water.
She is still not yet into swimming, not like Ammar.
More of a diva!
I get complaints and complaints from her being so manas manas manas! (Panas!! hahaha)




This year, our sisters and brother getting hitched!
and engaged~~
During Eid, my sister Aida and my sister-in-law Siti Najiha got engaged.
Faris's was earlier than the girls.
So we are getting new family members soon!
and anak2 sedara soon!
yayyyy!!!! more friends for Ammar and Marissa hehehe.

Our Eid in Kelantan, could not be much happier~~
Alhamdulillah, makan lemang, rendang, and ziarah saudara mara dekat.
Ammar had fun time with kids coming to our  house in Kuala Balah, Kelantan.
and Marissa also clad in pretty peach baju kurung,
running around the house!


This picture is my favourite as it documented the development of siblings rivalry, haha
She wont let her brother holds her hands,
and making that angry face,
just so adorable little sister!


My happy girl in her first baju kurung ever.
I bought this at Alamanda,
and of course, I know would fit her chubby belly well. hhehe, and it has nice colour.
Nice peach colour for 2018 eid.





To the first baju kurung and countless more mommy will buy for you my princess!
My only princess!
I will definitely miss these times when she is a toddler.
They say toddlers are the cutest.
I could not agree more.


We also went for Penang getaway with Ma Abah, and went to Entopia.
The new butterfly farm.
The place is brand new and beautiful when we went.
The walkway is stroller friendly and pathway is safe for OKU.
There is an inside cafe, toilets and surau.
We started with reptiles, and went up the man made waterfall, and into the beautiful butterfly garden.
The butterflies were flying freely under the dome, and the view was amazing.
The kids were astonished seeing hundreds if not thousands of butterfly flying around.

Mohamad's family and second generation, at the Entopia Penang






This was actually our second time here,
Marissa was here when she was just 5months old I think.
We would recommend this place, especially if you have kids, as they can actually hold the butterflies, and see them up close!
We went there early in the morning, so the crowd is not there yet, hence the best time.
They have theatre also, showing everything about butterflies and bugs,
The fees also reasonable, and worth it,
So, yes, one of the places you should go in Penang!


We also went to Pangkor with Mak Abah,
and took half an hour ferry.
Marissa and Ammar's first ferry ride to Pangkor, and they were more of jakun! hahaha.
Pangkor is a nice place, just that it lacks proper family friendly resort I guess.
and the island is quite crowded and packed with people.
So, I think maybe next time we should try Redang or Tioman.
InsyaAllah.
So we ended up shopping anchovies and dried seafood and spent a night.
Abah unfortunately got his gout attack on the island and we had to go to Klinik Kesihatan to get some shots of pain killer and he was good to go.
But in all, it was a great trip for the kids!
Just find a great resort, then you are all set!



Till then,
Will continue to the next half.
Stay tuned!

Happy brother and cheeky lil sister; as close as hands and feet!

Family.
Where life begins..
and love never ends..

Alhamdulillah,
Ammar and Marissa is growing up happily and they have taught us limitless amount of patience, gratefulness, happiness and hope.
We have learnt to be thankful,
to count our blessings..
every single day,
every morning when wake up,
thank you Allah for this opportunity, to know how it feels like, to raise your own kids, to be a mommy, a daddy, to be called mommy, to be called daddy,
The apples of our eyes~~on their birthday party!
Thank you Allah for this opportunity, to be thrilled to come home to two kids happily chanting yayy mommy dah balik, yayy daddy dah balikkk! hehehe~~
there were times when you lost your patience, anger tries hard to dominate you, haha,
when you feel like, aii nak hanger je the kids hahahaha,
then, cepat-cepat terfikir, sabar..
be patient,
be wise Anna, hahaa~
and stay sane! hehehe..

Just another pretty cake from prettyyummythings!
M.Ammar Haikal. 15th November 2013. Born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. 3.6kg baby.
Turning 4 years old!
Despite his speech issues (he has speech delay and fine motor issues), he has progressed tremendously, and will always make us proud~~
He is attending kindy and therapies during weekend, which he enjoys each session heaps.
Happy Birthday Ammar Haikal, our first baby!

Marissa Anna Humaira. 24th November 2016. Born in Putrajaya. 3.4kg baby.
Our only girl!
She is so cheeky, a cheerful kid, and likes to show off her skills, haha a complete opposite from his brother, whose personality is more of conservative type~~
Loves to play with Ammar, and sabotage Ammar's work.
Hence, Ammar calling her monster Marissa! haha






She is a big chubby girl. Loves to eat!
at 12months old, she weighs 12kg!
She loves just about anything, pasta, rice, fish, fruits, anything!
Definitely not a picky eater.



A chatter. Just like mommy eh hahaha. and mommy's magnet.
She wont let mommy goes out of her sight!~~sigh
that means going to toilet or shower is a bit tricky. which involves intense screaming at the moment!
Marissa is cared at home with her nannies, alhamdulillah~~selagi ade nannies, coz it's not easy to have nannies at home these days..
Happy Birthday dear Marissa, our only princess!!

The kids were into the hot air balloons at that time,
and now still!
We are waiting for international hot air balloons festival at Putrajaya, I think it is held in every March.
So kids, we have to wait for March 2019 ya!



We have many version birthday celebrations for these two starting 15th November, haha,
We had one cake on the day itself,
then at Atok and Wawan's place,
and at Tok Ma and Tok Abah's place,
and this one, is the ultimate cake lah!
Closing the year of 2017 with a pretty hot air balloon cake that obviously loaded and coated with sugar hhehehhe~~~

We have been loyal to this baker,
who make great cakes, so creative and neat. @prettyyummythings!

Captivated by this amazing cake!
Double celebrations with birthdaymates, Hassan et al.
My girl now 1 year old toddler! and her brother still drink from bottle! oppsss hahaha
Sayang Anna is wearing her birthday hat and ready for cake!



Happy Birthday sayangs and hello 2018!!
Alhamdulillah we finally moving into our new house,
(not ours, but quarters, but yeah, still practically ours till pension insyaAllah hhehe!)
We are in the midst of packing, and of course you could not see it in these birthday pics since all the stuff were upstairs!! Hidden!






This bunch who always here for annual birthday celebrations!
The daddies and mommies are getting older together and the babies are increasing in number.
So productive, ay?



The Otago clan with babies!
Babies of 2013 and baby of 2016.
We are not yet thinking about baby no. 3 except Aini cikhens and raja, and Udeq who is heavily pregnant with no. 3. So...tutup kedai first! hehe~


We got the house to start our 2018 in a bigger space, I suppose.
It is a semi-d with 5rooms,
and there will be a backyard, although mini size backyard, but still, a backyard in Putrajaya is hard to find! hahahaha,
So we are a lucky bunch.
The house will be at the end of the road,
with so called small field for kids in front the house and there will be no cars passing by, how great is that! We just couldn't wait! Will update!

She took her first step at 11months old,
and now at 1 year young, she practically starting to brisk walking!
Soon, she will be running!
From her first shoes to zillion pairs more that mommy will buy for you hahaha~~
My girl.
and my boy, we love both of you!!

Love,
Your mom and dad