My Taste of Home

Kad copy from http://www.aziman.net 

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Maaf Zahir dan batin to all Muslims readers.

Today after picking up Josh we were hanging out at Josh’s room and suddenly he just get up and taking his first step. I was so surprised and excited, told Josh to stay there and don’t move a muscle. I grab my camcoder and this is what I can capture. It’s actually his second step that I was able to capture but let call it a first, okay. I am full of excitement and can’t keep still….. Woohooo…….

First step

Joshua Arif will be celebrating his first birthday on October 6th and I don’t have anything much done. I did get a room booked at a park near our house. What exactly do I have to get done?

1. Invitations
2. Games/toys for the kids
3. Party Favors
4. Birthday Party Themes
5. Party Decorations & Supplies
6. Menu
7. Order Birthday Cake(s)
8. Birthday Present

Invitations:

I have been making a few phone calls and will be mailing an invitation to people who will be available for Josh’s birthday party.

Games/Toys for the kids:

I was thinking of getting bunch of coloring books and crayons for the kids. Also get a bunch of toys for them to play.

Party Favors:

I could get some toys, pen, candy,etc.,etc.

Birthday Party Theme:

I am thinking about Baby Einstein 1st Birthday but I feel like going more toward Pirate Party (Treasure Island) because there are more games for the kids with this theme.

Party Decorations and Supplies:

I will get it done once I decide which theme for his party.

Menu:

This is my biggest problem. I am not sure what to serve my guests and I know for sure I won’t have enough time to cook it. All the food has to be prepared by someone else like a deli or something. I probably should get some;

• Sandwiches
• Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, etc.
• Cookies and animal crackers - for kids
• Fruits Platter
• Veggie Platter
• Cup cakes
• Ice creams
• Soda, Water and Juice
• Bread and crackers

I am looking for an advise about the menu. So, please help!

This is what I see when I got to his daycare one afternoon.

Last weekend we were invited for Iftar by Sri to her friend’s house. At last, I finally met another Malays in Florida after living here for 10 years. There were bunch of delicious food like Gado-Gado, Bergedil, Hawaiian Pizza, Strawberries filled with cream, Apam Balik and Thai Basil Chicken and how can I forget a Dirt Cake made by Sri (Yummy). I hope I didn’t miss anything here if I did Sri can fill it in. Sorry no pictures were taken. I forgot to bring my camera and hopefully Sri will post some on her blog.

Sri’s three daughters are so adorable and it was fun watching them. The cutest thing they did was every time Sri snap some of their pictures, all of them will gather around Sri to look at their pictures. “Sejuk hati” tengok diaorang ni. Sri also found a Mamak Store and bought me some Roti Prata, even better it is made in Malaysia. Thanks, Sri and I owe you big time. I also would like to thank Zee and Dan for hosting the Iftar and for dropping off my Roti Prata. I hope we will meet again and to Zee and Dan, have a safe flight back to Singapore and don’t forget to bring back some kuih raya.

Now I am off planning Josh first birthday party. Sri, I hope Jeff is not working on October 5th and I’ll see you and your family soon.

Today is the 15th day of Ramadhan and my workload is getting more and more. I don’t have any problem with fasting, been fasting full month since I was 7 years old. After picking up Josh from his daycare, I’ll have to cook dinner for iftar and feed Josh at the same time. He always looking forward to have his dinner with us because he can sit on his highchair likes a big boy. Now he has to eat first and by the time the breakfast (Iftar) is when he’s cranky and getting tired since it is his bedtime, he will scream like bloody murder and there’s nothing you can do about it. We finally work it around especially when we know he is not in a good mood that day.  What a challenge, huh?

Josh is now 11 months and 9 days, I haven’t got anything done for his first birthday yet. Am I a bad mother if I didn’t do anything great for his first birthday? I hate it when someone said “What kind of a mother are you?”. Why is it people always blame the mother and not the father? Well maybe if the father helps a lot more, the mother probably can be a better mother. Sometimes I feel like I am going to bite their head off when I heard those kind of remark, I know I am not a great mom but I tried my best to give everything I can. They might think it’s a joke but I don’t think it’s funny at all. Maybe its just “cubaan di bulan puasa”. Like one of P. Ramlee movie…. “cubaaaaaan”. Here are some of the pictures taken a few weeks ago and didn’t get a chance to post it.

My lil man trying to walk on his own for the first time yesterday.

One big steak for daddy.

Tiny steaks for mommy.

Josh’s dinner after eating his applesauce.

Josh getting ready for school.

One last pose with mommy before school.

Happy Ramadhan to all muslimin and muslimat.