Chunky Monkey aka PawPaw is now three months old! What a journey it has been with you my little one. You've grown a lot! You babble and smile... and still whine most of the time. I wish you'd outgrow the nasty reflux so you'd be happy as a bee. You know you melt my heart. You got me big time!

Heat is On!

Summer here we come!

Of Food and Friendships

There are so many things to say about friends, with friends, over food. Yes, food! Ah, lovely! High tea with pastries that could send you to heaven and back, laughter, and fun...

Every time I gab my way through the phone (despite hurting my neck because I don't have a headset), I imagine that I am sitting with the person I am speaking with. I visualize how she laughs, her gestures, her eyes, and her presence.

But of course it sounds strange because as I am holding the phone in between my ears and shoulders, I am also either doing laundry, mopping the floor, cooking, washing the dishes, bathing my babies... get the picture? The thing is I can't live with my thoughts while doing chores. I need something else to do. And I can't just be on the phone, I'd be guilty as hell if I just sit idly.

So, why food? Because almost always my conversations would center on food -- what I'm cooking, what I'm eating, what I plan to eat, what I'd like to eat, the food I'm allergic to, the recipes, and etc. And there is this unexplainable comfort that binds my friends over food... it is always about food.

My wish is to gather them in my kitchen, have a cookfest, savour the meal as well as their company.

Midnight, I was roasting chicken after I baked banana bread and my only wish is to have someone to share a meal with hahay!

Entertaining

Life has been fussy, worrisome, and yet it's still magical and wonderful! There are still things to worry, things that matters. Yet, I know and I believe things will just fall into its place. The universe always has a way of making us laugh and cry. On the other hand, I am very grateful for my boys. The ones who live with me, who make my day crazy happy. Yes, the world is a stage indeed hehehe!

It has become less boring and less lonely in my nook. I have met all the neighbours in our street, there are only five households here -- two Indian (South Asian) families, one Armenian, one American couple, and us. Around the corner are Indians, Chinese, Ukrainian, and who knows pa... quite diverse universe =)

My little boy now bikes with our next door neighbours. It is so much fun and cute that they ring each other's door bells in the afternoon when it's time to play until the sun goes down hehehe!!! Brings a sense of normalcy in their childhood! I also go out and chitchat with the moms... isn't it awesome?

Well okay, this week has been entertaining and eventful! Hope yours as well will be...

Be Like The Donkey

"Once upon a time in ancient China, the people at a village received orders from the regional governor to build a shrine for the emperor. If they could meet the deadline, the governor would reward them handsomely.

"The chosen location for the shrine had a well, so they needed to fill it up before construction could take place. They brought in a donkey to transport piles of sand and mud for that purpose.

"An accident occurred. The donkey got too close to the exposed well, lost his footing, and fell into it. The villagers tried to lift him out but could not. After many failed attempts, they realized it would take too long to rescue him.

"Keeping the deadline in mind, the villagers decided to sacrifice the donkey. They proceeded to shovel sand and mud into the well, thinking they had no choice but to bury him alive.

"When the donkey realized what they were doing, he began to wail pitifully. The villagers heard him but ignored him. The value of the donkey wasn't much compared to the rewards they would get, so they continued to shovel.

"After a while, the wailing stopped. The villagers wondered about this. Was the donkey dead already? Or did he just give up? What was going on?

"Curious, they looked into the well. A surprising sight greeted them. The donkey was alive and well. When the mud and sand rained down on him, he shrugged them off, and then stamped around until they were tightly packed below him. This formed solid ground that lifted him a bit higher each time.

"Eventually, the donkey got high enough inside the well. With one powerful leap, he jumped out of it. Amazed, the villagers watched as he trotted off with his head held high.

"When we get in trouble and the sand and mud of daily problems are failing upon us, wailing is of no help. The best thing in the midst of adversity is to take action. We can make use of trouble and find a way out that in the long run strengthens us. This Taoist teaching story gives us hope that we can cope with the bad things that happen to us." - The Tao of Daily Life by Derek Lin

Grateful and Honored

"Langga, you are my miracle. Thank you for all your doing and your being. - Dad

We are thankful. - 3 boys under the tree"

Being thanked, acknowledged, and appreciated just because... for no particular occasion is amazing. I was so flattered to received an e-card from my husband. Just when I felt like crap not being able to do everything that I needed to do, and looking crap myself... I get this. It's a sweet reminder that I am loved and adored and that should be more than wonderful.

How often do you thank and show your appreciation to other people who have made a difference in your life?

Mama

He calls me Mama, err he cries for Mama... I assume he called for me, his slave. This little guy has got me wrapped around his little fingers. The moment he was born, I grew another heart solely for him. And that explains why there are nothing much to share from my kitchen LOL!

Rocking the Cradle

Celebrating all mom friends out there... you are in my thoughts, in my prayers... I hope that this weekend may we be rejuvenated and feel a lot more special... because we deserve it! The picture above is a promo material I made for my baby, Kusina Habana. I chose to make it like a personal greeting card for moms. I wonder if it is obvious though. This pretty much sums up my life lately, being mom and entrepreneur (slowly coming out of my maternity leave hehehe!).