The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

It's December.

Time flies by me swiftly in 2015.

But there was this one month that I felt that time stood still: it was the month of October following the birth of Daniel. It felt long because I got very hormonal and pretty stressed out because of my son's jaundice and my breastfeeding issues. Five days in the hospital does take a toll on myself and my hubby. At that time, I felt I should have chosen a nearer hospital because of my hubby's frequent travels from home/office to hospital, but can swear that the service and facilities (i.e. doctors, nurses, staff, rooms) in Prince Court is pretty amazing, so it was a tradeoff.

Maybe I have not embraced motherhood yet, but many things didn't feel right on the first week, and nothing went as planned upon my son's birth. Funny, but it wasn't really love at first sight with my son. In week-2, I had my C-sec wound broken and was admitted to Sunway MC. It made me so mad (at myself) because this incident has devastatingly troubled my mum, my MIL, my hubby, my dad and more so, my newborn son. I was still under confinement period; my mum had to cook confinement food and bring it to the hospital. I couldn't see my son to latch; a day less of bonding with my son felt instinctively strange, like I've abandon my son.

Time crawled too during the rest of the confinement period in Ipoh. I couldn't bath all that much which made me feel really icky. I have always loved ginger but after 1 month of gingery foods, all food tasted so one dimensional, I did hate ginger at one point. What was worse, something triggered hives and itchy spots all over my body (exactly like the one I had last year in Chiang Mai). This allergy(?) worsens after direct intake of DOM or YOMEISHU. The alcohol must have aggravated the hives and itchiness further. I have yet to pinpoint the allergen. Blame it on hormones?

Daniel at exactly 1 month-old.

Papa doesn't want to miss any of his growth!

 November 2015 was intimidating nevertheless. After the default 1-month-confinement, I extended my confinement to 40 days at my MIL's house in Ipoh. And hubby felt terribly left-out because he missed a lot of baby's development milestone when he was in KL. The terrifying thing was that after confinement, I decided to return to KL and take care of my son all by myself without help of my own parents nor in-laws. I was terrified because I fear I was not able to juggle between baby and house chores. But guess what, as of now, it's been 6 weeks since I last took care of my son all alone during the day. For that, I have to give myself a pat in the back - for raising my child who put on ample weight/height and having witness first hand his development milestones, AND still didn't burn the house down :-) Well done, Ivy.

Hao-kong-chai pose

By now, time flies by me a bit too quickly! My son turns 12-weeks old today. One thing I am thankful for was that he doesn't wail like a newborn anymore. His cries have 'meaning', like a language (=short cries, long cries, angry cries, complaining cries etc.) telling you whether he's hungry, he has pooped or he is not happy with my nipples. These development makes things so much easier for me. He socially interacts with me and papa: cooing, laughing, smiling, talking, ang gugu me, loving Christmas lights and music. He can sleep through the night too. Now I am so in love with my son! Only now I appreciate motherhood and my newborn son antics (not so newborn anymore eh?). He is such a happy kiddo and quite cheeky, with new development milestones achieved day after day, I now am terrified to send him to the babysitter in January. All because I am afraid to miss his milestones and yes, it's termed: separation anxiety.

Work is about to begin. Now I feel that time flies way too quickly. I was relieved to have found a 1-to-1 babysitter in Puchong but on the other hand, I fear I might have separation anxiety at office. Thank God Daniel loves sitting on the car seat which makes my life a notch much easier when I want to run errands and sending him to babysitter. Also, he loves going kai-kai. I think the first week at office after my 3-month maternity leave would be the hardest.

Daniel loves the car seat and kai-kai

Anyways, cutting the story short - I feel awesome as a mum now. It took me 1.5 months to embrace motherhood as a first-time mum. So much more for me and papa to learn, but for me, it's all about being PATIENT.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Fongs.

Thank you for an awesome Year 2015.


Til Next Year 2016. Ivy-out.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Farewell 2014 and Happy New Year

Dear Readers of Ivy-Kini dan selamanya,

Thank you for your support for year 2014, and I hope to write more in 2015. 

I am blessed for being able to continue writing my thoughts and upkeep this space since 2005.

Farewell and good riddance to an eventful Year 2014. Overall, it was a good year for me because I got married and honeymoon.

I wish you the best of health and lots of love in 2015. Also, pray for a better Malaysia. 

Happy New Year!

Love, 

Ivy

Also on: http://cchivy.wordpress.com 

My wishlish 2011

Tick tock... tick tock...tick tock...*boring giler*....

Half an hour feels like 'forever'. My bags are packed and I'm ready to go...home. Work finishes at 5pm and ....hmpph...I have 'forever' to....hmmphh...maybe fill in a post or two anything:

Let's see. It's definitely way too late to put my NY's resolution, no? Okay, maybe a list of WANTS (TO-DO) this year 2011.


1. A good vacation somewhere faarr. Can't complain in this department. I've got HK in my bag already that automatically come with a half-marathon. But HK ain't too far. I've got a Scuba diving trip this September in Tulamben, Bali. Can I put another vacation in between now and Bali, say...Australia, Siem Reap, Anzac?


2. Bali. Yes, I need to get a good dive package for all 4 of us. Almost forgot.


3. KL Marathon 2011 (26 June 2011) - I am going to push myself beyond my physical comfort for this race. I am aiming for 2:15. If I can do 2:21 in darn cold weather in HK, I can do it in KL (with ample hydration, of course).


4. Set to run thrice a week....towards a full marathon in 2 years time. 


5. Slim down 1.5 kg. I am at my optimal weight now, which consequently means that it's a tat more difficult to reduce my weight even it's a little itsy weeny bit more. To do that, I need to reduce my greediness.


6. Spend more money on anything I want and whatever that makes me happy. Clothes, coffee, vacations, classy food, bak kut teh, make up, perfume, bag berjenama, on family, on shoes, conserving turtles, orchestra, theatres, on plays, on my boyfriend, on romantic dates, on comedy night, spend spend spend spend!!! 


7. ....and with the little extra money I've got, derma them to Japan (via a legal route). You guys need to tell me how to donate, and if my money reaches (or not!). How to know ar? 


and


8.  Drink a whole pint of Guinness draft this year. And why not this Saturday with the girls?! It's St. Patricks Day this whole week anyway!





Now, that's not too bad for a restless half hour. Just about the right time to fong kong or pang kang!!

December 2010

Wow, what a month. Filled with activities and many joyous occasions. Never a month so happening. Of course, most of the time, esp. when you're in Malaysia, it involves this thing call food.


First of all, congratulations to my bestie Pink for getting married. Indeed it was a fairy tale wedding. Pls pray for me it will someday be my turn......as wonderful as yours (I'm optimistic, but it could be a long wait..hahaha). I am already missing you as my cool housemate and clubbing kaki. 

OPS's wedding was the week before. Was a simple but joyous occasion nonetheless. The so ever tall friend of mine got a wife as tall has he ;-) (She is tall!). I have to mention this: the jazz band that they hired that night was damn good. Best I've ever experienced in a wedding dinner. Though consist of only a keyboardist and a female soloist, they were absolutely brilliant. All the latest songs (think: Bruno Mars) and the male keyboardist had this really mellow voice. Was glad that I made a few new friends from HK that was at the table. I've never spoke soo much Cantonese in one night! One of them will be joining the Stand Chart Hong Kong Marathon this February as well.

SIF-Alumni: Lum, Me, Ee Yee at OPS's wedding dinner

Oh yah, my car arrived early Dec. Sold my junk away for a very very safe buy - a Vios. And just 2 days after I got my car, someone purportedly farted (times 5) in it. I am pissed 'til today(!) and therefore want this 'disastrous incident' to be mentioned in this post and written in my history books ... for forever. LOL

The Malakoff 12km run at Mont. Kiara/Damansara Heights was quite relaxing. My gang arrived to a huge crowd of runners; probably 12 km is very much achievable for many. Plus, the weather was just right for the run. Finally met Farah (yay!) at the starting line after our countless unsuccessful meet-ups at previous races. 

This is how we 'carbo-load'. No, it's more like 'protein-load'. HUGE, BEST-GRADE MACADEMIA NUTS from SYDNEY 

Aunt's kindergarden always become the party spot.

Baby Jasmine: German mix Indian-Chinese

My Christmas was celebrated on Sunday. Went to regular church service with dad and then went up to Klang to pick up my mum from my aunt's place. Somewhat an annual event, we celebrated Boxing Day at Aunt Nancy's and Chris kindergarten. I always always attend their dinner parties cause it never fails to impress me - the food is extensive and delicious, the party-goers are in a class of their own, the drinks are ample from Holland beer to a 21-year-Chivas to ice kacang. And my cousin just got a new little 6 week-old baby call Jasmine. Adorable to the max & fearless of parties and noise!    

My beer from Holland. Smoooooth....

Their free-flow of any type of booze or ice kacang or cendol u desire.

Of course, Malaysia won the Suzuki Cup. Never heard of this Cup, til....last week. Whatever it is, I had a bunch of replacement holidays to be wasted off due to this win. I'm in Ipoh and it's still December 2010. I'm still expecting a bunch of yum chas, food and booze before the year ends.


Other worth mentioning and I-had-so-much-fun events in Dec:

Callie's German Xmas party. "Frohe Weihnachten"!! 

Colleagues at 'Penang Village' celebrating our boss' Birthday

Beloved Uncle Max at L's Xmas dinner party

I'm absolutely optimistic about 2011. Dream more, may your dreams come true.  

"You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one" 

John Lennon, taken from "Meet the Schmucks"

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 EVERYONE!

Booms!

I just woke up. Work can be taxing and tiring esp. when your work is 50% field work. Environmentalist marrr. Today, once I got home fr office, I ran a 5km, skipped dinner.....and slept at 8pm. I could tell the time I slept, cause the TV3 news just came on when I think I dozed off.

Now wide awake, I immediately continue restructuring a major part of my Ph.D. thesis(?!!?) and mumbled to myself why the thesis is never ever perfect for my Prof. or was it that they don't quite get what my research is all about (=bad thesis) and I have to keep rephrasing my sentences? And yes...many ppl still asked me why the hell am I still having late nights despite work starts at 8am. THAT WAS WHY.

I am full of little-little set-backs this year. Well, who doesn't have unlucky days? This year wasn't too good for me cause I wasn't quite in my "zone". Anyways, hope that 2010 would be a great year - afreshed, renewed. I dunno why, but I can't wait for the new year.

As usual, I would recap my year with significant events that have both saddened and delighted me:



January - CNY at KL, Ipoh, Bahau, Bukit Mertajam with my ex; I started Salsa classes at Havana with Callie

February - Swimming classes in Klang begins, which paid me well $$$$. But I was always catching a cold and my health was very fragile; my ex's mum passed away :(

March - There's a swimming class almost daily; $$$$ vs. cold/flu

April - Our currently stalled project - Petite Pink was launched.

May - Ph.D. thesis due; teaching swimming a lot

June - My low-profile birthday. My ex's dad passed away :( Broke-up due to inconcillable differences, Standard Chartered KL Marathon (my first competitive run in 5 years)

July - Baptised at FGA Ipoh! PETRONAS structured interview and passed!

August - Amazing Bali with Jonie, Riza, Nina, Cynthia!!

Sept - Hantar thesis. PIPE training at Bangi; Coffee-overdosed; Salsa Havana; My OWN swimming classes.

October - Real work starts; my thesis thrown back at my stupid face for major corrections; Wacky Bar @ Jaya One.

November - My first gaji....ooo0... belanja satu dunia! Coffee-overdosed (again).

December - LOL @ Comedy Night at Zouk! and.....my upcoming xmas eve party!

More importantly, I am still one piece! Despite all, I still really love my life.

I am actually very blessed. Although one is never ever satisfied (human nature mar), can't complain much la, kan...

My selection for word of the year 2009: "Salam 1Malaysia", "Booms!", "See you at the run", "Teoh Beng Hock"

My first inaugural post 2009. Thank you.

Welcome to Ivy-kini & selamanya!

I turned 3++years:

I am proud to have had this blog as my official writing space since Oct 2005 where I first blogged about Paris vs. Hilton. This blog has been revamped several times, but in 2009, if you noticed, all I did was to make the backdrop simpler (colourless). Thank you for your continual support of my writings and postings here. Thanks for the comments and I am glad there are people who love my postings and read them! I will continue to write/post more to this blog this year and forgive me for having my own style in writing because .....no one's perfect :)

Ivy

The year 2008.

January - Forgot what happened. Nothing happened la besides work work work, swim swim swim. Quit my gym membership.

February - CNY - balik bandar untuk raya. KL is my hometown. I remembered KL being void of human. Quit Aikido.

March - Forgot what actually happened, but my kwai low bf came back from London just to see me. Happy!

April - He left for the ultimate Oxford's interview. Can't stop him this time for not planning to return. Redang with my best buddy, Chris Thoo. Thanks Chris! Was a tan too dark....darn.

May - Was introduced to my Poppy clubbing kaki, Jessica and gang.

June - Unsuspectingly, I acquired a housemate. Introducing: Miss Fipink Yap :)

July - Every night talking with my housemate. If not, clubbing! Yah, whole day whole month. What a bond!

August - Still non-stop talking (with FP) and gossiping and talking and gossiping etc. with my girl friends. Developed the best-est friendship ever!

September - October - from Callie's to Fee Peng's b'day...non-stop birthday (and other minor celebration i.e. Leynard's six pack) months! Met Lenny, an unsuspecting motivator of mine.

November - All swimming classes stopped for school holidays. Stylo and Pall Mall's party of the year. Alan was there.

December - HK trip. Lovely Christmas. and I love you too, Alan.

To everybody,

This year 2008 was a extraodinarily memorable one. This year has taught me about my weaknesses and helped me developed a new-self. "If I can't change someone, I change myself, but still being ME"

This year is relatively a year of bad health - from shitless moments to fainting spells in the lab. But all is well now and I am glad the Lord has helped me through this all. Nonetheless, 2008 has brought me new friendships and bonds which I could have never thought of making in the first place. I wanna attribute this post to my besties from Toxicology lab - Yati and Dahlia, as well as Arshia, Callie, FP, Gary, cell group ppl and Jessica who led me through this year with their sincerest of hearts.

I miss this year 2008. Many big misses (in opportunity) for me but also gains that compensate for what I've lost. Therefore, I've lost nothing. I have learnt more instead. And 2009 is just another day (it's tomorrow anyway)

Love,

Ivy

31 December 2008.

2007 is for all my friends.

Year 2007 has been a year of friends & friendship. I will, in this post, dedicate 2007 to all my friends who totally changed my life. I don't like to quote real names in my blog as I respect some friend's privacy, but I MUST this time. Sorry for making your names public today, but mind you, I don't produce sex DVDs on my friends and you don't have to make public statements (hint: Dr. CSL resigned!)

My climb to mt. Kinabalu will not be a success without the help of my personal trainer, Ramesh. He's my no. 1 personal trainer in my world (errr..he's the only one I know of). Then, thanks to Henry for introducing me to his Actuary Society of Malaysia's ppl that was soo motivating during the climb up. They are great friends to hang out with too! Sorry, Henry...this year was not for us, but I treasured every moment with you and we will remain friends forever!

My dedicated Aikido friends at SS4 - I love you guys: Sensei Kow, Fu Yaw, Lipson, Chai, Joseph, Eddie, Brian, Sheau Shin, Yin Wah, 'clubbing' Leong and his beau, Mhong, Kenny (ex-Liverpool), Jong Yang with bionic hands & Yuen, for always making me feel fat after every supper, listening to my woes, my dirty jokes, my love life and many other crappy stories. You guys really listen and gave me good advices, though I've never followed, I respect you every one of it. It's been a great trip at Penang and Gua Tempurung last May too.

My dear group of beloved GIRLFRIENDS: Fee Peng, Yeng Pooi, Sook Jeng, Callie, including self-confessed gurl Chris Thoo have been really supportive of me this year. We commited the cardinal sin of gossiping and eating too much in each & every minute of our meet-ups, but seriously, every meeting with you girls have been fruitful and tremendously life-changing. Girls always support each other, and we may be dubbed the 'Desperate Housewives' previously (not including you, Chris), but I DO love the label thrown to us. Cameron Highlands with you girls really made me a much confident driver now; Jo Nie - our trip to Bangkok was absolutely wondrous! Will not exchange it for anything. Oh forgot: YP esp. for helping me out during our 31st dec open house! Without you, I'll be dead. Seriously.

Thanks to all people who voted for me at SpeakingTomato.com 'most gorgeous girl competition' by Chris Thoo. I dunno who the voters are, but some are damn pretty obvious like "Not Kenny" and "fipink" and "bea" and "Jesse YP" and "Jon" and other Aikido dudes which I forced them to vote for me. Hope the votes helped your blog, Chris in getting more than 20sens a click. Thank you guys/girls for the vote. I didn't know I was gorgeous.

I would love to thank Beh for always been consolling me at my times of trouble last year. It's been an honour that you've visited my lab. Thanks for the treats but sorry if I've not been able to show my gratitute in a nicer way. All my best in everything you do and your MBA, i supposed? :)

Fee Yen - for being the best financial planner ever. Darn, I think my unit trust lapse, yah?? Hahahaha. I still don't understand about a lot of things. Leong EM - for always letting me be editor for his writings. Kenny - for creating such a great blog that it overwhelmes mine :P and esp to Ee Soon for asking me to quit studying & get some life. Nice....

P/S: Some names have links on it. It's their blogs, so please click on them and write comments, and visit their blogs regularly!!! Thanks.

oh, I love my lab-mates too. They're the coolest labmates ever in UPM history!

Cellulite or no cellulite, that is not the question.

Never is a thousand years would i thought of going to a gym. I basically hate the thought of enrolling myself in a fitness centre because I heard that there are many 'aunties' there working out. Well, I don't want to be labelled 'Auntie' marrrr. Another reason why I loathe fitness centres was because I knew it would be a dull thing. You are alone doing your stuffs, using the equipment. Nobody is your friend when it comes to fitness. All alone. I have always prefer pure sports such as swimming, badminton, and martial arts like Aikido because competition, contact and skills are involved. We make many close friends in sports. In short: not dull.

I went for my first class of aerobics. Wow, I thought I can do aerobics, because I presumed that my swimming and aikido would have made me fitter than any other ppl. Once the class got started, I realised that I was soooo lost! Lost & blur. People can just jump, leap, and dance and dance and dance non-stop for an hour, and here I am drinking a whole bucket of water and resting on the bench all the time.

Then, I tried bodycombat. Bodycombat is like kickboxing and dancing in synchro. Okay, I know Aikido, so I again presumed that I can do this like a piece of cake. I almost died. These 'Aunties' are 10 times better than me in terms of fitness. They kick-box (and shout kiai) like they have just murderlized someone in the hall. I can't do kick boxing at all! I have no strength to continue. What more: I am suppose to climb Mount Kinabalu on 1st Feb.

Peak of Kinabalu

My Personal Trainer did not make my day either. He said that he has climbed Mount Kinabalu 3 times, and people like Ivy Chai will 'suffer' their way up. He assured me that in 2 weeks, I would be the fittest and the first in the group to reach the mountain. Okay, he make me do push-ups 30 times. I died. He made me run the treadmill and cycle to check my endurance. I died. I died in almost everything he asked me to do. I am not fit. Aunties with cellulite also can beat me. In 2 weeks, hopefully this will change for the better.

Gym is boring. Period. I have NO friends, no motivation. My personal gym trainer is my only friend and motivator. Almost everyone's goal is either to be fit and toned (that's my ultimate goal) or to lose weight (not my goal). Almost after every run at the treadmill, or after kickboxing or after aerobics, I will still return to the swimming pool in the gym to swim my favourite backstroke. And then, in the evening, I love a piece of good whacking, rolling, shomen and flips in Aikido.

Resolutions that can be kept.

I try not to make NY resolutions because I just can't keep them all these while. But well, I have one this year and I'll try to keep it:

1. Climbing to the peak of Mount Kinabalu this February.

Then, I thought...hmmphhh...maybe I'll make another resolution which I can keep:

2. Go to a F1 race this year.

Last year, I bought two F1 tickets and finally have to give it to my brother because of the bloody appendicitis on that week.

So, that's it for this new year's resolution. One requires fitness, one requires money. Both are my passion though.