Blogging at a snails pace

I wanted to post this on my personal blog but I couldn't get it to load. "Geramnya!" This slowness is so frustrating. I hope that they fix the problem soon. I read that "Data lines to Hong Kong, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia were to be back to normal late Thursday." Read more here. Its Friday now and things are still slow.

Overeas pages are taking ages to load and that includes my blogger (for blogging), bloglines (for blog hopping to my favourite blogs), PPP (for my paid posts), Paypal (to accept payment for my paid posts) etc. Funnily though my blogger is slow but easier to access than my blog hosted on my own domain so I have to post this here to "lepas geram". Okie! Done! I'm off now to do some cross stitch. I think it'll be a lot more productive than sitting here watching pages load halfway very slowly.

To all those who visited my blogs with your holiday wishes, thank you very much. I wish you all a Happy New Year and normal internet connection soon. LOL!

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Templates incompatible with the new blogger?

I have yet to switch to the new blogger. Well, I tried to but I got the message that "one of your blogs could not be switched because........." and after that the "Switch Now" button disappeared from my sign-in page so I could no longer even try to switch.

I'm wondering whether its because I was using a modified template and not one of the blogger original ones. The template has a new version that is compatible with the new blogger. However, I'm not a technical person and its harder for me to do my "copy and paste" tricks now with the new blogger version.

I didn't want to waste too much time on the technical aspects of blogging since I prefer to just write. That is why I have switched my template to one of the original ones by blogger.

So if you are surprised by this blog's new look, well, this is my simple explanation. I prefer the old look and I'm not changing the look for the new year. I'm changing it in the hopes that if I get to switch to the new blogger again later on, I won't need to do a lot of adjusting work.

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Merry Christmas to you and yours

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Just wanted to take the time to wish all readers of this blog a very Merry Christmas! How quickly time flies. Its the end of the year again. Christmas day is less than a week away. Have you made your New Year resolutions yet mothers?

As for me, I have no New Year resolutions. I prefer to make my resolutions throughout the year. Lol! One ongoing resolution of mine is to become a better mother and wife to my beloved children and dear husband. Quite often I feel like a lousy wife and mother so I have to constantly strive to become better and not just during the first few months of a year. Hahaha.

For those of your interested to make the above pop-up christmas card, please visit my my other blog for the instructions.

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Flowers for your hostess

Christmas day is less than a week away. Many of us will be busy entertaining guests or being guests. I have been invited to one or two gatherings myself. I think its always nice to give a small gift of appreciation to your hostess during or after the gathering. Afterall, it takes time, effort and money to plan a party.

One of the ways we can say "Thank You" to your hostess is to send them flowers. Ordering flowers has never been easier with many online flower delivery and gifts sites. One such site is www.dotflowers.com. You could surprise your hostess with some nice Christmas Flowers for delivery on the same day as your function. It will be a nice touch for the Christmas party decoration. Or you could simply send them some flowers or a gift after the event to show your appreciation and say "Thank You".

Dot Flowers offers same day flower deliveries on either Florist Direct floral arrangements designed in your local floral shop, or Field Fresh flowers straight from the growers' farms to anywhere in the United States. Apart from flowers it also offers other gift ideas and gourmet gift baskets.

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Cervical Cancer Immunisation for Young Girls

While I was at the paediatrician to give my boy his hepatitis jab she raised the issue of vaccination my girl against human papillomavirus to prevent cervical cancer. She mentioned that the vaccine is to be given to young girls at age 9 before puberty or before they become sexually active.

At age nine???? Do they really expect young girls to become sexually active at such a young age? Maybe times have changed. I don't know. Apparently this has caused quite a controversy and some parents fear a vaccine against a virus which effectively is sexually transmitted could promote underage sex. However some have this to say:

I can't believe that a young girl would be encouraged to engage in sex by thinking, "Well, it's all right to go ahead and have sex. I got the vaccine so I'm not going to get cervical cancer 20 to 40 years from now." The reality is that young girls may choose to have sex no matter what we adults think. Why not protect them now from a disease that could kill them? Though I have mixed feelings about mandatory vaccination, I would surely advise it for every girl before puberty. Once an infection occurs, it is too late to provide this protection against cervical cancer. Read more here.

I guess he is basically saying that while we can educate our young girls not to be sexually promiscuous, there is still a risk. Cervical cancer kills over 200,000 women worldwide every year so maybe its better to be safe than sorry.....

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Cost of Having a Baby

Did you know that the Cost of Having a Baby can leave a deep hole in your pocket? If you are pregnant, you should start planning early to make sure that you can cover the costs of doctor visits, hospital stays, childbirth, newborn tests and checkups etc. In other words you should plan for a total and comprehensive maternity care package.

In the US, you can opt to get a MaternityCard™ membership. They work with a large network of doctors, obstetricians, hospitals and medical facilities on a daily basis to ensure women who are expecting a baby receive the best care available at the very best rates afforded exclusively through their membership.

For a low monthly fee, MaternityCard™ will provide you with a comprehensive maternity care service package. Membership includes a Certificate of Guarantee that you will save at least the cost of your yearly membership or you will be paid the difference plus $200.

If you're pregnant and in the US, you might want to consider checking out the FAQs about Doctors, Hospitals and MaternityCard™.

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Myth: Breastfeeding Helps You To Lose Weight

This is a big breastfeeding myth, for me at least. Nope, it certainly isn't true for me. In fact, breastfeeding made me so hungry all the time during the early days, I ate and ate and grew and grew! Lol! I even got up to eat in the middle of the night because I was so hungry! (Note: This may not be true for other mothers. I've met quite a few who say that breastfeeding helps them to lose weight really fast and I'm puzzled why it isn't that way for me. Maybe its my age. Hehe. I'm older so my metabolistic rate is much slower.......)

In order to lose weight, I have to work really, really hard at eating sensibly (Crash diets for a breastfeeding mother is a no-no! In fact crash diets for anyone else is not a good idea.) I also have to work really, really hard to establish and keep up with an exercise routine. Its not easy when you have young kids who like to cling to you all the time. (When I do sit ups, sometimes baby comes to sit on me. When I ride on my exercise bike I have to shout "Stay away from the bike" several times during the session).

And finally, after working really, really hard at eating well and exercising and I start to see some positive weight changes, people come and tell me "You've lost a lot of weight. It must be because you're breastfeeding." Now that makes me a little mad because I lost weight due to sheer hard work and not so easily as they think. Lol!

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A name for your baby

This is a sponsored post.

Choosing a name for your baby is one of the first and most important things you do as a parent. There are so many things you have to consider when choosing a name for your baby. Does it sound right? Does it suit your baby, now as well as during their adult years? What does it mean? Does it blend or go with your surname?

The task of choosing a name for your baby is made easier with many sites on the internet these days with a list of names to choose from. I have written about this subject in an earlier post and quite often receive search engine queries on Baby Names. I have also come across many websites about popular baby names.

One such website is "Muslim Baby Names and Meanings site" from muslim-names.co.uk. This site includes common as well as popular muslim baby names. In addition to that, it also includes unique and beautiful baby names from various countries of origin such as India, Pakistan, Arab and Africa. This site is specifically for muslim baby names and does not include non-muslim baby names such as Hindu, Christian, Italian, Irish, American, French or British baby names.

Inevitably a choice of name for your baby is a matter of personal taste and preference. However, we are lucky in this day and age to have a guide from many websites offering us a wide selection of baby names to choose from don't you think?

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Mothers do your annual pap smear test

Mothers do your annual pap smear test, don't procrastinate. It could save your life. Cervical cancer is preventable yet prevalent.

As mothers, we often leave ourselves last when it comes to family well being and health. I find myself doing this quite often. When my knee hurts, I tell myself, its ok, its just a small thing. I have 101 other things to do. This can wait. My health concerns are usually pushed back to the back burner, unattended and ignored because there are other "more important" things to do for the family.

Besides its really a lot of trouble dragging the whole family along with me to my doctor check-ups (I usually have to do that since there is no one to watch the children for me) so I usually procrastinate when it comes to my own doctor check-ups. However, the health of my husband and children are important so I try to make sure they go for their medical check-ups.

However, this is a silly thing to do and a poor excuse for procrastinating when it comes to my own health. So to all other mothers, please don't be like me. Give your health top priority. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your family.

One of the health checks that you should not be putting off is your annual pap test. If you have been procrastinating on doing an annual pap smear examination, please don't. Go schedule one with your gynaecologist today. It could save your life.

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Self Esteem of a Housewife

They say that when you stay at home and all you see is the four walls of your home most of the time, your self esteem will drop. I must say that this is not true for me. I suppose it must be all this blogging. Lol! Blogging helps me keep in touch with the outside world and other mums and dads.

I think my social network has increased even more than when I was working! Its a brand new way of communication and keeping in touch. And my social circle has broaden to include people whom I would not even know nor would even have the chance to meet in real life. But now through blogging, these people have touched my life in some way.

Did I worry that I will become a recluse by being a housewife? Nyah! Its what I've always wanted.... to be home to look after my children, to be there for them when they need me and just to enjoy being with them and watching them grow. It has been most rewarding and no, my self esteem has not dropped just because I'm a housewife. :)

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Teaching your daughter to say "No" to inappropriate touches

As mothers of daughters, I think we have an additional duty, to keep our daughters save from being taken advantage off by unwanted male advances or sexually inappropriate behaviour.

I think it is an unspoken fact of life that all young girls have experienced some form of inappropriate touching from members of the opposite sex be it a neighbour or a relative whether out of curiousity or simply lack of respect. Little girls are so easy to be taken advantaged of because they're so innocent. Just have a heart to heart talk with any female girlfriend or relative and you will know that this is true.

Therefore as a mother of a little girl, I would need to educate her on how to ward off those inappropriate behaviour. I need to teach her to say "No. My mummy says cannot." and to run away and inform mummy about it. Then I need to make sure that the doors of communication between me and my daughter is always left open so that she would be comfortable about discussing things of this nature or anything else that confuses her with me.

As a mother to a girl, this is the added worry I have over her and it is my duty to protect her as well as to teach her to protect herself by saying "No!" I believe that all mothers to daughters should start doing this from an early age and continue to reinforce this important message to their daugthers throughout their growing years.

However this little talk needs to be handled with great care with a young child who may have many questions. We need to talk to them with great care so that they do not get confused by our message and start refusing hugs and kisses from all male members of the family. Hmmm...... parenting sure is hard!

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Cupfeeding your infant baby

This post is for all mothers who have difficulty breastfeeding and are thinking of cupfeeding their babies with breastmilk during the early days.

Both my kids do not use a bottle to drink their milk. They both have never used a pacifier before. This saves me a lot of trouble weaning them from both. :)

I don't use any bottles for feeding my babies yet, I had lots of trouble breastfeeding my babies. When you have difficulty breastfeeding your baby but don't want to resort to bottle feeding, what do you do? I was afraid that they would get nipple confusion, so I used alternative feeding methods.

I've tried cup, dropper, syringe, spoon. With the first, I didn't know any other alternative methods, so I used the spoon. It was really time consumming and I felt that all my day was taken up feeding baby. With my second, I became wiser and used the cup instead. I didn't use any special cup. I was using Avent bottles to keep my pumped breastmilk, so I merely used the cover of the bottle as a cup. By allowing the bottle cover to double up as a cup, I could make sure that it was sterelized and safe for baby.

Well, you don't have to be like me. I was ignorant but now I know better. If you check around I am sure you can find a suitable cup for your baby. Babies are smart, they will quickly learn to drink from a cup even from day 1. However, you will need to be careful and make sure that you read up all about cup feeding and tips for cupfeeding. Then make sure you teach anyone who help you feed your baby the correct and proper way to cupfeed your baby. Good luck!

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Picky Eater - Just a passing phase?

Sometimes I wonder if all kids will go through the phase of being a picky eater. My girl used to be a picky eater. Even when she was a baby, she hated her milk and would take up to 1 hour just to finish 1/2 an ounce of milk. I was worried sick that she was not getting enough to eat!

Then when she became a toddler, she remained picky and would spit out most food I offered her. She preferred soft foods that she could swallow whole. Now at age 4, she seems to have outgrown her pickiness and would eat most foods I offer her. So I'm left wondering if its a phase kids go through and I was being silly being so stressed up during those times when she wouldn't eat.

However, having said that, my boy is different. Since he was a baby, he ate most foods I offered him and now at age 2 he likes to eat foods that he can chew on. So far, he has been much easier to feed than my girl. The only time he resisted was when I was introducing formula milk to him as a supplementary feed to breastfeeding during the weaning process. These days, I would say he is selective with his choices of food but I wouldn't call him picky.

I wonder what is the experience of other mothers in feeding?

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Children Then Vs Children Now

I remember when I was young, I was not allowed to talk in the presence of adults or at least I remember being told to shut up when the adults are having a conversation. I thought that may have contributed to me being taciturn as an adult so I let my children talk whenever they want to. (although me and the hubby also tell them to shut up when we're talking and we can't hear ourselves).

However, I think I have created monsters! When we are visiting friends for the first time in their homes, my children do not behave the way I did when my parents visited others in their homes. I would sit quietly and talk only when spoken to. And I would address or call the elders in a polite manner when told to.

Not my children though. They would not still. They walk around exploring other people's homes like it was their own. They interrupt when we are talking. They jump and hop around like monkeys. And they laugh and giggle and talk loudly. And I ask myself. Am I doing the right thing?

In trying not to be too restrictive so as to allow them freedom of expression to bring out their personalities, have I brought up children with bad manners and no ettiquette? Parenting is all about balance and it is hard to find the right balance.

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Am I Doing The Right Thing?

"Am I doing the right thing?" or worse still "What have I done wrong?" is often the thought that crops up in parent's minds every now and then.

I was reading Sesame's post "Secret thoughts of a helpless parent" with amusement but what she said rings a bell. I constantly ask myself whether I'm doing the right thing. I am afraid of not giving the kids enough for fear of not giving them enough opportunities in life yet I am afraid of giving them too much less I spoil them.

Sometimes I think I am raising spoilt brats. I am poor at disciplining. The spouse is better than me in this aspect. He gives positive discipline and he sets rules. He scolds when necessary than shows them love afterwards. Me? My rules are inconsistent and sometimes I give in too easily to their demands setting the stage for more demands. (It is always easier to give in to whines and demands but in the long term its bad for both parent and child).

Hmm... my children are at the age where they need positive disciplining to point them in the right direction so I better buck up. My children's paediatrician once said "Babies are like a blank piece of paper. It is up to you to fill up that page." Oh my! Thats a tall order indeed. Yes, I better go read up more about disciplining and discipline myself first!

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Mothers hang on to your kids during the mad shopping rush

Announcement: Dear shoppers. A little chinese boy, about 4 years old, dressed in blue t-shirt and a cap was found. Will the parents of the boy please proceed to the information counter.

The mad holiday shopping rush is upon us. I went to IKEA over the weekend and the crowd there was crazy. It was as if they were giving away free stuff! There were people everywhere! We met Santa Claus too. He's a bit early but he made an appearance. He must have got his Christmas dates mixed up. Lol!

Anyway, while we were browsing around with two bored kids tagging along, we heard the above announcement. So, I'm writing this post to remind myself and other mothers not to be carried away shopping and lose sight of your child at the malls. We don't want to lose them and allow them to suffer a scare from being lost and separated from us now, do we? So remember to hang on tight to your little ones while shopping during this mad, yearend holiday rush.

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Time to clean out the toy box

The kids have so many toys and sometimes we get complacent and forget to check on their toys for its safety. Reading about toy deaths or accidents always gives me the shivers. The recent news about three children being hospitalized with serious injuries from swallowing tiny magnets that fell off the toys of their magnetic playsets is disturbing.

Read more here: 4.4 Million Mattel Toys Recalled After Kids Swallow Magnets

So mothers in blogoshpere, those with young children (who seem to have lots of toys these days as compared to our days). Will you join me today to clean out your child's toy chest or cabinets and check each toy for its safety? Lets check for toys with small parts, lose battery compartments, paints peeling off etc. Then throw them out immediately! Let us not be complacent. Let us do this on a regular basis. Let us remind each other to be careful to prevent any unfortunate accidents ok?

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