3BT: Random Days

1. My SIL's baby's heartbeats have been confirmed to be stable. So hopefully there will be a healthy baby in August or September this year. Another grandchild for my Mom! :-D

2. After being told that he'd be a big brother, 4 y.o. Ken told his Mom, "You know, I'd love to have a big sister, too." LOL LOL!!! GOOD LUCK with that!!! :-D

3. Seeing perfectly lovely ice flakes forming around my bike saddle. Here are a few pics that I took. 

I took the first pic with an anti-shake mode and the result was blurry, so I took the second one with a regular mode and a flash. The third one is the cropped-up pic of the second one. 

4. Seeing my friend's VERY cute baby pics (after two miscarriages, finally she could get this healthy baby) and I was among the first to receive the pics via email. :-D

5. Spending time with my friend in Rovaniemi after shopping there for a bit he he he he...

6. An uninterrupted long sleep after having a rough night the other day.

Babies?

One of the things I dreaded when I went to Indo the other month was who was going to come up with the "baby talk". I dreaded that 'coz I would never know how to deal with them: do I tell them the truth or do I just smile and say nothing? The truth would be too complicated to tell, but I did tell "the truth" to one person who finally mentioned "baby talk".

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One neighbour, upon seeing us walk outside the house, said, "Going out? Hurry and make some babies!"

I stopped, smiled and said, "It's OK even if we'll never have babies."

You should've seen her face!!! She didn't see that coming! With a shocked look on her face, she quickly said, "DON'T SAY THAT!!!!! I'm gonna pray for you so that you'll have kids."

Deep inside I was sighing and rolling my eyes, but to her I just smiled and said, "Why, THANK YOU for your prayers."

Why is it so hard for people to understand that we're OK even though we have no babies? It seems that THEY are the ones who want US to have babies more than we do. Don't get me wrong, though, I DO appreciate them and I DO understand their wish for us, but why can't they understand that it may not be what we want anymore? It almost makes us feel that we're not "complete human beings" without kids in our life.

FYI, two relatives hugged me upon saying goodbye, rubbed my belly, and whispered, "I'm praying for you to have babies."

OK, that's all good...but my cynical mind thinks, "If God says no, no matter how many times you pray, you won't see the result that you're wishing for." That's why I asked my closest friends for God's peace beyond understanding instead of asking them to pray for us to have kids.

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One close friend told me, "You shouldn't have said that to the neighbour. You should've just smiled and said nothing."

Maybe she's right. I begin to feel that there's no use trying to make them understand our situation anyway. Oh well...

3BT: Random Days

Before I write my usual 3BT post, I'd like to write about a sad event. My friend's baby was born dead and I just can't fathom the depth of sadness he must've been feeling right now...he had grown to love the baby even before he was born (the baby was a boy) and then he died.

So REST IN PEACE, little one!!! You're with the angels now...safe and sound. May the angels comfort your Mom and Dad, little one...

1. I heard one of the most BEAUTIFUL things I'd been waiting for a long time when I spoke to Mom on Skype the other day. My father's stopped having "angry management issues" ever since Ken was born. He keeps on saying that Ken brings him joy and happiness. THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was already at my wits' end trying to find out what ways we could do to help my Dad control his bursts of anger...the answer came in the form of a baby. :-))))

2. My presentation went well. ---> Of course I had to read my .pps files since I couldn't remember all the long Finnish texts, but still I thought I had prepared it well enough. :-))))

3. Receiving positive feedback about my presentation. It feels like I'm a character in a computer game and today I received a "Level Up". :-D

4. R2 washed the dishes without being asked. :-D

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5. Getting my new snow shoes. I hope we can go downhill skiing again tomorrow. :-D

6. Talking to my Mom. I know I'm repeating myself in my 3BT posts, but I just want to cherish her as much as I can. She's truly something!!! I LOVE the way she supports me and the way she doesn't pressure me. I LOVE the way she understands my situation. She even said that I shouldn't send her SMS too often if I were too busy ('coz she knows I'm doing the training and the Finnish classes now). Whenever I think of her, I think of a safety blanket, warm and comforting. Mmmm...

7. Excitement to see my other project in its finished form. I'm going to share it with you later when it's done. :-D

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Leg Warmer, Handbags, Baby Hats

I was browsing online today found these cute furry leg warmers. They look so chic and trendy for this upcoming winter, don't you think so? If you don't believe me, just click on the link he he he...After moving to Finland, it's VERY important for me to have leg warmers and thick socks. Plus, of course, it's MUCH better if I can get them on a discount or on a special price at the flea markets (even the flea markets sometimes sell new stuff, you know?).

Speaking of fashion, I've been thinking of buying something for my brother's wife. I'd love to buy her some clothes, but I'm not sure what her size would be like after she gives birth in October. So maybe I should go browse for handbags in the stores here or online stores. But then again I'd better find quite a big bag since I'm sure after the baby's born, she's going to bring SO much stuff with her when they go out with the baby.

And speaking of baby, I also want to buy some cute baby hats or caps. Now that I know the baby's going to be a boy, it's going to be FAR easier for me to find gifts to buy him he he he he...

Now all I need to do is save money and then find the appropriate gifts for them. I LOVE bringing home gifts for my family!!!! ;-D

Final Test, Final Days

BOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO...we're coming into our final days of the course with our Finnish language teacher. On Wednesday there will be a computer teacher. I'm gonna miss my Finnish teacher!!!

Tomorrow we'll have a final test, so I'd better reread everything we've gone through. However, good news is that Monday is a free day for us, so I'll be able to blog-hop and catch up on you then. Plus on Tuesday we'll have a trip to Luosto and we'll grill sausages in a park there. YIIIHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!!! Better get my digital camera ready he he he...gotta take as many pics as possible! ;-D

Today after lunch we went to visit KELA. KELA is the social insurance institution in Finland that deals with unemployment benefit, mother's benefit, etc. I wanted to make sure about some things, so I asked them a few things.

a. First of all, I want to make sure that if a pregnant woman needs a C-section, she doesn't have to pay for the operation. They confirmed about this, so I'm relieved. Why? Because in Indonesia, the cost of even a normal birth is already so expensive. Here in Finland I only need to pay for the room cost in normal birth or C-section.

I don't wish to have a C-section if I don't have to, though, because my doctor friend says that natural birth is always better if possible.

b. I also want to know if a child needs vaccination, do I have to pay it every time? Turns out that I don't have to pay for any vaccination as long as it's in the program. However, if for example we're leaving to Indonesia and the child needs special types of vaccination that's not included in the list, then I have to pay it myself.

Well, that sounds good enough for me he he he...So, baby, come to me in October, okay? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...

Btw, it was very good listening practice for us to go to KELA as they talked in Finnish all the time. ;-D




I also read somewhere that making love too often reduces the quality of the sperm, so gotta check the calendar and make sure that we do it when I'm VERY fertile (which would be 14 days prior to the first day of my period). Plus turns out that it's better to make love in the mornings as the sperm levels are often the highest. BUT BUT BUT we have to avoid heating the balls (sauna, tight underpants, hot baths etc. are not that good). Very interesting info!!!

Yeah, yeah, I know this is all so scientific talk and it's all up to God he he he...but I want to do my part as best as I can he he he...OK, better stop here and STUDY!!!

If I have time after my study to blog-hop, I'll do it, but if not, forgive me, OK? I'll blog-hop tomorrow or during the weekend. I promise! ;-D Take care, everybody, and THANKS for everyone who's joined my Photo Caption Contest!

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Possibility: October Trip

Hi again, everybody! I was SO glad that I woke up feeling MUCH better than last night. Arttu coined me again (he's becoming an expert in it HA HA HA) and I skipped my Taebo session in order to sleep more.

Remember I told you that our teacher had a headache yesterday? Right after lunch today, she looked awful. At around 1.30 pm, she told us that she needed to go to the doctor, so she told us to go home. It's unsure yet whether she can make it tomorrow or not, but she'll let one of us know via SMS and that person will spread the message to us.

Last night I asked Arttu to check on the cheapest tickets available for us. I told him that I found cheap tickets in October and November. At first he wanted to go earlier than that, but I said that I could only find very expensive tickets if we went to Indonesia for example in August. I don't want to go to Indo in September since it's the fasting month in Indonesia and there'll be traffic jam here and there. Plus Arttu will probably be confused when he hears people banging on some drums and walking around the neighbourhood at around 3.30 or 4 am to wake other people up to eat before they start their long fasting days.

Then he'll have to contact his boss to find out whether he can take some time off in October or not, because he's supposed to get his 3 weeks' holiday sometime this summer. We'll see how it goes, then.

Today I received an SMS from my brother. He said that Shen was currently 7 weeks' pregnant. That means that if there's no change in my arrival and departure dates, I'll be in Indonesia when she's 38-40 weeks' pregnant. That means there's a BIG chance that I'll be there for her delivery or to see the newborn baby he he he...I hope the baby won't linger too long inside her belly so that I can see him/her. My brother wants a daughter, but Shen doesn't mind whether it's a boy or a girl as long as the baby's perfectly healthy. ;-D

Well, my mother-in-law's birthday is also coming up (3 days before Arttu's b-day on March 20th). I haven't found her anything yet, but since there's a long holiday starting on the 21st, I'm planning to bake something for the two of them on March 20th, as we'll probably go to Kelujärvi on March 21st he he he...We'll see about that.

OK, now I'm going to blog-hop a bit and cook since I have no homework. But I'm going to study a bit afterward he he he...

"Let us rise up and be thankful; for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."

Buddha

Read this story earlier and I'd love to share it with you:

Living Proof - Miracles Do Happen

I'm Gonna Be An Aunt!

Called my Mom last Saturday and she told me that my bro's wife, Shen, is one month pregnant. I could also talk to Shen a bit to congratulate her. She said that she still felt it was unreal since it all happened so fast he he he he he...

Oh well...we'll see if I can come to Indonesia after the baby is born or not. Whatever happens, I'm SO excited about this baby. I hope her pregnancy will be smooth. Both parents are also EXCITED since this is gonna be their first grandchild HE HE HE HE HE...

YIIHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!

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OK, time to shower after Taebo and then prepare myself to go to the course. Have a WONDERFUL start of the week, everybody! ;-D

Angel Baby

As I've told you, yesterday I visited my Russian friend's house with my Brit friend. It was the first time we had been to her house. It was a nice house. She has a HUGE living room. At least it is huge compared to all the other living rooms I've seen here in Lapland. :-D

My Russian friend looked GREAT. I can't believe that she still managed to bake us a cake even though her second child is only 2 weeks' old and the eldest one is 2.5 years old. When we got there, the baby was sleeping so peacefully in his crib. Mmmmm...such an angel!!! Here's a picture of him.


He doesn't have a name yet since my friend is still considering it. She has a fave name already, but then she doesn't like the Finnish version of it. Oh well...she still has time to think about it he he he...

I was a bit afraid when taking the picture since I didn't want to wake the baby up with the blitz. But then again he didn't even flinch HE HE HE HE HE...He smiled once in his sleep and he opened his eyes several times. :-)))) But he didn't even cry during the 2.5 hours we were there. Incredible!!! ;-D

Of course time flew while you were having fun...so it felt as though we were only there for an hour HA HA HA HA HA HA...My Russian friend invited us again to her house whenever we had time. I guess she must be a bit lonely, since she can't really socialize yet. Well, I'll surely want to visit her again later on when I have some spare time. :-))))

Okie dokie, time to blog-hopppppppp!!!!

The Mysterious Package Has Arrived!!!

Just wanna tell you that the mysterious package has arrived. It's packed really well with a cardboard box and there's no sign or label on the box except my hubby's name and our address, so I can't figure out where he ordered it. Dang! I'm SO curious! I try to shake it up but I couldn't really feel what was inside of it since the cardboard box is pretty thick. Oh well...I still have to wait till tomorrow 'coz my birthday isn't here yet he he he...

On a lighter note, this evening is actually our last Finnish class for this year's agenda. So it'll start again next year (dunno when yet). We have to register again. Our teacher's supposed to give us two more lessons next week, but she can't do it since she has to move to another place. They're having their house remodeled but turned out that it wasn't finished yet, so they had to move to another place until their house gets done. At least that's what I think she has to do.

Did I tell you that one of the three pregnant ladies in my class had finally given birth? She was 2 weeks late, so she had to be induced. Her baby girl was born 4.2 kilos. Such a HUGE baby!!!! I was born 3.3 kilos only. How heavy were you when you were born? I think these days babies are bigger than they used to be, don't you think so? ;-D

Plus when I was born, in my generation, babies were born with eyes closed and they only started opening their eyes when they were a month old (if I'm not mistaken). These days babies start opening their eyes right after they're born. Plus they have SO MUCH hair. I was born pretty bald. In fact, my hair was SO thin until I was 2 years old that my parents were worried about me.

This evening my teacher's going to review my homework. Yesterday she got to review two other homework. Let's see how many mistakes I did he he he he he...This morning when I woke up, I was obsessing over my homework already. I realized that there might be some mistakes that I should have noticed. Yeah, yeah, I have a tad OCD tendency ha ha ha ha ha ha...

Now I'd better study some more. Even though I won't have classes starting next week, I still have to force myself to study regularly. After all, we all know how easy is it for our brain to forget new words and rules of a new language we're learning if we don't practice is regularly. GAMBATTE KUDASAIIII!!!!!!!!

P.S. A close friend of the pregnant lady who gave birth, another pregnant lady, bought a card for her which each of signed he he he he...Then our Finnish teacher told us how to write sentences in Finnish to congratulate her for the baby girl and to say that we wish both of them are well. ;-D

Another Snowman Coming!

Boy, I have SO MANY things to say but I can't possibly say all those things in one post, so let me just keep this one light he he he...

First of all, I wanna thank MICHELLE from Crow's Feet. Her Christmas card arrived today. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I'm SO HAPPY!!!!! *bouncing up and down in joy*

THANK YOU, M!!!

Free Comments & Graphics

Second of all, since the weather's been wet these past few days, yesterday when hubby came home from work, he said, "Now that it's THIS wet, you can make another snowman on Saturday." I was SO ecstatic that it must've shown on my face. Hubby said, "Look at you!!!" while grinning ear-to-ear HE HE HE HE HE...Why, of course I'm happy! I DO want to make a bigger snowman and I don't want to have to wait till next yearrrrrr!!!

The other day I also asked him when I could try miniskiing again. He said, "Next year." So it seems we'll try miniskiing again next March he he he he...YIIIPPIIIIIEEEE!!! Will I do better this time? Only time will tell. I have to strengthen my arm muscles first so that I can get up on my own if I fall down (which I presume WILL happen still) HA HA HA HA HA...

Yesterday my Brit friend told me that one of our Russian friends in the Finnish classes (not the Russian lady I met at the cafe the other day) had given birth to a baby girl. The baby is 4.2 kg. Such a HUGE baby!!! I was born 3.3 kg and I was considered big already, esp. since my Mom's as "tall" as I am (145 cm) HA HA HA HA HA...But both of us have big hips, so that must've helped, too! ;-D

Anyway, let me tell you a funny story about my birth. Back then there was no USG, so there was no way the doctor could know the sex of the baby. Mom said that they checked the baby's health by using some kind of tool to listen to the baby's heartbeat. So the tool is like a big horn which is pressed to the belly of the pregnant mother and it's moved around so that the doctor can hear the baby's heartbeat he he he...So when I was born, the nurse told my Mom, "Ma'am, you just had a healthy baby girl."

My Mom said to her, "Good. That's what the father wanted."

The nurse looked at my Mom quizzically and asked politely, "Excuse me, aren't you Chinese? I thought Chinese people usually want to have a baby boy as their first born."

Mom replied, "Yes, I am Chinese, but the baby's father wanted to have a girl as his first born."

This is one reason why I'll always LOVE my Dad he he he...He's unconventional in this matter HA HA HA HA HA HA...;-D

An Old One

Sunday, August 28, 2005

At one point in life, the desire to mate mutates into a desire to create something extraordinarily beautiful and ancient. The kind of creation that is beyond comprehension, logic, everything!!! The world of love without boundary or limit. An unconditional love that can be so fierce in its protective arms. The kind of love that's only been given to me without my full comprehension of its depth and width and volume, or its depthlessness, widthlessness, and volumelessness.

Suffice it to say that experience IS the greatest teacher.

What I understand now it only a part of the secret I'll experience fully one day. I'd never thought I'd lived to see this day coming this fast!

The lovely creation changes everything. The lovely creation is everywhere. I was once it and I'm glad for it.

Love,

AMEL

P.S. Wonder what this is all about? A baby. When one of my closest friends gave birth and I'd been there with her during the pregnancy, it opened up a WHOLE new world for me. I'd never felt that feminine before. ;-D I was totally amazed at the miracle of procreation in a very personal way.

Potty Training

Read about parents potty training babies here: Parents begin potty training at birth.

It reminds me of what my parents did to me when I was still a baby (younger than one year old). I don't know when exactly my Mom started potty training me, but it was obviously when I was pretty young. Back then (I was born in 1978) in Indo there were no disposable diapers and most mothers were still work-at-home mothers, so they started potty training their babies early on.

Well, during the nights when my Mom detected that I got anxious and I kept on moving around in my crib, she'd wake up and wake me up and potty train me. She said that parents could detect when their babies wanted to poo or pee.

Anyway, after some time Dad reprimanded Mom for waking me up every night to pee or poo. My Mom was seething inside, so one night when she heard me moving around anxiously in my crib, she didn't do anything. A while later, Dad woke up himself and found out that I had peed and I got pretty wet all over (I guess I must've peed a lot), so Dad had to change everything I was wearing. He did that while cooing, "Oh dear girl, look at this mess. You're really wet, honey."

Mom was laughing inside. She said to herself, "Even though you think it's cruel to wake the baby up in the middle of the night to poo or pee, it is by far more practical than having to change everything, you know?" But she said nothing to Dad.

The next night, when my Dad heard me moving around in my crib, it was he himself who woke me up to potty train me. LOL!!! Mom loves telling me stories about my childhood and this one always makes me SMILE. ^_______________________________^