this is the place where i poured stories of my life, my thoughts, my feelings also my ideas.
there's excitement, sadness, laugh, desperate, anger, happiness, and other kind emotions.
i just hope that we can learn something..

Thursday, June 30, 2011

slaving for beef roulade..

Hari ini saya punya 1,1 kg daging sapi cincang yang premium, niatnya disulap jadi bakso dan  bakso tahu karena sekarang sedang musim dingin dan kayaknya enak banget kalau makan selalu berkuah panas-panas.. Setelah menghaluskan daging pakai processor, kok kayaknya jadi banyak sekali, akhirnya saya sisihkan 1/3-nya dengan niat mencoba bikin roulade daging sapi (beef roulade). 

Beef roulade termasuk salah satu hidangan favorit saya, tapi Mami jarang membuatnya, hanya di jamuan Natal atau ulang tahun. Seringnya saya mendapati roulade di prasmanan pesta kawinan, dan menjadi salah satu target. 

Googling sana-sini, dapat resep macam-macam (banyak modifikasi ada yg pakai sayuran atau keju dalam rouladenya), tapi karena ini percobaan perdana, cukup mencari resep dasar saja lah. Saya nggak mau neko-neko karena takut malah kecewa karena ekspektasi ketinggian.

Nah, karena 1/3 bagian dagingnya tadi nggak ditimbang, saya jadi nggak tau persisnya berapa gram daging yang dipakai untuk rolade saya ini, perkiraan saya sekitar 400gr lah.. 

Resep bahan isi rolade daging :

  • 400 gram daging sapi cincang
  • 2 lembar roti tawar tanpa kulit
  • susu cair secukupnya
  • 1 butir telur
  • 1 sdm bawang putih bubuk
  • 1/2 sdt merica bubuk
  • 1/3 sdt pala bubuk
  • 1.5 sdt garam 
  • gula pasir sejumput
  • 2 batang wortel yang lurus dan besarnya hampir sama dari dari ujung kepala hingga akar, kupas kulitnya.


Bahan dadar kulit rolade :
  • 2 butir telur
  • garam halus secukupnya
  • margarin secukupya
Cara membuat :
  • Dadar: Kocok telur dan garam. Karena saya tidak punya wajan dadar yang besar, saya nekat mencoba bikin dadar di oven dengan menggunakan baking tray ukuran 25x30cm, dengan pertimbangan lebih praktis menggulung rolade dengan dadar telur berbentuk persegi panjang dibandingkan dadar telur yang bundar. Panaskan baking tray di oven suhu 200C selama 10 menit, oles baking tray dengan sedikit margarine, tuang setengah kocokan telur, ratakan, masukkan ke oven yang diturunkan suhunya ke 150C. Awasi telur jangan sampai terlalu kering karena nanti gampang patah/sobek saat di gulung. Ulangi untuk kulit kedua. 
  • Isi rolade : menggunakan food processor, proses roti tawar hingga hancur berbutir, tuangi susu hingga terserap roti, tambahkan telur, merica, bawang putih bubuk, pala, garam, gula, proses lagi selama 10 detik, baru masukkan daging giling (yang kebetulan sebelumnya sudah di haluskan) dan proses hingga tercampur rata. 
  • Ambil selembar dadar, potong sisi luar dadar yang cenderung kering dan krispi, beri setengah adonan daging, ratakan permukaannya, taruh wortel di salah satu sisi.





  • Gulung rapat-rapat, bungkus dengan aluminium foil, pelintir ujung kiri dan kanan hingga seperti bungkus permen. Ulangi untuk rolade kedua. 





  • Kukus selama 45 menit hingga matang





  • Setelah 10 menit, buka bungkusan alumunium foil, dinginkan rolade. Iris miring atau datar sesuai selera. Sajikan bersama saus atau gravy (yang saya masih timbang-timbang akan buat sendiri atau beli jadi). Oh iya, rolade ini bisa langsung disantap, tapi ada juga yg digoreng dulu sebelum disajikan..




Review : rouladenya lezat, harum dan lembut dagingnya, manis wortelnya, dimakan begitu saja sudah enak, apalagi pakai gravy atau saus asam manis. definitely akan invest di wajan dadar yang berbentuk kotak persegi panjang (kalau ada) supaya proses membuat dadar kulitnya lebih praktis. 

  

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Sop Brenebon, Mami dan Doa Tengah Malam




Aroma sup Brenebon memenuhi seluruh rumah, menari2 di hidung saya, membangkitkan kenangan saya semasa tinggal bersama Mami. Wangi bawang, pala dan cengkeh yang hangat, membawa ingatan saya ke jaman ketika gadis, yang tidak suka membantu Mami memasak, tapi giliran makan tentu saja tidak mau tertinggal. 

Mami -pastinya- berharap, saya sebagai anak perempuan satu-satunya bakal mewarisi tangan dinginnya mengolah bahan makanan menjadi hidangan lezat untuk keluarga dan orang-orang tersayang. Namun apa daya, perjalanan hidup sedikit banyak membuat saya "sempat" jauh dari dapur.

Sewaktu kecil, saya sering menemani Mami memasak di dapur. Biasanya Mami memberikan sisa sayuran yang sudah tidak dipakai, untuk saya pakai bermain masak-masakan menggunakan kompor-panci-wajan plastik milik saya. Tapi hanya sebatas itu, lama kelamaan saya mulai bosan dengan kegiatan dapur dan ajakan Mami untuk main masak-masakan sering saya tolak. Makin besar, saya makin sering bermain di luar rumah, kebanyakan bersama kakak laki-laki saya dan teman-temannya asyik di sawah, ladang tebu, menangkap ikan di sungai, bermain di rumah pohon, hingga akhirnya saya benar-benar "buta" urusan dapur.

Saya ingat betul, perkenalan saya dengan bahan makanan dan alat masak terjadi diluar kemauan saya, tepatnya dorongan perut lapar amat sangat. Waktu itu, saya berusia sekitar 10 tahunan, kami bermukim di daerah Tanjung Priuk, di sebuah rumah bertingkat di Jalan Gembira. Papi berprofesi sebagai anggota TNI, sedangkan Mami secara otomatis menjadi ibu Persit (Persatuan Istri Prajurit) yang kadangkala sibuk dengan agenda organisasinya itu. Suatu hari, Papi seperti biasa bekerja dari pagi hingga petang, sedangkan Mami pergi ke acara Persit membawa adik laki-laki saya yang masih kecil. Sepulang sekolah, saya menjalani aktivitas seperti biasa, makan siang (dengan hidangan yang disiapkan Mami sebelum pergi), mengerjakan pekerjaan rumah, tidur siang sebentar, mandi sore, menunggu orangtua pulang. Namun, senja merayap dan belum ada tanda-tanda Papi Mami pulang ke rumah. Kakak saya? Entah dimana saya lupa keberadaannya waktu itu, yang pasti saya sendirian di rumah. 

Sekitar pukul 6.15 langit sudah gelap, perut saya mulai bersuara menyampaikan aspirasinya. LAPAR! Waktunya makan malam. Nah lo... Biasanya Mami sudah sibuk memasak hidangan santap malam sejak pukul 5 sore dan kami makan bersama-sama sekitar pukul 7 setelah semua anggota keluarga berkumpul (maksudnya, Papi sudah pulang dari kantor).  Cacing-cacing dalam perut saya mulai heboh, mendorong saya untuk masuk dapur. Saya pelajari isi dapur rumah kami. Ada wadah penyimpan beras bermerek Cosmos, dan ada penanak nasi yang saya lupa mereknya. Waktu itu, belum ada Magic Jar yang bisa menanak sekaligus menghangatkan nasi hingga berjam-jam sesudahnya. 

Saya mengambil sedikit beras, sekitar 2 cangkir, tercium aroma khas (karung?) dari beras tersebut, lalu saya mulai mencucinya. Terlihat airnya menjadi keruh, jadi saya tiriskan, dan saya baui lagi ternyata masih ada baunya. Saya cuci lagi beras tersebut, namun menurut saya masih ada baunya, hingga akhirnya saya melirik ke wadah sabun cuci dan mengambil secuil sabun itu dan mencuci beras itu dengan sabun. Oh tidaaaak!!! Wadah beras langsung dipenuhi busa sabun dan tercium aroma jeruk nipis. "Waduh, kalau makan sabun, kita bisa mati nih," pikir saya. Akhirnya saya cuci-bilas-cuci-bilas beras tersebut hingga airnya benar-benar bening dan tak ada bau apapun. Mengingat kembali kejadian itu, tampaknya saya "mencari" bau nasi matang yang tentu saja tidak akan tercium saat beras belum dimasak.

Sesudahnya, saya menakar air, kira-kira saja dengan harapan nasinya sempurna seperti buatan Mami. Lalu saya lap wadah penanak nasi, baru saya masukkan ke alatnya, tekan tombolnya dan menunggu dengan perasaan tak sabar. Tiga menit berlalu, buat anak seumuran saya waktu itu, adalah penantian yang lama. Dan saya (waktu itu) yakin bahwa menanak nasi butuh waktu cukup lama. Akhirnya saya berpindah ke ruang keluarga dan menonton acara televisi untuk membunuh waktu dan mengalihkan rasa lapar. 

Tercium aroma nasi, ada embel-embel hangusnya. Saya periksa penanak nasi, wah ternyata nasinya gosong di bagian bawah. Untungnya yang bagian atas masih bisa di makan dan rasanya baik-baik saja walaupun ada aroma hangusnya. Saya pindahkan nasi yang bisa dimakan ke ceting nasi, lalu mencari-cari lauk teman nasi. Biasanya Mami punya  persediaan Sambal Teri Kacang, Kering Tempe, Kering Kentang, atau Sambal Cakalang Fufu atau Sambal Roa, atau Abon Sapi yang sering disebut lauk darurat. Tapi waktu itu, yang ada hanyalah dendeng sapi, yang kalau mau disantap harus digoreng dulu. Saya punya pengalaman buruk dengan korek api jadi saya tidak berani menyalakan korek untuk memantik api kompor gas kami. Wah, nggak seru ini kalau santap malamnya MUTIH, wong lagi nggak mencari kesaktian kok..

Tiba tiba terdengar "Te! Sateeeeeee! Teeee! Sateeeeeeee!" Eeeeh si Mas Sate Madura langganan sedang melintas depan rumah. Boleh juga nih jadi lauk, satenya lho, bukan si Masnya. Tapi, kalau mau beli sate saya nggak punya uang sepeserpun. Gimana dong? Ndilalah, tetangga sebelah rumah  manggil si Mas Sate. Sibuklah si Mas mengerjakan pesanan sate tetangga sebelah. Asap sate menguar, saya mengambil piring nasi, siap duduk di teras rumah. Menu malam ini : Nasi putih Lauk asap sate. 

Biasanya saya sebal kalau kena asap sate apalagi kalau nggak makan satenya, kali ini saya menikmati benar asap satenya. Baru satu suapan nasi masuk mulut saya, si Mas sate menyapa, "Dik, ndak pesan satenya?" Saya jawab, "Nggak punya uang, Bapak Ibu belum pulang kantor, Mas. Kalau sambel kacangnya gratis, saya mau dong", kata saya -yang waktu itu belum mendownload rasa malu-. Si Mas Sate balik badan, sibuk sendiri sama pesanannya. 

Oooh, Masnya nggak mau ngasi sambel kacang toh, pikir saya. Ya sudah, No sambel kacang, No cry, begitu bathin saya. Saat saya meneruskan makan nasi putih berlauk asap sate itu, tiba2 si Mas Sate mengetuk pagar dan mengangsurkan sepiring sate, lima tusuk dan saus kacangnya! YAY!!!! "Tapi saya nggak punya uang, kata Bapak Ibu nggak boleh anak kecil berhutang," kata saya polos. Si Mas Sate keukeuh mengangsurkan piring satenya, "Gratis, nggak usah bilang-bilang sama Bapak Ibu," katanya. "Bener nih? Enggak ah, takut," kata saya. Tapi si Mas Sate yang satenya emang enak itu benar-benar persuasif dan akhirnya 5 tusuk sate ayam itu menjadi lauk ternikmat yang pernah saya santap. Dan seperti yang terjadi di film-film, saat masalah teratasi, baru pihak yang berwenang pada datang... Ya, tak lama kemudian Papi Mami berikut kakak dan adik saya semua datang, dan karena dirumah tidak ada nasi maupun lauk, Mami memesankan sate untuk kami semua. Si Mas Sate senang karena dapat tambahan order.

Tragedi nasi itu dan ketidak mampuan saya untuk memasak lauk, tetap tidak mengusik saya untuk lebih sering ke dapur. Sewaktu SMP dan SMA, ada pelajaran PKK (Pendidikan Ketrampilan Keluarga), salah satunya memasak berkelompok dan menyiapkan jamuan untuk anggota kelompok dan guru.  Saya biasa memilih sebagai penyedia alat makan dan penata meja makan sementara teman-teman lain bergumul dengan bahan makanan. Menurut saya, pekerjaan saya mudah, hanya mengatur taplak meja kursi, menata piring, sendok, garpu, gelas, vas bunga, teko air, mangkuk saji dsb. Tangan dan badan tetap bersih, tidak akan tercium aroma bumbu, terutama bawang putih yang paling saya tidak suka. 

Ya, saya paling tidak suka tangan saya beraroma bumbu masak, tapi saya "memaafkan" tangan Mami yang berbau bawang  bahkan kadang bernoda kuning dari kunyit; karena tangan itulah tangan yang membelai saya, tangan yang melindungi saya, tangan yang memberikan kehangatan bagi saya, tangan yang menghasilkan makanan enak-enak hingga saya berbadan semok seperti Obelix :p

Beranjak gadis, Mami mulai sering mengajak setengah memaksa saya ke dapur, tapi masih sebatas membantu menyiangi sayuran, bukan untuk mengolah daging, atau ikan dan sebagainya karena saya geli memegang bahan-bahan tersebut. Kesibukan bekerja lima hari dalam seminggu membuat saya sering menghabiskan akhir pekan bersama teman-teman dengan alasan refreshing, bukannya bersama keluarga, bukan mencuri ilmu masak-nya Mami. 

Hingga saya menikah dan akhirnya hidup terpisah dari orangtua. Sebelum menikah, saya bilang ke calon suami saya, bahwa saya tidak bisa memasak sama sekali, termasuk memasak nasi yang masih cukup menimbulkan trauma. Tapi, si Abenk ini santai saja dan memberi solusi rumah tangga kami akan berlangganan katering atau membeli makanan jadi dari warung atau rumah makan. Saya sih hore-hore saja, sampai akhirnya menjalani dua minggu mencicipi semua makanan yang dijual di kota kecil bernama Sorowako, Sulawesi Selatan. Lidah saya mulai rindu masakan rumah, dan akhirnya saya menelpon Mami minta resep masakan. Setiap hari saya mencatat sekitar 3 resep, mulai dari bahan, bumbu, cara  pengolahan, cara memasak, hingga cara menghidangkan karena saya benar-benar buta. 

Mami begitu sabar menanggapi pertanyaan saya yang tidak tahu beda antara kemiri dan ketumbar, lengkuas dan laos (yang ternyata sama saja). Puji Tuhan, akhirnya saya mulai kenal berbagai bahan masakan dan menghidangkan masakan rumah untuk suami, termasuk hidangan daging putih, daging merah hingga hasil laut. Namun, ada juga kejadian-kejadian bodoh yang kalau diingat-ingat ternyata lucu bin mengenaskan.

Pertama kali memasak tumis kangkung, saya menyiangi seikat kangkung yang dibeli di pasar. Saya tanya suami, "Mau masak kangkungnya banyak atau dikit? Pertama kali lho, jadi nggak jelas juga hasilnya.". Dia jawab, secukupnya saja, mungkin cemas juga dia. Saya angsurkan wadah yang penuh berisi kangkung yang sudah disiangi, dia bilang itu cukup. Saya pun tinggal menyiapkan bumbu bawang putih, irisan cabe, garam dan sedikit saus tiram. Saat memasak, saya menyaksikan, helai-helai kangkung yang cukup banyak itu, layu karena proses pematangan dan saat dihidangkan hanya menjadi satu mangkuk kecil saja. Wajah saya muram karena saya membayangkan kangkung satu wadah itu jadinya satu piring seperti di kedai seafood langgangan, yang seabreg-abreg dan biasa disantap 4 orang. Ternyata oh ternyata, saya baru tahu kalau kangkung itu singsut setelah dimasak. 

Memasak memang kegiatan yang cukup menyita waktu, namun setiap hari ada hal baru yang saya pelajari. Lewat Mami maupun melalui dunia maya, saya bisa menambah wawasan dan ketrampilan memasak saya. Kegiatan memasak kadang menjadi terapi buat saya, terlebih saat Noelle, putri saya (mau) tidur siang, karena saat itulah saya punya ME TIME walaupun hanya dalam kepala saya saja. Sekarang saya mulai menikmati kegiatan memasak, tapi lebih asik lagi kegiatan menonton orang lain memasak, betul? Puji Tuhan suami dan anak saya doyan masakan saya, saya jadi semangat untuk tetap memasak. Melihat orang-orang tersayang mau makan masakan yang susah payah disiapkan, syukur-syukur doyan, menjadi kepuasan tersendiri bagi si tukang masak. Saya jadi ingat Mami, yang sempat ngambek nggak masak karena anak-anak nggak ada yang sempat makan di rumah karena tuntutan pekerjaan.

Saat ini Mami, si Ratu Dapur sudah nggak pernah menginjak dapur lagi. Mami terserang stroke pada Februari 2008, kondisi kesehatannya pun makin menurun. Operasi jantung karena penyumbatan pembuluh darah sudah dijalaninya, namun berbagai obat-obatan yang selama ini ditenggaknya mulai membuat ginjalnya kepayahan dan Mami diwajibkan untuk cuci darah dua kali dalam sepekan. Saya cemas bukan main mendengar hal tersebut, pikiran saya sudah ke arah Gagal Ginjal, namun saya mendapat penjelasan bahwa cuci darah dengan frekuensi tersebut diharapkan membuat kadar ureum dan kreatinin-nya bisa mendekati ideal lagi. Tetap semangat ya, Mami, kami selalu doakan kesembuhan Mami dari sini.

Hari Minggu tanggal 26 Juni kemarin, Mami dan Papi berulang tahun (ke 58 dan 62), kami bertiga (saya, Abenk dan si Nonik) hanya bisa menyampaikan ucapan selamat, doa kesembuhan dan doa keselamatan melalui sambungan telepon PER-JKT.

Dan malam ini, aroma Sup Brenebon (resep Mami tentunya) membuat saya kangen sekangen-kangennya sama Mami. Please Mami, Be strong, be faithfull, and get well soon so you can come and visit us like you promised us! 

Doa saya malam ini cukup singkat, tapi seperti biasa, berserah kepada-Nya selalu membuat saya menangis karena ketakberdayaan saya sebagai manusia. Semoga Tuhan mengabulkan doa saya :) 

Bapa di Surga, kami memilih untuk percaya pada-Mu dengan segenap hati kami. Kami tahu bahwa tidak ada yang mustahil bagi Engkau. Kami memberikan segala pujian, hormat, kasih dan hati kami selamanya untuk-Mu, Bapa. Di dalam nama Tuhan Yesus Kristus kami berdoa dan mengucap syukur dan dengan setiap bilur-bilur darah-Nya kami percayakan keselamatan kami. 

Bapa, kembali kami memohon kepadaMu, berbelas kasihlah kepada Mami, sentuhlah dia, dan sembuhkan dari penyakitnya, Bapa. Karena Kau Allah kekuatan kami, penyembuh kami, dan satu-satunya harapan kami untuk menyembuhkan Mami, Bapa. Jamah dan sembuhkan Mami dari ujung rambut hingga kakinya, buang segala yang bukan dari Engkau dan gantikan dengan segala kesembuhan-Mu Bapa. Kiranya Engkau mengikat dan dan patahkan segala kuasa sakit, kuasa apapun yang turut campur yang membuat Mami sakit.

Bapa, kirimkan Roh Kudus-Mu untuk menguatkan, menenangkan dan menghibur Mami dan kami seluarga, dan jangan pernah biarkan masalah, musuh dan penyakit ini menang lebih jauh lagi, Bapa. Jadilah pahlawan dan tolonglah keluarga kami, Bapa. Kami serahkan kesembuhan Mami dan kesehatan orangtua kami di dalam tangan dan kasih-Mu, Bapa.

Ampuni kami, Bapa akan setiap kesalahan kami dan ajarkan kami untuk memaafkan orang-orang yang melawan dan melukai kami sekalipun. Terima kasih Bapa, Engkau sudah mendengar dan menjawab doa-doa kami dan selalu ada bahkan di saat tersulit dan terendah sekalipun. Tolong kami untuk berdiri teguh dalam iman dan buat kami terus dekat pada-Mu sepanjang hidup kami.

Dalam nama Bapa, Putra dan Roh Kudus.. Amin.

Perth, 28 June 2011
01.13 am 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Trouble Two : When love and headache collide..

Soon after the second birthday of my daughter -Noelle- I noticed a tremendous change in her temperament and behavior. She was no more the same obedient baby. She became aggressive, showed her likes and dislikes, would throw tantrums and keep me on my toes to feed her, to bath her and to dress her up. 

So I realized that it is going to be a tough exhausting year ahead for me as a mother and dealing with my toddler would not be as smooth as it used to be. Now she is 28 months old, still in the trouble two phase, drives me crazy, crazy, crazy, love! 

In the past three weeks, she has decided  that going to bed is not her cup of tea. She used to be so easy to put down for bed (either nap or night time, which is already past the "normal" toddler bedtime), but lately she wants to continue to play or watch TV/movie until the wee hours of the night (read : midnite). Oh well, I guess that's what happens when kids start to grow up and realize that their bed time is not the same as Mama and Papa's bed time. However, I keep reminding her that we are in charge and we know what's best for her.. Yeah, like she understands those abstract thoughts!

She never respond to NO! She will keep doing the thing, until she learn a lesson. Last week, we went to church, and because it's winter, she dressed in long sleeves jumper and leggings. During the mass, she felt bored and start amusing herself, so she start to rolled up the sleeves up to her elbow, and I said "No, don't do that, Noelle. It's cold. We need to keep you warm" while unrolled it, aaaand she rolled it up again. 

The scene repeated 3 times, finally when she rolled up the sleeve again, I "help" her with rolling it neatly and a bit higher, on both arms. She looked satisfied, and back to play in her seat, and 5 minutes later she asked me to roll out her sleeves because "It's Kod" (that's how she says cold). I learn that sometimes, I just need to pick the things worth to fight for because she need to learn to understand the love behind the word NO. 

In this terrible two's months, I learn that Noelle isn't trying to be defiant or rebellious on purpose. She is just trying to express her growing independence and doesn't have the language skills to easily express her needs. I learn that this lead to hiting and temper tantrums when she doesn't get her way. 

Shopping would be a fun/not fun activities because she insist to drag the wheelie shopping basket (with her small feet, it will take ages to do a quick shopping in the morning) and I dont like when she put things that I don't intend to buy because she will fight me when I put those things back in the shelves  and she'll throwing tantrum by crying screaming and stomping her feet until she got distracted. 

If she got upset, she'll push anything that near her. The other day, she was standing next to the coffee table, and got upset so she pushed the books and stack of magazines from the table, I just eyeing her when they fell on the floor. I took a deep breath, show no interest in her tantrum, and she (hopefully) will learn that throwing tantrum is not the way to get whatever she want. 

The funny thing is, when she got upset and there was nothing near her, she will go find a nearest object, eventho it was 3 meters away from her original spot, sometimes it was in other room. When she find it, she'll dramatically push the object to show me that she's upset. Too funny! I laughed and she got upset even more.

Three weeks ago, we were having a 5-day trip in New South Wales, and I expect her to have a bit of unpleasant moments during the flight, such as kicking the front seat when I put on her seatbelt, repeatedly unbuckle the seatbelt, taking all the armrest (she can be persistent), "reading" the inflight magazine loudly and keep clicking the button to call the stewardess, just the way she want it.. The first time it happens, I apologize to the crew and asked to be ignored if the lights ON again :) Goodiebag from Qantas, and inflight entertainment only kept her entertained when she want to, but when she got bored, she'll amuse herself with things that make me want to pull my hair! At this point, I was wondering how nice it would be to have a private jet *wink wink* 

Other toddler behaviors she has come up are really kind of icky. For example, she gets a mouthful of spit, smacking her lips in the shape of letter O and produces a big bubble, saliva bubble, and it stays as long as she wants. It’s so gross and awesome too at the same time. I tried but never succeed, and she caught me doing that. She thinks it’s hilarious, and now she always showing off her "talent".. Unfortunately, that behavior will also probably stick around for a while because I couldn't help myself saying "Wow" when I see the big bubble... Blast that "positive reinforcement", especially after I encouraged her to show her father the art of saliva bubble making. 

Another icky behavior : She drinks her bathwater. *Shudder!* Thankfully, she showered first, shampoo and soap, brushing her feet, rinse all over until squeaky clean, and then I let her soak in her giant bucket while I shower. I keep her entertained with colourful sticky letters on the wall but still, I know she drinks her bathwater.. I just hope that she didn't pee in her bucket that is. I beg, yell, threaten and physically make her stop doing that, but she's going to do it which I know, until she grown out of it. She looks at me with big smile, dip her face in to the water for 1 second and got mouthful of water then gargle, and if I am lucky, she'll spit it out, or she just drink it and says "Mmmm yummy" (she said it with raised eyebrows and nodding head)... I shake my head and say " Please stop that, if you want to drink, I'll get your bottle, Noelle". She just laughs and dip her head again to get more water. Demonic!

I’m learning that toddlers have a way of defying the “norm” and coming up with wacky ways to keep life interesting. Some of her strange behaviors: she loves the feel of cold things, so she just open the fridge, take a bottle of juice, or a grape, or a brocolli, or a carrot, or an egg (she's exactly one meter tall and can reach the egg shelf) and will put the cold thing on her cheek and say "Kod" over and over again. 

She is also fascinated by belly buttons. There's a commercial ad on TV, it's a woman wearing jegging (jeans+legging) and teeny tiny white shirt, showing her bellybutton. Everytime she sees the ads, she will automatically pull her shirt, touching her bellybutton, and then asked to see my bellybutton and then her father's. Thankfully, it never happen when there were other people in the house, otherwise we're having belly button party :D

She love to sniffs food, feeling it hot or cold first, take a teeny tiny bit before decide to eat it or leave it. And I love the fact that she loves to eat veggies, like brocoli and carrots and peas so I dont have to raise my voice to make her eat her greens :) She loves to humming (mostly made up songs), and talking to her toys, sometimes it is peaceful and shoothing knowing I live with other person in the house during the day. 

 She loves to dance and enjoying nowadays artist like Kathy Perry, Rihana, Lady Gaga, and she loves Glee! She hums the Glee tune everytime she look at "Glee" word on magazine, TV, CDs and then make "the Loser" gesture and  said "Glee!"

This cheeky girl also loves to tease me. She likes to pick her nose, and say "Eww" to the 'treasure' she find.. And when I asked her to hand me the treasure on her finger, she will draw the finger to her mouth and say "Aum" *with naughty look in her eyes* as if she was going to eat it. My reaction? Of course I panic and disgust at the same time and tried to stop her, but she only smile and got that twinkle in her eyes! Aaarrrggghhh! Is it only my child or any of you know other child like this? 

My daughter's terrible two's can exhaust me in mere moments, but I wouldn't trade these days for anything *cough*. She can drive me crazy and when I think I can't stand another annoying toddler thing, she does something cute that melts my heart! 

The other day, Noelle was in her highchair having brekkie, I was sitting close by to supervise, distract, fetch more food, whatever she need. I was exhausted from a long night (sometimes my eye and my brain refuse to fall asleep until 4am, so I just lie down awake, in the dark). I had my head resting on my hand and my eyes closed. She reached over and handed me her most precious possession —her blanky bunny, formerly named Pinky Rabbit- and said, “Mama, Mami” (she now can say Bunny actually, but refused to call her blankie with Bunny and insist it's Mami).. I could have melted and got teary eyed, how can this angel/monster child show me such a love, comforting me with thing that she know always can comforting her?

One of her most endearing behaviors is when she bow, pick up any toy, tell it "Hi -insert name of toy- " and kiss it. This is super cute with her stuffed animals, doll babies, but it definitely makes me laugh when she does it to her ball or a toy train or legos. After her attention span wanes, she'll drop the toy but ask it if it's okay. The scene was something like this: "Hi Chabi ( for Charlie Bear)! *pick up the toy* "Mwach" *kiss, drop the bear* "Uh-oh" *looking at me, then pick up the bear again* "Chabi, are you okay?".. Superb, one of the thing I pulled ot of my mind everytime I want to smile for my self.

Sometimes when I wash the dishes or cooking, she just randomly comes up to me, give my leg a hug, then running again to play by herself. Other times, I was reading and out of nowhere she grabbed my hand until I was standing up and push me on the bum, it means she wants us to be a train! Chugga chugga chug chug.. We travelled around the house as a train! She will laugh and squeal gleefully.. 

At 2 and a half year, she still not speaking properly, I mean, in one or two word only, not in a whole sentence, except reciting whatever she hear from her fave movie or ad. When she hungry, she'll come to me and say "Mama, eat?".. or "Mik?" for milk, "Shouwe" for shower and etc.. But when she tried to speak in sentence, only she and God knows what it mean.. I have tried to speak to her, develop her speech skills but the progress still so so.. But I love the fact that she knows her ABCs and 123s, shapes and objects, hundred of vocabs, I just hope that she will talk in sentence soon and able to say her name. I teach her to say Noelle, but she never tried to say it while I know she love to repeat everything I said to her. But she came up with her own name Gojes (from gorgeous) because I always say Gorgeous when she smiles, after I brushed her hair, when she smile and humming and dancing. 

She loves to watch me doing the laundry, she'll said "Papa!" when I had my husband's shirt or pants. She knows my clothes, except my shirts, she'll said "Papa" because I rarely wear buttoned shirt and my husband has lots of them. She knows her clothing, and said "Gojes" which means its her. 

One of my favourite moments is when she says I love you and make a gesture for it too. I (point to herself), love (make a love shape with both hands), you (point to the person). And when I said back to her, Mama (she point at me) love (make the love shape again), Gojes (point to herself).. There's no confusion in there, she knows I love her.. 

I love when she comes up to me and planted a kiss. Ooooh I can't and won't resist those puckered lips, because if you asked for a kiss, she won't give you a kiss, she only offer you her cheek! Whatta cheeky girl!

Other heart melting moment, it happened on last Friday night. I was sick of looking at the never tidy living room and Noelle's bedroom. She loves to play in both rooms so there will be always her toys in here and there. I want to enjoy the Friday night watching DVDs or TV programs in a proper clean and tidy living room, so I started to tidy up the living room, took all the stranded toys back to her room, then vacuuming the room while my husband watching TV, in the same room. 

Then, I started sorting all the toys, and books, and softies and put them all in their places, and vacuuming Noelle's bedroom. Then my husband asked something, and because I was a bit tired and sick of the routine domestic chores, honestly I don't want to talk at all, so I just said, "I can't hear you". Then he shouted to topped the sound of the vacuum, and I snapped, "I am working".. Well, I was a bit upset because he did not help me, not even offering. *Sorry I dragged you in this story, babe* 

And then, when the vaccuum machine stopped and I was retracting the cable, Noelle run to me and hug me, and pat me in the back, and saying something that sounds like "Soowwy".." That's her word for sorry, and if it was right, I don't know what she is sorry for, is it sorry for messing up her bedroom, or sorry for not helping me? Whatever it is, suddenly I just feel warm with love and sad at the same time because I feel so ungrateful. 

Then, I praised the Lord for giving me this loving and caring child, which make me learn to be a better person. Yes, life is a neverending school, and sometimes this small person can teach a lot.

 To be perfectly honest, what was going on right now is not the kind of toddler behavior I expected coming into motherhood. I never know how utterly charming and adorable some of her behavior can be, until it happened to me.

Oooh toddlers, totally baffling, totally charming... What a roller coaster a toddler can be. I'll just keep hanging on and try to enjoy the ride! Wait up for me, kiddo!

I love you, Noelle.. 
For better or worse.. 

Perth, 20 June 2011

Thursday, June 09, 2011

adult jeans to toddler jeans..

Hey! I've been neglecting my own blog, let alone contributing on my other blog.. I've been busy packing and unpacking because we're moving house, and last week we went to Parkes and Sydney, NSW, having a little (winter) break and visiting our childhood friend..

I've been patient enough not to touch my sewing machine during the unpacking period, but now everything is settled and on their places, I can start sewing/refashioning again.. I got heaps of unfinished projects, don't know when I'll be able to work on them, but as wise man say, one step at a time..

As a starter, I made a pair of jeans for Noelle out of my old jeans. At 98cm, she's quite tall for a 2,5 yo toddler, and I found it's hard to find a perfect jeans that fit her because shopping was not fun for her and she'll grown out of it so soon. So, I'll just make one for her. I was going to make a tutorial but turns out it was hard to take pictures between the sewing process.. Here's what I have for now.

My old Billabong jeans, well loved and I wore it to death (approx twice a week in 7years), got frayed patch on the crotch area (from my constant rubbing inner thigh).. But I love that it was so soft, perfect for Noelle (she hated hard/stiff fabrics), and I intend to keep the worn out look on the side seams so the jeans looks not new.


I started with cutting the inner leg seam, of course you can rip it with seam ripper if you want to get as much as possible fabric to work with.


Then I removed the pocket with seam ripper because I love pockets and I'll use it again later.


Then I laid out the pants, tracing toddler pants pattern (the green fabric) on the jeans with chalk. To make the toddler pants pattern, I just traced her favourite pants, and flip it so I got back and front side of the pants as one continuous piece, then I'll call it the lefty/righty piece. But its a bit tricky to work with because when you tracing it on the jeans, you have to make sure you flip it so you got the right side of the jeans for your piece. Hope what I wrote made sense to you.


Here's the pieces, left and right piece of the pants, and 2 pockets. See how I got the worn out side seams and hem? I know you all capable to joining the left and right pants so I wont bother to take picture of the process.


After joining the left and right pieces, I sew the pockets on the bum.


Then I sew  a 6 cm fabric strip on the waist to make the elastic casing. Actually I was just going to fold and sew the jeans to make the elastic casing but I found it will be too bulky and decided to make the casing with medium weight cotton from my stash.


Don't forget to press the seams to make it more neat and professional. Then fold and press again before sewing the casing.


Here's the finished product. I love how my old jeans just moving from my wardrobe to my daughter's :)



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