2018..in summary

Assalamualaikum and Hi!

It's been a while. I know. Sometimes when I feel like I should write this moment down, there goes instagram and facebook, which can also plays like a blog. However, after a while you realized that..they are only half like a blog. Unless if you like that kind of daily journal. Important memories and thoughts are still better to be written in a full journal.

Anyway, we are going to enter 2019 in 11 days. So much happened this year and I don't feel the memories that distant yet. The year 2018 is not an uneventful ones like the two years as a housewife. Being a housewife to an infant and later a toddler, there are not much major things happening, thus the years felt a little draggy and forgettable. But, I swear, 2 years as a full time mother plays a big role to the development of my daughter's personality. For that, I feel grateful.

Before I forgot, here's the list of major events of 2018, that I don't want want future self to forget easily:

1) January- Still a housewife. 

Our oshogatsu (new year)'s trip was spent around Kansai area. I loved group trip like this. It was so happening and Lily was very happy to be surrounded by kakak and abang :) 

We also went around Nagoya and spent a whole day in Nagoya Port Aquarium. I don't think our visit would be as fun as this one because now we have Lily. It's like, her smile is all that matters now that she's here, in this world.

The annual Malaysian in Hiroshima soubetsukai (farewell party). I don't like being the one who's always being left behind. When will be my turn to be the one who leave >,<

2) February- Got a job offer. A rather surprise job offer and the offer was too good to turn down.

Spent a day in Kurashiki. First, it was for strawberry picking (my favorite winter activity). Then, we did some city walk and later shopping a little at their city outlet. Glad that we made time to go around the canal area. Because a few months later, flood hit most part of Hiroshima and Okayama. This canal was also affected. At least we've been here before it was ruined by the flood.

3) March- Dedicated to find a new house, spent time with Lily to the max. Counting days to the day I'll become a working mom. Something that I vision myself when I grow up. Looking for Lily's school. We are so excited as finally we can afford to send Lily to school. 

Sakura came a tiny bit early this year. Global warming it seems.

Our family at the Shukkein Garden. A beautiful Japanese Garden right in the middle of city centre.

This month, we also busy for a house hunting. Had not much time to really do the hunting though. Found one house, good location, nice interior (well, I can tolerate), then this house it is! 

4) April- Journey as a working mom started. I was so enthusiastic. Life was so hectic as Lily's daycare required a 10minutes drive and no food was provided. Therefore, I had to wake up very early to prepare bentou for 3 people. Our bentou were easy as I could always packed our dinner leftovers. But, I didn't dare to pack leftovers for Lily. I always made her food fresh. Other than that, I had to make sure to pack her morning and afternoon snacks. I was often had to pick her up pass her dinner time. So, on such days, I had to also pack her dinner. It was hectic, but I like it. That's probably because I longed for busy days after 2 years of slow-paced kind of days. I was given 2 years to 'rest' but I still could not fit into that tai-tai life, it seems. 

How can I forgot. April is the month of me becoming a mother...this this beautiful little girl :)
Lily's second birthday!

she was born on a beautiful day like this. Where the land was painted with pink sakura all over. So, as long as we live in this country (and your birthday fell on weekend), we will do a small birthday picnic for you ;). That's Hiroshima castle.

I think this was me on the second day working. I still couldnt be able to put even a drop of make up. Too hectic a morning..

We moved house..helped by our fellow Malaysian family :) Aa..what a tiring month!

This month also marks the month we moved into our new house. After 5 years living in the previous apartment which we really loved (the reason why we keep postponing the idea of moving, despite of the space isn't meant for a family with a child). The new apartment is just 10 minutes away from my workplace. I could just go home for lunch if I wanted to. 

5) May- Back in KL for a while during golden week. As usual, A's style, always last minute ticket purchase. We could only get ticket from Fukuoka by Cathay Pacific. 

This year's Malaysia's labor day was utilized by us to invite our friends and family to Lily's 2nd birthday party :) 

Lily struggling with the heat.

I forgot about the flying experience. But I remember we chose to transit in Hong Kong for 2 nights. hehe..So, we had 1 full day. Can you guess where we went? Of course..Disneyland. I have to admit, I'm a Disneyland junkie. But to much disappointment, there were many attractions closed that day. So sad. But, we did't go all out like we used to be when we were young..and child-less. This time, we followed Lily's pace. We thought she was probably exhausted from her KL trip. She was a bit cranky. Plus, the weather was too hot for her. 

Lily's first Disneyland experience. She wasnt familiar with Disney character. That's one of the reasons she didn't seem to enjoy the trip. But now, she already know who's Mickey, Minnie and others, and even asked daddy to go to the Disneyland :)

This month also, we received a good news from the daycare at my workplace. Suddenly, they can accommodate Lily for the full year. So, Lily moved to the in-campus daycare this month. 

Lily's current daycare which located in the campus where I work. Alhamdulillah...Allah swt eased my mommyhood journey. This daycare provided food, snacks according to her 'allergy' list. I put 'allergy' because Lily doesn't have any real allergy to food that we know of. It's just there because we requested for muslim-friendly food and they are happy to obliged.

My first Mother's day card and flower :)

I have to say, the month of May has been so eventful to us. After just been 1 week in the daycare, Lily fell sick. She was infected with many kinds of viruses back to back. One of the virus was so nasty that she required hospitalization for more than a week during fasting month. I will post about this in another entry. 

The ward where we stayed for 8 days. 

6) June- One of the saddest month for me in terms of work. Everything got turned upside down due to you know..backstabbing. It was a month that I wish to not remember..

7) July- My health deteriorated. It was because I found myself...pregnant :) Great month with a mixed feeling. 

The first time we met you :)

The great Hiroshima flood happened in this month. I should put special entry about that.

8) August- Long holidays happened this month. But, our family didn't go anywhere because I was sick most of the time, that when I don't have to go to work, all I wanted to do was lie down and just sleep. I was nauseous all the time and tired.

9) September-  I'm still sick and miserable. Most days I was left alone with Lily. A was mostly out of town. I don't remember how I went through all that time while being sick.

10) October- The birth month of so many people including myself. I felt a little better in terms of health. 

A's small birthday do. With Lily around, dah macam 10 orang guests :')

We finally went for a short trip to Kobe. It was fun, or too much fun for Lily. Will review about the little 'paradise' that we brought Lily to in Kobe.

Part of that little paradise for Lily. Anpanman museum😂

11) November- Everyone seems to be waiting in autumn, when usually the autumn passed by us so quickly. The peak of autumn arrived rather late this year. My in laws troop came to visit but autumn was still raw although it was already middle of Nov. 

I felt like myself again!

Lily with her granny..jalan-jalan tengok daun.

Flew to KL with Lily on tow for a job interview. Doakan :)

12) December- Filled with hope and the feeling of grateful. 

Overall, I call the year of 2018 as the year of 'rizq'. Yes, there were challenges after when I already feeling like at the top of the world. The test did stressed me out. Threw me off balance. But then Allah s.w.t gave me the biggest rizq of all..inshaAllah, with His will, my family will expand. Conception wasn't always easy for me. So, the joy of becoming a mother one more time is not something small to us. 

I am still not happy at work. But, I think this feeling is given to me on purpose. So, I can see my priority more clearly. So that I come to work, and at the same time cannot wait to be home again..Yes, I think this is all make sense.

Ok, I'm already feeling hungry now. I'll see you in the next post. The momentum is still here, I am very confident that this will not be the last post. 

InshaAllah..

See you!

Have a great day everyone!