Acts of Love.

It was a lovely end to our holiday in Samed Island. And we were waiting for the speed boat that would take us back to the mainland. We had just had an excellent Thai meal at Lima Coco (highly recommended for their food and cheap accomodations) when Taufik noticed that his Far's mouth was terribbly comot.

Taufik I must tell you is a real nut when it comes to keeping his hands and mouth clean. I must have spent millions already on baby wipes. Anyways, in a gesture of adoration and love for his father, something that he is ever willing to demonstrate, he wiped Kim's mouth in utter seriousness and diligence.

While I took the picture I was wondering why was it that I was the one carrying the wounds of tribal mother-son war - evident from the bluish and greenish marks on my body from being jumped on, climbed upon and occasionnally bitten. Tokens of my son's love and devotion obviously

And the tantrum begins...

We were having lunch....or at least...Kim was having lunch. I was chasing after Taufik who had taken it upon himself to launch an attack of pebbles onto shoppers coming up the escalator. "Curse these bloody fake plants and their pebbled pots" I muttered.

I ran around chasing after an elusive toddler, mouth smeared with mayonnaise, mind stuck on the delicious wrap lying there getting cold on the table. Kim is chomping away, passing a comment or two when I was too slow to prevent a pebble from hurtling through the shopping mall.

In the end, I decided to launch an attack myself - operation "time out". But maybe it was too late, cause hurricane 1 came, conquered and left. Yes, Taufik had a major meltdown. Arms flailing on the floor, legs thumping angrily in the air...it finally dissipated to him sulking (with his mouth full of food, mind you) sulking under the table near his father's adored legs.

As for me, I was tired out, hungry, stressed from all the stares, distressed by my son's attempt at world war III via pebbles. I could feel Hurricane 2 brewing when my husband lovingly said "Are you going to eat that wrap darling?"

"No wan ntit....mommy."

So much upheavals to Taufik's routine lately, for one thing I'm enjoying my summer vacations and that means Taufik's mornings do not consist of me donning my school uniform and going through the torment of parting from him.

Secondly, we recently went back to Malaysia and enjoyed the playgroup that took place at Tia's place in Andalucia. Following a week in Bangkok, we went off to River Kwai, Kanchanaburi . So naturally Taufik's routines went haywire.

This week before we leave for Denmark, he started going back to Global Kids. On that first morning, I told him ahead of time what his day would consist of. "Tauf Tauf you're going to school today, understand? You'll see Teacher Noni and Teacher Kit and what do you say?, "Goood morning teacher Noni, teacher Kit." What was my son's response, "No wannttit mommy... Taufik no wanttit." Oh dear at two years and one month my son is already balking at the thought of going to school.

But to school he did go, bawling his head off when I left. Since that moment, I've been hearing a lot of "No wanttit Mommy...No!!!"

Looking back - Blowing Bubbles

In his sixth month Taufik was already an expert at standing in his crib and blowing bubbles. He was blowing and blowing bubbles on this beautiful day as I filmed him with our handycam. Laughing his head off whenever he succeeded. I was chatting and cooing at him. As usual totally besotted. Sick or just the wonderful mom that I am? He he he he

Frog go home to Mommy Frog

Yesterday before we went to the Rama VIII Park here at Srinakharin Road, I decided to capture for my son a little itsy bitsy baby frog. There were a bunch of them swimming around in the puddle behind Kim's Fortuner. And so equipped with an old tupperware with a missing cover and a ziploc bag I caught Taufik a little baby frog. The size of half a maraschino cherry.

He was so fascinated with it and insisted on carrying it whenever he was toddling around, and putting it in his bicycle basket whenever cycling. He took it out of the tupperware and onto his little thum and stroked the little frog mutterring babbles to it. It was such a delightful sight and I truly wished I had my camera with me.

we went rowing around in a little boat out at the lake in the park and searched for our resident iguana there. We spotted the big fella a little away from his home and it was a fascinating experience. Truly Asia might I say?

Anyways, when we got home I told Taufik that the baby frog wants to go home to mommy frog. "Baby frog sad Taufik." We dumped the little thing back into the puddle when we got home. And of course the next morning when Taufik woke up he said to me "Frog go home, mommy?". "Yes darling." I said, "Baby frog go home to Mommy frog."

Thus our adventure with baby frog ended.

"Mommy hurt?" said Tauf Tauf

This morning I was preparing a breakfast of garlicky pasta with pepperoni and parmesan cheese whilst simulatenously preparing to bake aubergines for dinner tonight. I hit the roof of the oven with my hand when I inserted the aubergines into the oven and shouted out in pain.

My little son came waddling into the kitchen to see what the ruckus was all about. I told him that "Mommy hurt Taufik. Ouch. See." Taufik came close by to inspect my little invisible wound. He said to me, "Mommy hurt?" nodding his head as if affirming what he said. "Yes darling, mommy hurt." My held out his hand and said "Mommy come." Looking up at me "Mommy come Far mommy. Far see. Mommy hurt." I took his little hand and allowed him to lead me to the bedroom where his Far was happily snogging away. His lovely slumber about to be disrupted by our concerned little son.

We both sat on the bed, "Faaaaaar!" said Taufik lunging toward his father. When Far woke up he told Far that mommy was hurt. I quickly asked Kim to describe what I am feeling in Danish and to show him how to kiss my hurt away.

After Kim kissed my wound, Taufik immediately bent down his cute little face to give it his own special kiss.

My little Tauf Tauf. How I love him sooo much.

Bunny Rabbits and "No David!"

As usual this evening we took Ninus, Taufik's little rabbit out to the playground. Surprise! Surprise! Melanie brought her one year old bunny to the playground too. She must have gotten inspired. The children gathered around playing with the rabbits. They made such a beautiful picture and I wished I had my camera.

Tonight before bedtime we read "No David!" again. Taufik enjoys telling David that he cant do that! No David don't touch the fishbowl" he would howl. And when David stood sobbing in the corner of the room, Taufik stroked his picture and said "Sayang David!"

He is the sunshine in my life.

These Moments are the Best

A poem dedicated to my beloved son, Taufik Henriksen just as he turned two.

My child, this body of mine
For you it’s been designed
Has been your place of rest
The times you lay upon my chest
My sweet son, these moments are the best.

My child, these hands of mine
Has soothed your fears away
Patted you gently while you sleep
Wiped away the tears you weep
My sweet son, these moments are the best.

My child, these lips of mine
Has kissed you so many times
Whispered words of love in your ears
Please remember through all your years
My sweet son, these moments are the best.

My child, these eyes of mine
Have watched you while you grow
Beheld the beauty of your soul,
I pray to God for the wisdom to mould
My sweet son, these moments are the best.

My child, this heart of mine,
Is humbled by the gift of you
A prayer with its every beat
That as life ends, in paradise we’ll meet.
My sweet son, this moment will be, the very best.

Taufik Johan Henriksen

Taufik turned two on 22nd February 2006. It also marked the time for our final interview with the Adoption Department before being given the adoption certificate.

We passed Alhamdulillah. And before being awarded the certificate we were asked if we wanted to make any changes to his name.

After sleeping over it and discussing with Abah, Ummi, Dayah and between ourselves. We decided to add Johan as his middle name. 'Johan' pronounced the Danish way, where the J is pronounced as a 'Y'.

And so the sunshine of our life, our little matahari came to be known as Taufik Johan Henriksen.