Playdate

Some of Andra's play dates :

Gangnam District

When I first heard the Gangnam Style song by PSY in Bandung, Indonesia, I didn't know that Gangnam was a district in Seoul. Let alone knowing what Gangnam means, I didn't even understand what the song was about.

Turn out that Gangnam was the area for the rich and famous people. Gangnam district known for its highly expensive real estates, which often compared to Beverly Hills, California. You can also bump into celebrities here because there are so many entertainment agencies around.

We spent a whole day in Gangnam last weekend, and it was not enough to explore all the possibilities.

Gangnam Styles

By the time we arrived in Gangnam, it was lunch time. We had lunch in this nice little restaurant called Bab & Bulgogi. The food was just delicious and Andra ate a lot of beef soup with rice. Luckily the owner was there to serve as well and we had no problem communicating because she spoke english fluently.

Our main reason went to Gangnam was because I was looking for some books. After I browsed, in Gangnam there is a big bookstore selling English books too. And I am dying to read a soul filling books again.

Kyobo bookstore in Gangnam with a poem written on the wall

I didn't buy any book there, because I know online store sell the same books with cheaper price. I guess it was just me being cheap. But really, if you can buy the same thing with cheaper price, why wouldn't you?

We spotted zillions of cafes here in Gangnam, not just any cafes but the stylish ones. I couldn't stop smiling looking at the beautiful exteriors while absorbing the ambience.

Helloo am I in Paris?

Pretty modern Japanese izakaya

In the afternoon, the street was packed with lots and lots of people. I mean really, we brought our stroller and we could barely stroll through. The vibe of Saturday night.

And we stopped by couple of times for some coffee.

Seriously to die for cheese bagels! Warm, soft, savory.. Yummy

Starbucks Gangnam

Holly's coffee

Holly's coffee Gangnam

Pretty lamp there

At night, Gangnam was dressed up with lights everywhere. And the number of people increased over time. No empty seats in the cafes. People going out in style. I love being in such lively ambience.

I spotted some of crime scenes like this in the area.

When we were home from Gangnam, I barely could feel my legs. I couldn't believe we were there all day walking around. But I was satisfied, that was definitely won't be our last time going to Gangnam.

Let's start again on the meals recap

When Andra was having his first solid, I kept a food journal about food he ate and snacks he had. Writing down his meals made me know what he needed to eat next. Sometimes he even had allergic and what I did, just look at the journal 3 or 4 days before, because that's when the body show intolerant with a kind of food.

When he was a one month old baby, he got this rash all over his body and I quickly realized that he was allergic to salmon fish I ate a day before (he was still exclusively breastfed). Over time, he is not allergic to it anymore, he can even eat a big salmon fillet without a single rash now. Sometimes, eating shrimp could show some allergic signs but not heavy. Usually it was because the shrimp is not so fresh anymore.

Last week I tried to start to write down his meals for a week. Let's see what he's got.

Week #10 (I refer to our length of stay here in Seoul)

Monday 17/6 :
Breakfast : peanut butter sandwich
Morning snack : plain yogurt
Lunch : rice + Tom Yam Goong
Afternoon snack : cheddar cheese
Dinner : rice + Tom Yam Goong

Tuesday 18/6 :
Breakfast : plain croissant
Morning snack : plain yogurt
Lunch : rice + tofu soup (with enokki mushroom, eggplant, spinach, and anchovy stock)
Afternoon snack : plain crackers
Dinner : rice + tofu soup

Wednesday 19/6 :
Breakfast : oatmeal + choco chip
Morning snack : biscuits
Lunch : rice + pan fried salmon with tomato carrot sauce
Afternoon snack : plain yogurt
Dinner : rice + pan fried salmon with tomato carrot sauce

Thursday 20/6 :
Breakfast : rice + crispy nori sheets
Morning snack : plain yogurt
Lunch : Beef bowl (rice topped with stir fried ground beef, red pepper, and shimeji mushroom)
Afternoon snack : chocolate cereal
Dinner : beef bowl

Beef Bowl

Friday 21/6 :
Breakfast : oatmeal
Morning snack : plain yogurt + korean melon
Lunch : rice + chinese egg drop soup  (with enokki mushroom, nori sheets, spinach
Afternoon snack : cheddar cheese
Dinner : rice + chinese egg drop soup

Chinese egg drop soup

Saturday 22/6 :
Breakfast : rice + nori sheets
Morning snack : churros with sweet potato filling
Lunch : Korean yellow rice + beef soup with leeks
Afternoon snack : fresh milk and cheese bagel
Dinner : rice + Korean Sollontang (beef, scallions, thin noodles)

Sollontang

Sunday 23/6 :
Breakfast : oatmeal + apple
Morning snack : churros
Lunch : rice + Indonesian soto ayam (with cabbage, chicken, green onion, vermicelli)
Afternoon snack : whole wheat crackers
Dinner : rice + scallions omelette

You see, he always eat meals with rice. He totally loves it! Sometimes I give him pasta or noodles, but nothing beats the rice. He's truly my Indonesian boy! In Indonesia there's a joke that someone has not eat meals if s/he haven't had rice yet. Bread or potato? That's only side dish for us.

So this is my first recap of Andra's meal. I hope I can keep track down his meals.

Two years and Three months

My Rayendra Pandji Wirabhumi Ahmad. I still can't believe you are 2 years and 3 months today. You have grown too fast! Your recent favorites:

You have your own way waking me up. Whether in the morning, or when I pretend to sleep. It's with your kisses. It is very special for me and I often pretend to sleep more to get them.

Your always look forward to weekends now. Which means you will have your showers with Ayah! Your most favorite thing ever. And you can't stop giggling and laughing and shouting, telling me from the bathroom that you're taking your shower with Ayah. It's the cutest thing.

Boys' time : snacking

You are a generous, kind, helpful little boy. It has to be you, the one who opens the door for Ayah when he is going to work, the one who turns on the water heater or lamp switch. You are an independent little guy, you put your clothes in the washing machine and your diaper in the trash bin. You can even do the laundry on your own! Under my supervision of course. The way you put all the clothes in the washing machine, add the eco ball, shut the door, and turn on the machine. I can't imagine so much memory you could put in your little brain.

You like to play chase. There's no spacious room for us to do that but you are still very happy somewhat.

You are one polite boy. Even when you are awake in the middle of the night, you would still say, "Ibu, I want to drink mineral water, please". It never fails to make me smile.

Another favorite things now are your books, your tools, doctor tools, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and you've grown a tighter bond with your Barney.

We are working on the toilet training. You are still on your diaper now, but you constantly ask to wear your underpants.

still manage to give me the cute forced smile

You've learned the power of saying "No" and you constantly use the word every time you could. Even if it's not on the right term.

Another big milestone on your age now, you are officially weaned from breastfeeding. It was not easy for us both. It means letting go the first thing that makes you comfortable since you were born. When you were desperately wanting your milk, most of the times there were tantrums. It was sad to see you sad, but it was foryour own good, baby. And I am so much proud of you to be able to get through it.

I am very grateful for every second that I have you. Love you mucho, my baby..

Tom Yam Goong

I am a big fan of soup. A bowl of soup will give a pleasant, comfort, warm feeling. And it's an extra point if the soup is sour and spicy.

This Tom Yam Goong is my all time favorite. I didn't remember when was the first time I had it, it was maybe when I was still in elementary school. My mom used to make this soup, but without chilli at the time because I couldn't handle that spiciness, and neither could my siblings.

When I made this soup this morning, it was suppose to be for my lunch and dinner (and Andra's too, I separated his soup before I added the chilli), but it seems like it's all gone in my tummy during lunch time. Ooh the comfort..

Recipe from here with modifications here and there.

Ingredients

8 big prawns, remove the head and shell except the tail but don't throw away
1 stalk lemongrass, cut in 1 cm long
1/2 tomato, cut into wedges
1 shallot, cut in half
5 kaffir lime leaves
1 cm galangal, bruised
2 bird's eye chilli
1T chilli oil, made from 3/4T oil and 1/2T chilli powder
100 gr mushroom (I used shimeji)
1/2T sugar
1/4T salt
600 ml water
2T lemon juice

Directions

1. Put water in a pot. Add the prawn's heads and shells to make the stock. Turn on the heat in medium. Once it boils, turn to simmer for 10 minutes and remove the scums.
2. Remove the head and shells, add the shallots, galangal, and lemongrass. Simmer for two minutes.
3. Add the mushroom and tomato wedges, simmer for another 2 minutes.
4. Season with salt, sugar, and chilli oil. Adjust the seasoning to your liking.
5. Add the prawns, cook for 1 minute.
6. Add the kaffir lime leaves and bird's eye chilli.
7. Add the lime juice. Serve immediately.

Note :
1. I find it that the prawn need to cook only a while in order to maintain their sweet juicy flavor.
2. If you're not going to serve the soup right away, don't add the lemon juice. Add it right before you serve.

Weekend #10

Usually, Mr. M had to had his overtime at work a day on weekends. Last weekend, he was free the whole weekend. We decided to stay home all day long except for our weekly grocery trip.

Before we go, let's do our obligation, throw the trash to the bin. Another Andra's favorite thing to do.

Making sure he flattens the plastic bottle

Put the right trash in the right bin, baby

 He insisted to carry the trolley. I think he likes it to have a role in the family.

Cutest forced smile :))

Our way to the grocery store

Got a scoop of Baskin n Robins treat