Swim Update

I did it!!! we went swimming yesterday!!!!. Yeah that whole high pony tail ting didn't work....lol. Kpuff was petrified, she was screaming at the top of her lungs...bush girl..lol. I tried the kiddie pool, no luck with that either, so I decided to go back to the regular pool and let her cry it out. When she finally did, she fell asleep on her floater holding on to me for dear life...lol. I'm going to try to make it a weekly thing, so we're off to Ikoyi Club next Sunday....:).

Other than that my weekend was alright, had lunch at Cactus on Saturday and drinks at 007, I am making a keen effort to be more social this year..lol. Let's see how long this lasts.

The Fun Place

It's so nice to read all the nice welcome back comments from everyone, I feel like a superstar..lol. I have to confess I don't have much to blog about today, but I don't want to abandon the blog for another (cough) 3 months..lol.

Didn't get up to much this weekend, Aunty B is off, so it's just kpuff and I :). the last few weekends have been weddings, bridal showers, etc.

For those of us who live on the mainland there's a semi-new place at opebi called "The Fun Place" (I think, I have to double check), it's actually quite nice. I'll say it's geared towards children from about 2 to like 10, there's not much for the 2 year olds except a large play pen which kpuff was perfectly fine with. Also, most of the rides are geared towards kids aged 3 years and above, one of their staff said it was ok if your child is younger though(me I no do that one sha..lol). Definitely check it out if you live in the neighborhood, at least it's something different to do. Also pls someone convince me to take kpuff swimming, I'm soo embarassed I've never taken her swimming (we went to the beach over the break though), I don't want to wet my hair and I soooo don't feel like swimming...lol

Well that's about it for now folks, sorry there's nothing jucier, have a great week.

Knock knock, anyone still here? I'm sooooooo sorry. Much much much has happened and is going on. For one we need to come up with a new name for kpuff she's slimmed down considerably (she's not ill or anything I think it's just cause she's more active). She's still not in school :(, I promise that will happen by her 2nd birthday which is next month!!

Mr. and I are no more, long long story don't want to discuss it on here so that's that.

Business has been quite good so thank God for that, I'm also working on pet project which I will share with you all soon, looking forward to that. My christmas and new year were fantastic both my sisters were around with their husbands/significant others.

For those of you who warned me, Kpuff has finally learnt to say "NO" as a result her favorite answer to everything is a loud "NO!!!!"....lol, we need to fix that.

That's about it for now, have a Happy Easter everyone!

Hiatus

I'm taking a mini hiatus from blogging, I'll be back soon.

Kiss Kiss.

Sorry I have been AWOL, I've just been busy. So much has happened over the last few weeks not sure where to start. Well for all of you that said to give kpuff kpuff sweets that's not even an issue now cause she's stopped going to daycare, she was quite ill (she's better now) so I stopped for awhile. Going back didn't quite happen as I imagined, as soon as I turned into the street she started crying...lol...She screamed and screamed and screamed, so we drove right back home, there's no need. Thanks for all the suggestions though.

I've also been in London quite a bit over the last few weeks, I actually bumped into a blogger at my friends place, she was trying to be slick saying oh she doesn't have a blog, her cousin is cheetarah...lol..Anyway finally she confessed that she is cheetarah, very very funny chick.

Now the reason I've been going to London like it's going out of fashion is I had some training to do with my client or oga depending on how you want to look at it. So I had to go into the office everyday from about 9:30 to 5:30 - 6:00, let's just say I don't miss those days. It was nice to be working with people again, but I had forgotten rush hour sardine trains...eww. Nigeria spoils you though..lol. Anyway, on one of the days I was in the office last week thursday to be exact, I was chatting with Mr. on msn, and trying to see kpuff kpuff on msn video, but he has an older version of msn so we couldn't do the video thing, so I told him, we'll use skype but I can't talk cause I'm in the office. That's how me I was trying to look serious like I was doing work oh, I was even telling him, sorry I can't smile cause I don't want them to catch me, I kept sending messages and he wasn't responding, but Mr. types quite slow, so I thought he was just doing his normal 2 finger typing and taking forever. Next thing my boss/lead developer is like "umm....I don't think these messages are meant for me....".... Ye! do you know my dumb ass had been sending all the messages intended for Mr. to him???!!! But men, naija style, I just "boned" and said sorry they weren't meant for him...lol. How unprofessional...

It looks like everyone has abandoned blogsville....tsk tsk..shame.

So I found out that, kpuff kpuff has been hustling the other little kids in school for their biscuit, chai. Apparently when the other kids are eating their biscuits during lunch Kpuff kpuff is supposed to be eating her yoghurt cause I don't want to get her started on sweets, but the allure of the other kids biscuits is too much for her to bear, so she goes to hit them and take their biscuits....lol..terrible I know but funny all the same.

In other news, Aunty B or Miss B (I don't remember what I named her) is doing great so far, I am so so happy :). Kpuff is actually quite attached to her already, she actually goes to her willingly from my arms and trust me that's pretty impressive. So due to my new found freedom :) I've gone out quite a bit in the last 2 weeks. Iwent to Pattaya (near Mega Plaza) 2 weekends ago, their food is really really good so if you're up for thai food and you're in that area definitely check it out. I also finally went to Saipan this last weekend the decor's really nice but it was a bit noisy I think there was a dinner party or something going on. And then ended my evening at 6 degrees which was packed as usual, I couldn't help but think about 36s' sisters' ordeal, funny enough when I was leaving there were so many police men outside. Thankfully I had no drama.

So the following words have been added to kpuff's ever expanding vocabulary:

Wa wa = dog (correction from a few weeks back, I thought it was rah rah)
Wa wa = lizard, roach, anything else that moves that isn't human...lol
waaaa wa = grand pa
maaaa ma = grand ma
ma ma = me
daddy = mr.
oh oh (and a little jiggy) = play me yahooze so I can dance.. (lol...I'm serious)

I spoke to an old friend today, before today I hadn’t spoken to her in about 16 years, we lived on the same street for about 3 years till I turned 10 or 11 then my family moved. Talking to her brought back a flood of memories both good and bad. There were 3 of us who were about the same age on the street, we went to birthday parties together, went to ‘lesson’ together, went to the club together, everything but go to the same primary school. It was at one of their houses I watched the first Nightmare on elm street, the cosby show (though I didn’t get the humour at the time…lol) and countless other ‘cool’ shows. It was also from them I found out what various dirty words meant…lol. Funny thing is I could have contacted them at any point over the last 16 years, at least we were in the same country before I traveled in 1998 and I made absolutely no effort for reasons I honestly can’t remember. It was also in that period I discovered the bitchy back biting tendencies of girls and I must admit I fully participated in these activities as well……..(that was before I became ‘deep’ and took my women studies feminism class...lol). Whatever the case I’m glad I spoke to her and actually looking forward to meeting up with her hopefully soon.

In other news, I have a new nanny, Miss B. I met her through the girl that does our feet. She started on Monday and since kpuff is in her normal diva state she’s definitely not letting Miss B. just carry her without a fight…lol, but at least she’s blowing her kisses and waving bye when she leaves, trust me that’s a lot for kpuff to do for someone she’s known for just a week.

Lol...thanks for all your suggestions for my friend. You guys really are a crazy bunch. Unfortunately/Fortunately, my friend is getting cold feet, so the search is off (that's what I get for trying to hook a brother up...lol).

Anyway, what's new with you folks?

Totally off topic, one of my homeboys is on a quest to find a girlfriend in 30 days (no idea why). He's a fine boy (naija fine boy I hope that isn't copyrighted..lol), 6ft 3 inches (or something in that vicinity), and lives in NY. All suggestions welcome.

Mrs Nanny has finally exited the building, no replacement yet but still looking...

Kpuff Milestone/Mrs Nanny/Equal Opportunity Employment

Kpuff went to a daycare/creche/playgroup (depending on what part of the world you're in) today for the first time in her life, it was actually more difficult than I thought it would be. I picked her up 2 hours earlier than I was supposed to...lol.

Going to the creche wasn't planned, Mrs. Nanny hasn't shown up for work for 2 straight days and hasn't called either. I'm not even angry cause there's no point, I'll just pay her off whenever she decides to show up.

LM, I called the agency you recommended for a replacement yesterday but Mrs C. is out of the country so her assistant Joan is working on it, I'll let you guys know how it goes. Speaking of which when I called and was going over my criteria with them, they wanted to know if I had preference for any specific ethnicity. I always feel uncomfortable when I'm asked this, I'm scared someone is going to pop out of somewhere and call me racist....lol...But seriously, why should it make a difference?

I find it weird that people put their age, sex, local government area and marital status and God knows what else on their resumes, I mean for most jobs all that information is completely irrelevant. Plus, it definitely leads to discriminatory hiring practices.

Anyway..

Yesterday I noticed a new word was added to Kpuff kpuff's ever expanding 5 coherent word vocabulary. Introducing, "rah rah" == dog......lol

Have any of you guys got tickets to the ThisDay music festival yet? I just called someone who works at a GTB on allen and he said they haven't the tickets yet, huh? isn't this event supposed to be this weekend?. Anyway naija for you.

I have been down with a terrible cold so I didn't do much this weekend, went to News Cafe on Sunday for drinks though with Mr. it was ok, but the smoke in there was killing me. I swear they need to ban smoking indoors like they do in NY, it's just crazy.

Kpuff kpuff is finally saying mama in reference to me (siiiiigh), and she says it in this really tush oyinboyish way too...lol.

...

So recently I've been thinking of moving out of Nigeria again...(gasp!!!), just thinking ok? I know I was so excited to move here, and I'm still excited to be here, but the security issues just kill me, I mean nothing has happened to me and my family, but it's just scary, I swear I am so nervous every time I have to drive out by myself, I've gotten used to the aggressive driving, but every time I see brake lights ahead, or I see someone reversing I freeze and wonder if I should be reversing too. What kind of sufferhead is this?

Updates

I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog. I will always update my blog.

Sorry.

So I was reading through my blog the other day and realized I have asked for advice on so many things but never come back (with the exception of Kpuff Kpuff's party) to say how it went. So I'm going to do a bit of updating today.

Mrs Nanny
Yes Mrs Nanny is still in the picture, why? because with all her attitude and everything she basically gets the job done and I have been advised that the next one may be worse (sigh!). Whatever the case, I want kpuff kpuff to start going to a creche or something (my aunt has one in the neigbourhood) for an hour or two in a day, so that we're less dependent on Mrs Nanny, and also so Kpuff kpuff is more social, kpuff has to be a good mixer...lol. and not scream her head off everytime someone new comes along (which is what she does now).

Web Developer
I still haven't found one, but truth be told I haven't looked as hard as I should be looking. I want to make sure I have some things finalized before I start dishing out a salary every month.

Fine Face, No Pimples
My face has actually cleared up a bit, I stopped using 3 million products and just settled with washing it morning and night with baby soap and cleansing with a dove cleanser/toner.

Post Partum workout
My lazy butt didn't do anything consistently, I drank lime water first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening the last few months and I'm now back to my pre-baby weight + about 5 lbs. Ooooh yeeeeeaaaah.....watch out now, MILF alert!

Kpuff Kpuff
I finally registered Kpuff kpuff at Reddington (I couldn't find any contact info on Premier). Today was her first checkup with them, they have a pretty impressive facility, we'll see how it goes. As far as her tantrums, I think they are getting worse, could this be a preview of the "terrible twos" Gaawd, I hope not.

Let's see what else has happened...., I have decided I want kpuff kpuff to go to the French school, I called them but they said it's way too early to register her that I should call back next year. What do children do before kindergarten? just playgroups and stuff?

Thanks for all the comments on the "Lazy" post, I told my friend, she knew already, I don't know what has happened yet (if he's married or not)

Lazy

I've been lazy, I have no other good explanation for not updating, sorry. Well the good news is that I'm not preggers (oooooh yeeeah...lol). I had a great birthday, Mr. took me to Abuja for the weekend complete with an uber fab suite at the transcorp hilton, they had a birthday cake in the room for me when I got there....awwwww, and of course I went with my camera acting all "touristy" like I'm not Nigerian..lol, don't mind me. It was nice to be away for the weekend with just him, even though I missed kpuff kpuff a bit......NOT!!...lol.

My parents bought me jewelry and a cake :), and my baby was "forced" to sign a card for me, maybe I'll scan it and put it up here, it's actually pretty funny. I also have like 3 other birthday mates, incidentally they are all developers as well, so is May 12th like a techie birthday or something?...hmmm ok 9jamommy you're thinking too hard.

kpuff kpuff
She can climb the stairs all by herself now....yey!!!, can say daddy and still no mummy :(

Completely Random
Oh I found out my very good friends boyfriend is getting married to someone else next month, what do you think? should I tell her? (me I no want wahala)

What's new with you folks?

Thanks for all the well wishes on kpuff kpuff's birthday. Tomorrow I turn 26, I always used to think 26 was sooooo old, I mean before I know it I'll be 30...damn, well they say 30 is the new 20 ...etc etc...lol. Well after all the festivities for kpuff kpuff I think I'm going to have a very laid back day tomorrow. Well first off, I'm heading to Bobby's at Ivory Health club to get my "hair did" (Uzo's recommendation - girl if I come out looking jacked up....lol). Then after that I'm heading to the get my eyebrows threaded....finally (a while back an anonymous commenter recommended a place in VI) so we'll see how that goes.

Probably going to have lunch or dinner with Mr., whisper sweet nothings into each others ears, you know the whole 9 yards..and come home and "sleep"..lol. My 2 homegirls are out of town, so I doubt I will be doing any crazy partying, besides I've been feeling nauseous a lot lately, could baby #2 be on his/her way?.....GOD I hope not, I am so not in the mood to be pregnant right now...lol

It's Over!!

Kpuff Kpuff's birthday party has finally come and gone! one big sigh of relief. So against mine and most your better judgement I decided to have a party, mind you I came to this decision last weekend to have the party on Saturday. I finally got around to inviting people and ordering food on Thursday (I called back like 3 times to change the order) then heard there was no movement on Saturday and called everyone back on Friday to tell them to come Sunday instead.

So I had this whole 'bourgie' party planned in my head where we were going to have little tables and chairs for the kids with fun games ...etc, I kind of didn't anticipate the kids wouldn't listen ...lol (I guess you learn something new everyday). Anyway long story short, as we were putting our decor up it started raining, I mean pouring...So we had to move all chairs, etc from the garden to the patio, luckily I still had a pretty good turnout, my aunt arranged for a teletubby and a clown to come..even though most of the kids screamed their heads off out of fear when they saw the teletubby...lol. In the middle of all this Kpuff Kpuff clung tightly to me and refused to come down or let anyone carry her, not even when we cut her cake, I had to stay with her the entire time..lol. Funny thing is before everyone came she was dancing and the whole nine yards. So for anyone planning anything soon here are details that might be useful:


Cakes: 1 from Just Desserts in GRA (very very pretty cake with the power puff girls and 'happy birthday puff puff caption'..lol, the other from Araba's Cakes in Yaba (this cake was so so so scrumptous, definitely using them again)

Finger Bites: Chicken Kebabs, Chicken fingers, Asun, puff puff (of course..lol), sausage rolls (more for the kids), spring rolls. I ordered from Saheetos, now their stuff is very tasty especially their asun, the downside is that they are always late, we've used them 3 times and they were late all 3 times. You just have to tell them to come like 4 hours in advance which is what I did.

Food: Jollof rice, coconut rice, barbeque chicken, shrimp stir fry, chicken stir fry, courtesy my mommy :), my aunty and my moms "divalicious" kitchen staff, Ms A.

Drinks: Smirnoff, Soft drinks, wine, champagne, stout and star courtesy of our local drink vendor Mr. Emeka or something like that..lol

Party Packs: Not even sure what was in them but I think we had some hair stuff, pencil cases, water bottles, books, craft kits..etc courtesy of Nu Metro Bookstore, Iponri market and Tejuosho Market

Now I would like to give a shout out (in the most Shanaynay voice you can imagine....lol) to my cousin J. J did ALL and I mean ALL the running around for kpuff kpuff's birthday from going to Iponri to ordering the cakes, to putting the packs together, to decorating to serving, I mean she did like everything....Love you lots chica.

All in all it was a good party, but the last one kpuff kpuff is going to have till she's 10 :).

Cheaters

In the last few weeks I've been watching a lot of Cheaters (the tv show) and it's really got me thinking? Why do men/women cheat? is it possible for men/women not to cheat? how true is all that crap about we not being wired to be monogamous?. I know everyone gets tempted, but whats the difference between those who go ahead and those who don't?, just willpower?

Anyway, of course I went investigating with my best friend (google..lol). Who told me men and women cheat for different reasons. According to the search results on google, with men most times its purely physical, some analogy was given on one of the sites using chocolate cake. A man will walk into a kitchen see some chocolate cake and eat it even though he's not hungry, a woman on the other hand will only eat (not always o!....lol) if she's hungry or in other words if something is lacking in her relationship.

So back to my original question, why do people cheat? Is it worth it? (especially with married couples) Do you really believe what you don't know can't hurt you? Calling out all reformed and active cheaters..lol, everyone else feel free to comment as well.

Don't you just hate it when you have friends that don't get along? Somehow I always end up in these predicaments, very annoying I tell you. I want to do stuff this weekend with everyone, but now I have to segment my time and spend it separately with each of them so no one has an attitude and everyone's happy!

I have a friend who screwed my cousins man, so of course they both don't like each other and I can't really blame them, but at the same time, it's like get over it already this happened ages ago, the guy is probably off screwing some more friends, cousins, ....etc. Why can't we all just get along!!

Back to square one... I need a web developer.....again. Please send prospective candidates to 9jamommy@gmail.com

Sunday March 25th, 2007 around 11 p.m.

Me: What's that sound?
Mr: Nothing, probably kpuff kpuff
Me: Ok
(few seconds later...even louder rustling of a plastic bag)
Me: No babes something's in this room put on the light
Mr: (puts on light)
Me: Oh shit!!! it's a rat!! did you see it?!!!
Me: (runs out of room screaming, leaves kpuff kpuff behind - every man and baby for himself {don't worry she has a net over her crib so it couldn't have gotten in}...lol)
Mr: where is it?! where is it?!
Me: it ran under the chair!! shut the door!! shut the door! kill it!!! and 3 million other instructions...lol
Me: (standing on chair in leaving room, listening.., my cousin goes in to help him)
Mr: (loud banging sounds coming from room)

Few minutes later Mr. emerges with the dead rat (my knight in shining armour....lol) :) (Kpuff kpuff actually slept through all this...lol).

Moral of the story no food in the bedrooms, these Nigerian rats don't play.