my lovely motherhood

Believe

2012-01-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

Credit:favim.com

Sunshine!

2012-01-26T22:57:00.000-08:00

I love you girls!

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When the skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

So please don't take

My sunshine away

Photo credit to: Antisha :)

Ditch the nappy!

2012-01-26T21:07:00.000-08:00

Let us call an end for a nappy changing! Yes, Iris consistently dry all day and night! Surely it is a great achievement for her. She keeps telling everyone she does not wear diapers anymore. And I keep repeating the good news and praising her in front of people that concerned and I let Iris heard the conversation so that she will feel special. I have mentioned her achievement while talking to my husband over the phone and made an excited tone "Bapak!!! Iris dah tak payah pakai pampers tidur malam-malam!! Iris is a big girl dah!" She grinned and repeated the same tone when she told the story to the people around her.

I was skeptical at first when she told me she did not want to use diaper anymore. Yes, she does not use diaper during daytime for almost 6 months, but nighttime is quite challenging for me and her. I have to wake her up when she has the urge to. So I guess I need to wait for several months to make her bladder fully mastered this process. But she had convinced me "Mummy, Iris dah tak payah pampers. Iris kencing dalam toilet." And I let her, and she proved me wrong. After a week training, I think I can call an end to this nappy thing. But of course I need to prepare myself for any accidents that might occur. I need to keep in mind that this is a grown-up skill so mastering this process surely take time.

Iris, you are 3 years and 5 months and officially potty trained. Iris, you must feel proud of yourself!

My Little Dragon

2012-01-26T20:58:00.000-08:00

Iesha and Anya

Colors of Rainbow

2012-01-19T22:03:00.001-08:00

Iesha's night t-shirts

Notes: I didn't realize I made a rainbow out of Iesha's night t-shirts!

Happy Thought

2012-01-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

All children are artists - Pablo Picasso

2012-01-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

My children talents deserve a post here. These are the few drawings by Iris. I am unsure where did she learn to draw these fine arts. I normally sitting down with her and Iesha for couple of minutes to draw, and I never draw human figurines as I thought she won't be able to draw such a complex drawing, I meant for her age. So, most of the times I just scribble and draw simple things like flowers, clouds or sun. But here are what she drew:

Mummy by Iris Adeena

That is me! Can you see the small details of my fingers and that stiff and straight hair? But I didn't get the message of the dots on my face, for I do not have zits that much. Perhaps Constantin Brancusi is true "Don't look for obscure formulas or mystery in my work. It is pure joy that I offer you."

Dinosaur by Iris Adeena

Of course these drawings deserve to be sticked on the fridge. I need to be more observant, so I can help my children to expand her abilities. I need and have to spend more time with them because I believe these early years of the children (1-6 yo) are the most crucial time for them to grow and learn. These are the great time to encourage questions, to explore their talents and ideas and to teach them faith and almost everything.

Mummy-turned-sun by Iris Adeena

Bapak by Iris Adeena

And here are scribbles by Iesha. Her arts are more mysterious, so let them be. Quoted Francis Bacon "The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery."

Mystery by Iesha Aafreen

Mystery 2 by Iesha Aafreen

Relax

2012-01-18T23:09:00.001-08:00

Random Parenting Tips

2012-01-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the random tips from child proofing home to duplicating things. This is necessary for you to have a safe and sound home; and to be a scream-free mother.

1. Furniture

Use a leather couch instead of fabric. So if your children get their milk spilt, all you need to do is wipe the couch. Easy.

Use a non-fabric floormat. Keyword: no fabric oriented house. You can even allow your child to play with their rubber ducks on this kind of mat. All you need to do is mop after that scream.

Two queen sized beds, so every one can sleep like a baby. This is the concept of co-sleeping. And make sure you have lots of pillows so that they won't argue over it. One bed for the mother, one for the father; so the children will have a guardian each. Well, most of the times I have three with me, leaving alone the father on one bed. (Unfair!)

Child stool so that they can wash their hands by themselves.

2. Playroom

You need a room for them to play. Yes, a room. If you do not have enough room for the guests, you may allow them to use this room. Entertain the guests with Lego, stuffed animals and play believe toys.

Teach the children to put back the toys in their places, so it will make your life easier. Keyword: discipline.

Feed them with puzzles, books, boxes of toys. And love.

A dustbin of bears.

3. Duplicate EVERY things.

Pillows.

Cups.

Plant pots.

4. Bathroom

You need to have lots of rubber ducks, rubber elephants, rubber lions, rubber zoos. Keyword: Lots of, rubbers.

You need to have lots of shower creams and shampoos as well, for them to play transferring and play believe scouring the toilet. Buy cheap shower creams and shampoos (so you won't regret) so that they can spill them out in one bath time. All you have to do afterwards is teach them feeling, "Mummy sedih, shampoo Mummy dah habis. Macam mana Mummy nak shampoo rambut Mummy?" They will promise you they will not do it again, which the promise only last for 5 minutes and yes, don't go for steep creams.

Perhaps that are the random tips from me. For those who haven't a maid or helper to clean up your house, trust me, these tips help.

I have three girls.

2012-01-16T23:15:00.000-08:00

One to prepare the meal.

One to fold the clothes.

One to scrub the toilet.

11.11.11

2012-01-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "Marry the loving and fertile because through you, I will compete with the nations for superiority in numbers."-Abu Dawood-

Not sure which, either I'm fertile or following the Sunnah, I have you, my third baby girl. Yes you, Iyra Alveena.

You were born on November 11, 2011, only 9 minutes to 11PM. Yes, I am a number lover, thanks Allah for another great birthday date. But million thanks to You for this new bundle of joy. I need to be true for you to remember my girl, that I didn't expect you in my womb because my life was very frenzied and I didn't expect that many excellent swimmers of Bapak will unite with my egg. I was busy preparing myself with the study things and adjusted to my new life as a student. And I got you in me.

It wasn't easy for me though. With a new rented house to adjust, and the two small princesses to pamper and yell, with cooking skill to enhance (since we didn't have Anya or Yon to help with the meals), with a new neighborhood, gosh it wasn't easy. For the first few months, I suffered bad days and I'm sorry dear I didn't mean to harm you. I haven't consumed myself with good food for you. I didn't talk too much to you or dance with you while you were in me. I'm sorry Vee.

Apart of the bad days, you grew. I can feel your kicks, your hiccups, and your summersaults. And again, you love to stay in your favorite position, which I most scared; the breech position just like your Kak Iesha. I tried so many ways to get you turn your head and so I can have normal delivery, but yes, I might be the Queen, but you set the rule. So I didn't want to argue with the experts anymore, this time I agreed to rather follow what they had set up to me, a Caesarean on 15th of November. On a red book, you were about to see the world on 27th November; 2 weeks earlier than the expected due date.

The story is there for me to tell. I was having a plain Friday with my beloved at Nek Ma's house. I told Bapak that I needed a check up since my tummy was hard as a rock since Subuh. And so Bapak got all our things readied and had my wish filled. I longed for Tutti Fruity ice cream. While Bapak performed Solat Jumaat, I was in the car filling my tummy with the ice cream. Thought we had a good day that day, didn't we, Vee?

The hard tummy made me admitted to the HUSM. OK, I need to be true again. I wanted to deliver you on that date. With the help of hard tummy and a good script and prayers from all, we managed to get through the OT that day on 10.30PM. I thought we wouldn't get the date, but after performed Solat Isya', I was asked by the nurse to get into that blue dress. I still remember the doctor said to me "You sapu minyak selusuh tu kenapa? You memang nak tarikh hari ni ye?". Whoopsie, she well read my mind. But I managed to get to her "Eh, I tak percaya minyak-minyak ni, mother I yang kasi, I sapu je-lah." And I remembered what I texted Bapak "No matter what, She nak Ceaser hari ni jugak."

And there we went. You were so easy to take out. I still remember I was half paralyzed at 10.40PM, and 5 minutes and so, you then were crying your heart out. Yes, some might say it was a C-sec, so it sure is speedy, but not with my second daughter, Iesha, when I saw the team was quite struggling to take her out. Did you hear the great verses Bapak recited for you? I hope you'll be a good girl.

Oh, what a lovely girl you are. Your weight was 2.97kg and; a girl. Welcome to the new world, Iyra Alveena.

A girl.

How to Really Love a Child

2012-01-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

The Sisters

2012-01-14T02:42:00.001-08:00

Sister's love

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?-Jenny DeVries

To have a loving relationship with a sister is not simply to have a buddy or a confident; it is to have a soul mate for life.-Victoria Secunda

Sisters are most probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.-Margaret Mead

Of two sisters, one is always the watcher, one the dancer.-Loiuse Gluck

New Baby in The House!

2012-01-13T20:58:00.000-08:00

Our respectable noble friend, Iyra Alveena.

Yes, meet our newborn. Oh, what a comeback!

The Hand

2012-01-13T20:49:00.001-08:00

"The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence."-Maria Montessori

I am a true believer of breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and mitten-free baby (is there?). I'd like my baby to explore the world with her very own hands. Yes, I've made a mistake before when I put mittens to my first daughter when she was small. Perhaps it was my inner thought told me that her hands cannot bear with the coldness, even it was 50 degree surrounded her. And so now I need to correct my previous mistake, for now I'm not putting the mittens on the baby's hands. Err, but whose hands are that, anyway?

Iesha my playful little miss.

2011-11-03T01:05:00.000-07:00

She's a little big girl. She can do a lot of things by now. I'm sorry honey for I do not jot down your big achievements throughout this few months. I'm so selfish myself busied myself with unnecessary things like overthinking that of course led to negative thoughts. I promise myself I would do my best to write down all my daughters' achievement.

Take note that your first walk was on 22nd of July 2011 at our new rented house in D'Shire Villa. I'm crying for every firsts you and Kak Iris did. It amazed me.

I love you both honey. I love you truly, deeply, madly.

1.11.11

2011-11-03T01:01:00.000-07:00

Iris first slept over at Nek Sue's house. It amazed me so much that she can sleep without me hugging her, because her favorite line before closing her eyes would be "Mummy peluk Iris". She never slept without me by her side minus my stays at the hospital for Iesha's delivery and admitted for mysterious bleeding. I, myself, still wondered how this can work. But I like to quote Mama "Ni semua Allah punya kerja."

True, indeed.

Officially I am a student.

2011-11-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

Since March 2011.

Hello hello hello!

2011-11-03T00:57:00.001-07:00

It's been ages since my last post. And my two daughters aging as well; beautifully and brilliantly.

Iris Adeena, 3 years old.

Iesha Aafreen, 1 year old.

Hello March!

2011-03-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

I Want This!

2011-01-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

Awesome!

Bring it on, say out loud. Aloud and allowed!

2011-01-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

I'm still searching for the sign of the final decision of staying here in Malaysia and pursue my studies here in our dear country. I pray most of my nights searching and asking The Almighty the sign, the only sign for me to make a final and important decision, ever in my life. For some, it is the lamest thought, I've shouldn't think that at the first place. My say, whatever.

I'm so very bad wanting to pursue my studies abroad, far from my comfort zone, far from my plain routines, far from these plain days. No, I'm not here to moan over my life, my awesome life. Yes, I have awesome life. Now define awesome. It's like the feeling of peeing after holding it for so long - and that's how I define awesome. Simple as it is.

But sometimes I feel stuck with my routines. I need something different. I want to see something else. Studying overseas is my childhood's dream. Yes, perhaps I wasn't one of those bright students in high school, and so I need to make this come true with my only chance - my PhD. I tried and got the place in one of the unis in the UK, but I did what I need to do - forgetting my childhood's dream.

Whose to blame? My husband. It is easier to use the term 'husband' when I'm upset with myself. And it is much easier to put the blame on others than yourself. I can survive without him for that three years, but I should be firmed with myself not to listen to those love songs while highlighting the main point on the journal papers. But, there is one thing I cannot survive, one definite thing. I cannot survive without the girls. Listen or not to the love songs, or any songs, I'm definitely cannot survive without them.

And so, here I am, enrolling myself to the local uni. Is my childhood's dream so very mean a lot to me? Yes. I want that trench coat, that shocking pink trench coat with high leather boot, with that gloves, having fish and chips on Sunday, and that, that forever dream - get myself in that fluffy snow, that white fluffy snow. (Snow? Fluffy?). I have revisited my dream and it seems to me, all I need is a sheer vacation, not that three years staying for the sake of that fluffy snow using PhD as the need for that dream. My say, whatever.

I prayed harder, for the sign. And today, I got it. I got it in Iris's irises when she said:

Iris nangis.
Kenapa Iris nangis?
Iris sedih.
Kenapa Iris sedih?
Bapak takde. Bapak work jauh.

Perhaps that is the sign, perhaps that it is not. But I took it as a sign. She needs her father more than those fluffy-snow-dream of her mother's. She needs us both. So, I did what I need to do. Be a mother and blame my husband.

I'm original, but quotes soothe me sometimes.

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.” - Tao Te Ching

P/S: There are days when I hate myself. So today one of the days. I even hate my straight plain hair. I need to curl my hair. Bye bye straight hair. Tomorrow hope for a better day.

Staring at the wall - Part 6

2011-01-19T19:53:00.001-08:00

I wondered if perhaps we talked too much about the wrong things in order to avoid talking about the things that matter.

Third Day

2011-01-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

Good morning!

Iris said she wants to share her potty training stickers with her friends. And since the teachers do not allowed to bring any toys or books from home, so she stick the stickers onto her face and hands and feet. So the teacher will not scold her, because she just bring herself. She said this to me and I laughed my heart out "Iris nak bagi sticker kat kawan-kawan. Haa kannnn." I don't know the purpose of emphasizing 'Haa kannnn'. You need to listen to her tone, that was very funny.

Happy playing Iris!

I need the professional to pluck my eyebrow.

2011-01-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

Second day was a disaster. We were late for school and I needed to answer the nature's call. So I sped my car and both of us ended up in my office's toilet. Added to the disastrous scene, Iris played the water hose and sprayed the water to me, and there went my clothes-wet.

I didn't manage to snap her photo. My morning routine becomes chaotic, both of the girls need to have their morning shower, and that takes me half of the morning. With Iesha's porridge, Iris's cheesy frankfurters, and Milo for me, I've should have started my morning before dawn. (Please Allah, let me be a pre-dawn person, please please!)

Later that evening, Iris screamed and exploded right after we got into the car screaming "Iris nak pergi sekolah!!! Iris nak main gelongsor!!!" She behaved like a princess in front of her teacher, but she changed into a monster with me. I cannot help myself giggled secretly looking at her screaming all the way long. I did not giggle because of the cry, but that determination. Not to wanting to go to school, but to play. How I love the determination. Now, that's my girl.

Bottom line, a disastrous day.

And ended up my day texted my only parenting team member "Rs mcm nk color rambut n let d professional pluck my eyebrow. Nite. Love u."

Gewam!

2011-01-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

We did our bug to Bapak last night with this photo. Nite-nite Bapak, don't let the bug bite!

P/S: Let us torture Bapak.

The First Day

2011-01-11T20:03:00.000-08:00

Macamana best tak Iris pergi sekolah?
Besttt, Iris suka sangat!

Ramai tak kawan-kawan Iris?
Ramaiii.

Kawan Iris nama apa?
Um,um,nama, nama, um, um. Iris lupa-lah!

Iris main apa kat sekolah hari ni?
Main gelongsor, main Lego. White color.

Oh, best tak main gelongsor?
Besttt.

Lagi Iris main apa? Iris main horse tak?
Iris tak main horse.

Ada nyanyi-nyanyi tak?
Takde.

Ada baca buku tak?
Takde.

Iris tidur tak?
Tidur.

Cikgu baik tak?
Cikgu tak baik.

Sebab apa cikgu tak baik?
Cikgu suruh Iris duduk.

Sebab apa cikgu suruh Iris duduk?
Sebab Iris up.

It took us 7 minutes to talk about the day at school, and then she was back to normal.

Mummy, tu apa?
Cow. Lembu. Dia makan rumput.

Mummy, tu apa?
Buffalo. Kerbau, Dia makan rumput.

Mummy, ada pig tak?
Hari ni takde.

Mummy, tu bus! Mummy nyanyi!

And that was the end of the first day. And later that night, we have four phone calls to answer.

11.1.11

2011-01-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day I go to school. I wear baju kurung with black and white dots on it. I bring my blue bag, no no, it is Iesha's, I borrow the bag from her. Since this is Mummy quick-quick decision to enroll me to the school, so she does not buy me any bag, maybe she'll do it later. She promises me to buy me a bagpack this weekend. And I hope it is Mr Bean's bagpack. Not the real Mr Bean, but the cartoon one. Look at my face, friends. I am so happy to go to school with Mummy. I woke up at 7AM so that I will not miss this happy day!

I eat my usual breakfast, The Sosej. Mummy cooks the best Sosej in the whole world. She can do lots of variety with The Sosej. She can cook porridge with Sosej, fried Sosej, reheated Sosej, Sosej with rice, Sosej with wholemeal bread and more! But this morning I just had my plain Sosej. Mind you, it is Cheese Sosej. I sit beside Mummy. She talks a lot along the journey. I eat The Sosej. She wears her seat belt, but I am too lazy to put on the belt. It stucks on my tummy. Mummy screams her highest pitch because I do not want to wear my seat belt and sit on my car seat. I am big, the car seat is for Iesha. Along the way to school, Mummy teaches me how to greet my new friends. "Hi, nama saya Iris Adeena." We rehearses for thousand times, until I spot buses and I ask Mummy to sing "Baby dengan bus says uwaa, uwaa,uwaa!!!". And then she corrects me, "Baby ON THE bus, bukan Baby dengan bus." It is not a boring journey after all, I don't even ask Mummy to borrow her iPhone to watch Mr Bean. I am so happy seeing all the cows and buffaloes nibbling the grass. Mummy says we might as well spot pigs one day. A very big pig and Mummy always make that ugly nose when she says pig. I really mean ugly.

And later, we arrive at school! I scream when I see the drawing on the wall. It is Mickey Mouse and Mini Mouse. I scream like this "Mummy!!!! Iris suka sangat!!!!!!!!!" And Mummy screams too, she's good with screaming I tell you. I will ask Mummy to take a video of me screaming. And once entering the school, I see many friends, 6 of them boys and 1 girl. I shake hand with the teachers and new friends. Mummy asks the teacher "Boleh tak nak tengok playground?" She is always obvious like that. And so the teachers bring me to the SLIDE! Yay, slide! With lots of balls, and the rocking horses and pink and blue and green chairs and tables! I love school!

Do you see the girl with baju kurung with black and white dots on it? That's me! I take turn to go down the slide. See the teacher behind me, she takes care of all of us. I love slide! I know why Mummy wants me to go to school. Because she wants me to play with the slide. She said the slide is too expensive and she'd rather buy pop up books than the plastic slide. Mummy always brings me and Iesha to the playground at our neighborhood, but it is too rusty, I mean the stairs. So we went there quick-quick because Mummy cannot help me with the stairs while holding Iesha. But now, here at school, I can play like forever!

Do you see the girl with baju kurung with black and white dots on it? That's me! I make cool face as Mummy snap photo. I don't want to look so excited, because I know, right after this Mummy will MMS my photos to Bapak, Nek Ma, Anya, Nek Mi, Nek Sue and the list goes on. And they will call Mummy in no time and I don't have time to talk. I want to play.

So, bye!

Crossing Over

2011-01-10T00:32:00.000-08:00

With God grants and all positive possibilities, I'm proclaiming myself as a student for the next few months. (Now, define few!). Well, most probably for the next two months I'll officially a person with a capability of using Endnote to no end and other terrifying possibilities (ghastly damage of my left-brain and a change to my walking style).

I'll enroll myself to one of the universities in KL, well, let the vagueness leave us thrill. (Haha, perasan!). Why not Sweden? What happens to childhood's dream to make snowman in winter? Why Malaysia why? Well, again, let the vagueness leave us thrill.

Yes, we are going to stay in KL for the next few months, speaking of which, I need to take Iris out from our beloved sitter care and send her to a more self-reliance environment. And so, I have registered her today (10th January 2011) into a Taska which I found so very self-reliance environment. I spotted slide. And rocking horses. And big Lego. And Ikea Mammuts.

While the caregiver briefed on the activities and such, I was in trance, for Iris. She'll play to her last energy, she'll scream in surprise with that slide, that Lego, that horses, and play all day long!

These were the conversation held between me and the caregiver.

"Kita ada kelas Kafa, baca Iqra'".
"Aktiviti main-main gelongsor tu bila ye?"
"Kita ada kelas English, BM, Sains."
"Lepas main, dioarng tidur tak?"
"Kita ada waktu makan yang tetap."
"Boleh tunjuk kat saya tempat aktiviti main-main tak?"

I can't wait for tomorrow. Iris needs to wear baju kurung for morning class-Iqra'. I don't even teach her Alif. I am yet teaching her ABCs. I'm a playful mother. I hope she'll like her new place. We'll see tomorrow.

Happy New Year

2011-01-06T01:10:00.000-08:00

There are things I'd like to do more in 2011. More. And alone. I'd wish for a time when I could finish a sentence, have a complete thought, eat one entire meal without interruption, scrub my entire body without the girls knocking on the bathroom door, listen to my favorite song without a small little fingers switch off the satellite radio, finish the book in one sitting, and more.

More. And free. Free from tagging of that little girls of mine. Free of that thinking. Thinking of seeing the bottom of my laundry basket, of empty dish sink, of clothes needed folding, of that status of domestic goddess. And yes, it does not stop there. The thinking. It continuous when I have another baby to look at, at my parents's house. Yes, my you-know-who. When I need to think of reuniting his every sock with its mate, ironing all those so-called wrinkle free shirts, of...everything.

Yes, I am so ached for moments alone. But what am I whining for? My name is Mummy.

"So play your role, Mummy."

Happy 2011 everyone.

My Girls

2010-12-20T23:47:00.001-08:00

With Auntisha (December 2010)

Photo credit to: http://daughterofjamudin.blogspot.com

Staring at the wall - Part 5

2010-12-07T22:35:00.000-08:00

"I for one would not be interested to supervise students who do not understand the value of experience and depth and breadth of knowledge. It is both insulting and demeaning on the reason of U** have no equipment and expert." - Profesor XYZ -

This is what happened when you tell a brutal truth. Sometimes honesty is not the best policy. Try lying.

Brothers and Sisters

2010-12-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everyone!

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~ Chinese Proverb

2010-12-07T19:58:00.000-08:00

It is good to share a good thing. A good thing to share with avid readers. A great booksale by Big Bad Wolf held once a year at South City Plaza near UPM and the average price for the book is roughly RM8, yes RM8 and the most expensive is RM20 which is definitely worth a bargain.

I tell you, it was epic- the sale. We off to KL at 8 sharp in the morning with reheated pizza for breakfast and sausage for Iris and breast milk for Iesha and we grabbed the books at 10.30 AM. People brought the luggage size elephant and they went manic over cheap books. It wasn't easy with the two small girls, but I tell you the cheap books really drove me nuts.

We did two rounds for book hunting since one was not enough; we only stopped for lunch and we used the last ounce of our very energy to grab the books. Poor Iris and Iesha they had to bear with my craziness but don't worry guys, you'll be thanking me for books are the treasure for the years to come.

I know it is too late to share it now, but don't worry bookworms, do believe in constant prayer that the Big Bad Wolf will do the sale again twice next year. They have a bookstore, BookXcess located in Amcorp Mall. They have Facebook too - try search BookXcess. (I am abusively using my husband's FB just to make sure I do not miss a bargain.)

We managed to get 68 books for only RM600. And I am so convinced that they will cost me more than RM2 K at the other bookstores. So here is my favorite snap of 2010.

The girls', mine and Bapak's.

Note: http://www.facebook.com/BookXcess and http://www.bigbadwolfbooks.com/

Congrats Anya!

2010-12-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After twenty-two years of child-raising, they are unemployed. ~ Erma Bombeck

Graduation is a very hot day. ~ Iesha Aafreen

Graduation day is a day when you can have fully access to Mummy's milk, anytime, anywhere. ~ Iesha Aafreen

Graduation is a very boring day and a time to sleep with fury. ~ Iris Adeena

At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards. My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros. ~Paul Freund

Your schooling may be over, but remember that your education still continues. ~ Unknown

I love my big families. ~ Shahida

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that "individuality" is the key to success. ~Robert Orben

Anyway, congrats Anya! You sure be someone!

Staring at the wall - Part 4

2010-11-21T07:33:00.000-08:00

I miss my flat tummy. I need to run. I haven't run for a long time. I don't have lungs for it. But I have heart for nice beautiful kebaya. I need to run.

Sister's Love

2010-11-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

I hate you when you hug me tight,

I love you when you feed me right!

This is what happened when I left the girls for a bath. Iris voluntarily fed Iesha with Oreo and Iesha seemed to enjoy the Oreo so much she even picked up the crumbs on the floor. Thanks Allah she didn't choke. Phew.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha everyone!

“Put your talent into your work, but your genius into your life”-Oscar Wilde-

2010-11-04T00:39:00.000-07:00

"I have neither talent nor genius"-Me-

Try Humor Instead of Anger

2010-11-01T23:17:00.000-07:00

“Iris, jangan panjat kerusi tu, tinggi. Nanti Iris jatuh.”

She went up the chairs and fell down.

“Haa, kan tadi Mummy dah cakap jangan panjat. Panjat-lah lagi”

~~~~~~~~

“Iris tak payah-lah minum susu Mummy. Nanti Iris muntah. Ada ulat. The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out.” (Strategi paling hina sebagai seorang ibu)

She had them both and sometimes vomits the milk out. (The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out: it worked!)

“Haa, kan tadi Mummy dah cakap jangan minum. Minum-lah lagi.”

~~~~~~~~

Mummy, please stop being sarcastic. Tell me the right thing in a positive tone; do not tell me things that get me confused. One time you tell me not to do it, and then you tell me to do it. Which one should I do Mummy? Teach me the right thing Mummy, for you are my Mummy. I hate you when you talked sarcasm. Please be like Mummy Runaway Bunny, she never talked sarcasm. Please Mummy, teach me the right things.

O Allah, help me to be a better Mummy.

"If you find the right tone, humor can be an incredibly effective way to get kids and parents laughing through difficult situations. Keep in mind that young children are literal and may not always get a joke, but will love to laugh along with a parent. And school children hate sarcasm directed at them, but love being in on a witty joke."-Michael Thompson, Ph.D.Co-author, Raising Cain, Senior Project Advisor.

My idea of paradise: A house made of books full of books.

2010-10-31T23:41:00.000-07:00

"I will become a bird and fly away from you."

"If you become a bird and fly away from me," said his mother, "I will be a tree that you come home to."

"We're going on a bear hunt!"

"We're gonna catch a big one!"

Iris reading time comes real with bear and baby bunny plush toys.

Quick Updates

2010-10-31T21:46:00.000-07:00

Iris

She can do simple jigsaw puzzles.
She talks a lot. I really mean a lot. She stops when she sleeps.
She imitated my small cousin, Yasmin. "Ni Min ni,"she said that while running around the house.
She imitated Bapak. "Ni Bapak ni,"she said that and shut her eyes and said "Bapak letih." (How's that Abang?). I tried to be her and said "Ni Iris ni," and she said "Tak, tu Mummy." I thought she really knows playing imitation.
She never imitate me, I guess she doesn't know what should she do, "Mummy is a multitasker" that's what I think she thinks.
Our rule "Hate TV, love books and play."
She's still breastfeeding. I asked her to say bye-bye to the the right and to the left, she said bye-bye and then have them both right away.
She loves pretend play so very much. She invites all her soft animal toys to her Milo party. She pretended driving her car and said "Iris tinggal. Iris tak lama. Lima hari saja. One four three five!" And she hid behind the dinner table. And I cried like crazy "Irisssss, jangan tinggaallll Mummyyyy. Uwaaaa!!!!" And she continued "Baby on the bus says uwaaaa!!! Uwaaa!!"
She still on diapers. Sometimes we do have free diapers day, but she did the pee on the carpet. I guess I gave her wrong instruction. "Kalau Iris nak kencing, Iris bagitahu Mummy lepas tu lari ke toilet okay?" She did pretty well, she peed on the carpet and tell me "Mummy, Iris dah kencing." Good job Mummy.
Her favorite books: The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown and We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.
Her favorite food for now: Cheese frankfurter she called it "Sosej."

Iesha

She had her first Nestum on her 5 months and 10 days. How's that? Mummy tak sabar.
She had that annoying pitch of voice which she makes every time I am not around her.
She loves to touch my face when I look closer to her.
She smiles a lot!
She sings her own lullaby whenever she wants to sleep.
She loves hearing Kakak Iris's voice.
She hates when Kakak Iris hugs her too tight and she'll scream her highest pitch. Looks like I know who's the boss now.
She drinks 15 oz of milk at sitter's house.
I hate when I look at her poo knowing that wasn't only my milk but mixed Nestum.

Mummy

I thank Allah for the superpower He gives for every mother in this world.
Anya is not a full-time Nanny anymore, she has her own job. Sometimes she has night shifts that totally left me nuts. I don't even realize that I am actually a breathing creature! After all the girls sleep and sound then I do my own and loooongg breathing.
I poo and pee with Iesha on my lap when Iris slept when Anya worked, just didn't want to awake Iris up with Iesha's high pitch.
I scold Iris and Iesha when I need four hands to handle things at the same time: Iesha screamed, Iris needed to change diaper, kettle whistled, "Sosej" burnt, solat time 15 minutes left, and I ended up screaming (I guess I can scream better if I did not rent a terrace house) and lied flat and wonder "Gila kah aku?". And right after that I felt so guilty and ended up saying sorry to both girls.
Most of the times, at the end of the day, when lying on the bed, one hand caressing Iris's back while I breastfed Iesha (try imagine), I grin up to my ears, I wonder how can I make all this a reality and seeing the two girls, I smile back and hid that thought and say "Because of these girls."
There were times when I really hate my Firdausku Sorang and of course the theme song for that particular time is "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor but I know hate wouldn't make anything fun, so I stop and keep it for another day.
"I am fatigued,"I texted him one day. "Kesian She. You want a maid?". I said "No."
I just finished reading "Room" by Emma Donoghue. That makes me want to be a better mother.
I learnt a new word: Contrail.
I cannot wait for the book sale: The Big Bad Wolf Booksale.

Not you Peter Rabbit...

2010-10-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

Iris learnt about lollypop.

2010-09-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

And rotten teeth.

Macam Bapak dia daa...

2010-09-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

Even when you are on make-up...

2010-09-28T01:52:00.000-07:00

..you still look like your father.

Oh, your hair, no matter how much I put on the baby oil, they are still terpacak.

Picture taken on: 28th September 2010 by Anya at 8.15 AM while Mummy in chaos but Anya seemed to have all the times in universe to put make-up on you. (Ney, you tolong I mandikan Iesha lagi bagus.)

Raya 2010

2010-09-27T02:12:00.001-07:00

That purple people

In ten years from now, I'm sure both of my daughters would ask me the same question. So here's the fact for Raya 2010.

Venue: Ayer Hitam, Kedah Darul Aman.
Why Mummy look so gorgoeus?: I always am.
Why Bapak didn't wear sampin?: Ask him.

My country turns 53. My girl turns 2.

2010-09-27T02:04:00.000-07:00

Birthday celebration at Nek Ma's house on the 3rd day Raya.

Happy birthday dear Iris. You know how much I love you. You are two years old, but you will always be my Baby. Guess I cannot help calling you "By, oo By!!"

No celebration on 31^st of August 2010, we were holding it to the 3^rd day Raya; celebrate it with Yaya and Kakak Farhah’s birthdays as well. Yet, I felt so guilty when you asked me “Mummy, mana kendi (candle)?” And every time the national TV channel aired that “Jalur Gemilang” song, you would say “Lagu Iyish”.

I wish you happy birthday. You can walk and talk that now you are 2! You talk a lot By, you only stop when you sleep. You are so very special to me, in every way. I love you when you cry, scream, mess up the house, pinch me, hysteric over my milk, over Oreo; but I love love love you more when you are a good girl.

I wish you to stop breastfeeding, on your birthday dear? I always feel like I have those claws and paws when I breastfed both you and Iesha. Are you going to stop at 3? Okay, it’s your birthday, a belated birthday post from Mummy with post-pregnancy fat; so you can wish what ever you want.

Here’s a wish from Mummy, “Happy Birthday Iris. May Allah bless you and our family. Have a nice day and I love love love love love you!”

Iris Adeena, I love you every day. Happy birthday!

Blocking the blog. What gives?

2010-09-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

Of too many things. Never crossed my mind I’d block my blog. But something bugs me. Guess too many details I’ve been putting in my blog, details about my girls, now I become paranoid. The world is not a safe place; I’d rather keep all the stories of my motherhood and the girls all to myself. What if someone crazy out there who reads my blog regularly and plan abduction? Not a typical crazy, but with a capital C; and that fool will ask RM1 million for ransom, which obviously not in a million years I’ve had that amount in my bank. Perhaps I can give the fool my books which I love so much right after my parents.

Or is it a mid-life crisis? How on earth you know you have another 30 years to live? I don’t know what the hell is happening inside of me. I told Anya I want to be invisible; only visible to her and Iris and Iesha. This is what I told her.

Me: Ney, aku raso aku nak jadi invisible-lah. I’m sick of being manusia kelas pertengahan. Ney, why suddenly aku lost interest in fashion, in making friends, beli beg and baju comey-comey? Why Ney why?

Anya: Mu nak jadi invisible Kakak?

Me: Ho.

Anya: Aku raso bagus jugok mu jadi invisible, sebab aku tengok mu supo mokcik doh loni. Buruk.

Me: Thanks Ney. Aku suko komen mu.

Perhaps it is motherhood itself. Sometimes I feel it is a very lonely journey. So I guess I have nothing to say in my blog. Most of the times I have lot to say, but I have so few minutes to write; and that’s that, I kept struggling with the time lately. To Iris and Iesha, forgive me; I love you both every day, and every other day.

But a thought had changed my mind today. Yes, a thought. A positive thought. So here I am again, unblocking my blog.

So people, hi! How’s your day? How’s your blog?

I Heart You Oliver Jeffers

2010-08-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

How to Catch a Star

Lost and Found

The Way Back Home

I bought Iris new books. I cannot wait to read with Iris and sometimes Iesha joined us too. The three books come with the gift set so that the reading time wouldn't be plain. I cannot wait to pretend finding our way back home with the intergalactic walkie-talkie in The Way Back Home, helping the penguin plush toy find its own way back to the South Pole in Lost and Found and looking out for the stars with the stargazer's torch in How to Catch a Star.

I love picture books. I always love good paintings. Most of all, I love wordless book, so that I can make up story to my girls. I love acting too, last night I was a very busy spider spinning the web when I read through The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. The previous night I was a brown big bear. Iris seemed to like our reading time. Iesha too-she gave a big grin when I showed her Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Eric Carle. And hey, I have one big fan of my story telling time too-Anya! She can cook, I can read, I guess that's heaven for us.

Let me introduce the young author and illustrator, Oliver Jeffers. I heart you. I heart handsome man.

Hi handsome! Are you a brother to Jakob Dylan? (Dylan, my favorite boyfriend. Sing to me love)

P/S: Hey mommies, do you have any recommendation for picture books? Any books for 0-3 years old.

The Reader's Bill of Rights-Daniel Pennac-

2010-08-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

I want these for the girls (www.cookiemag.com)

Readers have:

The right to not read.
The right to skip pages.
The right to not finish.
The right to reread.
The right to read anything.
The right to escapism.
The right to read anywhere.
The right to browse.
The right to read out loud.
The right not to defend your tastes.

Cookies are made of butter and love.-Norwegian Proverb-

2010-08-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

The ingredients. The incredible hulk amused himself being a couch potato.

Ready to go!

Ready to throw?

Ready to eat!

Now I know the feeling of posting an entry on cooking. I have to admit this was my first try baking a cookie. A chocolate chips cookie. I just don't have flair or any talent in cooking be it simple as nasi goreng to complex as gulai ayam. Perhaps I just don't like cooking. I hate the idea of how much sugar to put in, how much salt to shower the dish, I simply don't like that kind of Maths. I have to admit I only cooked twice for my incredible hulk. Sometimes I love the concept of long-distance marriage, so that I don't have to cook. At least for him.

But when it is a call, it IS a call. Making chocolate chips cookies is always one of my wild dreams. Minus the discouraging words by the incredible hulk "Fuyoo!! She nak buat cookie oooo!! Fuyoo!!! Macam tak caya je!!! Fuyoo ada tepung wooo!!! Ada telur wooo!!!" and the uneasy smirk on his face, I carried on with my dream, with the big help from Anya.

And tadaa!!! For the very first time in my very life in my very blog, I posted the very first snapshots on my very first cooking talent. Yay! I finally achieved my dream, with two jars of chocolate chips cookies! And I managed to jaw-dropped that incredible hulk with my hidden talent.

But upon all, I really felt appreciated when Iris says this first in the morning, "Mummy, Iris nak cookie!!" Now, I started to love my talent.

P/S: Still the cooking is not easy, I tell you. I guess it is much harder than graduating from the graduate school.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. -Mark Twain-

2010-08-15T00:47:00.000-07:00

Many many happy returns Firdausku Sorang.

12th August 2010 marked. A lip smacking ice cream cake. A well-designed cuff link. A cheap birthday card. A birthday boy. And a wish from all of us that only greeted once a year.

"Happy Birthday Bapak!"

We all love you!

I operated six things at once.

2010-08-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Little Dos and Don'ts by Karen Katz

I listed the groceries lists.
I answered phone calls.
I e-mailed my supervisor.
I recite Ayatul Kursi whenever Iris and Iesha cross my mind.
I annoyed Bapak.
I merry myself with blogshopping. I bought Iris new books from littleredreadingnook.com.

What amuse me the best?

2010-08-10T23:49:00.001-07:00

Online shopping.

I bought Iris a new kitchen play set last week and she pretended to cook me vegetables and serve the guests drinks. The set makes annoying sound when we turn the button 'Cook'. And I have to scream whenever I cannot tolerate with the sound "Iris!!!! Tutup api dapur tu!!! Sayur Iris dah masakkkk!!! Nanti hotttt!!!!" And she ran to the kitchen and turn off the sound. Anya said she will take off the batteries real soon.

I don't have Facebook.

2010-08-10T23:42:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you can call me a loser, or I just don't addict on things that meant absolutely nothing to me personally-someone else's drama.

If it is really something, get a Twitter.

Anya and Iris

2010-08-04T21:59:00.001-07:00

More stories on http://namakunodoyashalala.blogspot.com/

Language Barrier

2010-08-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

This conversation happened last few months.
But I presumed I would remember this forever.
A conversation between Iris and Tok Kedah.

Tok Kedah: Iris, mai Tok nyanyi. Iris tidoq na. Tidoq.

Iris: Woof woof! Woof woof!

Here you go, now laugh your heart out!

What amuse Iesha at 2 months old?

2010-07-27T22:16:00.001-07:00

Baby flashcards and...

a ceiling fan.

Mummy, I can draw a circle!

2010-07-27T22:12:00.001-07:00

It is almost a perfect circle Iris! Congratulations!

A note for Iris: You can draw a circle at the age of 20 months.

My Gorgeous Nanny 911

2010-07-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

Thank you Anya!

Thank you Anya,
for
feeding Iris with scrumptious food,
making Iris your own aiskrim Ribena,
bathing her,
playing with her,
not raising up your voice over her,
reading with her,
playing the Baby Einstein DVD player to her,
combing her hair,
singing her favorite lullabies,
changing her diapers,
listening to her,
hugging her whenever she fears of sounds of the jet pejuang and the sound of the storm,
dancing with her,
teaching her the alphabets and the numbers,
comforting her at nights,
for the unconditional loves you shower her.

And thank you,
for
taking over my shift to look after Iesha whenever I need one,
changing Iesha's dirty diapers,
flashing the baby flashcards to her,
comforting her,
hugging her,
playing with her,
for the unconditional loves you shower her.

And thank God,
for
Nadia Farhan.

Goodbye life.

2010-07-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hello sisters forever!

Abang, sorry ye.

2010-07-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

My breast is functional, not sexual.

Self-proclaimed Fact

2010-07-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

I am a super mummy. Hats off.

Iris Story: First Trip to Salon

2010-07-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Where's Iris?

"Mummy, Bapak takut?" (er?)

The first salon conversation
"Uncle pakaikan apron okay?"
"Taknak!"
"Okay, kalau taknak Uncle pakaikan towel kecik okay?"
"Taknak!"
"Okay, takpe-lah, Uncle potong rambut saja okay"
"Haa!"
And you went "Haa!", "Haa!" everytime the Uncle cut your hair short.

Location: SAND, ECM Kuantan
Date: 12 July 2010
Who brought you there: Mummy, Bapak, Anya and Baby Iesha!
The cost: RM5!

Tadaa! Look, you have nice fringe, no more traumatized hair cut session with Nek Ma!

"Mummy, Iris boleh cakap umur berapa?"

2010-07-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

At 22 months.

People: Bapak (your first fluent word), Mummy, Nya, Nyon, Wawan, Min, Kakak, Ba, Ma, Abang, Kakak, Obom, Iyish (herself), Mak, Ida, Pik, Yaya, kawan, and the latest is Asha (Iesha)

Food: egg, telur, nashik, ikan, fish, acekelat (chocolate), shushu, air, leaves (sayur), buah, ayam.

Animals: cat, lizard, dog, fwog (frog), coco-coroach (cocroach), lipash, cow, duck, bird, elai (butterfly), lalat, bug, ulat, shnake, shkito (mosquito)

Places: moshque, kedai

Verbs: potong, hug, shayang, kish, lompat, enang (berenang), shemayang

Adjectives: panash, hot, shejuk, beshar, kecikkk, cantik (Mummy cantik)

Iris, this is what I can recall. You can make a sentence with four words by now.

Good bye Oasis.

2010-07-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hi nursery rhymes.

My Baby Iesha

2010-07-05T05:15:00.000-07:00

Hi world! I am two months old!

It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. ~Rita Rudner

2010-06-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

"Happy fourth anniversary Mummy and Bapak!" (June 2, 2010)

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-06-22T01:18:00.000-07:00

Birthday presents from Firdausku Sorang

In all the world

There's just one Mum

Who stands out

From the rest,

And just in case

You are wondering,

It's you Mum ~

You are the best!

Happy Birthday!

Calendar hits June 22 and I'm 29 this year. I wish for more happy years ahead, and more loves! Happy birthday to me! Thank you for all the wishers!

P/S: I am practical, so are my birthday presents. I got a waist trimmer, a voucher and a card and a cake. (It's a hint, I better watch out, that waist trimmer, it's a sign to get back to good old shape, or else he'll run away with woman with better shape and waist. Watch out babe!)

Hello Blog!

2010-06-22T01:06:00.000-07:00

Too many stories to tell, too few minutes to blog!

I hope it is easy as A, B, C

2010-06-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

“How about Iman Aafreen or Amal Aafreen.. Or Iffa Aafreen..Aafreen means brave or acclaim..Iman is faith and Amal is amalan lah..Iffa jap telupa”; I received this short message from Bapak on 6th May on 11:50 PM and another one 2 minutes after that “Iffah or Iffa means purity or modesty”. My, the naming game was about to start. I tell you, as a parent, the hardest part of parenting is naming a baby. I always hope I can easily naming them Baby A, Baby B, Baby C and the list goes on.

Nek Ma suggested Iffa Rania but the next day she told me it sounded Alfa Romeo, so we thought of another names. Last time for my first daughter, she suggested Dasmeen, Zara and Kaisara but we ended up none of these names. This time she suggested Amanee, I think it’s a sweet name. She’s a teacher, she advised me not to give familiar names. I quote her “Jange-lah bagi nama familiar, kasian ko cikgu-cikgu nok panggil, semua nama sama, kena tagging pulok lepas tu”. Okay, I get it.

Nek Ma and Tok Ba had a great fight, I tell you why. Tok Ba suggested Qistina and Bastitah. They are good names, but he is a teacher no-no. Thank you anyway, you did a good work! Tok Kedah was cool as ever “Takpa-lah nama apa pun asal maqna nya eloq”. Grin.

Naming Baby 101, I quote extraordinary thinker of ordinary things, Auntie Yanti “Please google the names before naming your baby”. See, it is not an easy task. Furthermore I was suffered with spinal headache for four days so I cannot maximize my brilliant brain. I need names with initials I and A. The game was over when we finally came to a final decision. And like Kak Iris, Bapak legally registered your name on your 11th day (17th May 2010). So here you are, a beautiful baby with a beautiful name: Iesha Aafreen means a woman of brave. I hope you will be a brave woman with a beautiful heart.

Iesha Aafreen, you are a woman of brave.

Well Wishes From Well Wishers

2010-06-01T03:05:00.000-07:00

A bunch of baby thanks to the phone callers:
Families, Kak Mah The Sitter, Stylo Auntie Yanti, and those who I forgot to mention names, thank you very much! (It’s obvious I don’t have many friends. I’m scared of the word ‘Many')

Thanks to wishers who text as well:
Salam. Congrats! Apa nama baby? She d mana? Ktan ke kltan?
-Kak Chiah,May 5, 2010 8:18 PM

Tahniah,kakak..smg b’tmbh kbhgian dlm keluarge n smg bby sht slalu n jd ank yg solehah,amiin.nnt MMS gambar eh.nk tgk bby.:)
-Che Na & Ayah D, May 5, 2010 5:41 PM

Salam.to mummy c-sec!mkn ikan haruan!huhu!sdap!then pati ikan haruan.supaya luka cpt baik.take cre!
-Adah, May 10, 2010 8:30 PM

CONGRATULATIONS! nt mms gmbr mu n baby..
-Auntie Yong Zara, May 6, 2010 8:52 PM

Tahniah 2 ur little princess.
-Auntie Ayu, May 9, 2010 1:15 PM

Congratulations to both of u 4 ur 2nd dlevery. Baby girl again.. Weee.. Plz mms me some pix ok. Take care. Love u.
-Auntysha, May 5, 2010 10:47 AM

And to friends in Messenger!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Welcome Home Baby Number Two!

2010-06-01T03:03:00.000-07:00

The day of the week you came home
7th May 2010 at 4 pm

Who brought you home
Mummy, Bapak, Nek Ma

What are their expressions once they saw you
“Oh, baby girl-lah!”

Our home address
It’s your grands' home sweet home

5+5=10

2010-06-01T02:20:00.000-07:00

A simple Maths, but a complicated decision to make.

It was 3rd May 2010 when I had my first appointment at HUSM Kubang Kerian after several at Kuantan. I was referred for footling breech. I went there with my father since Firdausku Sorang had his first paper of his very first examination.

Here is the conversation between me and the doctor that I will not forget.

Doc: Baby ni footling breech ni, kena Caeser ni. So I letak you in list this Thursday for Caeser.

And I was like “What? This Thursday?”

Me: Dah tak boleh pusing ke doktor? Buat ECV dulu tak boleh? Khamis ni?

Doc: Normally kalau footling breech memang kena Caeser, tapi if you insist, boleh refer specialist.

Me: Kalau boleh refer, refer la doktor. Saya kalau boleh nak normal delivery.

Doc: Okay, apa-apa pun you datang Thursday and we’ll see what we can do for you.

We’ll see.

It was Thursday, 5th May 2010. I had my second appointment. I went there with Firdausku Sorang because he had no paper that day. Unfortunately we missed the morning round so I have to wait for evening round. I was admitted to 2 Akik’s ward and I was scheduled for Caesarian delivery on the next day, 6th of May. So there I was, lying on the bed hoping that the miracle would happen and my baby would turn so that I will have normal delivery. I thought of Iris as well, I left her with a kiss on a cheek while she was still sleeping.

Then the nurse came and did the normal procedure after admitting to the ward. They checked the baby’s movement and to my surprise there was 2:10 contraction. An hour later the doctor came to me and she said I’ll be having Caesarian in two hours time-Emergency Caesarian. Yes, an emergency. Still I hoped for my little baby to turn the head down. I had a very long discussion with the doctor before signing the consent. She said I can have normal delivery but I have to face some risks. She herself is a breech baby, but her mother delivered her normally. Thus, it encouraged me to deliver in natural way. I asked for second opinion.

Me: Abang, macamana ni? Doktor cakap She kena Caeser tengahari nanti. Memang She tak boleh deliver normal la ni?

Abang: Abang rasa better Caeser-lah She. Benefit is more than risk, She.

Benefit is more than risk. And that what made me sign the consent.

I called and texted ones who close to me, telling that I will have C-sec in two hours time.
In the blink of an eye, I was on the bed outside the OT room. The nurse asked whether I have my husband waiting for me outside, I said he was around so the nurse called him and he was in the library studying for the next day’s examination.

For the second blink of an eye, there he was my personal midwife, wearing the surgeon’s gown I want to make love in that, accompanied me into the OT room. And there I was battling with the procedure, it was painless but still I was scared of my footling breech baby. Firdausku Sorang was battling with the situation as well; he kept telling me ‘Semuanya okay, sikit je lagi’ for like hundred times. Twenty minutes after that I saw the doctor pulled my baby’s feet and I saw them blue, I was scared to death something bad happened to my newborn. And later I heard my baby’s cry, and like my first daughter's arrival, I was crying of joy. One of the nurses told me “Oh, oghe kito”, I didn’t get it at first then I realized I have another baby girl, call me Kimora Lee Simon by now. Yay! Girl power!

The team did a good work; a thank you note is not enough. Then everybody did a normal routine; the doctors did another surgery, a father-cum-student went to a library, and we discovered each other in a most pleasant way-breastfeeding he he (macam pantun pulak).

Welcome to a new world little baby with big loves from all of us! Yay, famili kita dah ada empat orang!

There's So Much To Do!

2010-05-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

It takes a while to adjust to this new situation and to be honest I feel slightly panic as I realize that I have great responsibility for caring two daughters. It seems like a never-ending round of changing nappies and nursing with no time to rest! I guess I have to give space and time for my own self. I know that these first few weeks are important to breastfeed my baby, even though some people advise me to formula feed my baby, well it’s a big no-no, but thanks anyway for the thought of helping. Perhaps they saw me exhausted, yes I am, but I enjoy breastfeeding so very much!

I also have to take care of Iris’s feeling. I have to head off any feelings of jealousy between her and Iesha. I guess it is hard for her to adjust to this new situation. The first week was so hard for both of us. She tried to get away from me; she spent most of her time with Bapak, Anya, Wawan, Tok Ba and Nek Ma. She only came for breastfeeding. Yet, at the very moment, I get to know my newborn Iesha. It was hard I tell you, and then I know how important the role of “The Spouse”. He did most of the things in his paternity leave, from changing diapers, cooking meals for me, bathing Iris and Iesha, go shopping, and giving some extra support and company. I wished him Happy Mother’s Day on May 9th, because he is. Yet the most important thing “The Spouse” can do for you are listening to your heart, not only listening but contemplating each word we said.

I am grateful as well since Tok Ba and Nek Ma and Anya help me a lot. It is good when people I trust give some extra attention to Iris in these few weeks, so that I have time to discover my new divine baby Iesha. Oh my, there’s so much to do! There are so many things in my “To-Do” list; blogging about Iesha early weeks, making Tutu dress for Iris, e-shopping for Iesha’s aqiqah dress, compiling Iris’s photos, bla bla bla…

Miriam Stoppard tips help me in some way.

1. Sleep when your baby sleeps.
2. Don’t believe people who say their baby sleeps through the night already.
3. Accept whatever help you are offered.
4. Focus on your baby.

And “The Spouse” magical words – “You are a supermom, She”. I think that’s enough for me.

Most men talk the talk...

2010-05-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Real man walk the talk.

Iris and Tinkerbell

2010-05-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

Mummy is no longer your BFF right, Ris? You only bestfriend me when you want the milk from my Dada Pujaan. And this morning, God has listened to your prayer to have a new BFF when Tinkerbell came from nowhere and you played with him and shared the kopok. Iris, we are still BFF, aren't we?

"Meet my new BFF"

"I'd share everything with you"

"I don't friend with Mummy anymore"

"Do you have Dada Pujaan, Tinkerbell?"

"Eat, Tinky"

"Eat so that you'll have Dada Pujaan like my last BFF"

More Happy News!

2010-05-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

Bapak passed his first year examination! Congratulations Bapak! Let's celebrate!

P/S: Di sebalik kejayaan seorang lelaki ada wanita di belakangnya. Buy me roses.

It's All About You!

2010-05-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

See the fake eyebrows drawn by whoelse? The forever mak andam-cum-Nek Ma. (Tenth day)

Your due date was
20th May 2010

The day of the week and the time you were born
5th May 2010 at 2.45PM. Mummy always loves Math and thank God you were too! 5+5=10!

The place you were born
Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Your weight
3.2 kg

Your hair and eye color
Black & black

The people that were there
Mummy
Bapak
Dr Iliyana
Dr Very Very Handsome (I like handsome doctor)
Couple of nurses (I can’t count, I was half paralyzed!)

Meet Baby Number Two!

2010-05-20T03:59:00.000-07:00

My name is Iesha Aafreen. (First hour)

Oh my God,

2010-05-03T10:31:00.001-07:00

...it's May!

Baby Number Two, These Are For You!

2010-04-20T04:39:00.000-07:00

Who can resist these RM6 blue shoes? Who?

And RM6 for each romper?

I hope this is enough for early few weeks.

Staring at the wall - Part 3

2010-04-20T04:33:00.001-07:00

It's hard to forget your childhood dream.

Footling Breech

2010-04-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

I had my biweekly appointment today. I got not so good news. I called my good listener.

Abang, doktor cakap baby footling breech. She kena Ceaser delivery.

Takpe, belum term lagi. Insya Allah dah term nanti baby pusing.

Ye ke?

Insya Allah, tapi footling breech tu macam susah sikit.

Macam susah sikit?

You know how much I want vaginal delivery kan? Even last time scary gila.

Insya Allah, boleh.

I googled for the information. Footling breech is the least common breech. I guess that's enough for me.

I hope for the best.

And prepare for the worst.

Happy Birthday Anya!

2010-04-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

Happy happy birthday Anya!

Iris Favourite Lullabies

2010-04-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

Lullaby 1

Baa baa black sheep,

Have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir,

Three bags full,

One for my master,

And one for the dame,

And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.

Thank you said the master,

Thank you said the dame,

Thank you said the little boy who lives down the lane.

Lullaby 2

Iris, Iris,

Engkaulah ratu hatiku,

Bilaku berduka,

Engkau hiburkan selalu.

Iris, Iris,

Engkaulah ratu hatiku,

Kau tak dapatku lupa,

Iris, Iris!!!

Every night I have to sing these songs for her, if not she won't sleep and screaming "Baaa Baaa" for lullaby 1 and "Buu Buu" for lullaby 2.

The Power of 'Merajuk'

2010-04-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

Dipujuk dengan...

...sebiji epal putih. Enak!

Footnote:

Excerpt from glimpses by Adibah Amin:
“You can’t really translate merajuk into English. It’s one of those cross-cultural impossibilities. ‘Sulking’ carries a different connotation. When you say someone is ‘sulking’, you are implying that he is behaving like spoilt child. But when you used the word merajuk, it comes together with a cultural acceptance centuries old.”

I agreed.

Guessing Game...Again!

2010-04-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

Boy, or...

...girl?

It was funny I read through my older posts and it was quite awkward when the time flies so fast. It seems that I just gave birth to my lovely daughter, Iris. It seems like yesterday! And now I’m pregnant with my second baby. Oh, how time flies!

So I guess it is the right time to play a guessing game, again! After which my entry on the first one was on May 21, 2008. Here are the guessers and their guesses:

Mummy - Boy
Bapak - Boy (tiru I sebab last time wrong guess)
Nek Ma - Boy
Tok Kedah - "Takpa la mana-mana pun, asal baby sehat naa" (He-he)
Anya - Boy
Ayah Wan - Boy

Err, no one is guessing a girl? Want to give a try?

Staring at the wall - Part 2

2010-04-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

If...

Study smart!

2010-04-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

You passed the exam, you'll get this...

P/S: Yes, I'm conventional when it comes to passing the exam.

Wonderful Weekend Part 4

2010-03-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

More stories on http://namakunodoyashalala.blogspot.com/

Aku Saye Ko Mu!

2010-03-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

Mu tau dok?