Ever since we moved into our new place, everyday is an adventure. I, for the most part looked forward to a new day eagerly at the same time dreading it. With my current status as a stay-at-home mum, one can only imagine the things I go through every single day with my kids. While I am grateful that I get to be with them 24/7, there are times when I feel like hiding in my room and be oblivious to any crying. Still, I am truly grateful and blessed to be in their presence whenever I am needed. Definitely helps me forget about work, which if you ask me, a subject better not discussed. SAHM seems more appealing in every aspect.
Of course, my husband's return from work is always eagerly anticipated too. After a long, sweaty and tiring day with the kids clinging onto me, his presence gives me a breather. Bibik helps a lot too, I may add, but nothing beats having your spouse with you helping out with the kids. It warms the heart.
Staying on our own also means we have to manage our finance wisely. As we stayed with my parents before, we saved quite a lot in terms of our household expenditures which in turn helped us in our savings. But trust me, moving houses requires a lot and it (quite)burnt a hole in our pockets *tsk!* (so being a SAHM remains a wishful thinking).
These 2 months I could say that we spent quite a lot which got me into a worrying state. Payday is 3 weeks away and obviously to me it is such a long time to wait. Honestly, I am trying to stay away from any mall visits (hehe) because I can't just stroll happily without at least spending a bit (even if it's just a regular cup of Chatime). Yes, I am saving myself up to that extent which my husband thought a little bit extreme on my part. Sad, but true. Money flows like water, I tell you!
Then one night, seeing the worried look on my face (even when I don't say it aloud) he said,
"Don't you worry. Leave everything to me. I will take care of it. You just concentrate on the kids and breastfeeding Adeena ok?"
Huaaaaaa. Suddenly my eyes went watery I couldn't speak.
Touched. So very touched.
Touched
Moving out
After 3
years, we are finally moving out from my parents' house tomorrow to our
own place. As for me, it will be me fending on my own after 28 years of
living under the same roof as my parents. Emotional much? You bet!
For
years I am so used to having my mum save the day if anything goes wrong
(even after having 2 kids) because she is always around. I am so used
to having my siblings around for immediate help. And I am so used to
seeing my dad goes to work and always home to greet him back.
Mostly,
they won't be able to see the two little munchkins on a daily basis
now. It is something that needs a little getting used to. Likewise, I
need to get used to not having my family around like always *sobs*
I guess it's about time (orang lain dah lama dah duduk sendiri hehe).
But for me, us moving out, is something big. It marks a whole new life waiting and a journey of raising our family ourselves. In our home.
Tomorrow, may everything be eased.
Our place, alhamdulillah :)
Click click!
Nowadays, I am pretty sure that everyone is on Instagram. One by one is slowly joining the bandwagon of 'instagramming' their lives which I don't have problems with. I find it quite fun looking at people's lives through moments captured. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, which Instagram successfully serves its purpose - snap a picture and post! Fast and fun.
I don't have an account and I don't think I would create one anytime soon. On the other hand, I might. You know, just for fun.
But for now, I think I'll just stick to Facebook and Blogger for fun, beautiful moment sharing :)
Babywearing
When we knew that another baby is coming soon, I decided that I want to try babywearing (BW) her. The thought of having to stuff our bonet with two strollers gives us headache not to mention such a hassle.
So I did some reading and asked friends who are babywearing their babies. Let me tell you there are just soooo many types of BW that I am just so lost as to which should I get. The designs and colours are just too cute and pretty that I got tempted, forgetting that practicality is what I am looking for.
Finally, I decided on a wrap; MOBY wrap.
MOBY is derived from MOther + baBy, for the feeling of closeness and connection between mother and baby. The first thing that made me attracted to MOBY is how neat the wrap is and how secure the baby looks in it. So I got a friend to get me one.
Only, trying it on is not as easy as the instructional booklet says it is!! Grrrr! Getting started on the simple and quick wrap technique was, to me, energy draining (still dalam pantang so not so energetic) and I was sweating all the way through. The end product of my first wrapping was lousy and terrible-looking. There's no way a baby can be put in there. Heck, I think Adeena, if she can speak, would say "Errr Umi, you're carrying me in there? No thanks!"
Anyway, I didn't give up. Tried and tried and tried until I finally got a hang of all those wrapping and I decided it's time to put the baby in. It was scary at first because I was worried that Adeena's limbs might be hurt and that she won't be supported right.
I gave it a try, anyway.
So what do you think? I thought I aced it for a first-timer. Need to practice more and get us used to this type of hug hold.
And then I might get another Soft Structured Carrier when she grows bigger ;)
mother of two
Being a mother of two so far is...well, to be honest, a little bit of everything.
It's been only 31 days and I am trying my level best to cope with the sleeping pattern, nursing both my babies, dealing with instantaneous crying to name a few. Emotionally wise, let's just say that I have to constantly remind myself that I am better than this. They say patience is part of Iman without nothing.
Being the mum makes me feel very important as my babies rely on me so much despite having the dad around. He doesn't breastfeed, if you know what I mean. The attachment is definitely stronger. I am not complaining, no, but it does take its toll at times, like how (very) exhausted I'll become and the only wish is to get enough sleep (wishful thinking?)
Luqman, being the elder sibling at such a young age, well, what can I say? He is such a darling and he seems to know that he now has a sister. There is never a day that passes without him not planting sloppy kisses all over Adeena's face. Her cot is where he heads to everytime he wakes up. Sometimes I feel bad not being able to attend to his needs all the time as Adeena is the priority for now. Yes, he does throw tantrums as a result (that's the unbearable part, really) but I am so thankful that I have my husband and my family to calm him down and to attend to him when I couldn't.
Adeena, on the other hand, is not a difficult baby to take care of. Being a baby that she is, she only cries when she's hungry, needs cuddling and diaper change. And for that I am so grateful and relieved. It's just that her jaundice is prolonged and her reading was quite high after a few days of life that made caring for her a bit tough as we had to constantly frequent the hospital for her blood to be taken. Alhamdulillah, she is all fine now.
On top of everything, I can say that I have the best support system one can ever asked for. My husband is such a gem. My family (mum especially) has been the greatest help that I don't know what I would do or become if she's not around. Tak tertanggung rasanya *sobs*
So,yes, being a mother of two has just starting to reveal its challenges.
Here's to another 13 more days of confinement and a joyful parenting journey ahead, amin!
Our star is here
Alhamdulillah, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl 20 days ago. Unlike her brother, little girl decided to greet the world a day earlier from her expected due date.
So on the 8th of April 2013, after 5 hours of enduring labour pain, our little star was born at 5.28 a.m.
The feeling was definitely overwhelming as it was a different labour experience altogether. Alhamdulillah, I can never be more grateful for an ultimate gift mashaAllah!
Meet Soraya Adeena, everyone.
Soraya (name of a star); Adeena (deen;pious)
May the name befit her and may she grow to become a beautiful star that shines brightly with the deen as her guidance insyaAllah!
Big brother Luqman can never get enough of Adeena, for sure. Alhamdulillah he shows profound affection at such a young age. May he become the protective and good brother we hope he would be, amin!
And here they are, captured, a few hours after out of the womb. We thought they are a spitting image of each other. Well, pretty much.
Can't believe I am now a mother of TWO!
Selesai!
Alhamdulillah, my brother-in-law's solemnization went well last Sunday. So, Mak's three 'stooges' are officially off the market. Selesai! :)
It was definitely a looked forward event as this is the last wedding for the family and also one that's pretty much emotional as my late father-in-law wasn't around to witness this. I am sure he would be as excited as we are welcoming a new addition to the family.
Anyway, some pictures to feast your eyes; all taken by various individuals :
Upon arrival
The three siblings - before the akad
After the akad; bride and groom, the hantarans and dais
Our extended family
One for the album :)
I am just so happy and relieved to be
able to be part of this. I prayed hard that I wILL still be around this
weekend for the majlis bertandang and not at home berpantang :)
Definitely do not want to miss the fun.
Raising our children
I came across a video today on 'Raising a newborn in Islam' by Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman, posted by a group I subscribed on Facebook.
It is such a beautiful lecture on parents' responsibilities towards our children which we might already be well aware of, but delivered in such a way that it struck every chord in my body. It made me think hard about what I have done so far to raise my son and which path am I leading him to.
Subhanallah, such an eye-opener and very inspiring. Makes me want to be better and better for the sake of my children and also to contribute to the upbringing of the ummah in general.
Do have a watch, you will gain more than what you expect, I assure you. Anyway, here are some of the important points that I really like to share from the lecture :
Allah doesn't simply delight us with a beautiful, healthy child, but for us to be responsible of his upbringing, providing him/her to the path of Allah SWT
Behind every great nikmah is a great test. When Allah grant you a child (nikmah), it is to see what you are going to do with him/her (test). Parents are responsible for their children's upbringing, providing them to the path of Allah and seeking His pleasure
The money and time you spent on your family and children are the most well-spent and will definitely benefit their proper upbringing
Babies are born Islam, but more often than not parents tend to change their children's religion through their upbringing
Children's greatest role-models are their parents so we must teach them the goodness and the love for Allah SWT and Muhammad SAW so that they grow up knowing about Islam
We need to be more cautious of what we do/say in front of our children than in front of strangers
Let us strive to better ourselves so that we can be great role models to our children, insyaAllah! I pray that our jihad in raising our children the right way will be eased and guided and may Allah be pleased with what we are striving for, ameen!
school's out!
The holidays are here! It's time for the deserved break although I know most teachers don't really detach themselves from school and its never ending mounting work. In fact, school holidays are no longer in its truest sense for teachers.
As for me, I am trying to rest and enjoy the one week holiday as much as I can although I have all the reasons to use this break to complete my work before I go for my looked forward maternity leave (yeay!). The thing is, I just can't bring myself to start work. I am not joking when I say everytime I face my laptop, my contraction (Braxton Hicks) will start. Everytime. No kidding. It's like the little one is not allowing me to work but to pay attention to her instead - which I have no problem at all (hehe!)
But of course, I had to pull myself out OF this lazy cocoon as I don't have any other time. Plus, it's the waiting game for me as I might go into labour anytime now (scary!). Just thinking about it gives me shivers. I guess I am not that ready yet.
Anyway, Happy Holidays to my fellow comrades who I believe are enjoying their family time everywhere around the country or out of the country. As for me, I am enjoying my stay at home mostly. Trust me, it's the best place a pregnant lady like me would like to be. Such a comforting nest!
