Raising Baby Shaq...

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2012-01-26T11:07:00.006+08:00

Gong Xi Fa Cai to everyone celebrating!

May this dragon year bring all of you good health and abundance wealth!

p/s: Shaqeel in his dragon samfu we bought in Beijing. The picture was taken at Chey's house during her CNY open house.

Shaqeel Goes To School

2012-01-12T17:12:00.002+08:00

Did I tell you Shaqeel now goes to school? Yes, he is now the proud student of Mariah CDC, an Islamic English center at Bukit Antarabangsa. If you remember, I blogged once about this place when I was looking for a place to care for Shaqeel when our maid left.

The picture above shows Shaqeel in his uniform. If he had his way, he would wear jeans to school. He did not want to wear the kopiah at all, although he loves the songkok we bought him for Raya.

Every morning it is a battle to wake him up and bathe him. I need to be more patient, after all it has only been 4 days. A friend suggested he might not have enough sleep so that is the reason he could be cranky, solution is to let him sleep earlier which I'm going to try tonight.

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-11T16:29:00.012+08:00

Hey everyone! It's a brand new year 2012 so I'd like to wish all of you a wonderful year ahead. We were onboard Halong Bay cruise to usher in the new year . The cruise was splendid! The weather was really nice averaging 15 degree so it was cool but not to the bones cold.

Shaqeel enjoying the view of Halong Bay

Shaqeel is now 2.5 years old so he is really into running, jumping and exploring so many things, what more being a boy, he has so much energy. I think he was restless being confined in a ship space for 2 days. We had to follow him around and never let him out of sight lest he would jump overboard. Overall, I would give him a 6 for behavior, 10 being the best hehe

I must confess we resorted to candies and ice cream to have some peace (even for 7 minutes) and adult conversation. In the picture above, Shaqeel had to dry his sweater for spilling ice cream and water onto it. It was more of a disciplinary action rather than pleasure/game, but it was obvious he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Which is how I would view life now, to enjoy everything even though it's a chore. Yes, that is my resolution for 2012. And yes, that includes mopping the floor.

Selamat Hari Raya!

2011-09-12T12:19:00.004+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya AidilFitri to everyone reading.

Thank you Atuk, aunties and uncles for your duit raya,
for you have just contributed to my education fund.

Kisses, Shaqeel.

Selamat Berpuasa

2011-08-04T13:37:00.002+08:00

Taken during Majlis Tahlil Shaqeel's Nani

Selamat Berpuasa to all my blog readers.
Jangan lupa bersahur walau hanya seteguk air ya.

Shaqeel Turns 2

2011-07-26T23:07:00.001+08:00

Happy 2nd Birthday dear Shaqeel Aidin.

Semoga membesar sebagai anak yang soleh, sentiasa menghormati ibu bapa, sentiasa gembira,
sihat walafiat dan rezeki melimpah ruah.

You can be anything you want to be dear Shaqeel Aidin,
but it has to be within the Islamic boundaries.

Put your mind into it and you can reach great things.

I love you unconditionally.

Shaqeel Conquered The Great Wall!

2011-07-18T10:59:00.010+08:00

Shaqeel conquered the Great Wall, woohooooo!

The thought of travelling with a 2 year old who can't sit still for 5 minutes was quite daunting at first, but thankfully Shaqeel behaved well throughout the 6 hours flight. Atuk suggested that we give him cough medicine so he'd sleep throughout the journey which we did not do lah. Somehow, we survived ;)

It was a 5 days vacation for us in which we spent all in Beijing alone. Food was not an issue at all as Beijing's population is 13 million and the 3rd biggest religion is Islam. Halal restaurants are everywhere and I was very relieved it suited my taste. It was also the beginning of summer, hence the weather was not too hot, very similar to Malaysia.

Of course no trip to Beijing is complete without experiencing The Great Wall. We had to climb countless stairs to finally reach a point where I can't feel my legs anymore. I carried Shaqeel up and down and was panting the whole way, all the time thinking how strong I am with additional 12kgs I had to carry. As Mao Zedong have said and depicted below, He Who Does Not Reach The Great Wall Is Not A True Man....and Shaqeel, ladies and gentlemen, is a True Man.

Mao Zedong's handwriting

The highlight of the trip for me was the Summer Palace. I have been obsessed with the life of the Chinese Emperor for quite some time then. I read a lot of historical fiction prior to the trip in which the author beautifully described the majestic palace that I thought, I have to experience it! It was breathtaking, really. No words can do justice to the resplendent architecture, nature and intricate details of the palace.

Lotus flowers at Kunming Lake, Summer Palace

I have only fond memories of Beijing. I recommend this city with 2 thumbs up. All the way to the sky.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-20T10:30:00.006+08:00

On behalf of Shaqeel, I'd like to wish Happy Father's Day to Emil, the father of my child who has been a terrific provider; financially, physically and emotionally.

Thank you for being a hands on Dad, always helping me to clean Shaqeel's poo so I can keep my manicured fingers clean, take him out for a walk while I stay home and put my feet up, read him warrior educational books so he learns as a man he has to protect his family, putting him to sleep by just telling him to sleep (seriously, Emil just has to say "Sleep" and Shaqeel will close his eyes and eventually drifts to slumberland) .... and so much more! You have been a great family man so please keep it up hehehe

We didn't do anything special to celebrate Father's Day because I didn't get special treatment either on Mother's Day haha! Emil hinted initially asking whether we are going to do something but I said Shaqeel has no income so he can't treat you to dinner or buy you gifts. Anyway, what started as hints eventually became straight on requests to have a father's day celebration. Well, I relented and cooked him a mean Kari Kepala Ikan for dinner which is really one of his favorite dish.

So yeah, Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there. Irresponsible fathers not included.

Zoo Negara Adventure

2011-05-28T11:20:00.006+08:00

We spent last weekend on a Zoo Negara trip looking at animals and such. That was my second time I think. The first time I went was 10 years ago but the zoo looked the same though.

It was quite big. We spent about 3 hours leisurely strolling around the zoo. I thought it was too long already but apparently, Riri spent 7 hours in Singapore Zoo?! Gotta admire her browsing skills.

Shaqeel was indifferent most of the time. I guess he still can't appreciate the animals yet. I, on the other hand, was excited! The lions and crocodiles were the most intimidating. I love the giraffes the most. Am inspired to find giraffe prints for baju raya. The crocodiles remind me I need to save up for my first exotic croc skin handbag hehehe....

Anyway, the zoo is so close to where we live and plus the affordable fee, we definitely will visit again.

Help Found

2011-05-11T00:09:00.004+08:00

Shaqeel hard at work

So, we were maidless about a month before we finally found a suitable one thorugh my confinement lady. This new maid is fantastic with Shaqeel. She says she is late 30s but come on, she can't fool me with those wrinkles. I think she's more like mid 40s but it really doesn't matter. Shaqeel likes her! Which is great.

One time, I was just about to leave home with Shaqeel for dinner. He already had his shoes on and we were at the door when the maid called out for him. Shaqeel turned around, walked towards the maid and then salam her and said good-byes.

She talks a lot with Shaqeel too. One time, I heard Shaqeel sort of singing "Burung Kakak Tuaaaaa" which is definitely the maid's teaching. He can also continue counting. For example if we say "satu", he will respond "dua" If we say "three", he will respond "four". Sigh, my baby's all grown up. It won't be long before he excels in Algebra, with Atuk's tuition of course.

Anyway, all I'm saying is I have come to appreciate this help I get around the house. It is so much easier for me to just spend time and laze around with my husband and son when I don't have to bother about cleaning, mopping, washing etc.

Ahh..an entry just for the maid.

Never in a million years would you expect that from me, now would you?

Shaqeel Goes To Nursery

2011-03-07T10:32:00.004+08:00

Shaqeel has been under the care of the maid when we go to work ever since he was born. However, the maid left us last week (which deserves an entry of its own), so since then, I have been sending Shaqeel to a kindy/daycare nearby our house.

I surveyed 3 different daycares in Bukit Antarabangsa area and finally decided on Mariah Development Center in Taman Bukit Jaya. It operates in 3 houses (which makes it very big), has a swimming pool, English speaking teachers and most importantly it is an Islamic center (the reason I'm sold). I get a good positive vibe when I first enquired about this place from Principal Mariah.

It has been 5 days now. My morning routine has changed. The moment I open my eyes, my work starts. I bathe and get ready, prepare Shaqeel's bag, bathe and dress him, give him milk, prepare breakfast, eat breakfast and by this time I want to sleep again! I know I know, it doesn't sound too tiring but please bear in mind I did never ending house chores the day before and I work full time too! It doesn't help either that I like my house spotless.

I am actively looking for a maid now. Honestly, it would be the best solution for me right now. I don't have to worry about house chores and could use the precious time to spend it with my boys instead. Ahh..but I digress....

So anyway, after 5 days, Shaqeel still cries in the morning when I send him to kindy. The moment he sees the Green house, he will cry. Kesian sungguh. Breaks my heart, really. According to the teachers, he cried only the first few minutes and will soon join in the other kids. It's such a relief to know.

I hope Shaqeel is in good hands. I trust my instincts. It's a blessing in disguise that my maid left actually. I realized keeping the house clean is very tiring. Taking care of an active boy is equally tiring. Shaqeel can learn to make friends. Mommy will always be there for Shaqeel. But maids however, come and go.....

....as do girlfriends ;)

Jalan Jalan CNY

2011-02-09T09:06:00.001+08:00

Since CNY falls 2 days before weekend, it was a long 4 days holiday for us. We took this chance to go on a trip, so Riri the organizer decided that we should go to Ipoh.

We started our journey on the CNY day itself (Thursday), but not without stopping for homemade breakfast at Sungai Buloh first.

Riri masak sambal daging

Traffic was fairly smooth along the highway, although we took 3 hours to reach Ipoh which is only 157km from KL! Can't drive too fast because Pops was with us hehe. We stayed at Grand Homestay Ipoh located at Taman Tawas Idaman, a newly done Semi-D which could accomodate all us 8 adults and 5 kids comfortably. All the rooms are equipped with aircond, attached bathroom complete with water heater, kitchen with cooking facilities and reasonably priced too.

Right after we checked in and freshened up, we went to Lost world of Tambun which is about 15 mins away. It is a water park similar to Sunway Lagoon, but it has so much more. There's petting zoo, hotspring, tiger valley etc.

The next day, on the way back we stopped at Kellies Castle, Batu Gajah about 20mins from Ipoh town. It was originally built by an English man for his family, but it was halfway completed as he died during the construction due to an illness.

It is a 4 storey high castle with a magnificent view of Banjaran Titiwangsa from the rooftop.

Overlooking Banjaran Titiwangsa from the rooftop

So yeah, that's it. We reached KL about 630pm and went straight to Ampang Point for dinner ;)

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2011-02-08T11:32:00.006+08:00

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all my Chinese readers!
May this Rabbit year bring all of you happiness, wealth and great health.

p/s: This picture was taken during our CNY celebration with my SIL's family.
Shaqeel looks too cute in his samfu.

While Mom and Dad Were Away....

2011-01-12T20:27:00.007+08:00

For the first time in Shaqeel's life, he did not get to smell me before he goes to sleep for one whole week. He was under the care of his Mak Chak (Emil's sister) the 2nd week of December while we were away swimming in the Dead Sea. One would think, Shaqeel who is so manja and had never spent a night apart from his mother would be having a hard time, right?

It turned out, he behaved quite the opposite.

The first night was the toughest. He woke up at 1am, crying till way past 3am, missing my smell I suppose. After much coaxing and a bottle of milk, he finally fell asleep. The next morning he woke up like nothing had happened and everything, as far as Shaqeel is concerned, was back to normal.

Mak Chak brought Shaqeel to a visit a lot of interesting places when we were gone. In that 8 days he spent at Mak Chak's house, Shaqeel managed to cover the KL Zoo at Taman Melawati and Aquaria at KLCC. Mak Chak has a big lawn, enough for Shaqeel to explore for days without ever getting bored. He also managed to squeeze a little bit of badminton with the cousins.

Ahhhhhh I missed Shaqeel like crazy that whole week! I kept looking at his pictures and videos on my phone. Although, I have to admit, I had soooo much fun just me and Emil...And 8 hrs of uninterrupted sleep too hehehe. Dare I say, sometimes I even forgot I am a mother!

Well, holiday's over and it's time to get back to my baby. When we came to pick Shaqeel up after we reached KL, everything was normal. No crying, no shouting, no wailing. I carried him and we went about our activities like I was never gone. I remember thinking how independent my boy is, he did not seem to mind I was not at home, adjusted really well at Mak Chak's house. Which then prompted my mind to plan where and when my next vacation is sans Shaqeel haha!

Anyway, I spoke too soon. Right after I carried him, there was no putting him down ever! He was extra whiny, extra manja, I could not be out of sight else he would wail until he saw me.

My manja boy is backkkkk!!!

As much as I had a fantastic time vacationing with my husband, just the two of us, it was great to be back to care for Shaqeel again. Next vacation, I promise I will bring you along ok, Shaqeel.

And for the record, that's a promise which I have kept. Refer previous entry on KL city break haha!

KL City Break

2011-01-11T11:24:00.005+08:00

We went for a KL city break last week where we checked in to Westin for the weekend. The hotel is strategically located right in front of Pavillion, my second favorite shopping mall in the world ( My favorite is Ampang Point hehe )

It was a very relaxing weekend. We just lazed the days away. Sleep, eat, swim, eat, sleep, eat. That's about it!

It was a great way to unwind. Chilling and relaxing by the pool with resort-like ambience, but still be in the heart of the city if it gets too boring. Anyway, I had a really wonderful time I've proposed to Emil we do this once a month. He hasn't agreed though.

Helpful Shaqeel

2010-11-21T23:02:00.002+08:00

I'm so lucky I have such a hardworking son. He helps me around the house without being asked.

He loves to sort the books....

He also helps to rearrange the DVDs....

He even does a bit of gardening!

Thank you Shaqeel! In future if you give me all sorts of excuses when I ask you to help me around the house, I will show you these pictures to remind you how helpful you were when you were a kid.

Or, shall I show you the picture of me in the labor room? ;)

New Cousin!

2010-11-19T11:46:00.005+08:00

Presenting Shaqeel's newest baby cousin, Muhammad Aiman Iman born 8/9/10, K Yen's baby. She has got 3 boys. Beat that!

Baby Aiman :*

Story behind his name. Brother no 1, Adam, gave the first name, Aiman. Brother no 2, Rizzqin, gave the second name, Iman. Nasib baik the names they chose are decent ones. Kalau depa pilih nama Chandler?

Picnic at KLCC Park

2010-10-31T23:45:00.001+08:00

This morning I woke up as early as I could possibly be on a Sunday, for a picnic with my sisters and the kids. Shaqeel was still fast asleep when I woke him up, one thing that I don't normally do on normal circumstances. But today is different. We are going on a picnic, Shaqeel!

These are what we had for food this morning. K Yen made meehoon. Riri and Pipi made homemade pizza and cupcakes. I brought drummets and drinks. Milo for the kids.

The pizza was quite impressive, I must say. The crust could be softer though. Maybe the dough needs more water? Or it needs more flour? Ahh, what do I know. I've never made pizza before. I don't even have an oven.

Anyway, the kids had fun at the park. All hell breaks lose! They ran everywhere, climbed everything, shouted like crazy...so much fun! Tiring too for us adults, but luckily we had a babysitter around..

Mak Su giving equal treatment to Adam and Emma

Ahh, can't live without you, MakSu! ;)

Eat, Play, Sleep

2010-10-22T16:23:00.007+08:00

When life is only about having fun!

This is Shaqeel's routine everyday ( Time is approximate. He's not a robot! )

8am : Shaqeel wakes up. Including weekends (I wish he would sleep in so I get to sleep in too. ) Anyway, he'll have his breakfast and then it's bath time. Very into water now.

9am : Shaqeel's play time. He has 3 boxes full of toys. One box for each level of our house.

1130am: Shaqeel's nap time. Usually he sleeps about 1 to 1.5 hr, depending on his mood.

1pm: Shaqeel's lunch. It's always rice with fish/beef/chicken and veggies. Usually it's carrots or sawi. Should be more creative and introduce other food but selalu terlupa when buying groceries. Maybe ABC pasta?

130pm: More play time for him.

4pm: Nap time again. Usually a short one. Half hour and he's done.

430pm: Play time again. In between, he snacks on biscuits or fruits (usually banana). When Emil comes back from work around 5 to 6pm, he'll point at his shoes to Emil indicating that he wants to go out for a walk. That explains the tahi lalat kat kaki Shaqeel. Suka jalan.

630pm: Shaqeel's dinner. Usually the same thing he had for lunch. Then, it's bath time.

930pm: Ahh, finally Shaqeel is done for the day and ready to dream. I still nurse him to sleep. Tell me, how do I break this habit? Or is it too late? Am I doomed?

Meanwhile, as I'm busy climbing the corporate ladder and chasing deadlines at the office, everyday he wakes up and all he does is eat, play and sleep. How fun it is to be Shaqeel, huh?

Bath Time

2010-10-16T23:55:00.002+08:00

I am proud to announce that Shaqeel now loves water! Yay Shaqeel! And Yay Me too! :)

I didn't do anything actually. It happened suddenly. One night he was still wailing when I took off his shirts. The next morning, he suddenly loved it! Maybe he overcame his fear in his dreams hehe

I didn't want to jinx it by telling the whole world about this but I think it's safe now. He has been consistently loving bath time for almost 2 weeks now, it's such a relief!

I'm lovin it!

But, the crying still persists. Now, Shaqeel cries his lungs out every time bath time ends :)

Mandi Sungai

2010-10-15T22:42:00.001+08:00

Emil's father was a member of Patikan, the MCKK class of 60 boys. Every 3 months or so (if I'm not mistaken), they will organize a get together among themselves for their class reunion and family gathering.

So, last two weeks, the get together was held in Janda Baik (Why would anyone ever name this place that?) One of the old boy has a wonderful wooden house with lawn as huge as a football field. It was located right by a small river. Just perfect!

I jumped at this opportunity to go because firstly, it was in Janda Baik and I want to bring Shaqeel to mandi sungai :)

Secondly, I love this tradition that they made it a point to gather a few times a year for casual meet ups and I want to be a part of it.

And thirdly, I love the network! These are all MCKK boys who were groomed to be someone back in the 60s. Who knows which power figure I might bump into right?

Shaqeel: Networking

Anyway, I had a good time that weekend. Shaqeel behaved well and seemed to really enjoy the cool river. The food was good. The weather was just nice and breezy.

Now, the question is, where do I send Shaqeel to school?

Shaqeel's Beach Holiday

2010-10-14T16:20:00.000+08:00

One week after raya, we went for a short beach holiday to Pulau Redang. We spent 3 days 2 nights at Redang Beach Resort. Fairly a nice place with reasonable price considering the condition. But the beach... The beach! It was really exceptional! Clear water, blue sky, white sand and with just the perfect company....it was fabulous!

Unfortunately for Shaqeel though, he was a bit feverish the whole time we were there. He did not seem to enjoy himself as much as I wanted him to. Oh well, there is always next time..

Till another beach holiday...

Salam Ramadhan

2010-08-18T14:41:00.003+08:00

Salam Ramadhan to all my blog readers.
Semoga kita semua dapat menjalani ibadah puasa dengan sempurna.

p/s: Jangan tergoda dengan milo Shaqeel ;)

Benjol di Dahi Jendul

2010-08-04T14:11:00.004+08:00

Most kids love water right? Well, mine doesn't. In fact, I think he hates it. The moment I take off his clothes in front of the bathroom door, he sensed that it is bath time and he will start to cry!

I have tried all kinds of bathing; mandi dalam besen, in the bathtub, shower. Lap badan pun nangis! I have also incorporated some tools like rubber duckies but he still does not enjoy it.

Shaqeel yang benjol sebab jatuh waktu mandi :'(

Maybe I'll bring him swimming and see what happens....

My Toddler Walks Now :)

2010-08-02T10:18:00.004+08:00

Shaqeel took his first independent steps about 3 weeks ago. Crawling was still his favorite mode of transportation then.

Now, he has quite mastered the art of walking. He wants to walk all over the place, walaupun terkedek-kedek. Soooo cute!

Shaqeel Hits the BIG 1 !!

2010-07-31T20:06:00.004+08:00

Yeay, my baby is 1 ! Syukur pada Tuhan for giving me this opportunity to become a mother to such a perfect baby :) It has been one year of watching Shaqeel grow up in front of me. Mommy doa supaya Shaqeel sentiasa gembira dalam kehidupan Shaqeel, ok baby?

What initially planned to be an intimate family do turned into a medium sized party including friends. We hosted a get together session at our house to celebrate Shaqeel's milestone of turning 1. We had home cooked food ; laksa johor, roti jala and kari ayam for the guests.

Thank you to all who came and for the presents too. Till next birthday!

p/s: Save duit Emil tak payah beli mainan for 1 year hehe

Spot the Similarities

2010-06-22T10:07:00.003+08:00

Shaqeel's favorite pose lately. I wonder where he gets this from?

Shaqeel Went to Sibu!

2010-06-21T12:16:00.012+08:00

Last weekend, we went to Sibu, Sarawak to attend my best friend's wedding. There were about 30 people in the same flight wanting to see Alan making an honest woman out of Chey Chey hehe

Congratulations both of you!

We stayed at RH hotel since the reception was also held there. Our room had the view of Sungai Rejang, the longest river in Malaysia. The color of the river reminds me of teh tarik...

I wonder whether Bujang Senang was swimming behind us

We also did some sightseeing in Sibu. It's quite a small town but the houses there are like mansions! They've got huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge lawns! I hope one day I have that too. I want to plant my own veggies and bela ayam so I can get fresh eggs everyday :)

Fresh chicken at the market..literally

All in all, it was a good weekend break with Emil and Shaqeel and also my best gals!

Me and my gals

Shaqeel and Nani

2010-06-04T14:44:00.003+08:00

In loving memory of Shaqeel's Nani, Nor Azian bt Idris (1943 - 2010)
Al-Fatihah

Picture of a Baby, Deep In Thought

2010-05-20T13:56:00.003+08:00

Deep in thought

I really love this photo of Shaqeel.
This was taken at a birthday party of Emil's colleague's daughter.

Shaqeel and Milk

2010-05-18T09:57:00.008+08:00

I have been fortunate enough to be able to nurse Shaqeel from birth right up to this point of his life. Shaqeel is almost 10 months old today and he has been enjoying nothing but yummy milk from Mommy ;p

I am experiencing first hand the wonderful effects of breast milk. Shaqeel is a very healthy baby, Alhamdulillah. He has not had a fever once. He breezed through teething (OK lah, baru je 2). When we vacationed to London and Paris when Shaqeel was 5 months old, I didn't have to lug around his bottles and feeding system. Very convenient!

Christmas in Paris

Having said that, I don’t belong to a breastfeeding club either. I don’t understand breastfeeding mothers who criticize other mothers who do not breastfeed due to whatever reasons they choose not to. I don’t understand breastfeeding mothers who are so passionate about nursing that they judge and put down formula feeding mothers. Sure, breast milk is best, but formula is good too! To each mother, her own ya.

For me, I absolutely love the time I spend nursing Shaqeel. It's a bonding moment shared only by me and Shaqeel. The way he looks at me with his big round eyes, the way his hand hugs my body and tickles me and sometimes slaps his little hands on my chest, the way it is the only thing that comforts him like no other... Ahhhhhhh its just the sweetest!

Mwahssssssss

I’ve been diligently pumping milk since I started work 8 months ago. Always at 11am and 3pm, plus minus 15 minutes. I would excuse myself from a meeting to pump when the time comes. I’ve even perfected the art of pumping while driving hehe.

However, since I’ve started this new job that requires me to travel within Klang Valley a lot, I’ve not been as disciplined as before. I would still pump twice during the day, but the result of this inconsistency has depleted the production by a lot. Hmm....

Jadi, apakah motif cerita di atas? Adakah untuk meng-justify to myself that I want to stop pumping? Actually, yes! Hehehehe.. I give myself until Shaqeel turns 1. Then my plan is to feed him formula milk and susu lembu but also to continue nursing whenever Shaqeel is with me until he’s 2 years old, InsyaAllah.....

Social Calendar All Packed Up!

2010-05-13T09:48:00.007+08:00

Shaqeel is only 9 months old but he already gets invited to parties hehehe. His social calendar is so busy nowadays, he has parties to attend every other week.

Well, Shaqeel himself is turning 1 in 2 months time. I still haven't finalized anything for his own party yet. Shall it be a kids party or a get together for family and friends? Our house or our favorite restaurant or a kids' venue? If at home, do I cook or cater? I'm leaning heavily towards a very intimate do actually but this is after all his first birthday! Hmm...

Shaqeel dah besar dah.. Tak mau nangis nangis lagi kay sayang..

Anyway, while Shaqeel turns 1, Mommy turns 30!

Busy Baby

2010-05-11T21:27:00.010+08:00

Shaqeel is sooooo active nowadays. Which is a good thing, though. He doesn't sit still for long, so when Shaqeel is busy, I am busy too! I'm always running around after him. I wonder how K Yen does it.

Often times, he will be crawling all over the house and putting everything into his mouth. Then, while busy chatting and blabbering, he'll pull himself to stand at any furniture possible.

Such a challenge to dress him nowadays

Just this evening, I was cooking his porridge, he decided that he doesn't like how I arrange the kitchen..

Please Mommy, this jar should be at the top rack

However, when he's sleeping, the house is too quiet and peaceful and I'll often wish he wakes up soon. But once he's awake and starts keeping me busy again, I hope Shaqeel goes right back to sleep :p

Tido ala katak

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T21:11:00.004+08:00

This year, I've added Mother's Day to my celebration list :) However, since Shaqeel is still a baby, I won't be getting any handmade cards or crafts yet. Maybe another 4 years time.

So, in consideration of his age and skills, the perfect Mother's Day gift you can give me, Shaqeel, is for you to sleep from 8pm until 8am tomorrow straight without asking for susu kay...Mwahhsssssss

Shaqeel who is now so active!

Running For A Cause

2010-04-26T22:53:00.006+08:00

I've registered for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010 under the Run For A Cause challenge (10km) inspired by Riri. My chosen cause is MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Nasional) simply because all my moms have it.

Please click the link below and help to donate for me to run for my cause. Thank you everyone.

http://www.kl-marathon.com/Users/runner_profile/23336

9 Months Checkup

2010-04-19T10:38:00.008+08:00

Last Saturday, we went for Shaqeel's 9 months follow up checkup with his paed at Pantai Hosp. His previous checkup was in January when he was 6 months for the immunization jab. He weighed 7.23kg then. He weighs 7.4kg now.

200g increase in 3 months!

Shaqeel actually has a very good appetite. I started him on solids when he was almost 6 months old. I've been feeding him porridge with meat/chicken/fish and broccoli/carrot for lunch and dinner. Sometimes, he snacks on bananas or apples. Well balanced diet, I think.

Anyway, the Dr asked to increase his milk intake. Babies below 1 year old gets most of their nutrients from milk and the objective of introducing solids is mainly to let them experience different taste and texture.

So she suggested that I may want to supplement Shaqeel with formula milk. The reason was because breast milk is low in iron so he might not get enough nutrients from breast milk alone. Formula is sure to contain all the iron babies need.

Anyone got any ideas?

Keeping Fit

2010-04-13T16:13:00.008+08:00

I have been stuck at my current weight for so long now. However, I'm not telling exactly how much in case you are wondering :p Tension sungguh tak kurus kurus ke pre pregnancy weight lagi. I have only 3 kgs to go but why is it so hard?!

So, in my attempt to reduce the inches and fit into my old body-hugging-tight tops, I've started walking/running again around the neighbourhood. I take Shaqeel with me most of the time. Shaqeel will be on the stroller and I'll walk briskly enough to produce some sweat. A lot actually. Usually it'll take me 30 mins to walk around the neighbourhood and I've estimated it to be around 3km. Not bad, huh.

After doing this for 3 times a week for 3 weeks now, I do feel great! Apart from sweating and working towards achieving my old weight, this walking around has inspired me. I've gathered some ideas on how to renovate our house and now, I only have Emil to convince....

A Visit to KL Bird Park

2010-04-05T11:35:00.011+08:00

We went to KL Bird Park 2 weekends ago with Nani, Uncle Shahreel and Aunty Finaz. That was my first time to the Bird Park and boy, was it huge! The worker there told us that it usually takes about 1.5 hour to 2 hours walk to fully explore the place. I survived only 1 hour 15 mins hehe

Why so serious, baby?

It was quite impressive, I must say. There were varieties of colourful birds and well explained too. Shaqeel is still young to appreciate the different birds but I think he did have fun looking at the colours, trees and the people.

Save me Mommy!

What's In A Name

2010-02-07T23:19:00.001+08:00

Shaqeel means Handsome. Aidin means Intelligent. All together, I've got a handsome and intelligent son, just like the father :)

Handsome, tapi comot sikit

We actually toyed with the idea of Shaqeel Imran or Shaqeel Haziq. Well, Aidin won.

Intelligent boy, trying to work the toy

Anddddd, I've got just the perfect name for a daughter, if Allah will bless me one. If not, then I'll still keep that and impose it to Shaqeel to name his daughter my perfect daughter's name huhu. Cannot reveal here, nanti orang tiru :p

Smiley Face

2009-12-16T20:49:00.002+08:00

This is the reason why I clock out 530pm sharp from office..or earlier :p

The other day, Emil tickled Shaqeel on his ears and he laughed out loud.... Ahhh just melts my heart...:)

Shaqeel's First Swim

2009-12-04T14:20:00.009+08:00

We went to PD recently and stayed in Thistle Hotel. Emil had a business meeting so I followed him. It is very new, recently opened in July 2009. The hotel is beautiful but honestly, there's nothing to shout about.

Thistle Hotel, PD

While Emil was away for work, I brought Shaqeel for his first swim. We bought the swimming trunk a while ago and I have been dying to use it. Yesssssssss!

My Cutie Pie

Shaqeel loved the water. He was a bit dramatic initially, probably because the water was cold. He warmed up pretty fast. That's good since I looooooooove beach holidays. Anyway, I was alone, so there was no one to take a picture of Shaqeel in action. Next time, Adam Rizqin dan Emma will join kay.

Ampang Point

2009-11-13T11:48:00.007+08:00

Yesterday, me and Emil went to Ampang Point sans Shaqeel to buy a blanket for Pops. Pops is sleeping at our house tonight for Shahreel's wedding on Sunday. Anyway, after I was done with shopping, the salesperson ( a teenage boy aged probably around 15 ) said to me...

"Thanks, Aunty...................."

Huhuhuhu! I have to stress here that Shaqeel was not with me and I was casually dressed too. Macam mana boleh jadi Aunty ye? I thought I'm still a Kakak. Sheeeeeesh.

Note to self: Gotta spruce up my attire walaupun hanya ke Ampang Point.

Shaqeel and his Pediatrician

2009-11-11T13:49:00.009+08:00

Right after Shaqeel was born, we were assigned a Pediatrician from Pantai Medical Centre, Bangsar. I did not like her initially because I felt that she wasn't too friendly. And she looks young, maybe in her mid 30s. Macam tak cukup experience gituh. I like old doctors.

Then, we decided to try a new Paed in Gleneagles by recommendation. I was hoping we would eventually change Shaqeel's Dr to the new one because he's old and it's also nearer to our house. This new Dr is fantastic with children. He made a lot of jokes with Shaqeel, although the one laughing is me. Hehe

Anyway, I asked him 3 questions;

1)Why does Shaqeel sound like he has blocked nose?
2)What is the bump/bruise I see on his upper arms? I freaked out a bit when I saw it the first time. It looked like a sting.
3)Kenapa Shaqeel bangun each time I put him down even though he is in a deep sleep. Haha.. nih pun nak tanya.

So peaceful. Macam ni 10 pun takpe hehe

The Dr answered:

1)That's completely normal for newborns because their airways are still small. So their breathing sounds blocked, but no need to worry yaaaa
2)Ohhh, that's the BCG marks. It's normal for the marks to look bruise like.
3)That's normal too. It's just what some newborns do. They have the startle reflex. When you put him down, he might flail his arms because he could not control it yet. The flailing arms will wake him up. The solution? Swaddling.

Alhamdulillah Shaqeel sihat. Butttttttt I paid RM463 to be told everything is normal kuikuikui

Flyingggggggggggg

2009-11-09T10:30:00.000+08:00

Emil likes to hold Shaqeel in this position, with one hand no less. Shaqeel looks like he's flying. Maybe you want to be a pilot one day, son? Mommy can fly for free then...hihihi

Shaq looking berkilat but he's fairer now huhu

Love

Now I understand why some people can not stop talking about their children..huhuhu

Tag: Your First Born

2009-10-31T20:04:00.001+08:00

This was a tag that has been around for quite some time and I took the liberty of tagging myself hehe

"Here you go moms - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself!
Let's see how much you remember!"

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Me and Emil have been trying for quite some time. It was so surreal when it finally happened.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
2.5 years at that time

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Shocked!

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
No.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
28

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I was late. I got a call. And then I peed on a stick.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Emil, naturally.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Of course! I want to know what colour to buy hehe

9. DUE DATE?
My due date was 31st July.

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
I had mild morning sickness between 11 to 13 weeks pregnant. I remember throwing up in the bathroom 2 nights in a row and blaming Emil for all of these kuikuikui

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Nothing, really. But I had food aversion towards lamb the first trimester. Rugi betul pi AlRawsha tak makan shish kebab.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
When people kept asking me when I was due. Maybe it was just small talk but it was irritating when I had to keep answering them!

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD SEX?
Boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
I really do not mind the sex. It is my first after all. Emil has always wanted a boy, though.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
19kgs. Am still trying to rid off 6kgs. Urghhhhh....

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Yes, I did :)

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
It was supposed to be a surprise but of course I can tell. Hehe. Thank you gals!

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No. It was a pleasant experience throughout.

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Pantai Medical Centre, Bangsar. We chose this hospital because of the Dr.

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
12 loooooooooooooong hrs!

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Emil.

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Emil, 2 midwives and the Dr.

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
I took the laughing gas (ethonox). I'm going to take epidural if there's a second one! Tak peduli la kalau RM800 satu cucuk huhuhu

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
2.72 kg.

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
25th July 2009, a lion.

30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Shaqeel Aidin which means Handsome and Intelligent. He's definitely handsome :)

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
3 months plus.

32. WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN?
God willing, I would want another 2. Hehehehehehehe

Daddy Cool

2009-10-28T14:50:00.000+08:00

And my mommy is hot!

How I Got To Know

2009-10-26T12:03:00.007+08:00

I was in Ampang Point one night in November 2008 when K Yen called me. She asked me out of the blue whether I was pregnant?! Sure, we have been trying for quite a while at that point but why the sudden question kan? We just had lunch together that afternoon, Me-K Yen-Adam-Rizzqin and chatted like usual. Saje nak kasi pressure ke? Wahhh tensen tensen.

I was also late that month but I didn't think anything of it. I have been late a couple of times before that, gotten my hopes up high, peed on a stick and obviously I wasn't pregnant. So frustrating!

She told me the reason she asked was because Adam said "Ada baby dalam perut Aunty Peachy. Ada Uncle Emil kecik........" Wah gituhhhh. Suspen ok.

Anyway, I can't believe I actually bought a test kit because of what Adam said hehe. I bought it without Emil knowing, tested it on my own when we got back kat toilet bawah, shocked when 2 lines appeared, wanted to scream but could not, smiled really wide, looked again just to be sure, went upstairs, hid the stick behind my back and told Emil I have his birthday present.

I told him I'm pregnant and showed him the proof. His initial reaction was disbelief. We hugged for just 1 second. Then he asked when was my last period, when did I ovulate, what was my body temp kuikuikui

We have been trying kan, so I've reasearched a lot and shared with Emil the science of getting pregnant: ovulation, body basal temp blah blah. I've always imagined that Emil will be crying (ok, maybe a few tears) or at least jumping with joy when the moment comes but nooooooo, he had to ask a lot of questions. Sheeeeeeesh.

Call Adam for your fortune telling :P

Shaqeel and Sleep

2009-10-23T10:55:00.011+08:00

The first 2 months of Shaqeel's life, he would only sleep on people's arms and will cry the moment he is put down. It was really tiring and incredibly taxing for me as I was also a bit possesive of who holds him hehe. The good thing is this happens only during day naps. He sleeps quite well during night time and thank god for that right?!

When I was pregnant, I had my mind set on a few things. No swing! No pacifier! No nursing to sleep! No sleeping on tummy! All these because I was afraid that he will be dependant on it and I got advices left and right. But, I became desperate.......

Shaqeel on his rocker

I caved in and bought a swing, a rocker and a pacifier. I also nurse him to sleep and he sleeps for ages on tummy hahaha Anything for survival ah.

Shaqeel chilling on his swing

Anyway he sleeps very well now. He naps about 3 hrs in the day. I put him in a routine at night . Around 630 to 7pm I'll start with nursing him, give him a warm bath and then I'll swaddle him. Finally I'll rock Shaqeel to sleep sambil buat shushing sound. This takes about 30 to 45 mins so usually by 715 to 730pm, he will be sound asleep and then I'll put him down in his crib on his tummy. Then, I can have my dinner in peace :)

8 out of 10 times this works. The other 2 times, I'll be stressed out.

3D Scan

2009-10-22T17:29:00.011+08:00

Shaq at 28 weeks

I would like to share with you this 3D scan we took when I was 28 weeks pregnant. I had been searching for a clinic that does 3D scan with a reasonable price. I called up a clinic in Tmn Tun by reference and my goodness, they charged RM450! Obviously I did not do it.

Anyway, upon further research, I found out about Vision College in Kelana Jaya and called them up to make an appointment. They only cost a mere RM60! Unfortunately, they could not fit me in as they were fully booked. But, they offered me something else.

They asked whether I want to be involved in a 3D scan machine demonstration and don't mind being watched by 3 doctors while they scan my baby. In short they are asking me to become a lab rat. Since this is a college, doctors come here to learn about this new 3D machine. If I agreed, they would do a 3D scan on me for free, provide me with a CD and on top of that, they will give me RM30 for petrol! Huhuhuhu. I said yes, obviously.

Now that Shaqeel is born, can you see any similarity? Coz I can't.

3 Weeks Old

2009-10-22T12:34:00.003+08:00

By 3 weeks post-partum, I was already desperate for my old-self. Motherhood is tough. Shaqeel cried a lot which was what apparently due to angin. He slept only on my arms and will cry the moment he was put down. He nursed all the time. That was the moment when I truly accepted why God made me and Emil wait 3 years. I had much shorter fuse 3 years ago..kuikuikui

3 weeks old and already chubbier cheeks

Despite all that, I would do this again in a heartbeat :) But let's wait till I'm back at my pre pregnancy weight kay.

Jaundice

2009-10-19T12:17:00.004+08:00

Shaqeel had jaundice after he was born and I was heartbroken. We had to stay longer in the hospital after delivery because he had to be put under the UV light for treatment. He was cleared after 3 days but had to go back for checkup. He still has it after 1 week and we decided to rent the UV light and do it at home instead.

Suntanning at home

After 2 weeks, we went back for further checkup and God, he still has it! I broke down and cried in front of the Dr and was sobbing when I left the room. Orang kat luar sure suspen Shaqeel sakit apa kuikuikui Rupa rupanya jaundice jeeeeee

Anyway what cleared him of jaundice was breastmilk. Apparently he had breastmilk jaundice. Please google if you want to know more of it hehe.

at Paed's office, still has a bit of jaundice

Fresh Out Of The Oven

2009-10-18T10:51:00.002+08:00

Moments after birth

Shaqeel's Birth Story

2009-10-17T10:37:00.002+08:00

Maybe I should start with Shaqeel's birth story. Please bare with me, this is going to be looooooooooooooong..as long as my labour!

I was already on my 39th week pregnancy, to be exact it was 39 weeks and 2 days when I had Shaqeel. It was friday night. Me and Emil had our last dinner before we became parents at our favorite restaurant in Ampang. They served really hot and spicy Mexican food and very tasty too. From what I read, spicy food induces labour so I guess that chicken marinated in chilli and the beef fajitas I had were partly responsible.

Las Carretas, Ampang

I was already anxious to have the baby by that time. My due date was nearing. I did not know what to expect. Will I know what contraction feels like? I was afraid that the baby will come out when I'm in the car or on the bed or in the toilet. Yeah, right. Everyone I ask ed told me that you will know if and when you are having contraction. And yes, they were right. There's no mistaking what contraction feels like!

Anyway, we went to the hospital straight away. I was admitted at 5am and upon checking, I was already 5 cm. I was excited. This is going to be smooth, I thought. By 11am, I should be holding this baby on my arms, I'll be crying out of pure joy and I'll be gushing like nobody's business on my baby's cuteness. Unfortunately, that was not what happened.

By 11am, I was only 6 cm! The pain was still bearable. It really felt like cirit pain but multiply it 1000 times hehe. I was frustrated because they had to induce me. Arghhhh takutnye! I heard a lot of horror stories regarding induced labour.

After they induced me at about 12pm, I measured 7cm. Only 3 cm to go. This should be fast. Again I thought wrong.

By 2pm I remember feeling like dying! The pain was intense. I begged for epidural but was denied because I was already 7cm. I took ethonox (the laughing gas) and somewhat relieved the pain. You were supposed to take the gas when you can feel a contraction coming but I was also taking it in between contractions. I was highhhhhh and it was gooooooooood....

Highhhhhhhh

By about 5pm I was already 10cm and felt the need to push. Pushing was great because the sensation was like passing stool. Emil was with me all this while and I have to give credit to him for being really supportive. He even coached me how to breathe thanks to the antenatal class we attended.

The baby was already crowning but I was really tired of pushing. No wonder they call it labour! In the end Dr Hamid had to vacuum the baby out and I remember being injected with anesthetic. The Dr asked whether it was painful and I said it was. Then he said "Laaaaa...baru inject..belum lagi beranakkkk" And everyone laughed, including Emil. Sheeeeeesh....

527pm was the moment our lives changed forever. Shaqeel Aidin was born and he is absolutely perfect.

The cutest baby in the world ever =)

Shaqeel Aidin bin Shahemil, 250709, 2.72kg

First Post

2009-10-16T10:30:00.000+08:00

Due to Riri's demand, I've decided to blog about Shaqeel and his adventurous life hehe. This is good too. This way, I can post pictures and share stories about Shaqeel so that everyone can stop bugging me to MMS Shaq's latest pictures, what he is up to now, how is he sleeping, blah blah..