1st Anniversary…

Tick.. tock.. tick.. tock.. How time flies..
Today is 1st of May, marks our 1st wedding anniversary..
It’s become more meaningful with the existence of our lovely baby..
I hope we can go thru ups and downs together..
And, I pray our marriage will last forever.. InsyaAllah..

I love you, abang..

Ada Apa Dengan Coconut Shake Klebang?

Pernah rasa coconut shake? Ala, rasa kelapa yang diblender, tambah aiskrim vanilla dan air gula sikit.. Time musim panas macam ni, pergh.. memang sedap la.. Hilang haus di tekak.. Aku ni, sebab breastfeed baby, tahan ajelah nafsu nak minum segala macam minuman yang berais .. ABC, ice blended etc.. Takpelah, for my own good jugak… 

Apa yang specialnya cocunut shake kat Klebang ni, ye? Entah, aku pun tak tahu.. Rasanya kat mana2 pun sama.. Tapi, kat sini, orang boleh beli sampai berpuluh-puluh bungkus, pastu barisannya panjang yang amat.. Kalau lalu jalan Klebang ni waktu siang dan jam, memang tak lain tak bukan sebab orang parking kereta tepi2 jalan nak beli coconut shake ni la.. So, siapa2 yang datang Klebang, try la coconut shake kat sini and tell me what is so special about it.. Oh ya, tak silap harganya RM1.80 satu..

Ni time tak ramai orang sangat.. Kalau ramai, jangan harap my hubby nak berhenti pegi beli.. hehe..

Haikal At 2 Months..

It was last Saturday.. Kitorang bawak dia ke Dataran Pahlawan, Melaka for his clothes shopping..

“Haikal, this coming Sunday will be your “cukur jambul” ceremony in kampung, that’s why mama wants you to look good and handsome on that day.. biar lebih hensem dari pengantin.. hihi” :)

“Okay, mama.. And I dont mind become botak after that as long I get new pair of clothes :)..”

Haikal milestones at 2 months old:

• Berat badan sudah 5.5kg sekarang.. means naik 0.9kg.. Sekarang dah tak takut sangat pegang dia, timang2 sikit sebab badan dah semangat.. Tinggi 60cm.. Doktor cakap “Tingginya..”, ada chance jadi model anak mama ni.. :P
• Haikal dah mula senyum bila orang mengagah dia.. Ini yang paling geram sekali, mama pun tersenyum dan gelak tengok Haikal senyum… Kalau tersengih tu, senget je bibir macam orang tersenyum sinis.. hehe..
• I think he can recognize me now.. rasanya lah.. Tak pun mama perasan!.. :P
• Sudah mula susah nak tidur siang.. tidur sekejap, tak sampai 1 jam dah terbangun balik.. naik lenguh2 dan kebas kaki meriba dan mendodoi tidurkan Haikal.. Lagi satu, Haikal suka surrounding bising2 kot masa dia tidur.. sebab kalau sunyi aje, cepat aje terbangun.. Mungkin dia rasa orang dah tinggalkan dia sorang-sorang..
• Pandangannya dah lebih fokus.. Let say I sit in front of him, then bangun… He will watch where I go.. Bila mainan-mainan kat playgim atau rocker bergerak2, dia tengok tak berkelip..  Haikal nampak seronok dan leka bila dalam baby cot and papa pasangkan mainan pusing2 kat atas kepala baby cot tu.. He will fall asleep after that.. Bila macam ni, senang mama buat kerja lain.. Harap2 tak cepat boring ye, nak.. 
• Sudah kurang mengeliat dan meneran sekarang.. So, masa tidur, takdelah bising2 dengar Haikal mengeliat.. Doctor cakap mengeliat atau meneran tu because of angin dalam badan, and it is one of the symptom of kembung perut (colic).. that is normal, lama-lama it will go away.. Masa Haikal baru lahir pernah kena kembung perut ni.. kesian, asyik berak2.. pergi doctor and he gave Dentinox – Infant Colic Drop.. Alhamdulillah, after that Haikal okay.. Kalau Haikal susah nak tidur malam ke, bagi dia 1 drop..
• Pandai dah masukkan tangan dalam mulut.. Habis basah mittens..

Looking For Rompers Model?

I can be one of them! :) See how I pose, sure your rompers will laku one.. Beside pink colour romper, I also suit for any colour..

In blue romper, few days after birth… This is how I act when watching football match and my favourite team wins..

Polka dot love romper.. I can give sweet smile… “Bisa jadi peragut hati wanita”, like what my papa said.. :P

In Yellow.. “Hi everyone…” while waving my hand to the air..

Long sleeve romper from Auntie Dyan.. Now, it is very fit in me because I have gain weight a little bit..

Pink romper.. With sleepy face..

In green.. Tidur penuh gaya..

Orange romper from Auntie Peng.. Me in confusion mode, muka selamba..

In white.. I was told by the photographer not to look at the camera.. so, I pandang kipas la..

One more in pink.. Muka tak puas hati.. hehe..

Blue baseball romper.. In candid also, I do look good, rite?

So, do I have the chance to be your model??? Please.. please.. please.. kamu jangan nakal..

Busy That Makes Me Dizzy..

Aku start berkerja semalam.. Balik dari Melaka on last Sunday, sampai rumah terus kemas sikit-sikit.. Dah ada baby, buat keje sekejap, lepas tu berhenti layan dia bile menangis atau merengek.. Pastu sambung balik.. Lambat sikitlah nak siap sesuatu keje tu.. Begitulah rutin agaknya sampai Haikal besar sikit dan boleh main sendiri.. So, for now, memang kena tune timing sikit.. Bangun awal, buat keje cepat-cepat masa baby tido, bangun tengah-tengah malam/pagi untuk menyusukan etc.. I really hope I can cope with this new phase of life with my new family.. InsyaAllah..

Bayi Lelaki Berkhatan Semasa Kecil..

Normal bagi baby girl bersunat semasa kecil.. Tapi, for baby boy, macam mana? Kalau dulu, jarang kita dengar, tapi sekarang dah jadi perkara biasa..

And, yes, my baby Haikal sudah bersunat! :) Bila hubby cakap nak sunatkan/khatankan Haikal masa dia baby lagi, aku tak setuju pada mulanya.. Lepas Haikal lahir, nurse pun ada tanya nak khatankan sekali ke?.. After bincang-bincang barulah aku setuju.. So, Haikal disunatkan semasa baru 2 hari.. Aku tak tengok sebab masih dalam ward..

Masing-masing ada pendapat yang tersendiri.. Yang aku dengar dari orang lain termasuklah:

1. Baby kecik lagi.. Kesian, takut sakit..

2. Nak tunggu besar, nak buat kenduri bila sunat nanti.. So that he has something to remember when he grow older..

3. Biar sama-sama rasa apa yang kawan-kawan lain rasa.. kot ada sepupu-sepupu yang sebaya, boleh experience the same thing together.. lebih kurang macam tulah..

Tapi, pada pendapat aku, bila tengok Haikal dah sunat awal2 ni, lagi senang.. Sebab still baby, minum pun susu aje.. Tak perlu pantang2 macam orang dah besar.. Takde kena jaga apa2 pun.. Just monitor aje bebird (pipit) dia sampai ring tu tertanggal sendiri.. biasanya, bila tali pusat tanggal, ring kat bebird pun tanggal sekali, or maybe lambat sikit.. Haikal tak menangis or cranky masa baru lahir, so I assumed bebird dia tak sakit..

Jadi, dah besar nanti, boleh eksyen dengan kawan-kawan, cakap “Saya dah sunat!”.. Ada-ada aje mama ni.. hehe..

Alahai, main intai-intai pulak dia.. :)

Countdown To “Back To Office”…

Lemahnya.. huhu.. Tapi, kehidupan perlu diteruskan.. I have to work to for our living.. Cuma, rasa beratlah nak tinggalkan baby nanti.. Dahlah nak kena hantar nursery, macam manalah Haikal cope dengan life kat sana? Akan dibiarkan ke dia menangis mintak diangkat? Bila time mandi, dimandikan betul2 ke sampai wangi? Bila poo-poo, cepat2 tak diorang tukarkan pampers? Haish, macam-macam fikir sampai naik risau.. Kalau hantar kat orang (belum jumpa lagi orang yang sesuai), pun risau jugak.. sekarang macam-macam kes.. Takpelah, buat masa sekarang, hantar nursery dulu and tengok macam mana.. Kalau sesuai, boleh teruskan aje.. lagipun nursery dekat aje dengan rumah sewa dan rumah baru nanti.. Haikal behave ye, nak.. Jangan nangis-nangis, bagi semua auntie2 kat nursery tu sayang kat Haikal.. hehe..

Sebelum masuk office, terasa nak potong rambut.. Rambut pun dah panjang sangat ni..  Best jugak kalau dapat buat facial, body scrub ke.. Kat Melaka ni, ada tempat best lagi murah tak? nak yang best-best, tapi murah.. Adatlah.. hihi.. Baju-baju lama still boleh pakai lagi, so, tak adalah nak tukar semua secara mendadak.. sikit-sikitlah beli nanti.. Bosan juga kalau pakai yang sama aje :)… Seronok, sudah boleh pakai jeans lama.. Ada satu jeans lagi yang tak muat, jeans tu memang extra keciklah.. huhu.. Berusahalah kita mengempiskan apa yang kembang.. haha.. Pernah terbaca article orang risau tak kurus lepas bersalin.. Consultant tu jawab, kite carry baby dan gain weight for 9 months.. Then, lepas bersalin nak terus back to normal shape, manalah boleh.. slow-slow lah kalau nak dapat berat asal balik.. At least target, dalam 9 bulan mesti back to shape..

After this dah boleh bergiat aktif balik dengan Tupperware.. wee.. Itu yang diingatnya.. hehe.. Siapa-siapa minat nak beli Tupperware, boleh cari aku.. I also want to add my collection.. Yang ini sure En. Ahmad tak setuju.. hehe..

HOMEDEC Datang Lagi..

Argh.. kenapa Homedec kali ni jatuh pada 29 April 2010 hingga 2 May 2010?? Organizer, boleh tukar tarikh tak? Haha, suka-suka je.. Aku kat Melaka time tu, kenduri kahwin abang ipar.. Maka, terlepaslah peluang menghadirkan diri ke sana.. Baru cadang-cadang nak tengok sofa empuk-empuk mana tau boleh dapat murah, peti ais ke dan macam-macam home appliances yang lain.. Semua under one roof, senang nak tengok..

Last year pegi, dapat deal untuk kitchen kabinet dan beli hood, hob and oven.. So, I’ve been thinking this year nak cari benda lain pulak especially sofa.... Tak dapeklah nampaknya.. Kite cari kat kedai perabot ajelah.. hehe..

Tak sabar nak pindah rumah sendiri.. Duduk rumah sewa, macam-macam hal.. huhu.. Cepatlah pemaju, bagi kami kunci..

Inilah our little home sweet home nanti.. Aku pun tak sure mana satu rumah kitorang.. hihi..

Tips Cemerlang Exam PTD..

Nak bagi tips konon! Macamlah aku jawab cemerlang sangat.. hehe.. Dalam berkira-kira nak pergi ke tak nak hari tu, akhirnya aku pergi jugak..Aku amik kat City Bayview Hotel, Melaka.. Berkobar-kobar sehari sebelum pergi, kononnya nak belajar.. Tapi, sampai 11pm, baru sempat tengok2 nama Menteri-Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri.. Itu pun tak terhafal.. Lepas tu, sibuk nak tidurkan Haikal.. Lambat pulak dia tidur malam tu.. Dalam pada menepuk-nepuk anak, aku pun skali terlelap.. hehe.. Papa Haikal lagilah, dah tidur dulu sebelum Haikal tidur.. Aku terbangun balik 1.00am++.. Sempat buat EBM sambil baca Dasar-Dasar Malaysia serba-sedikit.. Bila baby terbangun nak susu balik, dengan itu tamatlah sesi ulangkaji aku.. Ini baru nak exam PTD, dah mcm ni.. Jadi takde harapan lah nak sampai amik PhD.. hihihi..

Thanks kawan2 yang bagi tips suruh baca Malaysia Kita ke, Malaysia Kini ke.. Kalau dah macam ni punya last minit, segala jenis buku pun dah tak bermakna lagi.. :P

Well, bila dah menjawab soalan peperiksaan PTD ni, aku ingat nak bagi sikit tips yang tak seberapa bagi sesiapa yang bakal mengambilnya next time.. Tips-tipsnya ialah:

1. Walaupun kurang study, kena tau format soalan yang akan kite jawab pada hari peperiksaan..So that, takdelah rasa terkejut masa dapat kertas soalan.. Rasanya kat surat biru yang SPA hantar kat kita tu ada format exam ni.. Ada 2 Bahagian; Bahagian 1 dan Bahagian 2.. Nak tau lebih lanjut, rujuk laman web SPA ni..

2. Bagi yang dapat surat tawaran lambat (macam aku), rasa gelabah dan tak bersedia nak jawab exam, don’t worry.. Mr. Google boleh membantu.. Memang tak sempat kalau nak study buku tebal-tebal, so the best way just search in Google.. Carilah tentang Dasar-Dasar Malaysia, Dasar-dasar Kerajaan, senarai menteri-menteri di JPM.. Ada presentation slide yang ringkas atau short note yang lebih senang dihafal..

3. Soalan bahagian pengetahuan am merangkumi semua yang berlaku di Malaysia especially tentang isu-isu semasa, tentang filem, sukan etc.. Contoh soalan yang aku dapat masa exam: Apakah slogan 1Malaysia? Piala Dunia FIFA 2010 di mana? Aku kantoi soalan ni.. Mana aku amik kisah tentang football ni.. Kalau tanya siapa terkeluar AF8 minggu lepas, tahu la jugak menjawab.. haha..

4. Untuk soalan jenis esei tu, ada 3 options.. Bagi yang rasa tak confident nak jawab soalan berdasarkan fakta, pilih soalan yang lebih general.. lepas tu pandai-pandailah goreng.. hihi.. Tentang perpaduan rakyat Malaysia contohnya..

5. Soalan-soalan tentang minat dan sahsiah ada 200 soalan masing2… Ala-ala survey lah, jawab setuju, kurang setuju, sangat tidak setuju etc.. Tapi, bagi aku yang selalu jawab survey (and dapat point), benda ni mudah saja.. just be yourself and tanda OMR cepat2 sebab masa sangat limited, 40 minit untuk 200 soalan Sikap.. dan 20 minit untuk 200 soalan minat…

6. Last but not least, kalau ada baby, make sure baby tidur dulu sebelum mula study.. kehkehkeh..

Gambar selingan..

Cubaan Haikal menidurkan papanya.. Ops, terbalik.. :P

His First Adventurous Outing…

Sebelum bertolak..

Ini kali pertama bawa Haikal keluar berjalan.. Pergi klinik tak kira.. Kitorang pergi shopping di Jusco Melaka yang baru bukak tu.. At first, ingat nak dukung aje.. Tapi, tengok Haikal tertido dalam Mosses Basket dia, kesian pulak nak angkat.. Jadi, terus angkat dia dengan basket skali.. sebab belum ada stroller lagi..

Tengok tu, adventure tak? Lenguh jugak tangan menjinjing basket tu.. Bukan main sedap Haikal tido.. agaknya selesa panas-panas macam kena kepit bawah ketiak.. hehe..

Then, di Jusco tengok-tengok stroller.. and terus beli dan letak Haikal dalam tu.. Mula-mula diam aje, tapi, dah lama-lama merengek.. Selalunya kalau bangun dari tido, orang angkat dia.. ni orang biar aje, mau tak menjerit dibuatnya.. :P

Mood tengah baik ni, dalam stroller baru Sweet Cherry SCR5..

Haikal tolong atuk dengan nenek pilih cadar baru..

Feeding time! Masa yang dinanti-nantikan…

Dah tido, baru boleh letak balik dalam stroller.. Masa kitorang makan, Haikal tido, jadi takdelah kena ambil giliran nak makan.. hehe..

I’m Now In Melaka Bandar Bersejarah..

Lepas habis pantang, terus balik Melaka rumah mak mertua.. Aku kat sini sampai habis maternity leave nanti…

Selama lebih sebulan duduk rumah mak sendiri, bila nak keluar rumah, macam2 rasa ada.. Rasa suka sebab akhirnya dapat keluar tengok dunia luar balik.. hehe.. At the same time rasa sebak dan sedih.. Dulu bila baca entry kak Mirah, takde rasa apa sangat.. Sekarang, bila lalui sendiri, baru tahu macam mana perasaan tu.. Tapi, lama-lama OK la.. dah jadi biasa..

Lesson to learn: Mak orang tak boleh menangis.. Nak menangis kena sorok-sorok..

Amboi… Macam Orang Besar!

Photo was taken before Haikal 1 month.. Bila meniarapkan dia, macam orang besar aje.. Siap angkat kepala, pastu kaki menendang2 like he want to push himself forward… Kalau haus nak susu, nanti Haikal tunduk kepala and masukkan sarung tangan dalam mulut.. Sometimes, kalau Haikal meragam tak nak tido, mama akan meniarapkan dia.. Lepas tu, senyap la sekejap..

Ini lagi satu.. Haikal’s favourite pose time tido.. Tangan siap letak bawah bantal tu.. :) Daripada tido tegak sampai senget2..

PTD or PhD?

Aku dapat surat untuk sit exam PTD this Saturday.. Sepatutnya kena kat KL.. But, my hubby managed to arrange so that I can sit the exam in Melaka.. Hmm, memang tak tahu nak pergi ke tak.. Kalau pergi, aku tak bersedia apa pun.. Dapat tahu pun last minute.. Nama Menteri Kabinet Malaysia pun tak hafal, inikan pulak kalau tanya aku fasal isu-isu semasa di Malaysia.. Akta-akta lagilah sangat, entah apa-apa aku belasah nanti.. huhu.. Tapi, dalam takde persediaan ni, aku teringin jugak nak pergi amik exam tu.. Harapan memang tak menggunung.. It’s just aku nak experience macam mana amik exam untuk join government ni..

Kalau aku pergi, doakan aku berjaya ye.. Kalau aku tak pergi, doakan aku berjaya jugak ye.. Berjaya dalam bidang lain la.. :P

Ikea Invention – Lint Roller..

Jalan-jalan kat Ikea few months back, terjumpa benda alah ni.. BÄSTIS lint roller.. Tak pernah lagi terjumpa kat tempat2 lain.. Beria-ia aku nak beli sebab sofa murah kat rumah senang melekat habuk dan rambut.. Jika sebelum ni, pakai salotape or vacuum untuk bersihkan sofa tu, sekarang tidak lagi.. ceh, macam iklan pulak.. :P

 

Source: Ikea Malaysia

Konsepnya sama macam pakai salotape.. dia ada few layers of adhesive paper yang boleh lekatkan dust/dirts on top of it.. just golekkan aje roller tu kat sofa.. so, bile dah penuh kotoran atas layer tu, terus buang and guna pulak the next layer.. Kalau layer dah nak abis, jangan risau, ada jual refill dia.. 

This is the way to use it..

Note: Suka pegi Ikea and tengok barang2 dia.. Even mula2 takde niat nak beli apa2, tapi, bila balik mesti ada jugak barang yang dibeli.. and Karipap Ikea takkan dilupakan..

Berakhirnya Tempoh Berpantang..

Pejam celik, pejam celik, esok ialah hari terakhir aku berpantang.. Dah tiba hari yang ke-44.. Sekejap aje rasanya.. Ada orang pantang 40 hari aje, ada yang 60 hari, 100 hari.. Ikutlah, masing2 ada their own preferences.. Aku duduk dengan mak, ikutlah cara mak.. Kalau mak kata itu ini tak boleh makan, so, aku tak makanlah.. After sebulan hari tu, dah boleh makan ayam.. sedap lah sikit, asyik2 ikan aje, naik muak dibuatnya.. hehe.. almaklumla, makan memilih.. bila dah terpaksa, aku bedal ajelah.. :P

Berakhirnya tempoh berpantang tak bermakna aku boleh makan sesuka hati.. kena slow2 la nak balik ke normal routine.. Sebab my baby breastfeed.. so, aku kena tahan dulu lah nak makan pedas2 which is my favourite.. nak minum ice-blended, ice-cream ke semua tu pun kena hold dulu.. bila tengok orang makan, memang geram aje.. tengoklah macam mana nanti, boleh tahan tak pantang lagi? Atau pantang nampak? haha..

Erm, memang macam2 nak makan ni..hehe.. first skali, nasi lemak.. ni last thing tak dapat makan masa pagi sebelum bersalin hari tu.. sebab nasi lemak belum sampai kat kedai makan tu.. Pastu, bila dah rasa contraction, terus admit masuk labour room.. Then, nak makan Johny’s Steamboat.. Malam sebelum pegi hospital, me and hubby makan kat Jusco Cheras Selatan.. yum yum dah terasa kesedapannya ni.. Hari tu tanya mak “Lepas pantang ni, boleh makan steamboat tak? Steamboat, sup aje..” Mak jawab “Kot ye pun tunggu la dulu.. Lepas 2 bulan, pegilah..” haha.. tak sabar2.. Pastu, nak makan sambal sotong yang mak masak.. Duduk rumah, telan air liur ajelah tengok adik2 makan sambal sotong.. huhu.. Dah pesan dah kat mak, nanti time aku datang Wangsa Maju, masakkan sambal sotong.. :P Okay, dahlah tu pasal makan… Ikut selera aku, memang banyak lagi nak makan.. hehe..

Selama lebih sebulan duduk rumah, TV dah semakin sinonim dengan kehidupan seharian.. Dah hafal intisari rancangan setiap hari.. Bermula cerita korea East of Eden kul 11.00 pagi, pastu Tasbih Cinta, Air Mata Cinta, Siong diikuti dengan Na O Mei and Diari Akademi Fantasia 8.. Haa, sampai ke malam la dok layan TV.. Sometimes dah penat sangat, tertido jugaklah.. baby tak tido, mama yang tido.. :) Sekarang dah tertunggu2 cerita Samarinda – Asmaradana pulak.. Hari2 tengok Ikram Dinzly dalam Na O Mei and Asmaradana, rasa handsome lah pulak mamat tu.. hehe.. Nasib nama baby tak jadi Haikal Dinzly… haha..

Alhamdulillah aku dapat breastfeed Haikal sekarang.. Masa baby baru lahir, nurse mintak kebenaran bagi Formula Milk.. I said OK, sebab masa tu breast milk pun tak keluar lagi dan aku masih lemah.. Lepas dah berurut, baru breast milk bertambah dan aku stop bagi Formula Milk kat Haikal.. Harap2 dapat fully breastfeed to my baby selama yang boleh.. target mula2 ni, until 6 months la.. Jadi, sebelum masuk kerja nanti, operasi memerah susu untuk buat EBM (Expressed Breast Milk) stock akan bermula.. Sekarang ni, EBM aku bagi kat baby waktu siang.. Nak biasakan baby minum susu dari botol.. Senang bila hantar baby ke nursery nanti.. Bila cakap pasal masuk kerja ni, wargh.. malasnya nak masuk keje balik.. Rasa payah nak tinggalkan baby kat orang lain sebab dah terbiasa mengadap si kecik 24/7..

Who Said Boy Can’t Wear Pink?

When I bought baby’s diaper bag during my vacation at Bandung, few people ask me, “Kenapa pink?”.. Hehe.. Sebab mama suka pink.. No matter my baby is boy, yang bawak beg ialah mama, kan? :P

Haikal’s diaper bag..

I also wanted to buy pink t-shirt and pant for our baby when we went out for baby shopping.. But, hubby refused.. He said boy cannot wear pink or other girly colour like purple.. Tapi, Haikal received few pair of rompers gift set from hubby’s friend. And, one of it is pink in colour… Orang dah bagi, kite pakai ajelah.. hehe.. So, this is how he looks in pink romper!

Even though I wear pink, I still looks handsome lah, papa.. :P

The A to Z of Fatherhood…

I found this interesting (and funny too!) article in old magazine “Pregnancy & Birth” Australia’s No. 1 Pregnancy Magazine dated July/August 2004.. Let share together :)

I like the letter B, E, H, L, M, O, T hehe..

A is for Anaesthetics. They’re extremely important during the birth, which is a very stressful time. I found the nitrous oxide a hoot. My wife opted for the epidural.

B is for Breastmilk. Yes, every dad-to-be can’t wait to taste it and once they do, they wish they never did. Your baby on the other hand, adores the stuff.

C is for Coughs, conjunctivitis, chickenpox and a host of other baby health scares. It’s important to be ready to act if your baby’s health goes bad, but for your first baby you’re likely to be fanatical. So, for the most part, just try to chill.

D is for Depression. Most mums get it to some degree and you’ll be the one copping it simply because you’re there. Rest assured, if it’s making you feel bad., your partner is feeling worse. When it happens, don’t forget that it isn’t “them” when they’re depressed and it isn’t something they can just snap out of. It has to be worked through and you’ll be her biggest help – even if she’s just called you every foul name imaginable.

E is for Equipment. If it hasn’t happened already, your house will soon be colonised by an inordinate amount of baby support gear. The cot, crib and change table start things off and within a months there will be a full-scale invasion of large plastic primary-coloured stuff that costs a small fortune and clashes with the interior colour scheme.

F is for Feeding, which your baby will do without regard for when your favourite tv program is on or when you really should be sleeping.

G is for Golf Course. This is the reason why you obstetrucian will turn up after the midwives have done all the work.

H is for Housework. An ugly word at the best of times. The good news is that your partner won’t be vacuuming when you’re trying to watch the footy anymore. The bad news is that this is because you’ll now be doing it.

I is for Immunisations and your little addition will be getting them all in the first 6 months. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and probably a few more. The bad news? They’re all injections. The good news? Some vaccines are combined, meaning fewer of them.

J is for Jugs, known in more polite circles as breasts. Not only your partner’s shirt potatoes going to swell to magnificent new proportions, but they’re your baby’s life support system so laud them at will. With breastmilk they even take on a “squirting corsage” comedy element that never fails to get a laugh.

K is for Kegels – otherwise known as pelvic floor exercises. If you plan on having a sex life after the baby, get your lady to do these. They’ll get everything downstairs back in shape so she knows you’re there next time you make love. Here’s the drill: squeeze and hold the bladder muscles like you’re trying to hold in a wee, hold for 3 seconds then relax. Get her to do that 15 times, 3 times a day and you’ll be on your way to having a meaningful sex life again.

L is for Labour, which is traumatic enough for you, let alone your partner. Although it’s fashionable to video tape it these days, don’t, unless you like blood and screaming. Besides, do you want to see your baby’s first moments through a viewfinder?

M is for Midwives. These people play award winning support roles at the birth. Paid a quarter of an obstetrician’s salary and worth twice as much.

N is for Nappy changing. Although the big joke is how dry-wretchingly disgusting it is, for the four first months, baby poo doesn’t smell anywhere near as bad as yours does. And the colour range from jet black to light suede is perfectly normal and somehow strangely intriguing.

O is for Oh, when will I lose this weight? And we’re not talking about your lady but you, fatso. For the past 9 months you’ve supported her by being your partner in baby-building gluttony. Then in one big whoosh she will lose 10kg while you’re still waddling around with a sympathetic bump.

P is for Pram envy. Now that car makers like Jeep and BMW are making them, prams have become the latest in keeping up with the Joneses. There are ones with inbuilt CDs, eskys, stubbie holders, suspension, go-faster stripes, the lot. As long as it gets you and bubs from A to B it’s a winner.

Q is for Queen, because when you have your first baby this is what your partner becomes, so treat her like one – she’s earned it. Praise her, hug her, reassure her and the her how bloody amazing she is.

R is for Rashes. Babies get lots of them. Most mean nothing so don’t race to the doctor’s every time you think you see a spot.

S is for Social life. On one hand you won’t have one, on the other hand brace yourself for relatives, friends, friends of relatives and relatives of friends coming out of the woodwork. It’s lovely but you’ll hardly have a minute for yourself, never mind afternoon tea with a great aunt you haven’t seen since you were two. Deal with the adoring hordes by making particular times when you’ll be “taking visitors”.

T is for Trauma. While the birth of a child is a miracle of life, it’s the physical equivalent of driving a Mack truck through a McDonalds drive thru – there’s going to be some damage. So, for at least 3 months, you’ll need to back off from jumping your partner’s bones again, tiger.

U is for Umbilical cord which is the bit of skin connecting your partner and your baby. A marvel life support system maybe, but it looks like grey sausage skin. The midwives like to give you first dibs on cutting it. Quite unappealing really.

V is for Vagina, vulva, vasectomy and all those other anatomical sounding words. All best avoided especially the third one.

W is for Wee. Expect to get covered in it, especially if you have a boy because they pee double their body length, no sweat. It’s usually onto you face but if they miss, it’ll be on your trousers just before going to work. They think this is the funniest thing in the world. So will your partner.

X is for Xerses, Xavier, Xuxa, Xania and all the other ridiculous names you mulled over for days before finally choosing your baby’s name. It’s only when you have a baby that you realize the staggering amount of stupid names out there.

Y is for Your parents, also known as the new grandparents. They’ll lecture you constantly about baby raising, which gets grating. Don’t be too hard on them – remember they’re front line babysitters.

Z is for Zzzzz, i.e. sleep which for you will be the new sex because you won’t get enough of it and when you do get it, it’s awesome. Just like sex really, which is how you got here in the first place.

 

So, which letter you like the most? :P

Novel Cinta Melayu..

Jiwang ke kalau baca novel cinta melayu? It used to be my favourite past time masa zaman belajar dulu.. Dah kahwin, dah kurang dah baca novel ni.. Karang ralit membaca, lupa pulak nak masak.. :P Lagipun jalan cerita novel2 baru ni macam stereo-type aje.. Predictable and tak ingat bila recall balik.. Aku baca gitu2 aje.. Antara novel yang mula2 aku baca and ingat jalan cerita sampai sekarang ialah Ombak Rindu – Fauziah Ashaari, Adam dan Hawa – Aisya Sofea..

Rasanya beribu aku invest beli novel.. Mostly novel Melayu.. yang English aku suka Sidney Sheldon, mau makan berminggu jugak la nak abiskan baca sebuah.. hehe.. Time Pesta Buku Antarabangsa memang saat yang ditunggu2.. Boleh dapat novel2 lama dengan harga murah.. Last aku pegi book fair 2 years ago.. ada lagi novel yang aku beli time tu tak terbaca pun.. Now, aku dah tak beli lagi.. Mak aku pulak yang sambung beli sebab dia dah addicted baca novel.. Hari tu Pesta Buku Antarabangsa 2010, mak pergi lah cari novel terbaru..

Mini library kat rumah mak… Ada yang pinjam tak pulang, end up aku malas lagi nak bagi pinjam kat orang.. huhu..

Kalau suka baca novel and nak dapat lebih diskaun, beli kat area Jalan TAR.. Kat situ banyak kedai buku, Pustaka Mukmin, Kedai Buku Minerva, semua novel 20% diskaun..

Last Catch at Babies Kingdom..

Few days before my (unexpected early) delivery, we went for shopping for our little one. I didn’t expect that it would be my last shopping activities before delivery.. We went to Babies Kingdom at Kota Damansara.. It was our 2nd time… The first time was just to survey the price and at that time the shop was newly open for 2 weeks.. Then, few weeks later, we came again to grab the stuffs we need..

Babies Kingdom at Kota Damansara..

I like the entrance door deco!

So, these are stuff for the mama and baby.. I bought a 10 Safety Plus Breastmilk Storage Bottles and the Stylo Mama Cooler Bag..  And, Bumblebee Latex Mattress for the baby.. Will probably come again to Babies Kingdom next time and not forget to ask for extra discount.. :P