Sign Language

I was browsing through a Malaysian Baby & Children online store called LittleWhiz.com and searched through the net about learning techniques, child brain development and brain food. I stumbled across a sign language course for babies! They claim to show marked improvement in the child language development at a very early stage ( I guess they manage to trigger other parts of the brain when learning sign language).

Here's a sample of the clip:



this would be a pretty good investment :)
Went searching for testimonials and reviews, and stumbled upon My Baby Can Talk DVDs from Amazon.com, and more products on sign language for babies. Anyway, if you guys are interested, visit those sites. Amazon provides good feedback on those products.

Interestingly, I also found Baby Signs Malaysia, stationed in PJ. I think I'd like to give it a try once Arishah is 6 months old. It's better than watching the cartoons in Astro.
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It seems Arishah is prone to colic, especially at night. She would cry inconsolably, her tummy would be bloated but still soft. She still want to breastfeed, but would cry intermittently during feeding, like every 5-10 seconds. Kesian dia.

The worst episode was on the night after her 1 month birthday...19 March 2008. She didn't stop crying from 11 pm until 6 am in the morning. I did almost everything, and went to the emergency dept when she didn't stop crying at 2.30 in the morning. She didn't pass motion or pass flatus, last checked was that 11 pm. At least, she didn't vomit.

Went to Kajang Hospital, they took abdominal x-ray, found out she had dilated bowels. But the MO recommend that we go by ourselves to GHKL ourselves, since the procedure from a hospital to another would take time. I understand. Arishah didn't have any fever or vomitted. But I requested to go to PPUM instead, because I was a house officer there. It was already 4 am by then.

By the time we got to see the paediatrician in the Emergency dept in PPUM at 6 am, little princess Arishah gave out 3 massive thunder from down below and a burp to add the spice. Hmm...buat orang risau aje lah! At least she doesn't need to go for another abdominal x-ray since we are sure there's no obstruction. But still, poor her, crying sampai penat. She managed to sleep for almost an hour. Bila bangun je, nangis balik.

Well, that's an experience. Thank God colic doesn't last forever!

28 days old and acting like a princess

Hello people!!!

She knows the power of crying already! Oh, those sleepless nights. She doesn't want to sleep in her own cot...half an hour is tops, then she cries again. So she sleeps besides me and Baba now. I guess she wants the comfort and warmth. 2 weeks ago, she still able to sleep in her own cot, and even if she wakes up, hearing my voice is enough to make her comfortable again and put her to sleep. Now...no more.

She seems to have colic only at night, and has been having it for the past 4 nights. Kesian. I know she's in pain because even while she's breastfeeding, she cries intermittently.

Talked about breastfeeding...I tried to give her my breast milk with bottle, but she just don't want to take it. I guess she needs to learn how to suck from a bottle. Have been saving up on breast milk in the fridge. Got to buy some container with ice pack for travel and work purposes after confinement is over. Hopefully I can breastfeed at least for 6 months. Too much allergy history in both side of the family.

She burps...oh my...doesn't sound like a lady at all! hehe She posset (vomit) quite a lot, worse if not being burped beforehand. But she weighs 1 kg extra at 18 days of life, that's what the nurse told me...3.7 kg. Her cheeks are chubbier, but her behind still lacking some :) Will do another postnatal check up this coming Wednesdaay

Here are some of her third-week-of-life pictures: (mind the eyebrows, my mum gave her an early make-up lesson with Mecca Kohl)

Mama, I'm cold.

Hmm, thinking...thinking...Post-election lah katakan.

(Please insert witty comments here...hehe. Baba said she looks like a Komeng)


My 2nd year anniversary is coming up in 7th April. Wondering what to do. Maybe we'll leave Arishah with my in-laws (testing first before I start working and had to leave her during on calls. tsk tsk) and then go out for a nice dinner and a movie. I haven't watched a movie for such a long time!!! Movie apa best yek time time macam ni?

There are quite a lot of things to settle before I start working. I have another 20 days post confinement. Need to open an ASB account for Arishah and put her savings there. Maybe open my Tabung Haji account, I never had one...for emergency fund. Hopefully they will give my salary this end of month. I'm out of money...hehe. Wants to buy some toys for Arishah :)

Post election blues

I want to say something, yet my heart is disheartened. So I'm not going to, because too many people are voicing out the same views, yet it is still unheard by the eardrums of our 'leader'. Currently reading through blogs (too many to list down) and forum (www.mykmu.net) with hubby, updating with the current news, looking for signs of changes.

The only thing that made me smile is the cynical jokes posted, and my little baby. Pray to God to save this country, because there are many who works and pray hard for the love of this nation.

The Baby has Popped Out

2 weeks and 3 days ago...(flashback)

Sunday night at 6 pm - contractions getting regular, every 10 minutes. Still bearable. Thought I'd better go to the hospital. On second thought, might as well have dinner first. 8 pm, we drove to the hospital. Check up done...1 cm. :p

Monday morning at 5 am - contractions more frequent, every 5 minutes. It was strong enough to wake me up from sleep and keep me awake. Still I waited until 6 am before telling my hubby. And waited some more until 7 am...better eat breakfast first in case I'm going to be admitted. 7.30 am arrived at the hospital. Check up done...2 cm. :p. Geezzzzz, I was wondering how long my latent phase of labour is going to take me to the next stage...a week? It took 3 days from 1 cm to 2 cm. So I got admitted to the ward, but unfortunately no bed yet. I was privileged with a First class, 2 bedded room. But I was admitted to a 2nd class instead. I don't mind.

9.00 am - they gave me IM (intramuscular injection) pethidine. Ouch! Pain is getting stronger, but bearable. Contractions every 3 minutes. Next time, I'll remind myself to go on without the IM. I can't bear the dizziness. I forgot all about it. I can't take Tramal either. Vasteral is fine with me.

10.00 am - they send me up to the ward. Hubby brought all the stuff, but he can't stay. So he waited at the PAC, the place where we entered.

11.00 am - contractions becoming unbearable, every 2 minutes. Rang up the staff nurse. She timed contractions, check down there again. 3 cm. Finally! I said to myself. But 3 cm with 5:10 contractions? I tried to psycho myself about the pain. They told me they'll arrange to send me down.

12.00 noon - I feel it coming!!! Rang up the nurse like hell, because I sure don't want to deliver up in the regular ward. I could understand them not believing in me when I say the baby is coming. It was less then 2 hours! My tummy felt like bursting, just like the severe pain I used to have monthly, only this time it comes every 2 minutes. And I know it's not getting any less until this baby is out. So the nurses rushed...pushed...ran me down to the labour room. My eyes was closed, huffing and puffing trying to hold the baby from coming out...but I sure could feel the stroller strolled like crazy...hehehe

12.30 noon - arrived at the labour room. Shifted my behind from the stroller to the bed. Midwife checked...I was fully dilated. (I felt like telling the nurse upstairs, I told you so...hehehe). Got myself positioned...then I saw my hubby whizzed beside me with a white apron on. Hmm, sempat jugak pakai apron. I pushed twice for the first contraction, the nurse already wanted to do episiotomy, but I hold them off. Contraction wear off, so I asked to wait until the next contraction. I think it took me less than 5 pushes, and my baby girl is out :)

No IV line, no epidural (like I planned), no air selusuh. Just some prayers, and before that, months of lotssss of walking plus on-call - must have what helped me through. First child with 3 hrs of active phase of labour. I'm lucky...very lucky.

BTW, my hubby didn't faint. Thank God. At least he doesn't have to wait and watch me in pain for so long.

She was so tiny...and red! Kept her warm for awhile with my body heat while my hubby azan and qamat. She opened her left eye when she heard my hubby's voice. Smart little bugger.


Baby girl
Weighed 2.69 kg at birth
Named as Arishah