Arishah's Vocabulary

Before this post, I'm suppose to write about Arishah's birthday and her zoo trip, with loads of picture, but I'm having trouble finding time to connect the pictures to the computer and upload it. So, I thought I put this entry first.

Well, my family knew that me and hubby is introducing more language skills for Arishah, and perhaps for the rest to follow. Other than English, we also want to try Mandarin, Arabic, Japan...macam banyak gila, tapi we'll see la dulu. But when she was about 2-3 months, I found about Sign Language, and how it can help children's mind because it has so many types of stimulation to the brain - visual, tactile, auditory.

I heard about Signing Time. Baba downloaded the program, and Arishah has been seeing the program over and over again since age 6 months. She never got tired of them until a bit recently...hehe. Plus, she's learning English, and alphabets/spelling too, non-directly. I'm also learning at the same time, and I'm having a great time! Learning a new language by watching children's video is just awesome.

1 Month ago, I've observed her more and more whether she understand and uses the signs to describe things. Now, when she's making a little noisy and cranky, I would ask her, "What do you want Arishah?", and she could sign Milk, Eat, Bath, orlead the way. She sign Fish, Wind, Rain when she sees them or when someone mention its name.

She's imitating sounds of animals...visiting the Zoo was so much fun! Lion, cat and dog. She already saying Apple, Cat, Fish, Star. She talks...a lot. Even though we can't understand most of them, she talks like it's the real thing, and talking/explaining to us like we can understand what she's saying.

There are still some words that she can't pronounce right, like Open (since she likes to open cupboards!), she would say -pen. Stay -tar.

Mama and Baba feel so blessed to be gifted with such a smart girl. The funny thing is, we both don't feel it's genetic! Haha. Must be the Selawat Nariyah that I sometimes recite to her. Maybe it's just kids these days, so many different stimulations.

Tok Wan is also teaching a lot of new words and action to her. She can salam with cium tangan...so sweet.

Arishah is definitely an entertainer, penyeri hidup Mama and Baba!

Arishah's 2 month birthday

She's 2 months old now, and yesterday was my first day back at work. Tsk tsk tsk, I kept looking at her photo in my handphone A LOT! Called Mak at home in the afternoon just to check how she was doing.

She was a good girl yesterday...very good girl. Slept most of the time, letting her Tok Wan (my mother in law) to do quick chores. She sleeps well when she's well fed...like her mum hehe.

I learned that she really liked to be stroked at the back...a'hah...like me! She's enjoying her 2 times a day bath, especially when I massage her pre and post bath. Definitely going to have fun playing with her cousin, Amin and Ammar. I wonder what they'll be like. Farith, my nephew once asked my sister in law about his girl-cousin..."Kenapa Yaya punye takde lagi? Belum tumbuh yeh?" Hehe. He's only 4 years old and already knows how to tease my elder sister. "Aunty Eman tak de neno yeh? Dia terjatuh ke? Kenapa Aunty Eman tak jaga betul-betul?" ekekekek. Cute! Just wonder how their mind works sometimes.

She's communicating very well, making new noises. Can't wait to hear her say Mama and Baba. But poor her we didn't do much for her birthday. The house is still a mess. I'm doubting this house will be really over and done with by the end of the month. Some part of the ceiling is still leaking, and noticeable since it's been raining everyday now. Dah lap lantai dah, but now it's dusty again. Rasa malas nak lap lagi, mopping is useless since the debris won't really go away. But this family is staying here, so got to wipe this bedroom so Arishah won't get sick.

The old room turned into library already. Cabinets all done. Just books need to be placed. My books are mostly in Mama's house, don't know when to bring them here. Maybe I'll let them occupy the space with their stuff first, and see if there's anymore left. Useless to bring things back and forth if in the end there're still not enough space.

Cloths!!! Oh my God, I can't fit anymore into my Kebaya and goodbye to my trousers! haha. I'm giving the good ones to my nieces. They're still good to wear. Baju bertandang dah tak boleh pakai, sedihnye. But at least I can buy new ones...just don't have the time to go out. I want to bring Arishah with me if possible, see the WORLD!

Besok on-call. Arghhhh!!! Have to leave her home for 2 days and 1 night. Macam tido kat hotel pulak. Can't take half day off anymore post-call. A colleague of mine got into an accident and broke his tibia...ouch!

Anyway, too bad I can't post pic right now, entah mana pegi wire digital camera tu. Akikah pulak on hold. Initially nak buat sabtu/ahad ni, but I just postpone it since the house looks like this. Maybe when Arishah is 3-4 months old. I can save some extra money pun. And Baba is saving up baby videos...the one I like is Signing time. She really likes to watch it, but her attention span only last about 10-15 minutes. I'm learning how to sign milk, water, play, today, cat, dog and bird. Can't believe learning a new language can be so much fun.

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 :)

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

1 cm and a show

I had a show yesterday, early in the morning before going off to work. Yeah, a show...not the entertainment kind, but the bleeding kind as a sign of early labour. SMS my colleague, telling her I'm showing signs of labour, so taking the day off today. I'm waiting for the contractions coming

and waiting...
and waiting...
and waiting...

I only got irregular contraction. Show still there, with increasing amount. No leaking liquor (air ketuban tak meleleh lagi). By 2 pm, sms hubby (since he's so nervous and excited at the same time) that maybe I should just go check at the hospital what's going on.

My baby moves alright, still actively kicking around from time to time. Just afraid I'm mistaken the show is actually an infection. Besides, why still no contraction? It's been 8 hours already.

Arrived at Hosp. Serdang before 4 pm. It's a good thing we went there, got a first look at the registration area and how things work initially. Registered. Went in and pee. CTG put on me. Baby's heart rate constantly around 140s. Felt a mild contraction coming, and gone. Peaked at the CTG and saw the a mild peak. Doc came, checked. No signs of infection. Os 1 cm, cervix still 2 cm but soft.Tick tock tick tock. Might as well go home and wait for the regular contraction.

Went home, told my in-laws and family members. My in-laws couldn't sleep last night waiting. Me and hubby slept soundly after watching 4 episodes of Dr. House, the Evil Knievel.

This morning, woke up at 6.45 am. Hungry...so searching for food. Mama making curry dhal along with frying up chapatti. So in the mean time, updating my blog.

Baby...bila nak keluar ni? Tonight, my niece's birthday party at Nuar's house in Puchong. They are doing barbeque tonight after 6 pm. I guess this baby sure likes food, because she seems to want to taste some barbeque sauce before popping out. After coming out in the world, she would only taste mother's milk for the first 4 months. Pandai baby Mama ni. Notty pun ye jugak. Mak Long kata nak babap skit bila dah keluar nanti.

In the mean time, Mama is reminding me to keep on zikir. She wanted to induced me last night with her doa, but I said no. I know it'll work. But it won't be much different from medically inducing me, right? Don't want an 'early labour' that might go into a 'prolonged labour'.

Air selusuh is ready on the go, I'm just waiting for cervix opening 5 cm or above. Epidural? Well, a weakling like me, I might consider it at 5 cm also, hehe. My overnight bag is ready. I hope I don't have anything big that's missing...and get to taste that barbeque tonight!

Baby and Money. Anytime Now!!!

Soon, my baby will 'pop out'. Bila? Bila-bila masa saja :) [When? Anytime.]

I'm so excited. Now I'm getting nervous too, but that's normal. Braxton Hicks is becoming more often. But every night I check the engagement, it's still not engaged yet :( 3 finger breadth. Hmm, bila la baby ni nak betul betul turun yek?

I'm staying in Kajang now, with my mum. I'm closer to Serdang Hospital, my workplace. But hubby has to travel extra. If he's lucky, he works in Putrajaya. He sends and picks me up from work daily now. Kesian dia. I know he doesn't like to drive, and traffic jam makes him go crazy and balistic sometimes. I do let him know how much it means to me. He never complains...all for our baby!

Anyway, I'm reading a lot of non-medical related materials nowadays. I still haven't finish reading about arrhythmias...erk! I'm not keeping up with my deadlines. But I'm too excited about something else right now...future goals.

Hubby is still thinking about our baby's name last week. Now he calls her Arishah sometimes. Maybe we'll stick to that. Melekat jugak nama yang Mama pilih. She always said ada huruf 'Ain from `Ismat and Rush from Rusydan. Hubby also calls himself a Baba now. Baba and Mama...hehehe. I think my nephews and nieces might even start calling him BabaDan rather than UncleDan. We always laugh at it because anything that starts with Baba sounds so FAT. Cute!

About the books and articles I'm reading, it's more about financial matters. I'm so glad hubby has taken great interest in it too. Previously, I felt quite alone thinking about family finance and reading books about it. I want a financially sufficient family, especially for my kids. Since the last 2 months, he shared his idea about a business, for a variety of reasons.


I've introduced to him 2 weeks ago regarding Azizi Ali's book on Retire Rich. We read it together. At first, he starts questioning after every chapter he reads in the book. I keep encouraging him to finish it first. After all, a book is someone's idea. We may or may not implement it if it doesn't suits us. But opinion have to be heard through and through right? Only then we make the decision.

Now, he's reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kyosaki, also reading it together. We discuss before we go to sleep at night, we throw in our ideas, and we evaluate our values. I showed him the excel worksheets I've downloaded for loans, investment, budget, and retirement plan.


Now, reaching that goal feels so much lighter, because my partner is really working hard for it and share the same vision. Thank you God for opening up this opportunity :) I guess with all the things that's happening (even not getting paid for the past 2 months because some technical problems changing workplace), this baby memang bawak tuah, i.e rezeki is pouring. The knowledge and our love is growing.

10 on-calls for January!!!

I expect February will be a bliss for me...hopefully!

When I was transfered to Hospital Serdang in mid December, I was already started with 5 calls for that month. It was still alright. I was only 30 weeks pregnant. I'm still 'slim' and not bloated. No leg swelling. I can still walk faster than a teenager during emergency calls.

Come January, 10 calls. That means 10 nights not being at home out of 30 days of the month. If my calculation is right, I spent 35 working hours straight for 6 days, and 25 working hours for 4 days. I finished off my last call 3 days ago. I was 1 day away from being 36 weeks pregnant.

(for those who do not know, 38 weeks is the usual time people deliver)

So I huffed and I puffed and blow my mind away. They say it's natural to become forgetful during late trimester, but at least I didn't mismanage any of my patients during those calls...hopefully not...well, I don't think I did...did I? Sigh...

I missed my nephew's birthday today :( hubby got some work to do

I'm planning to move back to my mum's house in Kajang, that's where I'll be during confinement. Need to take babystuff back to Kajang, and maybe review back in case I miss anything.

Problem is, since moving out of PPUM to Serdang, my salary hasn't been paid for 2 full months. Yup, I am a survivor aren't I? That's because I'm a good saver, or some people may say I'm stingy, but at least I'm only stingy on myself but not to others.

Mama has finally got herself a maid. She arrived late last week. We all are going to tong-tong for her salary and the agent's payment. Now she's still in training for Mama's regular routine. Will be a great help during my confinement days.

Can't wait for my baby!!! I hope everything will be alright. I'm so excited. Maybe when the pain comes I'll be afraid, but right now I'm just rejoicing in the great expectations.

Post Natal Care

I received a newsletter from a site which I subscribe to eHomemakers.net

Even if I'm not a Homemaker, but I really believe in what they do, and I really like to support these mothers. I know that knowledge comes not only from school books and money doesn't always come from working for other people.

So I read through the advertisement and saw Shadira's Post Natal & Beauty House. I'm so glad there are still people saving our old traditions. There's nothing wrong with maintaining the old ways and improvising it with new knowledge. After all, knowledge are God's gift.

Not everyone is blessed with a Kampung anymore. I'm just glad my mother knows how to get the herbs, and basic things to do during confinement period like bertungku. But for those who wanted the service but unable to get because they don't know where to get?

So for those who are living in KL area (Shadira's is around Bandar Tasik Selatan), and in need of extra help, or even just a post natal massage, here's where you should go http://www.shadirabeauty.com/index.html
I'm sure they are very affordable. In fact, maybe they even provide trainings for other possible home makers out there. I hope their business grows ;)

You are a marvel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWkRrSkfKIc

Or u can view it here http://blog.annegeddes.com/

My favorite pics of all time...

Birthdays, Babies, and Buncitness

First of all, happy birthday Mama! And happy upcoming birtday to Nazli and Nadzmi (the twin terror their mom called them). And happy belated birthday to my niece Aisya too!

Second, I'm pregnant! 3 months and going, and going, and going...and thus the Buncitness. Perut dah buyut skit, but I think it's mostly fat. Took the booking scan, it's according to date. My nephews Nazli and Nadzmi are excited because my due date is 28/2 2008 or 1/3 2008, but since 2008 is thn lompat, they were somewhat hoping it would be on 29,2 2008.

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

In the scan, the baby looks very shy. Just kept the arms crossed in front of the face. And when got nudged, he/she pushed back with both arms. We took the pictures and distinctly saw the 5 little fingers in each hand.

I've also completed my 1 year of housemanship. Now juz filling up my placement forms. I don't know where to go, hopefully nearby. Sort of afraid because feeling inadequate of skills and knowledge, maklumlah, PPUM hahaha. Oh well. I'm in Medical posting now, and Alhamdulillah I got posted into Haematology. Funny eh, my late father had CML. Next month, Neurology :(. Hopefully all goes well.