Bagaimana Akhirnya Saya Bertudung - A review

I just finished reading this book. A colleague of mine planned to give it to me way before I started wearing, but I guess she did not have the courage. Hehe. So, she gave me afterwards, with lotssss of beautiful tudung; in fact most of the tudung that I owned now (I don't have many) was a present from her. May Allah SWT bless her.

So, back to the book. I have to be honest, it was just ok. I guess I was expecting more, considering the title is so Wow. It was a compilation of stories from those who decided to wear hijab. Honestly I could not really relate to as it was about those people who wore hijab on the 70's where the acceptance was very different from nowadays.

Now, the ones that holding you back is not the people around you. It's you yourself!

Sigh.. I started to have the idea of wearing hijab wayy back in Uni. I guess it was my first year. A very good friend of mine, who was sitting next to me in high school suddenly asked me in a casual way when we were on the phone, "So when are you planning to wear a hijab?"

That was random. And very direct. Especially coming from him, he was not the most religious person I know, even more, we once planned to go clubbing together.

"I don't know!" Did not even bother to take his words seriously until he replied me with this sentence,

"You know, you have to set time, and set yourself towards it. It doesn't matter if it's years from now, just set a time."

I was stunned. So I told mysef, "Ok perhaps after I got married." And I worked my way through it. Started not buying short sleeves, started to not shop for earrings. Never told a single soul about it, too shy, not even my better half.

Thennn.. I got married. But I guess I overthink about what would people say about it. So, I ignored the guilty conscience inside.

You know, the day I started working was a big turning point of my life. The first couple of months I worked, I had no friends. I started working before I finished my final exam, so you know.. no one in my batch started working at that time. Hence no friends.

Afterwards, people from my batch started to work with me and walla, I have friends!!!

But, the moment they came, I already stayed in a lab full with my seniors who were wearing tudung labuh. Every Zuhur and Asar, we would pray together, after Asar we would recite Ma'thurat together, and I was so contented that it made me excited to go to work everyday. I never experienced that kind of feeling before.

I used to be so scared of these kind of people, but the ones in my lab never judge me. Not once. Not ever. I don't even have to pretend to be that good in front of them, I am myself and they accepted ME.

I was touched. And these people were brilliant. They succeeded in their career. And even they spoke really good English. Haha! Ok, I was being judgemental towards these kinda people before, ok bad!

So, when friends who were as crazy as me started working, I had two options; whether to stay with them or with the seniors. I liked them equally much, but I guess because my mind was set towards wearing hijab, I stayed with my seniors. I need the courage.

Very subtly, the little things that these seniors do melted my heart. Andd.. these past few years have been such awesome years for me. I was the first in my batch to get a Master degree, I got married with the love of my life, then we bought a house, money was more than sufficient for us, afterwards I got pregnant, and gave birth to the love of my life. And I gave birth so easily, (Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah!), that I thought, "Have I been thankful enough?"

 I told hubby and my two seniors; Dr. Sumayy and Dr. Iza. The three of them supported my decision and helped me a lot.

I had no idea what to tell my family, so I just wore hijab without telling them anything. Anddd afterwards.. Nobody asked anything anyway. No awkward stare, NOTHING. Not from friends, not from relatives, not from family. The most, they just whispered in my ears, "Alhamdulillah!"

And I thought, what was that again? Years of years contemplating on wearing just because wondering what to answer if people asked.

Semuanya dipermudahkan, Alhamdulillah.

I wouldn't say I'm a whole different saint person nowadays. Pretty much the same. Trying to be a good Muslim. Sometimes not sure if I try hard enough. But in life, we need to always change, to a better person.

I'm not saying I'm satisfied with the way I dress now, or the way I behave as a Muslim. But, I'm still trying to change. Very slowly. Baby steps. I know Allah SWT will help me through it. Insya Allah.

I would like to thank these three people who supported my decision; Love, Dr. Sumay and Dr. Iza --> May Allah SWT bless you guys :)

Hubby's responsibility for breastfeeding wife

Dr. Sumayy forward this email to me..

Satu perkongsian yang menarik dr Prof Dr Muhaya:

"Saya berkesempatan utk bertemu dgn ibu kepada seorang ilmuwan agama (ustaz) yang tersohor pada masa kini. Melihatkan kpd kebolehan anaknya dalam menyampaikan dakwah, maka saya bertanya kepada ibunya, apakah rahsia beliau dalam mendidik si anak? Jawab si ibu, sewaktu si anak (ustaz) dilahirkan, beliau telah mengambil keputusan utk berhenti kerja bagi menumpukan sepenuh perhatian beliau utk menyusukan anaknya selama genap 2 tahun. Selain itu, pada setiap malam, apabila mereka suami isteri dikejutkan si anak utk menyusu, suami beliau akan turut sama bangun. Suaminya akan menyediakan susu kepadanya utk minum sambil beliau menyusukan anaknya itu. Suaminya tak benarkan beliau menyusu sambil baring. Sebaliknya, suaminya akan menyediakan belakang badannya utk beliau bersandar menyusukan anak sambil duduk dan memastikan keselesaan semasa menyusu. Bayangkan bagaimana emosi si isteri apabli setiap malam dilayan sebegitu oleh si suami"

SUBHANALLAH.... indahnya alam rumah tangga jika bersandarkan amanah dan kasih sayang kerana Allah. Tak mustahil jika mereka dapat melahirkan generasi yang baik akhlaknya. Persoalannya, siapakah si anak yang dimaksudkan???


Beliau adalah USTAZ DON DANIYAL DON BIYAJID;"

Honestly, breastfeeding was not an easy task. Since breastmilk is so easy to digest, sometimes (make it most of the time) your baby might wake up almost every hour to nurse, esp in hot weather like these couple of weeks.

Eventhough you breastfed her while lying down, who said you did not have backaches once you woke up? I woke up sleepy, tired and sore almost every day, but all gone once I looked at how contented Spiderbaby was.

Breastfeeding needs 2 things:

1) Determination - It's just how much you want it.

2) Support - Especially from your husband to make your hard work feels appreciated. Love might not wake up every single time I breastfeed Spiderbaby like Ustaz Don's father. Fair enough, I am surely nothing like Ustaz Don's mother.

When Khaira was about 4 months old, I discovered that eating chocolate could increase my milk supply. I started to grow a liking towards Oreo and chocolate milk. (Then complained berat badan tak turun ;p) So, it was really really sweet to have Love occasionally bought them for me and even sometimes out of surprise left it on my dressing table.

Today, when I was about to go to work, I found something in my car that made me feel appreciated already.. :)

Random updates

1. Khaira's passport

Okay, we did Khaira's passport a few weeks ago. Did you know you that need the original birth certificate if you wanted to do a passport for child below 18 years old? MyKid tak boleh gune adoi! And if you are wondering how they took baby's photo, actually you have to hold her while she was sitting down, but since Spiderbaby refused to sit, Love had to hold her. Price: RM100 for 3 years, RM150 for 5 years. Of course we did the 5 years though we wondered, bukan ke nanti muka Khaira lain sangat when she turns 5?

2. Mel's reception

Was super duper fun! Met all my Uniten's sweetheart. Had to bring Khaira since MIL not available to babysit her. Siann dia, past her bedtimes. She's a good girl though! Behave sangat!

3. Iza's (and Shariz's, haha) engagement

Awww..

4. Iraqian's breakfast

My colleague cooked everything for us. Sedappp!! Yumm!! :) Realized that they ate too much cheese!! --> Not a complaint. Hee.. Perhaps one day i can make a Korean's breakfast after habis berguru dengan MIL.

5. End of semester

Semester break = holidayyy!! Yay, this time it's Bali! In order to celebrate my break students like every other sem, this sem I bought them some muffins! As for this sem, bought this from Love's colleague, mini muffin, different colours represent different fillings. Sedap okeh!

Ok, tu je, bye!

Colic babies and solid foods

I am more than happy to wake up early in the morning to prepare solid food for Spiderbaby.

First, it was just mashing the banana, then I gave her brown rice, then I put some carrots and dates in the rice.

After a week of having carrot+dates, last Saturday I decided to introduce her to potato. She cosumed it a bit slower than carrot, but finished it to the very last spoon eventually.

Then that night, while I was nursing her (after about 2 hours nursing and sleeping non stop), out of nowhere, she cried at the top of her lung. Never before I heard that kind of cry. And normally she would stop immediately once I put her to my chest, but not this time. I shouted for hubby who was downstairs helping me with my laundry at that moment. He tried to console her, but to no avail.

We decided to call my dad (he's a baby expert), so both of my parents came. Rupanya, Khaira had a bad colic. Since I followed the four days rule (alhamdulillah), my dad said the culprit must be the potato. Kesiann Spiderbaby!!

She was recovering yesterday, but I became more concious on what I fed her. You couldn't help feeling guilty seeing your baby like that, I am glad though Love was there to support me all the time. He kept saying, "We have to try to feed her to find out eventually."

So, today, despite of tons of work to do in the office, I tried to find some times to do some research for Spiderbaby, and here's the list of food for colicky babies, I hope it helps.

Foods which cause a normal amount of gas (allowed):
1. Meat, Fowl, Fish
2. Vegetables: Lettuce, Peppers, Avocado, Tomato, Asparagus, Zucchini, Okra,
Olives
3. Fruits: Cantaloupe, Grapes, Berries
4. Carbohydrates: White Rice, Chips, Popcorn, Graham Crackers
5. All nuts
6. Eggs, Jello, Fruit Ice

Foods which cause a moderate amount of gas (may need to avoid):
1. Potatoes
2. Eggplant
3. Citrus Fruits, Apples
4. Carbohydrates: Pastries, Bread

Major gas producers (avoid):
1. Vegetables: Onions, Celery, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Cucumber, Cabbage,
Cauliflower, Radishes
2. Beans
3. Fruit: Raisins, Bananas, Apricots, Prunes, dried fruit
4. Carbohydrates: Bagels, Wheat Germ, Pretzels
5. Peas
6. Green Salads
7. Bran cereal / foods high in bran
8. Brown rice
9. Leeks, parsnips

Source from here

Some other precautious step to take is to reduce the amount of solids she take at one time; but rather increase the number of feeding. And to avoid drinking while eating.

I am somehow sangat bersyukur that it happens now, because I have time to let Khaira try the Heinz food that we bought for her before we go to Bali.

So, for tomorrow, I'm thinking Zucchini. Forget sweet potato and buttersquash nut. I will keep the post updated!

Geek joke #2 - Doctor vs Engineer

Nursing in public

I am still so glad that I manage to breastfeed Spiderbaby for 6 months now.

We all know that breastfeeding is the easiest way to feed a baby. Everytime she cries, I don't have to find hot water or bottle, I just feed her there and then. Even at night, when it gets really sleepy, I don't even have to get out of the bed to feed her. When I travel, I only need one important thing to feed her.. my breastfeeding poncho!

But really, how do you feel about nursing in public?

To be honest, I never at all feel shy about it. I think that the people and the environment I live with nowadays are more open about it. Plus, most of the time people won't notice whatever happened inside my poncho, so no problem there.

Plus most of the shopping malls nowadays offer very convenient rooms to nurse. I especially love the ones in Isetan KLCC, private nursing room with comfortable sofa, memang best.

I normally nurse Khaira in the car on the way to wherever places we are attending, so it will keep her full (and chirpy) for about 3 hours. But if she happened to be hungry and I could not find any nursing room, then this happened..



If you need to nurse your baby in public, here are some tips from me I thought might help:

1) Practice how to cover them!
Haha. Poncho, scarf, hijab, name it. Whatever you use to cover up. But the most important thing, practice! Practice to really cover them up and practice so that your baby will get use to the fact that they need to be covered up when nursing in public. As for Khaira, I introduced her to poncho as early as she was 1 month old.

2) Low key nursing.
Try not to attract people's attention on the fact that you're nursing your baby. Feed her before she made a scene; i.e. crying. We all know that hungry babies are not so patient. What works for me; buat muka selamba and feed her. Kalau segan2, people around us pun lagi segan tengok.

3) Choose the right outfit; ones that is easy to access.
My favourite outfit nowadays: my work shirt with buttons in front. If I have to wear formal, it would be my Kebaya or nursing jubah or kurung, tailor made by my tailor.

4) A good spot.
If you find a comfortable place for you to hide, even better. But, the most comfortable place for me is next to my husband so people won't even dare to give me a second glance. Hehe!

5) Confidence.
The most importat key. Why should we be shy to nurse our baby, we should be proud and thankful. Most importantly, we should educate people around us. Show them that this is normal. :)

All the best, you breastfeeding mommies out there!

Kalau ada tips lagi, silalah share!

Crossing the 3rd item in my 2012 wishlist!

Alhamdulillah :)

Spiderbaby turns 6 months today, and Alhamdulillah, I get to BF her everyday for the first 6 months of her life. A year and a half more to go, insya Allah. Ameen.

Only You know what's best for us!