Khaira's first year food review

As some of you might already know, Khaira Asyikin was born a colicky baby as similar to me. As she reached 6 months old, she could better tolerate my milk, except when I ate sticky rice (pulut) of all kind be it tapai, or even lemang, then the three of us would have a sleepless night. But the new challenge was that we had to introduce her solid. And here are some guidelines for parents who are having colicky baby like ours.

Khaira started to eat solid a couple of days before she turned 6 months. Due to her condition, we followed the three days rule strictly. We first introduced her to banana. Then, we introduced her to brown rice. Just brown rice; no fruits whatsoever.

Bear in mind though, that wholesome food is more gassy than the white ones. Thus, after three days of having brown rice, we mixed them with white rice. Later we added barley, and a few days later, Khaira ate a combination of white rice + brown rice + barley + oat.

Barley help reduce cholesterol levels 

This rice combination is actually a Korean's culture, where they would put a lot of other combinations in the rice such as sticky rice, beans, nuts, even sometimes sunflower seed. I found it a brilliant idea when I had them at my MIL's place, less carbs = more nutritions = happy :)

Since I'm working, what I do is that during the weekends, I would wash the white rice, brown rice and barley, let them dry. Mix them together with oat and blend for a week's stock and store them in a refrigerator. This way, I would be able to cook the porridge in less than 20 minutes.

Until Khaira was 8 months old, she was a vegetarian. I wanted her digestive system to work slowly. I gave her all the fruits that she could tolerate; from my observations: Dates, honeydew, banana, papaya and grapes. But she doesn't fancy grapes that much. As of vegetables, she could tolerate carrot, zucchini, salad, cauliflower, and spinach. She doesn't fancy spinach that much.

Banana can diminish the uncomfortable effects of diarrhea and constipation

After 8 months, I started to introduce fish and tofu. Her favourites are Siakap and Salmon. I introduced Siakap, Salmon, Merah, Tenggiri, Dory, and Senangin. She ate three times a day, a combination of white rice + brown rice + barley + oat, fish and vege. So far, her digestive system tolerates to all the fishes that we gave her, but bear in mind that some fish gives itchiness to baby. So, I did not give to Khaira the ones that I couldn't eat during confinement.

Salmon has Omega-3 fatty acids that help your brain to work better and improve your memory

At 10 months, I introduced chicken and mushroom but she couldn't take it. She developed a skin rash, I decided to postpone them. I thought it's about time Khaira needed some snack, thus I introduced her to bread, first the white ones, then wholemeal, she loved them a lot.

As she reached a year old now, she could tolerate chicken. I added some variety to her food, yesterday I made some noodle soup for her. With onions and anchovy as a little flavour. I grilled her fish, previously just rebus, added some sesame or vegetable oil. After this, I intend to introduce spaghetti to her. Also, bought some Heinz teething biscuit for her snack, would try today.

I never added salt or sugar in her food. Ketchup or chicken stock lagilah tak. Tried to give her the healthiest that I could.

Every parents has different things that they are particular about. I'm very particular about what goes in into my baby's mouth. And yes, I received some distructive comments about what I gave to my baby. And yes, I wonder why did they feel  troubled about what I gave to my baby. I was the one who needed to carry a pan everywhere to heat up my baby food during Raya, I was the one to wake up at 5.15am every working day to cook for her.

But, really it's ok. Soon, Khaira will reach 2 years old, then she shall have more freedom to eat as what everybody else eats. Not that I wanted to take all her freedom, just thought that if she was going to spend the rest of her life, eating like us, why not just delay it a little. :)

P/S: Food that gives her colic the most: Potato, watermelon, sticky rice.

Happy Birthday, Khaira Asyikin!!

Dearest Khaira,

You're a year old today! :) How time flies..

As Ibu left to office, you were still in deep sleep. I know it might not be the best feeling in the world, waking up without Ibu and Abi by your side, but the truth is.. I couldn't bear. I couldn't bear hearing you cry and holding me not wanting to let go every time I'm about to go to work.

That's a sacrifice all of us have to make. Abi has to go to work to support us. Ibu has to work to pursue the ultimate dreams. And at times, Ibu needs to go back a little late because of my PhD. I am now in my writing process, very close to the end insya Allah. Meaning, more hard work. And Khaira has to sacrifice by spending more time with Nanny just a little while.

See, I don't believe working really hard is necessary. I believe family always comes first and that we must have a balance. I promise you, this is temporary.

Last Saturday, we made a small birthday party for you. I hope you're happy meeting all your relatives and friends. There are many types of people in this world, Khaira. And as your name suggests, be kind to each and every one of them; especially the relatives and friends. Then, they will be nice to you in return.

Each and everyone in this world has their own kindness, dig until you find them. But if somehow, the goodness inside them still couldn't make you tolerate to the evil inside them, walk away gracefully, with pride. You must always define your lines in life, Khaira. What you can tolerate and what you can't. Once you have defined them, stick to them and pray may Allah SWT guides you.

Whatever it is, Ibu and Abi will always be with you every step of your journey.

Happy birthday, Khaira Asyikin, you're a prayer come true, I can't express in words how much I love you.

There is this song in 90's called Yellow by Coldplay, and if you look at the lyrics, there is this one line,

"For you, I'd bleed myself dry.."

Without Ayah Ngah and Busu

With Khaira's milk mother and Aunty Sumay

This is an example of a good friend, Khaira :)

With Ibu and Abi!

Birthday wishes from Aunty Melissa..

"Happy birthday my sweet Khaira! Be a good daughter ya! Moga jadi anak yang solehah. Aunty Mel cant wait to see you again!"

And from Ibu's friends..

Just to cheer up the day

Desperately need something to boost up my mood..

Hahahaha!!

Ok, now.  Happy mood on, thinking cap is on. To thesis, bismillah.

We don't say goodbye!

"So how many kids do you have now?" He asked.

"One, the other on the way." She answered.

"Gosh, what are you gonna do? Clean the house all day?"

"I'm gonna have a day maid come over."

"What are you going to do? You're gonna get bored!"

The above conversation took part when a dear friend decided to retire at the age of 28, with a Master degree. And by retiring means, at the moment she is a full time stay at home mum (SAHM), with no part time business whatsoever - just the way I dream my retirement days would be. Just some passive income because I'm not into business.

And the questions were asked by a husband (I guess I should rephrase that to husbands, because many asked) of a SAHM wife. For me, it's an insult!

They seriously think raising a child would be a simple, boring job and expect the house to be clean by the time they got home and the wife to cook and then still we got bored?

Funny! A SAHM friend barely had time to eat, busy taking care of her three kids and making sure the house was organized.

But SAHM is still my ultimate dream regardless of however challenging it might be like. I once asked this dear friend, just remember your ultimate reason of why you want to retire, so that in difficult days you'll always think back of that reason. Love called it, the "in case briefcase".

She wrote her "in case briefcase" in a book that she gave me on her last day, "Remember in life, our goal is "lillah" (for Allah)! Insya Allah, that will keep us steadfast, happy and contented always, Ameen." I took the advice to heart.

For that is a very strong reason why my ultimate dream is to be a SAHM.

At this moment, I still feel at lost. That dear friend, Dr. Sumay is the closest to me in Uni. She is part of who I am today. I love her beyond words.

But I am so secure by her retirement, that I know, she is a friend I will keep for life, insya Allah :)

We're just a WhatsApp away, I love you to bits!

Penang with Khaira.

Had a conference at Park Royal, Penang and just had to bring the 2 important Ks in my life!!

I must thank this sweetheart for driving me all the way to Penang, supporting my conference and taking care of Khaira while I worked.

It was a relaxing holiday. Arrived Saturday night. Checked in at Holiday Cove.

The next morning, brought Baby K to swim :)

I didn't swim. Dah cukup "putih" from Langkawi's sunburn.



 Check out in the morning and had breakfast at Kapitan. Owh the best Nan Cheese and Tandoori!!

Then, check in at Park Royal, man I love this hotel..

Look, Kokonut Club, play area for kids!!

And the view is breath-taking.

Then, off to work. It's daddy daughter time. Tada!

My parenting vs your parenting

After about a year nursing Spiderbaby, I guess nursing has become very natural to me. Alhamdulillah. I am forever grateful as I remember how hard it was for me, that first couple of weeks when Khaira was born. I always believe that everything happens for a reason though, and after a year I finally understand why my breastfeeding journey started off so.

In the environment where I live, breastfeeding has been a norm. Everyone that I know in my office breastfeeds. Even before I got married, in every conference that we went, they would bring two large bags, one for their laptop and the other for their breast pump. And I would observe with amazement of how this magnificent machine works.

I admired their determination. In my mind back then was that, my baby had to be breastfeed. There is no alternative way. Back then, I had a perception that those who did not breastfeed were either ignorant or plain lazy. Little did I know the challenges of breastfeeding. And how much determination it takes. I learned, not in an easy way, but owh well.. if that's the price I have to pay, Alhamdulillah :)

When my EBM's stock spoilt due to power disruption in our house, my heart broke into million pieces. At a sight of seeing random friends posted their dozens of bottles of EBM in the freezer made me numb.

"We have to always look back at the purpose of why we breastfeed," my pumping buddy once told me. "Is it to give the best to our baby? Or more of for show? We don't want the good 'niat' at first changed to 'riak'." I took that advice to heart.

A little reminder to self and to all mommies, and so we breastfeed our baby, yes. And give her the healthiest food we thought we could. And the best stimulating toys. Even the best educations. And we attended the best parenting courses. How sure are we that our child would turn up as the best? And is our best equivalent to other people's definition of best?

Having one healthy happy baby doesn't give the right for us to condemn other people's method of parenting. Whether she wants to breastfeed her child or not or whether she wants to dress her child in high heels or etc.

There's a fine line between 'condemning' and 'advising'. And between 'showing off' and 'motivating'.

May we be on the better side of the lines. :)

Langkawheeee again :)

Langkawi again!! :) Third time in three years. First, during our honeymoon (read it here) and then with my mom (read it here).

We travelled to LCCT by bus and ERL. Khaira? It was her (and mine) first time by train, super excited! No worries, mommies, ERL and shuttle bus are super convenient for babies. ERL is on time and the interval is every 20 minutes.

As of the plane, it was Khaira's second time (read Khaira's first time at 7mo here). So, she behaved better :) Plus it was just an hour away! We rented a Suzuki ERV MPV auto for RM350 for 3 days, super cheap. Thank you, SIL and BIL for the contact numbers!

Day 1

Our first visit is to Beras Terbakar, shopped for some souvenirs.

Then, to Mahsuri's tomb.

After lunch, we checked in, stayed in Perdana Beach Resort Apartment. Very convenient especially with Baby K. I blended the rice and vege beforehand, cut the fish into small cubes. So, in order to cook Khaira's food, just dump the rice, vege and fish in the microwave for 10-15 minutes.

Later in the evening, we went to the Eagle's statue. And after dinner, we wrapped our day!

Day 2

Was drizzling in the morning, but just as we reached the island hopping's jetty, the weather was all perfect, Alhamdulillah. The boat ride was much better than Bali's but somehow Khaira was a bit unsettled here.

First stop, Tasik Dayang Bunting :) Had a timeout just Love and I for our solar boat ride. Owh how wonderful!

Next stop, Eagle feeding.

But the best has got to be, Pantai Beras Basah!!! Look at my little girl! How she loves the beach! ♥

Later in the evening, we shopped at Chenang and then to Wan Thai, Kuah for dinner as suggested again by BIL and SIL! Sedap and murah okeh. All these for RM156 :)

Day 3

Started our morning with swimming at the pool. Khaira was super happy!

Then, after lunch, shopped a little bit more. Love and I took another time out for a little Spa treat. Had my pedicure and scrub, Love and a foot massage.

And that was how our sweet trip ended. Best! Alhamdulillah, since I brought my whole family with me, everything is smooth sailing. Food sedap, murah, even island hopping we got it for RM25; previously with hubby and mom, RM35 each.

And travelling with my little traveler meant the word to me!

Next trip, Penang!!