during my confinement days

i know this is sooo lame, but no heck, i wanted it to be here so my little rascal can read this entry for his good-sake. and my future referrence. :)

basically, i can say, i must give myself a great pat on the back, on managing the confinement super well indeed. i was following it religiously and diligently for 44 days. albeit the bit - bit of post-natal depression of course. basics of confinement are (from my point of view) :

1. no cold water allowed. (which i'm ok with that. admit somehow i did had few sips (cups) of chilled one) - the scientific research found on how such can be related - It is believed that the process of childbirth, for example, causes a woman's body to become unbalanced. Blood loss during childbirth makes her "cold"


2. must not go out and about for 44 days. (no harm - i dun see the need for it)


3.stockings is a must! (haha - succeded) - it is to alleviate wind.


4. foods - there are few foods to name should be avoided during confinement. (motivates in weight-cut)

the previlege of being in confinement part. I enjoy the whole urut, tungku, bengkung and bathing with boiled herb water part. sauna bed (just lie on the accustomed infra-red bed) brought by MIL was the very best out of it! u'll sweat out all! It's really refreshing and makes me feel tonnes better.  According to the founder of Nona Roguy, Datin Sharifah Anisah, the traditional urut is a must for considering the details here:

• improve blood circulation; 
• expel lochia; 
• "lift" the womb to avoid sagging; 
• straighten out the veins; 
• break down fat; 
• tone and shape up the body to help the new mum get her pre-baby body back. 

source; BabyCenter

Food isn't that bad either. Nasi Panas served with steamed black pepper fish (usually it is tenggiri) and assorted sautee veges, is just perfect for me who's at the peak at reducing weight. and honestly, I'm thrilled! i hired the confinement lady for one month consecutively. and she has been nothing but great & informative indeed. she taught me A-Z on day to day care for the newborn. she even cooked for me.

cost? affordable i must say, compared to my other friends who have been searching down and low in the area where i live.

also, must i mention, hubby has been the SUPER HERO of the month! he did it like he knows all, and yes, he succeded thou for a first timer. without frustration. from the labor room, he made himself 24-7 to my reach, and listen to my every single groan. he took charge of everything. from the day we brought the baby back home, the SUPER HERO impressed me at heart. i thank Allah for sending me the one-of-a-kind SUPER HERO. on top of everything, he even bathed me and washed my maternity pad for the first 2 weeks!! yes, all, to the extend! a little bit when i was less weak, i managed to get all the chores done myself. he stayed up night whenever the baby's called. and i cried for that. what more could i ask for?

my family and the in-laws family were also playing their role hard in this picture. MIL took 2 days off to accompany me at my parents (yes, i was at my parents) and gave whoa loads of tips & advices on raising up a child. the rule of thumb in life, which every married woman are bound to when one are about to embark the family life. there i was again, touched immensely! (must blame the hormone for this)

one may go whinning on how bored it wud be during the confinement, where i on the other hand, happened to enjoy every seconds of my confinement. i got to wear the kain batik for the first time in life! haha..pathetic, i know! 

nevertheless, i got to move about the house freely (limit to ground floor only of course), provided with laptop (facebooking for like every alternate hours! help a lot in maintaining my sanity over the boredom), and the most of it would be, learning to understand my little bundle of joy, for he has taught me motherhood since day one he made he's debut to earth, and i'm very much elated!

Pantang is essentially an all-encompassing process that aims to preserve the health and femininity of Malay women thus, for every mom-to-be out there, do not be afraid of confinement. it's a no growled. just live and rejoice every moment of it. :)

the smile that took all the pain away.

Salam Merdeka

Themed 1 Malaysia: Transforming the Nation

Happy 53rd Independence Malaysia! 

happy 8 months adam

happy 8 months old adam sayang!

mommy & ayah are soo glad that u've choose us to be ur guardian angel in this world..

eternity love adam!

visit Nur Amani Maisarah

yeayy! the new family has arrived safely. alhamdulillah. adam got more friends to play with.

welcoming the lil precious: Nur Amani Maisarah bt Mohd Firdaus

Weight: 2.9kg

Height: 51cm

POB: Naluri Specialist

the newly spawned life, make her debut to earth from mommy's warm womb. tiny winny lil baby.

the newly mama at full anticipation. congratulations yanie! :) u've made it!

family iftar @ picc

it was last friday, in conjunction with the nuzul quran, mom's decided for buka puasa in Putrajaya International Convention Center (PICC), which is part of the yearly held event of the family in the fasting month. the place is quite secluded, far far away from hassle traffic, and convenient parking areas to mention, plus of course the variety of mouth watering food to devour. simply makes it look a perfect buka puasa for us :)

rm50 nett per pax. worth of every penny! it'll last till the sept 8th! grab ur sit peeps.

adam looking dazzling amazed by the new surrounding. like, where is this place?

the band or wut do u actually call eyh? kugiran i guess..haha..but they sure did excellent job in entertaining the guest. classic!

kuehs and fruits stall. pick any at own serenity.

ayah got all excited gawking at the delicate & presentable dishes. all are just heavenly divine.

my most favourite! scrumptious! i had 3 serving of the amount above! and am drooling again upon writing this..haha

adam did behave thou, albeit the part where mommy & ayah rushed quickly to the disable loo to get his diapers changed. he pooed!! org tgh kusyuk makan, die buat bisness. haha

the family. gracias for the sponsor mem :) again next year, insyaAllah.

pisang ooo pisang

Wow!!  it's a miracle fruit indeed! found this article sent by mom months ago, and suddenly flickered to post it here for may others benefit :) 

BANANAS

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.   

He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain.  Read on: 

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! 

This is interesting. . . 

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. 

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.

A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. 

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. 

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. 

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. 

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions,

making it a must to add to our daily diet. 

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, 

many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. 

PMS:Forget the pills - eat a banana. 

The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. 

Anemia:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia. 

Blood Pressure:This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, 

making it perfect to beat blood pressure. 

So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims 

for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke. 

Brain Power:200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year 

by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. 

Constipation:High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. 

Hangovers:One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, 

while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. 

Heartburn:Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, 

try eating a banana for soothing relief. 

Morning Sickness:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. 

Mosquito bites :Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area 

with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. 

Nerves:Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. 

Overweight and at work?Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at wor k leads to 

gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found 

the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. 

The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. 

Ulcers:The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. 

It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity 

and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. 

Temperature control:Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas 

to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. 

Smoking &Tobacco Use:Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as 

well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.   

Stress:Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. 

Strokes:According to research in The New En gland Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet 

can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! 

Warts:Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! 

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. 

It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!' 

travelling with a baby

How thrill can that be? :p

it's already 16th day puasa! my little family will be heading up north for the first raya (dad's side) and later, like the previous years (exceptionally last year, the first time raya at MIL's) we'll all geared up towards east cost (mom's side - oghe kelate) the next day..can u just imagine the dreadful journey am about to embark? albeit the heavy festive traffic, jammed, queeing, hassle in R&R, like all alarmingly not to give in, can adam behold of it? can he stays put? can he behave thru out the journey? this is my very main concerned for now, i'm afraid.

When adam was practically young (i mean newborn - he's just still a baby for sake! haha) - things work out within split seconds! take a suitcase-full of equipment just to visit the supermarket - the thought of travelling any further can be a bit intimidating!

prior to this, we did manage successfully make our way all down to south. without any pit stop! it was night travelling. wearily, that was 3 months ago, when adam was 4 months old! mind you, he was less handful, during the time. plus, i dun need to prepare food for him, since he has not started solid, and also, those were the times he favor sleeps rather than any other things! unlike now, where he found out the exploration in car are pretty much exhilarating! he have this fondness to the gear, click on and click off on the radio button, and even find it super excited to meniarap in the car! he now has a wavelength of all his own. mommy'll definitely go head-ache + back-ache. but for sure, on top of that, mommy love you most cheeky-boy! despite for all, i know ur growing by leaps and bounds.

i did some reading on net to help ease the becoming painstaking which are among others:

Food and comfort

• If you're not breastfeeding, ready-to-use formula is the most convenient thing to bring for your baby. Or just make a few bottles of formula at home to bring along.

• Bring only as much baby food as you'll need for the journey. You can always buy more once you reach your destination. (Exception: If you're traveling internationally or to a place where it might be tough to find what you need, it may be less of a headache to pack a full supply of food.)

• Also helpful during meals: A bib that's large enough to cover most of your child's outfit, has a plastic or waterproof coating that allows it to be easily wiped off and reused, and can be folded or rolled for easy packing.

• Bring enough diapers for the trip (or enough to last until you reach your destination and can buy more), bags for dirty diapers, and diaper-rash lotion. Diaper covers provide added insurance against leaks.

• Pack at least one extra set of clothes for yourself and your chlid that's easily accessible (for instance, in your carry-on bag). You never know when a diaper leak, spit-up, or other mess might render an outfit unwearable.

Entertainment

• Take along a goody bag containing a few of your child's favorite toys, plus some surprises. Possibilities include musical toys, board books, empty containers, nesting toys, and hand puppets. Playthings that will hold your child's attention the longest are your best bets.

Travel gear

• Stick a travel-friendly changing pad in your diaper bag for use in public or airplane bathrooms.

• Stash some large, resealable plastic bags in your car trunk or diaper bag. They're a simple solution for the temporary storage of messy items like dirty diapers, bibs, and wet bathing suits.

• If you need both a car seat and stroller for your trip and your child is still small enough for an infant car seat (around 20 or 22 pounds maximum, depending on the seat), a stroller or stroller frame that will carry the car seat cuts down on the gear you have to lug, as well as the hassle of getting in and out of cars and airplanes. It also allows you to move your sleeping babe from the car to the restaurant without disturbing his slumber.

and also, according to here, travelling at night is often the best option, as he is more likely to sleep until you've arrived! Some babies, though, seem to spring into action the moment the engine stops - if your baby is one of them, you could find yourself trying to persuade him to go back to sleep in the middle of the night ... when you're worn out from the journey!

The other consideration with night-time driving is that it may not always suit the driver (must make sure ayah have his best co-driver), particularly after a day at work. For safety's sake, anyone considering driving overnight should get plenty of rest beforehand.

and now, am scratching my head to think of those things to bring back for raya, name it be all - brg2 adam will take up half of the car! plus his strollers and all! mommy must think of a way to conjure the limited available space. somehow, in spite of the best efforts, car journeys with baby can have their stressful moments. all i need to do, is to keep calm and, never let baby distract. If, whenever adam needs attention, will definately pull over and take a break.the safety and that of my baby is paramount.

all i hope, the long journey will sail smooth back and forth for us :)

pix source: google

Bill Gate's Message on Life

must read! stumbbled upon this moment ago, its kinda true in a way, thus i decided to post it here for sharing :)

the worldwide leader in software. Bill Gates handome, no?

For recent high school and college graduates, here is a list of 11 things they did not learn in school.

In his book, Bill Gates talks about how feel-good, politically-correct teachings created a full generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

RULE 1......Life is not fair; get used to it.

RULE 2......The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

RULE 3......You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.

RULE 4......If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

RULE 5......Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.

RULE 6......If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

RULE 7......Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try "delousing" the closet in your own room.

RULE 8......Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

RULE 9......Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summer off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

RULE 10.....Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

RULE 11.....Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

ps: whilst googling on the latest of him, my jaw dropped upon this:

the car!! luxurious in empathy!

fav food di bulan puasa

hello peeps

out of a blue, laying back on my - loyal - but - not - comfy chair here in the office, making an attempt to get some beauty sleep, (sbb dah menguap like 24x since punched-in) suddenly got drawn back down the memory lane, of the favorite dish in bulan puasa. (it all came down one by one like a slideshow in mind).

when i was wayy younger, buka puasa is such a feast! the table loaded with foods for each every one of us hand-pick at the bazaar. all making delicious attempt! normally, abah will remind us all, 'jgn beli sampai membazir. beli ala kadar je', and it seems that we were drooling for the food like we were never reminded. pity abah. we are just degil and dun't listen:p and owh, that was the glory eating time. i miss those time. those time where i can eat and continue eating without considering being fat at all. who cares if fat?:p people love chubby kids what. haha.

back to the topic, before i go typing rubbish, dishes which is a must for me, where i'll sulk if cudn't find one during every ramadhan are:

the spaghetti with meatballs! this is the must home made dishes. the meatballs are also made with love by mom. *no no..the pix above are not the one made by mom. it's a click away from google*

baked macaroni - the all time favorite! with extra cheese on top to make it more sinful:p

pecal - the must find one whenever i'll make my way to the bazaar. and there's this one stall which sells the best pecal in bangi :)

popia basah with extra extra sauce on top - owh sooo yummeh.! believe it not, i can finish all 5 pieces per serving during buka puasa! and back then, during my second year in university, i bought this for like every day for the whole month of bless! the pakcik seller pun siap kasi buy five free one for me :)

mamatok's pengat pisang - the tooth decay food i call it. whenever she stays with us, i'll drive her by all means to make one!

rojak buah - why it's called rojak ahh btw? any significant? i love it with no asserted pineapple. very devouring.

ikan bilis goreng with bawang & cili api! forever- lovable for sahur! very tummy tempting esp when its served with nasi panas! 2 thumbs up and i gave in. scrumptious!

and what is the type of food that you peeps can hardly resist? :)

note: all pix above are courtesy from google.