Is That A Diaper Bag?

Having a baby means a really BIG changes in our lives. To me, it effects my routine and even my handbags. I love my handbags so much! But now I find it it's annoyingly uneasy to carry a handbag and a baby bag at the same time. And the baby bag with cute blue, pink and so many cheerful colours with a typical cute designs, sometimes doesn't go with what I am wearing.

(sigh) 

But my solution is solved, when I finally got my Storksak safely arrived at my doorstep, it's like a dream come true, problemo solved! Now I only need to carry one bag and one bag alone. The best parts are, It will still like carrying my handbag, and baby bag in one. And nobody won't know it actually a baby bag until you tell them! Muahaahahahah!! I'm sorry but I wanna look good while outing with my kids. Carrying one bag and only one stylish bag that carries all the thing I need and also what the kids need.

What is it I am talking about? Well.. it's THIS!

Ladies, I present to you..

The Storksak!

Well, does it look good or does it look good? Believe it or not it's not just a handbag. It is also a diaper bag. Comes with many range and design, Storksak is a total solution to mommies who wants to look good while carrying a diaper bag. They even have a design for daddy. Mine is Elizabeth Leather, in Grey Dove. The merchandise is from London and being brought in here by certain online boutique in Malaysia. What makes me crave more about this is, even Angelina Jolie wore it so is Brad Pitt!

The bag has lots of pockets inside an outside so you can put all the things needed in a different compartments and getting it easily. The elegant design concealed the truth and what people see is a very nice handbag.

Do you see the pockets and compartments? I am loving this so much! You can so many things in here. My purse, diapers, spare clothes, wet tissues, wipe cloth etc..

It has a pocket at both sides of the handbag, which I slip in my mobile phone, car keys and other things that I need to get in a hurry at the easiest place I can reach in time.

This bag came with a dust bag (a must), a diaper changing mat and a bottle warmer bag. I bought mine at BEBE TOTZ, they also can be reach at their Facebook and I recommend you to browse their album. There are so many things you can find there.

So, Zara.. the bag is pack. Let's go out with your sisters!

p.s. Fadzil is not around to take photo of me posing with this bag.

'Super Mak'

Referring to the title above, which I chose because my sisters kept calling me THAT everytime we met, on a phone call, or texting.

Wanna know how it starts?

Among us sisters, I was known as the 'MOST BRUTAL'. Why? I manage to do and handle lots of tough things alone. With my kids, and pregnant. Since Fadzil left for China everymonth, I have to do things all by myself until the day before I gave birth. It's a no biggie for me. I guess all ladies did that. Did they?

Well exactly 53 days after the birth, he left again, and I am back to our place after 40 days confinement at my mom's. I have no choice, I have to drive with a 8 years old girl, a 4 years old and a almost 2 months baby back from the airport after sending Fadzil. That moment marked the beginning of everything.

Trust me, it's no fun.

I woke at 5 a.m every morning, 30 minutes of my daily pumping session so I can stock up for Zara's milk once I started working. Woke Fatini up at 6 a.m. Put her KAFA uniform, school bags and other necessity in the car, prepare her breakfast and lunch, gave Zara and Falisha their baths and by 7 a.m everything must be ready and I started the car, put Zara in her carrier, get my other 2 kids in the car, and drives to the school. On the way, I dropped Fatini's afternoon school's stuff (more like I stopped the car and Fatini dropped her things at the nursery she stayed for the afternoon). I taught Fatini to be more independent, as her father not around. I paid the van picking up kids from school to pick her up in the afternoon, sent her and pick her up again in the evening and sent her straight home after KAFA.

Before Fadzil left, I cooked, frozen all the dish for him to bring along to China. A one month stock. Huh!

During his absent, I prefer not to go and shop for groceries. But when we ran out of, important and needed things such as fresh food, the kids milk, diapers and others I have no choice but to go to TESCO with my 3 kids. Knowing Falisha who have some issues of not listening to me, and cannot stay put for a minute plus now that I have a 2 months old baby,it shocked my mother and wonder how am I supposed to shop with them?

Amazingly, I managed. My parents and sisters tried to imagine me with the 3 of them. LOL.

Yeah last Friday, I drove with my sister at the back with my kids to my mom's house. Alhamdulillah, Zara slept all along the way. I wonder will she sleeps again if I drive alone this week?

Fatini had fever last Saturday when she's not improving I took her to the clinic on Monday. It's really a challenge for me. A hot weather, a sick kid and a kid who won't stay put even for a minute. Walking from the car to the clinic, which only 10 meters away made me feel like a kilometer away. :( And at the clinic, there were so many people. My kids are getting restless, we waited until 2 hours for our turn. Luckily Zara behaved, but Falisha kept poking and pestering her sister as usual. That makes me tired. And angry.

After we're finished at the clinic I took the kids for lunch and some groceries shopping, Zara's diapers almost finish, we need milk, bread, eggs and some other kitchen things. All this whiler Zara slept in her ZOLO. When we got back, I felt like taking a pillow and lay down for a few minutes.

I told my sisters about it, and she said. 'Memang la ko ni Super Mak.'

Now This? I Am Totally Confused!

I just got back from Hospital Putrajaya. I had an appointment with the specialist regarding the twins I'm carrying.

MORE SURPRISES!!

After 1 Gynecologist, 2 specialist in gynecology, scanned and examined my belly, they confirmed their result. I am not carrying 2 'buns' in my oven. Get it?

I don't know what to say, I saw 2 heartbeats before. 2 babies. even 2 doctors have confirmed it. And then the gynecologist explained to me.

'Those doctors that examined you before are not specialist in gynecology. They're just GP or general practitioner. But we're specialized to do this. Only this, so what happened here as we suspected, they tend to see a shadow or reflect of the baby. Just now we found only 1 heartbeat, 1 head and 1 baby. The baby is fine, the placenta is at the topside of the uterus, but we have to observe you again to check whether the baby will move into transverse position after 6 weeks.' she smiled and said I have nothing to worry about. The baby is definitely SINGLETON.

Now that me and my husband has found out about this, frankly it's quite a relief to us. We have been thinking about it in many aspects. How to take care of 2 babies at a time, the nurseries, necessities, their needs, will I able to produce ample milk for them and many other things related to twins. Not that we're not happy to have a twins, but it's the truth that everybody will have in their minds if they were in our shoes.

I am relief too, that now I have a chance to go through a normal birth. Not cesarean as it should be, if I am having twins. (klu cesarean susah nak pantang normal)

Deep down, as a mom I do feel there is something wrong with the whole picture. Me, having twins? My instinct says I am not carrying 2 babies. 1st of all, my belly is small. Not big enough like it supposed to if  I am carrying twins. Deep down, I knew it is impossible. The party inside my belly? Well, my baby maybe kind of too active once in a while, strong kick, everything is strong.

But frankly, when it turned out to be like this, it kind of mystery. What did I really saw last week? What if, suddenly I gave birth to 2 babies instead of 1? 

p.s. I am not in the mood to have put a colourful pictures in my post today. please forgive me.

Not What I Expected

I commented on Syigim's post last week and gave a hint to her about an interesting story I am about to share with her.

She, having a good sense suspected it has got to do with 'the bun in the oven' as she said. Well Syigim, you're RIGHT!

It happened last Tuesday when I went to the pregnancy monthly check-up in the clinic. It went alright all the way until the moment I stepped in the Doctor's room. Oh, it's a different doctor. I was told the usual doctor went for a course and she is replacing the other doctor's place for that week. Ok, no problem to me. I was scheduled for a scanning that day. As usual, I lay down on the bed for the session, the size of my belly is ok, she said. And now she did the scanning. I wanted to know the baby's sex since I found out I am pregnant during 5 months. But, my focus are more to the baby's health and well-being. So the baby's sex was put aside.

SURPRISE 1.

She started scanning the baby, everything looks fine, the growth and everything. Until I was told that the placenta is sitting below the baby exactly at the bottom. I was told it is, placenta praevia type IV. And the baby is breech. Ok, I breath slowly and `istighfar` after the news was told.

SURPRISE 2.

I asked the doctor if she can see the baby's sex, as I really wanted to know the sex. Ok, she said, no problem. Again she scanned, moving around my belly and her face showing a sign of worry, I don't know. She said, 'I'm trying to find her feet, so that we can see her sex, but I am so confused now. I found a placenta just at the top. It's ok, I'll try again.' And finally, she found her feet at the right side of my waist, and it's a GIRL!

SURPRISE 3.

The curious doctor wanted to satisfy her curiosity. As she scanned my belly, we had chat. She asked me why I came in at 5 months for the pregnancy check-up and everything. I told her everything and about how twins runs in my family and Fadzil's family. She said, 'I think I found 2 heartbeats and 2 baby's heads.' I said, 'WHAT?!' That cannot be! I am pregnant with one baby as we checked previously. She said, 'I'll get the nurse and a fetal doppler. While waiting for the nurse to come, she scanned again. This time I can see clearly, the second baby's head, the body but not the femur or legs. It's position is transverse, but I cannot see the sex. It is smaller than the other one. It's on the left-side of my belly. And she scanned the 1st baby again. The breech one, it is bigger than the other one. Once the nurse came in, and I hear 2 heartbeats on the different sides of my belly, it is confirm I am having TWINS! No wonder I felt like there's a party inside my belly everytime it moves!

I was told I am having an unidentical twins, as the baby have 2 separates placentas. The doctor refers me to the specialist in Hospital Putrajaya for further antenatal check-up just to make sure me and the babies is fine. 

From the clinic record, the babies are doing fine. Both are 1.444kg and 1.281kg at 29 weeks of pregnancy. I am so worried. I can't eat much, I even lost 2 kg of my weight, the day I went in for the check-up that day. Will my baby get enough nutrient? I never skipped my supplement, eat nutritious food. I hate rice. I makes me want to throw up, even thinking about it. But still I consume it, for the sake of my babies.

Right until now while writing this, I am still trying to absorb the reality and the great news of having twins. I'll update more about it, soon after my check-up with the specialist.

Guess What?

I know it's been so long since I updated ANYTHING on this blog. Please Don't hate me! :)

Anyway, I am so excited I want to share this with all my girlfriends! Guess What?! I AM PREGNANT! With number 3! Yeay!!

I've been trying since last year, as our 2nd one is almost 3. Now that she is 3 years plus. Again, I am happy and excited, since I found out about this, a few days ago. To tell you guys, I think, I am at least 6 weeks pregnant now. Still on the fragile stage.

I'm praying for a boy this time, since I have 2 girls now. But I pray mostly for a healthy and prefect baby. Ladies, thank you for letting me share this great news.

Bangi's Little White Cafe

To all English style deco fans,

I recommend you to come to this place.

To all healthy eating, English style food, cakes and pastry fan,

You too, have to come here!

I've read a few comments and review about how people describe this place and the food. Some are positive and not to forget the negative comments too.

What I think about it?

Well from the intro above I bet you guys can tell which group I am, didn't you? Well I am a fan of healthy eating and English or Western food lovers. Please don't get me wrong, I loved Nasi Lemak and Rendang Ayam, but since we've been staying Dubai For almost 5 years, I had a wake up call about how important it is to eat healthy. Since in Malaysia, it's quite hard to find some of the regular ingredients which can easily be found in Dubai, the food in this cafe is like a Mana from heaven.

About the cafe,

At the first sight of the entrance, you would sigh at the home-like deco and the signs. (which i forgot the photo, will upload later). A blue and white concept of deco with those white picket fence at the porch. With window glasses, and displaying pastries and cakes on the right window. As soon as the white french doors opened for you, you will again sigh at the interiors of the cafe. So homely and romantic!

the owner and look at the settings. the glassy section is the kitchen. 

 I love this one

birthday girl. and do you see the glass display of the desserts?

Yana and Acai. Love thos wall behind them.

How we end up here? It started with one of my close friend. We were planning a birthday celebration (belated) for the other close friend of ours. Being all stressed out, for the where about for us to go and celebrate, she came up with an idea. She always passed by this cafe at Bangi. At the block of  new shop lots just behind the Warta Bangi, near the Mosque. It looks so inviting and cute! So we googled, and we found a few blog that blogs about it.

you can read it here   and here

So we finally decided, we wanna try this cafe and here we are.

The well mannered waiters and waitress, add up to the cozy ambiance. You will see the all white settings with matching furnitures and fixtures. They even had photos, beautiful photos hanging up on one side of the wall. Here come the good parts. The menu! It's a pretty in black, and it's handwritten. All of it! The menus, they're all mouth watering. But the sad part is, they don't have as much as they should (or we expected).

The cafe's not too big or too small which can fit around 20 to 25 people at a time. On the right side of the cafe, there's a white bar where they prepared all the delicious drinks with a glass display of all the cakes and pastries. Behind the bar there's a blackboard on the wall and almost all of their menus are written on the board. The handwritten   writings gives the most personal touch to this cafe. At the far end corner of the cafe you can almost see the chefs in the kitchen through the glass wall that separates the area.

The owner a nice Malay Lady which I forgot her name, attend to us and recommend us whats and whats to eat and drink. She even took her time to briefly explain each menu. 

 cute!

love the cranberry cooler 

baked potatoes and sausage 

 My roast-beef sandwich. Still dream about it.. 

the counter or bar or something.. 

chocolate surprises 

that wall is lovely isn't it? 

balik time!

In the end, we ordered chef's salad, roast beef sandwich (my favourite!), baked potatoes and sausages.

To me, I'm always a fan! So I don't have any problem adapting to this kind of meal. We loved it! 

Now for the dessert, we do had trouble choosing. Of course everything looks yummy and we want to eat it all! But we had, a Chocolate Surprise (which their first time serving it in the cafe, and dying to know what do we think about it), I had Lemon Tart, and Yana had Carrot Cake. Frankly, it is better, wayyyy.. better than Secret recipe's carrot cake or other cakes.

After the meal, I had a chat with one of the waiter that seems interested with me holding my camera. And I found out they just recently opened about 2 weeks (at that time). Which make it a month at this moment as I am writing about it.

As we're leaving, I promised myself I will come here again, while waving at the friendly hostess of the cafe.

Finally...

I've been home in a Malaysia for quite sometimes. First of all I would to apologize to all my friends, for not into updating my blog. I've been super duper busy and super duper lazy to get and turn on my laptop. I even want to apologize for not visiting you guys.


Anyway, it's been 3 weeks since I start my job. Where? Yeah, they send me to Economic Planning Unit in Prime Minister's Department, in Social Services Section. But before that I was 'pending' for 2 weeks in their library, which I filled my time with reading. (duhhh...!)


Now my 4th day in the new place where I am assigned. New place, new boss.I thanked Allah, for all of this. It's been quite and easy start for people like me that haven't been working for almost 5 years. 


Frankly I'm gonna missed my time in the past 4 years. I am missing my Dubai friends, (you know who you are..)


My routine has changed. No more lazy morning coffee, and then the house chores. I have to wake up very early every morning, leave the house at 6.45 a.m. Drop Falisha at the nursery and drive for 30 minutes to Putrajaya. 


Yes, Falisha. She stayed at the nursery which was the most 'horrifying' time for me and her. As some of you know, she never been away from me for quite a long a time at the time. She done well, the first day, but not the next day and so on. She figured out that, every morning I will drive to the nursery to drop her. She will start crying as I start carrying her to the car. The thing is, the nanny said she wasn't crying after I left. But she loved to follow the nannies around. And when I came in the evening to pick her up, she would suddenly cry as soon as she sensed that I've arrived to pick her up.


Then there goes the cooking routine. I cook and throw whatever I can grab. I got home at 6, and of course Falisha would like her dose of feeding which I have to give to her or I will suffer a swollen breast and she starts crying and screaming. No more heavenly meals like it used to be. Just simple 30 minutes meal. 


I really regret not updating this and blog hopping regularly. Really am. But, I will after this.


Missed you guys a lot!

Trying My Hands on Wedding

*warning to you guys who are about to read this. I am not a pro (yet) in photography, frankly I am a bit shy to 'exhibit' my handiwork as a beginner. Especially to our pro friend Catlina. So, please, feel free to comment, I'll except anything just improve myself. Hihihi.. but enjoy.

It's been 4 years since we left Malaysia to stay in Dubai. And in that 4 years, we missed so many weddings of our family. I Loved weddings! And I loved photography!

Being able to attend the wedding of my cousin this year, has been a great joy to me. Why? I get to see my relatives, and I get to shoot and test my skill on everything I learned the past few months, on portrait photography.

This wedding took place at Dewan Precint 8, in Putrajaya. It's the reception on the groom side (my cousin). We used to stay in Putrajaya before we moved and left Malaysia to stay in Dubai. It's an advantage to my dad, (the one who is driving) as he is not used to the the many roads and precint in Putrajaya that's confusing, a lot!

bapak upon arriving 

ibu, met some of her uncles and cousins from banting

We arrived at exactly 11.45am and already people walked out of the hall. 'Eh, lambat ke kite?' my mom start to worry. I said, 'Bersanding pun 1.30 tghhr, ibu. Macam mana pulak lambat? Orang datang awal ni..' Well of course she's worried. Kenduri kawin anak abang ibu. We met a few of our relatives from Banting. They arrived early and started leaving as they have more kenduri to attend.

When we arrived, me and my kids were the center of attention. Why? Well, the last time we met was last year during Falisha's cuku jambul, and now we're here again, once a year. After all the tanya kabar, salam-salam dan ape yang patut, we took a seat and start borak-borak. While my mom and my dad start queuing to get the food, I went to the small room opposite the entrance, to get a sneak peek at the 'flower girls' and the 'flower boys' getting ready. 

And of course, once I stepped in, my aunts and cousin were screaming. Overjoyed after one long year we haven't met. And it's time to 'shoot'! 

Aina, my little cousin  

Kak ayu @ akak, my older cousin  

a row of cousins 

I am not a pro (yet) but put all my effort and basic knowledge of shooting using SLR in different situation and different places. The different ambiance gave me a challenge on my skill and knowledge, in portrait and wedding photography. It tested my art of seeing skill. Which I loved it, MUCHOS!

shoot my baby!  

happy girls!

little models 

Another challenge was, my kids. I have to ask my sister, Hajar to look after my babies, and not to forget, Falisha's 'appa' too. During the event, I missed a few important shots of my parents, 'menepung tawar', just because Falisha already cranky and asked for feeding.

can't take my eyes off of you..  

framing Farhan  

Hareez, more of my little cousins  

Izzah  

Farah @ Yaya, the mix beauty of Pakistani and Malay  

I wonder what's over there..?  

The blurred handsome boy  

 

The newly weds, Fazli and Syafa with their niece, Maisarah

Capturing Maisarah 

I don't know what you guys think, but through my eyes, I am proud of what I achieved that day. When I am able to test my art of seeing skill, and able to shoot a few sides and about that are up to the exact shots like I wanted to get.

Me? I don't really like to shoot a plain all standing in a row kind of picture. I love it when people are not looking at me, and didn't even notice I'm photographing them, to me that's what tells the story or how story created in just one single shot.

a forced smile  

Yaya..  

Family photo as a memory. (this is just a half of it..)

This is how I see it, I am still in learning process. Which I enjoyed so much, and hope that I'll improve myself in the future.

Bapak and Durian

Among of all things that came up on my mind when we're preparing for our journey to Malaysia, was my Bapak's orchard or dusun bapak. Hmm.. it made my mouth watered everytime I thought about it. Besides rambutan, mangosteen, and dokong, I thought mostly about the freshly picked durian from the orchard. I am lucky this time, we came exactly during the musim durian. While most orchard already had the season earlier than it should, bapak's orchard just started. 

On the day of the first durian fell, bapak had the feeling and he left early morning with his senapang (nak tembak tupai yang menyerang durian). When he came home, I can smell the fresh durian all the way from the living hall. Me? I am a freak! I loved durian as much as I loved Mr.Fadzil, hahahah! The best thing is, I know the durian is good, because a few years ago when bapak first started planting the durian, he saved the seed from the good and tasty durian that we ate, and plant it in the black bags before it's big enough to be transfered into the orchard.

So, as soon as my nose detected the smell that fragrant the whole house, I rushed to the backyard and surprisingly screaming (happily) because we get to eat the first durian of the season! Me, standing next to my bapak waiting anxiously (and excited) for bapak to cut open the durian. And of course, camera and shoot!

Bapak cium-cium durian

Once it's cut opened, there it goes! The yellow, creamy and fragrant fruit inside is revealed! My kids? They don't even like durian. (rugi betul). Maybe, growing up in another country they were not exposed to durian as it should be. This time, Tini had a bite and declared that she likes durian! Wow, that is improvement! But Falisha, after a bite. She made a sour face and ran away.

there, tangan bapak membukak durian

Durian!!

lagi durian 

see how big and chunky?

Ibu came out as he heard our happy voices and of course the smell. Bapak cut open another durian and we had more than we should. Aduh, panas la pasni! Bapak smiled and said, to avoid the heat, he told us, 

"Minum air dari kulit durian tu.. tuang air lepas tu minum."

Aahh.. What an afternoon. Had a yummy, creamy durian, a full tummy (luckily drank from the kulit durian), and no heat after eating eat. I can't wait for more durian to gugur and more fruits to ripe from dusun bapak.