week 36 update.

Woah, time sure flies !
Alhamdulillah.

At 9 months pregnant, I am having a hard time keeping my cool. I've gotta admit I am more nervous than excited.

Thanks Google Images !

I have noticed that my belly has dropped slightly, which means that Mini Mel's is slowly making her way down my pelvis.
This must be the reason I have been experiencing persistent menstrual like cramps along with lower back pains. Walking gets slightly uncomfortable at times. I have to adjust to walking at a slower pace than usual. Mr. Sunshine would be happy to hear this because he keeps asking me why I need to walk so fast everyday. Err, I am just a natural 'fast walker' ?

Baby squirms a lot.
Mummy pees a lot.
Haha. Ok, not funny.

I am far from having the burst of energy a.k.a 'nesting instinct' some expectant mums are said to acquire around this time. Instead I feel like I am getting lazier as the days go by. If only I could laze around at home these days. But I know that's just unhealthy and I need to keep moving especially during this last month of pregnancy, and that's what I plan to (try to) do. InshaAllah. :)

Thanks Google Images !

Alhamdulillah so far, my feet and legs are appearing slightly larger than usual but they're not edematous and there are no signs of stretch marks on my belly. YET.
It's either I'm blessed with really thick skin or the fact that I have been religiously applying olive oil on my belly since I found out I was preggers is working.
But then again, I might be speaking too soon.

I don't think we're allowed to have jeweleries on us in the labour room, so instead of waiting until the last minute and risk misplacing them, I have just removed both my engagement and wedding rings. Well, my fingers have also puffed up a bit so it's better that I removed them now rather than having trouble removing them later on.
I just hope they'd still fit me after the delivery. Hehe.

I have more or less one month to go ! InshaAllah.

"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." (Al-Anbya' 21:87)

xoxo

on how to make a mushroom omelette.

Last weekend, Mr. Sunshine and I had mushroom omelette sandwiches for dinner. I made pasta for lunch that day so we were pretty stuffed.

Daddy makes THE BEST mushroom omelette.
And he obviously knows he does.
I sent a text message to Daddy asking for tips on how to make a good mushroom omelette and he replied with the whole recipe. Haha.

And this is how my mushroom omelette looked like:

Not very appealing huh ?
Mr Sunshine thought it was delicious and went back for seconds, but I would rather have Daddy make some for me. Hehe.

xoxo

send someone to love me.

Mr Sunshine and I went shopping for baby stuff yesterday after work. Bought a couple more pairs of baby clothes, a baby bathing tub, a bedding set, disposable diapers and a few other necessities.
I was pretty excited and surprisingly energized that there were even times I was the one telling Mr. Sunshine to rest and wait for me while I walked up and down the staircase of the departmental store looking for stuff. But of course he wouldn't leave me to do all that walking on my own. Hehe.
It's no surprise that all that energy I had fizzled just after 2 hours of shopping. Hehe.

There are some other things that I am planning to get before giving birth:
(All images are from Google Images)

1) A breast pump.

As I intend to breastfeed my baby exclusively, I wanted to get a dual pump. But considering the cost, I have decided to go with a single electric pump, the Medela Swing. The only problem or question that I have with a single pump is, will my other breast leak milk while I am pumping ? If it does, then wouldn't it be a total waste ? Should I get a cheaper manual pump to pump both sides ? *pening*

The main reasons that I have chosen Medela Swing is because of its 2 Phase Expression Technology, similar to Freestyle which has garnered so much positive reviews. Plus it can operate on batteries too, which I think would come in handy if I happen to be stuck in a jam or whenever there's a blackout. Hehe.

2) Nursing bras

I've only bought one pair of these so I definitely need more.

3) A nursing pillow. 

I consider this a necessity because I am prone to have back pains and sore arms etc etc. Prevention is always better than cure. :D

I sure hope whatever we have purchased for Mini Mel is enough at least until I finish my confinement period.
Speaking of which, I will be in Batu Pahat after I give birth, InshaAllah. Mum in-law will be taking care of me and baby during my confinement. As much as I want to give birth in KL, near Daddy, Marc and Marlene, it's best that I deliver my baby as near as possible to my in-laws. Hence, Batu Pahat would be the wisest choice.
I've been having my good share of sleepless nights about this. I have never stayed over at my in-laws without Mr. Sunshine and that's something I've gotta prepare myself for because I can't expect Mr. Sunshine to take a whole month's leave to stay with me. He obviously has to go back to work.
Now don't take this the wrong way, my in-laws are great, but being away from Mr Sunshine (and Daddy, Marc & Lene) while I deal with postpartum pain, and the pressures of adjusting to being a new mum is something I am not sure I am capable enough to deal with. :(

I know it's all for the best, for both baby and I.
I hope the one week leave before my EDD will be approved.
I hope I get to go back in time to deliver my baby in Batu Pahat.
Ameen.

But at the end of the day, we can only plan. InshaAllah.


xoxo

out of sorts.

Credits to Google Images.

xoxo

did they hear that ?

I am finding it hard to put into words how I am feeling right now.
It's the sucky after-feeling of when you've maxed out your energy meter by building up so much anxiety for something.
It's how your heart just can't stop keeping still after that something ends, yet your mind's just blank.

I'm not making sense, aren't I ?

xoxo

guess who's next !

Alhamdulillah, my bestie Diana has given birth to a healthy baby boy last night, 10 days earlier from her estimated due date (EDD) ! Alhamdulillah.
I am super happy ! I am sooooo proud of her !

I was on pins and needles waiting for good news since she told me she was on the way to the hospital three nights ago.

Congratulations to her & hubby, Hanan ! Yay !

not being able to meet you for the past year is unacceptable.

I miss you so very much. :'(

One year is just too long, toooooo long ! *nangis*

xoxo

50 Things You Need to Know About Marital Relationships

Excerpted from Al Maghrib Institute’s “Fiqh of Love” seminar with Shaykh Waleed Basyouni.

I came across this quite some time ago, felt that it's worth sharing. :)

1. Great relationships don’t just happen; they are created. You have to work at it.
2. If your job takes all of your best energy, your marriage will suffer.
3. One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse is your own happiness.
4. It is possible to love and hate someone at the same time.
5. When you complain about your spouse to your friends, remember that their feedback can be distorted.
6. The only rules in your marriage are those you both choose to agree with.
7. It is not conflict that destroys marriage; it is the cold, smoldering resentment that you hold for a long time.
8. It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with what you have.
9. If you think you are too good for your spouse, think again.
10. Growing up in a happy household doesn’t ensure a happy marriage, or vice versa.
11. It’s never too late to repair damaged trust.
12. The real issue is usually not the one you are arguing about.
13. Love isn’t just a feeling; it is expressed through our actions.
14. Expectations set us up for disappointment and resentment.
15. Arguments cannot be avoided, but destructive arguments can be avoided.
16. One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse is focused attention.
17. Even people with happy marriages sometimes worry that they married the wrong person.
18. Your spouse cannot rescue you from unhappiness, but they can help you rescue yourself.
19. The cost of a lie is far greater than any advantage you gain from speaking it.
20. Your opinion is not necessarily the truth.
21. Trust takes years to establish and moments to destroy.
22. Guilt-tripping won’t get you what you really want.
23. Don’t neglect your friends.
24. If you think, “You are not the person I married,” you are probably right.
25. Resisting the temptation to prove your point will win you a lot of points.
26. Generosity of spirit is the foundation of a good marriage.
27. If your spouse is being defensive, you might be giving them reasons to be like that.
28. Marriage isn’t 50/50; it’s 100/100.
29. You can pay now or pay later, but the later you pay, the more interest and penalties you acquire.
30. Marriage requires sacrifice, but your benefits outweigh your costs.
31. Forgiveness isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continous process.
32. Accepting the challenges of marriage will shape you into a better person.
33. Creating a marriage is like launching a rocket: once it clears the pull of gravity, it takes much less energy to sustain the flight.
34. A successful marriage has more to do with how you deal with your current reality than with what you’ve experienced in the past.
35. Don’t keep feelings of gratitude to yourself.
36. There is no greater eloquence than the silence of real listening.
37. One of the greatest questions to ask your spouse is “How best can I love you?”
38. Marriage can stay fresh over time.
39. Assumptions are fine as long as you check them before acting upon them.
40. Intention may not be the only thing, but it is the most important thing.
41. Good sex won’t make your marriage, but it’ll help.
42. Privacy won’t hurt your marriage, but secrecy will.
43. Possessiveness and jealousy are born out of fear, not love.
44. Authenticity is contagious and habit-forming.
45. If your spouse thinks something is important, then it is.
46. Marriage never outgrows the need for romance.
47. The sparkle of a new relationship is always temporary.
48. There is violence in silence when it’s used as a weapon.
49. It’s better to focus on what you can do to make things right, then what your partner did to make things wrong.
50. If you think marriage counseling is too expensive, try divorce.

xoxo

week 32 update.

• Baby's kicks and movements are getting stronger. Alhamdulillah. It occasionally feels like an adult punching me in the tummy. Ouch.
• The doctor told me that my baby's head is already engaged, according to the ultrasound scan she did on me. But she also said there's a possibility of the baby flipping back up. But Mummy's baby is a good girl, isn't she ?
• I am nauseous most of the time. No vomiting so far, just nausea.
• Heartburn and gastrointestinal reflux are two things I need to deal with everyday. I have been trying to avoid spicy food, but am having quite a tough time staying away from chocolates !
• I pee 35646797897787824 times a day. 
• I get breathless easily these days.
• I get tired easily too. Hehe.

Alhamdulillah, I have no major complaints because I know what I am going through is normal for most pregnant women. :)

And oh, I would like to thank those who gave feedback on my hospital bag checklist post. All your comments were very helpful, thank you so much ! ;)

xoxo

our babymoon.

Hello everyone.
It's July !
As we enter the second half of 2011, it's good that we take some time to reflect on how we've spent the past six months, and work on a plan to make the following six months even better !
InshaAllah. :)

Mr. Sunshine and I capped off June by going on a one-night babymoon. :)

A babymoon is a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby. source

Where did we go ?
Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi !

My reviews on the resort ?
The room we got was just ok lah. Not too shabby, but the television reception was terrible, the bed was creaking, and flushing the toilet was a chore for me. It wasn't as chilly as I expected it to be, except when it rained.
In my opinion, the food was overpriced but tasted good lah. 
The surroundings were picturesque ! There wasn't really anything much to do except to enjoy the scenery, just perfect for anyone who just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax.
Enough babbling, here are some photos we snapped during our stay. :)

I think this fountain symbolizes fertility. Correct me if I am wrong. :)

Mr. Sunshine posing at the entrance of the resort. :)

Mr. Sunshine checking on the baby. Hehe.

We shared a bowl of chicken soup for dinner.

Along with a large Calzone pizza.

Look at the cheeeeeeeesseeeeeee ! I would like to think that's the culprit which made us fall asleep for three good hours immediately after dinner. Hehe.

Me at breakfast. Don't be fooled by the minute amount of food. I already had Nasi Lemak before that. Hee.

And I washed everything down with a huge slice of yummy bread pudding !

We stopped at the Animal Park on our way back, where we got to feed cute bunnies !

Feeding rabbits is ticklish !

I have just entered my 32nd week of pregnancy ! Alhamdulillah.
Am praying that the next 8 weeks or so will go well, InshaAllah. Ameen. :)

xoxo