Work In Progress...

Hubster's working on our new project. InsyaAllah in 2 and a half years.. Pray for us!

P/s: Kindly excuse our mess. We are trying to make do with what we have and there's not much room left without proper storage compartments that is still under construction.

Never Back Down

People say, " Beautiful things happen in your life when you distance yourself from Negative things".

I say,"Beautiful things happen in your life when you stop running away and learn to manage the negative things around you". 

Never blame anyone in your life.

Good People give you Hapiness.

Bad People give you Experience.

Worst People give you a Lesson.

Best People give you Memories.

There will always be negativity in life. Without Pain there is no compassion. You can't experience Great Joy without experiencing Sorrow. The best is, despite all you pain, you will always have something to gain. Failure is a step away from success. 

When asked my husband what is he planning to teach our children about failure, he quote lines from Christopher Nolan's Dark Night movie, 

"Why do we fall Master Bruce?"

"So that we can learn to pick ourselves up"

My cousin's husband quoted this in his instagram, "O Allah, Thank you for the difficulties and the hardship. Without it, I would have drown and drifted from the purpose of my existence".

There is always a reason for everything. The important thing is to NEVER GIVE UP. Every time you fall, pick yourself up, keep your chin up, back track, learn and move forward.When you see a challenge, confront it. If you fall, take a step back, review the situation and face it again till you gain that wisdom. Always remember that God will never give you a challenge just to make you suffer. Some days you are up some days you are down. C'est la vie. That's life. Manage life well so that you will be content and blessed no matter what situation you are in.

Introduction to Little Pea a.k.a. Chicarito

I’ve been wanting to write this post up last week but my everyday chores has been time consuming. Both Hubster and I have moved into our new place in Cyberjaya. It’s just a small little crib but equipped with everything that we love. The best part of it is that it is just about 5 minutes drive away from work. So much has happened since January but I wouldn’t want to accidentally spill the part where I am pregnant. Yes, I am now in my second trimester.

What was the first sign of pregnancy? Well, I had this sudden craving to have dim sum. But not just any dimsum. I wanted the dim sumwhich I went on my sister’s 30^th birthday (I think). My mom arrangeda birthday surprise at Holiday Villa Chinese Restaurant but I still had theurge of having dim sum. I kept on remembering the dim sum I had for my sister’s 30^th birthday. I went around asking if anyone remember where it wasbut no one remembered. I didn’t consider it as a sign. No one did except for my sister. She told me that if suddenly she has this urge of having dim sum, she will take a pregnancy test. I, of course ignored her and thought she was being ridiculous. 

My period was late but considering that I just came backfrom holiday, there might be some hormonal changes due to the change ofatmosphere. I kept it cool and continued my healthy routine. Yoga, SpinningClass and Body combat were some of the activities that I did. Then, my twins starts to swell a little more than usual. I thought it was just a sign that myperiod was coming but Hubster then advised that I take a pregnancy test (youknow just in case).

I remembered that night as if it was just yesterday. I was about to start my Jilian Micheals workout when I peed on the stick. After peeing on the stick, I continued with the usual warm up session and check itback after. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the result. I told Hubsterthat we’ll need to double confirm the result at the clinic. At that time, I was already slightly over 5 weeks! Surprise Surprise! Hubster kept saying, “Shouldhave bought the t-shirt which said ‘Made in Paris’”. Yes, I know how cliché it is to conceive a baby in the city of Love prolly right after watching the sunset at the Eiffel Tower and enjoying the most delicious macaroons from Laduree.But hey! We’re having a Baby!

The Stick that I peed on! GASP!

First Check Up at Dr Delaila Ahmad's Office SDMC

Chicarito's First Picture

I was always taught that it is not good to spread the newsout before the 2^nd trimester as the 1^st trimester is themost crucial part. In fact, I had a case of bleeding during my 1^sttrimester and was asked to go on a strict bedrest for a week. Well, I was onlyon bedrest for like 2 days but after, I was pretty much up and about takingcare of my Hubster who had a knee surgery to repair his torn ACL and removehalf of his meniscus. But our little pea a.k.a. chicarito is a fighter and madeit through. Both Chicarito and I endured the pregnancy sickness (vomiting everynow and then+ not to mention the dizziness in the evenings) while taking careof Hubster. Of course there were times when both Hubster and I were both lying inpain. 

So yeah, things weren’t always sunny for us but Alhamdulillah,those days are over now. Hubster is now walking without support. Limping onceawhile still but the physio sessions are really helping. Owh, he can drive nowwhich helps a lot considering that I tend to get very tired. We decided to stayin Cyberjaya during pregnancy so that I wouldn’t have to travel 45 minutes towork. Travelling is a real bummer if you ask me. I will update more soon. My cousin, Hashir also wrote a post on Chicarito. Click here to go to the link.

Chicarito's Picture from our last check Up

Kids Say the Darnest Things...

Read my friend's status today...

Fizah Sem:

Qiesya tgk citer melayu, doctor bercinta dgn org jual nasi lemak...qiesya kata dia nak keje jual nasi lemak sbb nanti boleh makan nasi...hahahaa adoihai budak sorang ni!!! - Ibu hanya gelak n geleng kepala..sure mama x bg makan nasi ni..hahaha —

 

LOL! To think that the girl would wanna sell nasi lemak so that she can fall in love with a Doctor! 

 

*Rolling on the floor laughing*

 

Kids never fail to humor me... 

 

 

GSD's Back to School Event

Do you still remember your school days? Flag Eraser Game! Hopscotch! Recess! Canteen! Those were the highlights of school in my dictionary. It’s been exactly a decade since I left my school days. I would have never thought that there would be a day, when I will be getting the chance to experience any sort of school experience unless it is of my children sometime in the future. That was until the 8^th of March 2013, when Ericsson and Eli Lilly team organized a fun event at our work place. The theme was none other than “Back to School”.

Top: (L-R): Nur Liyana, Siti, Enaam, Brilly, Ahri, Bel, Ghobi, Eddie, Azfar,Hafizullah
Bottom (L-R): Baki, Kevin, Hazim, Saiful

 Every detail of the event was carefully planned from the dress code, activities and decoration in order to bring the theme alive with the effect of bringing us back through memory lane to reminisce the good old days. GSD agents and staff were encouraged to wear school uniforms and those assigned with roles dressed based on their assignment.

Starting from the Top Left (Clock-wise): Nadrah the Music Teacher, Elvin the History Teacher, Kishok the PJK Teacher, Kelvin Sew the Disciplinary Teacher and Mega the English Teacher.

Everyone was required to play their role accordingly. For example, the students would have to greet the teachers with “Selamat Sejahtera Cikgu”; or in English “Good Day, Teacher”; in the tune that was used back in school. Fun-filled activities such as Win Lose or Draw, Hopscotch, Eraser War and Dustbin basket ball were played.

Games on that Day

Participants who wins a challenge were rewarded with a small token of GSD Back to School Currency which can be used to buy food at the Canteen. Yes, you read it right. We even had a canteen selling Super Rings, Nasi Lemak, Mee Hoon, Mamee etc.

GSD Back to School Currency with a picture of the Idris, the Chairperson of the event.

Back to School Canteen Operation

 The common area was decorated to look like a class room.

 Back to School Background

The support and participation from the team was overwhelming that even our foreign employees came wearing their very own school uniforms! 

We also had a competition for those who dress up for the occasion and the winners are… *drumroll*

Fikrul Hadiy Shahbudin a.k.a. Eddie (Boy Category)
Eddie came to work wearing the complete school attire and equipped with an actual school bag and pencil case.

Enaam Abdoun Mohamed Osman Suliman (Girl category)
Enaam wore her actual school uniform from Saudi Arabia International School

Kudos to our creative committee and sporting participants for making the event a success.  As a result of our success, similar events will now be held periodically every odd month of the year. I look forward to our next event. What will the theme be? Now, that’s a secret I’ll never tell. *Wink!* The only hint I can give is, it’s all about dressing up that hard coconut which stores your brain!

Check out the video highlights of the event here:
http://youtu.be/897feUPb8kA  (Long version)
http://youtu.be/UUbwSIxy3y4  (Short version)

Free Education?

It came to my attention that there are a lot of people wanting PTPTN to be abolished and the loan which has been taken to be considered free. This brings me back to last few months where there was a highly publicized debate between Sharifah Zohra and Bavani. A lot of people would side on Bavani but really, after watching the video, I can’t really say that I side with Bavani. Yes, Sharifah Zohra is more at fault. She is older and should have been a bigger person when handling the argument. Instead, she got too emotional and didn’t answer questions that Bavani addressed accordingly. Bavani asked why other country can provide free higher education but not Malaysia. Well, there are other reasons on why the education is free in those countries. It is either there are just a small number of people who can make it to university or the tax is high in those countries. Nothing comes for free; if not, the value of it will be taken away. For example, the argument on cancelling off the PTPTN loan. Sorry to say this but when the student was keen for a loan, they signed an agreement to pay back the loan which was given to them according to the plan and the loan will turn to scholarship IF the student managed to score 1^st class honors in the education program. With a contract comes the commitment; a promise that you will pay back the money so that it can be rolled back for other students to utilize. The people who signed the contract are those with SPM certification; meaning that they should know what they sign up for. If they do not wish to pay, they should have studied hard in order to get 1^st class honors for scholarship conversion. PTPTN plan is rather flexible whereby during the first few years of entering the career world, we only need to pay how much we can afford to pay. There really is no need to be selfish and let others get the chance to study too just as how you got the chance to continue your studies.

I come from a middle class family and yes, sometimes, life can be hard. Entering adulthood is not easy and really money don’t grow on trees. There were times when I had to work part-time, sell my stuff, do odd jobs and engage in some side business for extra money. There were also times when I misuse my money and end up being broke for almost a month. But the hard times only thought me how to value money more and how important it is to take responsibilities seriously. So no! I do not support free education. If one wants a free education, I believe that he or she must work hard for it. 

However, there is one thing that I would wish the government would control or subsidized. That would be the cost of school attire and books. I was very surprise that Professor now sells a 'baju kurung' (mind you it's just the top) at the price of RM45. That is almost RM50 for one! The bottom is about RM37. That is only for the uniforms! We haven't gone to books, shoes etc. So imagine how much you would have to spend every year for "Back to School" shopping trip with your children!

Lucky me, I still have a little time to prepare myself. I hope that when I turn comes, I can provide my children with the best for their future and well-being.

FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL?

how about

FREE EDUCATION FOR THOSE WHO DESERVE IT! 

Fathers with Baby Wrap : Hottie or Nottie?

Hot or Not: Father’s Who Baby Wrap

Audra Roslani March 1, 2013 

On the rise – fathers baby wrapping their precious ones and looking hot while doing so!

Tell us Cam Gigandet, Orlando Bloom, and David Burtka don’t look good with their babies looking snug as bug in a baby wrap – there’s just something that makes all of our uhm..hearts melt when we see a man bonding with a child. Admit it!

Over the last few years baby wrapping in Malaysia has become the ‘In’ trend in baby care. We’ve seen mothers from all walks of life wondering around grocery stores, shopping malls, and restaurants with babies wrapped comfortably around their fronts, or hanging playfully from their backs – and now it seems more and more fathers are joining in on the action.

David Beckham is perhaps among one of the hottest celebrity dads that started the snowball effect and this trend is becoming more of the norm with fathers being spotted baby wrapping on the go, and looking hot and proud while partaking in such a typically maternal act.

Because most dads on average work 8-10 hours a day, unlike their wives, they don’t get to spend half as much time with their children, nor are they able to smoothly bond with their infants, especially during the newborn phase. This may cause emotional stress and even fears when their child showcases avoidance behaviors as infants grow up fast when there is no a proper bond between father and child.

Enter the baby wrap

Moby Wrap from TinyTapir.com ranges from RM144.90 – RM269

While fathers are at home reading the papers, taking a break on their computer, walking about the garden or even relaxing on the sofa after a hard day’s work, we are now seeing a new trend of modern fathers who are learning the art of baby wrapping and enjoying all the benefits that come with it.

The comforting sounds of a father’s heartbeat and the sound of his voice not only soothes the child, as babies in their mothers belly’s can distinguish lower vocal tones normally belonging to the male in the family.  The father’s scent will also accustom the infant to immediately distinguish him as one of his/hers maternal reinforcements.

Several studies suggest the quality and quantity of baby-father contact has a direct impact on how secure children feel growing up. There is also research showing that toddlers and young children who spend more time playing with their dads, are more likely to be sociable when starting nursery school.

The importance of father baby bonding is that through these bonding sessions, babies with strong attachments to their fathers tend to have fewer behavioral problems later on in life. In fact, some studies suggest this relationship might have an even greater impact on the behavior of pre-teen children than that of the mother-baby attachment. Also substantial father involvement from at least the first month after birth promotes better language development and better cognition skills (suggested by higher IQ scores) among toddlers and young children.

All the more reason for daddies to start the bonding process by baby wrapping, yes? What do you think, are fathers who baby wrap hot or not?

Don't know about you but I certainly think that Cam Gigandet is definitely a hottie with the Baby Wrap! LoL!