What's in a name..Tag

Exclusively for Simah who tagged me... :-)

One of the important thing when we are expecting a baby is of coz a 'name'..whether we want to name her after her parents, grandma..favourite aunty or any celebrity..and as Muslim we will find one that have an Islamic value.

We were excited back then..I was given total freedom to choosed the name, and Simah was one who I refered and even asked a list or Turkish name..

We don't know the gender..so I ended up looking for boys name..I wish that if Allah gave me a boy, his name will start with Mohamed..Mohamed Hadif...similar to his abah's name..and I like the meaning as well - Hadif - one with a goal

Some said that how big or how our tummy looks like could give an indication of the gender..so most people said maybe this is a boy..but some said its horizontal..so a girl is on the way

Her name was selected at a very last minute...I want a name that represent both of us with a soft touch and a name that sounds Arabic and a little bit of Hindi ..'Sufiya Humaira'..SH is a combination of our name, Sufiya is something related to Sufism, I want her to have a strong grip on religious..besides it sounds quite soft, and for Humaira..I always like a name with a letter R, so that we pronounce it sounds nice, Humaira means white and red..or 'putih dan merah bak delima' as our Phophet (saw) called his wife Aishah

In Mission Kashmir the character's name is Sufiya played by Pretty Zinta..what a coincidence..I like her and that movie about terrorist..she's pretty :-) and cute

One morning I did a test, I rubbed my tummy and called 'Mohamed Hadif..'..long silent, no respond...'Sufiya Humaira...'..ooh she started kicking and moving as if she was saying hello, from that moment I believed that I was going to have a baby girl, but still kept it to myself, can't be too excited..

Alhamdulillah when she was born, that name fits her well..her Bhod Babu (big uncle)in Calcutta told her Dada (Sufiya's grandpa) that her face is pinkish ..or as what they said 'rose colour'..it match her name.

Everyone's name has been given by Allah long before we were born

New addition

Alhamdulillah..everything went smoothly.

Mehendi was drawn with different pattern on each of us..RM100 note were arranged in an album decorated with lace and flowers..each room were fully occupied..some slept with no pillow..

and the next morning as early as 5am..the bathroom start working like a machine for 30 people...the guest line p with a towel on their shoulder just like in P.Ramlee movie...

By almost 11.30am my brother in law was officially became a husband...Sufiya have a caci now (auntie).

It wasn't a traditional Indian wedding but more like a Malay wedding..but there will be a touch of Indian culture in Penang next week...

..of Mehendi, wedding and idiapum

Everything has been prepared for the arrival of entire troupe from Penang for this last wedding of Mohossain's family..Bedsheets, pillows, blanket...including meal preparation for 30 people. The last time we had this big crowd was in 2005 with 45 people at one time...it was chaotic at first but then I managed to sailed through..

All the hantaran are ready...so tonite we gonna paint the house red...wearing mehendi actually, specially blend in Penang by one of mami.

The bridegroom is cool, no worry...but his sister and SIL including me are so excited..same sari has been bought (thanx to the bridegroom who generously paid for the sari), but it has turn out into baju kurung. We the daughter and daughter in law will wear the same outfit, and the kids will be wearing white, Sufiya already have 2 white dress for her cacu wedding.

We will be leaving for Alor Gajah tomorrow, maybe around 8.45am and the akad nikah will be at 10am, breakfast will be provided by the ponu (bride) family..which is idiapum (putu mayam) and curry.

How far would you go...?

There was a knock on the door.. an old man standing holding a file, looking a little bit tired...thought that might be a typical 'kutip derma' for surau or orphan...


He introduced himself and explained that he need the money to help his son who is undergoing dialysis treatment in Kulim, Kedah..This old man is in his late 50's looks like other typical Kedahan who work hard in bendang with his small frame, dark skin...pale shirt. He showed me all those medical documents from the hospital..but I didn't really look at it coz deep inside I believed his purpose of traveling all the way from Kedah is to give his son a better life...his own way.... that is what a father and parents would do to gain back the smile, happiness and hope for their love one..

The sum of money that I gave him might be small...not suficient enough to cover all those medical expenses but I pray for him...Insyallah

If that happen to your own family would you do the same...? If you are wealthy..you have no worry but when you are poor you might cry like a heavy downpour.....

Small steps

' Melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya.....'

Sufiya first exposure to the real world was something that we didn't really plan. She had her first local authority visit last month in Sepang and she behaved well..sitting on her abah's lap while I had a discussion with the officer.
And last two weeks we attend a Portfolio Exhibition for First and second year archi student at UTM Kl... I was excited to let her see the drawings, models and paintings even though she might not understand it now, but I believe it will be good for her visual and social development...but one thing for sure I wish that she'll choose other field than architecture as a carier, maybe something different from construction...lawyer, magistrate..ahli muzik...oh tidaakk!! so no Akademi Fantasia for this lil girl.

I 'inherited' this Glenn Doman book from Sufiya's kala (my sister in law) on 'How to multiply your baby's intelligence'... it is good guide on enhancing their ability not only in reading but also maths and encylopedic knowledge.

Based on this book it is better to start as early as we can, better before the age of six but best before she's two and now is the perfect time to open the window of knowledge for her, but the first important things are material preparation. This is exciting process for me..these are the reading kit..starting with body part.
For general knowledge I've collected few images with bright colours and paste 'em on white 5" x 7" board. The first start is interesting but I don't know what to expect when we kick off the session as I'll no longer be a stay-home-mom... pity her...welcome to the real world, juggling both demanding task, I'll try my best .


-Sufiya with her surah yassin...she'll just say..'aahh..ahh..' as if she follow what I read-




On the other hand I need to make sure that it will be successful..maybe not perfect but at par with her cousins whom their mother used this same book and methods..and the results are straight A for UPSR, PMR and SPM....this is quite challenging..Now I know why all mother including my mom keep on pushing us to do well in school...its the perception, hope, pride and expection...it's not easy being a mother...

'Happy Mothers Day to all mommies..'

44 days story..

Life is great..blooming with love just like these colourful petals..

'Bercukur ceremony' was held in Penang and it was smoothly done by the lady..was quite worry looking at a sharp blade running on her soft head..but Alhamdulillah she have a great job.


Never thought that motherhood will be like this..it is a mixed feeling..but a proud and happy feeling overcome all those pain.

The first few days was just a blank canvas..but with help from others I managed to sailed along. MIL prepared me a menu passed down from her mother for all new mom, it was a mix of garlic..we are talking about a cup of garlic, crushed and mix with ginger, brown sugar and milk...it looks like a porridge but imagine the smell of garlic..it is good for the body due to the heat from garlic and ginger and also best for milk production...after each bowl I was treated with Hacks...

And haruan was the main menu for three weeks in a row..fried and soup..each day and no complaint...

As for the baby, she was such a good girl..no fuss during those 44 days..thank u girl..

And the father, a credit should be given as well...for taking good care , all the attention and understanding are much appreciated.

44 days of confinement wasn't that bad as I imagined..done all those regime..bertungku, berurut..except for berbengkung, I should be religously done it..and now after two months still having these extra chunk of extra meat...I've tried the cream and also homemade recipe, a mixture of lime juice and kapur sirih applied to that bulging area.

All those 'NO' to certain type of food and fruits were not really a big problem, ..but of coz there were certain confusion regarding which fish that is safe..and when is the time to start indulging on certain dessert...even a 'teh tarik' looked tempting during the confinement,

Some old folks said that they used to give pineapple to new mom during the first three days to cleanse the uterus..maybe to speed up the process..each culture have their own way of treatment..

Since I spent more than three weeks in Penang, my ears and eyes has been listening and watching Kasthuri at 7pm.. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa at nite..and sometimes Kalki at Vaanavil..and the radio at the kitchen, of coz to MIL selection- THR Raga...the DJ keep on playing the same Malaysian rap song..'all over the world i love my indian girl..'i only understand these line, the rest need a translation...and for my girl she's the lucky one, MIL speak Tamil with her while FIL sometimes speak and play with her in Benggali. It is better to start young..hmm ...can't wait to show her the world

Love..and lots of love

There is nothing in this world that could replaced the feeling of joy and happiness of motherhood..This is a journey that will be treasured with full of love.

To all dear friends..thank you for your wishes.

To my lovely daughter..Cat Steven said..'it is a wild world...' but remember we are here for you to support and take care of you.

My Precious

Sufiya Humaira was born on the 07.02.07 at Hospital Putrajaya at 4.12pm

3.25kg and 51 cm....

Still around.....

9 Days to go and it feels like endless waiting..the chances is only 10% that this baby will arrived on the 1st of February..it's Hari Wilayah and Thaipusam.. for the last 3 weeks I've been wishing for certain date..maybe during Qurban, before 2007...no sign, no pain at all..

then I thought maybe on the 20th, during Awal Muharam..still the same, looks like the baby is enjoying every moment inside me.

Don't know what to expect but I just hope that everything gonna be fine, Insyaallah.

Thank you everybody for your concern and pray.... :-)

Seberang Perak, Alor Setar,Kedah...

Tracing back the history is not a simple task especially when you were left with inadequate information, evidence and documentation. Things that I've gained so far were based on personal experience and observation as well as 'cakap-cakap mulut', 've been surfing the net and could only found few that relate to the history of this place : Seberang Perak. Most of the site are repetitive and mostly centred on Dr.M's house and history, this could only help maybe 5 percent of the entire picture.

Time is running out as it wait for no man...old building were replaced with a new one, people are leaving, the eldest has moved out or could only met them but not really seeing them.

This is an ambitious project but with no discipline and dedication it will be left in the computer for another year..so this could be my new year resolution : to finish up this mini research before end of Dec 07.

So far I have no problem getting information on the general history of Alor Setar as it is interconnected but when I narrow down to this particular area what I found was a blur imagery. The evidence are still there, but of coz not 100%, and no pictures to proof the activities and history. I could only traced back to maybe 30 or 40 years back, and in history that is nothing..it should be at least 100 years...I wish I have a time capsule or something...or a magic mirror.

As for now there are few building that have been identified its history significants: Sekolah Seberang Perak, Sekolah Seberang Perak (L),rice factory (only remnants of it), JKR quarters, flat, two old madrasah, Masjid Al-Ihsan, Pagoda, IKM, Dr.M's house, Kilang Ais, Market Lama, the place itself and the most important is the Kedah River.

Some of the houses are proof to the existence of mixed architecture where traditional Kedah house were combined with concrete stairs similar to Malacca house, same goes with the madrasah. Based on my family background, my ancestor (my mom side) were from Malacca and from Bugis descent, he was known as Pak Man Melaka..so I am trying to relate this two together. But why is this place called Seberang Perak? Does someone from Perak opened this village or there were some kind of activites that connected to 'perak'.
One of the interesting features is the composition of people here, we have Malay, Chinese, Indian, Indian Muslim (from India) and also a small community of Muslim from Pakistan (Kg Bibi).

From grandmothers story Seberang Perak were also affected during Japanese occupation, her house were visited by Japanese soldier who tought that one of her nephew as Chinese, and there were also Japanese soldier who during British occupation ran for their life and jump into the river at the back of the house..the river were lined with nipah tree and the water level is higher than now.

It seems like this journey of tracing back the history is still a long way to go...

When I was about 12 or 13, it wasn't hard to just scratch and digged the soil and found old coins around the house..and at one time I was so obsessed with this till I didn't realised what I found was actually not an ancient bowl but a praying bowl that some Chinese left on the ground at a big fragrance tree in front of my house, they came and pray to get this 4D ..... :-( aku tertipu!!!

So, lets play Indiana Jones...

p/s : its supposed to be my due date today, since doc has given me REDD this 1st Feb, I still have enough time surfing and bloghopping, I want this baby to be away from architecture, maybe I'll persuade him or her to continued digging the past...

Old news paper....

"old news paper...surat khabar lama..."complete with background music, the tune is of coz Chinese song but compared to the previous style this one is better..no more irritating "surat khabar lama!!" from their van..or knock on the door on lazy Saturday afternoon.
When the government first started of this recycling campaign, there were ad on tv and my sister who was still in school then used to sing along to the tune..."oli paper....." instead of old news paper.

During art class old new paper was one of the most important material, where we will mixed it with glu / kanji to make a plate, fruit or animal...it was messy with sticky kanji and wet newspaper everywhere but of coz that is the best thing coz we could used both of our hand compared to just normal drawing and sketching.
In the olden days news paper were multipurpose, people back then were creative enough to cover their timber wall, instead of expensive wall paper they used old news paper..with roman or jawi paper. I remember laying on the wooden floor staring at the circular solid timber column with reports on jawi and the paper has turn yellow...it shows the age of the material.

I like old news paper, not because I'm an environmentalist..but simply becoz of the smell and colour of the paper...especially 15 or 20 years dusty old paper from any old house...maybe it does not worth as high as King Tut's treasure or any precious manuscript from an ancient valley...but the sight of yellowish newspaper makes me lost in my own world...amazed by content, the layout and an old version font...and of coz newspaper is also a form of documentation of our civilization...31st August 1957 newspaper is the most precious edition and May 69 must be the most sensetive.........

Maybe I should keep every 7th April edition of newspaper....or every significant day of my life

This is actually from my previous entry last year, found this December 1976 Majalah Wanita at Tok's house in Kuala Sala.

Aidil Adha 2006

This year Aidiladha were different, first time in Putrajaya and no iddiapum / putu mayam for hubby that morning.

We went for solat Aidiladha at Masjid Putra and surprised that there were so many people until some of them had to used the overflow area. The ambience are similar except for people start taking photograph after the prayer unlike in Tg Tokong or Alor Setar where people will directly went home. The sight of people coming out from the main entrance of the mosque was something to behold. We just stood still infront of the square looking at people....the sight that you won't see everyday....

...Happy New Year..welcome 2007

Countdown

Each day passes by with hopes, dream and prayer for these journey. No high expectation except for the safe and easy delivery. At this moment the baby is still playing hide and seek...won't reveal the truth yet...

Each day this belly have to bear with cocoa butter and sometimes just a home made minyak selusuh...

Each day it is not just plain water to sooth the throat but air mossafa, air akar fatimah and also minyak selusuh plus milk with a pinch of safron

To hubby: I don't have a special birthday present for u this 30th Dec, but all I could give is this little angel...a belated birthday gift

Anniversary

Love is a great thing that could happen between two heart...what makes it even more special is a relationship that connect not only two person but also two family, two different world and belief

And today, once again we celebrate this memorable day with meaningful smile and big hope...no grand celebraition or candle light.....but we gave each other what we've been expecting for the last three years

To hubby : I love u so much, nothing is more important than having u around

Bob the builder or Barbie ?

Should I be excited or just calm down and take a deep breath and just prepare myself, it's gonna be 1 month from now..I'm almost 36weeks now with strecth mark started to apprear and it was shocking for the first time..it looks like a cracked and dry paddy field in Kuala Sala.


Almost everything for the newborn has been prepared..mostly in nuetral colour since we don't have a clue whether this baby is a pink or blue tag baby... :-)

Lately we've been communicating a lot thru kicking and moving around..and even sometimes there's sound 'tick' whenever the baby kick..is it normal ? Insyallah, as long as the baby is healthy and moving and kicking and whatever she wants..that should be fine..

p/s I should thank this lovely person with a warm smile all the way from faraway land of Istanbul for the Cotonel Baby stuff..thanx Simah


<------------------------------------------------------------------------------>
No more talking to the wall today, hubby is coming back from Kuantan, MIL and family will be arriving from Penang at 3pm and tomorrow there'll be another 3 family coming..there'll be 25 people in this house and I don't have an excuse that I haven't been socializing enough now...fuhhh..25 people, hopefully I could be hospitable enough...the best thing is I don't have to cook but just request...from my MIL...I think the baby wants to eat Nasi Tomato and udang masak merah..should be in the list :-)

A month of celebration

December as usual is a busy month for me, when we were small this is time that we spend in Langkawi..kutip siput, in university it was the beginning of new semester..and last three years I was busy preparing myself for the big day..Each year December is a month of celebration, our anniversary which is just around the corner, followed by hubby's birthday just before this coming AildilAdha...


While busy with the arrival of little angel, we, on hubby's side are also preparing for the new addition..another menantu in the family all the way from Alor Gajah.
The enggangement will be on this Sunday, and here I'm with the deco for the hantaran boxes, the colour scheme is gold with mixed of cream. I'm gonna prepare the sirih (no more sirih junjung) and fruit's basket, but the fruits will be brought from Penang- Road Walk to be precise since MIL wants them big and fresh.

I'm excited to attend these ceremony where I'll have a chance to 'suap gula' to the 'ponu'- the bride after the exchange of enggagement ring. Normally the bridegroom side will bring sugar in decorated bowl but only female relatives are allowed to feed the bride..I don't know what is the significant but just follow the tradition.

Happy Holiday to everybody!!

Pakat-pakat mai kenduri

Last two weeks holiday was spent mainly visiting family in Kedah and Penang, that was my chance since hubby was away to spend more time with my family. Attended a kampung style wedding in Jitra where the celebration took nearly 4 days from preparation until cleaning, no caterers or wedding planner..it's all what they call 'pakat', where they have a committe to handle from A-Z. It has been a tradition where one family will give (tanam) something to the host such as potato, chillies, rice, sugar even bunga telur and the secreatary will write down those particular complete with quantity. So the next time their turn come the cycle goes again and normally they will return the same thing.

The whole ambience looks welcoming and cheerful with people erecting tents two days before the wedding, women preparing meals for men, some were sorting things..it was like a whole village celebration, tikar mengkuang was laid outside for the women and few men busy tying a poor cow at the back of the house. The host was busy checking things whether it's enough or not for the workers (bentara) and at the same time still receiving goods from neigbours.

A day before the wedding, the house were full with people preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner for the helpers, it's not even a wedding day but the house looks different with bunga telur of different colours at one corner and the smell of ikan talang, spices, fresh banana shoot fills the air..At nite, most of the work were concentrate mainly inside the house where the pelamin will be decorated,.. living in a village gave them no problem of space where their kitchen and hall are double the size of urban houses. At one corner women were preparing bunga telur and goodie bags for the bentara, this bag usually contains bunga telur, sweets and traditional kuih especially kuih bakar and kapal terbang.

Meanwhile there were few people outside cooking nasi lemak and sambal tumis for tomorrows breakfast or what they call 'nasi menyorok'..this meal is actually for the helpers as well, that means this style of wedding is really tiring, I don't think people in urban area could still manage to gather people and expect them to commit like this..and we have to bear the fact that our house will be a mess..!! but they have no choice coz it has been a tradition to 'pakat' rather than hiring a caterer otherwise no one will attend your wedding!

The main dishes were prepared early in the morning of the big day, one cow for one type of menu, so it was beef curry cooked in three big kawah, chicken and ikan kering were in the list for those who don't eat beef, acar nenas, acar mangga and air sirap. The beef curry looks different maybe becoz the kawah and the banana shoot, the gravy were a bit greyish but it taste just fine...and the wedding last until midnite and the next morning it is the host turn to work hard cleaning up the house...and counting the plate, fork and spoon for the next cycle next week or next month....

A journey not to be remembered

9th Nov 2006
Everything went smoothly, all documentation has been checked and approved and I was called to the boarding gate to check my document again. I only hope that today gonna better, get myself the best seat in the front row next to the window and infront of the main door.

This is it..I thought that everything will be as scheduled, but then I saw something that I hate to start my journey with, the ground crew were having difficulty to detached the stairs from the aircraft, they keep on pulling and struggling for about 15 minutes until some passenger noticed it and start jamming the area to give a piece of advice or opinion...And I just wish that they change the aircraft, maybe I'm not patient enough but I was not the only one, the co-pilot too came and try to fix it and keep on swearing and blaming the ground crew. They finally succeed but came another problem when the Lady in red had a difficulty to closed the door, it won't attached, she keep on pulling and again the co-pilot came to rescue. It was a bad start, I was nervous, there were so many 'what if....' in my head, too much watching aircrash investigation. I tried to cool down and not thinking too much about it and enjoy the view, the cloud formation, the sea and suddenly there was a 'pop' sound from the door, the lady in red who was sitting right infront of me was shocked and looking at me and immediately alarmed the cockpit.Both of them suddenly choosed to stand at the other corner and suddenly I felt a gush of wind on my feet, maybe it's just in my head, I don't know..imagination run wild, at that moment I just keep on praying and rubbing my tummy.

23rd Nov 2006
Before I left home I prayed for my safety and my little one, after the last I became a bit nervous and protective. Again at Penang Aiport the same scenario running around and filling up the form.
I was waiting and prayed that today's journey are much much better with no technical problem until I got a phone call saying that it was raining heavily outside and they were worry about me. I noticed the ground crew were busy preparing umbrella for us, don't they have other option in this kind of situation? We were allowed to board the plane after 10 minutes delay, I was the first passenger who walked with that red umbrella and the other hand carrying nasi tomato for hubby. It felt very far since we have to used the back door, I walked terhuyung-hayang struggling with the rough wind and at the same time tried not to trip on the stairs.
I choosed the same seat even though the last incident were still in my mind. I don't know what to expect but it wasn't a good start especially the take-off and landing, it as too rough and bumpy, is it because the pilot is not competent enough or the weather to blame on or the runway was uneven..? I told myself that I'm not going to fly with them again or other airline when I'm pregant

I have survived many rough and dangerous incident but was calm and composed, but when you are carrying another Life inside you,the feeling of caring and protecting are stronger and that was why I cried like a baby when I finally saw my hubby waiting to take me home safely.

Now anyone can fly......except..

I'm supposed to be seeing the greenery of paddy field today but instead stranded here in Putrajaya and stuck infront of this slow pc again.I had a sleepless night, worry that I might miss my early flight back to Alor Setar,I kept waking up every hour checking the clock and finally arrived at LCCT at 6.00am with empty stomach, sleepy face and a small luggage. By the time theycall all passenger to line up I was eager to go to other side of the lane for elderly and pregnant women and not aware of the airline regulation.

I was asked about my pregnancy and when I mentioned that I'm 7 months (28 weeks), they refused to allow me to board the plane without any Letter from doctor saying that I'm fit to fly.........
My ante-natal checkup report stated that it's 30 weeks, but the hospital's is only 28, I have two due date, two checkup for one little baby.

This is an easy pregnancy but the Numbers makes me worry, based on LMP (which I never forget to jot down every month)it's supposed to be middle of January but based on hospital's record and scan the baby is due in February. Recent checkup the doctor write down that the size correspond to POG, which is in January instead of the date that he gave is in February. Everytime during ante-natal checkup, the nurse also have the same understanding whenever they read the hospital's report..
Am I the one who confused about all these medical terms and don't know how to interpret doctor's handwriting or is it technical error or even worst human error? I did my own calculcation based on hospital's date and the doctor's TCA, which I need to have another session of scan at 32 weeks, but the nurse gave another date which is totally different from what the doctor asked her to do, she put it 26th Dec which is 34 weeks instead of 32. When I checked with the hospital about the TCA, they changed again to 21st Nov, earlier but based on clinic's date.

To satisfied myself I managed to talk over the phone with the doctor, and he said it's ok whether its 32 or 34 weeks so I just have to come again on the 26th Dec.

But this morning I went again to the clinic to get that letter, the doctor said that it will be February and maybe the nurse didn't read it properly and she mentioned that I'm only 27 weeks today....If I knew that exact figure I will be happily enjoying my mom's lunch today coz at 27 weeks we can fly freely....

Another sleepless night in Putrajaya, little baby's journey need to be postponed

Salam Aidilfitri

Eid Mubarak / Salam Aidilfitri / Selamat Hari Raya..The Big Day were celebrated with smile and tears, happiness and sadness mixed up, but the day started off bright and clear just like this lovely bunga raya
This year was a bit different with simple celebration and less menu but with big baju kurung to accomodate my expanding tummy :-O



What could be better to celebrate the day is the sky is clear and blue and the ground is green, Alhamdulillah we were given another chance this year to enjoy and appreciate this moment










Third day of Aidilfitri, and the mission need to accomplished....ke bendang jugalah mereka, ditengah terik mentari terbongkok-bongkok mengubah semai..yang tua bekerja yang muda sibuk beraya, yang terpandang hanya dapat merakam.

whoever they are, we should be proud of them for their sacrifice, hardworking and every drop of their sweat


Orang ditengah bendang..tapi bukan 'orang-orang'



By this coming Aidiladha, the ground will change it's colour again and people will start fishing ikan puyu in the middle of the field and by that time I might be in different field struggling for the new year addition :-)