Somersault

Auni is already 14 months this month. How time flies. She's more mobile now, non-stop walking/running in the house. Well, she's not actually running running, but she does walk fast. Daring us to catch her. She is curious about everything. Touching and tasting everything everywhere.

Sometime she does push my buttons. Like when she tries to climb out of the bath tub whenever I'm done giving her a shower . I've tried to reason with her, explaining that it is dangerous to do so. I know, I know some of you might think I'm crazy trying  to explain things to a toddler but I believe that is much better than shouting at her.

These past few days, she put her head and body in a position as she is about to do a somersault. I always picked her up immediately if I saw her doing it. Yesterday she did it again and that was when I raised my voice. She starts crying of course but calm down immediately when I hugged her. I'm worried if she do it when I'm in the toilet or in the kitchen. Do I worry unnecessarily?

eager to write whenever she sees a pen/pencil :)

playing 'ghost' with my tudung :)

A recipe book for babies & toddlers

When I started introducing Auni to solid food a few months ago, I have to admit I was quite lost. Other than the usual 'nasi lembik', soups, carrot and potato, what else out there can I give her? I received suggestions and tips from relatives and friends but I was still not satisfied. Seriously, I am not going to give my little Auni rice one day and potato the other. What with the rest of the week? What with her 5 a day need (fruits & veggies?) Probably because I am sort of by the book person.  If there's a meal planner, that'll be great I think. I know there probaby plenty of baby recipes all over the internet websites but I don't want to waste my time jumping from one sites to another. Then I have to either print or copy the recipe into a book so that it comes handy when I need them. So I went searching for books and there they are. Recipe books for babies. I read Amazon's reviews for many books such as Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner , Weaning, and Lorraine Kelly's Baby and Toddler Eating Plan: Over 100 Healthy, Quick and Easy Recipes. I end up buying the latter, a not so popular choice according to customers rating. Why? These two particular review is enough to stop me from buying the other books.

 I found it very strange that lots of recipes include sugar and salt??? Probably that is just my ignorance, I thought I should stay away from this ingredients until baby would be 1 y.o. - by oksi 

Great book if you have a larder the size of your local supermarket and nothing else to do all day. Some good ideas but not typically made up either of produce you would have at hand or meals you would normally make. ALso the recipes make large quantities so unless you freeze everything your baby will be eating the same meals all week. A little too idealistic for today's busy family
- by Wordsworth "reading junkie"

I am a very satisfied customer. The book is cheap. Yeah! The inside does not looks great, with its almost browny paper. But so what? The most important things are:
1) It inspires me to mix and match whatever I have in my fridge & kitchen to cook for Auni
2) Auni likes most of the recipes I tried so far

I am happy when the health visitor approves my choice of food that I gave Auni, like fishes (tuna, kod, salmon), lentils, pasta, rice, chicken, etc. I, on my own wouldn't have thought to give Auni lentils at her age. It turns out I am wrong because lentils is a very good source of protein and fibre.

Thanks for reading :)

Warkah untuk Auni II

Assalamualaikum Auni, anakanda yang ibu papa sayang,

Ibu tidak sepatutnya membuang masa di sini tatkala ibu dihimpit kesempitan waktu sebegini. Ibu punya kurang dari 4 bulan untuk menyudahkan pembelajaran ibu. Jika tidak, ibu harus memohon pemanjangan (extension) tempoh cuti belajar untuk kali kedua dari majikan ibu. Walaupun hakikatnya ibu masih punya tempoh 10 bulan di tempat ibu belajar untuk menyiapkan semua analisis dan penulisan tesis ibu.

Sebetulnya ibu rasa bersalah pada Auni, sungguh. Terasa ibu masih kurang ilmu untuk menjadi ibu yang terbaik untuk Auni. Ibu baru membaca Wallahi..kami letih sebentar tadi dan sepanjang pembacaan ibu terfikir, akukah isteri yang merungut itu?  Akukah ibu yang sering mengulang-ulang perkataan letih itu? Ya, jawapannya YA walaupun ibu seringkali cuba memujuk hati untuk sabar & tahu erti bersyukur, punya suami yang memahami dan anak yang tidak banyak kerenah.

Kenapalah sukar benar untuk ibu bangun solat malam walaupun ibu sering terjaga sebelum masuknya waktu Subuh?
Kenapalah semakin culas mengulang pembacaan surah-surah Al-Quran walaupun itu yang ibu tekadkan dalam hati?
Bagaimana mungkin ibu mampu mendidik Auni untuk melakukan ini semua jika ibu tidak mampu mendidik diri ibu sendiri?

Auni,
Ibu tidak mungkin dapat menjadi ibu yang sempurna tapi ibu akan berusaha untuk menjadi ibu yang mampu menjadi role model terbaik untuk Auni, Insya-Allah.

Ya Allah, lidah ini, hati ini seringkali mengharapkan pertolongan-Mu, bantuan-Mu, tetapi amal ini, perbuatan ini seringkali tercicir dari memahatkan pengharapan pada-Mu. Bantulah aku Ya Allah.

Rutin

Rutin harian saya bermula dalam jam 5-6 pagi. Ikutlah serajin mana saya nak bangun. Hajat hati tu nak bangun lagi awal, dalam jam 4 gitu. Bolehlah study sikit kononnya. Dapatlah sekali dua bangun seawal jam 4, selebihnya tidak. Hehehe... Bangun je terus saya memasak untuk sarapan dan makan tengahari. Masakan untuk makan tengahari biasanya saya buat lebih supaya boleh dimakan untuk makan malam sekali. Siap masak, saya terus mandi & solat Subuh. Sekarang bolehlah solat Subuh lewat sikit sebab matahari terbit dalam jam 8.30a.m. gitu. Kemudian terus bersiap untuk pergi ke universiti. Kadang-kadang waktu begini Auni bangun untuk minum susu - bagi susu Auni, tukar lampin, sarapan dan terus ke sekolah. Kadang-kadang suami hantar dan kadang-kadang saya naik bas. Jam 9 atau 10 pagi hinggalah jam 6 petang saya peruntukkan masa untuk buat kerja PhD saya. Jam 6 petang tu sebenarnya dah gelap sangat sekarang ni tapi saya memilih untuk siap-siap solat Isyak di universiti supaya bila sampai di rumah dalam jam 7 malam boleh terus dinner dan main dengan Auni sebelum bedtime dia jam 9-10p.m..

Alhamdulillah Auni anak yang mengikut didikan, semoga berterusan insya-Allah. Seawal usia Auni 2 minggu, saya dah train dia supaya bersedia untuk tidur jam 8 malam. Sekarang ni bedtime dia dah berganjak dari jam 8 ke jam 9 atau 10. Adalah beberapa kali terlajak sekiranya dia terlampau letih dan tidur banyak di waktu siang. Bedtime routine Auni bermula dengan tukarkan lampin pakai buang dia, bacakan dia bedtime story (saya mula bacakan bedtime story waktu usia Auni dah nak masuk 3 bulan), tutup lampu supaya bilik gelap, berikan susu dan dodoikan dia.


Masa Auni umur menginjak ke 2 bulan, kami suami isteri risau jugak sebabnya Auni tidur dari jam 10 malam sampai jam 5 pagi. Tak sekalipun dia bangun untuk minum susu kecuali kalau kami kejutkan. Bila saya tanyakan pada Health Visitor (HV), katanya tak apa, itu tandanya Auni dah minum susu sampai kenyang di waktu siang. Jadi waktu malam Auni nak tidur dengan pulas. Syukur Alhamdulillah, bolehlah ibu dan papa tidur dengan nyenyak juga. Hehehe...

Antara buku-buku dan cerita-cerita yang saya bacakan untuk Auni:

Done! Takpe, boleh ulang lagi.

Dah baca sikit masa Auni dalam kandungan

Reading now :)

Books in the Peter Rabbit library collection

Baru baca satu cerita, itupun separuh jalan je.

Save for later :)

Handmade toys

I've made few toys for Auni. Long before she was born. I'm glad I did. I can't hardly find time to sew nowadays. I'm busy spending time with her. She grows up too quickly. Sometime I think I miss out quite a lot on her development. She's learning new things everyday from watching us and from her surrounding.
 

Close up. Front row: A Family of Beddy-Bye Beast; Back row: Doll and Rabbit

Meet Dolly the Chef. Her apron is missing in Auni's laundry pile :P

Introducing Beddy-Bye Beast family of five: Batik Bear, Dot-Dot Rabbit, Sleepy Brown Monkey, Flowery Cat and Yellow Chicken

Bunny and her dress.

 Link to toys tutorials:

Beddy-Bye Beast

 I made some changes on the fabric selection here. Instead of felt, I simply use my fabric scraps and it works just fine.I also made closed pockets at the back of the bear and the chicken and add a squeaker and bells inside them.

Doll

I haven't altered anything for this doll but I wish I had. If I'm making another, I would make her legs more meatier.

Bunny & her dress

A little note of advice if you want to give this bunny and her dress a go. You can either sew with the paper pattern provided attached to your fabric or  add another 1/4 to 1/2 inches all around for seams. I made two dresses for the bunny :)

Thank you for reading and Happy Sewing :)