Getting Ready for My 2nd Breastfeeding Journey

It has been almost 8 to 9 months I stop breastfeeding Arsyad. Now, I am about to continue my breastfeeding journey for my second child. With the experience that I have, I hope that I can do better this time. And hopefully I don't have the mastitis and breast abscess problem anymore. 

Alhamdulillah, since I was 6 months pregnant, my milk already came out a bit. And now colostrum already started to come out. I really hope that my milk supply will be enough for my lil one just like Arsyad. 

So, these are the things that I prepared to make my breastfeeding journey a lot easier.

1. Medela Freestyle breast pump - I've been using this breast pump since Arsyad is 3 days old. And till now it is still in excellent condition. It is really worth it buying this pump. I love the size of the pump which I can just put it in my handbag, bring it anywhere I want and I can even do other job while I'm pumping. 

2. Bottles - Lots of bottles for storage. I didn't buy any storage bags this time coz I found it is difficult for me to refreeze the milk then put it in the bottle. So, this time around I just use the bottles, easy for me to just warm it using the bottle and food warmer that I have.

3. Medela Purelan - I use it during my first and second week after delivery. It feels better when I applied this to my nipple, especially when it started to crack. Usually our nipple will be cracked and sometimes bleeding if the baby doesn't latch properly. This Medela Purelan really useful when that happens, and it is safe for the baby to latch on. No need for us to wipe it off first. 

4. Disposable and cloth breast pad - I have to buy lots and lots of disposable breast pads. I have the cloth ones but just a few and it will not be enough, coz I'm using it a lot. I always use the pigeon brands, coz it is soft and it absorbs very well. Now, I have about 8 boxes which I bought RM36 for 2 boxes. Hope it will be enough at least for a month. Hehe.

5. Nursing pillow - The nursing pillow is very useful especially for c-sect moms. I'll be using this nursing pillow too so that my arm can rest while holding the baby to breastfeed. And it is easier for me to do the football hold if i'm using this nursing pillow. Remember to always change your baby's position to avoid mastitis.

6. Quickclean Micro-Steam Bag - I only use this micro-steam bags to sterilize my bottles (if only 2 or 3 bottles) and breast pump parts. It is very easy indeed, just put a bit water in it and then put it in the microwave for 3 minutes and you're done. And we can use it up to 20 times per bag. But, I will still use the Tommee Tippee's sterilizer if the bottles can't fit in the bag.

7. Quickclean Breastpump & Accessories Wipes - Easier for me to clean and wipe the breast pump accessories anywhere and anytime. No need for me to clean it with soap and water all the time. Good for traveling.

8. Snow Bear Home & Car Bottle Warmer - It is good to warm the milk and food. You can use it in the car too. 

9. Tommee Tippee's sterilizer - To sterilize all the bottles.

Wow~ so many things that I have already. Alhamdulillah. I really hope this time around everything will goes well. And I can't wait to start my breastfeeding journey again. I really miss the moments. :-)

Arsyad With His Twins Cousins..

Last weekend, my sister came with her twins to our house. While we were busy baking, three of them were happily playing together. I hope Arsyad will be happy and excited like this, with his lil brother too. Hehe.

They're so cute chasing on their bike and cars. Haha. Next time do come again kay guys~ :-)

Bedroom Ideas

We are thinking to buy a new bed frame and either wardrobe or chest of drawers to be installed in our third room. I love to have everything in white, so that the bedroom will look more spacious. All my bedroom's furniture are dark in color; the wardrobe, chest of drawers and bed frame. So, I want something different.

I love this Ikea's bed frame and chest of drawers. I just want these two things in the bedroom coz of the limited space. And, there's nothing much to be put in the drawers either. So, no need to buy a wardrobe. But, I doubt that I can make sure the bed frame will always clean from the dust. :P Whatever it is, I need to present the budget to Mr Financial Advisor first coz he is the one who will buy all those things. Haha. Hopefully he'll approve it and I can decorate the bed with all the queen bed sheets and quilt covers that I have. I can't wait!! :-)

Shawl For Sale!!

This is one of my own custom-made shawls. Actually I got few more designs, but all of them already sold out. So this is the only design left and only 2 pieces are available. I'm selling each for RM35 inclusive postage. Anyone interested do e-mail me at jue_2806@yahoo.com. 

Material: Cotton stretchable

Length: Approx. 1.75 metres

Easy to wear and so comfy. I only use 1 brooch to wear it and no pin at all.

Forgive Is The Easiest Thing To Do..

Something that I got from fb and would like to share it with all of you.. 

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.

The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband.

When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.

What do you think were the four words?

The husband just said "I Love You Darling"

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No
point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.

Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or who to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. We miss out some warmth in human relationship in giving each other support. After all, shouldn't forgiving someone we love be the easiest thing in the world to do? Treasure what you have. Don't multiply pain, anguish and suffering by holding on to forgiveness.

If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.

Take off all your envies, jealousies, unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think...！

Cloth Diapering Newborn

I'm still thinking whether want to start cloth diapering my baby immediately or wait till he is few months old like Arsyad. I really want to do it immediately but hubby said just wait until our baby is 3 or 4 months old. I know he wants me to take a good rest during my confinement as I have to take care of Arsyad too. And, newborn will always poop, so need a lot of CD to rotate it. But, looking at the cuteness of CD and thinking of we can save a lot from spending our money to buy the disposable ones, I really want to start once my baby is out.

Hmm~ So, should I start it now or not? I have to buy few more CDs coz Arsyad is still wearing his. Maybe I should try for the first few weeks and see whether I can cope with it or not. What say you mommies??

My Happiest Moment

Over the years, I have had many happy moments. Celebrating Eidulfitri with family and friends, birthdays, my convocation, getting my first car, my first job, falling in love, being a wife to my lovely husband, my wedding, my honeymoon, and finding out I was pregnant with our first and second child. I'm sure there are other moments worth mentioning, but these are the milestones that stick out in my mind. There is one, however, that tops them all, hands down.

Up until I about to describe, the happiest moment in my life was finding out I was pregnant with my first and second child. Seeing the positive pregnancy test and being hit with the realization that we were really and truly going to have babies was such a mix of fear and elation, much like the high one might get from a roller coaster ride. We had planned it, we welcomed it with full of joy and tears.

Despite my bad morning sickness during my first 4 months of pregnancy, I would say I really enjoy each and every moment of it. We always looking forward for the monthly checkup to see our precious one in my tummy. How well and healthy he is growing up in my small tummy. And, how excited his big brother is when he was first time looking at the screen, and calling his lil brother, 'fish'. That was one of the funniest and spontaneous thing that came out from his mouth. 

Looking at my tummy that growing bigger and bigger every month makes me happy and smile. I just can't describe the feeling of thinking that there is a small creature living in my tummy. Everytime watching my lil baby during the scan, I know he is happy in my tummy, he is actively moving around and sometimes a bit shy to show his face. It makes me cry when I first saw my lil baby's face during the checkup.

Now I can't wait to see my lil baby to come out, and watch my two kids playing together happily. And I'm going to miss the feeling of my baby moving and kicking in my tummy. Sometimes it does feel a little bit uncomfortable, but this is the only moment that I always want to record and memorize for the rest of my life. Not everyone has a chance to experience this beautiful moment in their life, I'm glad I'm one of those lucky women who got a chance to go through this. :-)

Looking back at this picture makes me smile all the time. This is definitely one of the happiest moment in my life. I don't have a chance to take my maternity portrait during my first pregnancy. This time around I won't miss this very wonderful moment that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. 

Remember to always capture your sweet memories with happiness and make those moments last forever. Happy photography you guys~

p/s: Don't miss a chance to join this contest. 

Me in 35 Weeks of Pregnancy

Wow~ I'm in 35 weeks already.. I've started to feel that my baby is in lower position already.. Everyday I feel like he is pushing his head down, getting himself ready to see mama, papa and his big brother, Arsyad.. Hehe.. Mama can't wait to see u too baby.. 

I didn't gain weight so much like my first pregnancy.. Maybe coz I've to look after my active toddler all the time, so I burnt a lot of calories.. Hehe.. My baby also quite small, but still in normal range.. Harap2 baby sihat je dlm perut mama ni.. :-)

Btw, hubby suddenly wanted to take photos of me during my pregnancy.. We just do it at home and just using his iPhone.. haha.. So, this is one of my favorites.. Others still in his handphone.. I want to do it again after this.. Hopefully Arsyad will behave and will be in the photo too.. Hehe

My tummy is so small in this picture.. Maybe bcoz of the cardigan that I wore.. Actually it is bigger than that.. :D

p/s: Please buy a new lense before I give birth darling.. hehe.. I can't use your iPhone all the time.. Hehe

My Big Boy..

My big boy is so demanding nowadays. Always want us to do what he wanted us to do. If he says he want that, then he'll make sure he'll get it. Usually papa is the one who always can't stand hearing him crying out loud, and just give him what he wants. So his trick will always be successful if papa is around, but not if just with me. Coz mama will just ignore his tantrum and told him once that he can't have that or can't do that. If he wants to cry or just lying on the floor (usually he will just do it at home), I'll just let him do that. And I'll hug him back after he stops crying. But, it really test my patience.

Lately, he just behave when we go out. He wants to sit back in his car seat and also stroller. Hubby and I was so relieved coz we don't have to carry him around anymore if he didn't want to walk by himself. Hopefully he will be like this forever. He also sleep on his own now, few months already actually. We put his bed just beside our bed, and everytime he wants to take a nap or want to go to sleep at night, he knows he has to sleep on his own bed. No need for us to ask him to do so. Once we switch off the lights, he'll immediately go on his bed and try to sleep on his own. 

The only thing that I wanted to do now is to potty train him. But I don't have a gut to try it yet. I just let him wear his cloth diaper during the day and he'll let me know once he feel uncomfortable. But he didn't want to tell me if he wants to poo-poo. Hmm~ maybe I should wait a little bit longer coz I can't do it alone right now. Hopefully he will be ready coz we want to send him to play school next year. 

I really hope he will love his brother and be nice to him. Hopefully he'll not be jealous towards his brother. And mama will try my best sayang to give my full attention to you too. I know it will be challenging coz he is so attach to me, and when he saw his lil bro always be by my side he'll feel strange. Hopefully everything will be fine. Ameen... :-)

Mama loves u so much sayang.. :-)

Free Samples From Libresse

I just received free samples from Libresse last 2 days.. Who doesn't love freebies right? I forgot when and where I applied for the free samples.. This is not the first time I received free samples.. I just applied for the free samples from any site that I found.. I did reveive Kotex Luxe samples, Mamypoko pants samples for Arsyad, Pediasure, Sustagen and lots more samples, and most of them are for my lil one. You can apply them too. Just hop on to their website and go to the free sample link. You just have to wait coz it might takes few weeks for them to deliver it to you. Hehe.