Author: arlanadya

Pas special, J'ai seulement besoin de beaucoup de privee
Posted in Past learning, The Big Three

Ramadhan

Posted on by arlanadya

Ramadan always bring good and heart-warming memories in the past. I really miss how different the house feels. It smells nice.

School was very much better during Ramadan. Less lessons, less hours, more play and no-unifrom. Nice. School here refered to my elementary school. My best Ramadans happened during those elementary years. Even best of the best was there too. The Ramadan when I first fell in love. Haha.

After meeting le husband, Ramadan also brought some different feeling. First Ramadan back in 2002, I remembered wake him up for sahur several times. Others I remembered we were on very bad terms, and if I am not mistaken it was mostly bad terms;))

Slowly, as I grow older, the feeling also has changed. I don’t know why the excitement slowly faded. After 2012, it was even too gloom since we had three losses within a year. This year, although I am trying hard to make the house feels like Ramadan, it still feels different. Maybe it is not thing that made the feeling, it is the people.

I really hope I am able to give Langit the warm feeling Ramadan brings later if once she is older and starts her fasting. I have been never into things and consider they are important, but experience, special ambience, it stays in memory.

You can always visit your happy memories whenever you are feeling down. It is a happy place where you don’t have to spend money, moving around, or make preparations to travel. Just lie down, close your eyes and have a nice journey to the past…

Posted in Langit Senja

The Seventh Month

Posted on by arlanadya

Seven! A favorite number. Everything is still manageable and bearable. Langit has started her solid food for a month. Alhamdulillah, she eats pretty well.

She is now able crawl faster, sit more firm, and her movements are surely make her mum a bit tension. Especially during bath time and changing clothes. I believe the energy released is equal with 30 minutes cardio exercise -__-.

In this seventh month, I realize something that she doesn’t really fancy about other babies but she has been so friendly with adults. Smile and laugh easily. But, almost doesn’t show any interests when meeting another baby. At least, as I observed, both her cousins are not something that she is eager to look at. When we visited Hana at hospital, even when I show Hana really close to her face, Langit didn’t look at little Hana at all. She only stared at my sister.

She is still pretty stingy when it comes about her voice. Unless in two circumstances : when she is sleepy or when she is hungry. Then, she will make some more noises from her mouth.

After started having three meals a day, she doesn’t drink as much as before. Thus, Alhamdulillah when Ramadhan is here I am able to do fasting while breast-feeding.

Let’s keep rocking, Cipi-kun! Sarang-hae:**

image
Doing TRX at the bouncer
Posted in The Big Three

Some thoughts behind the arrival of a new baby girl

Posted on by arlanadya

Little sister was giving birth to a baby girl last Monday. Her water broke during subuh and taken to the hospital directly. But, unfortunately, in the end, she had to go through c-section since her vagina was only dilated for 4 cm after induction while the water had been broken for hours.

Looking back through the process, comparing what I had been going through and what my sister had, it made me think. A lot.

We might being raised by the same parents at the same house, still we grow up differently. We see the world with an absolute different angle. With all those differences, I am not saying who is better than the other, but it is also obvious that we are given different things to go through.

During pregnancy, I never bought things unnecessarily. Nothing about being stingy, but baby stuffs are surely pricey while we were not on the term that we could spend lavishly. But, maybe, even when I really had the money, I still would not do that.

I am never into things. But, I wouldn’t compromise health. That was why I sticked to Prof for my obgyn even though it was pretty expensive, with all those tests and everything, I paid it all without (much) hesitation. Paid it without insurance.

Me and le husband also had prepared the money just in case we had to go through c-section. I really remembered how it made me pretty worry if I really had to. Even I would do it as long as both me and the baby were fine, but still, it costed a lot.

While little sis had her company as well as her husband company to cover all those obgyn visits fees and all the tests. She shopped a lot. For me, it was a lot. She even still went to mothercare on Sunday evening although she had visited that store several times within a month. I really adore her determination if it is about shopping -___-.

It is quite true the saying ‘it doesn’t matter how you start, it only matters how you end’. I was diagnosed with blood coagulation, had been hospitalized because of little blood on the sixth month, really had to cut teaching hours a lot (which also means cutting the salary), the baby wasn’t in the correct position to have vaginal birth until the end of the eight-month, and so many more. While little sis was going through pretty easy pregnancy. Even the baby’s head was already down from the seventh month.

In the end, the reality was absolutely different. Me, with all of those cases, was giving birth through vaginal birth, within only 6 hours after admitted to the hospital. I even didn’t dare to hope that high.

Arrived at the hospital 1.30 pm, it was already 3 cm. By 3.30, it was 4 cm. By 5 pm it was 7 cm, the water broke 30 minutes later and when it was Maghrib it was all completed and ready for the main show. By 7.30, Langit came.

To add others luck we had, that day, it was totally free. We didn’t pay any single rupiahs for that day. It was written all zero. When I saw the bill with my eyes, really, Allah’s help is surely always near.

Still, it didn’t stop there. As if knowing that I didn’t shop much, Langit’s presents felt like never stopped coming. Until I have to declutter it. It was still coming even after 5 months. Subhanallah. I couldn’ stand too many unused things so I gave it to others who also needed for their baby for free. Hopefully, later Langit will also do this. It is not how much we have, it is how much we give that makes all the difference.

Is it all truly a pure luck? Nope. I don’t believe there is a pure luck. For everything.

I have never had it easy almost in everything in my life,  so I needed to try, work, and pray harder. Really hard until I had in mind that if things that I want really happen, it is surely a miracle. It turns out, those miracles are truly exist. Until today.

If later the situation changes, life is getting better, I really hope this habit stays. Patience, hard work, and sincere prays will never be wasted.

Trials and hardships are probably just some ways for us to see how far can we go, how strong we could bear, and how much we believe in there always be The One that never sleeps and give something more than we could handle.

Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité

First month of MPASI conclusion

Posted on by arlanadya

Frequencies and eating duration
She has three meals a day. She has been almost always ontime about her meal schedule. Breakfast around 5-5.30, lunch at 11-12 and afternoon meal at 4-5. Every meal can be finished in 20-40 minutes maximum. Finished means empty plate.

Food tried
– Fruit
Mango,papaya, banana, pear, apple, orange, avocado, kiwi, guava,and melon.

Only first week it was eaten one by one. The following week I mixed it up until now. Basically, there is only three main mix-fruits : avocado-banana-orange, papaya-banana-orange, and mango-papaya/banana.

– Vegetables
Carrot, chayote, kabocha pumpkin, beans, cucumber, potato, sweet corn, red-spinach, and i really forget what it is in English, terong.

For vegetable, I also mix it. She had her vegetable everyday together with potato or rice.

– Others
Tofu, tempe, oatmeal, sweet potato, and chicken.

– Snack
Yummy bites banana flavor baby biscuit

Response
Langit does’t have significant preference towards her meal. She finished what have been offered, with efforts. Not easily but to say it is hard, I don’t think so. I always try my best to make her finish everything. Showing her when her plate is empty and that time she can drink the water directly from the glass. When she hasn’t finished she only has water from the spoon. Three spoons each time.

Her most favorite one is avocado banana orange. No matter how much I made it for her, it has been done easily and peacefully. Peacefully means I don’t have to do many attractions to keep her engaged.

Allergies and bowel movements
No allergies detected so far, bowel movements are also good. She had it daily. Colors are depending on the food she takes.

So, this first month seems running smoothly. Hope she will continue to like her mother simple cooking. Or maybe the mother can learn to improve her cooking skill and give her some new menu. Maybe if mommy has more time and energy. Amin.

Posted in Review

Baby’s daily routines

Posted on by arlanadya

I always believe that as well as an adult, a baby likes a routine too for daily life. Along these 6 months, Langit also has her routines which I believe hers is following mine.

I always wake up around 3.00- 3.30 am because I have to prepare breakfast before subuh. It has been pretty longtime since I have this habit of having breakfast before subuh. It also inherited from my mum. Then I realize Langit does it too once she is able to sleep overnight.

After having meal three times a day, I set new routine l. As the work load is getting bigger, I really have to manage the time better so I can rest without neglecting the works. It’s been three weeks and it works pretty well. How do I know?
I still can manage to watch korean dramas and prepare her meals from the scratch.

Here is Langit’s time table :
3.30
Wake up and having breast-milk

4.30
Second breast-milk while watching mom prays and recites Qur’an then listening to Almatsurat on the radio.

5.30
Send daddy off to work and having breakfast

6.15
Take and play a bath

7.00
Morning sleep

8.30
Wake-up, having breast milk, play. After this, sometimes she likes having another sleep.

11.45-12.30
Lunch

13.00
Nap time

14.45
Wake-up, having breast milk and play before afternoon meal is ready.

15.45-16.30
Early dinner

16.30
Afternoon bath

17.00 – 19.30
Having breast-milk few times and play and end the day by having last long breast-feeding until fall asleep.

That’s it. It may not always be the same but, it also doesn’t vary much. Thus, I always see the time. I need my rest too. But, I don’t like it if having a rest while there are many things undone.

So, it is proven that taking care a baby alone is pretty doable as long as you stick to the schedule and manage your time well.

This post is written with a clear-head, when Langit is sleeping, and nothing needs preparation for lunch.

A bientôt!

Posted in Maternité, Review

Eating Rules

Posted on by arlanadya

It has been almost two weeks since Langit’s first eating. So far, Alhamdulillah we are doing well. On the second week, she started tasting a mixture from fruits and vegetables. She seems have no particular likeness toward the food given, but the good news is whatever I gave her, she finished it. No matter how (I made her do that).

I would not write about what menu she had like others. I had other things I learnt and maybe it is something better to write. There are several rules that I set for myself and her :

1. Feeding only can be done one on one. Me and her and plus one other person is still allowed.

This is very important because when we feed a baby, the more the merrier is not applicable. It only makes the baby being distracted from eating. Then, she will start feeling bored and cranky.

Last week, we had grandma and grandpa during lunch and it was pretty disaster. She seemed confused and to add more, le husband asked me to feed her. After 15 minutes, she started being cranky and others said that she didn’t like the food or didn’t feel like to eat anymore.

Trust me, It was nothing about that. I always try first everything I give her. So,I decided to take her to the kitchen and restarted. Then, she finished it all. Until the last drop.

2. All food should be finished in the time limited. Breakfast and lunch maximum is 40 minutes while mix fruits in the afternoon 20-30 minutes.

Underline the first phrase. It is not about the time first. The more important that she finished the food. So, during the feeding, I also sing, play voices, make funny gestures. On my right hand is spoon while on my left hand is a bowl and a toy altogether. I choose a toy that I can wear on my fingers. The other help is from the cute glass of water. She likes water and the picture on the glass. It works for me during these 2 weeks for three times a meal a day.

3. Sit when the baby eats.
I believe everyone agree about this. No further explanations.

4. Be patient.
Patience is obviously needed in large amount.

5. Be considerate about the baby’s preference, and be creative.

Although she always finishes all the food I made, she is not always fond of everything. When this happens, it needs more efforts to make her finished her plate.

6. Always,always prepare a back-up plan.

Back-up plan means I have more than an option to be given in one meal time. Just in case something happens with the initial plan, I have back-up(s).

There are some of my basic rules. I take eating very seriously. I believe there are three things that parents should never compromise to give it to their children are health, nutrition, and education.

Those three might be pretty expensive and not easy at all. But, we only reap what we sow. The result will be only seen in the long-term. No one would like to receive bad result. Thus, let’s bear the hard work for now. Because, hard work and patience will not betray.

Posted in Langit Senja

The Sixth Month!

Posted on by arlanadya

Alhamdulillah. All praise to Allah Whose tremendous helps have allowed us to go through everything until the sixth month of Langit’s journey. It was surely not easy.

On this sixth month, she has acquired several abilities. Her movements have been so fast. Few times, it made my heart jumped since it was just to close from falling, either from her little rattan crib, chair, couch. Currently, she likes crawling and going back and back because she maybe still doesn’t know how to go forth:)).

She still doesn’t talk much, especially when she doesn’t recognize the person. But, she seemed fine to be held by other people, no matter who. So, my hands were mostly free when we went somewhere or meeting people.

About eating, as I wrote previously, she has started eating five days earlier. During these five days, she finished those all that have been given. So far she has had avocado, pear, papaya, white and red rice flour, and chayote! Degree of likeness until dislikeness avocado, chayote, pear, papaya, and the rice flour. But still, she managed to finish all.
Today, we plan to have carrots and oatmeal:D

So, happy sixth month, big girl. Keep up the good work. I hope you will be always healthy and happy to enjoy the ride. I love you.

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Big girl in little white dress
Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité

The First Complementary Feeding

Posted on by arlanadya

Langit Senja will turn 6 month next wednesday insya Allah and seems ready for her first food since she has been so eager everytime I eat my lunch in front of her. Poor cipi who only could stare at me with her big eyes;))

Today, I made a decision about her MPASI. I decided to start few days earlier than 27. It wasn’t easy since it was just 5 days to go so she would complete full 6 months of exclusive breast-feeding. But, then after giving lots of thought and consideration, I did it on this Friday, 22nd.

At first, I intended to start on Tuesday, 26th because wednesday is my working day. Begin her very first eating experience is quite something for me and I prefer to do it without rushing. I also decided to start with rice flour. A packaged one.

As I read more and more, my preference also start changing here and there. Then, when we visited the pediatrician yesterday her weight was just increase 200gr in three weeks. Not good at all for me. She has been gaining weight for 600-900 every month before. Her height which has been very good all these months also didn’t change at all from the previous month. Those made me feeling a bit gloomy. It made all the effort feels unpaid and more exhausting.

Then, about a-full-6-months of exclusive breastfeeding, as I think and think more, is it just me and my pride? Giving her formula was obviously worth to wait. But for this one, there were many things which indicate it is better a bit early than later. 5 days different would not harm either me or her.

So the date was finally settled. Then another change was about the rice flour. Instead of buying it, I gave it a try to make it myself. Last week I made my own white-rice flour. It wasn’t that easy and fast but still doable. Currently, I am drying the red-rice too. So we can use it another one than white-rice.

The second change is about what to give first and the frequency. From rice flour and once a day to fruit and twice a day. So, Langit Senja had avocado for her first food in the morning (7.30 am) and rice flour for lunch (1.30 pm). She finished it all. Hoho, good girl!

For avocado, I gave her only one-fourth for the first time. Because, for me it seemed pretty a lot for the first time. Maybe tomorrow I will give her more since she seems like it. Meanwhile, for the rice flour I cooked two eat-spoon and it turned out a bit too much. I also cookee it too fast. After giving her two spoons, I recooked it to make it more edible for her. Honestly, the preparation and post-eating took sometime to do it alone and I still learn how to deal with that.

Looking at this first day, I think it was a very good decision to start today, not Tuesday or Wednesday.
So, that’s it. I will still stick to the same menu for this three days.

Then, the next fruit is my favorite! Wait for it, cipi-kun!;)

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Empty plate of avocado
Posted in Past learning, The Big Three

Life at 20 vs 30

Posted on by arlanadya

On sleeping :
20s
– Wake up when adzan heard from the mosque everyday.
– sleep in almost every spare time, on bed, on the sofa, on the floor while watching TV, in the bus all the way to Bogor, right after arrived at grandma’s home. Everywhere. Seemed like I was living for sleep.

30
– Wake up so early in the morning or whenever Langit cries or even before fall asleep at all or wake up all day. Almost all day.
– Sleep when every work or house works have been done and only on the sofa. Bed is only for night sleeping. No bed during the day.

On money
20
– Buy everything anytime I need without having so much thought. Surely there was budget too, but a very flexible one.
– Saving was 70% from salary. I had already had monthly salary since I was 19 right after started teaching at Yamaha.
– Had several bank accounts for different purpose: daily and monthly needs, Hajj and Europe, and pure saving only.

30
– First three months : jobless as well as totally incomeless. Live by eating the savings.
– Thinking not only twice or thrice to buy something, even for small thing?throughout the weeks or months. The result maybe bought or not at all:))
– Pretty tight budgeting. Langit’s vaccine always come first. Weekend budget is very much depends on Langit’s vaccine price or other compulsory needs. Then the second is le husband’s school. Me? I don’t remember when was the last time I spend money loosely for something that only for me.
– Keep maintaining several bank accounts for different purposes, mine and le husband’s

On work

20
– Earlier years was enjoying studying while being a part time lecturer, and a piano teacher at the same time till graduated.
– After that, enjoyed working 7 days a week at three different places. Though it was tiring sometimes, but I remembered how I enjoyed teaching at school, teaching piano at music school, and private teaching a belgian expat on Sunday.
– Time, distance, salary, never be a consideration. As long as it was good, I went for it.

And, I was and never will be into career. So what I had and have been doing is working.

30

– First thing first : location. Only accept one which maximum 10km distance from home and easily reached by car or public transportation.
– Second : time. Part time only. 8-11. Or 12. No longer than that.

After Langit came, no matter where, every places seemed so far. Even that 5-minutes-walking-distance music school. That is why I dropped one at school. Pretty sad but that is really fine. Glad that I decided to drop it.

On dream

20
– Big three dreams during 20s were : Hajj, Master degree abroad, Eurotrip solo travelling, all before marriage.
– Achieved the first at 28, the second at 27, while the third failed. Maybe God saves it for later. Amin.

30
– I am almost done with my self except for Europe. But, I won’t mind going with this little family especially with Langit. Maybe it will be so much happier if I have ones to share the happiness of being in the places that I have been dreaming for such a long time. Paris, Barcelona, and any cities in Italy.

20s was surely more carefree, no bill, spent only, low responsibility, and the world seemed to be so kind (at least for me). Then, eventhough I am just only being in my early 30, but the things are pretty much more harder, with so many responsibilities, concerns, consideration, and it will be hard to bear a consequence of having even for a small mistake.

So, kids, if you read this someday, use your 20s well. Work hard, dream high, make it happen, travel far, be tough and you will be very ready to embrace your 30s.

Hopefully, I and your father have enough time to see all those great things happen to you. We surely will work hard to help you with that. When it’s time to stand on your own feet, I hope you will stand firmly. Amin.

Posted in Maternité

MPASI Preparation

Posted on by arlanadya

I have been reading and taking notes about MPASI lately since Langit will be 6mo in the end of this month Insya Allah. Eventough I had read a lot before, but I keep continuing search many information. I just really need to be sure about what I will give to her.

I also already start looking for my dear mom’s eating stuff and storage (tupperware) so I don’t need to buy what I don’t have to.buy. Nothing about being stingy, but I don’t see why spending on something that I don’t need and have to. Beside, too many unused things make me headache;)).

I like few mommies whose blog became my favorite references. Mbak Anggi’s (the.karimmuddin.com) is my number one favorite. She is a very detailed person and perfectionist. I love her details about MPASI schedules for every month from 6-11 months. May Allah gives her more and more blessings to her and family because I am sure she helps lots of mommies out there through her blog.

Mbak Ira (irrasistible.wordpress.com) is another reference. Altough hers is much simpler, but still it helps me to have other insight and wider suggestion and variation of menu. Overall, both of them suggest pretty same things with slightly differences on menu suggestion and schedule.

The theories have been more than half understood, so we just wait for applying it later and surely I will adjust with our condition. Hopefully,hopefully, Langit will enjoy her meal time. Amin.

Be ready, cipi-kun!

Be more ready, mom! (She said).