Umi's Design

I never thought that I could ever sewed anything.  Well, I never had any formal sewing lesson.  I bought my sewing machine few years ago when I was really crazy about trying to sew my own clothes (never did even a single dress... hahahaha).   Sometimes I referred to the net for some reference in how to go about sewing certain garment.  But I did sew something for Iman (unbelievable).  It all began when I decided to take unpaid leave for a year from work to take care of Iman by myself.  I was so excited once I successfully finished a garment.

Here are some of the clothes I sewed for my baby.

Pajamas

From my skirt to Iman's pants

Peasant blouse

Baju kurung - for raya

Itsy bitsy blouse and pants

Dress

Pajamas (I did the embroidery)

Night blouse

Another pajamas

From skirt to gown

BPA Free Baby Bottles

On the 8th April 2010 - I was browsing the net as usual and I didn't know how or why I did click the `BPA and baby bottle' subject... I browsed through and then it did caught my attention and I continued to search about the subject... then it hit me right between the eye... my heart jumped a beat.... oooo... my God, what had I done?  I had been feeding my baby  with the baby bottle which was possible to leak BPA into the milk (breast and formula !!!) for nearly the whole of Iman's two years of life ! I had a panick attacked for a few second... to be sure I hurried to the kitchen and check the bottles (3 bottles were being used at the moment - one Disney, one Anakku and one AVENT bottle)...ooo no... 1. made of plastic/polycarbonate   2. had scratches at the bottom (inside the bottles) 3.  the code under the bottom part - no. 7..... ooooo my God please forgive me, I didn't know how or why until that particular day only did I realize what I had been feeding her !  I felt so guilty, and sad at the same moment.  If it was during the day I would have awaken my husband just to go to find a glass baby bottle right there and then but it was late at night.  I just couldn't sleep that night.  I was so anxious to wake my sleeping husband to tell him about it.  At last I did have the chance to say about the subject to my sleepy husband that night.... from there on we planned to get new and safer glass bottle for Iman.  That night I did brows through the net trying to find information about glass baby bottles.  What did I find?  Yeah quite a number of choices... I was interested to buy the ones with sleeve) but unfortunately most of them can only be purchased online only... and you know what ?   I cannot do that because I (and my husband) don't own any credit card not a single one... I can only buy cash.  We planned to try our luck at Jaya Jusco and than Alamanda Putrajaya (Mothercare in particular).  The next night after my husband came home from work we rushed to Jaya Jusco Seremban 2.  There we found one type, crystal glass - 8oz Baby Bugs (Disney) but without sleeve and bought one (RM17.00).  The next morning (this morning), we rushed to Alamanda Putrajaya and bought one glass bottle - Babylife - Lifefactory product with sleeve (I had chosen the pink sleeve ) but we had no choice but to go for the 9oz (RM69.00).  Back home we tried the bottles on Iman - she was not really fussing about the Baby Bugs bottle but had a little problem accepting Babylife bottle.  Maybe because of the glass bottles are heavier or may be the sleeve looked or felt weird in her eyes/hand.... I just couldn't tell which... I had to sit by her and persuaded her to take back her bottles (she literally threw away the bottle after few suctions) and drank her milk... hhmmm ... if only she knew that the glass bottles were better for her health I am sure she would tell me to get one long before this.

Information from the Lifefactory's website about their baby bottle:

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Designed to grow with your child. The included clear cover can also serve as an easy to hold cup. Twist on the solid cap (sold separately) and use your bottles for storing juice or snacks. Perfect for a lunchbox or traveling.
• Bright colored silicone sleeve (patent pending) helps to protect the bottle from breakage and provides a great gripping surface and tactile experience during feeding
• Bottle and sleeve can be boiled or put in the dishwasher together. Can also go in the freezer, making breast milk storage simple.
• Bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalate, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free
• Silicone sleeve is non-toxic and free of plastics
• Silicone nipple is non-toxic and latex-free (made in France)
• Plastic ring, plug and cap are FDA approved
• Made from borosilicate glass and therefore are thermal shock resistant allowing them to go from freezer to boiling water.

Come to think of it glass bottle last longer (accept if broken) because - no scratches, easier to clean and rinse and the most important thing is safer.  Till this very moment I just couldn't see how I missed the BPA problem before we made the decision on which bottle to buy because I did search the net about baby bottle before Iman was being born.  We ( I made the decision actually) that we use Dr Brown bottle.  Now I found out it was not BPA free! I thought I made the best choice for Iman. (so frustrating and mad of course !) We also bought Avent's thinking that was the best bottles we could found on the market before.  But one good thing about Dr Brown's was, Iman never experienced colic while using it (about a year usage). I threw all the bottles ( more than 10 bottles with different brands - Dr Brown, Avent, Disney, Anakku etc... From now on I made a promise to myself to be more careful in the future...

Two glass bottles that we bought  - 8oz Disney - Baby Bugs (blue cap/without sleeve) and 9oz Lifefactory - Babylife (with pink sleeve).

I was happy to find out that the bottle from Lifefactory is, it really can be used later on as normal drinking bottle (the cap can be used as cup and the bottle can be used to store juice or frozen food).  Hhhmm... not a bad choice huh?  Not bad at all.  I am thinking of getting another one of Lifefactory's bottle... at first, I was thinking it was bulky ( the item and the price !) though...
However, I just can't wait for Iman to be off bottle ... wonder when it will happen.

Drinking her milk in her new Lifefactory' bottle and lying in her bed.

Iman drinking her milk in her new Lifefactory' bottle and lying in her bed (her baby cot which was only used for a few months since her birth till now).  We tried to persuade her to use her own bed now.  This cot @ bed is supposedly can be used until a baby turned 7 years old .... hhhmm I am not sure how long Iman can use hers...

Note:
Plastic container's code:
Safe code no - 1, 2, 4 and 5
Unsafe code no - 3 (toxic styrene)
                           - 6 (toxic phthalate)
                           - 7 (toxic Bisphenol A or BPA)

Iman - Playing Time

Here are some photos of Iman playing at the children playing ground in the Giant Hypermarket.  It's been a routine after or before shopping, Iman would play here for short while if there were too many kids or longer if there were not many kids around.  She was happy to go down the tunnel slide and refused to go down the open slide once she tried to go down the tunnel slide.

With her forever dedicated`bodyguard' - Ayah

I know where to push - button

Coming down of the tunnel slide..... yeayyyy

3rd Trip To Homeopathy Clinic - 04 Apr 2010

04 April 2010 - the 3rd time we visited The Clinic.  This time we met the first doctor.  Well, this time around Iman was behaving very well, better then before.  She was just behaving like a child of course but nothing out of `ordinary'.  The doctor also agreed about the changes in Iman's behavior compared to the first time he saw her.  We had short discussion and the doctor suggest that if everything goes well she can stop taking the medicine after 3 months.  This time we asked for her medicine to be in liquid form.  So, we went home with her one month supply of liquid form medicine and hope for the best....

Life Starts At 40 ?

03 April 2010 - My 40th birthday
Yeah... day come and went... now I am 40 years old... old? huh... not really, not 140 yet !
Some people asked `how do you feel being 40, now?'  What do you mean, `being 40 now??'  I am just feeling fine, may be more grey hairs on my head now, so what?  I am feeling strong, healthy and very much alive, thank you.  I am used to telling people I was already 40 once I reached 30+ years and some people were surprised "Really?  You didn't look  40 ?"  Owww... really ?  Hahaha ... How should a 40 year old looks like anyway ??  So, why should I be worrying about being 40?  I am not worried at all, not a single bit !!  Some said life begins at 40.... hey, wait a minute, what about all those 40 years before?  are they not counted?  were we not been living for the past 40 years... in fact I had been living more then 40 years actually, try count the time I spent in my mum's womb, was I not been living then?  hhhmmm...life begins at 40?  nonsense !  just a phrase created by people who were, sad to say, a failure for the past 40 years of their life?  May be?  or may be for some who couldn't face the reality of life, scared of themselves in fact, scared of looking at their own reflection in the mirror, scared of seeing wrinkles here and there... scared about their time, nearing to the end, may be?
Was I not worry about my wrinkles? Come on, there are many other important things to think about besides wrinkles.  What about the time nearing to the end?  Because of the time factor I should be living my life (to the fullest?); the right kind of life, not doing the things which I am not supposed to, I should be enjoying my time ( especially my time with my Iman ).  I was young before, well, I might do some mistakes (who didnt?), that was before, now at forthy I won't repeat the same mistakes just to state that life begins at 40..no nonsense... I just hate it when people said it life begins at 40 (especially men !!)... just go on living, enjoy life and pray for the best, no matter how old I would be...

I would never had enough of hugging and kissing my baby.
Waiting for lunch to be served at Secret Recipe.

Umi eating ice cream, Iman couldn't have it because she's allergic to cow's milk.  Iman didn't even want to taste it anyway.

There... the best thing ever that I have at 40 - my baby Nur Iman Zarifah... I love you so much, Iman.

I dedicate this song In My Daughter's Eyes by Martina McBride to my dear Iman:

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hanging on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes