It's been 9 months now since I've become a parent.
For start, my life has changed and it's all
about the little one right now. If I could sum these 9 months up, it would be
like a mix of every new tasks & responsibilities, new feelings and countless things to consider thrown in
together. Whatever I do, I have to think what's best for Afnan.
A Bundle of Joy
Time flies so fast when you become a father. It has been almost six months since I first hold my little son, Ahmad Afnan. Yeah it's been quite a while but I still remember every bit of Afnan's first day. Let's start with the day prior to Rahmah delivered Afnan.
It was 28th October 2014. It's Afnan's EDD (estimated due date). I remembered waking up feeling so excited, that if Afnan turned out to delivered later than that day, I'll be dissapointed loll. That morning, she looked okay. So okay that if I remember correctly, that morning she even do some house cleaning. Fast forward it was already noon, and we went for a lunch. But she didn't seem to enjoy her lunch very much. I asked whether we should go to our gynae for inspection. And we did; our doctor then asked us to stay for further examination after discovered that Rahmah was 3cm dilated.
It was 28th October 2014. It's Afnan's EDD (estimated due date). I remembered waking up feeling so excited, that if Afnan turned out to delivered later than that day, I'll be dissapointed loll. That morning, she looked okay. So okay that if I remember correctly, that morning she even do some house cleaning. Fast forward it was already noon, and we went for a lunch. But she didn't seem to enjoy her lunch very much. I asked whether we should go to our gynae for inspection. And we did; our doctor then asked us to stay for further examination after discovered that Rahmah was 3cm dilated.
Selfie Nation
Assalamualaikum.
This might be a little overdue but I'd like to talk on Shaykh Hamza Yusuf talks here in Malaysia the past few days. For me, he's one of my favourite Muslim scholars, along with Tariq Ramadan as well as Nouman Ali Khan. If I remember correctly, I heard the news he'll be in Malaysia last June. I was since, very much looking forward to hear his talks here in KL.
However, I managed to attend to only two of his talks but Alhamdulillah it was more than enough. The first one was in PWTC and the second one was in Masjid Wilayah. I wouldn't be elaborating what he said in this post because lots of people are sharing his words of wisdom in FB, Twitter and the like. What I'd like to share is what I learn from his way of engaging with people.
Getting Closer
After a month or so deciding where Rahmah will deliver our first baby, we both decided that Gombak Medical Centre fits our needs the best. It's close to our house and lots of people around Batu Caves / Gombak are recommending this particular hospital (thank you Internet!)
So yesterday we went to the GMC to have our first check-up there. And at the same time to register Rahmah for her inevitable baby deliver, insha Allah in October. She got her usual ultrasound scan but this time around, it's not really as common as it was before.
To my pleasant surprise, we got to see our baby so clear this time. The chin looks so much like Rahmah but the nose looks like me lol. Whatever it is, as long as he gets any of my traits, he sure as going to be as cool and as good looking as his father haha.
Anyway, we both were in so awe at this point of time. And I was just smiling and uttering praises to Allah all the time. It was so breathtaking. To experience this hands on is just amazing to say the least. People always say "well it's the first child, you're always going to be excited whatever it is." Well, I hope my excitement for our newborn succeeds till our 10th child. Ehh?!! Hahaha.
The doctor the baby is in good health and in great condition for the delivery later on. Please go make dua for us okay guys? I really hope it'll go smooth sailing. On the other hand I myself have a little bit of catching up to do with regards to parenting reading materials. Do you guys know any good books on parenting and pregnancy as well?
Right now I'm on the 'Successful Family Upbringing" series by Prof. Dr. Abdul Karim Bakkar and a couple of articles here and there. Please do share if you know any good books/articles. Okay guys, till the next post. Insha Allah I'll try to bring the last update before the most anticipated event hehe. Assalamualaikum.
So yesterday we went to the GMC to have our first check-up there. And at the same time to register Rahmah for her inevitable baby deliver, insha Allah in October. She got her usual ultrasound scan but this time around, it's not really as common as it was before.
To my pleasant surprise, we got to see our baby so clear this time. The chin looks so much like Rahmah but the nose looks like me lol. Whatever it is, as long as he gets any of my traits, he sure as going to be as cool and as good looking as his father haha.
Anyway, we both were in so awe at this point of time. And I was just smiling and uttering praises to Allah all the time. It was so breathtaking. To experience this hands on is just amazing to say the least. People always say "well it's the first child, you're always going to be excited whatever it is." Well, I hope my excitement for our newborn succeeds till our 10th child. Ehh?!! Hahaha.
The doctor the baby is in good health and in great condition for the delivery later on. Please go make dua for us okay guys? I really hope it'll go smooth sailing. On the other hand I myself have a little bit of catching up to do with regards to parenting reading materials. Do you guys know any good books on parenting and pregnancy as well?
Right now I'm on the 'Successful Family Upbringing" series by Prof. Dr. Abdul Karim Bakkar and a couple of articles here and there. Please do share if you know any good books/articles. Okay guys, till the next post. Insha Allah I'll try to bring the last update before the most anticipated event hehe. Assalamualaikum.
The 1st Pregnancy
Assalamualaikum.
How Ramadan so far guys? Motivated to do more ibadah this holy month? Or are you just seeing it passes you by like it’s an ordinary month like every other months? Nevertheless, I pray Allah make us to fully seize this golden opportunity to do more ibadah and ultimately be a better servant to the Almighty.
Now this particular post has been long overdue and instead of continuing to procrastinate it, I’m gonna make sure it going to publish at this hour (poyo). So I would like to share my experience prior to my wife’s pregnancy and during the pregnancy itself, which at this point of time she’s in her 24 weeks alhamdulillah.
So let’s start with our first year of marriage. At that time, we’re already have in our mind to have kids at the very first year. But instead of that, I think the first year was more adapting to each other preferences and nuisances hehehe.
Anyway, as the year came to an end, the pressure to having kids started to build up. Added with our friends whom already got pregnant and married in a similar timeframe like us. But I keep saying to myself, hey it’s just the first year. Still haven’t fully understand my wife completely and I am still not :P Though the feeling to play with our friends’ kids and talk to them in a way gave comfort to me.
Through These Times
Assalamualaikum.
It's been almost three months since both of us living in this new house. Alhamdulillah as for now it has been a wonderful experience for me. Which a bit ironic, because our old house was just a few kilometres away from our current house. But I like it here far better than we were in our old house. The old house is not necessarily bad so to speak, but I don't know maybe the serene and homey vibe this new neighbourhood gives. Heh amazing how a few adjustments can make quite a difference in your life. And both folks of mine and my wife also like it here. That's always a plus.
But still, the main question has not been answered. Where do I want to live? Where will my kids make their friends? I don't have any specific area but I kind of have a rough picture in my mind. Living just off the city would be great. I mean who doesn't right? Cheaper cost of living in suburban but still having proximity access to the city for working, relaxing and whatnot. Places like Setapak, Kepong, Gombak, Cheras etc. But you know what here in Batu Caves, things are really great. All the banks, shops, awesome eateries are just a stone throw away. Maybe, just maybe Batu Caves could the be the one. Only time will tell.
On the other hand, I don't really remember how it started but currently I kind of have a passion towards cooking haha. Before long, I have interest in cooking (slightly) but I always thought cooking is a tad troublesome. Leceh bak kata orang Melayu kita. Preparing all the things, cleaning all the dishes afterwards, buying all the ingredients in stores etc ugh I mean that's heck of workload. But after getting the work done myself, it's not too shabby. And now I'm loving em'. At times I even consider to learn to be a chef haha.
Anyway last Friday night, both of us went to a talk in UM. Aiman Azlan, famous vlogger was one of the panelist, other one was Brother Lim Jooi Soon the advisor of Perkim in Ampang. The talk entitled "Bahagiakah Aku" and rightly so. At the beginning of the event, I felt like a student all over again haha. Because it's an event for UM college students. At first I thought it was for public, but who cares. After all, I'm a student of life all these times hehe poyo habis. Before the talk got started, there were opening speeches and songs sang altogether by the audience. Being in numerous talks organized by plenty of organizations, this kind of bureaucracy hinders (how I would say this) a smooth, experience. I think maybe it's time for us to cut the chase and just go with what's important. I get its significance because that's how formal event should be, but.. maybe that kind of things that hinder people from going to the event. But hey, that's just me.
It was the first time of me hearing Aiman Azlan and Brother Lim talk. The thing that got me to this day is the story of how Brother Lim start to find the truth, the real truth. It was since he was a child. He said he felt uncomfortable every time he followed his parents pray because he didn't understand the reason behind em'. One day, his Non-Malay teams played football against his neighbourhood Malay team. The Malay team was lost and they started to fight and mocking each other. One Malay kid mock other kids saying why do you pray in front of an idol. The other kids mocked back saying why do Muslim people pray in front of a wall? The Malay kid replied back they actually can pray anywhere they want, even in an open field. And he asked the killer question, how can you pray something that is visible? The sun, the air is invisible, so is your God is weaker than the sun or the air. And know what, the question got he going till the real truth. He started with embracing Christianity and eventually Islam. And he has been an active preacher ever since.
Aiman Azlan raised interesting point that night. We always interested with stories how people find Islam, but we didn't find the answer to a more significant question which is, why they remain to be Muslim? They themselves search for the real truth and at the end of the road they find the beauty of Islam. People like us, born with Islam, printed in our I/C take Islam for granted. We just followed what our parents did, like praying, fasting and whatnot. And if we just follow em' for the sake of following em', we're just practising rituals, which is sad because to it's true. It is time for us to find Islam, to search the real reasons behind what we do. To find the real truth. Because if we didn't we would be stuttered whenever people around us test our belief. And I believe we will be tested especially in these modern times. May Allah make easy for us to strengthen our belief and foundations.
Initially I wanted to share life updates with you, but I went far away from my original road. Typical me hehe. I may want to further blog about the talk with Aiman Azlan and Brother Lim but that's if I'm really up to it, you know what I mean. I guess that's it for now. Peace.
It's been almost three months since both of us living in this new house. Alhamdulillah as for now it has been a wonderful experience for me. Which a bit ironic, because our old house was just a few kilometres away from our current house. But I like it here far better than we were in our old house. The old house is not necessarily bad so to speak, but I don't know maybe the serene and homey vibe this new neighbourhood gives. Heh amazing how a few adjustments can make quite a difference in your life. And both folks of mine and my wife also like it here. That's always a plus.
But still, the main question has not been answered. Where do I want to live? Where will my kids make their friends? I don't have any specific area but I kind of have a rough picture in my mind. Living just off the city would be great. I mean who doesn't right? Cheaper cost of living in suburban but still having proximity access to the city for working, relaxing and whatnot. Places like Setapak, Kepong, Gombak, Cheras etc. But you know what here in Batu Caves, things are really great. All the banks, shops, awesome eateries are just a stone throw away. Maybe, just maybe Batu Caves could the be the one. Only time will tell.
On the other hand, I don't really remember how it started but currently I kind of have a passion towards cooking haha. Before long, I have interest in cooking (slightly) but I always thought cooking is a tad troublesome. Leceh bak kata orang Melayu kita. Preparing all the things, cleaning all the dishes afterwards, buying all the ingredients in stores etc ugh I mean that's heck of workload. But after getting the work done myself, it's not too shabby. And now I'm loving em'. At times I even consider to learn to be a chef haha.
Anyway last Friday night, both of us went to a talk in UM. Aiman Azlan, famous vlogger was one of the panelist, other one was Brother Lim Jooi Soon the advisor of Perkim in Ampang. The talk entitled "Bahagiakah Aku" and rightly so. At the beginning of the event, I felt like a student all over again haha. Because it's an event for UM college students. At first I thought it was for public, but who cares. After all, I'm a student of life all these times hehe poyo habis. Before the talk got started, there were opening speeches and songs sang altogether by the audience. Being in numerous talks organized by plenty of organizations, this kind of bureaucracy hinders (how I would say this) a smooth, experience. I think maybe it's time for us to cut the chase and just go with what's important. I get its significance because that's how formal event should be, but.. maybe that kind of things that hinder people from going to the event. But hey, that's just me.
It was the first time of me hearing Aiman Azlan and Brother Lim talk. The thing that got me to this day is the story of how Brother Lim start to find the truth, the real truth. It was since he was a child. He said he felt uncomfortable every time he followed his parents pray because he didn't understand the reason behind em'. One day, his Non-Malay teams played football against his neighbourhood Malay team. The Malay team was lost and they started to fight and mocking each other. One Malay kid mock other kids saying why do you pray in front of an idol. The other kids mocked back saying why do Muslim people pray in front of a wall? The Malay kid replied back they actually can pray anywhere they want, even in an open field. And he asked the killer question, how can you pray something that is visible? The sun, the air is invisible, so is your God is weaker than the sun or the air. And know what, the question got he going till the real truth. He started with embracing Christianity and eventually Islam. And he has been an active preacher ever since.
Aiman Azlan raised interesting point that night. We always interested with stories how people find Islam, but we didn't find the answer to a more significant question which is, why they remain to be Muslim? They themselves search for the real truth and at the end of the road they find the beauty of Islam. People like us, born with Islam, printed in our I/C take Islam for granted. We just followed what our parents did, like praying, fasting and whatnot. And if we just follow em' for the sake of following em', we're just practising rituals, which is sad because to it's true. It is time for us to find Islam, to search the real reasons behind what we do. To find the real truth. Because if we didn't we would be stuttered whenever people around us test our belief. And I believe we will be tested especially in these modern times. May Allah make easy for us to strengthen our belief and foundations.
Initially I wanted to share life updates with you, but I went far away from my original road. Typical me hehe. I may want to further blog about the talk with Aiman Azlan and Brother Lim but that's if I'm really up to it, you know what I mean. I guess that's it for now. Peace.
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