The Dawn of Life!

The story of birth is a common one. Life starts before birth. The womb makes a remarkable home for an unborn child. Then comes birth – a mesmerizing and miraculous process by which a baby begins the journey towards the world...


It was two days past my due date and I was spending time with my family. We were out all day and had come home weary. Suddenly I felt the burst of a balloon inside me! My water had broken and everyone in the house was as agitated as disturbed butterflies. I got dressed and we made our way to the hospital. I could sense the nervousness in everyone's voice. Calls were being made back and forth. Wishes, prayers, tears and joy are among the fading memories I have of that special day – December 9, 2007!


The pain increased hour by hour and it seemed as if my thoughts were momentarily on full stop. Then it started – the urge to push. It was like she was in a mighty hurry to meet everyone... she came into the world in such a rush that even the doctor could not make it on time. One loud scream and there she was – Alhamdulillah! Our wonderful daughter, the joy of our hearts was born. My husband was tearful and my mum was praying all the time. Reality hit me all at once... this was my child and I was now a mother- Masha Allah! 


When I held her, it was hard to believe that she had finally arrived after months of anticipation and preparation. My husband recited the call to prayer in her ear and she was weighed. My mum and dad were overjoyed to be grandparents for the first time and my brothers were over the moon, too. When baby Jannah looked at me for the first time, it felt like it was worth the wait, the pain and the anxiety! Allah had blessed us with a beautiful healthy child and I could not have been more thankful. She is a lovable and adorable child growing fast into a little girl and a big sister. I miss her baby days and the sweet cries of a new born. Her birth story will always be special in my heart and I look forward to sharing it with her, when her time comes to be a mother Insha Allah!

When a child is born so is a mother!

Fathima Aashika Sulaiman
29 March 2010

Visit to the Dr., Healthy Weight, Diet and More!

Just as much as little J, I too, dread the visit to the doctors. We had to take her in to check on her weight gain and do a test to check for anemia. Thank fully both turned out to be positive. She is a slow weight gainer and not anemic. She needs to gain a bit more but I'm thinking with all that running around activity how on earth she could store anything. Like me she is a very poor and fussy eater. Rice, noodles and bread are among her favourites but she does not eat vegetables and dislikes milk. The doc wants us to give her more milk instead of juice. She is picking up now and I hope it improves.

It is also believed that when you have feeding problems with your children you must feed poor children and do some charity. So yes Insha Allah I'm going to try that.

J was very brave at her finger prick and didn't cry. Dad held her while I distracted her with a book We have been asked to change our diet from rice to other alternatives because of the cause of diabetes increasing in the part of the worls where we are from. (Ok I need to do my research on this fact she stated) Rice is our staple food and we eat it almost every day missing may be just once or twice a week. But if it means prevention of a disease (which both mine and my husband's family suffer from) we are ready to change it. They want us to switch to whole grain. Thank fully J likes oats. We plan to switch to chapathi sand pasta. Whole wheat bread is good too. The only problem with these food is that they are rarely good tasting but that will have to be sacrificed for the sake of better health!

Until next time that's the progress on our 27 month old big sister to be!

When you have children

When you have children
your whole life changes


They are the suns in your universe
the electricity in your nerves
the fuel in your veins
and every thought in your head


They are the lives you brought into the world
to take take care of and nourish
to love and to guide
and leave for the good of the world


They are the light of your life
and the love in your heart
They are everything you live for
The reason and meaning of every single thing


You cannot bare to see
the tears in their faces
you cannot bare to hear
their sorrowful cries
your heart skips a beat
if they ever even trip


the hopes they build in you
the fear they cause
the joy they bring
the laughter they spin


Children are the reason 
life goes on!

How to feed children!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PoIeMnAHfc

Potty Training - There's no best time!

Jannah is two years and two months. Juggling between the cooking, showering her, the vacuuming and the cleaning and everything else, toilet  training is sure hard. First I'm training myself on how to train her. I asked a couple of friends and watched some videos while I had her sit there but she has nothing coming yet. As the old saying goes try, try and try again!

As usual I google up on tips...

Here is A video and http://www.babycenter.com/0_potty-training-what-works_4397.bc

Also see:

http://funpottytraining.com/

All the best!


And I have had no luck so far :(

My dearest darling angel - the second

It is the second time we saw you. Today is an important day in our memories. Your big sister was running everywhere in the clinic and performing for everyone. When it dawned in Sri Lanka we let your grandparents know your gender. They were all very happy. Jannah was so tired she fell asleep and she hasn't had dinner so I am worried. I am waiting eagerly for grandma and grandpa to come so that she will have more company. She is very loving and already talking to you with her head near my belly. If you can hear a baby voice say “Assalamu alaikum baby” and a kiss, that's her. I bet she will be thrilled to have you around.

So my dear little fellow, five months old today we love you with all our hearts and we are looking forward to you joining our little family. Take us beyond the oceans and universe. Show us the pearls of your laughter and smiles.... join us in the journey of life... welcome to the world!

18+ ways to entertain your toddler without tv and videos

Washable Crayons and Paper make a good way of promoting writing skills in the little one. They can do it independently and will enjoy hours of fun. Give them a slate or a small white board if they tend to get bored with the same old things every other day!

Magnetic Alphabets on the Fridge Door: promote recognition of the letters and colours. Keep talking to them to find various letters in the pile and to make simple words on the fridge. A good entertainment source for your toddler while you cook

Water in a pool: In summer of course, they would absolutely love this but never leave them unattended and always check for temperature and water depth so that falling in it wont hurt them.

Snack time: leave them alone with their safe to eat snacks and make sure they are seated safe and hungry enough for a snack and some juice or milk. They would develop the skill to eat independently and this is something which will help you a lot during meal times if they are still not self feeders. Do not encourage eating while running around or playing. Teach them to respect their food at an early age.

Be close enough to see or hear any choking hazards if any.

They could also count their snacks before they eat it - another math lesson

Stickers: Some kids love pasting stickers on books and rough paper. You could make a story out of it and the messes are not hard to clean up.

Songs and dancing: They would absolutely love singing and dancing with you to rhymes and easy to pick up baby songs

Finger play and poems: Children love rhymes that have actions in them and they love it even more when you do it with them. A good entertainment method in the vehicle when you are on the go or even while shopping if they sit in a boring shopping cart.

Puppet shows out of soft toys: if you change your voice and speak like the animals along with the sounds they make they will eventually pick up all the names of the animals and make their sounds. If they hardly meet kids and people they befriend stuffed animals fast. If your child wants to take a stuffed animal to bed at night be careful that he or she does not have it too close or that you remove it when they fall asleep.

Bath time: Leave them under a running shower with bath toys. Do not leave them alone

Card board boxes: you can use them as a stage to get our toddler to perform on. They would also like to get in and hide there but if this the case make sure the box has some holes in case he/she decides to close it up for too long.

Creaming themselves: Toddlers would love it if you give them a dab of lotion in their hands and ask them to rub it on themselves instead of you doing it. Name their body parts as they do it and before long they would be able to name all parts from head to toe!

The good old story time: Children love colourful books. Tell them stories. Point to the pictures and ask them simple questions like ”What Color is his shirt” or “What is the teddy bear eating?” Before bed is a good time for books and prayers.

Make use of the Library: Make a habit of taking your little one to library. They learn that reading is an important part and will be interested by different books you bring home.

Parks and play areas: Children lobe a walk or run in the park. Swings and slides can keep them exercising and having for fun quite a good time. You could also get some time for yourself for a quiet picnic, some fresh air, a book or even some quick browsing. The fresh and air and sunlight is good for them and you too.

Kites, fans and spin wheels: Simple and home made toys are good enough to impress them too.

Puzzles: These can be home made too. The wooden puzzles with animals and shapes that you can make or buy are a great source of entertainment for kids of many ages.

Enjoy cuddling your little one: They love cuddles and kiss them. 10 on each cheek and counting loudly gives them love and lesson on math. Try it and they would love it.

Talk to them: Engage in serious conversations and develop their speaking skills. Use words and not bzby language so they pick up fast. When giving them a drink say “Delicious Juice” and when changing them say: “Your clothes are dirty and you need fresh ones”. Also ask them to do little chores “can you bring me the phone please?” or “close the door for mummy please”

Enjoy your little one and spend as much time as you can with them... they would be grown ups before you know it and no matter how much you want to you wont have a chance to do the things you could have done with them.

There are many more entertainment tools that you could add to this list and I would love to hear them too! Happy toddling!