Week 24 – Treading along.. August 22, 2007

6 months mashaAllah!! whoa! I don’t know where time is flying to, but boy oh boy it sure is going by super fast.

 

For the last two days it feels as though I’m carrying a future NFL punter in my tummy. She’s kicking like a punter on steroids. Its the funniest while I’m lying down and i can see a small portion of my tummy go up and then back down. Its a funny feeling. Last night Imo had a full one on one session with the baby – each time she’d kick, he’d poke the tummy in and she’d kick right back. lol, it was adorable watching them two at it.

My tummy has formed its full round shape too mashaAllah. I can’t imagine how big I would be in three months!! I already feel super wobbly like Yokuzuna Jr.

Aasiyah came over for dinner last weekend and brought this yummy fudgey chocolate cake with her. I had the entire cake, except one slice for poor Beeni, all by myself. I have NEVER been a cake type of person but this pregnancy I was craving chocolates and Demetres, but just never got around to going there. Even in Montreal i was constantly craving dessert rather than food. Alhamdollillah.

I’ve been slathering on cocoa butter endlessly but ofcourse, I know its to no avail. I’m just praying for a miracle in the meantime inshaAllah because the stretch marks scare the lights out of me.

oh, I almost forgot. We went for our monthly checkup last wednesday and alhamdolillah everything seems to be going fine. We make it a point to take Eesoo with us for every appointment just to keep him involved. During the last appointment, while I was laying on the bed for Kim to measure my tummy, Kim placed Eesoo on my lap so he could watch everything. For the sonogram, eesa applied the jelly and held the machine to hear the heartbeat. he was thrilled about it all. Alhamdolillah.

Arighteys, I’m off!

Time that waits for no man.. August 15, 2007

When I first got pregnant, people would always warn me that time would fly by during this pregnancy. I shrugged it off thinking, “how much more different could it possibly be from the first time around?”. I felt I knew better, afterall, I was a vet mom now!

But while speaking with Hina yesterday, I came to the realization that yes, time is indeed flying. Sometimes I forget which week I am in. Sometimes I cant recall if its been 6 months yet or not. With Eesoo, Imo and I were always on top of my babycentre readings, infact, for some weeks we would even read ahead. This time around, the babycentre email stares at me for two or three days before I get around to reading it. Infact, sometimes Imo and I dont even get to read them together, I simply forward the email on to him so he could read it at his convenience.

Although sometimes I wish time could rush by so I could hold her soon(and make her wear all the pretty clothes already lining up her closet!:P), most times I’m in awe at the pace with which time is flying by.

I remember with Eesoo, I used to pray for the 40th week time to come by soon. This time around, I’m praying for barakah in my time so I get some stuff done before hand.

Week 23.. August 14, 2007

“As for you, you may feel clumsy now that your centre of gravity has shifted. Your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and your belly button, once an ‘innie’, may now stick out. Don’t worry. It’ll revert to its pre-baby state soon after you give birth.” – Babycentre

 Uh huh! Almost there!! Already happens after every meal but soon it’d be out constantly *sniff*

 Bring out the scotch tapes!

Food. August 9, 2007

Maybe its the fact that I am in the lil nook called France in North America or maybe it IS the pregnancy, but my cravings are back! No, nothing of that I WANT IT NOW stuff, just this constant mouth watering at the thought of two things in particular.

1. Dark, bitter chocolate cake – like the one at nando’s in PK

2. Coffee mousse.

YUMMY. Imo’s promised to go to East side mario’s for dessert tonight coz apparently they have the yummiest funnel cakes so… mmm!! I can’t wait!!

For the past few days we’ve been testing out breakfast places in Quebec. We went to this place abt three hours from here called Cora something and they had the YUMMIEST mushroom and feta cheese omellete wrapped in paper thin crepes with fresh fruit and potatoes. YUM, I tell you. I cant wait to go home and try making them myself!!

Last night, we also had this yummy pasta dish that had cheddar cheese stuffed into large shell macaroni – almost like tortellinis – with yummy arabiana tomato sauce. The dish originally comes with shrimp but growing up, I was allergic to shrimps and prawns but the allergy died out a few yrs ago-  altho it sprouts up at the most unexpected moments. I just wasnt willing to risk taking shrimps away from home in quebec city where no one spks english. maybe when we’re in montreal tmrw, we might just stop by at red lobsters for some shrimps. mmmm

For the past lil while, i’ve been craving to go home and try out some new dishes – so unlike me!! lol

The hormones are really raging!!

Hotels…. August 8, 2007

Hotels are one of my greatest weaknesses. Well who could complain, with a great view of the Quebec parliament bldg, food at the beck of a call to room service and housekeeping that cleans my room while i go for a massage. I am being spoilt alhamdolillah!!

I’ve come to realize that theres nothing like stepping away from our daily life routines to reconnect with each other. For the last two days, I am constantly reminded of my wedding days, the craziness leading up to it, the intesity of emotions, the buzz after etc etc. These days I feel the same fluttering emotions, a reminder of all the reasons why I married Imo. At the same time, I am most humbled, and choked up, by how Merciful Allah swt has been with me to bless me with a spouse like Imz. I mean, the poor guy would rather shiver all night rather than disturb me to get the duvet from under me or he would rather let his hand be numb than wake me up to get me of his arm!! I, for one, have no such patience nor do I know anyone apart from my mum who would do that for me!! May Allah swt grant him jannah for his sabr! (and may I learn some sabr from him) ameen! 

As much as I am relishing my last honeymoon before we become four, both of us are also constantly reminded of our joy and pride Eeesoo, without whom life is not as entertaining. From little toddlers in a car seat, to lakes while driving or even while having pizza (Eeso0o’s favourite!), we miss him intensely. This vacation, as much as we discover each other, the long driving hours give us a chance to put into perspective the prospect (and challenges!!) of becoming parents to another human being inshaAllah!

Foods here! Now, excuse me while I go back and cuddle under featherlight hotel duvets as I devour some french food!

(pix to follow soon!)

Week 21 – Babies and cuddles.. August 5, 2007

In the midst of all the moving, I rarely got the chance to post about having reached the half way mark to the finish line. Alhamdolillah, we’re past the 20 week stage. This pregnancy has been flying!

I remember during the last pregnancy, I had quit my job and was usually bumming around doing something or the other, just waiting for the baby to come. This time around, I am constantly into something or the other and the only chance I get to think of Freesia is when she kicks me into a reminder.

Healthwise, alhamdolillah I’ve been doing much, much better. Although varicose veins has kicked in on my left knee and my blood sugar level varies constantly, it really . My gynae had mentioned to expect the varicose to come in around the 16 month mark based on my weight gain last pregnancy, but alhamdolillah this time around, we managed to pull it in at 19 weeks:P.

Eesoo’s been doing well as well. He’s become super clingy to me and wants everything done by mama rather than baba. Terrible two tantrums are at their peak as well, which can be very draining and exhausting. Baby discipline guidelines mention its a phase until he turns three (before they kick in again at 3 and a half!) - hopefully this would ease out by then inshaAllah. I tend to think its more to do with the baby coming and all the changes around him, but Allahu Aalim.

On thursday, he stayed over at daadis (again!) and met us for jumuah at the mosque. The moment he saw me, he ran over, gave me a hug and ‘miched you’ – subhanAllah the joy of my week! He then asked for Baba and ran over to him and did the same with him. =)

MashaAllah he’s been super excited about the moving. He actively participated in the packing and labelling (which was his favourite!). Alhamdollillah, its been a very positive move for him as well.

Thats the update from my end. I’m off to pick up daadi from the airport and then for a nice vacation to quebec with hubby! Ta-daa!

Week 21 – Moving.. August 5, 2007

We’ve finally moved into our new place alhamdolillah. While the moving home scares alot of people, this being our sixth move within five years, both Imo and I love moving homes.

Growing up, we moved ever so often with our Dads work. People would often say that moving doesnt do good for children, but Alhamdolillah my memories of the places that I’ve lived in have been amazing. The people whom I grew up with have made an impact on me that will remain forever – depite our cultural, language or religious differences!

Coming back to our move this week, ofcourse this has been the most exciting move ever because this is the first home we will ever own inshaAllah. This has also been a move that has given us the chance to distillate ourselves and to move on with what really matters to us.

Luck had it that the decor of this home is completely different from our crazy wacky preferences in the past. We always joked that when we grow up, we’ll have the same serious decor as everyone else – but for the moment we wanted to enjoy our wackiness.

I think we’re still in the process of growing up. From bright orange and lime green, our taste has slowly mellowed towards the earthy tones. Ofcourse we still have splashes of wild here and there (because we  wont be us, without them!) but it has been a new beginning on a clean slate for the most part.

Above everything, what we realized was that worldly things hold very little meaning to us. For all the joy and pride we placed into scouring, shopping and finally hording our possessions, soon they become old and out of place in a different phase of our life. What holds the greatest value can’t be packed into boxes and moved with us. Our relations and friends are the ones that truly mean more to us and therefore deserve to be invested into.

While all our past moves were a recreation of ourselves and of the dynamics within our relationship, this move gave us a chance to define ourselves. Previously we moved under societal pressures – be it with the family as they moved or to move out of family. This move was entirely for us three (and a half). Therefore, we decided that what we bring with us, would be a definition of who we are. Two months in advance, we scoured through everything to get rid of things that dont mean anything to us. Out went unused utensils, spices without aroma, clothes with faded colours, socks without partners and shoes without soles or souls. We refused to bring with us the extra baggage.

Luckily, the purging in advance allowed for us a very relaxed two weeks before the move. Infact, the weekend before the move was spent entirely at my inlaws’ place, at a picnic the day before the move and a special date for two the night before and the afternoon of the move. Despite the glitches from the home registration end, and the things not going in accordance with the plan, alhamdolillah it was a learning curve to be appreciated. 

Alhamdolillah, as settle into our new home and envision where new pieces of furniture would go and what purpose each area would serve, we remind ourselves of the factors that define us more – our kids. And families, whose presence I truly miss and appreciate intensely right now. =(