Blogless.

This blog has been pretty slow with the updates because I find myself losing the interest to write lately. Sometimes I ask myself why I even bother blogging. Too often, actually. I used to be one of those girls who used to write in their diary everyday-I started writing in one when I was 9-years-old. Datuk bought me my first Garfield diary and I started every entry with "Dear diary", like how you're supposed to start at the beginning of everything. I didn't have an 'audience' then, it was just me and my thoughts. And I guess by having a blog, I thought that I would satisfy the urge to just...write. About anything. About my life. What I did today. What I feel like doing tomorrow. How hurt I am about something someone did and I just feel like venting. And now, it's mostly about how much I adore my son. How he's growing at lightning speed. How I love being a mom. How exhausting it is being a mom. And on it goes.

But here's the thing. I'm pretty sure there are some of my 'readers' who visit my blog just so they can bitch about something I've written. Any occasion, they'll be up for it. Because I get it, there are people who have nothing better to do but to dish out nasty comments. Like when I wrote the post to my husband telling him how much I appreciate him, because he was feeling a tad bit left out just for someone to call it "NAUSEATING". So when something like this happens, yes, I really feel uninspired about blogging, especially revealing my innermost feelings. And because of this 'icky' feeling, I find myself drifting away from my blog and putting off writing. I hate that I have to think twice about writing something because of these people, when it's my own personal space to begin with. I feel like it really takes away the whole purpose of me blogging. So to my dear genuine readers, I'm going on a 'blog break' for now. I'll return when my heart feels like opening itself up again and I can put myself out there so I can eagerly share with you details of my life, just as I have been doing all this while. 2011 has been one heck of a journey, and I thank you for coming with me on the ride.

Till we meet again, happy new year, everyone.

Sloppy kisses,

'Aainaa

Come to mama.

I finally got around to purchasing this, after eyeing it for so long. Will be playing around with this baby when I'm not playing around with my actual baby (insert "hahaha you're so witty" laughter here). So far, the colours seem pretty alright, but the brush feels a bit on the cheapo side. Which reminds me, I need to get a brush kit soon....and maybe a good skincare set to go with it....

sloppy kisses x

Sunday.

Maine has joined the 28-year-old club and is kicking ass at it. Maine, happy belated birthday you sexy thang you! To everyone else, if you like breakfast (mushrooms, eggs, ham etc) and you like pizza, then you GOTTA go to Estate at Intermark. Because some genius thought up BREAKFAST PIZZA. And it's super yummy. I'm salivating just thinking about it. Go now people! now now now!

sloppy kisses,

'Aainaa

Ayden is eight!

Months, that is. He is a squirmy wormy momma's boy who is as fast as lightning in his walker! Road Runner ain't got nothin' on him!

Happy 8 months baby bear! True love forever, kiddo.

8 sloppy kisses,

Momma bear

To my husband.

I know it seems as if I've only had time for Ayden lately, but I see the sacrifices you do for our family. How hard you work (often till the wee hours of the morning!), how much you love Ayden and would do anything in the world for him and how you still manage to make me laugh everyday.

You're never overlooked sayang. I see all that you're doing for us. You're a father and a husband and you take it all in your gentle stride. Sometimes I look at you and see the man that I first fell in love with. That man will always be there - no matter how bogged down we get with daily responsibilities, how much we've evolved into different people (physically as well as emotionally). I still see us, our first date in your old car, having drive thru McDonalds at 2am, talking about anything and everything under the sun while we munch on french fries, discovering things about each other and slowly falling in love. The dimple in your right cheek as you flash me that smile of yours that always makes me melt. That will always be us.

After all these years, I could not adore you more. And as our family continues to grow (Insyaallah in years to come) my love for you grows deeply too. You're my confidante, my soulmate, my bestfriend and my husband.

I see you, sayang. I always have.

Love always,

Your wife.

Cute weekend outfit.

Pic courtesy of (where else?) ASOS

Being a mom and having to handle a baby during weekends out has made me a slave to the one-piece outfit. I usually just totter about in a dress and flats because it's hassle free, but this denim playsuit is too cute. And I know babies aren't accessories, but with red ballet flats and an adorable bouncing baby dressed in denim in tow and you'd finish off this outfit perfectly. ha ha!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Smell you later!

ok, I'm OBSESSED.

Last Friday, I strolled into Sephora and spritzed Fresh Brown Sugar's perfume on me, because I thought the name initially sounded interesting...I mean, brown sugar perfume? And I like brown sugar, so what would it actually smell like as a perfume?

So I tried some..and I'm in love. It does have this sweet, caramel smell, but it's mixed in with citrus too. Yummy and light. It might not be for everyone, because I do realise some people do not favour gourmand fragrances (right now I spritz myself from time to time with Victoria's Secret Coconut Passion body mist and my colleagues find it weird that I would want to go around smelling like a cake). Anyway, here are the notes for Brown Sugar, in case you were wondering:

top: Scicilian lemon, tangerine, acai

heart: Sugared magnolia, sheer honeysuckle, peach nectar

base: Caramel, warm amber, cypress

I read the reviews online and the response has been good, just that it may not have that much lasting power. So you may have to keep on spritzing throughout the day. Random note: Chloe perfume lasts AGES. So if you're looking for something which still smells strong hours after, you may want to check it out. I wore some out last night and many hours later it still smells like I've just sprayed it on!

sloppy brown sugar kisses,

'Aainaa

p/s: if any of you ever get to try out brown sugar, let me know what you think!

Gravity.

The name game.

Sorry things have been quiet on my blog lately, Ayden fell really ill and I guess I was just mentally and physically exhausted. Alhamdulillah he is feeling better, but he's due for his jab real soon, so that might cause him to get feverish again which is something I'm TOTALLY not looking forward to :( But a jab's a jab and it needs to get done.

Anyway, I was just randomly googling this morning and thought it would be fun to tell you guys some of my favourite (and potential unborn children's!) baby names. These names aren't necessarily loved by Yasir, but I'm hoping he'll come around ;) Keep in mind, these names can't sound too mat salleh! (I like the name Sky, Summer or Jacob if I were mat salleh by the way) ha ha.

In no order of preference, for girls, I love:

- Layla or Leila

- Delailah

- Alana

- Rose (such a classic name and I still love how sweet it sounds on your tongue when you say it)

I actually like the name Rose paired with another name. For example, Delailah Rose. Or Alana Rose.

For boys, I love:

- Noah

- Adam (Yasir doesn't like this name but I do! Maybe because most Adams I know are goodlooking)

- Mikail (still contemplating if I actually like this one...)

Boys names are particularly hard, I can't seem to find a name which I absolutely love. So if ever we're pregnant with a second boy, it's going to be a toughie!

Sometimes I daydream about having a babygirl, and the name that always pops up in my mind is Delailah. Delailah trumps Alana by just a tad because it goes so well with Ayden. I can just see me having Ayden and a sweet little Delailah. Awww. Guess we'll just have to wait and see! (no, in case you're wondering I'm not pregnant again! haha)

What are your faves? I'd love to hear!

sloppy kisses,

'Aainaa

Note to self.

Nobody likes a nagging mother all the time.

Ayden's favourite Sesame Street video

Here's him watching it with his sleepy momma who wanted to take a nap but ended up watching an hour of Sesame Street videos...

Yes, he watches it like he's watching the news. He takes his Sesame Street very seriously, people!

Sloppy Sunday kisses x

Relief.

Someone's feeling much better, alhamdulillah :)

sloppy kisses!

It's no fun.

When your baby is sick, it's the worst feeling in the world. Not fun at all. Get well soon, my baby.

SIGH.

To my baby boy.

Ayden bear,

You're 7 months old now. Whenever I look at you, I still can't believe you're my son and I'm your momma. When I open my eyes in the morning, my day begins with seeing your big, gummy smile and a million sleepy kisses on your chubby cheeks. At night it's whispers of I love you and soft forehead kisses while gazing at your peaceful, angelic face as you doze off into dreamland. This has been my routine for the past 7 months, as if everything that happened before never really did.

I remember sometime two years ago before I even married your Baba, I was sitting at the dining room table accompanying your great grandfather while he ate his dinner. I was quiet while I watched him eat, my mind filled with thoughts of what I wanted to do with my life, where it was heading. I was contemplating decisions about my career, and felt unusually restless. After minutes of utter silence, datuk finally looked up from his plate, looked at me and asked "Aainaa, what do you want to be?" And in an instant, without hesitation, I found myself saying, "I want to be a mom."

And here we are two years later and I'm a mom to the sweetest baby boy. You're seven months old and rolling up a storm, still obsessed with your sesame street DVD (singular, it's this one particular DVD only which you LOVE called Sesame Beginnings Make Music Together) and ready to crawl anytime now - your bum lifts are getting more prominent! You study everything you come across, and always want to be in the know of what's going on around you. The other day when the movers brought all our stuff from our apartment, you wanted in on the action, watching all these men carrying the cardboard boxes and peering into them with a quizzical look on your face. I already know you're a thinker! You recognise faces and have some favourites but I'm your number one lady ;) You love it when I sing to you and study my lips, sometimes touching it with your fingers and smiling softly - especially when I sing Christina Aguilera's 'I Turn To You'. It's our song, you and me. No one else's.

Ayden, you're the missing piece in my life's puzzle. That evening at the dining room table when I told your great grandfather I wanted to be a mom, God heard me then and sent you to me two years later. If I knew back then what I know now, I would have never felt restless. I'm a mom to you, my baby bear, and its been more than my heart could ever begin to imagine or anticipate. When you look at me with your big eyes and touch my face, studying it so intently, I know this is exactly what I'm meant to be doing with my life. You're my proudest accomplishment. Everything else doesn't even come close.

I love you, my baby bear.

Love always and always,

Your Mama

Sunday brunch.

Brunches used to be just us girls (occassionally with the hubs), gossiping, chit-chatting and long conversations. Now there's a wriggly, squirmy, cant-sit-still, 7 month old baby at our table that hogs everyone's attention! But one thing remains the same - good food, great company. That's all you'll ever need :)

sloppy kisses,
'Aainaa

Baby you're so sweet you know you should've been some honey.

I've always loved the lyrics to this song. Enjoy!

sloppy kisses,

'Aainaa

Ayden Hood is seven (months) on 11.11.11!

7 months of exhausting, happy, overwhelming, gleeful, heart bursting love, morning sleepy kisses, toothless grins, cheek biting, drool wiping, heart fluttering giggly laughter. Happy 7 months, my Ayden Hood. I couldn't be a happier mom ♥

seven sloppy kisses,
your momma bear

Someone loves his rainbow pool...

What an awesome way to spend a Monday ;)

Sloppy kisses,

'Aainaa

Aidil adha.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha!

Sloppy kisses,

'Aainaa, Yasir and Ayden

Some Saturday Sweetness.

Things have been crazy over here in my world, what with me being sick, and...wait for it...us moving back into my mom's place. Yep. More on that in a later post. Anywhoodle, here are some things to perk up your Saturday morning!

I love this song. Everytime I listen to it I feel like donning a cute polka dot dress, slapping on some red lipstick and sipping on a vanilla milkshake while I tap my toes to the music.

The rest of the stuff I found are all from Modcloth. Hello, OBSESSED with that site. This is probably the cutest clutch I have ever come across:

A couple of coffee table books that I would kill to have in my house (details below are all from Modcloth):

Whether they're Crocs, Docs, or Birkenstocks, the look and style of these noteworthy shoes is universally recognizable. In our own Book of the Month pick for your collection of fashion-focused literature, you can see the 50 most iconic and influential shoes across many eras, from the 1830s to the present. Illustrated with full-color photographs paired with descriptive profiles for each shoe and its designer, this hardcover book by the Design Museum celebrates the prominence of footwear in the culture of contemporary design, from plimsolls to platforms and pumps!

In this highly entertaining paperback "textbook," author Derek Blasberg, a frequent contributor to both Vogue magazine and Style.com, offers "exceptional advice for the extremely modern lady." In contrast, Blasberg outlines the many "don'ts" of unladylike behavior, including how not to dress for formal events, what to avoid doing as a party hostess, and the worst way to approach airplane travel.

This book, penned by Pamela Keogh, is a primer for those who look for an Audrey-inspired life, whether it be in lessons of love, style, the home, or generosity.

And last but not least, here's a cool book every Star Wars fan should have on their coffee table.

Did I tell you they have the ridiculously cutest vintage inspired and genuine vintage dresses? Yep, that they do. I am literally drooling over here. Drool, drool drool.

Alright, off for a shower I go! Have a good weekend everyone!

Sloppy Saturday kisses,

'Aainaa

I can finally muster a little strength to sit here at this computer and type a few measly paragraphs. On Saturday I felt a slow fever creep up on me (Ayden was sick two days before and Yasir was sick on Friday and Saturday) so I was doing whatever I could to stop myself from falling ill - gulps of Redoxon, Vitamin E etc) but on Sunday it was my turn to be completely useless. And it hit me-hard. It started out with a scratch in my throat and quickly turned into a full blown out fever. As soon as I fell ill I knew I wouldn't want to be near Ayden because he had just recovered from his fever. So I watched helplessly as he would cry out to me wanting me, and my heart would break into a million pieces because I couldn't be there for him.

On Monday I was so weak I could barely walk for two seconds without spots clouding my vision. Today I coughed up 'something' in my throat until I gasped and gasped for air because it felt like someone had zipped up my airway passage, like how you would simply zip up a suitcase. That was a scary experience. I tumbled out of bed, into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water with shaky hands as I tried hard to draw in some breaths in a raspy, screechy manner. Beads of sweat formed everywhere on my body and face. My maids panicked and called Yasir while I collapsed onto the kitchen floor. Kak Su who was holding Ayden kept on repeating "Mama sakit Ayden, mama sakit Ayden.." in the kitchen in the flurry of panic. Tears automatically ran down my face. It's scary when you're struggling to catch your breath like that. I continued to screech in a desparate act to inhale some air, any air. Everything was happening in slow motion. In my mind I imagined what would happen if I still couldn't breathe. Someone would call the ambulance. Will I get there in time? Of course I was mostly being overdramatic. But when your lungs are suffocating you tend to get overdramatic. Then I caught a glimpse of Ayden's face from the corner of my eye. I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine for my son. I finally could breathe. Nenek took me into her room and rubbed vicks all over me till my neck burned. I felt much better. While I lay there on her bed Bibik brought Ayden into the room. I watched him coo at Datuk and I smiled weakly despite the drama that happened five minutes ago. Now I know the fierce depth of a mother's love. Nothing matters but your family, your son, your children. Your health is for your child first, then you second. Your life is for your child first, then you second. You hear it in songs, in books and in poetry, but till the day you experience it yourself you will never really begin to comprehend this depth.

Such is the power of a mother's love-it breathes air into your lungs when you're suffocating. It gives you strength when you're weak. It makes you live.

Love,
'Aainaa

My Saturday morning.

The pic above refuses to rotate for some strange reason. Oh well!











Sloppy kisses,
'Aainaa

My beautiful mama.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Sloppy kisses,
'Aainaa

Our new camera.

Just some photos of us trying out our Sony NEX-C3...




Can you believe my maid took these pics? That woman is multi-talented!

Moyang Hood gets a photo with his cicit Ayden Hood too.


Best purchase EVER. Watch this space.

Sloppy kisses,
'Aainaa

p/s: I swear to you I was not wearing a STITCH of makeup in these photos (just got out of the shower, so that explains the wet hair). I actually look human. Again, say it with me - BEST. PURCHASE. EVER! haha