Life continues

Friends have asked what it feels like being a new mom, what and how life has changed. Being a mom is obviously one of the things which have ever happened to me. I am raising a being, a human being ! The little one is turning 8 months in 10 days insyaAllah and I must say I enjoy having a family. Life goes on as usual- not that it changed a lot to begin with. It’s still me, I am still blogging though less frequently now.

Was out and about doing the PD triathlon around this time last year. Took part in the relay team as a swimmer. Team mate did the bike and run leg, but I decided to run anyway. I was 5 months pregnant that time. Pregnancy did not stop me from staying active. I gotta run, hike and swim – of course with lesser intensity. Walking around with extra pound is already an exercise on its own. Commuting to work was a bonus. 🙂 Gynae gave me a 15kg additional limit. Read on weight gain guidelines here.It’s benefiting me as I didn’t gain too much extra weight .So post-pregnancy weight loss is a bliss 🙂 Not much to lose, but still some extra determination needed.

I did not get to do much exercise post delivery though first ride post pregnancy was Peres ! Focused more on planning my meal planning and try to exercise at least 3 times a week whenever I can. Signing up for the PD Triathlon was a good excuse to train thought I would still have trained without the event.

Got myself a weight scale a few months back for some clearer commissioning – shedding that extra few kilos. I also downloaded Noom on my phone. Apparently its THE app to have for any weight watchers. 58.2kg down to pre-pregnancy weight of 55kg (ish) may not sound a lot, but it was certainly a huge achievement for me and I am happy with it. Note that it is generally easier for a much heavier person to lose weight compared to a lighter person.  Next mission : Reduce that body fat percentage. The last time I checked its 23.5% . It fluctuates. But on the long run, I am trying to lower it.

Diet plans aside, the little one has started solids after turning 6 months. Puree stuff only for now. Started with fruits puree, then veg+fruits pure. She has also started with whole grain to replace the traditional white rice/brown rice. Calorie and (more importantly) nutritionally grains are more packed than brown rice/white rice porridge. The latter is easy on the tummy, fills it very well, but nutritionally wholegrain is my top pick. In fact they are more readily digested by the baby. Little one enjoys her meal time. She’s fed 3 times a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Grains in the morning, veg+fruit for lunch, and fruits for dinner. Some meals I have prepared for her the past 1 month :-

pear puree

apple puree

carrot+mango+apple puree

prune puree

quinoa+buckwheat+wheat mill +banana

sweet potato (yam)

baby spinach+banana

To new and expecting mothers, do your little study to ensure that you and baby gets the best. The best does not mean the most expensive. The more you know what’s good and important for you, the easier for you to make decisions, little, medium and big ones. Following anything blindly despite being told its better 0r good. Knowledge is key. Knowledge is power. But don’t get me wrong, the more we know does not mean we are superior than those who knows less. Experience is as important. What works for 1 mother may not work for another. Just that having a little extra knowledge, set you (and baby) in a better position – this I mean by health and overall wellness. Of course if it implies dollars and signs like which diaper it better(and cheaper), and how to economically prepare the wallet, then go with it. Preparing homemade puree without ever buying baby food from the shelf is a bonus. Somebody I know bought 3 boxes cereals and that costed a whopping  RM200. It’s a choice and preference. I am not implying if its good or bad. If one can afford to buy boxed meals for her child, by all means.

Raising a child (I’m reminding myself here) reflects pretty much on the person who is doing it and the environment surrounding the family. Its not just which diaper brand is best, which toy/game to introduce at which age, which high chair to get. To me, at this very early age, it’s all about making sure baby’s getting all her essentials – lots of love from mummy and daddy, food, sufficient sleep ..values that you want to communicate and impart the baby even if we think they won’t make any sense to the cute little one. Speaking to your partner as best as you could for instance, handling the baby (and other things+beings around you nicely/softly). Don’t be fooled, a baby can take cues better than us adults. Adults who are not used to taking cues from babies gets a rough time trying to figure out WHY is the baby crying and WHAT to do!

Told you. 🙂

I am a (well, not so young) new mother who takes that everything onwards revolves around the family, and more now, around the little one. What I do, say, think.. revolves around the little one. Guess priorities and responsibilities pulls us back to the ground and reality. I’m living one and love every second of it, and will continue to do so. InsyaAllah. But hey, I still have a life; Just a better one alhamdulillah. On top of still being able to do sports, socialise, err…blog ! hehehe.. Everyday is a learning experience. Allah has His ways of testing his subjects, and His own ways caring for his subjects.

Love you munchaquila. 🙂

Okay folks. That’s it for now. Happy Monday tomorrow, and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Take it easy with the outdoors. -missjewelz-
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