BABY SPA AT GALENIA

Today was the second time for Rauf's baby spa (yes, spa is not for mama anymore). I bought a discount baby spa for November and December, there was a promo on weekdays. Well, since I have nothing to do but watching movie, changing diapers, and nursing, so I am looking for something fun to do. Friend of mine told me that there is a baby spa near ITB, called Galenia. Perfecto! it is near home, lets give it a shot! First baby spa for Rauf was done when he was 3 months old and today was the second attempt. 

What is baby spa? for some of you might be wondering. It is started by massaging the baby to make him relax and sleep better followed by a little bit exercise. After that, they let the baby swim in a warm water about 15 minutes with song to cheer up the baby. The whole package is approximately 45 minutes, but if you want to learn how to massage the baby, it takes longer about 1.5 hours. 

I like the environment at Galenia, the therapist is nice and the spa is clean and tidy. The spa can occupied by two baby for weekend and single for weekdays. Mama and Rauf will have this kind of date later next month, see yaa!

Picture below was his first baby spa, he kind of scare at the beginning. The whole 15 minutes just for observing all the colorful balls. 

BABY FEEDING NEEDS

Breast pump: I breast feed my baby every time I could and I do bottles too for emergency. I use medela mini electric, for me it has been very helpful. I can take everywhere I go since it is go with battery as well. The good thing about electric pump, the rhythm is constant and you can do anything else with the other hand. Tips: choose breast pump which the spare part is easy to find. You can just simply lost the membrane or broke parts. 

Bottles: I use both plastic and glass bottles as long as it is BPA free. For plastic one I usually keep it in the fridge and the glass in the freezer. I use 150 ml medela bottle and 150 ml baby pax because it can be attached directly to the pump. tips: Baby eats 100-150 ml every feeding, so I like to keep small bottle.

Wipes: I use every brand in the store, I like to try new things. But since I am such a believer in advertising, I ended up buying these because it can be used for hand and mouth.

Sterilizer: When it comes to hygiene, I am not a freak moms but I try to make the bottles sterilized at least. Pigeon steam sterilizer is my choice because it multi function. It has 3 main function: bottles sterilizing, bottle warming, and food warming. It has two compartment for the bottles and the lid/breast pump/nipple. It fits 5 normal size bottle but I usually squeeze it to 6 bottles.

Hand Sanitizer: I am such a big fan of BBW pocketbac and I try to collect all flavor they have. This the must have item of the year! Dont forget to use it prior to feed your baby.

Another must have: Sometime I do last minute sterilizing so I need a tongs to take the bottle outside. Nipple and bottle brushes another things you need to have. 

Not so must have: I do buy a nursing pillow, but I think it is needed most when the baby still small, I suggest just to use pillow instead. Nursing cover can be replaced by pashmina or scarf or maybe you can feed in the car or any place to hide.

Tips: Buy sufficient nursing bra for you, I say 4 are enough. I try some brand but finally in love with these. They gave discount too. If you not sure about your size, usually breastfeeding mama need to add one size up as well as the cup. The first week of breastfeed is a battle field, I suggest you to have baby oil for massage and nipple cream.

BASIC CUPCAKE COURSE

I took a private course from Rifa Cakes by mbak Mira. She was a very helpful and fun teacher. It started at 09 to 15, well I had to say I am exhausted but very very happy. We baked chocolate cupcake from scratch, using real fluor, eggs, sugar, and other cake ingredients. While waiting for the cake fully done, there were already 9 cupcakes waiting for me to be decorated. First lesson was to make the base cover for the cupcakes. We need to put few buttercream icing on top of the cupcake before covered it with fondant.   There were a lot of pattern can be used to make the cover attractive. Then she taught me to make the roses, I just love making those rose, they looked beautiful together. After that I learnt to make gift boxes and ribbon. And finally this was the hardest one (it made me sweating), making a person! Amazingly making those boy and girl figure was not that hard, you dont need any special tools but hand.

See, I bet you dont want to eat it right, those cupcakes were just too wonderful. I am so proud of myself :)

Story behind : me and my husband got a very very special gift who was our baby boy, Rauf Aydan Kareem.

I DONT THINK HE LIKE THE IDEA OF READING JUGHEAD

Expert says parent should introduce their baby to read a book as soon as possible. So we  picked one that might interesting, Jughead (I am a fans of Archies series), but can you tell that he did not a big fan of them like mama! Come on baby, the comics are so attractive.

WISH LIST : BW BAGS EDITION

I have been addicted to bags lately. It is too late (I know I know), women should love bags from the first place. Do you know, how did I figure out that I am really into bags? It is all because during these maternity leave I like to browse and I found some online shop that sell bags cheaper than the store. I dont know how does it works, but I think they buy it straight from US during sale season. Actually I have decent bags already in my collection, but please I just LOVE LOVE bags. Black and white is one of my biggest wish list right now, hopefully hubby read this post *wink wink.

GALAU TINGKAT INTERNASIONAL

Setelah 6 bulan cuti melahirkan, akhirnya sampai jugalah dipenghujung tahun, artinya saya lagi galau tingkat internasional aka galaw segalaw-galawnya (saking galaunya sampai pakai huruf w -__-"). Kalau kata orang-orang sih saya lagi alay pakai acara galau-galau segala. Ok, jadi begini ceritanya. Saya punya waktu dua bulan kurang lebih untuk kerja lagi ke Balikpapan, tapi ada banyak hal yang menjadi pertimbangan yang bikin saya galau.
1. Rauf mau dikemanain?? solusi: bawa si mbak
2. Dua bulan bawa baby mah mahal di ongkos, PNLnya udah diitung belum?? -__-
3. Kalau harus ke lokasi gimana? Rauf siapa yang jagain?
4. Kalau mas giri mau pulang, masa ketemuannya di Balikpapan
5. Urusan visa gimana?

Dan banyak lagi pertanyaan yang muncul. Tetapi yang membuat saya ingin ke balikpapan adalah.
1. GFE GFE GFE !!!!! (ikat kepala)
2. Kalau ga sekarang kerja kapan lagi, pasti setelah punya anak berikutnya #loh?!
3. Bilang apa ya sama bos, masa udah cuti main keluar aja ga sopan ceunah -__-

Jadi sekarang hobi baru adalah curhat yang tidak ada habisnya karena kegalauan ini huhuhu. Hari semakin dekat menuju bulan januari. Harus segera membuat keputusan kalau tidak harga tiket pesawat semakin mahal hihihihi (balada emak-emak punya bayi jadi pedit). Baiklah, saya mau cari mangsa lagi buat digalauin.

Selamat Malam

BABY GEAR NEEDS

Having a baby is one of the biggest thing in your life, but I will tell you the truth, shopping for a baby needs might be a nightmare. Since there are a lot of baby gear in the store,  shopping malls,internet, you might be confused what to buy. It happened to me as well, I cannot decide what stroller to buy, do we need an infant car seat?, should I buy a baby carrier or baby wrap? That question will be on your mind and you keep searching the feature on the internet, and you get more confuse because everything is amazing, the color is cute, the gear is compact, you name it! 

Stroller: We finally decided to buy Quinny Buzz blue scratch for us. I know it seems bulky and big, but since we are going to move to Aberdeen, I think that is a good choice. It has 3 tires with 2 big tires and 1 small tire in the front. The 3 tires make it easy for it to maneuver, back and forth. If you just stay in the country that you dont need to do outdoor activity a lot I would suggest you to buy the compact one, Quinny zapp extra is quite descent for mall user. 

Bassinet/Carrycot: We bought a Quinny dreami for our baby boy. It was a second hand like new, the previous user did not use it anymore since the baby like to be hold all the time. I bought it trough babytulip. The bassinet is only used until 4 months. I like to use it because it keep the baby sleep flat on his back to prevent SIDS. I travel a lot from Bandung-Jakarta-Bandung, malls to malls, parents to in laws, this bassinet helps me a lot while travelling. I just simply put him on the bassinet, and he will fall asleep.

Car seat: I did not use a car seat until the baby 4 months old, I use bassinet instead. Now, the baby can seat still, we start to put him on his car seat. Maxi-Cosi pebble is suitable from new born to 1 year or approximately 13 kg. This car seat can be attach to Quinny stroller using its adaptor. When the baby begin to explore the world, I start using it as replacement for the bassinet.

Baby carrier/wrap/slings: I would say I am a big fan of those gear. Sometime it is just easy to install you baby carrier than to bring the stroller. To the wedding, groceries, store, doctor, I use a carrier instead a stroller. I have babasling, ergo baby, and mamaspapas flex (beware, it has a size for the wrap). Those three has different usage, the sling and baby wrap are suitable for new born. I prefer to wear those things to a formal occasion like wedding. Ergo baby is the best invention so far in my opinion, it is really works for eliminating the weight, I dont feel carrying anything. Ergo baby can be used from new born but need the insert to support baby back. 

Baby box: I did not buy wooden baby box, I bought Graco pack and play instead. I can be used for sleeping and play when the baby get older. It is portable, you can put it in the bed room, move to living room, or kitchen (same stories of course). 

Accessories: Child view mirror is a must have item, if only you and the baby in the car. You can buy it in mother care or ace hardware. It helps you to see the baby on his car seat. Toys will keep him busy during the trip as well as a song. You can sing or just play his nursery songs. Baby stroller hook is need it as well to make shopping easier.

At the end it is your preference. I still have a dream come true baby gear. Maybe one day if I have another baby (girl hopefully, dear husband), I will have this tandem stroller. wish. wish.wish. Oops I forgot I have another wishlist to buy, dear husband please let me buy this carrier *wink-wink.

Wedding Trilogy: The wedding party

Bandung, October 1st 2011

The day when I married my hero

Love,

Soraya

Wedding Trilogy : A day before the big day

1. The Prayer, it started in the morning in my house. The house is decorated with Aceh traditional background. It had a bold color, dominated by red, gold (supposed to be gold), and green, the signature color of typical Sumatra ethnic. I was sitting on the top of a short stage since I was the "star" for that day. Family came to give their blessing and prayer for me and my husband to be to make a simple step as a family.

2. Pasijeuk/Tepung Tawar, since my father has a thick Acehnese culture, I had to do the pasijeuk thingy. The older family who had an honor would throw a rice and water to my whole body to give their prayer to the bride (I did some little research here).

3. Tarub Ceremony, My family installed a woven palm leaves in front of the house. It was a sign that there would be a wedding party in the family as well as to refuse the bad thing come to the house. My dad and mom together built and installed it as a sign that family is always together no matter what. After that it was my turn to ask for forgiveness and blessing to my parents for what I have done and what I will be. I promised you, that you only one to do it once in a lifetime, it was very sentimental moment in my life.

4. Siraman and Pecah Kendi, We had to collect 7 different springs for these ceremony. The elders usually who had in law already would splash the water to the bride to be. After all the elder wishing the bride a happiness, the bride parents would the jug (pecah kendi) to let the bride shine in her wedding day.

5. Dodol Dawet, while the bride to be change her clothes, her parents sold dodol dawet to family using the coin that they have shared before. The more they got the coin the better. It teach the bride to be how to make a living in the family.

6/7. Midodareni, finally after long process the groom to be come to the house. He couldnot enter the house since he was not yet a family. The bride was waiting in her room patiently and only could be visited by bride family and women. So I would say see you tomorrow husband (oops).

Ps: I know, its not fair that he only got one picture in these whole ceremony :p sorry husband

Wedding Trilogy : The prewed photo session

It was fun doing those session. We did like one week before the wedding. It was simply because no time, I worked in Balikpapan and he worked in Jakarta. It was hard for me to get a vacation, since my job is very dynamic (they said). It took whole day to take those picture(I wonder now why modelling is difficult). I enjoyed it very much but I think it is only one in a life time experience unless you are really one to be a model. Well, thanks to glamphotoloft for taking these amazing picture.

After a while

Sudah 3 bulan sejak kelahiran Rauf (alhamdulillah), saya masih saja kewalahan sama yang namanya "mengasuh anak". Mungkin memang tidak biasa ya dari kecil. Dulu saya dibesarkan di Pekanbaru yang jauh dari keluarga besar. Punya adik satu bedanya 6 tahun plus-plus tapi karena dulu adik ikut mama belajar ke Bandung, jadi saya ga ngasuh dia juga :). Suami udah berangkat mencari segenggam berlian di negri jauh sono. Kemarin-kemarin sih masih ada mama yang nemenin, tapi sekarang mama udah harus balik lagi ke Duri. Jadilah kemampuan saya sebagai "super mom" diuji hihihi.

Its been a bittersweet kalau orang-orang bilang. You will have less sleep after the baby has arrived. Nursing when he is still a baby, toddling when he gets older, worrying when he turns teenager. Pantesan aja dulu bapakku cerewetnya minta ampun. Pulang paling malem jam 9 (maklum di desa Rumbai kemana-mana deket jadi ga ada alasan macet), kalau telat dikit dimarahin (cape deh, namanya juga remaja). Sweetnya pastinya banyak dong, terlepas dari dipipisin dan dimuntahin. Bahagia rasanya melihat rauf yang terus berkembang, berguling walau pantatnya keberatan, hingga tertawa di pagi hari.

Oops baby is calling. See!! I just wrote 2 paragraphs. Talk to you later bloggie :)

Rauf cilik 2 weeks old