Brand new Ramadhan

Marhaban ya Ramadhan Al-Mubarak!

Once again, Muslims all over the world embraced the arrival of Ramadhan 1431 Hijriah Calendar. For us Malaysian, our 1st Ramadhan fell on Wednesday, 11 August.

This year's Ramadhan brings some changes to my life, amongst all:

• Last year: Qifah still growing in my womb (approximately 3-mth old gestation). This year: Qifah is here already @ 5-month old.

• Last year: Apart from I was pregnant with Qifah, having occassional neausea (and hence ponteng puasa 11 days! Gosh!), my fasting schedule was quite the same as per the years before. This year: I'm a breastfeeding Mama. Cannot simply 'lepak'ing at home as I have a little one to feed and take care of.

• Last year: Still staying with my parents (BDO house in the process of obtaining CFO then). Sahur time still my mom woke up first, got things ready then only WE woke up :P. Got back from work, also my mom already prepared for the break fast. Life's good~. This year: Fasting at BDO. ME, straightaway cook for break fast after got back from work (no rest ooo :O). ME, first to wake up to get things done for Sahur (cook extra servings for break fast laaa... then Mr Microwave does the rest, tada~!)

• Last year: Can perform Tarawikh prayer as and when I like (of course after Isyak...) This year: Qifah's got very clingy nowadays. Have to put her to sleep first otherwise she'll just want to be held like a koala bear. If she stays awake throughout, have to wait for Ayah comes back from mosque, then only my turn to do it.

Milk volume? I must say there is a material decline. At office, 2 sessions of pumping I can only get the most 12 oz. Yesterday, 10 oz only. Oh no! Looks like I have to make it 3 compulsory sessions for every working day, 1 session after break fast and 1 session after Sahur. Sahur session is rather challenging as I am a sleep-deprived homosapien :P

Must eat healthily. I have to ensure that there are rice, fish/chicken/beef and plenty of veges during break fast and Sahur. Eat tonnes of kurma and raisin as snack. Drink 2 litre of water throughout break fast till Sahur. Drink Horlick + oat before sleep and during Sahur. I will try to maintain this diet. (Ref: Mommy Luna Diary)

Above all, I pray that I will fast healthily, Qifah will get all the nutrient she needs from her fasting Mama.

Happy fasting all!