Getting Antsy

I can't believe I haven't been blogging for more than a month. I used to blog EVERY SINGLE DAY. But I guess those were the days when I wasn't saddled with my own home and three kids. Yet, I wouldn't change what I have now for what I had back then. :)

Anyways, everything on the home front is good. Buddy and Allie are schooling, which leaves the morning free for me and baby Z to do whatever we want. Which usually means, him sleeping and me doing my chores. Lately, though, while doing my chores, I noticed that the house is just full of ants. Big ants, small ants, they're everywhere. It's strange because just last month, we had pest control over to do treatment on the house.


I don't know if this is usually how pest control does their thing, but someone told me that this looks pretty shady. I don't know. I haven't had a lot of "pest control" experience.

For now, I think I have to use phantom bug spray to get rid of those pesky little ants.

The Beauty of Motherhood

Is motherhood really that beautiful?? Is motherhood really what it's cracked up to be?? Is motherhood all pretty flowers and sunshine and perfect children with perfect grades and unicorns that poop rainbows??

From the moment a woman gives birth whether naturally or c-section or heck, even if you've adopted a child, it's all blood, sweat and tears. Literally.

There's nothing beautiful about having a familiar stranger's face up your "hoohoo", with blood spewing forth and telling you "one more push". There's nothing beautiful about being scared to poop a day after giving birth. There's nothing beautiful about the pain of chapped nipples combined with a very hungry baby. There's nothing beautiful about staying in your pjs (truth be told, it's actually nice and comfy) the whole day because you don't seem to have a moment to yourself from the moment you wake up until the time you fall asleep -- all 10 minutes of it. There's nothing beautiful about the price of diapers and formula. Period.

And don't even start about forgetting to pretty yourself up for the husband. For all you know, you're probably still wearing the most unsexy grandma panties of all time because the laundry is piling up and the cooking and the dishes and the dusting and the mopping still needs to be done.

Yet, in the midst of all that craziness, moments of contentedness (is that even a word?) still do exist.

Moments when your baby gives you a heartstopping smile and nestles in closer to your chest. Moments when out of the blue, your daughter comes up, gives you a big fat kiss and says "You're beautiful, mommy. You're the best ever ever." or when your son says "Mommy, your burger is crusty today" but finishes his food because to him, your crusty burger is still his favourite. Moments when your husband gives you a long big hug and helps with bathing the children without you asking because he knows. Moments when, for a split second, the house is all quiet and everyone is happy.

These moments are the moments that makes your heart fill up with joy and pride and no matter what other people say, you know you did good.

Actually, it's moments like these that make you crazy enough to think you can handle more kids. Hahaha.

But yes, despite the madness, craziness, blood, sweat and tears, I do believe that motherhood is all that it's hyped up to be.. and MORE. I admit, it sometimes makes you want to just close your eyes and ears and ignore everything. But it makes me the person I am today.

I used to think that parents make and shape their children. I just realized that my kids make ME. They taught me (and still continue to teach me) to be patient and kind and tough and strict and funny and be less uptight and more importantly, make me appreciate my mom a whole lot more and have a better relationship with her than ever before.

That, my friends, makes motherhood CRAZY BEAUTIFUL.

Author's note: This is just my account of motherhood. I can't speak for the rest of the mothers especially those who have nannies aplenty, time to go to the gym, wear Zannottis and Atwoods and Louboutins on their feet and moms who don't own a single grandma panty. Evidently, I am no Mrs Beckham. But I am ok with it.

In this moment, I am at peace.

*a moment later, i retract my last sentence, baby Z just woke up and the havoc ensues*

Time to sign off.

Photo A Day Challenge

If you've been following me on Instagram (@nazshemah), you might have seen my #fmsphotoaday picture prompts and hashtags. If you're not on Instagram but follow me on Twitter and Facebook, you would know what I'm talking about too (since I link 'em together).

The photo challenge I'm doing is one of MANY out there on Instagram and there are different challenges from different users. I used to try to do it through Tumblr but I failed miserably. I guess it's just easier to do on Instagram. The one I'm currently doing is by @FatMumSlim, you can check her out here (FatMumSlim.com.au) and it's a pretty cool way to practice my photo-taking skills.

If you're not familiar with a photo-a-day challenge, it just means you're given a prompt a day for the whole month and you have to just post a photo according to the theme of the prompt. For example, today's prompt was SOUND. So I posted this picture.

It's a picture of my brother's old guitar. It may not be a Fender Stratocaster but it sure does produce some sweet music.

See how simple it is? I would love to try to do the challenge on my blog, so my blog gets updated every single day, but that's just being too ambitious. But it would be good especially if I put my Canon 60D to good use instead of using my phone's camera.

But if you guys would like to join in on the fun, get your monthly prompts from FatMumSlim. You can do it via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or via blogging as well.

This month's prompts:

If my explanation is still confusing for you, check out the instructions here. Btw, shout out to Chantelle (FatMumSlim) on her bun in the oven! So precious!

So people, join in on the fun and you might even be inspired to set up your own challenge or make new friends or perhaps discover a new passion for photography.

Wordless Wednesday: Growing Up Too Fast

My niece, Naeema is 6 months today while my son, little Zaidan Alif, is approaching 4 months exactly on his father's birthday, 23rd March. I can't believe that they're growing up sooooo fast. I can't believe that time has flown so fast, it's unbelievable really. It just feels like yesterday that two heavily pregnant ladies went to the islands for some R and R. Hahaha much to my mom's concern. Anyways, it was good to babysit my little rascal niece today. She's such a good baby and so easy to take care of. :)

*sigh*

There they are. Before you know it, they'll be jumping around and giving their mommies and daddies a hard time.

p/s: I could never grasp this Wordless Wednesday thing. I always have something to say.