Things you should never say to a Preggo

I really wanted to compile a list of things that really annoyed me during my pregnancy. To be fair, I think people who have never been pregnant do not know any better and people who have given birth should be reminded of better... so the purpose of this post is to actually REMIND all of us- including myself of the things we should keep to ourselves!

1) Can I touch your belly?
It's pretty awkward having someone touch your belly- unless the preggo says to you "my baby is kicking, here feel my belly" do not volunteer, its not exactly comfortable having someones hands all over your abdomen.

2) Aren't you scared?
I remember going to a family picnic where a girl asked me this repeatedly, I actually got really pissed off at this and said "I am actually more scared of people like you, why are you even asking me that" and walked away, I can't remember the last time I publicly told someone off but I was in my third trimester and could careless. It is not a productive question and it will not make the preggo feel any better- so do not bring up this point!

3) What are you naming him/her?
No one likes to give up their baby name... somethings are fun being left as surprises. Plus, when we do have the courage to share the name you might hear "I don't like that name"... Do not forget that you will be a preggo one day too Inshallah, you will get to pick your own baby names. Keep your opinions to yourself unless of course asked.

4) Wow you have gained/lost a lot of weight!
It is bad enough commenting on a woman's weight alone and then you throw pregnancy in the mix.
If you are not a Nutritionist/Doctor or expect of any kind, you are actually not qualified to have an opinion. There are different reasons behind a preggos weight gain and weight loss- we cannot make assumptions without knowing the medical history of the preggo- so save your weight tips for yourself.

5) Any bad labor stories
If you don't have something good to say, don't say it at all! You have to remember, when you share a bad story or something you read/saw on t.v- it may stick with the preggo and actually traumatize their view of labor and birth. You have no right to do that and would not want anyone to do it to you, please think twice before you speak.

6) Was this planned?
Ummm, how about you mind your business?! Not sure why everyone was so interested in this one, planned or not the baby is obviously coming- so what does it matter now? This is a very personal topic and while you think it may be funny to joke about, lets remind ourselves that as Muslims there are boundaries that we just do not cross.

7) So when is the next one?
How about you let me have this one first!? Oh and it is especially annoying when the person asking has not even had her first child yet. What do I look like some sort of baby making machine?

8) Are you hoping for a boy/girl?
Really all any parent wants is a healthy baby at the end of the day. While there may be hopes for a girl over a boy- or vice versa, at the end of the day a healthy baby comes first. Do not make the preggo feel pressured to pop out a girl after already having two boys... I mean this is something the preggo has no control over, no point rubbing it in her face.

9) Your life is going to be so different now...
Ya think?! As if we did not already know that- your awkward silence is in no way going to help us prepare for what is to come, please do not forget to wear a sensitivity chip on your way out! Most parents to be are in the process of realizing the changes that are to come and while they may be anxious and nervous to leave their old life behind, they get to experience something that only THEY will understand... and if you ask any parent, I am sure they will tell you the trade was worth it... but that is something that people without kids cannot always understand.

10) Your STILL pregnant!?
Seriously... I may look huge, but I am still weeks away from giving birth. If I was close to giving birth, I might not actively be in attendance at every event, but obviously I am- which obviously means I am still very much pregnant. Stop trying to do the math in your head, you will hear about the birth, don't worry!

Remember, there are still alot of things you can say to preggos, but its all about how you say those things. Your tone/expressions and body language has a lot to do with it. Don't compare preggos- to regular woman, they are overly sensitive and its a hormonal thing, they can't help it... but you can!

What do you think is most annoying from my list? Feel free to add your own comments!

DIY Kiddie Lamp

As part of home renovation week, I am still sharing/posting some of my projects with you. This is mainly to encourage all you Mama's and Mama to be's to:
1) make a little go a long way, get the bang for your buck
2) have a creative outlet for yourself
3) be unique and encourage your children to be different

I was looking for a lamp for Zakariya's room for a long time. I was even willing to spend a good amount on the perfect lamp. After checking online and in stores- I just was not finding anything kiddie enough! Most everything was too adult like. I was also looking for something that did not have characters or eyes on it, which made the hunt much harder.

I figured the only place I would find the type of lamp I was looking for was of course a thrift shop. So off I went and of course I came home with the type of lamp I wanted all along! Alhumdulillah.

Here is what you will need:
A lamp
Spray paint
Craft paint
Adhesive spray (if your changing the lamp shade)

Cost:
Lamp: $7.99
Spray paint: $0 already had it
Adhesive spray: $6.50
Craft paint: $2.50
Fabric: already had it
Total: $16.99

What do you guys think?

Before

Half Way

After!

DIY Chalk board wall

So here is another completed project, 2 down a bunch more to go! Alhumdulilah.

Not only is the chalkboard wall affordable, it's perfect addition to any tots room. I can easily convert Zaki's room to a classroom whenever I need to- without needing a completely separate space. Many of us do not have a basement or extra room to use for homeschooling or just day to day learning activities, this way you can use the space you already have.

The only down side was that even after painting a wall and kitchen cabinets there was a lot of paint left over! I am selling the left over paint (about half a can) for $10 let me know if you want it! You will be able to do a good sized board, approx 4 meters. We did not even need to do a double coat on the kitchen cabinets, so not everything requires 2 coats.

What you will need:
A good brush
Painters green tape
Chalkboard paint (readily available at The Home Depot)

Total cost: $25, which was for the can of paint.We already had the tape and brush

I will post more pics of how it looks with actual writing on it later, we have to let it dry for 3 days before we can write on it.

You can do the entire wall or just do a portion like we did

Getting started...

Finished product!

I did some cabinets as well, just for kitchen memo's/menu/shopping list!

DIY Chic Mini Sofa

For those of you who did not know, I am a pretty crafty person... I think it has something to do with the fact that I am left handed. I love crafting- but mainly home deco projects. Iam thirfter at heart, who favors places like Kensington market... I love finding junk furniture and glaming it up!

I thought it would be fun to start sharing some of my recent projects on the blog, hoping to inspire all of you Mama's and Mama's to be (Inshallah).

Most of us have walked into Pottery Barn and fallen for an absolutely adorable mini kiddie sofa only to see the price tag and be disgusted... I mean why does kiddie furnuture have to cost more than adult furniture?!

I personally do not see a point in paying so much... and I also appreciate the beauty of making something your OWN, putting your own touch on it and most of all- itll be so much fun to tell your kids when they are older, "your Mama made that for you"


What you will need:

Couple safety pins
Glue gun
Staple gun
Couple yards fabric (I used approx 3 yards)
Mini sofa

Here is what the project cost me:

Mini Thirfted Sofa (I especially liked this retro model because it had a wooden frame base): $20

Fabric (fabric I had purchased ages ago, but my husband hated the print too much for me to use in the living room) I think it was $25-- if I didnt have the fabric laying around, I would have opted for a much cheaper fabric I could have purchased on sale, BTW fabric land is having a great sale on kiddie prints

Total cost: $45... beat that Pottery Barn!

BEFORE (check out the ugly animal print)

Half way there!

After: Completed!

Broken

On the way to the Mosque for Friday prayers we had a bit of a causality... my little guy was taking his coin bank full of money he had collected as donation for the needy. By collecting I mean, suckering the grandparents into filling the ceramic shoe shaped piggy bank- up until it could swallow no more coins!

So before we left Grandpa insisted that I take the piggy bank from Zakariya because "he will drop it"... I just wanted to get out of the door so we could make it on time for prayers. I figured I will get a picture of him with it and then hold onto it.

Well the picture never happened... as soon as we made it on to the tile floor, Zakariya dropped it and it broke. My husband joked about it, something along the lines of- "well that is how you open a piggy bank after all"... I gave him a cold stare. It was so freaking hard to find a coin bank that was not in the shape of a pig... not everyone thinks pigs are cute, what the heck is with that- ya know?!

If you are hiring for a piggy bank breaker/opener, we have a highly accomplished candidate for the job!

I had so much trouble explaining a broken piggy bank to my toddler, how will I ever explain a dead pet?!

Any similar stories to share Mama's?