The Awesome Baby Shower for Shereen & Hafeez to welcome Hannah : Super Long Post!
6:47:00 PM80 pictures in one blogpost! Phew :)
My sister Shereen Bahawi gave birth to
Hannah Hafeez on 20th September 2013 last Friday at 5.45pm. Sheer is my
bestfriend and my sister. It is God's plan that we both gave birth to
our first child and first daughter in the same year.
This
post is dedicated to a beautiful soul, the kindhearted and caring Shereen. The sister I
never had. I remember when I was pregnant and when I was in the hospital
from 1st November 2012 until January 2013, Shereen was amongst those few
who was there at the hospital almost every week. She would come just to
accompany me, and always brought me food, air zam-zam, books on prayers and other things. Sheer's mother came too and taught me supplications and duas to recite always. When I was discharged and in my confinement, Shereen brought me some special pantang (confinement) food cooked by her mum, lent me a book on pantang
and contacted and arranged for the midwife to care for me when me and
our family were still in our early grieving stage. There are just too many more things that she have done for me without ever asking anything back in return. I can count only a handful friends, gems like her. My bestfriends. A true friend not just during the good
times but also hard times. Even though some time has passed and now when
most people would turn away whenever I talk about my daughter, Shereen
would always from time to time bring up Jibrael's name first. Never
judgmental, always understanding. I am truly blessed to have her as my
sister.
Shereen
found out that she was pregnant some time in December 2013, yet she
never mentioned it to me in all her visits to the hospital and waited
until late March to break the news to me, as she knew I was going
through a difficult period. She hid the news from me eventhough we met so many times through her countless visits. I couldn't be happier for her when I found
out the news, as a loving and caring soul like her truly deserves the
best gifts in life.
A bunch of Shereen's close friends celebrated her (then) impending motherhood with an all-white themed bridal
shower held on 1st September 2013 at her in-laws house organised by
Hasanah Hilmi, Aida Ishak and Sarah Hilmi. These three girls did a superb job in organising and hosting the event with the help of Shereen & Hafeez' family members.
Due
to my personal circumstances, it wasn't easy for me to attend these types of
events. Birthdays, showers, weddings, crowded places generally etc. Only
those close to me understand what I've been going through till now.
Everything is not the same anymore. But, Alhamdulillah all
praises to God it went well this time around. This was the first baby
shower that I didn't break down. I've forced myself to go to a few after
I came out from the hospital because I wanted to and it didn't go so smoothly. Don't get me
wrong. Quite a number of my friends and relatives gave birth this year.
As a friend, of course I would love to share their happy moments. But
sometimes it is just so difficult.
It
is not because I'm sad or unhappy, as I truly am happy for them, I
really am, it is just that there are certain triggers or mental blocks
that will cause me to break down unexpectedly or without warning due to
what I have experienced this one year. And when everyone is celebrating
and being happy, I know they do not want to deal with my breakdowns. I
just cannot control it at certain times. It is not something people would have expected of me especially those who have known me before I gave birth. And I do not want them to pity
me. Which is why sometimes I just don't go. I suppose I felt comfortable
going because Shereen also came to see me a lot of times and
continuously few days before the event. We spoke and poured our hearts
out to each other.
No explanation is possible because I
myself am learning to deal with it. I'm thankful to have been blessed
with my supportive family and closest friends who's all helping me to go
through this time. Truly blessed. Only God knows and all strength and
power comes from Him.God, my family and my closest friends, my ultimate comfort zone at the moment.
Anyway,
changing the mood of this post! Sorry about that :)
The event went so well and I
congratulate the organisers for hosting such an awesome event! The food were yummilicious! The games
were fun too. Everyone participated playing heads up (our team won by
the way!) and the funny bit is when the guys had to compete drinking
milk from baby bottles. It was really crazy funny.
I also couldn't stop taking pictures of Qadriyya! She's so beautiful praises to the Creator. Our other sister Hasanah Hilmi's 1 year old daughter with Ashraf. The gem I mentioned above? Hasanah is without a doubt one of the few. I remember Hasanah always mentioned back then that our daughters would be best friends. Just like us. :) I feel a strong bond with Qadriyya especially because when i was pregnant with my daughter, Qadriyya sat on my hospital bed and touched my belly and talked to Jibrael. Baby language of course. :) Qadriyya and family cheered me up and made me laugh so many times in the hospital and during my confinement. Until today the profile picture of our active whatsapp group which name remained "For Jibrael" together with my sisters Ruzana Ibrahim and Fahima Salleh is a picture of Qadriyya smiling happily together with me on my hospital bed when I was carrying Jibrael. Uploaded by Hasanah back then when I was in the hospital. Always make me smile. Beautiful moments gifted from the Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Sometimes I wonder what did i do to deserve sisters like them. All praises to the Almighty.
Congratulations
Shereen & Hafeez. I'm extremely happy for you both. You both are going to
be awesome parents. May God make it beautiful and easy for you both. May God protect your family from harm and grant you joy, happiness, His Love and contentment always.
She's beautiful Subhanallah. Being a parent is a wonderful feeling, to witness and to feel the miracle of life, the greatness of God. All praises belong to the Creator.
Hannah,
if you are reading this when you're bigger: I just want to say that
Aunty Breen and the rest of your aunties love you very much. Not to forget your uncles too! We prayed
for you even before you were born. Be good to your parents. Jibrael and
you would've been like sisters just like me and your mum. May we all
reunite in Jannah God-willing. InsyaAllah :)
Enjoy the pictures! I always love all white themed events!
Sheer's solemnization ceremony where I was her maid-of-honour (as she was mine), her Engagement Part 1 and Engagement Part 2 now seem like ages ago.
May we have many many more memories.
L-R : Putri Zaralisa Adril, Sharifah Nadia, Intan Darlila, Fahima Salleh
L-R : Hasanah Hilmi, Fahima Salleh & Shereen Bahawi my sisters.
Proud parents of Hannah Hafeez, Hafeez Belwael & Shereen Bahawi
Jibrael's parents :)
Qadriyya :)
Preparation pictures.
Fun games :)
Yummy food Alhmadulillah
Enough pictures for now.
9 comments
:) nice write-up
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to hafeez and shereen and u too proud mom and aunty.:)
thanks for the picture and my husband looks so excited in the pic tho.hahaha lol.
take care Rnadia .
Thank you! We were all excited and hyped up during heads up! Hehe. Thanx for reading & take care too :)
Deletei feel the happiness and sadness in ur writing...be strong
ReplyDeleteThanx for reading. But, don't be sad. I'm happy when I wrote this post. Feel so blessed. All strength comes from the Almighty. :)
DeleteThanx for reading. But, don't be sad. I'm happy when I wrote this post. Feel so blessed. All strength comes from the Almighty. :)
DeleteSalam Sabrina..
ReplyDeleteIve ben folowing to read quite all ur posts up til now..bt never write any coments.. Heres d 1st one.^^ i also lost one of my precious life bt didnt get to share wth public like u did.. Coz to me its so hard to xpress in detail words n im not gud at it.. Wht u had experienced n ur way able to share to public its inspiring me somehow.. But rather in words i xpress myself in painting most of d time..
Thres not lots of story thre to mention..but i thnk thts d only way tht i cn do to share n xpress my life xperience to public..
If u hav free time..please visit my art blog at www.irisblissart.blogspot.com
Hav great days ahead n do take care thre..
Lots of love..^^
Assalam Sis, your pictures are all simply AMAZING!! A very very nice shots indeed :)
ReplyDeleteMay I know what camera you used to take all this amazing pictures? :))
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