Friday the 13th

It is 11:38PM Malaysian time and 7:38PM local time in Abu Dhabi. Dev has left for a night flight to Dammam, back at midnight. I am online and writing this blog while listening to Toni Braxton singing "You Make Me High". Dev and I are counting the days to returning to Malaysia next month for 2 weeks. The timing couldn't have been better-by then, I would be 12 weeks into the pregnancy-safe to fly.

I am doing great so far, with no vomiting or any sign of morning sickness. My first craving attack was last week. I wanted idli (a sourish thosai-like texture but are made in small thick pieces, an Indian delicacy) and fish curry! Dev, the kind hubby that I have, drove me the next day to Anjappar, an Indian shop, that sells idli. It was lunch time, and Anjappar only serves idli for breakfast and dinner. There's always "home delivery". The next morning, we ordered 10 pieces with lovely fish curry. After having idli for two days, I was satisfied :) Since then, the baby hasn't craved anything else. But the Mommy-to-be has made a list of things she wants to eat when she is home in Malaysia!

My face has grown a little rounder around the cheeks and chin. I am carefully taking care of myself with a cup of Anmum milk each morning, lots of fruits and vegies. Dev has been the sweetest thing, helping out with the household chores, washing, laundry, and taking great care of me :)

Arabic classes have been keeping me occupied three times a week in the morning, and in between there are revisions that we have to do at home. We have spelling and dictation in Arabic! I must say it has been fun with the five of us-Judy from Toronto, Minh from Vietnam, Jeanine and Andrea from Switzerland and myself. The instructor (can't pronounce her name) is from Syria, and she comes to Judy's apartment to conduct the sessions. Judy is 6 floors below me. Ma-hah-ba means hello, and shukran means thank you, and habibi means friend. At the moment, we are learning to write all 28 alphabets in Arabic (jawi writing). We have gone from alif to baa, taa, thaa and uu (pronounced oooo). We are taught to write each alphabet independently as an alphabet, at the beginning of each word, in the middle and at the end. The alphabet changes shape as we use them in various ways in spelling. Imagine, 24 more alphabets to go!

Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are, whichever country you are in :))