Your First Party

Dear Mimi,

It's tradition that we welcome the birth of a babe with some family and friends, some religious singsong and food. You had your Dikir last weekend. A lot of preparation goes into having one of these dos. We had to finalise the guest list, make invites, call catering, buy chairs, sort out the Bunga Telurs and goodie bags, and book the singing ladies. On top of all that, we had to figure out what to wear.

Usually these events are also for the mother. The Mandi Berlawat is to celebrate a woman who has given birth for the first time. She is made to fit into her wedding garb and act like a bride with a screaming child on her lap. Family and friends dab chalkpaste, throw like confetti scented pandan leaves and flowers on mother and child. At the background, people chant songs.

Mama didn't have to go through all that (although I was made up like a bride thanks to our in-house make-up guru Auntie Mellie), so the day was all about you.

In case you were wondering, the GoodEggs all wore blue. Your Auntie Jane the Seamstress made you a dress out of silk and chiffon...and bells. Tiny bells as buttons. The bells, they drove you mad. So did the singing. And the confetti throwing (thankfully no dabbing of the chalk on your forehead). Your father and I pretty much guessed when you were bawling your lungs out you are actually saying, "Who ARE these people cutting into my weeked and WHAT am I wearing??" You were, short of better words, not a happy cow.

Still, it had to be done. But after all the hullaballoo (and once you changed into plain cotton), it is a quaint custom we have in our culture. We ended up having a rather swell time.

To wit:

You experienced new things, met many many new faces. Like a celebrity, you had a photographer follow your every move. We had yummy pretty cupcakes from the Rahman Sisters and chic Auntie Rena gifted you a pretty monogrammed pillow. We also got some cold hard cash and a heck of a lot of blessings were bestowed on us.

Who could complain?

Love, Mama xx

Happier times in cotton, cute as a donut kebonut, as photographed by Uncle Flo.

Comments

[Aidy]

OMG what a tushybon kebonut! And what a nice pic...its now my desktop wallpaper. That Flo is fahntahsteek.

[EmmaGoodEgg]

Thank you Auntie Tina & Auntie Annie. Much love Mimi xx

Annie - Jane the Seamstress is FABULOUS. I send material to her to make my clothes and whatever scraps that are left she turns into a miniature version for Mimi!! Even when I don't tell her to!

[Annie]

Cute berabis! Bells as buttons? I gotta go to your tailor!

[Tina]

She is just too cute!!