Baby Talk

I have been enjoying "talking" to Natalie. Everybody has been enjoying "talking" to her! Both her grandparents, aunties and of course us! She is sooooo cute now and her coos always accompany with lots of smiles! She is such a darling to everyone around her and her mood affects all around her too!

You can't help but to love her. Thank God for such a darling!

Natalie sleeps thru most of the time today and was only awake for feeding and less than half hour for playtime. Makes me feel so lonely today..hehe...When she is cranky and cries or keeps awake for most of the time, i was thinking to myself why can't she sleeps more so that i have my own time to do my own things and now that she keeps sleeping today, i felt lonely. heh....

I wonder how heavy she is now. This thought came to my mind when i was carrying her to the room while she was fast asleep and realise it's difficult to lift her up to my chest level with my palms. It's either i have weak wrists or she is really getting heavy. Her aunt has commented that she is getting rounder and her tummy is showing.

My Dad also commented "politely": "Wah, grown so big already ah after only a few weeks". I know him enough to know what he was thinking...hahaha...and he added later on that she drinks a lot and if drink so frequently, she may be on the big side...

Natalie.....will be like mama, slim slim but prettier than mama. She shall not take over her papa's size....Amen!...hehe...okok repent repent..I love you both darlings! :P

Been quite tiring looking after bb these days and looking like a jaundiced wife with panda eyes. :P. Life has taken a great change after Natalie was born.
I no longer have 7-8 hours of sleep thru the night.
I can't just leave home in the afternoon to even go to the shops downstairs.
I have to make sure bb is sound asleep before i could take a bath.
I can't just tell gh " hey, let's go out for a movie and have supper outside!"
My time revolves around my bb. (i do miss the times when it's just me and gh.)
My only connection (for now during my maternity leave) to the outside world during week days is the internet.

These sounds depressing but i love x 1000.... my bb's smiles, love x 1000... her smell, love x 1000...her coo-ing, love x 1000... her face. I can think of many reasons why i hate my lifestyle now but more reasons to get me to love life again. I love my darling gal too much! Abba has given me a great gift. Life has indeed taken a huge change: from good to heavenly!...hee... but i'm still tired out and need to knock out now.....

Looking forward to the weekends every week. I'm experiencing the stay-at-home-wife/mum lifestyle (excluding household chores :P) during this period and i'm starting to feel bored especially during weekdays when gh goes to work and i will be home whole day with baby. Of course i love baby's company, but felt that my life is revolving ard my baby and the four walls. Weekends seems to be the times when i get to be out either with gh alone or together with baby Natalie to church. My day/nite job now is servicing my baby Natalie :P

Having said that, in about 1 month's time, i will be back to work and have to learn to cope with my full time day job at work and part time nite job feeding Natalie and putting her to sleep. That seems to be more tiring so i salute to all working mums as well. Looks like I'm joining the gang soon! :

Anyways, i'm just soo blessed with my baby Natalie and love her soo much! I'm ready to be at her service anytime! (I confess that she will be an easy to handle baby! Amen!)

Too Qin Cai?

My mum came by herself to visit me at home. It's very rare since she is so used to being driven by my dad everywhere. Anyways, a conversation with her today triggered some thoughts.

While Mum was burping Natalie after her feeding session:

Me to my mum: If she burps after patting her back for like 3 minutes, tat's good, if not, just leave it la!

Mum: can burp one la, must pat for a longer while and if this position (sitting Natalie up), can do another position (carry over shoulder)

Me: Wah, at nite where got strength to burp so long?

Mum: hmm..it's gd that u so qin cai, some pple stressed up others about little things like that about their babies (if u know what i mean)

Me thinking to myself: i'm qin cai with my baby/darling/sweetheart?!

Does being qin cai means i'm not as concern about my darling's well-being or am i just trying to make this journey with my baby more enjoyable and less stressful? hmm.....

Well, i really had a great time with my baby and even laughing at her when she cries for milk instead of getting stressed up. (not that i'm a sadist but trying to show how i just enjoy her every mood and expressions even when she is crying). My child will be taught by the Lord and with that, it gives me peace to just enjoy every moment with her (even when she cries for milk in the middle of the nite and it disrupted my beloved sleep :P - I've been trying to find ways to get gh to sponsor my panda eyes treatment at some beauty salon...hehe...

Anyways, here are some of her cutest moments :)

hee :)

Welcome Baby Natalie!

Finally got some time to post some updates! Baby Natalie is born on 26 May, exactly one year from the day God brought 2 individuals together to become one. Natalie was born on our wedding anniversary, what a timing. Next year this day we will be celebrating her birthday and anniversary together. :)) Thank God my labour process was quick and smooth! i'm still in the midst of confinement. Though pretty sick and tired of the confinement food but seeing my darling everyday is a blessing that surpasses all of those. Baby Nat is sooo cute and has inherited my dimples when she smiles...hee..even though most people said she looks more like gh. I'm just enjoying her every expressions when she smiles, cries and desperate for milk milk, makes those eh eh eh sounds, when we try to burp her and she is sleepy and even when she uses all her might in passing motion...hee..it's just funny.

Some of her statistics at birth:

Name: Natalie Elisha Chew Yi Xuan
Weight: 3.02kg
Length: 49 cm

Her granny, grandpa, aunties just dotes on her as she is the only grandchild on gh's side. Her granny can't wait to see her everyday and carry her till she is shiok before she places her back to sleep. I get my breather from the night feeds when her granny takes over in the morning.

I just want to thank Daddy God for such precious gift and thank God for the favor that He has bestowed upon my darling baby. I repent for smacking my tummy when my darling moves too vigorously when she is still in my tummy. :P Also wanna thank my other darling, gh, for the lovely flowers and birthday present. He has been a great help during these period as well. I love you darling! :)

It's 4th day since i started my maternity leave, bb is still comfortably in my tummy. But nt for long. Just came from gynae visit and he wants to induce birth on this Sun nite if i still do not deliver by tomorrow becos i mentioned that bb's movement is not as vigorous like before and he checked that my plancenta is weakening so better not to wait for too long since i'm in my 39th week now. I'm still hoping for bb to come naturally these 2 days if possible so i do not have to be induced but most importantly is that my bb is healthy and well. This means that there is a very high chance that bb's b'day will fall on our wedding anniversary. :)

Trust God that it will be a smooth delivery!

nervous nervous! :)

Today is the last day of work before i start my maternity leave! :)) Feels like finally is a 3 months "sch holiday" after 4 years working working such prolong break. yeay! The only difference now and then is my holiday assigments not homeworks and module projects but for a much higher calling, "Project B". hehe.. Dunno if i can cope with the boredom alone at home next week onwards till bb comes but i guess i needed this rest especially experiencing some sleepless nites past few days due to backaches, more midnite peeing excursions and when braxton hick contration hits.

I thought i was pretty much prepared to look out for any signs of labor after reading many articles on those although it's first pregnancy but yesterday after a prolonged menses cramp-like feelings with no intervals, i was thinking to myself, how to time intervals when there is not even an intervals during the pain and half suspecting still if it's just normal tummy ache or menses cramp like feeling since i haven't experienced it for the past 9 months?!...haha..i decided to ask Daddy God to make sure He drops me very clear sign that I was in REAL labor before i head down to the hospital cos I do not want a scenario of false labor when i admit.
I realised no matter how prepared we are, we are not as prepared as we think......only Abba knows.....:P

Gynae checkups are on weekly basis now. so I get to update on bb's progress quite often..hee..for my memory sake next time:

Week 36.5:
Mum's Weight Gain: 10.5kg
Bb's weight: 2.5kg - 2.6kg

Getting more backaches these days and counting down to seeing bb in another potential 3.5 weeks time! And also counting down to maternity leave starting on 20th May..:P hehe...
I just pray that bb will only be out towards end of May so that her birthday will also fall on school holiday just like mine. hee~

Been reading up quite a bit on breastfeeding as well so that even though i'm a first time mummy, i will know what to expect and also be well-informed on the course of it. Also thanks to friends who has provided useful information and sites for me to read on too! :D Trusting God in this area and also hopefully support from people ard.

Every nite routine now:

- Got on bed at 11 plus/12 plus
- Sat on bed to wait for bb to sleep first (stop her movements) till i almost dozed off and realised her movements are lesser or stop.
- After about 2 hours, woke up to pee and in the midst of it woke bb up with my clumsy movements, back to bed and sit up again.
- If she is tired too, falls back to sleep within 15 mins and i can lie down again to sleep. If not, i can be sitting there for hours.......till my next visit to toilet and then it's sleepless nite....


Effects:

- not enuff sleep and too tired to do anything next day
- grumpy and like a zombie
- getting angry and jealous that gh is still happily tossing ard in bed in his sleep including sitting up and change position 180 degrees (head at the end of the bed) without even waking up to realise i'm still awake.
- managed to catch Chelsea and Liverpool Champion League match at unearthly hours, finished half of 1st half and reporting it to gh who wanted to watch but still asleep. He only started watching from 2nd half...hehe...


Tired and heavy.....tired....tired and heavy.....29 more days to edd....15 more days to maternity leave! :))

Just had my gynae checkup last Sat and 2 weeks after last visit, below are bb's update:

Week 35
BB's weight: 2.4Kg (400g increase since last visit)
Mum's weight gain: 9.5 kg
Gynae's comment: Good weight gain for both bb and mummy :)), can go natural

"Complains" to Gynae: Braxton Hick Contractions happening pretty frequently.
Gynae's reply: Hmm, too early for bb to be out at 35 weeks, ask me if he can give me a few days MC to rest and gave ventolin to prevent early labor.

I only took one day MC on yesterday and was pretty bored at home. Plus the weather is too hot to go anywhere. But had a good rest.

Btw, it was a wonderful and awesome praise and worship session with Darlene leading worship on Sunday. Although i wasn't in the audi, i could feel God's love surrounding the entire gallery west area. I teared while worshipping, been a long time since i teared during worship. Dunno for what reasons, but i just felt like being embraced by Him and just be loved by Him and that He knowing me for me still is willing to let me just pour out my heart to Him. so touched so touched.........

my darling bb has grown tremendously over the week. Praise the Lord! I was a bit worried when i feel she is too small and light for a 33 week old bb till my last checkup on Sat after 1 week. She grew soo fast!

Week 33
Current bb weight: 2Kg (up 700g from a week ago at 1.3Kg +)
My weight gain: 8.7Kg (according to doctor, good weight gain) :)
Daddy's weight gain: haha....secret....competing with my tummy....keke...

My Abba knows my concerns about bb even before I bring it before to Him and He made all things beautiful and perfect in His time. Amen! With me kicking start the pregnancy wave in the office, we now have 2 other mummies to be in the office (1 in sg and 1 in penang office), 1 first time daddy to be and 1 second time daddy along the way! Yippee! So far this is the only time since i joined 3.5 years ago that we have so many bbs coming! Altogether 5 bbs coming! A number of grace!

Gh and i both fell sick last week and over the weekends. Now we are slowly but surely recovering from our final enemy - cough! Been a tough time while I was sick and feeling heavy at the same time. I know my tummy is not as big compared to many preggies ladies at the same gestation period but i guess my Abba knows how much I can bear..hehe..Managed to crawl to the gynae for regular checkup last Fri and below is the update of myself and bb:

My weight gain: 8.3Kg
BB's weight: 1.3kg at 32 weeks

Gynae said bb's head is down already and she's growing well according to all the measurements taken. :) Been feeling pretty tried these days and my Abba Daddy has to really pull me through hard during this last few weeks now. I'm feeling heavy and may times feeling clumsy (unable to seat back up when i lie down on the sofa, unable to stand up without help when i seat on the floor). :( But that's ok because I'm now just looking forward to seeing my darling sweetheart being born. hehe...

BB update

This is the 31st week of my pregnancy. :) Some updates:

BB's weight: 1.2+Kg
Mummy's weight gain: 8.5+Kg

All's well and my gynae said all her measurements are good so Praise the Lord. She has been very cooperative throughout (other than her frequents kicks and movements that can "irritates" me sometimes :P) the whole period, growing well and looking pretty (amen! hee!). Just managed to finally get bb's cabinet from ikea yesterday though delivery will be made only on Monday.

Now it's time to start washing my darling's clothes and getting ready for her arrival in 9 weeks time (if she is arrives on her exact due date in late May) :)! Excited but dunno what to expect. :P

Shopping Spree!

Had a tiring but great shopping spree on Sat and Sun. Sat was shopping for my princess and Sun was for some last min shopping for monochromatic chic style for myself (for choir :P). Also managed to meet some great college pals for lunch at spageddies and desert at coffee club (Muddy Mud Pie! yummy!) on sun. Went to the centerpoint robinsons and taka bb fair after work on Sat and shopped myself happy for bb and some maternity needs. We bought so much that the spoils filled the whole car boot. We bought so much at taka that we are presented with a free mini sports centre toy for bb...heh. I'm glad that we have gotten most stuff at pretty good prices (or at least i assume to be pretty good cos i'm too lazy to compare prices too..hee). I'm ready for bb to come anytime i guess...hee..I prefer shopping for my princess nowadays, i dun seem to get tired until i get my backache to warn me i need to rest. So many things I wanna buy for her. i'll post some of the spoils we got for her soon! (hopefully).

I thank God for my bb daughter who will be beautiful in Your sight. I thank God for my princess even though she has kept me awake most of the time last night by giving me hard continuous kicks and knocks on my tummy (i'll box her batok back when she comes out...oh..opps! hee). I thank God that I will have enuff bm to feed her when she is out because i'm determined to only give her that and no fm as long as i have supply at least for the first few monthsss. This means I will have less night rest but it's worth it. i'm starting to think how much i will miss her when i'm at work after my maternity (she will prob be barely 3 months old)! okok...thinking too far but it will be a real issue to when it comes i guess. hmmm.....

Started first session of antennatal class yesterday and listened to a nutrition talk. Apparently I guess I have been eating quite moderately and with adequate nutrients for bb! Praise God!

hee..side track, i was pretty lax about my diet all these while and always rem what gynae's advises on food from the very first meeting i had with him. I always tell my colleagues when they start asking me if I know what to aviod and what to eat throughout my pregnancy that my gynae is very ang mo pai one, so his advice is just "listen to your body and just eat according to what your body tells you to will do". That's the most simple and great advice for me although i was actually expecting him to really go in detail on what to aviod and what nots. haha..so far, that's what I have followed, first 3 months i understand is crucial for bb and my body so i make an effort to cut away from caffine, that's what I felt so i just followed and when i stepped into 2nd trimester, i took up caffine slowly and started to crave for gasy drinks but in moderation of course. :) But I felt I should aviod papayas and pineapples so i didn't take at all (don't be mistaken, if you want to eat, just go ahead cos there is no scientific prove that it will cause harm to your bb or body but everything should be in moderation and you should be fine) Now I'm in my 3rd trimester, bb is super active...kicking and kicking and turning and turning......stamping on my bladder and makes me go toilet many times. hmmp! Her papa said wait till she is out then smack her buttock! :P Oh for 3rd tri, i'm even more lax on my diet and now that I know what is good for bb, i will just have to make sure i have those food in my diet but actually those food has been what I was eating all these while, so not much changes actually..hee! I guess you really need to listen to your body and most of all just move along with God's promptings. Initally I told God I was quite lost what I should aviod and if all the things I heard are correct. I decided to just move with His promptings and so far, that proves to be the best for my bb. Really thank God that even at times when i am helpless, He provides the easiest way to protecting my bb, just listen.

After the talk we went on to the 2nd part of the session which is to do some posture exercises and teaching the hubbies how to pamper the wife by giving DAILY massages! hehe...but gh is like more interested to try out the postures exercises meant for mummies, pelvic exercises.... :

(lying down posture exercise)
me: like that correct? like that right?
gh: so easy!..i show you! (happily lying down and started doing while other hubbies just watches their wives doing it) :/

(sitting)
me: like that correct? like that right?
gh: this one slightly more difficult to do huh (imitating already) :\

(standing)
me: like that correct? like that right?
gh: so easy! I also want to do! (started doing it but discreetly) :/

hehe.....:P

Supernatural Journey

Finally able to borrow the book on Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize from a choir friend. I have been looking ard for it in church bookshop and only found a miniature devotional versions and not the book. Never cross my mind to look for it online..hee..cos I do not have the habit of purchasing online but i guess i should be doing that more often buying bb stuff (clothes in particular). :P It's a GREAT book so far and i know it will stay a GREAT book till the end as well. As I was reading the book, i started to have questions for Daddy God:

- I know that as long as you stay faithful to what Your Word says, that we are lifted from the curse and fear through Jesus, we can believe for supernatural childbirth but how do I know if i can still stay faithful to the Word until i experience the first contraction and still believe it will be painless... (I know that by asking this question, u can guess my faith level..hehe)

- How do I get to the point that I can believe that a painless and fast delivery are as real in Your Word as it is when people share their painful experiences? I can somehow believe for a fast delivery and i only trust that I will have a fast delivery process and refuse to give in to not so encouraging testimonies of slow and draggy delivery process. It is as though I believe my Daddy God will be special towards my experience and it will be as I want - a fast delivery. But I seem to have a prob with believing a painless one.

Don't be mistaken, I believe God's Word is true and real. I also believe I have a special favor from my Daddy God and I'm not afraid of the day approaching because I really have no idea how I will have felt for the first time. All I am thinking now is for the day to approach quickly so I can see my bb princess :) (not trying to think of the potential nursing woes that awaits me after delivery). Just like what my choir mate told me, I will never be able to comprehend how it is like having a child after you become a mother because it will be beyond my imagination no matter how mentally prepared i am. I supposed that includes both the good and the restrictions as a mother I will have to go through. That sort of makes you feel a little uneasy at first because it seems that you will not have control over the situation but it's also telling me, hey! if you can control, then why do you need God?

I hope my Daddy God will bring me to a place where I can find complete peace of mind and knowing that he is in control and that everything will be alright not because I have learnt it the natural way, but because I have gain more in the supernatural way (ie knowing that I am redeemed from the curse and can have a peaceful mind).

I believe the journey will be blessed and He will be in control. I'm looking forward to be yet another great testimony where I can share to the world about my Daddy God and Jesus! :)

Happy Lunar New Year

Blessed Chinese New Year to all! Gong Xi Fatt Choy! :) Chinese New Year this year has got quite a number of days off and plus I do not have to do much visitation anymore since i'm married last year ;) hehe... but I still kinda miss those days where my family will visit my grandparents back in Malaysia over a few days and my cousins and I will be shy at first when we see each other for a while but after some small talks, we will be running around the piglet sty and climbing up the rocky hill behind the house, then playing with fire crackers and mini fireworks. Then on New Year Day, we will start gambling our ang bao ringgits away. The Kampong style new year. :)

Now things are simpler, 1 visit to my in-laws place and 1 visit back home and that's it! Also, it's the first year gh and myself have to give out ang baos! :) Bb also received her fair share of ang baos from her aunties and uncles even though she is still in my tummy..hehe..And her parents are spending her ang bao money away...haha..cos her mummy suddenly finds she has no cash in her wallet for the day and lazy to go withdraw so conveniently took the ang bao money to spend. hehe...okok, i repent..will return her when i open her first bank account. :P

I'm starting to feel impatient and with bb's movement in my tummy, i just can't wait to see her like now! But i have to tell myself God has made everything beautiful in His time so 3 months more to wait till she is full term. Well, I shall prepare her arrival by getting more new pretty clothes for her since i dun think i should do much shopping for myself cos now too fat...haha Although i'm ok with hand me down things for bb, i still felt i wanna have the joy of shopping for her things. It's like preparing for the big day to come and i love shopping! However, I guess my sis will be passing me most of the stuff and seems like I don't really have much to buy.

Ohh..gh is picking me up from work, so i have to run! Have u seen penguin run before? heh heh heh.....

BB is Princess! :)

Just did my FA scan on Monday and though gh was not with me at NUH, i was just happy when i see bb sooooo clearly..even see her yawning away twice! everything was normal and she's growing fine. :D Finally the specialist help me to check on her gender and sort of confirm that she's going to be a princess! :)) Ohhh...finally i can start to do some shopping! hehehe...she officially has 3 pieces of clothings now..haha...previously given to her by her papa who brought 2 t-shirts from US disneyland and 1 cute bodysuit from uncle zy.

Happy happy....:)) Abba will continue to bless this princess and she shall be beautiful, full of wisdom and be in good health! Amen!

Bb-in-Tummy Progress

My darling bb has been very active these days especially during nighttime and keeps on dancing/punching/kicking in my tummy. I wonder if he/she is having fun inside or just trying to tell me he/she can't wait to see me...hehehe...i could feel his/her repeated kicks/punch/movement and definitely a strong bb. I can already vision a set of parents crazily running ard after their child. His/her kicks has been keeping me awake and only when i chose to ignore those and try to get to sleep, he/she knows it's no more fun and decided to join me to sleep too...hee...these movements are getting more frequent as if he/she knows now when mama is awake. It's fun to be able to feel my bb, if i dun feel much of him/her thru out the day, i will push push here and push push there on my tummy, trying to wake him/her up..hehehe...although bb has kept me awake till late at nite with those stunts. i'm going to see him/her again on Monday, so excited! :)

Tonite bb will get the chance to dance to Jay Chou's singing at the concert!

BB still refuses to reveal the gender to us and so we have bought 1 baby mickey and 1 baby minnie for him/her. hehe...Well, most imptantly, bb is growing fine and i'll be able to know on 21st when i go for my detailed scan. :) so exciting!! Our softtoy family is growing too fast for us to handle and soon the bed will not be able to accommodate all. :P Mostly are gh's playmates...hahaha...ya, he plays with soft toys....:PP

We had a great time over the weekend catching up with friends at Dempsey, attended a wedding and attended a bb shower!

bb (my tummy) is not in the pictures i realised. Opps! Hee...looks so slim! (by faith!) :P

Blessed 2008!

This is a delayed entry for the new year cos has been swamped with work and trying to fight the sleepy bug at the same time at work. Gh, bb-in-tummy and myself had our family trip to Taipei for the new year. We managed to catch the magnificent new year's eve taiwanese crowd and fireworks at Taipei 101 Tower from our hotel. It was estimated that a total of 600K people were present for the countdown and fireworks. The fireworks displayed was simply awesome, nv seen such spectacular fireworks. Those few days when we were there, it was the coldest period with temp dipping below 10 degrees, trembling my way on the streets but had a great time! :))

It's a new year again! New hopes and even more blessings to be expected. I had a great 2007 with many new beginnings.

New Beginning #1: First is of course being married to GH and moving to our new home! :D

New Beginning #2: Then is expecting our bb...Initially i was a bit concerned how i can be a good parent when i still feel so childish myself. :P But knew it takes God, none of me and all of Him to be possible so since it's God's time, my Abba will take care of our bb. So far the pregnancy has been super smooth despite feeding my bb with junk food. :P

New Beginning #3: Going on a cruise for the very first time but it sucks! Borrrring! :P

2008 will be a continuation of our new beginnings and of course new blessings thru out the year!

- Expecting our first car real sn! I will treasure the last days of me taking trains and squeezing with the sea of merciless crowd who sometimes dun take pregnant ladies seriously and squeeze you like anyone else on the train, not to say giving up seats to you because they will not give up their victory in grabbing a seat in the train (they should do very well with musical chair games). Well, nonetheless, there are still some considerate kind souls ard whom i'm very grateful to. :)

- Becoming 1st time parents: nothing much to comment because i know that no matter how much i'm prepared, i will end up not prepared. It's just beyond my imagination how this is going to be like...

Daddy God will take care of all these! Time for choir pract....oops! need to rush!!