Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Falling in Love.. Again

I have had times in my marriage where I feel frustrated and angsty. But I guess with every marriage, there's always its ups and downs. Let alone our 6 year marriage, plus 4 years of dating before.

There were also times I felt like giving up. But I held on, because I know I'll probably never be able to find another guy like DH, who's loving in his own way.

I am so glad that with gift bestowed upon us, it has strengthened our relationship so much, that I find myself falling in love all over again with DH.

Thank you baby. You'll be born into such a happy, loving family.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

I Wanna Be A Billionaire

You know the song by Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars? It goes "I wanna be a billionaire, so f**king bad. Buy all of the things I never had. I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the Queen".

My chance is here. For some strangest reasons unknown, I dreamt of one of Singapore's top 3 billionaire, Mr Wee Cho Yaw. I wondered if it's the fact I'm working in his building, or its just a precognition, but dream Mr Wee fancied me. Well, not love-fancy, but like "oh, this young girl is capable, I like her attitude" kinda fancy. I spent some time with dream Mr Wee and earned his respect, his bodyguard trusted me and I woke up after sending him to the elevator.

The first thing I told DH went I got up is, "baby, I think we're going to strike it big. I dreamt of Wee Cho Yaw, HUAT ah!"

Why on earth would I dream of someone whom I don't really know how he looks like until this morning when I googled him? More importantly, Singapore's richest man. It HAS to be a sign. I asked DH if there is lottery tonight, and he said, "Yes, TOTO".

"Wah, ho sei liao, HUAT AH!" came my ah lian reply.

Then I realised, I haven't got any cash on me, bummer. I could have go withdraw some later and head down to the 7-11 to buy it, but knowing me, I'd be too lazy.

BUT it's not over!

Sign #2 came.

I walked past 7-11 this morning, which isn't our usual route, and saw that there's a NETS sign at the counter. So I strutted across the road, there was NO ONE in queue, and I asked the lady, "can I buy TOTO and pay with NETS?"

She said, "yes!" And to top it off, she gave me a packet of tissue paper issued by NETS, you only get it if you paid by NETS. Hmph!

There you go! My lucky stars are shining. I bought $10 worth of tickets and one of it could be the winning set tonight.

HUAT AH!!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Finally... We've Past 12 Weeks

Some sources say you're in your second trimester once you past week 12, ie week 13 onwards. Others say second trimester begins in week 14. I say, who cares as long as we've past the first 12 weeks, traditionally the most difficult and vulnerable period? Congrats my little baby, you've come so far.

Looking back, I have been blessed with a smooth first trimester. I sure hope I don't jinx it  by saying this out loud, but I didn't have the "usual symptoms", i.e morning sickness, sore breasts, extreme fatigue. It was to such an extent I worried if everything was going ok, and if I was really pregnant. Dr W said it depends on individual, and each pregnancy differs. I guess I can have a very smooth pregnancy now and feels like shit with my second.

Between week 6 and 8 was the worst I guess, nausea occurs every day almost around the same period - after lunch to before dinner. But it was manageable, no actual vomitting, just nausea. By the time I past week 8, it was the occasion nausea which I think was triggered by hunger or low blood sugar.

Now, at 13 weeks, I'm waking up lesser in the middle of the night to pee, I feel normal and I'm showing! Well.... not really. It's a very small bump which looks more like I over ate at meal times.  However, I have been observing baby bumps versus well, spare tyres. With the latter, it looks flabby and wobbles when you're walking. With baby bumps, they are firmer. Or maybe that's how I like to think.

Two more weeks to next gynae visit... and we will know the gender, hopefully!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

And Now We Wait... Again

Has it only been 5 days since my last ultrasound? Dang, felt like ages ago.

Waiting seems to be the only thing I do these days. So while we wait, might as well do something productive. I've completed the cross-stitch bib which I started at about 7-8 weeks. It's not great nor perfect, but it'll do. I toyed with the idea knitting, but I've never knitted before and I think our weather here is too hot and the yarn material is probably not ideal. Might give baby the itch, that's how I always feel with crochet tops.

Scrapbooking seems like a better idea since I was gonna start some sort of pregnancy journal. So off we went to get the materials from the local art supplies store. I've started a few pages of it, and I hope in the years to come, our child will look at it and feel our love. At the baby's full month celebration, we can even share it with our friends and family.

But now.... let's concentrate on waiting till the next visit.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Second Precious Meeting

After four weeks of agonizing wait, we finally saw our baby on the screen again yesterday. It is simply amazing to see how our baby has come so far, from a little broad bean the size of 1.4cm to a human baby shape of 5.2cm.

When we went for the first scan, I couldn't even make out its shape. All I wanted was to ensure there was a heartbeat. It looked like a bean! But yesterday, my goodness, the baby's shape is formed. We can see the head, the hands and the legs!!

What the sonographer was looking out for is the measurement of the area below the neck where the collection of fluid under the skin is. At our first attempt at 9am in the morning, baby must still be sound asleep, for s/he was all curled up and refused to move! Despite our efforts to wake it by turning my body, coughing and rubbing my belly harder, baby refused to move! S/he was just too comfortable sleeping. After 10 minutes of trying, sonographer suggested I go for a walk, see my gynae and come back later. So off we went with tears of joy in my eyes, DH and I couldn't stop grinning. Baby was soooo adorable. All curled up, just like how mummy likes to sleep!! And when mummy sleeps, mummy can't be disturbed.

An hour later, after seeing Dr W, we went back again in high spirits. I don't mind if I have to spend the whole day at the lab, because I can never get tired of seeing baby on the screen. But this time round, baby was cooperative. Not only was s/he stretched out in such a position that makes measurement easy, s/he was active. Kept moving around and bouncing!!! BOUNCING! *cue tears again*

I was in a mess, with tears and laughter. We saw the little hands and feet, the heartbeat, the nose, the brain. Oh baby, the joy you bring to our lives. DH and I just can't stop thinking about it and he complained he's gonna be in trouble if baby has sleeping habits like mummy.

Oh time, please pass faster so I can see our little one again in yet another four long weeks.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Godsend Angels

I constantly tell myself how blessed I am. There are a million and one things to be thankful for, but today, I want to give thanks to the angels in my life.

The first angel, obviously is the little one in me. The ability to make me so happy even before coming into this world is really something only s/he can do.

But apart from my little baby, there are so many other angels in my life! This morning, I came to work with this note on my laptop:




It is a massive bag of clothes and I can't express my gratitude enough. Though, she's on the smaller side but insist most of these I can wear.

Another friend of mine, who has a 7-month old daughter and been giving me advices, sharing experiences and keeping a lookout for second hand items for me. When we have lunches together, if she thinks that I shouldn't be eating something, she will voice it out. I feel so blessed. Where to find?????

To think that these are just friends of mine, coworkers, no relations at all, are showing such concerns, what have my in-laws done? Not even a single congratulatory sentence! I sometimes hate to think that the baby will have to take after their family name. Best if they don't get involved at all, part time grandparents. That I'd love.

But no, I shouldn't be thinking negative thoughts like this. It will affect the baby. Our baby is going to be so loved by DH and I, as well as my family. I shouldn't let certain people with certain culture affect our happy little family.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Almost One-Third Through the Journey

11 weeks! Baby is 11 weeks old as of yesterday. S/he has come so far from a small little cell, I can't believe how Mother Nature works. *sniffs*

Anyhoo, DH and I are sooo looking forward to this Thursday, I hope everything turns out fine. I'm finally getting around the idea of I really am pregnant, and in another week, I'll be able to share with more people about my bun in the oven.b

On a separate but equally domesticated note, because DH and I get home earlier as compared to when we were at our previous companies,  I have more time to prepare and cook dinner for us during the weekdays. We've decided to stock up at least 3 days worth of groceries for dinner so we won't have to crack our brains on what to eat, and in the process, saving some money and eating healthier.

I've been a little adventurous in the kitchen of late. But it really stemmed from my interest and passion for cooking, because my appetite, especially dinner, doesn't seem to improve much. Last weekend, I tried home-made Ipoh horfun, made from scratch from the fried wantons and the char siew. I got the recipe for char siew from this blog, and it is fairly simple to do. My only problem was I couldn't get the 五花肉 from supermarket and ended up using pork belly, which turned out a bit tough. Otherwise, it is delish.



Ingredients for wantons:
- 150g minced pork
- 6 prawns, minced
- 1 stalk spring onion, finely chopped
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tsp corn flour
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp light soya sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- Wanton skin
- Oil for frying

Mix all the ingredients and wrap the wanton skin with 1 tsp of the paste. Too much of it the skin will get burned while you ensure the fillings are cooked. So 1 tsp should be just about right. Deep fry until light golden brown.



Recipe for char siew: click here


Recipe for the horfun: click here


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Relief

Remember my earlier post on PITA? I'm glad to report this is the case no more. It has been a case of smooth sailing since.

I didn't change my diet much, but I think the cold has somewhat did me good as I've been increasing my fluids intake to ease my cough and soothe my throat. This is a much welcome relief.

On a separate note, we're inching closer to our 6th year anniversary soon! Yay! I wonder what we should do this year. Ever since I left my hotel job, we stopped celebrating our anniversaries with getaways, bummer. I am so keen to go on a holiday before the airlines refuse to accept me, and before baby comes along.

Now where should we go?

Monday, October 1, 2012

Excuse Me Are You a Fetus?

Well, not quite yet but baby is no longer an embryo with a tail! Whilst s/he is officially a fetus next week at week 11, s/he is going through the fetal development now.

My cold has developed somewhat into a dry cough and I sound extremely nasal, but I think this is a sign of recovery. I hate to admit, but cooping up at home and resting actually makes you feel worse. While at work, you have distractions and you don't think about your illness as much.

Next week is a big week! We are going for the OSCAR scan and also seeing Dr W again. Can't wait to see little baby again, it's all I can think about these days. The downside, the waiting time at Dr W's clinic is really quite horrendous. Last visit, we waited 45 minutes.

Then again, we've waited almost a year for this little one to come into our lives, what's another 45 minutes or 7 more months?