My life's Firsts

Ashton.. what a cheerful boy!

2009-09-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

!
i love their cheeky smiles.. brightens up my day!

Ashton learnt to turn!

In his lowered playpen.. he was kind of shocked..

How to get out??

He Is really growing fast!

He just learnt to sit up 2 weeks ago.. and 1 week ago learnt to crawl.. and he is now attempting to stand!

He can "complain" now if i walk away.. calling out "mama mama" and actually makes pitiful faces!

Today, he just learnt to hold his milk bottle and take it out from his mouth and put it back in..

AK & I are so amazed.. Was Jadelle ever that fast? I guess having a sibling push no. 2 to learn faster!

But, i wish he stay a baby longer..:(

time flies.. Jadelle is 3 on 3rd september..

2009-09-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

Crazy over disney princess now..

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Dinner after JAdelle's first movie (G Force). It was her outing with Daddy & Mummy alone!

Choosing her present @ Toys R us! Ariel!! Camera! Cheese!

Trying out those fluffy party hairbands!

Pretty Ballerina..

Digging into her Barbie chocolate sponge cupcake cake in school!

With current best pal - Yixuan!

With her class & teachers!

Cheeky girl & her worned out mummy (A Challenge to run after her to dress her up!!)

Jadelle's a princess on her 3rd birthday!

Latest Family potrait and her 2nd birthday cake!

In school with her Princess cake! Mymmy & Daddy did not work!

.. With her looking like a Princess!

Her Barbie Princess Cupcake cake!

Well, no biggie celebration for her this year.. but it is her first ever birthday celebration in school..and she got to cut 2 cakes.. and spent her day with mummy & daddy in school.

We also took her out to her first Movie and she get to choose 2 presents from Toys R Us.. luckily we didn't break the bank!

Really naughty girl, but so cute when she is nice.. but.. what a nasty temper she has.. sigh..

Officially a SAHM...Ashton is 4 months old..

2009-05-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to return to work on may 10.. things turned as per predicted and I am now a SAHM.. the good thing? no need to serve 2 months notice but still get 2 months salary..

the bad thing? My self esteem is hit. I am unsure about what's next..

Going through some interviews.. see where it brings me.. but I am tired of climbing the corporate ladder to get the next promotion.. I think i am getting older.

Now, just wish to spend more time with my family and less time to think about work. Wish I can stay at home and have $2k min. to spend.. that would be nice.. dreaming about it.. haha..

but then, how to make it come through??

Ashton is 4 months old this coming week and 17 weeks.. Time flies.. he smiles alot.. and can yell really loud. Recognise my face and his daddy's face, and definitely Jadelle's face.. And he can hold his head so well now upright.. already he has learned to flip from tummy to back and just yesterday, he flip from back to tummy.. I was so happy.. I remembered how excited i was about jadelle's development at that time..

Today, i noticed that he has started to explore toys with his mouth and fingers.. can hold his toys really well and aimed for them too.. his grip is so strong..

My little Ashton is growing too fast for my liking.. Soon, he will start his weaning journey.. Getting ready for it slowly now..

2009-04-19T02:05:00.000-07:00

wanchai zhuhai seafood street

Ash & Jade @ Venetian

portuguese food.. - jade having fever..

buying snacks n egg tarts

gondola canal.. n largest shopping mall in macau venetian

back from hong kong.. never again!!

2009-04-19T01:42:00.000-07:00

fresh seafood @ zhuhai

finally @ zhuhai, Hing got stuck due to his passport..

@ Bella Suite in Venetian Macau! 6 adults, 3 infants, 1 room!

Cha Chan Teng @ HK

On ferry to MAcau..

Will never be so ambitious to go so many places with both kids and for 8 days!! Jadelle was difficult and insisted on being carried.. Ashton only wants me, so end up, MIL handled Jadelle.. until she was super tired out..

Had food poisoning in turns, and jadelle & her cousin both kanna high fever and cough in Macau. FIL also had food poisoning (we conclude it was the congee he ta bao back to hotel).

Nevertheless, we did visit the following places all 6 adults and 1 toddler & 2 infants..
- Tsimshashui
- Repulse Bay
- Stanley Market (Bought cute grip socks, burberry jeans n oshkosh jumper, thomas & frens bags and socks)
- The Peak (had dinner @ Bubba Gump with fantastic view)
- Dim sum @ Shamrock seafood restaurant (60 sgd ! Value for $$) and MAxim's Grand palace (200 sgd for best dim sum restaurant in HK!!)
- Wong Tai Sin Temple
- Ladies Market
- Venetian Macau - food court cost us 80 sgd!
- Taipa Village (Macau) - nice to walk!
- Dinner @ Portuguese restaurant Dumbo ) - 60 sgd only
- St Pauls & Senado Square (Macau) - yum yum peanut cookie tasting and great photos! Jadelle blew bubbles @ the Square!
- Shopping & Seafood @ ZhuHai China (60 sgd only! Choose ur own seafood! We had super big and fresh Osyters, scallops, fish, clams, etc!!)
- Shopping @ Sogo in HK (Bought 2 Longchamp bags @ real steal of 180sgd!)
- Old wife's biscuits shopping
- Disneyland (expensive!! but so much fun!!)

spare tyre..

2009-04-02T03:11:00.000-07:00

ok, i feel like a goddamn spare tyre at home.. MIL jaga jadelle.. maid jaga ashton.. i only feel useful during ashton's feeding time.. but cannot latch so often liaoz.. he seemed to be rejecting the bottle!!

and i feel so useless also about my work! Now on ML, helpless.. dun understand wat's happening at work..

My pay was cut this month.. is this allowed??

sahm?? haha..

2009-03-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

some thinks that being a tai tai is a luxury that one enjoy if their ah lau earn enough.. but, how much is enough?

the last 3 months, in spite of uncertainty, i been going thru the lifestyle of a SAHM and been shopping on weekdays, eating out with frenz, fetching my girl to school.. time flies..

mostly enjoyable.. these past 3 months, i had alot of help and support from in laws and maids.. a piviledge that few enjoy. yet, increasingly, i feel so lonely.. so out of touch.. very unwanted, the spare tyre to entertain.

@ MIL place, jadelle is handled by her (feeding, playing, washing, bathing etc) and i am mostly ignored by her, made worse by the fact that i have a permanent milk sucker latched on. when she doesn't want MIL< instead of me, she ask for my SIL to do stuff with her... this hurts so badly.. but i "ren".. cos, they still love her, not like torturing her?

but when she exhibits selfish behaviour that i condone and insist on correcting, i become the bad person. and she runs even more to the shelter of her grandparents and auntie for comfort and hugs.. frankly, i don't know how to correct... i only know my mum's method.. which only is applied when i go crazy and turn white with anger.. then, i lose control for that few minutes...i am actually capable of whacking my girl until she turn unconscious..that i am no better then my past caregivers..

i want to leave it all behind now. i despise this lifestyle and question why i have to be bogged down by all these? i want to be free.. yet i chose this.. love ain't enough after all.. i say this after so many years of dating.. cos we dun juz marry for love. u marry the entire family, u get bogged down by commitments and chained to a job u hate, u get driven mad by ur own flesh and blood..

my take? stay single & RICH AND HAVE COMMITMENT FREE FLINGS..

if one has to marry, choose one that is filthy rich - no commitment issues.. and oh yes, not in danger of going bankrupt and turning penniless.. (but u have to work extra hard to keep that man's eyes on u alone.) This way, u get to enjoy a tai tai life, spend as much money as u like, no need to slog for a salary to pay the bills.. and yes.. i hate to say this.. but it is true after all..

LOVE IS THE LOWEST RANK OF IMPORTANCE..cos, love fades..especially in the face of the daily grind of our lives..

now, since i had fallen into the pit with a glance at a miserable 0..3 carat ring, and tied myself further into this prison with 2 children.. and a seeming lack of communication with the other half.. won't be surprised if he seeking comfort from the crazy ice queen at home in the arms of another woman..what can i do?

wat is the way out? i am a mental case, i hug my girl in public but can possibly whack her senseless in private if i really go bonkers.. she aint safe with me..

divorce? thought about it.. useless..no job, no patience with my kids, kids being attached to in laws..unless i canwalk away from it all? can i bear to do that??

jadelle is insecure and in her terrible twos..

2009-03-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

i am typing this feeling very down.. since ashton's arrival.. she has been feeling insecure and attention seeking from us and her grandparents and auntie..

yet, when she is sweet, she asked about Ashton and ask to sleep next to him etc.. i see her kissing him also..

but, her manner of seeking attention and getting her own way: screaming and crying and flailing her arms around and kicking and slapping people.. is driving me crazy..

Why does she do that? When she wants something, she juz turn on the tap.. was it because her grandparents give in to her tears too much and she keep pushing the limit? or was it a manner of seeking attention?

She knows that she has to share my attention with Ash. and she demands full attention from her grandma and auntie.

Recently, she has been demanding the items her auntie bought and meant to give her own son, Maderick. Is this her way to get the attention of her aunt to herself? to feel wanted? or is it just simply terrible twos?

When we do not give in, or the request is simply not achievable, no amount of reasoning is accepted by her and she starts throwing her tantrums and turning on the tap.

yes, i know it sounds exactly like me.. she behaved exactly like me when i was young.. what did my mum do? told me off in a firm and no nonsense voice to stop yelling.. and when that fails, she slapped me..

i told myself not to do that, to be patient, but i am at the brink of my sanity.. this week, i did the following to her:

slapped her face 4x
spanked her butt 5x
hit her hands 5x
cleaned her face agressively with a towel until marks appeared..
shouted at her in loud voices
threatened her to behave by warning that privileges will be removed.

AK also been behaving rather aggressively to her. he just flipped/ threw her on the bed after she vomitted and kept crying nonstop and refused to wear a particular pants..

she got headlice from her classmates.. we are trying to resolve this and it has been a very stressful period for me..

When Ashton and Jadelle both screamed.. i yelled at them and screamed and hit and whack back..

it is of no help that:

1) my relatives shunned me and indirectly blamed me for putting them in danger of contacting headlice..
2) i still have no luck in hunting for a new job
3) i feel so tired from breastfeeding, pumping (so little i can pump out.), handling jadelle and latching Ashton on every 2 hrs, instructing the maid, listen to nonsense from PIL, ferrying everyone to PIL place every morning, bring jadelle to school etc.
4) AK been yelling at me about my parenting method.

I dun think i can cope now.. my mind is full of negative stuff.. i feel despair.. what happened to my sweet girl? i can see in her eyes she dun want me already..

Already, she dun feel like my daughter, more like my MIL's grandaughter..

i wish i can die and leave everything behind in peace.....maybe i get peace of mind?

or maybe, i can leave all behind.. i dun think MIL will ever let me take care of their grandchildren if i ever file a divorce with AK..

Ashton went shopping with mummy... and can hold a rattle!

2009-03-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Baby Ash is growing up fast.. where did the time go?? Already, he can grasp his rattle well.. coos to Jade & us, put his hands on my chest when milkflow is slow and whines when he see me (his beloved pacifier) not carrying him..

We went Orchard today.. met some of the Jan 09 mummies.. whew.. not easy to sling him in MIM sling now!! gotta convert to bjorn and if go out with him alone, i will bring stroller!!

taxi from orchard to home.. 6 sgd..

had a coffee @ Dome.. as usual, my beloved macchiato.. wonders when can i be tai tai permanently.. as in.. got spare moolah to spend without wondering about budgeting for the family.. dream on..

time flies by.. ash iz 9 weeks..

2009-03-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Gathering of Jan 2009 babies - Ashton's 1st appearance..

on his new bunk bed..

sleeping in his beloved maxi cosi car seat on the zapp frame..

jalan @ kallang leisure park..

have been lazy...not been blogging as i should be...

Ashton is growing well and more alert.. he can lift up his head very strongly today while on tummy time..

and he started to smile at us @ 7 weeks old.. quite early!

We also made his passport..ready to go hong kong..

he is more talkative now.. and recognise me well.. and he seemed addicted to my breast.. i latch him mostly. and this round managed to store 1 pack a day..of about 120ml to 180ml on average..

now fridge got 40 packs.. no space liaoz..

full month celebration part 2..Jadelle adapting to school..

2009-02-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

it was fun to see our friends.. and, i must admit that it was better to split the groups.. more manageable.

food from YLS ain't that great. not going to cater from there again.

AShton was a good boy and slept alot. great grandma and granduncles all saw, carried him etc. and jadelle's friends came over to play too..

Since confinement is over, we started to port maid, me, jadelle, ashton & all the barang barang over to MIL's place during weekdays.

And i brought jadelle to school... Monday was terrible.. she screamed when i left after lunch, and when i returned 1.5 hrs later.. she was still screaming

Tuesday the duration was even longer..i left before lunch.. and returned after playground time was over.. she hanged onto the granny of another boy.. must be remind her of grandma.

During the missing times, i was expressing milk inthe toilet.. and i peeked at her all the way..

By Thursday, she was actually better.. though she still cries when i drop her off.. but when we wait for her after school, she comes out smiling..

How i bring her? by bus! it was an adventure to her.. i tried different routes.. most convenient is to take bus 31 & 857 and cross over the overhead bridge. not too hot! and sheltered!

Ashton's full month celebration part 1 over!

2009-02-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

Today, went for breakfast at Mac. though i still cannot eat normal food, i still can take bread & milo? so end up eating hotcakes. but sneaked a few mouthfuls of hash browns.. and chilli..keke.

then went home, rest, pumped, put jadelle to rest for her noon nap,then arrived blk 13 about 5:30pm. AK's relatives started arriving already.

comments heard:
1) Baby got high nose
2) Why i lose weight so fast
3) Ashton look like who?

Jadelle played and fought and ran about, with a running nose. Ashton? He drank and cried and poo.. and was carried by the maid in between.

Reached home so late.. and tired..

Jadelle just vomitted out her phlegm, Ashton whimpering away.. and i have a blocked duct!! ouch!!

Part 2 celebration tomorrow. i think i will be tired..

finishing confinement!!

2009-02-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

Today, will wipe clean everything with the pomelo leaves.. bathe with it.. and change all bedsheets.. then will go pray and i am done with confinement! though still must control my diet..

Full month celebration over 2 days! Sat & Sunday!

Ashton's ear is getting better.. and PD called to say not Step B infection, so just got to keep things clean..

Maid broke down yesterday. Apparently, she understand cantonese and mandarin & overheard comments made by FIL about her transmitting bacteria to Ashton.. which is totally uncalled for accusation. She was frightened that I will send her back! And broke down when i was grappling with 2 screaming kids, trying to ask her to measure out medication for Ashton ( i asked her abit crossly to tilt the bottle to get the medication into the syringe).. Yikes!!!

Later on, i explained to her i am anxious and trying to cope with the situation but did not mean anything.

Sigh.. Another infection.. poor Ashton now has ear infection..

2009-02-11T08:02:00.001-08:00

Geez... this is getting worrying.. Ashton gets a new infection every week? even when he was on augmentin, one of the stronger antibiotics.. this round, his ear... PD Dr. Simon Ng suspects that one of us is a Step B carrier who might be making him prone to infection.. or.. if not, we have to look closer at his immune system..we wait for medical report on the swab test and see how..

PIL getting extremely worried and nervous. Immediately blamed on the new maid not cleaning his ears dry after bath and possibly bringing in germs from her village and might be the step B carrier. FIL acts over protective. Ask me to bath Ashton myself, and put him inside my room etc. I feel that it is wrong to blame the maid. afterall, step b carriers can be created from people who went to hospitals.. this includes me, AK, his dad.. almost ANYONE..

Jadelle miss school today. MIL gave excuse about her swollen leg (insect bite) and brought her to see GP. i called up school. spoke to principal. Apparently school teachers are aware of MIL negative impression and say that it makes it harder for jadelle to integrate into the school program.

They denied alleged accusations of sand fly bites from the school which possibly might caused all the insect bites on jade's face & legs etc.. and insisted temperature checks and checks for HFMD is all in place. Also, Principal insisted that they clean their facilities very vigilantly, inspite of appearance of the playground.

Looks like MIL is biased. likely also resentful, due to the distance etc and travelling. i have decided to bring jadelle there next week myself and integrate her myself. at least i have 4 months.. then i decide again..

Ashton at 3 weeks 2 days

2009-02-10T19:59:00.001-08:00

Mum says he looks like me when i was that tiny ...hmm....

My thoughts on my confinement.. now that it is almost ending!!

2009-02-08T18:51:00.001-08:00

This round has been more relaxing and less stressful, without a CL around, more familiar with BF and a more cooperative Ashton..

Yet, at times, i feel strained too.. especially with Jadelle also demanding my attention. Strangely, both demand for milk at same timing, and both wants my attention one after another.. When jadelle finally sleeps,Ashton will wake up and cry for his turn, when Ashton finally sleeps, Jadelle will cry for attention etc..They even planned their poo-ing one after another!!

I feel like octopus! And Jadelle being in her terrible twos and insecure state.. it really strenous on me and AK..

AK tried to help, but it seems he is so tired.. many times in the middle of the night, i will be latching Ashton on, patting jadelle and almost falling off the bed from the tiredness.. and the Bed is really too small for 4 pax! I am so fearful that Ashton will roll off 1 night!

Jadelle's into her terrible twos...driving daddy & mummy nuts!!

2009-02-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

We spent our weekend tell her NO so many times, it might have hit 100 times! This morning was ultimate.. somehow, she got her hands on the 100% aloe vera gel, opened it up, and squeezed it onto her face and mouth..

i was sleeping like a pig when suddenly this angelic voice goes.." mummy, mummy!! arrgghh arrghhhh!!"... i opened my eyes, peered at her and jumped up in fright cos the aloe vera gel was in her hands, half its contents gone, and she pointed to her mouth and started to wail..

YIKES!!

grabbed her, almost dragging her into the toilet, and shouting at her for being so silly..starting wiping her face and hands and rinsing her mouth.. the whole time i was scolding her, telling her that it is poisonous (which it wasn't, phew..) and things cannot be put into th mouth without asking us..

After i calmed & cooled down and regretted my reaction, which by then, the princess was already frightened to bits and started sobbing.. told her if she like it so much, i can pour the balance into her mouth.. and she shook her head vigorously NO, NO!!

When i have calmed down, i explained to her that she scared me and frightened me and cos i am afraid she swallowed the gel, i have to react fast to rinse it out and told her not to swallow creams that is on the baby trolley but to ask us first.

Jadelle understood every single word....... still amazed at her speech growth and analytic skills.

I then went on to ask her why mummy scold her and why jadelle cry? she said cos jadelle eat the aloe vera gel..

Sigh.. she was just being curious...... but, oh dear, the cat calling the kettle black.. what about me inserting the battery into my nose when i was 6 and frightening Uncle Paul almost to death??

Really, like mother like daughter... hmm..i wonder if Grandma Josephine was ever that naughty & curious.. just she kept it well hidden.. this character must have come from my mum or dad!

back to PD agan.. 3rd time in 2 weeks since his birth.. this round for neonatal breast Mastitis!!

2009-02-07T08:27:00.002-08:00

My poor son.. seen the PD 3 times since birth!

1st was the regular visit for jaundice - passed
2nd was for the horrible pustales around his eyes..
and now, for neonatal breast mastitis! We saw a swelling on his nipple, including some pus on Thursday, which we did not notice on Wednesday.. alarmed, the maids rush to tell me.. initially i that that it was a new pustale located at the most awkward location.. yet, something tells me that the pus is so small, but the swelling behind it, so big.. maybe better return to the PD..

Dr. Simon Ng was fast.. he took a look and announced neonatal mastitis = breast infection from blocked milk ducts! i was stunned.. huh??

I knew that infants have milk in their breasts.. in the 1st few weeks of life.. but blocked ducts? and even worse, infection?

He was give Augmentin! i was arrghhh? So strong?? I still know my drugs.. goes to show..but he said that for infants with this, this is most appropriate medication.

and was asked to apply the cream which he gave us for the pustales.. sigh..

Mom concludes that it is the playpen assembly during confinement at work.. suggested to dismantle it but, Ashton will sleep where? dilemma!! My heart hurts to see my wee little boy wincing in pain when i feel around his infected nipple.. he is a brave boy..

Getting to know my son more these 3 weeks had been fun.. he takes after AK in behaviour, patterns.. sneezes like him too.. normally, at least twice when he kanna a sneeze attack..

He is a quiet and not so demanding baby so far.. but once provoked, really give us his super loud wails as if to prove his point!

He loves to sleep next to me at night! And if i put him back to playpen, he will fussed to be carried!

Ashton got neonatal mastitis.

2009-02-07T08:27:00.001-08:00

Jadelle starts school! and came home with bites all over her face!

2009-02-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

My girl starts school liaoz.. it was chaotic and mummy wasn't around.. as she is still stuck in confinement..

seems that my MIL thinks the school sucks.. dirty (mouldy overalls?) and teachers bo chap when the kids fight.. and MIL complains that the afternoon sun is bad for the kids.. i paid more then 1k for this type of quality???

seems like MIL thinks that JG is better?

wish i was there.. but anyway, she play sand on 1st day.. (MIL complain sand is dirty!) and next day, she had BITES and swelling all over her face & eyes! sob sob...

i think it is sand fly bites! i just called the school to complain.. hope they will clean up their act.

really disappointed..

oh, Ashton's pustales are recovering well, and he is going through growth spurt also.. been a tiring night for me..

now planning for his full month party..

2009-02-01T00:17:00.001-08:00

Sleeping Ashton

2009-02-01T00:14:00.001-08:00

Ashton is 12 days old..

2009-01-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

time flies when one is so busy.. DS is now 12 days.. but he developed pustales.. look like pimple outbreak!! n so near his eyes....painful! these are supposed to be normal, but his is very big and numerous and spreads all over face, back, body, eyelids... sob sob..

even jadelle is concerned.. ask me to put cream on didi's eyelids!

we have been to PD, even he got a shock.. but still insist iz normal. just that he had it really bad. & was given cream to apply to the areas around the eyes, as well as areas on his body & neck..

other then this, he has been a good baby.. latching every 2-3 hrs and sleeping in between.. pooing & wee wee as per normal.. i can grab 3-4 hrs of sleep in between at night.. about 1am to 5am..he wakes up 1am, 4am, 6am and 8:30am.. but not much interrupted, as when i am sleepy, i juz give up and ly down and feeding him at the same time..

so different from jadelle's 1st 2 weeks of life!

Aside from latching him, i am expressing on average an extra 70-90ml every day... this amount, i only give him when he is really fussing.. otherwise, trying to boost up supply and ensure i have advance supply in excess for him..

things are so much easier this round..

2009-01-24T01:57:00.001-08:00

2009-01-24T01:55:00.001-08:00

1st day and night at home with Ashton..

2009-01-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Ashton's home finally.. he had to stay one more night as he had mild jaundice.. was relieved when his level dropped and allowed to come home..

as he did not poo much initially, AK & I decide to let him take abit of FM in hospital, while i try to express colostrum/ EBM..

he came home sleepy leh.. looks like 60ml is too much for him..lasted him from 8:45am to 1pm!

we had an uneventful night. latched him every 2-3 hrs.. (each breast). his last feed @ 12am, i latch him 2 sides so that he can sleep abit longer..and his next feed was dragged until 5am. with a poo & wee wee in between.. crossing fingers that this will continue..

Maid wise, so far so good.. maybe i ain't demanding much lah..

now blogging as i am using my medela freestyle.. hmm.. suction is good.. but but.....milk supply still stuck inside breasts.. can feel the lumps still.. sigh.. each time expressing only 20-30ml, even on a full breast.. why like this huh? i really tried liaoz.. still cannot, i pump only when i go back work liaoz.. sigh..

visiting time.. and jadelle's first view of her brother..

2009-01-19T06:29:00.000-08:00

After sending out announcement messages.. visitors start arriving.. who came?

jason, priscillia, joanne, mum, dad, francis, cynthia, huaqing, wenqi, lilian, hing, maderick, AK's parents.. nora.. and of course, the most important visitor to us at this point, JADELLE...

asked wenqi & gang to help take pictures and to hide the baby first.. so that i won't be carrying baby when she comes in..

She was so happy to see me.. i asked her to touch my tummy.. ask her where is didi? then i whispered to her that doctor persuaded didi to come out already. and he is ready to meet his big sister.. and that he bought a present for her.. does she want to know where he is? she stared around, sitting next to me.. my girl's eyes were so big..

then AK pushed in the baby with a present inside meant for jadelle.. he told jadelle that she has a present for didi also.. and say that didi has a present for her.. does she want to give didi her present?

she nod her head.. and we told her that didi also has present for her.. does she want to know wat didi give her?

she nod yes.. and took it.. and say thanks to didi.. and i helped her open it up..

she like the goofy baby towel.. and later on, we taught her how to carry didi.. mum helped.. she kissed him! i was soo relieved.. hope this last..

then when Ashton start to wail.. she exclaimed.. don't cry!! we all laughed.. i hug her and praised her..

NEXT Hurdle: her acceptance of me breastfeeding the baby..

I ask her.. jadelle how? didi so small? how are we going to feed him? he need energy to carry milk bottle.. and milk bottle too big now..

i ask her ok to feed milk milk? she say yes.. feed milk! i ask her: but where to get milk from? she looked around for milk powder.. so i said.. remember when u baby, where you drink milk from? so can mummy feed didi nan nan? she nod yes..

Drew the curtains. i latched the baby as he was crying.. and i ask jadelle, is this correct? u tell didi.. he still learning..jadelle nod head yes.. correct.. and asked to carry.. so i tell her still not yet drink finish.. wait a while..

she left me and didi behind, saying good night.. and knowing she will come find me tomorrow.. i miss my princess already..

Announcing baby Ashton's arrival...@ week 38, 5 days..

2009-01-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

I have yet to update about the past week's event, and have already pop.. so much happened this last week..

Jadelle was ill with phlegm and running nose.. and cried for me at night and vomit out phlegm at night..

Then maid arrived on Saturday.. so much to teach her..

Sunday was reunion's dinner with AK's extended family.. we joked about me eating the good stuff before i pop.. ate crab, yusheng, seafood etc.

Observed Nora, my new maid.. abit slow and not much detail about caring for my girl.. but need to give her time, only 2nd day.

Hope Lily can help out more when i am back home.

my birth story:

1:30am: tummy ache.. no pass motion past few days.. cleared my bowels 2x.. but still feel like going toilet..

6+am: wake up to go toilet again... poo another 4x.. but still feel unclear.. and totally unlike jadelle's time of menstrual cramps..did not associated it with contractions.. until.. the feeling stretched until the spine..

7:30am: Woke up AK, he was due to wake up for work anyway.. "dear, i think i having contractions leh.. past 1 hr got min. 6-8 times.."

but not sure of how regular it was, so asked him to shower n i monitor.. 7 minutes interval..

8am: called gynae for advice.. pretty confirmed it is contractions! but no show, no water bag bursting.. by this time, Jadelle has woken and knew that something was up! she had abit of biscuits with mummy..who gobbled down cereal oats and bird's nest..

9am: by this time, Lily and AK's parents came over already.. we gave Lily a list of instructions to show Nora basic stuff done in blk 38... hope we don't overwhelm her..

9:45am- 10am: we leave blk 38.. Jadelle cried.. wants mummy to go with her to ye ye's car.. mummy whispered to jadelle that doctor wants to help didi to come out from mummy's tummy.. so we go find doctor first.. later, didi will say hi to her..

10:30am: told AK to turn into Geylang Bahru hawker centre.. it's my last chance to grab watever i want to eat! Ate Thai coconut, mee rubus, chwee kueh.. and suddenly we both missed Jadelle.. feels upset without her being around.. until contractions hit.. every 6-7 minutes.. AK & I contemplated going to the clinic first or straight to Mt. A..

11am: decided to go straight to mt. A.. by then, i was moaning softly and grabbing AK when contractions hit.. every 5-6 minutes.. but still tolerable.. checked into delivery suite 8.. 5 cm dilated! Nurse say it's my last chance to decide for Happidural or not.. i knew i can go without it.. but was afraid that i will push too early.. the urge to poo.. very strong.. so i opted for it.. but this time, not much time to rest..told anesthesist about last round's event to warn him.. he was confident not due to epidural.. i ask for normal dosage.

12 noon: AK start to get nervous..he estimated another 3-4 hrs?

12:30pm: Chandra checked me.. burst water bag.. Iwas surprised at the lack of water.. so much for expecting a gush like jadelle's time into the toiletbowl!

1:45pm: suddenly felt contractions through the epidural.. was surprised.. as the screen did not show any contractions.. was very puzzled.. intercom the nurse.. she checked..10 cm dilated.. flurry of activity suddenly.. all nurses started to panic and get busy... my bladder was super full from the coconut.. and um, caught the nurse by surprise.. the floor was wet before she can capture it properly into the urine bag..

was quickly taught how to push..

next wave..push push push.. was surprised.. it all came back naturally.. baby head became juz behind perinium..

one more wave.. push push push.. every one got excited..

another wave.. chandras say it is going very well..

and another wave.. chandras say likely he can stretch me without episiotomy.. ask me to push gently.. but he overmotivated me.. so happy can go without episiotomy.. i push too hard.. and got a little tear.. everyone got a scare.. thought the baby will fly out.. darn! stitches again! heng this round iz small stitch!

1:56pm: Baby Ashton Kwok arrived! 3.020 kg, 47cm tall, double eyelids.. screaming into the world.. Chandras put him on my lap.. this round, i am much more lucid.. saw my boy arrived. saw the placenta.. didn't know it was so small..and saw umbilical cord.. i thought i saw it around his shoulder..

AK asked gynae to cut the cord.. everyone was puzzled and he explained that he gotta be fair to Jadelle as he did not have the chance to cut her cord.. OOHH... the labour ward's team's reaction... AK was so relieved that this round was so smooth..

i latched Ashton's on once the epidural tubes were removed.. he is a good learner.. looks like i dun need to pump so much if i want.. will try to do tandem pumping to increase milk storage supply.. otherwise, i will be darn tired in the months ahead.. not used to carrying a 3+kg baby again..

We rested and waited nervously for jadelle to come.. next story..

am officially week 36...... and the wait begins..

2008-12-30T06:57:00.000-08:00

So far, i haven't post much about how Baby A behaves inside my womb.. maybe, now i will do it.. before i forget..

He has been a strong baby.. resilient (= no early bleeding) and has been giving me a relatively hassle-free pregnancy (i was walking about and rushing all over the place for work, study and time with Jadelle) and am non the worst for it.

Juz drove my BMW again today as i had no choice but to go up to sembawang for a meeting.. the bmw makes driving with a huge tummy relatively painfree, bump free and easy cruising.. of course, i kept to the speed limit and dun drive like my normal self.. ah.. almost lah.. keke..

last time with Jadelle, i stopped driving the Marchie @ week 28...

Baby A, he loves to play in the evenings and at night.. hope he can reverse this.. and he love the sound of his sister.. cos he kicks whenever she is talking to him or when i am talking to her. hmm.. maybe fighting for attention?

Jadelle is getting aware of baby A's pending arrival.. I am trying to put things in a positive note to her.. like how didi when he comes out, no strength hold milk bottle, so mummy gotta help, jadelle can help also..and teach didi how to drink milk from mummy.. also telling jadelle that soon she will have her own baby brother to play with and no have to wait to go out to see other babies.. which she fully agree with me..

Am also preparing her for her N1 classes.. am talking to her positively about it.. gotta prepare her Barney bag, her mickey mouse water bottle.. and some comfort stuff like her mickey pillow, her favorite rabbit pampers (drypantz pull ups).. and likely i will put in stuff that she can opt to share with her new friends.. like biscuits in her barney lunchbox?

Am sad that i am unlikely to go with her. Will get Daddy to bring her on her first day with Grandma.. My girl going to school ALONE, UNACOMPANIED.. will i get used to that??

next round, when she go N2 and K1, i'll make sure i will be able to make it.

As i am typing this, she is sleeping soundly.. on my bed.. when will she be out of my bed? probably when i can get over my addiction to her? keke.. it is more mummy & daddy who are reluctant to give up cosleeping.. looks like i should have bought a KING size bed instead..

photo shoot pictures are out..

2008-12-27T02:12:00.001-08:00

Can be viewed at http://www.slide.com/r/zBngdCB55D_KhFpGiD8DBrYbnVnomHiy?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

maternity shots for Baby A

2008-12-27T01:03:00.001-08:00

Exam results out!!

2008-12-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

Academic Year
Semester
Module Code
Module Title
Grade
2008/2009

RE5001
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
A-

RE5002
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
B-

RE5003
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
A

Passed everything!! Yah!! Really surprised at the results, as Real Estate Investment Analysis was my preeve.. the study group really helps.. am grateful for such support from my classmates when AK was down with dengue etc...

ver pleased with my 2As..

My exam results

2008-12-22T18:19:00.001-08:00

Baby A is 2.3kg, very low down, but anot yet engaged..

2008-12-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

At 34 weeks plus.. Baby A is quite on par with jadelle's weight @ similar timing.. the only diff? He is not in OB position, so delivery this round likely to be easier.. and he is much lower then expected, so Dr. Chandras expect him to arrive earlier.. latest is 1 week before EDD.. but since i am 10 more days to week 36.. he say, anytime also ok.. gotta prepare everything liaoz.. this means that Baby A will be lighter then Jadelle..

I hope he can latch on well, i can pump out more milk this round, he will be a guai guai bb boy and dun keep crying so that i can cope better with jadelle's transition to a big jie jie..

oh dear.. the chinese medical stuff.. i super blur what to prepare leh..

Haven't got the prezzie for jadelle ready... what to get her?

kitchen playset? mickey mouse watch? if watch, digital or clock face?

next check up will be on 5th Jan..

meantime, unsure what to do about my work. Do i start my maternity earlier? how much earlier?

week 34.. and back from a well deserved 2D1N break with AK @ Batam Turi Beach..

2008-12-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

Am in the holiday mood.... and also brooding over the pending arrival of Baby A and the changes he will bring along to us..

Took a well deserved 2D 1N break with AK.. it was a good choice.. selected Turi Beach resort.. and upgraded to their new rooms.. which AK likes alot.. and less mosquitoes.. (he is fearful of mosquitoes now!).

It was the 15th of the Lunar Month and the moon was bright and gives a nice romantic sheen to the short holiday.

We deposited Jadelle with MIL on Friday morning.. and told her she will be spending her night with grandma, which she understood.. we then decided to drive straight to the ferry terminal @ tanah merah, and parked our car overnight (cost us 23 bucks, equal to taking taxi to & fro!)

Ferry ride was uneventful and we sat in aircon area for 25 min. Arrived at hotel by 11am Indonesian Time. We were given our rooms early.. it was a standard room in the Riani wing.. hmm.. very very basic.. and dim and there is this strong insect repellent smell..

we decided to explore this resort first.. and discovered a new Tirta wing, which is soooo nice.. fell in love with the view and the room's design.. we enquired and just have to top up 60 sgd to upgrade.. after some discussion with AK, we decided to take the upgrade.. and while the rooms are being prepared, we decided to take a taxi to Batam Centre (90,000rupiah = ~14 sgd ) to explore one of the shopping centres called mega mall.

Being Friday, it was very quiet and business was poor.. We bought a rootbeer float from A&W (We really missed that!) and went up to check out the movies in the cineplex.. and got a pleasant when we realise that they were showing the latest movie: the day the earth stood still/ keanu reeves. and best part? it cost only 2+sgd per pax! We immediately bought tickets! after the show, we went to grab a twin personal pan pizza set from pizza hut.. (6 sgd), 6 J Co. donuts (6 for 4 +sgd) and bought some cheap cartoon dvds for jadelle and bought 1 packet of fishballs.

Went back to the resort. checked into our new room (we got a further complimentary upgrade to pool view, which gives us a seaview plus nearer to the pool), and had our dinner in the room..

Chit chatting was like such a treasured time, we didn't have to rush through dinner, and we both mutually discovered that it has been 2 years + since our last trip to Hong Kong/ Macau since we travelled alone!

Eversince, we never travelled without Jadelle! Of course, after that, i did make solo trips to Shanghai, Australia etc.. for work & with Joyce.. but not together with AK.

It was a full & satisfying dinner, with sea breeze, moonlit night etc. After dinner, we decided to take a walk to the boardwalk/ jetty. had the sense to grab my cardigan.. the night was nice and breezy and under the moon, it wasn't that dark.. saw the local hotel staff fishing off the end of the jetty..

Finally turned in at close to midnight.. we had an uninterrupted sleep (no Jadelle whining to us to pat her or give her milk!) and woke up for breakfast..nothing special, but they had omelette.. and coffee was nice.. overate.:(

decided to go for a swim at the pool.. there are 2 pools.. we decided to take the one closer to our room, what i called the honeymoon pool as it is more picturesque and deeper and no kids.. and to my surprise, they have piped music surrounding that pool! That made alot of diff!

The sun was out, it was not as cloudy as yesterday.. and we spend like ~1 hr there.. the view was nice.. and basically, my brain stopped working.... it has been so busy over the last few months!!

Can see that AK also was enjoying the break from routine.. especially after his bout with dengue.. he has been stressed up with workload also..

Well, at least we are fair to Baby A, cos we did go to Hyatt JB when i was pregnant with Jadelle..

People at the resort are pleasantly surprised at me being pregnant.. some initially did not realise that i am pregnant..

oh.. after our breakfast and swim, we showered and packed our stuff and checked out.. Wandered around and realise that the spa in the hotel is actually reasonable ( SG rates, like 58 sgd for a 1 hr body massage?), definitely cheaper then Bintan!

But of course, Batam Centre offers cheaper rates for manicure & pedicure (4 sgd each?) and am sure that massage is half this price! No.. we didn't have time to do massage, and no way, AK will let me do it!

Next trip, will bring jadelle when baby A is older..:) missed her alot when we were there.. if i ain't heavily pregnant, would have brought her along..

Took the ferry back and decided to sit out at the top to enjoy the seabreeze and sunshine back on the ride back home.. It was less choppy, but of course, i had to climb to the top of the flight of stairs on the ferry. but it was a good end to the short holiday.

Now that it is over, it is time to get down to work and prepare for Baby A's arrival.

At week 32, i am so darn light @ 49kg!

2008-12-03T17:31:00.000-08:00

Its been almost 2 months since my last posting.. life has been tough since.. with hubby down with dengue, at the worst possible timing ( i was rushing my masters' projects, my work projects, preparations for exams etc.).

And i managed to survive through all my examinable papers...1 was better then expected as i was initially soooo worried about it, the other was worse then i expected.. sigh..

Now 23rd dec, i will know if i get the min. CAP score of 3.0 or an equivalent of B-......... geez.. this is WAY WAY far off compared to undergraduate times when even a B+ doesn't satisfy me!

oh, i went for gynae check up last night.. Baby A is now 1.71kg.. average size.. he should not be a big baby when i pop.. hmm.. hopefully next visit @ 35 weeks, he can be close to 2.5kg.. likely he will be ~2.8kg when i pop.. lighter then jadelle who was 3.19kg..

so far, i gained 7kg.... we shall see..

Maternity shots coming up on December 20th... a good chance to document jadelle's growth too!

And, to take my break before the bedlam hits... will be finally going for an overnight trip to Turi Beach resort with AK alone on the 12th December...without Jadelle.. we both need a break..

Stuff that we have added on so far for baby A:
- maxi cosi infant car seat ( to clip onto the ZAPP)
- Stroller padding
- more polo ralph lauren clothing!
- Bedding sheets from IKEA (blue bubbles as selected by his big sister Jadelle)
- more cute rompers from Song & Song (3 sgd each!)
- disney rompers from Bendemeer factory outlets (8 sgd each!)
- milk bottles (NUK, Pigeon, AVENT)
- breastpump (PIS advanced & Avent Isis from USA @ 20% off.. i both both pumps @ 450 nett, inclusive of alot of other stuff also.. am not expecting to latch so often as may not have time!)
- pigeon pacifiers (yes.. decide to succumb, cos i dun want him to disturb jadelle's sleep!)

Gynae asked if we have any questions.. and checked that i have reserved my ward already.. i start to panic.. am i that close to popping? I was asked to stop driving by next gynae visit @ week 35.

Oh yes, took my urine test yesterday and my glucose shoot up, but since Baby A is average size and the amnio fluid is ok level, ain't in much danger yet of a super big baby.... i blame it on the coffee & durian ice kacang and curry puff and.. tapioca chips i snacked on that day!

2008-10-24T19:25:00.001-07:00

week 24+ and upheavals worldwide...

2008-10-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

its been an exhausting week, with the financial turmoil playing havoc on our mundane lives. classmates in the masters' class are affected negatively and our personal portfolios have plunged like 30%?

Economy suddenly turned into recession.. and this in turn worries us, the man on the street.. Already grappling with inflation and higher cost of living since last year, suddenly, job security becomes the new "in" word again.. so ironical as it hits 10 years ago in similar situation as students..

Having changed jobscope, i find myself struggling for the last 3 weeks to come to terms with the fact that i have returned to the construction industry by chance without any practical experience post graduation, until now.

The last 2 weeks been so hectic.. i feel like i am constantly fighting fire. Seems like in the initial period at least, i have zero time to rest, in between balancing and trying to finish all my masters' projects, my work and still have time for my Jadelle and Andy..

We went to T3 today for dinner and jadelle went nuts.. i think she took too much sugar and was hyperactive.:( She has been growing really fast.. soon, i think we will be arguing with her on what she can/ cannot do. and her temper and stubborness is as bad as us. sigh..

Weighed ourselves at the weighing machine there (meant for luggage!) and i weight 47.4kg.. jade weighs 11.7kg, and AK 71.4kg..

This means that in the space of 1 week, i put on additional 1.5kg! i think i will end up with 10 kg manz..

week 23+ and baby A is 589 gms!

2008-10-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

Had a rushed visit to gynae on my b-day during lunch time..

Baby A is confirmed 100% boy, and all clear for the detailed scan on all aspects. He has started to turn around but still might turn again..

He was active as usual and cheekily showed his genitals to gynae, who laughed cos he says that for me, the gender is sooo obvious. I was surprised as i thought that boys are normally super obvious, but he says not all the time!

tummy is bigger now and getting more tired also and movement getting more clumsy. So far, weight gain is 4kg...

wondering how much more i will put on..

Meanwhile, work is hectic since transferring to the new division. My worse nightmare has arrived:

1) working on construction projects
2) ACTUALLY doing tendering
3) MANUAL taking off of required material qty
4) Manage payroll to 50 foreign workers
5) Site operations co-ordination.
6) Doing everything from top to bottom unlike in AMSI, where work is segmented and well organised.

The only thing that makes it abit better: -

1) more moolah compared to before
2) Am learning so much more from top to bottom
3) I have direct impact on profits and let's face it, if all done well, i can easily ask for more moolah, shares, profit sharing etc, especially since so little headcount under this division
4) Bosses and directors are supportive and willing to share and teach
5) CEO 100% behind me
6) I still have remote support from HQ in terms of structure and legal stuff.
7) This new division co. is 100% profitable and DEBT FREE
8) Right now, in the face of all the global and local financial crisises, construction is the only bright spot for next 2-3 yrs...

baby A's damage to our wallet so far..

2008-09-18T22:09:00.002-07:00

Hm, decide to pen this down before i forget:

1st gynae visit = 100 sgd
2nd gynae visit = 50 sgd + 50 sgd (DHA)
3rd gynae visit = 550 sgd (prenatal package)
Blood test = 120 sgd
Detailed scan = 220 + 50 sgd (3D photo)
BB clothes bought so far todate = 32 sgd

other stuff pending and to slowly get:

1) new milk bottles
2) pacifier
3) maternity pads
4) towel (bathing)
5) booties & mittens (jade's ones are loose already after constant wash and wear)
6) avent duckbill valves (replacement) and i need to check the damage SIL did to my manual pump, maybe i get another one.. do i need a double pump? this round, maybe have to latch less and pump more..
7) toddler bed/ playpen?
8) nursing clothes
9) a prezzie from baby A to Jadelle
10) cotton wool
11) herbal bath packets
12) no rinse shampoo
13) book massage lady

ah.. can't remember what else!

Week 21 and detailed scan over!

2008-09-18T22:09:00.001-07:00

All is clear!! Baby A is drowsy after a heavy and nice lunch with mummy & daddy @ Waraku.. but he perked up after constantly getting pressed by the radiologist..

phew, but we managed to take a 3D photo this round.. Jadelle didn't have one as she was hyper active that time!

And again, poor daddy no get to see the scan leh..

Hmm, from the photos, feel that um, he got his daddy's lips.. nose looks like mine and oh dear, i think his eyes are as small as mine, but then, his eyes were closed, so not sure leh..

Anyway, we cleared the detailed scan in 1/2 hr - record time! And he is perfectly fine in all aspects!!

Showed the photo to my MIL & jadelle also.. i think the photo looks abit scary leh..

Studying, Pregnant, New work environment and.. change job portfolio after only 6 months..

2008-09-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

I never thought that my life would have change this way..it used to be so comfortable in the old job, prestigious but lower pay and 9-6pm job mostly, unless i am travelling.

It reached that stage that i asked, there must be more?? I wanted more..more EVERYTHING! As usual, i want to have my cake and eat it..

Took the plunge and jumped into a totally different industry.. New product sales were tougher then what was anticipated due to supplier's resistance and lack of support..but track records are starting to build..

And getting pregnant was unexpected.. job security was a worry.. i wondered how my CEO looked at me.. i took it day by day..

This week, got confirmation from CEO that he wishes to halt pursuing this product but was happy with what I did in the circumstances and wishes me to join another company in the Group doing marine scaffolding, which is his best division.. whole new game! and definitely further and further away from steel... and into smaller and smaller firms..

My colleague reacted jealously to the news.. very unexpected, coming from a veteran with 27 years of working experience.. I guess

Yet, the exposure.. the learning never stops.. i wonder if i know enough.. i worried when i don't.. i hope the new male boss is supportive.. the lady director seems suspicious of me, after all, i am sent over from the biggest shareholder to sit into their company as their eyes and ears.

2009 will be better right for Horses?

And i hope Baby A will be healthy, guai, easy to jaga, and Jadelle will love him to bits..He will be an Ox? or a Rat?? Hopefully Ox..

Week 20 check up coming up next week, followed by detailed scan.

Jadelle's actual 2nd birthday @ Zoo & Singapore Flyer

2008-09-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Jadelle @ KFC after playing with water at the zoo's children's play area..

Grandparents with us inside Singapore Flyer.

Us in the Flyer @ ~6:45pm.. view behind is the near the Marina Bay course.

Jadelle after a long day out and drinking her "vitamins" at Popeye's Restaurant @ Singapore Flyer..

Having watery fun @ Zoo in morning with Daddy... Jadelle says to Daddy "kor kor, shame shame, no wear clothes!!"

Daddy trying to squirt Jadelle.. she later on tries to squirt him back!!

Uh oh.. the naughty boys are coming back to attack!! Jadelle: " jadelle go far far!!"

"mummy, swingggggg!!!"

"Mummy, swinnnnggggg some more!!"

What a clever SEALION!!

"Sealion splash water on me, Daddy, wet wet!!"

"Mummy, Penguin!! Mumble Happy Feet!!"

"Hi Daddy, crocodile behind you!!"

"Horse, click click click (tongue)!!"

Jadelle banking in Angpow $$ into her own account.. rich princess...

SQUAWK, SQUAWK!!

Pony Rides..

Splash @ Zoo Amphitheatre - Manatees, penguins, seals, sealions, pelicans!

"Daddy, seal clap hands and kiss jie jie!!"

Posing with Dora

More poses before leaving for Zoo.

This girl is Vain!

Wearing shoes @ home before leaving to deposit $$.

Mummy, inside got any more "dong dong"?

jadelle's end of term party in school

2008-09-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

is my face nice??

mummy, the red coming off!!

Hooray, i graduated!!

Boo Hoo, the bear ate up my daddy.. why is mummy grinning huh??

Phew, i found daddy finally, that was not funny, u know, to get gobbled up by a bear!!

Jadelle had an end of term party at school, and teddy bear appeared... the kids shrieked and the parents laughed and all had lots of fun... she had a butterfly face this round.. hmm.. not so nice leh..

more photos of friends & family who came..

2008-09-01T19:47:00.001-07:00

Shermeen laughing at Jayden's & Jazzele's expression upon seeing Barney..

Grandpa n Grandma with Barney & a KPO Jadelle, peering at Barney waving his hands..

Hmm, who is inside this suit?

The next Usain Bolt mania wave??

7 month old Jade & Daddy Andy

Jade - looking more & more pretty..love that bib!!

11 month old maderick - trying to get out of the crowds and hiding in auntie's room..

weiliang & GF.. hmmm.. what's her name?..no, not barney..

lilian, hing, maderick & barney.. maderick don't look so happy yah.. he wailed at the crowds..

Lynn auntie bought a real sexy halter top for jadelle.. low in front & back.. oops.. jasmine's tummy showing really obviously!!

Auntie Lynn, Marcus & Paul uncle with us..

4 month old Yuzhe and Daddy Weida, talking to Lynn & Dylan.

Auntie Joyclene and shun long trying to strangle my barney hubby..

The 3 skinny bums bums - yiling ah yi, joanne yi-yi, and priscillia xiao-yi.

Grandpa, jadelle & barney daddy

Family photo 1

family photo 2

friends photos 1

friends photo 2

Daddy pumping up Barney balloons

tired already

Yi-jie ah yi popping by..

Aaron funny face & Serene

Lilian and her blur maderick

post party details

2008-09-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

CAKE:
1) YUM YUM!! pine garden - 3kg consisting of lychee martini+orange zest chocolate @ 143 sgd
2) Agar agar barney cake from mrs chan @ 45 sgd

HI-TEA BUFFET @ 505 sgd:
http://www.akkitchen.com.sg/

6 sgd/ head, 70 pax + additional order of 200 satay sticks.
- tim sum
- curry chicken
- fruit salad
- fried fish (got bones leh!!!)+ fried sweet potato + fried squid = mixed tempura
- sotong balls
- fried bee hoon
- fruit punch
- additional 200 satay sticks + ketupat

Results: very full, very crowded, lots of balloons, happy Jadelle with lots of barney around her!!

Happy birthday, my dear...

jadelle's 2nd birthday party bash - 31st august 2008

2008-09-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, jadelle... i wanna cut that cake and blow that candles and grab my barney!!!

Buried in Barney.. awwww..

So soft leh..

Cheese, Barney & JAdelle!

Barney poster - written by Joanne Ah-yi..

Jadelle posing with mummy & barney Daddy before cutting cake..

Barney agar agar cake.. i still can't get enough of it!

Barney 2 tier cake from pine gardens - with barney figurines and barney cars.. took me 3 months to source, design etc.. phew.. was nice though..

I caught my barney figurine from the cake!!

Aww... i can't get enough of this Purple dinosaur..

Barney poster at entrance.. name not filled yet..

Jayden, the next big name basketball player!!

Where Barney balloon?

1, 2, 3, blow!! and CUT!!

Happy birthday Barney Banner

week 16, and BB is a BOY!

2008-08-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Oh gosh.. this is a real surprise.. we both expected it to be a girl, as all my symptoms similar to my pregnancy with jadelle..

At week 16, baby is well on target, showed us "hi-Five" twice and opened his legs up to show us his didi from various angles!!

I am so happy, cos AK gets his son! and i get the pressure off us to produce no. 3.. and Jadelle's still my only baby princess!!

2008-07-17T01:53:00.001-07:00

Father's Day..

2008-06-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Father's day.. I don't like these family gatherings, as it makes me prioritize between my own family and my hubby's family. Both sides feel neglected when on the ACTUAL Day, we cannot be with them..

There was again a dispute with my SIL... Hubby & her agreed to buy a mobile for their dad.. plus dinner, it cost ~146sgd per sibling. She baulked at the figure and decided to back out of her previous agreement to take over hubby's pda phone.. when made hubby really angry cos, he was doing her a favour, otherwise, he would have traded in for his new HTC diamond phone at the PC show. He had asked her several times over the last 4 days if she is very sure about taking over the pda phone (especially knowing her financial situation).. and she affirmed that she still want it. Now, hubby's stuck.. He feels trapped as to force her to continue with the agreement meant that she will have more financial problems, yet, he thought that she has considered it seriously..

It seems that she want the best of all worlds:

1) Stay at home mom
2) Tai tai style with spending money available to splurge on life's little luxuries on herself (mobile phones, LV bags, shopping online)
3) Have a maid to order around (compliments of me!)
4) Chauffeurred around (by her dad and brother)
5) Get luxury baby items to use (strollers, car seats, potty seats, high chairs, branded clothes - compliments of me again, no permission required!)
6) Have a hen pecked and submissive hubby to order about and scold all the time
7) No need to do housework (her mum does it for her)

How can 2 siblings, brought up together, have such different character? Hubby very independent and refuse to rely on parents for anything. She is simply put, a LEECH.

With No. 2 on the way, it is time to get her out. I will refuse to support her luxuries and add on to it with a maid.

week 7 and 5 days

2008-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

we have already went for 2nd scan.. 1st scan showed only a pregnancy scan and did nothing to reassure AK & I, except to confirm that the pregnancy is in the right location and no worries of ectopic pregnancy.

2nd scan, gynae used ultrasound and did not detect a heartbeat.. Immediately, it seems that AK & the gynae was extremely concerned as i was already 7 weeks. AK later asked me why i wasn't panicking when the gynae said to do a v-scan.. I supposed it is cos, the symptoms continued and i also only detected heartbeat with Jadelle via v-scan during 6 weeks plus..

V-scan showed the flickering picture on the screen. a relief for us, but the next day, the panic started, cos the symptoms disappear for 2 days!

Meanwhile, Jade is extremely sticky, naughty and adorable. sigh.. we are now wondering about job stability, childcare options, maid.. and also stupid issues wrt my SIL's stupid behaviour and whether she will continue to take advantage of us...

Confirmed on test!

2008-05-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, the photos all showed positive results of the test. Now, all i got to do is to wait.

Alot of questions now going through my head..

2008-05-25T20:43:00.001-07:00

2008-05-22T02:06:00.001-07:00

Preggie

2008-05-22T01:58:00.001-07:00

What you think?

new job, new life, new challenges

2008-05-22T01:11:00.000-07:00

It been a while since i have posted. My baby has become a really pretty 20 month old princess.. adorable, cute, with lovely big melting eyes that makes me ponder by her side every night at our ability to produce her from my womb.

With a new job and no more travelling in the region, i now have more time for Jade every night. I am glad about that.

Work-wise, new product, new start-up company and local firm. It is lucky for me that I work under the distributor's side which is a listed company, but still local, but better organised. The new product is giving my team alot of headache with the supplier unsure about how to organise themselves. Quite a mess. Site visits are hot, lots of climbing on pipes (I enjoyed these actually) and i get to drive my beemer more now.

Probation, still 3 months to go.

And, i just took 2 hpt test.. i got weird results meaning, faint positive on 2 different brands.. not sure about how to interpret it. Anyway, will take another test 3 days later.. trying not to think about it. How to cope? no idea. How to work? even more questions! Can this be kept under wraps for 3 months?

finally, everything's up!

2008-02-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

The mirrored storage cabinet is up! Love it! and Jadelle loves dancing in front of in and preening like a peacock, the vainpot!

Can also see the feature wall. We opted to be plain about it this round, in order not to crowd and make the living area even smaller.

Can see my organza day curtains (NEW!)..no intention to put up night curtains!

Looks like blk 21 eh.. but then, i moved all my furniture over leh!

Dining room.. already my mess have started!

Wardrobe in Master bedroom. Colours to blend in with existing furniture.. hides a TV inside too! Brought all my lights over!

Ok, now it is time to get ready for CNY!

Goodbye, Goodbye..

2008-01-14T18:07:00.000-08:00

It was finally time to close the door to one of our life's firsts, to our 1st apartment that signify the start of our married life.

It was more heart wrenching then i realised. I knew every corner of this place, having re-done it from scratch with alot of frustration and pride, at a time when we were just starting out in our careers.. we made so much FIRSTS here in that apartment. It was always my pride.. now it belongs to another..

There was where we had Jadelle, our sanctuary from the world, our parties and gatherings, the numerous fireworks view during events, the quiet moments we enjoyed at our wondows. So much memories, so short a time here.

My heart almost broke when Jadelle waved sadly to her spiders "Goodbye" for the last time (The winkplay spiders in her playroom).. oh gosh.. now remembering it, my tears start to fall..

The new place still got some carpentry to go. Then it will be cleaning up time, and we can move back in with our essentials and slowly unpack. It is an unsavory location, only saved by the upgrading works done, and the size and GENERAL location - central. The row of terrace houses in front of its entrance.. hmm.. not very safe to walk in if you are female, young and alone. Drivers only!

Am wondering how much $$ we will lose on this unit if the economy ever falters.

Still pending:
- glass backing on stove
- get washing machine working
- fix up roller blinds
- feature light problem (keeps tripping up the electrical circuit.. time to change?)
- TV feature wall lighting
- dressing table lighting
- tighten hinges
- repair parquet floor (was damaged during move)
- repair the bracket that came out during moving in living room
- glass cover for headboard
- buy bamboos

Once dressing table lighting is up, we can clean up toilets, the areas and move in already..

colour scheme for TV feature wall?

2008-01-10T23:14:00.001-08:00

I want to install onto the brown TV feature wall this design..

cannot decide on colour scheme.. a good friend did this for me on the com. Thks Alf!

Looks like dark brown on brown seems alright..

More pictures of apartment, at night!

2008-01-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

Sink in Master bedroom toilet. Yucky!

1 more picture of kitchen

Dining room wall. Painted yellow. nice, but cannot be seen in the yellow lighting!

Entrance to the apartment. Dark red entrance wall, glossy marble. What will be visible now will be curtains and the feature light. TV wall not so obvious now.

Feature lights up and running, um, but in partial glory! Gotta replace some bulbs!

Hm, dining room's yellow wall not obvious when bathed in warm white lighting!

The shiny marble floor after polishing! You can see the yellow dining wall much better from this angle.

The recessed wall area has been partially boarded up to accomodate easy furniture placement.

Rainshower in master bedroom. Quality sucks! Gonna remove in and put back my Grohe.

estimated Costs so far:
1) 8ft wardrobe - 2.4k
2) 8" storage cabinet - 1.3k
3) electrical wiring - 1.6k
4) false ceiling - 1.6k
5) revarnishing of all wooden stuff (doors, parquet, cabinets) - 1.8k
6) TV wall & plastering of 3 walls & Master bedroom headboard - 2.1k
7) grilles & rubbish chute - 0.9k
8) marble grinding - 0.8k
9) painting - 1.6k
10) plumbing (change mixers and taps and basins) - 0.4k
11) Haulage & debris clearance - 0.5k
12) REpaint the wrought iron gate - 0.4k

TOTAL: 13.8K

Psst!! She's 16 months old!

2008-01-10T00:51:00.000-08:00

Jadelle drawing in Julia Gabriel's playnest class. She has been receiving extremely positive feedback from teachers in her classes on how receptive she is to the lessons. I noted it too. Pleased that she enjoys it.. at least money is well spent!

it rained so heavily today @ Forum. MIL went to TAKASHIMAYA to enjoy her hair spa.. unfortunately for me, it rained so heavily! I have no choice but to put Jadelle in the stroller after class, add on the maclaren rain cover and dashed through the rain! The poor baby was not happy at all and wailed her way all through the journey from Forum to Isetan! Poor mummy was drenched despite an umbrella.

I had to get to Takashimaya, and with the rain, a screaming toddler and a maclaren stroller, and what more, 2 bags (mine & Jade's diaper bag!). It was a nightmare, never to be repeated! There were no ramps to use when the tunnels have to be used during heavy rain! and poor me! i had to climb down isetan- CK tang tunnel x 2 flights of stairs.. climb down lucky plaza's 3 flights of stairs and up 3 flights, to reach Takashimaya!

How do you promote Singapore as a family destination if the shopping centres aren't wheelchair/ stroller friendly???!!!!

Daddy managed to put a hairband on the vainpot's head without her pulling it out!

Showing off their dimples.. kaoz! Mummy is Outcasted!

Jadelle managed to solve the puzzle - um at least of tiger and dog!

Jadelle in her broomstick hair!

Our new home.. close to completion!

2008-01-10T00:43:00.001-08:00

The old kitchen left from previous owner. Full solid wood. much better quality then today's kitchen's solid plywood. I am so fed up of the previous nice looking but not lasting kitchen!

Track spotlights highlighted and bring a modern touch to the look.. the real lighting will come from countertop T5 lighting under the top cabinets!

The entrance gate! To the left is a full height solid cabinet. Painted the wall red in anticipation of more decoration to come!

My miserable master bedroom with only 2 panels of windows! on the bottom right is the new headboard with lights to level up the recessed wall. A pendant light from Blk 21 to be re-used as a dressing table light!

Grilles are up! No full height, thank you!

Storage cabinet in living room. Mirrored doors not yet up! Just a little red to bring to the living room!

Marble grinding in process. Old Lights from Blk 21 are installed!

A change: A study room in shades of green! Still wondering how to squeeze in the furniture.

Jadelle's room is much bigger then the study! Note the windows ain't full width! sigh!

our new home: an old apartment revamped!

2008-01-10T00:37:00.000-08:00

Sanding the old wooden room doors.. undecided if i should change it?

TV feature wall : - also a chance to board up the recess area!
False ceiling in living room done!

False ceiling in Dining hall in process.
Storage cabinet not yet up.

Balcony with upgraded windows. Note no grilles yet! We are on the fifth floor and we get a tree top view!

This picture was taken last week of December!

2007-12-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

A year ago, my sister posted a video of my 3rd sister burping Jade on youtube.com.. It looked really scary.. and unknowingly, it has gotten really popular with some whacky comments..

Take a look!

Talent scouts prowling orchard..

2007-12-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

Economy is growing and it seems like the number of "talent scouts" in Orchard area have increased. I am now getting stopped along Orchard almost 2 weeks 1x..

They must be blind not to notice my wrinkles and eyebags and sagging post pregnancy tummy under the make-up and clothes.

This round, it was for L'oreal & SKII, i explained to the young chap who must be >10 yrs younger then me that I am too old. The difference? He refused to give up and insisted on my number for followup with his supervisor.

What the heck.. it's X'mas and a new year is coming! Time for new challenges and experiences. It has been a while since I went under the camera again, so why not re-live the thrill again? i gave him a contact.

This got me thinking. Perhaps it is time to consider sending Jadelle's photos for agency screening. She can earn her own money for her education.And that exposure to cameras, I really would like her to experience what Daddy & Mummy tried before, after all, AK is a Manhunt winner in NUS!

Now, we just see if these "scouts" really do their jobs well.

my X'mas gift to myself.. and finally, i found my Jade necklace after 3 yrs!

2007-12-17T22:40:00.000-08:00

My friend, Marene was raving about Brenda Cheah and how much she love her jewellery.. She splurged 500 sgd on 2 pairs of earrings!

Curious, and also, being end of the year (XMAS mood), PLUS, Takashimaya was having 10% off storewide.. i went to check it out!

Sigh, the pitfalls of working in Orchard! I ended up buying a pearl necklace with a jade pendant. I have been looking for it for 3 years! One versatile enough to change straps, classic enough to pass to my daughter without looking outdated, yet with a modern touch. I simply love my Chee-na stuff! Cost me 550sgd.. but I reckon it is worth it, after all, i don't spend often on jewellary, and if I do, i want it to be of good quality as I wear them sooo often! The string pearl straps can be removed and changed to other designs! Isn't this great for travelling & work and weekends and dinners?

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the necklace was too long and the sales person will convert the excess to a complimentary pair of pearl earrings, which was another of my classic favorite, updated in style!

Really look forward to getting it on friday!

And what the heck, i walked into Gucci too.. decided to take the plunge and buy that waterproof canvas shoulder bag I have been eyeing for 5 months. It cost me 800 sgd, but for the price, it is 40% cheaper then other Gucci bags and being waterproof is a definite plus for me!

Ok, for once, CNY, will be Gucci for me!

AK, please dun faint tonight! *cross my fingers*

busy as a bee!!

2007-12-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

Life speeds passed so fast! A quick post of happenings:

- jadelle went for JG holiday program

- we went bintan trip, AK, Jade & I

- jadelle starts to assert her own independence. self feed, self bathe, self EVERYTHING

- princess temper is pretty hot!

- started getting renovation quotes. settle with arts & thots. renovation starts 21st Dec and hope to complete Jan 15th

- started packing up blk 21

- goodbye to lots of precious memories.. renovation, getting married, ttc-ing, m/c, destressing by window city view, bringing jadelle back 1st time, confinement, staying home with jadelle 1st 3 months, weekends at home with AK & Jade, numerous mahjong games, parties and celebration gatherings..

- SAD, but must be done to achieve our goal. Need to harden my heart. I only hope Jadelle will remember her first home...

- Got a Flat panel TV for siblings n parents, but not appreciated by my mum.. karang guni nature.. haiz..

- starting new job 1st march 2008, life will be changed frrom that point onwards..

Jadelle is now 14 months in a blink..

2007-11-05T00:19:00.000-08:00

Life has been breezing pass us with all that is ongoing in our lives! it suddenly occurred to me that my baby is no longer a baby, but a precocious little gal..

We celebrated her birthday at home. A home that gave us beautiful memories for the last 3 years... Will always remember it for all the joy and laughter and tears it provided us. It is also where alot of FIRSTS for us took place..

As a result of another FIRST, we will soon leave this place behind.. with lots of tears and brave smiles.. goodbye blk 21...

26th August.. Jadelle finally stood a few seconds without support!

2007-08-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

I need to record this... before i forgotten it in the years ahead... She crawled so confidently and halted, looked at us, raised her butt into the air on firm legs (absence of jelly legs!) and push herself up to a standing position and started clapping in glee!

We were all so surprised, but clapped along too! Grandpa, Daddy, Auntie & Uncle & mummy all witnessed it! Too bad Grandma went into the room to change and missed it!!

More and more, i need to refer to her as my Toddler, not my Baby.. She has grown so much.. and so pretty now with big trusting eyes that sparkle mischieviously at times.

I love her laughter, her smiles, her hugs and her kisses! (She love to kiss me on the mouth!). Time is spinning forward already..

Is it time for another one? I am resisting it, yet, knowing that age is against me.. sigh..What if I get another girl? Will I love her less? Will people pressure me for a boy to "carry on the family name" and all those nonsense? I can't imagine 2 girls..but i also cannot stop wondering, if we have a boy, who will he look like? Jadelle looks so much like AK.. i struggle to find myself in her sometimes..

Sometimes, i feel that my daughter don't belong to me and is claimed by his family. Should we ever separate, will this happen and Jadelle don't get to stay with me? I still don't feel a part of them. Maybe this is the struggle of all married women?

When my mood is dark, I wonder: if anything ever happened to my other half, what I will do? What will his family do? Do i have to take on the responsibility of supporting his parents? That seems unfair to me? Strangely, as years passed, my heart hardens towards them.

He is not planning well for us. Myopic, is what i called it. I understand fully that any unforeseen circumstances on him will put Jadelle and me in difficulty. I am concerned.. If anything were to happen to me? What role does my own family play in the upbringing of Jadelle? Re-marriage? quite possible, knowing him...

Sometimes, i look back and wonder.. why all the sacrifices that i have made? Why must I be the one agonising over milk feeds and night feeds and go through labour and make sacrifices at work? I seemed to have taken a step down the ladder to allow others to step over me?

I fully understand the phrase now, that you cannot marry for love alone... Fate really plays with me..

Jadelle learning to self feed!

2007-08-21T20:25:00.001-07:00

Jadelle is galloping ahead. I can see her soon in a while, to start bombarding me and AK with "why" why" why"...

She is one determined princess. Really wants her own way and gets angry with us when we take away her play items.

Now, she has started to self feed last weekend. I was only testing out, so i place newspapers all over the floor, put her in her high chair and place a spoon and fork and some cereals in front of her. Showed her how to scoop and she did it!!! Experimented with fork too and she also managed it!

Now, she can managed to finish 1 potato with cream sauce and jam all by herself (with mummy's help) but got herself really dirty in IKEA today!

We went IKEA tampines after her 1st Julia Gabriel class (Playnest). 12 babies! Quite full class!
But, i can see her interacting slowly with other babies. This week, she got flour paint all over her nice polo dress! hahahaha..

Looking forward to next lesson.. and her birthday bash!

Yesterday

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-07-15T19:44:00.001-07:00

My pathetic attempts at creating a DSB..using powerpoint!

2007-07-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Video of the making of Jadelle's 1st photo shoot!

2007-07-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

Photo taking with a baby is really tiring.. no.. a toddler!!

2007-07-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Jade latching on for my own memory.. She bit me so hard this weekend that tears rolled.. Maybe it is time to stop now..

I will miss her sleepy look..

and how she fell asleep while drinking milk and being cuddled..

ok, the photos look really relaxed rite? But, wow, at the end of the session.. i was like phew.. so tiring!! To make jadelle smile.. yikes!!! We feel like idiots manz!!

Surprise! She can actually sit still long enough on the chair for this shot!

I'll smiling for you, Auntie Wai Peng!

Hmm.. this horse harder then my own one.. can bite or not?

AK, LK, me were quite tired and hoarse and thirsty after the session! We took almost 300 shots! And WP still charged us the same amount! So paisay!

After that, we attended AK's colleague's bb 1st month.. she stay in a mansionette in Hougang.. quite big, would we choose such a location, i wonder?

Jadelle started to cough after that, i felt guilty.. was it due to the halterneck she wore for photoshoot? Or was it due to my cooking again? She really don't like my food.. feel like a failure..

Pondering over childcare issues @ Jadelle's 10th month

2007-07-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

As Jade gets more mobile, life for us is again entering a new phase. Things she learnt recently:

1) learnt to yak on her mobile phone

2) put a comb through her hair

3) starting to recognise colours like red...

She is attempting to learn how to stand and walk, but you can see she is fearful of falling and hitting herself on the hard ground..

L gonna pop soon in September... Her tummy is extremely pointed and no way you can avoid the point that its a PRINCE!

Issues now that surface:

1) How come L no need to buy infant carrier/ stroller/cot/ sterilizer/ BB clothes/ wipes/ tummy wrap for bb??

Ans: Cos, her stupid SIL bought all the stuff ready at her place already, which is meant for MIL to use for Jade actually !!

2) L assumed that MIL will cook and look after her bb during confinement.. but what's going to happen to Jade who will be even more mobile then?

3) Will Jade feels neglected by the sudden shift of attention towards the new bb?

4) Maybe, as mum says, i should start to put Jade @ her place with Auntie Lily.. at least I have a piece of mind.. but, MIL will mind?

5) I don't want to hire a maid! How? Get lily to come over more often?

6) should i start on a playgroup for jade @ 18 months?

I am due for a trip to China in Early September.. Wanted AK to go with me for our anniversary... now with L going to pop soon.. MIL ask me to take leave when she POPS. How?

Maybe i bring baby with me.. think we can survive the plane ride there?? And AK can cope with bb alone when i am working?

Yesterday, AK tested market saying need more $$ to pass to lawyer to clear OL completely. L pretended she didn't hear it. when MIL ask her to temp. come up with a partial amount, she refuse... say, need $$ for bb to deliver then. But, she gonna work to get her profit manz.. think all burden shift to us?? This shows, never work with her for anything, she will take advantage!

i curse the day i know AK sometimes... when you marry, you marry the entire family! Take note!

New milestones, new thoughts, new toys!

2007-06-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

Its been so hectic recently, that i almost forgot to update this blog!

Jadelle has been growing so rapidly, i fear that i forget all her achievements! Now, she can:

1) Wave goodbye & Say Hi!
2) kiss us on the cheeks
3) Dance to her favorite tunes (hokey pokey, itsy bitsy spider)
4) point to her head, ears, teeth, tongue, mouth and eyes when asked!
5) pat herself when we asked who is Jadelle
6) recognise ball, spider, milk bottle, dog, cat, pico (my dog!)
7) can asked us where? with her hands!
8) Blow us flying kisses!
9) play hide & seek with me
10) learn to run away when i try to "catch" her.. playing catching!
11) learnt to stand up with support, though still no independent standing! and Still rapidly crawling around!
12) She added new sounds to her baby language.. mamama, dada,arrgghh, bababa, yeeeeeeee, papapapa, etc.. :)
13) And she knows who is mummy, daddy, grandpa, grandma, auntie, uncle!

Workwise, it is tough with the recent travelling. I was away for 1 week and i miss AK & Jadelle so bad, i caught 2 earlier flights home and cut short my shopping time!! Milk supply also dipped a little..Workload is still piling up, but with the last headhunting session, it had made me wonder if it was all worth it?? I will speak with management today and see how it goes...

I was glad that Jade still want to latch when i return home, contrary to my fears that she will reject latching on after 1 week of bottle feeding x 24 hrs x 7 days.

AK is so busy with work, that he is neglecting his new toy.. hmm.. better polish and protect your car, boy! I am still so fascinated with that car.. what a difference!

OL has been sold.. we are glad at the positive returns but with a tinge of regret... if only other parties are not involved... what a difference it would have made..

Now, i will focus on other alternatives... Once Aug/ Sept is reach, AK & i will review again. What's next? so exciting..

Jadelle hit 9 months Plus! and Won Healthy Baby 2007 contest.

2007-06-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Life has been hectic these few weeks.. still enjoying the weekends with jadelle. She has been extremely proficient in crawling and is now enjoying standing up, though still with support!

Brought her to participate in the jalan besar grc 2007 baby contest! Thought that since she did not crawl fast enough, can balek kampong already, but, surprise! she won it! and got a BIg trophy for it! Assessment for this contest was done by doctor and a nurse.. based on motor skills, alertness of the baby, weight and height of the baby and food intake of baby!

Oh, another update? Daddy decide to get a new toy for his birthday!!

May Day long weekend!

2007-04-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

@ JAdelle's great grandma's 72nd birthday bash!
Decorating up Jadelle's room! Itsy Bitsy Spider...
climbing down the.... AIRCON???
"JAdelle.. Where is the spider??? THERE!!"
AK's new artwork in our living room!

Jadelle @ my mum's place, growing a yogurt moustache!
swimming on Sat. morning with her new dolphin float.. she DO NOT LIKE IT!! ARRGGHH!!! waste my $$$$$..
But, the little lady love to pose for the camera, even in unfamliar grounds like COOL CHLORINATED WATER!
Acting surprised! I should think about sending her for theatre classes for kids next time?
Clapping her hands, something she mastered about 2 weeks ago! She really love to do this after pushing herself to sitting up position!

Wow, time flies when you are having fun! We started our long weekend with a nice dinner on Friday with AK's family...

SATURDAY:

We started off early @ 8am with Jadelle deciding to wake us up by crawling over us and babbling in her baby language (yes, we are still practicing partial co-sleeping... meaning from 3am onwards, as i am too tired to put her back to bed after latching her on!). We couldn't NOT wake up as she was threatening to explore "danger" zones like the items on our bedside table! AK & I missed her so much and we definitely enjoyed our morning in bed with her, as she is soooo cheeky!

Fed her her oatmeal cereal with EBM @ home before leaving the house, and AK bathe her (poor dear, she banged her head on the tub while trying to resist washing her hair!) and she played awhile on her playmat.

When she got sick of it, she decide that it is time to explore the sofa and the TV sideboard! Jadelle is getting really experienced in getting herself on her feet! This little lady is in a hurry! it is so difficult to change her diaper nowadays, plus, she move really fast! It is really time to childproof the sharp corners, for, i see increasingly more items of potential danger in our home that will really hurt her.. like the electrical cables @ the TV side board, the electrical plugs, the Zen coffee table, the TV side board..

Suddenly, the sideboard that appealed to us when we bought it doesn't appear so appealing now!
SUNDAY:
We went swimming on @ my uncle's condo.. she do not like the water now.. clingy baby!! "POST-IT PAD BABY?!!"

But, the pictures are lovely aren't they?

This was followed by us watching a movie with Lilian & Heng while JAdelle is taking her morning nap! When she woke up, Jadelle followed us to AK's parents place and we "deposit" her there until Dinner time, to work on decorating her room!

Dinner was a feast, as it was AK's maternal grandma's birthday bash! YuM! But Jadelle was cranky at the loud racket created by her uncles and grand uncles' Karaoke Singing..

We finished up Jadelle's room!!

MONDAY:

Spend the morning @ home as usual, and met AK's family for dim sum @ Ah Yat abalone @ Turf City, ppsssstttt: 50% off rates for Dim sum!! After this, we let JAdelle followed them, while we continued our "project", this time in the living room! hmmmm.... any comments??

I have a dream of jadelle's dream bedroom...

2007-04-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

We went out on one of the weekends to a birthday party of kellybun's boy.. and we dress the daughter in matching colour to the daddy.. check it out below!
Here is jadelle wondering what mummy is doing!
She decided that she want that device now!!!
Pulling herself up to stand..

here is a picture of it!! Gosh.. so sweet eh!

we are going to the zoo zoo zoo...

2007-04-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

Day trip to the Zoo was fun! With Dor, Lyn & hubbies & babies! Jade fell asleep shortly after taking these shots.. but she woke up later! We showed her the polar bears, zebras, giraffes and hippos.. hmm.. gotta pay another visit! Haven't walk finish!!

Mother & Baby, Father & Baby?

2007-04-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

See? my girl's a model already! spokesbaby for MAMY POKO?

Any contest to send in???

hmm, which one?

It is ok to Drive & EAT!

2007-04-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

not concurrently of course.. here is her 1st breakfast feed @ KFC @ Funan.. We went there to get our FOC canon printer..
Jadelle actually know how to operate the wiper and the water sprayer!!

Here is her in one of her playful moods during breakfast.. you think she got her whole face? WRONG!
Her, she is even more on the way to the WHOLE face..!!

Bathtime with Daddy & Duckie!

2007-04-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Look @ her, in her 1st gown!!
Daddy poser... you think you can hide from the camera?
geez.. showing off the butt!
Duckie is here!
Haiz.. so much trouble, how come must bathe me???

cRawling stories...

2007-04-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since i have updated my blog.. My days have been busy with the internet forum and work during office hours.. and weekends, 100% with AK & Jadelle.. and of course, how can i forget my weekly mahjong fix??

here are some pictures to share of her learning to sit up properly and crawling.. Her butt.. it was so tempting to bite it when she dangle it in front of me and trying to balance herself.. and oh, how i rejoice, yet saddened when she finally learnt to push herself from crawling to sitting.. and from sitting to pulling to stand..

For, my baby is indeed turning into a little princess that is going to melt plenty of hearts.. mine has definitely melted and Daddy is smittened too.. AK is seriously contemplating putting a HUGE broom by the Door to sweeeeeeepp all the boys that will come sniffing soon like another 9 years???????????????

I love to see her @ classes and interacting with other babies.. it enhances her socialising skills.. take a look!!

crawl forward, stop and sit!

2007-04-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

seen anyone recently who can ly on their tummy, move into a split position of almost 180 degrees before ending in a normal sitting position? no?

well, here comes "jadelle the splitting babe!!!" oops... i forgot to take a picture! Will upload soon.. paisay!

Hot Mama!

2007-04-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

When you have been given an indecent proposal, how do you react?

Out of my massive network of friends and contacts (My MSN is going to explode soon!), one handsome man who is already married has been chatting with me on on/off basis from my car club --> I drive a cutsy nissan marchie, in lavender colour no less!

Yesterday, he explicitly informed me that he is have affairs on the side (what is more? 2!!) and that it is pretty exhausting for him. His concern? He must have been "shooting blanks" since he can't get his own wife pregnant, and mused about his sperm being watery.

The topic lead on to me being a "hot & chio mama" even after birth... and the guy in question, asked if I was ever tempted to be with other men.. and finally, "BOINK!!"

" I will be extremely honoured if you will consider me should you wish to have some ECA!"

Well well well...frankly, I must have been a prude in his eyes. He must be getting bored with the babes on the side and looking for new ones to add on to the "notch on his bedboard!"

Excuse me, do i look like i am an idiot? I do not wish to have HIV from someone i barely know, PLUS, the guy isn't really that handsome, not rich, have a wife.. too much baggage!

"DO not do unto others what others can do unto you" the phrase ran through my mind!

My parting shot to him? " I have been offered condos, cars, money, prestige and I have turned it down for love. What makes you think you can move me into your bed?"

so much for hot, chio mama, more like saggy, tired piece of dead meat nowadays!!!!

more photos taken by a forum fren of Jadelle @ BBnC!!

2007-04-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

I hope i can capture every single moment... now she learning to squeal and shriek too.. she was enjoying the sound of her own voice i suppose!
Yippee! Long weekend coming up! looking forward to some family time with Jadelle & AK.. keke..
Can't wait to get my prints and start decorating the home again.. my hands are itchy again!!! Isn't it great that i left plenty of corners to touch up at a later stage? This way, i can always update the look @ home! Typical Libran hahahahaha!

The Flipping babe @ 7 months

2007-04-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Jadelle marked her 7th month with a FLIP..over her playpen's rail, onto my bed. All i did was to put her into the playpen (which hasn't been lowered yet!) and went to wash my hands.. she decided to take matters into her own hands and probably pulled herself up the rail too fast and flip over the edge!

I heard her screaming her lungs out and came dashing.. and there she was, legs in the air kicking frantically and head onto my bed's mattress!

And Daddy was all the time. concussed on the bed! HMMMM.... careless mummy!

Everyone says she looks like the DAd, so here are some photos to compare!

Brought her to BB & cream positive babies class.. i like it leh.. she seems to like the teacher! Hm, will go for more trial classes and see how things go!

My thoughts @ Jadelle's 7 months?

- i cannot bear to stop latching her on,

- but i want my freedom and my beauty sleep!

- she is growing so fast that I can't catch up.. where is my baby girl?

- soon, she will learn to talk. Already, she is babbling her lungs out to me in her baby talk.. I have to be more careful about what we speak in front of her

- separation anxiety. I hate for her to be apart from me and she started to recognise people..

- i want to change my JOB!

Jadelle can crawl!!! @ 6 months, 3 weeks!

2007-03-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, my baby sure is impatient to MOVE! She just learnt to push herself upright on her arms? and in less then a week, she mastered the moving forward technique, instead of turning in circles! And i haven't uploaded the pictures yet!!

Trying to slow down BF, but this is really tough.......... i hate that engorged sensation..

Interview coming up this week! ooh... i am nervous, more then i have ever been in a long time..

more pictures of jadelle sitting!

2007-03-14T00:13:00.000-07:00

Time seems to zoom by! And my princess is trying her darnest to zoom zoom too! I mean, she juz only recently learnt how to sit, right? Now, she is working very very hard and almost succeeded in pulling herself to stand. And, she has learnt to raise her body up on her arms, and is now trying to move forward too on her tummy..

I must think about child proofing seriously.. will go shop for safety stuff this weekend and stay @ home to child proof!

I chop off my hair.. sigh.. it has been dropping really bad and Jadelle keep on pulling on it... After Jo's housewarming, i went to chop it off.. @ QB house no less! 10 bucks!

I receive compliments from my colleagues though.. hahaha.. now @ 42kg.. my weight when i got married.. hmm... wonder if my wedding cheongsam, i can wear again??

Went Shopping again recently @ TAKA baby fair! My hauls:

pigeon bottle detergent x 2 @ 16.90sgd
stacking cup toys for Jadelle @ 9.90sgd
softsounds cloth book @ 19.90sgd
2 carters rompers @ 7.90sgd each
pigeon bb biscuits @ 3.80sgd
iplay swimwear diaper x 1 @ 5.90sgd
iplay sunhat x 2 @ 5.90sgd each

Still to grab:

ball @ 1.90sgd
swim float @ 6.90sgd
pigeon peristaltic bottle 300ml @ 7.20sgd less 50% if exchange old milk bottle
inflatable tub @ 5.90sgd
inflatable gym @ 19.90sgd
more toys!
cotton wool
more bottle detergent & laundry detergent..

And there is Isetan Private Sale coming up!

ooh.. AK gonna peng sanz!

Lots of milestones hit this CNY!

2007-03-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

Jadelle's 1st CNY was so eventful! I took leave and was a SAHM for 2 weeks.. and i tried to put her onto a routine.. it worked! At the end of the 2 weeks:
1) Jadelle was taking her naps without me rocking her and napping for min. 45 minutes!
2) she woke up twice at night and i managed to get her back to sleep without comfort nursing!
3) Brought her swimming!
4) She learnt to sit up!
5) Feed her green bean puree, apple puree, rice cereal, brown rice cereal.
6) She collected lots of ang pows (with lots of relatives claiming she look like a BOY!:()
7) She fell off the bed, bBut landed on daddy! Nevertheless, she got frightened and cried.

CNY was so fun!

Sigh, but once her grandparents (AK's parents) return from their china trip, it wasn't so fun for me..

1) Jadelle developed cough, phlegm, running nose and it was the first time she fell ill.. It was heartbreaking to see her feeling so bad.. She didn't know what is happening to her and needed my comfort more (= comfort nursing and carrying & sayang!)
2) After i go back to work, she refused to be patted back to sleep and want us to carry her again! There goes my efforts in the last 2 weeks. I wasn't sure if it is due to her being sick, or my MIL must have reverted to rocking her..
3) She wake up often in the night crying for us to carry her..

I feel so tired...so much to do, and never having anytime to do it.. my to-do list still outstanding:

- repack my clothes! My MIL dunno where to put my clothes! So sickening! especially after i arranged it and she just pile on top! I wish she can leave the clothes to the maid. She made me feel so inadequate.
- get a full night's sleep finally!
- how to get rid of my backache from the night nursing.
- how to get jadelle to sleep through the night.
- start flashing GD cards @ Jadelle again.. this time, including the english & chinese program which i must prepare..
- pack my table and get rid of stuff i don't need
- find a solution to store my bags nicely
- do up jadelle's bedroom properly, with storage, bed etc..
- i want a good shelf for my books!! I HATE THAT IKEA SHELF!
-

Jadelle's first swim in the pool!

2007-02-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

We had another August mummies gathering and this time, we decide to have a swim fest instead. So, i brought Jadelle along with swimming barang barang!

And it was a success! Perhaps it was the jumperoo thingy in the wading pool of Leia's condo.. but Jadelle liked it very much and don't seem to mind the cold water.. After getting used to it, i decide to let her float on the water, with my hands supporting her head above the water. She got used to it after a while and start kicking breaststroke kicks to push herself forward.. i was really surprised, but then, she was always trying to push herself forward on her tummy this way.. keke.. I then put her on her back.. and supported her back.. but she kept straining her neck and try to push herself up! Sigh, this girl don't like to sit down..

SOB, AK did not go with us, so, no one took pictures of us! No pictures for Jadelle's 1st swim in the pool! but, the memories will be there..:) Next time, Daddy will go along..

It was pretty tough to travel with her alone, and after swimming, i had to change her out quickly of her wet clothes and clean her up. I went with her to the changing room and change myself out of my swim wear first..I placed her down on the bench in the changing room with me sitting next to her, but i was so scared she will flip over.. *heart beating fast!* I then proceed to change her out and try to wipe her down with the mustela no rinse solution..but, ewww, the chlorine smell is still there! i didn't bathe, but i wipe my breasts clean first with the mustela.. so i can feed Jadelle later on..

I am seriously thinking to go bintan or a local resort with AK & Jadelle after CNY, just us.. it would be really fun by then.. perhaps in May or June??

Sept mummies gathering!

2007-02-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

it was fun fun fun!! But, sigh.. hubby ain't happy about these gatherings.. :( Maybe I am overdoing it.. there is a swim fest next week though.. and I signed us up for it.. uh oh!! *pull my ears*

Jadelle has turned 5 months!

2007-02-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, this weekend has been one full of thoughts, new introduction of stuff to jadelle, lots of gatherings and my usual mahjong game.. hmm.. what a busy weekend it has been! No wonder Jadelle is tired out!

I noticed to my dismay that Jadelle's weight dropped 1/2 kg in the last week back to 6.5kg from 7kg!. Made me wonder if my milk is really enough at this growing stage of hers..

I visited the breast specialist on Thursday to investigate my "lump" further. It turned out to be a cyst.. but.. a MILK CYST! It was drawn out immediately to avoid it being curdled up inside and causing mastitis and infection and forming a permanent lump.. cost me almost 400sgd! Sigh, but it was a relief. Found out from Dr. Wee (The breast specialist) that some women do have a slower milk flow rate and quantity/ letdown is variable and is very very sensitive to the signals to the brain from stimuli.. Today's working women do not produce as much milk as our ancestors, simply because of the stress levels of our work. He also advised me to start to introduce solids to Jadelle, as milk will no longer have enough iron & calcium for her growth, whether breastmilk or formula milk. One of the factors to point to moving in this direction is whether Jadelle is gaining weight.

Well, since she lost weight instead, I decide not to wait until Chinese New Year anymore.. but will start slowly..

We began yesterday on her 5th month! and it was a success!

What else we did this weekend??

Here goes:
1) opened up the HUGE bumper playmat pooh wonderland limited edition (dual side with pooh 1 side & ABC's the other side) and got Jadelle on it!
2) went for Sept mummies gathering! ooh.. so many babies!!
3) played mahjong 2x!
4) went shopping for more Jadelle's clothes! (relax lah.. only 10sgd for 2 pcs!)
5) Went Ikea to eat lunch and had fun browsing!
6) went to Zouk flea market, spent 7sgd for a ring & a book!
7) played and played with Jadelle! She is sooo fun to play with now.. i missed her so much during the week.. sigh..

Milestones @ 20 weeks..

2007-01-21T19:42:00.000-08:00

My MIL told me that Jadelle has been chuckling when her grandfather played with her earlier on, and i was so disappointed that i missed her "1st chuckle".. that same night when she was 19.5 weeks, she chuckled when i playfully pulled away the handle on the camera that she was trying to grab.. and it moved me almost to tears.. at least it was my first time hearing her laugh.. the headaches and heartaches of being a FTWM..

sshhh.. i am going for a meeting on wednesday.. what news might that bring?? Stay tuned!

AK is stressed up.. and i feel so stressed too by the stuff he is troubled over..This on top of the daily grind, almost made me sleepless over the weekend too. Thank God for a happy and smiling Jadelle over the weekend! Though the naughty girl still kick off all her blankets and wake up @ 2-3 hrs interval to latch on, she really made our weekends more enjoyable. i really hate Mondays now, when i have to hand her over to my MIL...

What we did this weekend? Hmm, on Satureday,we went for a ttc mummies gathering from SMH forum.. total of 4 mummies, with babies ranging from 3.5months to 7months.. wanted to bring jadelle for a swim in the pool, but.. the weather was bad.. so, it was called off..

On sunday, we went for a Gymboree trial class that last 45 mins and each minute cost me 1sgd! ouch! The class taught and gave parents ideas on what to do with infants at each age that is appropriate for them.. we had some fun with torchlights.. but Jadelle seems unmoved by all the action going on around her! Most of the stuff, i do try to do with her on weekends, though different songs and actions.. The program change every 2 weeks though.. nevertheless, i did sign up for the annual membership, as it probably will be more useful (especially their playgym @ 8sgd) in 2 months time onwards when she becomes more mobile and will try to climb all over the place..

Thinking if i should really send her for classes leh. Shichida? arrghhhhhhhhh..... $$$$$!!!!

Thoughts on expressing @ work..

2007-01-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Having returned to work for a month, I have started to get used to the routine of pumping at work. However, having a slow milk flow rate definitely has it disadvantage.

For one, i need a longer time to express a quantity that is definitely not enough for Jadelle. For another, it interferes with my working time and the company is definitely not happy about this. Imagine me spending 45 minutes in the toilet each round x 4 times a day to get 8-11 oz?

I realise that my company, even though it is an MNC, is severely lacking in facilities to help their staff who wishes to continue to breastfeed their babies. Yet, bringing it up to the management brought up questions of: " if another colleague can do it in the toilet, why can't you? And in a shorter time too!"

Imagine that i owned a dual electric pump and i can't utilise it, as there is no power socket in the handicap toilet!

And, this recent clash of opinion made me realise too, that it is time i change my job. I am getting too complacent already and have started to be "bo chap" about my quality of work.. That can't go on. I MUST change this year!

Dear God, please bless me with a better job in terms of benefits, understanding bosses, great career prospects and show me the money please! *kneeling down in prayer*

19 weeks old and she is 7kg!

2007-01-14T21:55:00.000-08:00

someone in the family has a bun in the oven now! I am going to be auntie again.. :)

Jadelle is going to be a big sister to lots of babies next year! keke..

I look at my girl nowadays and i wonder how on earth did she come from my tummy?

She has been changing so fast. It is so difficult to change her diapers now as she keeps flipping over and babbling to me about all she has done and what she thinks of me changing her diapers! And it is definitely a no-no to put any objects near her with her grabbing it and with equally fast lightning speed, she put it straight into her mouth.

It is still a joy to latch her on.. she will try to touch my face, my cheek and even put her fingers into my mouth and use her fingers to cover her face (this allows me some decency too!! keke!). I will miss that when i wean her off the breast.. until then, enjoy!

She gives me a headache now in the car.. don't sit long in the car seat and keep trying to climb out!

I have been reading up on weaning.. and it seems that it will be a messy affair full of frustration and tears on both sides! So, until then, i am gonna enjoy the lighter load when travelling with Jadelle now and a mess free home! Wonder how i will struggle with my PIL on what foods are considered ok to feed my girl... sigh.. another headache there..

Time flies! Jadelle has spent her 1st X'mas and New Year

2007-01-08T20:01:00.000-08:00

Happy 2007!

wow, time flies, i have been stuck in the same job for almost 6 years already! And Jadelle, my little princess, oh my goodness, she is trying her best to grow as fast as possible and that is scary to me.. she is now 18 weeks old..my baby is trying to be as adult as possible, as fast as possible!!

Now, she can:

1) flip over and look up and around at her toys

2) Bat at toys and grab anything within reach HARD..(OUCH! my Hair!).. and it goes straight into her mouth..

3) Get frustrated when she can't sit up by herself and will scream for help.

4) know how to get the old folks running to her by crying for attention..

She start to make noises and attempt to talk with us in her baby language.. i am crossing my fingers and hoping that i ain't missing much of her milestones.. so far, she reserves it for weekends to demonstrate new abilities to mummy and daddy..

My flipping baby..@ 14 weeks!

2006-12-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

My girl marks her 14th week yesterday by demonstrating to her Daddy that she can flip if she wants to from her back to her front..

Daddy didn't know that it was her first flip without assistance and acted nonchalantly, and even told me that she already had done her tummy time all by herself... i was puzzled when he told me this.. but was sooo excited..

All we did was to show Jadelle where to place her legs and arms and she picked it up fast in 2 days! At the last August mummies gathering, she was still struggling to hold up her head! (See video clip on previous post)

Now, i am worried that she soon will be turning and flipping out of my queen sized bed! Oh dear, my girl's trying to learn as fast as she could and growing up faster then i expected. Soon, i will have to put protective corners around the house and plug up all the electrical points.

I am glad that we were able to witness her first flip.. and cross my fingers that i will not miss anymore of her firsts....

I will be making my first working trip to KL tomorrow and this pose a headache for me..how to pump and store the milk? Looks like i have to bring my fridge to go and require assistance from colleagues in the M'sia office for fridge storage.. as well as during trips. I am crossing my fingers that i won't need to pump so long.. :( sigh..

Breastfeeding in this sense is really a pain.. and i ache to se my girl waking up every 2 hours to suckle for milk, cos i keep thinking that my milk ain't enough and that is why she still wakes up so often at night for milk.. yet, to see her latched on so comfortably, especially when initially she don't know how to latch... my heart melts.. latching her on is the most efficient way for me to bond with her now, giving my lack of time with her, as a Full Time Working Mother (FTWM). I am now wondering if i should attempt to feed her via bottle at her last feed so that she is full enough to sleep longer and perhaps last through the night..

I will have to latch Jadelle on until 3am and pray for the best.. can Andy handle his princess alone????

Will update on THAT when i return!

Aug 2006 mummies gathering!!

2006-12-08T00:33:00.000-08:00