I just got done with last minute housechores (to get my mind of the pain that will come in a bit) and a long good shower that should last me for the next 28 days. The number 1 rule during the confinement period for the Chinese is that new mothers are not allowed to shower/wash hair after delivery. The idea behind the belief is that water will cause 'wind' to be absorbed into the bones, and this in turn will cause aching bones later on in life. Scary, no? :D
Anyway, the 9-month term is up and I still feel that it had been such a surreal cycle. Just when I have found the most comfortable position to sleep (without having a full bladder in the middle of the night) and am finally getting the hang of waddling in gigantic feet, the doctor tells me that I have to be induced tonight....as my high blood pressure sky rocketed during the last check up.
So here I am, with my luggage packed and looking as confident as one can be - 2 more hours till my entire world changes.
It's showtime for the mama-to-be!!! Peanut better get an Oscar for it!!! :D
Monday, February 20, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Project Nursery 2012
Finally, with more than 20 ‘likes’ (sincere ones hopefully *chuckle*) on Facebook, I think I can safely give myself a pat on the back for a job well for Project Nursery 2012! J This is the link on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/set=a.10150529079205353.367411.552425352&type=3&l=febeab7452
(Go ahead, you can go add another ‘like’! Haha! Little boosters like this is what I need most for now… because of the one big factor that I am already at week 38 and am still counting!)
But please allow me to go back to the very beginning of Project Nursery 2012. I have always got this thing for motherhood, especially in buying baby rompers even before conceiving Peanut. So you can imagine that I have stocked up more than 20 pieces since the past 2 years, just because the rompers were ‘too cute.’ Plus, I got them mostly in blue and earthy colours (infact, one of them is black in order for the future Peanut to match Mama’s wardrobe!), due to the simple fact that I have never liked the shade of pink, even on a girl. Okay, I grew up as a Tomboy.
And for the last 3 months or so, I envisioned Peanut to have a nice little nursery, thanks to all the pretty pictures at www.projectnursery.com. I had to admit though that I started off the project on the wrong foot, as I had set my expectations way too high, even beyond my own reach! There I was looking at all those professionally done-up nurseries and had to bite my own thumb to wake up to reality – we just do not have the extra budget to indulge in such luxury for Peanut. Plus, all the items required as seen on the website are double or triple of the price cost here in Malaysia (we need Target and Wal-Mart here!!!).
At the same time, I could not allow myself to wallow in self-pity as I didn’t have much time left before I become all immobile and too tired to even want to be the creative nut that I am during the last weeks of the final trimester. Thus, by factoring in the style of living, weather and the environment in Malaysia, I embarked on journey that focused mostly on wall decals (and involved endless hours of scouring the nearest shopping malls, entering hidden shops on the streets and stopping by the stalls along any foot walk to check out on the most affordable and cutest wall decals available), 2nd hand furniture and loose items (that were already available at home). The wall decals were aimed to brighten up the place as we could not neither afford additional wallpapering activities nor wall painting.
So, it is with sheer joy and pleasure that I share the following photographs to show you the end-result of a bargain hunter mum-to-be's effort in converting her walk-in wardrobe room into Peanut's crib.
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| Welcome to Peanut's humble crib :) |
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| In shades of green and blue mostly |
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| Introducing Mr Kermit as the mighty guardian Item in the picture: Fabler Groda, RM35.00 |
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| It is in the Chinese Tradition to cover all mirrors that are in the room to avoid the baby getting frightened by looking at his/her own reflection. Thus, I covered half of the 6ft x 6ft mirror as you can see from here. Alas, no more catwalks for me in this room... :( Items in the picture: Paul Frank mirror decal (RM2.50 per strip x 2), African Jungle themed decal (RM4.00 per set), Animal Tell-the-Time Wall Paper Clock (RM3.45 per piece x 2), Victorian themed side table from Ikea (existing furniture at home) |
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| That's the picture of papa wooing mama for the 1st time during a company trip to Cameron Highlands. They were complete strangers. Albeit being the brave one, he didn't know where to place his right hand. Just look at the picture! Hahahahahaha :))) |
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| Where the little prince will sleep... Items in the picture: New Baby Crib with Mattress from a Warehouse Sale (RM299.00), Heart Shaped pillow from Ikea (existing loose item at home), Pillows and Blue Gingham Sheet set (Hand-me-downs from 2nd sis-in-law, Transportation wall decal from Tesco (RM15.90 per set of 4), Alphabet decal (RM0.90 per piece x 8) |
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| Peanut's official name :) |
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| To brighten up the otherwise plain wardrobe in walnut Item in the picture: Transportation decal from Tesco (RM19.90 per roll) |
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| Papa insisted to start you young.... (Part 1) Item in the picture: Championship racing cars decal (RM2.00 per set) |
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| The Diapering Station! With dinos to entertain Peanut... hehe Items in the picture: Gullunge Baby Care Mat from Ikea (RM25.00 per piece), Gullunge Cover from Ikea (RM29.90 per set of 2 pieces), Dinosaur decal (RM5.90 per set), White Rack from Ikea (existing furniture at home) |
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| Aptly named as the Rack of Duties |
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| Papa insisted to start you young... (Part 2) Items in the picture: Miniature toy cars from Tesco (RM2.90 per box x 2), Decorative Toy Soldiers from Parkson (RM15.90 per box x 3) , Doraemon toy piece (RM4.90), Picture frame from 100 Yen Shop (RM5.00 per piece), Rubber choo-choo toy train from Nestle (complimentary) |
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| Peanut baking in the oven :D |
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| Tier no.2 that will groom Peanut into a gentleman (fingers crossed) |
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| My favourite feature wall Item in the picture: Tree decal (RM4.00 per set) |
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| Bear to Tree: Say hello to the new Forest Ranger! Item in the picture: Bear from Harvard in Boston (existing plush toy that was kept away in the closet for over 10 years!) |
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| The play area Items in the picture: Kusiner mesh basket in blue with lid from Ikea (RM15.90 per piece), Ikea PS Fangst hanging storage with 6 compartments in green (RM19.90 per piece), toys (all hand-me-downs), wooden shoe rack from Ikea (existing furniture at home), blue and green striped curtain (existing drapery) |
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| The activity rack (Please do all these by the age of 3 months, Peanut!) |
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| THE ROYAL CHAIR Items in the picture: Chair from Ikea (existing furniture at home that is 5 years old and extremely comfortable!), Green cushion from Ikea (RM7.90 per piece), Blue checked fleece blanket from Daiso (RM5.00 per piece) |
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| Drawer #1 (featuring new clothes that were bought since 2 years ago) |
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| Drawer #2 (featuring all hand-me-downs, washed and divided into the relevant growing phases) |
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| Drawer #3 (Towels, sheets, blankets etc.) |
Here's counting down to the planned date then: 21 February 2012...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Officially baked!
I cannot believe that I have actually made it this far - 37 glorious (and clumsy) weeks have gone by and Peanut is now officially baked in the oven!
The 1-week break during the recent Chinese New Year (infact, I go back to work in another 8 hours) was certainly a very much deserved one. Apart from going back to Muar to visit my folks, I had a jolly good time stuffing myself with the array of junk food that's only available once a year and surviving one of the greatest periods of edema that hit my feet. I could have been Shrek's sidekick!
However, the most memorable act this year was giving out red packets as newly weds :) The Chinese culture states that the new Mr & Mrs are obliged to give 'double' red packets to kids and single adults (who happen to be family members and good friends of the couple) after their 1st year of marriage. So, this year, we were extra generous despite being a little tight with our budget as we will be having little Peanut joining (and creating havoc) in our family very soon. But it's always supposed to be an 'all's well, ends well' situation just like in the movies, so we are holding our chins real high up! :)))
I have also been feeling Peanut's movements more (and stronger) than ever over the past few weeks and I definitely believe that the boy cannot hold on any longer. He's getting rather impatient!
While waiting for Peanut to make the final call, I guess I have to deal with the finishing touches to the items below:
1) Hospital bag
2) Project Nursery
3) Wardrobe Spring Cleaning
4) Laundry for all baby items
5) Toy storage
6) Baby library
7) Sterilization of all baby feeding items
Updates again soon!
The 1-week break during the recent Chinese New Year (infact, I go back to work in another 8 hours) was certainly a very much deserved one. Apart from going back to Muar to visit my folks, I had a jolly good time stuffing myself with the array of junk food that's only available once a year and surviving one of the greatest periods of edema that hit my feet. I could have been Shrek's sidekick!
However, the most memorable act this year was giving out red packets as newly weds :) The Chinese culture states that the new Mr & Mrs are obliged to give 'double' red packets to kids and single adults (who happen to be family members and good friends of the couple) after their 1st year of marriage. So, this year, we were extra generous despite being a little tight with our budget as we will be having little Peanut joining (and creating havoc) in our family very soon. But it's always supposed to be an 'all's well, ends well' situation just like in the movies, so we are holding our chins real high up! :)))
I have also been feeling Peanut's movements more (and stronger) than ever over the past few weeks and I definitely believe that the boy cannot hold on any longer. He's getting rather impatient!
While waiting for Peanut to make the final call, I guess I have to deal with the finishing touches to the items below:
1) Hospital bag
2) Project Nursery
3) Wardrobe Spring Cleaning
4) Laundry for all baby items
5) Toy storage
6) Baby library
7) Sterilization of all baby feeding items
Updates again soon!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Welcoming 2012
New year came and went! Achievements were a plenty and so were the tears! But always, the happy stuff first!
Peanut Len (and Mama Len)
Peanut is finally in the much awaited engaged position as I am really looking forward to experience natural birth. He turned head down during the previous check-up at 33 weeks and he has retained that position as shown by the doctor during today’s check-up. Peanut is now 35 weeks old and weighs 2.5kg. His mama, on the other hand, has just been diagnosed with high blood pressure (1st time ever) and weighs a very healthy but scary 78kg. Of course, mama’s friends are all assuring her that she’s just a big walking tub of water with a floating ball in it! Well, the doctor gave a new due date for Peanut’s showdown on 18 February, and everyone’s betting that it would be much earlier. As long as Peanut pops out after Chinese New Year, that would be fine for all of us, in terms of logistics, finance and everything else, including his fate as a Golden Dragon baby! :)))
Big mama with her big tummy
Project Nursery
I wished we had an extra room in the house for him, but at alas, I have to sacrifice my wardrobe room to be Peanut’s nursery. I guess it’s not a bad idea as I have been cracking my head for the past few weeks to‘re-design’ the room. Project Nursery is halfway there, and I need to stop procrastinating. But I can’t help feeling tired after work each night and just want to put up my swelling feet and read a good book. Come on Mama, you can do it!!! The pressure is rising!!! Show your readers the pictures of the nursery as soon as possible!!!
Still very empty :(
Cloth Diapers
I managed to order the cloth diapers after sourcing high and low for the best options available. I bought the 5 pieces of cloth diapers at a bargain of RM18.00 per piece and even managed to get them to be couriered for free! Well, that’s the power of endless online surfing for the super-kiasu. And if Peanut is super comfortable with cloth diapers, then I will have to attempt to get more as the common usage rate is at least 10 to 15 pieces for serious diapering. My aim is to start using them on Peanut when he is 3 to 4 months old, as advised by other mamas. The reason being that newborns poo and pee most during the first 3 months and it’s best to rely on disposable diapers first. So I am going to take that advice and probably after the confinement period is over, I will be doing a lot of diaper cost comparison. Apparently, Tesco Choice diapers are the most economical for now, as told by one mama and I can’t wait to check that out. I am a born bargain hunter and am proud of it! Haha! :D
Baby Shower
The lovely Tessy hosted a baby shower (that came with kiddy welcome packs!!!) for Peanut and I at her new pad! It was really sweet of her to put in all the effort of gathering the Gossip Gang to pre-celebrate the arrival of the baby dragon. It was an afternoon of finger-licking fried chicken and a lot of premium cakes contributed by the ladies as well as fun and laughter over the games that we played, such as Name The Baby, Baby Bingo and Unscramble the Baby List of Words. The girls also surprised me with the very precious Avent Breastfeed Manual Pump (as per my wishlist!) and the bestie, Penny gave me the largest jar of anti-stretch mark cream that came bundled with “Pink Nipple” cream (okay, you may let your imaginations run wild now). Well, thank you ladies! I love you all! Never imagined that I would be thrown a baby shower… it really started my 2012 on a very cheerful note :)))
The very difficult to play 'unscramble the words' game
What a party! From L-R: Tessy, Alexis, Sharen, Anne, Penny, Yours Truly
All the gifts! :D
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