Big vs Small

There are so many prams and strollers around but which is the best? No right or wrong. Is actually the user preferences. Some likes light weight and can bring up the bus. Some with cars will prefer more heavy duty. Hence we have 2 strollers at home now.

** big vs small **

** Enjoying her new stroller **

Mummy and Annie

I like to take pictures for both Jon and Annie. But you seldom see me taking my own pictures. Not that I do not like it but because I am always behind the camera. But once in awhile, I do cam whore with them. This time is with mummy and daughter cam-whore time!

** Sweet Annie **

** Pretty like mummy **

Made with LOVE

Ever since I picked up crochet, I been crocheting little hats and bags or animals for Jon and Annie or for my friends. Below are my creations :

** Owl Beanie for Jon **             ** Beanie for Annie **

 

 ** Matching scarf and Beanie for my sis **

 ** requested by Ashley for Graciella **                                       ** For Jon's friend **

 ** For Cristabel **

** For the doctor who fixes my face **

 ** For Lily **

  ** For Jon's toy collections **

 ** Wincy spider!!! **

Yarns Yarns Yarns

Woohoo... yarns are in!! Pretty pretty pretty!!

Nicknames 3

Jon changes our nicknames again :

Me : Kettle to Duchess to Henry
Kenneth : Fish to Duke to Edward
Annie : Princess to Deisel 10
Jonathan : Percy to Sir Topham Hat to Gordon
Mum : Thomas
Dad : Ferdinard
Sister : Bash
Waggy : Dash

Nicknames 2

Jon changes our nicknames :

Me : Kettle to Duchess
Kenneth : Fish to Duke
Annie : Princess
Jonathan : Percy to Sir Topham Hat

Recipe :: Fresh Silver Fish Powder

Fish is a good source of DHA. When I saw wet market selling the fresh silver fish, I was very excited. Time to make fresh silver fish powder for Annie. Making this is not difficult but is alot of work. You need to wash clean the fish and dry fry it. Because it is fresh, it will have alot of water from the fish. You need to cook it using non stick pan because we cannot use oil as it is meant for babies. From stage 1-2, takes around 5 mins, stage 2-3, takes around 20mins for the water to be evaporated, stage 3-4, takes another 20mins for the fish to be crispy and golden brown. Once it is ready, you can grind the fish into powder. The fish powder can be stored in the fridge for 3months by which should be consumed by the baby. It can be added directly into the cereal or porridge. Happy cooking!

Nicknames

We find ourselves having a special nicknames given by Jonathan.

Me : Kettle
Kenneth : Fish
Annie : Princess
Jonathan : Percy

Scratch head.. how come I am a kettle and Kenneth is a fish... ?????

New new new

Aloha...
It has been ages since I last update the blog. Yes yes.. I been busy. But this is no excuses for all the time. With some free time, I finally revamped the blog. If you noticed it is no longer PINK but GREEN.
It is because of Jon. Green is his fav colour now. Everything about him now is green... green pencil, green bowl, green fork, green cup, green shirt... green green green. So hopefully with this new look, I can push myself to blog more often.

Names

I was teaching Jon our names just in case if he needs to find us or anybody looking for us. So last week as I was waiting to pick Jon from school and when he saw me, this is how he called me.

Jon : Hello Shirley, you are here. Where is Kenneth?
Me : I almost flipped when I heard this.

Confinement

The traditional confinement means : no shower, no fan no air-con, no go out for 30days. I will go nuts if I follow the rules. hahaha. I already broke the rule during day 3 in hospital. I washed my super oily hair with my sister's and hair dryer help. I had a confinement nanny to help me this time. And she is very good, not those traditional aunty. I was actually up and running my errands during my 2nd week of confinement. And I even went to rebond my hair. LOL. But rules are still rules.. I still followed some of them, eg, shower with herbs and had 1 week of Jamu massages to flatten my tummy. So are you the modern mummy or traditional?

** Pretty Me **

Inexperieneced Me

That's right, I did not breastfeed Jon. I was not prepared by the efforts to be put in to breastfeed. So I am the inexperienced mummy when it comes to this area. I did not know that I have to wake up in the middle of the night to express the milk else I will have engorement in the morning. I was just complaining to my gfs and all of them laughed stating that is normal. I was like.. aw!!! I had high fever for the whole day and realised that I had mastities!! It is really not an easy task to breastfeed. To express or latch every 2-3hours is really no joke. Really need a lot of patience and efforts!! So I totally saluate all BF mummies for all the hardwork! Well Done Mummies... including myself. hahahaha.

The Big Day

We have schedule Annabelle to be delivered on 2 nov and my maternity leaves will start officially on 27 oct. So I can have a few days of rest before popping and spending more quality time with Jon. But who knows... on 20 Oct 2011, I realised I have some pink discharged. I called my gyn who asked me to come down at once. In fact I was still working on that day. Called Kenneth to pick me up and told him that today may be the D day. Hand over my work to my boss and bid her and my other colleagues farewell. We went home and had a quick shower and picked up my bag. Upon checking, Gyn informed us that I have actually dilated 2cm and informed us that he will perform the c-sec tonight instead. We were like ... wow so fast?! and Annabelle (Annie) will be born preterm at week 35 day 6. So a PD was requried to be at the Operating Theatre as well. We faster updates our families and friends and waited for 8pm to arrived. Compared to Jon, this round was really pain-free and more organised. During Jon's time, I had to be induced for almost 3 days as he was an overdue baby. The pain was beyond words as I have to suffer for 2 days before epidural was given. But after 3days, I was only dilated at 4cm and Jon was showing signs of destress. Hence was given emergency c-sec. So Annie's birth was really pain-free.

So below is her Birth story :
11am : pink discharged
2pm : 2 cm dilated
3pm : admitted to hospital ward
6pm : prepared for c-sec (shaved and shower)
7pm : pushed to OT
7.30pm : Epidural was administator
8.30pm : Allo to Annabelle
9.00pm : pushed to recovery ward
9.30pm : pushed back to normal ward

My Pregnancy Journey

It is official - 2 more weeks to Delivery. During this time, my feet is super swollen, my tummy is always dancing with her movements. Sleeping is also a problem now. Been waking up every 2 hours to go toilet. And not forgetting my little Jon. He is getting closer to me each day. Wonder if he can sense that his sister is coming out soon. He used to prefer his dad but now, is the opposite. During my last checkup at week 35, she weighs almost 3.2kg and is consider on the big side. Jon weight was 3.4 - 3.5kg when delivered, guess she will also be around the same size as him. Guess genes runs in the family or I been eating super good foood. LOL

My Pregnancy Journey

I am currently in my week 34 and left another 4 more weeks before I deliver. Yes, 4 more weeks! I have opted for C-sec as Jon was also delivered via C-sec. So much things to prepare and yet so little time. Baby stuff have been washed and packed. Delivery bag also has been packed and ready to grab and go. And also not forgetting the confinement herbs too.

** Longan red dates drink for the confinement **

** Packed into 31 days for easy access **

My Pregnancy Journey

Yea... I am finally in my 3rd trim and in fact left a few more weeks before I delivered. I noticed that my feet have swell so much that the ankle have disappear. Walking is definately harder now. And I am officially the humpty dumpty.

** Pig trotters anybody?? **

My Pregnancy Journey

Below are the Items to get for Newborn babies/First time Mums and I have prepared 95% of them :

Baby’s Room
Baby Cot / Playpen --> use back Jon
Musical mobiles/ Merry-go-round --> from Bro
Mattress (3″ or 4″) --> from Bro
Blanket – get a thin cotton one for singapore weather (or can use cloth Diapers) --> ok
Bedsheets --> use back Jon
Cupboard/Chest of Drawers --> ok

Baby's clothing
lots of Mittens/Bootees --> ok
Disposable Diapers – Use Pampers S no need NB
Blouse/shirts – long and short sleeves – with buttons in front or string --> use back Jon
Suits – pants and long shirts for night usage --> use back Jon
Rompers - good for going out… cos prevent wind from getting into their tummy --> use back Jon Handkerchiefs (get plenty of them) --> ok

Baby bathing
Baby wipes --> ok
Cotton wool – for cleanning of bum with water at home --> ok
Bath tub --> ok
Anti-slip mat --> ok
Bath towel --> ok
Bath sponge (optional, small cotton handkerchief would suffice) --> ok
JJ Baby bath lotion --> ok
JJ Baby shampoo --> ok

Feeding Baby
Milk bottles (big+small) + teats – for breastfeeding mummies --> ok
Bottle scrub brush --> ok
Warmer cum carrier bag --> ok
Thermometer (to use when baby is unwell)
Electric Steam Steriliser --> ok
Milk containers --> ok
Bags/milk bottles to store expressed breastmilk --> ok

Misc
Nail clippers
Anti-nappy rash cream - Desitin Creamy for Day usage, Desitin Original for Night usage
Ziplock bags for checkups and outings --> ok
Polythene bag for soiled diapers --> ok

Care of the Umbilical Cord Stump
Sterile cotton swabs – get from hospital pharmacy, before discharging --> ok

Accessories
Highchair --> ok
Stroller --> ok
Car seat --> ok
Baby carrier --> ok

Toys & Playstuff
Rattle --> ok
Mirror --> ok

Mummy Care
Maternity Dress/top/bottom --> ok
Pyjamas with front opening for breast feeding – for hospital stay --> ok
Breast pump --> ok
Anti Stretchmark creams --> ok
Nursing bras --> ok
Nipple cream for crack nipples --> ok
Nursing pads --> ok
Cotton panties (larger size when reach later stage of pregnancy) --> ok
Sanitary pads for heavy flow --> ok
Bedroom slippers --> ok

Other optional items
Thermoflask without autoboil, for mum’s drinking water --> ok
Claypot or double boil claypot for mum’s confinement soup --> ok
Claypot or earthenware for cooking pig’s trotters in ginger and black vinegar --> ok
2 pails for mum’s bathing and face cleansing. --> ok

Pestle and Mortar

Do you find this familiar? Yes, that's right. It is the super old school granite Pestle and Mortar. The beauty of this is that you will enjoy the manual pounding of the garlic, ginger, chilli, etc. Not really recommended if you are making big amount but for a small meal. I remembered that my mum has been using this since forever till she switched to blender. Then recently she use back again to make each dish. Somehow the manual way is nicer. And of cos under the influence of MasterChef, I told myself I would like to have 1 in the kitchen too. So ta-da... after 1/2 day of shopping in Robinsons, I spotted this gem. Cant wait to try it out.

2011 P1 Registration

Registration for 2012 Primary 1 registration just ended and results were also annouced. Some schools are really popular. It will be Jon's turn in 2 years time. Feeling super Kiasu I checked the MOE link (http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/primary-one-registration/vacancies/ ) for the results. Bishan does not have a lot of schools and 2 of them are in the hot zone already. So really need to think if Parent Volunteering is worth the efforts. *Headache*

P/S - For parents who want to do PV, please make sure you have enough time as you need to register for it when your kid is in K1.

I got gifts!

Naraya bags (from slippers to bags) from my sister.

** bedroom slippers for confinement, pouch and bags **