PonyTales

Year end and New Year is a time to reflect of the things we have done for the past year and our plan for the future. For hubby and me, Jan 07 will mark a new chapter in our life as we anticipate the arrival of baby and the start of our parenthood journey. There will be a lot of ups and downs surely, but as long as we walk this journey together – I think it will be our most cherished memories/moments for years and years to come.

2006 is a challenging year for me, mainly in terms of health. It is the year I got pregnant – with hyperemesis. I thank God that I manage to get my job stabilized when this pregnancy complication hit me – manage to keep my job so far. This year, I really learned that staying healthy is very important. In the midst of uncontrollable health circumstances – I guess God made me see it. A rather desperate way to see things clearly but I will never forget this lesson for sure.

2007 is going to be a challenging year for us as well but I will like to add that it will be a fulfilling year too. Many things to look forward to – baby, new home and maybe a new move in career. Is it too much to take?

I am not sure for now but it is coming anyway – might as well ‘just do it’ rather than worry no end about it.

I am looking forward to 2007 – I believe that it will be a great year

Happy New Year Everyone!

After reading lots of parent’s blogs on their child, the development milestones and etc. It made me realised that every child is their parent’s most precious. I am carrying my own child now and the emotional rollercoaster is already overwhelming for the past 9 months.

Next, our tasks as parents will be to find a good babysitter, cause both of us are working our butts off to ensure baby have a better future. We have yet to find a suitable one.

I remembered that my father used to tell me (in a rather sorry note), that I was staying with my babysitter all the while (nite/day/weekend) until I was about 19 months old. My mom was unable to take care of me because my father is very sick that time, and she need to take care of him. I was a loud cry baby and my crying is not helping my father to recover. So, I was sent to my babysitter who stayed in the kampung near a wet market - famously known as Sentul Pasar

My father also used to said that if it is not because of my maternal grandfather urging my mom (who wanna get rid of me, she successfully did it 2 yrs ago when I got married), I could have stayed longer at my babysitter’s place, could also eventually be adopted by them. He also said that my babysitter loves me to bits, and was not ready to part with me and was crying buckets, the day my father took me home. My father took me back to visit her several times after that, so that she can spend some time with me.

Sadly now, I don’t remember how my babysitter look like but I remember she is a very cheerful granny who took very good care of me. The kampung house is full of brown paper bags and smell of homemade glue everyday because her son/DIL are in the paper bag business then. So, there I was, a city kid but raised in the humble kampung home accompanied by my ever abundant loyal pets - Duckie, chicks, Tompok the cat and Comot the lizard.

A couple of years ago, my father told me that my babysitter passed away (old age) and I did not get to see her. Now, thinking of all the possible babyhood stuff she did for me from night feeds to my first word - I sort of regret I did not pay my last respect to her. If can, I want to let her know I appreciate every little love and care she has given me. I also remember the red big juicy apple that she used to buy for me as a treat.

Hmm…I hope I can find a good babysitter for baby…soon…

This morning at work comes with a pleasant surprise

I was given a nice watch (Timex indiglo) by my company, due to my contribution as part of the sports and recreation team member. I always feel happy to receive surprises! (especially those that I least expected!)
It make my day!

This is the second watch that I receive free from a company that I worked with - both also a Dutch company. Last year, I received a Swatch watch - cool one.

Personally, I think these watches does not cost much to the company but I believe that an employee would definitely feel appreciated to be given pleasant surprises like this.  Speaking about lifting employee morale - this is one of the many ways.

With the almost new management in my company, things are really starting to change - for the better. I am hoping that next year will be a good year for my career development - be it in current position or something that I have wanted to do for the longest time. Something that will give me the freedom I need and at the same time - give me great satisfaction with good income. Something I personally feel very passionate about

So far, the above is one of the most expensive baby stuff store that I have visited. Everytime, I will usually just go in for a stroll and look around, without purchasing anything - cause the price is way too high. But, I must say that some of their stuff are really nice and cute - and I really like them.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a friend just told us, "M-care! Err..the price is just crazy!". I agree then.

But…but…for the past 1 week plus, they are having this sale (50% off) and because they are so "dangerously" situated so near to my work place…I finally cannot take it anymore and succumb to my shopping appetite. I bought quite a number of baby stuff there  mainly clothes, socks, shoe and a very very irristable 2-piece swimsuit for baby (all at 50% discount, which makes the final price a little more local) . I know…I know…it is still waaaaaaay too early for baby to swim…but I am preparing for her future! …and if I can fit, I oso wanna wear that 2-piece leh…so so so cute (Agree!? Agree!? please…)

Seriously! I hope they end the sale soon…or I gotta lock my credit card somewhere

Last weekend, we were busy washing and drying all the baby clothes, towels, hanky and etc.

I did a rough check stock on the amount of disposable diapers that we have, and I found out that we have actually collected almost 500 pieces of it (inclusive of the free ones I get occasionally that came up to almost 1 dozen)

The range of brands that we have includes Mamipoko, Pampers Comfort/All-Nite, Huggies Dry and another rabbit brand (free), I forgot the name…

The ones that we bought were almost all bought during sales with prices ranges from 28 sen per piece to 60 sen per piece (If you are an experienced parents, you probably can guess which brand )

So far, there is only one distinct feature that I found different between the expensive and cheaper diapers. The expensive ones have velcro-like strap, and the cheaper ones have sticker strap. The velcro strap will still work if baby powder sprinkle on it, but not the sticky type.

Other than that, the expensive ones probably feel softer inside and maybe has nicer (more colorful, celebrity) cartoon prints on it….haha

We never had so many diapers in our life before!…
And nowadays, we actually care to calculate how much a diaper will cost, given the discounted price.
Hey! This is only one little bum that we are talking about here - hmm…Are we getting a little too excited or wut!?

Today’s post is also related to this

…and also because my much younger colleague is gonna move into her new ‘big’ house…

Once, I personally do not have high requirement in terms of a shelter I call home. I am the kind of person that thot if I own one nice house/condo/apt, where I will live happily ever after - I will be just fine and contented.

Until I got married and my hubby gave me a different perspective of a house (property), then my perception changed and I am once again reminded of my childhood time. You see, my maternal grandfather is a typical chinese landlord - he owns houses, shops and lands (from his hard earned money) and my mom help him to collect rents sometimes. He died a multi-millionaire - my maternal grandma become an automatic millionaire from inheritance - my mom also received her fair share of inheritance then - that was many years ago.

It is really not easy being in this property game (my hubby call it asset accumulation - "Is diamond considered asset honey?" ). I guess I am saying this because people around me are living much more comfortably in big, nice and cosy homes. Those nicely decorated showhouses that we frequently visit also add to the pressure - but we gotta go on. It worked for my grandpa - if I made it too, my children will benefit from it. I think it is better than insurance if one day my child come up to me and want some money for a good reason - just sell off one property lor

But, for now…we are in the accumulation stage - and it is an uphill climb daily. Especially throughout this pregnancy, there are countless times that I doubt it all, when I am challenged with temptations/envy/jealousy/hospital bills!.

"Why oh why, I am sick to the core and still I put myself thru all these uncomfortness!?!? How long can I bear?"

No pain, no gain - what a phrase! when you are in pain….ouch!

I see people, young people nowadays going for comfort, style first and even resort to getting loan to buy nice furnitures, fixtures and electrical equipment for a nice, cosy home. Totally opposite!

I guess everyone just wanted a nice, cosy place that they can call home - some of them to the extend that they don’t mind borrowing money.

Hmm…I wonder how hard was it for my grandpa to made it during his time. Remember that my mom told me he arrived in Malaya with only the clothes on his back and that he paddle on his old rusty bicycle for miles to sell fabrics to earn a living then. I guess he had it much harder - I gotta remember that and hang on.

I used to think that I am quite plump and I always imagine that I will be huge if I got pregnant. I used to tell myself that if I loose another 5-7Kg, it will be just nice for me. Little did I know then…

I am now 33 weeks pregnant and just went for my regular (bi-weekly) check-up last Saturday and guess what?! I did not gain weight for the past 3 months - maintaining at 57.5Kg. Actually, I am worried about my weight and asked my gynae whether there is anything to be concerned about. He said as long as I don’t loose weight from now on, it should be okay. He also assured me that baby is doing fine. Hmm… I guess I just have to trust that everything will be fine despite my "weighty" problem.

Before I am pregnant, I was weighing at 60.5Kg - a bit on the heavy side due to all the good food at my workplace and my good appetite. Never came across my mind that I will be slimmer when I am actually 8 months pregnant. I get quite a fair amount of remarks from friends/colleagues and even stranger that I don’t look pregnant or they just cannot believe that I am 8 months preggy.

I guess I finally ended up in the slim category (which I used to dream about) during my pregnancy - no thanks to my pregnancy disorder

Just got to take one step at a time until I reach my pregnancy full term - as long as baby is healthy and I am able to take my regular meals.