PonyTales

Nowadays, this must be the most frequently asked questions I get from friends, colleagues and relatives, especially those who are already a parent.

"So…planning for no. 2 now?!"

"Don’t let the gap get too wide, u know!…u need to re-start all over and as u get older, its tiring!"

"Its about time…u know…"

"Zoe needs siblings…"

…even a confession from this young gorgeous lady in my office

"I am an only child…its very lonely! Please dun stop at 1…"

Seriously, I am not that ready to face another pregnancy. I can only wish and pray and hope that my pregnancy will be smooth. I have this phobia because my last pregnancy took a great toll on my body, my mind and its scary. I can still remember how it felt like to be pregnant (for me) and no, the child birth pain and joy did not took the memory away from me. I can remember quite well how it was like to be pregnant - with hyperemesis…
I remember asking God - why me!? (Its that bad!)
What’s my chances for a healthy pregnancy? If only God can tell me…
(Science and gynae could not tell or give me any assurance…)

I don’t know about others, but whenever I get a question of no.2 or I think about it - it relates directly to pregnancy sickness…very negative…I know…can’t help it!

Other factors to be considered:

Financial - just work harder…it’ll come or simply get by with what we have…

Child care - another tough part, good babysitter is hard to come by. Harder even when you are trying your utmost best to find a good one. Resign and stay at home, not really a wise move with the current economy and super inflation going on…

Night feeds - not that scary as compared to pregnancy…serious!

and some other factors…

A note to remind myself not to go into hyperdrive thinking about the above…

A child is a gift from God. What God has planned, He will see it thru and deliver as planned…so, let it be and let it come naturally. It’s not what you or others wanted or expected that counts. It’s a call for duty with unconditional love. If God sees it fit that you can be 2,3,4 x Mommy…you will be given the strength to go thru it…Amen!

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…

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!?

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.

Tomorrow, a friend of mine will be admitted to induce labour. Her big day is here! Finally…
I pray that her labour will be short and simple (complication free) and I can’t wait to see her baby. We are seeing the same gynae and go to the same hospital.

Looking at my friend, I thot to myself that it may mean that I have another 6 weeks to go - I cannot wait! ~6 weeks seems so long~

Sometimes, I dream and wish that I would wake up one morning and it is time already! - I just cannot wait!

Labour pain!? Am I afraid of it? I guess I am not too worried about that now, I will deal with it when it comes. I told myself, long hours of pain (1-2 days) compared to months of sickness misery, they might just cancel each other out like a mathematic equation. I already come this far and deal with every blow of pregnancy sickness that came - I guess that already makes me tougher now. Whenever my gynae needs to inject me for blood or the small IV tiub need to be inserted into my vein, I do not really feel anything already, my heart did not even skip a beat, when the needle is poked into my flesh. Feels like some sort of "ilmu kebal" that I have mastered.

As long as baby is born healthy and I am out of this misery - I will be the happiest person alive. I just cannot wait!

But, wait I must!
Because I want baby to be born full term - healthy and no complications.

I am really counting down - never count down so seriously hard in my life before. I hope all is well worth it when the time comes.

Tears of joy and victory will fill our eyes as we celebrate our threesome.

I just bought a book during lunch hour - Asian Parenting Today!

Note! It doesn’t help when one work above one of the most happening shopping complex in KL - can really do impulsive purchase!!

This book is recommended by Pinky
I am going to buy the other book recommended by her also, Minus Nine to One: The Diary of an honest mum by Jamie Oliver’s (the celebrity chef) wife, Jools Oliver

Suddenly, I have the urge to read again after soooooo long. It felt like back to the time when I was in primary school (about 10-12 y.o). I will go to school library every day and read every single "cerita dongeng" (Malay: fairy tales) books they have there. In fact, I will read any book they have, like I am possesed by the book…I don’t even care if tomorrow is exam day, I read story book like no tomorrow. I used to tell myself that ‘membaca buku’ (Malay: reading) was the most honest hobby that I fill in all the school forms/exercise. The rest I just made it up to create volume

Now, I have this urge again…could it be baby?!!

I am just wondering, do I really have the luxury to read, when baby is out? Since my old hobby is coming back to me now…

Reading is good, and I want to continue this passion again…I hope… 

P/S: For those who know me personally and reading my blog - if u wanna borrow books/mags on pregnancy from me. Please let me know yea