Nesting mode at 34 weeks

A sense of panic came over me all of a sudden. 

I have never had this feeling before, not when I was pregnant with Jaden.

I could still remember how relax I was, even till the day Jaden was born.. not once was I worried about if I had everything ready, enough clothes and diapers, wipes and etc.

Now, with this second pregnancy, like I had said countless of times, its the total opposite from my first pregnancy.

This time round, it seems that Hubby is much more relax than I am, while I am running around town, looking out for best deals and also, to my liking.. but that means much more uncontrollable spending. Oops!

It was just my luck that Aeon Bandar Utama were having their Aeon Card Day and that means diapers are priced so awesome, that you can't get it cheaper anywhere else. 

Right after my fortnightly gynae checkup at the hospital, I send Hubby down into the 'housewives' war zone' to grab 6 packet of Mamypoko diapers for Jaden. Unfortunately, my 6 year old is still not fully toilet-trained, hence we still have to buy diapers for him.

The next day, it was my turn to head into that war zone but I went prepared. 

I had a friend who came along with me so that we can fill up carts after carts of what I needed.

Lets just say, in the end, I got another 6 packets of large Mamypoko diapers for Jaden, 2 packets of newborn, 2 packets of S sized Mamypoko and 2 packets of S sized Merries diapers. I also got 4 packets of 150sheets of Pureen babywipes refill packs and 2 packets of 2x100sheets of babywipes. Should be enough for baby and Jaden, I guess but babywipes are usually at a priced reasonably at Aeon, so that I am not very worried about. It was the diapers that is the driving point for me to go into the 'warzone'. 

Now lets go over my checklist:-

1) Baby stroller
2) Baby car seat
3) Diapers
4) Baby wipes
5) Baby body shampoo & shampoo
6) Baby bath sponge
7) Baby nail clipper
8) Baby bathtub
9) Baby towels
10) Baby blanket
11) Newborn pillows
12) First Years secure sleepers
13) Baby clothes
14) Maternity pads
15) Disposable linen sheets
16) Post-maternity girdle/corset
17) Baby booties and mittens
18) Baby hats
19) Baby Koyabashi fever patch (for emergency purposes)
20) Baby washing detergent
21) Baby utensil dishwashing liquid
22) Baby bottles
23) Sterilizers
24) Breast pump
25) Washable breast pads
26) Baby bottle warmer
27) Bottle teats
28) Handkerchiefs
29) Diaper changing mat
30) Baby bedsheet and pillowcase
31) Baby playpen mattress
32) Jaden's bouncer (those traditional ones)
33) Baby cotton buds and cotton wipes

I have only just started on baby laundry yesterday and have a few more batches to go before I am done with it.

The things that I still need to go get before I can really relax would be either a playpen ala babycot or a real baby cot, one more set of bed crib set (if i get a cot in the end) and the most important one, confinement herbal stuff (such as red date drinks and herbal shower stuff)

Then, I can truly say, I am ready for baby no.2's arrival.

Wait, before that, of course, I need to write out my birth plan and also pack the hospital bag and get my parents down a week or two before I am due.. *sigh*

So for now, I am still very much in a panic mode. Doesn't help much with me forgetting some things here and there with my very much pregnant brain! 

Wish me luck and hoping baby will arrive either on EDD or a few days later.. 

p/s: crap I forgot all about baby drawers to keep his clothes and stuff.. crap crap crap!

Fabulous weekend

Last weekend had been a fabulous weekend where I got to spend time with a few of my closest girlfriends who came up from Penang and Johor and also, one who flew back from Japan. 

Lets talk about that Penang girl first, shall we?

It was her birthday weekend and since she was going to be stuck in Malaysia, instead of celebrating with her two boys, she decided KL would be a better place to celebrate her birthday instead of Penang and there were already two of us, Evon and I in KL waiting for her.

We tried persuading PC to fly in from Singapore too but since it was on a very short notice, that woman could not make it but another one of our girlfriends, SChee, flew down on Saturday evening right after work and stayed over a night with WW at my place to celebrate WW's birthday.

WW flew in on Friday morning, and what we did mostly on that day was to eat and hangout with Jaden. We ate at places I have eyed but never got the chance to really tried, and went places where I won't really have any reasons to go to with my boys, especially when it comes to going into KL at night.

I took her to Publika on Saturday as she has only heard of it but never been there, and we met up with Adrian for brunch. Adrian, too, hails from Penang, and it was just nice that Jaden was with me most of the time except for Saturday night.

We ate at Swine, and I felt so happy when I found some nitrate free, preservative organic bacon and bratwurst that I can give Jaden at the supermarket. 

I left WW in the care of Adrian while I headed home with Jaden first, to prepare him his dinner so that all his father had to do was to babysit him and not worry about cooking dinner for the little boy. Bought late lunch and dinner for the father too, so I can just go out with my girls without worrying what my boys will be having for their dinner.

Our fun night started out at about 730pm, when we both went to Subang airport to picked up SChee and headed to Le Midi's @ BSC where I made reservations earlier and had them prepare a surprise cake/candle blowing session for WW after dinner.

It was Mediterranean/Italian cuisine with a view of the pink-lit KLCC and KL Tower. What mattered most was our company. The three of us, just chatting, catching up and doing what we do best, taking photos and enjoying good food. 

WW was sure surprised when the waitress sneaked up from behind with a little birthday cake and they even played the birthday song over the restaurant music system. =)

It was really nice to see the smile on my friend's face as she made her birthday wish.

Then, we all moved on to Marini's 57 where, I have heard so much of but never been or seen it before, and had another school friend to join us there.

We were lucky to be able to witness KLCC being all lit up in beautiful pink light to commemorate Breast Awareness. 

Since our main intention was just to go for the view, and some photos and go oohh aahhhs over KL skyline, all of us ordered non-alcoholic drink except for the birthday girl while waiting for another schoolmate to come over with his wife to join us.

Once they arrived, and a few more photos and a drink each for the couple, we left the place as it was getting crowded and more people were smoking. Not good for me, the pregnant lady... 

We continued our catching up and laughed our asses off with Edwin entertaining us at the Mandarin Oriental lounge, where we had tea, juices and desserts.

It sure was a fun night, and I am sure the birthday girl did enjoy herself much. We left for home close to 130am and reached home half hour later. Lets just say all of us konked out in an hour after washing up for bed.

The next morning, Edwin and his wife took their daughter to come join us for a quick brunch at Sunway Giza. Again, I have to leave both SChee and WW this time in his hands, while I rushed home to feed my boy and then, drove all the way to Subang to pick up Joy and Marc back to my place.

Yes, the start of the second batch of friends for the day at my place.

It sure was hectic around that two hours of driving here and there but it was all good. Not only was it just Edwin who joined both SChee and WW for brunch, another older schoolmate, whom I just found out stayed really near to me too, joined them and thankfully, she offered to help me drop both SChee and WW at Subang airport for their flight back to Penang.

I sure missed them both already even before they stepped out from my door.

Then, while waiting for the Johorean to arrive with her little girls and mother, Joy helped me prepare the cooking ingredients so when the Johorean arrives, she can start her cooking for us as she promised.

Turned out to be it was aunty that did all the cooking and washing up while we girls were just catching up and spending time with our children.

The house was really noisy, but a good kind of noisy, though Marc might not really agree with us. We took the kids down for a swim and they sure had a good time. Since I was so heavily pregnant, I decided to be the photographer of the day and took pictures of my happy friends and even happier kids.

Aunty really took care of us well, its almost just like us, taking care of our kids while she took care of us and the grandkids. 

Before we went down for a swim, aunty had already cooked us the tong sui, barley fuchuk dessert. After swimming, we had chicken rice that was awesome! Aunty even made sure that Hubby who was out doing his reno research had some. How awesome can aunty be?

Then we proceeded to Penang One cafe, so the lady who lived in Japan can cross it off her MUST EAT checklist while back in KL -Assam Laksa!

Zairynn drove over to join us and well, it sure was a fun night, with both Sharon's girls being so cute and entertaining. It was just pure cuteness overload coming from her daughters and judging from the children's faces, they were all pooped out by the time we all came to say our goodbyes and till we meet again. 

I, too, was all pooped out and boy, Jaden and I both sure slept like a baby that night.

It really was one fabulous weekend, where both parties really made it to my convenience, coming all the way to my place to hangout instead of asking me to go hang out outside with them.. 

MAD LOVE to my girlfriends for being so accommodating with me. 

32 weeks : Sciatic

I think being pregnant is a very beautiful thing. Its only the cons that comes with it, that does not help many think pregnancy is a good thing.

For me, there are quite a number of cons but most I can deal with it. 

There are only two that I can't really handle and that is:-

1) Headaches/ Migranes

2) Sciatic Nerve pain

My headaches hit me major when I was in my first trimester and going into early second trimester. That was when I always have to at least have a good afternoon nap. If I missed that, its confirmed that a headache would be banging on my head soon after.

The only relief I get from that is that I popped Panadols to prevent it from getting worse and also stop myself from feeling all miserable and depressed. 

Now, nearing 32 weeks, I got what they think is sciatic nerve pain.

Sciatic Nerve pain is a set of symptoms including pain caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots of each sciatic nerve—or by compression or irritation of the left or right or both sciatic nerves. Symptoms include lower back pain, buttock pain, and pain, numbness or weakness in various parts of the leg and foot. Other symptoms include a "pins and needles" sensation, or tingling and difficulty moving or controlling the leg. Typically, symptoms only manifest on one side of the body. The pain may radiate below the knee, but does not always. (taken from the wikipedia site)

What I am suffering from since yesterday, which was reallly a painful affair, was where I had a one-sided buttock pain, and that I have difficulty in walking. Each step is like a knife stabbed at my leg or lower back on in that one particular nerve that is giving me the pain. I could not bend, I could not squat, I could not stand for long and I needed help to pull me up to a standing position. 

I am still having it now but it is not that bad right now after a good night's rest, though I predict that it will hit me with vengeance by the end of the day. 

Luckily Hubs is around to help me with dealing with Jaden here and there, and also to massage that one butt. For me, I think it helps to relieve the pain to a certain extend. Better than to pay to go have a pre-natal massage, which I rather save the money for post-natal massages and also maybe, to see an osteopath or chiropractor to realign my spine/bone back to its place after 10 months of weight on my spine. 

I remembered having this pain before during my first pregnancy but it was not that bad. Maybe because it is due to this is much more a bigger and heavier pregnancy compared to when I was carrying Jaden, and also the vigorous exercises that I have been doing (dealing with Jaden, more walking here and there, cleaning after the boy, sometimes having to chase after him a while..) 

This is not a complain about how being pregnant the second time around, and having to do mothering duties at the same time took a toll on me but this is more of a rant/rambling for memories' sake of this pregnancy I am going through.

It is definitely different from my first pregnancy and each pregnancy is totally different. Like I have said before and I will not hesitate to say it again, that being pregnant with Jaden was like  a breeze through. No morning sickness and I was feeling much more active than now, being such a whale of a size and also feeling much more tired easily, and having to watch my weight this time round as I was piling more than what was considered normal and also the precautions I am taking this time round. 

If I could avoid medication, that is what I would be doing.. 

Anyway, baby no.2 is moving really actively around and by now, instead of feeling one limb move at a time, it was two and now, sometimes its three limbs and an elbow or knee somewhere poking at you. *sigh*

I am somehow going to miss this movement a lot when its time to pop. It was beautiful the first time round and now, having to be able to feel it the second time round, its even more beautiful and I have learnt how to appreciate the miracle of being able to feel all these movements rather than complaining about how painful these kungfu movements can be. 

Just praying that the sciatic nerve pain would subside or at least affect me as minimal as can be. I don't have that much help other than Hubs to see to Jaden and I still have lots of things to be done before welcoming baby no.2 into our home.

Yes, and baby no.2 still has no name yet. LOL We are really taking our own sweet time, aren't we this time round?

LeeHom @ Gardens Coach 10th Oct 2013

I was seated in front of the laptop, when suddenly Hubs sprung up on me and said hes giving me my early birthday gift. 

Suspicious? Yes.. definitely.. and he has this big grin on his face.

He asked what plans I had for the coming Thursday and I replied that Jaden has evening therapy at home. 

Then he offered to babysit Jaden while I get to go out on Thursday.

BUT WHERE WAS I TO GO ON THURSDAY? DID HE MEAN THAT I GET TO MAKE MY OWN PLANS ON THURSDAY BUT WHO AM I TO INVITE TO GO OUT LAST MINUTE WITH ME? 

Then he said I was to go to to Gardens and meet his college friend, Reta, and that they both have a surprise arranged for me.

Only after a while, it dawned on me that my Hubs has arranged for me to go meet and ogle at my MOST FAVOURITE MALE IDOL .. which he usually will make fun of my girly fan infatuation. 

OMG OMG OMG! I know.. 

It was an explosion of good feelings in me. Happy, touched, excited, satisfaction that I will be able to see LeeHom live in person again. 

I definitely did not see this coming. I knew LeeHom will be making an appearance at Coach @ The Gardens but I did not expect that I would be able to go attend that event and see him up close again, not after what my HunYee bunny had arranged for me in March. That is another angel of mine, that definitely knows where my idol fan loyalty lies. 

Gardens.. Gardens.. Coach event.. knowing who and who that might be there and Hubs being in that industry, I can't appear too shabby either and also looking like a hobo pregnant woman, I was grateful I had that H&M shopping trip before. So I did not have to worry what I was going to wear to that event. All I did was to plan my time well, from leaving the house, to driving and finding parking would be just good so I won't have that stressed out look on me. 

That day, turned out to be one of the most 'jammiest' day in KL because of a sudden downpour that happened at 4pm and even though I left the house at 430pm, I only managed to get to parking in Gardens at 6pm. Usually, it will only be a tops 30 minute drive to Midvalley area for me. 

That was how awful the traffic conditions were. It was also at that time, I was grateful to be driving my 2012/2013 birthday present from Hubs. :)

Reached, took a stroll to get some light bites before meeting up with Reta at the entrance where many had already gathered and taken front line waiting for LeeHom to appear. 

Thanks to Reta, and being her +1, we managed to get into the Coach event and be seated comfortably, enjoying our drinks while waiting for the superstar to arrive.

Managed to bump into my school childhood friend, Liz.. not that surprising afterall as both sisters were in charge of Gardens.

Coach has doorgifts for their guests that comes in the form of a keychain, that you get to embossed your name on it. At first, of course, I would have jumped at the opportunity of getting one for myself but I thought Hubs deserves it more than me so I had his initials embossed on it instead. 

The event was supposed to start at 7pm but might be due to weather and traffic conditions, the superstar was late. Supposedly his flight was also delayed and instead of touching down at 330pm at KLIA, he reached at about 4pm plus and hey, KLIA to Midvalley ain't actually very favorable unless he took the KLIA express train to KL sentral and someone ferries him from there but which superstar would take that option, eh? I bet he had police entourage to clear the way for him anyway.

Local celebrities and prominent media editors, fashion designers and some socialites graced the event and the space which Coach allocated for their guests started becoming crowded and people, left right center exchanging their hellos and how do you dos, the MAN of the night finally reached. 825pm.

Familiar faces yet I feel so out of place. Its been 6 years plus since I left that circle. Missed it? Definitely but I also love what I currently do, and being able to watch every single milestone of my baby.. its all worth it. 

Crowd went berserk, we, the ones attending the event went crazy too. People forgetting their status went fan crazy and some even opt to stand on the couch to get better photographs of LeeHom, when before they were all sitting all poised and drinking their champagne. 

Well, if I weren't pregnant, I would have most probably done the same but with my GF1, it was good enough to go camera trigger happy and snap satisfactory photo of LeeHom and hearing him addressing the crowd in English was just orgasmic.

*sigh*

How can someone be dressed in just a simple shirt and jacket be so good looking? Personally I think it is his musical talent that added the sexy factor to him. IF not, he would be just like another T, D and H artistes..

After snapping away and being very satisfied with what I already had, I left the place before LeeHom left too. 

Faced another slight traffic jam on the way back, but better than the journey going there earlier. 

and then it was back to seeing my little rockstar and showering my boys with kisses for being good behaving boys at home and letting mommy go be a fan!

The idol-meeting experience for 2013 has been completed and I even jokingly said, now I can go give birth with ease and feeling fully satisfied.

Well, I bet LeeHom will have his 'Cyber' movie premiere in Malaysia too but that won't be until maybe late next year so oh well, I will see you again, won't I, Mr Wang? 

Anti or Pro Vaccine? - its a gamble ! But I rather take the gamble on being Anti Vaccine.

After having gone through with Jaden's case and a bout of self-blaming game that it was me that might have triggered off the autism in Jaden, I have decided for baby no.2 that I do not want to go down the same road again.

I am not saying that vaccines will cause autism but for some children, and their immune that we are not able to test it out when they are young, might trigger off and attack their neurological system. 

I will never know what my medical history were like, as I was adopted and nobody knows anything about my blood parents. So we just can't depend on Hubby's medical history as most of these genes do derive more from the mother, or so I read.

Hubby and I are different opinionated when it comes to vaccine. 

He believes in them. I, for one, as a mother, and my motherly instinct is telling me the other way round. It is not because I am influenced greatly but somehow something ticks in me, telling my kids' immune are not build for all these ingredients in the vaccines. 

http://www.mommypotamus.com/should-parents-who-dont-vaccinate-be-prosecuted/

I rather use the homeopathy and natural way to build up their immune system and this time round, I am going to make sure that I will breastfeed the baby for at least minimum 2 years exclusively and eating right. 

Eating right is the hard part though for me, but as long as I compensate baby with infant probiotics, and more of good meat and vege and probios for myself, I am sure I will be able to bring up a healthy baby, without vaccines and should the child get measles, mumps or chicken pox, I shall let him be and treat it the way the elders had treated me.

Its going to be a challenge because I know there will be arguments if baby do fall sick and that I will be heavily blamed and accused but if I as a mother, act strong for my child and keep him from what I instinctively believed will do him more harm than good, it will all be well in the end. 

So from today onwards, I am going to down myself with lots of good healthy food and less sugary stuff and probiotics to prevent GBS!

We are coming close to 31 weeks soon.. *sigh* Its only a matter of time now, as I am already starting to feel Braxton-Hicks contractions. 

Jaden is SIX :: Part 2

Friends that know me, will know that I crack my head every year trying to think of what to do for Jaden's birthday every year and this year was no exception, except I already had a location in mind that I know that Jaden could get to eat the food cooked by the location, and need not me to prepare his food from home in advance.

This year, 2013, we held his birthday party at the private dining area of Curry Leaf Restaurant at Damansara Uptown. 

I would greatly recommend that restaurant as their service is top notch and they are really what some other restaurateur should learn from, this is 100% service with a smile and very accommodating to Jaden's food needs and also helping me with setup and table arrangements.

Usually, when we had our party elsewhere previous years, I was the one that needed to decorate the place up by myself. This year at Curry Leaf, they had two waiters to help me set up while I just sit and supervise.

Clearing of dirty plates and glasses were fast, and replenishing of plates/glasses and food were also fast as some popular dishes were quickly wiped out by Jaden's guests. The restaurant was not selfish with their drinks replenishment too. 

So that is why I would greatly recommend Curry Leaf Restaurant.

After locking in the location, I proceeded on to send out birthday invites to close family and friends to the party.

Of course, after securing location, I started searching high and low for cake bakers and found this lady, highly recommended by all my mummy friends and after looking through her gallery of cake designs, I was very sure she was talented enough to give me what I wanted. Best thing was that she could do all three commissioned work as required by me and she stays near me. 50 cupcakes for school party, 40 cookies and a 3D cake for Jaden's private birthday party. 

After some exchange of emails and agreement, I started looking online for some ideas on how to dress my theme up more for Jaden but in the end, being the pregnant me and with that little time, I used what I do best, getting colourful balloons instead. Firstly, they do suit the theme and secondly, all children loves playing with balloons. BINGO!

I used to prepare party packs for all Jaden's birthday guests previously, but since I already had the cookies to be given away to all the guests, I thought that preparing party packs for the children are more appropriate. So, once again, following Jaden's birthday theme, I got the children colouring books and colouring pencils, a ball paddle for them to play with and since there were going to be two babies under a year old, I prepared two baby books for them each. 

Since I am already 29 weeks pregnant and my bodyline ain't exactly fitting for most dresses or clothes that I owned, I panic a bit as I really did not have anything suitable to wear for Jaden's birthday party. Thankfully, his godma SChee was in town the weekend before the birthday and we went together into KL, with the boy in tow of course, and snagged a few maternity wear off the racks from H&M. Thankfully, I found the size I could fit in too.. and Jaden, being Jaden, managed to trick his godma into getting him a few shirts here and there too. :p

This year is albeit a bit special as Jaden has his classmate, Harry, to attend his birthday party. His very own friend instead of mummy and daddy's friends. Of course, there were other children too, such as his own cousin, Howard, Jaden's little godbrother, Haidn and then there was Marcus, Aiden and Rheanna, Herman and Hanson. Baby Sofia was the latest addition to the children's collection as she is just 4 months plus and such a cutie pie. Hubby sure had a fun time carrying and entertaining her. 

Jaden's birthday guests sang high praises of the food that we had ordered. In fact, there were a variety of food such as Briyani and White rice, Honey Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Lakshimi Kebab, Masala Prawns, Fish Head Curry, Fried Squid, Mix Vegetables, Pineapple Kootu, Snake Gourd Kootu, Fried Tenggiri Fish, Chicken Varuval, Potato and Brinjal Vegetables, Fruit platter of papaya, watermelon, rambutan and mini mandarin oranges. Iced Barley and Orange cordial was on the house, free flow. 

I prepared some snacks for the kids, just in case they did not want to eat but at least they have something to munch on. I know its definitely not healthy but I think I did a great job by not overpreparing them. Just nice enough, the number. I bought M&M minis, some mango puddings and jelly gummies. Just nice enough for the children that came and some adults too. 

Jaden was really happy to be able to eat his briyani rice, which the restaurant used only ghee and not butter, tandoori chicken and fried tenggiri. 

So what is this birthday theme that I have been going on and on about?

We did not do a cartoon theme for Jaden this year round as we realized that he was more into art stuff and everything colour. Colour pencils, Watercolour, art blocks.. anything to do with art and he is a happy little boy.

So I had Angeline (cake baker) to bake me 50 cupcakes that comes in assortment of colours -blue, green, purple, yellow, orange, red and pink. 

Then for the 3D cake, I had her to bake me this cake and the inside was a rainbow cake to suit the occasion of being colourful.

As for the 40 cookies that I gave out to Jaden's birthday guests, they are in the shape/design of a paint pallette. :)

She really met up to my expectation and I could not stop eating the birthday cake. Lets just say the birthday cake was quite a hit too and it was wiped clean too, not a bit left to be taken home. That was how good it was. 

As for Jaden's GFCFEF cake, I have to give it to that another cake lady too. Her name is Mas Ayu. She, too was talented enough to come up with the designs that I wanted for Jaden, pretty enough to suit his birthday theme and at least.. at least he got to eat a few bites of cake. 

Jaden, this year, seems really aware of the cake and he was so impatient, wanting to have a taste of the cake before we could get to finish singing his birthday song for him, and having him to blow out his candles. :p I am just glad he got to eat together when others are eating around him too.

Jaden was really into eating papadom and he went from table to table to eat papadom. *sigh* Thankfully that was on the house too and they replenish it when we ran out of them. 

The children, in the end had a blast with the balloons and boy, by the time the party was over, lets just say the whole of SimonYap clan was pooped.

Luckily, Hubby's friends helped us carry Jaden's presents and stuff back into the car from the restaurant. The car boot was filled to the brim with all the leftovers that we took back too. Not to say that there were lots of leftovers, but enough to feed us for two meals. Some birthday guests that stayed behind did tapao-ed some back too. 

The tiny Teo family (Jaden's kai-yeh, wife & son) helped us to carry stuff back from the car up to the house and lepaked a bit with us at home. It was really lovely.. just intimate. 

Little Haidn even practiced and sang Happy Birthday to Jaden. It was really cute. 

I bathed Jaden after he cooled down, and then I attempted to take some photographs of him posing all his birthday presents. The word is attempt as he was just on a move all around, but well, I did manage to capture a few and then had him to open all his birthday presents. 

This year, the presents turned out just the things that Jaden would be able to use right away and also educational. So thank you once again and to those that also contributed in the style of education fund investments. :) :) 

At the end of the day, albeit being a little overworked and tired out, it was worth it, just to see my son happy and he enjoyed his day tremendously.

With this, Hubby and I would like to say a really BIG THANK YOU to all who came and made Jaden's birthday party a success and for planting that extra mile on his smile for us !! You guys know who you are.