Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

Looking back at my 2013 and it has been nothing short of everything awesome that has taken place. 

Jan

Finally found a kindergarten that accepted Jaden, and best of all, for academic wise, children like him have a classroom of their own, and when it comes to social skills development, they get to join the neurotypical children who, too accepts them for who they are. 

Hubby bought a car for me as my 2012 birthday present, actually I see it more as a car for the whole family to travel in comfort, especially for long distance drive such as driving back to our respective hometown.

March

Met up with WW and her son, whom I have never met before. Hung out with them and meeting up with Evon too.

In fact, we met up both times, in Penang and in KL when WW took her family down here for a trip and we had some awesome seafood, bonding time too.

My HunYee bunny gave me an awesome gift too.

She had arranged for me to watch LeeHom quite up close. I couldn't have asked for a better seat in the house and to be able to snap much more awesome photos of LeeHom and hearing him sing live again, even though I just saw him perform the same concert in Sg August in 2012.

My boys and I got to spend a night in Genting and letting Jaden enjoy the cool breeze.

April

Found out I was pregnant. Whoopie!

June

We went for a family holiday to Phuket and Jaden enjoyed himself max! The sun, sea, swimming pool, jacuzzi and night walk along Patong was really good for all of us!

August

Started a business together with my friend, investment courtesy of Hubby and it sure is a push for me to do something meaningful with my life other than just being a mother and housewife.

September

Organized Jaden's 6th Birthday party and felt proud of who and what and how far he has come since we found out about his diagnosis and immediatly work on early intervention for him.

October

WW and SC came over to KL and both of them stayed over at my place and I got to hang out again with them, finally got to go to Marini's 57 and see what the hoo haa is all about. 

Arranged a surprise for WW's birthday dinner and being just happy seeing my friend smiling the whole night through.

Hubs actually made arrangement with his friend and had her bring me in as her +1 to go see LeeHom live again, this time even nearer than ever for the opening of Coach @ The Gardens. *inner girly fan's heart satisfied!*

November

Nesting mode has begun yet pregnancy had been really awesome for me. Though I may complain here and there about my sinus, leg cramps and nausea from time to time but my journey as a pregnant woman had been an awesome one so far with a very supportive husband and a sweet son.

December

Baby listened to me and came out after Dec 6th. Told him that weekend would be best and he chose a Saturday/Sunday morning to come out. :)

I actually got to experience the beauty ('horror') of natural birth delivery.. contractions and all until I could not take it anymore the last minute and opt for epidural but I guessed I might have asked for it a little too late as the drug actually just kicked in for me after I pushed baby out of me and my gynae sewing up my tear. 

I am thankful that Hubs stood by me all the while in the labour room, letting me twist, turn and squeeze his fingers and that no apparatus were needed to aid Mason coming out of me. 

I also turn 30 this month, and Hubs actually surprised me for real this time with something unexpected. Made me tear each time I think about it.. and once I am out of this confinement and is able to travel conveniently with Mason, I will be heading to the shop to make a change to the size of the 'present' Hubs gave to me so I can wear it proudly.

Other than that present, I also got to buy my long awaited bag from Paris, thanks to Hubs for the money and also thanks to my friend Matt, the shopper whom I trust a lot when it comes to getting such goods. 

So overall, I am thankful for what had happened in 2013 and may 2014 be even an awesome one with our latest family member that I am sure, will add much more joy and happiness and make our clan complete! 

xoxo 

Em

New Arrival -our latest addition

Hellloooo everybody!

Woo hoo~ 

Guess most friends know by now that I have already delivered and the date of arrival of our second bundle of joy was on 8th December 2013 (Sunday -5:07am), weighing in at 3.31kg, length -49cm.

So, let me present to you our latest addition to the SimonYap clan,

Mason Simon Yap

So whats the birth story mama, you ask...

Well, ever since our last checkup on Monday Dec 2nd, my gynae mentioned since I was already 2cm dilated, he thinks that it was gonna be around that week.. but I was feeling quite skeptical. You know how women instinct works, especially for your own body. I didn't feel any contractions nor do I sense a sign, although I felt that I might just pop on the 40th week itself.

Should it be any consolation, I was looking at the dates I thought would be beautiful or easy to remember and that was 8th Dec (because if you pronounce it in Canto, for Dec 8th, it would be 1-2-8) then, there is the special 11/12/13 (just a day before Mason's EDD) and of course 12/12/13 or 13/12/13 was also good.. 

I actually busybodied and went online to search the Chinese astrology signs, compatibality and all that beliefs.. supposedly this year, Water Snake babies are generally good but they also have certain dates born, which supposedly, their fate would be shaped better and because of that, I was in the danger of popping before the 'not-so-fabulous' dates. So I just kept talking to baby in me, tell him that weekend would be just perfect, not weekdays as Jaden kor kor still have school and its a busy week.. weekend onwards we will all be ready and then...

On Saturday morning, Dec 7th 2013, my sister called me up and asked if we all would like to have a family dinner, since my parents are down and they have yet to seen me since Jaden's 6th birthday party and the very fact that she is pregnant too, I want to see her too at her 5th month of pregnancy.

We all went out for a good meal of banana leaf rice:-

Simon, Jaden, me, Mummy, Daddy, sis, David and Howard.. we ate till we could not eat anymore and then she was just telling me that the day before she popped Howard, she too, had a big meal. She asked me if I had any signs of popping, I said no with confidence!

Then as Hubs settled down to watch football, ManU vs Newcastle, baby in me was kicking around quite furiously. As I tried to walk around the house, I keep feeling the sharp intense vaginal gravity pull feel. I remembered telling my gynae about this before, that I have felt it before when I walk, and he mentioned it was normal.. so I did not think much about it except that it was more painful than normal. 

After a while, I just could not take it. I told Hubs that I think we need to go to the hospital just to check it out because my tummy feels tighter than before, the skin, the space and the sharp pain. Wouldn't hurt to just go check it out as the hospital is down the road.

So we called Iz, and he fetched us to the hospital while my parents took care of Jaden at home. I told them we will be back in a while after checking, as I did not even bother to bring my hospital bag along. I really thought I would be send home after being checked and saying its just a nerve or baby ter-press on my ligaments or something like that...

Went to the A&E as it was already 1130-ish pm, asked for the labour delivery room nurses, midwives to come get me to be checked.. instead of letting me walk, they wheelchaired me instead. Felt funny though as I thought to myself, I am still fine to walk..

Little did I know, this is when all the drama begins..

At 12am, nurse came, asked me to change into the hospital gown so they can check on my dilation.

Damn..and they strapped on the CTG to me.. crap! I hate that thing that constraints you to the bed. 

"Oh.. you are about 5cm dilated already, Husband, please do go get her hospital bag and proceed on with admissions."

I was like WTF ???? But I have no contractions at all.. they then told me, you do.. look at the chart.. and I was like REALLY? BUT I DIDN'T FEEL A THING..

Anyway I asked if I could go home first with my husband to take my hospital bag as I wanted to say goodnight to Jaden and leave instructions first to my parents how to put him to bed and all.. but NARP! I was left alone in the hospital while Iz quickly drove Hubs back to get all the hospital bag and his own change of clothes.

My gynae, then arrived before Hubs came back and he checked me again.. I was like WHAT? ONCE NOT ENOUGH? Trust me, its painful when they have to check you for dilation. 

He then said, you are 4cm dilated and do you want to break your water bag.. and before I could reply anything, he proceeded on to break it. Brings back memories to when I had to induce Jaden out. He, too, was the one that broke my water bag but I don't remember squishing out water so much.. the warm water that flows out, and never stopped after that...

I was a little disappointed that my water bag did not break naturally as I wanted to try to go through this pregnancy experience as natural as I could.. but oh well, what done is done and there is no way he could plug up the hole and stop the water from coming out.. so the next best thing was to let labour take place at its own pace.

Gynae did ask if I wanted epidural, I said not sure but that is possible but I would like to wait it out as long as I can stand the pain, then he asked to put on the oxytocin drip. I told him NO. He said, I might be in labour till morning or the next day, I said, its ok, I would prefer to wait it out then to induce... He said he would check back with me again in an hour to see if I wanted the drip.. when Hubs reached, I told him to tell the gynae, that we are adamant in not using the drips. 

I remember once they put the drip on me, the contraction hit me like a truck. That pain.. its unforgettable, the one that makes you just want to twitch and die. Ok, maybe I am just being a little overdramatic here but you get the picture. I have low tolerance for pain anyway.

So, thankfully for data plans on smartphones, facebooking and whatsapping friends to chat was the best way to do your research on the spot, and getting distracted when contraction creeps up on you..

Hubs? Well, since there was 7-11 downstairs, he went down to get himself a bunch of food to eat in my labour room, having a small little party to himself while I was just lying there feeling scared of what may come next.

Don't get me wrong. Hubs was really supportive.. just that its funny how he was in the mood to eat and felt sleepy when if hes at home, he would be all bright-eyed at that very hour.

Somehow I was not feeling the least tired. Tried to rest but the CTG strap was uncomfortable for me.. and 2.5 hours passed by with just contractions I could bear.. when they gradually became closer and started to be more intense when the nurse came in to asked if I wanted epidural as the doctor is here giving epidural to another lady next door. I said, no, I would like to hold it out still but what are the other options of painkillers?

She offered either injection in the butt or gas. 

Guess which one I took.. of course the gas.. What? Already having contractions and I have to take a needle? NO WAY !!

So I opt for Entonox and breathed into it whenever I felt that I could not take the contraction pain. 

About 1/2 hr later, I started asking Hubs to call the nurse as I knew I needed epidural then but wasn't sure if I am allowed to as they said, once I hit 6cm dilation, there is no way they are giving me so I prayed hard.

Turned out I was still at 5cm when the painful contractions are coming in, so I said, please call the doctor back.. which is going to take about 20mins for the doctor to arrive but I COULD NOT CARE LESS.. I JUST WANTED THE EPIDURAL!!

I hung on to the gas mask like it was my savior for the moment. Sort of make you high and drowsy at the same time, taking your mind off the pain. Its mind over body for now.. because you will still feel like writhing but at least your mind is much more relax.

Suddenly I hear the anaesthesian has arrived, asked me to sign some stuff, explained to me the procedures hes about to take and all I wanted to do was to scream at him to just DO IT!

Told me to sit up and that was one of the worst moments of my life.

Contractions hit me like a bitch real hard, and even much more frequently. Thankfully for Hubs who stood by me, and let me hold his hands.. or squeezing it to almost breaking it.. when my contractions hit me.

Just as the anaesthesian wanted to poke the needle into my backbone, contraction hit and we all have to wait it out and suddenly I was just having the urge to push.

I kept saying I have the urge to push, urge to push.. FML!

As I felt the cold drip of the epidural flows in me, I felt a bit relieved yet I was like WHEN THE FxxK THE DRUG IS GOING TO KICK IN? FML FOR BEING STUBBORN because WHERE GOT DRUG KICK IN INSTANTLY ONE????? FML FML FML.. and I was breathing in the gas as though my life depended on it, taking so many breaths..

and then I thought I saw my savior sitting at the base of my feet, with all his ka-chang! ( equipments ) My gynae is here, all dressed up in his delivery gear ready to help me deliver baby.. THANK GOD!!!!!!!

I was already feeling kinda woozy and high from breathing in the gas, so I just let them prepped me ready, and had me hold on to the clutch, legs up and PUSH EMILY PUSH! PUSH MACAM YOU MAO BERAK!! PUSH YOU CAN DO IT! 

I could still feel each contractions but at a lower pain, must be the drug slowly kicking in but the pushing, that was painful. Its almost like something was going to burst out your arsehole!

Now, I understand why they said, PUSH MACAM YOU MAO BERAK!

I hadn't felt this before.. all these are new to me as I was a happily epidural woman when giving birth to Jaden, thats why I couldn't push with all my strength, resulting in getting Jaden forcep-ed out!

So with baby no.2, although its not a very beautiful painted vision that every woman that is going to give birth would have after reading this.. it is worth the experience and its a beautiful moment after everything has ended.

We had about 6-7 pushes before I heard someone said, they could see baby crowning.. and with the last push, out came Mason, crying.. It was beautiful but what happened next wasn't for me.

Almost immediately after he came out of me, my body went into some muscle spasm mode and started shaking furiously.. Seems like its normal.. while my gynae and his poker face, was just waiting to deliver my placenta and sewing up a small tear that I had. *sigh* Had another episiotomy done on me. :p

Hubs were assigned to follow baby around, no matter what, so that he did his job real well while I was just trying to stop myself from shaking and praying that my gynae will quickly deal with my stitches, as I could actually quite 'feel' each time he sews me up there.

While the nurses scurried around, weighing baby, draining excess fluid out from Mason, I was trying to get over my physically tired body. 

Then, right after they did everything, they put him on me to get some skin to skin contact, and after a while, they took him away to wipe him down clean, which he was screaming bloody murder so loud.

While me being all sewed up and the nurse putting a catheter into me to drain out all the urine, which was really alot according to them, it was rather a painful affair having them push my bladder clean of urine. 

After an hour or two of monitoring me in the labour delivery room, the nurses have me changed into the ward gown and pushed me upstairs to my room with Mason in my arms. :)

Tried to breastfeed him almost immediately after that, but knowing myself well, milk still has not arrived for me. Mason did latch on well too, just like his brother and he was suckling.. not sure was it comforting to him but it was good to know he and I have no conflict with each other in breastfeeding.

Hubs hung out with me till about 10-11am before I send him home to get some sleep, and also so he could bring my parents over with Jaden to visit Mason.

They were one of the firsts people to see Mason after Hubs, of course.. :p

Though we did take a suite ward for me, I asked Hubs to go home to sleep with Jaden so Jaden won't feel as if we abandon him for baby, even if he doesnt say it or show it.. We want to create a positive loving feeling for Jaden towards the whole new scenario he is about to take on for the rest of his life, having a new addition family member in our lives. 

As for me, Mason was screaming for food right after Hubs left for home, near midnight. Since I did not have milk just yet, I asked the nurse to supplement him with a formula milk first.. it might be a taboo nono to those die-hard breastfeeding mamas but I know that just by doing so, I won't go off my goal of wanting to breastfeed Mason until he turns TWO at least. 

In total, Mason prolly have four formula feeds at around 15ml tops, and milk did come to me on Monday night onwards.. and we have been breastfeeding since.. was even striked with engorged breasts on Tuesday night but all is well now, since Mason direct latches and have helped it go away. 

So there.. the birth story of our second prince, Mason Simon Yap.

Everybody has popped!

except me...

Friends of mine, has started popping their babies when they are at 39 weeks...

Most of them or those that I know of.. and me, already in my 39 weeks and 3 days, well, I am still not really feeling it yet. As in, sensing THE DAY but as long as baby no.2 is ready, and have not passed 42 weeks, I am ok with it.

Who knows, he might just want to share my birthday with me instead. 

My father has learnt the route to and fro from Jaden's school so I am more or less, relaxed in that matter. Shown them where the morning market is and where they can have breakfast after dropping Jaden off at school.

Have been making my mother write down the steps to using each and every of my kitchen appliances, so that she don't simply press them and stress me out unneccessarily should it break down. 

She has still not grasp the planning of cooking/menu planning for both Jaden and the family yet, which do get on my nerves at times. Its just me and my short temper fuse this time, I have to say. Its my bad but I just can't help it. The only thing that I could do to stop lashing out is to do it myself. That is why when people ask, no help? How to.. when nobody really understands how to work around with Jaden -his behavior, his food, his sleep, his bathtime.. 

Hubs have set up the baby playpen cot/bassinet last Wednesday. 

Me, I have been out rummaging through toy sale since Wednesday till Thursday like a woman that is not heavily pregnant and ready to pop yet.

Everybody was surprised that I was still out and about and very much active although I slowed down since yesterday. I was still driving myself around, but to nearby places only.

XY and the girls initially wanted to hold a baby shower for me, same goes with some of the supermoms I know but since I was not sure when I was going to go into labor, Hubs forbid me from going far into KL city for buffet with the supermoms, and since its holiday and year-end for some other friends, they have tons of work to finish before calling it a year, XY hosted lunch at her place instead for me, attended by Meu and her baby girl. 

It was a really intimate nice yummy lunch and time spent with the two fab moms and their babies. They even bought baby an awesome massage oil. :)

Baby no.2 has already started receiving some presents and one of the most iconic, special one that really means a lot to me (traditionally anyway) is the hand-sewn quilt by Iz's grandmother. Jaden received one when we were pregnant with him too and now, she did another one for baby no.2. Time and effort all poured into it.. could only done with pure thoughts and love and dedication.. this type of present really brings back memories to me because my very own grandmother used to make them for us grandchildren using her old clothes.. I can still remember seeing her, sitting at her sewing machine sewing away while we play with the cut cloths, or trying to press down on her sewing machine.

Jaden has been bonding with his grandfather like mad, misbehaving day by day, and being an even much more bigger drama king when we gave him a swipe at the leg. He cried out as if we really whacked him super hard... at least I know I will be in a peace of mind when I leave for the hospital and he can still seek comfort from his grandparents. 

Parents in town

Wokayyyy.. now that both my parents are in town, and these few days for me to get my father to familiarize himself with the usual routes... then I will be much more relaxed!

Speaking of which, getting my mom to familiarize herself with my kitchen, utensils and certain house rules.. like keeping all doors locked at all times.. Having a kid around ain't a joke, especially when hes climbing and being a curious monkey.. and I stay in an apartment.

*sigh* Why do I feel grateful yet stressed by it too? Only time will tell if I still have my hair on at the end of confinement month.. if I manage to last through it without 'puking blood' or 'hair-pulling' sessions.

Coming in 39 weeks now, and baby's estimated weight is 3.444kg while I am weighing at 62.6kg. If baby still decides to stay in comfortably in my little 'oven' until 40 weeks, I am sure I will balloon up even more and he, will be a bigger baby that his elder brother.

Still not really ready

My fingers and toes and feet and face, well, they are all looking very bloated up now.

Me, I just can't wait to shed off the pregnancy weight as fast as I can, without losing milk supply.. I pray.

I have been busy and itchy over the internet, scouring for Chinese New Year wear, doing my online shopping buying S sizes clothes.. well, at least I didn't bang on buying XS sizes which I would have, given a few years ago. :p

So, that will be my motivation to lose those kilos I piled on during pregnancy.

Tomorrow is going to be my 39 weeks checkup.. hopefully we will make it through another week as I think I am going to be really ready by next week weekend comes.

Mom and Dad will be in town by Tuesday afternoon, staying with me until I give birth.. not sure if Dad is going to be staying in KL longer after that but Mom will be staying with me until baby reaches full moon and its time for them to head back to Perlis for their Chinese New Year celebration.

We, the SimonYap clan, won't be travelling much this CNY.. not sure for Melaka though.. but maybe for Chap Goh Meh? but since baby is going to be so tiny and all, we are staying put in town this year, thats for sure, which I don't really mind as I will still be feeling too fat and tired, trying to accomodate to baby's arrival.

This past week, I have had weird movements from tummy and below, somehow, as if its indicating time is drawing near for baby no.2 to come out and greet us but, I am still praying that it will be next weekend. 

Still need to train up my dad to fetch Jaden to school, to drill the route into his head so he wont get lost and also the way to do grocery shopping, so the grandparents can do about and buy meat and vege daily without me having to worry. (I HIGHLY DOUBT SO THOUGH!)

Speaking of training my dad, I have to train my mom too..  to cook things for Jaden, what to prepare for me and all that.. *sigh* its gonna be a challenge for me not to lose my temper along the way, which I highly doubt so too as my fuse can be really short when it comes to things dealing with Jaden and my way.

Lack of sleep ain't going to help much either, I guess.. so lets see how I zen .. who knows, I might be just zen all the way instead.. :p

I have already arranged for one of Jaden's therapy to resume back in January instead so I don't have to worry about his route and scheduling him to be on time.. school will last till third week of December and home therapy will continue as usual unless our therapist is going off for a year end holiday. 

So, for now, have to do a double check again on my hospital bag, get my GBS test results back from the gynae tomorrow, hoping everything is healthy and good to go for a natural birth delivery.. *sigh*

Part of me can't wait to meet baby no.2 now, and part of me says a little while longer, please baby.. until next weekend at least.. :)

Wondering if I piled on any more weight.. but I hope baby piles on more weight though.. they say a bigger baby is easier to take care anyway.. hoping it wont be bigger baby, hungrier baby.. :p

Like an elephant ..

While I was giving Jaden his routine night bath before bedtime, I suddenly felt as if someone has taken a bat and hit my left leg and it hurt to stand straight with the feet flat on the ground.

I then quickly gave Jaden his bath and wiped him dry, put the pyjamas on him and asked Hubs to help me massage my left leg, which he did.. and then...

"OMG! LOOK AT THOSE LEGS! THEY ARE ALMOST THE SAME SIZE AS MINE!"

I found it amusing because I could still clearly remember back to the days when I was trying on this beautiful white dress at Forever 21 for our ROM (also in our 35-36 weeks of pregnancy) and the very first thing he said to me when I walked out from the fitting room was... 

"OMG! YOU LOOKED AS IF YOU ARE GOING TO BURST OUT OF THAT DRESS!"

*sigh*

Yeap, water retention has got to me and boy, this time it sure did hit me quite bad. My bottom half looks doubled.. no, tripled my original size and both my calves look like tree trunks.. they are so thick looking.

Hopefully, I will be able to retain back my original leg shape after delivery, though it will take some time before I resume back to maybe 50kg.. though I really pray that I could achieve my pre-pregnancy weight at at least 47-48kg.. 

Age do really play a part when it comes to shedding off fat fast/slow... 

Somehow as I know how I look exactly right now, it doesnt hurt my feelings when others do comment about how large I have become because that is the truth. 

Anyway all those 'large' comments don't hurt my feelings right now.. maybe it might just will if I am still looking like that in 2 years time. That is when, I will really feel miserable and might just opt for something drastic to lose weight. *wink*

p/s: Just another typical day at home, where Hubs and I exchange jokes like these, knowing that its just a joke and nothing else.. :) 

35th Week update

Just came back from my baby check-up today, and we are approaching 35 weeks in 2 days time. 

My blood pressure and pee seems to indicate everything is normal and my weight went up 2kg in 2 weeks. 

I was 59.2kg last two weeks ago and now, I weighed in at 61.2kg. I guess its pretty acceptable to me, 2kg in 2 weeks as this is the time that baby needs to really start piling on good weight to come out all healthy and strong. 

But if I were to calculate the weight I pile on in a month, it still adds on to 4kg in a month. *sigh*

ANYWAY, I was happy to hear that baby is now at an estimated weight of 2.8kg. He went up 500grams. 

I have been hoping we could at least get a 3D shot of baby this pregnancy but it seems baby has something else up his mind. Each checkup, he will have one hand or another covering his face, and my gynae would advise us against doing the 3D as it would be quite a complete waste of our money. 

Looking back at exactly where I was when I was at the same week, pregnant with Jaden, I wrote that I only piled on a miserable 200grams in two weeks but now, I piled on 2kg in two weeks. Oh boy!

So, at 35 weeks, I have piled on 14.2kgs .. and I am still going to pile on more.. anyone placing bet yet, what the final weight is going to be just before I pop? 

I managed to complete my birth plan yesterday, so I took the opportunity to discuss with my gynae my concerns and thankfully, he did not see me as some whacko! 

He said he understood where I was coming from and that he also offered me a choice of giving the baby oral vit-k intake instead of the injection. He did not push me or insist on it, just saying the choice is mine to make.

It seems that there is no way I can escape the waiting till no pulsation before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord as I do want to do cord blood banking, so should I take the option of waiting till no pulsation, that would mean, there would be no cord blood left or enough cord blood left to be stored. Just that I had to make sure that by almost immediately clamping the umbilical cord, it will not affect my baby.

Risks are everywhere and it is sure a headache when it comes to making sure you are making the right decision for your own child. 

@ 33 weeks ... 15th Oct 2013

Hi everyone,

Presenting to you guys our family/maternity photoshoot :)

Our theme? Just as 'us' as possible, fun-loving and playful...

:: pics credit all goes to OneThreeImagery :: photographer, Mr Lucas Lau ::

xoxo,
SimonYap clan

So much more...

I never knew when all these buying spree is going to end. 

Although everything thats need to be bought for baby no.2 is completed, just last night, we got the final item -the storage drawers, somehow, for me, I still do not feel settled.

I have yet to get my confinement herbal stuff, and I still need to go get that pressure cooker for easy cooking for me, so when my mother comes down to take care of both Jaden and I will have much more an easier convenient cooking experience. 

Then there is the nursing sport bra-kinda that I want to get as at the moment, I only have two nursing bras and they were from 6 years ago.

How can I even forget about getting a thermos flask for myself to store those confinement red date tea that I am supposed to be drinking? *sigh*

Now, do you understand why I said these buying spree will never end? Maybe I can take a trip down to Aeon One Utama to redeem the thermos flask that I have with all those cash vouchers I scored while I was on that 'housewives gone mad Aeon card day sale' purchases.

Tomorrow is my 35th week gynae-checkup and I have just finished writing my birth plan which I had been doing some readings about pros and cons about my birth plan choices. Not sure if my gynae would just brush me off or agree to whatever I listed down.

Night sleep has now become a bitch to me. I hardly wake up for frequent pees compared to Jaden's time but just to turn to another side to continue sleeping is such a chore, a pain in the butt, legs and sometimes my limbs feel so numbed out! That, itself can just wake me up from my sleep and with this type of frequent wakings, I wake up in the morning, feeling like I had not slept at all. 

I tried letting Jaden sleep between Hubs and I on our bed during the weekend and it only took a night before I asked him to sleep back in his own bed. The inability to toss and turn as I like really affected my whole lower back and I felt so sore the whole day after.

Baby no.2 is moving much more frequently now, kicking me from inside whenever he feels that I am cramping him up inside me, especially when I am sitting down. It seems he is most comfortable when I am standing or walking around, as my body will be stretched then, and not 'gently squashing' and fighting with him for space when I am sitting down.

Well, speaking of having all the baby essentials in the house, my job is still not finished. Now, it means taking out the bottles, cleaning them and sterilizing them one time before Hubs do it again before baby comes home from the hospital. 

Then, there are the clothes area, diapers storage, dishwashing and laundry detergent, diaper creams and baby shower gel to be put properly in properly labeled areas so my Hubs can easily get them. He can get reall 'blind' at times. 

Thankfully the part-time maid is coming in tomorrow afternoon. Will have her wiped down everything before I take out all the clean laundry,which I packed into a vacuumed bag and arranging them into the drawers we just bought yesterday. 

I still have not packed my hospital bag. Will be doing that tonight I hope. All I have to do is now, write down my list to bring... 

Somehow, I kinda feel that I would miss this whole pregnancy journey, although I have had my fair share of complaints of discomforts here and there but hey, I think its a very beautiful thing to me.. especially when baby no.2 is moving inside me. It is a bond that only mother and child would be able to have.. to feel it from the outside is really different when you get to feel baby from the inside.. 

5 more weeks to go before EDD.. time really flies! Soon, this time next year, I would most probably be stressed out again.. wondering what to do for baby' first birthday but for now, let me worry about going into labor and what awaits me. It is so gonna be a whole new experience for me with this pregnancy as my choices are rather different this time round compared to when I had Jaden. 

For now, I shall just sit back for a while, relax and drink my cup of organic third trimester tea and write out my hospital bag list so I can pack them up tonight. :)

Just one more ...

Yesterday, I had the luxury of walking around The Curve on my own to check out the remaining to-get item on my list -Baby cot / Baby Playpen.

Actually, I do already have one that my friend borrowed me but since it was only at the play level, and not where I can comfortably just pick the baby up from his sleep, I had to return it back to my friend as it was really not practical.. especially when baby is still a newborn or few months old.

Hubs said to go get one of our own, a playpen so it would be more convenient for us to move baby around the house, or from room to room as we are actually space-constricted right now in this house of mine.

I chanced upon this deal, RM1599 for a Graco playard, that comes with a bassinet that just fits right into what I was planning for. Just a nice fit into the bedroom, and the playpen cum cot can be put outside in the living room area.

I asked for the membership discount and was told there would be a 10% so well, its great news isn't it. So I mentioned that I would be back with my husband tomorrow, to get it.

I left an important question out or rather the salesperson did not inform me of the most vital point!

SO, today, early morning, after dropping Jaden off in school, I returned to get Hubs to go with me to The Curve to get the cot.

Then, only we found out that the shop and the other branch at Paradigm ran out of stock. The only stock left is the display unit and we don't want that, do we?

My heart dropped! Such a disappointment and that means more searching around for the right fit and love at first sight again.

So Hubs and I went about to run his work errand, and while waiting for him in the car, I googled for the same product, if anyone else carries it.

Just my luck, I chanced upon this website that carries it. Called them immediately to ask about their pricing and if its in stock.. and if there are any discounts.. 

Yeap, me just being Malaysian and thankfully I asked because the same product that they are selling, and yes, it is in stock.. it is selling at an even better price. 40% discount!

Asked them their whereabouts and as soon as Hubs came into the car, I told him the good news and then I started figuring when should I head there. We still have quite a lot of places to run, in such short time frame before it is time to pick Jaden up.

Luck was really on our side, and we made it through the lunch/Friday prayer hours along the Federal Highway and well, lets just say, the playpen/cot is now ours! Paid and taken away and is now sitting comfortably in Jaden's therapy room, waiting to be unbox. 

Lets just say, even with the 10% discount given by the shop at The Curve, we are saving about RM400 more with this new place I discovered. So, it really turned out to be a blessing in disguise that the shop at The Curve had no stock. 

So what is this cot that I am so happy that I got for baby no.2?

Well, this is the one... 

Graco Day2Night Sleep System

                             

I know the duration of how long a baby can sleep inside the cot, and also the baby will outgrow the cot in no time, but it would be good enough till our place is done up middle of next year, hopefully. 

So for now, there is just one more thing to get and that would be.. 

pic taken from my friend's fb but you get the idea.. baby clothes storage drawers

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!