Just before Mini Bun arrives... ...

It has been decided. We are going in tonight, just before midnight, for induction. If everything goes as planned, Mini Bun will arrive on 28 November, Monday - two days shy of being 40 weeks old in my womb.

This will mean that both my labours were induced. For Anya's case, she was 40 weeks and 1 days old when I had show and contractions throughout the night. But when I was admitted, the midwives found that my contractions were irregular, thus calling for induction. For Mini Bun's case, it is simply because I am not against the idea since I have done it before. The baby is already at a good size, and based on yesterday's check, I am 1cm dilated - very suitable for induction, according to my OBGYN.

In the past few days, we managed to clear some of the items off my errand list. As we had expected Mini bun to arrive earlier (given that she was growing at an alarming rate during 35-38 weeks), I had thought that these errands could only be run by The Husband on his own during my confinement, or after my confinement. So it was pleasantly fulfilling for me to check off some of these items, even though I was inviting occasional alarmed stares when we were outside because I had to stop in stride every now and then for the Braxton-Hicks to ease off. Here was what we did:

1. Buying a Christmas tree.

Last year, we had to forgo having a real tree (instead, we had our own improvisation of a Christmas tree on the wall!) as The Husband felt that it would be too much hassle trying to keep a crawling baby out of the tree's way. This year, we believe that Anya is old enough to appreciate having it. Morever, I will be confined at home for a month, so it will be really nice to bring some festive cheer into the house.

To ensure that it would be a fruitful trip, I called up Ikea in the afternoon to check that they still have stock for their 1.6m trees. Mind you, at $45, I believe theirs are one of the cheapest ones on the island and were usually gone very quickly. We knew because we made a wasted trip there two years ago. The lady staff who answer my phone call replied: "If you come down by tonight, I am sure both Alexandra and Tampines will have stock. I can't guarantee for tomorrow though.". And it was only the second day of sale for their Christmas trees! Hot stuff, really!

Together with the tree, we picked up an easel for Anya. This is an early Christmas present for her. Even before Anya was born, I already wanted an easel for her. I thought it will be nice to have a whiteboard cum chalkboard cum easel for papers where she will be encouraged to draw and to make learning fun for her. I know I will love to have it as a little girl! Both The Husband and I were glad we made the purchase! So far, we are having loads of family fun drawing things that she already knows and asking her to guess what it is. More importantly, we can tell that she is having fun with it too. I daresay as much fun as the frightfully addictive iPad as I have successfully tried taking the iPad away from her by substituting with the easel. Minimal fuss from her!

2. Decorating the Christmas tree

Well, the actual process of doing up the tree was not quite what I envisioned it to be. To begin with, my mental picture had some special soft focus effects that made me feel all fuzzy and warm inside. And then there we were, The Husband and I doing up the tree while our little girl helps to pass us the ornaments from the box. The Furkid will lie down in the near distance, watching us, as we 'oooh' and aaaah' at our work-in-progress. At the end of it, The Husband will carry up Anya, as she hang the finishing such of the glittery star on the top of the tree.

The reality? It was pretty much me who did up the tree. The Husband was away at work as he tries to finish up as many appointments as he could before the baby comes along. As for Anya. Well, instead of being Mommy's little helper, she was, well, Mommy's little terror. First she emptied most of the ornaments from their boxes, causing some much noise and racket. Then she caused The Furkid to go ballistic by playing catch with her using those hard ornament balls. Lastly, she discovered the fun of playing with those gold and silver beads and I had to get The Helper to get a close eye on her lest she strangulate herself in the process of dolling herself up as another Christmas tree. By the time I was done with the real tree, there was one casualty in the form of a broken ornament ball that also smell of dog drool, and glitters, ribbons, beads and pine needles spilled all over the living room's floor and sofa.

3. Bringing Anya to the hair salon

 

As it happened, The Husband was due for a haircut as well. So we trooped off to one of those $10 haircut salons yesterday. The iPad helped to captivate Anya's attention while the hairstylist got down to work. In twenty minutes, our toddler emerged from the salon fresh-looking with a bob and The Husband, in his usual clean-cut hair.

4. Last minute prep work with Anya

For months now, we watch real-life accounts of women having babies and families welcoming newborns on Discovery Home and Health. She gets to touch and hold a handful of newborns now as coincidentally, The SIL and some of our close friends just gave birth in the last few months. We refrained ourselves from addressing her 'baby', instead promoting her to being a 'little girl'. And then there were books on welcoming a new baby sibling that we borrowed from the library as well as going through her own baby pictures to understand how far she has grown.

For last leg of prep work, we go through yet another library book that portray welcoming a new sibling. At a particular page of a picture of a mother with her little girl and a newborn in her arms, we tell her this is Mommy, Anya and Arielle. On her new easel, I drew a family of stick figures to reiterate our point. "Daddy, Mommy, Anya, Muffin and Arielle!", we tell her enthusiastically. She gives her all the appropriate responses that we hope for, making us think that she really understand what is to come. However, as to the real extent of her comprehension and receptiveness of the matter, well.. I suppose our guess is as good as anyone's. In any case, we'll take things in our stride when it comes.

5. Savouring the last moments of having an only child (& dog).

Chalking in some last bit of quality as a family of four, we play catch with the dog, we read,  we look at the stickers, we play with her toys, we draw, we go through the photo albums, stack the building blocks, then repeat the whole cycle again. In between all these activities, there has being a great deal of cuddling and kissing going on as well. And all these times, I am trying hard to lock in these moments in my memory bank. After all, what is coming up will be another irreversible change.

Today, we are taking things easy. In between last minute packing and prepping the house for the arrival of the baby, I try to catch some power naps to make up for what is to come. 

Please keep us in prayers and wish us luck. See you in this space after we up-size into a family of five. :)

Thoughts at Thanksgiving

This year's thanksgiving is a wake-up call for me.

I have been so caught up in the role of being a mother to a toddler below age of 2 and being pregnant at the same time that I realised I might have too wrapped up in what these roles have done to me. Being obsessive over how I have suffered and how pregnancy limits me from doing this has ebbed away the thankful heart that I used to hold so dear to me.

So yeah. A few mornings ago, I suddenly remembered with a jolt that besides D-day (which I have been whining every day to come quickly), Thanksgiving is drawing very near too.

I am finding it hard to pen down in words what goes through my mind in the last few days. I have always been a perfectionist. Once I devised a way of what I think is the right way of doing things, I tend to stick to it rigorously. Deviation irks me, and if I have to pass on the task to someone else, and I find that the work done has deviated from my standards; it can literally eat me alive. I think this is one of my biggest demons.And this is one of the main factor why I am losing that thankfulness. Having said so, as I mark the occasion and count my blessings, I am preparing myself to surrender to God so that He may help me in defeating this demon. I pray that when I look back again one year later, it will be with a much lighter spirit.

Reminiscing 19 months of Anya

I finally sorted through all the soft copies of pictures that we have of Anya!

The last time I did this, Anya was 4-5 months old, and already, it took me a few sittings in front of the laptop to consolidate the pictures from various sources (camera, iPhone, and friends' uploaded), then catergorise them accordingly to months.

Really, someone gotta give me the credit for the discipline to finish up this project even though I, erm..., started doing this project since September? Actually.. forget about giving me the credit. As it is, I am already pleased as punch that I have done it. Not only do I have all her photos nicely catergorised from 0 - 19 months chronologically sitting in my back-up hard-disk now, I have also selected a handful - okay, close to a hundred, to be precise - to be developed and add to our family album. Among them were also selected few family pictures that we send over to The Grandparents for keepsakes.

Here's a few of them for your viewing pleasure:

This is really timely, I thought. Just before Mini Bun arrives. The act of doing up the family album feels like marking the end of a chapter, as we continue a new chapter with no. 2's arrival. Not only that. I also get to relive Anya's birth and her growth, and savour the last bit of having only her (other than Muff) around. The Husband and I had lots of laughs and exchanges of "Do you remember what happened when this picture was taken..??" as we went through the hard copies after we picked them up from the developing shop yesterday. As I am typing this now, I am feeling all fuzzy-sappy with my eyes watering a bit.

19 months! Our firstborn has grown so much in 19 months! From that pimply-faced little bundle with her infamous thunder thighs, she has blossomed into a slim, fair-complexioned, ponytail-wearing little girl! With her own unique character and traits to boot. And in a matter of days, she will be joined by another sibling! While it was not purposefully planned to coincide with the birth of Mini Bun - the timing of this picture-sorting business, I mean - the timeliness has actually helped to managed my mental readiness to welcome our second child.

With that, I like to end off with a note for Anya:

Honey, 

With the arrival of baby sister, there is going to be some madness around the house. Some things may be beyond your comprehension, and you may feel a bit lost. But Daddy and Mommy are always around. By God's grace, love will always multiply. With Arielle's arrival, there will be one more person that we get to love, love us in return, and through that, experience even more of God's love for us. You know how God especially loves each and every one of us because we are created by Him as unique individuals? Well, Daddy and Mommy especially loves you too! So, even after Arielle comes, we are certain we will always especially love you, just the way you are. Sames goes for our love for Arielle too.

It is Daddy's and Mommy's hearts' desire to have at least two children. And by God's blessing, this is going to come true very quickly. We think that by giving you a sibling (likewise for Arielle) is one of the greatest gift that we, as parents, can have for you. So, do enjoy your sister. Even the downside having one - such as fights and squabbles in time to come.

We are looking forward to watching you through the growing years! 

In God's love, 

Mommy & Daddy

At 38 weeks

Everyday, I am psyched to go into labour. I have never been good at waiting games. I have been constantly looking out for any slightest sign of labour.

Is my Braxton-Hicks more painful than usual? Is it more regular?


When I go to the bathroom, I am always checking for bloody show. 


Do I feel like Mini Bun is engaged? 


Is the lower back pain intensifying? 

As you can see, I am all geared.

I pulled one of my back muscle a few days ago. As a result, I have been in pain. I could not carry Anya for more than 3 seconds. I could not arch my back over the high chair to feed her. Even the act of rinsing my mouth over the sink when brushing my teeth causes pain shooting up my back. As a result, I have been in resting in bed in the afternoons - which I am grateful for, since I have not been sleeping well at night (due to the numerous trips to the loo and the discomfort of my humongous belly).

And also, quite frankly, I cannot wait to meet our second little girl! So my dear Mini Bun, if your body is all well-developed already, do make your way out quickly okay? Looking forward to hold you in my arms!

The "No" stage

Yes, Anya has arrived at the "no" stage.It appears to suddenly dawn on her that routines are meant to be disrupted, rules broken and boundaries tested.

"Bath after drinking juice?" - No.
"Bring your cup to auntie to wash." - No.
"Say grace." - No.
"Keep your megabloks." - No.
"Time's up for using iPad." - NO!

Mind you, I noticed that the recent "Nos" have been perfected with a growling tone to it,as she looks straight into my eyes with a taunting glint shining from hers. Bah..! Where did she learn all these?

Coupled with this particular favorite word of the moment, she has further upped her boundaries-testing skills by requesting for all the things that she likes repeatedly. For example, she always knew that vitamin gummy is given only before bedtime at night and would only ask for it after she is changed into her pajamas. These days, she would start asking for it even before she has changed out of her pajamas to start the day.

It is as if our lovely angelic toddler has skipped her childhood and accelerated straight to the rebellious teenage stage overnight.

In response, The Husband and I have gone through rounds of strategising and brainstorming. Now, we are fully geared for battle with armour and what-nots. Keywords and key phrases of our battle plan are such as 'be firm', 'consistency', 'be firm', 'keep temper in check', 'be firm', 'try not to tear out what little hair that we already have', 'be firm', 'next better player please'.

Just an hour ago, I was out in the battlefield getting her to bring her cup to The Helper after she finished her juice and then go for her bath. Unfortunately, The Husband is away at work, so the backup plan of 'next better player please' was not an option for me. So, I had to suck it in, BE FIRM and repeatedly ask her to do what is expected, rationalising to her why good behaviour is needed along the way.

At some point, when I sensed that she was not going to budge from her couch, I told her that I would have to yank her out of her seat. Sure, I did. Together with the cup. By then, The Helper had disappeared into the kitchen, very harassed by all the crying. Had not being the fact that she (The Helper) had a role to play here of collecting the cup, I am pretty certain she would gladly disappear into the safety haven in the form of a dark and stuffy storeroom and shut the door behind her.

This time round, I even exerted self-control by holding back as she sobbed piteously and ran towards me, begging for hugs. Instead, I held her hand, led her back to the cup, and tell her "No. You got to bring the cup to auntie and go 'pompom'".  After a couple of times of her begging me to hug her and me leading her back to the cup again, she finally relented and did what was told. Then, I reiterated to her the importance of good behavior and obeying parents, then finally hugged her while praising her for the good job.

Phew..! Yes, Ms. Tan (my dear secondary form teacher), you were right about having to be cruel in order to be kind. This is going to be my new parenting motto.

On a lighter note, here's some random terrible iPhone quality pictures, some of which showing what Anya-zilla does best - destroying our building block works. In our defence, we have purchase another set of megabloks and built an enclosure around her to ground her.

'yum seng-ing' at a wedding banquet

Only Eeyore, Muff & Daddy are allowed access into Anyazilla's enclosure.

A weekend of celebrating little ones' milestones

Over the weekend, we celebrated one niece's turning of one month (and a week) old and another niece's turning of eight years old.

The first celebration was held on Sunday at The In-Laws' place, among close relatives. The SIL requested that I chip in my homemade tau suan (mung bean dessert) and I threw in another dish in the form of 'kong bak pau' - chinese subway, as one of the cousins explained to his son. I was chuffed that the relatives pronounced the kong bak pau as their number one favourite.

It was great to see both the SIL and her five-weeks old doing so well. Baby SQ looks exactly like the female version of her big brother! So no worries, my dear SIL! While you may be a little bit dismay that she looks like a boy now, given how handsome SK is, I am certain little SQ will grow up to be a pretty lass too! :)

Hot mama with her offspring

A cousin showing off her DIY M&Ms manicure

HEllo, cutie!

Five-week-old vs 19-month-old

Then, on Monday (it was a long weekend due to Hari Raya Haji), The Husband and I took C out for a belated birthday lunch. Well, her actual birthday was on Sunday where her parents had held a birthday bash at home. She had voiced her disappointment to my mom (her grandma) upon knowing that The Husband and I could not make it. So this was a make up treat for her.

The Husband and I had actually gotten her present weeks ago (for fear that I would give birth too early). In fact, we had also bought the other two nephews' birthday presents already (one in December, another in early January) and they are all stashed away neatly in our wardrobe. Very kiasu, this pair of uncle and aunt.

Don't the kiddos look like their grandma?

Go green. Give presents unwrapped.

Getting the birthday girl started on her new boardgame

 We were glad that C seemed to enjoy herself.  Since she started primary school, she seemed to have become this angsty and sometimes defiant tween. The C that gotten along with us yesterday was more like the girl that we always knew - chatty when alone with just The Husband and I whose love language is acts of kindness. No scowls, no rolling of eyes. Instead, she was all smiles the whole afternoon and was really sweet to Anya and her own little brother. Prayerfully, she will outgrow the rebellious phase quickly. 

A piece of bad news

An ex-colleague, who fostered a friendship with me because we became first-time mothers months apart, recently discovered that she had 4th stage of lymph nodes cancer.

It all started with a persistent backache that rendered her immobile after she fell pregnant again in recent months. She had to seek treatment immediately and has since terminated the pregnancy. This friend has started a blog to document her battle with the illness. If you do visit her blog, I am sure you will agree with me that this lady has astounding strength and optimism. While her story is heart-wrenching at the beginning, I am certain that she will emerge as a inspiring survivor at the end of her ordeal.

Please, together, let us keep her and her loved ones in prayers. Jiayou, YM!

Another conversation with The Tod

This time round, the conversation drove both of us nuts.

Here's the setting:
The Tod and I were watching Pororo on Disney Junior channel. This particular episode depicts how Crong (one of the character, a baby dinosaur) found a baby seal by the sea. I wish I could upload the picture of the said baby seal (the crux of this conversation), but I could not find it on the Internet. Anyway, for some reason - probably the husky "barks" of the baby seal, Anya thinks that it is a dog.

"Dog!", she said while pointing at the baby seal. 
"No, Anya. That is a seal. A baby seal.", I replied. 
With her chin slightly jutted, she repeated, "Dog!".
"No. It sounds like a dog, but it is a seal.", I explained.

This line of conversation ping-ponged to and fro between us for the next couple of minutes, with her repeatedly insisting that it was a dog while my patience thinned out while trying to get the facts across to her.

The end of this conversation was eventually initiated by The Tod whom, with a grave tone of finality drawled, "DO-O-O-OG..!..!", and simultaneously tossed a small toy in her hand onto the floor in exasperation.

Is this the start of mother-vs-child verbal sparring?

At 36 weeks

Last night, I had a series of Braxton-Hicks with a slight dull lower back pain. Those tightness around the tummy, alternating with Mini Bun's vigorous movements kept me from falling into deep sleep the whole night. I will be lying if I say the possibility of premature labour did not cross my mind. Especially given that groggy sleepy state, judgment tends to deteriorate.

Now I understand why some expectant mothers will have false alarms. Ironically, I do not remember being this confused about labour signs the first time round. Nor do I recall Anya's movements in my belly being so low. With Mini Bun, I could tell that her head is near the pelvic area and every time she turns her head, it feels like she is messing with my bowels and bladder. Very peculiar feeling! Quite uncomfortable, I should say! Hmmm.., I cannot even articulate how it feels like when she hiccups, which is very frequent in recent weeks!

Possibly the last pic of us deck out in nice outfit before we become a family of five.

Is The Husband trying to assume a preggy pose?