22 more days to go..

Beautiful morning today!

At 6.58 am, Kin sms me telling she’ll be on MC today. I woke Bigfish up and whispered to his ear that we gonna have breakfast together this morning, ie. he has to send me to work. Upon reaching the office, we had breakfast at the Peremba café. Both of us ordered roti canai, mine with sambal sardin. I’m not shy to admit I kinda like the food served at the cafes here (there are two), and that makes me especially grateful. Yes, I have worked at places where there are no comfortable or palatable eating places within 1 km radius so again, thank god for these cafes. And I’ve mentioned about the food. I’m so contented enough.

It’s going to be a relaxing week since boss will be on leave until Merdeka Day. Relaxing can be defined as no-rush paperwork, keeping to my pregnant pace, the ability to accommodate more to my pregnancy hormones and going to pantry more often to make Milo. Bonus: no need to cover-cover when dipping biscuits in Milo like 4 times during working hours. I’m happy.

Had quite a fun weekend. Along organized a family barbecue party and I remember stuffing myself up to the point until I had difficulty to breathe. Wasn’t that tragic? Everyone melahap selahap lahapnya because the juicy grilled meat kept coming and seemed never ending. Takkan nak membazir kan.. Angah’s hubby, Amran is on holiday here so it’s really meriah having everyone around. Amran is attached with a firm in London and soon Angah will transfer there as well. Really gonna miss her.

Back to the barbecued foods, besides loads of marinated chicken (Giant marinated chicken is fantastic! Cold Storage marinated anything stinks!), banana leaf wrapped marinated fish, sotong on sticks, lamb shoulders, grilled veges (tomato and bell peppers), we also had Along’s specialty Apple Crumble and her signature Mashed Buttered Potato. I ate a single portion (or more) of everything and please keep reading to see what happened at the gynae.

Right after the party, was my appointment with Dr D. Baekk punya timing. It happened my urine was so concentrated and right away I was warned not to have barbecued food being afraid the meat were not thoroughly cooked. I recalled the juicy red coloured chicken meat I was savagely tearing at the party and kept quiet.

Now the moment I looked forward to, the scanning of the baby was going on very well. This time he looked down that we can’t see his face. The last time scanning we managed to catch him sucking his thumb which to me is very cute! While he was at that, he lost the thumb and went a bit frantic as he doesn’t know how to get the thumb back into his mouth once again.. ohh..so super damn cute!!

Dr said he’s not entirely engaged yet, meaning his head is not roomed in the middle of the pelvis just yet, so naturally I still have about two to three weeks to go. Now my appointment is once a week. By the next appointment, by right the baby’s head should be engaged, or the probability I will give birth slightly later than the due date. That’s not something bad, but doesn’t sound good to me neither, so I should be studying how to bring on labour naturally before or on my due date, not after. I mean, this has been long enough okay.. I whined in my heart.

Ops time for me-mommy to go home now!

Cheers!

Hazy Saturday

Saturday 26 August 2006, 2.35 pm

Pre-preggie, one of the thing I love most about Saturday morning is waking up late. Hmmhh..the feeling of natural morning wake, without alarm buzzing by my ear, shut mobile, closed curtain. I remember waking up at 11 feeling refreshed, satisfied and glowing.. did a little stretching before shower and straightaway headed to lunch.. ah.. heaven.

Ok now, as I mentioned in earlier post good sleep is a long lost friend of mine that I miss dearly, so by 9 am I couldn’t continue sleeping anymore, in fact I can’t stand even lying on the bed any longer. It worsens my back ache. Upon waking up I wandered around my house, I don’t know why I did that, maybe because I’m just plain blur or simply habitual. And normally will end up at the balcony. I stayed there no shorter than 10 minutes.

We were lucky to get this apartment unit. The view is breathtaking..at least to me. My husband always says the view is only ‘very nice’ but he never used the word ‘breathtaking’. Standing at the balcony, you have a direct angle above the pool area, which garnished with lots of greens everywhere. They planted so many trees it gives the pool a really cooling resort ambience. The sound of waterfall splashing above the pool water from the pillars add tranquil to the whole effect. Looking left, we get the view of newly-rise starting price at 750K Armanee Terrace, and busily under construction Metropolitan Condo on the right. We also get a peek of the main road going up to DP. And the sky, we also have a wide spread of blue sky with the hill bearing the big sign of DP at our left. Our unit never gets direct sunlight except during mid-day as we are blocked by the building in front of us and of course, in the evening the sun sets behind our building. So I get to stand at my balcony to just savour the view at anytime of the day. By the way, 10 minutes usually will do. If there are none naked people hanging by the pool. (According to our management office, there were cases where a couple of foreign chicks swimming topless at our pool okay.. that adds extra points to my already ‘breathtaking’ view..heheh. Of course they were shooed off *sigh*)

Naturally I got hungry, so this morning I just had bread and milk. Bigfish had left earlier to the Tropicana driving range. He was back while I was having my lame mini breakfast. He already had his at the golf club. Sitting on the plush couch, we talked as a regular man and wife do about our plans and agendas for the day.

As eager and excited as I was, I nagged my husband to assemble the baby’s playpen while I nominated three drawers inside our wardrobe for baby’s clothes and essentials. Wow, it’s baby stuffs checklist day! The playpen (or playard) was setup like a breeze, thank God. Both me and hubby are not fond of assembling / setting up any complicated anything, we love good product manuals with clear instructions and good language, and we don’t mind paying people to fix anything that involves a hammer. Our time’s too precious laa..heeheee..alasaann..

The playpen looks fabulous standing in the living room. We bought it at The Curve, there’s this shop opposite Mothercare that sells imported baby equipments. Naturally I forgot the name of the shop (blame it on the hormones). We initially planned to look for Graco models but on that day we just fell for this one. It’s by Simplicity for Children (Travel Tender series), light brown colour, complete with hanging little sheeps and vibrating mattress. The musical mobile plays nursery rhymes when we set to ‘Playtime’ and classical tunes when we set to ‘Sleep’. It also comes together with a mounted changing table, easily foldable and everything can be stuffed into the travelling bag provided. Cool huh?

In the US and UK, it’s a national rule that they wont let your newborn baby leave the hospital if you don’t have a proper car seat installed in the car. Haa..takut tak.. In Malaysia semua baby selamba je dukung bawak balik. Instead of a separate pushchair (stroller) and car seat, we got the two in one model by the name of baby travel system. Nama cam gempak ek. But this so called system thingy is actually a baby car seat that can also be mounted on the pushchair for that extra convenience so that you don’t have to unstrap a snuggled sleeping baby from the car seat in order to remove to the pushchair. The carseat can also doubled up as a baby carrier. Ours is a dark brown with black finishing Graco that looks so sporty even me would love to have a ride in that pushchair. Alahai mak buyungg..

Then of course we have the other items, the tiny baby clothes, nothing pink hehe, blanket la, bedding la bla bla, bantal golek segala.. I also purchased a newborn baby bottle set from Avent. Most probably I can only afford to breastfeed my baby exclusively during the 2 months maternity leave before he shifts to formula milk.

By the way, I still bought a breast pump for any just-in-case situation or should we have a plan B when the baby gets here..I used to think this breast pump gadget sounds scary but fortunately it looks quite user-friendly. I got a Medela Harmony sweet corn-coloured manual expression pump..cant imagine I’ll be using that..

Since we foresee the baby will be doing quite a travelling, with Hari Raya approaching and from mommy’s house in Pahang to daddy’s in Malacca, now that we have the car seat part intact, baby also has a cool diaper bag. We got it at the same shop where we bought the playpen. It’s by GR8X (Great Expectation), black colour and doesn’t look very baby-ish. Something daddy Bigfish wouldn’t mind carrying in public, I too will look like a soccer-mom carrying the bag. Heheheh.. it comes with soft padded back straps that can conveniently be hidden inside a zipper pocket should we wish not to use it. It’s not too big and bulky so easily can sumbat in the lower compartment of the pushchair. Lots of compartments and best feature is the insulated pocket to keep milk or food at the desired temperature.

A note of advice to anyone reading the blog, baby stuff can be pricey so belilah masa sale, like me. Hehehe

Ok time to get some rest at my balcony to checkout the haze and naked people by the pool yang tak pernah ada..

Cheers!

After a While.. (Part Deux)

What a hazy morning!

Friday has always been my favourite day of the week since..mm, since I knew the word forever.

The reason being.., ah should I actually state the reason? Because the reason is the only reason available, it is the day before Saturday, that’s why.

When I was a student, be it during primary, or secondary even in university, Friday seemed so laid back, so special. The classrooms were noisier on Fridays, more people (actually pupils) walked around like eagerly going to somewhere (maybe just to the toilet, to hang out there)..I don’t know but it seems to me Friday is such a celebrated day. Nobody looks gloomy on Friday, a scene like bikers with kain pelikat without helmet happens that day. And oops, I almost forgot, longer lunch! That’s the best thing since my career years, it’s a TGI Fun Day!

This morning I woke up feeling like my chest has sank down to my knees. No it’s not Friday, it’s chaotic hormones reaction that causes nausea and lethargy in third trimester of pregnancy. I gathered all my strength to shower, get dressed and waiting for Kin’s missed call. Bigfish looked so adorable still tergolek on the bed hugging his bantal golek, fully absorbed in his morning dreams. He came home at 11 last night. Almost everyday his working hours is massive, 9am-11pm. I do not wish to bother him with additional task of sending and fetching me everyday to work, unless whenever he offers to, that is when he’s more free. I gave him a quick good morning kiss.

Kin is my colleague, and she’s the one whom I go to office and back everyday, since last two weeks that I was advised not to drive. I was combing my hair when she called, so I left the apartment with full reluctance. I was sleepy still, my back hurt, both my legs felt so weak and trembled. I still was going to work though, despite all that. Know what's the best thing, this is my standard feeling every morning, shall I repeat, every morning before leaving to work. I feel like wanna cry because really tak larat.. but I’ve no choice.

Well perhaps I have. I could take unpaid leave. Or, start savouring my maternity leave right now and opt for unpaid leave later. But I’m the new kid on the block here, so I feel obligated to make an impression or something of that sort. A good one, of course. The company has been so kind by taking me while I’m heavily preggie and gave me auto-entitlement for paid 60 days maternity leave (just so you know, that's not a normal procedure, especially if one is in probationary period).

So can I just tahan a bit? That’s why I have to blog, I guess. While sporadically reviewing all these orders, invoices and cost cards before approving and pass to account for August closing.

Friday is normally my gynae appointment day. That’s when I get to see my baby moves, hear his fast heartbeat and analyse how big he has grown within these two weeks. It’s a session that I look forward to every time. Except today, me and hubby are going to our 4th cum last session of antenatal class at 8pm. Today’s lesson is about care for the newborn. I know it’s going to be interesting, can’t wait! My appointment with Dr D will be delayed to tomorrow, if Bigfish is in town. My husband probably will be going on a day trip to Ipoh to attend Man and Ina’s wedding. Or else mommy can only see you baby on Sunday okay. Hang in there my brave Aaqilles!

After a while.. (Part Une)

What brought me here again?

My last post was published about a month before my wedding day. And today I am so established-ly married, heavily pregnant, changed job and pretty much settled at my good-view beautiful condo. I am also, sooo fat.

Where have I gone to? Should I say I’ve been busy?

Yes, very.

Been very busy that I simply couldn’t allocate any minute for this blog..?

Nope, that’s wrong.

I simply not up to writing. To blog. Y’know, something like that.

That pulls me back to my question, what brought me here??

Okay, you see, it’s the feeling. That feeling to write, to express, and to look back at it printed online as if it’s a monument. When it’s read again, it feels like looking into the life journal of a perfect stranger, which is ourselves. Besides craving for cakes, cookies, loads and loads of chocolate, ikan patin masak tempoyak or anything that I’ve been having these days, I crave this. Blogging.

I’ve been thinking about this since last night.

Well then, hello me! How am I? I’m good, thanks. Okay let’s just run through a quick update. I am me, still me, married and for these past few months I’ve gained weight. A lot of it, 15 kg to be exact as of time of writing. (Just weighed myself yesterday)

I’m in my 36th week, I’m hungry, always, my condition doing much better than the last 4,5 months. I live in Damansara now, with my husband and my precious womb, also with our diabetic maid which has to be sent back to Indon, for good.

I am now working at new workplace, which I have joined for over 2 months. It’s a book publisher, and the going is so far so cool. ( I am promoted here, better figure on payslip too):)

I eat bars of chocolates like they’re peanuts (oh I’ve mentioned that somehow), I no longer drive to anywhere (tummy too big, no room in between steering wheel), I have swollen feet and my back ache is killing me. Good sleep has been a good ol’ distant memory to me.

Yes folks, I’m pregnant! There are moments when I feel like giving myself a nudge and say, “hey u’re about to be a mommy” and got some more “ so stop being bloody crazy” some more “ and lazy”. Then suddenly I feel, wow.. it feels like yesterday I was 21 and still studying and going clubbing and all. Today I’m about to become a mother of someone. That’s such an overwhelming feeling okay.. nothing in the world could beat that..not even that quiet sinking feeling during your akad nikah all comes second now..not even Beat TV.. nothing..

I am fat, and people say I look good being in this condition. Yes I know what you’re thinking, people just want to please me given the patience and sufferings that I have to endure, well I used to think it’s that too. But you see, maybe people honestly mean that. After all, I choose what I want to believe, ain’t it..? heheheheh

Now some interesting trivias about my pregnancy;

- Due date is calculated based on the date of the first day of your last period, adding some formulas to it which something like adding here minus there which I have forgotten by now, the result is my husband’s birthday, 19 September. I know it won’t necessarily be accurate, but I still think it’s cool. :)

- According to our gynae when asked of when exactly did the conception happened (sperm entered ovum), it was 1st January 2006. We celebrated at PD, bonking like rabbits. So, it’s practically a ‘New Year Fetus’! I think that’s cool too. My it really doesn’t take much to amaze me since!

Apa lagi ek..

- This might be only coincidental but I personally feel more murah rezeki since the moment I found out I’m pregnant. But then again, it could be just a feeling. Or with the fact that I pray harder since, I don’t know. Whatever it is, I try to always count my blessings and stay grateful for every second of my life.

Just so you know, during pregnancy the hormones gone chaos. Besides actually affecting us physically, some people have eczema (sort of skin allergies), some suffer from gestational diabetes, and many more issues that come and go, apparently it will affect mentally too. I am very the forgetful since I’m pregnant. I might not be the person with the clearest head though before I was, y’know, berbadan dua, but at times I can be so absent minded and this forgetfulness sickens me. That’s why you see loads loads of Post-it stickers sticking to my entire cubicle. I sticked them around, with hope they will stick to my mind too.

Every Saturday in this month is our antenatal ritual, for me and me hubby la. We were briefed of the signs of labour, caring for the baby, breastfeeding (and we got to see this really silly short French documentary that shows OTT impressions of the importance of breastfeeding. It ended with a picture of a stalk of rose being placed next to a gigantic breast, sort of to compare women’s breasts as precious and beautiful as a rose but OMG the presentation is so lame and sad to say.. very foolish and funny). We were also taught the breathing technique and exercises to do during pregnancy and labour. I think every first time parent should opt for this class as in my opinion we really can gain something out of it apart from the books and mini quotes from people around us. It seems that when you’re pregnant though, suddenly people have so many opinions, and they do tell you that. Yes, even from strangers when you’re queuing at the food counter for example, don’t be surprised if you get some "Ini anak nanti mesti kulit dia cantik” or something like "Tak sakit ke pakai sandal ni dik, kaki nampak bengkak tu patut pakai selipar je..” or even “ Banyakkan minum air kelapa sekarang, nak”

..shall I mention again, these came from total strangers.

I’m pretty restless, sometimes annoyed by this waiting game. Accurately, I’m 26 days shy from my exact due date and people say it could happen earlier, much earlier as two weeks before. These Braxton Hicks contractions are tormenting and unexpected, my tummy is so heavy, my hip hurts like mad whenever I walk and I can no more toss and turn on the bed without squawking in pain. Not to mention the mental anxiety.. but well, they say patience is a virtue.

Oh September seems so far away…