Cultic countdown

Been having bad back ache over the past 2 days, so decided to check it out at the gynae this morning. And guess what? I'm in early labour because I'm already 1cm dilated. What do we do now? Nothing but wait. Too early to check into hospital.. So gynae suggested to do lots of walking, enjoy the weekend, Mojo is probably coming very soon! So today is about pampering myself – good food, relax, Cantonese series :)

Given that my life is going to change drastically very soon, I decided to do something different and give Sunset Grill & Pub at Seletar Airbase a try (despite it being so near our house). M has tried a few times to drag me there but I was always too unadventurous to try a new Western food joint..

Tsk tsk tsk.. oh me of little faith. Should have given more credit and trust to the wise man at home. Sunset Grill was not bad at all! We were there just before 7pm , hence managed to get a glimpse of sunset. Though the restaurant name sounds a bit posh but the place is totally ‘humble’. It's like a shed in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by trees, diners are seated on plastic red chairs, the food is not super fantastic, yet the place was packed! There is a ‘cultic’ element to this place that I can't quite describe. Conclusion: I'm glad that I went, and definitely bringing mojo there later.

Early Christmas

The tree is up! If you read about our Christmas tree story last year, having a tree now is totally not the practice of this household :)

BUT the wise man at home thinks that it would be fun for both of us to decorate and set up the tree instead of him doing it alone later while I may be busy milking…

Anyways, I think it’s nice to welcome mojo home with the sweet smell of Noble Fir…

Just the 2 of us.. not for long

With my cousin who lives with us being home in Penang for a break, M just reminded me that these next 4 days will be our last chance to be home alone , with just the 2 of us for a very long time to come.
The thought is surreal…we’re looking at probably at least another 18-20 years... I’m sure it will be blessed with so much more joy!

So my plan for the last few days of ‘just the 2 of us’:-
- watch at least ONE movie together at home
- cook a simple meal together (a bit ambitious with my circumference )
- breakfast in bed?
- catch an afternoon nap together (let's hope it rains over the weekend)
- Scrabble, chess, Gin Rummy?

6 years on

15 November – our courtship anniversary but we didn't do much this year. A simple day with a peck on the cheek, simple wish and simple gift. I'm STILL a die-hard romantic and I'm attributing this simple celebration to tiredness from pregnancy and having relatives in town on the same day. So, what does courtship anniversary mean to us? 6 years ago, on this day,

• We've gone out on a few dates
• We decided in our hearts respectively that we like each other
• We found each other very attractive and wanted to see more of each other

6 years on...from funky blue-wigs crazy days to parenthood... amazing!!

Mom

I’m not sure if hormones are still at their peak during these very last days of pregnancy but I’m feeling sentimental today.

Today is the day that I finally feel how my mom feels and finally see how she sees things- how her care towards her children, her love, her worries and protectiveness over her children are often being construed as naggy, unreasonable and incommunicable. I’m guilty as charged because I have always been closer to dad than mom mainly due to our invisible communication barrier. I often find it hard to talk to her and find her unwilling to accept my opinion or understand my views in life. I know that motherhood tends to spawn a renewed sense of appreciation in women towards their moms, but I was expecting it to happen to me much later, probably when I see mojo. I guess it came earlier than expected.

What’s the triggering point for the shift?

It all started from the confinement nanny issue. Mom found a replacement for me – her friend from Penang who is not a professional confinement nanny but has done a few jobs before. To mom, I believe she thinks this is the best choice for me– someone whom she knows, someone who probably has the same confinement practices as she does and someone who speaks her lingo. But being a control freak, I was skeptical of her friend’s experience. It’s only after I turned mom down that I started to feel bad. She probably thinks that her effort of getting me the best person in such a short notice is not appreciated.

I am imagining, 20 years down the road, I may be in her situation where I go all way out to help mojo but only to be declined by her… or when I give some advice and want the best for her but being interpreted as ‘naggy’, ‘unreasonable’ or incommunicable. Will I be hurt? How will I feel if mojo is closer to M and can only confide in him?

Thank God for openining my eyes today and see clearly. Thank God for making me realise that it's not too late to appreciate mom in a different level and see the roads she has traveled, her sacrifices and endurance in life for the benefit of her children, and hopefully make me a better daughter…

Self-appraisal

It's been a year since I started my first blog.

Looking back at “my top ten to-do (wish list) in the thirty forth year”, it appears that I have lots to do in my thirty fifth year, or subsequent years ahead considering that I may have new wishes with mojo.

My top ten to-do (wish list) in the thirty forth year:-

1. Write a letter in French – Somewhat. Emailed with a few sentences in French
2. Have a kid - In progress
3. Learn how to cook fish curry and rasam – Postponed
4. Visit Israel - Postponed
5. Foot massage my husband – CHECKED (I think)
6. Learn to use a DSLR camera - Somewhat
7. Bake a cake - Postponed
8. Perm my hair – Chickened out and abolished
9. Picnic - CHECKED
10. A trip with my sister- Postponed

My back up eleventh to twentieth things-to-do in the thirty forth year:-

1. Go for eye lasik – Chickened out and postponed
2. Visit my nephews-in-law or niece-in-law whom I’ve not met - Postponed
3. Read every issue of The Economist – Considered CHECKED (usually only the first few pages of each issue). Maybe I should just give up and stop subscription next year.
4. Add new pictures to the wall - Postponed
5. A trip with friends - Postponed
6. Decorate the attic - Postponed
7. Plant a palm tree - Postponed
8. Watch Sex And The City movie with wandalingam - CHECKED
9. Go for a swim - CHECKED
10. Take a walk on the beach- CHECKED

On hindsight, I think I might have been too ambitious :)

Hunting for a confinement lady

The ONLY thing that I felt secured and well planned in my preparation for mojo's arrival was having the confinement lady booked way in advance. We even planned to have her for at least 2 months. Despite having lots of loose ends to tie up eg. hospital bag, cot, clothes (ALL NOT READY), I still had this 'under control' feeling as long as there's a 'trustworthy' helper around.

Well.... things happen... My confinement lady pulled out on me last night - she needs to go for a surgery.

Angry? yes
Anxious? yes

Disapointed? yes

Worried? yes

Felt sabotaged? yes

Made at least 20 calls within a night and got 1 who is on 'standby' ie, if the next mom-in-line pops, she gotta go.

With 3 weeks left, only God can give me a miracle.

Still here

Yes yes I'm still around, counting down to popping day .. less than 4 weeks left?

What excuses do I have for not blogging over the past weeks?

• Super busy at work (double yawn)


• No new pictures taken to boast


• Too slow with my clumsy penguin walk


• My fingers joints are tight


• My feet are swollen like buns


• I’m big (16kg heavier)


• Nesting for mojo (70% completed)


• Busy shopping for ideas for M’s birthday present
  

*Image from roguesgallery1.blogspot.com/2009/08/rudy-sant...