Que Sk Sk

WTC came up with one of the freshest ideas to celebrate her birthday this year. The theme is “Come as What you will be in 5 year’s time”. Her invite says: "If you will have 5 kids by then, please bring the 5 kids. Drive the car that you'll be driving. Wear the clothes that you'll be wearing. I'm afraid that you need to leave your penthouse behind, but you can bring a picture. Keep the date and keep the dream!"

Oh, I’m getting very excited!!

I haven’t had the chance to bounce ideas off daddy M but here are a few random thoughts: -

1) Borrow the Porsche from my colleague (dream is free hehe)
2) Bring Mr S along as our 2nd kid
3) Dress bb S in a five-year old dress- though this doesn’t sound like a dream but natural progression!
4) Superimpose our pictures and create a family album from our trips to the Safari, Amalfi Coast, Disney Orlando, Hokkaido (Summer, Spring, Autum, Winer!)
5) Go as we are now because we will still look YOUNG in 5 years time :)

I’m sure I can do better than these!

Roller

She rolls over every chance that she gets. In the early morning, before her eyes are opened, she’s already up on her chest, cooing. Roll from the left, roll from the right. I think we need a play mat on the floor very soon.

What does happy look like?

Happy = you can walk thousand miles without any pain/ complains/ blisters/ plasters
Happy = backache FREE
Happy = you’re so comfortable that you don’t care how others stare at your ‘funky-looking’ shoes

After 3 pairs of new shoes in 2 weeks and trying close to almost 100 pairs of shoes, I finally found my happiness -the Alegria Mary Jane collection, from Her Glass Slipper.


They may look ‘weird’ and ‘big’ at first few glance but once you put them on, you wouldn’t want to remove them! When the sales person asked me to try for fun, I was reluctant – I mean, seriously, these are not ‘glam’ at all! I wanted something that’s glamorous AND comfortable for work!

Indeed, after I tried them on, I DID NOT WANT TO REMOVE THEM!

Now, I’m all set to walk / shop/ meet friends for lunch far far away….

Butt washing

I try to be home early every day, for some top & tail with bb S. We call it ‘butt-washing’ time. She enjoys being wiped, washed and followed by a warm-comfortable soak in this soon to be too-small wash bowl. I could be tired some days but I wouldn’t want to miss this short and sweet mother-daughter bonding time.

Chicken chop with love

Believe it or not, this is a 100% homemade chicken chop – from scratch.

Chicken– deboned breast/ drumstick marinated with soy sauce, pepper and dark soy sauce. Pan fried.

Fries – peeled potatoes, cut into strips, deep fried twice.

Coleslaw – cabbage, carrot & celery with mixed with mayoinese sauce.

Corn- scrape from fresh corn and fried with onion and soy sauce.

ONLY my mom can do this!

Incredible hulk

It's either the quality of G2000 has deteriorated or I'm really FAT. This is my new pair of pants bought yesterday with 2 slits!! My colleagues and I had a good laugh as we were walking back to office after breakfast when we noticed the slits. With a green top, I felt like the Incredible hulk!

Macho Michi

I believe every man needs to go through this at least once in his life – change a flat tyre. On a Sunday afternoon, Macho daddy down on his knees and got dirty. Thank God it’s not during pouring rain and we’re not on the expressway. All done within 20 minutes! Pretty impressive considering that the last time macho daddy changed a flat tyre was 17 years ago. I made myself useful by watching (moral support) and offering a can of 100+ from the nearest drink stall :)

Toe-lickin’ good

With the help of my mom, bb S has discovered that her toes are as yummy as her pacifier. It’s fun watching her pulling off her socks and start sucking deliciously, at times being frustrated if she can’t reach the toes. So now, we  ease her new hobby by letting her wear bright-colour socks – apparently it helps to ‘gauge’ her target better :)

Before & after

How motherhood has changed my view on ‘timing’.

5a.m
Before: waking up at 5am was only done on occasional and on absolute necessary basis if I needed to be in the office early.
Now: 5am is a ‘just nice’ timing for me to nurse and get ready for work.

6p.m
Before: knocking off work at 6pm was considered as EARLY
Now: I start to get restless at 6pm

10.30pm
Before: I could still be watching TV or working at 10.30pm
Now: 10.30m = slumberland

12pm
Before: lunch appointment with friends or yoga
Now: power nap or expressing

Weekend
Before: eating out, friends, cook, groceries, laundry (ahem, though I’m NOT the laundry in-charge, I do play a ‘supporting’ role :))
Now: I just want to laze at home with bb S and M

TV- good or bad for baby?

All babies love TV, ours included. During the first two months, I was reluctant to let bb S watch any TV program, fearing that she may get addicted (pardon the first-time-over-reacting parent). I’m letting my guard down slowly… Now she enjoys watching everything with us – Winter Olympics, Formula One, Oscars except for cartoons (she can do that on her own next time). I’m sure a little bit of TV won’t harm a baby’s development and may even help to stimulate her :)

Note picture #2: Both father (check out Daddy' M’s mouth) and daughter (drools) in awe of the Oscars' nominees…

Returned to work

First day at work after 3+ months. Felt very welcome by colleagues who have missed me much haha with compliments that I look fresh and well rested.

Hour 1 - very energised to be back
Hour 2- clearing emails, admin stuff
Hour 3- catching up with colleagues and gossips for news
Hour 4- time to pump
LUNCH
Hour 6 - energy level dropped 30%
Hour 7 - still trying to catch up with a colleague or two
Hour 8- time to pump again
Hour 9-10- energy level dropped another 20%

How did I use to do this??

3mo

 

Happy 3 months old! It felt like only last week that I was blogging about my birth story.

Every minute and second with bb S seems extra precious now as my sweet 15-week leave is coming to an end.  A colleague asked if I'm prepared for my slavery – definitely not ! I don't plan to slave anyway because I'm believing for a restful increase year. God is in charged and all are in His good hands!

Of course for sure I'll miss bb S BIG TIME from work. 

Not time yet

“Scale, scale on the floor, who in the land is lightest of all?”

Ignoring what my scale tried to tell me, I took out my pre-pregnancy clothes from the vacuum packs. Naive move. I thought I could fit into them, or at least SOME of them.

The first skirt- a bit tight at the waist, but should be able to pull it off if I suck it in. Not bad SK, you may not need to spend a lot on new wardrobe! Second skirt, can't pull up past my hip. Don't  lose hope, move on to the third piece. Argh, can't zip up! Forth piece, not any better!!

After 15 minutes of self realisation, I zip-locked the vacuum pack.  Maybe I stand a better chance a month or two later (or three or more?!).

OK! Time to hit the mall :)

Note to my dad: it's not that I want to ‘spend’ money pa, as you can see, I have no choice hehehe.

Only grace

1 more week before I start work and I badly need to getaway but didn't quite have the peace to fly with bb S. So we went on a 3D2N stay at the Capella,  Sentosa. The experience started off great as the personal assistant (butler) rang me up in the morning before we checked in, welcoming me in advance and ensuring the room was all nicely set up with baby cot and etc. Upon checking in, we were greeted by our personal assistant who confidently told us that we're gonna love our room, facing the sea! Wait a minute, we didn't book a sea view room. But I kept quiet thinking that we got upgraded.

With HIGH expectation, we went into the room but found no sea view. Called the PA department to check if they got it right and was offered to move to another room with seaview. While we were waiting, we found an ashtray full of cigarette butts next to the deck chair. So I rang the PA department asking them to clear for the benefit of next guests.

Moving on! Now we're in the new room with a glimpse of seaview but was near a construction site!  Politely, we asked to move back to the original room but was again offered to move to another room! Okay... since it was offered, we took it but this time, I went and recee first and was disappointed because the room was filled with cigarette smell.  Come on man, just get us back to the ORIGINAL room with no seaview!

Finally we did. Guess what? The ashtray by the deck chair was still there full with butts hahaha. 

Oh well, we decided to just relax and enjoy ourselves anyway.

BB S had her first swim, we chilled out in the pool, had some in-room dining, soaking in the greeneries...Just the three of us...

Upon checking out.

Front office: “Miss Lim, how was your stay?”

SK: “Ok” (nonchalant)

Front office: “Ok??”(puzzled and surprised)

SK: “Yeah, it's alright...”(nonchalant again)

Front office: “Is there anything that we could do better?”

SK : “Hmm...yeah...” (since you asked)

And I started talking.

Before I knew it, our in-dining expenses were waived and we were offered a free Sunday brunch

PLUS a one-night stay in the SEAVIEW VILLA, along with a personal apology from the general manager!

This can only be God's grace!

And to think that we were not even planning to complain...