When there is only you and me...

It was a date with little gal... ;) Picked her up from mother in law's place and brought her for tuina at TMC's TCM clinic. At almost age 4, bringing her out is easier...

We adjourned to Starbucks for her "cake". Starbucks at United Square shopping centre is always packed! (its perpetually filled with students and there is no seats for customers like me). *oh well* This time I managed to get a seat by "sharing" it with someone (who was not studying). He left soon after partly because no privacy... *haha evil laughter*

Here are shots of the little gal enjoying her hot chocolate & oreo cheese cake.

High tea with mummies - Rose Veranda

After a tuina session for little gal and Jinny's baby boy, we met Stella for lunch/high tea at Shangrila's Rose Veranda. It was really nice to catch up with fellow mummies in the 2008 group. ;)

Stella brought Evan along. Evan and little gal had loads of fun together making animal mask, colouring and doodling which the mummies sipped tea and ate.

Here are pictures of them colouring, with the animal mask and little gal's doodling... ;)

Little gal's colouring... If u noticed, she added a sun at the top of the picture. The butterflies are drawn by me. The one directly below the sun is drawn by her (and it looks like a dollar sign...).



Little gal drawing her "My family" - from her left: Mei mei, mummy, daddy and herself. (noticed she has got two pony tails)



I asked her who was she drawing and she says: "Mama". Haha, not bad at least I look decent. And I have long eye-lashes!

Finally! Ultrasound photos!

With technology these days, getting ultrasound pictures during gynae visits make it super enjoyable and fun (despite the fact I burn $40 for the scans at gynae's clinic). 

 

My gynae recently changed his ultrasound machine (not the 4D one) but the clarity of the pictures are surely better. Not sure if I will ask for another ultrasound to be done during the next visit (since it is like 2 weeks from the last "spine" pic). If it's done, it's more for weight estimation. *keke* 

 

Here are the ultrasound pictures so far. As usual, imagination and creativity is required. Usually it requires quite a bit of pointing out to figure where is what... 

 

The very first ultrasound picture! The black dot (at the lower part of the photo) signifies a fertilised egg implanted in the uterus.  (Approx: Wk 6)

Second set of ultrasound: Heartbeat time...  (Approx: Wk 7) The appointment was supposed to be at week 8 but I was having pink spotting so ran down to see my gynae. The strong heartbeat gave the assurance every pregnant mummy will want to see.

Second set of ultrasound: With proper labelling from my gynae! *haha*

Third set of ultrasound: Once again must measure the heartbeat... (Approx: Wk 9) 

 

Third set of ultrasound: Maybe hubby's imagination is bad. So gynae decided to label this as well. The little black dot finally has a form to it. and can see where the head and buttock can be seen.



Fourth set of ultrasound: This one need imagination? Head is on the left and body is on the right... :p (Approx: Wk 15) There was a first trimster pre-natal screening which I did at about Week 13. Ultrasound was used but no "cute" pictures so never post here. The purpose of the Week 13 scan (or OSCAR) is to predict the chances of anomalies (such as down symdrome) by comparing the fetus's nuchal translucency (this liquid behind the neck) and nasal bone measurement and readings derived from the maternal serum (blood) against a set of "normal readings".

Detailed scan: The first time I can see the face of the baby. The left side shows a almost front profile of the face. (SO CUTE RIGHT???) *haha*  Actually I feel that the detailed scan is much better this time (vs my dotter's one) because the sonographer told us every single detail that she was looking out for. This baby was however less co-operative than big sister, because I had to go for a 20 min walk and come back for another scan. Her side profile could not be taken despite the tummy jiggles and coughs I made to make her change her position in the tummy.  (Approx: Wk 21)

Fifth set of ultrasound: Mmm... can you see the face (looking upwards. Head is on the right)? it's not an exact side profile of the face but papa is very happy to be able to see another ultrasound picture that captures her looks and check out the hands by the side of her face. :) (Approx: Wk 25)

 

The most memorable gynae visit (so far)...

Today marks the last monthly visit to the gynae and back to the bi-weekly visits till birth day. ;)

During the next visit at week 32, the clinic is going to collect the delivery fee! The heat is turned up further as the hospital has sent me a "pre-admission" form.

I am still as cool as a cucumber- baby clothes, breast pump and almost everything else is still in the store room. Nothing is washed/dried. Newborn diapers are still on the supermarket shelves... I wonder if that's how mummies prepare for their subsequent births! LOL!

Complained to my gynae about my cough that has been persisting for the last 2 weeks. The green phelgm is gone and I am super glad that I didnt need to take the GP prescribed anti-b. However, the persistent cough gave me the most memorable pressie this afternoon. After a hearty, fulfiling lunch of prawn noodles and ngoh hiang which I craved for, we headed to Vivo to get my lozenges. While in the carpark, a burp came up together with that cough. The unfortunate combination triggered a small "merlion" event. As hubby was shocked and concerned, my subsequent coughs triggered two larger "merlion" cycles. I think I was in shock too - trying to not ruin the car (too late) and was unable to puke outside the car (as i was still buckled). *roll eyes* To my horror, my face and eyes were all red and teary (yeah i look drunk alright) from the coughing and lack of air caused by the puking episode. Actually, I had two similar mini accidents prior to this. Now, i'm so freaked out, I have a plastic bag on the ready...

Also, asked my gyane whether "baby bump vibrations" were normal... During week 26-28, I felt my baby bump/baby vibrate. It was queer- like having swollowed a vibrating mobile phone. It was a "cute" but worrying sensation since common descriptions are usually flutters or bumps and kicks from the inside. Gynae laughed and confirmed that it's normal as the baby is having some natural reactions (like a shiver up the spine type of reaction some kids have while/after pee-ing).

Having decided to donate my #2's cordblood to SCBB again, I sought my gynae's support in collecting it after delivery. I will have to call SCBB after week 32 of my preganancy to get the paperwork done. ;) It's always better to donate than discard, since it could help save someone's life.

Other updates would include my suprising (under?) weight gain (only 5kg so far). Tummy size is normal (1cm per week progressed). Baby is still head up but gynae says it's ok since there is still some time to go. Ending off this post with a "spine" ultrasound photo which gynae took. :p Can tell?

A melting pot of emotions?

It didn't seem so long ago that I jumped for joy seeing two dark lines on a pee stick test.

The first trimster of discomfort from the queasiness and the worry that came due to cramps and mild spotting, gave way to what I term "honeymoon". The second trimster was a sudden burst of energy (evident w flurry of activities I was willing to embark with the little gal and hubby). Good times don't really last as I'm offically in the last trimster.

At 30 weeks, as the tummy continues to balloon- so did the belly button. This time its 100% "popped". Despite little gal's good intention to "sayang" her little sister, I have to sometimes stop her when her little hands move over my tummy across that swollen belly button as it kind of "hurts".

This pregnancy has been a little harder than the first. There was the queasiness! The "going to vomit" feeling left me with little appetite and resulted in me losing about 2 kg during the 1st trimster. I also felt more pains at the tailbone and pelvic area...

Other than that, the little one also seems to have more activity in the tummy than #1. From flutters to huge thumps to kungfu kicks directly on the bladder (makes me want to run for toilet) to "vibrations" (and I wonder if I swallowed a vibrating mobile phone).

10 more weeks to D-day (Delivery day). The feeling is like a roller coaster!

Anticipation - to meet the little miracle/testament of our life and future together.

Excitment - it's like opening a present! Will she look like an exact mould of #1? Or will she spot bigger eyes and sharper nose? Will she be fiesty like #1?

Anxiety?! - Wonder if she will head down, will I have another delivery without epidurial? Will this one latch? How will little gal react to baby? Will she be easy to care for? Blah blah.

And yet some strange inner-peace and calmness will inject itself when anxiety threatens to ruin everything. I guess the #1 "benchmark" works both ways. As a second time mother, you just hope for better outcome and experiences. ;)

The ultrasound photos are still in hardcopy so got to leave this post with my fully "popped" belly button. LOLZ!

The 2012 graduation concert...

Nope my little gal did not graduate but participated in the school's concert... The song she danced to was called the 加油歌. It seems like her passion for dancing, shaking around is pretty strong. Perhaps it's because of early exposure to music (kindermusik) and this is her 2nd participation in a dance item (her first was in Cherie Hearts).

With the little pompoms, the dance was energetic and high spirited. The kids on stage all enjoyed themselves despite being a little messy in terms of movement and coordination. Can't expect professional cheer leading precision at this age... :p

Some photos taken during the dance, with her classmates and of course a family portrait (can't tell my tummy is there ya?). ;)

Little gal's garden!

I've always recalled fond memories of my very young days at grandma's old landed property which consist of a mini garden. During my pre-school days, my younger sister and I would be disturbing the life of spiders (destroying webs), ants and even the goldfish (by over feeding them) in the fish tank. We would also spy my grandma when she was doing her gardening.

When my sis and i were in Primary school, we started growing green beans on wet cotton wool (i bet many of my peers would remember this). We had the opportunity of growing long beans in the backyard and even harvested the long beans when they grew! Cool isnt it?

I wanted to recreate this for the little gal despite the fact that we were staying in HDB. Hopefully the little morning sun will keep the plant alive and good enough for it to flower and fruit some day. ;)

Planning went well and she picked out the seeds from far east flora (okra/lady fingers & long beans). After that, we took a long break as little gal pestered us daily, shaking the seeds in our faces and asking when she could start. (opps)

One fine day, she finally put her foot down and insisted we got down to it. Little gal counted the seeds and pressed them into the moist wet sand. Then a thin layer of sand by papa and she patted the sand down.

Since it was her little garden, she waters the plants everyday and boy did they grow tremendously within the 3 days!

I decided to do a side project with her: a signage. Decided on a design (arrow pointing to the left) and words. I drew the words with her inputs, she drew the tree and grass and did the colouring all by herself. Super colurful isn't it?

Hopefully the plants will grow well and start growing lady fingers and long beans! (fingers super crossed). ;p

Batik Painting

Finally caught the trend of letting my little girl try "batik painting". It's meant to help children gain control and coordination. ;)

Today papa guided lil gal by helping her pour out the colors and telling her which to mix to get other colors... Midway through, she was so happy she held up the painting and exclaimed "wow so beautiful!". And she did not want papa to do any of the painting for her... Lolz...