are you serious?

Elvis is in Beijing today for the Adidas Beijing Olympics 2008 launch ceremony. He told me that they had booked a 城门 "chen men" (literally translated to 'city gate') for it, and it looked very grand. His speech was also shown on the projector, and he looked "silly". Haha!

Yes, this is what he has been up to - all the trips he has been making to Beijing, London and New York for the past months - for his work for Adidas/Olympics 2008. Now, he finally has time to prepare for his other baby...our baby. ;)

I didnt manage to google the launch, but here's a very funny video that came up in the search! Haha! Watch it! ;p



Also, there's all these jokes about the Beijing Olympics logo, but i just realised here's the correct version:
"The official logo of the games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylized calligraphic character jīng (京, meaning capital), referencing the host city."

I've never been interested in "China-China", but having lived in Shanghai for some months did change part of my thinking (of the country/place & people). Maybe i should find a chance and go to Beijing too to see the magnificent Forbidden City.

My nephews went to Beijing for holiday in May, and they were so crazy about the 5 mascots "Fuwa" for the Beijing Olympics. I think they are so cute too - esp JingJing (the one in black). Xan is hoping to go Beijing again for the Olympics in 2008 even though he cant speak Mandarin. He is VERY anti-Chinese. When he says "māo" 猫/cat, it'll come out as "máo" 毛/hair. Keke... Hmm...maybe there's something there... So i should really go too!

sweet

I've always been a sucker for anything cute. I suspect i refuse to grow up!

I've seen these Chupa Chups cellphone straps selling online for a while now...but didnt think i should waste money getting it coz i've already got so many cellphone accessories - my latest fav being a very pretty Agnes b. strap Elvis bought for me in Tokyo - and many others not in use.

Today, when i was at the supermarket "Shop & Save" (which i hardly go to), i saw the supposedly limited Chupa Chups cellphone straps FREE with twin-packs of Chupa Chups!!! I couldnt resist it! There's not many "flavours" left, so i chose the Strawberry. Actually upon calculating, i'm actually paying about $3-4 more for the twin-packs, but getting my hands on it made my day! Definitely worth it! Haha! ;)

fund raising 1-for-1

My sister's company is currently doing a fund raising for this organization - Vietnam Outreach.
http://www.vietnamoutreach.org/home.htm

The best part is, 1 of her Director will match dollar-for-dollar the amount that their colleagues/company donate! I'm not sure when's the "expiry" for this... But of course, you can also donate directly to the organization (click here).

Spread some love this Christmas!
Make someone else' life more beautiful!

believe it or not

All parents hope that their kids are "born smart". As such, many pregnant women eat fish, hoping that their babies brains will be "more developed". To make up for or boost their intelligence, many kiasu parents in Singapore also sign their kids up for so many lessons outside of school - some even before they start kindergarten. All these lessons dont come cheap either. And it must be sooo stressful for both the kids and their parents.

Since the only fish i like is Filet-O-Fish, so maybe i should start doing something too... Heehee... So i bought these Baby Einstein DVDs (click). I just received them in the mail, and really wish i can try it out on baby Joel immediately...to see his response! Haha! So kiasu, huh.

This is one of the best deals around too. S$86 for the entire box set of 24 discs. (Usual Price: US$19.99 per DVD) I hope it's money well-spent - unlike some toys which might be thrown out after a short period.

P.S. My sister's friend said she borrowed it from her friend, and it's VERY BORING! Hmm... Anyway, i'll definitely update in future how much or how little Joel likes the DVDs. ;)

baby einstein episodes

Tagging this here for future reference:

DISC 1 Baby Noah; Animal Expedition
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- A musical introduction to animals around the globe.
- Includes the music of Beethoven, Mozart and Strauss.
The Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
iParenting Media Awards.
Parents' Choice Approved Award Winner.

DISC 2 Baby da Vinci; From Head to Toe
Appropriate for aged 9 months and onwards.
- Babys first introduction to their eyes, ears, hands, feet and more.
- Includes the engaging music of Vivaldi, Bach and Handel.
The Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
Parenting Magazine - Video of the Year (2005).
Parenting Magazine - Video of the Year (2004).
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.
Parents' Choice Approved Award Winner (2005).

DISC 3 Baby MacDonald; A Day on the Farm
Appropriate for aged 9 months and onwards.
- A fun-filled introduction to the sights and sounds of a farm.
- Features live-action images and engaging visuals of puppets, children, toys and real-world objects.
- Combines traditional nursery rhymes with the beautiful music of Schubert, Schumann and Strauss.
iParenting Media Awards.
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

DISC 4 Baby Bach; Musical Adventure
Appropriate for aged 1 month and onwards.
- Visually stimulating.
- Features many of Bach's favorite compositions.
Multiple award-winner including the Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
Kids First! Endorsement.

DISC 5 Baby Beethoven; Symphony of Fun
Appropriate for aged 1 month and onwards.
- Featuring many of Beethovens favorite compositions.
Dr. Toys 100 BEST Childrens Product 2002.
Kids First! Endorsement (Video/DVD).

DISC 6 Baby Mozart; Music Festival
Appropriate for aged 1 month and onwards.
- Introduce your little on to the splendor and delight of Mozart's classical music with visually stimulating real-world objects.
Child "Video of the Year" (1997).
Parenting Video of the Year" (1998).
Specialty Retailer "Video of the Year" (1999).
The Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
Kids First! Endorsement.
Scholastic Parent and Child "10 Best Videos" from the last 10 years (2003).

DISC 7 Baby Galileo; Discovering the Sky
Appropriate for aged 9 months and onwards.
- Babys first introduction to the sky above.
- Features captivating footage of the sky, planets and galaxies.
- Features musical scores by Mozart, Chopin, Strauss and Tchaikovsky.
Parents' Choice "Parents' Choice Recommended" (2003).

DISC 8 Baby Neptune; Discovering Water
Appropriate for aged 9 months and onwards.
- Babys first introduction to water.
- Features the melodic scores of Handels Water Music.
Parents' Choice "Parents' Choice Recommended" (2003).
Gold Award National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) for Children's Resources.

DISC 9 Baby Newton; Discovering Shapes
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Introduces your baby to five shapes.
- Features many of Vivaldi's favorite compositions.
KIDS FIRST! Endorsement.

DISC 10 Baby Santa's Music Box
Appropriate for aged 1 month and onwards.
- Joyeux Noel! Feliz Navidad! Buon Natale! Merry Christmas.
- Celebrate with holiday musical sounds from around the world.

DISC 11 Baby Shakespeare; World of Poetry
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Poetry in Motion with real world images.
- Features award winning Baby Beethoven soundtrack.
Dr. Toys Best Children Vacation Products.
The Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
Kids First! Endorsement.

DISC 12 Baby Van Gogh; World of Colors
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Exposes your baby to the wonder of color through Van Gogh's artwork.
- Introduces your baby to classical music selections from Van Goghs era.
Kids First! Endorsement.

DISC 13 Language Nursery
Appropriate for aged 1 month and onwards.
- Exposes your baby to sounds of languages
- A great way to interact with your child
Parenting "Video of the Year" (1997).
Parents' Choice "Parents' Choice Award" (1997).
Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
Kids First! Endorsement.

DISC 14 Neighborhood Animals
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Meet animals that live in and around the home.
- Complimented by our Animal Discovery Cards.
- Engaging music from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Kids First! Endorsement.

DISC 15 Numbers Nursery
Appropriate for ages 1 year and onwards.
- A playful and interactive introduction to the numbers 1 through 5.
- Uses familiar, real-world objects to show what numbers mean.
- Features the melodic scores of Haydn, Chopin, Strauss and Schubert.
Billboard Digital Entertainment Award Nomination (2004).
iParenting Media Best Products for 2004.

DISC 16 World Animals
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Discover animals from the jungle, savannah and ocean.
- Complimented by World Animal Discovery Cards.
- Features music from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

DISC 17 Baby Monet; Discovering the Seasons
Appropriate for ages 6 months and onwards.
- Discover the seasons, Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn.
- Includes the music of Vivaldi.
The Dove Foundatin Family Approved Seal.
iParenting Media Awards.

DISC 18 Baby Wordsworth; First Words Around the House
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- A musical introduction to babys first words and communication.
- Includes the music of Bach, Bizet and Schubert.
The Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal.
iParenting Media Awards.
National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

DISC 19 Baby Einstein On The Go; Riding, Sailing and Soaring
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- A musical introduction to transportation and "things that go".
- Includes spectacular real-life images with classical music by Hayden, Beethoven, Mozart and Rossini.
iParenting Media Best Products for 2006.

DISC 20 Meet the Orchestra; First Instruments
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Introduces your little one to musical instruments that make up an orchestra and the different sounds that they make.
- Includes spectacular real-life images with classical music by Beethoven, Brahms, Joplin, Haydn, Mozart and Strauss.
- Entertain them with fun puppet shows, inspire them with captivating real-world images and beautiful classical music by Beethoven, Brahms, Joplin, Haydn, Mozart and Strauss lets them discover their favorite instrument.

DISC 21 Baby's Favorite Places; First Words Around Town
Appropriate for aged 1 year and onwards.
- Provides a playful, interactive introduction to first words from around town - spoken and in sign language.
- Special guest Marlee Matlin introduces little ones to the concept of nonverbal communication, which provide a strong foundation for early literacy and stimulate intellectual development.

DISC 22 Baby's First Moves
Appropriate for aged 6 months and onwards.
- Special Bonus! Pilates Instructor Michelle Dozois shows you moves and stretches you can do while interacting with your little one.
- Dance ! Twist ! Clap ! Encouraging Playful discovery of movement and more.
Product Awards : iParenting Best Products 2007.

DISC 23 My First Signs - See and Sign with Baby
Appropriate for aged 3 months and onwards
- My First Signs rounds out a language collection created to expose little ones to the idea that communication can take on many different forms, including written, verbal and nonverbal.
- Join special guest Marlee Matlin as she demonstrates this exciting way for babies to express themselves even before they have master verbal communication.

As a BONUS (NEW):
DISC 24 My First Signs - See and Sign with Baby
Appropriate for aged 9 months and onwards.
- Playfully introduces five basic forms -- circle, oval, triangle, square and rectangle -- as each appears in the context of toys, nature and everyday objects.
- Captivating real-world imagery accompanied by beautiful classical music to provide a delightful sensory experience.

just for fun 2

Have u seen this chart (click) before? I saw it on 2 issues (back-to-back) of a baby magazine, and am wondering why the hype over it...

Chinese Birth Chart: Predict Your Baby's Gender
Legend states that the Chinese Birth Chart was buried in a royal tomb near Beijing over 700 years ago. The original is alleged to be at the Institute of Science in Beijing.

Rumors have it that this chinese chart is over 90% accurate when used properly but please remember that this chart is for entertainment purposes only.

If you are using the birth chart to plan a baby of a specific gender, you can base your conception date on a future date and use that date when calculating the Mother's Chinese Age at the time of conception.

As this chart is for entertainment purposes only, you may have more luck chosing a gender selection method that is based more on scientific fact like the Shettle's Method of Gender Selection.

Apparently, it's not accurate for us. My baby should have been a girl based on the above Chinese Birth Chart. From what i see, it can only proof that there are indeed more births of girls than boys.

This website (click) seems rather interesting too.

Hmm...is there really a right time/day for everything???

just for fun

It's for certain that our baby Joel will be born in the year of the Golden Pig....and will also be a Capricorn baby. Here's some reading about the 2 - just for fun:

Your little Capricorn will have a quiet, meditative nature ruled by reason instead of impulse and may seem older than his years at times. These children are thrifty, reserved, diplomatic, deep thinking, and determined. They are cautious in what they do and say. They know what they want and they usually get it by methodically planning every detail ahead of time - they like to take their time with things, learning lessons well along the way.

At school, the Capricorn boy stands out from the rest of his class because he is so quiet; and the little Capricorn girl is so very tidy. Both have ‘old heads on young shoulders’ and seem to prefer the company of adults to that of other children. They will make slow but steady progress with their studies, but may show little inclination to join the social side of school life. At most, they will acquire one or two school pals. Even if not happy at school, they will not complain to parents. If you are a Capricorn parent, you will have to take special pains to make sure that your child is not worrying about school and other problems – for Capricornians maintain a poker face and give little or no clue to their feelings.

Not unruly children by any means, they can however be very stubborn on occasion; at such times, be patient and try to find out the reason for this. Then, if you discuss the matter calmly with them, they just may be ale to see things for your point of view. Do not be too hopeful though, for Capricornians are the most inflexible of all the zodiac types.

There is no need to teach Capricorn children thrift.
Taken from Nappies direct (click for other baby horoscope)


Chinese Zodiac says that the Year of the Golden Fire Pig comes only once every 600 years and rumor has it, 2007 is this special year. It is Golden because the combination of elemental Fire, the sign Pig, and Yin/Yang components bring this year once every six centuries!

It is said that children born under this sign will live in comfort as wealth and luck are always near. The Fire Pig is known to have traits of wealth, prosperity, luck and fertility but people in Korea and China have taken this “Golden” prophecy to new levels. Reports indicate that fertility is on the rise – over 10% in Korea and China – sparking the onslaught of everything from websites for “Golden Pig Mothers” to hotels creating special maternity “stay” packages for Fall 2007...
Taken from firepig.com (click)

the new niece

Today, i also went to see Elvis' niece. It's been almost 2 weeks since she was born. Here's some pictures of her - for her doting Uncle...and also the clothes i bought for her today.

Elvis, u pay $ hor. ;p


A very pretty and cute Ralph Lauren terry-cloth dress with matching "panty"/training pants.

I also happened to see these really cheap rompers today! They're so pretty & sweet too! I love the polka dots! They are only $3.90 each, but when i went to the cashier, i was told it's 3 for $10. The long-sleeve-footed sleepsuit was the last-minute grab coz I also bought 2 other pieces for little Joel. Boys' not so cute of course. ;)

our baby's birthday

Today, I went for my weekly gynae appt, and told the doc that Elvis' dad had chosen 2 auspicious dates for our baby's birth - complete with timings. Apparently, he looked through the Chinese almanac ("tong shu") himself. You must be going "WAH!". That's also my reaction, and my gynae's too! He even asked me if it's accurate since my father-in-law calculated it himself. Haha! But gynaes are used to these "special requests", so i guess he wasnt too surprised about it.

They are 16th & 24th mornings...so doc said 24th coz he's away on the 16th. So our baby Joel's date of birth will be 24 Dec 2007 - Christmas Eve! Also happens to be my parents' 40th wedding anniversary.

Today, our baby is 35 weeks old and weighs 2.2kg. Mama weighs the same. But i'm kinda high on sugar, and needs to fast for a test next week i.e. No food & drinks after midnight the night before.

O ya, today on my way to the hospital, i suddenly broke out in cold sweat on the taxi. When i'm almost reaching the hospital's taxi stand (taxi moving slowly in the queue), i opened the door and vomitted onto the floor with my butt was still in the taxi! And it was a few times...and again when i rushed to the toilet. ALL of my lunch was out! I felt sooo terrible and was teary...so gross!!! It was exactly what i went through during the first few months of my pregnancy. Gosh! But after that, i felt ok. Gynae said it could be motion sickness that some pregnant woman may experience. Maybe the day's errands plus the rain had also gotten to me too.

glory to God

Firstly, we really have to thank God for guarding Elvis' luggage. They finally located it and delivered it to his Shanghai house last night - all the way from New York! Nothing missing, nothing is taxed. Heehee... ;)

Initially we were sooo worried coz UA managed to locate his colleague's luggage shortly after she faxed over her "luggage tag" (the sticker that's issued when you check-in your luggage), but couldnt locate Elvis'.

Praise God that all's well now! And thank my sisters for helping to pray! Most importantly, I'll be getting my birthday gift! Yeah! ;D

Here's an article i found about ways to track luggages but it's dated April 1999 from The New York Times. I'm sure it's more advanced by now.
(Click here to read complete article)
"...Lost or delayed luggage costs up to $10 billion a year worldwide over all, according to industry estimates. But bag tags and boarding passes made with Bi statix technology could still be read even if they are folded, scuffed or ripped...Since new information can be encoded into fields on the tags, Bistatix boarding passes could track people just as easily as their bags. ''One could reserve selected fields for the original flight information, the intervening airlines that one might transfer to in the course of that trip and then the final destination -- all tied into system locator information,'' Mr. Krueger said.

That could result in fewer lost suitcases..."

angels pleaseee

Nothing seems to go right lately.

Now, Elvis' luggage was checked-in yesterday night at the airport (supposedly to transit at Chicago)...then he couldnt board the UA flight coz "no seats???"...then coz of Thanksgiving, no flights till the following day...so they were transferred to another flight transiting at Narita Airport. BUT their bags already left with the original Chicago-bound flight. We're worried now that the luggage will be lost in transit etc etc... (We've heard of cases that some Chinese take others' luggages at the belts)

O no!!! There's my sister's Coach bags, my birthday MJ bag, 4 iPhones...and Elvis' shopping! If the luggage is lost, I'll faint!!! Now can only pray and keep our fingers crossed.

My sister said, "The Lord send angels to guard our bags!" AMEN!

bad sleeping habits

Here's what Terry did when his pillow is in the wash. He found his way to sleep conveniently in a plastic bag with a pair of slippers inside. And the slippers was his pillow! Heehee... ;p

And here's what Terry does when i'm using the computer. ;)


P.S. He's sooo cute that whenever i think of him (in Shanghai), i'll cry...sob sob :_(

too big for comfort

Some of you might have known from Elvis (or his MSN name) that his hotel in New York is "haunted" - at least the 1st room that he checked into. When he reached, he was checked into the biggest room in the hotel. He felt very "uncomfortable" inside the room, so he requested for a change. But as it was already midnight (the staff had gone home), they said they could only change another room for him in the morning. They called the US Producer, and he said they were CRAZY to request for a change in hotel! He even asked them to move into his apartment, and he go stay in the hotel!!! Apparently, it's very difficult to get a room at this boutique hotel. So, for the night, he bunked in with another (female) colleague who was there with him. Oops... No lah, dont let your mind wander off... He slept on the sofa, and they are close friends - with her husband too. ;p

Everytime i called him at the hotel, it's an 'automated' answering machine...coz there's no receptionist/front desk at this boutique hotel. I'll have to follow the instructions to get my line transferred to the room. (No wonder the staff dont need to work 24-hr shifts) Anyway, today i decided to google the hotel after listening to the answering machine's "greetings" and since Elvis was not back in his room yet.

So, this is it! Lafayette House. From the photos shown on the site, very nicely-decorated rooms indeed. But maybe the European-styled deco is a tad too scary for me too - esp when alone. I supposed this room (above) is the one that Elvis was talking about. He also mentioned it's the corner room, on the top floor, a huge door leads to the toilet (which he didnt even dare to step in), lots of black-&-white photos along the corridoor (of people in the 20s/30s with very weird hair).... Eeee.... Giving me goosebumps already!

well equipped

Being modern parents "in the know", we may also tend to be kiasu at times. Just going to the 'Children Department' in shopping centres everywhere, and there's so many parents already buying educational toys and CDs for their (yet-to-be-born) BABIES. Just the thought of it can be scary and stressful, huh?

I've heard about this brand Baby Einstein (click) - toys, books, music CDs, VCDs, DVDs etc - and am wondering if we should also be equipped with at least some of the discs for baby Joel to watch when he's errr...1 month old???

OMG! Parenting sure sounds like a tough job - even before baby is even born! ;)

thanks thanks

I'm sooo touched by all the kind words and encouragement by our friends (in the post below). It's great to know that so many people care for me, Elvis & baby Joel. Elvis was pretty stressed too, and probably more worried than me since he's so far away from us in New York.

THANKS, everyone! ;)

Today, we were on the CTG machine again for more than an hour...i saw a few "dips" in baby's heartbeat too...but doc says everything's ALRIGHT. Just need to be careful not to "workover"! Haha... This coming from someone not literally working...very funny, right??? ;p

Next gynae appointment is next Monday...Hmm...maybe doc decided to speed up the tempo!

our 33 weeks baby

I'm feeling a little depressed now. Coz there was some "spotting"/slight bleeding on Thursday, and i went to see the gynae on Friday. Went through a CTG (to check baby's heartbeat and my contractions/baby's movement) ...and am under orders to rest in bed for 2 days. Will review us on Monday.

Gynae Tham forgot to take a photo of baby again, but he looks pretty much like this (right) when i saw him yesterday. He's also put on more weight now at 2kg at 33 weeks. As for me, I didnt put on any weight, but even the doc said, "You looked fatter, but dont worry, you are still not fat." Is that a compliment??? Haha...

Now, I'm quite worried about our baby. Hope that he'll come out at full term strong, healthy and handsome - just like Daddy! ;)

Ok, i've got to go back to bed... ;p

round 2

3.30pm
Just did my Round 2 of baby-washing.
Today, it's just mittens, booties, socks and bibs.

I dont know why it took me so long to wash them (by hand). And when i hang them to dry...it's only "a little bit"!!! So tiring...

Round 3 will be the receiving blankets, towels etc + maybe some of the 3-6 months clothings...err using the WASHING MACHINE! And I'll be done with it (i hope). Haha! ;)
6.30pm
Just finished hanging them to dry...really no more energy already.


P.S. Elvis helped my lug home 1 of those plastic drawers. I'm sooo happy! I can put all the baby items inside now! Just need to setup the cot/playpen when he's back again. And we're set! Yippie!

fat joel and mommy

Sometimes i can still wear girly shoes...but i've still got a bigger nose and still cannot say 'CHEESE'. Bet u cant tell from here. Heehee... ;p
Nice nice photo taken by Daddy Elvis on 5 Nov, Vivocity.

pig trotters

Even the soles are bloated that I need to "press my toes down" just to touch the floor. Ouch! Haha! ;p

Whatever happened to my beautiful feet???

O ya, talking about FEET...it reminded me of something very funny!!! Yday, I was on MSN with 1 of my primary school friend who happens to be working in Shanghai too (also about the same time i moved to Shanghai)...and Elvis happened to need a Print Producer a few months ago, so he employed her to be their freelance producer for a project.

Anyway, she told me that she went to our house to deliver some colour-seps to Elvis over the weekends. She said she wanted to kaypo-kaypo and take a look at our house. And she told me, "SOOO MANY SHOES!!!" I told her that it's ALL Elvis'!!! There's no space for mine at all, so they can only be placed inside the room. Yes, she noticed it's all mens shoes!

I wish i can show u a picture of our shoe-rack. It's those flip-out-drawer types with 6 compartments. Each compartment can hold 3 pairs. And i still need to squeeze some slippers in-between the shoes. That's not all! What's more terrible is the many many shoeboxes ABOVE the shoe-rack!!! Coz i decided it's better to keep the boxes since there's absolutely NO MORE SPACE! So can only keep stacking... They are sacked till it's much taller than me, and in about 2 columns (NOTE: Figures accurate as at July'07 when i left Shanghai). Since then, Elvis bought more shoes!!! He told me he bought like 3 pairs in London, 1 pair in New York (well, something like that)... I've lost count. When he was back in Singapore, we went shopping, and he also bought 2 pairs of Calvin Klein flipflops. Most recent was another Quiksilver flipflops in Bali (but coz his feet hurt from walking for days on the CK...so that cannot be helped lah). I can imagine our shoe-rack will go "ceiling-high", and even up to 3 columns when i'm back in Shanghai by next year! I'm really not complaining. I just find it very amusing that a man loves shoes sooo much!

He's hopelessly in love with his feet! And for the record, they are not very beautiful, quite as "meaty" as mine now! Haha! ;)
Related link (click...and read Elvis' own comment too!)

GOSSIP 1: When my sis was in Shanghai. 1 morning, she saw Elvis prepare for work, and he was wearing his green super-highcut shoes already (lots of "holes"/shoelace to tie). A while later, she saw the SAME pair of shoes lying on the floor. So she asked me how come he have 2 pairs of the same design???
ANSWER: He came back to change after he left the house.

GOSSIP 2: Once we went shopping, and Elvis tried a pair of flip-flops. The length was okay, but we both thought that the strap (on top) is too thin. I commented that the strap makes his feet look fat. Guess what the salesgirl said???
ANSWER: It is not "look"...your feet is indeed VERY FAT! Haha!
(Please pardon the Chinese, they can be quite crude at times.)

P.S. Every woman dreams of a walk-in wardrobe. Elvis dreams of not only a walk-in wardrobe, but also an entire wall of built-in cupboard with slots for his SHOES! Haha!

round 1

final round of baby shopping

Just came home from my final round of baby-shopping. Today's just "the very basic items" like special bottle detergent, bottle brush, cotton balls, cotton buds, wipes, waterproof/changing mat (i chose a cheap $5 foldable plastic mat i can double-up for use outdoors), baby powder (i chose a more ex no-mess roll-on type) and nail scissors. Wondered if i also need to buy a waterproof mat for putting above the mattress (underneath the bedsheet). Will a towel be better coz less hot for the baby??? Hmm...but decided to ask my friend first.

I think in the past, our parents just used normal detergents for our baby milk bottles/clothes. Now, parents are so paranoid about getting the "right one" specially formulated for BABIES!!! ;p

No wonder baby-shopping always makes money slip away by the hundreds... Hope this is really the final final round.

O...still need to stock up on disposable diapers! My sis' friend say just buy PETPET which is cheaper for day, and use the better/more expensive ones for night. Good good, save $$$. ;)


A friend just told me to pack my hospital bag NOW!
http://www.gleneagles.com.sg/svc_maternity.jsp
http://www.baybsupplies.net/hospital.htm
Coz her daughter was born 2 months premature, and she didnt prepare anything! OK OK, will starting packing some stuff later... Need to bring breastpump (coz i heard some hospitals charge $60/day for using theirs)??? Need to wash my pajamas first??? O no, havent wash the mittens, and i still have some missing items!!! Ahhh...

Baby Joel, this is your paranoid Mom speaking.
You dont pop out too soon okay?
Wait for me to be ready...and your Daddy to come back.

selection

Round 1

whirrrling

There's 101 things on my mind today. Firstly, i wanna seek out my purrrfect birthday gift coz Elvis will be heading to New York on Wed. He's asked me to see what i'll like to have - a MJ? Kate Spade? or even the Tod's bag i saw on Sat in Spore (but for this, he's asked me to buy from Singapore coz cheaper here). He's sooo good to me. I already feel sooo fortunate even if i decide not to buy anything - coz so much thoughts on my mind too about the money that we'll be spending on our SOON-to-be-born baby. Kekee... Hmm...my mind's in a whirl now... ;p

And the iPhone i promised to buy for Elvis. Will upload a photo here taken when he was back in Spore (with no intention to "rub it in"). Yes, you've guessed it right! The "misfortune in Bali" was that he lost his few-days-old-iPhone. Sob sob... I also wanna search for some other NY sights he can probably go visit if he has some extra time on his hands.

Then, i was reading this book that says that babies (from birth to 6 months) prefer looking at black-&-white things in stripes, checkers, dots...because of the high contrast. Weird, huh! Shouldnt be baby toys be cute and colourful?? I was telling Elvis about it last night, and said the book even suggested ways of making the flashcards/"boards" using paper plates. I've seen some of these black-&-white toys in shops , and i think they are not cheap (in fact, all baby stuffs seem expensive to me). Elvis said just buy them. Since babies probably only find them entertaining up till 6 months, it's quite a waste of money to buy, right?? Hmm...

I found a local website (click) selling this baby playmat at $22.50 (usual $28.90). And maybe also some baby books...


Ok, back to bag searching! Haha! ;p

no more 'anything'

Was searching for some high-tea places, and came across this website which i thought was pretty good http://www.hungrygowhere.com (click). So dont need to say "anything" again when friends ask where u wanna eat.

Can even click on the location, budget etc...and there u have it! I'll tag it by the side too under 'Yet Another Site'.

Boy, am i hungry now!!! ;)

what a cute mom

Just had my final haircut before baby pops next month, and i cannot wash my hair for 1 month...err can, right??? ;p

When i was walking to the salon yday, a lady giving out pamplets said, "What a sexy mom! Have a good day!". But i think she meant "What a cute mom!" Heehee... Yes, she definitely made my day! ;)

But God knows what i'll become when baby is out! Probably have dirty unkempt hair, yellowish complexion (huang lian puo)... eeee...

i love daddy & mommy

Whenever i buy something for our baby with those corny "daddy/mommy prints", i'll choose daddy over mommy. Coz i'm sure Baby will love Daddy more, vice versa. See, here are some of the stuff i've bought. ;)


But on Monday, we met up with Benson who helped us buy some baby clothes (to wear at home coz they are very cheap at 6 for $10), and i realised that ALL has 'I♥MOM' print on it! Look! Maybe it'll serve as a "reminder" (to me) to love our baby 24/7. Good good for someone impatient and doesnt like kids! Haha! ;)

Elvis' mom who's very good at sewing also made this beansprout pillow for our little one...and even comes with an extra case! So thoughtful. Thanks, Grandma. I'm sure if we live in Singapore, she'll definitely sew a lot of clothes for our kid since Elvis is her favourite son. Hmm...makes me wonder sometimes if our kid will be her favourite grandson (even though she already has 3 grandsons). Kekee... ;p


I also found a Benetton bunny (like amigurumi dolls) which we've bought for the looongest time...but always didnt manage to give it away (or maybe Elvis kept it on purpose). So, this will be for our Baby Joel now. Cute? ;)


And now, it's time to start my baby-washing!!! Arrgh... ;p

P.S. The very very cute baby socks that everybody LOVES (esp the girls' Mary-Janes) are for Claudia - Benson's daughter. To thank her Daddy for helping us buy the baby clothes. ;)

the special couple

I just saw from someone elses' shots in Facebook...and put some together here (coz Elvis didnt take any photos). I also spotted him (or rather his tshirt) in one of the shots. Heehee...

What a lovely wedding it must have been. ;)

with God's blessings

I just spoke to Elvis again (yes, I'm like his morning wakeup call), and he was telling me how lovely the wedding yesterday was - the exchange of marriage vows by the cliff (wow), white tents (wow), the speeches (wow)... And he wished i was there too.

Everytime Elvis sees something beautiful, he wishes i was there with him - in London, New York and now Bali. But it's all NOT possible coz of the little one inside of me. I dont know if it's my "misfortune" (maybe 'mischance' sounds better in this instance) OR our blessing. I hope it's the latter.

I dont need to close my eyes to imagine the beautiful setting of the cliff with the cool breeze and lovely sunset. I can picture roaming the streets with Elvis amidst the cities' splendors...and the SHOPPING!!! Haha!

Hmm...in any case, with God's blessing, i'm sure we'll get to go there next time - as a FAMILY. ;)

way to go

I just collected something for Elvis from the optical shop. It's a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer. The first time we saw this "remake" was at Changi Airport's DFS. Elvis tried it on, and he liked it - coz it suited his big head. Heehee... ;p

Elvis hasnt always been the "fashionista" he is today. So, i told him that this design is very classic. It was very popular in the early 80s, and my sister had a pair then. Recently, it's made a comeback...and in many different colours.

Wayfarer on Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

We saw it again in Bangkok and in a special "folding model" too! He wanted very much to buy it. But on second thought, it might be cheaper in Singapore (coz all imported goods in Bangkok are more expensive). Then, he saw it again while he was in the US. He was really very tempted coz it was about US$100+. The sunglasses were really "big" in the US coz he said everyone on the streets was wearing it! So, i checked it for him in Singapore (to compare with US prices), and ordered the stocks for him at an optical shop in Tampines near my house. It's quite a good deal - compared to most optical shops in town.

Elvis, you will TRY to take good care of this pair, right?? ;)

P.S. His latest pair was a Calvin Klein aviators which we bought in Hong Kong, and it lasted him only a few months. Yes, he can be like a kid sometimes (always spoiling/losing things). Kekee... ;p

big hug

A misfortune happened to Elvis in Bali last night. He was very sad when he called to tell me about it. I wished i was there with him, and Joel & i can give him a BIG BIG hug!

I just called him at his hotel room a while ago. Thank God he's feeling (and sounded) MUCH BETTER. But i still feel like giving him a BIG BIG HUG!

Hope the rest of his holiday will not be affected.
(The wedding's officially on 3 & 4th Nov, and more people are arriving today.)
Cheer UP, Daddy!
We'll see you in 3 days! ;)

and his name shall be called

Elvis & i have finally decided on a name for our Elvis Junior! Papa is enjoying his suntanning in Bali now. When he's back in Singapore next month, we'll see our baby

The meaning of the name JOEL is God Will Be Willing.
Mummy is Jo, Daddy is Elvis, Baby is Joel.
Haha! Neat huh! ;)

baby horoscope

Just found this link on Baby Horoscope (click)
Heehee... Find your kid's and just read it for fun.
Our baby could be either a Sagittarius (like Mummy) or a Capricorn.

P.S. I also found this Astrology website to be rather intriguing.

our 31 weeks baby

Starting from now, my gynae appointments will be once every 2 weeks (instead of every 3 weeks). Really hope that the timings will not be screwed-up so often. Coz our appointments are almost always rescheduled at the very last minute. =[

I've put on 10kg
Baby: 1.7kg
Gynae Tham says we're both well-fed. Keke... ;)

Last night, i also experienced a very slight "contraction" at the upper part of my abdomen. But it was only for a few seconds. I'm not sure if it's Braxton Hicks (click) coz they're supposed to last about 30 seconds. Seems like this is the time when such contractions will start at 31 weeks (click to read more).

girlfriend 123

When Elvis & i first started dating, his other "girlfriends" would call him very often. They include Weiyang (his secondary school best pal) amongst some others guys...and his mother. When he started working, he had more "girlfriends" like Benson... I often tease him about his "girlfriends" coz he would always reserve "special nights" esp friday nights with them - clubbing at Zouk. Sometimes, i feel it's just too often. These "girlfriends" were my rivals, and "sure winners". His mother would also call him a few times a day. When he started working overseas in Bangkok & Shanghai, she would still call him everyday. She's also his "most-ONz" girlfriend coz she'll be at the airport without fail everytime he's back. And with teary eyes when he leaves.

Now that i'm back in Singapore (and Elvis comes over every month), we've been staying apart every time. He prefers to stay at home with his family and his most precious "girlfriend". His mother would always ask me WHY (even after Elvis told her). And my "excuses" for not staying over: uncomfortable for me to sleep without many many pillows, need to wake up to drink milk/eat/pee in the middle of the night. I usually only stay over on his last day in Singapore coz he always take the morning flight back to Shanghai. And i'll have to bring Squooshy every time.

As his current trip back will be the last before our baby arrives next month, i've asked him if he can stay over at my house. Coz he's back only 2-3 days max in Singapore (minus his Bali trip). And also becoz he arrives about 10pm, and we'll need to be at the gynae's at 11am the next morning. He said OK, but truth is, up till the time i went to the airport to fetch him, i wasnt sure if he'll keep his word. Also, i'll feel very "pai sei" to let his mother go home alone (for the first time).

Anyway, as usual, i would find a seat and read one of those free magazines while waiting for him to come out. His mother would be standing by the glass door 1 hour before - even before the plane lands. See, i'm not his best girlfriend! Heehee... ;p
(During his previous trip back, both his mother & i stood at different sides coz we didnt see each other...i waved at him when he collected his luggage at the belt AND as he walks over.... I was standing RIGHT IN FRONT of him at the glass door [distance of just 1 meter] and he didnt see me! He saw his mother first [distance of 2-3 meters]!!! I was a little sore about it coz i thought i looked more prominent with my big belly and cap. And...I'm THE WIFE!!! His reason...I was wearing white. Anyway...i was never the winner.)

When he finally came out (YES, he saw me this time), i asked him where's his mother coz i didnt see her. He had told her not to come coz he's staying over at my house. Frankly, it was a sigh of relief for me coz i wouldnt know how to answer her when she asks me again why i'm not staying over at their house. And now, i'm even dragging her precious son along with me! Phew... ;p

This was the 1st time i felt like a Winner! Heehee... ;)
Hmm...but maybe not for long coz when our baby arrives, Elvis will have another "girlfriend" vying for his attention. ;p

P.S. Just last week, Elvis said that he hasnt gone clubbing (in Singapore) for a while - partly coz his trips back are always quite rush. I said, "Your clubbing friends like Benson have become parents too!" HAHA! BUT BUT BUT, I wanna "complain" here that Elvis goes clubbing up to 3 times a month in Shanghai. That really have to REDUCE when baby is out, right??? ...And the supportive mothers say AMEN! Haha...

TO ANY SINGLE GIRLS OUT THERE:
If u find a boyfriend/husband who's born under the star sign Cancer (click)...u'll NEVER "win" his mother.