ouch!

I think being a well-informed mother is not easy. My sis just reminded me to start looking for a paediatrician now...and all the necessary injections the baby has to take before we return to Shanghai (probably by April'08).

I just did a search... Here's just some of the necessary jabs:


Okay, so perhaps gotta ask around for a good baby doctor...
I wonder if this KidsLink (click) is good since they have a branch near me.

Here's another useful link on Childhood Illnesses (click).
I'm starting to think i'll be quite hopeless in being a 'Mom'.

see ya

Yeah!!! I'll see Elvis tonight! He's arriving about 10pm! ;)

But now, i'm feeling a bit "lost" and a bit "xian"...maybe coz i've got a few errands to run today. Better leave the house earlier...but no mood to get changed too... Okok, dont think too much, better get my butt off this chair first.

Elvis, see u later! ;D

blogger dad

Elvis has a blog which he hardly ever update. A while ago, i was so bored i decided to click on his and see if there's anything...(eg photos of girlfriends).

To my surprise (!!!), he wrote quite a few entries - from the last time i saw it a few months ago. Hai...but it's always in Chinese that i duno how to read... Even if he writes about knowing any new chicks, i wouldnt know too... =(

I tried reading from the top about his New York "hiccup"...and it took me a loooong time. I continued reading the Sept entry about Beijing...and finally gave up after a few sentences. Arrgh... I will continue next time.

He's coming back to Singapore on Mon night, but leaving on Wed to attend a wedding in Bali. So techinically, it's only ONE day. Then it's another few more days before going back to Shanghai. Hai...

caesarian

Haha...this is sooo funny! ;p

retro retro

A friend was just talking to me about those vintage Casio games...and i could remember how much we used to enjoy playing them when we were young. Some of those that i always play is this Puppy Garden (it's for GIRLS!!!), Parachuter, Firemen, Monkey (or was it called Donkey Kong), Popeye and the all-time-favourite Western Bar.

My 2 boy cousins had A LOT of these 'Game & Watch' handhelds (coz they were always competing who have more of everything), so we could always borrow from them. We didnt have to fight over who plays with what. And since we were a family of all-girls, we were happy playing with our Barbie dolls too. Now, it's tempting to buy these retro handhelds again...but they dont come cheap at online auctions.

In fact, Elvis left his PSP with me, but i find it too "high-tech". Haha! I'll rather play those "no-brainer games" actually. A few weeks ago, i bought a mini Nintendo keyring/game for 'Parachuter' (with the same graphics as the olden version) at Taka...had so much fun...then it was spoilt within a week!!! I don't have the receipt, hence it's a goner. Sob sob... =(
P.S. A few years ago, they also came up with the same mini Nintendo games (but in not-so-retro-games) and I bought it too then. It lasted for a while longer. I think it sucks to make something like that - totally useless if it's not even "lasting"! Bluff peoples' money!

Click here to play WESTERN BAR online
(Graphics slightly different, music totally different, and it's more difficult to control than the regular handheld)

baby's snoozzzing

Click on link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaNQoVU-hGM

Seems like baby moves around a lot about 2+pm everyday, and also at night from 9+pm onwards till I go to bed. He hiccups sometimes too. ;)

more online shopping

Look what just arrived in the mail! Arent they cute? I couldnt resist buying them. Best socks designs ever - esp for little girls. ;)
(Who's the lucky girl who'll be getting this! Keke!)

10 more weeks

Yes, we're counting down now!

SOON?
"10 weeks" sounds like pretty short a period, so is "70 days"...but carrying baby inside for another 2.5 MONTHS seems looong for me. I'm also afraid we might be running short of time (coz days & weeks flies)...so maybe gotta get most things ready soon - while i still have the energy. Hmm...but what else is there to prepare???

SLEEP PATTERN
Lately, i have been sleeping about 1-3am (which was my usual bedtime before i was pregnant). I'm wondering if my sleep pattern now will affect the baby in future. (I hope not!)

BABY MOVEMENTS
Baby is moving so much more now too. Sometimes it's very ticklish when it's at the sides (like someone jabbing at your waist playfully). But i heard that it gets worse (when there's no more room to move) - to the extend of the jabbing being PAINFUL! Ouch!
Baby, please be gentle. Mummy is not very huge, and has a small uterus and thin layer of fats/skin... Daddy is coming in 1 week, so please be patient. We'll see him soon. ;)

FICKLE-MINDED & kiasu MUMMY
O ya, i've also decided to get just ONE of the cloth diaper to try. Just in case baby really gets nappy rash from my laziness/unwillingness to wash shitty nappy...and i'll probably feel guilty (with my newly-developed maternal instincts). Here's the colour i picked! Hope baby looks good in it. ;)

minis

Yesterday's supper was a box of minis from "Puter Rimas" at Suntec City (instead of the usual Donut Factory). I dont know how to spell it, but will update the correct link soon. Not bad! And petite-sized is good too (each one is about 5-6cm). Not so jer-lak.

wooo

Just when i thought i was through with cloth diapers/covers, i saw these... WOW! What pretty colours!

Hmm...i was just looking at Noah's Mummy blog (under 'Tried & Tested'), and i saw this link to maternity/nursing clothes. I havent bought "real maternity clothes" other than a few under the Topshop Maternity range. I just made do with my bigger/free-sized clothes, or by buying bigger sizes when i cannot resist shopping. Actually, this (local) website's stuff dont come cheap either...but i have to say that the nursing tops are really ingenious! Design/style-wise...err i might not wear them after i stop nursing and/or get rid of the extra pounds (namely the fat butt). So maybe i shouldnt waste any money on nursing tops - esp at a "crucial time" like this when we've spent sooo much $ already on all the baby prep stuff. ;p

Actually, i also think that i might not breastfeed in public too. When in Shanghai, travelling is usually by taxi, and since our house is conveniently located in town, i think it's ok to just pop home whenever "the need" arise! I'll probably just settle the leakage with breast pads! Haha! I also cannot imagine pumping milk in the filthy & smelly toilets! I think it's difficult to find nursing rooms in Shanghai - even in nice nice departmental stores/malls. For this reason, i've also given up the idea of buying this really good thermal bag that works like a fridge! (For mummies who pump breastmilk outdoors, click on it). Hmm...at the most, we'll just go out for a while. ;)

I hope our new life with baby will be fun & colourful - like a rainbow! Must try to visualize harder.

P.S. O ya, i'll tag Noah's Mummy's wonderful Singapore Nursing Rooms List here. Her blog is sooo informative that i always forget "what is where". Just realised that Noah has a camo bean sprout pillow too...and i'm glad to read that IT WORKS! Haha!

the disposables

On the same topic again... Elvis & i decided to just stick to disposable diapers since we both know nuts about cloth diapers. He read my blog, but he also didnt know it was so "advanced" that some of the text has links! Eg. > click here. So he was even more blur than me after reading. Haha... ;p

Then again, even buying disposable diapers is in itself a "big knowledge". I did a search and found a poll results (click).

His colleagues told him that Huggies is good, but i'm not sure if those sold in China are the same as in Singapore, so maybe we'll have to try out a few brands before deciding which one suits our little one's bottom more. With minimal nappy rash too. If anyone has any brand/style recommendations, do let us know.

Okay, 1 problem down. Dont need to order the cloth diapers online (and headache about the colours/style/size). Just need to buy 1 pack from the supermarket. Haha... ;)

shit!

Now that the baby's arrival draws nearer, i sometimes wonder how prepared are we (and/or am i) about looking after the baby - esp in the first weeks. Something that has been bugging me is diapering. Most people would suggest CLOTH Diapering - to ease the baby of nappy rash. Sounds like what a responsible mother would do...but I just cannot imagine washing the cloth diapers...n imagine the yucky stuff that STICKS on it! YUCKS! YUCKS! YUCKS!...and YUCKS!

Months ago (when I was still in Shanghai, and my mind wasnt even tuned to being a 'Mother' yet - least think about diapers), my sister gave me this website that sells my-current-nightmare cloth diapers. I wasnt interested in them (of course), so i didnt really bother to look into it other than the nice colours they carry (esp not about the "advantages" of cloth diapering). Frankly, i didnt know the difference. I only know Pampers = can throw = dont need to wash = convenience (but still yucks!).


Now that i only have a few months left to decide on the options, i kinda freaked out at the thought. Hmm... I took a look at them today, and realised that these "modern cloth diapers" not only come in attractive colours and designs, they are supposed to be comfortable, easy to wash, and save money too! In fact, there's as many as 10 Great Reasons (note: not just 'Good' okay). Somewhere on the website, it even says one can save up to S$1500/year on disposable diapers by using cloth diapers!!! WOW!!! But i really wouldnt know if it's true coz i dont know how much shit & urine a baby has.

Anyway, i browsed through some of the pages, and am pretty attracted to some of the coloured diapers. BUT the prices certainly dont come cheap too!!! It's S$25 EACH DIAPER!!! And just how many pieces is enough to hold all of the baby's shit & urine for the day/week/month/months??? Still need to consider about the diapers being in the wash, right??? What about sizing??? Too big...the shit will LEAK OUT!!! Too small...it wont fit, and waste $ already lor.

Ok, keep my cool... They have 5 Special Packages (i love discounts)... but the cheapest is still a whooping S$156 (after an 8% discount)!!! That's only for 4 diapers + 10 inserts. WAH!!! Still need to buy the "extras" eg. nappy liners at $5.50/box of 50. How many boxes then enough huh???

Being a kiasu Singaporean, i like to see/follow what's popular...and their best-seller (Package B) is S$229 for 6 diapers + 15 inserts (a mere 10% discount for an additional TWO diapers!!!). I really dont know how to do the maths...
(And FYI, the the most expensive Package E is S$527 a 15% discount for 15 diapers + 35 inserts! That's out of the question paying sooo much for diapers!!!)

So can really save $$$$ or not???
I think i'm going crazy soon thinking about all this shit!
Dont tell me the crap about being a responsible mother now!

Elvis, HELP!
Your maths is better & since u are paying for them too!
Can u decide what baby is going to use? Disposable diaper OR cloth diaper?

boy-to-man

Yday, i went to Holland Village with 2 friends and we saw a few shops selling "discounted" US kids labels such as Carters/Child of Mine, Pumpkin Patch, Gymboree, babyGap etc.

There's sooo many nice clothes for baby girls! Almost 90% of the shop are girls' stuff! I'm so envious! If u have a girl, u'll be spoilt for choice...only need to worry about not enough $ to buy. Kekee... ;p

I bought this cute Pumpkin Patch brown camo hooded jacket (tagged 6-12 months). Baby can wear it during autumn/winter in Shanghai and look as cute as Daddy. I guess the price is at least doubled in US. I paid only S$25 for it (the tag is intact too). Good deal? ;)


P.S. There was another with the same camo print with text 'ROCK STAR'. I liked it more, but stocks are for 3-6 months babies only. And Singapore's so hot huh...how to act cool?? Kekee...

this got to be the best

My nephew Xan introduced me to this yummylicious thing!
Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk

If u luuurrrvvveee chocolate as much as us (make it a double or triple chocolate), u'll know what we're feeling when it melts in the mouth! Of course must chew this also lah. HURRY! Must try!

mom's a fast food junkie

I've been eating quite a bit of fast food - partly coz it's convenient. McDonalds Filet-O-Fish, Double-Cheese burger, McNuggets, fries, chocolate sundae; KFC Meltz, chicken (has to be Original), Cheese Fries (so sinful)...and the must-have cola.

I wonder if baby will love all these food next time. Sure are my fav - anytime! ;p

Just happen to get this link via email too:
Calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) here

sun with moon?

Realised that i didnt take much photos (of myself) when pregnant - i mean when i really got huge. The last was in August at Bintan at 19 weeks when baby was only 300grams. So i brought my camera out yday on my date with Janis, Josefyne & Celine.

We went to Sun with Moon Japanese Restaurant at Central ©. It was an alfresco lunch (facing the "new" Clarke Quay) so it was quite lovely sitting there on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

We were out till after dinner at Lai Lai Beef Noodles followed by desserts at Ah Chew Desserts, but we only took these 2 shots!

Should have taken pictures of all the yummy food too. Haha... Pretend we were tourists. ;p

P.S. My big-&-round-as-a-ball tummy is not in the camera's view.

minimalist hotel

I spoke to Elvis this morning, and he was complaining about the lousy hotel he's in. He said it's very very bare - only a bed, TV and the smallest table one can imagine with a telephone on it. Haha! NO couch, table etc. Made me wonder if it's as "basic" as the Japan hotels we stayed in.

He said the most ridiculous part is, it's US$300/night and the staff knows nothing! I am thinking either he's too pampered with nice hotels on all business trips or this one really sucks. I believe it's a bit more of the former. Kekee... ;p

But when i called his hotel, they also didnt ask me for the guest's name (before connecting to his room). Hmm... Anyway, hope his work will go smoothly, and there's time for play too! And... i'll see him in 2 weeks! ;)

UPDATED ON 16 Oct:
I just did a search on the hotel coz I was once again "pissed" by the operator's nonchalant attitude... Hmm...only found some exterior pix of the hotel - which looks very modern (nice!). But none of the rooms(??). Elvis said if they showed the rooms, no one will stay there at all! There's not even a cupboard to hang his shirts! He bought some fruits and no place to put them at all! No place to sit also! He has to eat them on the bed! Haha! That's BAD!
And the rates are from US$349-399. Gosh!

papa in NY

Elvis just called me! He's finally reached his hotel in NY - after 7 hours stuck in transit at Chicago airport. He didnt sleep on board (despite Business Class seats??) so he's got to rest now. O ya, it's 3AM over there.

I'm missing him so much already. Nite Nite!

kiss me not

I was just told of today's news that "Over the last three months, more than 20 million toys made in China have been recalled, mostly due to the use of lead paint... "

TWENTY MILLION!
TOYS!
MADE IN CHINA!

Elvis & i will probably freak out since we'll live in Shanghai - at least for the next few years - during baby's early years.

Hmmm...but then again, even upmarket brands in the US dont necessarily meet the protocol (for having lead in lipsticks!!!). And who would have thought of that?? I guess as Singaporeans, we feel "safer" with stuffs made locally. That's why i bought the baby teether etc yesterday coz it's from a reputable locally-made brand. Now, i'm beginning to worry about the cot we'll have to buy eventually from Shanghai! Hmm...safe or not??? BUT we already have lots of baby stuffs to lug back leh... Sure overweight big time. Elvis said not to worry coz he have SQ "priority status". But still need to worry about loading all the stuffs onto the small taxi boot...and unloading too. Headache man... ={

Kiasu & Paranoid Mom. ;p

bazaar sale

I just came back from the Metro Expo Sale. The hall was quite big, and i didnt really get to see everything (partly coz i had to rush home). Anyway, when i took out all the stuff from the HUGE plastic bag, i realised that almost everything is NOT mine!

I bought some tops for my sis and some baby items - fleece blanket, washcloths, teether, rattle (i couldnt resist another one esp when it's so cheap), 3 rompers, a 7-day bib set (babies need as many as possible, right???). I spent more than $100, and out of it, only a $5 bedroom slipper is mine! Haha! This is really rare for Shopping Queen. But the truth is, i kinda could skip the clothing section coz it wouldnt fit me anyway, and i didnt need any shoes for now.

I was very tempted to get a $15 bathtub (the type with a "rest" for the baby's body) and a $6 TweetyBird potty, but my friend said it was too early for that! Heehee...so much for Ganjiong Mummy. ;p

P.S. Anyone who's interested to pop down to the sale, it's ON till 14 Oct, 10pm. The Lingerie section is really huge (an awful lot of bras!!!) . So is the Children clothes/shoes section. Most of the Ladies clothes are outdated, so u can probably give that a miss - unless you wanna get "home clothes" like singlet & shorts etc, they are really cheap. Home section very extensive - some really nice white square/rectangle porcelain plates, lots of bedlinen & towels.
Might be worth a trip!