What You Got...

Hi Baby,

Your moses basket covers from the tailor are currently washed and hung out to dry, beautiful cloudless blue sky today, so they should dry pretty quick. The covers are really nice, mommy chose one colour and daddy chose the other. It looks more modern, thanks to your grandma mata-mata for the materials, I wonder if she even remembered them... probably when she sees it, heh...

Unpacked the stuff Auntie Lin got you, a co sleeper bed and seven newborn onesies.

Mommy picked up a parcel yesterday from Auntie Jenny from Australia and she got you four sets of outfits, whether you can wear them will depends whether baby is a boy or a girl, hehehe... she also included a teether for you, a set of soft brush and come meant for baby, storage bowls, and some outfits for mommy.

Auntie Elaine came back from the philippines with an outfit from her boyfriend William, he bought you this really nice onesie, only trouble is when mommy had another look at it, it's meant for premie babies, and you're anything but premature when you're out. It's ok, we'll hang on to it, never know when it'll come in handy.

Mommy got given nipple pads and maternity pads, makes me wonder how many do I need...

The other day mommy and daddy thought we'll have a look around for milk bags to stock up, but we only found one box and we didn't pick that up because we're not sure what sort of price range we should be looking at.

All your diapers are washed and ready for use.

Your baby stuff for the hospital is already packed, I just need to toss in your towel and soap as well.

I think all of mommy's stuff is packed except for the toiletries bag, I realise would also need to pack for grandma's too since we'll be staying there for a while.

Yesterday, whole day, was experiencing what I come to recognise as contractions. Enough to be uncomfortable but not enough to render me unmovable. Had a filling dinner of pasta and lamb, and Auntie Fel is over for the weekend for Ucu's birthday thing.

Mommy is just waiting for another load of laundry to finish before locking myself up in the studio to finish off orders, determined to finish them off today. We also have a 1 year old birthday party to head to later in the afternoon, bought a diaper cake from Auntie Nadia, which reminds me have to make a birthday card to go with that present....

Love,

Mommy

37 Weeks Ante Natal Visit, EC! & Bras

Hi Baby,

I think mommy gained another 2kg again, cos the scale said 86.5kg *roll eyes*... Let's not think about that even though I'm throwing up half of my meals anyway and yet somehow still gain, to say it's all you makes it scary cos I'll have to push that whole weight out! To say it's on me would suck cos my shoes are tight enough as they are and to add on to that?! I really seriously thought I could get through this pregnancy without much gain, haha! Well, considering I am at the home stretch so it's not too bad non the less.

Usual basic routine with the nurse, and we talked about giving birth and the various stories we heard. I think I'm one of the few mom-to-bes who actually joke around with the nurses cos we'd crack up during consultations, hahaha!

Over the weekend, mommy stumbled on something called 'Elimination Communication' and am excited with the concept. In other words, potty training for infants. You're going to learn how to use the potty as soon as you're out! I'm not sure how I'm going to do that in the hospital setting but definitely within your first week old, you're going to go at least once on the 'potty'. 0-6 months old is the best age to potty train you, get you used to going on cue, saves us from having to diaper change often and cleaning, better understanding and communication with you, overall a happier baby and us!

We'll talk more on EC when you're around, in the mean time mommy is doing a lot of reading on this. Oh, I got asked aren't I suppose to be reading up on labour instead, I think I already read up on that when we were at 6th month, and in the end no matter how prepared you are, every experience of every birth are all different. So, as long as the hospital bag is packed and everything essential needed is in it we're doing ok.

Your Auntie Lin bought you a bunch of stuff, have yet to look through to see what you got, maybe in the next few days nearer the weekend. But I did see she got you a co sleeper thing, yay!

Monday was energy day and instead of going back home and coming back to pick up daddy, mommy decided to pop by the nearest shopping area to pick up a few more stuff, mainly under things. I thought at first I'll just get them all at Mothercare, but I got annoyed with the lack of service I left and headed over to another place where I knew at least I'll get better service, and this is when I'm a great consumer, because I like the service I ended up buying several hundreds worth... three times more than what I orginally planned, but it's ok. The brand of nursing bras I got were pricy but I was happy with the fit and the choices available. And your Ucu is getting me a nursing tank which I figured would be great for night time feeding. And mommy got VIP discount there anyway so it's pretty good. Last time I was there was to donate all my old bras so they can send them to other mommies or ladies who couldn't afford even decent bras, great way to make space in the underwear drawer, I couldn't believe how many bras I had that I don't really wear. Some never worn at all. So hopefully since I plan on nursing you for at least two years, I wouldn't need any new underthings for a while.

Love,

Mommy

It's Here!

Hi Baby,

Hahaha! The prefolds had arrived! Your Kakak Wiyah brought them over this evening. We tried it out, took one of daddy's teddy and diapered it. Never realised how small baby is going to be... Well, as long as they'll last at least the three months of having to constantly change you, I'm ok.

The snappis were interesting. I never realised how small it was too, they look huge in the pictures, it did what it's suppose to do, and it was dead easy to use! Macam nada so to speak. All I need now is to teach the various people how to use them.

Personally this is still all new, so I figured after changing you for a dozen times at least we all would get the hang of using cloth diapers. Got covers too so that should do it.

Daddy can't understand why we still need to get disposables, but it's only for hospital use, once we leave, cloth all the way baby. Hehehe...

Kakak Wiyah and I tried out the sling, I think we got it, it came with instructional DVD, will check that out to make sure using it right. Daddy isn't convinced, he'll be using the one we got from Singapore, I plan on using the sling for home so I can carry you around easily.

If the weather is good tomorrow will be the first wash for the prefolds, and dry, and wash, and dry, and wash, and dry, and one more wash, and dry before they're ready for use.

Dropped off materials and moses basket covers to the tailor this afternoon, hopefully they'll be able to make duplicates for the basket covers.

Right baby, daddy is out for the evening and mommy got to finish off books in studio. Rest well.

Love,

Mom

My Innie Is Now An Outie!

Hi Baby,

Mommy just noticed my belly button, it has now officially became an outie and apparently I have a mole in my belly button... In your case, you have the umbilical cord attached to it and that's your feeding tube for everything. You're pretty much like an astronaut in the womb... in a very tight space... which is now squeezing you once in a while... and next thing you know, you got squeezed out!

Hello world.

Love,

Mommy

Ps, then they cut your cord and you have to learn how to eat and breathe using your mouth and nose. After a while, few days to a couple of weeks, whatever's left of your cord that was still attached to your belly dries up and falls off and you have a belly button. Whether it's going to be an innie or an outie has yet to be known....

Prefolds!

Dear Baby,

I know it's weird but mommy is excited that your newborn prefold diapers will be arriving tonight! ...so says your Ma'Ngah... I ordered 2 dozen worth so that is enough for two days, meaning mommy and daddy will only have to do diaper laundry every other day, hehe... and it should include snappis! That's the alternative to diaper pins. Can't wait to try them out. Apparently I read I need to prestretch them so the elastic will have a 'memory' to return back to shape. Either way, I thought it was a cool invention when I saw it online. And hopefully as well the cotton sling I wanted, am hoping it's in the solid colour so it's easy to carry you around and it won't be hot for you.

In the mean time, mommy been cleaning house today and even did things which I've been putting off for ages... like mending some clothes... and tomorrow, am planning to go to a tailor to make more covers for the moses basket.

Time to make the bed.

Love,

Mommy

Full Term Baby

Hi Baby,

Today was the 36th week appointment, 37 weeks in a few days, met the doctor, not that there was any new development, she just meassured the fundus height and listened to your heartbeat, told me it's considered full term already, anything happens go straight to the labour ward. That was it. No questions of is there anything I'd like to know? or other information I'm suppose to know. Nothing. Made me think I get more information from the nurses than I do with her...

After that the nurse took me aside and explained to me about having to keep track of your movement and chart it. It says there must be at least 10 baby movements within 12 hours. If there are less than 10 in 12 hours, labour ward.

Annoyingly enough, mommy gained another 2kg since two weeks ago! that's 4kg in a month! Aaarrgghhh!! Surely you can't be taking in that much are you? My fruits and milk plan didn't pan out so well, was out of fruits and for some reason cakes started coming into the house from both of your grandmothers. I think it's time for a food diary again.

Oh, blood works came in, first time ever hemo count was up, 10.4! Woo hoo! I think that's a cause for celebration right? More oxygen for you and me.

Last night, cleaned the master bathroom. Today, will clean the other bathroom.

This weekend, daddy and I will have to do all the shopping that we need to do. Matress protector, your diapers, my pads, wipes, snack foods to go into bag, nursing bras, on top of the usual groceries list.

Last Sunday, we had brunch with Grandma Lambak and your Pa'Ngah and Ma'Ngah. Your Ma'Ngah said to me, to let Grandma take care of mommy after you're out, because I'll need it. She site herself as an example, she didn't listen, did what she wanted to do, and now she's only in her 40s and she can feel it, you got 6 cousins from them. Well, seems like mommy will be with grandma for a month after birth... said to daddy, we won't have to wash the nappies for a while at least, the amah will be doing that, heh... but must tell amah how to wash nappies, softeners are a no-no.

Now it's weekly visits to the clinic until it's time to go hospital...

Love,

Mommy

Mommy at 36 weks

Mommy at 36 weeks!

Hi Baby,

See that bump mommy's cradling? That's you in there. At last check you weighed about 2.4kg at 34 weeks. Wonder how much bigger are you now... Figured it's about time mommy take the pregnant photo. Some other mommies take pictures of their growing tummy every month, I suppose I could do that too but it just never happen. The one thing I'd really like to do is the belly casting, so a few more weeks and going to put plaster all over!

Today Auntie Wina came with a box of goodies one of our friend gave to mommy for you. She gave three months supply of nappy liners, two baby sleeper bags, and a baby seat which I've yet to figure out.

We also picked up a changing table Auntie Nadia lent for you to use, so that will be with us for a couple of years until she has her next baby. Decided to put it in the playroom, meaning I'd have to rearrange the room now.

I picked up two more nappy trial packs small size as well for you, so your nappies comes to a total of ten! Enough for one day usage... I still want to get prefolds for you, as it's easier to use for newborns. I don't know when since I would have to get them online...

Love,

Mommy