23 weeks: Kicking Month!

Throughout this month, I've started to feel Baby Yam's kicks/punches more prominent. From clueless to unsure to certainty. She will be more active during the day when I am working, and seldom disturb me when I am sleeping..Hope her sleeping pattern can continue in this way even after she has been brought to this world.

Baby Yam was seen to be sitting upright today, with her legs crossed. She was also sleeping when the gynae was doing the scan, but also gave a few hand stretches occasionally.  Heard her beating heartbeat going at 150bpm.

She is now weighing at 490g, considered at normal range but still slightly slimmer. Estimated average weight at 23rd week should be 500-600g. Gynae encouraged me to still eat more, especially foods like rice, beef, milk and durian (high protein) whereby baby can absorb better. Fast food like french fries only add weight to the mother more than benefiting the baby..Well..point taken

Now mummy's turn to update her own weight - I've gained about 4.4kg since the last scan. A bit more than the required increase, but can still continue to eat since baby needs more fattening up.

My EDD has been pushed to a much later date - 31 July 09.

Very happy to see Baby Yam today... Next visit shall be in another month's time again - before Dear's 30th Birthday! Hope she will give Dear a good kick to celebrate his birthday! hee...

Simple Contentment in Life

I find simple contentment in life, in all these many simple things in life...

Listenin' to an old familiar song on the radio.

Admirin' the evening skies after leaving work.

Breathin' the air from the natural trees and vegetation.

Findin' a hobby that I like.

Feelin' the baby living inside me.

Havin' hubby sayang my head when I am not feelin' well.

Enjoyin' the work that I am doing.

Talkin' everything under the sun with my loved ones.

Havin' a nice homecooked meal.

Watchin' a great movie

Havin' a great laugh

The Scrapbookin' Craze continues in us...

After our scrapbooking class last week, we continue to have that craze inside us and date each other for some "scrapbooking shoppin'!"

Our purchases

After walking through the Made with Love shop, we made a mental note of the prices and decided to pop over to Spotlight for a comparison. Of cuz Spotlight's stuffs can't be comparable to the atas and wide-variety shop, we decided to get some simple kits from Spotlight to start with... So we've got ourselves a Super Value scrapbookin' kit each that contains 3 pieces of patterned paper, alphabets, and other embellishments for only $5.95!! I know this kit can't bring me far, but think its a good start after our class. Also got myself some cardstock paper and cute stickers for baby's theme!

Probably shall start on my pregnancy photos and baby's scan for now, then when there are baby's photos I will proceed with an album for HER...

We both can't wait to start our hobby this weekend!!!

My 1st Scrapbooking Class: Just Getting Started

My colleague friend, NSL, jio-ed me for the basic scrapbooking class held @ Made with Love. Being interested with scrapbooking for quite some time, of cuz I said YES!

Anywae, the basic scrapbooking class - Just Getting Started will last 3.5 hours, is inclusive of all materials & a complimentary drink, cost only $35.Very worth it!

This is US!! - Hyper excited about our 1st scrapbooking class!

The instructor teaches us the type of materials and basic techniques, then go through a practical session with us, following a given template with the given colored papers and materials.

Us, getting busy...

My 1st proud piece of work (after adding the photos and journaling):

THEME: I LOVE The Way You LOVE Me
Photos: My 2 fav outdoor photoshoot

Following the 1st practical session, we are to choose our own papers and layout using the photos we brought along. I brought along my ROM photos thou it had been 4 years old liao

My 2nd proud piece of work:

THEME: Love Blooms
Photos: ROM photos (Monochrome)

Before adding journaling...

Complete Work!
After adding journaling...

A very nice piece of NSL's work (before journaling)

THEME: Bonjour
Photos: Her Europe trip with her bf

I am really gettin' hooked on to scrapbooking especially after taking up this basic scrapbooking course, cuz its really fun, especially with a fun partner learning together with me.. Contemplating to start one for my darling baby princess... But buying tools and materials-wise are pretty costly, so have to 适可而止...

DIY Popiah

Saw the documentary about handmade popiah skin on Ch 8 last night... Decided to go eat DIY Popiah today!

Dear recommended this "Good Chance Popiah" for our DIY Popiah dinner.

The ingredients:

Yam can cook (make popiah), So can U!

From Top Left to Right:

1. Lay out the popiah skin and put some minced garlic (if you like)
   
2. Spread the black sweet sauce (& chilli if you prefer spicy)
   
3. Put lettuce and tau geh
4. Put on the fillings (turnips and carrot)
5. Add the chinese sausages & sliced omelette
6. Sprinkle crushed peanut

Here's my (not his) resulting DIY popiah, cuz his broke once finishing wrapping..haha!
I really enjoyed this DIY Popiah dinner very much! It's delicious, filling and satisfying, especially having this first-time experience together with Dear!

Antenatal Lesson 2: Pain Relief

Monday 23 March 2009:

Lesson 2
Pain Relief	• Antenatal Exercise • Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation • Changes in Pregnancy Leading to Signs & Symptoms of Labour • Other Alternative Types of Pain Relief in Labour • Instructional Video • Q & A

When I was watching the video on the women who are in distress when in contractions, and the various methods of pain relief available to them, I was suddenly afraid (again). Afraid the moment when I have to face the pain (there are too many real life stories being told to me), especially its my first time... Its quite scary to be facing the unknown and the unforseen, you know?

Many people also told me that whatever breathing techniques you learnt beforehand, you will forget everything when the contractions come.. I will TRY to remember what the instructor has taught us in this lesson and TRY to apply when the need arises - Deep Breathing to relax the muscles, the Panting technique when in contractions.

Oh there's this idiotic and irritating guy who is the husband of one of the coursemate, who is really childish! When the instructor wants us to relax and imagine us at the seaside, to imagine the sea waves and sea breeze, tat stupid guy try to imitate the sound of the waves and the breeze, and blow air onto his wife's face. HE IS DISTRACTING ME LOR!!! I can't concentrate when he keeps making all these stoopid noises!!! I almost want to ask him to stop doing that...

Well, I shall worry about the pain and the fear when the time comes. But I will think its all worth it, to bring my little Princess to this world

Antenatal Lesson 1 - Physical & Mental Preparation

Saturday 21 Mar 2009:

Today Papa & Mama Yam went to attend our 1st antenatal lesson conducted by Parentcraft Centre (TMC) and the course outline for the 1st lesson is:

Lesson 1
Physical & Mental Preparation	• Antenatal Exercise • Nutrition Before & After Delivery • Myths & Traditions • Coping with Pregnancy Discomfort • Back Care & Postures • Instructional Video • Q & A

The antenatal exercise is conducted on the floor mats, with the hubbies involved.. Its such a funny sight seeing big men doing the exercises with us, learning how to massage us, learning how to pick the pregnant wives up from the floor etc. The famous instructor - Mrs Wong Boh Boi (her classes are always fully booked) also seems to be someone who wants the hubbies to be more involved in their wives' pregnancy, also taught them how to talk to the babies correctly.

The correct way should be in proper sentences:

• "How are you today Baby?" (use general term instead of their names/indicating their gender in case the identity is wrong)

• "Daddy is very busy today." (then next time baby will find it familiar when daddy keeps saying he's busy..haha..)

• "Let me sing you a song" (do not sing too long..cuz baby will fall asleep..haha).

• "Daddy loves you. Daddy is going to sleep now. Goodnight Baby" (or "Good morning Baby" when wake up in the morning)"

instead of any babylish talk like:

• " Ah grr grr baby..."
• "Ah goo goo..."

LOL! Mrs Wong says that babies are very clever. Do not underestimate their inteliigence and abilities to understand what we are saying so do not say those improper words/sentences.

She also taught the hubbies how to interact with the baby inside by tapping on the wives' tummy in a rhythmic pace (Up-Down-Side-Side), and the Butterfly strokes.. so ticklish!! Hahaha.. I kept giggling and can't stay still leh... It is especially funny when Mrs Wong asked the class if the babies are moving once after the hubbies do the stroking, almost all the wives say "No!" That's so hilarious! The hubbies are not doing their job well enough, I guess. Also not sure whether my hubby will continue to do that after learning from the lesson..

The antenatal exercise portion is the only interactive session of the class, and the rest of the class tends to bore Papa Yam. No choice lor. Its like that one. I think the subsequent lessons will be more informative to us.

After the class ends, we saw a rainbow admist the red evening skies behind the car park! So excited! I always like seeing rainbows cuz I feel lucky seeing them! Then I will make a wish (as usual)