31 Weeks Pregnant

I haven't been updating. Really surprised to realize that it has been 11 weeks since the time I did an update on Baby Jadelyn's progress!

Here she is, taken from a few weeks ago at 26 weeks. She already has rather chubby cheeks! looking at this ultrasound scan photo makes me want for time to quickly pass by so that I can meet her face to face and finally get to stroke her cheeks! She was approximately 900g then.

Our last visit to the gynae's was last Sunday, when I was exactly 31 weeks pregnant. Baby Jadelyn weighs approximately 1.6kg (3lbs 6oz). Gynae told us that she is a little on the small side, but if she is active and growing, we do not need to worry about anything. I guess she didn't really like the Mao Shan Wang ice creams, Korean cuisine, buffets and whatever junk food I was having over the past few weeks then, because much of the weight gain goes to me! 

Her movements are so much more pronounced right now. There were times when she would literally make waves across my tummy! I enjoy watching her move so much and everytime she does that, I would try to imagining how she looks like in there and wonder what amuses her. It is also a lot easier for me to feel where her head, feet and spine are located because she is in the breech position and always kicks REALLY low. When I feel her head, I will touch her gently there and she responses to my touch by moving some more which is really amazing to watch...

It's A Girl!

FINALLY! We went for our Week 20 detailed scan at TMC yesterday and found out Little Bub's gender. We are having a little Princess! And her name will be Jadelyn Ng. :) Hubby Ng and I are definitely really excited about her arrival come October. Only another 20 weeks to go!

Little Jadelyn was very cooperative throughout the entire detailed scan. She's such a great baby! The sonographer was expecting us to take 25 minutes to complete the scan, but because she was so cooperative, we took less than 10 minutes! I was told that she turned when she had to, and stayed still enough at certain points for measurements to be taken. At 20 weeks she weighs 310g, 10g heavier than the average 20-week old.

Thanksgivings:

- For a healthy, active baby girl!

Little Bub's First BabyPlus Experience (and Random Stuff)

Little Bub and I tried out BabyPlus for the very first time last night. I have been telling Bub that mommy's bought something interesting and Bub seems to fully understand this, for the moment I placed BabyPlus on my tummy, Bub's been DANCING in there! Ha ha! 

There are 16 lessons in total, pre-programmed in the BabyPlus device. The recommended gestation age to start using for is from Week 18 onwards. I am like 3 days late, but I guess the difference is negligible. With around 150 days left to my due date, I use this figure to divide by the 16 lessons, giving me 9 days per lesson, all the way till I deliver! I can't wait to start on the upcoming lessons and I am sure Little Bub is too. 

I am excited to meet this little BabyPlus baby of mine in October. :)

I Survived The M)phosis Sale!

There was the M)phosis sale which started yesterday with everything going on 50%-70% discount. I don't know what prompted me to step into the Vivo outlet last night, but I did! I was never keen in M)phosis items but I guess the prices were too good to miss. Well, I managed to get an abosolutely gorgeous black little number (at a steal!!) that will fit me really well in another month or two. Perfect for those night outs and wedding dinners. Oh, and a nice hobo shoulder bag too.

Little Bub's Response to Loud Noises

This morning, Hubby Ng accidentally slammed the bedroom door when I was still lounging in bed. A second after the noise from the slammed door, I felt a big jump in my tummy. Little Bub was startled! Not sure if it was the first time for Bub, but it definitely was a first time for me, feeling that jump! I thought that was really cute although I definitely wouldn't want any more of this startling.

A Stuffed-Up Thursday

Not having a very good day. But thank God tomorrow is a Public Holiday and I am able to have some rest as my pregnancy rhinits (nasal congestion) is getting quite severe. It came back all of a sudden since yesterday after it disappeared in the 1st trimester. I am finding it difficult to breath and drinking water feels like suffocation as while swallowing, I can't breath. It is that bad. Really hope that it goes away soon and never comes back!

BabyPlus!

On a happier note, I am having a BabyPlus baby! Yay~ 

"The BabyPlus curriculum is a series of 16 naturally derived sounds that resemble a mother's heartbeat. The rhythm of the sounds increases incrementally as the pregnancy progresses. The BabyPlus sonic pattern introduces your child to a sequential learning process, built upon the natural rhythms of their own environment.

This "auditory exercise" strengthens learning ability during the developmental period when the advantages will be most significant and enduring for a child. BabyPlus is the first educational tool designed for prenatal use that has been proven effective. BabyPlus children have an intellectual, developmental, creative, and emotional advantage from the time they are born." - Taken from www.babyplus.com

Interesting yeah? I bought this pre-loved set from a very nice mummy (to newborn twin girls!!) this afternoon and I can't wait to start the educational bonding session with Little Bub later this evening. :) I know Bub's excited because he/she has been very active ever since I said I'm gonna buy it!

18 Weeks

Little Bub's 18 weeks and 4 days today, and getting more active with each passing day tumbling around in my tummy, dancing, jumping on my bladder and perhaps thumb-sucking! 

I have 9 more days left till the Detailed Scan and I am practically bursting with excitement! The names for Little Bub are prepared and ready, just waiting for the big reveal on the gender. Hubby Ng is really sweet about it too, as he speaks to my tummy everyday, telling Little Bub to be good and doesn't matter if it is a boy or a girl, Daddy will love him/her very, very much! I can't wait to start calling Little Bub by the given name.

Thanksgiving:

- For a really wonderful Week 18 experience with Little Bub.

- For getting BabyPlus from such a wonderful lady at a great price.

A Mother-To-Be's Woes...

I never knew how tiring having a baby is till I am having one myself. 

Sleep:

First of all, sleep never seems enough, even with a full 8 hours spent in bed. 25% of that time is spent waking up for no reason whatsoever and trying to get back to sleep; 10% is spent tossing, turning, changing positions and getting up to pee; another 10% trying to fathom if Little Bub's comfy in his/her watery world and trying to feel for the movements. Little wonder that every morning, I wake up feeling like I had only slept for slightly more than 4 hours.

Food & Drinks:

Another woe of mine is in the F&B arena. What are good for Little Bub may not be what I like to eat or can get very conveniently. What I love to drink, in this case Iced Tea, is definitely not good for Little Bub. And I can no longer decide that I want to have coffee every morning to take me out of my zombie-like state; I can't waltz into a Japanese restaurant and order a decadent-looking plate of salmon sashimi; I can't step into Ya Kun or Toast Box to enjoy some simple soft-boiled eggs; I definitely can't have a single drop of that golden straw-coloured Hoegaarden from the fridge that keeps calling out my name!!

The (Busted) Myth About 2nd Trimester:

Whoever said it gets easier during the 2nd trimester must have been a man. Things are not any easier for me... Some of the irritating symptoms like queasiness and cramps have gone, and I have a whole new set of signs and wonders to deal with! I get tired more easily, breathless more easily, hungry more easily, fall ill more easily. Sleep is never enough, air-con not cold enough. I have to walk with my back slightly arched and my ballooning middle protruding, leading to backaches. I have to deal with my hips expanding as well as escalating heart rate. On top of everything else, I drink like a camel, pee like a horse and eat like a cow. It's final, I am busting this myth!

Thanksgiving For Little Things in Life

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Looking back on the past few months since I found out my pregnancy, I have been contemplating a lot lately. There are so many little bits and pieces of life that I have to thank God for and I sometimes take them for granted when I don't look hard enough for them. Simple things like being able to bear a child for Hubby Ng, good blood test and scan results during the Oscar Test and the ability to feel Little Bub moving and kicking a lot earlier than I had initially expected.

So I have decided to include little "Thanksgivings" at the bottom of my entries. I am excited to see where this would lead to as I consciously search out His goodness on a daily basis.

Thanksgiving:

- For having such a supportive and loving husband.

Little Bub's First Fashion Statement

Lord, forgive us for we have shopped,

And bought quite a lot,

Diapers and inserts made of cloth,

For our future Little Bub springing forth!

They are so colourful and nice,

That Hubby Ng and I paid the price.

We are very sure that they will fit,

So well that Little Bub will not leak.

We then went home merrily,

Thinking about Little Bub happily!

Happy Heinys (Cow Hide), BumGenius (Butternut), CamCover (Blueberry Minky), BumGenius (Twilight)

Cloth Diapers, Anyone?

Recently, I have been really intrigued by the idea of using cloth diapers... Yes, you read correctly - CLOTH diapers, not those disposable ones. If you are thinking of those white, bleached, washed-a-million-times folded squares of cloth secured by the slightly-bent and huge safety pin, then you have not seen the new cloth diapers that have parents chasing after them like the next fashion statement. They now come in different sizes, and even in the one-size-fits-all (babies only!) hybrids! 

These are by the Happy Heiny's company, and doesn't the cow print diaper look good on this baby? The following ones are from BumGenius, of which I am lemming for right now.

Here are some of the reasons why cloth and not disposables:

Long-Term Cost Savings

Cloth diapers can cost a bit in the beginning to get started. However, they are much, much cheaper in the long run because you would be reusing, reducing and recycling! 

Better for Baby

Cloth diaper users tend to have less issues with diaper rash, irritated bottoms and other common complaints from disposable diaper parents as baby's bottom comes into contact with little or no chemicals at all hence they are less likely to be sensitive. These cloth diapers even come in 100% natural or organic range!

Better for The Environment

In general, it is established that cloth diapers don't take up space in land fills and they do not take a 100 years to degrade, unlike most disposable ones. 

Less Time for Baby to Be Potty-Trained

Parents using cloth diapers said that they spent less time to potty train or educate their child about Elimination Contamination (EC) because the child would feel the wetness immediately when he/she "goes".

They Are Adorable!

Let's face it, cloth diapering is becoming more and more of a fashion statement among young, trendy parents, maybe even grandparents! And they look cute on our little ones!

The only downside I am able to think of right now is that cloth diapers are definitely not for lazy parents as they need proper washing and drying. However, having read countless reviews by rookie parents, I am pretty assured that it won't be as bad as I fear (baby poop isn't that tough to deal with) and these efforts will be paid off some day! :)

Not A Good Monday

I am not having a good Monday and had a terrible night of tossing and turning, rubbing tummy, waking up for water and some weird dreams.

Fish & Co.

Yesterday evening was also the evening Hubby Ng and I went to IMM for some shopping with the in-laws and for a belated birthday meal for the mother-in-law at Fish & Co. I was already having a bit of a sore throat from the BBQ session on Saturday, but what the heck. Since Hubby Ng and in-laws like Fish & Co, I was okay with it too.

Dinner was Seafood Platter For 2 and Mussels Pasta in Cream Sauce.

We all love the mussels! But the BBQ Calamari in the Seafood Platter had an odd taste... Sort of like they were soaked in ammonia water for preservation before being taken out to be BBQ-ed. Urghhh!! The staff were nice enough to have those changed to fried Calamari instead and those were a lot better. Overall, dinner was really satisfying. :) But of course, my throat suffered after such a feast, although I am sure Little Bub enjoyed the food just as much as I did!

Baby Shoes

We went to look at baby shoes at Colettee, and I absolutely ADORE them! They were sooo adorable and I wanted so much to buy, but I have no idea if Little Bub is a baby boy or a baby girl. So I just settled with ogling at them...

Little Bub's 18 Weeks Old!

I am officially 18 Weeks pregnant today. Hooray! Two more weeks to go and we will be halfway there. Little Bub's growing stronger with each passing day and even the once tiny, elusive kicks are getting stronger too, as the bones are in the process of hardening and strengthening up the next few days. I am also very certain that baby can hear my heart beating, my stomach growling and even my voice! Not sure if it hears Hubby Ng's voice though. But anyway, I love it when Bub kicks me. It is like being tickled from the inside out. I don't think I will EVER get tired of this feeling...

Sometimes, I wished time would pass by faster till I get to hold Bub in my arms; other times, I wished for time to go by slowly, just so that I could enjoy pregnancy (especially right now) and having Bub so close to me for a while longer. And I simply cannot wait for Week 20 to come! Because then, I would know Bub's gender through the detailed scan. :)

The Surprising Little Bun in The Oven

Hubby Ng and I had just went through our customary wedding for less than 2 months before we found out that we had a bun in the oven! It came as a huge surprise to us during the Chinese New Year (I was about 5 weeks along then), less than a month after return from our honeymoon destination - Taiwan! We figured that little bub was conceived during our honeymoon, and that is exactly what made it ever more meaningful to us, having our very own Honeymoon Baby!

The Symptoms:

I was really tired throughout the CNY celebrations, when I followed my beloved Hubby Ng and the in-laws to Malaysia for very first time. It was quite an adventure and I really love my new extended family. Anyway, I should be about 4 weeks along by then and little bub's existence was still unknown to me. I recalled that I was wiped out all the time and sneaked in little naps whenever I could. It was the kind of tiredness that blanks out every single thing on my mind and all I could think of was SLEEP!

Worse, I developed a mysterious rash on my face. I looked horrible and felt downright horrible as well but thought it was just the seafood I had although I was never allergic to sea critters of any form. On top of everything else, my period was more than a week late. And I never missed one. The irony was, I thought it would "arrive" the moment we return home and I stocked up on at least 4 months worth of sanitary items!

The Discovery:

So we were back home on 18 February and I was in bad shape with the rash and running a fever. The next day I was better and went back to work. In the evening back home alone, it suddenly hit me that I might be pregnant and I did a pregnancy test. I was ecstatic and could not believe my eyes when it turned up positive almost immediately!

Here is my conversation with Hubby Ng who was still at work:

Me: "B... guess what? I am pregnant!"

HN: "Huh??"

Me: "I said I am pregnant!"

HN: ... (pause) ... "Hahaha! Really arh!?"

Me: "Yah! I just tested, can't be wrong."

HN: "Okok, we talk tonight. Show me the test later!" (He was really over the moon!)

The Worries & Doubts:

Of course, it was not all smooth sailing at all. Hubby Ng and I were wrought with worry during the initial weeks of the intense 1st trimester. I spotted on two occasions, between Week 7 and Week 9. There was the constant worry that we would end up losing the baby before the 2nd trimester. However, our faith kept us strong as we prayed and interceded for little bub daily. I was very careful at work, wearing only flat pumps and sandals. My favorite high heels were banned, so were coffee and tea!

The Signs (and Wonders):

I must be one of those lucky few blessed with mild morning sickness. I merely started feeling queasy around Week 6 onwards. No, I did not perform the "Merlion" and no, I did not get acquainted with the toilet bowl either. My appetite was superb. I ate, and I ate, and I ate! There were the occasional bouts of queasiness and they were easy to deal with. :)

Naturally, with all that in-take of food, I literally boomz-ed. First the waist and lower abdomen, then the chest and then the dreaded hips too! But the nasties came too - fainting spells and shrunken bladder. Fainting spells are what I dread the most. I blacked out in church, nearly fainted on the MRT platform, MRT station, at work. I just thank God that I have not hurt myself at all! The shrunken bladder was annoying, but much less of a worry.

The Amazing Little One:

Honey, I have a bun in the oven!

I may be smaller than a mustard seed (yes, the tiny black dot), but Daddy says I will grow big and strong!

Look, mom! I am 7 weeks old now!

This little bub is 8 weeks and 4 days old, with a tiny beating heart and little arms and legs.

See how I've grown! I am now 13 Weeks old and a far cry from a tiny mustard seed! I am lounging in mummy's tummy, all nice and snug...

The Wonderful Hubby:

He vacuums and he mops, brings out the laundry, tidies up the house and irons the clothes. He is the one who gives me reassuring hugs, kisses of appreciation for making him a baby, words of encouragement when I am feeling down, prayers of comfort when I need it. He is the one holding my hand, blocking my falls, carrying my heavy bag and allaying my fears.. He is Hubby Ng, my Superman!