I'm migrating my blog. My new blog address is: http://lilacjunkie.wordpress.com.
It's been something I've been contemplating for a while. I first started this blog to document my journey through pregnancy, hence the peapod in the address. But as time went by, and my pregnancy being uneventful, I started blogging more about other things that were happening in my life, such as my hobby - scrapbooking. So this blog evolved and the peapod wasn't so adequate anymore. And now, with the arrival of my darling Cherise, I've outgrown this blog, hence the final decision to make the move.
Thanks for following the posts so far - please do continue to visit at the new blog. Friends (and others) - please update your links! I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Congratulations to Roy and Ade on the arrival of their little princess!
Here's a little something I made for the new baby!
Welcome to our world, little one!
Just because we have a baby doesn't mean we surrender the right to turn away people who wish to visit.
Spare a thought for me. My husband has gone back to work, leaving me to care for the baby alone most of the time. I'm not complaining - it's a joy I cherish. But that means I really don't have the energy to entertain guests, especially when Hunny is working and I'll be alone at home. Don't get offended when we say, "Not today, come again another day." Some days are just busy days.
Even my father doesn't quite dare to visit me (and my parents stay in the next block) because I'm usually scantily clad in a nursing bra and shorts.
Just because I'm breastfeeding doesn't mean my boobs are public domain.
Only one reason for this post -
I managed to bathe baby - ALL BY MYSELF!
*clap clap clap clap clap*
Ok, ok, I can practically hear you experienced parents out there saying, "No biggie," but it is a big deal for me! It is the last hurdle! Now I have attained "fly solo" status! Which is important because I can't keep getting my mom to come over and help me bathe the baby...
But just because I can do it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the extra pair of hands.
Last night was a nightmare. I was alone at home with baby because Hunny was doing the night shift. Cherise's been spitting up her milk - a common occurrence amongst young babies, I hear. Got to do with the sphincter muscle not fully developed yet, so milk tends to come back up. Nothing much to worry about. But man! The sheer amount of work involved! Only one word to describe it - overwhelming. So what happened last night? It started in the wee hours of the morning - Cherise started to show signs of having an "episode". Best way to manage this is to keep her as upright as possible after a feed. Not too difficult (praise God for the people who invented the sling!) but how do you change a nappy while keeping a baby upright?? Crunch time came at 3 am. Cherise woke up for her feed. But she decided to poo first. So I had to decide - feed or change diaper first? Change diaper. So I mentally girded my loins and prepared for the screaming - a hungry baby is an inconsolable baby. Went to get some warm water - out came milk. Placed her on her changing table - out came milk. Her outfit's got to be changed now. Never mind. Changed diaper - massive load of poo! By which time she was screaming. I felt so apologetic - hope the neighbours didn't wake up! Took massive self-control to continue speaking in a soothing, calming voice to baby - whilst she's still yelling her lungs out. Almost got the new diaper on - out comes pee. Sigh. True test of patience now! Cleaned her again, and worked on the diaper at twice the speed. Done. Brought her to the bedroom (we were sleeping in the hall - less claustrophobic) to change her outfit. Out comes milk - all over my clothes this time. Sigh sigh. Prayed. Hard. Desperately. Removed her outfit - out comes milk. Seriously contemplating not putting any clothes on her (what's the point?), but I put on a new outfit anyway. Double time.
And if you think that's the end of the story - well, I changed Cherise's outfit about 4 times last night. That's how bad an episode gets. Thank God it only happens occasionally, and it doesn't seem to cause her any discomfort.
But I have to add, just so I don't alarm people - there's really nothing to worry about. I hate it when people think that Cherise is "not ok". Really makes my blood boil. Cherise is fine. Her doctor says she's healthy and gaining well. She's just doing a baby thing, which is exacerbated by the fact that she's very squirmy. So sometimes when she "exerts" too hard, she places pressure on her diaphragm which causes the milk to come out. That's what I read anyway. So she's fine. In fact, the whole thing is quite manageable - if you have more than one pair of hands. That's why it's so difficult to handle alone - because you don't clean the butt and the mouth at the same time. Makes me wish I were an octopus.
I've been tagged by Hunny!
Four Jobs I have had in my life:
1) Cashier at a bar
2) Admin Assistant
3) Teacher
4) Private Tutor
Four Places I have lived:
1) Toa Payoh
2) Lorong Chuan
3) Seletar Hills
4) Braddell
Four Countries I have been on Vacation:
1) Australia (Melbourne/Perth/Tasmania)
2) Thailand (Bangkok)
3) China (Shanghai/Hong Kong)
4) Mauritius
Four Favourite Foods:
1) Sashimi
2) Fish Head Curry
3) Durian Gelato
4) Billy Bombers' Burgers
Four Places I'd rather be right now:
1) On holiday with Hunny and Baby - anywhere away from Singapore
2) Linda's Shop - pampering and beautifying myself
3) The Hair Spa - getting a much-needed hair cut
4) Sentosa - island retreat with Hunny and Baby
Four People I'm going to Tag:
1) totochan
2) starmist (have you done this one already?)
3) erh.. I don't know anyone else who blogs who hasn't been tagged. :(
4)
We (all 3 of us) went for our first outing together yesterday! I had a gynae appointment in the morning, while Cherise had to go see the paediatrician to clear some mucus in her nose. So after we had seen our respective doctors at the hospital, we headed off to United Square for some shopping therapy!
Here are some pics:
Cherise sleeping in her car seat - mouth wide open!
All snuggled up in the car seat..
Pretty in pink!
She looks so small...
Yesterday was a good day for me. I was really happy - not just because I finally got a chance to get out of the flat. Let's see, Cherise's doctor said she was gaining lots of weight. Healthy baby! Cherise now weighs 3.92kg - 900g more than when she was born 3 weeks ago! This reassures me a lot - at least I know I'm producing enough milk to nourish my baby... And she's filling out really nicely. A couple of ladies at United Square said, "Oh look at the baby, so cute!" Sweetest words I heard the whole day...
I'm also making progress in other areas (besides the usual feeding/diaper changing). I've learnt how to use the sling (thanks Noe for helping me out!) - and this has helped free up my hands so I can do other things... like scrap! And housework, of course. Ahem.
The sling..
Baby in the sling! She loves to be in it.. whenever she's fussy and having trouble sleeping, I pop her in and she nods off almost instantaneously!
And here's what this busy mommy has been up to..
A mini album I scrapped for baby. It's supposed to be like a brag book - something for Adrian to take to work and show his colleagues.
Pages of the album..
An ongoing project - little booklets for our friends. I'll be giving these away come this weekend - baby's first month! I've completed five already - I don't really have a quota, just going to see how many I can complete by Sunday. :)
So, all in all, there's some semblance of normality in my life now. Baby's fitting in fine - it's not like those first few days when everything had to revolve around her and there was no time, no energy left for anything else. My body's getting used to having sleep in bits and pieces instead of one long stretch, and feeding Cherise is getting easier and easier as I get accustomed to it. I'm glad - we're all adjusting to each other just fine. :)
Here are some more photos of baby Cherise!
Here's Hunny burping her after a feed. 
Sleeping beauty..
More sleeping beauty..
That's all I have now - will take more photos soon!
Success - I have survived my first night all alone with baby!
Let's see... I managed to bathe baby (with the help of my mom), feed baby her anti-wind drops together with her milk, change her diaper (and what a horrible mess she made!) and soothe her to sleep! All by myself! Except the bathing part, that is. That's the next hurdle.
Anyway. Lots of people have expressed surprise, shock, even disapproval when they hear that I'm doing without a confinement lady. But I really don't see the need to hire one. Hunny took two weeks' leave, my MIL came over to help, my mother lives just opposite my block... why do I need a strange woman in my home to "help" me with the baby?
If we had the money to spare, I'd say hiring a domestic helper would be more helpful. Have her do housework and stuff. I don't need want some stranger handling my baby. This is my first child! Isn't it exciting to be "hands-on", to learn more about this individual who's invaded my life, to learn her sounds, her expressions, her smells, to have her learn me as well? Why would I give this up to anybody?
I'm not being complacent and saying that it's easy - it's not. There were nights I just turned to Hunny and said, "I don't know what to do anymore." But those nights pass, and the mornings bring renewed confidence and assurance. So what's a little lack of sleep? A few more dark eye rings? There's always Eye Bryten. Ha!
And for the record, I don't believe in any of the confinement rules. No bathing? You gotta be joking. Our weather is so humid! It only makes sense to bathe - especially since most women would have a wound down there. Plus, if you're breastfeeding, isn't it wise to keep yourself clean? And what's that about not touching water - there's really no link to rheumatism. Some people get it, some people don't. It's got nothing to do with water. And confinement food - it's not a necessity. I believe in good nutrition. Some confinement recipes are touted as effective, but if you look closely, you'll be able to figure out why and make necessary substitutions.
I guess when it comes down to it, I'm not the traditional type. Nope. Non-conformist. I may go along with some of the confinement practices - but only if they suit me. For example, I think the longan and red date tea is really nice to drink. I would happily drink that all day long. But not because I believe it helps anything.
And my more traditional relatives would scold me upside down if they heard this - the first drink I requested after delivery was an isotonic drink. 100 plus. The nurse looked somewhat nonplussed. They didn't have 100 plus. Next choice was cold water. She got really disturbed then. She asked, "How about warm water?" I insisted, "I want cold water." So I got my cold water - ice, no less! And had a nice shower later in the day.
I've been tagged by Ade and Roy, so here goes!
- start copying -
* I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
* Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
* People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
* At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.
* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
- end of copying -
8 random facts about me:
1. I have asymmetrical footprints. I'm flat-footed on my left, but not on my right. So my footprints look funny when I step on a dry towel after showering - one flat-footed print and the other normal.
2. I don't sleep well without a bolster. Any bolster will do.
3. My little finger on my right hand is crooked. From all the years of writing and doing homework.
4. I don't see very well in dim light. More so than other people. Especially in the evening when the sun's going down and the street lamps have yet to come on. I'm practically blind in cinemas.
5. You know how sometimes we wake up with a finger that's totally numb because our sleeping position has cut off circulation (temporarily)? I like to chew on my finger when that happens.
6. I like to eat Koko Krunch in soft-boiled eggs with soya sauce and pepper.
7. I don't particularly like to bathe. (But I do anyway!)
8. My mother wanted to name me Melissa before she decided on Jasmine. Do I look like a Melissa to you?
Ok, I'm sleepy now.. Deb! You're it!
6 am in the morning - I should be sleeping, given that I'm so tired, but perversely I can't.
It's my first night alone at home with baby - Hunny's back at work, and he's on the night shift. I had a bit of an emo moment just now when he went off to work - a bit teary. You'd think it would be because I would be all alone with baby, but actually no. It was the sight of him in his uniform - something I haven't seen for the past two weeks as he's been at home with me - a familiar sight, so welcome, yet so different.
Everything is different now. We sleep early and wake up early. 90% of our conversation is about the baby. We watch silent TV these days. It's hard to eat a meal together. Free time is precious - we hop into bed and sleep as much as we can.
I expected all this. But what I didn't expect is missing Hunny so much. It's funny, isn't it? He's been on leave the past two weeks, being my "confinement man", but I do miss him.
There's this joke between us - somehow after delivery, Hunny seems to look different to me. No, it's not a change in countenance I'm referring to, it's a physical alteration of features. Somehow, he looks different. His face - it looks longer. His eyelashes - longer. Cheeks - thinner. Bones - more prominent. Skin - rougher. We joke that I gekked too hard during pushing and something happened to my eyes...
So, when I saw him in his work attire, smelling as usual of Fahrenheit and other more subtle male scents, I was a bit overwhelmed - happy of course that he's back to "normal", sad because I didn't want him to leave. And like I mentioned, things are different now. Him leaving for work used to be mundane, now it reminds me of what we used to have but don't anymore, and what we have now that we hadn't before.
But some things don't change - I still don't sleep well when he's not here.
