I am pissed. With the people around me. These people seem to have a lack of knowledge of hygiene.

In the office, these people cough and sneeze without covering their mouths, smoke and spit onto the floor as though the whole floor is a spittoon. Was especially irritated by this Malay ops guy who just coughed the whole day long without covering his mouth, and the whole office stinks of his saliva smell. Just the thot of it makes me want to puke right now.

People come home or come to our place and dun bother to wash their hands and feet, and cough and sneeze without covering their mouths and washing their hands after that! The most basic thing to do is to wash your hands and feet, but these people dun! Imagine the amount of germs they pick up from the lift buttons, the door knobs, the bus bells, the money etc! And also used tissure paper (used to blow nose, to stick into their nostrils etc) are left lying around on the table, on the floor or just stuck somewhere (maybe between the sofa). Gross is the only word to describe.

Am finally off from work, Friday is officially the last working day for me for this year! Woohoo..

Went for breakfast with Sharon and Andy, and their darling Claudia this morning. Claudia's such a smiley and active baby and she has grown so much since I last saw her! Okok, the last time I saw Baby Claudia was when she was really still a baby (CNY 2009). Heehee.. Darling couldn't handle her after a mere 10 minutes, had to return Claudia to her Daddy. Hahahaha...

The itinerary for today was supposed to be:-
1) Breakfast
2) Go buy my glucose test strips and needles
3) Go Darling's office to clear his work and table (in case I go into labour anytime)
4) Set up baby cot (finally)
5) Some couple time

Ended up we did not go to Darling's office coz I was just sooooooo tired from nothing. After breakfast I was still hungry, we drove to Parkway to buy Ya Kun loti for me to munch. I fell asleep from Parkway to Punggol, and from Punggol back home. Came home and I launched into a deep slumber sleep for 2 hours! Damn shiok to be taking a nap in the afternoon... Well, next week I can do that anytime I want! Wahahaha... Whilst I was stealing 40 winks, Darling went to cut his hair. He has so much stuffs to do before Isabelle says hi! So this weekend he will and has been busy clearing his 'to-do list' which includes cutting of hair and a dental appointment. After my power nap, we set up Isabelle's baby cot! So exciting to see the bed all set up and ready.. Now awaiting for the arrival of our precious baby.

Tmr's itinerary:-
1) Darling's dental appointment @ 0930hrs! / For me, I guess still sleeping ba
2) Breakfast / Brunch (Curry Fish Head)
3) Home Sweet Home or go temple pray pray or just some couple time (I wanna watch Inglorious Bastards, but think Darling will ban me from watching coz its rather vulgar)
4) Mag's house to see Baby Joia!
5) Dinner (hopefully outside)

Shall see if this goes as planned!

After such a long time of strawberry skin, I've finally had the motivation to 'renovate' my blog... Side panel stuff more or less remains, coz I really dunno wad else to change.. Isabelle's blog has been revamped too, but problem is her blog resembles my previous skin.. wahaha.. so I shall change mine instead.. Not exactly extremely satisfied with the current outlook of my blog yet, shall see wad else I can do to beautify it.

Will be starting my maternity leave soon, and was telling Darling that he should take a day or two of leave to accompany me, to have some 'us' time. We will not have the luxury to sit down and eat a meal properly and chit chat without disruptions once Isabelle is out. We will not be able to catch movies as and when we feel like, go shopping without lugging a stroller and a huge diaper bag, and life is really never going to be the same again. He has agreed to take a day leave to remininsce on our dating days (but I wonder how far and long I can manage to walk without stopping to either rest my swollen legs or visit the washroom) and ever since I tested +ve on the test kit, we have been shopping at Maternity or Baby shops. Has been so long since I stepped into a boutique to look for normal wear. I have forgotten how it feels like to be shopping for normal wear.

Baby's coming out anytime, and everyone ard me has been asking me when I am going for Maternity Leave, how many months preggy I am, is it heavy, etc. Wahahahaha... Thank you to all my friends who have been so caring and thoughtful throughout my pregnancy.

Have been wondering if it is due to my surge in hormones that I have been feeling a tad too emotional and sensitive lately, or it is due to my suppressed feelings for too long. Starting to feel sorry and pity myself for a lot of things. All the old grandmother stories are coming back, all the injustice and unfairness that I haven felt for so long are all back again. And the thing that triggerred all these is my own mother.

Baby Shower - Like what I had mentioned in my previous post, I am feeling very upset about the no baby shower and no cake distribution.

Fetching my mum home after work -
Some background story (not sure if I had mentioned it before)... Ever since we got our ride, we have been fetching my mum back from work almost everyday. To the extent that it has become a habit and she will call me every night to check if we will go and fetch her. We fetch her on all days that we can, maybe except on days when I meet my frens for dinner, and this is before and after I was pregnant. Even when we have our early days and reach home before 8pm, Darling will still make an effort to purposely drive down and fetch her home. Somedays we will purposely loiter ard to wait for her so that we can fetch her home even though I am extremely tired, especially after I discovered I was pregnant. We do all these without complain until she got a bit overboard.

Mid of August I was on 8 days of HL, and throughout the 8 days I was cooped up at home and resting, so obviously Darling drove to work. He had to work late on many days as he had received a new project. Thus was not able to go and fetch my mum from work. Then that weekend, Number 2 came home for lunch. My mum complained to her that she has been reaching home late for the past week coz she had to take a bus home. Number 2 offerred to fetch her back on days that we are unable to fetch her. Her number 2 daughter offerred it willingly. So came Tuesday (Monday was a public holiday in Malaysia, so she did not go to work), both us and Number 2 called her to offer to send her home. End up we fetch her home coz we were already in the vicinity. Wednesday we let Number 2 fetch her, Thursday due to Isabelle's notti saga, we did not make it to fetch her. She came home and told me try not to always let Number 2 go and fetch her. I just listen lo. Friday we went to fetch her.

Then come this week. Today is Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday Darling drove to work, in fact nowadays he will send me to work, then he drives to office. We were not expecting him to work late, but who knows, Monday morning he received an email from the client, saying that he wants to bring forward the meeting to today (Wednesday) which means he will have lots to rush on Monday and Tuesday. And I myself was stranded in the office, I had to ask Daddy if he could come and fetch me home on Monday. Tuesday I did not want to trouble him, so I took a cab home on my own.

Monday evening Mum called me, asking if I had called her (she had a few missed calls). Those calls were not from me coz I was at home, without car, and James at work, with the car, I would not have called her to offer to fetch her coz I had no means to do that. It was Number 2 who called her. After knowing that I did not call her, she said she will call Number 2. She called me shortly and asked me to lie to Number 2 if Number 2 calls me. She wanted me to tell Number 2 that I was on my way to fetch her, when in fact she will take a bus home on her own. I passed the phone to Daddy who sort of told Mum off. He mentioned something like Number 2 offerred to fetch her home willingly, why is there a need to lie? If I am not wrong, my Mum's reply was she did not want to trouble her so much and so often, so she take bus home on her own. Coz my Dad's reply was "Asking her to fetch you is troubling her, then what about Ah Hui, they everyday fetch you home, no trouble is it?" End up my Mum got Number 2 to fetch her home.

I feel very taken for granted by my own mother. She expects James and I to go fetch her everyday and that is no trouble to us. But when Number 2 go and fetch her, it is trouble to Number 2. Even when my parents go Malaysia for those short trips, the moment they reach Singapore customs, they will call us, expecting us to go and fetch them. There was this Saturday they had to attend a wedding dinner at Conrade Hotel (the ex Le Meridien Hotel). Friday night Daddy had told her that they can take MRT to Dhoby Ghaut and then walk over, very short distance only. She had to purposely ask me how far it is to walk from the MRT to the hotel. C'mon, my Dad is a taxi driver, obviously he knows the way much better than me right. Anyway I told her the distance is not very far, and I knew she was hinting to me to fetch her to the hotel, but I chose to keep my mouth shut. Came Saturday, Darling and I went for our pre-natal class at Mount A after I finished work. Then after lessons we went to my MIL's place for dinner, a norm that we always do on Saturdays. Darling felt obligated to fetch my parents to the hotel, so he called my Dad and told him to wait for us, we rush back to send them to the hotel. And so, we sent them to the hotel and then we went Robinsons to do some shopping for Baby. Around 945 pm, I was exhuasted from the whole day of walking and shopping, I wanted to head home for a shower and rest. I gave Daddy a call to inform him that I am going home already. After this brief phonecall with him, my Mum immediately called me and asked us to wait for a while, they are at the 7th course now and will finish the dinner soon. My Dad took over the phone and told me to go home and rest, they will make their own way home. FYI, I was 7 months pregnant and feeling heavy and tired, and all my mum could think of was her own convenience. But the point is, my Mum had already requested for us to wait, again, we felt obligated to wait. And guess wad, I ended up taking a nap in the car and waited for them till 1030pm.

Throughout my wedding planning last year and now the preparation of the arrival of Isabelle, I have never asked her for a single cent. We did it through our own means. We are quite tight these few months, having to buy the big ticket items - stroller, car seat, gynae package, set aside the money for delivery expenses, set aside a sum of money to give my mum for helping me in my confinement, and there are so many miscellanous items to buy. When I have the means, I will without hesitation, give her $400 (all along it has been $400) a month. However lately due to the purchases of these bigger items, Darling and I are living through our nose. Ever since I was unable to pass her money, every month end, I will hear snide remarks from her to my other sisters about money, of coz she did not mention my name, but she will complain to me about Number 2 giving her only $200 a month when she is taking care of Alvan's expenses, she will scold my youngest sister about spending unnecessary money on soft toys and not able to give her even $50, complain about Number 1 coming home to eat and not helping out. I am not sure if she is targetting all these at me, but even Darling feels that my mum has been mentioning the word "Money" far too often lately. Maybe we are too sensitive? But hearing how other people's parents sponsor car seat or stroller or wadever, and our own family does nothing is kinda sad. Even the bird's nest are all paid for by my hubby and me. She buys birds nest and is not for me. Am I expecting a lot from my parents?

Initially we asked my mum to take care of Isabelle full time. Number 2 told her last year she was trying for baby and wants my Mum to take care of her baby if she strikes, and my Mum rejected her. This time round, my Mum asked how much I would give her a month if she quits her job to take care of my baby. I told her $1200 (including the $400 that I am supposed to give her a month). She was sort of indecisive about it but asked us to look for a nanny, saying she does not want to be tied down by my baby and she is not sure if she can cope. Thus we looked ard for a baby sitter. Around July, her work became quite stressful and encountered several hiccups, she started to waver more, and kept telling her work place pple that her daughter is giving her $1200 a month to look after baby, and sort of threatening them that she can quit anytime coz she doesnt need that job at all. She was using us as a bargaining chip. When the baby sitter got back to us saying she is keen to look after our baby girl, my Mum was displeased. She told us to go and meet the baby sitter but dun confirm with her until my Mum decides if she wants to keep her job or help us look after our baby. What is this man. She isn't being fair to the baby sitter and us at all! Like this everyone has to wait for her decision and be left there waiting and hanging to see if ultimately she wants to take care of my girl or not. Absolutely pissed with my Mum in this aspect.

I tried to tallk to my Mum in another way, saying that if she decides to take care of my baby, she will not be able to reject Number 2 and Number 4 when they give birth and requests that my Mum takes care of their babies as well. My Mum's reasoning is that she had helped Number 2 to bring up Alvan already, and Number 2 has used so much of her money, my Mum has enough reasons not to take care of her baby. Number 4 is going to be staying so far, she cannot possibly bring baby all the way to Tampines and back to Telok Blangah everyday. I think my Mum has forgotten that Number 2 feels that taking care of Alvan is very conveniently my Mum's job, and that Number 4 works in Loyang. She will still need to travel down to the East everyday, and who knows she might decide to leave baby in Tampines everyday and bring baby home only on weekends? In worse cases, she say can just hire a maid, and she will just over-see the maid. C'mon, who doesn't know that if really hire a maid, end up ALL the expenses is going to be on MY shoulders again? Will Number 2 and 4 chip in for the maid? No! In the end, one remark from Number 2 solved the WHOLE problem. She told my mum "If you look after Ah Hui's baby, you cannot say no when Ah Chun and I ask you to take care of our babies." And my Mum did not rebute her with the 'taking care of Alvan for the past 10+ years' and 'Number 2 spending a lot of her money already'. But anyway case closed, my Mum will be returning back to work after 3 to 4 weeks of my confinement.

Has been a long time since I updated mine and Isabelle's blog.

Have been doing some necessary shopping, washings, and packing lately. Darling's been such a dear, he has been doing the washing and packing all by himself, refusing to let me do a single chore. Original plan was for me to stay in a 2-bedder in Mount A when I deliver, though I was complaining and whining away saying I would like him to accompany me in the hospital at night. His logic is its only 2 to 3 nights stay at most, why spend the additional $600 to take a 1-bedder. I accepted that reasoning and was all ready to take the 2-bedder.
But last week whilst on the road, he suddenly held my hand and said, "I've decided, let's take the 1-bedder." I was surprised coz I thot we had already made the final plans and decision to take 2-bedder and I had also come to terms that I will be staying in the hospital for 2-3 nights alone (of coz with baby la). He told me he had been thinking about it very seriously for the past few weeks after he persuaded me to take the 2-bedder, and he feels that I have been through a lot for the whole pregnancy and the least he could do is to accompany me throughout the hospital stay. I was touched, very very touched and I would have given him a big bear hug if he wasn't driving at that point of time.

I'm now waiting for Isabelle to be ready to come out and say her 1st hello! :D Before Isabelle makes her grand entrance, we will be doing a Bloom photoshoot at Studio Loft. Had signed up for this photoshoot package during the March (or is it April) Expo Motherhood Fair. It will be a naked photoshoot of me and my tummy! Am very excited about this photoshoot, and we've gotten ready all the props for this. Of coz there will be the 'clothed' shots and for me alone, will have very arty naked shots.. 1st outfit shall be us in our pink couple tee that we bought in Bangkok - "Born to Love Him" & "Born to Love Her". 2nd outfit is Darling in black singlet and me in a black tube, showing my bloom. 3rd outfit will be Darling topless and me in a normal white spaghetti top (not maternity top hor). And 4th outfit is NO outfit for me. Wonder if Darling is allowed to go all naked? Erm, a bit weird hor.. haha..

Isabelle gave me a very huge scare on Thursday (03.09.09). She is always very active the whole day, but on that day, she did not move much. In fact I did not feel her movements the whole morning. I wasn't sure if it was coz I was busy clearing my desk that I did not pay attention to her movements. Anyway usually ard lunch time she will do her kallang waves and fidget the whole time. That day she did not. I was worried, I gave Darling a call and I was sobbing during the phonecall. I was really worried sthg bad had happened *choy*. It was agreed that I should monitor for a while more. After lunch, I felt some slight movements from Isabelle and was told by Sharon that is ok, as long as there are movements, everything's fine. However the movements weren't big like usual. The whole afternoon she also did not move much, only the occassional fidget. Come dinner time, we were ready to go and pay Dr Chen a visit. However after dinner, Isabelle moved like she normally would whilst we were in the car. So we thought all's fine. HOWEVER upon reaching home, she stopped her movements again. I got so worried again. Darling called up TMC and Mount A, we were told to go down for a CTG check, but adviced to call our gynae first. So we paged for Dr Chen and I dunno why, talking to Dr Chen never fails to make me feel more assured and happy. Dr Chen explained that it could be one of baby's lazy days and as long as there are more than 10 movements in a 12 hour period, is fine. Told me to monitor for the next 12 hours. After talking to Dr Chen, Isabelle started her kallang waves etc. What a notti baby girl I have!!! On Saturday, Dr Chen even asked me to go down to her clinic for a CTG strap, I told her that all's fine, baby's kicking very much already. Hahaha.. This notti baby wants to spend more of Mummy and Daddy's money ah!

Had been thinking about Isabelle's baby shower. My mum said previously that there is no need to hold a baby shower, wait till Isabelle is 1 year old then hold a birthday celebration. Due to my youngest sister getting married in Jan, I am NOT to hold a baby shower, coz it would seem as though my family keeps asking pple for ang pao. I really do not understand why I am always the one who has to give in, make way and take into consideration for everyone. Eventually the idea of not having a baby shower set in, Darling and I thought maybe we should just hold one outside for friends since the family doesnt want to have any.

Just last night I asked my mum if we need to distribute cakes to the relatives. My mum's reply is no need coz if give her side of relatives, then my dad's side relatives also need to give. And she feels that since my dad's relatives never distribute cakes to us when they have new additions to the family, why should we give. And giving cakes to relatives is like asking for ang pao again. This is crap I feel. It makes me feel like I am having a baby on the sly, as though this is something that I need to hide and be ashamed of.

I had asked my eldest sister on Sunday what she did for her 3 kids. They had cake distribution on baby's full month, to BOTH sides of the relatives. Fine, if this is the standard that my mum wants to apply, so be it. My grandfather-in-law did not have any cake distribution for all his great grandchildren, so for Isabelle, there wun be any as well, this I can accept. No double standards. My mum asked if my hubby's side will be giving cakes, my reply is no, and I did not want to elaborate further. Since she dowan to distribute any cakes or hold any baby shower, I believe Darling and I will just go ahead with our own plans, and we will NOT cater extra boxes of cakes for them.

I am pissed. With the people around me. These people seem to have a lack of knowledge of hygiene.

In the office, these people cough and sneeze without covering their mouths, smoke and spit onto the floor as though the whole floor is a spittoon. Was especially irritated by this Malay ops guy who just coughed the whole day long without covering his mouth, and the whole office stinks of his saliva smell. Just the thot of it makes me want to puke right now.

People come home or come to our place and dun bother to wash their hands and feet, and cough and sneeze without covering their mouths and washing their hands after that! The most basic thing to do is to wash your hands and feet, but these people dun! Imagine the amount of germs they pick up from the lift buttons, the door knobs, the bus bells, the money etc! And also used tissure paper (used to blow nose, to stick into their nostrils etc) are left lying around on the table, on the floor or just stuck somewhere (maybe between the sofa). Gross is the only word to describe.

Am finally off from work, Friday is officially the last working day for me for this year! Woohoo..

Went for breakfast with Sharon and Andy, and their darling Claudia this morning. Claudia's such a smiley and active baby and she has grown so much since I last saw her! Okok, the last time I saw Baby Claudia was when she was really still a baby (CNY 2009). Heehee.. Darling couldn't handle her after a mere 10 minutes, had to return Claudia to her Daddy. Hahahaha...

The itinerary for today was supposed to be:-
1) Breakfast
2) Go buy my glucose test strips and needles
3) Go Darling's office to clear his work and table (in case I go into labour anytime)
4) Set up baby cot (finally)
5) Some couple time

Ended up we did not go to Darling's office coz I was just sooooooo tired from nothing. After breakfast I was still hungry, we drove to Parkway to buy Ya Kun loti for me to munch. I fell asleep from Parkway to Punggol, and from Punggol back home. Came home and I launched into a deep slumber sleep for 2 hours! Damn shiok to be taking a nap in the afternoon... Well, next week I can do that anytime I want! Wahahaha... Whilst I was stealing 40 winks, Darling went to cut his hair. He has so much stuffs to do before Isabelle says hi! So this weekend he will and has been busy clearing his 'to-do list' which includes cutting of hair and a dental appointment. After my power nap, we set up Isabelle's baby cot! So exciting to see the bed all set up and ready.. Now awaiting for the arrival of our precious baby.

Tmr's itinerary:-
1) Darling's dental appointment @ 0930hrs! / For me, I guess still sleeping ba
2) Breakfast / Brunch (Curry Fish Head)
3) Home Sweet Home or go temple pray pray or just some couple time (I wanna watch Inglorious Bastards, but think Darling will ban me from watching coz its rather vulgar)
4) Mag's house to see Baby Joia!
5) Dinner (hopefully outside)

Shall see if this goes as planned!

After such a long time of strawberry skin, I've finally had the motivation to 'renovate' my blog... Side panel stuff more or less remains, coz I really dunno wad else to change.. Isabelle's blog has been revamped too, but problem is her blog resembles my previous skin.. wahaha.. so I shall change mine instead.. Not exactly extremely satisfied with the current outlook of my blog yet, shall see wad else I can do to beautify it.

Will be starting my maternity leave soon, and was telling Darling that he should take a day or two of leave to accompany me, to have some 'us' time. We will not have the luxury to sit down and eat a meal properly and chit chat without disruptions once Isabelle is out. We will not be able to catch movies as and when we feel like, go shopping without lugging a stroller and a huge diaper bag, and life is really never going to be the same again. He has agreed to take a day leave to remininsce on our dating days (but I wonder how far and long I can manage to walk without stopping to either rest my swollen legs or visit the washroom) and ever since I tested +ve on the test kit, we have been shopping at Maternity or Baby shops. Has been so long since I stepped into a boutique to look for normal wear. I have forgotten how it feels like to be shopping for normal wear.

Baby's coming out anytime, and everyone ard me has been asking me when I am going for Maternity Leave, how many months preggy I am, is it heavy, etc. Wahahahaha... Thank you to all my friends who have been so caring and thoughtful throughout my pregnancy.

Have been wondering if it is due to my surge in hormones that I have been feeling a tad too emotional and sensitive lately, or it is due to my suppressed feelings for too long. Starting to feel sorry and pity myself for a lot of things. All the old grandmother stories are coming back, all the injustice and unfairness that I haven felt for so long are all back again. And the thing that triggerred all these is my own mother.

Baby Shower - Like what I had mentioned in my previous post, I am feeling very upset about the no baby shower and no cake distribution.

Fetching my mum home after work -
Some background story (not sure if I had mentioned it before)... Ever since we got our ride, we have been fetching my mum back from work almost everyday. To the extent that it has become a habit and she will call me every night to check if we will go and fetch her. We fetch her on all days that we can, maybe except on days when I meet my frens for dinner, and this is before and after I was pregnant. Even when we have our early days and reach home before 8pm, Darling will still make an effort to purposely drive down and fetch her home. Somedays we will purposely loiter ard to wait for her so that we can fetch her home even though I am extremely tired, especially after I discovered I was pregnant. We do all these without complain until she got a bit overboard.

Mid of August I was on 8 days of HL, and throughout the 8 days I was cooped up at home and resting, so obviously Darling drove to work. He had to work late on many days as he had received a new project. Thus was not able to go and fetch my mum from work. Then that weekend, Number 2 came home for lunch. My mum complained to her that she has been reaching home late for the past week coz she had to take a bus home. Number 2 offerred to fetch her back on days that we are unable to fetch her. Her number 2 daughter offerred it willingly. So came Tuesday (Monday was a public holiday in Malaysia, so she did not go to work), both us and Number 2 called her to offer to send her home. End up we fetch her home coz we were already in the vicinity. Wednesday we let Number 2 fetch her, Thursday due to Isabelle's notti saga, we did not make it to fetch her. She came home and told me try not to always let Number 2 go and fetch her. I just listen lo. Friday we went to fetch her.

Then come this week. Today is Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday Darling drove to work, in fact nowadays he will send me to work, then he drives to office. We were not expecting him to work late, but who knows, Monday morning he received an email from the client, saying that he wants to bring forward the meeting to today (Wednesday) which means he will have lots to rush on Monday and Tuesday. And I myself was stranded in the office, I had to ask Daddy if he could come and fetch me home on Monday. Tuesday I did not want to trouble him, so I took a cab home on my own.

Monday evening Mum called me, asking if I had called her (she had a few missed calls). Those calls were not from me coz I was at home, without car, and James at work, with the car, I would not have called her to offer to fetch her coz I had no means to do that. It was Number 2 who called her. After knowing that I did not call her, she said she will call Number 2. She called me shortly and asked me to lie to Number 2 if Number 2 calls me. She wanted me to tell Number 2 that I was on my way to fetch her, when in fact she will take a bus home on her own. I passed the phone to Daddy who sort of told Mum off. He mentioned something like Number 2 offerred to fetch her home willingly, why is there a need to lie? If I am not wrong, my Mum's reply was she did not want to trouble her so much and so often, so she take bus home on her own. Coz my Dad's reply was "Asking her to fetch you is troubling her, then what about Ah Hui, they everyday fetch you home, no trouble is it?" End up my Mum got Number 2 to fetch her home.

I feel very taken for granted by my own mother. She expects James and I to go fetch her everyday and that is no trouble to us. But when Number 2 go and fetch her, it is trouble to Number 2. Even when my parents go Malaysia for those short trips, the moment they reach Singapore customs, they will call us, expecting us to go and fetch them. There was this Saturday they had to attend a wedding dinner at Conrade Hotel (the ex Le Meridien Hotel). Friday night Daddy had told her that they can take MRT to Dhoby Ghaut and then walk over, very short distance only. She had to purposely ask me how far it is to walk from the MRT to the hotel. C'mon, my Dad is a taxi driver, obviously he knows the way much better than me right. Anyway I told her the distance is not very far, and I knew she was hinting to me to fetch her to the hotel, but I chose to keep my mouth shut. Came Saturday, Darling and I went for our pre-natal class at Mount A after I finished work. Then after lessons we went to my MIL's place for dinner, a norm that we always do on Saturdays. Darling felt obligated to fetch my parents to the hotel, so he called my Dad and told him to wait for us, we rush back to send them to the hotel. And so, we sent them to the hotel and then we went Robinsons to do some shopping for Baby. Around 945 pm, I was exhuasted from the whole day of walking and shopping, I wanted to head home for a shower and rest. I gave Daddy a call to inform him that I am going home already. After this brief phonecall with him, my Mum immediately called me and asked us to wait for a while, they are at the 7th course now and will finish the dinner soon. My Dad took over the phone and told me to go home and rest, they will make their own way home. FYI, I was 7 months pregnant and feeling heavy and tired, and all my mum could think of was her own convenience. But the point is, my Mum had already requested for us to wait, again, we felt obligated to wait. And guess wad, I ended up taking a nap in the car and waited for them till 1030pm.

Throughout my wedding planning last year and now the preparation of the arrival of Isabelle, I have never asked her for a single cent. We did it through our own means. We are quite tight these few months, having to buy the big ticket items - stroller, car seat, gynae package, set aside the money for delivery expenses, set aside a sum of money to give my mum for helping me in my confinement, and there are so many miscellanous items to buy. When I have the means, I will without hesitation, give her $400 (all along it has been $400) a month. However lately due to the purchases of these bigger items, Darling and I are living through our nose. Ever since I was unable to pass her money, every month end, I will hear snide remarks from her to my other sisters about money, of coz she did not mention my name, but she will complain to me about Number 2 giving her only $200 a month when she is taking care of Alvan's expenses, she will scold my youngest sister about spending unnecessary money on soft toys and not able to give her even $50, complain about Number 1 coming home to eat and not helping out. I am not sure if she is targetting all these at me, but even Darling feels that my mum has been mentioning the word "Money" far too often lately. Maybe we are too sensitive? But hearing how other people's parents sponsor car seat or stroller or wadever, and our own family does nothing is kinda sad. Even the bird's nest are all paid for by my hubby and me. She buys birds nest and is not for me. Am I expecting a lot from my parents?

Initially we asked my mum to take care of Isabelle full time. Number 2 told her last year she was trying for baby and wants my Mum to take care of her baby if she strikes, and my Mum rejected her. This time round, my Mum asked how much I would give her a month if she quits her job to take care of my baby. I told her $1200 (including the $400 that I am supposed to give her a month). She was sort of indecisive about it but asked us to look for a nanny, saying she does not want to be tied down by my baby and she is not sure if she can cope. Thus we looked ard for a baby sitter. Around July, her work became quite stressful and encountered several hiccups, she started to waver more, and kept telling her work place pple that her daughter is giving her $1200 a month to look after baby, and sort of threatening them that she can quit anytime coz she doesnt need that job at all. She was using us as a bargaining chip. When the baby sitter got back to us saying she is keen to look after our baby girl, my Mum was displeased. She told us to go and meet the baby sitter but dun confirm with her until my Mum decides if she wants to keep her job or help us look after our baby. What is this man. She isn't being fair to the baby sitter and us at all! Like this everyone has to wait for her decision and be left there waiting and hanging to see if ultimately she wants to take care of my girl or not. Absolutely pissed with my Mum in this aspect.

I tried to tallk to my Mum in another way, saying that if she decides to take care of my baby, she will not be able to reject Number 2 and Number 4 when they give birth and requests that my Mum takes care of their babies as well. My Mum's reasoning is that she had helped Number 2 to bring up Alvan already, and Number 2 has used so much of her money, my Mum has enough reasons not to take care of her baby. Number 4 is going to be staying so far, she cannot possibly bring baby all the way to Tampines and back to Telok Blangah everyday. I think my Mum has forgotten that Number 2 feels that taking care of Alvan is very conveniently my Mum's job, and that Number 4 works in Loyang. She will still need to travel down to the East everyday, and who knows she might decide to leave baby in Tampines everyday and bring baby home only on weekends? In worse cases, she say can just hire a maid, and she will just over-see the maid. C'mon, who doesn't know that if really hire a maid, end up ALL the expenses is going to be on MY shoulders again? Will Number 2 and 4 chip in for the maid? No! In the end, one remark from Number 2 solved the WHOLE problem. She told my mum "If you look after Ah Hui's baby, you cannot say no when Ah Chun and I ask you to take care of our babies." And my Mum did not rebute her with the 'taking care of Alvan for the past 10+ years' and 'Number 2 spending a lot of her money already'. But anyway case closed, my Mum will be returning back to work after 3 to 4 weeks of my confinement.

Has been a long time since I updated mine and Isabelle's blog.

Have been doing some necessary shopping, washings, and packing lately. Darling's been such a dear, he has been doing the washing and packing all by himself, refusing to let me do a single chore. Original plan was for me to stay in a 2-bedder in Mount A when I deliver, though I was complaining and whining away saying I would like him to accompany me in the hospital at night. His logic is its only 2 to 3 nights stay at most, why spend the additional $600 to take a 1-bedder. I accepted that reasoning and was all ready to take the 2-bedder.
But last week whilst on the road, he suddenly held my hand and said, "I've decided, let's take the 1-bedder." I was surprised coz I thot we had already made the final plans and decision to take 2-bedder and I had also come to terms that I will be staying in the hospital for 2-3 nights alone (of coz with baby la). He told me he had been thinking about it very seriously for the past few weeks after he persuaded me to take the 2-bedder, and he feels that I have been through a lot for the whole pregnancy and the least he could do is to accompany me throughout the hospital stay. I was touched, very very touched and I would have given him a big bear hug if he wasn't driving at that point of time.

I'm now waiting for Isabelle to be ready to come out and say her 1st hello! :D Before Isabelle makes her grand entrance, we will be doing a Bloom photoshoot at Studio Loft. Had signed up for this photoshoot package during the March (or is it April) Expo Motherhood Fair. It will be a naked photoshoot of me and my tummy! Am very excited about this photoshoot, and we've gotten ready all the props for this. Of coz there will be the 'clothed' shots and for me alone, will have very arty naked shots.. 1st outfit shall be us in our pink couple tee that we bought in Bangkok - "Born to Love Him" & "Born to Love Her". 2nd outfit is Darling in black singlet and me in a black tube, showing my bloom. 3rd outfit will be Darling topless and me in a normal white spaghetti top (not maternity top hor). And 4th outfit is NO outfit for me. Wonder if Darling is allowed to go all naked? Erm, a bit weird hor.. haha..

Isabelle gave me a very huge scare on Thursday (03.09.09). She is always very active the whole day, but on that day, she did not move much. In fact I did not feel her movements the whole morning. I wasn't sure if it was coz I was busy clearing my desk that I did not pay attention to her movements. Anyway usually ard lunch time she will do her kallang waves and fidget the whole time. That day she did not. I was worried, I gave Darling a call and I was sobbing during the phonecall. I was really worried sthg bad had happened *choy*. It was agreed that I should monitor for a while more. After lunch, I felt some slight movements from Isabelle and was told by Sharon that is ok, as long as there are movements, everything's fine. However the movements weren't big like usual. The whole afternoon she also did not move much, only the occassional fidget. Come dinner time, we were ready to go and pay Dr Chen a visit. However after dinner, Isabelle moved like she normally would whilst we were in the car. So we thought all's fine. HOWEVER upon reaching home, she stopped her movements again. I got so worried again. Darling called up TMC and Mount A, we were told to go down for a CTG check, but adviced to call our gynae first. So we paged for Dr Chen and I dunno why, talking to Dr Chen never fails to make me feel more assured and happy. Dr Chen explained that it could be one of baby's lazy days and as long as there are more than 10 movements in a 12 hour period, is fine. Told me to monitor for the next 12 hours. After talking to Dr Chen, Isabelle started her kallang waves etc. What a notti baby girl I have!!! On Saturday, Dr Chen even asked me to go down to her clinic for a CTG strap, I told her that all's fine, baby's kicking very much already. Hahaha.. This notti baby wants to spend more of Mummy and Daddy's money ah!

Had been thinking about Isabelle's baby shower. My mum said previously that there is no need to hold a baby shower, wait till Isabelle is 1 year old then hold a birthday celebration. Due to my youngest sister getting married in Jan, I am NOT to hold a baby shower, coz it would seem as though my family keeps asking pple for ang pao. I really do not understand why I am always the one who has to give in, make way and take into consideration for everyone. Eventually the idea of not having a baby shower set in, Darling and I thought maybe we should just hold one outside for friends since the family doesnt want to have any.

Just last night I asked my mum if we need to distribute cakes to the relatives. My mum's reply is no need coz if give her side of relatives, then my dad's side relatives also need to give. And she feels that since my dad's relatives never distribute cakes to us when they have new additions to the family, why should we give. And giving cakes to relatives is like asking for ang pao again. This is crap I feel. It makes me feel like I am having a baby on the sly, as though this is something that I need to hide and be ashamed of.

I had asked my eldest sister on Sunday what she did for her 3 kids. They had cake distribution on baby's full month, to BOTH sides of the relatives. Fine, if this is the standard that my mum wants to apply, so be it. My grandfather-in-law did not have any cake distribution for all his great grandchildren, so for Isabelle, there wun be any as well, this I can accept. No double standards. My mum asked if my hubby's side will be giving cakes, my reply is no, and I did not want to elaborate further. Since she dowan to distribute any cakes or hold any baby shower, I believe Darling and I will just go ahead with our own plans, and we will NOT cater extra boxes of cakes for them.