Prodigal Penny

It was such an embarrassment that the sister and I didn't exactly know the meaning of the word "Prodigal". Do you?

Prodigal = spendthrift, extravagant, wasteful...

The concert's theme was Prodigal Penny on that night, the story was actually inspired from a story in the bible where this man went for a spree and spend every single cent his parents gave him and landed himself into serious trouble.

Here's a shot of Megen with Ah Mah...

I don't look very preggie in this pic, do I? *hee*

The grand finale..

Rewarding the little one with fries and burger at Mos Burger..though she didn't win the Best Conduct Award this year..

Went for my checkup today with Hubby Goh this morning. Glad that all is well - my BP was stabilized and Baby Goh growth has progressed since 2 weeks ago.

Updates on BB:

- He weighs 2.75 kg at 36weeks Day 2, has grown 450gm over the last two weeks.

- Head had grown a little too, maintaining around the 31-32cm mark, which is good, no more humpty dumpty!

- He's lying very low down in my pelvic and has engaged! Dr Chan said he's of a good position and good weight and he's not worried if I pop anytime! Ermm..don't want lor, my Confinement lady will only be ready after 12 Nov.

Updates on Mummy:

- No protein content in urine, no swollen legs or severe headache

- Gained a whopping 2 kg over 2 weeks, must be the cakes, chocs, fries and ice-cream, gotta cut cut cut! Now total weight gain has soared to 10.6kg..oh dear, already passed the 10kg target!!

- Tested negative on Strep B *phew*

Next checkup is due next week, think Dr Chan's gonna start doing VE (vaginal examination) on me, heard it's gonna be painful..sobs!

Anyway, after the checkup, went to meet up with Ted for lunch at Ikea..

Dunno why the sudden spur of impulsive shopping, bought all these rubbish...haha..

Wall Stickers - like the flora design very much, hopefully I have this motivation to put them up in the living room this weekend.

Moo moo shower curtain - so cute!! can't resist!!

These fridge photo frame magnets are new arrivals! I like the colour..keke..

Now, where should I hide them before Hubby Goh come home from work?

Too Busy!

Aiya..wanted to post about Megen's concert last Saturday but been too busy the whole day...

My bro in law is on the way to fetching me from work now....so here, see my beautiful tummy first la..

At 35th week, 5th day...

Baby Ashlyn on Board!

Steady lah, my shopping cum lobang queen gf (Grace) has given birth to a healthy gal last night, 2 weeks earlier than her edd on 15 Nov!

Kekeke..we were speculating that perhaps too much walking and shopping for the past couple of days have triggered her water bag to burst early. She must be disappointed cos' her gal came too early, neither on her birthday (30 Oct) or her wedding anniversary (1 Nov). But one consolation will be she has popped in time for her gynae to be around to deliver Baby Ashlynn as he is scheduled to be outstationed for a conference from 8-10 Nov.

Now, I'm just worried that I will pop early, hope the baby is cooperative to come out only after 12 Nov, otherwise, I might face the problem of having no Confinement Lady around (her current assignment will only end on 12 Nov!). Pls pls...BB Goh, pls be good ok?

Busy Weekend!

It's gonna be a busy weekend with so many programmes lined up for the 2 days!

It's the favourite niece's school concert today at the Victoria theatre and the sister bought me a ticket to attend like last year. She's gonna be dressed up as a waitress boogie woogie with her classmates in the evening. Am hoping that she will clinch the best behaved student award again this year, but I dun think so lah..cos' we heard that 2 of her classmates have fell out with her (in other words, dun fren her liao) 2 days ago so perhaps she's not that popular in class afterall..haha. Like mother like daughter *lol*

As for tmr, there will a soka meeting with the rest of the members in the afternoon, gonna be another enriching session I reckon. Then in the evening, it's MIL's birthday celebration at the chinese restaurant. This time, she's combining her birthday dinner with her elder sis and her children. Gonna be a grand affair man, cos' her elder sis is turning 60. As a token of appreciation for all the birdnest, fresh fish and home cooked dinners, I've bought her something small from Citigem:

A white gold pendant with pearls + a white gold necklace !





Wanted to get her something diamony, but errmm...they don't fit my $150 budget..haha..in the end settled for this as I thought it looks kinda simple but elegant. Not cheap also ok, $170, burst my original budget. I hope she will like it though and not chuck it in her drawer collecting dust.

Wah..feell damn sleepy leh..but the part time helper is still ironing the clothes...

My action list this week:
1. Set up the playpen and clean it thoroughly - Hubby Goh
2. Test out the sterilizer with the new bottles and breast pumps - Hubby Goh and me
3. Call the Confinement Lady to check what I need to buy/ standby at home for the confinement 4. Get shifu's contact (for naming BB Goh) - Hubby Goh
5. Finalise the packing of the hospital bag - Meeee

....zzzZZz...

Aside to SY: Read your blog gal...the coach diaper bag was only sponsored half by Hubby Goh ok..he didn't buy it totally for me. And no lah, he doesn't print notes (money), if so, I would have even a wider collection of diaper bags! Haha...

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Have been suffering from BH Contractions lately cos nearing birth. The tightening of the tummy can sometimes be so uncomfy that you think you're carrying a huge stone inside that is about to explode. Read up on BH contractions and learnt that they existed to let our uterus practise and be ready for the actual birth...when the real contractions kick in, it's gonna be many times worse than what's happening now. Haha..talk about labour pain..

Just got news that Vincent's wife has delivered today! Woohoo! So exciting...it's the start of a new chapter in life. Hubby Goh and I are both anticipating on the arrival of BB Goh and embracing parenthood. 32 more days to go!!

Looking forward to my leave next month...in fact no mood to work liao...haha..

I'm still having my ice-cream and waffles crave leh. *pout*

Ironical!

And so the truth was to convert the contract gal to be perm staff after her contract ends 3 months later. Hah..what a joke! Just got an email from the MD this morning that the company is undergoing cost-cutting measures and headcount freeze, but somehow they are still hiring someone for a supporting department. Shrug. I can never understand what the higher management thinks. But one thing for sure is that I must make myself indispensible in the dept/company first, else I reckon the first to chop might be ME.

Sianz.

Has already started handing over some projects over to the new gal and work has been a breeze lately until I get kinda bored. They have already stopped giving me new tasks so I'm just following up with the old ones till I go on leave. Even tmr's event, I will only be in charge of registration and nothing else...haha..sometimes it's just a blessing to be pregnant and gets pampered :)

Dream

It was one of the those rare nights where I slept with no aircon but just pure fan. Shiok, but not enough, and I dreamt of holding BB Goh in my arms and breastfeeding him through the newly bought breast pump...haha..

In the dream, BB goh had little hair, but he was of a good size, so carrying him wasn't much of a problem. Dreamt that I was feeding him with my breastmilk and quickly dozed off after emptying one of my breasts.

Going to see Dr Chan again next Wed, and I hope BB Goh continues to grow steadily and his weight will rise to at least 2.6kg-2.8kg. I'm praying hard.

Been eating lots recently, hoping to pass those carbos and nutrients to BB Goh during this last lap. Craving for Gelare ice-cream with waffles, today's Tuesday and they are having half price, so perhaps will go pop by during lunchie or dinner....

Yums!

My Backup

Was quite taken aback that the company has hired a contract staff to takeover my work so quickly. In fact, she has reported for work this morning and I wasn't really prepared for her presence today.

She came in as a 3-month contract staff (Snr Marketing Exec). Saw her CV and she used to be an AM with a relatively big company over a short stunt of 5 months. Ah..so she's a job hopper! The boss claimed that she doesn't have any regional exposure, so she will be hired as a Snr Exec rather than AM. I mean in the first place, why is there a need to get an AM when this person is only temp? Unless they are planning for "something" during my absence lah. So suspicious leh. She only reports for work this morning and the whole day she has been sitting in numerous meetings...the boss wants her to get involved in this Thur event at Hooters, next month's India Reseller Night, and of cos' the Dinner & Dance which I'm gonna miss in December. Somehow I felt threatened.

Arrggghh..I might not see my desk when I returned from my ML two months later. Oh Gosh! How ah?

BB Goh's Blog DONE!

Took me half a day's effort to get BB Goh's blog up and going...hee.


Couldn't make up mind to use which template, so I went on and on searching the net for the most appropriate blog skin and finally settled for something sweet and pastel blue.


Now the template is done, just waiting for the contents to be updated. Will only be officially be using it upon the arrival of Baby Goh, so will not be publishing the blog addy now. Meantime I can still decide what other functions to add in to make it even more complete.


Sigh, it's another Sunny day but Hubby Goh is not free to bring me out for swimming. Two weeks of no swimming and it's making me so lethargic. He's going for his facial later and I will just hang around Orchard area till his session finishes. I can no longer lie on my back for long, the weight of the bump presses against all my blood vessels on the back and will numb all my senses. Can feel breathless at times also, so better to play safe and halt all facials now.


Hubby Goh brought me to Ngee Ann city for shopping last evening. Bought me 3 new bottles of Lo Hang Kar concentrated birdnest cos' the "old stock" at home has depleted. Frankly I prefer the home-cooked one anytime, but then again, not everyone is always free to cook for me (and I'm lazy to DIY myself too), so bor bian..

We made a trip to Wisma as well and Hubby Goh bought himself a new pair of working shoes. Now all he's left to buy for the New Year (yes, I do mean New Year = 2008) will be nice polo shirts for CNY visitings. Actually I spotted some really cool ones in Tommy Hilfger, and there was one that comes in the same colour as the one I bought for BB Goh, but cost a freaking $129!! Hubby Goh refused to let me pay for it and dragged me out of the store :( How nice if father and son wear the same outfit right? Hmm...

Ok la..gotta go wash up and ready to get out of the house..more shopping..woohoo!

Finally Here *Yeah*

10 days of looooong wait and the Coach Bag has finally reached me!

Though no one was free to give me a lift home last evening after work, I still lugged it home taking a bus! Hee..good thing that there was a kind auntie who gave up her seat for me, else I can't imagine standing on the bus holding this new bag for 1 hour!

Came home and camwhored the new bag..



Comes with a diaper changing pad too...how cool!



It has sooo many compartments that I so love!



I think it's absolutely a great buy..



I is H A P P Y....2 diaper bags to interchange with...

Hiaks.

Such A Genius..haha..

Have successfully reinstalled the calendar and a new baby growth ticker in the blog. Nicee?

Am I such a genius or what? Haha..

The weekend project will be creating a new blog to dedicate to my darling BB Goh. Haven't thought of a blog name leh, what do dah think? *scratch head*

New Blog Skin

Like the new look? Hah...I chanced upon it earlier and managed to successfully replace the old html codes...

Swee bor?

Will be editing it over the weekends when I have more time..

Hee...

Baby Goh at 34 Weeks 3 Days

Just got back from the routine checkup, glad that all is well and I've requested for a mc today to rest at home...hehe. I know, I'm a slacker, but my energy level is really going down and walking is getting more and more like a chore nowadays as the v-area gets pretty sore with Baby Goh's head pressing against it.

Updates from the checkup:
1. Baby Goh now weighs 2.3kg. He gained 300gms since 2 weeks ago. Dr Chan observed that the growth is slowing down probably due to my hypertension, but according to him, it's good cos' bb's head has stayed put at 31.5cm, not any bigger, else I will face difficulty pushing his big head out during birth. And besides, he doesn't encourage big babies, so bb is of average size and just nice..not dua pwee (big and fat).

2. For me, I've gained another 100gms, which brings my total weight gain till date to 8.7kg. Great! That's what I wanted, not to overshot the 10kg mark..hehe. BP today went up a little, but I reckon that's becos' I was nervous on the development of Baby Goh, so heart raced a little bit faster in the morning. Nevertheless, Dr Chan said since my urine test is ok, legs are not swollen, he's not worried abt me getting pre-eclampsia. Phew..I felt so relieved!

3. Baby Goh is not engaged yet, but Dr Chan said he is "almost there"! BB is about three-fifths above my pubic bone, so hopefully by the next visit, he is "there" liao :)

4. From now onwards, will have to lookout for signs of labour. Frequent contractions of 5 mins interval, or bloody show, or water bag burst are signs to lookout for. They might occur in various order, so if any presence off these, I will have to head to the hospital.

Did my pre-admission today at Glen-E after the checkup! I'm getting a single bedder, after much calculations, I think the total bill will come up to about 3K! And that's after deducting Medisave....Geesh!



Aside from that...I bought some bo liao stuff during the past few shopping sprees...haha..

Brag Tag - to hold BB Goh's photo and hang onto my diaper bag to show off *grin*



Baby shower banner - was at Concourse with a colleague yday during lunchie, could't resist buying it cos' it's tooooo CUTE!



Am now working out the guest list and planning how we are going to throw the baby shower. Dun really wish to hold it at home cos' it will be damn messy and I don't think I have the time nor energy to clean up the place after the party. Rather have it at someone's condo (function room). A pity that Sis's place doesn't have a proper function room (only club house but doesn't allow food), else things will be easier. Taking hope that Renne can help us with this though *cross fingers and toes*

On an even happier note, my coach diaper bag has finally arrived Singpost!! Hopefully they will deliver to me by tomorrow!!! Can't wait!!

Life's Good Today...

What a great day today, no work, chilly weather...listening to mood jazz and updating my blog..hehe..

It's off in lieu for Hari Raya for the entire company, unfortunately Hubby Goh couldn't get a day off, so I'm left alone at home lazing around now. Anyway, I needed a rest badly, cos' the high tea and shopping yday left me with indigestion and backache today. High tea at Melt Cafe was not too bad, though we were hopping that they have a bigger spread than just mee siam, pastries and desserts. But alas, it's high tea and not buffet lunch what, so what more can we ask for at $28/pax?

Shopping with the 2 ladies was superly tiring..haha..the 2 really had the stamina! I had to search for seats inside both Mango and Zara when the gals went mad...but I didn't go home empty handed, bought a baby doll top from Zara at $40 and went home feeling contented. Recently the bump has expanded enormously and I can't seem to fit into some of the tops and even my normal panties!! No doubt I'm going to pop next month, but I still need a couple more pieces of presentable clothes to attend meetings and events. The other day I was wearing a stripey top over black slacks and this stupid Sales Manager commented that I look like a character in the Sesame Street! Urrgghh...

Baby Goh is moving slightly more now, sometimes so intense that I could feel small bumps here and there on the surface of the tummy, or at times he will just retire to one side and makes my tummy loopsided! Hate it especially when he stretches, his head will press against my pelvic, causing sharp pain in the V-area....urghh..and I heard this is only the beginning, more discomforts coming soon..

ok..going to cook lunchie..the hippo is hungry liao...hee :P

Sigh!

Mum broke the news last night that my sis intends to bring her and dad to Hong Kong on the 1st week of Dec. Could see from her expression that she's very excited about the trip, but on the other hand, she's worried that I could not cope with my confinement during her absence.

Frankly, I was a little affected when I heard the news. I could have taken for granted thinking that mum will always be there for me when I need her, so didn't really bother to think too much. And thanks for my sis to have thought of such a brilliant idea to bring the whole family away during my crucial period in life. I reasoned with sis that I prefer mum to be around my side during my confinement cos' I feel "safer" to have mum around to give me advices and support when I need. Sis on the other hand felt that I will be in good hands since I've already engaged a confinement lady to help. But but...it's not that I dun trust the confinement lady, I'm just worried that something might crop up last minute (you dunno when Murphy's Law will strike) and I need mum's expertise as contingency.

There again, I also dun wish to deprive mum's opportunity to go on a trip. I mean, she has slogged her life for us, for the family, and it is only right that she should go and relax before she's tied down looking after another baby.

Sigh. I'm really torn. I will leave it to mum and respect her decision. The last thing I want is the MIL coming to meddle with my stuff when my mum's away.

Mummy mummy...can you not go Hong Kong this time??

*pout*

Back in Action

Sorry for the lack of posts, was away for a 2-day off-site meeting where the whole load of us had no internet access at all. Made us all suffer from no internet access withdrawl syndrome!

Anyway, the meeting went on well and my dept didn't get any shit from the Sales Dept. I guess all the chantings work! But the meetings were quite energy draining, I will concuss on the bed right after the night shower and although the meeting has ended yday, I still feel tired both physically and mentally. Yawn...

Aside from that, I'm smelling something fishy going on in the office, something scandalous is happening. The romance of a married man (of 2 kids) and a youthful gal in the company. I'm not 100% sure that the underground romance is true, but somehow their actions and numerous lame excuses gave them away. I dun intend to poke into their business, but this is actually happening to one of my execs, and I dun wish to see her ruined in that man's hands! Dunno how to approach either party to speak the truth, the company doesn't encourage romance in the office, so the big boss is giving me a month's time to investigate and solve the "problem" if it really exist. It's either they give up their relationship, or it will either He go, or SHE go. Sigh! To think that I've just approved my gal on a working trip with him next week to encourage the relationship...but that I really have no choice, if I'm not pregnant, I would have taken her place instead. Aye..how ah?? I dun wish to be a busybody but it concerns the fate of my gal in the company if she sway sway kena conned by the stupid man. Curiosity kills the cat and I just hate this feeling!

Checkup's Update

Went for my 32nd week's checkup yday morning. Took a day's leave too cos' Hubby Goh was granted a day's off from his nice boss and we spent a good quality together despite the scorching heat.

Checkup's update:

- BB Goh now weighs 2.052 kg, he gained a whopping 600gms over the past 4 weeks. No wonder the bump in front is getting bigger and heavier!
- His head has grown to 31cm. Dr Chan said it's "quite big", cos' his limbs are of average size now. Geesh, I hope BB Goh won't turn out to be a humpty dumpty leh, praying hard that he will be born proportionate. But frens have been telling me that it's normal for bbs to have big heads, asked me not to worry. I don't remember that I was born a big head leh?!?
- For me, I only gained a mere 100gms, cos' BB Goh absorped most of the nutrients I took. Currently total weight gain is 8.6kg, I hope I will not overshot the 10kg mark I have set myself :)
- My BP remains the same at 140/80. Dr Chan said he wants to close monitor me cos' high BP might end up with pre-eclampsia and gotta go for c-sect to bring the bb out earlier. He examined my legs which are still perfect in shape, no water retention or swelling, my urine test is fine, no protein contents, and most important of all, BB Goh is growing well, so he reckoned I could be just suffering from mild hypertension. The downside is that I will have to continue to cut my salt intake and cut totally from processed food. Arrgghh...dreads!

So aside from the checkup, we hop over to HV for a nice and relaxed breakfast at Coffeebean. It's been a while since we have eaten in Coffeebean other than the times he had to send me to the airport in the mornings before I take my morning flight for biz trips.

After the breakkie, we proceeded to Queen Street to get some more clothes for BB Goh. Fwah, I should have gone to that wholesale shop earlier, their stuff are really good and cheap! Baby's top cost only $1.60 each and long pants was going at $1.50 each! Cotton material somemore, cheap cheap! Then dunno why, we were mesmerized by the crowd in Kwan Inn Temple, so we went in and took a peep, I even said a little prayer silently, pray that all will go well for me for this pregnancy.

Since there were still so much time for us, I suggested Hubby Goh to make a trip down to his tailor to make some new shirts for the new year. Ok ok..I know it's bit too early for the plan, but I guess since we have the time now to do so, why not? By the time BB Goh arrives, I don't think we will not have much of our ME time, we will most probably evolve ourselves around the baby instead. In the end, Hubby Goh made 4 working shirts and a pair of pants. He has decided not to wear any of his new shirts for the CNY (yah, he more kia-su than I do!), cos' we had to manage the baby, so we will most probably be shopping around during the next few weekends for nice polos and tees for him. As for muar, sigh...there's still a big question mark if I can regain back my figure and squeeze back into my old jeans. I dun even dare to think that far yet!

Oh..baby baby!

Damn Itchy!

Dunno for what apparent reason, the area around the belly button starts to itch like crazy. Wonder is it becos' of the Palmer's stretch mark cream or is it becos' the skin is dry and stretching? Been trying to refrain from using my fingers to scratch but the itch is god-damn unbearable. So what I did last night was to give my tummy a good scrub using Body Shop's Satsumi scrub and then paint a thick layer of calamine lotion onto the itchy area and leave it to air for 10 mins.

Somehow it feels better today and instead of using Palmer's, I switched back to the Body Shop's Cocoa Butter stick...so far so good, just that it still itch a little occasionally but still can tahan la.

Yeah! Tmr muar's on leave to go for my 32nd week's check and scan. Kinda worried, dunno what to expect - whether BB Goh is growing at a good rate? BB Goh oversize? BP stable? Amniotic fluid sufficient? What position is BB Goh now?

Am now chanting hard that I can eventually go for natural birth without epi and not having to opt for C-section. Gosh..I'm so paranoid now. Worry seems to be the only thought in the mind and as long as the baby is still inside the womb, every second and minute is kept in thought of it.

Now, who says it's easy to be a Mum?

Ikea Shopping

Hubby Goh was able to knock off early yday and suggested we make a trip to Ikea to buy the outstanding items. Good to see that he's more pro-active nowadays, I think he's more looking forward to seeing and cradle his own son in his arms than I do..haha...now everynight besides telling BB Goh a story, he will also tell him some nitty gritties at work and kiss my tummy goodnight before turning in. Seeing that sweetens my heart. At least I know he is excitingly anticipating BB Goh's arrival and not feeling miserable having to lose his freedom once the baby is here. Good job, Hubby!

Updates on the following (just to remind myself!) -

Things to buy:
1. Gerber hot and cold relieve patches for the breasts
2. A few pcs more of infant clothings (cos' realised I bought mostly clothings for 3-6 months..hehe..too big liao)
3. Confinement items (Sesame oil, herbs for bathing....etc)

Action items:
1. Contact Kelly's fren from Glen E to reserve slot for the discount on the delivery charges -checked!
2. Pack all bb stuff to the respective new drawers in the bb's room - checked!
3. Wash batch 4 of bb's clothings - checked! going to embark on batch 5!
4. Read 2 chapters of Tracy Hogg's books
5. Go Ikea and get some miscellaneous items (blanket for the CL, more plastic linings for the drawers, etc.) - checked! except on the blanket..can't seems to find an appropriate one.

Hmm..have I left out anything??

Brand New Week

Haven't rested enough and its the start of a brand new week again..urggh...


And sad to say, among the items in the action list for the weekend, I only accomplished one! Haha..that is to contact the lady from Glen E who can offer me the 10% discount on my overall delivery charges. That's the priority in the list and I'm glad I have already completed it! Muhaha...what excuses!

Anyway, yday was another of the usual Sundays. Hubby Goh skipped work (cos' it was only an UAT session) and brought me to Ghim Moh market for breakfast. I ordered the same vegetarian bee hoon again cos' it's simply too delicious to miss whenever I have the chance to go there. Also bought $25 worth of fruits to stock up for this week. Somehow I have cultivated the habit of eating fruits in the car during the journey to work with Hubby Goh. That man has also been influenced by me cos' I will stuff the cut fruits in his mouth when his both hands are on the steering wheel (can't reject me!). Haha..he said eversince the fruits, his bowels have been soon soon and he likes it, so now all the fruits are all proudly sponsored by him :)

After the breakfast, Hubby Goh went for his haircut and I waited for his return at home so that we can proceed for my Sunday swim at Sis's place. Bloody hell, the usual pool I go was cordoned off cos' of broken glasses so we had to proceed to the main pool instead. Dun really like it there cos' it's odd size and it was kinda crowded yday so after 1.5hrs in the waters, we gave up and went to sis's place to nua instead. The swim was good though cos' it kinda helped to reduce the pelvic pain I have been experiencing for the past couple of days. Must be the weight of BB Goh pressing against my pelvic la...I wonder whether the pain will aggravate once BB Goh grows bigger? Argg...I dun want to even dwell on that!

Aside from that, Sis bought more clothes for BB Goh again! This time it's Gap, Osh Kosh and some Japanese brand, woohoo! BB Goh is really lucky! I do hope that BB Goh really turns out to be a BOY and not a GAL, else all the clothes will be wasted. Some aunties and frens have been commenting that judging on the look of my tummy, it should be a GAL. Mum's neighbour even placed bet and guaranteed that it will be a GAL, not BOY, though mum keep emphasizing that my gynae has triple confirmed that it's a BOY. Oh well, whether it's a boy or gal, I will still love...as long as it is healthy, I dun give a damn. Clothes...can always buy new ones mah...right?

It's a lazy Monday...seems like everyone's on leave today! Probably will leave early to go search for some products in Sim Lim later. Hee!