We have come this far

Week 36 and the clock is ticking into Week 37.
Finally, we are done with our antenatal class. The last being on the topic of marriage enrichment. Throughout, the dear hubs was oblivious and engrossed in his iphone. The bane of technology. I dont blame him. Marriage isn't something that can be "taught"...it's a lesson in life which all must go through. No textbook will prepare one for the ups and downs in marriage. Suffice to say, whenever whatever we go through together must be taken in stride. However, an interesting question asked by the coordinator: What are your primary concerns when the baby comes along? An array of answers were given: will there be us time? who will look after the baby? ....The same thought was probably swimming in both hub's and my mine: how are we gonna handle our finances? After the class, I asked him if this was the thought that struck him and why didn't anyone raise this important question? His answer -- coz everyone's egoistic. True.

Well, there's no use mulling over such a thing and having a kid sure comes with a truckload of sacrifice. There's no 30-day moneyback guarantee, store or return policy or 1-for-1 exchange for a new model/ colour.

The weekend has been an extremely fulfilling one -- Decorated the nursery, washed nappies (2nd last load); attended the last antenatal class; celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary over a good dinner @ La Cantina and presented ourselves with a memorable gift -- took some really good maternity shots. As reluctant as he was, the hub was a good sport and went along. With this lil watermelon besotted to us, before she makes her grand entrance, I thought we should really capture the moment (even though it came with a hefty price tag!)

Other developments:
face and hair seemingly getting oilier as we progress into the last lap
Lil watermelon has grown to a whopping 2.7kg
Feet and fingers are in a state of water-retention (can't wear my wedding band and none of my heels fit!)
Calves are not spared too...none of my jeans go beyond the calves!
Feeling very sleepy most of the time
Am hoping the wriggling action will not end and continue for a longer time :)




The nursery has come together finally! green's good for the lil one's eyes. See the little details: rabbits hopping around? I can also mark lil bub's height on the leaves with chalk. Lovely idea! Now i just need to work on my little mushrooms...probably my one mth confinement project if I have the energy and time!




Jane (the photographer) was really good at creating the mood. The hub isn't great at smiling with teeth showing whilst I'm the exact opposite.

Oh man! the stretchmarks!! URGH


Looking like I'm carrying a basketball!







One of my favourite shots!
Looks like some ad for Motherhood or Young Parents


Finally a less serious and comic shot from the hub!

There are several more "obscenely artistic" shots. This is by far my most daring attempt. The hub wasn't too supportive though. The photographer had to tell him not to show the "black face" when he's home. But beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder...when we saw the raw photos, he was pretty pleased.

It's quite a weird feeling and the whole parents-to-be feeling hasn't really sunk in. But I think what we want to achieve as parents will soon begin to crystalise within our minds.

Thank you for 14 years of crazy years! I love you dear!

Unpredictability in Babies - Bathing & more

Taking notice of the little details make me light up. Even though the hubs isn't with me for the last 2 wks, my little cantaloupe is enthusiastically keeping me company and not to mention awake. It's fun to keep track of how she grows and in the blink of an eye, I'm moving into wk 36!! OMG! somebody shoot me! It's been 9 mths already? This is moving all too fast!

The last two weeks had been utterly overwhelming. That might have been an understatement. With the hub travelling intensely, I had to attend the antenatal classes myself. Thankfully the hubs managed to catch the class on labour where the various pain-relief methods were shared. During the video screening, both of us looked at each other with fear sketched on our faces. Crimson red blood isn't our thing, but sweet enough, the hub said he will be there for me. Let's hope and pray that isn't lip service. Despite close gfs offering to go with me and hinting to the SIL that I needed company (only to receive no reply on the matter), I decided to be the independent woman of the millennium and drive myself to Mt A for class. It's really no laughing matter to be driving at this stage. Getting in and out of the car is beginning to be a chore. Ingesting heaps of new info after a long day at work is also brain-draining. I've even resorted to snapping a video of bathing the newborn as my brain was simply on standby mode. Information was so overloading that we ran into overtime and the whole lesson lasted for 2.5hours instead of 2hours. By the time I headed home and had dinner, it was already 930pm. Considerably early compared to if I were to be working -- a consolation much?

During the whole time, hubbies were whipping up their iphones, taking shots of their wives practising the cradle hold or the football hold while I wallow in self-pity. Ok, I didn't really have the strength to dwell on that but indeed, loneliness was enveloping me. The only shot I managed to take was of the fake doll. I didn't want to look like a crazy woman trying to camwhore with a doll. Like I mentioned before, this whole journey seems to be a PHD. The amount of information and books given by others have not even been 1/4 touched. Sadly, I'm not much of a reader. Solution- To compile whatever I have learnt in bite size. Here's some to share:
Interesting note to self: If baby has the cradle cap, apply olive oil. Myth or fact? hmmmm..

Meanwhile, checklist:
Hospital bag 80% packed
Baby closet packed
Decor for nursery & playpen -- arrived but still in incubation
Pre-admission hospitalisation form -- to be submitted
Name for little cantaloupe -- Still working on it

Somehow, no matter how prepared one is, there's this feeling of settlement. But for now, I shall just embrace the love and company of my love one and look forward to an exciting time next week! It's gonna be a special moment next wkend! :)

"LIFE IS TOO UNPREDICTABLE TO LIVE BY A SCHEDULE

THE COURSE OF LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE. NO ONE CAN WRITE HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN ADVANCE"