June Mummies' Gathering

One of the June Mummies has so kindly opened up her place in RedHill for us to meet up. To date, I have only been to one of these gatherings. It was at JP then and the 1st time that I ever brought Lil Shauna out on my own. Yday, was another of my 1st time. Such gatherings seem to give me strength to attempt many 1st time with Lil Shauna.

I have always wanted to try taking the MRT with Lil Shauna on my own. Once successful, I can travel further via MRT and not solely rely on cab. Cab fares kill. Anyway, I got ready the stroller and packed my sling, just in case she refuses to sit in the stroller. With God's grace, my mum was intending to bring my elder niece to a play place in Redhill! So we ended up travelling together on the MRT. Lil Shauna was pretty cooperative. There were so many things to see and to keep her occupied while on the way to the train station. She fell asleep even before we board the MRT and slept thru a large part of the ride.

She did wake up at Queenstown and started crying. Luckily, she was quickly distracted with people watching. The train was so packed at that time. There was no way that I could try carrying her and manoeuvre the stroller out of the train. I should have attempted the MRT on a non-PH. We almost couldnt get down the train cos there were so many people blocking the door. In my rush attempt to get out, the stroller went over a few people's foot. Ouch! I cant remember if I apology.

The situation reminds me of the commotion some time ago about parent(s) bringing their kids out on stroller. Some people were complaining about how inconsiderate those parents are, how their stroller run over toes, blocked ways and stuff. Some people even think that parents shouldnt bring their stroller out. -.o" Like yday, the stroller was the best way for me to travel and I really think that the MRT is not stroller friendly. I dun mean to run over people's toes lor, but I need to get down and there were just too many people blocking my way lor. I am not being inconsiderate cos there is NO WAY that I could carry the baby, the bag and a folded stroller out of the MRT!

After I got down, people started boarding the train and the door soon closed while people were still boarding. A young couple carrying a baby and a folded stroller didnt manage to get on the train bcos the other people squeezed into the train 1st ignoring the couple! -.o" The mummy was much pissed but there was nothing much she could do. Haiz, lesson learnt... never travel on MRT with stroller on PH.

Lil Shauna and I spent about 2 hours at the mummy's place. Soon, other mummies and their babies joined. Lil Shauna started off well. She was all smiley and very charming. Then, she started getting very cranky at 1.30pm. I bet it was bcos she was hungry, tired and hot. She was again struggling very badly while drinking her milk. I hate it when she does that. I perspired like a horse while trying to grab the struggling baby and feed her milk. Luckily she did calm down when I was almost giving up. Then, she fell asleep and I spent the rest of the time carrying the baby until Daddy Lim came to pick up us. Hehe.

The only pix that she manages to take. The "phototaking" session only started after we left. She's sandwiched between 2 baby boys. Xin fu leh, hehe.

Mummy Lim

Are We Bad Parents?

As usual, Lil Shauna spent her Monday night at Popo's place. We were glad, or at least I was. I so needed this break after the hectic weekend that totally zapped me of my energy. When she stays overnight at my mum's place, we will visit her and try to spend as much time with her as possible before heading home.

Popo's place was in total chaos. Lil Shauna was still in her cranky mood. We suspect that it might be the aftereffect of the vaccination. Errr.. that's nothing else that we can blame on. Afterall, she's usually such a sweetie pie, especially when she's at Popo's place. Anyway, we had dinner and Daddy Lim helped to carry Lil Shauna after dinner. My mum broke a glass cover in the kitchen, leaving her frustrated. Our (the children) attempts to help failed. She refused to let us stepped into the kitchen. Then, she attempted to sweep up the broken pieces and was pissed that the maid didnt help her. She had been complaining about the maid, about how the maid "keng" for easier stuff to do, not taking enough initiatives, not doing the household chores properly and most importantly, she is still as busy as ever. I think the situation has largely to do with the fact that she is still doing too much. She rather do it herself than to teach/ ask the maid to do, then she gets frustrated. -.o" It is a vicious cycle. The maid and us did help eventually, but Popo was already in a bad mood.

The kids were playing on the play mat and Lil Shauna joined them. Cousin Yingxuan was learning how to crawl and to sit up from an all-4s position. Cousin Yingxi was running and jumping around. We kept a close tab on the baby just in case somebody flipped or jumped on her. It was just plain chaotic.

Lil Shauna was super sticky, wet (from her dripping saliva), smelly and was wearing a heavy, drooping diaper. She was still waiting for her shower and she smelled real bad. Popo & the maid were both busy from the broken-glass episode. It was hard for us to insist that they bath her immediately too. As my mum is the main caregiver, we have learnt to let-go at manyatimes. It is just impossible to insist that they do things our ways sometimes. Insisting will only create unhappiness. So, we waited and waited and waited with the flipping and jumping kids. The situation was so bad that Daddy Lim has to escape to smoke. He said that he has to do that to prevent himself from exploding.

When he was back from his smoke, he said that he was nursing a bad tummyache and needed the toilet, but the one at home. -.o" He didnt want to drop the stinky bomb at my mum's place and suffocates everybody, especially since it was bathing time. Yingxuan and Lil Shauna were in the bedroom then. I have no choice but to rush my mum to take over Lil Shauna. My already frustrated mum then insisted that we could leave immediately and they were able to take care of Lil Shauna. But there was nobody looking after her at that point of time! My mum was still doing her stuff in the kitchen, the maid was hanging her laundry. Only Yingxuan was lying in her playpen in the room. We cant expect the 2 babies to look after each other mah.

Finally, they were done and the preparation for shower begins. We left in a hurry. On the way home, we were discussing about the chaotic situation. Daddy Lim was much pissed. The more we talked about it, the worse I felt. We should have brought the baby home today. If we had did that, we could have left immediately after dinner, bath her and spent more time with her. Just bcos of our selfish desire to spend some "me-time", we "tortured" the baby. Sob! It really makes me wonder if we are bad parents. Haiz...

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna is a Brave Little Girl

Lil Shauna went for her 2nd 6-in-1 jab on Friday. To begin with, I was super worried that she will come down with fever. During her 1st jab when she was about 2 months old, she developed fever and was super cranky. Not only did she demand to be carried all the time, she didnt sleep well in the night. My mum and I had to take turns to carry her and pacify her in the night. This time round, she's no longer 3+kg. She is a 6.5kg baby. I fear for my arms.

The day started badly. Lil Shauna was at Popo's place. When I was about to go to Popo's place, it started pouring. I lugged my big bag, the expressed milk and a tiny umbrella (the only umbrella left in the house). I was so worried that the umbrella will give up on me.

Because the rain was so heavy and the umbrella provides such limited coverage, I resort to walking thru' the void decks. I told myself that I should be alright if I kept walking straight. After what seems like a long walk, I emerged at a main road, totally lost! In the end, I was so lost and the rain was so heavy that I ended up taking a cab. Aiya, should have done that in the 1st place and save me all the trouble. -.o"

Then, my mum & I brought Lil Shauna to the clinic. It was still pouring heavily. The 3 of us had to share 1 umbrella (cos I got to shelter them mah) and I was so drenched. Luckily, Lil Shauna was pretty cooperative.

Lil Shauna was given her 2nd 6-in-1 jab and the rotavirus vaccination, which was administered orally. She didnt really cry when they injected her, not like the 1st time where she almost screamed the roof off. She was also distracted by the oral vaccine. It is supposed to taste sweet and Lil Shauna was happily licking/ sucking the vaccine from the syringe. The last jab and the last dosage for rotarivus will take place 2 places down the road.

Surprisingly, she was not as cranky as we tot she would be. There was oso no fever. Must be the power of BM. Hehe. We brought her back and she even sleep thru' the night! But, just as we tot all are over, she gave us hell today. Super, super cranky. I am so, so glad that she's asleep now. She left me even more tired than before the weekend was here. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Life Without Eggs

Daddy Lim picks up electric guitar when he was just a teenager. I suspect it is to impress the girls. Anyway, he owned this electric guitar with a super big Power Ranger sticker and it is now sitting in our store room. After ignoring the "hobby" for the longest time, he is at it again. It is an expensive hobby. All the new toys and gadgets are expensive stuff. The best thing is that there is always a better guitar, a better amp, a better pick, a better...

He had been trying to jio people to form a band, but not many people share his enthusiasm, especially when work and family commitments come into the picture. After a long search, he finally found this group of people. He has been jamming regularly with them and he is enjoying himself. In fact, he has found a chance for them to perform at the Company event! They were trying to find a name and while discussing about fried rice & eggs, they tot of the name "Life Without Eggs". Cool... -.o"

This is them jamming away. Dun ask me what are they playing, just some very loud music with somebody singing as if he is shouting. Interestingly, they were very into this song as compared to the other pop songs. Still, they cant perform this cos nobody is gg to understand. Haha.

We were debating if we should let Lil Shauna learn guitar, bass, drum or keyboard. Daddy Lim says no guitar. Too common liao.. Lol!

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna's Passport Application

I thank God for the person who invented speaker phone. I rang up ICA today and was put on hold for a super long time. The voice system claimed that they were experiencing high call traffic -- at 9am in the morning. Ha! Anyway, I put the phone on speaker and went about doing my work.

After what seems like forever, I finally managed to speak to an officer. I was a little embarrassed relating our story. I bet the officer must be controlling her laughter at the other end of the line. Anyway, she checked and reverted that ICA has yet to receive our application, but there is no need for a fresh application. Once they receive our application, they will either send us an acknowledgement or call us to inform. Then, they will proceed with the application. When the passport is ready, we will then bring the photo down to ICA.

True enuff, I received a call in the afternoon to inform that they have received the application and will proceed accordingly. I was a little surprised at their efficiency. When the passport is ready, we will have to bring Lil Shauna and her photo down to ICA. However, instead of the usual minutes, we will have to wait up to an hour after we hand in the photo before we can collect the passport.

Well, at least they dun charge us double for our stupidity. ;p

Mummy Lim

Shopping Is An Addiction

Women do shop alone, but we prefer company. We tend to buy more when we shop with company. Somehow, the urge to buy is contagious. We cannot resist sales and big discount. Any shop that hangs the word "SALE" is worth exploring, just in case they have good and cheap stuff. If an item is worth buying, we have to consider getting it even if we dun need it now. There is never too many bags, shoes, clothes, accessories, etc. There will always be a chance to use the new item one day. Afterall, we always need some new bag to go with that top and shoes to match that bag and accessories to go with that bag... You get my point.

I was never into online shopping. I prefer the real feel of shopping. The need to see and touch and to walk the entire street, going into different shops, comparing prices before getting The Piece. It was until I became a mummy that things changed. With a baby in the picture, shopping becomes a challenge. Though unwilling, the husband can stand outside the shop and wait while I pick & choose. I can choose to pretend not to see his impatient look too. With a baby, if she says no shopping, she means it.

SingaporeMotherHood forum opens up a whole new experience. The bulk purchases (BPs) and sprees mean that I can still do shopping without going to the shopping mall. It is a temptation hard to resist especially when BPs and sprees are wat accompany me in the lonely nights while I express. See, it is not entirely my fault. It doesnt help that things come cheaper via such BPs and sprees. BPs and sprees organisers love to catch my attention with discounts too. -.o"

To date, I have purchased the following from BPs and sprees:
- 2 nursing shawls
- 4 pairs of leggings for Lil Shauna
- 1 big bag
- 1 toy
- 2 story books
- 3 tops
- 1 dress for Lil Shauna
- 1 bottle of fernugreek
- 1 tube of destini nappy cream

The latest additions are 4 bibs.

The best part of the whole experience of BPs and sprees -- I have introduced my colleagues to it. The girls are crazy over the cheap bags and clothing. How to resist temptation when all the rest of your colleagues are browsing and choosing and buying and talking about it? Kekeke.. It is not that we are easily influenced, we chose to share the joy. ;p

But of course, online shopping cannot and can never totally replace real shopping + window shopping. We still need to walk the malls. So, if Daddy Lim is reading this, do take note. Lol!

Mummy Lim

Gu Gu Parents Episode II

We are big procrastinators. We are bringing Lil Shauna to cruise in November with my family. We have already booked & paid up but Lil Shauna still has no passport. My brother & SIL have been reminding us to make her passport so that we can provide her passport no. to the tour agency. My SIL was even kind enuff to print out the application form. All we have to do is to fill it up & sent it in.

We procrastinate so long before bringing Lil Shauna for her photo shoot. I wanted her to look pretty mah, so thought that we do the photo thingy in the morning when she's in good mood. Eventually, we had to bring her on a weekday evening. Although she wasnt grumpy, she looked bad in the pix. Bcos she cant sit upright on her own, she has to take her pix lying down. Who looks good that way? She ended up with roti prata face. I would cry if I have such an ugly photo in my passport. I already suffered that plight when I was younger. My old passport photo was horrible. I always have to "smuggle" my passport when I go tour with friends. Anyway, she's too young to mind such stuff. I promise to change it to a nice pix when she's older.

The application form was finally filled up. We hurriedly wrote the address on the envelop and Daddy Lim helped to fold and insert the application form when we saw the post box yday. We were quite glad that we finally sent in the application form.

Then, when we were home. I saw Lil Shauna's newly taken passport photo... -.o" We had sent in the application form without the passport photo... Win liao. Anybody knows what will happen next? Do we send in another fresh application with the passport photo or ICA will revert back to us?

Mummy Lim

What Lil Shauna can do

Lil Shauna is growing day-by-day. Although the PD says that she is likely to be slower bcos she's a premie, we see her growing stronger & stronger.

Lil Shauna is developing her fine motor skills. Other than grasping watever that we put in her hand + pulling her clothes to indecently expose herself, she can now reach out to touch & hold things. However, her hold is still not steady and there are many times where she gets frustrated bcos she cant get what she wants. Whatever that ends up in her hand must be brought to the mouth for sampling, just in case they taste good. She's also drooling like crazy. Whenever there's nothing else to sample, her hands will always taste good.

Her neck has grown much stronger. She still cant flip fully and tummy time is always a struggle. We do see improvement. She can now lift her head a little off the bed but most of the time, she still ends up licking the bedsheet.

Although she cant flip or sit or stand, she enjoys sitting and standing. She always smile when we let her sit or stand and demanding doing so very often. I bet she doesnt know how heavy she is. She's constantly torturing our arms and I am developing big biceps soon. ;p Oh, she can chuckle now! It is so fun seeing her laugh out loud.

People say "once bitten, twice shy" but we stubborn parents have to try 3x. All 3 attempts to make Lil Shauna sleeps in an aircon room fail miserably. She wakes up in the middle of the night crying not for milk but bcos of discomfort. I dun think she's cold cos we already wrapped her up like a bak chang. It is probably the dryness of the air, which irritates her nose. So, we will have to "suffer" with her until such a time that she shifts to her own room. Oh boy, that will be a long wait.

Maybe bcos Lil Shauna can now reciporcate, making playtime such fun (but tiring), we realised that we miss her alot. She didnt come home last night and we missed her plenty. Must kiss her double when we see her tonight!

Oh, nainai says that Lil Shauna looks like a boy. She wasnt the 1st to say that. So did that little girl who took lift with us one day, pointing to Lil Shauna and commented that "didi is sleeping" and my SIL's dad, who said that Lil Shauna looks like a boy too. Sob! What to do, the little proncess takes after the daddy. I hope that the saying about girls looking prettier if they take after their daddies.

She does look like a boy at certain angle. Arrgghh, must buy her more pretty clothes, dresses and all!

Mummy Lim

Busy Weekend

We had a busy weekend. I have loads to blog, but no time. Looks like I have to blog over afew milking session.

Daddy Lim & I took leave on Friday. We wanted to pamper ourselves. We woke up real early and Daddy Lim went for his routine blood & urine test at AH for his AS. Then we had breakfast at Mac. It was followed by a couple spas at aFond @ Holland V. It is our 1st spas experience. Not too bad, but I expected better.

The masseuse were aunties and they were not too professional. They were busy cleaning the bath tub (with us still in the room and wrapped in some red wine stuff) fearing stain cos we had some red wine drip. My auntie used too much strength on me resulting in sore muscle. The facilities wasnt too great either. We could hear the leaking tap. -.o" I guessed it has to do with the money that we paid. We only paid $300 for 2 pax for 2.5hrs. It would have easily cost $500 or more at those really classy spas places. Anyway, great "us-time". We probaby will try spas again somewhere else, maybe once every quarterly. Daddy Lim hates the wrap. He was screaming for help when he started perspiring under the wraps. Haiz, duno how to enjoy. ;p

After that, we went to collect Daddy Lim's medical report. He was given a free full body checkup for buying some policies with AIA. The check-up did detect elevated levels of potassium and duno what. But the doctor suspected that they are probably a result of his AS and the effects of the medication that he is on. He said that he wasnt too concerned, but advised that Daddy Lim goes regularly for checks in the future for monitor sake. Then we were off to fetch Lil Shauna.

We brought Lil Shauan for her swim on Saturday afternoon. I was so worried that she will end up crying again. Fortunately, she cooperates. She only swam for 15 mins before starting to make faces. There were so many other crying babies but she wasnt influenced. That's our girl!

She didnt swim like a fish this time. But at least she doesnt cry.

We then joined my Uni mates for dinner at Barracks @ Dempsey Road. Our 1st time there. We super mountain tortise lor. Even lost our way in Dempsey. The place was nice but it was 5 couples with 4 kids. We were busy coaxing, running after, carrying, feeding kids. Not much time for catch-up. By the time we were done with dinner, the kids started dozing off and it was time to go.

Sunday was spent at Nainai's place. Lil Shauna is starting to enjoy her toys. But she still prefers her fingers at times.

Mummy Lim

Power!

I am sick! Down with sore throat. That explains why I couldnt hear all the alarms set to wake me up to express milk (fyi, I set 4 alarms!!!). Then, the super alarm is at Popo's place. Result - I didnt pump for 9 hrs! Highest record so far. I even leaked milk from 1 side. Haha..

Mummy Lim