As we come to the year end ...

Boxing Day 2013

I should be blogging about Christmas Day but instead - a short picture update about Boxing Day BBQ (done from leftovers from the Christmas Day lunch BBQ).

Snags, prawns which I had marinated with mango and chili flakes and chicken drumsticks which I had marinated with a blended mix that consist of coconut, onions, curry powder, lemon grass and tamarind.

An easy peasy dinner!

Family & Love

I never really put much consideration to the concept of love before I had Super Z (LM). I mean, you know you love your family, but the concept of adult love is very different from the unconditional love of a lil person.

I am lucky enough to have a small but close knit family who love us. Both BF and I don't have any immediate family support here as all of our families still live overseas but this yr, BF's family is here to spend the Christmas holidays with Super Z and us so it's a rather pleasant change having family around.

This was also the reason why the decided to take the mini getaway to Sydney this weekend. BF's parents went ahead a few days before us to visit family while we went up for the weekend.

Exhausted, but nothing like family bonding.

Christmas Down Under

Oh boy! It's already Dec and I haven't blogged in months!

Time has just flown - wait - zoomed by this year. I feel like I have been on a whirlwind of a ride and with no brakes.

Today it the last day of work - with the 2 week shutdown for the year end. The in-laws have flown in for Christmas to meet lil Z so this weekend we are in Sydney for a mini getaway as a family.

It is actually rather pleasant - Melbourne has been having a cold spell except for yday and there is a different vibe here - more hustle and bustle. I'm not too bothered tho - just being away is nice - esp when it is not work related.

Was walking around Darling Harbour as saw this cute installation of Santa's - and it is a nice contrast with the city scape behind.

Hopefully more updates to come!

My life in Pictures

Ah ... How life has changed.
Doing my hair at 1 am because it is the only time I have some 'me time' while the lil man and BF are asleep. Plus I do have to look presentable for work.

Between full time work and home, I find that I just do not have the time or the energy most times to do anything else!! Have been slacking off on the friends part as well. At this rate, I might not have any friends left at the end of this.

**Milestone** Being Sick

LM has meet his Kryptonite for the first time. Kept on waking up every hour by the hour and finally at around 630am couldn't settle. His temp was high so had to give him elixir  to make him get better. 

He threw up on me first time but held it in the second time along and is feeling and looks better. 

There you go - his first illness a few days shy of 6 months. 

Sent from my iPhone

Celebrating a milestone - Sleeping In!

For the first time in nearly 6 months of the lil man's life - he has given his mum and dad a little lie in.

Bed time at 9pm
Woke up at 520am for a change and feed!

He usually wakes up twice a night for a feed at around midnight and 3am so it was a very pleasant surprise indeed only waking up at 5am.

:)

Sneak peek - adventures in my back yard

Can you see what I see?

Enjoying Mother Nature

Watching the night turn to day in while the lil man is asleep - hot chocolate in hand.

Am working from home today which means I don't have to get ready for work minus the 1 hr commute each way.

Fwd: Week 22 and ere we go

> I know I have been a bad blogger and part of the reason is having a lil man is pretty time consuming on top of your day to day chores. Furthermore I have started work again a couple of weeks ago (full time) so in between everything, have been running ragged and all I want to do is fall asleep and have a solid 8 hr shut eye.
>
> I had my first work trip to Sydney - a marathon in/out trip which was tiring. I do want to write some more but maybe on the next one.
>

Happy Mothers Day

It is one of those difficult jobs that one is under appreciated, under paid but you are constantly overworked.

At the end of the day though, you hope for the best and that you are raising someone that is loving, responsible and will be a contributing member to society.

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers everywhere.

Leaving on a jet plane

After 4 fabulous weeks back home in Malaysia, its time again to say adieu and head back 'home' to Melbourne.

Sigh.

Baby milestone - turning over

Am such a proud parent - LM has started rolling over from back to tummy at 3 months!!

Here today, gone tmr

So LM has gone through a transformation yday! No longer has he having a full head of hair but he is as bald as a ... Eggshell!

We wanted to keep some traditions alive and balding of the babies head was one of them.

So we went to Batu Caves where the barber did an amazing job cutting off the locks of a crying child (LM wasn't happy having to sit still plus the fact that there was a sharp razor cutting hair really made this mother sit on edge) but there was hardly a nick on him.

We then hiked up the 200+ steps up to get blessings before finishing off with some vegetarian banana leaf and paper thosai meal.

He doesn't look like my lil one tho. He acts like my son, he eats like my son - but he doesn't look like mine now! Lol. This is what happens when you get used to something ;)

Before (being carried by his Ammumma) and After

Family getaway - Penang, Malaysia

We are having our first family getaway in Penang, Malaysia this week. The weather has been great - not too sunny and some could even say temperate compared to the usual Malaysian humidity.

LM has been getting lots of attention from the various guest here at the hotel. We have been having ppl looking after him or carrying him while we are by the pool or having breaky which is rather nice of ppl. Apparently lil babies are always welcomed all over! Rather endearing too.

We are staying at Batu Feringgi which is a tourist hub but seeing that we didn't know what to expect when it comes to traveling with a lil one, it's the perfect holiday. All we have been doing is sleep, lounge by the pool and eat. I know I've gained weight already - the spread has grown sideways!

As per my recent status update on FB " Everyday is a beautiful day when one is on holiday"

Naughty getaway ..

Ah...
So mum is taking LM for the weekend while the parents have some time to recharge their batteries.

What do we do?
1) Head to the cinema and catch a movie
2) Check into a hotel for the weekend (LM is 1/2 hr away which means we are still available for emergencies)
3) Be back in the hotel room by 9pm, order room service and relax.

Ahhh....

Lil man's first flight

Back to Malaysia to visit mum's side of the family.

First international flight at 10 weeks old ! Is this turning my lil man into a jet-setter or what?

Brunch @ Proud Mary Collingwood

I must say, being on maternity leave is great - when else can do brunch on a Monday morning without feeling guilty (annual leave does not count)

Brunch today was at Proud Mary in Collingwood. I had the ricotta hot cakes with poached peaches and pistachios whilst my brunch mate had the pork belly sarnie washed down with mocha and as always, brunch was good.

I can get used to not working I reckon. Lol.

Brunch @ Industry Beans Fitzroy

Have been doing way too much blogging about baby these days so pretending like my life is BB (before baby), I went for brunch with a mate whom I haven't caught up with in nearly 2 years. Now, she is a food blogger so we checked out this place that I would not have found otherwise!

Just close to the Rose Street Artist Market sits Industry Beans. True to its name and location, it attracts the hip crowd being rather artsy and even the menu had infusion type food -even for breakfast!

I enjoyed my French toast, my mate didn't quite enjoy her mushroom something or another. But catch up was good tho. :)

Post natal recovery current

Now, as per my previous blog entry - my labour and delivery of my lil man needed 'assistance' thus instead of being able to recover quickly, it is still an every day struggle to do certain things without straining myself down there. I have however in my own lil mind improved and on the road to recovery although was given very strict instructions by doctors not to:

1) Carry anything heavier than the lil man as it could put a strain and accidentally open up my stitches.

2) Not to drive at all due to the loss of blood.

3) To stay off my feet as much as I can.

I found all these things difficult to say the least as anyone who knows me simply knows what an active person I can be. My mum and BF however were very insistent that I take the doctors orders to heart so reluctantly, I did as was told albeit with a pinch of salt. Most Asian mothers have this 40 day confinement period where they have to eat only certain food, not do certain things, stay indoors the full duration of the confinement period etc but I didn't follow these things to the tee and kept things to the minimum doing what my Mum showed as the bare essentials.

Seeing that I am still in recovery and with child in tow, I haven't done any cycling yet. On the other hand, I want to get back into shape - seeing all the access skin and weight is actually rather depressing so have started back on my cardio work - just walking around the neighbourhood and not going massively fast but it is better than nothing. My first few attempts were dismal - it hurt badly and I could only achieve down the street before I wanted to turn back. I am improving though - with walks everyday plus the added bonus of getting me out of the house and the lil man gets some fresh air too.

My stitches have started coming off but my pelvic muscles needs work which means no running yet. Small steps but all in the right direction at this point. The last thing I want to be is a fat women who has let it all go because 'she has a man and a kid'.

One needs to take some pride in somethings after all. I might not win the prize for the yummiest mummy but there is no harm trying to keep up - which also includes cutting down on the chocolate biscuits and chocolate bars - something that has become a bit of an obsession of late - am addicted! Imagine polishing off a whole family size block of chocolate in a day? Yep - that's me. Not good at all.

My lil man turns 1 (month)

Oh my, I can see why parents say 'enjoy the moment' and ' time flies quickly so enjoy the moment' - with a wink of an eye, my lil man has turned 4 weeks!

So far, I'm amazed by the amount of diapers he has gone through and am equally amazed with how easily I have taken to changing diapers ~ I've always thought that diaper changing would be my least fav task to do ~ but like a duck taking to water, it's not actually been that bad.

The lack of sleep was also something I've been able to handle as fortunately, I've always been able to manage with minimal sleep. Furthermore because I'm still on maternity leave, I've been giving BF the lie-in opportunity so he takes the 530am feeds while I do the rest.

I did struggle with breast feeding tho. No one ever tells you how difficult breast feeding is especially at the start where your nipples are being chewed on (rather roughly too) by a newborn and coupled with cracked nipples, engorgement and improper latching - my first week was horrid. I had to supplement with formula to enable my lil man to eat as I wasn't producing enough milk at the start. I was also expressing so the nipples had time to heal and to reduce engorgement but am slowly getting the hang of things.

Huge learning curve, but am enjoying the challenge. He's gained weight which is also reassuring.

Next post - the post partum recovery journey.

My ... What lil tiny feet you have there ...

Meet Lil Munchkin

A 32 hr labour that resulted in a forced forceps procedure. Apparently I have a small pelvis which makes it impossible for a normal delivery. Have been informed that all future pregnancies (if any) must end with the C-Section. There is no way my pelvic bones could expand enough for a bubby to get thru.

This subsequently resulted with 3rd degree sutures but bubby has finally come out.

Very tired, very sore but glad he's out and healthy.

Meet my lil Munchkin.
Stats -

DOB -31/1/13
Weight - 3.76kg
Height -50 cm

Australia Day 2013

Little pleasures - Spending time with family

Note - 41 weeks and 2 days - yet to pop !!

Baby bump @40+ weeks

40 weeks and 5 days pics.

Looks like I stuffed a balloon up my top doesn't it???

Bub's first bouquet

Aww ....

I love receiving surprise flowers - and this is for bub!

8 days .... and counting ....

Baby bump @39 weeks

Not too long to go now :)

Moments ...

Sometimes, some things are better left unsaid ....

2013

Happy New Year everyone!!!!