More baby's clothes...

Today we went shopping for Baby's stuff. Spent around $350 dollars.

Bought many items from Metro sale - Medela electric breast pump, Pigeon Rapid Steam Steriliser for bottles, 3 pairs of mittens, 1 pair of booties, 4 NUK bottles and some small items like bottle brush and nappy pins.

Then we walked past this shop called Kidz Republic and saw very cute baby clothes by Precious Moments. They were on sale, only $10 each. And soooo sweet. So Mummy couldn't resist the temptation and bought 3 pieces at one go! Haha...

We still didn't know if you are girl or boy yet. The gynae did say most likely will be girl. Nonetheless, we picked 2 unisex colours - yellow and green and 1 pink.

Pre-natal depression?

Have been feeling very down, moody and weepy lately... don't know if it's normal...

Had a splitting headache in school on Thursday. Another one on Sat... and yet another one on Sunday.... plus slight nausea... Wonder if it's the warm weather... making me feel sick...

Students have been boisterous in class, especially the Sec 1Ns... find myself stopping every few minutes to tell them off... Gets on my nerves... makes me frustrated... and worsens my headaches... Every day it's a mad rush... preparing lessons, going to class, scolding students, collecting homework, chasing homework, marking, paperwork, rushing from class to class at times up to 6 periods (3 hours) at one go, gasping for breath in between...

Teaching is just so mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting... more so when pregnant... Every day, by the time I reach home at 7 p.m., I'm half alive... barely breathing... it feels like every ounce of energy and life force has been drained from the body....

Haven't been sleeping well at all for the past week. Always find myself waking up and totally alert at 3 a.m. in the morning and not able to go back to sleep till 4+ or 5.

And then my alarm clock rings at 530... and I have to drag my tired body out from bed, go through the motions of swallowing breakfast, changing into work clothes, getting into the car and semi-consciously finding myself in school...

Had quite a severe cramp in the abdomen in the middle of the night that woke me up at 3 a.m.... yes... 3 a.m. again... why is it that I always wake up at this time??? The pain was so uncomfortable and disturbing that I couldn't go back to sleep at all, despite changing sleeping positions to the left, to the right, to the back... Couldn't even drag or force my body up from bed when the alarm sounded. So called in to work sick. Wonder if Baby is alright...

Made an unscheduled visit to the gynae in the afternoon and told him of all the discomforts... especially the most worrisome cramps. As I slowly voiced my concerns, tears welled up in the eyes and started rolling uncontrollably down the cheeks.... it's like a tap that cannot be turned off... it keeps on flowing... even as I got back into the car and driving away...

Don't know how much more of this I can take... feel like running... away...

V-day surprise!

It's the lovey dovey time of the year again... Valentine's Day!

Got a surprise in school this morning. The school clerk called me and asked me to go down to the general office. There was a bouquet for me... "from your dearest darling husband", she said.

Oh my gosh! There he goes again! :)

I was over the moon! Love it when he springs such surprises on me. Just like the very first time, way back in 2002, when he sent the first Valentine bouquet to the school where I was doing Practicum... Hmmm... feels like the first time again... :)

Baby girl?

Today, Mummy and Daddy went to see you at Dr. Ong's clinic. The nurse took Mummy's weight and exclaimed, " Wow! Put on 4 kg, must diet already!"

Haha... Must be all that Chinese New Year feasting over the week.

Before we went into Dr. Ong's office, I rubbed and prodded you a bit hoping to wake you up. So that later during the scan, hopefully you won't be sleeping again. We want to see your sex so we can start buying clothes, pram and stuff for you.

When we went in to see Dr. Ong, we asked him so many questions... about whether I should take omega-3 supplements. Apparently, there was an article in today's newspaper that claims babies whose mums take more omega-3 will have higher IQ. But Dr. Ong said no need. All the newspaper articles have no scientific backing. It's all marketing gimmicks by the supplements companies.

Then Mummy asked Dr. Ong about his views on hypnobirthing. 'Cos as far as possible, Mummy wants to have a drug-free labour. I've heard so many stories about the side effects of epidural... one of which is backaches. The worst and most horrid one I've heard is from Daddy's cousin. She kept on shivering non-stop for 4 hrs and almost bit her tongue. The nurses had to give her a block to bite on.

Well, Dr. Ong's views are that hypnobirthing is more for Westerners who have an entirely different culture from us Asians. Moreover, not everyone is suitable for hypnotherapy. That I agree... I remember there was once I attended a stress management workshop in which the trainer did a 15-minute relaxation exercise. We were sort of or supposed to be "hypnotised" as he guided us in visualising some relaxing images such as lying at the beach and so on. But I didn't find myself that relaxed at all. Maybe hypnotherapy really doesn't work on me.

After all that consultation, we proceeded to the scan machine. As usual, Dr. Ong prodded you a bit and we found you in the curled up position again. Dr. Ong calls it the 'fetal' position. He continued prodding at you hoping to see if you are a boy or girl.

"Seems like a girl," he said.

So Mummy and Daddy's dreams about you were accurate after all! Daddy was just telling me the other day that he dreamt you were a girl and I was very happy. Heehee...

Anyway, Dr. Ong says he wants to wait till the next scan in March before he confirms. 'Cos apparently, your legs were not really wide open. He'd prefer to see your legs wide open before he confirms your sex.

So, baby, next time we'll see you at the detailed scan at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. You must must must open your legs really wide then, ok?