Here's to you mothers: You're A Good Mom...

Hey, it is my first Mother's Day celebration! Being a new mom opens my eyes to so many new feelings and adventures, sometimes it's truly unfathomable. I may still be new at this, but I do get you now mom. This isn't written by me, but it's so good that it's worthy to be shared. Here's a tribute to you mothers...

To the mom who's breastfeeding: Way to go! It really is an amazing gift to give your baby, for any amount of time that you can manage! You're a good mom.

To the mom who's formula feeding: Isn't science amazing? To think there was a time when a baby with a mother who couldn't produce enough would suffer, but now? Better living through chemistry! You're a good mom.

To the cloth-diapering mom: Fluffy bums are the cutest! And so friendly on the bank account. You're a good mom.

To the disposable-diapering mom: Damn those things hold a lot! And it's excellent to not worry about leakage and laundry. You're a good mom.

To the mom who stays at home: I can imagine it isn't easy doing what you do, but to spend those precious years with your babies must be amazing! You're a good mom.

To the mom who works: It's wonderful that you're sticking to your career. You're a positive role model for your children in so many ways, it's fantastic! You're a good mom.

To the mom who had to feed her kids from the drive-thru all week because you're too worn out to cook or go grocery shopping: You're feeding your kids, and hey, I bet they aren't complaining! Sometimes sanity can indeed be found in a red box with a big yellow M on it. You're a good mom.

To the mom who gave her kids a home-cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for the past week: Excellent! Good nutrition is important, and they're learning to enjoy healthy food at an early age, a boon for the rest of their lives. You're a good mom.

To the mom with the kids who are sitting quietly and using their manners in the fancy restaurant: Kudos! It takes a lot to maintain order with children in a place where they can't run around. You're a good mom.

To the mom with the toddler having a meltdown in the cereal aisle: They always seem to pick the most embarrassing places to lose their minds don't they? We've all been through it. You're a good mom.

To the moms who judge other moms for ANY of the above? Glass houses, friend. Glass houses.

- Anonymous
(Borrowed from www.babysavers.com via Pinterest)

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My 1st mother's Day gift from my babies...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ALL YOU AWESOME MOMS OUT THERE!

Post-pregnancy side effects I didn't know about until I had them...

[Note: Motherhood Journal Pt 4]
Read about Pt 1 HERE on Obstetrician, Pt 2 HERE on Pregnancy side effects and Pt 3 HERE on the Birth Plan.

My lil girl is 4 months 2 weeks now and I have been a new mom about the same length of time. The rejuvenation and recovery period started immediately after birth, and it is still happening today. Quite baffling that at 4 months, I am still undergoing this restoration period, physically that is. No kidding on this part. I know I read them before it happened (just to prep), but when it did, I'm still in a state of disbelief that those changes are happening and it's as inevitable as the sky is blue.

So here's a quick one because although I'm not that comfortable talking about them, I'm just going to share them briefly. Because it's constantly bothering me that I could've been better prepared for this (at least mentally) but didn't and I could've been better informed about them but wasn't.

1. The Flood
Well yes this part is expected - the bleeding. After having them on hold for 40 weeks, what do you expect to happen when the plug is finally pulled? It rained day and night, as in the days of Noah. Unlike a normal menses, the discharge continues for up to several weeks. In my case, it was like mm... 6 or 7 weeks. But then this is manageable as most new moms undergo a period of confinement at this time. How did I get by? I supposed it went unceremoniously as I had a more pressing matter to be concerned about e.g the baby, the confinement, the breastfeeding, the family, etc.

2. The Belly Paunch
I still have them, and doing plenty of sit-ups to try to minimize them. I can forget about a flat belly because my belly has always been cute and bumpy. Now more so. Haha. I supposed it can't disappear forever as my uterus shrink back to it's normal size. And I supposed I should thank all the Cokes and Sundrop I had when I was wading off the sugar cravings.

3. The Rock 
Perhaps I'm one of the more lucky ones because although I went through a brief period of breasts engorgement (sometimes they were hard as rocks, even I was a little alarmed), it was not as painful as what I've been told about. Or maybe I followed the program right (when to express milk, when to feed the baby, what to do when you can't express etc) so it didn't cause too much problem. Here's a big thanks to the nurses at Normah Hospital because they were really helpful with tips and advice and even encouragement. Oh by the way, if you don't have a water heater for warm baths at home, now is a good time to install one. Hot showers do wonders for them rocks. =)

4. The Breakouts
I don't normally have any problems with acne or pimples and my facial skin is clear at most times. During the pregnancy months, I actually experienced a smoother and clearer skin. Glowing, some may say. However, two weeks after the birth, my face went through a period of breakouts like nobody's business! Okay I exaggerate. It wasn't so bad but the red splotches here and there and sometimes appearing and disappearing without warning were really annoying. The skin was also kind of dry and although moisturizer helps, it doesn't do much to stop it. Inevitable... of course. Drinking plenty of fluid helps, and so does staying away from the sun. It naturally stopped on its own though.

5. The Hairball
This is the most annoying one. My doctor actually warned me about them but I didn't think it was anything I should worry about until it actually occurred. When I was pregnant, my hair felt thick and glossy and voluminous, they even stopped falling off, all thanks to the hormones. But about 3 months after giving birth, the hair-fall comes with a vengeance! It's still happening as I type this, to my dismay. I used to experience hair fall previously, but it wasn't as bad as this. This is literally hair-shedding! Every morning when I wake up, I'd run my fingers through my hair and like 5 - 10 strands come off at one go. The floor, on a good day, has strands of hair here and there. I couldn't even shampoo my hair without taking off clumps of hair from the drain cover. I think the thinning patches are showing and it doesn't look good on me. This is the one change I'm truly upset about and can't wait for it to end in a month or so before I go completely bald! Kidding. It's just the body's way of returning to normal and some stuffs need to mend.

6. The Thyroid Nods Swell
Ah. This one. Tricky. And it doesn't happen to everyone. So ask your mom if it runs in the family especially after you've had an operation, because it happened to me and I had to undergo another operation to deal with it. The doctor said it wasn't cancerous but at the same time, there were no medications for it and if the swell is left unattended, it could go bigger in years although still non-cancerous. I had a tiny lump the size of tiny quail egg on the right neck after I had the C-Sec, which wasn't even there before. All that hormone overdrive allegedly triggered it. Couldn't really see them unless you look closely. I survived them --Thank You God-- and I have the visible scar to prove it. My best friend said it's my lucky natural necklace that only special people have. True, that. =)

There are actually other changes but they're not as obvious as the above. So how do I deal with all these changes? They will eventually stop naturally and that should indicate the body is done doing its round and is back to normal. All in its time. But most importantly, I tell myself everyday that my beautiful and healthy baby girl is totally worth it all. :-)

And so, will this make me think twice about having a sibling for Carissa? Nah. Babies are God's gifts to mankind. Remember that it's a blessing to even be able to conceive.

That's all for today, and sorry no visual aids. But thanks for reading!

Baby essentials in dealing with a cold...

*Achoo!*

Ha. It's the flu season again. Most everyone I know has caught the cold bug and happily spreading the love around. I'm sniffling as we speak as I write this post.

I don't mind the adults getting them because they can very well take care of themselves. It's the babies I'm more worried about. A sick infant is every mother's nightmare. And my husband, bless his heart, were infected alongside lil Carissa, both ahead of me. I supposed it's always the case for mommies ... they are usually the last to fall sick or stay fine.

In a way, I've read that it's also a blessing in disguise when a baby undergoes her first cold... she would be developing her immunity system one cold at a time. The first time she ran a cold was on her 3rd month... mommy and daddy panicked like WWIII just hit the household. But when we visited the doctor, all we got was some advice on how to keep the baby warm and happy to ease her recovery because a cold is common and nothing too serious. There were no medication given due to her very young age. The one mystery then was where she got it from because obviously both of us were fine at the time.

This is her second cold which she (and her father) evidently picked up from my nephew when we visited the extended family over the weekend. Being a little experienced on the subject, we were less panicky but still a bit worried. By worried I mean no restful nights for mommy and daddy who take turns to play nurse cum comforter. Besides, how could we even sleep when the little one is not having much? She sleeps, i.e., just not restfully. Same thing.

Doctors advised against giving meds to babies below 1 year old due to their young age because it will make them drowsy and won't want to feed, and therefore could cause other risk factors. They'll normally just allow a brief period of using a nebulizer to clear her breathing. So here's a bit of baby essentials we learned about first-hand as newbies on how to go through the common cold baby blues together:

1. Digital ear thermometer
For constant fever checking. Anything above 37 degree Celsius should be a cause for alarm. It's always tricky with an infant so it's forgiven and accepted if you refer her to a doctor every time you're not sure yourself.

Digital ear thermometer...

2. Baby nasal hygiene (nasal spray) or infant nose drop
Honestly, I didn't know this thing existed until recently. This natural isotonic water is made from pure sea water, supposed to help diffusing mucous and unblock stuffed nose. Carissa however, doesn't like it very much. Of course if someone spray inside your nose, you would be pissed too. The nose drop given by the clinic works the same way, except less practical. This brand is available in many categories (for adults, infants, toddlers and kids, sinus, congestion, spa etc)... just read the label when you buy one at your nearest pharmacy.

Sterimar nasal spray...

3. Baby cooling gel pad
Back in the olden days, our mothers would put wet cloth on our forehead when we have fevers and such, however it tends to fall off and get lukewarm fast. So thank God for the invention of cooling gel pad to work in its place. For infants, watch out for pink boxes.

Kool Fever...

4. Baby Nose Cleaner/ Suction Bulb
This comes in real handy to physically suck the mucous out from a baby's nose because at 4 months old, she does not have the ability to blow her own nose yet. *I've heard of some parents actually sucking the mucous with their mouths too... I really respect them, however I can't imagine how that works* There are many types of suction bulb so be careful when choosing one and read the instruction manual before using one. The one my hubby bought is this Japlo brand, with special built-in valve design to ensure mucous or air would not be sucked back into the nose. The nozzle is soft and gentle for babies. Carissa actually preferred this method over the nasal spray, however she just couldn't sit still so inserting the nozzle into her nose is like a game to her. Haha.

Japlo suction bulb...

5. The Mighty Pacifier! aka Pepet
Ok don't judge me. I know a lot of people (even those who aren't parents) have been giving off stern advice not to offer a pacifier to babies because it will interfere with their teeth growth. Yes true, for a prolong use without proper control. However I have learned that this tiny thing is very powerful... it helps her sleep when she gets restless and soothes her when she gets cranky. Try the flat-head ones (preferably all made in silicone), it's supposed to have less effect on the teeth than the round-head ones. I don't worry too much either because she can fall asleep on her own without the pepet these days.

Silicone pepet with cover...

6. Gripe Water
Carissa's doctor suggested we give her gripe water to ease her discomfort and crankiness (colicky related) and also to cause her to drink more plain water. The thing tasted sweet... no wonder. Gripe Water can be bought at the nearest pharmacy too.

Traditional concoction passed on for generations...

7. Try the baby cot/swing
 ... only as a last resort. Thankfully for me, my little girl prefers I cuddle and rock her to sleep most of the time. That can be tiring, which is why I should justify buying a rocking chair soon because she has grown heavier. Haha. However, the baby swing is a good alternative although I don't know why so many people are afraid of it. Don't worry what people think of how you bring up your child, as long as it helps. Mothers know best what her child needs after all, to each her own way.

The stand-alone 'uyut'...

The rest of the baby care tips are warm body wipe in favour of warm bath, warm water feeding, warm clothing, co-sleeping, and yes... a lot of tender loving care.

Do you have any other tips that perhaps could work as well from your personal experience? Please do share.

One good thing however is that she is always cheerful and playful in the daytime, and not even cranky altho she nap less too. This would of course resulted in her being easily tired at night. And then she would just cry her heart out when it's bedtime but her stuffy nose gets in the way.

All I can say is that, two colds later, she still seems to be handling everything much better than mommy. Haha.

So here's for the weekends everyone! Stay safe and take care!

Always remember: A common cold is not the same as a flu. Always check with your pediatrician first especially when you have a baby below 3 months old.

Celebrating 36 Weeks at The Cozy Cafe, Jalan Song

Pre-Note: Here are 2 stories for the price of one! Hope you don't get lost reading them...while I'm a bit rajin...

Hellooo!

It's been awhile since I last found a good place to hang out at that has good food, cozy atmosphere and nice music. Me, being the kind of person that doesn't really 'hang out' anywhere per se, but rather what I would call spending quality time not rushing to get full but to idle the hours away watching the world go by.

So we stumbled upon this cushy little café, aptly called 'The Cozy Cafe' when we were driving around looking for a place to celebrate the 36th Weeks milestone. Apparently the routine visit to  the obgyn that morning gave us too much to gush and be excited about that all I wanted at the time was a good dose of a celebratory drink -- a fancy coffee or some expensive tea.

Well ... if you saw your baby yawned for the first time inside your womb, you would be very very moved to the point of tears too. Who knew the little one could yawn in there? The little sleepyhead just opened that small mouth with eyes closed, made a tiny yawning motion, then rubbed a tiny palm over one closed eyes. Wriggled out of the scanning monitor, then proceeded to sleep. All in real time!

It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. My heart stopped that minute, then melted. I can't quite describe the feeling. Won't water go into the mouth, people asked me after I told them? I asked myself that too, but the doctor seemed to read my mind and simply said "babies learn a lot of those natural habits in the womb. Who can explain the miracle of conception?''

When we got home, I did a little Googling, and it seems that that is possible. My baby looked kinda like that picture below too. Except with chubbier cheeks. So after witnessing that with my own eyes at the 4D scanning, oooooh yeah that IS a very good reason to be joyful!

4D scan shows a fetus yawned in the womb... Reported SkyNews

 

So sakai ho. But sakai happy what. Haha. Anyway, back to Cozy Café...

With jubilant mood... we saw the exterior of the cafe and immediately decided to just check it out instead of wasting time driving around. This place has been around for awhile but is new to me because the last time I stayed within the area (about 11 months ago) it was not there yet. It looked pretty comfy the moment you walked in. Clean, classy, cushiony and soft looking, exactly what I imagine a part of my entertaining room would look like someday.

Drink counter... an impressive collection of coffee and tea...

Part of the cozy interior...

 

I initially just wanted coffee and maybe something light... like a piece of apple pie or cake, but when the menu was handed over, I switched to pizza instead. They have 8-inch and 12-inch serving, so for a 2-pax, an 8-inch would be suffice. My opinion? Probably one of the best thin-crusted pizza I've ever had, if you ignore the look, that is. They have a few variety of flavors to choose from.

Bacon cheese pizza...

 

And a pot of hot strawberry mango flavored tea for me. Yeah well... it felt like a tea moment anyway. In a tiny twist of drama, le hubby ordered iced latte for himself and it almost made me regretted ordering tea in the first place. =)

Switching roles...

Meanwhile my significant other ordered the beef steak medium rare. Yes we both thought we wanted to just snack and go... but the menu seems to have changed our minds a lot. So this steak was looking pretty awesome on its own. Perhaps a heavier dose of black pepper sauce would make it slinkier (but you can always ask for more). The chef left a thin line of fat on the side of the meat and that makes it taste almost like pork chop. I should totally order this next time...

 Beef steak medium rare...

 

A blissful fare. One heck of a midmorning to celebrate the 9th month along. I'm pretty sure baby was happy with the food too because right after that, I was nodding in the car like a stalk of reed blown by the soft wind.

And just to add in a point, the next time I came back here (a few days later) I ordered this garlic and egg spaghetti that was served with a long chicken sausage. My my... creamy and very fulfilling. They have this king prawn pasta too, but I should warn you that they might serve the prawn a little bit rare for your liking, so if that happens to you, just call for the waiter and ask them to do the prawn 'well done'. Otherwise sayang bah membazir kena engkah ke tepi sebab rupa gik mentah...

Garlic and egg spaghetti ...

There you go! My review on the café. Service is usually fast and they'll pre-inform you should your order be a bit late. Staff is courteous and friendly. They also have a variety of cakes for dessert. Price-wise is not too bad, can come across as cheaper to some, compared to other similar cafes. And oh one other thing... It's Non Halal. (but if you're ok with ordering something else non-pork, then you're fine.)

Location: Jalan Song 4, Tabuan Heights, 93350 Kuching. Just behind Oinks. And next to One Jaya mall.  

Post Note: This post is backdated so that means I am now 37 weeks along. Wohooo!

Those little thirst quenchers...

I once resolved to actually chronicle this whole journey here (some parts anyway), but between here and there and so much going on in between, that became another forgotten good intention. Who knew being in the family way could sap the energy from a person like a vacuum suck up dust?

Anywayyyyyy... Week 34 today and thus far all I can say about myself at this stage are:

1. Didn't completely leave coffee off my diet the entire time, well, i.e. until the first trimester was over and we sailed by the danger zone safe and sound. It was completely nuts going cold turkey on such a short notice, but hey... things we do for love, right? Although I alternately consume them consciously and rather sparingly during the second trimester onwards, and counting my quota per day, as per doctor's advice. 

 Ipoh white coffee...



2. A sucker for Coca Cola at most times... A lot of times... All the time. The minute I think or say about having one, I gotta and must have one. In fact last night I had two cans before bedtime which kept we up slightly later than usual. Wasn't proud of myself, but sometimes you just got to have one, you know, as long as it's counted in the quota intake. Wasn't this crazy about Coke before, but hey... At least this craving is easier and cheaper to assuage than some crazier and more unreasonable ones that some other people have, thank God.

 

 Coke on the rock...

 

3. And young coconut juice. Funny how I never actually liked it before, now I just cant have enough. On the bright side, reviews actually said they're good for the baby and me. 5 points for that!

Fresh young coconut juice with extra ice...

 

4. I still drink the recommended maternity milk... usually with a dose of cereal to make it tastier. Although now a little less since we changed gynae. He said those are 'stuffs made of sugar and fat' and that it would do us both a lot better having my calcium intake from natural fiber sources. Well ok doc... You know best.
 

Milk with choc cereal...

 

5. Lots and lots of plain water in between. Other than to dilute the sugar/caffeine intake as per above etc, also excellent for avoiding swollen ankles/hands or puffy face caused by water retention. Makes no sense to reduce water retention by drinking more water right? Apparently it works! Although it frequents the toilet trip. But no biggie. 

 

 Iced plain water...

So there you have it. No judging please. We're fine. Meanwhile, this oversized otter has a few more weeks to go... So with God's grace and mercy, we can do this baby! Wohoo!!

Note: Photos of S3 and Mi3 quality only

Week 30 and counting...

I really have no inspiration lately. It's almost the end of September and time is running out.

On another note, I am in my 30th week. And the lil one is fast gaining momentum in there and I'm beginning to feel the weight of it on my physique. Especially my hips and shoulder. There has been movement in my belly more regular than before, and getting stronger and persistent each time. Not sure if it's scary or just me being excited and clueless at the same time.

But I supposed all new mothers feel the same way. We just have to follow our gut instinct and go with the flow, wherever it may lead. Some readings do help though. And advice from the elderly. Plus a lot of moral and emotional support from the daddy.


With roughly 10 or less more weeks to go before this life-altering miracle is about to take place, there are still some puzzles we have yet to find answers for. But is slowly discovering them one by one. This I believe, is one of those 'trial and error' journey every couple must face together in order to make it really work. Like my mom said, there is no wrong or right in how you prefer to bring up a baby in this world, there is only faith and love and a lot of going by what your heart says.

Well, I cannot say I'm not a little bit overwhelmed by this, but I must say I am pretty much thrilled and affected by it. Every time my husband says he is nervous, I tell him "if you're nervous, imagine how I feel..."... me the one who'll be doing the labour stuff etc. Haha. And then he calmed down.

By the way ... look at all those ultrasound scans! I don't know about you but it always take me a few minutes to digest all that movements and dots and heartbeats to be able to make out what I'm actually looking at. And finally when I'm able to figure out which one is the head, the spine, the legs, the hands... the doctor moved to another region. It's like a blurry screen, or maybe it's just me. Haha.

Sometimes when I look at those black and white shot of the little stranger in me, I get reminded that no matter what and how many wrongs I've done in my past, I must've done something right to deserve all these. Every morning when I wake up and look at my mirror, I thank God that I am alive and well, and is soon gonna be a mommy!

 Taped on the dressing mirror, for an everyday wake-up call... :)

Ok enough about baby otter before I bore you all with further details... =) Why do I feel like I'm beginning to sound melancholy lately in my postings?

Anyway... Although I supposed no first-time parents are a genius in this subject, I wonder how other couples go through their first pregnancy... Care to share? :-)
.
.
Have a good weekend everyone!

Lil one's adventure holidaaaaaaaay!

Ah... second post for the month of May on the second last day. No wait, this is the third post! We made it! Hehe.

Progressing at 3 months and 1 week along today has been an amazing journey. We made it to through the first trimester with flying colors! Well, we kinda cheated there a little bit since we only discovered baby otter's existence like on the 9th weeks... so yeah. Good job procrastinating on that test kit hah. I wondered how much coffee I consumed without knowing. I seriously don't encouraged stalling after you feel suspicious of symptoms and changes. Although in my case, there was some tiny bit of technicality that caused me to snuff out all hopes, but just when I was about to shrug it off, it turned the table on me and proved itself positive and persistent! Just like a fairy tale drama twist...

Google pix: Crazy about cute tiny knitwear like those...

Well thank God for tiny miracles. I don't know what I've done right in my past life to deserve it.

Anyway, while I'm a roll here...

Found myself hungry a lot quicker even after I just ate, but that I eat less portion compared to before. I also discovered that after I ate my fill, any other pictures of food (especially those of my favorites) will render me nauseous. So Instagram after meal time is a no-no. Strangely, my system seems to be accepting milk - which I used to gag on - like I've always drank it my whole life. Pretty awesome huh. And there's the frequent past midnight trips to the bathroom, but that one is normal or so I read somewhere.

It's such a tender feeling. One that keeps me close to my Creator for He brought and gifted this life to me to be responsible for. It's like, carrying another person makes me care for myself more. I used to be so carefree with whatever I eat, wherever I go, whatever I do... but now things have drastically changed and it's all for the better. My waist is expanding sideways... weird. I thought it should be bulging frontward. Haha.

Oh by the way, I'm a sucker for sambal kicap (Tong Nam brand) cili padi belacan gula to dip with any fruit, preferably asam. The taste for it just double-folds at this stage.

Spicy soy sauce dip & local mango...

Oh yes we have been busy being a lil cookie monster. Food adventures everywhere! This month alone, mah little otter has been on early adventures -- work related of course -- to scenic Sandakan of Sabah... where we had Earl Grey tea and thick English scones and strawberry jam under a shady tree at Agnes Keith Tea House... just like the English do ... And ikan bangus bakar!

 Sandakan...

... And then a week later, we flew to small oil town Bintulu for another weekend of duty...
 

 Bintulu...

... With all that movement, I think we deserve a little holiday ourselves, right? Soon -- about 4 days from now, we will be jetting off to these breathtaking destinations!

Goole Pix: Make a really wild guess where...

Talk about a loooong weekend! Wohooo!

Gawai Festival is two days away and the rest of that is the much much much awaited hoooooliiiidaaaayyyy! So here's to the holiday seasons folks!

SELAMAT HARI GAWAI!

SIRAMAT ANDU GAWAI!

AND 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Double-lined...

www.IPeedOnAStickThriceToGetThisFace.Com 

and we are 3 months along today. Wohooooo!

Actually aa... Mr Papa-To-Be describes the experience lengthier than me. ^^

Wordless lah sangat kan?

Kbye!

#outdatedpicture

If I had a baby girl...

... I'd doll her up and dress her in these adorable polka dots ...

 purple fantasy ...

 banana boat dream...

 black is back!

 colourful prints that only babies can carry so well...

 dark purplish blue...

 tangerine ...

 oh pocket details!...

perry dots? ...

 porcelain dots anyone?

and my personal favorite... red against white dots!

with matching baby shoes!!!

Baby girls always have the more fun, don't they? You can dress them up in practically anything and they'll end up pretty! Whereas baby boys ... now there's a challenge...

Who says polka dots are out of style?

p/s: Coffee Girl just had a mental argument with her boss ... she's currently cooling off by looking at baby clothes. Whatever works.