Hello!

So much have been neglected here. So much so that saying sorry sounds so trivial. Oh well 2017 has come and gone and we are well into February of 2018.

WHA!

Like, did I miss blogging? I certainly did. And do. But when you keep stopping midway into a sentence and ran out of ideas to phrase yourself properly, you just stop and can't finish. Can't finish. For like 6 months ago! Haha.

Anyway, this is a short update. Last Dec we had a family trip to Koh Samui, Thailand... a beautiful gem of an island. Every year since my girl turned 1 in Dec 2015, it has been a bi-annual tradition for us to take a family trip away from home.

 Koh Samui, Thailand @ Dec 2017

So for this year when she turns 3.5, a return trip to Danang, Vietnam in June sounds like a really good idea since the last we went there in Dec 2016, it was 'winter' to them and it was wet/rainy/cold throughout. They say June is summer in Vietnam, so hopefully we could have more time under the sun, on the beach and in the pool. Which are my daughter's main playground. Me? I only usually just enjoy the FOOD and the SCENERY of a new place. :-)

And how has your 2018 been so far? I look forward to mine with lots of hope, faith and prayers.  Hope it's not too late for me to wish you all ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

April... May... June! New stuffs are in!

So not even one entry for April? I must've been pretty occupied, or just plain lazy. But here is May, and let's start all over again!

I have a few things to look forward to and some of them I have embarked upon just recently. To share with you briefly:

1. My own weight-watching project - mainly to drop the post-baby weight after been delaying for a year plus now. You see, Carissa is now 1 year 4+ months. But between becoming a new mom and getting back to work, I was only giving myself a break and trying not to take it too hard on myself. But now that my little girl can run and I can run along with her, it's only appropriate to kick-start this mini-regime now. Only been at it for 4 days now including today and already my body is feeling the change. It's so good to run and sweat I have forgotten how that felt like. All I need to remember right now is believing that my system will work, and follow it through diligently.

2. Finally had the courage to change my skincare product. Been a week now on Hada Labo brand (I know I know, I'm so outdated...) and I must say, it's pretty promising. Not to complain on my previous brands much, but I like how easily my facial skin absorbs this one and it doesn't leave any greasy or 'packed' feeling, especially since I'm so lazy to be doing so much on my face on a regular morning of a normal working day. Currently on 3 items for now - cleanser, hydrating lotion and moisturizer gel - cukuplah I figure.

3. Cutting down on my caffeine intake. Such irony from Coffee Girl, right? Well, actually not cutting them off altogether, just the amount and type of consumption. These days, I'm on board the black coffee only - hot and sugarless at its best. So in a way, slowly eliminating my sugar intake as well. I had done that before and it was rewarding, but then I got derailed when I was pregnant because it seemed that all I wanted to drink was sugary stuff. Time to continue the habit!

4. After the busy April, anti-climax May, I just can't wait for June! Last December, we went to Krabi, Thailand -- our first outing away from home as a family. Then, Carissa just turned one and she was still practically an infant - carrying her was partly how I got my buffed up right arm hahaha (not muscle ok). But now that she can walk, a holiday with a tag-along tot will be so much fun and adventurous. Need to be fully fit to run after her here and there. Here's a trip from last year at the Crab Monument in Krabi... =)

The other new stuffs, let's leave them for now. Happy weekends everybody! And for my compatriots in Sarawak, Happy Voting Day!

Home is where the heart is...

I didn't realise how true the saying is until the little one came along.

Since becoming a mom, my life has made a 360 degree turning. My focal point has switched from career and money-making to family and home life. About now, I found that I don't really worry how much I'm making as long as I get home safe at the end of everyday. Even traveling for work seems to be off putting these days. I'm even considering changing career to a more laid back one that doesn't require me to think much or travel much, but one that keeps me constantly able to spend more quality time with my little family at home.

My constant worry now is that I don't spend enough moment with my little girl, watching her grow up, enjoying and capturing her precious milestones and achievements, and making sure she knows I'm the one who brought her into this world. I'm also worried she'll be close more to her nanny than me... :'( or to anyone else than me. I know she's always in good hands when I'm not around, it's just me being paranoid much.

But then, maybe motherhood does that to every woman. With the joy comes the concerns. Oh well... As of now, unfortunately, I cannot entertain the thoughts of becoming a full time mom because we do need the money. Cost of living these days is too high... baby products are more expensive than adult's, and there are also the bills and miscellaneous debts to pay off.

I am however, looking into having a career that allows me to work from home. Wouldn't that be fantastic? Then I could have an early retirement... This daydreaming is not bad really. Hmm...

Anyway, since I have a knack for home-cooked meal, maybe that meal business is still on the line. Home made kuetiaw soup everyone! Good for any time of the day, but most especially when you feel down or under the weather or simply craving for a hot healthy meal. =)

Back at work...

[Note: Must update this. It's March. Sorry for the remiss.]

Been 15 days already since I came back to work after a three-month leave. Boy have I got a lot to catch up on and get used to all over again... waking up early, daily wardrobe battle, skipping home breakfast, getting caught in the morning traffic, hair woes etc... etc... etc... Workwise, I just need to refresh my memory and sharpen my skill once again.

The hardest part about coming back to work after a long official inactive existence is not the work. It's about being away from my baby for the first time after spending every second with her for the past 3 months. But I supposed if other working new mothers can do it, so can I. I just have to brave it every day and keep myself busy for the next 8 hours before rushing home to my little family.

Gotta look excited, right? =)

The kind of work I do however does not always include going home on the dot. In fact it also includes being away from home for a few days when the work requires it. I used to love traveling and going outstation or visit new places when I was single, because it was the only way I could escape from reality. The irony of it is of course the relaxing and soul searching part that I used to find when I did get away.

Now... I'm not sure how to put it. I still love traveling, it's just perhaps with a heavy heart.. .what's with it being left at home with the baby/daddy and all. However, if it's a holiday travel together, that would be a totally different thing. :D

How's the baby doing? She's fine! The first month was an adventure as clueless new parents, both us and the baby getting to know each other and setting up a routine (or upsetting a routine hahaha then reset). The second month was independence period, me learning to handle the baby on my own without my mom around. The third month was a revelation... when the baby begins to coo and smile and learning to recognize faces. Her sleeping routine though hasn't changed much.

And how is the daddy doing? He has been such a tremendous pillar of strength for me. Because we're doing this alone without staying-in parents or nannies or babysitters, he has been very involved with Carissa's development since day one. I must say he's such a natural with babies. :D He is even a pro at bathing an infant, trust me. Even Carissa love her bath time, judging from her cooing and smiles when she's in the tub with daddy holding her.

Baby-mommy leisure time at home... pardon the mess...

 

I miss one thing though... little baby otter moving in my womb actively for the past few months before her delivery. I tell her that every chance I get now. When I look at that adorable lovely face, I just couldn't fathom how such an amazing miracle ever lived in my belly for 10 months. The wonders of God.

So here I am.
Back at work.
Life goes on.
Happy to return.
Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!



Closing the year with a bang bang baby!

Some things feel like they happen too fast, and some things feel so slow in moving. And here we are calling for the curtain call to drop on the last show of the year. But hey, the year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on of a continuous adventure. 

Although a lot has taken place and so much has happened since the beginning of the year, here's the perfect closure for me... Baby Otter has arrived! And that officially made me and hubby a New Mommy and Daddy!

Our little bundle of joy, Miss Carissa Dhea was born on 16 Dec 2014 at 8.44am, weighing at 3.69kg. Yeah I know, she was quite a handful of a little bundle. LOL. Can't believe it's already 2 weeks and 1 day since that happened! As of now I am at home resting, recuperating, recovering, rejuvenating and adjusting. I'll tell you more about her later when I can sneak in longer minutes to write more in between the so-called 'Confinement' period.

my own dimply hairy baby arm... :D

Meanwhile, there's just a few hours more to midnight. And it looks like this year I will be breaking tradition by not driving to the BDC Flyover to watch the fireworks display at midnight to usher in the New Year. Let's just hope the merry-making neighbours will bring out the big guns tonight at my housing area instead so baby, daddy and me can just watch the smokes and lit-up sky from inside the gate.

So then, let's close the chapter for 2014 and start a new page for 2015. Ah cliche.

HAPPY BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! 

Got resolutions? :D

Google Pic 

See you in another entry post in January 2015!!

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? :-)
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Have a good weekend everyone!

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!

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