icecreamgal

Thank you for visiting my LaLaLand -Icecream Energy.

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BABY Updates: I am going to be a mummy this December.
These are pictures of my Princess:
(You can click on the thumbnails to view full image of pictures from my Gallery) 

  At Week 11

 At Week 15

 At Week 20

 At Week 25
(too big for the screen now. U can see her head and tiny praying hands)

At Week 29 & 4 days -Baby's head. Hmm... not taken very well again as Dr Heng was in a hurry to go for an operation after me. But i saw baby's fingers and Baby Faith was moving =)

At Week 38 & 2 days: Baby is at 2771grams! Mummy is now 55kg. I hope the 1 kg weight gain was for Faith =)
Shall not be showing any ultrascound scans, as BB Faith is too big for the screen and the scans only captures her head when printed. But Jul and I saw baby opening and closing her mouth - like a fish drinking water today (28th Nov 09). It was fantastic! =)

At Week 40: 8th Dec: Still no signs and no news from Baby Faith.  Baby is 2.9kg. Mummy is back to 55.2kg.
9th Dec: I am good!
10th Dec: Is this the day? Not yet - gotta do more squats! keke
11th Dec:  No news
12th Dec: Going swimming liao. No news
13th Dec: Baby Faith - born at 1514hrs, weigh 2.9kg, length 51cm!!!! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

 Our Baby Faith on 22nd December 11.26am  =)

LuF: the Icreamgal and Her Icecream world~ Energy of Love!
*Muacks!*

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Currently feeling: loved

icecreamgal

Yea, tads me - the moo moo cow
Cos im pumping breastmilk while blogging a short one..

Of course while our Princess Faith is asleep, much to our relief - which means her papa and mama could steal some time to eat half a tub of Haagen Diaz Cookies & Cream before brushing their teeth, preparing to turn in for the night.
Other things we relish: Catching up on the rented DVDs that Jul rented. We have completed Gong Xin Ji and now watching 巾帼枭雄. This was the next popular show from TVB and apparently, this show helped the two lead actor and actresses (邓萃雯 黎耀祥) to get some TVB award.

We also went to watch Avatar 3D at Suntec Eng Wah. It was short getaway for Jul and me.
I took effort to dress up as i treasured the outing. Consider it my first outing to town after confinement!
Hee... i wore the top which Jul bought for me from BKK and managed to squeeze into a pair of my pre pregnancy jeans.
The only thing left over from pregnancy now is the bulge in my tummy...
I think i need to do a lot of sit ups and leg-raise exercises. Wonder when can i go swimming?
Hmm... i guess after i resume work and settle into a working mummy phrase then can i plan for something on my own.
But no fear, i will wear all my pregnancy dresses when i return to work come March (before the bulge disappears). There are some which i can wear for Chinese New year (in case i have no time to go shopping/ or have no idea what fashion i wanna don for this chinese new year). Erhm... yea, there are some dresses which i bought but have not wore them yet...  (gulp)

Ydae, I went out to my (last) gynae appoitment to do my PAP smear. I was scheduled to see Dr Heng next year. I am not sure why also. I will prob go back to her when i get preggy again ( dunno when!? no plans yet - keke)
Then i took bus to parkway parade to a full pedicure. I went back to Faye Nails although i have no package with them but i liked the shop, the staffs and their services.
Managed to rush home b4 6pm. I took a cab, all the way thinking of my daughter....

After being a mother myself, i came to experience that there is indeed an 'undescribable" bond between mother and daughter.
Like how i do not mind sacrificing much time to pacifiy Faith, feed her, change her..
We can get angry with her, but it is only a few second of doubt and anger..
I can enjoy my freedom alone ydae but at the same time, i know i am missing my daughter.. wondering if she is throwing a tantrum or sound asleep..Wondering if MIL could handle her... wondering if the ebm were enough...
And my breastmilk would leak!
I wonder if it was because i was thinking of Baby Faith, but i was prepared for it.(Breastpads)
The same happened when i was in the middle of Avatar. I would think of Faith.
I just wanna praise God again, for bringing me through this. God is awesome...
I have a bit of insight to my 'motto' this year, it must be something about Experience.

Latest Update: Baby aside, I am an iphone idiot.
I used to have an ipod (Was it a gift or did i get it for myself?Im trying hard to recall.. hang on)
and had been fiddling with itunes. But that was long ago..
Suddenly with the surprise gift from Julian yesterday, i found myself to have to associate with Apple Inc again.

I have got nothing against the bitten apple. But U know, Apple products are just so themselves. They are not mass market products. Thus i do need some time to get adjusted and get used to.
For example... games.
With iphone i no longer need to go to M1 website to get the games. But i have to go through other 'complicated' means to get games. (Or do some 'jailbreak' thingy if i want to play free games...)
Im still learning.. what i have to do to enjoy my iphone...

Yes, there was certainly a hype. But i guess i came in too late. haha
I appreciate Julian for thinking of me. It was his idea that iphone was more suitable for me.(Just when i had adjusted and came to terms with my W995.... Opps!)
It was such a coincidence as i was thinking of a good reason why i should not join the iphone gang on the same day:
1. Its weight (heavier)
2. Its bulkier
3. Its flat no doubt (but see the above two facts)
4. It does not have button (i have my qualms about touch screen)
5. Heard it does not have a good camera function...

I really need a lot more time to learn about using this 'sophiscated' phone.
Tune me... sync me..

Baby Faith have been a good girl today.
Past two days were different. Seems like she had the growth sprut thingy, when she was asking for milk so frequent and refusing to sleep - crying very loudly in the evening (that for a moment i was afraid she was going to be labelled as a colicky baby!) as we were changing her diapers.
Only when she slept, could i came out to 'play!" hehe..

Advices from the elders taught me to treasure this moment. The phrase when Baby Faith is still a snuggy little baby - is actually the easiest stage. It would be more challenging when she gets older and starts to run about.. well, i have to accept that this is motherhood and every stage of the child's growth is a challenge.
Each level brings new difficulties. And the good/bad part is: There is no turning back.
Once the level is past, it is over. We was done was done.
Its all about trial and error.
Thus, we should learn from each day and treasure each moment of Faith Faith's growth  =)

Alright its a good time to stop writing. She is about to be up and hungry for her milk.
Its also about time for dinner and time for the korean drama "妻子的诱惑 Cruel Temptation" on Channel U.

I shall update again soon!
Stay in love and in touch.

Muacks: Me.

Currently listening to: Faith's waking up sound
Currently reading: Ipod Guide
Currently watching: 妻子的诱惑 Cruel Temptation
Currently feeling: Relaxed and confident

icecreamgal

I really hate this feeling.... is it me or is this natural for everybody else..?
It is ALWAYS at the end of things (watever: journey, experiences, relationships, trips, classes, competitions etc) that we TREASURE and relish the moments....
Today, marks the end of my confinement..
For some people, it is relief - that they no longer need to be following strictly to certain 'rules'...that they can send the confinemnet lady who have been a stranger in their house away, that they can have more freedom to eat what they like...
For me, it is mixed feeling.
I am thankful that I can again, bathe like a "normal" person. But since im breastfeeding, i need to continue to eat nutritiously and watch my diet. =P

I had been a pampered "queen" during confinement, when mum came to stay with me at 648 since 15th Dec.
How fortunate of me to have home cooked meals each day, someone to do the baby's and my laundry, tend the crying baby when I was tired out in the night...someone to "argue" with me (part of how we communication in my family), someone to chit chat and gossip during afternoon (when Baby Faith is sleeping).
Just like when I was still single and living under one roof with her at TB.

Of course things did not gel up so nicely and quickly. Even though we were mother and daughter, we haven been living together for some time, and this time, it was living together with my hubby too!
Adapting time for the three of us plus one wailing baby. Imagine!
Mum had to check out (asked me many times) where were the correct light switches in my room, had to adapt to bathing and using our bathroom, had to learn how to use the washing maching in my kitchen and how to cook my meals with our lousy stove. I had to get used to her nagging. Argue with her when we had different point of views, get used to eating the 'same' stuffs each day...... commented and complained how she could have done up some dishes better.....
Until....

until one day i found that time had passed so soon that I was about to stop enjoying all these already.
Suddenly, i found that I would miss this companion, i would miss these times, i would miss her dishes......
Just when we had gotten used to the pace, the lifestyle, the working-together...
It was the time for the end of confinement, time for her to go home tonight.
Time for me to face motherhood alone...
with all the skills that i have learnt from her - my mother - who had given birth to me.
The woman who had faced the same 'experience' as i am going through now.
She 'nagged' at how i should carry baby when i bathe her next time, she nagged at what I should do to remove the dirty stains on the napkin.... she reminded me how to brew the red dates tea myself to drink... reminding me to take care of my body....("..wear those slippers, ah yan!")
Really.. i think we cannot bear to leave each other....
I will treasure this chance of bonding that this confinement had brought for us.
Bonding of the grandma, me (her daughter) and her grand-daughter
Of course, I admit that during this confinement, I was in the state of "身在福中, 不知福".

So now, I feel like I have walked to the end of a path and I looked back at how far i have walked. I remember  those experiences, the people who have walked with me through this short time... and I cannot help but feel I could have done better... 
We could have planned for a better 1st month party too - in the end, i felt very sorry that I had been a bad host - that food had not been sufficient. And due to the overwhelming guests, Jul and I were kinda "too busy' to be at ease with our guests...I wished there was more time for me to chit chat with all our guests. 
I wished could have been kinder during my earlier confinement days, i could have learnt how to control my temper better (Or was it my hormones??!?). I could have been more effecient at my 'work' as a mother to Faith...
I wish... i wish...
And if i were to have a 2nd child, I hope my mum will be staying with me again.

Every end of a journey, there are new things we learnt of ourselves and others.
During this time, i have to admit to my weaknesses and also glad for how i have been strengthened.. by the same experience that can wear me out.
If there was a 2nd time, i will make sure i remember my mistakes and deal with the situation better.

Thank God for my mum...
(Argh... she just told me that i cannot eat icecream so soon yet! Sob sob! Ben & Jerry!!!)

And as i cross over to 641 to start life 'afresh' with Baby Faith at my MIL's place,  i need to thank God for the next door opened for Jul, Faith and me. So, more adjustment, more adapting and more lessons learnt...  
Warning: Vegetarian diet for me from 15th Jan onwards! OMG!!! 

So look out for the next exciting chapter: Mother in law, Daughter-in-law(me) and grand-daughter...
keeke..

Signing off now, Im off to the 'breas-cue'
Muacks, me

Currently listening to: 我怀念的 - Stefanie Sun
Currently reading: Gmail
Currently watching: Baby Faith stretching herself
Currently feeling: Sad that mum had to go home so soon...

icecreamgal

I survived the shower and washing of hair today.
It was akin to having a bath in the kampong days - having to scoop the (herbal) water from the bucket and throwing them onto my hair and body.
Mum asked me to wash my hair first, then my body.
HAIR!!!!
I took pain to comb my hair first before i walk into the bathroom, as i did not want to clog the manhole so immediately...
I could only say: It was depressing!
I was about to believe i will turn bald if the hair loss was this much daily. But as i have bun up my hair since confinement, the hair loss was accumulated for a few days already.
I would surely get post natal blue becos of hair loss, not becos of baby Faith.
But i survived. Had to clear the manhole twice while washing hair.
At the same time, Jul and mum assured me that the hair loss was temporarily. Blame it on the hormones, she said.
(Sorry i am not very prepared for this. Not as much as i was for the labour pain.)
I wanted to ask: Why hair loss from the head, i do not mind hair loss from other areas in my body!  =P

It is Mummy's Day today cos i managed to let my hair down (to Julian's delight) after so long and the body feels more relaxed after a shower. =)

Thank God for everything. And i pray i will not go bald.... pls bless me with more hair, Lord. Thank you!
(meantime, i will remember to pile up on proteins)

Today, I was tired, I had to nap. Baby Faith was getting more playful, and getting up more easily from her sleep.
I was wondering why. She was also getting 'frightened' easily - even when i had to pull down her top, the mere action would make her jerk, sending both her hands up into the air.
I thought it must be the thunder.... but mum say: it was normal for baby to be 'frightened' easily as they are slowly adjusting to life outside the womb.

Tomorrow, we will bring Baby Faith to the polyclinic, for her follow up.
Julian decided not to go back to Dr Malathi. We shall give the polyclinic a try. Although we must mentally be prepared for a long wait - but it is also the same long wait in a paediatrician's clinic (and we need to pay more). Anyways, I am more concern if the doctor can give me answers to the list of questions I have prepared.
It is also likely that we shall get Baby Faith's next vaccination at the polyclinic. Marine Parade Polyclinic would be good since it was near Daddy Jul's work place.

Today, i received my next expensive gift from my sisters (Rei,Shannin and Sis). As a present for Faith's 1st month, they have bought me a Kate Spade Baby Bag. It was bright red, spacious bag and very neat looking. I like the bag and will probably bring the bag out with me tomorrow.
Must wake up early tomorrow to prepare the things to bring, cos Baby Faith will spend a good long time outside of home and I will be breastfeeding her.

So, update you all again when i can!
Thanks for reading and walking with me through my mummy phrase, my dear friends  =)

Love: me and Baby Faith

Currently listening to: Baby Faith's coo-ing in her sleep!
Currently reading: Forum threads
Currently watching: Still chasing "Gong Xin Ji"
Currently feeling: Tired

icecreamgal

Day 15 - Surviving Day 15 of Baby Faith and confinement

Confinement is okay so far - except  for the "boring" fish and vegetables menu - very often in a week.
I am encouraged to eat a lot of fish meat during this time. Cod fish, grilled fish, fish soup..

Vegetables also helped me from getting contispation
(which i find some mummies in the forums are experiencing - some even getting piles etc... )
Fortunately i have been 'smooth' so far.

I am also drinking lactating milk powder - my yummy Dumex Mama milk powder everyday. (On alternate days, I will drink from other brands - those are packets of samples which i have gotten before birth of Faith)

I was also advised by Cindy, my cousin (who is already a grandmother of two) to drink a bottle of Chicken Essence everyday. I do have a lot of supply and i even reckon i will have excess supply that i can give them to Priscilla Teoh or Adelena when they give birth next year.. keke.

Not forgetting my daily vitamin/calcium pills which i would pop every morning.

And ... not forgetting to wear my slippers at home. I opted not to wear socks as i fear i will slip.
But i am asked not to walk barefooted at home - cos of the cold floor, may cause wind to build up from the feet... Hmm.. well... i do believe in it - but i am trying to get used to wearing a slipper at home - not that i am disobeying anyone.

Snacks wise: I will empty some Coco Crunch into a small teacup whenever "my mouth is itchy" and munch them as they are. Today, i bought a small box of corn flakes from the mama shop - to give myself some variety - in case i get tired of Coco crunch too soon! hee
I had gone for a short walk down to the mama shop at 649 cos my mum needed some tomatoes. I also stocked up two more Campbells, for late supper needs.
Wanted to get some sweets - but had no idea what i wanted.
I bought a stick of the white chocolate Kinder Bueno instead - i have to admit, it was pure influenced by the commercial which yearned this desire for the product.

While Faith is sleeping soundly now after her feed at 4pm, I should be pumping out my excess milk. And i have been asking questions in the motherhood forum and checking out how to use milk bags.
Currently, I am pumping my milk out into milk bottles and storing them in the fridge - this would enable Jul or mum to help me bottle feed my expresed breastmilk to Faith in the night or when i am too tired to breastfeed.
However, once i go back to work - i will like my MIL to continue to bottlefeed my breastmilk to Baby Faith.
Thus i need to learn how to build up this supply and store the breastmilk now.
Expressed breastmilk can be stored in the fridge for 48 hours.
Frozen breastmilk can be stored in freezer up to 3 months.

After giving birth to Faith - It is my pleasure and responsibility to watch and help Baby Faith grow now...
In terms of giving her the best - breastmilk being one of them.
Giving her my time, my attention, my sleep, my nutrients.... my hair!

Ok.. 
I can also say: I am losing my sleep over her (cos i have to feed her when she wails in the middle of the night)
I can also say: I am losing time.... for myself
I am also losing hair (and many people tells me that it is common)
I am losing a lot of hair that i am going to develop a fear for washing my hair tomorrow.

Since birth of Faith, i have used the dry shampoo twice (both are becos of appointment at ESH) and i have not touched my shampoo and conditioner since.
Today being the last day of my massage with Madam Aida, i will be able to bathe and wash my hair tomorrow.
In case you wanna know: I have not touched my Lux bath foam since delivery too, but i have been wiping myself with a warm towel every night before bed - so i am contented.

You may not know this. But i am particularly freaked out by wet hair.. i mean, wet hair sticking onto my skin ( In such an instance, I will not use my fingers to remove the hair, i will use water to remove them).
I cannot stand stepping on wet hair on the ground too. Thus, i make it a point to wear slippers to shower when i am in a public bath room (ie. showering after a suntan session at Sentosa)
Seeing the public toilet ground full of wet hair also irks me... I should say: the scene is able to send goosebumps up my skin.
At home, I have to muster enough courage even to clear the manhole when it is full of wet hair (yah, my hair).... (well, i have to, or else i will be flooding the bahroom!)
And i am sorry that I have to use lotsa toilet roll for a one time mission. =P
So i cannot imagine how many times i need to clear the manhole tomorrow when i finally get to shampoo my hair..
Argh.. its supposed to be a pleasure and an agony...
God Bless me!!!!!!

The Year 2009 is coming to an end..
But for me, i do not feel much about it - cos i have been living my confinement days - Day by Day now.
Used to be days when i welcome the change of the year when i no more write 2009 but write 2010 in my diary at work. Now i will be doing it in Faith Faith's feeding journal. Wow, 2010...
Instead of feeling sad that i will miss the fireworks this year and all the countdown parties.... i ask myself to look forward and ponder (& be mentally prepared) for:
What will this new year brings?
I expect it to be a challenging year for me as i am no longer a married individual, but a married mother of one girl. Hehe...
So does Daddy Julian.
More interactions with my in-laws people.
Work-wise: Will i be able to fully concentrate? Will i be able to shake off my habit of staying back late in office?
Will I have given new duties? Will i be lagging behind, after a few months of 'enjoying'  not working?

I shall go think about my new year resolution. And for a change, i am going to ask Julian about his and maybe we can set one resolution for the family. (I mean - Jul, me and Baby Faith)

One good thing to lose:
Lose fats!
The full body massage by Madam Aida have been fulfiling. Although, I have to endure the wrap and the smell of the herb and oil, i told myself it was just 5 sessions. I am quite skeptical about the wrap - cos i am not sure myself if i would get to see the results of a less flabby tummy but the massage did help to rid some "dirty blood". I was also appreciative of Madam Aida's concern for my 'spider-veins' legs. She concentrated her massage on the tiny veins on my legs. I would think of engaging her once or twice a month for her massage service.
Actually not so much of fats left, after Baby Faith made her exit from my womb - i lose 7 kg already.
Probably, also becos my pregnancy diet was a lot more than what i am feeding myself now, considering the fact that i have to avoid icecream, cold drinks......

You know, most of the time, we can handle such losses.. these are so call temporarily sacrifices..
There are some losses I cannot handle.

I have to remind myself that I CANNOT lose my health - becos i have to be around for Faith
I cannot lose* my arms - so that I can carry Faith
I must take good care of my legs - so that I can bring Faith out and ensure these legs are strong to endure a whole day of shopping trip. (not forgetting that for the first few years, Faith's going out comes along with a pram)
Opps... how heavy did i say her Orange pram was?!!?
I cannot lose my calcium - becos i must have strong bones to play with Baby Faith at the playground...

Lose* - i do mean: not taking good care of the body parts such that they lose their 'pre-birth' flexibilities and functions.

So such are the concerns of a new mother.. hehe...
I am glad i get to share and write so much today. A few times, in the middle of the blog, Faith did wake up, but she is soundly asleep again. In the middle of the blog, MIL came over, chit chat a while and went back home.

Ok, time for my dinner. Will update you all again soon.
Love: Me and Baby Faith

Currently listening to: Faith's sobbing... "what's wrong, baby?"
Currently reading: Motherhood forum
Currently feeling: Engorged!