The bigger Little Baby gets, the more I am aware that I am getting older.
The older I get, the more I am aware that my parents are also getting on in years.
My Dad is turning 73 this November.
When I found out that he was going to attend the SEA Games Opening Ceremony together with my brother on Friday evening and that they were taking public transport there, I got worried and many questions flooded my mind.
Would he be able to withstand the (possibly) long hours of walking or queueing to get into the stadium?
Tens of thousands of people would be there, would it get too chaotic/warm/humid for him?
Transport to the venue shouldn't be an issue, but the transport home? Would he have trouble getting out of the stadium? Would he have trouble getting a seat on the train? Would he get too tired and breathless?
What if it was already very late by the time he got out of the stadium? Would he have to stand and wait very long to get onto a train?
I am a worry-wart. My mother as well.
I remember exchanging texts with my mother on the above questions.
Mother and daughter with furrowed brows.
At the end of the day......our worries were for naught....
Dad not only enjoyed himself alot. But he got home at 11:15pm, way earlier than I expected. He even managed a 3km walk with Adrian from the stadium to the Kallang MRT station instead of taking the train at Stadium MRT station on the Circle line, because he figured it would make more sense to take a straight train home than have to change trains somewhere along the Circle Line.
Ah, my Dad....ever young at heart. Ever energetic and excited.
An avid sportsman in his youth. I am glad to see his enthusiasm and adrenaline still going strong after all these years.
Monday, June 08, 2015
Auspicious year of the Goat?
This year seems pretty auspicious?
3 of K's close friends are getting married or planning their marriage.
1 of my close friends just got married.
Another of my close friends will be getting married in 2 months' time.
These are folks who have either been single for a long time or whom us close friends have been mildly concerned about.
And then suddenly they are getting married left, right and centre. Haha.
Happy for them!
3 of K's close friends are getting married or planning their marriage.
1 of my close friends just got married.
Another of my close friends will be getting married in 2 months' time.
These are folks who have either been single for a long time or whom us close friends have been mildly concerned about.
And then suddenly they are getting married left, right and centre. Haha.
Happy for them!
Offering help
I did it again.
It was raining this morning, a heavy drizzle, when I got off my bus and walked to my office building. When I stopped at a traffic junction, everyone else there had their own umbrellas, except one Indian man. He was wearing a Fujitec polo T-shirt and I assumed he was working for them, perhaps as an engineer or technician.
I noticed him and wanted to offer to shelter him under my umbrella, at least for that one or two minutes while waiting for the green man to come on so we could all cross the road.
I hesitated, unsure of how to approach the man. I took a step towards him and hesitated somemore.
I sort of chickened out and by the time I came to that conclusion, the green man had already come on and the man was already preparing to run across the junction.
So there, I chickened out again. Not the first time this has happened, probably the second or third time and I still can't find the guts to approach someone to offer help.
Is it the way I was brought up? The way I was taught to mind my own business?
Is it my own personality? That shyness and hesitance and timidness?
How to have personal breakthroughs when I hold myself back and am so timid?
K would have probably said to me "Just do it."
It was raining this morning, a heavy drizzle, when I got off my bus and walked to my office building. When I stopped at a traffic junction, everyone else there had their own umbrellas, except one Indian man. He was wearing a Fujitec polo T-shirt and I assumed he was working for them, perhaps as an engineer or technician.
I noticed him and wanted to offer to shelter him under my umbrella, at least for that one or two minutes while waiting for the green man to come on so we could all cross the road.
I hesitated, unsure of how to approach the man. I took a step towards him and hesitated somemore.
I sort of chickened out and by the time I came to that conclusion, the green man had already come on and the man was already preparing to run across the junction.
So there, I chickened out again. Not the first time this has happened, probably the second or third time and I still can't find the guts to approach someone to offer help.
Is it the way I was brought up? The way I was taught to mind my own business?
Is it my own personality? That shyness and hesitance and timidness?
How to have personal breakthroughs when I hold myself back and am so timid?
K would have probably said to me "Just do it."
Friday, June 05, 2015
Lunch Dates
Looking forward to my lunch dates in the coming weeks! :)
Catching up is always nice.
TH just jioed me for lunch next week. Initiated by him for a "catch-up" session....I sense gossip and a complaint session coming up hahaha....Nevetheless I'm still happy and excited to meet him.
And I'm having lunch with Chloe the week after next. It'll be the first time I'm seeing her since our last meal 1.5years ago! Looking forward! I told her she would have to update me on EVERYTHING that has happened in the last 1.5years haha.
Catching up is always nice.
TH just jioed me for lunch next week. Initiated by him for a "catch-up" session....I sense gossip and a complaint session coming up hahaha....Nevetheless I'm still happy and excited to meet him.
And I'm having lunch with Chloe the week after next. It'll be the first time I'm seeing her since our last meal 1.5years ago! Looking forward! I told her she would have to update me on EVERYTHING that has happened in the last 1.5years haha.
Thursday, June 04, 2015
So so forgetful these days
Went downstairs from the office to the 7-11 store to buy bread and had originally intended to withdraw some cash from the ATM next door.
After buying bread, my feet promptly brought me back up to the office.
Only when I sat down did I realise I'd forgotten to draw money....
So so forgetful these days....
Food Glorious Food
K and I love our food. And we definitely hope to transfer some, if not most of that love for food, to Little Baby.
She is unfortunately cutting her teeth quite late. She has only 6 teeth now, at the age of almost 20 months. While she is able to chew with her gums, she is rejecting all types of meat and fish when she is eating outside of school. Her teacher says she is probably eating these things in school because of peer pressure. The rest of the other kids eat their meat and fish and hence she does so as well.
But she spits them out when they are given to her outside of school. Bleah.
Anyway, we make do with other types of food...and I've been racking my brains out about what to feed her so that she at least gets enough nutrition for growth and development. Glad to say I've so far survived several months or cooking various types of food for her....
Ranging from rice with various soups or stews....to pasta with homemade minestrone....to linguine with chicken soup...to fried rice....to fried noodles....to mee sua with vegetable and pork stew....
I am happy with all of my soups and stews and I am also very happy that she likes them too. Vegetable stews of various combinations, beancurd skin/tofu/egg soups, chicken soups, winter melon soups, tomato soups, you name it....
I am fast running out of ideas though for what other meals I can make....googling hasn't helped much.
She doesn't seem to like mashed potato so shepherd's pie is out....I hope to try macaroni and cheese soon....
Maybe I should explore pizza? Since she likes tomato-stuff.....
Hmm........
She is unfortunately cutting her teeth quite late. She has only 6 teeth now, at the age of almost 20 months. While she is able to chew with her gums, she is rejecting all types of meat and fish when she is eating outside of school. Her teacher says she is probably eating these things in school because of peer pressure. The rest of the other kids eat their meat and fish and hence she does so as well.
But she spits them out when they are given to her outside of school. Bleah.
Anyway, we make do with other types of food...and I've been racking my brains out about what to feed her so that she at least gets enough nutrition for growth and development. Glad to say I've so far survived several months or cooking various types of food for her....
Ranging from rice with various soups or stews....to pasta with homemade minestrone....to linguine with chicken soup...to fried rice....to fried noodles....to mee sua with vegetable and pork stew....
I am happy with all of my soups and stews and I am also very happy that she likes them too. Vegetable stews of various combinations, beancurd skin/tofu/egg soups, chicken soups, winter melon soups, tomato soups, you name it....
I am fast running out of ideas though for what other meals I can make....googling hasn't helped much.
She doesn't seem to like mashed potato so shepherd's pie is out....I hope to try macaroni and cheese soon....
Maybe I should explore pizza? Since she likes tomato-stuff.....
Hmm........
Wednesday, June 03, 2015
Oh well...
The other day, both senior and junior ultrasound technicians said there's an 80% chance Peanut is a girl.
When some colleagues subsequently ask me about Peanut's gender, I tell them the same news I received. I am not prepared for their reactions though.
90% of the reactions I get are either (i) disappointed looks, (ii) concerned looks followed by people asking if I am ok, or (iii) an outright "aiyah wasted!".And then all will finish up by saying something like.....ok lah, girl is also good, will be filial, anyway can try again.
I'm like ??!!
While having a girl and a boy makes a nice balance, I am equally happy having another girl. It is my child as well, borne out of me, a companion and best friend for Nadya, and a priceless result of the union between K and I, our flesh and blood.
I am somewhat a little indignant as well.
Who are you to give such a reaction straight in my face? Who are you to determine if I should prefer a boy or a girl for my second child? And who are you to assume that I wanted a boy?
By all these reactions, it seems to be like as if people still prefer having a boy compared to a girl?
pfffftttt.
When some colleagues subsequently ask me about Peanut's gender, I tell them the same news I received. I am not prepared for their reactions though.
90% of the reactions I get are either (i) disappointed looks, (ii) concerned looks followed by people asking if I am ok, or (iii) an outright "aiyah wasted!".And then all will finish up by saying something like.....ok lah, girl is also good, will be filial, anyway can try again.
I'm like ??!!
While having a girl and a boy makes a nice balance, I am equally happy having another girl. It is my child as well, borne out of me, a companion and best friend for Nadya, and a priceless result of the union between K and I, our flesh and blood.
I am somewhat a little indignant as well.
Who are you to give such a reaction straight in my face? Who are you to determine if I should prefer a boy or a girl for my second child? And who are you to assume that I wanted a boy?
By all these reactions, it seems to be like as if people still prefer having a boy compared to a girl?
pfffftttt.
Tuesday, June 02, 2015
laments
It does get a tad frustrating when other care-givers of your child don't give a hoot about what you say or the disciplinary boundaries you try to impose, or the preferences you have for the way your child should be brought up.
Stop short of picking a fight (which I won't do anyway since I'm of a non-confrontational nature)...I'll just close an eye and kan4 kai1....
Yes, must kan4 kai1 more...else I'll turn into a bitter old hag and life will be miserable.
Should also remind myself that they have given us alot of help as well....
Stop short of picking a fight (which I won't do anyway since I'm of a non-confrontational nature)...I'll just close an eye and kan4 kai1....
Yes, must kan4 kai1 more...else I'll turn into a bitter old hag and life will be miserable.
Should also remind myself that they have given us alot of help as well....
Friday, May 29, 2015
That niggling feeling that doesn't seem to go away
Having restless leg syndrome or RLS for short.
Except that the naggy tingling feelings are not in my legs but in my upper arms. Read that a possible of RLS in pregnancy is due to lower levels of iron.
Does this correspond to the fact that my blood pressure is lower than usual? My health check on Monday showed lower blood pressure compared to the previous time. The doctor said it was ok and not to worry but the nurse told me to just be careful and get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position.
I think the RLS is related to my lower blood pressure.
Which explains why I'm trying to incorporate more red meat like beef and pork into my meals.
Only thing is that my dinner on weekdays, which are at my inlaws' place, tend to have little red meat....and more chicken and fish...
I can only load up on red meat during lunches or the weekend.
I've taken beef twice in the last 3 days already.....
Hope I can reverse this situation soon. This RLS is getting on my nerves, like literally.
The tingling feeling is now even appearing during the day. Not good....
It's like an itch occurring on the inside of your arms and in your muscles. You can't scratch it away. It is just there...gnawing at your patience...
Except that the naggy tingling feelings are not in my legs but in my upper arms. Read that a possible of RLS in pregnancy is due to lower levels of iron.
Does this correspond to the fact that my blood pressure is lower than usual? My health check on Monday showed lower blood pressure compared to the previous time. The doctor said it was ok and not to worry but the nurse told me to just be careful and get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position.
I think the RLS is related to my lower blood pressure.
Which explains why I'm trying to incorporate more red meat like beef and pork into my meals.
Only thing is that my dinner on weekdays, which are at my inlaws' place, tend to have little red meat....and more chicken and fish...
I can only load up on red meat during lunches or the weekend.
I've taken beef twice in the last 3 days already.....
Hope I can reverse this situation soon. This RLS is getting on my nerves, like literally.
The tingling feeling is now even appearing during the day. Not good....
It's like an itch occurring on the inside of your arms and in your muscles. You can't scratch it away. It is just there...gnawing at your patience...
Thursday, May 28, 2015
bus-rides these days
As with most Singaporeans, I fight and jostle with the rush-hour crowd in the evenings.
The bus I take is usually 70-90% full by the time it reaches my bus-stop.
I got on yesterday and all priority seats were taken. I looked around at the people sitting on them.
A young schoolboy just stared back at me, a local lady averted her gaze, another lady was sleeping.
No hope there.
An old uncle. Also no hope.
An Indian man, from India and a working professional. Definitely no hope there. (I've observed that they tend to be more selfish and less gentlemanly. Is it because of their patriachal society?)
And then voila, a foreign worker gestured to me and gave his seat to me.
Thank you good man. May the Good Lord bless you.
I didn't know if he was from Sri Lanka or Bangladesh or India.
But he was the only one who gave up his seat to me.
Thank you again Sir.
==================
Bus rides these days.
A constant stress that I can't get a seat.
And a constant stress because I am too placid to ask for a seat myself.
The bus I take is usually 70-90% full by the time it reaches my bus-stop.
I got on yesterday and all priority seats were taken. I looked around at the people sitting on them.
A young schoolboy just stared back at me, a local lady averted her gaze, another lady was sleeping.
No hope there.
An old uncle. Also no hope.
An Indian man, from India and a working professional. Definitely no hope there. (I've observed that they tend to be more selfish and less gentlemanly. Is it because of their patriachal society?)
And then voila, a foreign worker gestured to me and gave his seat to me.
Thank you good man. May the Good Lord bless you.
I didn't know if he was from Sri Lanka or Bangladesh or India.
But he was the only one who gave up his seat to me.
Thank you again Sir.
==================
Bus rides these days.
A constant stress that I can't get a seat.
And a constant stress because I am too placid to ask for a seat myself.
Je dois
Je dois être fort. Je dois être heureux.
Je dois être plus patient. Je dois sourire plus souvent.
Je dois laisser aller. Comme la phrase en Chinois "看开".
Pour moi-meme, pour K, pour mon petite bebe, pour l'autre bebe dans moi, et pour ma famille.
Je dois être plus patient. Je dois sourire plus souvent.
Je dois laisser aller. Comme la phrase en Chinois "看开".
Pour moi-meme, pour K, pour mon petite bebe, pour l'autre bebe dans moi, et pour ma famille.
Oh my sleep....wherefore art thou?
5 hours of sleep the night before with one 30mins interruption somewhere in between has rendered me a zombie on this 28th day of May in year 2015.
Trying to draft an email memo touching on policy issues and because this email requires more thought and consideration, my brain has started its own protest by simply refusing to work much.
I would type one sentence (or half) and then my mind would go blank.
Hope I survive the rest of the working day.
Boo.....zzzzzz........
I suppose it's also an accumulation of lack of sleep and tiredness...
zom. bie. fied.
Trying to draft an email memo touching on policy issues and because this email requires more thought and consideration, my brain has started its own protest by simply refusing to work much.
I would type one sentence (or half) and then my mind would go blank.
Hope I survive the rest of the working day.
Boo.....zzzzzz........
I suppose it's also an accumulation of lack of sleep and tiredness...
zom. bie. fied.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Work
Dynamics are changing.
The boss is leaving his post as GM in October. He will likely stay on as an advisor or consultant till Feb next year and then it is goodbye.
This has not been announced officially and not all my team mates know. But I know and the other two who are more senior (in terms of rank) than me know.
I can sense he is slowly giving some decision-making leeway to those 2 folks.
I'm not too pleased though I can't do much about it. I don't want to acquiesce to their opinions and judgement, well, at least not one of them.
For something which I thought was more operational and simple enough to decide, I made a recommendation to him and sought his concurrence. Didn't expect him to rope the other 2 in and seek their opinions as well.
Bah.
When he leaves and when the new boss comes in, it will right smack at the start of my maternity leave. Which leaves me with little chance to get to know the new boss. The rest have 4-5 months of working with him before I come back again...
While I already know who this new boss is and that he is generally an easy guy to work with....I still feel apprehensive about my future here....
The boss is leaving his post as GM in October. He will likely stay on as an advisor or consultant till Feb next year and then it is goodbye.
This has not been announced officially and not all my team mates know. But I know and the other two who are more senior (in terms of rank) than me know.
I can sense he is slowly giving some decision-making leeway to those 2 folks.
I'm not too pleased though I can't do much about it. I don't want to acquiesce to their opinions and judgement, well, at least not one of them.
For something which I thought was more operational and simple enough to decide, I made a recommendation to him and sought his concurrence. Didn't expect him to rope the other 2 in and seek their opinions as well.
Bah.
When he leaves and when the new boss comes in, it will right smack at the start of my maternity leave. Which leaves me with little chance to get to know the new boss. The rest have 4-5 months of working with him before I come back again...
While I already know who this new boss is and that he is generally an easy guy to work with....I still feel apprehensive about my future here....
Monday, May 25, 2015
New week
And this too shall pass.
Brand new day, brand new hope, brand new wishes, brand new fulfillment.
It's the start of a new week and I hope that it will infinitely be a better one than the week before.
Onward we go. Jiayou!
Friday, May 22, 2015
Drama Morning
Little Baby's face and torso was covered in rashes. Went to the doc and discovered it was a common rash called Roseola which appears in children after a bout of high fever or fever that lasts several days.
Anyway, at least now I know that high irritability and crankiness is associated this condition. At least I now know the reason behind her extreme crankiness and crabbiness. Just a shake of my head or a "no" from me is enough to start a tantrum or hissy fit.
================
Came back from the doc with my father-in-law. Thank goodness he was with me.
Opened the door to see my helper, who arrived the previous afternoon, covered in sweat, breathless and pale. She had apparently felt giddiness and had vomitted 3 times.
FIL brought her to the doc while I stayed at home to look after Little Baby.
================
I already had my hands full and then an SMS came.
From the boss. $#%^#$^$#
Asking me to submit something to him by Monday and to discuss another issue with him on the same day. I told him I would not be around in office on Monday.
His reply?
"Just get it done by Mon and send something to me."
NB. $#@%$#%^%#$
And so now, Friday night close to midnight, I am sitting on my balcony trying to concentrate and settle this piece of work. It is a tedious work item though. I fell asleep in the afternoon while attempting to work on it....
Anyway, at least now I know that high irritability and crankiness is associated this condition. At least I now know the reason behind her extreme crankiness and crabbiness. Just a shake of my head or a "no" from me is enough to start a tantrum or hissy fit.
================
Came back from the doc with my father-in-law. Thank goodness he was with me.
Opened the door to see my helper, who arrived the previous afternoon, covered in sweat, breathless and pale. She had apparently felt giddiness and had vomitted 3 times.
FIL brought her to the doc while I stayed at home to look after Little Baby.
================
I already had my hands full and then an SMS came.
From the boss. $#%^#$^$#
Asking me to submit something to him by Monday and to discuss another issue with him on the same day. I told him I would not be around in office on Monday.
His reply?
"Just get it done by Mon and send something to me."
NB. $#@%$#%^%#$
And so now, Friday night close to midnight, I am sitting on my balcony trying to concentrate and settle this piece of work. It is a tedious work item though. I fell asleep in the afternoon while attempting to work on it....
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
bits and bytes
Exasperation
Desperation
And
Mainly Sadness
Is what you feel
When your child cries uncontrollably for almost 2 whole hours and you can't seem to provide much comfort to her.
========
Little Baby
Jiayou Jiayou
Mama and Dada will jiayou with you too.
========
Motherhood
is when you keep going on
even when you lack the energy to.
========
Tummy feels a little strange now.
I hope Little Baby didn't pass anything to me.
Desperation
And
Mainly Sadness
Is what you feel
When your child cries uncontrollably for almost 2 whole hours and you can't seem to provide much comfort to her.
========
Little Baby
Jiayou Jiayou
Mama and Dada will jiayou with you too.
========
Motherhood
is when you keep going on
even when you lack the energy to.
========
Tummy feels a little strange now.
I hope Little Baby didn't pass anything to me.
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