Isabelle 3 Years Old Birthday

How time flies...yesterday was Isabelle's 3rd Birthday! She is 3 years old and I'm grateful to GOD everyday for having both children in my life. It has been 2 years since I long abandoned this blog but it would be nice to continue writing, putting down my memories, storing them so that I could look back years from now on and it will still felt like yesterday.


We have a lovely celebration. Simple enough on a family dinner and then, the traditional cake-blowing. Kids are the happiest of all, with presents!~


She got a big Pink Panther from Popo and Kau Foo and a Winnie-The-Pooh from Big Kau Foo and Kau Mou.... I love her so much, and I love Sebastian so much as well.


Already, it felt like yesterday......

Isabelle @ 6-7 months

Isabelle at 6+ coming to 7 months:

1. Flip/turn over by herself on stomach.
2. Sit upright unsupported.
3. Drinks 4oz of milk everytime.
4. Eats porridge twice a day.
5. Recognizes familiar faces.
6. Cry at unfamiliar faces (can't even stare at her or she will cry!)
7. Sits in a walker.
8. Bully mummy (can't even have my shower in peace. She will cry and cry, looking for me)
9. Likes to be swing in my arms to sleep.
10. Likes to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
11. Likes bathtime.

Isabelle @ 4 months ++

Isabelle is 4 months plus now. She has grown so much compared to the last time I uploaded her photos.

Isabelle Leong Zi Yi

Here are some photos of lil' Ziyi:

I'm glad I take care of her at night although it's tiring and exhausting. But it's worth the effort being able to watch her grow daily. :)

Updates and Updates!

Alright....there are lots to catch up in these 2 months. I have abandoned this blog for 2 months! Been super busy. Good news are....I have safely and smoothly delivered a beautiful baby girl and the bad news are, I'm back to work this week and in the process of slimming down! Thank God it's holiday season now and Christmas is approaching. At least, it gives me some encouragement to drag myself to work after 2 long months at home. Let's go by chapters as I've loads to pour in here:

The Labour

It was unexpected. Really! After a gap of 6 years, I told myself that I'm already prepared for the worst, in terms of the pain. But thank God, it was a smooth, fast and safe delivery. I had the contractions coming in midnight after a vaginal examination by my gynae during the day. Touching dawn, I woke hubby up and told him the contractions were coming stronger but still manageable (we still have the time). We immediately sent Sebastian to my mum's house. Poor sleepy boy. But he was such a good boy and he understood what was happening. Hence, he did not threw any tantrum at all. This time I was smart. I asked hubby to bring me for my breakfast first before admitting into the hospital. My past experience was, I did not have a proper breakfast. Hence, not enough energy to push and drained myself in the end. As the contractions were still manageable, I nicely had my pork noodle and teh tarik first. Shortly after admitting, my gynae arrived and did a check for me. He told me I was 4cm dilated and he will induced me. Why should I wait any longer when I'm already full term (38 weeks) and 4cm dilated, he told me. Then, he said, "Today will be your baby's birthdate", which makes me nervous and excited at the same time. Soon, contractions are coming stronger and I asked hubby to rub my back (very effective and highly recommended!) to reduce the pain. Until the moment I can no longer bear the pain (with all the tears and sweat), I requested for epidural. Midwife gave me a quick check and told me to 'tahan' only la. I was already 8cm dilated. Not enough time for an epidural and why should I waste 1k for epidural, might as well go for a good meal, she said. Then, everything seems so painful, out of the world and fast. The next thing I could felt was the baby out from me and later the placenta. I told hubby, it was so comfortable the moment after delivering the placenta. He told me later the whole delivery process (from the moment the doctor walked in until finished), it took only about 15 minutes. I was admitted about 8am and I delivered 2 hours later at 10am. It was fast and unexpected! And the lucky thing was, I had no tear. Hence, no stitches required. It was a smooth one and I was discharged after a night stay, although my delivery package was 3D2N stay but nothing was more comfortable than home sweet home.

The Baby

I'll post her photos in the next post. Well, as similar with other newborns, her routine were pretty much the same. Eat, shit, sleep. First month, she sleeps alot and can't differentiate day and night. There were nights when I had to stay awake whole night, just because she didn't sleep. But luckily she has adjusted her biological clock now. Second month, we saw her first smile and ooo ooo ahh ahh. And the most award winning action we got from her is her cries every night before bed. Up till now, she cries every night hopelessly before bedtime. We do not know what's the reason. We tried everything to make her stop but she will just cry until she had enough. Then, she will drift peacefully to sleep till morning, only waking up for milk. In contra, every morning she loves to smile at the first sight of our faces. Keep the morning part but both daddy and I are wondering when will the night part of the crying gonna end? Hopefully she changes her pattern soon as it is quite tiring looking after a what-also-don't-want-crying baby.

The Brother

Having our undivided love for 6 years, suddenly he has to adjust to me not paying enough attention to him (as I need to take care of the baby!). I tried to attend to him whenever I can but luckily I have a hubby who will look after him for me. Daddy will attend to his needs whenever I'm not free to do so. Surely, my boy must have felt that I've neglected him and sometimes seeing him playing alone by himself, dare not to disturb me really made my heartache. There were times during my confinement month that I had depression. Regrets and bad feelings that I had abandoned my boy. Like for example, previously, I have to sleep with the baby in another room as she wakes up most of the time at night. I used to sleep with my boy in the same room and I can't anymore (as the baby's crying will disturb his sleep). There were nights he looked for me and wanted me to sleep with him as usual, but I can't. Those scenarios really made me cried. I never realized how hard it is to cope with having more than 1 children until now when I had 2. Jesus, I used to say my mum loves my brothers more than myself. How ungrateful was that? As a mother of 2 myself, now only I knew how a mother would feel if her children says she loves one more than another. Wished I could take back those ungrateful words. But a mother has all the love in her heart for her children. Well, my boy is coping very well now and has adjusted to the fact that his little sister is a part of his life. He is doing well, he loves his lil sister very much by showing affections such as kissing her and petting her hair. I believe parents should always make the effort of showing love and attention to their children as equally as possible. Thankfully, I have a hubby who shares the same thought and responsibilities with me.

The Father

Doing pretty good and very helpful with the baby.

I'll share her photos in the next post!

At 36 Weeks Pregnant

I'm 9 months now and it feels like eternity. Like I'm forever pregnant. I can't sit for long, I can't walk for long, I can't stand for long and I don't sleep well at night. With all the body aches and the urges to pee frequently throughout the night, it's hard to get a goodnight sleep. Of course, baby is getting bigger too. Her moves are very strong now and no denying although it's really sweet and nice to feel her, sometimes she really takes my breath away. She responded to sounds and our touch. When we touch her (pat my belly), she will respond. It's truly a very nice feeling. Apart from that, I felt like I'm a balloon. All swollen up. But I guess, it's worth the price. I told myself, this is just the beginning. I have not gone through yet the unimaginable pain of labour, the hassle of confinement, sleepless nights, breastfeeding.....

I'm all prepared for the Big D-Day! Earlier on, during my one week of leave, I've managed to wash all her clothes, bought a new cabinet and stored them. I even ironed the pretty dresses. I washed the pram, car seat and bought some last minute baby stuffs like wet tissues. I even packed my hospital bag already. Now everything was settled, I'm just waiting for the moment to arrive. Lately, I've been very busy at work. Extremely busy as the conference under my portfolio is just in September. I had been working my head off before that. But I'm free now! The event is taking place on-site in Jakarta this week. My merdeka time off la in the office for this week! No one to bother me, I can do my own stuffs and have some private time blogging.

I went for my checkup on Monday. Everything is fine. She is now 2.7kg. I asked the doctor any signs of her coming early? He told me it's hard to say/predict. I'll just have to wait. As I said, it felts like forever. On Tuesday, I took half day off and all three of us went for a nice movie. Daddy has been brainwashing the boy into following us to watch the Johnny English Reborn movie, starred by Rowan Atkinson aka Mr. Bean. Not that we can't leave him behind with my mum but we like the idea of going out together for some quality family time. Well, the boy knows how to behave now. Although he doesn't like being in the cinema (because he claims the big TV is so scary), he obediently sat throughout the whole movie because he has promised to follow us earlier instead of going to his popo's house. He has learnt to follow instructions and obeyed them because we have seeked his opinion earlier. Like if he wants to follow us for the movie, he should comply to it. Otherwise, he can just choose to stay with his popo while mummy and daddy go for the movie. It's a 2-way thing, I would say, in bringing up a child.

When I looked at his baby photos or even the 2-3 years old toodler him, comparing now, he has grown so much. Pretty talkative and can asked all sorts of questions if he didn't understands what you are saying or a new word. Sometimes, I really don't know how to answer him, or shall I say not as energetic as him! Kids are cute in their own way at every age. Like last time, he doesn't talk much but he was cute in his behaviour and actions. Now, at his age, he talks reasonably and also cute when he communicate with us. Like, when I asked him, "Isebelle can give aunty or not?" He shakes his head, indicating a NO. I asked him, "Why?" He replied, "Because mummy loves baby". He knew that I loves the baby, and because he loves me, he will loves and protect the baby regardless. :)

Relieved!

I'm now moving into my 8th month of pregnancy. Based on my last checkup 2 weeks ago, everything is fine. The cord was no longer tangled around the baby's neck and this brought me a huge wave of relief! I've been worrying about it since and I'm really really glad to hear this good news. Thanks to all the prayers from close friends and family. I'm truly blessed to have them caring so much for me. Let's hope now that everything will be smooth sailing till delivery and after.

Isebelle was 1.6kg from the last checkup (28 weeks). She gained about 400g. And as for me, my weight maintained, no increase from the previous visit. Not so sure about my upcoming visit, coz I've been eating like mad. Sleeping is getting a little bit difficult now. I have to wake up several times a night just to visit the loo. And I have to shift from one side to the other side time to time as I can't sleep in one position for too long, will have backache and buttock ache. Well, it's just another nature's way of training you to stay alert and be prepared for sleepless nights once baby arrives.

I have almost everything ready for her arrival. Just lacking some essential stuffs, like cotton, 'loo yee' oil, wet tissue, napkin detergent, and etc. Will need to get a cupboard or drawers to store her clothes. I'll be having about a week off the week after next, so, it's time for some spring cleaning and preparing for the lil' one's arrival. Need to do some baby clothes washing, pram washing, clean-up the sterilizer and bath tub. I need to get a new water filter and even a kettle. Oh yes, not forgetting to pack my hospital bag. So many things to do and prepared, I'll just do it in that week off.

This weekend's mission: to get herbs for confinement with mum.