Now I know

It's been 20 months since I'm a mother. I have my share of ups and downs... and I'm sure this feeling of motherhood will last me a long long time.. but it's only recently, in fact this week that the meaning of Motherhood hits me hard.

All these while Baby D maybe a stubborn girl but still she is a happy girl.. a bit of reasoning, a bit of bribing, she will still listen to us. But this week, she caught the flu virus bad and it isn't her first time that she caught it.

It was so bad that she had high fever.. the moment baby D has high fever, all she wants is just Mama. I can't leave her sight to make milk nor prepare the medicine. It seems that only my presence can calm her.. my voice can sooth her and my hugs and kisses can heal her.

It is this notation that makes me think that Motherhood is really wonderful. I'm still in awe that this little human being is soo independent and yet so dependant on Mama. How long will baby D be dependant on me till? All these will go away the moment she has grown up. Some day it will reach to point when my voice can't sooth her nor my hugs and kisses has magical kisses.

I may complain that I dun have time for myself and it is tough to juggle between a wife, full time working adult and a mother.

Babies dun keep. I'm just gonna increase my patience level and enjoy this journey!

Xoxoxo
Felicia

1st year as a mother

Today marks my first year as a mother. Guess till one is a mother, you will never forget the day you went into labour. Thank fully for epidural.. I had a almost painless labour.

Our lives has change with her arrival. Yes, there are those days / nights when it's tough. To soothe a cranky baby when you only have a few hours of sleep. To exercise those patience when we don't know what Danielle wants and keep whining and crying.

There those nights where Danielle sleep through the night.. I got a good solid 6 - 8 hours sleep.
And those first milestones that she hits. The first time she calls, Mama and Papa.

And now that we are a parent for 12 months, I think my patience level up abit. My knowledge on Danielle has increased. I know what she likes and don't like. What makes her tickle and laugh. And my hug as her comfort and soothe and ease her pain or fears.

Being a mother for 12 months, I often wonder how can someone so small yet hold my heart to tightly?

This quote is exactly how i feel.. I guess all mothers will feel the same.

Took childcare leave today to spend some time with Danielle and I hope to bring her to the indoor playground to play.

Hopefully her flu is getting better...

Xoxo,

Felicia 

Our mother & daughter photoshoot with The Studio Loft

I finally can strike off 1 item off our Mother / Daughter bucket list.

• Photo shoot with Danielle!

Ever since I'm hooked to Pinterest, I've seen many beautiful and precious photos of newborn. So when I delivered Dani and wanted to book a newborn shoot for her.

But.. I'm staying with my in-laws and our place is not ready yet hence it's not very nice to shoot especially when there is space limitation. So I skipped the idea.

When Dani is about 3 mths old, I called a few studio to check out their rates and find that Studio Loft is pretty reasonable. So thought of giving it a try, however they said that Dani's age is either here or there. Too old for newborn shots and too young for the slightly older babies shoot (6 ~7 mths and above).

So I waited and waited and finally during Oct in Baby Market, I signed up the package with Studio Loft.  Which cost me $550 for 1 session of Little Big Shot & CD for all the images back.

And I'm amazed by the results~~~~~

These ladies are really wonderful with babies!! I like to think that they are baby whisper! Hehehe

These are some of my favorite shot!!

Now I'm hoping to convince hubs to join us for the next family portrait!!!

Did I mention that within my package I've 2 - 5 prints out and 3 diamond acrylic block!! Can't wait to receive them!!!

TGIF!!! 

Can't wait for the short getaway that hub & me is going soon!

Xoxo,

Felicia 

During my Maternity Leave

When I'm about to give birth, I planned to take 3.5 months of ML cause I thought that its good to leave 2 weeks of ML for any unforeseen circumstances. However this plan was out cause I give birth 3 weeks earlier than my EDD.

So I end up took 4 months & 3 days of Maternity Leave.

For the 1st month.. its Confinement Period. 

I cater Confinement Food

Those necessary tonics that postpartum ladies has to consume

Looking after this little joy

See how much she has grown...

I still look bloated after giving birth

Yes,  I'm a cow!!! I managed to express about 100 - 150ml of milk.
Now it's a different story.

Means that I can't leave the house, I can't bathe in normal shower water, I can't drink cold drinks nor can I eat normal food.

I can only wear long pants at home... wear bedroom slippers, tie my hair up everyday cause I can't wash my hair. Eat those food that has vinegar and ginger. My only joy?! When I have to bring Danielle back to her PD for review and vaccinations and when I go for my post natal check up.

My confinement month passes by with much difficulties in the beginning but I'm thankful that helping hands was given!!! Super super thankful.

2nd month of maternity leave...

Continue to enjoy my confinement food.

Change my hairstyle and I hate it!

Danielle's full month!!

Ai yo.. Little Miss Botak!

Danielle's gift!!

Her 2nd visit to PD

We invested in Ergobaby carrier

I think she is getting use to her new hairstyle

A selfie with Dani girl

I still prefer this hairstyle

I basically continue to confine at home cause my Danielle is still quite young so we didn't dare to venture out much. Only once in a while.. Though I did have a few days to do my errands cause Hubs has a week of holiday and he gladly helped me to look after baby while I was out!

3rd month of maternity leave...

I decided that 2 months of confining at home is enough. In order to keep my sane... I decided to bring Danielle out. As that time I still have a maid so it's pretty easy for me to bring Danielle out. Just that I need to reach home by 6.30pm. 

Bought her out to Plaza Sing for lunch

Someone is getting abit chubby!

Had movie date night with hubs

I love Dim Sum

Danielle.. not so much but she managed to sleep in the noisy restaurant.

Meet my gf, A for brunch. She is gonna due anytime soon

Dani girl bonding with ah ma

4th month of maternity leave..

Ever since she enter infant care, I buy more of such PJs for Dani

My best purchase from TB. Fisher-Price Seahorse

My smiley baby even when she is having a fever

We admitted her cause her temp reading hit 38.4

By this month, we've sent our maid back for good. And Danielle has started her Infant Care. So weekdays afternoon is free time for me. I managed to do my nails, spa, shopping and even movie time! Meet up with S most of the time cause she has lots of leave to clear. Went for high tea and shopping but it's too bad that each time our shopping trip has to end by 5.30pm - 6pm. Cause I will need to rush back home to fetch Danielle by 6.45pm the latest.

Actually I can fetch her at 7pm but I realised that most parents start to pick their kids up around 6pm - 6.45pm so I don't want Danielle to be the last one to be picked up. I know that kind of feeling when you see all your friends are being pick up by their parents and yours haven't.

The first 2 weeks of May went by fine.. Mid of week of the 3rd week, Danielle has a fever! I tried to nurse her thru the first day and second day, her temp is still running high till the infant care reject her.

Poor girl..

We admitted her in the hospital when her temperature hit 38.4 - 38.7. Stay in for 3D2N. Hospital Bill cost be $2.9K. Thank god, I'm still on maternity leave and luckily I purchase health insurance for Dani girl...

Now she is fine and back to her smiley active self!

And tomorrow I'm gonna resume back work!

Hopefully the transition will be a smooth one! Tough to head back to work after 4 months break.
I can't seems to recall my password for office use... =P

Have a great Sunday!

Xoxoxo,
Felicia

My life as a Mother....

Being a mother isn't easy!! I'm super sleep deprived but I'm thankful that help is always rendered whenever I ask for. Thankfully I have a helper and my gf's mother who is willing to come over to my place everyday to boil those tonic soup and to help teach my helper to care for baby.

Just damn disappointed that such help was not received from my mother in law... Tsk tsk...

As I said, being a mother isn't easy and nothing has prepared me for this journey. (I regretted not attending those antenatal classes.. if i have attended, I would be so helpless in caring for my baby.)

But still it a amazing journey..

Soon it will be Danielle's full month celebration... we've planned a small gathering with family and friends.

Let's hope with so many ppl coming, Danielle won't be overwhelm and get cranky at night...

Oh, did i mention that now Danielle is my photography subject. When the moods strikes, I will try to snap lot of pictures of her..

I even thought of taking our first family portrait with OhDear! Photography when Danielle is about 4 - 5 months old... hopefully my hubby is agreeable with this...
Hehehehe

Have a great weekend!

Xoxo,
Felicia

My baby loots from the Baby Market Fair 2013

 

Motherhood is very new to me and almost alien experience. But I am thankful that I have many girlfriends around me who are already a mummy and willing to share their experience with me. This comes in very handy when I'm preparing my newborn purchases...

Believe me, everything looks so cute all you want to do is just buy and buy!!

I saw this caption in one of the photos from instagram and I fall in love with in..

A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside, when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the first time.. and the playful kicks reminds her that she is never alone.

Can't wait to see my maternity photos with Ting from Lightedpixel Pixies. Know that currently she has lots of backlog to clear so I told her to take her with my shots.  I am a bride once and I know the anxious feeling while waiting for their pre wedding / actual day photos. =)

Anyway back to my post.. these are what I purchased during the Baby Market Fair 2013 at Expo.

I purchased a very cute Sesame Street Bed Bumper @ $10!! Also a hooded blanket / towel for around $20 ++

A baby sling carrier from "The Birth Shop" that cost me around $40. Some mittens and booties set for my little one. Bought 4 packs at $15.90

A safety nail cutter for my little one too.. I saw many mummies purchasing the 3 pcs pillow set so I join the trend and bought one too. I think it cost me around $12.90. I also bought the bean pillow too cause my gf recommended that it's good to have this bean pillow to place it on baby's belly or chest so that they don't get frighten easily.

The Philips Avent Newborn Milk bottle set cost me $55!

I wanted to purchase the Philips Avent Single Breast Pump at the fair but within minutes, all their stocks were all snapped up. I managed to hold on to a double breast pump which I'm not so keen to purchased. When the SA told me that they can deliver the breast pumps to me after the fair, I quickly let go the double breast pump and make my way to que up and pay all the items.

About 1 week plus after the Expo fair, they delivered my breast pump!

I saw many parents bought lots of pampers and they purchased in bulk!! I wanted to buy a few too but I'm not too sure which to get so I thought baby diapers are also available in supermarkets. I can purchase this at a much later stage.

One last item that I purchase - Baby Stroller!

Flite from Bumbleride

They have yet to deliver the stroller to me cause my EDD is only in Feb 2014. So they will most likely going to deliver during Dec 2013 / Jan 2014.

Can't decide which colour should I get??

Seeing all these baby stuffs, I can't wait for my little one to arrive.

Enjoying my rainy Saturday afternoon at home... with my little one inside, playful kicks and nudges..

Xoxoxo,
Felicia