Abigail's One Month Celebration

In Malaysia it is customary for the chinese to celebrate a baby's one month 'birthday' by sending out red eggs, mung bean cakes (aka ang ku kueh) and tumeric chicken curry + rice to relatives and friends. These yummy goodies are ordered from shops that specialize in providing this service for one month celebrations. Because it is common for friends and family members to send gifts at the baby's birth, parents of the newborn send these boxes out that sort of work as a 'thank you' for your kind wishes and lovely gifts.

The one month celebration also known as 'full moon celebration' also signifies the end of the confinement period for the mommy and baby. Usually chinese women are confined to the home after delivery of the baby for a time a recuperation and healing. There are many taboos that accompany this confinement. I won't elaborate more about this but for details about confinement, click here.

For a detailed explanation about the chinese full moon celebration, click here.

For Abigails full moon celebration, with us being in Canberra where there are no chinese bakeries or shops that provide services for this custom, we decided to have an afternoon tea at our house and invite friends for a nice get together. We had cakes, biscuits, dips, chips, savoury cakes, curry puffs, muffins, tarts, chocolates, coffee and tea - simple nibbles to keep the afternoon lively. We also made red eggs and every one who came received a red egg to take home. This was a very interesting 'souvenir' to most of our Aussie friends and I am curious as to how many of our guests actually ate the red egg. Back in Malaysia I would always be the one to have first dibs on the red eggs. I love eggs.

Abigail was a very good girl all afternoon. I wasn't sure how she would handle the noise and having so many strangers around but she did very well. She was asleep for a bit and when she woke, many of our guests got to give her a cuddle. All up we had about 35 people in the house. Here are some pictures of the afternoon.

Baked cheese tarts

The simple spread we had - note the red eggs at the top right corner. Next to it are the pig trotters with black vinegar and ginger

Church friends

Alex's Uni friends

Liz carrying Abigail

The afternoon was a simple affair. The next big do will probably be for Abigail's first birthday in 11 months! Its amazing how time has just flown by. I guess its true when people say babies don't stay babies for very long. Treasure these moments because before you know it, they are toddlers - kids - teens - adults!

cheryl

Post Pregnancy Day 16

So 16 days on and I have lost another kilo. Also I now fit into my jeans! Woo hoo! No more walking around in baggy black pants or using the belly belt. I actually forgot how it felt to be able to button up the metal button on jeans.


There is still a lot of work to be done - the tightening of skin around the belly, sit ups, walking, jogging - but all that can wait. I have a baby to care for and these days weight loss is the last thing on my mind. Foremost is SLEEP. I need sleep!



cheryl

Post Pregnancy Day 8

I was chatting with a friend the other day when she asked, " So have you weighed yourself yet?"

My answer was no, not yet. The first few days after the birth was a whirlwind/blur of activity and responsibility. I was just too knackered to do anything much less remember to weigh myself. If you have been reading my last few entries, I have been keeping track of my weight gain throughout the pregnancy, mostly for curiosity sake and partly to keep myself in check to not eat too much. The not eat too much bit was quite unnecessary since I really didn't eat very much while pregnant.

Anyhow, it was my intention to check how much I would lose just from the weight of the baby + amniotic fluid +placenta + blood loss. I suspected I was carrying a lot of weight in the form of amniotic fluids. However like said I never got around to weighing myself immediately after. Now that my friend reminded me of it, I decided I had better weigh now at Day 8 than to wait till much later.

So... as per my previous post, 13kgs was my total gain and I was hoping to lose at least half of it. In my mind however, I suspected I had lost more firstly because of the tiring labour, secondly my first week back home was a difficult one (I'll write more about this in another entry) and thirdly I had seen some changes in my body which indicated I had lost quite a significant amount.

I stepped up on the machine and ..(even this was a surprise to me) I had lost 11kgs.

8 days on and I am now down to 2 more kgs of pre-pregnancy weight. On one hand I was happy but on the other I knew I had to take better care of myself.

So the next weigh in will be on Day 16. I might as well try to keep a trend huh? I doubt there will be more loss anytime soon though.

cheryl

Baby's Here!

We welcomed our little bundle of joy at the hospital late in the afternoon today. We were at the operating theatre when I heard her first cry. I was all numbed up and couldn't see her because of the makeshift curtain set up in front of my face blocking my sight. When we first heard her cry I asked Alex, "Is that our little girl? Is she out?" Hearing her cry for the first time was such a heart tugging experience.

I had intended to have the entire labour process as natural as possible. No drugs, no assisted delivery, no inductions. However as my midwife puts it, babies decide how they want to arrive and no amount of intention on the part of the parent makes any difference.

My labour was a long one. It started at 12pm with waters breaking and I was admitted to the hospital for overnight observation. By 10pm that night, the contractions had started and it went on till 3.30am at which point the pain was bordering on unbearable. I called my midwife informing her and I was moved down to the birth centre which was my preferred place of delivery. From that point, labour continued laboriously (no pun intended) and it was at 12pm that the decision was made that I needed an epidural to get us through the final stage. Prior to the epidural I had had an IV drip put into me, sat under a hot shower for 2.5 hours, sat in a warm bath for an hour and had 4 saline injections on my lower spine to manage the back pain. I don't recommend the latter to anyone. It really hurt and the relief that it provided was brief. Our little one was in a posterior position and it was causing me a lot of back pain. My strength was fully depleted by then and I was slipping in and out of consciousness in between contractions. The epidural restored me to much of my usual self but by 3pm the decision was made to send me to the operating theatre to retrieve the baby via forceps, failing which they would perform an immediate caesarean. I told the doctor that I really didn't want a caesarean and he assured me that my preference would be made known to the surgeon. I started praying at that point that baby would move and a caesar could be avoided. To end this little story, our baby arrived safely at 3.52pm. As I was being pushed up to the operating theatre, she had miraculously moved to the correct position and was delivered via forceps.

Although I managed to avoid having an induction earlier on, I pretty much had everything else and narrowly missed having a caesarean. I was fully drugged up in anticipation of a caesar (no sensations chest down) but we thank God that prayers work wonders. Now we are praying for a quick healing of my wounds as the surgeon needed to perform an episiotomy on me. The healing process is a long one but with prayer we ask for a speedy recovery.

From the point the waters broke, it was 28 hours before we first saw baby.

While I was pregnant with the little one I remember saying to Alex, " We have to remember these few months. It will be the last time its just the two of us."

After the birth of our little one, I said to Alex, "Remember what I said before about just the two of us? Now, I cannot imagine life without our little girl."

Alex agrees. She is our little precious one and such a joy to carry. She really is just too adorable.

cheryl

Pregnancy - Week 39 & 4 days

Here is the final update on the weight gain. Looks like I have much exercising to do 2 months post partum. I am very keen to find out how much weight will be lost once baby + amniotic fluid + placenta is out. Half of 12.5 kgs hopefully?

I have not been keeping tabs on the amount that I ate throughout this pregnancy. I must say though that I am a little disappointed that I haven't had as much appetite for food as I did prior to being pregnant.

I have always thought that since I love all things food, I would be eating like a horse round the the clock. Unfortunately it has been the reverse. I have not had much cravings if any at all. In fact I had more cravings being unpregnant than being pregnant. Here are some of the changes I have noted about my diet.

1. I want an extra teaspoon of sugar in my milky beverages. Tea, coffee, milo.
2. I am eating a lot more fruit. About 3 a day because of the sweet juices from the fruit. It makes my tongue taste better. If that makes sense to you.
3. I don't eat much meat be it white or red. Just don't feel like it.
4. I am constantly thirsty. (Maybe this explains all the water in my belly!)
5. I prefer soups or soupy food.

I'm glad to say it won't be long now till baby comes and the confinement period begins. Lots of yummy mommy cooked stuff (from my mom and mother in law) and I get to go back to how I used to sleep (on my back!) and how I used to eat (no acid reflux!). It all seems like a distant memory now. These 9 months have been an eye opener and definitely life changing for me. And yet there are more changes to come! Whooh...

I am anticipating the onset of labour pains at any moment now. How very nerve wrecking...

cheryl

Pregnancy - Week 38, 39

One thing has to be said about the final 2 weeks of pregnancy. If you think that the weeks leading up to this final stage could not get any more tiring or have you seeing more changes to your body, you are so wrong.

I stopped working last week and by the end of week 38, my tiredness has doubled, my ability to walk has slowed to 1/3 of its previous speed and the heaviness I'm experiencing on lower abdomen has just about tripled. I had somehow managed to pull some muscles or strained some ligaments and it now hurts each time I stand up to take my first step. I can't even turn in bed without it hurting.

The best thing to have at this time is help. Lots of help. Even the simple act of washing dishes brings so much soreness to your lower back you will appreciate all the help you can get. This is why I'm so glad my sister and her boyfriend are here in Canberra for a short holiday and to also lend 2 pairs of hands around the place. Now that they have left we have lost 2 valuable helpers!

Their trip was planned way before we knew about the pregnancy so Alex and I tried our best to show them the sights and sounds around Canberra which included a short trip to Sydney. I stayed home from the Sydney trip but I got my bottom moving for the sights around Canberra. Here are some pics of this very pregnant lady doing things a pregnant lady probably shouldn't be doing i.e walking at the markets, visiting museums, walking at the botanical gardens, feeding swans and even cycling! :) I did think twice before taking on all this activity but hey, they are only here for 2 weeks and I wasn't keen on missing out on the fun. So persevered I did and I think baby is in no way traumatised by all the action.

The very swollen mama to be, on a night out having hot chocolate in winter at Koko Black

The papa to be enjoying all the noise and company visitors bring

My sister and Ying plus my mother in law cracking their heads over Samurai Sudoku accompanied by hot chocolate.

A picture with the hubs at Regatta Point - a 'must' visit if you are in Canberra. Check out the belly! And I'm wearing black too! (Black minimizes.. if you get my drift)


After church service on Sunday with my sis.

We took a drive up Mount Ainslie for the sights. Very appropriate that the biggest person in this picture is standing furthermost from the camera :)

We took them to all you can eat Dim Sum. I don't think the many plates of dim sum made much difference to the circumference of my belly :)

At the National Museum, they had free access to wheelchairs. I jumped at the opportunity of having Alex push me around. Who wants to walk when you can be off your feet?

Enjoying my ride. I was so very glad I didn't have to tour the place walking.

Even then I was very tired at the end of the tour.

This is Scrivener Dam. Canberra has seen a lot of rain these past few weeks (a very rare occurence in this dry state) and by chance we saw the flood gates open, pouring water into the river below. A very rare sight. Many cars stopped for picture taking.

We decided to take our two guests cycling around Lake Burley Griffin. The sky was very blue and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day for the activity and this 'nutty' mama decided to not miss out on the fun. Pedal cars are so much fun!

Our two guests prior to push off.

If you are in Canberra on a beautiful day like this, you have to hire a bike and do this. Its something you won't regret.

The views on the bike path are breathtaking.

The wheels on the bike go round and round...

The next day we took them to feed some swans at the lake.

Before they left, we had a steamboat dinner at the house.

Nothing beats a steaming pot of communal soup with lots of ingredients cooking in it in winter. Its the perfect set up for conversations around the table. Fresh food cooked slowly and eaten slowly encourages the building of relationships at the dining table.

Thats me at 39 weeks and 3 days. I look tired and rather washed out in all the photos because I really do feel tired and washed out most hours of the day :)

We were really glad to have my sis and Ying Kai around these past 2 weeks. Them being around brought a little festive atmosphere to the house and added extra anticipation to whats about to come. Its too bad they had to leave before baby arrived. We now await my parents arrival in Canberra and hopefully baby will make an appearance on time.

Come on now baby! Its time to come out...!

cheryl

Pregnancy - Week 36

Its the 9 month! 4 more weeks to go till baby says hello to the world. The sun was shining real nicely this morning and I thought that I should take a picture of my shadow for remembrance.

So this is what this whale of a mama looks like now :)

A frontal shot - I think you can't tell I'm pregnant here

And boom! A side shot - looking super pregnant

Oh and yes I got myself a hair cut. The lovely long hair from the pregnancy hormones had to be cut off in anticipation of the month long confinement period after baby is born. The hormones over the past months made my hair look so nice, healthy, shiny and luscious that every stylist in the salon made a comment about how sad it was that it had to chopped off.

I used to drop lots of hair on a daily basis but since the pregnancy began, I have not had to sweep the bathroom floor much. The sweeping went from every time after a hair wash to once in 2 weeks. Imagine that!

I do know that this lovely thick hair won't last. Give it a month post partum and hair will be falling out by the fistful on my pillow each morning.

Sigh... the highs and lows of being pregnant.

cheryl

Pregnancy - Weeks 26,27,28,29

Here is the updated pregnancy weight gain graph. This was last seen about 2 months ago and since then the line has progressively gone upwards. To date my total gain is 9kgs. It fluctuates between 9-10kgs but so far I have not hit the 10kg mark yet. We have another 2.5 months or 10 weeks left to go before the little one pops out to say hi to the world. In this 2.5 months, baby is expected to triple in weight so by calculating that, I expect to put on another 3kgs. That would make the total gain 12-13kgs. * GASP *

I feel like a walking beach ball - not filled with air but something heavy like lead or cement. I kind of feel like one of those life sized air filled figurines that have big bottoms filled with heavy lead at the base of them that prevents the doll from toppling over after being punched... You would punch as hard as you could but the darn thing would just keep bouncing back. I somewhat feel like that doll. Not that I bounce back after being punched but the fact that most of my weight is now focused a little below my center I feel a little wobbly, waddly and quite uncoordinated.

I can't remember what the doll is called... punching doll? In Hokkien I think its called the 'Pu Tau Wang' I think? Or is that in Mandarin?

So we have 10 more weeks to go before baby is released from the holding cell :) Only a mere 70 days to 'peekaboo!'. I'm getting anxious and the thought of birth pains is starting to make me nervous.



cheryl

7 Down, one to go...

7 States and territories down, one to go. Then, Cheryl and I can say we've been to all of Australia. We just got back from Darwin last week (actually this time last week we were on a plane heading for Darwin) and I must say that Darwin is very different to all the cities we've been to. Not only is it really hot (worse than Penang hot as Cheryl puts it), trying to get to the attractions without a car or decent transport was a bit annoying. Cheryl nearly screamed at me when she realised that she would be missing the one event anyone going to Darwin should see... That being the nighttime Mindil Markets. Supposedly this is THE event to see, but alas we were a week early... :( So instead we headed to 3 markets, in Palmerston, Parap and Nightcliff and saw the Crocasaurus Cove, which was in the centre of town. That was all we could do... It was either too hot or I didn't really want to make Cheryl walk. I know, it's sad but at least Cheryl got to see another city.

The flight to Darwin was nice. Flight back I didn't do much except sleep. But the flight to Darwin we watched 'It's Complicated' and oh my gosh you could hear the whole plane erupt in laughter towards the end of the movie. The movie on the way back was Crazy Heart. I must say this was a more serious film and slower to take off. Anyway, it was good to know that at least I didn't have to pay to see the movie, like I would have on Virgin Blue.

So yes, Darwin is now crossed off our list of places to visit in Australia. We've been to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra (of course) and now Darwin. The only city left to conquer and we're doing this in a few weeks is Hobart. Then I think after the baby arrives, we'll start planning our next epic adventures.

Remember how I said that Cheryl might have something to say about my previous post? Well, she did... Some of the pictures I uploaded she claims were not the best and wanted them removed. To me, any picture of Cheryl is amazing so why can't I share it with the world? Many of you all have asked can we see pictures of Cheryl with the 'bowling ball' (as she puts it) in front... I will try and obtain a nice picture for all to view. Stay tuned. I will update the photo album on facebook when I can. Same link as before to see the pics.

That's all for now. I shall post next after getting back from Hobart. We're seeing Cats in Sydney after that and then that's it. No more flying for Cheryl until after the baby arrives. But for me... flying I can still do... hehehe :)

Alex.

An update...

We've reached a big milestone now. Today marks 26 +1/40 in Cheryl's pregnancy. For those that don't know, 26 +1 is medical jargon (hehe) for 26 weeks 1 day. So things are moving along. The reason why this is a big milestone is because Cheryl gets to do the Glucose load test on Saturday. This is to see if her body deals with the glucose well. There isn't anything to worry about, it's very routinely done here in Canberra. Cheryl apologises for the absence on the blog because the thing is she is resting more and more these days, so not really much time to update the blog. But I'm sure with this posted, she'll post something quickly.

It has been a very long few months. We are currently half way in our many trips around Australia. So we've been to Sydney twice (with one trip to go), Perth and the Gold Coast, with Darwin and Hobart remaining before the end of next month. After that, I am travelling with dad to see Pandas in Adelaide (for a mere 5 hours) before picking up my sister in law and Ying Khai on July 1 in Melbourne the day after. That's it. No more trips after that.

We've also done some more furnishing around the house. A new couch, table and bookshelf were purchased from good ol' Ikea in Sydney recently. So the only thing missing now is the cot and everything is in place for the baby's arrival. May is a big month for us as well because the baby classes start then. Oh the joy, the joy of it all! :P June are my exams and then July is the exciting month. Who would have thought, 2 years and a bit after getting married we'd be welcoming our first bub. My father is quite optimistic about more though, after saying that it would be 6 of us next year celebrating his birthday, he said it should be 6 +1... With the +1 implying another one in the oven. We'll see dad... We'll see... :)

There isn't that much else to report. I will see if I can post up some pictures albeit on a facebook link so that you can see what we have been up to recently. Lots of travelling, but it's slowly but surely winding down... Our baby will be quite special. Our baby will have travelled to Melbourne, Malaysia, Sydney, Perth, Gold Coast, Darwin and Hobart before being born. Now how many babies can lay claim to such a title?

Until next time... :)

Alex, Cheryl and little Alex (the name I'm giving it until it's born... :))

The photos thus far...