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Guess what? We’re definitely having a boy!

Went for the detailed scan this morning at Radlink clinic in Paragon and after the ultrasound technician scanned my stomach for almost an hour checking every last detail of Jr, she confirmed the sex of the baby. Now I can start shopping, although boys clothes just don’t hold any appeal!

Picked up the kids to have lunch and they weren’t too pleased about having a brother, I think Gigi and Nat were having a sort of competition to see who would get a girl!

Nick had to work in the evening and we had a temple wedding to attend. I think it’s one of the simplest ceremonies I’ve been too, as the couple opted not to do the full works.

The bride Vimita is my 3rd cousin (our grandmas were 1st cousins), if she looks familiar to you, that’s because she’s a journalist on CNA and the groom is from MediaCorp too, a fellow journalist with TODAY, named Derrick. 

Nat loved the colours of the wedding, she’s like me…Indian weddings are always such colourful affairs. Sasha covered her ears half the time, afraid of the trumpet and drums. I need to get them proper Indian outfits for such occasions, they wore Indian-inspired dresses from Monsoon.

 

 

 

Girl? Or Boy?

Had a gynae appointment today, and this time we made it early to Botanics so we could save on parking and walk around a bit. Fed some fish and saw the swans, we even spotted a monitor lizard and a cicada. 

Was hoping to find out the sex of junior and we thought we saw something between the legs but Dr Siow didn’t quite commit. All he said was that it looked like a boy but he didn’t confirm it 100% and said to wait for the detailed scan.

So far everything seems normal, I’ve put on too much weight…gotta stop the bingeing! Considering the bub is probably the size of my palm and weighs no more than a couple of hundred grams, I’ve put on over 5kg and my stomach looks like my 7 months size when I’m only 4.5 months along.

Appetite has returned to normal, am still off meats like chicken and pork, and rice in the evenings but other than that, am not feeling any adverse side effects…touchwood.

I would be really surprised if it turns out to be a boy because I expected the nose to swell and to feel different but it’s been pretty much the same as the other two pregnancies. I guess I’m just lucky!

Had lunch at Tanglin Mall, and picked up some pictures to hang in the kids’ room. After lunch, Nick dropped me and Nat at Membina where we hooked up with Swana, Gigi and Ann for an afternoon of gown shopping.

Ann had found a place in Serangoon Shopping Centre which makes made-to-measure gowns at reasonable prices and we all couldn’t wait to check them out. The gowns were lovely, a lot of them featured lace…my favourite! Felt like getting married all over again and if it weren’t for the baby bump, I would have tried on some dresses myself!

I managed one shot before the owner politely informed us no pictures were allowed. Ann tried several styles and she looked great in all of them but didn’t place any orders, needing more time to think. We’ll just have to wait and see what she decides on come October!

West Coast and a Wedding

It had been a while since we’d visited West Coast Park so we took the girls there this morning.

It seemed a lot more crowded compared to 2 years ago, I think more families have discovered the place, plus there are more housing developments in the vicinity.

But still, there was sufficient playground space for all, and while Nick minded Nat, I watched over Sasha while munching on my hash browns.

She hoarded a seat within a fire engine truck, not giving others a chance to try driving it despite me reminding her to let others have a chance. After a while I went to hide in a bid to make her look for me and vacate her seat, and it worked because I heard her calling for Mummy in a teary voice.



We then went to see what Nick and Nat were up to, Nat was having a ball on the zip line while Nickypoo worked up a sweat pushing her along. Then we tried these rubber hammock swing things, there is some very fun equipment at West Coast!



When we got home, I decided to make gingerbread men with Nat, she helped me roll the dough, cut out the shapes and stick the buttons on the cookies. She even made an Indian gingerbread man by adding a pottu!



In the evening, Nick brought them over to Membina to play with the cousins while I popped by SGH to visit Aunty Sarda. Valembal, Aunty Susi and Ma were there, Swana and Kaelash popped by too.

The bandage had been removed from Aunty Sarda’s head and her scar was exposed, there was a long line of staples from the middle of her head to the ear. Ouch!



Then I rushed home to get ready for my ex-colleague’s wedding at Goodwood. She had planned a movie themed nite. I didn’t dress up in any character but a lot of her other friends did! There were superheroes, a Journey to the West cast, Cleopatras, Elvis etc. It was quite funny, felt like a D&D!

Serene was of course very radiant, her gown was very princessy which is unlike her, because at work she was quite tomboyish, always in pants.




Dinner started promptly at 8pm, one of the earliest dinners I’ve sat through by Chinese standards! By 8.45pm, we were on the 4th course!

The couple dressed to the theme for their second walk in, the groom Basil dressed as a gladiator or Spartan warrior, while Serene was like a Greek goddess. You can tell these two don’t take themselves very seriously.


But it was a really fun wedding, Basil made a touching and funny speech to his parents and Serene. You can sense how much he loves her, awwww. Even their wedding photoshoot had a series of funny shots and their montage was cute. Must get the contact of the studio she used.

Dessert was not the usual orh nee, but mini Haagen Dazs ice cream cakes. Very pretty!



My colleague Wee Ngee offered to send me home and I hitched a ride in his Saab lime green convertible and he obliged my request to lower the roof. So it was my first ever ‘topless’ ride, surprisingly quiet, didn’t hear the street noise or feel the dust at all!

Melissa & Derong get hitched

Congratulations to Melissa and Derong who tied the knot today, or rather yesterday!

There was a church ceremony in the morning, followed by dinner. Nick was scheduled to play in a Father’s Day football tournament with his friends but Sasha was not well so he decided to stay home with her.

I brought Nat to the church wedding, she’s starting to get into weddings, says she wants to be a bride one day. Mark and Grace were there with baby Marie, she’s grown so much!

There was a cute sign in counter with Mr and Mrs Potato Head figurines and instead of signing a book or poster, there were Jenga blocks.


We caught a glimpse of Mel when she arrived as we were still loitering outside. She was gorgeous in her gown but that was our cue to get seated.



For some reason though, the ceremony didn’t start immediately. Everyone was ready and for close to 10 mins, Mel just waited at the entrance. But eventually she walked down to Canon’s Pachelbel and the ceremony progressed.

A few minutes into the ceremony, we saw the videocamera crew rushing in…so they had been waiting for them to arrive. Must have gotten lost, they got tekan-ed by the priest who was quite sarcastic about their tardiness. I’m sure they didn’t mean it, they were from Malaysia and probably unfamiliar with our roads.

I can just imagine how upset Mel must have felt, but at least Swana got a short video clip of her walking down the aisle.

The service was short and sweet, and it was a cozy group size, I think less than 100 present so a lot more personal and everyone got to take group shots with the couple before the lunch reception.



Food was from Angeli, same caterer I used for my wedding. The food was good, especially the dry mee siam, tau kwa pop, siew mai and carrot cake.


Raiden, Gigi and Nat had a ball running around the hall and Rachel channelled her maternal instincts by carrying Marie.

After leaving Nat to nap at Membina in the afternoon, Swana and I went to visit Aunty Sarda. Had a good chat with her, she was doing fine.

Went home to nap for a short while before getting ready for dinner. I have so many unused cocktail dresses, and decided on a colourful bubble dress I dubbed the ‘Thumbelina’ dress.

Before heading to Membina to drop Sasha, I popped by 110 to offer my condolences to Anjana, who left for Nepal today. She was very emotional, which got me teary-eyed. Found out it was Mr Saha’s birthday yesterday, he didn’t hold on long enough to see 65.

Dinner was at Jurong Country Club, it was my first time there. Relatively easy to find and the function room was quite nice, just like a hotel.

There was a roving photographer during the cocktail session and mini-prints were made available almost immediately. There were even props to jazz up the pictures.



We had a very good table, just along the aisle so I could snap the couple as they made their way in and then the 9-course dinner commenced.



Confession: I swiped the plastic flower that came with the cold dish, it was a battery-operated one that changes colour. Melissa, if the club charged you for it, please let me pay you back!

Overall the food was pretty good, there was scallops with broccoli, chilli crab sauce and mantou, cornflake prawns etc, but the standout was the ginseng chicken, it was sooooo tender and melted off the bones yet the ginseng flavour was very subtle.


Mel changed a couple of times, and we kaypohed by following her to the dressing room when she changed a second time. Classic moment captured on camera as her sister Melinda ‘struggled’ to lace the back of her gown. This image is from Merianne’s phone. Too funny!



After the wedding, 10 of us headed down to New Asia for some drinks. Kevin bought 2 bottles of champagne for the ladies but we struggled to finish it. Music wasn’t so bad when we arrived but got boring after a while so I didn’t dance at all! Really getting old and boring!

The Macjini Temple Wedding

Watched my second movie of the week last night, "What to Expect When You’re Expecting". The reviews weren’t great but because I have the book and been through 2 pregnancies I really wanted to watch it before its run ended and the boy obliged with a late night show at Vivo.

It wasn’t that bad, there were funny moments from the ensemble cast which included JLo, Cameron Diaz, Matthew Williamson, Chace Crawford etc. Chace was especially hot! Mmm, if I was 10 years younger I would have a major crush on him.

No time to sleep in despite the late night. The wedding festivities continued today with a temple ceremony at Perumal. Was all excited to wear a sari, borrowed Swana’s one that she wore to Kavi’s wedding, but sari and kids are not a good combination!



Still I managed with a lot of help from Wendy and Swana who did the carrying and toilet breaks! Nick had football training and didn’t attend.

Was afraid that Nat and Sasha would be freaked out by the loud music but thankfully they took it in their stride. I love Indian weddings, they are so colourful!



We watched the proceedings from afar but after a while I went to the front to take closer photos with Flea. We both had blue saris, so did Vim! Gigi, Sarah and Nat were also curious and joined me and Flea at the front for a better view.

Saj was radiant and glowing, Mac looked like he was having fun. I kinda regret not having a temple ceremony, I wonder how I would have looked like all dolled up? Hmm, maybe the 10th anniversary I could do something? Don’t think Nick would go for it though.

As soon as the thali-tying was over, we went downstairs to eat first before the crowds descended. During lunch, Sarah shared her bangles with Nat and Gigi who had bare wrists, such vainpots they are. Then we went back upstairs to wish the couple and take a group photo before disbanding.



In the evening, we went for evening mass at St Teresa’s followed by dinner at Jack’s Place in Great World. Gigi and Lita joined us, while the Dopes went for Mac & Saj’s after party.

1 down, 2 to go…June is really the month for weddings!

The Macjini Church Wedding

Sajini and Mac finally tied the knot today at St Vincent de Paul Church. It was held in the afternoon, so we decided to leave Sasha and Wendy at Ben’s house nearby and take only Nat to church.

Loved Gigi’s hair, Lita had plaited it all round her head.



Nat was excited to see the ‘princess’, and she, Riley, Gigi and Sarah occupied their own bench. Soon enough the bride arrived and she was visibly crying before she walked down the aisle, escorted by her mum.



The mass was presided over by Fr Michael Sitaram, he was very funny with lots of half-baked Tamil phrases thrown in. He had some gifts for the newlyweds, they formed part of his homily and when it came to kissing the bride, he made Mac do it again on the lips when the first one on the cheek didn’t pass his standards!

The couple were also made to profess their love for each other in Tamil, guess the priest was just taking the mickey out of Mac, who doesn’t speak it, whereas Saj is fluent.



There was a tea reception in the canteen, quite a spread it was. More lunch than tea, food was not too bad. Nat nibbled away on a cupcake and Ananya attacked a tiramisu, getting chocolate powder all over her face.





We left earlier to go back to Ben’s place. Sasha had woken from her nap and the kids went to the playground for a bit. Then we all went over to Amah’s house to visit Mildred.


Remember she fell carrying Sasha a couple of weeks ago? Well, she fell again on the same knee after that and fractured it. Last week she had to have an xray and MRI done to determine the extent of the damage and now she’s got a cast on her whole leg and walking around on crutches. Poor mama!