The anti-climatic anniversary

One week after the actual anniversary, we finally went out to celebrate it. I had told Nick to plan something to make up for not getting me a card or pressie on time and for not being romantic, but in the end, I made the reservation, I arranged the babysitter and I picked out my present! MEN!!! What an anti-climax.

On Saturday evening, we headed to Raffles City so that he could check out Timberland and see if he could exchange the shoes I had gotten him for something else. The surrounding roads were jammed and parking was a killer, in the end we parked at Raffles Hotel. When we got to Timberland, he tried on a different pair of boat shoes but they looked funny on him. After deliberating, he decided to keep the pair I bought.

We walked around Robinsons for a while, I knew he had not bought any present so I was keeping a lookout for something. When we got to the first floor, I saw that Ralph Lauren was giving away a nice travel bag for purchases above $120. The salesman showed us a limited edition bottle of Romance and since by this point, I was a little 'sian' already at the non-event of an anniversary, I just told Nick to buy it as my present, even though I have so many unused perfumes at home. In our 8 years together, not once had I received a bottle of perfume from him so I figured it was about time. It was ironic that the scent was Romance, since I had been lamenting on the lack of romance from him...he gave it to me in a bottle!

Dinner was a fine dining affair at Garibaldi, I had been meaning to try it for the longest time. It was voted one of Singapore's best restaurants and we were not disappointed. Service was attentive and the food was excellent. There were so many things I wanted to try and most of them were featured in the gourmet set menu, so that's what I had - except I exchanged the gooseliver for a lobster broth. Nick had the same soup and tried the crab pasta for his main dish.

My gourmet set menu comprised of:

1. Air-Flown Spanner Crab with Avocado and Orange & Saffron Sauce
2. Lobster broth with Lobster Dumpling
3. Angel Hair Pasta with Lobster, Sweet Peas and Tomato Sauce
4. Roasted Atlantic Cod with Baby Spinach & Tarragon Sabayon
5. Molten Lava Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Gelato and Raspberry Coulis

Trust me, everything was lovely. I especially loved the crab appetizer, while the chocolate cake was perfectly complemented by the hazelnut gelato. Wouldn't mind going back again man!

Steppin' out with my baby

The rugrat went on her first official outing last Saturday, those polyclinic visits don't count. My ex-colleague Desmond was celebrating his baby's first month, so me, Nick and Natalie popped by his Bishan condo. Cameron was born on 9 Feb, just 5 days after Natalie and they met for the first time that day. Both babies were oblivious to each other, mine choosing to stay asleep throughout the party. We were joking about betrothing them now, Desmond thought he could wing some dowry from us, until Nick reminded him she's officially Chinese, ha ha!

After the party, we brought the little munchkin to meet Ata, her greatgrandmother and my 98-year old paternal grandmother. Ata used to look after me when I was young and am supposedly her favourite grandchild. Her health hasn't been the greatest of late and I'm so glad they managed to meet. Long time ago she had said that she would 'go' after I have a baby but I hope she hangs in there so she can meet Swana's baby too when the time comes. I want her to make it to at least 100 years old!

Nutty's first manicure

Nutty had her first manicure last Friday, finally attempted to cut her delicate nails. Was afraid of accidentally cutting her fingers but all went well and she slept throughout the session. While she slept, I snapped a tonne of photos and later in the evening took another bunch when Joanne came over with her brother Jason. As Joanne put it, we were like the paparazzi, snapping from all angles and subjecting Nutty to various poses.

With less than a month to go till Joanne's wedding, the bridesmaids were gathering here to discuss last minute details. Joanne's cousin Karen was so besotted with Natalie having seen her picture online and kept gushing about how cute she was when they finally met in person. Seeta came too for a briefing by the bride, she and Germaine will be co-ordinating on D-Day.

Can't believe the wedding is almost here, after all those months of correspondence and online chats with Joanne...am sure it will be a beautiful wedding, can't wait! My stomach had better be flatter by then!

Shopaholic strikes...from home

You can take the girl away from the shopping centres, but you can't take the shopping bug out of the girl!

One would think that with me stuck at home, I won't be able to shop much. Think again! I just splurged over the last few days on some online shopping, tempted by the low US dollar and the concierge service of a website called ComGateway.com. It's lots more user friendly than VPost, although I won't be surprised if they are affiliated.

Am so pleased that all my purchases have been confirmed and I should be receiving them by next week. First up is the Maclaren Lulu Guinness 'Life is a Bed of Roses' stroller that I had to have the moment I spotted it months ago. Trouble is, it was only available in the UK and US but there was no shipping option to Singapore. I couldn't find anybody to lug it back for me, and the high British pound then would mean me paying almost $200 in shipping costs from one retailer's export department. Anyway, last week I found it on sale at a US site, and my friend who ordered a similar stroller through ComGateway ended up paying $90 for his shipping, so I decided to finally place my order. Can't wait for it to arrive, here's a sneak peek!

Swana and me also decided to buy some Bath & Bodyworks online, their hand soaps were on sale and again, the low US dollar was tempting. Soon we will be smelling of Brown Sugar and Fig and Midnight Pomegranate! Plus, I purchased a new OiOi diaper bag and matching changing mat. It's another one of those things I spotted online months ago which finally went on sale. You know I can't resist a sale!

Nutty's a month old

The hearing test rescreening at KK yesterday went ok, the little rugrat passed. Phew! After the appointment, the two mums who had both followed me headed on home while I went to pick up a few things from John Little. In the evening, when Nick came back, we had dinner together. Mummy used up the red dyed eggs for an egg sambal dish!

Here is the cake the MIL ordered and below is a picture of Nat at 1 month old and our first family picture. Can you believe we hadn't taken one till yesterday?

This morning, my ex-colleague Ai Lin from SES popped by to see Nat. (Hi Ai Lin, I know you're reading this! BTW, I forgot to wish you a happy belated birthday). She brought me a lovely purple cabbage flower, check it out! Ooh, Mummy's back with lunch, am starved. TTFN!

So much for no eggs

Today is Natalie's first month and I have been thwarted in my efforts to not make a big deal out of it! The MIL just came over bearing a tray of red eggs and a 1st month cake from Polar. At least it's just for our own consumption and she didn't order for the whole world. She even bought Nat new clothes to wear. Oh well...

We're off to KK in a bit for Natalie to re-take her hearing test, her left ear was a borderline pass when she was a day old. Could have been due to waterlogged ears or she just couldn't be bothered to react. But KK are being cautious hence the rescreening. If her hearing is really affected, it could impact her speech development later on, but I am optimistic that she's fine because she seems to react to sounds when she's at home.

After KK, I plan to pop by the John Little cardmember's preview sale. Eyeing the Philips baby monitor that's on offer.

On Sunday, Natalie entertained more visitors starting with Eugene, Sylvia and Cato. Cato is the little boy my MIL babysat for a while, and he's over 3 years old now. He's grown so much! Sylvia is pregnant with a second child, a girl and due next month. In the afternoon, the Babes and the Dopes came over. Siva and Kevin kept carrying her, Kevin even threatened to kidnap her...that besotted he is! I can't wait till he becomes a father!

Cato in 2005

Cato in 2008

It's our anniversary...

Today was mine and Nick's 5th wedding anniversary and I spent it with...Swana. Yup, sadly Nickypoo had to work today, it's the NATAS fair weekend and he's stuck at Singapore Expo. I had made plans with Swana to head to town to run some errands though, nevermind that I still have a couple of days of confinement left. What difference would 2 days make?

Ben, Wendy and the MIL popped by for a visit in the morning first though, and then Ben kindly offered to send me and Swana to Orchard en route to AMK. We alighted at the Royal Plaza on Scotts hotel and made a pitstop at Mango. It was WONDERFUL to be out of the house and shopping in town, the gloomy weather didn't dampen my mood. Bought a silk blouse at Mango, am really pleased with it. It was a brown and pink floral thing. Swana wanted to get it too, but all the 4 outlets we went to didn't have her size.

Anyways, we jalan-jalaned to Isetan Scotts and Paragon, where Swana bought a new phone at M1. At the same time, we picked up a phone for Mummy. We'll finally be able to track her down after all these years of her refusing to be contactable! After that it was over to Ngee Ann City, where I bought Bobbi Brown foundation and Nick's anniversary pressie (Timberland boat shoes) while Swana got a Kate Spade bag. She only got it cos' the initials KS were on the flap...'KS' geddit? Kevin and Suvarna?

Last stop was Tangs, where we met Adrienne at the MAC counter to pass her the movie ticket for Kite Runner that I helped buy online in the morning. We also purchased an assortment of glasses for Ajen and Vim's housewarming tonight, which I can't attend unfortunately. Our hands were full after that, so off we headed for home, where I have been cooped up since.

Alicia and Kieran are in town at the moment and they dropped by yesterday. Swana and Kevin also came over and we just chilled in the living room. They kindly brought me 3 bottles of the yummy Brown Brothers Riesling I love and we opened one last night. I had a few sips, hope none of it gets to Natalie in her boobie milk! It might help her sleep better though, ha ha!

Nick should be home soon, left his present and card on the bed, hope the shoes fit...I wonder what he got me? Knowing him, he's been too busy to even think about a card, let alone a present. Darn it!