Bag or bling?

Went out for a short bit today to return one of Maryann's props and collect the CD of Natasha's newborn shoot. There were soooo many pictures, I couldn't decide on which ones for touching up so stuck with buying whole CD. Here are some favourite shots.











I popped by Nick's office, and changed some Euros and then spent a fair amount of time at the Soo Kee at Raffles Place which was having a pre-renovation sale. Nick was about to come over after work but the weather thwarted my jewellery mission.

The Euro is pretty low at the moment so I have stocked up a little in the hopes of an Italian escapade, failing which will ask someone to help me buy a Chanel bag. Though it goes against my principles to spend so much on a bag, the 2.55 is a classic and I probably won't buy another black bag for a loooooong time!

On the other hand, that money could go towards my carat fund, so am torn between bag or bling.

Joanne arrived in town recently and swung by for a visit this evening with her whole family plus Tarek. Unfortunately Nat was already asleep. Ray was also asleep but woke up as soon as Tarek tried to put him down. Thereafter, he showed off his crawling skills.

My jeans fit!

I had the last of my post-natal massages today and I think they were really effective in shedding the weight. Granted I only put on about 10kg this pregnancy but I lost them faster than the first time round. I could feel the waist shrinking after each wrap!

As of today, I am down to 53kg+, another 2kg to go if I want to down to pre-pregnancy weight and another 5kg if I want to go down to early-SingTel weight! I can squeeze into my jeans already, so am not too bothered, though I have to do something about the kangaroo pouch!

The Handover

We fetched our new helper Wendy last Friday from the maid agency. Poor girl had been up since 3 am for an early morning flight from Manila and hadn't even had lunch so we stopped at Great World en route home and I bought her some buns and orange juice.

She's petite but not as skinny as Arlyn, hope it all works out. Swana also had a new helper start a couple of weeks ago so Arlyn has her hands full training them in the coming days. I briefed Wendy yesterday, Swana thinks my task list is scary and she edited before she shared it with Lita...but I don't think it's scary, just thorough! In fact it can afford to be more thorough in terms of instructions.

So at the moment, I have 3 maids at home...which is a luxury but also a case of too many cooks! Nat is slowly warming up to Wendy and Lita, have been telling her Arlyn is leaving so I think she understands.

2 down, 1 to go

Jane and Rena came to visit this evening, Rena is getting bigger each time I see her. Just about a month to go!

Since Jane had Ethan not long ago, she was comfortable holding a newborn, though Rena was a little rusty! When Germaine returns from her ultra-long holiday, she'll have 3 new babies to meet!

Lights! Camera! Action!

Natasha was ready for her close-up today...Maryann and her assistant Charlene from The Studio Loft came over for the newborn shoot I had booked.


Before they arrived, I had just reprimanded Nat who was screaming and crying like there was no tomorrow. While I was feeding Tash, she had managed to reach a blown light-bulb on my dressing table (which Nick was supposed to bring out with him to find a replacement) and though I had warned her not to play with it, she threw it at Nick's wardrobe in spite when she saw me approaching. It smashed to bits of course and that earned her a time-out and the naughty corner after which she promised not to do it again.


Natasha wasn't co-operating much during the shoot, peeing on one of the props once, and accidentally pooping on another while farting! Ha ha. She was also quite wide-awake when we needed her to be sleeping in some of the shots. That delayed things for a while and I had to disappear mid-way when my massage therapist arrived.

Thereafter it was a rush to eat lunch and express before Ginny popped by, in between had a couple of calls from work...so it was a little chaotic today. But I hope Maryann managed to get some good shots, can't wait to see the pics.

In the meantime, here are some from mine and Ma's camera.

Eat, sleep, poop

It's been almost two weeks since our lives have been turned upside down yet again but I must say Natasha's been a pretty easy baby, just like Natalie...touchwood! She hardly cries, only when extremely hungry or sitting too long in a soiled diaper but the rest of the time, it's just eat, sleep and poop.


Since returning home, she's been drinking an average of 60mls every 3-4 hours. The first few days she had formula till I had enough to express and now there's always excess milk! She's wisened up to the taste difference too, when offered formula in the middle of the night now, she spits out the bottle so it's booby milk exclusively for her at the moment. She tends to wake up only once at night (around 4 am), after a last feed around midnight, and then the next feed is already past 7am.



She's having mild jaundice, which will hopefully go down by the next check up. She's already developed a nappy rash, no more wet wipes for her! I had forgotten how 'explosive' it is when newborns poop, like a little firecracker!

I am getting used to the sleep deprivation, though it's a challenge during the day to have to entertain Nat and Gigi when I am not completely mobile yet or able to carry them. The maids have been a great help, hopefully by next week I can be more involved. Am not really having a strict confinement. I already shower everyday, been eating junk, went out to cut my hair, drank cold peach tea when Mummy was out. Am recovering slowly but surely, yesterday I started my post-natal massages at home.

The therapist applied a jamu paste before she wrapped me up and it was hot as hell. Felt like chili padi and black pepper had been rubbed into my skin and I couldn't take the burning sensation for long and showered after 2 hours! Today I opted for a milder cream instead, much more comfortable!

Nick is as paranoid as ever. This morning he barged into the room at 8 am plus while I was still sleeping and declared that the pumpkin's belly button was bleeding very badly and we needed to go to the hospital NOW!

Thinking that blood was gushing or something, I sat up immediately and inspected her stomach, only to find that it was actually dried blood that had stained her diaper. I calmly wiped her belly button with cotton and water while he paced up and down, insisting it was fresh blood. In the end, her button was still a bit damp and raw but it was nowhere near bleeding and I felt there was no need to see a doctor, just need to let it air dry...but he still accused me of being too relaxed before rushing off to work! Harrumpf!


Later on he messaged to actually suggest using the hairdryer on her stomach! *Faint*

In terms of looks, I find Natasha and Natalie quite similar at this stage, just that Natasha's a little chubbier and has more Chinese eyes. But with eyes closed, she looks just like Nat's newborn pictures. I kind of get reminded of a baby panda when I see her though, don't know why...the eyes are a little droopy.


She's certainly not as fragile as Nat at this age, fitting well into the newborn rompers I bought, unlike Nat who was swimming in hers. She'll be outgrowing them very soon!




Nat has been very sweet towards the pumpkin to the point of smothering her with kisses every time she gets close. Unfortunately she's unconscious of her strength and sense of personal space and we're always fretting she'll accidentally squish the baby. She greets and talks to Natasha, saying, 'Hello baby!' and has on occasion held her sister's hand as she tries to nap. She even holds up her flash cards to teach the baby stuff!

Nat has been a good little helper by bringing used bottles to the kitchen and throwing away used diapers and has not displayed any signs of jealousy. I hope it stays this way...thank heaven for little girls!

Nickypoo's 36th birthday

The hubby turned 36 today and in addition to the early birthday present I delivered on 1st April and the medical screening that was his anniversary/birthday present, I splurged on some Hermes soaps from eBay.


I knew he really liked the smell of them after he brought home his hotel toiletry set on his last Manila trip (he never swipes the toiletries usually!) and so I bought 10 x 50gm bars online, averaging $10 per bar. Think he was pleased and I don't have to put up with his Dettol bars for a while!

The dopes had offered to treat him to brunch at Mimolette but it was raining all morning. So instead, they took away a whole lot of food from Samy's at Dempsey, which he devoured despite the flu and cough he was nursing.


Kavi, Ananya, Riley, Jeanette, Kaelash and Pops put in appearances and there was so much leftover food that it was enough to feed the in-laws at night.

Ben and Wendy bought him a 1yr subscription to Motoring magazine and for dessert we cut a Bakerzin brownie and mousse cake which Nat made a mess of eating.




I hope he enjoyed his birthday despite being sick and all! Poor thing's been sleep-deprived by waking up for some of the night feeds, and ensuring Nat is not neglected so it's taken its toll. As soon as I'm up and about, he'll get some reprieve.