The Hair Salon

As I get heavier and Mister hardly being around on weekends, it is a big deal that we managed to accomplish two things last Saturday and Sunday.

1. A fruitful trip to Arab Street for Mister to find his fabric for Eid outfit.
2. Munchkin's 1st professional haircut.

Mister insisted we go to his regular, The Hair Salon at Far East Plaza for Munchkin's 1st professional haircut cos that's the only salon he trusts (he's been going there for like more than 10 years). In fact, the other Serenaide guitarboy, Remy, also got hooked to Alan's (owner cum stylist) service after Mister's recommendation some years back (so now you know where that typical 'Serenaide hairstyle' came from).

We got Munchkin's hair layered and not exactly shortened so it's not heavy at the bottom anymore. The top part of her hair was almost straightening out because of the weight, so now that it's lighter, there is still a chance for new hair to curl. I'm just glad that her hair is now tangle-free and the sides no longer cover her face.

Strawberry Story

My favourite workmate, Anita, is always feeding me anything with strawberry content, knowing my weakness for them.


And they've all been damn bloody good.

Stolen Photos of the Family Picnic at Botanics

Additional photos stolen from Linda's and Andz's Multiply of the Family Picnic at Botanics two weeks back.


Boy Talk


My chubby pale arms.


Force Vomit Junior Bassist


Grrrl Talk


Picnicking

Another One Bites the Dust

One wedding and (almost) two babies later, another Serenaide weds.


Nice date, pardner.

Hello VE

Pregnancy update. So we saw the Obygyn last friday and said hello to our first Vaginal Examination. I never had one with previous pregnancy because of early birth. Obygyn had to check if this is going to be another early birth so I was kind of expecting but not looking forward to this examination. I had my palm pressed down my eyes while he was examining so I did not see Mister's expression or what he was doing but if he was watching, the words to "The Hands of The Doctor" must have ran through his head.

So verdict is:
1. Baby is at now at 2.5kg (anything beyond this will more or less confirm me for a C-Section).
2. Obygyn is still not confirming me for a C-section cos he said the weight might stabilise till birth so I still have chance for a normal delivery.
3. It's not going to be as early as before.

So we'll wait till next appt for further updates. Dreading another VE.

Babywearing

I used to not like the look of slinging a baby until my forum friends swore by it. Munchkin was a demanding baby, constantly wanting to be carried so I tried my first Moms In Mind sateen sling and I too, swore by it since. I got so attracted to the plain black (a fan of The Cure needs to own a plain black of everything right?) Hotsling and I loved the fact that there wasn't any ring for adjustment and no excess cloth.

Photo taken around Dec 2006

I've recently been looking at all kinds of babywearing products and am contemplating on purchasing. Some of them are pretty pricey. Here's a little directory of links if
you're interested:

Moms In Minds Slings and Pouches (local site) - The sateen sling I have is too comfy!


Littlepods (Malaysian site) - For those who prefer without prints (like me). You can get them plain in almost every color!


Hotslings (US site) - Gorgeous prints but this was where I got my plain black from cos I didn't see it anywhere else at that time.


Milky Way (local site) - Nice prints too. They've got less floral designs which are suitable for men.


Pupsik (local site) - By a pretty and hip mommy. The material description is beyond temptation> "Made from cotton stretch sateen so smooth and silky, you've got to feel it to believe it!"


Peanut Shell Pouches/Slings and Wraps (US site) - Check out the Girly Skull Baby wrap. Rockstar essential.


EllaRoo (US site ) - The ella roo wraps look like shawls. An absolute test on my weakness for stripes.


Moby Wrap (US site) - Hello to plain in every color again!


Hug-a-Bub (Australian site) - Wraps with an attached pocket! I doubt you'll use other carriers once you've got one of these.


Mama Kangaroo (Canadian site) - All kinds of carrier with plain and graphical designs.

Firefly (US site) - EllaRoo, Hug-a-Bub, Maya Wrap, TaylorMade, Moby and Ergo all on one site. And they accept Paypal.

-added 25June08-

Ditanny Baby (US site) - Love the prints too.

Pregnancy Complains - hard to avoid

My feet have gotten swollen beyond recognition. Getting out of bed is painful on the joints. Many times I feel like I'm about to deliver because Munchkin coming out 3 weeks earlier (impatient kid right from the start) have gotten me paranoid this time round. I need to hold on for just one more day to find out:

1. Baby's weight
2. If I still have options for a normal delivery or a C-Section
3. If I might have another early delivery and/or be given a new estimated due date.

It's definitely a harder pregnancy than before probably because of age and the existence of a toddler in my care. My workplace is hilly so it requires a lot of uphill and downhill walking and/or stair-climbing.

Unintentional Dad's Day Dinner

Unintentional because it was supposed to be a birthday dinner but it fell on Dad's Day. Plus it was partially my brother's (who has been a dad for almost 11 years) treat so it turned out more of a Dad's Day Dinner at the Carousel. Matriarch had always suggested dinner there but it is constantly fully-booked so we managed to do a way advanced booking for last Sunday.


My brother the Midnight Hero (he only sleeps in the day) with Munchkin and my niece.


Me as the dugong. I've lost my collar bones and jawline. We'll work something out later.

The Boy from Katong

The Lard Brothers featuring Dewi of MarchTwelve on vocals did their version of Serenaide's The Girl From Katong. Listen!

http://www.myspace.com/thelardbrothers

Picnicking @ Botanics

Saturday was a picnic day at Botanics with the "family geng".


Shaft pointing out squirrels to Munchkin.


My potluck item - Secret Recipe's signature Chocolate Banana cake. (2 candles for 2 Liverpool FC die-hards birthday boys who received Man U item from a Man U die-hard).

Drawing Faces

I caught Munchkin doing this to Saturday's papers. I didn't make her add those eyes and mouths to the heads. She must've figured they needed a face.

Bass Guitar or Stroller?

The initial plan last year upon getting this Epiphone Viola Bass was to use it for the recording of Serenaide's new material.

But the vocalist knocked the bassist up again and practice sessions were majorly disrupted. Plans had to be shelved so the band goes on another maximised maternity break.

Since the guitar was bought, it had only been caressed once for 2hours and was untouched since (plastics not even removed yet).


Being the 'struggling musicians' that they are and with coming of baby no.2, they figured that it's more practical to sacrifice the guitar and get a stroller AND a car-seat instead.

So anyone wants an Epiphone Viola Bass (with hard case) for $450?

Elly & Sarah

Elly and Munchkin have been friends since they were in utero, sort of. But we haven't met up with her and Mummy for quite some time so we managed to do a little catching up last Tuesday. Elly's grown super cute.





This is them a year ago.

And more pics from last year.

The Art of Roti Kirai-ing

Of all malay dishes I can currently think of, I think Roti Kirai/Jala is one of the most interesting around cos it requires a certain artistic flair in creating that perfect net. I pretty much enjoyed 'kirai-ing' these while Matriarch was away.



Don't ask about ingredients. I cheated. Everything from batter to curry had been prepared by Matriarch before she left.

4-Day-SAHM

I was a Stay At Home Mom for 4 days straight due to Matriarch being away for a short slightly-income-generating trip to Terengganu. Because the Mister had to work from 3pm to 11pm on weekends (which is the most humanely period to not be working), I didn't make plans on Saturday thinking I should be home busily nesting up but Munchkin woke up cranky from her afternoon nap so we went out to loiter around a little.


The most gorgeous thing about Munchkin at this stage is that she doesn't pick up something she likes off retail shelves and insist on holding on to it. On the contrary, I was the one who picked items with her favourite cartoon characters, showing them to her if she wanted them. She didn't even want to hold. Strange.. but I sure hope it stays this way. I ended up buying her a Playhouse Disney activity book and a dessert recipe book for myself (which I know will be one of those neglected buys sooner or later) and we shared a cheesecake at Coffee Bean.


As usual, Munchkin has her time limitations.

Boxers for Pregnancy

I remember reading a pregnancy tip somewhere that if you've gotten to large to fit into your undies, was to raid you husband's wardrobe for boxers. I swear it's one helluva useful tip I've ever come across since preggy. So snug ang comfy! But of course by blogging this, I risk the luxury of raiding his wardrobe ever again.

Imagine!

Munchkin's hyperactive imagination never fails to amuse us.

Her daddy once threw a pillow on top of her back while she was lying on her stomach on the bed, she immediately started crawling and said "tortoise".

Another time she took a bite off a cookie and upon realising that she had made a crescent shape, she held it up and said "moon".

A couple of days ago, she played with my coins and arranged two 10-cent coins over a 20-cent coin and said "Mickey Mouse" (10-cents coins representing the significant ears of Mickey Mouse).

But the best one of all was, one morning when we were having McDonald's Big Breakfast, she exclaimed "Spongebob!" which got us totally clueless where that came from till only later, we realised she was referring to the eggs.




-added-
I just remembered another occasion when my brother wore a Superman logo-bearing t-shirt. Munchkin said, "knife, knife".

Where's the knife?!

Strawberry Fields Forever

There is always a place in my heart (and dish) for strawberries. They trigger some kind of a happy chi in me. Munchkin loves them as they are, Mister loves them in his cereal and oatmeal although he doesn't really eat them (he loves his food pretty).

While we're at that title, let's squeeze in a youtube (although the song has zero to do with strawberries).

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles.