Savouring Romance

Here's news! Have baby- no romance. It just a equilibrium that occurs in human relationships. Honest. And here's more news, when parents try to romance it up a notch, baby decides to do a poo, or cry- you choose.

Ok, so its nothing new. But it does take a whole lot more effort than before.

Since Jellybean is officially superglued to me, I needed to spice things up- fast, nearly instant. So I got this card from kikki-k that basically doesn't writing. It's uber fast I tell ya, just stick stickers! So fun too!

Yeah, I know, I've gone for the fast and easy way out. What card making?! But hey, I did something.

Labour-2

..[continued]...

5:00am- I wake up once again with back pain and sore pelvis. This time it's worse as other womanly body parts make it less tolerable.

Once again I take a looong shower- washing my hair umpteen times in preparation for confinement. But by the time I put on my clothes, I'm in sweats again. Pregnancy!

6:00am- H and I get breakfast at Mcdonalds drive through. I'm not advocating this for breakfast before labour, it is just convenient and on the way. For a sheer moment I contemplate having a Mcdonalds pig-out, not sure if it was the hormones thinking or me wondering if a hash brown and a Mcmuffin will take me throughout the day of labour. Then I remember it might not be a good sight if Jellybean came with other bodily excesses- you know what I mean. Stop. Just eat the hash brown.

As if I know the hospital back to front now, I once again go into Baby Hilton. The midwives in labour ward know me- we left our luggage there the night before. They tell me to go into my own ward as if it's my hotel room.

We meet Anastasya- my first midwife of the day. She's young, pretty and distinctly Russian. I half wished I didn't get such a pretty midwife to do such a gruelling chore. It just made me feel so much worse. Don't ask me why. She was super friendly though and trust me it makes a whole world of differnece when you're contracting!

7:30am- my obstetrician comes in and checks my cervix. Urgh. My waters break and I feel like I should be wrapped in nappies. I feel revolting. I somehow wished H didn't see this side of labour. Hospital gowns look awful, feel awful and expose your butts!

8:30am- I start feeling contractions. they feel like mild period pain. I start counting but the contractions are mild and far apart. I'm in good spirits now. I'm over the exposed butt part and H and I are holding normal conversations.

10:00am- The contractions get stronger and closer, but still irregular. I'm now bored. The tv is on. I'm reading magazines to waste time.

11:30am- My obstetrician comes back in to check on me. I have a magazine on one side, a iPad on the other and a drink by the bedside. He jokes I'm on a holiday and looks so relaxed.

12:00pm- My contractions spur me to breathe heavily. They're still quite far apart but oh they are getting painful. Anastashya offers me heat pads. They help. Mildly. But I do with it.

12:30pm- Going to the toilet bringing in machines, with a exposed butt and broken waters aint fun. My back is hurting so much! I opt to sit on a fitball. After a few contractions I can't stand it anymore and return to the bed. I'm taking deep breaths now and it darn hurts! I still resist. Trying to be a hero.

1:00pm-All is a blur now. Contractions are close. Darn painful. I breathe like no tomorrow. I'm start to cry from the pain. Great hero I am! The midwife offers me epidural and I jump to it. I murmur 'Pain relief!' to H. I can't take it anymore.

The anaesthetist comes in and starts telling me the risks of epidurals. I tell him to just do it! He makes a comment about my bag and between my contractions and weepy eyes I tell him after labour I need lots of handbags! He laughs and says atleast I can still joke. After what seemed like a eternity, he places a freezing cold wipe on my back before setting in the needle. Darn it hurts!

I drift in and out of sleep after the epidural kicks in, but realize it didn't fully work on me. I can still partially feel the pain. I start having to move around because Jellybean isn't happy when I lie in certain positions. My cervix gets checked every now and then.

5:00pm- after a few doses of epidurals I ask for another because the pain is killing me and I'm weeping like a kid once again. They tell me I should be checked again before they administer another dose. Great.  Cervical checks while contracting are soooo not fun! The head midwife checks and whispers to H 'Shes ready'.

Urgh. How much longer will this pain go on for? H continually reminds me our baby is coming and let's look forward to that.

Three midwives come. My obstetrician arrives. I'm told to push. After a few pushes my ob decides to have a break. The moment he walks out the midwife yells Jellybean is coming. Emergency bells ring and my ob is back. Despite my pain, I yell he should of gone on his break earlier so Jellybean can come earlier. He just laughs.

5:14pm- I push so hard and Jellybean finally arrives. A few seconds later her eyes open and I'm so amazed. She's lovely. I count all her fingers and toes and check if she's really a girl [you never know?!].

All other yucky things happen later but I'm just in awe of Jellybean. I no longer feel anything. I continually stare at her and know she's all worth it.

...And so the parenting part begins...

Labour -1

If you're not into knowing the details of labour- skip this post NOW! Jellybean is out this was the ordeal!

...(written on actual day)....

Due to some complications, I had expected a induced labour all along. It just depended on when. This was 'Induction Day 1'!

5:00am- I wake up. Pelvis hurting, back aching and desperately in need of the loo. H wearily wakes up, asks if I'm contracting. I reply no and he drifts back to sleep.

I get back from the loo and can't fall back to sleep. My whole body hurts and sleeping in any position doesn't help. I get fed up and decided to go online and distract myself.

7:30am- I have breakfast.

9:00am- H wakes and realises I've eaten breakfast. He cooks himself Maggi Mee [yes, this is important information I tell ya!] and we chat while he eats.

10:00am- I better finish Jellybean's playmat. It still needs sewing and hemming on the edges. But after a few minutes I just can't concentrate and was about to have a lie down when my mum comes and asks if I have any plans for the day.

I get dressed and we head to the markets and shopping center. I needed a walk. I'm getting agitated.

12:00pm- We get back home and I'm in sweats. Think pregnancy makes my body temperature go up by 10 degrees.

1:00pm- After lunch H and I decide to have a little 'naughty break'. This is meant to be a quick escape to eat whatever I want before confinement. We end up paying some bills before buying cakes, having coffee and buying some mags in preparation for hospital.

3:00pm- We get back home and I'm desperate for a scrub. Its hot. It's frustrating. I'm sweating like there's no tomorrow. I tell H to give me some time in the shower. I feel like having the scrub of my life with no interruptions and thats exactly what I do. I spend 30 minutes scrubbing, washing, scrubbing washing like there's no tomorrow. Cleaning every single inch of my body I can possibly reach.

4:15pm- We head to hospital. I'm super excited.

5:00pm- We check in and get interviewed by a super friendly midwife. We then get bored and H starts taking photos of everything! I mean everything! The loo. Our name tags. The monitors. 

...told you he took photos of the loo.

5:45pm- My obstetrician comes in and after doing a 'sweep' [those who've done it, yeah! u know what I'm talking about! Urgh!!] gives me the option of going home. He tells me I'm ready and doesn't need to be monitored through the night!

7:00pm- After doing more formalities signing in and out, we leave hospital and head home. Half wondering what happens if Jellybean comes at midnight. Half excited. Half nervous.

11:00pm- I try to head to bed but it's nerve-wrecking and I'm still in sore from the sweep. Gosh...what's life gonna be like with Jellybean? H snores besides me.

......

Date Night

H and I were determined to fit in one date night before Jellybean arrives- in the advice of former non-parents. We thought we'd celebrate our anniversary early as we presume Jellybean will totally occupy our time [and possibly our sanity and hence forget events] on our actual wedding anniversary.

We chose Tsunami. A quaint Japanese restaurant tucked in Mosman Park- fully occupied on a weeknight! Mental note: Good food sign but bad preggers squeeze situation.

I would of chosen more sushi options if it wasn't for the food limitations during pregnancy. But ahwell, it gives me an excuse to go back next time.

Between us, we ordered Ebi as the entree. The prawns were succulent and crunchy, wrapped in filo pastry and paired with tomato salsa.
 

Ikura sushi. H orders this in basically any Japanese restaurant from sushi chains to up market dining. This was definitely not the frozen and defrosted sushi chain low-grade caviar.

Mains: We both decided to have Ishiyaki Teppanyaki Wagyu and Scallops. Copy cat! The Ishiyaki is a 400C rock which meals are placed on and subsequently cooked before your eyes. From this...

...to this.

And who could resist a little indulgence at the end? Don't ask me why- but after telling H I wanted the Kuro Goma [Black Sesame] Ice cream, he decided to change my order into a Ice cream sampler, a scoop each of green tea, black sesame and ginger ice creams. While he stayed with the traditional green tea ice cream. Huh?! I figured it was because he wanted to try the flavours but wasn't game enough to try it himself. Luckily I was delighted with the sampler- but a bit unsure if my palette really enjoys ginger ice cream.

To finish the night off? A stroll at Kings Park. Ahhh..... Ps. H wanted a note crediting he took this photo after several minutes fidgeting with the camera.

Ok Jellybean, you can come now.

Heeding Advice

The funny thing about pregnancies is that total strangers come up to you, strike a conversation and even touch your tummy. It also spurs those who've known you for yonks to touch your tummy like they've never touched human flesh before. And then there's those who like to put in their two cents worth and give you some piece of advice.

I've done my consensus and realized the two most common tips are:

1. Sleep as much as you can now. Key word being now.

2. Go on dates! Do stuff as a couple! It's all going to be different after bub comes!

Pointer 1: I try. But a growing belly unfortunately leads to growing insomnia, geared with a painful spine and pelvis.

Pointer 2: What I'm working on.

Taking on Pointer 2- I took H to a scenic spot, we strolled along the riverbank and sipped coffees.

Now this is when you notice the difference between a initial courtship and a few years of marriage- with a jellybean on the way!

Let me give you the scenario: A couple is walking along the river bank, absorbing all the glorious weather and feeling the sand between their toes. All of a sudden, bursts of wind blow through blasting sand across their faces.

A couple in the midst of initial courtship and dating days will most probably have a silent moment, shyly smile and walk on amoungst the blowing winds. It is romantic after all! Maybe the guy will even conveniently hand over his jacket and cover the girl? Or so one thinks.

A couple who's married and been together for a while will do the following:

Husband steers wife back onto vegetated areas then says 'You took me here to eat sand?'
And as the wife opens her mouth to comment on what her husband just said, husband says 'Shut up- or else sand will get into your mouth!'

No prizes for guessing which scenario happened to me. Uh huh!

House: November 2010

H has superceeded my expectations of him. 


I've abandoned my house for nearly 2 months now and I miss it to bits! So on random occasions I ask H to take photos of what it looks like now and how everything is going. To my amazement- he's kept my our courtyard pretty spiffy! Once again, you have to excuse the poor phone quality pic- though I think you get the gist. 


My tower trees have grown so tall they are no longer in the frame, my crawlers are doing their thing and my reflexology path is still in order. No, its not a reflexology path- though it could be. 


So, nearly a year into moving, its finally looking a little more lived-in and less deserted. H sometimes wonders if I miss our house more than I miss him.


I'm proud of my man!- he's definitely doing quite well without me. Wait... is that a good or bad thing?

Love-Bickies!

As I'm blogging, this tin of cookies is just about on its way to H. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he doesn't read my blog today- he usually doesn't- and hopefully he'd be pleasantly surprised. 

Over the weekend he requested for some cookies- luckily I found just the person to bring them to him- because as you know, we're not exactly under one roof at the moment. If all goes well, he'll be getting these tomorrow. Yays!!!

My love-bickies are actually Raisin & Milk Chocolate cookies which were pretty much adapted from this recipe. I've fallen in love with this cookie recipe- it never fails. I love the texture- its a cross between a hard cookie and a shortbread I'd say.

I'm hoping they don't turn into broken hearted cookies by the time it reaches him! That would be the wrong message all together!

Professional Homemaker

I take my new profession of being a homemaker very seriously. Being on home duties means I have to be very alert of any sales and promotions and apply it within my daily life.

For example, a good homemaker will see a 1200 thread count cotton bed sheet discounted in a reputable store by about 38% and decide to buy it. At the same time, she will decide to join as a shop member which entitles her to more discounts and spend more. She then gets sucked in and also buys natural detergents which keep her whites whiter and colours brighter. After all of the above, she manages to tell and convince her husband it was a good buy.


*The above statements may be misleading- please do not try this at home. If you do however try this, please do not make me responsible.


** Based on a true life story.

What My Husband Does To Me

Oh don't you worry, it's nothing raunchy!


He chooses to torment me with the accessible hawker food he has around town while I'm stuck with tasteless bleh. And mind you it's cheap, accessible hawker food! He sends me menus on WhatsApp! That's double cheap if you ask me!


I am however thankful of today's technology- it enables H and I to share our lives without expensive phone calls or postage. -There goes my love letters! We basically communicate through all forms of tech savvy social networks. 


Steve Jobs you're currently rocking my world! (I know we didn't start on the right note, but let's put that all behind now shall we?)

Getting Sentimental

If your husband isn't around, you receive a bunch of these, they're sitting on your desk with fresh floral aromas infusing your room- then you look and then you see ...

...this gawky fellow staring at you- you'd get teary eyed and miss your husband even more. Well, I admit I did anyway. 


They were sent on my birthday- though I did ask whether the toy was meant for me or the bun. In H's defense he said the toy was meant to be a bear- but err, this definitely aint a bear!


And that's the problem with girls! We all know flowers are a waste of money yet they never fail to surprise and cheer us up. 

I simply can't resist them- but then I also don't know what to do with them later. It's a love hate relationship really.


And you know my other problem? H's birthday is exactly one week apart from mine, so what do I get to do? Help. 


Sorry this post is a bit out of sorts..I'm still being sentimental-hormonal- whatever.

Drawings Updated

I have to admit, marriage hasn't changed my competitive streak. H and I make up bizarre games just to out-run one another - for the sake of it. Because we're bored, because we're childish, because we lack entertainment in our lives and in that sense, can still entertain ourselves.


Previously, we drew on napkins and any kind of paper we could get hold of. Now we've upgraded ourselves- that sounds kind of cool! We draw on our iPads on some blackboard application- we're very tech savvy like that.


I still say I'm better- just incase my clients read my blog. 


Round 1: Keys

I say his looks more like a key from the local locksmith and mine's from Tiffany- Hands down!


Round 2: Car

Mine's the Beetle version..and his is from the 1970's? See the cool app chalks? They're so good for freehand scribbling!


Round 3: Ragdoll

The one in pink is waaay cuter!?! Ps. that's drawn by me.


Round 4: Chair

Ok, so my pink chair looks like it needs some mending but its more designerish k?


Round 5: Pair of shoes

What? His isn't a pair?!?!...

Ok, so his shoes are nicer...but it it still isn't a pair..and writing x2 doesn't qualify. That's cheating.


I say I win. Shall we cast a vote?

When Cupid's Arrow goes Haywire..

Just three days ago I thought H was the sweetest man on earth! 


I accidentally found a box of heart shaped chocolates in his car to which I pretended I didn't see. I happily thought that 5 years down the road my man was still a romantic at heart. I pondered how he was going to surprise me and what sweet-nothings would he say. I smiled to myself, thinking of all possible romantic scenarios just for the sake of it. You know..it's what girls do. 


So guess what?!?...


Yesterday morning he took the box of nicely-wrapped-heart-shape chocolates out of the car...and it went a little like this:


" For you!!"


"Ooh..what is this for?"...


..........


With not much expression on his face, H said, "Oh nothing. A client gave it to me as a gift of thanks and if I don't take them out out of my car they're gonna melt."


=_=" Pffftttt.


So there I stood, speechless, dumbfounded and thinking I was the biggest idiot on planet earth. 


Just incase you'd like to know, the nicely-wrapped-heart-shape chocolates are now sitting on my kitchen bench and I have no intention of eating them.

5 Years On

This is my Humpy Dumpty cake. Aptly named by H because it has a ribbon around the middle much like how Humpty wears his pants to his stomach - more commonly known as Chilled Lemon Cheesecake. The one H always craves and asks for.

And you know what? It's so hard to keep surprises once you're married. I came straight out and told H not to open the fridge when he got home. So what does he do? He scavenges through the rubbish bin and figures out what I've been up to. His detective work told him that Philly cheese, Digestive biscuits and the sudden emergence of lemons in the house meant I made him a lemon cheesecake. ..I guess it really sums up how far we've come within five years of knowing one another. 

But look here. I mean, look beyond my chubby toes and gaze at the pampering tray. 

Look beyond the cute cucumber eye-pads rested on H's cheeks..- I'm sure he'd appreciate this photo...one day..

Drift into the sweetest dreams and ease away from reality.

Sip on fresh cold juice in balmy weather..and just enjoy each other's company.

Yes, I still get pampered and spoilt too- thats the perk. I love where we are now. I love how H and I can balance the realities of life amongst romance, where a simple hug can make the day so much more worthwhile. Awww..I wurve himmm wotsss..

So I made him this card [ a surprise I could keep!]. ..Complete with lots of hearts as if it was my first love letter..

And he in return treated me to this honeycomb choco craving I had..

..before we went to dinner at our very first date place. Where many years ago, we were both nervous and possibly looking for conversations..

..and in between you just might like to know, he cleaned the house, cleaned the porch and watered the plants. 

Told you we're balanced. -Happy 5th Anniversary hubs!

Pomegranates and other important stuff

Let's face it. My blog will never be about the trials and tribulations in my life. It will always revolve around food, craft or marriage..or something along those lines. So even if a put a picture of a pomegranate, I won't be telling you about my eventful morning without 6 hours of electricity- which meant 6 hours of no air-conditioning in a hot and humid country..which also means a grumpy and unsatisfied me. 

You still sticking with me? 

Because H knows I get grumpy in hot weather. He's learning to live with it. I nearly put it in the wedding vows..and it would of gone something like '..Will you H, take L to be your lawfully wedded wife? In hotness and in health, through happiness and gruff..' of which he'd have to say 'I do'.

And then theres the whole big storm and lighting thing last night which resulted to my lawn flooding and this constant rain drop dripping near my window. What's with that??! 

And how about the endless phone calls this morning..on the morning where I was already late to work because my gate jammed up on me?! Oh bother. Then!..I didn't even get my breakfast because I was all worked up? Shucks.

This is clearly not a day you want to mess with me. But I've blogged...and shared..and gonna get back to the important stuff.

Now.....

Where was I about pomegranates?.... 

Oh yes! I just wanted to tell you I love pomegranates..and I find it therapeutic to peel the thin yellow skin enveloping the pink flesh. My parents have a pomegranate tree in their backyard. Isn't that interesting?

3 beer bottles

H has a weird collection of collecting glass bottles. We've got clear ones, green ones, brown ones..you name it. I don't know why he collects them though, he doesn't use or recycle them. Its just one of life's mysteries.


I took the liberty of using them. I'm still thinking of what else I can do with them without looking like a rubbish collector. Or maybe one day I'll just secretly throw them out 'coz its invading my kitchen space- just like how I secretly throw his weird paper collection out and re-organize his hobby aeroplanes while he's out. I'm the most considerate wife! Really. 


What would he do without me? lol.


I'm sure he wouldn't miss them. Honest.

Cave-Woman meets City

Looking back at the last few entries, it seems like I've been living in a hole doesn't it? Everything revolves around my house and my kitchen and photos are getting generic- and things are most probably not gonna change any time soon.


But wait! H and I finally dragged ourselves out for a date night, one of our monthiversaries actually- more like, it gave us a reason to go out because we'd much rather lounge in our old overstretched pjs and vegetate than to do the whole kaboom of going out- make up, getting dressed..bleh!- I can definitely foresee age catching on! So on this rare occasion we actually dolled up a bit- but still ate like a caveman.

Avocado Best Western. H's favourite entree.

Seafood Cocktail- now I want a lemon squeezer too!

Beef. Chunky goodness.

Beef with flags. Cute flags. The flipped prawn bum tail is kinda cute too..in it's own contorted way. This dish had some fancy name..but can't they just call it Prawn + Wagyu Beef? 

Beef the way I like it.


We can't resist Wagyu. Heart its marbling and juicy meat. Awww.


If you want to eat like a caveman, just like us:


Grand Palace Hotel
Best Western Restaurant
Pelita Commercial Center, Miri.

The Ungrateful Wife

Is it our anniversary? No thats past.

Is it when we started dating? Thats no-where near.

Its not my birthday,.. nor his.

Hmm.....Oh NOOOO! He chucked a Tiger on me!!

Those thoughts, those exact thoughts ran through my mind when I received this lovely bouquet of flowers. [and wouldn't you like to have a sneek peek at my office too?!]  

I know the last thought is totally absurd but it still randomly entered my mind. [I'm just being honest here!]

The flowers didn't have a card either...they were just stunning fresh flowers- with a smell so divine I don't mind having hayfever from it ..for now.

So I texted H..and it read somewhere along the lines of :

Did u just send me flowers? * Big smile. What a sweet surprise :)...Well, if d flowers aren't from u I must have a secret admirer.


In total SMS format...tee hee. And take note..I didn't even say 'thank you'..how rude!


Ps. I still don't know what they're for yet...hmmm.... I just have to figure it out I guess.