Teaching them right

Ever since our neighbours moved into the unit above ours, our mornings have been simply noisy.

Their little girl has a habit of waking up early in the morning between 6am and 7am, without fail, rain or shine, weekdays or weekends. She'll then start tromping, jumping, and/or running around, which will sound to me like there's a big-foot giant walking around the room upstairs. She is also fond of screaming and crying; and dragging something that sounds like a metal tin. To put it simply, she makes a lot of noise 7 early 8 early in the morning. Wonder if that's the reason why the little one in me will also begin to stir at around the same time.

On top of all that, since they moved in, I've had candy wrapers, wang wang biscuit wrappers, chocolate aluminium foil wrapper and even pencil shavings in my balcony.

This morning, she was first screaming then crying. I don't know why no adults in the same house manage to control her or at least reprimand her. How do parents actually teach their kids nowadays???

Sighz...

On another note, this morning on the MRT, overheard a mother asked her little daughter: "See, now the people in the train lesser, right?"

Hello, missus, it should be "there are fewer people in the train". People - we use fewer and not lesser. Think it's time you revised the countable and uncountable nouns.

Kickboxing at Golden Compass

Last Saturday, hubby and I went for a late night "Golden Compass".

I was fighting to concentrate on the movie because the little one in me took joy in practising kick-boxing. Ya, inside me. As the movie reached its climax and as the sound effects got loud and exhilarating, baby's kicks also got more intense.

I put daddy's hand on the tummy so that he can feel his little one. I guess the sound effects must have disturbed him/her quite abit. But the feeling of the little one moving inside me is pure bliss.

How do the movements feel like?

Little baby's papa has been wondering how it actually feels when baby moves inside me. I can't really put it into words.

Found an article where moms-to-be share their impressions of their baby's very first kick.

"I hate to say it, but it kind of felt like gas. This is my first pregnancy, so I had no idea what to expect. It was such a slight movement that I thought it could have been something I had eaten."

"It really did feel like butterflies in my stomach. It was the same feeling you get when you're really excited or when your stomach jumps as you drive over a hill too quickly."

"It felt like bubbles popping in my belly." --> Yes!

"It felt like someone tiny tapping on the inside." --> Yes!

"It was a light, fluttery feeling that lasted several seconds. It lasted long enough that I could tell it was made by something that wasn't a part of me before I was pregnant!"

"She was wiggling all over the place. It was like she was pushing my skin out from the inside or someone was lightly running her fingers along the skin from the inside."

"It reminded me of my grandparents' tacky aqua lava lamp — just like the bubble or "liquid bloop" that goes up."

"It felt like a strong pulse point, like when you get a twitch in your arm or leg, but much stronger." --> Yes yes yes!!!

"She poked and jabbed a lot. It felt like she was really bony, like she was poking me with a little bony finger."

"It felt like a ball rolling around in my stomach."

"For a while it was little flutters, then kicks and punches. Now it feels like he's using a roller brush to paint my insides!"

"It felt like how I imagine it would be for a goldfish in a plastic bag. If the bag was under your skin and the fish started to swim, the bag would move ever so slightly."

"It tickled somewhat. He must of have had an energy rush from the orange juice I had minutes before, because he was moving around for quite a while. I felt relieved to finally feel the reality of being pregnant."

"It did not feel like popcorn or butterflies! It's sort of like a pocket of gas moving, but in the wrong spot."

"When I first felt the baby move, it was like a little butterfly was in my stomach. Now it feels like an alien life force trying to beat my organs to a pulp."

"It felt like someone had their hand in my belly and moved it. Feeling it move was strange at first, knowing there's a living thing inside you that you have no control over."

"I had to lift the covers to make sure there wasn't a bug crawling on me. Then I noticed it was inside, not on, my skin."

"It felt like bubbles, like the fizzing of Alka-Seltzer when it hits water."

"It felt like she was trying to escape from my stomach."

"It was like a large minnow swimming around in a small fish bowl."

2008年出生的宝宝

农历戊子年乃土鼠年。

命理大师说：08年是千载难逢一个特别好的时期，首先从大的方面我们生活在太平盛世，整个社会形势比较好，这是一点。再者就是按三元九运，我们处在下元八运，在08年戊子年出生的孩子占有将心，这个将心在古代的时候专门表示领兵打仗，掌握行政至高权利的一种星宿，意味着08年戊子年出生的孩子有特别大的出息，成为人上之人成为领导。这两年一个是猪年，一个是鼠年这两年出生的孩子相当不错，整个运势会超过其它时期的孩子。明年不光是一个好年头，凡是明年出生的孩子天下没有穷戊子，世间没有富根生，不但主贵还主富。

在网络上看到一位准爸爸在新浪论坛上的帖子，以下转载：

“2008年是土鼠年，这年出生的孩子都得办满月酒！

最一开始我听到这个说法我也认为是胡说八道，但是前几天我独自一人到北京的某个寺去，偶然间遇到了这里的方丈，跟那的方丈聊天，他竟然在我未说明我的家庭资料的情况下说我明年家中会添丁，让我大感诧异，最吃惊的是他说我会生一个儿子，这个连我自己都不知道啊（前几天做B超刚知道的）！接着他跟我说明年是土鼠年，出生的孩子命本不错，聪明伶俐，有大富大贵之命，但却差在土上，很难破土而出。我还以为接下来他会让我在他那求些什么回去就能解除，可他没有，他说最简单的办法就是办个满月酒，越大越好，那样就会把孩子身上的土洗掉。这时我突然想到了前段时间听同事聊天时说08年出生的孩子要办满月酒这件事情。于是我问他这和土有什么关系，他说虽然他是佛教中人，但为了帮助世人，他也要熟知民俗，这是他认为最简单的解除办法。

其实我不想再这里说这些的，因为它必竟让人觉得有些封建迷信，但我发自内心的希望未来的一代能够有自己的一番事业，我反正暂且信之了，大家可信可不信！ 注：这个寺在北京非常有名，尤其方丈被喻为神人，凡过年过节的日子里那里几乎要挤破头，但也未必能见到方丈，我那天遇到方丈也纯属机缘巧合，所以我信他，我会在儿子满月时给他办一个非常大的满月酒！我愿所有08年出生的孩子都能大富大贵，所以我把这个消息告诉世人，愿所有08年出生的孩子们聪明伶俐，大富大贵！”

好像有感觉了！

今天早上6点多，我醒着躺在床上，突然感觉到肚子里好像有一个大泡泡从里头向上冒出。之后，又冒出了两三个小泡泡。哈哈！我真的不知道怎么形容那种感觉，不过我现在终于明白为什么医生会将胎动的感觉形容成bubbles。

Finally, I feel bubbles in my tummy!

肚子紧紧的

今天，不知何故肚子感觉非常紧绷，抽紧、抽紧的感觉，左边还有一些些隐隐作痛。不知道是宝宝在动吗？

同事说，这是正常现象，因为肚子开始大了，肚皮就会感觉比较紧绷。上网查了查发现原来许多孕妇都有这种感觉。

今天也突然发现自己走路时，好像比较笨拙，而且两脚也比平时张开了许多。啊！救命啊！好难看啊！

感觉不到你……

我每天都非常期待能够感觉到肚子里的宝宝的移动，但没有。有点失望。期待得又有些担心。

我已经快怀孕20周了，可是为什么我还没有感觉到胎动？只是有时觉得肚子里像是有气，“嘟嘟”地冒几下，也不知是不是。难道你也像我一样不爱动，有点懒？

在某个网站上读到20周时的胎儿生长趋于平稳，这个时候妈妈应该把更多的精力放在营养上。不过切忌饮食过量，因为过量的饮食会增加生产的困难和痛苦，而且容易造成高血压、糖尿病等症状，同时对胎儿的发育也没有什么好处。因此，饮食要重质而非重量。

文章也说现在是最好的时候来进行胎教。闲暇时，应该多和宝宝说话，和它聊聊天。尤其是爸爸，更应该借机会让宝宝认住他的声音。

When will I feel it?

Last week, the gynae told me that I'll probably feel baby's movements in two weeks' time. From then on, I've been anticipating movements in my tummy.

I wonder how the feeling would be. Gynae said it'll feel something like bubbles in your tummy for a start. Bubbles? How does having bubbles in your tummy feel like??

I've read that many women have described the sensation as being like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies fluttering. And for a start, a first-time mom will probably chalk up those first gentle taps or swishes in the belly to gas or hunger pains, but once you start feeling them more regularly, you'll recognize the difference.

I'm really excited about it. Let it happen soon, please....

生男生女的征兆

妈妈起初认定我这一胎是个女儿。结果，爸爸和她打赌，如果是男的妈妈输给爸爸$50，如果是女的爸爸输给妈妈$50。

可是最近，经常有人说我这一胎一定是男的，因为我不长肉，不是向横发展，而是向前发展（就仅是肚子大了而已）。另一个说法是，因为我胃口不好，所以会生男的。种种的说法搞得我有点乱。对于这种种的道听途说，老公觉得很可笑，没有科学根据。

今天，妈妈陪我去复诊，她看了看我，突然说：“我看我的$50好像要泡汤了。”哈！她说现在再想想，又觉得好像是男的。

上网搜了艘，结果发现生男生女真的有很多不同的说法。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
一、传统说法：
1、清宫表　按末次月经时间
2、尖肚子男，圆肚子女　
3、肚子小男，肚子大女
4、除了肚子身体其他部位没有发胖的，从后面看不出怀孕：男，反之女
5、脚不肿男，脚肿女　
6、反应不重男，反应重女　
7、准MM喜酸男，喜辣女
8、准MM变丑男，变漂亮女
9、准MM皮肤变黑男，皮肤不变女
10、胎动感觉拳打脚踢男，整个身体翻动女
11、比预产期早生男，晚生女
12、肚脐突出男，不突出女
13、B超显示宝宝脸朝外的男，面对MM的女

二、其它说法
1、肚脐以上妊娠线直、细，直达两乳间男，反之女
2、妊娠线偏左男，偏右女
3、胎动偏左男，偏右女
4、胎心140左右男，150左右女
5、怀孕期准MM勤劳的男，懒惰的女
6、准MM鼻子变大的男，不变的女
7、准MM喜食长条蔬菜水果的男，圆形蔬菜的女
8、准MM尿检偏碱性的男，偏酸性的女

三、国外网站的说法
1、孕期增长的体重主要集中在腹部男，集中在屁股和大腿的女
2、肚子形状像西瓜女，像篮球男
3、肚子靠上女，往下坠男
4、孕后乳房迅猛发展女，反之男
5、喜酸和咸食男，喜甜食和果汁女
6、卧室枕头朝北男，朝南女
7、以针引线悬于手臂上，线端作前后摆动男，作左右摆动女
8、脉搏左边强男，右边强女
9、胎盘前壁是男，后壁是女
10、胎动早为男（16W），晚为女
11、小便清的为男，反之为女

Erm……各有各的说法，答案希望能够在12月17日揭晓。

No chocolate for you?!

First, it was a KitKat bar. Then it was chocolate ice-cream. Somehow, baby seems to dislike chocolate.

But I chose to ignore that this morning when I made myself a cup of hot chocolate. I ended up with pain in my gastric and the chocolate water inside the toilet bowl.

Wonder if baby will really be hating chocolate.

穿不下了!!!

昨天晚上住在娘家，今天早上我打开衣橱，想要找一件合适的衣服穿上班，结果所有原本合身的上衣都变成了紧身上衣！唉，真的是身材不保啊~~~

幸运+幸福

最近，常会听到有关许多夫妻结婚后一直都尝试要怀孕，可是都失败了。其实，我周围的朋友也不乏这样的例子。

因此，我开始对能够这么快就怀孕了而心存感激。最近，我的胃口开始变好了，也没有之前那么地不舒服，所以我开始深刻体会到即将当妈妈的喜悦和幸福。宝宝是上天送给我们最好的结婚礼物。

我也开始计划和筹备宝宝的来临。是不是该布置一下婴儿房？该开始购买宝宝的衣服和所需的用具了吧？该给宝宝取什么名字？我已经开始自言自语地和宝宝说起话来了，也开始做胎教，每晚都播古典音乐和读唐诗300首给宝宝听。宝宝啊，你一定要是个健康、活泼、快乐的小宝贝。

Watch how little baby grow…

Went to the gynae that day for another ultrasound scan. This time round, the feeling is so exhilarating!

I can see baby’s shape so clearly! Its head, its little nose, its thumping heart, its arms, its little feet!!!

Seeing and knowing that baby is growing well, it makes all the discomforts worthwhile.

(you'll have to stare real hard to make out baby's head and body)

Another blackout

It’s very scary. I was really scared this time round.

I was on my way to work this morning. I woke up feeling alright, so I was quite confident that I could survive the MRT ride to work. I’m even brave enough to be lugging my laptop and a box of mooncakes with me.

All went well initially. The LRT ride was fine. I decided to take the MRT to Punggol in order to secure a seat and I did. I settled down comfortably. But soon, the nightmare started. The train got crowded as early as Sengkang. It got so crowded that I started to find it hard to breathe. I was fighting hard for some precious oxygen. In my mind, I kept telling myself “it’s alright, as soon as when most people alight at Dhoby Ghaut, everything will be fine.”

I started to count the stops - Potong Pasir, Boon Keng, Farrer Park, Little India… I began to feel sweat all over my body. At Dhoby Ghaut, the crowd cleared out, but I did not. My vision started to blur and I was sweating profusely. It lasted from Dhoby Ghaut to Clarke Quay to Chinatown. I’ve not have fainting spells that lasted so long. At Outram, I thought I am really going to faint. I imagined the people around me dialing for the ambulance. I held on tightly to the hand rail beside me for fear of falling forward.

I didn’t dare to alight at Outram, so I sat put and wait for the “clouds” to clear. It was only when the MRT pulled to a complete stop at HarbourFront that I felt my consciousness returning. I staggered out of the MRT and slammed down onto the stone seat on the deck. I sat for a long time. How long exactly? I don’t know.

It was only until I feel well enough and confident enough that I can continue my way that I started to walk slowly out of the MRT station. I made my way slowly to the McDonald’s at HarbourFront Centre and got myself a hot drink.

Recuperated, I finally took a cab to office. Now I really admire myself for being able to pull that feat, all alone and with 2 heavy loads.

But the entire ordeal is really scary. What if I’ve really blacked out completely?

太早？

最近我常常会想：宝宝是不是来得太早了？当然，这由不得我们操控。G一直说早点有第一胎对我们是好的。那是因为他一直希望我们能有至少3个孩子。

我的个性不好，常会胡思乱想、杞人忧天。我会担心说自己有没有心理准备当妈妈。我会是个称职的妈妈吗？我和G真的知道、能够适应有了孩子后的日子吗？我们对即将作出的牺牲做好准备了吗？

我也很担心肚子里的胎儿，不知道它长得好不好？能够摄取足够的营养吗？万一胎儿的发育出现了问题怎么办？

我真的希望自己可以是一个糊涂的准妈妈，什么也不担忧，只是一味地开心地等待小生命的来临。我真的希望可以做个快乐的准妈妈。但为什么这么难？