:) Our precious little princess

Been adjusting over the past few days, so haven't had the time to put up anything.

I just want to thank everyone for praying for us and supporting our family.

The whole labour process was a huge experience of God in a new way. Our God is a God who answers prayers and One who is mighty and powerful.

We are now adjusting to the new phase of life...God has been faithful and will remain faithful as we adjust to parenthood..something totally new to us. :P

Enjoy the pictures of our little princess :)

Passing time

Well, seldom have so much time on my hands.

Decided to do some cooking and baking.

So what have I tried to do so far during this period of leave?

1. Spaghetti
2. Japanese curry
3. Fried rice
4. French Toast
5. Simple Sauteed salmon
6. Simple steamed fish
7. Simple toufu cold dish
8. Fried long beans
9. Butter cake

My first attempt at baking wasn't that successful. Though the cake could be eaten and was seemingly quite tasty, the texture's not really there. Will try again!

Visited 3 families staying at the same block in CCK 2 days ago. Played with the little kids. :) Spent the whole afternoon with MH and kids yesterday! Thank God for these mothers who are so free to spend time with me...:p haha

Still no news?

:) I know many dear family members and friends are out there are waiting, together with us, for the arrival of our baby. Just as we are anticipating her arrival, our closed ones are doing so too. We are happy to know that this process involves our community :)

Many are wondering, "when will she arrive?" We have been receiving SMSes, phonecalls etc. every now and then. Haha! But my answer is always this, "I have no clue".

We visited the gynae again yesterday. She said everything's ok, i.e baby's heartbeat, fluid, blood flow through umbilical cord etc. So, the conclusion was, "You can continue waiting." She estimated the baby's weight at 3.8kg thereabouts. She did say that it's surprising that our baby continued to grow after 38/39 weeks. She also said that there is still time to wait for natural contractions and we could still try to deliver her naturally.

We will see her again on thursday if baby does not arrive before that. I guess by then, we would have to decide whether to induce or to wait some more.

Really, we are waiting on God for this. Many people have suggested that I talk to baby to ask her to come out soon...but my usual reply is this, "God is the one who determines when she is going to come out, baby's not in control haha :p"

The process of waiting hasn't been easy, there's a lot to share about my journey with the Lord through this but I think I will leave that to after baby's born :)

In the meantime, we shall wait patiently, for God's ways are always higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Day 1 & 2 of maternity leave

:) Maternity leave started on 16 April, thursday.

Not quite used to having so much time on my hands actually. But I am thankful for the time of rest. With that physical rest, I guess I will be more ready for labour. Without having to think about work, I am also more able to prepare myself mentally I guess. Though I am hoping that baby will not come too late cos that would mean I have taken maternity leave too early :(

What have I been doing at home? haha :)

1. Caught up on a HK drama serial over the internet
2. Caught up on the readings and quizzes for sunday bible class
3. trying to do more reading, currently reading C.S. Lewis's "THE FOUR LOVES", a super super philosophical book, quite a challenging read haha :)
4. Got the help of my domestic helper to prepare and wash all the baby stuff
5. Watched some Youtube videos regarding baby care
6. Taught my domestic helper how to cook spaghetti and japanese curry
7. Looked up some new recipes online and watched Youtube videos

It's fun having the time to cook, explore new recipes etc. We are on to trying french toast, simple sauteed salmon today and probably fried rice. Simple stuff first, complicated stuff later on haha!

Okie...on to Day 3 at home! :)

Board game: Blokus :p

A few brothers came over to our place last night to play board games.

We ended up playing Blokus! :)

It's the first time I played the game.

FUN! Though hubby and I are both not too good at it.. haha

But I think we will someday become experts at the game hehehe

Finally on leave!

haha :p

After so long of having many many people ask me the same question, "When are you stopping work?", I hereby announce that I will be stopping work as of this afternoon!

Finally decided to go on maternity leave...:)

Natural delivery?

Wah..I got a shock when the doc I saw yesterday estimated baby's weight to be in the region of 4kg! That's like a 1kg jump from last week's estimation. My doc previously told me that she doesn't think my baby will hit 4kg leh.

The first concern that I had was, "Will I be able to give birth naturally?"

But that doc also said that it was not impossible to give birth to a big baby naturally. So she did not give any other recommendations and just told me to wait for baby to come naturally.

Some people say that it would very difficult, painful etc, when the baby is very big. But there are also some who say that it's not impossible and it all depends on the cooperation between mother and child, and on God of course :) And of course, some say that the estimation may not even be accurate in the first place. (Well, we'll see :p)

Well, anyway, the weight issue got me a little unsettled because I am aiming and have been praying for natural delivery.

My doc will be back from overseas tomorrow. I called up the clinic to ask if I could shift my appointment next monday to this friday instead in case baby still doesn't come by E.D.D. and she's quite big. But... somehow God did not let me successfully shift the appointment forward. Instead, the nurse told me that my doc may still want me to try for natural delivery anyway, given that it is really not impossible. (My doc is someone who believes strongly in natural delivery) So yup, the arrangement is to call up the clinic on friday to see whether doc thinks there is a need to see me before next monday. A sis-in-Christ said, "that's God's will:)"

In the meantime, I am learning to believe God...relax and not fear. Ultimately, He is in control.

Hoping for natural delivery still...:p

Love, Relationship

I would like to share briefly what I meditated upon during quiet time this morning.

Hosea 6:4b
"...Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears."

Reflection: Is our love for the Lord as described in this verse? Does our love for Him grow cold so easily or do we love him daily?

Hosea 6:6
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

Reflection: Are we really sharing a deep loving relationship with God, or are we just "doing things" for Him? Are we missing the point altogether in our lives? Do we acknowledge Him in all our ways or do we just remember on certain days?

Hoseas 7:14
"They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds."

Reflection: How do we react to trouble and suffering in our lives? Do we turn to God from the bottom of our hearts?

"Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time" by Marla Taviano

Another good book to recommend.

This book was given to me by a close friend and sister a few months back. I picked it out from my shelf yesterday and finished it within a day.

In this book, the author hopes to bring readers through a "reflective journey through your baby's first year".

I enjoyed the book because it is not about theories theories and more theories but the whole book is a heart-felt, encouraging sharing by the author herself, who is a mother of three. She gives readers realistic expectations of motherhood...and helps mothers realise that they are not alone in most of the struggles which they face within the first year of motherhood.

She shares real testimonies of other mothers in order to relate to readers. That makes reading the book very relaxing and enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to all mothers-to-be.

As a mother-to-be, I know I am venturing into new ground. Many things I am facing and am going to face are unfamiliar, which explains the usual anxieties and fears. This book really encouraged me to look upon my new journey with hope in God and I was assured, while reading the book, that I am really not alone in most of my "unfamiliar struggles".

Thank God for mothers who have gone ahead of mothers-to-be and who are so willing to share their journeys with others.

2 Cor 1:3-4
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Because He loves us so

"Good Friday"

Am blogging now as a break from work :)

Yesterday, I honestly shared with hubby that I feel "scared" when I think about child-birth. The uncertainties and unknowns make me feel rather "scared". I messaged two sisters from church to share with them how I felt, and they both told me that it's normal to feel that way.

Hubby shared something which struck me. He asked, "Was Jesus afraid before He went onto the cross?" I said, "I believe so", cos Jesus prayed to ask God to take the cup away from him but yet, let not his will be done but the Father's will be done. When I tried to imagine how Jesus felt when he was in Gethsemane, knowing that he had to be nailed to the cross soon, I felt that my fears about child-birth paled so much in comparison. Jesus cast everything to his Father in prayer and He was strengthened to face all He had to face...I was encouraged to do the same. And I felt must better after praying.

Jesus sacrificed Himself for the sins of the whole world. He knew no sin but had to be punished for all our sins, in order that all who believe in Him would have eternal life. His painful sacrifice on the cross should never ever be taken for granted. He loves us.

Without Jesus, we will not have LIFE.

It's Good Friday tomorrow, it's good to ponder over this question again, "Why did Jesus have to die?"

Have we forgotten that we are wretched sinners who are so unworthy and undeserving of the Lord's great love?

Have we lost the touch of His love?

Have we forgotten that we have been purchased by the blood of Christ for a life in and for God?

Are we living our lives, in gratitude today?

2 Cor 5:21
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As the day draws near...

I just shared with a sister that I feel like screaming, "I AM GOING TO BE A MUMMY!!!!"...to release stress. Then she said, "go ahead"! haha :) but I replied, "no place to scream la"...haha...by the beach maybe, but no beach near my place. Then she suggested the toilet but I figured I shouldn't scare my neighbours haha!

It feels so...errr..indescribable. :p

Anyway, thankfully, my peaceful sleep is seemingly resuming. I still wake up in the middle of the night, but I do sense myself getting quite a bit of quality sleep. Thank God!

Boss is still giving me work here and there, which makes my goal of completing everything nicely before going on maternity leave almost IMPOSSIBLE! Argh!!! maybe I should just give that goal up altogether and stop being such a perfectionist.

Haha.. something funny to share. A guy friend of WG asked him over sms when I would be delivering and WG replied, "17 April supposedly but technically anytime". And guess what his reply was, just 2 words,

"WAH, DANGEROUS!"
haha

We found that really funny!

Anytime! :)

Went to see another doc cos my doc's on leave.

Baby's fully engaged, doc says she is in a good position for delivery because she is back facing the whole world haha! Her weight's good: estimated at 3.16kg. Heartbeat's good. Water bag ok, placenta ok...so basically, now it's just waiting for "THE" time.

Hmm..I wonder when she's going to come. Both hubby and I have been having mixed feelings as we anticipate her arrival. Everyone says that that's really normal.

Do pray for us as we will be moving into the next phase of life real soon. haha!

On a side note, I now weigh about 68.7kg..lost some weight seemingly! Yeah! My target weight gain is 15kg in total..looks like I am pretty close to that target. Well done! haha Ooopss..so now everyone knows what's my original weight..:)

Alrighty, back to work! :p

Preggy pictures

 

 

Once in a lifetime experience :P

Guess what! I lost sleep for the WHOLE of last night because of flu and baby's unusual amount of movements when I laid down. Tossed and turned, watched a movie "Paul Blart: The Mall Cop" which was quite funny...took some Nestum...it was so depressing really... never lost sleep like that in my WHOLE life.

Finally at about 4am, as I was trying to get to sleep, I woke my dear hubby up (something I wouldn't do until I felt desperate...trust me, my hubby's someone who sleeps like a log haha :p ) and told him I wanted to get out of the house. This time round, hubby din continue with his sleep but supported my idea to take a walk outside.

Then he said, "I am hungry"...and well, we ended up walking to the MacDonalds near our place (about 15mins walk). Yup, so we had Macs breakfast at like err.. 430am? We enjoyed ourselves because we had never experienced a date at that kind of a timing. We chatted...took the opportunity to make up for lost time. haha.

I felt so much better once I stepped out of the house cos I could finally stop trying to sleep.

haha..come to think of it, when the baby comes, I will surely lose my precious 7 to 8 hours sleep for quite a while.

Anyway, i think the experience last night was a "once in a lifetime", at least I hope so!

Ill the whole week

Down with a cold for the whole week. Because of that, I haven't been able to sleep well and that's not helping in the recovery.

Reminds me of the days during my 1st trimester, when the body temperature was somewhat weird and I caught a cold easily.

I just keep telling myself that it's the last lap of the pregnancy...PERSEVERE! Now, I hope I will be able to get more rest over the weekend and recover in due time.

Started packing the bag in preparation for delivery anytime :) Yeah! Finally got down to it.

God never fails to comfort me with the assurance of His presence. I somehow felt that the little one wasn't moving as much today as compared to the other days. Every one who's had a child would tell you that it's important to monitor the movements of the child daily. I got a little worried, partly cos I have been ill and I wondered whether that affected her in any way. (Maybe I was just being paranoid) Actually, it's not the first time that such a worry got to me.

Each time I got worried, I would pray, "Father, please cause her to move and kick so as to allay my fears". Today, the prayer was answered almost immediately...after about 10mins of saying that prayer, she started moving quite a bit, then went back to being still again. Phew...:)

It's not the first time God has answered this prayer of mine. But each time, I am just so refreshed by the assurance God gives. He cares, He listens..Every pregnant mother needs such assurances every now and then. A simple assurance that God is in control and watching over both mother and baby.

Once again, I am reminded that this life in me is completely sustained by our loving Father in heaven.

Thank You Lord.

Friend, say a little prayer to our Lord today, and experience His assuring presence. :)