I just bought this baby swim float from SMH forum after Evon's recommendation. My baby really enjoys her bathing and swimming sessions at BabySpa. She sleeps very well after 20 minutes of swimming for almost the entire day.

2nd batch of Osh Kosh/Carter loots

2nd batch of Osh Kosh and Carter's spree I did for Baby. These are all wearable from 9 months - 2 years old. Mommy really kiasu hor. Baby is not even out yet and I've bought so many clothes already.

Baby organiser

Thanks to Serene, my colleague from HR Dept. She gave me a baby organiser. It's a nice and simple booklet to jot down some of the milestones of baby's growth and development. It also has a weekly page for me to input baby's feedings, diaper change routine etc. I will make full use of this booklet.

Crying Baby: Swaddling and Baby White Noise

I did some research and reading on the topic and thought i'll jot down here, in case I forget next time.

What to do when baby cries:

1. check if baby is hungry

2. check if diaper is soiled and needs to be changed

3. burp the baby

4. check ventilation of room and baby's clothing; if too hot or cold

5. check if baby is bored/needs attention (try talking, playing, singing)

6. swaddle baby and plays the white noise CD / mozart music

7. carry and cuddle baby

8. check if baby needs a bath, followed by massage

9. check if baby is not feeling well (fever/cold)

10. at the last resort, give pacifier

Thanks to a friend in SMH facebook who shared about this link - http://www.happiestbaby.com

I learnt something new about swaddling - that it keeps baby stay calmer and sleep longer when wrapped with the arms down at the sides. It's recommended to swaddle baby during the sleep period only (nighttime or nap time). Snug swaddling also reduces a baby’s mobility and may help keep babies from wiggling into a dangerous situation. It's okay to swaddle baby until they are 5-6 months old.

I also learnt about baby's first white noise. These are sounds that helps to calm crying or fussy babies, ease colic or sooth baby to sleep through the night.

More about baby white noise - http://www.babywhitenoise.com/babywhitenoise_faq.html

I was quite enthusiastic. I called up Borders Wheelock Place and check if they carry The Happiest Baby book/dvd/cd. If they have, I'm going to buy tonight after work. Unfortunately, this book is out of stock and they are not sure whether they'll be ordering and if so, when it will be in stock.

So within minutes, I login to my Vpost and placed an order with Amazon.com! I'll also buy the swaddle blanket later at Spring Maternity. (organic Swaddleme $58, normal ones $30+)

Things to buy for baby

1. Steriliser - done
2. Warmer -done: pass down from Joanna
3. Baby Bottles - done: I 've got 3 and medela cup feeder too.
4. Bottle teats - done
5. Breast Pads - I've got both disposable and washable
   
6. Breast Milk Storage - I've got disposable cups instead
7. Standby milk powder for 0-6 months infant- done
8. Cloth Diapers - done
9. Normal Diapers- done: Huggies newborn and Huggies S size
10. Liners for Diapers- done
11. Waterproof mat - done
12. Alcohol swaps - done
13. Sterilising tablets - done
14. Gripe water
15. Ru Yi Oil - done
16. Baby bathtub - done and also free one from hospital
17. Baby Towel - done
18. Baby Wipes - done
19. Small Face towel - done
20. Square Cotton Pads - done
    
21. Receiving blanket - done
22. Baby Powder - done
23. Baby powder holder - done
24. Baby Oil - done
25. Baby Lotion - done
26. Diaper Cream - done
27. Baby Detergent - done
28. Baby Softener - done
29. Pacifier (optional) - done
30. Baby Bathgel - done
31. Baby Towels - done
32. Nursing Cover - done: gift from Shufen
33. Baby Sling (cloth) - done
34. Baby Carrier - done
35. Baby Stroller - done
36. Baby Cot - done: passdown from Joanna
37. Baby Cot Quilt Set - done
38. Taggies - done
39. Breastfeeding pillow - done
40. Breastpump - done
41. New Breastpump parts - done
42. Baby clothes - done
43. Baby mittons - done
44. Infant Car Seat - done $199 from Maxi Cosi Dori
45. Baby rocker - done: passdown from Looying
46. Toyogo drawer - done (5 tier drawer with wheels $49.95)
47. Swaddleme blanket - done
48. Braun ThermoScan 5 - done from spree 
49. Osh Kosh and Carter's baby clothes - done

Baby bibs

Lately I have been thinking of baby alot. I wonder why is it I have so much love for an unborn human being. I really have no idea why. But she is my pride, hope and joy. Whenever I am feeling down, I just want to talk to her, sing to her and when she responds to me by kicking or punching me, I smile. I feel that baby knows what I'm feeling. This is so amazing. No words can describe what I feel.

There had been a few occasions that I wanted to go out and get food for myself but ended up buying stuff for baby. I just can't resist buying. They are so cute. I have lots of passdown bibs from Joanna but I still bought these.

Baby... mama loves you and hopes to give you my best.

I went Mothercare Sale (because I have some Capitaland vouchers) and got alot of rompers and 1 swim suit for baby. Thanks Felicia for letting me ride on her member discount. Some of the rompers are repeated though. How I wish I can swap with someone else :)

My MIL and FIL's condition

My parents just returned from HK and Guangzhou. They've been away for about 10 days. Mom bought lots of things for baby in Guangzhou. Dad told me that she can't stop buying. See the pic? Thanks mom and dad.

Things at home have not been pleasant (I'm staying with my in-laws FYI). FIL is disorientated after his discharge from the hospital and he will be undergoing therapy to treat his mild stroke. Hopefully he can get well again. He has been very worried for the dementia MIL. That day MIL was at the hospital. Both of them were emotional and FIL cried in front of us.

I feel quite helpless during this time that I can't do much at home. I can't really help with housework like mopping the floor or washing the toilets. I also have to work and can't be staying at home to watch over them. Hubby is very stressed out both at work and at home. I've never seen him that stressed before. The tension at home seems to be building up everyday. Hubby and I had a tiff over a discussion and I apologised with tears in my eyes saying that I'm sorry for being pregnant now.

I have also asked the maid to do lesser household chores eg mopping the floor every 2 days instead of everyday, just so that she can keep a lookout for both the folks. I think I will also do my own laundry (+ Hubby's) so that I can help out as best as I can (as long as I'm not carrying heavy stuff).

The atmosphere at home is pretty negative. I don't know what else to do except to pray, hoping that things will get better.



This morning when I walked to the mrt, I felt a sharp pain at my right abdomen. It hurts even when I'm standing. I only feel better if I'm sitting down but as usual, no one gives up seat at public transport anymore. Out of my 26 weeks of pregnancy, I was offered a seat twice. The rest of the time, I stand all the way to work and from work. (I work everyday fr Mon - Fri) Anyway, I am not sure if it's baby pressing against my sides. There are a few occasions that I felt the sharp pain but I always endure it away.

Baby is most active at night about 8 pm onwards. At times when I sleep, she kicks me. Perhaps to remind me to wake up and pee. She is sometimes active in the day but I probably notice her movements lesser because I'm occupied at work.

This is my going 26 weeks tummy. 

Belly button looks like almost gonna pop out.

Blessings from Jesslyn

It was nice catching up over dinner with Jesslyn. I gave her her belated bday present and we chit chat alot. I was very surprised that she gave baby this present on top of her used maternity clothes for me. Hope to meet her again before I deliver.

This is for baby when she is 6 months old.

Thanks Jess. Very sweet of you :)

Every 3 hours

This week, I seemed to be waking up every 3 hours automatically when I sleep at night. I read from the forums that it's the body trying to adjust to the mummy system. So that next time every 3 hours you'll also wake up and breastfeed your baby. Cool eh! But isn't my body abit too early for that adjustment?

Hubby said my cup size grew abit. I thought so too. It's about half a cup bigger. I wonder what is the right increase? The anti-infection pills that Dr Chen gave me really makes me wanna puke. I'm supposed to take two pills daily but I can only take 1. I supplement it with eating yogurt or drinking yogurt shake everyday. It's very xinku eating this pill.

Mom and Dad will be back from their China trip tonight. Mom smsed me that all they bought are baby's clothing and stuff as they didn't have much time to shop. See the new baby stuffs that they bought :))

We're going to Batam tomorrow to celebrate Hubby's birthday. Time for some relaxation.

Mothercare Sale

Shufen told me that there's a Mothercare sale at Harbourfront Center and I went to check it out on Sunday evening with Hubby (after going Turf City to check out cars).

When we first enter, I was already quite overwhelmed by so many things. We don't know where to start looking. Then we went straight to the stroller section. There are too many to choose from and we don't know anything. The staff were also busy with customers. For a moment, we looked as if we don't belong there.

Hubby was very 'hardworking'. He brought those strollers up and down the rack, open and close them, discover the mechanics and tried to push around. Then when it started to get crowded, we went to the baby carrier section to try out the carrier ourselves. We also looked at baby car seats but there was nobody to attend to us. We kept going to these 3 sections round and round.

Eventually, we bought a Baby Bjorn Carrier at $169 (original price was $250), a steam sterilizer at $39 (original price was $79) and a Quinny Buzz stroller at $838 (original price was $1189).

I'm glad that Hubby is so generous when it comes to buying things for the baby. It's a $800+ stroller but he still decided to get it. There were other economical brands like Combi and Capella but we didn't even look at them at all.

We were so engrossed in shopping that we forgot about dinner until I suddenly felt soooo hungry. Must be the baby reminding me to have some food. So we went to the food court and had our quick dinner before heading home.

I had some brown spotting last night. I guess it must be from the massive walking the entire day. I need to take more rest today.