Plush Splash

A week ago I, together with 7 other friends from mother’s group, signed our little offsprings up for a swim class for bubs over 3 months. The class commences next week and we are all simply trembling with childlike excitement.

If you have a bub and are thinking of joining a swimming class or simply a splash in a pool. You could get yourself a free "Huggies Little Swimmers” sample here.

I can’t wait! Wweee!!!

Annie Picture Update

Four months old and standing tall.... aww....

Mid Year Resolutions & a very long post.

You have been warned...

I have never been a fan of making New Year resolutions. Many years of failed attempts has taught me that it's simply not worth the guilt trip. So for the past 3 years, instead of greeting New Years with ambitious unachievable set goals, I reflect back on the year past and congratulate myself for surviving through yet another one unscathed. It has worked well for me thus far,until recently.

Since the start of this year, I have been on maternity leave and am currently mid way through my 9 months break off paid work. It was a shift in gear for me as I got used to being a stay at home mum. It was not easy at first, but I have since adjusted and have been fairly happy. However of late, for some unexplainable reason, I have been bugged with an unshakable feeling of under achievement.

Please don’t get me wrong. I know that motherhood is a huge responsibility that one should be proud of. And I am! It is a tough job. And nurturing a baby is by no means an easy task. However, I just cannot help but feel like I am allowing time to slip me by without me having to account for much besides nursing my baby.

So. Despite my better judgment and conviction of not setting resolutions. I have decided I will do so after all, albeit it being mid year. The objective being that I may come out of these remaining 4 months knowing I have accomplished something, other than playing mum, which again I stress, is a very enriching and important role that I am enjoying tremendously.

Alias, my mid year resolutions.

- Exercise more. At least an hour, twice a week. This could either be a walk round the block, a run in the park or simply a nice stroll to the shops.

- Experimenting more with my camera. I had taken a photography course late 06 and have since been playing around with my SLR. But I haven’t really given “taking pictures” much thought. I would like to compose my shots better. To frame it better. And to pay more attention to lighting, shadows, viewpoints & perspectives, and to incorporate “good lining” into my picture composition.

- Take up a course. You may have read about my decision to do a post grad certificate. I have submitted my application and have since been accepted. The course commences late June. I can’t wait!

- Getting to know my neighborhood better. I know it sounds weird but for some unexplainable reason, we often find ourselves venturing out to other suburbs more so than staying put and discovering our own back yard!?

- Have more fun with bub. This is a given. Annabel is not going to stay a baby for long. I intend to enjoy it as much as I can while it last.

And I too intend to post updates on my new goals from time to time. You know, just to hold myself accountable. *Smiles*

Back to Uni???

For the past few weeks, I had been toying with the idea of going back to uni. Well, not exactly going back to uni, but doing a post-graduate course. In fact, it has been an idea I had been toying with for almost a year now. I felt the need to upgrade myself. To see if my brain still has the capacity to learn, in an academic way.

So one fine day a couple of weeks back, I finally got myself down to campus to speak with a student consultant. We talked through what I wanted (which was to complement my engineering degree with something that would help me move into project or general management), the courses available, the facilities, and study time required. I was a little relief to learn that the consultant herself is also a mum (of 2!) and had done several courses with ease. The course will also allow me to gain credit points for their post-grad certificate, diploma and MBA programs, which is a bonus. The meeting ended with me feeling absolutely encouraged and looking forward to being labeled student again.

So yes, I have filed in my application for "Accounting for Management" and am now awaiting acceptance from the university. I am going to be a broke, however this time round, time poor student again. I simply can’t wait!!

*Glee*

Baby Bonds Competition

Just for fun, I signed Annabel up for 2008 Baby Bonds competition. The competition was held at Bondi Westfield mid last week, from 9am to midday. My folks heard of it and decided to tag along for support. We arrived at around 10am and found a long queue. A very looOOOoooOOoong queue, where the starting point stretches WAY OUTSIDE the mall onto the streets. Australia's first asian bonds baby Annabel was not meant to be.


So off to the beaches we headed. We ate Doyles fish and chips by the foreshore, stroll by Watson Bay and played with seagulls (by pretending to feed them.. hehe). It turned out to be a great day spent out with the parents and the Bonds wannabe baby.


For those who missed out on the event, there is an online competition where you could load your bubbie's picture onto their website. The winner would be the one with the most votes. I just couldn't be bothered. But if you can, click here.

Listerine as a repellent?

I read somewhere that listerine (mixed with some water) could be used as a mosquito repellent!? I have not tried to see if it works as yet (it's almost winter here in Australia and those little buggers have gone into hidding) but I'll be willing to give it a shot come summer.

Has anyone tried and think it works?

My first mother's day

Last Sunday, I celebrated my first mother’s day. The celebration started on Friday actually with the husband bringing me out for chili crab at our favorite local Chinese restaurant. On Saturday, mum surprised me with an extravagant home cooked lobster dinner! She even made me my favorite raw salmon sushi. Yum.

After devouring the delicious meal, the husband and I set off to watch a performance by a national well known cappella quartet “The Idea of North” at a beautiful small theater The Independent in North Sydney.

On Sunday, we attended morning service at Mum & Dad’s church and feasted on a smorgasbord of home cooked foods. Than it was off to our church in the city followed by another feast at Auntie’s. Annabel was a doll all weekend and gave mummy lots of smiles and chuckles. It was an awesome weekend.

How did you celebrate mother’s day?

In my inbox

When the sun goes down...

and night grows cold and still. And the baby tucked in warm and safe.

We play Rummikub!

Welcome to my new life.

Bubbie Update

Annabel has just turned 3 months and she is developing beautifully. She sleeps through nights and is mostly happy playing by herself when put down. Although she would much rather have long chats with her mummy and daddy.

Annabel is a jovial baby. Just shoot a smile and a laugh her way and you will most likely get one back. Put her in front of the mirror and you get several minutes of self chuckling amusement. She is so much fun and is simply adorable.

Her trade mark features are her big eyes and gravity defying hair. I love how that makes her look constantly stunned and in awe. Like she cannot believe how beautiful the world is and how amazing and interesting a fluffy bunny can be.

She is learning fast what a camera is. It is something big and black and gets pointed right at her whenever she does anything remotely cute. And like most things, she finds it fascinating. Mummy is loving it too. She is getting lots of great shots of her little baby.

*sign* If only time would just stand still for a moment...

Epitome of cuteness

I am still recovering from cuteness overdoze!

The sun is out

And I finally get to wear my new shades!

More on Perth

Our visit to Perth this time round was very much different from all other trips we did in the past. Before, our main objectives usually evolves around visiting our favorite hang out spots, short getaways to Margaret River, catch up with friends, pubbing and loads of shopping. Now, with a little baby, it was harder to just up and go. We had to plan our day around the little one and made sure she gets enough of her beauty sleep. So most days were spent around Subi where it was near home. We did however manage to catch up with heaps of friends and of course, ate ourselves silly.

Of the many places we ate out at, one particularly stood out for me. A good mate of ours took us there. To a little quiet town called Mundaring, to this little joint called Little Caesars Pizzeria. Where they are well known for, yes, the name says it all, Pizzas! We had heard about this little 4-booth (mainly take out) restaurant from Gen, who had visited the place just 2 weeks prior and had all good things to say about it. So we were really looking forward to check it out.

We ordered 4 to sample and knew after our first bite what the fuzz was all about. The crust was crisp and light. The sauce tasty yet not over powering. The toppings fresh and well proportioned. I wished they used more cheese though. However, in short, it was altogether a yummy experience. Word of warning if you are thinking of hitting this joint and decide to order the Tabasco. NEVER go for the hottest. We did and boy was it hot. Disturbingly HOT. I'm talking burning lips, scorching tongue HOT. I was literally speechless just after 2 bites. I simply could not finish the darn slice! The boys of course had to come to the rescue and devour the rest. *Sweats*. Personally, I don't think pizzas should ever be THAT hot. It's the Italians for crying out loud, not Mexicans! Anyhow, besides that, I highly recommend at least one visit. The atmosphere was very relaxing and for a small price, you do get a little taste of Italy. Though in a very obscure Aussie town. I love it.




Here's Annabel trying to get her hands on the dessert pizza. Yes. You heard right. They make dessert pizzas. The one in the photo is Eskimo Joe. And it is TO-DIE-FOR. Yum.

The trip of course is never complete without a quick pit stop over at Little Creatures in Freeyo. 4 words. Chilli Mussels with BEER!! Yum.

Rain Rain Rain

Nothing else to do but to sit home and watch the pita peta fall off my roof.

We are back!

O it's good to be home and sleeping on my pillow engulfed bed again. Perth had been absolutely awesome. The weather was great. The catch ups were endearing. A beautiful wedding. The baby was sweet as. And the husband and I have put on at least 3 kgs. Each (yup...). What more can I say.

Here are some of the holi pics.

Annabel boarding the plane for the 1st time!
With the folkies @ Mandurah Poppy & Mama's
Perth city still looking the same. Thank God.

On Holidays

All 3 of us are off to Perth today! It will be Annabel's first flight and first time away from home! The husband is MC to a wedding we are to attend (tomorrow) and we are planning on staying on till the farewells. With the baby. Should be interesting....

See ya when we get back.

Can't wait! Wweeeeee!!

*big wide smile*

Talk about mood swings....

And all in a span of 5 mins. I kid u not....

My baby daughter Annabel

An absence of nearly 7 months makes it hard to fill in the gaps of all the exciting and sometime overwhelming experiences I had the joy of living through past months. One major change in my life is obviously motherhood. A change I believe no one could ever be prepared or be ready for. It is all exhilerating, new and liberating. And also confusing, scary and oh so foreign all at the same time. Even now, I am finding it hard to pen down what I am feeling day by day. It is conflicting, yet enriching. So satisfying, yet overwhelming. All I can say for certain is that I have never felt this blessed.

Truth be told. I did not quite know what to expect. Will it be love at first sight, or will it be, (I later learnt) like so many other first time mums, be a love that grows with time. Annabel is the first person I think of when I wake. The last before I sleep. When she coos and smiles at me, I realise I often tear. I love watching her sleep. I enjoy breathing her in. I had memorized all her cute little not-so-in-sync movements. She has become my angel. My darling. My baby.

Close friends will know that motherhood somewhat terrifies me. I never thought I was maternal. Impatience is perhaps sadly one of my biggest flaw. And the thought of me having to stop or slow my life for this little person dumbfounded me. But looking at her now with her drooling smiles and brilliantly bright eye looks, I never knew why it took us this long. I am absolutely head over heels and couldn't imagine life without my dribbling little wriggling angel.

So there you have it. There really is nothing much to fill in after all. Just silly old me falling in love all over again.

Current lust

Dogstar Origami Jacket

Gimme Gimme Gimme!!

Play Dough Babies

I was doing some much needed house keeping on my laptop when I came across these. I had hosted and been to a few showers but these were the most interesting baby play dough creations I have seen thus far.






























Ok... This is just wrong.....




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The proud offenders.