November 2013

Let's see...

Another month flew by so fast huh?

November is like a recovery month for me after a thunderstorm series of unfortunate events of Freaky October. 

It's like a breather to me. Doing nothing special, doing nothing much. Quite thankfully actually. Just sufficient time for me to regain my composure, organise my life back to normal, and to remind myself the blessings I have and no dwell on what's-not.

Nursed myself to health. Strong as a cow. But unlike the real milking cow. As I mentioned, I was suffocating in the midst of exhaustion, I decided to wean off breastfeeding. I see my Medela dying like a sign. Haha. And now, I feel - free. Well, freer at least. Not attached to the electric point, not having an affair with the pump, no need to worry about where to pump outdoors. More time for myself. More time for touching and playing and donkey laughing and feeling the warmth of Baby Maya when I hug her at night - because I'm much happier and tension-free with what the extra times on hand. Which is wonderful!

I thank whoever the inventor of formula milk because now, my girl can still get her supply of calories, DHA, other essential acids, gangliosides and etc nutrients.

Finally, my transfer letter is out. Thank goodness! About time!!! Came to my knowledge that there was a complain email, addressed to the more superior person in office and then, voila just over the weekend --> we got our letters!! Damn! If I knew earlier that all it takes to get job done is a complain letter, I would have done earlier! But it's okay. The lazy will always be inefficient and they will always remain at the same spot in their lives. So... I'm just thrilled of going back to civilisation! Am gonna take some personal leaves coming Christmas and hope it will be granted! 

Busy introducing some solids to Baby Maya. Teehee~~ happily playing the dedicate housewife past two weeks in the kitchen! LOLOLOLOL! Steaming and blending fresh produce for my princess using my new Phillip Avent Steamer + Blender. How fun! Especially satisfying when I see baby finishing her purée. Yummy yum!!! I now truly understand LeHomemaker's overjoyed face whenever we finished up the food on table. 

Also engrossed in recipe book for baby. Reading parenting booklet. This month quite domestic stuff. Wanting to be mum of the year. Hahahha!!! I'll learn to bake. Properly. Serious. Haha. I envision one day, Baby Maya and I will be baking together in the kitchen. I'll be sifting the flour, rolling the dough and cutting out cookies. She'll be smiling and happily decorating the cupcakes with sprinkles (standing on a small stool) and thinking I'm the best Mummy in the whole wide world!! Hahahah!!! One day. 

We had Dear Hubby for a whole full week this month. For that, we are grateful. Also because of that, I realise how important is the partner in a family unit. It is not impossible to raise a child on your own (well, haven't I been doing?) but it is bloody hell tough! This journey has made me see my real endurance and strength. I'd always thought that the spoilt brat who eats expensive, dresses in brands and uses designers that I used to be (errr... actually, still am, but smaller part of me lol) can never handle this role that life had thrown at me. But I did. And I think I've done it not bad. 

*pat on me-self back*

Here, I salute all single parents out there. You guys all are amazing!!! *salute* 

Seriously time flies. Even my LeSista is having her ROM coming month.

My sexy dress - checked.

Baby's cute dress - checked.

Baby's second (in case) frilly dress - checked. 

My heels - checked.

Pedicure - checked.

Home facial and hair treatment - checked.

Make up and perfume - checked.

Sony camera - charged and checked.

ROM Gift - pending and secret. 

Can't wait!!! Check it out in my next month's post!

Pampered for life! ❤

One fine day in the previous month, I overheard Dear Hubby talking to Baby Maya....

"Baby.. Come daddy carry.. Daddy carry you until you big big girl also no problem! Daddy sayang sayang you oh!" 

Smiling to myself, I couldn't help but wonder... if it was a baby boy, I doubt Dear Hubby would fawn or fuss or manja gedik-gedik so excessively much. 0_o Haha! 

In Chinese society, it is the guy who bears the surname of the family and only their generation offsprings' names can be written in the family's ancestral book. Giving birth to a baby boy brings such pride and 'face' to the family. Looking at China's one-child family law and the outrageous number of abandoned baby girls, you know what I mean. 

I used to think that being a guy is so much easier than a girl. First of the list, being a guy means no embarrassing period stain on the skirts. No need to bring extra pads for outings. No need panty liners. No need to always keep a pack of tissue in bag for 'emergency'. No need to worry about dirty toilet seats in public toilets. No need to spend precious time searching for the perfect bra. No need to fight the urge to adjust (embarrassedly) the underwire bra in public. No need to worry about leaking milk or stretch marks or Kegel's....

Guys.. Well, guys & their sticks and can go around screwing people. They can just wiggle out their sticks and pee anywhere. In my mind --> they can own an attitude and talk non-sensible bull and curse and people will only shrugged. They can stay out late at night and proudly be spotted at clubs and pubs and no one will raise a brow. They can wear their jeans hanging from their asses and people will simply say, "Aiyah, that's a fashion... Fashion...."

I used to wear straps & pants in my teenage years and my neighbours and relatives almost boggled their eyes out 0_o. Fashion also le.. *kolot*

Guys... They seem like they are able to do anything as they wish and get away with it. They seem to lead a MORE carefree life. Perhaps, that that was merely their attitude towards life that is different from us ladies. After years of critical observation and scrutiny, we are erm.. what you can describe as more uptight and rigid (plainly known as sensitive 'small-gas 'control freak) which also make lady bosses MORE hormonal and hell to work with. @_@ But, I'm not gonna touch on that topic today. 

Yes I realise I'm a female too. -_-

I used to want to be reborned as a guy. 

I used to think that... until now.

They say man is the head of the family (no pun intended). I say that's true. 

And I say woman is the neck of the family.

❤ So... if the neck turns to right, the head follows. Haha. Get it? Agree? ❤

In the front, they seem to be making all the major decisions, but it is also us, the women, who silently help to manage and take care of the household matters, sharing the responsibilities. Though we seem like the weaker gender, but only God knows our true strengths. Though we are the smaller size gender, but we can endure much bigger and stronger things than ourselves - childbirth, motherhood and the ability to love unconditionally.

If I can choose... If I can choose, in my next human life, I would choose to be woman 👠💄💅👛👗🙋 again. No doubt. 

Apart from that, being a woman also means pampering and ❤ loving for life, by man, indefinitely. 

I'm blessed to have great men in my life who love and love to pamper me.

When I was younger, I liked to pretend to be sleeping on the sofa so that daddy aka LeBoss would carried me to my bed at night after his night tuitions *teehee*. I love to read. Reading is my all-time favourite past time. Lots and lots of story books (adventures, girly fairy tales, detectives - Sweet Valley whole collection, Lima Sekawan collection, Enid Blyton, etc etc) piled up in my childhood room, all were bought by LeBoss's hard-earned $$$. When I knew about how he (painstakingly) bought the beautiful black piano for me, it brought tears to my eyes and made me treasure it more. It was this same man who gave me away at my wedding. *sniffles*

When I got older, then-boyfriend-turned-fiancée took over the role of protecting and loving me. I must admit, I was spoiled unsparingly! Haha! Showered with generous gifts and expensive dinners, lavished with extravagant trips, fulfilling backpacking adventures across Europe... I am treated with love and respect. How could I not married this gentleman who never says No to me, who loves me more than anything in this world? *swooning* ❤❤❤

And when I'm old, aged (and Botox-loaded) if we are blessed to have a son, then him and/or my future son-in-law, would take over that responsibility to take care of me in my old days, in a luxurious beautiful retirement village (I sure do hope we have such 'homes' by the time I'm old). I'd stay there (with my retirement funds) with Dear Hubby (if he is still around lol) and they'd come visit us, with our grandchildren and bring us a good bottle of red wine. And we'd all be sprawled across the freshly-lawned garden and spend a good evening chatting and laughing and clinking glasses at the 'good old times'. All while  my grandchildren wonder how I looked 40years old!! (hahahha.... Super perasan!!!). 

And the rest of my life..... is and will be taken care of....

It is as if by the law of life, we are bound to be pampered and taken care of. ❤❤❤

I Say He Says - Like the annoying patient's relative.

I was coaxing Baby Maya to sleep last night. Smiling and cooing her on the bed, then slightly I pushed her head down to the bed to indicate sleeping. Of course, her head bounced back straight up as she still wanted to play turning and rolling. 

And then this father of hers....

Dear Hubby (protectively carry her up): Eh eh!!! Why so ganas you push her head!!!

Me (confused): No la.. I just gently push down nia... 

Dear Hubby: Aiyoh.. She pain pain le (babytalking has already seeped into most of our adult talk lol). 

Me: Where got. No le. Very gentle only. 

Dear Hubby (not convinced): You so ganas. Later you hurt her.

Me (feeling very the defensive and offended): Eh!!! You all ah... You all talk as though I will intentionally hurt my little girl ah.... I never ganas her la... Of all people, you wanna be overprotective over the mother (I don't know if you understand me but Dear Hubby did lol). I ❤ her like crazy, I would never do anything purposely to hurt or cause her pain. Tell me this cannot do, that cannot eat, don't force this, why you feed that, etc.... I'm a new mum, I might not know alot of things about parenting and I still need to learn but I will NEVER deliberately do things to harm my girl. I took care of her all these months, got problem meh? (See she so healthy and naughty and everything cute!!!)

You all are like those patient's relatives, who you never saw before in the ward and suddenly appeared on the day patient was planned for a major surgery, and demanded explanation to why was the patient even going into surgery (which was already meticulously discussed with patient by specialists, decided for, arranged and painstakingly prepped pre-operatively by you) long before those 'concerned' relatives came into picture. The same type of relatives who asked rudely if you are absolutely 100% sure the patient can go home, and threatened to sue if we wrongfully discharged the patient. Those relatives who were never there to care for the patient but demanded an attendance letter from us to show their boss, on the day of discharge (that was usually the first time we ever saw them). Ironically those well-meaning (?) people are the more educated and richer relatives. They are not wrong doing that, but freaking annoying la!!! Like you now..!!!

Dear Hubby (looking amused): Wah! So elaborate... How long have you been thinking about that?

Me (feeling paiseh): Quite some time....

Dear Hubby: So, which one is you in that picture?

Me: The poor kind innocent and humble relative who stood by the patient all the while. 

Dear Hubby: Innocent and humble? (throwing a loud laugh)

Me: Oh shut up!!! (joining the laughter)

Cheh. Haha. 

Keboringan - Part 2

A kind friend reminded me - must minus storage bottles and whatever-else-not that I've bought for the breastfeeding purposes.

So, continue from previous post.

Cost of formula milk - Cost of 2 breast pumps I've bought = RM1400 saved

Since I'm still in the mood, I'll refine my calculations. Haha. 

(I just approximate the prices as I have actually forgotten how much exactly I bought them for. FYI, buying Avent stuff in Singapore is wayyyy cheaper than in Malaysia, even after the currency exchange. So, any one of you new mummies can go shop there in Singapore)

Bumblebee storage bottles RM35

Autumnz storage bags RM12

Autumnz reusable ice packs RM23

Avent storage bag RM60

Avent breast milk containers RM60

Breast pads (disposable) FREE from a soon-to-be relative 

Breast pads (washable) FREE courtesy from Le Dasao

Did not include milk bottles because, well, formula milking needs the same ones too. Did not include Allerhand diaper bag. Did not include warmer as I would eventually buy that too when starting solids. 

RM1400 - RM190 = RM1210

Still a whopping RM1200! Those you crazy mums who breastfeed until 1-2yo, have saved nearly RM2.5k I supposed.

Though I might have 'saved', but cannot really 'see' the cash. Get what I mean?

Anything for you little princess. Anything!

Anyhow, me being me. Time to buy a new set of SKII since it's the end of the year already, with the money I supposedly have saved. Haha. What a twisted excuse. Whatever.

Keboringan

Boring boring...

Doing nothing exhilarating these days..

Moping around the house, mad at the slow service of JKNS. 

Called few times - voicemails. 

No sense of responsibility. At least inform us the update of our transfer placement ma. If any of us do thing the speed they are treating us, it will long be printed in bold in the newspaper first page. -_- 

Irony that these people are the ones 'managing' us. 

My life is so mundane nowadays that I resorted to calculating how much I have saved by breastfeeding so far. 

Let's see. 

Example S26 formula milk. 

1 bottle of formula milk = 600g

1scoop = 8.3g

So 1 refill pack = 72scoops

A 6mo baby girl like Baby Maya approximately needs 4300 scoops of milk for total of 1726 times of feeding.

She would have needed total of 60 bottles of S26 by now. Eh correct or not my calculations. Seems outrageous alot!

I'm taking the refill pack price RM60 (cheaper) instead of the can RM80-90.

RM60 x 60 = RM3600 

Minus breast pump Medela RM1600 + Avent pump RM600.

I have saved RM1400. 

Already.

Wow. 6 months only. 

Okay. Enough maths for this year.

Back to entertaining my princess who is busy playing & sucking her own toes.

So cute right. My sweetheart. I can stare at her whole day and everyday. 

I don't hate food. -__-

I don't hate food. Full stop.

-__-

Yea I know I'm back to my prepregnant weight (and lesser) in, like, no time. 

Bravo *clap clap*

Just because you are fat and eat like a pig, doesn't mean that everyone else who is not fat, hates food. 

Perhaps if you eat healthier, you can lose the weight too. -_-

Live to eat. Or eat to live. Up to you.

How I lose my baby fats so fast:

1) Nursing. Breastfeeding. It's awesome. Not only does the bonding with baby make you feel even more wonderful, it also helps you burn an extra 500 calories a day. 

Let me help you calculate:

Each oz of breastmilk you produce = 20 calories burned

1oz = 30ml

(Feels like I'm teaching maths class. Haha)

5-6oz per session, 5 EBM sessions a day 

= 500-600 calories burned

= a good 6-8km run 

= one larger-than-life size Starbucks chocolate chip muffin

= one gourmet turkey sandwich, extra cheese

This is how I can eat all I want and still shed the extra baby fats. Excellent right. 

So if you are able to produce more than what I do a day, be it double or triple that... well, that means while you are stuffing up on nasi lemak with ayam masak merah or dining a cheesy pasta carbonara or indulging that red velvet slice of cake, you are ACTUALLY burning calories!!! Producing breast milk, that is.

How twisted is that!!! Wtf right.

2) Take care of your baby on your own. Try that. No help. Just you. On top of that, complete your household chores on your own and run errrands also. On your own. The long-lasting exhaustion puts any body into starvation mode all day. It's like intensive gym session. All day long. So, try cleaning and brushing and vacuuming and scrubbing and ironing and moving around the house and maybe you will lose some of your stubborn fats. 

I tengah bersemangat packing and boxing my stuff back in batches. No time no time. So with all the carryings, I'm burning even more calories. I'm always hungry, really. 

*not trying to brag*

*maybe just a little*

3) I stay on the fifth floor in the hospital quarters. Yes. Fifth floor, no lift. The exercise I do every morning, afternoon and evening - carrying Baby Maya up&down and her bags and my own work bag and pump bag. I literally stiffle a cry if I forget anything because I have to climb all the way up again, with Baby Maya as I can't leave her alone in the car. I would think twice coming down if it is just throwing the garbage or buying dinner. 

p/s: Baby Maya is not light now ok.

See her Michelin muscles! LOLOLOL!

"I do exercise too!"

"Hey...don't go telling the world that I'm gaining!"

"Ya, I know. Time for shopping, mummy. This PJ is small!"

"Mum, don't take so close-up! You are like blowing up my face!"

"Bluekbluek! I'm chubby and I'm cute!"

Mummy ❤ you!!! *bearhugs*

I despise the stairs but at the same time, I'm loving my thighs. And rock ass. Pretty Awesome. 

4) I eat in moderation. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. You eat junk, you become garbage. You eat fat, you become fat la. And because Baby Maya 'eats' whatever I eat, I don't eat junk alot. I do indulge (I AM still the chocolate monster), but not everyday.

5) Opt for a healthier choice. Vege vege vege. Can't believe it took a long 24years to convince me that vege is actually crunchily tasty. Credits to Miss Sunshine and her rice-cooker cooked cabbage+carrot+onion. Drink plenty of water and detoxify. Choose iced honey lemon or warm lime tea instead of empty calory high sugar iced bandung or iced milo dinasour. I eat fish alot. 2-3times a week. For the DHA or EFA or whatever "brain food" I'm hoping to supply Baby Maya. Who doesn't know I am a sucker for salmon sashimi and sushi? LOL!

Just like yesterday: Lunch with sweet & sour fish and stirfry baby kailan with iced lemon tea.

Spicy black sauce fish courtesy of Nanny for dinner. Looks can be deceiving because this is freaking mind-blowing yummy!!!

I used to crash diet during my teenage years but my weight always bounced back then. That wasn't healthy. I realised, somehow I have developed higher metabolism since Cold Moscow. Lucky me. Ever since then, I don't gain weight fast. Perhaps that gruesome -20 and -30 degree winter trained and whipped me into shape. If I decided I want to lose weight, skipping one or two meals will do marvelous for me. It has become easier for me. No, not thyroid. 

And this is a testimony to all women out there --> If you are one of those (like me previously) who is afraid of pregnancy because you might 'lose' your figure, well, worry not!!!! You can lose the baby fats. Heck! Not just preggie fats, it is any fatty fats, if you put your mind to it. I've gained 15kg but lost more than that. 

*lalalalallala*

Gambateh!!!

I don't particularly love to eat. It is not a hobby to me. -_-

I eat when I'm hungry. I eat when I desire to. I eat as I wish when I want/need to. I don't gobble. 

And I certainly don't hate food. Wtf.