Saturday, January 27, 2007

First Month Review

Not quite first month. I started this entry at the end of January and look which month we are in now. If I'm diligent enough, I'm sure I'll finish this before the year is up.


So far, I think, housewife-ship agrees with me. If only my immune system shares my view. I've been having all sorts of minor ailments these past few weeks. I don't know whether it's simply about adjusting to the new lifestyle. Hee Yee once told me that when a person's stress level goes down, so does the immunity level. Life has been too relaxed, perhaps?


Not in the first four weeks. The first four weeks of being a stay-at-home-mother (SAHM) was a huge shock. I was needed all the time by my one and only charge leaving me with absolutely no time for myself. I had no time to prepare my meals. I could only eat when she finally took her naps. Making her take her naps was another big struggle. I could spend up to an hour nursing her, patting her, rocking her gently and she would sleep for all of seven minutes. I had to pee, poo and bathe with an audience. I would make frequent calls to my husband, my mother and my sister and whine endlessly with The Little Girl crying and screaming in the background.


But then, even The Little Girl got tired of testing her mother.


So, by the end of January, things were no longer going at a frenetic pace.


A pattern soon emerged. (Sound effect: a collective sigh)


And I also became a biiiiiit smarter at managing my time.


The Little Girl will wake up around 7 to say goodbye to her father. After the goodbyes (during which time I'll ask The Husband, "Are you taking her to work?"), we'll have breakfast and when she's all messed up, a bath. I'll then read the papers while she tears up the classified ads section. After some playing, it'll soon be time for her morning nap. I'll sleep with her for about half an hour or so then I'll tip-toe out of the room and do some chores - whichever chores that cannot be done when she's awake. After that, for The Little Girl, it will be play, lunch, play, nap, another bath, play, father comes home! Yippppeeeeeee! The Husband will pry her off my legs and I can prepare dinner while he amuses The Little Girl.


...


Yes, it is pretty repetitive and if you are one who gets easily bored and wants instant rewards, this may not be for you. Actually, I was (am?) like that.


This motherhood journey is a long road and it does not come with a street directory. I have an idea where I want the road to lead to and I can only pray that I'm always doing the best I can. Amin.


(I don't know why I get so reflective towards the end of this entry. Must be the effects of my very reflective former workplace.)

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Before I Forget

I'm gonna forget that I have this blog soon enough.

I like that this blog is quiet and hidden from view. The Husband doesn't look at this and Dianah must have ben bored stiff the one time she saw this. Oh wait. I told Yati about this but I think she has forgotten. Teeheee!

Just to update my loyal readers (ahem - which totals to about z-e-r-o), I am not pregnant. Irene told me that I should try for a baby now cos any later, Huda will start feeling jealous of Baby #2. But, I think, I'll have to risk that and wait a while more.

Once upon a time, I wanted 4 kids. But, after my first pregnancy, I think, I gotta think some more. If my second pregnancy is anything like the first and if Baby #2 must also spend time at NICU/SCN, I think Baby #2 will be the last baby for me. Very sad. I grew up in a huge family and I've always wanted many children too. But, then again, accidents do happen and since termination is not an option, we'll leave it to Allah.

---

On a totally, totally different note, The Husband and I went to HDB last Saturday and in a very simple process, we've paid up our housing loan!! Wooohoooo!! Alhamdulillah! No more loans, baby. Actually, that's the only loan we have. If I do get a car (if I ever get round to getting that licence), I'll pay up in full. I would only want to spend a maximum of, say, $25 000 on the car so I'll need to get something that has been loved before. I dunno. When the time comes, I think, my heart will ache at the thought of spending so much of my reserves, I'll end up tolerating taxi drivers for a while more.

Lazy Bum

This is why I have yet to get that driving licence.


Two whole weeks ago, I was chatting with a friend who, like me, also donated good money to BBDC. Paid for the course but never turned up. So, just as it was my resolution in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, I also intend to get that licence by end of this year.


As I am the one who's free-er, I have volunteered to go to BBDC (yet again) and sign up for the theory test. (No more signing up for lessons. We'll just go and sit for the test.)


Two weeks have passed and my very wobbly bottoms are still here and have not moved an inch closer to Bukit Batok.


Pray tell, when will I summon the strength to go to Bukit Batok?

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Peek-A-Boo




We've been playing peek-a-boo (we call it baaa-chak in Malay) with her and suddenly, last night, she picked up a stray pink jacket and used it to play peek-a-boo with us!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Resolutions

I have many, many resolutions for 2007. As always.


Most of them are recycled from previous years.


But, there's one new thing on the list:


I will avoid trans fat.


That means, the margarine in the fridge will be the last tub of margarine ever to set foot in my house. It'll be butter from now on. Oooh yeah. Rich, creamy butter. Yumm. No more biscuits with creamy filling. That's no big deal. Chocolates? Chocolate chip cookies? Fast food? Gaaah! This is gonna be so tough! This will require a complete lifestyle change!


(Then again, should I not succeed this time round, there's always 2008.)