Pregnancy Diary: Oh My Goodness, I'm in my 3rd Trimester!

So, I haven't updated for a while now, but the second trimester whizzed by so quickly even before I could say yay, the morning sickness is all gone! Because it hasn't really...

It's been rather smooth sailing I should say, the second trimester. I spent most of it in Malaysia, eating off roadside stalls, cooling down with fresh coconut juice and just being spoilt silly at my parents' home. The highlight was definitely when I jiggled my belly down the aisle, doing a reenactment of the JK Wedding dance for my brother's wedding, with relatives watching in sheer horror, and also singing with a REAL band feeling like a rock star! Haha... Oh, I have yet to blog about the wedding haven't I?

People asked me if it felt different this time. Oh yes, it sure did! People asked if I knew the sex of the baby. Oh yes, I sure do! Well, 99% sure anyways. Unless there's a genitalia deformity (eepps!) that we don't know about or a baby boy with a really really small penis (eeeeppss!!!!). So yeah, it's a girl! :)

You know, how some people say the shape of the belly can predict the sex of the baby? I have been skeptical up until now. With the two boys, my pointy belly screams look at moi, I could have this baby anytime now even in my second trimester! This one, everything seems to be growing sideways. I mean everything! My tuck shop lady arms flap in the wind as I yank Lucas out of the car, to the gigantor of an impression on the couch left on by my hips, my belly bump flattens out sideways and for a while, no one could guess I was pregnant! There were polite conversations whether or not I still went to the gym, or you know, when are you having baby number three?.... and then, oh, you're pregnant! Hah... that explains it! Teehee.... Ah well, as long as baby is healthy (We'll talk about my plastic surgery funds later).

Anyways, I'll leave you with a picture of some of the lovely ladies in my family. Yep, I had to pick a photo where all the bits of me are "hidden"!

Front row: (cousins) Ashleigh, Amanda, Allison, Abigail.

2nd row: Natalie (niece), me, Ching Mei (my new sister) :), Phaik Gunn, Phaik Wah (aunts), paternal Grandmother.

Back row: Grace (aunt), Cindy, May (sister in law).

To read my pregnancy diary, click here.

Holiday Diary: Playing Dress-Ups

A few days before the wedding, I dressed the boys up in their tuxedos just to make sure they still fit. They were bought at the start of 2009 for the first of many weddings we attended during the year. Their pants needed to be lengthened, the shirt a little bit short, but overall they still fit quite nicely.

The boys had brand new bow ties for this special occasion, in different shades of purple.

Tuxedos by Precious Children's Boutique, LG20K, Subang Parade.

Bow Ties by DOMII Boutique : Lot 172B First Floor, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara.

Lachie's Pyjama Pants by Cotton On Kids.

Lucas' Pants by MamyPoko.

Holiday Diary: Penang

A day after my brother's wedding, we took a road trip up north to Penang Island, a 4 hour drive on the north-south peninsula highway from our place in Kota Kemuning.

I've joked with the newlyweds that they need not take us all on their honeymoon with them, but since 30 plus other family members were tagging along, we went along for the ride! Phew! What a convoy we were. We rented out 5 units of 3 bedroom serviced apartments. Don't ask me how many of us there were, because I've lost count on the 3rd attempt.

It was a trip purely for eating. And I must say we've eaten so much for the 3 days we were there, that I don't really know where to begin. Somehow, the thought of Malaysia's finest hawker food has just lost it's appeal to me from this massive overdose. But this is how it looked like when we ate, a long line of makeshift tables and aluminium stools. There would be at least 8 tables, if not more.



Everyone will then begin their ordering of local delicacies from the different stalls. What we ate most (from a dodgy memory) was: Char Koay Teow, Curry Mee, Hokkien Mee, Assam Laksa, Popiah, Koay Teow Th'ng, Tok Tok Mee, the usual favourites and plus much much more.

Mr. Independent (Lucas) was being a little difficult, as usual, wanting to feed himself with his bare hands. Picture this: a roadside stall, lets say a not very clean table, a wonky stool (there weren't any high chairs), slurpy delicious noodles, dirty fingers that could've been on anything (eeps!) and a very hungry tummy. A recipe for disaster! There were noodles flying everywhere! Dear daddy was just about to have a fit... All I could say is that, he must have a tummy made of steel!

And guess who came home with a sore tummy? (Daddy!)

Summer Garden

Zucchinis have got to be one of the most hardy plants, ever. Just before we left for Malaysia 6 weeks ago, I planted some zucchini seedlings in my vege patch, leaving it all to mother nature. Knowing that the temperature here in Melbourne had soared beyond 40, and if not in the high 30's, I wasn't hopeful that we would reap anything at all from the plants. In fact, I was half expecting to come home to a backyard of dried up and toasted plants and weeds!



The harvest wasn't bountiful, there were three or four odd shaped zucchinis and plenty of flowers. But enough for a meal or three (and maybe more). Skin off as they were a bit tough from lack of water.

Here, I chopped them into circles and threw them into chicken broth, to serve with noodles and shredded chicken meat.



For a little good measure, the boys and I planted a cherry tomato plant, hoping that it's not too late for the season.



And a strawberry bush. We found these at our local nursery for $2.95 each. Bargain!

We're Back!

Hello! Did you miss us? We're back from a very long, and well deserved break. 6 weeks went passed in a blink of an eye! Well, maybe not for some. But yeah, we're now back in the comfort of our home and enjoying the things we loved and missed. Here's us with a packed picnic lunch at Carribean Gardens, while mummy shopped for groceries.



And here's what we had for lunch THREE days in a row now: Ham, cheese and cucumber sandwich. Mmmm.... we could still have these for another three days!



And mom made the bestest of all, some good ol' spaghetti bolognaise, and guess who licked the bowl clean again?



It is these simple pleasures that we missed. And of course we missed you too!

Over the holidays, I noticed some new readers that popped by. Hello there and welcome to our humble blog. Sorry if you've felt a little neglected, but I promise my posts will be popping up soon. To everyone else, welcome back!



Feels good to be back...YEAH!

The Year That Was 2009

JANUARY
In January 2009, I made some new years resolution. Looking back in the past year, I may have achieved EVERYTHING pertaining to motherhood, but nothing else apart from that matter. Nevertheless, it has been a fruitful and rewarding year. I have enjoyed my time tremendously and count all my blessings that I could spend every waking hour with my boys, watching them grow and not missing out on anything. First steps. First words. First puzzle completed on their own. First everything.

My brother Kelvin and his then girlfriend visited us. They went to Tasmania and he romantically proposed to her, caught on camera! We love you both. Kisses for you, kisses for you!

I won my first ever blogging competition, and won myself a mini Dell Inspiron laptop, one I'm using to blog now whenever I'm away from home.

My husband took me on a date with Brian MacFadden Delta Goodrem.

FEBRUARY
We experienced one of the darkest days here in Victoria. Temperatures were soaring above 40 degrees celcius, bushes were burnt down to the ground, people perished along with their loved ones, hectares of bushland and properties destroyed. It was The Black Saturday.

Gary and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary and my parents celebrated their 35th year in marriage.

MARCH
We celebrated Guaran (Gary's younger brother) and Chai's wedding, in Melbourne and in Malaysia.We grew a giant squash in our back garden.

APRIL
It was a month of birthdays and birthday parties.

Lachlan turned three. He started 3 year old kindy. We had an arrrrrr me hearties pirate party complete with a pirate ship birthday cake.

I celebrated my 30th birthday and gave myself the best present ever, perfect vision.

MAY

My darling Lucas turned ONE! Be charmed again by his smile, read this post here.

JUNE
Mom and Dad visited Melbourne from Malaysia, and mom spoilt us by making her famous Hokkien (Prawn) Noodles.

This is a typical Thursday for us in June 2009.

JULY
Lachlan fell asleep while eating pizza, caught on camera and made headlines on YouTube. People are still talking about it up till today. Laugh again, watch the video again here.

My brother Mark and his family moved into a new home in Melbourne.

I ponder about whether or not there's a medical career left for me.

AUGUST
It was a month of baking, cooking, trying out new recipes, eating, sharing, merry-making etc. Here are some of them:

Tricolour Marble Cake Lemon Meringue Pie Golden Syrup Scones Pear Crumble Cake Spicy Kerabu Salad Almond Biscotti

SEPTEMBER
It was footy fever all over again, with the Geelong Cats in the grand final in AFL, going against St. Kilda. We came home winners! Go Catters!!

We hosted a Father's Day lunch, with 6 daddies and daddy-to-be's. It was all about food.

I found out I was pregnant, all over again for the third time!

OCTOBER
Gary celebrated his 34th birthday.

NOVEMBER
It's all about being pregnant again. Morning sickness. Cravings. Juggling my three boys and tiredness. Read about it in my Pregnancy Diary.

DECEMBER
We came back to Malaysia for the biggest event of the year. The wedding ceremony of my brother Kelvin and new sister-in-law Ching Mei. (One I'm yet to blog about!)

We had a lovely time with family in a very well deserved 6 week holiday. We ushered in the new year 2010 with people who mattered to us most.

More blog posts to come!

That was it! The year that was 2009. Here's to a better, brighter, bigger year ahead. Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

What a big week it has been for my family and I. So many things to blog about, photos to upload, but I don't even know where to start! So I thought I'd just pop on by to say a big hello, and send out our warmest wishes to all of you. May the new year 2010 usher into you and your family good luck, good health and prosperity.

We're still in Malaysia and will still be for the next couple of weeks. When I've gotten over this HUGE hangover (nope, not alcohol, I've been a good mummy), and when I've gathered my thoughts and photos, I will be posting up big fat posts of cherished memories.

Right now, I think I need to 1. STOP eating 2. Stick my head in a bucket of ice and 3. Put my feet up! Not necessarily in that order.

Hope you had a good one...