Over the Months

Because I've been looking after her everyday, so it's only when I look through the photos that I realised how much my baby has grown over the past 5 months. Such drastic changes!

At the hospital, she looked so much like a little tomato. Pink and round. I thank God for blessing me with such a lovely baby. *Please note that she was born with a full crown of hair.* This is Gladys when she's just 1 day old.


Soon, we had a baby shower for her. I love how she put on a subtle smile to take this picture with me. This is Gladys when she's 1 month old.


On her 40th day, we got someone to shave her hair. I used her hair to make a little brush and I've engraved a special message just for her. I'll give this brush to her as a present on her 18th birthday.


This is my botak princess. So most of the time, I'll wear a hair band on her to avoid people mistaking her as a boy. It happens ALL the time ok.


You know it takes numerous shots in order to get a good picture. It's hard to get a baby to look at the camera and at the same time, sit still and smile.


You know, the inventer of pacifiers is a saint! It really pacifies a baby when she's feeling grouchy.


Some say she looks like me, others say she looks like daddy. I really don't know. I can't tell. But she's my darling, nevertheless.


During her 3rd month, she already showed symtoms of teething: drooling, chewing on anything she can grab, etc. I was told it's not quite possible that it happens so soon. I think otherwise and I was right.


I like this picture alot. Gladys with her friend, Pooh. Now, she may look much smaller than Pooh. In time to come, she'll grow to a big gal and Pooh will look so small.


This is Gladys when she's 4 months old. She's so happy to be wearing a little bare-back dress for the first time!


I love the feeling of waking up with her smiling next to me. It just brightens my day.


Before I know it, she's learning to flip and attempted to crawl. But her limps are still not strong to drag her chubby butt.


Finally, she's enjoying sitting in her pram. It took her so long to get used to it. Btw, she's smiling coz she's attracted to the ice cream in my hand.


We thought it's good to let her start dipping in the pool early so she'll not be so fretful. She enjoyed it so much that she fell asleep in her daddy's arms.


Once awhile, I'll let her try 'walking' in her walker. She enjoys the 10-15 mins in it and soon, she'll start chewing at the toys attached. When I clap for her to come towards me, she'll move backwards. And the more excited she gets, the further away she'll go.


Sometimes, she enjoys watching the tv with Pooh!


Now, my baby can even hold her own beaker. I just wanna cry.


This is my Gladys at 5 months old. Btw, can you see her little pearlies? She's got 2 already!

My Life Now

My life has never been the same, since the day I knew I've got Gladys in my womb.

First and most importantly, I knew I had to make changes to my lifestyle: -
1) Stop smoking;
2) Stop people around me from smoking or hanging out at smoky joints;
3) Stop eating "unhealthy" food like my favourite sashimi, calms, etc;
4) Stop sleeping so late and get sufficient rest;
5) Stop working, so I can stop stressing; etc.

Mmm..

Though the above seems like nothing, but it is really a challenge for me!

After giving birth, I find that I can no longer hold a "normal" conversation with another human being. All I can talk about is pregnancy and babies. I go crazy when I see another baby on the street. I go crazy when there's a baby fair. I go crazy when I see the cutest pink romper.

I think I'm so into motherhood. True. I think I'm enjoying every moment of being a mother.

Doubts about my capabilities of being a good mother is soon cleared. I've pushed my limit way beyond. I've done things I thought I was incapable of. My parents are shocked to know that their little gal can take care of her little gal.

It's not easy bathing a newborn infant. Imagine a tiny life with a wobbly body in a soapy tub. I've done it.

It's not easy to wake up multiple times a night for feeding. I was a dead sleeper but now I wake to her wimper. I've done it.

It's not easy to breastfeed, especially when my supply is so damn miserable. For 3 months, I've done it.

It's not easy to decipher her cries. Guess whether she's tired, sleepy, hungry, or just plain grumpy. I've done it.

It's not easy to take care of an infant all by myself most of the time. I've done it.

Hey, I'm so proud of myself sometimes. I think I deserve some kind of award.

However, somewhere at the back of my brain, I do secretly miss my old days of sun tanning in my bikinis, riding with my gal pals, kopi and ktv sessions, regular getaways with Eric, catching the lastest movie, etc. Sometimes I do wish to have my old life back.

But that means I will have to sacrifice Gladys. No way!

I've not regretted a single bit and I think I'm happier now anyway. So darn my bikinis, I've got stretchmarks to prove my love for Gladys.

Back At Home

At the hospital, I can just press a button and a nurse will come and bring the baby back to the nursery when I want to catch a wink. Back at home, it's just me.

Since I do not have the luxury of having a confinement lady, so regardless I like it or not, I've got to get my lazy butt off the bed to attend to my little princess.

I am blessed to have friends and relatives to give me guidance about caring for a baby.

Although I've given up my job for her, I've not regretted a single bit, espeically when I get to see her grow every single day. Being a stay-at-home mummy is a stressful task, but it is definitely more fulfilling.

Every night, I can be so tired from all the routine like feeding, bathing, changing and entertaining the baby, but I just cannot get to sleep. I will be happy just sitting there, watching her sleep.


One of Gladys' first friend is Tony and Janny's baby, Tasha Chua, who is about 3 months older.


I am considered lucky because Gladys is quite an easy baby to care for. Other than hunger or a soiled diaper, she doesn't really make a big fuss. Maybe she's still so young, and all she can do is sleep most of her time.


I am lucky to have my mum coming over to help me out most of the time during my confinement. She helps to cook my meals and to care for Gladys so I can have more rest.


Time flashes by when you're taking care of an infant. Though it is never an easy task, but the satisfaction you get from it is priceless.


Everytime I bring Gladys out, people will ask if she's a boy or a girl, even though she's wearing pink! I know she doesn't look a bit like a girl, but guess where she got her looks from?

At The Hospital

I admit it's not easy to take care of a baby. I can hardly take good care of myself and now I have a little life to be responsive for.

The first night at the hospital, I can't sleep although I still feel drowsy. I kept staring at the little bundle of joy lying next to me. She's so pretty to me.


During the day, we had only each other for company and we made use of these times to bond. I changed her diaper and breastfed her for the first time.

I knew instantly that she has my temper. Little tyrant.

Yet, she's so fragile. So tiny and vulnerable. I just want to protect and love her all my life.


Because I had an caesarean, I had to stay in hospital for 4 days and I developed bad heat rash on my back and bottom. I can't wait to go home with my baby.

On the day when we're supposed to go home, I receive bad news from the paediatrician that Gladys has jaundice and she has to be hospitalised! I can't believe it because every morning, Dr Simon Ng came to tell me that my baby is fine and healthy but why on the day when we're to be discharged that she developed jaundice?

It just broke my heart thinking that I had to go home without her.


Papa Eric suggested that I should stay another night in the hospital but I don't want to sleep on that bed for another night. Also, the hospital bill kills.

So we seek approval to bring Gladys home with us. We can observe and bring her out in the sun. I'm sure she'll be fine.

The nurse took some time to check with the paediatrician and it got on my nerves. Luckily, the answer came back positive. Gladys' jaundice is mild and we're able to bring her home with us.

It was a relieve for me. I cannot imagine otherwise.

The Day She Was Born

Baby Gladys was born on 28th March 2007 at Mount Alvernia Hospital.

Actually, I had opted for a scheduled caesarean on 4th April 2007 when she's at 38 weeks gestation because I was getting so huge, I feel clumpsy. Imaging gaining 28 kgs! Not to mention that I had countless stretch marks on my massive tummy.

But she was so excited in coming to this world that she came exactly 1 week earlier, at 37 weeks gestation.

Imagine my horror! The reason why I chose to have a c-sect is partly because I was afraid of what's coming my way. I hate to think about going through labour: the long hours, the pain, the stress, etc.

In fact, my mucus plug dislodged on 27th March 2007. I was horrified when I feel a whole clump of jelly coming out from me. I thought that was it! But, after waiting awhile, there was nothing.

Early 28th March 2007, at about 2am, I was trying hard to fall asleep because you know with such a big tummy, it's really hard to even toss or turn, when suddenly, I heard a 'pop' inside me and I felt the dribbles. I dashed to the toilet and thought I peed but that's actually my water bag bursting.

I tell you, I seriously freaked out big time. I don't know what to do and I had to call my mum. She said that since I didn't feel any contractions yet, it's no use going to the hospital yet because they will make you wait there anyway. So I decided to just wait and see.

At about 7am, I felt it. Slight contractions spaced wide apart. Not too bad, so I decided to have a shower first. By the time I came out from the bathroom, I knew it was time to rush to the hospital.

Before I stepped out of the house, I had a cup of hot cereal. Bad idea.

During the car ride to the hospital, I had such bad contractions that I had to be wheeled to the labour ward! I can barely stand. It is a horrible, horrible feeling. You feel so helpless but yet there's really nothing much you can do but to wait till the time comes.

And since I went through all these, I thought I could just give a shot at giving birth naturally. But my worst nightmare came when my gynae came to check me. It was already 2 hours and she said I'm only 2 cm dilated. By the way, if you don't already know, the mother has to be 10 cm dilated before even try pushing the baby out.

My gynae told me I will have to take probably another 10 hours to be fully dilated. OH MY GOD! Help me! "I need my epidural!", I said. Shortly after, I was given the shot and it really relieved me.

It is quite boring lying there partially numbed. So I think I better go under the knife to speed up the process. Anyway, this was what I had always wanted. I still cannot imagine giving birth naturally.

But I had that cup of cereal and you're supposed to be empty stomach before an operation. So I had to wait till noon before they can start the procedure.

I was so nervous while waiting to be wheeled to the operating theathre, I was shivering. Maybe it's the air-con. I don't know.

Although I was partially numbed, I can still manage to crawl onto the operating table by myself, when the nurses asked me if I can do it. I pitied them because how can 2 tiny women manage a 78 kg me?

Shortly after, my gynae came in. She asked if I was ok. I was already getting drowsy. She said I'll be able to see my baby in 10 minutes. I didn't believe her. So soon?

All this while, Eric was beside me. He told me my water bag is so full of fluid and stuff like that. Nothing encouraging. He was so amazed by me being cut up, he was dumb found.

Anyway, in a short moment, my gynae announced that my baby was born and I heard her wails! I was so overwhelmed I feel like crying hard. I mean, I'm a mummy and that's my baby?!

She was brought to me and I gave her a peck on her cheeks before she had to be examined and cleaned. She's the most lovable creature I've ever seen. Imagine a mini me!

Ah, I felt my life so accomplished. Never had I felt like this before.

That's my baby when she was brought into the nursery. Isn't she the sweetest thing?

My 1st Post

Ok, since this is the 1st post, I shall have a little introduction here.

I am Gene, 28 years old (erm, ok la, turning 29) and I have a little darling by the name of Gladys. She's now 4 months old and is my heart and soul.

This blog is created specially for her and I hope that she can read about her interesting life when she grows up. I had always wanted to set up this blog to put down small details of our lifes together ever since she was conceived but.. I'm busy (otherwise, you can call it lazy).

Anyway, it's better to be late than never so I guess it's still not to late to start now. So, here goes..