Doggy mishap

We had spring cleaning yesterday and were worn out by afternoon. Little did we know that our two dogs slipped out of the house without our knowledge. We closed the main gate and snuggled in our warm bed until evening.

As we were getting ready to go out for dinner, I saw Silky, my timid but adventurous silky terrier, had a plastic bag filled with rubbish surrounded her neck. Not only that, Lele was waiting and begging to be let in outside the gate. And it was raining the whole time! He was wet and HURT! He had scratch marks on his handsome face and hind leg, and he was slightly crippled! Both of them appeared shaken and frightened.

My heart was greatly pained to see them. Who would have hurt them? Almost everyone in the neghbourhood knows that they are our dogs. And how could anyone tie a rubbish bag on adorable Silky’s neck?! It was impossible that she did it to herself as the plastic bag was very tight. I don’t know what happened to Lele but we suspect that he got into a fight with stray dogs or the two cheeky cocker spaniels in our neighbourhood.

I was angry, sad and sorry at the same time. How could I let these things happen to them? I should have double checked before going for a nap to make sure that they were in the house.. I am so sorry..

Picture taken yesterday. The last picture that captured Lele’s unscratched face.

Spring cleaning

So today is a public holiday, how did you spend the hard-earned holiday?

Well, we did not do much. We stayed at home and engaged some help to do these:

Air cond servicing

Tree trimming

The results:

Hubby did not waste his holiday away, he was busy..

Sweeping.. with no help from Silky

And me, might I add.

Mopping the floor

Steam cleaning the whole room

Not only the floor, mind you, but also the curtain, the bed, the cabinet, the cupboard and the toilet.

“Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant..” (Matthew 20: 26)

What a blessing!

Waiting…

Is what I do best…

I wait for hubby to come home in the evening to have a time of sharing and chit-chatting with him.

I wait for weekends so that we can go out shopping, have some good food or simply hang out together at home.

I wait for my upcoming antenatal check-ups to assure myself that the bb is all right.

I wait for January 2009 eagerly and cross out my calendar patiently in anticipation of my baby’s birth.

I live for tomorrow. The future. What about the here and now? I can not waste away my life and God-given talents by living forever in the future!

I will list out the things to do today and be a faithful steward with the gift of time on my hands.

Movies

I am currently in my 35th gestational week. Two more weeks and my baby will be deemed “full term” even though my EDD is still 5 weeks away. Either way, the baby is coming real soon!!

My wise friend advised me to commemorate my last bit of freedom by doing something memorable eg a romantic trip to Damai Beach Resort with hubby etc. But I am never particularly fascinated with beaches or getaways, I prefer the comfort of my home. So no, thank you.

But I guess I can tolerate a brief separation from my lovely home, hmm.. maybe we can go for movies and romantic dinners instead! Movie is a great idea as we do not watch TV at home, so it is something unusual and extraordinary.. something special to remember my first pregnancy by.

Should we go for something silly and light?

Or something… sadder?

I can’t make up my mind.. wait, what if my water breaks in the cinema? What if the baby decides to join us there and then?

Should I just stay at home and watch the news instead? An entirely acceptable and excellent option, I must say.

Fitness project

A few days ago, hubby came home with a mischievous smile. Like a magician, he brought out a huge bicycle, air purifier and also a digital scale from his car boot. Apparently, the goods that he redeemed with credit card points had arrived.

He could barely contain his excitement and ripped open the parcels straight away after dinner.With childlike enthusiasm, he weighed himself with the scale (many times, might I add) and started assembling the bicycle.

After 2 hours plus of hard work, we finally had the end product!

Ta da

To think of it, is there any hidden message that he intends for me? A digital scale and a bicycle? Hmm.. I mean, it’s not like there is any overweight person at home or anything you know..

Home-cooked meal

We had home-cooked meals half of the time these past few weeks, thanks to my MIL and also my weight gain limit (strictly 1kg for 2 weeks, no other way around it!).

My beloved MIL filled our fridge with lots of vegetables, fruits and poultry to ‘encourage’ her DIL to cook when she’s not here. Oh mommy’s poor boy, being mistreated and starved for so long.. only weighs 50kg+, mommy will see that this lazy woman does her job.

OK, stop being a drama queen.

So, I cooked yesterday (and also last Saturday, and also quite a few times before that.. I just have to get that out of my chest, thank you).

Cabbage

Not curry chicken, braised chicken

The result?

Happy Meal

See Mama, I did not mistreat your son.

(Disclaimer: Please do not misunderstand, my MIL is a very kind and loving lady. This article is a product of a psychotic woman’s monologue.)

There are ways around opening up your wallet

“Your baby is coming soon, have you got all that you need?”

Well, I’m not sure.. partly due to the fact that this is my first child, and partly because I did not buy a lot of things for the baby. I’m very sorry that I do not contribute much to the declining economy. I’m not a big fan of consumerism. I improvise and use what I have, or I inherit/borrow from others. I buy only when I have no other way.

1. Improvise

物尽其用(improvise and use an object to its full potential – or something like that). That was what I said to my MIL when she was here. Surprised not the other way around? I hope she was not offended or fearful for her grandchild.

Mama, please rest assured that I will treat your grandchild absolutely first class. A prince raised in a pauper’s way, yup.

No pail (you know, the thing to take water.. what do you call that?) for the little turkey? Don’t buy a new one, we can improvise and use a food container instead.

No potty? Wait, let’s see if I have any old pail that can be used in exactly the same way.

No bucket to wash baby clothes? Let me check the store room/kitchen/below the sink/etc first. I think we have a few somewhere.

—

2. Borrow

I got most of the baby clothes , plastic mat, socks, mittens, hats, shoes and even cloth nappies from my friends and family. Some of these clothes were worn by my husband when he was a baby, his cousin and nephew after that. As babies grow in a wink of an eye, there is really no point throwing away money buying new clothes. As long as he is kept warm, an old one one is as good as any Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse clothes.

But my cupcake still has a few new clothes for special occasions like full moon and going to the church. See, I’m not all stingy lah ~

—

3. Buy

Due to hygienic reasons, I have to buy my own breast pump and inner garments (duh!). Due to safety and health reasons, our baby is getting a new crib, mattress, car seat and bottles. I would love to get a second hand stroller, too bad we could not find it in Kuching.

For my friends who are attending our child’s full moon thanksgiving, please do not bring any gifts or angpows (in other words, don’t BUY or SPEND $$). Just come and rejoice with us!

准妈妈的心声

看看床头及床边的矮几，几乎都被育儿，教养孩童，照顾婴儿的书籍充满了：What to expect when you are expecting; What to expect in the first year; The baby book; Your pregnancy week by week; Babywise; Congratularions you’re a mum and dad。书房里也被这方面的书占满了空间。

最近又邮购了四本书，接到书时不由得会心一笑，我无意中买了四本全是育儿的书刊：孩子送我的礼物，管教有方12招，Nurturing Success, 育儿秘笈；还有一片MP3: 发掘孩子潜能。

随着孩子出生的日子临近，我心中的无助感越发涌现。我很担心无法没能力好好教养我的孩子。很担心和孩子的关系不好，或因着他的出生使现在美满的家庭乌烟瘴气，焰火连天。很担心没法以爱和耐心来对待他。很担心他以后离开神。很多的害怕和忧虑。。

要如何以圣经的原则和神的爱来管教孩子呢？要如何让他过一个敬虔的生活？要如何让他成为一个有用的人呢？要如何才能在爱中管教他呢？要如何不纵容他却让他感受父母对他的爱呢？

我不像许多信心满满的父母（其中包括我自己的另一半），深信孩子一定没问题，一定会是个快乐的小天使。我的家庭背景告诉我这并不是必然的。一个不和睦的家庭会让人不快乐，感到窒息，限制全人最大的发挥。或许老公的原生家庭美满，所以他一点都不惧怕吧。故我近期看了不少这方面的书，浏览了不少网站。但在这非常时期，我相信回到智慧的源头才是最聪明的做法。

“你们中间若有缺少智慧的，因当求那厚赐与众人，也不斥责人的神，主就必赐给他。” （雅各书一：5）

主啊，我把孩子交在你手中。他是你赐给我们的产业和赏赐，他是属于你的。我们只不过是一个管家，不是他的主人。求你帮助我们忠心地以你的国和你的义（你的管理和你的标准）来教养他，让他成为一个敬虔的后代。求你尤其让我有你的智慧和恩典来照顾他和引导他，让他到老都不偏离你的道。在我茫然的时候，求赐下你的帮助；在我耐性受到挑战的时候，求赐下你的爱心。求你帮助我来享受我的孩子，不要把他看为负担。奉主耶稣的名我如此祷告，阿门。

阿门，阿门！

懒媳妇的反省

家婆放下手上繁忙的家务和教会的事工，带着多病痛的身体来到古晋住了一个星期。跟着她来的还有一大箱已经洗干净的婴儿衣服，毛巾，尿布和用品。真佩服她一个老人家怎么搬得动这一些东西，还有另外两个自己的包包呢！

这期间，她奔波不断帮我们物色不少小金孙出生所需的东西。之中，单单是寻找她满意的鸡只，她就去了三个不同的菜市场！另外也去了古晋几个主要的超级市场物色合意的锅，鼎，刀和其他我们零知识的东西。至于那些她没能在这时间买到的东西，放心，她已详细地交待清楚了。椅子，食物保温容器，鼎，宝宝的帽子，yes ma’am, 我们会尽力做到的！

不但如此，她还打理起我们的膳食。清早起来她已煮好了早餐，马上能美美饱食一顿。晚上又为我们炮制营养晚餐，连家中两只狗狗也有口福，真是太辛苦她了！

我家的花也多亏她才有了新生。家里卫生也靠她整理得焕然一新。其实我心里不是没有惭愧的… 相比之下，我就好像个好吃懒做的懒媳妇！歹势！

她已经准备在下个月宝宝出世时来再来帮忙。我心里非常感恩，身体力行的爱才是大爱。宝宝知道他的出生是被家人欢迎和祝福的想必也开心不已吧！

It’s a boy. It’s a girl.

“You carry up. It’s definitely a boy.”

“Your tummy is ‘pointy’, it’s a boy!”

“You can’t tolerate fish smell, it’s a girl.”

“You have swollen nose, looks like a boy to me!”

It’s fun to have people predicting the gender of my unborn child. We knew the answer a few months back but we decided to withold it as our little secret. Is the baby’s gender that important? We love our child the same regardless a boy or a girl. Sadly, some from the older generation does not share our views but that is another story..

OK, back to the storyline.

It is all good fun to participate in this guessing game. What I can not stand is strangers putting their hands and pressing (measuring? gauging?) my tummy, exclaiming, “It’s definitely a girl! Right or not? Right or not?” even after we politely decline to reveal the gender.

This is the time that I guise my irritation (especially when I am sleep deprived, which is EVERYDAY in this trimester) and smile uncommitantly, joking, “Wait for SURPRISE har..”

OK people, I surrender. I will tell you the gender of my baby.. yes, most definitely.. coming to your nearest cinema next month! Stay tuned ya.