Birdy Park?

I just found out that Birdy is short for Abigail! Anyway, we were supposed to go Bird Park today. But because of bad weather, we stayed at Bugis Junction and then went to Suntec Carrefour. Gosh. I'm defintely a bargain hunter. And there isn't any in Carrefour. :P Dove Shampoo/Conditioner $12.20 at Carrefour, but $7.10 at Swanston. FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. I dun care if I"m auntie - with this discount, i can do more things with my $$!

I'm glad we had a family day today. It's been awhile - most outings have been functional - get stuff, fill stomach, fill petrol, etc. Yup, we're together, but it's just different. U know, when people say - they suddenly wake up one morning and find themselves waking up to a stranger? That phenomenon happens when people simply exist together, but they cease to know each other. Knowing each other requires effort - and disarming 'landmines'. This is not tosay that Ben & I dun spend time with each other - but when extra effort is involved - a special day set aside, a special hour, or even simply half hour, and then we just pay attention to each other - to his & her needs - the relationship is refreshed. :)

Watched Singapore Idol. Was glad that Chris is out - the competition finally begins - sorta. But when I saw Olinda cry over his departure, I realised that this is not only a competition. I was reminded of my pageant days. To the audience, it may be a competition, but to the contestants, it is a production. So when the SI contestants leave one by one, it's pretty hard to take, unless the fella in there is so bent on winning and has a horribly selfish attitude. Pui.

Praise the Lord! Now I have a renewed attitude towards school after the roller coaster ride. :) Now I'm excited to go back school. Regardless of what I have to study. :) Oh, I received a letter from some government department stating that they are really pleased to inform me that I've been selected to be in some position which I know nothing about. How come lucky draw also not so heng uh? :D Anyway, regardless of what position I'm placed in and what responsibilities I have to undertake, I pray that I will commit myself to it with the right attitude. I'm pretty sick of negative attitudes and being affected by people with negative vibes. I also pray that I will not produce such vibes either.

I need to pack the room. Again. :S Also need to do my QT. :D

Phhooooossshhhh!!!!!

Time just flew by! Did u feel that?

So many things have taken place, and as usual, I'm not sure I know where to start, as usual. I'll write anyway...

Uploading Abby's photos onto her album now. Have been wanting to do that for quite some time, but haven't had the mood to do it. So now even no mood die die have to upload, or else will pile up even more. :P Looking at these photos really make my heart melt... she's growing up so fast! :D I love those of hers with her daddy. It's my prayer that my children will have a dad who loves them wholeheartedly and shows that. God is good, He's blessed my children with a great dad! I've never experienced that, so through him, I rejoice that my child can have what I didn't. I'm not even sure if my dad has ever changed my diaper before. But it doesn't really bother me anymore. It doesn't change the fact that he's still my dad, and like my mum asked me the other day, if my dad gets really old next time and no one wants him anymore, would we, as his children, take him in? Of course! :D

Even though he's got another family, ironically, he feels rejected by us. When we went to sent Randy off to be enlisted on the 20th, we met my dad at Pasir Ris MRT station. Before he left, he asked us to msg him whenever, and jokingly commented that it seems like he's been deleted off our contact list! :P Anyway, I thank God that there isn't hostility between us, unlike many years ago when it got real bad. *Shudder* Well, about 3 weeks ago, he msged me and asked if I was having a celebration for my birthday. I was like, "Huh? So far away!" He still thinks I'm a li'l girl who gets excited about my birthday and starts drawing up a guest list THREE MONTHS before my birthday!

Ben was supposed to go reservist yesterday after our birthday celebration, but thank God he managed to be excused and go in only next week. By God's grace. So on the 26th, which was BEN's day, we went to Tung Lok's My Humble House.




We sat on this couch! It could fit both of us side by side!



We really enjoyed dinner, and really splurged on ourselves. Also, we received a complimentary birthday dessert. Well, they call it "Speak Softly Love - Strawberries with Chocolate Fondue and Ice Cream. They really have fanciful names for their food - Elixir of Life – Double-boiled Soup of the Day, The Balmy Breeze Beckons –Oven-baked Five-spiced Pork Loin, Chef's Blended Sauce amongst MANY other items. The decor is pretty amazing - very artistic. I must be honest though - I spent the first 3 minutes trying to figure out the orientation of the menu, and the next TEN minutes trying to read through all the items in the menu. It's really nice though. The food's fantastic. Well, abby as usual, she knows when mummy eats, coz she'll wanna join in too. So during then, I breastfed her for most part of the meal as we ate. :P

When we reached home, Ben got me to put the voucher pouch back in the glove compartment. When I opened it, I saw a bouquet in there! Also, a handmade card - gosh I love his creativity! Benji's back! ;D - and my birthday present!! I've been bugging him for one for most part of the year. Anyone wanna guess wat he got for me?



It was a fabulous evening, to be able to spend our birthday festival together. :) God is good. :) No more lonely birthdays. Many people blessed us with birthday wishes - Dad, Mum, Granny, Choo ee & family, Eve & Vic, Queenie, Charlotte & Andrew, Randy (he called from camp!!), Aunt Mich & family, Aunt Carol, Ps Jonathan, Xiaoyan, Huiying, Carole and Elise! :D

Started the next day without any plans coz Ben was supposed to go in camp. Wanted to go Amore Day Spa with the deal I got, but procrastinated so much that I didn't even make the appointment. So Eve took pity on me - seeing that Ben was going in camp - and offered to visit me. Later on, plans developed and I got the car and went to my mum's workplace to visit her. Thank God she was in Singapore. God revealed a simple truth to me some years ago. Though for birthdays, we celebrate the birthday person, in actual fact, we have to honour our mothers on this day for bearing us. The truth hit me more so after I've become a mother myself. So we skipped down to church for a quick visit and took some photos. :) (it's my first time out with Abby alone! And I feel great! :D)







after that, went over to Eve's place to pick her up. We went down to Parkway, she to Cold Storage while I headed for Isetan's Nursery Room, my hideaway as Abby milks me. :) After that, we went back to Eve's place to check on Vic while Ben headed for her place in a cab after his daily zillion-laps swim (he hit 100 on last sat!). We left for Swenson's and pigged out there. Mmm. Abby had to be fed again. There. :P

Really enjoyed myself... yakking and all. The conversation never seems to run dry, it's really enjoyable. Ben's so amazed at the way the ball keeps bouncing back and forth. Even when the 'ball' drops, a new serve is given and the game continues, so there's very li'l awkward moment. And the things we do... gosh, the tiko pek in the next car would have dropped his jaw... Hahahah... put two breastfeeding women together and u have strange conversations! Engorged breasts, poopy MMS, etc. Yup. Super auntie, but loving every moment of it. :D

Oh, by the way, I scalded myself today while preparing for abby's bath. Cooked my right hand. Sigh.

Abby's able to hold her neck pretty well now, with the occasional flops - whacks rather - and she's smiling so sweetly whenever she's fed and clean! When she's got a dirty diaper, she'd haf an uncomfortable look if it's been too long, or she just won't sleep. Oh, we realised she's sleeping long hours. Yup, blur parents. She sleeps from 11pm to 7am without waking up, and when she does, around 7 in the morning, she feeds for abt 15mins then she goes back to sleep till about 10. So effectively, she's sleeping from 11pm to 10am! Wow! :D

Okie, think I gotta go pump milk alredi... Still uploading photos though... :D

Ultimate Laziness!

I'll let my best pal, li'l Vic (the charming babe on the left!), do the narrating for the day while I snooze... hehe! It's Snoozy Sunday! :D



Luff,
Baby Abby!

Baby News Update

Congratulations to Melissa who has given birth to a healthy 3.6kg baby girl, Athena Ng Dianya, on 18th October 2004.



Also, BIG HUGE CONGRATS to Karen who's expecting BabyTwo! :D Keep the updates coming, girl! :D

Hullo world!

Bozo has finally got it!



Hullo world!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.

3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30." Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.

The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930. We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

Blur

The days are passing by in a blur. Not exactly very energetic, everywhere's still spinning, may go see doc sometime soon. Miss the girls - every single one of them - coz i haven't had much strength catching up with them. Room's still in a mess :P, need new clothes coz I dun haf suitable ones now. Have been repeating my wardrobe - today's outfit is the 3rd time i wore it this week. Need separates. My walk-in looks full but can't seem to find a thing to wear. Well, will clear out the remaining maternity stuff - some are still lingering around! :P Well, everytime i clear them it's always - I think i stil can wear this - even thought it's either too big (maternity) or too small (waaaaaaaaay before pregnancy days).

It was hilarious tonite... Bro took video of Abby imitating him sticking his tongue out and Ben caught a video clip of mum carrying abby and then realising there was a bug on her arm. I freaked out and the phone cam caught that too. In my face. :P Heh.

Oh. It's past twelve. Today is many people's birthday. Quite strange actually. Well, there's Vincent Phang's birthday, Vincent Ooi's birthday, and from what I heard, Del was supposed to be named Vincent also (is that true?? :D). It's officially Vincent Day. Heheh. :) Happy birthday Vincents and a Del!

In seven days' time, my ol' man will be going ICT. So sad. :( Dunno for how long, but praise God my MIL and I are on way better terms now, so I won't be scratching my eyes out. Heh.

Well, still tired. Physically. Will go read abit ,spend time with God, reflect and k.o. G'Nite.

P.S. My dog ate Abby's poop. Eeeeks.

Photos

Yay, the cell's Dinner & Dance (great dinner but no dance, only a night full of corny jokes) photos are up! :D They are here and will last only 2 weeks or so. :)

Spin

The room is spinning. Woke up to a spinning room. I'm fine, just that the room keeps spinning. It's spinning in a rather odd way too. Like that puzzle houses u go to when u haf no where else to go to - the kind where u walk across a mini bridge in the house while circular walls around the bridge spin. Yup. The room is spinning on its horizontal axis.

Spin also. Like how people see a perspective and believe it's the truth. I appreciate family gatherings, I really do. Just that whenever we approach a subject we all love bitching about, I have started to bite my tongue. I think whenever we gather, we just luuuurrrrvve bitching about this topic. And I have to stop. Honour your parents. Even though he's blah blah blah... *censored*, yup, I still have to toe the line when everyone is having a jolly good time bitching. Yup. I'm bitching too. God, help me love this man the way You want me to.

Will see if I'm feeling better. Yesterday, Abby's routine was no routine. She woke up at 3am *sigh* coz she slept from 7pm the evening before - see, 7am to 3pm is 8hrs - and then started her day at 3am, when we were still busy trying to get some work done. So, 3am, 6am (I fed her while i was asleep), 8am (ditto), 9am (scolded myself for falling asleep while feeding her, 12nn (this feed lasted till 1.30 coz I was tat sleepy), 3pm (we din realise this feed was due coz granny carried her downstairs after that long feed), 5.30pm, 8.30pm (she woke up coz it was too steaming hot in her infant seat and thank God, not much earlier or I would have had a chance at aunt michelle's dinner) and 11.15pm. Now looking back, it wasn't tat bad. But the only sleep she had was at the 12nn feed. So from 9am to about 7pm, she was awake. That's really long for a 2mth old. She napped from 7 to 8.30pm, then after feeding her, she slowly dozed off in Ben's arms. Then after he put her down, she was still dreamy until patient relatives went to coo at her. Then she was fully awake. Oh well. Thank God last nite she slept from about 12 to 7 this morning.

Realised because of my ill-discipline, she may be developing a need to nurse to sleep. Like last nite. I went to bathe and she fussed. Ben picked her up and noted that she was still hungry. But then I said that she may be wanting to be nursed to sleep instead. So she fussed abit, din feed her, and then she promptly fell asleep until this morning. Thank God.

Woke up ard 7 and fed and changed her. She fell back to sleep around 8.15am. It's a good day. Next feed due -between 10 and 11am.

Happy Birthday, Mummy!

We celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday today at Kippo, a Tung Luk a-la-carte buffet restaurant at Keppel Club. Family dinners are getting more fun. :) Everyone's laughing and simply enjoying themselves! It's really very heartwarming, everyone just gelling together. Praise God for this unity in the family. As Ben has been believing and saying, Abigail is indeed a blessing to both our families.

I confess I hadn't been giving my mil an easy time. During those tough moments, she has quietly borne my nonsense and stepped aside lest an arguement ensues. I've been constantly praying for God to teach me to love her abundantly, and He has. He has melted my heart and given us a new relationship. There's a newfound respect for her also, as God allows me to see her in a totallly new light.

Perhaps it's the first child thingey and just assimilating into the family, it was quite difficult to relinquish Abby. However, God allowed me to realise that my MIL is Abby's granny, and will forever be. I cannot be selfish and separate them - this i know but emotions are another thing. But thank God for self-control. Although all these emotions were at times rearing its ugly head, thank God that they were just bottled up. Yet the bottle looked pent up at times. Post pregnancy hormones do wreck havoc - so for those who are volatile even before pregnancy, do watch out for hormonal changes affeccting moods during and worse - post pregnancy. But thank God - all these will pass as well. For those who've been pregnant before, i think they'll agree. As much as we say we're prepared, it'll still affect us. But thank God it's over.

I'm enjoying her presence more and more each day, and I look forward to the time when she and abby interacts. Abby loves her granny, in fact both her grannies! :) Abundant smiles and lovely looks - the grannies get them all. And both grannies get SUPERLY excited when they see Abby respond to them!

Haven't got a present for my mother in law yet , thinking of making her something. She's got all the stuff she'll ever need, so i dun think she'll need another massager. Heh. Hope I won't procrastinate in making it - her birthday's on the 12 Oct. :)