Two Dogs and a Baby

My two dogs, Spottie and Bully have been wonderful in welcoming Caleb into our home.  As they're both considerably powerful breeds, we took extra precaution when Caleb returned home from the hospital with us.  Both dogs weren't allowed too close to Caleb for the first month.  We made an effort not to neglect them and continued to give Spottie and Bully their regular exercise.  We currently supervise any contact between Caleb and the two dogs and they've been really gentle with him.  Caleb seems to enjoy their company too.  We still never leave Caleb alone with the dogs though, just to be on the safe side.

Caleb and Bully

Caleb and Spottie

 

Hanging out in the garden together

 

It always saddens me when I hear of people giving away their dogs when their baby arrived.  Please don't.... dogs are part of the family too! 

You Are My Father

As I was choosing worship songs for tonight's cell group, I came across True Worshipper's song 'You Are My Father'.  It's such a wonderful song to remind me of my eternal Father who has always been there and never failed me. 

There have been so many changes in my life over the past few months and sometimes my emotions have been like a roller-coaster, but I can always count on God to be there to celebrate my victories and listen to my cries.

Verse 1:
It doesn’t matter where I run, You’re there for me
It doesn’t matter what I’ve done Your love’s for me
You wipe away the tears, You lift me when I fall
My life is saved by the mercy of Your grace

Verse 2:
It doesn’t matter where I go, You walk with me
It doesn’t matter when I fall, You cover me
You wipe away the tears, You lift me when I fall
My life is saved by the mercy of Your grace

Chorus:
You are my Father, Provider
You’re my Deliverer
Your mercies embrace me, surround me
Through Your everlasting love
Father I worship You
Father I worship You

And Your love is for me
And Your love is for me
And Your love is forever

As I take on this new chapter in life, I must remember all that God has done for me and keep Him at the centre of my life.  Without Him, I am nothing.

Baby talk

Caleb has settled into a more predictable routine these days which is great!  As he's nearing four months, his neck muscles are pretty strong and he's able to hold up his neck but it's still a little wobbly at times.  He sleeps at a regular time at night and I (hopefully) no longer have to stay awake till 3am! He's turning into a very chatty baby and keeps the whole family entertained with his baby talk.

Thankfully my milk supply is still there but I have started to supplement formula once a day though I try not to at all.  It's getting easier everyday as Caleb has begun to play on his gym alone for longer intervals allowing me to do stuff around the house. 

I've learnt a lot about Caleb taking care of him full-time over the past 3 months and realised that although motherhood is challenging, it is indeed a very fulfilling role.  I've begun to see glimpses of him laughing - he currently laughs once every few days which is a big treat for me :) Its interesting to notice how his yawns were silent at first, but now it comes with an 'aahhh'.....

I think being a happy and fulfilled stay home mum requires a change in mindset.  It's appreciating the opportunity to be involved in every part of the child's growing up years and learning new things every step of the way.

His many expressions

He loves his gym

Weekend family dinner

Motherhood

I'm finally able to sit down and blog now that Caleb is taking a nap.  I just finished a load of laundry, folded them up, sterilised his feeding bottles, tidied up the house, put my unfinished pizza in the fridge and now typing as fast as I can before he wakes up!  Such is the life of a stay home mom.

Nowadays I spend most of my weekdays at home.  I did plan to take Caleb out to the mall on my own, but then news broke of the attempted kidnap at the parking lot of a nearby mall and now I'm hesitant to do so (Though I doubt anyone would want to kidnap me in my current unkempt state!)

It's challenging and definitely not easy breezy as a stay home mom, but it's such a blessing to see little developments, growth and best of all, smiles in the little one each day.

My mind is a bit fuzzy due to my frantic day, so here are some pictures instead.

The smile that can melt hearts

I'm always trying to take snapshots of us together

Happy baby

The birth

I last wrote when I was 36 weeks pregnant and now, in the blink of my sleepy eye... Caleb is already 3 months.  I shall now attempt a rewind to the life-changing day of Caleb's birth.

I have to say, Caleb's birth day was pretty perfect.  It was Wednesday, the 14th of March and 10 days to my due date.  Woke up at 8am and realised I had a 'show'.  Thankfully, hubby had not gone to work yet! Packed my bags, had a shower and off we went to.... McDonalds.  We had to get a good breakfast before checking into the hospital.  

During breakfast, I felt mild contractions but that hardly distracted me from my delicious egg McMuffin and hash browns.  However, by the end of breakfast the contractions were getting stronger but still bearable.  Off we went, with our satisfied tummies, to Pantai Hospital.

Checked into labour ward, got inspected by the nurse and found that I was 3cm dilated and ready to be admitted immediately! At first I refused the epidural thinking that I could endure the initial contraction pains but the pains got much more intense within a few minutes.  Plus contractions seemed to be at a 1 minute interval.  I quickly asked for epidural, and it was administered to my spine in 15 minutes.  Slowly, I felt my lower half go numb and I was relieved.  Soon I was chatting away with hubby and updating my Facebook status.

I was on the hospital bed all day waiting for full dilation whilst baby's heartbeat was being monitored.  Anyway, my doctor was at the operating theatre in the afternoon so I just had to wait.  Finally, Dr Wong arrived at 7pm to check me, and I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push. 

The nurses started preparing me for birth and that's when I got real nervous.  Thankfully, the epidural took away all my pain.  Then hubby held my hands and at the nurses instructions, I had to push.  Pushing wasn't random, but it was timed together with the contractions.  I pushed and pushed until my face turned blue, purple, green....white. Still no baby in sight.  

Anyway, to cut the long story short, doctor came back with a vacuum and I pushed like crazy for another 20 minutes and at 8.15pm, Caleb was out! What a relief!!! 

I really thank God for answering my prayers yet again, He is ever faithful to me :)

Ok, enough of writing... here are some pictures!

 Our first family photo

 1 day old Caleb

 Caleb's birth announcement

Nearly there!

I'm now 36 weeks pregnant and baby Caleb (yes, that's his name) will be full-term in a few days. I get tired easily nowadays and don't go out as often as I used to. I'm glad that I'm still able to take Spottie on his 45 minute walks around the neighbourhood though! I wonder whether my dogs realise I'm pregnant, they must have noticed my belly increasing in size over the past few months.

I feel excited that Caleb is arriving very soon, but also anxious of the whole birth process. Been watching too many pregnancy programmes on TV and reading an assortment of pregnancy books to equip myself with the necessary information so that I won't freak out when the time comes.

My parents and in-laws are super excited of course. Mother-in-law has been giving me lots of advice on what I should and should not do during confinement to which my standard reply is 'OK'. However, I have decided that I'm going to wash my hair no matter what (contrary to the traditional Chinese confinement practice of not washing hair 12 days after giving birth). I simply cannot imagine refraining from a hair wash for 12 days. I think its completely unhygienic. Plus I want my newborn son to see me looking nice and pleasant, not scary.

We've pretty much got everything ready... baby room, baby supplies and my hospital bag is packed. Now I've just gotta pray that baby comes out smoothly and at the right time too.

Caleb's Room

It's Christmas time again!

December's my favourite month of the year! I love seeing pretty Christmas decorations and listening to Christmas carols playing at the malls. Not forgetting shopping for presents...more window shopping this year as we need to budget for our baby! Can't resist snapping pictures everywhere I go. Here are some of them :)

Hubby and I attended a wedding at Prince Hotel last weekend

Christmas deco at home

Christmas at the malls! TL - 1 Utama, TR - Pavillion KL,
BL - Prince Hotel, BR - The Curve

Even as we celebrate Christmas this year let's not forget the real meaning of Christmas.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21