Being chased

Talking about dreams, another that took place last night (it was a rather long one where the dream continued even though I woke up in-between to cover up for Kate and myself) was where I was being chased. It was a covert mission where this guy is after something of mine. I'm trying ways and means to get out of his way - this even includes me sitting 'under cover' at a cafe, watching his movements before I make my escape. It's so clear and vivid that I even re-traced my steps to & from my car exactly the same route (same lifts) and I don't know what I have that's so precious but this kinda Bond genre dream is a repeat - I've had it before (not sure if it's the same guy chasing me under the same mission that wasn’t completed the last time) and oh boy, I’m so tired & not to mention stressed out!

My heart is pumping hard and fast, my ears are ringing with buzz and my senses are on (uber) high alert with me being careful to keep my item (what is it?!) safe from this bad rougue!

… I don’t know what this is about but I am damn tired la. Zzz.

Pregnancy dreams

Not as in those where I dream of being pregnant, but those that I have when pregnant.

It’s very common for preggies to dream a lot and I think I have been dreaming more (compared to me at non-pregnant times) as the textbooks say. I get a whole lot of them:

- The exhausting ones – I’m usually on a mission and it always involves tough, physical work. Examples: I’m in a rush and I’m looking high and low for the husband. I have to make arrangements to ensure that Kate is looked after and when I find the husband, he’s at work (in some tedious escapade) & I have to join him in the physically challenging space and I’m dangling off a speedboat clinging on for my dear life… another was when I was involved in some high level obstacle course & I was with my colleagues. I think this is typically just a

- The rated ones – uh, no examples of these and these don’t occur often and are not that explicit/ pornographic la (!); but I read off the websites that this is a manifestation of pregnant women craving for more TLC. It also stems from insecurity of my growing belly and changing body/looks.

- The weird ones – those that absolutely do not make any sense. I cannot remember what these are though I know I’ve had these.

- The weepy ones – these are the most heart-wrenching! They are most emotionally-engaging and in these dreams, it’s always the husband and I where we are involved in some altercation or other. And we are always arguing about something where I feel very maligned; where the husband is yelling at me or feeling angry with me so much so that I feel exasperated and pissed off because it was NOT MY FAULT but he is so mad that I get angry and end up feeling more sad than angry… I think this has occurred thrice and twice out of the 3 times, I was so upset that I woke up in tears! And I immediately told the husband off “DON’T BE ANGRY WITH ME!” – the first time it occurred I genuinely felt so upset and I woke up and smacked him in the arm while wiping off my tears – the husband obviously thought I was mad but I was soo involved in the dream it was emotionally real. The second time it occurred I teared and didn’t smack him but told him of it after he woke up. The last time it occurred I was on the brink of tears and didn’t bother yelling at him. I just took his hand and sought comfort that it was just a dream.

How weird! I know it all boils down to the fact that the brain is active and working hard; and as said by www.babycenter.com

Pregnancy dreams, especially in the last trimester, are often vivid and scary – and this is completely normal. Such dreams may provide a way for your subconscious to deal with any fears and insecurities you no doubt have about pregnancy and impending motherhood.

All I know is that it’s rather tiring and knowledge that it is common and normal don’t really help, especially for the weepy ones. Boo.

On this same note, I’m exactly 3 months away from my EDD (5 March 2012)!

Kate, the doted on grandchild

MMS from the mother. Kate is at the Singapore Flyer with my parents right now. Even the husband and I hadn't had a chance to be on it =_=

Building our home

The husband has been all the work for our new house. Two key reasons – 1/ I’m pregnant and there’s this saying that preggies should not be involved in renovations etc & 2/ I leave it entirely up to him anyway. His analogy is “you know how girls dream of their perfect wedding? Guys dream of their perfect home.”

Lucky for both of us, I’m more than happy to leave it up to him (pregnant or not). It’s not easy managing the budget, the contractors, the detailing, the process, the everything – and I must say I’m thankful that he’s doing it all! So far, I think the only thing I’ve done is

1/ contributed some thoughts to the selection of curtains

2/ wholly in-charge of selecting the curtains for the kids’ room

3/ tagged along to select/see carpets

4/ tried to help do some drawing of our feature wall (not used)

5/ went along to Ikea several times to see and purchase our dining table

6/ went along to a furniture shop to see and agree on a coffee table for our living room

7/ went along to another furniture shop to see and agree on our living room furniture

8/ went along to shop for lights and agreed on all the lights for our home

Uh, I think that’s pretty much it. Haha! As you can see, it’s more a consultative role that I play (that’s putting it nicely, I’m more like his listening board) & the truth is, anything that I’ve said has been vetoed anyway because he’ll come up with a reason to do it his way =_=

I like to think that we at least do not fight with our (possibly clashing) opinions and as they say, too many cooks spoil the broth, yes? And honestly I’m not detailed enough to go monitor the intricacies of the progress and the thought of ‘fighting’ with suppliers/contractors etc - *roars. Can’t deal with it – I do enough of this at work as is!

But yea, our home is coming along nicely and I think that we may actually really make it before Chinese New Year (that’s 6wks to go).

Another happy one - Smile!

On the same happy note, I decided to go through Kate's piccies and TA DA! Here's a series of her cheeky smiles since birth.

2 months old

4 months old

7 months old

10 months old

14 months old

20 months old

25 months old

:)

Happy pregnant

Yesterday, a girlfriend texted me and we were having a tiny-bit-of a conversation about meeting up and our lives; and suddenly, while I was responding to her, I felt this burst of happiness as I told her "I'm so happy I'm pregnant!"

I think it's the hormones, or whatever, but, it's true. I'm so happy that I'm pregnant! I'm happy that the husband and I are blessed with a second child. While there are the aches and creaks that my body is suffering from that comes packaged with the pregnancy, not to mention the weight gain, the slightly irritable skin, the saggy breasts, the erratic moods... I must declare that despite all the icky bits, I'm more than happy to suffer them because well, it's part of the pregnancy package and (yes, I shall say it again) I'm happy to be pregnant!

As the days go by, I remember that I'm doing my motherly duties as I ache and hear creaks as I move. I smile to myself when I see my stomach jump when Jake is doing whatever he is doing inside. I touch my swollen belly and think how amazing it is that I'm carrying this little boy around. I imagine how the labour may be - like Kate's? Over 2 days? Faster? I try to remember pains of contractions and I wonder if I can do it without epidural this time (no, I'm not going to make a decision if I'm doing with/without yet!), I think of breastfeeding and the pains/pleasure of the feeding journey, I imagine how crinkly Jake's little face may be when he arrives, I imagine his cries and wonder if it'd be as loud and strong as Kate's, I wonder if the husband may tear this time when he sees his son, my heart jumps with joy as I imagine how it'd be like holding Jake for the first time while he's still slippery from the labour...

Gosh. So much beautiful memories to savour; I'm reminded of how lucky I am that I've had the chance to feel all of that and more with Kate - and how lucky I am that I'll get to savour and experience them all over again with Jake.

Dear Jake,
You're already bringing fun and love and joy to our lives before you actually arrive. We love you!

Love, Mommy

Intel from the sister

do you know about the lil rat in the kitchen incident ??

kate: nainai you stay here ok ? i go to the kitchen.
mom to me: eh go see her ley
me: aiya. she's w dad
*hears noise in the kitchen
me: RUNS to the kitchen
kate: on the chair nearest the sink where ALL e food stash is. opening the digestive biscuit gong
kate to me: no more something inside aedy !
me: (i know cause i ate the last 2 digestives) yah no more biscuit inside !
kate: *spies the cereal gong. I WANT RAISINS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
me: okay bring this to nainai; i'll take your bowl first.
kate: NAINAIIIIIIIII I WANT RAISINS !
so mom has to pick out e raisins in e cereal for our dear friend.
zzzzz