Minding my P's

I certainly am not doing my share of water conservation here in the desert. I pee every waking half an hour and at least 3 times during sleep time.

Let see, say I sleep for 8 hours, that means I'm awake 16 hours, and if I use the bathroom every 30 minutes, that's like 32 trips to the toilet! And all the flushes of water... I really should be using our bathroom upstairs.. at least I'll be getting some exercise going up and down the stairs.

Homer just called to say that the car sale has been finalised and he is on the way to hand over the car to its new owner. I didn't even get to say good bye to Jaggie or have one last drive with her.... *sobs*

-jaggie-less-and-pee-a-lot-L

Attack of the Bumpkin

I am officially the punching bag for the baby.

I nearly peed all over the sofa, after receiving a strong blow on the bladder by none other than Bumpkin. It's amazing how a tiny person can cause so much trouble.. and she's not even out yet..

I wonder if babies in the tummies has some sort of manual to prepare them for the outside world. You know, how parents-to-be reads books like, "What to expect when you're expecting" .. Babies would have "What to expect when you're expected", which in my wild imagination, it is downloaded somewhat telepathically straight to their brains.

An example of one entry would be something like this..

....Your ears are fully developed, so you'll start to hear a lot of muffled sounds, especially the sound of your host's voice. Sometimes it may be really loud, experts believe that it may be due to the fact the host is not getting what she wants and feeling irritated with her partner. But not to worry, your host will eventually get her way and you'll be back to hearing her soothing voice...

-the-host-L

10,9,8.....

7 days to go in this desert cosmopolitan city before we pack up and say toodles and make our way back home to KL.

We haven’t been here long, well, less for me since I go in and out of the country so often. Still it’s going to be hard saying goodbyes to the people around us, especially to my “tai-tai” routine.

The packers are coming in 1st September.. hmm, more people for me to dictate.. I’ll have so much power that day! Normally, I’d only have Homer to boss around. Well one last hurrah for the queen.

We’re looking forward to do some big league shopping before we ship our stuff, but looks like it ain’t happening, thanks to our - let’s live our lives to the fullest in our temporary sand box. *sigh* Kiss buh-bye to Chanel bags and plasma TV (for Homer).

That’s the price we have to pay …. Something’s gotta give right? Ah well, it’s not like I am bag-less and that Homer is devoid of techie gadgets..

-we’ll-have-a-new-toy-in-3-months-L

My emancipation..

I have a confession. I have this thing with Mariah Carey. Yes, Mariah Carey. There’s just something about her, her songs .. yadda yadda. As usual, I do have issues with her, like how she carries herself and her overly dramatic sequence in her concerts. Giant teddy bears, skimpy nighties (huh?) plus, I don’t care for some of her albums but her latest single, We Belong Together, is haunting me. When I first heard it, I played it in the car (repeatedly) until I get all the words right. I believe Homer secretly can sing along to this song by now.

I think I can even sing the remix, yes the really fast one.. of course not EXACTLY like her, are you kidding me?? *sigh* If only I can carry a tune like her.

Oh.. Did you all notice how you don’t know whether she’s slim or overly curvaceous? I mean what is up with that?? Could it be the magic of airbrush?

I don’t know what is up with this entry.. first, I praise then I vent.. See, I told you I have this thing with Mariah Carey.

-hormones-alert-L

What did you stare at today?

I spent a good, half a day staring at my bump. At 25 weeks, Bumpkin’s movements are getting stronger, and my belly vibrates, shakes and does things I’ve never dreamt it could.

It is also more hairy (wtf??). Are the oils fuelling the growth of body hairs?? Or does the light massage encourage the hair to grow longer and stronger?

Come to think of it, the hair on my arms are getting darker too. God, I'm reversing Darwin's theory of evolution ..

Breast on tummy and more bodily hair .. So if I color myself orange ...

Should I check out if there's any opening at the Zoo?

-raw-animal-magnetism-L

Bring it on!

I realized that I’ve been writing about being pregnant too much and nothing on current going ons or stuff about life in general. I do wish I can but everyday, I am reminded that my life is about to change forever.

My life is now preparing itself to take a turn, gearing up for the next challenge.

I have an analogy on life – and now, I am preparing to face the rough seas with baby on board our small boat.

Can I keep this precious cargo dry? I can’t seem to keep it dry when brushing my teeth, bumpkin’s getting big and now rests closely to the sink.. getting all the water splashes.

-wet-patch-on-tummy-L

Mall rat.

Sometimes I scare myself with the amount of junk shopping I do. This is what happens when you stay in a place where sands and shops are in abundance. I do try to fill up my time with healthy activities, like yoga, spend more time working, I even stopped calling the maid service and did the house cleaning myself! (Bitchy or what????)

Still, you HAVE to get out .. And so I fell into the “scaling the mall” trap. Walking in and out of retail shops, trailing my hands on the never ending plastic hangers (wooden hangers when in classy boutiques..) where clothes I can’t really fit into hangs ever so delicately. And sometimes in moments of clumsiness, I would be the cause for the slinky items to cascade down to the floor.. Ah, well… in my condition, you wouldn’t expect me to bend and pick it up, right?? (Again… bitchy selfishness that’s allowed when you’re with child.. heheh)

Wonder what sales staff was thinking when they see me browsing through MNG and similar stores? Hey.. I can still carry off some of the outfits okay.. (Major bitchy-ness in denial..)

And to prove it, I bought a skirt from Forever 21 yesterday… (in large, of course)

-wearing-a-skirt-minimises-the-friction-of-thighs-in tight-pants-L

One piece or 2 piece?

This shopping for a swimming suit is tougher than I anticipated. Tried Mothercare, yikes! Horizontal stripes on a hippo look a like.. I don’t think so. I must have tried on 15 suits yesterday, and trust me, when you have a tummy and trying on swimming suits, its no fun in the sun (come to think of it, it’s no fun when you’re not pregnant either..heheh)

And the looks I get from the sales assistants….

Saw a picture of Britney Spears in a bikini and thought, do I dare? Can I get away with it? I think NOT.. especially when I get back to KL. I can see a little note on the condo’s notice board –

Baby hippo pool lap time, 8.30 am – 9.00 am*. Come and join the splash if you dare!

*Time may change according to hippo’s mood.

-hip-hip-hippo-L

Hows' your boobies?

Don't complain about your Monday unless your boobs rests on your tummy.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen..

My boobs have now reached and settled on my tummy or Homer-afraid-to-tell-it-as-it-is likes to think of it as my tummy has grown and stretched itself outwards (and upwards) to help support the breasts.

Don't get me started on the nipples.

-a-little-bit-cranky-L

Shopaholic L

The past week, I wasn’t my usual self. Feeling a little bit depressed over various reasons; getting bigger, 3 inches of hair roots showing, the constant heat, high humidity, more hormonal changes, not so good news from home, Homer’s company’s indecisiveness over his transfer, pharaoh’s descendents kidnap attempt of Super Lawyer Gal.. yadda-yadda..

I was depressed to the point where I had stopped shopping.. Yes, to my bank account’s delight (and Homer), it managed to rest in inactive mode for a whole week!

But yesterday, with a single wonderful phone call, I’m cured. And jumpstarted el-visa-card. I drove to 2 malls on both sides of Dubai, and went crazy.

Since we still do not know what’s happening on the moving front, I postponed my short business trip back to KL. Which means that I’m going to miss my cousin’s wedding. Dang! It’ll be great to hear all the family gossips from all my makciks… and of course hear their comments on how BIG I’ve become (hey, that’s good news for me! Yay!).

Am bugging Homer to go for a short break instead. There’s a promotion going on for a desert resort not far from where we stay.. Bab-Al-Shams, it’s gonna be hot but I intend to stay in the pool, and make full use of the spa. A little support here people!!

-swimming-suit-shopping-L

Putting my best feet forward..

My relatively tiny feet.. that is.

God.. This picture reminds me of something ..

Go-dzzi-raaaaaaaaaa!!! (GODZILLAAAAAAAAA!!!).

-feeling-gigantic-L

Is it really Friday??

Apparently, the pharaoh’s descendents loves Super-Lawyer-Gal so much that they kept her on their plant tour a little too long and caused her to miss her all important flight to see me, buncit-L!

I was so looking forward to her short visit, getting her input on what we should get here, and most importantly which jeans I should get! Homer’s a great shopping partner, but nothing beats the opinion of formerly preggio person who knows which type of pants will fully accommodate the needs of a cranky, growing tummy woman.

Well, what to do… Homer will have to do for today.. (D’oh!)

-stuffing-yummy-frozen-grapes-as-candy-substitutes-L

Time is ticking..

Things has been a little bit topsy turvy lately. Homer is concerned with his position here in Dubai and how there’s not much room for him to grow career wise. Meanwhile, I have a million things to do to ensure the success of a new venture here. Then comes the bomb – people back home wants Homer to come back and take up a new position, and typical for people in this company, we may have as little as 2 weeks to pack up and leave.

Alamak! My boss is going to kill me.. first I drop the news that I want to move to Dubai, then the preggios news and now, I may be leaving Dubai right smack in the middle of sensitive negotiations…

On one hand, I’m thrilled to be delivering the baby back home and having all the support I need from my family, friends and the makcik urut, but on the other hand, I’m kind of disappointed that I’ll be leaving my so called expatriate’s wives life and a handful of new friends here.

Packing will be hell.

*sigh*

I really have to stop whining.. after all, life’s been very good to me.

Tomorrow, Super-Lawyer-Gal might drop by, if she can cut her Cairo trip short. Can’t wait to goss till we drop.

-enjoying-it-while-it-lasts-L

What does it mean??

Homer told me about his dream last night.

We are taking a family photo and Homer was carrying our baby. I was standing next to him. (No, he can’t recall who snapped the picture, maybe we used the free mini tripod that came with the “i-bought-something-for-the-baby-that-turned-out-to-be-a-camera-for-him”)

As we looked at how the photo turned out, the baby was double.. DOUBLE my size.

Possible interpretations..

1. I’m going to give birth to a 10 pound baby … yikes!
2. Homer is REALLY trying to justify his latest purchase as "something for the baby".

And my favorite interpretation for this dream

3. I’ll lose all the weight I’ve gained.. that’s why I turned out so small in the picture..


-feeling-so-big-L

His and hers definition of..

“I bought something for the baby”

What I bought:
- Denim pinafore with butterfly details and matching pink bodysuit.
- 2 pack sporty jogger pants
- 2 pack newborn t-shirt
- Distressed cropped jeans
- 2 pack sleepsuit

Reason: I just couldn’t resist the sale at Next!! 50% off!!

What Homer bought:
- A new digital camera (and not even one of those small compact ones)

Reason: It had the best reviews!!

Think Homer meant the big baby in him.

-guess-who’s-checking-the-next-sale-again?-L

Alone?

All byyyyy myyyyyssseeellff
Don’t wanna live.. all byyyyy mmyyyyselffff anymooooooorrree

Remember that scene from Bridget Jones? Sad, but in my case, take it up 10 notches merrier. Confused? Yeah, me too. How can I explain this.. It’s kinda nice to be alone once in a while. The drive back from the airport was heartbreaking, then I just had the worst bout of vomiting and only slept at 2 am.

Then came the morning wake up call from Homer-in-need-of-paternity-clothes, and I’m reminded that I am left to my own devices for the next 2 days..

Am by myself in Dubai.. *shriek!!*
I have the car at my disposal but most importantly, guilt-ridden-and-needing-paternity-clothes Homer has left his cash card to ME ..

The plan is to go out towards the evening so I can exhaustively walk up and down the mall and be ready for a good night’s sleep.

…

Just realized one gigantic loophole, Homer failed to mention where I can find his banks’ ATM cash point. Aaaarrgghhhhhh…….

-forgot-about-the-bump-so-actually-not-so-alone-L

Cute boys says the darndest thing.

I was just reading the better half of the M&M couple’s email and could not believe the last bit of her message. Their cutie Haziq, upon seeing a picture of Candace Bushnell (of the famous Sex and the City writer), said “Mommy look .. Aunty L!” God bless him and his big head, he really does have one! (or maybe it was his small necked t-shirt?).

And for that, he will be forever in my good books and my approval if he ever takes my (yet unborn and hopefully) daughter out on a date.. heheheh..

Talking about my good books, Homer, at present has done it yet again. Is it so difficult to listen to your self proclaimed fashionista wife when it comes to which suit/shirt/pants to buy?? Have I ever failed him when it comes to his wardrobe? NO! So if I say, I think you should get a bigger size… you listen, I only want the best for you. And I may save you from embarrassing fat bulges and accidental rips in your all important interview.

Anyway, thanks Haziq, for making my day..

-feeling-pretty-L

We did it!!

We bought our first baby item.

We’ve been talking about this for the past 2 weeks, it is still very premature for us to get the stroller, but I am sooo in love with it that I just had to get it out of my system. For goodness sakes, the baby won’t be able to use till she’s at least 6 months, still we decided to get it since we both can’t seem to get the little traveling machine out of our minds.

Alright, we’re getting the car seat that can be mounted on the stroller frame next week, so we can use it from birth, but STILL that’s 4 months away!

Yet again, I pushed the stroller round and round the shop while Homer worked out the technical part of its assembly with the staff. In hindsight, I look like a cuckoo lady pushing an empty stroller around the store.

When we reached home I told Homer to pack the stroller nicely in its box and seal it off. I was afraid that I will start taking the stroller out and pushing it around, way before its time.

I do believe that I’m way in over my head with this baby stuff. Need to slow down, but I just can’t help myself. I’ve always been on the other side, you know, the one who’s not pregnant, the one who just got married, the one in a relationship (bad or otherwise), the one who’s happily single …

And look at me now, tummy showing, baby moving within, (empty) stroller pushing woman. My.. my.. look how I've turned out.


-Mebbe-Homer-should-hide-the-box-L

The silent scream..

Perhaps it’s the color I was wearing, perhaps it’s the extra glow or perhaps it’s because I’ve been rather mean to Homer all these while, many guessed that we’re expecting a boy..

Well what can I say .. except that the power of me (and the technician’s educated guess) may (will?) over rule all speculations. Ah, well.. irregardless, this stuff is never 100% certain. And it doesn’t really matter whether we’re getting pink or blue blankets .. as long as the baby’s healthy. But, girly stuff is becoming so irresistible…

Moving on, I did the unthinkable… No it’s not what you think, I did something that kinda shocked Homer for a whole 2 minutes! Ready? I ripped his already thoroughly worn undies. Yes, you heard it right, I tore his favorite underwear.

I told him many times to throw his comfy undie away, so while folding laundry last night, I was so irritated with that one grey underwear, that I just started nagging and after a few minutes I snapped; and ripped it with my bare hands!!

If I could frame that particular Homer moment, it’ll creepily look something like “The Scream”.




I can never understand the bond between a man and his favorite underwear, I suppose it’s similar to a child with his blankie (or bantal busuk). After his fantastic impersonation of Edvard Munch’s Scream; he proceeded to take the ripped undie, wore it and paraded a-la-Chippendale.

Lesson sorely learned. NEVER EVER destroy your loved ones favorite clothing item; especially underwear.

-still-having-nightmares-L

You ready for the tummy?

Yesterday, as I lay down watching the monitor, I was in complete awe. We saw the four ventricles of the heart... the baby's heart!! Everything after that swished by.. feet, legs, arms, hands, fingers, brain, umbilical cord .. I had a hard time making out what was what.. and secretly hoped that this would not affect my ability to be a good mother.

And then came the best news, "everything looks great L .. would you like to know the baby's sex?"

Yes.. (are you kidding me?? of course!!)

Looks like you're going to have a baby ................

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I'm halfway through now and one thing I noticed about me is that I look more pregnant towards the evening.

Here's a snap of me getting my cardio workout for the day.. *flick, flick and flick some more!*

-huff-puff-L