*

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Rachel is growing - going thru the 1st month video!

instead of spending time to rest during my confinement, i took time to load photos and do up videos of my little gal's progress thru the month! When i played these videos to gx, i like it when i see my hubby smiling away...


also as a special thanks i made a video for all the people who came to see our little gal and showering us with lovely gifts. we played these videos thruout the party to let everyone watch our little one's daily growth and i didnt want people to keep the tv loud, switching channels non-stop like during cny!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Rachel's pretty party clothes!

How can i forget to thank a very important person! That person would be my Aunt o! I am very thankful to her as she got our little gal the prettiest baby party clothes! She helped me dressed our little one like a princess! Rachel looked so girly in her outfits!

for the party at mum's, little Rach wore a princess top with a matching skirt which is so bridal like! her little skirt was layered with baby pink organza! then it had a silky smooth pink ribbon at the top of the skirt and this silk ribbon lined the sleeves of the princess top. think the nicer shots of her in this outfit is in my sil's camera. haven got time to get it from her!

then on the actual full month, we dressed her in white for the dinner! well, Aunt O said that they didnt have mummy's angel.... bet all the mums bot that! so she bot daddy's angel for our little one, which makes her daddy very happy! as for me, i get to take pics with her little pair of shiny angel's wings! it made her look so angelic...!

our little one slept thru the 1st party even when its so noisy with about 40 guests in the living room! ... then her actual full-month dinner, she slept thru again. so we talked to her to keep awake for her last party! she did slighty better... for those who came earlier, got to see her awake but not for long as she prefered her very own slumber party instead. yes lucky Rach got nice socks that aunt o chose to match the outfit! i called her my little swan!
how outfits did my Aunt O buy for Rachel? before the party she came with the princess skirt and 3 tops. There is one more top she haven got to wear. then she got her 2 children to give Rach an outfit with matching socks and she herself gave us a box with a very pretty french dress that has a matching bottom to hide her diapers and a nice girly pair of matching socks! Lucky Rachel! Lucky me as i dun have time to go out to shop and the effort she took to shop! Aunt O made my little baby so pretty on her special days!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

People we need to thank very much for making the party happen!

First party on 5th July 2009, Actual celebration on 10th July 2009 and 2nd party on 11th July 2009.
My girl has turned 1month old last friday! from not planning to hold any full month party... we had 3 parties for my little one! One at my mum's place for my side of relatives and my close buddies and gx's collegues, one on actual day just for our immediate family members and then one at tpy for gx's side of relatives and his frens and our group of classmates from SI.
when i told my frens we are keeping it simple by giving away cakes as we have too many relatives and we would need a huge place and it will almost be a mini wedding if we have to hold one... and my in-laws didnt want to trouble everyone to travel all the way to see their little grand-daugther..... my frens bet it wot be the case... well, they were right.... when the 3rd person told me -impossible that i won't hold a party for my dear baby.... i did spend my last few weeks before Rachel was born searching for buffets, cakes, think of what i want my little gal's party to be like, went thru many menus from restuarants and look for venue to hold the event... i dun like to feel lost, rushed into making decisions and i was sure that i won't have time (which i was right!) i wanted to be prepared with info if there was gog to be any party!

well... many relatives send us well-wishes and then told my in-laws they will definitely be there for the party.... em..... party... yes that gave the turning point when many said they will sure come!

No time to update my June's experiences! Its already mid-july! but i need to thank 2 people who i found on the internet! they made my party memorable! First of all, i am so glad i found Aunty Yochana! She is my idol! i found her while i was searching for recipes. then i became a follower on her blog. She bakes almost everyday! Bakes everything and anything is possible! i am very lucky to have found her! i saw the Pirates Macaron Croquembouche she did for a boy, i knew i wanted one for my gal! check out the pics aunty uploaded! she updates her blog regularly and with her permission, i have the links to the creation she made for my little gal!http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/1-month-old-rachels-macaron.html

below is the link where she took pics of the macarons she baked and it so beautiful! i attended sit&watch marcaron class before and i know its not easy to have it all look so beautiful! she is incredible! there are 101 macarons in my croquembouche but maybe she pipped more than 101! http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/macaron-shells.html

when i walked into the kitchen to meet aunty, i felt nervous and excited.... sure i was excited! when i step into her kitchen... i was like a little gal in a candy house! gosh! she has a huge oven... like the ones in a bakery! there were 2 huge trays of biscuits in the oven! then i saw the island in the middle of the baking room... wot call it a kitchen after i saw so many baking equipments in this room! OMG! when i saw my macarons creation sitting on the marble island, i scream! Heinkein ad... yes this was a dream kitchen and i love the creation she did for my little gal! she had a whole shelf just filled with colourings and flavourings.... the mutli cooling rack like the ones in the bakery... heavens! For those who reads her blog... she is not old! she is young looking! i gave her a hug to express my joy which was uncontainable!

she is so sweet just like desserts! she was so kind to show me another box she prep and its a gift from her to my little gal! its a beautiful stroller agaragar! its so pretty and we had a simple agaragar cake-cutting ceremony with my guests who stayed till evening!
http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/babys-stroller-for-rachel.html

thats not all! then she hands me a paper bag.... so sweet of her, she gave me some baby themed cookies that were nicely decorated! i gave these to people who helped me alot thru the confinement and helping me run the party!
http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/stroller-cookies.html
http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/babys-clothes.html

for my 2nd party, i have already ordered a pooh bear agaragar (pooh bear holding a number 1 - to represent 1 month!) from my regular agaragar maker, then i wanted something that everyone can take home... so i called on aunty to bake some lovely pooh bears cookies for my party at tpy! in comparison, i knew that there are more kids coming for the tpy party. http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/phoo-bear-lollipop-cookies-for-dear.html
the cookies were so pretty! Aunty shocked me when i took one cookie to examine her detailed work.... when i turned the lollypop cookie.... i saw my gal's name! she pipped for all 40 cookies i ordered! i was amazed!
just 4 days away from the party, i gave aunty a call to order a pooh bear agar agar from her.... i was afraid when the 2nd batch of guest coming at the 2pm slot, will not get to see the pooh bear jelly so i decided to try aunty yochana's agar agar... in comparison aunty yochana's agaragar has less coconut which was more refreshing and cooling! many of my friends prefered her version! the 3d agaragar was so heavy! all the kids fell in love it once i took it out to display!
http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2009/07/phoo-bear-agar-agar.html
Thank you Aunty Yochana for all the lovely cheesecake and black sesame swissroll! all your bakes are very nice and everyone in the family liked it! we are all amazed with your baking!

then i need to thank another blogger Elyn. http://esjoie.wordpress.com/
i chanced upon her blog and i got many cookie cutters from her and she was so kind to share her cookie recipe with me and i managed to make some butter cookies for my gal's party. I punched out 3 trays of little pooh bear faces and my cousins loved them and i sure hope the rest of the people who tried them would agree! also i need to thank Ann for helping me bake brownies for my little gal's party and also for preparing the cookie dough for me. Dap for cutting out many Rachel's name! sorry i didnt get to use it for this party as i didnt manage to bake my cupcakes as i planned! Thanks to dap who shopped for the little rocking horses with me and also helped me prep the cookie dough! for taking half a day to help me out for my party! Big thanks to my aunt k and nesa who made 5 trays of cheesecake which i served only to family members.
i also need to thank my dad, mum, mil, fil for cleaning up the house and preparing for the party! they worked so hard without us helping out! Also thanks to Ann's bf Edmond! he helped me entertained the kids at my mum's with his balloon sculpting! he can do wonders with the balloons! he made pink panther, flowers and the kids loved it! Big thanks to my sister, my bil and my sil and bf for sponsoring new balloons and pumping helium for the existing balloons for the party! if i missed anyone out please forgive me as i have very poor memory now!!!

Thank you to all the people who made the party possible by turning up! We thank everyone for all the well-wishes and all the lovely gifts showered on our little gal. There were too many people at the party and if i didn't get to interact with you... please forgive my poor hospitality! gosh, i was aching all over on party days and feeling very tired but i was very happy to see everyone!
From Gx, Me and baby Rachel! THANK YOU EVERYONE For being part of our celebration!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

what happen!

very sad! i spent some time to post the last post and wanted to update a few photos of my little one to show everyone how my little girl is doing. wanted to show the photos of my little Rachel, how she melts my heart even when i feel pain in my shoulders from carrying her for a good 1hour! but i wasted my sleeping time as the photos were not uploaded even thou it says its uploaded! frustrating!

Wanted to post pics on my 1st full-month party but am unable to again today! its crazy! dun ever think i wil be able to document the whole of june that has past and now wonder if july is gog to fly past too!

Friday, July 3, 2009

gosh its been 3 weeks!

Time pass very fast with a new born in the house! every hour there is something to prep, something to wash, something to do! Of cos the feeding, the washing, the diaper changing and carrying, patting baby to sleep. after so many days with Rachel my little darling, she is getting good at telling us what she wants and we are getting good at reading what she needs us to do.

She sticks out her little tongue and making her little mouth round when she wants milk and when she is super hungry and we doubt her thus holding back, she will start to suck her fist or our arm .... then we move quickly to get her milk as she only gives us 3mins before she breaks into her cry! but we are coping well i must say and i thankful that my hubby helps out alot! sometimes even take the early nite shift on his own. also with the strong support at home, we get to sleep after dinner till about mn before we get back on shift.

Just this Tuesday, i brought her to see pediatrician... for diaper rash and cheek rash. she's got wind in tummy too... it cost $110 but the med work and i was relieve to see her getting better and not have to suffer from the red dots! it was painful for me to see her that way. Also on tuesday... by chance she cried when i was expressing milk... had to stop to carry her and she just latched on ... i was over the moon! miracle! must say she must be scared to see the nurses as we told her the plans for the next day... to see doc and then to the lactation nurses for help. anyway glad she managed to latch on and as there is a steady milk flow from expressing and i have been latching on since for 3 times a day and i still feed her formulae. guess i haven established enough yet to feed her! but i am happy with the progress. need to thank angie and penny for popping by to chat with me and got more advise with BF and also thanks to penny recommendation to get hotstone therapy but i couldn't get a slot, but i got a hotstone to massage before expressing and somehow it does help to increase milkflow!

am i having blues... 1st 2week wasa crazy! stress from both mothers... i know they care and love me and the baby... but sometimes the many questions, the many things they tell me to do... they concern over the breastmilk... drives me nuts. i am super sensitive esp when BREASTMILK is mention.... is it enough? is it the heaty food i eat affects the milk she drinks thus the cheek rash... OMG!!! i was suffering! had a showdown with my mum and i know she is upset with me and she doesnt want to upset me... but i really didnt need any more nagging! as for my mil, i only can sort it out with gx and he was caught in bewteen. But we both have worked things out and now we are working it fine. making it clear to both mothers and gaining their trust that we are capable to look after our baby.

had alot of plans for the party this weekend. but had to scape most of the plans as i seriuosly dun have the kind of time i wished i had to do them all. i decided not to be greedy and do what i can. From not having a party just want to give out pretty packages of cakes to relatives, we are now holding 2 parties. one at my mum's this sunday and one next saturday at my in-laws place. we are splitting friends into 2 groups. bigger groups of friends to be at tpy and smaller groups of friends and gx's collegues to be at my mums. its gog to be a huge group on both side! 80 on mums and 70 at tpy...

the best thing that happen since my baby is born... my relationship with my dad is so much better. he gave me alot of support during my confinement and he helped to look after little rachel at nite. My gal for the 1st 2 weeks don't like to sleep in air-conditioned room! so we camp in the living room with her. lucky rachel has 2 cots, passed down from the twins. sometimes when i am so tired, dad takes over my place and i get to have good rest in the room. he is oso the only person who is on shift thus the only one who is home most often in the afternoon, to lend me a helping hand.

confinement food - i must thank mum for working out my meals. she plans the menu for each day, walk thru the recipes with the maid, A. mary and i must say she trained Mary well that she cooks very well. i have best nourishment thanks to my mum and my mil have also been buying the green papaya and fish over to stock up for Mary to make soup for me. i am very lucky to have 2 mothers who fuss over my health.

this week, baby has been more well-behaved, less carrying-tantrums and i must thank my hubby who speaks to baby about it everynite, telling her to behave... i am suffering from worse wrist pain, back pain as i have bending over the cot endlessly to carry baby and put her in.... hate it on days that i am to carry her and not allowed to rest my feet! but she is a baby.... she melts my heart when she makes a cute face... my little anpan face is so cute and it calms me down when she stops crying or when the carry and walk-round the house cause pain in my body! being parents is not easy... but its a world of new experience and its worth it!

gota pen off althou there are so many things to write about! gota do as much as i can before she wakes up for shower and milk before i have my lunch and i need to do something for the party.
looking forward to the party this Sunday!