I'm getting worried.

Really!

I have been putting on tonnes of weight due to my "alleged" Gestational Diabetes Mellitus that I'm actually getting worried. Well, worried may be a slight understatement, I'm downright PETRIFIED!... I haven't lost my baby weight post Julian (baby no 1) and now I'm running baby no 3.

Oh my god, now that that's out in the open, and that it's in writing, I can see clearly that I have to start some sort of post partum weight loss diet/exersize (post baby, that is)

Yes, I know breastfeeding is supposed to take up 500 calories a day, but looking at my current eating habits, if I do continue this.... well, I'll be the heaviest one at home. 

That's not good!!! So while scouring the net, I managed to discover some secrets to post partum weight loss...

1. multiple meals throughout the day (low cal of course)

2. resistance training

3. interval training

4. breastfeeding

Sounds super easy when I jot it down like that, but this is what I have to do since I quite obviously don't have Skinny Genes.

Current photo of me, at 36 weeks pregnant... know what I mean?

I will definitely get a post partum photo, just to remind myself what I need to do...

Our Christmas Tree...

This is the time of the year I absolutely LOVE! I wait and wait for December the whole year because it's time to celebrate... there's Christmas Eve, Christmas day, Christmas caroling, and this year there's going to be Little Pumpkin too... (arriving AFTER Christmas, fingers crossed!). More to celebrate this year... the festivities, smell of Christmas in the air, the Christmas cheer... and of course, the holidays! What more? hehe

So, we decided to put the Christmas tree up a little earlier this year, instead of the usual 12 days before Christmas. Julian and Genevieve were delighted and the joy on their faces were... ahhhh!!!! No words can describe it! Julian's 3rd and Genevieve's 2nd Christmas... but I would say it's the 1st Christmas that they are both taking part in the decoration of the Great Christmas Tree.

Ours is 7 feet tall, and many many years old... and we've been collecting decorations only like for 20 years... haha... gleeful!!!

Genevieve : excited looking at the Christmas balls

Maran helping the 2 tots hang up decos... at their height

Julian hanging up a snowman

Still trying to get it right

STILL trying to get it right... hehe. You need nimble fingers, my dear boy

Maran showing off the stars

Maran getting the proper dimensions to hang up the star

Maran hanging up the star

Julian monkey-ing around

And Maran's no better

Genevieve looking at the 2 guys wondering how to get in on the fun

My mom and Genevieve

Tired OLD Maran,decided to crash on the sofa

My dad and Julian

Julian decides that he needs a little more height

And finally crashes UNDER the tree

 What an eventful afternoon.... How I wish we had Christmas every month!!! hmmmm...

The fussy baby

It has been 3 weeks since I last wrote something on Blog... well, that's NOT because I've delivered Little Pumpkin...(oh I so wish!) but mainly because of some health concerns... namely SPD (symphysis pubis distraction) and GDM  ( late onset Gestational Diabetes Mellitus).. Yep I know, very sad. Very very sad indeed.

I have been keeping myself very busy (trying as much as possible NOT to walk) with the computer, loading myself up with knowledge - you can never have too much- about breastfeeding/ pumping breast milk/ finding a name for Little Pumpkin/ how to manage a fussy child etc... and since I have been relegated /banished to the couch and the bed because I can't walk much these days, I might as well do as much research as possible before Little Pumpkin arrives.

Yes, I do have 2 babies already, but after the failure to breastfeed for more than 2 and 3 months each due to a multitude of problems... I have decided to be successful this time (since it's the last time anyway.. hehe). I wanted to share this wonderful article I found online regarding fussy babies. Something I never ever knew I was doing wrong with both my little ones when they were a coupla weeks old, which actually leads me to believe now, that THIS was probably the reason why I started having decreased BM supply and the eventual failure to continuously breastfeed.

A wonderful article which I think many will benefit from : http://www.mother-2-mother.com/cc-baby-B.htm#Fussiness

I will be going in for my Blood Sugar Profile (BSP) tomorrow, for the 3rd time and I hope that against all odds, it comes back normal. I did have durian yesterday, much against Maran's wishes but credit to me, it was the 1st time this pregnancy and I couldn't control myself. I shall be a good girl from now onwards.

Conversations...

I've been having short conversations with Julian for almost 6-8 months now, but it has always been me asking the questions, or initiating conversation. He's a good boy, and does answer all my questions but most of the time only I can understand him hehe!

So yesterday, after picking him up from his Playschool, whilst in the car we had the following conversation...

Julian: Amma, Julian bathed in school today.
Me: Really? That's good! Who gave you a bath?
Julian: Teacher Rose. Was nice.
Me: Wow! Was it really nice?
Julian: Yes, was nice. Julian bathed in cold water.
Me: (slightly shocked) Cold water? Are you sure darling? Was the water cold or hot?
Julian: Hot water....(then he started laughing... cheeky monkey)
Me: Did you like the hot water bath?
Julian: Yes it was nice. Julian wants mum mum(that's food in his language). Julian wants to eat rice and chicken curry.
Me: Alright, let's go home and have some rice and chicken curry.
Julian: Thank you Amma.

See? Such a lengthy conversation between my 24 ++ month old and me... And with such clarity of speech and thought.

Haha!

The light of my life

"You guys only met in April?", most people would exclaim. And gawk at the idea that we got married a mere 10 months later.

But when you meet your soulmate, why wait? Why not just let the whole world know that He's The One??? Haha... So that's what I did. On February the 7th 2009, I married my husband, Maran. The best decision I've made in my life.

Not really one who's ambitious or even remotely independent (being an Indian girl, completely sheltered), Maran's made me the person I've always wanted to be. Complete, privileged and loved unconditionally.

When I gained 20kg's when I was carrying Julian, all he said was..."My fit little bird (because I was extremely active even to the extent of water jetting at 26 weeks)... no problems there... I love you the way you are".

When I gained another 15kg's while carrying Genevieve, all he said was..."You're an angel with another angel inside you, stay healthy...that's all that matters".

And now, when I'm actually heavier than him at 32weeks knowing that I'm probably going to peak at point of delivery, all he says these days are..."Baby, are you absolutely sure you don't need anymore prune juice/ice cream?".

A management consultant with a top notch firm, who works 14-16 hour days, who spends most of the week within the SEA region, who flies to 2 different countries a week on most weeks... know what he does when he comes home? Snuggle up to me, and washes his babies bum bums. Not once does he let me lift a little finger to do a single thing when he's home. And I don't.

When I need or want something (however unnecessary), all I have to do is ask... and it's provided. A wonderful husband, and an excellent dad. Julian, Genevieve, Little Pumpkin and I am blessed.

Who wouldn't love this man?

My newborn niece

Abhilaasha.

That's her name. Pretty name for such a pretty little baby girl.

After months of waiting for her arrival, my (cousin) sister, Christina gave birth to Abhilaasha via Caesarian Section in Metro Maternity Hospital on the 14th November 2011 at approximately 7:44am. Born with a birth weight of 2.6kg, she's a tiny bundle of joy.

Abhilaasha, when you do see this in many years to come, always remember this... we loved you before you were born, and we love you even more now... be kind and humble, respectful of your elders and believe in God the Almighty. You have far to go, and we'll always be there to help move the stones in your path.

Chinamma (that's me) wishes you good health and happiness for the rest of your life.

Little Abhilaasha, at Day 4 of life.

She and me... please excuse the ugly photo of me... I was post a very painful MGTT, fasting with no make-up.

A slightly better photo (of me), Abhi you always look good. Taken on Day 10 of life.

When you have only 2 hands.

When I initially got married, I had thought to myself then that I was going to honeymoon for the first 2 years... and then start a family.

Yeah right!

It has been 2 years and 9 months since I married my darling husband Maran, and to this date I have 2 children aged 2 years, 1 year and am 8 months pregnant. Which means, on the 7th of February 2012 (which would be my 3rd wedding anniversary), I'll actually already have 3 children!!!

The thought scares me.

Mainly because I only have 2 hands.

This is what happens with the current 2 little ones at any one point of time.

All nice and happy, it's only Genevieve

Then comes Julian, he wants some action too

OK, fine... Maran lets him get on the swing too

Genevieve decides to swivel to sit, and Julian is on his feet... Ahh difficult, but Maran managed

I don't really remember how Maran swished Gen around and Julian to sit.

But he did, One happy family, with no bruises/ cuts.

 I have NO CLUE how I'm going to deal with 3 kids in 2 months time...

The perils of POTTY TRAINING.

I decided to potty train Julian when he turned 18 months old mainly for 2 reasons.
1. So when he starts pre-school in Kinderland (still deciding) when he turns 30 months, he'll be sufficiently PT'ed.
2. I can save on a tonne of money, as Jessica has pointed out in her blog.
3. I can boast to everyone that my 1 and a half year old is DIAPER-FREE!!! hehe...

I had prematurely bought 2 potty's and strewn them around the house thinking he would use it on his own when he turned 1... Hah! Yeah right, on his own? No way! With Julian and his pee-pee and poo-poo... it was ALWAYS in the diaper or on the floor, he never used to go in his potty, no matter how much i coaxed or bribed him. So his potty was left unused until I came across some articles regarding Potty Training.

Articles which are good to read:
1. http://www.babycenter.com/0_potty-training-in-three-days-or-less_10310078.bc

2. http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2008/05/29/quick-and-easy-potty-training/#ixzz1WD1f1Jw1
(this is the one I followed) 

3. http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/A-How-to-Potty-Train-One-Day.html

Books which are good to get/read from a library:






Although the concept is somewhat similar, I would still stick to the above link(the one I have highlighted in red), only because it worked for me. This book has worked wonders for many mommies too.

I had tonnes of rest the day before "THE DAY" as I knew I had to be on my toes, watching Julian like a hawk, and running around with a cloth and mop (not that I did this on my own, I had a maid to help.. God bless her!). I had placed 1 potty in the kitchen (at the back of the house), 1 potty in the hall (in the front of the house) and 1 potty upstairs. I managed to keep Julian in the same room most of the day, so I wouldn't need to run around washing too many potties (smart move on my side, if I say so myself).

I started PT'ing at 7:30am on a Monday, and he was successfully potty trained by 5pm the same day. Not a miracle if I can do it. And he has been diaper free from then onwards, except when he naps in the afternoon, and when he sleeps at night. Crazy, but true!!!

(Sometimes, due to my paranoid nature, I still have his diapers on when I bring him out/ when we have guests over... he can get over-excited!)