The Arrival of Lil Bean

Many things have happened since I saw you last. First things first, Lil Bean came early at 37 weeks! I had to have a C-section as the placenta had stopped working. Imagine.. on my checkup the previous Thursday, Lil Bean was 2.7kg. The following Monday, his weight dropped to 2.4kg. Needless to say, Fella and I were darn scared. We were told to admit ourselves to the hospital immediately. We were stunned, scared but excited cos finally the long weight was over. Lil Bean was coming!

After lunch, we made our way to the hospital. My hospital bag was already in the car. We got our room, and soon were on the way to the labour room to monitor Lil Bean's heartbeat. The Good Doctor said that if Lil Bean's heartbeat was not how it was supposed to be, it would have to be an emergency C-section. Only God knew how I felt at that time. I rubbed my belly, and whispered to Lil Bean to be strong. Thank God his heartbeat was normal! The C-section was then scheduled for the next day, which was a Tuesday.

Back in the room, I realised that I had only packed a change of clothes for fella! I had prepared my stuff and Lil Bean's stuff, and totally forgot about Fella's stuff! Sorry, hon. Fella went home to pick up more clothes. My parents and sister came by to show their support and promised to come again the next day.

That night Fella and I held each other, nervous and excited. We talked to Lil Bean, and told him that we love him and that we'll see each other soon. Just come out healthy.

The next day, as I was wheeled into the OT, many thoughts were racing in my head. The Good Doctor had warned us before this that Lil Bean would come out when I was at 37 weeks, but we were trying to negotiate to deliver at 38 weeks. Boleh tak? The reason was because we were supposed to move into our new house, and I wanted to get most of the things done before I delivered. Needless to say, the Good Doctor was not amused. Thinking back, I think he knew that Lil Bean was in distress.. he just didn't want to alarm us.

As I went down that stark hallway, I prayed to God to please keep Lil Bean safe. Let him be born healthy.

Fella came into the OT just after they administered the local anaesthetic. I would be conscious throughout the delivery - I just wouldn't feel any pain. Fella sat next to me and held my hand. We couldn't see the procedure as a curtain blocked our view.

Sure enough, I felt no pain, although I could feel some light tugging. The nurse holding my other hand told me to be ready, Lil Bean was coming out soon. Fella and I looked at each other. He mouthed "I love you" and kissed my hand.

Then, a flurry of activity. Suddenly I heard the sweetest sound I've ever heard; Lil Bean's cry. Immediately tears welled up in my eyes. Fella looked at me, teary eyed as well and squeezed my hand. My baby's finally here!

Fella had brought in his DSLR. He had taken photos of me during the procedure, and was about to take the most important shot of all. Lil Bean's first ever photo. He got that first shot - Lil Bean's face all scrunched up, umbilical cord freshly cut. Even now, it's the most gorgeous photo I have ever seen.

They cleaned Lil Bean up and handed him to Fella, to recite the azan in his ears. Then, they handed him to me. My Lil Boy. I gave him a kiss as I looked at his face for the very first time. Alhamdulillah, syukur kepada Allah. My Boy was perfect.

My Lil Boy came to this world on 1 December 2009. He weighed just 2.42kg. The Good Doctor told me that we were just in time. Had we waited just a few more days, he would have been in distress and in danger.

I thanked Allah for giving me a gorgeous and healthy son. I couldn't believe how in love I am with this boy I had only laid eyes on a few minutes ago. The long wait was well worth it.

Maybe I'll tell you more about Lil Boy another day.

For now, all I want to do is to just kiss him.

8.5 Weeks & Counting..

The third trimester is already here, and without realising, I have only about 8.5 weeks to go till Lil Bean is born.. How time flies..

I'm getting scared and excited at the same time. Sometimes I just can't wait for Lil Bean to arrive, but then I get so scared because I'm nowhere near prepared to welcome Lil Bean into this world:

1) The new house isn't anywhere near ready to move into
2) I haven't even started packing
3) Our total number of baby stuff is 6 rompers, 1 hoodie and 1 cute cow bottle Fella bought in Geneva (this includes the 1 romper & hoodie which I've misplaced!)
4) I've only just started reading up on labour and contractions
5) I know squat about everything else!

Then I get all excited again when I see Lil Bean's little face in 3D. We did a 3D scan recently, and though Lil Bean was shy at first, we finally managed to see such a cute face at the end (my chin & Fella's nose!). Now it's my wallpaper everywhere, and I can just stare at that picture all day.

Can't wait too see you my little darling!

Fella's Birthday Dinner

I didn't make a cake for my fella's birthday. One, I didn't have time. Two, since moving to our own place, I didn't have time to buy bakeware (used to pau all Mom's bakeware + oven when we were living at my parents!). Three, I only have a teeny round electric oven which I got by redeeming Bonuslink points.

So anyway.. I just made him dinner. The menu was: fresh onion soup (with invisible cheese toast), steak with creamy turmeric sauce with creamy potato salad and banoffee pie for dessert. The reason the cheese toast was invisible was because I didn't have time to make it because we were trying to catch The Amazing Race Asia at 9 pm (So romantic, kan?). In the end we managed to miss TARA, but made it for 24, so all was not lost :)

Anyway... I forced the birthday boy to take photos of only the main course, so enjoy!

My Fella :)

Today is my hubby's birthday. We've known each other for about 10 years, and been married to 7 of them.

Yep. Seven years. Unfortunately, we haven't been blessed with any little ones, though that's in my prayers everyday. (But that's a different story). So instead, we've spent these years learning about each other and loving each other either more, or in spite of what we've learnt. Heh.

What I love about my fella is that he gets me. He knows me and he surprises me when I think he hasn't been listening. We think the same things, we finish each other's sentences and we voice each other's thoughts. And though we spend nearly every minute together, there are still things to talk about, and stories to share.

I'm blessed to have my fella in my life. And I hope he feels the same way about me too. (Sidenote: Yang, you'd better!!!)

I love you, yang :)

Night Out at the Movies

I'm bored. I have tons of editing to do, but I'm not in the mood to do any. 'Cos I'm bored. (Have I said that already?) My fella and I thought we'd go watch a movie, but there's nothing to watch. Maybe we'll just watch DVDs tonight instead.

My fella and I have simple tastes when it comes to movies. I personally don't enjoy movies that make me think too much. I know that probably puts me in the non-cool urban yuppie category, but hey, there's so much to think about in everyday life, why the heck should I pay good money to think some more?

That's not to say that I don't watch heavy dramas and such, to me, it's no longer entertainment. I like movies which go beyond the realm of normalcy, for e.g. car scenes from the Transporter & James Bond franchise.

I like action movies and romantic comedies. I love The Wedding Singer, and wish my fella would sing "Grow old with you" to me constantly. I love the Italian Job, although half of it is because I want to go to Venice, and partly because I adore Seth Green (especially as Oz in Buffy).

I love Die Hards 1-3, although I balk somewhat at Live Free and Die Hard, because Bruce Willis didn't seem like John McClane in it, unless John McClane became a broody, tired and lethargic old man since the last movie came out.

I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy although I sat through nearly the whole of the first movie thinking Legolas was played by James Marsters (Spike of Buffy fame) and marvelling at the wonderful make-up job that made him look so young.

I love treasure hunt type of movies, so National Treasure, Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade and Da Vinci Code occupy a special place in my heart. That said, how much did it suck that Tom Hanks played Robert Langdon??? I mean, dude was wooden, boring and don't even get me started about the hair!

I hate most Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie movies, and not just because I like Jennifer Aniston (well, her movies aren't that great either). I think most Brangelina movies are hyped 'cos they're pretty people, and I strongly believe that the only reason Angelina Jolie got that Oscar was because she played a crazy person, which er.. was kind of who she was then.

I love Sandra Bullock movies, even the semi-boring Lake House, although While You Were Sleeping will always be my favourite. Speed would be my next favourite, and partly 'cos for all his woodenness, I actually do like Keanu Reeves.

I like Hugh Grant movies as well. Love Actually and Music and Lyrics are my current fave. I would like to sing "Pop! Goes My Heart" when I see my fella, complete with pelvic twists and thrusts.

I love love love (!) Monsters Inc., and not just because Boo reminded me of my niece, Elise.

I love P. Ramlee comedies 'cos they're P. Ramlee comedies. Enough said.

My fella's taste is easier. As long as there's Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac, Eddie Murphy or Cedric the Entertainer, he's happy. Oh. And he likes Italian Job too.

Movies should just be for entertainment. And to me, anything that can make me forget life's troubles for 2 hours is money well spent.

Never Underestimate the Photographer's Determination

My hubby at work. Er.. not that he's in this position every time, but you get what I mean.

Business As Usual

My hubby and I have a photography & videography services business called StudioLine Photography. My hubby's a professional photographer, and he's been doing this full-time for the past 6 years. I joined him about 4 years ago.

Talk about our true calling. My hubby has a B.Acc, and was working as an IT Auditor. I hold an LL.B, and was working with a well-known legal publisher. However well we did our job, we were never truly happy & satisfied with work though.

At the end of the day, both of us decided to throw caution to the wind and do something we both love. So, about 4 months before our wedding, he took his VSS and started this business full-time. Once the business picked up, I left my job to join him.

Alhamdulillah, business has been flourishing, and we've just started advertising and hoping to expand the business. Among others, we're offering all types of photo & video services, including retouching & restoring old and damaged photographs, multimedia presentations and photobooks.

We're in the midst of diversifying the business and we'll keep you in touch with our future endeavours.

Above is a copy of our press ad in The Weekend Mail (every weekend this November).

Flu Season

Ugh..It's flu season. My poor hubby is down with it, and so are my niece & nephews, plus some of their maids. Hope I manage to avoid it cos me sick is not a pretty sight.

Yang, Elise, Eric, Elixir & Elijaz, get well soon!

My Fella

The love of my life :) My darling hubby. Don't worry.. didn't rob the cradle.. he was 5 when this photo was taken.