Excited but Nervous

Excited and nervous, yes that is my feeling since yesterday. I am excited that i know the day i'll be seeing my baby but at the same time I am also nervous to go through the whole birth experience again. The first time, I dont really know much so it's kind of I just went with the flow. The second time around, it's different as I have experienced the pain, the waiting process, the epidural, everything. It's painful, nobody can deny the agony of labour and different birth will not be the same- that is what I heard so I think I just need to pray for a smooth delivery.

Meanwhile I have spent time making some keyrings and even cloth wipes. It was a good experience to be able to use my own two hands to create things.Just visit my fb page at the corner of this blog. I'll be taking a month break from sewing to rest and of course getting to know the new addition in the family. I plan to take longer leave from work if my boss permits. With the lack of manpower in the office, it's very unlikely that she will approve my leave but I will try. I still bring my work home and still working at home...sigh.

Well, in between I managed to make few clutches and wetbags- some of them I didnt even manage to take photos, my friends grabbed them as soon as they see the fabrics..in the end I cant even have one for myself..Will make afte rmy confinement. It's a good therapy for me.

Updates

I have been staying at home for two days now. I tried to rest and just spend time playing with Sona and watch TV but I guess I am not the homey type. I feel restless. So I made more keyring and cut some fabrics to make wetbags. I have lots of fabric and I have been trying very hard not to shop for more. Baby is breech this week and I was quite tempted to go easy labour in the operation room but DH said we wait for another week. If he is still on in his position next week and my glucose level is high, we will see him next week. Meanwhile, I can still watch TV and eat whatever I want..yea..

More about Cheap Supplements and Whey Protein

I am happy today. I have started my leave. Of course I still have work to do but since I have my computer at home and I have the internet why bother going to office? I have a dateline to submit two reports today and I am doing it now, yes at the comfort of my home. Another good news, two of our major meeting has been postponed. So, I’ll take my time preparing the reports. Remember my wish to get cheap supplements ? I was also trying to get more information about whey protein. I have just completed a series of blood test yesterday to check my glucose level and I am happy to shout that it’s normal. I just have to continue with my normal diet and I have found a site which I can get my cheap supplements. The whey protein,  I think I’ll get it when I’ve started my gym routine again. Have a nice day friends, I am sure I will have as I have another two weeks before this active boy of mine to make a grand entrance to this world and give me sleepless night. Meanwhile, I can continue designing new clutches or wallets. Right now, I am making some wet bags.

Whey Protein For Pregnant Lady

I have been trying to lessen my intake of carbohydrate. The reasons, I have gained a lot of weight and I am afraid of giving birth to a huge baby. Imagine if I have a bigger baby and have to deliver him naturally. To reduce the chance of oversize baby, I took a lot of fruits everyday. I will eat at least one banana and one apple a day. Little did I know that this will increase the glucose in my blood? I went for a check up twice and true enough, I have high level of glucose in my body. If I can’t take lots of carbohydrate and sugar, the only thing that I know that can replace them is protein. I am changing my diet again to fish. I hope this will work and not too late as I am already into my 38th weeks of pregnancy. Baby is already weighing 34.4kg and he can come out anytime soon. Talking about protein, what do you know about whey protein? Are they normal protein? What do you know about whey protein? What I know is that whey protein is better than soy protein. But can pregnant ladies take whey protein? Anyone has any idea?

I Need Some Cheap Supplements

I am sure some of you know that I have been busy with my sewing projects. It took my mind off from thinking too much about my weight gain during this pregnancy. I have gained quite a lot of weight and I may need some cheap supplements to control my weight. Well, taking about sewing, this is something I have just started during this pregnancy. It was really beyond my wildest imagination that I will be hooked with the sewing machine and able to sew a few stuffs. I made some just for myself and as gifts to friends and family. To my surprise, I received few nice reviews and I have started to get orders through friend’s recommendation and of course through my facebook’s page. As my energy is depleting during this third trimester of pregnancy, I need to get some supplements to get me on the go. I hope those supplements can help me get some extra energy. I have not bought supplements for quite sometimes as it’s hard to get cheap supplements that really works. May be  I'll check one cheap supplements site that was recommended by my friend and get something from it.

Photo Of The Day

Taken just a month after she turned 2 years old

For First Time MOM

This post is for Vianne and those who are a first time mom to be. During my first pregnancy I was clueless trying to find information on what to buy for the new baby. Of course there are many websites available but most of them are overseas and I need something 'local' so I asked Susan. She is kind enough to email to me her list.Thank Zan. The problem is the list was saved in my other laptop which is now in KL, under service. Well, since I am expecting a second one this will be a reminded for me on what to get this time around.Glad that I don't actually need much, just some baby's clothes in blue colour. I wouldnt want to boy to wear pink attire, some rompers, mitten and booties in blue. I am yet to add my CD collection as I have more than enough now but who knows I may later on.

Let's start the list.

1. Diapers

a) Normal Lampin, b) Disposable Diapers, c) Modern Cloth Diapers.

I bought few normal lampin and snappy for the newborn. I did use them alternate with Cloth diapers.

 I didnt buy any disposable. How many modern cloth diapers you need depends on you but I don't recommend to buy a lot as baby will outgrow them very fast. I have about 5 for newborn and I love Kissaluv and small drybees, small happy henny, small fuzsybunz ( ops i forgot the spelling) and small GAD. I used them probably until Sona is 6 months old.Invest more of the M and L size as your baby can use them longer.

Website where I have bought my diapers from 1) Miabambina by Farrah 2) Babytotsnmom  by Miranda 3) Babymyluv by Missah and latest place where you can drool at the pretty fabrics and choose your diapers is at Rebecca's site based in Perth Australia. 4) Beansprout Bubba.

You can also check out Mycheekyboo by Bonnie.

Note : Pretty Image from Beansprout Bubba.

Can wait for my boy to come to this world so that I can shop for him.

2) Few ( May be a dozen ) of Rompers and Baby outfits.

Go for bigger size for rompers , probably 3 month or 6 months. I don't buy newborn size as there are too small.If you don't like rompers but the front button outfit so that it's easy for the baby to wear them.

3) Booties and Mittens  ( Get at least 6 pairs) for coordinating colour.You can buy this anyway, Signature as Karamunsing, Parkson, CT Dept Mall at Citymall etc etc. Easy to find

4) 6- a doz of baby towel.ou can buy this anyway, Signature as Karamunsing, Parkson, CT Dept Mall at Citymall etc etc. Easy to find

5) Bath Essentials - bath soap, shampoo etc You can buy this anyway, Signature as Karamunsing, Parkson, CT Dept Mall at Citymall etc etc. Easy to find

6) Baby bottles and Breastpump - I never use my bottles as my Sona is against it but to be safe but 1 just in case you have a difficultly breastfeeding.You can buy this anyway, Signature as Karamunsing, Parkson, CT Dept Mall at Citymall etc etc. Easy to find

7) Bathing Tub and Mat.You can buy this anyway, Signature as Karamunsing, Parkson, CT Dept Mall at Citymall etc etc. Easy to find and buy during SALE to save some money

8) Baby's Mattress and Crib . We bought ours at Little ME and now we have converted it to a small bed for Sona.

9) Wet Bag- Multipurpose use. You can keep all the soiled diapers as well as your own used cloths anytime especially when going out/ travelling.Can get at any online store selling diapers

 Images from Farrah's Sale Blog. They are on SALE!!

10) Pouch/Wrap/Ring Sling choose which one you want or buy all if you want. Beware of addiction. It can be very addictive. I think the websites to get these are at mamapatch, also at Beansproutbubba

Hmm, what else? For the mummy

Get yourself

1) Few Nursing Bra

2) Cloth Pad/ Maternity Pad

I use a lot of these during pregnancy. You can buy them from any of the cloth diapers website I have listed above

3) Nursing Pad

4) Bengkung or anything that serve that purpose.

5) Socks

6) Long Pants or anything comfy to wear during hospital stay or confinement.

Please check Joyce and Farrah's blog and her sale's blog for more information about baby needs. You can even read some birth experiences in those blogs.

I can only think of all these now, may be I'll add more later. Or anyone can just add what they bought for their newborn or first born baby.

Have Fun Shopping Vianne and share what you bought.

What Do You Think?

From Star Online,

I AGREE with both the views expressed in “Most Westerners can't afford a maid” and “Men and children should also do housework” (Sunday Star, May 23).

My daughter in Sydney is married to an engineer and they send their child to a baby-sitter. That costs them some A$80 (RM215) a day! How many of us can afford that?

And other services are also not cheap there. Like it or not, people have to live with it.

And, talking of maids, it is beyond them there. They are simply too expensive to be employed. Many have to do without them.

Maybe we Malaysians are a lucky lot, as we can still afford to have maids.

So we should not complain if Indonesian maids now ask for a little more. They deserve it.

And who says house chores are easy! Try it for a day, men, I challenge you!

So how do those in Sydney manage? They just do the daily chores, home and outside, themselves. Maybe this is what we should do here, and why not?

I have seen only women do everything at home. The men and children just laze around. I think this is not good at all.

This isn't fair to women. We have to strike a balance somewhat here. Then maybe we can live without a maid.

Mind you there are tonnes of work to be done in the house besides caring for the children. There is the laundry, the sweeping and mopping, cleaning the toilets, washing the dishes, the ironing, the cooking, dusting the windows and cabinets, changing the bed sheets, and the list goes on.

And why must men also do it alone? I like to see more children assist here.

Yes it is about time we learn to do something ourselves. We cannot be too dependent on outside assistance.

I am glad to say that I have a friend in Kuala Lumpur who assists his wife with the household chores almost daily and keeps the garden lively and flourishing. Yes, we want more of such people around.

The wife proudly revealed this to me on a recent visit. And she is happy that she herself does not have to do household chores alone, not since her husband's retirement.

Not only that, her husband now feels better doing chores.

So guys, this is something to ponder over.

BULBIR SINGH,

Seremban.

What do you think?

As for me, I am grateful that I can still afford to pay for a maid service. Both DH and I share the wages. House chores is indeed not easy to do and it's tiring.Been a working husband and wife, we appreciate time we have after work.It's priceless. It's only a few hours to spend with one another and of course with our daughter before she retire to bed. We are also blessed as both of us are in the goverment service. Less pay but we have time after 5.30pm all to ourself. I know some people who come home to see their children to sleep and leave the house even before their children's wake up. I don't like that kind of life.We chose to have maid mainly to look after Sona as she is too young to go to a day care and DH is against sending her to day care at such young age.If we are going to choose not having a maid and do all the daily chores, I can bet life will be stressfull. Personally I don't like to do all the daily chores that will drain my energy like doing the laundry, folding cloths, ironing ,sweeping and mopping the floor etc, etc. I rather use the time to read for Sona , play with her or even just lazing around with her. I think it's a choice ( provided you can afford to pay their salary) but if it's too much then nothing can be done and I will do the housework with DH and Sona.

Different type of Mattress Toppers

I had a very good sleep last night. May be because I was quite tired. The only complaint that I have is that the bed is too small for the three of us. Yes,you heard me right. I have put Sona's bed just next to our bed but somehow, in the middle of the night she will climb to our bed and join us, that makes three of us on a queen size bed.  Therefore the search for a bigger bed and Memory foam mattresses are on. I hope I will have a better sleep after this. Apart from that, I also would like to find a good mattress with a better Mattress toppers. Toppers are important as they made a good base to your body thus made sleeping more comfortable. For example transforming your mattress by adding a natural merino wool topper will help to Increases comfort, allows your body to breathe and reduces perspiration. I have never really bother about the material of the toppers but I always buy a mattress protector to protect my mattresses especially when small children are around. From now on I will look further into the different type of mattress toppers for my bedding needs. For mothers out there, do check out more about memory foam mattresses the next time you are looking for new mattresses. You may learn something as I just did. Have a good day everyone.

In search for good Bedroom Furniture

The best things about moving to a new house are the furniture selecting parts. It's kind of tiring  especially when you have to go to so many furniture shops here in town. On top of that I am doing all the surveing and shopping while being pregnant. Last month we spent almost half day going around the furniture shops in town to search for our bedroom furniture and our living room furniture. Compared to the previous house, we will not shop a lot of this house. We will bring some of the furniture from the old house to this house. Most of the furniture are still in good condition. Therefore, the hunting for the current house are just some bedroom furniture like a king bed and king mattress and living room furniture which we plan to have a set of leather sofa. The good things about our mordern technology now, everything we can find online. Check out this site when you are in search for your won bedroom furniture and living room furniture or other furnitures in the future. They have a lot of selections to choose and believe me you will be hooked to the site. Enjoy!

Heard about Wedding Insurance?

It's the month of May and it is one of the busiest month here. Sabah Fest was just launched last weekend, on the 1st of May 2010 and at the same time, the harvest festival was declared open in Keningau. In short, it's a month of celebration in KK. Everyone is looking forward to the highlight of the month, the two days public holidays at the end of the month to have fun and celebrate. In case some have not notice, it will be a very long holidays as Wesak day also falls during those long weekend. We will be having a five days holidays.yea..!!! One of my friend has booked her ticket to Universal Studio Singapore early this year. Another friend is still searching for place to visit as she has missed the cheap deal/flight to Singapore. Hey, some of us will be busy with engagement and wedding preparations.Those couple getting married, have you thought of buying a wedding insurance? I have found a good site for wedding insurance. I love the website most of all for the nice background. Do check out the content. It may be rare for people to get their wedding insurance here but for those who plans to get married in the UK or overseas, I reckon that you should have it. Anything can happen during those preparation such as lost of luggages. The start up premium is quite low too. To everyone, enjoy this month. Happy Kaamatan!

Memory foam mattress

I am already in third trimester and I can feel that my movement is getting slower, I can't run and walk fast as I used too. Baby is actively kicking every now and then, telling me that he just can't wait to get out and see the world. It's May and as always, May, June and July are the busiest month of my life especially at work. Due to some changes of plan sometime last March the new house renovation has been delayed. Work has just started early of April and now it's is progressing well. The plaster ceiling is up, the wiring work is starting soon. I am busy selecting the curtain for the new house. It's quite hard but more interesting as we will be having rooms for Sona and her brother. We are also buying a king size bed and mattress as the new room can accommodate a bigger bed. To help me in searching for good deals and idea, a friend suggested to look for Memory foam mattress. I think that the Memory foam mattress looks good to me. I am not sure if there is any distributor of  Memory foam mattress here. I used to wonder why people spent so much money with their house but now, after having a family of my own, I do understand. Bigger family need bigger space to live in. On top of that as we grow older, we tend to spend more time at home. Do you agree?

Made From The Heart

Beautiful Luggage tag to replace ribbons

 

I was really happy when my morning sickness cease dby early January. That means I can resume my daily life like normal. If you have suffered morning sickness before, you know what I mean. Life is not normal when you are feeling sick all days, all nights. All activities kind of stop or halt. So, January to April was the most wonderful life in my life, as I was in my 2nd trimester and have not had any problem with the pregnancy-apart from being hungry most of the time.  I went to KL three times to attend  meetings I managed to do some shopping and the most important thing, I managed to get rid of my phobia with a machine called " sewing machine". It was wonderful when you are able to do something with your own hands. Look at the pictures I posted here. I managed to make something practical for my own use and may be I am able to sell those items too. I was asked what to call those items. I think the correct name will be multipurpose chain/ tools as I found out that I can used them for many things. It was original made as a keychain to put on your wrist while taking things out from the car or while opening your door. But then I realized that it can be used to hold my tumb drive. I've lost 2 tumb drives before and since I used the tumb drive holder, it is well kept and easy to see and grab from my handbag. It can also be used as a phone tag. On my  recent trip to KL, I have this bright idea of using two pieces as my luggage tags. I normally used ribbon to make sure I won't grab people's bag especially those who look the same as mine. How many of you use ribbons? I see many people are using ribbons to tie the luggage handle. I was a bit surprised on how great it looked on my luggage and I honestly feel proud holding the handle and drag the luggage with my handmade luggage tags. So, as I have mentioned earlier, I really don't have one special name for it. Just called it as you intend to use it. I am currently using them for all my keys, my tumb drives, my luggages, my bags, my pouch, imagine how many I have. I have a few available if any of you want to use them as well. I have create a page facebook, pink apple design. It's for me to post some pictures of things that I created and still creating. It gives me joy and something to look forward after office hour. I can spend sometimes sewing it after work. Not everyday but whenever I feel like creating something. I have few other things on my table. I just need to assemble them and create something new.

I See Blue and White

 

Let the pictures do the talking...will be looking for blue and white baby things now..

Extra Income

I have been wanting to write about this for the longest time but I keep on delaying it until tonite, after I read chegu Carol's post on When Money Grow On Trees. It's a nice post- a reality I may say.

If money grows on tree all of us will be rich and will work happily- without force and live happily too.Majority of us live on a montly salary, I am included. I have gone through life having and paying credit card bills every month, paying hire purchase every month and home mortgage too, to be paid every month. The rest of course list of bills, electricity, water, phone bills. That is life. We need money to survive in this world, gone are the need for just basic life, shelter, food and clothing. We need the other essensials like phone, Astro, Car, etc. Therefore money will never be enough.etc

When money is not enough, I mean when the current salary is barely enough for one month expenses, most will try to have an extra income. This is not wrong, in fact most people that I know now do have extra income. Just the choice of extra work may be different.

I first earned my extra income  in 2001, that is the year I was approached to do a direct selling. I know many direct selling company before but never really thought of joining them to make money. I only used the products at a discounted price, like Cosway and Amway. But may be staying alone and quite bored at home at nite, one weekend I joint a friend to listen to this so called " Business Opportunity Seminar/Talk". I went with an open mind and I found out that the plan presented are workable. I decided to do something about it. Of course money is the driven force to any business That is the reason I did what I did. I followed whatever my upline taught me and up to this day I dare to say I am glad I took the opportunity to join that group. I gained a lot. It's more than what money can buy. After being passive for almost eight years, I still earn my passive income. Not much but who will give you money for doing Nothing? Amway still do. Apart from that I met one of my best friend through the business and have been friends till now, till both of us has our own child. I also met my husband through the business and someone thank me for showing the business to her and her daughter. Prior to joining the business , this mother and daughter have never travel together. That is priceless when you received a sincere thank from someone you well respect.

There are many new business out there. My time may have pass as I can't afford to attend all these night meetings but if you are single or if you have time to spare and are still looking for opportunities to earn extra income, try them. I believe that any business, as long as you work the plan, after certain time, it will give you something,  If not look for the intangible, the friendship made, the knowledge gained etc etc.

All the best! Money does grow on your tree- just take time to plant, nurture and one day, you will sure enjoy your hard work.

It's Time To Win Something

“It’s Mama Patch 1st Anniversary!
Check out their finest handmade at http://www.mamapatch.com
Join as a FAN at http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch “

Grand Draw:

ONE FREE Pastel Silk Baby Ring Sling worth Rm168 (design fully custom made to your wish) or Cloth Pads (combination of your choice) worth Rm128..

Hope the lucky star is with me...

The Next Chegu Carol

if I don't control it now....( chegu, jangan marah..) as I know how she adores shoe.

I was cleaning our shoe rack last weekend when I realised that Sona has more than 20 pair of shoes ( that I did not include the sandal/slipper that she wears daily). Her shoe took most of the space in the shoe rack. She is only 2 years old. So, if you do the maths, she has 1 shoe every month.Mengalahkan mummy dia sudah nie..

She just received 2 pairs of Croc shoe from her mama Faye last week and when I showed it to her She said " I like..." Mum, "I see Crocodile"..the whole day she wore that shoe, the red and the pink even in the house.

I have packed most of her shoe to be given away but I leave few especially those quite expensive and hardly used,I will sell in my moving out sale blog. At least I 'll know who will appreciate the shoe or boots after her. Check it out. The croc will be there too in a few months time.If you don't want to miss them, follow that blog.

Secret I just found

This is a good read if you a manager and run your own company. Any of us may one day, Keep dreaming.

The Secret to Having Happy Employees

The New York Times

About 10 years ago I was having my annual holiday party, and my niece had come with her newly minted M.B.A. boyfriend. As he looked around the room, he noted that my employees seemed happy. I told him that I thought they were.

Then, figuring I would take his new degree for a test drive, I asked him how he thought I did that. "I'm sure you treat them well," he replied.

"That's half of it," I said. "Do you know what the other half is?"

He didn't have the answer, and neither have the many other people that I have told this story. So what is the answer? I fired the unhappy people. People usually laugh at this point. I wish I were kidding.

I'm not. I have learned the long, hard and frustrating way that as a manager you cannot make everyone happy. You can try, you can listen, you can solve some problems, you can try some more. Good management requires training, counseling and patience, but there comes a point when you are robbing the business of precious time and energy.

Don't get me wrong. This doesn't happen a lot. There's no joy in the act of firing someone. And it's not always the employee's fault — there are many bad bosses out there. Bad management can make a good employee dysfunctional. On the other hand, good management will not always make a dysfunctional employee good. And sometimes people who would be great employees somewhere else just don't fit your company, whether it is the type of business or the company culture.

In the worst cases, the problem of a bad fit can have a bigger impact than just one employee's performance. Being in charge does not necessarily mean you are in control, and being in control does not necessarily mean being in charge. Have you ever seen a company or department paralyzed by someone who is unhappy and wants to take hostages? It is remarkable how much damage one person can do. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you watch "The Caine Mutiny." Basically, one guy takes apart the ship. He was unhappy. It only takes one.

This is only my opinion. I don't have a Ph.D., an M.B.A., or even an economics degree. What I do have is a happy company. And that makes me happy. Now I know some people argue that business is about making money, and not everyone has to be happy. That is also an opinion. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion. When you own a company, you also have the right to surround yourself with the people you choose.

I have spent the last year and a half focusing on cutting costs, figuring out how the market has changed, and worrying about the economy. Things seem to be getting better, or perhaps I am just getting used to it.

Either way, I had a good day today. Not because I got a big order, great financial reports or even an employee stopping by to tell me what an awesome boss I am. (That generally doesn't happen. You have to tell yourself. It's a boss thing.) I had a great day because I spent most of it walking around the company and appreciating the fact that even after a year and a half of soft sales and cutbacks and furloughs, I have wonderful people working for me. They care. They are committed. They understand the whole customer–staff–company triangle, where all of the legs support each other.

If you read books on great companies, they usually leave out a dirty little secret. It doesn't make for good public relations — like talking about how you "empower people" or how your "greatest assets" are your people. Both of these well–worn clichés are true. What is also true is that it's hard to build a great company with the wrong people.

When you have the right people, business is much easier. I know because I have tried it both ways.

Jay Goltz owns five small businesses in Chicago.

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