I'm a full-time mummy

I realised that since I've announced that we're expecting early in February this year, I haven't been posting much about my pregnancy updates.. so, at 4 months mark now, I just want to share some updates on what's going on with my pregnancy...

#1: This is one heck of a spicy baby!

Yeap... I've been chugging down spicy foods pretty much lately... curry noodles, spicy fried chicken, etc etc. Spicy baby? Uh-huh....

#2: Gaining 1kg every month!
When I was pregnant with Ben, I only started gaining weight about 5th month onwards.... that too because I got scolded by my gynae for NOT gaining weight at all! But with this pregnancy, I'm steadily gaining a kilo every month and I have no idea what I did to achieve that!

#3: Favorite foods/drinks go haywire...
Prior to this pregnancy, I used to love eating fishball and sometimes looking forward to my MIL's cooking, but now, I steered clear of these foods. And weird thing is prior to this pregnancy (and with Ben) I go 'ewwwwww' at the first sip of full cream milk but this time, I just gulped it down like water... no reaction at all!

#4: Gynae check-ups
We've just went back to the hospital where I gave birth to Ben 2 years ago. However, my previous gynae was no longer working there, so we are currently seeing a new male gynae (somehow I'm more comfortable with male gynaes). Our first impression of him is good, friendly, he doesn't rush his check-up with me and he takes his time to slowly explain and answer our questions. The only downside is the journey to and fro the hospital, each ride is an hour's journey. But other than that, the service is pretty fast compared to the previous private hospital we went to for my check-ups.

#5: Breastfeeding during pregnancy
Yeap, it's still on-going (FYI, Ben is 2 years old now)! When I found out I was pregnant 2 months ago, I was very worried as I do intend to breastfeed Ben as long as he wants (and also as long as I can) and at the same time, I don't want the breastfeeding to pose any risk to the baby as well. After much research and asking around on the mummy forums and Facebook pages, I decided to stick to it and take it one day at a time. What I can share about the experience of breastfeeding during pregnancy was well, it is a good excuse for me to take a rest. I just lie down on the bed to rest (pregnancy is VERY tiring OK!) and Ben will come snuggling to me to breastfeed. We just lie on the bed together, I rested while he just nursed on for a while and then go off to play on his own. So yeah, one day at a time...

So there you go, updates as at 4 months pregnancy... have a blessed week and thank you for reading!

*P.S: I am so glad my blog is back up now after being down since last Friday!

Max Lucado. Need I say more...? I'm always on the look out for good Christian books. I  immediately jump at the chance to request this book the moment I saw it on the list of books available for review. Here is my review of the latest book from Max Lucado entitled: "LIVE LOVED: Experiencing God's Presence in Everyday Life". This book will be published on May 3rd and I'm so glad I get to review this book firsthand!

Author: Max Lucado
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (** To be published on May 3, 2011)
ISBN-13: 9781404190061
Hardcover: 320 pages

Description from the Thomas Nelson product page:

"Imagine how your life would change if you were sure God loves you!
Using the same popular format as Grace for the Moment, Live Loved brings fresh, new devotionals based on the writings of Max Lucado. Included is a broad range of topics such as facing your fears, accepting His grace, and truly knowing God’s omnipresent love. Each devotional is accompanied by an ending prayer to nurture a stronger prayer life for new believers, as well as long-standing Christ followers. It’s a new devotional from one of America's leading Christian writers that will help men and women experience life from a whole new perspective."

This book is an assurance and gentle reminder to each of us on how we are loved by the One and Only awesome God. Now back to the book, it is broken down into 5 chapters, which I will note down my feedback in red for your easier reading:

# 1 - LOVE WITH A STEADFAST LOVE
My feedback: In the "Problems Have a Purpose" subchapter, I like the points where God will use whatever he wants to display his glory and  Rather than begrudge our problem, explore it and use it to the glory of God. I also like the verse given which is Psalm 34:19.

# 2 - LOVE WITH A PERFECT LOVE
My feedback: I love the 8 worry stoppers which were made up of the word PEACEFUL, taken from the "P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L" subchapter. You really have to read it to know it more!

# 3 - LOVE WITH A WISE LOVE
My feedback: In the "Slay the Desire to Be Noticed" subchapter, I like the following phrases mentioned: Hypocrisy turns people against God,  Don't fake spirituality. When you talk, don't doctor your vocabulary with trendy religious terms and Slay the desire to be noticed, stir the desire to serve God.

# 4 - LOVE WITH A MERCIFUL LOVE
My feedback: Negative thoughts never strengthen you. Wow! What a strong and inspiring phrase taken from the "Positive Thoughts Purvey Hope" subchapter. I learned to think positively and not let negative thoughts drain me down.  

# 5 - LOVED TO LOVE OTHERS
My feedback: I am particulary attracted to these 2 subchapters: "Cherish Your Children" and "Our Kids Are God's Kids". In "Cherish Your Children", I learned that Children spell love with 4 letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. I totally agree with it as it is one of the factors I thought of when I decided to quit my IT job to be a SAHM to take care of Benjamin full-time. In the "Our Kids Are God's Kids" subchapter, I am greatly reminded and humbled when I read these 2 phrases: Before they were ours, they were his. Even as they are ours, they are still his and  Wise are the parents who regularly give their children back to God. As parents, too often we forget that we are just the guardian of our children and we think we have the rights and final say in matters related to our children when in fact, we don't! We forget that God has the power of all things including us!

Apart from the above feedbacks for each of the chapters and subchapters, the one thing I don't like about this book is the cursive title on each subchapter. Maybe it's just me, but I find some of the title a bit difficult to read as I actually have to read the title at least 3-4 times just to be sure that I'm reading and understanding the correct title! Other than that, this book is just perfect!

We do need assurance that we are loved by God again and again despite of our shortcomings and all the mistakes and sins we made.

In any case, I beg you, consider getting a copy of this book when it is out for sale. You will not regret it!

You can purchase the Live Loved: Experiencing God's Presence in Everyday Life book from Amazon, Thomas Nelson and many more. 

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a galley proof of the book via my association with netGalley as a reviewer in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

In my 2 years of parenting life now, I have been privileged to be able to share my experiences and gave my advice to people across the world, the Internet and so on... Friends made on mom blogs, forums, personal blogs, even on Facebook. Topics ranging from pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding (mostly), baby care and so on...

And yet, there are some questions I've heard which I have to, (even today!) say "Sorry, I Haven't A Clue" to that...

So, the following are some of the questions that left me speechless and helpless (for not able to answer them!)...

#1: Any questions with regards to FORMULA MILK

Example: Which type/brand of formula milk is good? Or what formula brand is your boy taking?

Ummmm... sorry, I haven't a clue to that... I'm still breastfeeding my boy at 2 years old now and yes, since we brought our baby boy back to our house from the hospital, we have never needed to buy any formula milk at all. No kidding.

And yes, if you asked me how much I think we save on not needing to purchase any formula milk, I haven't a clue to that too as I have no idea how much a tin of those costs, what are the good brands and how much/frequent usage of the formula is as I breastfeed on demand and never knew how much I fed my boy. So, again, sorry, I haven't a clue to this...

#2: Any questions with regards to WEANING my child in order to try TO CONCEIVE for our next child

Example: How do you wean your child? How early you have to wean your child in order to try for the next one?

Uhhhhhh.. like I said in the earlier question, I am still breastfeeding my 2 year old boy and yes, I am almost 4 months pregnant as of today and I really can't answer this question. Friends and relatives tell me it's not possible to get pregnant while you are still breastfeeding and yet, I prove them wrong. People said we have to wean off our child in order to try to conceive our next child and yet, I am pregnant and STILL breastfeeding now.

#3: Any questions with regards to BREAST PUMP

Example: Which type/brand of breast pump is good?

Since I gave birth to Ben 2 years ago, I only used one battery operated breast pump (Medela brand, picture shown above) which was a hand me down from my 2nd SIL who got it from my 1st SIL. And I used that pump about 3 weeks (was serving my one month notice as I tendered my resignation a day after I returned to work from my maternity leave). I ended up learning to express my breastmilk using my bare hands. Armed with tutorials and guides from the Internet, I learned as much as I could on the techniques to hand express and I finally mastered it after a few attempts and was so glad and satisfied at my accomplishment!

After quitting my job, I direct feed Ben from then on and  resumed the hand express method when it was time for Ben to start solids at 6 months old. I hand expressed some breastmilk for storing after each direct feed so that I could mix the breastmilk with his solids during the initial couple of months of starting on solids.

So, yeah, if you asked me to recommend you a particular type/brand of breast pump, I'll most likely tell you to learn to do it the natural way, which is to hand express.

#4: Any questions with regards to transitioning my child to SLEEPING ON HIS OWN BED

Example: What techniques you used to get your boy to sleep on his own bed?

Since Ben came into our life 2 years ago, he has been sleeping with us on our bed. Granted, there are times when hubby ended up sleeping on the spare bed next to our King sized bed (selfishly hogged by Ben and myself hehehehe...), but still, co-sleeping with us since day 1. So I have no idea on the ideas/techniques to transition my boy to sleeping on his own bed. We do have a playroom for Ben with a spare bed for him (intended to be Ben's room when he is older) but as of now, we are taking it easy and slow and just let things run its course. I remembered I still co-sleep with my parents up until I was 7 years old.

That's about the questions I can think of which I have yet to be able to answer as of today...

What about you? What are the questions you get that you have no clue on how to answer it?