The next step...

So we're 1 and a half weeks into getting the keys to our new place! We are so excited about it. Having spent 5k+ at the OM warehouse sale, getting furniture at ridiculously low prices (display pieces of course), sussing out countless number of places that sell outdoor furniture at obscene prices, working out how much it'll cost us to do minor reno works etc etc... the workers have finally started work on the house! We are so pleased with it... oh wait... not after having had an almost heartbreaking first day looking at the living room area, and realising that the L-shaped sofa we bought might not fit right where we wanted it... seeing the actual condition of the house sans furniture and cover-ups... wow... we really thought that there would be so much to do! This being a rather old house (circa 1970s) there's probably several problems hidden under layers of paint. Problems that we would not encounter in buying a new house, or even an apartment. Nevertheless, we're pretty glad that we can get the problems straightened out, to do the things we want with the house within our budget.

Now, we have to start packing up our current house! It'll still be another month before we can officially move in, but i think packing a little at a time is better than having to do it all at a go.

Little D is also growing up fast. He just passed his 6th month this past week, and I think he is ahead of his milestones. He is starting to crawl on his belly, reach for everything within reach, communicating with sounds, and eating his solids like a good little man. He has learned that he'd rather be carried when he eats, but when I insist that he sits to be fed, he just bawls, but at the same time swallows all the food fed to him! Initially I thought he didn't like the food, and was just eating cos he was too hungry... but now I know that he just wants to be carried.... spoilt from the word go!!!

At his check up yesterday, he weighed in at 7.6kg, and 64cm. Still short and fat by weight-height ratio standards! oh well... he'll be my gentle giant... maybe he'll make a good rugby player :)

Dylan n my new niece Lindsay

I made it!

4 and a half months post-partum... this mama has completed a half marathon! With a rather respectable time that is... much slower than my target... but what could I expect of myself?

2:46H. I'm quite impressed. That includes a toilet stop at the ladies toilet at Fort rd with a queue! I actually felt better in the last 4 km this time than the last 2 times I'd done this distance over 5 years ago. Although my best timing was 2:07 then, but I think I can be pretty proud of my current timing, considering these legs are carrying over 10kg more weight than before. I started feeling the legs (esp the ITB) at about 14km. But I pressed on and stretched through every water station. In the last 4km, I just kept going, not stopping for the drinks. This would have been the point at which, on my last 2 halves, I was cramping, and practically walk/jogged... It was torture... It was then that I swore never to do another half.... but here I am... yearning for more!

Too bad I didn't get any pics of the occasion, even though I wore the Physio Solution shirt! maybe i'll just make it up :P
runpix.com says that we started 10 minutes late! how hilarious. A friend of mine told me that the organisers may have flagged off 5 minutes early. No wonder we didn't hear anything strolling up to the start line. We didn't even realise that the race had started!
Also, according to runpix, I ran an almost constant speed of 7.7kph for the whole race. Thanks to V for running with me, pacing with me, and keeping me company throughout! I didn't even need my ipod! The highlight of the run for me would definitely be the run down the F1 track. That was awesome. I was just imagining the noise, the crowd, and tried to put myself in an F1 car going by the stands... (but of course I'd almost look like I was standing still next to an F1 car!)

Woo hoo! here's to more running!

Big boy!!!

Baby D at 4+ months is 6.98kg, and 62cm long! that makes him 50%ile weight for age, 25%ile height for age, but 90%ile weight for height!!!

that makes him short and fat!!! Haha!

Makes one think

A friend of mine posted this taxi-driver's blog on FB. He has a Phd from stanford, recently lost his job as a scientist researcher, and couldn't find another job... He finally had to turn to driving a taxi to make ends meet.

Reading it makes one think, and reflect on how sheltered I have been. The people that we do not meet, the blessed life we've had compared to some others... How humbling is must be for him to lower himself to such a low level, experiencing for himself how it feels to be treated like the 'lowest life-form'. I do indeed feel that that is how some people treat cabbies, maids, cleaners etc like... like they are not worth anything... little do they know what their family background is like... don't belittle the next cabbie u meet. He may be better educated than you!!!
http://taxidiary.blogspot.com/

My Boy...

5 days before he turns 4 months, my big boy has flipped over unassisted! To the right side that is...The next day, he's trying to flip towards the left side, but his arm keeps getting stuck... That's for leaving him to entertain himself on the floor!!! haha. Bad mum takes advantage of his easy nature to leave him on his own till he cries for attention... so what does he do? learn new skills of course! 

Will upload the video when I get a chance...

3 days more, and we're off down under again! WA this time! yippee! I can't wait!!

2kg to pre-D weight.... phew. this is hard work...

phew...

We've just crossed one major hurdle... now, we're looking forward to the next lap!!!

God has really been gracious to us. Since we'd returned from NZ at the beginning of the year, the issue of space constraints in our house had been on our minds. The in-laws has moved in, and the little one has come along. 5 adults and 3 growing children in an average sized 3 bedroom apartment... something we could make do with for now, but not ideal in the long run. However, around chinese new year, having seen property prices falling, we had made the decision to stay put in this house, for a few more years so that we can try and get a higher price for this property. So, we parted with some money to do up the house a little, adding window grilles, painting the walls, moving some power points, and touching up the cracks in the walls, changing the kitchen cabinet doors, and adding a water heater to the kitchen sink.

As the Lord may have it, we got an offer for our house which we thought was reasonable, and seeing that the prices of landed property had come down considerably, we felt we were ready to make the move. However, in our search for the home of our dreams, for which we had lots of criteria to fulfill, we met with a dead end at each turn... a perfect house which met all our needs in terms of location, and needing minimal work, was either priced too high or was a leasehold property. Others which fell more within our budget just fell short of our criteria. Location was such an important factor as we were reluctant to move the girls out of their current school, and we didn't want to be too far from my parents who are our main support for the kids when I go back to work. 

The buyers of our house were God-given, we believe, as they allowed us to stay till the end of october in order for us to find a house to move to. However, our house hunting experience was far from pleasant, particularly with the owners and the agent from the property we finally settled with... but that's a story for another time.

3 agonising days after the 2nd viewing of the house K and I both liked, we can now heave a sigh of relief. We now wait in eager anticipation for the day we get the keys, and hand over our place, to set up a home in our new house. I pray that it'll be a place of happiness for all of us, particularly for the kids who will have more room to run around, hopefully still have a little pool to dip into daily, friends in the neighbourhood, a perfect running route for us, and a place of rest and relaxation for the in-laws. The night we sold our current house, I felt sad for a few days after that. It's a house we have hardly lived in, having spent most of our weekends in the east with the in-laws. Our kitchen was hardly used up till this year when we shifted home. We settled into this house so comfortably, I was reluctant to give up the convenience of the location, the lovely surroundings of the swimming pool etc. I learned a real lesson. I can truly understand why the Lord says not to make our home here on earth, or to make treasures of our possessions... 

We now look forward to the next lap in our lives, living in a landed property. It is only by God's grace, His blessings, as well as help from my in-laws that we'll be able to make this new transition. For us living in Singapore, this move is truly a big step for a young family. 

Thank you Lord...

Bitten by the bug...

The running one that is...:) Since 6 weeks post-partum, I've been running almost every day since. On the days I don't get to run, I try to swim or play tennis. On the days I don't do anything at all, I feel a little bit edgy! It's like I can't sit still, or I'm just looking at the clock, thinking if I can squeeze in a quickie... of course, I also foolishly (under peer pressure) paid to run a half marathon in august (8 weeks away!) So I really need to get up my mileage.

the good thing is... I'm 3kg away from pre-D! Woot! but still a long way to pre-baby no 1!! boo hoo...  BUT, I still struggle to fit into my pre-pregnancy pants. sigh... The bad thing... my knees are aching bad! It's probably still adjusting to my new weight, or possibly being destroyed under my body weight. While the pains have subsided (no more pain while running), I really walk around like I'm 20 years older. My legs take so long to recover, even with rest days(ie non impact exercise) in between. 

This post is just so long overdue. It's just so much easier to read other people's blogs, than to write on your own...

Oh well, perhaps I should just put up some pictures...