Sophie's 5 weeks old

Dear Sophie is now 5 weeks old...seems like a long long way to go.

Sophie is starting to get more responsive now. Her eyes will follow you when you talk to her and she sometimes breaks into a smile when she's entertained like when someone's playing with her. It's a really cute sight.

But there are days like last night when she simply refused to sleep. Tried everything from feeding her to cuddling her, carrying her and rocking her, changing her diapers but cant stop her crying each time we lay her on her cot... Poor Daddy ended up being so tired that he had to retreat so that he could catch some sleep. She finally gave in and slept through the night after her milk.

But I figured it may be because of the food that I ate outside yesterday. After all I've been used to having nutritious home cooked meals for one whole month. Yesterday ate out and even had KFC spicy wings, which may have given Sophie an upset tummy too.

So I got to be more careful with that I eat now, especially since I'm breastfeeding her. Yet another sacrifice that Mummy has to make for dear Sophie.

The things that Sophie does

Sophie's turning one month this Sunday. And to celebrate the happy occasion, we're throwing her a baby shower.

At 3 weeks plus, she's already developed quite a character and does some really funny things.

1. There's the Houdini act that she does when she struggles out of even when she's tightly swaddled. Don't estimate the strength she has a a little baby. Despite looking all tiny and frail, she sure is capable of kicking up a fuss when she wails.

2. For some strange reason, she likes to stick out her tongue. And this often gets mistaken that she's hungry and worse greedy like mummy. *Gasp the horror* But whatever it is, it sure is not a pretty sight for such a sweet little girl like her. Hopes she stops doing that soon.

3. And besides sticking out her tongue, she also likes to play with her saliva forming bubbles in her mouth. Especially so when she's given the pacifier, which I've only tired once coz I suspect she was only being "sucky".

4. Sophie has some of the most classic expressions. One moment, she can scrunch up her face and turn all red like she's about to burst into tears, the next moment she just relaxes and gives a huge yawn instead. When she's feeding, she can sometimes smile and that sight really melts my heart, like it's all worth it.

5. And to most amusing thing about my little Sophie is that she shits damn loud! When we were at the pediatrician last week, she shat so loud that the receptionist pointed me to the changing room so that we could change her out of her soiled diapers. How embarrassing... for the mummy. Gotta teach the little lady some manner soon.

So that's my little darling for you.

Growth spurts

Day 10

Sophie seems to be experiencing growth spurts on day 10. She kept fussing and refused to drink.. spent almost half an hour just trying to get her to drink...

Tested my patience... but reminded myself that she is only a baby and totally dependent on me. When I see her happily drinking, it makes me happy.



Such is a Mother's love.

Announcing the arrival of Sophie

Princess Sophie was born on the 9th of August 2009.

Birth story
On 08 August, Saturday, we went for our last appointment with the gyne expecting to deliver on 12 August, Wednesday. However the check up showed that my blood pressure was too high and there was too much protein in my urine. The only way to bring it down was to deliver the baby. But when the gyne suggested to do it on the same day,I totally freaked out coz I felt so unprepared! So bargained to wait till the next day. Thankfully the results from the blood test showed that I could still delay for one more day. And so the waiting begins...

I had to be admitted into the hospital for observation on the same day and every now and then the nurses will take my blood pressure and temperature. The operation was scheduled at 11am so all the waiting gave me time to prepare myself mentally for Sophie while Alexis went home to get my bag. Had my dinner and then fasted for the op tomorrow. Despite being very nervous initially, I managed to have a good sleep. After all it may be the last of my good nights when Sophie is here.

The next morning, I was all ready and excited. I'm finally going to see my dear daughter whom I've been carrying for the past 37 and half weeks. I was wheeled into the operating theater and given an injection to my spine to keep my lower body numb for the operation so that Alexis could be beside me to witness the birth of Sophie.

In less then half an hour,Sophie was delivered at 11:23am.

Happy parents with baby Sophie

Sleeping so peacefully

And so the story of Sophie Tay Jiaxuan begins...

Sophie is going to arrive earlier than expected!

Today was our last visit to the gyne but my blood pressure was too high, that triggered a condition called pre-eclampsia. In addition, there was too much protein in my urine. The gyne advised us to have Sophie delivered today but we were totally unprepared and asked for the op tomorrow instead.

So my dear baby Sophie is going to be a National Day baby, with her birthday on 09/08/09!

Final week countdown

It's officially one more week to the arrival of baby Sophie. How exciting.

Sophie's door sign

The past 8 and half months have passed by so quickly. From the time we found out I was pregnant in Dec and fast forward 8 months to August, baby is all ready to be born.

What a journey this has been. Keep reminding myself that it's nothing short of God's grace for the easy pregnancy. And will continue to rely on His strength to get through the sleepless nights and the next phase of our lives being parents to Sophie.

One more last visit to the gyne on Saturday then we're all ready for Sophie on 12 Aug.

Cant wait to see you baby!

She twists and she turns...

Sophie is no doubt getting bigger and bigger. This week, she is approaching week 36!

At Week 36
Sophie is growing and growing and growing- at the rate of about an ounce a day. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

This is a sight you definitely not want to see... It's so un-cute, so un-baby like... :P

At the end of this week, Sophie will be considered full-term. But it doesn't feel like baby has been engaged yet. The anticipation is so unnerving... Wonders if Sophie will arrive earlier than expected.

Despite the nursery being all ready, her clothes all washed, my hospital being 80% packed, I still feel so unprepared mentally for what's to come. Probably just as a friend commented, its the same feeling with marriage. You can never be fully ready, so just ride the bumps along the way and enjoy the process!