Two(?) More Days Before We Meet...

Dear Em

I just want to create this post for posterity, so I remember how I felt like in the days leading up to your birth. You see, your arrival will be extra special because you are going to be my first-born. And I want to remember this moment because as they say, once you have kids, life will never be the same again and everything changes.

In less than 24hours, your dad and I will be making our way down to the hospital to kickstart the birthing process. In fancy medical terms, I will be induced into labour and hopefully by late Friday or early Saturday, we will get to meet each other for the first time.

The third and last trimester of pregnancy has been tough on both me and daddy but it was not all bad. Your antics were a constant source of amusement to us. As you got bigger and more sensitive to your surroundings, you constantly reacted to our voices (especially daddy's) and even the sounds from the TV as we relaxed together nightly after dinner. You were and are a part of many daily conversations between us as we wondered about what you were doing inside me and how you would be like as a baby/girl/woman.

The last week or so, my sleep has been unusually peaceful compared to most of the last trimester, it feels like you are preparing me for your arrival by letting me (and therefore daddy) sleep well because once you arrive, we will have to get used to sleepless nights again!

That's you, inside my super stretched out tummy (9 months pregnant!)

Since Monday, when we thought we were going to end up with a C-section to get you out (long story for a future post), dad and I have been making an effort to spend more couple time together. We are looking forward to having you but we also realise that it is important to us as a couple to do and say lovey dovey things to each other that you will probably be grossed out to witness as you get older.

So, that means lots of late nights, random driving trips ending up with supper......cuddly moments everywhere and quiet times like reading together.

Today, as I write this post, the weather is cloudy, cool and calm. The streets are especially quiet (because its New Year's Day and everyone is chilling out at home) and your dad is in the office frantically trying to get more work done so that he can focus on your arrival. I have also been busy trying to get the house clean and in order so....yup so that I can focus on your arrival too. Grandma and grandpa are super excited to see you this weekend so I bet they must also be going through their first day of 2014 with thoughts of you.

We started the day with mass in church to thank God for 2013 and pray for His continued blessings in the coming year. We especially asked Him to continue to take care of you and grant us a safe and peaceful birth. As always, I pray that you always feel His presence in your life, from the moment you were concieved till the end, in what I hope will be a long long time to come.

Had a huge lunch at Samy's Curry....dad and I have a cunning wish to induce labour naturally on our own (to save the time and money of getting the hospital to do it) and it seems spicy food does the trick! Had my first ride in the MCE today. In the days before your birth, ECP and AYE were linked as one long highway and MCE did not exist. Not that this is a particularly important fact, just a random thought that I am adding into this post.

I wonder how tonight will be like. Contrary to what I thought I don't think we will be too pumped up to sleep. We have grown into the idea of being parents to you and shall be snoozing deeply to get enough rest for the exciting times ahead. I am remembering and appreciating the silence and stillness in this house as I sit here......and welcoming the sounds of laughter and girlish tantrums that will soon come from you.

So, hang tight little one, tomorrow we start on a new adventure. Rest well tonight too, you will need lots of energy and focus for your Birth Day. 

Love you, always and forever,

MOM!

Playing Favourites: My Favourite Memory

I love old movies. Roman Holiday is my favourite because the old-fashioned storyline gets me everytime and because when you watch the movie, you understand why Audrey Hepburn was born to be a star and why Gregory Peck is the ultimate gentleman. 

Yesterday, I watched The Sound of Music again (I can memorize the lyrics to almost all the songs in the movie) and inspired by Maria and her favourite things, I shall blog about one of my favourite things weekly for the month of October. Here's my first entry!

My Favourite Memory

When I was 22, my husband or boyfriend at that time brought me to Europe. It was the first time I ever travelled out of Asia and it was on this trip that I found one of the greatest loves of my life, travelling.

We were still in the beginning of our trip, at Santorini in Greece and were strolling around on our first afternoon on the island. I can't remember if we decided to follow a crowd but we soon found some people waiting by the water for the sunset. This was apparently touted to be the best sunset watching spot and everyone was eagerly waiting, camera in hand.

We could have waited there with the rest but knowing us, we snuck off onto somebody's rooftop and there in our own private space (or rather someone else's private space), I saw the most breathtaking sunset I ever saw in my life.

The magical moment

As the sun slowly dipped into the horizon of the sea, the waters became really still. For a moment, I could almost believe that I would be able to walk over the water on my tippy toes and touch the sun with my finger. It was that still and it was our magic moment. For when that moment passed, I knew that it was so special and that I would never be able to capture that again. I actually told myself to remember this moment and to remember how we felt, watching this magnificent sunset together. I also secretly thought that if we ended up together we would go looking for the best spots in the world for sunsets as magical as this one. We ended up together alright but we never went sunset hunting.  :)

I am not sure why the water went all still during the sunset, probably an optical illusion? But it seemed to me like it was holding its breath waiting for the sun to touch it. And that, is my all-time favourite memory, our first time to Europe together, our first sunset and the most beautiful moment of our entire holiday.

Rainy Tribute

I love the rain. It's not just because the weather these days has been so unbearably humid and warm that I shudder to think about how our electricity bills will look like for the indulgent amount of air-conditioning swimming around in the house recently.

I love the rain because it smells fresh and clean. It emphasizes the smell of all the greenery surrounding you. I never miss the chance to open my balcony doors or windows when it rains to stick my head out, inhaling that scent of grass mixed with fresh air deeply. Getting it all into my system and then taking yet another deep breath again and again till my head feels clear and...my nose gets a little wet. I can never ever get enough of that rainy grassy smell.

I love the rain because it feels like the world is getting shrouded in a safe cocoon of misty showers that mute out the sound of traffic or conversation or the radio or the TV. You can only hear raindrops hitting every surface that is landing on and the occassional clap of thunder. For that duration, everything goes on silent mode. Just the rain matters and nothing much else penetrates my senses. I feel like I'm in one of those gifty glass globes with fake snowflakes swirling around whenever you shake it. Only that the snowflakes are raindrops and I am in my own little space, cut off from the rest who live outside my rainy little ball.

I love the rain because it's fun to poke my foot or hand out of the shelter and feel it get all wet and cold. It's like how kids love to jump into a water fountain and splish splash to their heart's content. Occasionally I get possessed by that inner child and actually do run around in the rain in my clumsy thirty-two year old body. I feel embarressed to act like a big kid but secretly I am enjoying every moment, the worries of catching a cold far behind me. I'm lucky enough to find a mate who actually joins me in these mad antics. Trust me, it's very therapeutic for your relationship to prance around together in the rain in the middle of the Botanical Gardens. I know this from experience. :)

There are so many reasons I feel excited everytime my nose catches a whiff of an impending downfall. There are so many memories I have that are associated with a good old shower of rain.

And when the first drops of rain start to fall, I make sure I am ready to marvel again at the little joys my favourite kind of weather brings. Until the sky clears and the sun peeks out from the sky, you can be sure to find me in my comfortable little rain globe creating memories to keep.