Baby's still in the oven!

I'm almost a week overdue, really praying that the little one will be born today but the contractions stopped this morning. The midwife in town has said that if baby's still not here by tomorrow, we'll need to be referred to Waikato Hospital which is an hour away and they'll probably recommend for baby to be induced. I'm not keen to do that so pls keep us in prayer!

Meanwhile, I'm coping alright and we had a great weekend with a baby shower and a trip to the beach Tauranga on Sunday. See more weekend photos on Flickr.

One day pass the due date and we're still waiting for the prince to arrive! I had some contractions early this morning but once I was wide awake, it was gone!

It's great that James' parents are here. They arrived on Tuesday and have been cooking everyday for us since. It also takes my mind off waiting coz they are happy to drive around to explore and take photos everyday (My FIL is an avid photographer.) Some days I get to rest at home and most of the time I still join them. With my mum in law helping with the cleaning up after meals, it has really freed me up to enjoy my time with Sophie. This time is so precious and I'm treasuring it although we all can't wait to see the little boy.

So do pray with us that the little one will make his appearance soon in the most natural of ways. Thanks!

It's still really cold and rainy but I think Spring is ALMOST HERE!

The flowers are starting to bloom! The insects and flies are returning!

Left: Nelson and the flag

Right: Curry chicken, oyster omelette, stewed pork, stir fry beef, bittergourd with egg

Happy National Day one and all!

In true Singaporean style, we cooked up a storm for our new Singaporean friends Nelson and Gina. They brought the flag and the patriotic songs. Gina was a preschool teacher and she seriously had a compilation of THE SONGS.

Sophie has two favorite soft toys that sleep with her – Windy, a teddy bear which we got from Auckland on the way back to Singapore the first time and Kitty Kitten, a really soft kitten that I got for her when we came back from Vanuatu the second time. I thought she did so well in Vanuatu that she deserved a present. They have been significant companions for her marking different milestones in her life.

But on our last trip home, we lost Kitty in Bintan! ARGH! She (Sophie, not Kitty ) fell asleep on the bus and we hurried down the bus, didn't realise that we left it on the bus until much later! She grieved for a night and was totally fine after that. She never really asked for another but James and I were distraught because it was such a nice stuff toy and we knew it meant so much to her.

My mum and dad wanted to buy her one but we were quite determined to get the same one back here in NZ.

When we returned, James looked EVERYWHERE. We got it from Warehouse the last time and we looked in every Warehouse around the area – Cambridge, Hamilton, Matamata etc… but couldn't find.

Until last Sat………………… James found it in a bin of stuff toys in another Warehouse at Hamilton! He dug and dug, almost gave up and then found a similar one (the colour is slightly different but everything else is the same)! Sophie was SO HAPPY!!!!!!!

To me, it just showed the love of the father…. how far he would go….. to find what his child loves.

The bible says in Luke 11:10-13

"For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Ooo the love of the Father….

The new school (DTS) just started this week! All the families are here. They come from all over the world – Denmark, New Zealand, Holland, Singapore (YES! another couple from Singapore!) and Switzerland.

But, we're not staffing in the classrooms this term. Instead James is the main lunch cook and I'm staying home with Sophie until baby comes. He has to go in early in the morning to the kitchen at 8/9am to cook for 60 ppl everyday. He also does one dinner per week. I do odd jobs around like rearranging the library (which I LOVE!) and other random stuff.

During the break, James was on a roll and experimenting with different recipes. He made Nasi Lemak and made an amazing sambal sotong (squid) to go with it. Shiok!!!

He's been doing a great job for lunches the past few days and looks like he's gonna introduce more asian food and ingredients into the kitchen. He's been sneaking lotsa garlic into the soups too. YUMS, plus it keeps the colds away!

We’re finally doing something!

We’ve set up the cot in our bedroom and washed all of baby’s clothes.

I tried to pack the maternity bag for the hospital but realized that I still need most of the stuff now e.g. sweater, slippers, clothes so I think we’ll just dump that in later. We’re not far from the hospital anyway. It’s only a 10 mins drive from the base into town so if we forget anything we can always get someone on the base to bring it for us.

Almost there! Exactly one more month since Baby No. 2 is due on 25 August!! I really can't believe how time has passed. Our lives are going to change in a couple of weeks. I still cannot imagine having another baby! Sophie's such an amazing kid being who she is and I cannot imagine having another one!

I'm keeping well, thank God for that. A few sleepless nights, bit of backache, a bit more sleepy during the day but all part and parcel of the last stretch…

Happy Anniversary to us!

We’ve been married 6 years. It doesn’t seem that long but we’ve done SO MUCH the past 6 years! We’ve lived with James’ parents, got our own place, moved out, started two of our own businesses, had Sophie, traveled lots, shut down one business and sold another, came to NZ to do a school, stayed on as staff, became full time missionaries, rented out our home, stayed on to staff two more schools, and now we’re having baby No. 2.

It’s been exciting. James really pushes me to the edge sometimes but without him, I wouldn’t have moved! ? I’m really thankful to have him in my life. We’re SO different but yet because we love each other and like (SO IMPT!) each other so much that it actually works! Of course, there are times when we drive each other crazy (erm, not in a good way) but over 6 years, we’ve really learnt to appreciate each other’s idiosyncrasies and thank God that we’re not the same.

God has been good to us as a family and we’ve been tremendously blessed in SO MANY ways. We give thanks for 6 good years and are looking forward to many more ahead.

So what did we do on our anniversary?

Over the weekend, we traveled around the area. On Saturday, we drove 40 mins to Cambridge, a little quaint town nearby to check out the shops and have tea. On Sunday, we drove 30 mins to Tirau, a small little touristy town with little cafes and tourist shops to have brunch and visited the op shops and Sunday market. Yes, a little retail and café therapy for the city people. ? Turned out that Sophie LOVED the antique shops! Just like us. Was a bit terrifying trying to keep her hands off stuff but she learnt eventually to ask before touching…

P/s: Our hard disk just kaput on us. Actually a lot of our equipment have been kaputing on us. Seems like most things are only meant to last 1 year. These days it's so hard to get things that last forever! Everything is use and throw. Sigh. Anyways so my photos are hopefully still in there somewhere so no blogging with pictures for a while till James managed to get it back. So sad ah….

Recently I've had many compliments on how good my skin looks. Seriously, I'm not really big on commenting on my own looks n stuff but I thought this might make a good post.

I think part of the reason is the glow that comes with pregnancy (YAY! More reason to have babies!) and part of it is just good genes (Dad's skin is great!). I've never had big problems with pimples and acne even though I'm terrible with all the cleansing, toning and moisturising.

However, I've always been plagued with eczema since I was a kid. I spent most of my teenage life with two patches on my face because I started wearing glasses and somehow it reacted with my face. Recently, it attacked the area around my eyes. Those who saw me back home probably saw how bad it got! Red, itchy and patchy!

I started to try all sorts of stuff, asked around a bit and realised there are so many Singapore kids that are plagued with eczema and allergies! Poor things, I can totally identify!

Then I chanced upon a Singaporean website selling organic products for eczema prone babies on Angie's website (Angie's website is my constant reference for homeschooling references and ideas) called Bellygoods. So, I decided to contact them and give it a try! They had products for adults as well. Val from Bellygoods was really sweet and posted me a sample of Sun*Si'Belle Organic Triple Action Moisturizer with SPF 30+. I needed a moisturizer and sunblock that did not react with my skin while allowing the eczema to heal.

The product is not as smooth as the Biotherm moisturiser that I normally use but it is also a sunblock so it kinda coats the skin and makes it look a little pale. Once I dust some face powder over it, it's great. Another plus factor is that it helps to even out my skin tone so my skin actually looks almost flawless without foundation! Woopee!

After using it for a month or so, the eczema died down. Of course in addition, I've used some eczema cream and Avene spray to reduce the itch before I put on the moisturizer.

I've not used the other products from Bellygoods but I'm sure it's just as good. I think I might get the baby products when baby arrives. The best part is that Val also sells samples so you can try it before you buy the actual product which can be rather costly. But totally worth it in my opinion!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was momentous! I drove to town and back on my own! It was all great except at one point, I bumped into an elderly man's car bumper a little trying to reverse out of a parking lot but thank God no damage, phew!

I drove all three of us to town to have brunch at the All Day Breakfast place in town to celebrate Father's Day (erm, NZ doesn't celebrate Father's Day today) and then to New World (supermarket) and Warehouse (like Kmart) for some shopping before we headed back home. I was a bit tensed the whole time coz it's the first time I'm on my own for almost 10 years since I got my license. And it was raining quite heavily at some point. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever driven on my own before without a seasoned driver!

Anyhow, it's great! Looking forward to more! FREEDOM!!!!!

As the first born in the family, Dad and I share a very special relationship. I can't really explain what exactly it is but it's just special. Maybe coz I had a good 5 years alone with Mum and Dad before Kelvin came along.

I grew up knowing that we were not rich and couldn't afford most things that Sophie would now take for granted. I knew that Mum and Dad had to work just to make ends meet. When I was growing up, they had to work long hours and I hardly got to see them. Yet during the weekends, we would spend lots of time together going to the beach or the gardens.

I also remember the times that Dad will attempt to teach me Math in primary school using Algebra (which I only figured out when I was in Sec sch! So that was what all that A+B=C was all about!). He's REALLY good with Maths being an estimator and involved in budgeting for million dollar projects like building huge oil rigs and all. I guess I kinda took after that. Although I'm a bit rusty now and need the calculator to figure 8×7.

He's an organizer – since he became a Christian (the year I turned 11), he's always woken up at 4/5am to spent time with the Lord. He's always on time and loves to put things together. Guess I took after him in that aspect too. Ok, not that 5am quiet time BUT I'm definitely more an early bird and I love to organize.

Dad loves to read the papers and watch TV, just like every other Dad. He doesn't talk very much but when he does, he always makes a lot of sense. Even though he doesn't talk very much, it helps that he smiles a lot and always give us quiet assurances that he loves us by asking us if we got enough pocket money or asking Mum to make sure we have this and that.

As I grow older and older, I'm more and more thankful for my Dad. He's 61 this year and he's still working. He and Mum just made a career move to Brazil to help to work on the shipping projects there. I think he's super brave. His tenacity for hard work always amazes me.

Dad, you are amazing and I'm so thankful to God for you. May the Lord bless you on this special Father's Day and even though you are far, pls know that we love you and miss you VERY much.

In a world where many are growing up without fathers or absent fathers, Sophie is most blessed to have James as her Daddy!!!!!!!!

Happy Father's Day dear one! You are so precious to the both of us and we're SO glad you've come home just in time so we can celebrate you!