Aren't they funny

One of the play dates from earlier on.

The truth about number 2

I refuse to put up a more glamorous photo of myself. Sorry but this is the reality of it all.

Well, when you get pregnant with a second kid you are definitely over the moon.

Yes. Kids are blessings.

But somehow you can't help but notice your "over the moon reaction is a little more down to earth."

1. You are more tired.

2. You know the real work that goes into it.

3. The sleepless nights.

4. The first few months of disrupted sleep.

5. The first few months of disrupted sleep coupled with dealing with the feelings of another child.

6. The pains of breastfeeding. - Yes this isn't over-rated guys. Think pink milk because of bleeding nipples.

7. The birthing process is forever implanted in your mind hence bringing about more fear prior to the second birth.

8. You take many many photos and tell yourself to take the photos that you never took the second time round.

There are some advantages of being pregnant the second time round though..

1. You are more tired but have more excuses because you have another kid to mind.

2. You already know the real work that's expected of you and can CHEAT the system this time round.

3. You have the iPad to keep you company through disrupted sleep.

4. The iPad to distract your other child.

5. You know that drinking a coffee a day is NOT A BIG DEAL.

6. The amount of time and effort spent breastfeeding, you could have spent learning YET ANOTHER language.

7. You cheat the system and ask to be induced once the baby is ripe

8. You get to pick and clean your belly button because everything is stretched opened. YEAH pretend to be grossed out but you wish you could reach those areas don't you?

9. You still don't bother taking pictures that you forgot to take the first time round but tell yourself ...bah. whatever. it didn't really matter.

Anyways, having said that, i'm in my 38th week now of growing another person in my body.

I can safely say that indeed, every pregnancy is different.

It is Not true that the second baby comes earlier and quicker because Nate came out at 37 weeks, just two days after the mucus plug dislodged itself.

I'm not 38 weeks and the plug left my body 4 days ago. Still nothing.

This time round, I have been suffering from severe sciatica pains. NOT FUN. And I prolly worked so hard that my muscles (according to my physiotherapist) shut down the moment I lay down for 10minutes. I am unable to move after that.

But I guess its the home run now and i'm pretty much over the pains and complaints and just waiting for it all to end.

At this point i'm feeling so tired I wonder how i'm going to muster up any energy to "push" the fella out of my system but I think of Nate and his enthusiam to having another member of the family and that kinda wakes me up!

See you at the finish line man. Hope I clock a personal best this time round!

Nate is super chill

I hope my next kid is just like Nate.

To Market To Market...

When I was about 5 years old, I was taken care of by my grandmother who used to go to the wet market every morning.

The tungsten lighting and gross fish scaled covered floors were one of the details I remembered about most.

It was fun. I love outings, especially those involving environments which were not too sterile.

Those visits took a huge break when I started schooling and never had any reason to go to out on my own account to buy groceries and fresh produce.

But now that we live on our own, those visits have started again.

A good gal-friend of mine introduced me to Marine Terrace Wet Market... just down the road from where I live. It is so awesome.

My highlight is breakfast there, where the soya bean curd is awesome and the vegetarian bee-hoon is a must try.

Funny thing is I find my past catching up with me.

I've been there 5 times and out of that 5, i've been meeting ex-sailors from our national team. Apparently everyone lives there!

My coach from China, well, ex-coach, my ex-neighbor who was team mates with my dad when he was a national sailor, my ex-rival sailor from Philippines who is now our Singapore Optimist coach and many others!!! The list goes on.

Needless to say, Nate's been enjoying these outings and we've had a couple of breakfast dates with his classmates there as well. As he starts to build new memories, I seem to be re-visiting mine.

I guess Joni Mitchell said it right.. "And it goes round and round and round in the circle game."

KTM

It wasn't so long ago when the KTM station was closed. This was the last day it was operational and I remember the kids skipping first half of school just to go see some real trains come and go by while I shot my assignment. Funny how a couple of months after, the story has kinda just slipped past everyone's mind. That's why we have pictures. (: