Two weeks later

This morning, and I'm sure there'll be many, many more like this, we started the day with two wailing girls - Yasmin and Sera.

Yasmin, unfortunately, has yet to discover the joys of bathing. She cries the minute any body part of hers touches water. So while I was trying to give her a semblance of a bath, in walks Sera, wanting to be part of the action. I invited her to bring in her stool so that she could have a better look. She got all excited. Johan walks in, remembered what the doctor said about separating the girls for now since Sera is having a cold, and abruptly removes her from the stool, out of the toilet. This eventually led to a chaos of miscommunication, more tears and believe it or not, some humour.

Johan: "Sera, go out!"
Sera: "Ok, I'll get my shoes." (Happily proceeds to walk out of our room)
Johan: "No, just stand at the door."
Sera: "Waaaaaa ....don't want to stand at the door." (By now, she is a bit confused at his instructions)
Johan: "Sera sweetie, you're sick, you can't be near Yasmin now."
Sera: "Don't want to stand at the door .... " (More tears streaming down her face, her nose is more stuffed up)

Above the two screaming girls, I gave Yasmin a fairly decent bath, had a calm discussion with Johan about his sensitivity in handling the situation, gave Sera a kiss on her wet cheek, who slowly and secretly inched her way back into our room, unto the bed.

Oh boy oh boy ...

So to recap the last two weeks since ...

Yasmin is growing steadily, sleeping during the day, keeping me up throughout the night.



Her jaundice has improved, thanks to Johan's diligent and peculiar way of sun bathing her. I have to say, nothing phases him any more, anything for his girls!



Sera and Yasmin continue to do their share of sisterly bonding




Sera is still the happy spirited girl that we so love her for (despite her resistance to forgo her diapers) ... in our books, she gets 3 stars for being so generous with her love towards Yasmin ... the mail man, the condominium cleaners ... ha ha.



The sad news is that the parents of these wonderful girls are shamefully TIRED. Johan is going to give me much pain for sneakily taking this photo, more so for putting it on the blog. But he'll forgive me, I know. So for those of you who can't picture exhaustion, this it it! I could have just turned the camera towards myself but, nahhhh ... this is better!



The agenda next week is ... inclusive of all the above, I want to get back into shape, with Johan ('grin'), starting with some power walking at the nearby park, practise my yoga (I still remember Lena!), go for a post-natal massage , meet up with some of my girlfriends ... yeah right ...

Sisters

Sera has been the sweetest big sister to Yasmin. She smothers her with kisses everyday, helps me find her missing mittens or socks (they never seem to stay on!) and she's already protective of her ... not wanting anyone, other than people who live in this house, to touch or carry her. And since we've brought Yasmin home, Sera has been informing everyone who cares to know, "Papa, mama, Sera and baby Yasmin."

Little sister, Yasmin, at 10 days

Big sister, Sera

Sisters doing some bonding

"Oh tissue, tissue" ... then she, not so gently, wipes off drool from Yasmin

"Don't cry Yasmin, don't worry baby ... I love you" When Sera shows affection, she overflows with it

This was her 10th kiss in a row

Supporting her head while trying to smile at the camera

Settling in

These days, we pretty much stay home, huddle and cosy together, and if we're lucky (meaning Sera naps in the afternoon), we get to rest during the day.

Just waking up from one of her many naps


Yasmin sleeps on Johan, while he does a side way glance pose

In addition to having another sleepless night, Yasmin woke the whole family up early this morning, including Sera, who drowsily crawls into our bed

Yasmin and Johan fall easily back to sleep while Sera and I have an early breakfast

Yasmin having a sun bath

Asleep (with an attitude) in my arms

Crazy about mushrooms

There are two food items that Sera truly loves - Mushrooms (yah, that's peculiar for a kid) and ice cream (ok, that's pretty normal for a kid). So imagine her utter excitement when she went to a mushroom farm for her school excursion. Next month's excursion will be to an ice cream factory ... goodness, she'll really be in paradise then.

All set and ready to go to the Mushroom Farm

On the bus to the farm. The kids were entertained with sing-along-songs throughout the bus journey to Seletar farm way.

The farm manager welcoming the kids. Hmm, Sera has yet to realise that it isn't so cool to stand right in front and even away from the rest of the class ...

Strolling through the mushroom incubator

There she is again, right in front. This time waiting for auntie to whip up some yummy mushrooms

The first one to attack the mushrooms

"Sera, I think you've had enough of mushrooms", says Grandma. "Just one more, grandma!"

While waiting to board the bus back to school, Sera and uncle Joseph pose together. What's up with that goofy smile Sera?

Back in school, she lunches with her boy-friends ...

Yasmin Lei

She's here, she's finally here. I now truly understand the joy of waiting ... after over 40 weeks. Today, Johan, Sera and I welcome our baby girl, Yasmin Lei, into our family. As expected, the first few days have been a blur of sleeplessness and sheer exhaustion but we're settling into a rhythm. And of course, it helps that grandma has been such a great help ... and now, oma is here as well. We'll be doing just fine. Thank you one and all, for your prayers and well wishes ... we feel very blessed, indeed.

Just minutes after she was born

Sera's first meeting with Yasmin. We were all curious to see her first reaction. She whined a little when, upon entering the hospital room, she saw her favourite guy carrying Yasmin. But she got over it very quickly, touching her and giving her a kiss on her head. That's Sera for you ...

Yasmin, 2 days old

'I'm 4 days old'

Sera trying to pacify Yasmin, "Don't cry Yasmin, don't cry!"

Yasmin, feeling very at home in oma's arms

7 July 2008

Three more hours and, for us in Singapore, the day will be over ...

Thus the Estimated Delivery Date of 7 July 2008 is WRONG ... WRONG ... wronggggggggg!

"But I'm so ready ... we're all ready!"

Anyway, this morning, we went to see the substitute doctor. The one who would ultimately pull the baby out. We had a scan of the baby, all is fine. The baby is surrounded by lots of fluid so nothing to be worried about ... even if the baby decides to come out A WEEK LATER! Noooooo ... ha ha ha! Ok, as long as the baby is happy and healthy ... we shouldn't ask for more. Right? Well, there's 3 more hours till the end of the day. 'grin'

Sera all geared up for her short cycle trip at East Coast Park ...

Enjoying the here and now ... while we wait.

It's been a week since ... and we're still pregnant and still waiting. This 'talk' I've been hearing about, "Oh the second baby always comes earlier or that the labour is shorter ...", it's not happening or at least, not with me. I always tell Sera she has 'to wait for the good things in life' so I guess I'm forced to practise what I so often 'preach' to her. PATIENCE. Anyway, here are some photos from this week which I've failed to post as yet, mostly because I've been anxious with waiting. Here's Sera, enjoying life ... oblivious to the wait. It's the here and now for her.

Coming back from a day of fishing. Johan was out at sea with Simon, Ben, Greg and Mei. Well, his version of fishing is really just sleeping and holding unto a hand reel.

Sera with auntie Mei, waiting for a fish to take a bite

With grand-uncle Simon, waiting for the fish to bite

Pick up from school

At the yacht club, Sera loved the pool slide

On land, she and Joseph take to the slide


Johan join Joseph, Sera and Marc on the swing

Sera on the springy horsey

Goofing around with Isaac, Jonathan and Timothy

Isaac just about to crash into Sera

All cleaned up. The kids enjoy while Isaac serenades them with the violin

Aaron and Sera fuelling up after all that play

Sera, auntie Fiona and Aaron

Taking a stroll at the jetty before dinner. Isaac, very protective of Sera, always holding her hands wherever they go. Sweet!

Isaac getting impatient with grandma's photo-taking and Sera, just plain tired