I'm a full-time mummy

You know how the saying goes on "Walk the talk"? According to Wiktionary, this phrase meant: "To do what one said one could do, or would do, not just making empty promises."

So yeah... I have NOT been walking MY talk! I admit it! And the more I think about it, the more guilty I felt!

I think it started when I was about 36 weeks pregnant when I got an invitation from my high school friend to her twin's 1 year old birthday party. I politely thanked her and declined the invitation saying I think I should stay home as much as possible now since Spicy Baby will be due anytime already...

And the next thing I know, we were out for an impromptu family outing to the National Zoo.

Ben trying to show his shoes to the elephant

Ben reaching for the ice cream...

Then when I was 37 weeks pregnant, I got an invitation to attend my cousin's wedding on 30th August and although at first I wanted to go, I decided to decline after that as I don't think it's nice to hog 3 seats for the wedding dinner and then went into labor and wasted the 3 seats. I did however passed along my angpow (token of money) to my brother who attended the dinner.

So anyway, I declined the wedding dinner and the next thing I know, we went on another impromptu family outing to Genting Highlands. I basically just pushed the stroller along everywhere (and went to the loo VERY often!) and the only ride I get to enjoy is the monorail, the rest, hubby went on with Ben while I sat and rest somewhere and waited for them.

Ben with his toy gun on our way to Genting...

All the stuff we lugged along during the day trip...

Then when I was 38 weeks pregnant, a senior from my high school messaged me through Facebook asking whether I want to join her and 2 other seniors for dinner at a shopping mall on Saturday and again, citing the reasons that I think I should stay home and not venture out much, I politely thanked her and declined the offer.

And, yeap... you guessed it... on the very same day, we went out for a lunch date with my best friend and her sister, and the lunch outing turned into a window shopping activity at a newly refurbished mall, then tea time, then a very impromptu movie date (watched Cars 2) and then a late dinner outing since there was a heavy traffic jam on the way back to their place.

And now, at 39 weeks pregnant, I've already declined 2 more wedding invitations and 1 baby full moon party and yeap... we went for another family outing to KL Bird Park (the last time we went there was sometime back). It was quite tiring by the time we finished walking the WHOLE park and all I did was just walk! Either Ben walked himself or hubby pushed Ben when there is uphill slope while I used the staircase. But it was really hot and I guessed that makes it more tiring!

Ben laughing at one of the bird near his stroller...

Ben playing with daddy while I rested...

There were few other occassions where we went window shopping for hours as well in between my 36 weeks of pregnancy until now...

So I was thinking the more I declined offers or invitations to do something, the more I ended up doing activities during my pregnancy stage! I just can't walk my talk! Arghhhhhhh!!!

Oh well, it was traumatising for me... not that the host is not gracious or we were ill treated during our short playdate visit. More like I was being traumatised by Ben's behaviour!

Let me rewind a bit and explain how we got to this playdate. Well, I've met Catheryn, a fellow SAHM and mummy blogger before and she has been inviting me to visit her and her daughter Isabelle since then. Busy-ness caught up, pregnancy, bla bla bla, and mostly, due to my shyness in socialising with people, so when she MSN-ed me few days ago for a playdate outing, I thought 'Oh well, there's only 1 more month before Spicy Baby is due, if not now, when?!'

So here we are, playdate all arranged. Hubby was to drop Ben and myself off at Catheryn's condo and pick us up when he finished his appointment some 2 hours later. I had earlier prepared Ben mentally by showing him pictures of Belle and Catheryn (from Facebook), telling him we are going to meet this mei-mei (aka little sister) and aunty in a short while and for him to behave and not cry (like how he did when I brought him along to have lunch with my ex-boss few days ago)

We reached Catheryn's place few minutes after 11am and took a short tour around the pool and squash court area - for Ben to wind down a bit. It was getting hot so we decided to return back to her house. We chatted and watched our kids play. Initially Ben was shy and had both his hands to his back, not daring to touch anything in the house. I explained to Catheryn this is something I don't know where Ben picks up from.

Everything was fine and dandy at the beginning. Ben playing with Belle's ride-on car and Bell having her lunch while watching TV.

But boy oh boy, after Ben relax and let down his guard... that's when I started getting traumatised. Belle had graciously shared her toys and Ben, getting to play new toys decided to hang onto the toys longer and started getting territorial. He even started hitting Belle when she gets close to his vicinity. Poor girl!

I was so embarrassed with Ben's behaviour! Arghhhh... what am I to do? I don't even dare to think of going back to Catheryn's place for the next playdate (not that I can with Spicy Baby along)

At some point they played together like close friends, and then one second later, there goes Ben hitting and pushing Belle away, telling her to go away (and not stepped into his territory). Yikes!

Ben looking at Belle while she sat on the ride-on

And they switched roles after that...

Of course there are times when I am happy with what Ben did, like him picking up the toys and putting it back into the case where they belong, or the times he held few pieces of the oat crackers he's having for his lunch and gave to Belle (but not before pushing her away few minutes before that sigh...) and he even danced along to the bible action songs (the same ones we had) which he had not done for a while now, maybe now there is Belle dancing along that's why Ben participated as well.. and sorry to say, he influenced Belle to dance like him... yikes again... dancing in a big circle, spinning round and round... I hope Belle doesn't pick it up from Ben permanently!

All in all, it was a fun playdate (aside from me being traumatised and extremely embarrassed seeing Belle getting whacked by Ben), I'm glad Ben did not cry at seeing strangers (maybe cos I showed him their pictures on FB before leaving the house), I was a bit worried he might cling to me and not approach anyone (which he normally does during 1st encounter)

Next playdate? Not till I get over this trauma first... sigh... I hope Belle and Catheryn is OK and not traumatised like me...

** Just want to update: I was traumatised because Ben was usually quiet and timid at home and when he's with strangers (in fact, Ben was normally the one being bullied and end up clinging to me crying), so to be seeing him behaving like this was an eye opener for me. But my hubby said to take this as a lesson and not be discouraged or phobic as these are the times we should be correcting him the right way. Agree to that!

I had a lunch outing recently with my ex-boss (I brought Ben along) and when we were heading back to the office (I decided to wait there while my hubby came over to fetch us home), I carried Ben and my ex-boss has got the horrified look on her face.

Actually I carried Ben cos I don't want to be holding his hand and have him crossing the road with me - I mean, I'd rather carry him and cross the road than risk him slowing me down and causing any accidents... plus it was quite hot outside and I figured it'd be better (and faster) if I carry him.

Anyway, my ex-boss looked so worried seeing me carrying Ben - what more with my pregnancy at this stage and kept asking me and Ben whether she can carry him instead. She tried asking Ben to walk himself too (which he did after some persuasion). So yeah, that got me thinking... am I seriously doing one of those pregnancy no-no thingy?

Of course, I'm glad that I don't drink alcohol or smoke (hate it!!) or take any drugs (I didn't eve see a doctor when I had  my cough + sorethroat + runny nose + fever bouts few weeks back) or even eat any raw stuff (think sushi).

But, honestly speaking I've done some pretty scary stunts remarkable things during this round of pregnancy such as:

* Karate kick bathroom door cos hubby was stuck inside (I was about 8 months pregnant)

What actually happened was I heard a loud banging sound from the next room (hubby's home office) while I was dry nursing Ben to sleep and after a few more banging sounds, I decided to go check out what the heck is going on with my hubby at such a late hour (almost midnight).

When I went into his office, I couldn't find him anywhere and then another banging sound came again, from his bathroom. I realised then that he was stuck in his bathroom and there's no way he could get himself out without some fancy McGyver gadgets (oh well, I'd be totally freaked out if he can escaped out using some spare rolls of toilet paper or tooth brush or something)

I can't pull open the door and the only way I could help is to help him push the door inwards while he pulls it from his side. I tried using my shoulder to bang at the door, and then realised it'll be better if I just use my leg to kick the door. Yeap, the good ol' karate kick method! Wachh-aaaaaaaaa!!!!

I mean, I think my legs are stronger than my skeletal hands so, there you go, an 8 months preggy mum raising her right leg over 90 degrees and kicking the door with all her might. It took a few kicks before door finally bulged and I get to see my hubby's relieved face!

* Breastfeeding during pregnancy and still dry nursing as we speak now
I mean I already got some not so encouraging responses for continuing on my breastfeeding with Ben after he turned 2 years old. And what more now when people find out that I am still dry nursing (meaning no breastmilk as my BM stopped production by itself when I was in my 5th month of pregnancy) Ben while I am pregnant - even to this day, they give me weird looks. I don't know what else to say other than I'll let him nurse as long as he wants (it's part of my daily prayer as well)

* Still carrying my almost 13kg toddler around (though not for long period of time)

Like I mentioned in the first few paragraphs, I do still carry Ben around, though not for long period of time, maybe less than 10 minutes the max during each time.

I've heard of people telling me I should not carry so heavy things but I don't know, I mean, if you can just look at your child directly into his eyes and still refused to carry him when he's in pain or crying after a fall or hurt or something or after seeing your hubby got so tired carrying your child all day long then I'd think you have got something wrong in your head.... or heart...

* Running with Ben to the bathroom when he says he needs to pee

My regular blog readers will know that I'm in the midst of potty training Ben (peeing part for now) and yes, part of my self-created BE AWESOME potty training approach is to make it exciting and fun. And feeling excited and fun means I drop/stop whatever I'm doing and just RUN to the bathroom with Ben the moment he tells me he needs to pee.

Of course at almost 9 months pregnant now it does get tiring (especially if you got pranked by your mischievous toddler, and yes he does it quite well...) but I think it's worth it. And it's not like I'm running the whole day long...

* Lie down on my front

Surprisingly, just few days ago, I realised I could still lie down on my front. And read an e-book on my iPad. And then I rolled sideways and realised 'Oh crap... I totally forgot about my preggy bump!' Nothing weird happened just in case you are wondering...

* Still trying to squat as much as I can

With that I mean, if I am out and about, I try to go for the squatting type of toilets rather than the sitting down types. I read that squatting helps with contractions during labor, and I did the same thing when I was pregnant with Ben so I'm going to repeat it with this pregnancy, though I do have to be honest that nowadays, there are few times when I am feeling abit difficult to stand back up after squatting and the thoughts of getting stuck squatting does cross my mind when this happen... so, I think I'll be reducing my squatting exercises to home only...

So what about you? Any pregnancy no-nos you've heard of or practised?