Baby Updates: 39 weeks

We will be 39 weeks pregnant this coming Monday (28 May 2007). We thought we'd blog about this now because at this stage anything can happen :o). Angie has been experiencing more Braxton Hicks contractions lately (which we fondly call 'hicky') but no signs of labour yet.

So, we're down to the last week of our pregnancy. Please keep us in your prayers.


[Mummy and Daddy at 39 weeks]

Unexpected Sighting

We forgot to mention in the previous post that on the way to see our gynae on 21 May 2007 we spotted a zappelin in the sky - not something you get to see every day :-) Most unfortunately we didn't have our camera with us so we've got no photo of it to share with you.

Baby Updates: 38 weeks

We are now 38 weeks pregnant. We saw our gynaecologist this morning. Baby now weighs 3.7kgs and baby's head is already 10cm in diameter. Simply put - baby is big.

So, it's 2 more weeks to the due date but we're hoping baby will be born sooner because of baby's big size.


[Mummy at 38 weeks]

Little Outing

We had a little outing yesterday (20 May 2007) as some friends from the Singapore Engaged Encounter (EE) community were in Penang for a holiday. The Penang EE community took them around.

Angie and I were not able to join them for the whole time but we did manage to meet them at the reception area of the Batu Maung War Museum before heading for a durian party in the afternoon. In the evening, we went up Penang Hill for steamboat dinner at the Bellevue Hotel.


[War Museum: We busybodied at the reception area only]


[The Local Tourist at the Funicular Hill Railway Station]


[Vending Machine from Yesterday: Reminds us of the 1980s... located at the top station of Penang Hill]

Francis Western Food

We had dinner at Francis Western Food last Saturday (19 May 2007). It is located at a coffee shop at the junction of Cantonment Road and Burmah Road in Pulau Tikus. During this visit, we ordered baked Cajun Chicken (RM11.50) and Chicken Chop (RM7.00). During our previous visit, we had Baked Chicken with peanut butter sauce (RM8.50) and Bacon Wrapped Pork Chop with Cheese (RM13.50). The servings are generous and taste delicious, but be prepared to wait a while before your order arrives.


[The Front of Francis']


[Chicken Cajun]


[Chicken Chop]

Steamed Rice

We read the Giddy Tigers' post about the steamed mushroom chicken rice at the Eng Yau coffee shop next to the Penang Snake Temple. So, yesterday (17 May 2007) saw my brother, my sister-in-law, Angie and I there for a quick lunch. Incidentally, it was the first time the four of us got together for lunch.

The steamed rice turned out to be quite tasty and the serving is really generous. The stall also serves steamed spare ribs rice as well as steamed salted fish rice. They only open Mondays to Fridays.


[Steamed Mushroom Chicken Rice: Only RM3.50]


[Steamed Rice Stall at Eng Yau Coffee Shop]

Cheesy Prawns

Last week (11 May 2007) saw Angie trying out a recipe she learned from a colleague - Cheesy Prawns. The prawns are marinaded with salt and pepper and lightly fried. Then, they are covered in cheese slices before being baked for a few minutes.


[Cheesy Prawns]

Cot Matters

We finally got down to giving baby's cot a fresh coat of paint. The cot is on loan from Gabriel (our baby nephew) who doesn't sleep in his cot anymore. We also made a trip to Penang's Kimberly Street to purchase a cot-sized fibre mattress. Then, off we went to buy some fabric for the bedsheets. So, we're almost done with baby's bed stuff. All we need to do next is to assemble the panels together once the paint is fully dry and voila!


[Swipe, swipe: Daddy painting baby's cot]


[Coconut fibres and cartoon sheets: Firm, cool and funny]

Baby Updates: 36 weeks

We are now 36 weeks pregnant. We saw our gynaecologist yesterday and he said that baby now weighs 2.9kgs, bigger than average. Baby's head is about 9.5cm in diameter. So, it's 4 more weeks to go but Dr. Gynae says baby will be matured in 2 more weeks.


[Mummy at 36 weeks: Baby stuff... check! More baby stuff... check!]

Passing by Perlis

Wednesday, 2 May 2007, saw us making a day trip to the nothern most state of the Peninsular - Perlis. On the way, we swung by Bukit Kayu Hitam but there wasn't much on the Malaysian side to warrant a stop. We continued our journey the to the royal town of Arau where we spotted the palace. Again we drove on without stopping.

When we did finally stop, we had arrived in Kangar and it was lunch time. We had roasted and barbecue pork rice at OK Restaurant near the Malaysia Hotel. After lunch, we drove around town before visiting other places.

The places we visited: Padang Besar, Chuping sugar cane plantation, Tasik Melati, Bukit Kubu Recreational Park, and Kuala Perlis.


[Padang Besar Bazaar]


[Our Padang Besar purchase: mangoes, and fruits of unknown origin... enlightenment welcome]


[Sugar Cane Plantation at Chuping: acres and acres of sweetness]


[Tasik Melati]


[Bukit Kubu Recreational Park]


[An incoming ferry at Kuala Perlis]

We had initially planned to stay the night but found it quite unnecessary once we got there. All in all, the trip took about 10 hours including travelling time. The trip was made more 'exciting' and 'dangerous' when we realised halfway that our car tyres were extremely worn out! We got them changed today.


[A very worn out tyre]

Our 3rd Anniversary

We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on 1 May 2007. This year we began the day with a lovely dim sum breakfast in Taman Pekaka.


[Dim Sum at Maxim's]

Lunch was a picnic at Batu Ferringhi. The weather was good and we managed to find a shade to enjoy our tuna sandwich.


[Preparing our sandwich lunch at the beach]

For dinner, we checked out TGI Friday's. We sampled their loaded potato skin for the appetizer and our main course was the seafood platter and Jack Daniel's Chicken & Shrimp. We also tried their smoothies (Holiday Isle and Hawaiian Surfer). Food was good - better than expected. Between meals we simply lazed about having a relaxing time enjoying each other's company.


[All set to tuck into our dinner at TGI Friday's]

The highlight of the day, as always, was the lighting of our Unity Candle for our Anniversary Prayer.


[Our Unity Candle burning bright]

Baby Updates: 35 weeks

We are now 35 weeks pregnant. During our last visit to the doctor on 23 April 2007, baby weighed about 2.3kg.


[Mummy at 35 weeks: Daddy listening out for some action]

Blondie

Wednesday, 18 April 2007, saw us trying out yet another new recipe - walnut & cinnamon blondies. Blondies are basically brownies without the chocolate. Turned out ok.


[Walnut & Cinnamon Blondies]

JL Gourmet Cafe

We ventured on yet another culinary exploration on Sunday (15 April). Destination: JL Gourmet Cafe at Prangin Mall (33-3-09). We sampled their set meal at RM14.90 per set. We had cream of broccoli soup and JL mushroom soup for starters. Main course was chicken casserole and chicken paprika. The sets come with fruit juice and dessert as well. Not bad. Wouldn't mind a second visit.


[Chicken casserole]


[Chicken paprika]


[JL Gourmet Cafe]

Baby Updates: 32 weeks

We are now 32 weeks pregnant. Baby now weighs about 2kgs. Visits to the doctor will now be more frequent. We have also started attending ante-natal classes.


[Mummy at 32 weeks]

Mocha Brownies

After dinner on Good Friday, we baked some Mocha Brownies for Easter. It was our first time trying this recipe and it was (again) a success! :o)


[Mocha Brownies: Moist, dense, delicious... mmm]

Blessed Easter 2007

After Good Friday service yesterday, Angie & I had some hot cross buns after dinner.


[Hot Cross Buns: One a penny, two a penny...]

Wishing you a Blessed Easter.

Baby Stuff

We have been doing some shopping lately for baby stuff. With so many brands to choose from, selection was not easy.


[Baby toiletries]


[Baby feeding stuff]

We have already got most of the essential baby stuff. Next is to think of stuff to buy for the confinement :o).

Kiu Nyuk Finally

We tried cooking Kiu Nyuk (pork and yam slices in thick sweet gravy) again after an earlier attempt.

Preparations began on the night of 21 March 2007 which lasted some 2 hours. The pork and yam had to be deep fried, onions and garlic had to be minced, and the gravy (flavoured with red fermented beancurd and five-spice powder) had to be prepared. The gravy was then used to marinate the pork and yam slices overnight.

On 22 March 2007, we invited some friends over for dinner and we served the Kiu Nyuk, mixed vegetables (broccoli and carrots), and chinese sausage omelette. Before serving the Kiu Nyuk, we had to steam it for over an hour. The Kiu Nyuk turned out to be "so-so only" by standards set by my paternal grandmother. The pork was still rather tough, the yam was not soft and not powdery, and there was not enough gravy. We were later informed that we should have steamed it for 2 hours at least.


[Kiu Nyuk Finally]

On the whole, it was a good effort considering the amount of effort and time that is needed in its preparation.

Music Tree Now

About 2 months ago, we planted our music tree. Here's how it looks now.


[Our Music Tree: photo taken on 17 March 2007]

Durian Wannabes

During the last Engaged Encounter Weekend at the College General in Penang, the durian trees were in bloom.


[A couple of durian flowers amongst bunches of buds]


[Durian wannabes: after the flowers have dried up]

Piggy Wiggy Food Update

Admittedly, this post is rather late but here's a photo of what we had for lunch on the first day of Chinese New Year in Menglembu.


[Clockwise from top-left: chicken mushroom soup, kiu nyuk, broccoli, chinese sausages, assam fish, and roast duck]

On the second day, we were back in Butterworth.

A-maize-ing Fritters

Today we had a tea party for two. We served homemade cucur jagung (corn fritters) with chocolate drinks. Here's the proof:

[Before: cream corn, onions, anchovies, flour and salt]

[After: a-maize-ing fritters ready to eat]

Baby Updates: 29 weeks

We are now 29 weeks pregnant. Baby is quite active now and was estimated to weigh 1.3kg a week ago. Since the last post Daddy can now feel baby's movements very prominently. Sometimes we could even see baby's movements. We are presently making preparations for baby's arrival by scouting around for things to buy.


[Daddy & Mummy at 29 weeks]

Seventh Encounter

From the 9-11 March 2007, we presented at the 64th Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend at the College General, Penang. 19 couples attended the weekend. We were on the presenting team with Fr. Ambrose Vaz, Chris and Lina Baptist, and Patrick and Eunice Cheah. This is our seventh weekend presenting.


[Participants, presenters and supporting couples of EE64]

Piggy Wiggy Saunters In

The first part of the holidays saw us back in Menglembu greeting the arrival of little piggy with lots of sumptuous food. Sorry, no pictures of our Menglembu menu because we accidentally switched our camera memory card with that of Dad's. Will post some when we manage to swap.

The second part of Chinese New Year was in Butterworth with more delicious food to enjoy.


[Limpets and Sea Cucumber Strips]


[Four Seasons Salad: Purple Cabbage, Cherry Tomatoes and Deep Fried Seaweed and Straw Mushrooms]


[Abalone and Broccoli]


[Fried Prawns in Thai Sauce: It's Ha! Ha! for the Cantonese & Hakkas but to the Hokkiens its Heh! Heh! :o)]


[Fatt Choy Stuffed Mushrooms]


[Fruit Salad]

At the rate we were going, we would look like the zodiac of the year in no time :-)

And baby? Well, baby enjoyed all the food, too, moving excitedly especially after every meal!