Sponsored Post: Palmer's Stretch Mark Cream PLUS a Giveaway!

I didn't realised it was that bad until I've given birth and noticed it, a few months later.

Yes.

Stretch marks.

I mean I did diligently apply stretch mark cream that was recommended by my gynae, but I naively only applied it onto my tummy and neglected my posterior aka backside. It didn't dawn on me that my bum will stretch too because I couldn't possibly get that big, right?

Wrong.

I did got big all over and now I have the evidence to prove it.

My stretch marks looked red and angry and made my bum looked like they've been caned with a whip. But subsequently, they faded to light grey stripes which reminds me of tiger stripes.

So now that I've already stretch marked and pregnant again, I'm determined to minimise it. For a while, I was only using baby oil to help lubricate my skin, and just a few days back, I received some Palmer's stretch marks lotion to try it out!

As this was my first time trying Palmer's and only started for a few days, I can't for sure say my stretch marks has reduced although I did tempt fate and asked the husband if it did but he just rolled his eyes at me, heh!

Anyway here are my thoughts on it:

• It is light and non-greasy
• Smooth texture that applies evenly onto my skin
• Absorbs well
• It has a very mild and light cocoa scent that may or may not sit well with other pregnant mothers though given our heightened sense of smell now. I was quite conscious of it but gradually got used to it. 

I will be using it till I delivered, and hopefully by then my stretch marks will be reduced greatly and no new ones will appear!

And now for the giveaway!

Palmer’s has teamed up with the sure-to-be-hit film version of the iconic pregnancy self help book, What to expect when you're expecting, to offer fans a chance to catch this movie. 

I have 10 pairs of tickets with a surprise gift to give away!

Simply just leave a comment with your name and email address to state that you wish to watch the movie. 

Very simple!

The first 10 comments will win but if there's more (attempting fate again, hee) comments, I will just randomly draw 10 winners.

As the movie is already showing now in cinema, comment quickly to catch the show before it end its run by 31 May!

UPDATE: I've been informed that some comments made on the blog was not able to get through. If you're having problems leaving a comment, kindly email me instead! I wouldn't want you to miss a chance of grabbing the tickets! 

He learns his stuff from us

Lately, the son has been mimicking our actions down to a T.

For example, he saw that I was popping my multi-vitamins one morning and proceeded to do the whole cupped-the-pills-into-my-mouth-head-back-and-swallow-water action. And then loudly exclaimed, 'Mama eat medicine!'

Or when he sees the husband walking around the house shirtless, he would also want to follow suit and will asked to take off his shirt too.

And then there was this one time, he saw us reading the newspapers, promptly took one section and did the whole flipping through the papers motion. All the while exclaiming loudly, 'I read newspaper!'

Which is kinda cute but also leads me to be careful with what we do around the house too. Its great that he's trying to copy the good ones, but what about the not so good ones?

Like erm, leaving clothes lying around the floor, swearing, rolling my eyes, tsking, more swearing and also our choice of words.

Its really amazing how fast this kid picks up stuff from us. We may not be consciously aware of it, but any little actions and words used around the house are being watched and absorbed by him.

Case in point. I can't remember what he did, but when he did what he did that was quite funny, I just casually said he was being di siao saio (meaning cheeky) and guess what he said?

'Nooo, Daddy di siao siao!' gave a sheepish grin and ran away.

Truly he's your son, husband!

A heartful (2)

Right now, I'm alone in the office doing some weekend duty. I've been surfing the web and came across this video of a mother's love for her blind son.

At first I dismissed the video for fear of what I would see, but I still went ahead to watch it, because well, it speaks of a mother's love.

After watching it, I felt humbled. I could never be as brave or as strong as her to love her child the way she does. I cannot imagine the amount of rudeness, stares, hatred even or sarcasms she has to go through. Yet, she did not succumb to any of it, and it made her love her child even more.

I have a healthy, normal growing boy and sometimes, I don't even love him enough. At times when I come home from work tired and grumpy, I would snapped at him and lose my temper. All because he might want to play with me, show me his toys or just do things with him, all for that little bit of alone time with me.

It makes me think.

I am thankful that I have healthy kids right now. I do not want to have an exception before I realised how truly fortunate I am to have such wonderful kids. I want to be thankful right now for having a healthy and growing baby inside me, an awesome toddler who is ever an amazement to me and of course, a loving and ever supportive husband.

I do not show it enough or said it even. But I am also thankful for my parents, no matter how much idiosyncrasies they have or I have, they're the ones that has put up with me and/or still putting up with me now, heh.

Most of all, I am thankful for being alive. For having life in me to experience life itself.

Too old for late night shows but never too old for a date

There's a reason why only teenagers can stay up late, catch late night movies and still find the energy to get up early the next day.

Its called youth. Or as I know it, the harsh reality of getting your bones old.

The husband and I managed to catch The Avengers on Saturday for a 12.30am show. By the time it ended and got home, it was close to 4am. On top of that, we've only a few hours' sleep before we have to pick the son up from the grandparent's place.

We totally do not rock the late night scene anymore.

BUT! It was kinda worth it, because the movie was an impromptu one and it did makes us feel like a dating teenage couple all over again. Perhaps the next time we do have an impromptu movie date again, we just had to choose an earlier timing, heehee.

P.S: The husband said while at the cinema, he caught a young girl checking him out. The girl looked at him, looked at me, noticed my belly then quickly looked away. I told him my belly might serve as a reminder to her not to do anything foolish that night. Because you know, magical things happens at night. Or anytime.

Challenge of the bump and of donations

It's been a while since I've last posted an outfit photo!

Today's outfit:

top: Gmarket, polka dot tank: Cotton On,
jeans: New Future, flats: Gmarket

Now that the belly is getting bigger, finding the right clothes to wear is an everyday challenge. For the first pregnancy, I didn't get any maternity wear as I was adamant that they were all too frumpy looking for me! And they were so much more expensive than regular clothes too!

Well, the only exception that I got was maternity pants. Because if you must know, I'm holding the jeans I'm wearing now with rubber bands and walking around with my pants unzipped because I've given my maternity pants away!

And I'm too cheap to buy new ones now, heh.

If you're looking to give away your old clothes or baby clothes, please let me know! I'll gladly take them and love them with my belly!

Have an awesome weekend!

A local holiday

I took a week long break off from work to just spent time with the husband and son. We went to many different places, had good food and everyday spent together as a family was so enjoyable. Though we were still in Singapore, but the places we explored made it seem like I really did go on a holiday. 

A holiday in Singapore :)

Sentosa:

a pink dolphin!
this is the only photo of Sentosa that I took. 

Brunch at Spruce:

the husband's English Breakfast

my Banana and Blueberry pancakes.
so fluffy and soft!

After which, we headed to visit some museum in town. We went to Singapore Arts Museum where they are showcasing an artist called Lee Wen. Totally catch no ball with his exhibits.

Then we hopped of to the Peranakan Museum. This was so much more interesting and informational, at least  to me.

Went to Jcube to check out the lastest shopping mall. Had lunch at Chillis and it was very satisfying. By the way they have this Lunch Break promotion where you get to choose your starters and mains with free flow of drinks. Prices starts at $12-$14, which is quite worth it considering they give quite a big portion. Lunch time from 11am to 4pm.

Chillis:

their table tiles

my chicken esquesdilla (?) with Caesar salad

After lunch, off to Singapore Science Centre!

er, hello

pufferfish

the husband trying out the Typhoon Chamber to
 find out how it feels like to be caught in a 80km/h wind

chicks!

We also went on a local brewery tour at the Tiger Brewery.

loved the decor of the Tavern. All guests gets to enjoy
a 45 mins beer sampling and just chill out in here.

playing darts

And lastly, the husband and I squeezed in some alone time to celebrate our 10 years of togetherness. Had an awesome buffet dinner at Pan Pacific, courtesy of a gift voucher from the mother-in-law.

10

During this week long break, I couldn't help but feel grateful and loved each day. There was something to do, something to look forward to and someone to end the day with. Each day in itself is such a gift to treasure.

I told the husband it really felt like a holiday to me because there was always something to do everyday and he told me that's how being in love feels. Mushy but I like, heh.

P.S: We went for our detail scan and its confirmed we're having another boy! Now the house is really gonna be turned upside down.

How we like to sleep around

Due to space constraints in the house, the son is still co-sleeping with us in our bed. 

But the husband and I think otherwise because he thinks the bed is his.

Uh right.

When he used to be smaller and not so agile, this was the best sleeping position for all of us:

via offbeat mama

He'll get triple protection from the headboard, myself and lastly, the father. All was fine and dandy till I realised being sandwich in between a growing toddler and a grown man was not so fine after all.

The growing toddler would inevitably sleep into my space during the middle of the night when he change sleeping positions and this boy does a big flip! Often I'll end up with punches and kicks onto my face, eyes, back, stomach and not forgetting the countless checks to ensure he doesn't fall off onto the other side of the bed.

And the grown man? Let's just say he maximise his space fully well to the edge of the bed. There was that one time he said I actually shoved him off it! He had to grabbed onto the blanket from falling off completely. He was really angry when he told me what happened the next day but I had a good laugh though!

Anyway this current position that we have seems good enough for now.

via offbeat mama

Although there is a small gap now between the bed and the wall, and sometimes we would wake up to cries of help when the son turns and accidentally lands himself in the gap, haha!

Any funny stories to share? Co sleeping mummies?