A Breakthrough with Kiara's First Sleepthrough

So I am fast forwarding the journey here by 3.5 months, only because this is still fresh in my mind since it happened just last night!

Kiara is 14 weeks & 6 days old today.

And last night *drumroll please* she slept through from 9pm - 5:30am for the first time! What a thoughtful daughter I have, as she knew that mommy was all knackered from the CNY preparations and celebrations. Though I'd have to say, both Matt and I were up this morning at 5am (before we heard anything from her), wondering to ourselves if she was alright. *chuckles*

Ah...the needless worries.

Though we may be counting our eggs before they are hatched here, I thought it is still deserving of an official shout out, that last night was the first night of many to come..... that my daughter hit another milestone.

Here is a shot of her today... all grown up. (a whooping 60cm in length. *grin*)

Epilogue

2011 was a milestone for me in many ways...

I turned THRITY!

but not before a more precious chapter was opened,

I became a MOMMY!

So, this is the birth story of our little princes, Kiara....

On the 12th October at 4:58am in the morning, a beautiful baby girl, weighing in at 3.2kg, was born into this world at St Vincent's private Hospital.

Her birth in itself was like a dream. I remember saying to myself at the 38th week of my pregnancy, how wonderful it would be if I could have her in my arms already....but at the back of my mind, I was dreading the 12+ hour labour process that we hear so much about.

Like an answered prayer, it almost felt like she did just appear in my arms.

Albeit after a bit of pushing and screaming, but what is 4hrs in the scheme of things.

So there you have it, Kiara Khoo was born with no complications.... no drugs (because there was no time).... no fuss.

*The only possible complication that we managed to avoid, was being born in the car.*

Thank you God for her safe passage into this world.

And there the journey of self-discovery begins...

Discovery of my innate motherly instincts.

Discovery of my tolerance of sleeplessness.

Discovery of life through the eyes of a little one.

Discovery of how much higher my voice could actually go.

And with a new found respect for my mother.

Finally understanding why it is not possible for a mother to not love their child, because the road of motherhood is not an easy one.

Now that I have painted the gloomy picture of sleepless nights and the need for bountiful bouts of energy...

I must also say, that Kiara is what makes it all worth while.

The smiles...

The coos...

The chuckles.

The recognition in her eyes when she sees you that she is safe, she is home....

And so the documentation of this road of discovery shall begin from here.

Everything warm&cuddly and colorful&exciting of her first days in this world to come.

New Beginnings....

A year has ended.

A new year has begun.

How can 4 years (since my last post) pass in a blink of an eye?

I should have heaps to write about, but seconds do pass faster then you can type it out.

Nevertheless, it is never too late.

Every moment is a new memory to capture.

And 2012 shall be my year....

My year of awesomeness in being wonderfulandloving wife & haveittogether mom!

Of course there is the:

Rememberingtocall Daughter & Sister

Embracingandmaketheeffort Friend

Things don't just happen, but you have to make it happen.

And it shall....

Cambodia - a jewel in the rough

Its been a long while since we took a trip somewhere other than Malaysia or Melbourne with mom and dad. So this time when sis came back to Singapore to enjoy her hard-earned 5 week (In Singapore....unheard of!!!) holiday, we all took a trip to CAMBODIA (together with the new addition to our family, Stan, and Mattie)!!!

At the Siam Reap Airport

Prior to the trip, good ol' reliable dad was reluctant to go because like many, the impression of cambodia was that of clogged up drains, putrid alley ways, dirt roads and streets lined with pickpockets and beggars. But after this trip, both mom and dad were hooked! Siam Reap is an amazing jewel in the rough. Sad to say, perhaps give it a couple more years, tourism would probably bull doze its way through the town. By then, it would be "bring on the high fashion, marketable, five-star living and modern facades"; slowly stripping her of her character, mystery and colour.

But for now, she is truly an extrodinary gem, with beauty so unassuming.

DAY ONE: The infamous ANG KOR WAT

A little bit of History:

Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The largest and best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained since its foundation a significant religious centre — first Hindu, dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddist.
(Excerpt from Wikipedia...haha...impressed you there for a second didn't I?)

Can you believe these carvings were here since the 12th century?!

The climb to the top was not as easy as it looks...It was almost a vertical stairway to the top!!!

Mom decided to give it a miss. Kudos to dad for wanting to give it a shot!! Notice how drenched dad got by the time he got to the top!

The View from the top!

NEXT STOP: ANGKOR THOM, the temple city
On the way to Bayon...

Bayon - The last state temple to be built in Angkor, and also known as the 200-over faced Temple

After the exciting "Amazing Race" rush to the Airport at 5AM in the morning.....

(For all those who may gain from our near miss experience, perhaps some things to note;

#1 Jetstar flies out from T1 of Changi Airport NOT Budget Terminal (BT);

#2 The terminal transfer from BT goes only to T2 NOT T1

#3 The sky train between T2 and T1 operates only AFTER six AM)

After the long climb up to the top of Ang Kor Wat.....

and surviving on only on three pieces of bread shared amongst the six of us,

I think we were quite ready to call it a day!

DAY TWO: Fresh! Ready to conquer more Temples

FIRST STOP: Floating Village

This was my favorite part of the whole trip. I felt like I was being immersed into a life so different and so unknown to me. Playing basketball on floating court-cages, washing clothes off a raft which would be called 'home', brushing teeth with river water scooped off the rear of the boat , living in a boat that slants to one end cause the tide is low and the base of the boat is stuck in the uneven mud, going to school in boats, multi-tasking meant scooping water out of the boat and rowing at the same time, being allowed to have the tv on for ony 8hours each month cause they operate on batteries. Life is simple, yet complex.

But in the midst of experiencing all this, "PITY" would not be what I use to explain how I feel. They have the basic needs of what is need to survive. Some homes even have colour television and snooker tables on pontoons. And because, this is their way of life. This is what they know. Of course, I do believe life would be better for them if they had electricity, or clean fresh water running from pipes. But everything in life is relative isn't it?

I would probably not be able to survive one week living in a boat, but its only because I know what it is like to shower from a shower head or sleep on a bed. But I believe no matter what life journey takes you, there will be struggles. A physical need or a material desire or an emotional truma or a spiritual void, they are all struggles in life. So really, what is left to face all this and still be able to enjoy life is to be thankful with what little, or what much you have, and always live the life you have been blessed with the fullest way possible.

Hmm....as always, I have gone off tangent. Back to our trip....

NEXT STOP:

Some believed this temple might have been built by women for its intricate carvings and minature doorways.

NEXT STOP: TOMB RAIDER TEMPLE, also known as Ta Prohm

This was my personal favourite temple. Here, Nature shows its true destructive powers, where huge fig and silk-cotton trees tower above the ruined temple. Slow, yet impactful.

And that was it for DAY TWO!!!! To give ourselves a little treat, we all retreated back to civilization, found a nice cozy cafe with wireless internet and which served the most yummy mango and dark chocolate sundae combo! BLUE PUMPKIN is its name.

DAY THREE: *BEEP DA BEEP*

FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY: ANGKOR WAT at sunrise, FOUR THIRTY AM!!!!

HA! FOOLED YOU!

So were we...... well, this too was what we envisioned it to be.....

However....

The true sunrise experience

That's US, looking quite awake at 5AM in the morning....patiently waiting....

And then, this was it!

TA-DA

Well, actually it was more like someone was turning up the dimmer lights over Angkor Wat. Still, getting driven in the dark on a Tuk-Tuk, with a driver who was probably born for the race track was a good experience. And just being there to witness the world awake before one of the world's seven wonders is always something to treasure....even if it was a crappy sunrise.

The rest of the trip was all free and easy.

Apart from the fact that Mattie fell sick on the last day, and had to resort to eating bread and vegemite (which Stan and my sis actually managed to find in the grocers there!! What would you know....Aussie Vegemite has conquered far and wide.) to stop himself from throwing up... I'd say it was one of the most enjoyable trips taken with family. We have got to do it again soon! (ps: Ian, next trip, we'll make sure you are there!)

The Faces

Perspectives

Its strange how its seems like you've lived your life different when you see it from the third persons perspective. Perhaps I will get used to blogging after a while...but for now...its funny! I am intrigued by my own trip to sweden! Ha.

Silly girl.

SVVveeeeDDeen....

It has been an amazing journey for the last two months, where I have managed to touch foot in five countries within this short span of time! Its going to be nostalgic being able to journal it down here, and reliving each of those joyous moments again..... for most of the times at least. Excluding the times when it was travelling for work where I basically got to see the airport and the hotel; or losing things (technically in my case, it was having my handbag stolen); or running for flights and nearly missing it (but boy, I have never seen my parents run so much before till this trip to Cambodia!); or having to pack it in so much so that there was hardly enough time to sit down to sip a latte in the sun or catch up with friends.

To start with, Sweden, the land of the vikings and sun-kissed tans, the cosy little cobbled city of Gothenburg and the magnificient landscapes of Stockholm....


My favourite view of Stockholm in the sunset... though I must say it does look quite midevil in the picture. But standing there, soaking it in, it was quite magnificent!

Finding our way around Stockholm....

The Archipelago tour......

Skansen - the open-air Museum; And look! They have them old school trams too, just like the city circle trams back in Melbourne.


And in Gothenburg, the shopping was great! Well, actually, it was painfully expensive, but the shops were just delicious and Norwegians really know how to dress, so how could you resist.


Our other side distraction...city search for quaint cafes and good lattes!



The more touristy things we decided to do instead....


Fish muskeet/Gothenburg Muskeet/climb to the top of the hill where the Golden crown fort stood

The colourful doorways of Gothenburg city

And of course....the food and the sweets!!

And also, where we found the best steak EVER.......


There is so much more to cover.... but perhaps I might force myself to go onto facebook, download the rest of the photos taken and catch up with the times.

But for now..... my first blog!


This is a good place to start.... and for today, end.