23 weeks

I am slightly more than half way through this pregnancy. I thank God for His blessings and pray that he continues to be with us.

Btw, last Friday, after a wonderfully delicious fish head curry, I had an allergic reaction! There were numerous reddish bumps like mosquito bites; they started on my arms and legs and later spread to my upper and lower body. I itched so badly. I think most of all, I was afraid it might affect the baby. So, we rushed to the A&E at Fremantle Hospital.

The doctor came after almost 1.5hours of waiting. He asked me to take the anti-histamine tablet if the itch was real bad. I was uncomfortable with taking any drug. Anyway, by the time I got to see the doctor, the inflammation was starting to subside and the itch was bearable. So I left the hosiptal hoping that the rash would go away soon. Doctor said it would probably subside completely by the next day. Indeed, I thank God that by midnight almost all the rash had already disappeared.

A Family Picture!

Who can resist taking a family shot! Cheers! Somehow F managed to put the camera on another branch that was quite far away.

Notice the big branch in front of us! Well, better than nothing!

Cindy

Me Climbing Too!

See, I can't resist it myself too! This tree does remind me of my childhood days. I must say that I was rather careful in walking along the branches. Even F told me to be careful, HA!

Cindy

'I am a good climber!' says Anna

F has been so-called training Anna to climb and this is one of the many things they climb together. This tree somehow has branches that are perfect for climbing.

Cindy

Sunday B4 F's Birthday

This was the Sunday before F's birthday. We stayed at home the whole day 'cos Anna had a fever the night before. We were awoken at 4am to find that her temperature was rather high. So we took turns to sponge her till almost 630am. Then we all fell asleep till almost 930am.

Well, the hardwork paid off. She was feeling better and with another mid-day nap, she woke up almost fresh as a lemon and wanted to go to the park!

Cindy

At Point Walter Beach

It' s been some time since we visited this Park. It was rather cold in Winter especially when the wind blew and the sun was setting way too early for us to spend enough time on the beach and make the trip worthwhile.

Anna loves digging sand and enjoys the seagulls, and watching the sailboats go by.

Cindy

Another Local Delight - Steamed Cassava

This is another nonya kueh that I enjoy. . . its a pity I don't have the bamboo/wooden basket for steaming 'cos the top layer is creamy and nice and the bottom is of a totally different texture. I think that using a ceramic plate didn't allow sufficient heat to reach the bottom.

Since coming to Australia, I have learnt quite a bit about cooking. Can't say that I am an expert now but I am surely improving and willing to try new stuff!

Cindy

Little Miss Piggy

This is one of my favourite things during Mooncake Festival. Managed to buy these piggies from the Chinese supermarket. Anna loves them: she eats the snout and and part of the head, including the flower biscuits used for decoration. The rest is MINE!

Cindy

Kueh DahDah Part II

See the happy faces and of course the pretty-looking Kuehs! I must say that they tasted really 'shiok'! The coconut filling was sweet and fragrant (with real gula meleka!). Even before they were really done, I managed to steal 4 pieces and hid them in my tum tum. 'Yummy Yummy Num Num in my Tum Tum', is what Anna would say.

Cindy

Kueh DahDah Part I

On the same night after eating Hor Fun, we were so crazy over local food that I decided to embarked on another project: Kueh Dah Dah.

The coconut available here is the frozen type. In any case, better than nothing right? So it was cooked over low fire for almost an hour, though the recipe said to do so only for 30 mins.

Once the skins were cooked and cooled, F, who wrapped coconut fillings with them. Somehow, the ones that I wrapped were always shorter and fatter.

Cindy

Hor Fun for the First Time

I was in bed looking at a cookbook while Francis was reading to Anna. I usually have to think of what to cook the next day, or rather what I/Anna/F would like to eat. . .

Then i came across this fried yee mee recipe and ha. . . decided to change it into Hor Fun instead!

It turned out amazingly delicious. Not bad for a first try.

Cindy

Homemade Butter Cookies

Anna and I have been into baking. Although we do not have most of the appropriate equipment, with whatever we have, we still managed to make some pretty good-looking cookies.

Anna wanted to make gingerbread girl initially but it turned out to be butter cookies girl! Soon after the cookies cooled down, she finished almost half of the cookies seen here. Not bad for someone who doesn't quite like cookies.

Cindy

How can I resist this Pic?

Was planning not to post this picture, but after second thought, I just couldn't resist it...look at her cheeky smile! I must say that she is quite photogenic these days hee.

Bo Bo Cha Cha!

Check out my lastest craze: Bo Bo Cha Cha... with tapioca starch, very authentic! But somehow this time round I overcooked the yam (taro). My one and only taster said that it actually melts in his mouth. But I must say not too bad for presentation la.

An Interesting Flower

This is one interesting wild flower that I discovered growing in the school field. They probably get trampled on everyday by the students who walk on them, run on them and play footy on them. But still I see them. . . I was told by a local teacher that they are actually weeds. What a pretty looking one!

TCC

Here is a pic of the school that I am teaching in. That's a group of students doing some outdoor discussion. A rather common sight here.

Swinging in the Wind

See how Anna loves swinging these days. . . she used to fear the momentum and the height. Somehow, with time, she has grown to like it so much and ask to be pushed higher and higher.

BTW, this is the Park that I mentioned: just behind the house, with a large field and a hockey stadium.

We love to walk across the field and watch the locals play hockey. . . but still trying to figure out the game, ha!

Anna & Me!

See how tall Anna has grown to fit the bicycle. She is rather good on it now. This picture was taken while we were on our way to the Park.

Number One-s!

Been wanting to take a picture of these pretty flowers along this path. These bright red flowers seems to be a kind of wild flowers, been blooming since the start of Spring. Finally got to do it yesterday while we were on our way to the park.

Somehow Anna loves these 'Number Ones'. Frank also came along to pose with her! Don't they look good together?

Cindy

Huat Kueh

Cindy was inpsired by a friend staying in Melbourne (Wenli, for those who know her) who made her own Uah Koh Kueh. So we went to the Chinese grocer but we could only find Huat Kueh mix. Here's Anna engrossed in making her Huat Kueh - it's the just-add-water type! And i must say, they tasted absolutely fantastic! Mother and daughter had a tonne of fun. Papa was studying but chipped in by eating.

On Top the World

Anna loves this playground that is just behind our house. The playground overlooks a large field and a hockey stadium.

Her favourite: to stand tall on top of the slide. . .

Studying at the Playground

Mr Tay was studying almost non-stop for his semester exams. . . even while his daughter was happily swinging at the playground!

Well Done! Keep it Up!

Was then 17th Weeks

Look at how I am expanding the blouse. . . many people said that I am rather huge for 17 weeks. Indeed, I am! HA!

Cuddles and lots of cuddles...

One of the favourite things Daddy does with Anna. Somehow, cuddles are never enough. . .

A First Look

We were amazed when we went for the ultrasound - the fetus is 15 cm in length now but as u can see, a clear face has already been formed. All this from a unicellular zygote - truly God's miracle. Try to see the face on the left picture before looking at the labeled version on the right.