2 more weeks to go... anxiously waiting

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

With a bit less than 2 weeks from the expected due date, we've been anxiously waiting for the arrival of the baby.  It seems like time passes so much slower this time.  Though we're not physically waiting for the baby to come, the wait is killing us mentally!!  I can imagine for those who have babies overdue would even be more restless about that!!  

Another greeting card

Made a card today.  I think this might be the last card for the year.  

Audio books

I'm back to the audio books again!!  I have been keeping track of the books I've read / listened using Goodreads.  I thought I have read more books than I thought, but it's now a bit short for 200 books, including the kids books I'm reading to my son! 

New year resolution?  Should I target to hit 300 by end of next year? 

Wanna see what I've been reading?  Take a look at the list on the right side of my blog. :) 

Craft - birthday card

I think there's a need to investigate how to use my phone camera better when it's at night. :)  I now find it easier to take pic using my phone and update the blog, rather than using a regular camera and upload the photo.  Lazy me! 

Flute or not?

It was on my mind for quite some time.  I was thinking whether I should start learning flute during the mat leave.  My main concerns are... 1) when would I get the time to take lessons? and 2) whether I could continue learning after I go back to work?

I think it's good to learn something new, esp during mat leave.  In my previous leave, I took a few cake decoration courses.  I couldn't say I'm an expert but at least I could make bday for my son. :P  And it's sth different from what I know.  

Learning instruments would probably be different, cuz it takes lots of practices which takes time too.  I'm not sure if I would have the patience AND time. :)  

Experience the life of stay-home mom

Time flies.. it's been 2 weeks since my "vacation" starts.  To summarize what I've done during these 2 weeks, I would say I'm living in the life of a stay-home mom -- did some grocery shopping, shopping (mostly window shopping), housework, etc.  

With all the respect to stay home moms (I think they are amazing), I don't think I'm suitable of being one.  If you think you need lots of self-motivation in order to perform well in a job, I bet being a stay-home mom needs A LOT more!!  I found out if I make a list of things that I need to do for the day, I get more done; otherwise, time just passes by so quickly before you knowing it.  

37th week

Today it marks the 37th week of my pregnancy.  It seems like time passes by much slower after my "vacation" has started. Perhaps there's no countdown anymore.  I guess I should start counting down when the baby is coming. :)

It's been a relaxing week.  Mostly doing crafts and chores.  I'm sure we'll be busy for quite a while, so it's good to be able to relax now.   

Learn something new everyday

This morning, I'm trying to make some greeting cards for next year.  While browsing, I found a crafts blog that has Goodreads widget.  That's exactly what I wanna do!  

It's not a gadget that you just point and click from the google's blogger gadget list, but there's more work to be done.  Here is the link if anyone is interested in it:
http://www.bloggertipspro.com/2012/02/how-to-add-goodreads-widget-to-blogger.html

You can never be ready

When people ask me whether I'm ready for the baby to come, I could only say I got the important stuff prepared but you can never be ready.  

Let's see.. 
Hospital bag - packed
Handbag with labor-ready stuff - done
crib - installed 
car seat - installed
baby's clothes and accessories - all cleaned

I think I should get the essential things pretty much prepared.  I do have something that wanna do before the baby comes, e.g. finish the photobook for last year's photos!!  Hope I still have a bit of time and to enjoy myself too!! 

Books: Read list

In my previous mat leave, I'd list the books that I've read.  4 years later, technology of course has advanced.  I'm now using GoodReads to track the books I've read.  But I still wanna capture it in the blog.  Let me do it here. 

MY books

How Women Lead: 8 Essential Strategies Successful Women Know

Get Your SHIFT Together: How to Think, Laugh, and Enjoy Your Way to Success in Business and in Life

Eat This, Not That!: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Food Network Magazine 1,000 Easy Recipes: Super Fun Food for Every Day

Kids books

Farm 123

How Loud is a Lion?

Henry and the Elephant

Snow-in

Its good that I've gone out so much these two days while the weather was still nice.  Today, snow finally comes again!!

Shopping alone

This week is probably the last week that I can go out by myself.  After that, it might be better to have some company.  So I was trying to enjoy the ME time before the baby comes. :)  It's actually quite fun to go shopping alone, though I rarely do that.  

One-on-one time with parents

While hubby is at work and son is at school, it's a good chance to have some one-on-one time with my parents.  We started off having dim sum and then some shopping.  I'm surprised that the parking lot of shopping mall was almost full on a weekday afternoon!!  

Fruitful day on the first day of mat leave

It's been a fruitful day yesterday.  Though I wasn't able to finish all of the stuff that I've planned to do, it's getting close. :) 

I've made 2 xmas cards.  I'm planning to give xmas cards to my son's teachers, so there are quite a number of cards to make (on top of the original list of friends and family!!). 

And I finally finished packing my bag to the hospital!!  Knowing that it's only a month away, I started to get nervous that the baby would come out early.  I always have a feeling that it will come early, though my hubby doesn't believe me.  Anyway, it's better to get prepared earlier than later. :)  

I was reading an article about the sign of labor.  One of which is "have the urge to clean the house"!!!  I totally have this urge!!  

Anyway, will go out with my parents today -- to spend some quality one-on-one time with them.  It should be fun. :)  

Mat leave starts

After counting down for so many weeks, my mat leave finally starts!!  It's actually started on Friday evening, but today is the first day that I'm all by myself. :)  I wanna use this blog to record my activities for the next 12 months.

I have a list of things planned for today, including:
- (most importantly) pack my hospital bag
- some cleaning in the house
- work on the photobook for my son from last year's photos (yes. i'm very behind)
- make more cards 

See how much I can do in a day!!