Bonding

Yesterday was the last of our Ante-natal classes. We talked about breastfeeding.

Mother's milk is the best for baby. It's nourishing. It's safe. And it's probably delicious. Of course, I'm not exactly speaking with any authority as a Mother's Milk connoisseur. I'm just regurgitating what I learnt from the class and from books. I assure you I haven't had any for a while now! :)

Breastfed Babies form a closer bond with Mommies, according to the midwife who gave us the talk. It's a mother-baby privilege. But Daddies can bond with Baby in other ways. Daddies can change Baby's diapers. Daddies can do the laundry. Daddy can play fetch. Fetch, Daddy, fetch.

Yah right! Mommy gets to bond with Baby while Daddy gets to bond with Baby's shit. Is this a female propaganda or what?! Hahhahahha!! Yes, yes, yes, I know. Mommy has to give birth.

Anyway, Mae's decided on breastfeeding. As for me, it looks like I'll be wallowing in shit for some time. *sigh*

Baby better not be giving me shit when he grows up.

Epidural

One of the most effective painkillers for childbirth is an Epidural. Essentially, it's an anaesthetic that is administered via a plastic tube that is inserted into the spinal column. Ouch! I'm thinking that can't be a lot of fun. But it helps a lot, so we're told.

But there are the risks. If the Anaesthetist screws up, Mae could end up with a life-long backache. And if he screws up big time, it could mean paralysis. The whole prospect of that happening, scares me. Paralysis. Even the word has a creepy tone.

Everybody tells us that probability of any complications happening is very low. The statistics say so. Doctors say so. "Every medical procedure has its risks," they say. Still, none of these offer me any comfort whatsoever.

Watching that stomach churning video (see previous post) had its effect on us. It didn't help Mae prepare for the pain any better. In fact, it freaked her out so much that she's convinced she wants an epidural. "I don't care. I want an epidural. I want an epidural," she was almost hysterical.

I snapped at her. "Stop that!"

I would never deny her anything that would alleviate her pain. Never. But the fact that someone might screw up the epidural scares me to death. "Honey, I'm not saying no but I just want you to give this thing the consideration it deserves."

The fact is, this really isn't my decision to make. I don't get to call the shots here simply because I will not be the one suffering. And if Mae should ever go into labour and she's kicking and screaming, she will have anything she wants, so help me God. Anything. Even the epidural.

I just pray she doesn't scream, "I want a Rolex!"

No Pain, No Gain!

Last Thursday, our ante-natal class was the most interesting so far. The topic of the class that night was pain. And boy, it was an eye-opener.

I'll be honest here. Most of the time I'm pretty oblivious to the suffering a woman has to go through during childbirth. Sure I've read the books. And yes I've even seen the documentaries. But it never really sinks in. So I take it in my stride and convince myself that pain and suffering is just a thing women do. No big deal.

Anyway, somewhere in between sessions we broke for dinner.

After having our fill, we were ushered back into the lecture room. And then it happened. They played a video of a childbirth. Yes, it was a childbirth in progress and we got to see it in full, gory, glory. Whoa! Not quite what I'd like for an after-dinner entertainment. What on earth were they thinking?!

But that said, now that Mae's pregnant, it has all become very real to me. Suddenly, I am more aware of the suffering a woman has to endure. Suddenly, I understand the kind of sacrifice a woman makes to bring life into the world. And suddenly, as a soon-to-be father, a husband and a son, I have a brand new perspective of motherly love. Suddenly it all makes sense why mothers hurt so bad when their kids go astray. Now that I'm about to be a daddy, I understand.

And yeah, the video helped too.

Coliseum

now here's a happy meal!

On Sunday, Mae and I decided to treat ourselves to a little change of pace and environment. We ended up in Coliseum Cafe & Hotel in downtown KL. If you have ever heard of Coliseum, the you would know that its steak is legendary.

Coliseum was established in 1921. In its heyday, it was a popular hangout amongst the English officers. Today, pretty much everything in the place is as it was way back then. The architecture looks unchanged. The furniture looks like they're original. Heck, even the waiters look like they're the original line-up!! Heh! You'll see some of the oldest waiters here.

Mae and I have ourselves a sizzling steak fillet each. These come with a serving of mixed salad, chips and broccoli. They used to serve every meal with a thick slice of Coliseum's famous bread and their excellent creamy butter. But thanks to the years of rave reviews by food columnists, the bread is no longer free. Yes kids, you want bread, you pay!

We had one soup, two steak meals, a set of Coliseum's bread and a Pancake with Ice-Cream for dessert. All for RM 98.00 which is worth every penny. The meal was perfect, Mae and I agree unanimously. Mae finished her whole meal, which is as good a testimony as any. She blames it on Baby, of course! We've had steak at every reputable steak restaurant in KL and I must say, Coliseum is king! We decide there and then that this will be a monthly affair for us. :)

One of the beauty of Coliseum is surely its lack of pretension. Monogrammed plates hint at Coliseum's glory days of English sensibilities. Yes, this might have been a classy joint once upon a time. And yet within Coliseum's decaying, rustic decor you'll find the least... erm... refined staff in KL today. Order quick or the guy gets impatient. Meals are plonked quite unceremoniously before you. And everybody shouts! Strangely, it's all disturbingly delightful.

So, go to the Coliseum. Let your hair down and eat with the table manners of a pig. No one will care. Everybody's here for the food.

Revenge

Last weekend, Mae suggested that we catch Shrek 2 at the cinemas. Imagine that. A movie outing initiated by Mae! *gasp* That's almost as rare as getting struck by lightning twice. Anyway, not one to look a gift horse (or should I say Donkey) in the mouth, I'm up and about very quickly - as quickly as I can move on a Sunday afternoon.

But alas, we had not anticipated the disappointment that awaited us.

We got to the cinema but we didn't stand a chance. Every movie was sold out for the rest of the day! No tickets whatsoever. I was shattered. Like a broken man, I walked aimlessly hoping for a miracle. But deep in my heart I knew; these were not the miracles that God intended for man. And so Mae and I humbly retreated back to the comfort of our small DVD collection.

It's the school holidays. And the schoolkids are everywhere. Like a swarm of locusts.

You see them looming over the horizon and the next thing you know, they've eaten everything. The parking spaces. The movie tickets. The Sinful Super Double Choc ice-cream. Everything!

Today is Friday. We're trying again tonight. But it looks bleak. The schoolkids are gonna be there. And they've got a headstart over us. While I sit here writing this entry, the schoolkids are already at the mall waiting to pounce on all the available movie tickets. *sigh* And we can't even get through the phone or internet booking channels.

This is why we have kids.

Someday Baby's gonna take revenge for us. Someday these schoolkids are gonna grow up and turn into the working stiffs that we are now. And our kids will be the locusts.

Ahh. Revenge is sweet.

For Those Who Seek

My wonderful, beautiful and intelligent wife has finally found her way here. But then, it's no big surprise. Not for one so resourceful as her. And beautiful. Did I mention wonderful? Hehheheh!

Actually, it was never a big secret. When I first started blogging, I told Mae my intentions - to keep an online journal. To write down the things that happen in our lives. For posterity. For friends and even family to keep up with our antics. And more importantly for Baby to discover when he grows up one day.

Who knows, someday Baby might grow up to be an angry young man who feels that the world is all against him or that nobody loves him. And then he finds this blog and discovers that once upon a time, even before he came upon the world, his parents' lives revolved around him. And he learns that his parents have loved him even before they met him. And perhaps then, he would realise that his parents would always love. Unconditionally. Until the end of their lives.

That would be a nice thing to stumble upon.

I gave Mae the URL to this blog when I first started blogging. But Mae, being Mae can never remember any IT-related thing. But now that she's found it, I'm glad she finally made it.

Take a bow, honey. :)

A Kick In The Face

I like to press my face up against Mae's belly and talk to Baby.

"Hey Baby, kick daddy eyes!" Okay. I dunno why but I like to speak to Baby in broken English. Hahahah! On one hand, I rationalise that he doesn't really understand so it doesn't really matter what I say. But on the other hand, the little guy seems to know exactly what I'm saying sometimes.

"Hey Baby, kick daddy eyes!" I wait. And suddenly *bish* he kicks me. Right in the eyes. Mae and I laugh like silly twits. And Baby kicks again, as though to reaffirm that he understands.

I press my face in some more and blow raspberries in Mae's tummy. Baby hates that. He kicks me in the mouth! My boy's got attitude, you have to give him that.

I just hope he doesn't grow up thinking it's okay to kick daddy in the face. :)