Babies Galore @ Margate!

Lil' Tyann,

Mummy G will just have a short chat with you tonight (if you don't mind!) because:

1) Tomorrow is Monday and Mummy G has to work.

Daddy G says we will save money on petrol if I were to drive him to work instead of vice versa as the latter makes our "Big Black Uncle Tucson" go on a merry go round the island every morning.

(You may have already guessed..Yes spot on! Daddy G was complaning again and this time about the rising petrol costs..rah rah rah:D)

So we have to wake up earlier tomorrow so I can get to work on time....

2) Daddy G is sitting on the bed beside Mummy G now, also on his computer and indulging in his favourite hobby-playing with his "House of Gs 5-year savings plan excel sheet".

Soon he will be done and will start nagging Mummy G, "Sleep, sleep, sleep! Lil' Tyann needs to sleep" (You are just Daddy G's darling I tell you!)

Anyway, long-winded Mummy G shall now cut to the chase.

Topic of the night: Babies galore @ Margate yesterday evening!

A night of Open Kitchen @ Margate, Daddy G's group of good friends from University and their spouses and their family. By Family, I mean BABIES. Many many babies (8 of them to be exact- 6 in the world, 2 in tummies) in the House of Gs on Saturday evening!

We had:

1) By Uncle Kelvin and Aunty April- Ian (oh, so not a baby anymore) "gor gor" with his baby sister Chloe. (Don't mix this Chloe up with your cousin Chloe! The two Chloes are only 3 days apart!)
2) By Uncle Adrian & Aunty Serene- Baby Jerry (very cute & good-looking eurasian looking boy) with a "mei mei" for you to play with in Aunty Serene's tummy.

3) By Uncle Alan & Aunty Cindy-Baby Darius (very sporty-potential sportsman!)

4) By Uncle John and Aunty Xuiling- Baby Keane (very cheerful and bright-eyed!)

5) By Uncle Phua and Aunty Meiting- Latest addition: Stylo-Mylo Kyson

Ok and of course...

6) By Daddy and Mummy G- Soon to be addition: Our precious princess Tyann! (How will we forget you? Ha ha ha!)

Unfortunately, Mummy G forgot to take any photos of your soon-to-be friends although I reminded myself so many times to remember! (sigh must be the effect of having you inside my tummy-starting to make me forgetful! Are you taking in my grey cells as well? Hmm....)

However, what Mummy G did remember to take photos of- Food Glorious Food! Presenting to you..Menu for the night:

Appetiser: Mexican Cheesy Nachos with Chilli Beef

Before: Ingredients on the table...

Preparation: Before the oven...After: Ta-da! The final product!
Mains:

a) Whole White Snapper baked in Sea-Salt Crust

Fresh out from the oven! (forgot to take pictures when the salt crust is knocked off!)

b) Roasted Garlic Chicken with herbs

Making a second appearance @ Margate by popular demand of Daddy G!

Veggies: Warm Brussel Sprouts Salad

Tedious preparation with thanks to Daddy G!

Handmade Croutons baking in the oven...

The Final Product!

Carbs: Spaghetti with Japanese Cod Roe Sauce

Staple for the night...

Dessert: Baked rice pudding

Rice Pudding baking in the oven...

Final Product-sans a tablespoon full of it due to taste test by Mummy & Daddy G! Haha!

Rice pudding before they were served...

It was an afternoon of fun in our Fire-engine red kitchen. Mummy G had loads of cooking therapy. Hee hee!


Daddy G did Mummy G a great favour by helping to shred the Brussel Sprouts-all 45 of them! Its hard work I tell you...

Firstly you have to peel off the top leaves to discard. Second, you've got to peel the tender leaves off the sprouts, leaf by leaf. Lastly, you need to thinly slice the heart of the sprouts.

Certainly a test of patience for Daddy G! When he was done with less than 5-6 of the Brussel Sprouts, he complained (yes...again...) to Mummy G." Why must you choose this recipe ah? Can't you use other vegetables???? Blah blah blah" and started to get distracted by (you guessed it!) the TV....

A very "impatient" Daddy G who could not wait to finish his task to watch TV...(taken secretly off the mirror reflection! HA HA HA!)

I'm sure Lil' Tyann will agree with Mummy G this is good training for Daddy G isn't it? +)) This is but just a teaser to what is to come when you finally stay with us @ Margate in about 3.5 months time! +D (feeding, changing you and cleaning up after your poopies, rocking you to sleep,, getting up in the night...)

Nope, Daddy G's not going to get away with that if he is thinking of it! HAHA! Everyone in the House of Gs is very generous and shares everything. And that includes sharing the housework and tasks.

Don't start sniggering lil' one...Daddy & Mummy G will also share them generously with you when you are older! HA HA!)

Daddy G's saw the fruit of his labour when the plate of Warm Brussel Sprouts salad was wiped out by our guests that night! In fact, there were almost no leftovers for the night except for some spaghetti! Now this is what I call- Satisfaction. ;)

How it looked on the dining table...The whole works...almost.

To be honest, I have to give Daddy G's nagging major credit for having no leftovers for the night. Hee hee.... He was nagging the whole week long prior to the event," Enough, enough, don't cook so much! Enough, enough, don't buy so many!" (etc, etc, etc...) Daddy G was so proud of his efforts and skill at portion estimation that night!

It was a wonderful night of conversation, eating and laughter (interspersed with the crying of babies! ha..)

The House of Gs had never seen so many babies under one roof before. It was a weird feeling for Mummy G as she does not have many friends (apart from this group) with children.

Yes..weird. Mummy G thinks it is so weird that soon, she will be discussing about breastfeeding, brand of breast pumps and other baby topics like your the uncles and aunties.

Mummy G could not help but admire all the mummies and daddies who came to our place that night. The dedication, enthusiasm about their lil' ones and unconditional sacrifice for their lil' ones.

What kind of mummy will Mummy G be to our lil' Tyann?

Mummy G cannot help but ask myself this question almost everyday. Some parts of me get intimidated and fear I will disappoint, some parts of me are so excited and have planned for so many fun things we could do together with our lil Tyann to help her grow up to be a fine lady...

Perhaps, on this topic, Mummy G should really learn from our Daddy G. He does not think or worry so much like Mummy G.

But one thing I know he is so certain of:-He will Love and will Love you singlemindedly with his whole heart.

And this, lil Tyann, is your Daddy G.

Do you dare to (pursue your) dream?

Lil' Tyann,

Last night was the first night Mummy G felt you kick really hard in my tummy. Before that, your kicks were like fluttering butterflies, gone before I could really decipher them. Mummy G even saw her tummy move last night! A quick rippling across my tummy like a darting fish in a pond.

Daddy G was very excited and wanted to have a taste of your kicks too. You must be a lil' cheeky fella- playing tricks on your Daddy G and teasing him (just like what Mummy G likes to do. Haha...a tough time ahead for our Daddy G with the two of us in the game soon!=D).

When Daddy G laid his hand on Mummy 's tummy, you went all silent, as though you were not there. Once he moved his hand away, you would promptly give Mummy G a hard, strong kick!

Did you sense our Daddy G's disappointment? For when Daddy G made his last ditched effort to feel you, you gave Mummy G one kick, just one kick that seemed to be telling Daddy G, yes you are there and you know he is there too. And Daddy G felt you for the very first time last night!

And like all good things that you cannot have too much of, you gave Daddy G that one and only kick. You must have known that would leave him hoping for more! (and of course they never came. Not while his hand was on my tummy anyway! Hah, Boo!)

Our lil' Tyann seems to be a little nocturnal owl and most active at night (and right before Mummy G's bedtime! Tsk tsk tsk..sleep when you are supposed to little one, don't follow your Mummy G who is born an owl. PLEASE.Uh-oh..do I see sleepless nights ahead of me? Hmm....)

Sometimes in the day, when you are not kicking so much, Mummy G thinks you must be sleeping. Lil' Tyann, do you dream in your sleep? What do you dream?

Mummy G used to have dreams. I have dreams which are still so vivid in my mind.

When I was young, I dreamt to be a sportsperson. (You would know by now how much Mummy G adores sports and exercise, having followed me to the gym and spinning classes for the past 2.5 months.=D) I dreamt of representing our country in netball, in track & field, in cross country races. The dream almost happened but when obstacles came (due to Mummy G's principal's objections for fear of falling grades affecting the stupid ranking of her school..sigh), Mummy G had to give it up.

When Mummy G was older, she decided she liked to write and she liked communications. So, in spite of your gong gong's and jiu jiu's objections, Mummy G went ahead to pursue a degree in communications, in hope of becoming a journalist or video producer one day. Again, the dream almost happpened, for Mummy G took to the course like fish to water and breezed through her university days.

However, when Mummy G reached the crossroad of having to make a decision on her career, she decided to take "practical" advice (can't earn money being a journalist or producer they say) and to take one of the most common route, a Marketing career instead of following her dream.

Then when Mummy G was even older, she dreamt of starting her own business, be her own boss, grow her own brand. Again, for some reasons, the dream never came to pass.

Today, Mummy G is still in a Marketing job, neither hating nor loving it. Neither passionate or impassionate. Dreams like what Mummy G described never presented themselves to me again.

Maybe the dreams got tired-Got tired of telling Mummy G so many times the route she should be taking, yet getting disappointed by her time and again when she strays.

When do you know a dream is not merely a dream, but a path to reality?
1) When you feel that quickening in your heart and lighthearted skips in your steps as you pursue that route you dream of.
2) When you keep late nights or go through difficulties as you pursue that route but still feel happy as a lark.

I feel happy to see your Yi Yi (Mui Ngee Yi Yi) happily pursuing her dream today.

Like what Mummy G experienced when she had her dreams, Yi Yi's dream of songwriting and composing was met with many objections and negative comments all round. I am so proud that she has pushed ahead to pursue her dream so she will not look back nor regret in future.

She practises till 2-3am in the morning these days with no complaints. I see sparkles in her eyes, passion in her heart with her music pursuits. She has dared to take the road less travelled to pursue her dream, that one try so she would have no regrets in her life.

Daddy G is a pragmatic guy. He thinks dreams are a waste of time. He always says a job is a job and a job ain't a job if it doesn't bring in the dough and that's all there is to a job- The Dough. (haha, a little tongue twister there!)

Mummy G thinks this is mostly very true, but a guy being a guy will be practical, with "no nonsense" typically, while girls tend to be more complex (emotional, more passionate typically). Girls need to be filled emotionally so as to feel whole, to feel complete.

I guess this is something that Daddy G will never understand (I will be in trouble if he does, if you get my drift..hahhahaa!) but something Mummy G will deeply understand about our lil' Tyann in future.

Hold it. As Mummy G is writing this, I am feeling that familiar sense of excitement bubbling from within. A feeling that feels like a long-lost friend. Is that a dream coming to Mummy G?

It is a dream alright.

In this dream, Mummy G dreamt that you lil' Tyann, will be a courageous girl who will dare to dream and pursue your dreams.

This dream, Mummy G will not let go.

In sickness and in health....

Lil' Tyann,

Today: 24 June 2008

Exactly one year from the day Daddy and Mummy G got married. Yes, today marks our FIRST year wedding anniversary. It was on 24 June 2007 that Daddy and Mummy G could "legally/officially"have you and people won't say a thing. hahaha! (Now, don't ask me what this means. Not yet. ;D)

Mummy G was looking forward to this day as I was wondering what Daddy G might have up his sleeve to celebrate this significant occasion.

Remember I was telling you about Daddy G's cough and sore throat? Well, it had progressed significantly indeed-to a runny nose, very itchy throat and dry cough.


On 24 June 2008-today, Daddy G was given 2 days MC by the doctor to rest at home...stricken with such an itchy throat that he starts coughing the moment he opens his mouth to speak.

However, we were still adamant that we will have a small celebration tonight with a good dinner at a fine restaurant. In spite of his incessant coughing, Daddy G still booked us for dinner tonight at an interesting restaurant- Novus @ the National Museum. (Isn't he sweet;p)


Who would imagine that on 24 June 2008-Today, Mummy suddenly got very bad diahorrea in the office and was also given MC by the doctor to rest at home...


So this was how we spent our first year wedding anniversary:


2pm- Both of us came back from work on MC, looked at each other and thought we were so pathetic. Daddy G pointed at the vase of roses (which had been there since Saturday) on our TV console and said those were for me for our anniversary. (very romantic indeed!)


Roses that Daddy G bought for Relative's night...now recycled to be my wedding anniversary gift...Bleh....

3pm- Sleeping. Daddy G nursing his bad cough. Mummy G nursing her bad tummy.

7.45pm-Decided we must still make it for the dinner. By hook or by crook.


So we changed and made our way in silence (because Daddy G would start his wretched coughs the moment he starts to talk..and Mummy G was feeling very tired from all the LSing in the day and still feeling queasy..) to Novus @ National Museum (Mummy G told you we would bring you to visit the museum when you are older).

Check this out! An androgynous (and Humongous) remake of Michelangelo's "David"!

It was not easy ordering the food.

Daddy and Mummy G were so tempted by the recommended Degustation menu for the night. However, Mummy G cannot take the heavenly Foie Gras and Carpaccio (as you will LS, hahaha-no raw food while having you!) and Daddy G cannot take any desserts. So we did the Ala Carte. No wine for us too as Mummy G can't make you drunk while the wine will give Daddy G phlegm..

Toast of the night: two cups of hot plain water! (pathetic is THE word..)

Food and service were good (Still think it is the best at Iggy's!). Daddy G and Mummy G tried to make it more "significant" by taking one photo together to commemorate the night.

Left-Daddy G; Right-Mummy G. Obviously. (Think this is a better picture than that stupid article Last Sunday. Stupid photographer..grrrr..)

Overall, a very "memorable" first year wedding anniversary. Certainly (like Aunty Gym Emily said) made me remember our vows "in sickness and in health..." Ha!

Daddy G asked me where his gift was-I actually didn't buy a gift for him on purpose because I told him that his gift is right here with us-Kicking away in Mummy G's tummy.

Yes, You, lil' Tyann-Our First Year Wedding Anniversary gift.

Relatives' night @ Margate!

Lil' Tyann,

The House of Gs finally held its inaugural event today-Relatives Night @ Margate! (Daddy G's relatives, your Grandma, Grandpa, Gu-Gu, Gu Zhang, Cousins David & Jonathon and a whole host of Grand aunties and uncles, with their family!)

Its been almost a month since Daddy and Mummy G shifted to our wonderful haven @ Margate (your future home!;D) and Daddy G decided it was time to invite the relations over. So tonight was THE night to host them. Mummy G was looking forward to the event as it also signified the "grand opening" of her new, swanky, "Fire-engine" red kitchen!;)

When Mummy G gets passionate about something, she usually gets VERY passionate. Cooking, incidently, is Mummy G's next most passionate thing after Exercising.

(Okay okay, Daddy G and you, lil' Tyann come before the exercising! haha!) Cooking, to Mummy G, is pure therapy, It does wonders to the mind and soul. It stimulates creativity, yet nutures patience as each dish gets created from scratch.

Mummy G loses herself momentarily while immersed in this wonderful world of sights, smells and flavours. I get an almost insane satisfaction from experimenting, going wild and putting all sorts of ingredients together to transform into that marvellous masterpiece.

I am already imagining my plans to introduce you to this world too! Scenes when you are old enough to create little simple dishes, helping Mummy G out in our red kitchen, both of us having so much fun making little brownies and cookies. I imagine you running excitedly to Daddy G when he comes home from work to let him try your new creations, and imagine the exuberant look on your delighted faces.;)

Back to Relatives Night.. Daddy G always complains I cook too much food. ("Too much, too much cannot finish. So wasteful!" He always nags...Sigh) This time, he insisted that I, the Chief Cook/Chef of the House of Gs, send him the menu for approval! Fine, so be it! (That's what happens when you are not the Finance Minister..) So I went about planning the menu, organizing the shopping list and planning my cooking schedule.

With the approved menu and shopping list (hmph!!), Daddy G and Mummy G went shopping and Daddy G nagged again that Mummy G overspent on his budget.. (sigh what a naggy Daddy...can't wait for you to be out so you can share the nags with Mummy G...hahaha=p)

And the preparations began.

On Thursday night, Mummy G baked the Peanut Butter Brownies.

But on Friday Night (night before the event), this was what happened..:

Mummy G wanted to prepare and marinate the Roast Chickens and Roasted Herbed Vegetables the night before. So Mummy G excitedly appointed an apprentice to help me with the preparations-a very reluctant Daddy G. Look what Mummy G found him doing when he was supposed to be cutting the pumpkins...

Skiving comfortably in front of the TV...

FINALLY, the time has come for my turn to NAG!! Because all apprentices have to listen to their chef, isn't it? +D. And so my reluctant apprentice came back to the kitchen...

To work on the pumpkins and wreck his brains over the sweet potatoes...

Just as Mummy G's back was turned working on these excellent roasted garlics....

Daddy G let out a yelp. Startled I turned around to find him holding on to a bloody index finger! Daddy G had cut his index finger when I instructed him to cut the sweet potatoes!! Mummy G gave Daddy G some ice to stop the bleeding which was by now flowing like river and Daddy G sauntered off pale and disoriented to his little corner....

in front of the TV...this time swaddled in blankets...Awwww.....

Daddy G suddenly felt faint from losing too much blood from his index finger and decided to take MC for the night.....So Mummy G was left without her apprentice and had to finish off the rest of the work (chopping, marinating, cleaning, wiping, clearing up...) all by her lonely self..

But it was all worth the effort as Relatives Night was a successful one. Here's a look at some of Mummy G's creations just now...

(Top) Cheesy Baby Potatoes baked with Bacon & Chives

(Bottom) Roasted Vegatables with Baby Spinach & Feta Cheese (roasted veggies all covered by the baby spinach in this angle!)

(Top) Swedish Meatballs

(Bottom) Roasted Garlic Chicken

Prawn & Avocado Salad with Mango on Arugula

How it looked like on the dining table...

It was a night of great food and get-together. Lil' Tyann's relations commented they enjoyed the food. Nothing can please a cook/chef more than seeing how her creations have been enjoyed by her guests!=))

Daddy G's nagging sore throat and cough seemed to have gotten worse after he got his finger cut on Friday night. He lost his voice after Relative's night. Mummy G made him a Lemon & Manuka Honey drink and he promptly went to bed after the drink.

Its now 3.26am in the morning. Mummy G is sitting in the Dining Room @ Margate talking to you while Daddy G is already in bed. I can hear Daddy G wheezing and coughing away every few minutes.

Out of nowhere, a weird sense of responsibility washes over me. It is probably the realisation that I will soon have two of you to care for.

A strange and foreign feeling...

Yet it seems to bubble with some sort of excitement that I can't quite make out of.

Que Sera Sera. What will be, will be...

Hey lil' G!

How's life in the tummy? Mummy G's missing you already! I mean I am missing looking at you via the ultra-sound scans!:D

Next time we meet again will be at Dr Fong's on 12 July. Mummy & Daddy G are so looking forward to that day to see how big you have grown. By then you will be 24 weeks old (6 months, 3 plus months more to go!) in Mummy G's tummy! (oh by the way congratulations lil' G, you are exactly 21 weeks old today!)

At every visit to Dr Fong's, Daddy & Mummy G look forward to chilling out at the PS Cafe below Dr Fong's clinic @ Paragon. The Turkey & Cranberry sandwich, Tofu Salad & desserts there ROCK!! Okay...we will bring you there to chill with us when you are out of Mummy G's tummy. Unfortunately, it will be a loooong time before you can enjoy the food! Stick with the milk babe! In the meantime, you can oogle and salivate (literally!) at Daddy & Mummy G's delicious food! (Bad..Bad...Mummy G!)

Speaking of Dr Fong, I think he must think Mummy G is one of his most rebellious patients yet. Because I am always whining about how he does not allow me to exercise and asking him questions like why Charlotte (of Sex and the City) could run while pregnant while I can't.. ;(

He believes that I should just sit and do nothing while I believe that you would love some exercise (Oops! Sorry to quote you, hahaha). And so, because my lil' Tyann is going to be a sports lover like her Mummy G, Mummy G decided to head right back to her exercise regime right after the 12th week of conceiving you. ;)

Don't you love Uncle Straight-faced Martin's spinning class? I think you love it as you always kick me when Mummy G's spinning on the bike as though you are bobbing your tiny head to the rhythm of the music! =D

I am sure you are getting a good work out as well as I get so unbearable hungry halfway through each class. I didn't feel like that before, so it must be you burning the calories and getting hungry no? ;) (actually, that's my excuse to eat. haha)

Daddy G often says he thinks I am torturing you because: 1) I spin and spin and make "his baby hungry"; 2) I sleep too late and so "his baby can't get her beauty sleep"; 3) I eat too much chilli padis and am "burning his baby". (Bleh....look who he is siding already, you blessed one!)

Aunty Gym Jojo Sinclair (She was a very famous Singaporean female bodybuilder in the 1990s! Here's a piece of history lesson for you lil' one!) thinks our lil' Tyann will be a healthy and sporty gal because Mummy G is exercising so much while expecting you.

Aunty Gym Emily (one of Mummy G's BFFs) thinks you will be a lil' rockafella because you would have listened to so much of Uncle Straight-faced Martin's "Headbanging techno spin music" while in Mummy G's tummy. Hee hee! :)

Lil' Tyann's 舅舅 & 舅母 think I should listen to the Mozart Effect's Music for Babies because those who listen to the brilliant Mozart will also be brilliant children. Of course Mummy G wants lil' Tyann to be a brilliant girl, so she bought two of the CDs from the Series. (Currently one CD has deteriorated to the state of becoming Daddy and Mummy G's "rarely-listened to lullaby CD" in the car while the other is left unopen and chucked somewhere when we shifted to Margate. Heh. Heh. Heh.)

Mummy G's colleagues think that Mummy G should stop drinking cold water and very "liang" food as it may cause you to have asthma. (but....Babycentre and Dr Fong didn't tell mummy G that? Hmmm....)

Lil' Tyann's 婆婆 says she thinks Mummy G should not take Barley, black fungus and a whole host of other food while your other 婆婆 says no crabs, prawns, rojak, ginseng, kangkong and a whole host of other food because your skin will not be smooth. (Neither did Babycentre nor Dr Fong tell Mummy G that...)

Lil's Tyann, do you want to know what Mummy G thinks?

Mummy G ( and of course Daddy G will agree too. He'd better! :D ) thinks that Lil' Tyann will be a fine baby when she is born, a fine lady as she grows up. Even if Mummy G (for some reason or other) fails to try to heed the advice of the kindhearted folks around her (the keyword is TRY), she still strongly believes that you, lil' Tyann Sera Goh will turn out perfect- just the way you are.

Mummy G thought of a childhood song while on this topic.

There are many things about Tyann that Mummy G will be prone to worry about- now, in the future and probably for the rest of Mummy G's life. Will you be healthy, will you be smart and here's what this song said to me (Pun unintended!),

"Que Sera Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que Sera Sera"

Indeed, the House of Gs will just take whatever comes along our way with a good measure of faith and laughter and Mummy G believes everything will work out for us in its own best way.

Because,

God is in the house.

(mis)Adventures. Just one of Life's little things...

Lil' Tyann,

Mummy's just got to tell you about the most recent adventure we had with the selection of your stroller. (rather, it was a total MISadventure!!)

Mummy admits she is a high spender. She will spend the dough on items that she really think are "worth" spending on (like cosmetics, jeans, toiletries..mummy's favourite shopping items). When it comes to your stuff, of course I want the BEST. The BEST for my lil' Tyann! ;)

So when it came to your stroller (yes kiasu mummy is already searching for your stroller), it HAD to be the BEST. The best features, functions and DESIGN (I am a sucker for aesthetics). And it boiled down to the Bugaboo Chameleon

or the Stokke Xplory....











Of course, these would come with a price tag (as always..) and an HUGE one at that!

Daddy Goh was appalled when he heard that one of those strollers will cost approximately S$1600-1800. Of course, in his normal naggy fashion, strongly objected in parting with his precious dollars on a stroller. ;((

Mummy G decided to be very heroic and proudly told a gleeful Daddy G its OK (grrrr...) if he does not want to pay, as I, Mummy G, will pay for the stroller! (Unread fineprint: He can pay for all the rest of the items we need to get for you..hehe!:D)

In my normal fashion of "trying" to be resourceful, I scoured the internet for cheap online buys. To my most pleasant surprise, I found someone selling a brand NEW Stokke Xplory on eBay. I put in my bid at only US$730 (S$1008). What's more, its a Complete set which comes with the carry cot! It would cost me more than S$2000 to get a brand new set with an additional carry cot from the stores!

Mr eBay seller sent me an email last night and told me he was ready to close the deal at the price I had bidded and mummy was so excited she told Aunty Serene (who stays in Shanghai) over Skype immediately. Aunty Serene must have been appalled at my "kiasuness" and sheepishly "congratulated" me on my wonderful buy.

My eBay seller then told me to wire cash of US$730 to him via Western Union and sent me an email with an eBay insurance (a guarantee of sorts). At this point, Daddy G came to "kaypoh" at what I was so excited about and told me to check the eBay website to see if wiring cash is the approved method of payment by eBay. (Just like Daddy G to be sooooo meticulous about everything. What will I be without him??)

The eBay website had this safety reminder for secure online purchases,"Pay safely online by never using instant cash transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram International to pay for your eBay purchases."

Uh-oh...did we smell a fish....I emailed Mr eBay Seller on my concern and also emailed the eBay customer service on my concern of cash transfer.

Here is what eBay customer service replied," I want to let you know that eBay strongly discourages this form of payment as it is untraceable, and eBay will provide no protection for any transaction that is paid via instant wire transfer or any transaction completed outside of eBay."

SOB!!!What a let-down!! =(

I was nearly conned by Mr eBay seller!! The eBay insurance was a fake! I emailed Mr eBay seller and told him I want to pay by the secure Paypal.

This was the last correspondence with Mr eBay seller and the last mummy G heard from him.

Morals of the story:
1) Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
2) No such thing as a free lunch in this world.

Lil' Tyann, as Daddy G will always tell you,

"Learn."

Our Lil' Tyann Sera Goh! =D

One whole month of prayers. 4 weeks of agonizing wait. Daddy and Mummy were so excited to see how our lil' one had grown in the past month. Mummy, especially, was excited, yet fearful. Thoughts of the dreaded ABS would sometimes overwhelm me although I would tell myself God is in control and He will see you through!

Finally! 5 months detailed scan last Thursday! The first thing Mummy wanted to know (heart beating faster..) was how the Amniotic Band was doing and whether you are still doing well...And I must tell you that Prayers really work! Ms Sonographer said the band had been pushed to one corner of the Amniotic sac. After measuring the band, she said its not a band, but an amniotic sheet. Most likely to be harmless to you!! =D

This felt like the best news that Mummy and Daddy had heard in years! And lil' one, you also played your part by telling us who you are! Finally we got to know if you are a lil' boy or gal. And you are our precious Daughter, Tyann Sera Goh!

• Tyann: Follower of Christ

- May you be a strong and faithful follower of Christ, a great woman of God, blessed in your going in and out. May the blood of Jesus cover you wherever you are, whatever you do.

• Sera: Princess (Sarah)

- Daddy Goh and Mummy Goh's little precious princess! Our little miracle child, gift from God to both of us. You will be the princess of our lives forever.

• Goh: Daddy Goh's surname

- Can't do much about this I am afraid! haha! =D

Daddy and Mummy Goh are so excited to see this little Goh and hold you in our arms (Erm.. Mummy will have to learn how to carry you prior to that! =D) We cannot wait for the day you come into this world! For now, I guess we get our little satisfactions by seeing you playing and somersaulting in Mummy's womb during scans and feeling your lil' kicks when you are awake (Yes mummy can feel you kick already! Light ones but they are definitely there!)

Lil' Tyann, its only 4 more months. Grow well and be well our precious princess. Sera.

First post dedicated to our precious TSG...

And this is my first post dedicated to my precious precious miracle baby TSG!

As of today, we still do not know if you are a boy or a girl, but you will always be our darling TSG, our miracle child who will always be loved by Daddy and Mummy.

We will see you again on Thursday, on the 20th week detailed scan and you will tell us if you are TSG or TSG right? (LOL=D)

We pray for you every night, everyday. We pray that the amniotic band (http://www.amnioticbandsyndrome.com/) in Mummy will not harm you. Mummy and Daddy love you very very much and we want you to know that we are so excited in your birth into this world! Each night we pray that God will walk before you, guide you in every movement in the womb, so you don't touch and get tangled in the band. We pray that you will be born perfectly healthy and normal and know you will be.

Lil' fighter, you will make it and we are behind you all the way! And Mummy here will be strong, will not get upset when she reads about other children who suffer from the ABS, but will remain strong in faith, be cheerful and happy to welcome you into this world. The House of Gs @ Margate is ready and waiting for you to fill it with your cheerful laughter, smiles, sights and smells....

Loving you always,
Mummy and Daddy