Bub's one month

Ever wondered where the tradition of giving out cakes and/ gifts on baby's turning one month started from? I don't really want to know, yet this Chinese tradition remains, and if anything, people feel more obligated to give gifts that are not just elaborate & expensive, it has to be big & showy too. *shakes head in dismay* now I completely disagree with that kind of custom.

"When Rafael turns one month..., I stated adamantly, "I'm not going to give out customary gifts out to people & family; especially not with the two red eggs perched on top of whatever the gift is". So I said. and I continued with "in fact, if I have to give out these gifts, I'll do it a day later; so it doesn't have to be exactly on the d-day". 

Well, when this day finally came, I still had to give out gifts, *LOL* my husband's family still follow the custom, and my own less traditional parents, though they don't follow this, still have friends who give us gifts, so it's like, urmm.. giving something in return? ^_~ ahh, what one does to complicate one's own life....

Anyway, I persisted in giving gift of something less customary than a cake and two eggs. Since it's Summer here in Perth, ice-cream could be substituted. For some people, it's individually boxed ice-creams - Movenpick to be exact, and for some others, it's petit pastries. Either way they come in a blue box with ribbon and announcement card. (Thanking my sister profusely for all the help...)

For my husband's family & relatives though, my mom-in-law insisted on getting a whole cake instead of ice-cream, since they don't eat ice creams. Oh, well.... at least I got to do it my way *partly*. Happy one-month, Rafael!

Coming home

Welcoming home Rafael, our newborn son! Finally, after spending a month at the NICU, going home felt like such a relief (which didn't really last, hahaha..). Born 7 weeks early, he ended up being my Christmas day & early birthday present altogether. Thank God he is such a tough cookie, and had minimal problems aside from sleep apnea that is common in premature babies.

Staying at the hospital for a month has its merits though; it taught me quite a few things, probably I could even qualify as a nurse should I want to pursue that career path ^_~ ... But first thing first, motherhood is indeed not quite what I expected. Have you heard of the book "What to expect when you are expecting"? Well, the book is a pregnancy bible, but there's nothing quite like the real thing; I think its justifiable to say that motherhood is 100x more overwhelming.. (Yes, I just dismissed fatherhood altogether, but at the moment, who cares? he he..)

After a while staying at the hospital, we were frantic when told about bub's discharge. How about the baby car seat? Have we cleaned the bedroom thoroughly enough? Have we got enough baby supplies? Well, truth be told, nothing could prepare us for the bub's arrival anyway, so there you go, we simply grin & bear it at the end..