Kyla Rose Wong, Day Two

Bubs and Babes got to know Kyla a lot better today. To summarise (as I'm ready for some much-needed shuteye), lots of fun but also a fair bit of thick black poo and some crying. It's all good, and we'll slowly get better at changing diapers, swaddling and interpreting her cries. Until the next post, another couple of photos:

Bubs and Babes welcome Kyla Rose Wong!

Gorgeous (if we do say so ourselves!) Kyla, welcome to the world and to our blog! Sorry to anyone who didn't get the SMS, she was born today December 20, 2007 at 8.28am, weighing 3.045kg. KRW (which according to Boon Kit, is the global forex trading abbreviation for Korean Won) and Mum are resting in the hospital, while Bubs has come home just to shower and catch up on blogs/emails before running back to Frances Perry House to spend the night with them. Thanks to everyone for your messages/flowers/gifts/prayers! Here are a few photos for starters...

Zorbie's in here, Part Two (38 weeks, 5 days)

Two days before the Caesarean, here's what Babes' belly looks like. As you can see, Zorbie's grown tons and is just about ready to see the world!
Babes is handling it superbly well, except for grumbling about not eating as much as she usually can, since there's not as much space in there as there usually is. One suspects that she'll be making up for lost time before too long... wonder what the confinement woman has in store for us!

Zorbie's Nursery

We're (almost) ready! Cot's assembled, change table is in place, inflatable baby bath has been inflated, nursery has been decorated, diapers have been purchased. Above the cot is a compilation of pictures taken over the years, including Zorbie's parents, grandparents, uncle, aunties and parents' friends. On the left is a bunch of funky wall decals we found online. And by the way, doesn't Babes look gorgeous?

Thanks, everyone!

Bubs, Babes and Zorbie would just like to say a big Thank You to everyone who has called, SMSed, emailed or posted to send their best wishes, prayers and thoughts. With eight days to go, it looks like the C-section is ON. Babes has been talking to quite a few mums who've been more than happy with the Caesarean experience, so she feels much better. So unless something changes in the next few days, breech babies ROCK :)

12 days to go

The last couple of obstetrician's visits have confirmed that Zorbie is in breech position, which is medicalish for 'she's not facing the right way. Our darling Zorbie hasn't managed to get into the standard upside down position for natural delivery, so we're booked in for a Caesarean section on the morning of December 20th. Dunno if it's because she's a stubborn little girl, or if something (like the umbilical cord) is in her way. Whatever the case may be, we trust she knows exactly what she's doing, and so does God. Anyway, breech babies are supposed to be really smart! Your prayers and thoughts for a smooth procedure are most appreciated...

Phanh and Sodhy's Place

Over the years, Phanh has developed quite a reputation for his culinary abilities. So when he and Sodhy invited us over for dinner last weekend, of course we said yes lah. Actually we've been inviting ourselves over for some time now (since they moved into their lovely new place), and I guess they ran out of excuses. Whatever the case may be, dinner was excellent, as you can see in the pictures below. Thanks for a lovely evening, guys, and enjoy doing up your home!

There goes the neighbourhood

On one of our recent, frequent trips to the obstetrician, we walked past this block of apartments. I noticed this sign outside, and can only assume the neighbours' rental must be pretty cheap. Then again, you just never know considering how inflated the property market in Melbourne is these days. All I know is that I wouldn't live next to the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases if you paid me, AND took care of Zorbie's education for a lifetime...

Where in the world can this be found?

It was bought for us in Ipoh, then we found it in an Asian grocer in Melbourne. Question is, is it also available in San Francisco? Finding it is Dr Fu Manchu's mission, should he choose to accept it...

Zorbie's in here

We've had several requests from friends and family curious to know what Babes' baby bump looks like. So here they are in all their black and white glory, my lovely wife and our darling daughter-to-be. After many weeks of trying, I finally got Babes in the right frame of mind (after yoga, naturally!) to participate in a bit of a photographic exercise. Don't worry, it's not a Demi Moore wannabe shot...

Yummy Thai

We had Angela and Rosanna visiting from New Zealand and Hong Kong respectively over the weekend, and Babes prepared a lovely Thai dinner for all of us one night. The highlight was the red duck curry, which I flooded my rice with. The girls were very impressed, needless to say, and everything was easily finished. Mmm, delicious! On the subject of Thai food, we've yet to find a really, really good Thai place around here. There are a couple of decent places, but nowhere consistently excellent...

Prawn Mee made easy

When I was back in Ipoh, Mum and Dad gave me a packet of Tean's Gourmet Prawn Mee paste, and Babes and I made use of it just the other day. Whaddyaknow, tasted just like the real thing! Bought some prawns, added some pork ribs, taugeh, kangkung, shallots and there we were, Penang hawker stall quality Prawn Mee. And guess what we found at an Asian grocer in Preston today? That's right, Tean's Gourmet Prawn Mee paste. So there'll be another session before too long...

Dry run/dress rehearsal

Thanks to Olivia and Joe for spending an afternoon with me in KL, and for a gentle introduction to the trials and tribulations of looking after a little girl. Your dear Chloe was a lovely, adorable guinea pig for my clumsy attempts at superficial childcare... and if I can lose anywhere near as much weight running after my own daughter as Oli has running after hers, well, I'll be in really good shape!

Prenatal Classes

Bubs and Babes have now attended two of these classes, three and a half hours each. The first one was more hands-on, as you can see from the picture. Babes, of course, is an old hand at this, and had a good laugh at my expense. I, well, took a while to learn how to a) fold the cloth nappies that the hospital will use, before b) putting 'em on the baby (who didn't look too happy about my efforts). Didn't do too badly, I suppose, but I think I need quite a lot more practice... there'll be no shortage of opportunities in a couple of months...

Not-so-private-kitchens in Hong Kong

When in Hong Kong, do as the Beijingers do: order Peking Duck. And so we did, at Hunan Garden in Exchange Square with Jui Kian and Choo Lye, and it was yummy! When in Hong Kong, also enjoy the local desserts. And so we did, heading off to Happy Valley after Hunan Garden for durian puffs, mango and assorted other goodies. Finally when in Hong Kong, also head for yum cha. And so we did, at West Villa in Causeway Bay with Julie and Roger. The yum cha was good, but the almond bun right at the end was absolutely divine!

Life in Hong Kong

I thought I'd break up the stretch of food-related posts with a (very) brief snapshot of what our friends get up to in Hong Kong. For starters, the Nintendo Wii is a crowd favourite. Even Babes got into it, almost falling on Roger while playing tenpin bowling. But here we see Roger and Willy in a full-blooded, no-holds-barred bout of boxing. And here's the real reason why Babes and I went to Hong Kong lah, to take feeding lessons from these cool mothers. Thanks to Joose, Katelyn, Julie and Jamie for showing us how it's done. And Julie and Roger, a huge THANK YOU for your amazing hospitality at your luxurious boutique hotel!

Hong Kong private kitchens, Part Two

The following night, we went to a very well-known place with Julie, Roger, Willy and Joose: Da Ping Huo, one of the first private kitchens around. In many ways, it's quite the opposite of the previous night's Club Qing. Rather spacious, it comes across as more like a restaurant. The minimalist decor too, contrasts sharply with the other's warm wooden feel. And the food? Spicy and strong Sichuan compared to the more subtle Cantonese flavours. Different, but just as good! Plus a touch of theatre, with the chef herself coming out at the end of the meal to serenade diners.
Inspired by these private kitchens, Bubs and Babes (well, Bubs anyway, as Babes doesn't know about this yet) will be opening an eatery in our townhouse. Perhaps Babes does the cooking, while I entertain diners with Broadway or Sinatra numbers. Or Babes performs for them while I prepare such culinary delights as Exotic Wok-tossed Basmati (aka Fried Rice) or Jade Treasures Splashed with Aphrodisiac Essence (aka Lettuce with Oyster Sauce). But like the mysterious Zingara Cucina which is causing such a buzz in Melbourne (dunno real or not, maybe bluff people one), reservations will be by invitation only...

Our first Hong Kong private kitchen

Michelle, Kaz, Jackie and James took us to Club Qing, a private kitchen in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong. We enjoyed a 13-course combination of dishes and teas, including Chilled Black Sesame Tofu Pudding with Crab Meat, Dried Scallop Soup with Jelly Fungus (both pictured above, I think!) and Baked Prawns with Lemongrass. Absolutely delicious! It's a beautifully decorated place with lots of antique furniture, nice and intimate too as befits a private kitchen. All in all, a perfect introduction to the world of private kitchens!

Dad's delicious cooking

My Ipoh trip (while Babes was in Kuching and Sibu with the rest of the Ting family) included some of the usual highlights: Char Kuay Teow and Sar Hor Fun. Unfortunately, my regular Sar Hor Fun and Wan Tan Mee places were both closed! In retrospect, the best Ipoh meal I had this trip was at home... thanks to Dad for the fantastic hoe chien (oyster omelette) and steamed pomfret.

Mark and Patsze's Hospitality

First stop on our holiday was Singapore, where we stayed with Mark and Patsze. Their hospitality extended to pet entertainment (courtesy of Patsze's beagle, Oliver), an abundance of food and beverages, as well as Mark's laundry service which included the delicate handling of the Ting Sisters', well, delicates. Thanks to our lovely hosts for taking such good care of all of us, and all the best in Hong Kong!

We're back!

After two weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Bubs and Babes are back in Melbourne. So you can expect more posts (possibly mostly food-related!) in the days to come. A big thank you to everyone who spent time with us, dined with us, put us up (and put up with us), drove us around etc. Thanks ESPECIALLY to Jason and Yee Li for rushing home to get my passport while I kept 20+ other Aeroline passengers waiting...

It's one thing to save water, ...

... it's another to feel ripped off. We recently received our 'water' bill for the last three months. The actual water usage itself cost us just $15.05, which is pretty good for three months. That's because we make a consious effort to save water (pail in the shower while the water warms up etc), and this is reflected in the stats below. Our average use is 209 litres per day, even less than what's categorised as "efficient water use" which is 239 litres per day.

And how are we rewarded for our conservation efforts? With a total bill of $306.26! THREE HUNDRED AND SIX DOLLARS, AND TWENTY-SIX CENTS. Including an Annual Parks Charge of $53.84 (guess we should spend more time in the park, Babes!) and a "Sewerage Service Adjustment" of $148.18, which they allegedly neglected to charge over the last 12 months! Someone needs to take a long, hard look at the billing system, I think the average Aussie family is paying too much...

Happy Pre-Father's Day

Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father's Day on September 2, unlike most of the world. So when I woke up this morning, I was pleasantly surprised (and really touched) to be greeted by Babes with a plate of my favourite corn fritters, a la Bill Granger. It was my pre-Father's Day treat, and it was yummy!
Father's Day has never been a day I've personally taken seriously; it's always been about somebody else, namely MY dad, and more recently Babes' dad too. So it's certainly a sign of the times that this event finally has some significance for me! Babes and I would just like to take this opportunity to thank our fathers for all they've done for us over the years. Thanks, dads! And while we're at it, here's a gentle reminder that you'll be assigned duties in your new and upcoming roles as Grandpas...

Happy 50th Birthday, Malaysia!

For all its corruption, inefficiency, crime and inequality, and despite the fact that I haven't lived there since 1999, I still call Malaysia home. There's a certain charm, spirit and atmosphere that's simply unrivalled. Maybe some day we'll return, maybe some day there'll be equal rights for all, maybe some day some people will actually put in an honest day's work instead of relying on the government for a handout, maybe some day the government will stop dishing out handouts to those that don't deserve 'em. Maybe one day Roshan Thiran will be Prime Minister! I'd vote for you, my friend. But for now, Happy Merdeka to all Malaysians all over the world. How did we celebrate August 31? How else but by sharing Char Kuay Teow and Chicken Rice at Malaymas!

Yet another Malaysian eatery

We went to Camberwell Market on Sunday, then started thinking about where to go for lunch. Sam mentioned that there was a Malaysian place nearby, so off we went! Okra has been there for many years now, but it was my first time. Pretty decent environment, but what about the food? Babes had the Sar Hor Fun, while I had the Char Kuay Teow. All in all, rather average lah. I got told off by Babes for ordering such a 'challenging' dish like Char Kuay Teow, but what better way of judging a restaurant then by choosing what to me is a Malaysian benchmark? If it's any consolation, dessert was pretty good, the Okra specialty being an ice kacang-like concoction. It's not somewhere I'd make much of an effort to get to, but if we were ever in the area, who knows. Maybe we could order less 'challenging' dishes, like nasi lemak or something...

Glory glory Man United

I know we've lost the first three matches of the season, I know we've scored just one goal in that time, I know there've been injuries and suspensions, I know we're already five points behind Chelsea, I know there'll be people who will rub it in (yes you, Joe) ... but that's OK. I'm still looking forward to the rest of the season, including late-night Champions League matches when I'll be up feeding my darling baby daughter anyway while my lovely wife gets some much-needed sleep. So hang in there boys, there are millions and millions of fans around the world who are still up for it.

Babes graduates!

One year after Babes started her yoga teachers' training course, I finally got to see her classroom. The graduation ceremony took place last Sunday afternoon, and there we were consuming champagne and hors d'oeuvres while assuming various yoga positions like the warrior and the lotus. Okay, maybe not the yoga positions. Anyway, here are Babes, Nadia and Jannin posing with their hard-earned advanced diplomas. Well done, lovely ladies!

A blast from the past

Bubs and Babes went on a good ol' fashioned date last Friday, with dinner followed by a movie. Dinner was at J Cafe, a simple Japanese place in the city. I've been trying to empathise with Babes and refrain from sashimi, but she was gracious enough to tell me not to bother. Thanks babes, it was yummy! And so was her tonkatsu. Not a bad option for a relatively economical meal.
Did we watch a sensitive, romantic and provocative arthouse film? Nope, we went for the all-action, hard-rocking Die Hard 4.0! I used to love the old John McClane movies, so I was really looking forward to his return. And was it worth the hype? Sure was! Far-fetched at times, but c'mon, it's Hollywood. Two thumbs up! Image reproduced from www.collider.com. In Namewee's words, "please don't sue me, saya takde duit..." But that's a whole different story altogether, which we won't get into here. I haven't made any political statements on this blog, and I don't intend to start now.

Zorbie's a Girl!

Bubs and Babes went for the 19-week ultrasound this morning, and as far as Dr Andrew Ngu can see, Zorbie's progressing well. Then he asked us whether we wanted to know the gender, and of course we did! How else can Babes shop for Zorbie's clothes? Not that not knowing has stopped her thus far, we already got two PureBaby (babies' clothing made of organic fabrics) girls' outfits last week. And sure enough, those outfits will come in handy!
We've also observed that Zorbie's a bit of an acrobat, turning this way and that in the short period of time we watched her on the ultrasound. She's gonna be a sporty lass!

Yummy Beef Noodles

Sam and Becks have spoken highly of the Thai Beef Noodles at a place called Krua Thai 2 on Bridge Road, so off we went. There it was on the menu, for a paltry (by Australian standards anyway!) $4. Wah, so cheap! All became clear about ten minutes later when the waitress brought a tiny, tiny bowl of said beef noodles. It WAS delicious indeed, but for future reference, we'll need AT LEAST two bowls each! Highly recommended, think we'll go back there this weekend.

Adventures in New Zealand?

We recently watched a doco which featured New Zealand as THE destination for adventure seekers, with bungy-jumping, zorbing, jetboating, skydiving and more. Ironically enough, rather than being an adventure destination, it's more than likely that New Zealand was the SOURCE of what is about to be our greatest adventure so far; our Auckland-conceived baby! Although I must say that Zorbie wasn't necessarily conceived in NZ (could've been Thornbury lah) but it is a distinct possibility.
What else is intriguing is that the one adventurous activity on our itinerary (a few days after Auckland) was the Tongariro Crossing, which we didn't end up doing. Why? Because Babes woke up very early that morning feeling nauseous. Probably a bit early for morning sickness, but it could've been God's way of telling us not to do the full-day walk and risk hurting a freshly-conceived Zorbie...

Cravings

When we were in Auckland, Sue had constant cravings for Malaysian food, so that's what we had most of the time. Which was pretty good for good ol' Malaysian me. So now that it's MY wife that's pregnant, what kind of cravings does she get? Not char kuay teow, not chicken rice, not laksa... but salads/vegetarian food and other really healthy meals. Alamak, how lah? What to do, eat loh.

A qualified yoga instructor in the family!

Guess who obtained a High Distinction in her final Yoga Instructor's theory exam? That's right, the amazing Babes! After a year of coursework and many, many training classes, she's now a full-fledged yoga instructor. Well done darling wifey, I'm very proud of you. Unfortunately she declined to be photographed in a warrior pose for this blog. But you can be sure the fundamentals are correct...

Baby superstore!

Babes and I went to Baby Bunting in East Bentleigh with her cousin's wife Sue, and boy was it an amazing experience! I wanted to look at strollers, and it was like walking into a car showroom with loads of sleek-looking sportscars. Of course we test-drove a couple of strollers. And then there were clothes... and baby monitors... and playmats... and cots... and breast pumps... and thousands upon thousands of other assorted baby-related goods. So THAT's why they call it the Baby Bunting Superstore! It's early days yet, so we didn't buy very much. But we'll be back!

A busy Saturday

Now that Babes has finished her yoga course, we're finally able to spend a Saturday together. Well, part of it anyway! We had a leisurely brunch at APTE in Alphington (somewhere we've been meaning to go for a while), and it was pretty good! Babes had mushrooms and sausages on toast, while I had smoked salmon on a corn fritter. Yummy! Then we drove to Clifton Hill to have a quick look at some water features (as we're thinking of building a deck in our small courtyard).

Babes later dropped me off at the MCG to meet Simon Antonis (my workmate) and his dad for the Collingwood vs Geelong game, first versus third in the ladder. Good fun, except for 70ish-year-old Gramps behind us cursing and swearing 20 times a minute over anything and everything, even with a young grandson sitting next to him. The only time he showed any restraint was when he yelled, "C'mon, you black ..." before stopping and realising that that would have probably been a step too far, even for him. What's even more scary is that we were sitting in the MCC Members section, which is (supposedly) more civilised. What would it be like in the regular sections? Anyway, after the game I walked to meet Babes and others at Sam and Becks' house for an awesome dinner of Sarawak Laksa and Bak Kut Teh. All in all, an excellent day! (photos reproduced from The Age)

Restaurant-standard wonton

We had dinner at a place called Wonton House on Friday night, and of course I had the wonton noodles. I grew up on that stuff, after all, back in the days when the "tok tok man" used to cycle around our Ipoh neighborhood hitting two sticks together to attract our attention. Anyway, I quite liked the Wonton House dumplings but Babes thought she could do better. And whaddyaknow, she did pretty well, as you can see! It tastes as good as it looks...

15 weeks!

Bubs, Babes and Zorbie went for another appointment with our obstetrician yesterday. We heard Zorbie's (very fast!) heartbeat, and saw her vigorously waving her arms and legs at us. No baby photo this time, we'll wait for the next high quality image from the next ultrasound which will be in 4 weeks time. By then we should be able to tell whether Zorbie's a boy or girl. Meanwhile, the search for a pram/stroller has begun, beginning with research and reviews... and Babes seems to have regained (most of her) appetite!

Kuey Teow Pad Thai

Here's Babes' latest effort, a Thai favourite that she learned to cook about five years ago at a cooking class in Chiang Mai. It was good when she made it then, and it's just as good now. I should've run out to get prawns (always good with Pad Thai), but never mind, next time lah...

A cosy Friday dinner

We've just come home from dinner at Denn in Northcote. Babes and I shared a seafood paella and pizza capricciosa, and were pretty full by then. But of course we couldn't resist dessert after sitting around a wee bit longer, so finished off with sticky date pudding and vanilla ice cream. All in all a pretty good meal, with the deal sweetened by the 25% discount from the Entertainment Book voucher. Not a bad start to the weekend!

Jamie Oliver's Fish Pie

Tonight's dinner was a delicious fish pie. Although I shouldn't really say "was", as Babes has just started eating Round Two, one and a half hours after Round One. She IS eating for two, after all. And even as we speak, she's contemplating Round Three! Can't say I blame her, it's very good... guess what I'm bringing to work for lunch tomorrow!

Hello, Zorbie!

Here's a still from Babes' latest ultrasound, showing our little Zorbie. Can't really see what she's doing at the time, presumably working on her hand-eye coordination before I start training her for Wimbledon. Now I'm not assuming it's a girl, it's just that I can't keep saying "he/she/it" or "him/her". It'll be another few weeks before we'll know for sure.
Anyway, if anyone's interested, we bought the DVD of the ultrasound, a ten-minute epic production that's a sure-fire bet for this year's Ultrasound Oscars!

Two pink lines

We've told many of our friends and loved ones, and we're really sorry if we haven't gotten around to telling the rest of you... Babes has a bun in the oven! She is thirteen-and-a-half weeks pregnant as we speak, and no, we're not expecting twins, after careful scrutiny of a couple of ultrasounds. The foetus has been named Zorbie as he/she/it was scanned merrily splashing around in fluids, as if inside one of those Zorbs - inflatable balls - that we saw rolling down the hill in Rotorua, New Zealand.
We're expecting a Christmas baby, although Babes hopes baby will come slightly later so she can enjoy all the Christmas goodies! Meanwhile, contributions to the Wong Jr Education Fund will soon be welcome...

The kind of food I take to work for lunch

Lucky me usually gets rather yummy lunches from home, prepared lovingly by my dearest Babes. I'm the envy of the agency at about 12.30pm, and workmates often come to inspect what I've brought that day. Here's a pasta bolognese, for example, and what a majestic bolognese it was!