New apartment?

175 square-metre.

That is what my current unit is at Tower 9 #37-05, Phase 2 Central Park in downtown Beijing CBD. The lease expires 30 Apr 08.

Therefore we have about 8months to decide if we need a new apartment with Nadine's arrival and my mom staying with us come March 08. My mom is officially retiring (FINALLY!!!) in Dec with Nadine's arrival into this wonderful world. Good for my mom, she is really tired and she has been working so hard all her life. I am so thankful that we are finally able to keep her from working and give her a new task of taking care of her grand-daughter. God is so good! Joshua is great! You cannot imagine how much effort he took (financial management & spreadsheet calculation) painstakingly since 6mths ago to start planning for my parent's retirement. yes, even my dad will be coming over to live with us in BJ come Aug 08. He is hesitant and procrastinating the shift citing reasons like not being able to find a kopi-tiam to drink his kopi-O (thick), eat roti prata, D24 durians and all....so anyhow, he will come in Aug 08. We are still trying to persuade him to come earlier...

Anyhow, back to the apartment.

Yes, we went house-viewing this morning. Also in Central Park. Boy! the new Phase 3 are so beautiful! We saw a couple of units. Particularly, a 4-bedroom was so stylishly designed and the owner had it all set up for the future tenants with details like wine glasses, dinner napkins and all. I was so mesmerised....but the price was even "better" ...estimated to be about US$6000+!!! Siao or what....it blows our budget but still, it was great just to "see".

Then we came to a 3+1. 3 bed room with 1 study. It was PERFECT in our opinion. Rental was lower at USD3,200, 190 square metre, #02 floor plan at level 15 (I think...). Master bedroom came with a drooling setup of 2 washing basins, shower unit and bath tub. We can convert the mini study into Nadine's play room. And...Store Room! (which is exactly what we need) and even the rooms for my parents came with attached bathroom! (If i remember correctly, hormonal changes are making me more forgetful these days...EXCUSES!!)

Now, option 2 is a mini-4bedroom at 218 square metres #07 floor plan. Rental is more steep - USD4,500. Still can consider but really got to think and pray hard before we can take this option. Great setup...even with a balcony and for sure, attached bathrooms in 2 bedrooms inclusive of the master of course. Maid's room which potentially we can convert that into a store room. This is ideal but the rental price, gotta consider again.

We may potentially have an option 3. Cedric & Jean's phase 1 apartment at 188square-metres. Huge master bedroom (big enough for Nadine's cot and play area...yes, that huge). Master bedroom came with a drooling setup of 2 washing basins, shower unit and bath tub. Just that no store room...But rental may be less than USD2,800. Most economical and acceptable too. Available unit but we shall see if his owner is willing to wait 8mths for us.

My Jurong West apartment is only 113 square metres, my existing unit is 175 square metre....so question is : Do We really need another BIGGER apartment?? Godliness with contentment is great gain. We seriously need to plan, think, budget (do more excel spreadsheets) and PRAY for wisdom.

Pray with us.

Waiting for Nadine to arrive...I am 22 weeks today!

Praise the Lord!

I eat all the time

Brekkie
I wake up literally thinking about brekkie...

Usually this is huge : bran cereal with skim milk / ham & cheese sandwich with sundried tomatoes, juice and fruit. I don't like fruit & dairy products at all & I eat almost nothing of these categories of food before I'd na-na but now with her, I swallow it nonetheless!

Lunch
At 1045am, I start concocting my lunch menu

If i had a choice, I would like hokkien fried noodles, sliced fish porridge, bah chor mee poh with lots of chilli & vinegar, lor mee or mee tai bak with ketchup. All these are "impossible food" which i can never find in Beijing, my compromise is "Golden Lake" 金湖茶餐厅 menu of macaroni soup, wanton noodles, seafood hor fun or si-chiap bee hoon.

Tea-snack
By 430pm, I am snacking but nowadays, I disciplined my flesh to eat low fat fruit, banana, carrot sticks or wholewheat crackers only. Still it is EATING

Dinner
I have to eat by 7pm, latest. Anything later than that results in heartburn or indigestion.

Need i go on? I am just eating all the time!

Nadine Lim

59.2kg.

That is what the scale say at 21 weeks this morning when i weigh myself at 8am. Put on another 200g overnight! I am getting rounder and fatter by the day. Never knew i could put on so much weight in this frame of merely 1.59m. I am really praying that all the weight gain will go STRAIGHT to Nadine (yes, that is the name we both like and have started calling her na-na) instead of residing on my arms & thighs! Must go to Marie France if I get grossly out of shape. Quite frankly, anything is worth it for my little girl as long as she is healthy & strong.

Nadine kinda responded well to that name whenever we talk to her. She gets particularly active whenever we watched city harvest service online especially during worship and preaching time. She liked Joyce Meyer's preaching. She was literally leaping last weekend when we attended both services online over the weekend. Nightly when Josh reads proverbs to her, chapter by chapter...she seemed to be listening intently and that brings tremendous excitement and joy to our heart.

The last scan in Beijing United was really much clearer than that in Gleneagles with Dr Fong. She has long limbs and finds great pleasure strangely in staring at her small hands. She seemed to be always in that "reading" position. Twice we saw her in that position instead of lying down. Whatever it is, as long as she is healthy, mom & dad will be glad.

Praying for her to get bigger each day, healthily. Can't wait to see her in late Dec... :)