Preparing for the babies

The exciting thing that happened yesterday was when we got the delivery for our Stokke Xplory which we ordered whilst in HK last June. Simon and I were bought so excited we immediately tore open the boxes. Simon started piecing them together. We were also exploring the mechanisms and all that. The Xplory is really really cool. The only thing missing now are the babies :-)

My younger sis, Adeline, took this photo of the proud and excited parents-to-be with our Stokke Xplories in our garden; right before it started to rain really hard. We did not attach the padded seats nor the other fabric bits that comes with each one as yet. Won't be needing them until sometime in December or next year I think. Plus we have the 'Baby Bag' accessory still to come which we can use right away with the newborns. Don't be misled by the term 'baby bag' as this actually a hard material (same as the Xplory) which allows for a newborn baby to be laid down flat. Sort of like a 'basket'.

Still hopefully two months more to go but I feel like there is still so much to prepare. Managed to get my hands on some cheap deals on eBay which I am so proud of like the Baby Bjorn Sitter 1-2-3. We still have to decide on the crib; want to get only 1 for now and get a second one in a 3-4 months when the babies don't fit in one crib anymore. Read in some books that this is possible to do. Plus we don't have enough space for 2 just yet.

Our company has also just managed to sign on the lease for a real office space in downtown Shanghai not far from where we are now. We've been busy sorting out contracts and renovation company. And also just last Friday managed to get the renovation underway. Simon was just at the location earlier this afternoon and he was quite happy with how things are progressing along. A few minor details still need to be worked out like getting additional furniture, locks, and etc. but these shouldn't be a problem. We expect to move by the 11th of Aug. Unfortunately I cannot go to the location until after I've had the babies due to some Chinese beliefs. Will upload some photos of our new office later.

Pregant woman in Shanghai

Let me ask you this: What is wrong with a pregnant woman wearing a tank top that shows off her curves? Nothing.

But to the hundreds of Chinese who saw me walking around Shanghai yesterday, I was a sight! Literally I was being stared at!

• People riding their bicycles was more interested at staring at me and my bulging belly than at where they were heading.


• The workers digging up the pavement outside of our home stopped working and kept staring at me as I walked to the main street; this is even after days of having seen me going out of our home for the last week.


• A guy in a taxi cab beckoned to his friend in the cab to stare out of the window and look at me, as I was waiting for a cab on the sidewalk.


• Men in mini vans laughing at sight of me with a big belly

In all the years I've lived in China, I've never had this irritating experience of being stared at. Now I get a full brunt of how Simon 'stops traffic' when he walks about Shanghai with a pair of shorts on during spring or autumn.

The only reason I can think of is that Chinese people are used to seeing pregnant women wearing 'curtains' or night gown type of clothes that seeing one showing off her belly is quite a sight.

Regardless, I am very proud of my 'curves'!