A Day Out at The Docklands

We were at the Maritime Festival held at the Dublin Docklands over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Replica of the Jeanie Johnston. The original ship was used to carry fleeing Irish immigrants to America in the era of the Great Famine.

Not always you would see majestic tall ships lined up along the River Liffey so we knew we had to come here to see what it was all about. Interestingly,you could also do a little tour of the various ships by paying a really small fee.

River Liffey

Infact I have always wanted to come here to capture a photo of the River Liffey and the pedestrian walkway was ideal as it offered a scenic view of the river.

I have to say, they have done a really great job doing up this place. Back in 1997, you would think twice coming here even though it was just a 10 minute walk from the city center.

Checking out the summer market

I didn’t find anything interesting at the summer market. I was hoping to get something crafty for Aidan but to no avail. Ah well, maybe some other time I’ll be lucky.

Irish grandpa

There are a few nice eateries around the place including a Malaysian Restaurant which had Selamat Datang at it’s entrance.

Malaysian Restaurant

And a funfair too, which I used to love back in my student days.

Funfair

The heat was too much for me that I took shelter in one of the malls. All in all, it was a great day out with the family and parents-in-law. Hopefully there will be more exciting things to do this summer.

Not quite my pre-pregnancy body, another 5 kg to burn

Hush Hush, My Little One

Sound asleep

I have survived 9 months of pregnancy with such ease and made it through the excitement of labour and delivery.

And now the battle begins with sleepless nights, panda eyes, baby spits and poos, and endless cries.

With daddy busy at work, Aidan and I are both slowly settling into our own routine. Sleep once again is a luxury and I am learning to function with only 3 hours of sleep in a day. When he is in deep slumber, that is when I rush to take a quick shower, make a decent meal, sterilize his bottles and pump some milk. And before I even get to take a little breather, he is up again demanding a nappy change and a feed.

I wish I had an extra pair of hands and 24 hours in a day is just not enough for me anymore.

Motherhood is a truly life changing experience and has brought along many surprises and lessons. Some came right smack in the face at the oddest of times, but who said it was going to be easy ?

Heaven Sent

Hello folks!

A BIG, BIG thank you from the both of us for such a warm reception to the arrival of baby Aidan.

I wish I could reply each and every comment in my last post but unfortunately the recovery period for me is taking longer than expected and thus, I have only been surfing the web via my iPhone which can be rather inconvenient.

In brief, Aidan was born on a very bright spring day, the 30th of April. Not knowing I was in labour from the night before (I was ignoring the regular 15 minutes contractions whilst watching Champions League with my father thinking it was just  Braxton Hicks),  I came to the hospital the next day already 5cm dilated  and delivered Aidan 5  hours later at 3.10pm. His delivery was assisted by 2 midwives and 3 Muslim doctors – Obstetrician, Anaesthetist and Paediatrician who were actually my colleagues and gave me 5 star treatment throughout my stay. And thanks to the wonder of epidural, it was pain free and smooth all throughout the delivery. The misery only started on day 3 and up until now I am still depending on various painkillers to help ease the pain.

Anyway as promised, here are first photos of baby Aidan.

Daddy's eyes and lips. Mommy's nose ?

His face is constantly changing from day to day that we are still wondering who he takes after.

Loving the warmth of daddy's arms @ 20 hours old

A tiny 2.5kg, Aidan is always hungry and feeds constantly as if he has a bottomless gut and he can gobble 4 oz of milk easily. I have to give him EBM top-ups every other hour that the breast pump is now my new best friend.

First car ride

He slept well  throughout the journey home from the hospital and loves the comfort of his car seat.

For Aidan's keepsake box - Major headline on the day he was born

I know it’ll be a tough few weeks ahead but we’ll get there, slowly but surely. You know where I am if you rarely see updates here.

Hubby- a die hard comic book fan, has been asking me ‘Bila nak tengok Wolverine ni?’ I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere anytime soon and looks like we have to wait for the DVD dear!

The Stork Has Arrived

Aidan which carries the meaning - 'Intelligent'

Alhamdulillah, we are now proud parents to a bouncing baby boy!

Born on 30th April at 3.10 pm, weighing a tiny 2.5kg.

So far, all’s looking good and little Aidan is a natural pro at breastfeeding.

Pictures will be uploaded soon when we get the chance.

Awaiting the arrival of His Royal Highness at home