The 9 months Check Up

Hi Baby,

Mommy had to lie to the nurse who was taking down the details of your check up, it was the baby led weaning thing. It started when she asked what have you been eating and mommy rattled off the list and she did look taken aback and started saying about got to be careful giving babies solids and them holding their food as they'll choke and finger foods are a no no etc etc, and then with her hand poised with a pen ready to jot down she started with "Are you eating rice porridge?" Mommy did a "Ye-es?", and she continued, "Does the porridge contain vegetables and protein?" Mommy can enthusiastically say yes to that one, you are eating your vegetables and protein only not in the way she expected.

Baby led weaning is the square block idea that can't fit into their round hole mind. Mommy and daddy have seen you eat, your grandparents have seen you eat, other people have seen you eat, and you're doing fine, as a matter in fact, they were amazed to see you were able to feed yourself. Because of baby led weaning, you learned how to chew your food, how much food to bite off safely to fit into your mouth to chew, your handling skills have improved, you learned not to squash a banana into mush to eat - although if you're just playing then you squeezed the life out of it and smear it all over the table - you tried so many types of food and flavours, the other night for dinner you had curry spaghetti! Those people don't know what they're missing...

You weighed in at 10.03kg, height 74cm and you're just below the 95th percentile in the charts.

There were boxes which the nurse ticked, like are you crawling, standing etc all to do with your development.

Mommy asked about giving you baby vitamins, and the nurse said from what mommy had told her from what you are eating, mainly fruits and vegetables, there is no need as your growth is on the up. The nurse said they would recommend only if baby isn't developing or under nurished. Well, you're anything but that.

You're growing well and the next check is when you turn one, the day after you turn one years old. And you got one more jab left, I can't remember which it was....

And because we went out for breakfast first, and turned up at the clinic in the later morning where there were less people, we were in and out in half an hour! Yay!

You did complain when mommy took off your diaper to get you weighed. I think you were already nervous when we got there, probably anticipating injections every time you go clinic...

I wonder what'll be like when you turn one...

Love,
Mommy

One Sunny Day

With daddy in Orchard Road, Singapore

Dear Baby

Mommy can't remember how it happened... but I remembered being obsessed finding a sun hat for you months back, and that now whenever you're outside you must have your hat on.

When mommy was looking for a sling online, I came across this site that was also carrying this particular brand of hats called Sunday Afternoons. After reading that the hats have an SPF rating of 50 and they come in baby sizes and all other good things, I was sold. Since the shop was in Singapore and Auntie Lin was heading there, I asked her to pick up a couple for me, one of them is a sun hat, wide brim and all that in light purple and an adventure hat in light green, which we lost on our trip there ironically on our way to the same shop to pick up more hats, and another baby carrier. All the hats are still too big for you even at the smallest setting, but we managed.

While there, daddy picked up 3 or 4 more adventure hats, and one other hat which style mommy forgot the name to because he liked the colour.

The hat you're wearing is an infant sun hat from the same brand which I asked Auntie Sarah to pick up for you when she was there on her way to Japan. I figured it should fit you better as the other hats were 1-5 year old, but it was still slightly too big for you. But considering how fast babies and toddlers grow, it won't matter in the end...

When you start school, it's compulsory to have a sun hat for play, so we're all set for that already.

You don't like it if your hat got put on your head when indoors, you'll automatically remove it. But when we're outside and your hat goes on, you don't bother with it because you know you're heading out somewhere. Hopefully wearing a hat outdoors will become a habit for you.

You know what mommy should've done, I should've gotten an adult Sunday Afternoon hat for myself too when we were there, doh!

Love,

Mommy

Airplane Bassinet

She filled up the whole bassinet! Even with legs bent at the knees at less than 8 months old!

Woooooo....

My first airplane ride! Hangin' out in my crib!

Yay!

No TV?

Dear baby,

As you know mommy and daddy have put some restrictions on you when it comes to the television. It's not a total no television thing, we just don't want you growing up stuck to the 'interesting and flickering images' that appear on the screen so much, and get influenced by certain shows, hence, you are not allowed to watch the Disney Channel, mommy and daddy have our reasons... and if you do happen to be watching television, especially when over at nenek during the day, it'll be the Discovery channel. Although nowadays nenek don't bother having the television on as she only watches her dramas in the evenings now. News channels may be informative but it's depressing and full of negativity, so it's a no for now, argument with nenek about that.

When you're at nini boy and nini noi's place you don't watch television, when we sit down for dinner the television in the kitchen is turned off so you won't get distracted when you're suppose to eat. It's good practice anyway, you can taste and enjoy your food more.

At home we don't have cable or astro. Mommy and daddy only watches if we feel like watching something on the dvd player. So the other day, mommy figured to introduce you to musicals, lots of harmonies, songs, visual sensory with the costumes and stage, which was how you ended up watching Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This musical is old. Mommy used to have this on repeat in my old studio while I was making my stuff. You were interested in the beginning, watching the cats prancing and song and dance, until daddy came home, and you lost all interest...

Love,

Mommy

Baby Wearing Daddy

Hi Baby,Check out daddy wearing you using the ring sling! How cool you both look, and totally comfortable too.

Daddy at first never wanted to use the sling, preferred to carry you in hand.... Until one day on our holiday he decided to give the sling a go. Then he discovered his arms doesn't ache anymore!

Quite useful to link up your toy to the sling as like so when you let go it doesn't get dirty. Daddy's getting pretty good with putting you in and taking you out of the sling as it's pretty quick and no messing about much.

Mommy's going to start using the manuka soft structure carrier soon as you are getting t0o heavy for me to carry you in the sling, but for short jaunts it's still ok, plus it's still pretty convenient to use the sling anyway....

Love,

Mommy

It Has Been 9 Months

Dear Baby,

Amazingly we have reached the same amount of time it took you to be incubated, in mummy's tummy, to being on this planet.

You'll be going to the clinic for check up next week, the last check up was when you were 6 months and they say see you in three months, which is time...

Using the digital weighing machine at home, you're still at 9.8kg, height we don't know, we never did get around to popping by the clinic to do all that did we.

You're eating mostly on your own, unless you're with nenek who likes to feed you, I think so you wouldn't make so much mess that she'd have to clean up, which mommy have a lot of arguments with nenek about that because its reducing your chances of learning. Mommy try to get you home early so you can eat on your own, and been making baby friendly food items to ensure that you try a whole range of taste. There is teriyaki chicken balls and wontan waiting in the fridge today...

You pull yourself up more and more and at times let go and you'd stand on your own two feet for a few seconds. If you want to be carried you'd crawl over and pull yourself up and your arms reaching up as high as possible looking up with expectation on your face. You like pulling yourself up any opportunity you can get, when you're on the bed, you pull yourself up using the headboard, when you're on the sofabed, you pull yourself up on the back rest. You pull yourself up against anything...

You'll only play with your toys if someone else is playing with you.

You're showing separation anxiety recently when mommy have to go back to work at lunch times. You don't show it when mommy leave you in the mornings. Maybe you weren't fully awake yet maybe...

Since mommy had taken up indoor cycling classes in the evenings, daddy's the one that picks you up from nenek's and you get time with daddy until mommy gets home.

We have Auntie Maricel come over to the house once a week or every two weeks to help clean, and when she's done you get to play with her as she really entertains you a lot and you're quite taken with her and that's when mommy take the opportunity to go spend some time in the studio. Mommy and daddy thought of maybe getting her to become your caretaker during the week days as you're getting to be quite a handful for nenek now, not to mention heavy.

You already got your second dose for the rotavirus vaccine a couple of weeks ago, the doctor said better to start when you were 12 weeks old for better immunization, will keep that in mind for the next sibling.

You're also turning to be a heavy wetter now, so mommy have been researching for the best night time solution, so far it seems to be a fitted with wool cover. Well, either that or mommy just have to diaper change you at 6 in the morning, just that sometimes I get too tired and can't wake up in time like this morning for instance and you leaked.

As soon as we get our hands on a potty you're getting potty trained, got to get it off Uda, she said she'll lend one. You don't have your usual indications of when you're eliminating like before which is harder now but must try anyway...

It's good that daddy likes babywearing you, but sometimes he'll forgo the sling so he can get some exercise he says. Mommy planning on using the SSC soon, have to watch the instructional DVD to refresh the memory.

You're back to taking EBM, we're now a week ahead of the expiration date, and nenek said your stock there is out, so tomorrow must remember to bring some over when I drop you off. And mommy's output has increased as well, I'm up to expressing three and over cups now, I just need to match it with your intake and a bit more to make sure the freezer is stocked up. I must remember to use the new techni ice pack I got for the cooler bag...

We have already registered you for pre kindy for next year, early registration ensure you get a spot since they only have space for 30. Mommy just wait for the interview phone call and also will start taking you for the weekly afternoon session play group so you'll be familiar with the place by the time pre kindy starts, probably next year.

Mommy would like to take you for pool play and they say it's best in a babies swimming group, the babies swimming group I know isn't swimming anymore, nuts...

That's all mommy can think of the top of my head for the moment, more new things to come...

Love,
Mommy

The First Family Holiday

Dear Baby,

Where to start...

Oh yeah, plane ride.

The Plane Ride
We got to the airport early, all of us woke up much earlier than usual. But we got to the airport and checked in and leisurely waited in the . You had breakfast while we had breakfast. Daddy took you around to keep you occupied so mommy can eat.

You had a quick diaper change in the departure lounge just before we boarded the plane.

Just so happen there was another baby sitting in the aisle across from us in the plane, he looked younger and smaller than you, but daddy learned from the grandfather that the baby was older than you. Mommy pretty doubtful about that...

You slept part of the ride in the cot provided, you played in it when you were awake, sitting up, playing with the cups, playing with money just to keep you occupied.

When the plane was about to land, this was the part mommy was concerned with, the whole pressure in ear thing. Pleasantly enough, the pressure wasn't as bad as mommy remembered back in the days, I think they've started to repressurise the cabins now because you didn't seem to be affected in any way. You only started crying because the other baby was crying, and since you were on daddy's lap who was sitting next to the asile, you tried to reach out to the crying baby and you looked quite upset and started crying too! Mommy grabbed the water cup and got you to start drinking since we know you like drinking from a cup just to distract you. Daddy whispered in your ear, "Ignore the baby, just concentrate on your water". Which you did. Then, mommy heard the crying baby was crying interval like, and mommy looked up and saw that the baby's grandmother was dipping the baby's pacifier into the water and putting it back into the baby's mouth in an attempt to stop him crying when they saw us giving you water.

On the plane ride back coincidentally it was with the same family with the baby and we all sat in the same place. Mommy didn't think we needed to change your diaper just before we got on to the plane as you just had a diaper change not long before. Then, while waiting for take off you leaked! We had to wait for the plane to be up in the air and the seat belt sign switched off and there was a scramble to get the diaper bag down from the overhead compartment. Turned out we weren't the only one who needed to do a diaper change, so did the other baby, good thing we packed extra tights for you to change into as well.

You napped for a while in the cot, daddy was snoozing away and mommy stayed up to keep an eye on you, and you also napped on mommy's lap when you didn't feel like being in the cot and when nursing. You played and made faces at the other baby when awake, laughing and cooing. And when the plane was landing, the other baby was crying away again and you didn't need much distraction, although you did give daddy the concerned look whenever you looked over to the baby.

Overall, your plane ride experience was pretty pleasant.

A week or so after we came back from our holiday, one of mommy's friend was flying back to Singapore with her baby, she said there was 7 babies on that plane at that time. I wonder how that went...

The Hotel
We stayed at this hotel that mommy and daddy had stayed in several times before, and with each visit, the service got better and better.

We asked for a cot for you in the room, and it was a nice Mothercare cot with large mesh panels and we can see you very clearly when we put you in there to play, very different from the one we have at home, and everyday the housekeeping would change the sheets and whatever toys you have in there all arranged lined up nicely.

The room came with buffet breakfast so every morning we'd go down to one of the two hotel restaurants, sometimes you'd be awake and sometimes you'd still be sleeping. We'd get a plate of fruits for you to have when you feel like having something, but most of the time, you were happy playing with some hotel guest who was sitting across from us and they'd make faces at you and you'd laugh and giggle away.

Moving Around
We have never used a stroller with you and decided to not even borrow one for the trip. So our means of moving around is to carry you. Mommy carried you in the sling and daddy carried you in his arms, although towards the last few days of the holiday he decided to try out the sling and had been carrying you that way every since. Daddy was suffering from blisters because of the shoes he was wearing and good thing they sell blister plaster there which we always seem to get lots of for his poor feet.

This trip we didn't bother going out of Orchard Road much, only on two ocassions, one was to visit mommy's friend and the other was when we went to Novena area to check out the Bumwear shop and the Baby Slings & Carriers shop that were there. Now we know where they are! Oh and one to Marina area for daddy's shop.

Feeding Baby
Baby led weaning wise, usually during breakfast, but you weren't interested to eat much that early in the morning and it's mainly fruits.

You've had mushroom soup while at mommy's friend's house, and carrot soup at one restaurant. Gave you a taste of tom yam soup, oh the expression on your face!

We carried water around for you in the bag...

Nursed you everywhere and anywhere, sitting and moving around. Let's see, in various restaurants, kinokuniya book shop, planes, in airports, nursing rooms in various malls, that was interesting...

Nappy Changing Baby
First time ever mommy and daddy walked in and out so many baby rooms. Ion's baby room is on the 4th floor, clean and spacious, fancy open door hand sensor thingy. The folding changing table had side bars, hot water dispenser, sink with counter, a standing fan and chair for nursing. Very peaceful changing and nursing you in there. Daddy said it's too sterile, mommy feel like being on a space ship or something...

At Ngee Ann City it was a foldable changing table in the female toilets. While mommy was changing you the place was packed with people queuing for the toilets and the cleaning lady standing nearby looking very displeased as she eyed us. Thankfully it was just changing a wet nappy, and everything was in hand.

Apparently we went to the number one baby room in Singapore at Union Square. They had several stations for nappy changing, with a soft mat for baby to lie on and mirrors to distract you. When we were in there there were three other babies getting changed as well. After everybody was gone, daddy stood you up and leaned you against the mirror walls and took a shot of you, ala baby can stand! In the changing room there is also two smaller cubicles with arm chairs for nursing, and the doors can be locked from the inside. You got distracted with the wallpaper a lot.

The first time mommy noticed you got distracted with the wallpapers was when we were at Plaza Singapura, you kicked up a huge fuss about changing your diaper. You cried and cried and cried. And when popping you on the breast you were still fussing. You cried, nursed, saw the wallpaper, sat up, cried, nursed, saw the wallpaper and cried again. Popped the nursing hat on you to remove all distraction and only then you settled down to nurse. We were in there a good hour most probably. The second time we used that changing room you didn't kick up that much of a fuss but you were fascinated with the wallpaper. It was a small cubicle but at least it was a comfy tub chair they provided for nursing, don't know if there was any other changing/nursing room in that building...

Changi Airport transit area, it was pretty easy to spot. Near the toy shop and a big playground area for the bigger kids. Several changing stations available, and mommy remembered it as being hot for some reason...

The worst place I had the unfortunate incident of changing you was when we were at scotts road, there was no place to change you in far east plaza we happen to be in and you were leaking as we made our way out. Figured see if there is a place to change you in the hotel next door. There was a space on the cold marble counter top at the corner of the L shaped sink area, since no one was about quickly took the changing mat out and you on it. Just as mommy took off your diaper and was about to clean you, you decided to pee! Needless to say it was messy, lots of tissue was involved and desperate clean up and changing you at the same time so we can get out of there. Worst experience ever at that time.

The Shopping
Mommy and daddy's shopping needs are pretty simple, give us a good book store and we're happy. On top of that, mommy bought several more breast feeding outfits from Mothers En Vogue in Centrepoint along Orchard Road. Daddy went to his favourite local design label Depression at Millenia Walk. We bought you several dresses from Baby Gap. And when we were at United Square more wet bags from Bumwear, I did contemplate on whether to get their cloth diapers but the prints didn't appeal to me much. And a new soft structured carrier, Manuka, for when you get heavier to carry and more Sunday Afternoons Hats, pretty ironic how we lost one on our way there, so daddy picked up five more when we got to Square2 of Novena Square.

We made a point to go to AFC store just to see where it is and what they have. There were several cook books for children that I might want to get for us when you're older. Daddy liked the t shirts they got and bought several and fridge magnets because you liked them.

Mommy was also looking for a new cooler bag since the old wine bottle bag was ripping up inside for the breast pump and storage. We went to every department store kitchen ware section looking for one. Don't people go on picnics anymore mommy wondered. We even checked out a camping shop but all they had was a cooler box. Then on our second last day we checked out Takashimaya's outdoor gear section and yay, they have one! In various sizes too. It was a Coldman, mommy decided on the 9 can capacity one and it only comes in blue. That night mommy was texting with a friend who lives in Singapore and was telling her how mommy been looking around for a cooler bag, she told me to go to Ion at the upmarket supermarket, selling a stripy cooler bag. Oh! So on our last day we figured if we happen to get there we'll look for it and it just so happen we did as we've already packed and was just chilling before we checked out of the hotel. The supermarket was really nice, mommy daddy picked up lunch there and some cakes too and the cooler bag was big and it was half price of the one already bought, and the surprise was when we got to the check out, we opened up the bag to put lunch and cakes in it to find there was a smaller cooler bag inside. Score! The cooler bag became mommy's hand carry as it doesn't collapse unlike the blue one. But it sure is pretty.

Diapering Baby
We bought along I don't remember how many pieces... 50 probably of the grobaby biodegradable diapers, basically the whole box and several of the mothercare disposables pads as well since we still have some from last time we used them when you were three months old. Was suppose to have 6 velcro diaper covers but mommy forgot to put the 6th one in the bag so we survived on 5. And 3 of the mothercare ones. Didn't really count how many diapers you went through, brought along some paperbags to put the used diapers in and disposable wipes used. Throwing them away neatly, haha.

For day use, we changed you about every three hours. If we missed changing you after three hours, leaks will start. At night, we'll change you just before midnight, risking waking you up, and again when mommy wakes up about 6 or 7 in the morning, with no leaks, yay! That was the bit mommy was worried about most, night diapering.

So for morning diaper change I just put you into a mothercare one as I know it'll last about 2-3 hours and we're still in the hotel and it gives mommy time to wash the diaper cover used the night before and hang to dry and get your diaper bag sorted for the day.

Several things about using the grobaby biodegradable diapers, one, it literally breaks easily when it's full. Case in point, was changing you and the diaper fell off the counter, it split and broke! The stuff came out. Fortunately was in the hotel room that time it was easily cleaned up and binned.

Two, never use the adhesive tabs to stick onto diaper cover, the glue was so strong it rips the biodegradable diaper apart.

Three, mommy have read about other mommies complaining how regular disposable diapers got bits of the gel sticking to the babies bums, when mommy was changing you there were times when you had those gel bits too. And the grobaby only have 3% of the gel of what regular diapers got. Apart from that, I don't mind using them as an alternative to cloth diapering while travelling, knowing they'll break down and degrade in a couple of months is good for me.

Needless to say, it was so good to get home and put you in your regular diaper again.


I think that covers our first holiday. We had a great time together and a good experience. Probably the next trip we'll make you'd be walking already won't you.

Love,
Mommy

EBM Anyone?

Hi Baby,

Mommy still writing up our holiday...

In mean time, there is this...

When we got back from our holiday, you and I had an extra couple of weeks at home together, so the need to express and the need to take EBM from a bottle wasn't required. It was all nursing on demand, and sometimes mommy pop you on the breast because you're at the age of forgetting to nurse because you're too distracted.

Then, mommy's leave from work ended and it was back to expressing for me and back to the bottle for you.

On day one, mommy had a hard time trying to fill one bottle in the morning, and according to nenek, you refused the bottle completely and went without milk all morning. Good thing mommy came home during lunch time. And you went without milk again in the afternoon. Nenek said you were really angry whenever the bottle tried to make its way to your mouth.

So in the first week, you hardly took any EBM when mommy's at work or spin class and my own expressing sessions wasn't yielding much either.

Before the break, mommy can get up to 6 cups of EBM a day, and you can drink on average of 4-5 cups a day. After a break of three weeks, I'm surprised how drastic the change was.

On top of that, there are EBM that is coming to the end of it's shelf life (3 months) and since you refuse to take any, mommy been offering them up to anybody who want them just to reduce the stock until you start taking them again. The criteria is that it has to be for baby girls because of religious reasoning (sesusuan - if babies of opposite gender to each other are sharing the same produced milk at that time, they are considered as siblings and not allowed to marry each other) and I'd like to have the cups back that they came in thanks.

I asked contacts to the NSICU at the hospitals if they need it, because breast milk are excellent for preemie babies and help reduce their stay in the hospital, no reply so far. I asked friends who's babies I know could do with breast milk because of their allergies, no one came forward. I'm at a stage of finding recipes I could use the milk with. Auntie Elaine said to mix it up with your porridge (which you don't take) and mashed potatoes (which you haven't had) to use it up. Just to throw away breast milk because they expired is so wasteful when it could've helped other babies out there.

Slowly you are starting to drink the EBM again, a cup a day, if we're lucky two cups (technically it's one and a half, nenek decided since you already sucked on the bottle and didn't want the rest they went down the drain). So now we are a few days ahead of the expiration date of the ones that are at nenek's house, only a dozen left now. The rest of the EBM are at home in the deep freezer and those have a shelf life of 6 months.

Mommy is slowly increasing EBM output from 1 cup a day to 2 and a half cups a day. It's all about the let down, the breast may be full but if the let down isn't happening nothing or very little is coming out. Like this morning for example, mommy was pumping for almost an hour when suddenly the let down happened. I almost decided to stop just before that as my hand was cramping up, I have a motorized pump but I never really need it until now.

Another factor is the deep freezer, just yesterday mommy checked and did a space count, there is room for about 30 cups left if the existing EBM stock isn't moving yet. Do I up my pumping schedule to increase supply or do I leave it? Because if I run out of space to store them then the next space available is the fridge freezer with the 3 months shelf life. Then it gets complicated...

Hmmm, probably all that is a bit difficult for baby to understand, because as far as you're concerned right now, have mommy have milk straight from the breast, you're not that interested with EBM...

Love,
Mommy

Chili Con Carne & Meatballs

Hi Baby,

Over the weekend we made chili con carne for dinner, protein packed full with beans and minced meat. Daddy had his with lots of jalapeno peppers and bread, mommy had it as is, and you had it with pasta tubes.

Normally you don't last that long at the dinner table, you'd take bites, smear some on and under the table, wave your arms around, pick things up and let it slip out of your hands onto the floor, spill some water, repeat. But that dinner, you ate purposefully. You'd grab what you could and stuff it into your mouth. Some food still managed to slip out, but majority of it went into your mouth. Mommy daddy had already finished eating but you hadn't. Mommy was amazed, it was the longest you have ever sat in the chair. Daddy had to clean you up after you finished eating and he kept on asking if you're done yet. Told daddy to just relax and leave you be since you seemed to be really enjoying the meal. You ended the meal when there wasn't any more to eat in your bowl, you emptied it out. Your face and hands were smeared with the sauce, so was your outfit, but you were happy.

Mommy forgot to have the camera handy...

After daddy whisked you away to clean up and change, mommy was left with cleaning up. Cleaning up routine after every meal was to pick up all the solids that was on the table, chair and floor. Then wipe the table down and disinfect, wipe the chair down and disinfect, and finally wipe the floor and disinfect. Done.

After the success of the chili mommy decided to try you on meatballs with organic rice pasta swirls. You ate, decimated your food as you usually do, but mommy didn't realise you were also tired, which was why you weren't that interested to eat much until with your tomato-ey saucey hands decided to run through your hair, pull your ears and rub your eyes, your signal of being sleepy. Ack!

Got you out of your chair, washed your hands, went upstairs, stripped you down and gave you a bath. Removing bits of tomato, pasta and meat. After getting dressed, you nursed and fell asleep on the sofa bed. So mommy stayed with you and waited until either you wake up or when daddy gets home before I could clean up downstairs. It was almost a full two hours before any of that happened. I bet you if the cats were home they'd probably finished up your dinner, but they weren't. And good thing cleaned up before the ants got wind of there's food available...

Wonder what to try you on next....

Love,
Mommy