5th Month Check Up, or Not...

Dear Baby,

Monday mommy and daddy were suppose to attend this course but as the universe moved it turned out we were excluded. But that's ok, what we thought would be a nice slow start to the day got interrupted with a phone call from the clinic asking if we could come in today instead of the appointed Thursday. Well, all of us are awake already so we got ready.

When we got to the clinic it was just for your third polio vaccine dose, and the nurse said we just go straight in for your drops. She said we don't have to weigh you like we normally do but we did anyway just so we know...

So, as of 5 months and 8 days old you weighed in at 8.17kg and 69cm long.

While waiting for our turn the television at the waiting lounge was showing a programme about saving babies and it showed a preemie baby having surgery to it's head to alleviate the pressure the fluid build up. There were lots of blood. There was a little girl sitting with her mother covering her eyes across from where we were sitting. Mommy avoided looking at the television, not a thing a parent would want to watch. Was so glad when it was our turn for the vaccination.

Baby at first while we were waiting looked apprehensive, we figured because you thought you were going to get a jab and you cried a bit and daddy took you for walkabouts. When he took you into the room where they give the vaccination, and you came out you looked pretty happy, and probably relieved as there was no pain associated! Daddy said you sucked on the dropper, and the nurse was surprised.

We then went for breakfast before we headed down to Jerudong as mommy had to deliver an order. On the way you nursed and fell fast asleep. Had to hand you over to daddy to hold and waited in the car while mommy went to give the stuff. Handed you back to me when I got back into the car and you were still asleep. As it was a rainy day we headed back home.

Love,

Mommy

The Baby Shower!

Dear baby,

Today was your 'Mandi Belawat', how I explain it, your baby shower. Apparently this is a Brunei Malay thing. They don't have it where else with other malays in Singapore or Malaysia. The 'Mandi Belawat' is reserved for the first born, traditionally held right after the confinement period to celebrate the new arrival and that mommy and baby is doing well.

I'm not sure how it was back in the old days but nowadays, the time to have the 'Mandi Belawat' is anytime within the baby's first year, and that it's a dress up affair. It was said this is the last chance the mommies get to be queen for a day again apart from the wedding. Also supposedly the mommies were suppose to be able to fit back into their wedding outfit. I'm not sure how they were able to do it after only 40 days of giving birth, mommy still got that extra 10kg after you came out to get rid off and it has already been 5 months!

For the event mommy decided on a black pink jubbah and dressed it up with a head gear and wore one of mommy's wedding tiaras. Auntie Nadia did mommy's make up and Auntie Choo came over right after her AGM and was happily snapping away with her new camera. Auntie Adeline did an unexpected turn up whom mommy hadn't seen in 4 years. And Uncle Erwan and Auntie Mimi came too.

You had to be wrapped up in a 'kain jong sarat', the traditional gold woven cloth, and you wore the gold bracelet atok gave you and the gold chain and pendant nini noi and auntie lin got for you. And you were wearing one of the baju kurongs nini noi made from raya.

While we waited for us to make an entrance you decided it was time to nurse and nap. By the time we came downstairs you were fast asleep. You slept right through the 'tahlil' and mommy presented you to each and every guest that came. Each guest would dab a liquid powder made from ground up uncooked rice grains using pandan leave brush and a gold ring tied on it's end and sprinkled you with 'bunga rampai' and wish you. Mommy got the same treatment too. Needless to say it had to be wiped off after every few guests.

Mommy insisted to be the one that would carry you around and boy were my arms tired. And I was sweating like crazy as it was hot. Mommy was worried the make up would run. One of daddy's cousin had to dab mommy's face to stop the sweat from making little streams. It was that hot. When mommy passed by the hallway mirror had a quick look and make up still looked good. When I told Auntie Nadia about it she said the make up was suppose to look better when you perspire.

After mommy was done taking you to all the female guests, it was daddy's turn to take you to all the male guests. But before that, we cleaned you up from all the dabs and flowers. You were still asleep. While daddy did his round mommy went back to all the female guests to salam and thank them for their wishes and contribution.

Apparently you were wide awake when daddy took you, with a scowl on your face, heheh...

Daddy handed you back to me and we went upstairs to nurse a bit more and change diaper, you decided to empty your bowels somewhere during the event.

After mommy rested up a bit and with Auntie Choo's help taking care of you, we headed back down. You got taken by somebody and mommy had something to eat as there were still lots of food left.

Since we hired a photographer to capture the event mommy got him to do a photoshoot of you and us, a nice family shot. By then all the guests had left. And when it was all quiet, Uncle Rashid and Auntie Lina came with Rafie! They couldn't come any earlier but mommy glad they came anyway, we still had lots of food left and we hung out for a couple of hours catching up on happenings.

By the time we got home it had been a long day. Daddy tallied up the contributions that was given and all in all you made almost 3k not including jewelleries. More savings for you!

It was an interesting experience as on mommy's side we never had a baby shower because we follow nenek's malaysian heritage.

I promised your grand uncle who lives in peninsula malaysia to send him pictures of the event and see how big you've become.

For a baby, even before you were born, your lucky star has already been shining bright, and may it continue to shine bright for always.

Love,

Mommy

Expressed Breast Milk & Baby Wearing

Hi Baby,

Past week mommy been... researching? I suppose so. It all started when the freezer at home was overtaken by the stock of expressed breast milk (EBM) mommy been producing. I wonder if this is why mommy and daddy sort of stopped cooking because there is no more space in the freezer to put in stuff...

Anyway, it got mommy curious, how much ebm do one produce and stock up? How does every mommies out there store them? Because mommy is at a stage of thinking to shop for a mini deep freezer just to store all the milk, and free up the freezer for food. And it gives a longer shelf life, 6 months as oppose to 3 months. Right now at home there are almost 72 cups, (1 cup = 3oz = 100ml) and at your grandmother's there are another 48 cups. A rough calculation if baby is taking 4 cups per working day there is enough for 6 weeks. Funny how that doesn't sound a lot, 6 weeks only, and it got me paranoid, oh no, need to stock up more! Daddy just bought another 30 storage cups the other day, mommy is down to the last 5 from the 30 I bought last month.

So mommy googled, and found some interesting blogs and been reading them. There was one mommy who got a standing freezer and it was filled with ebm in bottles and bags from top to bottom. Another mommy got a three months supply in their freezer and expired ebm as well (what can you do with expired ebm?) I must remember to take a picture of the freezer of the ebm I have stocked up for you for posterity. In terms of dates mommy is a month ahead, baby is having last month milk supply while mommy is at work.

On a week day I am able to get 4 to 5 cups, on a good day can get 6 cups, which doesn't happen often. On the weekends, since baby and mommy are together I express 1 cup in the morning and another cup throughout the whole day. I don't know as you grow older if your demand increase as in a couple of months time we're going to start introducing you to other foods. Mommy is going to feel sad about that, story for another time...

Yesterday being a weekend, we spent the whole day together. Daddy was at work and he didn't come back until way late in the evening. In the morning baby didn't nap as long as you normally would, and it being laundry day baby woke up just as mommy was about to hang up the laundry on the line. And what do we do, we wear baby! Mommy decided not to use the ring sling and took out the mothercare carrier that we bought way before you were born, I figured this way baby can face forward and see what mommy is doing. Three times baby was in the carrier as that was the amount of times we did laundry. I think baby really enjoyed being able to see the world and the going on, since there was just us at home mommy really couldn't leave you alone.

But it was bothersome using the carrier, so many straps and buckles to fasten, and I couldn't shorten the straps enough and couldn't really adjust the pouch baby was in to lie against mommy more. And the straps hurt my shoulders since baby's weight distribution was too low to be comfortable, it'll probably fit better on daddy since he got a bigger frame. At least it's an alternative to use, apart from that I rather use my ring sling, way more comfortable. Mommy lent the other sling to Auntie Lina because Hanna is always clinging on to her, and she's 1 year plus already and is getting way too heavy for Auntie Lina to carry for long, this way Auntie Lina can do her thing around the house and Hanna is happy because she gets to be with mommy in the sling. I heard it's working really well for both of them.

Then mommy hit a blog about this mom in Sabah who got a collection of slings and I'm tempted to get another one or two more since they do come in various colours... it's like changing handbags! Hahaha... but the material have to be thin and easily slide on the rings. The first sling mommy got I think had too small rings and too much materials to slip through and it made it hard to adjust. I liked it because it got pockets in the tail but baby got hot too quick in it even though it's cotton. The second sling mommy got had bigger rings and the materials was linen and it was much easier to use, easier to adjust when baby's in it and material was thinner, they didn't have the colours mommy wanted when I ordered it and had to choose an alternative colour, it being online shopping and all and already paid for it, but at least mommy is happy with the ease of use, and baby I think has developed the knowledge that when mommy put on the sling, baby get to go on an adventure! I'm guessing from the expression on your face, you looked really excited...

Love,
Mommy

4 Months Check Up

Dear Baby,

Yesterday was the appointment for your 4th month, and 9 days, check up at the clinic.

Weight: 7.66kg

Length: 67cm

Head Circumfrence: 41cm

Compared to previous month, you gained about 400g, grew 2cm height and 1/2cm head. You're back on the charts, I think it was the 90th percentile, below the red line, not that it made much difference, as long as you're growing and gaining weight you're still good. I think it's because this month you've been down with a cold, phlegmy cough and wheezy breathing, which could contribute baby not gaining as mush as previous months. It's ok, mommy's concern is for you to recover from your cold. At least you only cough on occasions, the nurse said to just keep an eye, and if the coughing is reducing in frequency there's nothing to worry about and just keep you warm at nights. You already finished the rhinithol the pediatrician gave last week, so we'll see how things goes.

You had your third dose of Tetra vaccine (right thigh) and second dose of polio vaccine. All in all we were in and out of there in an hour.

We went for breakfast, daddy hadn't been to Seria Kueh Teow in a while and it was your first time there. When the waitress saw us she exclaimed, "Ada baby sudah!" ("You have a baby already!") It was interesting to watch daddy use his chopsticks because you were sitting on his right side with your right arm on daddy's arm and daddy's right handed, mommy should've had a camera then.

We then went to pick up Auntie Lin from work for an errand to do, mommy received a free bottle of honey from a honey shop because it was mommy's birthday, and on the way home you fell asleep and we decided to drop you off at grandma lambak and we head to work.

In the evening when mommy came to take you home, your grandmother said you cried so loudly in the afternoon. She held you and tried to distract you and nothing worked, eventually you fell asleep and she dare not move in case you woke up. Mommy pretty much expected that to happen, baby always get a bit sensitive and fussy every time you get a jab.

And in the evening when we went out for dinner with Auntie Choo was the same, whoever happen to be holding baby you wouldn't let them sit. As soon as they were about to sit you started wailing and only stopped when they stood back up again. So throughout the night the three of us took turns holding you and entertaining you. You managed to nap twice so that was good, mommy's always concern that you should get enough rest. The second nap happened when we left the first restaurant to go to another for dessert and baby was nursing and fell right asleep.

This morning you woke up several times just to nurse and back asleep again, gives mommy time to do the laundry. Mommy overdid on the detergent with your diapers and had to rinse it several times before I could hang them up, and do the rest of the washing. Hopefully when baby wake up your mood has improved and we'll do some reading in the afternoon and fit in a nap as well because mommy could do with one with waking up at 4 this morning...

Love,

Mommy

"I Want To Stand Up!"

Dear Baby,

For the past week or so mommy and daddy noticed that whenever we hold you up to stand, you really enjoyed it. Yesterday mommy noticed that you were able to hold it longer and we could feel the strength in your legs too. Last week one evening mommy held you up against the coffee table and you were playing with the laptop, clicked on functions even I didn't know exist. You really enjoyed standing up and playing.

By the time we get home in the evenings after picking up daddy from work, you insist on standing up, and daddy would have you standing on his tummy or chest and you happily gurgle away. Only our arms gave out before you even tire of towering over everyone.

Auntie Elaine happened to come by and I mentioned to her that you've been wanting to stand up. She said, "Oh yes, they'll want to do that, but only for 5 seconds, her bones are still soft and we don't want her to be bow legged now do we." Ack! Must tell daddy that.

Ok baby, no putting weight on your legs just yet until you can sit up at least. Which you still haven't, but it's ok, enjoy your babyhood stage as long as possible, cos you're developing really fast...

Love,

Mommy

Baby's Clinic Check Up

Hi Baby,

Mommy is a bit late with this one. So a quick update before your appointment next week.

Let's see, it was your 3 months plus check, baby weighed in at 7.27kg and your height was 65cm. You received a shot, I can't remember which vaccination it was and your first polio vaccine. They injected the vaccination in your left thigh, daddy was holding you as usual and you cried which I told auntie elaine it seems to be longer than last time, she said you're more aware of pain now. And the polio drops were given orally.

As usual as soon as we're in the car mommy nursed you for comfort and you fell asleep. Mommy and daddy decided to go for brunch at the italian restaurant we always frequent and you were still nursing when we got there, good thing mommy had a scarf so was able to cover up with that. Good thing about going to this place at that time in the morning there was hardly any people, pretty good.

Mommy and daddy took the day off and spent the whole day with you. We didn't spend it at home though as trees by the main road was being cut, so they cut off the electricity and since it was a hot day we went to your grandparents in mata mata to chill after we came back from brunch and packed what we needed for you. Your grandparents weren't home at that time as your granddad boy was in singapore having an operation for his heart, and everybody else went too.

And then the next day you started coughing and had been coughing since. Did mommy write up about your first visit to your pediatrician...

Love,
Mommy

Cloth Diapering - Again

Hi Baby,

Mommy just ordered another ten pocket cloth diapers... this is on top of the five that was ordered two weeks ago, and on top of the five that we already have before you were born. Basically, mommy and daddy like using them on you as it's convenient, safe (as in no chemicals as oppose to disposables) and colourful! When the next five arrived and after being washed the recommended at least three times and in your basket, I got excited seeing the many different colours and was tempted to order some more just for the colours. Bad bad. And I held out, things like this needs thinking, and so I asked daddy whether we should get some more for you and he said yes, YES! Yay!

It's sort of weird that mommy would be excited about diapers. I like how it is safe against baby's skin, reduce waste (apparently it says 50% of household waste of a family with baby is made up of the disposable diapers) and I think it's the convenience of not having to go buy them every week. Yeah granted that there is work involved when it comes to laundry, but I don't think much of it, maybe because the washing machine got a timer on it so all mommy has to do is put them all in the washer and set the timer and by the time I wake up in the morning they are ready to hang on the line to dry which doesn't take long to do.

There are many different brand of cloth diapers out there, and each offers different things to different people. Fortunately the brand we're on works well with baby and their service was very good, and cheaper compared to some around the region, I was confident when I ordered this newest batch. Mommy could have gotten it through the agent that is in the country, but I feel it is much cheaper to get them online and since Auntie Lin is heading down their way we also save on postage and packaging because they don't have to send them overseas!

When we get all your diapers mommy is going to take a picture of them just to see the colours! Your diaper basket is going to be so full. Yes, I think twenty should be more than enough. And not to mention you also have the flatfold diapers. The other week(s) mommy just happen to mention I used cloth diapers on you to my head of unit, and she was happy to hear because apparently she cloth diapered her five boys, and still have the flats, she didn't want to give them away to just anybody because the material was still good and feared they'll just use them as rags instead. Now that she knew mommy cloth diapers she gave me her whole stash of flats. Her last kid is now six years old so these flats were in storage for at least four years, and what a difference in quality, the flats we got given and bought are thinner compared to the ones my HOU gave, hers were much thicker, no wonder they kept well.

Oh, and the first batch of prefolds that mommy got, you outgrew them already and those were hardly worn because they were for downstairs changing and baby been spending alot of time upstairs and upstairs we have the flats. Mommy got the prefolds because I didn't think we would be using flats, your grandmother lambak over ruled because flats dries faster. But mommy still used the prefolds and got the bigger sized ones now too, only I haven't done the multiple washing yet to prep them for use.

Let's see what else, bought new diaper covers, in the medium and large size ready. Your smalls are already packed away for next baby, that goes for the clothes that you already outgrew.

For Hari Raya last month bought three medium size smart nappy system by mothercare, your two small size was obviously too small, and since we didn't have enough of the pocket diapers this was the system that was used for you, we had the option to use either washable inserts or disposable inserts, and these became your travelling diapers, and we only use the disposable inserts if we need to, apart from that we'll been using the washable ones where possible.

Happy cloth diapered baby!
Love,
Mommy