Baby Eating

Dear Baby,

Well, this baby led weaning is still a new thing for mommy. I need to read up more on it, and on top of that there are certain food restriction we have to adhere to because daddy's allergic to some stuff and since you're half daddy chances of you being allergic is there. And we're just sticking to safe food for the moment.

So far, you have eaten by yourself, roast pumpkin which mommy cut into sticks for easy handling. Kiwi, papaya, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus... pumpkin soup was spoon fed and sometimes mashed papaya. The other day you tried fish soup, but you didn't take to it. There was also chicken veggie soup too which you like to drink instead...

Mommy read that babies will gag when they eat, only when that happens everyone goes into panic mode. So feeding you has slowed down somewhat because everybody else seems nervous, although right now it seems when you're with nenek your food choices seems to be stuck with pumpkin soup and papaya, and with nini noi it's asparagus and broccoli.

No bananas, carrots or potatoes until your bowel movement becomes regular again. The first time you had food (avocado naturally) you didn't poo over a week! And it was only once a week or so after that. Nowadays you're pooing somewhat regularly now, I think... Need to observe and take note more.

What about cereals and porridge? Oatmeal is ok, and if I'm going to introduce you to rice it'll be purple and wild. Since you're also mommy's half we're being very careful with food, carbs makes mommy blow up like a balloon.

You know what mommy's worried about? You being sneaked in things you shouldn't have. Mommy remember the time when your Nini Noi had one of daddy's cousin's baby on her lap, and your nini dipped her finger into a glass of coke, and stuck that same finger into the baby's mouth. She looked at me and said, "Jangan saja inda merasa" (Translation: Just so they'll have a taste). You have a whole life time ahead of you, you not having it now won't kill you. The longer you not having it the better, trust me on this one.

With the world becoming unhealthy as it is, mommy is just trying to make sure you won't go down the same route we all have, the earlier you develop a taste for good healthy food, and stay away from the overly processed stuff, your body will thank you for it. You will thank yourself for it that you never had or rarely have those things.

One thing is good though, you love drinking water, Auntie Elaine would be proud, she's always telling mommy to drink lots of water. Sorry baby, no juices. Not until you know how to brush your teeth.

Man, I have to be more domesticated the older you get. Lead by example right? Daddy has to do the same thing too...

Love,
Mommy

PS, chocolate is only good if it says contains cocoa solids 75% and above at least. It is not good when it has been mixed with sugar, butter and flour.

PPS, cookies will always be bad for you, especially those that uses HFCS in their ingredients.

PPPS, anything that contains HFCS is totally bad for you.

The New Car Seat

From left to right: Safety First, Chicco, Baby 1st

Dear Baby,

Last month, before Christmas, mommy said to daddy, "I think we need to upgrade, she can hardly fit in the seat." This was referring to the two baby car seats that was loaned to us by a couple of mommy's friends. The top of your head was the same level as the top of those seats and it was a tight squeeze to get you into them.

Knowing full well we still need to keep you rear facing for safety, the only thing was to get a convertable, one that can rear face and later on forward facing.

One rainy sunday we went out. We first went to this one shop that sells lots of baby and kids stuff, Triple Star. They had a convertable, it cost BN/SG$500, and it can only go up to 18kg. Considering you were half way there already it won't last us long. While daddy was walking with you mommy was asking lots of questions to the salesman, finding out if he knows the product and what he's talking about and cross referencing with the manual, and the manual was pretty complicated too. I give him 3/5 for effort.

Still not feeling that satisfied we went to another shop. Obviously the Mothercare here doesn't have anything like that, and we popped next door to BebeLand. As we headed upstairs towards their baby gear mommy spotted a seat that might possibly be a convertable. The salesman took it down and mommy had him explain how it works and at the same time was looking through the manual. I wasn't sure if the guy understood what I was asking him but the manual was much more easy to understand and I'm pretty confident with this seat and the weight limit is 40kg! And not only that, it happen to be 20% off as it was the last one so we got it at $400! And it was only manufactured last year too.

Daddy decided you also needed a rain coat and a cardi to go along with the purchase.

The car seat took up the whole of the trunk of the car.

As you can see in the picture it's a whole lot bigger too. As time went by mommy likes the seat more and more. Must remember to take a picture of you in it. Installation was easy, there's a level to show how it needed to be placed for rear facing, so useful, it has a five point harness, and arm rest that can be moved up or down. And when you're older it can be used as a child seat and then a booster seat. Perfect!

Currently we're down to one car household and it's mommy's car which is rather small, we had to push the front seat forward all the way just so the car seat can be installed and inclined. When daddy's car is all fixed the car seat will move in there so they'll be more room.

Past week mommy been returning items that people have lent, and the chicco car seat was the last to go, it belonged to Uncle Erwan and Auntie Mimi, they are expecting another little one in a few weeks.When I dropped off their car seat showed them your convertible. Uncle Erwan mentioned how mommy managed to get just one car seat that covers all the stages and cheaper too as they had to go through the baby seat, child seat and toddler seat route because they were told there is no such thing and that was only two years ago.

I'm not sure how this is going to work when you have another brother or sister... we'll see how things goes, will probably be borrowing a baby seat again, and if they're going to be anything like you in terms of growth... hmmmm....

Love,
Mommy

Going To School Next Year

Dear Baby,

Mommy's friend a few months ago was going through a situation about getting her kids in school. One of the schools she went to check out I tagged along with when they called her up regarding paying or something I can't remember. Anyway, daddy had mentioned that, that was the school he would prefer you to go, so it was convenient that she was heading there and I went with her.

She and I headed to the school office and while she was doing her thing I was briefed by one of the staff. Afterward I asked if it's possible to look around to see the place and mommy was pretty happy with the facilities. And when we were looking around a lady who was in charge of the primary section came up and introduced herself to mommy, she was very nice and explained and answered any questions mommy had. I was very happy and felt quite comfortable with the idea that you shall be going there knowing you will be cared for. Another thing I like is that they also have a toddler group held once a week which when you're older, probably about when you're 1 1/2 years old, we'll start attending so you can get used to the environment so that when term starts proper you're already used to the place.

We planned on getting you to start with nursery, daddy said four days a week would do, and the school takes in students from 2 years old, and a limit of 30 students per year, and you'll be just at the right age when the new term starts.

Mommy's hoping with you starting early you'll build up your confidence and social skills as you interact with other kids, and they'll be lots of kids that you can play with that are your age.

From past encounters you have with other children you get all excited and wants to play with them, which is why mommy figured you'll do well in nursery.

On the day we went to pick up your passport mommy and daddy dropped by so daddy can get some stuff clarified, and after the whole thing it is decided we're going to register you for next year so mommy planned on doing that before the end of this week.

So exciting!

Love,
Mommy

New Passport!

Dear Baby,

The other week, you me and daddy went to the immigration to get a passport for you. Originally we thought of just putting your name into our passport. Then mommy heard a story of how this one lady had to fly out on a course but when she got to the airport the immigration people told her she couldn't fly out unless her baby is with her as her baby's name was in her passport. I don't know how true that is but it did make us doubtful.

On the day mommy thankfully grabbed all the relevant documents prior to picking you and daddy up, detoured to get them photocopied while you waited in the car and me going in and out of the shop checking if you're ok, and if photocopying was done... When we got to the immigration building, the place was packed with people. We got the application form and daddy filled it out. We waited over an hour which you had time to nurse and nap as well, before it was our turn. During the whole waiting time mommy was observing and wondering how are they going to take your picture... it's not like there's a baby chair for you to be at the right height for the camera...

When our number was up daddy carried you over to the counter, lady checked all the papers were there, daddy had to run off to photocopy one item for a quick bit (fortunately they had photocopying service in the building) and then it was time for you photo shoot! The lady made daddy sit facing parallel to the counter, hold you up and face the camera with the blue background behind you. Ok, our next wonder was how was she going to get you to look at the camera... *TOINK TOINK TOINK* she was holding a squeaky rubber bright yellow toy mallet and hitting it on the camera trying to get your attention.

Baby was smart, you didn't care about the bright yellow toy mallet. You saw it, and looked towards the person who's arm and hand that was holding the mallet. Click.

The lady showed us the screen and asked if that was alright, baby got a 3/4 profile. For us it was ok, is the picture acceptable when we use the passport? And she said yes, mommy and daddy were like, ok, go ahead. And she handed a print out copy of the passport and said to collect in a few days.

The very next morning, daddy got a text message on his phone saying your passport is ready for collection. Daddy was very impressed, how efficient. But we never gotten around to collecting it until a few days later anyway.

Now you have your own official travel document! And in a couple of weeks we're going to travel on your first official trip on a plane!

Love,
Mommy

Mommy's Gripe!... Was... Breast Feeding Again...

Dear Baby,

Mommy did write out a gripe, then deleted it. End of the day, you what counts. I'm happily feeding you no matter what time of the day or night it is, it's pretty cute how you wake me up, knocking against me. It feels like patting, and I get aware and turn around if my back was facing you and latch you on, and you'll have your fill and fall back asleep again. Useful that we co sleep. Only I keep on forgetting to use a breast pad and wake up to find my top wet... when there's a let down there's no shut off button... One thing about night feeds, either you were just thirsty or mommy is producing a lot of milk because the breast does not feel empty. If I happen to be awake or it's time to wake up anyway, I'll express the rest out.

There were some days when you refuse to take the bottle and days when you'll go through several. Nowadays you're averaging three a day when you're at nenek's, compared to four or five a few months ago. Mommy find that every time I'm sick and is recovering, the production slows down, but I try not to let it bother me, just means more nursing and pumping to get it back up again.

At nights before bedtime nowadays, you're always seem to be constantly on the breast, I wondered if this is what they termed as cluster feeding, most probably, as you have seem to have decreased your bottled milk intake. But that still doesn't mean that mommy is going to stop expressing, the deep freezer is still not full and the other freezer in the fridge still got space.

Oh, also you are so easily distracted nowadays! You seem to pull off just when the let down is happening. And then... milk is spraying everywhere! And people wonder why I wear black alot... And it's quickly trying to get you back on to nurse if possible. And when you are really distracted, playing and what not, you could go for hours without wanting anything. And I get worried you might get dehydrated.

Another thing you do when nursing, especially when mommy is trying to put you to bed, you'd nurse, stop, crawl and roll around, come back, nurse again, stop, and this gets repeated several times and I wondered if you have tired yourself out yet or not, and it seems you just get more hyper and lots of stopping you from crawling off the bed and back on the breast... I know you're hungry, but you also want to explore your new found freedom of movement. You're like daddy, conversations between bites when at a meal.

Oh! Another thing I just remembered to write about, feeding positions. Ways to get you to nurse result in nursing while you are sitting upright, that way it allows you to play and turn towards mommy to nurse at the same time. Sometimes I'll be lying down, and you'll nurse flat on your tummy with your head elevated, a pause in the middle of crawling. Other times, you'll be lying on my stomach to nurse.

I wonder what will happen when you start walking....

Love,
Mommy

Baby's First Christmas

With Auntie Jac by the family's Christmas tree on the eve.

Food Time!

Hi Baby,

Now that you're six months old already it's time to introduce you to food other than breast milk. Mommy read that the best first food to give you was avocado. As you passed your sixth month mark I excitedly, and at the same time not really wanting to because mommy don't want you to grow up so fast, sliced a small piece of avocado and mashed it up, and fed you with a teaspoon. You took to it like a duck to water. In total over the past week you pretty much only had almost half an avocado, mommy just finished the other half on toast with slices of tomatoes, yummy. Also we've been giving you water to drink out of a cup.

Well, with the introduction to food into your diet now you also have stopped pooping for a week. You have yet to give a good pooping and I decided to cut down on your meal frequency (considering you only have it once or twice a day...)

But something wasn't right. Experience wise. Had to hold your hands down so you won't take the spoon and get avocado everywhere.

While mommy happen to be browsing another mommy's blog who took pictures of her baby in dreamland, I read that she was introduced to this concept of 'baby led weaning'. Intriguing...

So mommy googled it up and all these links came up, feels like the time when mommy was researching cloth diapers, opened up a few and read up what is all this baby led weaning. I can tell you I felt so pleased with the concept.

The idea is to let baby control what she chooses to put in her mouth, the emphasis is more on play and exploration than actual eating.

Let's see how that all work out for us...

Love,

Mommy