Boys, eat your heart out!

Baby Adam & us are invited to a cousin's Baby Shower this Sunday, and yes you've guessed it - It's a GIRL!
Baby gift sets are unpractical and expensive, I think all mums know that.
Therefore, I've baked my own cake for the Baby Shower, complete with "cupcakes" as toppers.
Isn't it pretty??? Gosh, I so want a GIRL. *sighs dreamily*

Ingredients of cake:
- Huggies Pullups 'M' size diapers
- Terry hooded bath towel
- Terry wash cloth
- Bundle-of-6 wash cloths
- 3 pairs cuff socks



By the way, I'm making this Diaper Cake for Andy's cousin and not for sale :)
Oh, I still have enough material to bake another diaper cake... and and and... .. I just received news from a CERTAIN BESTIE that it's gonna be a BOY!

Pa Pa Pa

Baby Adam said "Pa, pa... Pa pa pa" when Andy came home today, what an achievement!
Not fair, why didnt he call out to Mama first? Hmmph.
And nowadays, he's been going to bed later than he ever did before. I mean really late by a baby's standards - 11pm - 12am!

No matter how we coax, rock and let him suckle some milk in hope that our dear son would go to bed, he would be wide awake and only wants to play on our bed. If we even so much as carry him near his cot, he will scream and wail until we carry him over to our bed again. Gosh.

Sometimes I wonder how we let a child take over our lives like that.
Most of the time of course, it is Andy who caves in and let Adam have his way, spoiling our son rotten. Even my Mom commented that Andy spoils Baby A.

Adam is barely 7 months old and almost everyone - Andy, my family, colleagues and friends - have asked me the inevitable: "When are you going to try for No. 2?" Zzzz.. -__-
I think with the arrival of another baby, our lives will be topsy turvy.
But honestly, I'm hoping for a Rabbit baby so that by then, I can be a SAHM with our new home ready and all.
I can imagine myself ferrying a Toddler Adam to playschool already :)

Merry Xmas 2009

Before I disappear for my long vacation till 2010 (Yippee!!), I wanna wish all my friends & loved ones a MERRY MERRY X'MAS 2009 filled with lots of love & presents!

Perhaps the Biggest X'mas present Baby Kai is receiving this year is.... *drumroll please!*

the Bugaboo Cameleon!


I like it, it is so stylish. Not to mention, all the celebs are driving the Bugaboo.

Celebs driving the Cameleon:

Denise Richards


Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes for baby Suri

Matt Damon

Ben Affleck

Tobey Maguire

Geri Halliwell

Gwen Stefani

Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber


Gwenyth Paltrow

photos courtesy of babychic101.blogspot.com

What I love is the changeable fabrics and canopy which allows you to customise your own Bugaboo.
We're gonna use this all-terrain buggy for our road trip to Melbourne in Feb 2010. *beams*

Hollywood Moms love...

their Orbits, Bugaboos and Maclarens, according to this Celebrity Mums website.

Toddler Harlow travels in a Maclaren.

Nicole Richie & Baby Harlow with their Orbit.


Damn I'm officially a Pramaholic!

Nearer and nearer

My toes are tingling in anticipation of the long weekend which will be in 2 days' time!
Last day of the work week tomorrow and I will devote all my undivided attention to:
- Hubby
- Baby Adam
- Waxing partner Charmaine
- Huiwen's wedding!

Er ok lah, not undivided attention already, but I am extremely excited and happy! HEHE

P.S. Still pondering what to get for Hubby and Baby Adam for Xmas.
Every weekend also buying things for Baby Adam, as if every weekend is Xmas.. . SO what will the real Xmas presents be??? I also dont know what I want for Xmas.. *scratches head*

Warning: Highly addictive!

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Received an email of these adorable photos of a Baby girl and her dogs. Uber cute!!
I feel happy seeing what a terrific time they are having and it reminds me of our 2 dogs & Baby Adam :)

Exciting news

I got exciting news to share - SOMEONE is going to have a baby!! WOW!
No, that person is not me...Can't handle work, 2 dogs, PT studies and TWO babies all at once!
It's one of my best mates..

But that's all I can reveal for now :( because we have all sworn to secrecy.
She's hoping it will be a girl... but if it's a boy, I have heaps of boy's stuff to pass on to her!
*jumps up and down in joy and goes off to pack Baby A's barangs*

By the way, some updates about myself:
- I've been REALLY busy lately with work and Baby A so if I've not been replying emails and SMSes, please forgive me!
- You didnt get it wrong in the 1st paragraph.. I've enrolled myself to a Part-time postgraduate Nursing Degree program. It has always been my goal and I thank my family, Hubby, and friends to give me the support I need. It wont be easy juggling work, studies, baby and family but I guess somehow I will just get through it, I hope!
- I have been converted to Office Hours work schedule. No more shifts. Yippee!
- Andy has been bugging me for Baby No.2 because he prefers our children to have closer age gap (Baby A is the only baby in the family. How lonely) . Uh-oh.. But honestly, we have no time for another baby. And I really prefer to leave it to God to give us such miracles, like Baby A - we never asked or tried for a baby but God gave Adam to us anyway, therefore he is named Adam. He is a reminder of God's Almighty creation.
As for Baby No.2, if we do conceive again, I mind not so the gender, but more importantly I will continue to pray for his/her health and wellbeing. Until then...


Some updates about Baby A:
- Baby A is going for his 6-in-1 vaccination and developmental assessment at Dr Simon's @ MAH. Today.
- He has recently been hypnotized by our food and keeps drooling whenever we are at the table. He has also grown increasingly hungry - hourly milk feeds, cereal, then more milk again!
I guess it's time my Baby started a solid regime of solids. Time to plan his meals!

Okays I gotta go. Enjoy your weekend!

Penguin Daddy

This evening, Andy came to fetch me from work and this was our conversation in the car:

Andy: Hon, dinner is ready, but only have meat and fish.. no veggie.
Me: How come no veggie?? (Im a green-lover)
Andy: Today mon-mon didnt sleep the whole day, so no time to cook.
Me: Wah didnt sleep whole day ah.. He very naughty hor?
Andy: I wouldnt call that naughty. Please dont say that about Baby.
Me: Erm ok.. Wah, he very wakeful, alert and attentive hor?

It feels good to have a switch in roles for a change :)

P.S. I'm really proud of Andy for being a proactive Dad. These days when I leave for work, he takes over the Morning feeds and sets up Baby A's bath before going to work.
When I come home in the noons (I mostly knock off at 2.30pm), I look after Baby A and we both go and fetch Daddy A home after he knocks off in the evenings.
Therefore, at least one parent is around at staggered timings to play the parenting role.
Baby A is our responsibility, not our parents', and our approach to parenting is that we want to be around to nurture him as much as we can.

Apathatic

I've learned to become like my dearest Charmaine - to treat work nonchalantly and be a Drama Queen.
These days, I just go to work without a care and knock off on the dot so that I can race home to see my precious Baby Kai.
When Im not feeling up to it, I take MC and leave.

When you have a baby, all your priorities shift and you notice what a fool you have been for having taken your job once so seriously.
What was once your driving force for everything suddenly seems like nothing at all.
I am such a changed person now. But most importantly, with this new found nonchalance, I am a happier person.

I realised that when you are a Drama Mama at work, make noise and demand to have your rights, your boss and colleagues suddenly become cautious of you and they sort of accept your crazy behaviour because they kinda "expected" shit coming from you.
Then you become more and more withdrawn from the responsibilities because they doubt they can rely on you anymore. (Read: less stress)

But who cares? really...
You can always go back to work but you cant go back to their childhood.

Double take!

Andy's folks came over with us to my parents' one afternoon and the Grandparents were discussing among themselves how much Baby Kai looks like Andy & I when we were babies. My parents said Kai looks exactly like me when I was a baby. "No lah, Kai Kai looks like Andy when he was a baby" Andy's parents claimed.
Both sets of parents have photos to back their claims. See for yourself, what do you think??
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Daddy as a Baby:


Baby Kai:
it must be in the DNA to open his mouth and give an expression like his Daddy 2 decades ago!


Daddy & Baby Kai sleeping look:



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Mummy as a Baby:


Baby Kai:


Mummy with Mummy's mummy haha


Baby Kai:

Mummy in the bathtub at 3 mths:

Baby Kai in the bathtub at 2mths:

It must be so nostalgic for them Grandparents whenever they look at their Darling Grandson hehehe. Little wonder why Baby Kai is overindulged.

Personalised rompers for Prince Adam

Spent 2 hours at my beloved Charmaine's home today..
with Clare helping me with embroidering Baby Adam's new rompers.

The finished products:

I didnt know how hard it is to embroider rompers until today, though they are just simple words on tiny clothes.
Sorry Clare, I had to make you endure me for 2 whole hours! HEHE

After 2 hours, we both gave up! I was getting really hungry and tired staring at the threads..
Dear Charmaine will be helping me with the "Prince Adam" one..
Thank God for gal friends. They rock!

By the way, *someobody*'s been proposed to!! Isnt it exciting! Woot! *somebody* also owes everyone a HUGE explanation and first-hand stories :D

Back!

I'm back from the land of cheap spicy food and wholesale shopping!
I miss my baby sooo much. In fact, too much! We called home everyday to check on him and make sure he was Ok and happy.

I've been super busy since I am back, with my exploding mailbox full of emails from fellow Mummies regarding bulk purchases, sprees, recommendations and what-nots.

To Lea:
Yes the Rocker cum high-chair is a worthy investment especially when your baby has reached the age where she is super kpo about her surroundings, so she can sit up high high with the adults at the dining table. The swivel wheels are godsend because it allows you to wheel the high chair everywhere! Short of having handles for you to push like a stroller lah Hehehe

To CJ:
Thanks sweets for the offer but I just bought 2 bottles from Stonston from her recent order.
Thanks for replying though. Maybe next time! :)

Back to the real world of changing nasty nappies and being Baby Kai's personal assistant :)
Which reminds me, we are going to buy his new car seat tomorrow.
He has outgrown his infant one that my brother bought for him, and for those who are interested in which model we are upgrading to, it's the Maxi Cosi Priori XP
Thanks to Chris aka Nat-mummy's recommendation!



(photos courtesy of Toysrus)


Features:
- Forward facing
- Can be installed using 3-point seatbelt
- Adjustable 4 sitting/sleeping positions
- Newer improved model from the Priori.


Some people asked what I do with Baby Kai. Well, lotsss! I dont know where to begin.
He is one busy baby keke. These are some of the activities he does at home under my supervision:
- Flashcards
- Tummy time
- Sitting in rocker playing with his rattles/ teething hanky/ teething toy
- Playing in crib: FP kick piano, musical mobile
- Nursery rhymes time where Mummy launches into crazy dancing according to lyrics and ear-piercing singing.

Andy & I are thinking of signing him up for Baby Yoga too! Just some bonding time for us parents and our dear son. Will do a review of it once we find the time to bring him :)
By the way, Baby Kai just turned 4 Months old last week. Happy one-month-older, my dearest baby! Thank you for bringing so much joy into our otherwise mundane lives. Daddy & Mummy love you so much.

Bye lovelies!
V.

As sung by Daddy...

to Baby Kaikai:

Lou lou where is the Loo?
Lou lou I want to Poo
Lou Lou where is the Loo?
I bueh tahan loh...

Mummy asked: "How come you never skip to the Loo?"
Daddy replied: "Want to laosai already still skip. Wait all the sai come out ah."

ZzzzzzZzzz.. 0__O

Mummy please dont go!

The past few days have been really heartbreaking.
We've been giving Adam lots of "prep talk" about me having to go back to work soon, and he hasnt taken to it very well. In fact, horribly!

He would wail on top of his lungs, bawl his eyes out till the vein on his right eyelid pops out.
Then he would refuse milk, and keep demanding for me to carry him and never want to be put down. The moment I carry him near his hammock or crib or start lowering him onto our bed, he will cry again.

So the whole day, I would be carrying him until he is exhausted from all that crying, then he will sleep for awhile, but only that short while. When he wakes up again, the whole cycle would start.

At first, we thought it was just pure coincidence, and how could babies understand?
But it happened 3 times on 3 different days and occasions so we dont want to take any chances.
Another incident which proves that babies understand what you're telling them is - My brother's gf Lipeng was carrying Adam when we went home over the weekend so everyone said "Oh, Kaikai go and stay with Aunty Lipeng in Jurong West for 1 mth" and Adam immediately started crying.

As a result, we've been really careful not to mention the words "Mummy" and "work" in the same sentence in case it set Adam off again.
Meanwhile, I've been really unrested trying to cajole my clingy on-a-hunger-strike baby!
It's also worth mentioning that my Adam isnt a crybaby to begin with, unlike some babies who cry for nothing/ colicky etc. He's mostly happy and smiley as you can see in his photos he is almost always smiling.
Therefore, when he cries so hard and so bad, you know he is really upset and that is heart-wrenching to us (Andy, his mum & I).
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But I do have some happy news. That silver lining in the cloud. More about that in another post when I have time!
*scoots off to cajole Adam*

Down memory lane

During our free time for these 2 days, Baby Adam & I have been doing a little project called the Memory Album :)
I will put him on his rocker and show him his neonate photos and tell him stories of when he was born etc.

Inside this album there are columns for memories like:
How Daddy & Mummy met, when Baby was conceived, names we considered, Birth story, Baby shower etc.

There is even a mess-free ink pad for taking baby's hand and foot prints.
Of course, with a wiggly messy 3 mth old, how mess-free can one expect?

Here's what happened to the "mess-free" ink pad: LOL

It looks like Baby Adam has 6 toes.. and I bet you dont want to see the hand-print one!
Baby Adam then clapped his feet together, smudging ink all over his legs, and as if to add a finishing touch, he promptly put his inky hand into his mouth.

I laughed so hard at my messy baby and that made Baby Adam chuckle as well :D
Both Mummy & Baby had a fun time cleaning up and piecing the Memory Album together with the hand & foot prints, his ultrasound scans and his truckload of photos, as well as writing the stories inside.



The finished product:

Overcome with sadness

I'll be going back to the workforce in Oct.
Yes. That's right. 5 months of leave would have gone, just like that. In a flash.
What's 5 months compared to a lifetime of growing up with my baby, watching him develop and being there to witness his milestones?

I feel so sad as I'm typing this. As I imagine waking up in the wee hours of the morning, leaving my sleeping angel for work, I feel overcome with sadness. This reluctance is enough to make me cry.
In Andy's and my opinion, I am the best person to bring up our baby.
We have our own ideals in bringing up Baby Adam. Our own folks may not agree with our way, but it is nonetheless, our way.
For eg:
- No TV for Baby Adam. He is too young to understand anyway. But because his rocker is in the living room, he is "forced" to watch TV with the adults. I cant change this unless Im at home to stop the adults from overdoing it.

- We decide to wean him when he is 5mths old. Not too early, not too late. When that happens, he will only get baby-specific food. That means, no keropok crumbs, chewed-up noodles, kuey teow tng or anything that sort! I've already warned my parents about this. Andy's mum told me she fed KFC whipped potato to Andy and his brother when they were weaning. Yikes!
If she feeds KFC whipped potato to my son, esp when Im at work, you can be darn sure I will SCOLD her profanities till she turns upside down and never let her feed Adam again.

- Both Andy & I need to be congruent in disciplining Baby Adam. We need to let the Grandparents know that they shouldnt interfere in our way of upbringing, esp not in front of Adam and giving our son mixed messages.

- Most importantly, Andy's mum needs to do housework so I doubt she can give our baby the quality time like teaching him Flashcards and letting him learn through play.

Well, more to worry about in due course..

Meanwhile, my bosses have been kind to let me be on long leave. From my pregnancy till now, I've been away from work for 7 months!
I've not quit my job yet. Andy and I decided that I should at least try going back to work.
If I change my mind, if things dont work out, or if his mum cannot handle all the housework and the baby, then I can quit my job and become a SAHM, for good.

I seriously wonder how those Yummy Mums in Harpers Bazaar Baby magazine do it!
How do they go from boardroom to home with 2,3 kids and still manage everything so well?!
They must have hired Super Nannies or Power Maids.


In the meantime, I will treasure the last full month I have with Baby Adam till I go back to work!

Random Wednesday

After dinner, Andy & I went to T3 to collect our free pair of Swatch watches and to do some paktor.
We got the free watches because "you are one of the selected customers who spent more than $1200 on your credit card bill in a month and we would like to thank you for your support"
Muahahaha! Geez I dont even know we spent that much! And the thing is, we dont even see the $$, or where it went, for the matter.
For eg, in the past when I had my bag fetish, I could still see my $$ hanging in my closet. Now, dont even ask me. They must've been spent on the baby :)

When we arrived at the T3 carpark, we witnessed this accident involving 2 cars and 1 lady driver.
We quickly parked and got off to offer her help. She must've been really scared and grateful, because she was in tears and couldnt stop thanking us.
We didnt do much really. I being a busybody, went to help her take photos and bluetoothed to her so she can claim insurance. After that we took down the other vehicle's number and went to the information counter for them to announce for the car owner to come down and settle the incident.

After giving our help, we went on our ways to collect our watches and do a bit of window-shopping.
Something as simple as walking down the supermarket aisles is also very sweet if you are with your loved one :)
Best of all, you dont have to spend a single cent in order to be happy with the man you love.

Inevitably, we went to look at baby food - so many different types of jarred food, organic cereals, organic garden fruit juice, organic wheatstix, wow babies today sure are spoilt for choice.
I suddenly had a mental image of Toddler Adam looking at me eating my fav sinful, calorie-ladden Nutella and say "Mom, you're so shoddy!" Hahahah although Im pretty sure that likely wont happen.

Im so hopeless. I admit defeat. Everywhere we go we just think of him and anything, everything BABY! Even at the supermarket. Even at T3 when it's supposed to be our couple-time.
Even our families are guilty of that, indulging him in toys and what-nots.
Baby Adam has us wrapped all round his tiny fingers!

But one thing is definite - we cant love our boy enough.

Our parenting style for Baby Adam:
Andy & I never hesitate to cuddle him, kiss him and tell him we love him, even though he is happy on his own and not fussing. During afternoons when he is more wakeful than usual, I will carry him around the house to let him be involved in whatever Im doing (albeit with only one hand!), and I also play his Nursery Rhymes CDs and dance with him.
What's the point of showering your attention on your child only when he is misbehaving, yet he doesnt get any while he is being good? That's exactly why children became "naughty".

And regarding the rule that says "Let your baby cry for 10min before picking him up otherwise you will spoil him". Well, to us it's utter rubbish. We have never ever done that to Baby Adam because it will only mean to a poor helpless baby that he needs to scream at the top of his lungs before anyone will notice him, and we cant bear to do that.

Not to a baby so precious!