Sit Up

When I shared with WX/WN Mummy about Sean's weight sometime back, she said Sean would be fast in sitting up. Being a big size baby, means he has big "dimension" on his butt too in which, he can have better balance! LOL

It is indeed true!

About 1 week ago, my little man is able to sit quite stable on his own. Unless he sways his body left and right to grab something, else he can sit unsupported for like 30-40seconds now. If we let him sit and lean on the sofa, he can stay there for like 5mins before slip down.


Scrap credit:
Papers & Frame by Lliella

The Moments...

For those of you who have children, you would agree with me our children just grow too fast, especially those under 5 years old! Many a times, as we tried to recall what was the last growth milestone our child had achieved, they surprised us with another one!

One thing I always forgot to blog about it's the 'smell' on Sean. Now that I remembered, I must pen it down before it is totally slipped my mind again!

Honestly, Sean doesn't have much of the usual baby smell since on the day he was born. His forehead/soft spot has this weird smell, ie the 'after sweat" smell. Even after we shampooed his hair, the smell of his shampoo can probably last him like 2+ hours.

As he grows older, the smell is getting less but turn back to the baby smell. *yippee* I just love to smell it because I know once he started to take full solid, the smell will be gone!

How i wish there is a gadget that can help us to 'record' down on smell, just like how camera and video work. LOL!

Playing With Toes

Approximately 3 weeks back, our little men discovered his lovely toe to be his 'playmate'. Ever since, no turning back but a scene of 'one hand holding one toe' on Sean. LOL

Strangely, he only knew how to play on his left toe. Never on the left side unless we helped him by lifting both his legs near him. You know, the position where we are trying to change his diaper, with "one hand holding two legs" type.

He needs few attempts before he can grasp his toe if he is in the lying position. Big tummy, I guess! *grin* However if we let him sit on our lap, he will hold it without much a problem.

Well well, this is every babies development stage. I don't remember I captured this for his Che Che. :-(

Scrap credit:
Quickpage by Eva Kipler

Half Year Has Gone...

Boy, it has been 6 months since I delivered Sean..time really flies. At 6 months:

Vital Stats:
Height: 68cm
Weight: 9.8kg
Head Circumference: :48cm

Diet:
- He started solid today. Will blog about it in a separate post.
- He is still a breastfed exclusive baby. Drinks 6-7oz on 3-4hrs interval.

Development:
- His weight started to stable down, no longer soar like rocket.

- Sleep through for like 2+ months already. The earliest feed is 6am! Yipee for Mummy, no more getting up for midnight feed although i still get up (by nature) to check on the kids.

- He has dry and sensitive skin. So we need to use special soap and cream on his body.

- He is at the stage of lifting his feet and play with it. Strangely, only the left feet.

- He no longer sucks his thumb but the index finger. So if he does that right after the milk, he tends to vomit (mouthful). :-(

- He can't be left alone. When we are out of his sight, he will scream or whine.

- He is able to sit onto his car seat without crying if his Che Che is with him at the back.

- He started to recognize people..When we (me and nanny) walked away even we have someone around, he will whine. So, we have to distract him.

- He is not showing any sign of turning over from his tummy to back. Guess too heavy for his weight.

- He only turns 1 side, ie from to the left.

- He is able to lift his head up by using both his hands to support his weight like 20 mins.

- He can "tell the time" when the time is up, especially night time. By 8.30pm, he started to whine but if we bring him back to the room and change into his PJ, he is ok. Good for us during weekdays because we can prepare both kids to bed early. However during weekends, we need to eat out early so that we can come back home just before pass 8.30pm. With the recent outbreak of A(H1N1), we hardly eat out but just tau pau.

- He likes to stand although he can't stand by himself. When we lift him up from sleeping position, he tends to push his leg muscle to get himself ready for the stand up position. Argh...not yet learn how to sit but already want to stand!!!

- He likes to play with his Che Che. I think Che Che makes him laugh out the most, even she is just singing and dancing. I can imagine they will be good play mate later (don't remind me the fighting part!)

- When we take our house keys, he will get all excited by kicking and moving. He knows 'taking keys = kai kai'..

- He likes to play the 'chase me' with his Che Che when we are at the aisle of Poh Poh's house. He will shout and move his whole body.

Scrap credit:
Quickpage by Christie Lemmon

轩轩的"便当" - Sean's Bento

This is a real life conversation between me and my manager. It happened few weeks back when we were suppose to have a phone meeting to have a short conversation on my work progress. Talking about phone meeting, my manager is a Taiwanese and based in Taipei. At times, I do add in some Chinese words when I am stuck in expressing myself in English.

Me: Sorry for postponing our meeting 15mins later. I needed to go to Mother Room to express milk (she knew I breastfeed).
Mgr: It's ok, I can understand
Me: Thanks, I am like a 母牛 (cow), in producing milk for my son.
Mgr: In Taiwan office, there are 3 breastfeeding mothers. They jokingly said they take turns to make "便当" (bento) for their kids!!!

I burst into laughter when I hear this! It is indeed true that we (the breastfeeding mothers) are making "bento" (aka EBM) for our baby.

Well, this post is for my own record keeping as I know for sure, if I don't pen it down, I will forget.

For breastfeeding mothers, you would totally agree with me breastfeeding is something never come in easy, especially when you are a full time working mother. The cycles of "Pump, chill, storage, frozen, defroze" ends only when we totally stop breastfeeding literally.

Being the 2nd timer in breastfeeding, my milk flow started to come in on Day 2 right after delivered Sean. Very strong let down but nothing came out (duct still unopened). It was that bad until on the 4th day, i was totally engorged not only on the 2 McB but also my armpits. :( I tried to hand press it out but failed. In the end, I went to see lactation specialist and gotten the trained nurses to help me to express out at 1am. After suffering for 1+ week of engorgement, it went off and that's when the so called "smooth sailing' phase kicked in.

From past experience, I know the first 3 months is the best time to build your 'inventory' since baby milk consumption is low and the mother's milk flow is not really stabilize. I 'diligently' pumped right after each feed and built my 'inventory.

It has been almost 6 months I breastfeed Sean exclusively (except those few days he was on formula to determine if he has breast milk jaundice) and infect, I get to give 2-3oz daily to his Che Che too.

Below are my current 'inventory level", ~ 4 weeks stock available kept in 2 houses in 3 fridge.

1) Fridge # 1: Occupied the whole freezer




2) Fridge # 2 - Occupied 2/3 of the lower deck.


3) Fridge # 3 - fridge at Poh Poh's house with 1 big red plastic bag with ~40oz EBM
* sorry, forgot to take photo*

The highest record for Sean is taking 6.5 weeks ago EBM when he was 3+ months. After I reduced 1 pumping session, slowly the 'inventory' went down. Also, my lil taukeh increased his milk consumption over the months. Hence, the "output" is more than the 'input" !!!

I didn't push myself hard in keeping the EBM but just do what's best within my capability. I told myself not to push too hard on it because I know 'The Day' (introduce formula + lower immune system + breastfeeding) will come eventually.

I know I did my best to my children, no regret! *self pat on my shoulder*

Scrapbooking Marathon...

It was like a marathon for me to scrap on the kids lately :-) Momentum was there, so I just don't want to lose it.

1) I started to buy more neutral colors pattern papers so that it's easier for me to mix and match on Ern or Sean's pictures.


2) I love American Craft pattern papers - bright colors


3) I used the left overs patterned papers to complete this layout. So, B&W photo works!


4) Same thing, used the left over papers and my new stash of Thickers


5) I love Jenni Bowlin's card. The embellishments were bought in Bangkok's JJ Weekend Mkt

Bumbo Chair!

I was so happy when Yan/Shan Mummy agreed to borrow me her Bumbo Chair. I didn't get one for Ching Ern back then because when I got to know this, Ern was like 8+ mo.

When Sean started to have better head control like few weeks back, I quickly took out the Bumbo Chair because I got to know baby outgrown the chair very fast.

To my disappointment, Sean can't fit in anymore!!!! Yes, you read that correctly- can't fit. His thigh is too big to fit into the Bumbo Chair. He can get into the seat but after 10mins sitting on it, you get to see both of his thighs turned red (at the side) :-(

So, I 'kuai kuai' pack it back to the box and ready to return to Yan/Shan Mummy. Now, i need to get a new chair for Sean as he is ready to take solid 2 weeks from now.

More Scrapbook

Sean sleeps longer in the morning, especially right after his shower and milk. His longest record was from 10am - 2.30pm!

I take this opportunity to scrap because I have all the time to myself. What's more, no interruption in between that break the momentum. Hubb takes Ern for lunch at this hour and I normally ask him to pack for me. This is really my "me only' time.

Over the weekend, I did 4 at one go. Simple one with just cut and paste. Feel "satisfied" :-)

1) I like "Black & White" photo as it always works well for any color.


2) I always like Maya Road's turn as it comes with the date and month.


3) I was inspired on the idea by a scrapbooker but I can't recall where I saw it.


4) I like the robotic pattern paper. Something REAL boyish.