1st post after 2 months

Goodness, I am beginning to loose myself here in blogger land. I have been so active on Facebook that I didn't feel nothing missing when I am online. Life has been great, Natalie is already walking on her own and that is quite a relieve for my arms. She is much more manageable now as she approaches into toddler stage. Though she is growing very well, I am still constantly worrying for her in many many ways. Like has she taken her nap? Has she drink her milk? Is she eating well? 

Recently I found out that my maid has been giving Natalie her milk while she is sleeping. Yes, I meant Dream Feed, for mothers who knows what that mean. I have never disagree with dream feeding Natalie when she sleeps for the night and gives her last feed to last her till morning. But little did I know that my maid took this to her own convenience and does all her milk feeding while Natalie takes her naps in the day! My maid confessed that it has been like that for about 2 months since Nat turned 1 yr old. 

The problem now is that Natalie is rejecting all her milk feeds when she is awake. I tried to change her habit back for the past 2 days but she screamed and pushed the milk bottle away all the time. She has not been drinking since then.... Luckily she is on regular 3 meals, porridge, noddles, mee suah etc But I cannot let her go without milk at such a tender age! Sigh... sometimes I really blamed myself for all these. I have not been a good mother as I chose work over looking after her full time. I really have myself to blame. 

I should not have pinned high hopes on maid to take really good care of my baby. I shouldn't have.... I got really mad when I found out what she did, I should have been more vigilant! Everyone tells me to change maid, but I really have no confidence in looking for another one. 

Hope when tomorrow comes, Natalie will be more receptive towards milk feeds, WHILE SHE IS AWAKE!

Natalie

I am a proud mother, I cannot stop praising her to everyone around me. Said it a few hundred times that she is so cute, how amazing that I can give birth to such a cute adorable baby! You will understand when you are a parent yourself. ;)


I tried to imitate her expression to see if we resemble each other.

I lost, she is much much cuter than me!

Isn't she adorable in this picture? I wonder why babies get so excited when they were lifted high up. This never fails to put a smile on her face whenever I lift her up.

Lovely smile!

Warning! Many Photos~!

I am on leave tomorrow as I will be bringing Natalie for her 3rd vaccination in the hospital. I want to be able to witness this process and also making sure that she is good and well after her injection. Now that she is able to feel pain I am sure she will definitely cry out loud for tomorrow's injections. Poor thing, I worry I might be the one end up in tears when I see her delicate thighs being poke by needles.

Since I am going to be on leave, I decided to do some serious blogging. Well finally I am able to upload photos. I had so many photos taken months ago that I wanted to upload but being a procrastinator I kept delaying.

Few months ago Jeff brought my mother and I to Singapore flyer. It was my first time in such a big "ferries wheel", seeing Singapore in paranomic view is breath taking. Though I have phobic about heights I felt completely at ease in the capsule. Whats more, we had the whole capsule to ourselves that day.










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Hey look at the way Natalie sits comfortably in between my legs watching tv.


Natalie and her cousin Reese, look she is growing taller!



She wanted to break free from me.... that's how she struggles when she dislikes staying at a same spot or position for too long.



Off topic, this is my dad's watermelon plantation. Hehehehe, it's actually my first time seeing watermelon in their natural habitat.

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Took Natalie out to Terminal 3 Airport last month for dinner.

She was in a chirpy mood that night! Dressed her up in pink so that no one will mistaken her gender. My relatives always felt that Natalie looks more boyish... Hmph, I don't think so. She has a girly appearance too!


My brother, sister in law and Reese. My sister in law is pregnant, Reese is going to have a brother or sister at the end of this year!

Natalie stared curiously at Reese wondering what she was trying to do.

Natalie loves to stick out her tongue, she does that all the time. Only babies look cute with their tongue sticking out, adults look stupid.

Father Jeffrey and Natalie baby.

Mummy Me and my beautiful beautiful daughter!

I love to see you smile, you brighten up my life.

Mummy's biggest wish is to see you healthy and happy always!

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Baby Puree, came out with some baby purees after reading baby recipe books I bought from Kinokunia. These were the food I prepared last 2 months when she was just starting to wean.

On the left was Pumpkin and on the right was sweet potatoes. Natalie preferred pumpkin.

Spinach and green pea, adopted great storing tips from the books. I prepared enough for a week's supply and deep freeze them, thawing only one at a time for each feed.


Everyday after work I will rush home to prepare porridge for Natalie. This is cooked porridge before mashing them into Puree.

This is how it looks like after being mashed.

She has now proceed to eating chicken porridge, I followed the recipe and made Chicken stock and vegetable stock. Separate them into different small containers and freeze them. Only take one out each time and cook it with rice to make chicken / vegetable porridge. I tasted them myself and it taste really great! So happy to see Natalie enjoying the food I prepared for her.

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Took advise from Alice, I rented Jumperoo for Natalie instead of buying it. It not only saves money, it is also a way of recycling. Anyway I doubt Natalie will play for very long, therefore it is really a waste of money to buy it. Rental for a month is $50, and buying one cost $235.

Natalie enjoys her time at the jumeroo.

Natalie jumping and jumping in the Jumperoo.

Baby Whisperer

It's a bright and sunny Wednesday, besides my baby's crying, I can hear birds chirping and insects cracking outside my house. Well, so I thought. Just when I was saying it's a bright and sunny day, dark clouds started to form over my roof and the next moment heavy down pour! I haven't even thought of my topic for today.

Just now a blogger msn me, after reading my post she sensed my distress and wanted to share her story about parenthood. Chatting with her soon made me feel so much better and it felt like finally I have found someone that understood me and the situation I am facing. She gave me very valuable tips and shared with me how she handle her kids. She is a mother of a 2 years old and a 3 months old baby. Dealing with a toddler and a baby is definitely more stressful than me just handling with one. I felt relieved that I am actually not in isolation, many new mothers also faces the same challenges like me. Soon chatting with her seem like holding a conversation with a long lost friend. She is also from the same forum with me and later found out that I am the same person here. Small world right? Thank you Gina for your useful tips and stretching out your helping hand to someone you barely know. My spirits are uplifted now.

Been reading a self help book called Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. It's about learning the ability of understanding baby's every coo's and cries and how to set a flexible routine for baby. In her writings, she teaches using the method E.A.S.Y.–how to get baby to eat, play, and sleep on a routine that will make every member of the household’s life easier and happier. S.L.O.W.–how to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you (so you don’t try to feed him when he really wants a nap). Finished reading every single pages and now trying out her method. She believes that babies can be taught how to be independent starting from birth.

The book will only be useful if I try out myself, and true enough I have successfully learn how to identify when baby needs a nap and when she needs to feed. I am proud to say that Natalie is able to sleep on her own in her cot or playpen when she is tired. She doesn't need to be carried around all the time for her to get to sleep. Though she still needs pacifying, I now do that when she is lying on her cot. Giving her assurance that I will still be around, and letting her know that she is in a safe environment. I have also avoided all the things that will inculcate baby to bad habits. Overall this book is really worth reading and it gives a pretty good guidance to new mothers like me. I am able to respond to baby's needs correctly and also have my own personal time. It's not a miracle, but it's worth trying it out.

2 thumbs up for the book, I recommend to all new mummies to get a copy! It not only tells you ways of making your babies happy, it also tells you ways of making yourself happy!

When mother is happy, baby will be happy too!


I am an independent baby! I can play by myself and sleep in peace.


See me talk baby language! (30 seconds only)


See me laugh! (30 seconds only)

Natalie's 1st haircut

Last week we had a very important mission, our mission is to have Natalie's untamed hair shaved off. According to my mother, she said it will benefit the baby and when she grows up she will have beautiful hair. Well since it is going to be better off for her, why not.

Not to any normal salon, we brought her to a kids salon where they are fully equipped with different forms of distractions to divert their attention. They have balloons hanging on their walls, colourful paintings and a flat screen tv showing kids program. Hey, how come I don't get this kind of service at the salon I go to? hehehe, kids are so fortunate nowadays, very pampered indeed.

Because of this mission, we had to fall in almost 3/4 our family members, Jeff and I, my mother and the nanny took baby Natalie to Parkway Parade for her 1st hair cut. We didn't know what to expect and was worried that she might cry and refused to let the blade go near her head... But we were in for a big surprise.

So very early in the morning, we bath her and dress her up in a pinky romper suit and set off to the salon.

She was looking for her daddy, as her anxious daddy paced up and down infront of the salon, waiting for our turn.

Girl power! She seems to have the same facial expression as I in the above photo. Like mother like daughter!

Daddy cheering for Natalie.

The kids salon, JUNIOR LEAGUE located at Parkway Parade. For infant hair cut, they charge $18. My mum and Jeff were standing at the entrance eagerly waiting for Nat's turn.

Finally it's Nat's tun, Daddy Jeff carry her into the salon while I be the photographer.

Once she sat on the chair, her attention was drawn towards the flat screen TV, it was showing BARNEY and she didn't even wink!

Still focusing real hard on the TV screen, I am sure she is going to be a real TV addict in future. Even while I type this post, she is sitting on my lap watching the monitor quietly. This is bad, getting her expose to the internet world at such a young age!

This is Natalie before her hair cut.

And this is her after her haircut. The hairstylist thought she is already 4 months old, when I told her she is only 2 month, she got a shock! Is she really bigger than her age? Opps... she Poo poo, need to go change her diaper!!! Stinky stinky!

Natalie's first Check up

Her first immunisation injections was given on the 22nd February 2008, just one day she turned 2 months old. We were all so excited and also worried if she was able to endure with the pain.

Getting her ready for her visit to the paeds. It is really rewarding to have a baby, especially at her age now. Every morning without fail, she greets me with a wide smile, really melts my heart. I told her that she will have to be brave, be brave my baby.

Eager daddy, register for his precious baby, Natalie Yeo.

Baby had her weight measured, she weighs about 5.6kg with a head circumference of 39cm and height of 60cm.
Natalie's doctor, examine her motor skills, muscular skills etc.

Natalie peed on the bed while doc examined her heart beat.

Nurses refused to let me photograph the whole process of her injections, said that it's the hospital's policy. Sigh... too bad. She had 2 injections on both her thighs, the 6 in one and pneumococoal immunisation jap. The needles were long, cold and sharp, I teared when my poor baby cried after receiving the injections. But she is a brave girl, she recovered from her cries within a minute and gone to slumber land afterwards. She was given rotavirus vaccine, and oral vaccine for the prevention of diarrhoea due to this type of virus infection. Doc adviced it's best to let Natalie receive this vaccine if I have the intention to send her to infant childcare.

Signed up for the immunisation package and with the 6 in 1, pnuemococal, rotavirus vaccines, the bill mounted to $750. Pnuemococoal vaccines requires 4 doses, every dose cost $150 and will be given every 2 months. Rotavirus vaccines require 2 doses, every dose cost $88, will also be given on a 2 month interval. Daddy has to work very hard to pay for the bills, :)

It's been exactly 20 days since the last post and I couldn't find any reason for me not to blog. How's everyone's New Year so far? Chinese New Year is over and yet I didn't recall much events. Visited my in law and my granny's place and that marked the end of my CNY visiting. Missed out the poker card and majong session, though simple yet a memorable and fulfilling brand New Year for me.

Thank you all the kind souls that replied to my sms on the need for O -ve blood. I did managed to find 4 person with the rare blood type and gave their numbers to my friend. The latest update is that her father is out of danger and is recovering. Thank you once again for paying attention to the sudden request.

Though I didn't do much this new year, it is a totally brand new experience for me. I am a mother, I have a baby and I am still happily married. I am so bless and I thank everyone that made this happen. My little Natalie is almost 8 weeks old and she is slowly adapting to life outside the womb now. She is beginning to explore her vocals and makes lots of adorable sound everyday when we communicate with her.

My family, with Daddy, Mummy and me.

With her tiny body against mine.

I am a happy baby with double chin, kekeke!