Quickly now, some new updates on his physical development:
1. He can almost crawl. It's a pose he does sitting up, with one leg in starting position and the other propping him up. Then he either falls forward splat! Or he sits back again.
2. He gets SUPER excited about certain stuff...especially his brown jar of DermEze. Give him a colourful ball or some other toy, no reaction. He only starts gasping and flapping his arms with the little brown jar!
3. He likes making the kissing sound with his lips, and he's recently learned how to make a smacking sound with his tongue, so we're constantly wondering if he's sucking on something in his mouth. Plus he's learned how to suck on his lower or top lip - too cute!!
I Love You, Baby!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sit Ubu Sit!
Now I mentioned before that Aidan's doing really well at sitting. In addition, he's been pushing off on his haunches lately, which leads me to believe he might start crawling soon! He can push off, and sometimes ends up flat on his belly (often looking like he's swimming 'coz his limbs are flailing about), or sometimes he's able to return to a sitting position.
Everyone's been so complimentary about his growth. He's sitting really well, and is really sturdy for his age. But if he DOES start crawling soon, oh gosh look out! He loves to chew on wires and remote controls, so it seems EG's love for electronics is hereditary...
Anyhoo! Here're some recent pics of him at our Easter Camp. Enjoy!
AIDAN'S EASTER CAMP PHOTOS
Everyone's been so complimentary about his growth. He's sitting really well, and is really sturdy for his age. But if he DOES start crawling soon, oh gosh look out! He loves to chew on wires and remote controls, so it seems EG's love for electronics is hereditary...
Anyhoo! Here're some recent pics of him at our Easter Camp. Enjoy!
AIDAN'S EASTER CAMP PHOTOS
Monday, March 10, 2008
SIX MONTHS!
Yup today my big boy turns 6 months old. Can't believe the time has passed so quickly - what an achievement!
To date, he's:
1. Started on rice cereal, but still spits it out
2. Has drunk some water from a bottle, but still doesn't like it
3. Doesn't really like drinking infant formula - still likes the comfort of mum!
4. Is able to sit up without assistance and play with his toys
5. Likes making this 'clucking' sound whenever he's upset. It's his version of whining, but he really sounds like a chicken! People find it adorable; it was to me at first, but gradually turns annoying when you listen to it repeatedly hehe....
6. Isn't sleeping through the night, but that could be 'coz he's still nursing a cold and cough. I can hear the phlegm in his throat when he coughs, poor bubba!
7. Has baby eczema on his cheeks, neck and elbows :-( But that's not stopping us from attending thr Sids n Kids fundraising photoshoot!
To date, he's:
1. Started on rice cereal, but still spits it out
2. Has drunk some water from a bottle, but still doesn't like it
3. Doesn't really like drinking infant formula - still likes the comfort of mum!
4. Is able to sit up without assistance and play with his toys
5. Likes making this 'clucking' sound whenever he's upset. It's his version of whining, but he really sounds like a chicken! People find it adorable; it was to me at first, but gradually turns annoying when you listen to it repeatedly hehe....
6. Isn't sleeping through the night, but that could be 'coz he's still nursing a cold and cough. I can hear the phlegm in his throat when he coughs, poor bubba!
7. Has baby eczema on his cheeks, neck and elbows :-( But that's not stopping us from attending thr Sids n Kids fundraising photoshoot!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Look Maw, I caud a big one!
I left Mr Snotty-nose (he's been nursing a cold since Tuesday) on the couch with his paper flash-cards today, to have a 'read'. He attacked it with gusto, as expected, trying to grab a hold of them (they're half-A4, length-wise).
I walked over to the kitchen counter to finish up some washing, and looked up to discover Aidan the Barbarian. The intrepid explorer of Soh-tartica, having foraged for food in the parched wasteland of the icy desert (read: my living room), had finally captured his catch of the day.
I walked over to the kitchen counter to finish up some washing, and looked up to discover Aidan the Barbarian. The intrepid explorer of Soh-tartica, having foraged for food in the parched wasteland of the icy desert (read: my living room), had finally captured his catch of the day.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Hope?
Today's been particularly hard morning... mostly 'coz my poor bubba's got a cold and was up at 2am, 2.45am, 3am, 3.30am, 6am, 6.50am.
Poor thing. And poor me!
Later that morning the lady from the hospital conducting the long-term study on women's experience at the Royal Women's Hospital and childbirth and parenting, of which I'm participating in, rang with the usual questions. Although I didn't score high enough to warrant a recommendation to see someone for depression, she could tell I was having a hard time. She ended off saying I should ring my maternal & child health nurse, and also that she's had 3 kids, and though it was hard to do control crying at first and she hated it, it made all the difference in the long run when it worked.
I think it was the last statement that did me in - it sounded hopeful.
I'm so tired of hoping!!
I'm so tired of resurrecting faith each day, hanging out there on a limb, wondering what it is that I'm doing wrong or differently that prevents me from achieving the same results as others who've gone the same way. When Paul talks of pressing on in faith, I wonder if he meant motherhood.
It's tiring to believe everyday, but it makes the Christian walk and its perils clearer to me. Suddenly the Psalms make deeper sense.
Here's what I'm grateful for though:
1. He's not terminally ill...or that sick for that matter. Just a touch of the sniffles. Imagine having to constantly shuffle your child to and fro between home and hospital, and the waits and queues and praying he'll recover. Thank God for his health!
2. My mum, who's been a support over the phone. E-Gene, who's been a constant source of strength.
3. Aidan's still got his cheerful disposition, and eats well.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Poor thing. And poor me!
Later that morning the lady from the hospital conducting the long-term study on women's experience at the Royal Women's Hospital and childbirth and parenting, of which I'm participating in, rang with the usual questions. Although I didn't score high enough to warrant a recommendation to see someone for depression, she could tell I was having a hard time. She ended off saying I should ring my maternal & child health nurse, and also that she's had 3 kids, and though it was hard to do control crying at first and she hated it, it made all the difference in the long run when it worked.
I think it was the last statement that did me in - it sounded hopeful.
I'm so tired of hoping!!
I'm so tired of resurrecting faith each day, hanging out there on a limb, wondering what it is that I'm doing wrong or differently that prevents me from achieving the same results as others who've gone the same way. When Paul talks of pressing on in faith, I wonder if he meant motherhood.
It's tiring to believe everyday, but it makes the Christian walk and its perils clearer to me. Suddenly the Psalms make deeper sense.
Here's what I'm grateful for though:
1. He's not terminally ill...or that sick for that matter. Just a touch of the sniffles. Imagine having to constantly shuffle your child to and fro between home and hospital, and the waits and queues and praying he'll recover. Thank God for his health!
2. My mum, who's been a support over the phone. E-Gene, who's been a constant source of strength.
3. Aidan's still got his cheerful disposition, and eats well.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Brave
There are days when I question if I'm being a good mum or not...like y'day morning when I left him to cry for an extended period. And then he got pricked (I think) by a mini safety pin that was holding his pillowcase together. If I'd just checked in on him sooner.... and yada yada the internal admonitions carry on.
I'm gradually building a reserve to block out his crying and remind myself that he has to learn to resettle himself, and that he's not hurt, hungry or wet, just completely indignant at the lack of attention. It's either him or me, mate - either he learns to return to sleep on his own, or I'd have to keep checking in on him every 2 hrs in the middle of the night when he fusses! Although today he realised after awhile he wasn't gonna get picked up, so busied himself by chewing on his pillow, and batting the toy lamb we have tied to the bars of his cot. How cute!
I'm thankful that his day-sleeps are getting better; he can sleep for up to 2 hrs sometimes! Wow! That's if he sleeps of course hehe... but in those breaks I get to do some housework, or like today, just read my Bible and soak it in. Which is a luxury, and something I couldn't afford everyday since Aidan was born. Plus I got to chat with my mum today about his development, and how to handle the difficulties of broken sleep. I'm starting to read the book she gave me for my b'day last year, or being a Godly, purposeful mum...it's really dawning on me how important that role is...and how difficult! Sigh...
Honestly, I had a bit of a break-down on Sat night when EG was about to step out to attend a friend's buck's night. I was meant to go for the hen's as well, and bring the bubba along, but begged off, coz we were just too tired and I was falling sick - plus we'd attended a wedding and an engagement party earlier that day. But anyhoo, just the thought of another lonely night with A, and another sleepless night after, was more than I could bear! I just started sobbing into my noodles - how pathetic! And EG didn't feel like he could go, but I convinced him to eventually - no point 2 people moping about the house. But I got better after, just had to steelve my resolve and check in on him every 15 mins to reassure him that everything's all right. We wrapped him up in his caterpillar wrap that night, and he slept better. Maybe the previous nights he was cold, or maybe he feels more secure being wrapped? Who knows?!
This morning he rose at 2.30am again, and I turned the monitor down wait for 15 mins to see if he'd resettle himself. Next thing I knew it was an hour and 10 mins later already! The poor bubs' been crying for that long! I rushed into his room, and he was whining, not quite full tears, in the opposite corner of his cot, the baby monitor upended, his pillow tossed aside. Guilt washed over me again...
I'm learning, daily, what it means to lead a Godly life that can be taught to him... and how to be a Godly mum. I just need so much wisdom and strength and endurance for this. What a journey...what a desire for hope that each day would be better than the last.
Oh, but I do love him so.
I'm gradually building a reserve to block out his crying and remind myself that he has to learn to resettle himself, and that he's not hurt, hungry or wet, just completely indignant at the lack of attention. It's either him or me, mate - either he learns to return to sleep on his own, or I'd have to keep checking in on him every 2 hrs in the middle of the night when he fusses! Although today he realised after awhile he wasn't gonna get picked up, so busied himself by chewing on his pillow, and batting the toy lamb we have tied to the bars of his cot. How cute!
I'm thankful that his day-sleeps are getting better; he can sleep for up to 2 hrs sometimes! Wow! That's if he sleeps of course hehe... but in those breaks I get to do some housework, or like today, just read my Bible and soak it in. Which is a luxury, and something I couldn't afford everyday since Aidan was born. Plus I got to chat with my mum today about his development, and how to handle the difficulties of broken sleep. I'm starting to read the book she gave me for my b'day last year, or being a Godly, purposeful mum...it's really dawning on me how important that role is...and how difficult! Sigh...
Honestly, I had a bit of a break-down on Sat night when EG was about to step out to attend a friend's buck's night. I was meant to go for the hen's as well, and bring the bubba along, but begged off, coz we were just too tired and I was falling sick - plus we'd attended a wedding and an engagement party earlier that day. But anyhoo, just the thought of another lonely night with A, and another sleepless night after, was more than I could bear! I just started sobbing into my noodles - how pathetic! And EG didn't feel like he could go, but I convinced him to eventually - no point 2 people moping about the house. But I got better after, just had to steelve my resolve and check in on him every 15 mins to reassure him that everything's all right. We wrapped him up in his caterpillar wrap that night, and he slept better. Maybe the previous nights he was cold, or maybe he feels more secure being wrapped? Who knows?!
This morning he rose at 2.30am again, and I turned the monitor down wait for 15 mins to see if he'd resettle himself. Next thing I knew it was an hour and 10 mins later already! The poor bubs' been crying for that long! I rushed into his room, and he was whining, not quite full tears, in the opposite corner of his cot, the baby monitor upended, his pillow tossed aside. Guilt washed over me again...
I'm learning, daily, what it means to lead a Godly life that can be taught to him... and how to be a Godly mum. I just need so much wisdom and strength and endurance for this. What a journey...what a desire for hope that each day would be better than the last.
Oh, but I do love him so.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Another one bites the dust
Here're more milestones!
1. Aidan's started on solids already. The first day he was a bit iffy (scrunched face up) but the next day, he took a bit more of his Farex rice cereal. Woohoo! This is my favourite look:
2. He STILL hasn't consistently slep through the night, but he's doing much better with his day sleeps. We've been trying to re-train him and allow him to cry so he gets the idea of being independent and resettling himself to sleep.
Just now, at 2.15pm EDST (that's easter daylight savings time), I popped him into bed with the pacifier, WITHOUT singing and rocking and swaying, and he slept! He fussed a little, which i'd expected, then surprisingly he stopped (as I through the garbage out), I peeked in and he was just looking around his cot. Down I went again to do the laundry, and when I popped up for a peek again, he was asleep! WOW. Hope he can do this consistently...
Anyhoo! If you wanna see Aidan eat rice mush, lookie here
1. Aidan's started on solids already. The first day he was a bit iffy (scrunched face up) but the next day, he took a bit more of his Farex rice cereal. Woohoo! This is my favourite look:
2. He STILL hasn't consistently slep through the night, but he's doing much better with his day sleeps. We've been trying to re-train him and allow him to cry so he gets the idea of being independent and resettling himself to sleep.
Just now, at 2.15pm EDST (that's easter daylight savings time), I popped him into bed with the pacifier, WITHOUT singing and rocking and swaying, and he slept! He fussed a little, which i'd expected, then surprisingly he stopped (as I through the garbage out), I peeked in and he was just looking around his cot. Down I went again to do the laundry, and when I popped up for a peek again, he was asleep! WOW. Hope he can do this consistently...
Anyhoo! If you wanna see Aidan eat rice mush, lookie here
Friday, February 15, 2008
They are back!
Yup, my family is finally back in Melbourne with me. So good to finally have them by my side. Aidan has grown so much since I last saw him. Not sure if he actually recognises me but he still smiles when he sees me so that must be a good thing.
Anyway since they came back Sarah and I decided that we need to get Aidan back on track with his feeding schedule. No more holiday mood, and man, it's hard. Basically it meant that we had to stretch his feeds a bit more and yes...let him cry a lot more. Our main objective is to teach him to resettle himself, which he hasn't been able to do since we went back to Singapore cos there's always someone to pick him up when he cries. Sorry matie, no more of that.
Today was Day 1 and it has actually gone a lot smoother than I had expected. Yes he cried when we tried to get him to sleep. Yes he had to endure (we had to endure it too) 15 mins of crying before we went to pick him up and put him back down again. Did that ALL day. Don't think that we've ever heard him cry so much, so much that his voice has gone a little hoarse. We had to keep reassuring him that we love him and Saz and I had to reassure each other that we are doing the right thing as well.
Yup, trying to get him to sleep through the night comes at a price. But we'll push on...now onto Day 2. The crying continues...
Anyway since they came back Sarah and I decided that we need to get Aidan back on track with his feeding schedule. No more holiday mood, and man, it's hard. Basically it meant that we had to stretch his feeds a bit more and yes...let him cry a lot more. Our main objective is to teach him to resettle himself, which he hasn't been able to do since we went back to Singapore cos there's always someone to pick him up when he cries. Sorry matie, no more of that.
Today was Day 1 and it has actually gone a lot smoother than I had expected. Yes he cried when we tried to get him to sleep. Yes he had to endure (we had to endure it too) 15 mins of crying before we went to pick him up and put him back down again. Did that ALL day. Don't think that we've ever heard him cry so much, so much that his voice has gone a little hoarse. We had to keep reassuring him that we love him and Saz and I had to reassure each other that we are doing the right thing as well.
Yup, trying to get him to sleep through the night comes at a price. But we'll push on...now onto Day 2. The crying continues...
Monday, February 11, 2008
My babies are coming back!
As I type this both Saz and Aidan should have boarded SQ237 enroute to Melbourne. So in about 7 hours time, I'll finally be reunited with my family.
I can't wait...
...I better get some sleep.
I can't wait...
...I better get some sleep.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Weight check
Upon our departure from Melbourne, Aidan weighed in at 6kgs.
We just used the weighing machine to weigh him this morning. Actually my smart MIL carried him, then subtracted her weight from their total weight. Can you guess? (scroll down for answer)
And the grand number is.... 7.4 kgs!! Wah lau eh, no wonder my arms and shoulders are sore!!
Ok, go buy your 4D now.
We just used the weighing machine to weigh him this morning. Actually my smart MIL carried him, then subtracted her weight from their total weight. Can you guess? (scroll down for answer)
And the grand number is.... 7.4 kgs!! Wah lau eh, no wonder my arms and shoulders are sore!!
Ok, go buy your 4D now.
Friday, February 1, 2008
My little darlin'...
Today has been a bit of a trying day, not least because I haven't had much sleep the night before. Kept tossing and turning, but couldn't really sleep...
Aidan's been really a handful today, and he's being really demanding. Throwing tantrums if he doesn't have my full attention, or doesn't get his way. Cries if he's left alone, cries if he's not carried, cries if I step away from the window when he's enjoying the view. He only calms down it when he gets attention, so it was a relief to get to my mum's tonight and pass him around to be carried by various hands.
But it's now past midnight (SG time), and he refuses to sleep, refuses to be put down in the cot! (MIL's trying to convince him otherwise).
OMG, I think I've created a monster.
On the upside though, a new development:
Look Daddy, I can touch my toes!!
Aidan's been really a handful today, and he's being really demanding. Throwing tantrums if he doesn't have my full attention, or doesn't get his way. Cries if he's left alone, cries if he's not carried, cries if I step away from the window when he's enjoying the view. He only calms down it when he gets attention, so it was a relief to get to my mum's tonight and pass him around to be carried by various hands.
But it's now past midnight (SG time), and he refuses to sleep, refuses to be put down in the cot! (MIL's trying to convince him otherwise).
OMG, I think I've created a monster.
On the upside though, a new development:
Look Daddy, I can touch my toes!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Milestones
I realise I've yet to mark some key milestones that Aidan's been able to achieve, so here they are, to the best of my knowledge...
1) He can grab stuff dangling in front of him. Especially the strap attached to my mobile phone. Particularly when I'm on the phone.
2) He's just learned how to scratch an itch. Good because that shows development in his hand co-ordination. Bad 'coz he leaves a blood trail where his fingernails have been.
3) He's learned how to laugh spontaneously - just the other day his Granny (EG's mum) just grinned widely at him and he burst out in giggles. How adorable!
4) He's learned to whine...really whine...like when he's left alone he starts whimpering and then it escalates into a wail. Even when I'm just sitting next to him! He needs my full attention...sigh...
5) He can sit up a little - just the other day his Grandad (EG's dad) put him in a high chair at the yong tau foo stall we were having dinner at and he sat in it - albeit leaning heavily on the chair's support table. He also likes sitting while having a bath and splashing and tries to grab the cloth we use to bathe him with.
6) He's starting to recognise faces. I know this because somehow after 9pm when he starts to fuss and build to a scream, he will only calm down if I carry him. Not Daddy, not Granny, only me. I guess I should feel flattered, but, hmmm I'd rather have a reprieve.
7) He's so much more alert and awake these days, looking at everything around him. For some reason he's particularly excited about food - pop him on your lap at the dining table and watch him squeal! I'm not sure if it's the colours or the smell, but he's pretty happy at the table!
8) He gets easily distracted from drinking when it's milk time, so it's been rather difficult getting him to have a full feed, although they say that's pretty normal. He's just keeps looking and smiling and giggling at everything around him, although he can get bored pretty quickly too! What a child!
9) He's starting to teeth I think...he's starting off stuffing his hands (both sometimes!) into his mouth, and now he's graduated to enthusiastically gumming mine. But give him a teething toy and it's ptooi ptooi I don't like it mum! He's also been drooling excessively as well. Which makes for very wet clothes. My very wet clothes.
10) He's SO BIG now! He can barely fit his bathtub here - I wonder what his weight is at the moment. I reckon about 6.5 - 7kgs? He's now on the medium-sized Mamy Poko diapers (which are really good btw - they're one of the few brands which can take the amount of poo this boy generates! Sorry to be so graphic, but I can never look at Japanese curry the same way again).
11) He's grown more hair - it's all dense in the middle of his head, and sparse at the sides. He looks like those men with receding hairlines in the photos they use to advertise hair-growth solutions on TV!
1) He can grab stuff dangling in front of him. Especially the strap attached to my mobile phone. Particularly when I'm on the phone.
2) He's just learned how to scratch an itch. Good because that shows development in his hand co-ordination. Bad 'coz he leaves a blood trail where his fingernails have been.
3) He's learned how to laugh spontaneously - just the other day his Granny (EG's mum) just grinned widely at him and he burst out in giggles. How adorable!
4) He's learned to whine...really whine...like when he's left alone he starts whimpering and then it escalates into a wail. Even when I'm just sitting next to him! He needs my full attention...sigh...
5) He can sit up a little - just the other day his Grandad (EG's dad) put him in a high chair at the yong tau foo stall we were having dinner at and he sat in it - albeit leaning heavily on the chair's support table. He also likes sitting while having a bath and splashing and tries to grab the cloth we use to bathe him with.
6) He's starting to recognise faces. I know this because somehow after 9pm when he starts to fuss and build to a scream, he will only calm down if I carry him. Not Daddy, not Granny, only me. I guess I should feel flattered, but, hmmm I'd rather have a reprieve.
7) He's so much more alert and awake these days, looking at everything around him. For some reason he's particularly excited about food - pop him on your lap at the dining table and watch him squeal! I'm not sure if it's the colours or the smell, but he's pretty happy at the table!
8) He gets easily distracted from drinking when it's milk time, so it's been rather difficult getting him to have a full feed, although they say that's pretty normal. He's just keeps looking and smiling and giggling at everything around him, although he can get bored pretty quickly too! What a child!
9) He's starting to teeth I think...he's starting off stuffing his hands (both sometimes!) into his mouth, and now he's graduated to enthusiastically gumming mine. But give him a teething toy and it's ptooi ptooi I don't like it mum! He's also been drooling excessively as well. Which makes for very wet clothes. My very wet clothes.
10) He's SO BIG now! He can barely fit his bathtub here - I wonder what his weight is at the moment. I reckon about 6.5 - 7kgs? He's now on the medium-sized Mamy Poko diapers (which are really good btw - they're one of the few brands which can take the amount of poo this boy generates! Sorry to be so graphic, but I can never look at Japanese curry the same way again).
11) He's grown more hair - it's all dense in the middle of his head, and sparse at the sides. He looks like those men with receding hairlines in the photos they use to advertise hair-growth solutions on TV!
Missing my wife and kid
Not having Saz and Aidan around is hard. Not that I don't enjoy the freedom and undisturbed night sleep but maybe something has changed in me.
Oh before I go on, for those of you who don't know, Saz extended her trip in Singapore while I came back to Melbourne and will only be back on the 11th of Feb.
I think that some people expect me to be enjoying this time of "freedom" with a wife and kid. I mean, I can do whatever I want and stay up as late as I want and even eat whatever I want. But what if what I want is to have them with me.
I think that for as long as I know, I've always wanted to settle down. My picture of a perfect life is a loving wife, a few kids and a house with a white picket fence. Yes I know, the "American Dream". Weird coming from a Singaporean I know. But that's me.
So yes, I not really enjoying this "freedom" that I have and really wish that they are back with me in Melbourne. I think that once you have a kid, everything changes. I've said that many times but I think that this is the first instance that not only the routines have changed but I now believe that something deeper in me has changed. I can't live without them, or can even imagine life with Saz and Aidan. They are as a part of me as my fingers are part of my hand.
I guess what I'm really trying to say at 230am in the morning is that I love them and really miss them heaps. Come back soon.
Oh before I go on, for those of you who don't know, Saz extended her trip in Singapore while I came back to Melbourne and will only be back on the 11th of Feb.
I think that some people expect me to be enjoying this time of "freedom" with a wife and kid. I mean, I can do whatever I want and stay up as late as I want and even eat whatever I want. But what if what I want is to have them with me.
I think that for as long as I know, I've always wanted to settle down. My picture of a perfect life is a loving wife, a few kids and a house with a white picket fence. Yes I know, the "American Dream". Weird coming from a Singaporean I know. But that's me.
So yes, I not really enjoying this "freedom" that I have and really wish that they are back with me in Melbourne. I think that once you have a kid, everything changes. I've said that many times but I think that this is the first instance that not only the routines have changed but I now believe that something deeper in me has changed. I can't live without them, or can even imagine life with Saz and Aidan. They are as a part of me as my fingers are part of my hand.
I guess what I'm really trying to say at 230am in the morning is that I love them and really miss them heaps. Come back soon.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
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