Baby's room

We bought the wall decals from this shop at Katong shopping centre called Baby Meadows. I can't remember how many times we went there before we decided on these decals. 2, 3 ,times? Or rather before I decided on them. Initally we bought a wall divider which had pictures of soft toys on them. But after looking at their online catalog again and again and again, we went back to change and top up twice the price for these animal decals. Expensive cos it's Fisher Price and they are reusable as long as you peel it out nicely. My hubby and dad painted the green " grass" when I was in my 3rd trimester but we only pasted the animals when baby came out. Despite the price, I'm really glad we bought this cos baby seems very happy with it. I remember the first time when she began to stare at the different animals on the wall when she was about 2 months. Even now when we change her diaper on the single bed, she will look at the blue and red lizard on the wall and smile or talk to it.Or she'll be in her cot staring at the sleeping leopard.

Before I had baby, I used to think that all these wall decorations and toys were unnecessary and a waste of money. But I guess they do need it for stimulation, learning and to self-entertain. And nothing beats seeing your baby smiling and being happy:)

-Mummy

Shaven

We decided to shave baby's hair. not because the old wives tale of "hair will grow thicker" or the "hair will grow out nicer". BUt because she was sweating soo much and dirtying my floor with strands of fallen hair. To put her out of her misery, we went to KKH where they have a shop that shaves infant's hair and make it into a brush. Being cheapo parents we didn't make it into a brush, but at least we got to keep the hair. Now I can where pretty hats for her without her having to perspire soo much:)Don't know if she's gotten used to her new hair style but she was a bit more crankier than usual yesterday.

Thank God we went to KKH yesterday as they were having a baby's exhibition and had sales on baby products. We bought a Maclaren stroller at half price, $199, which hopefully can last her till 3, 4 years old. Unless she grows too tall and big for it. We also got a small tin of S26, something which they just produced recently. Initially we gave baby S26 but they sold only big tins. And because she drank only one feed of formula a day, we had to throw away the rest of the big tin once it soldified. Incidentally, our formula milk was running out so we got one tin free:). But I had to ask for it. They wanted to send us a free sample of the stage 2 milk when baby turned 6 months. No harm asking. We got a free sample of the stage 1 milk. Cheapo mummy. Baby has no problems switching brand of formula milk. I think she'll eat anything and everything just like daddy. Some how i prefer S26 cos hubby grew up drinking it and her turned out healthy, big and strong. Haha. We got pretty socks for her at KK as well. Cheaper than the retail shops.

-Mummy

Laugh and Cry

Laughing baby

After shaking her to sleep for about a month, her weight, the time and energy is wearing us out. We seeked the advise of 2 of our friends who also have infants and let her cry it out to sleep. Our friends let their babies cry for 30 mins in the cot and when they are tired they will fall asleep on their own. Since there was 2 out of 2 success rate, we decided to try. After 2 attempts of letting her cry for 3omins, she still had not fallen asleep on her own in the cot. And it pains our heart to see her cry so horribly. So instead of allowing her to cry for half hour, we let her cry for 5-10mins before carrying her and rocking her to sleep for another 5 mins. If we pick her up and she doesn't fall asleep after 5 mins we put her down again and let her cry. Much better than rocking, shaking her to sleep for 30-45 mins. Moreover, it's a bad habit and it was also stressful going on outings if she had to be rocked to sleep because we can't bring the sarong every where we go. It is not so stressful now on outings largely because of our perspective change. If she cries in public so be it, cos we know that she'll wear herself out and fall asleep soon. Instead of trying to pacify her and walking round and round the shopping malls trying to get her to sleep. If she's tired she'll fall asleep as soon as we pick her up. Probably because she's a girl that's why she needs some TLC before she sleeps. The 2 friends who advised us had baby boys. Either that or she's really stubborn, or needs a longer weaning off period from the shaking. Thank God for a mother in law who is willing to adjust to our method. Caring and discipling children needs consistency yah. Initially she commented that it seems really cruel to allow her to cry for so long. But after 2 days, she realised it's much less work compared to shaking her to sleep. Also my hubby gave the example of grandmother letting Ruthie watch the TV if she pesters her next time instead of doing her homework. It's the same principle.

We were afraid also that all the crying would make her a unhappy and grouchy kid. Thank God that's not the case. It's still early to tell but I guess it's making her more independent. Since the crying to sleep, she doesn't cry when she wakes up now and she's able to fall back to sleep herself at times if she wakes up half way. We can still make her laugh. She's laughing and talking louder now. But whenever she laughs she gets hiccups. It's great joy seeing her laugh and smile. Thank God. :)

-Mummy

The grabber II

She's growing fast with each day. From grabbing pacifier to shirt, from pillows to bolsters, now she starts grabbing my nipple and armpit. She likes to grab whenever she's feeding and the feeding position is such that her hand is free to roam anywhere under my armpit. This makes me vulnerable because her hand will start to roam and start wriggling my armpit. As i'm wearing singlet at home most of the time and she will start pulling my hair. Disgusting. What's worst, after feeding, i'll leave her on her own so i can clean the bottle, the next moment i return, her hand which wriggle and roam under my arm will be in her mouth..Ewww...

- Daddy

The grabber

Reading

Playing

This is the stage where baby grabs every and any thing and puts it in her mouth. Prior to this she starting sucking her finger and if she's hungry she'll put her entire fist in her mouth. So we did away with the mittens, partly because of hygeine and partly to promote her gross motor development. One less thing to wash. Some people tell us that we should never give the kid a pacifier, others say sucking the fingers will disfigure them, our PD told us that I shouldn't let the baby suck for comfort as it's a bad habit and that we should give the pacifier. Who are we to listen? And what would baby do to get some comfort to help her fall asleep? I figured we give her all the soothing methods in moderation so that she won't get used to one. In the day, my mother in law will give her the pacifier and sarong if it's difficult to get her to sleep as it's the fastest way to comfort a kid and she has other house chores to do. At night and during the weekends, hubby and I will take turns petting and cradling her to sleep, at the same time holding her arm down to prevent her from sucking her fingers. Since she starting grabbing , she has been pulling out her pacifier out of her mouth at times, grabbing and pulling my shirt while nursing, grabbing the side of her blanket while sleeping and pulling her shirt up. Shame shame.

- Mummy

Leaving soon

" I love Mommy"

In a few more days, I'll be returning to work. Time really flies. It seems like I was just pregnant yesterday. Sometimes hubby and I would tell each other that we can't believe we're already parents. Doesn't feel like we are a daddy and mommy.
Maternity leave was mostly enjoyable except the first month where my stitches became worse instead of better and my admission to CDC for a drug allergy, on top of all the breast feeding problems and the blues.. I'm glad I persisted with the breast feeding:) This was the time that I've done the most shopping as well:P. Usually I would buy a piece of clothing once a month or every other month. And I would go to 5 different shops to compare prices and see if i can get a similar design at a cheaper price. Now, I just grab and go, but of course still minding the price. It's quite therapeutic doing so. I've never bought soo many pieces of clothing in 2 months, but also I've grown a size bigger and need to buy more working clothes. Excuses:). Also I feel I deserve it after bearing child for 9 months, all the stretch marks, aches, tiredness, out of shape body and of course caring for baby.

Some days, I think to myself that I could stay at home and mind the child for the rest of my life. Other days I think I might go crazy doing so. Research has shown that part time working mothers have psychologically and emotionally healtier children, and it doesn't take a genius to explain why. Most of us at my clinic would also recommend a mother who is stressed out with the children to go and find work or get a hobby. Seems it's the fastest and effective way instead of going through all the counselling.

Any how, it's been a blessing and joy to see baby's "firsts" and to think that I'll be missing that in future leaves me with some guilt and discontentment. Baby's first smile, first laugh, first time she could grap her toy, turn her head while lying on her tummy etc. Mommy will miss you baby.

- Mommy

Enriched experience

Baby in church

On Good Friday, we went for morning service at our church, expecting to be ministered to and to worship God on this special occasion. But it was far from our expectations. As Ruthie grows, she is becoming more curious about the world around her, at times soo curious that she forgets her hungry and sleepiness, becoming grouchy there after. Usually during the worship portion of service, we would put her to sleep so that she won't cry and disrupt the service. On Good Friday, she didn't fall asleep during worship, got irritated and started crying. Probably the lighting at the area that we were sitting at was too glaring. Or probably she knew it was a different church( G2) from our usual one ( G1) and that kept curious george awake.
Ever since we had Ruthie naturally we had to sit at the cry corner during the service. Initally, I was wondering how parents can really listen and absorb the preaching or experience God's presence during the service with a child next to them, who can be totally unpredictable. You see parents walking in and out of the service maybe because the kid is crying or he needs to nurse or needs a diaper change etc. It was definitely difficult to experience God like before since we had Ruthie. But it's not impossible to put aside the fear of her unpredictablity and her as a distraction and just to worship God. Needs some adjustment.
Any way, during the Good Friday service we ended up outside the sanctuary for most of the preaching and met our cell member with her kid outside as well. And we ended up conversing until Ruthie slept. At the end of the service while waiting for the crowd to disperse, we met with Senior Pastor and his wife who were on their way out and of course started talking about baby. He commented that when 2 people get together in a marriage it takes some adjustment but when you have a kid it changes your entire life. But it also enriches it so much more. And of course we totally agree.
Ruthie has taught as so much about patience, about sacrifice and how to love admist frustration, how to put yourself and your needs at the back of the line and just care and love another being. In marriage you get some of that but the difference is your spouse can reciprocate that.So it is not so tiring or frustrating. And of course there's verbal communication which makes things so much easier. For a baby this age, all they care about is whether their own practical needs are met. Ruthie has also taught us selflessness in our marriage. The need to support and love our spouse more, to work as a team instead of bickering over minor issues which we might have when we were childless. With lesser with one another, we also learn to cherish whatever time we have with one another. And of course a strong martial system is the back bone of the family.
We love children that's why we decided to conceive after one year of marriage but we never realise it would be the most trying experience of our lives. But after 3 months, we are much more adjusted and enjoying experiences with baby more and learning from trying ones. If not we would have left her in a basket and let it float down down Singapore river :P.
-Mommy