Ashlynn - 21 months!

My baby girl is growing so fast and 3 more months, she will be celebrating her BIG 2! It is quite difficult for me to keep up with what she's doing lately because every day, she surprises me with NEW things! One morning, she talks more. The next day, she does something extra. And the following day, she acts differently. Her little teeny tiny actions never fails to put a huge smile on my face.

Ashlynn...

This is what you have been up lately.. at the age of 21 months. And, I'm loving every beat and moment of it. Because time flies. And I cannot go back to the previous days. So, I'm savoring each moment. Digesting them bit by bit.

You know what? I just love to watch you Dance. Yes, dance! I didn't teach you. No one teaches you how to jump and swirl around or even tip toed like a ballerina. Where did you learn it? I don't know. But you are creative. You dance to every songs, and your favorite TV shows are Barney and Hi5. You learned a lot from both shows, especially your dancing skills, actions and English. At this age, I'm really impressed with the number of words you know, and now.. you are learning to speak 3 words at a go. Like Let Me Go... Catch A Ball... Sit up... a lot more. Forgive me for my short memory. I should start documenting every time you say something new. Because. It's your achievement! The moment I heard it, my eyes stared at you , asked you to repeat and there you go, start giggling! A happy giggle! Haha!

You love your little brother. Whenever you see your brother, you go next to him, you say sai (sayang) and you stroke his hair, sometimes you even pull his tiny hair and he will go ngeekkk. Haha. And you kiss his tiny feets, you touch his little fingers and you love to point to his eyes and say eyes.. then nose.. and ears. Even though at times you wanted to be carried when you see us carrying your brother, and I've tried my best to carry both your brother and you together, but I failed. My arms couldn't take it. I've tried. I just don't have the energy to lift you up with my right hand when your brother is already on my left hand. You might be wondering... why. But as you grow up and when you read this, both papa and mama love you the same. Our love towards you never change.. but we could say that we love you EVEN more.

Let's talk about sleep. You were so used to me putting and accompanying you till you sleep, but ever since your brother was born, your daddy has been putting you to sleep. Thank you for adjusting well. You adapt really well and fast! And when I hear both of you and your daddy giggles or chuckles or have a little playtime before sleeping, I feel like joining both of you from the other room. I miss sleeping with you. And I really miss waking up in the middle of the night to a sweet little cutie pie, lying next to me! I just can't wait for the day when your brother sleeps through the night, we will all picnic in one room! And... it's going to be more FUN! More chuckles! More giggles! And I foresee, sleeping time will take longer than usual................. :p

And now we talk about your friends! You have 4 friends (Jason kor kor, Claire jie jie, Isabel mei mei and Jayden kor kor) and your best friend, Isabel and you learn a lot from them. You learn how to share your toys. You learn how to speak. You learn how to act. You learn how to interact. You learn a lot! And we are happy that you are happy when you are at the sitters'. You love playing with Bel so much that one fine day, you called for Bel and you said Bel, share share in your dream. Guess you might have trouble getting the toys you want from Bel. Me and papa looked at each other, and we couldn't help but laugh. You see, you never fail to make us laugh and smile.

I have a lot more to write, but I know I am missing out on so much more, but again, I will keep these updates coming. And I know I have slacked in writing your developments, documenting your milestones. So, I will keep more posts coming in. All about you and all about your little brother. I even printed them out and I hope to get an album for all these, that 10-20 years later, you can read back all about your childhood days. I have no intention of stopping to write and blog. Even though with so little time for the day. And I choose not to sleep but write with the little free time I have, because all these are worth remembering.

It's my way of holding tightly on all these precious priceless moments and milestones. And as I write, I smiled!

We are blessed with both of you and we love you both very very much! And both of you make our life complete!

D-Link Cloud Cam VS Baby Monitor

When Daniel was still in the womb, we had many plans listed and one of it was to purchase a baby monitor. We did some survey, from website to websites, link to links and good quality baby monitor is superbly expensive! Good one can go up to RM1k, which is very clear and high in resolution especially during the night.

So, instead of getting a baby monitor, we decided to go ahead with an IP Camera! Which is half of the price of a baby monitor and yet the quality is good! After using it for 1 week, we are totally satisfied with the result. We can easily monitor our baby anywhere in the house, I just need to switch on the Dlink Cloud Cam app. But, the downside is that in the app, it gets disconnected after 30 seconds and you have to press the Reconnect button again. But, if you are monitoring from computer, it stays good and clear and not lagging at all. You can even monitor from the website, but sometimes it can be quite lag when your baby moves. Unless you have a super high speed network.

 We purchased this model and it works great just like a baby monitor. Only RM200+. And if you are outstation, it can serve you well as an IP camera and can spy your house anytime and anywhere.

Here's the screenshot captured when monitoring from computer. Ain't it great? This camera is so useful especially when baby is sleeping in the room and I'm out in the living room with Ashlynn or I need to settle some house chores.

 The quality during the night. 

 The quality during the day!

Well, if you think purchasing a baby monitor is too pricey, then consider this! And today, I can't live without this camera...... I'm using it day and night, almost 24 hours a day! And we are SATISFIED! Good purchase! =D

Daniel - 6 weeks

Date : 24 June 2013

How far along : 6 Weeks

Weight : 4.02kg at 4 weeks checkup

Height : 53cm at 4 weeks checkup

Sleep :

Here's how your sleeping schedule like.

8am - Wake up for milk, sometimes you sleep back after milk. Otherwise you will take your bath and sleep around 10.30-11am.

12.30pm-1pm - Wake up for milk and then sleep back around 2-2.30pm.

4-4.30pm - Wake up for milk. Take a quick bath. Change to your pyjama and then sleep around 6pm.

7.30-9pm - Wake up for milk. And sometimes you fall back to sleep right away after milk. If not, you will sleep around 11pm.

2.30-1am - Wake up for milk. Sleep back around 2.30-3am.

4.30-5am - Wake up for milk. Sleep back around 6am. Basically at this hour, I wonder why you tend to vomit out your feed. And sometimes I choose not to nurse you but rather rock you back to sleep. At least no vomit, no cleaning job as early as this hour. But, this method does not work. You need to nurse in order to fall back to sleep. If I'm lucky, no vomit and you doze off right away. Hopefully you pass this phase soon...

And the cycle continues ..............................

Anyway, you have been sleeping well. I roughly know your sleeping pattern and when to put you to sleep. Sometimes when you are full and happy, you can easily doze off on the rocker! I wish everyday is as easy as this! Haha! =)

Food : You're still on mama's milk. And sometimes you hate the bottle. But you need to adapt to bottle little man. Because. You will be going to the sitters' next month. Mommy has got to work. And at this age, you're drinking 3oz. Sometimes you can go up to 4oz. Wow. I wonder if I overfeed you, but you just need that amount of milk. Otherwise you scream to the top of your lungs! Haha! So, this is what we called feed on demand.

Best moment this week : Mommy has been spotting you SMILING! Especially after your milk when you are full and content. And sometimes you are smiling in your sleep! So cute! You can even lift up your head when you are on your tummy, and turn your head left and right. Your grandma was impressed the other day when she saw you turning your head at such young age, as young as 6 weeks! Good job baby .....

We love you very much baby boy... And we are so so blessed to have you in our life. Your sister is adoring you as well. And we all LOVE you VERY much!

She melts my heart... when she loves her brother!

A mother of two, it's definitely a victory or a proud moment when you see both of your kids are playing together, love one another, share things together, protect one another, look after each other, care for one another..... 

And on 26 June 2013, 6.30pm.... 

I was busy washing and cooking rice in the kitchen, and decided to take a quick spy on both the kids in the living room, whether they were doing ok... As I stepped out from the kitchen, I quickly grabbed my camera and started snapping photos..... because, I do not want to miss out the most beautiful picture ever since our baby boy was born. The best photo ever captured! When I saw Ashlynn sitting next to her brother playing her toys. Ohh, you might say this is just so coincidence, pretty normal, but to me... the living room is big and why did she choose to sit there, right in front of her brother and not anywhere else? I've not seen her sitting so close to her brother playing her toys and this is definitely the most beautiful heart warming photo ever.

My heart melted instantly. I love both my babies. Even more when both of them are so close to each other. And my prayer to both of them, that they will always protect one another, love one another, care for one another and pray for one another..... that they will be the best siblings ever. And. They will grow up feeling so blessed to have each other in their life!

Guess I just have to station my camera every corner of the house .. to not miss any good best awesome moment like this! =D

Mixed Feelings....

Today, I had my post-natal follow up checkup with Dr Paul Tay at Prince Court. As usual, he greeted us with a big smile and asked if everything is ok, do I still have pain, is baby ok, breastfeeding well.. and the lists go on. Well, he's such a caring doctor and then, he said "This will be your last review".

My heart stopped. My last review. I began to digest those words. My last review. Which means no more appointments. No more ultrasound scans. No more excitement waiting for the day to go for checkup and see our growing baby. Yes, 2nd pregnancy ended well and baby boy was born healthy and strong. But, I feel sad. Because.... I miss my pregnancy so much! I miss having checkup at the Dr and looking at our growing baby via the screen. I miss the baby squirms and kicks in my womb. I miss the whole fact of getting pregnant, feeling so pregnant and giving birth. I miss those days.

Knowing the fact that I still have one more pregnancy to go, our 3rd baby, I feel a little emotional. We both agreed that we will raise 3 children. 3 babies. A family of five. And with that 'agreement', I know that 3rd pregnancy is going to go by this fast as well, pregnant and give birth and then..... close shop. The end. No more pee on the stick, no more excitement waiting for the control line to appear and then a positive sign on the stick, no more ultrasound scan, no more excitement whether we are having boy or girl, no more kicks in my womb, no more growing belly, no more counting contractions, no more waiting for the grand arrival of our baby, no more checkups at the OBGYN, no more labor pain, no more newborn baby smell in the house, no more sleepless night, no more breastfeeding................ etc etc etc etc.

Oh well, after our 3rd pregnancy, I will surely miss the whole process. Trying to conceive, pregnant,  feeling so pregnant and giving birth. It is sad because I enjoy pregnancy so much, I like to be pregnant, stayed pregnant, and if possible ... forever pregnant. Haha!

And then. Moving on to the next stage of life, raising our 3 kids.......
A beautiful perfect family of five!

When those days....

Dear Ashlynn and Daniel,

Today is one of those days that I felt so incompetent. Incapable.

You know, it is always my desire to be a stay at home mom so that I can give my all to both of you. And I can be with my precious children every day, every hour, every second. That I can ensure you two have proper meals, eat the most nutritious food, wear good clean clothes and most importantly, to nurture my children. I think I can do better than anyone else, and give my very best to both of you.

But today... not anymore. I feel that I do not know how to take care of both of you. Especially taking care of newborn, I feel so miserable. Not because of the sleepless nights, or the crying or whatsoever.. but I feel lousy for not able to read your mind. Your cry don't mean I want milk all the time, it could be something else, which I fail to analyze. So, most of the times, I give milk. And wonder if I overfed you. And that almost every time I burp you, you regurgitate milk. Could this mean that you are overfed? At times you vomited. I know regurgitating and vomiting is common in babies especially newborn, but I feel lousy when I see you like that. I feel that I'm incompetent to take care of you. And at this time, I think other people can do better than me. =(

I wonder if this is post-natal blues... that I felt so miserable. Perhaps I was too tired. Or overworked. I admit I do miss sleeping through the night and have a nice sweet dream. I won't lie about this. Who wouldn't want a nice uninterrupted sleep?

I'm sorry if at times I raised my voice, or took out the little cane, or even gave a spank on your thigh, sometimes I don't mean it and I lost my patience just like that.. kids are still kids anyway. I'm sorry! 

Despite all these, Mommy loves both of you very much! Really! From the bottom of my heart! You both are my little champs and I will do whatever I can to give you both the very best out of me. Even if I needed to squeeze out the juice of my bones....

I pregnant, I give birth and I take care.
The three I's that keep me going!

Mommy loves both of you very very much!

Hugs!

Nite!
 

What we have in common ....

Between Jie Jie and me..

1. Same Look. Same face features. And everyone says we look like Mommy! Mommy is very happy about this.

2. Same Birth Weight. Believe it or not, we were both born at the weight of 3.02kg. Exactly the same! Mommy was very good at baking both of us in the oven , pumping in the same amount of food and that we both came out the same weight! Hopefully our next bro/sis will come out the same weight too.. :p

3. We were born during lunch time. Jie Jie was born at 12:13pm and me, 12:17pm. So coincidence that it was only 4mins apart!

4. Jie Jie share the same birthday month as Daddy (September) and I was born at the same month as Mommy (May). These two months will be so special ......... Four stars were born =)

5. We both inherited daddy's birth mark.

6. And we both inherited daddy mommy's double eye lid!

And these are all that we have in common ..... cause we are brother and sister! Teehee..............

Happy Full Moon Daniel !

Happy full moon my lil one! You're one month old and how time flies.. At this ripe age, you've experienced what are called flu, congested nose and cough.. And when you vomited the entire feed, I became pretty nervous and emotional that my tears dropped on your soft cheeks seeing how much you're struggling just to breathe. But you looked at me, stared at me and your that look is assuring me that you are fine. Looks like you're stronger than me. We brought you to the Dr today and thank God, you are not wheezing, your lungs are clear and all is good, except for the sticky eyes that we need to get you the antibiotic eye drop. Hopefully your eyes will get better through this. Keep going little man! Live up to your name, Daniel! 

You're currently still wearing newborn size rompers/sleepsuits and even diapers! But looks like you have outgrown the newborn size diapers and we will be moving you to size S. Let's finish up the remaining newborn size and we will see how the S size fits you. And at the Dr's checkup today, you have grown from 3.02 kg to 4kg! That's great! Good job baby... Not only that, you height is now 53cm (born at 51cm). Great news! Keep drinking and building up lil man!

You've been feeding well, but strange enough, you tends to have so called tummy upset every 5-7am in the morning. You can't sleep well, and you goes ee-eekkk, ngekkk ngekkk and when I carry you up, there you go, you throw up. Sigh.. wonder what's wrong, we have checked with your Dr but she said it's ok. As long as you still drink, feel comfortable, don't worry..... it's not colic either cause you are not crying in pain. *relieved*

The past one month has been great, and we are still adjusting well, especially when your sis needs some of our attention as well. But with the confinement lady around, I still get to play with your sis and I feel happy about it. Now the CL has left, I miss playing with your sis, hugging and kissing her and putting her to sleep. All these are now taken over by papa. He did a great job to keep your sis occupied while I keep you occupied. And very soon, when you learn how to crawl and walk and talk, we will all keep everyone occupied! I can't wait for that moment.. it's going to be pretty fun to see your sis and you playing together. =D

Well Daniel, I'm not writing a long winded post now, but I definitely will do it when I go back to work. *sorry boss* hehe. I need to catch some sleep as you will be waking up in the next 2 hours for your next feed. So, that's all for now!

And just want to let you know how much we love you and happy ONE month old! 

Why I dislike confinement ........

1. Cannot wash hair for 2 weeks
2. Cannot on fan and Malaysia weather is extremely hot, imagine carrying your newborn with a sweaty ikan masin body.
3. Cannot take bath, if want, use herbs. So troublesome.
4. Choices of food are so limited, ginger, ginger wine, red wine, herbs.... I miss having chatime, kfc, mcd, ice cream, laksa, etc.
5. You have to walk slowly and lie down most of the time.
6. Lack of sleep...
7. We spent almost 1k+ on food and herbs alone...
8. I feel lonely during confinement..... stay at home most of the time and worst still, in my bedroom almost 24 hours.
9. I can move freely where ever I like.
10. If you have a good confinement lady, not calculative one, then your confinement days will be good. Otherwise ...............................

That's all, I'm stress!

4 more days to go .........