The active boy



Playtime on May 23 2010

2 months and 2 days old

Teddy can play on his own. That makes taking care of him (hee) easier.

On Vesak day, we decided not to bring Teddy to Lama Shifu's place for prayers. Reason being, there would be many people, and hee we were afraid that people would not wash their hands with soap before touching Teddy.

Yes sorry for being sticky with this. To me, Teddy is a newborn, and I do not wish that he catches any germs. I know that when he falls sick, it falls back mainly on the nanny and myself. There would probably be family pressure to make sure he gets well quickly. This can be stressful. Hence, the protective gear I have set up so far...

When Papa is not around...



Well the above video has nothing to do with Irwin, except for the fact that he took this video. Reason for the title is that..yes he is not around! He is currently at reservist - ok I just received his good night call. I feel pleased that after knowing him for seven years, I can still miss him after him being away for a day. Having a baby has brought us even closer - from attending the antenatal classes together on Sundays, making purchases at the Takashimaya Baby Fair, being with me and encouraging me at the labour ward, to us struggling together as new parents to take care of Theodore who cried almost the entire night on the first night we brought him home.. I am sure there are more memorable moments to share...

Busy days..& weekends..






Well, since the arrival of Teddy, being busy and having to wake up at 4am daily has become the norm.

He currently takes an average of eight feeds per 24 hours cycle, and when expressed into bottle at 120ml.

This dictates my schedule as I will be feeding him approximately at three hours interval.

Boring as it may be for the readers, here's my new lifestyle and routine

12am. Last pump before going to bed
4am. Wake up to express (usually read up online on baby care & development)
8am. Feed Teddy direct, and express what was not consumed
9am. Breakfast; check emails; letters; administration (for example Teddy's insurance, financials, and stemcord Giro application, liquidating some of Irwin's and my investments)
11am. Feed Teddy; sing and chat with him
12pm. Lunch, look after Teddy
2pm. Feed Teddy and shower

3pm. Nap time!
5pm. Feed Teddy; prayers (sometimes I bring Teddy in) & playtime with him
7pm My dinner, look after Teddy
930pm. Feed Teddy (this is usually a loong one hour session; and he can crank up and cry here..I think he is either tired to suckle or he wants me as a human pacifier - anyhow I dont really allow that, so as he cries, I pat him to bed)
11pm. Watch Fraiser or Seinfeld for a good laugh with Irwin
12pm. Last pump

Now you know the truth about my daily schedule.

Thoughts on Becoming a Mum

As Theodore is 1 month, 3 weeks and 6 days old today, so have I become a mummy for 37 days. With no prior experience with a baby (but of course), Irwin and I attended antenatal classes back in December 2009, together with Stella and Alvin whose baby Joshua is four days younger than Theodore.

What we have learned from the course has proven to be very useful. At least it helps us to combat the many opinions from the well-wishers, some of which do not make hygiene sense. In addition to that, I frequently have to research on the internet too on tips and advice. With the good fortune of friends who already have babies, they have become key practical guidance too.

So far Theodore has been a joy. Apart from his skin rash initially, there is nothing we really need to worry about. I focus on feeding him, playing and stimulating his sense of development. The nanny focuses on baths and putting him to sleep. The grandparents carry and speak to him daily.

Common Issue

In my earlier post I mentioned issues with my MIL. I realised I am not alone.

Some ridiculous scenarios my friends do experience include:

• if the baby has constipation, the MIL blames it on what the mum eats. But hey, wasn't the confinement food cooked by MIL? Oh yes, she forgot - so MIL blames it on the food mum consumed while pregnant
• Baby's stools are supposed to be loose, textured, sometimes seeming grainy or curdled. MIL insists that baby is having diarrhea despite paedi. confirming that it is not.

Some of my own experience includes:

• I was having fever and chill. MIL becomes suspicious daily that I have spread the sickness to baby. She did not realise that if mum breastfeeds while sick, the body actually generates antibodies and goes into the breast milk which is even better for the baby.
• MIL insists that baby's nose is stuffy and stuck based on the breathing noise. I say thats because his nostrils are not clean. MIL checks his nostrils along the dark corridor and say No his nostrils are clean. So I say, how do you check when there is no light? I brought Theodore to the sunlight and gave her a status update on his nostrils.

Its tiring. I think its ego and home politics. After all, MIL is used to being the queen of the family. But now, with regard to Theodore I insist on my ways based on what I learn and read. Anyhow I am tired of the long battle since bringing Theodore home from Gleneagles.

I have decided to focus my joy on Theodore, my hubby and building my family. You shall not get me down!

The Drama with Theodore's skin




Here, Baby Theodore is 1 month 1 week old.

I think when you have a baby, at times you would LOVE it; at times it might just get you down.

We have been rather busy as Baby Theodore has developed eczema on his cheeks.

To the paeditrician and some of my close friends, this is not puzzling - it is very common among babies.

My mother-in-law and the nanny insisted this was milk rash and have been over-cleaning his cheeks (which could have made it worse). This was despite me telling them that the first paedi. has mentioned it was not milk rash. When I was required to repeat it for the 7th time, I lost my temper, and for the first time in my life, I raised my voice at my MIL, although also explaning that if we keep focusing on the wrong type of rash, we would be giving the wrong treatment to him.

At the end of one week, as it has deteriorated, sickening enough, my mil wanted me to use boiled green bean water to treat one of his cheeks, and my nanny suggested that I apply my saliva on his face right after his milk feed. After one week of battling with the family, I actually gave in and decided to try these primitive methods. Sickening to think about it - yes I applied my saliva. Luckily I didn't listen to their suggestions fully, and only did so for his chin. It got worse. So, I say, thats it, no more experimenting, I am going to bring him to see a second paedi.

Right now, Theodore is recovering well and I am happy about it.