Vai's weekly photo updates
Our little Vai's precious moments ... captured.
Week by week.
Week by week.
Doctor said: the parts where my eyelashes grow out, it's blocked and there's a bit of discharge, and an infection.
He asked Mom to wipe my eyelid often with a damp cottonball, and apply the cream he prescribed twice a day. Should clear in 2 days, he said.
>> Weight : 14.4kg (as at 12 May)
>> String more words together now : "Baby nangis ..." (baby's crying), "Mommy sini ... " (Mommy come here), "Jiejie, stop nangis" (Big sister, stop crying)
>> Much lesser requests for breastfeeding when in cars. Still feeds in the early morning though (about 2-3 short feedings in a period of 3 hours!)
>> Since some 2 months ago, I can fall sleep ON MY OWN when I'm sitting upright on my stroller!
>> Drew on Mom's bedsheet, wall, door and floor (and own legs) using markers! (7 May). Cried after Mom scolded me, and I helped wipe the marks on the wall and floor.
>> In Mom's attempt to gradually wean me off breastfeeding, she now only allows breastfeeding in the early morning. ie. no more 'feeding-on-the-go'. I'd usually get very cranky though (read: scream, throw body around and cry real loud). But Mom continues to implement this approach, and in the end I give up, stop crying and not get my 'demand'
>> Went 'swimming' (Fri, 9 May) with Anya. And the next day, my left eyelid started to swell, and by Sunday, my eyelid was pinkish and even more swollen! Perhaps it's because of something in the pool?
- When Anya throws her tantrum and cries out loud, I sometimes will come towards Anya and Mom with a serious look on my face, then say 'Stop ... stop' (with my index finger pointing up, rather close towards Anya). I'd then walk away, only to return a few seconds later and do the same gesture and say 'Stop' again.
- Moving the kids' room with Anya apparently needs a bit more adjustments. After those 'good' first few days, I'd come over to Mom's room in the middle of the night, and ask to be nursed. I'd then come again after an hour or so, and sometimes I'd refuse to go back (preferring to stay with Mom).
So it's been 'lack-of-sleep' nights for Mom and Dad this week.
>> My moods for mealtimes vary. I may be eating quite big meals at lunch time, and ate only 30% of the same portion for dinner. Mom doesn't force me to finish up my meals these days, as she feels it's better to avoid confrontations (making mealtimes feel like so 'negative') and simply go with my 'appetite'.
At times, I insist on self-feeding and totally refuse Mommy's offer to spoonfeed me.
>> I like to start doing 'funny' body movements these days. Like laying down on mommy's bed, and arching my back (so the hands and legs touch the bed, but not my bottoms / head / back).
>> Like to put on my stroller's seatbelts myself
>> Mommy's trying to wean me off breastfeeding slowly.
Starting 14 Apr, when I woke up at about 4 in the morning asking to nurse (I'd climb up to mom's bed, say "Cucu .. cucu ... ' (milk!) and try to lift her shirt!), she'd tell me softly to go back to bed and put me back to my bed. I'd then be crying so hard. It went on and on for many times, but apparently after some 10 minutes or so, I finally fell asleep again.
On 15 Apr:
- when I asked to nurse, at around 8am (when I wake up at about 6am, Mom lets me nurse), Mommy didn't give in to my request. Instead she offered me biscuits and ask me to drink some water from my water bottle. And it worked!
- Mom got me to nap in the afternoon WITHOUT breastfeeding! I cried for about five minutes before finally falling asleep on my own! (she pretended to sleep next to me, on the same bed)
Last week I found out that when Vai purposely misbehaved - eg. spilling water on the living room floor, smacking his spoonful of milk - and I firmly told him off with an angry tone (and smacking his hand), he'd actually respond by becoming more agressive.
After trying different approaches, apparently this one works (so far!)
When he misbehaves, I'd gently tell him not to repeat the action, briefly explain why it's wrong (and ask 'can you do that?', and say 'no...no...no...').
And it works! I mean, so far whenever I do that (ie. talking to him gently instead of being angry and phyically 'discipline' him), he'd at most repeat his action one more time.
[I may need to vary my approach, depending on the situation. But as he grows bigger, I know I most likely need to look into changing my discipline approach]
Ah yes, each child is different, and they each need such a personalised approach.
PS: No more runny nose this week!
On day 1, I kept on calling Popo "Ie-ie' though! Oops, hehe.
(note: 'Ie-ie' is usually used to call mommy's female friends!)
>> Went to East Coast Park on Saturday, 5 Apr. Went barefeet with Anya, played with sand too! Had real fun!
>> My runny nose got worse on Monday. Literally running down, from my nose to ... all over my face!
>> I got pretty cranky and difficult from Friday onwards.
Meaning:
- if I refuse to drink or eat, I'll blow it all over the place or let it out of my mouth slowly
- when I'm rebuked (read: told off) by Mommy after doing something that I shouldn't have, I'd act casual, stare to the front or even look at Mommy's eyes as if I've done nothing wrong, then I'd pick something up (a toy, or whatever) and throw it!
- So far, I'd usually cry when I want something and can't get it, or when I have a bad fall.
If I'm verbally told off / have my palm smacked (for throwing things) / have my mouth lightly smacked for blowing my milk all over the place, I actually ... do NOT cry. Even when Mommy looks at me really angrily.
At most, my lips will look like an upside-down 'U' for 3 seconds, then I'd keep my 'indifferent' look on my face.
Note from Mommy:
Vai's 'tough' attitude gets rather scary. I seriously need to find the best approach that actually WORKS in disciplining him (haven't found it yet!).
With Anya, I can look displeased, told her how sad I feel, and she'd most likely melt and feel sorry for what she's done. This approach obviously doesn't work for Vai!
Physical punishment (eg. smacking his hand) also doesn't work, because he'd act as if he simply 'doesn't care'! Which is also another worry, because I know if I continue to smack (out of my own frustration with his behaviour), it'll only make him even more 'tough' and difficult (read: he'd get even more used to such a treatment for his misbehaviours! Something which we parents want to avoid for sure!)
I definitely have to pray hard for God's wisdom and strength, and start reading books and other resources to better equip myself in handling a toddler with such a character.
Ah. Somehow I just have a very strong feeling that whatever tough situations Anya's been giving me, they'd be NOTHING compared to the challenges my little Vai will give us later.
(photo by Aunty Joyce!)
So now I have eight at the top and eight at the bottom.
>> We went to the Zoo, Explorer Kid (Downtown East), Bugis and City Hall and Vivo City.
(at Vivo City's playground on level two, I happened to 'eat' / 'crunch' some tiny grains of pebbles! I came walking to Mommy afterwards and showed her my mouth, then she quickly wiped the inside of my mouth with wet wipes, told me NOT to put things into my mouth again and let me go off and play again)
>> At Explorer Kid - an indoor playground area with lots of 'safe' grounds (more like a 'maze') for us to climb, I had a great time there! Mommy needed to 'tag along' too btw.
>> I now say the actual words while asking for something or explaining something.
Like, if I see an ant on the ground, I'd go "Mommy, sini ..." (indo for 'come here'), then when Mommy comes over, I'd go "Uh uh ... mut ... ' ('semut', indo for ant).
Or when I wake up in the early morning and want to be nursed, I'd climb up to Mommy's bed and say 'Cucu' (susu, indo for 'milk'). Oh, btw, I'd also say stuff like 'minum' (indo for 'drink') and sign for it.
>> I somehow like construction sites! I'd go wide eyed and say 'WHOA WHOA, MOMMY MOMMY!!' while enthusiastically pointing at the cranes and the buildings under construction. And when I see people working at the site, I'd say 'Ja ... ja' (kerja, indo for 'working')
>> I can say 'NO' loud and clear when refusing to do / give something
>> If asked by Mommy whether I'm allowed to do something (like when I'm about to tiptoe and touch the stove area), I can answer 'NO', and when asked if what I was about to do is dangerous, then I'd nod my head.
>> I like arrange things into straight lines (eg. little chairs, toy cars)
>> Mealtimes are rather challenging again this past week. When outside, I don't eat much at all. And the thing is, when I finally feel hungry, I can frantically go 'Mum mum! Mum mum!' and ask for something to eat NOW!
>> I can throw 'tantrums' nowadays and show my preference to NOT obey a request by looking at Mommy in the eye and refusing to move (and sometimes I'd lie on the floor, face / cheekdown!)
>> Fell from bathroom stool. My tongue bled a bit and got a 15cm red scratch on my back. Somehow my face fell on the pile of dirty laundry that happened to be on the floor though (usually there's a laundry basket on that spot). God's always watching over me, Mommy said! (6 Mar)
>> Had my very 1st haircut at a home saloon (6 Mar)
>> I nowadays also say: Cie-cie Nya-nya!! (read: Big sister Anya!)
>> I can repeat the words Mommy asks me to say (though not always very clearly)
>> I now say 'Bye' while waving my hand
>> If asked for my name, I now can say 'Ba-ee', hehe
>> So far when I see photos of myself, Anya, Mom and Dad, I'd point and say their name. BUT, recently I saw a photo of my friend Noah, and I pointed him out and said 'Noah!'
>> Got a new stroller!
Mommy said it'd ease the load off her shoulder - she's been carrying me on her sling when sending and picking Anya from school, everyday. And oh, she LOVES the stroller, because it's so light (3.5kg, compared to the other one, which is 9kg!), and can be carried over the shoulder too! Being a 'stroller', it can't recline though.
>> I'm always interested and enthused by: bicycles
>> My shoes are now sized 7
>> Take off shoes and place them into shoe cabinet without much fuss each time we reach home
>> I now wear XL-sized diapers (Huggies Dry Comfort)
>> I can feed myself using adult's spoons (not interested in small-sized spoons as you can't scoop that much food with it!), but usually after a while I kinda slow down (or totally stop!), and so Mommy usually lets me eat by myself in the beginning, and starts spoonfeeding me as well after 5 minutes or so.
>> Sat on IKEA bathroom step which Mom placed on their dining table, then spoonfed myself - 70% of my meals! (20 Feb)
>> In the past one month or so, 80% of the time I say 'Ek-ek' after I soiled my diapers.
>> Record: I said 'ek-ek' while touching the front of my diapers, then Mommy rushed me to the toilet and let me sit on the padded baby toilet seat, AND I pooped! Mommy's so happy! (21 Feb)
>> Like to 'sing along' whenever Anya or Mommy sings something (right now I can say the 'last words' of the 'God is so good' song, in chinese and english)
>> I like to run! Though still wobbly I'll still speed away (like a drunk little boy)
>> Like to go up the steps BY MYSELF (whie holding onto the railings of course)
>> I can point to the following body parts when asked: head, hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, hands, feet
>> A note from Mommy:
Lately, he's been showing more tantrums (something which I've anticipated).
If he asks for something that he likes (eg. our house keys, or going to the playground upon seeing one) and not get it, he can blast his volume, crying so very loud while swinging his arms and kicking his legs.
And if I try to pacify him by giving him a different toy, it sometimes ends up getting swatted off to the floor! (such a drama usually happens when he doesn't get enough sleep or rest).
If this happens while we're in public, as usual, Mommy gets stares from everyone around. And I'd usually then just smile and move on. Thanks to the many 'training' I get from handling Anya's public tantrums, I somehow do find handling his 'public tantrums' less traumatic (though obviously not enjoyable)
- My weight (as at 12 Feb): 13.5 kg
- As at 16 Feb, my coughs are still phlegmy! (and my nose's still runny). Everyday, I'd vomit 1 - 3x, on average (one of my body's ways of getting rid of the phlegms). Mealtimes (and milktime!) have been tougher these days.
- I now like to say 'Tiiiii...ga!' ('tiga', indo for three), then throw myself forward onto a mattress or a bed!
- I can now call my sis, 'Jie-jie' (chinese for big sister)
- I'd so frequently go, "Aeh...aeh...Mommy! Aeh...aeh...Mommy...Mommy!', calling out persistently while smiling widely, till I actually turn and look at him (and 'keep' on looking at him!), then he'd show me an action or two (like, leaning backwards while holding onto our gate, plunging himself down from our bed onto his bed, or sprinting out of our room)
It was fun! We swam, rode a horse, fed sugar cane bamboos to elephants and ... I got sun-tanned from the glaring sun.
I got my very first sets of hong-baos there! (Thanks uncles and aunties!)
I tried on floats (the ones you fit on both arms) and went on floating around. Often I was held and helped by Uncle Cuaca! And I was okay when he let me float by myself too! (Err, I drank quite a lot of the pool water though! Till I burped!)
- Went to East Coast Park and sat on the little bike seat in front (for my very first time!) while Daddy pedalled away
1. Ci (konci = to lock the door) |
9. Ca (baca, indo for 'read') 10. Ka (buka, indo for 'open') 11. Do-ah (Dora) 12. Noah 13. Jie-jie (chinese for 'sister') 14. Tiga (indo for 'three') 15. Tik ('suntik', indo for 'injection') 16. Teee (as in 'one, two, .... teeeee :) 17. Ja ('kerja', indo for 'work') |
|
>> This week Vai starts to be able to 'repeat' what I ask him to say. Like, at the end of our prayers, he started saying 'Amen' (well, it's more like 'Ah-Me', hehe).
>> Loves to call out 'Mommy ... Mommy ... Mommy ...!' quite loudly (and often, he'd 'show off' some actions straight after I turn and look at him, like wiggling, clapping hands or throwing himself to the bed. He'd call out our names too to show what he's done, like when he's stacked many blocks on top of each other)
>> Mealtimes and formula feedings (during mealtimes) have been pretty good. And I'm enjoying every moment of it (before it turns 'challenging' again).
>> Everyday, on average he drinks about 600ml of formula now
>> His meal portion is also pretty big (much bigger than before). Quite often, I'd end his mealtimes even before he shows signs of 'wanting to stop' (and judging from how his challenging mealtimes usually were before, I'm VERY amazed - and HAPPY!)
- Since 1 month ago, he knows how to play our DVD (ie. holding the DVD's centre hole, switching the DVD player on, placing it into the player, closing and pressing play, switching on the TV, and pressing the right channel so that we can watch the DVD)
No ear infection, no fever, though!
(if you also have fever and ear infection, apparently it can possibly be due to the mucus going up the ear, getting stuck inside, causing infection to take place, and hence the fever!)
Anyway, Dr Chua gave me:
- Salbutamol Syrup (2mg/5ml) -> open airway, asthma, phlegm
Dosage: 3 ml, 3x / day
- SCMC (2% Rhinathiol, 100mg/5ml) -> cough, phlegm, flu
Dosage: 3 ml, 3x / day
- Chlormine (4mg/5ml) -> flu, allergy (can cause drowsiness)
Dosage: 2 ml, 3x / day
>> Can fall asleep while carried in the sling (eg. when picking up Anya from school), WITHOUT breastfeeding!
>> I still ask to be breastfed. And on average now I'm breastfed for about 2 - 3 times (early morning, afternoon nap at home and sometimes early evening before dinnertime)
>> I drink about 400 - 500 ml of formula everyday now.
Mom spoonfeeds me during mealtimes (yes, as I eat, I drink milk too).
Breakfast - about 180ml
Lunch - about 100 ml
Afternoon snack - about 100ml
Dinner - about 80ml
Mom reckons spoonfeeding me while I have my meals is the best solution to my reluctance towards formula. She hasn't been using the weaning bottle with spoon for sometime now (unless we're outside) as I tend to spill some of the milk, hence drinking much lesser than what she's already prepared. And so spoonfeeding works better for Mom, because the glass is put under my chin to 'catch' spilled formula, so not much is wasted at all.
Oh, Mom doesn't like it if the TV is on during mealtimes, but she admits it does help a LOT in feeding me! Because apparently I eat much faster and drink my formula much easier!
>> I like to call out 'Mama! Mama! Mama!' and when Mommy comes, I'd then tell her what's happened, ask her to help me with something, or simply point to Anya to let her know that she's crying or something.
>> I'm now 13.2 kg (as at 22 Jan)
From Mommy:
When we reach home, asking him to take off his shoes and put them into his shoe compartment needs quite a bit of an effort (though not always). He'd be going everywhere despite our repeated requests and 'knowing' what he should've been doing.
And so I usually need to literally lift him up, place him near our shoe area, repeat my instruction, wait for it to be done and ask him to put them into the shoe compartment.
At times, he'd refuse to put them back and he'd be on the floor complaining and crying. I'd usually then just leave him there and when his complaint 'subsides' (usually in less than a minute), I ask him again to pick up his shoes and place them properly, which he finally then does (ah, I wonder sometimes ... what's so difficult about doing such a simple task, but then this is a boy toddler we're talking about)
| 1. Ca (car) 2. Tak (truck) 3. Ba (bus) 4. Na (banana) 5. Ig (pig) 6. Fy (butterfly) 7. Mmmm (moo-moo = cow) 8. Dog 9. Doggy 10. Duck |
11. Da (sepeda = bike) 12. Ma (map) 13. Do (Dora, as in Dora the Explorer) 14. Uh-oh 15. Ek-ek (poop) 16. Mum-mum (eat) 17. Ini (This one) 18. Dong (gendong = carry) 19. To (jato = fall down) 20. Duk (kejeduk = knocked head) |
21. Daddy 22. Mama 23. Mommy 24. Ish (fish) 25. Gi (gigi = teeth, brush teeth) 26. Tee (tree) 27. Uda (indo for 'done', 'finished') 28. Woof (wolf) 29. Wow |
Mom's so happy when she taught me the capital letter 'E', told me what it is loud and clear, AND I actually repeated and recognised it (16 Jan)
>> Nowadays, breastfeeding is no longer 'uncountable' within a day. Starting this week, I somehow can fall asleep by myself (in Mom's sling, on the way to pick Anya up from school!). So now, on average, I ask to be breastfed for only about 2 - 3x a day! (early in the morning, afternoon nap at home, early evening)
>> Fell asleep by myself, in the pram (!), while on a crowded bus (!) and while in a sitting position, on Monday, 14 Jan.
>> Understand a lot, but often choose to not obey (act as if I didn't hear anything)
>> If I refuse to do something, yet forced to, I'd throw tantrums (eg. start swinging / jerking whatever object that I was holding that Mom's trying to take away from me, while half-screaming).
>> Sister-brother relationship:
- We can hug each other and 'sayang-sayang' each other though nothing much has just happened.
- If I see her cry, I'd point and let Mommy know, then I'd go near her and sayang-sayang her head
- If Anya's crying wanting something that's in my hand, usually after a few moments, I'd give the object to her anyway. The thing is, since I'm yet to learn how to say that I want something - other than saying 'please' and extending my palm facing up - I'd usually end up 'snatching' the object from Anya, which then usually leads to her complaining to Mommy, pulling the object back from me and sometimes, crying.
>> Can 'sign' if I want 'more' (tapping the tips of both his hands together)
>> Can call someone (by tapping on her arm and saying 'eh ... eh...'), then do an action that I'd like to show to the person (eg. telling her that I'm now putting some pasta into my mouth)
>> At night time, like to somehow slide down from the mattress and sleep on the tiles!
- My meal portion does get pretty big lately. But I do need to self-feed at the same time.
- I used to drink about 150ml of formula a day. Now, I can drink between 300 - 450 ml everyday!
(Mom spoonfeeds me the formula - using the pigeon spoon - about 3x / day, each time about 120ml - 150ml)
- I do eat quite a lot again since I came back from our Jakarta trip
- I still do NOT wish to stop breastfeeding!
(the only time I'm willing to fall asleep withOUT breastfeeding is when I go to bed at night)
>> At night time, I have this habit of waking up about twice, wanting to be breastfed. So Mom (starting 11 Jan) began to 'train' me and let me 'cry it out' when I ask for milk. Eventually I do doze off (after some 10 minutes of 'crying' and 'attempting to get to the 'milk source')
- Mom and Dad notice that I can point to quite a lot of pictures (ie. understand words and associate them with correct pictures), eg. hand, hair, head, leg, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, hat, balloon, dog, cat, duck, elephant, butterfly, horse, sheep, eat, baby, milk, shoes, socks, tree, telephone, etc ...
- Words I can say clearly:
Daddy, Mommy, Mama, uh-oh, ish (fish), dog, duck, udah (indo for 'done'), mum-mum (indo for 'eat'), bis ('abis'. indo for 'finished'), Ta (tap, he wants to be the one tapping my ez-link card while boarding and getting off the bus)
- I now can say the last syllable of words like:
> Sepe...da (bike)
> Cie-cie A...nya (big sister Anya)
> Gen...dong (carry)
> Hip...po
> Christmas ... tree
... and quite a few others ...
And oh, I got LOTS of mosquito bites too. Huge and swollen ones. Seemed like insect repellant and lotions didn't quite deter them from bugging me.
(at Timezone - 'Taman Anggrek shopping mall', checking out the bike ride!)
Mom and two ladies (clinic staff) held onto me to make sure I didn't make 'sudden' moves. Didn't cry, just a one-second 'complaining shriek' towards the end of the jab.
>> Weight: 12.3 kg (as at 12 Dec)
Down by 100grams. I guess it's because of my weird 'hunger-strike' week.
>> I now eat my usual portion or a bit lesser than usual (definitely NOT as bad as last week!). BUT, I now always insist on self-feeding. And mealtimes get even messier! After a while, I'd be flipping my plate / bowl downwards, and my food will be all over my table. Then I'll continue on eating from there.
Mealtimes are now so messy that Mom now spreads out sheets of newspaper under my babychair to 'capture' the mess (making it less stressful for her when it comes to cleaning everything up afterwards).
>> Drooling also gets 'better'. STILL drools but definitely is now better than last week!
>> Now I can correctly put my hand on my forehead whenever I see a picture of Goliath (or whenever Mom says, "How's Goliath?'.
Err, actually, ... I sometimes do this gesture too when I see pictures of other men in the Bible book. Hehe.
And I did it once yesterday! Mom's soo happy! (BUT it only happened AFTER I whined, whimpered and half-cried asking to get off the seat!)
>> Other words I now can say:
- 'Duck' ... err ... for a duck! (while pointing at a duck too)
- 'Ni...' (Indo for 'This one ... ' when pointing at something, or 'Here it is ...' when giving something to someone)
>> I like the story of David and Goliath. I'd point at Goliath and when Mom asks, "How's Goliath?', I'd put my hand over my mouth and say 'Ah!' while giggling away! (btw, my hand's supposed to be on my forehead, where Goliath got hit by David's pebble!)
>> Sudden fever (28 Nov). It was 39.1 deg Celsius at around 5pm. Mom gave me paracetamol, and I was okay.
>> 'No appetite' days started on Wednesday, 28 Nov.
Sequence of events (roughly):
- Fever (39.1 deg, 28 Nov, 6pm)
- Fever (38.3 deg, 29 Nov, 9.30am)
- No appetite (read: only interested in breastfeeding. Not much of anything else).
I'd REFUSE food and formula milk. I'd turn my face away, scream and cry, refusing to eat or drink any formula. I'd eat only about 15% of my usual meal portion.
For example:
Breakfast : halved boiled egg
Lunch: two tablespoons of rice and vegie
Afternoon tea: two small cubes of papaya
Dinner: two tablespoons of rice and vegie
>> As at Sunday, 2 Dec : Not much improvements on the appetite problem.
>> Mom's assumption: teething (or some sort of swollen gum or something), because my drooling has also become pretty excessive! (at times, it'd drip like a not-properly-turned-tap!)
>> Two more teeth start to come out at the top (the left and right spots next to my four middle teeth).
So now I have eight at the top, and six at the bottom. Fourteen in total!
>> Anya likes the Hi-5 song that goes, "Go, go, go, go ... STOP! And gooooooo.... STOP!'
And so nowadays, I've been singing that song too!
I'd say, "Goooo.... Ta!' (and gesture 'stop' with my palm facing outwards!)
>> Like to repeatedly say, 'Ja...to' ... (Indo for: fall down)
>> Like to hug Anya (and vice versa). This is one of my favourite playtime activity with her lately.
>> Like to stand on my tricycle's saddle while holding onto something nearby
>> Like to carry my plastic stools around the house, put it on ... the sofa, mom's bed, my bed, bathroom, etc.
>> Like to hop onto my my plastic stool and stand on it (holding onto ... nothing)
>> Was subtly munching something for a few minutes, until Mom checked my mouth and found a 10-cent coin! (happened twice in a day!)
>> Climbed onto the coffee table (made of thick glass!), stood up and tried to reach for our ceiling fan's dangling bits (15 Nov)
>> Starts to self-feed halved, peeled apple (16 Nov)
>> Woke up and started sneezing and coughing, with thick phlegms too (18 Nov)
>> Clingy. If left in a room and I can't see Mom or Dad around, my lips will start looking like an 'upside-down U' and if I still can't spot my Mom and Dad in a few seconds, I'll start crying out loud.
(AND when asked to stand by Mom, I'd shake my head)
>> Can half-run and like to play chase with sis (or anyone, basically!)
>> If I want something badly and NOT get it, I'd cry really loudly (and scream too!)
>> If I see something dirty (eg. dirt on the streets, my own soiled diaper), I'd go, 'Eeeeee.....', while pointing at it!
>> Took out our 'Starhub Cable TV card' from the 'decoder' and placed it 'somewhere'. Mom then went all over the house looking for it, trying to think like 'me' (read: where would I put the card if she were ME!). In the end she found the card. Inside the bin!
Now the card is back on the decoded. With a MASKING TAPE over it.
>> Like to climb onto our dining chair, stand on it and rummage through whatever's on the table!
>> Mild runny nose started (29 Oct). And this means I start vomiting too after my meal (lunch and dinner). My tough mealtimes don't really help, Mom said.
>> Two more teeth start to come out (lower molar). So now I have twelve teeth in total.
>> Despite Mom and Dad's effort, I somehow just keep getting bitten by bugs or something everyday. Hiks.
>> Fell asleep BY MYSELF while in a sitting position in my pram (on our way home from a shopping centre, 30 Oct)
>> Can now put palm on chest and 'tap' a few times upon hearing the word 'kaget' (indo for 'surprised' or 'shocked')
>> Pointed to the clock and said 'Ja...' ('Jam': indo for clock)
>> When asked to do something and refused, I'd now shake my head
>> If I've made a mistake and asked about it (or asked to say sorry), I'd sometimes look away and shyly hug Mommy (or whoever's carrying me at the time)
>> Pulled down and took off own shorts all by MYSELF (30 oct)
>> When asked to kick a ball, I can now say 'kick ... kick ... ', go to the ball and kick it (and often kind of lose balance for a bit! :)
>> Somehow I'm just quite attached to Mommy (or Daddy). I'd cry my hearts out if I'm left in a room with none of them - nor Anya - in sight (unless I'm at home, then I'm fine).
>> I now can express my 'unhappiness' about something by making a quick grunt (more like a quick 'scream') and jerking both my arms downwards!
Oh, and I somehow manage to get down by myself too afterwards
>> Can now do:
- High Five: raise arm and face palm forward
- Bird: Flap both arms
- Wipe face (with one or both hands) during shower - when it's above my head
- Thank you: nodding (jerking head forward)
>> Mealtimes have been tougher. I'd look away and not interested in eating much
>> Formula feeding (from bottle) is sort of worse. Mom usually manages to feed me about 50 - 60ml before bedtime. She still needs to sling me on and take me around the house (and show me something NEW!)
>> (Again) put Anya's rubber hair band into mouth, choked and vomited a bit (9 Oct)
>> Show more understanding when told 'Not to do something'.
Eg. When approaching the toilet bowl, I'd point at it and go "Uh ... Uh!', then Mom says "No no no .... it's dirty. Can you put your hand in it?', then I'll shake my head
>> Can now use a 'pedal bin' (read: step on the pedal, throw the stuff and let go off the pedal)
>> No more runny nose starting this Friday (12 Oct)! Yay!
>> Observe and copy others.
eg. I'd hold the toothbrush on my right, the toothpaste on my left, use my teeth to open the lid, then I'd run the toothbrush across the opened toothpaste lid and 'brush' my teeth.
>> I'd drink about 120 - 140ml before I go to sleep (Mom still needs to carry me in her sling, take me around the house while squirting the milk into my mouth. Otherwise, I'm fine with drinking NO milk at all)
>>
Sleep between 10.30pm - 11pm (I can only sleep when Anya goes to bed too, because that's when the light's off and Mom lies on our bed, between me and Anya, until I fall asleep by myself)
>> Half-awake at about 5 - 6am, wanting to be breastfed
>> When told that my food is still 'hot', I can now make a blowing gesture towards it. Hehe.
>> Lift my arm up high when asked how to do an 'elephant'! (my arm's supposed to be its 'long nose')
>> Whenever I see a cat, I'd usually point enthusiastically and say "Khaah ... khaah ...", and a dog "Ddaaah ... ddaaah..."
>> Whenever I see Mom carries another kid, I'd immediately 'complain' and ask to be carried instead! (this started since some two months ago)
>> Total of 10 teeth (Top: 6; Bottom: 4)
>> Can verbally understand and 'obey' a lot of what Mom and Dad say to me.
Like when they say, "Please pick it up and throw it to the rubbish bin', 'Please close the door', 'Please go and pick it up and give it to Anya'.
>> Other instructions that I understand so far, to name a few:
Get shoes; Take shoes off; Go to the toilet to shower; Sit down; 'sayang-sayang' which basically means to pat someone gently
>> (still) drool
>> Still like to lie on the floor (any floor), face up and flap both arms up and down!
>> Put Anya's hairband into mouth, choked and vomited (3 Oct). Mom only realised the 'cause' of my vomitting when she saw the yellow hairband amongst the 'stuff that came out'!
>> Lean head to one side when asked 'how do you sleep...'
>> Put both hands together whenever Mom and Dad say, "Let's pray"
>> When asked to 'kiss', I'd open my mouth, go to the cheek and say 'Mmmwaaa' (VERY wet kiss though! Anya often refuses to be kissed by me!)
>> Like to 'feed' people (and this works well for Mom, because when I feed Mom, she can also 'feed' me with minimal resistance from MY side)
>> Got a bit of a runny nose (starting 2 Oct)
>> First time: Hands on 'clay & matchstick' session (2 Oct)
>> Not so interested in napping or sleeping (eg. On 29 Sep, I only slept for 20 mins, from the moment I woke up at around 9am, to 11.30pm!)
>> My walk gets steadier, a bit wobbly still, at times, especially when I'm super sleepy but am not interested in sleeping (I hardly crawl now)
(Though it's rather tiring for Mom, at least I no longer scream and cry now. She makes the bottle's teat hole a bit bigger though, so it's faster to get the milk out and into my mouth!)
>> Since I like to take my shoes and socks off, Mom teaches me to do that whenever we reach home. To take off my shoes and sock and place them all in my shoe shelf. All by myself. And so far, I'm 50% successful!)
>> My meal portion is slowly returning to normal (which some say is actually rather 'a lot'. Hmmm.)
At times I still do eat very little, and so Mom stops feeding me. Sometimes she'd change the menu immediately and I'd eat well afterwards (still need frequent distractions though)
How it works: She'd pinch the bottle's teat, wait for me to swallow it, pinch and squirt some more milk, and so on.
Last time I used to wriggle with all my might when it comes to drinking formula. After some 20 seconds or so, I'd then give in and drink the milk (but Mom still needs to continually distract me with something).
Starting this week, I completely reject the bottle. And anyway Mom feels force-feeding me is really not a good idea. So now this is what she does each time she gives me formula:
She carries me in the sling and walks all around our home, getting me to see the light switch, picture frames, clothes hanger, fridge magnets, anything that's higher than me basically. Because when I'm interested in the objects, I'd look up and try to touch them. Thus, distracted enough (though for only a few seconds at times) for Mom to squirt some milk for me to drink.
And I no longer scream and cry during 'formula time'.
Another approach she's introduced this week:
She carries me in a sling, sits at the edge of her bed, lets me hold something interesting (a bottle, tooth brush, anything!), and while my head rests on her left arm, she'd be giving me the milk.
The thing is, Mom needs to keep changing the objects in my hand because I do want to hold something different every 10 seconds or so. For me to drink about 120ml, she'd usually be giving me around 15 - 20 objects to hold and observe!
>> Fell forward on Sunday 16 Sep, knocked my face onto the kitchen set toy. My lower lip bled and was completely better in four days or so.
>> Fell asleep by MYSELF again, for the 2nd time ever! (16 Sep) I was on my pram, sitting up, having my lunch at our nearby food court.
>> I jumped and landed on Mom's face when she's napping on my bed (I stood at the edge of Mom's bed and took a plunge, face down). My mom's lower lip bled a bit.
>> Mom just noticed that now I have 10 teeth at my upper gum
>> Drinking formula milk is still such a struggle for Mommy (and apparently she's quite draine, physically and mentally each time she has to give me some formula)
>> On average:
- I drink between 200 - 350 ml (formula milk)
- I get breastfed about 3 times a day (sometimes more, if we're out and about for one whole day)
>> I've been sleeping through the night (starting on 12 Sep).
This means
I no longer wake up asking for night time feed in the middle of the night (used to be at around 4 am).
Now, after I fall asleep (by myself now!) at night, I'd wake up and ask for milk (usually Mom still breastfeeds me, coz she's still so sleepy and can't imagine the need to exert any extra energy when giving me some formula!) at about 7am.
>> For the first time ever, I fell asleep BY MYSELF while on my pram (I just leaned backed on my pram). At the time Mom, Dad and Anya were having dinner near our home and Mom was sharing some of her rice with me (12 Sep)
>> Start doing 'peek a boo' (both hands cover both eyes, then my hands go all out, the my left and right, as I say 'bwaaa...'!)
>> Like to say 'Uda .. uda .. uda ..' (which is Indonesian for 'done', or 'finished' or 'already')
>> Shake head to indicate 'Cannot' and when Mom says 'No ... no ... no ...'
And from that day onwards, I'm more willing to try out my wobbly walking moves (though sometimes after a tumble, I'd then continue on with my crawling)
>> Mealtimes are still challenging (Aiming the spoon and getting it right into my mouth at the 'speed of light' somehow becomes one of Mom's acquired skills! Though she's happy if she does NOT need to have the skill at all!)
>> My 'drinking-formula-milk' episodes always start with me refusing the bottle, throwing my body backwards and crying. But once the bottle is inside my mouth, I actually am okay with it. Constantly need to be 'entertained' though, because otherwise after a few minutes or so, I'd want to get away and start the whole 'refusing' action all over again.
>> By now I drink about 200ml a day.
>> I can say 'Mama' (and at times 'Mommy') very clearly! (and to call Mom, of course)
>> I get quite close to Daddy, calling him, 'Dee....!'
(if I see him after he comes home from work, I'd immediately want him to carry me, or else ... I do make my request very 'vocally' known. My neighbours seem to have heard me singing the 'high notes' pretty often by now)
I keep on turning my head to the left and right, pushing away the spoon too at times.
'Unintentional' signs of me growing up, perhaps?
>> Fell face forward on 25 Aug and had a cut on my upper (and inner) lip and scratches on my nose, tongue and chin (Mom said they're 'growing-up' marks. Hehe)
>> Still not interested in drinking formula. I'd be looking away when the spoon comes near, spilling it onto my bib, or pushing the spoon away with my hands (generally, I'd drink a total of only 120ml of formula everyday)
>> Mealtimes also get pretty challenging for Mom. Sometimes I eat quite a lot. Sometimes I only finish half of the normal portion. Have started eating stuff from Mom's plate (tried durian, french fries, bread, fried rice, etc)
>> I can fall asleep by myself WITHOUT breastfeeding at night! When I wake up at night, I'd also go back to sleep without nursing. I'd want to breastfeed when I wake up and it's early in the morning though.
>> During the day, when we're out and about, falling asleep 'by myself' is still pretty tough. I can keep myself awake for hours and hours, past my usual naptime, if not breastfed.
Thing is, once the bottle goes near my mouth, I'd look away. If Mom gives me cups with a spout or a straw, I'd be sucking and spilling it all over my chest, on purpose.
So Mommy constantly distracts with books, toys or whatever that works and spoonfeed the milk. Or she'd put the bottle teat just inside my mouth and manually 'squirt' the teat towards the side of mouth.
Even then, I wriggle a lot. Or look away.
Obviously, weaning me off breastfeeding is going to be an interesting challenge for Mom.
>> Starting 14 Aug, Mom gives me formula before bedtime and not breastfeed. In short, I'm supposed to learn to fall asleep by myself. Since now Anya and I sleep on a super single bed (the mattress is put on the floor), Mom joins us, sleeps in the middle and pretends to sleep while I toss and turn. I'd crawl away, play and come back to bed, trying to fall asleep.
During the first 3 days, I was okay for the first 10 mins, then I cry for 15 mins. I then ... fall asleep. Often, I'd use Mommy's tummy or chest as my 'cushion'.
Amazingly, though I scream and cry, Anya can still fall asleep!
>> Climb up and down our sofa and Mommy's bed easily
>> Really into pointing at stuff. When we pass the usual spot (on our way to the nearby supermarket) where there are cats, I'd get excited, stand, point and say, 'Uh ... uh ...!' *smile*
>> Still attached to breastfeeding (and Mommy wonders when she can really wean me off)
>> When Mom says 'No..no..no', I'd be shaking my head
>> Love climbing up and copying Anya's actions
>> If someone tries to take away something from my hand, I'll hold on to it tightly and make sure it's not off my hands (combined with a little screaming and crying, of course)
>> Takes 3-4 steps forward (before plunging myself forward towards Mommy / stopping and crawling / falling onto my bottoms / falling forward)
>> Stack 2 - 3 blocks together
>> Much more vocal, with lots of consonants
>> Eat about 3 - 4 times a day. Mealtimes are better nowadays. Having things to stack or cups with lids in front of me helps a lot *smile*
>> Started self-feeding - plain cooked pasta for dinner. And it went well!
>> BUT, I'm still VERY clingy to Mommy. Perhaps I'm going through what grown-ups call 'Separation Anxiety'.
>> My 3rd and 4th teeth (lower gum) start to come out (perhaps I'm clingy because I'm teething?)
>> Master the art of "coming down from mommy's bed by myself". I'd lie on my tummy and reverse real fast.
>> When I see or want something, I can now point to the objects
>> Like to pass an object to other people and ask for the object to be returned (by extending both arms and making throaty sounds)
>> Like to place things into drawers / boxes (eg. toys into Mommy's drawers!)
>> Like to take things out from drawers and cabinets
>> Can stand alone, unsupported, steadily, but still prefer to squat and crawl when asked to 'walk over' to Mommy.
And we all thank God for caring and watching over me!
>> This past one week: frequently wake up at night and when napping. Clingy and ask to be carried a LOT.
>> Can now climb onto Mom's bed and get off easily, and BY MYSELF
>> Fell from bed during play with Anya (18 Jul). She apparently unintentionally kicked and I fell head down *gasp*
>> Like to open cupboards, drawers and doors.
>> Got my fourth finger (left hand) stuck under the door. Went to see the doctor (20 Jul), since my finger tip's swollen and the colour of the tip of that fingernail is a bit 'funny'. Apparently it's bruised! The doctor gave me an antibiotic cream (Mommy applies it when I sleep).
>> Like to drop things to the floor and move things around (eg. placing my bottle of cream into Mommy's drawer)
>> Like to watch other people do things and then follow them (eg. Mommy shows me how to put things into a box, then I follow Mom. Anya stands on sofa and plays with door knob, and I go and do the same!)
>> Like to get out of my babychair and stand. Mealtimes apparently become tougher for Mommy too (especially during the days when I was not feeling well).
Well, it all just shows that I'm growing up, everyone!
>> When Mommy says 'no, you cannot...', I sometimes would shake my head and hands
>> When I listen to music, I'd move my body up and down to the beat
>> When Mommy says, "where's the bird, Vai?', I'd sometimes be looking around trying to search for one. Once found, I'd then use my index finger and point.
>> When I want Mommy to carry (but she can't just yet), I'd sometimes cry out a very sad and tearful cry, and no one can comfort me. Not even Daddy. Hiks. (Happened twice so far)
>> Other than that, I'm still my happy and giggly self.
I'd 'reverse-crawl' and let my legs slowly go down the side of the bed. After my legs dangle by the bed side for about 2 seconds, I'd then land my feet onto the floor! Woopee...
>> I like to stick my index finger into my mouth nowadays
>> Swallowed a piece of my blue balloon (uh-oh!), but thank God it made its 'way out' (and that's how Mommy found out about it!). And errr, it was my SECOND time. The first one was a smaller piece of my blue balloon.
>> The start of another runny nose
>> Often like to 'escape' from my pram and baby chair by pushing myself up and stand
>> Can ride (and get down by myself from) my sister's toy horse
>> Often babbles loudly (using a lot of consonants)
>> Like to use right hand's index finger and point at things
>> Can get up from sitting down to a standing position much faster
>> Like to stand alone for a long time
And oh, I start to take one step forward (sometimes)
Note: I'd usually then quickly stretch my arms out, balance myself for a few seconds, then fall on my bottoms. Hehe.
>> Eating more variety of food now (eg. chicken, fish) after Mommy got herself a little blender
>> My weight: 11.2 kg (as at 19 Jun)
>> Solids: about 3 - 4 times a day (this includes biscuits time or fruits snack)
>> Gagged when spoonfed some formula milk by Mommy!
>> First fall (as a result of his climbing stunts) was from his plastic box (29 May)
>> Comfortable with his pincher grasp and manage to self-feed (crackers, biscuits and Gerber star snacks)
>> Start drinking from a straw cup
>> Red 'dots' start to appear around the neck, back, tummy and face (24 May). Looks like it's 'false measles' (Anya had exactly the same thing when she's about 11 months old, that's why Mommy wasn't that worried when she saw the rash).
>> As at 21 May 07 - Weight: 10,7 kg; Height: 74 cm
>> Babble A LOT!
>> Frequently make 'grunting-throaty' sounds (experimenting with different sounds)
>> Still drool, especially when munching on toys and teether rings
>> Climb on things (like onto Anya's bed). Yet to learn how to get down by turning my body and putting my legs down first.
>> Can put both hands together and clap, when we say, 'Hooray....!'
> Nap: 3x a day (late morning, afternoon and early evening)
> Cruise from one furniture to the other with ease
> At times, when Mommy says 'No...no...no... don't touch it, it's dirty', I'd turn around and crawl away from it (and afterwards Mommy always says, 'GOOD....' with a big smile!)
> Love my snack (Gerber finger food). Still learning the 'pincher grasp' though. Right now I can pick it up but it's in my fist. Hehe.
> Frequently 'let go', not holding onto anything, and just ... stand (for 6 seconds on May 8th)
> When I sleep at night, I'd wake up once for a feed (actually I wake more than that, but Mommy chooses to NOT breastfeed me. Instead, she'd just lay next to me and pretend to sleep. I'd usually then toss and turn, occassionally let out a little cry. In the end, I'd usually just fall asleep by myself again)
> When I wake up at night crying, I'd only go back to sleep if Mommy sleeps next to me. I'd sometimes be laying my head on her tummy or legs.
> Babbles a lot (more consonants too!)
> Can say "Mmaamaa...' and 'Ppapaaa' (though I'm yet to associate them with Mommy and Daddy)
> Loves to mess up Daddy's stacks of DVDs
> When we're outside and Mommy gives me solids, I still fuss and cry
> Had 2nd bruise; this time on right eyelid (21 Apr 07)
> Love to pull myself up while holding onto Mommy's legs
> Once or twice, I let go and not hold onto Mommy while standing up. I'd be standing for 2 seconds without support, before landing on my bums (safely 'protected' by my diapers though! Hehe).
> LOVE to make 'fart' sounds by placing mouth on Mommy's or Daddy's arms and blowing real hard!
> Love to stick out my tongue, blow and make 'Zzzzz' sounds! (results: spit and drool go everywhere!)
> Hardly suck my thumb (Yay!)
> Third tooth, top left, is now about 1mm; Fourth tooth, top right, is faintly coming out
> Dislike the loud sound of thunder (will start to speed-crawl towards Mommy)
> Babble ('Mmmmaa... mmaaaa... bbbaaa..baaaa...) and smile a LOT!
> Body weight: 10,4 kg (as at 21 Apr 07)
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>> Have discovered the art of 'slowly getting down by myself' from a standing position
>> Now sleep on the cot mattress, on the floor, so this way after Mommy breastfeeds me she doesn't have to keep on moving me back to the cot (especially since I wake up so easily!). This arrangement works really well!
>> When I wake up from my sleep, crying, I'd crawl out of the bedroom looking for Mommy (while still crying throughout the 'journey'). And upon seeing Mommy, I'd crawl even faster and pull myself up while holding her legs!
>> Said 'Ma..Ma' loud and clear (9 Apr 07, 3am)
>> Occasionally cruise along the furniture (eg. moving from the coffee table to the sofa)
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>> Keeps on pulling myself up into a standing position
>> Had my first bruise (1 Apr)
>> Still can't hardly fall asleep by myself if sitting on pram (Mommy's sling works best for me - though not for her back, shoulders and arms!)
>> 'Occasionally' obeys Mommy when she says 'No no no ...'
eg. I'd stop at the bathroom's door, not crawl in, sit back and wait for Mommy there (although at the time I'm really tempted to crawl in)
>> I'm now 10.3kg (as at 26 Mar). Obviously my being actively moving about slows down my weight gain, which completely is okay since Mommy's arms and shoulders often ache from carrying me.
>> Wake up once at night, on average.
>> Sleep training me has been tough on Mommy (it's been 3 weeks). I usually wake up within the first few hours after I go to bed. So Mommy now decides to just pick me up, let me sleep on her chest as she sits leaning on her bed. Or put me on her bed and let me go back to sleep on my own. No more nursing though (and it's been fine so far)
>> Found out that I have 'oral thrush', whitish-looking-something just underneath my tongue *gasp*
My GP gave me some cream for it (Ah, no wonder I've been refusing to eat my solids these past few days!)
>> Somehow I've stopped sucking on my thumb (in the past, I'd suck my thumb when I need to calm myself and go to sleep)
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>> Raises both hands to be picked up
>> Immediately crawls towards Mommy's lap when in need of comfort
>> Can play (read: put toys into my mouth) by myself for a long period of time (ie. more than 15 minutes)
Other quick updates:
>> Can crawl, sit and crawl again with no problem.
>> Still drools (hmmph)
>> Less spit-ups (yay!)
>> Wears XL diapers
>> Suck my thumb when I'm about to make myself fall asleep
>> On day 6 of 'sleep training', when Mommy puts me in my cot at night, I fuss less and fall asleep quite soon after Mommy pats my back several times.
Some quick updates:
>> Can crawl about 3-4 steps forward
>> Have my solids (still rice cereal) once to twice a day
>> Can pull myself up while holding onto my cot
>> Somehow managed to pull myself up and stood for the very first time (6 Mar)
>> About 1mm of tooth came out already on my lower gum!
>> Total no. of falls from Mom&Dad's bed: 4 times
>> Mommy started teaching me how to fall asleep by myself, Ferber method (4 Mar)
>> Weight: 10.2kg, Height: 69cm (as at 5 Mar 2007)
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And btw, one little tooth has started to peep from my lower gum!
(West Coast Park, 20 Feb 07)
And oh, I started my very first solids (Baby Rice Cereal) on Monday, 12 Feb 07.
And oh, I'm now 10kg (as at 6 Feb 07).
Also, I often get myself into a 'crawling position' and rock my body back and forth. I move about by wriggling and rolling all over the place *smile*
Btw, by now:
>> I like to sit 'forward' when on my pram
>> I spin around (360degrees) in just a few seconds
>> I drool a bit (read: not THAT much)
>> I can sit 'unsupported' (read: by myself) for a couple of minutes
>> I like to grab stuff (eg. my daddy's bowl of rice!)
Btw, my weight's up by only 200grams (since last month).
And I'm now 9,8kg and 69cm!
Watch out!
You don't get to see this for too long...
(During this week in Jakarta, I learned how to roll over 'everywhere' and move forward 'army smile')
*held by grandpa, during my very 1st trip to Indonesia!*
And ... hmm, I'm now 9,6kg and 65cm.
Fresh and happy little baby I am.
(hmm, btw ... I'm now 9.45kg)
I was at Fraser's Hill here ... enjoying my very first trip out of Singapore!
And oh, hmm... I'm 9kg now (eeps...!)
And oh, I now sleep 8 hours straight at night too (to mommy's relief!)
I've got fringe, Mommy!
And ... hmm, I'm now 8kg and 60cm.
I know ... I'm kinda big for a 10-week old little boy.
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> Haven't been smiling a lot
> Coos and makes 'aahs' sounds
This is me, just being plain 'cool'.
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What are you looking at?
Just plain sleepy
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Just had my Hepatitis B jab too! *ouch*
