Visit to Ipoh

Huirou and I spent Christmas in Ipoh with my family. We painted the town red with our daily excursions. While I stuffed myself full of Ipoh's best hawker food and the best teh ice (iced tea with condensed milk) , Huirou feasted on the sights and sounds of this wonderful town.

Huirou especially love the malls. I found out that whenever we were out and about, she never once cried. She was too busy taking in all the hustle and bustle of the city. She will act up whenever we reach home. I kinda like it though, coz if she doesn't act up in public then I will be less embarrassed.

During the week in Ipoh, she perfected her rolling over skills. Also, she has learnt to roll over and sleep on her stomach, which is now her favorite sleep position.

Baby HuiRou Turns!

Eeeee.... For a few days now, HuiRou have been twisting and turning and arching her butt. Yesterday we saw her almost turned and I quickly grab the phone. See?? my baby can turn now. From now onwards, it is bye bye ceiling ... HELLO FLOOR



Since she's able to turn and get a new view of her world, she practices her new skill at every opportunity, including in the middle of the night.

Family Seal --

In the beginning, this was all that Huirou could do. And it took a lot of effort on her part.















Then last Saturday, I took her to Shirley's house to visit Baby Jonathan and she made a really good pose. And of course since the subject is my daughter, I had to plagiarize the picture from her blog. Kekek....















On a side note, how come all me photos are crappy? and the baby never smiles when I try to take photos? As soon as I pick up the camera, she stops smiling. and since owning a camera phone, it's even rarer that I take real pictures. Lousy mummy, eh? And how come some people just have so much time to edit, crop, sharpen or otherwise enhance their photos? Don't they have any babies to take care of :Þ

Congratulations

It seems like so much has happened in just a few weeks while I was busy with work.

I got all the good news at once so some friends got my late late congrats :) . And among the most important are the arrival of 2 new friends for HuiRou and Jonathan. Their mummies are 2 of my schoolmates and I have added a link to Yuki's site in the sidebar. For SinPei's baby's photo, go check out Baby Jonathan's blog.

When shall we all meet and have a merry baby get together? How about Chinese New Year? If you all agree I can host either in Ipoh or in Klang :)

edit: and sorry lar to Shirley for ffk on the meeting at The Curve. BB sick mah...

Jab Day and 3-months

Hui Rou is already 3 months old. Well, the little thing at the side of the blog says 3 months 6 days :)

Last Saturday, we went for her jab again, consisting of second doses of vaccinations for triple antigen, polio and HIB. We opt to have her be vaccinated against the rotavirus too. Because a tummy ache is no fun. Because dehydration is no fun. and because thank goodness, we can afford it.

She was such a champion because she only gave a little wail after the jab. And she gamely swallowed all that icky overly-sweetened rotavirus vaccine. Ah well... which kid don't like candy , right?

As part of her well baby visit report, She

1. weighs 5.55 kg (+0.5 kg)
2. is 61.5 cm tall (+ 2 cm)
3. has so much control of her neck that it is so much more crucial to support her back
4. lifts her head and feet high when put on her tummy (Book say aeroplane pose, but she just look like a performing seal to me :Þ)
5. Readily turns onto her tummy when aided
6. On top of cooing and clacking, she can now smack her lips. Taught her that in only 1 week. This baby is so smart !!
7. Has more toys and books now, thanks to my re-found shopping time (aka ponteng work) , but her favorite remains the Lamaze cat who goes to daycare with her everyday.
8. Sleeps through the night consistently. Even if I wake her up to nurse, she will only nurse half-heartedly, so I usually just let her be.
9. And when she does nurse properly, she would still be busy with her hands grabbing my shirt, her own shirt or just plain looking around. I either let her face the wall if I am in a hurry or accommodate her by turning around.

As she start her 4th month, she gains so much control over her body that now I have resorted to changing her on the mat because I am afraid she will turn when I am not looking. Additionally, I have stopped burping her too, although I didn't let her nanny know. My reasons? I breastfeed mah... less gas to begin with, but nanny bottle feed. And HuiRou can now wriggle around and lifts her buttocks to release gas. When She does this, it amuses Hubs to no end.

Wedding Dinner

Last night was Simon and Mien's Wedding Day. As I couldn't bear to leave HuiRou at home for such a long time while I am out to enjoy myself, I decided to bring her along to the wedding banquet. And as usual, Hubs want to tag along to look after me so that I can look after HuiRou ... ... Me think he just want free food. With much courage (coz I told the host to reserve only 1 seat for me), and ready to feed her at the hotel toilet, we arrived in time to everyone's delight. Luckily as I went through the seating arrangements, the hosts have graciously "allocate" 2 seats for us. Phew!

Through out the night, she was such a champion. She was attentive and cute when friends greet her, and allowing everybody to touch and hold her. Then when dinner was served she just slept through it all in my arms, waking only to nurse. However, it was a tad too cold for her, but luckily I brought her blanket. And this morning, I found some kicap on her blanket :P Lucky ants no bite her at night. Ha!

There, we get to see handsome Baby Jonathan again. Here's he in his pram all cooing away.

The two fathers comparing notes while rocking away their little ones. So cozy, until I decided to embarass them both by taking this silly picture. Don't be shy ya, it's very nice to see our kids getting so much fatherly attention.

ps: I didn't need to nurse in the toilet. We nursed in the "changing room" So I got sneak pre-view of Mien's evening gown. Kekek.

Baby Talk (again)

I am so fascinated by all the baby talk that HuiRou engages in now. She talks with her whole body -- eyes moving, nose wrinkling, head moving and even her legs move up and down. She likes her conversations two-way i.e. if we chit chat with her, she talks longer else she will coo only for awhile then drift off to never-neverland.

Baby Talk

Here is the video that I promised to upload while visiting our friends. Ignore my loud voice in the video as I didn't know Hubs was recording!!!

Things-To-Bring in the Morning

Every morning when I get into the car, it seems like I am moving HuiRou's entire room.

This is the list of things that I bring into the car:
1. Cooler Box, with bottles and pump
2. HuiRou's basket, containing her clothes, milk and whatever auntie may need
3. My work bag, containing my documents and diary for work
4. My handbag, containing keys, phone wallet and other odds and ends that collect in there

Then I also have to remember to bring her blanket for in-car use...

The funny thing is, sometimes "extras" end up in the car as well. For instance, I once load her "going-out" bag into the car complete with extra diapers, clothes and baby wipes.

All this confusion really get me going in the morning. I am now always the most alert at work in now. The way I see it...... it is God's way of preventing alzheimer's for me :)

My Superpowers

You know they say mothers have superpowers. They can cook and keep an eye on the kids while chatting away on the phone.

Oops! I cannot do that yet. My superpower? is to make milk! What??? Not everybody can make milk you know.

I really want to breastfeed as long as I can. And today will be a challenging day for me. It is the 1st day of work for me. I will have to pump at work. Luckily, today is still an easy day because the office is rather empty. I think if I can get past pumping, I will be able to br3astfeed as long as I want to.

Daycare Post #2

Yesterday I picked HuiRou up from daycare at around 4.30pm. It seems like she was finally able to nap at the sitter's. When I asked the sitter she told me that HuiRou now no longer cry after her bath. But the way she said it made me suspicious... Hmm ... Hopefully, she is just reassuring me and not lying to me outright.

This morning, when I drop her off, I also brought along the new changing mat. My baby, hopefully would not have to sleep on the cold hard floor anymore. Sigh ....

Today I will try for a full day of leaving Huirou in the sitter's care.

Daycare Post #1

For the past two days, HuiRou and I were making trial runs at the baby sitter's
house. It was so stressful for me.

On Monday, We only stayed half day as planned. I saw the sitter feed and burp her. But I had to tell her several times how I want things done. I don't know if she will remember them or not but I can only hope. As HuiRou went down for her afternoon nap, I went to grab some lunch but I told the sitter to wait for me before she bathe her. But guess what? She was wailing when I arrived at the sitter only after 20 mins!! The sitter told me that it was because she took HuiRou out of the bath when she was enjoying herself. (Yup, she bathed her already when I came back! )
On Tuesday, I told the sitter again that I want to observe her giving HuiRou a bath. She insisted that there was no need. I just told her that if she won't let me observe then I will sit at her house all day everyday :)

So in the end I had my way and I found out why my baby cried. (Usually, she's her own happy self after her bath) It was not because she was taken out of her bath too soon. The sitter tried changing her on the cold hard floor!

Alright, To be fair, she had a mat under HuiRou. But it was so thin and worn. When baby cold, sure cry lar. So idiotic.

All this was added to the fact that I was separated from my baby.And I have had to run back and forth to express enough for her next day's feed. Then at night I still have to sterilize all her bottles. It was so easy just to feed directly.

Anyway, I will leave HuiRou in her care today until around 5pm. We will see how it goes.

Meanwhile, I will have to get her a proper changing mat. I can already imagine how she change her nappy. On the cold hard floor.

Visiting Friends

We went to visit some friends of ours. We just stopped by a little while but the babies had so much fun while we were there! There's also some videos that we took of them baby talking but I need to figure out how to download it from my phone.

Look!! I nearly wanted to take the handsome boy home too. Maybe if Shirley is so inclined, she can form a playgroup since she knows so many mommies *Hint Hint* *Wink Wink*

Jab Day and 2-month check-up

Today is Jab Day for HuiRou.

It was raining so I dressed her warmly for the doctor's office.

We arrived at the doctor's office early in the morning as the parking situation there can get from bad to worse as the morning progresses. The doc first weighed and measured her and then last come the jab. I guess that would be if the baby wails they can send us home quickly? Lucky for me and Hubs, she only give a little squeal when the vaccine went in. Then she was all smiles again. I am sooo proud of her.

She even made the doctor's day when she cooed at him before we left. The doc's comment as we were leaving was: Ya, coo now, later you'll be afraid of me *Grin*

As this is also her 2-month check up, we get to know this: She

1. weighs 5 kg, exact
2. is 60cm tall (or long, coz babies lie dwn all tthe time)
3. can support her own head for a few minutes at a time.
4. coos and smiles a lot especially to mom, dad and 3rd Uncle
5. can take swipes at things that are within her reach. So now I have relocated the lotions and wipes at the changing counter :)
6. Makes clacking sounds with her tougue when she knows it's nursing time
7. Manage to sleep through the night once already
8. Has a favorite toy: the Lamaze Cat

From Cries to Smiles

Now that I can elicit some smiles from her I tried so many times to capture a picture. However, it seems like for a while she will only smile for PEOPLE. Perhaps she feels weird that the camera blocks my face.... Hmmm....
So I only have these to show...

7 weeks

HuiRou is almost 7 weeks. I dread the day that I must return to work and leave her at the sitter's house...... What to do; I cannot keep her by my side forever, right?
So far her favorite activity is still sleeping. Though now she smiles and coos at me.
So adorable.
Often she ends up just like this -- No covers and her sleep clothes riding up her developing paunch.

Trip to Pulau Ketam

We made our first trip to Pulau Ketam to visit relatives. Also, HuiRou have her first picture taken with granma. It was really an adventure, mostly for me, coz she slept through most of the trip! Lesson learned: When babies travel, their mummies will become frazzled.

See how happy Granma is, smiles and all...








I decided to give her some extra fluids...
But alas the day was really too hot. Later in the day when we reach home, I noticed she was a little dehydrated. The poor darling ......

Basket of Gold

Fullmoon Goodies

Pictures of the fullmoon packages in our DIY style.

Fullmoon Celebration

Monday was HuiRou's fullmoon. We didn't have any grand celebrations; instead we opt for the traditional prayers and later we would have a small dinner with close family members. Announcement cards and gifts were also distributed to friends who sent gifts or visited us. Customarily, angku and red eggs and the sorts were given out; but due to the difficulty for Chaichong to distribute them all in one day, we opted for a more western approach.

First Hair Cut

This morning we brought HuiRou for her first haircut in preparation for her fullmoon celebration.

As I know it, it signifies a milestone in her life, ie , she gets new hair after being born as a new beginning of the next stage in her life. Some people say that after shaving, the new hair that grows will be luscious and darker.

To this mummy, hair will eventually drop off and regrow. Regardless of whether it was shaven before, if she is meant to have thick, luscious hair, genetically speaking, she will. The decision to shave her head was actually to make our folks happy. Although I feel sad at seeing her headful of hair lobbed off by the barber, I console myself by saying, hair will regrow. And it isn't wise to fight over fallen hair.

Who knows... perhaps the hair will indeed be luscious and dark.

Just back from hospital (Pictures)

Dear All,

Here we post some pictures of Baby HuiRou . She was born on Sept 2, 2007 at Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre, weighing in at 2.82 kg. We are often fascinated by her expressions and wish to share them here with you. Hope you view them with as much pleasure.

Luv,
Meei & ChaiChong
... See my Tabblo>

The Birthing Story

On the morning of the 1st, I had some bleeding... but I wasn't too concern because I know there will be a show near the due date. After breakfast, I decided to call the obstetrician just to check... well, our kancheong doc ask me to go to the clinic. My contractions were monitored (there were NO contractions, whatsoever!! ) and the baby was monitored. Our sleepy princess just didn't want to move for the doc and hence we were sent home with instructions to be back at the clinic in an hour's time.

The 2nd time the dear doc manage to wake the baby up and he was very happy with our progress. We were sent home with assurances that the pregnancy went well and that we should continue to "enjoy our lives". With that in mind, hubby and I went to Jusco for some (now we know : last minute) baby stuff and some food.

After dinner, I had some mild contractions. Well, as the night progresses... the contractions were getting closer (about 10 mins)... BUT they were NOT painful... hmmm... I was thinking ... must be false labour.. then whooossh... my waterbag broke! and with that we started the mad rush to the hospital...

We arrived at the hospital at 1.30 am. The midwives on duty told me that the doctor will be in in the morning. I was comfortably set up in a delivery bed, and I know I have lots of snacks with me, so I was planning to wait till then. For some reason, once the IV line was started the contractions got stronger, but with the midwives advice to relax, I was still able to converse. Must be something they put in ....hmm ...

Then all of a sudden, dear old doc appeared before me!! Dressed in what we would like to describe as "going to pasar outfit" Next thing I know he was in and out the delivery room and have given instructions for the OT to be readied. Then he was in scrubs already. Like magic. And then I found out the reason. The baby was in stress, and whenever there is a contraction the baby's heart rate dropped drastically. Dear old doc gave us (me and baby, that is) to be done in 30 minutes else... I would have to go under the knife!!

And for the next 30 minutes, the events were a blur but i remembered getting a jab, people asking me to push, hubby looking lost, doc threatening (or rather warning) me about an impending caesarean section if I don't push harder. All of sudden, I felt the baby's head pushed through and then hubby was asked to cut the cord and we saw our darling for the first time. Baby Hui Rou was born on September 2nd, 2007 at 3.50am.

Efficient, eh?. Mostly because everything happened without me knowing. Sometimes, that's a good thing.

Message from Meei

It has almost been a month since Hui Rou was welcomed into our home. Now that she's finally settled into a routine, I get some time to do some postings, and have a little "ME" time. Some of our friends have gotten pictures of our little angel through email; which is all I had time for. Therefore, there will probably be a flutter of postings. The blog will probably change from time to time until I get it to look the way I want too... So check back often for photos and updates ya?