My son is sick

Zach is sick! He's running a temperature between 37.5 to 37.6 since 4am this morning.

It was my routine to take his temperature before we leave the house every morning and today is as per our normal routine and I had to take his temperature thrice before we decided to go see his PD. I actually felt him having a fever at 4am this morning but I did not do anything about it! I felt so bad and so lazy...

Mummy, I don't feel like facing the camera

He can recognise ME! He'll give me his bright smile without fail.

Daddy, higher please!

He slept most of the time today, from 1pm to 4.30pm and then from 7.30pm till now!! My poor baby is so drowsy because of the medication.

Let's pray he will be well enough to enjoy Sentosa tomorrow! We're going to attend daddy's best friend's solemnisation @ Amara Sanctuary. We'll be staying a night there and going to Underwater World on Sunday. Yippee!

Kindermusik

A kind mummy from the Singapore Motherhood forum organised this specially for the Dec 2008 mummies!! It is a trial class at Tanglin Mall at $23 for 45minutes.

The early birds - Ashlynne, Kayson and Zach

Zach striking a conversation with Kayson

Tallest boy among the babies

Verdict: We will try to go for Gymboree trial next and see which one Zach enjoys more. I personally felt Kindermusik is kinda boring. Maybe it was too early in the morning and I am tired. So is Zach. He slept immediately after the class!!

It was our first time at Tanglin Mall and we were impressed! It could be our next haunt in future..hehe

When we reached home, he's busy playing with his toys cos mummy bought 3 more new toys for him - shall not reveal how much I have spent on toys alone for my baby.. but mummy nearly bought the whole Fisher Price collection from Kiddy Palace..haha.

Zach is teething!! That explains why his cheek was flushed last week and these few days he will cry alot at night, refusing to sleep. I touched his gum earlier and it was rough.. Yippee!! I can't wait.. he's all grown up and we are loving him more and more everyday!

Zach the Movie Director

We got Zach a high chair from Ikea. Wanted to get the $29 piece but it is not very sturdy so we got the $69 piece instead. Mummy said Zach looks like a movie director sitting in this chair.

He's in a foul mood - mummy is busy taking photo while feeding him

Wanting to get out of the chair

He was into his 2nd week of cereal. I increased his intake from 1 teaspoon to now 6 teaspoon..Zach is really a big eater. His schedule:

8.00am Milk (latch)

11.00am Milk (170ml)

2.00pm Milk (170ml)

5.00pm Milk (170ml)

9.00pm Cereal (6 teaspoon)

11.00pm Milk (180ml)

3.40am Milk (latch)

Scary huh!! He's especially impatient when mummy is feeding his cereal. The moment he swallow his first mouth, he will 'Eh eh' for his next..he will cry after I show him his empty bowl. *shake head*

After the teat incident and my feedback to the principal, the infantcare took several measures and I am truly impress with them so decided to let Zach continue to be there. He is more vocal now compared to previously. He's beginning to mumble lotsa baby language at us and we thought we heard him saying 'Ok' and 'Ma'..but then it could be our imaginations..haha

Zach and his 'school' friends - who can reach to the rattle first?

Xylene, you are fast!

First Taste of Solid!

YAY!!! Zach had his first taste of solid today.

Wearing a Stage 2 bib - too big for him.

8.30am, carried him to his bumbo while I prepared his cereal. 1 tablespoon of Heinz Organic Rice Cereal with 30ml of breastmilk. The mixture was abit watery, almost milk like texture and it taste like, my milk of course! Hahaha

He is not particularly enjoying it because after the first spoon, he showed me his tongue. And the following 2 attempts had the cereal dripping from his chin.

Mommy, what are you feeding me?

I am in a mess! Even the bib went sideways!!

You better get me out of this chair, NOW!

The overall exeperience was fun!! I will try it again tomorrow.. if it fails again, it shows that Zach is NOT ready for SOLID!

Pain of a Mother

My heart aches when I see this.

In my mind, I kept thinking what had my son gone through for the past weeks? How was he fed? Did he ever choke on his milk? how bad did he vomit each time?

I feedback this to his principal and infant teacher in-charge. Both were shocked at the sight of it. Who wouldn't? I've checked with colleagues whom children are moer than a year old and none of them drank milk from such big hole much to say my son is only 5month old!!! They apologised to me for not noticing it but were quick to add that it could probably be torn during washing the day before..hmm. His teacher even added that they have over 20bottles to wash a day hence it could be an oversight!! WHAT?? I was quick to say, "You don't wash 20 bottles at one go! Even if you do, you still need to pay attention which can I say you are not doing your job?" Okay, I sounded mean but who wouldn't?

Now, I am still half-hearted on what should I do next. His principal said that they will improve and asked for another chance. My fear is that the teachers could be revengeful and take it out on my son? Abit bad of me to harbour such thoughts but.. we should look at different perspective at times.

We need to consider the following options:

1. Maid - we need adult supervision which we don't have the luxury of. Installing CCTV will not help. When things happen, it will be a case of too late.
2. Babysitter - a possible option but when Zach starts crawling and climbing, accidents are bound to happen and will the babysitter inform us or will they keep quiet?
3. Infantcare - Change to another centre but such incidents will happen again. No matter how good the centre is, it will never be comparable to how I care for him.
4. Stay home mom - Me being a stay home mom? I would think by a month, I would gone crazy! I can't stay confined in a place for too long.. I need some motivation, push factor or excitement in my life. Not that Zach is not exciting enough but there should be more for me than just Zach!! Hei, working give me my sanity (at least 1%).

Ah well.. I will have to weigh each options above carefully when I have a clearer mind.

Faces of Zach

Right, lotsa people have been commenting that Zach is so much rounder compared to previous. I do not deny this statement because Zach has been drinking 180ml to 200ml of breastmilk at each feed (4 hours interval).

When I told the lactation consultant, PD and others, they were all equally shocked! He's drinking so much but his weight gain is pathetic. Oh well...decided to create a collage of Zach's photo to see if there is indeed some change.. maybe alittle bit but what do you guys think?

On a happier note, my little prince decided to flip finally! I placed him on the changing table at his infantcare and he flipped!! I turned him back and he flipped again.. now I have to remind the teachers not to leave him unattended on the changing table. The thought of him falling to the floor gives me the creeps..

Happy 5 Month Old, Zach

* Mummy is too excited and post this earlier than scheduled*

Zach turns 5 month old tomorrow! Comparing to a month ago, he has grown quite a bit, not by weight though but by his learning abilities. He smiles readily at the sight of my phone or camera cos he knows mummy is taking either photo or video of him.

He's smiling even though it is super early in the morning

He put on a mere 100g within 3 weeks but he's been drinking 180ml of breastmilk every 4hours. Dr told me not to worry as long as Zach is happy and progressing well. So..mabbe he is tall and lean like daddy and mummy.

Zach starts recognising faces and constantly wants me to be around. He will whimper and cry if my in-law carries him. He's okay if it is my parents or siblings which doesn't really makes sense cos they only see him once a month. My guess is prob the way he was carried that causes him to be uncomfortable.

He still can't flip without assistance but can sit unassisted for few minutes. Wonder will he skip the flipping process all together? He can also move around in his cot. Place him diagonally and within 5minutes he will kick and wriggle himself horizontally. Hahaha

Ignore the dirty diaper beside him. He's sitting up watching TV (what else?)

As he is entering his 5th month, it is also time for him to sleep on his own. Previously he was sharing our bed but lately he's crying to sleep alone. Each time he cry, I will carry him to his cot and he will fall asleep on his own and can sleep longer too. Can't believe that he wants to sleep alone! Hmm..maybe daddy's snoring is too loud or mummy keep waking up to check on him annoys him?

He also found his feet and his vocals. When opportunity arise, he will play with his feet and luckily have not learnt to put them in his mouth yet. He's getting very vocal too.. singing himself to sleep. Now we know when he starts singing, he is sleepy.

Look how engrossed he is at his feet

He's cute..and that's because he's our son. *wink*