Shopaholic mom & baby

Zach's neck seems to be getting stronger as day goes by. He loves being carried upward (koala style) or facing forward (kangaroo style). One day, daddy decided to let Zach try sitting on the sofa unaided.. and the TV was turned on. Guess what? Zach was actually sitting down quietly watching the TV! Gasp.. I hope he don't turn himself into a couch potato like what mummy is when she was much younger.

Zach staring wide eye cos mummy is blocking his view!

Cheeky daddy brought out baby's Capella car seat and place it on top of our sofa. That will be Zach's first class seat to watch TV.. what? Now mummy hv to call Starhub to sign up for Cartoon Network!

Zach's first class VIP seat

We are finally finding it breezy to bring Zach out! He is more or less predictable in terms of feeding time etc. Lately his feeding time has been stretched to 4hrs instead of the usual 3hrs which is good for me, I get to sleep additional an hour at night and I get an additional hour to do my own things in the day.

Zach enjoying his rocker time before going out today

So where did we bring him? Compass Point last night for dinner @ Jack's Place and Vivo today for lunch at Shin Kushiya and more shopping tomorrow - will be heading to Paragon for lunch then CK Tangs and Taka and Robinsons for shopping and shopping!

Sleeping in the car holding on tight to his rattle

Zach is super excited when we brought him to Toys'R'Us today. All the colorful toys excites him and we made a promise to our son that we will buy him what he wants when he knows what he wants! Some of the marked items, baby pool, cars, play yard, baby skates, etc.. :p Mummy and Daddy need to work harder liao. Hahaha

Zach curious on his surrounding

We believe bringing him out more often will help in developing his social skills - he will get used to seeing strangers which reminds me of a cute incident today. A little girl (Danish) saw him at Toy'R'Us and walk over commenting "Baby! So cute!"..she immediately grabbed Zach's hand refusing to let go despite her sister trying to pull her away. Her dad came immediately and talked to her - prob telling her that he isn't theirs, so cannot bring him away.. she reluctantly let go of Zach's hand.. hahaha! Hb was in shock, he was scared that little girl will pull Zach's hand real hard! Back to Zach's learning skill, bringing him out and allowing him to see and feel things is good for his motor skill development as well. :)

Diaper changing time

Zach looks at the wallpaper in the nursing room

Moms & Babes

Zach is 11 weeks old today and what better way to celebrate than to gather all the Dec 2008 mommies and their stork to our place!

It was fun, all moms talking about their babies and how each one of us handled the babies when their engine began to start and subsequently went in full steam. Zach was okay initially till he was really tired and need his yao lan to sleep but mummy refuses him that..haha

Photos and videos can be viewed via my Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=67202&id=750227798&l=8dfd1

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=65632&id=571710221&page=2

Zach's Busy Schedule

When Zach and myself were back at Klang for 3 weeks, our schedule wasn't that packed or busy. Zach would get the luxury of waking up for milk at 8am then sleep again till 10am then have his morning bath. Sometimes he will play and chat wif my parents before falling asleep and waking up for feeding after that.. that's the routine he has.

Since coming back to Singapore on Sunday, his schedule is no longer as before. Mummy made many plans before going back to work in March. Monday was supposed to have lunch appointment with 2 of her ex-colleagues but was cancelled last minute. Zach as usual was sleeping but I had to wake up him to take his bath - he groaned and fuss abt it cos he dun get to sleep..hahaha :P but after he is all clean and well-fed, mummy brought him out to Tampines to have lunch with daddy and we got ourselves a Bjorn Air carrier from Mothercare. He must be tired out cos he slept alot after that..hehe

Tuesday was an appointment with Dr. Allyson which Zach got his 2nd 6-in-1 jab and Rotarix oral immunisation. To prevent fever, we quickly fed him with paracetemol when we got home. He's the ever brave boy, did not cry at all during the injection, in fact, he even smile and coo to the doctor.. cheeky baby! Maybe he is a man after all, the moment he reach home he starts to cry wanting attention - we reckon it must be his butt that feels the pain...hahaha.

Monday's lunch appt was changed to Wednesday and again I woke him up after his morning feed to have his bath and we both head to Plaza Singapura for lunch.. shopped for a while and we headed home since we have another dinner appt at nite at Marina Square. Zach was really good yesterday..he slept abit during lunch, waking up for his feed then sleep again..went home and sleep again - 4 hrs straight! He slept again before we went out for dinner and throughout the dinner and the journey back home a total of 5hrs straight! He must be tired out cos we were out in the afternoon hot sun.

Overall, it was quite enjoyable bringing him out. I must practise carrying him in the carrier so that I do not have to lug the heavy stroller.

Zach is a big boy

Zach turns 2months 2weeks tomorrow. A few differences were noted:
1. He's balding, especially the top part of his head

2. His head shape is getting rounder. Silly mummy did not know how to take care of his head during confinement time causing his head to go flat on the right. After grandma commented and gave a few tips i.e. rubbing it gently during feeding, bathing time and letting him sleep in the yao lan and oso sleeping on his tummy helps.

3. He gains more flesh compared during his full month celebration, which is a good thing.

Overall, our precious has grown to be a big boy, mummy and daddy's baby is growing well day by day!

Zach's Progress

What has Zach been up to lately? Alot!! He is getting talkative day by day and now he is learning how to flip.. a whole lot of improvement.

Mummy manage to capture some short clips of Zach.. bring smiles to my face whenever I watch them.

Talkative Zach

Flipping Zach

Bad Habit

Baby Zach has developed a few bad habits during his stay in Klang.

1. Playing with saliva. I do not know when it started but he starts to play with his saliva about a week ago.
2. Putting his hands in his mouth. This habit started after he sleeps in the yao lan. Not sure if it is because his hands is nearer to his face, he tries sucking his hands with his mittens on. Worse, he will then rub his face causing all the rashes on his cheeks.
3. Motion. Zach being a smart baby enjoys car ride very much. Too much till when the car comes to stop at traffic light or when we have to stop to tapao lunch, he will get agitated and start to fuss. My dad resort to circling around the neighbourhood in order to keep him happy. Talking about spoiling his grandson!
4. Sleeping. He wants to be rocked to sleep and that's not all, he don't want to be rocked sitting down, he wants the person carrying him to stand up and rock him to sleep.. poor mummy!
5. Bottle feeding. I started giving him bottle during the day time and everytime the first time bottled milk is given to him, he will surely cry his lungs out..what did mummy do? Leave him there to cry and when he is really hungry, he will guai guai drink his milk from the bottle.

Zach's First

Zach's first Chinese New Year is spent at his maternal grandparents home back in Klang. We thought it will be easy to pack his stuff but I was wrong! Zach alone took one luggage *gasp* He was a good boy throughout the flight, alternating between sleeping and sucking!

Zach waiting for his flight

First 2 days were really tiring for hubby and myself as Zach seems to know that it is a different environment; wall color is different and he kept staring at my green wall, house is also different, so many ppl suddenly..to a point I was so frustrated that I kept snapping at my parents! My dad's last resort? He borrowed a 'yao lan' from my cousin and Zach loves it to bits! He nows need the yao lan to sleep and hubby vows to buy one when he returns to SG and he wants an electric one so that he don't have to be the one rocking him. Psst..he was the one that was rocking him in Klang. Hehehe

His first try at the yao lan

After this incident, everything is ALLright except maybe for the noise level! First it was the fire crackers on eve of CNY and then all the karaoke session that my cousins have during my grandfather's b'day celebration.

Hip hop Zach - we uses the headphone to prevent him from listening to the ear-breaking sound of fire crackers!

It was also during these period Zach starts to coo and gurgle more. It used to be just one syllable but now he can listen to us and respond more than one syllable.. hubby was so impressed!! He was also very fascinated by the ceiling fan movement..hahaha

Zach fascinated with the ceiling fan - a total of 8 ceiling fans at my place..he is in awe with all of them!

Ooh..and all my extended family members loved Zach to bits!! All commented how handsome he is..haha, juz like his daddy.

Great-Grandma with Zach

Zach 'talking' to Grandpa

Days without confinement nanny

11 January 2009

6.30am - Zach woke up crying which is pretty unusual since he drank his milk an hour ago and I fed him with 100ml which is more than the usual 90ml.
7.30am - Confinement nanny (auntie) bids her farewell to us and carry Zach before she step out of her house. Prior to this, Zach was still crying on and off..once she carried him, he kept quiet. She left and Zach cries..my nightmare began....
8.30am - Prepare Zach for his bath. He don't usually fuss during bathing time in fact he enjoys kicking the water. Peaceful for 10minutes but ear ache during clothing time..hahaha
9.30am - Feed him again. He manage to sleep for 30minutes.

The above sequence except for the bathing time repeats itself till 6.20pm!! We did not even have time for lunch...n we ordered McD...keke

It is also on Sunday that the pacifier was introduced. Smart little Zach knows that the pacifier is not milk and less than 2 suck he spit it out! Intro of pacifier failed..

As he is crying non-stop and both of us trying to eliminate all possible reasons: wet diapers, tired and sleepy, rocking him, singing to him, playing classical music, feeding him via bottle, giving him FM (hoping that can knock him out for few hours) - all FAILED!! Finally, I relented and let him latch on my breast at 5ish and voila..he slept from 6.20pm to 9.30pm. Then I realise it was too much of a change for him on Sunday:

1. Nanny left and hence the lost of familiar smell and sound
2. Introduction of bottle-feeding - still breast milk though.

Decision was made on the spot. Stick to his usual routine..latch on day time and 2x bottle feeding at night. Voila..the routine is back and we get some sleep at night albeit a broken one but I am so used to it. We hope the following days will be better.

12 January 2009

I woke up very early today. Going out with Zach to run some errands.

Mummy & Zach before going out

Zach enjoying the car ride in his new Capella car seat

Collection of passport
Zach finally has his own passport and it was really easy to apply for one. We need not go down to ICA to have his photo taken, need not go down to ICA for application submission. Everything is online. Ahhh..the bliss of living in a digital world.

Hubby took multiple shots of Zach for the purpose of his passport and we finally settled on this to be used for his passport photo. He looks fierce but cute! I was afraid that it might be rejected cos his head was abit to the side. More of Zach's 'mug shot' can be seen from this link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58645&l=78b51&id=750227798

3 days later we received email notification and letter from ICA informing us that his passport is ready for collection. We scheduled an appointment at 10.15am and we reached on the dot and was served promptly. No waiting! Zilch... we are IMPRESSED!

Gynae appointment
My supposedly final gynae checkup was scheduled at 11am. Waiting time 1hour. Result of my urine and blood test? FAIL! I am still losing protein daily and my blood test came back slightly higher than normal for uric acid. Doctor was very worried that it will have irreversible effect on my kidney and I am supposed to go for another urine test and blood test 3 months later - a realllll chore (imagine 24hours of urine collection and not to waste a single drop and drawing 2 vials of blood). In this 3 months, I am to eat more meat, ginkgo nuts, celery, asparagus to increase my protein level. If the upcoming test result fails, it is off to the kidney specialist.

Father & son enjoying a moment of chit chat

Shopping
We headed to Vivo after that to shop and unwind.

Feeding Zach in the car

Daddy is spoiling Zach - carrying him the moment he fidgets

Zach was well-behaved throughout the outing. Sleeping when he is supposed to, waking up to feed when it is time. We couldn't be happier..
Maybe he slept alot in the afternoon, when we reached home, he began to fuss and hubby took charge. I felt it was good that hubby took over as it will help both father and son to bond.

Zach enjoys sleeping on top of daddy

13 January 2009

I woke up at 6.30am to wash Zach's clothes, prepare all ingredients for dinner, prepare breakfast for hubby and myself. All is completed by 8am!! Zach was still slumbering..hehe
The day went by as per during confimenet time.. no major surprises and I managed to catch 3 hours of nap with Zach sleeping beside me!! Happy mommy..

Zach's play time in his baby gym

Zach and his pacifier - look at how tense his hands are. He's afraid that the pacifier might drop out.

I am praying that the next few days will also be as good as today!

Zachary's Full Month

03 Jan 2009 - Zachary turn one month old! He seems to know that there will be alot of activities lined up. He woke up super early, 6.45am to be exact to be fed. As usual, his feeding takes approx an hour.

Before he was whisked off for his bathe, the following Chinese tradition of full month were done:

1. Cutting of hair - We snipped off just a bit of his hair (can't bear to shave all off). We aren't sure what this ritual signify but since the older generation says so, we just follow.
2. Rolling 4 red eggs (one by one of course) over Zach's head and face to allow him to have a good 'ren yuan' and loved by many!!
3. Placing a stone in his bath tub to give him courage and strength.

Once he settled down, it was his first real outdoor trip to grandparents place for prayers. He slept all the way during the journey and voila! The moment we stepped into the house, he woke up with screaming cries...Arrgghh.. he is hungry, so is feeding time again. I have to hide in the room to latch him on for an hour again..

He was abit cranky the whole day after that - not sure if it is because he is not used to going out and all the noise. Hmm.. I was hoping the day after will be better as we are all going for buffet brunch to celebrate.

04 Jan 2009 - Grandparents and all Zach's aunties and uncle drove all the way from Klang to Singapore to celebrate Zach's full month. We all (14 of us) went to Carousel for buffet brunch. I can't eat most of the stuff..sian! Not even ice cream..wonder when can I start having those again. Zach behave better today. He slept again during the car journey to Orchard but upon reaching, he pooped,but since he is sleeping we dare not risk waking him up wailing and tearing the hotel down..hahaha. The moment I started on soup, he wakes up and start whining because he is uncomfy with a dirty diaper. Heartache to listen to him crying during changing time - I always wonder why he resist to changing diaper so much.. is like daddy and mummy torturing him..hahaha. The rest of the brunch went well...Good boy Zach.

Because Zach was sleeping most of the time, no pictures were taken - what a waste!

Nevertheless, Happy Full Month Baby Zach!! U're always mommy and daddy's precious darling though you may be difficult at times..

Signs that you are a mummy #01

1. You go out for minimum of 2 hours and you think of nothing except your baby at home.
2. You are late but you kept looking and kissing the baby.
3. You go out for facial from 1.30pm to 5.00pm and you called home to ask if your baby has drank his milk and did he cry.