Blogging

Yes, it's been a while since I blogged. I'm on leave today, trying to recall all the happenings this past month that are worth blogging on. So watch this space.

Our first holiday after Kaelyn's arrival

David and I love travelling and we used to travel overseas once or twice a year. We no longer enjoy this mobility now that our angel is here. Bringing her out for a few hours of shopping is already a challenge, I didnt even dare to think of bringing her overseas with us. Our girl is on breast milk but she does not like to latch on direct. So I had to lug my expressed milk in a cooler bag, hot water bottle and my pump machine whenever we bring her out. An afternoon out is like going for an overseas trip, in terms of the number of bags we have to carry.

We finally managed to get away as a family a few days back, just a week before I go back to work. Although it was only a 3D2N at Sentosa, I enjoy the trip very much. And it was really a great achievement. We decided on Sentosa (over the other alternatives like Bintan and Pulau Ubin) because if the little gal decides to make a big fuss, we are still able to "deposit" her with parents and enjoy the rest of the holiday as a couple. But thankfully, she was very well behaved throughout the trip..

Preparation : -

It took me 2 days to pack for the trip - milk bottles, detergent, cleaning sponge, hot water bottle, breast pump, cooler bag, sterilising tablets, diapers, baby's clothes, bibs, handkerchiefs, towels, blankets, beansprout pillow, hat, mittens, booties, baby carrier, toys, milk, baby bather etc etc..... Plus our clothes, swimming gear, track shoes etc etc... Gosh, by the time I get to the end of the list, I had 1 huge suitcase (which David and I used for our honeymoon to NZ for 9 days), 3 haversacks and 2 paper bags. I almost wanted to bring the play pen too! But good thing we found out Rasa Sentosa can provide a baby cot. Phew!

Kaelyn all dressed up for the trip

Day 1 : -
Checked into Rasa Sentosa in the early afternoon. We got a room with pool view so that if we have to stay in the hotel for whatever reason, we still have something to look at. Although the weather was not very good, we were able to go for a swim while the helper and Kaelyn stayed in the room and watched us from the balcony. Later in the evening, we watched the "Songs of the Sea" performance, a combination of musical fountain, laser and fireworks displays. Our gal was mesmerised by the performance and even 'sang' along out loud throughout. It was really funny.

The view from our room

Songs of the Sea musical fountain display and the souvenir shop

Day 2 : -
Travelled around on the beach tram. Kaelyn was complaining throughout because of the heat. Visited the Underwater world with Kaelyn asleep in my sarong. We decided to wake her up in the tunnel so that she can at least look at some fishes and take photos before we leave. We got upgraded to a room with seaview because we complained of the noise coming from the renovation works just above our poolview room.

A happy baby in her new baby cot
A family picture at the Underwater World

Views from our upgraded room

Day 3 : -
Papa brought Kaelyn for a walk along the beach and to look at monkeys and birds while Mama was busily pumping away. Then we all headed to the Dolphin lagoon for the pink dolphin performance. After that, it was home sweet home.

Watching the dolphin performance at the Dolphin Lagoon

Although most the time was spent on feeding Kaelyn, bathing her, waiting for her to wake up from her nap in the baby cot, and waiting for Mama to pump, it was nevertheless a good and enjoyable trip. In the past, we would have visited a lot more places but with Kaelyn around, I have significantly lowered my expectations. I told David before the trip that we should only target 1 attraction a day, which was what we have achieved. And the sea view was a bonus!

First solids

Kaelyn had her first taste of rice cereal at a week after she turned 4 months. I mixed a little rice cereal with my breast milk and tried feeding her with a spoon. Think she was not used to eating out of a spoon, so half of the cereal ended up on her bib and on the floor.... But I think she likes the new taste. Not too bad for a start.

First hair cut

I noticed that Kaelyn started dropping strands of hair around 4 months. Heard many people say that babies will start losing hair during this time. So I decided it was time for me to try my hand at being a barber! David refused to be my guinea pig the last time, so now's my chance!

Result of first attempt on 4 Dec 07, without using a baby comb. Still not short enough.
So the next day, I attempted the second time, this time using a baby comb. My skills are quite good right? I think she looks cuter and less cheeky after the haircut. I get many strangers cooing at her and commenting how cute she is. And following that, they will say "It's a boy right?"... ok, so her hair is now too short for a girl.

Kaelyn is 4 months old!

Another month has wheezed past yet again. Kaelyn is now 4 months old!

At 4 months, she:

• is 6.1kg and 62cm long.

• does not like to lie on her back for long. She'll call out for us to prop her into a sitting or 'standing' position to view the world around her from a different perspective (also see pictures 2 posts before this).

• is now an 'expert' in rolling from her back to tummy (but not the other way round). We often find her on her tummy in the mornings when we wake up. When on her tummy, she seems to want to crawl, often pulling her knees inwards and raising her butt. But her arms are not strong enough yet.

• is able amuse herself by playing with her own fingers and toes, scratching her ears, pulling her hair and clothes etc.

• is able to reach out for objects with both hands when dangled in front of her. And very soon after, the objects will find their way into her mouth!

• likes to watch TV (oh dear!).

• can somewhat recognise voices and faces. She is now beginning to show preference for people. She used to smile at anyone who plays with her. But now, she'll yell when she's in the company of strangers or people she doesnt see often (that would include her Ye ye, Nai nai, Gong gong and Po po).

• is easily distracted by sights and sounds.

• sucks her left thumb, pacifier or my breast for comfort. Whichever she chooses will depend on her mood.

• makes lots of noises. When she's in a good mood, she'll laugh, babble and 'sing' very loudly, which amuses us all.

• is very disinterested in her milk. She can drink only 3 oz and refuse to drink anymore in the next 5 hours!
  

Her character and personality is beginning to show. And I am not too pleased with what I see. She is one impatient, demanding girl! She'll make a BIG fuss, yelling and screaming if she is being forced to do something she doesnt want to. When we feed her or try to make her sleep when she wants to play, her screams can be heard 2 blocks down... Even if we eventually give in to her demands, she'll continue her screams as if she were protesting against being forced earlier on. I hope this trait doesnt stick to her when she grows up!

Going back to work

Time really flies. I had thought that 5 months maternity leave would be a long time. But 4 months have passed in a flash, and I realised I have not cut my hair, gone to the dentist, exercised etc etc... So many things on my to do list are still undone. And I will be going back to work in 3 weeks time...

I have begun to dig up my work clothes, and realised that they still do not fit! My maternity clothes are too loose and big for me now. I am now neither her nor there. I either have to lose enough weight to fit into old clothes or buy new ones. I figured out the latter would be more practical. Ok, another item to add to my to-do list.

I am so not looking forward to going back to work. Not that I dont like the job. It's just that I have been away for so long, I cant imagine having to start all over again, having to warm up my engine and keeping up with what has happened during my absence. My accounting vocabulary has long been replaced by baby's vocabulary of 'milk-milk', 'pom pom', 'mickey mouse', 'peek-a-boo' etc; the accounting standards have been replaced by Book of ABCs, Red Riding Hood, Chicken Little; my mind is now filled with 'When's the baby's next feed', 'When's my next pumping session', 'Why's the baby screaming', 'Should I read Red Riding Hood or show her the ABC / 123 flash cards'... Gosh, I am so NOT ready for work!

I will also really really miss Kaelyn. I will miss giving her her daily morning bath, feeding her, playing with her, reading to her, bringing her down for walks in the playground, I will even miss her screams......

Kaelyn dear, will you miss Mama as much as Mama will miss you?

Our little ... terror?

When I first set up this blog when Kaelyn's still in my tummy, I named it 'Our little angel', hoping that our gal will be a sweet cutie pie. But it turns out that she is quite far from what I had hoped for. Now, David and I call her 'Little terror'. I agree that babies do have a right to cry as that is how they communicate. But to scream and shout at the top of her lungs when she is just tired, unhappy or hungry is not what I had in mind of a good little baby.

My parents suggested bringing baby out for a walk last Friday. I thought it was a good idea, so off we went to Vivo City. Everything started off fine but as soon as we had bought out lunch and were ready to tuck in, Kaelyn started making noise. Then it turned into a cry, and then she started screaming away. I think everyone in the Food Court heard and was looking at our direction as I frantically tried to calm her down. I carried and rocked her, put her in my sarong, sang to her, tried to feed her etc etc. Nothing works! I had no choice but to whisk her out of the Food Court amidst stares from people I passed by. She finally calmed down when we were out of the Food Court. I guess she didnt like that place and screaming was her only way of protesting. The rest of the day was spent either feeding her, calming her when she started her nonsense again, or worrying when she will start yelling again...

I really hope this wont happen when David and I bring her to Sentosa for 3D 2N stay at Rasa Sentosa.

Kaelyn, can you promise Papa and Mama you will be an angel at Sentosa?