The last day of 2008

I look back at this year and realise... how time flies. Like many other people and like many previous years, we always say time flies. But do we really cherish time by cherishing each moment? Admittedly I do not all the time.

When I was working, I looked at each day with an aim. My clients were my priority, and their happiness was our objective. But now that I've sacrificed career for the two children which hubby and I are blessed with, it's their welfare and happiness that becomes our top priority. Sometimes when I carry William and look at him, I can't help but think how much he's grown and that he's no more my newborn. No more the little boy that just sleeps and suckles, but one with a developing character. Every month pass with new surprises from him. Victoria have given us the joy of being first time parents, whilst William is giving the joy of being last chance parents (for now). So, once I joked to Hubby that when William poops, he should grab the opportunity to change his diapers... because we may not be doing this ever again. : )

Victoria on the other hand, have matured so much this year especially eversince she's started playschool, and have grown taller. It's easy to hold a conversation with her now, and she can understand feelings just like an adult. Once when I've let my tears fall in front of her (breaking the number one rule that parents should never cry in front of the kids) she asked me why. Then she said, "You are a big girl, Mummy. You cannot cry. Don't cry, OK? Daddy will come back and hug you."

Some friends still ask me if I plan to go back to work. There is no plan to return to the workforce yet, although I appreciate the opportunity that awaits me. Year 2008 have been very challenging and an emotional roller coaster for us, with the addition of William multiplying the joy in this family, and then the discovery of Victoria's allergies, and the admissions of Victoria for acute gastroenteritis (September) and pneumonia (November), and William for bronchiolitis (October).

In a way, I'm glad we're coming to the end of 2008.

Hubby's MBA will end in January, and we are all excited for his graduation. Thereafter, I say he's a free man and we can look forward to some really good family times together.

I look forward to next year, 2009. I look forward to our next visit to Tangkak, for Victoria's follow up with the allergist doctor, to confirm if she has really overcome some of her allergies. I look forward to Hubby's last exam just before CNY, and the family times thereafter. I look forward to William turning one, and learning how to walk and talk. I look forward to the family holiday that we can have after Victoria has healed, and trips to the zoo and parks. I look forward to... the next Christmas where I can put up the Christmas tree I lugged home last week ; )

Mummy and boy boy

Skinny died

This evening we discovered one of Victoria's gold fishes, called Skinny, resting in between some leaves, and the Maid said she looks pregnant, probably going to deliver. We observed it for a while then felt that something is amiss, because even her mouth is not moving. So the Maid took a straw and moved the leaves.

Skinny floated up. She's dead!

We looked for the netting and fished her out. She's gone, just like that. We don't know why, maybe she overate during breakfast, or she was too hungry waiting for dinner, or the leaves posed a hazard, or she had internal disease we didn't know...

So anyway, Victoria wasn't sad at all. She seem more curious and excited. I asked her if she is sad, she said yes, but she doesn't look sad. Hopefully she will still eat her fish and not be like Mummy when her pet fighting fish died (I cried for days!).

Pet fishes Part 2

Look what Daddy bought for Victoria! We used our old aquarium, changed the old pump, added two more, put in more fishes, and a decorative tortoise (because Victoria loves the tortoises) and voila....!!



Victoria named two of the mini koi-wannabe fishes, Mandur and Mandur. (I say they are twins since they have the same names)

One of the three surviving guppies is called Boy.

There's a red gold fish that's called Jory (same name as our lawyer... haha) and an orange gold fish that's called Skinny (I dunno why, but it definitely don't look skinny to me).

I've layed a rule that fish feeding is only twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. And that's also with supervision, after what happened previously.

Happy 8 months old, boy!

Mummy Daddy love you William. Today you are exactly 8 months old. Look how you've grown! You're still the cheerful playful baby that we know since birth, and you are ever generous with your smiles and laughter.

Water baby
From 2 months old, he loved bathing time, and I can count using one hand the number of times he cried or wriggled while having his hair washed. Thereafter, it's FUN time in the water! If he could, I think he would jump right into the tub, causing a big splash! We can't wait to bring him to the swimming pool, and have a ball of a time with Daddy and Jie Jie.

Enjoying the water at 5 months old

8 months old


The loves of my life
William loves to go kai kai, and the only complain I have is that he will not sleep during such outings. The other times when he will choose play over sleep is when Jie Jie is around. He truly adores her, and she's his number one girl, if not Mummy. Today he cried in the car, but when Jie Jie looked at him with a smile on her face, his cry immediately changed to laughter. How that melted our hearts. Of course, for each loving times, there is twice the times when Jie Jie feels the need for more attention, some slight jealousy and a little competition from baby brother.

Sleep
These days he sleeps a little later but longer in the mornings, sometimes around 1030am and lasting 1hour to 1.5hours in the morning. Lunch is normally at 1230pm, followed by an afternoon nap beginning from 130pm for an hour. Then it's another break, and nap from 4pm for 2hours or so, and dinner at 730pm. Bedtime at night starts from 900pm and William is rather fussy at night, wanting Mummy to put him to sleep and not the maid. During the day, it's the total opposite as only the Maid can put him to sleep, whilst my efforts will end up with a playful baby.

Night feeds
Very fussy. From preferences to demands now, for his "juit juit". Sometimes I prefer to give him the bottle, so that he can sleep longer with a fuller stomach, but he refuses the bottle.

Solids
He started on cereals at 6 months old, then vege porridge comprising carrot and spinach at 7 month old, moving on to fish (dai ma yau) and spinach 2 days before turning 8 months old. He has tasted papaya and apple prior to this, and today I introduced banana (pisang emas) to him. He seems to like the banana more than the other fruits on first attempt.

Milk
He is still on Isomil soya milk and no plans to change to cow's milk. However, he's not very fond of the formula and prefers breastmilk anytime. So, it's most of the time a challenge for the Maid and I to get him to finish his 4oz of soya milk. He must have a toy or handphone in hand, and even that, he must have something new and interesting to hold. Sigh, tough guy to please!

Motorskills
He's learnt to crawl back and front now, with more times towards the back. He likes to grab the remote controllers, Drapolene cream and powder container, and my handphone is also his favourite. He likes to stand and walk, even from many months back, but is more firm and steady now. His kick is very strong too, and still likes to put things in his mouth.

Weight
I think he's easily 10kg or more now.

Carry
Doesn't like to be carried all the time, and shows this by trying to get down to walk or play. But it's the opposite when he has sat too long in the stroller, or in the car. When eating he sits in his own stroller or high chair, and I hope to make this a habit. At night, after feeding, he doesn't want to be cuddled, but rather I place him down on the bed. But when I do that, he cries. So how? I still haven't crack the code.

Dislikes
Still... drinking water.

Character
Besides being playful most of the time, William does have a temper. A relatively mild one, if compared to his sister when she was his age. He is also determined when he wants something, and when he doesn't want something, he shakes his head many times. Lately, I've voiced out to him my displeasure, in very stern voice, that he should change his sleeping habits at night, and not be so choosy over his feeds. He cried back at me as if in contempt, like he understood. When I spoke again, he kept quiet.

And lastly...
Ladies, I say this only once. William loves to be tickled on his belly (I do this with my mouth, pretending to eat him) and arms. And he loves to be kissed behind the ears. ; )

The day after Christmas... sale and makan!

On Boxing Day, Victoria followed Mummy and Aunty Maria early in the morning, to Midvalley Metrojaya to help clear the Christmas stock for the management. To put in other words, it's SALE!! Not just any sale, but I've been warned that the prices can dip to at least 80% off the original price. This is too yummy to miss. So it's an all girls day out, just the three of us.

Our objective? To buy our Christmas tree and get our decos! We spent the whole morning in Metro, and I kept asking her if she's firm on silver and blue theme. I wouldn't mind gold and red, but she insisted that silver and blue it is. Until at one point after umpteenth times of asking her, she said, "Yes, it's blue and silver. Why you ask so many times?"

We bought our tree. It's a 7foot christmas tree, that comes with inbuilt fibre optic lights, with opening price at RM189. I say opening price, because after waiting 1hr for the store assistant to check the store for a new tree, he came back saying there's none, so I asked for a discount off the display unit. The manager gave another 20%, so the final price was RM151.20. : )

We bought 4 baskets of silver and blue decorative balls, and packets of stuffed hanging toys. I didn't have time to choose the ribbons, socks and more ornaments, but the best of all was the this porcelain santa claus sitting on a wooden rocking chair, reading a thick book which I think is the Bible lar. To be honest, he was actually behind the cashier till placed there by another shopper who've gone to get more loot. I placed all my shopping stuffs next to Santa and tried to look for another but he was the last Santa on a rocking chair, so when I paid for my items, I "conveniently" told the cashier that that's mine too, so that's how Santa came home with me. : )

This is Mummy and Victoria at the centre court decos, without much of a crowd, just the way it should be. Hehe.

Going home


That evening, we went for a family gathering.

As usual, she's camera shy, but very playful outside of the lens.

Loves the attention from all the young aunties.


I'm sooo happy with all the goodies we brought home that I'm tempted to put up the Christmas tree even on Boxing Day itself, but have refrained from doing so. The next day, we did some spring cleaning in the house, and put away all the Christmas decos, including the 18inch table Christmas tree which we bought from IKEA for this year. All except... Mr Santa who is still rocking by the side of my main door.

Christmas, before and after

This year's Christmas was very much anticipated. It was William's first Christmas, just as how we were excited over Victoria's first in 2005, we were truly excited to celebrate this happy occassion with the two kids this year.

Hubby had a long leave, in a way because Boxing Day was a company holiday, and the Monday after Christmas (today) happened to be some Malay festivity so he had that surprise holiday too. That makes a good 6 FULL DAYS of family time together! Yippeeeee!!!

Pre-Christmas at Pavillion
A few days before Christmas, we went to Pavillion to look at the decorations, and see if there's any good deals to pick up in the sale.

Victoria tucking in little brother upon arrival

Looking at the decos below

Look here sweetie!

Happy to go kai kai



Christmas Eve 24th December
We were back in Seremban on the Eve to spend the day and dinner with Popo Gong Gong. The kids woke early and excited. In the evening, we had Chinese dinner at Min Kok Restaurant, then opened a few presents after dinner (which Victoria chose to bring back, leaving the rest in PJ).

Ready for dinner, let's go!


Christmas Day 25th December
The next day, Christmas day, Popo Gong Gong left for their church service, and we packed up then left for ours at Agape Assembly.

Victoria wore her Santa Claus hat and had a fun time down memory lane in the children's room during church service.

Lunch was western, at Kensington in Seremban together with Yeh Yeh Mama, Yee Sok Yee Sam and baby Theodore, which has been the tradition over the years.

Victoria having a fun time with Yee Sok during lunch.


After lunch, we left for home in PJ. Dinner was back in KL, at this Korean fine dining place called Daorae at their Hartamas outlet with Yeh Yeh, Mama, Yee Sok, Yee Sam and baby Theodore. There aren't many pictures of Victoria as she was very busy here and there, enjoying herself, the fact that we all sat on the floor like the pure Japanese style interests her. (Of course on top of the fact that she's very camera shy now)

I'm not eating Korean : (
I have my porridge... yummy!
Special order... rice for Victoria
Just getting started
I love gatherings
Carry me
After all the pork and beef, finally the noodles. I was too into the food I forgotten to take the pictures.

And these are MOST of the presents which Victoria and William received.

Opening her presents

Frustrated over opening too many presents!!

First tooth

Yesterday we discovered something hard, something white, on the bottom gums of William. The maid saw it first, and told me. It's his first tooth!!!

I was sooooo excited, and I made him open his mouth for me. Can't see. Then I used the baby gum massager to clean his tongue inside, massage his gums and also tried to feel for his tooth. Got it!

Yippeeee!! William is growing his first tooth. So that explains his periodic nibbling on my shoulders. Hubby says I wouldn't be so happy later, when his gums itches during nursing time. Haha.

Polka dot socks!

Victoria got a pair of new polka dot socks last week which she chose herself. It has yellow, pink and blue on it, and she told me before buying that she chose it because it has pink which is my favourite color. Of course, I think she said that so she can convince us to buy for her. :)

Last night, she wore it on her hands as mittens (because she's been scratching her fingers middle of the night due to the itch that came back lately). I said, "Eh, why you wore these socks? They are new and they should be worn for "kai kai", not when you go to bed at night."

She gave a loud sigh.

Then she said very seriously, "Mummy. (pause) You bought these socks for me, so I can wear them anyway I want."

Yikes. She's got a point there. So I gave in.

Looks like there will be more of her "winning me" very soon. This is just the beginning.

If you have the faith of a mustard seed...

... then you can move mountains! Well, not really, but Victoria's prayers are strong. Eversince young when we taught her how to pray for parking at the shopping malls, many times God have answered her prayer by giving us GOOD parking. After some time, she became cheeky and prayed for a naughty parking, and sure enough, Daddy had to illegal park, haha!

Last Sunday, she prayed for good hot sunny weather, so that she can go swimming in the evening when Daddy comes back. She got what she wanted.

Then yesterday, she was in the garden helping the maid take in the clothes because the weather was gloomy, and the maid was saying that we need hot sunny weather for the clothes to dry. I was in the house, but I heard part of her prayer asking God to give very very VERY hot weather, take away the rain... and the sun came back. It didn't rained at all!

Wow. Maybe Mummy can ask her to pray for William to sleep through one night, so I can have a blissful undisturbed sleep??? : )

Victoria's Genting Trip in November

This happened in November. Victoria went to Genting Highlands with Popo, Gong Gong, Yee Yee, Yee Cheong and cousin sister Grace on 10th-11th November and stayed at the Awana Resort.

I'm putting up pictures for memories when Victoria reads this blog when she's older.

Pet fishes

Yesterday we bought Victoria some fishes. 4 guppies and 2 tetra fish to be exact. We had this plastic bowl from an already spoilt Ogawa air purifier, so we just threw the motor away and kept the bowl. For sometime we've been meaning to get Vic some fishes just to expose her to some "pet experience". Afterall, this is the cheapest, and cleanest pet to have I think.

So we bought back a bottle of anti chlorine for the water, a bottle of fish food, a water plant for deco, and 6 fishes, all for RM20 (a good price to start with). She was very excited!

At night, we brought the container of fishes into the house, so the neighbourhood cat won't eat it if he decides to go for its occassional midnight stroll and happen to chance upon Victoria's little fishes.

Victoria wanted to feed the fishes, so as I was taking care of William, I gave her verbal guidance on how much to pour. She accidentally poured too much onto the cover, and I screamed, "Nooooo" just as she proceeded to pour the whole thing from the cover into the fish bowl! Aiyaaaa... now there's TOO MUCH food, and who knows if the fishes are dumb like gold fish, they might just overeat themselves dead.

Look at all the fish food!

So I was annoyed lar. Later I scooped out one of the fishes which I noticed had some skin desease. Best to separate him from the rest in case he "passes away" at night and infect the others.

This morning, that fish died. Vic is still sleeping as I type this, so I don't know what's her reaction towards the dead pet fish. I think she'll take it easy, coz we did pre empt her that pets die, and she shouldn't feel sad. She was OK when we spoke about it, and even whilst we were downstairs late last night to prepare some midnight snack, she even went to disturb the sick fish by shaking the container. : )

So it's 5 headcounts now. Hopefully they have a much longer lifespan.

Physiotherapy and prevener 1st booster jab

Today I brought William for his prevener first booster jab and physiotherapy. The physiotherapy appointment was made earlier because I felt his neck was sometimes tilted. But the therapist said he was fine after half an hour observation, and I paid RM70... for William to play some toys there while being observed. (No more GLs coz we've burst the annual budget liao.) Sheeesshh.

After the physio, I brought him 3 floors up to see the paediatrician to get his booster jab. Of course, we've been preempted that this jab will hurt. William cried, a few seconds after being poked, but only for a while. Next visit, before CNY!

His weight is 9.9kg, almost a bag of rice! Way to go, boy. You save mummy gym fees ler.

His length is 74cm, which is at the top of the percentile, so looks like my boy may grow up to be quite tall in the future. Yaaayyy!! This will get you more girls, dear ; )

Motorskills I thought he's a little behind, but the doctor and therapist said he's on track. Can sit down, but sometimes fall off, and loves to walk. Can't stand yet. Loves to put things in his mouth, and salivates a lot. Tremendously playful even while drinking milk, and likes his sister's Lego.

Here are his charts.

First fall... and second fall

Supposed to write this earlier but was recently busy with cousin Morgan's wedding in KL and then Ipoh, and settling the kids down and starting William on his porridge.

On Saturday 29th November, we went out in the morning to attend Morgan's church wedding at St Paul's. After reception, we came home to freshen up and William slept. Shortly later we should be leaving to Uncle Kong Wah's house for the tea ceremony. Victoria and Daddy did not join us as she had her follow up appointment with her doctor in the morning, and thereafter, Daddy took her for lunch at 1 Utama.

William was asleep when Victoria and Daddy came home. Victoria bought each of us an ice cream cone each, and insisted to open it for us and feed us. That's very nice of her, considering that ice cream is her favourite and she cannot eat. But I think she just enjoys feeding us.

Daddy was upstairs when we heard William cry. He went straight to the guest room (in the future, Victoria's room) where he normally naps on the double bed with pillows surrounding him, but he wasn't there. Then he quickly ran up to our bedroom. Not on our bed. Not in his cot. But we can still hear William cry. For a split second, I thought the maid has moved William up to our room. When I saw hubby ran out of our room, I knew William must have fell from the bed.

I dashed upstairs. Hubby ran back to the guest room, and we both saw him on the floor, beneath the study table, on his belly. Poor boy! He cried sooo much, and only stopped after I carried him awhile.

Just that morning I was telling the maid that we should now put him in the other room, on the mattress on the floor, now that he knows how to crawl and always plays by himself when he wakes. Sharks. Just a few hours later in the afternoon, he fell.

The second fall was mainly my fault. It was at night when Victoria, William and myself went to the bedroom to prepare for bedtime. I placed William in the middle of the bed, then quickly went to the table to put down the bottles and milk. Then I walked to the air purifier to on it, and all these took just less than 30 seconds, William fell. This time, he was facing up.

I quickly carried him, and he stopped crying instantly. Strong boy, tough fella, but never again, I told myself.

Victoria writes her own name

This is how Victoria writes her own name. She can even type her name on the internet, I saw it with my own eyes.

Everytime she sees a letter "V", she tells me it's her name.

William's first solids

We started William on cereals, rice based, when he was 6 months and 1 day old, although honestly, I was tempted to give him cereals when he was 5.5 months old, but after having read the internet about the potential dangers and risks of feeding baby his first cereals before 6 months, I'm not gonna be impatient here. Afterall, although William showed some signs of interest in the food that we take, he's rather a small "eater" or drinker, compared to his sister when she was his age, and considering that he's a boy.

Cereals
So 6 months and 1 day old. I happily took out Nestle brown rice cereal and eagerly opened it. The maid, she's as excited as me, and has been asking me when William can start his cereals for a few weeks already.

The boy didn't like it, to put it simply. Brown rice was not his thing. I thought, maybe the first time it's like this lar. We tried again the next day, this time I minus out the milk, since the cereal itself tasted sweet a bit "chocolatey" to me.

Eeeuuu!! What's this??
Jie Jie feeding baby brother

What a mess!

He still didn't like it. But no problem. Mummy got the Heinz white rice cereals as backup... tadaaaaa!! Haha, this is the same as what Victoria fed as an infant. William loved this. Not a heavy taker, again, but at least he's eating.

We increased his intake over the past few weeks, then plateau off to 2-3 spoonfuls per meal, twice a day. After he finished the box, we tried the brown rice cereals again. This time, he was more receptive. After finishing 1 tin, I bought a second tin. I'm going to be really slow, and careful in his first solids, as Victoria has allergies and there are distant relatives with allergies as well, the chances of William developing allergies are there.

Papaya
As for fruits, I started him on papaya first. One year back, I heard about my father's friend who was so paranoid about the pesticide used on the fruits and vegetables, that he actually left out the outer one inch of the fruit, and scooped the really inner part for his baby. My first thought was, "He's crazy!" but here I am, being crazy too.

What was William's reaction to the fruit? Not very good either. I noticed that for every new thing that he tries, he gives his really "mmmm... i dunno like" face, with the mouth shut, and the eyes a bit squinting. I can see in the future he will not much of a food lover or a heavy eater, but even now, with his relatively low intake of milk and solids, he has a good weight. Last weighed at 9.45kg a week back at 7 months old.

Vege Porridge
After the Ipoh holiday, I started him on porridge. We bought organic bayam (spinach) and carrots from the organic shop while at The Gardens on Monday. On Tuesday, William had his first taste of vege porridge. This is the look he gave us, after tasting it.

He refused, and I repeat, REFUSED to open his mouth for the subsequent spoons of porridge! Somehow, we manage to get him to eat about a tablespoon. That evening, he was more willing, I guess maybe hungry or he's resigned to the fact that he can't choose his food.

Apple
Yesterday I gave him apple. Shredded a piece and gave him abit of pulp with the juice. Again, he's not really liking it. Haiyaaa... so messy, with the juice coming out from his mouth. To add to all these, his loving sister wants to feed him everytime too. I've limited her to only one or a couple of spoons now, unlike the first few times, because she still haven't mastered the art of feeding baby, and can accidentally shove the spoon too into his mouth. With William moving his head here and there, and the hands trying to catch the spoon, it makes feeding time even messier.

So I let the maid do it lar. Honestly, she does a better job than me I think, feeding him, that is.

Milk and water
His intake of milk is sooooo little, I get frustrated and worried that he's not taking enough liquid. Yesterday alone during the day time, he took less than 10oz cumulative, and refuses water. I dunno why. Maybe he's just full from his porridge, but really, we're not giving him a lot even. Just about 2 tablespoons per meal. It's almost like war every time I feed him milk. He's still breastfeeding, especially at night and when he sleeps. That's easier, than rushing for a bottle. Unless he's really hungry, of course.