Wish

I wish I could print out every single blog post here and make it into a book.

Feeling GREAT!

Hon is on 2 days off tomorrow and Thursday to spend time with us. He is such a family man & I LOVE him sooooo dearly for that.  So tomorrow, Aaliyah will ponteng school and we will bring her to her 6th swimming session at Plaza Sing. It's a Whole Day Aaliyah Day tomorrow to spend time with her. =)

And then, when Aaliyah is in school on Thursday....... to add to the 16 things I have done while Aaliyah is in school will be Number 17, coming up this Thursday, with Hon. The last day of my maternity leave. Hon and I are going to SENTOSA! Going all out on FUN! Yeay! I can still reminisce the times we were on hot dates while I was still studying in SIM. Haha! We frequented Sentosa for its romantic sunset. That was like 4-5 years ago. And this Thursday, we're gonna be heading there for a whole day of fun after sending Aaliyah to school. Sort of like a CLOSURE for me and my maternity leave, as I will be starting work the day after, on Friday. It will also be "OUR" time to rekindle and celebrate our post 10 Years anniversary. =) After our husband & wife celebration, we'll fetch Aaliyah from school and head home to rest and recharge for my start of work the next day.

I am also glad to say that after my 3rd session with LWM, I have officially lost 2 KG!! whooot! I have also lost a total of 17 cm from my whole body measurements. I am now targetting my tummy area. I have 4 sessions of body contouring with them left. I can now fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes already! YEAHHHHH!!!! Apart from that, I pledge to start running. I have signed up for the Great Eastern 10KM race in July and I need to train up for that. I am also going to sign up for the Nike Women's 5KM run as a start. My XS regime is working! I feel great, inside and out. =)

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Key Word: Moderation

 As a mother, I am very very obsessed with my child's growth and development. I obsess over every single detail of her tiny little being. I read every parenting book I could lay my hands on and googled up almost all the information I needed answers to. I could even jot down and write a book entitled, "Confessions of a First-Time Mom" if I wanted to. Letting all the knowledge seep into my brain like a sponge so that I can compare my child to what others may have called the 'perfect child'. Never did I realise that I was digging a hole so deep that could have landed me in Obsession Land. Vile and acidic these websites. The husband had told me to 'take it easy'... take it in stride, but I kept on being a worry wart. When Aaliyah wasn't drinking enough milk (according to the guidelines I read about on the can, in websites and in books), I started to get paranoid. A lot of questions raced through my mind. Was she drinking enough? Should I see the doctor? Should I change bottle? Should I change teat? Should I change formula brand? What if it was colic? What if it was trush? Was her weight in the just nice percentile? Why are other babies her age so chubby? Is there phlegm in her throat? Is something bothering her? 101 questions popped up in my brain in a split second. As if that wasn't enough, I searched through websites. I googled, I yahooed, I went to forums, I asked on Facebook and Tweeter. In fact, I used up every immunity I had just to figure out and solve the problem. A parent's job is, after all, to problem solve a child's needs. (Yes, this too, I read somewhere.)

The realisation struck me. It was information overload. The magazine says this, the book says that, the 'Mummyanswers101' handle in the Mummy forum says another. My mind was so overloaded that my hair started falling as if the roots cannot take the poisonous gibberish. Literally. Even the teachers in her school told me that she had difficulty finishing up her milk. To ease my mind, I finally brought her to a paediatrician nearby which, yes, I googled up. The moment we brought Aaliyah into the Dr's room. "So what's wrong with her? I see here everything's just fine. She's perfect. Her weight is of normal range, 50th percentile, in fact. She doesn't have a fever, no flu. Nothing. What's the worry about?" My heart sank into oblivion. Is this Dr for real? I told her that Aaliyah wasn't drinking enough milk according to the guidelines shown on the milk can or on websites or on various charts that I have researched. She gave me one sniggering head-to-toe look and said, "You mothers ah... So Obsessed about numbers and how many ounces and millilitres. Your baby knows best! Your baby will know when she wants to drink, when she's hungry and when she's full. Don't need to be so obsessed about numbers. If you compare a huge 2m European Mummy and you, an Asian mummy who is small built, your babies will of course appear different. Those are just guidelines. Forget it! You are healthy, most importantly, your baby is healthy, what's there to worry about?" The Doctor gave me a sound advice that made me feel like she hit my head onto a brick wall. I guess even Amy Chua the Tiger Mummy would have done that. I concurred. I am a worry freak.

From then onwards, I decided to stay away from poison. From information overload that could cloud my mind like a wild hurricane. And I needed to heed the husband's advice to...... take it easy.

Albeit all that, I still visit forums once in a while to cure my obsession. For example, if I hadn't visited one, I wouldn't have known that all this while, I have given Aaliyah the wrong position of the NUK bottle teat. I faced the anti-colic hole downwards, when it was supposed to be upwards! I tried feeding her milk with the hole facing upwards and walahhhhhh.... she gobbled up her milk in 15 mins as compared to 45 mins. So you see, there is some good to doing researching too. (The ego hasn't left the building.) I needed to prove my point. =P

Thus, Key Word: Moderation.

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On another note, here's a video showing Aaliyah's actions at her PlayGym! She's doing something in between unoccupied play and solitary play. @3mths3weeks.

Honing her gross motor skills, eye-hand coordination and eye-feet coordination. Maybe even hand feet coordination. Haha! Her favourite mobiles are the giraffe and the hippopotamus. She's still flailing her hands around. Have fun Aaliyah! Don't worry about being developmentally ready at this age. Just... have... fun!

Great Job Aaliyah!!!!!!! Concentration skills and being a little too ambitious at times. Hahaha! Love you love you love you!!









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Last but not least......

HAPPY 10th ANNIVERSARY HONEY!! <3

Me Time

Work starts in exactly a week's time and I am indeed glad I have spent some 'ME' time alone. I feel totally rejuvenated and am totally prepared to go back to work next week. The tiresome and worrisome me has left the building. I have recharged! Aaliyah is also quite easy to take care of nowadays. She sleeps from 8pm - 12am when she comes home from school. I wake her up at 12am for her bedtime routine. A warm wipedown, sometimes with soothing music, diaper change, her milk feed, and she automatically sleeps until 6am. Everyday. (I know I shouldn't speak too soon but so far Alhamdulillah she has been sleeping well for 1 month already.) When Aaliyah is awake, she is mostly alert and loves to explore her surroundings. She's wonderful. She's beautiful. She's our heart and soul and we LOVE her.

Things that I have done alone during the month of March when Aaliyah is in school:
1. Watched a movie alone with popcorn in hand
2. London Weight Management sessions (sauna, salt scrub, heated blanket, the works...)
3. Shopping for Back-To-Work clothes and other stuffs
4. Catch up on Sleep, sleep and sleep
5. Cut hair
6. Coloured hair
7. Rebonded hair (all at different sessions)
8. Queued up for a goodie bag during Women's International Day
9. Had breakfast at burger king almost once a week. (Turkey Ham Croissant meal!)
10. Went jogging
11. Gave my wardrobe a turnover
12. Went to the arcade (with Hon) to play Daytona and air hockey and laugh and scream loudly.
13. Had a nice 2 hr hot date meal at Seoul Garden with Hon where we talk and confide and converse and laugh and speak our minds.
14. People-watch at Starbucks
15. Got a flu jab
16. Finished reading a book at Borders

And I still have one more week left.

It felt aaaaaawweeesooooooooome!!!!!

And tomorrow marks our 10th anniversary of being together. 25/03/11. Another Super hot date awaits this Saturday..... =)

Adventures of Aaliyah & Afiqah

Aaliyah is getting to know people now and she has become a very friendly and sociable baby. She has a social smile and loves to smile and "talk" to others be it nyonya, apek, her same-aged friends or her teachers. So to cultivate that self-esteem, Afiqah, her cousin is gonna be her playmate as I think they will grow up together looking at how close me and my cousin (her mom) Raudha is. Today, we see the first 'play' session of Aaliyah and Afiqah. Aaliyah still being immobile. But I bet, in a few months' time... it's gonna be... utter chaotic. Brace yourselves.

3rd - 4th month in pixels

Aaliyah's 1st day of school

Aaliyah started attending school on 1st March 2011, exactly 1 day after her 3rd month. She is the youngest in class but by mid march, she'll be second youngest. Her friends will grow up together with her when they graduate to toddler class. The first day went really well. The night before, I have bought, packed, labelled and prepared everything to the last bib. Massive. Like want to run away from home like that.

And this is Aaliyah decked in school uniform... ok just joking. Infants don't have school uniform. They wear whatever they please. I don't really like green.. but never mindlah... she blends in together with the bedsheet. Kopet kopet pergi skolah. 

Once we reached school, the teachers received her and we have to follow a procedure. Sign her in, take her temperature, record on the whiteboard the timing of her diaper change and last feeding, keep her belongings in the cupboards provided and lastly fix her beddings. She sat there in the super-comfortable bouncer with a teacher. She looks so excited with the ooooh where am I look on her face....

Once she has settled down, Hon and I went for our breakfast and left her in the good hands of the infantcare teachers there. We wouldn't wanna be around too as it will distract the other infants and teachers going about their day. I understand how that feels. =) 

We intended for her first day to be a half day so that she can transit comfortably into her new environment. And everything went smoothly. We love the teachers there too. When we came back to fetch her around noon, she was already relaxing on the bouncer looking comfortable as after her nice bath, she was given her milk feed.

I have a good feeling, sort of like a good vibe about her being taken care of here. Spacious, nice environment, caring teachers. The last thing at the back of my mind was her being sick due to close contact with other infants, but hopefully she stays strong. I like the fact that they have SOPs and guidelines to adhere to. Puts my mind at ease. =)

Sshh.... Aaliyah is sleeping in her cot in the 'sleeping nook'.

Individual cots.

When we fetched her home from school... "Mummy, i'm tired... I wanna sleep...." Hahaha! Like as if she does a lot of activities and playing like that. She will, but not at this age.

"Daddy, I wanna sleep... don't disturb me. I want to recharge."

"OK! Recharge already!! It's playing time again!! Yeehaa!"

P/S: This blog entry is solely personal and by no means an intention to advocate anything. To each his own. However, mummies do feel free to email me if you have any qualms about 'going back to work' issues and let's chat!

Aaliyah's 3rd month today @ 28/02/2011 and her first day at school is tomorrow!

She has reached 1/4 of a year today. Time flies superfast. And tomorrow will be her first day at school. Yes, she is going to school at 3 months old. Infantcare, that is. Hon and I came to this decision and believe it is the best choice for her. Firstly, both our moms are working and are very busy. Secondly, we do not want a foreign helper or nanny bringing up our child alone at home (God forbids anything were to happen these days) and she won't learn or enjoy anything. Thirdly, I get a staff rate which cuts the infantcare fees by a lot and damn am I so glad I made the switch to this career path. Fourthly, Aaliyah gets to socialize, make friends, refine her motor skills and she is being taken care of by infantcare professionals and I wouldn't worry as much as I will know her progress is being tangibly recorded every step of the way. Fifth, her infantcare school is only a walk away from my workplace. So there you have it. Five valid reasons why we chose to send her to infantcare.

I also have another month of maternity leave left and will be going back to work in April. I chose to send her to school one month earlier not that i can have time for myself or hubby (that is a secondary reason, though =D), but so that I can be ready and prepare myself mentally and physically when I go back to work and also knowing that Aaliyah has settled down in her school by the time I start work, I wouldn't have to worry so much. This is the path we chose for her and we believe and have confidence in ourselves as parents. Some may disagree and call us mean by saying we 'throw' our child anyhow and we got no feelings or whatever the eff. Grow up, man. We see so many positive reasons and NO negative reasons at all and everything is stated above. =) So do you think we made the right choice? mmhmm...I think so.

Now that I have some free time in my hands for the month of March, I have resolutions to achieve. First, start running to prepare myself in time for this year's 10Km Nike race (Yeay to running again!!). Second, have as many hot dates with Hubby on his off days as possible and then fetch Aaliyah back from school. (Month of March being our 10 years of relationship!!). Third, really really clean and spruce up the house (it has taken a backseat since I am busy looking after Aaliyah). Fourth, go shopping for new work clothes (now that I have lost that preggie weight)! Fifth, sleep sleep sleep sleep sleep (Catch up on deprived sleep). Another 5 grrreeeaaaaat reasons to enjoy the month of March!!

Her first few milestones: Lifting head and shoulders up @ 2mths2wks. Good Job Aaliyah!!

Till her next update!!

Aaliyah's swimming videos

Aaliyah's 2nd swimming session @ 2 mths 1 week! She's kickin' those legs!! Strong girl! Pls ignore the conversations in the background and the stupid video adverts at the end. Hehehehe!



Aaliyah's 4th swimming session at 2 mths 3 weeks!!! At a point of time, she looks like she's holding on to her very wet and heavy diapers, afraid that it may drop off anytime soon. Hahaha!!

P/S: She's in a swimming tub powered by jacuzzi. So instead of 'swimming', she's just relaxing.... She loves it!

Aaliyah's first swimming lesson at 8 weeks.

I researched online and came across babyswimming and was raring for Aaliyah to try it. She loves water and she loves it so much when I give her a bath every morning. Her favourite position is the face down position where I get to massage her back with soap. She didn't even cry when i wash her face with water. It's one of my favourite things to do with her. Bath time! So evolving from how she loves water, we brought her swimming! Her first lesson went really well. The service was quite good too. Let's endearingly call the person who helped us "auntie".

First, auntie helped to undress Aaliyah and changed her to her swimming diapers. She then massaged Aaliyah for abt 5 minutes and Aaliyah really loves it. I can tell from her facial expressions. She even aaaahs and cooos and gurgles.

See how relaxed Aaliyah is now? She's all ready to face the tub. She's so gonna scold me for this embarrassing pic when she gets older..

Next, auntie slowly and carefully placed the float around her neck. This was a little bit uncomfortable for her but her cries only lasted a few seconds. She got used to it. Auntie then held her and slowly immersed her into the tub of warm water filled with balls and toys. So fun! She threw a confused face at first. Ooooohh... what is this warm squishy feeling?

Auntie helping her to gain her confidence in the water. Slowly she lets her go....

Hey hey hey, this is FUN! She's smiling!

For a first-timer, she knows how to hold the handle of the floatation device around her neck. Just look at the picture below! Auntie said that she is clever. "Survival skills" or what. haha!

Auntie and Mummy giving Aaliyah lots of encouragement.

Slowly and steadily letting her go.

On her own!!! Splish Splash, Splish Splash! Enhancing her gross motor skills.. "Mummy!! Where's my legs?!?!" expression on her face. kekeke!

Aaliyah having fun with Mummy and Daddy!

OK that is it for today. 15 minutes of swimming and Aaliyah is tired and thirsty. Milk time! Gulp Gulp Gulp! Mummy and Daddy managed to do some shopping that day. The whole day in fact, with Aaliyah asleep peacefully in the carrier, too tired to bother. Hehe!

Daddy was so happy to see Aaliyah so happy that he bought her a swimming package as a gift to hone her skills. Here's to weekly swimming sessions, Baby Aaliyah!

Aaliyah at her 7th week (already?!?!)

Wow.. Taking care of Aaliyah alone at home is really a handful. But I must always remember that she is my own flesh and blood once depression kicks in (due to being alone in the house). Sister Phique is back from Sydney for these 3 weeks and Hubby is also on reservist till the end of the month. Aaliyah and I are doing great! She now knows how to smile an even wider open-mouth type smile and all her different kinds of facial expressions and sounds of cooos aaah giggles amaze me. She is a little colicky at times and farts a LOT! Her face will turn red when she is trying to pass out gas or motion. I will help her out by holding up her legs. Hmm. Seems like the past few entries are all naturally about her. What more can I say. She's a HUGE part of SheZai's lives now. So maybe that's the reason. When Hon book out this Saturday, we're gonna bring Aaliyah out to baby-swimming, then to town for shopping. Next Saturday, we'll bring her to the park. Lotsa activities in store for her. What more activities are there for months-old babies to enjoy here in Singapore? Any suggestions? Staying at home is really boring. Babies learn a lot through their surrounding environment so it's crucial to tease their senses at this age. Till the next update, pictures of her expressions galore...

 My sister Phique holding her niece Aaliyah at Swensens Ion.

 It is so peaceful in Daddy's arms....

And the rest of the pictures are all of HER.

 Smiley baby!

 Strike another pose!

 ^This soooo looks like Daddy^

 Wide-eyed

Big Boss Aaliyah