Time to wean her off!

Teething, teething, teething..... 4 front teeth (2 at the bottom and 2 at the upper part) bite plenty of teats, making the teats hole becoming bigger - because of these, I changed a lot of teats for her.

One day, she decided to surprise mommy with her strong teeth or she was throwing tantrum and mommy ignored her... and she did this to her pacifier. She bites it off.  This is the first pacifier she bites off.

You know what it mean... weaning her off from her pacificer.

When she asked for her pacifier, this is what I give to her.  When she saw what I gave her, she will shake her head.

It has been 3 days without pacifier.  She did asked for it about twice per night but eventually she can live without it.

Well, I am preparing her for play group next year.  Weaning off her pacifier is the first step.  Then diaper is the next, now training her to tell me when she needs her potty.

Somehow, we managed.

Felt Flower

New hair clip for Joey!

At first, planning for non-sew project but the glue turned out to be a disaster creation, maybe I have not get used to glue-ing everything.  Another new thing to learn.

I sewed this hair clip with OWL button.  I love this OWL button, it is just way too CUTE.

For this hair clip, soft felt was used and it attached to infant snap hair clip.

It turned out to be quite nice but I do think I need a lot of practice to make it perfect.  For now, I learn to appreciate imperfection thingy... :p

It is perfect on her, just that I placed the button up-side down.  sigh... another mistake, another experience, another learning curve.

Buttons.... anyone?

I never knew there is such a thing called "self-covered button" till I came across a very interesting tutorial by Christina Williams on "DIY Bobby Pins".

I went so many places just to hunt for this self-covered button and you know what, they nearly never exist.  Bobby pin with glue pad also nearly never exist as well.  So hard to find it and they are not available in local store, I purchased them all online.

Fabric? Beautiful fabric that imported from Japan or anywhere else also hard to find.

OK, I know, I know. I should stop complaining.

I think these buttons are CUTE.  What do you think?

As you all can see, still have 3 buttons are not belong to Booby Pin / snap hair clip.  I am not sure what to do with them yet.

You guessed it correctly.  Now all these belong to my little girl, Joey!!!

Yay! Way to go.....

My Lastest Addiction...!

 This little snap hair clip, handcrafted by me for Joey.  Joey has super fine hair, so I am using infant snap hair clip wrapped with felt.  This little hair clip measure about 5 cm in length.

Not too small nor too big.  Just nice on her.

Gone Soon.....

Previously, in this two-door fridge consists of 3-levels of freezer.  Level 1 & 2 were full with frozen breast milk but now they only filled with bottled mineral water to save my electricity bills.

Level 1 of 2-door fridge.  Once upon a time it was filled with frozen breast milk.  Now filled with bottled water to save my electricity bill.

Level 2 of 2-door fridge. Once upon a time it was filled with frozen breast milk. Now filled with bottled water to save my electricity bill.

My deep freezer.  I brought it just to store my precious breast milk for my little girl, Joey.

Now, a level starting to empty. 

I am not producing as much as I used too.  Nowaday, I could only pump out about 18oz of milk per day.

I am thinking to increase my milk supply by taking lactogenic foods & herbs, but come to think again, Joey is 20.5 months, approaching 24 months.  Soon, I will be achieving my goal for giving her breast milk till her second birthday.

I missed those day where I could pump out 60 oz per day, where my 2-door fridge & my deep freezer were filled with frozen milk till no place for new frozen milk.  Upon that time, Jessie helped to finished up mommy's breast milk.

Life Style aka Family Gathering

My family and I were having breakfast at McD.  When I looked around the restaurant, it made me realised that quite a number of family having breakfast as well.

Breakfast at McD during weekend/public holiday is expensive as you are paying near double of weekday price and surprising a lot of family are there.

Why am I having breakfast @ McD on weekend?  It been months since we had one.

When I asked my hubby "Look, so many family are here even though breakfast @ McD during weekend is double."  He replied "McD is selling life style nowadays NOT food."

I guessed Saturday & Sunday are those two days where family really sit down and having fun together.  Where young children get to see their mummy & daddy rather than pre-school teacher / nanny.  Where they can get most attention from parents.  Where they got tons and tons of story to tell them.

Jessie & Joey love Saturday & Sunday because non school day and no nanny day.

Jessie at this age really a chatter box, he cannot stop talking.  He can talks everything under the sun.  EVERYTHING.  Sometime, he really makes me headache.  He can non-stop calling me mummy for a thousand times without getting tired.

Joey loves to imitated whatever Jessie is doing, from expression to motor skills.

When I was missing from their sight for 5 minutes, they will look for me.  Guess what?  That is the biggest reward for me. :)

Puree

Ingredients:

• Brown Rice
• Red Rice
• Millets
• Tri-color quinoa
• Pumpkin
• Carrots
• Chinese Spinach
• Chinese Red Spinach
• Spinach
• Baby Pak Choy

I forgot to put pearl barley, another good grain with lots of vitamin, minerals & good source of fibres.

JC dislike green vegetables.  The only green vegetables he eats is puree.

JE loves smooth puree.  If the puree is not smooth, she will not swallow.  She loves pumpkin and dislike carrots.

JE's Solid Food

JE is 7 months today and I have yet start her on solid food as she has not show any development sign that she is ready for solid food such as the ability to sit upright unassisted, loss of the thrust reflex, the ability to grasp and bring objects/food to the mouth, an interest in food such as watching and mimicking others eating, and grabbing at food that others have. If you are confused when to start your baby on solid, read this article from connectedMom.

I have been thinking what will be JE first food. Avocado! I found this when I browsing through my recipe bible for baby which I consolidate during JC’s time.  I need to go shopping for avocado this weekend and try this recipe on her and see how she react.

Avocado! Is it a fruit or a vegetable?

Whatever it is it has incredible powers. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat the ‘good’ type of fat which helps prevent heart disease and can help lower bad cholesterol. The essential fats found in avocados are the building blocks of beautiful skin.. They are also one of the best sources of vitamin E which helps with wound healing a good complexion and strong immune system. Oh – and they also have the highest protein content of any fruit…

Recipe taken from Annabel Karmel

Avocados are sometimes thought of as a vegetable but they are actually a fruit and contain more nutrients than any other fruit - perfect for weaning baby. They are also rich in monounsaturated fat, the ‘good type’ of fat which helps prevent heart disease. The high calorie content of avocado makes it a good food for growing babies. Avocado is a great source of the free radical fighting antioxidant vitamin E, which also boosts the immune system. Avocado is easy to digest.

Ingredients

1 small avocado

 

Method

Cut a small avocado in half, remove the stone, scoop out the flesh and mash together with a little of your baby’s usual milk.

Infomation

From 6 months

Sepang Gold Coast

Sepang Gold Coast - not really what I am expected but it was a new experience for JC. He is so excited and so happy when we reached. He cannot wait to touch the sand and to feel the water.

It was low tide when we arrived at 10 am. We walked out and saw so many crabs running around and eating. JC saw a pink jelly fish, at first I thought it is plastic can where people throw but when I take a closer look, I was shocked and lucky JC did not touch it.

He built sand castle with his daddy and swin in the sea for the first time. His energy was so much that day.

He had sun burn. JE had sun burn as well. JE was excited too, she did not allow me to sit down. She wanted to be carrying around and walk around.

Sorry no pictures because mommy forgot the camera.

Winnie the Pooh Soundtrack

JC's favourite cartoon soundtrack.  He can sing till Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh then he will hum.  Very funny & cute.  My little boy!

Winnie the Pooh Soundtrack 

Deep in the hundred acre wood where Christopher Robin plays
You'll find the enchanted neighborhood of Christopher's childhood days
A donkey named Eeyore is his friend and Kanga and little Roo
There's Rabbit and Piglet and there's Owl, but most of all Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh
Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff
He's Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh
Willy nilly silly old bear

JE's New Nanny.. Auntie P

Day 1
I was lingering around her house for about 3 hours before I leave.

Auntie P : You are worry, don't you?
Me : Yes, I am
Auntie P : Don't worry.  I will not abuse your daughter. (she repeated this for about 3 times)

When I went to picked JE, I was hoping & praying she will be fine. The moments she saw me, she gave me her cutest smile – a smile telling me she knew I will come back for her, a smile telling me she was happy to see me, a smile signing of relieve when I returned.  This smile indicate she is doing OK with Auntie P. Thanks, Lord!

Me : How much milk she take today?
Auntie P : 9oz.  She loves the pacifier a lot.
Me :  >.< (usually at home for a period of 9 hours, she can finished 15-18oz of milk)

Day 2
Me : How much milk she take today?
Auntie P : 9oz.  I cannot stand when she do not drink for 4 hours.  Breast milk very easily digested.  JE keeps on pushing the milk bottle with her tongue.  I feed her every 2-3 hours, even though she drink only 1-2oz - it is better than she does not drink at all.  I go to the extend to spoon feed her when she pushed out the teat with her tongue.
Me : (I am touched! At least she really put effort on feeding her)

JE smiles when she saw me, another indication she is doing fine today as well.

Day 3 (as today)
Me : How much milk she take today?
Auntie P : 9oz.  She did her first turn today. She did it only once.
Me : >.< (I am disappointed actually because I want her first turn to be with me because I want to witness it with my own eye)
Auntie P : I saw JE develops some rashes around the neck when I bathed her.  Since you said she has a very sensitive skin, I dare not simply put anything on her neck
Me : (I am glad, at least she did listen to what I said!)

Overall : Through my 3 days observation, Auntie P is at satisfactory level.

JE's Nanny #1 Day 1

Today is JE first day at nanny place. I was there for 3 hours before leaving for doctor appointment. I found out the following:- 

• Nanny is down with only one maid (2 runaways)
• She is currently taken care 6 babies and another 2 more coming within the next 2 months.
• Using other babies teat to test on a new baby
• TV is on and the maid was watching it while feeding babies.
• When JE inside the swing, the eldest toddler sleep under the swing and use her legs to kick JE from the bottom. When I voiced, only the care taker take action.
• The eldest toddler pokes JE eye.
• Two fans was on the highest speed.  Some babies belly buttons were exposed.

When I went back to fetch her home @ 5.30pm, I noticed she got bitten mark on the right wrist. 

• JE bathing time is 4.30pm – I think it is too late to have a first bath.
• She only taken 6oz of milk from 9 am till 5.30pm. Poor thing, usually she will be taken about 12-15oz
• She got bitten mark. The eldest toddler bites her. I was wondering where are the care taker when this taken place.
• She did not smile at me at all regardless how I tried to make her smile.  She just stared at me, really stared!  Hubby said the same, regardless how he tried to make her smile, she just stared at you.

I am seriously thinking she is not capable in handling so many babies at one time, moreover 2 maids’ runaways.  Even though the ratio suppose to be 1:3 (one minder with 3 babies) by law but I do not think they can handle.  Moreover, the current maid is very rough to the babies and look moody as well.

JE is only 5 months old and she is at the same place most of the time as she does not know how to crawl / sit-up / walking, so the bitten mark is totally not acceptable.

I will withdraw JE from this nanny.  Hubby & I feel so guilty right now!

Child Care Centre / Private Baby Sitter?!

I have been searching high & low for a centre / nanny to take care JE. I actually prefer centre compare to private nanny, reason due to more breastfeeding friendly, I can ensure they are always be at one place, more kids to play / fight with & more systematic (as they will not go on sick leave / holiday leave / unexpected leave).

Nevertheless, choosing a centre can be a headache as well if you can find one. Here in Malaysia, infant child care centre are limited and if talking about professional centre can consider nil.

Recently, I found a centre; owned & operated by a chemist who just back from UK. She is a perfectionist and a mother of 2 boys – breastfed her boys till 16 months.

All her care-takers are nurses and her centre can cater for 27 babies with 9 care-takers with a ratio of 1:3. They use cloth napkin for babies under 6 months and disposable diaper for babies above 6 months. The monthly fee you are paying include babies organic toiletries except body foam & body shampoo, lavender essential oil for aromatherapy used to help babies to settle, olive oil for baby massage, organic meals, twice bathing per day, flash card programme.

Since all care-takers are nurses, they know how to handle breast milk. I even asked a stupid question just to double check on their breast milk management, such as “you defrost the milk using microwave?”. Immediately, the nurse told me NO, never ever put breast milk in microwave. Then, I asked again “WHY?”. She answered because all nutrients will be gone then she added, the microwave for the usage of the staffs in this centre. Well, I am just checking.

This centre consider perfect but I find that all the care-takers are emotionless. None of them got any expression on their face. They are neither happy nor sad, just expressionless. This is my biggest concern. “Do they have passion in taking care children/babies?” “Do they just treat it just another job?” As an infant care-taker, you must have extreme patient and passion as it is an exhaust job & heavy responsibility.

Anyway, this centre located pretty far from my house but quite near to my working place. The travelling time with jam will be 1 to 1.5 hours. If I am sick, I do not think I can travel that far to put JE and come back to rest. Another dilemma.

Today, I interviewed 2 private baby sitters. Both are mothers and they are knowledgeable in breast milk handling.

During an hour of chit-chatting, I preferred Nanny A compare to Nanny B. Then I received a call from my ex-nanny saying that she have a place for JE. Now I am consider ex-nanny or Nanny A.

Milk Sign

I have been teaching her milk sign.  Today, she did the milk sign when I signed to her. Yeah!!!! She starts to imitate.

My very own baby pouch

I have downloaded a free pattern from Handmade-Adelaide-Baby on how to make my very own baby pouch.

I was so happy when it was done because I am not good at sewing (even now), but I managed to do it.

Fresh out from dryer.

Testing the baby pouch on JE. She loves it very much.

When we were out and when she was fussy, placed her in this pouch. It can calm her down and she can finished her milk without much persuasive.

The power of babywear. Yeah!!!!