[Article] Outsmart Your Toddler

Here's a sharing from a friend of mine... She's got a little girl, Nicole, age 2+... and i believe you will benefit from this reading as much as i have! Will use some of these tips when Sarah grows into a toddler... Enjoy reading... :)

Outsmart Your Toddler

Nicole really has "her ways" nowadays. She always wants something which is opposite from what we wanted and her demands are always "now, now, now". Sometimes we would give in if it's a small request and if she were to say "please". If we don't, she could really throw a fit. It's quite a sad sight. Sigh! Most of the time, she'll really get it from the "rod". But after all the "sorries" and "hugs", she'll be back to her "old ways" again in a few minutes. Kids forget so fast.

Every night before sleep, I will pray with her and talk to her about the things she does that made us sad. Really need wisdom in dealing with kids her age. Found this on the net. Will try instead of on the "battle" mode with her all the time.

Act like an idiot

"Even the most defiant toddler will take pity on us if we seem like total incompetents," says Harvey Karp, M.D., author of the DVD and book The Happiest Toddler on the Block. The trick is to convince your child that you should be helped, not resisted:

Be forgetful. If she's refusing to put away her toys, pick up a few and put them not in the toy box but in some other unexpected place, like the bathtub or a kitchen cabinet. When your child balks (she knows where things belong, even as young as 2), say innocently, "What? I'm putting your toys in your toy box!" She'll likely take pity on you and help you put her stuff where it really belongs.

Be wrong. Next time you foresee a battle getting your toddler in the stroller, try squeezing into it yourself. Chances are good she'll announce, "That's mine!" Finally her possessive streak is good for something.

Be incompetent. Put your coat on backward and place your shoes on your hands. Say, "I'm ready to go, are you?" She'll laugh, straighten you out, and get her own shoes on for once.

Don't worry: Your child won't really think you're a boob, says Dr. Karp. This is just a fun tactic, like playing hide-and-seek and pretending you can't find her.

Become a silver-lining expert

Want to avoid disaster? Pretend everything's great. Your attitude, and the way you handle disappointments (big and small), can greatly affect how your child learns to do the same.

Use positive language. The right words can lessen the blow of letdowns and make mundane tasks seem interesting and fun. For instance, the day 3-year-old Josh Boswell had been looking forward to going to the playground, it rained. Rather than let him sulk and stomp angrily around the house, his mom, Sue, of Pepperell, Massachusetts, said, "This rain is wonderful! Now we get a chance to have that indoor picnic I've been planning for you." Josh was intrigued — an indoor picnic sounded at least as much fun as going to the playground. "Turning disappointment into delight is part of the magic of being a parent," says his mom. "The silver lining is almost always there. You just have to learn to point it out."

Teach your child to look on the bright side himself. If things don't go right (the cupcakes fell on the floor or his best friend isn't at preschool that day), ask him to think up something good about the bad situation. He might say he's looking forward to using a different icing color or that now he can draw a "get well soon" picture for his pal (you might need to coach him at first). Play this game often and your child will automatically learn to look for the silver lining.

Try reverse psychology

You say "yes," she says "no!" You say "no," she says "yes!" This verbal tug-of-war is frustrating, but actually it's a healthy declaration of her growing independence.

There's even an official name for this stage. "When your child doesn't want to wear certain clothes or taste new foods, it's called 'the oppositionalism of toddlerhood,'" says Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., author of The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting.

The solution? If you want your child to do something, like put on her socks, pretend you don't want her to do it.

One strategy I used to get my daughter, Kaylin, then 2, to try new foods was to deny her first few requests for them. At dinner I'd put two foods on her plate and four foods on the grown-up plates. She'd stare longingly at our full plates and say, "Me want that!" I'd reply, "Sorry, pumpkin. These foods are for grown-ups." She'd keep asking, and as she started to get frustrated, I'd ask, "Do you really think you're old enough?" She'd shout, "Yes!" and scoot over, holding out her plate. She couldn't eat her broccoli fast enough.

And when I want Kevin, now 3, to get ready quickly, I pretend I'm in a big rush. "Me come, too?" he'll ask. "No, honey, Mommy's in a hurry today. Why don't you stay here with Daddy instead?" My son, who always prefers an adventure to staying home, will dash off to the closet to get his shoes and jacket. When he returns, I say, "I'm not sure you can get ready in time to come with me." That gets him to start hurriedly shoving his little arms into his jacket sleeves — and then I say, "Wow, you really can get ready quickly!" He beams with pride and allows me to finish zipping him up in record time. Say goodbye to the old capture-Kevin-and-yank-his-clothes-on-while-pinning-him-to-the-floor maneuver.

Reverse psychology works by using your toddler's natural desire for independence (also known as defiance) to get what you both want. Just be sure to use it in a playful way — and not so often that he gets wise to you!

Say, "Yes, but..."

Amanda Paolucci of Newington, Connecticut, loved playing outside when she was a toddler. She'd press her nose against the screen door and plead to go out. "She'd throw a colossal fit if I refused to let her," says her mom, Julie. But once Paolucci learned the "Yes, but…" trick, Amanda's tantrums subsided. Instead of saying no all the time, Paolucci now says, "Yes, Amanda, you may go outside, but after dinner." Or "Yes, you may ride your big wheel, but we need to wait for the rain to stop." Toddlers are a lot more cooperative if they just know when they can do whatever it is they want.

The younger your child, the less patience she'll have to wait. So sidetrack her opposition by offering up another activity with your "Yes, but." You could say, "Yes, you may have a cookie, but first we're going to make dinner together," or "Yes, we can watch Dora, as soon as we've picked up your toys." She'll fight a "no" — a "yes, but" is harder to resist.

Stay a step ahead

Although most toddler battles are caused by hunger, fatigue, or frustration, it's easier to recognize those things after a tantrum starts — and after a few slices of apple would have saved the day. So staying a step ahead of your child is not a quick solution so much as a smart way of thinking. It comes down to consistent routines and reasonable expectations, so you don't have to be a toddler mind reader. Keeping your child on an even keel can be relatively simple: Try to make his basic needs — food, sleep — a priority, and not something you squeeze into a busy day.

• Put him down for a nap before he seems super tired.

• Feed him several small meals to keep his blood sugar (and mood) level.

• Give him plenty of encouragement — he'll be less inclined to flip out when something goes wrong or he doesn't get his way.

But also think twice before you make life unnecessarily hard on him. If you're thinking of braving the mall with a tired child — don't. The notion "maybe I can just squeeze in one more errand" has been the downfall of many otherwise rational moms. Some of my finest parenting moments (and by finest I mean horrifying and humiliating) have had me half-dragging, half-wrestling my thrashing, wailing, screeching toddler out of Wal-Mart. After public tantrum #36, I finally caught on to the idea of setting limits — for me. I now limit toddler-accompanied outings to less than two hours.

Of course, if you have a toddler, you've already learned that life rarely goes as planned. So, here's one last trick to try on yourself: Act like you know what to do — and soon enough, you will!

Battery charged after 30 minutes!

It's almost always 30 minutes! Yep! Only 30 minutes! After which, she's ALLLLL charged-up and back to her playing routine! That's baby Sarah!!

She hardly sleeps for more than half an hour during her day time naps. Even at night - getting ready for bedtime. We'll normally put her to sleep later at night (say 11+... then she will sleep throughout until morning). Sometimes she sleeps at 11, but wake up at 11.30... and continue playing until about 1am (like last night!). If she happened to be sleepy and cranky by 10+, we will try to avoid putting her to sleep... but if she insist on sleeping (in this case - a nap!), she will only sleep for half an hour and that's it for that night until 12+ or 1+am... sigh! She's just so energetic! Her "battery" is fully charged after half an hour of sleep. She's happy after that, and back to her "non-stop" activities on the floor. Yep... literally non-stop! She just wouldn't sit still!

In some researches, it says babies (around her age) sleeps between 12-16 hours a day... and by 12 months, many babies still sleep 12 to 14 hours altogether, including one daytime nap. hmm... I think her total hours doesnt even reach 12 hours! Oh boy... really need help in getting her to sleep more... and at the right time too!

[Knowledge: Baby] Rotavirus

Why is Rotavirus so Serious?

Rotavirus can be caught very easily through simple, everyday contact. It can strike without warning.

A rotavirus infection can seem like a normal upset stomach but it can lead to vomiting or diarrhea more than 20 times a day. Symptoms may last up to 9 days. These symptoms can lead to dehydration. Babies with severe cases may need to go to the hospital.

Is Your Baby Protected?

Keeping a clean home and washing your hands often are not enough to protect your baby from rotavirus. Hand soaps and other cleaning products cannot kill the virus. It spreads easily and can survive for weeks on toys and household surface.

Important Questions:

What is rotavirus?
Rotavirus is a common stomach virus that's very easy to get. Symptoms include:
diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

For Wikipedia definition, click here.

How can I protect my baby?
Fortunately there is a painless oral vaccine that targets 5 of the most common types of rotavirus that cause 95% of infections worldwide,

When should my baby get the vaccine?
Your baby should get the first dose before 3 months of age. It's important not to put it off.

[Knowledge: Baby] Pneumococcal Disease

What is Pneumococcal Disease?

Pneumococcal diseases are infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus.

For Wikipedia definition, click here.

It is a group of serious infections that occurs most commonly in children, particularly those under 2 years of age.

The pneumococcus bug can cause:
i. meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain or spinal cord)
symptoms: fever, lethargy or drowsiness, vomiting and stiff neck or legs

ii. pneumonia (infection of the lung)
symptoms: cough, chest congestion, production of phlegm, fever and chills/shaking

iii. bacteraemia (blood infection)
symptoms: fever, irritability and rapid breathing

iv. otitis media (infection in the middle ear)
symptoms: ear-ache, fever and frequent tugging of the ear

How Serious is Pneumococcal Disease?

Pneumococcal disease can be very serious and may cause permanent hearing loss, brain damage and death.

Pneumococcal disease can impact the quality of life for a child and the entire family. Just think of the time spent nursing an ill child, the trips to the doctor, absence from work, even getting a young child to take medication can be time consuming. If the child requires hospitalization, the burden and the worry can be even greater.

Risk Factors fir Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Infants and Young Children

Some groups are at particularly high risk:

• Infants below 24 months of age
• Recent day-care attendance
• At least one recent course of antibiotics
• History of recent ear infection
• Other groups at high risk include children with chronic disease or those who are immuno-compromised
• Passive smoking

How do Children Catch Pneumococcal Disease?

The pneumococcal bug is carried in the nose and throat of healthy adults and children. It can be passed from one child to another in droplets that are released into the air by sneezing and coughing.

Most children become carriers at some time or other - but not all will become sick.

Pneumococcal disease is more common in young children than adults because young children lack the right type of antibodies to fight the bacteria.

How Do You Treat and Prevent Pneumococcal Disease?

Meningitis and bacteraemia can develop very quickly so it is vital that the treatment is provided without delay.

Antibiotics are used to treat these diseases and are effective in most cases if started in time.

However, a small number of bacteria are resistant to some antibiotics, which results in longer periods in hospital with greater cost. Pneumococcal disease can be prevented by a series of vaccination for your children.

The Benefits of Vaccination Against Pneumococcal Disease

Vaccination can help prevent the disease as well as reduce the spread of bacteria to other children. Vaccination may also reduce antibiotic resistance. Vaccination against pneumococcal disease can save lives!

Source by Malaysian Paediatric Association (Persatuan Pediatrik Malaysia)

No more bumper car?

After reading the articles about using baby walker, i'm really thinking twice not to use it so much for baby Sarah... :( She seem to enjoy it but this is only for her own good... I guess we'll only use it to feed baby Sarah during her afternoon meal and only when needed but not to "aid in walking".

Marilyn aka Mrs Lion, thanks for pointing out the negative possibilities for our babies here. At least I'm learning what to do and what not to do. Thanks again for your comment!

[Article] Developmental milestones: Walking

Article taken from babycentre

Developmental milestones: Walking

Walking

One of the most important milestones in your child's life, learning to walk is a huge step towards independence. As he moves from standing propped up against the couch to tottering hesitantly to your waiting arms to running, skipping, and jumping confidently, he'll be leaving babyhood behind.

When it develops

Over the course of his first year your baby will gradually gain coordination and muscle strength throughout his body, learning to sit, roll over, and crawl before moving on to pulling up and standing at about eight months. From then on it's a matter of gaining confidence and balance -- most babies take their first steps sometime between nine and 12 months and are walking well by the time they're 14 or 15 months old. Don't worry if your child takes a little longer, though; many perfectly normal children don't walk until their 16th or 17th month.

How it develops

For his first few weeks of life, when you hold your baby upright under the arms, he'll dangle his legs down and push against a hard surface with his feet, almost appearing to walk. But this is just a reflex -- his legs aren't nearly strong enough to hold him up -- and will disappear after two months.

By the time your baby's about five months old, if you let him balance his feet on your thighs, he'll bounce up and down. Bouncing will be a favourite activity over the next couple of months, in fact, as your baby's leg muscles continue to develop while he masters rolling over, sitting, and crawling.

At about eight months your baby will probably start trying to pull himself up to a stand while holding onto furniture. If you prop him up next to the sofa, he'll hang on for dear life. As he gets better at this skill over the next few weeks, he'll start to cruise -- moving around upright while holding onto furniture -- and may be able to let go and stand without support. Once he can do that, he may be able to take steps when held in a walking position and may attempt to pick up a toy from a standing position.

At nine or ten months your baby will begin to work out how to bend his knees and how to sit after standing (which is harder than you might think!).

By 11 months your baby will probably have mastered standing solo, stooping, and squatting. He may even walk while gripping your hand, though he probably won't take his first steps alone for at least a few more weeks. Most children make those early strides on tiptoe with their feet turned outward.

At 13 months, three quarters of toddlers are walking on their own -- albeit unsteadily. If yours still hasn't stopped cruising, it just means walking on his own is going to take a little longer. Some children don't walk until 16 or 17 months or even later.

What's next

After those first magical steps towards independence, children begin to master the finer points of mobility:

• At 14 months, your toddler should be able to stand alone, can probably stoop down and then stand back up again, and might even be working on walking backward.

• By 15 months the average child is pretty good at walking and likes to push and pull toys while he toddles.

• At about 16 months, your child will begin to take an interest in going up and down stairs -- though he probably won't navigate them solo for a few more months.

• Most 18-month-olds are proficient walkers. Many can motor up stairs with help (though they'll still need help getting back down for a few more months) and like to climb all over the furniture. Your toddler may try to kick a ball, though he won't always be successful, and he probably likes to dance if you play music.

• At 25 or 26 months, your child's steps will be more even and he'll have the hang of the smooth heel-to-toe motion adults use. At this age he'll also be getting better at jumping.

• By the time your child's third birthday rolls around, many of his basic movements will have become second nature. He'll no longer need to focus energy on walking, standing, running, or jumping, though some actions, such as standing on tiptoes or on one foot, might still require concentration and effort.

Your role (Important to read leh!!!)

As your baby learns to stand, he may need some help working out how to get back down again. If he gets stuck and cries for you, don't just pick him up and plop him down. Instead, show him how to bend his knees so he can sit down without toppling over, and let him give it a try himself.

You can encourage your baby to walk by standing or kneeling in front of him and holding out your hands, by holding both his hands and walking him towards you, or by buying a toddle truck or a similar contraption he can hold onto and push (look for toddle toys that are stable and have a wide base of support). Because baby walkers make it too easy to get around and thus can prevent a child's upper leg muscles from developing correctly, some experts strongly discourage using them. You can also hold off on introducing shoes until your baby is walking around outside or on rough or cold surfaces regularly; going barefoot helps him improve his balance and coordination.

As always, make sure your baby has a soft, safe environment in which to hone his new skills. Follow standard childproofing guidelines and never leave your baby unattended, in case he falls or needs your help.

When to be concerned

As mentioned above, some perfectly normal children don't walk until they're 16 or 17 months old. The important thing is the progression of skills; if your baby was a little late learning to roll over and crawl, chances are he'll need a few extra weeks or months for walking as well -- as long as he keeps learning new things, you don't have to be too concerned. Babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others, but if yours seems to be lagging behind significantly, bring it up with your doctor. Keep in mind that premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers.

[Article] Considering a Baby Walker?

Article taken from ivillage

Considering a Baby Walker?
Learn the Facts

by Robert Steele, MD (see more from this expert)

More than half of all babies between the ages of 5 and 15 months use walkers. Estimated sales have been as high as three million per year. Babies almost universally love them, and parents love to use them because they may keep an otherwise fussy baby entertained -- often for hours. However, they are one of the most dangerous inventions made for children, causing a lot of harm and heartache each year.

There are several types of baby walkers, but most people are familiar with the typical plastic base, wheeled frame, and fabric seat that have leg holes to allow the child to scoot along the floor. Aside from the entertainment this toy gives a child, parents give other reasons for using the walker such as promoting walking and providing exercise. However, up to one-third of parents have said they use the walker because they feel it will keep their infant safe. Unfortunately, none of these are true. The few studies that have been done looking at the how walkers affect development have shown that they do not affect the time at which a child learns to walk. And in fact, most studies have shown that if there is any effect on walking, it is a delay of a few weeks. Babies who use a walker tend to have an abnormal gait at first, but this tends to resolve quickly with time.

Safety, however, is an entirely different issue, and is one in which there is a lot known. In 1997, baby walkers sent more than 14,000 babies to the hospital emergency room. Walkers were even involved in 34 deaths from 1973 to 1998.

The initial standards for safety of walkers set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission dealt with injuries to the hands from pinching, but did nothing to address the issue of falls. And the majority of the severe injuries occur when the walker goes down the stairs.

About one-fourth of all reported injuries with walkers involved injuries to the head, including fractures. Walkers allow for an infant who isn't normally very mobile to become quite efficient at getting around. So, other injuries including pinched fingers, burns and accidental poisonings have all been reported due to the child being able to get into dangerous areas with lightening speed.

The track record with walkers was so dismal that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended banning the manufacture and sale of mobile infant walkers. This never occurred, and a response was made in the form of a new standard, adopted as of July 1, 1997. To meet the new standard, the new generation walker must have one of two features. Walkers are now made wider so they cannot fit through most doorways and can stop at the edge of a step.

It's important you understand that these new walker designs will not prevent all injuries from walkers. Because they still have wheels, young children can still move faster and reach higher than they could on their own. A baby in a walker can move three feet in one second, so they are not even safe with close adult supervision.

Parents who are considering toys for infants will find their money best spent on playthings other than walkers. There are stationary walkers that have no wheels, but have seats that rotate and bounce while keeping baby in one spot.

Source: Pediatrics, September, 2001


5 Things You Need to Know to Protect Your Baby

1. Close the door or gate at the top of the stairs.
2. Keep your child within view.
3. Keep your child away from hot surfaces and containers.
4. Beware of dangling appliance cords.
5. Keep your child away from toilets, swimming pools and other sources of water.

When the music fades....

Verse 1:
When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

Chorus:
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And its all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When its all about You
Its all about You, Jesus

Verse 2:
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

Lord, bring me back to the heart of worship...

Bumper ride! :)

Having both Sarah and Reanne each in their "car" is such a cute sight! Couldn't resist taking a picture of them together! Let's see.... they'll grow up together... play together... hide & seek... masak-masak... play catching... barbie dolls... running around the house... fix jigsaw puzzles... etc etc... how cute! And Ivan will be their "tai-ko" :)



As for now, they are just sitting together in their walker, and both parents trying their best to get their attention to the cameras! Hahaha!

Hubby and I just bought baby Sarah a new walker... but within 5 minutes, she almost rip the "play-thing" on the walker table off!

Hubby sorta knew and "predicted" that to happen... and it was proven!

Hmm... we must teach her to be more feminine and to love her toys. She basically wanted to grab those stuff and put them into her mouth!

Ahhh... those teething period!

[Knowledge: Baby] Playtime for Babies - Month 1-2

At week 4:
Babies love to feel different textures. Introduce them by rubbing your baby's skin with satin, cotton, wool, velvet or fur, and let her feel their varying sensations. She may not be interested in playing with stuffed animals yet, but she'll like the way they feel against her skin. You can also lay her on different surfaces, like a soft bath towel, chenille throw or shag carpet. There are endless possibilities, but you may want to avoid the cold tile floor and scratchy sisal rug for now.

At week 5:
Play airplane with your baby by lying on your back and pulling your knees to your chest so your shins are level with the ground. Place your baby on his tummy on top of your shins. While holding on to his body, slowly lift your legs, keeping baby parallel to the floor. He'll enjoy his bird's eye view, and you'll manage to fit at least a little exercise into your day. Hey, every bit counts!

At week 6:
In case you haven't played patty-cake in a while, here's a refresher: Play patty-cake with your baby's feet while she's lying on her back.

Patting her feet together sing:
"Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can."
While rolling baby's feet around each other sing:
"Roll 'em and pat 'em and mark 'em with a B and put 'em in the oven for baby and me."
On the last note, bring baby's feet up to her face. You just might be rewarded with a big smile! :)

At week 7-8:
At this age your baby is particularly interested in circular and spiral patterns. Show her a few items with these characteristics, such as a telephone cord, a piece of paper on which you've drawn several circles within each other and a few round butter-tub lids. Amazing what works as a toy, isn't it?

Taken from www.ivillage.com

Be a contributor...

I was browsing through about Hannah Yeoh and the recent gotong-royong project that was organized by her office in Subang Jaya SS13 flats, and i came across her blog and i was deeply encouraged by what we can do for our community. I've blogged a little bit about it last month, and it seemed like a project that has already passed. But today, as i look at it again, it was actually a start of greater things ahead and more projects to come. Being part of the church and also Mediaworks, I am glad that I can contribute even in the post production of this project.

You may view the video here in utube.
Also, do check out her blog and my earlier post about the project! :)

It's weaning time!!!

Baby Sarah grow up sooooooo fast!
Time flies, they really do!
Baby Sarah has started eating porridge! She loves it. She "curi-curi" eat porridge from cousin Ivan's bowl every now and then but 2 days ago (when i was on MC... hehe... good timing that I can witness this! and CK on MC... that he can be my photographer! :)), MIL prepared for baby Sarah her own bowl of porridge!

Yesterday, MIL said baby Sarah is eating well. She completely love eating porridge and weaning seem to be not a problem at all for Sarah. Thank God!

And yes, sad to say, I've stopped breastfeeding since late Month 4. A few reasons... in earlier months, I sometimes forgot to express milk in office (my fault...) and only fed her at night, but later on, I also figured that baby Sarah was not quite happy with slow flow, and thus she went for full formula by late of Month 4. For those mummies out there who are still breastfeeding, keep it up! Do it as long as you possibly can because you know it is good for your baby and it keeps the bonding strong. I would miss that but there's now a lot of other adventures ahead for both Sarah and I! God is good all the time! :)

Ouch! Am I teething?

Baby Sarah has started showing signs of teething the past few weeks. She's been drooling a lot and putting things in her mouth (almost all the time) but that was since 3 months old anyway... What was more obvious during her 4th Month was when she seem to have all other symptoms for a teething baby like being more cranky, waking up at night, sudden cries (especially at night - when there's hardly any distraction), feeling discomfort...



Hmmm... but up till now, I'm still waiting to see her little white tooth! It's still hidden... shall wait and see... :)

On Nursery rhymes...

"Rock a bye baby, on the tree-top...."

"Jack and Jill went up the hill, to fetch a pail of water..."

"Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall..."

"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down..."

Nursery rhymes like the above seem harmless to our children, but as I sing the rhymes repeatedly to baby Sarah (it started way back when she was less than a month old), it dawn upon me how horrible these rhymes could mean. Take "Rock a bye baby" for example....

Rock a bye baby on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

I dare not think of what actually happens when the baby, cradle and all came falling down... but hey, you be the judge! So, choose your rhymes well and sing good songs to your babies! Songs that edifies! Songs that brings good things to you and your baby! Happy choosing & singing your rhymes!

[+video] Sarah's sitting adventure...

Seeing baby Sarah learning to sit all by herself is a great joy, but yet on the other hand, there is always a fear that she might fall and get herself hurt. However, I learn that as a parent, I need to "let go" and let her explore her boundaries... THIS is JUST the BEGINNING! I will be there whenever she needs me, and I believe she will learn to call upon me when she knows she has reached a certain limit and cant do it on her own. I learn that this same principle applies to how the Lord allows me to go through times of difficulties, allowing me to explore my boundaries, and yet He's always there for me.... that when I call upon Him, He will answer me.

"O Lord, grant me and hubby wisdom in raising little Sarah the way You want us to. Teach us to be great parents and best friends to our little one... that she will learn to explore new things around her and grow in great confidence and trust to her parents and to You as her Lord and Saviour. She will grow in Your ways and she will learn to fear You. Lord, I also pray that You will continue to send Your angels to protect her in every way and guide her as she grows and explores her boundaries which are all so virgin and new. I pray all these in Jesus' name, Amen!"

[+video] And yet another one of her "tricks"...

Today, baby Sarah has learnt to sit all by herself! Yes, that means without being "assist". She just makes her way up and sit down on her own. Another milestone achieved today! She managed to amuse me and all at home, esp ee-por who came to visit this afternoon. She said baby Sarah's development is fast compared to the general development in babies. Doctor Khoo said the same thing about her when we went to visit him the last time.

Baby Sarah doesnt seem to be afraid of anything (well... she's not showing any signs of fear at this time)! Not afraid of falling, not afraid of getting herself hurt, etc... which makes me "more" afraid. Praying for guardian angels to surround her every moment.... :)

Today...

To quarantine myself at this time seem quite impossible, more so when i'm upstairs in the room and hearing baby Sarah crying... surely i need to be of help to MIL as much as i possibly can. Hmm... wondering also what made Sarah cry every now and then during her sleep too... She's been doing that yesterday and today, so MIL was also wondering why the short naps + frequent sudden cries... praying that Sarah will have undisturbed sleep at nights and the coming days.

On MC...

It's 11.05... Not brushed my teeth yet... not washed my face yet... but i'm up blogging already.... :p

Yep, on MC today. Just woke up at 11 am. I think it was a good rest. My throat feels better compared to last night and earlier this morning. Would need to drink lots and lots and lots of water.

I KO-ed by 10+pm... not sure when hubby came in to sleep. but MIL took care of baby Sarah last night. Thank u, MIL. We didnt want baby Sarah to be threaten by any stubborn germs around me. I'll quarantine myself in the room whenever possible so that I'm not near the children at this time.

[+video] Sarah's latest development (at Month 5+)

Baby Sarah has just turned 5 months old 3 days ago! :)

Last week, we had the privilege to see another new "trick" that baby Sarah has "learnt"... err... hubby says it's "built-in".... "don't know come from where one?!!" LOL! :D

After developing her "reverse-stroke" skill, her legs and arms muscles must have grown quite strong. Now, she's beginning to "lift her butt up longer" (in a crawling position) but she's not crawling yet. She's just rocking herself (Cousin Ivan says baby Sarah riding a motorbike! Hahaha!!)

She will also try straightening one of her legs to show intention of sitting up all by herself (still attempting it, but not achieving it at the moment), and last night, latest that I saw was that she will try supporting her body with her right arm by lifting her left arm up! Adui, this girl! She's just too adventurous! Like hubby says.... It's "built-in". We don't know when or where she learn it from. :p

Under the weather.... sob! sob!

Guess what?! i caught the cold now.... had a little bit of symptom on Friday morning... ate vitamin C... but guess it was too late to prevent. So now, my nose is running and my throat is soring.... sob! sob! Feeling a little bit exhausted too....

Joyful baby...

I was looking at some pictures of baby Sarah (ie before she gotten sick). I miss her everyday when I am at work... Whenever i miss her, i will just take a peep at her picture and that alone makes me smile... :) She is such a joyful baby!

Here's daddy playing with baby Sarah... :) Daddy likes to do the "kung-fu" sound: "hai-yak! hai-yak!" That makes Sarah laugh and laugh! Hehehe....

I love her sooooooo much! :)
(Well, which parent don't love their baby right??! hehehe...)

Baby Sarah's not well... :(

Today, daddy and i took half day leave from work. Brought Sarah to see the doctor. Doctor gave fever,flu & cough medicine.

Poor girl... she couldn't really sleep last night because she has a running nose and it affects her breathing too... :( She had a slight cough 2 days ago, but last night, it manifested and troubled her sleep, so much so that daddy & mummy had to take turns carrying her to sleep. We knew she was soooo sleepy but yet she couldn't sleep well. Daddy also wasn't feeling well 2 days ago. He's alright today but went to see the doctor also to get some medicine and vitamin C for me as well. We need to be stronger to take care of baby. Baby been cranky-er too but can't blame her... she's really feeling so uncomfortable and sick.... Seeing her cough and having running nose makes me so sad... I wish i could help but now, can only pray for speedy recovery.

Flu is in the air at home. Now, Ivan & Reanne also recovering from the "package"... Pray that all the children and parents and grandparents are well...

Lord Jesus, come and take Your place in our home. We pray for a complete healing for Sarah, Reanne and Ivan, and also hubby. Let there be comfort in this time of discomfort and pain - In Your precious name we pray, Amen!

Baby Sarah & Mummy...

"Say, "Cheese....""

"Err... girl-girl, look at the camera..."

"Iyoh! Dont put that thing in the mouth!"

"Girl-girl, look there..."

*BANG!!!!*

"Ouch!!!!!!!!!"

Oh yes.... you can say that again.... She's got strong arms! My eyes hurt a little after that! She's a strong little baby! :)

Christmas Every Morning...

I was doing a search on the web this morning and I came across a book entitled "Christmas Every Morning"... No, I don't know what's the story about, but just the title on its own speaks to me so much. :)

Every morning when I wake up, a new hope for the day greets me. God's love and faithfulness are new every morning. Many times there is a big question about life that I ask God almost everyday... or at least every time when a crisis strike... "What's the meaning of my life?" Many times I tend to forget the reason I live and continued living my days (Just for the sake of living? Just for the sake of my family? My children? Hmmm.... if that's the case for everyone, I guess people without family or children will long to say "bye-bye" to the world :p).

Looking back... there is an old song which could answer this wandering question... "When I look into Your holiness"... Yes, the reason I live is to worship God. He created me to commune with me and to have fellowship with me. Having a happy family and recently being blessed with a beautiful baby girl are blessings that God freely gave, but one thing will not change, and that is the reason I was created. Why am I here today? Why was I created?

So folks, live a life of worship before our God. It's not just about singing songs of worship, it's not just about spending that 10 or 30 minutes of prayer and quiet time. It's about living our lives as a worship before Him... Hey, it's Christmas every morning! :)

Hmmm... Now i cant wait for Christmas day itself! Hehehe...

Baby Sarah's adventure...

Just look at that face! She's a really fierce baby, isnt she?! Having her lie & play on her tummy is fun for both parents & baby. Fun for her as she's able to explore her surroundings, her limits, her new-found skills, etc... and as parents, we get to learn a little bit more about her too and her day-to-day development. Yes, we have to always keep an eye on her so that she is always on "safe grounds". She will of course once in a while knock her head on the floor as she rolls her body over but i guess she's one strong baby as she seemed OK after the fall and "back to business" of exploring her little adventure.

[Knowledge: Baby] ECB13: BATHING AND HYGIENE – Bathing tips

Make bath times as pleasant as possible for you and your baby.

1. Before you start, make sure that you have everything that you need within reach

2. Always put cold water in first. Test the final temperature with your elbow or the inner side of your wrist

3. Keep the bath water shallow. About 5 – 8 cm is deep enough

4. Keep the time that your baby is undressed to a minimum; small babies quickly become cold

[Knowledge: Baby] ECB12: BATHING AND HYGIENE – Toiletries

A newborn’s skin is delicate. You should not use soap or wipes until your baby is at least 6 weeks old as it will remove the natural oils from her skin and leave it dry and uncomfortable. Special baby toiletries are mild and won’t irritate your baby’s skin – many are hypo-allergenic.

1. A little baby oil in your baby’s bath water is a good moisturizer for very dry skin

2. For delicate skin, like the nappy area, baby lotion is an ideal cleanser and moisturizer

3. Baby powder can be drying to your baby’s skin. If you use it, shake it on to your hand first, or it may be inhaled by your baby. Never use powder on the nappy area; it could gather in the skin creases and cause irritation

4. Zinc and castor oil cream or petroleum jelly are waterproof and will protect your baby’s skin from urine. Medicated nappy creams containing titanium salts are good if your baby has nappy rash

Healing After Tragedy: Chapman Copes With Loss of Daughter

Steven Curtis Chapman: "While We Are Grieving This Process, There Is a Hope"

By JANICE JOHNSTON and EMILY YACUS

Aug. 6, 2008

Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman and his family suffered a profound loss on May 21 when his 5-year-old daughter Maria Sue was accidentally hit by his 17-year-old son, after she ran into the path of his SUV in their driveway. Maria later died at a Nashville hospital. The Chapman family gave an exclusive interview to "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts in their Tennessee home, discussing the accident, their faith and family strength in the wake of their tragedy.

Read more here.

A day out in Ikea...

Last Saturday, the family went for a day out in Ikea. There wasn't any agenda (well, for me)... but just "jalan-jalan" and let baby Sarah "see" a little bit more of the world outside... But again, she was fully awake on the way to Ikea in the car (while her other cousins were all fast asleep). She only slept during the walk... perhaps she loves the cool air-cond in the mall. Ivan as usual was at his active self - exploring his surrounding... Reanne slept every now and then too, but even when she's awake, she was behaving well. hehe...

I met my ex-college friend and his gf there and we chatted for awhile. His name is Cheow Ann aka Cow aka "moomoo", and his gf is Suzanne aka "susu"... LOL! Just some nicknames we gave and i thought it suit them well... moomoo & susu... :p

Here are some pix to describe the day...

Baby Sarah fast asleep during the walk...
susu & moomoo, sarah & mummy...

Ivan... getting all energized!

Babies & Daddies...

Ivan...

Mum & Dad-in-law...

[+Video] Sarah + TV = ZZZ

Heard of the phrase "sleeping like a baby"? Sure, there are some nice, quiet babies who seem to always doze, but many of us seem to have newborns of the more wakeful sort. Yep, I'm one of those mothers! That phrase seem quite an alien to me at the moment... hahaha! But i'm not complaining... Different babies different experience, different mothers different experience... even though I do wish to have more hours of sleep at times... :p

But i have one creative way of making baby Sarah to sleep! :))
Check out this short video clip... (excuse me for the out-of-focus video clip :p)



Well, baby Sarah gets distracted by movement or lights - A LOT! Well, basically anything that is out of the ordinary. She's an observer.... or for lack of better words... a KEPO! :p She's attracted to TV (especially commercials), bright lights, blinking lights on Daddy's handphone... (you get the idea?!) My way of making her sleepy is to make her dizzy! Hahaha... (bad mummy!) but she thoroughly enjoys it, and at the same time, it kinda drain out her energy. Hehehe... It's like playtime for her, but yet, good for Mummy & Daddy too... as she gets tired after playing and off she goes to sleep.

[Knowledge: Baby] A crying baby

Why is it so important for you to pick up your baby when she cries? To be by her side when she's calling for you? Or for you to stay calm and loving when she's kicking and screaming on the changing table?
At this tender young age, you can't spoil your baby (until about 1 year old). Your baby needs to learn that the world is a trustworthy and reliable place. Your responsive, unconditional love is what she needs to thrive. Her sense of trust in the world is an essential building block for all other learning she will do.

[Knowledge: Baby] Treating diaper rash

Instead of using talcum powder when treating diaper rash, opt for ointment, such as A&D, Balmex or Desitin. Talcum powder can be inhaled by your baby. (There have been numerous reports of life-threatening episodes, even deaths, from powder inhalation.) Plus, talcum powder doesn't seem to have an advantage over ointment in the treatment of diaper rash. Why risk it when there are suitable alternatives?

I got Drapolene cream to treat diaper rash. So far, it's been serving well! :)

[Knowledge: Baby] Feedings before Sleep

To help prevent potential rotting teeth, doctors advise never putting your baby to bed with a bottle or allowing him to fall asleep while feeding. When formula or breast milk is not swallowed, it pools in the mouth, bathing the teeth with lots of food for bacteria to feed on. These bacteria then produce acid as a waste product, and that acid can cause damage to baby's teeth.

On being careless....

Yesterday at work.... another encounter after the "panicked story"... All my belongings were left in the 2nd floor office... and i remembered for sure that I had the keys to the office with me when I left upstairs to do something downstairs.... Zam was still downstairs settling the wiring stuff.

Colleague, Iris, said she had to drop by Rebecca's office, which is nearby, for awhile before leaving for home... That was already 5+pm. I went downstairs and settled some stuff but before long I realised that the keys to upstairs were no where to be found! eeeks!!! Have i left them upstairs? But I thought... I thought i brought them down with me! Oh no... No one is upstairs in the office.... Iris has left... but yeah... she might still be nearby... But no, she forgot to bring her hp today.... so i couldnt call her.... I called Rebecca.... Rebecca said Iris has left! double eeeks!!! A little bit panic.... I called the others who might be able to "save" me... Called Ps May Yee... she's in KL... will be back in PJ only at night.... Called Faith.... she's leaving to KL at 6.30pm... When hubby arrives, it will probably be later than that.... hubby suggested to call Vic.... Oh yah... Why didnt i call him?! Thank u, Silas for your quick thoughts! So I called Vic... Vic was about to leave home for his course in Tmn SEA. Yey! Tmn SEA's nearby and yes... he has the key! My saviour for the day! Thank u Thank u Thank u, Vic!

Vic came, passed me the keys and i managed to get into the upstairs office... but hmmm.... i couldnt find my keys.... *knock head* I knew i brought them down! I knew it! I just knew it! But where are they???!! I packed my stuff, lock the place up and went straight down to look for my keys.... I looked high and low.... and after some minutes, i saw the green leaf keychain behind a semi-transparent cover (of the video breakout box - the VT5!)... *knock head*

After all the troubles...... I had the keys with me all the while.... I couldnt remember how it ended up behind the cover, but yes, the bunch of keys were lying there right before my eyes!

Lesson learnt..... ALWAYS REMEMBER WHERE YOU PUT YOUR BELONGINGS... esp keys! and handphones! If you're the kind who is forgetful... like me.... solution is to dedicate a place (in your office or at home) just for things like these: keys/purse/wallet/hp. Hubby always sounded me about my carelessness, because it's not the first time. I've been improving actually... A LOT i believe... but as for yesterday's incident.... hmmm.... I think there were just too many things going on in my mind and accidents like this just happened. I pray this wont happen again. I got people worried unnecessarily... Sorry, Becca. If you're reading this... thx for your sms-es of concern. Hehe...

The other thing i want to thank God for was that my hp was with me at all times. I dont normally carry it with me all the time but thank God i had it with me this time. Just that... WHAT IF... the keys were really left upstairs and the only way out is to call for an emergency?

So another lesson for the day:
CARRY WITH YOU YOUR HANDPHONE AT ALL TIMES + ALWAYS REMEMBER WHERE YOU PUT YOUR BELONGINGS :)

Panicked!!!

Yesterday at work, I was about to install Windows in my macbook... boss says it's as easy as ABC.... all i need to do is to make a partition for Windows and put the installer CD in, and follow the step by step instructions. I dont need to backup my files there as it wont be "harmed"... and so, i started my "adventure"... Lo and behold, it wasnt as direct as i thought it would be, as I've done reformatting of PC/Mac and re-installation many many times... but Windows on Mac? Errr...

Anyway, it was my first attempt... I put in the Windows installer... went through the setup steps until the part where it says to choose the "partition" where I want the Windows OS to be installed. Hmmm.... All the partition were shown... and i got a little panic when the free space shown was.... as good as the size of the partition itself... eeks! I got a little doubtful to continue my installation. I QUIT! I ESC! and then... it just wont get back into my MAC desktop... double eeks! The message says to insert a bootable CD to boot up.... triple eeks! At that time I thought for a moment... did i accidentally format the whole mac??? Did it crashed??? Oh no!!! Baby Sarah's pix are ALL in there.... and I didnt backup! The only backup i have is basically the pix in facebook! And that's resized!!! OMG! Literally feeling anxious... I prayed that all my files are saved! To cut the story short.... YES! They were ALL there! Nothing's been wiped out! A HUGE relief! I told myself then... "I shall backup the photos after this!... ie before attempting any adventure!" :p

So guys... lesson for the day:
REMEMBER TO BACKUP YOUR DATA...! be it company's or personal... Mummies & Daddies.... quickly backup your children's photos... they are memories not to be deleted based on our carelessness... :o)

Work.... interrupted... sigh....

Zam (AndrewC's right hand man) was around in VVC last night (for about 6 hours since 2pm), working his butt out to get the old electrical wiring out... so as to get ready for a "big" job today... yep, it's messy, messy & messy!

Zam and some other M&E guys are now working their butts out to get it all ready by before the weekend... looks like there's just sooooo much to do. My work (of course) got interrupted since afternoon as they're gonna shut the whole mains off every now and then... sigh... My plan to complete a project by Thursday cant be realized. *sigh 3x*

However, good planning though... Had an appointment to go window shopping for some materials for the Nursing Room's flooring... Since i cant continue the office work, I might as well go "jalan"... But too bad, it lasted till about 3pm... So, here I am blogging from my lappy about my interrupted work. I'm still duplicating some DVDs... but i cant do my editing/rendering/burning/printing/etc.... oh well.... Looks like i've gotta postpone the deadline to next week. Will be at home tomorrow... Since there's nothing much i can do here... The mess will continue until probably Saturday..... oh well....

Dinner with the Chong's & the Yeo's

Date/Day: 2nd August/Saturday

Time: Dinner time!

Venue: Restaurant Lek Lek (Serdang)

Occasion: Fei-lo-ship amongst the Chong's & the Yeo's...

The story: My family from Melaka (except my sis) came up. Bro had some meetings and seminars to attend. Mum, Peggy & Paul were around for the weekend. Mum missed baby Sarah soooooooooooooo much. She said baby Sarah big girl already.... getting quite mischievous too! :p
Saturday night, the 2 families met up for dinner. The food was yummy... really really yummy (salivating liao...), and charged at a very reasonable price. The place looks new too. It was
operated from home, but before long, their business expanded and seemed to me, they are doing pretty well right now!

The Restaurant... Ivan, we saw what you did!!!!
Innocent until proven guilty?
Kekeke.... The evidence is here... :p

Waiting for the foooooooood!

Chit-chatting.... and "some" other expressions... :p

Baby Sarah with Yeh Yeh... getting a bit cranky before the food arrived.
Go for "walk-walk" after that... happy dia!

The foooooooood!
7 dishes.... supposedly 6! 1 came by accident and we just accepted it because CK (who did the ordering) wasn't at the table then... :p
Yummy Yum Yum! Fish curry & fried squids very the yummy! *drooling*

The bro & sis & in-laws...
Chun Kiat aka CK (top left), Soo Pei (top right)
Rachel & Silas (bottom left), Matt & Peggy (bottom right)

The cousins....
Ivan Chong (top left), Paul Yeo (top right)
Reanne Chong (bottom left), Sarah Chong (bottom right)

Grandma chit-chat..... & baby chit-chat too! :D

During the dinner, Paul found 5 cents! He was sooooo happy! :)

The empty plates..... and a bit of leftovers. :p

We headed for Jusco (Equine Park) after the dinner.... need to do some walking & shopping! :)
J, if you're reading this... miss your company la... Next time, dont miss the fei-lo-ship ok?!

The price of Vanity....

Two weeks ago, i decided that I will do rebonding to my hair. I've been having "bad hair day" everyday for weeks and I just didnt know what to do. Expenses nowadays has all gone up... well, what IS new??? I can afford a normal hairdo, but to do rebonding would pinch my pocket a little bit more.

Oh yah... most importantly, i told myself, "I dont wanna look like "Aunty" after becoming a mummy" Muaahahahaaa.... err... no offense to all aunties out there ya! :D

The story continues.... i went to do rebonding in Real Cut Studio in Kajang Metropoint. Claiming that it was a promo period... as for my hair length (which is "long" according to them) it would cost me RM200++ for a Senior hairstylist to do (if it's not during their promo period, it would cost almost RM300 i think... and an additional RM50 if from a Professional hairstylist....)... The price of vanity! So there i was.... on a Saturday (19 July) morning.... in Real Cut Studio for about 4 hours. I cant deny that they did gave good services... in fact, i felt i was treated more than just nice. The guy who did my hair asked me if i'd like to watch a movie... he gave me a DVD folder to choose a movie and so i chose "Stephen Chow - Fight Back to School" series.... muaahahahahaha.... (Not many movies to choose from la... :p) There were many customers but I thought I was treated extra nice... they even pause the movie everytime i went to wash my hair... and there was only one TV in the whole salon! :p

Anyway.... i came home... i felt weird... it was straight but yet... my face feels "pressed". My hair is already dead... there is nothing i can do with my hair.... and my head looks flat now! I did rebonding before about 5 years ago... and it was nice.... i looked good (well... as far as i can see from photos taken)... but now.... i was soooooooooo sad that it didnt turn out the way i wanted. I thought.... lets wait until after 3 days, ie only then that i can wash my hair, and we'll see how it goes! But but but.... something still didnt look quite right! boo hoo hoo! I called the salon and complained to them that i wasnt satisfied with my hair. I told them i did it before and i know the effect should definitely look better than how i look now (then)! The guy just told me to go to the salon again so that he can have a look at it.

And so I went there again the following Saturday (26 July)... this time i met and spoke to the Director who is THE hairstylist. I complained to her - da da da - asked her advice, talk and talk and talk for about an hour plus... didnt manage to do anything to my hair as the salon was packed with customers that day. Finally, we arranged for another appointment....

Some advice...
1. If you wanna do rebonding, make sure you have long hair... or short hair... not medium hair as it will cause your hair "qiao qiao" when it touches the shoulder (like mine).

2. Rebonding would certainly be more suitable for those who have smaller body frame. For those who are larger, rebonding will enhance the "large" overall look because the face will suddenly look smaller than the body and that wont look good!

3. If you have larger frame, perming will be the best bet and make sure you color it or at least highlight it to enhance the perm look.

4. If you have large body frame but doesnt want to perm, do a bob so that your face will look thinner. Make sure the hairstylist does it right!

5. Bob hairstyle is a trend at all times... just different ways of styling it will make the trend.

6. Colors make a lot of difference... if want to look trendy, ask the hairstylist what's the color trend now. I was told that the trend now is the "Natural Color"

And so... there i was on a Friday (1 Aug) afternoon... the Director's advise was to do a BOB style - that is IF i dare to take the challenge to have my hair CUT... i had other friends and relatives who also supported that idea and so I got the guy to redo my hair! In the end, i was happy that he managed to mend my hair for free. I think i look better now... though i could have saved the money spent for rebonding, but at least now i know what suits me and what doesnt.

Next.... is to start dieting & exercising.... :)