Goodbye 2007 and Hello 2008

Today is new year's eve and we have spent this night no different from any other nights. As Ethan is still so young @ 2 months old, we are not able to bring him out for any countdown party or fireworks show. This is definitely a roller coaster year for us, with Mummy pregnant with Ethan and Ethan joining us in the family. With Caden attending playgroup and PaPa training his patience with the children. Both Mummy and PaPa also had quite a hectic schedule at work which makes both of us constantly tired. My confinement and after birth periods are nightmarish, needless to mention those ugly rashes scars are still lingering around my body.

With 2008 approaching in just an hour's time, we hope that it will be a better year for us, with fat bonuses, good increment, better work-life balances, etc. Our new year's resolution is to discipline Caden well this coming year and spend time with Ethan so that we will not miss any important milestones of this first year.

Breastfeeding notes

Although we decided to "close production" after Ethan's birth, I thought documenting down this for further reference if my friends were to seek my advice (as I couldn't help much when my friends asked me abt the experience previously since I suffer from short-term memory all the time).

For breastfeeding to be successful, I have done the following:

1) Opting for total BF in hospital to stimulate production, if baby is not peeing often-he's not getting enough fluids from you, ask nurse to feed glucose through cup

2) milk will come in Day4 after brith, engorgement will be experienced, it is advisable to express out the milk to relieve and stimulate more production. Subsequently few days will also experience engorgement, so need to express out after every feed.

3) Latching- very impt know-how, so make sure you learn as much as possible from the nurses in the hospital, they are able to guide you the correct way. With correct latching, milk comes on faster and baby won't be frustrated with drinking.

4) Try to express approx 10mins after every feed, to stimulate more production

5) Drink lots and lots of water,and have plenty of rest = more milk. Fish soup helps too.

6) Try to direct feed in the first month in the middle of the night feeds, as baby is more alert this time and his suction is more powerful.

7) Don't be stressed over insufficient milk, its ok to supplement in the beginning if baby cries for milk, but I dilute the formula so that baby won't be hooked on that (formula milk is sweeter).

8) I take GNC's Fenugreek, it helps in better milk production, so if your supply is low, can try this, will continue to take this as long as I'm BF. I think it will be very helpful when I return to work soon. For nutrition, drink Anmum and Neurogain pills for good brain development for the child.

Enjoy the process, it is lots of hard work and perseverence but I am sure you will be happy that you have come through this far once you get the milk coming..

My storage of milk from these 2 months.. hopefully can last till Ethan is 6 months old on exclusive Breast milk..

The Cane

We finally bought 2 canes to place at home to discipline Caden. Caden has been very demanding and rebellious lately, we were not certain if he feels neglected because our attention is now divided between him and Ethan. He's also down with cough and running nose lately and we didn't want to carry out the punishment on him too harshly as we knew that he would vomit his food out after much crying..

Today at Grandma's place in Hougang, PaPa decided to get the canes from the market to place them at home as a threat to Caden should he not listen to us next time.. let's see when will he be caned for the first time!

Sleeping through the night

Ethan did not wake up for feed last night, although he started fussing abit from 330am. Mummy stuffed the pacificer into his mouth and he was satisfied. Subsequently, he fussed again at 430 and 530 am, and pacificer worked for these time-slots, then he started fussing again at 6am, and Mummy thought it is time for him to drink since the last feed at 11pm..

Hopefully, he continues to be so obedient and not demand for any milk in the next few days..

Our 2 month old Ethan

Ethan turns 2 months old last Sat. He still wakes up for night feed, unfortunately for Mummy at this point as she is due to return to work for some gruesome reporting deadlines.. Mummy realise today that she will miss Ethan's company in about a week's time when 2008 arrives. Ethan will be taken care by his grandma as Mummy is needed back at work. Some of Ethan's many wonderful expressions taken today at his awake time for both Mummy and PaPa to see to take them off any unhappy moments at work..

Caden's first movie

We brought Caden to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks on Wednesday evening at Tampines Mall GV. This is his first trip to the cinema and we thought we should try to spend more time with him as mummy is always so pre-occupied with Ethan at home. Caden was so terrified when the lights dimmed in the cinema as the trailers started rolling. He got his PaPa to cover his eyes with PaPa's hands as he was too afraid with the surroundings - big screen, loud sounds, dark room. Once the movie started, I encouraged Caden to let go of PaPa's hands to watch the show. He was alright as the chipmunks started appearing in the very first scene. However, abt an hour later, he kept asking me if the show is finishing..

After the movie ended, I asked Caden if he wants to come back to the cinema for more.. he said no.. Sigh, my son is so timid..

More smiles

Ethan's first month cupcakes

FinallyI have set aside some time to order some cakes for my office colleagues, this is the final product

Mango and Zara sale

For Mummy's future reference:
Mango sale - 13th Dec (thurs) opens at 8am
Zara sale - 27th Dec (thurs) opens at 9.30am

Ethan's first smile

Finally Ethan showed his first smile last weekend

Brotherhood

Caden has been bugging us to take pictures of him and Ethan..

Barney's Christmas Star

PaPa finally can spare the time to bring Caden out to Marina Sq this sat for the Barney live show.. and also, this is one of the rare occasions that Mummy decided to tag along with Lil Ethan. This morning, we went to Caden's school to attend Meet the parents session with his teacher and received positive feedback on Caden's behaviour and progress in class. In fact, the teacher is keen to make Caden the class monitor when the new year starts for him in N1 as she cited that he possesses leadership skills..

We have to take a quick lunch at long john silvers as the time for Barney show is near. Caden was all excited abt meeting Barney and his friends.

After the show, as we didn't have a chance to take picture with Barney, Mumy asked Caden to pose with the posters pinned up in the shopping mall instead for momento.

A cold rainy Wednesday

Today's weather is perfect for anyone to sleep whole day at home.. just like Mummy thought she can have a chance to take a FEW short naps together with Ethan.. however, Ethan's schedule on a daily basis works like this:

2am Milk feed

530am Milk feed

6am pump milk

7am Caden came into the room to disturb both Ethan and Mummy

7.30am, pat Ethan to sleep again

8 am If Ethan doesn't get back to sleep - bath time

830am milk feed

9am Mummy's b'fast plus rocking Ethan to sleep at the same time

10am pump milk and Ethan falls asleep

11am Mummy finishes her shower after milk pumping and Ethan wakes up again

12pm milk feed

1pm Mummy pump milk again

2pm Lunch for Mummy

3pm Milk feed and rocking Ethan to sleep

4pm Mummy pump milk again

430pm Ethan wakes up again

5-6pm rocking Ethan to sleep, otherwise milk feed

7pm Mummy pump milk

8pm Dinner for Mummy and PaPa comes back from work

9pm all reach home.. Ethan still sleeping

9plus, PaPa takes over milk feed while Mummy attend to Caden

10pm Mummy puts Caden to sleep with story telling

11pm Mummy pump milk again

1-2am, Ethan wakes up and cycle continues

On that basis, can there be an opportunity for Mummy to take a good rest????

Ethan in his new long-sleeved romper, asleep

After the shot was taken, he wakes up again

Mothers are so sleep-deprived!!!

Lazy Sunday morning

Caden has learnt to be more independent since Ethan has joined our family.. but only at times.. if he sees anyone of us playing or attending to Lil Ethan, he will want to same treatment to be applied on him, e.g, if mummy carries Didi to drink milk, Caden also wants to be babied the same way..

Today, he was mimicking the advertisement shown on Kidscentral on Alvin and the Chipmunks, where they were dancing to the tune, Shake a boom boom, shake a boom boom, here's a display of his dancing act

He is very glued to the TV on Kidscentral on Sunday, and needless to say, PaPa is also very interested to watch some programmes shown - Power Rangers and the Mystic Force! See how engrossed they are while PaPa is feeding Ethan..

Mummy C-section wound

I went for a follow-up check on my c-section with Dr Cheng today. For the past one week, I felt the pain near the wound area becoming more unbearable, esp when I carry Lil Ethan. And the swell near the wound seems to get bigger.. today, Dr Cheng confirmed that I have got inflammation on the 2nd c-section wound and prescribed 2 antibiotics for me to complete. Hoepfully it will subside the pain and the swell and dissolve the pus in the swell. He said that if pus were to appear, I will have to go back to him for a minor insertion op to remove that! Goodness.. I hope not to go through another op again... can't imagine myself having to go thru another round of op and recovering from it.. let's wish for the best for now..



P/S: to all my friends who are reading this, pls do consider carefully before u opt for voluntary C-section.. it sure has more complications compared to a natural delivery..

More pictures of Lil Ethan

Mummy is still very tired from taking care of Ethan 24/7. Basically his alarm clock is always on the dot, he will want feed every 3 hourly.. and including middle of the night. Last night, we decided to implement the "water method" on Ethan. That is giving him water instead of milk when he cried for feed pass 12 am. Initially he drank a bit, but very soon, he realised that the fluid is something that he has not tasted and awful, so he was screaming and crying at the top of his voice! We had this considered, so we have closed the door and windows in order not to disturb our neighbours.. but subsequently, both PaPa and Mummy were too soft hearted to see him cry so badly and gave in to his demands.. we are trying again tonight. Hoepfully, by the time I return to work in Jan, Ethan would have slept throughout the night..

Some of the pictures to share for this week