Eli is 1 Today!

My little bitty darling is a whole year old! He's a regular Guy Smiley and a funny fellow. He knows what he wants and know how to get it. Small he may be but he's feisty and a real livewire. He loves a good cuddle as much as he enjoys roaming around and exploring every crevice and little bits he finds on the floor. Speedy Gonzales on all fours, he's been attempting to stand on his own. Able to scale the window grill, climb up onto the sofa and all the way up a flight of stairs, we have to keep an eye on this ninja wherever he goes.

When he needs help, he points at you and opens his hand. He knows how to say "boh" for ball and seems to favour saying words that start with "b". He can also call his Opa and say "mah-mam" when he wants to eat or if he wants something in particular.

Now that we have been going for swim classes once a week, he's loving the water for EVERYTHING - bathing, swimming drinking and sometimes all at the same time!

We're so grateful for this privilege to watch him grow and change.

Learning the Hard Way

There is no such thing as a relaxing vacation when you go with two-and-a-half-year-old chipmump (Zac-speak for chipmunk). No matter how "compliant" you think he is! I believe some Panadol is in order tonight after the parade tonight.

From,
Pooped-out-of-their-minds Patti Parents
(in Valencia for Las Fallas)

P.S.
Photos to follow once we've kissed the floor of our apartment!

An Email - On Breastfeeding

A friend sent me an email with questions on breastfeeding. It seems like ages ago that Zac and I were enjoying all that but thankfully I remembered SOME things. For my own future reference, I'm copying and pasting what was in that email in this entry. Hopefully, it will come in handy when I have my next baby...

IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH, DON'T READ THIS FOR GOODNESS SAKE.

ON BREASTFEEDING

from my point of view, i think i was quite successful in breastfeeding zac. i managed to do it for a whole yr as planned which to me is a success in itself. i really do believe the good experience was God-enabled since I never once had to break out the formula (even when I fell sick and my supply went down by a lot) nor did i have issues like mastitis, etc.

1. Nursing Bras

good bras and tops make a load of difference if you're out and about. when i was a home, it was pretty easy to just pull up my top and feed zac whenever it was needed. i bought cotton nursing bras from marks & spencers tt didn't have underwire - underwires are known to block milk ducts. they come in a set of 2 and you might want to consider buying a few esp if you don't do laundry often. nursing bras are really helpful for easy access but i eventually was able to wear regular soft-cup strapless bras andstll be able to feed easily. you'll realise that you'll have to sleep with a bra on at night cos leaks and what nots occur all the time. (*OMMITTED TEXT - ask me if you wanna know what was in these brackets)

2. Nursing Pads

i used tollyjoy breastpads at night (bigger, texture is a little rough but it's cheaper) and Pigeon ones in the day (better shape, softer, smaller in size and more expensive). i bought Lilypadz too but they didn't prevent leaks very long so i'd recommend this for when your milk supply is more regular and not if you're planning to be away from BABY K for very long. i remember standing in the fitting room at taka having to pad my bra with tissue because the Lilypadz didn't hold out and i was very very full. not a pretty sight.

3. Nursing in Public

of course, knowing where the nursing rooms are are a big, big help. more privacy and less juggling! here's a list of nursing rooms you might find handy when youre out and about. http://www.parentingjoy.com/nursingrooms.htm. I also managed to nurse discreetly with Zac in a sling though it did take a lot of practice. in the event there was no nursing room handy, I'd just feed zac in the car before getting out and doing my rounds.

before i even fed zac, i prepped a large muslin cloth (those big cloth diapers which i used as a towel) just in case the milk leaked or if there was spit-up or if there was an unusual explosion of poo (particularly in those first few months). think tt might be handy if you plan to feed BABY K even at home.

4. Nursing Clothes

a must? not really. button-down shirts work great esp if theyre not cut too closely to the body. stretchy jersey tops work well too. Nursing tops do have their function esp if you plan to nurse while in the public eye since they only expose the boob and not your tum. you would have to wear a nursing bra or a soft bandeau-type bra under it. having extra change of clothes in your diaper bag helps esp the first couple of outings... my milk SPRAYS out when let-down happens so I always need to clean up or in extreme instances, change tops! Places I went to buy the nursing tops - Mothers En Vogue and Motherswork but i didn't buy more than 5 or so. I was wearing regular non-nursing clothes more often than not. What I've heard some pple do is to wear a tube top under whatever they're wearing so when they lift their shirts, their belly isn't exposed. Have not tried it but it seems like a good idea. (Let me know how tt turns out for you if you do try!)

What to look out for:

• Patterns (as opposed to solid colours)are a good buy cos even if you stain/ leak it's not so visible unless you draw attention to it.
• White isn't so handy since it bcomes transparent in they event there's a spill plus, it stains a nasty yellow if you don't remove the milk quickly. Besides, mums avoid white since kids come with lots of mess.
  
• Stretchy materials are obviously more helpful than non-stretchy unless you have buttons down the front to make feeding easier.
• Cotton is comfy and absorbant - for now, man-made materials might not be a good option. too hot and doesnt absorb so well.
  
• A nursing shawl or a wrap that's lightweight would provide you some coverage though i did find it hard to see even and those who have used the nursing shawl find it somewhat clumsy even though it's MEANT to be for breastfeding mums.
• You CAN wear strapless clothes (really easy to feed) though you need a nursing room/ nursing shawl/poncho for privacy.

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL (is there such a thing??)

After my sessions with MASSAGE LADY S, my tummy was pretty flat. Ass and everything else was still in need of work. Even after that I wore a corset cos it helped support my back (all that carrying and holding zac for feeding times were a realy strain on my lower back) and it helped get everything in my midsection back into place. Without it, i was still looking like i was about 4 months pregnant. i didn't diet or lose weight and everything disappeared cos of breastfeeding honestly.

i did go through tt in-between-clothes phase for a while cos I had to adjust to having bigger boobs and still having some baby-weight. i continued wearing some of my maternity clothes but bought some shirts (boys dept - cos the cut is better and its cheaper) which are easy to dress up or down in. i wore my maternity jeans for a long time even after i went back to being able to fit into my old pair. the loose skin around the belly area made wearing bottoms tt were even a little snug unbearable so my maternity jeans were my go-to.

With the new boobs, you defintely will look different and feel "bigger" but you just need to get used to dressng for your new shape. stuff tt looked fine before made me look like a 50 cent hooker. SERIOUSLY. getting the right bra with the right support also makes a difference. no two nursing bras are alike so try them on and get what makes you feel comfortable and happy with what you see in the mirror.

like you said, you need to fig out what you can wear out now and what you should put in storage. don't bother wearing something that is too fitted cos it'll just make you feel bad and give you problems when you need to feed your baby. i had to accept the fact that my body won't be the same as before and that i have to learn to dress for the new shape. you'll have to also readjust after you stop breastfeeding. my boobs have lost volume and are littler than they were before i got pregnant. plus, they're not where i left em! just thought you should know. heh.

Picky Picky To Finger Licky

Zac is 20 months old now and testing boundaries seems to have become a lifestyle at this point. I never thought I would ever have to do battle at meal times but surprise, surprise, even food becomes a course for contention. His taste and peferences where food is concerned changes like the wind and it's sometimes a little more than frustrating to figure out what to feed him.

After much trial and error, I have figured out some "rules" to follow to ensure he eats well at mealtimes.

1) Minimize between meal snacks. Zac usually likes to eat whenever he sees anything that remotely resembles food and even more so if he sees someone eating it. I always allowed him to eat when he asked but that led to not getting all the right food and a lot of wastage when he refused to eat his main meals. Now he has a mid-morning snack and a late-afternoon snack plus 3 main meals and a milk drink before bedtime.

2) Provide healthful, nutritious snacks. Even though I try to get him into the habit of eating proper meals instead of nibbling all through the day, there are some days where he would rather graze. On those occastions, I make sure what I offer (and have on hand) is good for him. Right now, his snack du jour is boiled carrot sticks, steamed corn or peas. He likes these Japanese rice crackers with seaweed I found at a health food store too. Even if he doesn't finish all of his main meal at least I know he's getting what he needs at snack time.

3) Change the texture. There are times when he turns his nose up at a certain type of food, for example, tomatoes. He would never eat one raw or chopped so now I puree it into a pasta sauce and top it with lots of cheese.

4) Try, try again. I console myself that new tastes and textures are often not accepted right off the bat. However, I shouldn't give that particular food altogether since children at this age can need up to 10 exposures before they're ok with it! To minimize wastage, I blend the food into something he already enjoys and that has a stronger taste so he won't suspect a thing. Sneaky, but it works.

5) Let him feed himself. Now is the age of "do it myself" and even though it's terribly messy, I'm trying to get over the grossness of watching him self-feed and let him do it on his own. He now either independently eats with minimal if any supervision or I provide finger foods while I feed him from a main bowl. For example, if I make chicken porridge which is a little tricky for him to feed himself, I feed him the porridge but give him cut up pieces of hard boiled egg so he feels like he's doing something.

They don't always work but they have a 90% rate of success which is pretty good everything considered!

Growing Pain (In The Butt)

It's getting harder and harder to feed Zac these days. He used to be such a dream at mealtimes since he'd put away all the food on his plate and then some. Now, he'd take a mouthful then spit it out. Sometimes it might be the texture of the food like a little piece of meat amongst the rice porridge or the skin of the peas. One day he's in love with peanut butter on bread, the next day he tosses his plate on the floor as though I served up a dirty diaper!

It's infuriating and a downright shame to see so much good (and yummy) food go to waste! I've still to find a reasonable solution to this. For now, I'm on strike and will not feed him until he's begging to eat!

Anyone have a better idea?

Tantrum-atic

We are now entering the hairy phase that parents all over the world dread. A lot have passed through and many still break out in a cold sweat just recalling the events that took place. It's funny that just when you think you're finally going to start breathing easy again, you round the corner and yet another developmental milestone hits you in the face.

Zac's been much more antsy than usual and almost anything sets him off. How I scoop banana for him to eat, what video I play, where I sit when I'm trying to put him to bed... you name it. Morning, noon or night, there isn't a particular time of day when he's most likely to blow which makes these eruptions that much more hair-raising!

What I've been doing to cope:
1) Come alongside. When one of these seismic blowouts occur, it's usually pointless to reason and figure out what he wants. Somedays it's easy to placate him and coax him with something else but it's gotten a little tougher recently. In the midst of a rant, he'll even reject the thing that he wanted in the first place. Nowadays, I just sit next to him until he's calmed down a little. It makes me a little less likely to get angry and swat him hereby making things worse.
2) Lets go outside. If sitting by him doesn't work, I sometimes take him outdoors (in my case, the balcony). Often, the open space helps a little to make him a little less fretful. Perhaps it's also that he's been removed from the "point of eruption".
3) Step back. Somedays, especially those days my fuse is particularly short, I leave the room. Of course, I make sure he's not going to hurt himself and he's in a safe place before I go away for a few minutes. This is more so I won't end up getting too worked up.

Any other suggestions? I would love to hear them!

17 Months!

It's a couple of days past his 17-month mark and it's been a pretty amazing month.

Physical

Zac still walks like a little dinosaur with his arms held chest-high but he's way more confident when he takes those steps. He's not quite running yet but he certainly loves climbing up and down stairs like a grown up (ie, forward facing). Zac also enjoys pushing things around particlarly chairs!



He still throws things around which is really quite annoying and I hope that it's just phase he's going through. One thing though, his aim is mproving!

He's getting stronger and stronger, every month but this month he demonstrated just how strong he has gotten - he climbed out of his own cot (even though it's already set at its lowest)!

Intellectual

Since December, I've noticed the sudden explosion of the number of words that Zac can say the many more he can understand. He still uses grunts to ask for some things but tries a little bit harder to use baby babble. He even appears to listen intently when you speak to him and teach him how to say certain words plus he clearly tries to imitate it. Diction still isn't quite there but I'm totally amazed when he suddenly says the right thing in the right context!

These are some words he can say:

go-go (when he wants to be carried or leave)
doggie
Josie
'wowo' (in reference to all dogs and some small animals)
thank you (dang-gew or dang-chew)
'chee' (cheese)
'shush' (shose)
mummy (he actully goes mummy-nummy-nummy)
papa (referring to Opa)
'mammam' (referring to eat or drink)
daddy
'bobou' (referring to anything round or hangs from the ceiling or baubles)
bubble
'boo' (referring to book)
'neh neh' (referring to Nana)
'ah kou' (referring to Ah Kong)
'nein' (no)
'mao' (reference to cats)
'Zaae-ghee' (Zachary)

He understands simple instructions like to bring something to someone but of course, it depends if he wants to obey.

Behaviour

I could write a whole novel on the confounding ways of a kid this age but many others have already been written. He really is as rambunctious as they say in the books. As much as he's wildly entertaining, he's also incredibly infuriating at the same time. Complete with a stubborn streak, he knows what he wants and is very focussed on getting it. He's a sweet and smelly and delicious ball of energy who's hard to keep up with but I certainly do try!

Sing Your Way Home

Zac and I left Barcelona on the 3rd of Dec with my parents to head back to Singapore for Christmas break. Unfortunately, we had to leave Len behind since he wasn't quite done with school yet. The day before I left for home, I spent every waking moment cooking up a storm and freezing the food in serving-sized packages so my poor husband would at least have some home-cooked meals to look forward to. At last count, I think I had put aside about 30 meals to last him the 2 weeks he'll be on his own.

(DISCLAIMER: Len is completely capable of finding his own grub and I was in no way forced into cooking for him. It was totally my choice and my little way of saying "I Love You" everyday even though I'm far far away.)

The work of cooking all those meals must've taken its toll on me because on travelling day, I was wiped and kinda sore. I was very very grateful that my parents were flying with me - I needed all the help I could get. The shorter leg of the journey from Barcelona to Schipol, Amsterdam was good. Zac slept as soon as the plane took off and didn't wake until we were about to land. We changed his diaper at the airport before getting on the plane again. Everything was just spiffy until I gave him his medication which didn't sit well and both he and I ended up with apple sauce and porridge all over ourselves. GREAT.

Good thing I packed a change of clothes for the both of us so we (and the other passengers) didn't have to suffer through the whole flight smelling puke. We were very blessed to be seated with a nice British guy who was really helpful all through the flight. No one would want to volunteer to sit with a young child on a plane but he offered us the empty seats next to him so Zac and I could stretch out and my parents had more space!

My parents minded the little munchkin for almost the whole flight since I desperately needed to sleep. The journey must have been blessed by God since he slept for practically the whole flight with my parents and didn't kick up a fuss at all! By the time he woke up, we had another hour and a half before we landed at Changi Airport. YAY!!!!

Things I Learnt From This Trip:

1. You can bring food to be consumed during the flight on board the plane - even food packed into a thermos!
2. When packing a change of clothes for your child, pack one for yourself too but don't forget a set of undies. A soggy bra is just as bad as soiled clothing.
3. The airline blanket doubles as a great floor mat especially if your tyke likes playing on the ground and you don't want him picking weird scraps off the ground.
4. The airline staff can make special arrangements for you on the flight like block seats between you and other passengers for more space or even seat you elsewhere so you can be more comfortable. You just need to ask.
5. A straw is a godsend especially if your baby hasn't learnt how to drink effectively from a cup. (I have a Pigeon bottle I brought on the plane but the straw attachment went missing mid-flight!) Alternatively, pack an empty disposable sippy cup so you won't feel bad when it goes missing.

I'll Have A Vent-i Please

Right. So raising a child is a lot of work. But seriously, when that child you're raising gets to that tantrum-throwing, boundary-pushing, makes-you-want-to-scream-and-cry kind of age, there really isn't anything that can prepare you for it. Here I was thinking that the terrible twos rear s its ugly head around the time of your child's 2nd birthday. Wrong. Apparently these terribly strenuous occurances can start anytime after their 1st birthday!

Zac's started this phase this past 2 weeks with increasing bouts of screaming and kicking especially when his "toy of the moment" is removed from his pudgy little hands. He's particularly fond of throwing things (big, medium, small...) and as Len has observed, he's getting pretty accurate. It's unfortunate though that he chooses to throw objects that shouldn't be thrown and at things (or people) that should not be the bull's eye.

Some days I feel like I've HAD IT and want to curl up on my bed and go to sleep. This sort of feeling usually comes about when I've had a bad night (read: been kicked practically off the bed or head-butted all night) or I'm dealing with a child who thinks it's funny to push you to the edge by causing you physical pain. I'm thankful though that there are more moments during the day where Zac makes our hearts melt than moments when our confidence to parent crumbles.

We need prayers for more patience and more stamina to keep our heads on our shoulders during these tumultuous years. We have a LONG road ahead.

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

It's another one of those afternoons where you just want to take a nap. It's cold outside, not to mention wet and gloomy so there really is no better alternative than just to veg out and laze about in your jammies (Zac and I have been doing a lot of that this past week!). Alas, as a hardworking MBA student, weekends are most unfortunately sacred so Len has to hit to books just to keep abreast with school work. Gotta hand it to him though - trying to study with a pre-toddler in the house is easier said than done.

Zac's discovered these past 2 days or so that Daddy's actually a lot of fun. He's loud, boisterous, playful and great for a wrestle. Zac didn't always take to his dad but recently, he's become more attached and clingy to his "bub bub" much to Len's excitement. The little one was in tears when Len had to go out last night to meet some friends. It's a first but I think this is just the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

Why Bother Buying Toys?

Patti Notes 12

Even though he's got a pretty decent collection of toys, it seems that Zac's favourite playthings are everyday items that he picks up around the house. Kiddie-version items don't cut it. His attention is usually firmly focussed on other things - my things, len's things, and things we want to throw away!

Who needs a whole box of toys. Give me a saucepan and spoon anyday!

Mummy's PJ pant strings are good for tug of war.

A styrafoam tray and sponge ball make a good driveway game.

Dr. Spork

This month Zach turns 13 months old! Month to month the changes are monumental and it's really amazing to watch this child grow and develop right before our eyes. Since we've been in Barcelona, he's put on a good amount of weight and has grown quite a bit taller too!

On Food

I am pleased to report that I have officially hung up my nursing bra! I was concerned (heck, I worried like crazy) how I was going to wean Zach but by God's grace he's weaned himself off and is on a healthy diet of solids and cow's milk. Though the little guy is still not much of a milk drinker, I have been cooking his porridge with milk so he gets his daily dose of calcium. Each time he eats, I marvel at where he puts it all. At the moment, he has about 3 main meals with 2-3 snacks in between ranging from yogurt, cereal, cheese, wholewheat bread sticks to fruit.

Zach's favourite mode of eating is with his little hands. I've been trying to teach him to use a spoon and his spork (a cross between fork and spoon) but so far I have been unsuccessful.
*VIDEO TO FOLLOW ONCE THE SITE ALLOWS*

On Physical Development
It's been an exciting week. Zach's standing on his own more and more. Part of his bedtime routine is standing on the bed and flopping onto the mattress. He does this with great glee so it's difficult to stop him from continuing his acrobatic act. He's able to climb off the bed by himself and has managed to do all manner of furniture-scaling for quite a while now. So far, he's not made any attempts to walk but he's still cruising and crawling very fast. I think it's a matter of time before he takes his first steps. Lets hope I have my video camera handy when that happens!

On Speech
We're loving his baby babble. He's added an occasional "mummy" to his repertoire but I don't think he uses it with the intent to call me yet. It's amusing to listen to him talking to himself. His soliloquy is quite musical and sounds like a real language sometimes it makes me wonder!

On Play
Zach's favourite toys have always been, well, trash. He loves empty plastic bottles, boxes and doo-dads that we have every intention of tossing into the rubbish bin. I spent some time watching him play with some of these items and it's wonderful to see that intense look on his face like he was really trying to learn all he could about the object. He's pretty good at playing by himself but hasn't quite grasped the whole concept of playing with other people. On occasion, he brings over things he's picked up to show it to me but usually, he holds on to new discoveries tightly in his fists even when he falls asleep!

A Not-So-Brief De-Brief

Travelling with your baby for the first time is certainly enough to turn anyone into Jell-O. However, I've come to the conclusion that planning ahead and going with the flow while on vacation makes all the difference in the world! Here are the things that I did or planned to do, what worked and what didn't plus how I would have done it on hindsight. Seriously, if I can do this, I'm pretty sure ANYONE can have their vacation and enjoy it too!

Patti Notes 11

On the Airplane

What we packed:
1) Diapers (1 per hour of flight)
- I know, it's crazy to pack that many diapers. On hindsight, I didn't need that many but you can never be too careful. We're using Huggies Comfort now which I buy when it's on sale only. They really last a long time between changes!!
2) Wet wipes (2 travel packs)
3) Disposable bibs & 2 cloth bibs
- Zac doesn't really like having a bib on so the disposable bib ended up being a little useless. We rotated the cloth bibs and I did laundry every other day. We used the disposable bibs as and when we needed it.
4) Cloth nappies (3 for mop ups, as a light blanket, etc)
5) Small face towels (2)
6) Extra change of clothes for Zac (a top and a pair of PJ pants)
- Spills and spit-ups do occur no matter how careful you are. We used the change of clothes when we stopped at Schipol on the way to Barcelona. Unlike us, Zac was clean and fresh when he got to Spain.
7) Sweater/jacket (1)
- Zac was dressed in PJs with a short sleeve top and long pants. The sweater was on standby in case it got too cold or drafty in the airplane. Layering gave us options to keep Zac comfortable.
8) Snacks (rice rusks, Cheerios, etc)
- SO NECESSARY. They keep your baby occupied and also doubled as baby food when they had to do an emergency landing and we were stuck in Dubhai for 6 hours!
9) Baby bottle with cool boiled water
- The water that's "boiled" on the plane comes to you piping hot so having some as backup for a thirsty baby made all the difference. I used the water to mix food sometimes if the air crew are too busy to attend to you immediately.
10) Baby blankets (2 - 1 for warmth, 1 as a playmat)
11) Plastic bowl and spoon
12) Plastic bags or large resealable bags (3-4)
- For containing soiled clothes, towels, used baby stuff, etc
13) Hand sanitizer
- I got a few of the Dettol miniatures so that I could keep my hands clean even if I don't make it to the bathroom to wash my hands.
14) Changing pad
- All of the changing tables I've come across aren't padded. Having a cushion to put Zac on was great though not absolutely necessary.
15) Diaper cream
- I had some sample size ones that I got as part of those packaged sets. They're the perfect size for travel.
16) Moisturiser
- Airplane air can get really dry. Poor Zac's skin got a little dried out so the moisturiser was a good skin soother. Doubles as moisturiser for me!
17) Pacifier (2)
- Best to bring an extra or two especially if Jr needs them for sleep.
18) Quickie diaper pack (a mini-change kit that contains enough for 1 change, ie, 1 diaper, some diaper cream, wet wipes, small towel for wipe ups)
- We used Munchkin's Diaper Change Travel Kit which is available at most baby supply stores or department stores. A Ziploc bag would do just fine of course. This certainly made changing him on the plane or while we're on the go much easier. No need to lug the WHOLE diaper bag into tiny confined spaces.
19) A flat, regular-sized pillow from home
- It sure beats using those teeney cotton-ball bags they call pillows on the plane. Zac slept on this for most of the flight. I'll definitely do this again!


Things I Missed:
Baby food - After that 6 hour delay fiasco, I'll definitely pack baby food too. I'll pack the powdered cereal variety and bring on a small bottle or two of store bought food. I might consider bringing some infant formula to add to mashed snacks in the event of an emergency.

Happy 9th Month El Guapo!

The Spanish really love babies and kids. It's not unusual for random strangers who don't speak a lick of English to come over and ruffle Zac's hair. They make small talk with him in their own language and he gurgles and smiles in response. Several people have referred to him as "El Guapo" but I didn't come to find out the meaning until I came home and looked it up on Google. Well this month, we celebrate "The Handsome One's" 9th month.

To date, he has 4 teeth - 2 large ones on top and 2 bitty ones on the bottom. Even with 4 teeth, he chows down on biscuits, cereal, fruit chunks and more as though he was a shredder. We think there are more just waiting to burst through his little pink gums since he's been drooling a lot and has been attempting to bite everything he can get his hands on.

He's much much more mobile on all fours now so much so that he doesn't seem to like standing anymore. The latest development is his love for climbing stairs. He's successfully made it all the way up to the top with someone watching him of course!

I think it's so amazing to watch his personality come through. He's sweet and smiley more often than not but is pretty impatient when it comes to food and sleep. I love when he looks up at me and squeezes his eyes shut smiling with gusto.

He's not quite speaking at the moment but he is very vocal. He does know who "mummy", "daddy", "yi-yi", "Opa" and "Mama" are since he looks in the right direction when we ask who or where each person is. I guess that's a good enough gauge no?

We're now closer to his 1st year and looking forward to plenty of new adventures to come.

I'm A Survivor: Part Deux

Patti Notes 10

ATTENTION: If you'd rather not read about boobs and feeding in the same sentence, skip this entry altogether. Don't say I didn't warn you!

ON BREASTFEEDING

Like a lot of mums-to-be, I decided from the get-go that I would breastfeed my baby. Of course, at the time, I didn't completely understand what I was getting myself into and no one (at least no one I knew personally) really spoke in depth about it (since I was one of the first of my friends to get preggers). It seemed like it was pretty much a package deal - baby plus mommy, equals breastfeeding. It was only after Len and I went for antenatal class (we attended the one at Thomson Medical) that I realised that breastfeeding came with a whole host of issues!

Here are somethings I picked up:

1. Breastfeeding is a learned skill.Turns out, both mommy and baby aren't exactly "naturals". Sure, they're given the necessary tools (boobs, milk ducts, nipples, etc for mom; a mouth, a sucking reflex, etc, for baby) but the act is something that's picked up as you go along.
2. Positioning is everything particularly if you want to avoid getting sore nipples. When I say sore, I'm talking about a just-been-through-a-food-processor kind of pain. Some sensitivity is expected in the first couple of days but breastfeeding shouldn't hurt according to experts and almost everyone I've spoken to.
3. You will make enough milk to meet your baby's needs. Like any normal mom, I had moments of doubt that I would produce enough for Zach's hearty appetite. However, most of the reading material I've come across said that the more he suckles the more milk will be produced. I found it miraculous that as your baby grows, your milk changes to suit him!
4. Breastfeeding suspends your period for up to 18months postpartum! (It's called Amenorrhea) It's been 7 odd months since I've had to buy any sanitary napkins. Woohoo!
5. It helps you and your womb get back into shape. Lose all that pregnancy weight and shrink your womb back to its original size sooner without doing any exercise. Where do I sign up?

Check this out for more "did you knows".

STOCK: The milkman came about 5 days (I'm told that that's considered quick) after Zach was born since he suckled often and latched on with no trouble at the beginning. About 4 hours after Zach was born, he was brought to me for his first feed. The nurse placed him at my side and said "see you in a while"! Right. Not having the faculties at 3am to ask for assistance with my first attempt, I had to do it solo. By some miracle I managed to recall one of the breastfeeding classes Len and I attended that covered the side-lying position and how to get the baby to latch on.

NOTE: I've used this position a lot especially at night to save me from total sleep deprivation.

Engorgement was frequent, as expected, since my boobs hadn't quite figured out how much he'd eat and over-catering was the result. I didn't buy any breastpads since I hadn't thought about leakage. Thankfully, the breast pump I bought came with some samples. Now I stock up on Pigeon breastpads (really really comfortable but quite pricey) which are good if your nipples are sensitive and Tollyjoy breastpads (good coverage and affordable). I also bought 2 pairs Lilypads from Moms In Mind which you can wash and reuse so it's more environmentally friendly. They don't hold up very well under engorgement so I don't use them when I expect to be away from Zach for more than 2 feeds. Otherwise, they're an easy to use option.

I'm using a Medela Pump-In-Style Advanced breast pump which I have been using at least twice every day. The pump was extremely pricey but the cost per use is really low. As advised by the lactation consultant, I didn't start pumping until Zach was about a month plus. I wanted to concentrate on getting my milk supply up before having to figure out how to juggle pumping too! Another pump I was considering was the Avent handheld pump which is portable (you can go abut doing your stuff without being tied to a power source) and easy on your hands. I ended up buying the Medela PIS in the end since that's what the hospitals use and the salesgirl mentioned that is was the LEAST PAINFUL. Ah, those magic words.

The pump also came with some storage bag samples which was perfect for freezing or refrigeration. Medela bags are very expensive though so now I buy Lansinoh or Blue Egg bags sold locally on eBay Singapore.

In addition to pads and pumps, I had to get nursing bras the last 2-3 weeks before D-day. I bought them a letter and number size up. Experts recommend avoiding ones with an underwire since they may block milk flow but I like the added support they give. At night, I wear the cotton ones with no underwire I bought from Marks & Spencer which come in a box pair. Really comfortable but still has a nice shape. I found some really affordable and comfortable ones from La Senza which they stocked for a little while. I got 2 bandeau-style strapless bras from Jockey which worked well with my mostly strapless and skinny-strapped wardrobe.

They have special breastfeeding pillows that help you position your baby while feeding and takes the weight off your arms and shoulders. I found having lots of regular pillows works just as well though you have to do some adjusting to get the right support. Nowadays, I get away without having any supporting pillows since Zach's gotten bigger and he can support his own neck now. Maybe when the next baby comes along, I'll be adventurous and try making my own!

Something I didn't buy was a nursing top since I usually breastfed Zach at home or in a nursing room. Nursing out in the open didn't really appeal to me and more often than not I was able to get buy without attempting it. I usually make sure I wear a stretchy or loose top for easy boob-access. They're pretty easily purchased at places like Gap Maternity, Old Navy, GlamourMom, Mothers En Vogue, and Moms in Mind.

One of the things that no one mentioned was the sprinkler effect that occurs at let-down. You get not one but multiple jets of milk that shoot out which can be quite a mess. I found it pertinent to have a small towel on hand to catch any leaks. Tissues work too but aren't quite as absorbant. Once I'm done with the towel, I stick it into a Ziplock bag for easy storage.

SKIP: Reusable breastpads were utterly useless to me since they were too small and not very absorbent. Plus, they didn't stay where I put them!

SHOP:

1. A box of disposable breastpads
   
2. Breastpump (as backup)
   
3. Nursing bras (get a letter and number size up to allow space for engorgement)
4. Breastfeeding pillow
   
5. Nursing tops (optional)
6. Small face towels
7. Breastmilk storage bags or extra milk bottles for storing breastmilk
   

Happy 7th Month!

We've hit the 7 month mark and I'm happy to report that we're all still doing exceptionally well. Except for the sniffles that struck a second time, the bubba is healthy and seemingly happy. Wait, scratch that, he's ecstatic!

Social Studies

Seems this past month has seen a dramatic increase in Zach's responsiveness towards people, things and animals. Anytime seems to be a good time for him to laugh out loud, gurgle or let loose a yell. He's ever-ready to be picked up and loves having people around all the time. Of course, this applies to familiar faces as opposed to strangers or people we don't see very often. He whimpers and displays a little anxiety when we're in a new home and takes a little while to get comfortable enough to let someone else carry him. In the meantime, he's glued to my hip. Strangely enough, he doesn't seem to react that way when we're in public space. Go figure!

I've noticed that he's taken quite an interest in other babies recently. Perhaps it's because he figures they're life-sized dolls that oddly enough, move on their own! It makes me wonder what he'll be like if he had a sibling. (It'll be a while before we get to find out.) For now, I guess our dog Josie will have to suffice as a playmate and Zach doesn't seem to have any problem with that. He's taken quite a shine to her and she is surprisingly tolerant of his sometimes unwanted affection.


Zach's a pretty social kid usually so I think he might enjoy playing with other kids when he gets a little bigger. It sounds a little nuts and I think I'm a little nuts but I've already registered him for nursery at St. James Kindergarten. It's situated in a really lush landscape with wide open spaces for running around. The curriculum is pretty well rounded and the kids looked really happy to be there. I really wanted him to go for the pre-nursery group they have but apparently, even at this early stage, there's already a waiting list! Needless to say, Zach's now on said list which we may have to rethink since we may be overseas still.

Physics

On the developmental front, Zach's hitting all those baby milestones and getting to be quite the strong man. He's now able to push himself up to a sitting position though he doesn't stay that way very long. His walker is his favourite mode of transportation when our arms are too tired to carry him around. He's not quite able to pull himself to a standing position but he'll demand to stand supported every chance he gets. Our biceps are certainly getting a good workout!

He sits pretty steadily in a high chair. The incidence of head-bumping is thankfully low so feeding him at the dining table is a little easier.



His grip has always been strong but now he's able to hang on to anything with a death-grip that even the jaws of life couldn't pry loose! This is one of his favourite things to do:

Chemistry and Biology

I've been fuelling my bubba with lots of great new foods like avocado, broccoli, butternut squash, pears and plums. He's a good eater so it makes feeding times more pleasant for all of us. I've been reading Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron for tips and recipes to try. The book is great for nutritional information and unconventional foods to try out. It's a pretty hefty book but the chunks are broken into bite-sized pieces for easy digestion. (haha.) To supplement this book, I also got First Foods which was written by a 5 dieticians. They give some simple recipes and tips that have a local flavour so Zach gets the best of both worlds.

Recess

After the first harrowing months of no sleep, I think we've settled into a do-able schedule. Here's what Zach's night-time routine is like, give or take a half hour.

8.30PM -- A/c comes on while Zach winds down
8.45PM -- Last bottle of milk
9.00PM -- PJs and mini massage (we usually play his bedtime song and story CD)
9.10PM -- Zach's in his crib for sleep
9.30PM -- He's usually passed out if all goes well.

He wakes once or twice at night but I think it's got to do with the fact that he's teething. Usually, his pacifier or nursing him will help send him back to lala land.

Len and I realise that he's growing up quickly and we're trying as best as we can to savour every moment. He's not going to be this way forever but we're thankful that we get to witness this little person's growth.

I'm a Survivor: Part Un

Any parent who's survived the first couple of months of their kid's infancy deserves to don the mantle of a champion survivor! Every survivor doesn't quite make it past the first maddening weeks or months without some handy tools in their survival kit. Since it's still relatively fresh in my mind (and I was prompted by a certain lovely mommy-to-be), here are the things that Len and I found useful as first-time parents:

Patti Notes 8

ON GETTING DRESSED
STOCK: When Zach was born, he spent most of his time in onesies or tees and trousers (TNT) in the daytime. We covered his feet with socks quite religiously all the way until he was 5 months then kinda slacked off since the weather's been quite warm and we're rebels that way. At night, we used one-piece footed suits and occasionally long-sleeve onesies with PJ pants (plus socks if we didn't swaddle him).

SKIP: We gave up using mits cos they kept coming off anyway! Just be sure to get those baby nail clippers so you can keep nails short and faces somewhat scratch-free.

We planned on doing laundry pretty frequently so we didn't have to buy THAT many clothes for the first couple of months. Still, we realise that 3 onesies and 3 TNT suits weren't going to cut it since babies fire at will (ie, poo and pee with no aim or warning).

SHOP:

1. 6-8 Onesies and/or TNT Suits
   
2. 3-4 Sleep suits
3. 3-4 Pairs of socks
4. 1-2 Dress-up outfits (we only dressed up for Zach's Man Yue party)
5. 1 Hat
6. 3 Pairs of mittens
7. 1 Cotton cardigan

• Cheap - Go to the local market. We got great free size tees and trousers for newborns from the market and those little local shops that sell five-for-next-to-nothing. Since they were a little big the first month or so, we fastened the top bit with baby nappy pins. He outgrew these when he turned 4 months.

• Value - Mothercare. They sell these great unisex starter kits that I bought. The plain white ones were better quality and cut than the ones with cute designs especially since they didn't keep opening up at the neck and held out better after frequent washing.

• Splurge - Shop online. I love Gap for their super soft and really lovely baby togs. They're pretty steep if you buy it from the local store but a number of people have been buying them on sale at gap.com and shipping them Straits side using VPost or other mail services. Some places (Factory Outlet store, Holland Village, etc) sell factory excess stock and have quite a range of stuff from US brands.
  

NOTE: My gynae predicted my boy was going to be a biggie-small so I bought the 0-3 month sizing instead of the newborn (NB) size which is cut a little smaller at Mothercare. Zach's just about 7 months old now and is already wearing the 12-18 Month size which is roomier and more comfortable for him.


ON SLEEP
STOCK: We were very grateful to the Lewis family for loaning us their son, Nick's old crib. At first, we put it near our bed but we realised that babies sleep rather noisily. Every "eh" and "ah" got us out at the bed and to the crib to check on the munchkin. Since getting sleep the first 2 months was the name of the game, my parents bought us a Moses basket which we put on our bed so we wouldn't have to climb out of bed to check on him. A little cramped but that's what you do when you are desperate to get shut eye!

We swaddled Zach at night until he was about 2 months old when he decided that he preferred to be free. We bought old-school nappy cloths which worked perfectly because they were nice and big. The nappy cloths double as bath towels, liners for any surface and for mopping up baby messes. The Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe made swaddling MUCH MUCH easier especially at night when you're too knackered to fumble with a blanket.

A nightlight was another must-buy especially since we needed to be able to check on Zach at night without turning on the main light. I saw this grobag® Egg™ Room Thermometer at Mothers Work that works as a room thermometer too but decided on a basic one with a switch. On hindsight, I would have bought a The First Years Close & Secure Sleeper which comes with a nightlight too or a co-sleeper!

SKIP: We bought this mattress wedge (something like this) so Zach didn't have to sleep on a completely horizontal surface. A few weeks after we put it in, we took it out again since he started sleeping in the Moses basket propped up with a little baby pillow.

SHOP:

1. Crib/ Co-sleeper/ Bassinet
   
2. Baby mattress
3. 4 Fitted sheets
4. Nappy cloths (start with a pack of 10)
5. 1 Baby pillow
6. 2 Baby bolsters
7. 2-3 Swaddling blankets or SwaddleMe
   

ON DIAPERS AND CHANGING
STOCK: Mount Alvernia sent us home with a bag of diapers (Pampers Newborn) and a pack of Johnson & Johnson wet wipes both of which were super luxurious but also super expensive! Newborns poo and pee after/during every feed so that meant we had to change him about 8 times a day give or take 2 diapers (for "mis-fires"). We switched to PetPet which was much cheaper (about 18 cents a pc to Pamper's 50-odd cents a piece) and were thankful our baby had buns of steel. We know of some kids who can only rest their tushies on the good stuff so you only know when you try. We didn't even bother trying cloth diapers but as I understand it, they have some really great options in the market for those feeling brave to try.

One thing we learnt from the many many many diapers we changed was that we should heed all advice to avoid bending over too much to bathe or change the baby. My parents got us a bath and diaper station in one which they bought from Mothers Work. It's just the right height so we didn't have to keep bathing him on the floor like the first time we tried.

We figured out early (thanks to one of the antenatal classes we attended) that we should apply barrier cream to baby's bum even though he has no rash. As the name states, it's meant to act as a barrier between the kid's delicate bum skin and toxic pee and poo. Me and my mum agree that Mustela products, though a tad steep are really worth every penny because they're high quality and a little bit goes a long way.

Another thing we learned from our antenatal class was that instead of using wetwipes to clean up all the time, cool boiled water and cotton pads work just as well. It's economical and better for your baby's skin. We used cotton pads and water to clean Zach's face too! PLUS, if you're like Len and use 10 sheets per change, it would be advisable to start practising with the water and cotton pads.

NOTE: Another way to save $ on wipes is to use soft facial tissue first and then finish off with a wet wipe.

SKIP: We love gadgets and gizmos so we did consider getting a diaper genie. However, ee throw out the garbage often so we didn't need a diaper genie or any special diaper bin to throw away soiled nappies.

SHOP:

1. Disposable/ Cloth diapers (estimate at about 8-10 per day)
2. Diaper cream
3. Baby moisturiser
4. Hair and body wash (a 2-in-1 is the easiest!)
5. Wet wipes
6. Juyi oil (for tummy)
   
7. Cotton pads
8. 3 Baby bath towels
9. 6-8 Baby face towels
   

No Sleep Tonight!

Zach's just past his 6 month and he's spent the last few nights snuggled in our bed. I wonder sometimes if we should be "sleep training" him so that he'll fall asleep on his own and learn to stay that way all night. Still, I can't stand the thought of letting him cry it out. (You should see the look he gives me mid-wail! It could twist your heart in 2000 different ways!) I came across this on askdrsears.com which made me feel a little more confident that I wasn't doing irreparable damage that'll see my son in therapy for a long time!

The only down-side to co-sleeping is the fact that we might need to get a bigger bed or I might have to start sleeping in the crib!

Little No More

I was looking at some photos of Zach that we took the first few weeks we had him home. I chanced upon a shot taken when we was a little over a week old. He was hardly an armful and so soft, it was like holding one of those water-filled slinkies!

Fast-forward to today (photo courtesy of my friend Nick) and he's already sitting sturdily on my lap, doing pseudo push-ups on the bed, and gobbling down his porridge and veg like he was born to eat! He's a fidgety little fellow who can't keep still which explains why this month's weight gain (he weighs in at 8.2KG) was not as mind-boggling as the past couple of months. The paediatrician's ok-ed us feeding him porridge with stock and finely ground bits of meat. I'm curious to see if he'll put on more rapidly now that he's taken to eating thicker mixtures from a spoon.

Patti Notes 7

• For a few days, spoonfuls of food have been turned away at Zachary's tightly closed mouth. I was getting concerned that he wasn't enjoying his food much and decided to follow the feeding suggestions that I found on most websites. I fed him a little bit of milk (from bottle or breast) first and then proceeded to introduce the food I'd prepared. It seemed to help a lot because he eagerly opened his mouth to accept whatever was on the spoon (even steamed spinach)! His appetite seems to have increased a little more so now I'm planning to feed him solids twice a day instead or just in the evening.

Bite Me!

This is Zachary Kai Pattiselanno...



And he is a nipple muncher.

Patti Notes 6

Much to my chagrin, my son's been putting his 2 new friends (bottom 2 teeth are out and proud) to good use... on ME. I've been bit on several occasions and find myself dreading the next feeding since I don't know when he's going to chomp down on my boob next! I've had to hold back from yelling too loudly for fear of shocking him into weaning too soon but I'm pretty certain I'm this close to flinging him off me in reflex.

I've tried tapping him on the cheek with 3 fingers and saying "no" but that has failed miserably. In fact, I think it makes him bite down even harder! While complaining to Lenard on the phone the other day, I had Kenneth check online for a solution and he found this on one of my go-to websites for parenting and baby info.

So far, I've tried a version of the "push baby into the boob" solution. I squeeze his lil schnoz so he'll release the nipple as a knee-jerk reaction to get air. The nose-pinching, I figure seems to be irritating enough because I've fed him a couple of times today and no biting so far! Has Zachy learned his lesson well or will mummy moo have to go through No Biting 101 once again? Stay tuned to find out.