Bath time

When the going gets tough, the tough gets... quacking?

Kai loves to take a bubble bath, and it is SO hard to get him out of the tub. Sometimes when he kicks up a fuss, I'd have to put an alarm on for 3 minutes and tell him that he needs to get out when the alarm rings. It works, MOST of the time.

When he takes a bath, one of us usually sit with him as he plays in the tub. Terence reads the newspaper, I grab a book or in this case, my camera.

David Rocco's Pasta Al Forno, modified

I added some mince pork, replaced sundried tomatoes with cherry tomatoes, and used chili padi instead. Not too bad. (Recipe)

Kit turns one month

Since receiving the Chow's wonderful cup cake for Kate's one month bash, I told myself I'll never be a Bengawan-Solo-cake-voucher-giver anymore.

I'm not turning up my nose at Bengawan Solo. There's absolutely nothing wrong with giving a Bengawan Solo cake to relatives and friends to mark a child's one month. I love their cakes. But I want something special for the occasion. So for Kit's one month, I picked a delightful six-piece mini cake-pack that's made up of pure chocolate goodness from Gobi.

Their packaging is beautiful and thoughtful (each pack comes with a different colored fork tucked neatly at the side), and I could customize the message and the cakes--which were YUM!

"Delish"!

Roasted cod with cherry tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella--a recipe by Jamie Oliver

The cod took only 10 minutes to prepare, and you "whack it in the oven" for another 20 minutes. It was "delish"!

Obsession with breastfeeding

Men must wonder about women's obsession with breastfeeding. We evaluate and read reviews on breast pumps with the same fervor that men read reviews on cars. We lament about milk blisters, complain about sore nipples, and scream with agony when our babies suckle on a cracked nipple.

Why go through all the pain?

How about just so you guys don't have to wake up at night for night feeds.

I digress.

I don't know about other women's desire to breastfeeding. I'm not talking about the benefits of breastfeeding, but really the desire to succeed in a task that can--for many--be very difficult and where the formula to success differs from individuals to individuals. For me, it was because my own experience at breastfeeding was a complete mess with Kai. He had a fiery temper and he was an impatient baby. He also had problems latching, plus his crying, screaming, and fussing was stressing me out. Furthermore, the lactation consultants that I met at the hospital were not helpful at all. They all had a go at tugging my nipples, as if that would make them grow longer overnight and make it easier for Kai to latch on.

I called Terence almost every hour, tearfully telling him about yet another unsuccessful attempt. While he supported my decision to breastfeed Kai, he also told me it's not the be all and end all. We (our generation) were mostly formula-fed babies, and each and everyone of us turned out to be very intelligent (HA!).

After two months of trying to breastfeed and supplementing with formula, we decided to stop breastfeeding and use formula milk for Kai. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I felt it was a good decision then, but I always had misgivings about not being able to breastfeed him longer.

Kit is a very easy baby to look after. He latched on with no problems and this time, I have plenty of girlfriends who were successful with breastfeeding and whom I could turn to for help.

There are times when I think this (or my) obsession with breastfeeding is silly. Because after all, as mothers, we have plenty of love to give to our babies and children; breastfeeding is just one of the ways we show our love. It doesn't mean we are less of a mother if we can't.

Toilet training success

This post comes a little late. But I was a little worried that the arrival of a little brother would affect Kai's progress in toilet training.

However, my 3yo did well. After about a month plus of training--and just before Kit was born--Kai was able to tell us when he wants to pee. Telling us when he wants to poo came a little later.

One should not attempt fashion shots when...

baby is hungry! (Top: Cotton on Baby; Socks: Trumpette)

After an outing to Takashimaya and a visit to its baby room, I SWORE I will dress my baby son better. Jeez. Babies these days are so well decked out.

Train tracks

When Kai was much younger, I would draw train tracks on the back of restaurant menus sometimes when we travel or when we eat out, so Kai can place his trains on them. This is much easier than carrying actual (Thomas) train tracks everywhere and I can draw whatever scenery he wishes.

So now, he draws train tracks on his own^. It's a small feat to adults. But we are bursting with pride as he's able to draw straight lines!

Kai & Kit (& Daddy)

Funny how we can be so 'creative' with our poses for family shots.

Life as a mother of two

Kai's favorite characters in "Thomas and Friends" are the naughty trucks. But his grandparents have already spent a 'fortune' on his expansive engine collection.

I knew it'd be difficult, but I didn't realize it'd be this tough. It's not the stress of having to manage the schedule and demands of two kids--a three-year old and a new born--that gets to me. This is something that will fall into place eventually. It's just that I miss spending time with Kai.

There are times when I feel like giving up breastfeeding completely so I can have the option of passing the bottle to Terence or the helper just so I can have some more time with Kai. But I know I wouldn't feel good about that decision. *Sigh*

A friend reminded me that this period of adjustment is just temporary. All right then, I'd have to focus on that and the many other positive things that are happening in my life! :-)

Who's who?

Kit looks so much like Kai when Kai was born. Can you tell who's who?

Smoke from the fire at Kampong Siglap Mosque

I saw plumes of smoke followed by the siren of the fire engine shortly. The only exciting event on an otherwise uneventful day (on 7 Oct) of breastfeeding and diaper changing.

And now we are a party of four!

Kit arrived on 22 September 2009 at 7.10pm.

Just that same morning, we met with the gynae and it was agreed that we would get him out on 24 September--one day before his EDD. I was experiencing the usual Braxton Hicks, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

I wanted to check out the Iluma mall in Bugis so off we went after the gynae appointment. Right after I bought tickets for the movie, the "Inglorious Basterds", and settled down in the cinema, the contractions started becoming more painful. We debated whether to leave the theatre many times through out the show, but I really wanted to know the ending!

We finished the movie and rushed to the hospital. Luckily we made it in time because very soon after, Kit arrived. Any later and I wouldn't be able to get my epidural; he arrived after a one-two hour labor. I was dilated 2cm one minute and before we knew it, it was 8cm.

I guess I got my wish for a birth experience that was unplanned. Kai was induced so I knew exactly what was going to happen. This time, there was uncertainty, excitement, pain, tears, and of course the joy that came with the first cry.

And now, it's the beginning of Kit's journey on earth.