New, new, new...

When the idea of engaging a maid seems feasible, we put many purchases on hold for fear of overstretching ourselves financially. Now that the idea is shelved, the temptation of spending $$ comes hopping back.

We need a new carrier. Although I still sling Lil Shauna, she is starting to grow out of it. Moreover, bcos I am so dark, when I am ungroom & sling her, I totally can pass off as a maid. -.o" We are considering getting a good and expensive one, either a beco or ergo. After discussing, it is probably the latter. Yeah, new things, new things!

For the longest time, I had been eyeing the rainforest jumperoo for Lil Shauna. I think it looks super fun. I bet I would be happily jumping in it if I were a baby. Hehe. We actually let Lil Shauna tried it on Kiddy Palace and she seems to enjoy it. The only thing that hold us back is the price. It is a whooping $239! We almost got a 2nd hand one but eventually dismissed it. It is far too expensive and Lil Shauna will prob grow sick and out of it soon.

To make up for it, we almost bought a walker. However, we read about how walkers are supposed to delay walking, encouraged tiptoeing and we changed our mind again. Hey, not that we are fickle-minded parents ok. We are just exploring the best and cost effective option. ;p Eventually, we decide to rent a bouncer at $35/month. The bouncer looks something like below. Though not as pretty as the rainforest jumperoo, but I guess it serves the same purpose. Of yes, there's toy rental services in Singapore just in case you are not aware. We were initially worried about germs and bacteria too but understand that the service provider sterilises all their toy. It is our first time renting. Will blog about it later. :) There are so many other new toys available. It makes expensive & branded toys affordable and we do not have to worry about storage space when Lil Shauna grows sick of the toy. Oh, do let me know if you want to rent toy hor. Let me intro you & get some discount off my next rental. ;p

My sis & my mum spoke about the maid issue. My mum is still insistent on her point, so the option of engaging a maid is still out. They tot of an idea -- they suggested for my mum to spend 1 weekday night at my place per week to help out. Truth be told, there is nothing much she can do on 1 night. Lil Shauna normally sleeps by 9pm, even if there's laundry, we can get it done by 10pm. Moreover, it doesnt make sense for her to come and help with the housework since that can be left to the part-time cleaner. Well, we can try to coincide her stay with laundry days but it is sometimes difficult to coordinate. When the baby cries at night, it is not possible for her to take care of the baby too since she is sleeping with us. Anyway, my sis mentioned tat such an arrangement will allow my mum to take a breather from the 2 nieces. If there's really nothing much to do, she can take a break to watch TV or read newspaper. Hmmm.. on that account, I might agree to it, but then was warned that I shouldnt say that to my mum. Knowing her, she will definitely wun want to come if the arrangement is to give her a break. I m not sure if the arrangement will work out. After discussing with Daddy Lim, we tot maybe we could try it out.

On a separate note, Baby Cailyn is one year old! Big girl already. Can walk and run and eat by herself.. haha, or at least I hope that Lil Shauna can do all those by the time she's one. Fat hope!

As you can see, Lil Shauna wasnt too happy. That is probably bcos she wasnt the queen of the day, haha. MummyP got little cups cakes that were really very pretty. However, there were a little too buttery for my taste. Daddy Lim was so glad that I didnt really like the butter. -.o" Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Flipping & Feeding

Ever since Lil Shauna has learnt to flip, she flips everywhere, so long as her butt touches flat surface. However, her arm still gets caught under and she cant flip back. Thus, after struggling for awhile, she will call for help to rescue the pinned-under arm. After another couple of minutes, she will fuss to be flipped back. Right after we flipped her back, she will start flipping again. This cycle can go on & on, until she's tired and decides that she wants to be carried, stand or sit. -.o"

We sometimes get irritated, but generally dun mind her flipping if that can keep her entertained for awhile. We have since shifted her to the mattress on the floor. In recent nights, we found that she tries to flip while sleeping! Of course she's unable to flip back while asleep and she ended up crying. Last night alone, that happened twice & super Mummy had to go to her rescue. Daddy Lim was simply too concuss to hear anything or pretend not to. She tried a third time and had a leg stuck under the bed. That was when I finally decided to dreamfeed her to allow her to sleep better, which she sometime does and put her on the bed with us. I hope she learns to flip back soon, then I dun have to worry about her getting suffocated. -.o"

Lil Shauna has started solids and we have let her tried puree, cereal & porridge. She totally enjoys cereal. She will open her mouth when we put the spoon near. :)

However, she doesnt find favour with all puree. Look at her funny face while we feed her banana puree. But we do agree that the banana puree tastes funny... sourish. Who can blame that funny look?

But of course we have to try all food, bcos we are the commandos. Hohoho.

Oh, Lil Shauna has started to reject milk. Not only has her milk intake reduces, it is sometimes super difficult to feed her. She will bite at the teat but refuses to drink. Perhaps bcos she has realised that there are many other delicious food out there. Suddenly, I seem to be able to put her exclusively on BM again. Oh, I have supplied her with EBM for 6 months and I think it is a great achievement. Just when there seems to be enuff BM for her, I have decided that I will start to slowly stop breastfeeding. I am trying to drag my express. I heard that it will hurt. Sobs.

Mummy Lim

Maid... Almost...

I never like the idea of having a maid. Maybe bcos I grew up without one, the thought of having a stranger living in my home makes me feel funny. Thus, even when Lil Shauna comes along, the option of engaging a maid is far away from my mind.

Nearing the end of my ML, I actually suggested to my bro to engage a maid cos it sometimes seem impossible for my mum & SIL (who are Stay-At-Home-Mums) to take care of 3 kids (2 nieces + Lil Shauna) and the household chores. It is simply chaotic when any of the kids decides to be difficult and that can happen so frequently.

So, a maid did come along. My mum insisted that she's just as busy as ever and many a times claim that the maid seems better off than she is. From my point of view, I think this has largely to do with the fact that mum refuses to let go. She still insists on cooking, things must be done in certain ways (her ways) and thus she rather do things herself sometimes than ask the maid to. Then she complains that the maid lacks initiative. Anyway, wat I see is that my bro & SIL are much better off. Now, evenings and gg out are a breeze to them. In the evenings, they can now indulge in mahjong, computer games, watching tv, gg for movie, dinner with friends etc, while the maid helps to look after the kids. When they are out, there is no more "gobbling-down-of-the-food" to carry the kids bcos the maid will help with the kids while they enjoy their dinner 1st. I started wondering if this is wat we need.

Now that Lil Shauna is less difficult and wakes up less frequently, I try to bring her home every night. I just thought that babies grow up really quickly and wanted so much to share her babyhood before it is gone. On the other hand, Daddy Lim is not confident of taking care of Lil Shauna on his own yet. Thus we can only pick her up when I knock off from work, even at times when I have to work late. To knock off earlier, I sometimes have to rush like mad during work hours. After work is again a mad rush to stuff down dinner, fetch Lil Shauna, bath her, feed her, play with her & tuck her to bed. Weekends are worse. Lil Shauna has grown and demands much of our attention. Most of the times, she is not longer just satisfy with lying around but demands play which requires alot of our energy. Bringing her out is not easy either, especially during meal times. I suddenly realise that I envy my bro & SIL...

We have made so many sacrifices. The last movie that we went to was Indiana Jones and that was at least 5 months ago. Going out with friends for dinners after work is almost non-existence. Weekends are spent taking care of the baby. Simply no "we" or "me" time in the evenings unless the baby is asleep, which also mean that we should be sleeping to build up energy for possible middle of the night crying, feeding, playing, etc. Suddenly, the tot to engage an extra pair of hands seems inviting.

Financially, we would be stretched, but probably manageable. However, that would mean that allowances to parents have to be reduced. We did run the idea through my mum, who objected stubbornly. She insisted that one maid is enuff and she doesnt want to help us supervise another maid. She even threatens to go back to work. Without her supervision,there is no way we can get a maid. She kept insisting that there is not enuff work to occupy 2 maids during the day time but doesnt want to see that it is not the day time but evenings, nights and weekends that are killing Daddy Lim & me. She just wants us to hang on the existing arrangement. She suggested for us to leave Lil Shauna with her overnights if need be, but that is not what we wanted. Having an extra help with Lil Shauna, yet allowing us to bring her home seems ideal. Anyway, the idea is out.. for now. We will shelf the idea, but told my mum that if we really cannot hang on any longer, a maid has to come in. She didnt agree or disagree, which is her usual style. I can only hope that Lil Shauna gets easier. Since the cruise till Sunday, we have been taking care of Lil Shauna on our own. Daddy Lim had been the most helpful. Without him, I probably would have been tortured to death by Lil Shauna. Every now & then when Lil Shauna was difficult or when we are very tired, the idea of getting a maid is just so tempting. Haiz...

Mummy Lim

Back from Cruise...

We are back! Daddy Lim & I survived our first trip with Lil Shauna. It was a pretty nice trip less a few unpleasant incidents.

We went with 2 big bags. However, I realised that I brought too much clothes, bibs, hankies, diapers for Lil Shauna. Can do with less and save some weight. But I think I will bring just as much when we go for our next trip, cos the threat of "wat-ifs" bugs me big time. I bet most mummies are as kia-su as me.

We only embarked the cruise at 9+pm and proceeded for dinner. Lil Shauna was too excited with the mobs of people that she saw everywhere and refused to sleep. She only went to dreamland at 11pm, way past her bedtime. We were worried that her little nose will act up in the air con room but apparently not. She slept rather peacefully for both nights. Maybe it was bcos the air con was at set at room temperature. Daddy Lim joked that should her little nose acts up, we shall camp at the main deck. -.o"
Lil Shauna had her 1st swim at the public pool. To prepare for her swim, we even bought her a new swimsuit. Sexy one somemore, hehe.

I know she looks like "gao deng kuey", but she looks so cute.. She was happy when we put on her swimsuit. Moreover, this is the only time that she dun mind looking fat in horizontal stripes and I am so going to abuse my authority as a Mummy. Haha.

Apparently, she doesnt like swimming. She still prefers to kick water in her bathtub while bathing. Not too sure if it is bcos the water is too cold or there are too many kids. Anyway, the "unkeen-ness" is written all over her face.

After her swim, we dressed her in a new "Old Navy" top that I bought for her online. Branded ok.. She looks totally like a boy in that hooded romper. But bcos she is so cute in it, I actually dun mind.

I tot she looks like "Jay Chow", hehe. Bcos we were too bored, we ended up making her look silly and snapped photos.

Daddy Lim & I managed to get an hour of "we" time. We went for ice-cream and fun at the arcade. Yummy, finger licking good. :)

Before long, it was time to go home. We managed to get some family pix, but Lil Shauna wasnt too cooperative.

More trips? Hmm.. I duno..

Mummy Lim

Pack for Cruise

Woo hoo! We are gg to the cruise and we are bringing Lil Shauna along! This is our 1st ever family trip if we do not take the Koh Samui one where she was made and the cruise when she was in my tummy into consideration. I doubt Lil Shauna will remember a thing about the trip but who cares. I am dying to travel and the cruise is our safest bet. We didnt want to take a plane fearing that we will have a wailing baby thru'out the flight. Confine space leh.. we are considerate people and try our every best not to deafen the others. Even if we survive the flight, I doubt Lil Shauna will enjoy or allow us to enjoy shopping or sightseeing. Thus, we are gg to the cruise!

We will be travelling with my mum, my brother's family & my sis. It has been a long while since we last travelled together. The last was oso to Star Virgo & that was my Dad's last trip. With the maid & my mum, we do hope to sneak a few "we" moments. We are bringing Lil Shauna swimming too. Swimming in a public pool, no more float around the neck! Lil Shauna is a big girl already. Hehe.

We were listing down the "to-bring" list. We have nothing much to bring, for it is afterall a short 2 nights 2 day trip. However, while doing Lil Shauna's list, the items seem never-ending. I always look with surprise when I see my SIL lugs big bags for trips. Now then I noe how much stuff we have to bring when there's a kiddo in tow. There are so many rompers, hankies, bibs to bring. There there are the diapers (the killer), the milk bottle, the water bottle, the milk powder, the bowl, the spoon, the cereal, the oil, the nappy rash cream... I was busy gathering the items and throwing them into the luggage bag just now. Even before I am done with Lil Shauna's items, the bag is already filled to the brim and the diapers are not even in yet... -.o" Make a guess, how many bags do we need? No prize though, hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Weaning

Lil Shauna has grown! Now that she has discovered the wonderfulness of flipping, she is flipping non-stop. Whenever she hits any plain surface, she flips. However, she probably needs much more practice to prevent getting stuck. She better starts learning to flip back too. We are having a busy time flipping her back after she has flipped and gets stuck.

She has started to show interest in food. We have initially wanted to keep her on milk until she's at least 6 months. However, we understand that it is painfully boring to be drinking the white stuff day in, day out. Although we havent started formal on solids, we had let her taste various food. To date, she has sucked on pears, apple, strawberry, papaya and has licked porridge, yogurt and ice cream - Ben & Jerry's somemore! Of course, there are off-the-shelf pear juice, blackcurrant juice, apple juice, etc.
She was drinking blackcurrant & apple juice at nai nai's place just now. She is learning how to drink from the spoon to prepare her for solids. Lil Shauna disagrees when Mummy thought that she has enuff (for the day). Daddy Lim has to carry her and walked about the house to pacify her when I took the remaining juice away. She was whining away and Daddy Lim took pity on her. So, he suggested feeding her banana. As a result, Lil Shauna has started on solids today, on banana! To make sure that she is not allergic to banana (who will?), she will be having banana for the next 3 days. :) Then it will be off to more interesting things like cereal, papaya, broccoli, porridge, etc. Yummy.. In the meantime, she will entertaining herself with her... toes.

Mummy Lim

Flippy, flippy, flip

Lil Shauna's post:


I finally flipped for Popo, Ah Kim & Auntie Rezal yday. No choice, they put me on the mat and placed my favourite toy so far away. I was unable to reach it with either my hand or my leg. The only way is to turn around to gain distant. I intended to flip quietly, but Auntie Rezal spotted it. They tricked me into doing it again later in the morning. Bad adults.. They were all so excited, especially my Pappy & Mummy. I heard that Mummy was jumping around with joy when she heard the news. Popo is very worried that I will flip out of the bed in the future. Strange adults.. flip also cannot, dun flip also cannot.


When we reach home, I was tired and hungry. I dun want to flip! I only want my milk, milk and to join Zzz monster in the dreamland. Mummy tried to entice me with a new toy that she bought online. The new toy was cool. It has music and a monkey sitting on top of a ball. However, I have pride. I am not gg to be bribed. So, regardless of how Mummy wave the new toy plus many other old toys in from of me, I refused to give in and flip for her. Make her gan cheong abit. Who ask her to delay my milk, milk and bedtime. Well, I shall flip for her when I am in a good mood. Hehe.


Actually, what is the great deal about flipping? It is not that I cant flip but dun want to. Now, I simply lie on my back and have Pappy and Mummy running around for me. Once I can flip, they will expect me to start crawling, walking and flying soon. No?? Humans cant fly?? Hmm... anyway, I think I rather lie around.

Lil Shauna


Mummy Lim:
My SIL sent me the smses yday morning:
"Hi, just to update u. Lil Shauna did her 1st flip just now."
"Yup, Razel said that she flipped herself but we didnt believe until we witness it. A very good news!"

Yippie, woo hoo!

Edited on 6 Nov 08: Lil Shauna finally flipped for Daddy Lim & me. She was struggling & struggling & I asked Daddy Lim to give her a few pokes to help and she flipped. Then she did another 2 smooth flips, seemingly to tell us that she doesnt need help in her flipping. Yippee, our little girl is flipping!

Lil Shauna Looks Like Boy

I am on maternity leave this morning. So I only brought Lil Shauna to Popo's place after she woke up and had her milk. While waiting for the lift, the 2 neighbours were out with their grandsons. One of them is 9 months and the other is probably 1+ year.

To build good rapport, I brought Lil Shauna over to say "hi" and the following conversation took place.

Neighbour (N) 1: Wah, the baby so big already ah.. so cute..
Me: Hehe.
N1: The baby look like the father hor (indicating that she looks like boy -.o")
Me: Ya lor, ya lor, look like boy hor.
N1: Ya lor, that's why look like father mah.
Me: ...
N2: (1st time seeing Lil Shauna) This one is baby boy huh?
Me: No lah, girl lah.
N2: (look of disbelieve) Look like boy leh.
Me: (talking to Lil Shauna) Baby, look like boy hor. Quickly grow some hair lah.. Okie, we go Popo's place liao, say "bye bye"...

Haiz, should have dressed her in bright pink from head to toe..

Mummy Lim

Finally, it is over...

Sorrie for the lack of post. I had been so busy with a mega Company event. It is finally over! Phew! I spent my entire weekend in Sentosa. Poor Lil Shauna has got no Pappy & Mummy to play with. Sob!

Anyway, Daddy Lim and friends finally have the opportunity to perform on stage after practicing like forever. :) They have decided to call themselves "Equivox" eventually instead of "Life without Eggs". I thought the latter sounds more cool. Apparently Daddy Lim doesnt think so. Hmm...

Daddy Lim looked so cool on the stage, but not sure why is he bare footed. Maybe it is a band thing? Hmm..

The other members... The other guitarists, the bassist and the drummer. Actually, I quite like the drummer. He always look so lost in his own world when he drums. ;p

I think they played well. Actually, I cant tell even if they played wrongly. I think they played well bcos the songs that they sing just sound like what I heard from radio and Daddy Lim's ipod lor. ;p

On a separate note altogether. This is Lil Shauna in her nice sunhat. Maybe she look more like a girl with the hat covering her botak head? Hehe.

This is her playing with her little bunny. Duno why is it so funny to see the bunny dropped. I bet it is a baby thing.

Mummy Lim

Home Visitation

Lil Shauna went for many home visitation over the weekend. She was at Nai nai's place on both Sat & Mon. She went to meet the ah yees at Auntie S's place on Sun. I love to bring Lil Shauna to meet the girls cos she's currently the "latest addition" and the girls go gaga over her. Moreover, Bb C was not present that day. If she's willing, the girls are more than happy to carry her. This makes me very happy too cos I was left happily munching on the food and gulping the soft drinks. Lol!

Mummy J has asked for a pix of Auntie S with her protruding belly. Auntie S has gamely posed for a pix but suddenly realised that I am going to blog about it and requested that I do not post her pix here. Anyway, she's happily preggy, looking forward to her 4-mths maternity leave and contemplating to become a full-time homemarker. She's also aiming for no. #2, #3, #4, maybe even #5 & #6 to form a volleyball team. ;p

On Mon, we visited Gugu too. The last time Lil Shauna went to Gugu's house was on National Day. Then, she was merely 3 months old and was only capable of lying on the bed. On Mon, she was happily playing and standing. She was playing this "oh oh" game with Gugu.

Dun ask me what is so special about "oh oh" or wat does it means cos I have totally no idea. Lil Shauna just finds it funny.

She was still laughing over "oh oh" in the night. But "oh oh" has lost its magic the next morning. No wonder they say babies have short memory.

Gugu was telling us that Lil Shauna looks so much like Daddy Lim when he was a baby and she dug up some old pix. A comparison.

Hmm.. Lil Shauna does look like Lil Daddy Lim. No wonder she looks like a boy, Daddy's fault. Just that day, an auntie asked if Lil Shauna is a didi or meimei. Before I could answer, she confidently guessed that she is a didi. When I corrected her, she gave me a look of disbelief. Halow, my kid lor, I noe if she's girl or boy lor. Faint.

Mummy Lim