I have a habit of liking to move little Rachel onto bed with hubby and myself, on mornings which we can sleep in after her morning feeding, putting her in between us, and I'll always have my arms around her, patting whenever she makes noise and sometimes a brief cuddle (no no, don't worry, I did not, and will not sandwich her).

Sunday morning, I know she fussed, and I know I woke up, and patted her in her own bed, before going to bed again. I dozed off with my arms on hubby's chest. The next thing I woke up to was, Rachel fussing again, and hubby asking me in sudden surprise "WHY? WHY?"! Then I realised, I have been patting hubby on his tummy, with Rachel fussing in her own bed! *DUH*

I am SO SO silly, I can't stop laughing at myself! JEEZ!!! How could I? *knock own head on the wall* Now now, it's about time you stop laughing, or the people around you are gonna think you are crazy! ;P

Labels: Journal

Since young, whenever I played with little babies, the most commonly used baby word would be "A-Goo-Goo" (or a range of similar sounded mumble). It has always puzzled me, as to why everyone uses it, everyone knows it, and it's a internationally known baby word (at least among the people that I have came across, most common among Asian Chinese).

I have realised the answer now that I have a kid of my own (that sentence did snap me for a moment, A KID OF MY OWN!!). In milestones of babies book, as early as about 2 months, babies tend to 'utter' their 'first word', which will be something like 'A-Goo'!! That's it! That is why everyone tend to say A-GOO-GOO to babies! Because that's their common 'first word', irregardless of culture, religion, origin... And also, they do like it (and it is encouraged, as it does enhance their development in some way or another according to research, don't ask me what) when we repeat the sounds that comes out from their mouth.

Rachel is actually repeating A-GOO or A-GOO-GOO to us nowadays. Mostly when she's happy and cheerful, sorta like in a chatting session with the parents. She'll go A-GOO, then smile, waiting for me to repeat it back to her, then she'll smirk and then shout back, A-GOO-GOO! Her new favourite face expression now is when you play with your tongue. Go 'BRR BRR BRR', or something like this -->. Then she'll stop struggling and stare at me. Hahaha....

Labels: Parenting, Rachel Huan

Many a times in life, we are faced with events which we are initially scared of, worried of or even despise of, but later on realise that it happened for the better. This happened to me recently, although I have to admit I was pretty distressed about the whole episode at first, it later on turned out to have helped me in one way or another.

I then was reminded of something I wrote a while back about how God will ensure that whatever happen to me, is for my own good, and I will be able to face it, else He will show me the way and make me learn. And that I should leave all my worries to Him, that He will handle all... I just wish I remember this all the time, instead of needing constant reminders. So why do I get worried about what is going to happen in the tomorrows, or depressed about the yesterdays, when all I can live in is TODAY? The only control that we have, the only changes that are possible, in TODAY!!

Sometimes we are so absorbed with the things we wish for, that we fail to see the whole picture. Sometimes there are just outcomes that are hiding at the corner, which we don't forsee.

So we shouldn't really judge events with the limited eye sight that we have, but to trust God that He knows best.....

Labels: Journal, Self Improvements

Ah... Refreshing ain't it? And the photo of little Rachel, gives the page a very vibrant cheerful feeling... I LIKE!! :D

Now, I was actually given a dateline by J yesterday, to make a posting, but then was too busy that I didn't post... Now, the new look is a compensation of yesterday's missing post? HeHeHe....


Vote?? From a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being bad, 10 being good.... How would you rate this look?????? (I'll delete those comment that gives a voting of lower than 5!!!!!! - Just kidding)....

Well, the weekend is pretty eventful for her... Really... First, she got to come to Mommy's office, meeting up with all the aunties and uncles that are all anxious to see her after hearing so much of her from me, of course...

She then get to go to Sunway Pyramid (for the first time) for Nando's Chicken (well, she was just sitting there staring at us eat, no choice) with Jayna! Wonderful lunch, chatting a little, and snapping photos for a while, with Jayna swearing away at her new camera! ehehe.... This is a good photo grabbed from Jayna's blog, I like this one, look at how happy Rachel is... :)

Here's another photo taken by me, when she's nicely seated in her baby seat, on our ride home... She slept before this, tired of the journey, but as she awoke, she was attentively looking at the scenery pass by... It was good photography opportunity... :D
I like this photo, the colour, the brightness, shows her tiny birth hair (err, how do you say it? the best word found is hair, but not those on top of her head, *shrug*) on her forehead... And her chubbiness shows even more.... :D
I'm happy, but I don't know about her.... hahaha.... selfish mom eh?

On Sunday, she even got a treat to morning breakfast outing with the grandparents, of course she only got to sit and watch while the parents and grandparents nicely eating Bah Kut Teh (a chinese delicacy, popular in Klang : Sorta like a pork stew with chinese herbs). It was her first so far, but I'm sure when she does start eating solid food, she'll get this breakfast treat every Sunday, as it's grandpa's favourite Sunday breakfast... :D

Little Rachel must be SO tired after an exhausting weekend, with so many outings, that she just slept through soundly, the Sunday evening, that when Daddy and I try to wake her up for her night time routine for bed, this is how she look like, dozing off while she's being wiped too.... hahahahahaha

Labels: Rachel Huan, Rachel's Outing, Weekends

BULAT means round in Malay. But what is so interesting about that word you ask? How does it relate to my life focus now? Well, it's a nickname! many are now calling my little BEAUTIFUL princess, mind you, BULAT!! My youngest brother even call her SI BULAT (the round one)... It's due to her rounded face with double chin...
Yeah, she's blowing bubble with her saliva!! But look at her cheeks!!!! Don't you just feel like pinching her? Hahaha.... NO, CANNOT!!! :P

Labels: Rachel Huan

Rachel has caught on a new habit, finger (fist) sucking!! Looking at her go at her new habit, hubby and I always end up asking her, VERY TASTY ar?? HeHeHe...
She'll force her fist in, salivating all over her lips and chin and fingers, making slurping sound... It does really make you feel like her fingers are SO tasty....

She was pretty awake yesterday evening, crying, laughing and idling on and off, while I snap her photos... Look at this:You can now compare and gauge the size of her fingers... By the way, those giant fingers were mine... Imagine the difficulties in trying to trim her finger nails... :|

Labels: Rachel Huan, Rachel's Habit

Now now, back to the topic of the orange fat cat, yes TIMO, OBVIOUSLY most people think of GARFIELD. To me, Orange Fat Cat MEANS and DIRECTLY implies GARFIELD and vice versa.

However, the reason I blogged about it, NO SengMing, hubby didn't think of me. Yes, I'm fat, but no I'm not orange and I'm no cat... :P
OK, back to story.... So, we heard this phrase on the radio, well actually it was the POPULAR Orange Fat Cat... Later on, hubby asked me, who's the popular orange fat cat, which I instantaneously answered GARFIELD lar of course, OBVIOUSLY.... And you know what? Hubby said, I thought HEATCLIFF!!!!

Hahahaha.... I bet a few of you (I know my cousins did) would ask, who the hell is HEATCLIFF????? Well, I know who's Heatcliff, but he can't beat Garfield's popularity lar!!!!!! To proof this point, I would have to admit that I forgot totally what colour Heatcliff is, until I surf for it on google image... hehehe....

So now we know, there's at least 2 Orange Fat Cat, and this is why I wanted to know if anyone out there do think of Heatcliff at first thought... MANA TAU (MALAY: Who knows) some people went and think that it was me!! SIGH.....

NOTE: I really have to admit that I will of course be blogging more about BABY (for obvious reasons) as that is currently the center of my (I bet hubby's too) lives... :D

It has been widely believed that baby car seat is a necessary safety device for all driving parents with a baby or toddler riding in together... Which was why, we permanently have a baby car seat strapped in the back seat of our car now, cuz we are just too lazy to unstrap and strap it as and when needed...

With the above in mind, it was a shocking read when I saw the article about baby seat impairring child's breathing in a baby blog. I totally agree with the blog saying that more studies are actually driving parents insane!! We need it for safety, but we shouldn't use it to prevent breathing difficulties... use, don't use, USE, DON'T USE, USE, DON'T USE, USE, DON'T USE, USE, DON'T USE!!!!!!!!!!

Well, to tell you the truth, I HAVE came across many of similar mind-blowing situations.
> One would highly recommend mittens and booties, and another highly against it.
> One would be adamant in saying ginger is significantly needed in the confinement diet, and another saying it causes jaundice.
> One says that talcum powder or lotion should be use, and another saying it blocks the pores.
> Crying is good for baby, crying causes wind/colic in the tummy.
> etc. etc. etc....

Now, SERIOUSLY, there's just too many comments and opinions, and it's just impossible to make everyone happy. The more head counts, the more difficult. (I know, it's obvious, everyone knows it). That's life isn't it? So much easier if everyone can just agree on a common practice of baby care, but then it'll be monotonous, I know... Variety makes things interesting... *shrug*

Labels: Parenting

I know I've posted today, but then, hubby (Huan) and I were talking about this after hearing a radio advert today morning, and it made me curious, to know what is everyone's thought/who do you think of, when you hear or see the words ORANGE FAT CAT... Please leave a comment and lets see what everyone's first thought is... :D

Yes, I started work again yesterday, after a 11 weeks of maternity + annual leave.... No, fun is probably the last word in mind to describe, but it was ok! I was reading my emails the whole day, imagine!!! And I still have some (about 100) to look into more detail today.... and a meeting scheduled on my behalf at 11am, and I don't have the slightest idea what's going on... I need my brain cells back ASAP....

Labels: Ramblings

I know I've been blogging NOTHING other than little Rachel lately, well you really can't blame a new mother, being obsessed with her little princess... Anyhow, it's something different this time around....

For those of you that knew me for a long time, I had been studying in Australia for a year, and during that memorable (both sweet and sour, good and bad memories) period, I stayed in this place I called my home away from home... A student residence (will choose to not disclose the name for now as I'm not sure if it's confidential top secret news) owned and run by wonderful people I call my family away from home (as I mentioned, I will NOT put names, as it will link to the subject directly)...

Well, you see, I made a long overdue call back 'home' yesterday, to thank them for the gift they sent little Rachel (yeah, I can't not speak about her, sorry... :D), and was told that some management had bought over the building and have increased the rent sky high, threatening the shutting down of the residence... I'm sad... I wanted to bring little Rachel to Adelaide one day, show her where mommy used to stay, show her my other family there, but I guess if te building's not gonna be there, it'll be different... Of course when the time (and financial status) permits, I still want to bring her to Adelaide, but I guess it'll be different for me....

Seriously, I wouldn't have chosen to live elsewhere if I were to relive the Adelaide year again, as I must admit, I did meet wonderful people there. They took me (us actually, everyone that registered there) under their wings, taken care of me, and made me feel at home. They tolerated my mischiefs and gave me advices that a parent would have and I don't think I could ever thank them enough.
I am very glad that we have kept in contact, I am looking forward to the time when I can bring little Rachel to go meet you guys, and I hope that the backup plan you mentioned to me yesterday will work out, that new batch of students (for years and years t come) will get to experience the warm and love that you have given me... Do keep in touch at all times, if the building will be given back to the new 'management', please remember to leave me new contact numbers that I could contact you by....

Labels: Ramblings

NOTE : Haven't met Mindy for a while now, since she went to New Zealand.... For those of you that haven't seen her too, here's a photo.... :D

Well, Mindy is back, will be until end of the month... Whoever that wants to catch up, CALL CALL CALL!! :D
Anyhow, we had a MINI (I can't stress that enough) gathering in my humble apartment last saturday, and it was good, being able to catch up with the gang again, sitting and chatting while princess Rachel is being entertained by hubby (Thank you lougong!)....

Of course, knowing the lazy me, and also the hassle of cooking in the apartment, not to mention having little Rachel around, there's no cooking involved. All I did was ordered some pizzas, and prepared some coleslaw and fruit salad.. I hope everyone had fun.... :D Oh oh, and WT brought cakes!! YUMMY!! :P

For me, it was good to chat again, but of course I was distracted a lot by Rachel!! It was good anyhow... Time do pass very fast... We have all known each other for a long time, from secondary school, and it's cool seeing how each other have changed (somehow or rather), and it does made me think back on our form 5 days... Here's how 'old' we have became since then.... :D

Labels: Gathering

Today morning, when we were getting ready to leave the house, hubby suddenly saw that there was a scratch on Rachel's nose... :(

It must be due to the loose mittens, which fell off at least 3 times yesterday night, cuz I know I woke up to check on her and found that it had fallen off... It must have happened then, when the mitten has fallen off and as she has a habit of rubbing her face everytime she wakes up, she must have accidentally scratched the skin off... :( :( :(

I know, hubby kept saying that sooner or later, it WILL happen, but it still does makes me sad looking at it... Took a photo, but it wasn't clear, as I couldn't use the flash....

Labels: Rachel Huan

Little princess had a case of diarrhoea yesterday evening... Lucky it was only one time, but I still called my aunt (a paediatrician) to confirm... Of course, the answer was, wait and see if it happens more... Good thing it didn't... I did check her temperature and all, other than the watery feces in her pampers and her unusually loud crying@shouting, everything else was normal... She drinks her milk, just sometimes a little lesser (1 or 2 ozs. lesser) and she sleeps well too.... I guess it's nothing major... It was still just one time since yesterday evening, so it's good news.... :D

Yesterday evening marks the first time that something 'unusual' and should be iven more attention happening... Something we can't run away from... But funny thing is, I was just answering an ex-colleague's question the day before, on whether "Has Rachel had her first sickness?"!! *roll eyes*

Labels: Rachel Huan, Sickness

Today's the first day, my little princess Rachel kinda slept through the night... Although I'm sure it does not mean she will continue to do so from now on, cuz her waking time still do fluctuate between 1:30 to 4 am or so, I'm happy and I want to blog about it! hehehe

Rachel cried pretty badly yesterday evening, and after her bedtime routine, hubby succeeded in putting her to bed at about 10pm, and she slept through until 4:45am! When I awoke to her fussing, I tot I read the time wrongly, squinted and looked again, and it IS 4:45am!!!! I hope she'll self-learn to sleep through the night without me having to restrain myself from feeding her when she cries... There's lotsa training guide for baby to sleep through the night on the world wide web, I know it all seem easy, but after reading it, it does take a tough parent to succeed, as you have to endure the baby crying and not do anything about it, until she tired herself with crying and fall asleep.... And it'll take dayssss to do it, not just 1.... Sigh... I hope Rachel self-learn this... :D

About the crying little Rachel is doing nearly every evening this week, I'm starting to wonder (and starting to worry hubby too) if she's starting to get colicky.... but every article/reference book (like going for exam lar, reference book) we have, says that baby normally gets colic in the first few weeks of life, and the worse time will be 6th week... Rachel is way pass that age, but many symptoms does comply... and many doesn't... Anyway, lets wait and see how things go for a few more days before we act on it.... Any advice anyone??

Labels: Milestone, Rachel Huan

I've been reading quite a bit, and realised that no matter what, Rachel will get attached to the maid, but hubby also made me realise that it doesn't mean she will not want me.... Well, I guess if it happens, my only way out is to wait until she grow out of it.... And snatch the best that I have of her, and enjoy the moment....
Soon, I will try and put up things that I read from articles which I find helpful, as a reminder for myself and for those that are interested to know, so you can teach your friend or yourself.... hahaha.... I need to keep track of all those things I read, so that I will not forget it when Rachel grow into that age... Lets hope I don't end up doing it halfway again.... :D

I realised that little Rachel's existence taught me a lot... From handling her (I've NEVER imagined I could cut baby's finger and toe nails, they are SO SO small), to handling myself... I hope she continues to bring out the better of me...

From now on, I'll try to remember to blog each and every (tiny, small or big) things that I'm thankful of, that I like/enjoy doing/seeing... I realised when I read an article in a baby & mother magazine, that although I do realise and appreciate things that are happening to me daily, I get happier reading about it or writing about it out.... It's good to remind myself more of it, and maybe if this blog can last long enough, she can read about it too... hahaha.... :D

I enjoy seeing Rachel's smile (whether or not she intend to do it) early morning, when she wakes up... As hubby puts it, it really melts your heart.... It brightens up ur day and makes u want to squeeze her tightly and not let go.... I guess that will eventually be another hurdle for me to get myself to work... hahaha

I enjoy putting her to sleep on my chest... There's a special unexplainable sensation when she lie on me, and it's a good position to try and squeeze her too... hehehe... It's just wonderful... That's really my favourite position to carry her now....

Labels: Rachel Huan