11 months old

Dear Nathan,

We are one month away from your 1^st birthday! Mommy’s been thinking of getting a cake shaped as a number “1” for your first birthday. I’ve also ordered some party hats and party deco from a spree. We’re thinking of having a small luncheon with immediate family members to celebrate your 1^st birthday. How fun! The last 11 months have been a blast!

You continue to crawl and cruise… haven’t taken your first steps as yet. Recently, you climbed up the steps in our house, and made your way up to level 2 all by your own. Hmm… do we need to get a safety gate for the stairs?

Now that you are better at cruising / standing, you enjoy checking out the items on our shelves. You are really good at tiptoeing and reaching out for stuff that we intentionally place out of your reach. Seems like you prefer playing with all these ‘forbidden’ items more than your toys.

You’ve also grown a little bit more. Since you are now able to fit into some of the hand-me-down berms / pants, you’ve started wearing them over your rompers when we go out. Makes you look more grown up.

You succeeded in drinking water from a straw mug at 10.5 months. Mommy’s glad, cos it’ll be much easier to get you to drink more water. It took a while to get you to drink from a straw. We’ve showed you how the straw mug works, and gotten you to try drinking from it. You didn’t quite get it initially, and was more interested in playing with the straw. One day, Daddy was having dinner while mommy went to take a shower. You kept daddy company at the dinner table, and was playing with your straw mug as usual. Then you succeeded. Credits to daddy for teaching you to drink from a straw.

We went to check out the Sky Park @ Marina Bay Sands. Tickets at $20 per pax is rather expensive. Thankfully, we got one free ticket and children under 2 go free. So we only needed to pay $20 for the 3 of us. The view from the sky park is pretty spectacular. Mommy loves the swimming pool. Only hotel guests get to use the pool. You enjoyed riding on daddy’s shoulder while we were at the Sky Park. You were giggling away when daddy let you sit on his shoulder.

We also checked out Fidgets. And because you are under 1, we all get to go in for free. The play area for children your age is pretty small. Nonetheless, you enjoyed riding in the Little Tikes cars and also enjoyed playing in the ball pit. Mommy’s looking forward to checking out more places with you now that you are older, and can appreciate your surroundings more. Maybe we’ll bring you to the zoo when you are a little older.

Meanwhile, you continue to bring us so much joy. As much as I look forward to having you walk and talk soon, I already miss the months that have gone by.

Lots of love,

Mommy

10 months old

Dear Nathan,

You are now 10 months old… Mommy can’t believe that you are growing up so quickly. You can crawl and cruise very well, and I’m guessing you’d be walking soon. You enjoy cruising with the sofa as support, or with your push walkers. Sometimes, you’d hold onto your high chair leg/s and drag it around the house, making lots of creaking sounds as you walk. You now protest when we take away an object that you are fiddling with, or try to put you in your cot when you don’t want to. It’s nice that you can now express yourself somewhat. You say ‘mo mo mo’ when you want more snacks and you’ve also been saying “ma ma mom me mo mi…”, which sounds like “mommy, I want more milk”.

We went on our very first holiday as a little family of 3. It was a short getaway to celebrate mommy and daddy’s wedding anniversary, and also a test of sorts to how you’d take to traveling. We spent 3 days, 2 nights at Sentosa. You enjoyed crawling all over the king sized bed in the the hotel, and was attentive when we walked around Resorts World, and went to visit some attractions on the island. We went to the Underwater World, Fort Siloso, Butterfly Park, Merlion and the Songs of the Sea show. It was pretty easy travelling with you. Since you couldn’t walk on your own as yet, we carried you in the Beco baby carrier. You slept when you were tired, and didn’t fuss very much. Night time sleep was rather difficult though. We managed to get a cot for you, and brought along your favourite toy, Colin the Croc. But you woke up crying several times at night, and didn’t settle back to sleep easily. Very unlike you. So we had 2 rough nights. When we got back home after the ‘holiday’, you developed a fever. We brought you to the doctor, who said that you are actually suffering from a ear infection. He says it usually gets particularly bad at night, and that you were pretty well behaved and un-cranky for a baby with an infection like that. He prescribed antibiotics, which you had to take for a week. Thankfully, you didn’t seem too affected by the infection, fed well, and was able to sleep well in your own cot. Now… mommy isn’t sure if you weren’t sleeping well at Sentosa because of the new environment, or because of the ear infection. Hmm… when will we be brave enough to go on another holiday? Soon, I hope!

You continue to bring us so much joy! Love you loads!

Hugs & kisses,

Mommy

9 months old

Dear Nathan,

You are now 9 months old...

We had a rather trying week this month when you came down with the flu. You had a cough, a bad throat, blocked nose, drooled a lot and was generally grumpy. It got real bad when you didn't want to drink much milk. Initially, we thought that you were teething. So we tried giving you your teeting rings (which you rejected) and applied teething gel on your gums. The teething gel seemed to provide some comfort, and you drank some milk. Then I think your throat/blocked nose got worse. And you really didn't want any milk. The past few times that you were sick, you still fed well and slept well, and would gladly open your mouth when we fed you medicine. This time, you refused to feed and would cry when we gave you your medicine. Daddy had to hold you down while mommy fed you your medicine. It was rather heart wrenching watching you struggle, but it was necessary. We were so glad when you got better after a course of antibiotics. We continue to pray that you will grow strong and healthy.

We went shopping for your outfits for Uncle Don's wedding. We went to the tailor's thinking that we can tailor a matching shirt for you and daddy. Sadly, the tailor couldn't make shirts your size. Had to settle for off-the-rack ones instead. Nonetheless, we managed to get two outfits for you for the event.

We've started giving you baby snacks like baby puffs and yoghurt melts. Now that you can eat these stuff, it is easier to keep you occupied in your high chair while mommy and daddy have our meals. It's really cute when you tug at our arms after you've finished chewing what's in your mouth. We teach you to say 'more please' but you haven't quite mastered that. You haven't quite mastered your pincer grip as well, but I'm sure you will very soon.

You are better are crawling and can also cruise pretty well. With your new found mobility, you do silly stuff like climbing into mommy's suitcase and ransacking Oscar's trash can (your laundry basket). Once, when I was picking you up from the IFC, you saw me in the distance and crawled towards me. That was so heart warming.

You rode in a shopping cart for the first time when we went shopping for shelves at IKEA. You seem to enjoy the ride and it saves us the hassle of using your stroller.

You continue to bring us so much joy. We love you loads.

Love,

Mommy

Nathan vs Ant

Nathan just started crawling two weeks ago. He's gotten quite good at it. Here's him putting his new skill to use...

By the way, the ant survived. Nathan's small hands didn't manage to squash the ant.

8 months old

Dear Nathan,

You are 8 months old today… Mommy can’t believe that time has gone by so quickly. Very soon, we’d be celebrating your first birthday.

On Apr 30, you started crawling. Your new found mobility has made you are more fidgety, and changing you is becoming more challenging. You get impatient and would start fussing and wriggling about when we take too long to change your diapers even though daddy tells you that it’d be faster if you keep still. You are able to play by yourself but I think you have started developing separation anxiety recently. You would call for us when we walk away, wanting us to sit by your side and play with you.

At 7.5 months, mommy started giving you some formula milk. Currently, you are drinking about 60% breast milk, 40% formula milk. Thankfully, you’ve no issues with taking either and continue to feed well. You love solids. At home, you’d usually have brown rice cereal and fruit/vegetable purees. In school, you’ve tried fish, chicken, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, marcoroni, mee sua and several others.

You are pretty happy sitting in a hair chair (most times), which makes it possible for mommy and daddy to eat together. The waiter at Applebees gave you a balloon when we went there for YeYe’s birthday dinner, and you were laughing when we played with the balloon. So adorable. Your hair has grown longer and it seems that the sweat glands on your head has just started working. The weather’s been pretty hot lately, and you sweat pretty easily… though it just your head that gets sweaty. Kinda strange. Nonetheless, you still smell nice. Mommy loves holding you close, and sniffing that baby smell of yours.

Mommy has started work at IBM… the arrangement is working out great so far. I drop you off at school before work, and am able to leave work on time to pick you up. Some days, daddy and mommy both go to work at together, so we get to spend some ‘family time’ together in the car while driving to your school, then to work. Mommy and daddy also get more opportunities to have lunch together. There was one day when I didn’t want to send you to school as you were a little unwell the day before. I asked my boss if she was ok that I worked from home, and she was agreeable. IBM also has nursing rooms where mommy can express milk for you in a private and comfortable setting. All in all, this job is more ‘Nathan friendly’. Mommy’s glad that you are enjoying your time in school, while we are at work.

You continue to bring so much joy to mommy and daddy. We love you loads.

Hugs & Kisses,

Mommy

Happy Mommy's Day

Because of Nathan, I get to celebrate Mother’s Day. I’m so thankful that God has given me this babe, and continue to pray that I’d be a good mommy. He’s brought me so much joy. I think God is using motherhood to mould me into a better someone. Nathan’s entrance into this world has turned our lives around 180 degrees, but Dean and I would not have it anyway else.

Nathan’s first month was rather difficult. The 3 hourly feeds thru the day meant that I couldn’t sleep more than 2 hours at any one time. Moreover, I had to figure out breastfeeding, his different cries, how he likes to be comforted, how to put him to sleep without rocking him too much lest he becomes dependent on rocking... Thereafter, I got to know him better, and caring for him got easier. Thankfully, he started sleeping thru the night at 3 months old, and both Dean and I got more rest. That gave us more energy to do more fun things during the day. I enjoy watching him grow day by day. Each time he reaches a new milestone, my heart fills up with joy, and also a tinge of sadness. Joy as he can finally do something that we’ve been teaching / helping him, and sadness cos he's grown that little bit more. A part of me is unwilling to have him grow up so fast I guess. I look forward to picking him up from school every day. I like standing at the door, peeping in to see what he’s up to. Seeing him smile as our eyes meet, gives me this warm and fuzzy feeling. I love playing with him, singing to him, cuddling up with him. His favorite game so far has to be peekaboo. Love it when he chuckles in response. Some nights, he’d wake up crying, probably from a bad dream. I always manage to drag myself out of bed, pick him up, hug him and tell him that all is well. I think God has given moms an extra portion of His strength, cos no matter how tired I am, I still find myself jumping out of bed the moment I hear his cries thru the monitor.

Dear Nathan, thanks for being the darling that you are. Mommy is so blessed to have you. Even on lousy days, just looking at you brings a smile to my face. I have truly seen God’s goodness in my life (more than ever) since the day you arrived. Thanks too for the pair of Frank Gehry earrings that you and daddy got for me. You and daddy are mommy’s favorite boys! Love you loads!

7 months old

Dear Nathan,

You are now 7 months old.

You got mommy and daddy really worried when you contracted HFMD. After your jabs, you developed a fever, which was pretty usual. The fever was gone after a couple of doses of paracetamol, so we didn’t think much of it. Mommy’s friend, whose son just started attending the same infant care centre as you called mommy when I was at work. She said that her son has contracted HFMD and asked that we consider not sending you to school. However, I’ve already sent you to school that day. Coincidentally, the day before the phone call was centre closure day. So when mommy called the school, I was informed that they’ve just done a thorough cleaning during closure day, and that they’d continue to monitor the situation and do another round of cleaning. I didn’t see any point in bringing you home, since we were already halfway thru the day, and you were still behaving as usual.

When I picked you up on Friday, I noticed a small red bump on your thigh, which looked like a mosquito bite. Didn’t think much of it. The weekend went by as usual, and you had no symptoms.

On Monday, teacher Noi called about half an hour after I dropped you off at school. She noticed the same red bump on your thigh, and insisted that we brought you to the doctor. Mommy took you to see uncle EK, who said it looks like an insect bite. Besides, you had no fever, no ulcers, and no other spots. He wrote a ‘fit for school’ letter, and I took you back to school.

On Tuesday, it was business as usual. I sent you to school in the morning. That afternoon, the school called to say that you have a fever, and more spots. I got really worried, as now it really looks like you’ve developed HFMD. As uncle EK’s clinic was already closed by the time mommy picked you up, we waited till the next day before seeing him. He confirmed that you had HFMD. You had a small ulcer in your mouth, some spots around your ankles, some spots on your hands, and some on your bum. He prescribed some numbing drops for your ulcer, and asked us to use paracetamol to control your fever (if any). With that, you had to stay home till the spots disappeared, estimated to take about a week. Uncle EK says you’d be fit for school the following Tuesday.

Meanwhile, mommy had a really bad throat and a slight fever. The doctor, on hearing that you had HFMD, says that mommy could have contracted the same, though he wasn’t sure. Nonetheless, he gave me 3 days MC. Worked out nicely. Mommy could stay home with you without taking leave.

To mommy and daddy’s delight, HFMD hardly caused you any discomfort. The fever on Tuesday went down after a dose of paracetamol. After that, you had no more fever for the rest of the time. You were able to feed well, sleep well and was alert and active as usual. You woke up once or twice during the night, but was able to fall back to sleep after mommy/daddy cuddled you for a bit. We enjoyed our time at home. Meanwhile, spots started appearing on mommy’s hand and foot. So I was pretty sure that I had some degree of HFMD too. I went to see the doctor again on Monday, and was asked to stay home till the spots disappeared. Worked out perfectly, as you were only supposed to return to school on Tuesday.

HFMD aside, you are now able to hold your own milk bottle and do a good job of holding it high. You are also able to sit pretty well (don’t need to support yourself with your hands anymore), and your bottom 2 teeth have appeared… very sharp teeth if I might add.

That's a photo of you gnawing on a teething biscuit for the very first time. We've started putting you on a high chair when we eat at restaurants. I think you much prefer that since you get a better view. With your teeth, you’ve bitten mommy a few times when I was feeding you. I’ve pulled away and scolded you, and though I’m pretty certain you understood mommy when I said ‘no biting’, you still sneakily try to do it again… and again… and wait to watch my reaction. I think this is also the first time I’ve scolded you for doing something wrong. I said a firm ‘no’ and told you it was painful. You bit your lip and cried. I gave you a big hug, and said it’s ok, and not to do it again. You’d continue suckling, then you’d try again. Very cheeky!

We thank God that this episode of HFMD was pretty mild, and that you were spared from the discomfort. Mommy’s also thankful that we got to spend some mom n babe time together while we were home recovering. We continue to pray that you’d feed well, sleep well, grow up strong and healthy.

You continue to bring so much joy to mommy and daddy. We love you loads.

Hugs & kisses,

Mommy

6 months old

Dear Nathan,

You are now 6 months old. Mommy hasn't had time to pen down my thoughts till today.

The biggest change we faced this month is that of mommy returning to work, and you starting infant care. Seems like mommy had more difficulty adapting to this change than you did. The work day morning starts with me waking up early to shower and change for work. I'd pack your milk and clothes bag while you are still sleeping, then pack my own bag. You usually wake up about 7 plus and I'd change your diaper. Then I'd strap you in your car seat, and we'd drive to school. We'd spend time praying in the car, and singing Children's songs as we drive. At work, I think about how you are doing, and can't wait to pick you up from school. You give me a big smile when I pick you up in the evenings. So heart warming. On the journey home, we'd talk about our day. Some days, you'd be tired and will fall asleep in your car seat. Mommy loves to watch you sleep.

We celebrated Chinese New Year this month. Since you grow so quickly and have so many clothes thanks to your cousins, we only bought you one Chinese New Year outfit. All the aunties and uncles were so delighted to see you. We had fun meeting up with our loved ones and friends.

You only put on about 400g since the last time we weighed you a month ago. You are really good at flipping now, and can sit by yourself for a much longer time. You've also started to lift your butt up when you're on your tummy. I think you'd be crawling soon. Can't wait!

You continue to bring so much joy to mommy and daddy. We love you loads.

Hugs & kisses,

Mommy

The Milk Memos

How real moms learned to mix business with babies, and how you can, too. By Cate Colburn-Smith & Andrea Serrette.

I just finished reading this book, and thought that it's a real good read for moms returning to work. I felt comforted just knowing that there were other moms who've gone thru the same, and that my reactions were 'normal'. Reactions like crying the first time I left Nathan at the infant care centre, thinking about him the whole time I'm at work, worrying about whether I'm pumping enough milk for his feeds the next day, wanting to hold him and nurse him when the weekend comes around so that I can still have the intimacy with him... putting up with having to lug his bottles and my breast pump to work, having to find time to pump at work...

I actually finished reading the entire book over the weekend when Nathan was sleeping, or when I was feeding him. If you are a new mom, intending to breastfeed when you returning to work, do pick up this book. I couldn't find it in the major bookstores in Singapore, but managed to order a copy from Book Depository. By the way, I've found that books are generally cheaper from Books Depot, even after they factor in the free shipping worldwide. So far, the books I ordered arrive within a week.

First Day at Infant Care

Nathan started going to the infant care centre yesterday. I had to lug his bag (which has his clothes, towels, teddy bear etc.), his milk bag and my big bag (with pumping essentials) and carry him at the same time. Think my arm muscles are getting stronger as he grows.

The day started off with free play followed by his first milk feed. I let the teacher feed him for the first time, and thankfully it was a non issue. He finished the whole bottle real quick as usual. Then they had hello time when they took turns to say hello to each other in song. His usual bath time followed. He fussed a bit during bath time. I suppose he still prefers his bath tub at home. After a bit more play, it was time for his first morning nap. I put him in his designated cot, which had his cot sheets, blanket, bean pillow and teddy bear brought from home. He started sucking his thumb, and was falling off to sleep when I told him that I’d be leaving for work, and will be picking him up later in the evening. I couldn’t hold back my tears when I kissed him goodbye. My boy has grown up that little bit more. As much as I’m happy that we’ve hit another milestone, I’m also missing the journey we took over the last 5+ months.

He was happy to see me when I picked him up in the evening. Felt so good to hold him, kiss him and smell him after a long day’s work. He seems to enjoy his time there, playing with new toys, standing in front of the mirror holding onto the handle bars (think mirrors at ballet studios, just that it is built for his height), interacting with his new teachers and friends. He had no problems feeding and sleeping in the new environment. In fact, he took a real long afternoon nap. Probably cos of the lack of afternoon naps on Saturday and Sunday when we’d usually take him out.

The little kids there are really socialable, and this is something that Dean and I thought would be good for him. Even though quitting my job to stay home to look after Nathan full-time is an option we can consider, we thought that sending him to the infant care centre is a good option. The social interaction would do him good. I also like the fact that they have structured activities to occupy the young ones. Am hoping that I’d be able to get a more flexible work arrangement. Then we’ll be able to have the best of both worlds – Nathan can spend some time at the infant care centre, and some time at home with mommy, and mommy can still stay in touch with the working world. Shall continue praying, waiting and trusting God for this.