Jayden's 1st swing

5 month old Jayden goes on the swing for the very 1st time. He seemed to like it alot! Meanwhile his sister "video-bombs" him at the back.

5 months old Jayden

Another month has come and gone and we're at the Paediatrician again for the immunization. 7.8kg 69cm. Jayden is growing consistently at the 75th percentile and everything seemed to be in order. Traditionally we should be introducing solids at 5 months, but I've been reading that the WHO has revised that guidelines and encouraging mothers to wean their babies at 6 months instead. Well, who am I to argue with the WHO right? Anyway, I'm happy to continue feeding as long as I can. On top of our bonding time, breastfeeding has really been great in helping me stay slim! I can eat anything I want and still stay the same size. Sweet!! Besides, Dr Ang said that Jayden was growing very well, so that means that my breastmilk is sufficient to sustain his growth.

Behaviour wise, he's becoming a real pain. Pain on my shoulder! About a month ago he started his clingy stage. And boy is he clingy! Right now the people allowed to carry him, according to the length of time would be:
1. Me aka mama
2. My Mom aka popo
3. My Dad aka gong gong
4. My Husband aka papa
5. My Mother-in-law aka ah mah



It's so strange! When he was an infant he would love to be carried by his Ah Mah. But now, he would only allow a few minutes before his lips pout, his eyes turn red and the inevitable wail that follows. So on an average weeknight at home, I would shower Jolie while Cobby give Jayden a bath. After Jolie's done it would be my turn to shower, so Jayden would scream and cry in his father's arms all the way until I come out of the shower.

When he see me come out of the shower he would desperately stretch out both his arms, tears, snot and saliva all over his face, willing me to carry him. What a pitiful sight! Sigh, but this is the only way.

Another shift in behaviour would be the way he sleeps. During the 1st few months, he would sleep and nap fine, but suddenly, he decided that he doesn't like the way things are done, so the moment we put him down to nap during the day, he would wake up crying. We were in a fix for awhile as we struggled to find a way to make him nap. Somedays I would be so tired I would cry in frustration and exhaustion! But one day I just tried something different and made him hug a boaster to nap. Hoho! It worked like a charm! I quickly taught my Mom this trick and the rest was blissful history.



Its still quite a struggle caring for two kids, everyday I feel like I'm neglecting my baby girl, who has been a really sweet sister but attitude wise getting from bad to worse. I know she's just trying to get my attention, but it's the negative attention she's getting. I'm screaming at her more and it made me really sad sometimes because I used to be so close to her. So whenever I can I try to make it up to her by showering her with more love and kisses. Cobby and I also try to go out with her alone once in awhile to make her feel special. Hopefully she won't feel too neglected.

Everyday is a challenge and when it comes to kids, the only constant is change. Hopefully I can rise up and deal with it with grace. hopefully...

Sassy mouth

Jolie is reaching an age where, sometimes, I don't know how to react to the thibgs she says. Sometimes I don't know if I want to be mad or laugh out loud at the things she say.



She's also very bossy and would always lecture the adults, even when she's wrong! That really pisses me off sometimes. Like the other day, she opened the window while we were in the taxi. I scolded her and asked her not to do that it was raining. In response, (grumble, grumble, grumble. ...)"...mama! Why you make me so mad!!" -_-

I think she learnt to speak like that because of me. When she's lecturing people, she sounded just like me when I'm lecturing her. I know people would say things like "you should be mindful of what you say in front of a child... blah blah blah..." But how!? She's always pushing my buttons with the things she say. Like shouting at her elders, screaming that we were not listening when she's the one who doesn't listen. She would talk angrily and rudely, I would lecture her like any parent would, and in turn she would learn and lecture everyone else, including me. Then I would lecture her again. It's like a vicious cycle! Ahh! I always think back on how quiet and timid I was as a child and wonder why she's not like me. Back then, even if you are right, you keep quiet because you respect your elders! Now, even elders have to give in to this bossy, outspoken little princess no matter how much I lecture and nag. Sigh! But I guess being an outspoken person isn't a bad thing right? :P

There were also moments where she would melt our hearts, like she would whisper "I love you mama" when you least expected it, and it would make us go "awww..." My favorites ones are when she would present us with the strangest love tokens. Just as I was posting this, Jo came out of her room and presented a toy hotdog for her dad and said "papa, I give you this hotdog because I love you." Cobby was so amused and touched and boasted to me, "see? I got hotdog. You have or not? Don't have right? Haha!" Only a parent can appreciate the importance of receiving a masak hotdog from a 4 year old girl...

To wrap things up, a scene from the movie The Back Up Plan always stuck in my mind, as it is a perfect balance of funny and realistic description of parenthood. watch.