zzzeee

This is baby Joel's customized sleep profile. Get yours here too. Sorry, it's only for babies/toddlers up to 36 months only.

So far, i've been relatively okay with making Joel sleep at night. But sometimes, he gets really cranky...and i'll have a super hard time. He'll cry non-stop for very very very long...till he can hardly catch his breath... making everyone in the family "worried"... and Mommy very frustrated.

Some days, he's such a darling...he can fall asleep on his own (but need to suck his pacificer lah), or just after patting him for 5 mins! These days, i'll be so proud of him...and myself! Haha!

O sometimes, he can be such a kaypo too. When he's half-asleep and i put him down in his bed, he'll wake up - with eyes wide open - to look at the toys (which i try to block with a pillow), and even the prints on his bedsheet! Haha!

confession

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:23). "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:20-21).

Read all here

3 months today

Our little Joel is 3 months old today! He had injections on both his right & left thighs - the Pneumococcal & 5-in-1 vaccines. OUCH OUCH! He cried louder for the 2nd shot, but only for a while. He fell asleep almost immediately after that. Heehee... ;p

He now weighs 6.8kg! WOW! No wonder Mommy has muscles! Grandma helped us take this photo so that I'll know how much bigger he is compared to when he was born. Oops, looks like his head is almost the same size as mine! LOL!

3-4mths Assessment (from HealthBook):
When your child is placed on his stomach, he can lift his head so that the angle between his face and the surface he is lying on is approximately 45 degrees. (Head up 45 degrees)
Joel could do a 90 degrees! Doc says most chubby babies cant even do a 45 degrees. ;)

cute tees

We were at a baby fair, and baby Joel got 2 new tshirts! Cute huh! Haha...the brand is called Bao 宝 (Chinese for 'baby/precious'). So ching-chiong!!! You can get them online here too!

privacy please

This reminds me of our zoo trip last week. Haha! Maybe we're being insensitive to animals.

Subscribe to these comics here. Sometimes, it can be quite funny. Keeps you sane.

mom's on mc

Mommy Jo has caught the flu bug. That explains the headaches and stiff neck... :(

the pacifier gang

i'm only 2.5 months

Today, we went to Gleneagles to see Aunty Serene & Uncle Andrew's new addition - #3 Gabriel. He's a lovely baby with sharp features just like his 2 sisters! They're such a beautiful family. ;)

At the hospital, 1 of the nurse thought that baby Joel is 4 months old! Haha! He's got everyone fooled! 2 days ago, Mommy Jo went to buy another babysling/pouch on special offer at Isetan. As always, whenever there's a good deal, all the Mommies will be there! Kekee... ;p

Everyone says 'Well Done!' to baby Joel. 1 of the mommy whose daughter is about 3month+, she helped me carry Joel while I try the sling on. She said his neck is very strong, and he's almost the same weight as her little girl! Another mommy's girl was also about 2months and she looks like, well, a baby. Joel looks like a BIG BOY!

cant go bangkok

Daddy Elvis just arrived in Bangkok today for work. He'll be there for 1 week.

A few weeks ago, i was planning to bring baby Joel to Bangkok to meet Daddy there. Checked out the promo airtickets which was a good deal, but needed at least 2 adults to fly together. Only S$500+ for 2 adults & 1 infant. But i cant find someone to go with me. Finally gave up the thought. Very sad.

Then last week, my eldest sis asked me about the night flight i used to take to Bangkok when Elvis was working there. Her husband had to go there for some work too, and she's thinking of bringing the kids there Thursday night-to-Sunday. So i quickly went online again to check the tickets. ALL SOLD OUT! Only left First Class departure and Business Class return. Very very sad. No choice, gotta wait till April to see Daddy.

Anyway, Daddy says he's thought of bringing us there this year (fly from Shanghai) to see Uncle Aye before he goes to UK. Yippie! So Mommy just hang in there for a while more.

what a headache

I'm having a terrible headache today. Must be the (hot) weather - after all that rain. Or maybe my 'Staying Indoors Syndrome' is back. I used to feel giddy and nauseous if i had to stay at home all day. O YES, i've been "cured" of that sickness!!! Weird how i didnt even realised that i was healed. Heehee...

Now that i recall, carrying/having baby Joel kinda made me stay home more. When i was pregnant, i still loved to go out. Somehow, after he's born (and looking after him 24/7) makes me have second thoughts about going out. Okay, make that triple thoughts. Even when transportation isnt a problem (when my sis drives), i would still hesitate about going out. Just thinking about the preparation work before we leave the house is enough to put me off.

This is what goes on in my head:
1. Going out about how many hours???
2. Gotta pack how many 3-hourly bottles + 1 extra + 1 extra for water???
3. Fill them up two-thirds with lukewarm water, and bring the remaining hot water (in a flask).
4. Divide the formula milk in the "special container" (which i've grown to love for the ease of pouring it out QUICKLY).
5. Bring extra diapers & wipes. (Has he pooed today???)
6. Grab an extra romper, towel, bib, tissue...
7. Take the pacifier (very important).
8. Take the babysling.
9. Pack the diaper bag neatly. (I like to find everything that i need easily)
10. Make sure my purse & keys are in too.
11. Need umbrella/cardigan (for myself) and the stroller rain cover???
12. What else, what else, what else... Hmmm...

It does seem like a lot of work huh! Even as i type this list, i'm trying to see what else did i forget to "pack in"! Haha!

No more days of carrying your own nice nice bag to match your clothes. Just wear whatever is easy and/or feels comfortable - especially with the babysling on. No more days of letting your hair down coz baby Joel has learnt to pull my hair!!! No more days of putting some extra things in your bag. Just cash & keys will be good enough. Or else the bag will be too heavy.

Ok, we're staying indoors today. So this is just prep-work in my head. Hmm...is that causing the headache?! But i'm planning to go shopping with baby Joel (alone) tomorrow. Hope i dont get one of those Triple Thoughts again. ;)

off we fly

We've kinda decided on the date we're flying "home" to Shanghai with baby Joel. Tentatively, it'll be the first weekend of April during the QingMing festival when it's a public holiday in China (so Daddy doesnt need to take so many days leave at his new job).

The weekly online newsletter about travelling with your baby came in so timely! Usually when a baby cries onboard, it can be such a nightmare for both the parents & other passengers alike.

Let's just pray for the best ride for Baby Joel! AMEN!

trip to the zoo

Today, it was Joel's first time at the Singapore Zoo with cousins Xan & Xavier's family. It was also his many firsts - 1st time getting a taste of ice-cream, coke...and even GLOW! Heehee... ;p

i want sashimi

take it away

Hey, Mommy! Take this off me now! I'm no girl, ok!


And are you trying to be funny putting this towel on my head??? Take it away before i get really mad! :/

painful?

Dearest Baby Joel,
If you ever get to read this blog, I'm sorry that i sometimes beat your buttocks (quite hard) and scold you when i'm frustrated coz you keep crying and i really dont know what you want. My tshirt reeks of your milk, i need to shower and i'm hungry. I hope it doesnt hurt - behind the diapers.
Love always,
Mommy Jo

sexy butt

family ties

I had a good laugh when i saw these! How sweet! ;p

1 cool gadget

I was browsing for some online purchase (again)...and kinda needed a calculator...and here's 1 damn cool and sweet little thing! Placed it at the right column - just in case you need it one of these days too. Or better still, just copy it onto your blog! ;)

flippers

Baby Joel just did a flip!
I was looking at him (lying on his stomach as usual)...and he seems kinda tilted to his right...so i helped him flip over once...then put him back into the 1st position. The next minute, he did the flip again - all by himself!!! I am amazed at his progress! WOW! He's a Hercules!

Last week, i was just reading about my friend's daughter who did her first flip (i think it was a 'flip-to-the-front' stunt coz she was smiling so happily lying on her stomach)...and i was wondering when will Joel learn to do that. In fact, i wasnt even sure what's the "normal procedure" - first lift head, then flip (backwards & forward), then sit, then crawl...??? But I'm sure running will come last, huh. And we have to CHASE! Haha... ;)

90% lookalike

Elvis & i think that our baby Joel looks like a Hong Kong actor.
Bobby Au Yeung (Zhen Hua) 歐陽震華 (left).
My sis & Elvis think that Joel looks like another Chinese child actor Hao Shao Wen (right). O, it's not the cuter monk on the far right. It's the fat monk at the bottom. (!!!)


Haha!
Mommy Jo is very sad...but have to admit that it's a match! :/

scatter tees DIY

I got this Mama-to-Mama newsletter, and here's a brilliant idea!


DIY 1 (from above picture)
Kids get attached to their favourite toys, clothes, anything that gave them wonderful memories. So don't throw those t-shirts away. They make creative casings for scatter cushions. Sew up the sleeves and bottom before you fill them with craft fills. Sew the neckline and you now have some very unique decorative cushions, a roomful of memories and happy children.
P.S. You can buy the stuffings from Spotlight. $5 will get you a VERY HUGE pack!

DIY 2 (Credit: Daddy Elvis & Mommy Jo)
Don't throw away rompers which are getting a little too short/tight at the bottom. Cut off the bottom part. Viola! You've got a new tshirt AND a panty/brief (just joking)! Your little one should be able to wear the "new" tshirt for a few more months (esp at home). Best part is, you dont even need to sew the hems coz tees dont fray. If it doesnt fit again and you wanna keep it, see DIY 1.
EXTRAS: Add some iron-ons, buttons, badges...and you've got another "new" tee!

Transformation of cute Joel to KickAss Joel:

disney babies

Joel's Mommy has always been a sucker for all things kawaii. I first saw the kiosk making these customised stickers when i was still pregnant and already wanna make them for Joel! Haha... Finally saw the kiosk again today! So happy!

There's so many cartoons to choose from! I would have loved to make my fav Bambi, Marie The Cat, or even Sanrio's Shinkansen. But let's just stick to the "more boyish" prints for Joel. This very baby & unisex design is $7 for 72 stickers and comes in a mini holder. Prices from $5/60 stickers (for most designs)...and there's $10/4 badges which i wanna make next time coz i couldnt decide on the cartoon character. Heehee... ;p

what a beautiful voice

Everyone GOTTA check out this really beautiful voice (click). I believe the MTV was shot in the charming parts of Shanghai - backlanes at the very modern Xing Tian Di, old streets near colonial The Bund, and her nice little cafes...

I think this lady is truly amazing! She writes her own songs, getting them posted - walking to the DV to press START/STOP and all... She's got to make it! Or has she already (???) with the MTV and makeover. Go on to read more about her here (click). Not sure if she's Japanese though...coz she goes by an English and a Japanese name.

U've got to see her, okay!

beat the chill

Baby in Training:
"Daddy, Look at my new hat! Dont worry about my neck (err...do i have a neck???) ...my double-chin can keep it real warm." ;)

umbilical hernia

It seems our baby has a condition known as umbilical hernia, and we had it "repaired" when Joel was about a week old. During his 1st month jab, the paediatrician also looked at it again and she said it's fine now. However, we're still worried coz his belly button's still a little protruding, or rather it doesnt look like what it should be - "going inwards".

My sis asked me to call and double-check with the paediatrician again. She was very nice (to even return my call. OMG, i'm so touched.) and assured me that it should go away when he's about 1 years old. She also asked me to look up the internet first for some pictures (of the serious cases), then if i still think it's very bad, i can then go down to her clinic to have it checked again. Hmm...I was thinking "Wah! Got $ earn she also dont want arr?" Coz consultation alone will also cost about $50 even w/o any medication (which was what we paid when we went to her to check out his condition the first time. No medication whatsoever, just a referral to another doctor for the surgery).

In any case, at least i feel relieved now that our baby is ok. ;)

P.S. We also checked out the paediatricians in Shanghai, and it's really exorbitant! Every trip will cost about 1000rmb/S$200!!! Sounds like daylight robbery to me! :(

inquisitive boy