the sad weekends

SAT:
HuaiHai Road 淮海中路, 香港广场 and XuJiaHui 徐家汇, 港汇广场
We brought baby Joel to the Sun-Tec Medical Center for the first time. The paediatrician had a chinese name on her namecard, so we were surprised she was an angmoh or probably an Eurasian with 15 years of experience in America and 20 years in Shanghai as a GP with a private company (coz GPs are not allowed to open private clinics in china). Usually, visits to the hospitals are rather scary. Fortunately, it was a very pleasant experience at this hospital. The only "problem" is that the vaccinations (Pneumococcal & 5-in-1) were from her "own source" and she cant guarantee that there'll be stocks in the future. If that's the case, we might have to go to another paediatrican (need to pre-order the stocks and it's more costly). Hmm...

Doc said Joel is a little chubby, but luckily not as chubby as china babies. She confirmed what i thought of his fat thighs though. HAHA! The china babies are too well-fed coz fats are supposed to look good on a baby. Plus adults like to feed the babies whenever they cry (i.e. nurse to sleep).

After that, we went home to pick up Elvis' parents and went to XuJiaHui. And so, i continued my 4D3N of frustration... LOL!

SUN:
Super Brand Mall 正大广场 at Pudong


The weather turned from cold to "cool" (real feel of 24˚c) from Friday. Basically tshirts are fine for day...a light jacket when it's windy and for nights. But my in-laws kept nagging us to pile on all the layers for Joel. Indoors in malls/restaurants/taxis are super hot (i can even perspire) coz they dont turn on the aircon, so you'll probably want to remove your jackets. BUT they still insisted of him zipping up Joel's jacket completely and wearing his beanie + hood...and preferably add a blanket. Every other minute, they're worried he's cold and kept saying and saying...NON-STOP!!!

When i wanted to use the lift from L4 to B1 (which is also better for kids in strollers), my MIL said, 'Take the escalator lor' and gave me "a look" when the lift came and it was full. (My fault???!!!) Then...she finally got a taste of how "stupid" escalators in china are...not ALL up/ALL down...need to walk a distance to the next escalator and "part the Red Sea" coz of the multitudes at L1!!! When i saw how she bend down behind the stroller when coming down from the escalator, i also worry that someone from behind will push her from the back (which is very common with china people). What if it stops suddenly with a jerk??? What if there's an accident and they roll down the steps??? Besides, her butt was sticking out at least 1.5 steps on the escalator. Damn it, i cant bear to look at them after 1 escalator. Yes, i know you have the strength of an ox, but can i blame you if my baby is injured??? =/

When we're walking around, they kept insisting of carrying Joel or pushing the stroller. Most of the time, MIL will carry, FIL will push. I could never get my hands on him at all!!! I'll have to SNATCH him away (a trick i learnt from my MIL) if i ever wanna carry him...but i could only hold out for maximum 10 mins and they'll find a way to SNATCH him back. Elvis told me to enjoy it coz we'll enjoy our shopping more that way anyway.

The few times (when they go to the toilet), i'll get my hands on the stroller and push him when we continue walking/shopping. BUT when i stop to touch something (hands away from handle bar, but stroller still in front of me) for just 5 SECONDS, my baby/stroller will be GONE!!! Why didnt i anticipate that trick???!!! I really felt like telling them off. If someone else does that to abduct my baby, i would still think it's them pushing him away!!! How terrible!!! And what a dirty trick!!! =/

Only during meal times, i get to have Joel next to me. But immediately after eating, they will insist on carrying him again. I know most of their tricks by now, and i will say NEVERMIND, show a "straight face" and walk away immediately...and quickly. Within less than 5 mins, i'll hear the old gramophone again.

When i use the baby pouch to carry Joel, she always say "Put him down lor". Excuse me, what do you mean by that??? Can he walk??? Of course, they're also one of those 老古董 "old antiques" who doubt the use of any baby carrier and ask "Is he uncomfortable, is it safe, will he drop down..." blah blah blah.

We wanted to buy some clothes for baby Joel from H&M (tagged 4-6mths)...but with them around, it's impossible to get anything for him. EVERYTHING we took off the racks they also said "Dont buy too small". Wah biang!!! Then Joel dont need to wear any clothes before he's 1 year old, izit??? Elvis said we can buy 'next time' (my guess is he meant w/o them around). Heehee... ;p

Sunday after lunch, Joel was sleeping in my arms and we decided to walk to the nearby HuangPu River for some drinks. My MIL kept saying she carry, she carry...I had to tell her off "Nevermind, he's already sound asleep!!! Why need to change so many hands???". When we reached the riverside about 10 mins later, she insisted of carrying him again. She said "Let me carry. You already carried SOOO long already." It's only a 10 mins walk!!! Fortunately, Joel woke up but sat quietly in his stroller while we had drinks and dessert. You probably guessed it, when we got up and walked back to the mall to take a taxi home, she repeated "Let me carry. You already carried SOOO long already."...and used her snatching trick. So when we reached the mall, does it meant i can have him back??? After all, it's exactly the same time (vs the SOOO long that i carried him there)!!! Elvis knew i was unhappy and sad...so he carried Joel on the taxi. Very fair indeed and it sure kept her mouth shut - until we reached home. Heehee... ;p

Whenever she's carrying Joel, she needs to hum and repeat all those weird sounds. For me, it's noise and it gives me a headache! Whenever he makes the slightest sound/cry, she will RUSH (run if she have to) to pick him up. I want to tell her he's trained to "self-sooth" sometimes. And he's also trained to sleep with just patting...NO NEED TO ROCK and/or add all those sound effects.

When she's carrying Joel and he cries (as if he shouldnt be crying when in her arms), she will ask me if he's hungry. When i told her it's NOT time yet - got to wait another hour - she will chant non-stop to Joel "It's not time yet, cannot eat. It's not time yet, cannot eat..." in a half joking-half complaining tone (不到点, 不能吃. 不到点, 不能吃. 不到点, 不能吃). Once, i got so fedup that i went to make the milk to shut her up. Joel proved me right. He only drank a little, maybe 50ml (usually he will finish up all the 150ml). I hate it coz it will "disrupt" our 4-hourly feeding schedule. She also always have the "privilege" of feeding. I only need to make the milk. =/

Also, when Joel cries at night (and the both of them cannot manage him), MIL & FIL will also ask me to feed him so that he will go to sleep! What stupid theory is that???

What i cannot stand the most is even when Joel is sleeping, my MIL will still continue to carry him in her arms & stand/rock/shake him instead of putting him down - even when at home. If Elvis noticed her carrying a sleeping Joel, he'll also tell her off (which pleases me to bits). Haha! Thanks, Elvis...MUACK MUACK! ;D

We're so proud of baby Joel's performance these few days coz he really showed his grandparents that he's such a good baby (Daddy Elvis says Joel is a GREAT baby) - quite "easy" to look after both at home and outside. They could also tell he's so different from their other grandchildren. When i tried to tell my MIL that she doesnt have to "shake" him etc, Daddy Elvis kicked my leg under the table! Haha! ;p

I'm so happy today is the LAST DAY of survival weekend.

Despite everything, Elvis said that MIL meant well to help me carry Joel coz i look so small and frail. Bullshit!!! He knows that i can carry Joel when we go out for 4-5 hours...and continue to carry him at home too if he's grouchy. I'll be grateful if help comes when i need it. But she always and really like to snatch my baby away from me (it's true)...and i feel so sad and miserable. One time when they went for their toilet break, i actually shed some tears. :_(

For the 10 mins that i'm carrying my baby, she can repeat many times "Let me carry, let me carry". If she's not sick of repeating, i'm actually sick of listening.

Sad Mommy.